A/N: Hello, lovelies! I'll keep it very short (I'm using a study break to post this). Thank you so much for your kind words and continued interest. I appreciate every single thought you give, even if I don't reply to your reviews. You give me motivation! A double thanks to SunflowerFran, who is like the top coat of nail polish to a manicure (that came out sounding much weirder than I intended, but you get it. She rocks). These characters don't belong to me, but I love throwing them in difficult situations. In case anyone needs to hear it, I promise that the moment you want will be coming soon, so bear with me. I promise it will be worth the wait. And lastly, please don't hesitate to message/review any questions or comments.
Enjoy!
PART II: PIGEON
Chapter 16
"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Claire asks as she twists Bella's hair into a bun at the nape of her neck.
Bella can't help but chuckle at the way Claire is fawning over her. Today, Bella is making her first real venture into town with Charlotte and her party, and she doesn't know what to expect. While she's completely comfortable with Charlotte, she doesn't know how their dynamic will work in public. Will Bella be able to walk alongside the Princess, or would she be relegated to walking two steps behind, the way Carmen does? Simply put, is Bella accompanying Charlotte as a servant or as a friend?
"It's a Sunday, so the town will be bustling with civilians grabbing fresh supplies for family dinners," Claire notes, "And while people seem to think that richness is synonymous with innocence, do not be mistaken, there are some vile creatures on this island-."
"Claire," Bella laughs and lays a hand on her friend's, "What are you worried about?"
"Alice's letter said the attempt on the Princess's life is drawing near," she reminds Bella, "Perhaps you shouldn't be alone on your excursion."
"There are also other parts of Alice's visions that don't make sense," Bella counters, "Bathed in green? Chaos? How do those fit in?"
Claire shakes her head, "I don't know, but what if you find out too late?"
"Then it makes even more sense for me to join the Princess, so that I can protect her," Bella argues.
Claire sighs and gets up to rifle through her personal chest. She reaches deep into its trenches before she pulls out a sheathed dagger with a blade no longer than Bella's hand. The silver-plated hilt is embedded with onyx gems fashioned into suns and moons. It feels heavy as Claire relinquishes the dagger into Bella's possession.
"Claire …" Bella begins.
"James told Quil, Bree, and me about what transpired between you and Eleazar the other day," Claire admits, and continues to ramble, "And we wanted to get you something to show that we believe in you. They'll be upset that I gave it to you before we planned, but it would put me at ease if you take it with you. The stones remind us of your black irises."
Bella's eyes water as she clasps the object, "It's absolutely beautiful."
"This is the strap so that you can keep the dagger on your calf. You must be careful not to let anyone see it –they'll view you as a threat to the Princess if they see you're armed," Claire warns.
"Of course," Bella nods in agreement. Though she isn't one for frequently showing physical affection –as she is unused to it –Bella feels moved to bring her friend into a tight embrace. "You mustn't worry about me. Thank you for your gift, and I'll make sure to show my gratitude to the others a well."
Claire squeezes her, "I worry about you not only as the Guardian but as my friend."
"I know this," Bella smiles as she draws back, "And I thank you, as a friend. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Bella finishes getting dressed, clad in a plain, burnt umber dress and an orange ribbon to tie her hair. When she meets Carmen outside of the carriage, she takes in her delicate clothing. Even in her standard uniform, Bella can begrudgingly admit that Carmen is a beautiful woman. Her sepia skin flatteringly contrasts her standard, eggshell colored dress, as well as the pearled clip she uses to hold back her pin-straight, ebony hair. The thing that mars her beauty is the disgusted scowl she sports when greeting Bella.
The two enter the carriage where Charlotte waits and have an awkward standoff as to who will sit at the Princess's side. Charlotte quickly makes the decision, holding out her hand to Bella and tugging her onto the coach bench. Carmen's face turns an angry puce as she folds her arms in discontent, and faces the window. Uncaring for Carmen's antics, Charlotte wastes no time launching into gossip with Bella. She probes Bella for every detail pertaining to Mistress Pope's dismissal and gives her two cents every now and then. A few times, Bella finds herself chuckling at Charlotte's dry comments, but also has to warn the Princess about her language on three occasions. Carmen remains in her corner, stewing over the obvious friendship between the girls.
