"Please tell me you won't be wearing that black get up to the feast this evening," Alice voice was laced with concern. Her pixie like features pinched up in aggravation at the moment.

"Alice," replied Bella patiently, "You know I am still in mourning. Proper etiquette indicates I have another two months to don the black."

"Yes, but—," Alice cried shrilly, "You're going to a feast at the palace. And really what is another two months? Do you want that stuck up that nasty Rosalie to show you up tonight?"

"Alice, really," Jasper cut in sternly, his strong jaw set, "We must respect our dear Bella's wishes. I don't think fashion is the priority at this now."

"That Rosalie is a vile woman," Angela pointed out, "I have heard stories about her that curl my toes. Once at the games, she had a woman thrown into the arena because she dared to comment on her gown! Stating that it made it look with child! And her brother is no better, laughing as the woman's husband begs for mercy."

"Word has it her brother James is quite the musician," commented Alice ignoring Angela's rant. "They say he is rather good. Plus, people are going to be evaluating everything you do and wear! They will be judging you this entire evening!"

"Not bloody likely," huffed Jasper, "He is a right beast. Besides, no one can play as enchanting as our quartet," he went on smiling. "And Bella wearing black will definitely make a statement with the people."

"Oh will we play tonight Bella?" Asked Alice excitingly at the thought, "I would love to show them up at court!"

"Alice," Jasper chided, "That is not why we play."

"Oh I know," Alice said defensively, "But still, wouldn't it be wonderful to play at the palace?"

"It would," Bella conceded, "And I am sure we will get an opportunity to when the time is right. Right now, I am worried about more pressing matters."

"The recent raid in Judaea," asked Angela meekly. She was a pretty girl with dark features due to her Egyptian heritage. She had seen a lot of horrors in her life before being acquired by the Cullens at a young age.

"Yes," replied Bella, "there is likely a new barge of slaves coming to Rome, and more gladiators for the arena. The Blue Phoenix has their work cut out for them."

All three friends looked up sharply at the mention of the Resistance. "Yes," Bella acknowledged, "I know we mustn't speak of that here. But there is more to ponder, whatever purpose my uncle has for me here—whether it is to test me to see if I will commit treason, or betroth me to someone, there is much to be weary of."

"Of course," Angela reached to lay a hand on her shoulder sympathetically, "We will be very cautious."

Jasper added, "Hopefully we will be back to Capua shortly, and the emperor will tire of this game."

Bella looked on sullenly at the mention of her home—how she longed for it. To be out of the stench of Rome and the crowded city. It wasn't so bad at her family house amongst the gardens. She would have to venture back to the palace this night.

Bella knew she would be under heavy scrutiny. She also knew she had a slew of enemies in the court; what with no surviving family save her uncle. She had to tread lightly, but that is what she worried about. She had quite a pleasant temperament, unless in the face of an injustice, she could get rather disagreeable in a situation like that.

Bella sighed as she prepared to ready herself for tonight's festivities. She would be attending alone, her friends not being permitted to sit at the table with the other guests and nobility, but rather segregated from the feast. Bella would be by herself this night, and headed straight into a pit full of vipers.

000

The court was alive with activity. Birds chirping cheerfully in their cages, a leopard growling on its chain, many dignitaries arriving with silks, furs, and other rarities indigenous to the countries they hailed from. A feast was set out on the table—various roasted meats, decadent dishes, and rich desserts, the savory smells assaulted Edward as he made his way to his seat at the table.

Quite bored, he reached for his wine glass a slave had already hastened to fill, and drank deeply. He looked around the table to see all of his honored guests had taken their places at the table. Rosalie reclined on his right of him, looking sinfully radiant in her blue gown, the sapphires gleaming provocatively from her neck where her blond tresses fell in an intricate plaits and curls. Her brother James was to the right of her with a haughty glare that matched his sisters. His most trusted general Emmett lounged to his left on the couch nearest him, partaking in the sweets before them while carrying on jovially with the dignitary across from him. The seat to his immediate left was reserved for his young niece to lounge next to him as custom and protocol dictated. Eric, if Edward recalled correctly, he hailed from the Orient. Many a time Edward had extended an invitation to the delegate, but he had yet to make the journey and attend palace until today. The rumor was that he only attended to catch a small glimpse of the allusive Isabella Cullen. Jessica and Victoria laid across from Rosalie, making chatter idly in between the haughty glares they sent to the women sitting directly across from Edward.

