The grass was cool and relaxing against his bare feet. The sharp autumn breeze bringing the scent of apples from the near by orchard to his nose. He stared at the fountain across from him the sound of dribbling water the poured from the cherub's lips helped drown out Lily's chastising.
He couldn't stop thinking about breakfast. He watched how she fought her fear when she saw him. He'd watched her every move for so many years he could read her like a damn book. He knew she wore that silver dress this morning in honor of the second king's birthday. It has been a simple gown, with a strip of white lace peaking out of the front of it. He couldn't help but think she'd looked very queenly in it. He also knew that it went against her soft nature to be so stern with him, which impressed him even more that she could conjure such a look and hold it.
"That was stupid. When will you learn," Pantherlily's speech came to an end.
"Humph, why don't you become the Iron knight if you're so sure you can do a better job," Gajeel sneered.
His friend sighed heavily next to him.
"You know very well I can't do that, only your blood can take your place,"
He laid back in the grass staring up the dark clouds that had rolled in, signaling an oncoming storm. He knew the words were true but it still ate at him.
"One day you'll have to come to terms that protecting her is in your blood. It's an honor, one that many wish they'd been born into,"
"It feels more like a curse, one where you end up dead for the sake of some person who barely knows you,"
"We spoke about this. Gajeel you agreed to let go of your anger. You know it's wrong to aim at her anyway. It's not fair to her and you know it. She lost her family in that fire too,"
It was true he had agreed to be different. For the sake of his father, who held the King in the highest regard, but letting go of things was harder than he could have imagined.
Pantherlily stood suddenly, signaling the approach of their queen. Gajeel grudgingly stood next to him. She has changed out of her dress into a pair of loose cotton pants and sleeveless white tunic. Her hands wrapped in cotton bandages just like his were. That couldn't have her showing up with split knuckles to some meeting.
"Get ready," Lily spoke as she reached them.
The two squared up in the middle of the lawn. The staff in the immediate area gathering to watch how their queen had progressed. He watched as the wind whipped at her clothing, even in such simple clothes, even in bare feet, she looked regal, and also like she wanted to kick his ass, the thought made him chuckle.
"Don't hold back shorty," he called over the wind.
At the sound of her despised nickname. She broke into a run her small body moving at him with speed that caught him off guard. She planted a solid right hook into his jaw. He stumbled backwards, and the small crowd cheered. She basked in her triumph a moment too long though, because he aimed a kick at her ribs. She managed to block it at the last moment, forcing her to leap backward. He advanced on her aiming punches at her face and sides. Now on the defense, all she could do was block, her forearms up in front of her face. He knew he'd leave bruises. Suddenly she ducked and planted the heel of her on his sternum, knocking the wind out him.
It was his turn to take a step back, to be on the defensive. She advanced on him using a complex combination of punches and kicks. Sweat matted her wild azure locks to the side of face. Until finally he left himself open and she crouched low and swept his feet out from under him with a kick so that he landed on his back. Hard. She stood above him placing her foot on this sweat dampened chest. Her face beamed down at him, adrenaline pumping through her veins, her whole body radiated the victory.
She lifted her foot off him and offered him her hand to help him up. Once on his feet she let out a cheerful laugh. One that made him smirk slightly, and made the small audience laugh as well. She had that effect of people.
Once she regained some composure she patted him on the chest,
"Oh, that was fun. Next time don't hold back okay?" She shot him a smile, one that he did not return.
She turned to Pantherlily who had joined them in the field. A proud smile on his face.
"You have improved greatly, I'm impressed,"
She bowed her head, "It's all thanks to you. Now if you'll excuse me I have to go and clean up,"
Gajeel simply grunted and headed in the opposite direction to clean up, Lily falling into step next to him. Gajeel waited patiently for the analysis that was sure to come. They reached the outdoor bath house, and Lily started in. He beamed like a proud father.
"She has come a long ways. Her hits are solid and accurate and her kicks have a fair amount force behind them. She has become more aware of her surroundings too, she used to have tunnel vision when it came to fighting,"
He continued on that way the entire time they bathed. Gajeel washed the dirt off from his travels and let the hot water in the tub relaxing his muscles. Lily continued from the stall next to him jabbering on and on. Finally Gajeel decided he'd sat through enough praise of the Queen he said,
"Lil, I was holding back,"
There was pause, and then,
"Yes, I know that. Thank you by the way, I know she loves to fight but we can't a bruised and bloody queen.
"I don't think she would be as bruised as you think she would," he settled back into the water.
A low chuckled reached his ears, "Did you just compliment her majesty?"
"I'm just sayin' the girl's got some spunk is all,"
The afternoon sun was low in the sky when the two men parted ways after lunch. Gajeel in search of her, and Lily to do whatever it was he did. He was the queen's military advisor but Gajeel was still foggy on what that meant exactly. Gajeel found Levy where she always was this time of day, tucked away in the deepest corner of the library, the girl had a thing for corners. She had a think volume in her hand. Her unruly blue locks tied in a bun to keep her hair out of her face. A pair of reading glasses perched on the tip of her nose. She had changed clothes again, this time a long sleeved silk shirt, it was still silver. She sat on a plush white couch a knitted blanket draped over her lap hiding her bare feet. He sat himself in a high backed chair of a matching color.
Without looking up she said, "You really don't have accompany me everywhere. I know how much you hate it,"
The observation surprised him, just a few weeks ago it would've taken her at least an hour to realize he was even there. Pantherlily was right, her tunnel vision was fading.
"I do have to actually," he crossed his arm and watched her face as her expressions changed, to the words on the page.
If he was being honest with himself he enjoyed this part of their days. Over the years that he had been her charge he'd come to take advantage of the quiet part of the afternoon. Sometimes when she thought he was sleeping she would read out loud. Which reminded him of his father, and how he would read to him by the fire in their chambers late at night. In truth however he never slept when he was in her presence. He couldn't. The rules of his oath prohibited him from doing so.