AN: and the next chapter :)
The aftermath of the battle!

Chapter 50 - Taking stock

EPOV

As the fires raged in front of me I breathed in deeply. It felt as if a wieght had dropped form my shoulders.

He was dead. Aro was dead.

The greatest tormenter I had ever known was gone from this world. He would never again torment me or Bella. Relief flooded through me but it was short lived as a vampire passed me, throwing another body part in the fire. Another volturi member.

The battle was over. We had won… But at what cost?

I surveyed the destruction around me as my family, friends and coven mates were walking around, trying to find people that were missing. Most of the bodies so far seemed to belong to the Volturi.

I was immensely relieved that my family had made it through. Emmett had some damage, but nothing that couldn't be healed; a torn shoulder and caved in cheek. Carlisle had come through unscathed, as had Esme. Jasper had been bitten numerous times, adding to his already vast collection of scars, but was further unharmed. Alice had a few scratches on her neck, but nothing too bad. Rosalie had come through unscathed as well, she was tending to Emmett right now, fussing over his wounds, and trying to get him to hold his shoulder still. Which was hard, as he was animatedly reliving some parts of the fight with one of the wolves. Seth. I was glad to see the young boy had come through unharmed as well.

Bella walked over to me with a soft smile on her face.

'Are you alright?' she asked.

I nodded once. 'I'll heal.' I said when she narrowed her eyes at me, not believing me.

She stepped closer and moved my head from side to side, inspecting my wounds. When she was satisfied with those, she went down, my shoulder had a large tear in it, but I was positive it was already knitting back together again. Then she went further down. There were some cracks along my ribs on both sides. But when she got to my hands she gasped. She pulled my right hand up to her face and I winced.

'Sorry' I muttered. 'I haven't been able to find them yet.'

'Edward. Why didn't you tell me sooner? We would have looked for them.'

I was missing three fingers on my right hand. I shrugged and put my other hand to her face.

'It's just a few fingers, love. I don't mind. I'll survive.' I brushed her cheek tenderly, glad I was still here to be able to do this. There had been moments that I had been sure I would die. 'Given what could have happened numerous times, I'm glad it's just the fingers I'm missing.'

She heaved a sigh, but leaned her face into my hand. 'I guess you're right. We got off lightly.'

I swept her hair back from her shoulder and turned her face up slightly, inspecting her wounds. The gashes on her neck were already healing, I was glad to see.

'Anything else?' I asked her as I softly trailed the lines. She shook her head. I heaved a sigh of relief, before pulling her into my embrace. 'Thank god. I'm so proud of you.'

She sank into my arms and we stood there for a moment, simply enjoying being close to each other before there was a scream. Our heads snapped up and we looked at each other with trepidation.

I focussed and zeroed in on the thoughts accompanying the scream. I closed my eyes. 'They've found Irina.' I whispered.

'Oh no.' Bella whispered. I grasped her hand with my good one and pulled her in the direction of the sobs now coming from Kate.

We found her quickly. She was on the ground, cradeling the severed head of her sister in her arms. Bella didn't hesitate but crouched down next to her and wrapped her arms around her shoulders.

'Oh Kate.' She said softly. 'I'm so sorry.'

Kate sobbed harder as Bella started rocking her. I crouched down in front of her, putting my hand over hers on Irina's head.

'I'm sorry Kate.' I whispered. 'Will you let her go? Then we can gather her up and give her a proper goodbye tonight.'

Kate sobbed but through her tears she gave a shaky nod. I called over Leah and Seth who had volunteered to get any dead ready for burial. They came over with a stretcher and I gently took Irina's head from her sister's hands. I placed it carefully on the gurney and helped Leah find the other pieces. When she was complete again, Seth and Leah took off, gathering her into the truck we had brought to the clearing for this purpose. The fallen Volturi members were being burned here, our own fallen were being taken home. We would make sure they would get a proper goodbye.

Thankfully, the fallen on our side had been limited. Two young wolves, Brady and Colin had given their lives. Three vampires, all new additions to the coven, and now Irina was the fourth.

