A/N: Obviously, I have decided to continue this. I feel the need to warn you, the road will be quite bumpy for our kids. I choose not to use warnings, so please ask if you have any questions. Thanks.
"Is that a smile, my lady?"
Bella turned to Alice and blushed. She tried, but she couldn't quite temper her smile. With a small sigh she drew back the curtain of the carriage so her handmaiden could see out.
"Oh, I see." Alice sounded amused.
Outside the carriage Edward was showing off. He was on horseback, and they were traveling at a quick pace. He'd maneuvered so he was riding backward and gave them a jaunty wave. Alice giggled, and Bella ducked her head.
"What are you two laughing about?" Renee asked, coming awake from her nap.
Bella closed the curtain and turned back to her mother. "It's nothing. We were finding shapes in the clouds."
Renee smiled and reached across the seat to caress Bella's cheek. "My sweet little girl."
Bella let her mother pet her. She'd been very affectionate of late and weepy. They would have two weeks together before Bella's wedding, and then Renee would go back to Forkshire, leaving Bella alone with James in Nomadia. To see her mother again would mean a three week journey.
The carriage pulled to a stop some time later. Jasper came to the door. "My ladies. We've arrived at Masen. His highness has deemed it a fitting place to stop for the night."
"Thank goodness," Renee said. "It will be good to stretch." She peered outside. "Oh, it's still light out."
Jasper opened the carriage door. Renee took his hand to step out of the cab. "Edward. Edward, dear. Please come here."
As Bella got out of the carriage, she watched Edward slide from his horse with grace. He handed the reins over to Emmett and jogged toward them. "Princess. My queen," he said and he bent in a deep bow.
"Might you accompany my daughter and I on a walk?"
"It would be my pleasure, my queen." His eyes slid past Renee to Bella. She saw his lips curl up ever so slightly, and she returned his private smile as she fell into step beside her mother.
"It's so strange to think in just two weeks time, I will no longer be your queen."
Bella's heart twisted, and her thoughts turned bitter. She was not the only one who had been traded like chattel to the King of Nomadia. She was his son's prize, but the others would belong to King Caius as surely as she would belong to James. Their lives bound by her vows.
"If I may say so, your Highness, though I mean no disrespect to Queen Athenodora, you will always be my queen in my heart."
Renee took his hand and squeezed it in both of hers. She pulled him with her down to the edge of the river and pointed to a shallow outlet. "It was right there."
He looked perplexed. "What was, my queen?"
"My oldest boy, you remember Charles, don't you?"
"Yes, my queen."
"Well, he was playing just here when he saw a basket caught in the reeds."
Bella gasped and awareness dawned on Edward's face. "This is where you found me," he said.
"Yes, and I am so glad we did."
"Aye, your Highness. Fortune smiled on me that day."
"I'm happy you still think so, Edward." Renee pursed her lips. "It's a mystery that plagues me to this day. How did you come to be alone by the water? It seems improbable that you floated there. You were soaked but the basket... You would have drowned if you'd been in water deeper than you were."
As her mother spoke, Bella stepped surreptitiously closer to Edward. Careful to be discreet, she curled her fingers around his. He squeezed back, and Bella counted her lucky stars. It was only his presence that kept her from wailing in despair over her fate. Though she feared for him - James had beat him once already - he was her only hope for a measure of true happiness.
~0~
They were still several days out from Nomadia when they stopped by the river to rest for the night. A few of the men had gone into the woods to hunt.
Bella watched Edward from across the camp. He was talking to Jasper and Emmett, but his eyes lingered on hers. Bella swept her gaze from him to the woods and back. She raised her eyebrows. His eyes widened. He looked over to where Prince James, King Caius, Bella's uncle Aro and a number of others were deep in conversation. He looked back to Bella and nodded - just a slight tilt of his head.
A thrill went down her spine. She put the back of her knuckles against her fevered cheek and called for Alice. She watched out of the corner of her eye as Edward disappeared behind the treeline.
When enough time had passed they would not look suspicious, Bella and Alice decided to take a walk down by the water. It was not long after they were out of earshot of the camp that Bella heard Edward's distinct whistle. Alice smiled and squeezed her hand. "Just a few minutes, my lady. That's all we can risk."
"Thank you, Alice." Bella hugged her handmaiden and friend tightly before she slipped off in the direction of Edward's whistles.
