HUGE A/N: *** Ch 11 is at the bottom of this if you want to skip***
Okay so I guess I need to re-establish something. This is a complete work of fiction!
This story is not at all historically accurate.
It is being written for entertainment purposes only. It is absolutely 100 percent Hollywood. If this offends you please don't read!
The movie 300, King Leonidas was around the age of 60 when the battle of Thermopylae was going on, now picture Harrison Ford in that part…Leonidas also was one of the first to die during the battle.
Gerard Butler was in your face sex appeal and a "fantasy" heroic figure to push a movie out for entertainment not historical accuracies. Now I am not saying Harrison isn't still a sexy piece of man, but the movie just probably wouldn't have done as good if he was the lead…I think, I may be wrong.
The movie was just made for entertainment, it was fun to watch, but completely inaccurate. I personally loved the movie and wasn't offended by the inaccuracies.
If I was writing a historically accurate story I would still probably get it wrong.
If I am to make sure everything is correct I couldn't even have Bella speak to them they were from different tribes and most likely spoke in different dialects.
I also can't be absolutely correct on certain aspects and throw it all out the window when I begin the uprising. There was no uprising from son to father in Germanic Tribe history.
That takes months of time to get all the correct details and research that. I am not looking for publication just writing a fun fictional fanfic.
If I was being historically accurate the Germanic Goths would be defeated/driven out of their homeland by numerous campaigns by the Roman Empire and the Huns and others eventually being converted to Christianity.
They were pretty spiritual with the land. (So a singular God wasn't believed in until later, but I put that in there to show Carlisle's personality. He believes he's God, he's that fucking insane.)
This would cause them to be separated into two types of tribes/kingdoms the Visigoths and Ostrogoths.
Theodoric the Great was the leader/King of the Ostrogothic Kingdom. He was defeated by The Roman Empire during the Gothic War.
It is also said that the Gothic Empire did attack Sarmatia Tribes in their own campaigns. The Sarmatians are what inspired the legends of Arthurian Knights.
Barbarians were named this by the Greeks because they said their language sounded like a harsh bark. It was said to sound like this 'bar-bar-bar' by the Greeks.
They were also once believed to be illiterate because they didn't understand the classic Greek written word.
They were a beautiful fierce culture.
Barbarians covered their bodies in exotic markings during battles (Merlin's people in the movie King Arthur, Braveheart had this as well) and they were said to be so fearsome that you could see fire in their eyes on the fields of battle.
Warriors had to know how to howl in such a horrifying manner that the battalions of Burning Hells would cower in fear, a battle cry to intimidate.
They were said to heal themselves on the battlefield if injured by powerful elixirs that were said to be from the entrails of the dead from the happening battle. Legends also say they could drain the lives of creatures with a single word for the same reason.
They didn't use swords as weapons the most common were spears, axes, and clubs. Their entire culture pretty much vanished by The Middle Ages because so many different cultures had influenced them by that time.
That story would be a complete history lesson and I am the most un-qualified person ever to give one. I know this, and don't want to give the wrong idea to anyone that this story is based completely on facts.
What I write is from what I have learned (I am very interested in history and love all variations of it including the many folktales) and my imagination. What I have just put down might not all be accurate, but believe I am not completely blind going into this.
Edward uses a sword because I think it's sexy and fits his character.
This story is based off of several movies/legends including what most of you have noticed Braveheart…
King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, Jasper is based off of Tristan one of those Knights, he also had a very tragic love story. (Tristan and Isolde)
I have and/or will include these influences Lord of the Rings, Gladiator, and real life warriors, such as Boadicea the Celtic Warrior Queen, Charlemagne of the Carolingian Dynasty and more.
Sorry for that, but there it is. My rant. *takes a deep breath* I don't mean to offend anyone, I apologize if I do.
END OF HUGE A/N***Start of Ch 11***
Disclaimer: Any and all characters, songs, etc belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
My amazing and very sweet beta's Vampire1817 and tima, Thank You! You help make this story more enjoyable.
*X*O*X*O*
During the night each man took turns watching over Michael. They didn't ask him if he needed personal time. They just yanked him up and dragged him outside.
When it was Edward's turn, he picked him up roughly and dragged him outside like an unwanted puppy.
He threw him to the ground and stared at Michael with a dark glower.
Michael's ankles were tied loosely and his wrist ties were loosened to do his business.
"Get on with it," Edward barked at him.
Michael scrambled up and did his business. When done, he was grabbed onto the back of his neck roughly by Edward to be drug back inside.
Michael was dropped without much thought onto the floor.
Edward knelt and started doing up the ties again, making sure to yank and rub the ties against Michael's skin.
