Disclaimer: As if you don't know, Lord of the Rings was written around 1949 by Oxford professor John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, and Twilight Saga was written between 2003 and 2005 by Stephenie Meyer.
Chapter 6: (Godfather accent) You come to me, on the day my daughter is to be married, and you ask me to do (Pause) What!
Imagine sitting across from a grizzly bear. No, imagine being tied up to the chair that you're on as you sit across from a grizzly bear. Not a hungry grizzly bear, mind you, but a big, ferocious, tear-your-arms-off-in-a-blink grizzly bear.
That's about how I felt as I sat alone in the library with Gandalf the Grey…trying like hell not to twitch and fidget (Sulpicia's been doing enough of that for all of us).
A big part of me wanted him to start stroking his beard (what?...it would've been amusing and gotten my mind off grizzly thoughts). He didn't. Instead, Mr. Grey just kinda stared queerly (not gay-version) at me for several moments.
"So," I bit my lip (a-freakin-gain), wishing I'd stayed on the stupid balcony and played solitaire or smelled the roses or something, "…Nice night we're having….Not too hot. Not to cool."
"Yes," he agreed and stared at me some more…did this guy ever blink?
Pause.
He blinked…still wouldn't talk though.
Pause.
And this evening just reached a whole new level of awkward.
Pause.
What do you want ancient, grey man!
As if reading my mind, out of nowhere he stuck a hand under his cloak and said to me, "Mind if I light my pipe?" Then pulled out a long, finely crafted pipe.
"Huh," my response, "…Sure?"
Placing the stem of it in his mouth, smoke then began climbing up out of the bowl (yes, I noticed the lack of lighter…something told me this guy didn't have need for little things like matches). "I assure you," the wizard said, pulling his mouth from the pipe's lip and blowing a ring of smoke to my right, "The pipe weed found in Middle Earth smells immensely better than that of your world. Healthier as well. I would not smoke in the presence of a vampire had I thought it unpleasant for your heightened sense of smell."
"Umm?...Thanks."
Far be it from me to not let the grizzly bear smoke if he wanted to. The smell of it only made the room reek of smoldering ash and pure tobacco.
I'd been in New York City's subway system. Now that's a smell worthy of the bog of eternal stench.
"Tell me, Isabella," Gandalf went on, comfortably set unlike my unhinged self, "do you think Lord Aro to be a trustworthy vampire?"
Then he sparkling eyes squinted at me with concentration, focused on however I answered. Ready to critique.
Unfortunately for Mr. Grey, I was too flabbergasted by him using my real, full name to bother with thoughts about Aro.
No one, and I mean no one, has called me Isabella since…forever ago.
"Huh?" was all my throat breathed out, "C-Could you repeat that?"
Smoking and blowing out more rings (he was nice enough to never direct them straight at my face), Gandalf repeated the question.
Did I think Aro was trustworthy?
All right kids. You know what time it is? Word vomit time!
"No!" I responded without thinking (my brain was busy working out the intricate web that a…whatever…who I'd never met before, knew of my human name…a name not even Jacob used anymore), "I wouldn't trust Aro with my library card let alone in general."
Appearing a little surprised by my blunt answer, Gandalf then asked curiously, "Then why have you accompanied him to this place, if you do not trust him?"
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the question of the day.
"I…I don't know," I admitted the half-truth, slumping back in my chair. My brain started to feel tuckered out and wished my body could follow suit so I could excuse myself from this conversation and go to bed.
But us awesome vampires don't need sleep. Yay us.
"Yes, you do," he told me, dropping the mysterious curiosity and going for serious and wise, "Isabella, you are a clever woman, who would not allow herself to be led astray if she could help it."
"Hey, you don't know me!" I snapped back, not a great response to a wizard of untold power, but this conversation was wading into deep waters and my comfort level was left without floaties.
Still puffing away, Gandalf's face then turned annoyingly understanding, "Isabella Swann. An appearance so young for such an aged soul. I see in your eyes the anger and sorrow you endure having to walk through eternity with those that took a good life from you all those years ago. Yet you put aside that pain for a nobler cause. I know you still keep company with Lord Aro to assure yourself that you have done everything in your power to constrain his evil from the innocent and pure in your world. That, in my opinion, is why you traveled to this place with him."
Great. You got me figured out. Now I can leave here with a new understanding of purpose in life.
This is why I tended to avoid therapy.
"Why do you even care what I think about Aro?" I asked then continued, not waiting for a reply, "Here's the thing. Seeing as how you already know so much about me means you probably have a good read on Aro also. You want to know what I think of him? I think he's a complete narcissist who would kill his own wife if she endangered his precious power trip. I think that the only reason I'm still around is because I've kept myself on the sidelines most of the time and stayed out of his way. I think Aro only agreed to come to Rivendell because he's curious about something that nobody is talking about. I think Aro isn't a good person and that's never going to change. But you already know this, Mr. Gandalf, because I think you are usually the smartest person in the room. So again I ask, why do you care what I think?"
