More than sisters
It was the night before the ceremony. Izzy and Clary felt excited, but also aware of the step they were about to take. It had been a tiring day: in addition to normal training, they had had to put up with a long sermon on the meaning of the bond - as if they still didn't know enough! Yet it seemed that all the soon-to-be parabatai had to undergo that torture.
They had been told that they had to think very carefully about the commitment they were about to make, that the bond would be eternal and unbreakable, that they should always be there for each other, that each one’s possible death - since shadowhunters were likely to have a short life, given their dangerous job - it would have been an almost insurmountable pain for the other one, etc., etc. etc.. An endless lecture, although those who chose to be parabatai had already deeply pondered the topic, and the Clave was only required to officially ratify what was already into their heart and soul.
However, the girls had willingly undergone the whole process, if that had to be the price of being able to become sisters in battle, just as they had been wishing for long. Now, however, the day was finally over, and they had been dismissed to have rest and get ready emotionally - and physically - for the ceremony.
Chatting, they walked to their rooms, which were close by. Suddenly, Izzy turned to Clary. "May I come and sleep with you?" she asked. Clary looked bewildered for a while, then a warm smile blossomed on her face. “Of course you can, I would be happy. I'm a bit shaken, maybe a small talk with you will do good to both of us" " Exactly - Izzy added - so we will be more relaxed tomorrow morning and we won’t leave a bad impression in front of the Clave ". They burst out laughing. “We must absolutely avoid stammering or running out of breath as we recite the oath! What if we forget a line? " “They made us memorize it like idiots. No way” Clary retorted, opening the bedroom door.
They got ready for the night and slid under the covers. Turning off the light, they both tried to rest, but sleep did not come. Clary turned to Izzy, who was lying on her back. "Are you asleep?" She whispered. “I’m not - was the barely audible answer - I can't!" Clary chuckled and took her hand. "Tell me something about when you were a child".
Izzy smiled. “I don't know… when I look back on my childhood I don't remember much. You know, Nephilims start training to fight almost as toddlers. So my gifts were small weapons, miniature for me to get used to, and then decide which one to choose as my favorite weapon. Of course, I didn't have toys, that's it. But I remember once, when I had already started training with the whip, I wasn’t able to control it properly and the whip landed on Jace's back! He jumped in pain, I was about to cry and Alec didn't know who to comfort first ”. She laughed. “Shhhh - Clary whispered - everyone is going to hear us! But it's funny, I can't wait to tell him that you told me the story " " Please don’t! It is one of his worst memories and he’s going to bear a grudge against me for this! But tell me about yourself ".
Clary became thoughtful. “You know, I don't remember much. Magnus did an excellent job of erasing my memories every year, but that means I don't even remember much of my 'normal' childhood, so to speak. Mom used to take me to the park a lot, that I remember clearly. We drew trees and birds together, and she taught me to pick details and put them back on the paper. And then we always ended up having ice cream in summer, or hot chocolate in winter ".
“Ah, lucky you! - Izzy said - These small pleasures are not for shadowhunter children! "
"But you had your brothers, and I only had my mom." "At least you did have a mother, and I ... it was as if I didn't. And then there was Simon, right? " "Ah, yes, funny, sweet Simon."
They kept on talking like that for a while, exchanging secrets, and the night only was witnessing of that whispered closeness. After a while, Clary sighed. "We better try to get some sleep". Izzy smiled. "Of course you're right. But you know - she said softly without looking at her - I really needed this moment ”. “But from tomorrow on, words won’t almost be necessary. Were going to feel through our bond, we will be one, more than sisters, - Clary whispered - Now sleep". She stroked Izzy’s hair, and Izzy closed her eyes, squeezing Clary’s hand. Soon after, Clary was sleeping too, curled up against her.