Thank you all for the reviews on the last chapter. I'm glad so many of you were still ready to read this story! This Chapter is a little shorter than you might be expecting. There's a reason for that and a reason why I'm titling this chapter as "Interlude." What happens next needs a chapter all on it's own as it may become quite lengthy, who knows. But this little bit is sort of a "break" after the action that took place in Chapter 8. Anyway, hope you enjoy!
Chapter 9:
Erza Scarlet had to be one of the most intimidating women Lucy had ever met. Unfortunately, she barely remembered most of the encounter, so riddled by fever. The woman had approached Natsu with a gaze that could stab through a mountain, staring at Lucy's prone form in confused distrust.
She didn't know the Romni- nor the events that lead them to that point. Lucy could hardly blame her for being wary. Natsu, however, took full offense- hackles raising as he growled in defense of her. Perhaps he had even drawn the exhausted girl into his arms protectively, or that had been part of Lucy's fever dream. She drifted in and out from the moment her senses had returned- never sure if she was hearing reality or creating her own.
How did it get to that point? She truly couldn't remember. Just a dull pain swimming through her mind as the final, drifting reminder.
"Oi- Erza, don't look at 'er like that, she just SAVED me."
"I am very grateful that she did, but that doesn't answer ANY of my questions. She's clearly too far out of it to speak. You'll have to suffice: start talking." His growl sounded like thunder to her- but Erza's reply had sounded like ice.
It had caused her to shiver, slight moan escaping even as parched lips stretched to form words. "They… they saved me…" She had murmured weakly before a warm hand landed on her forehead, covering her eyes which silenced her. .
"Shh, no more talkin'. Just rest. I got this."
Lucy never heard the rest of their conversation- hours later, when she awoke in a small wagon full of weapons and armor, some events were pieced together. The caravan Natsu had run to was also a part of the Fairies With Tails, though they were smaller in number. Many of the groups separated from the main train were tiny- chosen that way last spring.
Erza had been leading them. She was strong, fierce- her words would sound calm one moment, then turn to steel and danger without notice. It had been her job to protect the smaller force, travelling to earn coin in whatever manner they saw fit. As soon as Lucy's fever had forced her to sleep, Natsu had explained Makarov's decision to let her stay with them and the events that followed the landslide. To put it simply, the redheaded warrior had not been pleased to know they weren't with the main group. Though her countenance had turned far softer, ordering Lucy to be put to bed in her own wagon- something Natsu argued until the woman had agreed to at least let him guard the rear entrance.
'She's MY charge, so I'm keepin' an eye on her!' He had claimed- angry, prepared to carry her in his arms again rather than risk becoming ill himself while riding the wagon.
'You carry her and that fever gets worse. Are you questioning me?' Apparently that was all she needed to put the Draconis in line. Something Lucy had been rather disappointed to miss. She had learned quickly that Natsu wasn't an easy person to subdue- nor did he often allow it either.
Erza was a formidable woman.
"Excuse me, Lucy, but could you hand me my brush?" She was also very attentive towards her hair, which was a fiery red that fell to her hips. Lucy found it gorgeous and had openly said so the moment she had a chance. The warrior's cheeks had turned almost as red as the very tresses she brushed and had even stammered out a quiet thank you.
Now as the Romni handed a small, horse hair brush over to the woman, she had to hold back a small cough, exhaustion still prefacing her every action. In truth, Lucy felt quite useless- as if sleeping and being taken care of was all she was good for. It made her glare ruefully at her swollen leg, as it now refused to even let her stand. Wendy was not going to be happy when they saw each other again.
"Thank you- you're not too uncomfortable, are you?" The question pulled Lucy from her thoughts, glancing back towards the woman, whose gaze was softer than it had been- looking towards her leg. A scar was all that was left- yet the kneecap itself was swollen to the size of a small ball. A clear sign of over use. It made the redhead almost feel guilty and she sighed. "I apologize if my own quarters are not properly suited for rest."
"Oh, no, this is fine. Better than fine, really!" Lucy answered, waving a hand smiling weakly. "The furs are nice to lay on, it's just- …" She didn't quite know how to word it, eyes moving back towards the exit of the small space, biting her bottom lip anxiously.
"Don't worry," Erza assured, resuming her task. "He gets sick in wagons so he'll let you sleep."
Well, she had to admit, it was a little embarrassing having part of her thoughts so easily read, but she shook her head. "That's not it. Natsu has…. He's been very good to me."
"Has he now? Perhaps he's grown since I last saw him. A surprising concept."
The tired girl only nodded, lips slightly curving. It seemed, everyone in this group had their own knowledge towards Natsu's…. Quirky characteristics. Snuggling back into the many furs Erza allowed her to use, Lucy sighed softly and bit back another cough. Just how fatigued was she? Lucy didn't remember being like this when she had first joined them.
Was something else making her sick?
"You know, your power is quite beautiful-" Erza continued, slightly grunting as her brush hit a snag, "Almost as if the very heavens had come down to aid us. Truly, it was an interesting sight."
Words like that could have rang a bell in the Celestial Nomad's mind, but she was already falling fast asleep once more, unable to attend further conversation. The red headed warrior took that as her cue to let her rest, setting her brush aside (hair shinier than it had been) and exiting through the back of her wagon. A certain, pink-haired Draconis almost tripped her on the way out, practically barring the exit with a firm scowl.
"How is she?" He asked, yelping when Erza frowned and shooed him off to the side. The nerve, blocking her way like that.
"Exhausted to the point she can't stay awake for longer than ten minutes at a time." She admitted, eyes sliding towards her friend. His jaw was tight, bunching up on the left side. He seemed… taller than usual. Had he grown within the months they'd last seen each other? "Are you sure, you told me everything about her?"
