Here we are again! Been writing up a storm on this fic the last two days, I believe the end is in sight, but I won't give a final chapter count until I hit save on the epilogue for the last time, since these characters have gotten wordy on me before. It is great to get back into the full swing of writing, especially with Tropical Sorbet joining me as we bust out the words. She was with me when I first came up with this idea, so it is fitting that she's with me now as I write the conclusion of this tale. Mizzdee is the master of the red pen, among other things and she's shipped me back all the chapters that are complete so I can keep posting with regularity. Thank you all for your reviews, they mean the world to me. And a belated Happy Mother's Day to all the mamas.
Disclaimer:All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 36
We entered the Main Hall and were greeted with silence. Edward led me to the head table and as soon as we were seated and our food was brought out, he motioned for a messenger.
"Your Highness?" the young man asked.
"How many days ride is it to the capital city in Ohi?"
"They spend the warm months at the northern castle, so it would be four days ride."
"Come to my office in an hour and I will have a missive for you. You are to ride at once and no one is to know where you are riding and why. Is that understood?"
"It is, Your Highness."
Rosalie approached on Emmett's arm, her face clearly worried. "How is my uncle?"
"He is recovering from his injuries, all with the care my wife was able to offer in assistance to the physicians," Edward answered coolly.
"May we join you? Or would you prefer to eat alone?" she asked.
"Please, join us, both of you," I offered and the pair sat on my left.
We ate in silence, with many looking our way before Edward finally stood to address the crowd. "King Carlisle has been seen by the Court physicians and they are pleased with his progress. Now he rests until he is able to resume public life. The King is well, do not fear for him, but pray that he is speedy in his recovery."
The murmurs began, but thankfully the staring stopped. We didn't eat much longer, and Edward escorted me back to the room where Carlisle was before he left to meet with the messenger.
"How was your meal?" Esme asked as I settled in beside her.
"People stared and whispered, but Edward announced that Carlisle is recovering. Now we just need him to wake up," I said.
"From your lips," she whispered.
"God is listening, Esme. Carlisle will be returned to us."
I checked the bandage at his head and was happy to see that the bleeding had not worsened while we were gone, but Carlisle was still asleep, so we would continue to wait.
"It has been so long since I've slept alone, I do not know how I will manage," Esme whispered.
"I remember how difficult it was for me when Edward left after I lost our first child. Just try to think of how it will be when he is recovered and the fact that he is only a room away," I told the queen.
"The people will need to see me tomorrow, as they will you. I hate to suggest it, but we should find someone who is trusted to sit with him. Perhaps Lord Eleaz-"
"No member of the Denali line will hold vigil over the king. I know you regard them highly as Carlisle does, but Edward and I will never allow it. There are things happening that you do not know and they must be kept away from our family."
"You've never liked them," Esme observed.
"They would see Edward and I fail, because it would better their place in the world. Anyone united with Lord James must be watched."
"I will trust your and Edward's judgment. But who should we choose? Your guard, Seth? Or maybe the princess' champion would be willing to help us?"
"With all the excitement, I did not even ask who won the tourney."
"Your friend, Lord Garrett."
"I think either of them would be good choices. I trust them with the king."
Just then Edward arrived with the two men in question. "I've asked Garrett and Seth to be available to sit with the king."
"As long as the guards remain outside, while I trust Garrett to keep vigil, his guard skills leave a lot to be desired."
"How could you say that, Princess?"
"Because on our journey out of Genoa, my maid snuck by you often while you slept outside our rooms, including once with her fiancé." I told him just how little he was aware in those days, earning a shocked look from Garrett.
"With that settled, I would like it if we retired to our rooms, the royal family must be strong come morning, so the country can see we will weather this storm," Edward urged.
Edward and I embraced Esme, who chose to stay a little while longer with Carlisle before attempting to sleep in her rooms.
Edward led us to our rooms, where the guard presence had increased greatly. Edward looked to one of the Captains and whispered, "Is it done?"
"It is, Your Highness," the man responded to his prince as Edward pulled me into the nursery, asking the women to return to the servants' quarters until they were called back to spend the night with the princess.
I watched as Edward leaned down to brush his hand across Antonia's stomach, her body stiffening for a moment before she settled back against the mattress. "Do you trust Lucy and Nettie?"
"Yes, of course I do. Why would you ask that?" I was shocked that he thought I would leave our daughter with someone I didn't have faith in.
