Chapter Eight

Learning

"So, how did you and Natsu meet?" Mira asked as she slid the glass of ice water across the counter to Lucy.

"Uh..." How was she supposed to explain that they met in prison? She didn't want to immediately be seen as a murderer and talking about her time in prison would definitely raise questions she didn't think she could answer.

Fortunately, the subject changed itself when Mira's perfect lips lifted up into a warm smile. "Oh, my! You have the most amazing eyes! I feel like I'm looking up at the stars!" Lucy's reaction had long since turned into a reflex as she quickly lowered her head to hide her face.

"Oh, no. Please don't hide them. They really are lovely." Mira hooked one delicate finger under Lucy's chin to lift her face. "You may not have been popular in the capital with those eyes, but here, no one is going to be cruel to you because of them." Her face was so open and welcoming that Lucy wasn't quite sure how to respond to it.

The blonde tried to look anywhere but at the beautiful woman who continued examining her with a soft, understanding gaze. "They're cursed. I get why people don't like them." She mumbled.

"Lucy, look at me." The change in the other woman's tone forced her to comply.

Mira smiled and stroked her cheek gently like a mother would their child. "I don't think your eyes are cursed. Generally, eyes that are unique like yours are actually a blessing. Don't be so quick to believe what those people in the capital say."

Lucy smiled, truly amazed by the woman's kind words and soft touch. The warmth she was receiving was a balm to her senses that craved the acceptance and touch of another human being. These people seemed to touch her so easily. Natsu never had a problem with it and now this woman too. She didn't even know her, but was willing to offer her comfort, physical and emotional. Lucy's heart grew warm and her eyes started to water gratefully.

"Thank you. You have no idea how much it means to me to hear that from a total stranger…" with one last comforting stroke, Mira removed her hand and grinned down at the other girl.

"No one here will judge you by your looks alone. We've all had similar experiences so we understand. You seem like a very sweet girl and I don't think you'll have any problem fitting in here." Lucy really hoped that was the case. She'd never had a place to fit into before. "Besides, if you're here more than a day, there won't be any strangers left, only friends."

"Luce!" Speaking of friends, Natsu came bounding up to her all pink hair and smiles and her heart did a pleasant little jump at the sight of him. It was feeling she was beginning to get used to.

"Gramps wants to see you!" He threw an arm around her shoulders and, for once, Lucy didn't feel uncomfortable or embarrassed at the casual touch. She actually really liked the fuzzy feeling that it brought to her chest and there was no one here who would hold that against her. She could touch and be touched without fear.

Mira turned and gave her a wink before she left. "Don't worry. The master is very kind."

Lucy smiled in return and gave her a nod before getting up to follow her friend.

She didn't know what she was expecting but what she saw was definitely not it.

As soon as Natsu opened the door, Lucy started looking for the man who ran the village and of whom Natsu and Mira were obviously so fond. At first, she didn't see him at all.

"Natsu, there's no one here." The pink-haired man snickered behind his hand and someone cleared their throat. She had to look down at the floor to find the source of the new voice.

"Hello, Princess Lucy Heartfilia." He was…tiny. He would only reach her knees if they stood side-by-side. Aged and nearly bald, she somehow still felt an air of strength and pride surrounding the very small man.

"Hello, um," she realized she didn't know his name.

"I'm Makarov Dreyar, the founder, elder, and most handsome man in this village." He wiggled his bushy eyebrows and she heard Natsu scoff from somewhere behind her.

"Well, it's nice to meet you Master Makarov." She knelt down to shake his hand.

"This is not the first time we've met, my dear. Though I doubt you'd remember the first time. You were even smaller than me then." He took her hand in greeting.

Lucy's eyes widened in shock. He'd known her when she was a baby? The world suddenly seemed much smaller as they ended their handshake and she rose back up.

"How do you know me?"

The elderly man shot her pink-haired companion a look. "Natsu, I need you to leave. Lucy and I need to discuss something alone."

Natsu raised his hand as if to protest, but Makarov cut him off.

"Don't you have some valuables to retrieve from Lisanna?"

"Right. Happy will be mad if I don't go get him…and my scarf…." He muttered to himself before he looked to the blonde.

"Is it okay with you, Luce?" He was willing to disobey the elder for for her comfort? That was just silly. She looked down at the grinning man in front of her and back to Natsu before smiling and giving him a wave.

"You should go get your friend. Seems like he really misses you."

Still looking uncertain, he reluctantly left them alone. Without his comforting presence, Lucy's fingers began playing with the hem of her shirt.

"No need to be nervous, my dear." He must have noticed her anxiousness. "Please, sit down." He motioned to a nearby chair and she accepted it gratefully.

"Now, let's see…" He tapped his chin. "I met you not long after you were born. I was called there by your father because he had a…problem."

She grimaced. "Me, right?" Makarov nodded grimly, but continued.

