Chapter 38

NPOV

We arrived in Volterra City on a bright day clear day. The sun shone off the white walls of the City and it seemed as wondrous as it had the first time I had seen it. "It is just a city, like any other," said Jacob from beside me. Teasing me with the words he had said what seemed like so long ago.

"Has it truly only been a few months since we first came here?" I pondered aloud.

"Hard to believe, isn't it?"

"The last time I entered these walls I was but a girl, attached to Cullen Estates."

"I take issue with that description," Jacob said turning to face me in the carriage.

"You do?"

"You were my girl, and now you are my beautiful and amazing woman. I loved you then, and I love you now."

I melted into his arms and he kissed me senseless. I felt every ounce of his affection and he buoyed my spirits as we faced the ordeal ahead.

We again were housed within the Cullen's wing, and again shared a room. But this time it was as equals and in full view and with full approval of one and all, even Sister Chelsea told me she was glad to see us both so happy, especially as she had seen us both at our lowest points.

The trial was under way, but I was not to be called for some time. Jasper was acting as the prosecutor in the case, alongside Alistair. Riley Biers stood for Caius alongside a woman named Victoria Flight. Those of us called as witnesses were banned from the proceedings until called. This meant that only Esme was allowed to attend court.

Each evening as we broke bread and the men dissected the testimony and how they thought it had been taken by Prince Felix. I had been confused upon the first evening when they had mentioned him, but they explained that His Majesty felt that the prince needed some experience in jurisprudence. Therefore, Felix was seated as the judge and the final outcome would be devised by him. This concerned Jacob and Jasper, but Carlisle and Alistair believed it went in our favor.

"Felix has always had a tendre for our Renesmee. His youth is also a factor on our side. I imagine that as the testimony proceeds his inexperience should allow an emotional appeal," Alistair pointed out.

"What do you mean, Alistair?" Jacob asked a wary air about his face.

"I think you know what it means, son."

"Alistair…" Jasper attempted to intervene.

"No!" Jacob roared. "You cannot do that."

"I have faith in her, Jacob, don't you?"

"I believe in her more than anyone, but I was there. I know what that bastard did to her. I will not allow you to force her to relive it!" Jacob stood and offered me his hand. I rose and shot a confused look at my mentor.

JPOV

I led Ness back to our quarters fuming. Once there I pushed her up against the wall and kissed her with all the passion of my love and anger. My hands wove through her silky hair and my body pressed against every lush curve of her body.

"I need you, Ness. Please say you feel the same." It came out as a harsh whisper against her neck as I nibbled and licked her porcelain skin.

"Always," she sighed as her tiny hands slipped beneath my tunic and her fingernails began lightly scratching my chest.

I pulled back enough that I could divest her of her dress and undergarments. She stood against the wall, her naked form looking like a feast before me. "Do not move," I ordered as I sank to my knees before her. "I am going to worship you."

My hands skimmed her velvety legs parting them to reveal her pink folds, glistening with her desire. I leaned forward and kissed her lower lips, breathing in her heady scent. Then my tongue took a taste of her sweetness. She let out a sweet moan and leaned further into the wall. I lifted my hand to splay against her stomach and lend her support while I allowed my mouth to bring her as much pleasure as I could. Her hips were beginning to thrust against me trying for even more friction, and the muscles in her shapely thighs began to twitch with the effort to remain upright.

"Shh," I said against her womanhood, blowing air and vibrating my lips against her sensitive flesh. "Do not move. Just enjoy and let me make you forget everything, but me."

At that I went back to my work with real focus. In no time I could feel Ness' muscles begin to clench. I raised my other hand and slid a finger into her moist core. Almost at once she clamped down on me and I drank in her sweet release. I eked out every ounce of delight from her until she sank boneless into my arms on the floor. Her breathing coming in gasping pants and her eyes half closed and looking sated.

"God you are beautiful," I told her as I kissed her sweet mouth.

"And you," she swallowed, "are overdressed."

