Summary: Gray and his family are now back in England….and instantly stirring up trouble.
Pairings: Gray/Juvia, sisterly Ultear/Gray, implied Mirajane/Juvia friendship, sibling Gray/Natsu/Erza, Natsu/Lucy, Lisanna/Lucy friendship, implied Lisanna/Natsu friendship, implied parental Igneel/Natsu, implied parental Makarov/Natsu, parental Makarov/Laxus, some implied brotherly Laxus/Natsu, Virgo/Lucy friendship, some Gray/Laxus friendship, and Laxus/Mirajane.
Author's Note: THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Thank you all so very much for giving me over EIGHT THOUSAND REVIEWS! It means the world to me and I am so glad you are all enjoying this after all this time. So for all of you, I have written another instalment of the Battle of Roses. I must warn you though there is character death….please don't hurt me!
Juvia stepped into the confession box.
Since she had escaped into sanctuary all there was to do was sleep, watch the outside world, think, pray, and confess all of her sins. You'd think that after three months of this Juvia had nothing left to confess but you were wrong.
Juvia will never truly be free of her sins of jealousy and the travesty they had caused. After another sleepless night in which she had been plagued with worries and vivid nightmares of what could happen to Gray-sama and his brothers and Erza, horrible scenes of the Duchess of Norfolk being held prisoner, and the never-ending dripping sound from the leaky ceiling of the basement she was sleeping in, she felt the need to confess again.
She was not sure if she would ever truly be repented for what she had done but she could try cleansing her soul.
"Forgive Juvia, Father," she murmured as her fingers played with the beads on her rosary, "for Juvia has sinned. It has been two days since Juvia's last confession."
There was silence as Juvia's breathing sped up slightly and she clenched so tightly onto her rosary that she could feel the beads dig into her palm, leaving small circular impressions.
"Juvia…..Juvia…." she spoke up, unable to stand the silence, "still feels intense jealousy. Ever since Juvia has been in England Juvia has felt-"
"Juvia!" a familiar voice hissed and Juvia's heart skipped a beat. "Do not confess, I am not your priest."
"Gray-sama!" Juvia gasped delighted. Juvia dropped her rosary and scrambled at the metal grid that was separating her and him. "Gray-sama!" she repeated ecstatically. "You are safe! You have come home."
"Hush!" Gray-sama whispered. "The Chaplain managed to sneak me in but it is only time someone from the Lancastrian Court realises I am here. Is there somewhere we can talk more privately?"
"Juvia can take you where she had been staying these last few months," Juvia said, "Gray-sama then could also see Ultear."
"It's good to know that the two of you have been taking care of each other," Gray-sama's voice was filled with relieve. "You go first, I will follow a few paces behind. Do not look back, I have no idea who is watching."
Juvia nodded and exited the confessional box feeling lighter and happier than she had for months. She was extremely aware of the footsteps echoing behind her as Gray-sama followed her every step which thrilled her to bits. The moment she slipped down the stairs that lead towards the dark, dank, rooms she had been staying she halted to a stop and turned to face Gray-sama.
"Gray-sama," Juvia murmured as she pushed his hood back and looked up at his face. She drank in every inch of his beauty, from his stormy eyes, to his perfectly shaped nose set between his high cheekbones, his thin, soft lips, and his chiselled chin. "Gray-sama…..Juvia is so sorry," she breathed out, "Juvia is so sorry that this has happened. Juvia is sorry that you had been forced into exile, that-"
"Whoa, whoa," Gray-sama interrupted as he clasped Juvia's hands, they tingled with anticipation, "You have nothing to be sorry for. I am the one that should be sorry that you have been in this mess. That you have lost your crown, your home, and forced into sanctuary like a criminal all in one swoop. I had promised you and your parents that I would care for you and this…this," he said disgustedly looking at the mould that was developing on the wall, "is what you got. I have put you in grave danger with my foolishness."
Juvia bit her lip guiltily. "Juvia has been just has foolish," Juvia admitted, "Juvia had been driven with jealousy. It is Juvia's fault that the Duchess of Norfolk is in danger. Juvia had sent her away unprotected because…..because…."
"They would have taken her regardless," Gray-sama said solemnly, "she had been targeted before because of her breeding and fortune and she would have been targeted again. It is not your fault. I….I did not warn you," he turned to look up the stairwell, "but this really is not the place for that conversation either. Can we continue in your rooms?"
"Yes," Juvia whispered, "of course."