Forty minutes later, when the carriage pulls into town, Carmen pushes past Bella to exit. Bella merely rolls her eyes as she disembarks, and assists Charlotte down from the coach. Within the first minute of arriving, Bella can see why Claire had warned her. Throngs of bodies shuffle back and forth, edging between carts, and hefting purchases. Some vendors carry baskets of fresh fruit and vegetables above their heads, while others showcase posts draped with multi-textured fabrics.
"Is there anything you're looking for specifically, Ma'am?" Carmen asks.
"Perhaps some earrings? I heard that big-mouthed Sasha Alinari speak about a pair of moon ones fashioned out of a wolf's teeth," Charlotte answers.
Carmen gasps, "There is no way your mother would approve of such a thing."
"My mother doesn't care about what I wear," Charlotte sniffs, "So keep your eyes peeled for them."
"I will do nothing of the sort," Carmen huffs, "I won't help you look like a savage."
"Sola Carmen," Demetri warns as he dismounts from his seat at the head of the carriage, "Do not forget your place."
Rightfully chastised, Carmen trudges to Demetri's side a few feet behind the Princess's pace. Bella lags behind for a moment, initially unsure of her position, until Charlotte once again, offers a welcoming hand. At her side, Bella extends her arm so that Charlotte can place her hand in the crook of it. It comforts Bella to know that she is close in the event things get out of control. Perhaps it's Demetri's towering presence behind her, but Charlotte seems unfazed by the busyness around her. With determination, she scopes each stall, picking up odd trinkets here and there.
The reaction of the vendors is priceless. Apparently, Charlotte hasn't made her way into town for quite a few years, and this outing is an anomaly for her. The employees at each stall forsake their customers as the Princess enters, and cater to her every whim, showering her with refreshments and presenting their high-end merchandise. Bella is hardly able to stifle her laughter at the way they trip over themselves to catch Charlotte's attention.
"I practically felt his mustache on the back of my neck," Charlotte complains about the previous vendor as she exits his stall.
Bella chuckles, "All you need to do is beckon Demetri, and he will deal with them."
"No, I only use Demetri for protection, not exclusion," she objects, "And these are my people here. They will not hurt me."
A feeling of pride fills Bella at these words, and she's glad of Charlotte's fondness for the people.
"Is there anything you wanted to purchase?" Charlotte inquires, "I've been obsessed with finding these wolf earrings, and I don't believe I've given you the chance to peruse."
"Nothing in particular, Charlie," Bella assures her, "I'm taking great joy in your company."
Charlotte blushes, still uncomfortable with being complimented, "As do I."
They continue on for another twenty minutes before Bella catches sight of a sign covered in elegant Cullenian script. The stall is the smallest she's seen so far, its owner hardly able to fit inside himself. It's dark, only lit by two, blue-flamed candles that create an ominous glow. Bella can't imagine how he's faring with the additional heat when the mere sun has her practically drenched in sweat. She'd be embarrassed about her grimy state, but every person around her is equally as grubby. Ten minutes back, Charlotte had to employ the help of her handkerchief to slow the rivulets of sweat dripping from her forehead. Despite the eerie feel the stall gives her and knowing that inside it must be an inferno, Bella notifies Charlotte.
"I believe I've found what you're looking for," Bella tells her, pointing to the aforementioned stall bannered "Luminous Delights: Jewelry of the Night. Popular Wolf Earrings inside!"
"I never thought I'd see the day when your Cullenian reading skills would pay off in my favor," Charlotte says with slight disbelief, "I'll have to inform Edward of your progress."
Though her face is already red from the blaring sun, Bella somehow manages to blush at the mention of the Prince.
"Look at you, blushing like a school girl!" Charlotte cackles, "We'll revisit that after I've gotten my earrings. Although, the stall looks as if it can only hold two people, so Demetri and Carmen, wait here."
