When Gray and Jellal looked up to see what had captured the attention of the dogs, they were expecting it to perhaps be a bobcat or a raccoon or a bear but it was none of those things. No it was a young woman sitting on top of a tree branch and sewing a most peculiar looking scarf.
"How unusual." Jellal said observantly. "A maiden doing her textile work in a tree."
"I don't think it's safe for her to be up there." Gray said. "This tree is decades old and I'm sure that the branches have become very weak."
Juvia had seen the dogs come at the tree trunk and she was frightened by them but she knew for a fact that dogs could not climb which meant that she would be safe until they left. So she just tried to ignore them and continue with her work, however this led to her not acknowledging the two young men who had followed the dogs.
"Excuse me, Miss!" Gray called out to her. "I don't mean to be rude but what on earth are you doing up there?"
She looked down from her perch upon hearing a man's voice, but she could not answer him. All she could do was sit and stare. She was a little afraid because they were strangers and she wasn't sure what they could or would do to her given the chance. They didn't look like scoundrels but then again her brother didn't look like a human even though underneath the scales, fangs, and talons he was indeed a human being like her. So there was a possibility that these two men were not as they appeared, which meant that she had to be cautious.
"Do you speak English?" Gray asked her.
But again she could not answer. He asked her in every language that he knew, but she remained as speechless as a fish. Yet the more that he spoke to her, the less afraid she became of him because he sounded sincerely concerned for her in his voice.
"Miss this tree is very old and I believe that the branches have become too weak to support any weight. That one you're sitting on may snap any minute and you could fall. Will you please come down before you hurt yourself?"
She nodded, put the scarf back into her basket which contained her materials for it, and proceeded to make her way down.
"Wait!" Gray protested upon seeing how risky it would be for her to do this unaided. "You could still fall if you climb down by yourself. Will you allow us to assist you?"
Again she nodded without a word. Gray then turned to Jellal.
"Please help her down and be very careful not to hurt her. She looks fragile."
"Yes sire." Jellal replied.
He quickly climbed up the tree and with great care lifted the girl down. When they reached the ground he brought her over to the dark haired young man. Now that she was able to get a closer look at him, she felt very bashful because he was by far the most handsome man she had ever seen. She also felt a little embarrassed to let him gaze upon her face for she believed that her appearance mirrored that of some homely wretch and that she would undoubtedly repulse him. However he was not repulsed by her at all.
To the contrary, his heart was touched for he had never seen a more beautiful maiden. She had the most lovely white skin, just like snow; her hair was like waves of the finest silk, her eyes were like forget-me-nots, her lips and cheeks like roses. Her beauty and innocence was so astonishing that he himself became a little bashful too.
"Hel...Hel...Hello." He said when he was able to speak again. "Might I ask you to tell me your name please?"
But Juvia just shook her head. He asked her where she was from and how she came to be in the forest but she dare not speak. She could only look at him mildly with her deep blue eyes.
"Can you not speak?" He said after she continued to remain silent with each question he had given her.
She nodded.
"Poor thing must be mute." Jellal said.
"If you're mute then it's probably not a good idea to live this deep in the forest." Gray said to her.
She merely shrugged.
"I wonder how you ended up here."
"Your highness! There you are!"
At once Jiemma and the other huntsmen had managed to catch up with the prince and his squire.
"Your highness I believe that's enough hunting for one day." The archbishop said to Gray. "I implore that you return to the castle at once."
Upon realizing that this man was royalty, Juvia immediately put down her basket and curtsied before him in a respectful manner. When Jiemma saw her he took an instant dislike to her and decided to be very unkind to her.
"You girl!" Jiemma said harshly to her. "These are the royal preserved hunting grounds! How dare you trespass here! Leave or you shall be punished!"
She trembled at his cruel voice and felt the urge to run away from here as fast as she could.
"Don't speak to her that way." Gray said sternly to the archbishop. "What's wrong with you? Can't you see that she's already scared halfway to death?"
"What's the big deal? She's just an ordinary beggar girl! Nothing special! A waste of space!"
"I swear to you Jiemma, your manners right now are so poor that they could be considered sinful." Gray scoffed.
He turned his attention back to Juvia and took notice of her hands which were brusied and blistered. He gently gathered them both up into his own hands and examined the markings on her skin. His touch sent shivers up her spine and blush to her cheeks. In all her life she had never been touched this way by any man save for her father and her brother.