Juvia led him by the hand, her heart singing of joy throughout the entire time, down the rest of the stairs, through the winding corridors, more stairs, and eventually into the basement they had been staying.
"Gray?!"
Ultear had been so composed these last few months. She held the fort, kept everyone busy, and ran an entire a network of spies on Gray-sama's behalf. London was a Yorkist city, the townspeople had remembered the tyranny of the Lancasters and honestly trade had flourished more under Gray-sama's rule, and so they had shown their support to Gray-sama's Queen and sister by sending in fresh baskets of food and other necessities. Ultear took advantage of this by sending messages out with the baskets on the return trip to the bakeries and market stalls.
Juvia helped with some of the planning and was highly aware that there was an army being built in Ireland, that there were forces gathering on the Warwick lands, and that someone had appeared in the Norfolk lands rallying troops for the Yorkist agenda.
And Ultear plotted it all.
However one sighting of her brother all of Ultear's composure melted away and for the first time ever Juvia saw tears sparkle in Ultear's dark eyes.
"Gray!" Ultear cried out again as she threw her arms round Gray's neck. "Oh thank God! I have been so worried about you."
"Ultear," Gray-sama hugged his sister back fiercely, "I have been worried too. Are you all right?" he pulled back to look at his sister's in the eye. "This is not exactly the nicest living conditions." He then turned to look at Juvia and the other ladies with the same worried expression.
"It is not me you should be worried about," Ultear chided him, "I am not the idiot that decided to do a winter campaign and then travel during storm torn seas to get back into a country that is currently in control of the family that wants me killed brutally."
"Well when you put it like that I sound as stupid as Natsu," Gray-sama grumbled with what Juvia decided was the most adorable pout. "But I assure you that I know what I am doing."
"I doubt it," Ultear rolled her eyes, "and you are as stupid as Natsu." With that she smacked Gray-sama very hard the shoulder, repeatedly, as she ignored Gray-sama's yelps of pain. "What," smack, "did," smack, "I," smack, "tell," smack, "you?!" smack, smack, "Honestly Gray!" Ultear fumed. "You should have had Ivan's head on the block the moment he tried to raise an army against you years ago and married Lyon off when I told you too. Then at least that smug prick of a Viscount would not have smeared your reputation, made you look like a cuckold and a feeble king, and raised another fricking army in the enemy's name against you."
"I know! I know!" Gray whined. "I am sorry! Do you think that I do not know that you and Juvia and these ladies have been trapped in the worst conditions because of my foolish decisions? That it is my fault that my brother's wife had been held prisoner? My fault that my family had been exiled, my nephew has vanished from the face of the world, and his mother has been permanently injured saving my life?"
"Gray," Ultear softened, "its okay. We will fix it."
"And it is not your fault, Gray-sama," Juvia rushed to her husband's side and clasped his arm, "it is the fault of evil men and….." she trailed of, after her last (of many) guilt fests, Lady Mirajane made it very clear that she was not to talk about herself like that.
In front of Lady Mirajane that is, she was scary.
"I am glad to see that you are okay," Gray-sama smiled weakly, "and I promise that one way or the other I will see that this is over for good."
Ultear smiled. "What is your plan?" she asked. "Aside from the stupidity of a winter campaign that will freeze troops to death and let our enemies escape."
"No one is going to fall for that horseshoe trick again and I will not let go as long as the last one," Gray promised, "it should be swift and quick. I hope to drag them out to St Albans and defeat them there in order to take London, in which I will then restore you two to a palace, preferably the Tower where it would be safer, and then it will probably take another battle or two before I successfully drive them out of the country for good."
"Until the next time," Ultear said darkly, "you know as long as Henry VI and his son lives that the men and women around them will never stop plotting against you."
"I know," Gray-sama sighed heavily.
There was a moment of silence and Juvia's spine shivered as she felt something unsaid had just happened. Something dark and horrible had been understood between the two siblings that she had missed. She took in Ultear's calm expression but guilty eyes and Gray-sama looked deeply depressed and unhappy about something.
"I take it that the others are not in the country yet?" Ultear eventually said. "Will we be expecting them soon?"
"Erza is still in Flanders under the care of Jellal and his brothers," Gray-sama said, "preferably I would have her there until after the Lancastrians are gone but she is most insistent that she will lead a Flemish mercenary army to our aid."
"Of course she is," Ultear rolled her eyes, "Erza could be half dead and she will still put on armour and duel someone into submission. And the boys?"
"In the country," Gray-sama replied instantly, "who do you think has been drumming up support under your orders these last couple of weeks? I, myself, had previously been in Kent."
