Notes: it has come to my attention that this story had been nominated for an award for best AU/AR on tumblr and I'd like to thank whoever that person believed that this story was that good to enter it into a contest. Thank you so much! I doubt I'd win but thank you so so much. It is posted on TheGuildAwards on tumblr if anyone is interested in the contest.
Lucy ran as fast as she could, scratches and marks littering all over her body as she ran through the thick dark forest. Branches and leaves hit her on the way but she ignored them, more urgent pressing matters leaving her breathless. Her chest heaved with her breaths, her heart pounding rapidly in her ear where the taste of copper filled her tongue. Hot tears blurred her vision and while she could barely see what was in front of her, she pushed forward to the point where she felt the burn of her legs and lungs grab her in an iron grip.
She gasped out, squealing when she tripped over a large root and she fell to her hands and knees, nearly feeding herself some of the dirt.
Pain shot through her thin body and as she struggled to catch her breath, she felt a hand clamp down on her back and reel her back by the fabric of her ripped clothing. She screamed, clawing at the grass and dirt, trying to fight off her predator but they were much strong, much bigger.
"You are not worthy of such a title," his deep voice rattled her to her bones, fear consuming her entirely. "Abandoning your kingdom and your people… you are not worthy!"
Another scream bubbled in her chest and as she opened her mouth to let it out, nothing but silence was heard. She felt like she was choking on something and it almost felt like it was spilling from her throat but she couldn't see anything. She tried twisting and turning, throwing her limbs in the air, and choking on her sobs but she couldn't scream.
Couldn't scream nor see nor feel anything but pain and fear. It was consuming her in darkness all over again. Like she was dropped into a tub full of tar and it was pulling her back, drowning her.
Squeezing her eyes shut, hot tears streamed down her dirty face and as she opened her mouth once more, a blood-curdling scream shot out of her and shook her to her very core, piercing through the air and rattling her walls around her. She was surprised she could actually hear it and finally voice out her emotions, the high-pitch wail making her ears ring.
Shooting up in bed, the princess was gasping for air, drenched from head to toe in her sweat and her chest heaving rapidly. She looked around frantically, trying to assess where she was and what was happening but it was dark. But with a hand coming down on her back, she instantly grew rigid.
"Please, stop—!" She raised her arms to shield herself and bat away the person but her wrist got caught, stopping her frailing. Hot tears pricked at her eyes and she knew this was it but when she was pulled into a hard, warm embrace, all the air escaped her lungs.
"Lucy," Natsu's soft deep voice caressed her back into reality. "It's okay. Nobody is going to hurt you. I am here."
Her body trembled and she choked on her breath, her eyes wide and pinned on a random wall while Natsu continued to soothe her.
"It's okay," he whispered, running his hand up and down her back. "I'm here. It's okay."
Soon, the princess began to melt into his arms, feeling the fatigue that came with her outburst and she leaned against him, eyes fluttering. Her breathing was returning to normal yet she still panted, sweat clinging onto her body as if it was another layer of skin. She could see her body racking with quivers but Natsu's comfort allowed her to relax and finally register that it was all a dream and she was safe.
"It's okay," he continued to say, rocking her back and forth and pulling her into his lap. She felt like a babe, being held by their parents and rocked to sleep. She had never felt such a comfort in anyone before and she felt weak, swallowing thickly while peering up at the dragon king.
He had such a soft look to his face, his hand continuing to stroke along her back and hair, calming her. She grimaced when he reached down to wipe at her cheeks, getting rid of the tears that were stained on her rosy cheeks.
He didn't say anything but stare at her as she did the same, her breath getting ragged for a whole different reason. Her hands were fisted in his shirt while she sniffled, blinking back the tears from her eyes. She looked around to see they were in her chambers Natsu had given her last night and they were still in bed. The room was swallowed in complete darkness and she had no clue what time it even was or what day.
Everything seemed so confusing and out of the ordinary the princess truly did not know how to react.
At least her nightmares were still the same. Continuing to torture her while she was finally at peace.
"Are you alright, love?" Natsu's soft voice brought her back and she turned back to look up at him. With her eyes adjusted to the dark, she could clearly see Natsu's face but with the shadows, it was hard to see what he was truly thinking. Unable to voice out an answer, Lucy reached up to cup her hand against the side of his face and Natsu immediately leaned into it, purring into her hand where she offered a small smile.
He brought her hand close and kissed her palm, curling his hand over hers to hold it against his chest.
"You scared me," he confessed and it made her heart throb. "I woke up to you screaming and I.. I thought something or someone might have broken into the palace. Might have taken you from me."
The slight wobble in his voice showed how scared he was, his hand tightening around hers. The raw emotions he was feeling and showing her made her feel hot for entirely different reasons and she was feeling like a puddle of goo.
The princess reached forward and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, burying her face into the crook of his neck while he did the same. He held her with such confidence, such strength, she didn't know if she could pull away from him even if she tried. He was comforting her as if he was some kind of security blanket but she knew she was comforting him, too.
"I am sorry to wake you," she finally spoke, her voice nothing but a rasp.
"I would rather be woken to you screaming from a nightmare than be woken without you at all," he replied, holding her tighter against his chest. "I am sorry such dark thoughts are haunting your dreams. I wish I could do more."