"Do you think she could ever love you?" Michael asked daringly making Edward's eyes snap to his.
Edward scowled at Michael and finished the ties.
He stood and walked over to look out into the night.
He crossed his arms over his chest.
Michael stared at him in silence until Edward spoke, his voice gruff.
"I am not a Demon, I know she calls me this to get under my skin and it does just that. I can fight the most frightening of men with absolutely no fear, but she terrifies me. She has more power in her lips to leave me bruised than a bulky fist."
Michael nodded slightly in understanding.
"She was always one to let her mouth shake the world around her," Michael agreed. Bella's mouth was trouble.
"That's exactly what Angela said," Edward whispered, his eyes roamed the moonlit valley below.
This perked Michael up. He asked curious, "Angela? You know Angela?"
Edward gave a small curt nod in confirmation.
It was completely dark inside, but Michael saw his form move through the window.
"How?" Michael asked. He cared for Angela too. "Where is she?"
Edward glanced at him briefly then back outside.
"She died by my father's hand, because of me. I believe she wanted it in the end though. I was just a worthless boy and did nothing to save her," Edward replied. "She was my friend just as you are Bella's, but my feelings never blurred," His tone was clipped.
Michael swallowed, ignoring that last remark and asked, "Does Bella know?"
Edward nodded again and pressed a fist up to his bowed head.
"She will hate me for life…won't she?" Edward asked Michael knowing the boy had been close to Bella his whole life.
Michael squirmed a little and took a deep breath, he exhaled it loudly.
"No, she is mostly all talk; she forgives easily. She won't blame you forever about Angela's death- she just needs to process it. Besides it wasn't truly by your hand... Bella loved her deeply, she could love you the same. Her passion is full of hate right now, but she can turn that into affection."
Edward took a deep breath just taking that in.
"Did she ever tell you she had nightmares for years after that happened with Angela?" Michael asked, not expecting Edward to answer.
Michael shook his head remembering her screams and a frantic Charlie banging on doors for help.
"She sang about the sad man with green eyes for years to get rid of them… you're him aren't you?" Michael asked remembering the boy from years ago, several years older staring at Bella with his green eyes.
Edward gasped and turned swiftly on his heel.
"What?" he asked, not wanting to believe this at all.
Michael sighed and rolled his head around to loosen up his aching neck.
"I remember you. You were staring at Bella, I warned you to stay away from her," Michael mumbled. "When we were running from you she told me you were sad just like her. She wanted you to come with us."
Edward just gaped at this boy and his rambling, grasping at this small sliver of hope.
"She was planning on going to find your tribe. She asked me to teach her the sword and dagger. She was going to kill your father and save Angela," Michael continued, ignoring Edward's internal wave of calm, causing him to grin like a goof.
"Bella never told me, but I figured it out. I love her and would do anything for her so I taught her. She deserves better than this, Edward," Michael told him calmly and steadily.
Michael knew that, if they wished he would already be dead, so he decided to speak his mind just as Bella did.
Edward narrowed his eyes and stalked over to Michael. He looked down upon him sternly.
"You think you are the man who deserves her?" Edward asked seriously.
"I know I would never force her into something as you have."
"She would probably never marry if someone didn't force her," Edward supplied; it was true, she was entirely independent.
Michael shook his head and took a deep breath.
"Teach her all she wants to know because she wants to know everything. That's who she is. Embrace it. Be there for her other than the man that's holding her captive, her walls will crumble eventually," Michael offered making a silent truce with Edward.
Edward was going to marry Bella no matter what, and he was going to be the man she needed: a husband that would return her passion wholeheartedly.
Edward ate up everything Michael just handed out.
Edward thought back to their decent day that ended in Bella's mouth spewing on about women and swords, eventually turning Rose and Alice on them, too.
"Is she good with a sword?" Edward asked fully excited with this new information.
Michael locked eyes with Edward in the moonlit room.
"I can show you exactly what she knows," Michael said with no hint of amusement.
They stared at each other in silence; Edward knew his skill was completely unmatched, so he did not fear Michael.
Edward disappeared for a moment then reappeared suddenly, his feet hardly leaving a noise in his wake.
Edward knelt down and undid Michael's ties.
"If you run, I have a bow and arrow attached to my back…I will not hesitate to shoot you. I always aim for the kill. I have never missed." Edward's warning was just that, a deadly promise.
"I am not the coward you think of me as," Michael replied as he stood.
He rubbed at his raw wrists.
Edward moved towards the front door and then towards a path into a large field.
Edward pointed silently to a spot and pushed one sword he was carrying into the soft earth.
