Princess Isabella's POV
"You and my brother are in love with each other?" I know I must sound simple repeating what she just said to me but I'm a little taken back.
Rosalie shakes her head slowly and her big blue eyes look completely heartbroken. "We realized it awhile back. I really wanted to talk to you about it but your brother and I agreed to keep it secret. We both knew that your father would never allow us to marry and we just wanted to have whatever time we could together. He was afraid that if it ever came out that you would get in trouble as well. About four months ago your father caught Emmett and I in the garden at night just holding hands. He was livid. I know he is sending me with you to keep us apart. He wants to give Emmett a chance to be happy with Angela."
I pull her into a tight hug. "Oh Rosa! I am so sorry. I wish you had told me about this sooner. I would have helped you both and tried to convince my father and mother to let you marry."
That just makes her cry harder. "Emmett suggested it once and your father laughed at him. He said I was not important enough to marry. I love him Bella. I told him I would be his mistress if that is the only way I could be with him but he said no. He said he wouldn't dishonor me like that. He gave me a ring saying that he may not be married to me in the eyes of the church but that in his heart and soul he was." I look down at her finger and I look at the ring with new interest. It's a gold band with a beautiful sapphire nestled between two diamonds. It appeared on her hand right before my brother got married but I never thought anything of it. It was just a pretty ring but now I know better. I should have noticed.
"This whole time that he's been married. I am so sorry Rosa." I understand now why right before the wedding she had to go visit her aunt up north. She must have been a wreck. "I wish you had told me I could have been there for you."
She shakes her head in my arms. "I know you would have Bella. It's been so hard. She is pregnant. I knew he was going to sleep with her but it made it so much more real. He told me he didn't want too but he did. I know I shouldn't be angry he is just doing his duty but it hurts so bad. Maybe getting away is really for the best." I hope it is. I can only imagine the heart break she is going through. "I know he still loves me though. When your father told you about England and your mother sent me to the rose gardens I meet with him. He kissed me and said he would find a way to keep me here. I told him that I wasn't going to allow you to go alone and that his wife needed him now. He told me he would love me forever Bella."
There isn't anything I can do for this. There is no cure for a broken heart so I just let Rosalie cry in my arms. She has allowed me to do the same every night since I was told I was being married off when I wake up from a nightmare this is the least I can do.
I am not sure how long we have been in my cabin but there is a knock on the door. "Princess your dinner is ready." One of my father's knights tell me through the door. I help wipe the tears of Rosalie's eyes and make sure she looks presentable and we leave the cabin for dinner.
We eat in the Captain's quarters with the Captain of the boat, my father's own Admiral of the Navy, and other knights that my father sent to get me to England safely. I know a few of them rather well since they grew up with my brother. Sir, Jacob, Sir Samuel, Sir Paul, and Sir Jared were all sent to my father's court to serve my family. They were cousins from my mother's family who were sent to train and to make a name for themselves. I have known them since I was just a baby and they would protect me with their lives if it came down to it. They always treated Rosalie and I like little sisters just like Emmett. Only I guess Emmett never had sisterly feelings towards Rosalie. Actually now I wonder if sent them to watch over me to or to make sure Rosa is safe.
After dinner we retreat back to cabin and we take a seat. Rosa was silent all through dinner and I found it hard to focus on the conversation around me when she was so clearly upset. "Rosa tell me about it."
She looks up at me and her eyes soften for just a moment then tears appear. "Are you sure you want me to tell you about how I betrayed you? I should have told you straight away but I was nervous especially after Emmett advised me not to."
I jump out of my chair and give her a tight hug. "You did not betray me. You feel in love Rosa. Who better could I entrust my brother's heart to than my best friend. We were raised like sisters and we even had the same wet nurse Rosa. There is nothing that you could ever do that would cause me to doubt the love between us."
We don't speak for a few moments. Rosalie just relaxes and calms herself down enough to talk. Once she clears her throat I know she is ready to speak and I go back to my seat. "You remember how four years ago your brother and the pack went to Italy to train and travel right?" We started referring to Jacob, Samuel, Jared, and Paul has the pack. They were inseparable and ferocious in battle. "Of course I remember I cried for a week straight after my brother left." I had never been separated from my big brother like that before.
"Well during the two years that your brother was travelling, learning, and making connections we all grew up I guess you could say. When he left he was a the brink of being a man and we were just starting to flower into young ladies. When he came back he was a man and we had grown up into fine ladies if I do say so myself. I was immediately taken by him. He took over my thoughts and all my dreams." Rosalie's face softens and I can tell she is thinking of the early days of their relationship. "Do you remember the masked ball that was thrown in the honor of the Duke of Milan when he came to visit?"