"This is more than enough," Lucy held onto him, sighing against his chest. "Thank you."
They remained silent for a moment longer, tangled in each other's arms where the only thing Lucy could hear was the beating of his heart and their breaths. She had stopped shaking earlier and she did not feel so scared anymore. She felt calm and relaxed, tucked away in the dragon king's arms where she knew nobody nor nothing could ever hurt her.
"Would you like to go back to bed?" Natsu finally asked and Lucy pulled away to blink up at him. "It is still very early. The sun should be coming up soon."
Lucy shook her head, not feeling tired at all nor finding the desire to go back to sleep. Her nightmare was too real and too rattling that she was afraid that if she slipped back into unconsciousness, she may be thrown back into the nightmarishly vision of her being chased and thrown around.
"Apologies for waking you so early but I do not think I could sleep any more. Please, do not let me stop you from getting your rest, I will be fine on my own."
"Nonsense," Natsu grabbed at her hand once again, holding it tightly. "I will stay up with you. Shall we watch the sunrise together?"
The suggestion made the princess beam in delight, smiling widely at the dragon king. Natsu grinned right back, leaning in to kiss her forehead before untangling himself from her. Lucy got off his lap as Natsu moved around, reaching for his hand when he extended his out, standing by the edge of their mattress. She giggled softly when he hoisted her out of bed, bringing her to his chest where she gazed up at him lovingly. He returned the gesture, one hand brushing against the side of her face.
"Would you like some coffee or tea?"
Lucy shook her head while Natsu guided her across her chambers, their bare feet patting against the marble floors.
"Very well. I am all you need." He flashed her a grin and she was grateful the darkness masked her blush.
She was surprised that Natsu didn't have to leave the chambers to watch the sunrise and she didn't even notice this door last night. She really was that tired if she didn't notice a doorway and as Natsu opened the door for the cool morning air to rush inside, Lucy was in awe to see such twinkling lights shining right above them.
"I thought we were inside a volcano."
"We are but that doesn't mean we only see lava and walls," Natsu chuckled, guiding her out on the patio where there were two chairs and a table tucked away to the side. "It is merely an illusion."
"So are we really not inside of a volcano?"
"We are," Natsu never let go of her hand as they now sat beside one another, their hands draped across the table. "But from the inside, it is an illusion. I can make it into whatever you want. I can change the ground so we're surrounded by flowers or even change it into an open field. I can get rid of the walls and show you the very skies above, just like now."
Lucy was in awe, looking up at the skies where she could begin to see the changes from night to day. Almost as if they were inside of a dome and the world was going by, Lucy was now understanding how strong the dragon king truly was. If he could do illusions like this without straining himself, he must have a surplus of magical energy to obtain such a kingdom.
"This kingdom is truly magical…"
The smile Natsu gave her warmed her and the two were silent while watching the skies. His thumb rubbed circles on her skin making her feel relaxed and safe and as she stared up at the twinkling bulbs, she could only think of her kingdom.
She wondered what had happened yesterday and what was to come in the following. Did they know she was taken by the dragon king? Or are they assuming she had run away? Or maybe they believed she had truly died in some freak accident where her carriage had been attacked and exploded, leaving her in a pile of ashes. Or maybe she was—
"Princess," Natsu's voice brought her back from her inner-rambles and she turned to face him. "What is bothering you? You are squeezing my hand a bit tightly."
She felt her cheeks bloom in color and she tried to pull her hand away but his own tightened around hers.
"Do not pull away from me," he said, placing his other hand on top of hers to sandwich it between his. "Speak to me, princess, do not be afraid to speak your mind here. I promise nobody will ever hurt or reprimand you here. Remember, you are royalty and you must speak with your head held high and with purpose."
"I—" she stammered, unsure how to feel about all of this while she swallowed thickly. "I was just thinking… what is going to happen now?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean… me… you… my kingdom… your kingdom… what are we going to do?"
Natsu was silent as if he was thinking and he hummed, turning his attention back to the skies where soft orange and yellow hues began to paint the dark sky. Lucy felt more anxious the longer he was quiet and she was unsure why he had to even think about it. Did he truly execute this plan without thinking? She was beginning to feel worried all over again.
"I know you have a lot of questions and concerns but I wish for you to not think of such matters."
"How could I not?" Lucy finally had a chance to pull her hand away from his and huffed slightly. "That is all I can think about. I was supposed to be wedded yesterday but I was taken and now with the wrath of the Duke and my own father—"
"You should not worry about things you do not have control over." Natsu shook his head and Lucy frowned, seeing how he was brushing it off so casually. "I will have everything handled so do not fret, my star."
Lucy wanted to actually fret about this matter. Being in the dark was no fun and she was always left out of things back at her own kingdom, especially since she was always tossed around like the perfect doll. She wanted to have a say in things and be asked what her own opinions were and even though this wasn't her kingdom, she felt like she should at least be allowed to know what was going to happen.
Especially since now that she was living at the Dragon kingdom.
But instead, being afraid to speak up for herself when it mattered the most, Lucy could only simply bite her tongue and dip her head down, listening to those who were higher status.
