Authoress Notes: This was legit sitting in my documents folder since the middle of the summer and I'm so sorry that I never got around to updating. It just needed some major re-editing and polishing up. Thank you all for your wonderful reviews, favorites and follows!

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The long journey back to Atlantis was one of the uncomfortable silence and ominous quietness. At long last, the once dark storm clouds which had hung overhead had disappeared and as a direct result the bleak skies had calmed down opening with the warm, gentle sunlight shining through. Below in the dark crystal waters, the treacherous sea itself was now calm and sincere. Not a single word was uttered candidly between the longtime friends as they headed towards their key destination. Typically Clary, who was very talkative and chatty, barely uttered a word. Her pale eyes were downcast towards the ocean floor, as she merely stared mindlessly at the countless sand particles, various prominent rocks and animals in their ideal habitats. Her conscious thoughts wandered to mostly what had undoubtedly occurred the memorable night before and how everything she genuinely believed she knew about humans and the world above her own had suddenly changed.

Yet at the same time, an uneasy feeling settled into the pit of her stomach. Consquently, the mere thought of voluntarily abandoning Jace behind was causing her so much cognitive anxiety and worry. Along with her friends, Clary swam as fast as her genuinely tired, worn out distinctive tail could carefully bear her through the prevailing currents towards Atlantis. Surely her concerned family, especially her anxious parents and mostly Luke. Especially her Father. He would mostly likely be wondering where they all were merely by now. By the angel, oh she realistically was in so much much trouble! But inside, she typically knew she couldn't be dismayed with herself or anyone.

Jace, she genuinely thought of him as they promptly passed by a large chasm and some exotic plants. He was so gorgeous, incredibly kind, and so extraordinarily susceptible human. Unfortunately, he accidentally bumped into her, undoubtedly causing her to suffer keenly from a massive headache, more like an enormous migraine. Sure he almost injured the unfortunate startled mermaid, nearly causing her to have a minor concussion something that she was still confused about, but she didn't really blame him either.

For that reason she allegedly assumed seeing a mythical creature whom so strange and weird as herself and her friends in whom they genuinely thought didn't even exist. Additonally what seemed like a near death experience was inextricably bound to play tricks on your conscious mind. Clary had merely perceived the panicked look in his worried golden eyes after he'd inevitably fallen off the burning ship as a result into the raging ocean. He clearly was in danger, and she also recalled the remorseful expression on his face after he recognized what had happened between them. Nonetheless as a result, she forgave him knowing that what happened was just a misunderstanding.

Undoubtedly and most importantly, the exact fact remained stated and very straightforward: As a result of the awful, horrendous storm which appeared seemingly out of nowhere, she had prevented a human from nearly almost drowning and inevitably losing his life. She had spoken and talked to a human, and agreed to meet with him later that night. Was she foolish for causing this? Probably and most likely. More like she was downright absolutely and positively out of her mind. Which was mostly likely something her Father would say. A scowl formed on her face as she thought of his exact reaction if he ever found out what happened. He would be so angry and furious with her and the end result would be a scolding and her being permemantly grounded from ever leaving the palace.

She'd learned a lot about the human world from her faithful friends and loyal family, especially her dear mother. But this was her chance to discover more than she most likely ever could. She could only learn so much from Jocelyn or Atamis. Jace was her opportunity to learn more so much more about the world she longed to enter and remain a part of at last, forever. She could perhaps present him some of her treasures and little things that she'd undoubtedly found and he could tell her what they were. The conscious thought of it instantly made her smile.

But they'd absolutely decided that it would be respectably fair and just to withhold what had happened and occurred the night before a complete secret. Because comprehending Luke he would absolutely be furious and so angry that they made contact with the human world when it was strictly forbidden to do so. For their gracious sake, though it would sorely need to remain an absolute secret between the three of them, and to make sure that Sebastian or Jonathan didn't say nor voice a word.

Neither of her friends hadn't said anything either. Normally the three of them especially Magnus and Simon were each talkative as well, but at the moment remained silent as they headed towards home. Each of them lost in their own personal daydream about the previous night before and what had occurred. Simon partically was lost in his thoughts about Izzy and how beautiful and gorgeous she was. He smiled at the memory of those amazing dark brown eyes which sparkled behind her long black lashes, and her pretty full lips which smiled at him happily. Isabelle, her name was as beautiful as she was inside and out. She reminded him of a real life Snow White, in the flesh but ten times more pretty and amazing.

