Chapter 4- Alliance
It seemed like only minutes had passed instead of hours when Clary finally opened her eyes once again. Groggy from sleep, her arm ideally felt around for the blanket in order to shield herself from the bright warm sunlight that entered the room. It was so bright and it must have been morning for some time now. It was odd that she slept in. Normally, Clary would wake at dawn, picturing the sunrise as if she had been there. Yesterday had been exhausting and she wanted nothing more than to fall back to sleep in the warm sunlight. Exhausting… Why had she been exhausted? Suddenly the events of yesterday flooded back to her as she jolted up.
"So you are alive." a small voice spoke, poking her in the side with a stick.
Realizing she was no longer alone she turned her gaze onto the person next to her. Before her stood a small boy with dark hair and bright gray eyes. He was a handsome little boy who looked at her with wonder through a set of wide brim glasses. Sitting up Clary rubbed her eyes and studied him.
"Do you always poke strangers with sticks as the rest?" she asked, not bothering to mask the sleep in her voice. The small boy smiled playfully.
"I was worried you might be dead. Who are you?" he asked curiously. "I haven't seen you around here before?"
Clary thought for a moment before deciding on the truth. She was away from the guards and out of the kingdom now; more than anything she was tired of lying. She didn't want to give anyone ammunition against her. There were secrets to keep but her name shouldn't be one of them. At least, her nickname.
"My name is Clary. What is yours?" she asked.
The boy stood up from his rock and grinned. Happy to have gotten a response.
"My name is Max. Do you want to play with me, Clary? My brother is away from the village fishing and my uncle is at the marketplace." He pleaded. Clary smiled in response.
"I'll make you a deal. If you take me back to your village, I'll play with you the rest of the day. Right now I am in need of some breakfast first. Then, I am all yours. Do we have a deal?" she asked, raising her hand. Max looked at her curiously before taking her hand and shaking it.
"Deal." He replied.
Max had been true to his word. He had guided her to the small village and into the heart of the marketplace. It was different from anywhere she had been. The people had dressed plainly and most walked around barefoot. Beside each of the shops stood sculptures of wolves made from wood. The people looked at her strangely and kept their distance. She didn't blame them. She stood out in her torn dress; a party dress she had worn to the grand ball the night before the burning. At least her boots were still intact. She doubted she would have been able to outrun the guards if she were barefoot.
Clary was curious how the villagers were able to walk around with no shoes until she took a better look at the ground. The grass here was unlike anything she had seen. It was soft and free of rocks. While the people regarded her curiously and kept their distance, their behavior didn't seem to faze Max in the slightest. He weaved her in and out of narrow paths, stopping by a stall to look around before moving on once again. Finally, he seemed to find what he was looking for. Little did Clary know it was more of a "who" than a "what."
"Magnus!" the small boy called. The man in question jumped up and nearly hit his head. Magnus was a tall lean man with toned arms and bright green eyes. They were the most beautiful shade of green and very unnatural. Clary guessed that he was a warlock or some type of magic wielding fellow immediately. It wasn't that he looked too out of sorts but she had always had a sick sense about those who wielded magic.
"How many times must I ask you not to sneak up on me like that Max?" the man smiled. Max grinned in reply and was about to say something when Magnus' eyes fell on her and narrowed in on how Max tightly held her hand.
"And who might you be?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. Max jumped up happily and answered.
"This is my new friend. Her name is Clary. She is going to play with me after breakfast." He stated. Clary blushed lightly, not liking the attention.
"It is nice to meet you Mr..? she asked, bowing politely. She mentally cursed herself immediately for it, knowing it gave away her upbringing.
"Magnus will do. I never liked the habit of addressing others by their last names. Too FORMAL for my liking." The man spoke, giving her a calculating smile.
"I have not seen you around, my dear. Where are you from?" he asked. Clary looked down at her feet, not wishing to reveal too much information about herself.
"I'm… not from here." She whispered and that was all she managed to get out before Magnus silenced her with a raise of his finger.
