Erza sat on the bench of the tavern, her hooded cloak drawn close over her thinner form. She did not make eye contact with any of the curious locals passing by her table - she dreaded the ignominy that could arise from recognition. By her side sat a pink-haired lass. The young maiden's body discreetly shielded Erza's cloaked figure from the rest of the tavern's occupants. Meredy, as Erza vaguely recalled she was called, hummed a cheerful tune as she fiddled with a pack of playing cards. She spoke not a word - only occasionally shooting Erza a friendly yet scrutinizing glance.
Erza felt a small glow of affection for her silent companion, one of the first pleasant emotions to accost her since the day of her banishment. Meredy and Ultear had been very patient with her, giving her the space and time she needed to heal. Although in all honesty, Erza knew that fully recovering from what she had gone through would never really happen - she knew that she could never quite return to the same happy, peaceful woman she used to be. A shadow would always weigh over her heart - in the shape of the handsome, intelligent and loving man she had lost.
It had been three days since that awful event.
Meredy and Ultear had carried her away from the city gates that day, taking her to a nearby farmer's hut where the young mermaid treated her cuts and bruises and transformed her coma into a healing sleep. She had awoken only a few hours ago, physically feeling a little better than before, but emotionally…
She felt empty.
It was not just Jellal's loss that she grieved. She knew full well now that Lucy - the woman she thought of as a sister - no longer thought of her that way. It pained her to think of how she had probably hurt Lucy by choosing Jellal over Pergrande… but it could not be helped. Given even a second chance, Erza knew she would not change her decision. In her mind, he came first. Always.
"I've booked two rooms in this pub for our night's stay. We already have most of the provisions we need, so we are set to begin our journey early tomorrow morn." A beautiful woman with straight, long, black hair swung herself onto the bench opposite Erza, shooting her and the pink-haired girl a grin. Her gaze lingered on Erza's cloaked figure, her voice dropping a few decibels as she addressed her.
"Of course, our sojourn to the Northern Kingdom is not urgent - we could rest for a few more days so that you may gather more of your strength…"
Erza shook her head, her eyes locked on the table top before her. Ultear regarded her for a long moment, before letting out a sad sigh.
"Very well. But you will let us know if you are tired or need to rest, will you not?"
Erza simply nodded, her eyes still trained on the wooden plank in front of her. Meredy shot Ultear a worried look, before gently placing her hand on the scarlet-haired maiden's shoulder.
"Erza?" She began softly. "Juvia has requested that we meet her before we leave - she asked us to wait for her in a forest alcove just a little ways away from the capital's entry gate. Ultear and I will be going now. Will you come with us?"
Erza let out a lifeless sigh as she rose from her seat, pausing until her companions did the same. She followed them wordlessly out of the rustic pub to the small stables right beside it. She refused their helping hands as she fumbled a little to mount her stead - her limbs still felt weak from two days of disuse, and it frustrated her… Though the feeling of frustration was a welcome change from the dull sorrow that otherwise encompassed her.
The three women began riding at a leisurely gait to their appointed meeting spot. Ultear and Meredy rode on either side of Erza as a comfortable silence descended upon the group, interspersed with occasional glances of concern from the witch and the mermaid directed towards their third companion. Thus traveling, they made good time and arrived at the alcove a little early. As Erza slowly dismounted, the other two took up their respective tasks - Ultear pulled out an orb to check for any threats in their near future, as Meredy reached for a playing card to contact her mermaid mentor. Erza took a seat on a fallen log as she quietly observed the pair working in perfect harmony - it spoke volumes about the depth of their bond. A few minutes later, the three women heard the tell-tale rumblings of a wagon being driven on the narrow dirt path leading to their hidden spot. Ultear and Meredy whipped their heads in that direction, whispering a few words of confirmation between each other as they stepped forward to greet the being they knew was on her way.
Juvia entered the clearing with a beatific smile upon her lovely features, directed at all three occupants of the clearing from her higher perch in the driver's seat of her odd conveyance. Ultear and Meredy shot her friendly grins in return as even Erza stepped forward to offer a wan smile of her own.
"Juvia is happy to see Lady Erza is doing better." Juvia began, addressing her old friend with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "But she still looks very pale and sad. Why?"
Erza opened her mouth to respond, but found the words caught in her throat. Instead she bowed her head, a tear escaping from her good eye. Juvia's look softened. She swiftly dismounted from her seat, briskly walking over to Erza to envelop her in a warm embrace.
"Come with Juvia, Lady Erza. There is someone whom you must meet."
Gently, Juvia guided a confused and meek Erza to the back of the rickety wagon. They were followed by a curious Ultear and Meredy, the former leaning closer to the latter to enquire if whimsical mystery was a mermaid thing - only to earn a playful swat on her arm. The joking pair stood a little bit away from the wagon as they watched Juvia shift aside a few crates of cabbages to reveal a large, closed box in one corner of the vehicle. The blue-haired mermaid rapped a few times on the lid, prompting a very human, very male voice to utter an irritated phrase from within it.
"Finally, dammit."
