Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except for Mary, and some other characters I made up. Besides them, all the other characters belong to the wonderful Cassandra Clare.
A/N: Clary is four years old in this, and Simon is eleven. Also incase you guys are wondering about the directions of everything, the river is in the west, and the prairie that will be introduced in this chapter is in the east. The river in general goes around the southern side of the kingdom, but starts up in the far east. Clary's village is like around the southeast area. It is kind like in the middle of the kingdom, but not really. The castle of the royals is in the northwest. The Capital, aka Alicante, which is mentioned in this chapter, is where the castle of the royals is. Noble man, and women often lives there. The Mountain of Adam and the Forest of Eve, that will be introduced later on, is in the far east. The Forest of Eve is on top of the Mountain of Adam. The main road is a road that goes all over the kingdom of Idris, kind of like an oval.
**Thank you to my beta lowshie for editing! **
When Clary opened her eyes in morning, she felt the reassuring feeling in her stomach that today was going to be a good day. She sat up on her bed, and kicked her rough brown blanket off of her. She looked out the window across her bed. The sun was pouring light into her and Simon's bedroom. Through the window, she could see a robin flying to tree-to-tree, and then disappearing into the vast forest that surrounded most of her cottage. She loved the forest. It was like her second home. She loved the smell of the earth and wood, the peacefulness, and it's beautiful shades of green and brown. But most of all, Clary loved the sound of the forest. Its soft whispers of leaves, and the sounds of the forest animals singing or chirping. She sat there for a few moments looking out the window. Then she jumped off her bed, and lunged toward Simon's. He groaned, annoyed.
"Clary," Simon growled, pushing his pillow into his face. Clary climbed on top of him.
"Simon! Wake up!" She shook his arm with her little hands, but her efforts had no effect. She groaned and said, "Today is the Equinox festival!"
Clary clapped her hands together, and then clapped them louder to Simon's ear to wake him up. Simon turned his head sideways to lessen the noise.
"You're no fun!" Clary said, finally giving up. She jumped off of him, and off the side of his bed. She raced out the door to the main room, the floor was cold but Clary couldn't have cared less. Mary was coming out of the door with a bucket of goat milk. She walked over to the dead fireplace, and dropped the bucket near it. She smiled when she saw Clary in the room. Mary's curly brown hair fell in her face and she tucked it under her ear.
"Good morning, Clary."
"Good morning, Ma!" Clary replied, running over to Mary. "Do you know what day it is?" Clary said, her green eyes flickering with excitement.
"Let me think," Mary said, looking like she was thinking very hard, playing along. "Is it…your birthday?"
"No Ma, it's not. Don't be silly." Clary put her hands on her hips the way Mary did sometimes when she didn't believe in something. Mary laughed at her attempt. She knelt down to Clary's height.
"Is it…Harvest Day?" She asked playfully.
"No Ma, it's spring not fall! Today's the Equinox festival!" Clary said impatiently.
"Oh my, how could I forget?" Clary laughed at Mary's exaggeration. She knew Mary was pretending she forgot all along. "Are you excited to see the royal family?"
"Oh yes!" Clary exclaimed.
Every year, on the spring equinox, the royal family would ride around the kingdom with a parade of circus performers, musicians, soldiers, and dancers. After the parade passed by on the main road, everyone gathered around the village center for food, drink, and song. Clary vaguely remembered last year's Equinox festival, but she remembered the colors, the joyous music, and the gleeful feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"Well, I guess we have to get ready, eat our breakfast, and do our chores by midday," Mary said as she took some bread from the pantry. "Can you wake up Simon, sweets?"
Clary laughed, "I don't think Simon will wake up." Mary laughed with her.
The day went on like any other day. Simon soon woke up after Clary tackled him. They had their usually bread and cheese with goat milk, and went to do their chores.
Clary had the simplest chore to do. She fed seeds to the chickens, and would walk the goats to the prairie on the opposite direction of the trail to the river. As Clary walked to the trail with her line of four goats, she was lost in thought. At age four, Clary started to see things much more clearly: sounds, emotions, and colors. She had a sort of hunger in her stomach, and an ache in her fingertips for something, but she didn't know what
By midday, Clary got all the goats back up the trail to the cottage. They had more bread and cheese for lunch. After that, Clary, Simon, and Mary got ready to go to the parade. Which in other years were by mid afternoon. The ladies got in their best clothing, which for Clary was a pretty white dress that Mary took the time making earlier in the year. Simon put on his usual clothes- a pair of brown wool pants, a long sleeve faded green shirt, and his little brown vest. Mary changed into her long blue-grey dress that she had made years ago. She was surprised it still fitted her.
When they arrived by the main road, they pushed past the small crowd of villagers around the walkway to a spot close to where the royal family was going to ride past. Clary jumped up and down with excitement, as well as the rest of the children in the village.
Before Clary saw them, she heard the trumpets playing, and the drums beating. With in seconds, the first of the parade could be seen from where they stood. Clary's heart beat in excitement as she felt the fast beats of the tampering drums that the men were playing. The musicians marched in their red clothing, and golden instruments. They enchanted Clary as they passed by in a blur. Mary had to hold onto Clary so that she wouldn't jump out into the line of performers.
