A note before you begin. This is like a side-story to the story Dragons Love with Dangerous Letters by 2-Dragon-Slayer-2.

Chapter 1

The girl pulled her hair up into a swift ponytail as she tiptoed an escape through the grass in the night with her barefeet. Glancing back only slightly as she continued further and further towards the shore on the edge of her own village. A letter placed in her hand carefully but too tightly at the same time this same girl grasped the letter finally out of reach of everyone in her village. A dangerous village on the edge of the continent. Ran by the kingdom of PhantomLord. It was particularly dangerous to live here. Ripping open the letter with her fingers the girl smiled at the letter from her cousin, Artemis, it had been so long since she had received one. Not because her cousin refused to write a letter, but because the kingdom of PhantomLord was slowly trying to shut off all communications between the other kingdoms. So it was almost impossible to get this letter. One of the teens from the Pyre Kingdom (so it was rumored that she was from...no one was quite sure because she often tried to hide where she was from) had the favor of the prince in the kingdom of PhantomLord with her beautiful blue hair.That teen was also the teen who had practically raised her, and the teen who had snuck me, a letter from my cousin Artemis. I bit my lip glancing at the wrinkled letter's wrapping knowing that I would have to destroy it later but still disappointed that I had ruined such a rarity. Levy McGarden, the teen who had raised me, had snuck me this letter meaning that she was able to get away with an act of committing a crime. That crime? An unspoken law. But we all knew that was the law. We weren't allowed to have communication with the outside world. When the kingdom called on us to act like soldiers we must be completely and wholly convinced that everyone outside the palace and kingdom was evil. So that there was no way we would have second thoughts until after the deeds were done.

I curled the frail letter in my hands keeping it rather close to me as I smiled reading of her festivities. How she was decorating the shop owners house, how she had met someone outside the house while decorating that turned her mess into a beautiful wonderland, and how she was excited for the ball...Oh! There was so much more written in the letter. How I craved to read each detail carefully and determinedly. I heard footsteps echo through the forest my first thought echoing "I'm being chased! They're bringing me back already!" I glanced down towards the letter the person who had hidden away our king but kept our prince without telling him flashing to mind. A wicked smile piercing his lips once he realized who had given me this letter, Levy. That man, that man would stop at nothing to take away something important to our dear prince even if it meant taking a life from another kingdom, especially if it meant a life from another kingdom, and especially if they were important to Gajeel. It would mean war. That girl wasn't here constantly, but every so often she would pass through. Unguarded. They would defiantly target her. I felt my hands shake wanting to grab a pen and write a letter back to my cousin on the of this letter that she had sent me. Slipping one out of the belt I kept under my dress that held things, it was just above my knees as I slipped out a utensil almost colliding with the knife next to it. "Dear cousin, don't come anywhere near here...it's dangerous...they kill all of their travelers." I wrote quickly on the back hearing the steps echo louder and louder as they came closer, a lamp shining through the woods. "She went that way I think!" A voice shouted trampling through the woods in my direction. I felt my hands shake with this simple little piece of papper...a piece of paper that could kill Levy McGarden, there in turn possibly our prince our only hope once he was older and took responsibility for the throne, and me..a piece of paper that would cause my cousin to be hunted down for knowing too much, that person Artemis met, and her boss, and her father for just being in the letter. I felt my hands shake as I tied it to a rock and through it up into a that she would never need to find it. "There she is!" A voice shouted grabbing my arm just finally in time. I glanced up towards who had found me my shaking legs screaming at me to run, run fast and far as I possibly could. This wasn't the case nor would they let me go. They had sent the executioner after me for some apparent reason. "I don't want to die yet! I just wanted some air!" I screeched knowing each beg was futile, even the grip had become an abrasive grip.

Sometimes they let their villagers escape but not me not in this case. I knew too much. Far too much...something about my family heritage they would always mummer and that I could never change my job. I was dragged back to the castle to continue serving...as a maid. It was almost impossible to acclimate myself even into a situation that I had been born into...I constantly found myself craving the way Artemis was living wanting to dart out towards her village. The problem though? I didn't know which direction to run or how to get help from anybody. And trust me! ' . Help. Especially not when you're in a village full of crooks, villains, muggers, robbers, and bounty hunters. Especially if you're forced to work on the royal staff.

