A/N: Hey guys! I am very happy about the response I got! I am on spring break, and I really wanted to post another chapter. IDK how long this once a week stuff is going to last because I like posting too much! It's so exciting.

Someone asked about side ships like malec and sizzy. There is a little bit, but it isn't super prevalent. It is only from Clary's perspective, so she doesn't really know what's going on between them.

I'm too excited I couldn't wait until Wednesday.

She was curled in a ball late in the night, as she cried softly. It hurt. She buried her face into the lump of furs that she had to sleep on, trying to keep her sobs from waking her new husband. He tried to be gentle. He went slowly and she knew he attempted to keep her from having any pain. His efforts were null due to her unflowering. She felt attacked both physically and emotionally, but she didn't blame Jace. She blamed her brother. He was the one that forced her to get married to a man who lived in a tent. Jace was doing what he had to because he was lord, but her brother didn't have to do this. He did this to spite her and to send her on a joke of a mission.

It didn't help that she was so much smaller than he was. At full height, he towered at least 9 inches above than her. He cared for her afterwards. He wiped away the small amount blood and semen that gathered around her inner thighs. He collected her in his arms and held her against his chest. His eyes shut and his breathing evened out, as he fell asleep seconds later. Shortly after this, she let the tears pour down her cheeks, and she rolled away from him. He didn't need to try to keep her from pain, but he did and for that she was thankful.

Time escaped her, as the tears continued to fall down her face. Had it been minutes? Hours? Eventually an arm was stretched across her and turned her towards its owner. She tried to swallow her tears but her body failed her.

She was in a bed with a man she hardly knew, miles and miles away from home. She didn't care how horrible her life was in the castle. At least she was surrounded by familiar faces and belongings, but here nothing was the same. Everything was foreign and different, and now she was tied to this man. If she were at home, she wouldn't have to deal with any of this. Losing her virginity. Losing her home. Losing her privacy.

Her eyes trailed up his chest and met a pair of sympathetic golden eyes, gazing down at her. She nuzzled herself against his chest, as his arms wrapped tightly around her and his hand drew lazy, repetitive circles into her back. "It won't hurt as much next time." He whispered.

"I want to go home." She sniffed minutes later, her forehead pressed into his chest, as she rung her hands in worry.

"I know, but, in time I can only hope you view this as your home." He stroked her hair, kissing the top of her head lightly. "If it is any consolation, I hope that we can become friends." He pressed his nose to her temple, drawing her closer to him. She didn't want to admit it to herself but the tenseness she carried in her body released a little.

OoOoO

Clary woke up when she heard someone moving around the room. She peeked her eyes open, suddenly remembering where she was. Her eyes fell closed once more, feeling sore from the night's happenings. She whispered to herself that she was alright before sitting up. It felt uncomfortable to sit correctly, so she leaned against her arm; her eyes following Jace bustle about the room. He had already put his pants on as he searched through his things. He stood back to his full height, glancing over at her.

"Morning," His hands tugging through his hair.

"Good morning." She murmured, before lying down on her side. Her entire body was full of exhaustion. She gathered the blankets around her, keeping every part of her body covered.

"How are you feeling?" He questioned, grabbing something from his chest.

"Tired and sore." She muttered, burying into the pillows.

"That's to be expected. You shouldn't bleed next time, which means it'll hurt less." He explained, sitting on the bed next to her. "So I was looking for this," He held up a needle and a tub of ink. "You asked about tattoos last night and you don't need any of the other ones, however you do need marriage runes." He explained softly, unscrewing a lid.

"Oh." She breathed, tucking her hand under her cheek feeling the pulse in her neck quicken.

"We have to give them to each other because they mean commitment and love." He drew out one of her arms, stretching it across the area next to her, so he could start poking her with ink. She looked away from her arm because she thought it would make it hurt less. After the first few jabs of needle it didn't hurt anymore. She hated that her skin was being branded by him but she didn't have a choice. She could feel that Jace was focused on the task at hand. She looked upon his stern, focused face in admiration as he didn't take this lightheartedly.

"You look angry." He breathed a while later, as he dipped the needle back in the ink.

"I just don't want a tattoo." She muttered, grimacing at the black ink on her arm.

"It's tradition. We don't have fancy jewels here like you might have at home. All we have is this." He explained softly, adjusting his hand to work on the mark better.

"What are your chests filled with then?" She furrowed her brow, expecting them to be filled with some treasures.

"Mostly clothes and weapons." His eyes scanned over his work, as he cocked his head to the side. "What's in yours?" He asked, getting back to his work.

