A/N: This is quite a long chapter but I guess we'll be arriving at this part sooner or later eh?
Also, thank you so much Rinny-Senpai 32 for your undying reviews. And yes, you guess it right. This chappy is where Gray comes in.
Also, I would really love to hear from others. If you have any suggestions or comments, do review. :)
CHAPTER 6. More than Just Coincidence.
Juvia was grateful when her hand reached her father's welcoming one. She didn't trip or fall, which was quite a challenge since the gown was terribly heavy and long. With one hand wrapped around her father's arm and the other tightly holding the bottom of her gown, they made their way to the sea of people; some blonde and others blue-haired; the only two hair colors that the people in Verona seem to have. This, according to her father, represented the water and the sand melding together. It has been like that for years now.
Her father led her to the middle of the crowd. She politely smiled at the other royalties; greeted their families; curtsied when introduced; all in all she was the perfect epitome of a princess. At the back of her mind, however, she just wanted all of this to end as quickly as possible. Then, slowly eligible bachelors came to introduce themselves. One with dark blonde hair boldly asked to the king to dance with Juvia. He, she noted, was a royalty from Spain. Her father was all too happy to hand her to him. The king then moved to ask his wife to dance. As the royal couple passed Juvia and the man in front of her, her mother gave her a light tap on the shoulder. That was her cue. She took the man's hand and they started dancing.
Everything was a blur after that. Partner after partner, Juvia still could not find the proper man she wanted. One was too arrogant; another, too proud; most were power hungry; as others were just not suitable for the kingdom…and her. All her worries were not evident in her face as she maintained, desperately now, to keep up the smile and the politeness knowing that observant eyes were all on her. While dancing, she allowed herself to be led by her partner, distracting her attention to look around the ballroom instead. Then at the corner of her eye, something…or someone…emerged from a dark area of the room that made Juvia catch her breath.
As she and her partner spun around, her attention strongly focused on that lone figure at the almost hidden area of the dance floor. Dressed in a full black ensemble; a black coat covered an otherwise black pair of suit, slacks, vest, and bow tie. The only contrast to the glimpse of white dress shirt underneath, and that cream colored skin. It was his ebony back hair that caught Juvia off guard. Was he the man who haunted her dreams? He looked up straight at her and she noticed he was wearing a mask, delicately designed to cover his eyes, and his identity. He gave a sideways smile that made Juvia's heart start doing a double step. He spun and disappeared in the darkness.
It was all than Juvia could take. She stopped mid-dance, gave a short apology to her partner, and excused herself. With a curtsy, she was gone, leaving her partner wondering. She easily and calmly moved through the crowd, trying not to let people suspect her excitement. She made it to the dark area and disappeared behind the door verily hidden by the shadows.
Inside, the moon gleamed brightly from the glass roof. She was in the fountain room, one of her most favorite rooms in the castle. It wasn't lighted at all hence the darkness it casted on the dance floor inside. It was a grand room; vastly filled with more than fifty fountains all in different kinds and sizes. The people of Verona boast of their ability to control the water element which was made evident through all the canals, fountains, rivers, and waterfalls in every turn in the kingdom. This room was no exception to that. Made decades ago, in honor of the war won over by one of the greatest kings, her great grandfather; the room still retained its grandeur.
It was a massive room, one of the largest in the castle in fact. The fountains were in different height and proportions, flowers and shrubs lined the room and the floor was covered by cobblestone that gave this room a garden feel. The moonlight cast over the fountains made the water gleam silver. It was like each fountain was spouting liquid silver. "It's…beautiful", a low voice spoke behind Juvia, echoing her thoughts. She turned her back to see the shadow move around a short fountain.
Juvia followed, but he kept moving. They were across each other and he gave her a sly smile before moving to the next fountain, and the next one, and the next one. Juvia followed suit, carrying her gown so as not to trip and trying hard to keep up with the dark figure. She was rather enjoying this little chase and it seemed he was, too, with his smile widening in every move. Suddenly, he hid behind the biggest fountain, away from her view. With heart rapidly beating, she slowly crept behind the fountain and peered behind the silver waterfall. He was gone. She straightened up and was about to turn when she collided with him. With that force, she almost lost her footing and fell back when strong hands caught her and pulled her. With a swift flurry of his black cloak; his arms wrapped around her steadying her until she found her balance again.
Juvia was about to thank him when she froze as she realized their position. She was held closely to him in an embrace and their faces were inches apart. Through his mask, she could see his surprised expression matching her own. Her mouth suddenly felt dry and she lost the ability to speak. He, apparently felt the same, as he froze there holding her close. Their bodies still moving due to their loss of breath.
