If it is spring where you are, then Happy Spring! If it isn't, then still enjoy your season ;) Thank you so much for your kind words and for brightening my day with every review/alert you leave! This is going to be short because I have to go out, but it's important for me to say how much I appreciate yall. I also had a nostalgic moment reading through my reviews of LoMPW, and I know I'm going to be doubly sad when this story finishes (don't worry. not yet.). A MASSIVE thanks to SunflowerFran who turns these chapters from coal to diamond. Alright, here it is. Read on!
PART III: SWAN
Chapter 21
Two days pass with Bella avoiding the Cullens.
She uses Tia and Amber to report how they're faring and waits until both are asleep before she heads below deck to check on Seth. He's still unconscious, and every day that he remains in this state, Bella fears that he will never awaken. On the second night, she convinces Amber to steal the injured boy from his place beside Edward, so that Bella can watch over him for the remainder of the journey. It's the only means she has to occupy herself aboard this vessel.
In the early morning of the third day, she paces around the deck with Seth slung across her torso, an arm tucked beneath his back. She uses her other hand to brush back his black hair from his forehead, marveling at the softness of his skin. The chilly night air keeps him cool while the tarp around him keeps him from becoming uncomfortable. She hopes that his health won't decline with the change in temperature. The closer the ship draws to land, the more abrasive the weather becomes, an indication of the snow that drenches the mountains. Though Bella is clothed in the thick cotton from the stable, the cold still manages to seep in. To keep her mind off the cold winds, she begins to sing.
It's the same repertoire of songs she sang to Peter that day in the Volturian dungeon –of friendship and family, and achieving dreams. That moment feels so far away now as she looks out over the sea, where black waters gleam beneath the kiss of the moon's beams, as they lap against the waxed sides of the boat. She can tell they are frigid by the icy droplets of sea spray that serve as substitutes for her tears. She had promised herself to be strong for the journey ahead, and crying would solve nothing.
This doesn't mean she can't indulge in some self-comforts, such as singing. It's been a while since she has sung for her own enjoyment. The songs flow one after the other, cathartically spilling from her lips. Lua perches on one of the ropes suspended from the sails and adds to the songs with a crescendo of chirps. Bella is so involved with her singing that she almost misses the croak of a voice that comes to her ears.
"Seth?" Bella halts her pacing, "Can you hear me?"
Seth murmurs something intelligible, until he finally gets out, "Ouch."
"Tio buo'ne," Bella tells him, "Tio buo'ne. No tio me'la fe di uo'vo."
You're safe; she tells him … you're safe. I won't let anyone hurt you again.
"Water?" he asks.
She walks with him to the middle deck where the kitchen is located and serves out a small portion of water. The supply is low, but she knows he hasn't had a proper helping in a few days. He splutters slightly as he tries to swallow, an indication that the process is painful for him. But gradually, he becomes more aware, a light returning to his eyes that she hadn't been sure she'd again get to witness.
"Seth?" she tries again.
"Miss Bella?" he guesses, "You look odd."
Bella pauses for a moment, expecting more words to come out of his mouth as they usually do. His short sentences are a testament to his weakened state, and she's surprised he'd been able to distinguish her voice.
"Not to insult you," he continues, "Just different. Pretty all the same."
"Always a charmer," Bella chuckles gently as she helps him take another sip, "What is the last thing you remember?"
He greedily swallows more gulps, "I watched the castle fall, and I ran. Someone found me and then … and then …"
He dissolves into tears as memories of his attack resurface. She hates to see him this way, frightened by the violence of the world. She rocks him back and forth, hushing him by repeating over and over again 'tio buo'ne'. He grips her hand as she comforts him, until his hold gradually lessens, and he falls asleep.
"You shouldn't have upset him," Edward's voice sounds from the doorway.
Bella has to prevent herself from jumping, lest she jostles Seth, "What are you doing down here?"
