Hi guys! Again, I swear I'm spoiling you because you didn't have a very long wait. But, what's done is done. So, thanks so much for the reviews guys!
a reader: I haven't read the Princess Bride fully, but it's good to know I'm do a good job mixing two of your favorite books.
Mozartandi: Thank you. It's good to know I'm doing a good job.
Cullens4everandever: The Battle of Wits is a funny part, and I hope I made it satisfactory to you. Though I do admit I did take some liberties and I changed it a little.
Okay, so and since I haven't done a disclaimer in a while here: Me? Owning the Princess Bride and Twilight? In your dreams and mine.
(The line isn't working, so I apologize for that)
So, please enjoy Chapter 4: Wits, Wounds and Revelations.
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He sat across from her causally, watching as she poured more wine. His leather covered hand slipped into a hidden pocket and delicately withdrew a hollow reed with a cap of some kind. Victoria watched as he took the covering off and offered it to her.
"Smell this, but do not touch it," he told her, and she accepted the vile, smelling it delicately as she did. Frowning, the red-haired woman returned the vile to the man.
"I smell nothing," Victoria said, narrowing her eyes at him. He smirked, his eyes twinkling in the sunlight.
"What you do not smell is called Iocane powder. It is one of the most deadly poisons and it dissolves colorless, odorless and tasteless in liquid," Anthony replied calmly, taking the two goblets and turning his back on the two women. As he did, Victoria took the opportunity to grab Bella harshly as whisper fiercely in her ear.
"Do not think that you will be able to escape, Princess," she hissed darkly, her fowl breath ghosting over Bella's ear and cheek. "For even if he wins this battle, you will still die." Underneath the blindfold, Bella's eyes squeezed shut tighter.
"You won't kill me," the princess murmured, and suddenly her head shot to the side, her cheek burning. Even with her eyes covered and hidden from view, she knew her cheek was flaming red and that Victoria was glaring at her. Bella thought she could hear a soft growling sound but as she turned to find it, the noise stopped. There was the sound of something being set on the rock and the masked man spoke.
"Where is the poison? The Battle of Wits as begun and does not end until you decide and we drink and find out who is right... and who is dead." She shivered again; his voice sounded so much like his that it hurt. It was quiet as Victoria thought.
"But it's so obvious. All I have to do is divide from what I know of you -are you the type of person who would put the poison in his own goblet?- and I believe you are a clever man; and we both know a clever man would put the poison in his own cup because only a great fool would reach for the cup he was given. However, I am not such a great fool, so I can't choose the wine before you, and I bet you knew that. In fact, you counted on it, so it's obvious I can't choose the cup before me." Anthony snorted quietly.
"So you've made your decision?"
"Not even close. You've beaten my giant, which means you are exceptionally strong. You could've put the poison in your own goblet, counting on your strength to save you. However, you've also bested my swordsman, which means you must have studied. And in studying you must've learned that man is mortal so you would've put the poison as far away from you as you could." He smirked, thinking about how he'd actually beaten "her" giant and swordsman.
"You've trying to trick me into giving away something. It won't work," he said and Victoria smirked in triumph.
"Aha! But it has worked. I know where the poison is!"
"Then make your choice."
"I will. And I choose... what in the world is that!" She cried, pointing off into the distance. He turned and as his back was turned, she had half a mind to stab him in the back, however she just settled for switching the goblets around again. He turned back to her.
"I didn't see anything."
"Huh, I could have sworn I saw something. But never mind, let's drink. Me from my glass and you from yours," she said, chuckling a little bit.
"What's so funny?" He asked, and Victoria shook her head.
"I'll tell you after we drink," she said, raising the goblet to her lips. Anthony followed suit, lifting his own glass. They drank, him more slowly than her. He set his goblet down and smirked at her.
"You lose."
"You only think that. I switched glasses when you're back was turned. Haha, you fool! You fell for one of the classic blunders. The most famous is never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly less well known is this: never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line! Haha ha! Haha ha! Haha ha! Haha ha! Haha ha! Haha-" She fell to her side, dead. He looked at the body with impassive eyes before standing and taking the blindfold off of the Princess. Their eyes met for a moment before he looked away, gaze transferring to the rope binding her hands.
"Who are you?" She asked, watching as he cut the rope.
"I'm no one to be trifled with. That's all you ever need know," he told her, somewhat coldly. Bella looked over at the goblets with something akin to curiosity in her gaze.
"So this whole time it was your cup that was poisoned," she said as he pulled her to her feet. He shook his head.
"Both cups were poisoned. However, I've spent the last two years building up an immunity to Iocane," he said and they started to leave when Bella let out a cry of pain. Anthony whirled to see a dagger lodged in her side. Her normally blank eyes were wide and full of pain and fear and her hand pressed against the skin surrounding the dagger, only to become stained in red. She looked at him, her eyes widening as if seeing his own eyes for the first time.
"Emerald..." she whispered as she began to collapse. Vaguely, she could feel arms catch her. With her clean hand she reached up and touched his cheek, almost caressing the skin there. "Just like...his eyes." The darkness consumed her and she knew no more.