Erza froze, every muscle in her form tensing and every nerve in her body firing a high alert. That voice. She would recognize it anywhere. But it couldn't be. She had watched him die. Beheaded. He had even looked into her eyes just before he had been killed… there was no way he could have survived…
The lid to the box swung open and a figure rose from it, coughing and grumbling a little as he dusted off his torn breeches and old shirt. He ruffled his dark blue locks to dislodge more dust and debris, at last casually looking up from his ministrations - only to go stock frozen still at the sight of the person standing before him. For a good few minutes he just stared, his eyes wide and his breathing suddenly labored. Then, with a strangled cry, he jumped out of the rickety wagon, grabbing the frozen woman on the ground and pulling her into a rough and desperate embrace. It took the warrior maiden a few seconds to respond - the shock of the situation had rendered her immobile - but soon she was hugging him back just as desperately, her face buried in the crook of his neck, and her tears of joy soaking his raggedy old shirt.
"When Lady Juvia snuck me out of the castle, she only told me that I would be entrusted to a group traveling North. She did not say that you would be amongst them…"
Erza reluctantly pulled back for a moment, her hands cupping his face as she looked deep into his eyes.
"B-but how are you here? I-I saw you d-die…"
Jellal fondled her face in his broad hands, leaning forward to press his forehead against hers.
"I-I honestly do not know. All I remember was having a conversation with an old man who had been thrown into the dungeon cell with me. H-he shook my hand after I confessed how much I loved you, and then… nothing. I woke up in the castle about an hour ago, and Lady Juvia hurried me out of there by these means - giving me only an enigmatic and brief set of instructions in the process."
He wrapped his arms around his love, pulling her into a deep kiss. A delicate cough from behind the joyful pair interrupted them, Erza breaking away with a blush while Jellal scowled a little at the interruption. Juvia's smile only widened as she directly addressed Jellal.
"Pardon Juvia, but she knows what happened to Sir Jellal."
The pair turned to face her, Jellal still refusing to let Erza leave his arms, as he gently guided her head to rest on his chest.
"The man Sir Jellal was speaking too was a talented impersonator. He gathered as much information as he could about you, before using a sleep potion that can be transferred by skin to render you unconscious. An accomplice skilled at digging tunnels then snuck you out from the bowels of the castle to Juvia's chambers - whilst the impersonator took your place."
Jellal frowned, his grip on his beloved unconsciously tightening.
"Then an innocent man died on my behalf?"
Juvia shook her head gently.
"Nay. Juvia was led to believe that he wished to undergo a beheading, and that it in some way helped him…"
"How could being beheaded help anyone, Lady Juvia?!" Jellal interrupted a little roughly, his teeth grit in anger and remorse. "I am not worth this much trouble - especially after all I have done. Perhaps it would be better if I returned to Pergrande to face my punishment…"
"W-was it she who told you this, Juvia?"
Erza's soft tone halted Jellal's tirade immediately, as he instead wrapped his arms more firmly around the warrior maiden's waist.
Juvia's gaze shifted to Erza, and with a soft, gentle smile she nodded.
Erza let out a sigh of relief. She turned to Jellal.
"Then I believe what Lady Juvia said. You have no reason to feel guilty - your conscience is clear."
Jellal just stared at her, mystified and awed by the confident note in his lover's voice. Erza merely patted his cheek, as she turned back to address her old friend.
"Thank her for me, Juvia. Even if such words from one such as I who has essentially betrayed her would mean very little to her…"
Juvia interrupted rather crisply. "Do you trust her, Erza?"
Erza responded without hesitation. "Of course. I always have and always will."
Juvia beamed at her, drawing out a folded piece of parchment from the ruffles of her dress.
"Then this should help."
Erza opened it. As she perused the contents, the confused frown on her face melted away to be replaced with a gentle, glowing smile. She looked up from the letter, folding it and slipping it carefully into her breast pocket.
"Tell her that there is nothing for me to forgive - and that I will always love her. She is my sister, after all."
Juvia nodded, preparing to remount the wagon, when Erza's gentle hand on her arm halted her.
"You look so much better than before, Juvia. Has your ailment been cured?"
Juvia blushed a little, her eyes falling to the dirt floor of the clearing.
"N-no. Not quite. But a plan is being prepared for Juvia's problem - and in the meantime, Lady Cana has been helping Juvia keep her health up with potions…"
Erza smiled knowingly. She disentangled herself momentarily from her lover to embrace the gentle blue haired mermaid.
"In that case, all will be well Juvia. You trust her as I do, right?"
"Yes, I do."
With a final, sweet smile, Juvia gracefully swept herself back into the wagon's drivers seat. She waved farewell to Ultear and Meredy as she urged the wagons horse into a slow trot. The group watched as the conveyance slowly tumbled out of the alcove. As the last sounds of the rickety conveyance faded away, Ultear turned to Jellal with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
"Soooo, we meet again."
Jellal started a little, noticing the remaining occupants of the clearing for the first time.
"Ultear? And Meredy? When did you two arrive?"
Ultear let out an amused snort.
"Is Erza's brilliance so great that you could not even see your old comrades? We were standing here all this while, you oaf."
