It's Monday! I'm pretty excited for these next two chapters. Hopefully some readers will find them as gratifying as I do. (This is actually one of the places where I will claim a method to the madness. XD)
- K. Chandler
Hartsting preferred wetter climates, so Juvia hadn't expected to find any so far from home. But it made sense for it to grow near the lake.
She collected a fistful of the slippery plant and carefully tucked it into the folds of her clothing before everyone headed back to the castle.
Gray disappeared to his own chambers shortly after they returned, so Juvia did as well.
Hartsting was aptly named.
Retiring to her room, Juvia sent for a bottle of the finest wine and a tea pot. She placed the hartsting onto a plate, careful not to handle it too much. Her fingers were already stinging from collecting it. Early civilizations quickly discovered how irritating it could be to exposed skin, stinging like a jellyfish. Many thought that this property, combined with its heart-shaped leaves gave the plant its name. Few knew the true story.
Gray was loyal. Devoted. He had said that he couldn't return her love because he had an attachment to someone else. But that was just a mental block. He thought it necessary to protect this other woman. Lucy.
But the true story was that Gray secretly liked her. That much was obvious to Juvia. How else could she explain how kindly he treated her? He helped her to tea and escorted her like an absolute gentleman when she was in Magnolia. When she had followed him to Lucy's picnic, and there weren't enough horses, he let her ride, even though it meant that he had to walk like one of the servants. He, alone, understood the loneliness in her heart.
"You've returned. Did you have a good day, my queen?" asked Bora.
"Yes, it was fine," said Juvia without looking at him.
Gray's actions weren't that of a stranger. No, they were silent declarations of a man in love. He just wasn't fully aware of his feelings.
With a fork and knife, Juvia sliced the hartsting into thin, fibrous, shreds before she scooped it into an empty teacup. Carefully, she poured the water over the shredded hartsting, letting it seep until the water became a murky concoction.
"Is that for him? The Ice Prince?" asked Bora.
Juvia looked up to see the disapproving slant to Bora's mouth.
"Was there something you wanted to say?" she asked Bora, her voice hardening.
Bora let his head tip forward demurely. "No, my queen. Nothing."
"In that case, make yourself useful. Uncork that wine carefully. Leave no trace. Then find one of the castle's servants."
"At once, my queen."
Externally, hartsting was an irritant. But when ingested, its effects were entirely different. Those who knew of its true power realized that this plant had the ability to remove any inhibitions from a human mind. They'd pursue their heart's desires, acting without fear or shame or restraint before meeting the sting of defeat after the plant wore off.
But the power of the hartsting would bring forth the truth. Surely, then, Gray would see how he loved her from the start and needed her all along.
Gray melted the ice sealing the bottom of the door when he heard the knock.
Who could this be?
"Come," said Gray, though he had his magic at the ready.
After his late-night visitor, he started taking precautions, despite Lucy's gentle suggestion that it was paranoia playing up.
The door opened gently, and one of the Magnolia servants poked his head inside. It was the same person who had been by with refreshments earlier.
Gray let his hands drop.
"A delivery for you, Highness," said the youth, holding a tray out to Gray.
Gray accepted the bottle, looking at it curiously. It sat next to a glass, a corkscrew, and a small stack of napkins.
"I didn't order any wine," he said.
"No, sir. I was asked to deliver this to your chambers. I was told it was a peace offering."
"I see," said Gray. "Thank you."
This was probably Lucy's way of trying to smooth over yesterday's disaster. She was extremely generous, sharing a 30-year-old bottle from Magnolia's best wineries.
Gray picked up the corkscrew from the tray, gouging into the soft cork. He pried it from the bottle with a satisfying pop.
"What's got you in a good mood?" asked Erza, coming back into the room as soon as the servant left.
"Join me for a drink?" he asked, raising the empty glass.
"What's the occasion?" she asked.
"Maybe I'm just in a sharing mood?" said Gray. "It's not too farfetched to share with the staff, right?"
