A/N: Frequently asked questions.

This fic doesn't take place in the real world. It takes place in a fake world that is NOT Westeros, but is very much like Westeros.

You don't have to watch or know Game of Thrones to read this. A lot of you haven't watched Game of Thrones! Heheh.

Edward is not a dwarf.

The day before his wedding, Edward found himself in the empty sept. As a rule, he liked septs. Not because he found any kind of comfort in the idea of gods. Septs were peaceful, and each of them told so much of their city's history. He liked history. He liked books and learning.

Such a conundrum. Had he been lowborn, he would have had no time for his books, for knowledge. Yet, as a lowborn, he would not be a political pawn, either—a piece in this game of kings and allegiances.

Duty. All his life, his duty had been dictated. As a young man, a sword had been shoved in his hand, and he was told it was his duty to kill men. Trouble was, at the time, he understood what those men were fighting for and why. He simply hadn't believed those men deserved to die.

So, he'd run. The son of one of the most powerful men in the realm, and he'd run from battle. The story they told—which, in the way of stories, had been twisted out of hand—was that he'd been too scared. Too scared to spill his noble blood. Too scared to fight for the House of Masen.

Ah, well. It had given him freedom for a time. His father had wanted him out of his sight and, as a result, he'd ended up traveling the realm. It made him good at his role on the King's council where he played Master of Coin and, therefore, advisor. Occasionally, his father—who was the one really running the kingdom if anyone was paying attention—had to admit his advice was sound, even good.

Likely, it was how good he was in his position that pushed his father to find him a bride once and for all. It was, as he'd said, the respectable thing to do. Then, he had the problem of the Swan girl. Daughter of a traitor, sister to a man fighting the king's rule, she was a politically powerful piece on the board game. Anyone at court, though, knew she was also King Felix's favorite plaything, and that the king had a cruel streak as wide as the sea.

It was a brilliant strategy on his father's part, Edward had to admit. Marry Bella Swan into the house of Emmett Swan's greatest enemy. Because Edward was bound here to the capital city of Volterra, so they would have an excuse to keep her here, and out of King Felix's clutches at the same time.

Well, there was some small mercy there.

Steady footfalls came toward him, and Edward struggled not to roll his eyes. He recognized his sister's regal gait. This was exactly what he'd been trying to avoid these last few days.

"Hello, Jane," he greeted without looking at her. "I see you've come to gloat. I had wondered how much of this was your idea."

"My idea?" His sister laughed as she came to sit next to him. "Little brother, I'm a woman. I have no control over the realm."

He scoffed. What Jane wanted had a tendency to come to pass one way or another. Including the recent death of her husband, the king before Felix. He strongly suspected she had brought the unfortunate lout's death, but hell if he could prove it. Jane was devious and dangerous. She had far too much control.

Though not, unfortunately, of her eldest, maniacal son.

"Father made you a match far better than you deserve," Jane said.

"Oh, yes. For once, sister, I'm certain that your hatred of that girl outweighs your hatred of me. Why is that, by the by? I'd always wondered. She's a child. She hasn't had time to do anything to you."

"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about," Jane said, her voice cold now. "I have no reason to hate the girl. After all, her parentage isn't her fault." She sat up straighter. "And as I've said, I had nothing to do with the match."

"I'm sure."

"Besides, she is not so much of a child."

"Compared to me?"

Jane shrugged. "A man may marry as he pleases." There was bitterness in her tone. "I think the most I've seen is thirty-three years between a husband and his bride. He could have been her grandsire."

"And I could have been Isabella's father."

Jane smirked. "Well, as luck would have it, you were not. Else it would have been your head on a spike, now wouldn't it have?"

She would have liked that, and they both knew it.

"Do cheer up, little brother. Marriage is the business we must all make. You're a man. You will still be free to leave a trail of bastards across the countryside so long as you remember to give your wife a child every now and again."

Edward shuddered. "As though she is a brood mare." He shook his head. "Not all men are like your late husband. I will honor my vows. She deserves that much."

"You speak as though you will be a terrible husband."

Edward grunted, looking out over the empty space. "I will be the best husband I can." He straightened up, knowing he couldn't play this game with his sister. She would use his words against him if she could. "But nothing about this is what young girls dream of, is it? The wedding is being rushed, so there will be no frills." He blew out a breath, his heart aching for her. "She's alone here, without a single member of her family."

Jane's face lit with a devilish gleam Edward recognized. "She will have a new family soon. Tomorrow, I will attend to her myself."

"No." Edward's voice was loud in the empty chamber. He narrowed his eyes at his sister.

She looked affronted. "As you say, her mother is far from her, and—"

"And you are not her mother. Not even close. That girl is terrified of you."

