Summary: The Spanish Infanta has arrived, Gray is to be wed, and Natsu and Lucy suffer some heart-breaking problems.
Pairings: Gray/Juvia, Natsu/Lucy, implied one-sided Lyon/Juvia, implied Gajeel/Juvia friendship, and implied Aquarius/Lucy friendship.
Author's Note: Thank you so much for giving me over thirty four hundred reviews!
Juvia was cold.
So very cold, Juvia had not felt the warmth and the sunshine since she boarded the ship that took her to this miserable, bleak, cold country. Juvia missed everything, she had been away only for couple months on her journey and already she missed the palace, she missed her sisters, she missed her parents, she missed oranges and pomegranates and lemons….and more importantly she missed soaking in the sunshine.
"Are you well, Your Highness?" her escort inquired. He was a handsome man who greeted her warmly as 'sister' when she landed in Dover. He was, according to her servants, the older half-brother of the King. An Italian referred to as Lord Lyon, so far Juvia found him very pleasant which was a good sign that she would find her husband very pleasant too, but she was too homesick to care. "Are you tired? We can take a break if you so wish."
"No," Juvia mumbled, "Juvia is fine. Juvia is sorry to distress Lord Lyon. Juvia is merely cold. When does summer begin, Lord Lyon?"
"Gihihihihihi," A knight snickered on the other side of Juvia. Sir Gajeel, Juvia remembered briefly. He was rough and very gruff round the edges but he has been kind and entertaining, and played many card games with Juvia in the evenings when Juvia had been bored. "This is summer, Princess," he grinned.
"What?!" Juvia gasped. "But it is so cold!"
"Compared to Spain, Italy, and the south of France, England is a very cold place, Your Highness," Lord Lyon said gently, "I promise though it will warm up soon."
Juvia did not believe him but she thought it would be incredibly rude to say so, and therefore asked instead; "How long till we are at Westminster?"
"We should be there by sundown, Your Highness."
And they were, Juvia could not help but wrinkle her nose at the sight of what was supposed to be one of the greatest palaces of England. Compared to her home it was a small, ugly, grey stone building. Nothing at all like the airy, white, clean, and large, open planned palaces of Juvia's childhood. Perhaps Juvia was being too judgemental, she was, after all seeing this world behind a veil, perhaps it shall be prettier when she saw it properly, and perhaps Juvia will come to like it….
….Juvia doubted it very much, and grimly allowed Lord Lyon help her down and guide her into the castle.
She was instantly greeted warmly, and more importantly, in Spanish by Ambassador Porla. "Infanta," he kissed her hand, "I have hoped you had a safe journey."
"Juvia struggled a little bit with the cold but yes, Juvia had a safe journey," Juvia said shyly. She had never met this man before but her parents reassured her he had nothing but hers, and Spain's, best interests at heart. "How is your life in the English Court?"
"Interesting," Porla smirked, "very interesting. The King's many half siblings make life entertaining. Just last week the Duchess of Somerset defeated five men in a duel."
Juvia's eyes widened at that. "A woman beat five men at once?!"
"Oh yes, and apparently that is very little of her true ability, so I hear," Porla continued, "I am sure you will find it quite spectacular to watch. Every week the Duchess finds some excuse to take a man in the duelling ring." They reached the doors to the Great Hall and Juvia couldn't help but tremble a little. She was about to meet her future husband. She was going to be married tomorrow…..or the day after, maybe, if she was given a day's rest from her journey. Either way, she will be a wife by the end of the week and that was terrifying. "Courage, Infanta," Porla patted her hand comfortingly. "You are the daughter of the greatest monarchs in Christendom. This childish Court of savages are nothing compared to you. There is no need to quake in their presence when it should be them quaking in yours."
"Juvia…..Juvia….." she shook her head lost for words. "Juvia is ready now."
"Good girl," Porla said approvingly, he then turned to the heralds at the door. "Announce her."
"Her Royal Highness, the Spanish Infanta, Julia."
"Juvia!" Porla hissed the correction.
