Hi again, everyone! So this is the NEWLY FIXED version of Arranged. AS I was writing chapter four, i realized that 1-3 kind of sucked a bit and rewrote them to be better both grammatically and detail-wise. I hope you enjoy the changes (if you even remember what the old version was like...It's been since April or something since I updated this one).

I do not own Fairy Tail. Please R&R, for your comments will keep me motivated. :)

As they looked at each other, no one in the room was certain who regretted this arranged marriage more: Princess Levy of Magnolia, petite, vibrant and cheerful, or Prince Gajeel of Oak, wild, intimidating, and altogether unfriendly.

Gajeel eyed his prospective bride with disdain. She looked about thirteen-years-old, though he was certain she was at least sixteen, and had bright blue hair and big golden-brown eyes that shined in the light coming in from outside. She was so small and fragile-looking, and in the ceremonial outfit she wore, with its long over-robes, he could not see her body well enough to judge it. He understood what the marriage would do for his country, but this girl was not what he wanted. After all, what fun could he have with a little girl that might break if he looked at her the wrong way?

Levy glanced furtively at Gajeel with a mix of fear and fascination. He looked so wild, with his long, shaggy black hair and his red eyes, and the numerous ritual piercings that adorned his face. Having so many meant he was a highly regarded warrior, that he had slain many men in battle, and that made Levy all the more nervous.

But even Levy wasn't half so nervous as the ministers and bodyguards in attendance for both sides.

"Shall we begin, Your Highness?" whispered Jose, Gajeel's Prime Minister and top advisor.

"Whatever," he grunted under his breath. He turned away from the princess in indignation, leaning back in his chair, slouching informally.

"Excuse me," said a small voice from across the table.

Gajeel sneered. Even her voice is fragile and small. He didn't bother to respond.

The voice piped up again. "Idiot Prince!"

Gajeel's head shot up in anger and surprise at the outburst. If the princess' face hadn't turned bright red from the exertion, he never would have believed such a sound had come out of her.

Idiot? Who does this bitch think she is?

"What?" asked Levy, turning to her handmaiden Lucy, whose hand had tightened around her wrist under the table. She pulled her hand free and crossed her arms, speaking with smug satisfaction. "He was ignoring me. And besides, he is the one that looked up when I called him an idiot."

Gajeel stood, pushing the table a few inches towards Levy with the motion. His face was a mask of disbelief and rage, but Jose's hand on his shoulder stopped him. Gajeel breathed, calming himself a bit, and settled back into his chair. His expression, however, remained livid.

"Your Highness, I urge you to remain calm," whispered Jose.

"Princess, please stop this," pleaded Lucy as quietly as possible. "Rudeness is so unladylike."

"It s ungentlemanly as well," whispered Levy in return, "but that seems not to be stopping him." She did, however, calm down, and folded her hands on her lap politely. She smiled sweetly up at Gajeel.

"Please forgive me Your Highness," she said softly with a slight bow. Gajeel nodded in reply, more than slightly dumbfounded.

This girl is evil, thought Gajeel, as a sense of foreboding ripped through him. This will not end well.

What an idiot, thought Levy, all her fear and fascination having melted away the instant he opened his mouth to slight her. Her pride had taken over soon after. This will not end well. At least he's handsome. Wait, did I really just think that? Great, this really will not end well.

It was the worst possible first impression ever.

It was some time later, and after a few awkward farewells, Levy and her entourage were riding home in their fleet of carriages. Lucy rode with the princess, as per usual.

"Princess," began Lucy, pausing for permission to continue.

"Call me Levy, Luce. We have been together since childhood. We may as well be sisters." Levy smiled warmly at her best friend.

Lucy blushed, but smiled too. "Then, as a sister, I am forced to scold you. His Highness is frightening enough as it is, but if you are rude to him, who knows what he will do to you. He has a very unlovely reputation, I am sure you know. And they say he uses Dragonslayer magic. I just cannot see you get hurt."

"The idiot prince is not a problem, Lucy, I promise. He is the type that needs someone to stand up to him or he just walks all over everyone. At first he was intimidating, I admit, but I have seen his kind before. He will be quite easy to manage, and if I am very lucky, I can avoid him more often than not when we are married." Levy giggled.

Lucy sighed. "There is still time to cancel this, you know. Your father would certainly understand."

"This was my idea in the first place, Luce. To strengthen both our countries, this marriage needs to take place. Oak is a young country, but they are strong. Magnolia is old and proud, but we have not the military might we need in this political climate. War is coming, Lucy, and Oak will need our strong history and wealth, and we will need Oak's strength and fresh ideas. If we plan to survive this, we will need each other completely.

"Oh Levy," said Lucy, full of pride in her mistress. She wondered when her usually light-hearted, demure best friend had become so confident and serious. It suited her well, even though she still looked like a thirteen-year-old.

Gajeel was brooding in his bedchamber. He was very good at brooding. A pro at it, some might say. Upon returning to the inner castle, to his expansive bedchamber, he had shouted for all his servants to go away; they did so immediately, being accustomed to their master's foul mood swings.

And now Gajeel sat, pondering his future and the decision his advisor had advised him to make. He had agreed to the marriage, understanding, as certainly his bride did, that both countries needed each other. Wars were popping up all over the continent, so it was better to ally themselves now. But what he had not expected was the princess to be a tiny spitfire; from all accounts of her, she was a very proper, cheerful, beautiful young woman. And while he did admit she was pretty, at least in the face, since her body had been hidden beneath that unflattering robe, proper and cheerful were not words he would have chosen. Sarcastic and evil, maybe, but not proper and cheerful.

However, he was resigned to this. With his father's recent passing, this marriage was absolutely necessary to bring stability to his country, and to prove to his people he was reliable. His coronation was coming in a week's time, and he wanted to present Princess Levy to his people on that day in hopes they would love her as her own people seemed to. And while he did not necessarily care for such things, he was raised to know what was best to keep himself in power and his own head firmly on his shoulders.

So no matter how he felt, nor how miserable his future was going to be, he had to marry Princess levy. Somehow, he would break her. Somehow he would retaliate for the humiliation she dished out at their meeting. Somehow he would make her bow to him.

So I think it's a little better than the original chapter one. Hope fully my thinking is correct.

Till next time!