Next three clowns in colorful costumes with red and white makeup appeared. Two of them rode in unicycles, circling around and acting silly as the one in the middle juggled three balls way up high in the air. After the clowns came, the dancers twirled in their beautiful, flowy dresses. Each dress was black with a different color of the rainbow with matching flowers in their hair. They picked up the tips of their dresses and swirled them back and forth as they danced around each other on the tips of their toes.
Clary's attention was suddenly consumed by the beating of hooves. The villagers suddenly cheered as four tall brown horses slowly came up the road pulling an open carriage. The carriage was red velvet; a short man with a top hat sat in the front holding the reins. Finally, Clary got a glimpse of the royal family. The queen sat at the side nearest to Clary, so she got a better look at her. The king sat on the other side, both of them smiled and waved at the crowd of people. They were both fair haired and beautiful. Just as the carriage got in front of where Clary was standing, a little boy that was around Clary's age poked his head out of the queen's arms. He looked straight at Clary. She stared at him, but quickly looked away at the ground, blushing. The parade finally came to an end as some of the men from the royal army marched in their blue, and moved beyond.
Clary slowly turned to Mary, and tugged her dress. Mary looked down at Clary to see her eyes on her.
"Ma," Clary said.
"Yes, Clary?"
"I'm want to be a princess when I grow up."
OoOoOoOoO
The darkness finally covered the sky, and everyone in the village walked to the annual celebration in the village center. The people in the village went back home to bring food after the parade and other things to prepare for the festival. The nights were still cold, so Clary and Mary got their winter wraps. Simon wore his father's old brown coat. The sleeves were still too long for him.
Clary practically ran to the center. She could already smell the honey, the fresh bread, and the burning wood. When they got there, most of the villagers were present. Three small bonfires were built around the center where a gray statue of an angel stood. Uneven gray blocks of stone circled around the statue like how plants circled around sunlight. Lanterns were placed around the center to make it brighter. The houses around the village center almost looked ghostly, Clary couldn't see the roofs. Some people were sitting by the bonfires. Others were crowding around the houses, conversing and laughing at each other's jokes. The children ran around the bonfires chasing each other, as the mothers yelled for them to slow down. Everything about the center made Clary feel alive. Her hands started to ache for the unknown something once again.
Clary's smile was very much visible from the light of the lanterns and bonfires. Simon disappeared from Mary's watch as he went to find his school friends. Mary put both of her hands on Clary's shoulder, making sure she wouldn't run off. Clary didn't, however, she was too busy smelling the air, listening to the sounds, and looking at the colors of the Equinox festival. Many people started to whisper as Clary and Mary came closer into the center. Some were starting at Mary with her love filled eyes on Clary. But most people were looking at Clary. Her hair looked aflame in the lights. Her eyes shone like green glass. Her porcelain skin glowed. She looked like an angel compared to the other villagers. Her mysterious appearance in the village when she was young caused a lot of gossip, and still did. Some of them even believed that she was actually sent by the angels.
"Ma, look! I see Gavin!" Mary followed Clary's eyes to see Gavin staring at her. She smiled when she saw him. He gave her a smile back. Gavin stood with many people around him waiting to get their bread, and honey that he provided each year. Slowly, Mary and Clary walked over and waited with the other people to get their bread and honey until it was their turn. Clary quickly shoved a large piece of bread with honey into her tiny mouth.
"Hello, Clary. Are you enjoying evening?" Gavin asked. She nodded her head; her mouth was too full to speak. Both Gavin and Mary laughed at her. Gavin looked to Mary. "How about you, Mary, are you enjoying the night?"
"Yes, I am. How can't I be with this little goldfish?" Mary said looking at Clary.
"Ma, I'm no goldfish," said Clary with her mouth full.
"You will be if you don't stop shoving big pieces of bread into that tiny little mouth of yours." Clary laughed taking another bite of the crisp golden bread.
"Ma, you are no fun!" Gavin watched Mary as she looked at Clary with love and admiration. Ever since the fateful day that Simon found Clary, Gavin had seen big changes in Mary. She was happier, and calmer. And more like the women he knew before his best friend died years ago. He was happy for her.
Gavin's eyes traveled around the village center. His eyes widen when he saw a tall fair-haired man talking the preacher. Gavin had heard there was a new addition to the village. But he didn't think it would be a fair-haired man. His hair was so fair it almost looked white. Only Capitol man could have such fair hair. What made Gavin surprised was why a Capital man would move to a small village.
"What is it Gavin?" Mary asked as she trailed her eyes toward the direction he was looking at, she gasped. "Oh."
Gavin laughed at Mary's expression. "'Oh' is correct. I was wondering why he was here myself." Suddenly the fair man turned his head and saw Mary staring at him. He smiled at her. Mary turned her head around blushing. Gavin grew angry; he stopped himself from hissing. Gavin slowly calmed himself down, and then saw that Clary stood silent watching him. There was an amused look on her face; she was smirking.
