Welcome to chapter 2. Extra long, due to me probably not uploading again till Christmas, I'll explain why in AN :) Enjoy.
Footnote: I tried to write in Juvia's speaking style, making her speak in 3rd person was hard so I couldn't keep up with it. So rather than stopping mid way, I decided not to do it for now. I may edit it in later :)
Juvia.
She remembered sitting silently on the hillside hours before she left. Her feet hidden under her underskirts, her hair loose and waving in the soothing air. She had taken her shoes off, feeling the grass under her feet for the last time for probably the rest of her days. She held herself close, her arms prickling in fear of leaving her homeland. She had never even left the walls of her palace, let alone move to another Kingdom. She wasn't happy, and the skies reflected her mood.
When she had awoke weeks ago, she was instantly summoned to her uncle's chambers. The man with her matching blue hair, and dark space like eyes looked up at her with a sorrowful gaze. He seemed regrettable of what he was about to put on her shoulders, but he saw no other way to proceed in matters. She was his last resort.
He sat her down, a maid gave her a goblet of wine, even after she refused it. She didn't like drinking, especially that early in the morning. But her uncle insisted, implying that she may need it with what he was about to bring to her.
She took a little sip of the warm wine, her stomach doing leaps as it was completely empty from other nourishments. Her uncle looks as if he was struggling to come to terms with what he was about to tell her, his hand slipped across the table, reaching for hers. She allowed him to take it, he was warm, his hand was also a little clammy.
"Juvvie…" he sighed and shook his head at her nickname, "Juvia. I have some news."
She widened her eyes, "Is something wrong? Is aunt Valerie well?"
He nodded, "Yes, she's perfectly well. It isn't her that is … well." He sighed, annoyed with himself. He stood up, walking to the globe of Fiore. He brought it to his desk, sitting it in the middle. "You know of our past, the Kingdom of Water, that is?"
"It is one of the largest Kingdoms in Fiore. It holds up to six thousand people, its natural resource is selling clean water to neighbouring Kingdoms to aid them in times of medical needs." She said softly in reply, "We helped aid the Ice Kingdom in the last great war, and won more land from the Kingdom of Fire over one hundred years ago. We're well known for having one of the largest military in Fiore as well…" She stopped herself from going on and on, she had studied her home countries past in some of her lessons. She took a liking to it. Her home's history was intriguing.
Her uncle looked proud for a moment, but then a pit of sadness seemed to dwell in those mirrored eyes to her own. He stroked her soft hair, and sighed. "We have come to a dark hour in this Kingdom…" He pursed his lips, "One of which we are finding hard to come out from. I have done all I can to try and save it, but our military is dwindling, we are slowly dying out from the world. Our resources are also struggling. It is our duty as royals, to swiftly help our people. Which is why myself and the court came to a… hard decision months ago." He sat beside Juvia, touching her back in comfort. "The Kingdom of Ice had offered help, in aiding our unlicked wounds. Their wealth and supplies mean it will benefit us for hundreds of years. But they have requested something in return…" He sighed in defeat. "Their new King, needs a bride. I wouldn't agree to these sorts of ideals if they weren't direly needed. Aquarius is far too young to marry… so the court and I decided upon you, Juvia, to the tie two houses together in marriage. A tie that will last an eternity."
She lost for words, her stomach clenched and her throat burned with bile. She remembered needing air, but fainting before the chamber door. She remembered dreaming of a dark faced demon like man, marrying her, making her mate with him in ways that she knew to be satanic. No man had ever been as sweet to her as her uncle, even her father had a short tendency with her. He seemed to favour Juvia's cousin, Aquarius a lot more than herself. Everyone seemed to favour Aquarius, all except her uncle who always treated Juvia like her own. Everyone seemed to treat Juvia like a freak of nature, the kind that no one ever let down or were kind too. She could after all, control water to the highest capability. A curse made by the Fire Kingdoms wench, which sufferably meant her mother died in labour, and she was forever too be a freak.
Why would this King treat her any differently?
Weeks went by and Juvia was prepared for marriage. She was taught about men and their needed pleasures, how to be a good Queen and how to please her King. She had never needed to dress in overly fitted dresses, so when she was told that she would need to wear a corset, she objected. Though her distress was ignored. She was put in the tightest of corsets, her breasts lifted up and her waist narrower than it was prior. She had to admit that the dress was beautiful, but she declined the very idea that she suited them. She thought that she looked rather uptight.
