The large wooden door opened and closed quietly. I immediately tensed from where I was sitting on the carpet by the fire.
"Good evening my king." I greeted standing up.
The man looked to me and smiled with warm green eyes. He looked tired, but not extremely tired.
The king, Edward Cullen was my husband. I myself was an orphaned peasant that lived in the small town just outside of London. At least I was that orphaned girl. Edward had taken an interest in marrying and had chosen me as his bride. Of course I was elated but I was also fearful. He was a kind man but in the 3 months that we had been married to each other I had only been used for my body. Although it was a wife's duty to please her husband, I couldn't help but hope that someday he just might love me.
"Good evening Isabella." He greeted as I approached him.
When I did approach him I turned my back to him so he could untie my corset. This was a daily routine. He would undress me, take me to bed where he would make love to me and then fall asleep beside me. Except for the days when my feminism showed, it was something that I had experienced time and time again.
"How was your day?" I asked getting pleasantries out of the way.
"It was tolerable." He replied.
"How was yours?" He asked pulling the dress off my body when we were by the bed. I shivered as the cold air hit me and his eyes clouded in lust.
"Pleasant" I replied.
He wasn't gentle, he usually never was. His lust was an overwhelming sensation. He bit down roughly on my breast and I bit down on my lip to the point of drawing blood so I didn't scream in pain. As soon as he came to his release, he brought me to mine and then fell asleep beside me, with his lower body tangled in the sheets, exposing his upper body. He was quite strong and muscular but lanky.
He was beautiful.
I brushed the bronze hair that had matted down on his forehead from the sweat and slipped out of bed pulling a night gown on. Once I did so, I stepped out onto the balcony. I was the queen of all this. It was hard to believe. I didn't even know if I was fit to be the queen of these people, especially when the girls I grew up with shot me nasty looks. Before I usually went unnoticed, now even the elderly that used to come over to my house to borrow a cup of sugar now treated me like I was a stranger, someone who they had to succumb to.
I hated it. I also planned on changing that.
A sudden wave of sadness washed over me and I couldn't stop the silent tears that made a red hot trail down my cheeks. I didn't even understand why I was crying, it was so sudden.
"Isabella?" I heard a soft voice from behind me.
I hastily wiped my tears and turned around to find Edward in a pair of loose pants and a night shirt that hung loosely on his broad shoulders. I smiled weakly at him.
"I'm sorry did I wake you?" I asked quietly.
"No, but I am glad I did." He answered.
I tilted in my head in confusion.
"Come, it is cold out here." He murmured not bothering to acknowledge my silent question as he lifted me into his arms effortlessly and took us back into the room, kicking the balcony door shut with his foot. He set me down on the armchair by the fireplace and lit a fire. The dark room dimly lit up as the fire lit up in gold flames warming my body already.
When he turned back to me I got up out of the chair and dropped quite ungracefully to the ground as he sat down on the armchair I had just occupied.
"Do you not wish to sit with me?" he asked.
"It would not be proper of me." I said blushing deeply at my ungraceful act.
He rose from the chair and lowered himself onto the carpet beside me, closer to the fire than I was.
"My lord." I whispered in shock as I watched him settle beside me.
"Please stop calling me that." He muttered.
"Call you what?" I questioned.
"My king, my lord; the various other formalities I detest." He trailed off.
"What do you expect me to call you then?" I asked.
"Edward, just Edward."
"but-" I started but he cut me off by placing his finger on my lips.
"Please?" he asked softly.
His eyes held a soft vulnerability I had never noticed or seen in his eyes.
"Then you must call me Bella." I finally whispered.
"Bella" he breathed caressing my face allowing me to shift a little closer to him.
"It suits you" he finally commented.
I managed to crack a smile.
"Now why were you crying?" he asked setting his hand back in his lap.
"Old memories of my parents before they died." I murmured.
"I'm sorry." He said with a sympathetic smile.
"It's alright." I mumbled weakly.
He tugged my hand pulling me closer to him and caressed my cheek again giving me a gentle look as I smiled gently at him. I felt like a new barrier had been broken down between us. His hand left my cheek to trail down my neck and finger my collarbone before he watched me as he untied the ribbon holding the upper portion of my nightgown together.
I silently watched him as his fingers brushed the left side of my gown down to reveal my left breast. His fingers traced the swollen nub and bite marks than left my skin an angry colour of red.
"I never meant to hurt you." He whispered tracing the angry red marks. I looked up at him. He still kept his eyes on my breast, tracing it with his finger.
