A/N: OMG, I went HIATUS. Sorry everyone! I'm back again. I was just too busy with work so I hope you all can forgive me. Anyway's here the chapter you've all been waiting for(:

The Princess and the Dragon Slayer

Chapter 18

Lucy stayed in my arms in silence after she was done tearing up. I didn't even have the urge to let go of her at all but only continued to hold her tight in my arms. I felt so helpless at that point. I could feel her face nuzzled up against my chest as my chin rest on top of her head.

Virgo and Aries were around but I really appreciate their kindness in giving us the privacy that we need. Their eyes were focused on the flowers instead on us. I decided to pull away from Lucy so that I could finally take a look at her gorgeous face.

"Luce." Lucy didn't look at me instead she just continued to look down. I decided to hold her chin so that I could make her face me. "Luce, aren't you going to look at me?"

"H-how, how can I? My father is making me marry another guy." Lucy answered me though her eyes were looking elsewhere.

I decided to grab her face with both of my hands so that way, she had no chance of running away from looking at my eyes.

"Luce, I'm going think of some way. Furthermore, that weird guy did say there's other way to save this economic shit without you getting married to him right?"

Lucy giggled and that just made my heart swelled. It felt great that I was able to cheer her up.

"For your information Natsu, his name is Mystogan."

"Well whatever, I don't like him." I let go of her face and cross my arms as I looked away to pout.

I heard Lucy giggled again before she grabbed my face this time. She tiptoed and gave me a kiss on my lips.

"I love you Natsu." I could feel my face got hotter when Lucy smiled at me. I couldn't believe I was blushing! I ended up staring into her beautiful brown orbs and I couldn't help but to initiate a kiss this time.

I wrapped my arms around her waist to pull her towards me while she wrapped her arms around my neck. I don't know how long it has been since we were this intimated. I could feel our smiles against each other. I decided to go further though I know we shouldn't since we were out in the open. I licked her lips to make her pry it open and my tongue didn't hesitate to wait and just dash right in.

We were on a fierce tongue battle. My hormones were going on a wild rampage now but I knew I had to control. We broke the kiss as we needed to catch some breath. I rested my forehead against hers as we both panted lightly. I could see her face was flushed and honestly, it was turning me on. I just wanted to kidnap her and bring her back to my room to make love.

But we were brought back to our senses when both of us got interrupted.

"Hime, sorry but Sir Mystogan is here to see you." Virgo said as she stood like 1 metre away us and bowed slightly.

"Oh thank you Virgo. I'll be right over there." Virgo acknowledged Lucy's reply by nodding her head before walking away. "Well Natsu, I got to go. Hopefully he talked some senses to my father."

I was actually very reluctant in letting her go. I was really afraid that things didn't go well and that she had to go marry off that weird guy, leaving me helplessly alone. Lucy was about to walk away from me but I didn't let go of her hand at all.

"Natsu?"

"I don't want to let you go." I answered her back as I looked down, my bangs hovering over my eyes.

"I need to go Natsu." Lucy was stern with her words and it made me loosen my grip on her. Once I did, she moved her hand away from my grip and started to walk away from me.

Though I was still looking down, I could see her dress wiped the floor as she moved. I decided to look up once it was gone because it showed that she wasn't around already.

I just stood there in the garden as the wind blew against me. Many things were going through my head now. There were two possible things that might happen as Lucy met up with that weird guy again. It's either the king was persistent and didn't listen to what he had to explain thus Lucy has to marry him or the weird guy managed to talk the king out thus Lucy doesn't have to marry him. Either or, I couldn't wait so I decided to follow Lucy.

I hid myself behind a tree as I saw the weird guy stood by the garden entrance with Lucy in front of him.

"Your highness." The weird guy bowed slightly as he greeted Lucy.

Lucy raised her hand. "There's no need of such manners when it's just the two of us Mystogan. Can I know what's the conclusion now with you and the king?"

"My apologies princess, but the king insists that we get wedded." My heart immediately dropped to the bottom of my body once I heard that.

