"Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it." – Helen Keller
Chapter 17
"My Queen, this message has just arrived, from the Nephilim," Meliorn announced, entering the chambers of the Seelie Queen.
"How interesting," the Queen said slowly, her beautiful facial features forming an intrigued expression.
Meliorn handed her the message and she read its contents.
"On behalf of the Nephilim and the Council, I wish to acknowledge the intention to declare war from the Seelie Court. In response to your requests, we wish to offer this counter. A representative of the Council, Lucian Graymark, to escort Jonathan and Clarissa Morgenstern, and Jace Herondale to Brocelind Plain, near Brocelind Forrest to meet with you, and however many representatives you should wish you send, tomorrow evening, at sundown. We wish to meet with you to discuss your grievances, and the presence of the children you requested is a sign of our cooperation. Consul Penhallow."
"What do you make of it, my Queen?" Meliorn asked.
"They are playing right into our hands," the Seelie Queen said, an expression of malicious delight on her face. "We will meet them, and while we do so, our forces will be storming Alicante, and the Nephilim will have to divide their resources between their beloved City of Glass and their most important assets in Brocelind."
In Alicante the Consul, the Inquisitor, Lucian Graymark and their families were all gathered at the Penhallows, as they had been for the past few days. Magnus Bane was also present, and were Jia, Robert, Luke, Jocelyn, Jonathan, Clary, Alec and Jace in Jia's study.
"The Queen will probably send whatever forces she has to Alicante while Meliorn, or possibly she, meet with us at Brocelind Plain," Luke guessed. "Is there anyway to negate this?"
"We don't even know if she'll agree to it, she might think it's a trap and decided to not wait until this evening and attack tomorrow during the day," Jocelyn pointed out. "I'm still not sold on allowing you to take the children out there as a decoy."
"If she does agree to your terms, the Night Children will be able to fight with you, as soon as the sun sets," Magnus pointed out. "I have Camille Belcourt's word that she and as many other clans as she can gather will fight for us. Tomorrow, at nightfall, should your plan be working, Catarina Loss, a warlock I know and trust, will create a Portal to transport all the vampires they have to Brocelind Plain. Likewise, I can create a Portal from within the city that will take your forces directly outside of the city, and your forces can draw the Seelie Queen's towards Brocelind Plain, where the Night Children will already be."
"All of this depends on the Seelie Queen giving confirmation that she, or a representative, will meet us at Brocelind tomorrow at sun down," Jia agreed. "As soon as we know, all these plans can be confirmed and we will call a meeting at the Accords Hall to let all members of the Clave know so that everyone can be prepared."
"That doesn't leave us with much protection," Jonathan pointed out.
"You'll be armed, we'll all be armed. If we're attacked, we fight," Jace pointed out. "We do what we have to do to end this."
"Without being reckless," Robert added firmly, knowing his son.
"What about Isabelle and me?" Alec asked. "It wouldn't hurt for them to have us as backup."
"You'll be needed with the main forces," Robert told him. "We can't differ from the deal we outlined to the Seelie Queen, regardless."
"Until then there seems to be no reason why most people in the city shouldn't try to get a good night's rest," Jia decided. "All who gave come from outside of Alicante to answer the request for help have been assigned a location to sleep tonight. All of you have been staying here, and are welcome to stay tonight as well. Luke, Robert, Maryse, none of you have actually had a chance to sleep yet, and we will do something about bedding for you. Children, I suggest you leave for your rooms."
Alec, Jonathan, Jace and Clary all quickly departed, knowing when they were dismissed.
"So Sebastian isn't staying here tonight?" Alec asked. "I haven't seen him since I got back from the stables."
"Well, after the incident with Jace and Clary earlier, it seemed best if he didn't stay here. His aunt was already staying somewhere else, so he's with her," Jonathan said, smothering a grin.
"What did you do to him this time, Jace?" Alec asked tiredly.
"Hey, it's not always my fault, he's a real ass," Jace protested.
"It's true," Clary added. "Sebastian was being a jerk, and Jace didn't really do anything to him anyway."
"But what happened?" Alec reiterated.
"Well, I wasn't here, but the way I heard it, from Aline, Sebastian was hitting on Clary, and Jace apparently didn't take kindly to the idiot being all over his girlfriend," Jonathan recounted in amusement.
"Girlfriend?" Alec asked dumbly.
"Yes, I had meant to tell you, but we've been kind of busy," Jace said wryly. "Apparently it's all very amusing, and you and Isabelle can tease me mercilessly, but not until after tomorrow."
"Fine," Alec said quietly. "I think I'm going to find Max and check on him before bed."
Clary looked at Alec's retreating figure in interest, she wasn't sure what reaction she'd been expecting from him, but it wasn't that.
"I'm going to go with him, I'll find you before I go to bed," Jace told Clary, dropping a light kiss to her lips.
Jace left and Clary turned to Jonathan.
"How do you feel about being used as live bait?" Clary asked lightly.
"Not too bad, it's certainly not as risky as going to visit the Seelie Queen with my boyfriend," Jonathan retorted.
