"Should I even act surprised?" Jace exclaimed when the news of Lady Amatis reached his ears; adding some kind of humor to the already too awkward to handle situation; hadn't they mourned enough? He knew the path everyone was to follow; acting surprised wouldn't do any better, so they laughed about what they could.

"I guess not, my lord, your uncle's not trying to be undecipherable either, therefore I don't expect you to worry much about anything that's to come…" the thing was rather than undecipherable, Robert's actions were unavoidable, he had become so cold and cruelly calculating to the point where one could just submit to his doings and wait to find a hope of reversing them somehow after it. That, was exactly the decision the princes had taken, the kings had accepted and their helpers longed for.

"Such a coward… the people are not blind, it's clear that he doesn't trust a single bit on Izzy's potential, well, why would he? If he could have chosen himself as heir he would've… and they'd be free from this stupid, cheap soap opera" Clary rubbed her temples using the little energy she had left, enough she had spent while having anxiety, hysterical attacks or crying herself to sleep; her husband giggled.

"It would be a success if that was the case, I tell you, I'd be the director and call it something like "Robert and his gang"… We'd win millions, we wouldn't even need to be royalty to live like kings" he started a smile on Clary's tired expression, she loved and hated that about him, how he was so charismatic and hilarious on the less convenient moments.

"Yeah and when we couldn't make any more money at expense of them we'd start one about you called "Hating ducks, not knowing why", that's how I'll prove my infinite and perfectly learned knowledge about your family" she complimented, getting an annoyed but graceful glare from Amatis.

"That's most certainly a mystery to be resolved, your highness, I knew we were a good team since the day you agreed to be my wife…"his hand made his was to reach hers over the surface of the library's bigger desk.

"You, Crown Prince of the Ego, found that out so quickly? I thought the only thing that came to your mind while thinking about me was how much you hate olives…" Jace bit his lower lip as he smirked; those moments seemed so far away, like it had been decades and not just months. The time spent with her went by so rapidly, and those emotions provoked on him so strong that he found himself feeling like day by day he lived through the only dream of his soul: a lifetime spent next to her.

"I'll spank Alec for telling you that one day, in fact, that's the first thing I'll do after this whole wacky madness is over…" the princess felt too stuck in an uncertain future, like Anne Frank always mentioned to her diary, the things she'd do or how she'd be after the war… without being able to predict what will be of them by then, or if it even will be an end.

"Let's go back to what's our own matter, what are you going to do with this?" Amatis helped her wash her anguish away with her question, that lead to surprising herself with how calmed she was about it, though it was no good news the ones they were given and that it were truly a low blow for the couple's image to Idris' eyes.

"What can we do, Lady Amatis? He has us tied up from head to toe…" her husband ran a hand through his now less shiny but still soft and silky blond hair. "But the only thing I make sure he'll never take from us is our courage to stand up tall against his violent ways. Father and Hodge will get all of the testimonies and proofs on my favor needed, but Robert's the one moving the pieces… if he doesn't bribe the judge enough to declare me guilty, he'll keep the case open until I am" Amatis had to admit that he was right, and that they had figured each one of his steps like nobody else inside the palace could have done; nor they or her were conscious of how had they done it, but still… they were scared of what they couldn't see, of what they couldn't know that would happen. After all, time, was the only thing left on their hands.

"Veritas nunquam perit, prince. Do not falter; you're not fighting alone anymore" The truth never perishes, Clary translated inside her head; but the words that most got into her head was that they were not alone anymore. It was somehow real, for the first time Stephen and Celine had opened their eyes to see their son and watch his true colors show; the question was: did that make their position any easier to manage?

"Sed etiam patientia mea (My patience does perish)" he answered not seeming too amused this time.

"You know? My mother used to say that all of the worst things in life come free to the best people, only to constantly test them, to prove to the rest and even to themselves that there are things that can be saved in the world, that it isn't all lost" he walked towards them "That there is a chance to change, to purify…" and with that tender and sincere look she smiled at their hidden intertwined hands "To grow into hope and justice… you've already proved it to the hardest nuts to crack, princes, you can't back down now".

