Disclaimer- I don't own anything but the Guardians, guards, handmaidens, powers, and Abby and Brie. I have a character description sheet done so if you would like it send me a PM and I'll get it to you as soon as I can. I'm also looking for a beta reader, if you're interested please let me know. Now on to the story!!

Chapter Seven- Rescued

Lily's P.O.V.

We entered the ten through the open flaps to find what looked like a makeshift sitting room, the area was full of pillows to sit on and there was a decent sized fire in the pit in the middle of the room. The boys and Carlisle along with a few guards went ahead while we waited for them to give us the all clear when all I really wanted to do was barge through until I found Abs.

"Girls come on back, we found her but she's unconscious and bleeding from various facial wounds." Sirius called down an almost tunnel like passage between rooms of the tent.

"We're coming, we're coming, make yourself useful and find a patch of grass so I can grow something to revive her while your waiting." I called ahead as we rushed towards the guys' voices.

"Oh my God, what's happened to her?" Rosalie exclaimed as we walked in to find a limp and injured Abby in Remus' arms.

"I'm not sure but when she wakes up I'm sure she'll tell us. The patch of grass is over there," Edward said while he examined Abby for any serious injuries not on her face.

I walked over to where he had pointed and after Sirius helped me get everything away I started work growing the medicinal herbs Bridget was telling me she needed. When I was done Brie wordlessly took the bundle of plants from me while watching Edward and Carlisle examine Abby.

"She's going to be fine, Brie, don't worry so. Can someone build a fire it's to dark to see anything in here in order to get her cleaned up and out of here to rest in our camp? We really don't need her knocked unconscious by someone running into something while carrying here on the way out." I called clearing more stuff away from where I had done my magic so we could build the fire.

"I'll do it I just need some wood and rocks," Bella said from her spot where she had been cleaning the blood from Abby's face with a wet handkerchief.

"I've got it covered Bells," Emmett said coming into the room with an arm full of wood and some rocks.

"Set it up over here Emmett. I'll take over for you Bella." I said as I moved towards Abby while Emmett set down his load to be arranged by Bella's small hands.

When I had switched spots with Bella there was only a small delay before she had a good sized fire going. Brie and I thought it best to move her closer to the fire so Alice and Rosalie set up some pillows from the main room into a makeshift bed and Sirius helped us more her while the other guys scrounged for more pillows and blankets for everyone else. We finished cleaning her up and a few minutes after Brie started waving spearmint and peppermint under her nose she stirred.

"Ugh! Where am I? What happened to me? Who's there?" Abby asked while her eyes fluttered open before she cringed, shutting them again while everyone rushed over.

"Abby, it's me, Lily; the others are all here, too." I said while holding one of her hands and giving it a slight squeeze.

"Lily! Brie! I've missed you so much. What happened, why am I here?" She questioned while opening her eyes without cringing and even managing to sit up and give all the girls hugs.

She saw the guys all crowded behind us like mother hens and couldn't help but smile before it turned to a grimace when the motion pulled the skin around a cut. The guys all took turns giving her hugs while I noticed Carlisle hanging back smiling at seeing everyone happy again.

"Can we please go? I want to sleep in a real bed and get out of here." She said while Remus and Emmett helped her get to her feet.

"Come on, up you go," Emmett said sweeping her feet out from under her and carrying her bridal style to the horses outside while the rest of us followed.

When Remus had mounted his horse he helped Abby get situated behind him while the rest of us mounted. We headed back to our camp to find everything had already been packed and taken away by the guards. We then wasted no time in getting Abby back to the castle so we could finish taking care of her. When we arrived grooms took our horses and Carlisle rushed to find Esme while we got Abby to our sitting room to rest.

"Is she all right?" Esme asked rushing in with Carlisle right behind her.

"She should be fine but she's going to be pissed when she sees the cuts and bruises on her face," Brie answered while covering an exhausted Abby with blankets.

"Kids go to bed; I went to sleep soon after you left so I'll watch her for the night and work my magic on her injuries." Esme said while ushering us from the room and into the hallway with a tired Carlisle.

We said goodnight each receiving a hug from Esme who was becoming more like our mother everyday. We all went our separate ways to change and go to sleep for the long day tomorrow. A few minutes after I had changed Bridget and the other girls slipped into my room saying they didn't want to sleep alone after our nights together in the sitting room. I told them it was fine and Bella shut the door before joining us on the gigantic bed that was covered in fluffy pillows, silk sheets, and blankets of Egyptian cotton. After everyone was settled we talked and eventually all fell asleep.

