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| “ | I might be physically stronger, but you have the truest heart of anyone I've ever known, and the strongest faith in other people, and in that way you are better than I could ever hope to be. | ” |
–Jace to Alec, City of Heavenly Fire | ||
Alexander "Alec" Gideon Lightwood is a Shadowhunter and the eldest of the Lightwood children.
Alec is one of the few openly gay Shadowhunters. Since homosexual Shadowhunters are normally shunned out of the Clave, Alec was skeptical about coming out, but he eventually did, revealing to his family, friends, and many of his fellow Shadowhunters of his relationship with Magnus Bane, an act that inspired other teenage closeted Shadowhunters to come out about their sexuality, as well.
Biography
Early Life
Alexander Lightwood was the eldest child born to Robert and Maryse Lightwood. Born in Idris, Alec was, along with his parents, exiled from their homeland and was banned from returning unless on official Shadowhunter business. Two years after his birth, his sister, Isabelle, was born, and his younger brother Max was born when he was nine. When he was eleven years old, Jace Wayland was adopted into their family. Alec instantly liked Jace and they both became close friends and brothers before eventually becoming parabatai. Though his mother confessed his father's adulterous relationship with another Shadowhunter before Max's birth to Isabelle when she was twelve, Alec had no idea until it was eventually revealed to the rest of the family in City of Heavenly Fire.
The Mortal Instruments
City of Bones
Alec was with Isabelle and Jace in Pandemonium the night Clary Fray saw them trying to kill a demon.
From the beginning, Alec disliked Clary and was cautious of trusting her. It was soon implied that he was rather jealous of Clary, as he saw Jace's growing attraction and romantic feelings toward her and hated her for it. He confronted her about it several times, to no effect.
He went with them to Magnus Bane's party to retrieve Clary's memories. While at the party, Magnus openly flirted with Alec, with whom he later started a relationship. He then accompanied Jace, Isabelle, Clary and Simon to retrieve the Mortal Cup, and, in the fight against Abbadon, was seriously injured while saving Jace. Clary lied and told everyone that Alec had killed Abbadon, when in reality, Simon had saved them. His life-threatening injuries were healed by Magnus Bane, who was called in by Hodge to save him from dying. After this, Magnus and Alec began a secret relationship.
City of Ashes
At the start of the book, Alec, Jace and Isabelle went hunting for demons and crawled through abandoned subway tunnels. Alec and Isabelle were reluctant to join Jace, as they were slightly nervous about going hunting without Hodge's instructions and advice, but they ultimately went because Jace wanted to go so badly.
When Jace was locked up in the Silent City, Clary immediately went over to the Institute upon hearing the news. Alec was there and received the distress call from the Silent Brothers to call for reinforcements for an attack. He was reluctant to take Clary, whom he still saw as a liability, but eventually agreed to allow her to come along, because she was the only one of them who had been there before. When they found Jace nearly passed out in his cell, Alec helped him up the stairs, and he contacts Magnus to save him.
When Isabelle suggested that they meet with the Queen of the Seelie Court, Alec agreed and was adamant about going; however, when Jace offered to go in his place, Alec had a change of heart, realizing that it would allow him more alone time with Magnus. He claimed that it was more important for Jace to go, and encouraged them to go without him.
Throughout the first parts of the book, Alec tried to deny his relationship with Magnus, despite obvious evidence: Jace noticed bite marks on Alec's neck after a night out, Magnus helped the Lightwoods with magic for Alec despite being initially unwilling, and Alec even had a key to Magnus's apartment.
When Luke and Maia were attacked by demons, Alec was with Jace and Magnus when they arrived at Luke's to heal them. When they began discussing Clary's unique ability with runes, he volunteered himself to be the guinea pig to see if a rune she created would work.
Jace Marked him with a Fearless rune, just as his parents, his sister and the Inquisitor entered the home. Alec then stood up and, thanks to the effects of the rune, confessed to the room that he is seeing someone, specifically a warlock. However, before Alec can tell him who exactly he is dating, Magnus knocked him unconscious with magic, knowing that, normally, Alec wouldn't make the decision to tell everyone that he is gay. When he woke up seconds later, he quickly scrambled to lie that he isn't seeing anyone, and Magnus helpfully added that he was delirious due to demon toxins.
The Inquisitor then took Jace away, and Alec pretends to agree with them so that the Inquisitor would trust him enough to not suspect that he would break Jace out. He agreed that the Inquisitor was right to do what she was doing, and that Jace should be punished since he broke the Law. After Jace had been caged up in a Malachi Configuration, however, Alec was the one to help him escape. He explained that he saw that the Inquisitor wouldn't be swayed, so he pretended to agree to get in her good books, which is how he was able to sneak up there. He brought him food, and suggested that he jump 30 feet up in the air to get out of his electric like prison, since the cage didn't have a ceiling.