"If ya' don't believe me, ask the old man when we get back!" He snapped, clearly tired of the constant suspicions she'd been hitting him with. "I've told ya' all I know about her."
"I see…" From one of the Golden Tribes, taken out by darkness- it was a worrisome thought to consider; Considering she had never heard of a Clan with such dark powers before. Lucy's own abilities were raising red flags in her mind as well. Why had she been the only survivor? Why did she have zero knowledge on how to control her magic? - most of all…
Why in the world was her wound, obviously healed, still causing so much damage in the girl's body? It seemed those thoughts echoed in Natsu's mind, but his attachment to Lucy was another matter. It had only been the end of Summer that Lucy had joined them- and Natsu's instinctive need to protect others had always been one of his greatest traits.
Yet the way he stood by the wagon exit, practically ready to attack anything at the smallest sign of danger- heat radiating from his body- was confusing. What was it about this girl that rose such a desperate instinct in him?
"We should have Porlyusica check her when we return." She decided with a nod of her head. Natsu's eyes flashed in intrigue, side-eyeing her. The old woman was their strongest healer, but never ventured out with the Caravan's during the year. In fact, she'd much prefer keeping to herself for most days. "Perhaps then your attention won't be so dismal in battle."
"H-Hey! I did just fine in that fight. You couldn't even get CLOSE to that shadow guy-" Words died in his throat as he remembered Lucy's story to Makarov. Those who had destroyed her clan used darkness and shadows hadn't they? The mere thought made his hackles raise all over again. "Look, I don't like that he's here. We shoulda got what we needed out of him and shoved him off down th'river!"
Oddly cold for someone like Natsu, but Erza chose not to comment on it. "He has information that I want The Chief to hear. Focus on protecting you e, Natsu. Though I'm starting to wonder why you seem so impatient for a complete stranger."
"Erza!" A low hiss like water over flame and a flash of gold flashed through the man's eyes, fist raising at an alarming speed to swipe before her face. The sudden violent act caused her to recoil, hand withdrawing her blade in a seamless movement- "Don't talk about her like that. She didn't deserve what happened to her and I ain't ABOUT to let it happen again."
Well… that.. Was interesting- even the telltale sign of embers were dancing off his skin, looking almost harder in the sunlight. An over the top reaction if she'd ever seen one. "Calm yourself: I'm not about to let any of us, including her, get hurt you idiot!"
He blinked, body relaxing as dark onyx covered his eyes again, realization dawning slowly. "Err, right- yeah.. I didn't mean… look, she… she needs me- us, okay? Just.. trust me." Eyes became hooded as he glanced away, just as surprised as she was by his anger.
"Of course I trust you." Erza conceded, re-sheathing her sword as the heat from his body cooled.
'But is it she that needs you? Or you that need her?' She would have to keep an eye on them.
Travelling with a smaller group and along the main trail's sped Natsu and Lucy's progress tremendously. Though the blonde continued to waft in and out of sleep for hours at a time, Natsu never hesitated to open the door and fill her in on every detail of the day. They'd be near the entrance of their wintry home soon and hopefully, Makarov and the others had already made it.
This was Natsu's hope and Lucy shared it with him, happy he was relaying to her details when she was awake and even offering to keep talking until she'd drift off again. He never ventured into the wagon, but the Romni had shifted the bed furs close to the exit, allowing herself the time and space needed to hear him with ease.
She felt safe and the sounds of his voice lulled her to sleep faster than she'd liked to admit or even consider. Even Erza could not wake her when the woman came to check up on her, opting to ride her own horse instead and give Lucy more privacy.
Unfortunately, she was woken once or twice by Natsu causing some form of commotion and quickly being shut back down by the leading warrior. - though neither of them chose to explain just what he was getting so mad about each time it occurred.
The glances they kept giving a wagon farther off, however, was starting to give Lucy an idea. One of the men who had attacked them- who she had saved Natsu from, he was there. Locked inside by someone's magic. She believe Erza had mentioned a barrier, but she couldn't be so sure. The Celestial Romni barely remembered the events of her saving Natsu, but she had heard enough since she'd been put to bed.
A man who controlled Shadows had been choking the life out of Natsu when Lucy had came to them. Her mind was foggy of this, but the whispers from outside the wagon and Natsu's own retelling of her "heroic save" had entered a few of her dreams.
Yet she still couldn't remember a thing, but every mention of the man sent a cold shiver down her spine, coiling into her throat like sap and taking the voice from her. So familiar… terrifyingly familiar. It reminded her of the men they had spied in the forest. Which caused her apprehension to grow each time she thought too deeply about it. When the sun was finally close to setting once again, she had fallen into a fitful sleep of memories that made whimpers escape and her body to shudder in small spasms.
The Draconis who kept the door open felt his own gut wrench at the sight, unable to do a thing to comfort her. When they shared a tent, he had risked her anger to sleep beside her, but now…. Trying to do the same would merely end in expunging the contents of his stomach which was sure to lead to two very, angry ladies.
"Hey, hey- we're almost there Lucy, just hang tight-" He muttered, reaching through the opening to brush away strands of blond from the girl's face, lips thinning into a straight line as he felt the fever burning away at her. She needed the sleep, but it drove him crazy to see her like this.
So haunted- so pained. Clenching his teeth together, he stretched his arm further to try and pull the furs up over her shoulder, blinking in astonishment when slender fingers moved to grasp his own. She wasn't awake, but her body was aware enough. With fingers entwined with his own, the shudders finally stopped and he breathed a sigh of relief.
He could handle an arm ache from the odd position, even as he tried to keep up with the moving wagon. Even if a jolt from a wayward rock would cause him to stumble every now and again. Lucy's hold never left his own and he never noticed the stare's coming at him from the others.
Especially the one Erza gave him.
Hang in there, we're almost there….
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