Summary: The Lancastrians finally make their move….

Pairings: Natsu/Lucy, Gray/Juvia, Gajeel/Natsu friendship, implied Gray/Lucy (all in Juvia's mind),Sisterly Erza/Gray, Parental Aquarius/Lucy, one-sided Jose/Juvia, Juvia/Ultear friendship, Loke/Aries, and Loke/Lucy friendship.

YouTube Prompt: Tribute to Fairy Tail and some of their issues (more of a focus on Lucy, Cana, Juvia, Mirajane, Erza, Gray, and Laxus especially) to 'This Isn't Everything You Are' by Snow Patrol.

Another uprising started that summer, and of course, Natsu had to go with Gray to put it down before it got out of hand.

As everyone was readying their horses, Lucy, amongst all the other ladies including the Queen, stood beside him, unimpressed, irritated, and rather upset at the thought of him leaving into danger.

Natsu had to admit, that sort of made him grin.

More proof that his wife loved him.

"It will be fine, Luce," he murmured quietly, "it's just an uprising from some unsatisfied peasants. We'll barely be fighting, just enforcing the law, listening to some grievances, and we might have to execute some people," he grimaced at that one. He didn't like the thought of executing someone just because they wanted to protest against the unfairness of snobby lords.

He knew that Gray did not want to either, they both remembered the horrors that King Henry had caused in his treatment to Jack Cade. The despicable, back-stabbing, disgusting, wrong-doing was one of the many reasons people started to support York's claim to the throne.

"I know, I know," Lucy said, "it is just that….I would much rather have you here, safe," her hands went to her stomach for a moment before she dropped it, "with me."

"I would much rather be with you too," Natsu said as he cupped Lucy's cheek. He wished his wasn't wearing his armour, he wanted to feel her soft, warm, skin against his fingers. "Gray is terrible company while camping, and Gajeel always insists on a sing-along, and Lyon whines about having to use a hole in the ground instead of a chamber pot. "

Lucy wrinkled her nose in disgust. "I could have lived my whole life without hearing that one," she informed him primly.

Natsu laughed and grinned down at Lucy. "Give me your blessing?" he asked. "And your favour?"

"How greedy of you," Lucy teased.

"Lucy!"

"Of course," she murmured gently, "you will always have my blessing and favour."

He went down on his knee before her and ducked his head as she gently placed her hands on his hair and ducked down and kissed his forehead before she made a cross above him. He then looked up at her eagerly and before he could even ask she untied the sheer, silky, belt from her dress and placed it into his hands. He held it up to his nose and breathed in deeply, this would be the only thing with her scent on that he will have until he could come home again.

Gray pried himself away from his Queen and saddled his horse, much to Natsu's irritation everyone followed suit which meant he had to go. With one last, lingering, kiss from Lucy, he saddled his own horse.

"I will be home before you know it!" he called out cheerfully. "Take care of Happy for me."

"I shall," Lucy cried out, "and you come back no matter what."

Natsu kept turning back as he waved and waved at Lucy. As she waved back, he could have sworn that she clutched her stomach with the other hand, but when he tried to look back, Sir Gajeel smacked him round the head.

"Eyes front, Salamander," he growled, "I refuse to have an accident before we even reach the battlefield because you cannot keep your eyes on the road."

FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT

With Gray-sama gone, Juvia was finding it harder and harder to cope with her Love Rival's presence.

The fact that Juvia knew that Love Rival and Gray-sama were lovers was difficult to deal with when her husband was around but with him gone, she found little reason to keep Love Rival near her.

Why should she have to deal with her husband's lover when he is not here to be with either of them?

She did not want to see the beautiful face of the Duchess knowing now that the man she loved had kissed those lips, caressed that cheek, and held that body to him.

She would honestly much prefer to tear her hair out, scratch her face, and make her as hideous as possible but that would be wrong. It was not only sinful to bring harm, to even wish it, on someone but it would be undignified for her a Spanish Infanta to act like a common wench.

Juvia's father had mistresses in the past, and her mother had always dealt with it with the grace and dignity of a true Queen. She smiled, she pretended to not notice, and then suddenly the King's latest mistress would be married off and sent away into the country. Juvia did not know how to act with that subtle cleverness, the Duchess was already married to someone else and that did not stop Gray-sama fornicating with her.

Juvia will just settle with sending the Duchess away while Gray-sama as fighting the uprising. A few weeks without the torment and jealousy might help clear Juvia's mind in order to plan a way to truly be rid of the woman's presence in Gray-sama's heart.