This tangent got a smile from the ancient, grey wizard. "I ask, because I wish to know your quality, Isabella."
"My quality?"
"Yes," he nodded…and blew another ring of smoke (ring number 34 I believe), "You have proven the assumptions Lord Elrond, Chief Glorfindel, and I already held (well it's good to know the big wigs have been gossiping about me..not at all creepy). That you are of the trustworthy, honorable nature. Indeed, very unique to find in a vampire." Saying the last part as an afterthought to himself. Focusing back on me, Gandalf continued, "I am assuming you know of Lady Sulpicia and Lady Athenodora's history and their betrayal to Queen Nienna and Our Father Eru."
I nodded.
"As one the Ainur, I decided, with my brethren, the bounty the damned ladies of Almaren owed in repentance to gain forgiveness for what they did to one of our holy race," he said, referring to the part in Sulpicia's tale where she and Athenodora drank blood from a dead Ainur, "We decided, after discovering the existence of the Dark Lord's weapon, that one of the damned house must take it upon themselves to hold equal responsibility to the fate of Middle Earth as we, the Istar."
Okay…understood about 70 percent of what he just said. What is an Istar?
"So that means…" I lingered off, indicated to him that I didn't quite follow all his Middle Earth lingo.
"It means," he explained, "That either Lady Sulpicia, Lady Athenodora, or a member of their coven must accompany the fellowship we have created to destroy the dark weapon and help in overcoming the great evil of Lord Sauron arising in Middle Earth. After much council, it has been decided that you, Isabella, are the wisest choice at participating in this quest."
Silence.
I didn't even continue with my regular hobby of breathing. Only complete silence covered the air (along with Gandalf's stupid pipe smoke puffing) in the library.
Was he f*&^ing joking?
A big something told me this guy didn't joke during the important stuff.
Crap on a cracker.
"What!" I yelled and stood from my seat, "Me! How can you choose me? I just told you I hate Aro! And you…What!"
Not at all fazed (that got on my frazzled nerves even more), Gandalf answered, "Logically, you are the wisest choice, Isabella. Many, including Lord Elrond's own kin, have testified to your choice of a beastly diet, so you wouldn't endanger the fellowship-"
"I'm sorry," I raved at him, still not completely processing the information of the last few seconds, "I sorry, but I can't stay in Middle Earth and help defend it. I only came here, because Sulpicia looked ready to toss her salad if I refused, and Aro threatened me a little. This isn't my problem. Really, I'm sorry for what happened to that Ainur person years back. It sucks, but it's not my fault. This isn't my problem to solve. I'm sorry."
Hyperventilating a little, I hightailed it out of that library as if Gandalf's smoldering pipe lit my butt on fire. Not looking back at to see how an ageless supreme being handled rejection, I super-sped (top speed) across Rivendell and back to my chambers in a matter of five seconds.
After whipping my body into a full 360 turn to check that no one bearded and robed had magically popped into my room, I then threw my slippers into the corner and nose-dived into my covers. Cocooning myself, much like the night before, in between the sheets, I closed my eyes tight and tried to force myself to sleep.
Hiding under my covers from a wizard. I had officially hit a new all-time low.
This was a joke. It had to be. Some sick, overplayed joke set up by Jane or Felix or, heck, even Aro to teach me a lesson about earlier. To insult my chosen lifestyle.
Yeah, I understood none of my excuse explained how they got Gandalf in on an elaborate prank. Maybe Jane illusion-pained him into it?
Two problems with that. One, Gandalf was a super-freak. An uber-power-filled creampuff. Jane going toe-to-toe with him would be like a kid dressed in a ninja suit taking on a decorated Navy Seal. No contest. True, I didn't hold the highest opinion of my coven (kindly put – hate the bastards), but even I would admit they had enough common sense not to try to cohere a Middle Earth wizard into anything. Problem two: if I remember the last two days correctly, since we set foot in Middle Earth, not one of us vampires have used our powers. During the fight earlier, Jane could have easily switched on her mojo and subdued Jacob in seconds, but she didn't.
What's up with that?
Whilst I laid there in a sorry heap, my mind decided to further better the situation by imagining all the things Gandalf could pop me into with his staff..wand…thing as repayment for rudely refusing to join the quest-club.
Newt (cliché). Rabbit (naa…he's a wizard, not a magician). Worm (ewww…no please). Snake (epp!). Monkey (uhh, no…they throw their poo). Bat (ironic).
In full honesty, I was waiting for Jacob to return from dinner. Not living with Alice, Esme, or Rosalie anymore dwindled the number of friends I could vent my feelings at. Jacob, in all his manliness, would probably prefer not to be my weepy shoulder, but he loved me. In times like these (such as when wizards and elves were ganging up on me to save their world from unspeakable evil), I held no qualms in taking full advantage of that love.
The minute my ears heard his feet finish climbing the stairs to our apartments, I flung the covers off and whizzed over to the hallway.
