A/N: I'm so sorry I haven't posted in a while. This chapter is short, but it comes with the promise that the next chapter will come extremely soon. They were originally together as a 9,000 word chapter, but for editing purposes (and the sanity of both me and the illustrious SunflowerFran ) they have been split, so fear not! the next chapter has actually been written .. Thanks for your freaking awesome support, but I will elaborate more on how wonderful you all are in the next chapter. For now, *cue drumroll* I actually made a map for Atmosphere to help visualize the geography of the nations.
EDIT: In the event that I can't get the link on my profile to work, you can find the map by going to "Christie Hart" on FB. My profile is the one with the silhouette of a woman holding a heart of stars in her hand, with a deep blue background.


PART III: SWAN

Chapter 29

Seventeen people are seated at the iron table as Bella walks into the meeting room. They immediately stand and bow their heads, only relaxing once Bella takes her seat beside Edward. As everyone settles, she closes her eyes and takes a steadying breath. The next few hours would be spent strategizing the attack on Volturia. Each person sits with a determined expression as if mentally steeling themselves for a laborious night ahead. Centered on the table is a scroll depicting the terrains of the three nations, along with flag pins and writing stationary. Seeing that everything is in order, Bella begins.

"V'a, Cora Swann'eya, c'ia s'to ioto p'a ordi," Bella calls the meeting to order. "Now that the military pursuit of Cullenia is underway, we need to secure our own measures. I've also received some rather excitatory news from Alec; he will return from Ida Flor with troops."

"That is wondrous news," Carlisle agrees, "I assume that means his arrival will be delayed further."

"It does," Bella nods, "They are still trying to maximize their number of recruits and commence training. For now, I would like us to formalize our strategy. Let us begin with discussing our terrain."

The first important aspect of warfare is to understand the enemy's geography. Volturia is different from Cullenia in that there are no separate districts. Whereas Cullenia is comprised of Cullen Isle, Port Anchelus, Was Inchus, Sattle, and Lunaria, Bella's home nation simply has three cities and the border patrol along the Pylae.

"The only points of entry are by the Far West Sea behind the mountains, through the Pylae bridges or by the Volturian Bay," Caius points out, "All three of which are difficult, to say the least."

"Are you saying we shouldn't lead an attack?" Athenadora asks.

"I'm saying that it is certainly the more difficult of our options," Caius evades.

"The alternative is waiting until they attack us," Bree notes, "That doesn't seem advisable either."

"Except that we'll be letting them expend their own resources," Claire points out.

"Their possible ports of entry are practically the same," Quil says, "It's merely a matter of who strikes first."

"On the contrary, Volturian troops will not be accustomed to the weather and mountains of the western border. Aro would be a fool to breach that front, so his options are limited to crossing any of the three Pylae bridges and by the sea," Harold speaks, "But we are limited by our seafaring capabilities. We would not be able to lead an entire attack by water."

"Your Majesty?" Bella looks to Edward, "Would you be able to provide assistance?"

"Many of our fleets were destroyed in the Iris undertaking, and the remaining have been deployed in the recovery of Cullenia," he answers grimly, "I'm sure we can spare a couple, but not the amount you need for a full-fledged attack."

"What are the updates on the recovery?" Didyme asks, "Will Cullenia be able to spare personnel?"

"Cullen Isle, Sattle, and Was Inchus have been reclaimed," Carlisle answers, "The Iris were cowards in the face of an organized army. All that is left to retrieve is Lunaria and Port Anchelus, which we estimate should happen by the end of the month.

"If we lead an attack on Volturia in about three months' time, my troops will have had a chance to rest," Edward adds, "We will be able to support you."

"If we choose to attack," Billy mutters.

"We are not at the stage where we can keep throwing 'ifs' around," Bella sighs, "Motion to vote on whether to take the offensive or not?"

"Aye," the room choruses.

"Those in favor of taking the offensive?" Bella announces as she raises a hand. Fifteen of the nineteen present in the room follow her action.

"The ruling is fifteen in favor to four opposing," Bella concludes, "The motion to attack is passed. Present to me the rosters."

One by one, representatives report the enlistment figures of their districts. Those eligible for enlisting are aged sixteen to seventy, and must be in good mental and physical standing. In total, Forxx offers 3,316 soldiers to the brigade. Added to Edward's 5,000, they're proving to have quite a formidable army.

With the basics settled, they move on to specific strategies and distributing their personnel. The initial plan is to spread forces to hit the major cities, but the numbers aren't in support of that approach. The hours pass with each member hunched over their notepad. Bella can feel her neck straining from its bowed position, and the undersides of her thighs tingle from her lack of movement.

"This isn't working," Athenadora huffs.

"Perhaps we need to stop forcing this approach?" James suggests. "Maybe it isn't the right one."

"Why are we making these guesses when we have a Seer?" Eleazar asks, and then directs his next words to Alice, "Will this work?"

"If war were easy to predict, then I would have done so," Alice challenges, "There are too many factors at hand. You, yourselves, have not made a concrete decision."

