Hello everyone! Thanks for all the reviews, favorites, and alerts. You make me happy. So, I did keep my word and updated before August. Granted, not as early in July as I would've hoped for, but still sort of in time for this story's one year anniversary. Woo-hoo, here goes to over a year of writing, thinking, and dreaming of this plot! Thanks for sticking with it, and my crazy ideas, and I feel honored to have such an amazing response from all of you readers. You really do help the inspiration keep on flowing.

Guest 1 6/1 - I'll try to upload a "glossary" of sorts. I just have to find the time to write it all. If you have any doubts or questions in the meantime, feel free to leave them in your review, and I'll answer them in the next publication date with the next chapter.
Guest 2 6/1 - Thanks for the review! I'm really glad you're still loving it!
NaLu - Thanks for the review, and here's some more NaLu (towards the end). I hope you like, too. I'll do my best with updating, but it's complicated right now.
Midsummers Queen - Thanks for the review and praises. I'm really glad you like it. And there's more NaLu here. I quite like their last scene in this chapter.
Guest 6/2 - Thanks for the review. Glad you liked the chapter. As for "incorporated," when used in regards to Juvia, it means to say Juvia needs to mix Zeref's magic with hers, to make it a part of herself. Every other instance was a confusion of terminology that has been fixed throughout the story.
Jason the Reporter - Thanks for the review. Sadly, I have to say the Ultear and Gray encounter will take a while. But there's other stuff to look forward to in the meantime. :)
Fire King - Thanks for the review and constant support! Lol. Glad you liked the NaLu, there's more here. And about Nyoka, he doesn't exactly want to do the same as with Layla. With Layla (although it hasn't been revealed/explained yet), he was aiming at killing her, destroying her completely; with Lucy, he wants to taint her magic, poison the celestial magic but leave the star's unharmed. He has more than one reason to do this. One is to sort of ensure she can't use the ancient celestial spells (although he is not sure if she can do them, though we know she can). The other because he hates heavenly magic. He doesn't know of Natsu's spell, but it sure as hell complicates his plans. Stay tuned for the Iwan and Mahli showdown, and well, Gajeel is Gajeel...
Nalu ftw, & Guests 7/17, 7/21 - Thanks for the review. glad you like it! :) and I'll try to return to my usual updating schedule as soon as I'm able to.
Anonymous - Thanks for the review and constant support! Yes, I'm back, and I have no intension of abandoning this story. Maybe it'll take longer to update, but I will finish it. So, yeah, eventually Cana will join the cast in a more reoccurring way, but for now, she's stuck in Vesta. I love that you find Nyoka disgusting. That's what I was going for with him. Yeah, Astarot is psychotic, but there is def. something about Nyoka that just inspires disgust. And you'll see what future awaits him... (Oh, more NaLu!)
Spilledbeans101 - We don't know yet how Astarot got his hands on Zeref. Only that he took him from the prison the Dragneels had locked him in many years ago. And your English is just fine. I got you perfectly. :)
Jangalain - Thanks for the review! Ah, yes, there's always a "right moment" to reveal things. And while you'll have to wait for a little, just a little, longer, major things are up ahead. This chapter is focused on getting Lucy and Natsu back at Fairy Tail. But once they are here, they will sit down to have a very much awaited and needed conversation. Thanks for keeping up with the reading, and hope you like this chapter, too.
Hartfield - This story is neither on hiatus or discontinued. It is ongoing, and while it's been taking longer to update than usual in the past few months, it is very much alive, and I will finish it. There's no need to worry on that department. Thanks for checking in.
Guest 7/25 - Thanks for the review, and I'm really glad you like it! I do keep an estimate of when I'll update on my profile. You can always check what the latest chapter's status is there. :)
Spilled beans - Thanks for wishing "The Fire that Binds Us" a Happy Birthday! Honestly, I did hope to update by the 26th, but I just couldn't make it by then. Still, it's only two days later. So I still see it as a year anniversary update. I'm really glad you like it so much, it makes me unbelievably happy.

So, for this chapter. Like I said before, this is Lucy's introduction to Fairy Tail. The villains will take a break in this chapter as we get Natsu and Lucy settled. Now, there's more NaLu, some much anticipated GaLe, and more Natsu and Gajeel friendship. Hope you all enjoy it, and Happy Reading! ^.^

Finally, one of my readers had a birthday on July 15th. Ro-chan, this chapter is dedicated to you. Happy Birthday, and I hope you like it!

Summary: Get ready to get tossed into a world where people are all "bound" to each other through their past and their present, by who they are and by who they decide to be. Where fate and choice clash and a single decision can change the future. There is no such thing as coincidences in this world, but neither are we pawns of a prefixed destiny. Natsu and Lucy might have been destined to meet, but they chose to keep their promises to each other. Born in a world plagued by death and governed by a tyrant, Natsu Dragneel held the power to restore Fiore to what it once was. When he met Lucy Heartfilia, he promised to always protect her. However, before embarking on the journey to complete his training, he made a decision in order to keep his promise to his dearest friend. A decision that would change everything... Performing a Magic Binding...

Disclaimer: Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima. The plot, and the added bunch of psychopaths, the nice little people here and there, and awesome Vidar (and by consequence all wild forest horses) are mine.

"The Fire that Binds Us"

Chapter 17: … and Their Flame-Enlivened Repercussions (part 2)

Gajeel sat in the darkness in the main hall. It was late at night, and everyone had already retired for the day. He couldn't sleep. He had been wanting to speak with Wendy alone for a few days already, ever since he realized she was hiding something about Juvia's condition, but getting her completely alone had proven difficult. Finally, just earlier that day, he had managed to steal her away before breakfast; and just like he had expected, his childhood friend was not entirely out of danger.

He sighed, remembering the conversation he'd had with his sister, worry already pooling in his gut despite of all his efforts to calm down. Both Wendy and Juvia had their reasons for keeping the truth to themselves. Yet, even if he trusted them, he couldn't help but worry about their wellbeing. He had had his suspicions about his friend, but his sister had confirmed them; and in this case, he hated being right.

Wendy was trotting down the hall, heading towards Levy's room to go upstairs together to the kitchen. She yelped as she felt a strong hand grab onto her right arm and pull her into an empty, dark room. Another hand quickly covered her mouth, and for a moment she started to panic.

"Calm down, Pipsqueak, it's only me," she heard a familiar voice whisper in her ear.