It was nearing dinner time, and as the only member of the Royal family left in Westminster, Juvia was expected to dine in state for all to see. Therefore she needed to dress appropriately, the Duchess was one of Juvia's attendants, and it was then when Juvia made her move.

Just as the Duchess was about to place one of Juvia's favourite rings - a sapphire one set in silver, a gift from Juvia's parents before she left Spain - on her finger, Juvia slapped the Duchess' hand away.

The ring fell on the floor and rolled away. "Juvia is sick of your face," Juvia informed the Duchess. The blonde's eyes widened and her cheeks flushed with shame and indignation. "Juvia no longer wishes to be attended to by you."

"As you wish, Your Majesty," the Duchess curtsied, "I shall return tomorrow to fulfil my duties then."

"Juvia does not wish to be served by the Duchess of Norfolk tomorrow, or the day after that, or the day after that," Juvia snapped irritably, "Juvia is sick of your face. Juvia wishes to never see it again. Juvia wishes for the Duchess of Norfolk to leave Court. Now!"

The Duchess looked up at Juvia with an astonished face and Juvia had to clench the silk skirts of her gown to prevent herself from slapping the woman. "If….if that is Your Majesty's wish," the Duchess said numbly, "then I shall leave."

Juvia stared down at the treacherous, lying, woman. "It is," she said coolly, "leave now before Juvia orders someone to drag you out of Juvia's presence."

The Duchess curtsied deeply once more and then left. Juvia slumped in relief when she realised all of her ladies had witnessed this with wide-eyed surprise and horror. She stiffened immediately and glowered at them. "Do not just stand there!" she barked. "Finish your duties!"

Immediately they all turned back to their work, apart from Lady Ultear who continued to eye Juvia with a thoughtful look that made Juvia's skin prickle.

As Juvia made her way to the great Hall she had spotted one of the Duchess' servants carrying the Duchess' belongs towards the Courtyard and briefly wondered if she had done the right thing. She was sending a woman out with no protection to travel home while an uprising was happening….

"You did the right thing," Porla said soothingly as if he read her mind, "Infanta."

"You do not think that Gray-sama would be cross with Juvia?"

That was her biggest fear. That her husband would come home, find the Duchess of Norfolk missing, and then become furious with Juvia for sending the woman he loved away. That he would then never come to her for anything, ever again.

"Oh," Porla purred, "I think by the time he is finished he will not care about what happens to the Duchess."

For some reason this filled Juvia with a great, trembling, fear…..

FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT

Initially, Lucy had been horrified that the Queen sent her away in such a manner. And she had almost argued against it. She did not want to travel, and almost pleaded her belly, but Aquarius had grabbed hold of Lucy before she left her chambers and shook her silly.

"The Queen's orders are the Queen's orders," she said firmly, "you do not want to find yourself in the Tower because you disobeyed that Spanish Chit."

And therefore Lucy had to allow herself be buddle into a litter and take the excruciatingly long journey back home.

Fortunately Lucy did not encounter any trouble on the road which was very good as she chose to travel by litter instead of horse, and it was a painfully slow process and made them very vulnerable to robbery. She had also been very lucky to encounter decent inns to stay the night in when she paused her journey and though she would feel safer with her husband by her side, she had little to fear so far.

"It is unusual for you to travel by litter," Aquarius stated from her horse, "very unusual. If I recall you hate the litter."

"Hmmm…" Lucy hummed as she petted a squirming Happy that was trying to escape her hold. The blue cat had behaved badly since Natsu left, it was obvious he missed her husband just as much as she did. "Perhaps I wanted some luxury in life."

She had the best cushions and blankets to recline on and it was rather relaxing though she was beginning to feel as stir crazy as Happy obviously was.

Aquarius snorted. "Pull the other one," she said haughtily, "it has bells on it."

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "I beg your pardon?"

"I know you, brat," Aquarius sniffed, "I know you better than anyone. Better than that husband of yours. I raised you. I know all of your personal secrets, from your dreams and nightmares, to your secret wishes, and to the fact you have not had your monthly courses for quite some time."

"I-I-I have not told Natsu," Lucy flushed in humiliation, "because I do not want to jinx it."

"I am not judging your decisions, brat," Aquarius said, "but I do think you are foolish to roll around like that. Conceiving so quickly after miscarriages can be just as damaging as getting with child so quickly after giving birth to one. No respite can cause a lot of harm to heart and body."

"Is that concern for my well-being, I hear?"

"Shut up!" Aquarius barked. "I am only telling you this because I do not want to find another mistress. It is such a bother to find new employment at this day and age. Now wipe that look of your face and get some rest, you annoying little brat!"

