Summary: First part of my War of the Roses AU. Lucy was a Lancastrian Lady, but now orphaned, unwed, and considered a traitor to her new Yorkist King, Lucy has to make a plea to keep her own lands.

Pairings: Sisterly Ultear/Gray, brotherly Gray/Natsu, past mentions of Silver/Ur/OC/OC, some Gray/Lucy if you look at it like that, Lucy/Capricorn friendship, and Natsu/Lucy.

YouTube Prompt: A Lucy tribute to 'Go the Distance' from Disney's Hercules because I think the lyrics fit her search for a home with Fairy Tail.

Lucy tightened her hold on her manservant's arm.

"It will be fine, My Lady," Capricorn said soothingly, "the King is said to be merciful."

"My Father personally led an army of fifteen thousand men to kill him not two months ago," Lucy pointed out in a whisper. After all she was in Court and there was no telling what ears in the walls were listening in on her. She was all but a traitor now. "I doubt he will feel inclined to be merciful to me."

"You are a woman, of very high birth, in fact through your grandmother you have the same royal blood that flows through him, and therefore you are his cousin as well," Capricorn reminded her for what felt like the hundredth time this morning alone. "He will have no choice but to be merciful to you."

"That is not true," she said pessimistically, "everything you listed is good reason to not be merciful. I am the last Lancastrian in Court."

"The last Lancastrian that is honest about being one," Capricorn corrected her. "And if all goes well you will be a Yorkist."

Lancastrian and Yorkist. Lucy despised those two words. They had ruined her life. She was once a beloved child of the Royal Family. Never to inherit, oh Lord no! Her grandmother was the daughter of an illegitimate child of the third son of a King. She would have never gotten near to the throne. Far too many legitimate lines to inherit first. But the fact that she did have Royal blood made her a commodity, and the fact her Father was the Duke of Norfolk, one of the wealthiest men in the kingdom, made her all more the valuable prize on the marriage market. She had once been the King's favoured cousin, the Prince of Wales' dearest friend, and the apple of everyone's eye.

Now she is the daughter of a dead traitor. As her cousin, the King, had gone quite mad and it took a bloody war to overthrow the Lancastrians and put their Yorkist cousins on the throne instead. Lucy didn't begrudge them….but she could not see them being merciful on her either.

A steward stepped out stiffly and looked down on her condescendingly.

"The King shall see you now."

"Remember," Capricorn whispered. "You are the daughter of Lord Jude and Lady Layla, the heiress of all of Norfolk. You are an intelligent, loyal, and graceful woman, if you remind the King of this, I have no doubt he will spare you any inconvenience."

Lucy very much doubted it. She couldn't quite shake of the belief that the moment he lays eyes on her, King George I – better known as Gray to all of his friends and family – will order her away to be locked in the Tower till her dying day.

She curtsied deeply.

She didn't even look at him when she did so. She kept her eyes transfixed on the floor in order to show every obedience she could. She had to.

"Rise, Lady Lucy," the King said amused, "or should I say Cousin Lucy? I do believe we share the same Great Grandfather. Let me see your face. Do not be shy, Cousin, I will not hurt you."

Slowly, she looked up, and while she would say the King looked beautiful, with his high cheekbones, soulful eyes, and thick dark hair falling just so….she was far too scandalised to care as she also saw what other beauties the King possessed.

"You're Majesty!" she gasped. "Your clothes!"

"Oh crap!" the King cursed as he quickly hunted for his hose and tunic (both were behind the throne). "Not again! Do not tell anyone! It will not do for England to realise their new King is just as mad as the old one."

Lucy thought the women of this kingdom wouldn't mind this new sort of madness but she can see the men being very displeased by it.

"You seem to have full use of your wits, Sire," she said diplomatically, "Which sadly is more than I can say about our shared cousin Henry."

He stared at her intently and she wanted to duck down and hide from him but she suspected that would make matters worse. "Are you still in favour of Henry ruling?" he asked bluntly.