Sirius' P.O.V.

The next morning I met everyone in the hallway before we went to see Abby's progress through the night. Remus went to Abby's side with her sisters while the rest of us talked to Esme. Esme had healed most of the cuts and bruises with her Gift so Abby looked a lot better than she had when we found her.

"I think she'll be fine tomorrow which is when the ball will be. I moved it so she could attend but most of the guests will arrive tonight and through the day tomorrow." She said when Alice asked if it had been cancelled.

"Okay and your sure she can attend. The extra day will give us time to alter our dresses and things," Alice said already planning with Rose while Bella went to tell the others and talk to Abby.

"You know as good as I that I'll be there I love a good party and you can go crazy with my dress just get it out of my wardrobe," Abby said sitting up with a smile.

"Shall we go eat, I'm starving," Rosalie said helping Abby off the couch with Remus lending a hand.

"That sounds great, they never fed me so I'm famished," Abby said and as if to prove her point her stomach let out a loud growl.

"Let's go children and afterwards we can start getting ready for the ball, there's some decorating to do." Esme said leading us to the dining room.

"Guys I can walk, you know that right," Abby said slipping from Remus and Rosalie's arms.

"Okay, okay, okay," Rose said backing from Abby to walk with Emmett.

When we got to the dining hall we found Carlisle already at the table which was covered in food. We all took our places and eagerly piled food on our plates to get the energy we needed for decorating the huge ball room and ball room balconies. The girls would be doing most of the decorating while the guys and I brought in the tables and chairs from storage and into the dining hall and ball room. Carlisle and Esme would be doing both as well as helping maids get rooms ready for the guests and one would always be close to the door waiting for guests to arrive as well as the girls bodyguards. All the preparations will probably take all day and with the dress altering and new outfits Alice was having made for everyone it'll take 'till right before the ball to get ready.

"Guys, your first outfit fittings are right after breakfast today and the girls and I have our fitting after lunch so Anna con work on alterations for tomorrow night," Alice said smirking at the grimaces on Edward, Emmett, Bella, Abby, and I's faces.

"Lovely," Abby mumbled while excusing herself to go get her dress and put it in Alice's room so she wouldn't have be bothered to climb the stairs again for awhile.

I finished and soon after the rest of the guys were also done and we headed to our fitting grumbling and complaining the whole way about the evil little pixie we call Alice. When we got to the room we found six pairs of black breeches and matching waist length jackets as well as six different colored shirts. I was handed a black shirt, breeches, and jacket, Emmett's top was white, Edwards' honey colored yellow, Jasper's light blue, James' green, and Remus' gray. Anna and her helpers left the room telling us to call when we finished changing. We quickly changed and called the women back in and they said we just needed a few tucks here and there which wouldn't take to long.

After we changed back into regular clothes we went to find Carlisle to figure out which tables and chairs should be moved for the girls to arrange. He told us where to find the items and we quickly moved them to where the girls directed us to place them. When we had brought them a few loads of solid furniture we headed to the main sitting room and collapsed quietly on the couch so as not to disturb Abby, who was asleep on the chaise.

After about half an hour we got up and moved the remainder of the furniture to the ball room where a few of our female guests were helping the girls set up and decorate. We all introduced ourselves and quickly left to find Esme coming down the hall trailed by seven young ladies, I opened the door back up and they all walked through giving nods of thanks.

"I'm guessing those are the girls Esme got a hold of at their summer homes," Remus ventured as one of the girls we had seen exited the ball room and went into the sitting room to guard the still sleeping Abby.

"Who the heck do you think you are? Get away from me!" Screeched a very awake Abby from the sitting room.

We quickly rushed into the room to see Abby in a corner with a dagger pointed at the other girl's chest. We quickly explained everything and soon it was all under control with Abby and the girl, Elizabeth chatting about fighting techniques from places they'd been. We took that as our queue to leave and went off to see what else the girls needed us to do.

Alice and Esme assured us that we had done everything we were needed to do and let us go relax in one of the outside gardens with Abby and Elizabeth to eat a snack and talk.

Bella's P.O.V.

