Just a Little Update...thanks for the undying support, people. Let's have a taste of a little lovey dovey shall we? :) Chapter 7. The Show Begins.
Juvia struggled from the guards' grip on her but they held unto her fast. The moment she was in the ball room again and they learned she was safe, they let her go. "Your Highness", one of the guards spoke, "Are you alright?"
Juvia straightened her dress. "I think you've made sure of that", she answered back, still quite shaken. When the guards let her go, only then did she realize the ugly sight around her. The ball room was covered in grotesque ice figures and the floor was completely frozen. She gasped and her breath turned to smoke before her.
"Juvia!" her mother ran towards her, her hair was disheveled and she looked a wreck. "Darling, are you alright?" she gave Juvia a tight embrace. "Oh, it was a good thing the guards came before one of the men could kidnap you. Heaven forbid the things that they would do to you had they accomplished that!" Her mother gestured around the vandalized ball room, "This is no secret anymore! He lives! Lord Montague lives".
"And he has a son", her father came up to them, "The man who almost captured our daughter!" In that second, Juvia felt her whole world crumble before her.
"Your Majesty", a guard approached them, "We have strict orders from the king to lead you back to your chambers. Would you follow us, Your Majesty", he bowed in front of the queen. "You, as well, Your Highness", he bowed in front of Juvia.
Lydia came rushing beside her, "Where have you been?" she snapped. "I have been worried sick for you, Princess. I told them you wanted some air when asked; I need an explanation".
"And you will get one once we're in my chambers", Juvia whispered to Lydia, "Now let us hurry. Ladies!" she called her handmaidens who came rushing behind her. The guards led them to the hallways and stopped right outside her room. One of them opened the door for her as the others bowed down. Juvia grabbed Lydia inside and commanded her handmaidens to wait outside.
Once inside, Juvia turned to Lydia. "I need to ask something of you", she gripped both of Lydia's hands. Lydia looked at her suspiciously and she knew there was no hiding from her anymore. She started the story of how she met Gray and the moment they shared at the fountain room to that revelation that shocked her. "And", she finished, "Lydia, I need you to cover for me yet again. I must go and find him. I need to know and hear it for myself".
A look of horror showed in Lydia's eyes. "You must have lost your head somewhere, Princess! The king gave strict orders for us to stay in the chambers", Lydia spoke in nervous whispers.
A crack came from outside their chambers. Both ladies turned at the direction and ran towards the balcony. They peered and saw a dark figure standing underneath them. The silhouette was clearly Gray; Juvia knows that as the movement from this figure made her heart leap.
"Over here!" a man's cry came from the pathway on the left. "He's over here, I heard a noise!" The figure moved his attention to where the voice came from, as did Juvia. The figure hid in the shadows, among the bushes in that small garden outside her chambers. The guards came rushing in the garden.
"Guards!" Juvia quickly called them. Gripping the edge of the balcony, she looked down at them. After knowing who she was, the guards immediately bowed. "The noise would be mine. I deeply apologize for disturbing your chase, father would be really upset at me", she faked a worried expression.
"Oh no, my lady! Fret not for we won't tell His Majesty", the guard assured her. All of them apologized and slowly exited the small garden.
Juvia turned to Lydia with an almost pleading expression. Lydia nodded, "Alright. Just this once… Promise me". Juvia could not contain her happiness as she hugged her best friend and thank her. "Please do not take too long, Princess", Lydia cautioned as she entered the room again.
Juvia turned her attention to the vines growing on the wall and thank the heavens that the palace gardener did not decide to cut them off. She slowly stepped off the banister and climbed down the vines to her small garden. Before landing to the ground however, she felt strong arms grasp her waist and carried her to more solid ground before putting her down.
"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. She spun around to face directly in the ice cold stare of the man she was starting to fall for. His arm was still locked firmly around her as they continued staring each other down. Then he started to speak, "I see you haven't been at all honest".
"As if you're any more than I am! Claiming to have no title when you are the heir of Montague!" she puffed her chest and stepped closer to Gray; eyes turning into tiny slits. "How could you? Uttering words that seem so beautiful to be true", Juvia looked down, "And I believed it! Every single word of it".
"I did mean everything that I have said, Juvia", Gray replied through gritted teeth. "Before I knew who you were," he added. "You do not know how I suffered by that memory?" he held her chin up to face him. "You have haunted my dreams every waking day! You have owned me even before I knew who you were!"