She was just worried about her kingdom. Worried about those she left behind and worried for the future as she had now been stolen away from another man.
She didn't think Natsu would keep her in the dark but she knew he was just trying to protect her and her peace of mind. But how could she be at peace when she knows the craziness that was probably being stirred up back at home.
What was the duke doing? Was he furious? Could he have taken it out on the people and kingdom? What was her king thinking? What was the queen thinking? Were they planning on taking her back if they were aware of her situation? Would they dare fight the dragons?
Her hands fisted into the fabric of her nightgown and she felt the heaviness of her stress bringing her down and she didn't even hear Natsu get up till he was kneeling down in front of her. She was surprised to see his colorful hair come in her vision and as she looked up, the sun began to peek over from the horizon.
"Do not be upset with me, princess," he murmured, grabbing her hands again to hold them in his large ones. "I just do not wish to stress you out with all of this. I wish to take care of you and want only the best for you," he gazed up at her lovingly, bringing her hand to his lips to plant a soft kiss on the back of her palms. "So do not be so upset. I am not going to withhold any information from you if you truly want to know."
Lucy worried her bottom lip with her teeth, unsure how to speak out about her desires when she was not used to having the room to. Natsu was giving her a choice here and as easy as it was to say yes, it was hard for her to even say anything.
"I…" her voice was a rasp and she cleared her throat, dipping her gaze down to stare at their conjoined hands. She fiddled with their hands, feeling anxious. "I… wish to know."
A soft sigh escaped Natsu's lips and she knew that was not what he wanted to hear but he took it a lot better than anyone else she had known. She was half-expecting him to scowl or yell at her or even completely ignore her request but he simply just gave her a tight lipped smile as if he was in pain. He stood back up, dropping her hands and looking down at her with a pinched expression. He ran a hand through his messy locks and as he twisted to watch the sun rising higher in the sky, he looked back at her.
"Okay," he finally said softly. "I will tell you but can you promise me you will not be so upset?"
"Will there be a reason for me to be upset?" She reached for his hand when he held it out and he lifted her out of her seat, bringing her close to his body. Her cheeks warmed as she shyly looked up at him, seeing how a warm smile spread across his lips.
"With you, who knows?" He cracked a playful smirk her way and she pouted. "Come. Let us get dressed and ready for the day and I will inform you of anything and everything you desire."
Lucy beamed, following him back inside. She was excited to finally be a part of everything and while she was somewhat in the loop back at her own kingdom since she had a duty to withhold, she was still kept away from what truly mattered. Especially when there was something important going on, she was the last to know.
Even if she may be the last to know about what was to happen or what was going on, she was happy to know that at least Natsu won't hide anything from her. He was kind and thoughtful in that way where he knew she would be a ball of anxiety if she was kept in the dark for too long.
Especially when this particular disaster was pertaining to her disappearance and Natsu's act of treason against her own kingdom.
Natsu had once again left her in her own chambers to get ready, claiming he will return once he got his own belongings set straight. Lucy was a bit grateful to have the alone time to marinate in her own feelings and thoughts, trying to cast away the jitters from her earlier nightmare.
In the last twenty four, well really forty eight hours, she had endured such a roller coaster of emotions and events.
From being attacked by the duke to being captured by the dragon king on her own wedding day, Lucy could already feel how tired she truly was. Even though she was fed a hearty meal, healed magically, and rested, she could still feel how drained her body was from the days or even weeks of heartache and abuse.
She still felt as if her body was in fight or flight mode and she was feeling nervous. It was most likely because of how she was raised and being in a foreign kingdom with a man she had only known for a short amount of time but she still couldn't shake off the feeling.
Even though she didn't want to think about any of this and be kept in a bubble to heal and grow, she knew she wouldn't be able to do anything else till she was well informed of what would become of her future.
She didn't even know what Natsu wanted to do with her, what her purpose was.
Lucy did not want to ask the dragon king if she could still be his queen or if he was still considering it. She felt like she was not worthy of it then so how could she be now?
Natsu had not even touched her like that since they had reunited and she felt as if he was somewhat disgusted by how she looked. It had been a bit since she had seen him and she had dropped a lot of weight to the point she looked almost like a skeleton. She remembered how he mentioned he liked more meat on his 'meals' and she was certainly not the same weight she was when she had first encountered Natsu all those months ago.
But that was sort of his fault for abandoning her so abruptly.
And it wasn't like her only goal was to bed the dragon king, no matter how good it feels or how much she wanted it, she did not want to be the one to pull the first move and embarrass herself. Natsu would have done something by now if he truly wanted to and maybe it really was because of how she looked because she didn't even find herself beautiful anymore.
Looking back at her reflection, Lucy could still see the dull, frail princess looking back at her. Color had returned back to her face just a bit but it was probably because the dragon king kept her flushed with his gestures and words.
Her collarbones were protruding out more than usual, her ribs could nearly be traced within her torso and her wrists were so small, she could wrap her hand around it with room leftover.
It made her sad to see how thin she had gotten, especially since she knew this was not ideal in anyone's eyes. No matter how skinny she was, it would never be enough for those back at her kingdom. Especially having breasts like hers, she looked almost disproportionate and scary, with a bobble head like hers and massive breasts on such a skinny body, Lucy realized why the dragon king wouldn't want to touch her when she was like this.