"We won't, Lady Amatis, we promise, we just have decided not to waste energies in things we cannot control. Besides, if there's something that we must admire and learn from Crown Prince Robert is that going slow and progressively is walking safe to the goal…" the redhead explained themselves. "Nobody ever asked us to be some kind of martyrs for the sake of Alec or Isabelle; it's one of the few things we were actually willing and able to choose, because no other than us know what is like to try to correct others mistakes. They've already suffered enough, and that as far as we know; we cannot hurt them too…we cannot betray them too, we may be the only ones they have left, and as long as we can fight for them we will" Amatis nodded serenely once, her unique way of portraying her support due to words not being enough.

"Very well, then, your highnesses. I'll see you at court." It was just to wait for. Jace had been sued for the fire incident.

"Yeah, but does he have proofs of that…?" Clary hadn't stopped to consider what her best friend was asking; she had thought it was no use considering that they already knew how far Robert would to paint the view the way he wanted it to be.

"I guess so; he wouldn't have called for a judgement if he wasn't sure that he can win… He's ill but not stupid, Simon" she sighed, sitting on the edge of her bed and catching a glimpse of a picture of her and her mother; it wouldn't be long until Jocelyn heard about the good news and cry until she had not a single drop of tears left on her eyes; she wished she could make her understand what she had found out so long ago. Just feeling bad for themselves wouldn't solve anything, and nothing in the world was left unaffected by karma.

"And are you being judged too or is Jonathan the only one selling his pretty golden locks to the black market?" she smiled to herself, thinking that maybe she had a thing to keep people who were so frustratingly jokey in the worst times around, in case she needed someone to remind her that life went on, whatever things might be, she simply had the chance to decide whether to smirk trough the way or walk by like a soul in pain.

"Don't think so, the text was sent to my phone, they'll obviously count me in as an accomplice. Funny, isn't it? Went from common girl, to crown princess, to heartbreaker and now a cold blooded pyromaniac criminal… Let's say I'm truly excited to know what the next stage of Clarissa Fairchild will be, maybe I'll be kicked out of the palace and become a stripper to make a living" Simon snorted as a reply; he would've laughed, he thought, in other occasion he would've laughed. If it was another matter, with different people involved, if it wasn't so senseless and painful, dangerous. If their lives had turned out distinctively of what they were now; maybe they would've experienced the college people dream, they would've graduated with not a clue of what to do next, shared an apartment they could barely afford, be broke for a couple of months until they got their big shot; Simon and the guys would be famous, and that fame would've helped Clary live her own dream, they'd never have to be so apart, perhaps they could have fallen in love and get married, adopt five dogs and five cats and give birth to only one child, call her Becky if she was a girl and Jonathan if he was a boy… the thought of that made her fall into reality again, that just would never happen, not in this life not in this world. In this life and world they had fallen in love the most difficult, unwanted and yet beautiful way, they had laughed and hurt while doing so, but if it hadn't been like that… maybe, just maybe again, they wouldn't have felt such kind of happiness. Simon had kept silent as her imagination went wild, and that also pierced into her heart.

"Hey…" she tried with all of her not to project a broken voice.

"Yup?" he sounded so tired, so confused, so… forced to grow up; to be in the middle of happenings he could hardly handle, they weren't supposed to become so self-conscious how they did, but the past was the past, what was done was done and they could look forward alone.

"I'm sorry I always drag you into my disasters… but, if you weren't there like you are, I couldn't survive them" her tone luckily didn't turn her in, but she did tear up while saying so.

"Isn't that the definition of best friend? Don't blame yourself for this, pumpkin, big things never came for calm, quiet existences… and I'm glad having you this twisted way that not having you at all, I love you still…" that's how love was summed up, with it being strange, imprudent, unnecessary but still giving you're a breath of live; besides, it was a kind of a mistake to take love in different types, the actions that show it are different, but love expressed to any person was just one thing: a huge, messed up and cute mess, the best of all.

"I love you too…However don't you ever say that as a goodbye again, if there's someone I'll hold on to forever, that has to be you".

"Ooh, girl, pray for your husband never to know that you said so!"

