"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." – A.A. Milne
Chapter 13
Clary and Jace tumbled out through the Portal and into the Institute, which was dark and silent, Amatis was in Alicante, so the place was deserted.
"You realise we're going to have a few hours to kill before the moon is high and we can go through Turtle Pond to get to the Seelie Court," Jace pointed out as they stood and collected themselves.
"Well, we could sit here and talk, maybe share our feelings," Clary suggested sarcastically.
"You could prepare an apology for your family in advance for our return," Jace countered.
"That's going to be fun," Clary agreed grimly. "But we should be back by tomorrow morning, and if we're not, we'll have bigger problems to worry about."
"So, what do you want to do?" Jace asked pointedly. "This is your plan, after all."
"Feel free to make helpful suggestions though," Clary retorted. "I'll just weed out the stupid, self absorbed ones, and hopefully there will be some useful ones to be found."
"Okay, my first suggestion is that we keep the banter to a minimum, we might overlook something because we're too focused on having the last word," Jace suggested, suddenly serious.
"Jace Herondale sarcasm and wit are your two most favoured weapons, you never go anywhere without them," Clary scoffed.
"But I'm not fighting you, it's actually the farthest thing from my mind, Clary," Jace said. "Don't you understand that?"
"I don't know what I understand," Clary said nervously. "I'm not very good at all this, and it's a bit hard to concentrate on trying to understand exactly what you mean while thinking about what the Seelie Queen wants with me."
Jace surprised Clary by pulling her into his arms, hugging her comfortingly.
"I'm not very good at 'all this' either," Jace admitted quietly. "I didn't mean to make things more difficult at the moment. Just know that whatever is going on between us is real, and that I'm only interested in you, okay?"
"So, for now, I like you, and you like me, and we can figure the rest out when we've avoided a war with Downworlders?" Clary asked, still in his arms.
"Yes," Jace agreed. "And I will probably keep doing this whenever I feel like it."
He then proceeded to kiss her tenderly, threading his hands through her hair briefly.
Jace pulled back and gave her a smile, which she returned.
"I have an idea," Clary said softly.
"You came up with an idea while I was pouring out my soul?" Jace asked playfully.
Clary gave him a light smack on the arm and didn't bother retorting.
"I think we should go and find that werewolf, Maia, and see if she knows anything. She's a Downworlder and maybe she's heard something. She helped us at Pandemonium, so hopefully she can help us now," Clary explained.
"It's a good idea," Jace told her, taking her hand. "Let's go now, no time like the present."
They left the Institute and Jace said, "I hate to say this, but I think we should go to Taki's first. I don't think we should go directly to the precinct in Chinatown looking for your werewolf friend. Someone at Taki's might know where she hangs out during the day."
"That's a good idea," Clary agreed. "But maybe I shouldn't go in, if Kaelie's there it could cause some problems for us, especially because she's a faerie. I doubt she'd be thrilled to see you either, but at least there's not a price on your head."
Jace agreed, and they both put glamours on to avoid unwanted attention from the mundanes on their way to Taki's.
Jace left Clary outside while he went into Taki's to find someone to ask about Maia.
He approached the counter and spoke with the counterperson.
"I'm looking for a werewolf from the New York pack, I met her at a club a few days ago," Jace began.
"The werewolves like to hang out at the Hunter's Moon, a few blocks over, that's your best bet," he was told.
Jace left, found Clary out the front, took her hand and they headed for the Hunter's Moon.
"So, this is a werewolf bar, and you want to head straight into it when there's a chance that the werewolves could be siding with the faeries," Jace pointed out. "We might want to alter our plan a bit."
"Fine," Clary agreed. "Let's wait out here, behind a tree or something, and keep an eye on the place. Maybe I'll see her going in or coming out and be able to grab her attention."
"We can try that for forty five minutes," Jace decided. "And I think it would be best if you were, say cuddled into my side, to give Downworlders less of a chance of recognising you."
"Fine," Clary agreed with a laugh.
They found a large tree on a good angle, Clary allowed Jace to protectively conceal her in his arms and they began their stakeout of the Hunter's Moon.
