A/N: Why is the weekend gone? Someone bring it back.
That night, Bella fell asleep in Edward's arms, exhausted from her tears and her ordeal. She'd awakened for the second time in her husband's chambers. He was there, asleep on the couch as she slept on the bed, but he woke quickly when she moved.
Strange, she'd thought all that day. She was used to being alone after the king mistreated her. Alone to cry her misery and degradation into a pillow. Alone to lament and wish for her mother's soft hands, and her father's reassuring strength. Alone to ache for her elder brother's teasing and her younger brothers' laughter.
Alone, when her tears were dry, she stoked her anger. Her anger had always been more powerful than her shame. Felix, she'd learned long ago, craved destruction, and she'd be damned if he destroyed her. She would survive whatever torment he threw at her. She would survive if only to spite him.
So having her husband by her side as she worked through this latest in a long list of assaults was strange for many reasons. She'd have died before she let any of the rest of the court see her pain, but it was different with Edward.
After she woke, he didn't leave her side. He was wonderful—attentive without intruding on her space. He coaxed her to eat a little of the simple breakfast he'd had Angela bring them. All that day, he talked to her, telling her stories of his travels. Embarrassing stories, she noticed. Ones that made her smile in spite of the fog that had settled over her mind. She spoke little, but he didn't press her.
On the second day, he had Angela bring his ledgers to his room, brushing off his father's demands that he come to the inner council meeting. He spent that day talking to her about affairs of the realm—who owed money and for what.
This time to herself—that was something else new. In the past, she'd had maybe a few hours before she was dragged back to the court. They would send a servant to inform her that her presence was required at dinner or at her duties as one of the queen mother's ladies.
Of course, even her husband—trapped as he was in the same gilded cage—couldn't keep her away from Felix and the rest forever. That second evening, a pounding at his door made her jump. All the blood drained from her face. She stood and backed toward the corner of the room on instinct.
"Edward," a sharp voice called. He pounded again.
Bella closed her eyes. It was Aro. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to calm down.
Edward stepped to her, touching her shoulder briefly. "I won't let him in."
Before he could step away, she grabbed his wrist and opened her eyes to stare at him. As she suspected from his tone, his eyes were on fire. "You must survive, Edward." Another breath as she searched him. "For me. For us both, you must survive, and you must be calm."
They stared at each other, and they both jumped when Aro pounded again. "Edward Anthony. What is the meaning of this? Open this door."
Edward gave her a sharp nod before he strode to the door. Bella pressed herself back against the wall, unsure what to expect. She reached for her dagger—Edward had left it on his night table—and hid it in her sleeve.
Rather than open the door to his father, Edward only opened it enough that he could slip out. Then, he closed it behind him. Bella was surprised that her nervousness took on a different tenor then. She crept closer to the door and put her ear against it.
"—you did it, Father? If this is what you meant by your threats—"
"You're speaking nonsense. Be clear, boy. What is it you're accusing me of this time?"
"Please, Father." Edward spat the words. "Don't play innocent with me when we both know you are not. You're the only one who has the king on a leash."
"Lower your voice," Aro hissed. "You're not making any sense. I'm fed up of your histrionics. Whatever little fit you're having—"
"You didn't tell Felix?"
"Tell him what?"
There was silence. Bella rested her head against the cool wood. She trembled.
She had wondered, of course. Why now? For all he had enjoyed telling her what he would do when they were wed, Felix hadn't touched her like this before. He could have. Of course, he could have. No one would have blinked an eye. She couldn't wrap her head around the reason except that it had to be about Edward, not her.
No. To Felix, she was less than human. A convenient plaything. It wasn't as though he limited his torture to just her. He targeted whomever struck his fancy.
Outside, Aro broke the silence. "I don't know why the Gods took your mother instead of you, Edward, but it may yet be the only regret of my life."
Bella flinched, but Aro continued. "You will be at dinner tonight. Whatever is wrong with you, people are beginning to talk."
"I'll take dinner in my room."
"You will not. Edward—"
Bella opened the door. She gripped the hilt of her dagger tighter to keep herself from shaking too hard. "We shall be down to dinner presently, My Lord."
Aro tilted his head, his eyes going to her bruised cheek. He turned sharply to look at Edward who stared back at him, his expression hard. Challenging. He moved to Bella's side.
