Summary: Lucy can't help but suspect there is an undercurrent movement against her marriage. Gray, meanwhile, is making political alliances.
Pairings: Natsu/Lucy, sibling Erza/Natsu/Gray, sisterly Ultear/Gray, Erza/Lucy friendship, and Jellal/Erza.
Author's Note: Thank you, thank you, thank you! Over SEVEN HUNDRED reviews now! This and the fact that I got to meet Philippa Gregory for the second time (I now own two books with her autograph! EEK!) has really made my weekend. Thank you again!
Lucy never liked Court when she was a child but now she despised it.
She was constantly stared at. Her actions were constantly commented upon. And there were whispers following her wherever she went. Some whispered she should be locked up in the Tower. Some whispered that Natsu should drop dead before he weds her, for he was unworthy. Some whispered the opposite, how could the Lancastrian bitch dare set her cap on a precious Yorkist? Bastard or not, he was beloved of the Court. And then there was the Lady Ultear.
The Lady Ultear seemed determined to make her life a misery. She demeaned her with tasks more suited to servants than her lady in waiting, she made snarky remarks that undermined Lucy and made her feel six inches tall, and she ensured no one dared to be friendly to her without severe consequences. Mistress McGarden, a cheerful daughter of an English lady and Scottish mercenary, had been dismissed almost instantaneously when she lent Lucy a book. Most fortunately Lady Mirajane, granddaughter in law to the Earl of Warwick, and taken her into her employment but still! She had guaranteed Lucy's loneliness, and if it wasn't for the constant attention from her betrothed perhaps she would die of loneliness.
Natsu had become a fast friend in the months she had been betrothed to him. He constantly walked with her, spoke animatedly about his day, insisted on her watching his duels, and played with her and the children of the Court. He seemed to constantly desire her company and she welcomed it warmly as she was desperate for some of her own.
There was no love between them, there never is in an arranged marriage, especially one between two warring factions, but there is friendship. There is affection, and warmth, and a sudden desire to tell each other everything. They were best friends and that was the best start one could hope in a marriage.
"Oi, Lucy!" Natsu called out to her. "Come and play!"
She rolled her eyes at his childishness. One would not think he was nineteen summers and a battle hardened warrior. "I cannot," she said, "Lady Ultear wishes for me to go to the kitchens and instruct them on her dinner tonight, and then I am supposed to fetch her laundry back from the laundress, and get out her favourite damask gown out for dinner with the King and his councillors. Though which favourite damask gown I do not know, there is no doubt I will pick the wrong one.
"Never mind smelly old Ultear," Natsu grinned soothingly. "She's just bitter 'cause no one wants to marry her. Besides this is that pervert's orders," she tried to not to smile at Natsu's persistent name calling for the King. If it was anyone else who said that Natsu would have punched them by now. "Erza has come home, you have to meet her."
Lucy blinked. Lady Elizabeth Scarlet had been strangely absent from Court these last few months although her beloved ward Wendy was most certainly in Court. "Where has Lady Elizabeth been?" she asked.
"Erza," Natsu corrected her, "no one calls her Elizabeth. Not even our enemies. She would want you to call her Erza."
"Okay," Lucy agreed, "Erza….but that doesn't answer my question."
He grinned mischievously. "Can't tell you. That snow cone of a brother of mine would have my head. Literally. Let's just say secret mission-y stuff across seas."
Her eyes widened. To have a woman do such a task….diplomacy must have been involved and spying, for who would suspect a woman?
Natsu grabbed her hand and dragged her down the corridors, she had managed to pass on her duties to someone else between floors, but Natsu was determined to get her into Gray's presence chamber sooner than later.
She was breathless by the time they burst into the room and her breath was instantly taken away by the sight of Lady Erza.
People of England had called Queen Karin a she-wolf but what they didn't seem to realise was their new King's sister looked like a she-wolf. Queen Karin may behaved in an unwomanly way but she still dressed like a queen, Lady Erza however….well Lucy had never seen a woman in a breastplate before but she wore it well. She looked intimidating and terrifying, with her long red hair wild and free.