But it did not matter, the doors were opened, and Juvia was stepped forward to see a new world of English Lords dressed in strange fashions. They all peered at her as if she was the most fascinating thing they had ever seen and whispers could be heard as she passed, they were wondering why she was wearing a veil, did she have a disfigurement? Was she ugly? Or was this a mysterious Spanish custom?
It was the latter, but Juvia was hardly going to degrade herself by saying so. She kept her head held up high, and when she was stopped before the King, she curtsied deeply, and as she stood up, she caught sight of the most beautiful man in the world.
His eyes were soulful and stormy, his face was perfectly carved, and, and, and…..oh dear! Juvia felt hot, flushed, and faint, and dizzy, overcome with an emotion she had never felt before….
"We welcome you to our Court, Princess," the King said in an equally beautiful voice, oh was there no flaws in this man? "We hope you had a safe journey and will find our hospitality most comforting."
"Juvia is sure she will," Juvia replied.
He gave her a funny look at that and someone to the side of him snickered as if she said something funny. He was very funny looking himself with his bright pink hair (not that Juvia could talk, she had blue curls of her own) and he seemed incredibly amused by Juvia. There was a beautiful blonde woman that stood next to him, and without hesitation she elbowed the strange man hard in the stomach, causing him to double over slightly, and Juvia was sure she heard her hiss "It's not funny, Natsu!"
The King ignored them. "We would like to introduce you to our family, our sister the Lady Ultear," he gestured to the equally stunning dark haired lady that sat beside him, "our other sister the Duchess of Somerset and her husband the Duke of Somerset," he gestured to a formidable redheaded woman who wore a breastplate and a tall, silent, man with the strangest of markings round his eyes. Juvia could not help but feel rather intimidated by the pair of them. "And our brother the Duke of Norfolk and his wife the Duchess of Norfolk," and that was when he gestured towards the strange pink haired man and the beautiful blonde woman. "And, of course, you have already met our brother Lord Lyon, who kindly escorted you to our humble abode."
Juvia curtsied again. "Juvia is honoured to meet Your Majesty's family, and to be welcomed to Your Majesty's home," she said, "Juvia looks forwards to becoming part of your family."
He smiled tightly in reply and, much to her everlasting sadness, he did not return the sentiment and say he was looking forwards to her joining his family. Instead he stood up, clap his hands loudly, and announced, "we shall dine now, I am sure the Princess is hungry."
And with that Juvia found herself swept into a tidal wave of commotion. She was taken away for a change of clothes, shown her new chambers as the Future Queen, and then rushed back in time for the Great Hall to have had its tables set out, and be laden down with food. Dinner seemed to be a huge event in itself as everyone leaned over one another to talk, and there was great celebration, laughter, and games, and even music and dancing in one corner.
Juvia struggled to keep up, and she struggled to converse with anyone.
Her betrothed seemed more interested in either drinking deeply from his cup while watching everyone else enjoy themselves or conversing with one of his siblings, or in laws.
Juvia felt a stab of unhappiness at that, she instantly tried to smother it. He does not know Juvia yet, she reminded herself as she tried to slip some roast chicken beneath her veil to nibble on. It quickly became an awkward task and she settled upon going without. Her servants could fetch something for her later surely. He is not yet Juvia's husband…..soon…..soon Juvia will have him to all to herself…
As soon as dinner ended, Juvia was pleased to be going to her rooms, away from all those whispers, and happily threw herself into her bed and dreamt about being home.
Only instead of her sisters or her parents, she dreamt it was the King of England that walked in the sunshine with her.
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTTFT
Much to Natsu's irritation, Gray had chosen to go out and continue drinking which, of course, seemed to end in a brothel like all nights for the last year and a half.
Natsu did not want to be in some grotty little place where women obscenely dressed, with painted faces, leered at him in the most disturbing manner. Natsu wanted to be home, in his rooms, in his bed, with his wife in his arms where he can feel her breath against his chest, her heart beat against his hand, and the silky gold hair between his fingers as he petted her.
