*I recommend to read the wedding day listening to "Dream" by Priscilla Ahn, as I wrote it listening to that song haha, enjoy!*
The next morning Clary was too busy with her own thoughts to pay attention to Professor Malik's words. In a piece of paper, as always, she wrote her name in big and pretty letters, decorating them as she wanted, but then she realized that her name had much more weight that it had before, she thought of: crown princess, wife, ruler, Herondale or Fairchild?, just princess or future queen? It was too much for a seventeen year old girl, a committed and future leader of an entire country seventeen year old girl.
"…And that's maybe why Clary isn't listening to what I say…" said professor Malik and she reacted.
"Uh, sorry. What was the question again?"She asked knowing that her cheeks were bright red colored.
"Wake up, Fairchild. Just because you're marrying the prince doesn't mean that you don't have to do anything anymore" said Maureen, a truly annoying and nosy girl who was unfortunately her classmate, and to end with she had her eye on Simon, so she never left her alone.
"No, no, Maureen. It wasn't really important, Clary, you must be a little nervous about the wedding" answered her teacher; Clary sighed and tried to smile.
"Well, getting married is not as easy as waking up every morning or whatever" her classmates laughed, but she didn't really get the joke.
"Don't worry; let's go back to business, kids. Her highness' matters will have to wait" and they laughed again, Clary asked herself if she would ever get lo laugh again, with all that could happen. Jace's words were going around her mind, what a way to support and be understandable with her! He made clear that he didn't want any kind of relationship with her, but on the same side he was nice for agreeing to let her go if she wanted to, as the wedding was already unavoidable, a divorce surely wouldn't be. Her phone vibrated showing a message from her mother; she carefully typed her password to unlock the cell.
"-Dress try out at three. You must go alone, sorry.-"
'By Raziel! Don't they know what privacy is?' she thought with an angry sigh. She decided to enjoy the rest of the time she had on her own, even if that meant to be in class being constantly questioned by Maureen and becoming the new fun of all her classmates.
'What a life!' was her final thought and she tried to pay attention to her class.
Aline was surely nervous, that ballerina from Russia was most graceful and elegant, yet strong, precise and threatening. The competition would be hard, terribly hard.
"Nervous, little girl?" asked Madame Dorothea putting her tiara shaped hair clip on her head.
"Not enough for giving up" she answered faking a smile. She felt unsure, this was all she ever wanted and now she wasn't sure of wanting it anymore, being with Jace somehow made her feel like she was on top of the world, and now she was at the bottom for some reason. Losing a boy didn't mean like you lost your entire life, especially if you didn't have feelings for him. 'What if you did feel something for him?' that question was always around her head, at the moment she said no she was more than convinced that his proposal wasn't exactly the beginning of the life that she wanted, but after watching all those reports and photos and meeting his fiancée, her pride got destroyed completely just by the thought that she could've been the one becoming the crown princess.
"That's the Aline I know! Now, you know perfectly what you have to do, right? …" Dorothea was about to repeat again everything that she already knew.
"Breathe, stay focused, smile and have fun. I wouldn't forget it" she smiled, Dorothea did too.
"Your mother would be more than proud" she assured her, Aline nodded sadly. Her parents were hardly around, not even in that crucial moment of her life they could be there to support her. Maybe that was what kept her attached to Jace, the fact that they had so much in common.
"I wish she could see it for herself" she felt a pain in her chest, a sign that your body gives you to know you're sad about something.
"I'm sure she would've wanted that too, but know you have to do this well not only for yourself but for her".
"I've always done everything for her, always" there was no day that she didn't think about what her mother wanted from her, Jia was a very strict and firm person, it was hard to please her. Maybe if she would've become the royal bride, her mom wouldn't have been so hard with her anymore.
"That's good, Aline. Now change that sad puppy face and give me that bright smile I love" she did, sometimes Madame Dorothea was much better as a mother as Jia herself.
"Next comes: She's beautiful and very talented, an eighteen year old diva that loves spending time with her family and dancing is her life. She is the sweet Aline Penhallow from Idris, Alicante! Applause for her, everyone!" announced the presenter and the crowd cheered for her, Aline took a deep breath, walked to the center stage with her best smile, took her position and waited for the bandleader to play her song.
'Well, now you know it, Jace won't want a looser as his wife so you better win this' she thought, the song began and her routine did as well.
