CHAPTER ONE - The Ride

Clary´s POV

We've been on the road for two days with very few stops. I have barely gotten any sleep, I have been thinking way too much. I have been sent by my parents, the king and queen of Shadowland to stay in king Valentine's court in Idris. The main reason my parents sent me is to present myself and to hopefully meet a worthy suiter that pleases my parents. My kingdom, Shadowland is a very, very small country compared to Idris. Some people would say that Shadowland isn't a country based on its size but I like the size of it - everybody knows each other. Someone knocks on the door and I bid him enter.

"Sorry princess, but there is a huge tree barricading the road - it could take a little while getting it out of the way."

The guard takes my hand as I step out of the carriage. I have been in that carriage for far too many hours so as I step out my eyes have to adjust to the sun as I am blinded by it.

"Your ladies-in-waiting have gathered some food for you, it has been a while since our last stop"

The guard nods his head towards my two most trusted ladies-in-waiting, Mary and Kenna. Mary is looking for something in the carriage behind mine and Kenna is walking around, exploring. I would never have left without them, they've been my friends - my only friends since childhood. As I walk towards them I start noticing the surroundings. All I can see are trees and plants all around me, we are clearly in a very big forest. It's quite unlike Shadowland, since it's dark most of the year there aren't many plants around - not like here at least.

"Clarissa!" I hear Kenna yell from somewhere unknown. I walk towards Mary, who is holding a basket in her right hand and a blanket in the other. She has her blonde hair tied up in a big bun and is wearing a moss-green dress that reaches down to her calves. "Mary, Clarissa!" Kenna shouts again as she runs towards us. Kenna on the other hand has her dark brown hair in a braid that falls down to her waist and is wearing a dark-red toned dress with a black belt arount the waist.

"You HAVE to see what I just found" she says eagerly to us. She takes my hand and draws me after her towards something behind the trees.

"What is it you found Kenna, just tell me -"

I am stunned. I have never seen anything like this ever in my life. We are standing on a cliff of some sorts and clearly we are up on a mountain since we can see over the largest city I have ever seen. We stand in silence all awed by the sight.

"Hey, isn´t that King Valentine's palace?" Mary says suddenly and by that draws my attention to the big palace. The city itself is on a low ground and spreads through the whole valley while the castle is placed on a little hill that rises up from the city.

"I guess it is" I say a little disoriented. The sun shines so perfectly down on the city and illuminates its features. When I focus on the city I start noticing the tiny people walking the streets. They look like ants from up here.

"I did not know that we were this close to the city. We will probably be arriving right on dinner time" Mary says and as always she is only thinking about her stomach's needs.

I don't answer her, instead I just keep on staring at this faraway city, my future home if I play my role well. Mary and Kenna spread the blanket on the grass and sit down. As I sit down beside them Mary reaches for the basked she was holding earlier and takes out from it some water, bread and fruits. We sit in quiet eating for a while until Kenna starts speaking.

"I have heard that the king's sons are very handsome" she says and blinks me. I let out a little smile.

"The waitress from the guesthouse last night told me that they are three of them: Sebastian is the oldest and therefore the heir to the throne, Jace is the one in the middle and then there is the youngest, Max, he is about 10 years old" I listen eagerly as Kenna tells us what the waitress had told her. I've never seen the princes or heard anything about them before.

"Which one is the cutest?" Mary asks suddenly as she takes a bite from the strawberry she´s eating. That will be the 7th strawberry she eats, it really amazes me how much she can eat and still have that perfect skinny-body of hers.

"The waitress said that she had not seen them in person but had heard that women either think Jace is the most handsome man on the earth or Sebastian. I guess they are both quite irresistible" Kenna answers and blinks me again.

"Clary," the name they have been calling me since I can remember, "Are you to be wed with one of them?" She asks point out. I think about it for a few seconds but then I let out a little laugh.

"No I do not think so, at least not the crown prince. We are not a wealthy country and therefore would not be a desirable match for them" I answer. Suddenly I start thinking about the main reason why I am here, to meet my future husband. My parents have been forcing me to meet young suitors ever since I turned sixteen last year. I did meet a young boy that I liked, but he was from a middle class family so my parents quickly ended the relationship before it even began. When I asked Mary and Kenna if they wanted to leave Shadowland and travel with me to Idris to live there until I marry, they did not even think a second about it - they were and are so excited. After all they are also expected by their families to marry while in Idris"

"Maybe the princes have some nice friends he can introduce us to" Mary says excitingly. I don't answer but I let out a little laugh and smile towards her. I know the question Mary and Kenna want to ask me but I guess they are too afraid. "Am I excited moving to a foreign country to meet and marry a man that can financially help my country's need?" Well, It did not come as a surprise when my parents told me about Idris, there were no desirable suitors in Shadowland but Idris was crawling with them. But that doesn't answer the question, am I excited? - yes, I guess I am deep inside.

After a couple of hours sitting on that cliff watching the sun crawl down towards the east from the sky the guard comes walking towards us and tells us that we are ready to go. Mary and Kenna gather the food and blanket and we walk towards the carriage. As I step in I notice how big the carriage for only one person compared to Kenna´s and Mary´s semi-big carriage behind me.

"Mary! Kenna!" I call after them as they themselves are walking in their own carriage. They come running towards me, expecting something bad has happened.

"What is wrong my lady?" Mary says with courtesy next to the guard.

"I was hoping you could accompany me in my carriage the rest of the journey" I explain I can see that they are relieved nothing is wrong. The guard is called to his post and as he leaves I take Mary's hand and lead them inside. "I did not want to be alone - I do not have much time left from my old life. When we come to Idris m new life begins, my life in Idris" I tell them as we sit down. Mary and Kenna nod their heads and take my hand. They both know what I want to tell them - I am scared.

And that's it!

So, I just came up with the idea for this story yesterday and immediately started working on it. I am very excited for this story and I hope you are too! I really hope you liked this first chapter of my new story. I have already started writing the next chapter and hope to uploaded it in the next few days. If you want to read more from my you can check out my other story; "WHO AM I?".

Until next time...xx