"He was missing," he nods his chin to the sleeping boy, "I came to check on him."
"He's safe with me," Bella assures.
"Is he?"
Bella stands from the table with Seth carefully cradled in her hold but is firm in the way she approaches Edward. She meets his gaze, blackened eyes imploring his green ones. She realizes this is the first time they've had to speak without interruption since their time on the beach.
"Edward," she starts, though she's not sure she still has the privilege of referring to him so intimately.
"Outside of matters concerning our journey, you will not speak to me. And once our voyage concludes, I don't wish to ever speak to you again."
Edward stops her, the stony expression on his face emphasizing his seriousness. "It's the least you can do."
Bella nods in understanding, but cannot stop her eyes from welling. Gone is the anger that he'd unleashed on her on their first day of travel. In its place is cold indifference. He no longer cares about anything related to her unless it pertains to his own safety. She won't challenge him, but she has one last thing to say to him before she follows through with her vow of silence.
"This will be the last thing I say to you," Bella promises, "I'm sorry. For all the lies I told you, for making you believe an image of me that was untrue, and for destroying our friendship, I am truly sorry. But for getting to know you and your beautiful family, for discovering what a true home feels like, and for protecting you from the evil that is my father, I will never apologize. And if I were ever asked to do it all again, I would do so without hesitation."
So that she won't be on the receiving ends of another one of his barbs, she quickly exits the kitchen. She doesn't truly want to sleep, but she can't handle the bout of emotions coursing through her. A pile of tarps provides a place for her to recline, and with Seth cradled in her arms, she falls into slumber. Her dreams are tumultuous. They shift from reenactments of the castle's destruction to her days of being confined to a cage. Finally, she's plagued with the nightmare that had struck her the evening of Charlotte's first, night terror. However, a few adjustments have been made. Edward is no longer standing in the window, but Alec replaces him, the intricate insignia design on his back. She calls out to him, desperately wanting to garner his attention, but her voice cannot be heard over the crashing of the waves. She's finally torn from her dream when a wave sends her sinking beneath the waters. When she wakes, gasping for air, she has to take a moment to collect herself. Afterward, she seeks out Tia to relinquish Seth to her care.
"You look as if you've seen a ghost," Tia comments.
"Just an unsatisfactory nap," Bella sighs.
"I set up a bucket for washing and a basket of winter clothing for you in the lavatory below," she offers, "I can take care of Seth. Have a moment to yourself."
"Thank you, Tia," Bella touches her shoulder fondly, "I won't be long."
In the cramped restroom of the middle deck, Bella catches sight of herself in the mirror. Her appearance is ghastly. Her hair is windswept into an amorphous mass, and her dress has numerous rips. There are several smudges of dirt and blood across her body, and a thick coating of sweat covers her. The red fabric of her dress peels away from the grime of her skin, as she disrobes and reveals herself to the looking glass.
Finally, she feels her back for the rash that had been present merely days ago. It is no longer there, but this doesn't surprise her. She hadn't felt its nagging itch for the past few days and had assumed the inflammation had calmed. It's only when she turns around that shock courses through her. Wing retracted, she studies her reflection.
Something isn't right.
What had once been an insignia concentrated along the stretch of her spine is now an intricate inking branching outward across her back. Her insignia has extended so far across her skin that it now meets the sun on her left shoulder. It's an elaborate design of stars and fire, half suns, and crescent moons. She doesn't know what this means for her and wishes she could ask Alice about her sudden changes.
It hits her that she does have a point of contact to Alice through Seth, but she'll need to wait until he is in better shape. For now, she'll clean herself and make sure not to bring harm to her newly expanded insignia. It would be just her luck if she were to slice her back unknowingly.
She uses half of the bucket of water to work through the mess of her hair and then uses the remaining amount to cleanse her body. Afterward, she tugs on a pair of tights followed by pants with a fur inner lining. Her top is made of multilayered cotton and is paired with a black, wool cape. She leaves her silver tresses in a thick braid to lie against the hood, and slips her feet into a pair of slightly oversized boots. She would never complain about the ill fit of her clothing –this is the most comfortable she's been in the passing days.