"My lust overtook me, fight training was extremely brutal today and I burdened you by hurting you. I tried to get you to scream or make a single sound of discomfort to try and wake me from this stupor but nothing." He said, his voice getting just louder than a whisper.
"It is a wife's duty to make sure her husband is content." I whispered.
"It is also a person's duty to make sure they are not hurt." He murmured finally lifting his eyes to meet mine. I shivered as a sudden wave of cold air hit the vast room and he motioned me to come closer to his side. I pulled the night gown up my shoulders, covering my breast and shuffled closer to him. He pulled me to his side with a strong arm and kept it wrapped around my shoulders as I hesitantly laid my head on his shoulder reveling in the warmth his body provided.
His hand slowly rubbed my arm in effort to warm me up. Goosebumps appeared on my arms, not from the cold though. His gentle affectionate gesture had me on edge. I hadn't ever experienced gentle gestures from a man.
My father hadn't been one to provide someone with affectionate gestures and I had no relatives of any sort. Men spoke to me with the intention of getting me into their bed or it were elderly men who spoke to me as someone to pass the time with. I had never been one to be taken care of either; I was usually the one who took care of someone. I liked these displays of affection though.
Involuntarily I cuddled closer to him wanting this warmth spreading through me to last. He saw my intention of moving closer and effortlessly pulled me to sit on his lap. I looked up at him in wonder and he gave me a gentle smile in return. I returned it with a timid smile and allowed my head to lie on his chest, hearing his heartbeat beneath my cheek. His arms wrapped around me holding me to his chest as his cheek rested on the top of my head. We had sat there for a while; Edward had stroked the fire a few times to keep it going and had even lit it again. He turned to find me yawning for the third time in the last 10 minutes and held his hand out for me to take.
When I hesitantly took it and he lifted me up to a standing position then proceeded to lift me up into his arms and walk to the bed where he laid me down on my side and then circled the front of the bed before sliding in himself. Once he got in he tugged my hand pulling me closer to his body underneath the thick comforters.
I looked up at him as he leaned down so his mouth could take possession of mine. My back arched as he pulled me closer to his body, hovering over me. His hands splayed against my back as he pulled away to let me breathe and kissed down my neck. His fingers brushed my nightgown off my shoulders as his mouth continued down to devour my neck, collarbone and breast. I moaned as he took one of the pebbled peaks and gently laved it with the uttermost care.
"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen." He whispered against my skin. Anything I tried to say didn't sound correct.
"You're handsome." I managed to choke out and felt the vibrations of his soft laugh against my alabaster skin. He let go of my tender flesh and looked up smiling gently before pressing a tender kiss to the place where my heart beat. He shed his clothes and helped me undress before he positioned himself parallel to my body.
"Are you ready?" he asked quietly. I nodded, a blush igniting a fire in my cheeks.
He slowly pushed himself into me and I gasped. He was slow and gentle this time. It seemed foreign; I had been so used to his quick hard pace. I cried his name when it came to my release as my back arched off the mattress and my toes curled.
He came to his release after me crying my name before he dropped beside me, effectively taking away the warmth his body provided. He pulled the thick covers over our bodies before pulling me closer to his body as my eyelids drooped.
"Sleep my Bella; I shall be here when you awake." Was the last thing I heard before I felt a kiss being placed to my temple. The next morning I woke to the sun shining into the room and a hand rubbing my arm.
"Wake up love." My husband's voice cooed.
"Love?" I questioned turning around to face him.
"That is what you call the one you love is it not?" he questioned.
I smiled shyly.
"What would you say if I said I loved you?" I asked shyly ducking my head as a blush lit my cheeks. He lifted my face up by my chin and kissed me softly.
"I would say that have fallen for the angel who just admitted she loved me." He whispered against my lips brushing a kiss across my lips. I giggled; this new closeness was something I cherished.
"So my queen what shall we do on this glorious day?" he asked brightly.
"I have a suggestion but you may be opposed to it." I said quietly.
"I think not, may I hear what you had in mind?" he asked propping himself on his elbow. "I was wondering if we could go into the town, not as royalty but common folk." I said quietly looking down at the ivory sheets.
"Is that a wish?' he asked lifting my chin so he could see me clearly.
"It's merely a desire but the choice is yours." I responded.
"Then we shall head to the town." He murmured picking me up.
I let out an uncharacteristic squeal when the cold air hit my bare body and he chuckled before he swooped down taking my mouth in his. He set me down on the cold floor in our lavish bathroom and checked the water in the bathtub before helping me in. It was surprisingly warm.
"You seem to be surprised." Edward stated kneeling down outside the tub.
"The water is still warm." I commented.
