Chapter Text
“Bright morning stars are rising...”
Alicante was on fire. The sight of flames licking at the dawn would have been awe-striking had they not been a symbol of Maryse and Robert’s deadly mistake. The pair walked beside each other even in sentencing, taking note of the damage they had helped cause. Despite the battle having been ended hours ago, there were still bodies littering the grass around the buildings; a testament to how much destruction the Circle had caused in their crashing of the Ninth Accords signing.
The battle had been waged the previous evening and late into the night with only the stars as witnesses. Now as the dawn broke through the film of night there was nothing left to do but clean up the destruction as best as possible. Maryse Lightwood had chosen to quit fighting the Clave if only for the sake of her toddler son. The tuft of black hair and warm hazel eyes meant everything to her. If only there had been enough time to escape the city before they could stand trial. Maryse just had to hope that the Clave would ease the punishment on her and her husband if only for the fact that they had a son already born to the world and another child just seven months away from appearing.
“Robert and Maryse Lightwood,” Inquisitor Herondale spoke upon the couple entering the chamber. The woman had taken over as Inquisitor after the death of her only son just a year before. Maryse’s heart sunk deep to the bottom of her chest upon seeing the woman, knowing she was less-than-forgiving when it came to Circle members. “You have been charged with treason against the Clave and thus will be sentenced. You have caused the deaths of hundreds of Shadowhunters, caused innocents to be orphaned. What do you have to say in your defense?”
What was there to say? Maryse had done it all and she’d done it with fervor because she’d fallen for the charisma of Valentine Morgenstern. She hung her head low in shame, unable to find any words to justify what she’d done.
Luckily, her husband seemed to find the words she lacked. “Inquisitor, we take full responsibility for our actions. We just ask that you show mercy. We have a son, Alexander Lightwood, and we have another child on the way. Please, don’t orphan them, too. They’re still innocent.” Never in Maryse’s life did she think she’d hear Robert Lightwood pleading with anyone, but this was their child they were talking about. They both knew full well they could be sentenced to exile, meant to live as mundanes until demons hunted them down, killed them and their two beautiful children. Deruned Shadowhunters never did last long in the world without such protection.
“To show we are not as heartless as the Circle who ruined so many innocent lives, Maryse and Robert Lightwood will not be deruned and exiled. Instead, they will be exiled to the New York Institute where Robert will serve as Head of the Institute. They, along with their unborn child, will not be allowed to return to Alicante unless summoned there by the Clave,” the Inquisitor spoke, voice hard and commanding authority.
“Inquisitor Herondale, what of A-” Robert began, though was quickly cut off by the woman sitting before them.
“Your crimes have not gone unnoticed, Robert Lightwood, and as punishment for the innocent lives ruined by your actions, Alexander Lightwood will be sent to New York, but will live his days as a mundane.”
The words were a harsh blow to both Lightwoods. Maryse looked to her husband in absolute horror. They were to lose their son? “Inquisitor, Alec did nothing wrong to deserve th-” Maryse began, vision blurring slightly as tears glossed over her eyes. Maryse refused to cry in front of these people, so she sucked in a breath and prayed for her tears to halt.
“Just as so many other children did nothing wrong to deserve being orphaned. Such is the way of life, Maryse Lightwood. You will have one hour before someone will come to collect him and you will be expected to leave to the New York Institute. You two are dismissed,” the Inquisitor called out before those in the room stood and began to file out of the room. Maryse was left standing facing her husband, shock filling her features. She did this. She had been the one to convince him to join the Circle, and now they were losing their first-born to her decision.
The hour didn’t feel like enough time. Maryse had clung to her son tightly, whispering how sorry she was into his ear at every occasion. In time one of the Shadowhunter soldiers came, an expression nearing one of pity taking on his face as he picking the toddler up into his arms. As much as Maryse didn’t want to, she would always remember Alec looking as he had in that moment. Black hair messy from her hugging him so tightly, hazel eyes shining bright from the tears flowing down his face as he called for his mother, little hand outstretched toward her.
“Oh, where are our dear children? Bright morning stars are rising, day is a-breaking in my soul.”