I felt myself throne in front of our king only minutes later trying my best for a chagrin look to appear on my face even though I had felt pretty confident in myself currently for hiding the letter. I felt myself glance up slightly at our king, someone who I had seen countless times in my life and had no right to argue with as I ran around cleaning, serving food, and doing the other necessities of a maid. I shivered realizing how frail I probably looked right now: it was nice but I was still wearing a maid uniform, except the hair piece maids wore was turned into just a simple bow ponytail, I had leggings that were black, and black flats on. My dressing wasn't the problem, it was the way I was shaking, biting my lip, suppressing tears. I couldn't help it...surely no one could with no right to argue and the "king" wearing one of those complacent looks on his face because he had found another "traitor" within the village to make an example of. Every word that this fake king would say would be something of a defamation towards you. Especially if he saw you constantly and made an opinion of you. That made my hope go down further I felt my wrist move trying to move the rope that was tying them together and keeping my neck near two very sharp vehement swords. Well vehement or powerful I wasn't too sure about those guards there. Even if the king was fluent and voluble in the flow of his words most of the underclassman were practically broke barely enough to eat. Unlike the maids, such as me: who were pitied by the considered higher class cooks the ones that got to go home instead of staying in cells were sometimes sneaking us the spare morsels and even any savory morsels were considered a feast. "Sir? Are you going to judge this girl?" the right hand man of the "King" asked...King Jose.

"I'm thinking still..."

"Would you mind explicating your reasoning?"

"King" Jose opened his mouth and shut it again. As if he had one reason and decided that it was not the reason he would like to tell his people. "At first it was her family heritage I was a little worried about it." King Jose laughed. "The heritage of a maid? That's a joke correct?" The right hand man laughed hysterically as if it wasn't that important. It's not like I thought it was, especially since I really did want to know. All's I had was my cousin but nothing else. I couldn't even remember how I had gotten to know she was my cousin. Maybe in a town square while I was shopping for food in disguise? I wanted to know who my parents were, not like I could since they were probably slaughtered on a mission to kidnap me when I was a child. Same goes for all the maids here.

"Yes, yes I guess it was indeed a joke. Slaughter the girl." Jose smiled placing a hand on his chin as he watched. I felt myself shiver trying to remember a happy memory. Oh that was the one! Meeting my cousin for the first time and being told through magic that she was family. No, maybe it was the letters that I had received during this time here? Maybe it was that. Or maybe it was being raised by Levy? That was a nice, a kind hand from a different city that you wanted to be around and you weren't afraid that they were going to try to kill you. Her presence was kind and warm. I guess that's why she stuck out in such a city. I felt the guards move the swords away from my head. I heard the grotesque metal that was under the guise of being used to protect my life about to end it...As suddenly a voice spoke out. "What is this grotesque pandemonium before me?!" It was Prince Gajeel! I felt my eyes widen struggling not to burst with tears. Prince Gajeel was causing a royal court fracas over someone as simple and useless as me, a servant girl whose name he didn't even know! "Why are you so receptive to the idea of renouncing your life for this man?" Gajeel shouted as I felt myself flinch moving from my trance of staring at the floor slowly looking up towards our Prince. He was rough and bad with words but at the same time he was a genuine person. "Repress the tears! Repress the hope! He might not be able to save you!" That's right repress it all. Repress the need to complain, repress the tears especially in front of the royals, repress it all...every single day of my life, every single year, repress happiness, repress jealousy of others, repress,repress. It was grinded in my head by the other maids so that they wouldn't find something we had grown attached too. They tried to do their best to teach the same concept to each other also. "I am a reticent person in such a situation..." I whispered knowing that I probably should not speak at all for it would be considered out of turn.

