Just a Pretense
Chapter 4: Explanations
Author's Note: Oh ho. Here comes trouble – more than I might've planned actually. You'll see… ;D
Explaination? Explanation? Ugh. It should be the second one, but why does it look wrong?
Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own any aspects of the Twilight or Tortall Series(es).
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"You had better start explaining what is going on here." His voice was dark and livid.
"Now."
Bella sighed as she dumped the armour down and straightened to look at him properly. She had done everything so carefully and was found out within a week? She shot a glare towards Alice who shifted her feet nervously and anxiously by the door, message forgotten.
Wait, a message?
"Alice? What was the message you were going to give me?"
Alice blinked and then composed herself. "Um, Lord Cullen was looking for you."
Edward sighed as he unfolded his arms and turned around again.
"We should go see him before he gives you detention for being tardy again, Bel." He paused. "But it is 'Bella', isn't it? You're a girl."
Bella glanced up at him, gave a short nod, then started towards the door, Edward and Alice following behind. Once outside again though, she was momentarily lost. She still hadn't gotten used to the routes yet – even after a week. And probably never will, she thought glumly to herself. She was certain that Edward would tell Lord Cullen and she would be riding away from the Palace that afternoon.
Giving Edward one last anxious glance, she stepped inside Lord Cullen's office. Carlisle looked up from his papers and smiled at her, offering her a seat, which didn't often happen.
"How has your week been?"
Bella blinked. No ordinary lord would invite a page into their office, let them sit down and then friendlily chat with them. This Carlisle was really one of a kind.
Carlisle looked up and saw Edward at the door, inviting him in also and telling him cheerfully that he would offer a seat if the only other seat in the room had not been occupied by Bella.
"So?" he prompted as he turned back to Bella.
"It has been very good, my lord."
"No need to be that formal, lad."
"I have been showing him around the Palace and he is keeping up well in his classes – as far as I can see, anyway." Edward interrupted, grinned at Carlisle.
"Please ignore my adopted son, he – "
"Adopted son?" Bella had called out before she could stop herself. She clapped a hand over her mouth as Carlisle shot Edward a look.
"He's a family friend, but he adopted me after my parents died." Edward said stiffly, yet amusedly. "I'm still from Forks, even if Carlisle isn't."
"And… Emmett?"
"Just a family friend, as I said. Though a friend of my adopted family, not my natural one."
"That would explain the vampirism." Bella murmured under her breath, although both Carlisle and Edward glanced at her and then their gaze flickered to each other.
"Sir, I'd like to take Bel here and have a chat to him now."
Carlisle nodded slowly. "Off you go. I hope you aren't telling him off." Then he seemed to suddenly remember as Edward grinned knowingly at him. "Oh! Page Swan… Bel, you have a free day tomorrow, despite this morning's mishap. Good work. You can take your maid as well. You are dismissed."
Bella gave him a short bow before making her way outside behind Edward. He led the way to the classrooms, instead of where Bella had expected him to go. Alice, who was following, shared a look with her mistress.
After checking the corridor, Edward ushered them into an empty classroom and closed the door. Then he turned to face the two girls.
"Explain." He ordered.
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"You're going to all this trouble?" Edward groaned when she finished. "Isabella Swan, you are a one of a kind girl." he shook his head.
"In a good or a bad way?"
"I can't decide."
"Promise you won't tell anyone else?" Alice pleaded.
"What makes you think I'll tell?"
Suddenly a thought struck Bella. It was true, he hadn't told. Just before, when she had been in Carlisle's office with him, he had not mentioned it and gotten her kicked out immediately. Perhaps he had wanted to hear her story first, but she didn't think that was the case.
"Why?" She asked, bemused. Why was he doing this for her?
"The way I see it..." Edward started, looking at the two girls. "You know my secret, and I know yours. You promise not to tell anyone what I am and I won't tell anyone what you are. Deal?"
Bella and Alice looked at each other. They hadn't been expecting this, but it seemed more than they deserved. They had been perfectly happy to keep his secret before so it didn't cost any effort on their part. Finally they turned to Edward and nodded simultaneously.
Edward smiled and gave a short nod of his own.
"Now, how about I take tomorrow off too and I'll give you two a tour of that city out there?"
It sounded good to them.
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"Where do you want to see?" Edward asked as they road out the Palace gates and down the cobbled footpath which led to the Palace.
Bella gave him a pointed look from atop Spirited. "If I knew any places, you think I would need a tour guide like you?"
"Fair enough." Edward laughed. "Alice?"
"No, lord." Alice replied from Bella's other side, on her own horse, Twilight. "The choice is yours to make."
"Alright." Edward decided. "Let us go visit the market first. Keep your eyes on your purses or they'll get stolen. There'll be pickpockets everywhere."
As they rode down happily, Bella realised that Edward was being more open to her than ever. On the first day, he had begun to warm to her, even with Emmett's warning that Edward distanced himself from others. However, he didn't show her the side he showed others now – the polite, composed, emotionless side – but instead a happy, able to be angry, kind, and trusting side. She found she enjoyed his company.