"He wasn't my boyfriend then," Clary contradicted tartly.
"I'm not sure why they're bothering sending me too," Jonathan mumbled, coming to a rest outside Aline's room where Clary would be sleeping. "Everyone knows it's you two she really wants, I don't have special powers like you two."
"Hey, sure she wants you, though this seems like a stupid thing to be arguing over," Clary countered. "It doesn't really matter what she wants anyway, because we're not actually giving it to her. This whole thing is a big game of cat and mouse, with each side making a calculated move until they can finally strike what they want. We're just players in a game, an important game, but everything's going to be okay."
"Can you create a rune to ensure that?" Jonathan joked.
"I don't really know," Clary said with a smile. "But I wouldn't be placing your hopes on that."
Clary knocked on Aline's door and entered at 'Come in', Jonathan following her in. The remaining teenage occupants of the house were there, sitting around playing what looked like cards.
"We've been trying to teach Simon how to bluff, he's got a useless poker face," Isabelle announced upon seeing them. "Where are my idiot big brothers? I thought you were all downstairs in the war room together."
"They're off with Max," Clary answered. "We all got sent off to bed, can you imagine."
"I can," Maia said, with a yawn. "I'm feeling rather sleep deprived."
"Weakling," Isabelle muttered under her breath.
Across the hall Alec and Jace had just finished tucking a protesting Max into bed, and had answered his dozen or so questions about the impending battle on the next day. All of this had been done at a whisper, thanks to the fact that little Valentina was already asleep in the same room.
Once they were in the hall Jace said, "If you found someone who made you happy, I'd be happy for you."
"I am happy for you, ecstatic," Alec replied sarcastically.
"What is your problem?" Jace asked in frustration. "Seriously? You've always hated me have casual, meaningless flings with girls, and now that I'm actually serious about someone you're still not happy."
"You're just so self absorbed," Alec said brusquely. "You don't see anything other than what you want to see. Clary's no good for you, Jace. You're completely by consumed by her, irregardless of how it impacts anyone else."
"Alec, let's just cut the bullshit, okay?" Jace said with quiet resignation. "We've never talked about this, and we don't have to, but I know, okay? The real thing that bothers you about Clary is that I really care about her, and you think that means it's going to jeopardise our relationship, but it won't. We'll always be parabatai, brothers and friends. Do you understand what I'm saying? One day you'll find someone, someone that is meant for you, and you'll find a way to make it work."
"How long have you known?" Alec asked quietly, his eyes downcast.
"Alec, you can look me in the eyes, nothings changed," Jace told him. "It doesn't matter how long I've known, I don't even know, I just know, and it doesn't matter to me. I'll always support whatever you choose."
"How can I expect other people to understand about me when I don't even really understand myself?" Alec asked Jace seriously.
"Nobody has to know until you want them to, and then, it's not even their business," Jace said firmly. "Now, do you think you can stop being such an ass, especially to Clary?"
"Well, probably," Alec allowed with a faint smile. "Do you think the new strategy will work?"
"I may have superior skills to everyone else, but I can't see the future," Jace retorted, returning to their usual banter.
It was then that Isabelle left Aline's room and found her brothers in the hall.
"I thought you two were supposed to be with Max?" she asked.
"We put him to bed, he's probably asleep already," Alec answered. "You might as well sneak in and check."
"Careful though, Val's asleep in there too," Jace added. "See you in the morning, Iz."
Alec added a goodnight to Isabelle, and he and Jace went to collect Simon from Aline's room.
"Simon, time to leave the girls alone, we're all going to get some sleep ahead of tomorrow," Jace told him shortly.
"Actually, I thought I'd just show Simon around Alicante a little," Clary interrupted.
Jace gave her a long look and said, "Fine. You'd better not be too long or the adults will be pissed off."
Clary picked out a light jacket from her things that Jonathan had brought back from the manor, for the night air had become quite cool. On her way out of the room she kissed Jace's cheek and said softly, "I'll see you when we get back."
Simon followed Clary out of the house and they slipped quietly out into the canal ridden streets of Alicante, the night sky illuminated by witchlight.
"I'm sorry to have left you alone so much the last few days," Clary said apologetically to Simon, once they were alone, walking towards the centre of the Glass City.
"I get it, you've kind of got a lot on your plate," Simon said forgivingly. "I've just been in the way, haven't I?"
"No, you haven't, it's just not been the easiest of times," Clary replied. "But I thought I'd at least show you around here a bit. It's so beautiful, and I figure you should see it before tomorrow, because who knows what's going to happen."
"Well, when you offer yourself up as bait in a war there's always risk," Simon said dryly. "Man, your mom is one scary lady."
Clary giggled and said, "The best bit about running away was that I wasn't around when she was told. By the time I was back I think she was so glad to see me that she didn't have the strength, or time, to yell at me."
"I can't believe I missed seeing her face when you dropped that bomb about Jace," Simon said with a chuckle. "Maia and I were in the kitchen, listening, but we didn't think making an appearance at that point would be wise."
"Very good choice," Clary agreed. "She still hasn't had a chance to talk to me about that whole thing. It's got the potential to be one awkward conversation."
