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Chapter 3

(Jace's pov)

Are you serious right now? I just got mugged by some girl in the middle of the woods! I was just strolling along and this girl, Clary, left us without any supplies or food. Or may I say any pants! I've never seen a girl with such skill with weapons. I'll never say this out loud, but she was even better than me!

"I am outraged," I said plainly.

"Wow. I hadn't noticed," Magnus replied sarcastically. Magnus was also shirtless. The only good thing about this is without a shirt the heat is a little more bearable.

I couldn't get Clary out of my mind. Her piercing green eyes seem to go right through me. Her red hair matched her fiery personality. She was small but definitely mighty. I wish I saw her whole face. I'm sure she's beautiful- wait. Since when does Jace Herondale ponder over a girl? I've never spent so much thought on a girl before.

Well I guess, in a way, she's is special. I mean she just robbed me! I have the right to think about the girl that sent us astray with her strength and agility and- ugh I'm doing it again.

"Jace?" Magnus said.

"Yes Magnus?" I said keeping my eyes on the ground.

I realized I didn't hear the crunching of Magnus's feet anymore so I stopped short and looked up. I gasped at the sight. In front of me, about a mile away, was a castle. It was so big, probably twice the size of the castle back home. It was pure white and hundreds of feet tall. If it looks this magnificent during the day, I wonder what it looks like at night? With the moon making the white walls glow and candles flickering through the windows. I shook my head in exasperation. We continued along the non-existent path to the towering castle ahead.

"It's amazing!" Magnus exclaimed. "Why doesn't our kingdom look this great?"

Upon reaching the gates we ran into some guards.

"Halt! What business do you have here?" one man said. They were looking at us strangely, then I remembered we were only in our undergarments.

"Umm yeah hi there! I'm Prince Jace Herondale of Idris. And this is Magnus, my royal advisor. We've been traveling for days to see your wonderful empire," I say being as nice as I can. They looked at us suspiciously.

I was about to explain but Magnus beat me to it. "I'm sure you're wondering about our... state of clothing. You see... we were robbed. By a bandit. In the woods. That's what happened. To our clothes."

Magnus seemed to be having trouble forming complete sentences.

"Follow us. We'll let the queen decide what to do with you," the guard said and turned to go through the now opened gates, not waiting for an answer.

I grinned and followed him inside. The inside was even more amazing. I couldn't help but stare wide-eyed and open mouth at everything around me. The walls traveled up for a hundred feet. The ceiling had a giant chandelier full of lit candles. The, also, white walls displayed portraits and paintings of nature. The floor ran with white carpet decorated with flowers and other ornate designs. Sunset colors poured in through the windows, making the walls appear light red.

At the end of the hallway was a large set of gold double doors. The guards ushered us inside and closed the doors behind us with a big BANG! I winced at the sound, it sounded to much like...

Magnus hit me in the side with his elbow. Slightly annoyed, I found the queen. Staring at me. The queen was wearing a very poofy dress that seemed to swallow the throne whole. Her hair was pulled into a tight bun, crown sitting on the roof of her head. Not trying to be mean or anything, but she was not the prettiest woman I've ever seen.

But, nonetheless, I turned on the charm. I grinned up at her and bowed, Magnus followed suit. I cleared my throat. "Your Highness. I am prince Jace Herondale of Idris. And this is Magnus."

"Hmmm... Idris. Never heard of it. May I ask why you are without proper clothes?"

Never heard of Idris? She must not get out much. "We were robbed," Magnus said.

"Goodness! How terrible it must have been to- my gosh!" She said suddenly, surprising the both of us. "Would someone please get this man a shirt! I cant concentrate!"

One of the servants ran off, to get me a shirt apparently. Once shirts were on, the queen looked at me with- what looked like- hunger.

"So Mr. Herondale. What brings you here to my home?" she said with a fake smile. I could practically see the gears turning in her head. I wonder what she was thinking.

"My father, the king, thought it would be best to get... acquainted with our neighboring kingdoms."

"What a marvelous idea," she said with that hungry face again. It was making me feel quite uncomfortable. Something about this lady was off. She looked off into the window. "Oh my look at that. The sun has passed. We better get you boys some rooms to stay in."

"Much obliged your highness," Magnus said and bowed.

A couple of the servants near by rushed forward to help them, but the queen insisted she take us herself. What ever that's about...

The queen walked in front of us with her head held high in power, dress trailing behind her. I had a couple questions. "Where is the king your Majesty?"

I couldn't see her expression. For her back was facing us. "He has passed, unfortunately," she said sadly. "Leaving me to rule."

One more question. "Do you have any sons or daughters to help you?"

"I had a daughter. She has also passed..." Then she started rambling in, what sounded like, false sadness, "Oh she was the perfect daughter. Always doing the right thing. She loved art! Her hair was a fiery red and her eyes! I've never seen such eyes as hers. Always gleaming a beautiful shade of green."

At that my head snapped up, remembering the girl from the woods. "Green? What was her name?"

"You sure do ask a lot of questions. Clarissa Morgenstern, was her name."

Oh. So it wasn't her.

Once in a bed of one of the quest rooms I couldn't help but think about her. I soon fell asleep to dreams of red hair and green eyes.