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Chapter 2: The Iron Assassin

Levy groaned before throwing her hands into the air and launching herself backwards onto her four poster bed. It had been a full week since the attack, why hadn't her uncle summoned her yet? She had seen him only once since then, when she was brought to the infirmary. He had clutched her small frame to his and wept openly. Levy's stomach gnawed with guilt as she recalled his eyes that had been so bright with fear for her.

Aside from bruised ribs and a mild concussion however, she had gotten off pretty easily from the assault. Jet hadn't sustained any serious wounds either and Lucy, her best friend, had not been punished for giving Levy Virgo's servant uniform. After all, everyone knew just how stubborn Levy McGarden could be. But that didn't explain Makarov's absence all week, it was rumored he'd been looking for someone but as to who that someone was, remained a mystery.

Fortunately, Levy's questions were about to be answered, and a lot sooner than she'd anticipated.

"Princess Levy, you've been summoned to the throne room by his Majesty, The King," a familiar voice called out from the hallway.

Levy darted from the bed and threw open the doors to reveal the captain of the guard, Erza Scarlet.

"I'm ready," she said, but more to herself than to anyone else.

Levy paused before the great oak doors, barely having time to steel her nerves before they opened into the expansive room. Beautiful, detailed paintings adorned the walls and a thick red carpet fringed with gold led to the jewel encrusted throne. There Makarov stood, proud and strong despite his unimpressive height, with a crown nestled in his white hair that had always stuck out at odd angles. He smiled warmly at her and she dipped into a neat curtsy, her usual sunny smile in place. That's when she noticed the man standing beside her uncle.

This man towered above the King with unruly black hair that cascaded down his back. His garnet eyes pierced her soft brown ones and sent an involuntary shiver down Levy's spine. Iron studs accentuated his chiseled features which overall, gave a rather intimidating look to the man. But what was even more startling was the large, majestic cat that rested at his feet. A crescent shaped scar lay over the cat's eye and its sheer black coat shimmered beneath its rippling muscles. Levy had only read about such powerful cats in one of her many books, but there was one in particular that had always stood out to Levy, and this cat's resemblance to it was uncanny. She was certain now, it was a panther.

"Levy," Makarov began, his voice echoing throughout the room, "allow me to introduce you to Gajeel Redfox."

The man swept into a low bow, scowling. Levy curtsied promptly and made her way to Makarov's side, cautious of the panther that raised its curious eyes to her.

"Your Majesty-" she began before the King interrupted

"Levy, let us not waste time apologizing for things that are out of our control. However, I am now even more determined to take control of this situation, and this is why we are here. Gajeel will be investigating these attacks and will uncover what he can as to who is attempting to take you from us, and why. I mean, who better to deal with an assassin than an assassin, eh?" He grinned widely at the shock that registered on Levy's face.

"Oh and one more thing, Gajeel has been entrusted with your protection. He has proved his strength and skill in combat and in protecting others countless times in the streets of Magnolia and throughout the Kingdom of Fiore. Perhaps you know of his tales but as Kurogane as opposed to Gajeel?"

Levy nodded her head in acknowledgement, not trusting herself to speak just yet. Her uncle was giving her an assassin to protect her, seriously? She trusted him completely but this time it was a little hard to swallow. Her eyebrows knitted together in a frown, did this mean she no longer had to take an entourage of guards with her everywhere she went?

"You will be accompanied by Gajeel and one other trusted guard, possibly more depending on the destination in question-"

Levy sighed inwardly, of course she would be,

"And you are never to leave your bed chambers unaccompanied Levy, let alone the palace."

Levy nodded her head in ascent as Makarov smiled apologetically at her.

"I cannot lose you Levy, my child, I refuse to. Now, I have a meeting to attend, you are dismissed."

Levy didn't wait a moment longer, frustration and guilt warred with her as she headed for the hall beyond the throne room. She felt movement behind her and turned to find the assassin following her with his large cat at his heels. Levy started to feel her patience slipping.

"I don't need an assassin to protect me, I can take care of myself," she huffed, barely restraining her irritation.

"Evidently you can't," his voice rumbled, deep and low, "otherwise I wouldn't be here."

She whirled on the assassin and despite the fact that he was a good head taller than her, she scowled up at him. His lips quirked up at the edges briefly and he raised a studded eyebrow.

"Look short stuff, you think I want to follow a spoiled little princess 'round all day?"

"Look metal head, you think I want to be followed by an assassin all day?" she retorted angrily, too distracted to acknowledge the fact that she shouldn't even allow him to speak to her in such a manner.

He considered the fiery little bluenette before him briefly, before simply growling at her. He cursed himself for a fool for allowing the King to manipulate him but continued to follow her now retreating back.

"What is an assassin doing saving people anyway?" she asked with a more curious tone than anything else, "aren't you just meant to kill them?"

A shadow passed over Gajeel's face and he bared his teeth slightly before he suddenly seized her wrist and spun her around to face him again, pinning her eyes with his.

"Look Shrimp, I don't need judgement from someone who doesn't even know what it's like to live outside of these stupid, bloody walls! The scum that live in these streets would turn even your pretty stomach," he hissed.

She looked at him in shock, her mouth forming a pretty little 'o' and that's exactly how Erza came upon them.

"Oi! You fiend! Release the princess at once!" She hollered, immediately in her over protective mode, which was pretty much a default setting for Erza Scarlet. Her thunderous glare was enough to knock even Gajeel Redfox off balance. He released her wrist and snickered at the princess who was still frozen in place.

"I technically don't start until tomorrow, so I'll be off," he muttered as he threw a lazy hand into the air in a wave of sorts and sauntered off.

A brush of warm fur against Levy's skirts shook her from her stupor. The cat raised its head and looked at her with a seemingly mournful expression as if apologizing for his rude companion. Levy noticed a cute little white tip on its chin and decided it wasn't so fearsome. She reached a tentative hand down and scratched lightly between its ears before a snapped "Lily!" had the cat slinking off, its long tail trailing behind it.

Who was this man? One who would disregard all etiquette and make her feel so on edge, as if she was about to plunge into the unknown? Erza was still spitting angrily like a cat as she escorted her to her rooms.

"Erza, could you please summon Lady Lucy for me?" Levy asked, knowing the blonde would have a million questions for her.

Erza grumbled something inaudible before heading off, presumably to get Lucy. Levy sighed deeply as she closed her door. How dare he handle her like that and speak to her in such a manner. "Shrimp" he had called her and spoiled nonetheless. Levy's cheeks puffed out in anger. He was evidently insufferable and yet he was practically assigned to be her personal bodyguard. She huffed at the unfairness of it all. And what the hell was with that cat he had anyway? Although the cat, Lily, she mused, wasn't half as bad as the man himself.