Magnus's thoughts earnestly focused on the beautiful, magnificent creature that was Alec. To him, that gorgeous shy angel was undoubtedly looking to finally break of out his awkward and quiet phase. Somewhere inside that beautiful exterior there was someone that just wanted to get more comfortable in his own skin. Alec in common was a rare kind, gentle but shy soul that just needed to come out of his shy shell a little bit. His eyes reminded him of the deepest blue crystal waters, that shone even in the darkest of a cloudy day whether warm or cold. They happily sparkled melting the inner once cold exterior of the warlock's heart. His glossy hair realistically was like the ebony onyx stones or the deepest, darkest night sky. His beautiful lips which longed to be kissed.

Selene greeted them halfway as they were nearly almost nearing the palace grounds, and they swam back home. It wasn't long before each of them were at long last at last in front of the pearly palace gates. They were eagerly greeted by Jocelyn,and Lydia who swam desperately towards them. Clary's mother swan as fast as she could towards her youngest,daughter, her pale green eyes beaming with ultimate happiness and welcome relief that they all had returned home safely. She flung her arms around them all each hugging them tightly. Simon and Magnus hugged the queen as well.

"I'm positively delighted see you all," she said eagerly, not relinquishing the secure grip on her beloved smiled gently, hugging her mother back promptly returning the enthusiastic embrace carefully concealing her wry face into her dear mother's glossy red hair.

"It's delightful to see you too Mom," she replied promptly, before Jocelyn finally at last released Clary from her firm grasp. Lyida lingered fondly behind, eager to naturally see her sister as well. She smiled warmly.

"We were worried about you all. Did you enjoy your first official visit to the human world?" she asked.

"Absolutely Lydia t was wondrous," Clary replied, pushing a lock of her hair behind her ear.

Simon nodded, "Yeah it was definitely great, we all had a wonderful time," he naturally looked at Magnus who smiled.

"It was honestly the best night of my contemplative life," Magnus justly said in mutual agreement.

"You must be exhausted after willingly staying out all night," Jocelyn said, as Clary, Simon, and Magnus each let out a yawn in unison.

"Yeah Mom, we're all in need of a good rest."

"Very true, I'm faminished and tired."

"After last night, I definitely need my beauty sleep."

Lydia's eager eyes sparkled with joyous excitement, "You undoubtedly have to tell us everything!"she squealed, grasping her sisters arm.

A sigh escaped the redhead's lips, "Lydia can't we talk about this later? I'm terribly tired."

Her sister's eyes softened, "All right, but I require all the details once you wake up later!"she said, before swimming off towards the palace entrance with her family following right behind her.

Clary hugged and waved goodbye to Simon and Magnus who naturally had to return home to their families. Simon's dear mother was very much known for jumping the gun if he wasn't home at a considerable time. But she was consciously aware of the essential fact that he had explored the surface for the first time as well, and was with his two best friends and he promised her to be home before noon the next day. Magnus's maternal grandmother was a lot more laid back and as long as he was with his friends and was home at a decent hour she didn't mind either.

She swam desperately towards her private room after assuredly saying good night to her family. The very first person she instantly ran into in the palace hallway was respectively Tessa. Her ever therefore responsible older sister was just rounding the visible corner of the main hallway and the one which inevitably led to the royal family's private quarters when she swam through the doors. Tessa's kind eyes widened at the sight of her dear sister, just as she was about to voluntarily enter her private bedroom.

"Clary!" she exclaimed delightedly in a booming voice invariably causing the younger mermaid to nearly jump out of her skin.

"Where have you been? Everyone was genuinely worried sick about you. Why weren't you in bed last night? What happened to you all?"

"I'm sorry Tessa," Clary apologized, all ready having cautiously worked on a blatant lie in order that her dear sister wouldn't become suspicious of them.

"Simon, Magnus, and I were having so much fun and enjoy ourselves exploring the human world that we completely lost track of time."

Tessa smiled gently."I adequately understand, and you're all right little sister. After all it to be fair realistically was your first official visit to the surface and you were inevitably bound to become intrigued and fascinated by all of the magnificent and amazing things that you all could see."