The woman sitting across from him, Edward was not surprised to find his estranged niece in the same get up as she had recklessly donned this morning. He was very annoyed that she had broken protocol by moving seats after the feast had begun to speak with Eric of the Orient. It was disgusting. How dare that aggravating girl shame the emperor! And her dress! Her wearing the color was offensive for the very reason she wore it! The death of a traitor, as if it were something to morn.

Black fabric clung to her in the Roman fashion, clasped at the shoulder with a silver feather pin. She was appropriately wearing her dark, chestnut curls loosely down with half of them pinned up framing her face. A face, Edward noticed, that was unadorned with any kohl or other cosmetics the women to his right were fond of wearing, each of them positively preening in their colorful getups and sparkling gems. Bella wore no such embellishments and her plain features seemed all the more accentuated by her dark get up. The only jewelry she permitted being a single black pearl she wore around her neck. Edward thought her austere appearance and choice of adornment spoke volumes—though simple the black pearl was rather rare and costly.

The girl, Bella Cullen, seemed unperturbed by the stares she was getting from the women around her. Edward studied her unique features, not classically beautiful but her chocolate orbs encased in thick dark lashes staring proudly before her with her strong yet small jaw and defined cheek bones, Edward could see how one would find her pretty. She had the sort of look that seemed to cause a man to offer his protection, it was something he was not used to seeing what with the wicked women he was surrounded by—he likened them to cobras so potent was their bite. But Edward could sense Bella possessed strength of her own, however quiet and dormant it may be now, he had a profound sense it was there, swimming beneath the surfaces.

She seemed to sense his gaze, and proudly looked up to meet it intently. Edward scowled at the blatant challenge in her eyes and rushed to squash it. He gestured to the seat next to him with a smirk, requesting her to return to the seat next to him. Edward watched as Bella excused herself from the conversation and stood the grace. He will not allow her to continue this behavior. Bella returned to her seat.

Rosalie interrupted his silent plan, "My emperor, won't you allow my brother James and his men to play for you?"

"Yes of course," he murmured, "I would quite enjoy some music."

Rosalie squealed in delight as she encouraged her brother to get up and play for the captive audience.

"Isabella," he sang undeterred, his followers stopping their conversations abruptly to tune in to the sure to be juicy conversation, "I hear you have an interest in the parent-less slaves that infest this city, is it true?"

"Uncle," Bella deadpanned, "I have told you it is Bella," amid the muffled gasps Bella continued levelly, "And I believe those parent-less slaves have a name—they are called orphans. Perhaps the solution to ridding the city of this 'infestation' as you call it, would be to do the only suitable thing and build orphanages in which to house them in."

Now the gasps that rang out were hardly muffled. Rosalie was positively preening at the trap the careless girl seemed to have walked herself into, "So, Bella, you would suggest the city of Rome take on the care of these annoying little creatures? They are like termites who invade this fine country."

"Hardly," Bella answered calmly, swallowing down a grimace at the atrocious music playing in the background, "It is not just the spawn of slaves that end up orphaned in the streets, Roman citizens as well that have the unlikely disadvantage of being born female instead of male." She leveled her gaze fixedly on Laurant, or the behemoth as Edward internally referred to him, who sat several seats down, sneering back at the girl. Everyone knew of Lauarnt's callous treatment of female heirs as well as the unfortunate track record he had with his wives. So far, he had only managed to produce females despite the two different wives he had ran through and five children they had born him, both dying in labor. I will have more success than that when Rosalie and I produce our heirs, he thought proudly.

"So Bella," Edward cut in craftily, "It would be your advice then that the city of Rome pick up the tab to take care of the miscreants?"