"It's about time," I called at him as he came into view….correct that, staggered into view.
"Belllllssss!" my brother leaned against the columned wall and smiled at me in a whispy, goofy grin, "Bella Belly. Belly Jelly. Jelly Belly! Ha! Yours cannty."
In my educated guess, Jacob had returned from dinner a dropdown drunk.
Fan-freakin-tastic.
Crossing my arms, I frowned as he continued to stagger towards me with most of his weight against the wall.
"Are you drunk?" I asked, already well aware of the answer from both his body language and the distinct scent of alcohol clouding up the air.
"Bwellllss," he started laughing and doubled forward, "You wouldn't beliewae howd much those…little dudes….could wrink! They're-They're like this little (he measured out with two fingers) and they drink soooo much. It's freaky!"
My brother, a full-grown werewolf, couldn't handle drinking with a bunch of Christmas midgets.
This would be held over his head for the rest of eternity.
Jacob continued to crackle over the ecstacy of intoxication to the point of tripping over his own feet. Watching him start the fast journey to kissing pavement, I rushed forward and caught the big lush around the torso with an "ooff."
"I really love you too, Jellsy Bellsy," he cooed the slur and wrapped his big, burly arms around my elbows.
"Oh shut up," I shot back and dragged us both down the hallway.
"Yuurrr mad," he mumbled into my hair.
I sighed back, "No, I'm not."
Yes, I am! Call me selfish all you want. The last hours I'd spent boxing and bottling up all the anxiety of the day were supposed to be uncorked with a night-long ventalation. Then my only friend (close friend that is) had to go and make a gussied-up, bumbling idiot of himself. Yes, Jacob worked hard over the years and deserved some down time…but boy did his timing suck. My instincts said Gandalf's offer wouldn't go away by morning and this situation needed some serious discuss and brainstorming.
Jacob belched into my shoulder.
Apparently I was on my own.
Ode to my joy.
Passing into the garden balcony, we made way to the archway into Jacob's room.
Somehow, through his drunken haze, Jacob realized where we were headed.
"Whyre wenre nod sleepin in your rooodm?"
"Because," I replied and heaved Jake's 200 plus pound muscle meat sack into his own room, "There's a fair chance you'll throw up some time tonight, and I'm not going to be present for that."
He grunted (no idea if it meant 'yes' or 'no'…don't care, I pay very good attention to sober-Jacob's opinion and zilch consideration to drunk-Jacob).
Once inside the bedchamber, I unceremoniously dropped Jake a few feet from his bed. Landing hard on the wooden floor, he groaned in pain (oh please, you're an immortal superbeing…idiotic cry baby) and curled into a ball of alcohol-smelling patheticness. Grabbing one of the pillows from his bed, I flung it at the moron and wished him a goodnight.
"Bella!" Jake moaned loudly, "I don't wanna slemp onna floor!"
Then don't come home drunk, idiot.
"Sorry, Jake," I replied, already showing him my back, "But that bed is way too nice for you to upchuck on. You're staying on the floor."
"Bella!"
Whipping around, I pointed a finger at him and ordered, "Stay on the floor, bucko!"
Then I stomped over to my own room. Sitting on the bed, not bothering to get under the covers, I positioned up against the decoratively carved headboard and stared at other end of the dark room. Crossing my arms, I decided to skip an unnecessary night of sleep.
Rest of the night was uneventful…outside of my brain. The only high point of it all was Jacob never got around to vomiting. He moaned and whimpered on the floor for about an hour then fell into the rhythmic breathing of sleep.
"Eepp!" and for a second time her hands went up to cover her blushing mouth.
No…Jacob and I or I and anybody weren't in an explicit position of any sort in my bed.
"Miss, you gave me a fright," my elvin maid maiden said with strained breath once my gaze focused on her, and she realized I wasn't dead.
Remember last night? Well, after dumping Jake off in his room I ended up seated on my bed, arms crossed, eyes fixed forward. Because of my vampy weirdness, staying in the exact same position and not moving for hours is cake. Your mind kind of lets go for a while in a day-dreaming state.
It's quite therapeutic.
Well, time got lost in my staring at nothingness, so before you knew it, the sun was up and a new day begun. That's when elf maiden (note to self: if we're still in Rivendell tomorrow, make a point to learn elf maiden's name) walked in and screeched much like the previous morning.
"You were sitting there completely still, miss," she explained as her clammering blush slowly ceased, "Like a statue. You were not breathing. I even called your name for a moment but nothing came of it. I thought you were dead, miss!"
"Sorry about that," I apologized to her, then climbed off the bed and muttered, "Would be a welcome vacation though."
"What did you say, miss?" elf maiden asked me.
"Nothing."
Nodding her head at my response yet looking very unsure, the elf maiden thankfully didn't probe any further. Instead, she turned around and motioned to someone out in the hallway. From behind her walked in two elves carrying trays of food and a pitcher of drink that they set on the table out on the balcony. After which they turned to me and bowed slightly forward and went forth out of my room without saying a word.