It was apparently a curtesy in the Kingdom of Ice to also be hairless if you were a female, from the neck down. Men apparently liked to see the entire body of a woman, and on wedding nights, ladies would remove their hair to please their husbands. Juvia insisted that she did not want to do such things, she was perfectly fine with her natural state. The very idea of removing something for the ideals of men made her want to vomit. What kind of Kingdom would do such things to their women?
Maids bathed her and carefully removed her hair. Using honey milk to soothe her itchy skin. Juvia remembered crying herself to sleep that night. She felt like a little girl again, not a woman.
She shifted from the thoughts from the past few weeks, her eyes tired from the lack of sleep. She felt ultimately down, her mood hadn't been in the lighter areas for what felt like years. She laid on the grass, looking up the sun filled skies with envy. She will never be free like the birds that flew above her, she was tied to man she had talked with, let alone met.
"M'Lady!" A shrilled voice came from below the hill, a maid came running up to her. "You'll get muddy sat like that!"
Juvia ignored her, closing her eyes and sighing deeply. "Is it time to leave, then?" She said in response.
"…Yes, it is." She said sadly, "I'm sorry that your marriage is to be one of force."
"No, you're not." She sat up, "The entire Kingdom is happy to see the freak leave. They're pleased that finally I do something for their home, marry a man I haven't had the displeasure of meeting yet. You all cannot wait to see me leave." She stood up and lazily brushed off her dress, her corset seemingly tightening as she moved. "Take me to my carriage." She said in a bored tone, before the maid blushed and led her back down the hill.
The ride to the Kingdom of Ice took two weeks. Juvia was allowed to stop at inns each night and wash, she slept in the carriage and studied through the day. She sang short songs to herself when she was either bored or sad. She read books that she had taken with her that were based on the Kingdom of Ice. She knew some of the country, but admittedly it wasn't enough knowledge. Which is why she read, to make sure she seemed intellectual of their ways and not to make a fool of herself.
As she read, she found a chapter on the current Queen Regent, Mika Fullbuster, the current King's mother. A pang of hatred filled Juvia's heart as she remembered that the Queen Regent was the reason behind Juvia's marriage to a King she had never seen.
How can such a woman of that authority push women into that role so thoughtlessly? she fumed silently to herself, throwing the book to the side.
The day of her arrival at the Kingdom of Ice was quick after that. On the last few days it had been snowing heavily, gradually getting thicker and harder to see through. Juvia found no annoyance with the snow, she was a Princess of Water after all, which makes snow itself. She couldn't hate it.
The gates to the Kingdom of Ice were made of the same material of its home town name. The thickness of the gate though, was what shocked her. Though from far away, you couldn't see it. It was like a vast pane of glass, you could easily see through. It was if the Kingdom had the motto of being seen but not heard or impregnated. When her guard hopped off the carriage for a moment and talked with a guard in a birds nest on the top, the gates slowly opened.
It was all snow and brick, the houses were almost invisible to the naked eye. But once you looked closer, you could see the dark brick under the meters of white fluff. There were four thousand civilians in the Kingdom of Ice, two thousand less than the Kingdom of Water. Juvia couldn't see why that her future husband couldn't help her Kingdom from her own, there were far more people to worry about there.
Homesick, her selfish thoughts were coming from that fact. Though she didn't know why she was missing the home that she did not belong in.
I hope I am not seen as a freak here, too. She wished before they rode onwards through the Kingdom. Her stomach knotted, she held herself, she felt as though she couldn't breathe. She sniffled back a sob, biting the inside of her cheek to stop herself from breaking into a fit of hysterics. She was a Lockser, she would not cry, she would smile, bare it and move onwards. The sight of the Palace was in her oncoming view.
The Palace was known as Khione's palace. She was apparently the mother of the first King, a fitting name for someone who probably had to go through a lot of turmoil to see her son raise to the top.
Khione's Palace towered high to the heavens. Clouds radiated from the tallest tower. It was made from strong dark looking brick that was hidden away from the same snow that covered the entire country. It was breathtaking to say the least, Juvia could almost not believe her eyes when she glanced around her. The Palace could easily hold a thousand people at a time, she couldn't even imagine the number of maids and other servants that worked there.
And too think, I hardly even met more than twenty people from my own Kingdom…
The secondary gates opened to the Khione's Palace, and suddenly she was met by a crowd of people of several hundred. She flushed a pale colour, trying not to be sick. Her nerves almost got the better of her when the carriage came to a halt in front of the doors to the Palace, where on the top of the steps, several men and one woman stood.
