Sorry about the shorter chapter this time folks. I planned on making it longer but I kind of cut it in half because it seemed like a good place for me to stop. So the next chapter will probably be the second half of this. I'm really happy with all of the positive feedback I'm getting and I know I say this a lot, but I really do have to thank all of you gorgeous human beings for the kindness you have shown me and my writing! (Sheds happy tears) You're the best ya'll! I hope you enjoy the chapter and, as always, please review!
I do not own the masterpiece known as Fairy Tail or any of its beautiful characters, that honor belongs to Hiro Mashima.
Levy prodded at her potatoes with the end of her fork, separating the crispy skin from the white fluff underneath.
As soon as they had gotten back inside Juvia had a servant bring them lunch while they talked in her room.
"Is Levy not hungry?" Juvia asked from her place across from her. "Usually you eat whatever's put in front of you within a few minutes." Juvia had begun to eat her meals with Levy in her room while they both shared the small table.
Levy smiled sheepishly before glancing down at the food she had barely touched: a half eaten roll, a chicken leg which had been lightly nibbled, and a side of sliced potatoes.
"I'm sorry, I think my appetite is just getting smaller." She set down her fork and settled her hands in her lap, playing with the hem of her dress.
"Well I hope Levy gets it back soon, it was the only big thing about you." Juvia smiled at her, a teasing glint in her eyes.
"Um, yeah." Levy knew that Juvia was just trying to have a bit of fun with her, but still, she wasn't that small. Even if Gajeel had called her 'Shorty' that proved nothing considering he was way too tall. And it almost sounded like Juvia was saying that Levy's lack of height was the cause of her shrinking appetite; like it was contagious or something!
"I think I'm full," she said, pushing the plate away. "But thank you, it was delicious."
Juvia shrugged before taking a bite out of her own roll. "If Levy eats like a baby bird then you're going to become one."
"That sounds like a bit of an exaggeration," Levy smiled before pushing her chair back and sliding off. "Is it alright if I go back to reading, Juvia?"
Juvia opened one of her eyes, which she closed while she was chewing. "Of course, you don't have to ask permission, Levy."
But she did. It didn't really matter how much she was welcomed by Juvia and Natsu because she still couldn't shake the feeling that she didn't belong here, that she needed their approval before she did anything. Most of the servants had been kind to her, but once in awhile she would see a maid shoot her a look of annoyance. It was as if she was wondering what the little peasant girl was still doing here even after she had healed.
Levy left Juvia to her meal and closed the door quietly behind her. It took her a moment for her eyes to adjust, she would never get used to the dimness in the hallways, and wandered towards the direction of the library. After a few minutes a strand of cerulean hair fell out of her bandana and into her eyes, and refused to be blown out of her face no matter how hard she tried. On the fourth attempt her foot caught on the hem of her dress and she stumbled, wincing at the sound of stitches stretching across the fabric as she pinwheeled her arms to regain balance. She sighed and tucked the offending strand back into its rightful place in her bandana Juvia was right, she needed a properly fitting dress.
"They're gone. All of them, gone."
She straightened up at the voice, recognizing the rough deepness to be Sir Lily's. It sounded strained from sorrow and Levy could tell it was coming from a room a little ways down the hall that had its door open and light streaming out from inside onto the cobbles of the floor.
"That can't be, Lily; you're wrong. Or, at least, you made a mistake; they can't be dead." Natsu.
Dead?
Who's dead? And why did Natsu sound like he was crying?
She unconsciously stepped towards the door so she could listen further but hesitated. No, that was wrong; this wasn't for her to hear. She shouldn't have even attempted to listen in on their conversation in the first place.
She had to go down this hallway to get to the library but with the door being opened that put her at risk of being seen, and she definitely didn't want them assuming she had been eavesdropping. She spun around back towards her room, the library could wait until later. She hoped Juvia was still there, she really didn't want to think about why Natsu and Sir Lily had both sounded upset.
Still, it was impossible for her not to wonder; who was dead? Some friend or family member? Every step she took seemed to create another question she didn't have an answer to. She froze when a sudden thought danced across her mind: could it be Lord Igneel or King Metalicana? She shook her head at the thought, that was stupid. True she hadn't seen either or heard anyone speak much about them, but that didn't mean she should go jumping to conclusions! It would explain Natsu's sobbing, though.
