"The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater." – J.R.R. Tolkien
Chapter 19
"Aunt Madeleine!" Clary exclaimed, looking up to find a tall, angular woman with silver hair and hazel eyes enter Aline's room.
"Firecracker," Madeleine greeted Clary, grinning at her honorary niece. She and Jocelyn had been close friends since they met together while training at the Academy, so when Jocelyn had had children they called her 'aunt', out of affection and respect.
"You know I hate that," Clary said with a grumble, walking over and giving Madeleine a big hug.
"Well, I hear you might be trading it in for a new nickname, or a couple really," Madeleine replied in wry amusement.
"I guess you talked to Mom before you came up here," Clary said with a laugh. "Where have you been anyway? You've missed so much! My birthday, me bringing a mundane into Alicante, the Seelie Queen declaring war over Jon and me, me being some science experiment…"
"You having a boyfriend," Madeleine added pointedly. "I know, I'm sorry. I was supposed to come back from Moscow in time for your birthday, but I got held up, and then the Clave contacted me to ask me to take care of a few things before I returned. I missed a lot, but I'm here now. They've pretty much closed off the city now, ahead of this evening. Anyone who couldn't or wouldn't return to Idris to face the Seelie Queen has been instructed to go to their nearest Institute as a safe house."
"Well, I'm glad you're here now," Clary said, giving her another squeeze.
Madeleine glanced to the side and caught sight of Clary's sketchpad.
"So it's true, you can make new runes?" she asked in amazement. "Your mother alluded to you having extra abilities, and I heard rumblings from others, but it's really true?"
"It's true," Clary confirmed. "But we're trying to conceal exactly what I can create and what effect the runes have. I've been up here for a couple hours, seeing what I can make that might be useful. I was just finishing up. I need to find Jonathan and Jace, we're due at the Gard really soon."
"Of course, that's right. Your mom told me to ask you to come down and grab some food before heading over," Madeleine said. "See, this is why I don't have children, I'm terribly irresponsible."
They shared a giggle, Clary made sure she had everything she needed, and headed downstairs with Madeleine.
"I'm looking forward to meeting Jace," Madeleine said, as they descended the stairs.
"You've met him, you've taught us all at the Academy before," Clary pointed out.
"Yes, I know that. I meant I wanted to meet Jace 'your boyfriend', not Jace 'show off and Shadowhunter extraordinaire," Madeleine retorted lightly.
"They're one and the same," Clary said cheekily.
"You're a regular little Spitfire," Madeleine chuckled.
"Nice to see Clary has time to chat with you," Jocelyn said as they entered the room.
"Mom," Clary said uneasily. "I didn't mean to avoid you, I didn't know you were feeling that way. I've just been busy, and doing my best to deal with everything."
"I know," Jocelyn said wearily, handing her a plate of food. "It's just not very easy being your mother right now."
"I'll make it up to you, when this is all over," Clary promised, her words and eyes full of meaning, as she started to make quick work of the food she'd been handed.
"You'd better," Jocelyn said lightly, her eyes a little misty. "Madeleine here heard you promise, so you won't be getting out of it."
"Definitely not," Madeleine agreed. "It sounds like we might need to have another one of our little chats, just the three of us, once this is all over."
"Once this is all over," Clary agreed. "That's a phrase I've heard and said a lot over the past couple of days."
"It's because people are looking toward the future, they have hope, they're making plans for what we'll do once we deal with the faerie threat," Jocelyn said gently. "It makes me feel better every time I hear you, or anyone else, speak of a future, because it makes me feel like we have one."
"Well, if I don't head off for the Gard now, it could upset our plans to ensure that we have all have a future," Clary said lightly. "So, all going to plan, I'll see you later tonight, or tomorrow morning."
Jocelyn wrapped her arms around her daughter and kissed the top of her head and said, "I love you."
Clary whispered the same in reply, hugged Madeleine goodbye, and then went to find Valentina to kiss her little sister before she left.
She found Val playing with Max, with Maia and Simon supervising.
"Starting your child minding detail already," Clary said with a grin.
"I get why he can't help," Maia said grouchily, gesturing to Simon. "But I'm a werewolf, there must be something I can do besides be a babysitter for you lot."
"Maia, I know you're a fairly new werewolf, but there are only so many times people will explain that Alicante is essentially off-limits to Downworlders, and that when you're here you have to be closely supervised," Clary explained somewhat patiently. "You're the only member of the lycanthrope to side with us at the moment, so having you fight might make you weak or a target. You're safest here, you need to be here."
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I can't wait to get back to my life in New York, such as it is," Maia grumbled. "Are you off now, Clary?"
"Yes, I guess I'll see you a bit later," Clary said, more brightly than she felt. "Take care."
"Good luck," Maia said sincerely.