"Your Highness," Carmen speaks, "You should not be without Demetri nearby. Your parents would not be pleased."
"I have to agree with Sola Carmen, Your Highness," Demetri supplements, "There would be too many people between us if I were to wait outside the stall."
Charlotte lets out a displeased sigh, "Very well. Demetri and I will enter. But the both of you mustn't wait out here in this blazing sun. We will meet you two at the town square. There should be a few seats in the shade there."
Hesitant to leave, but not wanting to wait in the unforgiving sun, Bella follows Carmen away from the stall. The two walk in a strained silence, not daring to make eye contact with one another. As they walk, Bella wonders how the sun could be so present when the beginning of winter is meant to come by the end of this month. Already, word of snow in the mountain ranges of northwest Cullenia had made its way to the castle. Bella has never seen snow. It simply never happens in the dry, southern lands of Volturia. But now, as her five-minute walk turns into a ten-minute one, Bella can't wait for the change of weather. She follows Carmen away from the stalls and bustling people, to what appears to be a completely deserted area. Bella turns from Carmen, taking in the abandoned construction site around them. This certainly isn't the town square.
"Sola Carmen, I believe we've taken a wrong turn some-,"
Bella's observation is cut short by excruciating pain and immediate blackness. She doesn't know how long she's been unconscious when she finally comes to. The sounds of raised, shrill shouts help anchor her to the present even if she can't fully open her eyes. The scene is surreal; Carmen is standing over her, a bloodied brick gripped in her hand as Charlotte stands a foot away from her. Though her gaze is unsteady and incomplete, Bella is able to register Charlotte's look of shock and Carmen's unhinged demeanor. Gradually, the ringing in her head clears, and she's able to make sense of their words.
"If you step away this instant, I'll make sure your punishment isn't severe," Charlotte voice is cool and level.
"No, no, you'll execute me," Carmen cries loudly, "You would love to see my head decorating a pike!"
"I want no such thing," Charlotte rejects.
"You would deliver the ax yourself," Carmen continues to accuse, "And it's all because of Bella."
"Bella has nothing to do with our animosity toward each other," Charlotte corrects, "That all started the day you began treating me like a stranger."
"I began treating you differently when I realized how unfair it was that you were handed everything in life while I had to work for scraps," Carmen rebuttals.
"You have been well compensated for your work," Charlotte disagrees, "But you covet everything that isn't yours. You couldn't stand to be my friend because you want to be in my place."
"And you think this sniveling vagrant isn't using you?" Carmen scoffs, waving the brick in Bella's direction, "She's already vying to take my place."
"Leave her out of this," Charlotte orders, "Step away from her."
"No. I won't let her live to replace me," Carmen refuses.
"If you step away now, I can spare your life," Charlotte reasons, "But if you make an attempt toward me, you will be executed for sure."
"Do not take another step forward," Carmen warns.
Not liking the threat in Carmen's tone, Bella tries to focus on the dagger strapped to her calf, hoping that she can discreetly bring it up to her hand. Unfortunately, she is unable to get a mental hold on it, the throbbing pain in her head making it difficult to focus on the object that's out of her sight. The intense hurt reverberates through her mind, causing her to lose touch with consciousness once more. It's Charlotte's shriek that helps Bella reconnect with the scene unfolding around her.
Brick abandoned, Carmen holds Charlotte pinned to the ground underneath her knees as she allows her nails to elongate into sharpened talons. Bella hadn't known what Carmen's ability was, but she didn't think it to be useable in a fight. She realizes how wrong her assumption was, when Carmen lifts a razor sharp finger to Charlotte's hairline and begins slicing a path down to her ear.
Where is Demetri? Bella shrieks internally, as she struggles to rise.
Charlotte's cries are sickening and tear at Bella's heart while she lies uselessly on the ground. In another desperate attempt, she focuses on Carmen's body instead of her dagger, and shoves at her with all her might. Carmen grunts as she topples off Charlotte, surprised at the sudden movement. Bella sends another shove, hoping it will deter Carmen slightly while Bella regains control of her limbs. To Bella's delight, her attacker is thrown a few feet backward.