"No one else is watching, so I suppose it's alright," she said. She brought over an empty mug.
Gray poured two glasses of the wine, handing Erza one before picking up the other for himself.
"A toast," said Gray.
"Cheers."
Gray took a sip of the wine. It was very good wine. Strong. Poignant. But there was something there, almost some sort of earthy note with a sweet aftertaste. It lingered on his tongue.
"I was surprised to see Lyon here," she commented, sitting down next to him.
"That makes two of us," he said.
"…He didn't come at your request?"
His steward had taken it upon himself to join them in Magnolia. Given that Lyon was absolutely smitten with Queen Juvia, it didn't take a genius to guess why he had come. Of course, Lyon's love life was the least of his concerns.
"Why would I request for him to do something like that?" asked Gray. "The idiot's welcome to do whatever he wants. I'm more worried about who he left in charge back home," said Gray.
"If it's Mirajane, we would be fine," said Erza. "She's got a good head on her shoulders."
"'Would' is the operative word. She's here. Came with Lyon."
"Mira's here? I didn't see her."
"Of course, not," said Gray. "You probably couldn't see anything around Lyon's stupidity."
"Then… who's running the palace?" asked Erza.
Gray groaned. "…Cana, maybe?"
Erza paused, frowning. "That would be a problem."
Gray nodded, humming in agreement. He refilled both their glasses.
He loved all the members of his staff, but they each had a role to play. Just as Erza organized his life and accompanied him wherever he went, Lyon managed the castle and its staff, filling in on day-to-day responsibilities when he was away. Mirajane's natural gravitas and her shapeshifting abilities made her perfect as Gray's body double, and that afforded him the opportunity to take trips to Magnolia and Draghi when he needed a break from his duties. But Cana's specialty was surveillance and covert operations. Her best disguise was playing the town's homeless drunk. She was trustworthy, but not the most responsible. He'd sooner walk over hot coals than leave her in charge.
Erza's hand grazed his arm, her eyes soft and distant.
"What are you thinking about?" asked Gray.
"Gray, do you remember the first time?" asked Erza.
"First time for what?" asked Gray, frowning. This was sort of a weird topic for conversation, and Erza was never this direct.
"We had a lot of firsts," said Erza. "First state dinner, first diplomatic visit."
"First time we snuck out. First time you beat me in a fight," suggested Gray, fighting a smile.
"First poison trial."
"That was the worst," remembered Gray.
"I was terrified," said Erza.
"You? Terrified?" echoed Gray. "That's another first."
"Don't tease me. I honestly thought I was going to lose you."
"You'll never lose me. First time you saw me cry," he offered. If she was willing to make herself vulnerable, he'd do the same.
"You only let that happen once," said Erza.
"Once was more than plenty," said Gray.
Her head flopped down onto his shoulder.
"Erza?"
"Hm?" Erza smiled softly.
Though the ends of her hair tickled his neck, Gray couldn't deny that this position was comfortable. For a while, they stayed like that, enjoying one another's company, content to be silent.
"Our first argument," mumbled Erza.
"Hm? Oh. Uh…" pondered Gray. "First carriage ride."
"First time you said my name," said Erza.
Gray chuckled. "Same," said Gray. "But I think I had to wait longer."
"But that's normal," said Erza. "Your Highness," she added.
"None of that tonight. First time you cut your hair."
Erza giggled. "It wasn't that bad," said Erza, reaching up to brush at her neck.
"No, it wasn't. Looked nice on you. The first time you came to me when you wanted to talk," said Gray.
"The first time I knew that I wanted you," whispered Erza, her hand finding its way to his knee.
"What?" Gray's mouth quirked. "What are you saying?"
She couldn't have meant that. They both knew it wouldn't be that easy. There were too many reasons why it wouldn't work, which is why they avoided the topic.
Erza giggled again, leaning into him. Her hand crept its way up his thigh.
"Erza…" Gray trailed off in confusion.
Erza sat up, her eyes glassy. She giggled again, her face flushed.
