Chapter Three: Percolate
Happy Birthday, Satyrykal! You're brilliant and deserve to be spoiled today! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Cheers!
Lucy ran.
She ran blindly, banging her hip into the wooden door to barge it open, sprinting from Mira's dress shop, stumbling out into the sunlit street and onto the road.
She refuses to look back. Lucy knows if the prince hovers near the door, the idea of running away from Natsu's smouldering eyes and soft lips will have her turning right back around to leap into his arms.
So she ran – trying to outpace her confusion, her fears, and her desires.
Levy. She needs to find her best friend.
She slips on loose gravel, her ankle barking in pain. Fear spreads like hoarfrost up her spine.
The blonde twists her foot back to the correct angle, gingerly putting some weight on it, but it's no use, she's definitely sprained it. Sharp spikes of agony shoot up her leg with each frantic step. Lucy ignores it as best she can – she's had far worse injuries. Her entire focus on getting back to the stall before her stepmother decides to take her considerable ire out on her pixie-haired friend.
Gajeel will keep her safe, she reminds herself. But only in public. Once they get back to the Keep and away from prying eyes and gossipy housewives, there's no telling what Aquarius might do.
She grinds to a halt at the corner of Black Steel, Gajeel's smithy. Lucy raises one hand to her brow, almost sagging with relief that it's cool and dry to the touch once again, all trace of Natsu's kisses erased.
She didn't know if by touching Prince Natsu meant he'd activated something long dormant inside of her, or if she could only feel simmering heat while they were touching each other. It appears to be the latter.
If Lucy could blush, she would be doing so. She gives her forearm a sharp pinch to pull herself together.
Levy. Make sure Levy's safe, she reminds herself sternly.
Lucy rounds the edge of the building, her face smooth. She sets her pace to a brisk walk (as much as her left foot will allow, it feels more rubbery with each step.) There's no need to panic. Not yet. She needs to keep her wits about her.
"There you are!" Aquarius' voice sweeps over her like a tidal wave. The taller woman stands with her arms crossed in irritation, pale blue eyes narrowing as she drinks in Lucy's appearance, scanning the young girl from head to toe.
"Cinderella, where have you been?"
Shit. Her stepmother only calls her 'Cinderella' when she's exceptionally angry.
Queen Mavis clears her throat and suddenly, Lucy sees something. Brushing right into her mind like a gentle puff of wind, an image forms: a ghost-version of herself carrying bundles of heavy cloth to the Queen's carriage. The illusion shifts, and the phantom Lucy's hauling boxes of hats from the milliner.
The soft pressure against her mind retracts, the vision fading into nothing on a swirling, floral breeze. Lucy shudders, locking eyes with the queen. Mavis dips her chin down in a slight, apologetic nod.
Magic. The queen has magic. The words register some place deep within her, but the blonde has never seen anyone cast a spell before. Her friend Cana claims to possess clairvoyance, using tarot cards, but the blonde has never had her fortune told, so she can't lay claim if Cana's predictions are true or just drunken ramblings.
Or drunken ramblings about true things. Cana is well known in certain specks of Fiore and makes her living as a wandering gypsy.
Lucy has known the soothsayer since they were children, but in all those long years, she has never met anyone else who laid claim to having a single drop of wizard's blood.
Yet in the past hour, she's experienced heat by touching the Prince of Fiore, and now Mavis slipped into her mind as easily as cracking an egg.
Who are these people?
Lucy glances at the King, the raven-haired man standing off to the side, his sharp eyes missing nothing, but he looks normal enough (insofar as it's possible for royalty to look casual.)
If Zeref possesses magic, he seems content to let others show their hands first.
Lucy bows her head low. Later. She'll have to try to figure out what's going on with the Dragneel family later.
Aquarius taps her foot impatiently, waiting for her answer.
"I was helping Queen Mavis pack a few things into her carriage, Aquar...mother." Lucy corrects herself, placing her hands into the pockets of her apron, yanking at the inside lining with the edges of her fingertips.
