This chapter shit gets real.

"You bastards" Levy snarled, "You spineless cowards,"
"Lady Levy, you'd do well to watch your words," Said one of the men dragging her and Lucy.
"And you'd do well to starting praying. Once Fairy Tail finds out what really happened to us, only God will be able to protect you. And maybe not even that,"
"Fairy Tail? What are they going to do? They think you are safe in the company of her highnesses beloved," Another smiled wickedly. Lucy knew him, he was the one who found her and Natsu on the night of the attack. Kurou, that was his name. Lucy could still remember the horror she felt when that ugly crow transformed in front of her. That was days ago. By now the shock had faded, replaced by anger. Lord Winston had betrayed them. She felt like a fool. She'd agreed to marry to solely for the strength of his army and wealth, when all along she'd been playing into the enemies hands.

"Winston, how could you do this?" Those were the words she'd yelled at the old traitor when the truth had been revealed.
"Money…" He said with a shrug, "Money and beautiful women. Your father was offering me an inexperienced child, Galvin is offering all the money, luxury and women my heart could desire,"
"You're a pervert,"
"And you're a prisoner. Say all the pretty words you want. It's not going to change the fact that you're going to become the catalyst that ends this war,"

Lucy hated to admit it but he was right. The power had been tipped in Galvin's favor. There were any number of things they use her for; bait to lure her father's army into a trap, a hostage with the terms of her release being the surrender of Wengale. From mutterings she'd heard in the locked carriage that had been hers and Levy's jail for the trip, it sounded like they were planning on the former. It made sense. Her father may have no love for her but it would not do for a King to simply leave his daughter and only heir in the hands of the enemy. He would have to send a force out. But out here, Galvin had the advantage of knowing the territory, plus the added strength of Winston's men. The chances of her father's men taking the castle to save her were slim. And once that was done it would be a simple matter to invade with the army weakened. Lucy had cried when she realized how hopeless it seemed.
All she'd wanted to do was protect her people. But instead she'd damned them. She should have left with Natsu when she had the chance. They could have been far away, safe and together.

"Take them to the dungeons," Kurou ordered. Lucy and Levy were dragged away taken down several flights of stairs and thrown into tiny cells, which smelled of mildew and rot. The walls where cold and damp, probably from the moisture soaking into the ground from the moat around the castle.
"How'd this happen?" Levy asked, leaning against the wall adjacent for Lucy's cell tears leaking out of the corner of her eyes. Lucy shook her head even though she knew Levy couldn't see her. She was afraid to speak, less a sob would escape instead. She refused to let them see weakness. She wouldn't let them think they'd broken her. She still had to have faith that things could turn around. She still wanted to believe Natsu would come for her.

…But how could he possible know what happened. By the time they would get word it would probably be too late. No…She shook her head. She couldn't think like that. In her heart she knew Natsu would come for her. The journey here had taken several days, someone must have figured out what happened when she and Levy didn't arrive in the capitol on time. Natsu was coming for her. She knew that was true somewhere in her heart. She made a promise to herself that if she ever saw him again you would never let go of him again.

Natsu sat down grumbling, watching those who were sleeping with narrowed eyes.
"We're wasting time," He said.
"Natsu, we've been going a breakneck speeds," Erza said, "But we need to rest. It would be for nothing if we travelled none stop only to be too exhausted to fight once we did arrive in Galvin,"
"Every second we sit here Levy and Lucy are in their hands," Gajeel snarled.
"We'll move again soon," Master said, "It's not safe to stay in one spot for too long," He was referring to the fact they'd crossed Galvin borders yesterday From there I think it would be wise to travel in small groups to avoid suspicion. The castle is only a few hours journey from here."
"Which is why we should be moving and not sitting on our behinds."
"Natsu, eat some fire," Gray snapped pointing to their campfire.
Natsu grumbled, but he did take a log from the flames and munched on the flickering light. He need they were right about conserving energy and being ready for the fight. But his sensible side (which he hardly listened to on the best of days) couldn't suppress his desire to burn everything in sight until he found Lucy. It was taking all his will power to remain with the others, especially since he knew he was closer to Lucy than ever now. He looked at Gajeel and knew he was just as anxious as he was. Gajeel was sitting on a stump, his right shaking constantly.
"Try and get some sleep," Laxus suggested to the dragon slayers, "Neither of you have really slept for the entire trip,"
"We can sleep when Lucy and Levy are safe." Gajeel said.
"I slept yesterday," Natsu said.
"Not for very long," Erza said.
"Well like Gajeel said, we can sleep when this over." The others frowned at them but said nothing more knowing they were both to stubborn to be convinced.