He caught her by surprise, and Bella gave a startled cry as he swept her up into his arms. Her scream was muffled by his lips, and she melted against him. It had been well over a week since they could sneak off like this.
"Bella, Bella," he said between breathless kisses. "My princess." He cupped her face and kissed her again, slower this time, more reverent. Bella whimpered into his mouth and tangled her fingers in his hair. "My lady. My love."
As they clung to each other, the mood changed from jubilant to desperate. Bella tugged at his hair, and Edward's fingers pressed hard against her side. He spun them so he could press her back against the tree. "Edward." The closer they got to Nomadia, the more the worry they would not be able to hold each other like this slipped under her skin. "Edward."
He tilted his forehead against hers and rocked them both. "It grows worse, does it not?" he asked with a sigh. "As we draw closer, it's worse."
She trembled, her throat too tight to answer.
"Bella." He drew his fingers down her cheek. "I would run with you, Bella. If that was what you wanted. We could find a life together away-"
She was already shaking her head. "We cannot." She swallowed hard, hiding her face against his neck. "Nomadia would go to war with Forkshire. I cannot risk that."
He hushed her, his hand against the back of her head. "I know, Princess. I know. And we would be hunted." They had already been over this.
Pulling back, Bella wound her arms around his waist. "Promise me again. Promise me you'll remember how much I love you. Only you. No matter what happens."
He brushed his thumb over her lips, staring into her eyes. "There is nothing in my world except you. I love you, Princess. So much."
They kissed again, soft kisses that were only meant to express the adoration they felt for each other. They bathed in it for as long as they were able until, inevitably, Alice's voice broke them apart. "My lady, Edward, I'm sorry. That is all the time we can risk."
Bella closed her eyes. Edward's arms only tightened around her. She never wanted to leave this space. There was no telling when they would get time like this again. She didn't want to go back to their camp where James would most likely be waiting. They were supposed to be getting to know each other.
Her future husband.
Bella shuddered and kissed the underside of Edward's chin. "I love you."
"I love you, Bella."
~0~
The others tried to convince Edward that despite how James treated his servants, he would be a kind, gentle husband. And Edward had to admit, on the journey between Forkshire and Nomadia, James was the perfect gentleman. His walks with Bella were chaperoned, and Alice reported back only that he'd been charming. Whenever he succeeded in making Bella laugh, Edward felt a rush of jealousy.
At the very least, James seemed to like her. Bella deserved a husband who would adore and dote upon her. Under the circumstances, the best Edward could hope for was that his suspicions about James's tyrannical rule over his servants would not extend to his wife.
To Edward's dismay if not to his surprise, James's attitude began to change almost the minute they reached Nomadia. To that point, Bella had been a stranger, the princess of another land with whom James had to maintain an air of cordial civility. In Nomadia, however, Bella was not their princess but his bride. Before they got to the gates, Bella was brought to the open carriage at the head of their caravan where she sat next to him. As they waved to the commoners, James wrapped his arm around her and pulled her tight against him.
Edward bristled, but what could he do? In the eyes of the law and the eyes of the gods, Bella belonged to James. That Edward and Bella owned each others' hearts and souls mattered little in their situation.
There was a two week stretch between their arrival in Nomadia and the royal wedding. That first week, as the royals were busy with wedding plans, the servants were trying to adjust to the rules of the new house. Edward only caught glimpses of Bella here and there. As much as he wanted to concentrate on her, as much as he wished he could watch her every day, his life was not his own.
The Nomadian servants were headed up by Maria and Benito Salazar. They were demanding, but Edward understood that. King Charles had been friends with his servants. When he died and the queen's brother Aro took over, their lives got harder. It seemed as though their lives were destined to be harder still. Maria and Benito were almost as demanding as the King and his family.
Such was life. Edward could take whatever life handed him so long as Bella's safety was assured.
"You must keep your head about you," Jasper said to him more than once. "This path you and Bella have chosen will not be easy. Bad enough that you will have to watch the woman you love follow another man to bed every night."
Edward closed his eyes. "You are not telling me anything I don't know."
"Really think about this, Edward. She is his. He will do with her what he will. If he raises a hand to her-"
"You said he would not." Of all his friends, Edward trusted Jasper most when it came to the character of other men. He had an uncanny second sense of another person's motives. "You've said-"
Jasper raised his hand in a peacemaking gesture. "You, me, Alice... all of us he sees as bugs under his feet. He'll push the likes of us to the ground if the mood strikes him. Bella is different. She's better than us but lesser than him. Men like James see it as their duty to... correct women."
