Summary: Lucy endures the aftermath of her name being used in a rebellion while Gray struggles to find a bride.
Pairings: Natsu/Lucy, implied Natsu/Happy/Lucy friendship, Lucy/Aries friendship, some Gajeel/Lucy friendship if you squint, sibling Natsu/Gray/Erza, sibling Ultear/Gray/Lyon, implied parental Master/Gray, and mentions of Erza/Jellal.
YouTube Prompt: A Lucy tribute to Synchronicity by Yui Makino from the Tsubasa Chronicles soundtrack.
Lucy once again found herself nervously making her way through Court.
Although this time, instead of going straight in for an audience with the King that might decide her fate, she was going straight to her rooms and hopefully have an encounter with her husband….
Her servants had already gone ahead to their own quarters while the castle stewards would carry her luggage to her rooms. The head steward was guiding her to her rooms as quietly as possible though that hasn't stopped the odd Lord or Lady that wasn't attending the royal family to catch sight of her and start whispering amongst themselves.
"Here we are, My Lady," the Head Steward bowed formally as he halted to a stop at a door, "the Duke of Norfolk's chambers."
"The Duke of Norfolk's chambers?" Lucy questioned. "Not my own."
"No, My Lady," the Head Steward pursued his lips disapproving, "his lordship had requested that you were to share a chamber."
Lucy almost collapsed out of relief right there and then (which would have probably caused a heart attack for this stiff, formal, and proper man). Natsu still wanted to share a chamber with her. Natsu wasn't going to request she bed with the ladies and avoid her for the entirety of her stay. Natsu will want to talk to her, and maybe hold her, and share her bed….
Lucy could never say it out loud but she had missed him desperately. Virgo may have taken his place as Lucy's bedfellow but it was definitely not the same and was nowhere near as comforting. She missed her husband's warmth, she missed the sound of his heartbeat beneath her ear, and she missed the feeling of his arms around her.
She was hoping desperately that they could go back to that though she wasn't sure he wanted to. Perhaps he was going to send her to the Tower on Gray's orders? Perhaps they were dealing with this 'treason' as quietly as possible so no one can have the chance to fight on her behalf…
Hesitatingly, she opened the door and walked in. Her worry and reluctance instantly melted away, and she couldn't help but smile at the sight that greeted her.
Natsu was lying on the bed covers, his body completely sprawled out with one arm and leg draped across the empty sided, and the other arm hanging off the bed, his face was slightly buried into the pillow as he snored loudly, and his hair was stuck all over the place with that same front lock falling over his eyes as it always did.
Happy was curled up on the other pillow beside Natsu and was almost snoring just as loudly.
Her boys, she thought smiling.
Without a second thought she strides across the room towards him. His high cheekbones, his plump lower lip, and his soft, sweet, serene (and unnatural) expression, compelling her to reach out and touch him.
Her hand barely grazed his cheek when he suddenly snatched her wrist in a vice like grip. She gasped and he stared at her with a weird expression on his face.
"Lucy," Natsu breathed. "You're here."
"Of course I am here," Lucy said dumbfounded, "I was Royal Decree."
Natsu's face instantly crumpled at that. "Is that the only reason you're here?" he asked sadly. Lucy instantly wanted to wrap her arms round him but she held back. He might be pleased to see her now but what if he was still angry and is reminded of that?
"Of course not," Lucy said with a teasing smile, "I have also very much longed to see…." She paused and was amused to see Natsu lean in eagerly like a little child. "Happy!" she finished off.
"Happy?!" Natsu cried out indignantly.
"Yes," Lucy nodded as she scooped up the blue cat (said cat yowled his disgruntlement at being disturbed), "I have missed our cuddles," she said to the blue wriggling furball, her voice muffled by the soft fur.
Natsu grinned. "Then let's have a cuddle!" he declared before he grabbed he by the waist and dragged her down onto the bed with him.
