I don't own the characters or the plot… Stephanie Meyer does. I just get great joy of writing new adventures for her characters.
This chapter is setting some things into motion for future chapters and the future stories… yes there are going to be sequels to this story. I have been really worried about this chapter and have been throwing ideas around for about a week or so for this one. I hope it lives up to the expectations of my fellow readers/reviewers. Just for reference, I used the names of some Nordic gods/goddesses for some of my names of people within the legend. I have always had an interest in them so I figured it was good place to use them. MB
Chapter 11: The Legend
I never thought that I would be nervous to talk to Carlisle. I had been talking to him since he turned me all those years ago, but right now I was fearful to what I would be hearing. One thing that perplexed me the most was that I was scared to hear a simple legend, a vampire legend, but a legend no less. I continued to watch Carlisle walk up and down the shelves of massive volumes. His personal collection of texts was huge and it was no wonder he would be one that would know of vampire legends. He finally picked up a volume that didn't look like it would be too significant and walked back over to his desk and had a seat before me. I didn't speak, but continued to watch him as he began to turn the pages of the volume and then he slowly came to a stop, looked up at me, and finally spoke.
"The legend of the Queen of the Stars, huh?"
I nodded at him. This was starting to eat at me, what would be so important about some old legend that I had never heard of? I continued to watch him while he was contemplating how he should go about telling me this.
"This legend is one that not many speak of for it is forbidden by the Volturi. They fear this legend, Edward. Me telling you this is breaking the codes that have been set forth by the Volturi for as long as they have been in existence."
"Why is a legend forbidden? It can't be nothing… it's a legend."
"It's not just a legend to them, Edward. They fear it for it tells of the coming of a being that would be more powerful than any vampire and would bring an end to the ruling class of our people."
This was getting very interesting, but my thoughts began to wander to why it was relevant to me and why would Tanya bring it up. How would the coming of a powerful being change anything for me? I guess Carlisle sensed my thoughts because he began to speak again.
"Edward… you may not think this is important but it might be, I don't honestly know. The reason that Tanya brought it up is because of the description of the girl you were talking about. I believe the name is Bella, right?"
"Yeah, her name is Bella."
Carlisle turned the book to me and showed me a symbol. It was of a massive star and primitive figures reaching toward it. He looked at me and began to say something, but paused. He thought for a moment and then finally spoke.
"The legend of the Queen of the Stars begins at the beginning of vampire lore. It tells of one of the first vampires whose name was Odin, and was named after the supreme Nordic god. The vampires of this time were not like they are today… monsters of their desire for human blood. Vampires only took what they needed to survive and no more. Odin was one of great respect in our race and was thought to be one of the wisest and many of our people looked to him for guidance. Like now, we stayed away from humans for the most part, with the exception of times in which we fed. Odin had a life mate by the name of Erda, who was named after the wife of Odin in the old Nordic myth. They lived a happy existence for many years. They ruled the vampire race with great honor. However, after so many years, things began to change. Erda wanted to gain more power over the dominion of vampires and thought that humans were there for vampires and that we as a people should be able to take all we wanted from the humans, but Odin didn't agree. This caused a division in their relationship."
"This is all nice Carlisle, but it still doesn't mean much to me."
"Patience, Edward… all will be explained. As I was saying… Odin began to take long journeys away from Erda. While on one of these journeys he met a human woman by the name of Valkyrie. She was the wife of the human ruler of the land. When Odin saw Valkyrie, he felt a mystical draw to her. She smelled of pure sugar to him. The most shocking of the feelings, was that he had no desire to drink from her. He wanted her for her, not the blood in her body. He finally came to her one day and though she felt some fear of him, it was as if she knew that she had no reason to fear him. They became very close, and Odin would journey to see her quite often. Erda heard of this woman, and became angry that her mate was spending so much time with a mere human, not just any human, but beautiful woman. Being a jealous mate, she sent one of her servants to watch the woman while she knew that Odin was there. Erda then sent word to Valkyrie's husband that she thought that his wife was having impure thoughts about a mysterious man and that it would be wise to have someone watch her more closely. So Valkyrie's husband locked her in the highest tower of the castle and she would stay there until he felt she should be free. This angered Odin. He cursed his mate and banished her from his side. This caused Erda to do what she wanted to do from the beginning. On one of the days that her husband released her from the tower, Erda watched Valkyrie, stalked her like prey… when she knew that no one was close enough to reach her to help… she sprung from the shadows and drained her of all her life."
I wrench as if I was in pain at hearing that. This was horrible to hear, but I knew that it was not even close to being finished.
"The husband of Valkyrie cursed Erda, for he seen her run from the body of his dead wife. He knew that it was some form of witchcraft that took his wife from him. Odin came to hear of the death of the fair Valkyrie and it broke his heart, for he had come to love her dearly. He went to the castle and told the great ruler what had happened, what he was, and that he was truly sorry for the events that happened. The husband was sorrowed by the death of his bride, but he would not let Erda go unpunished. The great ruler went to his wise woman and asked her to do something to keep this from happening again. With the help of Odin, the wise woman placed a curse on the vampire race, not just any vampires, but the ones that were sired by Erda. The curse stated that the day would come a human woman would rise and come to the aid of the vampires that were sired by Odin, and an unknown race and together would bring an end to the vampires sired by Erda and the destruction that they laid forth."
