#blueleis

A gentle hand cupped her shoulder, spreading warmth through her freezing body. A glance to her right confirmed Mira was staring at her with a small, forlorn smile on her face, the barmaid’s hair done up nicely. Mira wore a golden gown that plunged deep both in the front and the back, but not deep enough to expose more than a hint of cleavage. Erza had no doubt in her mind that Mira would be at the forefront of every man’s thoughts as soon as they walked through the entrance of the ballroom, though Laxus may have something to say about that. 

“You look as troubled as you’re pretending like you’re not,” Mira murmured, sympathetically. The redhead cursed herself mentally for being unable to suppress her tumultuous emotions. For being unable to face him with a bright smile on her face and with nothing but encouragement. She couldn’t, she couldn’t act like her heart wasn’t on the verge of shattering. 

“Mira, please, I don’t,,,” she paused, not knowing what exactly she was asking of her friend. Childhood rivals turned best friends, she and Mira hid nothing from one another. They laughed together, fought together...they understood each other wholly. But this? This was one of those times she truly wished Mira would overlook her dampened spirits. Leave her be as she was. “I can’t. Not tonight. It’s not fair, to us or to him.”

It was true. Tonight was about Jellal, the long-lost heir to Alvarez’s throne and the princess Hisui’s fiancee. It was to celebrate their...reunion, and imminent marriage. She hadn’t seen him since the news had been broken to her, but for that she was grateful. She wasn’t sure if she could stop the tears. 

Stop it, Erza, she scolded herself. You knew, someday, you knew...you knew he was destined for great things the day you met him. You cannot pine for a man who has a responsibility to so many people, to another.

Mira pulled away slightly, a frown marring her features before the expression hardened into one of disapproval. Erza, expecting the sudden turn, cast her eyes downwards in shame. She was a coward. She was a coward and Mira was calling her out on it, silently or not. 

The rest of their guild carried on around them, rambunctious and cheery. Only Laxus spared them a glance, staring at Erza’s hunched form for a moment before locking eyes with Mira. Silent words were exchanged, and the man turned away with a small sigh. It hurt him to see the normally vigorous woman in such a desolate state, but there was nothing he nor Mira nor anyone else in their guild could do anymore. It all came down to them. 

“At least try and appear to act neutral tonight while you mingle, for some sense of normalcy,” Mira whispered, pressing a soft kiss to the crown of her head. Erza offered her a genuine smile at the action, a burst of warmth seeping into her heart at the protective way Mira had her tucked into her side. Bless her, she was trying to shield Erza from the pain of dealing with a room full of people, a room full of people who knew nothing of her past with their new king. As if the pain was external rather than internal; bloodied gashes instead of her soul’s keening wails of agony. 

“Hey, Erza?”

Both ladies looked up at the sound of someone’s hesitant calling. Gray, by the looks of it, but they had everyone’s attention. Even Natsu had lapsed into a rare bout of silence, staring in worry at his teammate, who seemed so small in Mira’s arms. 

“Are you alright?” Gray continued, voice uncharacteristically gentle. He didn’t like to see any of his family upset, but to see Erza of all people so openly distraught tore at his insides in a way that had him vying for blood. Erza should never have to look that upset. 

It was in that moment, surrounded by the collective concerns of the entirety of her guild, that she came to a decision. It was the way everyone looked ready to crawl to the ends of the earth to make her feel better, the way everyone looked so pained at the prospect of Erza hurting. It was the way her family loved her, wholeheartedly and fiercely. 

It was in that moment that she decided she would have to let him go.

“I’m fine, Gray, thank you for asking,” she smiled affectionately at the ice-mage before turning her attention to her friends. “Now, weren’t you all complaining about being hungry? Why have we stopped? I’m starving.”

Slowly but surely, the group continued on their way to the main hall, eager for food and the party that awaited them. They lapsed back into a warm lull of mindless chatter, and Erza was content in following alongside Mira and Laxus as they approached the white-oak doors. 

