Clary's POV

"Jonathan, why don't you show the lady to her room?" King Stephen suggested to Jace. "Of course, father," he said, offering me his arm. I took it, and together we walked up the path to the castle.

"Your home is lovely," I said, looking around at the huge stone palace. "But not as lovely as me, right?" Jace said smugly. I raised my eyebrows and chuckled. This boy really loved himself.

"Sure," I offered. We fell into silence for a few minutes as I wracked my brain trying to think of something, anything, to talk about. "So how's Alicante?" he asked eventually.

"It's okay. People are nice, food's delicious, weather's great, loads of new businesses." I paused. "But we're on the brink of war so that's...not so great," I said sadly.

"What happened? I'm sorry I should probably know," Jace said sheepishly. "That's okay. As long as you know what's going on in Idris, right? Basically, the King of Faerie believes he has a right to my father's throne as they're distant cousins or something and both descend from the original founder of Alicante. He believes that he's more fit to rule, and is willing to fight for it. But, we don't have the resources for a war," I explained as we ascended the staircase, my hand still wrapped around his arm. I was surprised to find that his arm was pretty muscly, despite him being a prince.

"And that's why you're here," Jace said. "And that's why I'm here," I confirmed. "It's been brewing for a while, that's why we've been um - " I coughed, "- engaged since we were children."

"I see," he said, smiling. "Well, for me, I've always needed a wife and your country has the most amount of food and grain, whereas my people are slipping further and further into poverty. So you were an advantageous choice."

We turned left at the top of the stairs before Jace stopped in front of a large wooden door. "This is your room," he told me, letting his arm drop and my hand fall before opening the door. "I apologise that the furniture is a bit dated but it's only...temporary," he finished.

The thought sent a shiver done my spine. I would eventually be sharing a room, a bed, with Jace. "That's okay," I said with a small smile.

Suddenly, four girls who looked around my age burst into the room, giggling and chattering. They stopped short when they saw us and then sunk into curtsies. "Prince Jonathan, Princess Clarissa," they chorused.

"Ah yes, Clary, these are your Ladies," Jace explained. My mother had several ladies of course, but I never had, and never expected to.

"This is Maia," he told me, pointing to a dark-skinned girl with dark curly hair and big brown eyes. "Tessa," he pointed to a brunette girl who had beautiful grey eyes and was carrying a book in her hands. I could tell we would be great friends. "Emma," a girl with long blonde hair, some of it braided and wrapped around her head to imitate a crown, and deep brown eyes. "And Isabelle," he said, pointing at the raven-haired goddess. "Watch out for her, she's a menace." Jace warned.

"Jace Herondale! I am not!" Isabelle screeched at him. They seemed awfully close, I wondered how they knew each other.

"Okay, okay I'm sorry." Jace said, backing away. "Clary, my room's right next door if you need me." He gave me a warm smile and left the room, but not before shouting "Take care of her girls!" through the door.

"Clary?" Emma asked. "It's a nickname Jace gave me. You can all call me it too if you would like," I explained.

"Yeah, he did the same to me. Started calling me Izzy and now everyone does," Isabelle laughed. Were Isabelle and Jace together? Was nicknames just something he gave all of his play-things?

"Are you two close?" I asked, trying to sound as neutral as possible. "Yeah -" My heart clenched. "- we grew up together. My brother's his best friend and his head guard," she explained, smiling.

I smiled but I was still confused; she never mentioned whether they dated or not. Tessa walked over and said in my ear, "Their relationship is strictly platonic," whilst the other girls talked.

"How did you know that was what I was thinking?" I asked, incredulously. "I'm very good at reading people," she said, smiling.

"So, Clary, what did girls do for fun in Alicante?" Maia asked, bouncing down on my bed. "Oh I wouldn't really know. I never had many friends," I said, shyly. Isabelle wrapped her arms around my shoulders and said, "Well, you've got four now." I smiled at them all.

"Let's talk about my favourite subject. Boys!" Isabelle suggested after a moment. "Well I've been engaged to Jace my whole life so not much on that front," I said. "Poor soul," Isabelle whispered, patting my shoulder.

"Well Emma is totally smitten with her best friend, Julian," Isabelle spilled. "I am not!" Emma squealed at Isabelle. "Are too!" Isabelle said, before continuing, "Tessa has a few guys vying for her attention," she said smirking, while Tessa buried her face in her hands.

"What about you Maia?" I asked kindly. "Oh, I used to have a boyfriend, Jordan, but that's over now," she said sadly. "I'm sorry," I said, reaching for her hand.

"And you Isabelle?" I turned to her, letting my hand fall out of Maia's. "Isabelle has a crush on a kitchen boy!" Emma told me, as if it was the most scandalous thing she'd ever heard. And maybe it was.

"Oh god, it's so embarrassing," Isabelle said, her face reddening. "Why?" I asked, confused. "Because he's a kitchen boy and I'm high-born," she explained, wondering why I didn't get it. "So? Who cares about station?" I asked, dumbfounded. "But, Clary, you're a princess. You couldn't just marry some random beggar off the street." "I know that. I just always thought it was stupid." The girls took a moment to think about it and then all nodded in agreement. However, I doubted they would change their way of thinking – it was how they were brought up.

"Oh!" Maia exclaimed, looking at the clock. "We have to get you ready for dinner!" Tessa left to fetch my maids while the other three chose a dress for me to wear. After my maids had helped me get ready, Jace came to collect me and we walked down to dinner together.

No Jace's POV in this chapter unfortunately, but next time!

For those not aware, a Lady or Lady-in-Waiting is sort of like a queen or noble woman's personal assistant? Except they're more of a friend than a servant.

Faerie is another country.

Thank you for reading! Follow, favourite and review!