"You know, if I tell my mom about us right after we get back she'll probably be too busy being mad at me for running off to ask any questions about you, or give me a hard time about you," Clary mused about ten minutes into their stakeout.
"Oh great, our relationship is only second to you trying to hand yourself over to the Seelie Queen," Jace said sarcastically. "Will I get any bonus points for trying to stop you, and then going to protect you?"
"Quite possibly," Clary said with a grin. "To be honest though, I have no idea how my mom will react to finding out about you, or rather us. She liked you well enough at dinner, and she's been trying to make me make friends for ages, so I don't think it will be an issue. She's pretty relaxed about a lot of things, except for Jonathan and my safety."
"She sounds like a normal mom," Jace commented. "And for my part, I promise to be on my best behaviour with her."
"I kind of like it best when it's just us," Clary murmured softly. "I don't have to worry about what anyone else thinks, there's no chance of anyone being jealous of something they don't know exists."
"Remember what I said to you when we went riding on Sunday?" Jace asked. "You should try worrying less what people think about you. If you're happy and your decisions aren't actually physically harming anyone, then just go with what feels right. It's much easier than spending time and energy worrying."
"I ran off here didn't I?" Clary retorted archly.
"Yes, but that was in a fit of sacrificial nobility," Jace countered with a grin.
"That's her, Jace!" Clary suddenly exclaimed. "She's just leaving."
Clary disentangled herself from Jace's arms and ran after Maia, who was alone and about 20 yards away from the Hunter's Moon.
"Maia!" Clary called.
Maia turned immediately, looking tense and alert.
"Clary?" Maia returned in astonishment. "You shouldn't be here!"
"I know that, how do you know that?" Clary asked quickly. "Oh, never mind. We need to get out of here. Will you follow me?"
Maia nodded, and followed Clary as she quickly retreated to the tree where Jace was still remaining hidden.
"Oh good, the golden haired one from the club," Maia said sarcastically upon seeing Jace.
Jace gave her a taunting grin, but stayed mercifully silent.
"Maia, what did you mean I shouldn't be here?" Clary asked urgently. "What do you know?"
"What do you know?" Maia retorted. "I'm not being difficult. It would help me to tell you what I know, if I know what you know."
"And if we could all avoid speaking in riddles that would be helpful," Jace said dryly.
"We know that the Seelie Queen has declared war on us, and which will start in less than 48 hours now, if she doesn't get what she wants," Clary told Maia. "She wants me, among other things. We know she has allies, but we don't know who."
"She has our pack, for starters, and a lot of others, I think," Maia disclosed sadly. "She's blackmailed most of the pack leaders, including ours, Alaric, to join her. The faeries are pretty intimidating, I think they've threatened us with some pretty violent things involving silver."
"And it was easier to bow to her wishes than make a stand, or come to us to help us or warn us," Jace said harshly.
"I only found out yesterday, and I didn't know what to do! A lot of us don't!" Maia said hotly. "I'm only a new werewolf, and I don't want to get caught up in the middle of a Downworld war, but I didn't know who to go to."
"Don't worry, ignore him," Clary said, glaring at Jace. "Do you know anything else, maybe about any other allies the Queen has, or why she wants me and my brother?"
"All I know is that if any of us come into contact with you, or your brother, or even this one," pointing to Jace, "that you're not to be harmed, only captured."
"Me?" Jace asked incredulously.
"Jace?" Clary echoed as well. "He wasn't mentioned in the note."
"The Seelie Queen always has a reason for what she does," Jace muttered. "She must want me for something, but didn't want to tell the Clave for the element of surprise."
"Maia, you should get out of here, go to Idris," Clary said seriously.
"How is she going to do that?" Jace asked tersely. "Plane, boat, Portal?"
"Portal," Clary decided. "Maia, do you want to get out of here? We can get you to Idris where you can find Magnus Bane, he's a Downworlder who is in Alicante now, who should look out for you if you're going to support the Nephilim. We're going back some time tonight, or early tomorrow morning, and we can make sure you're not harmed or attacked."
