I hope this chapter answers the questions most of you raised. While it's (very loosely) based on Ancient Rome, I'm not being historically accurate and making up my own rules for certain things. 'Cause it's fiction and I can. :o) Love and thanks again to everyone reading/reviewing/alerting! This is more of a chapter than chaplet, but I didn't want to break it up.

This isn't beta'd, pre-read, or had anyone look at it but me. Sorry for the mistakes. Lots of fluff that came from a dream I had and turned into this. Sort of-kind of based on Ancient Rome, but mostly made up. Completed in 8 chaplets.

Edward kept Isabella close and their bodies connected as he rolled to his side. Dreamily, she snuggled into his embrace with a contented hum. "Are you well, beauty? Did I cause you much pain?"

Isabella softly giggled and shook her head. "I've never felt such bliss in my life. I never imagined such ecstasy existed. Tell me, my love, may we join this way often?

Edward boomed out a laugh at his sweet wife's guilelessness. "Aye, my beauty, As often as you wish, which I hope will be very frequent. I shall want to slake my desire for you at least daily, if not more."

Isabella suddenly lifted up on one elbow. "Do you promise?" she eagerly asked and Edward laughed again.

"Oh, my beauty. I swear it." He dipped his head to suckle one pebbled nipple into this mouth, teasing the turgid peak with his tongue. Isabella gave a loud moan and wantonly writhed against his body. She felt the stiffening of his manhood still sheathed in her body and she tentatively rolled her hips.

Edward hissed and gripped her hips tightly, pulling her onto him again. He shifted to lie on his back, carrying a quite surprised Isabella astride him. "Ride me, my beauty," he commanded and thrust upward. Isabella gasped at how much deeper he felt and rocked against him. Pleasure flooded her veins once more and she began to move in earnest.

Edward caresses his hands up to cup both breasts, rolling and gently tugging on her nipples, sending shocks of rapture straight to where their bodies joined. Edward felt Isabella's wetness increasing as she rode him with abandon. He drifted one hand down to rub where he knew she needed him most and was rewarded with one of her sweet cries.

Isabella tossed her head back and lost her rhythm as her orgasm overtook her body. Edward grabbed her hips and rocked her body back and forth until he too joined her with a loud moan.

Isabella collapsed onto his chest, feeling limp and boneless. Edward cradled her in his arms and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I love you," she sighed.

"I love you, too, Isabella," Edward murmured and drew a blanket over them. "Rest, beauty. I won't let go of you, now or ever."

Isabella blinked her eyes open, smiling at the feel of Edward's steady heartbeat beneath her ear.

He glided a hand over her long hair. "Are you awake, now, beauty?"

"Mmm," she hummed and turned to rest her chin on his chest. "Did you sleep, too?"

"I did for a bit, and I enjoyed watching you dream in my arms." Edward moved his hand from her hair to run his fingers along her cheek. "As much as it pains me to say this, we must emerge from our cocoon here and join the rest of court."

With a small frown Isabella nodded and reached up to steal one more kiss. Then she shifted, feeling Edward slip from her body as she left the comfort of his embrace. She stood with a tiny wince at the tenderness between her legs and looked for her blue silk toga to drape around her again.

"Beauty? Would you do me the honor of wearing this instead?" Edward asked and held up a shimmering green fabric with gold gossamer overlay.

"Tis beautiful," she breathed. "Aye, I would be glad to wear a dress like this and be at your side."

He leaned in and touched his lips to hers. "Thank you, Isabella. You will be the finest princess this empire has ever known."

Isabella and Edward dressed and she began to worry over her hair. Edward took her long locks in his own hands, letting the silken strands fall through them. "Will you leave it loose, beauty? Tis so lovely, it should not be bound." Isabella ducked her head and nodded with a grin, happy that Edward found her so appealing. "Thank you, beauty."

"It is my joy to please you, husband," she said with a kiss to his cheek.

Edward wrapped his arms around her waist. "You could not please me more. Fate has brought me my true mate. Now I must share my choice with the rest of the court."

Isabella looked at him sharply. "They do not know?"

"Nay, my mother thought it best that I go to my bride first and once we were ready, announce our marriage to the court. Then the other ladies shall become available for suitors to negotiate with their fathers."

"But we have been here for hours! Those other ladies have been waiting and must know by now being chosen by you is not their destiny. I cannot imagine the kind of turmoil they must be in wondering who will win their hand."

Edward cupped her cheek with one hand. "We have waited five years for one another. Do not think I would ever let you out of this tent without taking you to bed first. I will not have any questioning the legitimacy of our marriage. No one will take you from me."

Isabella turned her face to kiss his palm. "Aye, I am well and truly yours in all ways."

"Just as I am yours, beauty," Edward murmured in her ear. He pulled away with a reluctant expression. "Let us go introduce the empire to its new princess so that I can show you our new bedchambers and continue my quest at securing the Cullen legacy."