Leaving her long golden hair down since she did not have any experience nor tools to do her hair, Lucy rummaged through the dresser to find something appropriate to wear. But seeing how the dresser only had nightgowns and underwear, the princess was a bit confused as she tried to find a day dress.
She whirled around, trying to see if there was yet another hidden door she may have missed last night and when her eyes pinned on the door beside her bed, Lucy went straight for it.
Not knowing what could be behind the door, Lucy hoped it was a closet and silently cheered when she was right.
Entering into the massive closet, Lucy was in awe of how big the space was. Especially with all the clothes that hung, the princess' eyes were wide, taking in the beauty of the many gowns and cloaks that hung against the walls.
And seeing how it wasn't just the red, gold, white, and black colors the dragons liked the most, there were in various colors of pastels that she actually liked more. Pinks, blues, purples, and yellows being such a stark contrast to the dark walls and colors.
It made her cheeks warm and a smile tugged on her lips, remembering how Natsu had told her he had clothes made specifically for her.
He must have remembered what she liked to wear and what colors she liked and had these prepared for her so she didn't have to be forced to wear colors she did not like. But it wasn't like she did not like the other colors, especially since they now reminded her of a certain someone, she actually thought she looked good in the dragon's colors and clothes.
So wanting to be more open and possibly please Natsu, Lucy opted for a darker colored dress, shifting through the ones that were hanging.
The only issue she had with the clothes that were made here was the fact it was so promiscuous. With such low necklines and slits and lace, the gowns were nothing like the ones she wore back at home with more coverage and more of a modest cut.
Lucy blushed when she saw one gown that had an open back with a plunging neckline and she wondered when or where she could even wear something like this. Could she wear something like this around or was this something Natsu had just made for his eyes only?
Shoving the fabric back on the rack, Lucy quickly decided to grab for a black gown. It was strapless with puffed sleeves that hung off her shoulders, the long satin reaching down to the floor. It was a bit hard wrestling herself into the clothes since she was not used to doing such things on her own and she was huffing and red to the face by the time she had the gown on. She took a good ten minutes twisting and turning, trying to zip up the material.
By the time she was done with her dress, she was feeling naked with the lack of makeup and accessories. She was used to wearing such things on her body and she regretted leaving behind the gifts the dragon king had given her. She didn't think she would still be alive today so they were all left behind in her chambers.
Surely, the dragon king wouldn't mind her bare face and body? He would have kept things for her if he truly wanted her to be dolled up. He didn't even have shoes for her so it made her wonder if he just wanted her to wear the same ones she had on last night.
Walking out of her closet to hunt down the pair Natsu had her wear yesterday, she was surprised to be greeted with the sight of the dragon king already there. He looked rather dashing in his black and gold encrusted blazer, a white tunic underneath it with her knitted scarf wrapped around his waist. He had two boxes, one smaller and one bigger, in his hands and when he turned to look at her, his eyes widened.
It made her flush at the look he gave her and she approached him shyly, feeling bashful. "How do I look?"
"You are the most beautiful woman in all of earthland." His response came out in a breathless tone and she felt her face grow hotter. He held his hand out towards her and she reached for it, having him reel her into his embrace. Having his hand cup at her face, Lucy leaned into the large warm palm of her lover and glanced up at him through her lashes, the corners of her lips curling upwards as he did the same. "So beautiful…"
Lucy could only smile bashfully in response as he leaned in to plant a soft kiss against her forehead. She really wanted to feel his lips on hers and have him take her breath away but decided against saying or doing anything about it as he took a step back from her.
"I got you something and I think it'll go perfect with the gown you are wearing," he brought the box back into his hands after having it tucked in his side. Lucy looked down at his hands to see him tuck the smaller one back against his arm, holding out the bigger one first where he removed the lid. "First, shoes for my lady," he presented her shiny pointed toe black heels with crimson painted on the underside of the heels.
Lucy's eyebrows jumped up at the sight, eyes widening at the beautiful and sleek style of shoes.
"Come," he reached for her hand to pull her towards the table and chairs. "Allow me." He gave her a grin, having her sit down. Her blush remained the entire time, her hands squeezing the arm rest to ground her as Natsu knelt down in front of her. He pushed up the skirt of her dress to grab at her ankle, bringing her bare feet over to his lap. His hand was warm and felt so large against her small feet, seeing how he so delicately put the heels on for her.
Lucy held her foot up and stared at the shoe on her foot, surprised that they fit so well and liking how they looked. She did not think she even owned a pair of black heels in her life and she was beginning to wonder why since they looked so good.
"You are truly magnificent, princess," Natsu purred at her, his hand running up her calf. It sent a shiver down her spine and she was looking at the smirking dragon king with a red face. "You look so beautiful in my kingdom's colors and clothes."
"It is simply because of your sense of fashion and style, my lord, everything you have gifted me is just so beautiful."