"What are you two doing between now and leaving? Why can't we get out of here now?" Maia asked shrewdly.
"We can't tell you," Clary said firmly.
"So it's something stupid and dangerous," Maia guessed astutely.
"We could use her, Clary," Jace said slowly. "We could take her with us to the park, and she could wait for us, and if we don't come back, she could sound the alarm."
"How would she do that? She doesn't know who she can trust!" Clary countered.
"Where would you not be coming back from?" Maia asked.
"We're going to see the Seelie Queen," Clary admitted reluctantly.
"Clary, that's stupid and dangerous, even I know that," Maia told her.
"It's Clary's choice, and I'll be with her," Jace replied. "We need to find out what she wants with Clary and Jon, and me, I guess."
"It's your funeral," Maia muttered darkly. "I'll come with you, to Central Park, and wait for you. If you don't come back I'll think of something."
"Yes, I prefer not to plan for undesirable outcomes. I tend to think that if you only have one option you won't be thinking 'at least I have a lame back up plan'," Jace remarked. "So, we'll go in, and we'll be back as quickly as possible to return to Alicante and face the music. Okay?"
They were in agreement, and headed off to find somewhere to eat before heading to Turtle Pond once night had fallen.
They were in a quiet diner not too far from Central Park, eating their food, when Maia excused herself to use the bathroom.
Clary and Jace hadn't been able to discuss anything of particular importance with Maia present, so as soon as she was temporarily gone Clary said, "Jace, I don't know if we should go, not if the Seelie Queen wants you too."
"I'm not scared, so if you're worried about me, don't be. If it comes to fighting our way out I'm more than capable," Jace said confidently. "But if you're scared for you, we can call this off in a second."
"I'm not scared for me," Clary said firmly. "So we'll go ahead as planned. But let's make one thing clear. I'm not leaving without you, okay? So don't ask me to."
"And don't ask me to leave without you," Jace retorted. "We leave together or we don't leave at all."
"Okay," Clary agreed.
Just as the moon was high enough to cast its reflection onto Turtle Pond, Clary, Maia and Jace were standing at it.
"Maia, stay close, but out of sight," Jace advised. "We should be back before too long."
"Good luck," Maia said sincerely, and Jace and Clary walked into Turtle Pond, until they were standing in the moon's reflection, and stepped backwards, one after the other, vanishing from sight.
They both landed on hard packed dirt, and they were both soaked to the skin.
"We're about to go and see creatures who most value beauty and charm and I look like a dirty, drowned rat," Clary assumed as she stood and tried to clean herself off.
She looked over at Jace, who somehow still seemed to possess his unearthly beauty, even though he was soaking wet.
"Are you okay?" Jace asked. "Aside from being cold, I mean."
"Fine," Clary said, looking at their surroundings. "We're in an underground tunnel, judging by those tree roots. So now we're here, how do we know which way to go?"
"Someone will come for us, the faeries won't have missed our arrival," Jace said grimly.
Surely enough they heard light footsteps, and then Clary recognised Meliorn.
Jace drew his sword, holding it at the ready should he need it.
"Clarissa Morgenstern, you have come without your brother. Why?" Meliorn asked.
"The Queen asked for me, and I am here to speak with her," Clary said firmly. "You can take me to her, or we can leave."
"Why is Jace Herondale here?" Meliorn asked.
"For her protection," Jace said calmly. "We are complying with the wishes of your Queen and intend her no harm."
"Fine, you will follow me," Meliorn declared, setting quickly off down the tunnel, Clary and Jace in hot pursuit.
It was not long before the corridor of the tunnel widened out into a room lined high with stone pillars, covered with vines and flowers of bright colours. The room was well lit, with the bright light of a summer day, giving quite a contrasting effect to the dark and earthy tunnel they had just emerged from.
The room was filled with faeries, all of great beauty, with varying hair colour and pale, delicate faces. Even though they looked harmless, dancing to the sweet music that was playing, with their elegance and beauty, Clary knew better. Beneath their beauty lay great skill and cunning, their intelligence a far greater weapon that the strength and teeth of a vampire, or the ferocity of a werewolf, or the magic of a warlock.
