Levy froze in shock. She couldn't even think as the man dragged her backwards. She didn't want to fall so she stumbled backwards as best she could. Another man came into her line of sight as he tied a cloth around her mouth as a gag. He then covered her eyes with another cloth and Levy began to panic. She could barely believe what was happening, and barely out of reach from Gajeel and her driver.
The man tied her hands together behind her back and lifted her over his shoulder. She mentally cursed her small size. If she had been bigger the men wouldn't be able to throw her around as easily. All the self-defense lessons were useless when she froze in place and then was nowhere near strong enough to even put up a small fight. She swore to herself that if she was able to get out of this she would make sure she was never this defenseless again.
The men carried her a bit further, probably towards whatever get-away vehicle they had nearby. Before they could reach it however, Levy heard a yell and a grunt from one of the men. The one holding her put her down hastily, practically dropping her. She stood up as quickly as she could and ran. She didn't know where she was headed, all she hoped was it was away from the kidnappers and closer to Gajeel and her driver.
"Shrimp!" Gajeel's voice came from behind her and sounded close.
Levy stopped running and soon felt an arm wrap around her. She struggled to get out of the man's hold until she heard Gajeel's voice again, but this time from above her. "Calm down Shorty, I need to untie you."
Sure enough the cloth around her wrists was soon removed. She quickly reached up and tore her blindfold and gag off. She turned around to look up at Gajeel and smiled in relief.
"You alright?" he asked.
She nodded and looked around. The two men who had nearly kidnapped her were lying unconscious on the ground. "I'm just a bit shook up."
The driver suddenly ran up and hugged Levy, though he quickly released her. "I'm so sorry for the impropriety Miss Levy. I'm just so very relieved you weren't hurt."
"Isn't that why I'm here?" Gajeel scoffed.
"Yes, yes, you protected Miss Levy nicely. However, we should make sure it doesn't happen again. It's our fault she was in danger at all. You particularly should never let her out of your sight so that this never happens."
Levy frowned. She was still a little on edge, but she didn't want them to be fighting. "Well, for now, what are we going to do about a car?" Levy asked, trying to distract the driver.
Gajeel shrugged and gestured towards the kidnappers' car. "We could take that."
Levy shook her head. "We can't take that. They may be criminals, but we'd still be stealing. Can we call for a ride?"
"Taxi?" Gajeel asked.
"No!" the driver suddenly yelled. "Miss Levy can't ride in a taxi."
Levy just looked at him. "I'm not that special. We can call a cab to pick us up. Then we'll get someone to take you home."
"Why don't you call and ask the princess if her driver can come pick us up? I know it is an inconvenience for them, but then you wouldn't have to arrive at the palace in a taxi."
Levy smiled, grateful for her driver's concern for her image. Someone had to care about it since she certainly didn't. "That should work." She picked up her phone and called Lucy's cell phone. It rang a couple of times before Lucy picked up.
"Levy? What's up? I thought you were coming over."
"We are, but we had a problem. Can you have one of your drivers come pick us up? We're at Fairy Tail."
"Yeah, sure. What kind of problem though?"
"I'll explain when I see you. I don't really want to talk about it right now."
"Ok…. We'll be there soon."
Levy put her phone back in her pocket. "She said they'll be here soon." She glanced at Gajeel and caught him looking her up and down. "W-what?"
"You don't seem very shaken up." He shrugged. "You were attacked. You should be freaking out."
Levy looked down at herself. "Well, I don't feel that scared right now. Though I am a bit frustrated at my pathetic weak self."
"Don't beat yourself up over it, Shrimp."
Levy looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "There's that word again. Are you calling me 'Shrimp'?"
Gajeel grinned really wide. "Well yeah, you're so short you're like a shrimp."
"Do you really have to call me that?"
"Would you prefer 'Shorty'?" Despite Levy's tone he continued to smirk at her. It seemed he could tell the names bugged her and was doing it on purpose.
Levy shook her head. "Whatever, I don't care that much." She looked around. "We should probably go sit closer to the restaurant rather than stand out here awkwardly."
"Wouldn't you rather sit inside, where there is air conditioning and seats?" the driver suggested.
Levy shook her head. "No. If we went back inside Mira and Master would ask questions. I don't want to make a big deal out of it."
Gajeel gestured to the two unconscious and tied up men lying down near where they were standing. "We do have to do something about them though."
Levy sighed. "Okay, fine. Call the police. I'll be inside waiting for them and Lucy." True to her word, Levy turned and headed straight to the restaurant without seeing if either of her companions followed her.
The next half hour blurred together for Levy. She explained what had happened to Mira, who then told the Master before calling the police. Her driver stayed outside to watch the two kidnappers and wait for the police while Gajeel came inside to wait with her. Gajeel and Levy sat just inside the restaurant, where customers sat while waiting for a table to be ready. Master and Mira tried to get them to consider moving to the back room, where they might be more comfortable and away from customers' eyes, but Levy insisted on staying close to the door.
Soon the police showed up. Levy went outside and they questioned her after hearing the explanation from her driver. Levy could tell the police weren't sure what to think of Gajeel. They looked at him suspiciously when asking him if he had anything to add and then complimented him on his quick action. They took the two kidnappers away for questioning and told Levy they all might have to come in later for an official testimony. She nodded and went back towards the restaurant, where Makarov was waiting with a concerned expression.
Right when she was about to go back inside to wait she heard a car pull up. She looked and noticed one of Lucy's personal cars. Levy expected to see a driver, but Lucy herself climbed out of the driver's seat. She rushed over and hugged Levy, who was still a bit surprised.
"You drove here yourself?" Levy asked.
"Of course! I can drive you know! Plus, my driver would have told me not to come at all if I'd asked him to come." She looked over at Master Makarov and said, "Hello Master!"