"Did you doubt my wife?" King Zeref asks in a deceptively soft voice, his eyes flaring and changing colour – a wet scarlet bleeding over the black-ice depths.
It's a look that frightens Lucy to her very core. Her heart halts, she can't breathe…
Zeref blinks and the moment's gone, his irises spilling into black ink once more.
I must've imagined it, Lucy thinks. Because whatever she just saw…a haze of violet shrouding the king…it felt so wrong. It felt like...
…death.
But that can't be right. She swallows thickly, looking closer at the noirette.
Zeref doesn't acknowledge her discomfort, doesn't even glance her way. He looks bored, plucking at a thread on his jacket, pulling it loose. The black filament catches the wind, fluttering to the ground near her stepmother's feet.
An ill-omen, to tug at a strand of thread. For those who worship the Fates, as Mira does, as Lucy and her family do, all loose fibers must be carefully snipped with scissors. To pull one loose carelessly, to unravel the fabric of something that once was tightly stitched…such an affront to The Three is not easily forgiven. The Fates are not known for their generosity.
Aquarius blanches as the black wisp of thread drifts to touch her shoe, stepping to one side to shake it off. She smooths back her hair nervously, pale fingers brushing against the circlet she wears. She drops her hands into an imploring gesture, her voice taking on a sticky honey quality that Lucy has never heard before.
"Your highness, I merely wanted to discern if my darling daughter was alright. The hour's late and she was up far too early. She insists on helping with the daily chores, even though we have Lacey for that." Aquarius gives a curt nod toward Levy, who stands as tall as her small frame allows, unintimidated and unafraid. She has always been braver than Lucy. But the small blunette wasn't stupid enough to correct Aquarius on her actual name in front of the regency. That would be tantamount to a death wish.
"I hope we didn't inconvenience you," Queen Mavis offers, raising one delicate eyebrow at matron, the air around them growing thicker with every breath.
"Of course not, your majesty," Aquarius says quickly, bending her knees in a half-curtsy. She straightens, levelling a glare at Lucy to let her know that she will be questioned thoroughly once they're alone.
Zeref and Mavis intercept the look.
"Your girl is quite remarkable, milady," Zeref cuts in, his voice coloured with a hint of surprise and respect. "It's rare to see such devotion these days. I admit I find shopping to be quite tiresome," he adds. "I only meant to buy a book for myself and insisted Gray follow and protect my wife in my absence. Not wanting to encumber Gray with packages while on he's on duty, the Queen procured your daughter for a time."
"I'm afraid my husband is right." The tiny woman shrugs, standing a bit closer to Zeref, a sheepish blush spreading across her cheeks. As her eyes flit around the group, Mavis zeros in on Aquarius.
"I only meant to get a few things for the upcoming ball, but I got quite ahead of myself. I needed someone to assist me in picking up several items. Your daughter seemed honest enough and she was willing to help." Mavis cants her head toward Lucy, the queen's silvery-gold locks falling over one shoulder at the motion.
"Cinderella is quite helpful," Aquarius replies tartly. "If she managed to make your time at the market more enjoyable, then she has done her duty well. We only live to serve, your Majesties." The blunette clasps her hands in front of her, curling her shoulders inward in a submissive manner.
Don't believe her! Lucy wants to scream, but keeps her expression placid.
"I thought you said your name was Lucy?" The queen wrinkles her brow in confusion, her face unreadable. Mavis asks the question without real interest. Royals don't usually notice commoners, after all.
Aquarius lets her gaze flicker between Zeref and Mavis, trying to discern who's the real power between them. She swivels to the queen, adopting a soothing tone.
"Merely a pet-name, your highness. My daughter isn't able to feel heat, you see. It's rather a strange affliction. When Lucy was a little girl, she would often play far too close to the fireplace. Anyone else, their skin would be melting from their bones...but not Lucy," Aquarius draws in a deep breath, "Our little cinder girl, that's what my late husband called her."
Her father never said any such thing!