"Very well you're absolutely right. What were we genuinely thinking? I found some lovely flowers and kelp," she justly said, tentatively reaching into the brown satchel hanging around her ample waist showing Tessa them to her as sufficient proof.

"Those absolutely beautiful! Where ever did you discover them?"Tessa politely asked.

"On one of the shores near a castle, they were growing there, so I decided to select some."

"I'm delighted you enjoyed such an excellent time. I'm going to the local market with Kaelie and Selene, would you care to join us?"

Clary shook her head, "No Tessa, I genuinely appreciate the offer, but I'm exhausted and I need some sleep."

"Very well, good Father has been asking for you," she adequately warned.

Clary sighed gently, "He presumably wants to lecture me about typically staying out all night and not coming home."

"No, more like he sincerely wants to know that you're properly protected and also making sure nothing bad happens to you."

"I genuinely understand Tessa, but I'm not a little girl anymore. He naturally has to sincerely trust me and willingly allow me to undoubtedly make my own decisons and live my own life."

"More like he is promptly going to yell at you for typically going to the surface and staying there all night when you should've come home at a decent hour."

"What?" Clary's fierce eyes went wide. Undoubtedly had her devoted father found out about her and Jace? Was he naturally going to sufficiently punish her by not allowing her to voluntarily leave the magnificent palace and mostly likely confining her there? If he instantly comprehended what she and her dear friends had been exactly up to why didn't he bothered to typically follow or promptly order someone to drag her home earlier?

Tessa carefully rolled her expressive eyes mostly out of sheer annoyance. "Oh come on now Clary, we all know where you swam off to yesterday. Why else would you stay out almost all night? Besides, Lydia and myself overheard Father reprimanding you the other day for sneaking off to the local graveyard of ships with Simon."

The absolute relief that coursed through Clary's body instantly made her feel better. In her conscious mind and kind heart the less Luke accurately knew about what had happened precisely, the better. She was knowingly allowed to live vicariously her own life and naturally make her own decisions as long as they were safe.

"No Tessa, he pretty much addressed and justly said everything that he genuinely needed to say about that yesterday."

"Well you might as well go find and speak to him regardless. It wouldn't hurt. Or he'll undoubtedly find you," Tessa wisely said as she naturally started to swim away in the opposite direction.

Clary honestly didn't want to, but she reasonably knew her dear sister was right. With their private conversation still lingering inside of her active mind, she naturally headed in the opposite direction of her private bedroom and towards the throne room. At this essential point all she genuinely wanted to undoubtedly do realistically was to naturally get some much needed rest. Every single muscle in her body and visible tail was aching sorely, and the few hours she'd spent passed on the beach while rescuing her boyfriend hadn't helped either and weren't merely enough for her to fully recover before going to see him later on that night.

Right as she voluntarily entered and just as she excepted, her beloved father was precisely of course sitting comfortably on his mighty throne, with her Jonathan and Sebastian right by his side. The considered three of them aware she instantly noticed were deep in private conversation. His trident was naturally in it's usual spot within it's key holder by the dais on the grand throne. He wasn't twirling it like he normally would do when he was in a bad mood or angry, so it realistically had to be a good sign.

"Morning Dad," she plausibly said, slowly coming to a halt before her father's lavish throne.

Sebastian's dark cold eyes were practically glaring at her from his official position beside the throne's armrest while Jonathan gave her a bright smile like he usually did.

"Hey little sister," he said earnestly.

"Hello Jonathan," she replied, before undoubtedly looking at the asshat beside him and said in a polite tone,"Hello Sebastian."

He naturally gave her a curt nod, his gaze still cold and angry. "Hello Clarissa."

She frowned fiercely at him. He was always using her full name instead of her longtime nickname and always treated her like a dutiful child just as her father typically did. The mere thought of it made her want to throw up or eat a whole catcus fruit raw.

"Clary," her father finally at last broke the silence between them. "Where have you been? We were worried sick about you."

"Exploring the surface. And I also found some flowers on one of the shorelines near a palace," she said, holding up her bouquet of roses and tulips again. Glad that she thought of grabbing them before coming back home on her way from the special occasion.

"All day?" he asked. "You were gone for quite some time my daughter."

