Thank you Fyrebyrd, 2brown-eyes, Gabby1017, and Ceceprincess1217 for prereading, and to jayhawkbb for editing. I'm a chronic fiddler, so all mistakes are mine.

Chapter 14

"I should have known better than to ignore his requests." I wring my hands as we leave the throne room, passing curious faces along the way. Their expressions are disapproving, and my heart sinks with the knowledge my first appearance at court did not go well.

"And he should have had more patience with you. Until now, you were not ready to face the court." Alice squeezes my arm in reassurance as she, Rosalie, and I walk through the halls toward her chambers.

I shake my head. "He was patient, Alice. I mistakenly thought your mother's invitation to appear when I was ready came from him as well. When he sent his messenger just days after I arrived, I—" Again, I shake my head. "I should have made my appearance sooner." I look at her from the corner of my eye, hesitant to give voice to my next thought.

"What is it?"

"Is he always so ..."

"Cold?" Alice whispers, answering my unfinished question. I nod my head, and Alice nods hers in return. "He is, most especially when things have not gone according to plan and there is somewhere to lay blame for it. And your journey home certainly did not go according to plan."

"But no one is to—" I turn to Rosalie. It suddenly occurs to me her husband was not present at court. "Does he blame Emmett for what happened? Surely he understands there was nothing anyone could do."

A sad smile accompanies the shake of Rosalie's head. "That is not the way our king feels. There is always someone to blame."

My steps falter and slow, and the two other women halt their own. "Is he being punished? Why was he not there today?" I ask in a whisper.

The two exchange a look, and uneasiness creeps up my spine.

"He was reassigned to guard the stables," Rosalie says softly.

"Why would ..." And then it dawns on me. The king intends to punish and humiliate Emmett for his perceived failure.

"My father is nothing if not a stubborn mule sometimes," Alice whispers. "And my brother always managed to talk sense into him before things got out of hand." Her arm wraps around my waist as we resume or walk through the halls. "But he will return soon, and all this nonsense will be sorted. You will see."

"I need to see him," I say, my footsteps once again stopping suddenly.

"Who? Emmett?" Rosalie asks, and I nod. "I am not sure it is a good idea, My Lady."

I look her directly in the eyes. "Emmett has obviously spoken with his uncle, so he must know at least something about the king's plans to find Edward. And with winter soon upon us, there is no time to waste."

The outer courtyard is a much busier place than it was the day I arrived in Galon. People mill around, all intent on fulfilling their duties, focused on their tasks. Some manage to call out a greeting as I pass, but most do not pay me any mind. I'm being accompanied by two members of the castle's guard and Angela, trailing just paces behind me.

When I step into the stables, the person I seek is sullenly looking on while the stable boys fill the horses' feed bins.

"I see they are putting your skills as a warrior to good use."

Emmett's eyes snaps to mine, surprise written all over his face. "Your Highness," he says, standing straighter and nodding once as the stable boys look on.

"Tell me, Sir McCarty, do you often have need for your sword while you so dutifully watch over the horses?"

The look he gives me is one of amused irritation, and it makes me smile. "No, My Lady, I cannot say that I do."

I step toward the stall where Moondancer is being kept. "Is she being treated well?" I ask as I reach out to stroke her warm muzzle.

"That she is, My Lady. I've seen to it myself." He grins, one of his dimples now on display.

"That is good to know." I glance at those standing nearby before turning my focus back to Emmett, lowering my voice. "If you have a moment, I would very much like to speak with you."

With the guards and Angela walking at a respectful distance behind us, Emmett leads me out of the stables and toward the gardens beside the church.

The late afternoon sun is warm, and I bask in it. It does not take long for my thoughts to drift to the conditions in which Edward is being kept. Can he see the sun? Is he cold? Is he hungry? Is he injured? Is he even alive? I push away my final thought and clear my throat. "Shall I assume you have spoken with the king?"

Emmett nods as he leads me to a bench, helping me sit before he takes his place beside me. "I have, My Lady."

He says nothing more, and my frustration with his hesitance mounts. "Please dispense with the formality, Emmett, and tell me what you know! I have heard absolutely nothing about any plans to send an army to retrieve Edward, and after the king's display at court this morning, I fear I would be the last person in Masenthorne Castle to learn of his plans." I grasp his arm. "Please. You must tell me what you know. Something. Anything! Can you tell me what was said when you met with the king? What did you tell him? There is still so much about that night I do not know."

"Are you sure you wish to hear it?"

"Emmett, I saw it. How much worse can it be to hear about what led to it?"

"You are sure?"

I nod. "I need to know why he abandoned me that night, why he was not there when I woke," I say ever so softly.

"No, do not think that, Isabella. He did not abandon you. In fact, the very first thing he did was assign people to watch over you."

"Tell me."

