Excited for this idea, it is pretty much tmi meets the selection but I've changed the ideas really. You'll get the impression that something bigger is happening other than Clary just winning Jace's heart. Enjoy it. I thought it was an interesting idea.
Disclaimer: Cassandra Clare owes it all.
Chapter 1: The Choice
Alicante castle came into sight, the spires of the tower shooting into the air as Clary took deep breaths, feeling her father's tension next to her. She couldn't fail him. He was the one that wanted the power, not she, but for him to get that then she would have to win the princes' heart.
"Clary, remember what I taught you," Valentine said. "And your mother, show how skilled you are and show how much of a fine lady you can be."
"What if he doesn't like me?" Clary asked.
"You make sure that he does," he told her. "I want my daughter ruling the country."
Clary nodded her head, knowing that it was secretly him. She was just a pawn in his chess game, and she would hate to see him lose. Jocelyn, her mother, sat quietly as Clary knew there was nothing she could do. She didn't wish to put her mother in a position.
Her father turned silent after that as she stared out of the carriage window, wondering whether she would rule the land one day. If it was her choice then she wouldn't be here now, she thought it was stupid with girls coming forward to fight for the princes' hand, literally in some cases. Clary would rather be at home with her family, training with her mother and father, keeping an eye out on Jonathan. It wasn't the happiest of times, but it was her family, they seemed to get through their problems fine.
The gates to the glass castle opened, followed by the carriage moving again as they moved closer. Already, Clary could see hundreds of girls waiting outside to catch a glimpse of the prince. They were to sign in, stand before him as he decided which girls made it through to the first round. What happened then, Clary wasn't sure.
"Go on, Valentine," Jocelyn said. "I'll make sure Clary is looking her finest."
He eyed them both with narrowed eyes before wondering to join the other fathers, who all stood talking about their daughters, glaring at the competition. Clary wanted to roll her eyes at them all.
"I know you don't want to do this," her mother played around with Clary's hair as she spoke. "If it was up to me then we wouldn't be here."
"I know," Clary said.
"If he doesn't pick you then it's not the end of the world," she said. "I just don't want you being any part of your fathers plans, okay?"
"It's just me winning the princes heart," Clary said.
Jocelyn paused. "Good, if he comes to you wanting anything else then say no."
"But –"
She interrupted her. "No, Clary. I can take care of myself, you need to focus on you."
The fear in her mother's eyes kept her from debating the matter anymore, but Clary could tell something was going on, more than her just here to win the prince. "Okay."
"Good girl," she smiled. "You look beautiful."
"Thanks," Clary hugged her mom, holding onto her a little longer than she usually would and then they both turned to walk towards Valentine.
"Radiant," he said taking her mother's arm. "The both of you."
"Thank you," they both said.
The cue for the signing in was already growing outside of the castle, they hurried over to get a space, knowing it was going to be a long wait. Clary couldn't help but feel sorry for the prince, seeing how many girls were all here for him. Then again, he was a Herondale so it wouldn't surprise her if he enjoyed all this attention.
Clary could see a few girls she knew from the city, others came from around the world, all wanting to take part in the celebration. Not everyone could come, though, someone has to stay and protect the world. All the girls here have likely trained their whole lives to be a Shadowhunter, not a princess or a queen.
It was a few hours before they even got into the castle, where they signed in, claiming their Shadowhunter title: Morgenstern. Then servants came handing them drinks and something to eat. Valentine had told her not to eat, to only drink water. She stood, her stomach rumbling, as others around her ate. When he wasn't watching, her mother sneaked her a bit of her roll that she hurriedly ate.
"Next," one of the guards called as she stepped forwards.
"Don't forget to smile," her mom called after her.
"Do not let us down," Valentine said calmly. "Remember what we spoke about."
Nodding her head, Clary followed the guard into the room that left her gasping in awe. It was massive, chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and patterns engraved into the walls. Clary wanted to draw everything she saw. Then the long table, where the royal family sat, watching her curiously. Guards stood ready by them, just in case Clary became a threat.
"You're the first girl to come in here and gaze at the room," King Stephen said. "It's been two minutes and you haven't even gazed at my son."
"Dear," the queen let out a small laugh. "Don't scare the poor girl."
"She has red hair!" A little girl shouted from next to her mother, Princess Lilian.
"Is your hair on fire?" Prince William asked her.
"What?" Clary smiled. "No."
"What's your name?" Queen Celine asked.
"Clarissa Morgenstern," Clary said. "Everyone calls me Clary, though."
"I like her!" Princess Lilian called out. "Jace pick her!"
Her eyes finally landed on the handsome prince that sat at the end of the table, eyes on her as he rested his chin on the palm of his hand, elbows on the table. That wasn't very prince like and she found herself raising an eyebrow at him.
"Clary," he tried out her name. "Tell me something about yourself."
"I have red hair," she said as the younger two children laughed. "That's defiantly not on fire. I live with my parents and brother at the Fairchild manor. I'm a Shadowhunter, of course, but I've never been allowed out to go hunting…"
"Neither have I," Jace said looking at his parents. "Go on."
"I like to paint and draw," Clary continued. "My father tells me I am very good at drawing runes."