How could I forget. It was the first real ball we had gone too. It was also almost two years ago. I shake my head in remembrance and she continues. "I could pick your brother out of the whole crowd easily even with his mask. He was taller and stronger than any other men in attendance. He came up to me and asked me to dance. I assumed he didn't know who I was being masked and all. After we danced countless songs he managed to sneak us off into a corner of privacy in one of the gardens. He kissed me softly on the lips than said my name. I couldn't believe it. I ripped off my mask and stared right into his eyes and asked him if he truly knew it was me that entire time. He took off his mask and smiled sweetly and leaned down and kissed me again. Of course I knew it was you. Since I have been back all of my thoughts have surrounded around you. I feel like I can only concentrate on you and the moment you enter into a room that I am currently in my whole body feels like it's on fire. I have never had such sweet words spoken to me."
"You remember the early days only you didn't know what was going on. Emmett would arrange for you and I and the pack to go out. He would always make sure that the pack and you were distracted and we could find time to ourselves. Or maybe at a party would be able to get lost in the shuffle and spend the night together."
Rosalie stops again and just gets lost in her own mind. I stay quiet waiting for her to continue when she is ready. "Those first few months were amazing Bella. He would sneak a kiss with me where ever he could and he would write me the most romantic letters, I still have them all, he had such hope in his eyes. I knew that the King would never allow us to marry but your brother always had hope. One night when your father and brother were going over potential wives your brother just dropped the possibility of me. That night when he meet me I could tell that he shot it down. Emmett didn't turn colder that night but he became more careful of me. He was terrified of ruining my reputation now that he knew he could never marry me."
That sounds like Emmett. "Then came the horrible news that your father had brokered a deal with Austria and Emmett would be married soon. The night before Angela came to Spain your mother actually arranged for Emmett and I have to truly have time alone together. I didn't know that anyone had figured us out but you know how your mother is. She called us both to her apartments and then left us alone. That night was incredible Bella. We spoke all night and for just those few hours we were able to pretend that we would end up together and the world was right." Rosalie looks down at the hem of her dress and starts to blush. "We made love that night Bella." She tells me quietly.
My head darts up and my eyes grow large. "What if you had been caught Rosa? Your reputation would have been ruined!"
Rosalie smiles at me softly. "That is what Emmett said has well but I convinced him otherwise. If I was never going to truly be his wife I deserved just one night. It won't matter because everyone knows how much I enjoy horseback riding and it was only once. No man will ever suspect anything. But it was wonderful Bella. The next morning your mother greeting me with a tea to prevent any unwanted consequences of our night and she had an excuse for me to visit my aunt."
I feel horrible. I should have noticed how much pain my best friend was in but I didn't. "By the time I came back your brother was married and I knew we would never be. Like I said I offered to be his mistress but he said he loved me too much to do that to me. He said he couldn't stomach the thought of the proof of our love being considered bastards by the rest of the world. He promised he would never love another woman and that I owned his heart for the rest of our lives but he could not make me a mistress but that in his heart I was his wife." I get out of me seat and I pull Rosalie into my arms and give her a tight hug.
"I wish there was something I could do to fix this for you and him." I can feel her tears on my neck. "I know you would if you could Bella but there is nothing that can be done. He is married and we are headed to England. You are to be wed and in time you will find me a suitable British suitor and all of the time with Emmett will just be a wonderful dream."
"I will never just marry you off Rosa. I will make sure you agree to whatever arrangement is made." I promise her. She gives me a weak smile and shakes her head in agreement. "That will be one benefit to my best friend being the queen." That manages to get a laugh out of both of us.
"Now come on we should get some rest. It has been a long hard day." I tell her has I guide her to our trunks to change. She agrees and we are quickly in bed. I hear her cry herself to sleep and I give her all the comfort I can. Tonight she will mourn the loss of her heart and there is nothing I can to do fix it.
Rosalie is quiet for the next few days. She has never been this quiet that I have known her. She is usually blusterous and the life of the party. But now she prefers to sit in silence and stare off into space. There are usually tears running down her cheek and I just wish there was something I could do. I can almost forget the man waiting for me on the other end of this trip and just focus on her. I prefer it actually. I can keep my mind busy this way. I try to make her smile but I know they are forced. She is shattered and I don't see any way of fixing it. She left behind the love of her life. She will probably never see him again and she knows it.
I use this time to reflect on the life I have left. My family that I will never see again. I don't want to go but I know that in doing this I will secure a better future for my brother. I can do it for him. The men on the ship notice our sad demeanor and the trip so far has been filled with such melancholy that I wish the ship would just sink and swallow us all up.
On the eve of our third night on the sea Rosalie and I go to bed early. We have both been moping most of the day and felt no need to stay up any longer. I am not sure how long we have been asleep but we are awoken but a loud sound. "Bella?" Rosa whispers out sitting straight up in bed.
Before I can respond Sir Jacob is barging into our rooms. "Hide Princess! We are under attack!" Rosa and I jump out of bed and I fondle around until I find the dagger my brother packed for us. We hear the fighting outside while Sir Jacob stands in front of the door with his sword ready to attack anyone who may enter.