"It is most beautiful because you are the one to wear them, my star." He leaned down her kiss her bare ankle and she felt as if she was melting right before him. "I still have one more to give you." He stood back up and that was when she remembered the other smaller box he held. He opened the top up to present right towards her a beautiful ruby red necklace with a large jewel in the middle, dangling from a longer chain while smaller rubies and diamonds sat beside the large one, running all up the dainty chain. There were even a pair of earrings with the same ruby red jewel inside, pairing it nicely with the necklace.
Lucy was gawking at the sight, bringing one hand to place over her gaping mouth while she stared at the accessories.
"Natsu… This…" she was speechless, unable to form the words of her gratitude and shock. "I… this is too extravagant for me."
"Nonsense," he waved her off, plucking the necklace out of the box while setting it down on the table. "It will suit you and this dress perfectly." He came behind her, brushing her locks away. Lucy sat as still as she could, feeling nervous about the situation. She watched Natsu's arms come around her till he was bringing the necklace over her, clipping the piece on easily where it hung off her neck in such an elegant way.
He came back to face her, taking in her appearance and she felt even more flustered when he gave her a wide grin with his own cheeks dusted pink.
"Absolutely stunning. Would you like to see for yourself?"
Lucy nodded slowly, reaching for his extended hand once again as he helped her to her feet. Lucy had to brace herself against him, trying to get used to her heels and adjusting her feet so they were comfortably set in. Having Natsu bring her over towards the bathroom where he flicked the light on, Lucy was surprised to see what type of reflection she was looking at.
Was this really the same person that was staring back at her just moments ago before she was dressed and bathed?
With her pale skin being such a contrast to the black, Lucy looked beautifully flushed with her cheeks painted red. And then the necklace allowed such a pop of color, it actually made her seem a bit more natural and feminine, masking the discoloration and her insecurities away.
The dress was a bit bigger around her waist but fit her perfectly around her chest which held it up.
Natsu had disappeared and returned in the few seconds she was busy staring at herself and he held out the earrings for her. With shaky hands, Lucy finished off her day look with the ruby red earrings dangling from her ears and neck.
Natsu wrapped his strong arms around her tiny waist and placed his chin on her shoulder, smiling at her through the mirror.
"Didn't I tell you? Absolutely stunning."
Lucy could feel his words piercing through her and she felt a bit confident with his encouragement. Spinning in her spot, she turned to face the dragon king. Her arms came to his shoulders to wrap around while his own stayed around her hips, a soft smile on his full lips.
"Thank you," she said in a mere hush, looking up at him through her lashes. "I am forever in your debt."
"You do not owe me anything," he declared, one hand coming up to cup the side of her face once again. "Just be happy and live on for me, my star."
Lucy didn't know what possessed her to act so brazen but all she wanted to do was to be kissed by the dragon king. So she leaned in to press her lips against his where she could feel him kiss her back almost instantly. Her entire body melted into goo, feeling the warmth rush through her body as if he had injected her body with fire.
The kiss was soft and gentle, nobody wanting to deepen it or push their limits.
It was more of a thank you and a good greeting from the princess as she pulled away as fast as she leaned in, bashfully looking at the dragon king who was giving her the same bashful grin.
"Breakfast?"
Lucy followed Natsu down the massive halls where her hand never left his. He made sure to hold onto it tightly as they walked, small talk being exchanged back and forth during the trip. The walk was short or maybe it was because she was engaged in small talk that she did not realize how far they had walked but as soon as they came towards double doors, Natsu pushed the dark wood back where they entered into a massive room. She recognized it as the place Natsu had landed in when they had first arrived yesterday but she thought this was his chambers.
Realizing there was a breakfast spread out with a larger table placed in the room, Natsu guided her towards the table, having her sit down on one of the chairs while he sat right beside her. There were eggs, seared meat, fruit, and all sorts of refreshments littered on the table. Rolls with butter and jam placed out in a basket. Two sets of cutlery and plates set out for the two.
"I thought this was your chambers." Lucy said as Natsu began to pour a cup of tea for the both of them.
"Sort of," he shrugged one shoulder, setting the kettle down. "I can get to my chambers from here but also many other rooms. If you remember, this is where we landed yesterday."
"Yes, I am aware of that," Lucy moved forward to pluck a grape from a vine when she noticed Natsu sat with his hands on his lap, staring at her. She vaguely remembered his customs and knowing how Natsu was, he could inhale this entire spread himself, so she quickly dug in so he could eat as well. "So if this is not your chambers, what is it?"
"A drawing room if you like to call it that," he grabbed her plate instead of his, beginning to plate all sorts of things for her. "Like I said, I can enter into other rooms from here. I like to use it for my studies sometimes or host guests or even hide away."
Once satisfied, Natsu set down the very full plate of food in front of the princess. Lucy stared at it with wide eyes, seeing how much he had given her for their first meal of the day and she looked at him with squinted eyes as he avoided her glare. But she could clearly see how the corner of his mouth twitched in amusement, almost as if he was poking fun at her.
She simply huffed, ignoring the way Natsu was trying to hide his amusement and grabbed for her fork, stabbing into her eggs before shoving it into her mouth.
Natsu hummed in approval as he began to spread butter and jam onto a roll, tossing the baked good into his mouth.
"We have a busy day today, princess, I suggest you eat as much as you can to have the energy you need."
