Hello people! This is another one of my stories.
This is AU about 100 years before modern times. I don't own Twilight, and I sort of based this story on the movie Sissi, which none of you probably saw.
Read and review!
"Isabella, you're getting your dress all dirty!" my mother called from the second floor window of the palace.
"It's alright, mother, I'm still fine, and call me Bella!" I shouted back up to her.
I laughed as I ran with my dogs. All five of them were running, excited. Well, sure my brown dress was getting dirty, but it was brown, so no one could really tell.
"Why couldn't you have been more like your older sister here," my mother muttered as she stepped away from the window and back into the house. Rosalie was probably fixing her hair or sewing or reading or something ladylike. Well, Rosalie was just not me. She was everything I wasn't: a proper lady.
It was a sunny day outside, and I ran to the stable. I tied my dogs to a nearby post as I went to look at my beautiful horses.
I immediately went up to my favorite stallion, Sammy. He was fast, sleek, and wild; in fact, he would let only me ride him. We had gotten to be quite good friends.
I rode around the courtyard. It was quite large, for Father was very wealthy. He was king of Scotland, being the oldest son. Recently, he retired and my older brother Jasper went to take his place. I didn't know Jasper very well; he was always stuck in his room training to be king. After he became one, Father didn't have much to do; in fact, his main areas of interest were hunting and fishing. I went with him on many trips, for we both enjoyed nature.
I came on his hunting trips mainly because I hated killing animals. I would usually find some way for my father to return empty-handed and laughing home.
I rode bareback; saddling would take too much time. "So, Sammie, what are we going to see today?" I asked him.
When he didn't reply (as he shouldn't) I steered him across the courtyard to my little tiger Derwyn. My dad had bought her for me when she was only a few months old and very sick. Being good with animals and having a doctor to help me, I was able to nurse her back to health. Though she got wild at times, she was an exceptional playmate.
Sammie was always a little wary of Derwyn. I jumped off Sammie and tied her to a tree. I opened the gate to Derwyn's cage.
She had just eaten and was resting in her den.
"Hey, Derwyn! How are you today?"
She yawned at me, her sharp teeth finely displayed.
"Oh, not sleepy again, are you? You just woke up!?" I exclaimed. "Come on, let's go play something.
I brought her reluctantly out into the sunlight.
"Oh, come on, you need the exercise!" I told her as I fetched a ball on a stick.
I dangled it in front of her, and I laughed as she tensed, preparing to pounce.
Just then I thought she wasn't going to do it and started lifting the stick, Derwyn jumped and grabbed the stick with her claws.
"Good job!" I praised Derwyn. Usually I would have rewarded her, but she had just eaten.
We played until afternoon. My father came around with the whole crowd of my brothers and sisters.
He was a little portly, but he was easygoing and fun to be around. I think I was his favorite daughter.
"Bella! It's time to go in for tea," he said.
"But I just started playing with Derwyn! I'm not hungry, and I don't see the point," I replied.
My father just laughed.
"I don't want to either, but you know how your mother just insists. Today is extremely important because we have guests coming from England," he added.
"Fine," I said.
I stepped out of Derwyn's cage and blew her a kiss.
"See you tomorrow," I told her. She had already gone back into her den and laid down for a nap.
"Bella! Guess what? We went fishing with daddy today, and we caught a BIG one!" Joey, my little brother, exclaimed as I asked one of the servants to take Sammie back to the stable.
He was the fourth oldest, being about 8. He had two siblings younger than him.
Rosalie and I were the only girl children in the family. My mother considered her bringing up a success, while she considered mine a failure. I had too many genes from my father.
I got to my room. "Bella! Where have you been? You're going to be late!" My main lady-in-waiting, Audrey, or I guess you could really call her my nanny because though I was in a higher class than her, I really had no power over her.
If I thought my mother was strict, Audrey was worse. She was the enforcer, making sure that everything my mother said would be done. At all costs.
Audrey immediately stuffed me into a frilly pink dress and pushed me out the door, rushing me so that I could arrive before the guests did. It was most impolite for the host, well, at least the family of the host, to be late.
When I arrived at the sitting room, all itchy and uncomfortable in my tight dress, I saw Rosalie sitting on a chair, perfectly dressed, poised, and ready, as always.
She was excited upon seeing me. Despite our differences, we bonded quite well. She was my best friend and we shared all our secrets.
She was extremely beautiful, the kind of beauty a princess should be, all proper and patient and sweet. I was pretty, I guess, but my features were too wild for her kind of beauty. I was too outgoing; I spoke too loud too often and engaged in "unprincessly" behavior, like riding horses or running.
"Bella, little sister, guess what?" Rosalie said with quiet excitement.
"Yes?" I asked.
"The people coming today are ambassadors from England. I hear that they represent the royal family, who is even richer than us! (That's hard to imagine.) And I also hear--"
She cut off as Mother entered the room leading two guests. One was old and bald, the other middle-aged and balding.
"Hello, girls! This is Mr. Alfred and this is Mr. Jonas," she told us. Mr. Alfred and Mr. Jonas bowed to us.
It felt strange being bowed to, especially because they were older than us.
"This is Rosalie and that is Isabella," she introduced us.
We both nodded and smiled, Rosalie's kind and mine impatient.
"Please sit," Mother directed the men to the seats.
Suddenly, father entered the room, easing the tension.
"I'm sorry I'm late, darling," he walked over to Mother and kissed her cheek.
He noticed the men, and introduced himself.
"I am Charles Swan, the father of these lovely girls," he indicated toward us.
We all sat down. Mother ordered our servant Teresa to serve the tea and biscuits.
"The day is lovely, isn't it?" Mother asked the men, starting with small talk.
The men mumbled replies.
Father set down his cup of tea and got straight to the point.
"I hear you have something to tell us?" Father asked.
I leaned forward, anticipating his answer. It had to be important.
"Oh, yes," Mr. Alfred started. "We do have something to say."
"Our king is getting old. Soon he will be king no longer. He has proposed to strengthen the relationship between our countries," Mr. Jonas continued, "that your eldest daughter be married to the next in line for the throne, his son Prince Edward Anthony Masen Cullen."
So how do you like it?
Tell me your ideas! How do you think I could work out this story? I'll take all of your suggestions.
Review!