The blonde bites the inside of her cheek to keep the fiery retort from spitting out. She stands as straight as the fireplace poker whose scars she bears underneath her clothes, thanks to Aquarius.
It had been a grand experiment to watch her blister and burn (her stepmother's words); Lucy couldn't feel the heat of the red-hot iron, but she had certainly felt the pain.
Aquarius gives her arm a brief squeeze. To anyone else, it would look like a mother's affectionate touch. The blonde knows the biting grip is a warning.
"It was a term of endearment," Lucy adds timidly. Aquarius lips quirk up and she loosens her white-knuckled grasp on her stepdaughter's bicep.
Lucy brushes her apron down, sparing one quick glance up at her tormenter, finding only glistening hatred in the aquamarine depths as her stepmother holds her gaze.
Lucy whimpers. Cowering. Insipid. Meek. Aquarius lets out a satisfied grunt, pulling herself away from the little brat.
Good. She thinks I'm obedient.
Aquarius steps toward Mavis and Zeref once again; raising a delicate perfumed lace cloth to her nose, as if her stepdaughter smells bad. Lucy resists the urge to sniff at herself. Her brown dress might be worn and unshapely, but she takes good care of her clothes and bathes daily in the stream behind the Keep. There's no use in bothering to lug buckets of hot water up the stairs to pour into a copper tub when she can't feel heat. She hauls enough teakettles and pails for Minerva, Sorano and Aquarius' baths.
"I hope you were able to find the things you need for the grand ball," Aquarius says, inhaling the square of fabric deeply.
"I was," Queen Mavis confirms, "Lucy helped with some of the directions to various shops, as well. Of course, we will pay you for the time that we took her away from you." Mavis gestures Gray forward, who had previously been standing like a stone beside Gajeel, neither man interfering on Crown business.
The knight hands a bloodred velvet pouch to Mavis, coins clinking heavily against each other. She accepts it with a nod of thanks.
'Your Majesty, that's hardly necessary," Aquarius protests demurely, but her tall frame trembles in anticipation.
"Nonsense," Mavis has to crane her neck to meet her stepmother's eyes, but Lucy sees in the queen a strength that has nothing to do with her exalted position or magic. "The Dragneels pride themselves on seeing the true value of things. Loyalty and love are priceless, of course. But meeting such a fine house such as yours was an unexpected gift today." Queen Mavis drops three gold pieces and several silver ones into Aquarius' waiting hand.
Zeref adjusts his weight to his right hip, regarding the turquoise-haired matriarch. "Perhaps you heard there's a ball being held within the castle for my brother's upcoming birthday?"
"Yes, milord. Even in our tiny backwater Keep, news of the event has reached our ears. My two daughters...er, Lucy's sisters," Aquarius amends quickly, "have spoken of nothing else for weeks."
Lucy isn't surprised. Sorano and Minerva were always gushing about the palace, the grand balls, and the soirees that they were never invited to (usually flinging themselves on a bed or across a table in despair over their bad luck). Both of the sisters confident if they were allowed inside the castle walls, they would find suitable men of high ranking to marry them.
Zeref clears his throat, swiping a hand through his pitch-black locks. "Simply present yourselves at the gate as Lady Aquarius and her three daughters. I'll make sure Gray adds your name to the list so the guards will let you in."
The knight gives a jerk of his head to show he's heard, but otherwise remains perfectly still.
"It would be an honour to attend, your majesty." Aquarius smiles, her face flushing in pleasure at the day's unexpected windfall.
Maybe I did something right for once? The blonde wonders. Even if meeting the royal family at Mira's dress shop had been nothing more than a strange coincidence.
Lucy isn't prone to daydreaming, but suddenly the idea of having both her stepsisters exit her father's house takes strong root in her mind. The tiny seed of thought flourishes instantly, blooming into an image that's at once dizzying and captivating.
This ball might be perfect.
There had to be a few wealthy men prowling for brides at such a prestigious event. Ones with manors far, far away from the little Keep her family occupies.