King Jose gave a yawn as if the place was too somnolent for him especially since there wasn't enough of my blood being splattered everywhere. Gajeel sent him a vehement glare. It was almost as if our Prince Gajeel was making a zealous effort to save my meager life. "Why are you harassing poor Celestine!" I felt my eyes widen how could he know something I had practically forgotten myself? I felt myself struggle to repress these tears that were burning near my eyes. That was my name. MY name was Celestine. "My name is Celestine..." I whispered how could I forget that? More importantly how could he have known that? "Let Celestine go." Gajeel rolled his eyes trying not to put all of his effort into it just in case "King" Jose took notice and decided to play some more. "Than what? What if this girl is a traitor!?" King Jose displayed an attempt of actually seeming worried for his people.

"Than she would have all of her reasons."

"Did you just offend royal blood the king?"

"You're just the step-in king until I take over my position when I get married."

"But I'm still the king"

"Like I care...I'm just saying she's a smart one, not even she knows it yet. But Celestine isn't stupid enough to throw a coup-d'etat."

"Fine...but how do you plan to take responsibility for her?"

Gajeel looked around startled, glancing once or twice in my direction. He was trying for my freedom! A relieve of duty! I felt a frail smile come to my face as I pushed myself to my feet disregarding the chains on them. Even if it wasn't something I would ever have because I worked in the palace...I could escape with the secrets of the kingdom so I won't ever be set free. "Thank you, very much." I smiled bowing deeply in Gajeel's direction a smile slowly glistening on my face. "She'll be one of my personal servants...she'll be under my watch." Prince Gajeel sighed as if he was deeply involved in causing this fracas. "Oh really!?" Jose laughed hysterically. "What happened to the last one that was under your watch!?" Jose laughed as if Gajeel had given him some sort of joke. "Rogue was it? That other prince you were supposed to watch!" Jose laughed hysterically. "This time I won't loose my watch." Gajeel sighed getting up and beckoning me closer. I got up running towards the prince as one of the guards stepped on the chains attached to my ankles dragging me backwards. "Celestine, you were not released from your sentence." They said sternly. I saw Gajeel glare swiftly over towards the guards behind me and then down at my feet as the chains they were stepping on suddenly snapped.

I watched as the glistening metal spread everywhere throughout the room. "Gajeel!" Jose yelled jumping up. "What?"

"That magic of your's is only supposed to be used during wars!"

"Obviously neither of us care about the rules now do we?"

"Gajeel! Are you trying to start a war with my people?!"

"No, but if you kill this girl you mine-as-well be starting a war."

"WITH WHO?"

Gajeel made no point to say who but quickly turned to me "Let's go Celestine." He tried for a frail smile as I nodded running forwards as the metal chains clanked off my ankles. "You're my personal maid now, so just go where I say and do what I tell you and you'll be safe from that bastard Jose." Gajeel muttered just loud enough for me to hear when I was near him. "The first place I tell you to go is outside those doors and than the followings, and the ones after that the ones that lead to the garden...don't stop even if I stop for a moment." Gajeel stated as I nodded walking and surely he had done as he said he was going to while looking over his shoulder the whole time, the slightest shadow appearing behind him. A demented twisted shadow but not in a grotesque way. I ignored it, I've had enough almost death sentences for one night. I ran towards the garden when I was suddenly mauled by a crying mass of blue hair. "oh my gosh...he d-did...thank goodness...eateaijanegiwjEAwGAjeelea,ewgtawhietjcourt,aeiwhaiheardsaihewabout aweityour court ." From the sound of the tears what I had made out was that she had asked Gajeel about saving me from the court after she heard I was on trial which it then became a big huff of mess again as she tried to talk to me. "Levy...you asked him to save me?" I whispered pulling her away to get clarification. As she let a frail smile on. "Halfway...I came begging him to the castle when I'm pretty sure he barely remembers when I'm passing through..." Levy whispered. That had to be a lie! He practically stalked the poor girl he had such a crush on her! Not that he would admit it, sadly. And only when she entered the castle to bring the latest books. A trader of some sort is what I thought she was. "But...I think he remembered he's such a kind person...he remembered how I mentioned that I used to like visiting you...I think he might've noticed that I often visited you because he said he had remembered that I had practically raised you when you went outside the castle walls even though I was only a year or two older." Levy whispered. My thoughts collided about the court meeting and "COME ON LEVY! He wouldn't know this stuff if he barely paid any attention to you! The guy had you have bodyguards on you whenever he knew that you were in the city...although she didn't always know it." I sighed shaking my head wanting to spout out all of these thoughts. Prince Gajeel was definitely tripping for Levy. I removed a knife from under my dress as I quickly cut the rope off from around my wrists, dropping it to the floor.