"Natsu is surely not in the country," Ultear's eyes narrowed, "if he were then he would be running through the streets of London shouting his wife's name by now. Drawing attention to us like the moron he is."
"I did not say he was awake," Gray-sama rolled his eyes, "the moment we landed he attempted to ride straight to London in search of Lucy. We had to restrain him and since then we permanently had him under a sleeping draft. I think Laxus has stuffed him in a trunk or something. It's been peaceful, and quiet, and nice," Gray-sama added dreamily, "we should do it more often once this mess is sorted out."
"Erza would never let us," Ultear said sadly, "and I suspect the Duchess would kick up a fuss as well. I hope you wake him in time though. He would be useless in battle if he starts snoring on his horse."
"Laxus said he will deal with it," Gray-sama shrugged, "now then…I am starving, do you have any food?"
"Men!" Ultear snorted disgustedly.
The afternoon and evening had flew by. The last months without Gray-sama had been so bleak, long, dreary, and dragged out, and yet Juvia's blessed day was going so quickly that Juvia could not hold onto it. They ate, they planned, Gray-sama spent some time alone with his sister, and he spoke to Lady Mirajane and passed her a letter from her husband, and then contently sat by Juvia as Juvia darned a hole in some stockings before finally they all retired to bed.
Juvia was all too aware of Gray-sama lying beside her. There was five inches and three quarters between them and though Gray-sama was icy to touch (his feet was literally two blocks of ice and Juvia had to smother her shriek of giggles into her pillow each time he accidentally brushed her leg with them) he still warmed Juvia from the inside out.
"Juvia," Gray-sama whispered, "are you awake?"
"Yes, Gray-sama."
"Juvia…..Juvia," he coughed awkwardly, "I want to apologise for everything."
"What do you mean Gray-sama?" Juvia turned to face him. He had a haunted look in his eyes that she had never seen before. "It is Juvia that should be apologising. Juvia was the jealous one, Juvia was the one that brought the evil ambassador, Juvia-"
Juvia almost passed out when Gray-sama suddenly placed a finger on her lips. Her voice died instantly and her eyes fluttered blissfully this is the most contact he initiated for months. "You were lonely and jealous because I made you feel that," Gray-sama said quietly but firmly, "Juvia….I am not good with showing affection I usually do it by punching the person I care about. Apart from Erza and Ultear, I have no death wish," he added hastily, "but I am not good at expressing myself to people I have known my whole life let alone a virtual stranger that I am expected to take as my wife."
"You embraced the Duchess of Norfolk," Juvia pointed out bitterly, "naked. It was a naked embrace."
"I had not realised I was naked at the time," Gray-sama said sheepishly, "and Lucy had just lost a baby. She was in need of comforting. I am not that much of a failure at being a human being."
"Juvia is sorry," Juvia said meekly, "Juvia had not realised…."
"That's okay," Gray-sama said quickly, "I have not been the best husband and I will probably continue not being the best husband. Already I have you living in a damp, mouldy, basement of a church in a war torn country, a country that will always require my attention first. I will pay more attention to my courtiers in order to govern this nation and it will mean that you will get neglected, and I am sorry. I am sorry that I have left you with no escape route from this sham of a marriage and I am sorry that I could make you a widow and a prisoner of war in a heartbeat."
"Juvia does not want an escape route from this marriage," Juvia said solemnly, "Juvia is jealous and bitter and was very mean to the Duchess of Norfolk because Juvia loves Gray-sama. Juvia thought Gray-sama loved this other woman instead and it shattered Juvia's heart because Gray-sama is Juvia's sunshine in such a cold and wet place and Juvia looks forwards to spending any time with Gray-sama. Juvia does not need to be embraced and kissed and have her hand held all the time, Juvia can live with just having Gray-sama's smiles and silences and thoughts," Juvia gave him a tearful smile though she doubt he could see it in this darkness, "though it would not hurt if Juvia could have a little love in return."
"I think I do," Gray-sama whispered wonderingly, "perhaps not the way I should, yet, but I have certainly spent a great deal of time these last couple of months worrying about you and missing you. In time I think I could give you what you want and need properly."
"Juvia would like that," Juvia murmured, "and Gray-sama could start trying now if he wishes to."
His teeth flashed in the moonlight as he grinned and Juvia had no time in delighting in his smile before he leaned in and kissed her deeply.
Their kiss was long and slow and sweet and Juvia was almost convinced that he loved her already without the 'I think' as his cool hand pushed down her shift and his lukewarm lips pressed down gently on the naked skin he revealed….