"Your hands are injured. Are you alright? How did this happen?" He asked concerned.
She didn't know how to answer. It was very frustrating not being able to answer questions. But she didn't open her mouth because she knew that if she did, her brother would become a complete beast and she would never forgive herself if she caused that. She could only try to somehow find another to communicate with others that didn't involve her speaking.
"Mute, living in the forest, and injured. You must've been through something terrible, huh? Well I can't just leave you here. I think it would be best if you came back with me."
But she shook her head in protest. It wasn't that she didn't want to go, especially since staying in a castle sounded much more pleasant than staying in a tree or a cave but if her brother returned tomorrow to find her gone he would surely panic. He had told her specifically not to leave the cave while he was away and the last thing she wanted to do was cause him extreme worry or fright.
"There's no need to be afraid. I won't hurt you." Gray assured her. "But you need help, someone to tend to your injuries and it's not very safe here. A nasty storm is expected to take place tonight. Thunder, lighting, possibly flooding even. You could be drowned or washed away if you stayed here."
Now that posed as a problem. She didn't want to alarm Natsu when he came back the next day but on the other hand she didn't want be outside on the night of a storm. Especially one that could possibly lead to a flood. Perhaps she could stay in the castle tonight and then leave early tomorrow morning before Natsu returned and realized that she had left. Yes there was no harm in that. Also the alternative sounded a lot more dangerous and risky.
"Will you please come with me Miss?" He asked her. "I promise that you will be well cared for."
She nodded.
"Your highness I think that you're making a big mistake bringing that woman back to the castle." Jiemma said. "Can't you see that she's nothing but a wench? Don't pay any attention to her your excellency. Ignore her."
"I will do no such thing." Gray said. "This young lady is in desperate need of assistance and as the son of a king, it would be wrong of me to leave a lady in distress."
He put his cloak around her, lifted her onto his horse in front of himself, and ordered Jellal to carry her things. He took her to his castle and during the ride she felt the exhaustion from working today take it's toll on her. She tried to stay awake but at the moment she lacked the strength to do so and by the time they had arrived she had fallen asleep. Gray held her securely in his arms, brought her inside the castle, and quickly called for Erza the royal hand maid. In no time at all the scarlet haired woman approached him without delay.
She was a bright and blooming lass. Easily one of the most attractive servants in the royal household and the most loyal and hardworking as well. She always did her best to ensure that all who lived within the castle were cared for and attended to. She was also a very good friend and confidant.
"Welcome back my lord." She greeted before noticing Juvia. "Who is this, if I may ask?"
"I don't know. I found her in the forest and for some reason she is mute." Gray answered. "She's also hurt and very tired. I couldn't bear to leave her out there in this state."
Erza looked over at the young lady who shivered in her sleep and bore blisters on her arms and hands.
"Oh my." She said shocked by her condition. "The poor dear, she must chilled to the bone and half starved. She needs warmth, food, a nice bath, and something for these blisters. If we don't hurry she may contract a fever."
She fetched two of the other maids and instructed them to prepare the finest bedroom for their new guest and bring forth special ointments guaranteed to soothe broken and burned skin.
"Now you just let me take care of her your grace." Erza said to Gray. "I will see to it that she is fed, that her wounds are healed, and that she sleeps peacefully in a proper bed."
"Thank you Erza and I would like for some new clothes to be given to her once she has recovered."
"Of course sire, anything in particular?"
"Silks and velvets. I want her to feel welcome here."
"I shall send for them right away along with fragrant oils and salts for her bath."
"And I want you to be her personal maid. Look after her will you? Give her anything she wants and make sure that she's comfortable."
"Yes sire, Jellal please help me get this young lady into bed. She definitely needs a good night's sleep."
"Anything for you Erza." He smiled before carefully taking Juvia upstairs to her new bedroom with Erza following close behind while carrying Juvia's basket of sewing and spinning supplies.
As soon as they were gone, Jiemma approached the prince again.
"I warn you my lord, she could be dangerous." He said. "See reason and send her away."
"You know for a man of the church, you're not very charitable." Gray replied. "You should work on that."
Jiemma still tried to convince Gray to make Juvia leave but his words were dismissed and he was ordered to no longer speak of them for the rest of the day.
As for Gray, he would spend the rest of the day anxiously waiting for any update in regards to the strange, mute, but lovely young woman from the forest.