"I asked your maid to fill it a few minutes before I woke you." He said. My faced turned crimson.
"She saw us in our state of undress?" I asked meekly.
He chuckled.
"Of course not, I covered us well; she knew we made love though." He replied with a smirk. My faced turned a darker shade of red.
"Isabella?" he questioned after a minute. I looked up from the water.
"May I join you?" he asked with a shy smile.
I bit my lip but nodded moving forward so he could climb in beside me. His body molded into mine as he settled behind me. His fingers grasped the soap and he brought my hand to take a hold in his and lathered the soap over my creamy skin. I watched him as he continued lathering right to my shoulder. Once he reached my shoulder he caught my eye placing a kiss on my nose making me smile as I continued watching him. After my body was completely lathered in soap I took it out of his hands and lathered his body with the soap. He watched me as I lathered his body with an amused smile.
Once we washed ourselves he got out first and wrapped a towel around his hips before turning around with an open towel. I smiled shyly and stepped out of the tub and into his arms where he wrapped the towel around me.
Once we dried off, I dressed in a dark blue dress that modestly covered what it was supposed to but allowed me to breathe. It showed my collarbone and a little lower. My maid managed to get my hair in a neat French braid and I thanked her and she left with a curtsey. I got up from my seat and turned around just as the door opened and Edward entered dressed casually. He stopped when he caught sight of me, I blushed under his gaze.
"You look beautiful; in fact beautiful is an insult to how you look right now." He murmured brushing my cheek with the back of his fingertips. I blushed darkly. He chuckled.
"Shall we?" he asked holding an arm out for me. I smiled timidly but grasped his arm and we went out to where the coach was and he helped me in before getting in himself and closing the door.
The carriage lurched forward and I involuntarily grabbed Edward's arm. He chuckled and placed a kiss to my head, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. I leaned against him as the carriage moved closer to the town square. Once it reached the edge of the town, the carriage stopped and Edward got out helping me. We walked in silence. I had one hand linked with his and the other carrying a currently empty basket. The bakery was the first place we stopped at. As soon as we entered the smell of fresh bread hit our noses. I breathed in deeply suddenly feeling warm and cozy on the inside.
"Mr. Wallace?" I called out. The old frail man emerged from the back room.
"Good morning your highness." He greeted both of us. I raised an eyebrow.
"Excuse me, Bella." He apologized and I smiled at him and his twinkling smile.
"Would you like some fresh bread and jam?" he asked and I eagerly nodded and Edward chuckled nodding as well. Mr. Wallace cut off some fresh bread and spread jam over it before handing us each a slice and anticipating out reaction. I took a bite and sighed as the warm bread and jam assaulted my taste buds. Edward's soft moan broke me from my thoughts. He swallowed before he spoke.
"That was delicious." He complimented.
"Thank you sire." Mr. Wallace said.
"Could we have two loaves of bread and a jar of your jam please?" Edward asked and Mr. Wallace went to retrieve our order.
"Two loaves?" I questioned.
"I figured we could share this with everyone at home." he replied. I smiled.
Mr. Wallace returned and I placed the items in my basket. Edward had offered to carry it but I had declined. He shook his head in defeat and settled for taking my free hand in his, walking silently with a content smile upon his face. We stopped by a flower shop where I had picked up a bouquet of daisies and he bought me a single rose after I protested to him buying an entire basket full. I brought the rose up to my nose and sniffed, smelling the sweet scent. I felt him discreetly place a kiss in my hair. I smiled up at him. His soft smile had my heart beating erratically.
"Isabella?"
"Hmm?"
"Would you like to go home now?" he asked after we had spent nearly two hours there. I nodded.
"Very well, come on then." He said tugging my hand and walking in the direction we had come. Our walk was silent, but comfortable. He helped me into the carriage before he got in and it lurched forward towards the castle. He pressed a kiss to my temple as I clung to him. I picked my head off his shoulder to look up at him.
"I love you, my dearest." He murmured.
"As I you." I whispered. He leaned down to capture my lips in a gentle kiss.
Once we got back to the castle he called everyone to have breakfast with us and then they went on doing their chores while he left for fight training.
We were in the midst of a preparing for a war. I could sense that it was within the next 4 years and Edward liked to keep our men prepared for raids and such, leading to the war. After he left with a dozen kisses I decided today would be the day I was going to look into every room of this house. I wandered down multiple hallways finding rooms filled with old furniture or pictures, others holding absolutely nothing. Near the back of the castle I found a darkened hallway and opened the curtains on a colossal window to allow some light. The hallway looked considerably brighter. I continued down the hallway straight to the door at the end. I pushed the heavy oak doors open and gasped at what was inside.