"So you are telling me that we are from the line that Odin sired?"
"Honestly I don't know. It has become clear though that the Volturi is a direct line to Erda because it is known that Aro, Marcus, and Caius were sired by Erda. The rest of us don't know which line we are from. Records were not kept of who sired who, so it is unknown which line we are in."
I began to think about this deeply. I then thought about something…
"Carlisle, why didn't the ruler punish Odin because he was the cause of Erda even coming after Valkyrie in the first place?"
"That is not really clear, but some think it is because Odin was happy to punish Erda for her actions, that the ruler spared Odin and the ones that he sired. Also, that Odin had a different form of feeding habits in comparison to Erda"
"So the reason that the Volturi don't want this legend known is because it would be… for lack of a better word, the death of them."
"Exactly, Edward. You see the being that is being referred to in this story became known as the Queen of the Stars, at least that is what the vampires that were sired by Odin called her. It is said that the being would be of human blood, a woman, and would have a draw to both the vampire world and the unknown race. It is through the bond she has with the vampires and the unknown race that would bring forth enough strength and power to bring down the decedents of Erda and restore the balance of the world."
"Wow. That is interesting, but that doesn't explain why Tanya thought of this legend."
"That I am not sure of that either, but my guess would be that the description you gave of how Bella made you feel is the main reason that she thought of it. You described her as smelling so wonderful. You see, they say that a vampire and a member of the unknown race would be able to identify her when the time came and one of the qualities is the smell of the woman. It would be as if she was pure sugar."
"So you think Bella is this being?"
"I am not saying that, but anything is possible Edward. It is just the similarity that Tanya was thinking about."
"So the Volturi fear the coming of the Queen of the Stars?"
"Very much so. There is said to be more to the legend but what I told you is all I know. I just know the original parts up to the coming of the Queen. One thing is for sure, that the coming of this woman would change the world that vampires, humans, and the unknown race live in."
"Any idea what they mean by the unknown race?"
"No, even the scholars of the Volturi are unsure of that. They are just worried about the coming of the Queen because they think if they destroy the Queen the unknown race is irrelevant."
"Carlisle, what happened to Odin and Erda?"
"That is one of the great mysteries of the vampire world. Erda was said to sire the vampires of the Volturi and then she disappears from the texts. Odin disappeared not long after the curse was placed on Erda and her vampire children. They say that Odin still lives somewhere in the world, waiting for the coming of the Queen."
"Why do the decedents of Odin call the woman the Queen of the Stars?"
"That is another mystery of the legend. Some say that is what Odin referred to Valkyrie as, but it's really unknown."
"It is a very interesting story, Carlisle. Do you believe it?"
I watched him while he thought about the question. While I sat there I thought of all the things that I had heard about this legend and it just seemed to farfetched to be real.
"Edward, I don't know if it's real or not, but I know the Volturi thinks it is so that is reason enough for me to believe that there is a chance it could be real."
I had heard enough of this for one day so I finally got up and began to leave, but I paused when I heard Carlisle speak again.
"Edward, don't forget that these legends are based in truth somewhere in the past, it's just a question of which parts are the real ones."
I walked down stairs and went outside and began to run. I had to clear my head and gather my thoughts. I still didn't understand how Bella or I fit into this, but I guess it wasn't meant for me to know just yet. I just knew that I couldn't stay away from Bella anymore, so I ran until I was far enough from Forks that I could hunt, and prepare to see the woman of my desires again.
Back at the Cullen house…
"Come in Alice."
"How did it go with Edward?"
"As good as it would be expected. I don't think he believes in the story."
"I have a feeling you left out some parts for his safety."
"Of course, he doesn't need to know that we are thinking that he is the vampire that is tied to the Queen. I didn't even mention the prophet either."
"Do you think we are the decedents of Odin, Carlisle?"
"I don't know about Jasper, but I am pretty sure myself, Edward, Esme, Rosalie, Emmett, and yourself are. I believe you are because through some more research I have found out that the prophet has to be in the line sired by Odin, and that Edward might be one because of his draw to Bella."
"So what do you think I need to do?"
"Keep an eye on both Edward and Bella. I have a feeling that there is a lot more to this legend that is still unknown and will come forward as things move on."
"Carlisle… do you think Bella is really the Queen of the Stars?"
"…I don't know Alice, but she is the closest thing that I have seen that could be the Queen."
"I just hope that Edward comes to realize his tie to Bella soon, it would make some of this easier. If the Volturi found out that Bella might be the Queen, they would kill her."
"We are going to do everything possible to keep that from happening. I don't think we will have to worry about that for long, if Edward does what I think he is doing…"
"What's that, Carlisle?"
"He's falling love with her."
I hope this lived up to the expectations for the legend. I left a lot of holes in it so that I can explain more as the story goes on. Forgive me if its not good, cause I am still in a lot of pain from the whole wisdom teeth thing, so be kind to me if you review. I'll probably start the next chapter tomorrow or the next day, cause this one kinda drained my creative juices a bit. MB
