Chapter-28
To Forgive
"So, you wanted to talk to me?" Brandish asked sullenly.
She and Lucy were standing in a dark alley in one of the shadier areas of Magnolia. Brandish was wearing a cloak to hide her face from plain view. Natsu was standing outside, on guard for them, as Lucy had requested a private audience with Brandish.
"Yes," Lucy confirmed, her eyes surveying Brandish. The green-haired woman looked harmless enough, but Lucy was quite sure that she had a weapon stored away somewhere. The young lady felt rather nervous. She had secretly had Aquarius and Sagittarius (one of her staff), train her in a little defense combat. Despite this, she still felt apprehensive.
"I'm sorry about what happened to your mother," Lucy said sincerely. "Aquarius told me."
Brandish's eyes narrowed. "I suppose you know of the circumstances of Mother's death? As to how and why she was killed?
"I do," Lucy replied calmly. "Lady Grammi was killed for the key she had in her position. And as to who killed her-"
Brandish was at her side in a flash, her voice dangerously low as she cut in and whispered in Lucy's ear. "Your mother, Layla Heartfilia had her assassinated."
Lucy swung around and struck out blindly with her hands, knocking the knife Brandish had taken out, out of the woman's grasp. But before Lucy could even blink, Brandish, swift as lightning, tackled her to the ground and gripped her neck and covered her mouth, rendering Lucy unable to breathe or shout for help.
"I don't want to do this," Brandish whispered harshly. Lucy felt a tear drop hit her cheek. "I know it's barbaric-but I have to, for Mother's sake! So please, please just die."
Struggling, Lucy gave a powerful kick to Brandish's stomach, dignity and ladylike-ness be damned. The green-haired woman gasped and let go of Lucy.
Lucy, taking advantage of this, tremblingly snatched up the knife from where it had been abandoned. She shook slightly as she pointed it at Brandish. "The tables are turned. Submit, or I shall have to kill you."
Brandish scoffed as she sat up. "Please. You don't have the heart to hurt anyone, let alone kill them."
"Nor do you," Lucy's soft words startled Brandish. "You're not a killer, Brandish. I can tell. And I know-that Lady Grammi would not have wanted you to take vengeance this way, either."
Brandish snarled as she sprung to her feet. "You know nothing about my mother…!"
She cut off abruptly as something came flying at her. Reflexively, she caught it. It was a stack of parchment. Confusion flashed across her features as she looked up at Lucy. "What is this?"
Lucy smiled slightly. "Records on one of the keepers of the Heartfilian keys, Zoldeo."
Brandish began to look through them, confusion still marring her features. "Why do you…."
"Zoldeo served my mother for most of his life," Lucy said quietly. "He was fiercely loyal to her, despite his attraction towards the wealth that she possessed. When Mother was fatally ill, he was beside himself with worry. And when she died, he went mad and transferred his anger to the person he thought responsible for her death-Lady Grammi. He blamed Lady Grammi for not being able to save Mother, and in a fit of rage, killed her and took away her key."
Brandish stared at Lucy and then down at the records. Tears began to swim in her eyes.
"When you sent me that letter, you were only trying to draw me out the open weren't you?" Lucy whispered. "You're not the kind of person who will feed on a person's emotional suffering, having a lot of it yourself. I can see that, Brandish."
Tears spilled from Brandish's eyes. The records fell from her hand onto the ground as she sank to her knees, sobbing. "I-I wasted…my entire life….!" She gasped. "Mother….mother!"
Lucy knelt down as well and gently embraced Brandish. "I can feel your pain….." she murmured. "And I can understand how you feel. My mother died as well. Mother…" Lucy closed her eyes. "She was a sweet, gentle, graceful woman. She would've never manipulated your mother like that. Mother must've loved Lady Grammi as a dear friend."
Brandish only cried harder, clinging to Lucy as if the girl was her lifeline.
Natsu then entered, to tell Lucy that her time with Brandish was up. But the scene before his eyes completely disarmed him and he stared at the two women in shock."
"Zoldeo is dead now," Lucy said gently. "He was executed for his crimes. So, there is no need for your vengeance anymore."
Brandish drew back, wiping away her tears. Her voice cracked slightly as she spoke. "You trust people so easily…how can you still forgive me after all I have done to you?"
Lucy chuckled. "I really can't explain it. However…..will you do a favor for me?"
Brandish raised an eyebrow at her.
Lucy reached into the folds of her satin cloak and drew out a shining golden key. She pressed it into Brandish's hands. "Will you take care of this key for me, Brandish?"
The woman in question looked at her for a minute before nodding curtly.
"That's good!" Smilingly, Lucy helped Brandish to her feet and nodded to Natsu slightly before speaking again. "You should be off, Brandish, before anyone finds out that you were here."
Brandish nodded once more. She straightened her cloak, inclined her head towards them and left.
"Let's go, shall we?" Lucy turned to Natsu expectantly.
"Right," Natsu led them to where he had secured Ember. "Lucy?"
"Yes?" Lucy tilted her head to one side in question.
"Why did you forgive Brandish so easily?"
Lucy paused in mid-step and looked up at the cerulean sky. "I'm not really sure why. But I think….it's because that's what Mother would've wanted me to do. And besides," she gave Natsu a brilliant smile. "I don't think any of us have the right to withhold forgiveness from her. Brandish needed a hand to pull her out of the darkness. So I chose to assist her. It's as simple as that."
Natsu nodded slowly, feeling some turmoil in his soul.
For one thing, his respect towards Lucy had grown. Another, he felt the desire to follow her example and to forgive as easily as she did. Third, he admired the purity of her heart.
But another, completely different emotion bubbled up in his chest.
And at that moment, for the first time, Natsu was completely sure about his feelings for Lucy.
(A/N): Just two more chapters left. *bursts into tears* I can't give this story up!
Review Responses:
Destiny246: I swear, my bff looks like a demon anytime someone bad mouths me….:D
TheCrazyClan: Well, now you know! I hope you liked the confrontation!
BlackHeart-FallenAngel: Heh, it was quite difficult to play her part. But I figured the readers deserved some explanation as to why on earth she sent Lucy that letter, so.
Laxusdrayar2324: Thank you for the review! You're my most constant reviewer so far and I really appreciate it~
Guest: *screams incoherently as sweetness and flattery-ness of the review envelops and drowns her in a sea of bliss* THANK YOU! You have no idea how happy your review made me and how warm and fuzzy I felt on the inside after reading it! It really made my day! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