Lucy rolled over and hid a smirk into one of her cushions. As if he too was terrified to not obey Aquarius, Happy also relaxed against her and curled into her stomach as the pair of them dozed for the rest of the journey.

It was probably for the best to leave Court, Lucy decided firmly, the air in Farmlingham would be much better than Court.

Perhaps this time she will not need to conceive again so quickly.

FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT

After days spent marching, Gray had expected a fast, brutal, battle in which he would hopefully come out victorious and return home before the end of the month.

That was not the case.

Because it was not a normal uprising, it was nothing like Viscount Dryer's poorly executed rebellion. That time, it had been the Viscount pouting over his advice being ignored, which was easily dealt with and no one lost their lives apart from some of the foot soldiers.

This time, he had half of his own nobles turn up against him….supported by the French and the Banished Lancastrian nobles.

This was war.

He had been ambushed by an unexpected war and was left unprepared, outnumbered, and overwhelmed.

"Fuck!" he swore as he pulled his sword out form one, faceless, nameless, soldier, and used it to defend himself form another one. "Fucking hell! How the fuck did this happen?!"

No one answered him.

How could they? They were all fighting for their lives, Natsu had been transformed into a furious monster as he took on as many as possible, Laxus calmly, and objectively, fought his way through legions, Lyon seemed just as overwhelmed as Gray felt but he fought on valiantly.

They might not win, Gray thought hopelessly, actually we probably won't, he corrected himself grimly, the best we can hope for is to regroup and retreat before –

"GRAY!" he heard a familiar voice screech. "WATCH OUT!"

He whirled round in time to see someone slip between him and a charging Lancastrian. The Lancastrian's sword sunk through the chainmail and flesh of the soldier in front of Gray. The man looked shocked as he slowly pulled out, and the soldier responded immediately by slashing his throat open, mere moments before they dropped back onto Gray.

Their helmet fell off and hair, as scarlet as the blood staining their armour, poured out.

A scream tore through Gray's throat.

"ERZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT

Juvia was woken up by the loud crashes and screams it startled her into full awareness as she realised that it was neither a dream of her childhood memories, the days her parents had spent on the battlefield with Juvia and her sisters in a tent not so far, nor a nightmare of what could come…it was truly happening. She barely got her robe on as she reached her window and was met with a blaze of orange as parts of London burned.

Juvia froze for a moment, unsure what to do, what would her mother do, was there some sort of a protocol a Queen was expected to follow when her city burned? And then she came to life with the full realisation that she had to act now, she needed to, Gray-sama was entirely dependent on her to protect his capital city from harm.

She rushed out of her bedchamber, fully prepared to make orders to start putting the fires out, when she crashed into her ambassador.

"Ambassador Porla!" she gasped.

"Infanta," the Ambassador purred, "I am so glad to see you are safe. You must not leave your rooms, no matter what, it is unsafe."

"Juvia cannot!" Juvia cried out. "Juvia must help save London. Some terrible crisis has happened upon it!"

"Yes, Infanta," the Ambassador agreed, "London is currently being invaded."

He had said it so casually, so candidly, that Juvia had to blink repeatedly. "L-L-London is being invaded?" Juvia repeated numbly. "Then Juvia must see to its defence." She rushed towards the door when the Ambassador suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"Ambassador Porla?" Juvia glanced at him. He seemed completely shrouded by shadows and suddenly Juvia was very afraid for herself. "What….what are you doing?" she swallowed. "Unhand Juvia now! Juvia is the Queen of England! Juvia must see to her country's defence!"

"I am afraid you are no longer the Queen of England, Infanta," the Ambassador said smoothly, "You are now the Widow of the traitorous Duke of York."

"W-w-widow?!"

Juvia felt tears burn her eyes and caught a scream in her throat, was Gray-sama dead? When had it happened? Surely Juvia would have felt it? She was his wife, she loved him, surely she would have felt his passing….?

"I assume so," the Ambassador smirked, "Viscount Dryer likes to see everything finished properly. I do believe now that the battle has been won and the Yorkist had fled, he is now heading towards the Duchess of Norfolk's estate to tie up that lose end."

"He will kill a defenceless woman because she was Gray-sama's Mistress?"

Juvia had no love for the Duchess of Norfolk, she boiled with jealousy just at the thought of the woman who would be with Gray-sama even in death, but she did not wish death on the woman for such a simple reason. Not death at a soldier's hand that is, her own was an entirely different matter.

"The King's Mistress?" the Ambassador snorted. "That bit of fluff? The ignorant child was so absorbed with her own husband she never noticed anything around her. It was what made it so easy to make her defenceless. She left London clueless to why you had sent her away."