"God, shut the puns for a second, can you? Of course I want Jace close, the thing is that I do have him around, and I'm sure we won't have to try that hard to keep that the way it is; still a friendship is constantly tested and threatened, and later it might seem like I'm always at the verge of losing you… So, more than a declaration, I'm making a promise…"

"We made that promise like six years ago, thanks for the reminder though… Don't worry too much, redhead, you aren't getting rid of me that easily" she knew it was a bit of a nonsense to say those things, nevertheless Simon was her holding hand, her shoulder to cry on, her soul brother; from the moment the crown had been placed on her head, she'd have to fight to maintain that how it had always been, and the fight wasn't over.

"Amen to that… to being us and together"

"Cheers, pumpkin" The love of her life, she fought to having him beside her at all times; about her best friend? She fought to keep that connection intact, for it to last, near or far away.

"Aline? … Aline!" it was odd for Madame Dorothea's best student to be so distracted all the time, especially with a big show coming; but it was no ordinary loss of attention, Aline seemed not to be breathing anymore, like she was being punished for every time air reached her lungs. The rising of her voice made her shiver and freeze each cell of her insides to the core; it was merely a call of attention, but the girl's reaction was if she had screamed like a soul in pain.

"Yes, madame" the teacher noticed her husky breath and strange trembling, as the careless amount of hair falling off from the bun and messily covering the sides of her face.

"Are you feeling alright?" Madame was demanding, very, and she didn't put up when she acted like a diva; but as she had shown before, Aline was her greatest and closest student; she could read her like a book, almost las if she was her own daughter and not Mrs. Jia Penhallow's…

""Y-yes, I'm just a bit dizzy, I haven't had time to eat anything properly these days…"she meant to make that believable; still her posture, the direction of her stare and nervousness played and won against her will.

"I see, neither have you had time to sleep, relax or…" she took her by the chin, raising her face to hers and confirming what she feared was the cause of her instability "cover up that damaged precious face of yours for me not to notice how much you've cried" Aline got apart as fast as she could.

"It's not that, but I agree that I haven't slept well; I'm very sorry, let's begin again, and I'll stay longer to make up for your lost time" she aimed to put the missing locks of her behind her ears but then left the gesture abruptly and walked to bar without looking up.

"No" Dorothea stated.

"Uh?" she hardly ever rejected her attempts to correct herself, she had always considered that it was best for her to recognize and make better her own mistakes without her teacher having to do so.

"You're going to stare me into the eye, stop trying to hide those bruises with your hair and tell me what the hell is going on…" this time, she was angry; not angry with her or of what happened, but angry with the fact that she tried to hide it fruitlessly.

"I apologize again, madame; I can't… And I shouldn't lose focus, it was just an accident I assure you… they'll be gone before the recital, you'll see" she smirked and took a deep breath to begin her stretching.

"Your mother doesn't do anything as an accident, Aline Constance Penhallow Ke" she said her whole name, this time it was serious. "And hitting you, oh dear, I'm far sure that it wasn't just her reaction to a bad joke you told"

"No… it was rather a joke that turned out to be too true for her liking…" now it was tears that tried to cover her wounds and didn't work once again, rather made them shine as if decorating glitter had been applied to the violet surface on her cheeks; beautiful on one side, mocking on the other, merciless all the way.

"What happened, darling? Speak up, there's nothing more to lose…" she took her hands, and tried to calm her with reassuring words.

"I just wanted to bond again with her, after all of the trouble I caused… I wanted her to stop worrying, to make her know I was better than ever… Happier than ever, I've never loved this way, Madame Dorothea, I wanted to share that with her" she sobbed, sobbed not with tears of frustration, but the way one cries when there's no light to the hole you've gotten yourself into. That way of crying when it's not tears coming from your eyes, but from your soul. "I was conscious that she wouldn't understand it at first, but I never expected her to…" her voice was becoming unintelligible, she couldn't finish with it, she'd rather choke with her words that confessing out loud what Jia had done.

"What was it exactly that you said?"

"I told her I was in love… I didn't mention who it was, she already knew… that it was the girl that she had saw me sneaking out with" she fell to her knees, not minding about the pain it caused to her already aching bones "I wasn't trying to disrespect her, I wanted her to be ready for that kind of news, it isn't easy to accept so but…" her teacher followed her to the ground and wrapped her arms protectively around her.

