This chapter is coming to you live from somewhere between Wilmington, Delaware and Baltimore, Maryland. (thank you Amtrak) This is the chapter many of you have been waiting for, so I will simply say thanks to mizzdee, and I will catch you at the bottom.

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 38

Having heard enough celebrations over his brothers' deaths in the passing weeks, Aro had the final part of his plan set into motion. Riley arrived with a large crate made of a heavy wood, constructed so that there were cracks and gaps in the wood to allow airflow. The crate was loaded onto a small wheeled platform, and then the couple climbed in so it could be closed up.

Once they were ready, Riley had a team of men bring it to the castle, personally seeing to its transportation, claiming that it was a fragile antique he brought from his estate to adorn his rooms at Court.

The box travelled to the castle and was carried up several flights of stairs to the rooms of the Count of Biers, where he rudely dismissed the men. Using a pry bar to open the crate, he left the rooms for the night so that Aro and Jane could use them.

Once alone, Aro allowed his pregnant wife to sleep before they made their move that night. It would be several hours and they would need to be prepared.

In another part of the castle, Isabella was sitting with the girls, reading to them from one of her favorite books as a young girl. It really did her heart good to help these young ones, and the thought that sometime in the not so distant future that it would be Vanessa she would be regarding in this way made her ache. She hoped her husband would be home soon to see it.

As the time came for the girls to rest, Isabella took them to their new rooms, which were only a few down from the King's chambers. Once Isabella was settled into her rooms, she dismissed Kate, Sasha, and Makenna so that they might get a good night's rest as well.

The Queen retired for the night well after many of the castle's other inhabitants, save for two devious stowaways. With their plan in motion, Aro carried two cans of water for a bath, with Jane following behind with a basket of towels so that no one would question their movements.

The guard was the thinnest at night, many of them spreading around the castle to monitor movement from the outside in. Though few knew it, there was a five minute window when there were no guards on the Queen at all as they changed shifts, but with the Count's help, the replacements were sufficiently distracted so as to give Aro and Jane their chance.

Aro slipped in the Queen's rooms, while Jane gained entry into the nursery under the guise of replacing the towels and cloth diapers. Their time was brief, so they would need to be smart in their choices.

His plan was hinged on so many things, but one thing he didn't count on was a child's need for comfort.

Emilia had a habit of seeking out the Queen when her dreams became too much, so when that night brought on another bad dream, she snuck out of her room and used the secret passageway so that she could get into the Queen's room. As she reached the end of the corridor, she nearly pushed open the panel when she heard the Queen's muffled scream.

Isabella was sound asleep as Aro crept across the room, but his arrogance kept him from drawing his blade as he approached her. Instead, he sat it behind and decided to use his hands to do the deed. Slipping a hand over her mouth, a scream left her lips just as he climbed on the bed catching her left arm under his knee and her right in his other hand.

"The great Queen Isabella meets her match," he sneers. "It's sad that the little bitch that has caused so many problems will be taken care of so easily."

Isabella struggled as his hands moved to her throat, cutting off her airflow. Her fingers scratched at his forearms for a moment before clarity hit her and she reached behind her a second before the blade came out and sliced at his flesh. Drawing back in pain, Aro tried to get the blade from her, but Isabella managed to keep it just out of reach.

The pair struggled as Isabella went into a survival mode, flailing in an attempt get Aro off of her so she would have the advantage.

Emilia was just clearing the passageway as Jane exited the nursery with her task complete. Seeing the guards, Emilia called out, "There's something wrong with the Queen!"

"Child hush, it was only a bad dream," the man tried to dismiss her, but the little girl stood firm.

"No it wasn't, I used the secret passageway and heard a man in with her just before she cried out."

The men turned to one another before running off, calling for the girl to stay put. As they passed through the corridors, they collided with Jane, sending her basket to the floor and awakening the sleeping child that she had stowed within.

A look at the infant alerted the men that this plot against the royals was real as the Princess lay on the floor. Two men stayed behind to restrain Jane and care for Vanessa as the rest surged on towards the Queen.

Isabella managed to land a quick strike to Aro's right side, sending him off the bed, giving her enough time to gain the upper hand and land her killing blow. By the time the guard arrived few minutes later, the numerous blows to Aro's lifeless body made it was hard to determine who was injured worse for all the blood.

Sam, who had been sleeping in Countess Leah's rooms instead of his own, was alerted by Maria, and parted the crowd to aid his charge.

"My Queen, stay the blade, you have killed the bastard."

"I want his head on display by dawn," the Queen commanded, but Sam had some questions for his brothers in arms.

"Who was on guard at the door? Who let Aro into the room and why when it was clearly too late for visitors? Why was the Queen alone? Is she left unprotected every night when I leave her presence?" Sam's anger rose with each question as the men that had been selected to guard the Queen had failed her so thoroughly.

