"I am glad it cannot happen twice, the fever of first love. For it is a fever, and a burden, too, whatever the poets may say." – Daphne du Maurier
Chapter 10
Clary sat out on the front porch, a book in hand, her sketch pad by her side should she feel inclined to switch activities. It was late morning on Thursday and it was another beautiful late summer day. She was the only one at home, Jocelyn and Luke having had to take Simon into Alicante to speak with the Council and Jonathan accompanying them with Val. Clary didn't really mind being left alone, she usually enjoyed the rare chance of solitude in her home, but it was her sixteenth birthday and she wouldn't have been opposed to spending time with her family.
Still, she was content to sit and enjoy herself and wait for them to return in the late afternoon, all going to plan. She hoped that Simon would return with them, she wanted to enjoy the experience of their friendship, however short it would be.
Clary was soon startled by Jace's voice.
"Hi," he said, walking up the front steps. "You sure know how to have fun."
"Did you ride over?" Clary asked, setting her book aside. "I didn't hear you arrive on Rocky."
"Well, I did ride, and he's temporarily in your stables," Jace said with a grin. "You were too focused on your book, which is kind of nerdy."
"Did you have a purpose in coming over here, other than to give me a hard time?" Clary asked, quickly becoming irritated.
"I remembered you said it was your birthday today, and when I realised that you'd be all alone today, what with the Council thing about Simon, I thought I'd come over," Jace explained off handedly.
"Really?" Clary asked softly. "That was thoughtful."
"That's something I've never been called before," Jace said pensively. "Still, it's a compliment, so I'll take it."
"You do say the most ridiculous things sometimes," Clary said with a rueful smile. "So, you've come over. What's the plan?"
"It's your birthday. We can do whatever you want to do," Jace offered sincerely. "Well, there are a few things I'll have vetoing power over, but anything within reason."
"Well, then I'd like to go for a ride," Clary declared. "I should change first though."
"Yes, you should," Jace agreed, looking over her appearance. She was wearing a casual pair of shorts and a t shirt, which weren't practical for riding. "Do you want to take lunch with us?"
"Why not?" Clary agreed. "If you go into the kitchen, there should be some stuff in the fridges you can make sandwiches for us with, unless of course you're too manly to do that."
"I'm quite capable of making sandwiches," Jace said firmly. "But I'm inclined not to give you your present seeing as you teased my masculinity."
"You got me a present?" Clary asked, both excited and touched.
"I did, but I'm going to have to decide whether or not you get it now," Jace teased. "Maybe once we get back from our ride."
"Fine," Clary agreed casually. "I'll go change, I won't be too long."
True to her word Clary changed quickly, but made an attempt to choose a particularly flattering pair of riding pants and one of her nicest shirts. She tied her hair back, pulled on boots and strapped on her weapons belt, Heosphoros in its sheath.
"You were quick," Jace said, impressed, upon her reappearance. "Isabelle would have been a good half an hour, unless there was a serious emergency. Then she would have been ten minutes."
Clary laughed and accepted the bag of food Jace handed her.
"You found what you needed to make lunch?" she asked.
"We won't starve, but it's not exactly the most exciting meal," Jace said with a grin. "Come on, let's get going. I'll help you saddle Aura."
Clary allowed him to help her saddle her horse, and as soon as they had both stowed their food in their saddlebags, they mounted and headed away from the Fairchild Mansion at a trot.
"Where do you want to go?" Jace asked. "Anywhere?"
"Let's head east," Clary decided, and they turned their horses and continued at a trot. "Where are Alec and Isabelle today?"
"At home, I guess," Jace said with a shrug.
"You don't know what they're doing?" Clary asked curiously.
"Well, not precisely. I slipped out after breakfast, I didn't want to give them a chance to ask me where I was going, so that they wouldn't invite themselves along, or try to stop me from coming," Jace explained. "I would guess they're on Max duty because Robert and Maryse are at the Council meeting of course."
"Is the Inquisitor upset with me?" Clary asked curiously.
"Well, no more than he is with the rest of us," Jace said wryly. "He and Maryse aren't particularly thrilled with us, but I think they realise we didn't have much control over what happened."
"It was all my doing that Simon was brought back," Clary pointed out quietly.
"Yes, why did you do that?" Jace asked, an edge to his voice.
"He looked so helpless, I hated the idea of leaving him with only Magnus after what had happened to him," Clary said in her defense.
"Magnus is the High Warlock of Brooklyn, I think he could have taken care of one mundane," Jace said dryly. "You're lucky he didn't take offense at you dragging Simon through the Portal. Apparently he's actually being rather supportive of your idiocy."