"Its fine, it'll be… The important thing is that you have to give her some time to think it through and that she won't do anything worse than this after…"

"She threw me out… and father didn't say a word…I doubt anything can be worse than that; Helen said I could stay with her for a while, but she has six siblings, I would bring just trouble for the Blackthorns" the tears ceased to fall, she realized how drained she was, how much she lacked any desire to keep up with it.

"That might be true, therefore you're coming with me…" she said no more and got into her feet again. Picking up her belongings as Aline stayed unmoving on the floor.

"Madame, I couldn't… You've already done so much for me, I neither want to ruin the relationship you've shared with my mother for so long, this is a minor discussion no more…" her teacher turned to certify how true was her statement with one single look.

"Exactly… look, mistakes are the quickest lessons learned; even more when you've got a passion to pursue, you'd do anything to be the best at what you do because you love to do so… Life's exactly the same, though this time it's not you who has taken a misstep. And darling, believe me, Jia loves to be a mother, more than she ever loved being a dancer; she adores all of the things you've done for her, now she must understand that it's your moment to start living for yourself, and loving the things and people you want to love… It'll take time, but she won't be able to lose the one person she'd die for because of her prejudice"

"Make her comprehend that, I tried to explain… I also love her, but I cannot be her" Madame Dorothea recognized how she was at the verge of giving in, but she wouldn't let her. Yes, the child was sometimes driven too much by her feelings, but she was a good girl; was never any trouble, never impolite, always pleasing her elders… never waiting to unveil the reasons why she did what she did, that's why she couldn't be punished for wishing something that hadn't been planned for her to do so.

"That's because she has to comprehend that for herself, darling… worry not, it won't be long until she's on her knees begging you to come back home. Until that, you'll get to spend some time with your adoptive mother who also loves you very much" she helped her up, stealing a smile form her.

"What can I ever do to thank you enough for this… for everything?" Madame shook her head, downplaying any reward or payment for what she was doing.

"Be happy, child, free yourself and go after what you most want… that's more than enough for me" she caressed her cheek tenderly, sharing her joy and relief "And Helen's welcome to visit us except when you have a rehearsal…"

"Yes, Madame" they hugged, sealing the deal as well as her wounds.

Jocelyn was getting old. Or so she thought, she had never walked this passively, or felt so sickened and tired before; she had never felt so powerless, so defeated, her life had made her a warrior who stood up for herself and her children, therefore she had found somewhere inside her the strength to stand still every time she got beaten. But it wasn't like that now, this time she was just… drained. Perhaps due to now being the center of the issue this time, maybe because of her younger child having to bear with so many things she actually, and recently found out, she didn't know how to control, or how to help her with, how to protect her from her own existence?

"…You used to make a mess every time you were on the baby seat, but I still liked to feed you. Clary was much better behaved while eating, but she'd fall asleep in the middle of the meal." She heard her husband and son laughing in the living room as she entered her warm, so familiar house that had a noticeable contrast with the progressive winter of the outside; however, the cold feeling was held inside her chest, making it hard for her to realize she wasn't so alone with her thoughts anymore.

"Hey, my precious Queen of snow!" Jonathan greeted her mother stealing a smirk from her; she saw the reason of their sudden cheerful state: they were looking at the family albums. He helped her with her coat and she sat next to Luke, finding two pairs of shiny, loving green eyes on the pictures, she had fallen in love with those eyes since the moment they had sprang open; and she was still so very fond of those emerald eyes, identic to hers.

"When did you two grow up into this reckless young adults and left my beautiful babies behind?" she asked to her son playfully, he chuckled with her. Jocelyn's eyes wandered between memories and years, toothless smiles and whimpers. She turned the pages of the album with adoration, watching her son and daughter grow once again right in front of her gaze, what hadn't happened in real life. It hadn't been that much of a joke; time had gone by so fast for her to note it.

"Oh, look at them there… Look at Clary's curls" Luke shared the cherishing of his stepchildren's lives as they saw a one year old Jonathan cuddling with his newborn baby sister and grandfather on his bed. "That's what you three did all day long, sleep and eat"

"That's why you called us Red locks and the three bears" she recalled giggling.

"Oh, Valentine must've been the bad wolf then…" Jonathan pointed out making them laugh out loud once again.

