This is a fanfic based on the origins of the meaning behind the Best Man…its probably completely historically inaccurate. This is a complete work of fiction.
Disclaimer: Any and all characters, songs, etc belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
*O*X*O*X*
The little girl sat in the large field humming as she played with the stems of flowers. Her tiny fingers wrapped and tied the wildflowers together making a chain to rest upon a head. Her brown waist length hair blew behind her, picked up from the summer breeze coming down from the surrounding mountains.
Her sister was getting married today and she was making a wildflower crown for her sister Angela. She so wished to surprise her.
As Isabella finished her gift she glanced up to see clouds full of rain slowly rolling down the hills surrounding her small village. Her eyes narrowed at the clouds as she wished them away for the celebration.
She stood and her skirts swished together the fabric just cleaned for the special day.
Then with little quick feet she loped through the field with the headdress of wildflowers held tenderly between her fingers.
Her grin was gapped from the loss of baby teeth, excitement danced through her veins.
She saw the festivities beginning as various flowers and cloth were hung. The town's center boasted tables and benches with a large feast spread. The men were dressed in their best along with their swords, daggers and clubs kept at their sides.
Isabella giggled as she rushed to her home where Angela her darling sister was dressing in her white gown. When Isabella brushed back the curtain that opened to their shared room Angela glanced at her with a beaming smile.
"Isabella, my sweet," Angela greeted, and held her arms open.
Isabella ran to Angela and engulfed her sister in her tiny arms.
"I brought you something, a gift for your most beautiful day," Isabella said, she pulled back and held out the headdress of wild white flowers.
Angela gasped and snapped her watery grateful eyes to Isabella. Bella always had a talent with nature; she could turn mud into a masterpiece.
"Oh it's lovely, Bella," Angela whispered in awe, and grasped the circlet gently in her fingers.
Angela bent forward and placed the piece on her head.
Bella clasped her hands together in excitement her eyes shining with love for her sister.
"Oh Angela, its perfect," Bella said sincerely, and gripped her sisters hands.
Angela just turned eighteen this summer. Bella was twelve years younger. Angela's mother died in childbirth and Bella's mother passed away from fever last winter.
Ben a village warrior asked for Angela's hand just as her birthday passed.
Charlie the father of the sisters gladly accepted the proposal for his eldest daughter.
Ben was a great warrior and will be a wonderful provider.
Bella and Angela gripped hands as they walked out the front door together.
Angela's smile beamed as she saw Ben and his fellow band of warriors throwing daggers into a nearby tree. The warriors and men of the village went against each other in little tournaments.
Charlie saw his eldest daughter and smiled proudly as he brought her forth to give his praise.
"Bella," little Michael called out. He and Bella were best friends.
She smiled at him, eyes shining with mischief. They got into more trouble than any other kids in the village.
They giggled together during the ceremony. Both received reprimanding gazes from their fathers. Angela gazed at Bella with nothing but adoration as Bella's giggles drifted across the silent gathering during the ceremony.
As the celebration went on for the newlyweds everyone was feasting and laughing until the sound of hoof prints clamoring together was heard.
The ground beneath them vibrated from the incoming stampede.
The crowd panicked and started trampling each other to get away. It was another tribe.
Michael grabbed Bella's hand and led her to the back of the crowd. He picked up his own sword he has been learning on as he stood defensively in front of his best friend.
Bella glanced around frantically, her eyes swept over the frightened faces of the villagers trying to find her beloved sister.
The warriors stood in front of their village, their stances guarded, and weapons drawn.
Bella saw a frightened Angela gripping onto Ben's side.
Every one gasped as they saw the feared King of Goths and his tribe gliding into the village with their armored chests and horses.
They were the most feared men in the land. Bella cried out recognizing their ornate looking beast stamped and sewn into their shields and cloth. Her father drew it into the dirt every summer with warning.
"Shhh Bella, it will be okay," Michael whispered soothingly, as he kept his piecing gaze on the incoming men.
The leader who dressed fancier than the others pulled the reigns of his stallion making it halt directly in front of the wall of warriors.
The village was clearly outnumbered by the other tribe. Women held crying babies to their breast murmuring prayers for protection.
The leader hopped off his stallion and surged forth grabbing his helmet and releasing his face for all the frightened to see.
Bella cried out as she saw his scarred devilish face.
He had white blonde hair, the coldest calculating eyes and a scar running from temple to chin grazing over his eye making his left clouded.
"Hear me my fellow men, we wish for female companionship and do not wish to fight for them," he bellowed commandingly, it held a warning, causing the women and some men to cry out in opposition.
This command caused the warriors guarding the village to growl in their own warning.
The remaining men riding on horses dismounted, their weapons already drawn.
"You have no right!" Ben screamed, devastated that his Angela would surely be picked and he would never see her again.