The Queen Regent…
Juvia took a deep breath, pulling up her shawl to cover her head from the snow. She felt herself blush at the cheeks at the doors opened, her guard leading her out. She took a step on the floor, proud that she did not fall. She thanked the guard quietly as he held her arm as she walked to the steps. Her cloak and shawl protected her from the cold. Or maybe, the cold did not bother her at all. She hadn't decided yet.
She met at the bottom of the stairs by another guard, wearing white armor which matched his lusciously white hair. He bowed to her, she bowed gracefully back and smiled. "M'Lady." He said softly, his eyes seemed to melt at the sight of her, which caused her to blush more so. "I hope the journey wasn't too harsh?"
"No, it was fine. It was quicker than I expected." She lied, the entire time she had been fasting, eating little due to her growing nerves. Every minute seemed an hour to her. Every day seemed a week. She was tired of travelling, in a small way, she was glad she wouldn't be travelling for several years at the least.
She was lucky to be such a good liar.
"My King is awaiting your arrival. He has cleared his duties for a day or two to spend time with you." He said soothingly as they walked up the stairs, the man in white seemed to take over leading her. His hand warmly covering her arm, and she was thankful for it.
"It is a honour for him to do so," she said softly. In reality, she wished he was busy so she could spend time with herself.
She looked ahead when she walked up the stairs, but looking no further up than the shoes of the Royals in front of her. She suddenly felt even more out of place when she realised their clothing choices. Their colours seemed to be mostly white and black, hardly any blues, like herself. She blushed deeper, wanting to hold herself in a corner and weep.
They stopped on a few steps below the top, the Knight in white cleared his throat, Juvia did not look up yet. She was told to wait for her name to be mentioned by her aunt weeks beforehand.
"My King, I would like to introduce to you; Her Royal Highness, Princess Juvia Lockser of the Kingdom of Water, the first of her name." Juvia looked up finally a few shards of snow falling on her cheeks as she did. She bowed to the King in front of her before formally looking him over.
"My Lady, I introduce to you; His Majesty the King, Gray Fullbuster, the first of his name, the King of the Kingdom of Ice."
When Juvia finally drank him in, she realised how beautiful the King really was. His hair was shaggy, though he had a braid slightly longer than the rest of his hair that was made of silver and gold, standing out from his dark blue strands. His skin was only a few shades darker than her own, and his eyes were the most beautiful dark blue.
She could tell that he too, was assessing her.
He wore a white long coat, that almost hit the floor. Underneath he had a thick dark blue shirt, where the top collar was tied. His had a chest harness on, which held up two hand guns and a sword. Around his belt, he had a dagger and some rope. His boots were shiny and black, she could almost see her face in them, though she dared not look down for longer than a glance.
She bowed silently from her head, "My King," her voice was stronger than she thought it to be. It sounded as if she was a different person. Her voice was almost smooth like honey, to which grasped that the King also spotted. She continued just the same, "Finally meeting you has made me less nervous."
He smiled slightly to that, she blushed heavily. Maybe I said something wrong? She questioned.
"Lady Juvia," He held her hand and kissed it lightly, his lips lingered there before kissing her palm, causing her heart to race. His warm breath was appreciated as her gloved hand was frozen. He looked up from under his fringe of hair, smiling like before. "I can promise you that I feel the same."
She smiled back, the first time a real smile came to her lips in months. She allowed him to pull her to the step beside him. Holding her to his side, as if to only give her some comforting warmth. He mumbled into to her ear, "I hope we can get to know each other before we rush into this marriage."
Does he truly mean that? She wondered. Or is he just trying to sound gentlemanlike?
"My People, I hope that you can accept my soon to be wife as I have. Let's greet her with a wedding that will be remembered for centuries, wine and food shall be free to you all. Please attend, as I would love nothing more!" He called to them, his voice was calming. She felt herself itch a centimetre closer to him.
The crowd clapped and lowly cheered back to him, chanting his name as he towed her inside of the Palace. The doors closing behind them.
It was then the Queen Regent stepped into her frame of sight. "Ah! There she is! She is as beautiful as her mother, didn't I say, Gray?" She was excited, which of course addled Juvia. Why was she so happy to see her?
"Yes, you did." He replied, an amused smile placed on his lips. His eyes didn't leave Juvia's frame.
