Most characters belong to S. Meyer. The rest belong to me.
CONDITIONS
Bella
I arrived in Volterra mid afternoon, accompanied by Healers Tia, Lora and Joran and two Guard. The others had gone on ahead at full strength and speed, while I was forbidden to strain myself and was travelling at normal pace.
I was given some time to freshen up and rest, but then lead to the Council Chambers to meet with the Clan leadership. It was time to face the music.
The Council Chamber seemed crowded to my eyes. The senior Healers were all there, the full Council was present, all 15 of them, the Chief Guard, the Keeper of the Gate, a nondescript male who was talking quietly to Jacob, Clan Leader Carlisle and, of-course, my beloved mate.
As I entered the room, it hushed. I felt their gazes as I was lead to the center of the room. I did not offer a greeting or bow, that would have been hypocritical of me and I was done with pretending. I just waited.
"I will request this Chamber to be seated so we can begin." Clan Leader spoke into the silence. He waited till everyone was seated or in position before taking his own seat and then turning his gaze on me.
"Isabella of Forks, you are here before the Clan today to answer questions related to two serious matters. First, that you rejected your mate and took actions against your mate's well-being. Second, that you left the Clan. The Council, on behalf of the Clan, will question and then decide how to deal with you."
I kept my gaze steady on him. Let them ask. No-one could tell me how to answer or force me to. That last freedom was still mine.
The interrogation began.
"Do you admit that you deliberately left the Clan, crossing Clan borders into NonClan lands?" A senior Council member asked.
"Yes." No point in denying the obvious.
"Do you admit rejecting your mate?"
"Yes." They were exchanging glances, as if they had thought I'd deny it.
"Do you admit that you took action against your mate's well-being?"
"No."
"Did you create a scent blocker and intentionally hide your identity?"
"Yes."
"And these actions are not against your mate's wellbeing?" Another Council member said, sounding appalled.
"They were not intended against him."
"So you do not see your actions as harmful?" The Council member frowned.
"There was no intention to harm."
"But they did."
"Unfortunately." I said calmly, noting the perplexed looks some of them were exchanging.
"How did you think of creating a blocker?" A third Council member spoke.
"I'm a Healer."
"Did anyone help you?"
"No."
"It's not written in any tomes, so where did you learn to do this?" Healer Kate asked quietly.
"I'm a good Herbalist."
"You're telling this Council that a female of your young years created a compound of this complexity?" A skeptical sounding Council member stared at me.
"I'm a very good Herbalist."
"It would appear so." He looked thoughtfully at me.
"And you are sure this compound cannot be found in any tomes?" Another Council member interjected, a trifle anxiously.
"I have not read every tome that exists. But I did not find it in any tome."
"Did you create a garden in Forks growing two herbs meant for this compound?" Healer Kate asked.
"Yes."
"Did you have any help creating the garden?" This from one of the Council again.
"No."
"Not even from your friend, Healer Carmen?"
I raised an eyebrow at the question.
"How did she not find a garden that was right under her nose?"
"How did the Council not find me right under their nose?" I asked evenly.
"Do you mock us?" A Council member asked sharply.
"I wouldn't dream of it."
"So how did Carmen not know?" The one who had asked the original question persisted.
"How did anyone not know?" I countered quietly.
There was a pause.
"Carmen was not involved." I reiterated, waiting for the next question.
"How long did you take it?" Healer Eric asked, and I saw the other Healers were listening intently.
I had thought about how I'd answer this question, because the truth would probably raise a stack of other questions and would give them an insight into me I didn't want to give them.
"A while."
"How long?" Eric asked again, more firmly.
"A long while."
"Your withdrawal tells us it must have been a few years." Healer Joran said quietly.
"Then it must be a few years." I replied as I met his eyes.
"Was it always your intention, then, to hide from your mate and leave the Clan?" Clan Leader Carlisle asked, going directly to the point.
Ah, now we were getting to the dangerous questions.
"Isabella." He prompted. I looked back at him but said nothing. He sat back in his chair slowly. I could see Edward next to him out of the corner of my eye, gaze fixed on the table, a nerve working in his jaw, his body taut. I had been aware of him since I'd entered the room, sitting quietly and listening but not speaking, that emerald-green gaze on me every so often.
"You were taking the blocker before you knew who your mate was?" Healer Joran asked a brief pause.
"Yes."
"Why?"
I looked steadily at him, keeping my face impassive.
"Did you know that Edward was your mate?" The Clan Leader asked suddenly. Answering that question was a bad idea. I didn't say anything.
"Let me rephrase that. When did you know Edward was your mate?"
I stayed silent.
"I'd advise you to answer the question." He said, his voice calm but steely. "We can always track when you first met him. He wasn't taking any blockers, so you'd have recognised his scent."
I was wondering when that would strike someone.
"I knew when I was treating him." I answered. Here it comes.
My reply sent a murmur around the room.
"And you still chose to block him and leave."
"Yes." I replied.
The room went silent.