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"WHAT?!" Ella cried, bolting upright in bed. Dark brown hair was plastered to her forehead and neck and her grandfather lovingly wiped the sweat soaked hair back. She grabbed a hair band and almost savagely bound her hair back. A bottle of water was resting within her reach and she grabbed it, gulping down what seemed like half of the lemon-flavored water.
"Ella, if you want to find out what happens, let me continue reading," he said patiently, calmly pushing grey streaked blond hair out of his eyes. She nodded, hugging her stuffed animal tightly as her grandfather continued to read.
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Prince Jacob knelt among the rocks, examining the footprints again. "Someone has beaten a giant here," he said, standing. His russet skin had a light sheen of sweat to it and he looked over at the Count. "There will be great suffering if she dies." With that, he jumped on to his horse and rode away. The rest of the men exchanged confused looks before riding after him.
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Slowly, Bella began to regain consciousness. The first thing she noticed was that she was being held tight against a strong chest. Her head rested over a heartbeat, beating fast and strong. She cringed away from it and suddenly she was sitting on a rock, the man in black leaning against another one.
"If you release me, anything you ask for you'll get, I promise you," she said pleadingly, trying to inconspicuously place her hand over her wound. He looked at her and laughed a callous and cold laugh.
"And what is that worth? The promise of a woman?" He asked, and Bella glared at him, anger making the dull and pain-filled brown eyes come to life. But she chose not to speak instead of making a retort. "You think your dearest love will save you," he stated, not asking. Bella's temper flared.
"I never said he was my dearest love," she all but spat. Although she could not see it, his eyebrows rose. "And yes, he will save me." He walked toward her and she stood, discretely looking at her bandaged side. She thought she could recognize the way the injury was bound, but she wasn't sure.
"You admit to me you do not love your fiance."
"He knows I do not," she said, fighting memories back. He watched her closely.
"Incapable of love you mean," he replied and Bella bit her lip, and angry tears streamed down her cheeks.
"I've loved someone more deeply than someone like yourself could ever dream." A black covered hand raised and she ducked away.
"That was a warning. The next time, my hand flies on its own. From where I come from there are penalties for when a woman lies," he said harshly before scooping her into his arms and beginning to run off. Bella didn't fight him as he cradled her hurt body. Instead she buried her face in her arms and let the memories consume her.
"Ouch!" Bella cried, looking down at her leg. Edward rushed in, green eyes wide and looking for the problem.
"Bella? What happened?" He demanded, hurrying over. She rubbed her eye.
"I just dropped some pottery and I think it cut me," she said and he immediately scooped her into his arms. "Edward!" She squeaked, only to be silenced by his lips touching hers gently.
"Calm down Bella. I just want to check to be sure," he soothed, setting her down on a stood. He knelt before her, gently lifting her skirt enough so that it pooled near her thighs. She gulped and blushed a deep red. Edward chuckled, kissing her again. He glanced down and saw the blood. "Stay right here," Edward commanded gently and stood. He calmly but quickly went to grab strips of linen and some water. When he came back, he easily cleaned the blood away, evaluating the depth of the cuts.
"How bad is it?" She asked quietly and he looked up at her, smiling gently.
"Not as bad as I thought it would be," he replied, quickly ripping linen strips. He bound the small wounds quickly, always in the same fashion. When he finished, he helped her stand and she smiled brilliantly at him.
"Thank you, Edward," she whispered, reaching up on her toes and kissing him again. He chuckled.
"As you wish," he replied, holding her close.
Tears of sadness gathered in her eyes as they slipped closed again.
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Jacob smelled the tube quickly before turning back to the entourage. "Iocane. I bet my life on it," he stated before pointing off into the distance. "And there are the Princess's footsteps. She is alive, or was an hour ago. If she is otherwise when I find her... I shall be very put out." The Prince stood and returned to his horse, mounting him before riding off following the Princess's footprints.
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"Sit Highness," he said, setting her on another rock. Bella watched him, eyes suddenly widening in realization.
"I know who you are. You're cruelty reveals everything. You're the Dread Pirate Volturi," she said softly, biting her lip gently. He smirked and bowed to her.
"With pride. What can I do for you?" He asked and her eyes hardened.
"You can die slowly, cut into a thousand pieces." He tutted her, and she scowled.
"That's hardly complementary, Your Highness. Why loose your venom on me?" Anthony asked, arms crossed over his chest. The wind blew fiercely, making Bella's hair fly into her face. She didn't bother to brush it away.
"You killed my love." He watched her carefully.
"It's possible. I've killed a lot of people. Who was this love of yours?" He asked as he walked over to the hill's crest. "Was he another prince like this one?" She turned to face him, eyes blazing with anger and sadness.
"No. A farm boy. Poor... poor and perfect. With eyes like the clearest cut emeralds..." she trailed off, looking into Anthony's own emerald eyes. Bella seemed to falter for a moment before speaking again. "On the seas your ship attacked, and the Dread Pirate Volturi never takes captives," Bella said, anguish and venom in her voice. He spread his arms.
"Can't afford to make exceptions. If word comes that a pirate captain becomes soft, people begin to disobey him and it's nothing but work, work, work all the time."