When resurfacing from her restroom, she notices the hustle of the crew, and the nearness of land. The mountains are no longer shapeless smudges in the distance but looming masses only minutes away. As she stares at the approaching shore, Seth sidles up to her. She's glad to see him standing, but she knows he's not in any condition to do any strenuous traveling. He's dressed in an oversized coat, and boots that also seem bigger than his size. Thankfully, his pants have been cut and tied to fit his meager frame, and he doesn't appear to be cold. Still, Bella wraps an arm around his shoulder to pull him to her side. She brushes a comforting hand through his hair and over his cheek, brushing away at the tear that lies there.
"Miss Bella?" Seth speaks.
"You may call me Bella," she permits him.
"Bella," he corrects, "I can't contact home."
"Is it not working for you?" she checks.
He shakes his head solemnly.
"It's okay, a'ra," she comforts, "You are very weak. Once you regain your energy, you can try again."
He nods into the crook of her arm, "I miss my family."
"I will bring you home to them," she tells him, "I promise."
~SWAN~
"Stay with us as we find our way into Forxx," Tia begs. The load of crewmen and lunellas pass, disembarking the ship and heading to the convoy of carriages waiting for them. Meanwhile, Edward and Charlotte prepare their horses for the last leg to Lunaria. "The weather is too harsh along the mountains."
"Edward is adamant to go to Lunaria," Bella shakes her head, "We'll be okay. I believe we'll be traveling along the perimeters so that we can avoid any Iris. You needn't worry about us."
"I will be going to Was Inchus before going to Forxx," Tia informs, "When will you join?"
"Until they have more protection, I must go wherever the heirs go," Bella sighs, "But I promised to bring Seth home, so we will meet again."
"I'm holding you to your word," Tia says, "Now turn around so that I can free your wings."
As Tia is cutting slits into her shirt and cape, Amber comes to join the conversation.
"Stay safe, Essa," Amber bids, "Though you are protecting the Cullen heirs, remember that you are also a Princess."
"Of two nations," Tia adds, "We cannot lose you."
Bella draws them into a hug, wrapping her arms around her fellow warriors. She wishes the best for them, pressing a kiss to each of their cheeks before allowing them to head off on their own. Free of the ship, Lua lopes to her side in cat form, vying for Bella's attention. She presses kisses to her cat's forehead, silently thanking her for her companionship. The journey ahead will be trying, and right now, Seth and Lua are the only persons who don't seem to have ill feelings toward her.
"I wasn't sure whether you were still on the ship," Charlotte comments pointedly as Bella draws near to her.
"Yes, I believe that would be hard to tell if you were sleeping for most of the voyage," Bella answers back easily. She has to slap a hand to her mouth as she realizes the snippiness of her reply. It seems now that she isn't in an official subordinate position to Charlotte she's lost the reign on her tongue.
"The horses are ready," Edward speaks. "Come along, Charlotte and Seth."
"Whom will I be riding with, Your Highness?" Seth asks.
"We'll be getting to know each other quite well over this journey," Edward says, "You may call Charlotte and me by our first names."
Bella can't help but smirk at the giddy smile on Seth's face, "You'll be riding with me, a'ra," Bella tells him while ruffling his hair.
They mount their horses the group quickly begins their passage along the mountain. As the horses gallop alongside the sloping land, Bella keeps her wings tucked in, and Seth close to her chest. The terrains quickly become inclined, causing the horses to slow to a trot, and this moderate pace continues until sundown, with limited breaks. Seth drifts off periodically, not having enough strength to remain aware for the stretch of travel. Bella isn't too concerned; it's far better that he's unconscious for most of ride. Charlotte is noticeably agitated from sitting for so long on a horse, and gives a loaded sigh every handful of minutes.