"I see. We must not speak of it here. Come with me back to my cottage. We will discuss everything there." he whispered before turning towards the young lad. "Max, let's go." He called, taking her hand gently into his and pulling her down the dirt path.
Max followed in tow begrudgingly. He was clearly upset that his uncle was stealing his new friend. Clary on the other hand didn't know what to think. She trusted Max, who was filled with childhood innocence but Magnus was a stranger to her. Still, there was something warm and a bit familiar about him. Despite all logical sense telling her to run, her gut told her that she could trust him. Not that she had much choice at this point. They made it to the cottage in no time and began ascending the steps.
"Enough pouting, Max. Go fetch some water. Clary here needs a bath and a new dress." He announced. Clary's eyes grew wide.
"Oh, I couldn't possibly-" she began but he cut her off.
"Refuse? But of course you can't refuse. That would be very impolite." Magnus finished giving her a teasing smile. Playing on the fact she was raised following proper etiquette. It seemed Max's uncle was very bossy indeed and quite clever. The small boy frowned but did what he was told. Opening up the door Clary took a tentative step inside. It was small and quaint but very inviting. There was a small sitting area next to a long wooden table. On the other side of the room was the kitchen. It had a stove, cabinets, and a small sink for washing. Above all it was clean and she felt guilty walking on top of the wooden floor with her muddy boots.
"Come here, my darling," Magnus called, pulling out a chair from the table. Clary gulped and followed obediently. Sitting down the man pulled a hairbrush out of thin air. It felt strange having a stranger brush her hair but perhaps here it was custom to be so friendly.
"So my dear, pardon my forthfulness but if my husband came home and saw the state you were in, he would be less inclined to help you." Magnus purred. "He isn't one to help those from over the wall."
Clary couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed for she couldn't remember the last time she washed or brushed her hair. Despite feeling odd the intimate gesture touched her heart and she felt herself relaxing under the spell of Magnus' touch.
"How did you know I was from beyond the wall?" the redhead inquired politely. The man just continued working through her hair, not meeting her gaze.
"Because I am from beyond the wall like yourself. The people here call us "outsiders." That is what they call all of those whose blood comes from elsewhere." His voice turning gruff.
"They have finally accepted us over the last few years but there is always a sense of uneasiness to their is why I doubt anyone greeted you in the market. Most people keep their distance and are very weary of strangers." He added.
"Well, I thank you for your kindness then and I am sorry that others do not appreciate your kind nature. I hope they don't treat little Max with such disdain?" Clary asked, sadly feeling her shoulders relaxing with each stroke of his brush. She felt at ease as if speaking to a friend.
"He is different, even if his blood was native he would much rather read a book than play games. Mind you, he likes both. Reading has always brought him joy. A trait he does not share with many other children." Magnus explained before hesitating.
"Why don't you tell me more about yourself, Clary. What brings you here? Are you on a mission from the King? A show of goodwill?" The man asked. Clary felt her lips move, answering the question before her mind had a chance to properly think.
"By the angel no. I hate the King. He is a barbaric, cold hearted, evil man, and I wish nothing but death on the entire royal family." She spoke. Eyes growing wide, she realized her mistake too late. One never speaks ill of the royal family, at least not to strangers. Such words were treason and it could cost her her life. Jumping up, she quickly moved away from the man. While at first she suspected he was a warlock, now she knew he was one. Magic. She knew magic could be used to gain information, by the angel she had heard enough stories of the King and Prince using such but to have it used on her without her realizing it?
"You… you tricked me!" Clary accused, taking another step away from him.
Bright green eyes tracked her as she moved across the room. Yet Magnus didn't make any movement towards her.
"If you are an enemy of the king then you have no reason to fear me, my lady." Magnus spoke sternly. "I only meant to ascertain if you were a threat to my family. Given the nature of his pompousness and mightiness, surely you understand my reasoning."
"You could have just asked." Clary defended. "I wouldn't have lied…"
"Perhaps, but I had to make sure. If what you say is true then you have nothing to fear from my questions. I have to make sure you are not a threat. Especially if you are going to be staying with us." he added.