"So Clary, did you like the parade?" Gavin asked distracting Clary from what happened. Clary's smirk turned to a genuine smile.
"Oh yes, I did!" A villager came by to Gavin. He gave him a piece of bread and honey. The villager said 'thank you' and left.
"What did you like most?" Gavin asked.
"Everything!" There was a dreamy look on Clary's face. The parade was more wonderful than she previously thought. Clary still couldn't shake out the fair-haired boy out of her head. Her heart fluttered just thinking about him.
"Clary!" She broke out of thought, and turned into the direction, and smiled when she saw Simon, on the stone pavement by one of the bonfires. He was with a few of his friends. Simon's hands were waving at her to come and sit with him. Clary turned to Mary.
"Can I, Ma?" Clary asked Mary. Clary barely ever got the chance to be with him when he was with his friends. She like his friends from the few times she met them. They always made her laugh.
"Sure, sweets. Stay with Simon, alright?" Mary replied. Clary nodded, and dashed into the direction where Simon sat with his friends. Simon's arms were open wide, so Clary sat in his lap. He wrapped her in his arms.
"Are you havin' fun, Clary?" asked Eric, Simon's best friend. He often came over to their cottage when Simon had the time to play ball.
"Oh, Yes!" Clary replied. She turned her head to Simon. "Simon, when are we going to start singing?"
"Soon, sister dearest."
An hour past and the preacher, an old man with grayish hair stood on the top step on the stairs to the butcher's house, asking for everyone's attention. Soon enough the center was silent.
"Today, we together are celebrating the Equinox festival once again. We have gone through hardship with our crops, lost loved ones, and had a cold winter. But we are still here. Still standing. Still alive. Even with hardship we had times of happiness, with the birth of three healthy babies. Early this month we had another great surprise. A new family, whom came from the Capital, has joined our village. Their names are Michael and Jonathan Wayland. Michael insisted to speak to you all." The tall fair-haired man, Michael, went up the steps to where the preacher stood. The preacher stood back as Michael stood on the top step, signaling him to speak to the crowd.
"Hello, fellow villagers, I hope to get to know all very soon. I am Michael Wayland, and I have come to live here to become your representative in the royal court. If you have any concerns or problems be sure to come to me, and I'll present it to the court. Now let us enjoy this wonderful festival!" His voice was clear and confident. There was something about his voice though that Clary didn't like, she wasn't sure what.
Soon enough the center erupted in songs of folk tales and love. Clary loved to sing and loved hearing stories; she didn't want the songs to end.
"Long, long time ago,
When the people were bitter,
There lived a kind maiden,
Sweeter than sugar,
In the same kingdom,
There lived a mean king,
Who wouldn't even give a coin to his own mother.
One day the king saw the kind fair maiden,
And made her stay with him as his lover,
Each day she grew unhappier,
And each day he fell in love with her,
He loved her so much that he finally let go of her.
Love changes people for the better
From weak to strong,
From selfish to kind…"
They sang for hours, until they couldn't sing much more. The chill of the night suddenly was evident. People slowly gathered around the bonfires trying to keep warm. Some of the villagers left for their homes, either because of their small children, or to sleep. But most were still in the village center.
"Aren't you even a little tired, Clary?" Simon asked.
"No!" Simon, and his friends laughed at her little outburst.
"I think little Clary here has more energy than the rest of us, Simon," said Kirk.
"I am not little!" yelled Clary furious. They all laughed, again.
"Of course you ain't, Clary."
Simon and his friends got deep into conversation. Soon Clary got tired of keeping up with them. She got off Simon's lap and onto the pavement. Her tiny hand started to feel the blocks of gray stones around her. Her eyes were studying the light and shadow. After she got bored of that, she stared at the bonfire. The fire was almost white in the middle. The farther away from the center it was, the darker it grew. The tips of the fire were vivid red. Clary sat there staring at the fire until she felt the presence of someone looking at her. She tore her eyes away from the firelight and turned her head to see a boy her age standing next to her, staring at her. His hair was fair, but a few shades darker than the Capital man's hair. His eyes looked golden brown. He looked about a head taller than she was.
"Hello, I am Jonathan Wayland. But I prefer John." He said with confidence. He held out his hand to Clary. She hesitantly took his hand and got up. He brought her hand to his mouth, and kissed it. A gesture Clary sometimes saw grown ups do when they got introduced, a gesture that she was foreign to. Clary looked down and blushed. She slowly pulled her hand out of his and looked back into his eyes.
"My name is Clary."
"Well Clary, I would like to marry you someday."
A/N: I just LOVE little kid romance! It is just too cute! So that was chapter two. The song I made up was horrible, I know, but I thought I needed one. And making up a folk tale is harder than it looks! I was very disappointed that only two people reviewed last week! I know I said I wouldn't update until I get six reviews, but I figured it wouldn't be fair to the people who reviewed, and added me for author alert, story alert, or favorite story. So I updated anyway! But shame on all you people who didn't do anything at all! How could you!
Please people just click the review button and say something! Reviewers get teasers! I know I'm evil! But if it will get you people to review, I'll do anything!