Thank you Fyrebyrd, 2brown-eyes, Gabby1017, and Ceceprincess1217 for prereading. And a huge thank you to jayhawkbb for editing. She's still rocking inner Wonder Woman to edit them as fast as she can while she's busy with her RL responsibilities. Huge hugs to all you lovely ladies!
Chapter 10
Fog and mist rise from the field as the morning sun burns the dew from the grass. It swirls around the men as they load the last of the supplies. They have already made quick work of tearing down what stood here for so many weeks.
The call to rise came before the break of dawn, and before I was even dressed, the men were waiting to pack our tent and all our belongings within. Ours was the last to come down. And they moved swiftly. It seemed like mere moments passed and the tent was being stored away, leaving behind a swath of mud and trampled grass.
But watching them now, I can see how they work together, each man knowing his place, his task. One group tends to the packing and one to the loading, while another contends with the animals. One of said animals just arrived, and judging by her wide eyes and tense stature, I know she is frightened by all the commotion surrounding her.
"And you are sure Moondancer will be all right?" I worriedly look in the direction of my mare as she is saddled; one of Edward's men will ride her during the journey.
"She will be fine." My husband brushes my cheek with a gentle touch, bringing my gaze back to him. "I would not allow just anyone to care for something you hold so dear. Benjamin is one of my most trusted men. I know he will not push her too far, and he will let her rest if the journey becomes too much."
While it comforts me the man Angela wishes to court her is deemed trusted, I narrow my eyes at him. "I still do not see why I cannot ride her myself."
He smirks and stifles a laugh. "Oh, my dear, stubborn wife. Grant me this one selfish request. Having you in my arms for even a portion of each day will help quench my constant need to have my hands on you. When you tire of riding, you can join Angela in the wagon. And besides, even in my saddle, by the end of a full day of riding, you would be so sore I would be unable to take you to my bed." He kisses my forehead, ignoring my scowl. "It is something on which I am unwilling to compromise." His gaze shifts to over my shoulder. "Besides, I believe your friend would be lonely riding alone."
I sigh, giving up the fight. "Yes, I suppose you are right."
"Of course, I am." He looks back to me, still smirking. My scowl remains and only makes him laugh as he turns from me to make sure all is ready for our departure.
Looking around the field, now clear of the tents that have been erected for over a month, I take in the sights. The grass, trodden down by an army of men and their animals, is littered with patches of mud and the ashy remnants of fires that have blazed for weeks. The nearly one hundred men work to pack and secure the last of the belongings that will travel with us to Galon. Angela, who has been so wonderful in arranging for the rest of my belongings to be delivered to the camp, is directing men to pack them carefully into one of the carts in which she will ride for the journey.
As I approach her, she is giving an order to one of the poor men in charge of loading my things. "Kind sir, that trunk has delicate contents. I beg you take care not to damage anything."
"Yes, milady," is his mumbled reply as he carefully places the smaller trunk in the cart.
"Angela, I see you have things well in hand here."
She turns, surprised at my sudden appearance. "Of course, My Lady."
"And what is so delicate within that trunk you've warned the man not to damage it? I did not think I had anything especially fragile packed."
She smiles and leans in close. "'Tis your shifts and more ... delicate underthings."
I raise a brow in question.
"I thought it wise to ask him to give greater care. I would hate for the trunk to hit the ground and all of your lace and silk to be blowing about in the mud."
My face heats at the thought, and I nod. "Of course."
"What has you blushing, my wife?" Edward steps to my side, startling me.
I smile and shake my head. "Nothing of any importance, My Lord."
"Hmm. I shall take your word for it." He raises a brow at me. "I have come to retrieve you. If I might escort you, my wife, I am told we are ready to set off." He extends an arm to me, and I place my hand on his forearm.
"Angela," I say, turning to my friend, "I will likely join you after the midday meal."
"Yes, My Lady."
I nod and turn my attention back to my husband, allowing him to lead me to his stallion.
He climbs first into his saddle before extending a hand to me. Placing a foot in the stirrup, I hoist myself far enough that he can grasp me with his hands, settling me in front of him, my side to his chest and my legs over one side of the saddle. I wrap my arms around his midsection when he flicks the reins, urging his horse into a trot until we reach the front of the group of men.
