A/N: Wow! I'm glad to see people like this story. Thank you guys so much for reading! I really appreciate it! Well, here is the part two of the story. I have already uploaded this part on my Tumblr, so if you haven't already, please follow me under KissedByIron. Part Three will be uploaded soon on my Tumblr page. Anyways, I won't keep you from reading. Please, review, share and favorite the story! It would mean so much to me!
I do not own Dragon Age and Fairy Tail!
Part Two: The Deal
No matter how many times Levy picked locks, unlocking a large iron cage with little metal twigs during the start of a massive storm would make even the skillful hands tremble. The boat began to rock in a slow rhythm like a new born babe in its cradle. The covered cages made the wooden floors creak, deafening any curses and tinkering metal scrapping against metal coming from Levy's direction. She had her face against the bar, her arms loomed around and between them and deft hands carefully slipping the two metal picks into the labyrinth of tiny metal rods that locked their cage. Lucy had to keep her wide brown eyes set on the little sliver in the cloth, watching for any of the men coming by. It didn't worry Levy so much, hearing that most of the crew were in the deck above playing diamondback or Wicked Grace. She stuck out her tongue, tasting the salty sweat on her damp upper lip, concentrating the picks to a focal point in the lock, and visualizing the internal mechanics.
"Damn it," Levy cursed softly, unwrapping her arms from the bars and pulled out her second to remaining pairs of lock picks. The boat swayed heavily towards starboard and she resumed her task.
"You can break into Master's office, but you can't break a simple iron lock?" Lucy muttered. Levy shot her an annoyed glare, though her nimble fingers didn't pull away from her tinker.
"Breaking into the office to retrieve the Grimoire is different from breaking out and into a ship full of smuggler bandits." Levy said amusingly, finally hearing the click of the lock and slowly pushed the caged door open. "Yes!" Levy only opened it slightly.
"You think these people are worse than Master?" Lucy offered the thought to only have her and Levy cringe of their Master finding out about the missing tome. If he ever found out about the missing book.
"I don't want to think about that." Levy shook her head. "I'm the one who's going out there, remember?"
"Right!" Lucy laughed. "Remember to look for the symbol on the crates. That's where Natsu and Gray are. Good luck."
"Likewise," Levy smiled. Before she left, Levy turned to the elven women in the far corner, silently watching them conspire to their plans. She could not see their large gem eyes any longer from the lack of lighting from the cracks above them. The storm didn't help, though Levy could hear them perfectly from their shaking limbs against the metal chains.
"Dareth shiral." She said farewell in their foreign tongue and looked at Lucy one last time. She didn't say a word. Only a simple nod of approval. With that, Levy stepped out of the cage, moving with the sway of the ship. Her eyes scanned the area for a brief moment before she hid behind another crate. Movement would be scarce as the crates and cages of slaves were placed side by side with barely any moving room. It was a practical move, considering the boat would be in an unruly storm soon, though it was less practical when there was a crate she needed to look for in the midst.
It was hard for her to hear any movements from the guards because of the cries and whimpers of the slaves in their confined space. Her eyes shifted to every single wooden crate, looking for the symbol, and she couldn't help but to call out softly for their teammates when she was positive no one was looking or nearby. With very little moving room, it would be hard for any slave to escape, and because of that Levy notice there was only one sailor guarding the hold by the rickety stairs. She took confidence in knowing that she would only have to deal with one guard if something would go astray, though she must keep her guard up of possible change.
"Natsu…Gray?" Her voice trailed with the cries. Levy pushed her emotions aside and focused on the mission. Sharp eyes frantically looking for the marked crate in the dark, and possibly her friends calling her name. She would look back now and then for that sailor. He remained sitting on the stairs, dozing off as the ship rocked him to sleep. It only made her reckless, desperately searching for the crates, and it was in that desperate need that drove Levy into finding the right crates.
And for trouble to find her.
"Look out!" Gray shouted. Levy turned around and unsheathed her dagger from her leg holster, tightening around the handle and swung it towards his assailant. Blood dragon eyes stared back as she swung her dagger. His hair moving like a shadow in the dark room. Levy moved away from the crate and took a good look at his opponent. Long black hair like ravens' feathers, bronze skin glowing in the little light that was available in the hold, and metal rivets along one of the forearms while the other was covered in armor of drake skin gauntlets, and an iron shoulder plating. From what Levy could tell, it was the only armor he had on his torso and his chest were bare but the leather harness that held the lack of heavy armor he had on. It was also used to holster the massive hammer like axe on his back.
