Protectors
Weakness is like love, hold it close to your heart and only show it to those who will protect and cherish it.
Ali Bassam
BELLA'S POV
Walking out of my chambers, I headed down the stairs. The eyes of the keep staff were on me as I glided down the hall, leading to the Great Hall. Grandfather met me at the door, barring my way.
"Isabella," he started, "you must let the ceremony go on around you without a word."
I nodded. "You can tell everyone I'm still suffering the effects of the trance. Please arrange everyone assembled in a circle. Edward to my left followed by his family. Charlie to my right followed by Nickodemus and his students. Finally, the sisters, Daniela, and you, standing directly across from me, will complete the circle. Hold hands as I go around the circle, linking everyone further with the length of my magical silver chain. Edward will need to have my pendant in his right hand before I can start with the chain," I said, handing grandfather the pendant I always wear. "It is critical Edward still be holding it when I finally take his and my father's hand."
"Is there anything else you feel you need for me to do or explain?" he asked.
"No." I sighed. "I'm not sure what will happen once I complete the circle. Have you been in the hall since you left with me?" I asked.
"Nay, lass. There are sure to be questions."
"All of which will be answered but not now. The ceremony is more important and will make answering the questions that much easier," I said.
"Two of the honor guard is here, I've instructed them to let none pass," Grandfather said.
He addressed the two men briefly before offering me his arm and we entered the hall. He spoke the moment we entered, saying, "Isabella is still quite out of sorts and is unable to speak. I know you have questions but that will have to wait, there in a more pressing matter."
He brought us to a stop in front of everyone.
"In order to help Isabella completely come out of the trance, we will need to form a circle."
I was pleasantly pleased of how well Grandfather took charge of the situation and within minutes the circle was formed as I had lain out.
"Now if you would just join hands. Oh, I almost forget," he said, coming forward to where Edward stood. "Edward, hold this in your right hand."
I stepped forward. Starting with my father, I started wrapping the chain around each of his wrists before continuing clockwise, linking everyone together. Edward gave me a puzzled look when I stood in front of him, and I just stared as if I was still entranced. Magically, I completed wrapping the chain around my wrists and clasping the ends together. I took my father's hand first and felt a slight tingling run up my right hand. It stopped at my wrist.
"Isabelle, dear child, let you mind go blank and let whatever is to happen to happen. Take Edward's hand," Grandmother instructed.
I slowly reached out my left hand and took Edward's hand. The pendant pressed firmly against both our palms. The tingling sensation I had felt when I took Charlie's hand was now more like a humming sound and flowed throughout my body and out of my hands. A faint green glow surrounded each person until all assembled were aglow.
A voice whispered in my ear, saying, "You are the bridge, the healer, the future. Only you can correct the mistakes of the past. Only you can thwart the plans of the demon, of the mages. The key is in your future and in the past of two clans."
The chain dropped to the floor and was soon shrinking to its normal size with the pendant appearing on it. The necklace floated to me and I dropped Charlie's hand reaching out to take it, slipping around my neck.
EDWARD'S POV
I couldn't take my eyes off of Bella when she and Malcolm walked into the hall. She had changed into a beautiful silk black gown with a long skirt sweeping the floor. On either her waist, were silver triangles. I swallowed… hard. Seeing her in the Cullen colors was… was remarkable.
"Edward, something is off about her." Alice commented. "I can't see her future right now."
I glanced over at Alice, silently asking why.
"I wish I knew."
As I thought to ask a question, Malcolm spoke. I listened as he told us that Bella was not completely out of the trance and that we could help. He assembled us in a circle, Charlie and I on either side of Bella, and asked us to join hands.
As I went to take Bella's hand she stepped forward and a silver chain started to fall from her hand. It was long, really long.
Malcolm spoke again. I didn't hear a word and soon he was holding something out to me. I took it.
Emmett's thoughts entered my mind. "Bro, you are so out of it. What gives?"
Carlisle's thoughts next entered. "Edward, son, keep what Malcolm gave you in your right hand."
Soon I felt something being wrapped around my wrist. I looked up and Bella was before me. I gave her a puzzled look, and she stared at me. She didn't even give me a smile.
What's going on? Where is my Bella?
Bella took my hand, and then there was warmth seeping into me. It was a strange feeling. Eons had gone by since I had last been warm.
A voice I had never heard before whispered in my mind. "You are Isabella's future. You will be her partner, her equal in the clan. Don't despair. It will take Isabella time to figure out when she can marry you, as there is something you must do in the past to ensure your union. I know you will be confused by this, but don't lose hope. You must not share this knowledge with her or anyone else. When asked what you were told, tell them you gift as a mind reader will be key in the upcoming battle with a demon."
Not long after I was told this, the chain fall away, and my eyes were drawn to it as were the others. I watched as it shrunk and a pendant appeared on it. The necklace then floated to Bella. She reached out and plucked it from the air, placing it around her neck.
"Let us all have a seat," Malcolm said, leading the way to main table.
Malcolm pulled out the head chair for Bella, indicating to the chair to her left for me to sit in. Once everyone was seated all eyes turning to Bella.