When Jace succeeded in jumping out of the cage, Alec took him to Isabelle's room, where he calls Magnus for help again. Then he watched Valentine refuse the Inquisitor's deal-- his son's life for the Mortal Instruments--and afterward, Alec was forced to inform his parents and the Inquisitor that Jace had escaped. Alec then joined the rest of the Conclave in storming Valentine's ship against his army of demons, helping Jace fight one of the more dangerous demons until the demon grabbed him and flung him from the deck.
He was saved by Magnus who pulled him out, but Magnus, at that time, was very close to falling unconscious because of the energy needed to strip the ship of the wards. Alec made the decision to stay with Magnus and give him his strength so he could stay conscious and continue to keep the wards down.
City of Glass
At the beginning of the book, Alec goes to Idris with the rest of his family. After an attack by the Forsaken, Simon had to be Portalled to Idris with the Shadowhunters. Alec takes Simon to the Consul, under the impression that he would be sent back to New York, who took him to the Inquisitor and imprisoned him. Later, he sent a fire message to Magnus asking if there had been any Portal activity in New York. When Magnus replied that there had been none, Alec informed Jace. Jace then rescued Simon from the prison where he was being kept.
Throughout the book, Alec struggles with his sexuality, and refuses to acknowledge his relationship with Magnus Bane, still believing that he had feelings for Jace. Alec eventually realizes that he does not have feelings for Jace, and that he actually loves Magnus. When the Shadowhunters and Downworlders prepare to face Valentine as part of the Mortal War, Alec kisses Magnus in front of his fellow Shadowhunters, publicly acknowledging their relationship.
work in progress
City of Fallen Angels
work in progress
City of Lost Souls
Like everyone else, Alec is very stressed about how his parabatai, Jace is still missing. During this time he is extremely stressed, yet at the same time he is happy, because he is dating the warlock Magnus Bane. Also during this time he says how unhappy he is that his father, Robert Lightwood, still does not approve of his sexuality. Alec is present when Simon is raising the angel Raziel. Alec was not happy with the fact that after he dies, Magnus will probably find someone else, and that he's just another person, so secretly Alec sees Camille Belcourt hoping to have a spell that will shorten Magnus' life. However, when Magnus finds out about this, he is furious. Alec goes back to Camille to decline her offer, only to learn that Magnus was following him. After that, Magnus breaks up with Alec. Alec is furious with himself, and Camille, so he was going to kill Camille, only to learn that fourteen year old Maureen Brown, the recently turned vampire, had already killed her.
City of Heavenly Fire
Alec is seen to be still depressed after the break up with Magnus claiming that, for the first week after the break, he was in a state of disbelief and sadness. He had been calling and texting Magnus who doesn't reply, which caused Jace to break his phone. Jace on seeing his miserable parabatai then goes to Magnus' loft to talk to him about getting back together with Alec, he also observes that Magnus is almost as miserable after the break up, he also seemed to be worried when he thought Alec was hurt. As the Shadowhunters in the New York City Institute prepares to leave for Idris, Magnus comes over and talks to Alec says that he has forgiving Alec over the incident, but it wasn't working out. During the conversation, Magnus kisses Alec but immediately pulls away, saying he shouldn't have done it. Magnus then claims it was not working out because of his immortality and Alec's mortality. Alec then retaliates by saying that he was the reason, because he knew nothing about Magnus, while Magnus knows everything about him. Before Magnus leaves, he warns Alec about his dream of a city of blood and bones, saying that those would be the bones and blood of Shadowhunters, and he needs Alec to live.
When the Downworlder represenitivess and Jocelyn got kidnapped, Alec almost killed Matthias, a member of the Endarkened Shadowhunters who revealed the news. Later when the gang goes to the Seelie Court in order to find the pathway to Edom, were they think the prisoners are hidden, he kills Meliorn for not revealing were the prisoners are hidden. When they enter Edom, a demon creates an illusion based on their dreams, Alec in this hallucination sees Magnus as his boyfriend, were they have the entire Clave, including his father accepting his relationship, seeing that they were engaged. He breaks the illusion when Magnus says that it is not true in the vision,soon after which he kills the demon.
After they find the prisoners, Magnus is freed, and kisses Alec in front of other. Magnus becomes sick due to the influence of his father, Asmodeus, who is trying to get Magnus to summon him. When Alec understands this condition he asks others to go and find Jocelyn and meet Magnus and him in the center. As they moves on to find a way out, the walls begins to close in. They find a way out of it but was led to the two throne only to find Clary seated in one of them and others shocked.
