Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight, its characters, and a piece of my heart.
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Jacob, who had been crouched quietly by Edward's side, suddenly spoke quickly, "There's more of them. They were hiding deep in the woods. They're coming from the North."
King Carlisle and Edward looked across the field to see a throng of bandits pour out of the woods.
Some raced at Rosalie as she smiled slyly in their direction. Their eyes glazed over. Focused on her, they didn't see the giant hulking over them. Emmett's strong hand pounded down on the bandits as they were entranced by Rosalie's siren charm, their flesh shattering to pieces under his blows.
Other bandits became caught up in a wind tunnel. Alice's tiny figure moved in a blur around them, pushing them together into the center of her current. Jasper pounded the ground around them until they all had fallen over. With the massive gust blowing, the frozen bandits turned to dust bit by bit, eroding like a desert in a sandstorm.
More enemies emerged from the trees, followed by wolves. Jacob took off across the field.
King Carlisle stood up, glancing down at Edward and said, "We can handle them. Stay here."
Edward nodded slowly and the King followed Jacob's swift russet blur.
Edward caught sight of one of the broken bodies near him. Something on the solid hand gleamed in the emerging sunlight. Edward leaned closer, recognizing the mark he had seen once before. A crescent shaped line bit into the flesh, its silvery shade looked cold in contrast to the sunrays beating against it. It was the same mark he saw on a leader, James; the mark of the Marauders. The pieces fell into place as Edward looked at the hand.
His eyes moved back up as he pushed himself off the ground. He glanced behind him as the sunrise spread across the trees, the yellow and orange rays making the forest appear more alive than ever.
He was about to turn back around when a darker color touched his eyes. A fiery red seemed to be moving along the edge of the trees.
A soft glow caressed Edward's chest, as if the sun's beams were trying to touch beneath the surface.
He darted toward the trees, a fire began raging through him. But this fire he invited in. Desire to save Bella pierced his heart, sending a reverberation of light pulsing through his body. Whether she would ever love him as he did her, he no longer focused on. His entire being ached with a need to express his love fully to her, even if he would die for it.
Edward crossed over the edge of the land and saw the red shape move swiftly toward him. Her long hair blew around her like she was engulfed in flames and her bloodshot eyes throbbed with her rage.
"Victoria." Edward said, knowing by her loathing that she must be James' vengeful mate.
She met him with a growl as she lifted her sword. Edward raised his own and the duel began.
Victoria ran forward, propelling toward him with her steel blade. It was met by a hard edge that rang out in the forest.
Victoria's breathing raced with her anger, as she tensed to strike again. Edward evaded her blow, his muscles shifting with ease as an increasing light warmed his skin.
Another fierce growl broke out of Victoria's visage. Her hand gripped tighter around her sword as she retracted behind a tree.
Bonds fell off of Edward, setting his entire flesh free of their solid chains. His body felt feather light as he ran as swift as a deer toward his enemy. Victoria danced from tree to tree to evade his chase.
Edward slowed his pace, raising his hand above his eyes in search of Victoria. He stepped toward a patch of tall grass growing at the edge of the cottage's property.
Suddenly, Victoria lunged through the air toward Edward, her jagged nails clawing forward. With a fluid motion, Edward dropped to the ground.
Through his healed eyes, Edward had seen Victoria's maneuver to hide behind the tree. His cleared mind perceived her next move. Edward had bowed low to the ground as his enemy flew overhead.
Victoria screamed as the sunlight of the open field touched her skin. The rage that pushed her forward became her downfall as she landed on the cottage lawn. The magic of the territory engulfed her instantly. Edward stood back up and ran over to her, finding a statue in her place.
Edward's entire flesh was free of his curse. The soft light of the rising sun reached into his chest, gently sweeping across his stone heart.
A howling from the East drew Edward's eyes toward the cottage as he felt the hard pressure slowly releasing its hold inside of him. Out of the brightness of the rising Sun, a tall and gangly wolf, covered in sandy colored fur, ran toward him.
His mouth hung open as a huge grin formed on his face when he reached Edward. The wolf looked quickly from Edward to Victoria's stone form. He flitted over to the statue, crumbling her to ash as he pounced on the figure.
The wolf's eyes lit up as he looked back again at Edward. He stepped toward him and shoved his muzzle against Edward's side, turning Edward's body toward the sunlight.
Edward squinted into the light. A figure stood silently at the threshold of the cottage.