It was not until morning when Juvia was greeted with Mistress Cana's wriggling eyebrows, Lady Mirajane's smirk, Mistress Levy's knowing look, and Ultear's inability to look at her in the eye when Juvia remembered that she and Gray-sama had not been alone in the room.
Oh how Juvia wished the floor would just swallow her up!
But on the plus side at least Juvia had a more interesting sin to confess once more.
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
Lisanna – Or Sister Mary Jane as she was now referred to by others though she had kindly, sternly, told Lucy that Lucy can call her Lisanna – was literally a Godsend for Lucy.
Under the nun's supervision, Lucy was well fed without the fear of certain herbs, more comfortable, and felt a great deal safer than she had in months. Lisanna had gone out of her way to ensure the food was not poisoned and was a hearty fare for both mother and child, she had extra pillows and cushions and tapestries and blankets brought in to make Lucy comfortable and warm, and she kept a strict guard against the Porla and his men.
She also ensured that Lucy was greatly entertained with stories. Really funny and sweet stories, and all about Natsu.
"….and so, Natsu dived sideways having just dodged Erza's axe," Lisanna recounted while trying to not laugh, Lucy was on the edge of her bed, gripped with her own excitement and giddiness, "only to stumble into Laxus' horse and get kicked across the stable for his efforts!"
Lucy let out a shrill squeal before she collapsed in maniacal laughter, her baby kicked happily inside, it was like butterflies fluttering rapidly…if butterflies were incredibly strong. Lisanna laughed alongside her.
Eventually their laughter died down and Lucy sighed as she wiped tears of joy away from her eyes. "I cannot believe that we have not met before this," she said, "Natsu had mentioned you on occasion but he had never bothered to tell me that you were still alive and we could invite you to stay. I must confess I had been under the impression that you died as a child."
"I might as well have to Natsu," Lisanna rolled her eyes, "no more games, no sword fights, and lots of boring praying? In his mind death is a better option. Natsu would have never made it as a monk. But as never bothering to tell you it probably slipped his mind that man is a forgetful moron.
"But he is our forgetful moron," Lucy stressed. She had no doubt that she had a soppy expression on her face. She could never stop smiling fondly when she thought about Natsu which Lisanna loved to tease her about.
It was miles better than sitting in a cold, empty, room with guards outside.
"Exactly!" Lisanna beamed. "I am so glad that Natsu got to marry you. It had been all he talked about to me when we were eight."
Lucy blinked curiously. She had never heard that before either. "Gray had said," she began slowly, "that, well," she coughed awkwardly, "Natsu told him the marriage was not arranged for him. Is that….what he meant?"
"You do not remember?" Lisanna tilted her head curiously. "You had met as children once at Court. You were so kind to him and played all the games he liked. He declared his intentions towards you to his father and no one had the heart to tell him that he could never be considered a worthy suitor."
Lucy flushed at that. That long ago? He had cared for her that long and she did not even remember it… "Really?" Lucy said disbelievingly. "God, does it sound so terrible that I cannot remember this at all?"
"No," Lisanna said soothingly, "it does not surprise me, for you, to be kind to one child must be an everyday thing." Lucy mumbled incoherently at that too embarrassed to be unable to truly vocalise anything. "You lived at Court, you must have met hundreds of different kinds of people and were nice to each and every one of them. While for Natsu…..it is much rarer to encounter such kindness, even his own stepsiblings had been cruel to him for his illegitimacy."
"Ultear and Lyon?" Lucy guessed.
"Not so much Ultear, she was merely cold, to everyone really but her own brothers, but Lyon?" Lisanna frowned slightly. "Oh yes. He could be cruel about it."
"Why?"
"Jealousy I expect," Lisanna sighed, "Natsu is the natural born son of Lyon's stepfather. Lyon truly loved Lord Silver. There was something charismatic about the Duke of York, he had a way to make everyone love him and there was no doubt in the world that he loved all of his children. I think Lyon has resented the fact that not only is Natsu the son of Lord Silver but he rejected it, and Lord Silver's love, as well."
"You could hardly blame him," Lucy said shortly, "Lord Silver left Natsu in the care of other men. Igneel had been there from the very beginning, teaching Natsu right from wrong, while the Earl of Warwick had taught Natsu how to be a man and a soldier. They were his fathers not him."
"Yes," Lisanna said softly, "and they raised him well. He will be a wonderful father to your child."
Lucy's hand instantly went to her stomach. "If we can make it out of here," she mumbled, "if he survives this war…."
