Author's Note: Thanks to all those who favorited and followed! Thank you kellybabyboo16 and SistershoOk for your reviews! And just one more quick note:
valerioux - Yeah, she is 13, but as you'll see in this chapter that doesn't mean she's getting married right away. I know, it's still a little iffy… but this story roughly takes place in Medieval times where an event like this would not have been unheard of. As for their reactions - writing those was one of my most favorite moments while writing this story so far! Enjoy ;-)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The stunned silence at the table was finally interrupted by Natsu's raspy gasp.
"What?!"
Lucy threw Erza a pleading glance that the furious girl ignored as she ruthlessly plunged into her explanation.
"Today morning, Lucy's father called forth an assembly of courtiers and knights - in which he announced his daughter's betrothal. Lucy found out at the same moment the rest of us did, and he gave her a mere five seconds to consider and give her consent." Erza grit her teeth, clenching her fists as she struggled to maintain her composure, "The man her father has chosen is twenty years her senior. He is also reputed to be a woman-basher - his past whores have spread stories of just how cruel he is in bed and out of it. When she turns ten and six, this is the man Lucy will be forced to call husband - all so that she may help her father 'protect their family's good name'."
Lucy moaned, burying her face in her hands as the table around her exploded.
"Whatinthenameofallthepixiegods! Luccyyy-dear, you can't possibly think acceptance is the best course of action… Let me help you think through your plan, we'll find a way to free you for sure..."
"Where's your father at, rabbit? I'll talk to him, he won't know left from right when I'm through with him!"
"I call tha bastard of a fiance - I'll make em wish 'e was neva born, tha asshole… Ain't no way he's layin his grubby paws on ya, Lucy!"
"Impossible! Unforgivable! Absolutely… Lisanna, where are my magic weapons?! Call Elfman, we charge Pergrande this instant!"
"Please sister Mira, calm down… Lucy, you can't go through with this! It's simply barbaric, please let us hide you or take you away somewhere…"
"Engaged?! How… Why… Lucy, please, don't go through with this, you don't deserve to be tied to some old bastard just because your father says so. I-I know I can help, I'll ask my father back in Icegard for…"
"Juvia agrees with Gray-darling. Love-rival must not throw away her chance at love for the sake of her family's status, such a father who asks that of his child does not merit his title as a parent."
"Waahhh… I don't want you to get married Lucy! Who'd Natsu and I prank if you start spending all your time with your husband? We'd miss you! You shouldn't even have to be with him, especially when he sounds so mean and nasty…"
"Of all the… foolish tomcat! Lucy, child, this is absolute nonsense! Marriage is sacred and you must not throw it away so flippantly… Even if your father insists…"
"I most definitely agree… Actually, Gajeel, count me in on your mission! Between Black Steel and Pantherlily, we will make short work of your poor excuse for a father, Lucy!"
"No… you can't… Lucy… Mother and father will be devastated when they hear of this… brother?"
The babble of curses, swears and shouts were drowned out by one furious roar.
"HOW DARE HE?!" Natsu bellowed, shooting out of his chair as deep maroon flames rapidly rose from his skin, "YOU ARE NOT A THING TO BE BARTERED! YOU ARE LUCY! A FREE HUMAN BEING! THERE IS NO WAY SOME OLD MOTHERFUCKER IS LAYING HIS SLIMY HANDS ON YOU, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR BASTARD OF A FATHER SAYS! I'LL KILL THEM ALL! NO. ONE. LAYS. A. FUCKING. HAND. ON. MY. TREASURE!" He closed his eyes, struggling to control the black flames that were threatening to seep out of his skin, his chest heaving with labored breaths. As the moments passed, a gentle pressure on his right arm and a familiar soothing scent of stardust and sunflowers accosted his senses, enveloping him and calming him. His breathing evened out and his heart rate slowly returned to normal. Finally, he re-opened his eyes - only to stare back into worried chocolate-colored ones as Lucy stood on her tiptoes, gazing deep into his ruby red orbs.
"Please calm down, Natsu! I-I understand why you are upset - all of you. But I have my reasons why I have agreed to my father's demands. L-let me explain myself, so that you may all judge for yourselves. Please?"
Natsu continued staring, his eyes slowly bleeding back to jade. Lucy rubbed his curse arm comfortingly, coaxing him back into his seat. Once everyone was settled in again, she took a deep breath.
