Chapter 25

"I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep;

I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion."

~Alexander the Great

JASPER

March 29th 1608

Edward the Lionheart. That is what the men have taken to calling him ever since our first battle but never had it been truer then now. Watching him lead, us into battle was almost spiritual. Anyone that stood in his way was hacked down, he fought as though his soul was on fire. His eyes no longer even seemed human to me, simply pits of fire and rage.

He had written dozens of letters to his queen and with each day he didn't get an answer the French paid the price in blood. King Phillip from wherever he was hiding must have felt the change in Edward. He had lost all but one of his sons. An offer of peace was given spent weeks ago, but Edward would not have it. He didn't want French land or gold. He wanted the King Phillip to step down from the throne and until he did his country would burn down to the ground. Part of me, the countryman, the soldier, hoped Isabella's letter did not come until after Phillip dethroned. But the cousin part of me hoped Edward would find peace soon rather than later.

"They say he is behind those walls." Carlisle rode over beside Edward. He stared out at the walled citied not saying a word for a moment. With a swift kick my horse took me beside him as well.

"Sire." I called to him.

"What family will take over after Phillip?" He asked me.

"The house of Bourbon." I replied.

Nodding, he turned back to the men; "By dawn this shall end! Ride brothers. Ride with me!"

The king of France would meet his eternal rest eve…Edward would make sure of that.

ALICE

March 29th 1608

"Have you received word?" Esme asked me once more as she paced in front of the fireplace.

Placing my card down in front of Rose I shook my head.

"No Esme, if I have I would have told you immediately."

"I wish you had shown me that courtesy when she had lost the babe!" She snapped at me and by now I was used to it.

"Lady Esme you can hardly blame Alice. Who would have thought she would have despaired so quickly after going through such an ordeal." Rose frowned as she laid her card.

"One of the many things which leaves me so frightened." Esme whispered finally taking a seat beside me. "To leave in such a state? Her condition could have worsened and for all we know she could be ill."

"Was the letter from Charlie not good enough?" I asked them. Thankfully Bella had Charlie detailing her arrival in Devonshire, and her admit wish not to be called upon by anyone… If she was truly was Devonshire only God knows.

"We could she not write the letter herself?" Esme wondered. She would never let this go. "I understand her grief more than anyone. Had she spoken to me, I am sure she would have recovered."

"Not everyone is as strong as you Esme." Rose took her hand squeezing it. I'm not sure why, but every since Bella fled I have found myself judging everyone around me. Rose and Esme included.

Esme smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "The people feel as though she has deserted them. They know she wishes to grieve, but a queen can only mourn for so long, especially for a child that had not lived. She needs to inspire them. You have done a fine job Rose of keeping the people at bay."

"I only wish to help Emmett. You would not believe how much he worries. To not only fill his brother's shoes, but the feelings of sadness at failing to protect the queen from her disappear."

"Edward will soon return and I'm sure Isabella will be in better spirits." I smiled. Heavenly father for the sake of this country, please let this war end.

EDWARD

March 29th 1608

Fire. It spread as though it was alive, burning everything in sight as I rode through the city. The men around me cut down all that stood in their way, but I did not stop. I rode right into the great house, unleashing my sword before jumping down.

"Qui va là?" Guards yelled, but I didn't even bother answering their questions. Cutting them down was easy enough.

"Die." A guard yelled behind me falling to my knees, I pierced his stomach sending him down.

"Not today." I replied, pulling my stomach.

Marching down the hall everything seemed to blur together just like it did when I was on the battlefield. I no longer moved on my accord it was as if forces beyond me pushed me forward, fire or no fire, warrior or no warrior, I would cut down any and everything in my way moving further until the I came to the doors. Kicking it down there he stood sword in one hand and drink in the other. His queen lifeless on the ground, her daughter in arms.

"I rather them die at my hands than at yours or your filthy people."

Gripping my sword tighter, I glared at their bodies before meeting his gaze.

"Your hubris knows no bounds! It was only you I wanted it. They were to live out their lives in a nunnery."

"Do not raise your head at me boy, how many did you slaughter to reach me?"

