Fire and Ice

Blonde Son

       [flashback over; back to present time]

                           ~Lucy's POV~

The scratch of pen to paper.
Ink gliding across the page as I wrote.

I was in my bed chambers. The room silent as I sat alone at the small wooden writing desk.

Natsu had left the castle about an hour ago and as every minute passed my worry grew.
News was sent to us earlier that they narrowed down the possibilities of where the Queen would be. I could only assume Nashi was not too from it all.

But I can't stop but wonder...
When will they be home?

I hope Natsu will be home safe, Nashi at his side.

I continued to record my day, trying to get my mind off of the worry. Getting anxious wasn't going to solve anything.
But moments after I began I heard a loud knocking on my door.

"Come in." I chirped in the direction of the door.

A maid with short curly brown hair quickly opened the door and scurried into the room.

"The Royals....they have returned." She huffed, trying to catch her breath.

I quickly stood up,
"Thank you young maiden." I hummed, smiling at the maid as I then rushed out the door.

They were home.
Home and hopefully safe.

I rushed through the halls and down the stairs the best I could in my long dress. I tripped on my high shoes a few times, hurting my ankles, but I didn't let it bother me.

Now on the ground floor I rushed to the main doors.

I wanted to see my dear daughter again.
Her innocent smiling shining up at me. I know she deserves more than this crooked family but I know, in due time, it will heal and we will all live happily one day.
The stresses of running a kingdom has just pressed down on Natsu and I. Running a kingdom and watching over a daughter was hard. Trying to keep your people happy as well as keep a smile on your daughter's face was demanding too much for the two of in these past few years.

When at the doors I had to soldiers kindly open them for me enough so I could go out.
As the men pulled the large doors open I hurried and ran out into the cold.

The breeze whipped gently through my hair as I rushed through the snow. Carriages were at the bottom of the large stone staircase I was traveling down. There I saw.....

Gray and Nashi.

Gray looked upset, in the snow, and crying. Nashi held him in his arms as he wept.
What was wrong?

I look to Natsu, almost half way done with my dissent, for answers. I locked eyes with him. But he didn't say anything to me as I neared him, all he didn't was change his gaze to something to his right.

When I saw what....or more like who....he was looking at.... I stopped.

It can't be.

The person standing next to Natsu was a blonde young man that looked a lot like..... no...

Before I even thought of stepping over to him or saying a word he began to walk up to me.
Stepping up to each step, making his way up to me.
Snow rested in his blonde hair as it covered his eyes.
Could it really be him?

"Hello...." he mumbled as he was a foot away from me, "mother."

I went stiff, silent from shock
It is him.
He's actually here.
My little Jude.
But....not little anymore.

Tears welded up in my eyes,
"J-Jude?" I questioned, not believe him presence being near me again.

"Yes, Mother, I'm here."

I stepped up to him and pulled him into my arms.

"I-I'm....I'm sorry!" I cried into his shoulder,
"I'm so sorry Jude!"

My heart ached of all the memories of my dear son Jude. The day we let go of him out of fear was the worst day of my life.
But I was now holding him in my arms. Having him in my embrace filled my heart with hope. A hope that our family has a second chance. Jude has come back to us and this time I am not letting him go.

"It's ok Mother. It's ok." He said kindly hugging me back.

I just held onto my son until someone took him out of my arms. My eyes looked to Jude's side, soldiers were there and one hand his hand on his shoulder.

"Take him away." I heard Gray say from just below the steps.

"Wait...wait....why?" I said looking from Jude to Gray.

"He was involve in the killing on my Queen and is to be trialled for what he has done." Gray said coldly.

My eyes grew wide at his words.
Juvia is.....dead?