"What do you like to paint and draw?" Jace asked.
"Anything," Clary said. "At the moment I'm wanting to draw this room, it's so beautiful."
Her eyes traveled up to the ceiling, trying to memorize all the patterns for later to draw, whether that was at home or here in the castle. And then to draw the royal family, the two young ones laughing, the queen and king smiling, the quiet other princess and then him, the prince. The room held a lot of happiness, something she wished that her family could have.
"Do you have any of your work on you?" He asked her.
"Oh," Clary looked back down to him again, a little embarrassed. She was supposed to be trying to win his heart and she was looking at the ceiling instead of him. Her father was going to kill her. "I do."
"Can I see?"
"Can I see, too?" Princess Lilian's eyes widened as she looked around her mother to Clary. "Please!"
She brought out paintings and drawings of her work from her sketchbook out of her dress pocket, walking slowly over towards the table as the guards watched her. Clary handed the papers to the queen, trying to hide her shaking hands. Then the queen handed them out for them all to see, Clary standing nervously as she watched.
"These are beautiful," Queen Celine said. "You have a real talent, Clary."
"Thank you, your highness," she curtsied.
"Is this where you live?" Princess Lilian held up a drawn picture of the Fairchild manor during the summer.
"Yes," Clary said.
"Where is this?" The quiet Princess Arabella asked.
"That's a small lake near my house," Clary told her. "It's beautiful there in the summer."
"Look at this one," the king held up a picture of the castle. "I think we should replace our artist with Clary here."
Her eyes widened a little at his words.
"No!" Princess Lilian said. "Don't let Clary be the artist, let Jace chose her!"
"That's up to Jace, dear," the queen said.
All three of the children stared at their older brother with wide eyes, the two girls battering their eyelashes and William giving Prince Jonathan a big smile. Clary watched as he looked between them all, those lips of his twitching up into a smirk.
"You are in," he grinned.
"Yes!" Princess Lilian cheered and then sunk back down into her chair again when Queen Celine gave her a look.
"Uh, thanks," Clary said, not sure who was more excited about that, the prince or the princess. She gave a curtsey again and walked back towards the door, looking up at the ceiling one last time.
Her parent met her outside, where her father demanded that she told him everything that went on in the room. She retold what happened, wondering if she had pleased him or did everything wrong from what he wanted. She got in though, that was something.
"The children?" He questioned.
"Yeah," Clary nodded. "They seemed to like me and pleaded for Prince Jonathan to let me in."
"Clarissa, you are winning the heart of the prince," he said calmly, but slowly. "Not the heart of children."
"The children liking her could bring them closer," Jocelyn said.
"Don't get to close to them," Valentine told her. "Remember you're here for him."
Clary nodded her head, wishing her parent's goodbye with another warning from her father. The look he gave her demanded more than his words. How was she supposed to make a prince fall in love with her?
The guards had led her to another grand room after, where girls all stood waiting as the spoke to each other. Some stayed distant, studying the competition that stood before them. Clary walked through, should she get to know the girls and her competition or stand aside to observe.
"Hey," she greeted a group of girls nearby. "I'm Clary."
"Isabelle," one stepped forwards to shake Clary's hand. "I live in the castle, my brother is parabatai with the prince."
"Oh," Clary said, then noticing how girls glared at Isabelle like she was the plague. "Nice to meet you."
"Don't worry," she smiled. "I see the prince as my brother, I'm just here as my family name."
"Right," Clary smiled.
"This is Aline," Isabelle introduced Clary to the other girls. "Helen, Lucy and Taria."
"Hi," Clary gave a small wave, carefully observing the girls while seeming friendly. They were all beautiful in different ways. Isabelle was tall, long black hair and dark eyes, she gave of the impression that she knew she was beautiful. Then Aline had curved cheekbones, a delicate chin and brown eyes. Helen wasn't what Clary was expecting, she was beautiful with green-blue eyes that held Clary's full attention. Lucy was petite, with rosy cheeks and brown hair and then Taria had blonde hair and blue eyes.
"What did you think about the prince?" Lucy asked her. "He's handsome, isn't he?"
"Yeah," Clary agreed. "He's defiantly something."
"Something?" Aline questioned. "He's gorgeous."
Clary didn't think gorgeous covered it either. The golden hair of his and those golden eyes made him seem more like a golden child, someone who believed he was worth looking upon. He seemed arrogant, frustrating, but handsome.
"Those golden eyes of his," Taria sighed dreamily. "I could gaze into them all day."
Isabelle snorted as everyone turned to look at her, Clary couldn't help agreeing with her reaction to the girls. At least Clary kept her swooning to herself.
Just then the doors opened, followed by the guards and the royal family that led behind them. It seemed all the girls had been chosen, what appeared to be from a few hundred down to twenty now.
"Ladies," the queen stepped forward. "We welcome you to our home with open arms. A room will be issued for you to share with one other person of your choice. Tonight we will leave you to settle down, tomorrow the Choice begins at breakfast. A late supper will be sent to your rooms within an hour. Goodnight."