"As many of you have probably surmised, I hail from a wealthy, high-born home in Pergrande. M-my mother died when I was a baby. My father…" Lucy shuddered, "Is an important man in the courts of Pergrande. Not only that, he holds a high position in the Pergrande army…"
"A courtier and a soldier? According to my father, that is a rare combination. In fact, we thought the only person to hold both roles was the King himself." Gray frowned in thought.
Lucy threw a panicked glance at Erza and Cana, the latter piping up immediately. "It ain't unheard of tho, sweet 'art. Doncha know Wakaba? 'E serves as a Corporal in tha eastern forces but in Pergrande 'es known as tha Duke of Castershire. 'Es an honorary memba o tha Pergrande Lower Court."
Gray raised a brow, "Actually, I didn't know that… huh. Father would be pleased to know this tidbit, he's always liked Wakaba.
Cana discreetly winked at Lucy, as the relieved maiden resumed her tale.
"R-right. Just as in Cana's example, my father has also become more of an 'honorary' member of the courts." She sighed, her gaze dropping to her hands, "That has caused trouble over the years, as father's duties and privileges in court are quite coveted. It is for this reason that my father has been eager to promote my official entry into court, for then I will have the power to act on his behalf and 'keep' his place for him until he is able to return from the war with Alvarez. He expects me to be a 'puppet' of sorts…" Lucy gazed into the distance, her eyes hard as bitterness seeped into her voice, "Amongst our duties, we have many under us whom we are obligated to protect. My father is far more interested in winning that blasted war than caring for our people here, at home. That is why I have done everything I could to ease their burdens, which has meant incurring quite a few expenses…"
"Lucy is fast becoming known in Pergrande as one of the most generous of noblewomen. No person is turned away from her empty-handed." Erza stated quietly, her eyes shining with fierce pride.
Lucy blushed, shaking her head and waving a hand dismissively, "Erza, my friend, you exaggerate. I-If I've been able to help someone in any little way, that is exactly what I've done. But between my… err… spending habits, and my father's costs at war, we have lost most of our family wealth. That has put us in a precarious position, and an easy target for assassination attempts, such as the one my… err… such as the one that happened not too long ago." Lucy sat up straighter, her eyes glowing with fierce determination as she gazed upon her friends. "Therefore, in our world, the only recourse in such a predicament is to form alliances with other strong families. T-the man who is my b-betrothed is from one such background. With the military support he has offered, my father can do much more in the army at a lesser cost. And with the wealth he has, I can do so much more for the people who need me…" Lucy paused, fighting the tears that threatened to escape her eyes, "S-so what if he is rumored to be cruel? There are so many poor souls starving on our streets, who desperately need help… Surely I can bear his cruelty for their sakes? Besides… One truth I have witnessed in the courts is that nothing is set in stone. Change is constant and inevitable. Anything could happen between today and the day I turn ten and six to deem this alliance unnecessary. So please don't worry, my friends, I will do everything in my power to protect myself as well as protect my people…"
A grave silence greeted her impassioned speech, as the beings at the table absorbed her words.
Once again Natsu broke the silence first, this time with an incredulous snort.
"It sounds to me like all you really need to escape your 'predicament' is gold." His intense jade eyes bored into hers, "You don't need to marry that old fucker for that. Don't you remember that you're a part of my hoard? Every ounce of gold in my possession is also yours. Take it."
Lucy gasped, "W-what?! Natsu, I couldn't possibly…"
"If that's what it takes to keep you from doing something so insanely stupid like selling yourself to a stranger, then so be it!" Natsu spat out, his eyes blazing with anger, pain and another deeper emotion that Lucy couldn't place.
Speechless, the young maiden placed a hand on her friend's cheek, shaking her head remorsefully.
"That is a noble offer, Natsu." Erza interrupted, her voice gentle but firm, "But not enough to break Lucy's engagement. Although I have no doubt your hoard houses enough gold to satisfy even the greediest of human cravings, it is not only for the gold that Lucy's father has formed this alliance. The man Lucy is to wed also commands a sizeable army of soldiers that would greatly add to Lucy's father's own battalion…"
"Then tell him he has a fire dragon ready to fight for him instead!" Natsu ground out through clenched teeth, glaring at Erza.
"No!" Lucy moaned, "Natsu… I never told you this but… but… my father was one of the men who attacked… during the night of blood…" She looked up at her friend, not bothering to wipe away the copious tears that fell from her eyes, "H-he detests dragons… He would not hesitate to kill you on sight… Please, please, don't ever try to meet him, I could never forgive myself if you were hurt by that cruel, heartless man!"