"But if the prophecy says that the Guardians will conquer Aro, aren't we ensured to win?" Claire questions.

"The prophecy also says that there will be tragedy," Esme notes, "Which means that our decisions can affect how many lives will be lost. Therefore, we must still choose wisely and not blindly leave it to fate."

"If I'm able to speak frankly, this current strategy does not feel like we're choosing wisely," Emmett admits. "I believe Athenadora is correct in saying that we should not divide our numbers so significantly."

"Then let us not," Jacob speaks for the first time in the meeting. His sudden break from silence draws all eyes to him.

"You're suggesting we strike one place?" Harold raises a brow in intrigue.

"Not one place," Jacob clarifies. He clears the map of its markers, then pins a couple of flags to its surface, "Two."

With aching limbs, Bella rises to peer at the two areas Jacob has marked. One flag is pinned near Volturia's border control while the other is directly on top of Aro's castle.

"If Aro is terminated, the war is over," Jacob explains.

"The surest way to kill a tree is to ax its roots," Billy comments while nodding in agreement, "If we focus our power on Aro and stave off his troops at the border then we'll be minimizing our battlegrounds."

Bella's eyes widen as she looks to Billy. This is the first sensible thing she's heard from him and also his first words in support of his son. She then looks at the faces surrounding the table and sees that they seem to be taking to this approach. It has its drawbacks, but it certainly has its merits. Why engage a whole territory when the snake's head lies in the castle?

"Targeting Aro directly would still mean traversing through three cities to reach the castle," Eleazar points out.

"Not if we travel by water," Bella proposes, "We send the fleets at our disposal to engage with the ships that Aro has guarding the bay, and then I will lead a unit to infiltrate the castle-,"

"You will do no such thing," Edward interrupts suddenly.

Bella reels with astonishment at his brazen tone in such a formal setting, but tames her initial heated response to a curt, "Pardon me?

"I understood you leading the defense against the Iris, but there is no reason for you to enter this battle. We have the personnel, you can remain here."

"It was never about being an additional body," Bella scoffs, "It is about fighting alongside my people. Furthermore, if you think I will give up the opportunity to destroy my father, you are sorely misguided-,"

"You will notbe facing him," Edward stops her once again, this time with more anger in his tone. The mood in the room turns impossibly tense as the two monarchs face a standoff.

"And what will you be doing while I'm following your commands?" Bella questions through clenched teeth, "Fighting, I suppose?"

"That's different," Edward answers unconvincingly, "As their Queen, it is in the best interest of your nation for you to remain protected."

"As their Guardian, it is written in the prophecies that I will be the one to defeat Aro," Bella debates, "And the moment I'd like advice on how to rule a nation I will ask you, but that moment is not at present."

"Alec is the Guardian as well and has extensive practice in combat," Edward fires back, "Why expose both Guardians and the sole heir of a nation to the battlefield when it can be avoided?"

Because whether I am on the battlefield or not, if Alec dies, so will I, the thought comes crashing into Bella's mind. With it, is the reminder that Edward is unaware of this information.

Knowing that she can no longer delay the confrontation, she stands and orders, "Clear the room."

"Your Highness?" Caius says in confusion.

"I'm asking you to please clear the room so that I may have some privacy with His Majesty," Bella grits. Slowly, the members rise from their seats and begin to file out. Once the door clicks in place, Bella strides over to Edward and exclaims, "How dare you!"

"How dare me?" Edward parrots, standing up so he can match her irate stare.

"Am I a joke to you? Is that why you're refusing so adamantly? Do you not only think I'm a poor ruler, but a poor fighter?" Bella throws each question at him, revealing the extent of her hurt.

"I think none of those things," Edward objects.

"Then why did you blatantly undermine me?" Bella presses, "I am their Queen, and you spoke to me as if I were your subject!"

"You are also the woman that I love!" Edward growls, "Rationality is the last thing on my mind when I hear that you're offering yourself to the lion's den."

"It's my destiny," Bella reminds him, "I am meant to do this."

"Why can't Alec do it?" Edward asks, "I'm not saying you're a poor fighter, but the reality is that he is more experienced. He stands a greater chance at making it out of there alive-,"

"Edward," Bella is now the one to interrupt him, "Do you remember that I wanted to tell you something last night?"

"Yes? But I fell asleep," he recalls.

"Do you remember that I've been trying to tell you something all week?" Bella continues her voice wavering.

"Yes, Bella," Edward sighs, "Why are you asking me this now?"

"Because," Bella takes a breath, trying to push away the urge to cry. Her next words are unstable, "I swore on my life that I'd never lie to you again, and I wanted to tell you, but you were so busy and stressed and …"

Her ramblings cease when Edward pulls her close, gently guiding her head to lie upon his chest. Though the stirrings of anger linger, the fear of him being hurt is more potent. She allows herself to sink into his touch, and absorbs the brush of his fingertips against her scalp. Here, sheltered in his arms, she can almost forget that just outside the door the world is warring around them.