Lisanna reached out and took Lucy's hand into hers. "Trust me, Lucy," she smiled radiantly, "Natsu, Gray, Erza, and the others have beaten the odds before. I have faith that they will again. More than that," she squeezed Lucy's hand, "I have faith that Natsu will break this door down to take you home and keep you safe. You will be sick of the sight of him before summer."
Lucy tried to laugh but it was weak and forced compared to earlier. "I hope so," she murmured as she squeezed Lisanna's hand back, "God," she said despairingly, "I hope so."
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
Fog surrounded Laxus like a thick, suffocating, blanket. All he could see was white, he could barely make out his own breath, which was coming out like puffs of smoke it was so cold, and shadows of something in the far distance which was probably only a few feet away and just seemed like a far distance. The air was damp, cold, and heavy, he was unsure if he could move in this normally let alone actually fight in it.
All in all, it was a tactical nightmare.
And yet, they were making it work.
it had been one of Laxus' men's ideas, as he had noted there was a fog beginning to roll in last night, to surround the Lancastrian encampment and it was one that childishly amused Gray and Natsu. They excitedly ordered the men about and Laxus was really regretting that he was saddled with Natsu of all people who was wiggling impatiently beside him.
"Quit that!" Laxus growled. "You are not eight years old anymore. You know how to sit on a horse properly."
"I want to beat the crap out of them!" Natsu whined. "When can we fight already?!"
"When the fog clears up enough so we can actually see them, you moron!" Laxus snapped. "Now shut up! We do not want them to hear us and attack."
Natsu moaned and groaned and Laxus privately wondered if anyone would actually be upset if Natsu was suddenly absent from the battle due to a sudden case of being murdered.
That was when the fog finally cleared up enough for them to make out some of the banners….and instantly a trumpet tooted and a battle cry for Lancaster could be heard.
"Erm…" Natsu blinked. "It might just be me…..but is the Lancastrian army attacking itself?"
"Yes," Laxus smirked, "Yes, they are."
"Should we not remind them that we are the enemy?"
"Yes," Laxus lifted his sword up arrogantly, "we should." He then signalled to his men and his own battle horn could be heard. "A WARWICK!" he bellowed.
"A YORK!"
The men behind him and Natsu bellowed out the two battle cries with equal loudness and passion before they all charged and attacked the backs of their enemies.
That was, of course, when Gray and Lyon swooped in with their own armies from the other sides, and soon enough Lancaster was surrounded.
It instantly became a frenzied battle of confusion. After all cousin was fighting cousin, brother against brother, and father was being opposed by son, there were shouts for the same family name from opposing sides, half the men recruited from villages and farms must have gotten lost on who exactly they were fighting for.
It did not matter to Laxus, he was the grandson of the Earl of Warwick, he had dedicated his life to serving the true King of England, and that was the descendant of both the Yorkist and Clarence lines, Gray.
Swiftly, Laxus dispatched his enemies and with his blood pumping, his heart racing, and sweat dripping off his forehead despite the chill, he found the world around him a blur and time was no longer a concept to him as he focused on his next task.
He had been somewhat aware that at some point Erza had joined the battle but only because a man screamed; "THE SHE-WOLF FROM HELL IS HERE! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!" as Erza rode in, obviously ignoring her doctors' orders, her husband's wish, his grandfather's advice, and Gray's plea, armoured to the teeth on a demonic horse while waving a Morningstar over her head.
It terrified the crap out of him, and he used to see that every day when they were children, but it was effective, and soon enough they had driven of the Lancastrians, decimated their forces, and pushed them firmly away from London.
They had won.
Laxus dropped his sword and tried to catch his breath as suddenly his legs felt numb beneath him and he wanted nothing more than to collapse in a nice warm bed and sleep for a hundred years.
The cheers were loud bordering on irritating as Natsu jumped up and down like a little kid, Gray seemingly lost his breastplate, and Erza was rallying troops to clear up.
That was when it had happened.
It happened so fast, and yet so slowly, as if the whole world slowed down to make a point at how useless Laxus was.
A horse neighed, he turned to see his Father's gigantic warhorse galloping towards them, his father was of course riding on it, dressed head to toe in his black armour, and before Laxus could say anything, before he could even move, and his Father dropped his hand before thrusting it up into his Grandfather's chest.
The sword pierced through both armour and flesh as if it was nothing.
His Grandfather gargled a gasp.