"We set out today to journey home." Edward's voice is strong as he calls out to his men in the field. "In many ways it is like the journeys we have made in the past. Yet, this time, it is very different. This time, men, we travel with precious cargo. I demand your utmost attention as we travel the road to Galon. We know not what we may encounter on our journey, be it man or beast, but I am entrusting the safety of my bride to all of you. I expect each and every one of you to lay down your lives to protect your future queen." He pauses as his horse shifts its feet beneath us. "May the Gods guide us home."
With a boisterous cheer, the men all fall into formation, some on horseback and others on foot, many of them heavily armed to lead the charge. The rest follow behind us, leaving us safely ensconced in the center of the horde of men. And while nearly all the carts and wagons carrying supplies are trailing at the rear of the pack, the cart carrying my friend is but a short distance from us. My husband's thoughtfulness to have my friend so near to me during our journey warms my heart.
I reach up and kiss the underside of Edward's jaw, the soft hairs of his beard tickling my lips.
"Not that I am complaining, but to what do I owe the pleasure of your kiss, my wife?" His eyes do not shift from the horizon, but a smile plays on his lips.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For doing everything in your power to see to my happiness." I rest the side of my head against his chest, nuzzling into his warmth on this chilly morning.
He peers down at me and raises my chin so I may meet his eyes. "It is now my duty to do so." He gives me a soft kiss before returning his focus to the road ahead.
We ride along in silence until we reach the crest of the first small hill. He stops and turns his horse in the direction of the only place I have ever called home, those riding alongside us continuing on.
"Take one last look upon your homeland, Isabella. I do not know if you shall ever again lay your eyes upon it."
As I scan the distant horizon, it appears the same as any any other day. Broadcove Castle rises from the hills of Adwen. Farms are scattered around the fields beyond. There is no fanfare as I leave my family's home; no official sendoff by my father, nor even a simple goodbye from him or either of my sisters. No, only a few, lone figures dot the horizon as I am carried away. I am unsure if I am saddened or relieved.
"I have seen enough," I whisper. I tilt my head back to look into his eyes. "I am ready to see my new home."
Edward nods before placing the gentlest of kisses upon my lips. "Then that is where I shall take you."
Tugging on the reins, he turns his mount back in the direction the rest of his men are traveling. He kicks his horse into a gallop, and we race back until we are safely surrounded by his men. With each step we take away from Adwen, we are one step closer to Galon ... and my new life.
Riding by horseback, even cradled against the warmth of my husband's chest, is not as comfortable as I believed it would be. And as he predicted, by our stop at midday, I am quite ready to give my backside a rest.
Once I am safely back on my own two feet, I realize I need a private moment. It appears we have stopped near a tree line, and I begin to walk in the direction of the wooded area.
"My Lord, I shall only be a moment. I—"
He grasps my elbow, halting my steps. "You shall go nowhere without an escort."
My eyes widen. "Certainly, you do not expect me to—" I lean closer and whisper angrily. "You do not expect me to take care of personal matters with an audience."
A smirk pulls at the corners of his lips, and at this moment I wish nothing more than to wipe it from his face.
"Oh, my dear wife, certainly you do not expect me to allow you to wander off into the trees ... alone, do you? There are people in this world who wish us both harm, for our very lives hold the key to the futures of not one but two kingdoms. So no, you will not be going anywhere without an escort."
While I wish I could argue with him, I know he is right. "I understand," I say softly.
"It's your lucky day that I am at your disposal to be your personal guard." He winks as he grasps my hand and leads me. "Perhaps Angela would care to accompany you?"
"Oh, of course." I turn and search for her in the crowd. I catch her eye as she is helping one of the men unpack what we are to eat and motion for her to join me. Our small procession does not go unnoticed, and we are soon joined by both Emmett and Alec.
I hang my head in embarrassment at all that is needed just for me to relieve myself.
With all the men's backs turned, Angela and I are able to step just into the trees to do our business. Of course, this is after they search the shadows for any dangers lying in wait for us. I want so badly to laugh at the ludicrousness of it all, but the look of concern on my husband's face tells me it is not a good idea.
If he truly believes there may be danger, I must trust him.
"There you are, My Lady. Everything is back to rights." Angela completes her check of my dress, making sure nothing is embarrassingly out of place.
"Thank you, Angela."
"All is well?" Edward asks when I return to his side, placing a hand on his arm so he may lead me back to the group.
"All is well." Around us, the men are resting in the midday sun, some eating, some seemingly playing with their swords. "How long shall we be here?"
"Just long enough for everyone to stretch their legs, perhaps eat something."