Both Lucy and Happy squealed at the sudden movement, Happy dug his claws into Lucy's arm and used it as leverage to jump out and run away in a huff. Not that Lucy paid any attention to the slight sting, she suddenly gasped for a whole new reason as she found herself pinned to the bed. His hands burned her wrists but that was nothing compared to the sensation the dark intense stare of his brought out in her.
She swallowed nervously and licked her lips.
His eyes seemed to follow the movement.
And then suddenly he died down and buried his head into her chest, his arms holding her waist tightly, as he snuggled close. "I'm sorry," his voice came out muffled against her riding habit, "I'm sorry," he repeated again, "I should have never said those things. I was a fool. I know you would never-"
"I know," Lucy interrupted softly, her arms winding themselves round him, "I'm sorry too. For hitting you, I mean."
"That's okay," Natsu pulled away enough so he could grin at her, "I've had worse from Erza and Ultear."
Lucy couldn't help but laugh at that and Natsu joined in with her, they rolled back on the bed beside one another and giggled insanely like little children, and then once they finally managed to calm down (tears of laughter still rolled down Lucy's cheeks), they turned to face one another, and a strange intense silence fell over them as they both seemed to realise exactly how close their faces were to one another.
"Lucy," Natsu said in a husky tone, "I-"
A knock suddenly interrupted him and they both sprung apart. "Your Grace?" a servant called out. "The King would like you to come down for dinner."
Natsu let out a string of rude words that would definitely earn him a smack any other time. "Stupid snow fairy," he muttered to himself, "he's such a cuddle block."
Lucy couldn't help but giggle. "It's just dinner" she said, though she was trying to reassure herself at that point. Undoubtedly it was an audience before Court to make judgement on her but she had just reconciled with her husband and she really didn't want to bring up the cause of their argument again. "As soon as it is over we can retire back to our chamber and cuddle all night if you wish too."
"Really?!" Natsu asked eagerly, so eagerly, and happy about the idea of just being with her, that Lucy found herself too overwhelmed to do anything but nod in reply. "Yosh!" Natsu pumped a fist in the air. "Let's get this stupid dinner over with then!"
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
The King, her brother in law, reassured her quite publically that he did not blame her for the rebellion. He had proclaimed her innocent by all and had even taken her hands into his before guiding her to the family table for the banquet.
But it was all an act, and worst of all the whole Court knew it was an act.
The Royal family itself, Natsu being the only exception, did not interact with her if possible. In fact they were too busy making conversation with foreign ambassadors and then slipping away from the rest of Court with the council for private meetings. It unnerved her.
She kept expecting for someone to change their mind and have guards drag her out of her chambers and into the Tower.
Well, she did until she confided this into Natsu and he burst out in laughter. "God no," he sniggered. "We're just busy trying to find Gray a wife. It's proving a great difficulty because he's so ugly."
"Oh," Lucy almost slumped into her husband's arms out of relief, "Oh….but then why hasn't Erza spoken to me?"
"She's really invested in finding Gray a wife," Natsu explained, "she and Ultear are competing against one another. It's really weird. She asks after you. You haven't been out much."
Lucy squirmed at that. It was uncomfortable at Court, she was all but alone in a sea of people who stared at her and whispered behind their hands, her only companions were Aquarius, Virgo, and Aries. As much as she loved them, it was not easy to deal with Aquarius' never-ending temper, Virgo's monotone, uninterested, attitude, and Aries' sweet but nervous demeanour.
In fact poor Aries was made even more nervous by the fact they were being followed. All the time.
By a dark, heavily armoured, knight that looked terrifying. Lucy knew him well enough to know he was no friend of theirs, he had a reputation on the battlefield as one of the most dangerous and bloodthirsty soldiers there ever was.
He put the Scottish mercenaries the Lancastrian Queen brought with her to shame.
Lucy had tried a walk through the gardens in hopes to lose him but as Aries tightened her grip on Lucy's arm and whimpered, she knew it was a lost cause. She whirled round to glower at the man, after all he was just a knight and she was a duchess, but he merely smirked a toothy grin reply.