"The blood that was spilt was at your hands Phillip! Cast not your sins upon my shoulders! What I am you have made so and as such I have lost much. This is what you wished for, was it not? You wished for England and here I. Come oh mighty king and take what it is you have desired."

"You mock me!" He yelled, rushing me, his movements slow and sloppy, I simply moved hitting the side of his face with the hilt of my sword. Again, I he swung and again, he missed, allowing me to cut his arm almost clearly off. When he aims to hit me he tripped once more on his own goblet.

"Rise King, I will not allow a cup to steal my victory." I said with my sword at his throat but he didn't move.

"Do it." He said.

Gripping him by the back of his neck, I leaned in closer; "You were not, nor ever would be fit to rule my people."

I watched as his eyes widened right before pushed forward.

"This… (gasp) is….not (gasp)….over."

Pulling back, I looked down at him; "For you Phillip it is."

"Edward!" Carlisle yelled as he and the rest of my men came closer. I said nothing to them walking away. This war was over and I had more important matters to attend to.

EDWARD

April 30th 1608

"Never have I been so pleased to be back on English soil." Jasper snickered beside me as our ships arrived at port.

"Even the air smells better." I gave him a half smile towards the people gathered. Waving to them all.

"We should less then a hours ride into court…the people allows that far." Carlisle said waving below as well.

Moving around them stepping down the stairs their cheers almost threw me over aboard…but the one person I wished to greet me was not there…nor should she be. But, I feared getting to the castle and not seeing her.

"Halt, who goes there!" one of my guards yelled at the horse approaching us quickly. My heart skipped quickly and the hood of a woman as she came closer and closer.

"I said halt who goes there!"

"Sire!" She screamed before jumping from the horse.

"Alice?" Jasper questioned moving forward.

Just like that the hope in my heart faded to dust. Alice only dropped to her knees in the mud bowing her head at me.

"Alice this is madness rise, what in heavens name?" I said to her.

"It's about Isabella sire…Forgive me, but I've been holding on to this secret for months and I could not wait a moment longer for you to reach the castle."

"Alice." I whispered fear creeping into my bones.

"Maybe it would best if we hold this—"

"No. Tell me now." I cut off Carlisle.

She swallowed, moving as close as possible to me before whispering so low I could barely hear "Isabella gave birth to an alive child. A boy, she named William. She was afraid of something at court and commanded me to lie on her behest as she and the babe went into hiding. She told me she was going to Devonshire, but I can not be sure where she and the prince are."

It was as though someone has stolen the air from my lungs and I could not breathe. My body shook as if the world around was tearing apart.

Isabella was gone.

My child…my son…was alive.

EDWARD

April 30th 1608

"Alice how could you have kept this from us!" Esme yelled at her. Only our family stood within of my study. I sat still behind my desk part of me still in shock and the other utterly confused and exhausted.

"My queen gave me an order and I followed it as she commanded…even you, Esme, do not outrank that." Alice replied standing as close to Jasper as decency would allow.

Had I not been in the same pain as he was I would have laughed. For months we had not seen our wives and now it seemed like another obstacle was in our way….or at least mine that is.

"Of course Alice." Carlisle sighed, "Excuse us, for it is our worry that rules over us."

"Go through that what happened that eve for me." I finally spoke.

She nodded, stepping forward; "It was the night of the festival…I was merely preparing myself when Hart rushed to me claiming that Isabella needed me at that very moment."

"She was left unguarded?" Emmett asked.

"I can only imagine so because Hal had come to me at that time asking on Isabella's behest that I host the evening's festival because she wished to rest for a moment longer. I agreed with plans to see her once I had finished." Esme added shaking her head at herself. Esme spent her life taking care of all of us that often time she forgot that we were no longer children, but adults capable of deceiving her…but even then she still blamed herself.

"When I entered the room, Isabella laid in a ball, fight back upon her screams. I knew she was in labor and I wished to call the midwife, she stopped me. She begged for me to help deliver the child. Once again, I tried to call her to reason but she would not have. I could not bear to see her in pain anymore and she commanded me to as her sister and queen. The babe came fast, but it still did it's toll on Isabella."

"It's toll?" I sat up.

"She did not wish for people to hear her scream and she already seem to be in distress when the baby did not cry she all but broke down."

"He did not cry?" Rose stepped forward.