She exhaled a deep breath and nodded, letting him know he could let go of her. She should've known it was Gajeel behind her. If she had been paying attention, she would've recognized his scent longtime before he grabbed her. She mentally reprimanded herself. She needed to get used to always being on guard and alert, ready for anything and anyone. Grandeeney had warned her about the dangers of being in hostile territory, and Gajeel had lectured her about being a soldier the day after she arrived.

Her older brother had waited until she had rested and regained all of her magic energy before sitting her down for a serious conversation. He wasn't in the least bit happy with her decision to stay in Fiore and join Fairy Tail, and had immediately drilled her in the new set of rules she would have to follow if she wanted to be safe. Being in a warzone was an entirely new environment for her, and he had made sure she understood what her decision meant. She would have to train arduously to develop her dragon-slayer attack spells, which had always come second to her healing and supportive spells under Grandeeney's tutelage. She couldn't just be the mage army's doctor; she needed to be an asset to their forces, a soldier, and a capable and fearsome soldier at that. Gajeel wouldn't settle for anything less.

He had explained she would need to find a place and time to practice her magic without being seen, and he would help her whenever he had the chance. Pantherlily would join her to supply as much knowledge as he could during his absence, using the excuse of wanting to stay close to Charle to keep him by her side without raising any suspicions. Then, he had insisted she would attend the self-defense and attack lessons he was giving their non-mage soldiers to help build up her stamina and have her develop what he called battle reflexes and a battle mentality. She needed to get acquainted with war quickly, so she could truly become an asset in their ranks instead of a liability. She had never heard her brother speak to her the way he did that day. He was always kind and considerate, yet she had quickly realized he hadn't been talking to her as a brother, but as her military superior.

She had watched and listened to him with wide eyes, shocked at first; but by the time he had finished his explanation, she had understood him and was willing to do as he had said. That day was the day she had truly understood what she had gotten herself into. She was no longer in the safe confines of the dragon sanctuary. She was now in the brutal and unpredictable frontlines of a warzone where she would constantly have to fight to stay alive and where she would see horrors her sheltered eyes had never seen before.

Gajeel wouldn't be there to protect her if anything went wrong. He couldn't. He had to think about everyone else he would be leading into battle. He needed to have his mind clear and not have to worry about his younger and defenseless sister in the back of his mind. He needed her to be independent, to stand on her own and become a peer, a trustworthy comrade fighting alongside him in that battlefield. She needed to be strong, and be prepared both physically and mentally for what was inevitably coming. This was the path she had chosen for herself, and she wouldn't let her brother down. She would do everything she could to help him come out victorious from this war.

"I'm sorry, Gajeel. You startled me… I should've realized you were here," she mumbled apologetically, and turned around to see him kneeling in front of her. "I'm still trying to get used to always being aware of my dragon senses."

He smiled at her as he ruffled her hair. "It's alright. I know it's hard to keep in mind at first," he answered. "You just need more practice, that's all."

She smiled at him tenderly, wrapping her arms around his neck. He returned the embrace and allowed her to linger in his arms for a short while before pulling away. "We need to talk," he finally said with a serious tone.

She sighed and nodded, averting her gaze as her arms fell back down to her sides. "This is about Juvia, isn't it?" she stated more than asked without looking at him. She paused for a moment, speaking again while still refraining from looking at him in the eye. "I know you can smell her, Gajeel."

He huffed, his answer coming with slight irritation. "What the hell is going on? You know I hate being lied to."

"I promised her I wouldn't say anything," she replied.

He extended his arm and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. "It's dangerous, Wendy. That man's magic isn't predictable. You can't control it!" he let out a little louder, his preoccupation getting the better of him.

"It's not what you think," she countered. "If… If I had left… If I hadn't…" She hesitated, not finding the correct words to excuse her actions.

"What is it?" he asked again, holding onto her upper arms and shaking her slightly. "You're scaring me, Wendy. What's wrong?"

"She would've died!" she almost yelled, tears pooling in her eyes and cascading down her cheeks. "I was too late. The dark magic had already melded with hers. I had no choice but to leave some of it within her…" she let out in between her sobs, "I've been trying to help her fuse that magic with her own. We're hoping it will work…"

He let go of his hold, trying to calm himself down and not make the situation any worse. He raised his hands to help wipe the tears off her face. "Do you know how dangerous it is to keep this a secret, Wendy? Don't you remember what Metalicana told us about Acnologia? I know you want to help her get better, believe me, so do I, but what if something goes wrong? Zeref's magic is unpredictable… and if it was able to destroy a mind like the night dragon's, it could easily do the same with Juvia's."

She sniffled as she heard him speak, forcing herself to calm down before replying. "I, I know, but… I had to try, Gajeel. I've been doing daily check-ups on her, and nothing's changed. The deranged magic seems contained… I know this is dangerous, but we were going to tell everyone before we went to war. She promised me she would've told Gray by then. I know what could happen if… if things don't turn out as we want them to."

He sighed, using a fonder tone of voice next. "Don't ever keep any more secrets from me, Wendy. I'll speak to Juvia about this later, and we should probably speak with Jellal as well. He knows a lot more about Zeref than anyone else. He might be able to help us find a way to help Juvia with her condition—"

"But, what about Gray? I promised—" she interrupted.

"I'm sure Jellal will keep Juvia's confidence until it's time to tell Gray the truth. He deserves to know. I know it will pain him…" he interjected, finishing his thoughts. "We can't keep this secret for much longer. Salamander's already here, and once he returns to Fairy Tail we will start planning the offensive. It won't be long now."

She nodded, swinging her whole body towards him and capturing him in a strong-felt embrace. "I'm sorry, Gajeel!" she let out while tightening her hold around him. "It won't happen again, I swear."

He exhaled a loud breath, his right hand holding onto her back firmly while his left patted her head soothingly. "It's alright. It's alright… We'll speak with Jellal and Juvia after breakfast, okay?" He felt her nod against his chest, and he pulled back a little to cup her face with his left hand. He smiled at her, looking affectionately into her eyes, "You did nothing wrong, Wendy. You were just trying to help a friend… I'm not mad; it's just that I get worried. No one is more important than you, Pipsqueak. I don't want to risk losing you."

She wiped her tears away. "You won't… I'll be careful," she whispered, throwing her body forward again to embrace him one more time. "I love you, Gajeel," she muttered, her lips still touching his shirt.

He hugged her back, leaning his head close to her right ear, "I love you, too, Wendy."

