Just a Pretense
Chapter 12: Conspiracies and Ambush
Author's Note: Looking back…some of the last chapter didn't make much sense. Sorry about any confusion which might have occurred.

Yesterday's News: Is it strange? I sneeze when I don't get enough sleep…. ;) I'm happy though, I spent all night doing the compiling of our report for ABW and it was all worth it in the end. We won Best Written Report. :D

Thank you reviewers! I have no idea how many reviews I have right now – not on the internet while writing this – but thank you all! ;) Now I'll stop before this gets any longer.

And…. Umm, never mind the character pairings. Let's just say that they are simply working together to do something to a common 'enemy' – or not enemy in this case.

Today's News: Had an English lesson today on irony… xD NEW: PLEASE READ Just a Pretense II. A new story, under the same name, but this time? Edward is the one with the secret, but can he keep it when he meets Isabella Swan? You can find the link on my Profile. Thank you!

Disclaimer: Well… I don't own Twilight or Tortall related stuff. That's all you need to know.

--

"What?" Lord Eric spat into the face of his captain. He had just heard the report from one of his captains who had followed the Marta-girl after he had forced her to follow the two boys – just as he himself had been commanded.

"She has failed, my lord."

Eric did not hesitate and put out a hand, striking the captain across the face with such force that he fell to the ground in a heap. He made no move to rise, knowing full well it would only lead to more punishment.

"Why did you let her fail, fool?"

"You ordered for me not to reveal myself, my lord." The captain tried to protest.

Eric struck him again. "The … mission was of utmost priority." He hissed. "Do you not understand that?"

The door creaked open behind him and Lady Lauren stepped through elegantly, pulling her skirts up as to not tread on them. She looked contemptuously at the captain cowering under Eric's glare.

"Eric, dear, is that necessary?"

"Do not bother yourself with endearments." Eric said to her, raising his eyebrows at her.

"Well, if we are to get what we want, we have to play the parts we put together first." Lauren simpered. "You know what I want."

"Of course."

"And I know what you want. So we help each other."

"That was the plan."

"Why did you accept the mission, then?" Lauren asked.

"It puts us in favour with him." Eric said, shrugging.

Lauren gave a nod and a smile, understanding. She looked over the still cowering captain.

"Well then, this won't do. We must try again."

"I have noone else professional enough to send into the 'field'." Eric told her dryly. "How do you intend to do it? And I would not advise taking the Marta-girl back."

"No, no." Lauren waved a hand at him breezily. "There is one other here at court more than capable of following them."

"Who?"

"Why…" Lauren paused for effect, still smiling. "Victoria, of course."

"Ah." Eric also grinned as he understood.

--

They urged their horses onwards, dusty from the dirt of the road and all equally tired – animals and humans alike. They had had an long day, riding hard since they left Marta, Pyro and Mcaz behind them.

"See up there?" Edward asked, pointing to a town which was not too far away. "Head that way, that's where we want to go."

Bella gave a nod, too tired to talk, and rode on. They had been in the saddle for ages now and both men (or man and woman) and beasts were exhausted – although the tiredness of Edward was debatable. Many men took pride in staying in a saddle for a whole day and night, but the only thought on the mind of these two were to find a place to stop and rest.

Edward suddenly stiffened, pulling his horse up short. Bella followed likewise, mystified but wary, scanning their surroundings already – she had learned from the last time. Anything could appear at any time.

"I should have known we'll never get there without someone trying to follow us." Edward muttered. He looked over at Bella. "I am truly sorry."

"What is there to be sorry about?" Bella asked, glancing at him. "I chose to come with you."

Edward gave her one long lingering, anxious look, and then returned his gaze upwards. He frowned, glowering at the sky through the canopy.

"These are different people." He said finally. It seemed he had listened to their thoughts. "We won't be able to outrun them though." He looked at her. "Especially you."

Bella almost rolled her eyes. Well, of course. She was no vampire, elf or not.

