Chapter 33

Magnus Bane sat at the defense table, no flicker of emotion played over his pale, handsome face. Witness after witness had been called by the prosecutor to prove that Magnus had done exactly what they claimed he had done, used an illegal spell to allow an, otherwise sterile, warlock to bear a child. His Advocate, Asher, had insisted he plead innocent, although they both knew nothing could be further from the truth.

To the Justices who sat on the bench, it might appear that Magnus Bane was detached, almost bored with the proceedings. The truth, however, was far different. Nothing was more important to him than the outcome of this trial, though at the moment he saw no possibility of a good result. In all likelihood, he would be found guilty and sentenced to death, but it was the fate of Alec and Aiden, the ones he loved more than life itself, that mattered, and a guilty verdict would be devastating for them as well. What would he not do to protect them, and what did he not suffer knowing that their fates were out of his hands?

Magnus paid little attention to the witnesses, preferring instead to lose himself in memories of his beloved Alec...unless they were people who mattered to him, like Catarina. When she had been called as a witness, Magnus pulled himself out of his reverie, and made eye contact. He desperately wanted to let her know that, regardless of what happened, they were, and always would be, family. She was his Aiden's Aunty Cat, and his long time friend and confident. Magnus tried, with every fibre of his being to let her know that no matter what happened in this cold, impersonal courtroom, they were good, their relationship inviolate.

The Prosecutor had taken Catarina through her kidnapping at the hands of Lucia, the birth of baby Aiden, and even the fact that Aiden bore Magnus' warlock mark and not Lucia's. It was patently obvious to the entire Court that Magnus had, not only, stolen the illegal spell but used it to create a child, not for his sister, but for himself.

Magnus did his best to try and catch Catarina's eye and reassure her, none of this was her fault. He had known exactly what he was doing, and frankly would do it all again given the same set of circumstances. Alec's life had hung in the balance, and while Magnus could no longer imagine a future that did not include his precious son, he had substituted his own blood for Lucia's to prevent the creation of a child that would perpetuate her tainted line, not to ensure his own. He doubted that the Justices would appreciate the distinction, however.

A look of great sadness crossed Magnus' face as he watched his oldest living friend exit the witness box. It was the first crack in the stoic façade the defendant had presented to the Court. Some observers sneered at what they perceived to be a sign of self pity; others, who saw with better eyes, knew it was a reflection of the pain Magnus felt for the grief he was causing his loved ones.

The moment was broken by Prosecutor Crestwell calling his next witness, Jonathan Christopher Herondale to the stand. Jace entered the courtroom, confidence, almost to the point of arrogance, in every line of his body and expression of his face. He was a warrior and this just one more battle. As he passed the defence table, he shot Magnus a small, reassuring smile as if to say, 'don't worry, I've got this covered.'

Magnus sighed and shook his head slightly as he watched Jace move to the witness box. The shadowhunter and he had often spared in the past, both too confident in their own opinions to back down, but Magnus had come to understand, and even appreciate, the cocky warrior who was the supernova to his beloved Alec's dark star.

As Jace settled into his seat, back ramrod straight, head held high, Crestwell approached, ready in his own subtle way to do battle with a hostile witness. "Mr. Heronale, please tell the Court when you first became aware that the Defendant, Magnus Bane, had taken a blood oath to break Clave and Coven law?

A wicked grin broke out over Jace's face and he responded; "I know Magnus' fashion sense is a bit extreme, but I honestly didn't think glitter was illegal!"

The Chief Justice brought his gavel down sharply and admonished the witness that these proceedings were not a joking matter. Jace was advised to answer the questions put to him in a straight forward, sober manner if he did not wish to find himself in contempt of court. Izzy, in her seat behind the Defense table, tried to hide her smirk, and thought that this was perhaps the first time someone had openly expressed their contempt for this awful travesty of a trial. It may not help Magnus, but it was good to hear someone giving vent to the frustration Alec's family felt.

Jace looked fiercely at the Prosecutor, his face now devoid of any trace of the humour that graced it moments ago. "I was informed by Magnus Bane shortly after the spell had been successfully cast, and he had helped to save my Parabatai, Alec Lightwood from the greater demon, Hellequin."

A sly smile graced the Prosecutor's face as he pursued the advantage; "And why, when it was clearly your duty to do so, did you fail to inform the Clave of these facts?"

Jace would dearly have loved to tell Crestwell that it was none of the Clave's business, that the existence of his Godson, Aiden, was a blessing to be rejoiced in, not a reason to call out the troops; but that would not fly in this tense, judgemental atmosphere.