He takes a deep breath before blowing it out. "Edward was already standing outside of his tent, armed and ready to fight when I came out of mine. He was barking at the men, ordering Michael and several others to stand guard over you, but I already had my sword in hand and was ready to charge into battle." He shakes his head at the memory. "A small group attacked the eastern edge of the camp, and I led a small band of us against them." His voice cracks as he continues. "I lost half of the men fighting alongside me in a matter of minutes. We were so unprepared. We managed to bring down the few that remained, but we had suffered a great loss. At that point, everywhere I looked, I saw the same thing; we were being slaughtered. Edward was doing his best to hold them back, but it was a losing battle from the start. I got close enough to hear him order me to find you and get you to safety." He looks directly into my eyes. "If he could have gone for you himself, he would have. But for him to leave his position at that point meant the enemy would have taken the upper hand. They would have overpowered us completely and there would have been no one to defend you. He wouldn't let that happen."

"And that is why it was you to find me and not him," I say simply, quietly.

"Even in the heat of battle, his thoughts were of protecting you. That is why he was on the front line against them; he knew he had to keep them away from the center of camp. He needed to ensure your safety."

"Thank you," I say softly. "I did not know how much I needed to hear that." I turn to meet his gaze. "Do we know yet who attacked us?"

"No. When our men returned to the camp to search for survivors and salvage what they could, they also searched the fallen men. They carried no banners, their weapons and shields bore no crests, and not one of them wore any distinguishing marks of any army in the realm. None of them carried so much as a coin in their pocket to tell us from where they came. They appeared out of nowhere and left no evidence of their allegiance. But I'm hopeful that by now, Jasper has uncovered their secret and will get word to us soon."

"What is next? Is the king organizing his men to find Edward when word finally comes?"

He shakes his head. "I do not know. I wish I did. I haven't been to a King's council meeting since shortly after we arrived. I'm not exactly the first person he would tell of his plans."

"But why? You were there! You saw what happened, and I would think you would have vital information the king would want to hear."

"I told him everything I knew. I tried to offer my suggestions, a strategy to rescue my cousin, but I was summarily dismissed and reassigned to look after the animals," he says, his jaw tightening.

"I do not understand. You were among the most trusted of Edward's men. Why would his father dismiss you? Why wouldn't he want to hear your opinion?"

"Surely you grasp just how angry Carlisle is. His heir is missing, nearly a hundred of his soldiers are dead, and he's looking for someone to blame. Since I returned and his son did not, he is holding me responsible. I am only glad I was sent to the stables and not beheaded."

My eyes widen. "But ... you are the queen's blood. Family. Why would you think he would have you killed? How is that fair?" I whisper.

He chuckles. "Well, perhaps not beheaded. But, Isabella, my uncle is angry. He's in the middle of a crisis; one the likes of which this kingdom has never seen. No one knows how he is going to react. He is usually a thoughtful king, taking his time to make decisions, but he is acting on his anger and frustration at not being able to act at all. With no word back from Jasper, I cannot see how he can plan any kind of rescue. He is absolutely impotent, and it is uncharted territory for him. For a man who leads with his head and not his heart, I'm not at all surprised by his reaction. His anger could be clouding his judgement. He is not used to his emotions leading his decisions, and right now, I believe his anger is making him unsure."

"I had not considered that," I whisper. "Given what kind of man I know Edward to be, patient and understanding, I always assumed he learned that from his father, but apparently that is not so."

"Yes, Edward is patient and understanding ... with you. But in his dealings with his father, with his men, in a lot of ways he is like our king." He shakes his head. "Our king sees failure as a weakness, and anyone who fails in his duties needs to be punished."

I reflect for a moment, really thinking over what Emmett has said. All along I had expected the king to rally his army to go and find his son. But if what Emmett says is true, maybe Carlisle will wait, shrewdly biding his time and weighing the cost of running off to the south with no known destination. The fast approaching winter would only add to the complications. If failure is not an acceptable outcome for our king, he may very well wait until it is clear his men will be successful.

I do not know if I can sit patiently by and wait.

I turn to face Emmett fully, my hand gripping his forearm. "Please, if there is anything you might know about what he is planning, I need to know."

He grasps my hand as it rests on his arm. "I doubt I will hear much while I guard the horses, but if I do, you will be the first to know. My hope is Jasper's messenger will return soon and the king will realize he needs me to do more than watch over the boys shoveling out the stalls."

I crack a smile. "Thank you, Emmett. I appreciate your willingness to help me."

He rises to his feet, offering me his hand. "You have to know if he sends anyone, I will be the first to volunteer to go."

"I would not expect anything less from you, Sir McCarty."

The temple is empty aside from Elder Afton, and his face lights in welcome as I step inside.

"Greetings, Your Highness. To what do I owe the pleasure of your presence in my humble sanctuary?"