The screaming fills the boat and Rosa and I hold on to each other just hoping it will pass. The sounds of man dying fill our room and the pungent stench of death fill our nostrils. The pounding on our door starts and at the first on slat in the room Jacob is able to fight them off, but quickly the room fills with men and I know we are all going to die.
My mind fills with multiple outcomes but all of them end in the death of everyone I hold dear on the boat. I do the only thing I can think. I hold the knife to my neck making sure to dig in enough to draw blood, show them I am serious. "ENOUGH!" I shout over the commotion of men fighting to the death. "Bring me to your leader and no one else dies."
The men attacking Jacob stop and he goes to slay them and I shout out again. "No Sir Jacob! I will meet with their leader." The men in our room grab Rosalie and I keep the knife to my neck as we walk to the deck.
When we make it on deck I am first surprised at what a beautiful night it is. The night has a calmness to it that's juxtaposition to what just happened almost makes me want to laugh. The moon is full and casting her glow over my pack and Rosa. Underneath the twinkling of the stars is a deck of dead men. Some of them attackers some of them my own.
In the midst of the horror I see one man standing like a conqueror stabbing a dying man. He flicks the blood off his sword and takes me in. "So we found the princess." I keep the knife to my throat as he moves closer to me.
"Stand back or I will kill myself and you will have no leverage." I state. He laughs and gives his men a subtle tilt of his head that says stand back.
"My name is James and you are my prisoner now Princess. " His eyes have a maniacal gleam to them that send shivers up my spine. I look to Rosa and give her a nod that I know what I am doing even though I don't. "I am not your prisoner yet."
That gets a laugh from him. "Not often I find a woman willing to talk back to one of the most feared pirates in the world Princess. Are you willing to negotiate?" He asks with a laugh. I know he is only humoring me.
I dig the knife deeper into my throat and I wince at the pain, but I have to show him I am serious. "I know that the only reason you attacked this ship is for me. Of the three that left my home this is the only one to not carry my dowry just me. So what you want is me. My terms are easy. Your men will leave this ship, you will leave this ship. No one else will die..."
"That's not much of a deal Princess." James says interrupting me. I give him my best I am a Princess and you are scum look and continue. "If you would let me finish..." I wait for him to snicker and he shakes his head for me to continue. "No one else will die and you will let these people be and I will go with you willingly."
"BELLA NO!" Rosa screams out. I give her a stern look. "Lady Rosalie, you will stay on this ship with the pack and you will not disagree with me again." I finish it with a soft smile so she knows I love her.
James starts to clap his hands and laughs. "Nice offer Princess. I will actually take you up on that. Now if you will drop that knife I will take you to the comfort of my ship."
Now it is my time to laugh at him. "This knife will not leave my neck until we are long gone from here and you have held up your part of the bargain." James takes me in. I can tell he is trying to measure what kind of woman I am. "And why should I trust you not to slit your own throat half way to my ship?"
"Because you have some of the most important people in my life on this ship. I would gladly die for them so you can imagine I will live for them too." I retort back.
The pack starts to stir and I see Sir Samuel pulling his sword. I turn my head and shake my head no at him. "No Sir Samuel. This is my decision. Tell my mother and father I love them. Tell Emmett I will be strong." I then turn back to James. "Shall we?" I ask walking towards him keeping the knife to my neck.
James looks to his men. "Take the sails and their food." He commands them. I dig the knife in deeper and feel my warm blood covering my hands. "No, they need those to survive."
"Take their sails, take any valuables on the ship, and leave their food." That is a compromise I can live with. I keep my head high and try to keep my hand from shaking has I move closer to James. "I love you Rosa. Be safe." I tell her not looking behind me.
"Bella please reconsider. We can fight them." She wails. I don't turn around. "No Rosa, either we can all die or I can go. Go home and be safe." I hear her fall to her knees sobbing.
James helps me down to his ship, acting like a true gentlemen but I know it's an act. I keep the knife to my neck the whole way back to his ship. For the first time I notice I am still in my night gown and I am very underdressed. He helps me onto his ship. "You can lower your blade now Princess."
"Not until we are far from them." I stand at the aft of the ship and watch as my own ship fades into the horizon. I can only hope that someone realizes soon that we were attacked and find them. I know they have enough food and water to last them a long time but the ocean is so big. Once they are no longer in my field of vision I drop my blade and I hear it clink on the wooden deck beneath me.
Immediately hands are on me. They are chaining my wrist together and dragging me into the bowels of the ship. I am taken into a room beneath deck and forced into a chair. I take in my surroundings and wait for my end of the bargain. The part where I went with them willingly.
a/n Wow I have a terrible since of time. I don't think I realized It's been a year and a half since I started this story... whoops sorry about that and I totally get it if you don't want to read it anymore. but if you do let me know if I should keep going!
