Disclaimer: As usual, I do not own Twilight, I just play in the sandbox. I do however, lay claim to my original characters Ella, Adrian and others. Plus the inclusion of the Fey world.

Chapter Sixty-Eight – Royalty in Forks

Since the return from Italy, things had fallen into a steady rhythm. I made sure to have an equal measure of all things in my life. Dad and Christine, Bella and friends, Edward and the Cullen's. I didn't want anyone to feel left out, nor did I want to become dependent on any part of my growing family.

There was a buzzing in the air and I couldn't put my finger on what it was. I only knew it was something positive. Don't ask me how I knew that, I just did. Bella could feel it too I could tell. Something positive was coming towards us at a speed that was undetermined.

Speaking of Bella, she'd dragged me out of bed at god knows what time this morning, bundled me into her car and driven us to Port Angles. I distinctly remember pleading with my Dad to save me as I was pulled across the living room but he offered no help and merely laughed at my situation. Bella, at least, had the sense to feed me before she continued with whatever was making her act barmy today.

Sitting with pancakes in front of me almost made up for the fact that my head thrummed with a headache from being woken so early. I'll admit the pancakes were pretty good and almost distracted me from my annoyance at Bella. I would have shouted and screamed at her if I'd thought it would do any good but Bella's facial expression melted my anger away.

She was hunched over her own pancakes, her fingers tapping on the table, her brow furrowed and her eyes darting all over. Bella never really lost her cool, she worried a lot but it was usually contained.

"What's wrong Bella? Why did you drag me out at this godforsaken hour to give me the silent treatment?"

…

"Bella are you listening to me?"

"Huh, sorry, did you say something?"

"Bella, tell me what's wrong."

"Nothing's wrong."

"Liar. What's troubling you?"

"Adrian's parents are coming."

"Isn't that good? You get on with them, right?"

"Yeah I do but it's more than that now."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm being presented."

"Presented as what? Can't you just tell me instead of leaving me guessing?"

"Ella, Adrian intends to present me as his 'consort', his fiancé."

"Are you serious? He finally asked you? Bella, that's amazing."

"What if his parents don't like me?"

"Are you kidding, they already love you."

"Yes, but that was before, maybe they just 'liked' me but won't like me becoming a permanent fixture in their family."

"You can be an idiot sometimes. You and Adrian and a 'forever couple', from the moment he introduced you to his parents, they knew you would be his forever. Come on Bella, it's not like you to become so worried about something that is so certain. Now, give me all the details, how did he ask you?"

"I can't help worrying Ella, it's what I do. I'm so excited but I'm also concerned. I mean, I'm not even out of high school and I'm already engaged."

"Right, you're engaged, not married. Just because you're engaged doesn't mean that you should get married right away. You could just have a long engagement. Besides, we don't know what marriage customs the Fey have, you could be looking at years before you finally wed."

"It's just all so fast. Dad's getting married, I'm engaged and you're committed to Edward. When did our lives start moving in fast-forward?"

"That's just life Bella, we just have to ride it as best as we can."

"Will you help me find an outfit?"

"That's why you dragged me out here?"

"I just, I want to make a good impression."

"I'll help you find something but I don't think you have to worry about making a good impression when they already find you irresistible."

I was now fully recovered from my anger at being dragged here. That my sister still came to me for troubles like this filled me with joy. Not that I was joyous about her troubles, but that I was joyous that she would come to me for help. It reminded me that even though our lives were travelling in different directions, we were still very much connected to each other.

It was obvious to me the more we shopped, just how nervous Bella was. She usually fought me every step of the way when I tried to input more colour into her wardrobe but here I was getting away with reds, purples and greens. Knowing that Bella was usually a brown, black and navy girl, this was a big change. I hoped that the new turn in colours wasn't just caused by her nervousness but something that would last. My dear sister liked to remain under the radar but she didn't realise how much those dark colours washed her out and made her look sickly.

"What about this one?"

Bella looked at me sceptically but still took the dress from me and headed back towards the fitting rooms. I waited patiently and then some for Bella seemed to have taken a year to try on the dress.

"Well, does it look good?"

Not a sound I heard for several heartbeats till Bella emerged from the fitting room. Stunning was the words I would use to describe my sister in that moment and I knew without a doubt that I'd found the dress that would blind everyone into loving her. The dress was a halter neck, made of chiffon material and started in a dark purple, from the elasticated waist the colour changed to light purple and eventually faded out into white at her feet. It was the perfect balance of classy but casual.

Bella's smile alerted me to the fact that she'd chosen this dress as well. It was much easier shopping after that dress was bought for Bella's worries and anxieties simply melted off her. I'm sure her nerves would return when Adrian's parents arrived but for now, she was confident once more.

