CREAK… CREAK… god damn these floor boards. If I don't watch my step now I'll wake someone. If I can make it out now then I can go somewhere else; somewhere beautiful. Somewhere that has beautiful green trees that reach so high into the sky that you almost can't see the tops, the grass grows long and flows with the blowing wind. There are wild flowers littering the ground as far as the eye can see, growing in all colors. Before I can get to that place, I have to get out of here. Here, where the sky is as grey as the cobblestones covering every inch of the town. Where the towers reach high in the sky, but you can't see the tops through the smoke and fog, and the only grass to be found in the entire kingdom is in the castle garden. Garden's in which are brown and yellow and cannot support floral life of any kind.

Watching my step is critical. I can make it out now and be happy or I can be caught, and punished. There is a guard posted outside of my room, and that is the extent of my knowledge of guard whereabouts. You see, I am to be married. To a gruesomely cruel man. I have heard rumors that he has murdered his other wives in cold blood and that he is a great deal older than I. I do not want my life to end simply because I did not satisfy my husband. My ladies have told me stories of his people being cruel as well. That they are brutal and barbaric. Yet I am still to marry him because of the wealth the alliance will bring our countries.

My father is upset that it has come to this. He is not a cruel man, but seeing as our county is so poor he had no other choice. My Mother has been trying to groom me into the perfect bride for the King I have never met. I have been locked away for so long that I have forgotten what it was like to wander the kingdom's grounds. I was once allowed to wander the village at my own will, but seeing as I will be the queen of another country in two days' time, I am no longer allowed out of the castle.

There is a bag of servants clothes strapped to my back and a hood upon my head to hide the unmistakable red hair underneath. I pray to anything that may be listening that I make it out of my home and into the forest long before anyone realizes I left under the cover of darkness.

I shall miss my parents but I shall not miss the duties of becoming a princess. I pull upon the handle of my door hoping that the guard will think I am just a servant sent to check on the princess. One I look outside I see the guard has propped himself against the wall with his hat tipped forward in a way the covers his eyes. I presume he is asleep, so I make a mad dash for the end of the corridor and toward the exit of the west wing.

"Girl! Stop right there!"

I come to a screeching halt. As I rounded the corner to leave the wing I was met with a pack of guards.

Panicked I curtsied without looking up I greet them. "Sirs, what may I do for you?"

"Where might you be coming from girl," Snarled an old weathered guard standing at the front of the group.

"The princess's chambers sir, now if you'll excuse me I'll be on my way." What the hell Clary? Does anyone even chambers anymore. I guess so because they let me walk past and I was finally free to leave the castle and find my peace my wonderland. I cannot see myself married to man that will never be able to love parents are locked in a loveless marriage and I do not want that for myself. As I keep walking I think that I am free only to hear a guard shout out into the corridor.

"THE PRINCESS IS NOT IN HER ROOM! SHE HAS ESCAPED!"

Maybe if I keep my cool and act as though I am looking for the princess, no one will suspect me. No such luck. As a guard rushed past he knocks into me, and in turn, knocking the hood off my head. There it was, I had been exposed. My seemingly flawless plan ruined in a matter of seconds. The man seized me up off the ground yelling for the others that he had found me. I knew what was to be next. I was to be taken to my father for a punishment.

The walk, or rather drag, to my father's study was a long one. They had separated us as much as possible so that I would never get too attached to them in the event that I was to be shipped off to a faraway place and never return. I watched through sad eyes as they opened the door and shoved me through. Telling me to sit and await my father's arrival.

It took him all of five minutes to arrive in his study with a saddened look on his face and a crease in his brow. I knew then that I had done something terribly wrong.

"My dear, what have you done?" My father sat down in his chair behind the great oak desk. "You do not realize that it isn't my responsibility to punish you anymore, don't you?"

"What?" I was taken aback. I was so careful that I would not be able to be caught passed midnight so that if I were I would still be in my father's control.

"It is now the witching hour my dear. You are now your betrothed's responsibility. I am forced by my honor to inform him of you actions and he shall punish you at his own discretion."

BAM! It felt as though someone had thrown a boulder at me and it was slowly making my chest cave in. I felt the familiar prick of tears and the lump in the back of my throat that refused to leave anytime soon. I felt like I was drowning and there was nothing I could do to swim back up to the surface.

