Hey guys! So this is gonna be my second fanfic,hopefully.
I haven't put anything into concrete so this is going to be an experimental first chapter,to test if the idea is worth pursuing or not.
Disclaimer: I don't own TMI,sadly.
LEGGO.
Warm sunlight streamed through the open window,warming my skin. I opened my eyes blearily,coming out of my dreamless sleep.
The world slowly drifts into focus. Raising my arms above my head,I stretch out like a cat and yawn delicately. Sitting up, I run a hand through my long locks,casting my eyes around the large white room.
Moments later,Alice,my personal maid,walks in. She smiles kindly at me.
"Good morning,my lady, I trust you slept well?" She questions warmly,blue eyes twinkling.
Alice was a short,middle aged woman who had been my personal maid since I was little. She had been a mother to me ever since my own died.
I smile softly back at her.
"Alice,how many times must I remind you to call me Clarissa?" I chide lightly,even though I know she never would,the woman is just too polite.
I prefer Clary over anything-but my father and my brother refuse to call me anything but my full name. The only one who ever referred to me as Clary was Jocelyn. A small pang of sadness goes through me as I think of my mother who I miss everyday.
Ever since she passed away all the laughter had gone from this god-forsaken castle.
I was more a prisoner than a princess.
My name is Clarissa Morgenstern,and I am the daughter of one of the kings in Idris,Valentine Morgenstern.
Idris was a country full of shadowhunters,warriors who hunted demons and slayed them: they were fearless,brave and unmatched.
Even though they are all over the world, since demons are everywhere,Idris is the country of every Shadowhunter,a home for them all.
The countryside was divided up,different families ruling over different pieces of land.
Together,all the kings governed the capital city,Alicante,or the glass city.
Even though I've never seen it (I've rarely traveled outside of the castle) I've heard tales of how magnificent it is,especially the tall glass towers,meant for keeping out demons and illuminating the sky every night.
I would give anything to see them,but father won't let me venture too far outside of the Morgenstern castle.
Ever since Jocelyn's death from a carriage accident when I was six,Valentine had turned to stone.
He had always been a strict man,but he has become cruel,all the love flowing out of him-turning his soul to ice.
Jonathon,my brother,became his apprentice,following after his cruel footsteps since he was to become king after father retired.
And I? I was forgotten,pushed to the side,most likely because of my strong resemblance to Jocelyn.
I was a remembrance of his lost wife,and I have suffered everyday because of it.
So I remained prisoner up in this castle,left with only my drawings.
A bitter taste fills my mouth and I swallow it down and turn back to Alice,forgetting about the past for now.
Alice laughs her soft,tinkling laugh. "At least once more,my lady,as always. Now hurry along and get into the bath,Master Valentine has requested you to be at breakfast soon. Apparently he has some important news."
I groan inwardly. This must be concerning my marriage.
I may only be seventeen,but Valentine can't wait to get rid of me,I thought bitterly. He had been constantly searching for a viable marriage option since I turned of age.
I nod at Alice and follow her into the bathroom,where she proceeds to draw a bath for me. I quickly get in, letting her scrub the lavender soap all over me,leaving my long locks up.
After pulling me up from the bath,she proceeds with her normal routine of readying me,scrubbing me dry,fixing my face to look elegant instead of childlike and fixing my hair up into a simple up do.
She selects a simple pale blue dress,which she proceeds to tug over me. One day,I thought bitterly as she pulls on the corset strings,effectively cutting off my ability to breathe,these dresses are going to be the death of me.
I'm finally deemed presentable by Alice and I set off towards the dining room, where I know Jonathon and Valentine would be waiting.
I was right, at the very top of the mahogany table,sits Valentine Morgenstern.
Valentine is by far the most terrifying man you will ever meet,in this life and the next.
With his broad shoulders and bulky build, he had the body of a warrior, but the smooth pale skin and angular cheekbones of royalty...which he is.
Paired with his salt white hair and eyes blacker than the depths of hell, he gives off a terrifying image in his appearance and speech,which he has also practiced on his family.
He hasn't hit me in a year,and I plan to keep my streak going.
"Good morning,Father." I say politely,sitting down on his left,right across from my brother, Jonathon Morgernstern. He was a copy of my father, with his stark white hair and complexion,paired with the same horrid black eyes. The only thing of my mothers he'd gotten is his long hands,meant for holding paintbrushes and lean muscular build,meant for speed and agility.
He was an amazing fighter.
Jonathon smiles at me lightly,murmuring a good morning through sips of orange juice.
"Clarissa,I have something very important to talk with you about." Valentine informs me,setting down the paper he was writing out.
I pause,the pitcher of juice still in my hand. Slowly- I set it down and swallow against my dry mouth. Here it comes.
"Yes,Father?" I answer with forced innocence and curiosity. Like I had no idea what this was obviously about.
He clears his throat and looks right at me,I see a hint of triumph in his normally cold eyes.
"As you are already aware of, I have been searching for a suitable spouse for you,considering you are now at the age that all young women should marry at.
And, after several months,I have succeeded. No need for you to worry,I have already set up the engagement."
