Dark rain clouds had made themselves comfortable over the kingdom, not long after Lisanna had been taken by the psychotic prince. I had spoken to the Knights with Natsu, and I clutched onto every fiber of hope I could muster up. He had taken out a few knights upon her kidnapping, using vile poisons to sweep her protection and make her disappear into the night. No one had anticipated him returning after his escape, which made Lisanna's disappearance all the more shocking. 

As time passed however, everyone began to further doubt that we would find her alive.

"Mother..." I spoke aloud, barely a whisper above the rain that came down around the gazebo in which I stood. The same one I had first come to know Lisanna at. "Please, bring her home."

I looked out into the falling rain, over the rolling hills and vast tree lines. Part of me wondered if she was just over those hills, waiting anxiously to be saved. I audibly sighed, leaning myself against one of the gazebo posts. It was absolute agony, waiting. It left me far too distracted to focus on any work, no matter how much effort I gave.

It conversely left me with too much time to think about her, and where she could be. What state she was in. The emptiness gave me too much time to contemplate if she was even still alive. My heart clenched at the thought, every time.

This was also an opportunity to ponder the conversation I had with Natsu, about how he felt. Thinking about it sent different swirls of emotions rushing through me, torrents beating on the walls of my chest. Though a small part of me wished I could deny it, I had begun to care for him during my time here as well. Despite our rocky beginnings, I was catching glimpses into his life, clues that showed me just why he made the choices he had. The choice he made when he brought me here, a choice that laid the groundwork to my friendship with Lis.

Tears began sliding down my cheeks as the torrents of emotions overwhelmed me. I was unsure about how to handle them, and I was even more unsure of how to express them.

"I can never tell him that I care for him," my voice cracks slightly, looking out again over the hills. "Oh Lis, I wish you were here to talk to. I miss you so much that it hurts." I began to cry harder. I hadn't allowed myself to cry recently, but now the tears flowed as if they would never cease. She hadn't done anything to deserve such a twisted fate and my heart ached for her. Part of me wished for Levy, and her comforting presence, and though I knew if I asked for her Natsu would bring her I didn't want to burden her with this sadness as well. I'd feel guilty about giving any of my problems to her.

Okay, I can not let myself get too emotional. As I tried to calm myself down, I dried my face and did my best to compose myself. I knew I'd have to get back to studying, and it would be a good distraction for me once I regained focus. After finally regaining my composure, I took a few deep and calming breaths before turning to make my way back up to the castle.

I made a run for it in the rain, and even though I had moved as quickly as I could I was still soaked when I reached the door, so I quickly opened it and nearly leaped inside. Natsu passed the corridor in which I stood and though he was engaged in conversation with one of his father's advisors, he caught sight of me and excused himself. Quickly I made my way towards the other end of the hall, but Natsu easily caught up to me.

"Lucy," he greeted me as he gently grabbed my arm by my elbow. I slowed but did not stop, my wet clothes were doing me no favors when it came to warmth.

"Natsu, I really can't talk now, if you hadn't noticed I need a change of clothes," I tell him, glancing at him momentarily. In that glance, I had seen him looking me over, and blood rushed to my cheeks when I realized that my corset was showing through the fabric of my dress. "If you could keep your eyes elsewhere that would be greatly appreciated," I comment in a quiet voice.

By now we had reached a staircase and he did not speak, but simply walked slightly ahead of me with his hand still on my arm. I was confused by this behavior, but I felt no real need to question or deny it. My heart, however, was leaping about in my chest. He leads me all the way up the staircase and he walked with me to my room.

"Thank you for the... escort." I nod to him slightly and turn to enter my room but he stops me.

"Let me help you," he says quietly, and color rushes to my face.

"Wha-" he claps his hand over my mouth to muffle me.

"Your attendants are occupied currently. I am only helping you with what you cannot do alone, I promise."

I stare at him for a moment and then I let him in. I said nothing to him as he unlaced the back of my dress, which was clinging to my skin. He helped me peel it away and he hung it over a chair while I fidgeted with the strings of my corset. I wanted to get into new clothes quickly now since I was only in undergarments.

"You don't need to rush Lucy, I have no ill intention," Natsu says from behind me, his warm breath tickling my skin. Goosebumps erupt up and down my arms and I stay quiet as he unties my corset and undergarments.

"Okay, I'll turn away while you redress yourself in undergarments. I'll help you tie them when you're ready," he tells me.

