The Night Is Still Young...

Chapter 1

Jellal ran his hand roughly over his face as he headed to his bedchamber rather late that night. Aside from the sentries most of the palace was fast asleep. It had been almost one year since he had taken the throne in Edolas and things were finally going relatively smoothly for his kingdom, if not slowly. Just about three months into his reign the citizens finally began accepting that living without magic wasn't such a farfetched idea. Tasks definitely took longer and more efficiency and skill were required to do things the non-magical way but it wasn't impossible.

Not to mention the fact that neighbouring kingdoms had stopped the incessant attacks on Edolas. Thinking that Edolas might be vulnerable without the magic it had so desperately depended on, there was attempt after attempt to seize control of his nation. In that regard Jellal had his army to thank, especially his Captains, Hughes, Sugarboy and of course Knightwalker. Despite any reservations they seemed to have had about him as Edolas's new king, they were one hundred percent committed to Edolas and with their combined experience strategized endlessly to bring an army void of magic up to scratch.

Long, daily, exhausting meetings between the King, Council and Captains were permanent fixtures in their lives this past year. Daily training schedules devised by the one and only thoroughly sadistic Erza Knightwalker had proved an absolute success despite the bruised and battered state of soldiers after a long day. Opposing armies could hardly make it into the city before they were spotted and archers were at the ready as the first line of defense. Any who managed to breach their walls were met by skilled swordsmen, lance, spear and battleaxe users. Yes, Edolas had come a very long way indeed…

His mind zoned in on Erza and he slowed his pace. The fiery beauty was just as incredible as he remembered. When she set her mind to a cause she truly put her heart and soul into it. They had more so known of each other than known each other when they were children but he'd seen her with General Knightwalker and his men many a times on the training grounds practicing, already sure what role she was to fulfill in the Kingdom. In many ways he had envied the freedom she had, as he gazed out at the training grounds from the high window of the classroom he often occupied with a myriad of tutors. She was nothing but dutiful and respectful if they ever crossed paths, bowing to him with a curt, "Your Highness" before leaving. That disappointed him, he didn't have the chance to mingle with many children his age and she was one of the few that he saw often besides the children of servants who were often too intimidated to approach him.

Sometimes though, he'd catch her observing him when she believed no one was looking. She seemed rather intrigued with his birthmark, a rather intricate marking on the left side of his face. He smiled at her knowingly when he caught her at it once at a royal garden party and her cheeks turned the same colour as her blazing hair (and his birthmark now that he thought of it). She hesitantly returned the smile and to his surprise gave a hesitant wave. They developed a tentative friendship from then on which evolved into true comradery.

"You'd better eat it fast, I think your governess is on her way up here," Erza said seriously. He was disgruntled that his governess refused to let him have dessert because he'd slacked off and left his math unfinished and told Erza so. She snuck into his room from the kitchen through a secret passageway they'd long discovered and presented him with a mouth-watering chocolate confection that had him jumping for joy (quietly) and hugging her in thanks. Her cheeks turned the hue of her hair as he kissed her cheek and she shoved him away and scrambled back through the secret passage. He laughed merrily and quickly devoured his sweet treat.

As he reached the corridor to his chambers Jellal smiled at the memory. He had left her in Edolas a child, without any explanation for his departure, but his thoughts never strayed far from her…how could they when he witnessed the beautiful woman her Earthland counterpart had grown to be. He knew that though their personalities differed she looked exactly the same.

It was heart wrenching really to return to Edolas and have her completely ignore him, like they had never met. He sought her out numerous times and every time she was abrupt and downright nasty. He was therefore taken completely by surprise when one day, four months after he began his reign, he suddenly heard her voice after a Council Meeting that he believed was concluded.

"You can do this Jellal. Edolas will make it."

Jellal, who had sunk into his seat at the head of the conference table in exhaustion, looked up in shock. She'd remained behind, that gorgeous blazing red hair growing past her shoulders and reaching down her back now, her usual black (and revealing) breastplate armor top, "shorts", gauntlets, greaves and scarf in place. It was the first time she'd called him anything but "Your Majesty" since he returned, although he was sure she wanted to call him by a myriad of unsavoury titles.

"Are we on speaking terms then Erza?" he asked leaning back in his chair and observing her.

"I wouldn't go that far. You look like hell." She replied. He'd long given her free reign to speak her mind around him though she never used it until now, "I like that."

"You like that I look like hell?" he asked dryly.

"You look like a King devoted to his country. You are neither running away nor shirking your responsibilities." She said rather harshly and he cringed at the not so subtle reminder of his absence from Edolas over the past years, "You have proven to be exactly what Edolas needs and for that you have my complete respect."

He smiled at her and stood, walking over to where she stood somewhat stiffly.

"Thank you." He said honestly, "I needed to hear it. I'm trying."

"You're succeeding."

"We're succeeding."

"Yes." She nodded.

As she turned to leave he quickly grabbed her wrist effectively stopping her retreat. She glanced down at his hand on her arm and then up at his face.

"I had to leave Erza, I could no longer allow my father to go on as he was. I did what I could, what I thought was best. In no way did I ever turn my back on Edolas."

She sighed, "I understand alright, we were so obsessed with keeping our magic that we couldn't see that the King….former King, was wrong, so wrong, in the way he acquired it. I see that I was wrong for carrying out his will. I understand why you left."

"But you still think me a traitor to some degree, don't you?" he inquired.

"I did. Not anymore." She answered.

He looked into her eyes, saw the truth in her words and nodded. He squeezed her hand gently.

Erza felt her heart skip a beat as his fingers absently gently caressed the inside of her wrist. What the hell was wrong with her? Of course he was attractive, as many of the court's ladies vying for his attention would readily attest, but she'd been around attractive men before and none had ever truly sexually excited her. His mere presence could cause her heart to beat faster, a secret she'd surely take to her grave.

She cleared her throat bringing him back down to Earth (or Edolas rather) and pulled her hand non too gently from his, turning to head back to her room.

"Erza." he said softly.

Once again she paused and looked back questioningly.

"Can we be friends again?"

She rolled her eyes and scoffed walking off.

Jellal assumed that was a no until she paused at the door and said without turning around, "Just remember it's a friend's duty to keep the other in line. If you need a kick in the ass I'll gladly volunteer." And then she was gone.

Jellal smiled widely a happy chuckle escaping his lips.

He entered his chambers after bidding his guards good night and went into his bedroom dreaming of collapsing into his big, soft bed. He always tried to avoid the knowledge that this had been his father's chambers before his own, he tried to avoid thoughts of his father in general.

He stilled completely as he was met with a sight that was most certainly never a common occurrence in his father's time. His temperature and his cock began rising of their own volition at the sight of a very naked and absolutely gorgeous Erza Knightwalker asleep in his bed.