A scream tore through Laxus' throat.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
His Grandfather fell forwards as his Father pulled his sword out, despite the sound of horns and horses and men shouting and screaming, Laxus could have sworn he heard the sickly, squelchy sound of the sword slipping out of his Grandfather's body. blood splattered everywhere staining the frosty grass with the deep burgundy of nobility and as his Grandfather sank onto his knees and fell completely on the ground Laxus was able to make out on last 'love you' before all life left one of the greatest men England had seen.
Laxus' world crumbled as his Father rode off, dodging every arrow and weapon thrown at him, and escaped into the distance.
Whatever victory they had won had instantly became hollow.
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
Lucy's rest was disturbed by shouting and loud crashing noises, she instantly sat up fearfully, her hand fumbling under the pillow for the dagger Lisanna gifted her. "What is going on?!" she asked Lisanna.
"I do not know," Lisanna stared at the door with a disapproving look, "I will go and find out. Virgo please do not leave Lucy's side."
"Yes, Sister."
Lisanna did not have to go far to find out, Lucy could hear the Viscount voice say something furiously very close by. Her heart froze and her hand curled round the dagger. Virgo stepped between the bed and the door though Lucy had no idea what Virgo would have been able to do if the Viscount actually entered her bed chambers.
"I do not care how close Yorkist forces are," Lucy could hear Lisanna say coldly and loudly outside, "we are not moving a heavily pregnant woman. She should be resting not gallivanting across the country on horseback."
Lucy's heart sped up as her breath caught in her throat. Yorkist forces, it does not take a genius to take the logic step from that to Natsu.
Natsu was alive.
Natsu was here in the country.
Natsu was coming to save h-
SLAP!
Lucy's excitement died an instant death as she heard cold metal slapping against soft flesh. She gasped horrified and tried to get over to Lisanna's side when Virgo suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "It is unsafe, Hime," she murmured, "Let Sister Mary Jane handle this."
"But-"
"DO NOT ARGUE WITH ME, BITCH!" the Viscount screamed brutally. I DO NOT CARE ABOUT THAT DAMN YORK SPAWN THAT GROWS IN HER BELLY. IT COULD SLIP OUT OF HER WOMB ON THE ROAD FOR ALL I CARE, THE DUCHESS IS LEAVING AND THAT'S FINAL!"
"Then get her a litter or something!" Lisanna begged fiercely, undaunted by the slap or the Viscount's fury. "She cannot physically get on a horse."
"We do not have the fucking time to be slowed down by a litter. Do you not understand?" The Viscount snarled. "They have won the battle." He growled furiously. "That stupid pink-haired bastard is probably leading an army to our door. We need to leave now. If we can get away now, they will not have the chance to pursue us. Their little York King will need them to return to him if he is ever to secure London. This is our only chance to secure a final victory."
Lucy shivered at the thought of Lancaster still winning.
"Then leave the Duchess here," Lisanna said persuasively, "Let them take her back if she is only to slow you down."
The Viscount barked a cold and cruel laughter. "You know nothing about war, Sister." Lisanna muttered something which Lucy suspected was along the lines of a nun not supposing to know about war. "Do you think they would not hesitate attacking us on the road if we had their Duchess in our keeping? Foolish girl, of course they would hesitate." Lucy shuddered as the implication reached her. "I would be an absolute imbecile to let her go. So no, we are not leaving her here, she is coming with us as our hostage." The door burst open and Lucy almost screamed at the sight of the Viscount, he was dressed in terrifying black armour and was covered in blood. Instantly she dropped her dagger behind her on the bed before he could see it and snatch it away. "You! Servant!" he barked at Virgo. "Gather the Duchess' belongings and move out. We are leaving this very hour."
"I cannot-"
"Sit on a horse," the Viscount interrupted as if the very words were curse words, "I know, I know. You can sit in the cart with our weapons for all I care just move, Damnit!"
And with that he stormed out, Lisanna rushed in and Lucy gasped. One side of the girl's face was raw pink. "It is nothing," Lisanna said firmly, "I have had worse growing up with Natsu, Erza, and my sister. They all accidentally punch much harder than he does."
"Are you sure?" Lucy asked worriedly. "Surely we should apply some salve or-"
"There's no time," Lisanna shook her head. Lucy opened her mouth but the guards suddenly entered her room and in front of those, Lisanna and Lucy had to maintain a polite acquaintance that two strangers might have. "Follow me, Your Grace," Lisanna said stiffly, "we cannot dally any longer or the Viscount will lose his patience altogether."
Lucy could do nothing but fetch her cloak and grab her two sole possessions that did not include clothing. Virgo barely had time to shut the small chest they had been provided with when they were first captured shut when the guards snatched it away.
