400 years

14

Clutching my chest, Natsu's eyes were ruthless and frightening. I'd never seen someone who could smile with such ferocity. His smile was without joy and pleasure. Something danced behind those Onyx green eyes that brought me to my senses.

"For the last time, don't just grab me!"

With the swat of my hand, his carnivorous smile vanished. The entire room went silent. It was then I'd realized what I'd done. 'Kyaa!'

Sting lunged forward a bit, yelling,  "You! How dare you be so rude-"

But Natsu only leaned back and began to laugh, his voice deep. "Enough, Sting."

'So am I speared? But why's he laughing.. Is it me?' I got up quickly, sitting as far away from him as I could.

With a look over his shoulder Gajeel halfhearted interest, mostly disgust asked. "Your not interested in that waif? A stiff breeze would blow her over."

This had Rogue shrug his shoulders, his gaze frozen on me. "I'm not to sure about that, she just gave Natsu a good shove. She's a tough one."

But of course, the king of all snakes took the chance to raise his ugly head.. yet again as Jellal said, "Or it was the reflexive jerk of a frightened animal."

'Geez, thanks.. As If I'm  invisible to giggling and gossiping of warlords..'

The girl with Blue Pigtales leans over towards me. "It's alright Lady Lucy. That's just the way they talk, it means nothing. (She smiles brightly.) By the way, I'm Wendy. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

The girls smile certainly gives me slight comfort. "Thanks, you're probably right." But as soon I smile back..

Sting sitting the closet to Natsu, turns my way with burning anger in his eyes. "Lucy, the next time you raise your hand against Lord Natsu. I will end you where you stand."

"Excuses me? So you're going to kill me for that? Didn't you see how he just grabbed me?"

"I said enough." Natsu's voice was clear and full of warning.

The command shot through the room. I stiffened. But Sting looked positively abashed. Sting grimly bowed, with an apology and I found myself doing the same. With that Natsu appointed Sting to show me around the castle. 'Great.. why him?' And even though Sting agreed to it, his face obviously had more colorful words he'd rather said.

"come along then Lucy, I'll show you the ropes."

"As long as it's not the gallows."

~•~

After serval hours of Following a grumpy Sting, I could already tell life here was going to be frustrating. Sting's attitude is grating, but can't fault his loyalty. Honestly though, it made perfect sense that he was wary of me. A stranger shows up out of nowhere only to get close to your Lord. Then again, Sting did talk me through the layout of the castle, politely. If I keep butting heads I won't last long around hear..

We continued walking down a long wooden corridor. 'Hmm, he didn't mention this one.' I stopped, at a dim passage way. The turn to an even longer hallway.

"Where does this lead?" Sting came to a stop next to me.

"This path will take you to the tenshu."

"What exactly is a tenshu?"

"It means ' Master of Heaven'. It's the loft at the top of the castle. Normally, it's a symbol and the lord stays in the inner citadel. But that's not the case here."

"Ah, so your saying Natsu stays there." I nod my head with understanding, 'Figures he'd have the penthouse suite.' I turn away. No longer interested in what lay beyond that uninviting hallway.

"My Lord said he preferred to stay in the tenshu. Anyway, now that you know, I don't want to catch you snooping over here."

"Snooping?" I raised a brow and crossed my arms to my chest. "Trust me, I'll be keeping my distance." The thought of seeing that ogre on my own volition was preposterous.

Further down the walkway there was a group of men walking and talking. Their conversation was about how they'd heard about the assassination attempt on Natsu. They spoke about being glad that he'd made it back safely, though they pitied their souls. Because of course trying to kill Lord Natsu only infuriate him. The men's words were a mix of fear and respect, drifting out of earshot.