Dragon's Requiem

Away We Go

          The week drags on and I've been preparing to leave. Levy has been fighting with Gajeel lately, and she has sought asylum in my room, a few nights. She complains about his pig-headedness and his "utter disrespect for what anyone else thinks." The night before we are to leave, I try and calm her down, but she goes off on a rant, shoves her face in a book roll, and ignores me for a while. Then, after she's blown off some steam and sped through a few yards of papyrus, she apologizes. I tell her that she really should be spending her last night with Gajeel and she sighs.

          "I know I should and you have no idea how much I would like to, but... he and I need time to cool off and I would be afraid that we would just start fighting again." She sets the scroll on her lap and stares at it for a moment, lost in some thought or idea. 

          "You should take the chance, for him at least. If you don't come back or if something happens to him, while you're gone, someone is going to be regretting this night and the fact that they didn't spend it with the one they hold most dear," I tell her. She looks at me with glassy eyes and I feel a pain in my chest. "I hold that last night with Natsu close to my heart, because that was the last time I saw him. Don't let the last time you see Gajeel, before you leave, be with him scowling and both of you angry. He'll be sad to see you go, but he will understand. You're his wife, after all." I place my hand on Levy's shoulder. She looks me in the eyes but she doesn't seem to have found any relief. She just looks more confused.

          "Lucy... do you think that Gajeel and I into rushed things?" Levy asks solemnly, searching my face for some answer to her question. 

          I shake my head and tell her, "No. I think you too are still just coming to terms with the fact that there's nothing to come between you. I still remember the day, long ago, when you visited me. I was still living in the cavern, then, and it was long before I met Natsu. You came running in, apologizing for being so late. Told me that you were taking care of a boy. I asked if you cared for him and you got all flustered and told me that you had a small crush om him, but that he was so far below your status that he would never be aloud your hand and he would never look to steal you from your station, because he was a soldier and a man of honor. 

          "You came back to me a month later and told me that you kissed him and that he agreed to let you make the decision to be with him. Now, you both need to realize that you can both make decisions but that they are a group effort and the only thing that stands between you is in your imagination. Now, go. Spend your last night with Gajeel and let him know that you are still the woman who left her ivory tower for him." Levy's face brightens and she wipes away the tear that was forming in her eye.

          "You're right. I'll just go in, tell him that I'm not going to fight him, and enjoy our last night." We exchange smiles and she hugs me for a moment. "Thanks, Lu. I'll see you in the morning." She disappears from my room, scroll in hand, and I hear her door open and close. With Cassian fed and asleep and a long road ahead of us, tomorrow, I blow out the candle on my bedside table and pull the blanket over my shoulders. I listen to my baby's breathing and the sounds of the rain, outside, but I takes me a while to get any rest. I eventually call Lyra, the harp, to lull me to sleep. She is all too grateful, being a spirit that I hardly ever use, except for when Cassian or Rohan, especially Rohan, needs to be quieted down. She absolutely loves those two.

          In the morning, Gray wakes me. For a second, I thought it was Natsu, but was disappointed to find the face and raven hair of my half-brother-in-law. Although, I am thankful for him. He let me sleep and took care of all of the farm work. He said that it was the least he could do for me, but that he had no trouble. It gave him something to do and he was able to instruct Gajeel on how to care for the farm while I was away. With me gone and having no idea for how long, plus with them in my debt for losing Natsu, Gray and Gajeel don't truly have a choice. I thank him and go down to make breakfast, but am greeted by Juvia, dishing out a series of plates with apples, eggs, and sweet bread.

          We all eat peacefully and with cheer to spare. Even Rohan is behaving, sitting on his father's knee and giggling at his mother as she feeds him small pieces of the sweetbread. Cassian is too young for solids, but Levy and I entertain him with coos and praise. Gajeel is the most quiet one in the the group, but, then again, he always seemed to be. He just sits back and watches us.

          "Would you like to hold him?" I ask, chuckling at the stern-faced hulk of a man. Gajeel's eyes widen and he puts up a hand.

          "No, uh,... No, I'm good," he replies, flustered that I had even thought to ask such a question. But Levy glares at him, chewing on the inside of her cheek. She takes Cassian in her arms, gently, and turns to him. With assertive caution, she hands my baby to her husband and adjusts his arms so that he's doing it right. His eyes slowly begin to shrink as Cassian laughs at him and the two boys begin to get comfortable with each other.

          "See. It's not that bad. He likes you," Levy says, placing her hand on Gajeel's arm. He lets out a deep chuckle and bounces Cassian a bit, making the baby giggle. He lets out another chuckle and looks at Levy. Then, the little boy grabs onto a piece of Gajeel's hair and starts to tug on it, a bit.

          "Yeah, I think he does. Here," says Gajeel, handing Cassian to Levy. She has to pry my son's tiny hands from Gajeel's hair, but he doesn't seem to mind losing his new toy. She cuddles him, before giving him back to me, where he yawns and falls asleep. 

          When breakfast is over, Levy and I collect our packs from our rooms and head out to the vestibule to say out final goodbyes. Gajeel and Levy spend the most of their time together, but I am happy to let them be.

          Gray looks at me with somber eyes and tells me, "I know you might not forgive me for a long time, but... I want you to know how sorry I am that you have to do this." Juvia puts her free hand on his forearm and tells him that it's not his fault and he kisses the top of her head. "And if anyone can find Natsu and bring him home, it's going to be you, Lucy." He places his hand on my shoulder and proceeds to hug me goodbye. I offer Gajeel a quick goodbye and he reaches behind me to ruffle the fuzz that has begun to grow on Cassian's head and wishes him luck, as well, and tells him to have fun on his first mission. With a firm hug and a sniffle, Gray wishes Levy luck and tells her to stay safe.

          After a leaving the house, Levy and I begin the long walk to the camp where the nurses and troops were gathering. We make small talk, as we go along the road. I ask her about Gajeel and she tells be that he's pretty broken up about the whole thing. He's scared for her, because he can't be there to help her, if something were to happen. Not that she needed any saving, being an incredible fighter for her age and deceptively strong physically, mentally, and magically.

          Arriving at the camp, we receive a few strange looks, before we are confronted by an enormous man with hair like a blinding white fire and a scar across his eye. His face is gruff and has a voice to match who asks, "Who's this, Levy? This is no place for infants and untrained civilians." 

          Levy smiles at him and answers, "It's fine, Elfman. She's my new assistant." He looks me over and sighs. Then, he disappears, back into a group of soldiers and we continue on to the biggest tent at the camp, with a beautifully designed sigil.