FARE YOU WELL

BELLA

I hid in Healer's Quarters for the rest of his stay, with the very valid excuse of having lots of work to get on with. Riley willingly aided my quest to stay out of everyone's way by running interference and ensuring it was clear that I would have loved to join everyone (blatant lie) but I was too dedicated to my work (sort of true). He was as anxious as I was to avoid a repeat of that first encounter.

I needed to stay out of the way. Already there had been more attention than I was comfortable with - more attention than I needed. I didn't need the eyes of the Council or Clan heads on me, not with the secret I held or the plans I had. An obscure, unknown Clan member leaving the Clan would not be missed. The minute I had a name and a connection, there would be issues. Especially now. Somehow, I didn't think they'd react very well to the future Clan Leader's mate running off. And nothing, not even my attraction or the strange dynamic we had, had changed my views on that. If anything, I was even clearer. Me, as Clan Leader's mate? I shuddered. What a thought. The Clan would come crashing down in weeks.

No, I was making the right choices - not just for myself, but for the Clan, as it turned out. And probably for Edward too. Much better he think of himself as mateless.

The past 10 days was a blip, an aberration, a temporary disruption - I was not going to call it a setback - and in a few hours, he'd be gone and I could get on with things. I had to get everything in order. The moment I had found out Edward was my mate, the clock had started ticking.

I had to leave sooner rather than later. I was running out of time.

As it happened, I had no idea that it was already too late.

OOOOOOOOOO

"Thank you for your hospitality." Clan Leader Carlisle thanked the Council members, shaking hands with some, clapping others on the shoulder as he spoke. There was a small crowd gathered around the Clanholding front steps to bid a proper farewell to the group from Clanholme. Unfortunately, this I couldn't escape so I stood quietly to the rear, allowing everyone else to make their farewells. Jasper, Rosalie, Emmett and the others had become very pally with our Guard and were laughing and chattering off to one side as they said goodbye.

"Leader Ephraim and the rest of your contingent will return in another week or so." Clan Leader was saying, "Once we've concluded all we need to discuss."

"You are a good father, my Lord, to interrupt your participation to come for your son." One of our senior Council said.

"Kind words, brother." Clan Leader responded. "But I would not have come had I not had complete confidence in the abilities of our Council members to handle the matters at hand."

Diplomatically said, I thought admiringly, he's a good leader. I jumped as I felt a familiar voice near my ear.

"Hiding at the back?"

I turned to face him, ignoring the shiver that had hummed down my spine and the goosebumps forming on my skin.

"My Lord Edward." I said evenly, inclining my head. I had to be careful, there were too many people here and I'd catch it if I were overfamiliar with him in front of them. He inclined his head, following my lead.

"Healer Isabella."

"I have given your Guard the ointments and medicines you will need for your journey." I was repeating what he knew already. "I'm sure that the Volterra Healers will be able to provide whatever you need once you're back."

"I doubt that." He said quietly, his gaze steady.

"I apologise if I have stepped over the line during this time." I said formally and he smiled a little wryly.

"That's my line."

"Then we are even, my Lord." I replied and after a second he nodded.

"We are."

"I wish you safe journey, my Lord." I said, my words were final and he knew it. As I stepped back, he stepped forward.

"Isabella, I-"

"Healer!" Jasper called my name as he and the other Guard approached us. I turned to them with some relief.

"Healer, I speak for all of us. It has been our honour to meet you. Thank you for all you have done, for the care you have shown our Lord." Jasper said, his hand over his heart, face solemn. I automatically returned the gesture.

"He is my Lord too." I said, bowing my head slightly before looking up at him.

"Yes, and you've gone out of your way to serve him." Jasper said, putting both hands on my shoulders. "And so served the Clan."

"Erm, way to be formal, Jasper." I said, unable to stop myself. Jasper grinned and then was gently pushed to the side by Rosalie, who came to stand in front of me, a smile on her face.

"We will meet again, Healer. I'm sure of it." Her gaze flicked to Edward behind me and then back at me. "Fare you well." She hugged me briefly, pulling away and letting Emmett take her place.

"So, Healer." He exhaled slowly.

"So, Grizzly." I said equally seriously. His lips twitched.

"I'm sorry for being so...grizzly." He said gruffly.

"Every leader needs a grizzly." I said smiling at him. "No hard feelings, fare you well."

"Fare you well." He said, reaching out to gently pat my shoulder, before stepping back to allow the others to say their farewells to me. As the last one was speaking, I heard the Clan Leader's voice.

"Healer Isabella."

Edward's Guard stepped aside immediately and the Council that was gathered around the Clan Leader turned and looked in my direction. I approached him slowly, head bowed slightly.

"My Lord." I said. I felt his fingers under my chin, raising my head to meet that steely grey gaze. He placed his hands on my arms.

"Thank you once more. I am in your debt." He said gravely.

"It is my honour to have been of service." I said. He smiled then.

"Fare you well."

"Fare you well, my Lord, and safe travels." He squeezed my arms and then turned away, the little group following him. I stayed where I was, watching them all go see him off. I felt someone come up from behind me. Edward passed me and then stopped when he was a few feet away and turned.

"I will not forget. Till we meet again, Isabella." He said softly before turning and joining his waiting father.

OOOOOOOOOO

It didn't make sense that Healer's should feel so empty, but that's how it felt after he was gone. I threw myself into cleansing the recovery room, sanitising it and removing all trace of his presence. I visited my patients - Karline and a few young whose symptoms of the flux had lingered - and made an exhaustive task list. I plotted my departure in detail, from the funds I needed, to the route out of Clan territories, to which month and the time of day. With Carmen still away, I took the opportunity to brew fresh quantities of the suppressant, something I had to do secretly when she was around. The herb gardens had never been in such good care. I stayed busy, very busy.

And it was almost enough.

Despite my best efforts, I wasn't quite able to get that grey gaze out of my head. Sometimes when I was in the stillroom, I would turn suddenly, feeling it on my back.

I had taken the suppressant, but he hadn't. And the effect on me was...the reason I didn't want a mate.

Two months. In two months, I'd be ready to go. Ideally, I needed a year to have a cushion of funds. But I had to leave soon, my senses were warning me to go before something happened. Two months would get me to enough, enough to survive.

And maybe once I was out there, I'd be able to shake that green gaze.