Matching flats and a bag followed the purchase of the dress and Bella even let us stop for lunch before we returned home. It was enlightening to see Bella worry about something that involved herself for I was so used to seeing her worry about others. It showed me how she'd grown as a person since we'd come to Forks because she used to bury all issues to the back of her mind to take care of me. It also showed how much I had grown, that Bella didn't think she needed to hold my hand every step of the way anymore.

We still shared the same pea pod but we were our own people now.

It was only the stillness of our house that roused our suspicion when we arrived home. Dad, of course, could have gone out but this was a different sort of silence. Maybe I was just more attuned to silences now, I mean they unnerved me because a silence could carry a thousand different situations and you never knew what was lurking within. It vaguely irritated me that everything I saw now was seen with a hint of suspicion. It was sort of like being stuck in a murder mystery game, never certain of what was going to happen or who was going to betray you next. Of course, my mind was more complex than a game, my mental health had grown with me and I could recognise the positives in my life that had me thriving and not just surviving but as with anything in life, it was constantly changing and I was constantly adapting.

I walked into our house first and her Bella's sharp intake of breath behind me.

"Oh."

Sitting before us at the dining room table was Adrian, his parents, Ben and his parents, and standing behind them were Dad, Christine and Angela.

I guess Bella didn't need that dress anymore.

"Well, this is a surprise," I said sarcastically.

"Close the door," said Dad seriously.

"What's wrong?" asked Bella.

"We're sorry to turn up unannounced but things have changed and I thought it prudent to tell you in person," said Adrian's Mother.

"It's rare for us both to leave the Fey world and we wouldn't have left if it wasn't important. We must return as soon as possible," added Adrian's Father.

"Is this something I should sit down with a cup of tea for?" I asked.

Humour apparently, wasn't needed in this situation.

"This is serious I'm afraid."

"Do tell then."

"The uncertainty in our world has grown tenfold since the first rumblings of discord started. We have always had issues with the Dark Fey, their presence is a growing concern of ours and have doubled in the last decade. They were once individuals with no common goal, they lived in the darkest corners of our world, kept to themselves and caused minor disruptions to our civilisation," began Adrian's Father.

"Things changed recently, whomever is spearheading them has caught their attention and has managed to get them to work together. They no longer hide in the shadows, they no longer exist without reason. They're growing and they're fighting. They're attacking our villages, spreading their poison and bringing fear into the hearts of our homes. They've evolved in a way we never expected. It started as whispers of 'dark rituals' but now the whispers are fact, they're changing themselves, committing their souls completely to the darkness that calls them," finished Adrian's Mother.

"You think that 'The Master's' plan is being pushed forward?"

"We think it is all coming to a point and that whatever that point is, won't be good for any of us. We're concerned that a fight is coming and that this fight will wipe us all from existence."

"That's a very negative thought."

"These are dark times and we can't afford to be caught up in our personal lives. We must strike first to gain the upper hand," said Adrian's Father.

"I disagree. I will not put my life on hold because of an undetermined threat. Dark times are coming, yes, but you're correct, we don't know what is coming, just that it is. I will protect myself, my family and I will train for the fight to come but I will not let the dark side win, I will not let it consume me and I will not fall into its depths," I said.

"Father, don't argue, Ella speaks from the heart and she is correct. You are viewing things only from a strategic point of view. You have much experience with wars but this is not a typical war and Ella is right, we cannot put off our own lives to live the life of the fight. That wouldn't be good for any of us. We must combine the two and try to live in harmony of them, that is the only way we shall not lose ourselves to what we're caught up in."

"Wise words my son."

"I should go and tell the Cullen's what you have told us."

"Wait, please, before you go, I have another thing to tell you," said Adrian's Mother.

I paused, intrigued to hear what she said that could possibly relate to me.

"I'm sure you would rather it not be brought up but I thought you'd wish to know that the trial against Tristram has finally been resolved."

"I thought that had been resolved months ago."

"It had to some extent, but we wanted to be thorough with it."

"I see."

"It is a shame what happened to him really," said Adrian's Father.

"How so?"

"Tristram didn't have the best upbringing," said Adrian with a sigh. "his family has suffered too much. He had a little brother, the sweetest thing, called Eldre but he died as a babe. It rocked the family, they were never the same after that. Though Tristram was always a happy chap, there was a layer of bitterness and anger that he struggled to hide. He was my best friend and now he resides in prison."

"I'm sorry."

"For what? You did nothing to make him her person he is today. I am just sorry that he hurt you so. His behaviour was unacceptable."

"It's in the past Adrian, let it go."

"Have you?"

I hesitated, "yes."

"You are better than me then."

The silence between us turned sour at Adrian's last words and I started fidgeting with my fingers and darting my eyes between people.

"We must return to our world," said Adrian's Father.

"Will you and Adrian join us Bella? For dinner, please?"

With Dad's approving nod, Bella gave her consent.

I winked at her playfully as she excused herself to get changed. Perhaps I wouldn't be there to witness her formally become 'consort' to Adrian but she didn't need my support really because she was already a fierce Queen.