The conversation with Jellal and Juvia hadn't been too heated, as he had initially thought it would. Gajeel was surprised at how calmed Jellal seemed about the entire matter. According to Jellal, he didn't know of any cases similar to Juvia's, and so stated he would agree with Wendy's decision to keep quiet while she did her research on her and Meredy. Perhaps the still unconscious mage could provide the answers they needed.

Jellal agreed to keep their secret after getting Juvia's promise that she would tell Gray before the strategy team had to convene for the attack-planning meeting. He had to be sure the ice mage knew about the matter before then. He could only handle so much, and trying to appease an angered and hurt lover was not something he was ready to do besides placating the strategy team's complains and answering their questions. Jellal had understood Juvia's need to remain silent with much more ease than Gajeel had originally expected. In fact, after witnessing him trying to reassure Juvia he wasn't angry, the dragon-slayer had gotten the feeling that Jellal knew personally what it meant to be in Juvia's shoes.

Gajeel scoffed as he realized the obvious. Jellal was also a cursed man; he was the perfect person to understand Juvia's intentions and feelings. He didn't know exactly what Jellal's curse entailed, the man was way too careful and secretive to reveal anything to anyone, to a point where even the woman who idolized him beyond herself knew absolutely nothing of the matter. Realization hit him hard, finally understanding why Jellal refused to speak about his curse. Like Juvia, he was trying to protect his loved ones. Whatever that mark on his face meant, whatever troubles and pains it carried, they didn't only target himself. They had repercussions that extended beyond himself and affected those around him. Jellal keep Erza ignorant to protect her, to save her the distress and pain of whatever it was that tortured his existence and would surely torture hers if he ever chose to speak about it.

For the past thirty minutes, Gajeel had been wondering just what exactly could be so terrible as to want to keep it completely hidden. From his time in Fairy Tail, he had picked up little bits and pieces about Jellal's secretive self. He was extremely knowledgeable about almost every fathomable subject, a very powerful mage who masterfully controlled a rare type of magic related to the heavens, and his scent… his scent had always troubled him. Jellal smelled like one and a thousand men at the same time. Sometimes he thought it was almost as if the blue-haired mage were a multiplicity of men trapped in one body, but the scents were too similar to belong to anyone else. It was almost impossible to describe. The best way to explain it to himself was to say that Jellal was and was not a single person at the same time.

Gajeel growled, annoyed. What the hell is he hiding? Besides worrying about Jellal and his secrets, he also had to think about Juvia and how he was going to help her with her own problems. He didn't even know if it was possible for her to defeat the deranged magic within her. He couldn't help but wonder if the small amount attached to her body would start multiplying and completely eat her away from the inside out. He couldn't let go of the dreadful memory of what his former teacher had said had happened to the black dragon. If Juvia suffered the same fate, she would no longer distinguish friend from foe and would attack whoever approached her indiscriminately. If they were less fortunate, his friend could develop the insatiable thirst for blood that took over Acnologia's whole existence, and she would become a lost victim of her own deranged, psychotic mind. His own mind tortured him with scenarios of her death, in which either he or Gray were forced to put her out of her misery at the cost of permanently tainting their own grieving hearts with her blood.

"Stop it!" he yelled at himself, shaking his head while pulling his hair at his temples. "You need to think positive," he reminded himself. I must believe it is possible… That she will get better. He sighed, defeated and tired, the sleep deprivation taking its toll on him. He took a deep breath in an effort to calm himself down. He exhaled and immediately inhaled again, his hands falling to his knees relaxed.

He was about to repeat the action when he stilled in his seat. "Wait a minute," he let out, slowly straightening up on his chair. "That scent…" He chuckled as his whole being let go of its preoccupation and worries. He stood up quickly, turning towards the dark corridor leading to the strategy room, "Lily! I know you're hiding in there. Come on out," he stated.

The panther-cat flew towards him looking ashamed seconds later. "I'm sorry, I wasn't spying on you… I was jus—" he started saying.

"I know, I know," Gajeel interrupted, "worried. But don't mind that. I need you to go wake everyone up and tell them to meet me in the strategy room. We have guests!"

Pantherlily nodded, taking a moment to register what the dragon-slayer had said and then adding, "Right. On my way!"

Gajeel watched him leave, chucking once again as he approached the door leading to the underground tunnels. "I'll be damned," he muttered. "He sure is fast." A wide smirk appeared on his face as he opened the door, entered the dark tunnel, and closed it behind him. He rested his back on the wall next to the closed door, staring at the darkness before him with knowing and amused eyes. He crossed his arms across his chest and bent his right leg, lifting his foot to rest on the wall as he balanced his weight on the limb nailed to the ground.

Gi hee, he couldn't contain his own laughter, can't wait to see those two together at last. It'll be… interesting. The knowing smirk grew on his face, just as his eyes remained fixed on the darkness before him, waiting patiently for the two figures he knew were soon to make themselves visible.

Natsu and Lucy walked along the dark passageway in silence, hands firmly entwined. This tunnel was longer than the one he had used before, but he knew he was approaching the door to Fairy Tail quickly. He smirked to himself when the faint scent of the iron dragon-slayer filtered into his nostrils, but chose to keep quiet. She would find out soon enough, and he was enjoying their silent time together too much to interrupt it. Her head was resting on his upper arm as they advanced, her body slightly leaning onto his. Like him, she also knew things between them would change the second they passed through the door at the end of the hallway; and they were both making the best of the time they still had left. He noticed Happy had remained silent as well, cradled in Lucy's left arm. They kept walking for a few more minutes; and when they doubled a corner, a familiar laugh greeted them.

"Gi hee, good to have you back," the rough voice confidently stated through the darkness.

Lucy startled a little, raising her head to find Natsu looking at her with an amused smile.

"See, what did I tell you?" he said, nudging her with his elbow playfully.

She smiled back at him and giggled, returning her eyes to the darkness before them to try to find the black-haired dragon-slayer. Natsu raised his right hand to lighten the area better, and she found Gajeel smirking at the both of them merely a few steps ahead. Happy moved in her arms, and she let him spread his wings and fly beside her. She met Gajeel's slanted red eyes, broadening her smile.

"It's good to see you in one piece, Bunny Girl. It's been a while," he said as he stood up away from the wall. By the time he had finished speaking, she was standing before him, barely at arm's length, Natsu close behind her.

She wrinkled her nose, displaying her dislike for the nickname, yet kept smiling at him widely. She let go of Natsu's fingers to wrap her arms around Gajeel's neck, giving him a tight hug. "It's good to see you, too, Gajeel," she whispered as she held onto him, his own arms falling around her lower back. She released him almost immediately, stepping back to stand by Natsu's side again.