Clary eyed him suspiciously. Yes, logically she understood his need to protect his family. Yet, the feeling of being violated still stung. Then, something he said caught her attention.
"Wait, stay here?" she asked with genuine surprise.
The warlock appraised her gently this time giving her a warm smile.
"No one here will take you in Clary. They do not help strangers. I am afraid we are your only option so if you would come back here and answer a few more of my questions, we can move past this misunderstanding and look towards becoming friends. After all, a young woman in your position can use some friends." Magnus concluded, giving her a dazzling smile.
Clary was about to open her mouth to speak again when Max suddenly entered the room holding a giant bucket. It was so big that she didn't see how he was able to carry it with such ease.
"Wonderful job, Max! Now, if you would please go fill the tub with it. Our new FRIEND Clary here needs a hot bath and some new clothes." Magnus instructed. Max nodded and tugged the bucket into the back room.
"How on Earth?" Clary asked as her eyes followed the small boy. Magnus chuckled.
"Being a warlock has its advantages." He replied, wiggling his fingers at her, releasing a sparkling blue light. Clary returned her attention to the floor.
"I see from your lack of surprise that you already guessed what I am. Now, tell me about your powers." He stated evenly. Clary turned her head to eye him curiously.
"Pardon?" she asked, confused. Magnus nodded.
"There is an air of magic around you. I can sense it. Very powerful indeed yet ." he asked. Clary tightened her jaw, not sure how honest she should be with the man. Taking a deep breath, she reached forward and held out her hand. Magnus smiled.
"I honestly don't know. I know I am gifted but to what extent I am unaware of. My mother… she died when I was young. I know almost nothing about my family history. I don't work for the king if that is why you are asking." She explained. Magnus sighed.
"I am sorry to hear about your mother, biscuit. What of your upbringing? Did anyone help teach you to control your gift?" he inquired.
"No." Clary answered flatly. "I was brought up to keep it a secret."
"Such gifts should be shared with the world. Especially a light such as yours." Magnus announced. "Now, for the important question. I must ask, what brings you to our side of the wall? It's Not everyday someone is able to enter the domain of the forest god."
"Forest god?" Clary asked but withdrew her hand, not answering the question. Catching the sharp look in the man's eyes she continued.
"Please forgive my rudeness but I would rather not go into the details, for YOUR safety. You have been very generous but I am a wanted woman. I ran here seeking shelter from the palace guards. I am sure they will come after me and I don't want you to be in danger." She explained. Magus had ceased smiling. His former grin was replaced with a frown. He reached out and quietly took her hands in his.
"Fear not, Clary. They can not reach you here, my dear. Do not fret over guilt, you staying here will not put US in danger. The guardian sees that we are safe from King Valentine and his demons. Now, I believe that concludes my questioning at this time. There are other matters that need attention, such as your attire." Magnus explained placing his hand on her back and leading her towards one of the bedrooms.
"There is a bathtub in that room there. I enchanted the tub to turn the water hot. Use some soap and wash. I will have a fresh dress waiting for you when you finish." He instructed gesturing to the door Max had just come out of.
"After that, can Clary and I go play?" Max pleaded. Magnus smiled ruffling the boy's hair.
"Not today Max. Clary needs to be shown the rules here or else she will be in danger and we wouldn't want our friend to upset the god of the forest, now would we?" The warlock explained, giving a quick look at the redhead. Max shook his head in determination.
"No, but can I still play with her if I promise to stay inside?" the young boy countered. Clary couldn't help but smile. Magnus looked at her warmly and she found herself liking the man. His bright eyes appraised her under his long well-groomed black hair. It seemed he came to the same conclusion about her.
"Yes, but after she gets clean and out of those awful clothes." He smiled, waving his hand in the air with fake disgust. Max jumped up and down with joy.
"All right. I shall hurry then." she replied, excusing herself to wash up.
