Final Statement

After the Kings death, Lords, Ladies, Noblemen and Royalty flocked to the palace. All were mourning his death. They were all given rooms, encroaching on Princess Isabella's space and peace. She had returned to the palace two days after the King's passing but the babe had remained in her father's home. She did not want the disturbance to affect her child.

Despite needing rest herself, she had a duty to host their guests and have them settled into the palace. Being kept on her feet most of the day, she slept well at night. Her husband saw her just once in five days. There was no time for them to meet and they could do little to change that.

A week had passed and it was just three days from the babe's ceremony. And then Princess Isabella and Prince Edward would be crowned King and Queen two weeks later. And then the King's funeral would be three weeks after that. But first would be the reading of the King's will and final statement. Bella, Edward and the widowed Queen Esme were gathered in the Queen's chambers. The land's Chancellor held the document that had been scribed on behalf of the King before his weak signature was scribbled at the bottom.

"The King ordered for the documentation of his final wishes. I shall not read its' entirety as it is very simple to understand. He knew of the birth of the Princess. He wishes he could have had the opportunity to meet his granddaughter but regrets not being given the time. The babe Princess is to marry whomever she wishes when she is of age, per request of the late King Carlisle. It is his late command."

Queen Esme had tears trailing down her face. She sat on her lounger, pulling her black veil over her face. Prince Edward took his seat beside her and wrapped her arm around her back. She collapsed into his side, sobbing quietly.

"Shall I continue?"

"Yes. Continue."

"The King wanted his wife, Queen Esme, to have his personal belongs. He wished for Princess Isabella to have her mother's garden along with his library."

The Princess turned to the Chancellor, a surprised look over her face.

"Did I miss hear you? I believe you said that King Carlisle left me his library."

"Yes Princess. I cannot tell you why but that is what he wished for. I'm certain he had his reasons."

"Of course. Everything he did was right by the land. Please, continue."

The Chancellor bowed his head to the Princess as she next to her husband.

"All other articles under King Carlisle's name are to be turned over to his son, Prince Edward when he is crowned King. His chambers will become the Prince Edward's if he wishes so…"

"No. No. They will remain his."

"Certainly your highness. Perhaps now is the best time to read his last words."

He waited for a response but none came. Bella looked at her husband and mother figure, whom had both fallen apart and nodded her head. The Chancellor cleared his throat.

"Tis not the way I imagined my passing; not during the celebrations of my first grandchild. My Son, Edward, I know you will disappointed in me. You were so excited for me to meet your beautiful daughter and I failed you. However much you may not want to listen to me, you must stay strong: for the land, the people, your mother, your wife and your daughter. Be a better King than I ever was, if not for yourself then for Isabella. She will be a fine Queen, just as your mother has been. My wife, my queen, I know you feared the worst for my health when I first fell ill last November. The only reason I continued on was for you my love. But I could not hold on any longer. Forgive me for leaving you in such a way. I love you and I always will, but I want you to be happy and you must do what you must to live again. I shall see you again one day, but not yet. There is more for you to do on the Earth. Goodbye my love. Isabella, you might not be expecting to hear my words directed at you, however, I feel implored to voice my apologies once again. Your father and yourself never should have been torn from the palace. That was my fault and I cannot apologise enough. Take care of my family; they will need someone to keep them strong. The people love you and will support you as their queen. Raise my granddaughter and give her what she wishes. I know that my wife always wished for a daughter herself but we were not blessed with such. Love your daughter with all you can because one day, she will grow up and start a family of their own. I watched you do that Isabella. Take care of my Son. I love you all and wish for you all to carry on as if nothing has changed. Goodbye my family."

The Chancellor rolled the paper up and tied the scroll together. He bowed to the Royals before leaving the room. The loss of the king would always be present in the land. But over time the pain in the family would lessen.

Bella left the room and returned to her chambers. She needed to rest. Her emotions were not in control and she had to tend to their guests in just a few hours' time. She kept to herself, quietly speaking with her lady maids. She did not see the Queen or her husband for the rest of the day.

After the King's funeral, the people in the land begin to cheer. They loved King Carlisle, but they did not like some of the laws he had imposed. They hoped that the young Prince Edward and Princess Isabella would be more lenient and kind as their new King and Queen.

Edward had become rather cold. He had spent much of his time alone. He briefly saw his wife during dinner but he had not seen their babe once. Court meetings were held as he stepped into the role of King; not yet being crowned. He didn't notice how upsetting it was for his wife. She knew he was struggling and trying to cope with the death of his father but she wanted to be there for him. She wanted to bring him joy and happiness.

Taking time away from her guests, she called upon her husband's chambers. After knocking she didn't wait for a response but marched straight in. Prince Edward was stood at his dining table with the land's chancellor and three of his Camrillas sat around a map and official documents. He looked angry at the intrusion.

"I wish to speak to you."

"I am busy at the moment. I'll try to find time later."

"Find time now Edward."

"Can you not see I'm busy?"

"You have been busy ever since the reading of your father's will. Have you even thought of our child? Do you not care for her?"

He could see the resilience in her eyes. It was something he loved about her. Dismissing his courtiers, he waited for the door to close before facing his wife.

"Of course I love my child."

"Our child."

"You should never ask me such a thing."

"Then why do you not see her? I understand that you are grieving the death of your father, but you are a father and husband yourself. You must be a part of our daughter's life or I will take her away from here. You chose me as your wife. Remember that. I did not ask you to make me your wife, I did throw myself at you. I did not want to be noticed at your ball but you still saw me. I have no intentions of remaining here if you are not going to love me the way you vowed to me."