After few moments of just staring at each other, he regained consciousness first and spoke, "I hope I did not scare you". He slowly let her go. He touched the surface of the water and it slowly froze over. "I hope I didn't scare you like the last time". He glanced at her with a smile, hinting that he knows who she is.
Juvia's eyes widened. "Who are you?" she whispered.
"Ha! I'm not mistaken. It really was you I met at the glade, my lady", he placed his full attention to her. "Though you are more beautiful than the last time I saw you". His observation made Juvia extremely conscious.
"You're not as what you were as well, my lord", she replied looking at him up and down.
He slowly laughed. Then he took a step towards her, "Indeed. I wasn't at all…as clothed as I am now, my lady". Juvia blushed at the memory of his half nakedness invade her mind. "I believe", the young man spoke and interrupted her thoughts; "that we have not done our proper introductions". He raised both his hands behind his head as he slowly untied his mask. He took her hand and raised an eyebrow, "You may call me Gray, no addresses as I have none", and he dipped his head and raised her hand to his lips lightly kissing her knuckles.
As he stood up, his hand still holding hers, she gave him a slow and graceful curtsy. "You may call me Juvia, my lord", she timidly replied. "Although I find it rather hard to believe that you have no titles. You sure do not dress like the commoners", she stated.
"Old money", he admitted and sat on the fountain's edge. He swirled his finger around the water and created a huge crystal rose made out of ice. Juvia gasped and she sat beside him.
"H-how do you do that?" she stammered.
"Magic", he shrugged, "I just know". He held the rose in front of her, "a rose's beauty will never match yours; a beautiful rose befitting a beautiful lady?" he offered.
"It is beautiful. I am very grateful for this gift, my lord", she spoke using the same reply she was taught growing up.
"Please. Call me Gray. And you, my lady, do not seem to have no titles at all as your mere thank you is as scripted as all the other high and mighty in society", he looked at her carefully.
"I think it best that we keep our personal lives to ourselves, do you not?" she answered, relieved that he does not know who she really is and somehow upset that she doesn't know who he is. "No amount of ice flowers would help you escape a topic, my lor—Gray."
He looked at her impressed; a wide grin appeared on his face. "Impressive. Any other lady would have fallen for that, I tell you", he said and then slowly added, "no wonder I am attracted to you so". Juvia's eyes widened at his confession. Her heart gave a leap and at that very moment Gray's hand twined with hers and slowly pulled her towards him; it surprised me that I actually moved closer. "I would like to keep seeing you, to get to know you, and for you to get to know me", he kissed her hand again, "I found you again and it's like the fates are telling me that you are who my soul seeks"; he ran his free hand on Juvia's cheek. "What say you, Juvia?"
She was taken aback, no one has ever called her Juvia except her parents, yet the way he said it felt just right. She leaned in and kissed the hand that was holding her cheek. Gray has just opened himself up to her and she felt her heart wanting him back. "Yes…" she replied.
That seemed to be enough of an answer he was looking for as he held her face with his hands and looked straight in her eyes. A fire ignited in that dark orbs of his. Juvia held her breath, waiting. He closed in, their lips almost touching when suddenly, the door burst open. They both turned their attention to a silver-haired man running in, and two other dark-haired men following on his heel.
"Gray! You idiot, I told you to make the exit ready! Let's go!" the silver-haired man screamed. Right after that the guards came in, followed by the king. The silver-haired man along with the two others each ran towards a fountain and swiped the water with their hands. The water slowly changed into ice shards blocking the pathway of the guards. They climbed on the fountain and the water changed into an ice pillar slowly rising up. The silver-haired man looked down at Gray and called. "Come on!"
"Your Highness!" The guards ran towards Gray and Juvia. "Stay away from him!"
The couple looked at the guards then at each other. Gray looked back at Juvia's shocked expression with regret in his eyes. With a quick movement he spun around and climbed on the fountain. The fountain turned to an ice pillar taking him up to the glass ceiling along with the three other men. With a last look at her, he turned around and faced the ceiling as the silver-haired man broke their glass barrier to freedom.
Tiny pieces and shards of glass fell but Juvia sat unmoving on the fountain's side and the guards were forced to pull her away from it. While being escorted back in the ballroom, she turned and glanced up at the ceiling where the man she so openly handed her heart out to had disappeared in the night sky.
Also, a little teaser for the next chap:
"You should really be careful, my lady. You don't want His Majesty to fret that his only daughter would scrape herself and destroy her pretty little dress, do you?" There was bitterness in his tone with a hint of sarcasm.
"As if you're any more than I am! Claiming to have no title when you are the heir of Montague!"
"You have haunted my dreams every waking day! You have owned me even before I knew who you were!"
"And I had it any better? Everywhere I look I see you, my mind wills me to think of you, my heart has been enslaved by you even before you asked me at the fountain. I can't—"