| “ | My parents do love me, but they never acknowledge my past—the fact that I came here from India when I was seven—nor even that I had a different name when I was born. I feel as though I am always between worlds. As if I am glad to be their daughter, but I am someone else, too. | ” |
–Ari to Anna, Chain of Iron | ||
Arati "Ari" Bridgestock, formerly Ariadne Bridgestock and born Kamala Joshi, is a Shadowhunter and the adoptive daughter of Inquisitor Bridgestock and his wife Flora.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Ari was born in Bombay, to a couple who ran the Institute in the city. When her parents were killed by a group of Vetis demons, Ari was left orphaned at the age of seven. After her aunt and uncle refused to take her in due to some issue between them and her parents, she was sent to Idris, where she was eventually adopted by the Bridgestocks.[3]
While she was in Idris, she was taught healing by the Silent Brothers.
Engagement[]
At one point in her life, Ari had come to acknowledge that she was attracted to women exclusively. She was not open about this, however, as she knew that she would not easily be accepted by society, most especially by her traditional adoptive parents whom she worked hard to always impress.
As part of her efforts to keep them happy, Ari studied and familiarized herself with the politics of the Clave and agreed to talks of an engagement to Charles Fairchild, a man in good stature and standing in the Clave, being the son of the Consul, Charlotte.
In 1901, sometime after Mr. Bridgestock had become the Inquisitor, the family moved to London in a home in Fitzrovia. While there, Ari was attended to by a tutor. One day, her father invited the Lightwoods to their home for dinner. It was there that she met Anna Lightwood and took an interest in her. Claiming to be behind in her training, Ari quickly arranged to spend more time with Anna by asking to train with her.
After one training session together at the London Institute, the pair made plans. That evening at midnight, Ari snuck out of her house to meet with Anna, who arrived wearing her brother's suit. They went to a salon of writers and poets in Soho. The crowd consisted mostly of mundanes, led by a Leopolda Stain, holding a demon-summoning that evening, and the group successfully summoned Ravener demons. During the battle against the bigger Ravener, Anna pushed Ari out of harm's way, getting herself injured in the process. While Brother Zachariah helped them exterminate the remaining demons, Ari looked after Anna's wounds.
Ari took Anna to her home, where the pair shared their first kiss. Anna spent the night and slipped out in the morning so as not to be caught by the maid or her family. When Anna returned to visit her shortly after, she learned of Ari's engagement to Charles and became upset. Ari made it clear that she did not love Charles and would only enter the engagement as it would be a matching favored by her parents, possibly giving her the family she wanted. Ari suggested that they be together during Charles's year-long absence, but Anna refused to be a temporary secret and left, despite Ari's pleas.
Though Ari did not want to be disloyal to Charles once they were truly engaged and together,[4] Charles seemingly had no qualms about continuing a sexual relationship with Alastair Carstairs during their engagement and marriage. Charles claimed that Ari did not mind.
Demon poison[]
In August 1903, Ari attended a picnic for the younger set in Regent's Park where they were attacked by a Khora demon in broad daylight. Ari was attempting to tend to the wounded and bleeding out Piers Wentworth when more demons appeared. Charles tried to protect her but was knocked out by one demon while another clamped onto her shoulder. Ari struggled to free herself from the demon as it dragged her across the grass but by the time Anna was able to dispatch the demon, Ari had stopped moving.
She and the others were brought to the Institute's infirmary and were looked over by Silent Brothers. The Brothers decided on putting them to sleep, hoping it would slow the poison from spreading and killing them while they looked for a cure. Though she appeared unconscious, she was able to hear all that was going on around her. At one point, while Anna was visiting her and pleading with her not to die, she learned that Charles had decided to end their engagement in favor of a new one with Grace Blackthorn.