The Heartfilia name is more than likely to be met with a blank stare—who?—but being invited to the Grand Ball will be considered a high mark of social status. Perhaps high enough that small dowries and an obscure name might be forgiven.
Besides, Minerva and Sorano are young, beautiful and healthy enough to bear a few heirs. Why couldn't they find a match among the high-ranking men attending the Prince's birthday party?
If there's anyone who can stand to be around either of them for more than five minutes.
Lucy pushes the wayward thought aside. It has no place in her fantasy. Most marriages are still arranged in their part of the world, courtships quick. Love doesn't enter the equation and she's seen both her stepsisters put on airs often enough. Their type of catty, backstabbing snobbery would probably fit right in with minor nobility.
Maybe one of them will take Aquarius with her when she marries! Lucy keeps the scandalous thought hidden from her face, but it settles like a blanket over her heart, this idea of all three of them leaving the keep, letting Lucy, Levy and Erza settle into a life of peace.
What a glorious day that would be. Lucy hums under her breath, picturing herself waving happily to the departing backs of the three women who've made her life miserable for the past twelve years. Good riddance to the lot of them.
"It's a masque ball, so remember to wear your best costumes," Mavis says, threading her arm through Zeref's, looking eager to be on her way. Aquarius takes the hint, backing up a few steps as Gray melts like a shadow behind the king and queen.
As if summoned, the royal carriage comes into view, resplendent in shining black with a gilded gold motif, pulled by two coal stallions. The rig barely manages to come to a stop before the door whisks open. There's a flash of coral and then a handsome, long-limbed man tumbles to the ground, barely managing to land in a crouch.
"Ugh. Why don't you guys let me walk?" Natsu asks to no one in particular. He clasps his knees, panting heavily.
Gajeel starts moving forward, standing almost in front of Lucy. She retreats a bit further behind the blacksmith's solid bulk.
You need to pretend that you don't know me, Natsu!
Helping Queen Mavis as a servant is one thing, fraternizing with the Crown Prince of Fiore is something else entirely.
"My lord, it's so good of you to come to my humble smithy," Gajeel says slowly. Lucy snorts – barely managing to turn the sound into a choking cough. The noirette sounds like a shoddy performer in a bad play – nothing at all like the impervious iron brute that she knows.
Levy comes up beside her and gives the blonde a few sound whacks on the back as she splutters, using a tad more force than is strictly necessary.
Aquarius whirls toward them, irritation leaking out of her taut frame, causing Lucy's throat to dry up in terror, no longer finding anything funny about her current predicament. The malice radiating from her stepmother washes over her, sharp and bitter. Lucy wants to vomit.
Mavis' voice cuts across the air, shattering the tension like glass, inquiring about Minerva and Sorano's ages. Aquarius twists back to answer her and Lucy almost falls over in relief.
Once her stepmother's back is turned, Gajeel's gives her a fierce look – I'm trying to help you!
Lucy grimaces. I know. I'm sorry, she mouths to the blacksmith. They're all trying to help her. She wishes she didn't need it, but Aquarius is a force to be reckoned with. Gajeel reaches out to give her an awkward pat on the head, ruffling her golden tresses.
Natsu growls, the sound deep and predatory. He reaches fluidity for two daggers, the blades looking well used and wickedly sharp.
The prince takes two steps toward Gajeel.
Gray stretches out a hand, firmly clasping the pinkette's wrist. "My prince, if you want to compare steel, we should go inside the shop. However, I could inspect the weapons myself and report back...if you feel like returning to the castle," Gray nods to the carriage behind them, tugging one of the daggers from Natsu's hands, handing it casually to Gajeel.
"Your weapons will have to be better than this," Gray tells the blacksmith.
"I understand," Gajeel studies the blade. "I think you'll find…" he keeps talking, but his voice fades out for Lucy. She's gobbling up every inch of Natsu's muscular frame.
Natsu snorts, his dark eyes reaching hers. All of the air leaves Lucy's lungs in one shaky exhale.