"When I first saw you, I was amazed. You were quite possibly the most beautiful thing I have ever seen." Lucy gave him an incredulous look. "I'm quite serious. Not only did you have those magical eyes full of stars, but you were also alight with a glow all your own. You were like some celestial being come down from heaven." His look became wistful, like he wished he could go back and see that sight again.

"I've never glowed. Sure, my eyes are weird, but I can assure you, I have never glowed." that just sounded too strange.

"And I assure you, you did. That was why I was there. Your father knew he had to present his new daughter to the court or risk dissent among the lords. If they thought his offspring was cursed, that meant the rest of the royal line would be cursed, along with their reign. He couldn't risk losing face like that so he called in a soul seer to find out what you were and what could be done to fix it."

"So, you...fixed me?" The idea made her a little angry. Just the thought that her father believed she had to be 'fixed' hurt more than she would like to admit.

For a moment, the elderly man looked uncomfortable. "In a way. I did as your father requested and made you appear normal enough to the eyes of someone who did not know magic. As long as they didn't get too close, you would be an average girl. Beautiful, but unremarkable."

"So…you said you were also there to find out what I was." Lucy felt a strange longing in her heart to know what she was and why she was ostracized.

"Ah, yes. Your soul was not very forthcoming with the specifics. It already had protections in place before I reached you. However, I can say this-" He gave her a serious look, his ancient eyes forcing her to listen and understand.

"-you are rare and powerful. I've never seen another being like you in my entire life. It is very likely that you are the only one of your kind in the entire world." She didn't like the sound of that and the feeling of isolation she always had was like a heavy weight on her chest that threatened to crush her.

"A warning, as well." Her attention shifted back to the small man. "Just because I don't know what you are, doesn't mean that Hades doesn't." His face turned grim, the lines around his mouth more pronounced. "He was once a kind man and my mentor. He is a soul seer as well as a powerful mage. Though he never let on to that fact in front of the king. Natsu informed me of his desire to possess you and I think he may know what you are. Even I can see that you're valuable for your bloodline alone, if he knows what's inside you, I can tell you, he will never stop hunting you."

Lucy shivered at the reminder of the man who was to be her husband. She thought she was free of him, but apparently she never would be. Not as long as she lived.

"What should I do? I can't go back there. I just can't!" Her fear threaded into her voice and Makarov placed comforting hand on top of her own.

"Don't worry, Princess. Hades may be powerful, but so are we." She met his words with a confused stare. "This village is filled with powerful mages and magical beings of all sorts. After the king outlawed magic, I made this place to be a safe haven for those who would have suffered under that law. Here, we take care of each other. Now that you're with us, that includes you." He gave her a reassuring smile and quick pat on her hand.

"Natsu seems very fond of you." He changed the subject in an attempt to ease her distress. "Maybe because you have something in common."

"What's that?" Lucy was genuinely curious about her new friend. She was almost more curious about him than about herself.

"He is also the last of his kind." She really hoped he'd elaborate on that. Natsu was beautiful and amazing but she still didn't really know what he was.

"He is the last being with true dragon blood coursing through his veins. There are others here who have many of the same physical qualities as him, but none of them are true dragons. Drakes and wyrms, yes, but only one dragon." Ah, so that was it. She thought back to his glimmering scarlet scales, onyx horns, and deep golden eyes and a shiver of delight ran up her spine.

What a strange feeling.

"In certain circumstances, you should also be able to dispel the magic I used to hide your light. That is, if you're interested." He gave her an imploring look and she knew he wanted her to say yes, to accept that she wasn't cursed and that she was, in fact, rare and powerful, but she just couldn't. She didn't want to see even more evidence of what she'd been told her entire life was the truth. That she wasn't human, but a creature of darkness.

Lucy shook her head and Makarov released a dejected sigh. "If you ever change your mind, you know where to find me. My door is always open."

As though summoned by their conversation, Natsu came barging through said door wearing a new vest and a scarf she had never seen before. Lucy found herself feeling a little sad that he covered up but she shook it off.

"Boy, you need to learn to knock." Makarov scolded, but there was no malice in his words.

"Yeah, yeah." The younger man made his way to Lucy languidly. "How'd it go?"

She gave him a pretty smile, "it was very…informative." The former princess was already feeling better, the dark thoughts about what was inside her melting away with his presence.

"We still need to work out your living arrangements." The elder scrunched up his face in thought. "Your friend Levy has been staying with Gajeel and Pantherlily. She insisted they needed a woman's touch around their place… There isn't a home in town that doesn't have someone living in it and it will take some time to build a new house. Perhaps Gajeel and Natsu could bunk together while we work and you and Levy could stay at Natsu's place."

The man in question visibly paled at the mention of living with Gajeel. "No way in hell! I can't live with the metal head, we'd kill each other!"

Lucy wanted to laugh at his reaction as he and Makarov began arguing about who was going to live where. She thought that if Levy really wanted to stay with Gajeel, and she figured she did by the way they acted around each other, then she didn't want to intrude on that. Besides, she and Natsu had been alone together for a while now and they had gotten along fine. Secretly, she wouldn't mind using him as her personal heater again.