"Bella," Charlotte breathes as she rushes over, "Can you move? We need to leave."
"Charlie," Bella groans, forcing her breath out to form words, "Move-,"
Dust erupts into the air as Carmen sends both herself and Charlotte into the ground. With claws retracted, she begins to unleash unending punches and slaps to a mostly defenseless Charlotte. The Princess lies cowering behind her arms as Carmen assaults her. Bella tries to mentally lock Carmen's limbs in place as she sluggishly pushes herself to stand, but her mind can't seem to latch on.
With her clouded mind, and blood trickling down the back of her neck, Bella knows that she can no longer rely on her telekinesis. Aware that she needs to act before her body shuts down again, Bella begins a staggering run and then throws her weight into Carmen. The two land away from Charlotte, allowing the Princess to be removed from the scuffle.
Carmen's talons return, but Bella's knees pin her arms to the ground, inspiring frustrated snarls from the girl. Quickly, Bella reaches for the holster on her calf and unsheathes her dagger. She is fully prepared to plunge it into Carmen's insignia when her equilibrium shifts once more. Using the momentum of the lower half of her body, Carmen is able the topple Bella onto the ground next to her. The unexpected shift in position and Bella's already weakened state causes her to drop the dagger. She grapples for it, but is unable to get a firm grasp before Carmen is atop her. In a frenzied fashion, Carmen swipes at Bella, attempting to claw at her throat. Thankfully, Bella is able to intercept the swing, and manages to lock both of Carmen's wrists in her hands. Using a move similar to Carmen's, she rolls the two over so that she's now on top, and swiftly grabs for her dagger. She's moments away from delivering the fatal stab when Carmen shrieks, "Demetri!"
Carmen's call is filled with what sounds like … relief. "Demetri, kill her!"
Demetri strides past the two girls, sword bared as he makes his way to Charlotte. She's conscious but just barely so. Carmen begins to thrash, grabbing for Bella's arm and attempting to overpower her. But Bella is firmly in place, and can kill Carmen if she needs to. However, now that she has the upper hand, Bella begins to wonder if killing her is necessary. She's loath to bring an end to a life, even if it is one as pathetic as Carmen's.
"Demetri, help me!" Carmen wails.
Once he has the Princess safely in one arm, Demetri turns to acknowledge Carmen. His expression is hard and unyielding. Whatever Carmen had been expecting from him, it is clear that he is not going to fulfill it.
"Release her," Demetri instructs.
"Demetri, you don't need to do this. Perhaps we can spare …"
"Sola Bella, move out of the way or you will become unfortunate collateral damage."
Having no choice but to preserve herself, Bella rolls off Carmen. Knowing her fate, the moment Carmen stands she attempts to run. She doesn't reach far at all. No sooner does she turn to escape than Demetri effortlessly sends his blade through her left shoulder. It only takes seconds to transpire, but Bella knows that she will remember everything from this moment.
The clean crack as the blade pierced through bone.
The quick gasp that falls from Carmen's lips.
Her wild, tear-filled eyes.
These are all unforgettable.
Even more so is the way Carmen's skin drains of color and her mouth begins to pool with crimson. Droplets of blood spill down her chin as she utters her last word.
"Traitor."
~pigeon~
Grit and blood grind between Bella's knees and throne room floor. She keeps the inside of her bottom lip trapped between her teeth, and resists swallowing against the blade of the sword pressed against her neck.
But she's not scared.
Bella has been on the wrong end of a blade way too many times for her to feel frightened anymore. Truthfully, she's more annoyed that she's finding herself under the scrutiny of the King and Queen for the second time this month. She knows she's balancing on a thin wire with them, and she can't risk falling.