"Like a wolf," Aries whispered timidly. "I'm sorry," she added as she tried to relax her grip on Lucy's arm. "I'm sorry," she repeated again with a whimper as the knight gave them another smirk.
"Oh for God sake!" Aquarius snapped having lost all patience. She whirled round to face the knight and shot him her best glare that would usually have Natsu running. "Go away," she commanded.
"Gihihi," Sir Gajeel sniggered. "You know I can't do that."
"Why not?" Lucy demanded to know. "Surely you have better things to do?"
"Definitely," Sir Gajeel agreed, "but the King's orders are the King's orders."
Lucy stiffened at that and was glad that there was no one but her and her ladies in the garden, everyone else was either out hunting with the King or keeping to the fireplaces in the palace, if there had been a crowd, as there undoubtedly would have been in the summer, this would have definitely worsened the gossip.
"Fine," she spat out, "follow me but at least walk with us rather than act like some creepy shadow."
"Gihihi."
Lucy stormed across the garden with Sir Gajeel at her side. If anyone would happen to glance their way it would look like he was chivalrously escorting her back inside while infuriating her. Others might think he had been singing again as everyone tended to get a little angry when Sir Gajeel started to sing (and much to everyone's distress he doesn't even need too much ale to start).
As they made it back to the Great Hall Lucy couldn't help but notice Viscount Dryer was staring at her with a dark, terrifying, cold look. It wasn't so much as hatred or anger, that she could bear, but it was calculating.
At that she shuddered.
"Come on Duchess," Sir Gajeel murmured with uncharacteristic gentleness, "let's get you to the fire. Salamander will kill me if I let you die of frostbite."
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
"So, where are we looking for Gray's bride?"
It was another cosy evening in Gray's private chambers. Natsu was impatiently pacing, as he obviously didn't want to spend time with his siblings, Erza and Ultear were settled at a table looking over a map, Lyon was sat by the fire as was the Earl of Warwick. Jellal was still down in the Great Hall, hopefully, entertaining Lucy. Gray wasn't entirely sure if he could trust his sister in law after the latest rebellion and felt it safer to keep her at arm's length until he could out manoeuvre the Lancastrians and Dryer for good.
Poor Lucy was going to be a pawn against him until they put an end to this for good, and that meant Natsu was going to be an irritable nuisance for a long time.
Still, at this point, Gray would much rather be out on the battlefield fighting Lancastrians than have this discussion.
"Must we?" he moaned.
"We have been discussing this with every ambassador for the entirety of the holidays," Ultear said flatly, "I have sat through each sickening flattery and poorly executed joke on your behalf. So yes, we must or I'll marry you to a bride that looks like Gajeel."
"And I will help," Erza agreed.
Gray shuddered as the mental image of Gajeel in a dress unwillingly entered his mind, Natsu stopped in his pacing to snigger and Lyon outright laughed while Gramps of all people was trying to smother a chuckle.
"I like to remind you," Gray scowled, "that I am King."
"Yes," Lyon agreed, "and you look incredibly kingly without your doublet and hose on."
"Oh crap!"
As Gray scrambled to find his clothes, Ultear decided to continue with the discussion at hand. "Flanders is out for obvious reasons," she said bluntly. "There is no female lady of high enough ranking and we have already secured that alliance."
"France is also out," Gray said firmly. "The Lancastrian Queen is residing in Louis' Court and I refuse to take any of his daughters or cousins or sisters that he seems to have a never-ending supply of."
"That only leaves us with Italy, Portugal, Spain, and the Holy Roman Emperor," Erza said as she stabbed a singer at each country on the map. "Oh, and I suppose some of the Scandinavian countries but they have been difficult to treat with and their power is little in comparison to the others" she added.
"We want a bride that can bring us a powerful alliance," Gramps, Earl of Warwick, the King Maker and now apparently Queen Maker, said, "So let's focus on the powerful states."
