Fire and Ice

Canceled Conflict

>Nashi's POV<

The halls had a warm yellow lighting. With all the candles lit, the halls were bright enough for me to get to my destination without getting too lost.

Talking with Asuka earlier really helped to clear my mind. After telling her what happened at the execution, it felt like this burden was lifted off my shoulders.
Her voice was calming and she listened to everything I told her.
Asuka seemed to ask more questions when I told her what happened with Storm. He was her kingdom's prince but she seemed to ask me more about what I was thinking when all of that happened to him.
I guess she could tell I really cared about him when I told her how upset I was when Gray pointed the sword at the prince's neck.

I was upset... I did care.
Almost too much.

When ever I think of Storm it's just... hard to explain. For what I know of him he is kind, humble, and strong but... if I was tested on the facts... I would fail.
I don't know I am so drawn to him then.
Is it because I like his appearance?
Or maybe because I like his soothing voice?
Or maybe...his eyes?

His sky blue eyes that are so open yet hold so much in. Like oceans with its clear surface but hidden secrets below.
The orbs that have seen so much and yet still hold innocence.
The eyes owned by a person I desire to get to know better.

I want to know what makes them angry and sad; the things that make them happy and laugh.
The things that make...him.
The Ice prince, Storm Fullbuster.

I broke way from my thoughts and refocused on my original thoughts.
I needed to get to the study.
But what was I going to exactly?

Everyone I have asked about this evening's event said that... it was important.
Nothing more. Nothing less.

I guess I could have questioned them more but I didn't. No more really needed to be said.
Curiosity was always present but something else was telling me to just go with it — Not to worry.

And now I'm here.
The middle story of the castle.

Now in the last hall I had to travel down I walked down until I reached the large study doors. They were a dark oak which muffled a few voices speaking on the other side of it.

I couldn't make out anything they were saying but I recognized the tone.
It was the royals.

I lightly knocked on the door and waited for a response.

"Who is it?" A clear voice asked.

"Nashi." I told the voice.

"You may enter."

Pulling on the metal handle, I slowly opened the big door so I could enter.

The room was brighter than the hallways I previously walked through. Because of the candle filled chandler and wall futures, the room was plenty lit in a warm yellow.
The walls were also incased with large bookshelves. Books, papers, and trinkets covered them all over.

But my new environment wasn't what was important right now.
This was a gathering of the royals.

Who was present in the study with me was My mother, my father, Lord Gray, and Storm.
The Ice king sat in a large, cushioned desk chair on the other side of a shimmering wooden desk. To his right sat Storm near the wall, sitting in a smaller chair.
My mother and father were seated on the other side of the desk that Lord Gray was at, which was the closest to me at the moment.

"Take a seat, Lady Nashi." The Ice king instructed humbly.

I ventured over to where my parents sat, shoes clicking against the wood floor as I advanced, and sat down in a chair between them.

"Now we can begin." The king said plainly.

Lord Gray cleared his throat as he opened one of his desk drawers.
"Thank you for coming this evening everyone." He began, "I have called you here because I need to address... information to the group."

"Ok, and what would that be?" My father mumbled almost impatiently. He was always tired at this time, it was made clear in this moment too.

"I will tell you." The Ice king said sourly.
"Letters," he mumbled as he pulled out several different colored envelopes from his desk drawer.
"They are addressed to 'Lady Juvia' and are from 'Wendy G. Marvell'."

Everyone in the room didn't say a word. We all waited for Lord Gray to go on.

"At first, the letters start off as simple conversations. Hellos, how are you, what's happening, but then it progresses. It seems that at the beginning Wendy was intent in speaking with Juvia but then it takes a turn." The Ice king informed us.
"The letters began to get frantic, quickly written, sloppy. The topics told were unclear from Wendy's side. It seemed that this was around the period she began to plan against this kingdom."

"How could you tell?" My father questioned curiously.

"Progressively, the letters began to talk about my family and how it functions. The details... are not important at the moment, but I will share where it lead to. In the last few letters, Wendy persuasively convinced Juvia to host a ball. It seemed with only two or three letters, my Queen was under the influence of Wendy for these ideas."
Again, no one spoke, and Lord Gray went on,
"I realized that under the influence of my wife, the ball that you had attended here in my kingdom was actually a wanted event by Wendy. One could only assume that it was needed for the taking of Princess Nashi.
I however, was not made known of this fact. It seems that I only assumed this request from my wife and not Wendy. But now my dear Juvia is gone because I was so blind."

"Gray that's not..."

"No it is all my fault. It all started with my unseeing eyes. But.... this leads into why I called you hear tonight." The king interjected, cutting off my father.
"Now that I have seen my mistakes I have discovered that the reason you traveled here was under the masked desire of Wendy."

He paused for a moment to clear his throat and then continued to say,
"I apologize for the trouble this kingdom has caused you. Our family's trials put your family in danger, Natsu. I've made the decision to lift all deal or promises between us. All trade affairs will still stand and no conflicts will arise, but you and your kingdom are no longer held to arrange marriages between our children."

Before anyone could speak I mumbled,
"What?"

I discovered that my eyes were enlarged from shock. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"Nashi dear, you need to respect Lord Gray's decision." My mother hummed, seated to my left.

Hearing her words, I chose to ignore them.
"I don't understand. The arrangement is canceled?"

I could tell my mother was going to speak again but the Ice king stepped up to plate first.
"This is correct, Princess Nashi. Once we hear word that the roads are clear for travel, you are free to go home."