Kate wrapped her newly freed hands around Bella and they rocked together as Bella spoke soothing words and stroked her back softly. She glanced up at me with sorrow in her face. It hurt me to see her like this. The helplessness on her face was clear. She wanted to help Kate, but she didn't know how.

I put my hand on her shoulder and squeezed it softly. 'Just be with her for a moment. Let her grieve.' I whispered. 'I'll be over there.' I nodded over my shoulder to where Carlisle was standing. Bella nodded once.

Another death. Carlisle thought, his thoughts saddened as he looked at Irina's body as it passed him. I walked over to him slowly, giving him a moment to wrap his head around the passing of his longtime friend.

'Carlisle' I said as I got to him. He nodded to me in greeting.

'My son.' He whispered. Grabbing hold of my good shoulder. 'It is finally over.'

'I'm sorry it has cost so much.' I muttered, staring at the raging fires.

'Me too, son. Me too.' He sighed. But then squeezed my hand. 'I'm proud of you, though.'

I frowned and looked up at him, nothing in his thoughts had warned me that that was coming.

He turned to look at me and there was a gentleness in his eyes. 'You've grown so much these past few months Edward. The way you acted throughout this battle… I couldn't be more proud of you. You were fair and just and you protected your coven.'

'Not all of them.' I sighed.

Carlisle shook his head in agreement. 'Not all of them, sadly. But everyone followed you here willingly. And you're giving them a last respect by giving them a proper buryial.'

'I'm sorry you had to be involved, I know this went against everything you stand for.'

Carlisle shrugged his shoulders. 'Aro had truly gone insane it seems. The world is better off without him.'

I raised my brows at him, but he only shrugged again. I may have been blinded in the past by our longtime friendship. I should have seen the signs of his manipulations.

'Don't blame yourself, Carlisle. You couldn't have known… no one knew, not even his own brothers.'

He sighed deeply. 'Let's make sure every piece is being burned and then head back to the big house.'

I nodded in agreement. I headed back to bella and Kate and saw that Esme had joined them as well. Along the way I gave a few orders to the vampires still collecting pieces. We had found all the missing vampires and wolves and the wounded were all heading to the hospital on teh reservation already. the only thing left to do was make sure every piece was burned. A few vampires would stay behind to make sure every piece was burned and to make sure the fires wouldn't get out of control.

As I reached the little group of kneeling women I softly cleared my throat to let them know I was there. 'Let's head to the big house. We've found everyone. And burned all the Volturi.' I muttered.

Bella nodded in agreement. Together with Esme they hauled Kate to her feet and started walking her towards the trucks. There was a last truck waiting for anymore bodies or wounded to transport back to the house. We carefully helped her inside the truck. Kate wasn't wounded per se, but she was in no state to be running anywhere soon. Esme climbed in after her, promising Bella to take care of Kate.

Bella nodded and shut the door behind them. Sending the truck off.

As the truck disappeared behind a bend in the road we turned to face each other, simply looking at each other for a long moment.

'What do we do now?' she whispered.

'We bury the dead with respect.' I sighed. 'We thank the living for having fought with us. And we start looking towards tomorrow. The entire vampire populace of Europe is without a leader now. We'll have to figure out what to do.'

She sighed and rubbed a hand over her face. 'Let's head back then.'

We were just about to set off when there was a sound of footsteps approaching us, multiple pairs.
Bella glanced at me and I shrugged. We had accounted for all the major players of the Volturi, they were all gone. I didn't know who it could be coming now.
I focussed for a moment and reached out with my mind hoping to hear something, anything to indicate who it was.

I hope they'll forgive me for my part in all this.

That fucker better be glad I helped his ass out.

I can't believe I'm alive. I'm never letting her out of my sight again

Three voices blabbered in my head. Two were familiar. One was not.

Demetri was scolding me up a storm for giving him the task of busting out Angela's mate. He was not happy about that, especially because he missed Aro's demise. Still he was glad he had been instrumental in their reunion.
Angela was filled with trepidation at her return to us. She was fearing we would see her only as a spy. She hoped that we would give her time to explain, that she had no choice. And she hoped that we would be merciful. Especially bella. For some reason she feared Bella's reaction more than my own.
The last voice was uknown to me. It had to be Angela's mate. I had not known she was mated. Her mate was no vampire of our coven. I was curious how they had met and when...