Clary smiled sheephisly, "You know me and the world above. I'm positively always so curious and wanting to learn so much about everything."

Luke's index fingers rubbed the bridge of his nose as he continued to speak to his most adolescent daughter.

"Yes, well I'm very well aware of the fact. And where did you disappear off to yesterday before the musical concert?"he asked."I sent Sebastian to find you all after we spoke but he never said found and was unable to locate you."

"He did?" she politely asked. He hadn't informed her father about Jace? Or the awful shipwreck that inevitably occurred the dreadful night before? She promptly turned to look keenly at the merman in fundamental question. Jonathan was making very quickened silencing motions with his fierce hands, clearly indicating that she should just keep silent, merely warning her not to mention a word while Sebastian had a somewhat panicked look in his dark eyes.

"I-I mean what I intended to put into words was...you did? Why?"she asked suddenly.

Her father's expression instantaneously changed from concerning to embarrassed in less than one instant. In the present circumstances it was his turn to look and appear very uneasy minus the circumstances.

"I want to make sure you were protected and looked after."

"Dad I can positively assure you that I'm all okay. The genuine truth is I was nearly awake and up all night with my friends exploring and I'm exhausted. May I please go back to my room now?"she politely asked, desperately needing to escape as quickly and utterly as possible before her little web of lies unraveled, and Luke realized that she wasn't necessary answered his previous question with the impossible truth regarding what had happened the night.

"Very well I suppose you can. And Clary, you know I don't particularly enjoy yelling at you. I only do it because I genuinely want whats best for you."

"I precisely understand Dad. I love you."

"I love you too Clary."

She quickly had turned to leave before his booming voice called out to her again, not that she'd gone too far. Not even an possible inch.

"Yes?" she respectfully asked, as her father got up from his magnificent throne and swam over towards her opposing side.

"Where did those cuts come from?" he naturally asked, gesturing towards her forehead and prominent fin.

She winced in mild pain for a mere moment. While the extensive cut wasn't that much of significant deal, it honestly hadn't hurt as it scared her when she saved Jace from the shipwreck and was struck by a large piece of charred debris. The injury on her upper forehead had been slow to heal but with a little help from Magnus's magic it looked like a scrape and with all the swimming and diving she'd managed in the last 12 hours, she hadn't had much time to properly clean it and bandage it up.

"Oh...that..." She looked uneasily at her father.

"Clary-" her father's distinctive voice expressed distinctly that of a much heated warning. Tell the truth or else face the dire, drastic consequences to follow. She sighed before finally choosing to tell him.

"I cut my forehead and fin by accident on one of the sharp rocks against the shoreline picking the flowers," she said, recalling the lie she told Tessa. "Honestly it's not that bad."

Her father sighed. "Well I wish you would be more careful the next time around."

"Yes Dad."

"Good girl," he replied before turning back to his throne and sitting upon it. "Now as you're very well aware, I"ll be gone tomorrow with your mother. We have a meeting with the other ocean kingdom, so we won't be home until very late." Those very words made Clary's heart soar. That would be the absolute perfect oppornity to see Jace. "I except you all to behave yourselves, and if you go anywhere make sure Simon and Magnus. Or Sebastian can escort you."

That precisely was conspicuously when all hopes of her plans crashed. Once she was finally at last out of her father and Sebastian's sight, she quickly swam to her room and shutting the door behind her, turned on the witch light by her bed. The room was peaceful and silent with a welcoming much needed peace and serenity that she so desperately wanted. She deposited the flowers into a vase beside her bed, and eagerly floated onto the soft bed and sank into sleep.

The typical days in the Herondale/Lightwood household started to pass by quite normally after that. As the sun rose each glorious morning, awakening this world in a brand-new dawn, letting in an abundant supply of warmth and happiness right into the earth, and set in the evening while the moon took over after that, brightening up even the darkest of nights. Autumn naturally had quickly flew by, as the brilliant leaves promptly began to subtly change complementary colors and fell to the ground. September slowly faded into October, before turning into November and early December.

But that mere subject/matter just so happened to remain the very last thing on the Idris court's mind. An altogether unusual and unique air had suddenly come upon the palace. The crown princess had realistically been odd fully cheerful and dreamy, and it was actually quite a odd bit unnerving to see the once rebellious princess gathering sea flowers early in the morning to arrange them in her room or the conference rooms of the palace.