Instead, he had to wait till the snow pervert had his fill, and then lug the drunkard home.
"Natsu, Natsu, I'm getting married this week!" Gray slurred into his ear. "Tomorrow they will cook the feast and arrange everything, and then the day after I will be married."
"Yes," Natsu growled between gritted teeth, "I know, you stupid ice freak, you said this five times already."
"Natsu, Natsu, Natsu, Nat-"
"What?!" Natsu snapped.
"I'm sorry," Gray mumbled.
And at that, Natsu couldn't help but blink and turn to face his brother. "Sorry for what, you idiot?" he asked.
"Sorry for arranging your marriage."
"Pfft!" Natsu snorted. "You didn't arrange my marriage."
"Um, yeah," Gray said stupidly, "I was there. I did. I introduced the pair of you and then said 'marry each other' which you both obeyed."
"Oh please," Natsu said dismissively, "if I didn't want to marry Lucy, I wouldn't have. There was nothing arranged about my marriage."
There was utter silence as they slipped through the gates and the doors were opened for them by the guards. It wasn't until they were closer to Gray's chambers when he finally spoke up again. "You're an utter idiot, and I can't talk to you, go and find someone else to attend me," he said in his most pompous, prattish, so called 'Kingly' voice.
"Gladly," Natsu retorted back.
And purposely dropped his brother onto the floor and walked off. About five or so drunken knights witnessed this and instantly swept past Natsu in order to 'get in' with the King. Natsu ignored them all as he hurriedly made his way back to his own chambers so he could sleep beside his wife in peace.
Lucy was already asleep, as usual. Happy was also asleep, but unlike his mistress, he slept curled up on the very edge the pillows, his blue fur inches away from Lucy's face.
Natsu happily kicked off his boots, took of his doublet and hose, and climbed in behind her. His arms reached out to pull her back when he felt something sticky. With a light frown he pulled his hand back to look at, and caught the glimpse in the weak moonlight of something dark, he held his hand close to his nose and sniffed –
Blood!
He leaped back up and yanked the covers to find, much to his horror, the white linen to be drenched in blood. "Lucy?" he grabbed his wife and gave her light shake. "Lucy?!" he grew more panicked by the lack of her response. "LUCY!"
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
Juvia's wedding was as lavish as expected.
Gray-sama's castle transformed into a gaudy, over-decorated, palace covered in silk and velvet. His lords and ladies dressed in their finest clothes, looking like peacocks preening, and the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement.
Juvia found she could not eat, she was so nervous and excited, and allowed her ladies to dress her, in layer after layer of white and cold, with a thick white lace veil to keep her face hidden. She could not wait to be rid of it so she could finally view her beautiful husband without it obscuring anything, and yet, at the same time she wished she could keep it on for she did not want him to see how plain she must be in comparison to him and his beautiful family.
With great pomp and ceremony a procession led Juvia into Westminster chapel where her husband to be stood waiting at the altar. His family standing besides him, both brothers looking fine in their own silk clothes, and both sisters, intimidatingly beautiful, even the brother in law looked mysteriously eye-catching.
Juvia could not help but notice an absence of the Duchess of Norfolk. There was no golden haired beauty standing beside her pink-haired husband, and for some reason that made Juvia anxious.
Porla was no help either, "The Lady Lucy is Lancastrian born," he hissed in Spanish, "If she is not here then a statement is being made. This is not a good sign for York and you."
"Juvia is sure there is a good reason," Juvia murmured, no she did not feel confident in this, she knew all about the wars between the Red and White Rose, she did not like the prickly feeling that another one was brewing, and at Juvia's own wedding day too! "Juvia is sure….."
"I wouldn't worry Infanta," Porla said soothingly, "it is likely she is not here because she is jealous."
"Jealous of Juvia?"
"Of course, after all…..there is no lady more beautiful than a Spanish Infanta especially one that is to become Queen of England."
