Where'd you go?

Edward and Isabella were paired up to be the king's personal knights

Oh no! Thought Edward, it will only be harder to ignore her now that we have to work together. He turned to get peripheral look at Isabella. It seemed as though she were equally miserable. Her expression was similar to that of someone who's friend is on their deathbed. Hmmm, he wondered, why isn't she jumping for joy? She always seem so happy to be paired with me so she can bombard me with her questions. But now it looks as though she were mourning a loss! Isabella could see the curiosity in his face as the left the court. I bet he's wondering why I'm not jumping for joy and looking so glum. And sure enough that was the case because when he caught up to her he asked,

"Why do you look as though your horse had died?"

"It's nothing really, I just don't feel very well." She lied quickly, avoiding his eyes as she spoke.

" Nothing, right, if you don't spit it out I'm going to assume that its something worse than it really is." He threatened.

" Oh ok. I know that you hate me and I know being on your team means that you have to spend time with me and I know that makes you unhappy and I hate seeing you unhappy." She said half accusing, half stating the facts. The words had come out as a rush and Edward had a hard time understanding her, but when he did all he said was,

"I don't mind spending time with you." In a tone that indicated that he was hurt by her unfounded accusations. By the time she had realized what she had said, he was already walking off into the forest.

"Edward! Where are you going?

"I'm just going for a walk. I'll be back soon." He trudged off without looking back. Isabella's heart fell. She felt a twinge of regret, looking at his retreating back disappearing into the foliage.

Edward was thinking about why the words she had spoken had taken so long to register in his head. He had been staring at her eyes, he realized.

She ran after him, losing all tact," Edward, come back!" she cried after him.

"You don't have to talk to me if you don't want to." He turned his head to look at her. Edward had a pained expression on his face.

When she did not respond he turned back and continued down the pathway. Isabella stood there watching him disappear into the trees leafs. She returned to the room they now had to share with each other. Isabella sat on the window seat tears pouring down her face like the rain pouring down the window. An hour later she had fallen asleep. She could hear the door opening and felt a strong pair of arms gently pick her up and place her in one of the beds in the room. Later that night she woke suddenly and realized that Edward wasn't in his bed. She grabbed her dressing gown and put it on. She went outside and realized there was a fresh layer of snow in the ground. She also saw footprints labeled in black on the ground that led away from the cabin.

" Edward! Edward! Edward!"

Chapter teaser:

She saw a tuft of bronze hair poking out of a blanket. Hmmm, she thought, that must be him.

"Don't even think about it" said Edward his muffled voice coming from the blankets. Her hands were poised and ready to pull his hair.