A/N: Please note that this is of course Fan Fiction, therefore the events described would be slightly deviated from the orginal telling.
And nope, I in fact do not own Fairy Tail or anything else I write about. I make no income from this work unfortunately, it's all for the purposes of entertainment, swear.
When I first wrote and published this story I thought it was more of a crossover with Game of Thrones. So I wrote a Westeros style Fairy Tail in a sense. However since I only kept Fairy Tail characters I can't really consider it a true crossover anymore. Nearly all Fairy Tail characters will make an appearence and maybe a good death scene, so keep reading. So I'll publish the whole story here with this forward. Having watched Game of Thrones or not isn't necessary to enjoy this. It's only those who have would probably see where things are going. As well as all the parallels I 'borrowed' from the show. (Which is great btw, I'd highly recommend watching.)
I hope you enjoy, know the characters come across as OOC because the environment that fostered them is vastly different than canon Fairy Tail. I wanted to write something bloody.
For You!
1.1
Lucy Heartfilia cried softly into her hands, sitting alone in her bedroom. Her tears were that of sad acknowledgement. The long looming day when she would be sold off like a piece of property to the bidder who paid the highest price came closer. Though she is a princess, wealthy, and one of noble birth. Also slavery has been outlawed in Fiore for nearly two hundred years now. Yet in Lucy's mind, they each sounded similar. Only the words and attitude had changed, use Husband instead of Master. Neither had a choice, or much to say to change the situation.
House Heartfilia found itself in high regard these days. Lucy's family traces back six hundred years of nobility now. Each Lord rarely having to fight to maintain their standing. Each trying to build from their father and expanded little by little. Their sigil being a heart on fire with a pair of swords crossed over, pointing upwards.
Heartveil, the castle and Heartfilia seat of power has been in a frenzy of activity since the announcement. A sizeable keep compared to most in the country, able to garrison eight thousand soldiers with enough provisions for five years. Also amongst the most beautifully architectured castles in all of Fiore. A full staff and reduced garrison is always on duty. All have sworn an oath to serve the Heartfilia name. With her mother dead, Lucy found joy in many of them during her darkest days, when no one else was there for her.
The day of her wedding is now only a fortnight away. Months have now been spent in preperation, though there was still no groom. There is yet to be a groom that has been decided for her, that is. Though the news had spread across the kingdom by ravens and many bachelors have previously filled the great hall. Yet out of the dozens that have came, no one has been chosen. Jude Heartfilia is determined to find the best offer amongst them. Even if he has to listen to a hundred more young foolish no name princes prattle. Or more bitter old lesser lords attempt to bribe him.
Now he was at the end of his patience, time was no longer on his side. Only men with name and title were to be allowed in. Forcing Lucy to now stay beside her father in court when a new bachelor addresses him. Jude grew desperate and hoped that with the men seeing what they are bargining for would work in his favor. Lucy rarely came into court in the first place so she would avoid seeing the type to man she would most likely marry. Though there were a few knights that caught her eye, she looked away when they started to speak.
A new day rose, filling the halls of Heartveil with its light. Lucy sat alone preparing herself for court. She was absent mindingly brushing her hair, when all of a sudden...
"Princess!" Lucy's handmaiden Virgo said suddenly.
"Ughh, Virgo! I told you not to scare me like that!" Lucy nearly shouted.
Once again her main handmaiden had seemingly appeared out of no where. Lucy yanked the brush in her hair slightly in her fright.
"Of course Princess, you can take me back to the dungeons now?"
Lucy sighed, still not sure think about the odd pink haired servant.
"Just, do the back please," Lucy said, gesturing to her hair.
"Of course Princess, today is a special day, you should look your best," Virgo said as she began brushing.
"You know I hate having to go sit in court. I don't want to see them, it's better if I just imagine someone that is different from the rest of them for as long as I can," said Lucy, with downcast eyes. "Someone who can see me, want me, not just my name."
"You are who you are Princess," Virgo said encouragingly. "You are more than just a name."
Lucy smiled warmly.
XxXxX
Today promised someone different however. A prince from the bitterly cold north is set to arrive. Gray, the pride and future of house Fullbuster passed through the curved archway into the main hall. First born son and last surviving heir to Ur Fullbuster, the self proclaimed Ice Queen in the North. Already he is an anointed knight earning renown serving outside of the north. He wore a beautifully woven suit of decorative light armor sown with patterns of snowflakes and wisps of ice.
The Fullbuster prince did not come so far alone. Behind him walked his lesser known brother, or rather to say half brother and bastard, Lyon Snow. He wore fine garments similar to Gray, though his carried noticeably poorer quality. Then a tight formation of twelve guards wearing identical full plate armor. A cross of ice upon a dark blue backdrop, the sigil of the old and honorable house engraved upon their armor and banners.
