Most characters belong to S. Meyer. The rest belong to me.
Enjoy!
WARRIOR
Bella
"Cease!"
"Begin!"
"Warriors at your marks!"
The calls had been ringing out all morning in the field. The atmosphere was vibrant, so very different from anything I'd experienced before. The Warriors were out in force, all dressed for combat, some wearing chestguards, vizors and carrying weapons, others bare-chested and weaponless for the hand-to-hand combats. The pens were crowded with spectators and security was very tight. The Games were considered a prime target, so no chances were taken. Clan Leader had double Guard, as did Edward - and me, much to my annoyance. As Daughter of the Clan, I was required to sit with the Clan leadership, my seclusion order temporarily held for the day and I had two Guard dogging my feet wherever I went. In the end, I stayed in the observation tent with Clan Leader, as much for my own temper as anything else. I was ready to brain my Guard.
I focused on the Games. There had been sword combat, daggers, hand-to-hand, crossbow, archery and a whole host of other Games. I was slowly able to identify the Warriors by name and there wasn't a single "weak" Warrior among them. They were all strong, fought hard and mean. No wonder our Clan had rarely been challenged. I watched Alexus and Banf go at each other in one of the hand-to-hands and decided that anyone who wanted to take either of them on had to be a little thick.
To my surprise, I'd seen Rosalie too. I hadn't known she was a Warrior, not until I watched her in her combat gear face off against a male Warrior in a dagger combat, giving as good as she got and ultimately winning. Wow. As I clapped, I noticed Jacob in the corner of the observation tent, watching her intently. Rosalie, huh. I filed the information away for later.
And then the Elite events began. These took place between the senior Warriors, the ones with the most experience and skills, the best of the best, and as a result, the crowds were thicker. Even other Warriors were crowding around the games areas to watch.
I watched them all intently - but my focus sharpened considerably when he stepped out into the field. A great roar went up from the crowd at his appearance. In his combat gear, chestguard in place, leathers, face markings denoting his seniority, he looked intimidating and powerful. He looked like the leader he was.
And I was his mate.
I was his mate?!*%!
I watched as the Game Runner called out the rules for the Gauntlet, the other Warriors getting into position alongside Edward. This was an obstacle course of sorts, involving multiple challenges, combining elements of every combat we'd seen, testing every skill the Warriors possessed.
"Warriors, at your positions!" The Runner called.
"Go!"
I couldn't look away. I watched as he pulled himself up ropes, dodged weapons, pinned opponents to the ground, swung himself from bar to bar, slammed into obstacles, crawled and swam and ran. It was brutal, sometimes bloody. I had eyes for no-one else, no idea how the others were doing, so fixed was I on that male.
To say it was turning me on was an understatement. Mate bond, genuine attraction, I didn't care. I just wanted him with every fibre of my being.
I watched them head for the horses, the second last challenge in the event. He leaped on his horse in one smooth move and they began the jumps and hurdles that would take him to the final challenge. He and his horse moved as one, navigating the course with laughable ease until the last hurdle. The horse took the jump a second too early and its hind quarters caught the hurdle. It barrelled forward, throwing Edward off. I tensed as the crowd gasped, willing him to get up. Get up, come on, I touched my mate mark. And saw him touch his mark before staggering to his feet, limping towards the final challenge. A cheer went up from everyone watching. Despite his obvious injury, he completed the challenge ahead of the others, grabbing the victory flag and holding it up wearily, a smile on his face.
I was out of the tent before my Guard could protest, jumping over the field barricades, ignoring the shouted warning from the Runner and security. I headed straight to him, where he was gingerly being helped into a seat.
"Move." I said, not waiting to see what anyone thought, kneeling by his feet and unlacing his footwear. His right foot was a glorious maroon and swollen. I rolled up his leathers as far as they would go. He was going to be bruised from ankle to thigh tomorrow, but otherwise this was just a sprain.
"I think the general idea would be to stay on the horse, Edward." I said dryly, as I grabbed the binding and salve that someone had brought and began working on his foot. When there was no reply, I glanced up. He was looking at me in a way that made me go still. He reached out one muddy hand and gently touched my cheek, a tender smile on his face. I looked back down at his foot, confusion coursing through me.
"That should do it." I said hurriedly, standing up. "I need to see the horse." I didn't look back at him, walking towards the hurdle area where the horse was kicking up a bit of a fuss, rearing up and not allowing anyone near him.