Alec had gone to visit Jace at his Academy, when the class ended his cousin had to leave on his own to get ready for his Eighteen Birthday Ceremony, so he walked alone to his limo. He recognized her: short, red haired, eyes like olives and tender freckles spread across her face, walking nervous and angrily to whatever her next date of the day was, they would be family soon so he thought it would be a good idea to introduce himself, suddenly she ran into him.
"Oh, sorry" she said looking scared and ashamed.
"My bad, I have to learn to step out of the people's way. But I guess you're not just any other normal person, right?" he said with a smile, 'Clarissa', as Jace had told him her name was, sighed.
"I guess I'm not…" she looked at him closely for a moment and then her expression turned to surprise, "And I guess you aren't either".
Alec giggled and answered "It's a pleasure to meet you future wife of my cousin, I'm Alec" he took her hand and gave her a tiny kiss there.
"You're… Prince Alexander Lightwood, but… what are you doing here?" she was more than just shocked and that made Alec laugh even more.
"I thought it would be nice to have an idea of what the future king is doing around here, I actually like this school, maybe I should take some classes" it was a pretty and nice Academy, the best in all Alicante and Idris, and if he finished his last semester there he wouldn't have to go to London again.
"Right… Well, it was a pleasure! But I'm afraid I have to go home and get ready to go to the palace. I'm going late actually" Alec stopped her once more.
"Oh, you're going to the palace? I'm going right there too, you should come with me" she flushed.
"Ok, thank you" she replied shakily.
"Great, I'll get to meet my new cousin better" Alec offered his arm; she hesitated a bit but took it anyways. It was hard for Alec to pretend he had good intentions with his other family, but his father was pressuring him so much to take the throne one way or another. When Robert found out about the royal wedding, he didn't even asked his wife or son and decided to go back to Idris as soon as possible, 'If she's on your side, it will be even easier to take the throne away from Jonathan' he had said, Alec felt indignant at the moment and answered 'But she'll be his wife, how can you ask me to do that?', his father snored upset 'He'll know how it feels to lose something that was yours from the beginning'. His plan was more than cruel and unfair, but Alec had no other choice, it was becoming the king of Idris or never seeing his family ever again.
"So, uh… about the book, it was very nice from you, thank you" she said when they both were inside the limo. Alec knew Jace was a bit of a jerk, but not enough for him to release his fiancée the truth that way! He nodded with a disappointed smile.
"Sorry, Jace is not such a hopeless romantic as any girl would wish" Alec had to admit it, Jace was lucky for having someone that knowing who he truly was still wanted to marry him.
"Jace lacks many characteristics that a girl would want in a boy" they both laughed at her comment. Alec couldn't help of feeling guilty about what that cute and innocent girl would have to handle. It was her mistake on accepting to belong to a camouflaged battle field.
"You seem like a strong girl, you'll survive. And us people of Idris are fighters for nature, don't worry about him much" he answered.
"It's hard to not worry about him when he's quite a character!" she was more than lovely, they wouldn't take much time to become friends; he actually thought they already were.
"I'm going to go to hell for mocking my own blood so much" Clary giggled joyful. 'Run away while you can, girl. You've come to our lives on their worst moments'.
"Ouch, Magnus! You're hurting me" it was the eighth time that Clary complained about Magnus and his pins going through the fabric of her dress to reach her incredibly sensitive skin. Her stylist made a regretful smile.
"Sorry, my lady" he continued to accommodate the dress to her tiny and not so defined figure.
"Maybe if Miss Fairchild didn't move so much Magnus wouldn't hurt her" said Lady Amatis looking at her agenda.
"Please, don't call me that… it's weird taking in consideration that you're my aunt" of course the dress wouldn't look so good now that she wasn't prepared to wear it, it was a golden wedding dress, far too bulky and full of accessories for her taste, the sleeves and the tail were too long and scandalous and though she had asked if they were roses instead of bows, Magnus had put roses all over the dress.
"I'm sorry, but as the future princess and as I'm nothing but a servant, inside the palace I'm not allowed to call you inappropriately" she said, Clary was of course disappointed, she thought it would be fun to chat and spend time with Amatis, but she was too in love with her work to break the rules even a little. Although Alec would be a great companion, she was shocked that he was Jace's family, he was so nice and friendly and Jace… well, he was a very blonde and annoying little crown prince.
"Ok, turn around" Magnus asked, she stood back to the mirror to meet his analyzing and anxious eyes. He looked at her from head to toe and then proudly smiled, she took her to Amatis. "Tell me that this isn't the most beautiful bride to be that you've ever seen" She gave Clary a wide stare and smiled too.