Flanking us, Alec gives Edward a disapproving look.
Standing opposite of Alec, Emmett gives the man one of his own. "Is there anything else, Alec?"
The scowling man shakes his head, and his gaze drops to his feet as he walks. "No, My Lord," he grouses.
"I'm sure that your Princess would appreciate her horse being tended to."
The other man's eyes narrow, flashing to mine and back to Emmett, but he does not reply; he simply nods his head once and walks away.
Along with the men still at my side, I watch as a disgruntled appearing Alec walks toward the tethered horses.
"Has he been causing trouble?" Edward asks his cousin, his gaze never leaving the man in question.
Emmett shakes his head. "Other than being in a foul mood since your wedding, no. But he's been especially difficult since we started on the road. More than once he's mentioned his"—his eyes flash to mine and back to his cousin—"displeasure at our pace. A few of the men have mentioned him grumbling as we walk."
Edward merely hums as he studies Alec from a distance. "Keep a close eye on him." He turns back to Emmett. "We will stay at our pace. There is nothing to gain from moving any faster. We will rest when we need to and get back on the road soon enough."
Emmett nods once. "Yes, My Lord." He takes a step back, and before he turns to leave us, he sends a wink in my direction.
I look up at Edward. "Is it not something you usually do? Stopping to rest?"
Before he can answer me, the loud cawing of a raven sounds from the treetops. All of the men, including Edward, turn to look for it, reaching for the hilts of their swords.
"What is it?" I ask, my own eyes scanning the canopy above us.
"A raven," he replies simply.
"I know that, My Lord, but why does everyone look as though they are ready to slaughter the poor creature?" My question is asked with a smile on my face, as I find humor in their reaction to a mere bird, but his face holds no amusement when he turns to speak to me.
"Do ravens not hold the same meaning for the people of Adwen as they do for mine?"
I shake my head. "I do not know, My Lord. What meaning do they have for you?"
Edward scans the tree line before leading me away from the group and toward a blanket that has been laid out on the cool ground.
He helps me sit and waits until we both have something to eat and drink before explaining himself. "Ravens have always been a bad omen to my people. The Gods are thought to have sent them here to warn us of coming dangers. "When one makes an appearance, and doubly so when it announces its presence, we take notice." He looks off into the distance. "It is never a good thing," he says quietly.
We eat in silence, each of us ruminating over what was seen and said.
I clear my throat, ready to lighten the suddenly tense atmosphere surrounding us. "So, do you not usually stop to rest? I get the feeling some of your men may be unhappy with our pace."
He smiles and reaches for my hand, bringing it to his lips. "No, we do not, but we have untraveled passengers along with us this time. I do not wish to tire you before we even truly get started. We are yet a long way from Galon, and I wish to make it as pleasant as possible for you, and Angela as well."
My friend, sitting near enough to hear, smiles at the mention of her name, pleased, I'm sure, to be considered.
"But will stopping each day for any length of time not add days to our journey?"
"Perhaps. But I will not risk rushing home merely for the sake of time. There are some things more important than that." With another kiss to my knuckles, the matter is closed.
Not ready to retire for the night and soaking up every last bit of warmth we can, Edward and I are still sitting by the fire well after the sun has gone down.
"This is the way to travel home," he says, placing a kiss to my temple.
"And how is that?"
He pulls me closer to his side. "With a warm woman beside me and a warm bed waiting for us, sheltered from the cool night by a tent."
"Do you not sleep in tents when you travel?"
"Not always. When we have a destination we need to reach quickly, we sometimes will just make a pallet on the ground and sleep beneath the stars. I have spent many nights that way."
I snuggle closer into his warm embrace. "I do not think I would care for traveling like that."
He laughs. "No, I do not suppose you would. But our tent and the one Angela is sleeping in will likely be the only two set up on this journey, unless we encounter rain or snow in the higher elevations."
"Snow? But it is so early in the season."
"Yes, the higher we go, the colder it will be. Snow is not out of the question."
"I do not know if my cloak will be warm enough for snow," I say quietly.
"Then I shall just have to share mine with you." He stands and helps me to my feet, pulling me against his chest. "And at night I shall warm you in other ways."
"Oh?" I ask breathlessly.
He nods as his lips descend toward the bare skin of my neck, the contact making me shiver, and not from the cool night air. "What say you? Will you allow me to wrap you in my furs during the days and warm you from the inside out each night?"