Good service here.
"Guessing that's breakfast," I motioned my head to the delicious, picterique food.
Really was a pity I hungered for none of it.
"That is correct, miss" the head of my room service replied. Checking around the room for a second, she then asked about Jacob's whereabouts.
"He slept on the floor in his room last night," I pointed my thumb backwards towards where I left were-boy's sad remains.
"Oh dear," again elf maiden brought a hand to her mouth and fixed into concerned mode, "Is he alright? Shall I call for a healer?"
Stepping in her path as she started towards my brother's room, I held up a hand and said, "Don't worry. He's fine. From what I gathered from his muttering of stupid, the hobbits got a hold of some alcohol and they decided to include Jacob in making a night of it."
At the drop of a hat, those mythical features went from concerned to apathetic. Shaking her head and giving off very unimpressed facial vibes, elf maiden said, "I understand complelty, miss. Do not take this disrespectfully, but would you care for me to give Master Black a 'rude awakening' of sorts?"
Wow. Got this chick totally misread. Apparently even elves suffer from the perils of overindulgence.
Smirking at the thought of Jacob suffering a worse hangover than he was already in store for by letting a pro-prohibition maid loose on him, I still held off the idea due to the acute possibility of Jacob's 'rude awakening' turning to an accediantly wolf-morphing. Elves may be immortal but I still wouldn't feel right putting one in a room with a hung-over, pissed off werewolf.
"As appealing as your offer sounds," I said, "Let's just let him sleep it off this time."
Regaining an at-ease stance, elf maiden offered, "There is a tea used among our kind to lessen the side effects of dehydration alcohol causes. Would you care for me to request some be brought up to make Master Black more comfortable?"
I snorted, "I said let him sleep it off, not coddle his idiotic lifestyle choices."
Sharing my smile, elf maiden nodded and turned to leave. She haulted suddenly and faced me again. "I almost forgot," she said, "Lord Aro wished me to inform you that he requests your presence immediantly in the sitting room."
And a good moment again went down the crapper thanks to resident vampiric management.
"Alrightly," I sighed, "I'll get right on that."
Not.
Bowing her head, elf maiden turned again and left the chamber.
Not in any big hurry to arrive at Aro's beck and call, I turned towards the bedroom's adjacent washroom. Stripping down to my skivvies, I finally took advantage of the full-length mirror hanging with its vine-like frame and admired my non-sparkly self.
No resemblence to a princess tiara to speak of. Booya!
Finally appeasing my backwards-vanity needs, I undid my twisty bun and stepped into the tub. A little squeak flew out when my toes touched the hot water.
No idea how that one worked (meaning heated indoor plumbing). Must have had something to do with the constant flow of water from the rock waterfall coming from outside and water then dispensing from the tub through a small crevice at the bottom.
Perhaps similar to the hot springs in Arkansas…What! Jacob and I vacationed at the bathhouses there years back when hot spring bathing came back into style. It was very relaxing and some of the best $600 I've forked over.
Anyway, so a scrub-a-dub-dubbing I went into the naturally heated elven bath. Along the side of the tub sat a large assortment of bottled lotions and soaps. Usually I'm not one who cared much what she smelt like as long as its not displeasing (perfume doesn't help when you're trying to remain undetected by enemies with supernatural smelling powers), but what girl in her right mind would turn down elven manufactured soaps bottled in finely crafted glass containers?
Once finished washing up, I stepped out of the tub smelling like a mixture of violet and odora. Toweling off, I wrapped my body with the white, fluffy soft cloth and went on a search for items to cover the nakedness. With fingers crossed for a selection other than the many gowns I found hanging in the armoire yesterday, delight came when my eye caught a finely folded stack of clothes on a wooden chest at the side of the washroom's doorway.
Elf maiden (really have to remember to ask her name) totally came through with uniform selection. For my non-feminine taste, she left a crimson, sleeveless shirt, grey, cotton long-sleeve to go over it, and cotton, black slacks.
She left underwear too, but that went without saying. Elves were not fans of the commando way…thank Eru.
Dawning my fresh apparel, I slipped on my slippers and put a comb through my brown, wet locks. Deciding to keep the hair down to air dry, I guesstimated I'd kept Aro waiting for about half-an-hour (the minimum amount of time to keep a well-despised leader waiting). As my ears caught on that Jacob was still snoring off his booze-fest, I exited to the shared sitting room centered between all the Volturi's given apartments.
"Aro?"
Elf maiden didn't seem like the type to lie or get confused about messages…yet no one was seated at any of the chair or couches in the sitting room. Everything was scerene and appeared untouched.
Maybe Aro got fed up with waiting and-
Middle of that thought ended as my right side got slammed into the wall. Immediantly I started to struggle to gather my bearings, but an iron grip wrapped around my neck and something pushed into my torso with the force of a cement truck. Both left me stuck against the wall, suspended off the ground. If I'd been human, the pressure would have easily punctured a lung and broken my tracia.