"Perfect, you'll be the bride of the year, my lady" Clary looked at her happily and heard Camille and Annemarie giggling joyful.
"I hope our prince thinks that too" she said, sounding sarcastic only for herself, Magnus stroked her arm.
"To hell if he doesn't! You, my beautiful lady, are my master piece!" replied Magnus delighted with the result of his hard work.
"And you'll soon see it everywhere on Idris, Magnus" she assured him, but in the inside she felt more scared than she had ever felt, she didn't want to see the day that she'll have to wear that dress and walk down the aisle to marry someone so unknown for her.
But that day came too soon. It was a beautiful Saturday morning that her mother woke her at seven o'clock, she went down stairs heavily and trying so hard not to think and cry because that would be her last breakfast with her parents, the last time she would hear Luke's tired laughter in the morning, the last time that her mother would kiss her on her forehead while she ate her waffles, the last time that the sun would bother her coming through the living room's window that her mother firmly refused to cover with the curtains. Luke looked lost and too serious for being himself, she sat in front of him as always.
"We didn't get no sleep last night" he confessed with a sad smile, Clary laughed too, feeling the tears gathering in her eyes to a second of falling down her cheeks.
"Me neither" her voice broke, Luke covered his mouth with one hand and close his eyes strongly, Clary sobbed silently and ran to hug him, her tears getting his shirt wet.
"I never thought this would be our goodbye, pumpkin" hearing her nickname made her think about Simon and then about Eric and Kirk, and Maia and Helen, her mother, her brother, her grandfather and even about her father. And she cried even harder.
"It's not worth it, it'll never be…" she heard her mother crying from the kitchen too, and forced herself to look at him in the eye and smile with our without tears. "But at least you'll have that pitiful and meaningless reason to be proud of me, all of you" Luke nodded at her words.
"We'll always be proud of you, dear. No matter what you chose or not" said her mother joining them, Clary felt bad to see her beautiful eyes covered with tears and pain.
"Even if I have to act like a silly princess all the time? That's worst part of it" Luke and Jocelyn both laughed while crying.
"Even if you have to do that, we'll always be there for you" Jocelyn didn't want to admit that this was their goodbye as Luke did, but deep inside Clary knew it was true, everything they both said to her.
"Okay, then. Enough, tears don't wash our problems away, remember?" she replied quoting her grandfather. 'Grandpa, I hope you knew what you were doing when you made me do this' she thought.
"Right, we have to get you ready" her mother sighed and they all wiped their tears and began to eat, even though hungriness wasn't something they could be feeling at the moment.
Later Magnus, Camille and Annemarie came to her house equipped with all the makeup, accessories and beauty appliances and began to prepare the royal bride for her big day.
"Where's Lady Amatis?" she asked while Magnus put one of her strands of hair in the curling machine.
"She's not only your assistant, highness; she's the chief maid in the palace. She's preparing everything for the wedding" Magnus answered.
"Can I ask you a favor?" Clary said feeling a lump in her throat again. Magnus sensed sadness in her voice; he lowered himself to look at her.
"Anything you want" he said with a smile, Clary bit her lip as a tear fell from her eyes.
"Do not try too hard with the makeup, I will ruin it anyway" she told him feeling ashamed for crying so much, she would be the crown princess, she would have to learn how to endure her heart and swallow her tears someday.
"It's ok, my lady. Camille will do your makeup, anyways" Magnus was never so affectionate with anyone, but he still hugged Clary so she felt better. "Pre-wedding feelings, it always happens".
But what she felt when she looked at herself in the mirror all ready and set was much more than just nerves or last-moment regrets. It was the horrible feeling of lost and doubt, it was digging an enormous hole inside her own heart, 'what the heck are you doing, Clarissa?' she smiled at herself, laughing about such a ridiculous situation, laughing at the sound of her fears and slow beating of her heart, like telling her: Just finish with this! Her hair was tied in a bulky bun and her curls fell to her neck, over her head rested the bright golden veil, her eyes looked much bigger with the eyeliner and black eye shadow, her eyelashes never looked better thanks to the mascara and her lips with a light and sweet pink color, her wedding dress wasn't tight at all, but still felt she could not breathe, her heels were not very tall and still looked wonderful with the gown. She took a final breath, Magnus opened her room's door to guide her outside, she went out and with a last glance of her favorite place in all the world she left, she picked up her dress too big for her small hands and with the help of her maids carefully walked downstairs to meet her lovely looking mother and very handsome stepfather waiting for her.
