Clary Fray was sketching in her room when her mother came in.

"Clarissa, I need to tell you something." "What, mother?" She asked, pausing her sketch of the large tree outside her window.

"We are in terrible debt." Her mother got out.

Clary stopped her sketch and stood up to face her mother in the doorway. Her mother looked as stunning as always, her dark red locks trailing down hair back done in a sophisticated braid, wearing a floor length long sleeved forest green dress, embroidered with gold. "What do you mean?" Clary asked. Her mother took her hands.

"When your father left, he left us with a terrible debt that I've tried so hard to repay." "Unfortunately, I have not been successful. So, the Clave has given me a way out."

"What is it?" Clary asked.

"An arranged marriage," her mother sighs.

"They want you to get married?" Clary asks.

"No. They want… you to get married." Her mother says, letting out a deep breath. I swear the entire world stopped turning. I was only just 18. I was supposed to marry Simon, my boyfriend.

"No. No… I-I-I can't get married." "I'm only 18." "I'm in a relationship." She starts to pace around her room, grabbing fistfuls of her hair and rapidly shaking her head back and forth. Her mother tries to console her.

"It won't be that bad," she's saying. "How could you do this!?" Clary raged. "You ruined my future!" "How the hell am I supposed to marry and live with someone I don't know?" She continues her rage. She gets her fiery temper from her mother, along with her red ringlets.

"Hey!" Don't you dare say I ruined your future. That was your father." "I am trying to save the life that we have!" "Can you not see that!?" her mother yells back, grabbing her wrists to stop her pacing.

"I just-I need a moment." Clary says. Her mother lets go of her wrists and Clary flees their manor house. Their carriage is waiting outside. She lifts her dress up as her driver helps her into the carriage. "Where to miss?" Her driver David asks. "Simon's." Her face falls.

"Miss are you quite alright?" David asks. "Fine. Absolutely fine. I just need to see Simon. Now please, no more questions."

"Yes, miss." He bows before shutting the door. Clary manages to keep it together for the ride to Simon's, and standing in the entrance way of his house she nearly breaks down. When she finally sees Simon walking down the stairs to meet her, she collapses in a puddle of racking sobs. Simon runs the rest of the way down the stairs, kneeling by her side and wrapping his arms around her.

"Clary, what happened?" He asks, trying to calm her down by rubbing her back. Her sobs finally start to subside into small hiccups, and she brokenly explains.

"Simon… I can't marry you." She wails, while refusing to look at him, pulling her knees up to her chest and burying face in them.

"What do you mean Clary?" She finally looks up at him. "Can we go somewhere to talk?"

"Sure."

"It's warm enough outside. Shall we sit outside?" He offers her his arm as he pulls her up off the floor. The two walk outside, settling themselves on two chairs.

"Simon, my mother sold me."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, she sold me to the king and queen in the form of an arranged marriage." She starts to silently sob again.

"What- Clary this doesn't make any sense." "Your mother would never do that to you." Simon ponders out loud.

"But she did. To pay off her debt of all fucking things." Her mother would gasp at the use of such language, especially around her supposed future husband, but none of it mattered anymore.

"Clary, I-I don't know what to say. Did she say how much it was?" "Maybe I can pay it off or-" Clary cuts him off. "There's nothing you can do, Simon." "It's millions of dollars." "She could lose everything."

She looks up, his distraught face and sad eyes meet hers, which are red from crying. He stands and pulls her up with him.

"Clary, whatever happens, I love you." "I love you more than anything." "I'll find a way." Then, they both hear the patio doors open, and there stands Jocelyn Fray, the same women who sold her daughter.

"Clary, Simon, I'm so sorry. You know that I had no choice. It was this, or we both lose everything we own, and go to jail on top of it for not paying it off."

"Well, remember that you tore apart a girl's life for that freedom." He pulls Clary closer to him, hugging her close, and, tilting her head up, he slowly presses his lips to hers. They're wet and salty with tears. She closes her eyes while their mouths move together in symphony. His hands that were on her waist have found their way to cup her head. Unbeknownst to the couple, Jocelyn watches with a sad smile on her face, their kiss reminding her of her love's last kiss before he left. They pull apart, and rest their foreheads against each others.

"Always," Clary whispers.

"Always," Simon whispers back. She wrestles out of their embrace, and follows her mother back inside without looking back.

"Come, my love," Her mother says, leading her out the door. "We have to go to the palace. They're expecting you soon." They ride together in silence, Clary looking out the back until Simon's house fades away, and she can't feel anything anymore.

They arrive at grand palace, and the two are welcomed by a butler, who escorts them into the palace through two huge oak doors.

"The royal family will see you now." He leads them through to a room adjacent from the marble and cherry wood entrance, where the queen is waiting for them. Clary glides into the room behind her mother.

"Your royal majesty: my daughter, Clarissa Fray." A woman stands up first. She is dressed in a gorgeous royal blue velvet dress, adorned with sparkling jewels. Her blonde hair was pulled up into a complicated braided bun, and she wore a gold crown on her head. Clary and her mother curtsied low.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, your majesty." Clarysays robotically.

"And you, Clarissa." "My son, Jace, should be along in a minute." A few seconds go by in silence before another door opens, and in walks who can only be Jace. Clary automatically stands up to introduce herself. "Sorry I'm late, mother." He bends down, and kisses her cheek. Celine stands up again and positions her son beside her, as my mother does with me. Clary subtly scans her eyes up and down him, as he does the same. He's undeniably handsome, with his curly golden locks, striking golden eyes, and toned muscles. He moves closer to her, and takes her hand. She flinches slightly, the touch of Jace's hand unfamiliar to her. He notices, but kisses her hand lightly anyways. "Jace Wayland." "How do you do?"

"Clary- Clarissa Fray," she stutters. She's never been this nervous. He turns to her mother. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Wayland," she says.

"And you as well, Mrs. Fray." He replies. His voice is surprisingly deep. "We'll leave you two to get acquainted," Celine says.

"Mrs. Fray would you care to accompany me into the sitting room for high tea?" She asks, motioning towards the door.

"I would be delighted," Clary's mother replies. "After you, your majesty," she says graciously. Before she leaves, Clary's mother bends down to whisper in Clary's ear. "Behave," she says. Then the two exit, leaving Clary alone with Jace.