BPOV
Down on his knee, Jacob Looked up and stared into my eyes.
"Bella, I know I'm not the knight in shining armor you pictured, but as I said, I am in this, and I would be honored if you would be my wife."
I couldn't help but be speechless. This is the last guy in the world I thought would be proposing to me. As I looked at his face, it was pleading for me to say yes. He looked so sincere while on his knee. He looked down and pulled a box out of his pocket, as he opened it, I saw the most beautiful big blue round sapphire with diamonds around it. It was the most gorgeous ring I had ever seen...this moment was too much for me. I felt tears began to well up in my eyes.
"Bella, I'm so sorry, I know I'm not the guy of your dreams, but I promise you I will always be there for you, I will be by your side the whole way through, I know you don't love me but that doesn't mean that I can't try be the best husband I can be for you."
he may have not been the man that I pictured getting on one knee, but if I had to picture a man saying something on that knee, he got it on point. Looking at him being so romantic, even if it was only to propose, made me think that maybe me and him could make this work somehow. Even if we were not in love, maybe theres a chance that we could be friends at least.
He sat there looking as hopeful as he could. My hesitation seemed to be getting to him because the longer I was silent the more he looked as if I was rejecting him. He was starting to look hurt and for some reason, the hurt in his face, began to hurt me...
"Bella, its fine if you don't want to go through with this, I just thought that-"
"no.... no, Jake, I....just …..never thought that you would ever....I'm sorry...."
I was mumbling and my words were not coming out th way I hoped. My thoughts were everywhere, my stomach had butterflies, my emotions were going up and down and here and there. I finally stopped and nodded my head and said in a low whisper...
"okay"
"Okay?" he said with his eyes getting wide in shock.
"Yes" I said a little louder letting a slight smile spread across my face.
Jacob looked as if he was he didn't believe what he had just heard me say. He was motionless for a moment. I looked at him and took a deep breath and said
"Yes Jacob....I'll marry you."
He smiled wider than I have ever seen anyone smile, he stood up and took the ring from the box and slowly slipped it on my ring finger. It fit perfectly, as if it was made for me alone. My eyes were fixed on it, it sparkled so brightly. Jacob stood there with his eyes on my hand then looked into my eyes.
"This ring has been in my family for centuries. It was given to me to give to my wife, since the throne is mine next."
I don't know why but this made me feel so special. The fact that, even though this wasn't going to be a traditional marriage, and even though Jacob wasn't in love with me, he still felt that I should have the ring that was so important in his family.
He let go of my hand and slowly embraced me in a hug. He wrapped his arms around me and put his head into the crook of my neck, I was hesitant when he touch me, my people were very conservative and I wasn't used to being touched, let alone by someone who a week ago was an enemy of mine. I slowly brought my hands to his back and hugged him back. It fell abnormal, but I though if I didn't this would hurt him. As I felt his back, it felt hot. It was a very strange sensation against my cold hands. As he felt my hands around him he squeezed me a little tighter and brought his mouth up to my ear and whispered
"You wont regret this, I promise."
I couldn't help but think that he would be wrong. None of my people seemed to be OK with this and I don't think his people would either. I didn't want to but I believed him. I know that there would be problems but just because he was telling me that it would all be OK, I believed it because he said it. Inside I was a little angry with myself for the trust I had already had in him.
He backed away and took another look at me and said goodnight and went to his room.
The morning came and I was about as nervous as I could get. This is one of those times I wished I was able to sleep. I got my clothes on and walked into the common room where I was the Queen and Rebbecca and Jacob talking to my father. As I was spotted my my father he put his hand up and said
"Aww, there she is....good morning Bella."
All of them turned to look at me. As Jacob was the last to look at me, his face lit up as his eyes met my own. He seemed to perk up as he saw me.
"Are you ready to go?" Jake said a little exited.
"No, I haven't packed any clothes yet." I said back as I saw the look on the queens face.
Rebbecca came over to me and looked at my clothes. She had always looked nice enough so I didn't back away as she came toward me.
"Look Bells," she said as if we were old friends, "when you come to our land it would be better for you to dress as we do, our people would take to you a lot easier, you can borrow some of things until we have our dressers make you some of your own."
I would have to dress like them, be around their people unprotected, and I'm marrying the leader of our enemy. I guess its fair to say, I was not going to be very comfortable.
"OK, well I guess, I'm ready then."
As we got to their land, I noticed all of their people looking as if something was going on. I guess news traveled fast. Jacob took my hand and looked at me with hesitant eyes.
