Just a Pretense
Chapter 5: Love and War
Author's Note: Still feels strange to write romance. Not that there is anything much anyway. Ha, I'm lame. Maybe this was a little forward, still, hope it is okay.

By the way: A big thank you to my reviewers and story alert-ers. You've broken my records. xD Sorry, I've got not virtual cookies, but how about a chapter instead? ;D

Disclaimer: I'm neither Stephenie Meyer nor Tamora Pierce. Stop bugging me! D;

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Together they crept in behind the rebels.

Edward's face was blank – no doubt listening to their thoughts again, Bella guessed. She strained her ears to hear their soft conversation as Edward seemed to return to himself, the look in his eyes sharp.

It was just Bella's luck as always, as she edged forward slightly and stepped on a twig. The rebels all turned quickly towards the sound and Bella almost leapt out to defend herself, but was restrained by a strong hand on her arm. A rabbit bounded out of the bushes a few metres away and she breathed a sigh of relief as the rebels scanned the trees one last time and relaxed again, picking up their conversation.

Edward gave her a glare which clearly told her to stay put, then he crept slightly closer to listen to their conversation. As it lulled Edward spun around to look at Bella and made a signal – one that she had recently learnt and knew, a signal for attack.

They made no noise, just burst from the trees. Edward was as fast as lightning, blade flashing as he cut the rebels who attacked him down and hurtling daggers – which Bella once again had no idea where they came from – at those who tried to escape.

Bella held her own against two rebels who attacked her, getting cut once but managing to hit one so he fell down unconscious and then fighting off the other one. As she seemed to be close to winning however, a bout of klutziness happened again and she tripped over the first person she had fought, sword spinning out of her hand. The rebel grinned as he raised his sword for the final strike.

"Bella!"

Edward appeared out of nowhere, cutting the rebel down. The rebel's eyes were wide as the sword fell from him hands onto the ground and his body crumpled into a heap.

Edward looked anxious as he helped Bella to her feet then suddenly hugged her. Bella's eyes widened in surprise but she hugged him back as eagerly. He drew away to look her over with a critical eye.

"Bel," he stopped. "Bella," He corrected himself. "Are you alight?"

"That's Isabella to you." Bella told him. "I'm fine, apart from this cut here." She showed him her arm.

Edward's hands were cold as he looked over the wound in the light of the fire and the slight moonlight through the dense tree cover. He tore a strip from the bottom of his shirt beneath his tunic and bound up the wound.

"It should be alright, at least until we can clean it properly. It's pretty clean, although I obviously have no idea what was on those swords." He kicked a weapon aside.

Edward turned to Bella once again and she could feel her pulse pick up again. She hoped she wouldn't soak the bandage. She wasn't sure what she was feeling, but she enjoyed herself more when Edward was around – whether it be dangerous or not.

Edward suddenly chuckled and then turned away, sighing deeply.

"Sorry about this, Bella." He whispered before turning around suddenly and kissing her on the lips.

But Bella did not push him away.

--

Bella was still blushing when they returned back to the inn, the swords and daggers having been 'magically' put away again and the bodies hidden and disposed of. She tried to scrub the blush off her face, but it wasn't really helping. She could hear Edward's soft chuckle.

"Sorry," He whispered again, for the umpteenth time. He didn't sound very sorry though. Amused maybe, but definitely not sorry.

"It's fine," She muttered, embarrassedly, once again.

"Edward! Bel! Your lordships!" Alice called out to the cheerfully from outside the inn where she waited. "I was worried, I thought you might have gone, but then your horses were still here!" She looked from amused face to blushing face, but kept silent.

"We're all equals out here, Miss Alice." Edward said reprovingly.

"Mr Edward, then." Alice amended, grinning at the two of them.

Bella glanced at Edward strangely. He seemed different. Different in a way she couldn't place completely. He was too cheerful for one, that she could tell, and he was trying to be funny also. Suddenly a completely polite, composed person had gone to kind, helpful and suddenly moved on to funny and … loving… too. The transformation was… incredible.

So incredible, it was a little… disconcerting.

Edward glanced at Bella and the smile there eased. He became polite once again. Bella frowned at the once-again sudden transformation and tugged on his sleeve.

"What's wrong, Edward?"

"Nothing."

Alice glanced from one face to another once again, but didn't comment. She caught sight of Bella's bandage and caught her hand to take a look.

"Oh, we should clean that. Come on, master, let's go inside and I'll get my kit."

Edward nodded and went inside first, Bella following behind and shooting a look at Alice. Edward went over to a table in the corner and sat down, ordering three drinks – although he obviously didn't need one – and resting his head on his hands rather sullenly. Alice came squeezing through to get to their table, medical kit in one hand.

"Multi-talented, hm?" Edward asked, with the shadow of a smile as Alice sat down at the table.

Alice's lips twitched at the comment but she bowed her head to him as a waitress brought their drinks over, her gaze lingering on Edward's face for longer than was really necessary. Edward dismissed her though.

"Care to tell us why you're so … grim again?" Bella asked, having regained some of her composure again as Alice put away a small bottle she had used and was re-bandaging Bella's wound again.