When the poison was discovered to be contagious, Ari, Piers, and the others were moved to the Silent City's infirmary. There, when James Herondale and his friends had been lured to the sickroom, Belial briefly possessed Ari to speak to James. She recovered later that day thanks to Christopher's cure but seemingly had no recollection of being possessed.[5]
After the arrest of Tatiana Blackthorn, Ari insisted that Grace come live with her family—a decision many believed to be a way to make it seem as if the end of her engagement with Charles was amicable. In reality, Ari was genuinely interested by the other girl and wished to befriend her as she felt they could bond in their struggles with being adopted.[3]
During James and Cordelia's engagement party, Ari approached Anna, telling her that she heard her when she spoke to her at the infirmary, which had made her believe that Anna still loved her. She continued to say that she now realized that nothing mattered to her if she did not have Anna. When Anna asserted her reputation of being a pessimist about love, Ari told her that she would win her back.[5]
Chasing Anna[]
Over the next several months, Ari stayed true to her word and pursued Anna relentlessly; approaching her at every social gathering to try and spend time with her. Anna rejected her advances repeatedly but Ari was determined not to give up and eventually got her to give in a little. Despite a number of secret assignations, usually at the Hell Ruelle, they were decidedly not in a relationship as Anna wished to keep her life the same. Regardless, Ari accepted this, believing it better than not having Anna at all.
During one of their meetings at the Hell Ruelle, Ari noticed Grace running from Malcolm Fade's office. Though curious about it and worried about Grace, she did not go after her. Some nights later, while waiting for Anna to arrive, she noticed Lucie and Grace meeting with Malcolm once again. When it ended much the same as the previous one—with Grace sprinting towards the exit upset—Ari approached Lucie and brought her back to the Whispering Room so that she and Anna could inquire about the incidents. Lucie confided that she was trying to help Grace investigate what had truly happened to her brother and the girls agreed to try their best to help them.
Ari and Anna then made plans to meet with Hypatia Vex. Lucie joined them and they were able to learn that a warlock had performed Jesse Blackthorn's protection spells as a child rather than the Silent Brothers, leading them to speculate that it was because of this that he had a bad reaction to his first rune ceremony. They agreed to keep this information to themselves and then resumed their patrol.
That morning, the pair made their way back to the Institute to report after their patrol. On the way, they noticed a dark cloud over only the Institute. Once inside the gates, the courtyard began to fill with seawater and the tentacles of Leviathan broke through the cobblestones. Anna jumped in front of Ari to protect her and they began fighting him off, soon joined by more Shadowhunters. They managed to sustain little injuries before the gateway closed and the Prince of Hell was cast from the world.
Upon the arrival and explanation of James—that a demon in cooperation with Tatiana had made the pathway for Leviathan to come through—Ari's father was sent to interrogate Tatiana. Mrs. Bridgestock was distraught he had gone alone and not wanting to deal with it, Ari snuck out to visit Anna. While observing her through the window, she realized that Anna was different and closed off around her in a way she was not around others. With the realization came that Anna not only didn't forgive her, but didn't want her to love her or be close in anyway. Despite her earlier acceptance of this, she could no longer bear it and ended things once again.[3]
Personality and traits[]
Ari is a warm, generally kindhearted girl. She's also quick to stand up for others and can be quite determined when it comes to what she wants.[5]
Physical description[]
Ari is tall,[5] has black hair, brown skin, and amber-colored eyes.[4]
Skills and abilities[]
- Nephilim physiology: Being Nephilim, Ari possesses a myriad 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. This includes enhanced strength, agility, stamina, coordination, and many others which improve over time and practice.
- Runic magic: Due to the angel Raziel's 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.
- The Sight: As a Shadowhunter, Ari is able to easily see through most magical illusions and layers of glamour over reality.
- Use of heavenly weapons: As a Nephilim, Ari is also able to handle heavenly weapons with effect, since this would normally not work for other species. In particular, these are weapons made of adamas and forged by Iron Sisters, such as seraph blades.