"I loved him, as all should, and gave him my obedience," Lucy said honestly, "but I did not think he was suited to the responsibilities that the Crown had attached to it. Perhaps this will be the best for everyone."

The King nodded at that in an understanding manner. Perhaps he thought it too, or perhaps he was putting her guard down before he sent for his men to take her away. "And the Prince of Wales?" he asked.

"L- His Highness does not seem prepared for Kingship," Lucy silently apologised to her friend for this. In a few years, undoubtedly he would be a great king, but he was too…carefree right now. Despite everything he was still far too willing to have fun than be serious. "His mother, Queen Karin seemed to be the driving force in the war. He did not want it enough to deserve it."

"Well said" the King applauded her. "Well said. So I believe you are here about the matter of your inheritance. As you well know that your Father being a traitor means that the land and title is confiscated."

"I understand…." Lucy murmured dutifully. "But must a child be punished for their Father's sins?" she argued gently as possible. She wanted to scream that she shouldn't be homeless and poor because her Father was a stubborn ass. "I did not take arms against you, Sire, I was in the country estate sewing shirts for the poor while the battle was happening."

"Oh I'm sure you were," the King said slightly sarcastic. She had to admit she did lay it on a bit thick with the shirts. In reality she had spent her days reading and worrying, but still she hadn't fought in the war, so why should she be punished? "You must understand Lady Lucy, I cannot trust you." No he could not….how could he when she was an heiress for the opposite side? "I do not know you, cousin or not. You were Lancastrian born and bred, what will you do with all that wealth at your fingertips?" he asked rhetorically. "Send funds to the Queen and the Prince? Raise armies in their name? Use your lack of husband to advantage to turn one of my own powerful lords against me? I think not."

"I would not do that!" Lucy burst out passionately. Each word he had uttered ate away at her. Would he not give her the chance to prove herself a loyal subject? She was too tired of war. She had lost her Father, she was going to lose her home, and her wealth…it was too much. She didn't want it to carry on to the point she had nothing at all. "I wish only to live comfortably in my own home! Nothing more! I promise you, Your Majesty, I wish no harm towards you. I am your faithful and obedient subject."

"Perhaps you are. I would not know, and I cannot afford to trust you." She felt tears prick at her eyes at that. All of this travel, all of this preparation, and worrying, and practising speech after speech, for nothing. He would not listen to her! "Do not cry, Cousin. I have a plan for you – ah!" he interrupted himself when the door behind her suddenly burst open. He looked half annoyed, yet rather glad to see whoever it was. Lucy desperately wanted to ask what the King's plan was, bring his attention back onto her matter, but she couldn't help but hope whoever made the King this happy would persuade him into being merciful to her. "Finally! And where have you been, Flame Brain?"

"I was in a duel."

Lucy shivered at the voice. She had never heard it before but there was something husky, and deep, and….

"And who the hell are you calling Flame Brain, you Snowflake!"

The voice immediately changed into a childish one and the King flew into an equally childish fit of fury.

A word on the new Royal family. While King Gray was the epitome of everything a king should be. Young, strong, just, honourable, and noble. His father was certainly not. Lord Silver, the Duke of York, had been the most scandalous man in England. Unlike his sainted cousin, he was lewd, wild, and far too loose with his morals and money. He had a Mistress who no one knew the name of, only that she must have been a redhead for his daughter, Lady Elizabeth 'Erza' Scarlet, bore a made up name in honour of a glorious red hair. Not long after the birth of his illegitimate daughter, Lord Silver went on a diplomatic mission in Italy and came home with an Italian wife, a widowed Italian wife with two children, who became a permanent fixture of the Royal Family despite being foreign and having not a single ounce of royal blood. Despite his devotion to his Italian wife that resulted in their new king, there was another Mistress, and three months after Gray's own birth, his bastard half-brother was born.

Lord Natsu Dragneel was now standing behind her.