Despite the mask she put up, Jane's eyes gleamed with unmistakable pleasure at the idea. "She is perhaps intimidated by my title, but—"

"Your former title. You are not a queen any longer, and you know damn well that's not what I mean. She is terrified of you, and with good reason." Edward stood and looked down at his sister. "If any good comes out of this marriage, let it be this. Isabella is to be my wife, and she is under my protection. I don't want you, Alec, or any of your children near her. Is that clear?"

Jane scowled. "You've always been melodramatic, little brother."

"This from a woman who hates me because our mother died giving birth to me? As though I murdered her from within the womb. And you despise this seventeen-year-old child for gods know what reasons." He shook his head. "No, sister. I'm not the melodramatic one in our family, and to date, I'm also not the most dangerous. What I'm telling you, Jane, is that if you go near my wife again, if you seek to intimidate or otherwise torment her, you will find out just how dangerous I can be."

Jane glowered, but after a moment, her wicked grin returned and she nodded her head. "As you wish." Her smiled deepened. "Though, of course, I have no control over the king."

~0~

Bella woke before dawn on her wedding day. She rose and stepped out on her balcony, looking not to the sea but to the north, toward her home city of Rainfall. Toward the tattered remains of her family.

Would news of her marriage reach her mother and brother? They were the only ones she knew for certain were still alive. She looked to the north and wished they were with her now.

Since she was imagining things anyway, she made up a scenario where they would be pleased with her match, where her husband wasn't among those who wanted them dead. She imagined her mother's steady hand as she brushed her hair until it was tangle free and shiny.

Renee was sweet and kind. She would sooth Bella's nerves and spin beautiful tales about how happy she would be with her new husband. He was a good man. He'd have to be, or her parents would not have consented to the match.

Then again, her parents had consented to her original match with Felix—the reason she had been brought to Volterra with her father in the first place. Though no part of her thought he would have let the marriage go through. Not if he knew what the king was really like.

No, if her father was alive and her mother and brothers were here, she would be marrying a handsome young lord. Her eldest brother would come in to tease her. He would make ribald remarks, and their mother would scold him. Emmett was ever the joker, and he loved to make her blush.

She still had trouble thinking of him leading an army against House Volturi. Many of the northern kingdoms called him King. Bella wouldn't have believed Emmett could be serious for that long, except that she had been beaten in punishment of nearly every one of his victories.

Would it be her husband's job to beat her now? Edward had saved her when he could, but would it be different behind closed doors?

"My Lady?"

Bella turned to the doorway where Angela waited. She stood up straighter when she saw another woman behind her. An older woman whom Bella had seen about the castle. Not noble, but the wife of the highest ranking Alchemist who sat on the inner council. Esme, she believed.

Esme came forward. Her smile was gentle, and she gave a small curtsey as she came before Bella. "Good day, My Lady. Your husband asked that I attend to you."

"Oh, Madam. I'm sure you have much else to do."

"Lord Edward asked the king to allow your mother to attend your wedding. The king would not allow it, of course, so Edward thought you might like someone's mother if you cannot have your own." Her eyes were sympathetic and her tone soft as she spoke. "I had a child who is now grown to a man. A fine young man. His bride was likewise motherless on her wedding day, and I attended her with great joy. It would be my honor to attend to you."

Bella's throat was tight. She nodded. "If it's no burden," she said.

"None at all, My Lady."

"Please, call me Bella," Bella said, following both Esme and Angela inside. "Did Lord Edward really request the king allow my mother into the capital?"

Esme brightened. "Yes, he did." She reached out and tentatively took Bella's hands in hers. "You have no reason to love anyone in this family. Hush now," she said before Bella could protest. "There's no need for you to be on guard with me." She smiled over at Angela. "And I know your maid is trustworthy."

"Of course, Madam," Angela said, nodding fervently.

Esme looked back to Bella. "Trust that I bear no love for either ruling house, Volturi or Masen. Neither does your husband, the gods bless him. He has been the black sheep all his life. A stain as far as his father is concerned. Against all odds, he grew up kind and wise." She cupped Bella's cheek. "He will make a good husband, My Lady. I would bet my life on it."

Bella searched the woman's face, searching for some sign of trickery. She saw none, and despite her better judgement, hope welled in her.

"Bella, you have endured an ordeal beyond which no one should be forced. Yet despite the cruelty shown you, you've remained sweet and good. Your mother would be so proud of you."

At that, Bella's eyes welled with tears. She ducked her head to hide them. "I...thank you," she whispered.

Esme gathered her close, and Bella allowed herself to cling to the woman as she would her own mother. She wrapped her arms about her waist and laid her head on her breast.