"Because my mother may have found them from Lady Carmen's suggestion and I do not want the Denali's and Lord James to have something over those we trust with the princess."
"They are Charlotte's eldest nieces; two sisters who are honored to have the support of the Royal family. I asked them about their ties when I spoke to them the first time. Do you really think I wouldn't vet the two women who have unrestricted access to our child?"
"No, Bella, that isn't what I meant at all." Edward stepped away from our daughter's crib and sank into one of the rockers. "I'm mad at myself for not thinking of it sooner. For surrounding you with people who would hurt this kingdom by ripping out its heart. My mother, you, and our daughter are that heart, because if any of you were harmed it would unman my father and I. I cannot see anything happen to you."
"And nothing will, Edward, you've kept me safe since the moment we met," I tried to reassure him.
"We both know that isn't true. I've injured you, deserted you, and left you wondering about so many things. I call you Sweet Girl because of the image in my head of an infant I once held. But that is not who you are and I will not use such a childish nickname for you again. You've had a much harder road to this life and I belittle that with the name. You are a lioness, Bella. I saw it in the way you defended my father from the men on the field, and in how you handled the information that's come since then.
"You didn't like Paul and my father's men trusted you with the information about the lance, which you were able to get moved to a safer location and inform me about when the time was right. You've been there for my mother and my father, and I will need your strength in the coming days."
"I don't feel strong, Edward," I told him.
"And that's what will make you a great queen, because imagine how you will act when you do feel your full strength." There was a long pause before Edward looked at me with anguished eyes. "I'm not ready to be king, but I fear in the coming days I will have no choice."
Dropping to my knees in front of him, I clasped his hands in mine. "You have to believe that your father will live."
"But will he be fit to rule? They've taken pieces of bone from his head, and we don't know what his state of mind will be when he awakens. The court will only give him time for so long before they demand that I take the throne to secure our country. If I falter, Lord James will use this against us and try to take the crown."
"Then we must be strong. You will rule in the interim, and if we must take on the pressure of the monarchy because of this, then we will. I will not let Lord James or anyone else take away your birthright."
"Thank you, Wife," Edward whispered.
I looked up to see the tears had begun to trail down his face. Knowing I would need to clean him up before we returned to our room, I decided to ask him about what he'd said to the guard earlier.
"When you asked the guard if it was done, what did you mean?"
"I wanted Prince Paul to be watched, but didn't want to make it obvious, so I increased the guard on the royal wing, and had personal guards put on all of us. They will report anything to me so it may be used against him."
"Already thinking like a king," I whispered. "Let me clean you up, and then we can go to bed, there will be a great deal that must be done tomorrow."
Edward allowed me to wipe his face to remove the traces of his tears and then we both spent a few minutes watching our daughter sleep before returning to our rooms.
I let Edward remove my gown, stripping me to my chemise before he went to take care of himself. I finished my nightly routine and then climbed into bed, his strong arms capturing me moments later.
"I love you, Bella," he whispered as I drifted off to sleep.
The following morning I was up with my daughter, leaving Edward to sleep a little longer. I heard a commotion coming from down the hall, so I passed a now sleeping Antonia back to Lucy and returned to my chambers.
"I promise you, Your Highness, she'll be here any moment. The princess is in the nursery with your daughter, I could fetch her if you like," Jessica spoke to Edward. She seemed to be the only one who could reason with him while he was emotional since Angela left my service.
Opening the doors, Edward visibly relaxed when he saw me, and my maids left to give us a few moments privacy.
"Edward, what is the matter?"
"I had a nightmare and when I woke up you were gone. I was terrified that the dream had come to pass," he said hurriedly.
"Tell me," I asked.
"There was a glass lying on the floor, only a little bit of liquid left in it. I went looking for you, wondering why you would have just dropped the glass and I found you in the nursery with Antonia. You were both…"
"Someone had poisoned me and it had killed us both," I said what he couldn't.
I pulled Edward to me, letting him feel me alive and breathing in his arms, knowing he needed this before we could return to our morning.
"Please do not worry, Edward. James would be a fool to strike against us now. If we were to fall ill right after Carlisle's accident it would be clear what they were doing. Now we must prepare for our day. I am going to sit in with your father for a while, that way your mother may venture into the public eye. Tend to the country and I will look after your father."
"Will you join me for lunch?"
