Chapter 13: Hearts, Roses, and another Proposal

What did the queen want to talk about? Her plans? Her visit to Jacob and Lauren in the dungeons? All her expeditions and screaming and tantrums? Frankly, that was all she did these days. Without Edward, her life was an empty peanut shell, cold and alone.

Bella was sleeping.

In her dream, she was walking in a meadow, greener than anything she had ever seen in her life. It was better than James's and her courtyards combined! Where was it, though?

Flowers sprung up from nowhere, blasting her with cool, sweet-smelling scents that made her sneeze. Trees gave her shade, and maple odor filled the air. When she looked up at the sun, rising above the green landscape, she saw a familiar silhouette. Not Edward, not James, no one horrid or a loved one. A friend. Bella ran to the shadow, hope filling her heart. She tried her best not to trip on her dress, which was lighter than she expected—she was wearing a peasant dress. Ignoring this, however, she kept going. Then she skidded to halt in horror. There, just a hundred feet away, the shadow burst into action, shifting from one to two. The first shadow drew a sword and slashed at the second. Locked in a furious battle, dodging and thrashing, rolling and twisting, Bella could only stare.

This was not a dream, it was not a nightmare—it was a vision.

How could she tell?

The first silhouette was Jacob, blood dripping from his eyes. The second was James, hatred scrawled on his face.

At first the dream—vision—was peaceful and reassuring. Was it true? It had to do with the prophecy somehow, yet she was unsure how. Jacob was now involved, more so James. So, they fought. Who would win? She knew Jacob was skilled, but James? Was he trained as a warrior, taught to kill? Was he saving, destroying? Jacob, saving or destroying? Will one perish by a garden of roses, a garden of magic?

Troubled greatly, Bella let Jessica dress her. The maid seemed oddly quiet and composed, with the air of someone strangely calm.

Bella could not take the quiet. "Jessica? Is there something bothering you?" she demanded, shaking out of her grip.

Jessica straightened and blinked slowly. "No, Mistress. I am perfectly fine, thank you for asking."

"Why are you so formal this morning? Is Eric alright?"

Jessica reached for Bella's crumpled skirts, but the princess jerked away, waiting for an answer. Jessica sighed. "Eric is faring well, ever since your mother sent knights to keep a bigger fire."

She smiled with relief and pride. Finally, Mother was taking advice from her daughter! "And…?" she prompted, eager to hear more good news. She could not shake the dream.

The servant gazed away, murmuring under her breath, "If you let me finish, I shall tell you more. I assure you, Princess, you will not be pleased. Well, many things you will feel, I think. It is hard to explain."

Bella let her work. "I am quite sure I can handle it. I have suffered worse, yes?"

Jessica smiled slightly. "Yes, I suppose. Eric is feeling much better, Nurse Claire says. Angela is at his side more often these days, tending to him. A knight informs me on Lauren, too, for your sake. He says she just sits there, and does not move. She is alive, just never makes a move. Pity, I think, Your Highness."

She sighed. "There is nothing I can do to change Father's mind," she mused. "I dislike Lauren as much as you do, but there is no justice in her hanging. I'm perfectly fine with her in the dungeons, not in the gallows."

"I understand, Princess."

Bella was growing uneasy and suspicious. She spun away to sit on her bed, waiting for Jessica to start her 'hard to explain' story.

The maid sighed heavily and faced Bella, her features blank as ever. "You see, Mistress, my family still lives in the village. My father, my mother, and my brother. I am allowed to visit every three months. While you were with Angela, I went to stay with them for a few days. When I was there—" Her voice suddenly faltered, filled with heartache. Bella bit her lip to keep from crying. Why, she knew what was coming.

"When I was there, I went to see someone. Uh, this person was terribly upset, and his house was a mess. Purple rings under the eyes, which were red from crying. The clothes on the back where disgusting and dirty, as if they had not been washed in weeks. The odor coming off him was that of the pigs, in fact." Her face flooded with sadness and depression.

Licking her lips nervously, Bella kneeled silently be Jessica. "It's Edward, isn't it?" she whispered, her own voice cracking.

The miserable servant nodded. "Yes. He is a living heck without you, Princess. He tries to pull his hair out every time he sees the castle, much less when the gossip gets around. Oh, you should see him, Mistress! He looks as if he lost part of himself." She blinked at Bella. "He has lost a part of him, just like you. You both need each other, Mistress. You cannot stay away for long. You are his other half."

After nightfall, Bella snuck from her room.

Ever since Jessica told her of how Edward was falling apart, sorrow clawed at her heart. Deep gashes made it hard to breathe, and her head spun at the thought of seeing her true love in pain. Even more so that, with everything she had to do, she had not had time to grieve. Oh, the laws of love….