"Busy day?" Lucy echoed, holding her palm over her mouth to cover the chewed up food inside while speaking.
"Well, did you think I was going to just have you locked away in a tower and look pretty all day?" He teased, a smile curling to his lips while Lucy scowled at him. "Very dragon-like of me, is it not? Having a mighty fine princess in my possession—a princess I stole."
"Ah, yes, I suppose it won't be very different from the life I lived before."
At that, Natsu's smile slipped and Lucy regretted saying anything as he looked bummed about her comment. She set down her fork and gave him a look which he just shook his head to.
"Lucy, I know you are used to a very structured life where you do things people tell you to do. Afraid to speak up, afraid to eat, and hell, afraid to do anything without the consequences of those around you."
It was hard for Lucy to swallow as the sad harsh truth coming out of the dragon king's mouth pierced through her like an arrow.
"But you do not have to be like that here. I grant you the freedom and right to do whatever you please, as long as you are safe and happy, I wish to not restrict you to such matters."
"Then what is your plan for me?" Lucy asked, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion. "I cannot fathom the idea you did all this without proper planning and preparations."
"And you are correct, princess," Natsu brought his teacup to his lips, drinking from the hot liquid without blinking an eye. "During those three weeks I could not respond, I was preparing everything for your arrival."
"Why did you not tell me?" Lucy could feel her emotions from earlier days bubble back up, leaving her frowning. "You could have sent a letter or told Happy to come tell me."
"I realize my mistake now, so please do not be so harsh on me, my star. I regret it deeply and I will forever hold that burden that I have hurt you in ways I never thought I would."
The genuineness of his words made her feel warm again but she was still feeling stiff and anxious about everything else.
"Please, eat. You need to."
"I not too hungry—"
"I do not care," Natsu was quick to interrupt her, his own eyes casted down while he continued to pick at his plate. "You made a promise to me and you will continue to keep it."
Lucy bit down on her tongue as she remembered the dragon king asking her to eat everything he gave her as a promise to not open his mouth about their earlier encounters. But did that even apply now since she did not have to worry about anyone finding out about her sneaking out of the kingdom for a night out that one day?
But the thought of her breaking a promise with the rosy-haired king made her insides twist in discomfort so Lucy simply huffed out in annoyance before picking her fork up again.
"What are these preparations you have been so busy with?" She decided to keep pushing him, wanting to know more. "Did you always know you were going to do this?"
"To be honest, yes." Natsu said without any hesitation and it stunned her that he would so easily admit to his actions. She froze, looking up at him with wide eyes as he continued to sip his tea and look at her with a blank face. A small snort came from him as he set the cup down, looking back at her with a slight smile. "What? Thought I would say no?"
"Well," Lucy sputtered, feeling her cheeks heat up. "Well, yes." She admitted timidly. "You knew I was already set to marry and I openly stated that I chose…" Lucy trailed off, feeling that lump returning to her throat where it stopped her from easily speaking her mind. She could see Natsu's eyes darken at the mention of her choosing the duke over him and she cleared her throat, casting her eyes down to poke at the charred meat on her plate. "I just did not think you would still want me."
"I will always want you, Lucy." His large hand came over top of hers and she looked up to see him giving her a sincere look. "If you had shown me any signs of you truly wanting to marry the duke and wanting to live your life back at the Heartfillia kingdom, I wouldn't have taken such drastic measures into my hands. I would have allowed you to continue living the life you wanted but… that wasn't the life you wanted to live… was it?"
Lucy was silent as she stared at him, unable to find the voice to respond but simply nodding slowly.
"And when you continue to forward letters to me and see me… I just knew I had to take you. Even if it meant I had to take you against your will, I was not going to subject you to a life of misery."
A soft smile spread across her lips as she stared into the eyes of the dragon king. She could feel his emotions and the truth behind his words as he so fiercely declared his true motives. How could she have ever thought that he would have malicious intent towards her or her kingdom? How could she think Natsu had abandoned her and thought of her as a burden when all he had been doing was working so hard to save her from her life of exile.
But now her thoughts were drifting to her kingdom and how they must be since she had now gone missing.
"So now that you have executed your plan on kidnapping the princess, what are your plans moving forward?"
"Well," Natsu leaned back against his seat and she was surprised to see he had already cleared his plate while she wasn't even close to halfway done. "I am still working on that."
"And that means..?"
"It means the duke already knows that I am the one to take you."
Lucy sputtered out, nearly choking on a grape as she coughed violently. Natsu was moving to slap his hand against her back, trying to help clear her airways where Lucy gasped for air and quickly grabbed for her teacup, taking small sips of the hot liquid.
"P—pardon?" She squeaked out, eyes wide and face red from her earlier near-death experience. "The duke knows?"
"Of course he knows."
"How does he know?!"
Natsu quirked a brow at her, giving her a flat look as he continued to steal fruit from the massive plate on the table. "You really think the duke wouldn't immediately blame me for your disappearance?"
"B—but that does not mean he knows for sure you are the one to do it!"
"He knows." Natsu said once again, shoving yet another roll into his mouth while Lucy gawked at him.
He didn't seem bothered he had one of her most powerful saints pinned after him but for a dragon she supposed she wouldn't be afraid of a human, either. No matter how strong, Natsu could just probably transform and stomp on him in a matter of seconds.