"She'll be perfect! I can see that her soul is kind and strong! She will make you such wondrous sons!" She clapped her hands together, ignoring the blushed faces of her son and her soon to be daughter-in-law. She giggled and put a finger to her lips, "And she will make a delightful Queen beside you. Thank god, I thought you would look like your father. The terrible old sod!" She laughed, Juvia blushed more. She didn't it were possible to be that red in the face. The Queen Regent this time noticed, "Oh! I have embarrassed you!"
"No… I am just shocked still from my travels is all," Juvia managed a polite reply. Giving a confused look to her guard beside her, who shrugged.
"Oh!" The Queen Regent laughed, "Please let my maids show you to your chambers, you must be exhausted!" She clapped for them, one of the maids came to her with a warm smile. "Now, you two cannot see each other for a few hours before the wedding! Bad luck I say!" She turned her son around who glanced behind his mother's shoulder and smirked. "Go Gray! You must get ready! I will not have a disaster for my son's wedding! Now move will you?"
Hours passed. She was brought to her room where she was given a small meal before she was pushed towards her bathing chambers. It made her gasp to see sand coloured stone walls and floors, and a large hole in the ground that initially acted as a bath tub. It was large and deep, though when she stripped and entered the hot water, she found a ledge to sit on. She was quickly shaven again by her maid, who remained silent for a while. It was when Juvia made to reach for the bath oils herself, that she was met with an amused voice.
"No, M'Lady you can't do that, it's my job." She said.
Juvia blushed, "I can wash my own hair." I'm not a child.
"I know, but you can get me out of the only job I have!" She winked, "It is nice to finally meet you, even if it is when I see you naked almost instantly."
Juvia found herself to chuckle, "I must admit, it is an odd first meeting." She looked to the young girl who wore a silver maids dress, her hair piled high on her head, which was a lovely dark brown. She felt a spring of curiosity when she asked, "What is your name?"
"Cana, M'Lady." She replied, "Cana Alberona."
"Cana… that is a nice name." Juvia smiled, "If you would like, I will wash my body whilst you wash my hair?"
She smiled to that, Juvia realised that she could easily get along with Cana. Even if the relationship would be nothing but Maid to Princess. "Sounds good to me," she replied.
Cana allowed Juvia to wash the rest of her body, whilst Cana lathered her hair up and gave it a good scrubbing. She commented that Juvia had lovely hair, so unlike what they usually see in their Kingdom. People either had black or brown hair, there wasn't much differentiation. Juvia had to blush at that, since she realised that she was the only one with shockingly different hair in the Kingdom. "Except Lyon, the Hand of the King. That kid has more white hair that a snow bunny." Cana laughed.
Juvia washed herself off, dunking her head under the warm water before surfacing. "The King seems like he has nice hair too." She said in a mumble.
"Yeah, the King is a handsome man." Cana agreed and smirked, "Seems you two got on well."
"We've only briefly met, I think there a length to go before I know my feelings." Which was the truth of it, he may be nice to her so far, but she had no idea how far that kindness would reach. She then bit her lip in thought, would the King make her consummate the marriage tonight, when they knew nothing of each other? Would duty matter over kindness to him? "I am rather nervous though, I have never really been around men apart from family. It is odd to think that I am even marrying…"
Cana smirked, as if she had suspected Juvia's worries all along. "Here's a word of advise to you, if I may? If you cut the big red ribbon tonight, ask of him one favour, that you two will not bed each other again until you know one another better. He may have to be a King tonight, but make sure the next time you make love, that you're husband and wife." She put a finger to her mouth and winked, "After all, you're his Queen. And all men must treat their women like the Queen they truly are."
She liked the sound of that, though the very idea of even doing that for the sake of duty still made her cringe.
Juvia talked further with Cana as they proceeded to dry Juvia's long hair with several towels. They talked about their families and eventually, Cana slowly talked about her mother. How she died when she was young, leaving her homeless due to her father not being around. She then stopped when she finished drying Juvia's hair, she sighed and told her that recently she found her father again and told him about herself. When Juvia asked what happened, Cana admitted that he was nice about it. Confessing that he loved her mother, it was unfortunate that they divorced several months before Cana's birth. He didn't even know of her existence.
"Surely then, it turned out for the better?" Juvia queried.
Cana snorted, "The old coot loves me, idolises over my very existence. I try and keep a distance, mostly cause' I am use to being an orphan. Though we sometimes go out for a drink, talk about my past and his past, and then we move on and chat on occasion. I like it that way." She assured her, "What about you?"