Magnus was right about the water being hot. Sinking into the bath was heaven. The hot water eased her sore muscles. Clary ideally hoped this wasn't another part of Magnus' tricks to get her to spill her innermost secrets. She was tired and sore from traveling and desperately wanted to fall back asleep but thought of poor Max waiting on her. So, she quickly washed the dirt and grime off of her skin; finishing with her long red hair. Then she got out of the cloudy water and wrapped herself in a towel. She began drying herself with a large towel when she turned back and noticed that the water in the tub had disappeared.
"As I said before, magic does have its benefits,' Magnus spoke, causing her to jump. He nodded and closed the door quietly behind him. Clary blushed a deep shade of red and clung to the towel wrapped around her body. The warlock merely smiled and held up the dress.
"You have nothing to fear from me, my dear. In case you haven't noticed women don't really do it for me." He winked. Clary's chest fell in relief.
"I am afraid we do not have the seamstresses that you are accustomed to over the wall but this dress should work." he announced holding up a simple dark blue dress.
"You will find that ladies here have no need for tight dresses and corsets. They prefer to be able to move around in their clothes." He explained cheekily.
Clary was liking this place more and more already. She took the dress, quickly admiring the silk sash accenting the waist. Magnus had also thankfully given her a pair of undergarments to change into as he looked away.
"Forgive me but I am curious for any news over the wall. Prey tell me, what is going on in the capital?" The warlock asked, moving to take a seat facing away from her on the bed.
"I am afraid I do not have much news from the capital…" Clary replied. "I am from Ignis and can only offer you ideal rumors. Though, I can tell you that things are just the same as ever. King Valentine plans to attack the Lovelace and Wayland kingdoms soon. He has been creating an arsenal in the pits." Clary answered, finishing up.
"Ah, that comes as no surprise. Yet, I thought the king would have made that move years ago…How fair's the court?" The warlock prodded. Clary shrugged.
"I agree, the king has taken his time on the matter. For someone who is quick to act, he has taken his time marching upon their empires. As for the court, I am afraid I am not one who is in tune with the court gossip if that is what you are asking." she replied, tapping the warlock on the shoulder.
"You look beautiful." The man smiled, turning around. Clary had caught herself in the reflection of the mirror. She had to agree with the man, the dress fit her nicely. It was a simple long sleeve dark blue dress. It hugged her body well but not uncomfortably so. It had a dark blue sash that wrapped around her waist and fell down her front. It was simple, elegant and beautiful. She loved it and hugged the warlock in appreciation.
"I appreciate any news and am saddened to hear that the King has not given up his vengeance upon the Kingdom of Wayland. To hear now that he wishes to attack the Lovelace kingdom as well is disheartening." Magnus replied solemnly.
"It has been my experience that the crown holds grudges." the redhead replied in turn.
"Ah, that is most certain." Magnus nodded in agreement, taking a moment to take her long red hair in his hands. It was then that he began to untangle her necklace from her hair. As soon as the metal touched his hands, the man gasped and quickly dropped it in surprise. Clary eyed him suspiciously, and took the silver key in her hands.
"I did not see this necklace before and I must admit the craftsmanship surprised me." Magnus explained. "Where did you get such a beautiful necklace?"
"It was my mother. It is the only thing I have left of her after she died. I never take it off." Clary answered matter of factly.
"Nor should you, given its sentimental value. Tell me, do you know where she got this or where it came from?" the warlock inquired further, this time admiring the blue gem in the key's center.
"No, but I was told to make sure that it stays hidden by the women raising me. She said that it was not safe to show to others. Do you know why?" Clary inquired.
"If I am not mistaken it is the symbol of a far away land, one that is no more. Perhaps, she feared that someone would recognize it and question your loyalties."
"They shouldn't need a pendant to do that if they were smart. Most people hate the king." she explained, showing Magnus that she was capable of answering truthfully without magic.
"Yes, they do. Still, fear not, my lady. You are safe here. Now, come and let's get your something to eat. Max mentioned you were hungry."
After breakfast Clary sat down on the floor of the sitting room and played with a set of wooden soldiers that Max had taken out. Magnus sat behind her and busied himself with braiding her hair.