"Stand back, Cai Isabella!" Someone yelled as the horse's hooves came down and the handlers backed off. I frowned. That was the mahogany, the horse that had been eating my apples for a good month.
I stepped forward firmly and raised my hand and my voice.
"Enough, boy."
The horse stilled immediately, his head snapping towards me. I could see the distress in his eyes, the froth in his mouth.
"It's alright, I'm here." I murmured soothingly, giving him my hand to sniff as I stepped close to his face. He whickered a little and then bowed his head, pushing his muzzle into my hand. I spent a few minutes scratching his forehead and chinguard, murmuring to him and soothing him. "I'm going to look at you, boy." I slowly, moved around him, one hand always on his body so he knew it was me. When I'd come back round, he was calmer.
"Just startled, weren't you? Nothing that a little rest and some hot mash won't cure. Stop that, you greedy thing." I swatted his muzzle as he tried to poke into my robe's pocket. "I don't have any apples today."
"Cai Isabella, what-" I turned as I heard the Runner's voice behind me.
Only then did I notice the small group surrounding me, staring at me. Including Edward, who was leaning heavily on Jasper, watching me with an unfathomable expression on his face.
"You know Sentinel, I see." His low voice curled through me.
"Is that your name?" I looked down at the muzzle still trying to get into my pocket. I glanced back up at Edward. "We've met, yes. Is there a problem?"
"Sentinel doesn't like people." Jasper replied.
"Oh that." I shrugged. "Animals generally like me."
"Sentinel doesn't let anyone near him except me." Edward said quietly.
"Animals really like me." I said, "Especially when I've got apples. Right boy?" I scratched his forehead and he whickered gently and butted me. I looked up at Edward. "It's probably because I'm your...because he can scent you on..." I stopped, flushing.
"Probably." He said softly, that same look I'd seen earlier on his face.
"He'll be alright now. Apples would be good." I glanced at some of the stablestaff I had recognised.
"You have such a way of taming wildlings." Edward murmured as I accompanied them towards the edge of the field.
"Shut up, Clan's Son." I said, trying to ignore the effect his softly drawled words had on my equilibrium. He chuckled as we reached the barricade.
"Well played." Clan Leader clapped Edward on the shoulder, a broad grin on his face.
"Father." Edward grinned back and then winced. His father glanced at me.
"A simple sprain and an entertaining bruise." I said.
"So, he's out of the rest of the Games." The Runner said from beside me. I nodded and then frowned as Edward shook his head.
"I only have one more event, the speed race. It's just a sprain, I can run."
"Oh yes, you can. If you're planning on breaking that foot. Are you fucking kidding me?" I said, staring at him.
"It's not that bad." He said, putting his foot down. "I can walk on it."
"Really?" I leaned forward and put my foot down on his, not lightly but not forcefully. He yelped and glared at me. "Yeah, that's not that bad at all. Don't be a dumbass, Edward."
"Did you just insult your mate?" He asked, raising an eyebrow as he turned to look at me.
"It's not an insult if it's true." I retorted.
"I know it's important to you, Edward, but she's right." Jasper said. "You're going to have to sit this one out."
Edward grimaced, looking back at the field for a long moment and then at the ground before silently allowing Jasper to help him out of the field to the Warrior's tent. I frowned as I watched them go.
I was still standing there when Jasper emerged a few minutes later.
"Jasper." I called. He saw me and came over.
"Why was he so bummed?"
Jasper looked a little uncomfortable. I waited and eventually he sighed.
"It has to do with his mother."
"Cai Esméralda?" I was surprised. Cai Esméralda, mate to Clan Leader Carlisle and Edward's mother, had died of a wasting illness years ago when Edward was a young teen.
Jasper nodded.
"He should tell you about it himself, but he runs this for her every year."
"Every year?"
"Since her passing." Jasper said quietly and then left me. I stayed lost in thought.
Then I went looking for the Game Runner, finding him by the barricades as they set up for the event. He turned in surprise as I approached.
"Cai Isabella."
"Runner, I just wanted to check. If an Elite participant is injured, someone else can run in their name, right?"
"Yes, if the substitute is another senior Warrior or of sufficient rank. Those are the rules." The Runner nodded. "But if you're thinking of who can run for Edward, all the senior Warriors are participating in the speed race already."
"I will run in Edward's name."
