It's 1861 in Idris; Nephilim is experiencing hard times. The Shadowhunters are picking sides, dividing themselves amongst two separate countries. It's up to stubborn and arrogant Grand Prince Jonathon Christopher Morgenstern, son of the great Archduke of Alicante, to join the two together again...by betrothal? Can he deal? Meanwhile the humble and modest Lady Clarissa must choose a husband in the midst of tolerating her constantly disappearing father, her art, Shadowhunter training, and babysitting the notorious Jonathon Christopher.
But when something evil stirs among the townspeople, Clarissa and Jonathon are forced to make a decision, and fast...
Hey, guys! I just had the most excruciating idea! I LOVE the Renaissance/Victorian era, right? So, why not make a Fanfic about it? I really hope you enjoy this chapter. I REALLY loved writing this, so the second chapter's on its way! :D Please leave comments (Note: Coraline Penhallow=Aline. You'll find every one else easy to distinguish, I hope)
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Princess Clarissa Fairchild: Daughter of the Duke and Duchess Fairchild;
Westernmost Idris; Palatia Covenant;
Mid-September 1861.
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"Lady Princess, Princess!"
"Ma'am, she's not't the stabl's. The kitch'n maids says they'nt see'r neith'r."
The short, stout old woman placed both hands on her hips. "Well, check the librar-eh, the suites! Ramp'g the whole blood-eh castle with the King's Army if ye have to!" The young boy nodded his head and, without a word, was off. The princess' senior handmaid shook her head. "I'd'v' a pence ev'ry time this g'rl disapp'rs without a word, rais'n' m'blood high. She'll be th' death of me!" she mumbled, picking up her skirts and dashing for the gardens . . .
. . . Meanwhile, up on the roof, Princess Clarissa hid sketching Idris's landscapes with her new pad and set of stencils on her lap. On an out-of-the-country business trip, her father, a duke of Western Idris, had sent over the package this morning with a note:
My dear angel, Clarissa- A key to unlock all of your questions. I will return shortly; tell your mother she and you are thought of -All my love, your father.
There, in the bottom right-hand corner, was his signature-.-and his formal title, always his formal title. It is requested of him. Clarissa does not blame his title, just the responsibilites his title weighs onto him. There would always be a breaching at an Institute somewhere, anywhere, in the world that he would have to come and investigate. The attack at the London Institute might be his biggest one yet; it is one that Clarissa might not be able to persuade her father to come back early from this time.
Even if tomorrow was her 16th birthday.
Finally, only twenty-four hours to womanhood. A day until she would be bequeathed strong enough, old enough, experienced enough, to join her mother and father in Shadowhunting. A day until they officially pronounce her a protector from evil, an Archangel's warrior and faithful servant. When her endless training finally ends.
A day until she has to find a husband.
Clarissa released everything onto her pad, allowing her hands to dance across the page and at the same time looking at the scenery before her, shading the parts where there were shadows and blending the pencil lines where there were none in the scene. Nearly an hour passed before she decided her drawing was done, and she smiled at it with satisfaction when it came out better than the fore-day's attempt.
"Clarissa!" her handmaid's voice carried out through the gardens.
Clarissa's head shot up-.-none so gracefully-.-at the sound of her guardian. With forced calmness, she scanned the fields, trying to determine whether her favorite hiding place could hold for another hour or so. Her hopes were crushed when her huntress appeared from behind the heavily-shrubbed land, shaking leaves out of her hair and dress. Clarissa realized with horror that her maid could easily see her secret spot as much as she her in the garden. As sure she is of the fact that her maid, Hester, thought of her as a second child, it didn't stop her from telling the duchess Clarissa's naughts for a pence or two.
Just then, Hester glanced up from her clean skirt at the balcony to the princess' room, her eyes moving sideways until they met Clarissa's.
Clarissa froze as she steadily met Hester's gaze, remaining still as prey would do under a predator's watchful eye. She prayed Hester had just caught a glint of a light, or a slight move of her skirts, and would move on once assured it was of no importance. Suddenly, as if realization hit her square in the face, Hester darted toward the doors. Toward Clarissa's room.
That's when reality came crashing back down on her fantasy.
The princess jumped up from her sitting spot, losing her balance for a moment in the process, gathered her art supplies and ran for her balcony. On the way, her foot caught on a protrusion and she plummeted to the ground, losing all her materials in the fall. Instead of picking them all up again, she pushed what was within her reach onto the floor of her balcony and, with all thoughts directed on what she had learned during practice, leaped after them. As she landed, none to her surprise, her doorknob rattled forcefully, Hester shouting into the room at her. Clarissa never did underestimate her handmaid; stress could trigger an inner Shadowhunter. Without a loss in beat, Clarissa kicked the scattered remains of her father's birthday present under her bed and practically dived for the duchess' comb on her dresser. The door flew open just as she threw herself against the bannister, nearly hurtling herself off the side.
Hester waved her senior servants' key as she spoke. "Ha! Lady Clarissa, youl' be in so much tr'bl' wit' your moth'r, now, what makes ye think, ye can just hang around 'r roofs-"
Hester's eyes widened at the sight of Clarissa brushing her red curls as she watched over the gardens in a daze. Hoping to catch a stray item in the room's tidiness, Hester scoured it critically. When none was found, she shot the princess a glare. "I saw's ye, princess, ye can't fool m'."
Clarissa stopped brushing her hair for a moment, and turned her head around to look at Hester with a concerned expression. "What do you mean?"