"Excuse me." Her voice was loud enough to get both of the men's attention.

"If it's okay with Natsu, I can just stay with him." She was again fingering her hem and looking down at her feet in embarrassment.

The silence that followed her declaration was suffocating. Had she offended them? Did they think she was being inappropriate? She really didn't understand the rules in the real world, but knew an unwed man and woman in the same house was very taboo within the upper echelons of society.

Finally, someone spoke up. It was Makarov. "Ahem. Well, Natsu?"

"Uh…sounds good to me?" He seemed really uncertain and that just made her feel more ashamed.

"It's just…uh..N-Natsu and I…we traveled together and…um…I think he's a good person. I feel safe with him. I don't want to intrude or anything!"

If she'd bothered to look up from the floor she would have seen the surprisingly warm and gentle smile that crossed her partner's face. He really couldn't help it. She was just so cute while she stuttered through her completely unnecessary explanation.

"Luce. It's fine. You can stay with me as long as you want."

She looked up at him, still unsure until he threw his thumb into the air in the positive, making her smile. That was all the reassurance she needed.

"Well, seems that matter is settled. Natsu, have Mira hunt the princess up some new clothes and show her where the bath is. I'm sure she could use a good hot soak after what she's been through."

That sounded amazing to her.

Lucy sank gratefully down into the delicious heat of the natural hot springs that were just a quick walk from the main village. It felt so good she wanted to sob with happiness. The warmth soaked deep into her sore muscles, relaxing her tense shoulders and aching thighs. They may not have walked the entire way to this safe haven, but they had walked enough to leave the former princess longing for some of the luxuries she'd left behind, like hot water.

"It's amazing, isn't it." Levy sighed a little to her right. It certainly was.

"Levy, you have no idea how happy hot water makes me." She sank even lower, submerging herself up to her chin.

"Mira brought me here yesterday and I thought of you the whole time." The bluenette reached behind her to grab some soap.

"That reminds me. How did you and Gajeel get here so fast?" She asked as Levy handed her a bottle of thick liquid. She poured a copious amount of it into her hands before lathering up her hair.

"Um...well, we flew. Just like you did." The smaller girl sounded flustered and Lucy couldn't help but prod a little.

"So, he carried you through the sky all the way from the castle? It must have been nice, snuggling up to that hard muscular ch-" Levy splashed her with water and Lucy quickly dove below the surface, rinsing her hair and avoiding another attack simultaneously.

When she came back up, Levy was pouting. "I don't know why you think it's okay to pick on me when we both know you have a thing for Natsu."

Lucy blushed deep red and hoped that the fact her face was already pink from the heat hid the evidence of her embarrassment. "A thing? I'm not sure what thing you're talking about."

"Yes you do. The way you get this soft look on your face everytime you look at him, or the way you let him touch you all the time and you seem to enjoy it, or the-"

The blonde sputtered as she tried to stop the mortifying list from continuing. "S-stop! I get it, I get it! I act...funny around him."

Levy grinned slyly. "You also volunteered to stay at his place instead of bunking with me. I wonder why…" she tapped her chin in mock thoughtfulness.

"Well, I just didn't want to come between you and your new friend is all." She crossed her arms indignantly over her full chest.

"Sure, sure. Whatever you say, Luce." The bluenette laughed loudly as her friend turned almost entirely red at the sound of her new nickname.

Having had her fun, Levy slowly settled down and her laughter quieted. It was time to talk. "Lucy…" she was hesitant to start a conversation she knew was going to be awkward, but pushed through. "…what really happened to the king?"

The question caught her off guard and her face went completely blank as she gathered her thoughts.

"I'm not…I'm not sure."

The smaller girl gave her a confused look. "What do you mean? You were there, right?" She in no way thought her friend was responsible for her father's death, but had to know what really occurred. The blonde was there surely she saw something?

"I don't remember!" Lucy threw her hands over her face, lost. "I wish I did, but I don't. It's just a big blank spot in my memory. I went there to talk with him, and then he was dead, murdered. I either did it, or I let it happen. I'm guilty no matter what…" she trailed off in despair.

Levy moved to comfort her, but the blonde turned away. "Don't. Please. I really don't want to think about this right now."

"Alright." She answered carefully. She didn't want to further upset the distraught girl. "Hey, let's get dressed and go eat something. I'm sure you're hungry." Lucy nodded.

Levy let it drop, but she didn't like seeing her friend so lost and confused. Without the immediate threat of death or becoming someone's property, she had nothing to distract her from the fact that she had witnessed her father's murder, whether she remembered it or not. The bluenette understood that she didn't want that to taint her new-found freedom, but that didn't do anything to answer the question.

Who really killed the king?

AN: Sorry this chapter took so long to get out there! I've been pretty busy, but I finally got it posted. I really hope you enjoyed it.

Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed, you guys make writing worth it. Until next time!