"Oh…" Juvia said sadly as she was slipped into a silk underdress. "My mother died giving birth to me. My father hardly spoke to me unless it was to talk about my gifts and schooling. He died in battle when I was twelve. I was from that point raised by my Uncle, he took over from my father, and had always loved me dearly." She held her stomach and sighed, "I wish he were here."
"Sorry to hear that. At least you have your uncle. Do you have any siblings?" Cana asked as she opened a chest to reveal lengths of fabric within it, all of which were white and silver. It was her wedding dress.
"N-no." Juvia mumbled, "Though I have a younger cousin, Aquarius. She has the gift as well, though I do not think as strongly." She sighed, "Her body isn't completely controlled by water." She looked away sadly.
Cana put a hand to her hip, "People thought you a freak, huh? Same with me. You know what I say to that? Bullshit, M'Lady, if I may speak so boldly." When Juvia giggled, she grinned and continued. "People think anyone is a freak these days, someone who has a mole on their face, or red hair. People do not understand the term, not really. So don't worry about it, they're all wrong anyway." She winked, "Now, come and see this wedding dress of yours. If I could afford this myself, I'd buy it."
Cana pulled out the several sheets of marvellous fabric. She laid them out individually and smiled to herself, muttering how the King picked out the colours himself. Juvia looked up, astonished, "The King chose my dress?"
Cana laughed, "Don't be too stunned, M'Lady. He heard of your hair colour and made his way to choosing a dress that would compliment it." She giggled, "Now come, stand straight over here so I can dress you."
Cana put several clips between her teeth as she worked. Wrapping the long sheets on fabric around her body and clipping it in places to make it securely hang from her curves. Once she adjusted the white silk to look as if she was wearing a river of snow, she held up another sheet of fabric to Juvia's view. This time, it was silver lace that patterns reminded her of flowers and snowflakes. The fabric was clipped in at her waist and slipped through silver rings that were clipped on at her shoulders. The lace rippled behind her, blending neatly with her snow like river.
The shoes were then slipped on, a small heel, similar in design to her dress. It made her smile at their beauty, she had never been graced with such beautiful clothing before.
Cana decided that Juvia should wear her hair as natural as she could. Receiving two slip on clips from the trunk. They were made from diamond and silver, causing Juvia to widened her eyes in complete shock. Even in a slightly richer country, the Kingdom of Water never wasted money of jewels. She wasn't even sure if she'd seen a diamond before.
Her maid connected two small braids from her temples to the back of her head, slipping in the two slip in clips to secure them. Cana smirked widely, "See, beautiful!"
Juvia blushed heavily, "Thank you…"
"Ah, bugger! I forgot the headdress." She rushed to the trunk, bringing out from a box a Circlet from it. When Juvia held it in her hand, she examined it closely. Its design was simplistic but simply quite stunning. The main frame was shaped like a smooth 'M' when it lowered down to the forehead, and in the middle hung a green gem that in certain lights, gleamed in a bright Topaz. At the sides where it sat at the temples, little silver sculpted roses were positioned there, with tiny intricate vines that added an interesting character to whole design. She took a small breath, the King was indeed spoiling her.
But why?
Once her circlet was on, Cana was delighted by what she had created. Juvia had to agree with her. She looked like a bride. A bride with a dress to die for, and a face full of nerves.
But I am all but nervous because of whom I am marrying. Not that I am marrying in general.
When a knock was suddenly heard from her chamber door, Cana jumped and went to answer it. Juvia walked to the mirror and looked closer. How could it be that she had aged in the past few weeks? She looked maturer in her face. Her cheeks were slightly pinched and visible. Her eyes seemed a lot bigger as well, a lot bluer than she'd remembered. With the added entity of her wedding dress as well, she looked around her mother's age, which remembered to be only two years older than Juvia herself when she married.
"M'Lady, the Queen Regent is here to have an audience with you." Cana said, snapping Juvia from her observations. Cana's voice was a lot softer, less sassy when she spoke around the Queen Regent. Juvia took notice that it might be because Juvia is her age, or that the Queen Regent is a higher up from herself… well for now, that is.
The Queen Regent, Mika Fullbuster, waltzed into the room as if she owned it. She wore a red dress, it hugged her mother-like figure gracefully as it skimmed like milk across the floor. Her dark hair was pulled into a curled bun, that several thick strands escaped and curved her cheeks. She twirled and laughed smoothly, "How do I look? Not bad for a mother, aren't I right my daughter to be?"
Juvia smiled softly and nodded, "You look beautiful, your majesty." She bowed shortly. Her voice sounded tired.