"You cannot leave here. You are my wife Isabella. You have a duty to me and the land. You cannot walk out on that."

"Then you had better love me again, or at least pretend to. I have given two choices. I am going to be in my chambers with our daughter for the rest of the afternoon. If you have not made your decision by morning, I will be leaving with our child just before noon tomorrow."

"Where will you go?"

"Anywhere that I can love my daughter."

With that she turned on her heel and left. She did as she had said and sat in her chambers for the rest of the afternoon with the royal babe. Her husband did not visit. It appeared that the end of what was supposed to be a long lasting, happy marriage was coming. Princess Isabella knew that her happily ever after was too good to be true.

When she woke in the morning she was told of her husband's request at a visit after breakfast. She had to face him before leaving so agreed. Asking some of her lady maids to pack a bag for herself and one for the babe. They were confused as to what her intentions were. But they did as she asked.

Sitting in her drawing room, Angela poured her a cup of tea and stood in the corner of the room. When the babe was brought to the room, she scooped her into her arms and passed carefully into the Princess' arms. She fawned over her babe as she waited for her estranged husband.

"Princess, the Prince is ready to speak with you. Shall I bring him in?"

"Of course. And send for the nursemaid. I wish to speak to the Prince alone."

"Certainly Princess."

Angela curtseyed and pursed her lips. She had seen the way the Prince had been treating the Princess in recent weeks. She did not like it and feared that the Princess would be leaving.

The Prince took a seat across from his wife and had a cup of tea poured for him. The babe was carried from the room without even going near the Prince. He looked upset when he realised what was happening. Angela and Benjamin were asked to stand outside and keep a respectful distance.

Neither Bella nor Edward spoke for a few moments after the door was closed. They looked at each other and Bella sipped at her tea. Bella was not looking forward to their conversation. Edward hoped he would be able to resolve the situation they found themselves in.

"I do not want you to leave. You are my wife Bella. And you have given me a beautiful daughter."

"What are you going to do to stop me leaving?"

"I will spend more time with you and our daughter. Every day I will give you at least an hour of my time. We shall eat meals together. Perhaps you may even allow me into your chambers again."

"That sounds like a good start however I have decided that I will be returning to my father's house with our daughter until the King's funeral. I will welcome any visits you may wish to have and allow you to stay the night if that is what you desire."

"Thank you for not leaving. I will remind you of the love I hold for you. You must be patient with me for I do not know what to do any longer. I have no guidance from my father. Much is expected off me and I cannot think of how else I am supposed to show my love for you than what I already have."

"Perhaps you should remind yourself of the reason you chose me as your wife."

"We shall have a picnic for lunch. We can go for a ride through the forest together. I will ensure that we are alone."

Kneeling before his wife, he took both her hands in his.

"I am very much in love with you Bella. Do not doubt that. And I cannot express quite how much I love our daughter. Please, never take my coldness as hated or dislike towards you or our child. I no longer have my father to depend on. I must be King, a leader, a husband and a father all in the same moment."

"Not when you are with me. Right now, you only need to be my husband. I do not care for your title or power. I just want you to love me."

"You have to remind me of that. I just get it into my head that I must be a leader at all times. Now that my father is gone, I have to be a King that the people respect just as much as they did him."

"The people love you. If you love them then they will support and respect you. I was one of them remember. Do what is best by them and you will be a better King than your father. Some of the laws he made went by financial support, not the way of the people. You can make that right."

"Does that mean you still love me?"

"Yes. Of course I still love you. I never stopped loving you. I just lost you for a few weeks."

She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. They walked arm in arm to the carriage that had been prepared for the Princess and babe. Prince Edward held out his hand and helped her into the carriage. He turned around to the nursemaid with their daughter in arms. Cupping the babe to his chest, he climbed into the carriage beside his wife.

Once the babe was settled in the Swan household Edward took his wife on a short horse ride in the nearby forest. They reached the picnic that had been laid out. Lying together, he fed her the little sandwiches and fruit pieces before rolling over her.

"I love you Princess Isabella."

"As I love you Prince Edward."

She cupped his cheek as his hands held her small waist. Looking through her eyelashes up at him, she led his hand onto her now flat stomach.

"Why don't we try for another babe? A boy perhaps?"

He looked shocked. His body froze, his eyes searching hers.

"You want… you want another babe? Are you sure? It is so soon since our first was born."

"This is what I want. I love our daughter and the happiness she brought you when I birthed her, I want you to experience that again. Another babe would bring more joy to the land and to me. And making a child with you again will be beautiful."

His fingers shifted down her legs and began pulling her skirt up.

"Then perhaps we should start now. What better time? We are alone after all."

She moaned softly and pressed her lips together. He removed her undergarments slowly and undid his pants. Loosening the front of her dress, he ran his lips over the soft skin of her breast. Rubbing her thighs, he sheathed himself deep into her. They both moaned loudly. It had been so long since they had been together. He brought his lips up to hers as he made love to her.

When they both finished Bella lay her head on Edward's stomach. She stared into her husband's eyes loving the moment.

"We shall do this again tomorrow my wife."

"I can't wait. But I do wish to return to our babe. She did not sleep well last night and I worry about her."

"She is not sick is she?"

"I do not believe so. The nursemaid said that she was hungry. I have many of my lady maids watching over her. Any sign of sickness and the will tell me and alert the physician immediately."

"You will tell me, will you not?"

"Of course."

They tidied their clothes and rode back through the forest. Their relationship was growing stronger. It was only a matter of time before everything was back to normal.