Look at that! Another update and so soon after I was warning against the long wait! I guess I just had enough time, and I am going to struggle to get the next chapter up soon, because it is important and you'll understand why when you get to the bottom of this…but for now, happy reading!

Princess Bella awoke to an empty bed and she felt the wounds burst open long her skin. The bed was cold – Edward had been gone a long while. He had left her.

Before she could stop herself, her body was freezing, she was collapsing inside herself, fear licking at her insides as she brought her knees up to her chin and silent tears pricked her eyes.

Where was he? Where was he? Where was he?

The only thing she could process was her utter aloneness. Her thoughts were flying back to the Castle Cullen, where Jacob was, where her life had been. It was life in the nightmare all over again.

He promised. He promised. He promised never to leave her. Never to let her out of his arms…

Immediately anger snapped through her body and it was a surprise. Princess Bella had never before felt this feeling of fury, channeling through her veins like fire spreading along a gasoline trail. She was ready to explode. And it scared her.

She was out of bed, rushing out of the room in only her nightdress and she didn't care – she didn't care if it was scandalous, she didn't care what people though – all she knew was she had to put this anger somewhere and she knew where she needed to put it.

Down cold flights of stairs, down long corridors and to the dining hall – there she saw the huddled figures of Alice and Esme as they cradled together. Rosalie sat in a chair next to them. Edward was standing near the window, his back stiff. They were crying – Bella immediately backed out of the room before she was seen and pressed her back against the outer wall – she needed to know what was going on – now she was referring back to her old instincts, back when she lived with Jacob – all the lies, the secrets, it was dangerous, but she used to spy on him, too, to find out what was going on, it was the only way…and now her instincts were to do the same just now, now that she was being excluded from things…She didn't want to do this to her friends, her love, but…how could Edward not wake her? How could he leave her alone? She heard voices so she stopped her wild, fast thoughts and listened intently.

"Edward…what should we d-do?" Queen Esme choked. There was a pause, then Edward's beautiful, velvet voice, strained with emotion, cut through the air.

"I must go to them – they need my help. I shall gather what forces I have here…There are some able-bodied men I know who can help…other than that I do not know…" He sounded pained. Bella felt her body ache at the sound, already she was feeling the pull of his presence and she had to fight to keep from succumbing…The fight against the Blacks must be what they were referring to – it must be going badly. Bella felt another pain. And Edward was talking about leaving again! After he'd promised to stay with her! Never had Bella felt so selfish before, never had she not cared this strongly about that fact. Edward needed to stay – with her!

"But Bella…" Alice's hush voice joined in and Bella felt her heart reach out to Alice.

"I know, I know," Edward hissed and Bella pictured him pinching the bridge of his nose. "But Carlisle – he said he didn't know how they could possibly have expected Jacob had so much force behind him! And I know, I know that he needs help – it's plain right here, he just doesn't want to say it…but he cannot hide that fact from me…I have to leave…" he whispered the last sentence.

"What about Bella, then?" Alice's voice was rising, "After all she's been through and now she finally feels like she's safe – how could you even contemplate leaving? How do you even know if she'll be safe here with just us to protect her?!" Alice sounded livid and Bella knew right then that she could always count on her dearest friend to take care of her.

"Enough!" Edward shouted, "I cannot stand this! Don't you understand what torture it is to me? The very thought of leaving Bella is like a dagger in my heart! I can barely speak these words to you – I feel like I shall be sick! But I am doing what is necessary to save her – to save all of us! If the Blacks win, what do you think they'll do with your Jasper? With Carlisle? With Emmett!?" Alice was sobbing now and Esme as well.

"Stop it Edward," Rosalie's cold voice sliced through the air. "You needn't be so hard on her – she just wants you to think this through and to know what it is you're thinking…And I'm with Alice…how can we know what is truly going on out there? If they need help, they will find a way – Carlisle said nothing about needing you. Whatever troops you could gain here would not be of much help, either. And Bella needs you. She needs you." Bella felt warmer knowing Rosalie was on her side again.

"For goodness sake, Rose!" Edward stormed, "Enough about Bella, do you understand! Enough! I get it. I understand! But right now, my concern is Jacob, and Jacob only!" Bella gasped and twirled her body till she stood within the entrance to the dining hall. All heads had whipped up at the sound and all eyes were focused on her. Bella's eyes quickly found the only pair of eyes that mattered to her – Edward's were wide with shock, fear, and…sadness – utter heartbreak.

"Bella…" he whispered and she ran. It was as if her feet had a mind of their own and all they wanted was to be away…far away from all the pain that had exploded inside her chest while she stood in that room. She felt the fire of anger that had burst inside her simmer and became doused in the chill and icy cold of rejection and pain…And what was worse – she could hear Edward's pounding footsteps behind her.

"BELLA!!" his voice called out, and for once she wished that she had longer, stronger legs to carry her away faster – for she knew he was gaining. And then she wished for more grace, for soon she felt her foot catch on a loose stone slap in the floor and she was plummeting to the cold, hard floor.

Her heart sank when she felt the strong, cold arms wrap tightly around her, catching her. Edward was pulling her to his chest and she felt his grip tightening – so she began to struggle.

She fought and wriggled within his grip.

"Let go of me!" hissed through clenched teeth, beating at his chest, "Let go! You're hurting me!" she gasped, though it was far from true - physically, but at those words, she was immediately release and she struggled to her feet, putting space between herself and him.