"A couple of gowns, my mother's necklace, and mementos." She stated softly, turning her gaze away from his.

They sat in silence together, which was surprisingly not horrible. It gave her time to think. Jonathan should have come up with a way for her to send him information. He didn't make it clear how she was supposed to inform him of anything. She looked over at Jace's desk, knowing that something good had to be on there, so she would wait for him to leave before she went through it.

She also needed to drink her tea before she forgot. "Is there any way I can get some hot water?" She requested, flicking her eyes to her chest. "I have a brew of tea from home I like to drink in the morning." She explained, watching him set the needle aside.

"I'll tell someone to bring you some when I'm finished." He spoke quietly, as he looked his work over for a second time. "The next one goes over your heart, so I need you to lean against something." He stacked up some pillows for her to rest against. She adjusted her body carefully, trying not to expose herself to him for a second time. He looked at her for permission before he started drawing the blanket from the center of her chest to place the rune there.

She winced when he did the first mark and he apologized almost silently, as he carefully tattooed her skin. This one definitely hurt more than the one in her arm probably because there wasn't any muscle or fat on her upper chest where it was going.

She kept her gaze away from her husband, feeling nervous about their closeness. She was thankful that he held her last night, but right now in the light of day, she felt even more awkward then before. She heaved a sigh, glancing down to see had far he had gotten, and he still had a while to go. She wished that it would just be finished.

"You alright?" He asked softly, glancing up at her.

"I'll be fine." She murmured, inhaling a deep breath. He released a small breathed, ducking his gaze back to her skin. She wondered if he knew that she wasn't fine that she was actually stressing out more than he could image.

"I know you aren't thrilled about getting married or being here, but you aren't alone in this. I am here and so is Isabelle. You'll begin to meet new people soon. I can only hope it won't be as bad as you are predicting." He spoke in a steady, comforting voice.

"Right, like you know what I am going through." She spat slightly more bitterly than she intended. She wished she could take it back but it was too late.

"I don't know what you are going through Clary, but if you want to be miserable you will be miserable." He set the tattoo supplies to the side, wiping the access ink off with a rag. "You need to give me the same tattoos. I'll draw them for you." He got back to his feet to grab some paper and charcoal before sitting back down next to her.

"I don't know about this." She shifted up into a sitting position, holding the blankets to her chest.

"It's really easy. You just lightly prick it into the skin after dipping it into ink. I trust you." He murmured, holding out his arm for her.

She climbed out of bed, pulling on her robe and tying it tight before taking her place next to her husband. She picked up the tattooing tools and she drew in a deep breath. Her eyes scanned over the image in front of her, as she started to make an outline of the mark.

OoOoO

Clary rested most of the next day and oddly enough Jace didn't touch her that night. He was also gone when she woke up but this didn't surprise her as he was the leader's son. She could only imagine the dozens different tasks to do before dinner.

Clary pushed herself into a sitting position wondering what exactly she could do. She had no clue what her tasks would be or how she would go about her day. The first three days she had been here she had been getting ready for her wedding, but now that was over. What was she going to do? She didn't want to just waste away in this awful tent, did she?

She huffed lightly, falling back against the fur mattress. At home, she planned balls, worked with charities, and spent time in the garden. There is no way they were holding a ball, she hadn't seen any charities, and there definitely wasn't a garden. They were in the middle of the desert surrounded by tents. What did they even do with their time?

"Hey there," Isabelle poked her head inside of the tent, smiling faintly at her.

"Hi," Clary propped herself up, sighing quietly.

"I brought you some more clothes. When you are dressed, meet me in the town center." She set a small stack of leathers on the foot of her bed before retreating outside.

"Alright." Clary stretched her limbs, slipping out of the covers. She shifted through them, trying to find the most modest ones. She pulled them on, inhaling a deep breath. She slid her hands down the leather, making sure they weren't wrinkled at all.

She hated these clothes.

As soon as Clary stepped outside she saw that the town had come to life. Everyone was doing something. Now, she had no idea what they were doing, but everyone was pitching in. Clary strode over to Isabelle, who was talking to a very muscular man. Clary watched, as Isabelle flipped her hair, giggling softly at the man.

"Oh, Clary, this is Melrion. Not that it matters to you." She laughed, putting her hand on his bicep. "He works with the crops." She shrugged, linking arms with her cousin-in-law. "Bye." She waved flirtatiously, beginning to lead Clary in a different direction

"Now," she smiled over at her. "everyone here does work around the grounds. Since we are nobility, we move between all the chores and the labors to get to know the people in those areas." Isabelle explained, leading the way between shacks. "Today is clothing." She slipped into a tent, greeting the women inside.