Just how strong was Natsu?
"So what will happen?" She couldn't help but lean in, eyes wide.
"The duke isn't that stupid," Natsu scoffed, muttering a soft, "I hope," under his breath where Lucy caught it. "He won't storm over here unless he has a death wish. And obviously trying to blame the dragon king for kidnapping the princess will be pushed away considering how possessive the duke is of you. They would see it more as jealousy."
"So you're just counting on the kingdom to ignore duke Porla's accusations?"
"No, I know the kingdom won't ignore his cries forever but they will definitely investigate what happened but we should still have a couple weeks before they really start believing the duke."
"And what is going to happen if the king or the duke comes to the dragon kingdom demanding for me back?"
"Then they'll have to fight me." Natsu said so casually while continuing to eat, even taking some off her plate since she had been eating so slowly and little at a time.
The princess was in shambles as she stared at the dragon king, her jaw slack at the casual mention of him having to fight her own father and her ex-fiancé. She couldn't even imagine the can of worms that would be once they opened it and she wondered how wild their fight would be, how disastrous their magic was when used to their full potential.
Even being inside of a volcano and near the dragon king who was a walking furnace, Lucy shivered, feeling her skin prick in goosebumps and the fear of the unknown crawling up her spine.
"Please do not worry yourself over such matters," Natsu placed his hand on her thigh, ripping her attention away from her fear. "I will protect you. We all will protect you."
"How could you put your kingdom into such a position over me? How could you purposely start a war because of me?"
"I told you before and I will say it again," Natsu paused for a moment to catch her eye, showing her how sincere he was in his words. "I will do anything and everything in my power to ensure your safety and happiness, Lucy. I do not care if I have to fight kingdom after kingdom and go against everyone, I will protect you."
"But… but why?" She found herself whispering, stuck to her chair and frozen in place as he stared her down. "What is so special about me? Why do you… why do you want someone as broken and weak as me?"
"You are not broken or weak."
"But I am," she could feel the tears pricking at her eyes and as she brought her hand to her chest, she fisted her hands into the fabric while feeling her heart pound. "I cannot weld magic, I cannot speak up for the life of me, I cannot even eat without the fear of being overweight or chastised for my gluttony, nor could I even spend a day around you without breaking down. I am not ideal, I am not a princess worthy of her title nor crown. I am just a frail, stupid, weak woman."
Natsu shot out of his chair and Lucy was well aware the room had gotten hotter. The chair almost tipped back with how fast he stood, screeching against the floor. She flinched when he moved, seeing how he came right in front of her to kneel down once more.
There was such fierceness in his eyes, Lucy was afraid he was mad at her but as he reached for her hand, his touch was gentle and kind like it always had been. She allowed him to hold her hands in his, his dark eyes glistening with those golden specks behind his irises, the soft caress of his heat filling the air.
"You are not weak nor broken so stop saying that. As for everything else, you are learning how to weld your magic and learning how to eat again and speak. I told you I will help you and we will continue to practice so you can start." His hand gave hers a soft squeeze. "You will learn how to speak up and you will learn how to eat without feeling guilty. These are all things that were forced upon you since you were young so it is hard to break free from those chains but you will. I know you will. And I will be here with you, right by your side, supporting you in every way possible."
The tears were now falling from her orbs and as Natsu brushed them away, he never dropped his eye contact so she could see and feel how raw his emotions were.
"And to answer your question, it's really simple." The corner of his mouth tipped up, giving her a soft smile. "It's because I love you."
Love.
Natsu loves her.
And she loves him.
Oh how much she truly loved the dragon king.
Leaning forward, Lucy wrapped her arms around him to bring him into a hug. With how he was, his face just naturally went for her chest while she leaned hers on top of his. His arms were wrapped around her figure as well but with her seated and him kneeling, it was a bit awkward but she didn't care.
Natsu loves her and she loves him and he won't ever let anything bad happen to her, again. He won't abandon her and treat her like some kind of doll. He won't hit her or scream at her if she did something wrong nor would he force her to do anything she did not want to.
She was safe. She was now finally able to live a life without fear and she could only thank the dragon king for that.
"I love you," she whispered into the air, feeling his hair tickling her nose but not wanting to pull away from him. "Thank you for being… you. For loving me."
"As if it was my choice," Natsu replied and she knew he was smiling from how his tone was and she could only giggle in response. He pulled away from her, looking up into her puffy eyes but still looking at her as if she had hung the very moon for him. "I am afraid I have not been so honest with you, my star."
"What do you mean?"
Standing back up, Natsu returned to his seat but continued to hold onto her hand. It seemed as if he did not want to be too far away from her, always having his eyes or hands on her so she did not disappear.
"Eat," he urged her to do so and Lucy returned to her plate, picking up her fork with her free hand while Natsu leaned his head against hand. "The first night we met, at that summer festival," he began softly, watching her eat and trying his best to keep his voice down. "That wasn't the first time I have ever visited the Heartfillia kingdom and it wasn't the first time I have ever… met you."
At this, Lucy stopped chewing to look at him with wide eyes, disbelief flashing across her chocolate orbs but allowing him to continue.