The two guards standing vigil nodded at the group known as Fairy Tail, before pulling the doors open in a great show of bright light. Once their eyes were adjusted to the sparkling chandeliers, they took in the glamour of the scene with awe, careful to keep their jaws shut as they slowly clambered in. 

Jellal was quick to notice Fairy Tail’s arrival. Not only had he been waiting for their appearance, but they were undoubtedly the largest group to come in at once, as a collective whole. Despite Hisui continuing the conversation, his eyes sought out the one person he had been waiting for. 

She wore a burgundy-coloured gown, the chiffon overlay sweeping the floor as she strode into the room. A sweetheart neckline left the porcelain skin of her collarbone barren, save for the thin wisps of lace that curled up against the concave gently. He drank in the sight of his beloved, not even noticing how he had unconsciously began to smile until Cobra nudged him back to reality.

“Jellal? Is everything...alright?” Hisui asked hesitantly, eyes searching his face before attempting to find what had him smiling so truly. Hisui was no stranger to politics, and was no stranger to the difference between a courteous smile and a genuine smile. Someone in the room had her fiancee’s rapt attention, and the prospect sparked her curiosity. 

As her eyes sought out the person of his affections, they landed on Fairy Tail, the large group sticking together even with the mass of people already in the room. But who, specifically? Another glance back at Jellal had her narrowing down the list in her mind, and finally she realized who it was.

Jellal was staring at Titania. 

“Everything is fine, Hisui, my apologies,” he told her, blinking a few times before returning his gaze to the princess. “I haven’t seen Fairy Tail since the final battle ended, and I was just wondering if Er-if they were all fine.”

His near slip of the tongue only confirmed her suspicions. Her heart went out to the man who was so clearly enamoured with Titania, and by the piteous looks his guild members were sending his way they felt his pain as well.

“Why don’t you go speak to them,” she suggested kindly. “I must go find my father and speak with him privately about some pressing matters.”

He opened his mouth, trying to find the words to express his gratitude, but he simply nodded and rose from his seat, moving so quickly some may have thought he was running.

“Erza!”

Her heart dropped into the pit of her stomach at the familiar voice, calling out for her with such need, such desperation. Mira sent her an equally distraught look, but before she could formulate a plan to remove herself from the situation, he had gently grabbed her arms and spun her around. Right into his embrace.

“Erza,” he whispered into her hair. 

It was an instinctive reaction to finally seeing her after day after day of fierce battle. He was pleased to notice there were no visible injuries; the relief washing over him was so strong it nearly brought him to his knees. 

“Jellal,” she muttered back, before softly shaking off his hold and stepping away from him. The sudden distance left him cold and disorientated, and with a frown he finally took in the look on her face.

Despair. Painstakingly obvious agony, painted all over her lovely features. It didn’t take much for him to realize she knew about the age-old engagement, and it took even less for his heart to break at the idea of Erza hurting over the news.

“Can we step out onto the balcony?” He asked her quietly, stepping backwards. She looked back up at him, noting the change in tone, and upon registering the sombre look on his face she nodded hesitantly. Taking her by the hand, he led them through the crowds and onto one of the many balconies branching off from the ballroom. It was then and only then he let go of her hand, and the loss of contact brought on a wave of shivers.

“You know of the engagement between Hisui and I,” he didn’t pose the words as a question, but merely a statement. His theories were confirmed as she nodded, eyes fluttering shut for but a moment before they opened again, steely resolve setting her amber irises aflame. 

“Indeed,” Erza turned away from him, instead opting to head towards the railing overlooking the gardens. “When’s the wedding?”

“Erza...please, can we talk about this?” Jellal pleaded from where he stood. The fine cracks in his heart were spreading, cutting deeper and deeper with every passing moment. A foolish part of him had thought...maybe, just maybe...

“So I guess you weren’t lying on the beach,” she gave him a humourless chuckle, glancing over her shoulder at his prone form. “You really did have a fiancee.”

“I didn’t know-”

“Jellal, you were always meant for greatness,” she cut him off, voice unbearably soft. She felt her eyes burning, felt the inevitable tears making their first appearance of the night. Still, she fought to keep them from falling. “Always. I knew this, the others knew this, we all knew. Even in the darkness of the tower, you had this light about you. A light...that shone brighter than any sin committed in that tower. You were meant to rule, Jellal, you were meant to rule with a princess by your side.”