Her entire frame now trembling with sobs, Lucy sprang up from her seat and ran out through the open doors of the hall, out of Fairy Tail, leaving a stunned and sad collection of younglings in her wake.
Natsu shot up from his seat, snapping open his wings and gliding out after her.
Gray leapt to his feet as well, but before he could take a step, a heavy armored hand fell on his shoulder.
"Leave them be." Erza said softly, her tone gentle despite her firm grip, "She needs her best friend now."
The others hung their heads as they absorbed what had happened, each lost in thought about all that had transpired in such a short time.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"G-go back N-Natsu! I wish to be alone!"
"Nay." The stubborn fire-dragon stood in front of the little human maiden, his arms crossed and his mouth set in a pout, "I won't leave till I see you smile."
The young girl tried and failed to mould her lips into the shape requested. Giving up on the task, the little maiden slumped to the ground, huddling into a tight ball, her golden hair splayed about her. She could feel her friend's body heat, as the dragon plopped down on the grass in front of her, cross-legged and concerned.
"About what you last said…" Natsu began gently, "Don't worry about me. I can take care of myself, Luce. All I wish to do is take care of you too…"
"That does not mean you should take unnecessary risks." Lucy said, her voice muffled by her garments.
"I will decide what is necessary or not. And if giving you all my gold, and becoming your father's weapon are what is required to stop this alliance, then I would deem them necessary. I would do anything to set you free."
Lucy looked up, a curious gleam in her eyes visible through the fear and misery.
"Why?"
"Because you are my best friend. And I love to see you smile."
Lucy felt a smile tug at her lips despite herself.
"Do you earnestly mean that?"
"Aye. Don't worry. I've made you my offer, but it is still your decision to accept it. I won't take away your right to choose, as your father did. Until you say the word, I shan't do anything. But I shall always be here for you. When you need me, just call."
Lucy gave him a wide, genuine smile, her eyes glistening with tears.
"Thank you, Natsu. I-I cannot accept your generous offer right now, for I truly do not think my father would appreciate your help in the fight. He is far too narrow minded and bigoted, I'm afraid he'd take one look at you and… Nay. It is not worth it. Trust me, Natsu, I have no real desire to marry the man my father has chosen, but the way you have offered is not the answer either. I will find a way out of it, but I must do that on my own, in my own way and time."
Natsu hung his head, a disappointed sigh escaping him.
"I understand. I don't like it - but I respect your decision."
Lucy leaned forward, wrapping her arms around her best friend, unable to speak as a grateful lump in her throat prevented her. He pulled her closer, burying his face in her golden locks. Thus the pair sat as the evening shadows lengthened and the moon began its graceful ascent into the sky.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The young maiden panted, sweat beading her brow, her legs almost buckling as she forced her way through the thick brambles. She could still make out their voices - drunken chortling and rough, lewd cat-calls breaking the silence of the crisp winter air. Cursing under her breath, she charged forward, ignoring the stinging pain in her left leg from the sprain she had been unfortunate enough to aquire in her recent fight to escape those drunken soldiers.
She stumbled again. Her cursing became louder, her breathing more laboured as the pain she was struggling to ignore surged through her, forcing her to slow her frantic pace.
"Wheerree ya goin, darlin?" A menacing voice called from a few meters behind her.
Meredy paused, allowing herself a moment to collect her thoughts. Her attempt to outrun them was futile - even in their inebriated condition, they could still catch up with her injured pace with ease. If she were to stay and fight, she would be sorely outnumbered. Normally this would not have worried her - the mermaid magic she possessed would have been more than enough to defeat them if she had still had its full power. After the curse upon her came into effect however, her magical potential had been halved - yet another delightful side-effect of that wonderful curse. Her chances of defeating them at her current level of magical ability was fifty-fifty. But it would be a risk she would have to take.
Whirling around, she launched into her offensive, intent on using the element of surprise to her advantage.
With a flick of her wrist, she caused the icy ground a few feet behind her to part. From below the depths, the waters that were at the command of every mermaid rose at her whispered word, rising instantly in the form of a tsunami.
The men screamed and stumbled, grasping for any sort of purchase on the sleek glacier they stood on, not expecting the sudden gush of icy water that enveloped them. A few fell through the huge cracks in the ice at their feet, the others calling out warnings to each other, slipping and sliding on the treacherously icy terrain. From the edge of the forest Meredy watched the struggling men, a slight smirk on her face. Humans were such arrogant, weak creatures. Her confidence boosted, she decided to attempt to flee again - only to feel a harsh grip on her wrist.