I smile at his warm welcome. This man, the one who performed our wedding ceremony and returned with the first group of men to leave Adwen for Galon, has always been approachable, ever patient with me whenever I have questions about the Gods of my new homeland. And right now, I feel as though I could use some of his comforting guidance.

"I was visiting a friend nearby and realized I had yet to visit the temple. My time in prayer has been spent in the castle's chantry, as you well know."

"That I do, Your Highness," he replies with a nod. "And that is where I spend most of my time as well, humbly serving the needs of the Cullens. So, it is quite serendipitous that we should meet here."

I nod. "It would seem so. Perhaps the Gods knew I needed a hearing ear."

He waits patiently as I look around the room, taking in the details. The altar is covered in various idols, bits of nature, and burning incense, and colorful panes of glass fill the windows. They all add to the beauty of this house of worship. It almost makes me long for Adwen, where things were simple. We had one God and a king who may not have led us well, but I never truly feared him.

And while I am still unsure about my place here, there is one thing I am quite sure of: King Carlisle is not happy with me. Perhaps he does not like me. I also have to wonder if he sees me as a burden, a daughter he has to provide for despite the fact that his son has not returned. Am I a constant reminder of his army's failure to bring his son home safely? Does he not believe I am distraught about Edward's absence?

These thoughts plague me, but dwelling on them will serve no purpose. Instead, I try to focus on why I walked into the church in the first place.

To pray for my husband's safe return, despite what our king plans to do to bring him home.

"What is it that troubles you, child?"

I smile ruefully. "Is it that obvious?"

One corner of his mouth turns up in a half grin. "Only to someone who knows what to look for." He reaches for my hand. "I am here to listen. Even if it were not my duty, I would be happy to help in any way I can. Please"—he gestures toward one of the empty benches—"have a seat and ask me anything you wish to know."

"Where to begin?" I muse aloud.

"I always feel it is best to start at the beginning."

We exchange small smiles. "Of course." I think over all I've struggled with in recent days—my seclusion after I arrived, being mocked before the court by our king and hearing the harsh truth about him from Emmett, and feeling powerless to do anything to help find Edward—I realize the only thing I have left in my power is to pray fervently for my husband to come home. But after all these weeks in Galon, I feel as though I have lost some of the very strength and determination Edward said drew him to me in the first place.

"I am not feeling much like myself these days."

"How so?"

I raise my eyes from my clasped hands as they lie in my lap. "The night I first met His Highness, he overheard me make a rather sharp-tongued comment to my sister." I smile at the memory. "He told me my wit was one of the things that intrigued him." My gaze goes back to my now fidgeting fingers. "He also said I had a strength he admired, but right now, I do not feel very witty or strong." I look Elder Afton directly in the eyes. "Without him here, I feel less like myself every day." I lower my voice to a whisper. "I need to find my strength ... especially if he does not return."

Elder Afton is quiet, thoughtful, as he ponders my words. "Do you know much about the Masenthorne trees that grow nearby, Your Highness?"

"Not much, I would say. They do not grow in Adwen."

He nods. "Many generations ago, this land was a vast forest, even where this very castle now stands. It would take nearly an entire moon cycle to cross it before reaching open space. Trees as far as the eye could see in any direction. But those who traveled this land knew of its richness, the fertile soil that lay below their feet. For how could the forest that covered the land grow to that size if the earth was barren? Men fought for their own small corners of the land, small squabbles that divided tribes and families, until the Cullen family won a particular battle very near here, in a patch of Masenthorne trees. That victory would change the course of history."

"Masenthorne," I whisper. "The castle is named for the trees."

He smiles. "That it is, My Lady. The trees were cut down to build their house, and they established a name for themselves. Their family was large, generations of sons fought beside each other for lands, and soon, they were the most feared family in all the kingdoms. Their territory expanded, and more and more chose to join them, falling under their protection. And with each village that was built from the trees, their power grew.

"The Cullen family was grateful to the earth, to the sun and moon, even to the stars that shone at night. The massive trees that grew all around them, the same ones that helped them build their kingdom, had roots so strong, they would burst from the ground, showing the men the twisted and connected fingers. They knew their strength came from the things around them, and the many Gods they worshiped were just like the roots of the trees, vast and all connected.

"The roots and the tree are equally important, My Lady. Just as the many Gods support life, like those roots, so does the God you worshiped in Adwen give power, like the powerful tree that helped build this kingdom. They are not so different, and you can find strength and power in them. They all hear your prayers, and most especially if your heart is in the right place, which I can wholeheartedly say it is, My Lady. So, my advice to you is to keep praying, put your faith in them to bring our prince home." He reaches out and takes my hand. "You have an entire kingdom praying for his safe return. Find strength there, in your people, as well."

