Prologue
Thank you to my pre-reader Miss Winkles and my beta Rebecca from Sparkly Red Pen :)
Seven years ago.
Her scream was piercing as she took in the giant form, which towered over her comparably miniscule body. Her first instinct was to run and escape the horrific beast.
If she ran, however, it would chase after her, until she was in its unbreakable grasp, being torn beyond recognition, and her blood would trickle in an incessant stream across the grass.
However, it seemed there was no other option, and so she decided to take a few fearful steps backward, until she was cowering into the seemingly protective oak tree. Her first thought – as the wolf advanced on her, like something out of her nightmare – was that this was punishment for not heeding her mother's warning and foolishly pursuing a red-crested finch into the desolate woods near her family's estate.
As quietly as she could manage, she slipped off her ornately decorated silver shoes then raised her ostentatious skirts; there was no other option but to run. Her bare feet were irritated by the harsh foliage of the forest floor, and the sharp sticks dug into them cruelly. However, no pain would have masked the fear she was experiencing. Adrenaline began to course through her veins, and only strengthened her resolve to run. Her heavy breathing was now the only indication that she was frightened.
Before she could even take a step, a small figure materialised out of the trees, causing the girl to cower back in shock. The figure in the shadows was a small boy, only a little bit taller than her 4'10 inches, but appeared to be much taller in the darkness despite his size. His expression was only slightly filled with trepidation, the dominant emotion on his pale face being determination. Although his features were childish, they displayed a maturity that could only have been gained through a tough experience in his life. The boy appeared to be around the age of ten, although he was steadily approaching his eleventh year, and could have deceived people by lying about his age if he wished. His wide emerald eyes appraised the silent girl with shock, and his lips trembled as he perceived the wolf.
His determination grew as he bent down swiftly to grab an assortment of stones, which were scatted on the forest floor, the wind playing with his short, tousled bronze hair.
The young girl's attention returned to the wolf as it released a low, threatening growl, revealing its glistening, razor-sharp teeth. Another scream slipped out of her dry lips, revealing the extent of her terror.
Her scream strengthened the boy, who then threw the rocks, which were clenched tightly in his hand, at the petrifying monster. It let out an agonised whimper before twisting around and advancing on its attacker. The boy quickly repeated his earlier action, hurling the rocks with perfect aim at the wolf's skull. After a short repetition of the same attack, the wolf was successfully knocked into unconsciousness.
The boy hesitantly walked over to the half-dead animal and eyed it warily, before pulling a knife out from his jacket pocket and driving it through the wolf's coarse fur, ignoring its loud cries of pain.
Lifting his head triumphantly to the darkening sky, he set the knife down gently on the grass and turned to face the still-shocked girl. Being the little girl that she was, she was still too frightened to even contemplate moving from her safe spot, let alone running over to her rescuer. But she gestured for him to come over to her with a shaking hand. He complied without a word, watching her curiously.
As the boy stood before her, gratitude seeped through the girl and she finally found the courage to speak.
"Thank you for saving me from that…thing. I don't know what I would have done, had you not arrived when you did." She shook her head in disbelief, only now beginning to comprehend her good fortune. "If you don't mind me asking, what is your name?"
"Saving you was a pleasure." He grinned, still proud of his impressive feat. "My name is Edward."
"Such a deed deserves utmost gratification, Edward. My name is Miss Swan, my mother is Mrs Renee Swan and my father Lord Charles. But you can call me Bella." She introduced herself nervously, trying to impress him with her title and manners. Edward's face fell at once, and his expression grew wistful. A twinge of sorrow coloured his voice as he spoke.
"Oh."
"Did I offend you in some manner?" she whispered anxiously, analysing her words and trying to find a fault in them. She could find none.
"Not at all," he said, frowning, "But it would seem that we cannot be friends, Isabella." He smoothed down his jacket as he spoke, while eyeing the intricate design of her skirts and bodice.
"Bella, call me Bella," she said, laughing exuberantly, enlightening him with her carefree nature. "You think you're below me?" She had noticed his second hand clothes, scuffed shoes and the dirt beneath his nails. "It does not matter to me where you were born, or who to. We could wear each other's clothes and it wouldn't make the slightest different towards our personalities."
He dared to hope. "You really don't care about my low place in society?"
"It neither affects my judgement, nor matters in the slightest."
"You may want to dismiss me once you hear of this," Edward sighed, refusing to look her directly in the eye, for fear that she would turn away in disgust.
"What is it?" she demanded.
"I am the new stable hand for your family," he admitted, gauging her expression for any changes.
There were none, it was if he had said nothing at all.
Bella had heard from one of the servants that her parents had hired two new stable hands, but had thought nothing of it at the time.
"Once again, it is of no matter to me! And, if you think about it, the arrangements are quite convenient because they mean that we can play together whenever we wish."
His grin grew more pronounced as he realised her sincerity. "Really?"
"Yes, really," she laughed.
"I'm surprised that you haven't enquired about my possession of a knife." Edward grinned at her deviously.
"I was too preoccupied by the slaying of the animal and the saving of my life to muse over the history of such an inconsequential item," she admitted, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "But now you have me curious. What compelled you to carry it?"
"My father believes that no boy is too young to carry a weapon with him wherever he desires to go, just in case a situation like this occurs."
Bella shivered.
"Well, I appreciate your father's views. He must be a very wise man."
"Oh he is," Edward agreed.
"Come now, let's race back to the manor," Bella laughed, and then grabbed his hand.
That day alone was the seed of their friendship, and it would bloom to become something impenetrable, something irrevocable. From that day forward, Bella considered Edward to be her best friend, and she his. They did everything together, despite their completely different lifestyles, and neither time, nor obligations, could keep them apart.
It wasn't until April twelfth 1850, that an immense change occurred. One that could forever separate them, but one which they would fight against with all they had.
I'm unsure on how people will react to this story or if there will be any reaction at all, but I'm hoping you guys like it :)
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