They allow the horses to rest for approximately an hour before continuing again until the darkness prevents them from pressing on. Edward spots a cave in which to set up shelter for the night and unloads a few small blocks of wood he'd taken from the ship to begin a fire. He simply holds his hand in the center of the tinder and ignites his skin to create the heat source. The fire is small, but provides a semblance of heat in the frigid cave.
Once the horses are comfortable, Bella readjusts Seth to snuggle into Lua's side. Noticing that the fur cat would be an extra source of comfort, Charlotte lies along Lua's back, face turned into her coat. Sufficiently heated, Bella removes her black cape and drapes it across the two sleeping youths. Afterward, she leans against the cave wall, head bowed to drawn knees and wings encircling her.
Through her feathers, she peeks at Edward. He's reclined, his head leaning against one of the small rucksacks, his brownish hair dipping across his forehead. His lids undulate as he fights sleep, steadfastly training his gaze on Charlotte and Seth. She can't imagine what thoughts must be coursing through his mind. His parents are missing, his kingdom under siege, and he's unable to trust most around him. Yet, in a sense, Bella can understand his loss. She's had so much experience with it that she's sure, if he would just let her, she could provide him with comfort. Unfortunately, he refuses all contact with her. She hasn't tried to speak with him since their encounter on the ship, and he hasn't attempted either. The indefiniteness of their separation burns her, but she doesn't fight it. She broke his trust, and she needs to work on earning it back. If it is even possible.
The weather picks up in the midnight. The mouth of the cave is sprinkled with snowflakes, and the winds intermittently blast through the covering. Edward has to relight the fire twice and add the remaining blocks of wood on the last attempt. Bella sacrifices her coat from the stable to the shivering youths, as does Edward. She can feel the cold set into her skin, but uses her wings to create a barrier between herself and the elements, and brusquely rubs her hands against her arms. She imagines feeling heated isn't an issue for Edward, who can cover his skin with fire on demand. In this instance, she regrets relinquishing his gift. Despite her coldness, she manages to fall asleep.
Stiff winged, Bella opens herself up to her surroundings the following morning. It's early enough that the others are still sleeping, so she spends some time preening her feathers. Lua joins in, maneuvering through Bella's feathers to pluck out tiny gnats and flies. The sight of Lua feasting on insects causes Bella to shudder, but it also reminds her that it's been a while since they've had a good meal. The rations on the ship were understandably small, and they'd only been able to secure a few rolls of bread and two canteens of water for their journey.
While she's able to ignore her grumbling stomach, Bella is unable to suppress the need to relieve herself. Quietly, she creeps from the cave into the blanket of snow covering the ground. She walks a few feet away, not wanting to stray too far, but also refusing to be caught by anyone in her party with her tights around her ankles. The experience can only be described as unpleasant. Not only does she need to disrobe partially, but also the cold air hitting her most private areas is an uncomfortable sensation. She tries to focus on the biting air against the rest of her skin, instead of her flesh below. By the time she returns to the cave, she's thoroughly numbed all over.
"Where were you?" Edward barks as soon as she reenters, "We're ready to leave."
"I'm here," Bella chatters, not bothering to defend herself to him. "We can head out."
Charlotte moves to her, holding out Bella's two jackets, "You shouldn't have."
"You were cold," Bella answers simply.
It takes another stretch of time to get them all fully situated on their horses. Seth is in more pain than previously, though he tries to keep a brave face. With every major jostle of the horse, he winces, lips pursed and eyes watering. Bella tries her best to shield his body from the brunt of the impact, but there's only so much she can steady him atop the moving animal. To try to distract him from the discomfort, she sings softly.
Hours pass at a steady pace. They take another break an hour away from the city limits to relieve themselves and stretch their legs. The terrain is no longer inclined, and a dim light in the distance signifies the capital. Bella stares at the city, wondering what awaits them at Sir Carlisle's manor. She doesn't trust the man with one ounce of her being, and wouldn't hesitate to end him should he prove traitorous. She's convincing herself to remain civil when the sound of retching catches her attention.