Edward raised his head and glared at his friend. It wasn't anything he didn't know. This had been his fear since his first interaction with the prince. "Why are you telling me this?"
"You need to be prepared." Jasper's voice was gentle, his eyes sad. "Edward, we all love Bella, but our hands are tied. There is no getting out of this, there's no getting her out of this. There's nowhere you can run with her. I doubt very much you could even get out of this castle."
Edward pushed his chair back and got to his feet. "Why are you doing this?"
"You need to hear this. If you and Bella are still planning to carry on a secret relationship, you need to think about this." Jasper shook his head. "Edward, if James finds out about your feelings for her or hers for you-"
"He'll kill her." He was pacing frantically now.
Jasper's eyes followed his path, but he didn't move. "I think not, brother. I think he would kill you and make her watch. And then I think he'd hurt her. I-"
"Stop!"
Jasper stood and went to Edward. He put a hand to his shoulder, but Edward shrugged it off. "I cannot bear this. I cannot bear it." He raked his hands down his cheek so hard, he was surprised his skin didn't peel off.
"You must." He hesitated. "Or you should run now."
Edward stopped short. "What?"
"If you cannot control your reactions, you should run now. Get away from this place or you will be her undoing. We would help you escape."
"I cannot do that. I won't."
"Then you have no choice." Jasper put a comforting hand on his shoulder, and his time Edward didn't shake him off. "Keep your temper, no matter what, and you will be rewarded. I've spoken with some of the others. James rides with the knights of the realm much of the year."
Edward raised his head. "Is that so?"
"It is." Jasper squeezed his shoulder. "There is hope yet, but it will be difficult." He looked over to the door as Alice appeared. "I know I could not be so strong."
~0~
It was not long before the leopard began to show his spots.
Edward glowered from his place against the wall across the dining hall, helpless to do anything but watch as, one by one, those gathered around the table went to bed. He'd seen Bella try to excuse herself as well, but James's hand around her wrist stopped her.
"Stay, Bella. It would please me if you kept me company." His tone was gentle and melodic, but Edward did not mistake the words for a request. He saw the way her uncle tilted his head, his hard expression an order. It was her duty to do as the prince bid.
Renee gave her daughter a sympathetic look. "I'll see you in the morrow, my sweet girl."
Edward wanted to scream at the least she could do was not leave Bella alone with James. How could she not see that James's charming veneer was just a mask? And was it not improper to leave them without chaperone before the wedding? Alice and the other servants were there, but now that he was home again, James did not bother to hide his true demeanor with them. He'd had many drinks tonight. Edward had seen him drunk a number of times on the journey to Nomadia. He was handsy. He'd tried to pull Alice down on his lap once, long after Bella and her mother had gone to bed.
Both Edward and Bella's eyes tracked the Queen as she and Aro made for their quarters. Bella seemed nervous, and he knew she had every reason to be. Alice had told Edward that some days before, James had made untoward advances on Bella once before, lewdly suggesting it was permissible that they lay together before their wedding night. She had rebuffed his advances stating scripture, but Edward did not trust that would hold in James's inebriated state.
James reached out and wrapped his hand around Bella's goblet, bringing it toward him. "Some more wine, my lady."
It was not a question. He poured her more wine, and it was clear he expected her to drink it. Bella's eyes were cautious as she reached for her goblet. "Thank you, my prince."
The way James was running his fingers up and down Bella's arm was making Edward's stomach churn.
"Boy." James snapped at Edward. "More wine."
"Yes, your Highness." Edward bowed his head as he took the empty flagon. Emmett was already waiting with another. They switched, and Edward tuned back. He went to James's side of the table and placed the pitcher on the table, trying to ignore the soft way James was speaking to Bella.
As he walked back to his place, out of the corner of his eye, Edward saw James lean forward, his lips pursed for a kiss. Bella turned her face away from him in a smooth motion. "My prince-" She broke off with a gasp as James grabbed her chin in a rough grip. She tried to pull away, but he held her too tightly.
Edward growled and took a step in their direction but he was blocked by Emmett's massive body and his hand on his shoulder. "Let me go." Edward's voice was low and deadly. In his furor, he very nearly overpowered Emmett, but Jasper was there to back him up.
