The Dragon's Princess
Lady Countryrose
Ch. 1
Long ago, in a time like no other. Two souls separated by their way of living but each having the same wish when seeing the stars. "Is there someone out there for me?" This is their story.
Lucy Heartfilia lived most of her life in a castle; surrounded by her mother's servants, her father's guard and a distant father. Ever since her mother's death; Lucy has been yearning for someone to love and be loved, but none came from her father. Between the servants and the guards, each tried to keep a smile upon her face.
On her 18th Birthday; her father called her to the throne room, declaring that she had a year to chose a husband. Or he would choose for her. It was that day that she found out, how truly heartless her father was. From that moment on, many men came to the castle to win her heart. Even some of the higher ranking guardsmen have declared their own luck in wanting to win her heart. Even her friends; Loke Lionheart and Gray Fullbuster had tried. But none sparked her heart to flutter.
Lucy found no courage, locking herself in her room, overlooking the midnight gardens. "All I wish is true love," she leaned over her balcony to feel the light summer breeze. "I would even settle for a common person if it met love."
"Princess," called a voice behind her. She did not have to turn, to know it was Virgo. "Don't let the king hear you say that! You must come in, it's time for bed."
Lucy shook her head. "No Virgo," she calmly spoke to her maid. "I need to escape this place."
"Princess, please listen to reason." Virgo looked sad, her sad eyes trying to convene Lucy to listen. "Marry Loke or even Gray, you know them! But please, don't go."
Lucy sighed with sorrow. "I can't. Gray is too much a brother to me. While Loke, well he's Loke. Always having a wandering eye."
She stepped away from her open balcony and stopped at her closet. Where she changed into traveling clothes. Lucy also found a bag, where she packed a few more items.
Once she was finished, Virgo came to her, handing a key on a silver chain. "Take this with you, it was your mother's."
When it was in her hands. Lucy saw that it was a silver skeleton key, with a cross on top. "Thanks, Virgo, but what does it go to?"
The maid shook her head. "All I have heard it known to called the 'key of knowledge.'"
Lucy closed her eyes as she places the key around her neck. She glanced up for a moment. "Take care of yourself, Virgo."
"You too, princess."
Lucy left her room. She knew that no one would be up. Not even the guards. She moved as quickly and quietly as possible. She knew the castle well enough to have mapped out her escape, the only issue would have been. Her father, who is known to wander the halls in the dead of night.
'I don't care what happens to me after tonight. I just want out of this situation.' She remembered a time that her father was loving and caring. But he had stopped since the day that her mother died.
Lucy found herself in the back gardens. She knew that there would be an open gate in the far back. No one but her has been back there in the many years that she had lived there. Even though she had believed that no one was out and about, she ran from shadow to shadow. Hoping that no one was out to see her. She stopped near a wall that she needed to turn, but glanced towards another area to see if someone was there. Sure enough; she saw Loke and Gray talking to one another.
"Why do you want to marry Lucy, Gray?" She heard the irritation in his voice, it was enough to spook her a bit. "When I know for a fact that there is a little woman tailing behind you."
"Juvia," Gray asked with disdain in his voice. "I had saved her life and she's been following me since." He shivered. "It really bugs the hell out of me, when she doesn't take the hint that I'm not into her."
"That may be true, man but she won't stop until you see her for who she is. A devoted woman, who would do anything to see you smile for her."
"Then why do you want to marry the princess, Loke. It has to be more than what it seems?"
The ginger haired man chuckled, "It's because I like how she walks."
Lucy cringed in the shadows. 'Really, what a perve. If I haven't thought of him that way before, I sure do now.'
Loke smirked while getting upon his feet. "I enjoy the times that I can rile her up. Seeing life and sparks coming out of her eyes." His voice changed, it was enough to maker her skin shiver in wanting to leave. "If I was half a man that I am, I would have had her in my bed long before now."
Gray growled, "How can you say that when you are a royal guard. She's a princess, she deserves more respect because of that."
"I said 'if I was half a man,' which I'm not Gray." His lips pulled back. "But I would do anything to see the Spitfire that I enjoy in her. It makes my blood boil in need for her."
Gray shook his head. "Come on Loke, we have to go and get some sleep. We have training in the morning." He gave a chuckle. "But I know what you mean. I also like how she gets wild up from being teased."
The two talked to the other side of the garden and turned around a corner before Lucy made her move. She did not enjoy eavesdropping, but she found out her suspicions were correct with Loke. It would not have worked for her. As for Gray, she knew that Juvia had a thing for him. It was another reason why she would not say yes to any marriage to him.
She found her gate in no time after the near run-in with the guys. Lucy ran through the gate without stopping or even glancing back. She was sure that she had seen the last of the Heartfilia Castle again. 'Those boys can find someone else to wild up. I'm not their entertainment.' It was one of the last thoughts that she had about anyone or anything from her old life.
She kept on running and running. The only light that helped her through the night, was the light of the full moon. The night had always been a comfort to her. Her mother had taught her at an early age what stars belong to who. But the one that she drilled into her was knowing where the north star was. Which happened to be where she was heading. North.
Unbeknownst to the young woman, a man was standing overlooking the garden. He saw her escape into the night. "Run daughter, run. I hope you find a man out there, while you're at it. One who would be worthy to rule this land, while I'm gone."
He turned away from the window. He was not going to call his guards to follow her. She was her mother's child. One willing to do anything for finding true love. "Oh Layla," he called to the night. "Watch out for our daughter."