Beside her, Demetri is in a similar position, submissively bowed while one of his fellow guardsman marks him with a sword. The throne room is quiet, but it hasn't been this way for long. It was only moments ago that King Felix had been ranting with fury, wondering how his daughter could be put in a position of danger. However, he hadn't actually directed any questions at Demetri or Bella as yet and seemed unable to calm enough to formulate full sentences. Bella had never seen the King act like this, but she'd also never seen distress as potent as his when he caught sight of Charlotte being carried in by Demetri.
Felix wasted no time snatching his daughter from Demetri's arms, and swiftly delivering her to the infirmary attendants. After that, with a wave of his hand, he trained two guardsmen on Bella and Demetri and had them barred in front of his throne.
Bella was only able to catch a glimpse of the other Cullens before she was forced to her knees to bow. Heidi looked visibly distraught, her eyes darting toward the attendants as they carried Charlotte away. Alec was notably stoic, no sense of humor or amusement present in his usually mirth-filled eyes. And Edward … Bella had flinched when she caught sight of him. Though it didn't seem his anger was directed at her, she could tell his level of rage could possibly match his father's.
"Enough, Felix," Heidi finally speaks, tugging her husband to sit down beside her. "I want to know exactly what happened. Speak, Demetri."
"With all due respect, Your Grace, I believe it might be better to start with Sola Bella, as she was there for most of the events," Demetri answers evenly.
"Speak, Sola Bella," Heidi orders, her impatience showing.
After clearing the nervousness from her throat, Bella begins to relay what transpired. She mentions how the stall couldn't hold the four of them, and how Charlotte instructed Carmen and Bella to go to the town square. Bella admits that she had never gone to the square previously, and, therefore, had no way of knowing that Carmen was leading her astray. On the inside, Bella is embarrassed that she wasn't able to defend herself against an unexpected strike from the handmaiden, but in the end, her defenselessness is consistent with her cover as a servant, as they tend not to be well-versed in combat. Though pained to recall the events, she describes how Carmen straddled Charlotte and successfully delivered several slaps and punches before Bella could will herself to stand. She ends the recount with Demetri's intervention and swift execution.
"They both saved my life," Charlotte's voice sounds from the doorway. Her head bandaged and face swollen, she enters the throne room and stands between Bella and Demetri. With a gentle touch, she motions for them both to rise. The guards, with their swords positioned, seem unsure of what to do until Charlotte gives them a penetrating stare.
Reluctantly, they back away.
"What I don't understand is how Demetri lost track of you?" Felix grits through clenched teeth.
"I … I purposely evaded him," Charlotte admits, "I kept telling him that something was wrong, and he wouldn't let us go find Bella and Carmen. Therefore, I went into a ladies restroom and escaped in the crowd through the back. He couldn't have known I'd left until a good while later."
"You willingly put yourself in danger?" Heidi asks, her anger finally breaking through, "Are you mad?"
"I was worried," Charlotte huffs, "And rightly so. If I hadn't gotten there when I had, Carmen would have killed Bella."
"But that is not your worry," Felix barks, "You are a Princess. It is not your place to-."
"Ni ronero, Father. On my honor, I will do everything to serve, lead, love, and fight for my people. The individual or the mass," Charlotte interrupts heatedly, "What a piteous day when the King forgets what his own banner stands for."
The silence that settles after Charlotte blatantly disrespects the King is one that has Bella squirming in her spot. How had she gotten herself into such a mess? When Alice had sent her to Cullenia, it had been for her to protect the Princess, not the reverse.
The surrounding commotion and previous events have Bella's head pulsing. She reaches up to probe the back of her head where a gash lies beneath her matted hair. Her fingers are covered in red when she takes them away from her wound, and she gasps when Charlotte snatches her hand and bares it to her parents.
"Settle this matter before she bleeds out before you," Charlotte implores.
"I don't see what there is to settle," Alec voices, "Ce succo, succo. Though there was harm, Charlotte is still well enough to reprimand us. All will be okay."
"But someone must be held accountable," Felix shakes his head, "There must be consequences to ensure nothing like this will happen again."
"You will not punish either of them for following my orders," Charlotte objects.
"Do not tell me what to do, young lady," Felix snaps, "It is your foolish actions that spurred this."