"Maybe, but even still you two survived the enemy… even while being so small…" she showed a full smile at seeing a photo of them in their "Nephilim warriors" costumes, this time next to Rebecca and Simon. Next she saw them playing with Luke up in an apple tree, now she remembered when her daughter had painted her brother's face all blue and called him Johnny smurf all day; the tears began to escape from her eyes with the picture of when Jonathan had found a baby cat on their garden, and Simon had become so attached to the little creature that he decided to keep it, winning much scolding from his mother, Becky named him Yossarian. They never asked why.

And what hit her most was a photo that wasn't perfectly placed and glued like the rest of them, one that fell right onto her lap. Valentine sat on a violets field with a four year old Clary, a too serious expression on his face while the little girl held tight to his neck and brushed his left cheek with her messy curls, Jonathan stood behind them picking up a flower that he'd give to his sister later. Jocelyn had always been proud of that picture; it was perfectly taken, with the sunset behind them, and such a calm and pleasant weather surrounding them. If only she'd known that only days after the picture was taken, he'd be out of their lives forever.

"She has loved violets ever since…" she nodded at the reminder, and even thought the tears still fell, she sensed a seizing feeling of peace on her heart and sighed. Clary had always been innocent, not naïve, not ever; She had adored the father she had had on early years, and then she had loved Luke because he had always been there. She had loved her grandfather even after his death, and she had loved her brother even after his departure. And she had loved her mother, tirelessly, all of the time, since the day she had learnt to say the word, she just knew… motherly instinct let's say. The biggest proof of that never ending love was that she had forgiven her, forgiven them all, after as much years of memories as years of secrets, and possibilities that never came true. They had grown up too fast, it's true, but they also grew strong, because they grow loving something, somewhere and some people.

That's why, she realized, they weren't broken. The strength that had lifter her up from the ground, the strength they were learning to embrace in order to continue living was built on love. All of the best decisions no matter the results of them, were made with love inside the heart and head; so she could be in peace now, maybe she couldn't swipe the problems away from her darlings view, but if Jocelyn Fairchild had done something right in the period of getting "old" was teaching her kids that love changes and supports their lives, always. Always.

"This silence is killing me" Jace ran a hand through his already perfect hairdo, his wife giggled in response as she ceased to play nervously with the hem of his jacket.

"What a lovely way to confess that you think I speak too much" he smiled down to her and pulled her closer in a tight embrace kissing her forehead. She could hear the uneasy beats of the heart she was given to protect.

"I live for your voice, you know that" the beats steadied, and his breath became regular, her arms surrounded his waist closing her eyes to the compass, savoring the moment of tranquility before the storm hit.

"You're scared…" she said out loud what her head screamed inside, she never thought of saying so about him; he, the boy with lion eyes and heart, always willing, never hesitating or looking back. But sometimes, she just happened to forget he was human, and that he was young, he had the right to fear like any other person… she had also wished she could help take those worries away. Though as long as we're alive, we'll have something to be scared about, something that actually is what confirms us we're still in this world.

"I have much to lose now…" he cleared the ideas of her mind, of course, feeling as lonely as he had before, he existed without thinking. But he was opening his eyes to the light now; to how real life was meant to be, sure it was frightening. Growing up was.

"That's not totally bad…" she gave him a reassuring smile and an affectionate stare, and when his eyes found hers he had this warm sensation inside his chest; no, it couldn't be that bad as long as he could get lost inside those green pieces of heaven. "It keeps you awake; giving all that you got, trying and trying again; and even harder if you fail. It maintains the purpose vivid, I guess…"

"We're too young to be taking anything too seriously" they laughed together, Jace took her hands, laughing even harder when he found that they were as shaky and cold as his own. "But… being young doesn't really dismiss the fact that we are the soon to be Kings; I think that has always been the excuse for everything for as long as I can remember" that hurt inside her chest too, the pity, the impotence of wishing with all of her she could give him the chance he could, and perhaps would never have. "But it's time to change that, to change much things and those don't really come easy, I'm about to modify everything I've ever known… that's also why I'm scared, and I'm also scared of telling you these right now… How the hell did you get so under my skin?!" and he was suddenly preoccupied about that?