- Healing capabilities: She was taught healing by the Silent Brothers when she was young in Idris and is quite skilled in it.[4]
Possessions[]
- Khanda: Ari's preferred weapon is a double-edged blade that originates from her home land called a khanda.[2]
- Electrum whip: She also owns an electrum whip that she sometimes uses in battle.[4]
Relationships[]
Anna and Ari.
| “ | When you want something very much, you are willing to accept the shadow of that thing. Even if it is just a shadow. | ” |
–Ari to Anna, Chain of Iron | ||
Ari was Anna's first girlfriend.
They met when the Lightwood family was invited over for dinner by her father. Ari was taken by Anna and suggested that the pair train together. During their first training session, Ari asked Anna to take her somewhere fun in London. That night, Anna picked her up and escorted her to a place in Soho. There they found themselves in a battle and Ari took Anna back to her home in order to heal her. After administering to her, Ari asked to kiss Anna and they tangled up together through the night.
The following day, Anna arrived with flowers for Ari and discovered Ari's understanding with Charles Fairchild. Ari explained she had thought that Anna knew they could not publicly be together but that they could have the next year together till her engagement became official. Anna promptly ended things with her despite her pleading.
Two years later, Ari realized she didn't want a fake marriage; she wanted Anna. When she confronted Anna about this, Anna claimed she no longer believed in romantic love, but Ari promised to change her mind.
At every gathering for the next few months, she asked Anna to spend time with her; and every time she was rejected. Eventually, Anna decided to give her a little of what she asked, having some assignations in private, while making it clear that they were not back together and Anna would continue to court others. Ari accepted this arrangement, believing it better to have some of Anna than none of her but eventually realized that Anna was keeping part of herself from her. No longer able to stand the façade, Ari ended things again.
Charles was Ari's betrothed for over a year. The two had planned to get married to hide the fact that they were both gay, as well as to advance Charles's political career and appease Ari's parents. She had also hoped that they would eventually have children as she had long wished to be a mother.
However, Charles ended their engagement while she was unconscious, suffering of demon poisoning. Though it could tarnish her reputation for him having ended their arrangement in such a way, Ari did not mind and instead focused herself on her love, Anna.
Later on, it is said that while Ari and Charles would not make a good couple, they worked well as friends. Charles often sent her letters from his post with Kazuo Satō.
Ari is very thankful to Maurice and Flora Bridgestock for taking her in but despite their clear love for her, she fears rejection from her adoptive parents. She is confident that if she were to come out as gay to them, they would despise her and cast her out. As such, she tried to hide this from them by engaging herself to Charles Fairchild, hoping they would be pleased she made a good match.
She also has some complicated feelings towards them for changing her name and keeping her heritage from her.After Tatiana Blackthorn was arrested, Ari invited Grace to live with her family till her marriage to Charles went through. It was public opinion that this was in order for Ari to save face and make her and Charles's separation seem amicable. However, she was genuinely interested in becoming friends with Grace due to their shared experience of being adopted. Grace, on the other hand, though polite, was uninterested in her efforts and would not exchange confidences with her.
Appearances[]
- Every Exquisite Thing (first appearance)
- Chain of Gold
- Chain of Iron
- Chain of Thorns
- Better in Black (set to appear)
Gallery[]
- See more here
Trivia[]
- Ari plays the piano and is apparently a "fiendish reader."[4]
- Her favorite book is The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope Hawkins.[2]
- Ari's favorite animal is the Lynx.[2]
- The name Kamala means lotus in Sanskrit.[6]
References[]
- ↑ Chain of Thorns
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Ari's character card — Cassandra Clare on Instagram
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Chain of Iron
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Every Exquisite Thing
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Chain of Gold
- ↑ Name meaning on Wikipedia
- ↑ "Charles' fiancee has had like six names, but I think she's Ariadne now for sure." Cassandra Clare on Twitter
- ↑ TLH snippet — Cassandra Clare on Tumblr