She looked directly at his penetrating gray eyes. They were sharp and didn't show much emotion, but she knew it wasn't like that, she could see through him. She could see the pain and guild he was feeling although he was pretending everything was fine. -Princess...-

-Hm?-

-I am so sorry for everything- he looked away trying to avoid her eyes -I should have been there next to you. I was your knight... and I failed my Princess...-

Juvia slightly smiled and swam to were her things were. She opened her bag with her wet hands and took something. Gray followed her every movement until she came back to him. She hold one of his hands and placed a little piece of metal on it. -This belongs to you- He was surprised and couldn't hide it at all.

-This is..!-

-Your Knight emblem-

-I-I... I don't deserve to have this... I've been exiled-

-Gray...- She looked at him -It doesn't matter what happenes, you will always be my one and only Knight. The one who will always be by my side, the only one I can trust, and-- she stopped herself.

-...and..?- her face turned into a more intense pink shade. Seeing that she couldn't finish her sentence because of her embarassment he gently held her face while still holding the emblem and planted a small kiss on her forehead.

-And the only one you can love?-

-Its even more embarassing if you say it out loud...-she murmured causing him to giggle.

Juvia hid her face on his neck and he placed his hand on her hair -You are too cute, Princess- After some seconds of silence, Gray decided to talk again -I think we should get going-

-Huh? Why?-

Gray helped her get out of the water by holding her from the waist. Following her, Gray came out and rapidly pushed the Princess's head down -Princess, please stay on the ground-

-Eh..?!-

-Shh-

Gray walked towards the silent forest but suddenly, his cheek was barely cut by a knife that was thrown at him from in between the trees. -...- Juvia saw the knife stucked right before her eyes on the ground with Gray's blood runing down.

-Well, well...- The four man that tried to kidnap Juvia came out from the woods -Seems like we meet again- one of them said.

-What are you doing here?- Gray cleaned his cheek with his finger and remained calm.

-What do you think, pretty boy? We are here for the Princess-

-...- Gray just stood there watching every single of their movements.

-Guess you're not going to give her that easily- the leader said with a despicable smile -Oh, right. Last time you said we would have to kill you in order to get her-

-Then I guess you have no other option but to try- Gray replied. One of the thiefs ran towards him with his knife and started to attack Gray. His attacks were not hard to avoid for him so Gray easily managed to kick him far away sending him towards a tree, but the unexpected scream from Juvia caught his attention making him loose his concentration and receiving a punch in the stomach from another thief. -P...Princess...- He called her while holding his stomach in pain. He suddenly coughed and blood came out from his mouth. Was the enemy that strong? The tallest of the criminals grabbed Juvia by her hair and lifted her up from the floor. Gray tried to stand up but one of the other thiefs stood in front of him with a sword. Gray avoided his attacks and even managed to grab the sword with his hands before it went to his chest.

-Eh..?-

-I said you'll have to kill me first. Is this all you got..?-

-You crazy bastard..!- The thief with the knife kicked Gray on the floor and the one with the sword lifted his weapon to kill Gray.

-Gray!- Juvia shouted. Despite her pain, she wasn't feeling anything compared to what Gray was feeling. She had to do something. Juvia hold her right leg back and with all of her strenghth she kicked his captivator on his masculinity. The pain was so much that he couldn't even managed to say a word.

-Y...you... little...- and fell on the ground. Juvia grabbed his pocket knife and ran towards Gray. With her clumsy movements she managed to make the thiefs step back.

-Get away from him!-

-Princess what are you--

-I'll kill you if you touch him any further- her big blue eyes showed no other emotion other than hate and anger. She had made her mind. She wouldn't hesitate. She would save him.

The three men in front of her started laughing at her. Her slim body was shaking and her hands were not even holding the knife properly -Are you saying YOU are going to kill us?- the three of them looked at each other and started laughing.

-Juvia what are you doing?!- Gray shouted at her.

-I'll save us-

-Don't be dumb and get out as fast as you--

-You little brat- the thief throwed his sword on the ground and grabbed a knife from his pocket -Let me show you how you do it- He started running at her and just before he cut her throat Gray stood in front of her receiving a cut on his chest.

-Agh...-

-...!- she couldn't say a word but just look at his Knight falling right before her eyes.

-Oh... guess we win...-

-GRAY..!- She shouted. Juvia leanes next to him and started trying to put pressure on his wound in order to make the blood stop from coming out.

-Prin... cess...- he lifted his bloody right hand and touched her cheek, leaving a trace of blood on her face.

-Don't move..! I-I'll save you..!-

-No you won't- and the man who was previously hit by Juvia kicked her on the head making her go unconscious.

.

Juvia opened her eyes and slowly sat up without remembering what had happened. She noticed how the walls and the floor were moving so she moved towards the iron bars in front of her ans realized she was being taken somwhere in a closed wood wagon with iron bars preventing her from escaping. She looked back and saw Gray unconscious on the wagon's floor and suddenlh she remembered what had happened. Scared, she went towards him and saw how his wound was covered with some bandages. -Gray...- she gently touched his hair and moved closer to him -I'm so sorry...- tears fell down her cheeks. All she wanted was for him to be safe.

The movement of the wagon stopped and she heared footsteps coming towards them. -I see you woke up, Princess. Don't worry, we are almost here- one thief said.

-Wait..!- she called him before he went.

-Hm?- he looked at her annoyed.

-Please... do whatever you want to do with me, but please...- she started crying -please save Gray...-

-His wounds weren't deep enough to kill him so stop whining, Princess- his captivator said. Then he proceeded to open the bars door and violently pulled Juvia out by her arm.

Anotherone came and abruptly took Gray on his shoulder. -Please..! Be careful...- Juvia begged, but he just started jumping with an unconscious Gray on top of him.

-Let's go- her captivator said while dragging her.

They arrived into an abandoned-looking house in the middle of the forest. One of them opened the basement door and throwed them both inside. Luckily Juvia was able to catch her knight before his head reached the floor. -Wai..!- they slammed the door and locked it from the outside.

Everything was dark.