Gray carried a boastful stride in his step. Many years of training and practice had perfected it. Though he was not excited by the notion of marrying a stranger, he knew his duty. He had heard promising talk about the Heartfilia princess, her figure and wealth. He came determined to do what he must to continue and better his house. Even with another who was waiting longingly for his return with every moment in his cold keep. However that he kept secret from all prying eyes.
The crowd parted evenly on each side allowing them through. Many noble patrons as well as Heartfilia soldiers and staff filled the spacious great hall. Gray Fullbuster strode towards the end where the Heartfilias sat. A dozen stone steps in front of him on a high ornate throne sat Jude Heartfilia. Several lesser seats on each side of him were filled, Lucy sat near the end.
Among them sat 'The Bull,' champion of the Heartfilia army. A giant brute of a man who slaughtered scores of men in battle with his dual edged battleaxe. Beside him sat 'Leo' Heartfilia, a young knight and commander of the Heartveil guard. Lucy's cousin was known for being a womanizer who got his position mostly due to his last name. Then came his father 'Capricorn' Heartfilia, Jude's uncle and head of his council. Last Heartfilia of note is Lucy's younger brother, 'Sting' who is still a squire.
"Your Grace," Gray declared proudly at the end of the steps, silencing all voices in the hall. The prince bowed, followed by Lyon and their soldiers. Jude gave a curt nod, "Speak," he said, straightening up in his high chair.
"I am Gray Fullbuster, prince and heir to house Fullbuster," Gray declared proudly. "The greatest and fiercest house in the north. And we have traveled far to arrive here. None of us has reached this far south before," Gray began to trail off, quickly unraveling his garments. Lyon was quick to act and calm his brother from fully disrobing in front of the audience. Gray found control over himself a moment later with a clear look of embarassment.
"Apologies, your Grace," Gray said in a lower voice than before, were many less heard him. His bad habit somehow seemed to take over at the worst times. Once his clothes were fixed, he cleared his throat and began again. "House Ful-"
"You northerners have always been a strange lot," Jude interrupted, receiving a few reactions from the court. "Spending years freezing in some barren tundra does things to the mind, I'm sure."
Gray was about to retort, but Jude continued again after taking hold of his wine goblet.
"Your whole lives, tsk," he shook his head in mock disgust. "Shivering and starving in some icy keep. Rarely seeing the sun, eating dogs and crows to survive," Jude finished by drinking deeply from his goblet.
Lyon turned to his guards, expecting them to threaten violence if they were insulted further. Gray did not look to his half-brother, his guards, or the man who insulted him. Gray did not look to anyone, he seemed to look through them. His mother taught him well how to play politics. He smirked a slight bit before speaking again.
"We no longer shiver, your Grace. We are great hunters, Sire..." Gray paused, the court listening closely to his words. "Not of dogs or crows, but great beasts in the untaimed wilderness. I've lanced a white bear through the heart that is twice my size. Skinned it myself, keeps me warm in my keep," Gray paused for the sounds of the court's low laughter. Good and friendly nature returning to the hall. He began to move about, gesturing his words.
"I've harpooned a whale larger than any ship in your fleet through it's skull at 50 yards," he continued, earning scattered applause. "I am the greatest hunter in the north, and that says quite a lot. You should hunt with us, your Grace, and see that we eat well. Especially the women," he added, earning more laughs and applause from the gallery. Jude was about to raise his goblet, for he seemed to finally find someone who knew how to handle himself. But that was dashed when Lyon spoke.
"How else could we keep the beds warm," he said lightheartedly to continue the joke, he earned more laughs, but not from the most important man in the room.
"The bastard speaks in my court," Jude said with strained words like venom. The tension in the room was quick to return. Lyon diverted his eyes to the ground, his jaw clenched tightly in his shame.
"Apologies your Grace," Gray was quick to defend, though he did not look his brother in the eyes. "He forgets his place at times. Though a Snow knows their place in the north, just the same as here."
"See to it that he does then," Jude spat.
"Your Grace," Gray began in a rush to change the subject. "As for the reason House Fullbus-"
"I know your reasons," Jude interrupted again.
"House Fullbuster seeks union!" Gray pressed forward strongly. "A union of ice, a uni-"
"What of a union of fire!?" boomed a voice in the hall, interrupting the prince.
"Who speaks?" Jude yelled back.
The crowd near the back parted as another young man confidently strode forward. He carried a foreign appearance, clothes and accent. A rarity of salmon colored hair stuffed the top to an overall scruffy and poorly kept young man. An exotic scaly scarf wrapped around his neck completed him.
"The last dragon!" proudly declared the young man.