"It is Carmen who gave the first blow," Charlotte scoffs, "Or if we truly want to point fingers, then you'd require a mirror. I asked you to get rid of her months ago, but you were too wrapped up in everyone else's affairs to take heed."
"Watch your tongue, Charlotte," Heidi reprimands, "You are being unbelievably ungracious in front of the court."
It's like a sparring match. Bella's eyes flicker back and forth, her discomfort growing as Charlotte boldly opposes Felix and Heidi.
Although this is a Princess battling with the King and Queen, at this moment, they seem nothing more than parents dealing with a rebellious child. It would all be hilarious if Bella's future at the castle weren't at stake, and if no one had gotten harmed. The thought that someone had lost her life in all of this is sobering.
"Carmen is dead," Edward suddenly says, cutting into the verbal brawl of his family. Bella's brow rises as she realizes he voiced her exact thoughts. "Isn't that enough accountability? Demetri will remain as Charlotte's personal guard, but take extra persons when leaving the castle, and Bella can return to her duties once she's fully healed. Does that sound settled enough to everyone?"
"That sounds reasonable," Alec chimes quickly.
Felix merely grumbles in agreement, and Heidi has her head placed in her hand. Although, Bella supposes if they did object, they would speak up. Much like Charlotte does.
"With one adjustment," Charlotte interjects, "Bella will become my new first handmaiden."
"She hasn't been trained-," Felix begins.
"Felix," Heidi sighs, "We were wrong with our choice of Carmen. Let your daughter decide."
"She has decided," Edward, concludes, "As an official order, Sola Bella will become the new first handmaiden and she will immediately seek medical attention."
"You are all dismissed," Felix grunts.
Tired and in pain, Bella has no problem accepting James's hand as he appears at her side. She knows she should feel relieved that the entire ordeal is over, but truthfully, she's in a state of shock.
What just happened?
~pigeon~
Her own heavy breaths are all Bella can hear in the empty infirmary room. Though she had argued that she could recuperate in her own quarters, Quil had insisted she stay overnight due to her head injury. Admittedly, she has a persistent headache that refuses to die down despite the healer's pills. But she knows it's nothing dire, and that she should have relief by tomorrow. Nevertheless, the pain makes it difficult to sleep, and she wakes to all passing steps or hushed voices. This is why she is alert when the infirmary door clicks open.
"I can assure you I didn't die within the fifteen minutes since you've been here," Bella grumbles as she rolls over to face the doorway.
"I'm glad to hear this."
At the sound of the unexpected voice, Bella sits up hastily, clutching her blanket to her chest to have some sense of propriety. Standing beside her bed, dressed in a thick, embroidered robe, is Queen Heidi. Despite the extravagant housecoat, the rest of the Queen's appearance is rather casual, as her face is without makeup, and her hair is contained in a loose braid. This makes Bella feel more comfortable with her own attire of a white infirmary dress, and her own unrestrained hair. However, the amount of comfort is minute compared to the overall anxiety she feels of being faced alone by the Queen.
"Your Grace," Bella bows her head in respect. She would have gotten up to curtsey, but she knows she wouldn't be able to stably do so. "Forgive me for my rudeness."
"Nonsense," Heidi dismisses, as she shuts the door behind her. She then strikes a match to light the one candle that sits beside Bella's bed.
"Understandably, you were mistaken. It is odd for me to directly address someone in this matter, but I needed discretion. I take it you are feeling better?"
"Yes, Your Grace," Bella nods, "Thank you for asking."
"I am pleased then," Heidi hums, "You fought nobly against Carmen to protect my daughter, and for that, I am more than grateful to you."
"It is my honor to serve the Cullen family in any way I can," Bella replies dutifully, "You need not thank me, Ma'am."
"No, I certainly must," Heidi disagrees, "However, I admit that wasn't the primary motivator for my visit this evening. Sola Bella, how informed are you about my gift?"
"I only know that you can sense auras, Your Grace," Bella answers, "I'm not sure what that entails."