They remained in that spot for around an hour again before they got ready to move again. This time, instead of traveling in a large group, the broke off into smaller clusters. It wasn't long before in the individual groups found themselves in the town surround Galvin's castle.

"Gramps, what if they aren't here?" Laxus asked.
"Then we move on to somewhere else. We won't stop until we find them," Master and Laxus were with Evergreen, Bixlow and Freed and were currently making their way towards the looming towers of the castle in the distance. Laxus spotted three white heads a way head in front them and he wondered if it was Mira and her siblings.
"Fro Natsu's and Gajeel's sakes I hope they are here," Evergreen said. The others nodded in agreement.

Suddenly were was a loud crash in the distance. People stopped looking in the direction the sound come from, whispering to each other about what the noise could be.
"That came from direction of the castle," Freed said.
"You don't think…" Bixlow started to said but Master cut him off.
"Those idiots," He said, "They were supposed to wait from everyone to rendezvous,"
Laxus saw the three white heads ahead in front of them start run forward and he knew that was Mira and no doubt they had the same suspicions about what caused the sound.
"Let's go," He took off running.

All over the city people had heard the noise and the Fairy Tail members all cursed internally.
Jet and Droy looked at eachother when they heard the sound.
"Let's hurry," Droy said.
"This is our chance to make it up to Levy for attacking her."
Elsewhere Wendy, Charlie, Romeo, Marco and Wakaba stopped dead when they heard the sound.
"Don't tell me," Charlie said.
"It could only be them," Wendy said.
"Damn it, Erza and Gray were supposed to keep them back until we were altogether," Romeo said as their group started running.
"Those idiots are going to get themselves killed," Marco said.
"We were the idiots for thinking they would wait," Wakaba said.

In front of the castle gates Erza, Lily, Happy and Gray were coughing in the dust cloud.
"You morons!" Gray yelled.
"You won't supposed to attack yet," Lily yelled, but he and everyone else knew it was useless.
The moment the castle gates came into their view Gajeel and Natsu had taken off running. Gajeel made his body metal and smashed through the gates like they were made of paper. Natsu had moved in right after, knocking all the guards at the gates with roar. His whole body was flaming, scales appearing along his skin.

Lines of guards were running into the courtyard.
"Stop in the name of the King of Galvin, or we'll be forced to kill," Someone shouted at them. Natsu and Gajeel emerged from the dust cloud.
"Give us Levy and Lucy and maybe he wouldn't kill every last one of you," Gajeel snarled.
"Sorry," A voice said and person appeared rising up from the ground, "But the Princess is our honored guest. She's not going anywhere,"
"That's what you think," Natsu said.
"Kill them," The mage shouted. The soldiers ran forward with a battle cry.
"We don't have time for this,"

Gajeel and Natsu planned their feet and sucked in air at the same time.
"Roar of the fire-"
"Roar of the metal-"
"Dragon!" The attack decimated everything in front of them, knocking away everything within a fifty meter radius.