Lucy had only ever seen him a handful of times and always at a distance. He was unruly, always fighting, and kept everyone attention with his bright, unusual, hair. He had not changed much.

Only the look on his face was…. Very serious. And she found herself drowning in his dark, solemn, stare.

"Lady Lucy," the King brought her attention back to him, "I would like to introduce you to Lord Natsu Dragneel. Brother, this is Lady Lucy Heartfilla, heiress to Norfolk."

"Right…" Natsu said uncaringly, Lucy huffed a little. Did he not know that she was possibly the richest woman in the kingdom now? "And I had to meet her because…? Come on you icy pervert! I have better things to do. Gajeel and I were going to duel when your page dragged me up here."

"Natsu," the King hissed through gritted teeth. "I'm going to make you a Duke. Lord knows why, you don't deserve it. "But I am going to make you the Duke of Norfolk, and this here shall be your Duchess." Lucy felt her mouth drop open at that. She was going to keep her inheritance but only as a dowry that will go straight to her husband. "You see, my Lady," the king said smugly, "Everyone will win. You can keep the comfort of the wealth you are accustomed to, my brother will have the land and title he deserves, and I can rest in peace knowing you are in good hands I can trust. Everyone wins."

Lucy had to admit he was right. Everyone does win. The king, his brother, and all of the Yorkists.

Not her.

She doesn't win anything at all.

FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT

"You did what?"

Lady Ultear had severely hoped she had misheard her brother as he made his announcement at her private dinner. It was only the two of them, a rarity now he was king and everyone demanded his time, and now she was wishing Lyon would have joined them. He would have at least acted as a buffer for Gray's stupidity and Ultear's temper.

"I have betrothed Lady Lucy Heartfilla to my brother Natsu," Gray repeatedly slowly as if she was the dim-witted one.

"How- how could you?" Ultear spluttered furiously. "What about Lyon?"

"What about him?"

"I think you should see to your legitimate brother first before you reward the other."

"Lyon has lands of his own," Gray pointed out impatiently. "He has his own inheritance. Natsu does not. I am ensuring my poorer brother's future while keeping a potential difficulty in line."

"To make Natsu the Duke of Norfolk, of all things, is disastrous," Ultear said furiously. "What if he takes it into his head to be King next?"

"Natsu wouldn't," Gray shrugged. "That moron only cares about his next meal and fighting Gajeel. He's too loyal."

Ultear had to give him that. As much as she….well she didn't dislike Natsu, there was something charismatically sweet about him, but she didn't love him. He was not her brother. He was an intruder to her family life. Like Erza was. "He is a simple-minded fool," she said shortly, determined not to lose the fight. "She could persuade him to her cause!"

She was Lady Lucy Heartfilla, and Ultear didn't like her either. The wealthy Lancastrian girl could easily cause problems for her baby brother, and if there was one thing Ultear was determined to do in her life, it was to ensure Gray was the greatest king England had ever seen.

"I doubt Lucy would do that," Gray said dismissively. "She seems tired enough of the strife we have all suffered. I truly believe she wants her inheritance to live on and nothing else."

Ultear narrowed her eyes at him as a suspicion took hold of her. "Gray…do you…" she struggled a little to find a way to put it delicately, and then decided to just jump in with it. "Do you wish to make her your own?"

"What?!"

"Marry her off well and then take advantage of the situation," Ultear said flatly.

"What exactly are you implying Ul?"

"Do you wish to make her your Mistress?" Ultear asked outright. "I am no fool, Gray, I know you have often thought her very beautiful."

As did all the men at Court. And all of those on the streets that had seen her ride past. If there was one thing Ultear could not stand about Lucy Heartfilla, aside from her Lancastrian loyalties, it was her beauty.

"Yeah, I have but that doesn't mean – Christ!" Gray interrupted himself, half horrified, and half disgusted. "Ultear what do you think of me? I am marrying her to my brother. I am so busy being pulled one way or the other while trying to fix the damages we have all caused to this country….I cannot bring myself to think on it. I have no intentions to Lady Lucy other than the family duty of a Cousin, soon to be brother. Can you believe that?"