"Are you mad boy? Do you wish to spend a fortnight in the stocks?" Jude shouted back.
The young man continued forward through the hall fearlessly and shouted for all to hear.
"I am the last dragon! I am the fiery champion of the Lady of Light! Born admist salt and smoke! And I've come to take the throne of this kingdom!" he triumphantly finished. Coming to a stop so close to the Fullbuster prince that it is as if he didn't care to notice he was there. His eyes were now only on Lucy Heartfilia. He pointed directly at her, as if she was a prize he was demanding.
His lewd stare and pointed finger made her feel very uncomfortable. Which caused a red haired young woman to move and stand close to Lucy's side. Her hand rested upon her sword hilt. Part of her face is obscured by her hair, but the eye Natsu did see sent a clear message. Slowly he let his arm fall, waiting for someone to say something.
To the surprise of everyone in the hall, Jude laughed, it was a brief laugh.
"Oh you're lucky I find you entertaining boy," Jude chuckled. "Or else you would be facing worse than the stocks."
The front of the Fullbuster guard moved forward and swiftly moved their spears between the two.
"You're too close to the prince!" one shouted, they pushed him roughly aside with the sides of their spears. The young dragon is forced to take a few side steps to the right, his attention forced away from Lucy.
"Forgive me, Ice princess," the pink haired man mocked.
"You dare?" Gray retorted, severely annoyed by his sudden presence.
"Fire burns all," the pink haired man says solemnly before turning to Jude Heartfilia. "I am Natsu Dragneel, the last son of the Dragon King Igneel. And this kingdom will be mine! I'll take your daughter and oaths of loyality on my way to take my crown," he finished to a static hall.
"Do you think me stupid boy!? That madman was forced from his throne ages ago!" Jude boomed, losing his patentice again.
"Aye, my father would be nearly one-hundred now," Natsu replied hotly.
"You're too young! The Dragneel house died out a generation ago you stupid peasant boy!"
"I am my father's last son! I am the purest Dragneel! The last dragon!" Natsu declared fiercly.
"You are no dragon," Jude spat.
"I own a dragon!" Natsu responded quickly.
"The last dragons were butchered seventy years ago. Once again time proves you a liar."
"I am no liar!" Natsu said in a fit of rage.
"Then where is your dragon? My men have said nothing of anyone flying into my hall!"
"He is not here," Natsu is forced to say.
Some of the patrons in the hall now scoffed and jeered at him.
"You are a liar boy. And if you are lucky you will live to tell more lies. Now move your muffler so I can see your arm," said Jude.
Natsu did so proudly, revealing the mark of the Lady of Light in red on his upper arm.
"Did those fanatics in Magnolia put you up to this? Some sort of joke?" Jude questioned.
"The Lady of Light appeared before me," Natsu declared. "And crowned me as her champion."
"Get this damned fool liar out of my hall!" Jude retorted loudly as he rose from his throne.
"I am no liar!" Natsu shouted back again, his rage consuming him.
He made a half step onto the stairs before a pair of guards seized him on each side.
"Let go of me!" Natsu shouted still as he is 'escorted' out of the hall.
The guards threw him forward over their outstreched legs. Natsu fell harshly onto the stone floor, barely reacting in time to catch himself. They dropped their metal plated boots onto his back to subdue him.
The hall is now in a bit of chaos. Most were laughing or shouting insults at Natsu. Others are more insulting still, throwing their un-eaten food or garbage at him as he laid forced down on the floor. After nearly a minute of Natsu struggling to free himself in vain, the guards picked him up. Two more guards stepped in to drag him the rest of the way out.
All the while Jude Heartfilia watched from his standing position. Once Natsu is out of his sight he turns to leave.
"Your grace! " Gray Fullbuster shouts out as he walks away.
"We'll talk later, privately," he responded, only turning back to give a swift nod to Capricorn.
This gave his uncle all the information he needed to know. The tall elderly man rose to formally greet the northerners personally. He climbed down to the feet of the stairs and took hold of Gray's hand.
"Come, let us put all of this behind us." Capricorn said after they exchanged a few warm words. "I will show you to your quarters. We have plently to room for you and yours."
As the Fullbusters walked out, Gray spared a last look and smile at Lucy. Her eyes found his, she smiled back and looked away shyly. She stayed and watched the hall slowly empty before rising to leave.
"Where do you wish to go, milady?" the red haired swordswoman asks.
"Well, it's going to be a few hours before the feast. How about we walk through the gardens Erza?" Lucy said.
"As you wish, milady," answered Erza Scarlet, member of the Heartfilia guard.
Together they walked through the beautiful Heartveil gardens in the late afternoon sun. They walked carefree, happy in each others company. Lucy tried her best to push the days events out of her mind.