Simon unexpectedly put a hand on Clary's arm, and then pulled her into a brief, awkward hug.
"Kick ass," he said in a strained voice.
"You too," Clary said with a weak smile. "I'm counting on you to watch over Valentina and Max."
"I don't need anyone to look after me," Max piped up. "I'm going to fight too!"
"You are going to stay here, and help Simon and Maia, you're going to be their Shadowhunter helper," Clary told Max sincerely. "Now, I really must go, Jace and Jonathan should be waiting for me with the others at the Gard."
"They said bye to me before they left for the stables," Max said, as Clary made her way to leave the house. "But tell Alec and Izzy they better come back to see me before tonight!"
"I will," Clary called over her shoulder as she stepped out into the streets of Alicante.
She walked resolutely through the Glass City, alert eyes taking notice of the especially particular details of the city that she loved. The way the water of the canals wound through the city, gurgling as they rippled along, flowing with water from the river. She admired the various houses of the city, built mainly from gold and honey coloured stone, topped with red tiled rooves. The houses were built close together, rising up the hill that Alicante was built at base off.
It was not long before she had reached the heart of the city, crossing Angel Square and walking straight into the Gard, making her way to the Consul's chambers, where she assumed she would find everyone.
"Clary, we were just about to send someone out to find you," Jia said as Clary entered her chambers. "Is everything okay?"
"It's fine, sorry for the delay, I got caught up at the house," Clary said, taking a seat next to Jace.
"The purpose of our meeting now is to finalise the plans for tonight, ahead of the four of you leaving for Brocelind Plain. It's important that we're all on the same page," Robert said seriously. "Luke, you will accompany Jace, Jonathan and Clary to the edge of Brocelind Plain, nearest the east end of Brocelind Forrest, as determined when the Seelie Queen responded to our message this morning."
"We still aren't sure who will meet you, probably Meliorn, but possibly the Queen, or even both of them," Jia continued. "You will discuss whatever they wish to discuss, but you will under no circumstances hand over any of the children to them. You children will not try to offer yourselves up as a sacrifice either, it's bad enough that we've had to resort to using you as bait."
"But what if there's no other option than to appear as if we're willing to be handed over?" Clary protested. "If we go peacefully then we might have a chance of surprising them and escaping."
"You will not make a decision like that," Jia reiterated firmly. "If anything serious like that has to be decided, Luke will make the final call."
"So, no putting it to a vote? No democracy? This is a mini travelling dictatorship?" Jace asked lightly.
"Jace," Robert said warningly. "While the four of you are meeting with whoever the faeries send out near the forest, we expect that whatever forces the Fair Folk have will attack Alicante. If they have found a way to use demons in their attack nightfall will aid them, but we need the night as well so that the Night Children can fight with us. Ragnor Fell will open up a Portal, sending through all the vampire forces they have gathered in New York to Brocelind Plain, between the gates to Alicante and the edge of Brocelind Forrest."
"I will then create a Portal to send your forces outside of your city. That way there should be no chance of the faeries can find a way into Alicante," Magnus added. "I am prepared to offer my fabulous services in your battle, provided I will be appropriately compensated at the end. Additionally, do you actually know what you plan to do to vanquish your foes? It's all well and good to go into battle, but do you have an exit strategy?"
"Winning comes at a cost, and we will do whatever we deem necessary to defeat the threat at hand," Jia said forcefully. "At this point it is impossible to know what they will entail, but we will do what needs to be done."
"That's what I love about you Nephilim, 'Help us. We don't know what exactly we're going to do, but we're all powerful with a mandate from God and we take care of business.'" Magnus said dryly.
"Thank you, Magnus," Jia said sharply. "So, is everyone clear?"
There was a chorus of low 'yeses'.
"Okay. Now finally, Clary, I understand that you were experimenting with your rune ability this morning. Have you come across anything that might play to our advantage?" Jia asked.
"I hope so," Clary said, feeling a little uncertain. "It's all very new to me, and not exactly tested, but if there's a chance for me to do anything to help, I will."
"Okay, well that's everything," Jia said, standing. "You will need to get ready to leave now. We should see you later on, in Brocelind. Good luck."
"Jace, I've had word that the horses you were after are ready for you at the stables," Robert added. "All have some combat training and are reliable mounts."
Jace, Jonathan, Luke and Clary all stood and headed out of the Gard and across Angel Square to the stables.
"Did you guys say goodbye to everyone?" Clary asked as they walked.
"Goodbyes sound a bit final," Luke remarked. "You know me, I don't like to make a big deal out of leaving to take care of something. It makes me think I'll be back before too long. I said goodbye to your mom and Val and told them I'd see them soon."
"That's all I did too," Clary retorted. "Well, with a little extra maybe. But this is a big deal, you know it is."