"Oh my dear Clarissa," my father's saddened tone broke me from my train of thought. "I wish I could keep you here under my protection for the rest of your life, but my dear, we have to do what's best for our kingdom. I know that you are unhappy here. I know that you crave the beauty of elsewhere. That is why I accepted King Wayland's proposal to have you marry his nephew. Their kingdom is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. You must know my dear I never wanted…"

I didn't hear the rest of what he'd said. All I could think of was the fact that he'd said The King's nephew. So I spoke up on my confusion," Father, wait, did you say the King Wayland's nephew? I was under the impression I was to marry the king himself. I did not know that he had a nephew under his charge."

"Oh my dear, you are to marry the prince. I would never marry my only daughter and last living child to such a vile man. I have heard tales of the Herondale boy. He is said to be like his uncle, but I do not believe he would harm you. I have heard that he is quite the gentlemen, actually."

I was still scared to death of going to a completely new country just to marry a man I had never even heard of.

"He is said to be more like his father in the way that he was such a sweet boy and was eventually corrupted by his uncle when he took over the role of king. After the boy's parents died Michael Wayland was forced to take over until his nephew could marry and take on his rightful role as king of Idris."

"I see. Must you tell him about my attempt at escape? What will he do to me if he finds out about it," I question him. The fear for my life taking full control of my emotions.

"Yes my dear I must. If I do not and word gets to him then my honor is at stake. I do not know what punishment he would give you my dear, but I do not think that it will be too harsh. Now, my child, go back to your room and get some sleep. Your long journey to Idris starts tomorrow. Your mother and I will be there to see you off. Oh, how I wish your brother s could see you now, they would be so proud of what you are doing for your country." With that he left the study, leaving me to walk to my room flanked by guards.

I would leave in the morning and then the rest of my life would begin. In Idris. As I lie down in the bed I have stayed in every night of my life. I feel the tears start streaming down my face. I stay that was sobbing until everything around me fades to black and the sweet embrace of sleep takes me.

The next time I open my eyes, the sun is streaming in through the deep purple curtains. I realize that within the hour my ladies will be here to ready me for the trek. It is a two day carriage ride to Idris. So once I arrive, I shall be prepared for my wedding immediately. I will never have the courtesy of meeting Mr. Herondale, only the courtesy of meeting my husband. For god's sake I don't even know the man's first name.

I sit in wait for my ladies to arrive. My clothes and a few portraits of my family are already packed away, being the only things I can take with me, besides my ladies and a few guards. I hardly know anything about any of these poor woman. They are also being forced from their families. Both of them around my age. I feel so guilty that they should have to separate themselves from their homes. There is nothing that can be done of course. I must go.

There is a knock on my door and I can't hold back the sob that escapes my throat. As the woman enter they go about their business. They prepare my travel clothes and put my hair up in pretty braids and twists. All the while ignoring my soft cries. Though they both look somber themselves. There are people filing in and out now taking my trunks with them and clearing any and everything else from the only room I've ever known.

"It is time, my lady."

I curse to myself. I cannot believe that it is actually happening. Reluctantly I traipse down the hall, with the two girls not far behind. I walk into the foyer and see that my parents are in fact waiting to see me off. Just as they had Jonathon and Sebastian on that fateful day, and I can't help but feel like my story will end in a similar fashion as my brothers'.

Putting on a brave face I bid my mother and father farewell. My mother embraces me tightly and I feel her tears soak my shoulder. My father stands stoic, keeping his emotions inside. He does not want me to see any trace of fear or sadness that would make me want to run more. At least that's what I think he is trying to do, I hope. After we have said our final goodbyes I can't help but feel like a spectator at my own funeral.

Stepping into the carriage feel like watching my own casket be lowered into the earth. The two girls that are forced to travel along with me climb in silently. The guards that are to accompany me flank the cart on either side. Before I realize it we are pulling forward. The wheels hard at work against the cobblestone streets. The foggy and smoky air starts to be replaced with clear skies and fresh air. I watch through the window as my home grows smaller and smaller and smaller, until there is nothing left but the vast expanse of forest.

Now I must fulfill my life's duties. I am to marry the Herondale prince, please him in any way he demands and before our wedding I shall receive the punishment he has decided on for my escape attempt. I am to sit on the throne next to him as the queen of Idris, and produce an heir to carry on the Herondale name and uphold the kingdom in the same way his father had before him. I am just not read for any of these things. I do not want to mother a child. I am only 16 and I am sure that my betrothed is no younger than 18. This is what being a princess entails. It is nothing like the stories of love and magic that my mother once told me.

Hello!

FYI guys I made and Instagram: Eliza.c.h_writes

So, let me know what you think... I am starting a new update system. You have to meet my review requirements in order for me to update. this review goal is 10, can we get there? (Double reviews don't count). Ask me questions about life or the story and I will answer them in the next update or a PM.

Until next time my little Nephilum

Love,

Eliza