Edward stood with wide eyes, scared.

"I – I'm so sorry," he gasped, his hands trembling at his sides. "Bella, love –"

"Don't –" Bella interrupted, "don't say that – if – if – you don't m-mean it." The look on Edward's face grew from fear to twisted horror and pain.

"You think that I don't mean it?" Edward questioned, stunned. "You doubt my love?"

Bella trembled, but managed to speak, despite the difficulty, "I…don't know what to think anymore, my lord," she whispered. Immediately Edward was at her side, gripping her chin and forcing her to look at him. Although his grip was loose and he was being careful with her, Bella knew that he was restraining himself – he still didn't want to hurt her, but his emotions were coursing through him.

"Don't you dare say that!" he hissed, "I am not your lord! That's what you would say to him – I am not him Bella! I love you, do you understand? You must, you – you m-must!" His voice broke and tears seeped down his cheeks. Bella felt the burn of his pain as it engulfed her.

"Edward," she whispered, "Please…I – I cannot…I cannot understand you."

"Please let me explain," Edward murmured, looking into her eyes and Bella could not deny the love there, it was too strong, so she nodded silently.

"But first," he started, his eyes taking on the deepest sorrowful look, "I-I'm sorry that I hurt you – I promised you I would keep you safe, I promised that I would never hurt you – and now all I can think is that I am just like him…I cannot tell you the pain that causes me…that I could ever treat you like that?"

"You didn't hurt me…physically, Edward," Bella whispered, "I said that so that you would let me go…But the pain I feel now is…that I don't know what to believe…You've been so good to me…it's been a dream…and now I feel as though I've been woken from the dream and I don't know where I stand…I know you love me, but…what do you love more? Me? Or the idea that it could be you to kill Jacob?" Edward stood stunned by her statement.

"Bella," he said slowly, his eyes locked with hers, "I love you, always…I just…I don't know what to do… I don't know if going is worse than staying here and that scares me! It scares me more than anything! I…I just don't want to chose what is wrong…I could not bear it the outcome would be resting on my shoulders and it ended badly!"

Bella thought long and hard as she stared at him. She could see exactly what he was thinking, she understood…and she felt his pain as if it were hers. Both their hearts were at stake here, both would feel the pain of separation and the pain of losing a family…and so Bella decided to let go of her selfish tyranny…she decided to let go of Edward.

"Go," she whispered, her voice breathy, but she couldn't hide the pain. "Go, Edward…this is what matters more. Save our family." Edward didn't speak, he didn't move, he just looked at her. She knew it hurt him, but there was nothing at this point – not a single thing that could be done with the matter.

Slowly he bent forward, pressing his lips fiercely against hers. It was the parting kiss, the kiss that meant there was nothing certain about return. Edward kissed Bella to make up for all those years they were separated, for all those times he wasn't there to kiss her bruises and her sores, for all the times in the future that he might miss if he were not to come back.

Bella kissed him back, with all emotion that she could push from her body into her lips. She kissed him for all the same reasons and for one more…she kissed him with a silent prayer, that whatever happened, her kiss, her love would be the thing that could stand between him and the rest of the world, the rest of the danger that lay ahead. It was all she had to give.

When Edward pulled back, he gripped Bella's wrist and gently pulled her palm open, laying inside it a silver band of beautifully twisted metal that met at a beautiful, topaz stone in the shape of a heart, gripped by two silver hands that came to grip the stone on either side, holding it to the band. Bella froze at the sight.

"The heart stands for love and union, you point the heart away from you when you're friends, you point the heart towards you when you're promised…when you're engaged…" Edward's voice was soft, his eyes still on her. Bella looked at him, then down at the ring as her fingers slowly closed over the ring and she brought it to her left hand's ring finger, slipping the band down, the heart's point coming to rest pointing towards her chest. Promised. She looked up to see Edward's eyes staring intensely at the ring.

"Look at me," she whispered and his fierce, green eyes met hers. Bella gasped at the intense emotion that pooled there.

"I will come back," he whispered fervently, "I will come back to you Bella and we will be wed, I will come back to you and there will be nothing to stop us from being together as heaven meant us to be for ever after."

"Remember," Bella replied quietly, her eyes stern, "remember your promise to me – do not kill Jacob – do not kill." Edward's eyes darkened, but his voice came out strong and assured.

"I will keep my promise to you, if ever I should break it I shall be cursed, I've already broken enough promises."

"I'll be in your heart, always," Bella whispered.

"And I in yours," Edward replied, before turning silently and walking down the corridor. Bella watched him go and she knew that this could not be the last time that she would ever see her only love…too much had happened to keep them apart now, too much was owed. No, Edward would come back to her, alive. Even as she thought those words, though, Bella's heart twisted with pain and she knew that there would be no escaping the ensuing pain of separation. It was just becoming a fact of life and she would just have to knuckle down and bear it – for better or for worse.

Sorry! Pain, torment, separation! You must think I have it in for this couple, but I swear, all in due time Bella and Edward shall be happy! Isn't that comforting? Knowing that Edward won't die? Still, let me know your thoughts – good or bad, I wanna know! So REVIEW! And not just, "good chapter" or "update soon!" I want solid thought and critique! Just add in a line or two about what you're thinking when you read this story…Cheers!