Seafarers

Chapter 10: Trouble

    (Diamond 💎)
I slowly walking down the streets of Hargeon, huge, overflowing paper shopping bags in my arms. I try desperately not to trip, but the large bags block my view of my feet. Like an idiot, I ignore the loud, trampling footsteps behind me, forgetting who I am and where I come from. Strong hands encased in metal grip my arms. I yelp and let my bags fall to the dusty, paved street. I look at the men, they wear long cloaks that are purple and yellow striped. They all hold spears and look extremely frightening. My whole body is quivering as I realize what's happening. I'm being taken home. Well, I'd hardly call that prison of a palace home. I think of my over-bearing father, of his cold eyes and colder expression. I hang my head as the guards drag me down the road. The sight of the guards and me, the lost princess who's face is plastered all around the town, is attracting onlookers. I can feel the eyes of the crowd that is now surrounding us, I can hear their hushed, gossiping voices. But I don't care. I have learned to tune out their whispers and ignore their stares. But I there are still eyes I can't ignore, voices I can't help but let float into my ears. Natsu and Happy. I turn my head slowly and see them staring at me, their mouths agape. I stop, my face burning red and my eyes widening as they snap me out of the thoughts that had allowed these men to drag me along. "NATSUUUU!!! HAAAAPY!" I scream, as I desperately try to break free from the men's iron grips.
I get yanked towards a large prison, screaming for my friends to come to my aid. They make a dash towards the swarm of guards surrounding me, swords out and slicing at the men with quick, precise accuracy. A fight breaks out. I realize the men who grabbed me in the streets never took my sword. I slide it out of its sheath with a loud, metallic whooosh. I turn towards a man close to me. He's large and broad, every ounce of his body ripples with muscles. I try to remember my sword training, not just the little practice I've had as a pirate, but the long hours I've had to suffer through as a princess.
I raise my sword steadily, all fear draining from my body as my training returns. I knock down the beast of a man in a few minutes. He doesn't get up. I look up to see Natsu staring at me in wonder, a slight blush painted across his cheek bones. Why is he so astonished? I think to myself, looking at the entire group of men laying dazed on the ground. I sigh and close my eyes. I know I'll have to explain this to him somehow. I'll have to tell him who I am. I'll have to tell him where I came from. At some point the color must have drained from my face because Natsu was standing in front of me, looking concerned. "Lucy? Are you ok? Did they hurt you?" I hear him say, yet his voice feels like it's coming from miles away instead of a few feet in front of me. Thoughts buzz around in my mind like bees in a hive. What if he thinks I'll endanger everyone? What if everyone thinks they'll get caught because of me? What if they turn me in? What if I lose the only family I've ever had? I feel tears run down my face as my vision blurs from worry and the water streaming from my eyes as the most terrifying thought enters my mind. I'll be back to my cruel, cold father and the man he'll force me to marry, the man I don't love. This last thought spins around in my mind like a boomerang, it blows away any other things in my mind until I can't think or feel or hear. I can only picture my father's icy glare and the face of my would-be husband. My whole body numbs as my brain shuts down, causing the world around me to go dark.