NPOV

Lying in Jacob's arms as he softly snored made me smile. I was draped across his broad chest, sleepy and sated. We had loved against the wall, on the floor, in the bed, and now he dozed. I planted a kiss in the middle of his chest and slipped from the bed. I donned a wrap and tied it at the waist deciding that it was appropriate to be seen in this as it covered me well. I kissed Jacob's brow and snuck away to the kitchen to get him something to eat.

The fire was burning low, and I found saw no one in the room as I entered. I began to gather some fruit from a bowl on the table when I heard someone enter behind me. The sound made me jump and turn round faster than I thought possible. I had grabbed a knife off the table, on instinct and held it out in a defensive manner.

When my eyes cleared I saw that it was only Anna. Immediately I dropped the knife and tried to regroup. My breathing was fast and I felt suddenly faint. In a moment the woman took my hands and led me to a seat.

"Deep breaths Miss," she said as she rubbed my hands and the feeling began to return. "I did not mean to startle you so. Come now, it is only old Anna. You are safe and sound, and no harm can come to you here."

I tried to slow my breathing and concentrate on the sound of her voice. She was soothing and kind, and then it occurred to me that this was the first time Anna had said more than a few words to me, and then they were sharp and unpleasant. I raised my eyes to her face and saw a kindness there that had been lacking in our previous encounters. "Why are you being so kind?"

"Oh, miss," she said biting her lip. "You must not think on my past behavior to you. I was a foolish old woman who did not bother to get to know you. I am powerful sorry for how I behaved; can you find it in you to forgive me?"

"Of course," I said sincerely.

"Can I get you something, Miss?" she asked fussing about me as if she was uncertain of my current state.

"No thank you, I think I just need a moment to rest. I cannot imagine why I reacted so. It is you who should accept my apology. I would never have hurt you, I swear." The words came out guiltily.

"I know why you grabbed the knife ma'am. You were in the midst of your mind in that moment, and it sensed danger. I should have never approached ye without making my presence known. I know better."

"Not at all, I cannot imagine why I am so jumpy."

"Can you not? I can. The lash comes at ye from behind, and you do not know it is there until it bites at yer flesh. I am surprised ye are not more skitterish, miss. If what I hear at the trial is true, and I've no doubt of it seeing as Capt. Whitlock is representin' ye."

"You have attended the proceedings?"

"Aye. My Mistress has not wished to attend alone, and as the Master is banned until he has testified I have been there every day."

I thought about that for a moment. It had not occurred to me that much of the public would be allowed as it was a member of the royal family on trial, but if any citizen attended they could be accompanied by a slave.

I licked my suddenly dry lips. "I imagine that the testimony has been unpleasant…"

"Only as regards what was done to ye, miss. We have heard from Mistress Clearwater about how his grace arranged to trap you and Miss Alice in his web of deceit, and we have heard from members of his grace's household as to how you were treated and the instructions they received about how to behave with you. The lashman testified today. He was a handsome man, but he was so sorrowful. He begged forgiveness from his majesty for having allowed the lash to be taken from him. He said he did not want you to die."

I swallowed at the thought of that night and of Caius' voice as he took the lash into his own hands and told me of his intent. "I hope the king granted him pardon."

"He did. Still, the lashman said he would never again stand such a post."

I nodded glad of the news. Still, I could not fathom the change in Anna. "Anna may I ask you a question?"

"Of course miss you have the right to demand anything of me."

"No, you misunderstand. I want an honest answer, not one that tells me what you think I wish to hear."

"As you wish miss."

"Why has your opinion of me changed?"

"Oh," she said her eyes growing large, "because I have been at the end of a lash on more than one occasion. I know its sting and I know how awful it can be. I have never experienced what you have, but I have been at the wrong end of the lash over the man I… loved. Knowing that you chose to endure such to protect those you love… I was wrong about you. You are not selfish or spoiled. Anyone who would do that is a better person than I have ever known."

"I am so sorry that you were ever hurt, Anna, and sorrier still that in the end you were not allowed to remain with your love."

Anna's eyes misted. "Aye," she agreed. "What can I get for you, miss? Ye must have come here for a purpose."