"Salamander," Gajeel greeted, nodding his head in a sign of acknowledgement.

The addressed mage smirked, returning the salutary gesture. "Metal-head." Natsu searched for Lucy's fingers as he spoke, and she willingly slipped her hand into his again. The action didn't escape Gajeel's eyes, which glanced knowingly at him half teasing him, half approving of him. He merely nodded at him once in response.

"Let's get you two inside. Follow me," Gajeel said, "everyone's waiting already." He watched the two mages and Exceed nod as he turned to open the door, and guided them inside with the aid of Natsu's still alit hand towards the strategy room. They walked in silence, and he took a deep preparatory breath when his hand reached the room's doorknob. The door opened without a sound, and the four figures entered the silent room where six mages and an Exceed sat waiting for them.

A single candle standing at the center of a round table lightened the area, and Natsu extinguished his fire as they stepped inside the room. He closed the door behind him, watching Happy fly and sit next to Pantherlily on the bookcase in front of them. Gajeel walked to his right, taking a seat next to Levy, while Lucy and he remained standing by the door, still being scrutinized by every other pair of eyes in the room.

"I can't express just how good it is to finally meet you, Lucy Heartfilia," Jellal finally stated. He had a relaxed and relieved smile on his face he couldn't suppress, and his eyes looked at her in an accomplished way. He gazed at her, his brown eyes showing approval and completion. "We've been waiting for so long…"

Lucy raised her head, revealing her sparkling light-brown eyes, and smiled brightly at him. "The pleasure is all mine," she responded. "All of you," she continued, her eyes moving to meet everyone else inside the room. She suddenly frowned, noticing someone very important to her was missing. "Where's my brother?" she asked immediately after.

"He's in Hargeon dealing with the Duke's spies," Gray chose to answer. He noticed her muscles tense at the mention of the blond's father, quickly speaking again to try to calm her down. "It's not too far away. I'll go fetch him tomorrow, and make sure he knows you're here."

She smiled gently at him and nodded as she let her muscles relax. "Thanks, I'd appreciate that. I really miss him."

Natsu growled lowly as he felt her fingers go stiff in his hand when the ice mage mentioned Iwan Dreyar. He turned to look at her, examining her closely with eyes that now glistened with determination and unrest. He definitely did not like her reaction. Gray hadn't even said the Duke's name and she had involuntarily tensed. He heard Gajeel call his name in a low whisper, the tone of voice slightly alarmed in order to catch his attention. At the same time, he felt her relax again, and her fingers curled around his once more. The iron dragon-slayer gave him a single look to remind him he would soon be able to speak with her about the Duke, but in the meantime, he had to focus on the matter at hand.

"Should we get you stamped?" Mirajane asked, catching both Lucy and Natsu's attention, her participation an obvious attempt to break the uncomfortable silence.

Lucy shook her head. "There's no need. I already have a Fairy Tail mark," she said. She untangled her fingers from Natsu's in a quick and graceful move, and raised her hand up to her chest. Still staring at her right hand, she called forth some of her magic to her left hand fingers. The multi-colored sparkles flowed out of her fingertips, cascading down onto the back of her right hand as she whispered, "What was once concealed, shall now be revealed." Her magic gathered at her hand, building up to form a light bubble and turning all white. When the magic dissipated, the pink Fairy Tail mark her grandfather had imprinted over a year ago could be seen on her hand. "My grandfather recruited me the night I fled the castle," she explained, realizing everyone was staring at her rather surprised.

Mirajane stood up from her seat, walking around the table and approaching the two mages. She smiled warmly at Lucy before turning her attention to Natsu, raising her hands to his right upper arm and whispering the same incantation. "There," she told him as the blood-red mark on his arm became visible again. "There's no longer a need to hide it." She stepped back and spoke again, "On behalf of everyone here, I welcome you both to Fairy Tail."

Both mages smiled coordinately back at her, thanking her at the same time. She giggled, fixing her attention on the pink-haired male for an instant and whispering a cryptic "I see." He nodded at her to confirm her suspicions, and she turned to see Gajeel smirk at her as well as she returned to her seat. As she walked away, her eyes caught the two mages' hands intertwining, and she smiled to herself.

Jellal straightened up in his chair, coughing lightly to get everyone's attention again. "I believe introductions are in order," he said. "I assume you both must be very tired, so we'll make this short and leave everything else for the next few days. We have to wait for Laxus, anyways." He paused for a moment, waiting for them to sit down, and then proceeded to introduce all of the mages present.

He started with himself and Erza, giving a little background about their past and their magic abilities. He then introduced Mirajane, Gray, Juvia, and Levy. Besides telling her what forms of magic they controlled, he chose to inform her of Juvia's encounter with Zeref's magic and subsequent infection. Gajeel couldn't help but wonder why he had decided to tell her that; but the question was soon answered when he asked her, more as a statement than as a question, if she could sense magic auras. Lucy nodded, and Gajeel noticed the acquiescence in her eyes had promised not to speak about the water mage's contaminated magic aura.

Jellal spoke quickly, moving through the most essential topics swiftly from one to the other. He mentioned Wendy's and Meredy's arrivals, and she secretly glanced at Gajeel while Natsu squeezed her hand under the table. She quickly got the message, and returned her eyes to the blue-haired mage. He barely touched on the numbers they had or on the types of magic their mages manipulated, stating that conversation would be long and would be better suited for the time when they were ready to discuss their attacking strategies.

After an hour of talking, Lucy yawned, apologizing almost immediately after. Jellal chuckled, and dismissed her apologies. Instead, he insisted he had gotten carried away while speaking, adding it would be better for her and Natsu to get some sleep.

"About the sleeping arrangements," Natsu stated before Jellal could say anything else, "could you make sure you give Lucy a room in the lowest level so she can feel free to take off this cloak?"

Jellal nodded. "Of course, your room has already been prepared. It's just down the hall from Gajeel's," he explained.

"Our?" Natsu wondered aloud in almost a whisper and rather confused. He had to admit he wouldn't have wanted it any other way, but the fact that Jellal had anticipated his request had caught him off guard.

Lucy spoke out quickly, covering the pink-haired mage's slip of the tongue. "Thanks, Jellal. We appreciate it." She squeezed his hand, silently telling him to just comply and not raise any more questions.

"I understand," Jellal responded. "Given the circumstances…" He trailed off, unsure about continuing after getting a worried glance from the cloaked girl. "I see…" he unconsciously let out, finishing the thought in his head, He doesn't know.

