Chapter 14

Edward stopped us just outside the massive ornate doors. "Bella, just be yourself. Don't try to evade answers. Truth is power."

I looked into his eyes, looking for something, anything. Faced with stoic concern, I instead closed my eyes and felt him—concern but not fear, love, and awe. I smiled, "We got this, Edward."

I opened my eyes to see his eyebrows crease. "Don't let go of me."

I touched his cheek and nodded.

With a deep breath, he pushed open the doors and ushered me into a cavernous room.

It was cool and comforting with defused light that seemed to come from twinkle lights in the ceiling.

Edward took determined steps toward the four men sitting on a platform in the center of the room. I followed, connected by our hands. He was warm, safe, and loving, and I leaned toward his strength as we approached.

Elder Carlisle stood. "Edward—Isabella, it honors us that you are early to our gathering."

Edward bowed at the waist, and I hesitated before I lowered my head as Edward said, "It is our anticipation for this meeting that has us imposing on decorum, sir."

A small-framed man stood, "Nonsense, my dears, we welcome you. Our prolonged anticipation of meeting with Isabella has covered many years, and now, she stands before us."

"Thank you, Father Aro."

A third man seemed to cheer "Cha" with a clap. I looked to Edward, who smiled and, with a laugh, said, "Elder Marcus, your joy of the moment cheers us."

Without thinking, I turned to the fourth man on the platform and felt a chill as the white-haired man glared back at us.

Edward drew me closer by my hand, and I felt relief at turning from him.

Edward bowed toward the corner, "Elder Caius, it is our pleasure to stand before you."

"Yes, it would appear so. I will pose the first question if all agree."

Aro and Carlisle nodded as they regained their seats and motioned for Caius to begin.

Caius leaned forward with his palms flat on the broad arms of his seat, "Edward, what were you thinking bringing the Earthling to our world?"

Edward looked to Carlisle and shifted on his feet as he formed his thoughts.

But I stepped forward, "Sir, I pressed to return with Edward. I asked to come on this turning, and I felt waiting another year would be too much."

Edward tugged me toward him, and I thought perhaps I had misstepped until Marcus bounced his hand on his lap and nodded. He said, "I am glad you did, and I agree that another turning to meet you and work towards answers to the portal would have been a setback. You showed wisdom, young one."

I bowed my head and said, "Thank you, sir."

Caius shifted in his seat, "I was speaking to our son, not the Earthling."

Aro leaned forward, "Her name is Isabella and will be spoken of with respect Brother Caius."

Edward tightened his hold on my hand and said, "I understand, Elder Caius. I agree with Elder Marcus that another turning would be too long, and I feel a pull to prepare for what time will bring us."

Elder Carlisle leaned forward, "and what is that, son?"

I looked to Edward and his open, earnest face as he said, "I believe perhaps the portal will invite others to join us in this world, sirs." He looked at me and added, "I met some of Bella's friends, and they are smart and aware. I feel perhaps time will prepare us for a change in our world."

Caius stood and huffed, but it was Aro who spoke. "Do you feel danger in this Earthling world, Son Edward?"

Edward dropped his head for a moment and brought our joined hands to the small of my back as he stepped closer. "Sirs, I have not spoken fully to Bella but to answer your question, yes and no. Yes, as there is much chaos in Earth's atmosphere, heart, and mind."

"Would you agree, Isabella?" Caius asked.

I looked to Edward, trying to gauge why I should betray my world. "Sirs, I would agree that we have much in the way of war and hatred, and we have polluted our world, but—"

"Sirs, if I may, the second half is "no" in that they are beautiful people. People from whom we can learn much. I trust the Great One in his judgment to open the portal, and I trust the effects of his decision. The one who holds time will reveal all as he sees fit."

Elder Carlisle and Marcus stood as Carlisle said, "Yes, well said, son." As they regained their seats, I noticed a cloaked woman step from the shadows to stand behind Elder Carlisle for the first time.

Carlisle remained forward as he spoke softly, "Speak, my favored one."

The women began to speak, but Edward held his hand up. "I mean no disrespect, Mother. I only wish to introduce my bonded one to my mentor's bond. She motioned with a slender ivory hand to proceed. "Mother Esme bondwoman to Elder Carlisle, I am proud to introduce the earthling Isabella Marie Swan." He bowed low before straightening and turning to me. "Bella, this is Elder Carlisle's wife, Esme. I hope time will build a friendship between you."

Humor. I looked toward Esme to see a warm smile and sparkling eyes. She found humor in Edward's formalness, and I smiled in agreement. "I am most honored to meet you, ma'am."

"As I, you, my dear." Her voice was light with a gentleness that soothed my nerves.

Carlisle patted the slender hand resting on his shoulder. "Speak."

I saw her hand caress his shoulder as she raised her voice. "Our chronicles record the Earth people to be much like us, and time has brought them to the state they are in because of the darkness that closed the portal so many ions ago. I see goodness and bravery in this Earthling —many attributes we revere and value."

Aro leaned forward, "Thank you, Mother Esme, for your wise counsel. We will consider all as we decide how to move forward."

Edward took a step toward the platform but froze as the lights above us shifted and swayed. Edward pulled me to his side and wrapped his arm firmly around my waist as the swarm flew around the room before three lights left the others to descend, growing in size as they spiraled down. As their feet touched the floor, two men and a woman stood before the platform. The men appeared to be near five feet tall, whereas the woman was a good foot shorter.

The men bowed to the platform, but the woman turned toward me as Esme flew to my side and clasped my hand.

~o0o~

Edward

I bowed before the two fey men, and as Esme took Bella's hand, I felt the supportive connection.

The four men stood and bent low to the two men before them. As the lady approached, I bowed toward her, but something shifted in Bella as she neared.