"I see." Aro released a breath and nodded. "The King is dining with his bride-to-be this evening and will not be in attendance." He turned and started to walk away. "Dinner with the court. Half an hour."
As soon as he was out of eyeshot, Bella exhaled. She closed her eyes, fighting back a wave of dizziness. Edward looped a steadying arm around her waist. "Shh, Bella. We don't have to go."
Bella took a deep breath and stood up straighter, looking forward. "Yes, we do." She took another breath. "Husband, you've been so good to me, giving me these days of quiet. Life goes on, and so shall we."
"It's not up to my father. You're my wife—"
"Edward." Bella raised her eyes to meet his. Her sweet husband. If this whole ordeal had wrought anything good, it was that it had erased any inkling of mistrust she had for Edward. Despite being their blood, he wasn't one of them. He was a pawn his father kept in check. If anything he was in more danger from the king. Though Felix needed less of an excuse to hurt Bella, he did so simply because he could. Edward, on the other hand, he actively hated.
Bella sighed and stepped closer, letting her husband wrap his arms lightly around her. "Nothing has changed," she whispered near his ear. "All that's happened is you've learned you cannot keep me safe." Her heart twisted. She too had begun to hope she could be safe even here, but that had always been a dream. "It's not your fault, husband. I haven't been safe in many years."
"Bella…" His eyes were so tortured. He opened his mouth, but there was nothing he could say. She'd had years to come to terms with the idea that safety existed outside these city walls.
"Shhh." Bella pushed up and pressed the barest hint of a kiss to his lips.
He pulled them both into his room where they clung tightly to each other. "I'm supposed to take care of you," he said, his voice rough against the side of her hair.
"You are taking care of me, my husband." She hid her face at his neck, shivering with emotion. "Before, when he hurt me, when I despaired that I might die here, I fixed in my head a dream of my life to come. I swore I would survive, so I could have some happy life with my brothers and mother by my side again."
She closed her eyes, shuddered, and took another steadying breath before she continued. "These last two days, I have fixed in my mind the hope of a new future—the life you've promised me. That's why I'll survive, because I believe now more than ever that I will be happy again. With you. When we're not surrounded by our enemies."
Foolish, some part of her screamed. How could she trust anyone anymore? Yet, she did trust him.
He rubbed slow circles about her back. "Our enemies," he repeated softly, the words coming out with a hint of incredulity.
It occurred to Bella then what she was saying. The king was Edward's nephew. Likely he had held him when he was a babe, rocked him, and cooed at him. Jane and Alec were his elder siblings, and though it seemed to Bella they'd had much disdain for Edward growing up, perhaps he still had his fond memories. Even his father must have held him once, when he was a boy. Perhaps stroked his hair when he was ill.
She had told him his family, his blood, was his enemy.
Bella took a step back out of his arms. "My Lord, I spoke out of turn. I didn't mean—"
"Hush, love." He gave her a small, sad smile. "You are wise beyond your years, my darling girl. That I can find no words to refute your claim shows how naive I've been about my place here." He sighed, pulling her close again. "Perhaps they were right in what they say about me. A man who cannot protect his wife is a coward."
"No." She shook her head vehemently. "Don't you know what hope you've given me, husband?" She closed her eyes against the tears that threatened to spill again. "I'm not alone anymore."
"Never again," he promised.
~0~
As Angela helped her dress and combed out her hair, Bella was lost in thought.
She hadn't been lying when she told her husband Felix's attack against her came as no surprise. Even if he hadn't had a penchant for hurting her, by now, she was well aware of a woman's lot in life.
Since she arrived in the capital city of Volterra at the age of fourteen, Bella's education about the nature of carnal relations between men and women had been vivid to the say the least. Seeing as she'd been brought to the city as the young prince's future bride, the women at court—ever catty—had taken particular pleasure in whispering things to her.
They'd told her first that the king—Felix's father—might like to have her. That was a king's right, after all. The right of first night, to bed any bride he chose. Then again, they said, that particular king acted on his desires at will. It was nothing official, but if a king wanted a lady, it was to be considered an honor. First night was his right, but he could take whom he wanted to his bed whenever he wanted. After the marriage had been consummated, the husband could expect compensation for his generosity—lending his wife to the king.