Alec tries to hurt Sebastian once again but becomes again unsuccessful. To everyones relief, Clary then tricks her brother into death by stabbing him. After his death and the borders to other world sealed, the only way for them to get back to Idris, was to get Magnus summon his father, which he does. And it turns out to be Asmodeus, on of the Prince of Hell. Asmodeus then demands to take the warlocks immortality, which would kill him in return of transporting them back to Idris. Alec then wants to stay, to die with Magnus rather then go back to Idris. They share what seemed to be their last kiss. After Simon offers his immortality and memories of the Shadow Worlds taken from him instead of Magnus, they return back to Idris.
During the last scenes, Magnus apologizes for all that he did, and together they decides to make everyday count and over come the barriers of mortality and immorality. Magnus then gives him a journal of the important things in his life. Months later in the wedding held in Three Arrows Farm for Luke and Jocelyn, Robert says that he has been always proud of him and also reveals the feelings his parabatai Michael Wayland had for him. After this revelation, he tries to forgive his father for divorcing his mother and everything else.
Personality
Despite their similar looks, Alec is very much the opposite of his sister in the sense that he is self-conscious and serious. In the special, "Kissed", Magnus describes Alec as straightforward, and Alec says that he is blunt, as it is the only way he knew to be. Clary perceives that Alec appears "uncomfortable in his own skin". This is possibly due to his fear of admitting to others that he is a homosexual. He convinces himself to believe he is in love with Jace as a way to escape his fear of being hurt by falling for Magnus. Alec is very protective of his family and assumes the most responsibility as the oldest of his siblings. He and Jace are parabatai, meaning that they are warriors who fight together and are closer than brothers.
He seems to pride himself in being allowed into the Court in City of Glass, him being the only one of the Lightwood children to go.
Alec is often soft spoken and serious in most situations. He tries his best to act wisely, and is shown not be as brave as Jace is; but cautious. Up until later in the story, he had never killed a demon. However this is more because he puts Jace and his sister's safety before killing demons, frequently putting himself in danger to protect them. He shows himself to be extremely caring of the ones he loves, and is willing to do anything to save them, also he is said to be "easily guilted". Between the whole group, Alec is the most clever. Alec, as seen in City of Fallen Angels, can also become extremely jealous, getting angry at Magnus when he discovers Magnus' long dating history and relationship with Camille, a vampire woman. He also becomes jealous of Will, who he suspects as another one of Magnus' several lovers and, he learned from Camille, is said to look extremely like him.
Alec is also usually the healer in the group, most asking for his help when in need of an iratze, to the extent that when Alec refuses to heal Jace's bleeding hand in City of Glass, Jace is unwilling to attempt to heal himself.
In addition to protecting his siblings and friends from demons, he is also very aware of emotional pain and heartbreak, and does what he can to prevent this from occurring among those he loves, though Isabelle points out he has no trouble giving his heart away. He is concerned for Jace's emotional well-being in the earlier books, when he believes Clary to be his sister. He also dislikes Isabelle's long string of exes, and is awkward around her and Simon, though he does tell the latter that he believes he is right for his sister.
Physical description
Alec is described as having a thin, wiry build. He has jet-black hair that ends at his jaw, stunning blue eyes and he was said to share a startling resemblance with his distant relative Will Herondale.
Abilities
- Angel Blood: All Shadowhunters have some of the angel Raziel's blood in their veins, giving them the ability to survive the otherwise fatal application of Marks on their skin, as well as the power to perform tasks unavailable to other species, such as using seraph blades.
- Runes: Alec has had several Marks placed on his skin, giving varied effects.
- Superhuman Physiology: Being Nephilim, Alec has physical abilities superior to mundane humans. This includes enhanced strength, agility, stamina, and coordination, which only improves over time and practice.
Possessions
Paraphernalia
Weapons
- Bow and Arrows: Alec uses a bow and arrows as his primary choice weapon in battle.
- Feather-Staff: Alec will utilize a feather-staff as a second choice for a weapon in battle.
- Seraph blades: Alec has been seen using a seraph blade in battle.
- Dagger: Alec has also been shown to use a dagger.
Relationships
Magnus Bane
| “ | Oh? So you're just that friendly with everybody, is that it? | ” |
–Magnus to Alec upon denying their relationship, City of Ashes | ||
When Clary Fray, in City of Bones, tries to restore her lost memories, she figures out a man named Magnus Bane is the person who caused the block on her mind. When she and the group meet him at a party he is throwing, Magnus openly flirts with Alec upon seeing him, even flirtatiously asking Alec, "As for you...call me," before winking at him. In a bonus scene of the novel, as seen on Cassandra Clare's official website, it is shown that Alec eventually gathered up the courage to confront him about their growing feelings for each other. Also when Alec reveals to Magnus that he has never kissed anyone, the two share their first kiss when Magnus kisses him before arranging for a date within the week; officially starting a secret relationship with Alec (since he was not ready to come out as gay yet).