Sliding my eyelids open, I found myself nose to nose with a pair of simmering hot (not in an attractive way) angry red eyes topped with a mane of womanly long hair I'd reconigze any day of the week.
"Ar-cough-Arro?" I struggled out the word. Thoroughly thrown off guard by this attack.
Was this about yesterday's almost-brawl? I wasn't the one who called in a wizard and had him mind-bend Aro with magical trickery.
Maybe Aro finally dropped all his marbles.
"You foolish, stupid, headstrong girl," he seethed the words in a soft, feverishly hatful tone, "There is very little keeping me from ripping off your useless head."
"Wha-cough cough-What! Aro!"
Crazy vampire.
Help!
Much like I did to Felix yesterday, Aro pulled me forward and slammed me back against the wall with a yell of "Silence!" Poor wall. I felt it crack against the brunt of Aro's force.
"Do you have any idea what your actions have caused me?" he tightened the grip around my neck.
Really? Really? Was this about yesterday? Felix and I fought almost every single time we met up. Maybe this was about keeping face in front of the elves. Still though…I'd call what Aro's doing a bit of an over reaction.
"Let me-ya g-g-go," I tried to move my arms and then kicked Aro hard in the knee. All to no avail. My coven leader's age made him as ceceptable to harm as a nuclear bomb shelter.
Where the hell was Jacob! What good is a sidekick if he's never around.
"Aro! Release her!"
Pausing for a moment after Sulpicia's command, Aro reluctantly let go his death grip around my neck and removed his other arm. I fell to the ground and started coughing like a thirty-year long smoker.
Aro, dismissing the fact that he was a hair away from squeezing my head off my body, brought full attention to his wife and began yelling, "She has ruined our-"
"Bella has ruined nothing," Sulpicia insisted, "Leave us and go calm yourself."
Still rubbing my sour neck, this sudden change in power play got me paying attention to the two. Half my mind expected Aro to ring his hands around Sulpicia's neck next and chokehold her against the wall for daring to order him around. In adoring awe (never gonna admit to it), I watched Aro's own wife hold her directing gaze at him; refusing to budge an inch down.
Pregnant silence radiated from the pair.
With a hiss of disgust, Aro super-sped out of the room to Lord knew where.
Hopefully down an active volcano. Finger crossed.
Sighing for a moment, Sulpicia then rushed over and helped me stand.
"I am so sorry, Bella," she said with what sounded like genuine remorse as we settled on the couch.
My throat finally healed enough that I could speak clearly, so I asked the question ringing through my aching head since Aro pelted it against the wall.
"What the hell did I do wrong?"
Sighing again and glancing over her shoulder (making sure hubby-dearest didn't change his mind about the chokehold), Sulpicia looked back at me with that regretful, woeful stare she'd been wearing around the last four days. "Aro and I were told of your meeting with Gandalf the Grey Wizard last night," she revealed.
Instantly the pieces fit together. Aro knew I rejected Gandalf's offer to stop Middle Earth's problem and now blamed me for whatever problems that choice created.
Still…I labeled him a drama queen for his response.
"Oh," I replied, not knowing what to say that would help (chokehold or not, my answer stayed the same…this vampire wasn't leaving for a quest anytime soon), "Thanks for intervening."
"Yes," she said, the shadow of a pleased grin appeared on her lips, "I am afraid my mate did not appreciate that. He prefers I not display my siring rights in front of others…if at all."
Siring capabilities?
I knew what they were. Reader Digest version: Basically, if you create a vampire, you had the right to control them to a certain exstent. Simliar to a master/servant relationship with more of a family structure to it. Almost half the reason I avoided Volterra was to avoid Marcus' siring rights over my actions.
"Hold on…you're Aro's sire?" I asked her, shocked to the core. In all the years of knowing the Volturi, I never asked too many questions about their pasts. Including who all turned who into the undead.
Nodding her head to confirm my question, Sulpicia explained, "Anthenodora and I knew as the first vampires our responsibilities would be over the entirety of our species. Aro was my first creation. I held no desire to rule, and Aro was a dying prince in the court of a Finnish warlord. During my time in northern Europe, I admired Aro's charismatic nature and idealistic rule (so you just overlooked the blood-thirsty portions of his personality?...or did those come about later on?). Choosing him as a mate to rule our kind was more logical than trying to govern with only Anthenodora."
"So you and Anthenodora are the real founders of the Volturi and just handed everything off to Aro, Marcus, and Caius?" I asked; anger bubbling in my stomach began to overlay the shock. My entire past…Heck! Every vampire's past could have been rewritten had Sulpicia and Anthenodora choosen to take power for themselves. Sure there was no guarentee they'd be any good at it, but there was no way they'd be worse than the three currently seated on cushioned thrones.
"Neither of us were right to rule," the ancient vampire didn't dare make eye contact as she admitted to her sexist outlook over our gender, "The three lords have done so much with what we gave them. How can I regret changing my mate?"