I nodded for a moment before smiling; "Bella begged him to and he did so loudly I'm sure had it been a calmer night the whole castle would have heard him. I wished to fetch Esme, but Bella told me to leave and tell everyone she had lost the child; that in her grief she had gone to Devonshire. When I asked if she was truly going to be there she did not answer and simply asked to leave her and his royal highness prince William Edward Trenton I alone. The next morning they were both gone."

"A week later a letter was sent from Charles to inform us she had arrived." Rose added.

"So she very well could be in Devonshire." Jasper inquired, but Alice shock her head.

"She was for only a moment, according to Charles. She came in the middle of the night asked him to write the letter and then left Devonshire."

"And you know this how?" I asked her.

"If Uncle knew he would not have told me, but the head maid there is like a mother to Isabella and I. She wrote me a letter shortly after and that is all I know." She replied handing me the small letter.

I looked over the worn parchment, but I could not see what she said it contained.

"It is written in code sire. In private I can explain it to you fully."

"In code?" I tilted the parchment to the side.

"Yes, Bella and I made it when we were children and wished to sneak into town. But our maid figured it out often in enough."

"You wish to read it, show him in private, but are we not in private?" Emmett questioned coming up beside me as did Carlisle.

"With all due respect, my sister fled court because she feared someone was trying to harm her and her child."

"And you believe we are suspects in this?" I could not tell if Carlisle was amused or perplexed by this.

"I believe my queen asked for me to speak not a word of this to anyone but King Edward. Why she chose me to speak with and not anyone else is due to reasons known only to her. Whatever the reason, I respect her choice and I would not seek to dishonor by not doing the only thing she has ever asked of me. There is someone in court trying to harm—"

"There is someone everywhere trying to harm the queen. Which is why she needs guards, especially now that she has the heir of England with her. Should anyone find her—"

"She will look like a normal woman with a child." I interjected leaning back trying to think. "My Isabella is no fool and it is not as though the world knows of her appearance, very few have actually seen the queen enough to recognize her outside of court. However, I shall start a search for her come daybreak."

"Edward you must rest—"

"Rest?" I snorted at the idea. "My wife is not at my side and I have not yet laid eyes on the boy that is my own blood, even if I slept a thousand years, my soul would not rest."

"There are still matters at—"

"I shalt not repeat myself." I said to them. "With the exception of Alice take thee leave so I too may learn the code."

The look of Jasper face.

"Forgive me Jasper wait momentary and I shall return her to you." I told him and he looked almost embarrassed that I had known what it was he desired.

When they were all gone, I turned to Alice; "How much pain was she in?"

"Childbirth is—"

"No, while I was gone. I knew it would be hard…she had not been acquainted long enough when I left. Before she married me she told be she feared this world would destroy her."

She smiled sadly; "Then she underestimated herself for she did quite well in your absence, and I know had it not be for your, son she would have stayed and fought whatever it was that was troubling her."

"I will find her and I pray she forgives me for tall the trouble I have caused her."

"Forgive sire?"

"It was out of my greed for her that I took her as my wife. I could not imagine anyone else to take her. I could not imagine my world without her. But she was a butterfly in Devonshire; free to fly where ever she pleased. I clipped her wings, placed her in a jar and left her on display for all the world to see. A butterfly that can't fly is no longer a butterfly…I did that to her by bring her here."

"I see." Alice frowned; "You also underestimated her. You may be king, but if Isabella truly did not wish to be with you she would not be with you. It is that simple. She made a choice and the joy that radiated from when she heard your son cry…she would not trade that for all the open fields in Devonshire…I would stake my life on that."

It was then that I noticed that if there was anyone else in the world that truly understood my wife it had to be her sister.

"We will find her." I said surly and she nodded.

I warn you people there shall be a time jump. I say this because some of you people really REALLY hate this in stories. However, if I do not do it the story really will end in like one chapter...I'm not ready for it to be over so I have a twist coming. :D I truly hope you enjoy it.

Oh, an some of you commented on Bella not telling Alice. Right now Alice isn't a target but I she knew something and let it slip she might die. Not telling her is a form of protection...More will be explainned.

I hope to have chapter 26 up by the weekend but please do not hold me too it!

With Love

Ruthlessly Yours.