"You mock my pain," she said calmly, though her anger was clearly seen.
"Life is pain Highness. Anyone who says otherwise is selling something," he stated, eyes glaring deep into hers. She looked away after a while, pain searing through her chest. He began to walk back to her. "I remember this farm boy of yours. This would have been what, four or five years ago?" Bella refused to look at him. "Does it bother you to hear?" He asked, and she shook her head.
"Nothing you say will upset me," she said, fighting tears. He continued to walk, stopping when he was standing a little ways before her.
"He died well, that should please you. No blubbering, no bribery attempts. Just please. 'Please, I need to live.' It was the please that caught my memory. I asked him what was so important and he said 'True love.'. Then he spoke of a maiden of unparalleled beauty and loyalty, I can only assume he meant you. You should thank me for destroying him before he discover what you truly are." Now Anthony stood looking over the hill again and Bella stood and looked at him.
"And what am I?" She asked, calm again, despite the redness of her eyes.
"Loyalty, he spoke of madam. Unwavering loyalty. Now tell me, when you found out he was dead, did you get engaged to your Prince in the same hour or did you wait a week out of respect for the dead?" He demanded and Bella's eyes widened before narrowing harshly.
"You mocked me once. Never do it again. I died that day," she cried angrily. There eyes met and held for a long moment, before the pain in her side made Bella cry out. "Ouch," she hissed, placing her hand on the wound again. His eyes followed hers before they flicked to follow the sound of hoof beats. Turning around, he saw the Prince's entourage high above them. "And you can die too for all I care," Bella said coldly before pushing him. He began to roll down the hill.
"As...you...wish," he said as he fell. Bella's eyes widened as she put her hands on her mouth.
"Oh, Edward...What have I done?" She cried, and began to run down the hill, ignoring the stinging pain in her side. Unfortunately, she tripped on her own feet as she ran, causing her to roll down the hill after him. As she rolled, her wound reopened and began to bleed again, staining her red dress to an even darker red. When she finally came to a stop, she lay there still as a statue. Edward, who's mask and bandanna had come off during his fall, nearly ran over to her.
"Bella?" He asked, shaking her gently. However, she did not move. All she did was moan quietly and he saw the patch of blood. "Oh no," he whispered, immediately taking off the torso of her dress. He took the bandanna and carefully tied it around the bleeding wound, thanking God that she was still skinny. Once it was tied, he placed pressure on it, hoping the bleeding would stop. Once he was sure, Edward carefully put the dress back on before holding her close. Bella let out a pained whimper.
"...No...you can't... EDWARD!" She cried, tears falling from her closed eyes. Lovingly, Edward wiped the tears away before kissing her forehead. He began to hum quietly, singing the familiar song to her. She stilled almost immediately, curling closer to him. He let out a sigh of relief, his hand combing through her hair gently. They stayed like that for quite some time.
((I was going to end it here... but I decided that I should finish it so I don't have rabid readers after me... :D))
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When Bella woke up, she was lying on the ground, her head pillowed on something firm, but also in a way soft. Her eyes opened slowly and the first thing she saw was Edward's brilliant green eyes. Her eyes widened before she smiled.
"Please tell me I'm not dreaming... that I'm awake," Bella said and Edward chuckled. He bent down and kissed her gently. Her heart suddenly sped up, and her hands came up and wound their way into Edward's bronze hair. He pulled back, just enough so that their noses could touch.
"Does it feel like a dream?" He murmured, brushing his nose against hers. She smiled beautifully before sitting up. He helped her, still being careful of her wound. His hands brushed through her hair gently before he looked at her, eyes full of sadness.
"Why didn't you wait for me?" He asked, and Bella buried her face in his chest.
"Well, you were dead," she murmured, and he gently pulled her face from his chest.
"Death can't stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while," he said gently, his thumb caressing her cheek. She looked awed for a moment before smiling.
"I'll never doubt again," she vowed and he smiled before kissing her again. She held him tightly, as if afraid that he would leave her in she didn't. His hand cupped her cheek delicately, as if she was a china doll instead of a person. They broke apart momentarily, before she pulled him back in, kissing him again.
"Yay! I told you he was alive grandpa!" Ella cried, pumping her fist in the air as she ate her sandwich. Her grandfather smiled at her as he sipped his own drink. She huggled her stuffed animal tightly as she set the tray with her lunch down and snuggled into the covers. She watched her grandpa finish his drink and he set it aside and began to read again.
Edward scooped Bella into his arms again. She let out a squeak as her arms wrapped around his neck, holding herself to him. He chuckled and began to run.
"I can walk, you know," she said and he nuzzled his nose into her hair for a moment.
"I know. But, you're hurt. I can't... won't let you get hurt like that again," he whispered into her hair and she didn't speak again, only hugged his neck tighter. He continued to run, holding his precious cargo to his chest. "I promise to protect you this time. I'm not going to loose you again," Edward said as he ran.
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Okay, that's the real ending. I hope you guys like it. And yes, I know Bella getting stabbed wasn't in the original, but I wanted to throw in my own twists. So, as always, review if you want!
Thanks!
Arear