The entire room was enchanting, it was a huge room filled with shelves which reached the ceilings. The shelves were all brimming with books. I was in heaven. I tentatively took a step inside shutting the doors behind me softly. My fingers ghosted over the spines of a few books before I pulled a novel and settled into a chair in the corner already mesmerized by the book's words.
Sometime later I must've fallen asleep because I felt strong arms carry me.
"Edward?" I whispered groggily blinking my eyes and squinting from the light of the setting sun.
"Go back to sleep, love." He said softly carrying my down the corridors and laying me down on our bed.
"Will you stay?" I asked through my sleepy state.
"Would you like me to?" he asked sitting down on the bed. I nodded as I turned over cuddling to his warmth. Moments later I felt him lie down beside me and pull me to his chest. I didn't wake up until it was late in the evening. When I woke up, the sun was already down and Edward was still asleep. I got up and slipped out of bed, changing into a nightgown before I padded down the empty hallways and into the kitchen.
The kitchen was dimly lit, the servants all went to bed only 30 minutes prior from what I could tell. I silently took a few pots and grabbed a few vegetables and quick whipped up a soup, I had made more than I had expected.
I was just about to take it off the stove when I felt Edward's face nuzzle my neck as his arms wrapped firmly around my waist.
"Are you hungry?" I asked. He nodded into my shoulder. I motioned for him to take a seat and set a bowl filled with soup in front of him and then sat down across from him with my own soup.
"This is delicious." He complimented taking another sip.
"Thank you." I murmured. He soon finished his and stood up pressing a kiss to my temple before he went to wash his bowl. I stood up and took the bowl out of his hands.
"I will do that, you're tired and have to wake up early, go to bed." I murmured picking up my empty bowl and washing them.
"Isabella." He sighed before he swept me up in his arms and carried me back to our bedroom.
"But the dishes." I protested
"They will be cleaned in the morning, now I would like to spend some time with my wife." He answered leaving no room for arguments. I silently complied, thrilled that he was mine and I was his.
He set me down on the bed and changed into his night clothes and lay down beside me. "Edward?" I spoke quietly.
"Yes my love."
"Do you think I am unfertile?" I asked sadly.
"What would lead me to think that?" He asked, concern washing over his features.
"We've been together intimately almost every day for the past 3 months and yet I haven't bore a child; I'm starting to wonder if I can't bear children." I whispered dejectedly.
To my surprise he chuckled.
"Oh Isabella, my dearest wife, we have only been together for 3 months, it takes some years to conceive." He explained pulling me to him.
"But all the other women in town" I started.
"You are not those women Bella, you are the queen, my queen and we will be blessed with a child whenever the time seems appropriate." He soothed.
I nodded with a small smile.
"Now what brought that thought to your mind?" he asked.
"I had been wondering about your family, I realized I know nothing about them." I answered.
His face immediately turned somber.
"I am sorry; it hurts you to even think of them, it was rude of me." I apologized as soon as I saw his face.
"It's alright." He whispered, halting my apology by placing a hand on my cheek.
"You deserve to know." He whispered.
I didn't say anything, but searched his eyes. He breathed in sharply before he spoke.
"My family was always filled with joy." He started with a wistful smile. "We would spend as much time as we could with each other. Jasper and Rose, both twins came into our family and my sister and brother, Alice and Emmett fell in love with them. They married and we were living happily. My mother was insisting I too settle down and proceeded to attempt to find me a bride." He started.
After a pause his face turned somber. "Then the war broke out 3 years ago and the castle became captive." He said turning to lay on his back and staring up at the ceiling.
"I remember when the war broke out; I was hiding in a corner of my cottage when the enemy's men came by." I whispered propping myself up on my elbows. His eyes widened and he pulled me to lie with him, holding me close.
"If anything happened to you." He whispered with a shiver. I hushed him.
"Anyway, the war broke out; I was out of town for the weekend when they came. I came back to an empty castle, a broken town with many citizens who were seriously hurt. My family is still captive in their hands." He whispered.
"Oh I am so sorry." I whispered throwing my arms around his neck. He hesitantly wrapped his arms around me." It's alright Bella." He whispered.
"Is that why you're so keen on winning this upcoming war?" I asked. "Of course, I don't want to hurt their citizens; I just want my family back." He mumbled.
"We'll get them back." I soothed rubbing his chest.
He pulled me closer and kissed my forehead.
"I hope so" he whispered after a minute.
"We better sleep." He murmured.
I nodded and laid my head on his chest. We laid in silence, tangled together. His hands stroked my hair, lulling me to sleep.