Leaving the chantry, I feel something I have not felt since we arrived at Masenthorne Castle: determination.

Days pass, and still no word comes from Jasper. And as each day goes by, I grow more and more morose, but still I pray. I am so focused on my newfound purpose, I am short-tempered with Angela when she tries to convince me to spend more time with Alice and Rosalie, or to leave my chambers at all.

To pacify her, I visit the market one especially chilly afternoon, my friend trailing right beside me. We walk in silence through the gates, the guards not giving us more than a "Good morning, Your Highness" as we pass.

As we walk past merchant after merchant, I grow more anxious with every step. Their brightly colored displays do nothing to excite or entice me. The market is crowded and loud as people attempt to sell their wares, and all I can think about is returning to my chambers or going to the chantry to pray.

"I wish to return to my chambers," I say loud enough for only Angela to hear.

Her disappointment is obvious, but she nods and relents, allowing me to lead us back through the gates and toward my rooms.

After my forced excursion, I begin to avoid everyone's attempts to draw me from my new routine. With a clear intent, I visit the chantry daily, only returning to my chambers to eat and to sleep. While I pray, Elder Afton watches over me as I beg the Gods for Edward's safe return.

What I do not expect to find when I walk through the door late one night is the king, deep in a prayer of his own.

My abrupt stop in the doorway disturbs a pebble, causing it to skitter across the stone floor. Before I can decide if I should stay, the sound gains the attention of the one man I do not wish to be alone with.

"My apologies, Your Majesty," I say with a curtsy.

"No need. I was almost finished. Besides, the chantry is for all." He stands and turns fully toward me. He is quiet for a moment, and I begin to feel anxious under his stare. "I must say, though, it is good to know you are taking the time to pray. Elder Afton tells me you spend much of your day here."

"I do, My Lord."

He steps closer, now just an arm's length away. "And what do you pray for?"

I answer with no hesitation. "The safe return of my husband, My Lord."

He nods and lowers his head, his hands grasped behind his back. "It was my greatest wish for my son to be a strong leader, to be able to guide our people with strength and wisdom." He raises his eyes to mine. "But I can see how he was easily distracted."

I swallow down the sudden lump in my throat. "Distracted, Your Majesty?" I croak.

"I have sent my son into countless battles, and he has always kept his focus, always been victorious, but this time ..." He shakes his head. "I sent him to Adwen to gain access to those damn ports, by any means necessary. And against my better judgement, I allowed him to use his judgement concerning taking one of Charles' daughters." He studies me carefully, and it takes every ounce of strength I have not to shrink back under his scrutiny. "There is no denying your beauty, so I understand how he could have been so enamored with you. I only pray it did not cost him his life."

He turns his head to look upon the altar. "I have prayed every day for the Gods to send me a sign that he is alive, that there is hope he will return, but so far, there has been nothing." He turns back to me and his eyes drop to my waist. "I had hoped by now we might know the next heir to the throne had taken root in your belly."

My eyes begin to sting, and my vision clouds as his rise to meet them. "But perhaps you are as barren as the useless land from which you hail."

I blink, and twin, traitorous tears spill onto my cheeks.

The king steps past me, close enough for his garment to brush against the sleeve of my dress. He stops, his head tilted down and back toward me. "I have heard the men who returned speak of the raven who visited your caravan. Did you know one had not visited anyone in our family for generations? Perhaps it is you who brings bad omens, Isabella. Maybe it was not worth the effort after all, to go to such lengths to gain a port. I thought my son was quite clever, suggesting an alliance, bargaining to take Adwen into the realm of Galon once you bore a son to mine." He pauses, and I feel as though I cannot breathe. "But I fear it was all for nothing. Maybe it is time to think about returning you to Adwen. You will serve me no purpose here without your husband."

It is not until his footsteps echo in the hall, growing quieter as he walks away, that I finally take a breath. I resist the urge to fall to my knees and cry. No, instead, I allow the full weight of his words to settle upon me. With my husband still missing, feared dead, and no sign of an heir growing within me, he intends to send me back to my homeland. If I am to have any hope of remaining here, waiting for my husband's return, I now know what I must do.

A/N: Ouch. Well, if you didn't like Carlisle before, I don't see that changing with this chapter. Ideas on what Isabella's planning? I'd love to hear your thoughts. And sadly, still no Edward this chapter. I know many of you are anxious to get him back. Hang in there!

And now time for some recs! This week, both the completed and WIP recs are by the lovely Shouldbecleaning.

Dogfight is a great story and a quick read at just about 13k words. The summary doesn't offer too many clues, but it's worth checking out. Summary: Handsome is as handsome does.

Perfect Match is a WIP I'm still not brave enough to return to. Lol. I'm waiting it out until I know I won't want to strangle this Edward. ;) Summary: For him, she's a perfect match. Sometimes it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

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