Sequel to Leah Ravenscar.
Many days have passed since the catastrophic events that took place in Edom. The world is now free from Sebastian Morgenstern and his Endarkened Warriors. The Shadowhunters are happy and live in peace.
But not all are sati...
Leah Carstairs flew in her shadow form - over the vast stretch of river Thames, whirling and momentarily dissolving in the air, till she found her desired party on Blackfriars Bridge.
The entire bridge was under a coat of Glamour, which prevented mundanes from being able to see the procession that had assembled on the bridge. Leah perched herself on the edge of the railing, and watched the bride and the groom greet their small group of wedding guests.
Today was the day her parents were getting married - after more than 130 years of having known and loved each other.
It was an important occasion to a lot of people, to witness the Gifted Warlock and the former Silent Brother get married. Unfortunately, many of who had been old acquaintances of both Tessa and Jem, were not alive.
Oh, how mortal life was. It was a pity that none of them had lived up to witness Jem and Tessa's wedding.
But instead, their descendants had come. Clary, Jace, Alec, Isabelle - even Simon, surprisingly. Jocelyn Fairchild, Emma Carstairs, Julian Blackthorn. And some old friends like Magnus Bane, Catarina Loss, and Church.
They were all absorbed in offering the couple their blessings and well wishes. Everyone looked so happy (who wouldn't be - after 134 years of waiting?); and yet there was a little sad cloud drizzling over the wedding, reminding everyone about the absence of many loved ones who should've been there.
"Leah." A sweet, British-accented voice called out.
Leah's ghost turned around. "Jessamine." She smiled sadly.
"Uh, excuse me, I'm here too. And it's good to see you, by the way; my brains may rot at any moment from irritation, with all credits to Jessamine."
Leah turned around to face the speaker. "Uncle Will!" She laughed.
"By the Angel Will, it had been back 72 years that you had lived, and even then I had never known you to possess a brain! Don't be absurd!" Jessamine shrieked.
Leah laughed. "Brain or not, my elegance and charms compensate for it all." Will replied proudly.
"Elegance and charms!" Jessamine mimicked under her breath in annoyance. "God knows what women see in you."
"Anyway, Leah" Will continued, looking at his goddaughter. "We were just talking about the odd selection of wedding guests. I'm trying to guess which one of them is my descendent. I'd go for him, the one beside Magnus or for him, the one with Charlotte's descendant. He has definitely got my hair and eyes; but the other one is more attractive."
"More attractive than you, definitely." Jessamine muttered.
"I find that quite hard to believe." Will answered, having heard her comment.
"It's actually the blond guy. His name is Jace. He too has a star-shaped Mark on his shoulder, which the Angel from my mother's necklace, gave you." Leah informed him. "The other one is Alec Lightwood. He got his features from Cecily. That girl," Leah pointed at Isabelle, who wore a scarlet lace dress. "Is Alec's sister. She is wearing the demon-sensitive ruby pendant that Magnus gave you and you passed on to Cecily."
Will listened in awe, and surprisingly, so did Jessamine.
"That girl - with the blonde hair - is Emma. Emma Carstairs. She descended from another branch of the Carstairs family; she is perhaps the last one left from her line. Her special weapon is the Cortana - the sword which you were offered to keep for yourself after my father turned into a Silent Brother; but you refused to do so. That is Julian - her Parabatai. He descended from the Blackthorns. They live in the Los Angeles Institute, and I am their unofficial guardian."
"You are?" Jessamine questioned.
"Yes. Emma is my half-sister. I am bound to take care of her - and the other children, even after death."
"This is beautiful. You are following my footsteps." Jessamine smiled.
"That girl, with the red hair, is Clarissa Fairchild. She might soon get engaged to Jace."
"Another Herondale and a Fairchild." Will whispered in amusement.
"That woman is Clarissa's mother. She is a great friend of Tessa - and Magnus. Alec Lightwood, over there, the boy with black hair and blue eyes - he is . . . currently seeing Magnus."
"What do you mean, seeing?"
"Seeing. As in, courting; dating; on the verge of getting married." Leah explained.
Will choked himself on nothing. Jessamine seemed appalled. "Oh God!"
"By the Angel! You - Magnus! Magnus Bane!" Will spluttered. The look on his face was priceless.
"Come on," Leah laughed. "They make a fantastic pair. Everyone loves them!"
Will yet remained speechless, and Leah laughed harder.
***
The wedding was a short but sentimental event. The bride and groom were wed using a simple exchange of rings, and the ceremony was sealed with a kiss.
Few toasts were made for Tessa and Jem's happiness; others were made in the memory of those loved people who were not present amongst them anymore.
A knot of gold sash was tied on the bridge railing, to commemorate the 134 years of their annual encounter on the Blackfriars Bridge.
When all guests had departed, the bridge was isolated once more, and Tessa and Jem were strolling back to their residence in leisure, followed by Church, Tessa looked behind her into the sky. "I know you are in there." She whispered at the sky. "Both of you. All of you. And whether I am able to see you or not, you will always be there in our hearts."
"My daughter." Whispered Jem. "My Parabatai. I will always love you. Ave Atque Vale."
A/N: OK. That was a sad chapter. How many have you'd read that bonus comic strip about the Jessa wedding, that is there in the end of City of Heavenly Fire ??? Initially I hadn't either, but then I did, and it's so so so so so DAMN sad.... So emotional. Also, below: Tessa on her wedding day
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