Had Aro been holding him over her this entire time? Fifty years would be awfully long without your mate. I couldn't fanthom it. The months Bella had been away from my side had been almost unbearable.

'It's Demetri with Angela and her mate.' I told Bella as the footsteps came closer. Bella breathed a sigh of relief.

Then they broke through the foliage. Angela stopped dead in her tracks, her mate did too, not wanting to be apart from her for even a few meters it seemed. Demetri had no such qualms. He ran straight to me, stopping just a few inches from my face.

'Next time, clue me in a bit better, dipshit.' He spat.

'Demetri.' Bella chastised him immediately.

'No Bella, it's alright.' I assured her. I understood he was upset and where he was coming from. 'I'm sorry Demetri, I had to be stealthy to not tip off Aro.'

He heaved a sigh. 'I get it. You had to.' He muttered. He had not expected that reaction from me apparentely. He was still a bit ticked off that Bella had chosen me it seemed. And he had hoped for a bit more satisfaction for him. 'I'm still gonna be pissed for awhile that you sent me on a wild goose chase to get that one, while you were here ripping Aro's head off.'

'I'll keep that in mind.' I told him with a slight chuckle.

He shook his head but then chuckled as well. 'Were there any surviors?' he muttered then as he surveyed the fires billowing blue smoke.

I nodded. 'Yes. But not many. Not all were taking out by us.'

'No. There was a lot of bad blood that had festered for too long.' Demetri agreed. 'Where are the survirors?'

'Everyone's gone to the big house.' I replied. 'The injured have been taken to the reservation. Better facilities there.'

He nodded. 'alright. I'll head that way too.'

Before he could set off, I put my hand on his shoulder. 'Thank you.' I told him earnestly. 'Thank you for helping us. Thank you for trusting in me.'

All right let's not get too touchy feely here… he thought at me, clearly slightly uncomfortable. 'No problem' he said out loud.

Then he set off.

I glanced to the other side of the clearing and was pleased to see Bella and Angela with their arms around each other, clinging on for dear life.
I walked over slowly, not wanting to startle them. Angela's mate noticed me first. He sank down on his knees when I stepped closer.

'My lord. I throw myself upon your mercy.' He said, bowing deeply. Angela broke away from Bella and was on her knees in the next instant as well.

I sighed. 'Please get up.' I said quietly.

I pulled Bella close to me and looked at her for a moment. 'Everything okay?' I asked her softly.

She nodded immedieately. A small smile on her lips. 'Edward, this is Ben. Angela's mate.' Bella introduced us.

Ben bowed his head deeply and stayed on his knees.

'Edward.' Angela said softly. 'I am so sorry… I don't know how I can ever make up for what I did… just know that I am truly terribly and eterneally sorry for the role I played in this war…I didn't want to, but Aro-'

I cut her off. Her thoughts were filled with panic and turmoil and worry over me seeing her as a spy.

'It's alright Angela. He had your mate.' I said softly. 'I understand that.' I glanced at Bella to see her nod in agreement.

Angela heaved a relieved sigh.

'How long were you Aro's prisoner?' I asked Ben.

'A few months I think.' He said softly.

'Did they hurt you?' I asked.

He winced and a few memories shot through his mind of Jane and Felix taking turns. I winced alongside him, knowing what that was like. 'Not as much as others sir.'

Although my mind was filled with other questions for Angela and Ben, I knew we had to get back to the house.

'Alright. Let's all head back to the big house. We need to give a proper send off to our fellow coven mates. After that I suggest we all sit down and talk some more.' I suggested.

Bella nodded in agreement.

'Thank you, my lord.' Ben said bowing deeply again.

'It's Edward, Ben. Just call me Edward.'

He nodded again. But didn't get up from his bow until Bella had grabbed my hand and took off running. Angela and Ben close behind us.