As always, his heated words leave me unable to speak, so I nod in agreement, and with no protest from me, he takes my hand and pulls me to our tent.
Once inside, his mouth leaves a trail of kisses along my neck as his hands roam my body. I am eager as he strips me of my clothes and lays me on our pile of furs and blankets. With little preamble, he pushes his way inside my body for what I am sure is only the first time this night, warming me, as he promised, from the inside out.
The following days pass much like the first. We break camp at first light, stop when needed through the day, and set up the two small tents as dusk approaches. The stories of Galon told around the fires each night—tales of festivals and times of plenty, of friendships formed and alliances made—make me wish we were arriving sooner, but I know we have many more days ahead of us before we reach it.
Edward is right about the snow, so I am not shocked when we encounter the first flakes at the end of the first week. It does not make it any less uncomfortable. He keeps to his word, though, and wraps me in his warmest cloak, lined with the softest fur, and holds me tightly in his arms. On these days, despite my sore backside, I do not wish to ride alongside my friend in the cart, but I do. Angela and I share the warmth of the fur-lined cloak, our arms wrapped tightly around one another, until we can shelter inside the warmth and relative safety of the tents.
Those first sparse flakes soon turn to a blanket of white as we reach even higher elevations just a few days later, and the harsher conditions mean slowing our pace. The horses need extra care in the cold and snow, and Edward does not wish to tire them or push them unnecessarily. Our stops at the end of our traveling days are now for two or three nights at a time, giving the horses time to rest, the men time to hunt, and all of us time to warm and dry ourselves beside the fire.
The camp is now much more than just the two shelters needed for Angela and me. It is a sprawling mass of canvas and wooden posts with many fires for warmth and cooking spread throughout. More than thirty tents now fill the field we have claimed for our camp. It does not cease to amaze me how quickly these men can turn an empty patch of land into a small and temporary city.
As is the same every night, Edward and I are wrapped around one another. The heat of our naked, spent bodies beneath the blankets and furs keeps us warm despite the cold outside our tent.
Edward's fingertips trace invisible lines up and down my back, stopping every now and again to idly toy with the ends of my hair. "I do not think I will ever be able to make camp again without you by my side." His low, murmured voice is but a rumble beneath my ear as my head lies on his chest.
I raise my eyes to his, a grin on my face. "Are you already planning to leave me once we reach Galon to go play in the woods with your men?"
He smiles as he brushes the slightly sweat-dampened hair from my forehead. "I never plan to leave my home to go play in the woods, but I must go where my king orders me to go." His smile falls, if only a little. "I can only hope, when the time comes, it is not for long." He searches my eyes. "Already I cannot imagine leaving you behind."
The typical sounds of the camp at night filter through the fabric walls of the tent—men talking, the large fires left to burn overnight popping and crackling.
"And I cannot imagine being left behind."
"You know, when I suggested my taking a wife to my father, he thought I was mad."
"Mad? I thought he was anxious to see you wed."
His smile is small, crooked. "Yes, he was, but he thought me mad for wishing to align us with Adwen." He turns us so I am on my back, his lips mere inches from mine. "If that is true, I must say, I am the happiest of madmen."
My giggling is cut off by his lips on mine as he takes me once again, successfully tiring us out. Neither of us pay any mind to the distant caw of the raven.
A/N: I'd love to hear your thoughts and theories!
And now time for some recs!
Outbound by aftrnoondlight is some good, old-fashioned romance, IMO. Really, check it out. You won't be sorry. Summary: Two beautiful souls humbly traveling life's lonely path, until fate suddenly shows her hand. Will Edward and Bella surrender willingly... A tender, romantic tale of love and life in the clouds.
Analogous by archy12 is another WIP I need to get caught up on. Summary: "The world is full of hopeful analogies and handsome, dubious eggs, called possibilities." (George Eliot) After Edward loses his brother, and Bella her boyfriend, can they find one of these possibilities?
The BotheredContest is in full swing with a handful of entries up. You NEED to go read them. They're cringey and hilarious. Go, read!
And Twilight Tricks and Treats is gearing up for another contest this year. You can find it here on FFN under the pen name TwiTricksandTreats5. Be sure to follow the page so you don't miss any of this year's entries! All the info you need is on the contest page, as well as the Facebook group.
And remember, for exclusive weekly teasers and pics, be sure to check out my Facebook group, Sunshine Fics! 'See' you all soon!
Lots of love
~Sunshine