"Hi," Clary forced a smile, as they sat in the circle.

Isabelle quickly showed her what to do to design the clothing and let her run with it. She was surprised to see that it wasn't as difficult as she thought. The clothes were already stitched together by the men, so all they had to do was decorate them. It didn't take her long to realize that these clothes could fit anyone. They all had adjustable strings on them and ways to add more leather if need be. It was quiet fascinating when she thought about it.

She pressed her stylist into the leather indenting it carefully and with intention, as she slid it cross the leather. All the women were chatting around her, but Clary didn't really feel like talking. She had to process everything that happened there because everything here felt so bizarre. Nothing they did seemed normal to her. It was very difficult for her to try to adjust to living a life of labor.

"Clary, what is Jace like alone?" One of the women asked, drawing her attention away from her work.

"What?" She hummed, caught off guard by the question.

"Jace has always been the warrior god to the women here. He has even had quite a few of them, but they never spent much time alone with him. What is he like?" She questioned, making Clary shift uncomfortably. She didn't know what to say. They hardly spoke but when they did it wasn't anything of importance.

"Quiet." She said, not knowing what else to say. "We mostly just sleep next to one another." She turned her eyes back to her work, sliding the stylist across it in a swift motion.

"Really?" Another one sounded in disbelief.

"Yes, that's alright though." She shrugged her shoulders. "We are independent of one another, which is something that I like. I can live my life. He can live his." She explained, glancing up at them.

"That's so odd." Another said, shaking her head.

"My cousin isn't one to show emotions. Their relationship makes plenty of sense to me." Isabelle defend Clary, which made her smile faintly. She didn't want to have to keep discussing her young relationship. All they had done was have sex and sleep, not to mention she only notably enjoyed one of those activities.

"Hmmm… I see." The woman pursed her lips, rubbing the tool against the leather.

Clary rolled her eyes, as she started working on her own task. Her and Jace had a simple relationship. She wasn't planning on being here long anyways, so she didn't see any need to grow closer to him than she needed to.

"Don't listen to them. They've idolized Jace since they were girls. He's not the gentle warrior they thought he was. He has never been close to his women even before he began his leadership role." Isabelle whispered, working on her leather.

"It's alright. I really don't mind how things are." She shrugged her shoulders, moving the fabric around in her hands. "He isn't hurting me, he leaves me alone when I ask, and he doesn't talk my ear off. It's ideal really. My brother thought he was sending me to the dogs, but I have been treated with nothing but kindness." She explained softly.

Regardless, she still hated it here. She had to dress like a whore and she sweat like a pig in heat. She felt disgusting all the time. She rinsed her body off every night with a sponge and despite her best efforts, she awoke every morning drenched in sweat. Even though she drank buckets of water a day, she still felt nauseous every time she stepped out into the blistering sun. Her skin was burnt in the most random and uncomfortable places which drove her mad. She prayed for sun down every day and when it came, she had to watch the barbaric feast. She dreaded going back to her tent but Jace needed an heir. A child that she wasn't willing to give, so all his efforts were pointless. It made her dislike the act of love making even more because there was no point to it.

"Get to know him a little more. I'm sure he'll soften up to you, especially when you are with child." Isabelle smiled, nudging her new friend.

"Right." She whispered, feeling her chest drop.

OoOoO

By the time they finished their task for the day Clary's hands were cramped from the delicate movements demanded of her. She shook her hand out and tried to stretch it as they stepped out of the tent. It was slightly cooler in the tent which she was thankful for. She heaved a soft sigh squinting her eyes in an attempt to see properly in the blinding sun. She followed Isabelle silently, not really in the mood to speak. It didn't take her long to realize that they were heading towards the training ground and she was filled with confusion.

"Where are we going?" She questioned, furrowing her brow.

"Training grounds." Isabelle announced with a swing in her step.

"Why?" Clary sked, feeling full of apprehension.

"For training of course." She shook her head a Clary with a glint of a smile across her lips.

"Why are we training?" She questioned, not liking the idea of handling a weapon. She hadn't used one in years, and when she did, it was just a bow and arrow. She used to do it with Jonathan before he became mad with power.

"Because here, everyone does everything. Yes, the men are soldiers, but if they go away, us women need to hold the fort until their return." Isabelle explained, setting onto the training grounds.