Someone tugged at her belt where she knew her purse was and she grabbed their arm quickly, twisting it sharply until they let go with a cry of pain. The hand was wrenched out of her grasp and disappeared into the crowd again. She looked up once again to see Edward looking back amusedly.
"Nice work."
"Thanks. Where are we stopping? We seem to be in the market now. Right in the middle, it looks like, too."
"Right here."
They stopped where it was slightly less crowded outside what looked to be an Inn. The too-fancy script which made up the name of the place was too hard to read to make out what it was called, but the image of an apple with a ribbon floating around it next to the words gave the general idea.
Bella could see horse-master Jasper Whitlock sitting inside and backed up a bit when his eyes slid out the window where the three were standing. He stood up and came outside, however it was Alice he walked to. Alice giggled and glanced at Bella once. Bella's eyebrows went up but she encouraged her friend with her eyes.
Alice curtseyed to Bella and Edward once and led her horse off to meet Jasper. How they knew each other though, Bella could only guess. However, Alice seemed happy and that was all that really mattered.
They handed the reins of their horses to stable hands outside and Edward took her inside, promising to show her more of the market than their walk through later. He ordered drinks – lemonade for her mostly – and then laid his head on his folded arms, closing his eyes.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, just thinking," was the slightly muffled reply.
Her drink came and she sipped at it slowly as she watched him. For some reason her pulse began to rise again and she took a deep breath and forced her eyes away with some effort. She couldn't yet begin to understand what was happening and yet….
Edward sighed and pushed himself up again, standing up. "Shall we move on?"
Bella looked at him strangely. So what was the point of going inside? She didn't say anything though, draining the glass quickly and then following Edward out. She almost lost him in the crowd but managed to grab hold of his shirt and he stopped long enough for her to catch up.
They stopped at a few of the stalls along the way, looking at the merchandise. Bella's mouth fell open as she took in all the items for sale. Edward laughed at that and insisted on buying her something, a gesture she couldn't help but notice and wonder if there was something deeper to that. Why was she feeling this way?
As the sun began to set, Edward and Bella sat down happily on one of the benches along the street. Although they hadn't actually gone anywhere, it had been the most fun she had ever had. At that moment, Edward voiced what she had just thought.
"Sorry you didn't actually get a tour of the city. It was great fun though."
Bella laughed. "Not to mention Alice went off with horse-master Jasper."
Edward winked at her. "True." He sobered then. "Can you do something with me?"
Bella nodded, curious. "Yes? What is it?"
"I didn't just come today for fun. I wouldn't be allowed otherwise. I actually have a job to do and I would be grateful if you could help me."
Bella nodded again and Edward continued.
"I was actually listening inside that inn. The people there know me well enough though they don't know what I do when I'm there. Because I can read their minds, I can extract information. There's a group of rebels that gather there sometimes, although I know the owner of the inn is loyal. The rebels are meeting in the forest tonight and we need to ambush them before they can make plans to attack the king. Can you do that with me?"
Bella nodded though she looked at him a little doubtfully. "Just the two of us? And who do you work for anyway?" The last part was half a joke.
Edward was serious, however. "I do this myself otherwise, usually, and there aren't that many rebels there anyway." He glanced away. "My natural father was the king's Spymaster." Then he grinned. "I'm not sure how much you know about my kind."
Bella frowned at him, not quite understanding.
"Carlisle changed me." Edward explained.
"He's a… ? He's one as well?"
Edward nodded as he laughed. "Yes, he hides it well. And his wife." He sobered a little again. "My father was a great lawyer and politician and that made him a great Spymaster. He could get information out of almost anyone." He sighed. "And now there's just me. I have to carry on my father's work by myself." He paused. "Mostly."
Edward stood up now and Bella followed suit. He melted into the shadows like a ghost, but for Bella, clumsiness always struck at the most inappropriate times and she almost tripped but was caught by Edward before she could make any noise. He sighed amusedly and let go, moving on. Bella was glad the darkness hid her blush.
He led Bella further into the darkness and under the cover of the trees. Bella tried to follow as quickly and silently as she could while watching her feet, trying to not trip. Edward handed her a sword which seemed to appear out of nowhere and she saw he was holding one himself. He gave her a look which meant 'ask no questions'. He gestured to a fire which could be seen through the trees.
Together they crept in behind the rebels.
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Author's Note: How was it? I hope it was okay. If it is, or if it isn't – Review!?
By the way – Sorry, but I did mention there was a point to hostaging. I'm going to be away for a while, hence the second update today (for me, anyway). I have some of the next chapter, but I really want to fix it at this stage, so it will be a while, not to mention I have that 'major stuff' I was talking about. So, hopefully I'll see you soon and I'll still be hanging around occasionally.
Originally entitled 'City Visit' (not a very interesting title...)