She pulled on Natsu's hand and stood up from her seat, and he followed her actions almost immediately.

"Gajeel will take you to your room," Jellal stated, switching his attention towards the dark-haired mage, who nodded to gesture his compliance.

The iron dragon-slayer walked around the table, asking the two mages to follow him before he opened the door. He waited until Happy had flown over to them and had perched on Natsu's right shoulder, and then exited the room. He led them down several flights of stairs. When he reached the bottom, he chose to speak again, yet not turning to look at them and keeping his steady pace down the candle-lit corridor. "You need to rest. Leave all the talking for tomorrow." He paused for a moment. "I'll make sure you're not disturbed and get all the privacy you need; but you won't solve anything if you're tired."

He walked for a few more seconds, stopping at the last door down the hallway. "This is your room," he said, opening the door and stepping to the side. Both mages nodded and walked towards the entrance. They stopped at the threshold and turned to look at him again. "I'm the second door on the opposite wall," he informed.

Lucy let go of Natsu's hand and embraced him again. "Thank you, Gajeel," she said as she pulled away, "for everything… I'll see you in the morning."

"Don't mention it," he replied, letting a small side smirk appear on his face. She turned towards Natsu, giving him a light nod and taking Happy in her hands before walking into the room and giving the two dragon-slayers some privacy.

Natsu pulled the door towards him as he stepped outside of the room, leaving the door ajar. He sighed, averting his gaze and running a tired hand through his hair.

"It's harder than you thought it'd be, isn't it?" he heard Gajeel inquire.

He lifted his eyes again, fixing them on his friend's. "You have no idea. That cloak is driving me crazy. I… I need to…" he started to explain.

"I get it," the iron dragon-slayer replied. He put his left hand on Natsu's shoulder, his gaze changing into a resilient one as he spoke again. "Whatever you need, Salamander… You need to get things straight with her before you even think about dealing with your father and the Duke."

"I know, I know… She's hiding something from me, I can tell…" Natsu stated, staring back at him with the same determination.

"I noticed that, too. Just wait until tomorrow," he advised. "And just know that if you have to start the Recog—"

"I'm not putting her through that again," Natsu interjected. "I can't claim her, Gajeel. You know this. If I do, we'll lose the war before we even start it."

"You don't know that!" he countered, raising his voice and regretting it immediately as he saw the angry look on his friend's face glaring back at him.

"Yes I do," the fire mage stated firmly. "I can't bind my magic to hers. If I do, the Wielder won't be able to take the star's magic, and we'll lose the war. We need the Tikvah Alaula's power, Gajeel."

He sighed, tightening his hold of the man's shoulder, knowing perfectly well what that statement meant. If the Wielder took the star's magic, then Natsu wouldn't be able to mate with Lucy afterwards due to the missing magic, since Natsu had put the binding fire spell on her when she had both types of magic within her. And if he did mate with her, the Wielder wouldn't be able to untangle the three types of magic from each other because of the mating ritual, and they would all lose the chance to have the power of the star on their side for the war. As far as he was concerned, he could only see one way out of this precarious situation…

"Sometimes I think you're too noble for your own good, Salamander," he finally said. "That star never does anything at random, you yourself know that. Haven't you ever wondered that perhaps it was meant to be this way?"

…As far as Gajeel was concerned, Natsu had to be the Wielder if he ever was to have Lucy the way he wanted.

At his words, the pink-haired Dragneel averted his gaze again. Gajeel frowned, annoyed, huffing exasperated as he continued speaking in a louder voice, "Just for how long are you going to deny your own damned involvement with that star?"

Natsu lifted his head, staring at him with pleading eyes. Gajeel's facial expression softened as his sudden anger dissipated. He could see it in the man's dark eyes—the desperation. The desperate, mournful, and yearning desire wishing there was truth behind his words. He let out a defeated sigh, letting his left hand drop to his side. "I owe you, Dragneel," he started again, turning to his right to force his friend's eyes to his Fairy Tail mark. "We'll figure something out. Wielder or no, I'm not letting you sac—"

"Thank you," Natsu interrupted.

Gajeel stared at him for a moment, understanding he didn't want to speak of the matter anymore. He nodded once before he started to walk past him to head to his own room. After a few steps, he stopped and murmured, "Talk to her. She knows more than she lets on." He heard Natsu sigh and whisper his promise to do as he asked, listening to the door closing seconds later.

He resumed his silent walking, and stepped into his own room, finding Pantherlily asleep on the couch. He took off the bandana wrapped around his head, and combed his hair with his free hand. His eyes found their way to the piece of clothing in his right hand, and his fingers fisted around it as he averted his gaze, scoffing softly. Who did he think he was kidding? He was giving out advice he couldn't even follow himself; and his relationship with Levy was not even nearly as complicated as the one the fire dragon-slayer had with Lucy.

He dropped the hair band on the nightstand and sat on the bed unceremoniously, immediately letting his back fall down onto the mattress. Natsu needed a friend right now; he needed to settle things between him and Lucy, or they wouldn't be able to concentrate on the war they had promised to fight. His own problematic emotions for Levy would have to wait. His dragon brother needed assistance, and he would supply it.

Gajeel knew the only way the Dragneel would find peace was if he finally got to finish the Recognition test with Lucy. They both needed to confirm what their instincts insisted on telling them about each other. He had seen it in Lucy's eyes and behavior also, just like in Natsu. She, too, required reassurance. Confirmation. He would wait to see how things developed between them the following day. If by then they hadn't resolve their personal issues in a satisfactory manner, he would intervene. Yet, he still believed they could do it on their own, and rather preferred it that way. Perhaps they were just waiting for the right moment to present itself.

Jellal waited until their newly arrived guests had left the room to issue his orders. He turned to find his friends staring at him, waiting for him as well. He took a deep breath, preparing to speak. He locked eyes with the ice mage first, as he began stating, "Gray, I want you to take tomorrow off, and head out to Magnolia the day after tomorrow. Make sure you bring Freed with you alongside Laxus. We're going to need him to enchant this whole place with his runes so Lucy can walk around freely without that cloak."

After acknowledging the man's head nod to indicate he understood, he turned to his right. "Juvia, you need to rest, I don't want you exerting yourself. You need to be fully recuperated by the time we finalize our attack plans. You're a resource we can't afford to leave behind." The water mage opened her mouth to complain, but he ignored her. "No buts, Juvia," he insisted. "You know I'm right. Make sure you inform Wendy of your orders, and work with her on your magic therapy sessions. I'll also find some time to take the map with Zeref's prison cell to you again. I want you to see it one last time and confirm its exact location. The more precise we are, the less soldiers we'll endanger."