"Uncle," Bella went on serenely, "would you not agree that a fine country such as this would be more than fit to take on the care of those less fortunate than ourselves?"

"It is said," Eric commented letting his admiration shine through, "a society is only as well off as its weakest citizens." Eric sat back smiling. Bella grinned back at him approvingly. Rosalie and Victoria merely sneered.

"That may be," Edward granted benevolently, "but the endeavor would most assuredly be costly."

"I would be honored to have the opportunity to take on the task uncle," Bella leaned forward enthusiastically, "I could match whatever you saw fit to fund the project."

"How amazing," Rosalie interrupted venomously before Edward could stop to marvel at the audacity of the girl, "you come here demanding funds for some asinine project of yours? I would watch where you step before you find yourself somewhere you don't want to be."

"I do hope you are not threatening me Rosalie," Bella stated with the utmost tranquility, "I doubt it practical to throw hostility towards me, one of the last remaining Cullen's, in good standing with the law."

"I did not mean to threaten you in any way," Rosalie sputtered uncharacteristically, shocked that the girl would call her out in front of everyone, "I only meant to caution you, girl to girl."

Bella only nodded slightly triumphantly. At that moment a leopard growled loudly. Victoria and especially Jessica looked aghast at the way Bella handled their leader.

"Enough," Edward's voice was gentle yet commanding, "I will consider your suggestion my sweet niece, provided you prove yourself useful to me."

"Useful?" Bella questioned for the first time showing a decorum of fear. Bella did not go on to question what Edward thought useful.

"Now," Edward continued silently rejoicing in Bella's unease, "Let us bring out the prisoners."

Edward noted the way Bella seemed to turn even paler than she already was at the prospect of bringing out the captives. Amidst the jeering, Edward looked on with his usual face of impassiveness as his newly acquired hostages.

Eric turned towards Bella speaking to her seemingly uninterested in the happenings around them, "I hear Bella, that you and your friends make a rather wonderful group of musicians yourselves?"

Bella, smiled shyly, "We do play, my lord, it is naught but a small hobby of ours."

"Nonsense," Eric went on to Edward's dismay, "Your notoriety precedes you, I have heard of the sweet melodies you and your group create all the way from my side of the world, I had rather hoped you would play for the court?"

Bella squirmed uncomfortably, "Maybe some other time my lord."

"Shame, that," Eric commented.

Edward took in the entire conversation quietly. Many had perked up at the mention of his niece playing this night, was that why so many had attended court, to hear her supposed talents?

"Now," Edward interrupted brutally, effectively taking the spotlight, "Our prisoners have arrived. Would you believe," he proclaimed to the crowd, "that these leaders of Judaea thought they could detain my army with a siege?"

Bella looked at him steadily with a face of indifference but he could have sworn he saw malice pass through her unwavering gaze. Simultaneously, the noise from the animals in the court steadily began to rise.

"I have heard tales that the mothers and fathers inside the refuge, even administered 'sweetsleep' to their children before themselves, before my soldiers could lay their hands on them."

Many snickered at this.

"Don't you agree, friends, that Rome is owed a debt for the lost bodies that could have been brought back to the slave auctions platform?"

Murmurs of agreement arose within the crowd.

"I have heard," Edward continued conversationally, "that the Judaean people glow the brightest of all, when lit, shall we test the theory?"

Bella had her mouth clenched arms folded as she quietly steeled herself. The animal noises coming to an annoyingly loud pitch.

"Take them away!" Edward finally instructed impatiently to some nearby slaves. Rosalie perked up at this, glad the beasts who were covering up the sound of her brothers music were being removed from court.

"You can burn us, Excellency, but you will never extinguish our spirit," cried a woman bound by one of the soldiers.

"Ah, the singer," Edward recognized her, "But I have already extinguished it, you see."

"Never," she bit back, "you can break our bodies, but can hardly reach our souls!"

"What is your name, insolent one?"

"Nora," she replied proudly.

"Well Nora, care to prove me wrong? How about you play for us on the harp, we hear you are a renowned singer back where you come from," Edward said this assuming the girl would be in no mood to give a performance.