"I have scoured Italy," Lyon volunteered information. "Each state is incapable of producing a bride for Gray. They are either unable to provide enough for a dowry, have no available young woman who is not already betrothed or related to us, and less said about the republicans and their lack of co-operation, the better."
"The Holy Roman Empire is a no go either," Gramps agreed, "while there are many pretty Germanic princesses around, none of them have the power and influence we need, and the Holy Roman Emperor himself has no daughter or niece to offer."
"Portugal isn't strong enough," Natsu announced suddenly, "I have had enough discussions with the ambassador to know if we were to be in alliance with them, we would be giving them support constantly and receive none in return."
"That leaves one country," Erza deduced quickly. "It would not be a bad alliance. In fact it would be the best we could get."
"Indeed," Gramps agreed, "They are strong, wealthy, and influential, to have a Spanish princess as Queen would signal that Gray has been accepted by Europe as the King of England. They could help fund any soldiers if Lancaster was ever to rise again-"
"Oh, how is your wife, Natsu?" Lyon interrupted sweetly. "Has she started any more rebellions?"
Natsu snarled wordlessly and moved to attack Lyon, fortunately Erza grabbed him by the collar of his shirt before he could do any damage. "Lyon!" Gray barked.
"It was a joke!" Lyon protested.
"One made in poor taste," Gray snapped. "We have declared the Duchess of Norfolk as innocent. There is no need to constantly bring this up."
"And yet," Natsu snarled, "you persist in having her followed. Lucy has told me about Sir Gajeel."
"It is for her own protection Natsu, we've been through this," Gray sighed heavily. "Gajeel has reported to me that the Viscount has been spotted watching her three times this week alone, and that other known Lancastrian supporters have been watching her too."
"She doesn't want anything to do with this!"
"I know."
"She just wants to go home."
"I know," Gray sighed again, "you have said many times but I need you here and I dare not leave her without someone to watch her. She could easily be captured on the road home and used against us, you know this."
Natsu scowled and immediately threw himself on the floor, his arms crossed as he sulked childishly.
Lyon and Ultear simultaneously rolled their eyes at this while Gramps and Erza looked pained on Natsu's behalf. There is a long, awkward silence before Erza decided to speak up. "Spain would be a good option," she said slowly. "The best option in this case. Is there princess available?"
"The King and Queen have five daughters," Gramps said immediately, "their youngest is close to his Majesty's age. We can start negotiations."
"Is that it then?" Gray said sadly, "My marriage reduced to an alliance of necessity."
"Now then," Erza said reassuringly, "sometimes marriages based on alliances are the strongest. Look at Jellal and I. we were to wed to ensure you had a wealthy ally who could loan us money in times of need, we were not expected to love one another at all. Our happiness was not considered when you signed those papers." Gray winced at that. Erza right there and then had a point. When had he given her and Natsu the choice of their spouse? He had ordered them to marry where he pleased in order to ensure himself allies and wealth. Natsu had no choice at all but at least he gave Erza the choice of three brothers to pick from. "And now, thanks to the love we have found with one another, the alliance is stronger than ever," she said smugly as she patted her stomach.
Gray's eyes widened at that while Natsu's jaw dropped and Gramps started to tear up ever so slightly. "Do you mean….?" He breathed in wonder.
"Yes," Erza said blissfully, "I am with child."
Everyone moved to congratulate her. Even Ultear and Lyon who weren't especially close to Erza had patted her on the back and warmly congratulated her. Natsu instantly cheered up and Gramps was now actually crying as his 'brats were now giving him more brats to deal with'. Gray embraced Erza tightly in congratulations and then suddenly pulled away when an idea hit him.
"Now if it's a boy," Gray said slowly, his face brightening as his idea got stronger and stronger in his mind, "then I could name him my heir, after all as my nephew he would-"
"Oh no," Ultear interrupted, "you're not getting out of your marriage that easily."
"Damnit!"