"Gee, thanks," Clary said sarcastically.
"I didn't mean it like that," Jace said quickly. "Sorry."
Clary looked surprised at his quick apology and decided to accept it and move on.
They'd been riding for about twenty minutes when Clary said, "The Morgenstern Manor is just down there to the right, I think. I'd kind of like to go and see it."
"Okay," Jace agreed, and they directed their horses in the right direction. "Have you been here before?"
"Jon and I rode by once," Clary said quietly. "Mom doesn't like to come here, it holds too many painful memories of our father for her."
"Do you think it's unlocked?" Jace asked as they dismounted at the manor and secured Rocky and Aura.
"It's been shut up for almost sixteen years, so I'd say so," Clary guessed. "Nothing an open rune won't fix though."
"So we're going in?" Jace asked.
"Yes," Clary said decidedly. "I want to see where I was born."
At the front door Clary pulled out her stele and drew an open rune onto the front door. It swung open, and she stood on the threshold, paused uncertainly.
Jace took her hand and said gently, "Come on."
They stepped inside, and Clary kept her hand securely in Jace's, enjoying the comfort and support it brought, as well as the electric undercurrent.
"It's nice," Clary said softly. "Covered in dust, but I can imagine what it would have been like if I'd grown up here."
"It's not too different to your manor, or ours," Jace pointed out.
"I know," Clary agreed. "The only thing different is the life I would have had if I'd been here. Valentine wouldn't have died, for one."
Jace nodded, understanding what she meant.
They walked down the hall and Clary paused to look at a large painting on the wall.
"Look, my mom, and my dad," she said softly. "On their wedding day. She was so beautiful."
"You look just like her," Jace said, reaching up with his free hand to gently caress her cheek.
Clary flushed and hesitated to meet his gaze.
Jace sensed her nervousness and dropped his hand away.
"She doesn't look much older than you are now," he commented.
"She was only eighteen," Clary affirmed. "She never really talks about Valentine, but I can tell from the way she's smiling at him that she loved him a lot."
"He looks like he loved her too," Jace agreed. "That's the way it should be."
Clary nodded and turned to face Jace, tilting her head up and meeting his gaze, her breathing increased a little.
Suddenly the front door slammed close, startling them both, Clary jumping a little.
"It was probably just the wind," Jace said calmly. "We can go and check though."
Jace drew a sword from his belt, prepared for anything.
They quickly reached the foyer, which was empty, and then Jace opened the door, to reveal nothing suspicious.
"Guess it was just the wind," Clary said, giggling to release the tension that had quickly built.
"Want to keep looking around?" Jace asked, sheathing his sword.
"I don't think so," Clary said slowly. "I think that was enough, at least for now."
"Lunch then?" Jace asked.
"Not hungry yet," Clary replied. "Let's keep riding."
They walked out to where the horses were tethered, mounted and Jace said, "Do you want to see where I was born? It's not too far from here. We could ride by and then head back to your place."
"I'd like that," Clary agreed. "We can trade these dodgy packed lunches for something more exciting back at my place too."
"I'll have you know they're very nice lunches," Jace told her firmly, gold eyes dancing.
"We'll eat them then," Clary retorted. "If it means that much to you."
"I was just teasing. I told you before, we'll do whatever you want today," Jace promised.
Clary smiled warmly at him and said, "I know, I guess its hard to tell sometimes where the banter ends. It seems to be something you do a lot. And when you switch from banter to serious with me its sometimes hard to keep track."
"All part of my charm," Jace said, grinning.
Clary just shook her head and smiled, kicking Aura into a canter as they headed towards the Herondale Manor.
Fifteen minutes later they had come to a stop in front of it, and both were silent as they looked at the big, silent estate. It had the same abandoned, lonely atmosphere of the Morgenstern Manor.
"Have you been here before?" Clary asked softly.
"I like to ride past, usually when I'm out alone," Jace admitted. "I never go in, and I don't really want to now. Maybe another time, but not today."
"Sure," Clary agreed. "Another time."
There was a brief silence, as they both sat on their horses, both lost in thought.
"It's sad, isn't it," Clary said eventually. "Such beautiful places, that were once filled with love and life, standing empty the way they are."
"Hopefully they'll be lived in again, and see more love and life," Jace said a little wistfully. "You ready to head back now?"
"Sure," Clary agreed easily, sensing Jace had shared all he was ready to for the time being.
They rode back, untacked and stabled their horses, and headed inside, both leaving their weapons belts at the front door.
"Where do you want to eat?" Jace asked.
"Back patio?" Clary suggested.