My stomach drops to the floor,and suddenly the thought of breakfast isn't so appetising.
I had been stalling for the last six months, always turning away or finding something wrong with all of Valentines proposals,or even going as far to as to act mentally insane (to stop a certain Prince from the Trueblood kingdom who had been interested in me)from proposing. Big hassle- but it bought me some time.
But Valentine had set up my marriage? Anybody Valentine had approved of wouldn't be good at all:probably some king in their elder years who was bored and had a lot of money.
Somebody Valentine could burden me with and never have to see me again. The thought of marrying someone like that makes my stomach churn and I feel faintly sick at the prospect.
"But,Father! That's not fair! I thought we agreed I would have a say in my marriage!" I protest weakly,even though I knew it wouldn't change his mind. Valentine is a determined man.
He waves away my protests. I see his eyes darken impossibly more at my outburst and I immediately regret it.
"Yes,but you've been putting this off,and I thought I should help speed the process along." His eyes glint as he mentions my stalling and I shrink back in my seat a bit. I throw a desperate look at Jonathon,hoping he can get me out of this,but he just shrugs. Bastard.
"Besides,this is a good engagement. You're going to marrying a very powerful king." Who was most likely eighty,I thought miserably. I let out a little groan but instantly closed my mouth at Valentine's warning look.
I forgot- groaning isn't ladylike.
"When am I to meet him?" I ask,trying my best to sound reasonable.Valentine smiles coldly. "Tonight. You're carriage leaves in three hours."
Excuse me?
" I can't leave my kingdom and meet my spouse in three hours!" I splutter,not caring in the least if I didn't sound like a proper young lady should sound like-to hell with manners!
"I need to pack,prepare,say goodbye-"
Apparently Valentine had had enough.
"Enough!" He says angrily,black eyes flashing,I stop immediately,going still.
He takes a deep breath before continuing. "First of all,you barely go outside this castle,so it's not as if you have an entourage of people you must bid farewell to. And three hours is plenty of time to have your maids pack your bags and to ready yourself. Now enough with this childish behaviour-your new husband won't be as lenient as I,and you better get used to holding your tongue." Valentine finishes,getting up. He sets down his napkin and strides out of the dining room,maids instantly bowing as he passed them.
I take as deep of a breath as I can in my corset,trying to calm my anger. I turn to Jonathon desperately,who appears to be eating his toast calmly.
"How could you let him close the engagement?" I hiss angrily. Jonathon glances coolly up at me,unperturbed by my anger.
"Enough is enough,Clarissa,you need to get married and that's final. You're a young lady who shouldn't be without a courtship. Plus-you can't stay here forever." Jonathon states,shrugging lightly. I feel a stab of anger go through me from his betrayal. I would've expected my brother to be on my side at least. Guess you can't trust anyone anymore.
Jonathon idly wipes his mouth with his napkin and stands up to leave,turning to go. I find myself speaking.
"At least tell me who I am to be married to." I ask,desperate for at least one piece of information to my future life. Jonathon stops and turns to face me,an odd sort of smile on his face.
"You are to be married to Jace Herondale,king of the Herondale land."
Jonathon leaves then,and I feel my stomach drop in a horror.
Jace Herondale,the youngest king Idris had ever seen. His parents had died when he was eighteen and he was left to take over the kingdom with no other guidance. That was two years ago.
Ever since then,he had become one of the most powerful Herondale and Idris rulers. He had visited our castle once when he had first become king to formally meet Valentine,and even though I had never gotten a chance to meet him,I heard rumours from the maids. Apparently,even at eighteen,he was gorgeous. With looks,I had heard, worthy of an angel. He was tall,gold like and confident. He was also terrifying.
The maids not only thought he was attractive,but also scary. Charlotte,one of the younger maids, had said that he seemed like the type of person to be in control of everything,and had a cold and unapproachable demeanour,acting as if he was above everyone else.
I remember thinking he was probably a rough person to befriend.
Now I was going to be marrying him.
The last thing I want is a controlling husband. The only upside of my marriage is that I'm going to be escaping Valentine,but what if my spouse is just like him? The thought of being treated more like a slave than a wife sends a shot of disgust and terror into my soul. Of course Valentine would choose someone like him,somebody he knows who could put up with me.
I sag in my chair,feeling sadness deep through my body. I sit there for a long time,my corset digging into my waist but I don't care enough to adjust it.
After a while,Alice comes to me and shakes my shoulder.
If Valentine had seen her doing that,he would've cut her hand off,but I don't mind it. It's nice having someone like a mother near you,even if your own is gone.
"My lady,it is time to prepare for your journey,we haven't much time." She softly reminds me. I detect a hint of sadness in her voice and know she doesn't want me to leave.
I smile faintly up at her and rise clumsily to my feet,following her out of the dining room and to my bedroom,dreading what lies ahead of me.
A/N:
...aaaand that's it! How was it?
Should I continue writing it?
This was just an experimental chapter to see how it would go so please please please comment if you'd like me to keep going!
I will happily do so ^-^
So,if you want more,you know what to do 😉😏😂
*MUAH*
Love always,
K💕