Author's Note: Hey guys! Guess what? I just finished the epilogue of this story! YAY! So that means I know EXACTLY where I am going with this. But how to get there...that is the question:D

No, I'm just kidding. I know what I'm gonna do. So you just sit back and enjoy, cause here comes chapter 19!

My breath caught as suddenly, in the thick, heavy arms of the pirate, a glinting sword shot out inches away from my cheek. It was beautifully made, like it was welded by the craftiest blacksmith in the world, with the silver of its blades shining in the moonlight, reflecting the pale white of the moon onto my face. My eyes traveled appreciatively up the sword to its plain gold handle, engraved with writing in a language I couldn't make out. It looked latin, or maybe Greek.

And there, the most beautiful thing was at the end of the sword.

Edward.

I had never in my life thought that I would be so relieved to see any human being as much as I did now. It was like my frantic, fluttering heart in all of its nervousness suddenly quieted, content and satisfied to the almost-fullest degree. I felt the urge to smile, but caught myself in the seriousness of the situation.

The pirate grinned drunkenly, his foul breath going onto my cheek as he hugged me closer. "Oh yeah boy? What ya goin' to do about it?"

I winced as he kissed my cheek, his hold on me tighter than any corset would ever go.

Edward narrowed his eyes at two things. One, for sure, the obvious anger at this revolting man squeezing me to him as if it were to save his own life, and secondly, the idea of being underestimated and basically insulted-something that the pirate would surely pay for, if nothing else. Edward was a man of great dignity-what I've learned in the unfortunately short time, if nothing else, that I've known him. And to be insulted by this drunken disgrace of a pirate would certainly not be stood for. He frowned. "I said that I would let her go if I were you."

The pirate was beginning to get angrier with his whiskey, and looked at Edward with amused, harsh eyes. "Is that so? Well, let's see what the pretty little whore thinks about this!"

I narrowed my eyes and spat on him, his black scuffed boots the main target.

But, to my dissapointment, he just laughed-a hardy, deep laugh. "Well then!" Then, he leaned close to me and whispered, drawling out his words. "Listen to me, my whore, and let me show you what a real man feels like. I can guaruntee you that it will be much better than some pretty, coward of a-"

But he didn't get to finish the insult that was so clearly meant for Edward, because I suddenly found myself whirling out of his arms and into Edward's. Simultaneously, the beautiful sword flung to the pirate's neck, barely even an inch away. I just bet he could feel the cold metal radiating onto his neck, showing how, in a split second, he could die with one flick of that blade. I shivered.

This all happened in less than a second, so fast that it was just one blur. Like that and Edward was, yet again, in control of the situation.

Now, since I had met him, it seemed that it always came to this exact moment, where I had thought that I knew exactly what would happen, before Edward would come and twist it all his way, in a way I couldn't comprehend.

"Now, monsieur, I will back away, with the girl, and you will not come into these waters again."

The pirate gulped.

"I repeat, you will not come to these waters again. Do you understand?"

He nodded, and started to back away, as he hoped, inconspicuously. Edward pretended not to notice as he turned, with me still in his arms, away, into a more secluded part of the clearing that we had backed away from. He cautiously put the sword back into its hold, hidden under the long grey coat he wore.

There was another one of those silences. This one was not uncomfortable, though. I was unusually happy and cheery, feeling like skipping around. I was grinning, letting out a few giggles now and then.

Finally, Edward looked at me. "Why in the world are you so happy right now?"

I imediately dropped the foolish, barbaric grin I was wearing. "Why shouldn't I be?"

He wore an incredulous look on his face. "I just had to rescue you from a near death experience! You don't even look the least bit shaken!"

"Happens all the time."

"Please tell me your joking."

I grinned again, confirming that, indeed, he wasn't all that angry with me. "Nope. I have things like that happen to me on a daily basis. You just haven't seen it because I've been living in that castle with all those guards and supervisors. They are the only things that keep me from serious problems." I hesitated in what I was saying next, choosing my words carefully. "Well...and you, of course."

Edward stared off into the distance, just whispering, "Of course."

We walked for a while, just listening to the sounds of the festivities. My mind was racing, full of things I wanted to ask him. How could he have known that I was in trouble? And why did he seem so different than the others? How could he have gotten a hold of me so fast, and how did he always seem to know the right things to say? And the carriage incident-how could he have possibly been there so fast to save me in time?

And then, almost as if reading my mind, he cleared his throat.

"Well, Bella, I suppose you have a few questions."

Author's Note #2: Okay, I know it was a short chapter, but I hope it was a good one. Barely had any time to write for you guys, but I wanted to get in at least one thing before I went on another unfortunate spree of being unable to write.

Thanks for the reviews, love you all so much!

Bella