"As if 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—." Before she could finish, Gray pulled her behind the thick bushes and pinned her to the wall, his had clamped over her as his cape covered them both. When Juvia tried to speak again, she heard footsteps shuffling around her garden.
"He should be here!" a man's voice came from the pathway of her castle. "I saw his silhouette run towards this area".
"Look! Up there!" Another one spoke "This is the Princess' chambers! He's gonna get in trouble if he fails to show up at our meeting place".
"He'll show up", the other one replied, "Wait…do you hear that?" Both of the men fell silent. Juvia and Gray both held their breath and Gray's forehead leaned in on Juvia's: his eyes looking at her, cautioning her to not speak. "Let's go", the other one continued, "We should not be caught…we just couldn't afford to lose anyone anymore".
Once he was sure that the two men were out of earshot, Gray dropped his hand from Juvia's mouth. And he placed both his hands on the wall, trapping her in place. His forehead still touching hers; he let out a relieved breath. His eyes met hers and he stood there in his place. One of her hands was balled into a slight fist above her chest, the other was holding on to the wrist. Her eyes were wide with fear, and her mouth slightly open. "You told me something before we were interrupted", he said in a low voice. "I dare you to say it again".
Juvia, feeling bare and uncomfortable, made a move to escape him. But Gray stood firm, locking her in place. "I said I share the same sentiments with you", she said in a quick reply, trying to soothe the deafening thumps in her chest.
"You said I have your heart", Gray said bluntly. Juvia swallowed hard. "Tell me, is this true, Juvia?" Juvia looked away, "Do not deny me!" he slammed his right hand to the wall. Juvia held his arm to stop him from doing it again. She looked around and tried listening to make sure that no one heard them. "Say it straight to me. Tell me that it is not only me who has been consumed by this obsession".
His voice was so strained and he looked so pitiful with his eyes closed and his forehead leaning in on hers that her hand immediately caressed his cheek. How could this be? The only one I have fallen in love with is my blood's sworn enemy? How could love be so cruel? "Yes… My heart beats for only you…I beg of you to spare me my pain and stop using me against my family for you have done so in the glade. I can't bear—." She was immediately cut off by Gray's lips over hers. His kiss was forceful; hard and begging. His hands held her face as he slowly lightened his kiss on her until they were light kisses.
He pulled back to look at her. "I thank the Heavens for knowing that I am not alone in this", his voice shook. "My heart yearns for you as equally, if not, stronger than yours does. Just one kiss to quench my dying heart's thirst for you is all I ask. Oh that I may taste that sweet dewdrop of love upon you r lips as they mingle with mine. Please, beloved; grant a heartbroken man his freedom to feel love".
His words rang sweetly in her ears as Juvia tiptoed and met his lips with hers. It was magical; better than their first one. His lips were warm and soft and tender as it explored hers. She felt his heart beating fast as her hands touched his chest. His hands moved to her back as he half-carried her to him.
This took several minutes as the couple started laughing in between kisses. Gray showered her face with kisses. Kissing both cheeks, the tip of her nose, her forehead, her chin; made Juvia giddy and she giggled with enjoyment. Wrapping both her hands around him, she pulled herself up and rubbed her nose against his. He laughed at how adorable she could be. He bent down again and claimed her lips before a voice interrupted them. "Princess?" a lady's voice came from the balcony. Still laughing in low voices, the couple stepped out from the bushes and looked up at the balcony.
It took great effort for Lady Lydia to stop herself from fainting as she saw the sight. Juvia's hair was disheveled, and her clothes were in disarray, her face was a light blush of pink and her face showed the most gleeful expression. Behind her, clad in black, was a handsome young man whose hair was as disheveled as hers and whose clothes were in equal disarray. His expression matched hers as he was smiling and his eyes looked at his lover's face with so much adoration. "Please, Your Highness", Lady Lydia whispered, "Your father will be coming to your chambers in a few moments. He will be surprised to find you are not here".
Juvia sighed and turned to her lover. "I have to go", she whispered. Gray already had her in his arms and was kissing her again.
"Promise me, you'll see me again, my beloved. I cannot face another day without your presence. Promise me", he gripped her hands in his.
"And I believe that I would die in want of your touch, my love", Juvia replied.
Gray grinned at her menacingly. "We shouldn't let that happen now, should we?" She shook her head and smiled. "Then I would most definitely be visiting you soon, my princess". He kissed her hand and with a swish of his cape went over the fence at the back of her private garden. She turned around and started climbing the vine ladder that led to her balcony, secretly smiling to herself.