Princess Lilian stepped forward towards her mother as the queen bent down to listen to what the young girl whispered. The queen smiled, nodding her head as she looked over to Clary, whispering back. She looked away, looking over to the prince, who was staring at the ground rather than the room of girls around him.
"Clary," the queen called her name.
"Yes, your highness," Clary stepped forwards with a bow.
"My daughter would like to invite you to a tea party tomorrow afternoon," the queen said with a small smile. "Would you care to join her?"
She nodded her head. "I would love to."
Princess Lilian smiled brightly from her mother's side. The prince looked over to Clary again to only look away.
"Jace, you may speak to your ladies now," the queen said taking her daughters hand. "Come, we'll go take a walk around the gardens before bed."
The royal family left behind the queen, leaving all eyes to linger on the prince as the door shut behind them. He seemed more distant now that he was in a room full with more than one girl, it surprised Clary.
"Ladies," he greeted with a smile. "Thank you for all coming today. I look forward to getting to know you all and, one day soon, to marry one of you. The servants will now lead you to your rooms, choose wisely to who you want to share with. I shall see you in the morning, goodnight."
They all curtsied to the prince, a few lashes were battered and flirtatious smiles were thrown in. As servants came in, the prince stepped to the side for them to start leading other women to their new rooms.
"You're sharing with me," Isabelle demanded. "Out of all these girls, you seem the less to drool over the prince."
"I was going to ask you actually," Clary smiled. "Shall we go find ourselves a room then?"
Others seemed frustrated with Clary, for befriending the princess or sharing a room with Isabelle, who knew the prince, she didn't know. The two of them walked through the hall, leading towards the door to find themselves a servant.
"Clary," Prince Jonathan called behind her as she turned, seeing him holding paper out to her. "You left your sketches in the dining room."
"That was the dining room?" She questioned in awe.
"Yes," he grinned. "I won't catch you drawing at breakfast tomorrow, will I?"
"I'm not making any promises," Clary said taking her drawings back. "Thank you."
"Hey, Izzy," Jace greeted her. "You know where I can find your brother?"
"Training room likely," Isabelle shrugged. "When are you going to send me home?"
"You are home," he said.
"You know what I mean," she glared.
He shrugged. "Maybe I'll keep you till the end just to annoy you."
"I'm a Shadowhunter, Jace," she told him. "Not a princess to run around after you, no offense Clary."
Clary laughed. "None taken, just don't expect me running around in heels and dresses. I would rather be out fighting demons."
"Really?" Prince Jonathan's eyebrows raised. "I'd rather be out fighting demons, too, but having a title puts one in more danger then they would like."
"Okay," Isabelle said. "Let's go, Clary."
"Goodnight, your highness," Clary curtsied again with a small smile.
"Goodnight, Clary," he nodded his head. "Isabelle."
They followed a servant upstairs after that to where their room was going to be for now, it was a living space for two with two master bedrooms, bathrooms and dressing rooms. The perfect place for a princess. The servants returned with what belongings they had brought, placing them in the dressing rooms for them to unpack.
"Would you like anything else, miss?" A maid asked her.
"What's your name?" Clary asked.
"Mara, miss," the maid
"Call me Clary, Mara," she smiled. "I don't need anything else, thank you."
The maid bobbed her head, shutting the door behind her. Servants and maids here were all mundanes who had the sight, but wanted to live here in peace without having to be a Shadowhunter. The guards were then those who had ascended, starting here before they could travel out into the world. Then you had those like Clary, who were stuck with just training and not allowed to leave Idris.
"This is even bigger than my room," Isabelle lent against the doorway to Clary's dressing room. "It's going to be torture going through all this for nothing."
"Your parents are making you do it?" Clary asked.
"Yeah," she sighed. "Only girl, they said I didn't have to win, just be there to make the Lightwood's there."
"What if Jace picks you?" She asked.
"He won't," Isabelle laughed. "That's like picking one of his sisters. Though, mind you, you seem to be getting on well with his sister."
Clary shrugged. "She's sweet."
"You know, no one's ever won Lilian like that after just meeting," Isabelle said. "They can be quite distant when they want to be."
"So I've seen," Clary said. "Prince Jonathan didn't seem too thrilled being in a room with all those girls ready to throw themselves at him."
"If he wasn't told this was his only chance of finding the one then he would be happy," Isabelle said. "He's under a lot of pressure and he's never really agreed with falling in love."
"How comes?" Clary asked.
Isabelle shrugged. "I'm probably the closest relationship he has with a girl."
"A lot of girls could kill you around here for just saying that," Clary told her.
Isabelle grinned. "I'd like to see them try."
Their supper came as they both sat down together to eat, talking about anything else other than the prince and the upcoming challenges that they – she – would have to face to win the heart of the prince. She just didn't know how when someone didn't seem to want to fall in love.
That was the first chapter. I'm trying to include all the characters. Simon comes in the next chapter. I'm not sure how to bring Magnus into this, I was thinking maybe a dress maker? Any ideas? This story will obviously have clace and some sizzy with a hint of malec. Aline and Helen will be happening as well, it'll be pretty cannon just different. Luke will come in as well... as well as Sebastian (Jonathan). Please do tell me what you think and if you have any ideas.
