Disclaimer: I do not own any characters that belong to Stephanie Meyer or the borrowed dialogue from the Twilight saga books and movies.
Author's Note: My own rendition of Twilight. Timeline is set around the 14th Century. I've added my own twist to the story, the characters and location. The story will be told from Bella's POV.
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THE IMMORTAL PRINCE
Best Friends
"Please, my lady, come down from there!" yells the old servant. "Your father will have my head if he catches you. Again!"
"You worry too much, Len," I smile down at her. Up here is where I can be free from the confines of the castle, where I can spread my wings without restriction. However, I do not blame Len. She only does what my father instructs. Something she has done since my coming into this world.
I was told my mother was ill when she gave birth to me and death took her before she could hold her new babe in her arms. Len's face was the first I saw and have seen every day since. Elena Smithers is a short woman. She is slightly round in the midsection, but quick like a mouse when she wants to keep up with me.
Placing her hands on her hips, Len scowls at me. "Tis not proper for a lady such as yourself to engage in these activities. I did not spend all morning primping you for you to climb trees all day."
This is true. Len spends a good amount of time every morning—along with another maidservant—helping me into my garments and lacing up my bodice. Even my dark brown tresses only she can manage. If only I was a boy. Maybe then she will not fuss so much when I scrape my hands climbing down branches and wrinkling my gowns.
But, I am a girl of noble birth, named Isabella Swan, and a maiden in Western Forks. The East is ruled by another family that has kept their borders far longer than us. A most dangerous enemy if it were not for the treaty signed for peace years before the king's grandfather's time. The ones we call the Immortal Clan. The vampires.
"Better?" I ask my appointed caregiver.
Len sighs at my unpolished look after I decided to run into the forest earlier today. "You will have to do." She reaches for my hair and pulls out a small twig that manages to lodge itself in my tresses.
"My father and the rest of the king's men will not arrive for another hour or so. Plenty of time to freshen up before we welcome them home today."
"It does not matter. You should not be climbing trees," she scolds. "Come." Leading me by the arm, I have no choice but to follow her back to Castle La Push. I roll my eyes, uncaring if she notices. Mostly everything I do is deemed unladylike anyway.
A messenger arrived three days ago to inform us that the king and his men are close to reaching our borders. I, along with half of the kingdom, was to stand at the gates and cheer for their safe return home. Six months has passed since I last saw my father, Charles Swan, High Commander of King William Black of Western Forks.
"There! There they are!" I hear someone yell. I stretch my vision toward the narrow road and finally see the caravan approach with our kingdom's banners swaying in the autumn breeze.
The air suddenly fills with frantic clapping and hooting from the crowd as our men arrive. I try to tune out the noise and clap slowly and politely like a composed maiden is supposed to. However, the plastered smile on my face cannot hide how happy I am that they are home. My feet want to run and meet them halfway but I know Len will have none of it.
My father dismounts his horse and I am the first one he has in his sights. He makes his way toward me as I finally meet him halfway with a run. Even though he is a great commander in the king's army, he is also my father who I have missed very much.
"Father!" I jump into his open arms. Normally, Len would not have such behavior from me, but I am allowed to indulge in childish manners when it comes to embracing my only parent.
"Isabella, my darling," he smiles warmly. "How I have missed you."
"And I you," I return his affections. "Was everything well on your journey?"
"Yes. Only a few minor hiccups here and there, but nothing to worry about." I glance over his shoulder, his neck following my gaze. "We are all accounted for," he grins knowingly.
Slightly blushing, I nod my head. I know of someone else who will give me more information about their recent absence. "May I greet the others?" My father nods his approval and walks over to Len. "Elena. How have things been?" I am sure he means how much trouble I have caused her while he was away. Whatever my guardian says, they are out of earshot and I really do not care what she reports. My attention is elsewhere among the other soldiers dismounting their horses.
"Good evening, my lady." The prince politely bows when he sees me.
"And to you, Prince Jacob." I courtesy.
We stare at each other for a long moment to see who will break eye contact first. There is a hard determination in his eyes, assessing me, as I do with him. The prince finally looks away, laughing. "I can never beat you in that game." I laugh at his attempt and give him a tight hug.
"About time you returned home, best friend."
"Tis good to be home," Jacob sighs in my arms. He always gives me the biggest hugs. Sometimes it feels like he wants to suck the air out of my lungs until I am released and can breathe again.
Prince Jacob Black and I have known each other since our infancy. He is like family to me. And his father, King William Black, trusts my father like a brother, who has also been by his side since they were children.