One of them, a big, ugly, smelly, man reached out for Lucy when Lisanna suddenly stepped in the way. "Allow me to escort her," Lisanna said firmly, "she needs a woman's touch."
"Whatever you say, Sister."
And with one guard lumbering ahead of them, and the other stalking them from behind, Lucy and Lisanna were firmly marched between them. There was no chance of escape….yet.
"What on earth is going on, exactly?" Lucy hissed in Lisanna's ear. "I heard something about Yorkist forces."
"He's here," Lisanna whispered breathlessly in Lucy's ear, "Natsu, and the others, they have chased the Lancastrians from St Albans and are beginning to make their way towards us."
Lucy's heart leaped hopefully but her mind was far more practical. She had just heard the Viscount's plans after all. "What if we are not here by the time they arrive?" she murmured fearfully.
"Then they will have no choice but to go back," Lisanna said softly, "I am so sorry but the Viscount is right, York needs to secure London first before they actually pursue the Lancastrian forces and put an end to it all." They were lead out into the courtyard and Lucy froze as the sight of a wooden cart that she was obviously supposed to get in. It was already too late she realised with sinking dread, by the time Natsu got here she was already going to be gone. Lisanna squeezed her arm comfortingly. "But Lucy, I promise you," her blue eyes blazed fiercely, "Natsu would hunt us to the very ends of the world to get you back. You will not have to endure this for long." She leaned in closer. "Do you still have your dagger?" she asked quietly.
Lucy's hand squeezed the silver, dragon engraved, handle. She was able to hide it up her sleeve as her guards' watched Virgo bend down. "Yes," she breathed.
"Hold onto it," Lisanna ordered her, "You will need all the defence you can get."
Lucy did not get the chance to say anything when she was suddenly bundled onto the cart and once both Virgo and Lisanna crawled onto, the driver sped off onto the rocky road, jutting them all over the place.
Lucy's hand dropped the dagger in favour of clutching her stomach as she groaned with agony.
The Viscount's words played over and over again in her head and fear rose up within her as she could not feel her baby.
Come on baby, she begged, hold on, just a little longer. Your father is on his way, I need you to hold on a little longer for me….
FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT
The people of London were torn between great celebration and great mourning.
After all, their chosen King, Gray, had ridden in as a hero and was officially reunited with his wife on the steps of Westminster Abbey. All nearby viewers got a lovely sight of Juvia almost pushing Gray off the stairs as she flung her arms round him forcefully and Gray reluctantly bestowed a kiss on her at the urging of his people.
Gray still could not handle physical affection apparently especially in public. If Laxus had been in a better mood he would have rolled his eyes at the juvenility of it all. Instead he stood in the background, dressed in black, like a hideous thundercloud.
London all quickly fell silent when, what felt like, miles behind the King they spotted the body of the Earl of Warwick being respectively carried throughout the city. His tiny form almost covered by his shield and sword.
That was when all the weeping and wailing began.
Which was unsurprising, after all, Laxus' Grandfather was beloved by all. There was not great family that did not have at least one child fostered by him. He was considered one of England's greatest warriors, wisest adviser, and kindest of all Englishmen.
He had been the knight that taught great King Henry V, he had been a war hero from the Hundred Years War, he had been Kingmaker, and most importantly he was one of the greatest landowners in England, loved by all of his people.
The Father of the North, they had called him.
He had been respected internationally, even by the French and that was saying something, and now he was gone.
Laxus was completely lost without him. More lost now since it had been his own Father that had murdered him.
It had been three days since they took London and everyone around him had been in a flurry of activity. Natsu spent most of it shouting and screaming that they should be rescuing Lucy and being knocked out by Erza each and every time he tried to leave on his own. Erza and Jellal were reunited with their son, and with the Tower under Gray's control, his and everyone else's attention had been rearming and recruiting for going after the Lancastrians and pushing them out of England once more.
Laxus spent his entire time in the Abbey standing watch over his grandfather's body. It was to lie in state for three days before burial, and today was the funeral.
There was an echoing sound of footsteps and Laxus whirled round to find Mirajane standing behind him. Although he had been pleased to see that she was safe, albeit a great weight loss from worry as well as looking paler than usual with the dark shadows under her eyes, he had not been able to express it with his grief drowning out everything.
They had barely spoken since they had been reunited.
He opened his mouth to say something, anything, even just to say sorry, anything as better than nothing…..but nothing came out and he closed his mouth again.