"Is it too much?" she asked shakily, Jocelyn shook her head and approached to hug her baby one last time before she went to begin her new life.
"You look beautiful as always, my little princess. I love you so much, darling" she stroked her daughter's cheek, carefully so the blush wouldn't come out.
"I love you too, mama" Clary blinked quickly to stop the tears.
"Your transport is waiting, highness" Magnus sounded like crying too, she giggled.
"I'll see you in the aisle?" Luke said with a bright smile.
"You can bet that" she answered , her house was obviously full of reporters and cameras documenting even the way she entered the limo, but she only heard one person speaking in all that noise.
"I'll regret sending her away like this very soon" her mother whispered, the driver opened the door and she got in, she sent her parents a blown kiss, watching as she got away from the place she called home, the place that had seen her grow, the place where she had spent time with all her loved ones, it was gone. It seemed somehow ironic, wasn't a bride supposed to feel excited and joyful on her wedding day? 'Well, you would if you were marrying someone you actually love and if it didn't mean to give your entire world away for some stupid prince and social status' she thought to herself.
The palace was full of people, some of them from her school cheering her, some of them taking pictures and recording every single step she took, some of them looking at her with despicable eyes and dressed as if they were going to meet the kings, well some of them actually would. The gates opened, a thousand more people were waiting there and she wondered how much people could the palace bear. When they got to the entrance, the driver opened the door and her maids helped her with the dress, they did not enter through the front door of the palace, but went to a door on the left, there was a small hall that was crossed by stairs for which they went to a room that had huge chairs, a table, three mirrors and other door right on the opposite wall.
"You'll stay here until the ceremony begins, highness" said Camille, Annemarie approached her a bit.
"If you want to take a look, there's a little window there" Clary nodded and went to the wall that was next to the door she opened the little window and saw the great hall of the palace, which they called "The Accords Hall" turned into a chapel, with pink and white roses everywhere, with a long carpet which she would walk through with Luke beside her to get to the aisle where Jace, with a cute black suit marked with golden runes that represented all the towns of Idris, his tape with its medals and crown, was waiting for her. The chairs were occupied by her friends and family on the left side, and the royals on the right side, it was like a metaphor: the life she had and the life she would have after the wedding. The worst thing was that she was alone in that entire situation, no bridesmaids or groomsman, but her friends were in the front row next to her parents, at least she would have them closer.
"Ah, Prince Alexander! The ceremony is about to begin and you're not ready?" Hodge, the prime minister, scolded Alec, he was watching the report of the wedding.
"They won't miss me, Hodge" Alec assured him with a smile, but the truth is that he'd feel even worse if he attended the wedding, the feeling of betrayal to his cousin would be even bigger.
"Of course they will! Your cousin needs you, highness, he'll feel very sad if you're not there" he insisted.
"Believe me, I'm doing him a favor" was his final words.
Clary spent for what looked like an hour looking her reflection at the mirror until someone knocked the door and Luke appeared. It was time
"You ready, your highness?" she asked with a smile, Clary got up from the chair; she smoothed her dress and checked her hair and makeup one last time. If she would have to walk through hell she could at least look cute while doing it!
"I'll never be" she answered while taking his arms and they both laughed, Luke opened the front door of the room revealing other couple of stairs. 'Seriously? This is a maze not a palace!' she thought, she would need to calm her nerves that made her think stupid things.
"We'll go slowly, ok?" he whispered and she nodded.
"Just don't let me fall" was the only thing she could say. The orchestra began to play the wedding march as they went down the stairs, all eyes on them like stabbing her, they got to where the carpet began and as she approached to meet Jace she looked at her friends, Maia was smiling, Helen had her thumbs up and looked more than excited, Eric was about to fell asleep and Kirk was… crying? By the angel, Kirk was weird, and Simon did his best to look happy too, that broke her heart even more, she would miss them crazily. It took just one second for her to be next to her future husband, he didn't look very pleased either, Luke gave her hand to Jace and gave her a kiss on her cheek.
"Good luck" he finally said and went to comfort her mother. She knew that she was scowling as much as Jace did; they looked to the minister who was a little worried about their expressions.