She looked like she could eat Lucy up for dinner.
"Natsu," she said coolly….and then she grabbed him by the back of the head and slammed him into her armour. "I have missed you."
"Gah!" Natsu choked in her arms "Erza!"
"Heh," Gray snickered.
"And you!" Erza glowered terrifyingly at the King. "Just because you're our king doesn't mean you get away without one either!"
"What?! Erza don – ouch!"
After Erza had finished strangling her brothers to near death she released them and her eyes landed on Lucy. They were a similar brown to Lucy's but narrow, colder, and far more terrifying. She gulped and looked away quickly.
"Heartfilla's daughter?" Erza questioned. "What is she doing here?"
"I'm marrying her!" Natsu said far too cheerfully. Lucy fought back the urge to kick him out of a window for being so….so…so carefree! Doesn't he understand anything?!
"Natsu is getting married?" Erza said in disbelief. "Wendy had written to me about it but I didn't believe it could be possible. I thought she got muddled up and meant another lady. After all, wasn't Heartfilla a Lancastrian?"
"She isn't traitor enough to go into the Tower," Gray shrugged and Lucy cringed at that. He probably didn't mean to sound so callous but still….it hurt. "Natsu needs some land or he'll forever sponge off of me, it's a win-win situation."
"Hmm, how do I know that she is worthy for Natsu?" Erza asked. Lucy felt her eye twitch angrily at that. "Or if Natsu is worthy enough for her? I think it's best if she is put into my keeping for now," Lucy's eye definitely twitched at that. Was she to be an object passed from one member of the Royal family to another? But then Erza smiled warmly at her which….well Lucy was certain her heart stopped beating out of sheer shock of it all. "Wendy has written nothing but good about her and someone should safeguard her virtue from this braggart."
"Who are you calling a braggart?!"
And then before her the three royal children of the Duke of York burst into a brawling argument that was probably more suited to peasants. Lucy had never been more entertained, and when she accidentally burst into laughter at the sight of Natsu being pinned on top of Gray by Erza, they all looked up at her and joined in.
She too, was then slammed into Erza's cold armour and pinned there by her warm arms. "I think," Erza's voice hummed above her head. "You will be a marvellous addition."
Lucy never liked Court, she still didn't like Court, but she felt it could be bearable now.
Because she might just have found more friends.
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
"It has been finalised."
Ultear peered at her brother over her goblet of wine. His main councillor, the only one that showed up despite Gray rudely uninviting everyone so he could have dinner with his sisters alone (Natsu had not showed up and Ultear strongly suspected he was hovering round his new betrothed or fighting Sir Gajeel…..again), looked bewildered as she felt. Apart from Erza, who was more focused on her plate than she normally would be, and her face was strangely as red as her hair.
"What has?" Viscount Dryer asked.
"The new alliance with Flanders."
Viscount Dryer frowned. "What about the French alliance?" he demanded to know. Ultear remembered from Gray's recounting of council meetings Viscount Dryer and a small number were all in favour of Gray or Ultear or someone from the Royal family marrying a Frenchman to seal an alliance with them.
"Queen Karin is the French King's sister," Gray pointed out. As he has for the last few months. "He is unlikely to sign a treaty with me let alone send a relative to marry one of my own."
"You are not to marry a Flemish princess," Viscount Dryer said, "not without the approval of your council."
Any other person would have snarled that the council had no say in their marriage. True or not, but Gray shrugs it off as it was obviously not his marriage he was talking about. Ultear hoped to God he hadn't arranged anything for her without consulting her first. She would murder the little twit in his sleep – her new husband, not her brother though he wouldn't escape unharmed….