He nodded and smiled, but didn't interrupt the girls' conversation.
"You didn't even tell them you left?" Levy asked, surprised.
"I told them as I left." She shrugged as if it was no big deal for the only child of the king to drive somewhere unknown without any protection.
She let Levy go and glanced at Levy's driver and Gajeel. "So, what was the trouble you guys had? I'm sure you could have called a service to fix any issues."
Levy sighed. "It's a long story. I'll tell you on the drive there."
Lucy frowned, but nodded. She turned towards Master again and said, "Sorry I can't stay this time. I'll come over and visit sometime soon."
Master smiled. "I'd like that, Miss Lucy. Come and visit whenever you can."
Lucy started to go back to the driver's seat, but Levy's driver decided to finally speak up. "Excuse me, your highness. If possible, I would like to drive. That is my job after all." Levy looked at him and grinned. You could tell by his expression that he felt horrible talking directly to the princess and asking to do something.
Lucy nodded. "Okay, that's fine. I'll sit in the backseat with Levy."
True to her word Lucy climbed into the backseat. Levy smiled and joined her after waving goodbye to Mira and the Master. Gajeel and the driver got in without a word.
As soon as Levy shut the door behind her Lucy turned to face her. "So, what happened?"
Levy's smiled slipped off her face and she focused on her seatbelt more than necessary. "Well, there were a few men who attacked me." She blushed, embarrassed and ashamed and refused to look Lucy in the eyes.
Lucy's eyes widened. "Oh my goodness! Are you okay?!"
"Yes, obviously. Gajeel was able to get me before they were able to do anything other than gag and blindfold me."
"Who's Gajeel?"
Levy gestured to the man sitting in front of her in the passenger seat. "My bodyguard. My parents just hired him."
Lucy nodded. "Good timing."
"I guess it was. I would have been in trouble if he hadn't been there."
Lucy leaned over and hugged her best friend. "You're safe now. And you'll be plenty safe in the palace with me. There are many guards both inside and outside."
Levy smiled at her. "I'm fine, just a bit shaken up. Anyway, what's it like being an engaged woman?"
Lucy laughed. "It feels weird, and yet at the same time I know nothing has really changed. Though it's only been a couple of days of course, so it might be different after a while. Natsu and I haven't been able to spend much time together since we're both relatively busy. I told my father right away, though of course he already knew, and then called you. We haven't yet told the public, though my father is currently planning how best to reveal it. Most media already suspect something since we've been dating for a while and everyone expects me to pick a fiancé soon."
"If you haven't yet told anyone except your father and me, what am I here for? You can't really start planning something and keep it from the public."
"Is it a crime to want to spend time with my best friend? You live a long ways away, and you don't get to come to a lot of events so we don't see each other that often. I invite you to as many as I can, but—"
Levy cut her off. "I know. Being only a Vicountess, or at least the sister of a Vicount since it will be Jet who really inherits the title, I don't get to attend too many royal functions. And those I do get to attend, you're often too busy being the crown princess to be able to spend time with me."
Levy smiled. It was an unfortunate reality with their friendship. Lucy was always busy and didn't have much freedom. Levy had more freedom, but her mother still had nearly complete control over her and prevented her from doing things her mother didn't like. Her mother greatly approved of her relationship with Lucy of course, but she was sure to make her daughter obey every protocol and never step beyond her station.
It greatly annoyed Levy whenever her mother chastised her or lectured her about her place in life. Her mother seemed to always be switching between ambition and station. Some days she wanted Levy to use her relationship with Lucy to get close to powerful men. Other days she lectured Levy on how she needed to act properly in public and not think too highly of herself just because she was the princess's friend. Her mother's bipolar nature was a big reason she didn't spend as much time with Lucy as she could.
Lucy smiled sadly but then grinned. "Well, you're here now. We have plenty of time to spend making up for all the lost time." She looked out the window and grinned. "Looks like we're here already."
Levy looked out the window and saw the truth of Lucy's words. They had reached the castle and the driver was slowing down to talk to the guards at the gate. They recognized Lucy's car and weren't sure why someone else was driving it. Levy's driver explained and motioned to Lucy in the backseat. Lucy then explained that she had left to get Levy and company and had let Levy's driver drive back. Sure enough the guards let them through without much more hesitation.
As soon as they parked Lucy got out of the car and motioned for Levy to follow. Gajeel followed Levy but the driver stayed behind. Levy paused and looked back at him, wondering what he was planning on doing.
The driver smiled, noticing Levy's curious glance. "You do not need me anymore so I will call the house and ask them to bring someone to pick me up."
Levy nodded. "Thank you for taking us here." She turned back around and jogged to catch up to Lucy, who had been waiting for her friend.
"Now," Lucy began, continuing her walk inside. "I'll let some servants know you're here, to make sure your rooms are ready. I'll also let my dad know so he can come welcome you. So you might have to wait for a little bit in the front hall."
I'm sorry this is so late of a chapter! I had it all typed up and just didn't upload it because I didn't like the way I ended it and wanted to edit it more. However since I messed up uploading a chapter for my other fanfic, Wendy's Troubles, I decided to just go ahead and post this. Plus it was getting kind of long, so why not.
Note: S.B. Liky suggested in a review that I give the nobles different titles and ranks since that is how it would be more realistically and it makes it less repetitive since most characters will be noble. So I'm giving them actual titles! I may try and change the earlier chapters to refer to their new titles, but idk how to do that without deleting it altogether. (If anyone can tell me how I would be extremely grateful!) Anyway! Levy is a Vicountess, Natsu is a Duke and Mira is a Duchess. (Let me know if there are special requirements for ranks, since I clearly don't know anything about them.) For other characters who haven't been introduced yet I will use their actual titles when I introduce them.
