Sorry for the missed week, it was hectic. But this chapter is coming to you live from Forks! We're getting close to meeting that pair of green eyes. I hope you enjoy~

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter 3

The following morning, Isabella woke up with a renewed sense of purpose. Marcus had left her with a wealth of knowledge and supplies and she needed to get to work.

The mess in her shop was worse than she thought, but it didn't stop her from diving in after she finished breakfast. Diving into the first box, she was glad the books were organized in the boxes so she could quickly and efficiently unpack them.

The day was filled with unpacking the many boxes. When the books were all put away, she moved onto the items that belonged in her store room.

Her dreams that night were vivid. Tiny insects that lit the forest around her. Those same green eyes snapping open, like a person startled awake. Isabella woke up several times that night, leaving her tired when dawn came.

Once again she was in her store room, carefully combining Marcus' stock with her own. It was well after noon when she was finally able to put that task behind her and with only two boxes remaining, she pushed forward to be done with it all.

Isabella took out his journals and climbed the library ladder to place the journals safely out of reach. A noise behind her startled her and she fell, her brother's strong arms catching her before she hit the floor.

"Emmett, you startled me."

"I'm sorry, Isabella. I thought you heard me come in. I'm just glad I made it over here in time, I didn't think I would."

"It's all right, Em. Now, what brings you by today?"

He motioned to the room at large. "I came to see if you needed any help and to remove the boxes you were done with, but it seems you moved far quicker than I expected."

"I didn't have anything to do yesterday or this morning. Unless it is an emergency, no one will come to my shop for a little while because I'm in mourning."

"Do you truly think you can handle being out here for a month with no one seeking you out?" Emmett asked.

"Did Father send you here to try and convince me to return to the castle?" Isabella accused.

Emmett held his hands up in supplication. "Isabella, our father is a stubborn man, but I'm not here on his mission. You're just as stubborn as him, I'm not going to get in the middle of this ongoing argument."

"You understand why I want to have my own home and business, don't you? Marcus chose to live in the castle, but I feel stifled there."

"I do. You've always been more at home in nature. Having the king and queen on your side certainly helps with your cause. The queen will not hear of our father strong-arming you."

"They've been doing more than that," Isabella told him.

Emmett never pushed when I made comments such as that. It was a product of being a guard, he didn't ask questions or push on things he heard. Not knowing was better for him quite often.

"Do you think Father would be this way if Mother had lived?" Emmett asked.

"I honestly don't know. I believe he's afraid of losing us, but it can be stifling. At least you're a guard so he trusts the training and your placement close to the queen."

"Imagine how he'll act the first time we might have to travel abroad."

"You're his son, he won't question your ability to take care of yourself. You may have come into this world on a whisper, but you live it on a scream."

"How are you doing after yesterday?"

"Of course it is sad, Marcus was a huge part of my life and now he's gone. But he lived a long life and every day I'll use the lessons he taught me."

Emmett smiled and gave his sister a hug before they cleared the boxes and crates out of her shop and after sharing a late lunch, he departed.

Isabella didn't know what to do with her time without any patients. She thought back to the last few days and remembered she still had the legends book the queen had given her. Isabella got the book and settled in on the couch in her living room.

The Witches of Skyelynn

The woods once crackled with energy. People avoided them after dark because they were put off by the otherworldly appearance that lurked in the shadows. It was artifice designed to protect the secrets of the witches.

When the sun set, the fireflies emerged, lighting the way while the animals living within the woods returned to the nests, dens, and burrows. The women left their underground lairs and began their incantations.

They danced and whooped and called on the spirits of old to give them the power they craved. People feared them, but that fear was unfounded.

The witches' spells were not just for their own benefit, but for the protection of the small nation. There were far worse things in the world than those beings.

No one knows what happened to the witches, but the day they left our shores was a sad one indeed. The people didn't know what they'd lost until it was too late. Now they can only hope they return.

Isabella was disappointed by the lack of stories. It was like someone rushed to write down what they remembered about these various creatures. Witches and their animal familiars, gnomes, blood elves, faeries, mermaids and the like.

It left Isabella with more questions than answers, but since most didn't even remember these stories there was little hope of learning more. There were fuzzy details and her father had shielded her from the servants at the castle who might tell her the stories. And that was the problem. If no one passes on the folklore, it dies out.

Isabella fell asleep on her couch only to be startled awake that night by noises out by her garden. Worried about who might be wandering out there, she grabbed a flashlight and a dagger Emmett had given her after showing her how to use it, and went to confront the intruder.

The noises were from her personal garden, not the one where she grew her supplies for her craft, so she moved quickly only to find a brindle colored rabbit gnawing on her carrot tops.

"Shoo, get out, you." Isabella shook her flashlight and stomped her feet.

The little intruder stood on his hind legs and reached back to pull an ear forward and began to clean it.

"Little brat, move on now." Isabella urged and was challenged when the rabbit hopped forward and rubbed his head on her skirt.

It took some corralling but she scared him out of the garden and off into the forest. With the invader gone, Isabella returned to her house and went to bed.

The following morning, Isabella woke to the distinct feeling she was being watched. Sitting up, she saw the rabbit from last night perched at the foot of her bed.

"How in the hell did you get in here?" she asked.

The rabbit bumped his nose against her foot and then hopped down, scurrying out of the room. Isabella followed behind him and she watched as he ran to a window that was ajar and jumped up to show he could make it up and down easily. With one last look at her, the animal disappeared from view.

Isabella went about her day, working in both her gardens with her new friend who was always nearby. When she went inside to cool off during the worst of the heat, she turned to him. "I'm naming you Argus, because you are the most argumentative creature I've ever met."

Argus followed her inside, stretching out on the rug.

Isabella went down the road to the first farm to ask the family there if they knew anything about rabbits. Thankfully, Sue had raised bunnies as a child, so she explained the type of hutch Isabella should use. She offered to have her son build one, and Isabella took the kind gesture and happily offered to make them some of the salve they used on their cows in exchange for the hutch.

Once she returned to the house, Isabella noticed Argus wasn't around, but she was happy to not find a mess on her floor. She worked the rest of the afternoon, shocked when Seth, the son from the farm, pulled up with his cart.

"Miss Isabella, I've got the hutch and some hay for your rabbit, where can I put it for you?"

Isabella showed him where she wanted it set up in her living room and then had the hay moved into the storage area of the stables. Once her delivery was put away, she gave Seth the large jar of salve and told him she'd see him soon.

She returned to her home and set up the hutch with food, water, and bedding. Argus watched and as soon as she was done, he climbed in to do his business.

"Well, at least you know where to go to the bathroom."

Isabella settled in for her dinner, and once she was done, she decided to turn in early, as she hadn't slept well the last few nights.

Little did she know what the night would bring.