The Court seemed to hold its breath as they waited for Jace's answer, and he let them, taking his time, staring down Crestwell before he replied; "Because it was not the Clave's concern."

Chief Justice Gray brought his gavel down sharply as he called the court back to order and advised the witness he would be held in contempt of court if he did not answer the Prosecutor's questions properly.

"Are you asking this Court to believe;" Crestwell asked Jace, sarcasm heavy in his tone; "You are unaware that blood oaths, and spells to allow warlock's to bear children, are against Coven and Clave law?"

"I am aware that what you've said is true;" Jace responded calmly; "Unless the person doing those things has been given permission, carte blanche in fact, by the Coven, before the Accords existed." A small smile played on Jace's face as he heard the gasp from the spectators, and a murmur of surprise and consternation from the Justices.

Shocked as he was by this turn of events, Crestwell refused to back down. "You expect us to take your word that any such permission existed, that this isn't just a desperate attempt save your parabatai's husband?" The scorn with which the prosecutor spoke the final words, indicated to all those who heard him that day, just what he thought about shadowhunter/downworlder relationships.

"No, I don't expect you to take me at my word;" Jace said, his voice all the more deadly and commanding for its calmness. "I have proof, as well as other witnesses who can testify to the truth of what I say." And, with those words, Jace began to tell the Court about Brother Armand, the former Cardinal Richelieu and High Warlock of Paris, who had come to warn the New York Institute about Magnus' half-sister Lucia, and the threat she represented. How the powerful warlock had recruited Magnus in the17th century, long before the Accords, and given him carte blanche to do whatever was necessary to get rid of the power-mad Lucia. Magnus had trapped his half-sister in a hell dimension, but not before being forced to give her a blood oath to help her conceive a child, and stay silent until the deed was done.

Once Jace finished recounting the events, as he had heard them from Brother Armand, the shadowhunter pulled a ancient parchment from his pocket and handed it to the nearest Justice. Crestwell was on his feet in an instant, objecting that a piece of evidence, not previously vetted by the prosecution was being introduced in this unorthodox manner!

Chief Justice Gray, brought his gavel down sharply to call the Court to order, before advising the angry Crestwell that he would be given sufficient time to review the document, after the Justices verified its authenticity. Armand Jean Du Plessis de Richelieu was dead, but that did not mean there weren't magics that could be used to determine both what this document actually referred to, and if the former High Warlock of Paris wrote it. Before passing it off to one of the warlock Justices, Gray read the words written in an elaborate, elegant hand;

'By My Order, and for the good of the' Shadow World, 'the bearer has done what has been done.'[1]

Having dealt with the issue of the parchment, and in consideration of the lateness of the hour, Chief Justice Gray adjourned the Court for the day, telling Jace that he should hold himself in readiness, should Prosecutor Crestwell wish to examine him further.

Crestwell, turned on his heel and stalked back to his table, grabbing the loose papers on top and stuffing them angrily into his briefcase. This had been an unexpected turn of events in a trial that he'd felt, until today, had been going very well. He was not sure what the warlock Justices would make of this 'carte blanche', should it prove legitimate. It was possible they would see the document as exonerating Magnus Bane, both for the blood oath and the illegal spell. Still, the warlocks only represented two out of five votes, he would have to work very hard to ensure he kept the three other Justices in his corner!

~~~~!~~~~

It was just past 3:00 AM when Aidan Briosag was awakened from a restless sleep. Someone powerful was attacking the wards he had placed at one of the entrances to his beloved Edinburgh underground! Throwing off the bed covers, he snapped into his clothes, mumbling incantations that he hoped would prevent the wards from failing until he had gathered his forces to meet the threat. God, how he missed Hamish! His long-time second-in-command who had been killed at Eilean Donan. They had faced many challenges together and Aidan had come to trust Hamish's courage and loyalty. Protecting the Edinburgh downworld would be much harder without his old friend.

Morag's sleep tinged voice calling out to Aidan was the only sound that could have caused him to pause, so intent was he to get to the heart of the trouble. "Morag, mo ghraidh[2], we are under attack, go to the child and make sure everything is ready should you need to escape;" He kissed her briefly and then was out the door without even looking back...

[1] This is the Note that Milady DeWinter was given by Cardinal Richelieu in Alexander Dumas' The Three Musketeers providing her carte blanche to kill d'Artagnan.

[2] Mo Ghraidh, My darling in Gaelic.