The Knight and the Beast

Chapter Six: Living In a Castle Called Fairy Tail

The beast dragged the old man out to the courtyard where Natsu was waiting. The beast threw the old man onto Natsu's back.

"Talk him to the village," he ordered.

Are you sure about this Jellal? Natsu asked. His onyx eyes flashing worry.

The beast cringed at that name. He had made his servants-family-call him 'Master' or 'Sire' instead of 'Prince' or 'Jellal'. (But for our sake, he'll be known as Jellal or whatnot.)

Jellal sighed before placing a hand on Natsu's neck. He nodded before turning away. "Yes Natsu. Get going."

"Wait!" Jellal looked up to see the old man looking over Natsu's wing. "What about Erza?!"

Erza…That's the girl's name huh? He turned around, facing the castle doors. What a different name for a seemingly different girl. The beasty prince looked over his should, glancing to the old name.

"She's no longer a concern for you." He looked up to Natsu. "Get going." He walked up the stairs and closed the doors behind him.

Natsu nodded before he flew off to the village. The ride was quiet for most of the time. The old man didn't dare talk to the dragon. Natsu didn't know hat he could say to the old man to make him feel better. That was Lucy's department as he's the one who usually made Wendy or Lisanna cry while Gray made Juvia or Mira cry.

Natsu hovered down in a field that was a mile or two away from the village. Once he landed, his tail wrapped itself around the old man, placing him on the ground. The dragon's eyes looked down to the old man.

This is as far as I can take you, he said.

"You were the dragon that went into town a few days ago…"

I guess so. I only did it to protect Lucy, Natsu said, turning around to fly off.

"Wait!" Natsu peered over his shoulder. "You have to protect Erza, my granddaughter. She's the only thing I have."

Natsu looked forward. She won't need any of my protection. The pr-I mean-my master wouldn't harm an innocent woman. Trust me, she'll be in safe hands.

With that said, Natsu flew off to the west and back to Fairy Tail.

{Line Skip}

Once the beast had left Erza and Lucy in the dungeon, the redhead fell to her knees. Tears streamed down from her eyes as she wiped them away in vain. Lucy walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. Erza looked up to the blonde.

"I'm sorry. I should've known that he was coming," Lucy said.

Erza shook her head. "It's alright." Her crying ceased when she stood up beside Lucy. "I'm just upset that I didn't get to say goodbye to him."

Lucy nodded. The blonde turned around and headed for the door. "Let's go."

"What do you mean?" Erza asked.

"I have to show you to your room. My master isn't one to let a pretty girl sleep in a dungeon," Lucy said, waiting for the redhead.

"…Alright." Erza got up and walked up to Lucy.

Lucy led the way out of the dungeon, not locking it as no one was in there anymore. Lucy was a candelabra hanging around the door to the spiral staircase with a book. The blonde sighed as the redhead behind her looked down to the objects with curiosity.

"You two did not just hear the entire thing did you?" Lucy asked.

"Why are you talking to objects Lucy?" Erza asked.

"I told you already, haven't I?" Lucy bent down to pick up the candelabra and shoved it to Erza's face. "Practically everything in this castle was once a human. Including this one; am I right Loke?"

The candelabra in her hand started chuckling, before looking up and around to Lucy and Erza. The redhead gaped and Lucy rolled her eyes. The candelabra's hazel eyes looked to Erza.

"Nice to meet you," Loke said. "My name is Loke. May I have the pleasure of knowing yours Madame?"

"Um…Erza," she said.

"Don't mind him," Lucy said. "He's a playboy. Going far enough to flirt with me."

"Yeah; nice move trying to hit it up with the dragon's girl Loke," the book said. Erza picked the book up and lined its hazel eyes with her brown ones. "I'm Levy, the librarian. Loke's the major-domo of the castle."

"I see," Erza said, giving Levy to Lucy.

"C'mon. Let's show you to your room."

"Lucy…" the beast's voice echoed through the hall.

Lucy and Erza turned to the front hallway and saw the beast walking towards them. In the lighting of the torches, she could see him better. His hands were paws and claws were sprouting out of the ends. His eyes that seemed cold in the dungeon held a warm gleam to them. Erza noticed that he wasn't baring his fangs as much. The horns on his head were curled at the ends. His furry chest was covered by a navy blue cloak and his lower half was covered by a pair of badly ripped up black pants.

"Master. Did Natsu-"

The beast nodded. He looked to Erza, noticing her staring and her hand on her sword's hilt. He let out a breath in a chuckle. "A sword? I've never seen a woman carrying such a weapon."

Erza motioned her chin to Lucy's daggers. "What about those?"

"Lucy never uses them."

"She still has them in her grasp, does she not?"

"Fiery attitude we have now?" the beast said. He noticed Erza tightened her grip. "Don't worry. I won't harm you." He walked in front of Lucy and started walking. "Come. I'll show you where you will be staying."

