Don't get used to me updating this fast, I only got this one up now because those reviews for the last chapter tugged at my heartstrings. (I was going to make you wait for this one) Anyways this chapter is a bit shorter now than I had intended because of that but here you go anyway…

Edward's PoV

Watching the sword come swinging down towards Jasper's throat was the worst thing I had ever witnessed. And Royce was about to make it worse.

He brought the blade arching down until the razor sharp edge nicked into Jasper's skin but he stopped it there, holding it steady with icy firmness. I tiny trickle of blood flowed down the prince's neck where the very point of the blade had cut his skin. He didn't seem to be breathing.

What the hell was Royce doing? Was this just his tactic if drawing it out making it more torturous for Jasper and the onlookers? He was an even worse kind of bastard than I had thought.

He turned slowly and his glittering, cunning eyes fell on me.

"Edward, if you'd care to do the honours." He hissed silkily, indicating towards Jasper with his free hand. My heart froze. Oh god no, I couldn't. Royce obviously hadn't forgiven me for letting Rosalie slip away under my nose. And this was how he would seek his vengeance.

I shook my head jerkily. I could just about stand to watch Jasper be killed in front of me but no way could I do it myself. Dear god, I had liked him! And I couldn't do that to my Bella.

"If you don't," Royce responded, his voice weighted down with malevolence, "I shall have you executed next just like your friend here."

Trapped. He had me trapped. My mind searched frantically for some escape, some loophole out of the snare he had laid about me, unbeknownst to myself. I couldn't see any. It was a choice of either kill or be killed. I glanced up again at the city walls I had been watching earlier. Bella wasn't there but I could remember with acute perception Bella's face from yesterday as she had watched me fight. It had given me renewed hope. Could I bring myself to turn away from it now? If I did refuse what would it achieve. My death certainly. And it wouldn't save Jasper's either. He would just be executed by another hand.

The selfish option was presenting itself more and more positively in my mind. At least this way I could make it brief, painless hopefully for Jasper. I would live and be able to protect Bella if the Forksians lost.

I drew my sword.

Royce looked a little disappointed for a moment but soon brightened as he glanced back up to Jasper's family. The sadistic bastard.

I moved till I stood beside the man who I knew I would have become friends with under different circumstances. This really wasn't fair.

"I'm so sorry, Jasper." I whispered under my breath. He nodded tensely.

"Do me one favour." He murmured back. "If we lose, look after Alice. Just keep her safe as well as Bella, ok?" He sounded so desperate.

"Of course," I assured him. That was the least I could do.

Bella's PoV

Please god, don't let me be too late. Please, don't let it be too late. My heart was beating painfully hard in my chest. If I had failed her… No! It was going to be ok; I had to be in time.

My wretched bowstring had been frayed. I had sprinted through the castle in search of a replacement. I couldn't use another bow, only mine would do. There was a stitch in my side and my breath was coming so hard now I was gasping but I didn't slow down. I was Jasper's only chance; if I failed I would never be able to live with myself. I probably wouldn't have to; Alice would literally murder me.

My feet clattered up the steps. I threw myself frantically to the top. My gaze wildly scanned the scene below. There was blood on Jasper's throat but he was still alive. Not for long though if I didn't act now. A soldier was raising the sword just as I pulled my bow up to eye level.

Then I faltered as I saw who the soldier was. Edward. The arrow slipped from my numb fingers. Anyone but Edward. Panicked tears were rolling down my face now but I was barely conscious of them. I shakily pulled another arrow out. I had only seconds.

I had to do it. No one else could shoot as far as I could; to everyone else they were out of range. But could I risk Edward's life for Jasper's. At the very least I would have to maim him to save Jasper.

A moan escaped my frozen lips. I pulled the string back to my ear, took the best aim I could and shot a lethally sharp arrow at the love of my life.

Emmett's PoV

My heart couldn't take much more of this. Edward was bringing the sword swooping down now to truly kill my brother this time. I wanted to close my eyes but I felt frozen, all I could feel was Rose clutching my arm as she sobbed.

Then my ears were assaulted by the most terrible anguished scream that I had ever heard, it sounded like Bella. But I still did not dare to look away.