They headed out and sat down together on a wide outdoor lounge, putting the food between them.
"What do you want to do, once we finish at the Academy?" Clary asked Jace as they neared the end of their food.
"Well, whatever I do depends a bit on Alec," Jace replied. "As parabatai we're at our best if we're together, fighting together, learning together. Maybe we'll visit some of the Institutes. We both have family ties to the London Institute, especially me, so we might spend some time there. Alec will be 18 in less than a month, so he'll really finish at the Academy then. It's not like there's much more I need to learn, and Alec can't kick around forever, waiting for me to turn 18."
"So you might not be around in a few months," Clary said slowly, processing the information. "That will be strange for Isabelle, and Max I guess. Or will Isabelle go with you?"
"No, Izzy wouldn't come with us, I don't think," Jace mused. "We haven't really talked about it much, you know. I suppose we should."
Clary looked pensive as she wondered what it would be like if Jace was to leave before too long. She'd only just started to get to know him but she couldn't imagine what it would be like to have him gone so quickly after realising how much she liked him.
Jace watched her and looked at the troubled look on her face, her green eyes looking out into the distance. A gentle breeze was ruffling a few loose strands of curly red hair, and his eyes became drawn to how inviting and soft her pink lips looked.
"Clary," he said softly, cupping her face and gaining her attention.
He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her lips. It was unlike any kiss he'd ever experienced before, gentle, sweet, slow and full of promise.
They pulled a few inches apart, Clary's eyes opened wide with wonder. She gave him a small, shy smile, and he smiled back, caressing her face.
"I've wanted to do that all day," Jace admitted with a grin. "It was worth waiting for."
"It was," Clary agreed, her voice a little breathy. She looked questioningly at him, wanting him to kiss her again, but unsure of how to proceed. A sudden decisiveness came over her and she leaned in, closing the gap between them and kissed him again.
Jace wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him, brushing aside their sandwich wrappers as he pulled her up against him, continuing to kiss her, deepening the kiss a little.
Clary had never kissed a boy before, and she was a little unsure of what she was supposed to do, but she knew she was enjoying kissing Jace, and she didn't want to stop. She wound her arms around his neck, her heart racing.
After a few minutes she pulled away a little, breathing heavily.
"Do you want your present now?" Jace asked, smiling at her.
"That wasn't my present?" Clary asked a little dazedly.
"Well, had I known it was that simple, I wouldn't have spent so much time finding something you'd like," Jace said, grinning.
"There's really a present?" Clary said eagerly.
"I left it with Rocky's tack in the stables," Jace said. "Come with me and I'll get it."
They stood up, Jace taking Clary's hand, and they walked out to the stables.
Jace reached into his saddlebag and handed Clary a dagger in a little sheath. Its handle was decorated with jewels woven into a pattern of birds in flight.
Clary was stunned. She could tell just by looking at the dagger that it was very old, and well made, on top of it clearly being worth a lot of money.
"Jace," she said uncertainly.
"When I thought about giving you something, I knew I couldn't give you just anything. You're not the type of girl that you give flowers, or chocolate, or jewellery to. You're the first girl I've ever wanted to give anything to, and I knew this was something you'd appreciate," Jace explained.
Clary looked at him in awe, not able to comprehend in the slightest why he felt that way about her. She stepped closer to him, and stood on tip toe, reaching up to kiss him.
He put his hands on her waist to steady her and kissed her back.
She pulled away and said gently, "Thank you. It's absolutely wonderful. I won't let anything happen to it."
Jace smiled at her and took her hand and they walked back to the front of the manor.
"I should probably go," he said reluctantly. "Your family should be back before long, and I should probably go before Alec, Isabelle and Max get annoyed enough with me to ambush me when I return."
"I suppose so," Clary agreed reluctantly. "Thank you, for today. It couldn't have been better if I'd planned it."
Jace kissed her tenderly, then it quickly deepened, neither able to stop themselves from letting their feelings run wild.
Jace eventually pulled back and said, "I really should go, and you should go inside, or I will just keep kissing you."
"And I would let you," Clary agreed, smiling a little foolishly. "See you soon?"
"Count on it," Jace promised, and with a final kiss, he headed for the stables, and she headed inside.
AN: Thanks for reading! I hope you all enjoying some real Clace action :) I didn't want to jump straight into a full blown relationship, but I still wanted them to progress quickly, like in COB, so I hope this was alright.
Thanks for all the continued support. Can't believe this is has passed 100 followers, thank you all so much! Oh, and Happy Hump Day everyone :)
Please review, it's always great to hear suggestions or predictions, or anything really :)
500 word preview for anyone who reviews, via PM of course.