| “ | I am adopted, Anna. My father is the Inquisitor. I do not have parents who are as understanding as yours must be... And I want children. Anna, I have always wanted to be a mother, more than anything else in the world. If I had to bear Charles's touch, it would be worth it for that. I shall never, never love him as I love you. I thought you understood—that this would be a bit of happiness we could snatch for ourselves before the world forced us apart. | ” |
–Ariadne to Anna, Every Exquisite Thing | ||
Ariadne Bridgestock is a Shadowhunter and the adoptive daughter of Inquisitor Bridgestock and his wife.
Biography
Early life
Ariadne 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, Ariadne was left orphaned. She was sent to Idris, where she was eventually adopted by the Bridgestocks. At one point, her adoptive father became Inquisitor.
She was taught healing by Silent Brothers in Idris.[3]
Engagement
At one point in her life, Ariadne 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, Ariadne 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, the Bridgestocks traveled to London and stayed in their home in Fitzrovia. While there, Ariadne 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, Ariadne 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, Ariadne 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 Ariadne out of harm's way, getting herself injured in the process. While Brother Zachariah helped them exterminate the remaining demons, Ariadne looked after Anna's wounds.
Ariadne 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 Ariadne's engagement to Charles and became upset. Ariadne 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. Ariadne suggested that they be together during Charles's year-long absence, but Anna refused to be a temporary secret and left, despite Ariadne's pleas.
Though Ariadne did not want to be disloyal to Charles once they were truly engaged and together,[3] Charles seemingly had no qualms about continuing a sexual relationship with Alastair Carstairs during their engagement and marriage. Charles claimed that Ariadne did not mind.
Demon poison
At the welcome party for the Carstairs at the London Institute, Lucie Herondale introduced to them her best friend and future parabatai, Cordelia Carstairs. Ariadne complimented her dress, and Cordelia shared details about it in hopes of impressing them. When her friend Catherine Townsend rudely stated that Shadowhunters shouldn't have such interest in fashion, Ariadne came to her defense, pointing out that Catherine herself always admired Matthew Fairchild's fashion sense.
The following day, at the picnic in Regent's Park, they were attacked by a Khora demon in broad daylight. Ariadne 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. Ariadne 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, Ariadne had stopped moving.
She and the others were brought to the Institute's infirmary for recovery and were looked over by Silent Brothers. The Brothers decided on putting them to sleep, hoping it would slow the poison from 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, Ariadne, 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 Ariadne to speak to James. She recovered later that day thanks to Christopher's cure but seemingly has no recollection of being possessed.
After the arrest of Tatiana Blackthorn, Ariadne insisted that Grace come live with her family—a decision Alastair believed to be a way to make it seem as if the end of her engagement with Charles was amicable.
During James and Cordelia's engagement party, Ariadne approached Anna, telling her that she heard her when she spoke to her at the infirmary, apparently making Ariadne realize 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, Ariadne told her that she would win her back.[4]
Personality and traits
Ariadne is a warm, generally kindhearted girl.[4]
Physical description
Ariadne is tall,[4] has black hair, brown skin, and amber-colored eyes.[3]
Skills and abilities
- Nephilim physiology: Being Nephilim, Ariadne 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, Ariadne is able to easily see through most magical illusions and layers of glamour over reality.
- Use of heavenly weapons: As a Nephilim, Ariadne 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.
Possessions
Relationships
Anna and Ariadne.
| “ | I know you are strong-willed, Anna Lightwood, but I am just as strong-willed. I will change your mind. I will win you back. | ” |
–Ariadne to Anna, Chain of Gold | ||
Ariadne was Anna's first girlfriend.
They met when the Lightwood family was invited over for dinner by her father. Ariadne was taken by Anna and suggested that the pair train together. During their first training session, Ariadne 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 Ariadne took Anna back to her home in order to heal her. After administering to her, Ariadne asked to kiss Anna and they tangled up together through the night.
The following day, Anna arrived with flowers for Ariadne and discovered Ariadne's understanding with Charles Fairchild. Ariadne 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 pleads.
Two years later, Ariadne 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 Ariadne promised to change her mind.
Charles was Ariadne'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. Ariadne had 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.
Ariadne is very thankful to Mr. and Mrs. 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 tries to hide this from them by engaging herself to Charles Fairchild, hoping they will be pleased she made a good match.[3]
She also has some complicated feelings towards them[5] for changing her name[1] and keeping her heritage from her.[6]Appearances
- Every Exquisite Thing (first appearance)
- Chain of Gold
Gallery
- See more here
Trivia
- Ariadne plays the piano and is apparently a "fiendish reader."[3]
- Her favorite book is The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope Hawkins.[2]
- Her favorite weapon is a Khanda.[2]
- Ariadne's favorite animal is the Lynx.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "The Bridgestocks changed her name when she was adopted, which she has mixed feelings about" — Cassandra Clare on Tumblr
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Ariadne's character card — Cassandra Clare on Instagram
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Every Exquisite Thing
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Chain of Gold
- ↑ "Ariadne was also adopted and has complex feelings about it." Cassandra Clare on Tumblr
- ↑ Notes on Ariadne's heritage — Cassandra Clare on Tumblr
- ↑ "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