He stared at me.
I'd wondered if this was a good idea, I didn't like attention, I didn't want to be in front of these crowds, but I couldn't get the sight of Edward's dejected face out of my head.
"That's allowed isn't it?" I looked at him.
"You are of sufficient rank, certainly, Cai Isabella. But..." He said slowly.
"Then let's not delay." I was about to head towards the event starting line when he stopped me.
"Does Edward know?"
"Let's surprise him, shall we?" I gave him a brief smile. He looked at me long and hard and then gave me a sudden smile.
"Well, it should liven things up considerably, I'll say that."
I followed the Runner to where the other Warriors were waiting. There were about eight Warriors, Alexus and Banf among them, all about a head taller than me. All of them looked strong, in great shape, the epitome of Clan physique. Great. What the hell was I thinking, going up against these guys? I was going to get creamed and I was going to ruin Edward's name. It wasn't looking like such a smart idea now. They looked at me curiously as we approached.
"Warriors, Edward has been injured in the Gauntlet. Cai Isabella, as his mate, will run in his place." The Runner announced. Silence greeted his words and then they began to salute me slowly, hands over their hearts.
"Cai Isabella, this will be no holds barred, no-one will go easy in this event. You still have time to change your mind if you wish, it will be no dishonour to you or Edward." The Runner said. This was my chance to withdraw gracefully. I thought again of Edward's face. I took a breath.
"I understand. I will run." I said. He nodded.
"The rules, then." He proceeded to outline the rules and the route for all of us.
"Spectators, silence!" The Runner called. The crowd quietened down. "We will now have the speed race! We announce a last minute substitution! Warrior and Clan's Son Edward was injured in the Gauntlet and cannot participate in this event, however the rules do allow a substitute to run in his name. Today, Cai Isabella, his mate, will challenge in his name!"
I heard the crowd begin murmuring, but didn't dare to look in the direction of the tents.
"Warriors, at your marks!"
I got into the position I'd been assigned and took a deep breath.
The gun went and we were off.
Clan are known for strength and speed, with Warriors being the strongest and fastest among us.
I was no Warrior, but I've always been fast. Not that I thought about it much - Healing has always meant more to me.
It had been a long while since I'd run at full strength and speed. My health hadn't been so good since the withdrawal, but I'd been exercising every day and I knew what the others didn't. I might not have been back at full strength, but I was definitely back at full speed.
I released everything now.
I pushed myself up, feeling the strength course through me, feeling free for the first time in months. I put all my frustration, my anger, my pain into it, letting it all go as I ran and ran and ran. I felt the air whistling around me, my feet heating up with the friction. I heard nothing and saw no-one, I just gave everything. It was exhilarating.
The finish line appeared almost too quickly and as I thundered through it, I could hear the crowd roaring.
I looked around me then as I slowed.
Banf had come in ahead of me. The rest were coming in behind me.
"Warrior Banf wins!" The Runner announced to loud cheers. "And Cai Isabella, running for Warrior Edward, comes second!" The crowd roared and wouldn't stop roaring. Banf, smiling broadly, approached me, putting his hand on his heart and bowing low. I couldn't hear what he was saying, the noise was too loud. The other Warriors surrounded us, all sporting similar smiles, all of them bowing to me.
"Well played, Cai Isabella." The Runner grinned at me as he lead me back towards the observation tent.
"I was second." I said, gesturing at the crowd, "Isn't that an overreaction?"
"You're a non-Warrior." The Runner's grin widened. "That just became the highlight of the Games. And you're the Daughter of the Clan, running for her mate. They'll be talking of nothing else for days."
Clan Leader and some of the senior Council were waiting at the barricade as we approached, but I was looking at Edward, standing there, staring at me.
"Why did you do that?" He asked softly, eyes fixed on me as the Runner unlatched the gates. I shrugged awkwardly.
"What are friends for? Sorry we came second, though." I said awkwardly crossing through the barricade, then gasping as he crushed me to him in a bear hug.
" 'We.' " He whispered in my ear before holding my face in his hands, looking deep into my eyes and kissing me firmly. He lifted his head and smoothed his thumb over my lip gently. His voice was husky when he spoke. "I'll never forget this." He lowered his head and kissed me again, before hugging me to him.
After seeing the look on his face, his emerald-green eyes filled with emotion, I didn't think I would forget it either.
A/N: Thoughts?