Clary was most interested to find the faeries dancing, seemingly oblivious to the war that could soon be upon. Shadowhunters would be holding a war council, rallying as many numbers as possible and gathering their weapons, not partying.
Meliorn led them past the dancing faeries and through to a leafy screen set in the wall.
"The Queen is in her chambers," Meliorn said formally, drawing the some vines aside and leading them through, first Jace, then Clary.
Inside the small, beautifully decorated room there was a lovely woman reclining on a couch, the Seelie Queen, surrounded by her faeries courtiers.
"Clarissa Morgenstern, and Jonathan Herondale," the Seelie Queen said, a terrible but beautiful smile spreading across her face. "Where is Jonathan Morgenstern?"
"I came without him, my lady," Clary replied, careful to use the respect owed to the Seelie Queen.
"No matter. This perhaps may be even better," the Queen mused. "Tell me, daughter of Valentine, do you know why I requested your presence? And your brother's?"
"No, my lady, I do not," Clary answered clearly.
"And why have you come? What is your purpose, and why did you leave your brother in Idris?" the Seelie Queen asked, studying Clary's face closely.
"I left without my brother's knowledge, for his safety," Clary said honestly. "I wanted a chance to speak with you, to find out what you want with us, and what your issue with the Nephilim is."
"And you, Jonathan, why are you here?" the Seelie Queen asked, turning to Jace.
"I wished to accompany Clary, my lady," Jace replied, smiling. "I would hate for there to be war between our two people and I have heard tell of your beauty and intelligence, and hoped we'd be able to reach a compromise."
"Very pretty, Jonathan, you are very charming, as I'm sure you're aware," the Seelie Queen replied, an amused grin on her lips. "You are prepared to hear our grievances and make us an offer?"
"We are prepared to talk with you, though I will ask one thing of you, my lady," Jace said respectfully. "As of yet we do not know what you want from us, and if it's something we cannot deliver, we request that you let us return to our leaders so that they may consider your request. If we do not deliver on this, we accept that you will wage war upon us."
"Very well, Jonathan," the Seelie Queen allowed after deliberating for a moment. "I will tell you what I want with Clarissa, and yourself."
Clary and Jace waited expectantly, more than a little curious.
"Jonathan, you are easily the best Shadowhunter of your generation. You can run faster, jump higher and fight better than anyone your age, and it is easy for you to do so. Have you never wondered why?" the Seelie Queen asked, her eyes bright. "And you, Valentine's daughter, have you perhaps ever found your mind filled with runes you know to be true, but have never seen before in your Book of Grey?"
Jace and Clary exchanged a long look, neither knowing what the Queen was angling at, but each knowing the words were true of them.
"Before his death, Hodge Starkweather came to me, trying to tempt me into joining him in his planned Uprising, promising me power and freedom," the Seelie Queen told them. "He also told me of two children, one a few weeks old, one not yet born. He had heard they were experiments and that they would have the potential to be the most powerful Shadowhunters of their generation."
Clary paled significantly and Jace said, "Please, my lady, what do you mean 'experiments'? And how did Hodge Starkweather prove his knowledge to you?"
"Starkweather told me that he cornered Stephen Herondale one night, on his way to investigate a rogue werewolf pack," the Seelie Queen began, smiling in amusement as Jace started at her words. "He tried to convince Stephen to join him in his quest for power, to purify the Shadowhunters, but Stephen would not surrender. Hodge left him to the werewolves, who were to kill him on Hodge's instruction. But before Stephen died he told Hodge that evil would never prevail, and that Valentine Morgenstern had found a way to make their children stronger."
"Just Jace and me, or Jonathan too?" Clary asked imploringly. "What did my father do to us?"
"As far as Hodge could find, apparently Valentine Morgenstern managed to acquire some angel blood, and saw that it was infused into both Celine Herondale and Jocelyn Morgenstern while they were pregnant with you Clarissa, and you Jonathan," the Seelie Queen explained, a delighted look on her face. "Before you ask, no one else knows of this. It was a secret that died with Hodge, Valentine and Stephen, and I have kept it to this day, waiting until it would be of most use to me."