Juvia's eyes widened. "But-but-but Juvia saw them and heard them!" she breathed out, horrified. "Are you saying Gray-sama did not betray Juvia?"

"Not with the Duchess of Norfolk," the Ambassador said nastily, "I cannot say for others. It no longer matters. He is no longer King, the Lancastrians and the French are closing in on this palace as we speak, soon London, as well as all of England, will be under their power, and you will be in grave danger unless you do exactly what I say."

Juvia's heart stopped for a moment, her eyes felt like they would fall out they widened so much, and a cold chill swept across her entire body, engulfing her with horrified realisation. "You set this up," she whispered numbly, "you knew this was going to happen. You set Juvia up. You set the Duchess up. You set Gray-sama up!" she howled furiously. Tears ran down her cheeks rapidly as she realised everything was falling to pieces because of her ambassador and she had no idea why. "You ruined Juvia's life!"

"Stupid child!" the Ambassador grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her hard. "I saved you. Your parents were foolish to send a Spanish Infanta in this nest of vipers, there are traitors in every corner, the man you called husband was not even considered the real King by half of his own country, and there is no life here in this cold, bitter, barbaric nation. You would have withered and died long before the Lancastrians got their hands on you if I had not intervened. I saw an opportunity for both of us and took it."

"An opportunity for what?!" Juvia wailed.

"An opportunity to go home, triumphant despite everything. I will be a hero!" the Ambassador declared madly. "A hero of Spain who had rescued the fair princess from the barbaric English who fight their own brother. Your parents would have rewarded me handsomely, with lands and riches, and probably your own hand once I tell them how I saved you from a compromising situation. You will be my reward for years and years of servitude without a word of gratitude. I have finally made my fortune and it is y-"

Throughout this insane rant of her Ambassador's, Juvia had inched closer and closer to the fireplace, her hand had just wrapped itself round her fire poker which she had fully intended to stab the madman with, when suddenly a loud THUNK echoed throughout her room, and the man's eyes rolled back before he collapsed sideways onto the floor with a resounding BANG!

Lady Ultear was revealed, a heavy, silver, candlestick held up as if she would strike again.

"I never did like that man," she said calmly, "there was always something sleazy and creepy about him. But you know," she shrugged, "politics is politics, and if I wanted you for a sister in law I had to be nice to him. Glad that is over."

"Juvia…..Juvia…." Juvia shook her head unable to find the right words. She had been betrayed. Utterly betrayed. And by the person her parents had trusted most to protect her interests. "Juvia…."

"You must gather your wits," Ultear said firmly, "this is not over by far. Gray has lost, the Lancastrians have won, and in any minute that She-Wolf of France will be at the door ready to claim these rooms as hers. You must gather your essentials and leave."

Juvia was half aware that a couple of her ladies had slipped in and already obeying Ultear's command to pack Juvia's belongings. One was tiny, blue-haired, and fragile looking, Mistress McGarden if Juvia remembered correctly, and the other was Lady Mirajane, Viscount Dryer's daughter in law (was she to be trusted? Juvia no longer knew anything, the man she had trusted most had just betrayed her).

"Juvia does not understand," Juvia said finally, "how can the Queen of England be forced to run from her own palace?"

"I am sorry," Ultear grabbed Juvia's hands, "but you now no longer Queen of England. Instead you are the wife of that traitor York, and you have to go to Sanctuary now before the Lancastrians get here."

"Juvia…..Juvia…..does not understand," Juvia repeated, it was all happening too fast, the invasion, her Ambassador's betrayal, Ultear's instance that they leave… "What has happened to Gray-sama?!"

"Later!" Ultear hissed. The ladies returned with Juvia's belongings firmly tied up in the bedsheets and they nodded to Lady Ultear. "Now we have to run!"

Juvia was dragged out of her rooms by Ultear who ran as fast as she could. Juvia's heartbeat moved in time with the clattering sound of high heels against the tiled, wooden, and then stone floors.

Everything blurred orange and red as tears filled Juvia's eyes.

Yesterday she was the Queen of England, and though her heart ached for the want of her husband's love, she had everything else she wanted, and now today she was running away from her own palace as soldiers broke in to take it for another Queen altogether while Juvia had to flee like a criminal.

When had everything gone so wrong?

FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT

Lucy could not sleep.

Her bed felt empty and chilly without her husband pressed up against her, even though she did have Virgo curled up on the other side, her back facing Lucy, and quietly mumbling something about being punished in between snores.