"Yo are ya in here?" Gajeel asked moving in here as Levy's eyes became large brown jewels. "Thank you!" Levy practically screeched in his ears throwing her arms around his neck as she pulled him in for a hug. "What can I do for you? You know to return the favor?" Levy whispered wiping away her tears of happiness and relief. "Nothing...you already have." Prince Gajeel murmured glanced away a blush slowly coming to his cheeks. "You'll have to visit my village so I can repay you!" Levy's eyes glanced at the clock. "Oh no! I'm about to break the agreement! It's almost midnight! I have to be out of this kingdom by midnight every night! I"m very sorry!" Levy shouted running past him. I could feel the slightest disappointment echo off of him. "You liked that" I teased as he rolled his eyes. "Don't tease the Prince or he might throw you back to the wolves." Gajeel sighed as I felt a smile coming to his face. A joke. That was a joke. "Wait what time did she say it was?" Prince Gajeel suddenly bolted up from the chair that he was sitting in. "It's almost midnight, 11:57 to be exact." I whispered as his eyes widened. "How could I make such a mistake!?" Prince Gajeel shouted snatching my knife that I was using for the rope from my hands accurately so that he didn't cut me, probably with years of lessons behind him, and begun to chase after Levy.

I found myself passing Gajeel who had stopped right outside the palace pathways unsure which way was the actual route she took. "This way!" I shouted running down her usual route as quickly as I could. People streamed the streets. But only on the edges: as they exchanged illegal drugs, torches burned, and other such thing that I wish not to name went on as I finally caught a glimpse of the bright blue hair. A contrast to this dusty reality. "Levy!" I shouted knocking over the guy that was following her by accident. I quickly wondered if this was her bodyguard before Gajeel pinned down the other one. I let a quick sigh of relief escape me that was also luckily full of confusion as I glanced towards Gajeel wondering if these were the rumoured bodyguards he would send out to watch her. "Are these your's?" I whispered as he shook his head suddenly one of the two followers of Levy through me off. Which trust me, wasn't a very big feat. "Quick take Levy and run! As far as you can!" Gajeel instructed as I nodded reacting without any thought. My barefeet running through the village of broken glass.

"Where are we going what's happening?" Levy shouted as I attempted to push my feet further and further forwards. "I don't know but maybe Gajeel might care to explicate later!" I shouted running and running as far as I could until we found an open clearing. I felt myself barely be able to breath taking deep quick breaths knowing that even if I had a water I wouldn't be able to drink it for at least a couple moments. "I think the Prince might have a crush on you." It was a quick whisper that was very quiet and carefully done straight into Levy's ear while watching the surroundings, no one but they could know. "That can't be...I'm not even...I'm not even like him...I'm from a different kingdom too." she whispered lowering her voice knowing that those were forbidden words around here. I laughed picturing this scene to have taken place earlier it might've been better in the garden. "Celestine! You should be careful with your words too! What if everyone thinks that and there's this huge uproar?" Levy stated not a single word of a hint of what it was in the sentence. "So it could be true." I stated as Gajeel finally walked out of the bushes. "Come on we'll walk you the rest of the way. I've already had someone bring a letter to the castle that we'll be out for a couple days." Gajeel muttered as I glanced over towards him as he nodded "you too" was all that was thought it didn't even have to be said. I nodded running after him. "Um...I had to rip the letter up this time." I murmured towards Levy as she smiled. "If we get lucky you might get to see your cousin Artemis!" Levy laughed. "And if we're not?" I asked "I have tons of paper you can write her a whole old book if you felt like and I would bring it to her!" Levy smiled as Gajeel flashed a quick look our way.

And so our journey to take Levy back home began.