"I will, just send word of where you want me to meet you," I told him.
With a kiss, Edward left to prepare for his day, while I did the same. I was being laced into my corset when there was a knock at the outer door. Maggie silently went to answer, returning a moment later with Emmett.
"Where is Prince Edward?"
"He's gone to change for his day, what has you so upset this morning?"
"I cannot say," he whispered.
"Come with me, and we can speak in private." I donned my robe and walked with him into my private study, turning to look at him once he closed the door.
"Prince Paul is being set up," he spoke.
"Emmett, I know you love Rosalie, but-"
"This has nothing to do with her. James was gloating this morning that you took the bait. The lance was given to Paul on purpose, as was his selection to ride against King Carlisle. They want Edward on the throne so they have one less person in their way. They have no plan to move further at this time. He wants me married and on the throne of Genoa before they strike, but I do not know how long I will be able to delay those things."
"Do not delay your marriage, but there may be several years left in King Richard's life, and we will use those to our advantage. But I need you to do something for me."
"What is it?" he asked.
"I want the letter from our mother in my possession. They're too close to you and if they ever feel they were wrong to trust you, they may look for something to hold over you. I have a place to hide it that they would never think to look. And getting into my rooms would be much more difficult. Plus, I would like to read our mother's words."
"I will get that for you as soon as I've spoken to Edward. You say he is in his rooms?"
"He is, go catch him before he starts his council meeting," I warned.
"I will return shortly," Emmett promised with a kiss to my cheek.
The two of us went our separate ways, giving me a chance to finish dressing before he returned with the letter I requested. "Rosalie would like to join you this morning, should I have her meet you here?"
"No, I'm having my breakfast sent to Carlisle's room, so I will have extra ordered for her and she can join me there."
With a nod, Emmett left, and I noticed Jessica slip out to see to the change in the food I'd ordered.
Going into my storage room, I locked the door and then sat down to read the letter that had revealed my true parentage.
My Dear Son,
There is so much that I must make amends for, and no time left to do it. I know you've been angry at me for my behavior, particularly with regards to your sister, Isabella, but there is so much more to that story.
The fact that no love lies between your father and I is the worst kept secret in the kingdom. He's shown me little consideration and I've offered him no fealty, with my biggest sin against him and our family being what you're about to learn.
When I was pregnant with Isabella, I began to show far too soon, and with the fear of multiples leading to a lifetime of quarreling, I hired an elderly nun from the convent near the castle to act as midwife. The king only cared about an heir, so who I chose was of little concern to him. This woman, Maria, believed that my fears were well founded and when it came time for the birth, I did in fact deliver two daughters. Once both children were born and I was sure an heir was not provided to him, the eldest girl was presented to your father, while the youngest was swaddled in the linens and taken by the nun to the convent.
I never got to hold her, or even see her; the only thing Maria told me was that she would name the child Bella, after her sister, so that when I spoke of my daughter, I secretly spoke of the pair of them. As our Isabella grew, I began to resent her because of the life she had robbed her sister of. I wondered if I had chosen to send her away with the nuns and kept the other babe if things would have been different, but I will never know.
It was wrong of me to be so cruel to my daughters; one was resented, the other cast aside. Neither of them knew how much I loved them, or how much I hated myself for that choice.
Your father has begun to show an interest in the convent, but there are no answers there, they died with Maria. And from what I have learned from his rantings, he had hoped the maid who served your sister would have answers about her generosity towards the convent, other than continuing my tradition of patronage. But it seems she married around when Isabella left for Masen. I believe the girl who served as maid to your sister was her twin, but she could have been one of a dozen Bella's to grow up there since her birth. There is no way for me to know for sure, but I pray that you will discover what I will never know.
You must protect your sisters, because I fear your father will use them to his advantage, though I do not know what he has planned.
You are a good man, my son, do for our family what I never could. I pray that someday they can forgive me for what I did. It was done out of love.
Your Mother,
Queen Cynthia Diana Isabella Brandon
Folding the letter and replacing it in its envelope, I moved to the armoire and pulled out one of the small shelves. From there it took a little work to pop the paneling free, but I was able to slip the letter beneath it and then knock it back in place. The shelf went back into its home and you would never know there was something hidden there, unless you knew to look. With the letter hidden, I offered a prayer that Alice was safe wherever she was and then with a deep breath gave my mother the only thing I could.
"I forgive you, Mother."