The Knight and the Beast

Chapter Eight: Never Abandoned

Erza rode Plue out in the storm. Plue was Lucy's, but the redhead didn't think that the blonde would manage to go after her so soon. The bad thing about this it that Erza couldn't find her way out of the forest. And neither could the white unicorn with a yellow horn.

Snow covered their tracks so that they couldn't head back to the castle. But the two couldn't move forward because the blizzard was getting worst and blinded them. To make matters worse, Erza could swear she heard howls nearby.

Erza breathed out heavily before throwing her head back. Why did I leave the castle? she thought. A memory of her grandfather was relived in her mind. The redhead smiled at the fond memory before staring down to her lap.

She sighed before flicking the reigns. "Let's go."

Plue neighed before continuing through the snow banks. They travelled in silence before hearing a howl right behind them and stopping in their tracks. Erza looked over her shoulder and saw yellow eyes glowing in the shadows of the trees. The shadowed figured moved closer and revealed to be a pack of wolves. A large one at that.

Erza gripped the reigns in her hands. How am I going to get out of here? Her brown eyes flickered between wolves.

One launched itself at Plue's legs. The unicorn stood on its hind legs, nearly dropping the girl on his back, before dashing through the snow.

The wolves kept attacking even while chasing the unicorn and Erza. They bit at Plue's legs, trying to get him to trip. It only distracted Plue; the unicorn kept kicking the wolves away from him and the girl, failing to notice that there was a tree oncoming.

Erza saw it and pulled back on the reign, trying to make Plue stop. It was a little to late. Plue did stop, but not in time to avoid Erza getting hit in the head by a lone tree branch. She toppled off the unicorn's back and fell into a snow bank.

She tried to regain her footing, but kept falling over until Plue held her up as she leaned against him. Her hand went to the spot where she was hit; a thick sticky substance was covering her hair.

Blood, she thought. Her vision was blurry as she looked around. White blurry flecks stung her brown eyes as dark grey blurs stood beyond the unicorn and the girl. Shit.

She heard a roar, thinking that it was the castle's dragon, Natsu. But the new blur that was added to her line of vision wasn't red or as large as the dragon. But brown and blue. Erza tried to stay conscious to see who had save her, but the hit to her head caused too much pain to stay awake. Erza's eyes eventually drifted closed as she felt large, fuzzy warm arms wrap around her.

{Line Skip}

Lucy paced back and forth in the front hall of Fairy Tail. She would look at the door then back to the floor during her pacing. A blanket was wrapped around her slim frame at Natsu's request to get warm after running after Erza in a fall dress and no boots. Natsu watched over Lucy as she paced while she had told the others to get some things ready for their prince and Erza when they returned.

Lucy huffed as she sat down against Natsu's warm body. He chuckled as he wrapped his tail around her and rested his head next to her legs. She reached out her hand to stroke his head.

They'll be fine Luce, Natsu reassured her.

Lucy let out a 'hm', not totally convinced. "You know what could happen if someone finds Jellal."

Natsu stayed silent. His ears picked up something outside and his nose smelt something familiar coming their way. They're back.

Lucy got up from her spot next to the dragon and looked into the castle. "Juvia! Bring the warm water! Gray! Levy! Prepare the parlour! Wendy, bring supplies!" She ran to the door and swung it open.

Jellal trudged in with an conscious Erza bleeding from her head in his arms that were bleeding as well. Lucy turned to Natsu and he came over to her as the blonde took the redhead out of the prince's hands. Natsu caught Jellal before he collapsed on the ground and pulled him to his feet.

Good job Sir, Natsu said.

"Take him to his room. Take Wendy with you. I'll take care of Erza," Lucy said.

"Don't be too hard on her Lucy," Jellal rasped out. Natsu took him up the stairs with a small blue first aid kit in tow. Jellal turned his head around, catching Lucy's eye. "I did scare her out of here in the first place."

Lucy paused, looking down to the bleeding girl in her arms and sighed. She nodded and Jellal smiled, letting Natsu take him back to his chambers.