Bella stepped away from my protective arm. I reached for her hand, but she was already reaching toward Alyse. Esme stayed connected and stepped forward with her, for which I was thankful.

"Who are you?" Bella whispered as her hand moved toward the female.

"I am Alyse," She cocked her head in the other direction. "And you are Earthling Bella." Piercing grey eyes turned toward me, and I forced myself to keep my eyes connected to hers. "She is you forever bound, Son Edward."

I stepped forward, causing the two men to move to her side. I reclaimed Bella's hand and lowered my voice as I said, "Yes, Fey Alyse."

Her gaze moved back to Bella, and she smiled brightly. "Then we will be able to keep her." Caius' chair scooted back as he stood in protest to the idea.

But my eyes stung as I said, "Yes, Alyse. Is not that lovely?"

Alyse reached her hand out while stepping away from me. I started to move with Bella to put my arm around her to protect her, but Esme tightened her hold on Bella's hand and nodded for me to stay back.

Bella took one more step and took the fey's hand. A glow grew from the union, and as the two fey men placed their hands on top of Alyse's, the light grew, drawing the gathering of fey from the ceiling to gather in mass around Bella. I could only see the top of her head, and they circled her, and the light pulsed from the hands' union.

Esme, in time, gasped and, letting go, covered her face with both hands. I pushed toward Bella, but the two fey men blocked me to protect Alyse with one step. The fey began to dance and swirl and finally ascend toward the ceiling in the form of light, leaving only Alyse and her guards remaining.

Bella turned to me in pure bliss, "Captured by the fairy folk on my first day."

Her giggle made me smile and relax into this precious moment for her.

Alyse shooed her two guards away, and with reluctance, they too ascended to join their kind. Alyse reached to touch Bella's hair, her cheek, tracing her eyebrow with a tiny glowing finger, and finally, Alyse leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on Bella's forehead.

As Alyse's lips left her, Bella's forehead glowed red where the kiss remained. "Blessings to you, Daughter of Marcus," Alyse said, and in that, the lights swarmed about the room, and landed near Elder Marcus, glowing red.

I wiped the tears as they dripped off my chin onto my tunic. "What does this mean, gentle fey?"

The lights swarmed again to the ceiling hovering over the scene below. Alyse took Bella's arm and walked her back to me, and I pulled Bella to me, holding her tight with both arms.

"It means Son of Carlisle that you are bound to a Daughter of Marcus."

She turned to the platform and bowed before Marcus. "Over many centuries, your blood flowed through generations leading to this beautiful creature. Elder Marcus, your daughter, has returned." And with that, she ascended to be gathered to her kind.

The room fell quiet, and I could do naught but rock Bella, holding her tight.

Aro stood and said, "We have much to think about and learn. The Great One is shining brightly at this moment. Let us adjourn and meet anew on the marrow."

Carlisle and Marcus said, "Agreed," All looked to Caius as he glared at Bella. Feeling all eyes on him, He stood and mumbled, "Agreed," as he stepped off the platform and walked past Esme and through the doors.

With eyes closed, I stood in the center of the hall wrapped around my forever bound rocking her, rocking us.

I stilled my rocking while I felt Carlisle, Aro, and Marcus gather around us. As Esme joined the circle, the elders joined hands and walked as Esme's ethereal voice rose. I turned Bella with my arms still around her, and with each turning of the group, Bella's heart soared. I pointed to the ceiling, where the fey pulsed from white to red in cadence to Esme's voice. Without time we communed thus until the music stopped the movement in the room, and Marcus stood before Bella.

Bella reached out her slender hand and said in a most awed voice, "Hello, Father Marcus."

"Welcome, Daughter Isabella." Marcus' face shone with delight. He did not take her hand and, in a moment, led all to step back and away from us. I felt Bella's concern that she may have misstepped, but I squeezed her hand as we descended the steps from the council hall.

Bella hopped a step and said, "That was amazing. Was it everyday kind of stuff for you?"

"No, not completely, Esme is a singer and keeper, and I have witnessed many of her singings. The fey were different today, and they kept to their familial form. I think perhaps it was to keep safe. Unsure of you tainting."

"My tainting?"

I took a deep breath and stopped us at a giant stone. "Sit. We will discuss."

Bella frowned but sat next to me. I took her hand and felt the range of emotions flitting through her-fear, hurt, confusion. I turned to face her better and kissed her hand before encasing it in both of mine.

"Bella, you've done the research. Your world is very tainted, and as I've said earlier, the fey are very susceptible to being damaged by such tainting."

"But how am I tainted?"

I shrugged a little and finally said, "Well, for starters, you-uh-smell."

Bella tried to pull her hand away, "I stink?"

I held her hand tight and smiled, "So do I, Bella. Every turning, there is a period of isolation where the effects of your world dissipated."

"So my world stinks?"

I rubbed my finger between the knuckles of her delicate hands and chose my words. "You use the word pollution. I suppose that is what we mean by the tainting." She nodded for me to continue. "The pollution is more than just man-made environmental issues. It has to do with the thinking and heart of Earth's kind. War, spite, hatred, greed, and malice, it permeates your kind."

Her chin lifted in a challenge, "What about the Caius guy. He was being a real-uh," she smirked at me, "not-nice person."

I grinned and kissed her hand again. "Yes, Elder Caius will come around. He knows it must be, and I believe his frustration stems from the unknown. What does an earthling entering our world mean?"

Bella tucked her hair behind her ear and rubbed a hand over mine. "The fear of the unknown, I get that." She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, "So what do we do now. Take baths, wash our hair, change our clothes?"

I stood and brought her with me. "No, little earthling, we go to the grove for cleansing."