Oh, I don't know. By seeing him for the self-involved, crazed tyrant that he was?
After hearing this, I could only stare at Sulpicia. This ancient being, who shared blood with two worlds, who lived millenias through kings, wars, and industrial revelations suddenly appeared so small and timid to me. The universe…God…Eru…whatever gave her the chance to establish an immortal race, to perhaps use it to open doors and exceed mankind in ethical value, to even teach man how to live in peace. What did she do with this opportunity? Gave to the first noble that caught her eye and didn't even moniter his actions with her naturally given rights as a sire.
Yeah, no need to elaborate on my dissapointment.
Still rubbing my neck a little for the sake of doing something, my mind remembered why my neck got hurt in the first place.
Oh yeah, Aro got pissed because I rejected Gandalf's offer.
"What's gonna happen with this fellowship quest thing?" I asked her, which she in turn seemed somewhat releaved for a change in subject.
"Bella," Sulpicia said, her eyes taking on a pleading gleam, "You must understand. One of the Volturi must accompany their fellowship. We have no choice in this. It is the will of those wronged so long ago, and if we refuse…then…."
Let me guess, consequences too great for words. Just freakin superb.
"This isn't my problem," I repeated last night's logic, "I wasn't there centuries ago. I didn't kill thousands let alone kill a higher being and piss off the other higher beings."
Then the hyperventilating returned. "Please, Bella!" she sobbed (wow, this chick was really becoming the poster child of bipolar depression), "Aro refused himself or I to accompany the fellowship and they trust no others of our kind."
For good reason!
"I know you cannot understand," she continued her tearless crying, "This place…this is my home. Losing it to an evil so dark would destroy me."
That cut through my breaking point.
"I lost my home!" my voice reached critical volumes of yelling, "What about my dad and mom! You think I don't miss them. I had no choice in loosing them, Sulpicia. Unlike you and Anthenodora, all I could do was lay there helplessly and watch your beloved husband destroy my family!"
"Please. Please," she begged softly to me, "You have a good heart, Bella. For that I have always valued you above all others of my husband's servants. Please do not leave me to watch this blessed land be destroyed yet again."
"But you're one of the first vampires!" I reasoned back, still wanting to refuse her and grasping at the hope there was a different way out of this, "If the requirement is someone of your bloodline, wouldn't any vampire work?"
"It must be one of close blood relation," she replied, "You are a third generation of my blood by Marcus, who I changed at Aro's behest, and within the coven of my house. They will not take an outsider and most vampires only carrying a few drops of our bloodline anymore. You are the only choice."
That, unfortuantly, all that made a lot a sense.
Crap! Crap! Crap! Crap!
"This sucks!" I shouted at my vampire grand-sire (this meant Aro was my vampiric uncle and Jane my vampiric cousin…that made for one messed up Thanksgiving) and crossed my arms with a huff.
This was really starting to look like the between space of a rock and a freakin hard spot.
We sat there, me with my crossed arms of aggression and Sulpicia with her sad eyes of remorse and regret, for several minutes. Neither of us wanting to speak aloud the awful truth.
It had to be me. No if's, and's, or but's about it.
Testingly placing a hand on the back of my turned away head, Sulpicia slowly stroked my drying hair as she said, "Do you remember the day Aro allowed you to leave Volterra with the Cullen's? Do you remember what I told you about creating a value for yourself in my mate's eyes? That if you made yourself an asset to him, he would grant you liberties?"
Silently and still not facing her, I nodded. The horrible reality of the whole situation eating away at my brain and nerves.
"This problem may seem disaturous and unfair," she continued then lowered her volume to a barely audible whisper, "But it is also a problem to which you have never been more valuable to our coven. To this you could use our desperation for your advantage."
"What?" I shifted around and faced her with confusion.
"Like the rest of us, my mate has no other way out of this expect through you," she said and the glint in her dark, red eyes turned a tad miscervious, "Anything you ask of him, he will not refuse you. For he is not your sire. Why not turn your handful of liberties into a doorway out of the Volturi's grasp forever?"
Out of the Volturi's grasp?
My brain played over Sulpicia's words. Before I could ask her to explain, the vamp lady lended me a small, sad smile and sped away.
So according to Sulpicia, Aro really needed me…badly…like a fish needed water. I was the Volturi's only hope at paying off a million year old debt. Putting all this into my usual equation of dealing with Aro, which was by giving a little I got a little in return, that meant Aro hands were tied when it came to giving me anything I wanted.
'Doorway out of the Volturi's grasp…forever,' I replayed her words in my head.
That's when a smirk growing quickly into a smile graced my lips.
Hopping off the couch, I mentally arranged what needed to be explained as my feet carried me back to Jacob and mine's apartments. Time to wake up the were-boy and tune him into today's big story.
Could I sweat, my palms would have been as slick as an eel.
Those suckers are slippery.