Juvia tried to smile but she found it difficult to believe her Ambassador. He sounded as if he genuinely believed her to be beautiful but then it was his job to sound like that, and then, what really nagged at her…why would the Duchess of Norfolk be jealous?
The music stopped, the Archbishop of Canterbury began his sermon, and soon enough, Juvia's veil was pulled over to reveal her face to the man who would her husband, and the people who would be her subjects.
For one, very prolonged, never-ending, moment, Gray-sama and Juvia stared only at each other. Juvia felt her heart race away from her as Gray-sama blinked his beautiful stormy eyes, and swallowed visibly.
Juvia suppose that means Gray-sama thought her as pretty.
With a hesitant smile and suddenly a flushed feeling that overcame her, Juvia gracefully accepted her ring, and happily leaned into the chaste kiss Gray-sama pressed against her lips at the Archbishops' bidding.
And as a wave of happiness crashed over, a thought occurred to Juvia…..could the Duchess of Norfolk be jealous because Juvia is marrying Gray-sama?
Unease took over for the rest of the Wedding feast though it did not seem to matter, Gray-sama seemed to share the feeling, and the Duke of Norfolk looked extremely unhappy without his wife.
Juvia cannot shake the feeling off….
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
It had been over a day and a half, and Lucy still felt keenly empty.
Hallow.
Wrong.
Almost soulless.
Her hands slid over her stomach and traced the lack of anything. There was no bump. No flutter of life. Nothing but barrenness. Instantly her throat closed up, tears welled up in her eyes, and her hands clenched tightly with an urge to scratch her own eyes out.
Her baby was dead.
She had only carried this unknown child for three months, and had waited desperately for the baby to kick before she told Natsu. Her family had a bloody history of miscarriages….in a perfect world Lucy would have been a middle child of fifteen children, eight older siblings, and seven younger ones, all gone before her mother could carry them to full term.
She had so hoped God would have blessed her where he had condemned her mother…..
The door slammed opened, and Aquarius stood there, fearsome as ever. "Get up!" she barked. Lucy stared at her old governess with unfeeling eyes. She felt despondent, and no matter how terrifying Aquarius was, she could not shake Lucy out of it. Aquarius sighed, pinched the bride of her nose, and then glowered at Lucy. "Look, you are in pain, I understand," she said a little more softly than she would, "it is never easy to…..but you are not some coddled girl who can stay in bed for all eternity moping the loss of your child. You are the Duchess of Norfolk, you are the second most important lady in the country-"
"I think the King's sisters would disagree with you there," Lucy mumbled.
"Them?!" Aquarius snorted dismissively. "A bastard, unnatural, girl who spends more time in armour with men, and then an Italian bitch who has no right to any power in this country? They are nothing compared to you. You are the Duchess of Norfolk, born and bred in England, you are a great, great granddaughter of Edward the Third, and more importantly, you are your mother's daughter. The second most important lady in the country does not spend her time in bed allowing new rumours of her allegiance, about her virtue, to grow rapidly. You have missed the wedding but if you were to appear at the joust in celebration of the wedding, smiling, looking pleased that the King has wed, these rumours will be squashed." She grabbed hold of the covers and yanked them down. "Now get out, girl. Not even a peasant would mope in bed, they get up and work."
Lucy opened her mouth to…..well say anything. Anything at all to make Aquarius to leave, so she could cry a little more by herself, but words failed her, and someone spoke on her behalf instead;
"Get out," Natsu said coolly, "you have done your job, Lady Aquarius, you are now dismissed for the morning."
"I have not-"
"I said you are dismissed."
"The Duchess is not dressed," Aquarius argued weakly, "I must dress her."
"I can dress her," Natsu refuted quickly, "now leave. Please."
Aquarius glared at him for a moment and then suddenly, uncharacteristically, her face softened, she gave him a curt nod, and then stormed out of the chamber with her head held up high. Natsu shut the door behind her and waited for a few seconds before he turned round to face Lucy, his sudden icy façade had melted away into sheer sorrow and agony.
