Pandemonium: Chapter 34
The usual disclaimer...I own nothing.

AN: Okay so I wanted to do something, but I realized that I've been dragging this on for far too long. There are at most 5 chapters left with maybe an epilogue. Thanks to everyone who's enjoyed the story this far. Also this chapter is complete and utter crap. Sorry.

I'm reading Genesis for a class and this is one of the quotes I saw: "The Nephilim were on the earth in those days-and also afterward-when the sons of God went in to the daughters of humans, who bore children to them. These were the heroes that were of old, warriors of renown" (Genesis 6:4). So that's a thing. Yeah.

The trial had been going on for three weeks now. Alec saw every word that was said in the morning paper every morning. Not to mention the fact that Carstairs retold him every detail because that was what he demanded.

It wasn't working out well.

It was a disaster.

Whitelaw did an excellent job. He was one of the best. But he was no match for Tessa. Her lineup of witnesses was flawless. Each an every one of them had made it so that there story, their lies, were completely and undeniably believable. Whitelaw had tried, he had tried very hard. But it was not possible for him to do anything without the truth. Of course the truth was never to get out.

The entire time, Alec was miserable. Completely and utterly miserable. And the one thought that made him feel even more miserable, was the idea of how Magnus was handling the situation...

Which as it turns out was not so well. Each night he had the same recurring nightmare:

She stared at him with those cold, gray, uncaring eyes.

Then she asked again, "Where were you?"

Magnus stared back at her, but could not hold her gaze for too long. Her will was that of iron. He looked out to the room in front of him. He saw scores of eyes staring at him, straining to hear his next words, wondering what he would say. Somewhere close to the front, he knew there was no pair of blue eyes staring at him, and that pair-sitting in a tower of glass far away-was not wondering what would be said next; that pair was holding back the tears because it knew what would be said next.

She snapped at him. Waving her finger at the scores of people in front of him she said, "The answer isn't out there." She pointed to his head and said, "It's right there Mr. Bane, right there. The truth is right there aching to get out. They say 'The Truth will set you free.' Well, Mr. Bane, we're waiting for the truth."

Magnus continued to stare out in front of him, looking for those blue eyes, he thought he caught a glimpse of them when she snapped at him again, saying, "I can understand why you wont speak, Mr. Bane, I can. In most cases the truth would set you free, but in yours I don't think it will. The truth will bury you six feet under the ground."

A small smile curved up on her lips. She stared at him with contempt and said, "I'll ask you again then, where were you?"

Every night, Magnus would wake up feeling the same deep seated terror. The terror of a man resigned to watch his life crumble around him; the terror of a man with everything to lose; the terror of a man soon to be condemned to near non-existence.

It was a cold morning when Magnus made his way through to the room where his judgement was to be decided. If the crowd had been packed before, it was thoroughly stuffed today. The heat and the smell of hundreds of bodies stacked together, shifting aimlessly, to hear a sentence attacked Magnus' senses. Very few of these people were hoping for what he was hoping for. They were not kind people. What they saw was not a kind man, a loving man, a witty man, a hard-working man; what they saw was a cruel man, a nasty man, and a cold-blooded murderer. Looking at him they were reminded of the young innocent woman, who had lost her life, brutally slaughtered by his hand.

Of course they knew nothing. He did not slaughter. He was not even there. He was far, far away, with a certain individual. But to name that individual. To own up to those acts. That was a crime he was not willing to commit. There are few moments in life that are a true test of love. If the opportunity presents itself to save the one you love, you take it. This was the true test, he told himself. By doing this, he was saving Alec, but more than that, he was saving a kingdom.

Those who had decided his fate had entered the room again, their faces unreadable. Behind him the people sat still. No one stirred, few even breathed. Every pair of eyes was on the woman who had just gotten up.

Somewhere behind Magnus, he knew, was Izzy. She had somehow convinced Carstairs that it was a good idea to be here. It implicated Alec too much, Magnus had thought, but he had no say in the matter. She too would be staring, though probably not nearly as nicely.

The woman drew a breath in. And then she said the words that Magnus had been expecting.

"In the case The People of Idris v. Magnus Bane, we find the accused guilty of all charges; we further recommend life in prison without the possibility of parole."

There was a cumulative exhalation from everyone around.

Tessa stared at him, triumphantly at first, but then slowly with a hint of sadness, she turned away. Deep in her heart she knew Magnus. She had known Magnus for what seemed like centuries. He was capable of many things, but this was not it. Yet what was she to do? The evidence was overwhelming, and the pressure from above, crushing. The Queen's Justice had to obey the Queen and the Queen's Council.

She stood, and looked at the judge expectantly. He nodded, and then said, "The matter has yet to be settled. In two days time, Mr. Bane will be required to reappear before me for a sentence."

The news traveled fast. Alec found out the verdict approximately fifteen minutes after it was announced. He and Jace were sitting in the solar. Jace had just been fiddling with his curls when the boy walked in and said the verdict.

Alec had dismissed him coldly right away.

Jace asked, "Are you okay?"

Alec said nothing.

He began to pace.

He moved swiftly across the room and started making circles. He ran his fingers through his hair again and again and again.

His pace quickened. He moved around faster and faster. For Jace it was dizzying to watch Alec move at such a pace. Alec didn't care.

Then, out of nowhere, he stopped.

Quietly and slowly, he moved into the kitchen.

Jace thought nothing of it. That was until he heard the noises.