The Queen Regent waved her hand, "You make me blush!" She giggled and then gasped, taking her first real look at Juvia since she'd entered the room. Her eyes widened dramatically as she put her hand to her mouth, Juvia for a moment thought that her observations of how well she had looked were wrong, and that she actually looked pitiful. Though the Queen Regent cupping Juvia's face and kissing her cheeks softly, told her other wise. "You look ravishing! So delightfully elegant! Oh just like your mother, she was so graceful!"
"M-My mother?" Juvia widened her eyes. It was the second time she'd been compared to her mother by the Queen Regent.
"Ahh… a story for another time, my dear." She tapped her cheeks once more before letting go. "But for now, let's get you married to my son, shall we?" She said, suddenly the pitch of excitement grew in her tone. She grabbed Juvia's arm and giggled, "Oh I tell you, daughter of mine, that I cannot wait for the day in the near future that you announce your first child!" She gushed, putting her hand to her chest. "I would like to see a little grandson run around these halls before I depart to the afterlife." Juvia blushed heavily, not able to speak, knowing it would only come out in splutter.
The Queen Regent did not stop there, "My son hasn't been with a woman, you know? He believes in waiting till marriage, probably like yourself…" She stopped from her walk through the hallways, she peered at Juvia and did a little noise under her breath. "You haven't been with a man, have you?" When Juvia almost choked on her own saliva, the Queen Regent laughed loudly. "Oh I see, no you haven't. So innocent, aren't we?" She giggled, though her expression soon turned serious again. "Please, do not hurt my son. Give him a family and give him the love you can be without. He needs that, he craves the support of a family behind him to strive. We as his family, that is our duty. To support the King where he wants us. Even if it is to warm his bed." She looked to her, "I hope, my dear, you learn to love him… just like I loved his father." She smiled happily, her eyes twinkling.
Juvia smiled sadly to her, "I promise to do my best, your majesty."
"And please, promise me something else? Stop calling me 'your majesty'? Gods on a stick, it bores me. Call me Mika, I insist!" They walked she flung her hand in the air dramatically.
"Of course, if you insist it I cannot deny it." She nodded, "Mika."
"Juvia…" She smiled, "You will be good for him, I just know it."
I just hope your intuitions are right, Mika… I deeply hope so.
The wedding seemed to skim in her mind after that, she remembered saying her vows carefully and correctly. He too said his perfectly, his voice as warm as his hand on hers. He looked at her when they went to kiss each other, that small smirk placed at the corner of his lips. Her breath hitched as he kissed her softly, it was a perfect first kiss. Not too long, not too short. Enough time to make them both have pink tinted cheeks by the end of it. They gazed at each other, holding each other's hands, their rings resting beside one another's. She didn't realised until she was walking back down the isle and toward the doors, that her ring raised outwards into the shape of a Phoenix's mouth. She smiled down at it, the Phoenix's mouth held a large Emerald, a rare diamond that she had never thought to see in her living days.
The wedding was beautiful, that she remembered. She was glad it went that way, and not the terrible alternative of never happening.
At the wedding party, she sat beside him. Their table being the main view of the room, slightly elevated to show their authority. King Gray ate with her, and they made anxious filled small talk that last most of the evening. It was when their mother made the Queen Regent's speech, expressing the fact that their marriage was a pinpoint of the new everlasting friendship between the Ice and Water Kingdom, that the conversation seemed to pick up.
"Tell me about you, please, something must be more interesting that how interesting the weather is here." He smirked, putting down his cutlery to lean back in his chair to see her properly.
She smiled softly, doing the same as him. She thought for a moment, "What would you like to know about me?"
He thought for a moment before answering, "How about what your favourite colour is?"
She giggled, the simplicity of the question was amusing. "I like purple, though my favourite colour changes almost daily. But right now, white is my favourite colour. Everyone looks mystical." She said whilst gesturing to their guests who were dancing on the ball room floor. She looked back to him, "How about yourself, my King?"
He chuckled, "Blue is my favourite colour, I know its simplistic nature towards my gender, but I enjoy it. I miss blue. We hardly see the sky's true colour here, it saddens me."
She gave him a sympathetic smile, "Well maybe the possibility won't be completely impossible, my home country has lovely blue skies. We could go there, when the time is right of course."
He seemed pleased with that idea, nodding enthusiastically before thinking of another question. "Do you like dancing?" He gestured to the dancing that was proceeding on the dance floor.
She pursed her lips, "Liking it isn't the same as being good at it, unfortunately for myself."