An arrow flew out from somewhere to my right and curved gracefully through the air. I gaped as it buried itself in Edward's left shoulder causing him to drop the sword. Suddenly I understood Bella's anguish, only she could shoot like that. Jasper, ever the opportunist, took immediate advantage of the situation and kicked Edward's legs out from under him. With another lightning fast kick he had knocked Edward unconscious before he even knew what had happened to him.

I panicked momentarily as the Angelians seemed about to stream forward and slaughter my brother. But the shocks kept coming.

Arrows were raining out from the cover of the nearby trees, concealing unknown numbers of pro-Forks warriors. What the hell was going on? Who were these archers and where had they been in the previous battle?

The Angelians were spooked. They were routed. They turned tail and fled from the unknown threat in the trees.

I had had enough of watching. I turned and raced for the stairs. Alice was already ahead of me, other soldiers following. She had thrown her cloak off now and I could see she had been armed beneath me. It finally dawned on me: this had been Alice's plan. The diabolical little genius! I felt like kissing her, but I would leave that for Jasper.

We burst out of the gates together. The Angelians had already fled out of sight. Damned cowards, they were going to spoil my fun. As I sprinted over to my brother, Alice still ahead of me, I saw two young men emerge from the trees and jog over to Jasper. One of them instantly moved to cut away the bonds on Jasper's wrists. Both men had bows, had this really only been the work of two men?

Alice raced like a little black blur over to Jasper and threw herself into his arms. He lifted her clean off her feet, crushing her against him. He lowered his face to her hair. Even I was moved by the sight.

I finally drew level with them. I drew my sword warily as I eyed up the two men, I wasn't about to drop my guard now. They were both tall and well built. They also both had russet coloured skin and black hair. If they were working with Alice where the hell did she get them?

One of them held up his hands soothingly, taking in my hostile stance. "It's ok, we're just here to give aid to our princess, we mean no harm." Princess? Did he mean Alice?

Jasper raised his head slightly now to look at his rescuers. Information from Alice still seemed to not be forthcoming.

"I'm Jacob," the man continued, "and this is Sam. We are distantly related to the princess's birth family. She came to us last night asking for our help. We would have acted sooner but we couldn't risk hitting the prince," his eyes flickered to Jasper and back to me, "so we agreed to wait until the princess's archer took out the executioner. I thought they were going to be too late."

"So did I," Jasper put in. Alice sobbed quietly into his shoulder and he kissed her on the top of her newly short hair, rubbing her back soothingly.

"I don't know what happened," Alice moaned distraughtly, "Bella should have been there earlier. You were nearly killed and it would have been all my fault." She dissolved into tears again. Jasper just shook his head and kissed her again, on the lips this time.

I nodded then, accepting what Jacob had said. Then I turned to the unconscious Edward. "What are we going to do with him?" I asked darkly, poking him with the toe of my boot. Blood had congealed on his head where Jasper had kicked him.

Jacob and Sam shrugged. "Kill him." Jacob suggested. I looked at my brother. Jasper was silent a second before he answered.

"I don't want him killed. He didn't want to kill me and tried everything he could to spare my life, it was more than I would have done for him and I think that shows his character. Lets bring him back with us, he can be our prisoner for now until we know what to do with him."

"Bella would never forgive you if you had him killed." Alice added quietly.

I nodded again. It seemed fair.

"Will you return with us?" I asked the two men. They shook their heads.

"We have to go back to our own people now that we have served the princess." Sam answered.

"Good luck with the rest of the war," Jacob added cheerfully before both boys turned and slunk back into the trees. I shook my head at that last comment. Earlier I had thought we needed a bit of luck and now it seemed to be coming our way.

I met Jasper's eyes again. "Is it just me or does it seem to you too that victory might be in our hands before we know it." Alice groaned in response to my tone. Jasper frowned.

"I'm going to wait until we've won before I celebrate." He said darkly.

"Admit it though, you think we're going to win this too," I persisted. Jasper rolled his eyes and scooped his little wife easily up into his arms; she still looked like she was incapable of letting go of his neck. I turned and grabbed Edward's lifeless form. I heaved it up over my shoulders.

"I wonder what you're going to say when you wake up in one of our cells." I muttered darkly to the unconscious man, "whatever it is I wouldn't expect a warm welcome at any rate."

Did you really think I was capable of killing Jasper?

Anyone want to guess what is going to happen now and what is going to be said back up in the palace?

Do you think any of this deserves reviews…