"It is okay," Mirajane flashed him a watery smile, "I understand. I miss him too." Those words undid him as he pulled Mirajane into a bone-breaking embrace and sobbed helplessly into her shoulder. His Grandfather was dead. His parent was gone. His Father had murdered his Grandfather. It was all too much. "Hush, love, hush," Mirajane murmured as she rubbed soothing circles on his back, "it will be all right. Everything will be okay. He would not want to cry."
His tears subsided and thankfully in time as more footsteps could be heard. Laxus glanced up to see Gray, all in black finery, hovering nearby. "I am sorry," he said hesitatingly, "I would not approach you so soon but….there is little time and I was not sure when I could talk to you."
"I get it," Laxus grunted, "we are still at war."
They were barely getting time to bury his Grandfather because the man that murdered him was still wreaking havoc on this country. The unfairness stuck in his throat like a vile, sour, treacle and Laxus felt the need to punch something now.
(Where was Natsu when you actually needed him?)
"Gramps was a second father to me," Gray said mournfully, "I loved him. We all did." Laxus nodded in acknowledgement of the most annoyingly obvious fact of life. Everyone loved his Grandfather and his Grandfather loved them all back. All those damaged children who were motherless or fatherless or both. There had been a time when he was young, rash, and still under his father's control that he had resented that. Now he had come to greatly admire it. "And I swear to you that we will avenge him."
"Thank you."
"With your Grandfather dead that leaves your Father as his heir," Gray said coldly, "but as he had committed treason. Betraying me and my own, kidnapping a royal princess for his own agenda, and killing his own father, I will have him attained."
Laxus swallowed. "As is the law," he replied.
With his father attained that meant Laxus had no inheritance himself. The law had been an ingenious idea of Gray's father and Laxus' grandfather back when they were regents for Henry VI's second bout of madness, and now, here it was biting their own descendants in the backside.
How was he going to provide for Mirajane now?
"And it means there is great tracts of land that has returned to my ownership," Gray said, "wealth to fund armies, thousands of men who have no leader to lead them, it is a great advantage to whoever has the right to that inheritance. Your Father will undoubtedly try to sway them to his cause which is why I hastened to have it announced throughout the country of his tracery and patricide."
"Yes."
"But it is not enough to ensure that this advantage remains on my side," Gray continued, his stormy eyes were piercing into Laxus' soul and making him extremely uncomfortable, "I need a Dryer to lead them and hold their loyalty." Laxus blinked not entirely certain where this was going. He had a suspicion but he did not want to hope. "On your knees!" Gray barked suddenly.
For a wild moment Laxus thought he was going to be arrested, that Gray wanted to stamp out any potential treachery from his council once and for all, and as he knelt before his King and when the boy took out his own sword that thought became wilder as Laxus was half convinced Gray was going to have him executed for his Father's crimes.
The cool steel of Gray's sword tickled the sides of Laxus' neck as he tapped either shoulder.
"Arise," Gray said briskly, "Lord Laxus, Earl of Warwick."
Laxus' eyes widened as he stood up slowly unable to actually believe his initial suspicion had been correct. This was the inheritance he never thought he would get, partially because he had been convinced his Grandfather was immortal, but also he was sure his Father would ruin it when he finally got his grubby hands on the title. It pleased him to no end knowing that the most converted title in the Dryer family had bypassed the murdering scumbag that Laxus was unfortunately fathered by. "Your Majesty," he bowed. "What is your wish?"
"Mourn your Grandfather first," Gray said gently, "then help me bring your Father to justice and end this bloody war for once and all."
"It would be my pleasure."
And for the first time in days Laxus burned with something other than fury, hate, and guilt, it was something brighter, stronger, and more passionate. The responsibility and trust that had just bestowed upon him had immediately motivated him to want to end it all, he will lead the northern men of his Grandfather's lands, he will win whatever battles come his way, and he will hunt his Father down.
But he will not kill him.
Oh no, Laxus will ensure that his Father knows that it was not just the earldom and golden looks that bypassed him. Laxus will not indulge in patricide and prove to be his Father's son. Laxus was going to show his Father that he is a leader, and a just man, and that he can be kind and wise without greed and ambition motivating him.
Laxus was going to make the world forget that he was Ivan Dryer's son.
Instead Laxus was going to prove the whole world that he was Makarov Dryer's Grandson.
He was going to make Gray King of England forever.
(Proving the stupid moron does not accidentally get himself killed. Laxus' first order of duty will have to be ensuring the idiot had the best line of defence on him at all times.)