When Clary confronts the Clave and proves her rune powers to them, the Rune she draws makes people see who they love the most. It is implied that Alec saw Magnus when she did this, as he looks confusedly from Clary to Magnus, who was standing beside him. Before the big battle between the Clave and Valentine's army of demons, Alec kisses Magnus in a crowded hall, finally publicly revealing his homosexuality to his parents and the Clave. In City of Fallen Angels, Alec is on a world tour with Magnus with stops in Germany, Austria, and France. Alec's resemblance to William Herondale is noted. Their relationship turns complicated when they have several fights about Magnus's past sexual history and Alec's mortality, finally facing the fact that Alec will age and die one day whereas Magnus will continue to live forever in his youth, but they eventually make up deciding to take things one step at a time. In one of the last scenes of City of Fallen Angels, they are seen kissing as they make up.
Their relationship once again becomes complicated throughout City of Lost Souls. Alec has difficulty getting over the fact that he will die some day whereas Magnus never would. Therefore, when given the chance, he goes to see Camille Belcourt. She reveals that there is no way to make him immortal (other than the typical options of using black magic and vampirism, which Alec both bluntly rejects using). However, she soon reveals that there is a way to take away Magnus's immortality. However Alec, unable to agree to her terms, refuses her offer. Despite this, when Magnus eventually discovers that Alec had even considered the offer at all, ends their relationship despite Alec's emotional pleas for one last chance. Magnus firmly tells Alec that while he loves him, he couldn't forgive him for even considering to shorten his life. He then tells him to gather his things from his apartment and to leave his key to the apartment on the table when he left, also severing ties altogether with him saying he never wanted to see him (or his friends and family in addition) ever again. The two share one final kiss before Magnus walks away, leaving a heartbroken and tearful Alec behind staring after him.
After the unexpected breakup, Alec keeps trying to contact Magnus and even gets his friends to speak on his behalf. Nevertheless Magnus keeps his distance, save for the occasion he kissed Alec on impulse. When Magnus gets kidnapped with other Council representative, Alec panics and goes along with his friends to the land of Edom, where after lot of struggles he finds Magnus and Luke. As Magnus was becoming weak, he tells other to go and helps out Magnus. After the death of Sebastian, Magnus finally summons his father to get his companions transported back to Idris, after a long conversation and agreeing on taking Simon's immortality and memories of the Shadow World from him instead of Magnus, they reaches back to Idris. By the end Alec and Magnus unites and when Magnus apologizes for keeping secrets from him, and makes up for it by giving him a book containing important events thought out Magnus life.
According to Cassandra Clare, both Alec and Magnus get married and are parents[2]
Jace Herondale
| “ | Exactly. Despite my staggering good looks, you actually don't like me that way. | ” |
–Jace confronting Alec, City of Glass | ||
Jace Herondale is Alec's adoptive brother (and parabatai), whom he first believes he is in love with. After years of Alec's infatuation, Jace confronts him, telling Alec that he only loves him because he is "safe" (Alec can use their relation as an excuse to hide his feelings) and there is no chance of being hurt. He says that Alec is afraid and only uses his love for Jace to avoid pursuing other relationships. At this, Alec realizes that he will never be with Jace and that he truly loves Magnus Bane. In City of Fallen Angels, Alec consistently sends pictures of himself and Magnus to Jace from their travels.
Isabelle Lightwood
Being the eldest Lightwood children, Isabelle and Alec are very close and are always looking out for one another. It is stated that the reason Alec has never killed a demon is that he is always looking out for her and Jace. Earlier in the series, before everyone found out about Alec's sexuality, Isabelle looks out for him, telling Clary particularly to not tell anyone when she figures it out, concerned of what others might think of a gay Shadowhunter. He was slightly concerned when he found out that Simon and Isabelle had slept in the same bed (though it is implied nothing sexual happened), but didn't push the issue as they had bigger problems.
Clary Fray
Alec initially strongly disliked Clary and was jealous of her, due to Jace's obvious attraction and growing feelings towards her, and never bothered to hide his dislike towards her. But when he realizes that Jace truly loves Clary and that she was a good person in her own right, he began to open up towards her and shed his feelings of hatred towards her. He is especially kind to her after Clary and Jace discover that they are supposedly siblings (this could possibly be because of the fact that he feels Jace is now "off limits" to her) and continues to mend a friendship with her throughout the series. Even after the truth is revealed that Clary and Jace are not actually siblings, he continues to be kind to her as he now shares a passionate love with Magnus.
Etymology
- Alec's full name, Alexander, means 'defending men' in Greek.
Trivia
- Alec is named after two of his ancestors: Alexander Lightwood and his uncle, Gideon.
- Alec and his boyfriend, Magnus will get married and possibly adopt.