"Dear family and friends. We've gathered here today to witness the union of two servants and children of Idris in their difficult task of taking care of our beautiful country. Both of you are very brave on taking the responsibility of guiding your people, and we're sure that with love, respect, honesty and loyalty you'll be the best candidates to become the leaders of Idris. Marriage is much more than a long lasting period, it's a bond and it's an immortal promise, because things that are made with true love have no ending, and love is like finding the gate of heaven, is like the light at the end of the tunnel, lucky those who've found it. You kids have been given the task of reuniting your strengths and hearts and make our country a better place to live in, so let's proceed with your vows" two little girls took places next to them holding their rings.
"Jonathan Christopher Herondale Montclaire, do you take Clarissa as your wedded wife to have and to hold for the rest of your days?" Jace took the Herondale ring out of Clary's finger and replaced with a silver ring with a little stone shaped as a bird, the symbol of the Herondale family. "I do. With the blessings of the angel, I take you, Clarissa, as my wife, as my partner and as my princess for the rest of my days" he sounded so convinced and serious about it; Clary wondered how he could be such a great actor.
"Clarissa Adele Fairchild Morgenstern, do you take Jonathan as your wedded husband to have and to hold for the rest of your days?" Clary sighed and looked to her family; waiting for something that could tell her that she was choosing right, her mother smiled and that reminded her the reason of her choice. She took out her family ring from Jace's hand and replaced it with a golden ring with the same bird pattern "I do. With the blessings of the angel, I take you, Jonathan, as my husband, as my partner and as my prince for the rest of my days" she tried to sound firm and strong. For the rest of her days was an awful lot of time.
"If anyone opposes the union of these children of the Angel, speak now" she secretly wished that someone would, but who would've done such thing with the kings in there?
"As you two have promised and in the name of St. Raziel, I know pronounce you husband and wife" announced the minister, Clary shook a little, it couldn't happen that way! She wouldn't give her first kiss like that, not feeling so hurt and with a jerk like him. 'Well, surprise, you fool! You're getting married of course he's going to kiss you' she scolded herself, as Jace's lips approached her mouth she begged with her eyes wide open and closed mouth that something would stop him, to a second to reach her lips, Jace released a short laugh and kissed her cheek, leaving her more than shocked and angry. She heard cheering and claps, but still she couldn't smile and looked back to her family once again, her mother was shedding joyful tears and Luke smiled as always, all of her friends seemed pleased but Simon, he looked miserable. She wished that she could've run to meet him, but it was already too late, she was the wife of the crown prince.
"We proceed to the coronation ceremony" said the minister, her maids took the veil from her head and carefully put a long red cape over her shoulders, it was heavy that was for sure. "We need their majesties and the royal in laws to approach please" the kings stood beside Jace on each side and Clary's parents did too.
"Now, the royal father in law will give his teachings to the crown prince" Luke approached Jace firmly, he changed his expression to a little more happy one when her stepfather faced him.
"Respect and always listen to your elders, look after your loved ones and always do the best for your people and your wife." Said Luke sounding sweet and nice as always.
"The royal mother in law will give her teachings to the crown princess" Jocelyn stood in front of her daughter and took her hands with an affectionate stare.
"Respect and always listen to your elders, look after your loved ones and always do the best for your people and your husband." Clary smiled, her mother wasn't nervous at all.
"May the Angel bless your union and take care of you both on your journey, so you can always protect and defend your country as the heirs of Raziel's crown." Her parents said along with the kings. Jocelyn gave Clary a small hug and went to her seat again with Luke, the kings did as well.
"Now, the royal pledge" Jace stepped aside from the aisle and Clary stood in the center of it lowering her head as the minister took the golden crown that in the center had the diamond forged angelic rune and held it above her. "Do you, daughter of Idris and daughter of the angel, solemnly swear to hold up high St. Raziel's crown, protect and defend your country and its people by taking the power that has been given to you by marriage?" the original pledge would have ended like: 'by taking the power that has been given to you by birth' but as she wasn't born a royal, the pledge ended the way it did.
"I do solemnly swear it, that the angel bless my decisions and take me through the path of justice and peace so I can guide my people devote and tirelessly" she answered.
"Then, in the name of Raziel. I declare you, Clarissa Adele Herondale Fairchild Morgenstern, Crown Princess and royal monarch of the entire nation of Idris" Clary felt the weight of the crown on her head and she looked up while turning around, she saw everyone bowing at her.
There was no turning back.
To be continued…
Dreamer.
So, my dear readers and children of the nephilim… what did you think of the Clace wedding? Did you like it? Did I miss something? Did you cry as well? Please tell me, I'm dying to know! And I had a little question for you all, would you like an appearance of Valentine or Sebastian in the next chapters? I hope you enjoyed it, bye!