"I have visited the Heartfillia kingdom a couple of times. For the last year, I did."
"How could you have when our borders were not open to you?"
"It's not that hard sneaking into your kingdom, especially since I can fly." He flashed her a wicked grin and she scrunched her face up at him. "I do not mean to upset or offend you in any way."
"I assure you, you have not nor will."
"Well," Natsu's eyes darted away from hers for a second to look off into some random direction and she felt her heart skip a beat.
Could Natsu have had intent in the beginning? Was he after something from the start?
"I originally came sneaking into your kingdom to spy," he admitted outloud where Lucy could only stare at him in shock. "Truthfully, us dragons, we were planning on coming in and taking your healing waters and land by force. We wanted to see what kind of kingdom it was, first, since we aren't savages. We won't take things by force unless we have to. And we didn't want to take something from a kingdom that was actually kind and proposering."
Lucy tried to think back on the many times she had been outside of the palace to see if she remembered anything about Natsu. Wondering if she had ever seen anything suspicious or seen someone with pink hair to think otherwise but she couldn't remember. She was never the one to be too cautious since she always had someone watching over her and she didn't think she would have to pinpoint anyone suspicious.
"It wasn't the first time I ever visited the kingdom but it was the second time when I had first laid my eyes upon you," His gaze softened and his hand gave her a squeeze, seeing how a natural smile spread on his lips. "You were wearing this beautiful pink gown, almost the color of my hair. That's what caught my eye. And your scent."
Lucy grew pink at the thought of the dragon king smelling her and she felt shy as he grinned at her.
"You smelt like… a garden of fresh flowers. Dressed in a pink gown that made you look like a flower. The first time I visited the Heartfillia kingdom was during the night, roaming the streets and trying to have a peek but the second time, I came during the day. To see how the citizens were and how your kingdom ran and that is when I saw you, walking around town with your help."
Lucy tried to think back on that specific day Natsu was talking about but with how she had been on autopilot for so many years, all her days kind of blurred together.
"I suppose you were out shopping that day but it was quite obvious you were the princess. With royal guards, your maids, and everyone treating you so sweetly, I knew you couldn't be someone with ill intentions towards her people. You always smiled at everyone and spoke to them like an equal and not as if you were their superior. And you were extremely kind and understanding. Even if a bunch of kids would run around, you wouldn't scowl at them nor shout, you would smile at them and let them be on their way."
Hearing Natsu speak about her in such a way only warmed her further, the princess slowly nibbling on her breakfast while he continued to tell his tale, his warm hand engulfing hers while rubbing circles on her skin.
"And I remember watching this one kid trip over your skirt and nearly tossed you to the ground with him. A bunch of guards came over and grabbed at him, thinking he was trying to hurt the princess and you broke it apart immediately. Shouting at the guards that it was not his fault and to let the poor boy go as he cried in the arms of your guards."
"Oh!" Lucy suddenly gasped, remembering what day he was talking about.
"Yes, my star, you are the sweetest fruit. You brushed his tears away, the dirt on his clothes, gave him a bag of apples and sweets, and even gave him a hug before you sent him away. I knew from that moment that I couldn't take your land away by force because I did not know if I could ever harm someone like you."
The story he told made her heart pound and her cheeks to warm, wide brown eyes staring back at him.
She wished she had known Natsu then and been able to see him like he saw her. She wished he could have come into her life that day and introduced himself but then again, he probably wouldn't have had the chance to if he was sneaking into her kingdom. She tried to think back if she could remember seeing someone like Natsu that day but all she could remember was the boy and the apples.
"And so I started coming back just to see you."
"Why did you never approach?"
"How could I?" Natsu let out a small huff, the king leaning back against his chair while keeping her hand in his. "I was a trespasser and not to mention a dragon in uncharted territory. That is why I requested an audience with the king and came formally for a possible treaty."
Lucy had noticed she had finished nearly her entire plate and she also had Natsu to thank for that since he had been picking off her plate. But she felt full and satisfied in her hunger and she was brewing with all this new information, she felt a bit restless.
"And then of course I stumble upon you trying to inhale a whole meat stand so I just knew we were meant to be."
Red painted across the princess' pale face and she scowled, yanking her hand back from his. "I was not!"
"Were, too."
"Not!"
"It's okay, princess, I know how much you enjoy your meat sticks. No shame in that." He tossed her a smirk, making her gawk at him.
Crossing her arms across her chest, Lucy twisted her head to the side to puff her cheeks out and huff. Natsu's soft chuckles filtered through her ear but the embarrassment in her swelled even further.
"If you are done, would you like to meet with my scholar? She had been very excited to finally meet you."
At this, Lucy snapped her head back to look at her lover and her eyes widened, her expression smoothing out. "Wait, the scholar who had been digging into my heritage? The same scholar?"
"Yes," Natsu snorted, seeing how excited she was growing. "Would you like to now or—"
"Yes!" Lucy immediately stood from her seat, her chair scraping across the floor. "Let's go!"
Natsu could only laugh at her eagerness, standing up to tower over the princess. He held his hand out for her and she reached for it again, smiling softly at one another.
"Let's go, princess. Let us learn some magic."