The Princess's Protector

Chapter 14: Mission: probably possible...

SO YEAH I FOUND MY PLOT OUTLINE so here is your chapter (extra long) as promised :3

Erza had always traveled fast, but the distance from Magnolia to the Royal Castle was far too great to complete in just one day. Unfortunately, to stay out of the radar of Zeref or any of his followers, Erza had to follow the path the Prince had described to her, the one he had used to get to Magnolia in the first place.

The bright orange of the setting sun also lit the Captain's red hair ablaze against the dull brown of the receding, green landscape. Each long stride brought her one step closer to the castle--and to her purpose.

She'd left extremely early this morning to take advantage of as much daylight as she could, and hopefully reach the landmark Natsu had described to her.

And there it stood.

Like a paradise in the midst of the desert, the inn stood out dark and brown against the green of the grass and the dirt surrounding it. Only the yellow glow of warm light pooling from a front-room window marked where Erza might begin to look for a front door.

Though Natsu said that the inn keeper of the establishment was a gentle man, Erza still kept her guard up as she finally approached the inn's front door, entering the main foyer lit by fire magic candles and light fixtures.

No one was there except a very short man with a receding hairline, sitting behind a desk.

"One room?" He asked, politely, grabbing a key from behind him.

Erza swallowed. "Y-yes, please. Thank you."

The man nodded to her, accepting the money in her hand in exchange for the key he held.

"My name is Makarov, if you need anything. I'll be having dinner soon, and I seem to have made a lot more soup than I could eat all alone." He chuckled to himself, but kept himself busy while putting the money away.

"Thank you for the offer, but I should probably--"

But her stomach let out a mighty roar, and Makarov wouldn't take "no" for an answer after that.

After Erza had settled into her room, leaving behind all her luggage and excess weapons, she decided to keep her armor on; it comforted her.

Erza walked back into the main room and didn't see Makarov--

'Wait.'

'Wait just one minute.'

'Didn't Natsu say that the master of fairy tail was a very short and old man named Makarov?'

It couldn't be a coincid--'

"The kitchen is just through here" Makarov said, suddenly appearing from Erza's right. She followed him through the back for into the modest kitchen and sat across from the man.

The soup was hot and had delicious smelling tendrils of steam and odor rising up to meet Erza's nose.

"Thank you." She said, taking a tentative spoonful when all she wanted to do was eat until she exploded.

It had been a while since she had eaten a homemade meal.

Makarov let out a friendly laugh, and smiled at Erza. "It's my pleasure. Believe it or not, the occasional passer-by is always welcome at my inn."