The other was in his hand as he moved back, his lethal gaze on Michael.
"Show me your best, boy," Edward goaded.
Michael gripped the sword and pulled it out of the ground.
"This is not a battle for death, this is for fun," Edward offered to ease a very tense looking Michael.
Michael then began his swings that Edward countered.
Their steel clashed like thunder under the night sky.
Edward kept his temper in check and his skill at bay.
"Move your feet," Edward ordered.
"I am," Michael countered.
"No you're not, you are locking your knees," Edward offered.
Their grunts from the small fight of fun could be heard from the house.
Jasper a very light sleeper dressed and joined the men with his own blades.
"Want me to show you how a real man fights?" Jasper asked with a sly grin.
Edward raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"You, a real man? Never," he teased his best man.
Jasper chuckled and lunged for Edward.
Michael stepped back and watched as the men seemed to dance among the tall grass.
They were graceful and so deadly.
They twirled and clanged the metal with precision.
All Michael could do was stare in awe.
He has never seen fighters such as these men.
He would never want to cross them ever again.
After their time of play Jasper and Edward were chuckling and catching their breath.
"You will never outsmart me, Jasper. I will always win," Edward teased good-naturedly.
"What of you Michael? Want to fight against Jasper?" Edward asked seriously. His expression held no more amusement.
"Only if it teaches me how to fight like you," Michael said seriously.
Both Edward and Jasper glanced at each other and released dark chuckles.
"That was years of practice, and if it wasn't correct during our turn we were whipped. Our backs are marked for life because of our failures so we learned to never fail again," Jasper said sinisterly, remembering how he and Edward were beaten and whipped if they missed their mark.
Their fathers believed in severe punishment if your son didn't hit the target just right or decapitate the caught wild animal on a rope without hesitation.
There was a reason why they were skilled warriors.
Michael swallowed harshly and lowered his eyes. He never expected that.
"I want to teach the women how to fight," Edward said quietly.
Jasper furrowed his brows and glanced at Edward.
"They will end up causing more damage and harm than good," Jasper protested.
Edward shook his head and locked eyes with Jasper.
"Bella was right; they need to know how to defend themselves. It makes sense, Jasper," Edward argued.
This caused Jasper's face to light up in understanding.
"You want to gain Bella's affections this way?" Jasper asked.
Edward locked his jaw and gave a curt nod.
"I see no other way. She just won't let me in," Edward said truthfully with frustration.
He didn't know how to reach her. This might be the only way, supporting her independence to the hilt.
"Michael has taught her what he knows; I want to teach her more. She is not a caged bird, she never will be. I love her all the more for it," Edward spoke sincerely.
Jasper gave Edward an encouraging smile and slapped his back.
"No, she is a wild bird, and will continue to be so. Good luck you're going to need it," Jasper offered pushing his desires and jealousy aside.
Edward gave Jasper a small grin in return.
No matter how many fights they get into with each other, or how much they disagree, they will always be the others' best man.
Suddenly the sun started to rise painting the black sky into a light blues and dark reds.
"Will you look at that," Jasper said as the three men looked on towards the rising sun.
"It may be one of our last," Edward whispered honestly.
"What?" Michael asked, confused.
Both Edward and Jasper gazed over at him.
"None of your concern," Edward dismissed his inquiry.
"You are planning on leaving Bella a widow?" Michael asked heatedly. "What's the purpose of marrying her?"
Edward turned swiftly and gripped Michael's throat restricting his air supply.
"You will hold your tongue…When I am on the field of battle she will be what drives me to defeat anything. I will stand up against any man or any beast with burning reason if she will be what I come home to," Edward spat releasing a struggling Michael.
Michael backed away, his knees buckling as he fought to refill his lungs.
"I will succeed for my people, I will end Carlisle's tyranny, and I will get retribution for Bella losing her sister to the man who calls himself King," Edward vowed.
"I want to join you, let me fight alongside you," Michael demanded.
Edward stared at Michael in silence rolling the offer around, he could always use more men.
"I will inform you of our plans after you show me you can fight like a man," Edward said seriously.
Michael gave a grin and nodded.
"It would be my honor," Michael said honestly.
"Edward? Jasper?" Alice was heard calling them from the house.
The sun was now wrapping them in golden warmth.
"After our meal, we begin again," Edward informed both Michael and Jasper. "This time we will include the women."
*X*O*X*O*
After the morning meal was served, Edward gained everyone's attention.
Michael was untied and because of this Bella was beaming at Edward for most of the morning, not one snarky comment left her mouth.
He basked in it silently savoring the feeling of her smile and its warmth.