The wives, Bella had seen with her own eyes, didn't have much say in the matter. Some preened. Others seemed quiet, and ducked their heads in shame when the women pressed them for gossip.
Really, it was not limited to kings. Bella had oft heard tales. This Lady or that—sometimes married, sometimes not—was walking where she should not have been, and had fallen prey to a Lord or visiting dignitary. Sometimes, if unmarried, a quick marriage might be arranged. Other times, the young woman's father was given due compensation for his daughter's decimated brideprice. She was married quietly to any Lord who would have her, soiled though she was, or sent on to the convent.
Even the queen, for all her power, had taken some perverse pleasure in telling Bella tales of her own marriage. A wife's duty, Jane had said, must be borne, as it was a woman's lot. She had wistfully told the tale that she'd been naive enough to look forward to her wedding night. The king, her husband, had been anything but tender.
"The children make it worthwhile," Jane had said, patting her hand in that faux-motherly way that had always made Bella cringe.
Bella couldn't remember if the Lords at her father's court in Rainfall had been held to a different standard. She vaguely recalled her father executing a man who had taken a farmer's daughter against her will, but a Lord or a diplomat?
Well. She'd been very young then, at any rate.
"All done, My Lady," Angela said, bringing Bella out of her reverie. She kept her hand resting on Bella's shoulder a moment longer—a silent show of support, she knew.
Bella reached back and squeezed her handmaid's hand. She took several deep breaths and stood.
Minutes later, her and Edward's footsteps echoed as they made their way through the halls. They were late, but that was fine. On evenings when a formal dinner was called, there was always much talking before anyone settled down to eat.
"How did you do it?" Edward murmured as they walked arm in arm. "How did you walk into this room every day?"
Bella scoffed under her breath. "You find you can do many things when you have no other choice."
Just outside the door, he stopped. He turned to her and took her face between his hands. He locked eyes with her, holding her gaze as he bent forward and pressed his lips to hers. "Whatever they may say, Bella, none of it is true. None of it has ever been true."
Bella closed her eyes and nodded. She'd been doing her best to put on her mask of indifference, but trust Edward to see through it. She got so tired of pretending. "Yours will be the only voice I listen to."
With that, they went inside.
Bella could feel the eyes on her. It was a filthy feeling she never grew used to. Her skin crawled. Her pulse raced. Her stomach twisted. They all knew. They knew that she could be beaten and cowed.
It was easier though. There was always a moment when she thought her legs would give out; that her knees wouldn't hold her. That night, she had her husband by her side. She held her head high and was sure to look at no one.
"My Lady Isabella."
Bella started. She shrank back ever so slightly, surprised when she realized it was Lady Siobhan who'd appeared at their side. "M-my Lady." This woman had never addressed her directly before except to offer a general greeting or the obligatory congratulations at her wedding. She was an elder Lady—one of the white-haired crones who kept to themselves, looking down on all.
Siobhan gave her a smile and turned to Edward. "My Lord." She gave a respectful nod. "I have need of your wife, if it pleases you."
Before Edward could say a word one way or another, Siobhan had stepped directly between them. Bella was so startled, she let go of Edward's arm automatically. "Come now, My Lady. I have a question about the Grand Alchemist's son."
Bella cast a bewildered look over her shoulder, catching her concerned husband's eye as Siobhan spirited her away. She was startled again to find herself surrounded by several others Siobhan's age.
She was shielded from the rest of the court where they had her, and that made Bella nervous. Her breath came in quick bursts, and her mind began to race. She almost missed what the women were saying.
"Poor child," Siobhan said, tilting Bella's chin up to examine her bruise. "Oh. Young husbands are such brutes."
Lady Maggie snorted. "He's not a child. Old enough to know to have patience with a wife so young and with wild, treasonous parents as well."
"They have been married for some months now," said the third, Lady Chelsea. "That shows he has a great deal more patience than many men." She smiled at Bella kindly and clucked her tongue. "Oh, you poor mite. Unlucky is the new bride who doesn't have her mother's guidance. I would have expected the Queen Mother to do her duties but, well…" The Lady's lip twitched. "Her Grace has much on her mind these days."
Siobhan patted Bella's unbruised cheek. "She's right, lovey. When I was a young bride, my mouth got me into quite a bit of trouble that first year." She chuckled. "Until my mother sat me down and explained the business of marriage. Managing a house." She leaned her head in, conferring with Bella conspiratorially. "And a husband."