"You must be cautious of the people here until they trust you, Clary. As I said before, they are most wary of outsiders." he explained.
"How do I gain their trust?" the redhead inquired, taking a solder and placing it on top of the block tower.
"Time… mostly and of course, you will need the Forest God's blessing. That is paramount. I am sure many suspected you received such already given how you were walking around the market. We must remedy that quickly before you raise more suspicion." the warlock stated. Clary ideally wondered if this god did in fact exist and how she was able to obtain his blessing.
"You have mentioned the god of the forest before. Tell me, who or what is he ….and how can I get his blessing?" she inquired.
"I am sure you have seen the many wooden totems around the village, carved in the shape of wolves. That wolf represents the god of the forest. He is a spirit who protects us. He guards the wall and allows none of King Valentine's demons to hurt us." Magnus explained.
"The God doesn't like outsiders." Max added. "Normally he attacks them. That is why Magnus and my brother are going to need to talk to him. So he doesn't eat you." Max added, knocking her soldier from his place on the castle.
Clary's eyes grew wide.
"So, this god….he is…real?" she asked.
"Oh yes, said Max! We see him often. He likes my big brother. His name is Alec." the boy grinned, pushing another toy soldier off of the castle.
This did little to ease Clary's nerves. She escaped the guards only to be eaten by a wolf forest spirit….great. Out of the frying pan and into the fire, as they say.
"Why does the God of the forest hate outsiders?" Clary inquired, turning to address the warlock and attempting to hide her fear.
Magnus froze and inadvertently dropped the brush in his hand onto the floor. He looked at her for a moment thinking carefully over his words. Max, who was equally curious, was watching his uncle intently. He was about to speak when the front door opened wide. It was ironic that at that moment a man, who Clary could only assume was Alec stormed into the cottage. The first thing she noticed was his bright blue eyes. They were striking against his jet black hair. They reminded her of Max's soft gray eyes. Alec was muscular, tall and lean. He carried a large bow in one hand and a quiver of arrows on his back. His face was dirty, and his clothes hung to his body in sweat.
"Big Brother! You're back early" Max yelled running forward to hug him. Alec smiled, returning his little brother's hug. Wherever he had been had taken a toll on him. He looked tired and blatantly disheveled. His eyes quickly scanned the room but given that Clary was sitting on the carpet behind the sofa, in an attempt to make it easier for Magnus to braid her hair, Alec had not spotted her.
"We have a probable Magnus," Alec spoke, his gaze still boring down worriedly on his brother and his words laced with urgency. "Jace and I have been out all night searching for an outsider. Someone breached the wall and we have to kill them before it is too late." The young man announced turning to approach Magnus who was frozen in shock.
"Alec, calm yourself. There is no need to act rashly-"
"Of course there is a need to act rashly! If we don't find the man who breached the wall then we are all in danger. I don't see how you can sit there so calmly knowing there is a lackie of the king among us!"
"I am not a "lackie of the king." Clary spoke, standing up from her spot on the floor. "Nor, do I serve the Morgenstern empire in any way."
Alec's bright blue eyes coldly appraised her. Clary met his gaze in silent defiance. If he thought she was here to spy then he would be sadly disappointed.
"You, you brought an outsider here... of all places?" Alec bellowed, turning to face Magnus. Max, who had come to stand next to her, began to cling to her side.
"No, I brought her. Clary is my friend. She has never harmed anyone and you and Jace will like her if you just give her a-"
"Enough!" Alec grunted, cutting Max off. Clary looked at the man before her as her warm arms wrapped around a now sniffling Max.
"I know I am not from here and I apologize if I have broken any rules. But ... .I mean no one any harm. Killing me… seems a bit drastic, doesn't it? I mean, if I truly was a guard, then I understand your reasoning. However, I am not. As a matter of fact, I escaped from death to get here. If you want to kill me then simply just send me back over the wall? I am sure the king would love to cut off my head." She argued. Alec's bright eyes appraised her.
"Why would the king care about a little girl?" he asked.