Approaching the library doorway at normal speed, I made brief eye contact with the elven guard standing outside at attention. My feet reluctantly took one step after another as I got closer and closer to the library…the library built for the private usage of one Lord Elrond.
Stopping a little in front of the entrance, I waited with hands clasped tightly behind my back as the guard gave me a once over. Not in a leering way but in a guarded-way.
Think I almost preferred leering. This guy didn't appear to give off many pro-vamp vibes.
He was silent for a moment, probably mistaking my intimidation as fear for him and hoping that would lead me to turn around and run back to my room. Unfortuantly for him, what made my nerves dance with anxiety was what layed behind the door.
"Do you have business with Lord Elrond, vampire?" he asked, clearing annoyed I remained in my spot and not scampered off.
"Yes, I requested an audience with him earlier and was told to come here."
His mouth opened to probably argue this but was prematurely interrupted when some elvish word was sounded from within the library. A word said in a voice sounding very elf-lordish.
Unlike what this guard thought, I actually had requested an audience with Lord Elrond. After finding Jacob gorging away at his late morning fill of food and water, I refused his request to talk after the hangover went away. Once we got things settled on my plan, I left my brother to his migraine and a bath and went to find our elf maiden in hopes she could send the message that I needed to speak with Lord Elrond and Aro. Perferably at the same time and the same location.
As luck would have it, one of the elf who came to pick up the dirty dishes from breakfast I recognized as one of those that brought the food. He told me elf maiden (who I now knew as Tinu, daughter of Tavinal) spent her early afternoons with her sisters, helping them garden – get this – by singing to the plants.
Sure enough, once I caught Tinu's scent from my fresh bed coverings, it led me to find her singing a lovely lullaby-type song in front of a bushel of planted greens. After apologizing for interrupting her afternoon gardening session, I told her what I needed and Tinu was more than happy to get the message to Elrond.
Which is how I found myself in front of his private library, watching an annoyed guard give a tight bow and then open the door for me to enter.
Apparently Lord Elrond felt comfortable with only one style of dress. Awaiting my arrival, I stepped inside the library (bigger than the one I found last night…had a second floor to it) and saw him wearing a robe and circlet similar to those from the first day we arrived in Rivendell.
He's probably the only guy I ever met who could own that look.
To my not-so-pleased surprise, Gandalf peered up from a book he's been reading in front of the fireplace and sent me a mysterious, pleased smile.
A big part of me said that he already knew why I'd asked for an audience with the elven lord.
Stupid higher beings and their mysterious ways.
Over at the table in the middle of the room, Aro sat with his hands rested on the chair arms. His glare at me once I arrived said that he hadn't forgotten or had a change of heart about our earlier encounter. Behind his chair, Sulpicia stood with a hand lightly laid on her mate's shoulder as if keeping him grounded in the chair. She too smiled at me. This one a bit more guenuine than mysterious yet still a little worried.
One elf lord. One wizard. Two vampire elders. And little ol' me.
Guess the gang's all here.
"Miss Bella," Lord Elrond approached me in a serious, stately tone that would totally call for sarcasm if this guy wasn't the picture of old fashion nobility, "You called for Lord Aro and mine audience-"
"I was simply curious," Gandalf put in; his eyes never losing their twinkle as they watched me stand under unwanted attention, "Lady Sulpicia and I insisted we join this meeting. I do hope there are no objections at our presence."
He was mentally laughing at me! Jerk.
"None at all," I falsely smiled back.
Corking a strict eyebrow at our intervening exchange, Elrond looked at each of us slightly confused and annoyed. "As I was saying," he continued with a tone daring anyone to interrupt again (Hey!..don't get torqued at me…blame the wizard…blame!), "You called us here for a purpose. What is it?"
Deep breathe, Bella. Deep breathe and say it.
"First, I would like to apoligize for my behavior last night, which I'm sure you are all aware of. There was a bit of overreacting involved," I started off, wanting to clear the air before we got to the meat of it.
Their faces remained the same. Elrond: serious and stolid. Aro: pissed (screw you!). Sulpicia: encouraging and worried. Gandalf: twinkling, befuddeling smile.
At their silence, my speech continued, "After some thought, I've decided, under certain conditions, to accept your offer to accompany this fellowship on their quest."
The expression on Sulpicia's face morphed from worried to grand relief.
Yeah. Yeah. I get to carry the burden meant for you and your mistakes. Yippy-freakin-skippy.
Just as I anticipated, Aro (knew it'd be him or Elrond) asked suspiciasly, "What conditions do you mean?"
Another deep breathe. Here comes the hard part.
"There's a few," I admitted, "For those pertaining to you (I guestered to Aro), first and foremost, the minute I begin this quest, my obligation to the Volturi ends. All bonds between us get severed. I no longer belong to any of you."
"No!" he leapt from the chair, causing Sulpicia to step back, "I forbid this! You are a Volturi forever or until I deem otherwise."
Don't back down, Bella. Hold strong! He needed you remember. Hold strong!