“I never wanted any of this!” In a rare burst of frustration, he flung his arms out as he shouted desperately at the redhead. Why couldn’t she see what he was trying to say? Why was she standing there, with a look of utmost heartbreak on her face and pretending like he didn’t care? Without giving her a chance to reply, he strode over to where she stood, reaching out to cup her face and pull her flush against him. She pressed herself against his front with no resistance, relishing the warmth he radiated with a dry sob. 

“I never wanted any of this,” he repeated, sounding infinitely tired. Above them, the stars seemed to flicker, dulling in comparison to the lights from the ballroom. “All I ever wanted, Erza, was to be a good enough man for you. To be the man you deserved, to be the one who could love you freely and openly and wholeheartedly, with no burdens or regrets. No castle, no kingdom, no princess can compare to the prospect of us. Us, living happily, freely. Us, with children, with a small cottage wherever you wished for it. Us, Erza, us. That was all I ever wanted.”

She stared up at him, equal parts endeared and pained. He still held her close, close enough for her to see the weight his words held. As she stood there silently, digesting his proclamation, Jellal brushed a few stray locks of hair out of her face, instinctively dropping a kiss atop her forehead. The next words to tumble from his lips were almost habitual, a phrase he always said in his head whenever they crossed paths. But never out loud, never to her face.

“I love you, Erza.”

And with that, a dam within her broke. 

Lurching forward in his hold, Erza reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down to her level and burying her face in the crook of his shoulder. Without so much as missing a beat, Jellal’s freed hands pulled her closed by the waist, and he buried his face into her hair. It was not lost on either of them, the effort it took not to cry.

“I love you too, Jellal,” she whispered into his ear. “Forever, unburdened, freely.”

At her confession, he pulled back slightly, reaching up to tip her chin upwards so he could press his lips to hers firmly. She responded quickly, and the two of them got lost in the warmth of each other, of their love and the short amount of time they had left together. It felt so right, to be holding her in his arms. It felt just as right to be in his arms, to feel safe and whole with the only man who could ever hold her heart. With the only man who knew every part of her, every part of her soul. This was Jellal, her first and only love. Her other half. 

“It’s a good thing we decided to separate the coronation and the wedding, Jellal.”

At the sound of the familiar, amused voice, the duo broke apart quickly. There, in the doorway of the balcony, were their guilds and Hisui, all of them wearing matching grins. The entangled couple blushed crimson, embarrassed to have been caught in such a compromising position, but it was lost on no one how they didn’t let go of each other. 

“You know, Jellal,” Hisui continued, a teasing smile on her lips. “If you had told me that you were so in love with someone else in the first place, I daresay we could’ve avoided Titania’s sorrows earlier on in the night.”

He blinked at her, somewhat dumbfounded. It was too good to be true, but it sounded like...

”Princess, are you saying...the engagement is...?”

“Dissolved, yes,” Hisui rolled her eyes playfully. “I wasn’t going to force you to marry me, not when you’re clearly meant for someone else. I would be doing us all a great disservice if I took you away from Miss Scarlet.”

He let loose a wild laugh, the amplitude of her deed settling into his bones. He was freed from his obligations to marry the Fiore princess. He could love Erza freely, as she deserved. 

He turned back to her.

“Marry me.”

Shouts of surprise, glee, and general noises of shock rose behind him from their families, but all he could see and hear was Erza. Her eyes had widened at the question, filled with tears yet again, but he simply lifted her hands up, entwining their fingers. 

“Marry me, Erza.”

A heartbeat passed. Then another, and another, and it was as the fourth was passing that she threw herself into his arms, a mess of tears and sobbing and ‘yes, oh god yes’. 

It was then he swore that he would never let any harm come to her. Erza, who was a pure, ethereal goddess among the darkness of their lives. Of what his life had continued to be, after the tower. She deserved no less than holy devotion, no less than the purest form of love. And he would give it to her.