At this Clary frowned, trying to keep her temper in check. She hated, absolutely hated begging called a little girl. Just because she was short didn't mean she was a weakling.
"I am not a little girl." She all but hissed. Magnus who had been silent during this conversation finally stepped in.
"My dear Alec and Clary. Why don't we all sit-down and chat? I have a feeling there is much to discuss and once everything is out in the open we can work through this… misunderstanding." The warlock suggested pulling Alec to sit down to sit in the chair beside him.
Clary took in a deep breath and tugged the crying Max towards the table. Once everyone was seated Magnus began.
"I know you have many questions for us and us for you. Though you and I have spoken, perhaps we should begin again for Alec's sake, hmmm." The warlock explained. "Why don't we start by taking turns? Alec?" he addressed.
Clary bit her lip nervously. She hoped that she could trust these people. They had shown her nothing but kindness, well except Alec. It seemed he was out for her death. Still, she could just escape and run back to the wall if need be. Regardless how cold Alec's eyes were, there was a sense of honor about him and despite what her mind told her… her gut told her to trust him. Her mother had always told her to trust her instincts.
"Fine, lets start with how you got here. I doubt a lady of your….stature" Alec hesitated. "Just climbed over the wall and happily made her way into my home."
Clary sighed.
"I know this might sound ludicrous, and I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it with my own eyes but…." the redhead hesitated. Magnus smiled and took her hand. While she knew it was in an attempt to comfort she knew he no doubt seeked to ease Alec's doubts.
"I was running from the guards and escaped. While running I found a door and traveled through it to get here. It…it disappeared when I locked it." she whispered. Alec and Magnus shared a look. Not knowing what it meant, Clary took to biting her lip nervously.
"Fine, onto the next question ... .Why does the king want you dead?" Alec asked casually though she could tell all three of them were eager to know. Even little Max had turned from his toys to give her his full took a deep breath, grateful for the warmth flooding through her for once.
"Some of it is simple and some of it is complicated. Long story short, my friends and I destroyed the fire demon trenches in Ignis. The ones that build the tools and weapons for his majesty's army. Though, I think he was looking for me before that. For what reason, I do not know." she shrugged.
"Given that I brought his army supply tumbling down, assuming he finds out it was me… I am pretty sure he would like nothing more than to see me dead once he finds me." The others looked at her in disbelief before Magnus began laughing. Alec shot him a look but the warlock continued.
"I knew you were a spitfire but to take on the fire demons of the pit of Ignis? You have guts biscuit. I believe you will fit in well here." He chuckled. Alec frowned once again.
"That is if she is telling the truth." He argued. Clary stood up and glared at him.
"Do you doubt my abilities Alexander?" Magnus chided.
"If I was going to lie I would come up with a far better, more believable reason than fighting demons." Clary retorted. The blue-eyed man blinked, taking in her words. Magnus rose out of his seat and placed a comforting hand on Clary's shoulder.
"My husband can be a little hard headed. He is protective of us. Please don't hold it against him." The warlock pleaded.
Clary took a moment to look into the man's catlike eyes before nodding and sitting back down.
"Now it's my turn to ask a question. Why does this Jace want me dead?" she asked. Alec and Magnus's eyes grew wide as they sent a silent look to each other.
"Jace," Magnus began. "is a friend of ours that lives in the forest. He serves the guardian. It is the guardian, I assume, who wants you dead." Magnus clarified. "And most likely due to the fact he believes you to be a guard." Clary shrugged her shoulders as if indifferent.
"Okay, then let me rephrase the question. Why does the guardian want me dead? Even if I were a guard, it would be silly for me to be here without an army. I could just as easily be fleeing". Alec cleared his throat ready to answer when Max jumped in.
"The guardian doesn't know if you work for the King or if you are trying to kill him. The God of the Forest can only be killed by an outsider according to the myth. He doesn't want that so he kills whoever enters this land unless he deems them-." Max's explanation was cut short by his big brother's hand over his mouth. Clearly, the lad had given away too much information. Clary looked at them curiously.