She finally assented as Gray wrapped an arm around her and pulled her towards him, and he heard her exhale as she settled in Gray's arms. He took a moment to breathe again, turning to Levy's end of the room. "Levy," he started, switching his attention to the Strauss mage, "Mira, I want you both to go through all the maps and blueprints we have of the Duke's and the King's castles and select our most accurate copies. I want Lucy to have a look at them, especially Dreyar Castle's; things might have changed after Laxus left, and she might be able to tell us which are the best ways to besiege it successfully."

"Understood!" Levy let out, nodding her head assertively. "I'll get right to it; the records room is a mess."

"Just make sure you get enough rest tonight," he suggested. "Things will get pretty busy in the next few days. I need you all at your best."

She nodded again, and Mirajane gave him a confirmatory silent look that affirmed her understanding. He finally turned to his left, where his childhood friend sat patiently waiting for him. His gaze lingered on hers before speaking, incapable of withholding his longing and sadness. "Erza, I need you to meet with Gajeel tomorrow and have him tell you how our soldiers' training is progressing. Depending on the situation, you might have to help him get everyone ready for combat."

The redhead nodded. "Acknowledged."

"We also need a comprehensive list of all our mages, our regular troops, and how many civilians we are sheltering here," he continued. "We're going to have to start thinking of alternate refugee locations. Once Fairy Tail announces its existence publicly, I only want soldiers staying at our headquarters. I'm not risking unnecessary lives." He paused to breathe, running a hand through his hair before finishing. "If you have any suggestions of where we might relocate them, let me know as soon as possible."

He stood up, walking towards the door. Remembering something at the last minute, he turned back, finding Pantherlily on the bookcase. "Lily, please inform Gajeel of what we've decided tonight." He waited a moment and then spoke again, "One last thing. We must keep the true identity of Lucy Heartfilia a secret. We cannot compromise her mission. As far as anyone is concerned, she is just a stellar mage, Laxus's younger sister, and the Dragneel's childhood friend. Her relationship with the star stays within this room's four walls."

Everyone nodded again, accepting the order and understanding the reason behind it. If word got out about Fairy Tail having the Bearer among their infantry ranks, she would become the one priority for both Astarot's and Iwan's armies. Their enemies had to believe Fairy Tail had no idea of her existence. They needed to wait until the Wielder appeared and took the Tikvah Alaula's magic to reveal them both as part of their army. They knew they couldn't wait for the Wielder, even if they needed the star's magic to win the war. Yet, even if they didn't control the star's timing, they still held a vital advantage against Astarot; and as long as the Bearer remained on their side, they would retain and protect that advantage.

Jellal was the first to step out of the room, and the rest followed shortly after, except for Levy, who remained in her seat staring at the candle on the table absentmindedly, her hands spread on the wood surface. Pantherlily noticed her state and frowned, flying towards her instead of leaving the room to meet with Gajeel. "Levy?" he asked hesitantly, approaching her with slow steps. "Is everything alright?"

The petite blue-haired mage startled, snapping out of her trance when she felt the panther-cat's paw on her right forearm. "Huh?" she let out, turning to her side with a quirked eyebrow.

"Are you okay?" he inquired again. "You seem distracted."

Levy smiled sheepishly. "Sorry," she apologized, raising her left arm to rest her head on her hand. "I was just… thinking about something."

He stared at her with expectant eyes, waiting for an explanation, and she quickly read the Exceed's intentions. She looked at him for a while longer before deciding to speak again. "Natsu and Lucy," she finally said, "they're… together, right?"

He sighed, sitting on the table and never taking his eyes off of hers. "Their relationship is complicated," he responded truthfully. "I don't know all the details, but what bothered you?"

Her eyes widened as he read her mind. "It didn't actually upset me. It just felt… different," she tried to explain. "They… They have…" she struggled with her words. "They have a bond… that's… unique, I guess. I don't know how to describe it."

Pantherlily took a moment to reply, his tone getting serious. "They are dragon mates, Levy. Dragons have very particular traditions when it comes to finding a life partner." He paused, immediately reconsidering his original intention of explaining in the simplest of terms what he knew about dragon mating to her. There was someone else she should be having this conversation with, someone who would do a much better job at it and would benefit most from the exchange. "I don't know much about it. If you want to know more, you should ask Gajeel."

He stood up again, watching her still bewildered and jittery eyes. "I'm going back to Gajeel's room, are you coming?" he asked as he spread his wings and lifted himself off the table.

"In a minute," she replied. "I'm going to stay here a little longer."

When he was close to the door, he turned around to see her again. "Are you sure?"

She smiled gently back at him. "Don't worry. I'll be just fine."

He nodded, leaving the room seconds later without another word, respecting her need to be alone. She stared at the flickering candle's flame again, letting a heavy breath leave her mouth. Her right hand found its way to her head, and her fingers curled around her blue locks. She couldn't understand it. Her feelings seemed so completely and utterly foreign to her. She had seen Gray and Juvia hold hands countless of times before, and it had never bothered her. Yet, seeing two strangers in the same situation aroused emotions within her she had never felt prior to that day.

It was as if she was jealous of them. She coveted their closeness, that overwhelming sense of devotion to each other the pair eradiated. Yet, the issue hadn't troubled anyone else but her. What was more, no one else seemed to have even noticed it but her. She was sure she wasn't imagining things; the two mages were most definitely in sync with each other, in ways she had never seen before. They were perfectly attuned to one another.

She couldn't help the feeling of powerlessness that had come over her. Throughout her life, she had always had control of what surrounded her. When her mother died, she took upon herself the responsibility to perfect her magic and widen her knowledge of foreign languages. She had never doubted where her feelings for others lay, or what part of her heart they occupied. It had been easy to reject both Jet and Droy because she had always understood her heart the best. Yet, now, the plethora of new emotions swarming within her had frozen her completely, because she knew, deep down, that the closeness she had seen between Natsu and Lucy was what she yearned to have between her and the iron dragon-slayer. And she couldn't understand why. It boggled her mind how every time the two of them were in the same room she felt the need to get closer to him. Ever since they had met over a year ago, her mind and body had been overwhelmed by instincts and desires she had never experienced before, feelings she couldn't understand, no matter how hard she tried.