"So, what is this place?" Simon asked, as they came to a halt in the plaza at the centre of the city. "I've been by a couple of times, going to the Accords Hall for my interrogation, but I haven't exactly had the guided tour."
"This is Angel Square, and most of the key places of Alicante surround it," Clary answered, and began pointing out each relevant building and explaining its significance.
They turned to head back to the Penhallows and Simon asked, "So, what am I supposed to do tomorrow?"
"Oh, I guess we all forgot about that," Clary said, brow furrowed. "You can't fight of course, and none of us will be around to protect you. I guess we'll have to sort that out tomorrow. Maybe you can help look after the children here, they'll have to stay in Alicante while we face the faeries. We'll have to ask Luke or somebody tomorrow."
There was a silent pause and then Simon said, "You know, Jace seems like kind of a jerk a lot of the time. It's hard to believe he's different with you."
"When you know more about him, it's easier to understand," Clary said slowly. "I haven't even discovered a quarter of what there is to know about him, but I promise you there's more to him than his jerk exterior."
"Sounds like the rose coloured glasses of true love," Simon teased. "Imagine, if you guys had kids, they'd have the most awesome abilities, with the extra angel blood from both of you. Man, it was amazing enough finding out you all are part angel, part human, and then to find out that you can actually have extra angel in you, it's too cool."
"I'm glad you think so," Clary said dryly. "Once this whole faerie thing is over, and providing we're alive, there are probably going to be a fair few people who wants answers about Jace and me and our extra abilities, not to mention it could cause a lot of pain and problems for my mom."
"People seem to like you guys, you said it yourself, you've got sway, so don't spend any time worrying about it. You'll have plenty of time to worry once you finish off the faeries. Any idea of how you're going to do that by the way?" Simon asked. "I mean, it's all well and good to lay a trap to get them near you, but how do you actually plan to defeat them?"
"Sometimes we don't have a plan, we have to think on our feet a lot," Clary replied with a shrug. "Jace seems to think my rune power is going to have some big impact, but I have no idea how I could actually use it to make a difference in whatever situation we end up in. I think it's more likely he'll have a bigger role. Luke will be with us, and so will Jon, and we'll just face things as they come."
"And I'll be here, probably not allowed to do anything, because I'm the pet mundane," Simon said derisively, as they stood in front of the Penhallows.
"I hope that won't always be the case," Clary said meaningfully. "Come on, we'd better get inside and get some sleep."
Upstairs Clary followed Simon into the room the boys were to sleep in and found Jace perched on the edge of his bed, wearing dark pyjamas, mid conversation with Alec. Clary walked over and sat down next to him, so they were just touching.
"So, did you find our capital city impressive, mundane?" Jace asked with a smirk, lacing his fingers with Clary's.
"Simon," Clary hissed.
"If you call me mundane do I get to call you Shadowhunter?" Simon retorted, ignoring Clary's defensive of him.
"I don't really care what you call me," Jace said carelessly.
"How about Crapbag?" Simon asked thoughtfully. "Or maybe Dweezil?"
"I guess Simon really appreciated the wonders of Alicante," Alec said sarcastically.
Simon looked sheepish and said, "I can see why you call it the Glass City, it's really impressive. If the rest of the world new about it they'd be crazy over it."
"But the rest of the world can't know, and you won't be telling them," Jace said sternly. "If they let you leave here, memories intact that is."
"You're making me sorry I came in to say goodnight," Clary told him shortly. "I think I'll leave before I have to kick your ass."
"I'd like to see you try," Jace said lightly. "Wait, I'll come with you, where the mundane won't annoy me."
Clary didn't say anything in reply as she stalked out into the hall.
"Clary," Jace said, garnering no response. "Clary."
"I don't talk to people that are deliberately rude to my friends," Clary said stiffly.
"Clary, I wasn't being rude, I was just giving him a hard time. I think of him as a mundane, not your friend," Jace explained. "Look, I can see that it really bothers you, so I'll do my best not to be an ass to him, okay?"
Clary relented at these words and turned to look at him and said, "Good, because as quickly as this all started between us, it can end just as quickly."
"Seriously?" Jace questioned skeptically.
"Seriously, Jace Herondale," Clary affirmed unwaveringly. "You might have picked up on this by now, but I'm not what you'd call a pushover."
Jace gave a small smile and said gently, "I did know, it's just one of the many things I like about you."
"Nice save, Herondale," Clary allowed with a reluctant grin. "Now, I think I should head for bed. When we got back Mom mentioned she'd be up shortly to make sure everything was in order up here, if you get what I mean."
"You mean I shouldn't be found anywhere near you between the hours of ten and seven," Jace guessed with a grin. "Got it."
He then proceeded to give Clary a long, lingering goodnight kiss and they then parted ways for the night.
AN: Thanks for reading, and thanks for patiently waiting for this update. I was rather busy interstate for most of this week.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter! We're getting closer to the faerie conflict coming to the fore :)
Please review, hearing from you all means so much to me and provides me with much needed motivation :)