"Why?!" Lucy screamed which I saw it got the weird guy startled. She coughed once she realized she wasn't being princess liked. "I mean WHY?" It was so obvious that Lucy couldn't keep her cool even though she tried because I, myself, was also trying to keep my emotions under control.

"The king said that in order for the economy to grow, he needs another man in the house to help him because obviously, the king is not growing younger every day. This is why I believe he needs to you to be wedded."

I could see Lucy's expressions changed once the weird guy explained the conversation that he and the king had earlier. I could see a mix of anger and sadness etched onto Lucy's face. I could tell she was sad because she understood her father's position but angry at the same time because she wasn't able to live the way she wants to. I clenched my fists to my side as I stood hidden behind the tree. I had to do something and by staying unnoticed to the pair in front of my eyes, wasn't going to help.

I decided to step out and walked towards them. I saw the weird guy took out one of his staff that hung by his back when he noticed me and pointed it at me.

"No Mystogan!" Lucy shouted but that didn't stop the glaring competition held between him and me.

I could see Aries and Virgo were appalled by my action since they were there when I came out. Minutes later, Loki and Capricorn came into the scene as I believe they saw that a commotion was going on.

"Who are you?"The weird guy asked as he held his staff out to my chest.

"I worked with the castle." I answered as I pushed his staff away from me. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop but I heard that the king needs another man to help him."

"Yes and this is why the princess has to be wedded."

"Well does that mean it can be any man who can take the princess's hand?"

I could see everyone eyes' went wide upon hearing my statement. The weird guy wasn't even able to answer me.

"Natsu, where is this going?" Lucy asked as she broke the awkward silence.

"I mean I am going to be the one to marry the princess instead." Immediately, I could see everyone's jaw drop except the weird guy though since I couldn't see his mouth at all.

Lucy walked up to me, grabbed my arm and pulled me down so that my ear could reach her mouth.

"Natsu, what the hell do you think you're doing?!" Lucy whispered shouted at me.

I pulled away from Lucy and looked down into her eyes with sheer determination. "I am going to marry you Luce. Does it look like I'm joking?" Upon hearing my answer, I saw Lucy's eyes went wide with shock again but this time, her cheeks tainting with red.

"What's going on down there?" We looked up and the king was looking down at us from the balcony. Everyone except Lucy kneeled down upon his presence. Well, I didn't want to kneel upon seeing the king but Loki managed to force me down.

"Your highness, there's nothing going on. It was-" I decided to stand up and cut in the weird guy.

"Your highness, with all due respect, I would like to take the princess's hand in marriage instead." I said as I bowed down to the king. "I think…" I paused before raising my head. "No, I believe I am most fit to be her husband and I will do all my best to help the kingdom." I could see from Lucy's face that she was touched by my action and words.

The king looked at her daughter before looking back at me. It seems as if he was taking me seriously which it was a good sign.

"Hmms… and who might you be boy?" The king asked.

"I am-" Before I could finish my sentence, Capricorn cut in as he stood up.

"He's a new guy at the castle sir. He works with Commando Aquarius and Scorpio. He's one of the best knight we had so far." I was stunned with the answer Capricorn gave the king. After all, I worked at the horses stable and wasn't a knight at all. I actually believed he was helping me out, to make me look good towards the king.

"I see, very well." The king paused as he rubbed his chin. "How about these two gentlemen have a duel next week? Mystogan and…" The king looked at me as if he wanted me to introduce myself.

"It's Natsu, your highness. My name's Natsu Dragneel." I said before kneeling down.

"And Natsu. Whoever wins, marries my daughter. Are you alright with that Mystogan?"

"I'm certainly fine with it. I can't agree less it won't be interesting." To be honest, if he didn't have a mask over his face, I think I could see a sinister smile from him.

"Alright. Since this has been decided, please return to your duties." With that, the king walked away and I couldn't help but to smile widely. I'm so fired up right now!

A/N: And that's it for this chapter folks. Woohoo, things are going to get interesting in the next chapter. Anyways, please do leave me a review before you go. I'm already drafting up chapter 19 so once I'm done with it, I'll be sure to upload it^^