"No Sir, we had a disturbance with the Count of Biers, but it is clear he was a diversion. The man has been acting strangely and he was trying too hard to keep us from returning to our posts," the guard admitted.

"Do you have any proof of his treachery?" Isabella asked.

"The pair of them were seen leaving his rooms, but they were assumed to be servants that he rang for a bath, as they were carrying that paraphernalia."

"The pair?" Isabella questioned.

"Yes, Lady Jane was discovered as we rushed here disguised much as he was, only she had the Princess in her hamper. It seems that she snuck in and then kidnapped the babe as the room slept," another guard revealed.

"This is a time of war, the Count has broken his oath and I will see him drawn and quartered tomorrow, as for the little bitch -" Isabella meant to continue, but she was interrupted.

"Majesty, Jane's punishment will have to be stayed," one of the men told her.

"And why is that?"

"She's with child," he answered quickly.

Grumbling, Isabella pointed to the body of her sworn enemy as he lay dead at her feet. "Remove him from my quarters and have the witch put in the Tower. I want the Duke of Cullen to examine her at first light and if she is with child then she will be a guest in the Tower until it is born, if not, we will execute her two days hence."

"Are you injured, my Queen?" Sam asked.

"No, but I would like my daughter brought to me in the King's chambers. I have a change there, so if you could get someone to prepare a bath for me, I will clean up and then my daughter and I will attempt to get some sleep. This room should be scoured by the time I return tomorrow evening, is that understood?"

"Yes, Majesty," they called as she stormed past them.

*PttT*

All of the Queen's orders were carried out, but unfortunately, Jane was pregnant so she would be around for a little while longer. Maria revealed that she woke up to an image of Emilia running through the secret passageway and knew that it was something ominous, so she went to Sam as he was the most trusted of Isabella's guards. Carlisle insisted on examining the Queen, but with the exception of some bruises from the struggle, there wasn't anything wrong with her.

Emilia was treated to a hero's welcome amongst the Queen and her ladies, and Tia stood by and watched with pride. It was so hard to believe that a few short months ago she was a timid and mute young girl.

By mid afternoon, Isabella had announced the death of the final Volturi brother, and the capture of his wife. The capital rejoiced that they were rid of the former barons' pall and the Queen returned to her own chambers to attempt to relax with those closest to her.

The day saw one more important obstacle to the end of the war fall away.

*PttT*

With the enemy beginning to falter, additional troops from Bodie, Neuse, and Hatteras poured over the various borders to help with the push.

As they crossed into Dwyer, some of the men brought with them the news of the Queen's personal defeat of Aro, to the battlefield. The Captain in charge of the new troops coming from Neuse was gracious enough to carry a letter from the Queen so that when Edward heard the news of the attack, he would know she was hale and hearty and that the danger was over.

It took a while for the men to reach the camp that the Royal Army of Dwyer had set up, but when they finally arrived, the Captain went in search of the King.

"King Edward, I am sorry to interrupt, but I have an urgent missive from your wife. It details, among other things, the demise of the last of the White Lords and the imprisonment of the Count of Biers and Lady Jane."

"What?" Edward roared as he approached the man. "Where were they caught?"

"I do not know the details, except to know that Aro died at your wife's hands. This here has all the answers you are seeking." The man held out the letter and the King eagerly took it from him.

As Edward removed the seal, a part of him wanted to simply climb on Nettie and race back to the capital, but with the last of the men having arrived they would be battling against Pamlico again at sunrise. For the moment, her words would have to do.

Dear Edward,

I do not know if word has reached the camps yet, but it seems that we have found the answer to what Aro had been doing these past months.

After Maria foretold of danger, I made sure to keep a blade with me always and have extra guards, but it did little to stop your uncle. From Count Riley's own tongue before he was drawn and quartered, he told us of how he snuck the traitors into the country after they had slowly traveled north through Bodie. Once in the country, he kept them hidden and moved them to the capital, eventually crating them up and having the carried into the castle.

His part in the plot was to distract my guard long enough at the changing of guards so that Aro could slip in and slip out after having killed me. But thankfully, he didn't think about how hard I would fight back and I was able to soundly kill him just as my guard arrived.

Jane was caught as she tried to make off with Vanessa, and while her execution has been stayed until her bastard child is born, she will not live long beyond that day.

Edward continued to read the letter as it turned from the events of Aro's death to other state and personal business. Once again, instinct made him want to return to her side, but he knew his place was with his men.

The war seemed to be turning in their favor, and with the men these soldiers rallied behind all gone, it was only a question of how strongly they believed in the causes themselves, and how long they would continue to fight.