"They're not trained, though..." He continued. "They should be more than a match for us. What they lack in skill, they make up for in numbers."

"Bandits then?" Bella asked.

"Most likely. Otherwise killers from another country."

"Was Marta – ?"

"No." Edward shook his head. "It seems there are many people after us, whatever the reasons may be."

Bella urged Spirited back into a walk. "We look suspicious just staying here." She explained and Edward understood immediately.

"Alright, but be ready please, Bella."

Bella felt a thrill as he said her name – her real name – but did as he said and made sure her sword was easily accessible from where it hung and organising her other weapons so she could grab them easily if she needed to.

"Shield." Edward muttered to her and she gave him a nod of thanks.

She heard it then, a rustling in the bushes and an irregular splash of colour suddenly appeared and whisked away through the dense foliage. She swiveled her eyes again to the front and kept her eyes on the road, though she continued to listen carefully for irregular sounds.

She sharpened her hearing and the sounds which she could hear normally intensified so that she could not only hear them but also the other softer noises she usually missed. Thank heavens for elvish ears.

There were the very soft sound of footsteps through the undergrowth and the slight rustling of leaves as people passed by. She could also now hear quite clearly the clip-clopping of Spirited and Sable walking.

Bella needed to talk to Edward, but with their followers in such close proximity, it was not so wise to speak aloud again and alert their followers to the fact that Edward and Bella knew they were being followed. Raising a hand, she reached over and tapped Edward's elbow, which was as far as she could reach. As he looked at her, she signaled quickly with the signs that they – or she, anyway – had been taught.

Are they waiting to ambush us? She asked

Edward frowned, and then made the slightest nod so that it was almost undetectable.

Yes.

Bella gave a nod as well as they passed by a large tree. Suddenly there were shouts and people emerged from the undergrowth, weapons drawn and attacking. It seemed the tree was a signal they had been waiting for.

Bella unsheathed her sword easily and grabbed her shield from where it hung. The bandits surrounded them and Edward and Bella slashed at them as they got closer. It was soon obvious being on the horses were more a liability than an asset though and swiftly, they both dismounted, grabbing what they needed and slapping them on the rump so they broke into a gallop, leaving and scattering bandits as they tried to get out of the way.

Bella's fear had made her less clumsy, but as she turned to engage an attacker again, she almost slipped, Edward catching her at the last second, and they stood back to back, defending each other. Bella was using all the skills she had learnt from training, but she was managing to hold her own.

She had no doubt that Edward would have been perfectly able to defend himself from his attackers and even turn the tables, but her had instead come to her aid and she felt very grateful.

She decided instead of killing, it would be better to simply knock them unconscious and it seemed Edward was doing the same thing. Dipping quickly, she reached for a rock on the ground as a sword swung towards her head.

--

"Me?" Victoria asked as the messenger relayed the request. Her face hardened. "If they want me to take on this task, why not come in person to ask me? Are they trying to insult me?"

"No, no, my lady. Lord Eric and Lady Lauren simply have their duties and, and…" the messenger stammered.

"Oh? And they presume I do not have duties myself?" Victoria asked, distain in her voice. "Tell them to find someone else."

"Please, my lady." The messenger was begging now. He knew he would get punished f he failed in getting Victoria to carry out the task.

"If you can convince me, perhaps." Victoria said, imperiously.

The messenger hesitated a moment, then replied. "If my lady would pardon me," then he bent close to whisper in her ear.

Victoria stiffened when he came close, but then began to smile as she heard what he had to say. She was still smiling as the messenger drew away, worried at whether she was insulted by his near proximity with her.

"Well, I suppose I can forgive them this once." She said slyly. "Tell them they will need to make excuses for me for being away though." She paused to fix the messenger with a gaze. "Do you understand?"

He gave a quick bow. "Understood my lady."

