Pandemonium: Chapter 1
All characters depicted herein belong to Ms. Cassandra Clare. This is purely a work of fiction; all resemblances to other characters not of Ms. Clare's imagination are completely coincidental. I thank you for taking the time to read this; furthermore, I thank any of you who choose to review my work. Enjoy!
Alec woke with a start. Looking quickly out his window, he noticed that it was still dark, but the castle lights had dimmed significantly. His best estimate considered it sometime between 2 and 4 in the morning. It was never his plan to wake this early; something had woken his mind from restful sleep. Then he heard it again: the horn of the Arken. It was still too far away to wake the rest of the castle, but he dressed quickly enough anyway, preparing to hear the imminent announcement.
Upon the third call of the horn, the rest of the castle began to awaken. As Alec rushed down to his father's reception room, he noticed the looks of the servants. "What do they know that I don't?" he puzzled as he swiftly moved down to the chamber. When he arrived he realized that he was a little late; his mother, Maryse, and sister, Isabelle, had already made their way down. Isabelle gave him her classic disapproving look that was a cross between "Where have you been?" and "What in Escarot have you been doing?" Before he could open his mouth to respond to the look, his father swept into the room, followed by his larcena—young, blind, counselor; someone wise in matters of state—Carstairs. As Robert—his father—quickly headed towards his seat on the dais, Carstairs whispered, "Duke Robert, the boy must know now, before the Arken hornist comes; he should have time to say goodbye." Robert, his eyes bloodshot, looked at Carstairs warily; then, addressing his family, told them that the Arken hornist was probably arriving to announce the death of the heir. Earlier, the heir, Prince Sebastian had suffered a terrible fall from his horse; since the fall failed to gain consciousness. The Council of Nobles, commonly called the Clave, had met in secret to decide who the next heir was, since Prince Sebastian had no living heirs, and Queen Charlotte was the last of her line.
The doors burst open, and the Arken hornist entered the chamber. Breathless and tired, he bowed deeply to the Duke and his family, then quickly addressed the room:
"His Highness Prince Sebastian passed on this the Night of Clemency. His death has been a great loss to Her Majesty the Queen Charlotte, and her beloved realm of Idris. As per the Basic Law of Idris, the Council of Nobles has met and decided upon a new heir to the throne." Then, looking directly at Alec, "It is with great pleasure that I pronounce, Alexander Gideon Lightwood, son of Robert Lightwood, Duke of Quaf, the new Crown Prince of Idris."
There was nothing but silence in the chamber.