Jace and Clary were looking at one another in disbelief. They knew the words of the Queen must be true, for the fae could not lie, but they were both shocked by what she had said.
"What do you want with us?" Clary asked faintly.
"I want you on my side," the Queen said calmly. "Even if you choose to return to your people I will only capture you when we commence our war."
"Excuse me, my lady, but you still haven't explained why you wish to wage war with the Nephilim," Jace said slowly.
"There are countless reasons that I will not go into now," the Seelie Queen said dismissively. "However, you may know that I will not rest until you, Clarissa and her brother side with me, or you are dead. You two are a product of Valentine Morgenstern, as is Jonathan, and it is Valentine's fault that Hodge is dead and I did not get what I was promised by him. The Nephilim will pay for that."
Clary looked ready to faint, or explode, so Jace said quickly, "We thank you, my lady, for speaking with us, and for your cooperation. I'm sure you know that it is impossible for us to say or do anything further without consulting our elders. Thank you for your time."
Jace took Clary's hand and turned to exit, but the Seelie Queen said, "I never promised to let you leave, Jace Herondale."
Jace cringed, realising that though she spoke of them leaving, she had actually never promised it explicitly. The Fair Folk were very creative in finding ways of telling only the truths that suited them.
"But you will allow us to leave," Jace said firmly. "You gave the Nephilim forty-eight hours, and at least thirty-eight of them are still available to us, and you cannot go back on that."
"How about we play a little game, Jonathan," the Queen said. "Perhaps as a test of your abilities. If Clarissa can prove her powers, and create a new rune, tested on you, then I shall let you leave, provided I am happy with its results."
"Fine," Clary agreed, knowing they would not be allowed to leave unless she complied. She had known there would be some price to pay for their visit, she just had not known what. "Is there something specific you'd like me to try to create?"
"Surprise me," the Queen said, a satisfied glint in her eyes.
Clary took out her stele and turned to Jace.
"Do you trust me?" she asked quietly.
"I trust you, of course, but I don't trust her," Jace said in a low voice. "You've never tried to Mark someone with one of these runes you can supposedly make. What if it's a trick by the Queen?"
"I know I can do it," Clary told him softly. "I've been seeing these runes for years, creating them in my sketchpads."
"Okay," Jace said, bracing himself.
Clary concentrated and visualised a rune she had once drawn, one that meant fearless. She began to Mark Jace's forearm, the rune quickly taking shape.
"How do you feel?" Clary asked, stepping back.
"Fine," Jace said, looking at the rune. "What is it?"
"It's a rune, to make you fearless, I guess I'd just call is 'Fearless'," Clary explained to Jace, and the other occupants of the room, specifically the Seelie Queen.
"I wonder, does it make the wearer truly fearless?" the Seelie Queen asked, smiling mischievously. "Jonathan, is there anything you'd like to say to Clarissa? Anything perhaps you've been afraid to say until now?"
Jace looked at Clary. Of course there were dozens of things he'd wanted to say to her, but hadn't, for her sake, and his, but he suddenly found them pouring out of his mouth, uninhibited.
"I think you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, more beautiful than Isabelle. I tried to stop myself from loving you, because I've seen what love does to people, but I can't help loving you," Jace said, looking supremely content with expressing his feelings.
Clary looked suitably shocked, and the Seelie Queen more than pleased.
"Excellent," she almost purred. "More than satisfactory. You may both go now, just know that we will meet again soon, and I look forward to enjoying your abilities further."
Clary nodded dumbly and Jace said, "Although you are very beautiful, I do not look forward to seeing you again soon, my lady."
The Seelie Queen only smiled and Clary took Jace's hand and quickly left her chambers.
"I hope this rune wears off quickly," Clary muttered, as they retraced their steps back through the tunnel they had come from with Meliorn.
AN: And so, the rune power and angel blood have arrived to play a role :)
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