"I will," Nora swallowed resolutely, looking ever the martyr. His followers guffawed at this.

"Come," Edward ordered, "let us make ourselves more comfortable for this show," he said arising to the plush seats on the raised daises. Rosalie sneered at this, no doubt wondering why her brother's music was not met with the same regard. Her sneer turned into a scowl when Edward pulled a reluctant Bella down beside him. Bella hastened to take a deep drink of her wine. Rosalie squeezed herself between Emmet and Edward.

"Begin," Edward demanded.

The girl regally sat herself in front of the harp brought before her. Stroking a few cords before beginning her song,

Heenay ma tov oo'ma-na-eem
Shevet acheem gum yachad.
Heenay ma tov oo'ma-na-eem
Shevet acheem gum yachad.

Heenay ma tov, Heenay ma tov.
Lalalalalalalalala
Heenay ma tov, Heenay ma tov.
Lalalalalalalalala

The singer continued switching languages so that all could interpret what she was saying.

Behold how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together,
Behold how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together,

In Unity, to dwell in unity
Lalalalalalalalala
In Unity, to dwell in unity
Lalalalalalalalala

The songstress finished majestically before looking up to meet the eyes of those on the daises. To Edward's horror, he found a teary eyed Bella next to him clapping fervently along with a few others. Edward had to admit, she had put up quite a show, but she had fatally flared Edward's temper in the process.

Edward made to stand, coming up with a rather horrendous punishment in his mind before he was distracted by Bella. Feeling quite flushed from the wine, he looked down at the enigma that was his niece.

In that moment, she had reached up to grasp his arm as she beamed up at him, if Edward pondered on it, he would have sworn she had a slightly seductive glint passing through her eyes, "Uncle, might we play for you tonight? I would love so very much for my group to perform?"

000

Cringing inwardly at her suggestion, and blatant provocative attempt at distracting the emperor before her who seemed intent on partaking in some cruelty tonight, Bella attempted to keep the coy smirk on her face. Bella could feel Jasper, Alice, and Angela's stare on her from the crowd, she did not turn to look, focusing all her energy and attention on the menacing man before her.

"I am getting all sorts of offers from musicians to play for me tonight, aren't I?" Edward purred. Bella noticed the way others on the platform seemed anxious to see if Bella would play or not.

"Very well," Edward continued waving a hand to dismiss the prisoners, "Please show us all your musical ability, my niece."

Bella determinedly descended from the raised area down to the people below. Jasper was already setting up his lyre, while Alice hurried to set up the cithara. Angela had her flute in hand as she handed Bella her tuba. They exchanged intense looks before sitting down.

The court had descended into silence as all eyes were turned to the quartet. Bella initiated the melody, with the rest of them following suit quickly catching on to the tune she had chosen. It was their best song in Bella's eyes. One that always elicited a tear or two from her. The sound of her tuba was haunting as she expertly continued playing, creating a melodious harmony that soon entranced the entire court.

The sound of their music made the performance James had previously done pale in comparison. It was like child-splay really. The quartet was so in sync, they were able to produce a cacophony of sounds the likes of which were never heard before in this palace.

000

The song went on for seemingly days, tugging on the heart strings of those in attendance. Edward vaguely noticed Eric and some of the other delegates engrossed in the music played before him. He felt a stab of jealousy at the knowledge that they were aware of the talent his niece and her slaves possessed before even he himself was. He could not ponder on it long though, for he was so engrossed in the song.

When the melody finally reached its climax, he found himself despondent that it had ended. He could remember not what he was doing before he heard this subliminal music. Upon finishing, Bella and her group stood regally before the audience giving a slight bow which was met by a chorus of approving cheers. Edward found himself among them; the woman could play like nothing he ever heard before. The passion displayed before him had effectively moved him. He would never allow Bella Cullen to leave court now he decided possessively; he definitely had found a use for her. He did not stop to guess that there would be many more surprises up this mysterious woman's sleeve. In a huff, Rosalie grabbed Edward's arm forcefully before leaving from the throne room. Edward did not get a chance to think on the Bella situation anymore that night.