"I want you, Gray," she breathed. "Here. And now."
This wasn't Erza. Erza would never be this direct. She would never have let him get this close, let alone make the first move. Something wasn't right.
For a moment, Gray blinked, unsure how to respond.
Until she started unbuttoning her dress.
"What on earth are you doing?!" barked Gray, his voice sharp. Then he sighed. "Erza, we can't. We're not doing this."
He couldn't deny that he'd imagined what it would be like to be with Erza. To talk openly, without his position getting in the way, without his fears to hold them back. To accept her without putting her in danger.
Sometimes he imagined a world where that were possible.
He never imagined it happening like this.
Gray's eyes fell on the glass still clutched in Erza's hand. Gray pushed his glass aside, taking hers out of reach as well.
Erza protested when he stood but Gray ignored her.
Could the wine have been tainted?
He'd ignored the possibility on a wishful thought. If he was being honest with himself, she'd been behaving a little strangely all evening. Ever since he'd opened that bottle of wine…
But how could the wine have been tainted?! The bottle had been sealed. He'd opened it himself! Besides, Lucy wouldn't have done something like that.
But anybody could have sent the wine. And there were ways to recork bottles after they had been tampered with.
But why would anybody attack Erza? Did they know? Were they using her to get to him?
No.
That didn't make sense.
This was meant for him. Somebody had tried to drug him. They had just miscalculated. With his immunity to various toxins and substances, whatever it was had no effect on him. But Erza…
Gray's stomach gave a nauseous pull.
Gray looked back at the tray that the servant had brought. It still contained the half-full bottle of wine, the corkscrew and a pile of napkins. Gray flipped them aside with his hand, flipping out a small white card.
This felt like his mother's murder all over again.
Trembling, Gray turned the card over.
See you tonight. – Juvia.
Gray swore.
And that's when Erza grabbed him by the shoulders. She turned him around and pulled him towards her. She leaned in, eyes shutting as her lips crashed against his.
Despite the spark of electric desire in his chest and the heat that had rushed to his face, Gray pulled away, holding her at arm's length. He swallowed hard.
"Erza, don't. This isn't you," he choked.
"Don't be afraid," purred Erza, her hands trailing down to his waist. Her thumbs tucked into his waistband. "I'm going to make you feel so good." Her eyes were fever-bright, half-lidded with lust.
Swallowing down the lump in his throat, Gray shook his head.
"…I'm getting Wendy."
Leaving Erza in their room, Gray ran down the hall, stopping the first servant he saw.
"The Prince of Draghi," he blurted.
"What?" The maid that he stopped was wide-eyed terrified. "I mean… Your Highness!"
"Forget that! The Prince of Draghi. I need you to send a message to his attendant, Wendy. Tell her that Gray needs to see her right away, and that it's urgent."
"O-kay… does that—" stammered the girl.
"Just go!" he shouted.
"Yes, right away!" she whimpered, scampering down the hall.
With help on the way, Gray went back to his room to wait for Wendy. But as he reached the door, he hesitated, his hand over the knob.
It really wasn't smart to leave Erza alone in her condition. Who knew what Juvia would try next? She was vulnerable and helpless. If anything happened, she wouldn't be able to defend herself. Gray had to be present and on high alert, for his safety and hers. But he could do that from outside, couldn't he?
Seeing Erza like that sickened him. Erza was proud and independent. Majestic despite her common birth. She wasn't some gutter-side hussy or cheap call girl.
This should never have happened. She should never have fallen under the effects of this drug –something that was doing God knows what to her… though Gray had a pretty good guess.
A moan from behind the door spurred Gray into action.
"Erza!" Gray rushed inside, unable to keep still any longer.
Gray found his friend, flushed and overheated as she struggled with her bodice, trying clumsily to take her clothes off.
"Gray! You're here!" she sobbed.
"What's wrong? Are you okay?"
What a stupid question. Of course, she wasn't okay. There was nothing okay about this.
"Don't feel good. Really warm…" mumbled Erza, tugging at her top. "Help me…"
"What can I do?" asked Gray.