"You are very devout, my princess." James's tone was steady but dangerous. From where he was, Edward could see Bella's eyes were on James. She was furious and terrified as she held still. He gave her head a shake and she winced.
"Think, Edward, think," Jasper whispered near his ear in an urgent voice. "You cannot intercede. He will kill you, and then your Bella would be alone."
Edward clenched his fists at his sides, but he stood still.
"But there's nothing in the scriptures about kissing before marriage," James continued. With his free hand, he stroked her hair back away from her eyes, the movement a direct contrast to the way he continued to squeeze her cheeks. Bella winced. "It's your duty to please me. You understand this, right?"
"Y-" She swallowed hard and took a deep breath. "Yes, my prince."
"Good. Good girl." He didn't let her go as he tilted his head toward her.
"Why do you torture yourself? You should look away," Emmett said.
But Edward could not. He watched in helpless rage as James kissed Bella. She was still, her eyes closed and her brow furrowed. Only the knowledge that he would only serve to get himself killed kept Edward in his place. His stomach churned and he could hardly breathe around the lump in his throat.
Anything. He would have done anything to wrest James away from her and then rip him to pieces.
Finally, James had had his fill. He let Bella go, and she slumped backward in her seat. She put a hand to her cheek, her breath ragged as her husband-to-be stared back at her with smug satisfaction.
"Edward." Jasper was speaking low in his ear again. "Go. Get out of here. Right now. Go. We'll handle the rest."
Emmett took his arm and yanked hard, all but dragging Edward from the room.
Edward let Emmett drag him down to the kitchen before he pulled out of his grasp.. He let out a mighty roar as he upset a tray of bread, sending it to the floor with a clatter.
"Edward," Emmett tried to grab for him. "You must calm down."
Edward grabbed up a vase and hurled it at the floor. The cacophony of shattering crockery did nothing to sate his need to destroy. He reached for something else, but Emmett grabbed him. Edward struggled and ended up on the floor as others came into the room.
"What is the meaning of this?" Edward barely recognized the bellow as belonging to Benito. He was half out of his mind by that point. There were more hands than Emmett's on him now, trying to keep him pinned to the ground.
"I have him, Benito," a voice Edward didn't recognize said. "It's a bad cut, that's all. Let me take care of him."
A blond haired man shifted into Edward's vision and he spoke in a voice low enough only Emmett and Edward could hear. "Calm down now, son. Let me help you. If you do not calm down, they will beat you for insolence. Please let me help you." As he spoke, the man wound a cloth around his wrist. In his rage, it took Edward some seconds to figure out he was faking an injury there.
Emmett squeezed his shoulder hard enough to catch his attention, and Edward began to settle.
"There now," said the stranger. "Get up, son."
"Get him fixed up and back on his feet," Benito said, his tone surly to the say the least.
"As you say, sir," the stranger said. He got his arm around Edward, pulling him up.
"And you." Benito turned to Emmett. "Clean this up."
"Aye, sir."
Edward felt terrible, but he had not yet grasped rationality. He allowed the stranger to drag him away.
"Easy now, son. Easy." The stranger let him go when they were in a quiet room, and Edward slumped into a chair.
"I am not your son," he mumbled under his breath.
The man was quiet at that, but he sat in the chair opposite. For seconds that turned into minutes, he just let Edward breathe.
Edward hung his head, helplessness and anguish overtaking anger as he calmed. "By the Gods, I cannot do this."
"I will not pretend I know what upset you, though I have worked for this family long enough that the list of possibilities is immense," the stranger said.
Edward raised his head. The man's eyes were kind, he noted. Open. "You work for them? You do not serve."
"No. I am an apothecary. I live in the village, but the king summons me regularly."
Edward saw the twist in his features. "You do not like him," he said, reading his face. Instantly, he regretted his words. "I mean... sir, forgive me. I have spoken out of turn."
The stranger raised his hands. "Peace, friend. You are correct. There is no love between myself and the king nor any of his folk." He smiled. "A secret for a secret. We are at each others mercy. I shall not tell the king if you shan't."
"Friend, you have my word on that." He offered his hand. "I am Edward."
The man took his hand but paused at his name. "Edward?" A strange look came over his face.
"Aye." Edward furrowed his brow, but before he could ask, the man's features smoothed out.
"Carlisle. My name is Carlisle."
A/N: New players to the game. Guesses?
Thank you to barburella and songster.