"My Prince," Aquarius' glides up to him, cerulean dress flaring as she rests a proprietary hand on his forearm. "I'm Lady Aquarius of the House Heartfilia."
"Yeah?" Natsu barely glances down at her stepmother, his mouth forming a small moue as he shakes off her arm. The full weight of his stare settling back on Lucy.
The king and queen move as one, standing in front of the blonde, effectively cutting off her view of the prince. Levy slides effortlessly beside her, taking her hand and giving it a brief squeeze.
"Forgive my brother, milady," Zeref says, "He's just recently heard of Black Steel and as commander of my armies, he's anxious to inspect the weapons. His sense of duty is quite admirable, even if his manners are atrocious."
Aquarius waves off the king's apology. "Of course, your majesty. Mustn't keep you waiting. We've lingered long enough." Her voice the rasp of a whetting stone as she calls out, "Come, Lucy and Lacey. We should pack up the wagon and head home."
Lucy eyebrows shoot up in surprise. There are still a few hours of daylight left. This is the first time Aquarius hasn't demanded that the two younger girls stay until the bitter end of a market day – the miserly hag not wishing to miss out on the sale of a single turnip.
"Of course, Lady Aquarius," Levy bobs her chin, grabbing Lucy's hand to drag her over to the wooden crates to start packing up.
Lucy allows herself to be pulled, but Natsu isn't quite so compliant. Zeref, Gray, Mavis and Gajeel hem the prince in on four sides, like he's an exotic, unpredictable animal they need to cage rather than royalty. Zeref murmurs, his voice low and dangerous. Lucy can't make out the words.
Natsu throws up his hands in agitation, bristling and furious. He eyes Mavis, as the smallest one of the group, weighing options.
"Don't even think about it, Natsu." Mavis says firmly, whispering something else. Whatever she says, it seems to calm him. He stops fidgeting, wrenching his body toward the blonde.
Lucy and Natsu's eyes met, liquid toffee to jet-black. Everything inside her chest seems to cave in and expand in that same moment.
She feels the pull between them once again. Undeniable. Elemental. Irresistible.
She can't help staring at his mouth, remembering how he kissed her. Lucy reaches up to touch her lips...absentmindedly searching for a warmth that's no longer there.
The prince offers her a jagged smile, his sharp canines scraping against his full bottom lip and her heart stutters.
I'll find you, his eyes promise her.
Before Lucy can react, Gray gives a slight push to the prince's shoulder and the group surges forward, disappearing through the doors of Black Steel—all except Gajeel—who's bringing up the rear.
To the blonde's immense relief, Aquarius isn't looking at her. She must have missed the heated moment Lucy has just shared with the prince. The older woman busy counting the day's profits, adding the meagre amount of jewels to the fortune Queen Mavis has just gifted her into a drawstring bag.
"See ya around, Bunny girl. You too, Lacey," Gajeel croons, the sunlight glinting off his iron-studded eyebrows.
Thuck!
An apple hits the blacksmith right between the eyes. The fruit bounces to the ground, rolling back toward the tiny pixie girl who threw it.
"Gi-hi-hi-hi!" The sound of Gajeel's strange laugh cuts off when the door closes behind him.
Levy picks up the piece of fruit quickly, wiping it on her apron.
"Lacey! What's the meaning of this?" Aquarius fumes, seizing Levy by the shoulder with one clawed hand.
Levy's eyes widen innocently.
"There was a bee."
Lucy bites the inside of her cheek, shoulders shaking as she tries to contain the laughter bubbling up inside of her.
"That apple's coming out of your monthly salary." Aquarius announces firmly, waving a hand at the pair. "Now stop your theatrics and hurry up!"
Levy picks up a heavy crate and Lucy does the same, moving quickly out of sight and around the gray-stone building. At the hitching post, Aquarius' russet and cream horse, Antares, is tied off next to their bay gelding, Sagittarius.
With a careful glance behind them to make sure they're not being followed, Lucy says, "You should've known Aquarius was going to charge you for that apple."