She had seen the real Gajeel, even when he was just a stranger, and it scared her that he had seen the real Levy as well. The Levy who felt so secure about everything around her; the Levy who understood herself above all else. But more importantly, amongst that confident Levy, he had also seen this Levy—the Levy who doubted and made mistakes, who always thought twice before taking a step or making a decision; the Levy who wished she could understand everything and everyone as easily as she did the books she read every night. His eyes could see right into the deepest confines of her soul; she knew they could touch it if they so wished so too. Sometimes, she felt like he could sense her essence, the most vulnerable and intimate part of herself. What bewildered her the most was that she, too, could sense him, the real man behind those iron scales.

Iron scales, the thought reverberated in her mind. She could remember the day she saw the spell for the fist time as if it had been yesterday. Jellal had sent her to look for him, and she had found him training in the empty classroom in which he taught self-defense. All classrooms had been sealed with Freed's magic to contain the magic spells practiced within them, allowing mages to use their magic without the fear of destroying anything or exposing the location of their headquarters. The room was dimly lit, and as she entered it, her eyes caught several glints of something moving quickly within the shadows. She had first assumed it had been Pantherlily's sword, but a moment later, the dragon-slayer was standing before her, his skin turned shiny and brassy.

The sight fascinated her, and she found her hand moving up to touch it without her permission. Her fingers glided through the metallic scales on his right arm softly before he moved back quickly and asked her what she wanted. She had heard anger and confusion in his tone of voice, and, ignoring his question, chose to inquire about the spell he was using. A spell she just intuited to be protective in nature. As he averted his gaze and stepped back into the darkness, she had realized he had felt uncomfortable at showing her that other part of himself, his less human side. She had smiled gently at him, and chosen to voice her thoughts as she looked at him straight in the eye, telling him the biological armor suited him.

She liked the way he looked clothed in dragon scales, perhaps even more so than his human skin, but she wouldn't tell him that. She hadn't said so then, and she wouldn't do it now, but that dragon part of him excited her. It was like nothing she had ever seen. She thought it was beautiful and terrifying at the same time, strong and vulnerable, impenetrable yet destroyable with the touch of a finger. Her finger.

His initial shock had worn off after her words, and he had allowed her to touch his arm again. His scaled skin felt rough, hard, yet her fingers glided through it smoothly, uninterruptedly. It was warm as well, reminding her it was a part of him and not just the cold metallic armor it mimicked. He carried his armor within him, and could never take if off and lay it aside to rest. It formed an intrinsic part of him. He was a soldier, a warrior, by nature.

They had exchanged gazes, and, in that moment, she had felt as if nothing else in their world mattered. She had noticed he had wanted to say something, to break the silence, but she heard Jet's voice out in the hallway and watched him move away from her. The moment broken, she had sighed and relayed Jellal's message, exiting the room just in time to bump into Jet's chest. The speed mage had put his arm around her shoulders and guided her towards the kitchen, where Droy was waiting for them.

Gajeel and she spoke to each other without opening their mouths, and Levy had gotten to know him through several instances similar to the one in the classroom. Or the one at the park. Or the one in the corridor that led to the infirmary room… But they had only been that, snapshots. Broken moments that were constantly interrupted by others around them. The arrival of the mysterious blue-haired healer had made their interactions more frequent, even if she knew there was something about the girl he was hiding from her. She had immediately felt the need to take care of the younger girl, to get to know her. The strange feeling was similar, but not the same, and never as intense and enrapturing, as it was with him. She had tried to ask if anyone else had experienced a similar phenomenon to the one she felt every time she was near Gajeel, but no one seemed to even understand what she meant. Their puzzled faces looked back at her as if she was speaking in a foreign tongue, and eventually she had given up.

Levy sighed, perhaps she should ask Gajeel about it. Something told her he felt it too. Her fingers fisted in her hair as she groaned. "Why…" she murmured to herself, "Why can't I stop feeling this way? …Why can't I stop thinking about him?"

Lucy walked into the room, walking directly to the bed and placing Happy on the mattress. Her eyes wandered around, and they widened as they came upon a door. She came closer to it, opening it quickly. Her muscles relaxed as she exhaled loudly. "Finally," she said mostly to herself, and turned to find Happy eyeing her amusedly. She let a soft giggle out, reading the cat's thoughts. "It's been a really long time since I've had a bath in my own privy chamber," she explained. "I was so used to them at the castle…"

Happy smiled at her and cuddled onto a pillow, watching her remove the hood of her cloak in the corner of his eye. "I won't be long," he heard her say, and he purred in response. He was tired, and he couldn't remember how long ago he had slept in a softer place. This bed was amazing, begging him to collapse on it and surrender to its sleeping spell. As he drifted off, he thought he had heard her laugh again at his actions, but he couldn't be sure. Sleep had taken over him too quickly for him to really bother with it.

Lucy stared at the snoring cat with a smile and a quirked eyebrow. He had fallen asleep in less than thirty seconds. He hadn't even completed his sentence as he tried to make fun of her for her unusual excitement at having a proper bath. She shook her head, unbuttoning her cloak carefully as she walked into the privy chamber. She closed the door and turned on the water, testing its temperature while invoking Virgo to ask for a change of clothes. The spirit came and went quickly, announcing on behalf of all her spirits their relief at her being in Fairy Tail safe and sound. She thanked her, folding her grandfather's cloak and putting it on an empty stool next to the sink cabinet, and then stepped into the shower.

She smiled at the feeling of the hot water running down her body, her hands working on undoing her braids. Once done, she let her head soak under the showerhead. She turned the knob, raising the water's temperature and immediately sighing at the feeling of the hot liquid flowing down her body. There was so much that needed to be done, to be said. With a second sigh, she hurried, washing her hair and body quickly.

She had to talk to Natsu. She couldn't keep these secrets any longer. It was selfish of her. Now that they were here, ready to fight as they had promised, there were no more excuses for delaying the inevitable. She let out a defeated breath as she switched off the water, running her hands through her hair to get rid of the excess water. It was time… And when she stepped out of the privy chamber, Natsu was already inside the room, waiting for her. Their gazes locked instantly.

Natsu had come back into the room to find Happy profoundly asleep on the bed. He could hear the water running in the other room, and the faint scent he had missed so much had started to make its way to his nose. He inhaled deeply, incapable of withholding the smile that instinctively appeared on his face. He took his vest off and placed it on a nearby chair, which was quickly followed by his sandals. He looked around the room, finding a large pillow in one of the room's corners and immediately realizing it had been meant for Happy.