The prince has russet colored skin and dark, deep set eyes that sit high on his cheekbones. He used to wear his hair long and pulled back with a tie at the nape of his neck. Now, he wears it short as many of the men do. As a soldier and fierce opponent, he is also thick and toned. Because of his towering height of six foot seven, he looks lean and muscular. With the newer soldiers, he is known to intimidate the trainees by his presence alone, but with the maidens, they see nothing but a young, strapping, handsome man.
"Isabella."
"Your Grace," I smile and courtesy to the king as he approaches us. "Tis good to see you well and back from your travels."
"Thank your father," he replies. "He is a major contributor my safety."
"Thank you, father," Jacob shakes his head with a half-smile.
The king grins in response. "Yes, I suppose the prince, too, has a hand in that." He then turns toward his tired men and the horses that carried them for hours. "Excuse me, my dear. There is still much a king needs to do before he can sleep like a babe tonight."
"Of course, Your Grace." I courtesy again.
"Jacob." King William gives his son a weary look.
"Yes, father?"
"I would not ask it of you if I was not a cautious man. But I need you and Captain Uley to double back a few miles. When the full moon is at its highest."
With understanding in his eyes, the prince nods. "We will take a small scouting party with us." The king nods his approval and leaves.
"What is wrong?" I ask in a whisper when the king is finally distracted. "Why do you need to double back?"
Jacob gives a concern look off in the distance. He knows he is not supposed to talk about the king's orders. Or question them. He simply follows and obeys like any good defender of the kingdom. He takes his belongings off his horse and gives the steed to a stable boy to take care of. I follow the prince inside, still curious if he will tell me. I say nothing and wait while we walk in silence. My father has other agendas to attend to so I no longer worry about his safety now that he is back.
Stopping around an empty corner, I suddenly halt before I run into Jacob. He takes a deep breath and sighs, turning to me. "You are aware of what next week is...yes?"
"Next week?" I ask a little confused, wracking my brain to answer my own question.
"The treaty signing," he replies exasperatedly as if the whole kingdom knows but me. "With the bloodsuckers."
"Oh," I say as it finally dawns on me. He means the Concord Treaty with the Immortal Clan that happens every ten years on the last tetrad of the moon; the fourth eclipse of the year.
Every ten years the peace treaty is reviewed by the ruling kingdoms to the East and West of Forks and readdressed if either kingdom wants to make revisions or if a possible breach is found by either party. It also allows both sides to remain friendly by taking turns hosting the event with a ball. This decade's renewal will be held in the Eastern territory at Castle Stregone.
King William's family has always been weary of vampires and is ready to go to war at a moment's notice if they ever break the treaty by taking a human life to satisfy their blood thirst. As far as I know, the vampires agreed they will only drink animal blood from their own lands. And so far, no rules have been broken.
"What does that have to do with the king's orders?" I ask.
"Tonight is a full moon—when my clan's strength is at its strongest. Because the renewal of the Concord Treaty will be held in the bloodsuckers' land, my father wants to make sure no outside bloodsuckers get too close to our borders."
I never liked the word bloodsucker that Jacob and many other soldiers like to call them. It makes them sound like...animals. And I know they are well civilized. Otherwise, how can the vampires run a vast kingdom so efficiently? Truth be told, I have never met one in person, only heard the stories. Regardless, I prefer to judge them by my own accord. From what I can see of their territory in one of the highest towers we have, they keep their lands maintained quite well. So, I know they are not monsters or savages.
"Outsiders?" I ask, baffled. "There will be outsiders attending?"
A knot forms between the prince's brows as he gives a curt nod. "A messenger from their clan found us on the road. Their kin, from other foreign lands, will attend the event. Lord Carlisle Cullen thought it would be disrespectful if they did not extend the invitation to his kind outside of Forks, so he took it upon himself to do so without first consulting us." There is a look of disgust on Jacob's face as if he has just swallowed a worm.
"I see why your father is upset." And so are you. "The vampire clans from other realms surely know of our rules. Lord Cullen does not seem the foolish type to not warn his outside kin about our agreement."
"Maybe. Maybe not. All I know is that we could smell them a mile away. The bloodsuckers from the other territories are making their way to Castle Stregone now as we speak. Some even hid in the shadows of the trees on the road as we travelled."
I am surprised by this news. "Do not tell me they tried anything?"
"Of course not!" he snorts. "If they did, my clan would rip them to shreds. Easily. That is the reason why my father wants us out tonight. Should be routine. Nothing the captain and a few of us cannot handle."
Samuel Uley is Captain of the Guard. Jacob has always looked up to him like a mentor and older brother. "I know you and your clan can handle yourselves against the vampires, but please, still be careful," I say.