Meredy giggled. "Ohhh, Jelly has it bad, has he not?"
Jellal blinked.
"Jelly?"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A forlorn figure stood by the window, gazing up at the gloomy sky above with a defeated look upon her porcelain features. She did not stir even when the door to the chamber opened and shut. The handsome orange-haired young man who had just entered slowly made his way towards her, coming to a stop just a foot behind her shapely frame.
Lucy glanced over her shoulder at her friend, shooting him a wan smile before returning to her absent-minded perusal of the skies.
"How long do you plan on sulking, Lucy?"
"As long as I wish too, Loke."
Loke smothered a chuckle at her instantaneous and deadpan rebuttal.
"With such an attitude I doubt your melancholy will last very long."
Lucy sighed, turning around fully this time to face the lion spirit. Loke's amused smirk died on his lips as he took in his monarch's pale visage and nervous fidgeting.
"I feel horrible, Loke." She began in a hushed voice, her eyes trained on the ornate rug at her feet. "I ordered Gemini to die on another's behalf…"
"We've been through this, Lucy." Loke interrupted gently yet firmly. "The Gemini twins did not die. They were merely sent back to the Celestial realm, where they will remain until the Celestial Priestess returns and claims all the zodiac keys. Only she will have the power to open our gates and bring us back to earth in our full glory."
"I know. You've told me that before." Lucy nibbled her lower lip rather nervously as she squirmed in her spot. "That still doesn't mean the twins would have been happy to suffer such a horrendous exit from this reality. Just as Pisces and Piscean suffered when they died in the war, and Capricorn…"
Lucy's voice trailed off, tears glistening in her eyes and threatening to escape as she struggled to subdue her grief.
Loke regarded her with deep affection and sympathy.
"Nay, Lucy." Loke addressed the golden-haired damsel solemnly, using a single slender finger to lift her chin and look her in the eyes. "As you know, the stage of Awakening is over - we have now entered the stage of Progression. And in this stage, each one of us celestial spirits will have to return to the spirit realm - without the aid of our keys. The only way to accomplish that is by engineering a rather brutal death. Gemini merely saw an opportunity to achieve just that - and help a friend in the process. Just as Pisces and Piscean saw an opportunity to save lives with their sacrifice in the war, and Capricorn…"
Lucy looked up, worry shining in the depths of her chocolate orbs.
Loke offered her a gentle, reassuring smile.
"Capricorn was happy to exit the way he did. He felt justified in taking his own life after the truly horrendous deed he was forced to commit. Neither I nor any of the other Celestial spirits could convince him otherwise. He was at peace, Lucy, when he left this world. So do not punish yourself with such heartache - he would be sad if you did."
Lucy nodded slowly, doubt still swimming in her eyes.
"Trust me, Lucy." Loke continued gently, placing his hands on her shoulders and giving them an affectionate rub. "The twins, the fish and the goat are all fine. They are happy to be back in their homeland, and eagerly await their future with the Priestess."
The crease of worry that lined the young woman's forehead smoothened out just a bit. Lucy regarded her friend contemplatively for a long moment - finally acknowledging his confident appraisal of the situation with a slow nod. Instead of pressing the matter further, she prompted an abrupt change of context.
"You gave Juvia the letter, right?"
"Yes."
Lucy's worry lines returned, deeper than before.
"I doubted Erza's judgment and persecuted the man she so faithfully loved. D-do you think she will ever forgive me…?"
Loke smiled gently at the young woman, his eyes softening further as he noted the scared and nervous tone of her musical voice.
"I don't think she even felt that you've done anything that deserves her forgiveness. She loves you, Lucy. The reassurance that you love her in return is all she would need, I wager, to move forward in the new life she will make for herself. With the man she loves by her side."
Lucy sighed, finally relaxing her stiff stance.
"You are right, I suppose. At any rate, I have incurred my own punishment in this affair. Had I been more trusting and open-minded, I might have gained a brother… instead of losing a sister."
She gazed off into the distance, seemingly struggling with a particularly stubborn thought. At last, she let out an exasperated sigh.
"But there is no point dwelling on the past. Especially not when we still have many important matters to attend to."
Lucy made her way towards a comfortable, cushioned chair at the center of the room, Loke promptly following suit.
"I wish you to send an epistle, Loke. We will draft it now, so gather your materials and take my dictates."
Loke nodded. "Oh? To whom? And what is it concerning?"
"It will be addressed to King Silver of Icegard, but the true recipient will be his son… Prince Gray."
A twisted smile made its way upon Lucy's face, an evil glint in her eyes sending a shiver down Loke's spine.
"We are going to extend an invitation to Prince Gray - to come here to hold talks for a potential truce… and even an amiable compromise, if he truly has the courage for it…"
Loke raised a shapely brow, an answering smirk of mirth on his lips. He knew that tone. His Princess was scheming again - an elaborate plan that would mean all kinds of surprises and shocks for the parties involved. Maybe even some for himself. But he really couldn't bring himself to care, for truth be told, he loved living like that. Never knowing what to expect, every day a new challenge to his intellect and suave skills, every moment an adventure. All because of the damn golden-haired girl before him.
God he loved his life.