Simon would be found in the music room composing different songs on his guitar and harp, consistently writing each and every note perfectly and making sure the melody matched as well. He also would stop at every ornate mirror he swam around making sure his lustrous hair and face were perfectly combed and carefully groomed. He frequently undertook trips to the market to pick up different various gifts including jewelry and flowers. Simon and Izzy would typically spend many days and nights together having dinner under the stars, he would serenade her with a song he'd wrote, they would also talk for hours on end, and she would go swimming with him as well.

Magnus naturally spent his pleasant mornings in the library reading endless books on passionate love and chivalric romance, while elegantly writing sonnets of lyrical poems about love and lifelong friendship. He then would practice his expansive magic and go off with Clary and Simon for most of the day. Alec and Magnus spent their days together, whether it was enjoying a picnic on the beach, in the courtyard of the magnificent palace near the water, or portaling to a deep part of the forest to get away from everyone just for some alone time. They got to affectionately know each other very well and would talk enthusiastically for countless hours about their lives. Magnus often would be also be found in the loft attic of his house writing love letters to someone that he would promptly send through a fire message with his magic.

The exact one thing that everyone began to notice that Clary, Simon, and Magnus kept doing were going into the rooms of the castle where many branches had grown literally molding onto the windows and gathering the various flowers which grew on them. Which they would arrange them in different vases, tiny, small spaces, knot holes, and every nook and cranny of the palace's hallways, rooms, and bedrooms. Pretty soon each room began smelling of roses and violets which all of a sudden had become Simon's favorite, hydras and lilies were Magnus's and Clary's were now sunflowers and marigolds.

Clary often woke up each typical morning, a radiant smile on her face, humming to herself a love song that her mother taught her. On some days' she would paint or draw, endless sketches and paintings of different would repeatedly be lost in a daydream sometimes. During her long boring tutoring lessons with Maya where they'd been forced into after Luke discovered she'd been skipping out on. The mermaid voluntarily gave up desperately trying to get the princess to pay attention. Ideally, she would find Clary lost in a daydream and la-land as well. Clary and Jace over the next several weeks continued their clandestine meetings.

The princess was graciously allowed to come and naturally go as she pleased. Clary described Jace who her father was but not where her home was located because of the law and for protected privacy. He knew it took her a while to reach Idris's shoreline and his own home mostly due to the distance between their meeting place the beach. The two of them would talk hours about their lives. Clary eagerly told Jace about her remarkable adventures with Simon and Magnus.

She told him how they'd met and grown up together and how she collected many different things from the human world. Jace sincerely loved undoubtedly hearing about her life and extraordinary adventures under the limitless ocean and her life. He also told her all about his life on land and how he grew up with his parents and siblings, the city and towns they'd been too, the festivals, activities and foods to try, and the balls in the and Clary were becoming good friends as well. They along with Magnus would spend the afternoons on the beach some days painting their nails and talking about various different topics including love, relationships and fashion.

The many pictures each of them would paint in each other's minds, and hearts were absolutely incredible. Clary longed more than ever to be a part of Jace's world. He desired the similar thing, but in reality there was a tremendous obstacle in front of them: She was born of the sea, and he was born of the land. They all loved their meetings, and even thought it was never mentioned or discussed, they all dreaded that it wouldn't last forever, and the one day it would come to end, the secrets each of them were keeping would eventually come out.

Members of the mer-court had also observed the princess's peculiar behavior as well. Atamis and Jocelyn gradually started picking up on it when she noticed Clary daydreaming and singing to herself each and every morning. Jonathan hadn't said anything to their father or mother. Jocelyn and Kaelie smiled knowingly as they both watched Clary depart one morning in the late fall, for she perceived exactly what was going on.

"My, my," Jocelyn whispered in a wispy undeniable tone that morning. "She's definitely got it bad."

Luke and with questionable looks on their pleasant faces, confused at her words.

"What?" he asked stupidly. "What does my daughter got? Some sort of sickness or ailment?"

Jocelyn smiled knowingly."Isn't it obvious Luke? Clary's in love."

"Clary in love?" he smiled at the thought as well.