"Did you spare a thought for your mate?" Clan Leader asked, his voice controlled but I could see the anger on his face.
I glanced at Edward then.
"I thought he'd be better off not knowing." I held his gaze and saw him clench his fists.
"That was not your decision to make." Clan Leader Carlisle said, his voice harsh.
"Perhaps." I said. "But I made it."
"You are very casual about admitting it." A female Council member said curiously.
"I may hide from many things, but I do not hide from what I've done." I said simply.
"Do you feel sorry for what you've done?" She asked and I could feel every gaze on me as they waited.
"I am sorry that it hurt someone." I said, looking steadily at Edward.
"I am not sorry for anything else."
OOOOOOOOOO
I sat quietly, waiting.
The questioning had stalled at some point as I had chosen not to answer the more dangerous questions on why I'd hidden from my mate, why I wanted to leave the Clan, where I'd been going, what I'd been planning to do, whether I was unhappy in the Clan, why I hadn't talked to any Clan about my feelings and so on.
I'd tested the Clan Leader's legendary patience, I knew. The Council members had either looked appalled, flabbergasted or confused at my silence, I don't think it had crossed their minds that I might choose not to answer.
And now I was awaiting the outcome. Not that I cared. I'd already received my life sentence.
The Guard beckoned me and I rose to follow him back into the chamber, taking my place at the centre of the room again.
"The Council has deliberated." Clan Leader was watching my face intently as he spoke. "You've put us in a difficult position. This has never happened before, in any Clan. It must not happen again. Appropriate consequences are called for. And yet, there is your mate to consider and your matehood, not to mention the Clan as a whole. You are Daughter of the Clan after all. It has been a very hard decision to make. But we have made it."
I waited.
"You will serve a period of seclusion. There will be the usual limits, a daily curfew, a daily routine, limited contact with friends, confinement within Clanholding and its grounds, structured service within Clanholding. Your seclusion will be ended by the Council when it sees fit. When it does end, you will be required to have a Guard with you whenever you leave Clanholding." He paused. I didn't react so he continued. "You will join the Clan gatherings at dinner every evening with exceptions only during sickness. You will be required to meet me once a week. The Council deems these measures as fitting consequences and also to ensure your bond with the Clan is strengthened."
"Do you have any questions?" Healer Kate asked.
I shook my head. Seclusion wasn't a surprise to me. They couldn't shove the Daughter of the Clan in the dungeons after all.
"You will provide Healer Kate with an exact description of the compound you created, with every detail - from herb collection, preparation, proportion, distillation to dosage. It will be recorded in the Clan tomes."
"As the Council wishes." I replied. If they were trying to prevent others from doing what I'd done, providing people with the template seemed like a funny way of going about it, but I doubted they'd hear me out on that.
"You do not agree?" Healer Joran had obviously read my reaction.
"You think otherwise?" A Council member prompted as I hesitated.
"Currently I'm the only one who knows the details. Recording it would mean others have access." I said simply.
"You're trying to help the Clan now?" A Council member raised an eyebrow.
"Amateurs should not try this. It would...end badly." I said quietly, looking at Healer Kate. "But it is the Council's decision."
The Healers were having a discussion among themselves and then Kate addressed the Council.
"She raises a point. The Healers will discuss this and speak further with the Council. For now, Isabella is the only one who knows how to make this and we will ensure it remains so."
"Very well." Clan Leader inclined his head and then looked back at me. "To continue. The Healers and Healer Charis from Clan Petral have made it clear to the Council that you are a Healer of exceptional skill and ability, already an asset to the Clan. We do not want to deprive the Clan of such a Healer, nor do we want to stop you from doing what you love. We are not cruel. You may continue your work, but under supervision by a senior Healer."
"No." I said calmly.
"This is the only circumstance under which you will be allowed to Heal." He said firmly. "Until Healer Kate and the senior Healers think you can be trusted again."
"No, I mean it's not necessary. I won't be Healing again."
I hadn't needed to think much about that decision. I didn't think I could ever step into a stillroom ever again or a herb garden.
"Isabella." Tia whispered. "No."
"You've been a Healer all your life." Healer Lora said gently. "You can't just walk away."
"I can't?" I said mildly. Silence followed my words.
"For now, we will accept a temporary halt to your Healing." Clan Leader said finally. "Temporary."
I looked steadily back at him.
"With regards to your mate." He exhaled slowly and leaned forward gravely, steepling his hands together. "What you did was serious, Isabella. Your mate would be within his rights to demand confinement to chambers, immediate Claiming and mating until your bond was made irretrievable." His eyes bore into me but I didn't flinch. "But your mate wishes only that you both will share chambers together and that you both will walk together every day. The Council further stipulates that you are bound to follow your mate's direction for your matehood and your safety. I hope you realise how lucky you are."
I smiled mirthlessly. Interesting word.
Lucky.
I looked across at Edward, meeting his resolute, smaragdine-green gaze.
A/N: Thoughts?