Jessica, in a dirty and dusty cloak, waited with her knight at the entrance. This knight was the one keeping track of Lauren's behavior. He waited silently and contently at the maid's side. A small, shy smile was playing on her face.

She curtsied, the same time the warrior bowed—the smile grew. "Good evening, Your Highness." Her voice was trembling, with what, Bella knew not.

She approached, pulling her own cloak tighter. "Good evening. Knight," she greeted.

He dipped his head. "Your Majesty. My name is Mike. I hope to assist you and Miss Jessica." He glanced swiftly to Jessica, who blushed.

What was the world coming to? All the maids were falling in love!

Bella tried not to be disappointed, either. She did not want an audience, just her and Jessica. He even planned for her to stay clear of Edward's home. They would want as much space as possible. But what if they…well, of course they would fight.

"Yes. Yes, of course. But I want as much clearance as you can get, do I make myself clear?" Mike and Jessica nodded. "I do not want to frighten him, and…I want alone time with him."

Jessica's eyes suddenly got teary. Her hand flicked, but she forced it to her side. Was she searching for comfort in Mike's touch?

But Mike, trained well as a knight, did not seem fazed. "May we begin, Lady Bella?" he asked, shifting in his chain mail.

"Yes."

Mike, Jessica, and Bella flipped up their hoods and disappeared into the night. They inched along in the shadows, shuffling behind houses and sneaking past windows. Nothing moved, nothing made a sound—just the cold winter air drifting past. It was a miracle there was no snow. Was it not close to spring? All the peasants' candles were out—except one. Bella felt the air being dragged from her lungs. Edward's house. Mike spun around suddenly at a sound, sending Jessica falling into a pile of trash. She screeched, flailing her arms in panic.

Annoyed, Bella yanked the maid up. "Quiet!" she hissed. She glowered at Mike, who gazed around guiltily. "Can't either of you shut your fat mouths?"

"I am deeply—" Mike began, but was cut off by the most wonderful voice Bella heard in her life. Someone she lost a piece of her heart for.

"Bella?"

Edward appeared in the doorway.

Abruptly, in Bella's fantasy world, clouds covered the ground, drifting like mist. Beautiful, soft light shone down like hands reaching for something to touch—like her hands reaching for Edward's strong shoulders. It was better than Heaven. And ll she saw was Edward.

With a throat-wrenching cry of happiness, Bella leaped into his arms. He laughed loudly, rumbling from deep in his chest. She let out a sound that was between a sob and a laugh.

"Oh, Isabella, my love. Oh, my sweet princess…"

His hand moved from her neck all the way down to her waist, pulling her very close. She stopped breathing.

Remembering her anger, however, Bella punched his shoulder. Edward made no intention of feeling anything. He only held tighter, burying his face in her long brown hair and sniffling. She let out another sob and rubbed her face into his neck, determined to drink and remember his smell. She did not even flinch when he scented of pigs and grim. It was hers. He was hers. They embraced for a long time, just getting the feel of each other. The month they had been separated felt like three long, cold years.

If only it could last…

"Lady Isabella?"

Mike was not to mess this moment up. Bella held tighter to her lover, and Edward dragged his lips across her jaw line. This moment was indescribable. It was too good to be true, too romantic to feel real. It was her fairytale prince come to sweep his princess of her feet and live happily ever after—it was truly for real this time.

For real…

Her throat closed in joy, and tears wet her eyelashes. Her fingers shook on Edward's back. His clutched at her skirts, his lips trembling. Far in the background, in another world, Bella heard Jessica cry out a happy sob. The only sound was their breathing, their erratic breathing.

Better than Heaven…

Blinking up at him, he smiled—it was wondrous, so bright and happy, it sent chills down her spine—and wrapped his around tight around her waist, pulling her close. Kissing her hair, he faced Mike and Jessica.

But her spine went rigid, and Edward stiffened. The two were locked in a fierce kiss.

Wide-eyed, the princess and servant watched knight and the other servant embrace. Had they been together for a while? Perhaps seeing Edward and her kiss got them excited, and they copied in joy?

Edward cleared his throat loudly after a while. They broke apart, startled, grinning abashedly. Jessica blushed darker than Bella thought possible, but Mike's face was like stone.

Edward kissed her hair once more as Mike led them all back to the castle.

"I promise to never leave you again, my dearest." With his free hand, he held out something tightly for her. Feeling a thrill of hope, Bella reached out. But he did something she least expected him to do.

Mike stopped with Jessica under his arm. She forgot how to breathe, much less her own name. Lightheaded, Bella watched Edward kneel down on one knee. He opened his hand…

And threw the ring across the street.

She froze, unsure what to do or what just happened. She heard a splash. Edward knocked her legs from under her, carrying her towards where he tossed the ring. It was just like the courtyards.

He set her down, shyly scratching his head. "I, uh, been working on this since I left. I felt terrible and stupid, and I wanted to make up for it, hoping that you would forgive me."

Feeling so bubbly, she began to experience slyness. "That depends. Well, I might not, considering you threw away my ring." She started to search the stone fountain, which was surrounded by the flower petals and candles that seemed like fireflies. The clear, spell-binding water was cool.

He let out a short laugh. He pulled her up, spinning her gently. "Oh, you never could take a joke, beloved." Seeing her confused and irritated expression, he continued. "That was not a ring; it was a piece of trash. I am sorry, but it was part of my indestructible plan."

"Plan?"

"Yes." Edward placed one hand on her waist, one in her hand. Following his lead, Bella put her hand on his shoulder. As one, they stepped back and forth in a soothing dance.

She pulled herself closer, warm against his chest. "I didn't know you danced," she murmured. The candles shimmered, and Angela emerged from the shadows, singing ever so softly. She winked and smiled reassuringly at the princess. "You set this all up for me—with the other servants?"

His breath fluttered at her neck. "I would do anything for you, no matter what. You are my life now, Bella."

After a while, when stars were their only candle, Edward and Bella headed to the sea, hand in hand. She rested her head on his shoulder, watching the gentle waves lap at their feet. It felt good to feel the sand again in between her toes, as well as Edward's presence.

"You see, my love?" he whispered, "I never forgot you."

"Nor I, Edward." Bella was completely at ease, her heart beating steadily and happily.

He shifted, and she sat back. When he got to his feet, he was…Was he blushing?

Bella went to his side and stretched up to kiss his cheek. "Why do you blush, my prince?" she teased.

Edward grinned. "I am glad you see that. Now, instead of a ring"—when she opened her open to protest, he closed it with a kiss—"yet, my love. I shall get you another ring, just not yet. Now…" He led her back a ways toward one of the boardwalks. He helped her up, so they overlooked the dark, starlit sky and the sandy beach. "Isabella, I really hope you forgive me tonight, and what I am about to show you is what I have worked on every single day I was here. Most of it washes away in the tide, but I fix it. And if it is for you, I do not mind a bit."

Bella, feeling giddy and touched by his flattering words, took both his hands in hers, ignoring the gritty dirt on his. Edward's eyes shone with love and admiration, but there was also grim hope. Was he truly wondering that she would deny his offer? Of course, she, deep down, was still furious with him. But she absolutely could not stay away from those gorgeous green eyes or his messy bronze hair, or the shape of his face. "I promise, I still love you, whatever you do, see, feel….I love you, Edward, and I always will."

He smiled warmly, his eyes glowing. "If you let me back, I can help you with all your troubles, without losing my temper," he promised.

Confused, Bella asked, "Did Jessica tell you?"

He nodded. "Yes, she was—is—worried about you. You always look pale, she says, and your eyes are so distant." He flinched. She placed her smooth and grimy hand on his cheek, relishing the familiar spike. Edward held it there. "I don't like to think of you in pain. It hurts me."

"My heart twisted when Jessica told me of you," she murmured, snuggling close to him.

Edward stroked her back, swallowing hard. "I know. Would you like to see my surprise now?"

Bella stepped away, smiling. "Of course I would."

The mysterious smile he once had finally returned. It overjoyed her to see that. "Then turn around," he whispered.

Bella spun around to experience a heartbreaking scene. Yet, did she have a heart left?

In the sand, just feet away from the gently ocean, were hand-written words. The words? There were several, romantic quotes. Her heart beat faster, but she blinked away tears.

In large, clumsy letters, it said: 'Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind.' And he also added, 'and with the heart.'

'The courses of love never did run smooth.'

'My heart it ever at your service.'

'When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew.'

'My lady, the tide waits for no man, but I swear it would wait for you.'

'You will never age for me, nor fade, nor die.'

After the Shakespeare quotes, just below, was a giant rose.

'A rose must remain with the sun and the rain or its lovely promise won't come true.'

'The sweetest flower that blows, I give you as we part. For you it is a rose, for me it is my heart.'

Bella sniffed, her hand flying to her mouth. This was the best thing that he had done yet! It was better than the proposal, she thought.

However, when she turned to thank him, Edward held a red rose in front of her. "'I give you as we part, a rose, for me it is my heart.' Your lovely promise, my love—Isabella Marie, will you marry me, for real this time?"

A/N: Aw, Edward! That's it, people, Chapter 13! And of course Shakespeare wasn't around at that time and he wasn't that famous, but have an imagination, okay? ;) Still, the quotes belong to their rightful owners (even if they're dead).

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