Forbidden Mage

Chapter 11

Hey guys sorry for the wait but I'm just going to updated when I can. I really hope you like the chapter though!

Lucy held her breath as she stood waiting for her father's response to the question she has asked minutes ago. He was paying her no mind as staff and higher-ups rushed back and forth shoving all types of questions and documents into the King's face. "Father, I can come back another time..." Lucy meekly suggested looking up over at a few of the elderly councilmen standing at her father's side. She could tell she was not wanted but this wasn't much of a surprise considering she is meant to be confined to her room for most of the day.

"No no..." Jude finally spoke up, finishing up a document that was handed to him. "I'm sorry..." He rubbed the side of him temple, "What was the question again?"

Lucy bit her lip and tried to work up the courage to ask the daring question again. "I... I was just wondering if by chance there is an area of the castle that...that might have been changed or added on?" Lucy paused, giving her father sometime to answer. She kept her head low, not daring to meet his gaze as the silence continued.

"Why the sudden curiosity?" He questioned, holding his hand up and halting the next person coming his way. Lucy flinched and already felt her palms begin to sweat. "I-Uh...Well..." She trailed off and began scrambling through multiple different answers in her head without revealing that her true intention was a deep concern of whether or not Natsu was being sent to such an area as the one she saw when she went looking for him.

"Well, it's... uh just been so long since I've seen the full palace... and I'm just wondering if the palace I've been picturing in my head is the same as back when..." She glanced up at her mute father hesitating whether or not to advance with the sentence. "...Back when mother was around..."

An uneasy stillness consumed the hall as everyone was taken aback by the mention of the Queen. It had been years since the incident and everyone, including Lucy, knew never to bring up Lady Heartfilia, or that day, ever again. Lucy swore under her breath, knowing that it was a bad idea from the start. Jude eyed the room, pausing before ordering everyone to quickly resume their work. He focused back onto Lucy who was anxiously twiddling her thumbs. He let out a deep sigh, "Lucy much has changed since then. Times are different, and we all must adapt to the ever-changing world. So of course a few things would be altered."

Lucy stared up at her father, grateful that he did not reprimand her or send her straight to her room as he would usually do when she troubles him with questions as such. But that glee quickly faded as he continued on with his words.

"I will speak with you more on this matter later this evening..." He leaned back in his chair and motioned his hand towards the door.  "Now please, I am very pre-occupied as of right now." Lucy nodded slightly, curtsied and apologized for the interruption.

Once back in her room Lucy fell onto her bed face first. "Ahhhh..." she grunted. "What have I done?" She turned her head to lay onto her left cheek and stared at her window. It was almost sundown and the sky was a beautiful fiery orange. As of late this had been about the time Lucy would prepare to sneak out and visit Natsu, however with her father wanting to speak with her later she was stuck in her room once more.

"I guess I'm back to being the regular 'Caged Princess' tonight...Huh Plue?" She smiled, lifting her head and peeking over at Plue's hiding spot beneath the pile of stuffed animals.

"Plue Plue!" He quickly replied, wobbling over to the edge of the bed where Lucy lay. The blonde giggled and picked him up, turning herself onto her back and holding her little white friend above her. "Natsu is probably going to be mad that I'm not coming tonight." She smiled, already thinking about the amount of crap he'll give her tomorrow when she returns. "But you know what? He'll just have to deal for this one night." She winked, now trying to balance Plue on her feet. "Maybe I should start practicing the stance Natsu showed me yesterday while I wait for Father!" She gleamed up at Plue. "Plue Plue!" the little spirit nodded his head and waved his paws up and down. "I knew you'd think it was a good idea." Lucy giggled, propping Plue up on the bed and positioning herself between her bed frame and her mirror. "Now how was I supposed to angle my hips..." But the moment she recalled last night's events the thought of Natsu's hands firmly grasping her rushed into her mind and sent a deep flush up her entire face. "Oh God." She whimpered, staring at herself in the mirror.

"What am I thinking!?"

Natsu sat in his normal spot against the wall as he waited for Lucy. She seemed to be later than usual but he didn't really know because he'd lost his sense of time or day down in the prison. He played with a few pebbles down by his feet, kicking them from one foot to the other.

"Uugggghhh" He grunted aloud. "Where the fuck is she!? It's so boring down here!" He glanced outside his cell where she would sit and read her book. He felt a small smile creep up as he pictured her getting mad or flustered after he would tease her. But he couldn't help it! Something about her reactions always made it so much fun to mess with her. He chuckled to himself as he let his mind roam. The blonde always lifted his spirits despite him being held captive in this shit hole. She was loud and whiney but yet kind and caring. She piqued his interest; he wanted to know more about her, but every time he tried to dig deep and get some information out of her, she would change to subject or lie. So for now, they continue to stay strangers.

'Maybe that's why she was uncomfortable yesterday.' He suggested to himself thinking back to when he carelessly grabbed ahold of her. I mean who wouldn't be? He was a prisoner in the castle she...worked at? Lived at? Either way Natsu came to the conclusion that Lucy wouldn't be coming for the night.

Natsu sighed and laid flat on his back. "Damn. I guess I kinda miss her..." he huffed. But he knew there was no kinda about it. He DID miss her. Her nagging at him every other minute, constantly trying to get him to quiet down but only adding in with her own barking, the both of them messing around with each other and laughing until stomachs hurt. Her laugh...He could hear it as clear as day; it was so sweet and blissful to his ears. And let's not forget the smile to match, a smile that would brighten anyone's day. Everything about her seemed to drive him crazy. From her perfect curves, to her vast chocolate eyes, and up to her golden blonde hair. He had only known her for a couple of weeks and this woman was already running through his mind 24/7. To Lucy the two may be strangers but for Natsu things were different. Although they don't know much about each other he still sees her as a friend.

"Fuck..." He growled, covering his face with his palms as he tried to get rid of the flimsy smile that had grown on his face just thinking about her. "You have more important things to think about right now..."

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