Other tribes were known to come in and take women because they have non available for themselves. Everyone knew this; it was also known the Kings tribe was the vilest towards its women.
The evil leader threw his head back and howled in amusement.
His men took off their helmets and dropped them at their feet.
The leader swept his hand forward giving his men the go ahead to take what they want.
The warriors surged forth in warning. Angela rushed passing the village warriors and fell to the ground on her knees in front of the other tribe. Halting all men in their place, they watched as Angela openly sobbed.
"Please, good sir, I beg you to take me. Spare my husband and his men and I will go without a fight," she begged, with clasped hands as if she were in prayer.
Ben whimpered as Angela glanced back at him with a beseeching look.
It was completely silent as everyone took in the scene before them. The warriors knew they didn't stand a chance. Angela probably saved the entire village from being massacred.
Bella wailed, it echoed all around them, and fled forward now understanding what was happening. All heads snapped in her direction as she ran for her sister, pushing frozen bodies from fright out of the way in her plight.
She dropped to her knees next her sister. Bella's brown eyes released a steady stream of tears and pleadingly took Angela's clasped hands.
"Please, please no," Bella implored, but it was futile. She didn't understand they were going to take her sister no matter what; she hasn't been subjected to the evil hearts of men yet. Her innocent heart didn't want to understand.
The leader looked on with a smirk on his lips, and amusement shined in his eyes.
His young son a few years older than Bella watched her with a heavy heart, his green eyes squinted in confusion. He has never seen anything more beautiful, the young girls who looked like sisters made his breath catch.
"Edward, my son," the leader Carlisle called out for his young son with an open waving palm.
Edward walked forward his eyes never leaving the sisters.
"This son is called love," Carlisle openly chortled, some of his men joined in.
Edward found nothing amusing about this scene splayed before him.
Carlisle leaned into his son as he whispered loud enough for most hear, "Do you want to take the young one Edward? She could be all yours in a few years time; you could do anything to her. I plan on showing her sister love," Carlisle sneered the last word. "You can show the girl the same when she is a woman."
Some men snickered behind Carlisle and Edward as Charlie looked on in hopelessness.
Edward swallowed harshly his eyes trained on the tiny girl sobbing openly not paying attention to anyone but her sister. Then his eyes slowly moved to the woman dressed in a white gown. Her big brown eyes caught his and held nothing but a plea for her young sister.
Edward's heart clenched not understanding this devotion.
With Edward's silence to what he thought was a confirmation to his delusions, Carlisle roughly patted his sons back making Edward stumble slightly forward.
"Take a good look at the girl Edward we'll be back," whispered Carlisle, so only Edward could hear.
Carlisle then stomped forward and gripped Bella's hair tightly making her scream in pain as he pulled her up. He made the sisters separate, he groaned in pleasure listening to their tormented screams.
Angela cried with a dry raspy scream and fell forward letting her face weep into the ground.
Edward stood back his fury building as he saw his father grab the young girl with such force, but this wasn't the first time Edward has seen something like this, so he kept back.
"Run along little girl," Carlisle smiled menacingly at Bella and dropped her. "See you soon."
Angela was now quiet as Carlisle pulled her roughly by her arm to him. She wouldn't give him the pleasure of crying out for him. He staggered off towards his horse roughly throwing Angela on top.
Ben thrashed as he screamed for mercy, as his men held him back knowing the whole village would be slaughtered if the men fought this day.
Ben's screams traveled through the village as women were pulled roughly to the sides of the evil men, with tears streaming down their faces.
Some men licked the salty trails of desperation, as others openly groped.
Edward stood back and kept his eyes on the young wailing brunette.
Suddenly a sword swung in front of Edward's chest making him step back with a glare.
"Stay away from Bella, you monster," a little boy screeched at Edward with determined eyes.
Edward smirked knowing he could pull his sword and slit the boy open before the boy even knew it happened.
Then his eyes went to Bella. "Bella," he whispered to himself, committing it to memory.
The little boy kept his eyes on Edward as he reached for Bella with a gentle hand.
Edward's brows furrowed and his belly burned, he felt heat rush through him. His thoughts were murderous as he saw the little boy touch Bella.
The little boy shook a little, his eyes catching Edward's livid scowl.
"Come Bella," Michael whispered, as Bella stood.
Edward sucked in lungful of air because at that moment Bella's brown eyes met his.
Her eyes held nothing but agony, he saw her chin and bottom lip quiver.
Then they were off, the little boy and Bella ran so fast he rushed forward to follow, but bodies stood in his way.
When he got past the villagers and his fathers men he growled in fury because he couldn't see her anywhere.
His eyes swept back and forth trying to catch her face.
"You cannot run from me forever little Bella," Edward promised with a snarl.