Hester sprinted closer toward her. "There! Th' roof! I saw's ye on the roof!" She looked as if she might turn purple with frustration.
Clarissa stopped brushing her hair altogether and laid the back of her hand on Hester's fore-head. "Shall I send for the town's doctor, my dear Hester? You're a slight warm."
"Screw it!" -Clarissa withdrew her hand as if she just laid it upon a burning white-hot oven- "I saw's someth'n', and if ye don' mind me, princess, I'ma tell yer moth'r about't'." Hester whipped around and dashed for the door.
Clarissa had to think of something quick. "I'll have you gone!" she blurted. To her satisfaction, it worked. Her handmaid stopped at the threshold and looked over her shoulder. "The thing, what ever you saw, on the roof was not I. You've no proof on what it might have been." And, for the grand finale . . . "I'll just tell my mother what you say is not fair. I'll demand a new maid." She shot Hester a winning smile.
For a second, Clarissa begun to think Hester might explode. Her face first turned red, then purple, then blue, when her face gradually turned to normal. She watched as her handmaid took several deep breaths, then, with all the composition she could muster, face her lady.
"I'll not say a word. Now, come. 'Tis time for yer dress-fittin'. Your dress's' arriv'd."
Grand Prince Jonathon Christopher Morgenstern: Son of Archduke and Grand Duchess Morgenstern;
Alicante, Idris (Easternmost); Palatia Gard;
*Per vicis (Same time).
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"The Princess Coraline Penhallow."
Jace smirked as he ran Ithabel through the Eidolon demon. With a look of disgust on his face, he pulled the blade, glowing with renewed life, out. The hideous demon shrieked and dropped like dead weight to the ground, folding in on itself until it was gone. Watching the place the demon died as if it might resurrect, Jace removed his gloves and turned to face his trainer. He pitched Ithabel at him like a javelin, and watched him snatch up the blade mid-air in its action, just as he expected. Jace, regardless of his amazement, shot his trainer a glare.
"What of her?"
"It has a nice ring to it, don't you comply?" Alexander-Alec-presses, twirling Ithabel with his fingers. "Her title, I mean."
Jace shrugged. "Her name has no significance to me as much as my own title does. The title beguiles me as much as she."
"Oh, hush, now, Jonathon. You've not acquainted. Do not inject such prejudice when you haven't even begun to know her," Alexander said, packing all of the training weapons into a duffel bag. "Considering she's your bequeathed, I suggest you familiarize yourself around her."
"She is not my bequeathed; she is my responsibility," Jace said, ripping a blade from where it punctured the tree. They were in the royal gardens, where Alec and he had thought was isolated and solitary enough to be able to hold a training session. Jace knew that every staff member, every servant, at the mansion was out their minds looking for the Grand Prince of Alicante for his dress-fitting for to-night's dinner. But this was exactly what he needed. A break from all his responsibilities. He had attempted to go alone, but Alec, his trainer and faithful friend, insisted company.
"It's for Idris' own benefit-"
"I have ideas, Alexander. So many different ideas that I believe will do more than bind the East and West. Ideas that don't involve anything in the least about me, a betrothal, or Princess Coraline," Jonathon said frustratedly.
"You are not duke," Alec laughed. "Not even the Grand Duke has said power. You need an ally from the west if you are to accomplish the tasks."
"Then why must I marry? Why can I not simply sign a compliance with a duke of the West?"
Alec studied Jace with sympathy and understanding. "Take my word on it, Jonathon. Once you get to know Caroline, you will find her satisfactory. She'll make an acceptable wife."
Jace shook his head, but said no more. The two walked in silence to the mansion's courtyard for a while, approaching, trying not to make worse of what already weighed down on Jace's shoulders. As the only son of the only Grand Duke in Eastern Idris, he is most worthy of joining together the two countries, willing to finally unite after centuries of quarrels. After so many years, they choose the Lightwood era, when his father was in reign.
"Coraline Penhallow," Jace said.
Alec glanced over at his friend. "What about it?"
Jace made a face and shook his head. "That's exactly my point. Nothing. There's nothing intriguing about it."
"She is your future wife," Alec said, shrugging.
As if remembering something, Jace raised an eyebrow and studied his face. "Why don't you marry her, Alexander?"
Alec laughed sharply. "You are to marry her, not I, brother."
It is quiet for a while as they accumulate this statement. Jace looks over at Alec, walking loyally beside him, as always. He has always been there for him, to train him, to teach him, or simply to talk to. They were born within the same year; the duke, his father, assigned Alec to him as was convenient. Ever since then, he acted as Jace's playmate, all the way up to a teacher. To Jace, Alec never really was his personal servant. As he watches him now, the least Jace could do now is break the obvious tension between them.
He wrapped a sturdy arm around his friend's neck and brought it to his chest in a headlock. Alec, who was caught off guard, cried out and swung his arm around for Jace's head. Ready, Jace dodged the blow and ruffled Alec's neatly-made hair just to agitate him. But when Alec began to shake, Jace, fearful that he had angered his old friend, loosened his hold dubiously and looked around at his face to make sure.
Alec was laughing.
Too late, Jace was not able to reciprocate. He was rammed into a nearby wall, where Alec was able to twist himself free and return the favor by snaking his arm around Jace's neck and dragging a laughing Prince back to the mansion.
Liked it? Loved it? Please leave a comment! I'm writing both the second chapter for this, the next chapter for City of Secrets, and the first chapter for City of Fallen Angels! So keep a look-out(: