Chapter Number Fourteen
My heart feels like it's going to burst. Before me, Edward kneels holding out my Grandmother's ring. I'd recognise it anywhere. I stand back against the door still, crying for a whole new reason. The ring is simple, with a statement diamond. It has a halo cut, with small diamonds in the band.
"How can…" I begin.
"Marry me. Make the years of waiting come to an end. Let me take your hand in marriage and do all that I can to make you the best you can be," he smiles, "Please."
"How can we be betrothed? My Father?" I say.
"I guess the King gets the final say," he shrugs, "please don't make me kneel for much longer."
"Yes," I nod crying, "oh god yes. I will."
He laughs with relief and successfully catches me in his arm as he stands.
"I love you," he whispers against my lips, "I want to undress you more than anything right now and show you just how much. But we must go and find your Grandfather and tell him we are betrothed. A moment cannot go to waste."
"Can I have one to go to waste?" I smile pulling his face closer to mine.
"Bel.." he begins.
"I love you," I throw all of the passion and feelings I have into the three little words.
He returns it with as much ferocity with a kiss.
"Congratulations," My grandfather takes my hand, "I am beyond proud of you both. Edward, I am pleased to call you my grandson."
"Thank you, Sire," he bows his head, "We must send word to my Father."
"Of course. I have set a decree that the two of you will be wed in two days time. It gives Carlisle enough time to travel," the king coughs through the sentence.
Edward's arm tightens around me as each one makes me flinch slightly. I kiss his cheek before moving toward my Grandfather on his throne. I kneel before him taking both of his hands.
"This is the greatest gift you've given me," I say teary.
"You're the greatest gift God gave me, Child," he rubs one of my tears away, "the two of you will make for an excellent, long reign. Just do me a favour. When it comes time for a baby don't call it something stupid like Margert."
"That was your sister-in-law's name," I raised an eyebrow.
"Exactly," he coughs through his chuckles.
"I love you," I squeeze his hand. "When I have a child he'll be William. I swear it."
"Oh enough. The two of you run along. Spread the word of your engagement and have a wine on my behalf to celebrate. I believe it's time for me to head to bed," he waves us with his frail, shrivelled hand.
The happiness bubbles between us, running through us, our hands together is the connection. My husband-to-be's hand goes slack before I notice my father's arms crossed, face stern.
"I have never been more outraged in all of my life. You blatantly went against me," Charlie growls, "let go of his hand immediately."
"Please don't speak about my fiance like that, Father," I snap, "Edward has proposed. I have agreed. We are to be wed the day after tomorrow. Be in attendance or don't."
His face turns from white to red.
"You what! You little slut. I will not stand," he growls, "A bastard? For the future Queen. Over my dead body."
"Grandfather has provided us with the permission we needed to follow our hearts. Which lead to one another," I squeeze Edward's hand, "We're going to be married, there will be a banquet after. We hope you can attend."
My father glares. Not at me but Edward. Impressively my prince refuses to back down,
"Sir," Edward begins, "I know your feelings toward me. I understand."
"If you marry my daughter I will murder everyone you ever love," my father moves closer, inches from Edward in an intimidating manner.
"By so you would be murdering your daughter," he challenges.
"And that is something you would live with," my father shoves past us, breaking our hands before storming into the throne room.
"Edward," I say calmly.
"Don't worry. His threat won't stop me," he shakes his head, "we must tell my brother though."
"I've never seen him like that," I hold Rosalie's hand in mine.
Emmett paces the room arms crossed, Edward leans against the doorframe watching us. We had interrupted something. Rose was wrapped in a sheet. Emmett had managed to quickly tug on pants.
"Do you believe there could be truth behind the threat?" He asks me.
"Possibly. I don't believe he'd hurt me." I say.
Rose carefully fiddles with my new ring. She twists it in small movements, moving it back the opposite was once the diamond hits the finger either side.
"The investigations into your brother's death, how are they proceeding?" Emmett asks.
"They've locked away his widowed fiance, Louise. She's to be hanged," I say.
"We need to go speak to her," Emmett says, "perhaps she knows who is behind it. It may have been someone closer to home."
"Like my father," I raise an eyebrow.
"Or Aro. Who knows? For some reason he needs you to marry me," Emmett says, "I bet all of my gold that it's because he needs the connection to my throne so he can take it."
I'd never thought of it that way. I felt rather stupid for not considering that this is what it could all be about.
"Where is she being kept, Bella?" Edward asks.
"I'll take you," I nod, "you might need clothes, Rose. It's cold down there."
"I like her how she is," Emmett smirks at her.
She rolls her eyes laughing.
"I'm not opposed to finishing it while they're here," Rose winks at him.
"I am," Edward grabs Emmett by the shoulder shoving him toward his wardrobe, "get clothes on. Now."
"Just because you're going to be a king too now doesn't mean you can boss me around," Emmett jokes.
The dungeon is cold, dark and dirty. It was a place of the castle I had avoided the entirity of my life.
Louise sat shivering in the back corner, shaking off the little dignity she had left. She wore a lacey, limited nightgown. When she sees me she perks up slightly as if I'm her saving grace.
"Princess," she gasps, "you have to help me."
"Louise. We need to ask you questions. These are my friends Rose and Emmett, This is my fiance, Edward," I gesture to them accordingly, "we need to ask you about Matt's death."
"It was a mistake I should have never agreed," she shook her head.
Slowly I kneel down so I'm sitting on the ground too. The bars the only thing between us.
"Agreed to what?" I ask.
"If I poisoned him I was promised love," she sniffles, "I wanted the stable boy more than anything. So I slipped powder into his drink before he came to bed for sex. When he climbed onto my body he collapsed on top of me dead."
The visual image disturbs me but I press on.
"Who promised you this?" I ask.
"I cannot say," she shakes her head.
"If you tell me I can get you out of this," I point to the bars, "get you back to your stable boy."
"He is dead. Your father murdered him along with my family. Punishment for refusing the first request. Originally I was told to slit his throat during intercourse," she sniffles, "when he found out I didn't do it he killed them. Then told me if I didn't go ahead with it again he would kill me."
My own tears fall with hers.
"He told me if I went through with it he could get me, my stable boy. Chad his name was. He was beautiful. Don't tell anybody but we often snuck away. I pictured him when your brother kissed me. Defiled my body when he was drunk so he could think of another woman," she growls out, "Now I'm going to die anyway because your father can't be. He's consorting with Aro."
That's when I feel my blood run icey.
"Aro?" my mouth runs dry.
"They killed your brother. They were going to kill you," she says, "Marlo had poison too. He was to put it in your food but I guess he didn't. He risked everything."
"Why would they?" I shake my head.
"He's illegitimate," Edward says suddenly.
I look over at him and watch the reality hit his expression like a brick.
"How? That would mean Bella is too," Rosalie shakes her head.
"Was he an only child?" Edward asks me.
"No," I shake my head, "his brother died in the war. I never knew him."
"And your mother?" Emmett asks me.
"She died when I was a baby," I answer.
"He's a bastard," Rosalie smiles as if she'd just found gold.
Emmett kneels beside me and takes my hand in his. We now share a bond in lineage in our family. Just like that.
"That throne is yours," Emmett smiles at me, "We can do this together. Our kingdoms just like one."
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