"You know full well there is no Flemish princess to marry," Gray rolled his eyes, "The Duke of Flanders only has three sons, triplets, a curse to his house for all three are equal in looks, birth, and ability. One could very well be the other, how would he know? So he desires an equal inheritance for all of his sons. One is being sent for a dukedom and Erza's hand in marriage, in return we have a new ally against the Lancasters and the French."
Ultear squashed down the old resentment for Erza. She had no hate for the redhead and she didn't particularly envy her marrying one of the odd Flemish boys….but she disliked that Gray cared more about Erza's wellbeing than Ultear. He looked and found Erza a husband and will bless them with lands and titles, while Ultear remained only Lady Ultear. It was the same jealousy when Lord Silver called his daughter the same pet-names as his called Ultear, only he added an extra affectionate affliction when addressing his own blood.
"If we got rid of the Lancastrian girl-"
"Lucy is an innocent," Gray interrupted his councillor. "Innocent as she could possibly be with her family history. We are not the Lancastrians who pardon and un-pardon on a whim. We are merciful. We are just. We are loving but firm. We are Yorkists. Lucy proves to the world we are the better choice for we have been merciful and loving to her. I will not make a martyr out of her."
"But you will make a duchess and a sister out of her."
Erza glowered at Viscount Dryer for his rudeness. She had quickly become a firm friend with Lady Lucy having taken her from Ultear without even asking. Ultear worried that Erza will be too friendly and become ignorant of any conspiracy around the girl. Ultear was harsh. She was mean and unkind, she was more than willing to admit that, but there had be reason for it. No one dared befriend her then no one dared to bring her messages of treason and with Ultear's eyes everywhere in the kitchens and wardrobes where Lucy did most of her tasks, no one could try to give her a message even if they wanted to.
Erza ruined Ultear's careful watch of the girl and now who knows what will happen.
"I make a duke out of a loyal brother and give him wealth to muster me an army," Gray counteracted Dryer. Just as I make a duchess out of my sister and tie a rich country in alliance to us. Given the right people and chance I would do the same for Ultear and Lyon."
"One would hope so for you seem to only favour your father's illegitimate children," Ultear said icily, "you should be cautious. Others might pick up on that and come out with stories of how they too are your brothers and sisters."
"You worry too much and think too little of me," Gray glared at her. "I know who my brothers and sisters are. My father may have been indiscreet but that was a blessing for he ensured all of his children were claimed for, bastards, legitimate, and step. He loved us all."
"Your father was a very loving man and we are unfortunate in never experiencing such love in a king," Viscount Dryer said silkily. His tone set Ultear on edge. It felt more like an insult to her brother than a compliment to her stepfather. She glanced at Erza who glared fiercely at the Viscount before she turned a worried look to Ultear. They were both thinking the same thing – who else thought the same? "But perhaps from now on you should look into favouring others than your father's disgraces. You have your own marriage to think of, and I am certain the French would not turn down the opportunity to put another French queen on the throne of England. Their wealth and military strength would be-"
"I believe," Gray interrupted with all the royal dignity and grace a king should have, "we are so busy fulfilling our agreements with Flanders and ensuring our hearth is secure from internal threats, that there is no need to seek out a marriage for myself just yet. And if it was it would certainly not be France. England has endured enough generations of French queens from the Lancastrians they could do with a reprieve. Perhaps Spain, or further north, or even Italy for their many kingdoms have produced fine princesses such as my own mother."
"Indeed," Viscount Dryer said icily. Ultear could not help but hide a fond smile behind her handkerchief, her mother had certainly not be a princess but there was no doubt that in the eyes of her husband and son she had been. Gray's loyalty to his family was as endearing as it was annoying. "I am sure you know best, after all you are the King."
"Yes, I am," Gray agreed softly, "and never forget that."
Erza shared another look at Ultear and she nodded in reply. As soon as Viscount Dryer was escorted out by Erza, who flattered him into asking her to be her escort to her rooms, and Ultear was certain they were alone she unleashed her disapproval on her brother.
"You do not do yourself any favours by disregarding Viscount Dryer's advice."