"Always," he smiles haughtily.
Parting ways, I head back to my room. Dinner will be served soon in honor of their return, but I have some time to myself before my presence is required. I have snuck away from Len, who no doubt will search for my whereabouts if she does not find me in my bedchamber.
I sit at my vanity and brush my hair absentmindedly, thinking about Jacob's task later this evening when the castle is asleep. They call the vampires bloodsuckers. But I wonder what the vampires call King William's clan? The vampires are strong with lightning reflexes and special abilities, but we also have our own legendary creatures living amongst us. They are known as the werewolves—the shape-shifters. I suppose one can say they are a different kind of monster.
The Black family and many soldiers under Captain Uley have Native American blood in them, more specifically, from the Quileute tribe. Their tribe is supposedly descended from wolves and is sacred animals to their people. The first shape-shifter of their tribe was Taha Aki who passed his werewolf gene to the Black, Uley and Atearas families. Shape-shifters were scares among them until the vampires arrived some decades ago and claimed the Eastern region of Forks.
Because vampires and werewolves are natural enemies, more Quileute members began to turn into their ancestral, animal form. It was sort of a defense mechanism engrained within the tribe for protection against the "cold ones." The elders trained the new shifters on how to control their phasing and reign in their hot-headed tempers, which apparently came with the package of triggering the werewolf gene...or curse, as some see it.
Captain Uley was one of the firsts to turn and quickly rose in rank for his strength and speed. He mentored Jacob when the fever set in and he phased for the first time at fourteen, two years ago. Each member of their wolf pack is given the crescent of their tribe, a circular tattoo that marks their right bicep.
The wolves also have the ability to communicate with each other telepathically while in beast form, a secret trade Jacob divulged to me because I am his best friend. There is a special bond between their clan that he has tried to explain, but can never truly express in words. I suppose I will never know or understand. "Tis a werewolf thing," he always says.
With the Concord signing upon us, vampires from other lands do not typically migrate near our lands unless they have a reason to. Lord Cullen rarely hosts gatherings among his kind and for what the occasion is when he does, we do not know. At least I am not aware of the reason. It upsets King William when more vampires are close by, pulling double duty for the captain and the Quileute soldiers. They are the ones who patrol the perimeter of our territory while the regular, human soldiers, guard Castle La Push.
Everyone is wearier of vampires from other regions because they prefer to stick to human blood than adopt the habit of drinking blood from forest creatures. Although we have no signed treaty with them, they know we do not tolerate their instinctual habits in Western Forks. Some who are brave enough—or foolish enough—to sneak in are always met with canine teeth from one of the wolves.
From my understanding, most humans do not know vampires or even werewolves exist. Because of the pact made between the two sides, each secret was shared with the other. If the transgressor is an outsider and is not housed by Lord Cullen, then technically, no treaty law has been broken by his clan that resides in Eastern Forks. The Cullens are not responsible for what happens to him or her. There is not much the captain can do either as far as bring punishment directly upon the clan in this case...although some beg to differ.
Jacob's family is higher in nobility among the Quileute than the Uley or Atearas families because they come from a long line of Chieftains. King William trusts the Uley family the most and respects Sam's decisions and considers his council when given. Most times, vampires who hunt down humans for food are strays or rogues from the countryside.
The captain also knows if they are not from the Eastern region. He says they have a more distinct smell because of the blood they consume. In addition, vampires who drink human blood have red eyes. Clan Cullen, who prefers the other diet, has lighter eyes, almost gold in color. Or so I have been told.
I want to see what the Immortal Clan looks like up close, which is one of the reasons why I am excited for the ball. The last time our two kingdoms met, my father felt I was much too young to stay up and participate in the event. I was ordered to bed with Len watching me like a hawk to make sure I did not sneak into the grand ballroom when the party goers moved from the dining hall.
Although he is two years younger than I am, Jacob was able to attend because he is our prince and ruler of Western Forks, next to his father. Sadly, his mother died of sickness when he was young. From what he has told me about that night, it was full of fake pleasantries and the vampire nobility discreetly covering their noses with their handkerchiefs as if they smelled something rotting in the air. He wanted to say something on how disrespectful their behavior was, but the king did not want to stir up any unnecessary confrontations within our walls.
I wondered then if the vampires thought they were better than us, because they are immortal. The rumor around the castle as of late is that not all of the entitled are willing to make the journey to the Eastern border for the festivities next week. Not because they cannot, but because they will not. Many prefer not to associate with vampires. With King William's own dislike of them, he is lenient on the wishes of his subjects in this matter of...diplomacy.