With each swift step, the glacial covering melted from Edward's heart. Layer by layer the sheets fell away.
Edward reached the flat stone path leading to the front door. He stopped, staring at the cottage and its occupant embraced in the sun's rays. The beauty standing at the entrance outshined the sun.
Edward raced forward until he stood inches from the resident of the perfect, little cottage.
His hands reached up, brushing once through long mahogany tresses, as wide chocolate eyes met his.
Edward fell to his knees.
His hands swept around her petite waist as his head settled against her torso.
"Bella." He whispered as the last drop of ice fell from his heart.
Bella reached down, running her fingers through Edward's hair, before pressing her hands to his shoulders. She tugged gently and Edward complied, slowly rising back up to meet her face.
"Edward." Bella's soft voice choked out as she looked into his eyes. Tears began spilling over from her own.
Edward reached a trembling hand up to Bella's chin, lightly tracing his thumb along her bottom lip. Bella leaned her head back and shut her eyes as Edward closed the distance between them.
Edward pressed his mouth to Bella's soft lips, all doubt fleeing as the contours of her mouth welcomed him.
Edward wrapped his arms around her. The light shined brightly again behind Edward's eyelids as he kissed the girl he loved.
As one of her hands came to rest against his chest, Edward's heart beat again.
They continued their kiss as the beats created a steady rhythm.
Bella withdraw her lips to take a deep breath, looking up to see Edward's water stained face.
"I've dreamt of you every night." She began. "I thought I had lost you, but as you stand here, you look like an angel. Maybe I really am dead."
"You can't be, because I've never felt more alive."
Edward pressed his lips passionately to Bella's again, which she accepted with fervor. Her hands threaded through his hair as he hugged her against him.
They stayed together as the sun grew higher in the sky, wrapping them in its affectionate rays.
A low whoop and the rumbling of the earth beneath them brought Edward and Bella's eyes upward.
"The rest of us are ok too, by the way." Emmett laughed at his own words as he smiled down at the couple.
King Carlisle followed along with Queen Esme, also dressed in armor. Jasper and Rosalie, with Alice fluttering happily, came to rest on the cottage's front lawn. The wolves formed a loose half-circle along the tree line.
Edward smiled at the crowd. His heart warm as he took in their delighted faces. The word Jasper had spoke early in his quest came back to his mind. Friend. This mysterious group of acquaintances and strangers took on a new meaning as he met their gazes. The love he had continued to pour out as his heart embraced them all.
His eyes met the King's last. An unspoken conversation passed between them. Though the King had not known Edward had been living under the assumption he had lost Bella, though his heart was still frozen as he stood before the stadium after saving Esme, King Carlisle believed Edward still had the potential to be worthy of something great. Unconditional love radiated from the King's face as Edward remembered the last step in his journey's poem.
At the end you will be granted the greatest of treasure.
It is of worth far beyond measure.
Edward looked back at Bella and said, "It seems I already have your father's approval." And then he dropped to one knee.
"I love you, Bella. You are the sun that lights my path and I wish nothing more than to continue that journey with you at my side. Will you marry me?" Tears passed from Edward's eyes as he looked up at Bella's glowing face.
Bella wrapped her hands behind his neck and responded, "As I was about to say the day we met before Captain Charles interrupted, I love you, Edward. Yes!"
Their friends and family erupted in cheers as Edward stood back up, wrapping an arm around Bella's waist. He looked toward the King, who nodded and stepped forward.
King Carlisle's face shined with almost as much of the joy that beamed from Edward and Bella as they followed his proclamations with "I do".
"Before you kiss the bride, I have one last gift for you. Our foes have been defeated, lifting the blessing of time standing still from this land, freeing our friends to continue on living full and happy lives." King Carlisle smiled looking back and forth between his daughter and new son. "But I have the power to place this blessing wherever I feel it will be put to good use. For one year, I declare this home will be blessed with this gift. Lost time shall be made up." The King winked at Edward. "And then you can continue living… happily ever after. You may now kiss the bride."
Edward reached his arms around Bella, lifting her up into him as he kissed her. Colorful flakes covered them like confetti as Edward carried Bella over the threshold, into their place in forever.
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The End.
A/N: As a side note, I was rereading the story and Emmett told me that the ravine him and Jasper guarded was actually formed during one of their earth shaking wrestling matches. ;-)
That really was fun to write. If you liked it, please check out the other stories in my profile.
Unlike Edward, I still thrive on the praises of my fellow Twilighters. Please leave your comments!