Between The Pages

Chapter 7

Juvia quietly crept back into the castle while making sure no one was around. She didn't know if she was allowed to bring other creatures into the castle but she wasn't going to take any chances.

"Are you comfortable in there?" She whispered to Frosch.

"Uh-huh." He whispered back.

"Good and as soon as we're in my room I'll get you something to eat."

She walked through the corridor and began to head in the direction of where the tower was when she was startled by the sudden appearance of Gray.

"You know you shouldn't sneak up on people like that." She said. "It's very rude."

"Where do you think you're going?" He asked.

"Back to my room. I....I finished my work sir." She hid the basket behind her back.

"I don't believe it. You actually collected a basket full of nettles and crushed them into flax?"

"Yes."

"Let me see."

She nervously handed him the basket, Frosch stood perfectly still and didn't move an inch. Both him and Juvia prayed that he wouldn't look under the flax.

"It would seem that I have underestimated you. I thought you would give up before the day was out." He said giving her back the basket. "But I can assure you, you'll never be able to spin the flax into thread."

"Even so I'll still try."

Gray looked down at Juvia's hands which were now blistered and scarred from all the work she had been doin today. He knew how painful those plants were but he didn't expect them to be that bad. For a brief moment he felt a little guilt pang inside of his dark heart.

"Come with me." He took hold of her hand and pulled her along.

"Where are you taking me? Let me go."

"Oh stop trembling I'm not going to hurt you."

"What are you going to do?"

"Be quiet."

He brought her over to where a small pond was and stuck her hands in the water. At first the cold water caused a great agitation to her blisters but soon the pain ceased and the burning blisters vanished along with the scars and other injuries she sustained.

"The water here has healing properties. If you ever have an injury just go to the nearest pond and the water will heal all you completely." He told her.

"Oh... Really? That's incredible."

"I knew those nettle plants stung but I didn't think they would hurt you that bad. I'm a fair person and you can't really work with blistered hands."

He then started to walk away.

"Thank you." She said gratefully.

He stopped right on the spot and turned back to her.

"Don't think I'm going to start being nice to you. I may be fair but I hate humans. I hate them more than anything in the world and I could never show any kindness to them."

"But aren't you human?"

"Of course not! I'm a goblin!"

"But you don't look like a goblin, in fact you look very human."

"That doesn't mean I'm one of those repulsive creatures! And the fact that I look like them makes me sick!"

"I don't understand, why do you hate humans so much? What did they ever do to you?"