It was all she had to say really. She had to warn him the dangers of disregarding any nobleman's advice. It would lead to dissatisfaction, and dissatisfaction led to rebellion, and before they knew it Gray's head will also be on a pike like her stepfather's.
Not if she could help it!
"I do not care for Viscount Dryer's advice," Gray grumbled childishly, "If he had his way we would be Lancastrians all over again. That was not why Father rebelled. That was not why I continued his work. That was not why people followed under our banner. Besides what could the Viscount do? He is not his father, the Earl, and he is not his son, a knight of good worth. He is a leech."
But leeches were good at sucking blood, and Ultear worried. After all it was all she did these days.
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
The dispensation for Lucy and Natsu still hadn't come through yet. Lucy wondered how long it would take or if it would come at all. There would be plenty people in the world who would not want to see her wedded to a Yorkist, bastard or not, the Lancastrian Queen and her brother the French King being the first among them.
Erza, however, was luckier in her dispensation. The only problem was her bastardry. There was no relation between her and her Flemish prince. There was no desperate need to ensure that the Lady Erza Scarlet, of no wealth despite being a king's sister, wouldn't be wedded and bedded. Jellal and Erza would meet and wed in the same week.
Erza became more and more flustered at the week drew near. She had, apparently, met Lord Jellal before and was quire smitten with him, but Erza was not the type for such feminine feelings, and it embarrassed her. Lucy spent each night reassuring her to no result.
And then the day arrived, Lord Jellal rode in with a small retinue, he bowed deeply to Gray, stiffened slightly at King Gray's awkward attempt to welcome him with a warm hug – neither it seemed were entirely comfortable with affection – and then he gladly moved towards Erza, grasped her hand into his, and kissed it lovingly.
Erza blushed and stammered while everyone else watched amused. Apart from the Earl of Warwick who seemed to be sobbing into his handkerchief out of joy much to his son's disgust, grandson's embarrassment, and granddaughter in law's exasperated amusement.
He does the exact same thing for the wedding only Lucy and a few others feel like joining in.
Erza looked glorious in the blue gown trimmed in silver. It highlighted the beauty of her red hair, enveloped her body perfectly, and complimented her groom's hair colour as well. Lucy now understood why Erza insisted on the colour dress, and blushed as she remembered she had her dress fitting at the same time with Erza, and she had insisted Lucy picked various shades of pink, her under gown being almost the exact shade as Natsu's hair.
Oh dear God!
Erza and Jellal said their vows solemnly and kissed chastely when bided to do so but as the feast of celebration carried on the more cheerful and affectionate they became with one another. Lucy remembered Erza's disappearance on a top secret mission and wondered if it had to do with wooing Jellal…..she smiled amusedly.
"She's looks happy," Natsu commented as he stole Lucy's meat pie of her plate, "It's weird. Erza is usually always angry….and scary," he shuddered, "not happy." He then shrugged and grinned down at her, crumbs littered his face and she fought back the urge to wipe them away. Most of the eyes of Court were on the newly made Duke and Duchess of Somerset but that didn't mean others were not on her and him. She shuddered as she couldn't quite shake off the feeling someone was glaring at them. Someone was plotting evil. "Our turn soon," he said cheerfully.
"Yes," Lucy agreed warmly, "as soon as the dispensation comes in."
"Oh," Natsu paused in his thievery of her bread roll, "didn't Gray tell you yet? Lyon came back this morning from Rome, our dispensation is in, and we're getting married after the Harvest."
Lucy would like to say this brought her great happiness. She was going to be secure and safe at last from any suspicion. She would like to say her heart burst with joy that she would finally be able to spend the rest of her life with someone so sweet and kind…but in reality her stomach turned to ice.
She shivered, terrified, because as Natsu told her this, Viscount Dryer shot a poisonous look at her betrothed's back….if looks could kill they would have both dropped dead.
She was nowhere near safe.
She probably never will be.
Did she mention how much she despised the Court?