"Okay," I reply softly, startling myself at how quiet I sounded. He was being very polite, and I couldn't help but glance over at him a few times while I changed. He helped me lace up my clothes, and he helped me to dry my hair. I braided it and then he took the wet clothing to another servant to take elsewhere. While he was away I considered the possibility he was doing this out of kindness, considering the current situation we were dealing with. I sighed, telling myself that was all it was.

"Alright," Natsu sighs,as he reenters my room. "Now, it's back to waiting."

"This is awful," I shake my head. "I just wish we had an answer."

"Me too, Lucy. Then again, I believe we all want one," he nods.

It is not long after this that we hear a commotion in the front of the castle, and Natsu and I rush to see what it could be. At the front of the castle we stop before a large window that overlooks the front entrance to the castle courtyard.

The Knights had returned! I looked at Natsu and he hurried out to meet them, an umbrella in hand. They seemed to stay and talk for a while, and then I saw Natsu run his hand through his hair and shake his head. He says a few things to them and then he turns and hurries back. My heart flutters with nerves.

"What did they tell you?" I ask him, grabbing his wrist.

He looks at me and says nothing for a moment before shaking his head.

"They found her body just outside the town. We will send her body to her family and let them grieve her how they wish," his voice is solemn. My heart sinks.

"What...what about, him?"

"They found him not long after but he ran, they aren't entirely sure where he went but he came in the direction of the castle so we are going to increase security. I want you to stay with me at all times now, okay?"

I pause, but then I nod. "What now?"

"Now, we grieve for Lisanna, and we find the prince. And then we make him pay," his voice is firm and he grips my hand. I swipe at a few loose tears, and upon seeing that Natsu wraps me up into a hug.

"I'm sorry we couldn't save her," he whispers. I do not respond. I just cry silently into him before regaining control and walking with him to meet with his parents and inform them of the situation.

After we completed this he takes me to the library. "Try to keep yourself busy, it may help."

I try to focus on work but it only works for a short period of time. Eventually, I stand.

"I think I need a drink," I mumble and head for the library doors when they fling open. I shriek when my eyes land on the prince that killed Lisanna, standing in the doorway. His eyes flashed like a wild animal's. He was dirty, his clothes torn and bloody and his hair wildly disheveled.

"Natsu!" I exclaimed as the wild prince leaped at me. I turned to dodge and I heard Natsu shout for guards. I spot a letter opener on my desk and I lunge for it and hold it before me with shaky hands.

"Another tiny girl to play with sounds thrilling!" The prince cackles and races towards me. I feel a hand wrap around mine, which is holding the sharp letter opener. I realize it is Natsu trying to slip it from my hand but the prince is too close now and instead, we both use it to stab the prince in the heart.

He falls to the ground and Natsu pulls the letter opener from his chest. He coughs and sputters as the Knights rush in.

"Imagine that," he laughs, "killed by a little girl and her prince by a letter opener." He laughs uncontrollably until he can no longer, coughing and choking to death on his own blood. The Knights remove him and I stare at my hand which had a few spots of blood dotting it. I look over at Natsu with wild eyes.

"I... we... just killed him," I stutter as my body begins to tremble. Natsu quickly begins to pull me from the room as the guards take care of the body.

Natsu is walking me out as he tells me that things will be okay, we were just defending ourselves. "There is no need to worry."

"Doesn't this make us just as bad as him?" I question and Natsu quickly shakes his head.

"You are clearly distressed, you feel remorse for killing a man who deserved far worse than death. He revels in death, where you mourn." By now we have reached a washroom and Natsu helps me clean the blood from my hands.

"What do we do now?" I ask him. He sighs and stares into the water basin.

"Now, we prepare to attend her funeral. Then, we continue on with our lives as normal, playing our parts to the best of our ability." He looks at me with sadness in his eyes. I lean against him, squeezing his arm in an attempt to comfort him.

I thought to myself, as we stood in the empty washroom together quietly, that I had vastly underestimated the lives of the elite, and that there may be much more to it than I had first come to believe. Eventually, we left the room and met again with Natsu's parents who had already passed Lisanna's body off to her parents for arrangements to be made. Natsu's mother looked at me as we spoke.

"Please, do your best to help my son through these trying times," she requested and I nodded, bowing slightly.

"Certainly, your majesty."

___

this is all sad, but i promise more lighthearted content is coming soon! i have a lot of new ideas for this work and i can not wait to get to writing them! i hope you all enjoyed this book, and thank you all who have stayed with it through all of the long waits. i apprecaite you more than you know! until next chapter ...

-kels [9:38pm]