AAAAAAA! I HAVEN'T UPDATED IN SO LONG. I've had school and that's been stressful. That isn't an excuse for being absent for so long, though. Here's a chapter now! I'll try to make it good!
Titania's debriefing was as quick as she could make it, allowing her wounded warriors to rest and eat. The banquet hall had been filled with hungry soldiers, a feast prepared and spread out on the table. But the food wasn't Erza's concern at the moment. She still had a strange woman to tend to in the infirmary that had mentioned something about a human. And they had a human in that very castle. Lucy.
Lucy was just getting into the bath when Titania entered the room. She didn't hear her over the running water and had just settled into the bubbles when Titania opened the bathroom door. Lucy screamed.
"Calm down, why are you screaming?" Titania asked, cocking her head quizzically.
Lucy pulled her knees to her chest in order to attempt and hide her ample bust, "You barged in while I was bathing!"
Erza blinked. "I fail to see the point. We are both women, there is no reason for embarrassment."
Lucy gave Titania a what-planet-are-you-from sort of look before shrinking farther back into the bubbles. "Yeah, what do you want? You're already here, so say your piece."
Titania was always one for the direct approach. She might as well tell her. "The battle is over. And Freed is recovering well. But a few hours ago, we had... something unexpected happen. An injured Shadow Elf who was previously working for Mard Geer had bound herself to the arrow you removed, and she appeared to him. She told us parts of his plan. What she said was that Mard Geer is gathering up creatures from each realm, and he is planning to use their life force for something unknown to us. But the last creature he needs is a human."
Lucy's eyes grew wide. "What?!"
Erza nodded. "We have guards stationed outside your room, as well as every other creature here from other realms of the forest."
Lucy took several quick breaths. "Can I speak to this woman myself?"
"Of course."
Lucy waited, looking at Titania. "C-can you leave? I need to get dressed."
Titania mumbled something about them both being women again before exiting the bathroom.
Lucy threw on a silk shawl and a simple pink dress before meeting Titania outside the bedroom, her hair still damp. She'd tied it up into a bun for good measure to gain some semblance of tidiness. She didn't have time to put on shoes, so the tiles of the floor were cold against her bare feet. Titania was dressed in a regal violet gown, her hair in a plait down her back. Silver twine was woven into the scarlet tresses, her circlet perched on top of her head, woven into her hair as well. With the hair pulled away from her face, Lucy saw that her ears were pointed. A shimmering silver shawl hung loosely around her shoulders, sweeping against the ground. The carved silver belt that Lucy had seen Titania wearing when they'd first met was around her waist, glimmering in the light.
"You're beautiful..." Lucy said, her face flushing, "sorry, that just slipped."
Titania's face turned pink, and she looked away with a smile. "Thank you. It's quite alright, I appreciate it."
Erza put a hand on Lucy's shoulder, leading her down the corridor. Her eyes were serious again.
"The woman says her name is Minerva. Did you meet her in the forest before you arrived here?"
Lucy shook her head, "No, I don't think so. Sorry."
Erza shook her head, sighing. "No need to apologize."
The pair passed through the great hall, where Oberon was deep in conversation with Laxus, who's arm was resting in a sling. Their expressions were grim, and Lucy caught a snippet of their conversation.
"The spirits in the forest are getting restless," Laxus was saying, "I was doing a perimeter check when a phantom jumped me. Oberon, it's getting dangerous."
His voice dropped low, "Gray, that Ice Elf? He told me he thought he saw a Wendigo. And that Fire Warlock said he actually encountered one. It tried to attack that human."
Oberon's expression was unreadable. "The creatures of the forest are growing restless. Do you have anything to say about the spirits?"
Laxus shrugged. "Not much. They're active alright, but only slightly more than usual. We need to be careful. Something is coming. Something big."
Lucy shivered as they walked out of earshot. When she looked at Titania, her expression was dark. She gave a very soft sigh. "Keep waking."
When they reached the infirmary, Erza spotted Minerva immediately. Her hair was undone, hanging loose around her shoulders, the makeup she'd been wearing before was gone. Her tan skin had taken a clammy pallor, making her look sickly. Her torso was bandaged, a dull bloodstain decorating the area of her wound. She looked exhausted, like she'd been drifting in and out of consciousness.
Erza sat down in a chair near the bed, directing Lucy to do the same. "You look awful," Titania said, and Minerva smiled slightly.
"Attaching myself to that arrow took a lot out of me, your majesty," Minerva said. Even her voice was soft and tired, and rough around the edges. She sounded just as bad as she looked.
"I understand that. But you seem to be doing better. No more bleeding, I pray?"
Minerva shook her head. "No, none of that. Your medic took care of me quite well."
Erza smiled. "Porlyusica is good in that way."
Minerva's gaze fell on Lucy. "Who might this be?"
Erza put a hand on Lucy's shoulder. "This is Lucy. She found her way into the forest, and she's human. I need you to tell her what you told me. She's caught in this as much as us all."
Minerva's eyes drooped. She took a shaky breath, glancing at Lucy sidelong. "I used to work for Mard Geer. When I found out what he wanted, I got out of there as fast as I could. But the problem is..."
Lucy felt the bitter taste of fear coat her tongue. "What?"
"I'm so sorry, Lucy. I really am."
That didn't help so much with the fear thing. Lucy gulped, her voice coming out in almost a whisper. "What is it?"
Minerva looked impossibly, impossibly tired. "You are the only human in this forest, Lucy. And I have a feeling that attack Mard Geer orchestrated on the palace had something to do with you."
Dun dun DUNNNN.
Okay, I'm so sorry I haven't updated in FOREVER but I have school and that is important. I'll try and be more active online, so bare with me.
Anyway, see you later!
~Starry