"I understand," Edward hushes her; "I know we haven't had time together lately, and I apologize. But whatever it is, you can tell me now."

"Okay," Bella sniffles, stepping back to look him in the eyes, "The other night when I was reading the Seers' journals, I learned that the connection between Guardians is more than just a mental one."

Realization dawns on Edward almost immediately, and he begins shaking his head in response.

"If Alec dies …" she tries to conclude.

"No, no," Edward grips his hair in two fists, and turns away from her, "That can't be. How can that be?"

"I truly don't know," Bella reaches out to hook a finger in his sleeve. She prompts him to face her, "But it doesn't mean that we have to die. Alec and I will stop Aro, and we will survive the war."

"To lose either of you would be devastating, but to lose both?" Edward chokes on his words, "I can't fathom it, Bella. Whether it is now or it is later, it will hurt all the same."

"It is our destiny; one we'll have to accept," Bella murmurs as she places a hand against his cheek. She strokes the stubble of his jaw tenderly as she says, "But until that day comes I will love you with every ounce of my being."

Edward stares at her, love and sadness radiating from his gaze. On the one hand, she sees the hope he has that they will endure the upcoming battle, but on the other, she can grasp his trepidation. Nothing she can say will ease his anxieties, as she knows how it feels to worry about a loved one on the battlefield. The mere thought of Edward in the midst of slaughtering pushes her heart into her throat. All she can do is burrow into his embrace and pray that they'll both make it out of the war alive.

"We have to reconvene," she mumbles into his chest.

"They can wait," Edward huffs.

"That's not a very kingly thing to do," Bella chuckles.

Edward sighs, "Neither was the way I spoke to you. I apologize for my abhorrent behavior, Bella. It will never again happen."

"It had better not," she stares at him pointedly, before adding playfully, "Or I'll have your head."

The meeting begins again shortly after, except with five fewer persons. In the interim, Rosalie had gone into labor, necessitating the presence of the Masens and Atearas. Though Bella is excited for the arrival of the newest Masen, she knows she will not be seeing the child until later. This proves true as the meeting continues for another three hours while ironing out tactics and distributing forces. It is late in the night by the time they begin to conclude, but there is still one matter that has inspired a heated debate.

"I want no later than two months," Bella insists.

"With all due respect, Cora, we will not be at our best in two months," Harold informs her, "If we train vigorously, I would say three months at the least."

"Why restrain ourselves that way?" Jacob asks, "Four months is perfectly reasonable."

"Aro is not going to wait that long," Bella shakes her head.

"We can't be sure of that, and we can't risk unleashing an untrained army," Caius objects.

"I agree with Jacob," Edward speaks, "In two months your army will be uncoordinated, and my forces will be exhausted. It also gives Alec no time to assimilate his soldiers with ours. We should aim for four."

"They don't need to assimilate, they need to follow orders," Bree corrects before tacking on at the end, "Your Highness."

"And what exactly do you know about warfare?" Harold turns to Bree, "A company that cannot communicate is worse than no army at all."

"Aro has been planning this for quite some time and will not wait patiently for us to fortify our forces," Bella contends, "It's a wonder he hasn't struck already. If we cannot manage two months, then we will do three."

"Your Highness," Jacob starts.

"No, that's an order," Bella stops him. In all other matters, she would take a vote or seek counsel, but her gut tells her that this is the right choice. "We will strike in three months, but will train as vigorously as if we were to attack in two. Can you manage that General Acu'lita or will I need to find someone else for the task?"

"It will be done, Cora," Harold replies dutifully.

"With that, I adjourn this meeting," Bella finishes, "I thank all of you for your hard work and bid you goodnight. Un'i Is'ia Forxia."

"Ett'io, Cora Swann'eya," they chorus.

That night, as Bella lies with her head against Edward's chest, she feels an odd combination of relief and anxiety. It pleases her to know that they have settled on a concrete plan of action that is very practical in its execution, but terrifies her that it solidifies the reality of war. Though she has previously participated in minor fights as well as one battle, she knows that there is nothing quite like full-fledged combat. There will be deaths –many of them. Citizens will lose family members alongside their possessions. Decisions she has made could mean the difference between a liberated or enslaved nation. It's a lot of responsibility to be placed on a Queen, but even more so on a Guardian. She was born with the intent of fulfilling this purpose; the very etchings on her back are a testament to this. If she fails, she will not only have failed her people, she will have failed her destiny.

The stakes are stratospherically high.


Terminology

V'a, Cora Swann'eya, c'ia s'to ioto p'a ordi –"I, Queen Swann, call this meeting into order" [Forxian]

*special note: though the greeting is in Forxian for formality purposes, the rest of the meeting is conducted in Cullenian, as not all the participants (His Royal Highness King Edward, for example) speak fluent Forxian.

Ett'io –Short form response to the greeting/wishing "Uni'sia I'sia Forxia," and means "In you there is flight as well." [Forxian]


"The commander must decide how he will fight the battle before it begins … He must make the enemy dance to his tune from the beginning and not vice versa."~Viscount Montgomery of Alamein