He heard glass and porcelain shatter everywhere. There was a grunt, and then the shattering of even more glass. After a moment of silence, it sounded like an earthquake, with hundreds of glasses, plates, bowls, and all manner of dinnerware came crashing down from above.

When that happened Jace rushed into the kitchen. The sight he found was miserable to say the least.

Alec sat, curled up in the side. He was bleeding from small scrapes everywhere, but he didn't seem to notice. He was sobbing.

Alec rocked back and forth and continued to sob uncontrollably. The blood gushed from the small scrapes and ruined his clothing, but Alec paid that no mind. He continued to sob. When Jace tried to come near him, he lashed out, punching Jace in the stomach.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" He snarled.

Jace didn't move. He sat there and tried again. Alec continued to punch. Alec was throwing wild punches and sobbing, barely hitting his mark. Jace forcibly dragged him from the kitchen back into the solar. He put Alec down on the couch and let him sob there in peace. Then he went, got a broom, and started to clean.

During the time when Jace was cleaning, Carstairs had entered to the room. His silver eyes sadly looked upon Alec, but he said nothing, because nothing could be said.

Even Izzy, who was never want for lack of words, knew better than to say anything. There was nothing worth saying. Everyone knew the only way for this to end was time and space, so time and space was what he got.

Eventually that day Alec stopped sobbing. He went to his rooms and changed into something nice and presentable. As he was walking out, Izzy said "Alec-". But before she could finish, a single look from him silenced her. He left then, climbing down the winding staircase with no concern for his own safety. He almost tripped and fell in one instance, and had he fallen he would have tumbled to his death. But he didn't care. He marched forward with the purpose of a man bent on completing his task.

When he finally got there, the gold embroidered doors were shut. But that didn't stop him. Nothing could stop him.

He swung the doors open, not waiting to be announced, and said, "We need to talk."

Queen Charlotte looked at him with a little surprise, and then summarily dismissed the people around her. As the last person left, the gold doors shut with a resounding thud.

Silence ensued for a moment.

Finally, with a bemused look on her face, she asked, "What?"

"Let him go," Alec said in a cool steely voice.

"What?" The Queen asked, snorting.

"Let. Him. Go." Alec said with more force.

"And why would we do such a thing?"

"Because he's innocent."

"And how would you know that?"

Alec stayed silent; the Queen gave him a knowing look, and then said, "Even if he is innocent, we can do no such thing. We cannot overturn the verdict of a jury. He is guilty by their decision, and that is not something we have power over."

"You are the Queen! You have complete power!"

"Do we? But what precedent would that set? Was it not you who said that even we are not above the law? We must protect, preserve, and obey the rule of law, no? Tell me now you wish to change that? We cannot allow such a thing."

"So you will condemn an innocent man to ruin?"

"Innocent? You throw that word around so lightly. We know very well that he is not innocent...and neither are you."

Alec paled for a moment.

"Yes, we are well aware of your dalliances and proclivities. We are aware of many things, Alexander, and most of all, we are aware that you are a sodomite. Your actions are disgraceful. You are a shame to society, to this nation, and to your family. Creatures like you should not exist. Your mind is drawn on carnal pleasures and nothing else. Your very existence is contrary to the holy order by which our grace sits upon this throne. Your very existence will perforce sully the throne with its unclean filth. Innocent? You are many things Alexander Gideon Lightwood, but you are not innocent."

"Please," Alec whispered, as he fell to his knees, with tears streaming down his face.

"Does he like it when you beg? That's what I hear about you sodomites; you enjoy all sorts of horrifying things like begging."

"Please just let him go."

"Why? He is not innocent! Even if he is innocent of murder, sodomy is no less a crime."

"Please, I love him, please let him go."

"Love!?" the Queen spat. "What do you know of love? What does your kind know of love? Are you not want of love's majesty? Are you not want of the holy light which graces us and our kind? What kind of love do you know? Is love your synonym for carnal pleasure?"

"Please, I'll do anything you want from me, just please let him go."

"My what a sway these carnal pleasures must have over you. You know Morgenstern was right when he told us that you are unworthy, that both of you should be put to death. But we cannot kill a crown prince, nor can we shame him. But we can teach him a lesson."

"Please, no. Anything, I swear by my family name, anything."

"Your incessant begging is beginning to pester us, boy. We thought throwing him in jail would be lesson enough, but we were wrong. We must teach you a lesson in ruling, a lesson in power, and a lesson in sacrifice. You will learn boy. Leave us, so we may make our decision."

"Please-"

"Cease your begging immediately, boy! Or you will be punished further! Go now! Think of what I said. Perhaps you ought to confess your sins. Forgiveness for you is still not too far away. We can make a king out of you yet. Leave now!"

Alec left, and he stayed in his rooms for the three days. On that third day, he exited his chambers and went to see Magnus' sentencing. He didn't care how it looked any more. The Queen's words had stabbed him too much. What he and Magnus had was indeed love, and nothing, neither holy scripture nor word of man, could say anything different.

Alec sat in the front row, and was greeted warmly by the whole crowd. He was still adored, even though he used to employ Magnus. It didn't matter though, they were here to see what happened to Magnus.

Magnus was the second to last to enter the room. He looked radiant in golds and greens, which brought out his eyes. He wasn't wearing any brilliantine and his hair was down. He looked at Alec in a confused manner as he passed, but Alec just gave him a soft smile.

As soon as Magnus reached his seat, the judge entered. He wasted no time in saying what he needed to say.

"After consultation with the Queen and Her Royal Council, Magnus Bane you are sentenced, for the murder of Lady Jessamine Lovelace to death."