I rushed to the table to grab one of the many garlands for Alice to hang on one of the second story balconies overlooking the ball room floor. I grabbed one end and my new body guard, Rachel, took the other in her small hands to help bring it across the dance floor. We handed it up to Alice and her own guard, Claire who were perched on ladders ready to twine the garlands through the iron railings of the balcony. Rose and Lily were working on floral arrangements for the tables while Esme and Brie covered the tables and chairs with white silk cloth for the guards, Mary and Louisa to cover with another color cloth or tie a silk ribbon in a giant bow on the backs of the chairs. Rose's guard, Laurie and Lily's, Kay were setting up the decorated tables with plates and silverware wrapped in soft linen napkins. We were about halfway done when we decided to take lunch so we could make our dress fittings on time.

"Girls go to the gardens where the boys, Abby, and Elizabeth are, I'm going to get Carlisle and have lunch brought out for us." Esme said while straightening her forest green rumpled skirts that she had messed up while hemming the cover for one of the chairs while kneeling.

"Okay Mom, we'll see you in a few minutes, I think we'll grab some old blankets before heading out though," Alice said when she was safely off the rickety ladder.

"Alright, I'll have some pillows also brought out," Esme said before heading off to find her husband.

"Let's go girls there's a room down the hall full of pillows and blankets we can take out," Alice said leading us to a door a little ways down the hall from the ball room and handing each of us a pile of either blankets of pillows.

When we each had an arm load of blankets of pillows we headed back through the ball room and out the largest set of doors that led to the rose garden we could see the others relaxing in. we dumped our loads near the others before they got up to help us spread the blankets six long and six wide and two thick and after everyone grabbed a few pillows we collapsed to talk while we waited for Esme and Carlisle as well as the food. We all sat around talking and getting to know six of the seven new recruits to our "family" and soon the final three of our members showed up along with a few butlers with heavy trays of food and drinks. I unwrapped myself from Edward's arms after kissing his jaw, the only part of his face I could reach, before grabbing two plates and piling the plates with food and returning to my spot to give him the larger of the two plates. The cooks had prepared cold meats, bread, fruits, vegetables, as well as water and a light red wine. They brought out cookies and tea for dessert and by the time our dress fitting came around we were full and ready to get it over with and finish decorating the ball room.

Alice helped me up before we both helped Abby to her feet and headed inside with Alice and Brie prancing ahead and down the hall to Anna's quarters while the rest of us and Esme strolled along. When we arrived Alice knocked three times before the door was flung open and an older woman rushed into Alice's hug.

"Oh dear, I'm so excited you've invited me back to work on your clothes for the events. I needed a break but I couldn't handle retirement, I missed my little helper. I understand you're throwing a ball and want me to alter the dresses hanging in the wardrobe of my workroom." The woman whom I'm guessing was Anna said as she looked Alice and the rest of us up and down.

"Oh Anna, can we all help create new dresses over the summer after the ball? I'm intending to throw a ball at the end and they'll need new dresses." Alice said while Anna led us into her workshop where a wardrobe was open to reveal everyone's gowns.

"Oh sure dearie, you know I love teaching girls to create wearable pieces of art." Anna said while a professional assistant took out all of our dresses.

The assistant laid the dresses on a worktable for us to grab and change into in the adjoining room that was covered in floor to ceiling mirrors with small pedestals spread throughout. I slipped off my everyday midnight blue dress and into my pastel yellow gown. Alice's was a light blue, Esme's a copper or gold, Rosalie's a light pink, Brie's was lavender, Lily's dark green, and Abby's was silver. When we had all dressed Anna had us stand on pedestals so she could check our dresses lengths and embroidery to see what she could add and alter. When she finished looking our dresses over and taking measurements she assured us they would be ready for tomorrow night, we changed and left to find the guys and decide what to do for the day.

We found the boys on the library terrace and we walked out to sit and join the conversation. Edward beckoned me over to sit with him but when I went to sit next to him he pulled me into his lap. I blushed and leaned my head back against his shoulder and shut my eyes before drifting off.

Alice's P.O.V.

Tomorrow was the day for the ball and the castle was buzzing with almost as much excitement as when our friends arrived. The cooks were working overtime to get our regular meals ready and the food for the ball together to cook tomorrow. Other workers were getting rooms ready for guests while stable hands got the stables and three carriage houses ready for the multitude that would be arriving. Bella, Rose, the others, and I had spent most of our morning readying the ball room so we could spend time with our guests before the ball so it only needed a few last minute details that wouldn't take to long to do. We were sitting with the boys when Mom came out with Dad each carrying a tray of food, drinks, plates, and cups. While they set the trays up Edward shook Bella awake and Remus nudged a dozing Abby.