Lucy scuffled over to one of the plush couches in the parlour before placing Erza down on it, having a pillow under her head for support. Wendy had left some bandages and rubbing alcohol for her and she got to work. Juvia passed Lucy a cloth, damp with warm water to place on Erza's head. Lucy added some alcohol to another cloth and placed it on the wound on the redhead.

Erza flinched and opened her eyes slowly. She looked around and noticed that she had returned to Fairy Tail. She turned to her side, seeing Lucy turned to pick up some bandages. As Lucy turned back, their brown eyes connected.

"Awake, huh?" Lucy said. "Can you sit up? Slowly of course."

Erza nodded, but flinched from her head wound. Lucy placed her hand behind Erza's back to help her. When Erza was sitting, Lucy placed the redhead's feet into the bucket of warm water. The blonde sat next to Erza and started bandaging up Erza' head.

"What happened?" Erza asked.

"Jellal went to get you. I don't know what happened really. He must've fought a hoard of something because he came back with plenty of scratches and blood."

"Oh." There was a long pause. "Lucy?"

"Hm?"

"Is it okay…if I stay here?"

Lucy stopped tightening Erza's bandages and looked into the other girl's eyes. "Of course Silly. I don't think you'll make it far in the weather coming soon anyways. Besides, Jellal likes having you here."

"He doesn't act like it."

"Jellal's been in this castle for years now. He doesn't know how to be social anymore."

"What made him like that?"

Lucy sighed and returned to Erza's wound. "I can't say. Not right now at least."

Erza nodded. They continued to sit in silence with some of the others watching over them.

{Line Skip}

Meanwhile, Erza's grandfather has been getting restless. He couldn't help but think that his granddaughter was in danger for staying in that strange castle with the beast. He had looked around the forest that surrounded the village but no luck in finding that castle again.

The old man huffed and grabbed his cloak and his hat. He grabbed a lit lantern and went outside. He wasn't going to let his family disappear on him. Not again. He walked in the direction of the local pub.

Midnight and his crew were hanging out in the bar. Angel was clinging to Midnight as usual and Erigor was in the back, drinking away. Midnight laughed at the jokes the other men in the bar were talking about as the old man burst into the bar. Everyone went quiet and turned to the door.

Midnight smiled sadistically and stood up. "Well, well, well. Makarov, may I ask what our eccentric blacksmith is doing here and not prancing through the forest like a woodland elf?"

"Shut it Midnight," Laxus said standing behind the old man. It created a contrast with the short old man standing in front of the tall young man.

"I need your help," Makarov said. "Erza's been taken away from me."

"Taken? By who Old Man?" Angel snickered. "Don't you think she could've ran away from this town? No one liked her anyways."

"Watch your mouth Angel," Freed said immediately standing next to Laxus with Bickslow in tow.

"Erza was taken prisoner into a strange castle deep in the forest by a beast."

Everyone turned to Makarov with disbelief in their eyes. Midnight and his gang started laughing, which in turn made everyone to laugh. Everyone except the old man and the three next to him.

"This isn't a funny matter Midnight," Freed said. "Erza could be in danger and we should go look for her."

"Sure, after all Kid, you wanted to marry her," Bickslow said, sticking his tongue out in mockery.

"Yeah. Tell me, Makarov, was this beast huge?"

"Yes."

"Did he have razor teeth?" Angel asked.

"Yes."

"Did he have horns out of his head and talons on his hands?" Midnight pestered.

"Yes."

Midnight walked up to the old man and crouched down to his level. "You, Old Man, are one crazy bat. Get out of here. There's no such thing as a beast."

Midnight turned around with Makarov burning a glare to his back. Laxus placed a hand on the old man and lead him outside with the group, laughter roaring behind them from the drunks in the bar.

Once outside, it was gently snowing. Makarov looked up to the dark clouds with sadness. Freed went down to the old man's level.

"We will find her," he said. "I know we will."

"Thank you Boys," Makarov said. He brought his hat down and looked in the direction of the forest. "Let's look for my girl."