A tapping on the door releases me from my thoughts. "Come in." I turn just in time to see it open.
"There you are. Are you ready, young mistress?" asks Len. "They have cooked half of the meat the caravan's brought back. I swear enough to feed us for a whole year!" Len looks marveled by the thought.
"Len," I give her a sarcastic look. One that she is all too familiar with.
My handler sighs. "Yes, of course, there are fruits and vegetables and other dishes for you to eat." Good. Because I do not eat meat. The thought of eating something that used to be alive with a pulsing heart disturbs me. I have grown accustomed to seeing wild game on the table and the not so elegant gentry stuffing their faces with it. Yeck!
I I I
When we enter, the dinner hall is louder than usual, filled with conversation and the occasional wine spilling by the king and his men. Even Jacob is all teeth while he talks of tales on their journey. Captain Uley has a calmer demeanor and will occasionally smile or nod, but he seems to be distracted by other things on his mind. My father is in a discreet, quieter conversation with the king's war counselors. From what I gather, they are talking politics and battle strategies. It makes me curious if they are discussing tonight's activities and the security detail at the upcoming ball.
"You are so lucky, Isabella!" My wayward thoughts are broken by Leah Clearwater's words. I find Leah's beauty exotic with her perfect copper skin and ridiculously long eyelashes. Her height of five foot ten makes her tower over most of the maidens. I think she even unknowingly intimidates some of the men. She likes to wear her hair short because she hated when attendants used to fuss over her long, silky tresses.
"Lucky?" I blink at her. Lucky with what?
Jessica Stanley rolls her eyes. She leans in from the other side of me. "Honestly, is your head full of cotton? Have you not noticed Prince Jacob's gaze darting toward you all night?"
No. I have not. "Has it?" I look up where Jacob sits and he smiles at me, raising his cup in my direction. I raise mine in return to be polite. Gestures toward you by the royal family you must accept graciously. "He is practically like a brother to me," I tell the girls.
"Of course he is," I hear Jessica mutter before taking a sip of wine. Jessica has long brown hair and brown eyes. She is the daughter of Baron Stanley and is known for her sarcastic remarks and how she seems to hate the world. Her loyalty is to herself and will only befriend you if she can gain something from the friendship. I know her faults all too well, but regardless, I still consider her a friend…most of the time.
My other friend, Angela Weber, who is directly in front of me on the other side of the table, gives me a sympathetic smile. She is the daughter of Lord Weber. Her family owns a vast vineyard and supplies the castle with the wine that the dinner table is currently glutting over. She has light brown hair and dark eyes. "I think what Jessica is trying to say is that the prince is now sixteen and is of marrying age." Angela is the shy one in the group but is very intelligent, caring and a good friend. She is usually the voice of reason.
"So?" I shrug.
Everyone in the kingdom knows that Jacob's father has been looking for a suitable bride for him. The prince is smart about putting on a show for the king, but behind his father's back, he hates the thought. Because I am Jacob's best friend I know that he does not want to get married anytime soon. He wants to enjoy his youth and kill as many vampires as he can before he worries about a wife and child.
Leah leans in closer so only our small party can hear. "Do not be surprised if you become a bridal candidate, Isabella."
"Do not be ridiculous." I scoff at the idea.
Jacob and I...married? I can barely entertain the thought. Yes, we are very close and spend a good amount of time together when he is neglecting his princely responsibilities or not away on some mission, but never have romantic feelings risen in my heart for my best friend.
"The entire kingdom knows how close you are to the prince. Not only that, the king's good friend and confidant is your father," Leah continues. "It makes perfect sense." She quietly sighs, her sights landing across the table where Jacob sits. But I know she is not looking at him.
Captain Uley is smiling at his fiancée, Emily Young, who sits beside him with such love in his eyes that I can understand why Leah looks so disheartened. She and Sam briefly shared a romance but his duties took too much of his time to commit to Leah's needs. Then one day, when Leah's cousin, Emily, came to visit, things changed. Sam began to pursue Emily much to Leah's dismay. It was not the captain's intent to hurt Leah, but he said he could not help the pull he felt toward her cousin. Emily was also beautiful like Leah with the same exotic looks, silky black hair and satiny copper skin.
Hearing Sam's change of heart upset me so I marched to speak to Jacob about it. He only laughed at my outburst, which made me more annoyed at him. "It is called imprinting, Bella," he tells me, using my nickname that only close friends and my father call me on occasion.
"Imprinting?"