Edward looked a little uncomfortable. "I guess I'm just waiting for you to look at me in horror and fright and disgust and start running away, screaming." His voice was bitter.

"Why?" Bella wondered if it was what had happened before or if it was something that happened earlier.

"People have found out in the past. The first thing they do is run. Who wants to be friends with a bloodsucker?" He said angrily, but in a low voice. He was still protecting his secret.

"I don't think it matters. It's what is inside that matters, not what you are or what your background is." Bella said evenly, in reply.

Edward stared at her for a while, before turning away, though Bella could see he was smiling. Alice raised her eyebrows at Bella again who pulled up one corner of her mouth at her friend.

The distant bell chimed and Edward's head snapped back towards Bella and Alice as though he had just figured out that they were out so late.

"We should get back before his lordship decides to punish us for staying out longer than necessary." He stood up and pulled a few coins from his pocket, putting it on the table.

"Come on."

Bella rolled her eyes and gulped down her drink again for the second time that day. Alice took her lead and gulped her own down as well before creeping after Bella and Edward. They mounted their horses that were still waiting and rode back up the now pretty-much empty street.

"How was your day with the horse-master?" Bella grinned as she asked Alice.

"He was very nice." Alice said, smilingly. "And he can't use his power on me, because I would be able to see him using it." She wrinkled up her nose. "I'd be able to tell as well."

"Tell?" Edward raised one eyebrow at her. "How?"

"It's just instinctive." Alice shrugged. "But I do like Jasper." She nudged Bella. "He really isn't that bad!"

"Really now?"

Alice and Edward exchanged looks behind Bella. They couldn't miss the sarcasm in her voice.

"Why don't you tell me about your day now?"

Bella glanced over at Edward once and resumed her silence as Edward smiled slightly and launched into a rather abstract recount of their day, though his eyes held laughter.

Bella blushed deeper.

--

Edward remained as composed as ever as he told Carlisle about the rebels and the fight which happened as well as the information he had gathered from their eavesdropping on the conversation. Carlisle looked up in surprise when he finally understood that 'Bel' had also been there and had been able to hold his own against the rebels. He also looked genuinely pleased.

"First fight for the page. Very well done. He will be rewarded accordingly."

Edward nodded then hesitated. He would trust his father with his life – well, not really his life, existence, he supposed – however he had made a promise. Although he wanted to ask his father any of the many questions swimming in his head, he could not. Even asking one would be a dead giveaway.

"If I may be excused now, sir."

Carlisle raised an eyebrow at him but didn't say anything more. "Of course, Edward. Good Night."

Edward's lips twitched for a minute and then he inclined his head to his father and walked as calmly as he was able to into the corridor. After he closed the door, he leaned tiredly against the wall and sighed. Why did he do that? Why did he kiss… Bella? He had barely known that she was a girl for 24 hours.

He shook his head as he pushed himself upright and walked to his room. It could not happen again. He had lost 'control' he supposed, for once, and would keep a tighter watch of his emotions. What he did was not right and he had to stop at this instant. He had to obey it like he would obey a command from one such as his Lord.

He had enjoyed it however. It could not be denied. Although he had never known love before – not even a shred of it in his many years – he was most probably in love with Bella. In love with a girl he had barely known for a day.

He was despicable.

--

"He what?" Alice cried out as Bella retold the recount again.

"Shh!" Bella clapped her hand over Alice's mouth even as she blushed bright red once again. "Not so loud! Do you want all the pages to find out?"

Alice giggled under Bella's hand and she grinned. Bella let out a sigh as she flopped back onto her bed, releasing Alice who continued to grin at her.

"What?" she asked testily.

Alice gave her a knowing smile – which sometimes made her want to punch her friend – and slipped into her own pallet. It was that moment; however, Bella suddenly remembered the item which Edward had insisted he buy her. She clambered out of bed to get it from the pouch sewn into the side of her tunic.

"What are you doing?"

"Getting something." She struggled with it for a second before yanking it out. "There."

Alice stared at it for a second. It was really quite a nice present – though it looked like it might have cost a lot. Bella actually wasn't sure how much Edward had spent on her. It was a long string, she supposed, of semi-precious gemstones which could be worn on a belt as a belt decoration. She had been reassured it was the latest fashion.

"That's … beautiful. He must really like you."

"Alice!"

"I'm telling the truth." She smiled sweetly. "I'm the fortune teller here, remember?" Her eyebrows shot up at me and her tone turned upper-class, though she was still grinning. "Now if you don't mind, some of us…" She looked pointedly at Bella. "need to get up early, unlike certain others."

Bella rolled her eyes as she flopped back onto the bed again. Alice grinned as she settled on her pallet once again.

"Good night, Bella."

"Good night, Alice."

She reached over and snuffed out the candle, but that was the night the dreams began.

--

Author's Note: Okay, I really do need to go on my hiatus. I'll update when I can. Please stick around!

Oh, and Review please? I like to know what you think.

Original Title: Rebels

Second Title: Fight