I smiled at the memory of why I had come. "I wished to fetch some refreshment for my Jacob," I explained.

"Allow me to fix you a tray then, miss."

In very short order I was handed a tray filled with bread, fruit and cheese. I thanked Anna with deep sincerity and returned to Jacob's side.

I placed the tray on the table and went to return to the bed. I sat on the side and slid the satin wrap from my shoulders. It was then I heard the gasp. I turned to see Jacob's eyes staring in horror at my back. Immediately I pulled the wrap back up to cover the scars and felt the hot sting of tears in my eyes.

"I am sorry, Jacob. I did not mean for you to see them. I know how much you hate them."

Jacob sat up in the bed and took my hand. "No Nessie, it is I who am sorry. I am such a coward. I have avoided looking at your back since that night, I just couldn't bear it."

"I understand," I said turning to face him. "I must be quite hideous from that angle. I wish I could return to the woman you found beautiful in every way, but I cannot change that night. I will try harder to remember to keep my back covered in your presence."

Jacob's eyes looked pained and then he shook his head as if hearing a fly. "Ness, take off the wrap and turn around."

I looked at him in confusion. Had we not just established that the sight upset him?

"Please, Ness, just do it."

I slid the satin down my shoulders once more and sat ramrod straight every nerve in my body vibrating. Why would he wish to look at my scars? They were simply a reminder of the horror of that night.

"No man will ever want you again." Caius voice rang out in my mind.

The memory bit at me almost as painfully as had the lash.

Then I felt Jacob's hand upon my shoulder and felt his breath in my ear. "You know what? I believe that we need to rethink these markings." As he spoke his fingers began to trace the spider web of scars upon my back. "If we fear them they have power. If we avoid them they are given more pain than they deserve. If we see them as anything but part of you, we let him win."

Each sentenced was accompanied by a caress against my skin, each word spoken on a breath as he moved behind me and followed the path of his fingers with his eyes.

"I have decided that Caius deserves no such power. So I declare each and every inch of you mine. I shall own it by replacing the scars with the balm of our love."

"How?" I asked on a shuddery sigh, for every word and caress was igniting a fire within me.

"Like this," he said tracing a scar from my shoulder across my blades and down my side right to the area below my ribcage. First he traced it with his finger, then with his lips and tongue. "I declare this scar healed. Now it is only the memory of the trail my lips have traveled."

And on it went until he had traced the track of every strike the lash had made. It took over an hour and by the time he was finished I was a quivery ball of need. He finally turned me until I was in front of him, bent me forward and bent to cover my back with his front. In one smooth stroke he entered me, and that was all it took, I exploded around him. I cried out his name and fisted the sheet in my hands.

"That's right Ness, we shall erase any memory of him. This is about us."

Each stroke took me higher again. I would peak and plateau, but each dip in the ecstasy was like taking a step down a step, as the gratification grew I climbed higher and the step down was less and less. After a while I was flying so high I stopped coming down. It was as if I was soaring above, no longer constrained by the confines of my body, I was pure love, and when at last Jacob found his release we both sank to the sheets in exhaustion.

He held me in his arms stroking my skin and kissing my neck. It seemed like I would never catch my breath. "Ness?" Jacob asked.

"Yes, love."

"If ever you feel that fear creeping up again, I want you to swear you will tell me, and I swear on all that is holy I shall chase it back to the dark. Naught but light and love shall ever touch you again, I swear."

JPOV

The next morning Ness and I arrived at the table to break our fast and found Bella alone there. I knew what it meant, Carlisle, Edward, and Sister Chelsea had been called to testify. It was only a matter of time before I was called, and then Ness.

"So they are called?" I asked.

"They are. I wish they were not," Bella said.

"Why?" asked Ness.

"Because I think I shall have need of them," Bella said wincing and gripping the table.

"The baby?"

"Yes, it comes."

Ness stood took Bella's arm and led her from the room. "Send Anna to me, I will have need of her to fetch and carry for me. Do not worry, Bella and I shall bring this babe into the world safe and sound."