Lucy moved onto her knees as he made his way to her side, his arms were round her before she knew it as he pulled her to his chest. Instinctively she wrapped her arms round him and leaned into the embrace, her eyes closing for one moment of security and contentment.
"You did not come home," she accused quietly.
"Erza wouldn't let me," Natsu complained instantly, "I…..sort of drank too much and told her….about….you know," Lucy closed her eyes in agony this time. She knew. "And she said I shouldn't come back to you in my state, and forcibly dragged me to her rooms. I had to sleep on the servant's pallet."
"Serves you right for drinking."
"Lucy!"
Lucy couldn't help a twist of lips that was almost a smile at the childish whine of Natsu's, and slowly, she pulled away so she could look at him. "I must get dressed," she said finally.
"You don't have to if you don't want to."
"No…..Aquarius is right," Lucy shook her head, "I am the Duchess of Norfolk. I must be seen celebrating the King's marriage, and happily."
"Okay," Natsu agreed though he didn't look happy about it. Lucy got out of bed properly as Natsu searched through her clothes. Lucy went to the vanity table and emptied out the jug of water into a bowel ready for her wash when she caught sight of Natsu holding up her second best gown, the one she wore on her wedding day, as he said, "but I'm picking what you're wearing."
"Okay."
They fell into silence. Lucy tried desperately to keep her tears at bay as Natsu tenderly showed just how much he loved her, his hands gently washing her with the wash cloth, carefully putting each item of clothing on, as they lovingly caressed her arms and back while doing so. It was just as he brushed her hair, that he suddenly ducked down, and pressed his lips on her shoulder. "I wouldn't worry Luce," he murmured, "God will bless us with babies one day." He said with such great certainty that Lucy almost believed there will be a day where they will be surrounded by pink haired and blonde haired babies. "I have no doubt that when he does it will be the best baby in the world. A baby that will do the impossible."
Lucy gripped his hand tightly and pressed a kiss on his knuckles. She closed her eyes to prevent fresh tears for falling down. "But any baby given to me from you would have been the best," she said suddenly agonised once more by the loss.
A baby that was his and hers that never got a chance to walk this earth.
Natsu held her tightly against him and she was surprised to feel a dampness in her hair. "I know," he whispered sounding just as pained as she felt, "I know."
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
Juvia's Wedding night had been awkward.
They had been led to the bed chamber by the entire Court. The men made bawdy jokes, the women made lewd suggestions in Juvia's ear, and it was humiliating to be put to bed like a child with so many strange faces leering.
Not all of them were though, her Ambassador looked furious that Juvia was being put through such humiliation, Viscount Dryer looked bored, Lord Lyon looked pained, and the Duke of Norfolk looked utterly miserable….
It was relief when the door was firmly shut behind them.
Juvia peered at her beautiful Gray-sama nervously and tried to smile but he had instantly leaped out of bed and began to pace away from Juvia. "I'm going to kill them tomorrow!" he hissed, more to himself than to Juvia, "You'd think as their King they would have too much respect to….oh who am I kidding? Natsu, Lyon, Gajeel, and the others were waiting for this moment. And to think," He sniffed indignantly as he poured himself a glass of wine, "I let Natsu off on his Wedding Night. So much for brotherly love." He turned to face Juvia. "I am very so- what the hell are you doing?!"
Juvia was not embarrassed to admit that Juvia had kicked the covers off, pulled her shift up, and placed herself in a submissive position for her husband.
Juvia is embarrassed that her husband did not react kindly, and was obviously horrified.
"Juvia is….Juvia is…..Juvia is being Gray-sama's wife," Juvia stammered, her cheeks flushed pink, "Juvia is doing Juvia's duty as Gray-sama's wife."
"You don't have to do that!"
"Juvia is confused…..does Gray-sama not want to consummate the marriage right now? Gray-sama is undressed….."
He had abandoned his shift on the floor when he had gotten up and had been pacing naked the entire time.