He stood and chuckled, "That's good, because I am terrible too. Let's be terrible together, shall we?" He held out his hand, she widened her eyes and hesitated. "Come on now, I am the King, do I have to order my wife to dance with me?"
She accepted his hand, he held tight on it and pulled her up. He dragged her to the dance floor in moments, his arm pulling her closer to him when the song changed to a new one. The singer sung a beguiling song, beautifully scripted that matched the violins perfectly. Her breath caught in her chest when the King's hand rested on her waist, pulling her in. They went into a traditional dance position, swaying together to the music whilst people half-danced-half-watched them in awe.
Juvia's face was flushed with wonderment, his gaze was twinkling in excitement. She smiled and giggled as he swayed her around and playfully dipped her, with his hand lowering on her back. Air caught in her throat as he pulled her back up to him, kissing her cheek with a wink of his eye. She held back a laugh, he was trying to ease her, she could see that. His attempts of making her laugh were succeeding. She could hardly contain it. She was just happy that he was treating her like a normal woman, not a freak of nature.
The song finished, Juvia was pulled to a stop by the King. Both of whom were slightly flushed and clammy from the excitement. He chuckled as his people cheered for them, laughing at their childlike antics. Juvia realised that the King knew how to make his people happy, showing them that himself and his new wife could get along made them happy. It had a sense of peacefulness to it. He was a peacemaker. He was what a King should be.
He held her waist, "Did you wish to dance again?"
She breathed heavily, "I wish for some air." She sighed, her cheeks burning.
He nodded and lead her to a set of doors that when opened a large balcony was presented. Its icy floor was hard to walk on in the heels Juvia wore, so she clamped onto his arm for support. He smirked at her slight clumsiness, knowing of her alien attitude towards the snow was due to her lack of time with it.
The air was an unusually pleasant cold temperature which made her shudder in shock. Even with the skies crumbling with freckles of snow, and the wind blowing at a considerably acceptable rate, it wasn't freezing cold. She found it odd, of course, that the Kingdom of Ice wasn't cold too her. Instead, she could easily stand outside for hours and happily be there throughout the duration. This place seemed to accept her, and her it. She felt at peace, in an out of character way. She had never felt tranquil, which is why the oddity shocked her.
She looked out to the Kingdom in front of her, lights twinkling and reflecting off the snow below her. It was like magic, everything was so perfectly mystical here. A complete and utter comfortable mystery.
Gray looked at her in the middle of her awe, his eyes drank her in. Looking from her feet and upwards, stopping at her chest for a moment more than the rest of her before stopping at her face entirely. He smiled at her smiling face as it looked up to the sky, catching fragments of snow on her cheeks and lashes. What an unusually enchanting woman he had been set to marry.
She spotted him looking at her, she blushed the same crimson shade she had been tinting her cheeks with all day. When she peered up through her lashes bashfully looking up at him, he moved to face her completely. He reached out to stroke a strand of her blue hair which had started to curl at the ends. She leaned into his palm that rested against her cheek.
She could tell he was nervous on what to do next, and so was she. How did these situations arise? How did people go about it? She had no intuition.
"It will be warmer inside…" he mumbled, looking towards a tower nervously. "Unless you wish to stay here and dance…?" He ran his fingers through his hair.
Juvia bit her lip, looking towards the party and holding back a sigh. She remembered what Mika had said hours before, to be beside him like the family he craves. It was her duty now as his wife, and soon to be Queen, to do just that. She can still be herself, and she chose in that moment to be a Queen for the first time in her life.
"I think we've burned the party oil enough for tonight, don't you?" She smiled kindly up at him.
His smile was one of relief and one of pure surprise. He held her waist and pulled her to him, "I know a way around the castle where we can slip away, so we don't have a crowd of people heckling at our… antics."
"Thank you," She giggled, "that would be embarrassing."
He laughed grabbing her hands and pulling down the stairs to the balcony that lead them to a large garden path. They giggled as they ran, the wine she'd been drinking at dinner rushed to her head as the wind lapped over her cheeks. She found it difficult to find her footing on the icy floor, and yelped when she nearly fell. Gray steadied her as they both chuckled about her clumsiness. He picked her up in his arms admitting that he had to add some romance too what they were about to do.
He carried her the whole way to the chambers, dodging guards and maids who were walking though the hallways. They were silent, not because of their sleuthing activities, but because suddenly it dawned on them both what was about to happen. She was suddenly feeling hot, a pit in her stomach burned as he arrived in front of his chamber doors. He looked down at her and anxiously smiled. He put her down so he could open the door to let them both in. A fire was burning away in that overly sized fire place, and a bed freshly made that was also overly sized, sat facing them.
She wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly feeling chilled. Gray noticed her sudden cowardice and bit his lip firmly, "Would you like some wine?" He asked as if he was trying to find some comfort for her.
She looked up at him, "Do you think it'll help?" She questioned.
He puffed his cheeks for a moment before sighing, "I don't know, but I do know that we don't have to rush straight into it as soon as we come through the door." He smiled reassuringly, "We could play some cards on the bed with some wine. Talk more, if you would like?"
She swallowed some saliva and shook her head, "I heard that a massage is supposed to relax you before… well." She looked back to him, "Maybe you could give your wife a massage to sooth her, and I give you one in return?"
"Unclothed?" He suggested. He seemed eager.
She bit her cheek, "If you wish." So forward…
He blushed, "I would prefer it." He ruffled his hair a little with his fingers, "Stand here. We can leave our clothes there." She stood in the middle of the room, they sipped wine for moment before Gray put down their goblets.
He stood behind her, slowly he took off her circlet and comment how much like a Queen she looked with it on. She thanked him with a small voice. He took off his crown before placing it beside her circlet. She smiled a quaint smile to the symbol, it was a soothing one. King and soon to be Queen, husband and wife… it was rather romantic, even if it were unintentional.
"Answer me one thing," he mumbled as he unclipped her braids, placing the clips to one side. "Why do women wear such pretty dresses all the time?"
She thought for a moment, unsure herself. "Personally, I never really wore fancy dresses back home. I preferred day dresses that didn't cause discomfort. But I see it a way in general to show our authority. To show how powerful we truly are. We dress to impress ourselves first and foremost, but it is also a symbol to others around us… a quote to them all, 'I am ruler of myself, you're no ruler of me.'"
He was quiet for a heartbeat before she felt him play with her hair again, letting the braids fall loose. "I like that," he said softly. "You speak your mind, and I like it."
She had to stare and smile at him, her cheeks dimpling. "I am glad, I like speaking my mind as well."
He started to chuckle, "I must admit, I still find it frustrating that dresses are hard to take off."
She giggled pointing to the clips on her shoulder, "Start there."
"Yes, ma'am." He said audaciously.
She smiled, though she could not ignore the bunny like leaps in her stomach as he took off the lace from her dress, carefully folding it and placing it with their crowns. He unclipped the rest of the clips, the river of snow falling at her feet. She heard his swallow hard before he slid off her underdress that also fell to her feet.
She felt like falling in general.
She didn't shudder when the air tickled her skin, instead she looked over her shoulder to her husband and mumbled, "Is everything … well… to your liking?"
He didn't say anything, but she could see that his eyes looked almost drunk when he looked at her body. He slid his hands up her back, his eyes almost fluttering at the softness of it. His warm hands went to her shoulders, and he gradually started massaging her. "I don't see how you wouldn't be to anyones' liking, Juvia." He said, strained.
She sighed at his touch as he loosened her muscles, leaning into him. He nuzzled her hair and sighed as well, his hands skimmed up her torso, her breath hitching. His hand cupped her breast, massaging her there before he turned her around. Pulling her in slowly before he kissed her, blowing her away, making her head completely spin. His hand travelled down between her legs, she moaned suddenly in response, surprising them both.
He pulled away for a moment, his breath heavy. "Does my Queen want me?" He breathed, his voice strained.
"Only if my King wants me," she whispered in return.
He grinned picking her up and winked, "Then to bed we must go."
She put her hand to her mouth as a burst of giggles came from her throat, before she was thrown playfully into the thick sheets of their bed.
AN: Well hey all, how are we? I hope you enjoyed this chapter of the Four Kingdoms. I enjoyed writing it. Really, I did. It took a while, but I wrote like 7 thousand + words in this chapter, so I am impressed with myself. Reason being that this chapter is so long, is that one: Juvia is going through a lot of things right now, which I could've done in 2 chapters, but I decided that it could easily fit into one. Two: Christmas is obviously around the corner, and I have a lot of Film Studies, Fine Art and Media work to do over the holidays! So i will not be uploading this fic until New year!
Though Sphinx and the Angel (Psycho-Pass fic) has another upload coming soon, so keep an eye open!
Again, I hope you enjoyed it. Review, follow, favourite if you liked it. Until then, tata! And MERRY CHRISTMAS!