"I don't want to do this!" She exclaimed, bringing her arm around her stomach.

"You don't really have a choice. Besides you don't want to be the weakest person here, do you?" She raised an eyebrow at her, challenging her to walk away.

"No," she pursed her lips, glancing nervously around the men who were practicing. Most of them appeared to be twice her size, which send fear trembling down her spine. She is going to learn how to fight with these behemoths watching her. She shuddered with nerves, as she continued to follow Isabelle into the thick of people.

"My personal favorite is the whip." Isabelle explained, stepping up to a board of weapons. "But I am pretty skilled in most of these, which one do you want to start out with?" Clary looked over the sharp metal weapons, wondering which one would inflict the least amount of pain if it accidently hit her. All of them seemed very pointy, and she didn't not want to deal with something that could stick into her. To the side of the board was a stick. It was elaborately decorated, so she knew it had to be another weapon.

"What about this one." She gingerly picked up the stick, looking over it.

"That is a staff." She took it from her, taking a step back, as she started to whip it around. Clary's eyes widened slightly when Isabelle started to expertly maneuver it around the air. It looked a lot harder then she initially thought, which made her shoulders drop. Clary not only had never done physical labor but she has hardly ever done any weaponry training. The only time she did was as a child, and they hardly let her do anything because she was a girl. She was pretty good at shooting an arrow though. "Alright, you ready?" She grinned, making Clary quake.

OoOoO

Clary plopped down next to her husband, feeling overly sore from the training she did with Isabelle. She did not want to do training, but she thought it would be good for her. She wanted to learn how to defend herself. Maybe next time she saw her brother she might be able to beat him into a pulp. That thought made her smile as she began to eat her food.

"Did you enjoy your day?" Jace hummed, noticing the grin on her face.

"It was a little awkward, but I enjoyed training with Isabelle." She shrugged her shoulders, nibbling on her food.

"I'm glad." He smiled faintly, looking down at her.

"What do you do all day?" She wondered, leaning against her palm.

"I train on my own in the morning. Then I train various different age groups, it just depends how I'm feeling that day. After that, I check in on the people who work with the crops and count on the number of animals that the hunters got. I assist in gutting the beast and readying dinner, and then I am right here eating and enjoying the rest of my evening." He explained, looking down at her. His day sounded just as simple as hers did, which she thought was odd. She assumed that since he was a lord he would have more matters to attend to, but apparently that wasn't the case.

This place was so strange.

"I know it must be different than your home, but we are very simple people. There is no alternate agenda to get ahead because everyone is considered equal." He sighed contently, sitting back against his palms.

"I'm beginning to realize that." She breathed, glancing around the people. Everyone was talking and enjoying themselves. Even the children were scurrying around with one another between bites.

The reason she felt like this society was so complex was because she was an outsider. They didn't trust her, so they treated her as such. She knew that given sometime, these people would start looking at her like one of them. No one here was trying to outsmart her or one up her. They were all living their own lives as they tried to enjoy their time with their friends and family.

Her eyes found her way to women, who were dancing around the fire. They flailed their arms rhythmically to the music, letting their bodies shake to the sound. She felt herself get a little flustered at the image before her because of how much free skin was flapping about. They looked like they didn't have a care in the world.

"You should try dancing." He encouraged, bumping her arm lightly.

"Oh, no." She scoffed, shaking her head furiously.

"Why not?" A grin split across of his face as he gulped down some wine.

"I can get over the clothes, but I am not shaking about so flippantly." She laughed, running her fingers through her hair.

"Flippantly." He chuckled, shaking his head. "That's such a big word." He teased, biting his lip.

"I'm going to bed." She smirked, getting to her feed. "Are we going to…" She trailed off, wondering if she should prepare herself.

"Is that alright with you?" He asked, gazing up at her.

"Yeah," she nodded faintly, wrapping her arm around her stomach.

She sighed softly, slipping back into her tent. She shimmed out of her leathers that were currently glued to her skin. She tossed them off to the side, running her hand through her hair. She dug through her chest, pulling on her silk robe before snuggling under the blankets.

She wondered when Jace was going to come to bed. She had been waiting for a short while, so she decided to fall asleep. He could wake her up when he got there. She wasn't going to spend the rest of her life waiting for him. She closed her eyes snuggling into the blankets.

A/N: Thanks so much for reading, following, favoriting, and reviewing. I love you all so much.

I don't really have anything else to say, so please review! I seriously love hearing from you guys!