"Oh crap!" he cursed as he hastily rushed to put his shift back on. He looked embarrassed though Juvia did not understand why….he had nothing to be embarrassed about with that perfectly carved body, oh he had indeed been blessed by God… "Hey," he said quietly, his hands burned her, though they were icy cold, as he gently took her knees and pressed them together, closing her legs. "You do not have to do that."
"Juvia does not understand," Juvia whispered, "is Juvia not supposed to consummate the marriage yet?"
"No we will," he reassured her, "but first, let's have a drink."
And so they did, with stilted conversation as Juvia struggled with English and had to keep swapping to Latin and French, and Gray-sama seemed incredibly unsure what to talk to her about, and then they had another drink, and then one last one before he swooped n and kissed her.
Juvia cannot tell you what she had expected of the actual act….but it had been awkward, a little painful, and then the worst bit, was once it had been done, he turned away from her and got out of bed, re-dressing, and then leaving her to the dark, cold, empty room alone.
Juvia felt a little shamed, and very lonely, and was embarrassed to be woken up by leering maids, and having her bloodied sheets on display.
Her cheeks burned the whole morning.
And now, she sat beside her husband as they watched the jousting tournament in their honour.
She was disappointed that Gray-sama would not be jousting, her fantasies of him accepting her favour and winning every round, evaporated quickly, especially as Lady Ultear stressed that Gray should not be allowed to do such dangerous tasks less he was severely injured and died.
"Your Majesty," Lord Lyon called out as he bowed deeply as possible on horseback, "As my brother's champion, I would be greatly honoured if you were to bestow a token of your favour on me in order to bless me with the greatest luck to honour my brother with great victory."
"Juvia…..Juvia does not know if Juvia is allowed," Juvia said hesitatingly, "Gray-sama-"
"Do whatever you like," her husband snapped, "they're your favours," he then promptly turned back to his conversation with the Duchess of Norfolk.
Juvia tried not to let the hurt and sadness from his utter disinterest to show as she stood up proudly, as all Spanish Infantas should, and untied the ribbon round her wrist before she presented it to Lord Lyon.
Lord Lyon took it with great reverence and kissed her hand in a courtly manner. "You have honoured me," he murmured against her knuckles, "My Lady."
Juvia flushed at the sudden intimacy and turned to see if her husband minded…..he had not noticed, his own hand patting the Duchess of Norfolk's as he looked sympathetic to whatever it was she said.
Juvia tried to listen into the conversation but they were talking too quietly for Juvia to hear, and even if she could hear them, she might not be able to understand.
They were talking in English.
"My Lady Norfolk!" a voice suddenly bellowed, far too cheerfully, and far too loud, Juvia nearly jumped out of her skin, Gray-sama definitely did, while Lady Ultear looked irritated. Juvia turned to see the Duke of Norfolk on horseback, his lance resting against the top of the box, as he grinned happily down at his wife. "May I have your favour for good luck?"
"Yes," the Duchess of Norfolk replied rather breathlessly. "You may."
Unlike Juvia, and every other lady who was viewing the tournament, the Duchess did not keep ribbons wrapped round her wrist to gift to chivalric knights, instead she untied the ribbon round her neck and held it up for her husband.
The Duke gleefully snatched the ribbon up, pressed a loving kiss on it, and then stared hungrily back at his wife. Juvia felt like she was intruding on something incredibly intimate and wondered if everyone else felt just as embarrassed as she was. "Tie it on for me?" he asked huskily.
"Yes," the Duchess replied softly.
Juvia watched carefully as the Duchess leaned forward, took the ribbon out of her husband's hands carefully, and then tenderly tied it round his wrist. Her husband grabbed her hand just as eagerly as he grabbed the ribbon and pressed a kiss on her palm.
The Duchess returned this display of affection by pulling the Duke's hand to her cheek and smiling brightly at him as she rested her cheek onto his knuckles.
Juvia tore her eyes from this beautiful, mortifyingly intimate, display and instead her eyes fell onto something far more horrible.
Juvia could not help but notice that Gray-sama watched the whole affair with a jealous expression, and instantly felt her heart break, and something dark brewing in her stomach…..
Love Rival.