"You may speak freely. It means that people have a distinct color about them," she explains "And based off this color, I know the emotion they are feeling in that instant. Do you understand?"
"I think so," Bella responds, discomfort settling in her stomach. She knows that Heidi must be able to sense this too.
"No, I don't know that you do," Heidi shakes her head as she sits on the corner of Bella's bed. "It means, unless someone is exceptionally skilled at tempering their emotions, that I can tell when they're excited, when they're angry, and most certainly when they're lying."
Bella feels like her world has stopped. Her throat constricts as intense panic fills her, and her thoughts completely silence. All she can register is that the Queen knows that she's an intruder, and there's no way she'll allow Bella to live.
"For instance, I can tell you're frightened now," Heidi continues, "And you should be. However, a fault to my gift is that I can't tell specifically what someone is lying about. It could be something as simple as the fact that you truly have six fingers, or your first name isn't Bella. I don't know what it is that you're hiding, and I'm not going to force you to tell me."
Confusion overtakes Bella's initial panic, "Y-you're not?"
"No," the Queen reveals, "Because I don't believe you're a threat to my family. In fact, I can see your aura when you're with my children, and you haven't an ounce of malice in you. I daresay that you love them."
"I-," Bella begins.
"Don't bother denying it," Heidi chuckles, "It's nothing to be ashamed of. To be truthful, it's one of the reasons I'm allowing you to remain here as Charlotte's first handmaiden."
"One of the reasons?" Bella breathes. She's not sure how much more of the conversation she can make it through without passing out from anticipation.
"The second is that I'm very selective when I choose those who surround my children," Heidi continues, "Edward and Alec are exceptionally trained in combat, so they don't need the same level of protection that Charlotte needs. They all have personal guards when they leave the castle, but Charlotte is the only one who I have protected at all times."
Once again, Bella is perplexed, "But Demetri rarely follows Princess Charlotte while in the castle. The only person who was constantly around her was …" Bella pauses as she finally connects the dots, "Sola Carmen."
"Exactly," Heidi's gaze is penetrating as she trains it on Bella, "Sola Carmen may have been a viper, but she was groomed to be lethal. So imagine my surprise when I heard that you had taken her down. How could you, previously a mere vagrant, have the fighting skills to subdue her?"
"Your Majesty-," Bella starts.
"You need not answer. Don't you see? I don't care how you learned it, so long as your allegiance is to my family and me. And you've given me no reason to think it otherwise," Heidi enlightens her, "But I do want to hear it from you."
"I swear it," Bella pledges without hesitation, "My allegiance has always been, and will always be to you."
"My children, all of them, are your first priority," Heidi says, the seriousness of her words held in her tone, "Charlotte, Alec, and Edward. I need to know that you would give your life for them at an instant notice."
"Your Grace, I swear to you I will do everything in my power to protect them," Bella promises, "On my life, ni ronero."
Heidi remains for about a minute more, inspecting Bella as if to tell whether she's lying or not. Bella has no fear as she meets the gaze of the Queen, for she knows no disloyalty will be sensed from her. Heidi seems to agree, as she gives a concluding nod, stands from her position, and heads to the door. After giving a final glance at Bella, she leaves the room.
As Bella sags against her pillow and takes a shuddering breath, she can't help but question whether this day truly happened. It felt like not too long ago she was exchanging nonsense with Charlotte while Carmen looked on. Now, she's a first handmaiden and a personal protector of the Cullen children.
Part of her can't comprehend what is happening, and the other part, a more potent one, feels that the real chaos is only just beginning.
Terminology
Ce succo, succo –What happened, happened. [Cullenian]
"Neither soldiers nor money can defend a king, but only friends won by good deeds, merit, and honesty." –Sallust
Just a note, in case anyone actually reads down here: When I began writing this story, I couldn't wait to write Carmen out. I needed her, but I found her to be nasty. And then, writing this chapter, I actually felt pretty sad killing her off, and almost wanted to give her a less tragic ending. But *sigh* some things must be done.
~CH