Her hands slid down her body, and clutched her stomach gently but firmly. It has been five months since her courses had stopped, and her belly had now swollen up ever so slightly. The small bulge was so easy to hide beneath her many layers but when she only wore her shift she could see her belly button pressed firmly against the material as life swelled up within her.

This is the longest she had ever been with child, and she was beginning to crave things.

Was this why pregnant women were considered unclean and filled with sin? Because of the unnatural gluttony and lust that takes them over?

She had such an urge to find Natsu and have her way with him, repeatedly, until she could no longer move and he would have to hold her against his firm, sweaty, chest so she could catch her breath but at the same time she really wanted to stuff her face with as much pork and apple sauce she could have.

She could not have the first craving, not until Natsu came home to her, but she could certainly fulfil the second one.

Carefully and quietly, so she would not disturb Virgo, Lucy crawled out of bed, wrapped her robe round her, and slipped on her silk slippers, before she eased the door open and padded down the corridor.

She was sure the cook would have let some pork and apple sauce somewhere in the kitchen. It would not be the hot meal she was dreaming of but it would be something to starve off the infuriating craving.

Lucy had almost reached the kitchen (believe her when she says it took a great deal of time and she almost gave up and went back to bed) when she heard a familiar, timid, voice cry out, and froze.

"You cannot be here!" she heard Aries wail. "I am sorry! So sorry! But you cannot be here, go away, leave now, I am sorry! I do not mean to be rude but please, go!"

"My love," an even more familiar voice said gently but hastily, "I cannot. It is a matter of importance that I speak to Lucy now. Before it's too la-"

Lucy rushed through the kitchen door, slamming it open, as she drank in the sight of someone she never expected to see in her kitchen. Ever. "Loke?!" she cried out horrified. "Good God, what are you doing here?!"

Loke looked battle-worn, dirty, and exhausted. His face was covered with dark smudges and scratches but there was no doubt that beneath it all, he was still the handsome, infuriatingly charming, and undoubtedly royal, Prince of Wales.

The Lancastrian Prince of Wales.

The banished Lancastrian Prince of Wales.

And her cousin.

Here.

In her kitchen.

"Lucy." Loke pulled away from Aries, and dimly Lucy realised they had been in a lovers embrace of sorts. Her eyes widened as a terrifying thought occurred to her – how long has Loke been in England?! A few months, a year, or more? How long has he been putting himself in danger and why is he doing it now?! "Lucy, listen to me," Loke said urgently, "we do not have much time, Viscount Dryer-"

"Well done, Your Highness," a patronising, sleazy, voice echoed behind her. Loke's face fell immediately as Lucy slowly turned to find Viscount Dryer was also in her kitchen. She was seriously going to need to have words with Taurus about the security of her castle. "I see you have captured the Duchess already. That will make my job far easier."

Lucy stiffened and slowly, she reached for one of the knives on the kitchen table. "Oh I wouldn't do that if I was you," Viscount Dryer purred, and Lucy froze mid-way, "You would not even make it hallway towards me before one of my men take you out, permanently."

It was then when Lucy realised they were most certainly not alone. Snickers echoed throughout the shadows as several thugs stepped out into the light. "The King will have your head for this," she said confidently as she held her head up high, "That is if Natsu does not tear you limb from limb first which I bet all my land on he will."

"Then you are penniless, Your Grace," Viscount Dryer smirked, "for Natsu Dragneel and the King have both fallen in battle just this afternoon."

No! Lucy's blood turned cold at the thought. No! It could not be possible. It cannot be. She would have felt it. She and Natsu were so entwined with one another that she would be without a doubt that he was dead. He was alive. He had to be or she would not be either.

It horrified her all the same to realise just how much she depended on her husband.

"You are lying!" she hissed

Viscount Dryer's smirk grew. "Am I?"

"Run Lucy," Loke whispered into her hair, "run! I will hold them off, just get out of here and do not look back. On the count of three, one," he let her go and she stumbled backwards slightly, "two," she held onto her robe tightly, lest it would unravel and reveal far too much for these disgusting, pathetic excuse of men to see, "THREE!"

Lucy ran.

She ran as fast as she could and it was absolutely no use. Her slippers slid against the paving stones of her kitchen floor and she skidded to a halt as Viscount Dryer grabbed hold of her. She wriggled, squirmed, and fought against his iron grip as much as she could but he pressed a foul smelling handkerchief against her nose and mouth, and –

A kick, a brief flutter of life, for the very first time could be felt in her belly.

Natsu!

Lucy struggled against her kidnapper's arms until suddenly, quickly, everything went dark.