The balcony had a view that couldn't be described as anything less than breath taking. From where Juvia stood she could see the waves of the ocean has the rose and fell against the shore, the town of Magnolia all lit up by windows and lanterns, the ducks, geese, and swans coming out of the pond and settling into their nests in the reeds. But she thought the loveliest of all had to be the sky of stars that lay high above her. They twinkled and shimmered like a thousand pearls found in the depths of the ocean. She thought that surely nothing else could compare to such a sight.
Gray on the other hand thought that Juvia was ten times more lovely than any star. Not only was she lovely but so wonderfully different from any other girl he had met before. All those noble ladies Lahar set him up with were so prim, so boring, so vain, so full of pretenses. This girl on the other hand wasn't afraid to be herself. She was modest and fun, and he could tell that way she looked at him that she had a heart that expressed such an incredible amount of kindness. He somehow knew that she had started dancing like that to distract everyone from laughing at his voice, that she understood how ashamed he was of his condition and instead of mocking him for it, she tried to help him however she could. Words couldn't even begin to describe how happy that made him.
"I want to thank you for that."
Juvia turned her attention from the view and looked at him confused.
"For making everyone forget about my lousy singing." He said. "You know where I come from music is a way of life and folks are judged on how well they can sing. But I can't sing at all. I don't know why, there's just something wrong with my throat. It cracks."
For a moment, he looked embarrassed and ashamed again. Juvia leaned forward and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder to comfort him. He smiled at her and the prince's smile astonished her more than his presence.
"But my mother once told me that music doesn't just come from your voice. It can also come from your feet."
Juvia looked at him confused, he responded by taking her hand into his.
"Do you like to dance?" He asked her.
She didn't know how to answer that for she had never danced before. But she had always dreamed about it.
"Do you know how to dance?"
She shook her head.
"Well don't worry, learning how to dance is easy. I'll show you."
He raised her hand up while still holding it and then slid his other arm around her waist. She gasped softly, surprised by the touch.
"Dancing is a special kind of song, one that you can't hear but you can see and feel."
Juvia was nervous, almost afraid to dance with him because she suspected that she may very well make a fool of herself again. But when she stared into those intense but gentle eyes of his, her fear was forgotten and she desired only to do as he pleased.
Soon music from the ballroom drifted into the night air and Gray led her into a waltz. He was the most perfect dancer she had ever seen. She could see his heart song in the way his legs and feet moved. She could see his melody, his lyrics, his harmony, and his rhythm. To her his dancing was better than anyone's ability to sing, especially when she felt the warmth of his arms around her.
At first she did trip and step on his foot a few times but he always kindly assured her that everyone makes those mistakes when the dance for the first time. Under his guidance, her feet started feel so light and when she stepped and twirled, it looked like they had never touched the floor. It was like she was floating on air. Her smile grew and her eyes shimmered with joy, she was actually dancing. Dancing under the moon and the stars with her prince. It was a dream come true.
"You see, dancing is language that's felt instead of heard." He told her. "It says more than any voice could and every little step brings you one step closer to being understood."
Together they moved and glided across the balcony floor, the two speaking as one. Cheek to cheek, toe to toe, heart to heart. Just letting their emotions tell their bodies what to do and whirling gracefully through the night. To Juvia this was a lifelong fantasy come to life so wonderful that she almost couldn't believe it was real. To Gray it was as though they had danced together many times before.
For the rest of the evening the prince would dance with no other woman and never left loose of her hand. And if any one else came to invite her, he said, "This is my partner." Not even the royal princess of Lazan City, in all her splendor, could get him to turn his attention away from the silent but lovely little mermaiden. With her he had forgotten all women, including the one who's voice haunted his dreams.
This pleased the servant Ur very much. It was the happiest she had seen him in so long. He was smiling in a way that she never thought she'd see him smile again. This girl was something special. She was warming his icy heart and bring light back into his eyes and color back into his face. She thought that Juvia was Heaven sent to heal Gray and fill his life with laughter and joy again.
The sultan on the other hand was furious. He believed that the prince had just rudely ignored his daughter and disrespected them. How dare he devote all his attention to some common girl instead of his beautiful daughter. This was an insult. An insult to him, to the princess, to Lazan City.
"I don't believe he meant any insult Father." Lucy told him later that evening. "He was only trying to comfort that girl."
"For three hours? And not a word to you?" Jude said. "Why I have never heard of such awful behavior. If I had ever acted that way to a princess I would have been thrown in jail."
"With all due respect Father, you did embarrass him. You insisted he sing in front of everyone and it turns out he cannot sing at all. And everyone laughed at him. They laughed at a prince. You say how he treated me was inexcusable, but what about how everyone else treated him? If our people had laughed at you like that, you would had them beheaded. Which in my opinion is disproportionate retribution, but I hope you see my point."
"Well I suppose I did cross a line back there." He said. "I'll apologize to him tomorrow morning but he better apologize to you."
"I'm not offended Father, and to tell you the truth I'm not sure if we should be here."
"What do you mean?"
"Did you see the way he looked at that girl? He looked at her like she was the only beautiful girl in the world."
"Nonsense."
"He did Father."
"You are a thousand times more magnificent than her."
"Not to him. In his eyes, I probably don't even compare to her. What if he loves her?"
"He doesn't. He is merely showing her compassion."
"Forgive me for saying this Father, but I'm afraid this maybe one of those instances where you could be mistaken."
"Are you saying I am wrong?"
"I meant no disrespect Father but please hear me out."
Lucy knew she was treading on knives by speaking this way to her father. Where they came from, to suggest the sultan was wrong would lead to a most severe punishment. Even if you were the sultan's daughter. But while Jude was strict and unreasonable, he was not cruel and he did love his daughter more than he valued his pride.
"Very well." He said. "But mind your words carefully my daughter."
"Love is not something easily studied and measured. It changes and it's complex. None of us know how the hearts of others work. I just...I just don't want to pressure Gray to marry me, especially when he's already in love with somebody else. I don't want to ruin someone else's happiness or have a husband who could resent me."
"I see." He said thinking it over. "I will admit there is some wisdom in your words and I shall keep them in mind before I make a final decision. But you are mistaken if you believe he loves that mute girl. According to everyone in the kingdom, he's given his heart to some imaginary maiden he believes to have saved his life. A girl who does not exist. Therefore, no harm can come from this marriage."
"I suppose." But she didn't sound all that convinced.
"You've had a long day." Jude said. "Get some rest, things will look better in the morning."
"Yes Father."
She bid the sultan good night but did not retire into bed just yet. She decided to just take a moment to step outside on to the balcony of her room and gaze up at the stars. She always did this when her mind was troubled. It was an action that would grant her mind peace and help her sleep better.
There were just so many questions going through her head right now. Would Prince Gray be a suitable partner for her? Was she right to come here? And who was that mute girl staying in the castle as well? And why did she seem very familiar to her? But most of all, she found herself having questions about Natsu.
Seeing the way the prince had looked at that girl had somehow reminded her of him. He was such a funny and sweet young man, and she did enjoy her company with him very much.
"What had happened to him?" She wondered. "Is angry at me for deceiving him? Could we still be friends? Will even have a chance to see each other again? And why do I find myself thinking of him more and more?"
For now, she had no idea what the answer for her last question was. But she would in time, and she would also see Natsu again very soon. Only she wouldn't be aware that it was him at first.