She went back into her room to find Juvia still sitting at the table; finishing the last of her meal.
Juvia looked up at her and cocked her head slightly to the side. "What happened to going to the library, Levy?"
Levy's hand started fiddling with her skirt, so she pushed them behind her back and smiled. "Oh, I changed my mind. I wanted to talk some more I guess."
Juvia stared at her for a moment before shrugging. Her lips turned up in a kittenish smile, her deep, blue eyes gaining a playful spark. "Levy, do Juvia a favor and close your eyes and open your mouth as wide as you can."
Levy blinked. What?
As if reading her mind, Juvia stood up and grinned. "Just trust Juvia." She noticed that both of Juvia's hands were hidden behind her back.
She did as she was told; squeezing her eyes shut and letting her jaw drop. She could feel Juvia getting closer to her. Her hands, still behind her back, tightened on the fabric of her dress as she remembered one of her friends asking her to do something very similar; promising a wonderful surprise. All she'd gotten was a worm in her mouth.
She cracked open one eyelid and saw Juvia frowning at her. "Levy," she pouted. "No cheating; if Levy looks it won't be any fun."
Levy sighed and closed her eyes tightly. She felt part of Juvia's palm skim against her chin as she pushed something inside of her open mouth. An indescribable sweetness danced on her tongue as her mouth began to flood with saliva. She opened her eyes as brought her mouth down on the soft sponginess and revelled at the taste of the slight tartness that had been drizzled over the top of the delicious treat. The sweetest thing she'd ever tasted was apples from a tree that had grown in her neighbor's yard, and this treat was almost overwhelming with its flavor.
A small, quiet moan escaped her mouth, to which Juvia responded with a giggle. She brought her hands back in front of her, holding three small, yellow cakes; each looked equally moist and delicious. They were glazed over with a pale, clear icing that made Levy's mouth began to water all over again.
"A maid came by a little while after you left and dropped these off; they're lemon cakes." Juvia explained. Levy's tongue passed over her lips, trying to lap up any lingering crumbs.
Levy recalled one of the merchants selling lemons once a week from her stall. Apparently they'd come in a shipment from across the kingdom where Lady Grandine ruled over her cities. She'd allowed Levy to smell them once and they smelled wonderful when she pressed them against her nose but were much too expensive to purchase and one would need an entire basket of the bright, aromatic fruits to actually use them for cooking. Something her family could definitely not afford.
"They're incredible." Levy took another out of Juvia's outstretched hands and nibbled on it, trying to savor the taste for as long as possible.
Juvia nodded in agreement. "There Juvia's favorite, although the cooks haven't been able to make them for a while because Natsu kept swiping them while no one was looking."
"How did you figure out it was him if no one was looking?"
"Because there were several occasions when Lily or Gajeel found him in a corner stuffing his face with them and looking incredibly guilty when he was caught."
Levy snorted at the thought of Natsu, who she had no problem believing was in possession of a sweet tooth, hiding while shoving cake after cake into his mouth and coming up with some tale about how the treats had grown wings and flown into his mouth.
A knock on the door interrupted them, and Juvia went to answer it. Sir Lily was standing in the doorway; he looked as sad as he had sounded when she'd heard him in the hallway. His eyes were plagued by a cloudiness that made him look much older and tired.
Levy smiled shyly at him. "Hi, Sir Lily."
He looked over towards her. "It's nice to see you looking so healthy, Miss Levy." Although his words were all kind, they sounded strangely empty. "If you don't mind, I'm going to have to borrow Juvia from you for a while." Juvia's back straightened upon mention of her name, and she set the cakes back on a plate at the table and followed Lily out, shooting Levy one more smile over her shoulder before the door closed.
Levy sighed and walked over to her bed, pulling her knees up to her chin and wrapping her arms around them. She flinched when she heard Juvia's sob echo from outside the door. She heard it several more times before it became muffled, as if she was pressing something against her face to stifle the sound. Levy wanted leave the room. She wanted to open the door and throw her arms around Juvia the way she had whenever she herself had cried. She wanted to ask Sir Lily what was going on, and why everyone was now so upset.
Levy pushed herself onto her side, her knees still gathered against her chest. And, for reasons she wasn't even completely aware of, she too began to cry.