"There now, child," Esme said, stroking her hair. "I know it may not seem so, but I think you and Lord Edward are a fine match, well made for each other. You may yet have a beautiful life." She pulled back and took Bella's face in her hands, wiping away her tears with the pads of her thumbs. "And my goodness—can you imagine how darling your babies will be? Between your face and his, they will be the most beautiful children in all the realm."

Bella's cheeks flushed hot, and she ducked her head. Despite herself—her nerves at what kind of a husband he would be behind closed doors—she felt some pleasure at the idea. Hope burned brighter.

~0~

Some hours later, Bella was as ready as she was ever going to be. She had been bathed in fragrant oils. Her hair had been brushed to a fine sheen and was piled elegantly on her head. Her dress, while not as resplendent as it might have been had she wed Felix as was originally planned, was fine and hung on her beautifully.

She looked at herself in the full-length mirror and thought her heart might pound out of her chest. So it had finally come—her wedding day. This was the role she had been raised to play—to be wife to a lord.

There was a knock at the door. Bella closed her eyes and tried to pretend she wasn't light-headed and nervous. Perhaps this wasn't the happiest day of her life as it was meant to be, but she had some hope now that some happiness might come of this. At least, as his uncle's wife, she would be safe from the hands of—

"Is the Lady ready?"

Bella froze, a jolt of pure fear going down her back. She swung away from the mirror and looked to where the king had been admitted into her room. She clenched her hands in fists at her side. "Your Grace," she said, sinking into a curtsey automatically even as her mind reeled.

He was promised to someone else, and King though he was, he could not break his solemn oath. This could not be some trick where he took Bella as his wife instead, could it?

King Felix let his eyes travel the length of her body. As she always did, Bella felt filthy, as though he knew what she looked like in only her skin. He smiled. His smile was always a leer. "Come, My Lady. You don't want to be late on this happiest of occasions."

"You're right, Your Grace. I will see you presently in the Great Sept."

If anything, Felix's leer only deepened. "Foolish girl. I'm here to walk with you. Who else did you think would give you away to your new husband, seeing as your father got himself beheaded?"

He said the words as though he were making a joke, and Bella's stomach churned. He was the one who had given the order, and after he had promised Bella he would show mercy. Now he was here to take her father's place on her wedding day. She wanted to scream with the injustice of it.

Instead, she nodded. "I didn't believe I was worthy of such an honor." She took the arm he offered and glanced only briefly at Angela and Esme. They wore tight smiles, and their eyes were dark with sympathy.

Both women attempted to follow them, but Felix quickly put a stop to that. "Both of you should run to find a seat. The Sept is quite crowded today. Apparently, the wedding of a coward and a traitor's daughter is a spectacle to behold." He chuckled. "Away with you."

They both curtseyed. "Your Grace."

Then, Bella was alone with Felix in the hallways of the palace. For almost two years now, Bella had tried her best never to be alone with the king. She concentrated on keeping her gait steady, lest he take the moment to prey on her fear.

He was in his most charming mode, bantering about the plans that had been made for her, the banquet that was to be held in her honor. Bella murmured her pleasure where it was required. Felix liked to be congratulated for his benevolence when he showed any small act of kindness. As though his grandfather would have let anyone say the crown threw a lousy wedding.

Just as they turned down the main hallway leading to the Great Sept, Felix said, "I'm sure you wish your family was here with you."

Bella stiffened ever so slightly. All conversations with Felix had to be carefully navigated but none so much as when he spoke of her family. "Of course, despite their many crimes against you, Your Grace, I still bear love for my family. That part of me does wish they were here to celebrate this happy day. However, I am loyal to the crown. That part of me is glad they will not foul this place with their traitorous presence."

As always, when she had to utter such horrible things, Bella made a silent plea of forgiveness to her family. She thought of each of them in turn, and her heart wrenched with the ache of missing them. How much she longed to be with them, any of them, again.

"Well, it is said that the dead watch over us. Perhaps they are here in spirit."

Bella's step faltered. "They, Your Grace?"

"Your father and mother at least." They stopped outside the doors to the Great Sept, and Bella looked at him with unadulterated horror. His grin turned malicious and gleeful. "I got the raven just this morning. Your mother was killed in the last battle your brother fought. She was stabbed, you see. In the back. They say it took her hours to die."

Bella gaped in pure horror, unable to say anything or even move.

"So you see, your parents will be with you on your wedding day," Felix said, his tone serene. "Come. We wouldn't want to keep your guests waiting."

With that, he pushed open the doors of the sept, and pulled her into the room, down the aisle.

A/N: How're you doing?