Watching her suffer broke something inside him.
"This needs to come off," she panted. "Please… Gray…" Erza threw herself against him, her fever-hot skin pressed against him.
Gray shook his head. "Erza, don't. Don't do anything you're going to regret." If he let her strip down in front of him, she'd never forgive him. If she remembered any of this at all… He hoped that she didn't, for her sake.
The look in her eyes knocked the air from his lungs.
"Don't you want me?" she murmured, her voice breaking.
He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. "More than you'll ever realize," he whispered against the top of her head.
Whoever did this to her… he'd make them pay.
"I don't feel good," Erza mumbled.
"I know. I'm sorry," he said, tightening his embrace. "I'm so sorry." He stroked the top of her head. That's what she did when he wasn't feeling well. He hoped it would help.
"It's too hot."
Gray summoned his magic, drawing his hand over Erza's head again, trying to bring her some relief without stressing her system with actual ice.
Erza gave a gasp, followed by another moan. The sound made Gray feel dirty, even though none of this was his fault.
But it was his fault.
He swore he'd protect the people he cared about. Yet here they were. More tainted food. Another threatening note on a small card.
He hadn't learned his lesson.
And now, Erza was paying the price for it.
A gentle knock prompted, shortly after he had returned.
"Yes?" he called.
"It's Wendy."
"Thank goodness," said Gray.
Gray melted the ice that he was using to block the door. He got up to let her in, pushing Erza's wandering hands aside as she grabbed for him.
Behind the little Draghi healer was… her master.
"What's going on?" demanded Natsu.
"None of your business," he said. Gray barred the door, trying to block Erza from sight. The last thing he wanted was for anyone else to see her like this. She'd be mortified.
"If it involves Wendy, it is my business," said Natsu. "So, unless you've got somebody dying back there…"
Gray let out a growl of annoyance, lowering an arm for Natsu to see.
Natsu whistled low. "Wow. Yikes. What happened here?" asked Natsu.
"Juvia happened," snapped Gray, gesturing at the wine glasses.
"Oh, geez," said Natsu.
"Would you quit staring?" snapped Gray, edging into Natsu's field of vision again.
"Sorry."
After shooing Natsu out of the room, Gray hovered as close as he dared as Wendy made her examination.
"You were right to get me," said Wendy. "Miss Erza is being affected by some sort of substance. It's almost like a love potion or something."
"I figured out that much," snapped Gray. "…Sorry."
Wendy just nodded, her patience tempered by years of dealing with Natsu. "You're worried," said Wendy.
Gray bit back the retort on his tongue. "Will she be all right?" asked Gray.
Wendy nodded. "It's not life threatening. But she's in for a long night. You were right to try to keep her calm and cool."
"Yeah," scoffed Gray. "A lot of good that did."
"It's fine," said Wendy. "I can take it from here."
"If you don't need me, I'll… make myself scarce, then," said Gray.
He didn't need to watch this. He didn't want to watch this.
He had a lunatic to confront.
So... you guys knew we'd see a love potion eventually, right? ;) Normally, love potions and similar tropes are played for laughs, but there was an opportunity to use this in a more sinister manner here. As much as I enjoyed the episode where Gray ran around high as a kite (along with the half the guild that got caught in the crossfire), drugging people isn't all that funny.
With Gray's history, he would be a bit more aware of his food. I think that he's less guarded when he's visiting Natsu or Lucy, since it would be like home away from home. If you're wondering about the realism here, you might be curious about the 'recorked' bottle of wine. Also, it is possible to recork wine, apparently, according to Google. It's very difficult, but there are enough food tampering incidents that somebody's managing.
Next time, in Toxic, Juvia is waiting...: Gray's level of passion made Juvia squirm in anticipation. The potion was working even better than she had thought. Maybe she'd be a little coy and make him wait. That would only heighten the passion and make things better when he actually saw her.
Stop back next Monday for the next installment, or just follow me, Karine of R011ingThunder.