"Seth?" she rushes to the boy who is slumped over on the ground. He clutches his stomach as his body wracks with his heaves.
"I'm not feeling so well," he grumbles before collapsing.
Bella's quick to snake her arm around his body so that he isn't met with the stony ground. Placing a hand on his forehead, she can feel his raging fever. The full winds had masked his temperature, but now that they are stationary, she can feel the intensity of his body heat. She gingerly peels back his bandages to reveal red, streaking marks neighboring his wound, confirming her fears. An infection is ravaging the small boy's system.
"We need to get him to Sir Carlisle's manor," Edward hastens, "He'll have the medication to treat him."
Bella nods, unable to speak. Closing her eyes, she wills her tears away, knowing that she hasn't the time to worry over Seth. The sooner they act, the sooner they can receive medical assistance. They begin the last leg of their journey at an urgent charge, abandoning the extra weight of satchels and pushing their horses forward. Bella clings Seth to her, wrapping her cape around his shoulders to help conserve his heat. Slowing down is out of the question, especially once they arrive at the city limits.
Lunaria is similar to Cullen Isle in many aspects, but everything is on a larger scale. The buildings are taller, the roads are wider, and the residences are teeming with Heidi flowers. Yet, to Bella's great surprise, the street is completely empty, creating an eerie atmosphere. Lights flickering in the sills of windows are the only indication that life is present here. The horses gallop down the cobblestone without interference, guided by Edward. Their hooves are thunderous against the worn surface, the sound amplified due to the absence of activity. The vacated scenery is at odds with what Bella had imagined for the capital. She'd pictured Lunaria as an intensified version of the town back on Cullen Isle. She'd expected bustling persons and numerous shops teeming with bartering vendors; or perhaps an exchange a bit more refined than the bartering she'd witnessed back on the island, but nevertheless the lively interaction of business folk. There would be more diversity in the faces of Lunaria, a greater amount of species and a wider age demographic. Perhaps she'd even see a few wings. All the while, she had opened herself to the possibility that her imaginings could be incorrect, but she hadn't prepared for this … this ghost of a town.
They finally arrive at Sir Carlisle's manor, and another one of Bella's predictions is proven incorrect. Instead of the mansion-like establishment, she'd anticipated, his abode is a modest, two-story home. A black, iron gate stationed by one guard is all that blocks Bella from the man she distrusts, but Seth's condition forces her to push aside her prejudice. She hands Seth to Edward before demounting her horse and approaching the guard, in the event that he poses a threat. Edward and Charlotte remain under their hoods, so as to conceal their identities.
"Buo sera," Bella greets, "We are here for Sir Carlisle."
"Is he expecting you?" the guard asks gruffly.
"Yes," Bella answers without a beat of hesitation.
"I didn't receive word of any guests-,"
Tired with her journey and the current encounter, Bella quickly lays a hand against the guard's cheek. With a startled grunt, he crumbles to the ground, his consciousness quickly leaving him. She then tugs open the large gate to allow the horses through.
She catches Edward's hard glare as he trails past, and can't suppress her eye roll.
"I didn't kill him," she huffs.
A deep groan from the guard is a testament to this as they continue their way up the pathway. At the door, Bella lifts the heavy silver knocker to deliver three raps. Several minutes pass with no answer, so she attempts once more. Finally, after great suspense, the deep, maple wood door creaks open, revealing a hulking man with inky black hair and a contagious smile. His voice is vibratory as he exclaims,
"Your Majesties. Welcome to my humble abode."
"Your abode?" Bella blurts before she can stop herself, "Aren't you one of Sir Carlisle's servants?"
He guffaws jovially, "It certainly feels like it at times."
"No, Bella," Edward corrects her with discomfort, "This is Emmett Masen. Sir Carlisle's son."