"Yer magic. Should've known…"
The menacing voice from before issued from the scraggy, leering soldier who had her firmly in his grasp. Meredy kicked out at him, but the stranger side-stepped, raising his free hand into a fist and pummelling the hapless mermaid in the stomach. Meredy hunched over in two, whimpering, as the man who still had her in a tight grip roughly grabbed her by the throat, slamming her into the nearest tree trunk.
"But yer still a pretty one, I'm gonna enjoy fuckin ya senseless…"
Her struggles increased as she felt him press his body against hers, his putrid breath blowing over her face. She tried to scream but the grip he had over her throat was choking, it was taking all her strength to keep her eyes open and not fall into the blissful unawareness of unconsciousness. Just before the darkness fully enveloped her mind, she felt the horrid human's weight leave her completely. She slumped to the ground, gasping for breath and clutching her bruised throat, willing the darkness away. As her vision swum back into focus and the ringing in her ears decreased, she took in the sight before her. The man who had previously been attempting to molest her, was now being held up by his throat by a figure cloaked in black. The odious man let out terrified whimpers as the stranger murmured to him. A gentle hand on Meredy's shoulder distracted her from the unfolding scene.
"It may be best not to look, little one."
Meredy looked up at her saviour, her gaze locking with the sparkling black eyes of a beautiful young woman.
"My name is Ultear, little one. What is yours?"
"M-Meredy."
Ultear smiled softly at the little girl, still clutching her throat in pain. She took in the odd angle of her left leg, surmising that the child must have injured it. She knelt down, carefully examining her ankle, as she rummaged through the pack she carried for emergencies.
"Does it hurt very much?" She gently probed Meredy's ankle, looking straight into the girl's eyes.
Meredy looked away, refusing to meet her gaze. "I-It does not hurt that much. I will be fine. I don't need your help."
Ultear chuckled, lifting Meredy's ankle and proceeding to deftly wrap it in the bandages she had found.
"You remind me of myself, little one. Too proud to admit when I need help. But it is not wrong to lean upon a companion from time-to-time, especially when there may come a time when they may need you in return…"
She finished her speech by securing the wrap, gently lowering the girl's ankle to the floor again. Meredy gingerly put her weight upon it, sighing in relief when the sting of pain was greatly dampened by the tightly wound cloth.
"You have been following us for a while, have you not, Meredy?"
Meredy froze. Ultear still knelt in front of her, sitting back on her heels and waiting patiently for her to speak. The mermaid chanced a glance at the human girl's face. She was surprised to see no suspicion or animosity in her gaze, only curiosity and… kindness.
"I am a mermaid outcast. I can no longer return to my tribe. Therefore, I have been roaming the North for some time now, searching for a purpose. I chanced upon you and your companion not too long ago and both of you… intrigued me. So I have been following, hoping for a chance to find something worthwhile…"
Jellal strolled up to the pair, brushing away the black ash that clung to his cloak. Behind him, all that remained of the wayward soldier was a tiny black fire, dark tendrils of smoke curling up into the crisp cold sky.
He frowned, taking in the two seated on the ground.
"Well, Ultear? Has she a good reason for following us?"
"She is one of us." Ultear stated quietly. "I wish for her to join our quest."
Jellal raised an eyebrow, throwing a sceptical glance at the girl.
"You do realize we are not on holiday, Ultear? What good would it be to let a child tag along on the mission we have made for ourselves? She would be better off on her own…"
"Nay." Ultear stated more firmly, a note of finality in her tone. "She is one of us. She comes with us. She comes with me."
Jellal regarded her for a long moment. Finally, with a shrug of his shoulders he turned on his heel, making his way deeper into the forest.
"Suit yourself. She is your responsibility."
Meredy frowned, watching his retreating back. She flinched when she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder once again. Ultear just smiled, offering another hand to help Meredy to her feet. Hesitantly, the young mermaid took it, still regarding the human girl warily.
"Welcome to Crime Sorciere, little Meredy."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thick smoke billowed from the land, black fires still raging in pockets of the desolate expanse. The gruesome, hideous figures rejoiced, crying their triumphant war songs for all creatures, magical or not, to hear.
He stood silently, surveying it all. The death. The destruction. The blood. The bodies.
The once proud flag of the Northern Kingdom of Dragons, the flag of Selvaria, lay at his feet, its edges curling with black flames. With barely a glance at it, the figure turned away.
His work here was done.