Bella stared, darting her eyes between them. "You think My Lord did this?" They exchanged looks, and Bella shook her head vehemently. "He—"
But what could she say? It hadn't occurred to her that Felix wouldn't boast about his conquest. If these Ladies didn't know, what could she tell them?
"You're a good girl not speak ill of your husband," Lady Chelsea said. "Lord Edward has always had a flare of temper. And goodness knows, it is a husband's duty to keep his wife in line." These words were said with some bitterness. "You'll both learn in time."
"Let us help you, Lady Isabella," Maggie said. "Tell us what you said to provoke him, or what you did. We'll help you sort it out."
They were trying to mother her, Bella realized. She had been initiated into the world of marriage with no guide, and being beaten by her husband seemed to have gained her access to a sisterhood she didn't know existed. When she glanced about, she noticed several other women—all of them married—offering her a smile of sympathy.
"My Ladies." Edward's voice was rough as he came up on them. He offered a respectful bow, but his expression was hard. "Isabella." He offered his hand.
Bella reached for him gratefully. She jumped with Siobhan touched her arm. "Come to me with an answer when you're ready," she said sweetly as Edward led her away.
Edward let out a slow breath when they got to their table. As Aro promised, the king was missing. Jane was there. She raised an eyebrow when she saw Bella's face. Bella ducked her head, but she thought she heard the Queen Mother snicker.
Bella distracted herself. She set about her duty, serving her husband from the platters at the center of the table.
Just as she set his plate in front of him, a chuckle caught her attention. Both she and Edward looked up as Lord Demetri strode up to them. The man clapped Edward's shoulder heartily. "Ah, Lord Edward. It's good to see you do know a man's duty. If ever a woman needed to be reminded of her place, it's your willful lady. Good on you, there." He reached out to tweak Bella's chin, and she cringed.
Slamming his goblet down, Edward grabbed the man by the wrist and threw it forcefully away from Bella. "Touch my wife again, and I will remove your hand for you."
Bella's pulse raced, but Demetri put his hands up, amused. "I meant no offense. I merely wished to congratulate you on a job well done."
Edward rose to his feet. Bella tried to catch his eyes, but he was glaring daggers at Demetri. She reached out and touched her fingers to his. He didn't look at her, but he drew in a deep breath. His voice was even when he spoke. "I deserve no congratulations for laying hands on my wife, My Lord. Quite the contrary."
Demetri's smile fell, but he laughed. "There's no shame in doing your duty, Sir."
"The oath I swore to my wife on our wedding day said nothing of mistreating her. Rather, I swore to honor and protect her."
Most of the eyes in the room were on them now. "It's an honorable thing to correct a wife who has strayed from the righteous path," another man, Lady Chelsea's husband, said. "Though for decorum's sake, you might limit your correction to her backside. Young Lady Bella has such a pretty face after all." The man turned back to his food as though he were bored with the conversation. "Give her a few whacks across her bare ass same as your father gave you when you were wicked, no doubt. Make her sore in her seat, and she'll learn."
Even without looking at him—for by that time Bella was staring straight down at the table, her hands clenched to keep from trembling—she knew Edward was gnashing his teeth. "A man who would hit a woman is a coward. I suppose I've lived up to my name today. My Lady Isabella has been naught but kind and good. What was done to my wife…" She heard him swallow hard. "What I did was contemptuous at best. If the gods have any wisdom or mercy, my comeuppance for this vile deed will be swift and soon."
Somehow, Bella wasn't surprised to feel her husband's hand on her arm. He pulled her gently to her feet and took her hand. "Good evening to you all," he said.
When they were out in the corridor again, Edward swore under his breath. Bella couldn't help but agree with him.
Though he had taken the blame on himself Felix wouldn't be fooled. When word of Edward's outburst reached the king he would know, as Bella had, that her husband talked not of himself but of Felix. Which meant that Edward had just wished the gods' wrath on Felix.
What their volatile king would do about that was anyone's guess.
A/N: SO. Betsy is voting for Wildfire (Wyldfire?). Mina wants dragons...and wants to find Aro on the privy. Basically all the people in my docs are crying for mayhem and destruction.