"I'm with Luke on this," Jace added from a few feet away.
"That's because you have stunted emotions," Clary shot at him.
Jace glared at her, but they were spared from anything further by Jonathan saying, "Just because we'd rather not make a big deal out of leaving doesn't mean our emotions are stunted. It makes us sensible. Luke's right, if we wept every time we left to hunt demons, or investigate a Downworlder threat our tear ducts would be broken from overuse."
"Enough," Luke said quickly. "Clary, I'm glad you said whatever you needed to say to whoever you needed to say it to, and so have we. Now, Jace, do you know which horse was intended for which rider?"
Jace did know, and directed them each to a horse, each in their own stalls, their names on the outside. The appropriate tack was identified and collected, and then they all saddled their mounts and were soon ready to leave.
"We're leaving through the main gates," Luke told them. "Mount up, and we'll walk the horses to the edge of the city. Once we're out of it we'll alternate between travelling at a trot and canter, and galloping in flat parts, where need be."
There weren't people lining the streets to farewell them as they left, as is often described in stories when heroes went off to war. It was not the way of the Nephilim. They were too busy doing what they needed to do so that they as a people could defeat the threat from the faeries. Shadowhunters did not fight evil for their own glory, their actions where not taken on lightly as a show of strength and self-importance, but rather as something serious and important, and necessary. The four of them were keenly aware of their duties, as evident by the expressions on their faces as they rode out, full of purpose.
Across Brocelind Plain they rode, past manor house after manor house, the sun dipping ever lower in the sky as they neared there destination. There was little talk, as riding at a canter was not terribly conducive to holding a conversation.
In Alicante the large number of assembled Shadowhunters were receiving their final instructions from Jia and Robert, each warrior was making sure they were well armed, as well as thoroughly Marked. The children were gathered in the safety of the Accords Hall, it was the most secure place in the city, and Simon and Maia were permitted to watch over them there as well. The city would be largely deserted by Nephilim, nearly all that could fight would be going through the Portal out onto Brocelind Plain. There were few elderly Shadowhunters in the city, as Nephilim did not usually live too far past an age at which they could still fight. Should an emergency arise during the course of the battle the Silent Brothers could be called upon to offer some assistance, although they did not typically fight, though having the ability to do so if necessary.
Likewise, the female counterparts of the Silent Brothers, known as the Iron Sisters, could be reached if deemed necessary. This was unlikely, as they were even more withdrawn than the Silent Brothers, and very focused on their work of forging the weapons used by Nephilim, and the deep magic and craftsmanship that went with it. They resided and worked in the Adamant Citadel, access to which could be reached through the Armory in Alicante. Few had been there, and few were allowed, only Sisters and female Shadowhunters held in high respected by the Clave.
The four travelling across Idris made good time, the edge of Brocelind Forrest in sight as the sun was low in the sky.
As they were almost at their destination they slowed their horses to a trot and Clary looked ahead, her Farsighted rune allowing her to survey the patch of forest ahead clearly. This of course did not guarantee that she would be able to see whoever had come on behalf of the faeries. The Fair Folk were expert at making themselves invisible, blending into the vegetation provided.
"There could be an entire army in there, ready to take us by force," Clary said grimly.
"Well, we're counting on that not being the case," Luke said, from her right side.
"That would really screw things up for us," Jonathan agreed.
"So we send a fire message to the Consul, and Magnus Portals everyone here," Jace said calmly. "But that won't be necessary. They will want to storm Alicante, they know it's the heart of us. It is our Verdun."
"Spare us the World War I history references, Jace," Jonathan muttered.
"Well, the French won at Verdun," Jace retorted. "And we're going to win too."
"I see movement," Clary said suddenly, and they all came to a quick stop.
"I see it too," Jonathan added.
"I don't believe it, I really thought someone else would come," Jace said with a whistle. "Well, this will be interesting."
"Because it wasn't before," Clary said sarcastically.
"Quiet, dismount, we'll approach on foot," Luke instructed. "Let me do the talking, only spoke if you're spoken to."
They obeyed, and prepared themselves for anything, walking the last few yards towards the forest's edge before coming to a halt.
There stood the Seelie Queen, looking fierce and terribly beautiful, a faerie knight on either side.
"Nephilim," she began in a quietly pleased tone. "I see you have kept your word. Let's talk."
AN: Thanks for reading! We've finally reached that point where the conflict is about to peak :) Hope you all enjoyed the addition of Madeleine and Clary's interaction with Jocelyn. Once the conflict is over I'm looking forward to focusing more on Clary's relationships with her family and friends, as well as Jace's life.
Please review, would really love to hear what you think. Suggestions or requests would be much appreciated too, lacking inspiration at the moment :)