"You ready for this?" he said taking a deep breath
"As ready as I'm gonna be" I said taking his hand and walking up to the steps. The castle was amazingly beautiful. It was a lot bigger than the one I lived in. Jacob had his arm around my back as he led me inside. Just the same as with my people Jacobs people all stopped to look at their future Queen. But there was something different, while my people didn't take kindly to him, his people seemed to be a lot more welcoming. The stares were not with anger but with smiles. The feeling here was one of a welcome. I felt instantly at home as I walked through.
One thing about all of them was that they all seemed to have some sort of Native-American in their blood. The men also were almost as large as Jacob, they all had muscles and long hair and had russet colored skin. I felt like such an outsider with my whit skin. This place was also very warm.
As he led me to the room where I guess I would be staying. As we walked to the hallway I turned to look over my shoulder, I saw a woman, pretty, with long black hair standing with her arms crossed giving me a look of disgust. I could tell she was not happy about my arrival.
As got into the hallway, Rebbecca grabbed me from Jacob and told him she would get me dressed. Jacob looked as if he didn't want me out of his sight but she persuaded him we would just be a little while. He agreed after telling he he would wait for me outside the door.
JPOV
I stood outside waiting for Rebbecca to get Bella dressed. There was no way I was going to let Bella get to far from me, even though my people seemed to take kindly to her, I would not risk her safety, I promised her I would protect her and that is what I am going to do.
As I stood there, I saw my friend Quil walking over to me. He had a smile of humor on his face as he approached me.
"Hey man I heard the news, Bella Swan huh? Thats gotta be weird huh?" he said trying to hold back his laugh.
"No, not as weird as you would think. She not mean as cynical as we all heard. She is really defensive though thats the only thing thats going to be tough, but shes actually a really cool person." I said
He looked at me with skepticism, like this was hard to believe.
"Yea OK, you know Tatiana is really mad. She doesn't like this one bit." he said starting to laugh.
"Yea I know, I saw the look she gave Bella, theres nothing she can do about it though, shell just have to get used to it because Bella isn't going anywhere." I said back.
"Alright then man, I'll see you later, you coming to the show right.?"
"Yea I though I would bring Bella, let her get a feel for our life a little."
quill looked at me with worry in his face but then shrugged his shoulder and nodded his head in agreement.
"OK, I'll see you there" he said turning back and walking away.
There was going to be a dance show tonight around the fire and I was hoping Bella would come with me.
BPOV
As I got a look in the mirror with my new wardrobe, I had to admit I was looking a little like I belonged. The dress was dark blue with a black design going down the left side, it looked like tribal markings.
"One more thing before we are done" she said to me
"what?...is something wrong?" I said a little worried.
"no I just though I should tell you, you will be sleeping in Jacob's room tonight" she said waiting for me to react. I did.
"What?....why?" I said my heart rate speeding up.
"our people are very...how do I put this....close....touching in our culture is expected unlike with your people, if the pack finds out that you two are sleeping separately, they wont believe for a minute that you are in love. Also if Jake seems to touch you a lot, you don't need to get defensive, he has to put on a show."
This made the butterflies in my stomach flutter harder. The look on my face was one of concern. She must have seen this because she asked me to sit down.
"Look Bella, Jacob is not used to being the way he has to be around you, he has grown up being very affectionate towards those that are close to him. I can see him trying to respect your boundaries the best he can but you need to meet him half way on this. You need to let some of your guard down and let him in. Trust my brother, I know he wouldn't hurt you....I mean have you see the way he looks at you?"
what she was saying kind of stung. Was I being so selfish that even she noticed. But he fact that his face lit up when he looked at me was very obvious, I just thought I was imagining things. I agreed with her and she stood up and led the way to the door.
She opened it and Jacob stood there. His wide eyes went up and down my frame and as that smile spread across his face.
"W...wow, Bella...you look....you look....wow!" he said struggling to find the words.
"Thank you Jacob" I said feeling flattered.
"You know you can call me Jake" he said putting his arm out to escort me.
"I like Jacob" I said to him as he blushed a little.
"So where we going?" I asked
"Well, I thought I would take you to the fire tonight, some of our people are putting on a show, they dance around the fire to the tribal music." he said looking for me to protest
"Sounds interesting" I said
He looked at me with surprise, I could tell he wasn't expecting that from me...but I was trying to meet him half way after all. He looked as if he wanted to jump up and down as his face turned to pure excitement.
"Good, I wanna show you off to—I mean I want to introduce you to some people." he caught himself. He went quiet as if he was hoping I didn't notice his mistake.
"Rite now I thought we would make an appearance for everyone to see you...if thats okay?"
"It's fine, lets go." I said.
He kept looking at me with a look of shock and amazement. Even though I was trying to do what Rebbecca said, I was still nervous about all of this. I just know that this was going to be a very interesting 2 weeks.