Title: A thousand Frozen Years

Author: Ada McRose

Summary: New Moon AU. When Bella, Edward and Alice are taken to meet the Volturi after Bella kept Edward from exposing his true nature to the humans of Volterra, they are separated before entering the throne room. This is when we learn that the Cullen had only been a tool of Fate when Bella had crossed path with them. She had always meant to end up in Italy on St Marcus day of 2006 and they had been the key to place her there that day. What happened next would keep the vampire world on edge for a long time to come...

MPOV

"I see she is still awake," noted Caius.

"Caius…" I warned.

"What? I am simply noting that she looks better than she did minutes ago, Marcus." I did not comment back, the imbecile just wanted to irritate me. I would not give him that satisfaction. Not today, as I had just been blessed with the most precious of gifts.

"How are you feeling, dear Isabella?" asked Aro, more appropriately as he addressed her directly.

"I am fine, thank you, hmm…" she seemed to hesitate and I guessed she might be wondering how to address him.

"Bella, let me properly introduce my brothers, here is Aro Volturi and the one that regularly forgets manners is Caius Volturi" I pointed at each in turn and she smiled politely at them. Caius didn't comment on my introduction of him, his glare told me I had annoyed him. That was 2-1 for me. "You may call them by their first names, as 'Mr Volturi' sounds too formal for family," I smirked before adding "and it would get confusing very quickly."

"Family? Have you discussed the details of your bonding yet? Surely she needs to be changed sooner rather than later." The dislike for my mate's humanity was clear to me and I felt Bella tensed at his words, angered that he would mention two such important things so dismissively.

"Do not meddle in things that do not concern you, brother."

He smirked, knowing he had gotten one over me. Fine then, 2-2.

"But it is of concern to me, brother. She is human and knows us. She has known for way too long to be permitted to continue thus. I am merely stating the obvious." This was an empty threat and we both knew it. Caius simply did not like not being in control of any situation.

"Bella will be changed when the time is right," I answered, sharply but still more calmly than I felt. "I will not pressure her into it however. I will not deny her the chance to say her goodbyes." I added lowly as I was drawing comforting circles in her back, silently letting her know that I was telling the truth and hoping she understood that I would protect her, always.

"Caius, stop pestering our brother. We should be celebrating!" Aro smiled widely and focused his attention back on my mate. "Dearest Isabella, congratulations on your bonding. It delights me that my brother has finally found someone to match him after the loss of his mate, our beloved Didyme." he smiled sadly. I knew he still suffered from the loss of his sister, who had been my mate for too few centuries.

Bella looked up at me, a look of shock understanding on her face.

"You had a mate?" she asked sadly, and I could see pain in her eyes.

"I did. Didyme was my true mate and Aro's birth sister. She was taken from us when we were still a young coven, building our rule over our world." I felt the familiar pain in my heart as I talked about my beautiful, treasured, Didyme. "I never thought I would be given the gift of another true mate. You are, positively, a blessing, my precious Bella."

Not minding my brothers' presence, Bella threw her arms around me, silently giving me comfort.

I held onto her, relishing in her touch and inhaling her beautiful scent.

Caius unnecessarily cleared his throat and Bella let go of me, settling back by my side. Her cheeks were flushed but she held her head high as she slid her hand in mine, pressing it gently.

"Sorry," she placed her hair behind her ear, in a gesture I started to identify as embarrassment. "It's just, I… that you had to live for so long… without… I… I am so sorry" she said hesitantly and my love for her grew even more as I realised that the pain in her eyes hadn't been in jealousy but in sorrow for my loss and isolation.

"Do not apologise for having such pure heart, Bella," I prayed.

"So, so pure," Aro stated, emphasising my words. "Ah, Marcus, it seems that if Fate has been delayed in sending you Bella, you have found a unique match in her. Now, I wish to learn more about what brought you here today, my dear, as we will hear the Cullens in audience soon. May I?" He asked her, offering his hand in invitation.

I did not like that he would be touching her, accessing her deepest memories, feelings and secrets, when I had just started to know her. I also knew that there was no going around it. This was just how things were with my brother around and it would happen eventually. I encouraged Bella forward and she placed her palm in Aro's one.

He covered it with his other one, closing his eyes to focus on his visions. After less than a minute, which was unusually short since I was sure he would look at more than was strictly necessary, he opened his eyes, exclaiming; "Fascinating, absolutely fascinating."

I growled, to low for Bella to hear but enough that Aro knew not to play with me right now.

"I see nothing, there is absolutely nothing that I can feel or see. Oh my… to be human and already so powerful…" he left it there and I could almost see the wheel of possibilities turning in his head.