~SWAN~
Bella hunches over in a copper tub, allowing the hot water to stew her muscles. She would recline, but she's taking the time to soak her wings, and they take up the majority of space. Lua sits on the ground in cat form, her thoughts directed at Bella with continuous nuisance. Finally, Bella sighs and says,
"Fine, but you had better not enter this tub while in cat form."
In record timing, Lua shifts into a bird and dips into the water. She uses Bella's lap as her birdbath until her owner scoops her into her cupped palms. Bella brings her bird close to her face and places small kisses on her beak. Lua chirps happily in response.
"You do know that our wings are going to take forever to dry, right?" Bella chuckles.
She receives a titter of affirmation.
"It's okay. We deserve this," Bella hums, "I'm so proud of us, lua pao av. Who would have thought that two caged birds could have this much influence?"
It is true, Bella is quite proud of her achievements. There is still the gnawing pain of all that had been lost, but she knows, that thus far, she has succeeded in her mission. She needs this moment to decompress, and after learning that the Masen's were not lacking for tubs, she promptly decided to take a proper bath. Thinking that her feathers had gotten the rinse they needed, she retracts her wings and leans against the tub's back. Within moments, she falls asleep.
Her dream is the same recurring nightmare.
Much like the last one, she's submerged in seawater, carefully pedaling to shore. Alec beckons for her to join him, but despite her tiring efforts to reach the sand, she stays in place in the lapping waves. Her limbs eventually grow weak, until she's sinking in the salt water. Air displaces from her lungs, leaving her chest with an aching with a throb until she finally begins to choke on water. Instead of the cold sea that she had been expecting to fill her lungs, a stream of hot liquid flows into her mouth. It's only as two hands pull at her that Bella wakes, and realizes she has slipped under the water of her bath. Resurfaced, she hacks the bathwater from her lungs, attempting to catch her breath.
"Sh, it's alright, Essa," Rosalie, Emmett's wife, calms as she pounds Bella on her back.
When Bella had first seen Rosalie Masen, she hadn't been able to contain her shock. A gasp had escaped at the sight of the woman completely colored in gold. From the ends of her hair to the curve of her toes, Rosalie is gold, the whiteness of her eyes being her only other-colored feature. Bella had never seen such a decadent appearance before, and she feels utterly embarrassed by the way she is unable to take her eyes away from the woman whenever she is present in the room. Bella would think her to be a siren of some sort, but she'd already learned that Rosalie is a healer, much like the Ateara twins. She'd been the one to tend to Seth, waddling around the house hurriedly with her bulging, pregnant stomach. Even now, she has to hold a hand beneath her belly as she leans over and soothes Bella. She helps the heavily breathing girl out of the tub and assists her to the room. It's only as Bella is wrapping a towel around herself that a thought occurs to her.
"You are a lunella," Bella states.
Rosalie simply turns so that she can point out the addition to her moon insignia. The three, almost unnoticeable circles indicate that she is indeed an alliance to the guardians.
"As is Emmett and Carlisle," Rosalie adds.
Bella is unable to hide her initial scowl, and it catches Rosalie's attention.
"This displeases you?" Rosalie asks.
"Sir Carlisle and I are not the greatest of acquaintances," Bella admits.
Rosalie raises a brow, and replies in a way that informs Bella that no slander about the head of this house will be tolerated, "He is an honorable man."
They exchange few words as Bella dresses herself. She borrows one of Rosalie's old nightgowns and is permitted to create holes in the back for her wings. Rosalie seems to find amusement in Bella's struggle to fit her appendages through the holes, as she doesn't offer a hand and giggles as she observes. When the task is finally over, she leads Bella to where Seth is laying in a guest room. His sickly pallor has bettered infinitesimally, but even so, Bella is relieved. She tenderly brushes back the locks stuck to his forehead, studying his boyish features until Rosalie speaks to her.
