Chapter 43 – Tribal Council

BPOV

As soon as Grandfather and I appeared in the tribe's lodge, I bit my lip and surveyed the hallway outside the room where council meetings were held. I wasn't quite sure how I was going to explain everything to the Quileute elders. They had asked me after my vision quest what I had seen, and I was not able to voice anything at the time. Over the years, they have asked many times what I had seen, but I couldn't tell them. Hopefully, tonight would be different. I was ready to tell them.

"Good evening, Isabella, Malcolm," Billy said, walking toward us. "I was not expecting to see you at this council meeting."

"Is it all right that we just showed up?" Grandfather asked.

"I've told you anytime you want to attend, you'll be welcomed. Is there a reason you ask?"

"Does there have to be?" I asked. He shook his head no, and I continued. "But, yes, there was a reason. I am ready to tell the council what I saw during my vision quest, and what I have seen recently."

Billy's face said it all—he was shocked and curious all at the same time. "I have questions, but they can wait," he said, motioning me to enter before him. Once Grandfather and I were seated, Billy addressed the council. "Good evening, everyone. Isabella and Malcolm have joined us tonight, so welcome. Isabella has informed me that she is ready to share her vision quest with us, but first I have one question I would like her to answer before I yield the floor to her. Why now after all these years?"

"I'm not sure if I can really answer why. I have learned more recently, after sharing with—and I am afraid of how the council will react to what I'm about to say—the Cullens, about the prophecy and what I have seen."

A murmur went through the room, and I held up my hand signaling for patience.

"They had a right to know, and what I saw when the elders of this council sent me on my vision quest directly impacts them as much as it does the tribe. They were able to enlighten me by answering questions I have had for years."

"We could have helped you," Harry said. "There was no need to tell the vile bloodsuckers anything."

"I beg to differ, Harry," Billy said, addressing the council. "I know more than you think concerning the prophecy. I was the one the council of elders sent to Scotland, and I spoke directly with Annabella. She told me one day her granddaughter, Isabella, would marry a vampire."

A chorus of "no" resounded around the room from almost everyone, save Jacob, following this statement.

"It's true," I said, speaking up. "The prophecy spells out who I'm to marry, and it's to be Edward Cullen. Further, I asked him to marry me last night."

"I still don't see how you can love him," snapped Jacob, coming to stand in front of the council despite Sam's effort to stop him.

"I won't get into the reasons with you again, Jacob," I said, remaining calm.

"Jacob," Sam shouted. "Get back here and don't say another word."

I knew Jacob had no choice but to obey Sam. I turned and gave Sam an appreciative smile.

"Isabella, the council is yours to address," Billy stated, taking a seat as I stood and went to the front of the room.

"As Billy has already said, I'm ready to share what I saw years ago, but more importantly, what I have recently seen. I ask that you bear with me." I explained, as best I could, everything I had seen. When I was finished, the council had blank and confused looks on their faces.

"Who is Aro?" Harry asked.

I smiled, knowing this question was going to come. "I puzzled that over for years and looked in every clan text I could and found no reference to the name. I even asked Billy at one point, and he didn't know."

"You did?" Billy questioned.

"I erased your memory of the conversation. Luckily it was brief. And I now know who Aro is," I stated and paused.

"How?" Sam asked.

"Carlisle Cullen told me who he is. Aro is one of three leaders of the Volturi, a vampire coven. The Volturi are very powerful."

"Wait," Jacob said, standing but not moving. All eyes turned to face him. "Why does this Aro guy want you? And what does it have to do with the tribe?"

"I'm a threat to him. For starters, I'm aware of the existence of vampires, and one of their laws is to keep humans from finding out about them."

"All they want is your power," Jacob spat back.

"No, they don't, not necessarily," I said with conviction. "They can't see beyond my powers, but through a recent vision where I had a discussion with my mother and grandmother, I learned that they want something more special than my powers."

"What?" Grandfather asked.

"They don't understand how anyone can love. They want to recruit me, but I don't think they want to change me. I believe that want to study me and learn how love works."

"That doesn't make a bit of sense," Jacob and Sam said at the same time.

"I know. But the fact still remains—the tribe is in danger. The Volturi will not honor the treaty you made with the Cullen family, and I'm not sure if the Pack will be able to handle all the vampires that might come."

"What do you propose?" Sam asked.

Here goes anything and possibly everything. "That the tribe dissolve the current treaty and unite with the Cullens under a new treaty—a treaty of alliance."

"Are they willing?" Sam next asked.

"Yes," I said, hoping I was right. "We can meet on neutral ground—my house or the Star Command base."

"Would you give us some time, a half hour, to discuss?" Billy asked.

It wasn't an outright no, I thought to myself. "Of course," I said before glancing at my watch. "I need to go. Could you, Billy, or Sam call me with the decision?"

"I'll call you," Billy answered.

"Take all the time you need, but I do need an answer by tomorrow night."

"You'll have one soon," Sam said.

Grandfather and I walked out of the room before disappearing and reappearing in my office. I was glad the door was closed. After waiting a moment, I put a silence spell on the room. I knew only my security team, and possibly Emmett, was here. "What are your thoughts?" I asked, sitting.

"They listened, and that's a good start. You answered their questions and asked for their help. I would say it went well. We just need to wait and see."

My cell began to ring. "Hello?"

I listened as Billy told me the decision had been made shortly after we left.

"When and where?" I asked. "I will be sure to inform them. Who will be representing the tribe? … Oh, I see … No. I'm sure Sam will be fair, though I would feel better if you were there as well … Thanks, Billy. I appreciate the call and I will see you tomorrow night."

"Sounds like they are willing to sit down and discuss."

"No. They agreed to help and see no point in continuance of a treaty the Cullens have never broken. They want to see if some revisions of the treaty would be beneficial to all."

"That's good then."

"Very. The only person who seems to have a problem with the decision is Jacob. Billy has no doubt that he will eventually come around."

"You sound like you don't share his feelings."

"I don't. For a long as I have known Jacob, he has always been difficult, and once he decides something …" I waved my hand, trailing off.

"Hmm, perhaps, but he might just surprise everyone. You can be difficult, too."

"I know. I just hope he changes his mind, and if he does, it is not too late. I have to let the Cullens know and get ready for tomorrow." I grimaced, looking at the clock. It was close to ten in the evening and there was an early morning staff meeting at school.

APOV

I had been keeping an eye out for Bella's future, hoping it would come back soon. It always terrified me when it disappeared for extended periods of time. During the time when Bella was out of all of our lives, there were times when her future would disappear for weeks. The first time it happened, I called Edward and he freaked out. He started making plans on how he could provoke the Volturi into ending his life. Luckily, I had seen and thought to call both Charlie and Malcolm. Both had assured me that Bella was fine and traveling with a close friend. They never told me who but assured me that they would call and talk Edward down. From then on out, I always called Charlie first.

When she and Malcolm left, we decided to head home, leaving Emmett there. Both Edward and I were stir-crazy. He spent the time playing the piano. The piece he played I didn't recognize.

"New," I thought.

"Yes." His response was immediate.

An hour and a half later, Bella's future reappeared. I would give her ten minutes before letting the family know.

A/N: Thanks to my beta's for helping edit this chapter.