The beast (as Erza calls him) walked them through the East Wing of the castle. While they walked towards the rooms where the servants and other would-be residents stay, Lucy and the beast went over ground rules for Erza.

"Since you will be staying here for a long time, every room is at your disposal."

"Really?"

Lucy nodded. "There is a cook in the cook in the kitchen for meals. But, don't mention anything that requires the word 'Man' or say anything 'Manly' to him."

"Why?"

Levy giggled. "Let's say that Elfman does something dangerous that could get us all killed if he says those words."

"Tonight you will rest," the beast continued. "I can suspect that tonight's been hard for you."

You have no idea Beast, Erza thought.

"Lucy, bring Erza some tea and cookies with Mira and Lisanna."

Erza looked to the beast. "How do you know my name Beast?"

The beast stopped and looked at her. She gasped and looked down, knowing that she probably had insulted him. He sighed before turning around.

"Your grandfather told me right before I sent him away." He glanced back at the redhead before turning to the front and continuing. "You may call me Jellal from now on."

Lucy and the two servants in her arms looked up to the beast. Lucy caught up beside Jellal and looked him in the eye, waiting for an answer to her unanswered question. He smiled softly before nodding.

"My Prince…" she breathed out. Finally being able to say those words again.

Erza watched the exchange between Lucy and the be-she meant-Jellal. They had a bond that was purely based on what was inside of them and not on what they looked like.

"Continuing," Levy said.

"Yes," Jellal said, leading the way to Erza's room. "Everything in this castle is in your reach. Except for the West Wing."

"The West Wing?"

"It is forbidden for the servants to go in there," Loke explained. "Well, except for Lucy and Natsu."

"You know why that is Loke," Lucy said.

Jellal stopped at a pair of double doors. The doors were ivory white with designs of blue swirling around the edges and in the middle. There were gold doorknobs.

"This will be your room," he said looking to Erza. "You will be expected to have dinner in the dinning room with me and Lucy everyday. If you need anything, Lucy's room is right down the hall."

Erza stiffly nodded.

"Goodnight Erza, Lucy. Loke, Levy, let's go."

"Yes Sir," Loke said. He hopped out of Lucy's arms with Levy. He turned back and winked to the two girls. "'Night Ladies."

"The dragon, Loke, the dragon's girl," Levy reminded him making Lucy blush. "Goodnight Lu-chan. Goodnight Erza."

"Goodnight," Erza said as they left around the corner. Leaving the two females alone.

"Would you like me to get those cookies and tea?"

Erza shook her head. Her red bangs hiding her eyes. Lucy knew that she was crying and would probably want to be left alone. Lucy nodded understandingly.

"If you need anything, you know where to find me."

Erza nodded as she opened the door to her room and closed it behind her. Once the redhead heard a click, she looked around the room. It was elegant but simply. There was a canopy bed against the wall with dark blue and light blue sheets and pillows. A desk with paper, pens, and inkpots. A wardrobe that didn't talk (Erza checked). There wasn't a balcony but a window seat that had a couple of white pillows with designs in blue thread.

This isn't a prison, she thought.

And it wasn't. It didn't look like a prison. It didn't feel like a prison. But she knew that it was. No longer able to see her (only) three friends back home and her grandfather, the last piece of her family left.

Erza sighed as she gripped the blue hilt of her father's sword. What have I done? Erza thought.

She kicked off her boots and untied her belt. She ran to the bed and buried her face in the fabrics of the covers and pillows. She started to sob quietly into the fabrics, muffling the sounds of her screams.

Will I ever get out of this place?

But, Erza didn't know that a certain blonde was listening to her quiet cries of agony.

{Line Skip}

Lucy slumped against the wall next to the doors of Erza's room. She couldn't help but feel a little guilty to what happened. She shouldn't have brought Erza into the castle, but, maybe, snuck her grandfather out of the castle and let them be on their way.

But who knows what would've happened to me if I got caught…Or what would've happened to them if we got caught, Lucy thought.

The blonde got up to her feet. She glanced back to Erza's room before heading back to hers. Lucy opened the door, revealing a blue cat waiting at the door for her. Lucy knelt down and patted the cat's head.

"Were you waiting up Happy?" she asked.

"Meow!" the cat replied. The cat flicked its tail before walking over to the balcony and hopping on the railing. "Meow!"

"What is it Happy?" Lucy asked, walking over to the balcony. She looked to where Happy was looking and saw Natsu hovering by her window. She smiled. "You finished with what Jellal asked?"

Natsu nodded. How's that Era Girl doing?

Lucy giggled. "Her name is Erza Natsu," she corrected. He grumbled, making her giggle again and Happy meow happily. "But, she's not doing well. After all, she's lost her grandfather and her freedom all in one night."

Natsu sighed. Do you think she'll get used to it?

"I don't know. But I hope it's soon," Lucy said, leaning over the railing. Happy walked up to her and started rubbing his head against hers, making her giggle more.

Do you think she'll fall in love with Jellal in two months?

Lucy shrugged. She turned to the door of her room.

"Who knows Natsu."