"Go away! I'm trying to sleep," Abby mumbled when Remus prodded her.

"Foods here love," he said while gently shaking her shoulders.

"Ugh! Can't I take a nap in peace please?" She said sitting up and pouting while everyone laughed.

"Let's just eat then you can sleep," Esme said while she handed Abby and Bella full plates and Dad handed Lily and Brie theirs.

When everyone had a plate and glass we dug in between laughs and comments.

"What are the other guests doing?" Bella mused while putting a bunch of green grapes on her plate.

"We only had a few families come in early and their either sight-seeing or visiting relatives." Mom replied while lifting her glass to her lips.

"I see," Bella said before laughing at something Abby whispered in her ear.

I jumped back into my conversation with Jasper, Lily, and James about the contrasts of Guardians and Powers. We had deducted that some Guardians were chosen based on the person's character while others were chosen for representation of the person's Power. Lily's lioness represented her strong will and fierce passion while my panther almost flies through the trees which represented my Powers of levitation and telekinesis. We quickly decided that all of our names, Guardians, and Powers came from our personalities and characters.

"Can I please get off of bed rest Esme, I promised al the girls I'd teach them a dance and I was going to fight and beat Sirius and Emmett. Please!" Abby begged to Mom across the way and I have to admit I really wanted her to win this argument.

"I guess but can you teach me as well, it sounds fun?" Mom asked, her eyes bright at the thought of dancing, one of her many passions.

"Sure, but can we raid the manor closets for outfits? I know what I'm looking for."
"Of course," Mom said and went back to the food on her plate so we could start the lesson soon.

Soon the snack was over and the girls and I followed Abby to her room where Elizabeth and the girls were waiting. Lily and Brie went to their rooms and were back in a flash with an arm load of sheer and silk fabrics that they piled on Abby's bed. When they dumped the fabric some of it jingled before blending with the rainbow of material. Each of the girls now just held small oak boxes that they put next to the one on Abby's vanity.

"Do you know what this stuff is?" Abby asked indicating the fabric and boxes with a sweep of her hand.

"I have no idea," Bella said from the window seat.

"Well they're costumes," Abby said before sorting the colors into piles and handing them out.

I got a deep purple with silver trim and my guard Claire received a teal and gold bundle. I separated the bundle to find what looked like a top, skirt, veil, and wrap while Claire had top, pants, wrap, veil, and thick brocaded bracelets and headbands for the both of us. The veil was used to wrap up a pair of slippers in the outfits' accent colors. Bella had gotten dark blue and silver while her guard Rachel had been given a burnt orange and gold material. Rose had gotten light pink and silver while her guard Laurie was handed a magenta and silver bundle. Lily had forest green and gold while Kay had olive green and gold, Brie had lavender and silver while Louisa had burgundy and silver, Abby had red and silver while Elizabeth was changing into a black and silver outfit. Mom and Mary had just walked in and Abby tossed Moma dark brown and gold bundle and Mary a sky blue and silver bundle.

"Hurry up and change because we still need to pick a place to start," Abby said while pulling gold and silver jewelry from the three boxes on her vanity.

"I'm done, do you need help with that?" Brie asked walking up to me while I struggled with the ties for my top.

"That would be awesome, Brie," I said while holding the top for her to tie the cords at the nape of my neck and middle of my back.

After Brie tied the cords she pulled my hair into a ponytail and tied it before braiding it and tying the end. Then Brie went to grab silver hoop earrings, a silver necklace, and purple eye shadow. She tied my wrap around my waist so the coins on it jingled when I moved while I put the earrings through and clasped the necklace and applied my eye shadow. After she hooked my veil to the two silver bracelets at my wrist and put the cloth crown-like head band on me under the veil, she deemed me ready and moved on to help some others with her sisters.

"I can do your hair if you want?" Claire said flipping her long, loose brown hair over her shoulder to fall down her back while her bangs were held back by a gold band that had a flower of teal beads on it like the thick bracelets at her wrists and the pointed waistband of her pants.

"Sure, Brie put it up so she could tie my top and fix the rest of my outfit," I said as I handed Claire a small ivory brush.

"Thank you dear," she replied as she pulled out the ties and brushed my hair till it was loose and shiny under the hairpiece and veil.

"Everyone ready, I think we've decided to use the meadow by the pond so we'll grab some water skins on our way out and get started on our lessons." Abby said after adjusting her headdress and veil in the mirror and heading into the silent hall way and down to the gardens through the kitchen.