Lydia Branwell

**Lydia Branwell** is a young Shadowhunter and a prominent member of the Clave.

## Biography

#### Before Canon

At one point, Lydia's parents tried to set her up with an arranged marriage, which she refused. She chose to marry the man she loved, John Monteverde, with whom she planned to run the Lisbon Institute.

Once, their Institute got intel about demons hiding out at a club in the favela. They were told that a warlock was helping them, and so they brought the warlock in. Her team wanted to do "whatever it took" to make him talk, but Lydia refused to let them torture the warlock. Not getting the information from the warlock proved fatal as the team went in blind and were faced with hundreds of demons. John was killed in the raid, devastating Lydia and leaving her with survivor's guilt. She has since partially blamed herself for his death, believing that going soft on the warlock played a part. Her behavior towards Downworlders has been bad ever since.

#### The New York Institute

In 2016, following news of the return of Valentine Morgenstern, Lydia was sent by the Clave as an envoy to the New York Institute to assess the running of the Institute, and later to take temporary control of it from the Lightwoods after the recent acts and decisions of Clary Fray, Jace Wayland, and Alec and Isabelle Lightwood.

During a conversation with Luke Garroway, Lydia accidentally informed Alec that his parents were both former members of the Circle. Despite her desire to run an Institute, she wasn't happy that it had to be taken from the Lightwoods under those circumstances. Later, Alec offered to marry her for both their benefits—restoring his family's honor and the opportunity to run the Institute together. She agreed, thinking it was a good plan.

Lydia took no pleasure in taking control of the Institute, especially since most of the residents did not trust or respect her, especially when it came to the tough calls she had to make. When she arrested Isabelle's former flame Meliorn to interrogate him, she became furious. Alec tried to dissuade her from sending him to the Silent Brothers, but she remained strong with her decision, refusing to make the same mistake she felt she did—being too compassionate and unwilling to take drastic measures—that led to her fiancé's death.

When Meliorn was broken out by Izzy and friends, Lydia arrested her. Though she seemed to regret what she had done, she snapped at Alec and showed her true colors, reminding him that he was the one that needed her, not the other way around.

On the day of their wedding, Magnus Bane arrived in the midst of the ceremony. Lydia saw the look he and Alec exchanged and she let him go. Lydia then decided to return to Idris and dive into her work.

When she went to retrieve the Mortal Cup, she was attacked by Hodge Starkweather, discovered to be a spy for Valentine, who then took the Cup.

#### Hunt for Jace

Shortly after Jace was taken by Valentine, Maryse went to the Clave behind Lydia, prompting the Clave to send Victor Aldertree to the Institute as her replacement.

When a demon infiltrated the Institute, the demon possessed Raj, whom Lydia did not get along with at the time, and attacked her. She was injured in the battle. She was sent back to Idris afterwards to be healed by the doctors there.

## Personality and Traits

Lydia is an abrasive, driven, no-nonsense Shadowhunter who fights for what she believes in. Though harsh at times, she is capable of vulnerability, which she only reveals to select people.

She is part of the mold of the Nephilim society, harboring a deep-seated racism against Downworlders as well as a certain distaste of queer people.

## Skills and Abilities

* **Nephilim physiology**: Being Nephilim, Lydia naturally possesses a variety of enhanced physical and mental abilities granted to her by the angel blood of Raziel in her veins and also by the angelic Marks of the Gray Book. This includes enhanced strength, speed, agility, stamina, and coordination, which would improve over time and practice.
* **The Sight**: As a Shadowhunter, Lydia is able to easily see through most magical illusions and layers of glamour over reality.
* **Use of heavenly weapons**: As a Nephilim, Lydia is also able to handle heavenly weapons, such as seraph blades, with effect that would normally not work for other species.
* **Runic magic**: Due to the angel blood in their veins, all Shadowhunters are all able to apply runes on their skin without any real danger. These Marks, in turn, give varied effects that serve to benefit the wearer.
* **Skilled fighter**: Lydia is quite skilled in swordsmanship and hand to hand combat.

## Possessions

* Basic Shadowhunter gear, including a stele, seraph blades, witchlight, and various other weapons.

## Appearances

Shadowhunters 2.0. - Discovery

* Bad Blood
* Rise Up Part 1
* Rise Up Part 2
* This World Inverted Part 1
* This World Inverted Part 2
* Malec Part 1
* Malec Part 2

Shadowhunters 2.0. Dive

* This Guilty Blood Part 1
* Day of Wrath Part 2