"Well, I am far from harmless. I can defend myself when threatened but I am honorable. I have no desire to hurt your god or anyone. All I want is a safe place to rest my head until all of this dies down and return home." She explained.
"I am afraid returning home is impossible, Clary." Magnus spoke. "Once you enter this domain, you are safe but trapped."
"Well I must argue with you concerning the matter of being, "safe." she quipped.
"I know you would never hurt anyone, Clary. You are kind and good. Plus you are rather small and the guardian is very big. I don't think you could hurt him even if you wanted to." Max replied. Clary rolled her eyes but smiled with amusement.
"Thanks for the load of confidence, Max." she giggled gazing back at the adults.
"As I stated before. I didn't mean to cause any harm and I have no desire to kill your big bad guardian. What do I have to do to prove that and earn this "blessing" I have been instructed on?" she asked.
Alec looked to Magnus who gestured to her. After a few minutes of giving Alec what could only be described as, "the look" Alec surrendered.
"Fine! I'll go and talk to him. See if he will grant her amnesty." Alec relented.
Clary smiled sweetly and was about to thank him when Alec's hand shot up.
"Don't thank me yet, Clary. I have more questions to ask you before I am comfortable letting you stay here." He warned. Clary nodded in understanding.
"You have shown me great generosity. I do not wish to be a burden to any of you. If it comes to that I will leave." Clary replied, bowing politely to the three.
"It won't come to that, dear." Magnus replied sweetly, lifting her chin up. "The God of the Forest will understand. My husband Alec WILL make him understand."
"I…have been meaning to inquire about your two's relationship." the young woman hesitated.
"Yes, he is my husband. We were married last year." Magnus smiled brightly.
"It was a beautiful day, but enough about us. I wish to hear more about Ignis and the capital. We left friends behind when we left five years ago. I would very much like to hear about them." Alec asked eagerly.
"Perhaps, after Clary gets some rest." Magnus added. "The poor thing is exhausted. Perhaps an early rest and we can take her to the guardian tomorrow morning?"
Alec looked less than thrilled but threw his hands up in defeat.
"I would suggest we not diddle dally." Alec warned, casting a weary eye towards Clary. "I believe sooner than later would be paramount! You know how temperamental the guardian can be."
"Fine." Magnus relented. "It is almost dark anyway. Let us eat and make our way into the forest. A few hours won't hurt anyone."
Alec still didn't look convinced but relented when his own stomach growled. Clary, having already eaten, was exhausted.
"If it is not too much trouble, I would rather skip dinner and rest." the redhead suggested. "If we are going to meet the forest god I would rather be rested and a short nap would be most helpful."
"I will send a fire message asking Jace to come to the village then." Alec quipped.
"I think it best…" added Magnus. "The spirit ITSELF came instead…..after all, it is his blessing she requires."
Clary couldn't help but notice Magnus' worried gaze. There was something they were not telling her and she was going to have to figure out what. However, that would have to wait. Right now she needed rest.
"Of course." Alec sighed.
Magnus gave him a pat on the shoulder before turning and making his way towards her. Leading her back to the guest bedroom he quickly drew the curtains.
"This will be your room, Clary. Everything is yours to use except the trunk. It is filled with men's clothes which I think you will find little use for. Now, go to sleep and we will solve this fiasco after dinner." Magnus replied. Clary smiled and before he could react he turned and hugged him. Alec was surprised but returned the hug tentatively.
"Thank you so much. You have no idea how much your kindness means to me." She insisted before releasing the man. Tentatively, Clary turned and saw Alec lurking in the doorway. His expression was unreadable yet lacked much of the hostility she had previously seen.
"And to you as well, Alec. Both of you are very kind to help me. I swear, I will do everything I can to repay your kindness."
Alec was blushing and looking at her clearly trying to read what was going through her mind.
"Rest, we leave in an hour." He explained. Clary nodded and turned to walk towards the bed. Alec closed the door quietly behind him and made his way back to the living room where no doubt Magnus was waiting to speak with him.