Ultear said nothing as she studied her baby brother over a glass of wine. She adored him. She really did. But she knew him better than he knew himself. After all she had been there for his first words, his first steps, and had always been the first one to catch him when he fell. She wasn't sure if she could be there this time.

"Can you trust me to do what is right for our country?"

"Oh very well!" she sighed, she knew this was a fight she would never win. Gray was like her. Stubborn and far too loving. And he loved Natsu too much to not let him have the title and lands, Gray felt he deserve….and truly, Gray was right though Ultear still felt Lyon needed to be rewarded as well. It was only fair. "You know that I only want what is best for you."

"I know" Gray patted her hand comfortingly. "And I trust no other with my safety, soul, and even crown. Would you keep her in your service for the time being? I need her at Court until Natsu weds her."

"Yes," Ultear agreed. It suited her fine to have the Lancastrian wrench under her power for the time being. She can ensure the woman will not be able to plot. "I shall keep an eye on her as well," she answered her brother's unasked question.

He smiled at her sweetly, like he had done so when he was nothing more than a babe, and she clenched her glass tightly.

She was determined that Lucy Heartfilla will not ruin her brother's reign. No matter what. Ultear will protect her own…even if it did include Natsu.

FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT

A couple days later Lucy encountered her betrothed in the corridor. He looked wild as ever with his tunic undone, his undershirt missing, and his pink hair standing all over the place. She ignored the skip her heart made, she could not afford to get flustered out of nerves….he might think her as a simpleton and try take advantage.

He stopped and bowed at her. "My Lady," he said courteously.

She curtsied back. "My Lord."

And then there was this really awkward moment of silence as he stared at her and she was unable to do anything else but stare back.

"I…. I wouldn't worry too much about it!" he suddenly blurted out loudly. She jumped at the sound of his voice which reverted back to his childish whine. "That Ice Freak said we'll need a deep….a depa….a deppy thingy!" her lips twitched in amusement at his butchery of the word dispensation. She had forgotten they would need that. They were, after all, related by the fourth, or perhaps fifth, she lost count there was too many cousins both illegitimate and legitimate, degree. "So the Pope might say no and you won't have to marry me after all, heh," he scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

"I hope not," Lucy said quietly, "I need this Wedding to happen."

Aquarius, her old governess turn Lady's Maid, had explained it all to her how she desperately needed this marriage. She would give everything up but she would live. She would be in Court, she would be safe, and she could earn the King's favour in order to win back the right to her lands when her husband died. Natsu offered her the best protection in the world as the beloved brother of the King.

"Why?" he asked obliviously.

"I need it for protection," Lucy admitted.

He nodded understandingly. "I will protect you," he promised sweetly. "Far better than anyone else could. I'm the best fighter there is."

She smiled. He was so sincere that she instantly believed him and there was something so endearing about him, that she wanted to smother him with motherly affection (yes that must be it, why else would she want to wrap her arms round him?). "I'm sure you are, and I have no doubt you will."

He beamed at her. All teeth and childish innocence. "Want to play?" he asked.

She blinked, bewildered. "Play?"

"The children of the Court are very bored," Natsu explained. "I promised I would play knights and damsels with them, would you like to join?"

She smiled at that. How incredibly sweet! And how….pleasant, and different, and exciting! She hadn't met a single person who would take the time with the children that lived at Court like Natsu was doing right now. "I would like that."

"Brilliant!"

He took her hand and dragged her out to the Courtyard. He introduced her to Romeo, a son of a minor knight that had served in Natsu's uncle's household, and Wendy, a ward of his sister's, and before she knew it he immediately threw himself into the role of a dragon and allowed Romeo to slay him, while attacking Wendy with tickles. It was both thrilling and endearing to watch.

As she watched him she knew her lot could be so much worse than this.

She could live with this.

And who knows.

Mabel she'll fall in love with him as well.