"You care deeply for him," Rosalie comments as she eases herself into a rocking chair.
"His is just a boy," Bella murmurs, "He worked to provide funds for his family. He's so kind-spirited. This should not have happened to him."
"It should not have," she agrees, "but even so, you didn't have to bring him with you."
"I imagine the only kind of person who would leave a child to die is the same sort that harmed him," Bella surmises.
"It is war," Rosalie answers back, "If it were to mean choosing between the lives of the heirs or his, many would view you as justified in sacrificing him."
"Are you saying that I should have left him?" Bella asks, tempering her anger at even the thought of leaving a defenseless child to die.
"I'm trying to learn who you are as a leader, Essa," Rosalie shares.
"And what have you learned thus far?" Bella prompts.
"That I am not to underestimate you," she concludes, "This being said, the boy is extremely weak so he cannot endure the same vigorous journey as he did before. He'll need at least another week before he can again travel. If he is without proper facilities, he will succumb to his infection."
"But if he rests, will he heal?" Bella asks.
Rosalie nods, "I have no reason to believe otherwise."
"Then we will stay until he heals," Bella settles, "Until Sir Carlisle returns."
"Has Prince Edward not informed you?" Rosalie cocks her head in confusion, "Sir Carlisle is not returning. We are to meet him in Forxx."
For all the vindication that Bella should feel, she's only filled with frustration and anger. Their journey would have been considerably progressed had they not detoured to Lunaria, and followed Edward's stubborn word. However, it still stands that Seth might not have survived the journey, and this thought helps to temper her anger. Still, her response is rather curt,
"Edward and I are not on speaking terms."
"Lover's quarrel?" Rosalie guesses.
"We're not … the two of us have never," Bella splutters.
"Regardless of whether you've lain together, I can see the looks you two exchange," Rosalie waves her hand in dismissal of Bella's defense, "You do not react that passionately to someone you've no inclination toward."
"It's of no consequence," Bella insists, "Anything that might have transpired between us is for naught, so there's no use in discussing it. I'd rather know why Sir Carlisle has gone to Forxx."
"He has family there that he wishes to coordinate with," Rosalie informs her, "After the attack, he predicted that the Cullens would seek his sanctuary, so he left Emmett and me to receive them. He and Mistress Masen left only a few days ago."
"Mistress Masen?" Bella asks dumbly. She supposes she shouldn't find it surprising for Sir Carlisle to be in a relationship given Emmett's existence, but Bella has trouble ascribing any personal aspects to a man as frigid as him.
"The heart of this house," Rosalie hums contentedly. Bella can tell by the softness of her voice that she is drifting to sleep, but she has a final question.
"Don't you worry for them? For all of us for that matter …" Bella asks, "The journey to Forxx is four days' time through unrefined paths. Anything could happen in this time."
"Both Sir Carlisle and Emmett are gifted with combat –they are rather sturdy protectors," Rosalie yawns, "Even so, we will never truly be safe, Essa. Not even here in Lunaria … not until this war is over."
Her soft snores indicate that she's entered her slumber, leaving Bella to sink into her distressed thoughts. She had known that their traveling wouldn't be safe –getting to Lunaria had been a dangerous venture as well. But for some reason, the unpredictable paths leading to Forxx have her heart beating that much quicker in her chest.
There are no assurances that they will all reach her destination, no matter Emmett's prowess or her guardian capabilities. All she can promise as she looks to the tranquil faces of the persons around her is that she will fight as hard as she can to protect them.
They will get to Forxx.
Even if it kills her.
Terminology
Tio buo'ne –You are safe [Forxian]
No tio me'la fe di uo'vo. -I won't let anyone hurt you again [Forxian]
A'ra –dear/honey/term of endearment [Forxian]
"To have faith is to trust yourself to the water. When you swim you don't grab hold of the water, because if you do you will sink and drown. Instead you relax, and float." ~Alan Watts