There was a soft knock on her door and the messenger went to open it after a look from Victoria. Rosalie made her way inside, as beautiful as ever and dressed very elegantly. She spared not a look at the messenger and immediately greeted her friend.

Victoria greeted her warmly in turn and discreetly gave a nod at the messenger who still lingered, dismissing him, and without another word, he slipped out the door and off to report back to his mistress and master.

--

A blade shot out, intercepting the sword which swung downwards towards Bella's head. At the same time, Bella reached the stone and threw it sideways, hitting a man in the head and making him drop to the ground unconscious.

Overhead, Edward was engaged in a fight between two people simultaneously. Although he could fight much faster, with Bella also caught up in the fight, he needed to be extra careful. Her blood was enticing enough as it was and the blood of the other men did not help.

His attention wavered for a second as one of the people he was fighting suddenly made a move in the second his thoughts turned to the other. As he struck the other with the flat of his blade, making him drop like the stone Bella had thrown, the first bandit he had been fighting tried a thrust which grazed Edward's arm with the horrible noise of steel on stone.

Many of the bandits winced and withdrew a little, but Bella and Edward renewed their attack. Edward was a little surprised Bella seemed unfazed.

This had to end.

"Get down and don't move." He hissed to Bella as they got close.

She slashed once more at her attacker and ducked. Edward shot into vampire speed, discarding his sword and knocking the rest of the bandits unconscious in mere seconds before skidding to a halt where he had started before the bandits could even stop falling.

Bella got to her feet, respect shining in her eyes and turned to Edward. But before she could say anything, he was already in front of her and hugging her tightly. She hugged him back with the same enthusiasm, still a little dazed from the fight.

Edward bent down and kissed her on the lips, still hugging her hard. Bella laughed a little.

"Is the only time we do that after a near-death experience of mine?" she laughed.

Edward grimaced and merely pressed his face into her hair.

"I should do it more often then."

"Don't joke about that." Edward said severely, drawing away a little.

Bella waved an arm at him. "I don't do it intentionally."

"You could have fooled me." Edward said wryly. "Though I must admit you are a magnet for trouble."

Bella simply smiled and leaned against Edward gratefully. There was a neigh as their horses returned, and they regretfully drew apart again.

"I'm always regretful we can't… be with each other." Bella said quietly.

Edward gave her a slight frown. "What do you mean?"

"To do things…" She began hesitantly, "To do things as the person I am. We can't be together as…." She couldn't find the courage to finish.

Edward understood though, even if he didn't know how to reply. He walked back over to the horses and pulled out a few long lengths of rope. Handing some to her, they began trussing up the unconscious bandits. They would send out the next town's reeve to pick them up.

Having finished in their work, Edward walked back over to their horses and returned the unused string as he pulled some of his baggage off his horse, loading it onto Spirited. Bella watched in confusion as she tied one last knot but did not question what he was doing. Finally Edward tied the last bundle in place and motioned for her to go over.

"What - ?"

Bella yelped as Edward slung her into the saddle on Sable. She gripped the saddle horn tightly as Edward swung himself up behind her. He circled his arms around her waist so he could grip the reins which were in front of her.

"Is this good?"

Bella smiled up at him and leaned back against him, smiling. Edward had understood and he was being kind also. She didn't know how long they could do this together, but for now, this was enough.

Together, they rode on. Whatever may come, they would be ready.

--

Author's Note: Not that cut out for romance, but I hope that was alright. ;)

Tell me if you have any ideas to how I should continue. I can't remember some of my ideas, they seem to have flown out the window at some point, even though I do know what I can write next. Help me expand the story! And you still have the chance to be in it, even if you only get a short bit. ;)

Review? Thanks again, everyone, for reading and reviewing. ;D

N.B.John Howard is no longer the Prime Minister of Australia. Kevin Rudd has been elected the new Prime Minister. Personally, I would have gone with Liberal and John Howard, but nothing I can do… at least nothing until the next election – then I'm old enough to vote. Rah!
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