"It seems she will fit right in our brother's collection" Caius commented in Italian, purposefully excluding Bella from the conversation. Could he get any more annoying 3-2 for him. I swear, the smirk on his face.

"Edward could never hear my thoughts," Bella said, sounding apologetic. "Alice can see my future, though." She added thoughtfully, exchanging a look with Aro and in that moment, I could anticipate they would find a common thing to investigate together. "When will you see them?"

"If you are not tired from your journey and consequent… emotions, dear, I was thinking now would be as good a time as any?" He raised a questioning eyebrow at her.

"Oh, hmm, sure, now sounds good, but…" she hesitated.

"Do not fear, Isabella, speak your mind."

"I know that Edward, all the Cullens really, should have changed me long ago but…" she looked at me a I encouraged her to continue. "Well, I always wanted to be changed, it was just more about timing, you know? And, well, just disappearing would have crushed my dad, I had just moved in with him after years with my mom so… well, it was just not the right time." She finished, slightly deflated. "Alice said she saw me as a vampire, so it would have happened eventually." She added in an afterthought.

"What, pray tell, would then have been a good time?" Caius demanded.

"Oh well, I thought that maybe graduation this year. I'll be going to college and I would legally be an adult and move out."

"Which would be in...?" my brother pressed.

"In 3 or 4 months, some time in July."

Caius sighed needlessly but Aro took over before he could say anything offensive.

"A few months are nothing in our lives," he decreed. "If this is still your wish, 4 months is reasonable. You will be changed then and arrangements will be made." Aro finsihed, looking at Caius, who nodded sharply. He turned his attention to me and I nodded too.

"Bella?" I asked.

"4 months," I could see the emotions playing on her face but she maintain her composure well for such a young human. "But I will go back home until then. I need to… I need to go back, please?" She asked me.

"We will go." I acquiesced.

"You will go?" Caius remarked on my choice of pronoun.

"Yes brother, I will go with my mate as I cannot deny her the need to say her farewell. Also the idea that she waits for graduation is a good one, it is after all, an important human rite of passage."

"Do I need to remind you why Dora and Sulpicia live in the tower?" He hissed in Italian, once again excluding my mate from the conversation.

"In a tower?" Bella asked back in Italian, confused and surprising us all.

Aro, of course, found it delightful and he laughed loudly.

"You speak Italian, my dear?"

"Only a little," she said back in Italian and then switching back to English; "I spent a lot of time with my grandmother as a child, she was Italian."

"Delightful! I am sure you will perfect your knowledge once you have rejoined us in the summer. But back to the matter at hand; we will need to send a Guard with you both. Few would dare threaten us, but those who would will be looking at such an opportunity with the most evil intent. You must indulge our worried minds and agree to an escort, brother, Isabella."

Reluctantly, I nodded and Bella imitated me. Hopefully, she had been sufficiently distracted and would have forgotten Caius' comment about the wives' tower. I did not want to have this conversation now.

"So what was your point, Isabella, when you said you would have been changed eventually? The fact remains that you were not. This is a violation."

I could tell Aro was testing her, trying to read her the only way he could since her mind was inaccessible to him.

"I never told anyone, nor would I have done it," she defended vehemently. "The Cullens, they were… they are my family. I would do anything to protect them."

She looked at Caius defiantly and added; "even if it meant being turned right here and now. Or be killed. I would not want harm to come to them."

I think I saw surprise on my brother's face but it was gone faster than it had appeared. I would take this as a point for my side. 3-3.

"No need for such extreme measures," Aro assured her. " Let's get back to our current issue; the Cullen boy's desire to end his life by exposing himself to the humans."

My mate remained silent for a minute, thoughtful. "He wanted to protect me when he left. I understand now that he hoped I would be safe from his world if he left with everyone but… then Alice had a vision and she thought I had died when really I was just well… having fun in a very stupid way." Her cheeks reddened and I took note to ask her about that vision later. What had she been doing?

"Yes, he explained your unfortunate death and how he could continue a life without you." Aro concluded. "He called you his mate, though, and we can all see how mistaken the boy was."

"Maybe, but I was his first love." she whispered, obviously pained to think of the pain the boy must be going through.

"Thank you, dearest Isabella, for sharing this with us so openly," Aro concluded the discussion. "Let's make haste. Felix!" He called slightly louder. "Have the Cullens brought to the throne room, and tell Heidi to go to the ballroom with her… delivery." He had not stopped looking at my mate while he talked and I could not help the protective hand that wrapped around her waist.

AN: This story has me inspired. I hope you all have a fantastic week, next update on Thursday :)

Thank you so much for following, leave me a review with your thoughts if you have a minute Xx

Ada.