"I didn't share part of Maribella's and Ewan's family legacy with you," she said. "After the birth of their eldest granddaughter, trouble started. Threats on her life were received. The trouble wasn't coming from within the clan but from someone from another the clan. Death threats were a constant."
The men shook their heads and the ladies gasped.
"In order to keep her safe, a clan member was assigned to protect her. He was to stay with her always or until such time when she chose to marry. If she did marry, her husband, who would have accepted her for who she was completely, would become her permanent protector."
"So it has been from that time forward," she paused and held up a hand when I went to speak. "My grandfather was Annabella's protector, and I have been without a protector for over two years now, since the day Matthew and Danielle were killed."
Carlisle grabbed my arm, and I realized I was about to stand. What I was going to do, I had no clue.
"Listen to Bella," he advised.
After taking a deep breath, I turned my attention back to Bella. She was gazing at me with her forehead was furrowed. The left corner of my mouth twitched in a momentary half-smile, and she returned it before continuing.
"Danger has been knocking on my door since that day. My cousin Jacob Black is one danger. He issued a threat on the day I was named heir. He killed Daniella and Matthew," she said for the benefit of the sisters and wizards. "He is in no way the only danger. A demon may be after me. Who the demon is, I don't know."
She poured her a glass of water and took a sip.
"My grandfather and I have been putting off naming another temporary protector, in hopes of me finding the one that is destined to protect me."
She again paused, taking another sip, and I took the opportunity to quickly speak. "Bella, I will take the job of protecting you."
Bella looked over at me and smiled. "Are you sure are up for such a task?" she asked.
"Yes," I answered simply and with a much feeling as I could put into that one word. "I would be honored."
Bella looked me straight in the eyes and spoke, "That's good to know, Edward, but you are already my permanent protector."
I stared at her too flabbergasted to speak that I barely heard Alice.
"What language is that?"
"Gaelic," Malcolm answered.
"Edward doesn't know Gaelic," Rosalie said.
Without looking away from me, Bella addressed Rosalie. "He does as do you all."
"But we didn't understand what you said," Emmett whined.
Bella looked away from me. "That is because you were not exposed to the language before as Edward was during Christmas."
"So, what was it you said?" Zachary asked.
BELLA'S POV
I bit my lip, thinking. It was a good question, but not one that I was ready to answer yet.
"I'll tell you in a moment, but first I need to explain what happened during my trance."
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"I was speaking to Annabella, as I do on occasion, but this time it was different. I can usually slip in and out of the trance with ease. However, it had a tight grasp over me."
I lifted the glass to my lips again, drinking and stalling, but I couldn't stall forever.
"Annabella told me it was time for me to link myself with my permanent protector. I had my suspicion on whom that was but I wrong, boy was I wrong." I looked over at Edward before continuing. "Edward is my permanent protector but not the only one."
"Not the only one," Charlie said. "Who else is there?"
My attention turned to Charlie. "The circle Grandfather had everyone form, the fact that Edward was holding this pendant"—I indicated the necklace around my neck—"and everyone being linked together by hand and chain. Something happened to each of you when I completed the circle by taking Edward's and my father's hand."
Everyone gasped at the same time.
"Charlie is your father?" Carlisle asked.
I nodded in response.
"What exactly happened to each of us? I know for me warmth seeped into me before passing through me. During which I was told my role in helping you."
There was a chorus on me too from everyone.
"I did say Edward is not my only protector. I have been surrounded by protectors. You all are my protectors. Grandfather, care to explain what that entails."
"Charlie was the first to know Isabella's secret, then Daniela, Edward and his family, and finally the two magical worlds. Like that who protected Rose Marie, all us didn't question but accepted her for who she is. We are now charged in doing everything we can to see that she comes to no harmed. We each have special abilities. My knowledge of the clan is endless, and as such, I have knowledge of what could happen. My abilities do not stop there. I am the grand watcher, meaning there are signs I will be able to see that no one else will. Charlie is her father, so naturally there is a blood bond that can never be broken. Charlie," Grandfather said, "is there some other ability you have? Something communicated to only you during the ceremony?"
It came as no surprise that each of the sisters were told their unique abilities would be needed. What did come as a surprise was that they were to act as teachers for me and the Cullens, the same was true about the wizards.
Other surprise was Edward, Alice and Jasper's abilities. Alice, like me and Maidie, had the gift of clairvoyance. However, unlike Maidie, Alice could see every possible outcome of a decision while the person is on that path. Jasper had the gift of empathy. He could sense an emotion and manipulate it. That explain how he knew I needed help earlier, and I shared his abilities to an extent. Edward seemed to be holding something back.
"I'm a mind reader. If a battle is in our future, my ability will be a great advantage," he said.
"That's it. All you were told, bro," Emmett said, throwing up his hand. "The voice was so clear with all of us, and you get a brief, you're an asset that will be useful in a battle."
Edward didn't flinch. "Yes, Emmett, that is all I was told."
"Hogwash," Emmett remarked. "I don't believe you."
Edward held up his hand, not saying anything.