"How do I explain this?" he says more to himself than me. "That sort of feeling happens to those who can phase into wolves. It is not like love at first sight, really. More like...gravity moves suddenly. Tis not the earth holding you here anymore, she does. You become whatever she needs you to be, whether that is a protector…or a lover…or a friend."
A part of me hesitates to ask. "Have you…imprinted on anyone?"
He gives me a weary look. "Bella, if I imprinted on anyone, you would know. Of course you would know…" he mutters a little quieter. There is a puzzling look on his face I cannot decipher. Before I can ask what it is, he quickly changes his expression and gives a boyish laugh. By this I know the conversation is over.
At the time I did not understand why I had second thoughts about asking. Maybe I was subconsciously scared of the notion that Jacob might have imprinted on me. He is a dear friend and I love him with all my heart, but...I do not think he is the one I am meant to spend the rest of my life with.
"So would you, Isabella?"
"Hmm?" I blink at Leah. I have not heard anything she has said after she mentioned I could be a bridal candidate.
She rolls her eyes. "Marry Prince Jacob," she whispers harshly. With the noise level from the men who have had too much to drink, if we shouted like banshees, I hardly doubly anyone will notice.
I shrug. "Tis not something I have thought of," I say honestly.
Jessica cocks her brow at me. "That is surprising."
Returning the look, I take a sip of wine before I reply. "How so?" If she and the others think they know my true feelings for the prince, they are sadly mistaken.
"You spend so much time together one would think you have grown closer than mere childhood friends," she says casually. "Tis but a mere observation. Some say your relationship extends to lovers."
"Jessica!" Angela stares wide-eye at her. "That was uncalled for." Even Leah averts her eyes and hides her face in her wine goblet. Has she, too, heard these rumors?
"What?" Jessica gives Angela a look of innocence. "I was not aiming to be rude. Only stating what I have heard about the chatter among the servants."
She is lucky I have a pool of self-control otherwise I would have already thrown my drink in her face. I flip my hair over my shoulder and smile smugly in her direction. "And what if these rumors are true?" I stare Jessica dead in the eyes. "Will you be more jealous of me that I am able to obtain a prince while you cannot even capture Sir Michael Newton's attention for a mere second because according to rumors I have heard among the servants, he finds you unentertaining and self-centered?"
"Bella..." Angela gasps.
Jessica says nothing, but I know I have hit a sore spot from the redness creeping to the surface of her cheeks and the whiteness of her knuckles as she grips her goblet. Jessica has been trying to win Sir Newton's affections but has not succeeded…mostly because he fancies me. However, I have no interest in him. He reminds me of a dog—very loyal to a fault and will always be there for you. But, he also cannot function without your constant attention and always wants to be by your side, which can be quite suffocating.
"I am tired," I announce to my friends and stand before anyone else has a rebuttal. Len is immediately at my side. "I bid you good night and...sweet dreams." Maybe while Jessica tries to sleep she will do well to bind her tongue the next time she speaks of me and the prince's relationship. Without waiting to hear another word from my friends, I leave the dining hall with Len at my heels.
"You should have waited for the king to grant your dismissal, young mistress," Len quietly chides me in the empty hallway, save the guards silently on duty at their posts. "Or at least have said good night to your father."
Like a pestering bee, I wave away her concerns about my behavior. "I can apologize tomorrow. If anyone asks, I am tired and have a headache and do not wish to be disturbed."
After saying good night to Len, I practically shut the door in her face, anxious to be alone. I am not typically this rude to Len or to anyone, but I need to digest the news of a potential betrothal to my best friend, which I do not yet know how to feel about. What I said to Jessica was a low blow, but I am not like my lady friends who can sit idly by while someone speaks untruths and openly insults me.
You should have seen this coming, Isabella, I tell myself. Am I that dense or did I simply refuse to believe in the possibility of a future with Jacob? After tonight, I can no longer deny that I am the most likely candidate due to our family's history. Will Jacob agree to make me his princess if the king wishes it, or will he deny his father's request because like me, I believe it will ruin our friendship?
The idea my friends have put in my head frustrates me more than I should allow it to. I bury my face in my pillow and scream. At this point, I must remind myself that it is only a mere possibility, one that the king can pass up for consideration. If not King William then perhaps my father will?
This is not what I planned to have on my mind the day Jacob finally returns. Pushing the stressful thoughts aside, I unlace my own bodice with some difficultly. Len usually helps me undress, but because I have dismissed everyone for the night, I am on my own. Changing into my shift, I throw my dress onto the chair and climb into bed.
I dream of werewolves howling and vampires running through the forest like ghosts.
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