"Yeah, I figured she would, but did you see the look on Gajeel's face? It was worth it." Levy takes out a small knife and deftly cuts the treat in half, giving an equal share to each horse.
"It was pretty funny," Lucy admits, but her mind's on other things. Princely things. "Why don't you pack up while I carry the loads over to you? We'll get done faster that way."
Levy nods in agreement, hefting a box that has potatoes and onions mixed together into the wagon. "What's between you and the Prince? You guys were staring at each other."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Lucy climbs aboard the weather-stained planks, pushing her crate to the back corner, avoiding her best friend.
Levy McGarden isn't so easy to fool. Her snort of disbelief easily reaches the blonde's ears. "Right. Whatever you say, Lucy. Something's going on between the two of you."
Lucy carefully holds onto the wooden frame as she lowers herself back down to the ground, right foot first, her left one throbbing in her shoe. She wants to get home as soon as possible to tend it.
"You're hurt."
"It's a minor sprain, I'll be fine. Can we try to go faster? Erza will be able to fix it, and if I get some rest, I'll be good as new by tomorrow."
Levy opens her mouth as if to protest, but cinches it shut, splaying her hands on her hips..
"I'll be fine," the blonde promises, touching her friend's arm as she passes by. She hurries back to the stall.
"Where's the small one?" Aquarius snaps when she comes into view. Her stepmother throws a handful of pears on top of the two unsold cheese wheels. Lucy winces. She doesn't need Cana's tarot cards to figure out who'll be blamed if the soft cheese gets squished.
"Let me finish that up for you, before you get your dress dirty," she offers. Aquarius huffs, backing off, checking her silk gown for stains as Lucy moves to take her place. "I thought it would be better to leave Levy to guard while I got the rest of our things, mother."
"Very good, Lucy," the older woman intones, studying her stepdaughter as she works, the blonde's hands deft and sure as she sorts the produce around them. "I must say, helping the queen today, minding your manners, protecting our property...well, I didn't find you quite as irksome as I usually do."
Lucy keeps busy, giving herself the space of two breaths to formulate a proper answer. "I'm glad of it, mother."
Aquarius watches her carefully, saying. "We're on our way to Mira's, I want you to come with me. Lacey can finish the packing herself."
"Mira's?" Lucy squeaks, her numb arms almost dropping the load of carrots she's carting around like firewood. "Why do you want to go to Mira's?"
Aquarius gives a throaty chuckle. "You're such a silly little girl. Who else can make our costumes for the ball?"
With her stepmother looking at her with affection for the first time in over a decade, Lucy feels something foreign and strange surge through her veins. It feels like…
…hope.
She's going to Natsu's birthday party!
A/N – I'm sorry this chapter took so long to get out. Since it's Satyrykal's birthday today, no one's allowed to get mad at me. That's just how birthdays work. :)
"There was a bee," is a line from the movie, Ever After.
Please go read Satyrykal's stories. She just updated Boiling Point (which is absolutely brilliant) and she's writing another Nalu story, The Edge, (based on Beauty and the Beast). Both are absolutely glorious.
Thank you to my lovely reviewers from last chapter! Mayu05, AzmariaAminohi, Guest, waiting-for-you443, TheLochNessy, Rein Serenity, Celistastar, noseinabook145, Pandachan120, JAKEDSNAKE, Mezatron, Guest, stranger1999, theycallmeBridge, MasterGildarts, Guest, FreyjaBee, beautifullove521, ShanaHollows, Duchixx, Firefly9917, artistofthemind, LoveroftheWord, FireFlameFly101 (x2), YukiMC, 0x illusion x0, Slash2104 (x2), Mihiwera, aspiringgeek (x2), FairyglitterXD, crazy and random child, quite-a-riot, Lunacross777, SinInABox, Lodemai04, Guest, Guest, monitorchick, itsxoi, Kendra and Aviend!
And of course, the birthday girl herself, Satyrykal! xox