"Then deem otherwise," I replied, controlling my voice to remain calm and calculated, "Because I'm the only one here who you all think is qualified to journey anywhere with humans or otherwise. Earlier, you (big glare at Aro) made it pretty clear that you agreed with that (yeah…you freaked out supremely at the mere thought of me backing out). This is probably also the most dangerous task I've ever been asked to partake in, so I expect an equal reward, per usual to our arrangment. And what I want is out of the Volturi…for good. Otherwise, you can deal with the consequences of refusing the Ainur (Booya!...remembered the word!)."
That, ladies and gents, is called closing a deal.
Hissing out "stupid, girl"-
Or not.
-Aro started towards me with bloodlust written all over his face and a stride that screamed "Fight!"
At this show of aggression, Gandalf began to rise from his seat, and, to my shock, Elrond placed himself in the way of Aro's path towards me.
"Aro!" Sulpicia shouted at her mate, "Maintain your composure."
At the command of his sire, Aro instantaneously stopped walking. None of the anger fell from his face though.
"You cannot leave our coven!" he yelled.
Okay, this was getting ridiculous and embaressing. Did he even remember who else was in the room with us?
Time for the gloves to come off.
"I can and I will!" I yelled back, sidestepping Elrond's blockade, "Those are my terms if you want my help. Take it or leave it."
To be honest with myself, this bout of bravery towards my coven's leader really had to do with the presence of Elrond and Gandalf. As long as I didn't get left alone with Aro, bet the ranch I was safe from any harm a pissed off vamp could inflict.
Slowly, the realization of his sticky situation must have dawned on Aro, for his frown was drooping lower and lower in malice. Then, as if someone flipped the switch, his mouth curved upward and his red eyes gleamed with delight.
"I am afraid it is beyond my power to carry out your request of severing your ties to us," he said slowly, in a tone underlined with guile.
Crap. What was he up to now?
Aro then said, "As you well know, my dear Bella, only a sire can release his or her creation from the eternal bond of their relationship, so until Marcus agrees to this, you are still considered one of us and all that it intails."
Fudge on crackers.
Those of us in the library who didn't vital organs anymore (this is me guessing that wizards don't need organs) knew well enough that there was nothing on heaven, earth, or hell that could convince Marcus to release my ties to him as his creation.
As the world fell into dimmer and dimmer light from my perspective, true death never seemed more welcoming.
"I wonder, Lord Aro," from behind my slumped shoulders, Gandalf addressed the a-hole with womanly hair, "If your mate could possibly intervene on Lord Marcus' rights as sire to Miss Bella? Seeing as how she is Lord Marcus' own sire."
Flipping my head up to face Sulpicia, I saw her think for a moment on the wizard's question. My stomach did a flip when she started to smile.
"Yes, Master Gandalf," she answered before Aro could vent out another fit, "I do believe as Marcus' sire I can act on his behalf and release Bella of her bond to him."
A big part of me wanted to rush over to the old dude and high five his wrinkled hand. Bearded people rocked!
"Sulpicia-" Aro tried, but with one glare from Sulpicia (way to find your feet in this lopsided marriage!) he quieted and resembled a very angry four year old put in timeout.
"Bella Swann," the high lady of the Volturi coven walked a few feet forward and addressed me with a soft smile, "On behalf of Marcus of the Volturi coven, I, Sulpicia of the Volturi and sire of Marcus, hereby strip you of your sire's bond. From this day forward, you belong to none of the Volturi clan."
Yay!
Pause.
Didn't feel any different (that part was kinda anticlimactic) but Yay! never the less.
"Seeing as that your business with Miss Bella is through," Elrond stepped in from behind, "Would you both please excuse us, my lord and lady?"
Never taking his glare off me, Aro bowed slightly forward and then sped out of the room in full-vamp speed (way to be mature about it, buddy). On the other hand, Sulpicia beemed one last smile at me, cursited graciously, and left the library in no rush.
Watching her leave, a part of me was still angry at that portion of Sulpicia's character that was okay with handing off all responsibility to people like Aro and I. This entire problem was pratically her fault and she had to deal with almost none of it. Still, out of the all the Volturi, I knew she's the one I'd end up missing at times.
Besides, in my opinion, spending eternity as Aro's mate deemed as punishment enough.
"My," Gandalf's voice shook me from my thoughts, "What an interesting coven you found yourself in, Miss Bella."
I snorted, "Tell me about it."
Corking another eyebrow at my snort, Elrond asked, "Earlier you mentions conditions, were there others meant to be addressed to me as well?"
Nodding, I paced back a little bit and replied, "Yeah. First thing is that Jacob comes along with us."
Non-negotiable.
AN: Wow! Long chapter. I honestly think it's my longest yet. Thank you so much for all the reviews I've been receiving. I promise you this is the last chapter centered around the Volturi and Bella's screwed up relationship. Now that she's free of them, it's time to get to know the Fellowship! Excited! Then review please!