Maryse Lightwood

**Maryse Lightwood** is a Shadowhunter and the former head of the New York Institute. She is the mother of Alec, Isabelle, and Max Lightwood and the adoptive mother of Jace Wayland.

## Biography

### Early Life

Maryse Trueblood was born in Idris to the Truebloods Adam and Marisa on October 30, 1971. She was raised in Idris alongside her older brother, Maxwell.

When she was a teenager, her brother left the Clave, choosing to leave his Shadowhunter life and live as a mundane to be able to live as a gay man and marry a mundane. Though most did not know of his sexuality, she was still considered a bit of an outcast for having an exiled brother.

When Maryse was young, her parents used to take her brother with them to hunt demons and leave her alone at home, saying she’d be frightened if she went with them.

Maryse was taught how to cook when she was young because most women were not trained as warriors before her generation. When she was old enough, she was sent to the Shadowhunter Academy. There she chose a battle axe as her Signature Weapon.

### Circle days

At the Academy, Maryse grew close to Valentine Morgenstern. She joined the Circle and became fully loyal to his cause, helping him recruit several members, including her eventual husband, Robert. Maryse planned the bloody details of the Uprising with Valentine, as his right hand. Maryse left the Circle only when she knew that they were doomed, but came to regret her actions when she realized Valentine's true disposition. In an attempt to make up for her mistakes, Maryse decided to dedicate her life in service of the Clave.

### Valentine's return

When Clary Fray, the daughter of Jocelyn and Valentine, was brought to the Institute, Maryse and Robert were in Idris. Their children, whom they left partly in charge of the Institute, undertook missions which were unsanctioned by the Clave on Clary's behalf, which were eventually reported to them in Idris.

Maryse eventually returned to the Institute, while Robert took a side-trip to Mumbai to pick up Max. As the Seelies, particularly their Queen, had stopped communicating with the Clave, it became enough cause for concern that Maryse sent Jace with Isabelle to talk to their source among the Seelies, Meliorn, but not before accusing Isabelle of potentially telling Meliorn anything that could have offended them. Supposedly disappointed in Alec's lack of control during her absence, she tasked him with looking after Clary.

She seemed not to believe the reports Isabelle gave her of the Seelies' reasoning behind their actions. She put Isabelle's difference in judgement on her daughter's behavior, that she deemed inappropriate.

After chastising her daughter and talking to her son, it was revealed that the Lightwood family's reputation was low, prompting her to start arranging for her adult children's weddings.

She disapproved of Alec's proposal to Lydia Branwell until she realized Lydia had good relations with Inquisitor Herondale.

As a consequence, she reacted very badly to the failed wedding.

#### Hunt for Jace

 After Valentine took the Mortal Cup and Jace, Lydia was replaced by another Clave representative, Victor Aldertree. Lydia suspected that Maryse had gone to the Clave behind her back. Throughout the initial search for Jace, Maryse helped Victor, consequently clashing with her own children

## Personality and Traits

While Maryse was the head of the New York Institute, she was feared and greatly respected. She was also hard-as-nails, by-the-book, and always looking down on faults and anything that could bring shame to their family. As a mother, she loves her four children. However, during her time as the head of the Institute, while showing the occasional open affection towards them—except Isabelle—she was first and foremost their superior and demanded respect and quasi-perfect behavior at all times. For a long time, she was distant to her daughter Isabelle, whose actions she disapproved of.

## Physical Appearance

Maryse has dark hair and dark eyes, and is a bit heavier than the usual Shadowhunter women slim build. It used to cause her a lot of shame when she was a teenager, until she realized it allowed her to carry and use much heavier weapons than a lot of her friends.

She and her daughter Isabelle look very much alike, though Isabelle did get the slimmer frame of the Shadowhunters women.

## Skills and Abilities

* **Nephilim physiology**: Being Nephilim, Maryse possesses a variety of enhanced physical and mental abilities granted to her by the blood of Raziel in her veins and also by the angelic Marks of the Gray Book. She also has the power to perform tasks unique to their species, such as the ability to use and call on the power of angels for their seraph blades. This also includes enhanced strength, agility, stamina, and coordination, which only improves over time and practice.
* **Runic magic**: Due to the angel blood in their veins, all Shadowhunters are able to apply runes on their skin without any real danger. These Marks, in turn, give varied effects that serve to benefit the wearer.
* **Leadership**: Maryse was once the head of the New York Conclave and was considerably good at her job, able to effectively lead and command the respect and obedience of those she leads.

## Possessions

* Basic **Shadowhunter gear**, including: a stele, seraph blades, and witchlight.
* **Maryse's axe**: Maryse used to use her battle axe when she was still in the field, making her a valued melee soldier.

## Appearances

Shadowhunters 2.0. Discovery

* Moo Shu To Go
* Of Men and Angels
* Bad Blood
* Blood Calls to Blood Part 1
* Malec Part 2
* Morning Star Part 1

Shadowhunters 2.0. Dive

* This Guilty Blood Part 1

## Trivia

* Maryse was nicknamed 'Maisie' by her brother Maxwell.