NaLu- "The Princess and Her Dragon Knight"

Part 13

A/N

I've decided to stop naming my parts from here on out, hope you don't mind.

Here goes nothing!

That night Natsu arrived at the garden first. He waited by the fountain for Lucy and was anxious to see her again. He needed to see her.

As Lucy got there, she noticed Natsu immediately. She saw him out of the window training earlier that day and longed for him more than ever before. She couldn't help but to admire his strength and looks. As she caught sight of him from behind in the garden, her breath caught, just like it always does when she sees him. Lucy could swear that he's the most handsome guy she's ever met. He wore his usual one-sleeved vest and Lucy couldn't help but admire him. Passion filled her as she got closer.

As Natsu sensed Lucy he turned around. He wore a pained expression on his face that was mixed with the usual awe he felt every time he saw her.

"I take it that you've heard?" Lucy asked, feeling upset at his expression.

"Yes... why didn't you tell me?" He asked.

"I just found out this morning about the ball."

"But you knew about the engagement?" Natsu asked accusingly.

Lucy looked at the pain written on Natsu's face; she felt that pain too. She resisted the urge to cry. "I knew that I had to get married, but I didn't know that he was already chosen for me." This hurts so badly. "I-I don't want to marry him, Natsu." Lucy's voice broke as she spoke.

Natsu felt something stir inside of him, but he couldn't stop himself. It was so unfair. He threw his hands up in frustration. "Then why are you marrying him?"

"I-I-" Lucy wasn't supposed to tell anyone about the promise, but Natsu needed to know. Lucy took a deep breath and told him. "About a century ago, my family made a deal with the Straight royal family to the East of here and promised that one day a member of their family would be able to marry into the celestial royal family, and our country's alliance rests on that long-ago promise." Lucy started crying then. "I-It has been a long time, six generations, and nobody in my family ever went through with that d-deal for numerous reasons. However, their family is getting impatient and they have a prince only a couple of years older than me who wishes to marry me. I-If I don't go through with it, the alliance will probably b-break." Lucy had tears streaming down her face as she talked.

"Oh Lucy..." Natsu, who was also crying, said. He approached her cautiously, wanting to comfort her but not knowing if that would be okay. As he got close, before he could even reach out to her, she launched herself into his arms as a sob broke through. Natsu fell backwards onto the grass and Lucy fell on top of his lap. She buried her face into his shirt as his arms wrapped around her; one arm embraced her waist and the other ran through her silky blonde hair. Natsu couldn't help but be overwhelmed by her sweet scent. She was so beautiful, even while crying.

"N-Natsu," she sobbed. "I don't want to marry him. I-I don't love him, and I never w-will."

Natsu said nothing, he just continued to comfort her and bury his face into her hair. He wouldn't admit it, but he enjoyed holding her. He thought that she fit into his arms perfectly.

Lucy continued, "I'm j-just so angry! Why would my f-family take so long to go through with this promise? W-Why did it have to fall to me? Don't I deserve to be happy t-too?"

"Of course you do, Luce, more than anyone. It will be okay," Natsu said as he continued to comfort her.

"H-How will it be okay? I've finally found someone who I want to be by my side, and now that can n-never happen."