"I wish to show the women how to fight," Edward declared.
Alice jumped up and squealed.
"Ooooh Edward that is fantastic," she squealed.
Emmett was informed in private while the women cooked. He agreed with a grumble, and because he was given the promise it would make his wife happy.
"Truly?" Bella asked in disbelief and wide eyes.
Edward grinned at her and took the plunge. He was emasculating himself and offering his apologies to Bella.
"I do apologize for the other day. You were right," Edward said quietly not meeting anyone's eyes.
Bella narrowed her eyes playfully and leaned towards Edward.
"What? I do not believe I heard you…did you say I was right?" her voice was feigning her snarkiness this time.
Edward picked up a scrap of his leftovers and threw it at Bella.
She laughed and threw it straight back at him.
Edward got chills up his spine because of this; Bella let her walls down for the moment.
Her respect for Edward just developed since waking this morning and seeing Michael converse with him, she was at first shocked speechless.
Now she could actually look at him and not see a completely mindless murderer.
He had green eyes, and that scared her. She didn't know what that meant.
She was genuinely confused. The sad man with the green eyes…it couldn't be, he wasn't real.
"Can we start now?" Alice asked as she pulled her waist length raven colored hair back in a strip of cloth.
Bella laughed at her enthusiasm and pulled her own hair back.
"We shall, come Alice join me on the battlefield of the female warriors," Bella said as she held out her hand for Alice to take.
Alice howled a laugh as they made their way to the very large field that the men were already waiting in.
Rose was changing into a more suitable dress.
"Jasper what will you give me to learn with today?" Alice asked as she made her way over to him.
He smiled at her and handed her one of his swords. They were smaller than what Emmett and Edward carried.
He showed her how to handle the blade and grip the handle as Edward worked with Bella.
"You must remember to always keep both eyes open," Edward teased as Bella took the sword with a smile and started slicing it through the air.
Edward gripped his and stopped Bella mid air as she was bringing her blade down.
Their eyes locked and both held challenge.
She quickly stepped back and smirked.
"Does Demon wish to fight me?"
Edward playfully narrowed his eyes and did a move that made Bella gulp. He was so fast.
"Yes, let's begin, shall we?" he countered.
Bella narrowed her eyes and got into position.
"Yes, let's," she stated and started to move towards him.
They spent the rest of the day together learning about the other.
They laughed and threw good-natured insults.
"Bella you must move your feet, just standing there does nothing but get you into trouble," Edward informed patiently. He internally lashed out at Michael, she was just like him.
"Demon, show me once again please," Bella asked. Edward was stepping back and fighting into the air an invisible enemy, and Bella studied it.
Edward nodded and began his move.
Bella paid him rapt attention, her focus completely on him.
He had a very thin material covering his chest, his arms bare.
Sweat covered him and she kept moving her eyes to his flexing biceps.
She was getting irritated.
"Oh just…stop it," she hissed and threw her blade to the ground running into the home.
Edward immediately stopped and furrowed his brows. He was completely bewildered.
He glanced over at Rose and Alice who were taking a break, their eyes lit up in amusement, their smiles were knowing.
"What did I do?" he asked bemusedly.
Alice straightened her face into innocence.
"I have no idea Edward. She may just be tired," Alice offered with a small shrug.
Michael was over by Emmett and Jasper looking completely interested in his blade. Way too obvious.
Edward snapped his eyes to him.
"What?" Edward demanded harshly.
Michael shook his head.
"I know nothing," Michael insisted.
Edward narrowed his eyes and pointed his blade directly at him in a threatening manner.
"You lie," Edward accused.
Michael shook his head again as Edward began marching over to him.
"Tell me what I did wrong," Edward ordered.
Jasper started chuckling, but it wasn't humorous.
Edward turned swiftly to his best man.
"Edward, she was extremely fidgety during those last few times you played with your sword," Jasper said in an obvious tone towards Edward.
Edward who is a virgin and very insecure with Bella, didn't understand. He also was still not completely familiar with female ways so he gave Jasper a scowl.
"Her eyes, they weren't on your weapon," Jasper told Edward truthfully.
Edward stared at Jasper for a small moment of time before his face lit up in understanding.
He let a smile spread slowly across his face.
He pointed to himself and whispered, "She desires me?"
Everyone howled in laughter. Well, not Edward.
Edward was glowing.
He was getting somewhere with Bella, finally.
*X*O*X*O*
Bella doesn't consciously remember anything the day Angela was taken except Carlisle and her sister; she was six years old and just went through a horrifying experience.
Edward is six years older than Bella so at twelve he looked like a man to her.
I also promise longer chapters after this…