As the typical days and weeks passed, Clary grew more fond of human beings and the ideal worlds that they traditionally inhabited. She strongly wished to truly wander and realistically be with them, to merely see the lands that Jace, Alec, and Izzy had seen, as their world seemed so much bigger and vaster than her own. They could instantly fly over the seas in ships, just like the birds soaring through the sky, ride along the grassy, hills, valleys, meadows, and mountains that reached high above the clouds themselves. There was so much that she sincerely wanted to undoubtedly know, and Jace promptly told her all that he knew, and she even asked her dear mother and maternal grandmother.

Luke invariably saw the profound change in his daughter over those weeks. She seemed happier and more confident in her own skin. In fact, everyone else could see it as well. Her moods were extremely lighter, and she was singing and humming to herself nearly almost all the time. He was very overjoyed and happy, and wanted to unanimously find out her well-kept secret. So he promptly sent Sebastian to find out where she was sneaking off too.

He was hesitant to agree at first, but Luke and Jocelyn insisted that it was important for them to know. So he promptly did as he was sufficiently instructed and carefully followed Clary to her intended destination without her knowing. He just was there to observe and report back to the king, like a good royal advisor would always do. He merely suspected that she was just hanging out on the surface and thoughtfully watching the world above. He considered himself so much smarter than your average merman. But what he fortunately discovered that she was doing voluntarily left him completely astounded and shocked.

Sebastian swam through the key corridor of the splendid palace minding his own business. His inner thoughts were typically focused on the organizational meetings and other various tasks that he naturally needed to get done and complete through the day. There was to be a grand ball to held that very night and he was in charge of helping to meticulously organize it. That was when he instantly noticed Atamis coming towards him, he immediately snapped out of his conscious thoughts.

"Atamis," he justly said in a polite tone bowing to the noble king's beloved sister. "How lovely to see you."

"Hello Sebastian," she modestly replied, promptly stopping to catch her breath. "The king's humbly requested an private audience to see you. It's about something about his beloved daughter Clary."

Sebastian's alive heart nearly almost stopped dead in his brawny chest. He realized then what if the king knew her profound secret which he had unanimously decided to promptly put out his inquisitive mind, intentionally blocking it from ever crossing it. He naturally forced the unspeakable terror out of his body and promptly decided to remain calm and collected, nodding approvingly in direct response, "All right Atamis I'll voluntarily go meet him at once."

As Sebastian swam past Atamis towards the magnificent palace he instantly felt a very uneasy feeling quench in the pit of his ample stomach that nearly made him genuinely want to throw up. It was very rare for the king to ask for an audience of him in private, particularly wit just one single person because the whole entire court acted together as one. Usually, the king, queen and the court had the absolute sole responsibility of dealing with the people and any problems that arose.

Heart pounding, Sebastian carefully made his efficient way through the underwater corridor toward the throne room. His throat was tight, his jaw clenched...But he intentionally kept his expression calm. After what felt like an almost, an eternity, the palace advisor exited the corridor into the royal chamber.

Clary's father sat on his throne as usual, the trident in its holder. The kings expression was calm, and he didn't seem angry. Summoning nearly every possible ounce of necessary courage in his body, Sebastian finally at last willingly spoke.

"You merely wished to speak with me your gracious majesty?" he politely asked.

"Yes, Sebastian, I was naturally wondering if you were able to find out why my beloved daughter has been acting so peculiar lately. I'm very legitimately concerned," Luke said quietly. "I've undoubtedly noticed she's been invariably acting very different lately. The usual daydreaming, singing joyously to herself. Atamis and Jocelyn have undoubtedly seen it. You yourself haven't noticed?"

"To be honest with you Luke, not really. I don't believe so. She never really confides in anyone except her faithful friends," he replied promptly.

Luke's mild expression looked somewhat hopeful for a pivotal moment, and then turned grave, as Sebastian turned to voluntarily leave. He shrewdly suspected that his most trusted advisor wasn't telling the truth.

"Sebastian, is there something you wish to tell me?"

At those exact words, Sebastian immediately froze. In all profound seriousness, he never meant to react so fearfully, but the kings words instantly filled him with such a overwhelming sense of dread, grief and fear that he wasn't be able to keep it a secret for much longer.

"Sebastian?" Luke's distinctive voice snapped him out of his conscious thoughts.

"As a matter of fact, yes, there is."