A reaver. Levy thought when she quickly dodged his fist. If his weapons, body or armor didn't tell her that it was his blood red thirsty eyes that made his fighting style blatantly obvious. He was the one who beaten her. Punished her. Levy felt her nerves shake with every hit of his fist against a surface. She pushed that thought aside and worried about dealing with the brute. This time she didn't need to hide her true self. Pay back-and he wouldn't know what hit him. Or who for that matter.
"Stealing my cargo, pirate shrimp?" The voice was like a low growl, threatening like the thunder that followed the lightning. Levy grimaced at the height joke. Yes, she knew that she was very short for an elf, but the Maker blessed her with that defect to make her much faster than her opponent. Especially the bold half naked giant in front of her.
"Setting them free." Levy seethed, landing a kick to his bare abdomen and a swipe of her blade to knick him on his bare arm. "People are not cargo, smuggler."
"I ain't a smuggler."
"Pirate then!" Levy moved around the giant human, kicked him hard behind the knees, and he fell forward. Though, it didn't stop Gajeel as he reached over to the elf and grabbed a hold of her arm and hurled her over his shoulder like a rag doll. Levy cried out a painful squeak when pain rattled her back and joined the returning burn from her ribs. She could hear Natsu and Gray trying to break through the tough wooden crate, and they screamed for her to get up. Her hand padded around for her only dagger, but it would appear to be gone from her in the darkness of the hold.
"Pirates steal." Gajeel hissed. "I ain't a thief." He was on top of her, restraining her wrists above her head and in the clasp of his rough hands. "Now, tell me where you stole that dagger?" Levy wasn't listening anymore. She tried kicking him and kneeing at his body, but he didn't budge. He was brutally tough like stone and merciless like the Templars of Kirkwall. "Oi! Shrimp! Where the fuck did you get the dagger?" He was shaking her, and his other free hand wrapped around her small neck, forcing her to look at him. "Hey! I'm talkin' to you!" Her eyes were watering from the pain and the grip of his fingers along her jaw.
"What?" Levy looked confused at what he was asking. A dagger? Her dagger?
"This dagger!" Gajeel roared, and the sound of metal cutting the air slammed itself into the clammy floor beside her. Her eyes shifted over to the glistening red orange hilt and the sheen bluish silver from the blade. Her pointed ears rung from the sharp cling of the metal impaling the wood. "Where did you steal this dagger?" He asked lowly, and this time quietly.
"I—" Levy saw the desperate look in his eyes, but it wasn't for blood or a fight. This time, his eyes were pleading for an answer. "What? You think that I'm an elf that I stole a nice looking knife like that?"
"Answer the question!"
"It was given to me!" Levy answered, almost shouting it. "I was hired for my skill and it was a reward."
"Bullshit!"
"I kid you not, human."
"By who?"
"A blacksmith in Antiva."
"Where in Antiva?"
"Seleny."
Gajeel didn't say anything else. He only stared down at the shaking elf beneath him. Levy could feel the pressure from his hands restraining her relaxed. His harden face soften, chapped lips parted to say something, but nothing came out. Only silence. Levy noticed he looked confused, puzzled, and thinking very hard at what he wanted to say next.
"The blacksmith—" He asked breathlessly. "Who—?"
"He was Ferelden," Levy answered. "He hadn't returned in years." She gulped, feeling the moisture from the edge of her eyes roll down her temple.
"Was?"
"I mean—" Levy swallowed nervously. "He's alive." She shook her head realizing that she was losing focus on her objective. Using his softness as an opportunity, Levy kneed him hard against his ribs, causing Gajeel to cave to one side. Her hands were free and she reached for the dagger impaled into the wooden floor. Levy stumbled over from the rocking of the ship, though soon enough she was able to gain her footing and ran towards the crate.
"Natsu, Gray!" Levy shouted. "Stay clear!" She wasn't fast enough. Gajeel grabbed a hold of her ankle and pulled her back down. She swung her arm around to hit him with her clenched fists, however, he caught them easily and held her tight.
"His name!" Gajeel demanded. "What was the blacksmiths name?" He shook her, red eyes begged for her to answer. Levy was confused by how much this man wanted to know about the maker of her swords. From the looks of it, he wasn't so concerned about her purpose on his ship.
"I—" Levy said before an explosion erupted on the other side of the ship. Their eyes looked over to the pale blue aura giving light to the dark cargo hold.
"Pirates!" The sailor who was on guard ran from where Lucy was and bolted upstairs to warn the others.
"Lucy!"
"Juvia!"