Natsu's cocked his head back and ducked. A blast flew over his head.
"Nice dodge," A female said.
"It would have been, if that attack had been any good," Natsu lit his palm, closing the distance between him and woman in a second. He punched her in the gut, lifting her off her feet. He spun on his heel, bring up his other foot and landing a furious hook kick and sent her twenty feet backwards. Natsu jumped on top of her, grabbing her collar.
"Tell me were Lucy is,"
She smiled. A hand emerged from the ground and took hold of her. She slipped into the ground before Natsu could do anything. She and the earth mage reappeared a distance away.
"Bastards," Gajeel leapt at them engaging the earth mage. His hand transformed into a sword and he cut through the mages clothes, missing fatal blows by inches. The mae sunk into the ground.

"Come out and fight me!" Gajeel yelled.
"Very well," A voice said right behind him. He turned around to see the mage driving a blade towards his chest. Another sword blocked the attack. Erza appeared in the space between Gajeel and mage. She kicked him away.
"Thanks," Gajeel said. He received a punch to the head.
"What part of wait for the others do you not understand?" She said.
"Damn it, can't you wait to punish me after all this done,"
"Oh, I'm done with you. Not by a long shot, but the rest with have to wait," She said to him, and Natsu, who'd run over with Gray, Happy and Lily flying right behind.
"You two go find Lucy and Levy," She commanded.
"And just leave you here to fight alone?" Natsu said.
"Time is crucial. We need to find them before they try to move them," Erza said.
"And we won't be alone," Gray nodded in the direction of the gates. Jet was there, as was Max and Vijeeter, "The others will be here soon. Go, we'll be behind you once we take care of these guys," He and Erza faced the two other mages.

"Right," Gajeel nodded, "Lily let go,"
"Happy,"
"Aye sir,"
The cats grabbed the dragon slayers and flew towards the castle. The drawbridge was up, but that would just be an annoyance to Natsu and Gajeel. As they flew over the moat the water suddenly leapt up to meet them. Lily and Happy dodged out of the way.
"What the hell?"
They saw a man in the water, attacking them. He made a wall of water surge upwards blocking the door.
"Get the hell out of our way," Natsu let go a stream of flames, the heat of which could be felt by most in the courtyard. The water in front the door evaporated and Gajeel cut through it before the water mage could do anything. Natsu and Gajeel flew through the opening.

The water mage was going after them but a blast of lightning stopped him.
"Want to dance?" Laxus said grinning. The water mage made a large amount of water surge forward surround him. The water morphed and formed clones of the mage, no less than fourty.
Laxus cocked an eyebrow and took off his cloak. He held up his hands.
"Come,"

Natsu and Gajeel found themselves surrounded inside the castle. Several guards and mages were closing in from all sides.
"This doesn't look good," Lily said. Natsu and Gajeel were grinning. Natsu rolled his shoulder and Gajeel cracked his knuckled.
"Yeah," Gajeel said, "It doesn't look good for them,"

Severa meters below their feet Lucy and Levy heard the noise.
"What's that?" One guard asked the others. Another guard ran in.
"We're under attack!"
Lucy and Levy grinned both getting to their feet.
"They need reinforcements up top,"
"I wouldn't bother," Lucy said.
"You'll just be going to your deaths," Levy said with a nod. The guards looked each other nervously.
"Should we run while we can?" One voiced. They didn't have time to contemplate the thought. A bright yellow burst of energy flew down the hall tossing back the guard.
"Natsu?" Lucy called. A man ran towards her. It wasn't Natsu.
"Leo," She started at him.
"Princess," He bowed, "It's a pleasure to see your beautiful face again."
"But how are you here? I don't have…"
"Your keys," He held up a familiar pouch. Lucy almost sobbed with happiness. She'd been worried she'd never see them again.
"I can come with you summoning me when you are in need,"
"Then where have you been," Lucy said furiously. "I could have used your help for days," Leo laughed nervously.
"I'm sorry Princess, the magic is instinctive. I can't control when it happens,"
"Forget about the past. Get us out now," Levy said. Leo nodded.
"Of course," He noticed the guards getting to their feet, "As soon as I take care of these nuisances," He walked towards them adjusting his ring.

AHHH! Fairy Tail's attack. Natsu and Gajeel are pissed.

Nardragon~ until the next page.