"Believe me, I ask that same question every day. Still no answer, buddy" he caressed her cheek, wanting to save the image of the afternoon sun's light that reflected through the window and created that dreamy effect on her skin, the honest and so calming love of her smirk, her uneasy blinks. The mixture of anxiety and devotion in her, making her look more perfect that his eyes had ever seen. And that made him sad; somehow, he tried even harder to imprint that view of her inside his memory forever.

"I'll… spend each day for the rest of my life…" she waited patiently for the words to come out, nothing so beautiful came out so easily "Making sure that we never find an answer, I don't need any explanation or permission to love you… and I won't ever give it up, no matter what happens to us…" Just when she was about to answer, Hodge entered the room, opening the door loudly and rapidly, impossible not to be panicked by his burst for a second…

And because of his expression on the next.

"Highnesses, there's… The culprit of the fire has confessed…" that made them even more confused, about his reaction to it and about the unexpected freedom of crime for Jace; Robert wouldn't give in so easily. They heard hurried and fast steps through the hall, and the sound seemed as if their company was stepping on their hearts and not the floor… This news was no good at all.

"Who… who did it, Hodge?" Jace noticed the shaking body of his wife, he took her left hand once again, but she didn't respond the gesture. The air around her was becoming too thick for her lungs… what were they going to do?

"I'm sorry to tell you this, my lady. It was Annemarie Highsmith…" he announced, although it made sense, with her being so attached to Robert, some part of her knew it wasn't true… and there was something too odd about that confession. "In spite of this, I'm afraid that the judgement is to be held as it was planned…"

"How come? They found the person they were looking for, what else do they need? We won't be able to be witnesses or to give any information…" he realized the reason of Clary's panting worry, the tables were turning. Nothing more awful to experience when one good outcome becomes and even bigger and darker hole to get into.

"This… that's not the situation to be covered, prince. It's something far more concerning and difficult to solve. Believe me, highness, I tried to persuade the parliament to proceed in a smoother and silent way, but the people inside the palace is feeling somehow indignant… there must be a perfectly understandable reason to such accusation being made. But you must be sure that we'll protect you at all costs"

"Hodge, what's exactly going on?" if it was possible, they were even more terrified than before.

"I'm, I cannot find words to express how regrettable this is…" he was interrupted by a command voice of the guards; a voice that Clary wasn't used to, she recognized the flame emblems on their uniform as they approached the room: they were the Lightwood's guards.

"Enough job done from you, Mr. Starweather, we'll be taking care of it from now"

"How dare you talk like that to the head of the parliament? In fact, this isn't your work zone, whatever the matter is, it doesn't give you any reason to break into our home like this" Jace answered violently, half because of his state of cluelessness and also due to the tension of the situation.

"This is a matter of general worry for the royal family, highness. The apologies will be given properly later on; right now we have orders to follow and a rather serious issue on our hands. Take her" the head of the troop spoke, the rest of the guards approached Clary.

"What's this insolence about? Hands off the princess!" Clary heard his protests vaguely, she felt as if she was about to faint, the guards didn't force her to surrender, she was too weak and they used that to their convenience, taking her arms behind her back and handcuffing them.

"I'm sorry to inform you this, prince. If your server here was half as efficient as he is imprudent he would've already warned you both…" Clary was unsure about the reason of this kind of mistreat, but what she did knew, is that if it was the only fact about her life she couldn't hide or be guilty about was the why of all that, she'd have a heart attack at the same moment.

"Her highness Clarissa Herondale Fairchild is accused of high betrayal to the royal family, being direct relative of the worst menace ever known to the monarchy: Valentine Morgenstern. And she is to be processed and judged by the parliament and their majesties without any royal distinction."

To be continued…

Dreamer.

Hello everyone! I know I know, I haven't uploaded since summer, I think! We'll as always my excuse is: school, this is my senior year and I'm being exploited by my teachers (crocodile tears) I'm sorry, but as you can see I've progressively worked on this chapter since September, I was actually going to publish it on December but I didn't have the time, my apologies again. Oh! And I hope your holidays were awesome and that your 2017 is filled with new adventures, hopes, dreams and people that make this year beautiful for you! And tell me what did you think of this one? What will happen with our dearest princess?! As it was said truth never perishes. We'll just have to wait and see, but remember… everything in life has a happy ending, and if it doesn't, it isn't the end yet.

Lots of love, bye!