They both said at the same time, eying each other without the means to kill or inflict pain. Their eyes were calm, but stern in the slowly diminishing magic light from across the hold. He wasn't as intimidating as he was when he was surrounded by his men. He didn't seem interested in the cargo like he claimed to be. What he wanted was the origins of her dual knives.
"Let me help you," Gajeel offered, though as soon as he said that, something tackled him to the ground, and left Levy free from his grasp. She reacted by refocusing her attention to the crate, but was taken aback by the large gaping hole on its side.
"Levy! Are you okay?" Gray came to her side with her leather quiver of arrows and her recurve bow. Her nerves melted when her left hand wrapped around the notch in her bow, and was replaced by adrenaline.
"I'm fine." Levy smiled. "Thanks." Gray nodded, broad sword of frost blue and his old Templar shield shimmering in an icy rune embedded at the heart of his weapons. A special magic rune crafted by the best of Fairy Tail to reflect his cool demeanor.
"Go get Lucy!" A voice growled beside them. Natsu with his fire enchanted oath keeper broadsword illuminated the space and he held it close to Gajeel's face. "I'll take care of this fucker!"
"Gihi," Gajeel grimaced, though he managed a wicked smile. "Look at you with yer fancy sword! Did yer Tevinter lady friend do that for yer?" Natsu dug his foot harder into his bare chest and brought the tip of the flaming blade closer to his neck. It wasn't threatening to Gajeel in the slightest. He reveled in others' anger.
"Wait!" Levy pushed Gray aside and pulled on Natsu's arm. "Let him go!" She tugged on his shoulder and he shrugged it away. "Natsu! I can handle him. Go get Lucy. She needs her staff."
"But—" Another explosion erupted.
"Go!" Levy ordered and Natsu let go of Gajeel. "I got this."
"We're counting on it." Gray nodded and pulled on Natsu's arm as they maneuvered through the crates. Levy turned to Gajeel, who was getting up and rubbing his stubble jaw, checking to see if he still had skin there.
"His name…" Levy pointed the tip of her dagger at his throat. Hair length away from his sweat covered skin. "Why are you so eager to know who made this dagger?" She lifted the tip from his throat to the base of his chin, slightly grazing his thick Adam's apple.
"Ferelden." Gajeel gulped. "Was his accent Ferelden?"
"You didn't answer my question."
"And you didn't answer mine, shrimp?"
"Quid pro Quo." Levy articulated the words between precise lips. "What is it to you to know, human? I will not give you this dagger if that is your true nature. Or is it that you are after the smith from Antiva? I am well aware of his dealings with the Carta and other factions. Are you a merc from Ferelden after his head?"
"No," Gajeel hissed. "I ain't some two bit thug! And it ain't yer business. I just wanna know where the old bastard is?" Levy held his stare for a few moments, studying his features and calculating the smoothness, but yet rough, origins of his voice. He wasn't from dog lord country nor did he hail from Antiva or Neverra. Free Marches; diverse in their ranging accents from all over Thedas. A mercenary with no origin but the skin on his back, a weapon in his hand and a purpose to follow orders to earn the next bit of coin was his way of life. Levy could tell he wasn't any different than her.
"I tell you what," Levy pulled the dagger away from his face and twirled it effortlessly in her deft fingers before holstering it to her hip. "You said you can help me. Help me take your ship from your captain and free the slaves. And I'll tell you everything you need to know about this blacksmith and where you could find him."
"I don't do deals with Pirates, Shrimp." Gajeel detested her offer, though the look in his eyes pleaded something else. "I ain't gonna kill the Captain just to release useless knife ears and gutter rats."
Deals without reasonable pay, you mean. Levy thought to herself, smirking at the typical allure of the mercenary.
"And I ain't asking you to kill the captain." Levy huffed. "My group needs the captain alive as part of our job." That intrigued Gajeel, tilting his head to the side and wondered why the captain was so important to the little marksman. He tried to recall all the talk he would hear his men pass around about their ornate captain's origins. Some would say he was a nobleman from Orlais who was kicked out for smuggling lyrium to Templars. Some would say he was a son of a necromancer from Tevinter, using blood magic to make his son a strong mage to succeed him. Either way, Gajeel knew better to not trust someone who carried a merciless heart, though it was enough to follow orders if money was the thing he carried in replace of a conscious. He wanted to know why pirates are interested in the captain, however, he could find out later. For now…
"You get the captain and the slaves, but the ship, crew and all the info about the blacksmith are mine." Gajeel offered. He almost put her Tevinter friend on the table, but he would deal with that after they dealt with his captain.