He walked to the bed and picked the Exceed up, dropping him as carefully as he could onto his intended bed and laughing when he heard him purr and curl on the newfound soft material. Just as he was turning to head back to the bed, he heard the noise of the door opening behind him, finding Lucy making her way into the room. She immediately met his black eyes and froze in her spot.

He took a deep breath, reveling in the warm feeling that came over his body as her unhindered scent invaded the room. He stared at her in a dazed silence. She was overwhelmingly beautiful. He had been craving to see her, smell her, touch her; and he felt his heart beat franticly in his chest, pushing him forward, aching to approach her. Her drizzled skin glinted lightly in the candle-lit room, enlivened by the heat of the water. Her hair was almost down to her waist, curling wetly around her face and shoulders, shining as it had always done. She was barefoot, and wore a short azure skirt that reached just above her mid thighs and a white sleeveless shirt she had lazily buttoned up, missing two of the buttons at the bottom and three at the top. She was taller than he remembered, and his eyes lingered on her body as they examined her feminine curves. He was absolutely entranced.

Before he knew it, he was standing right in front of her, his hands sliding up her arms, making their way up to her face. He smiled affectionately at her, and her head tilted back a little so she could still look him in the eye, returning the tender gesture in the same caring manner and letting her hands rest on his upper arms.

"Lucy," he whispered, his lips barely moving. "I've missed seeing your face," he continued as his hands caressed her cheeks.

She closed her eyes at the touch, gasping softly and her fingers tensing on his arms.

His hands moved up, his fingers combing her wet tresses. "And the feeling of your hair on my fingers."

She opened her eyes as soon as she felt his hands leave her face, immediately relaxing her hold of him. Her thumbs began to rub smooth, faint circles over his skin, eliciting a light and shocked startle from him.

As he felt her caresses, his hands fell down to her exposed shoulders. "Of your skin."

She watched him intently, letting him follow his dragon impulses and commands. She knew he needed to. She had noticed he had been controlling himself since they had reunited, knowing that keeping herself completely hidden had had its toll on him. It must have been hard for him to know she was so close, yet not be able to sense her at all. "Natsu," she ventured to say.

"And the sound of your voice," he interrupted, placing his right index finger on her mouth, "saying my name." His finger brushed her lower lip before his hand returned to her shoulder. He slid the back of his fingers down her arm.

"And your scent," he continued, slowly lowering his head until he couldn't hold her gaze, then closing his eyes as he buried his nose in her neck.

Her eyes fell shut as she felt him nuzzling the nape of her neck. She leaned her head on his, his soft, wild locks caressing her left cheek.

"So much," his muffled voice stated. "So damn much."

Her hands dropped from his arms, and taking a slight step forward, she wrapped her arms around his waist. "Me, too," she mumbled, squeezing him tighter while trying her hardest to keep her tears at bay, yet two stubborn ones had already left her eyes. She felt his left arm snake over her shoulder and slid up her neck and into her hair. His fingers massaged her scalp as they moved up and down the back of her head. She stepped closer and tightened the embrace, feeling his right arm trapped between their heaving chests and his nose still caressing her skin. She held onto him a while longer before she finally resolved to let go.

"Natsu," she whispered, almost stuttering, "we need to talk."

He raised his head, leaving the warmth and comfort of her neck with one last run of his nose down her skin. He found her eyes as both of his hands rested on her cheeks. "Tomorrow," he said softly. "Please… Just one more night…"

Her gaze softened, and the trepidation in her eyes disappeared. Her right hand slowly found its way to his cheek, caressing it once before cupping it gently. She couldn't fight him, not tonight. She also wanted just one more peaceful night, one last night of deep and tranquil sleep. She had waited for years, another night wouldn't make that much of a difference. Perhaps Gajeel was right. The conversation that awaited them was a long and painful one. They needed the rest.

She gave him one last smile as she nodded. "All right. I…" She averted her gaze and took a step back, watching him as he walked to the bed without saying another word. Natsu ran a hand through his hair, and then plopped onto the mattress. She followed quietly, sitting on the bed with her back to him as she started to braid her hair.

"What are you doing?" he asked, intrigued, seconds later.

Lucy giggled, turning her head to see the dragon-slayer lying behind her. "I'm braiding my hair for the night. It gets all crazy in the morning if I don't," she explained, returning to her task.

He watched silently as her fingers expertly pulled strands over strands of hair until she finished. She then lay next to him, lifting her arms to let his curl around her torso. She smiled as she leaned back onto his chest, feeling him nuzzling her head as she did so. "I also wanted another night like this," she finally admitted in a low voice. "Without the pressure of everything else…"

He tightened his hold of her, searching for the top of her forehead before kissing it. "This won't be the last one," he murmured back. "I promise."

She closed her eyes and leaned into him. "Then, I promise, too," she added, feeling his lips curve into a smile at her words.

They fell into a deep sleep, both knowing they would keep this promise, just like every other one they'd made to each other.

So... How was it? Please, don't forget to let me know what you all thought.
And, there you have it. A little bit of insight into Jellal's past and curse, and some Wendy time, do expect to see her more often. A look into Levy's mind, that will prompt her to search out Gajeel; so let's start getting ready for the GaLe romance to set sail. And, finally, fairy tale time is over. It's now time for Lucy and Natsu to have that very serious conversation. Major revelations are coming up in the next few chapters. Meaning, everything they know, they will share with each other. And I do mean all those things Lucy found out in chapter 8, and what Layla told her in chapter 10.

So, chapter 18 is titled "The Warrior and the Guardian," and I'm sorry to say I'll leave you hanging on why the chapter's titled that way; I'm not ruining the surprise. Instead, I will give you an preview of dear little Iwan dealing with Mahli:

Mahli yelped, bending his body forward on reflex, and the Duke continued. "Make up your mind. You are either loyal to me or to the King." He walked closer to him, placing his hand heavily on the injured shoulder and pressing it brusquely. "I'll gladly let you return to Vesta if you choose to join the King,"—his grip tightened—"but you'll have to do it without your right arm."

With another snap, the paper stalactite grew wider, cutting more flesh. Blood streamed out of the wound, darkening Mahli's dirty shirt, sliding through his gray pants, and quickly forming a puddle by his feet.

"I doubt you'd be any good to Astarot if you can't hold a sword, though," Iwan finished, his eyes glowering irately at his prisoner.

So, there it is! And I promise you you'll see Iwan through new eyes once you read that entire scene.
Till next time, make sure to keep an eye on my profile for updating news!

Thanks again, dear readers, for an amazing year for "The Fire that Binds Us." You are amazing!