She beamed at him. "Edward, it could take weeks or even months before a babe is conceived."

"Oh, my love, do not tease me with thoughts of holding you captive in my bed for months on end. Tis a very tempting prospect."

Isabella's laughter rang out as Edward chased her from the tent and down the empty hall toward the Great Hall. He caught her in his arms, kissing her lips softly. Isabella wound her arms around his neck, filled with more joy than she had ever known.

A cough set them apart, but Edward did not release her. He glanced behind Isabella and grinned wolfishly before turning her around. Isabella's cheeks flushed red as she spied a line of soldiers roughly fifteen feet away, standing guard outside the doors.

Edward cleared his throat and adjusted Isabella so she was at his side with her hand tucked into the crook of his elbow. They walked closer and Edward spoke. "My brothers, may I introduce my beautiful bride, Lady Isabella, formerly of North Swan, and your new princess."

The men all snapped to attention and pressed their right hands to their chests. One man stepped forward and bowed to her. "Princess Isabella, it is an honor. Please accept our vow of loyalty and protection of your life with our own."

Uncertain of the proper protocol, Isabella curtseyed to the men. "I thank you all for your vow and your selfless service to the empire. We are indebted to your sacrifices."

The men all bowed then and when they rose, Edward spun Isabella into him and captured her lips with his. The soldiers cheered and rattled their swords on their shields loudly. "To the prince and his new bride! Huzzah!" one shouted and the others joined in. "Huzzah!" they yelled and it echoed loudly against the walls.

Edward grinned as he accepted the congratulations of his fellow soldiers. Isabella smiled and gave her thanks as the moved through them toward the hall. From the slaps on the back, handshakes, and well wishes, it was clear these men were true friends of Edward's. Their happiness for him bolstered Isabella's confidence that she would be accepted as his bride and the empire's new princess.

When they reached the doors the cheering quieted and two men stepped to open the doors. A knock was given and Isabella heard through the doors, "Announcing Prince Edward and his chosen bride!"

The doors pushed open to the court with everyone eagerly awaiting them. Edward placed a reassuring hand on the one she rested in his elbow and they stepped over the threshold. Whispers erupted among the courtiers as all eyes landed on Isabella. Isabella knew she was the least obvious choice for Edward to pick when faced with the other ladies, but somehow she'd ended up with her soldier anyway.

She shifted her gaze to where the Emperor and Empress sat. Esme's serene smile was pleased and Carlisle bowed his head at her with a smile of his own. Neither appeared surprised in the slightest. Of course, Isabella guessed, Esme had likely seen Edward's choice and shared with Carlisle.

Edward led Isabella to the front of the hall, where he paused before his parents. "Emperor Carlisle and Empress Esme, father and mother, may I present my wife, Lady Isabella, formerly of North Swan, and the new princess to the Volterra Empire?"

Carlisle lifted his brows slightly. "Wife, Edward? You have exchanged vows?"

"We both swore to one another," Edward replied and Isabella's lips curled up as she remembered the simple promises they'd made to each other just before Edward had joined his body with hers for the first time.

"And the marriage was consummated?"

Isabella turned bright red and averted her gaze to the ground in front of her. The entirety of the court would know Edward had taken her virginity during the hours they had waited for them. Edward glanced at her and his mouth thinned into a straight line as he glared at his father. "Yes," was his clipped reply.

Carlisle signaled an aide closer and spoke only loud enough for those nearest to hear. "Bring the sheets from Lady Isabella's tent. The consummation will be verified by my council since the exchange of vows bore no witnesses."

Isabella closed her eyes in mortification. Her blood would be on display. It made what was a beautiful union feel dirty and wrong. Edward lifted her face with his free hand. "There is no shame in what we have done. We are husband and wife and it is natural that we lie together. Our union will not be contested," Edward shifted his flinty stare to his father, "or degraded."

With a nod, Carlisle stood and embraced Edward, speaking in a voice all could hear. "You have made an excellent choice, my son." He turned his bright blue gaze on her. "Princess Isabella will be a wonderful leader for the empire and mate at your side. It is easy to see her claim on your heart already."

"Aye, she has, father," Edward replied with a tender smile. "She is exactly the lady I've been yearning for all these years."

The crowds burst into a frenzy again with his words. Isabella knew bets were placed on who the prince would choose and that the payout would be great indeed for any who'd chosen her. There were bound to be many angry with an outcome they had not predicted.

Carlisle faced the court and instantly silence fell. "Volterra Empire has a new princess! Isabella, daughter of Charles and Renee of North Swan, has been chosen and made the wife of our prince, Edward. All of the ladies presented in court are magnificent women and their provinces should be proud to have them represent each one. I am certain they will make fine and strong wives. The market on these ladies' hands in marriage is now open."

A flurry of activity and noise flared across the hall and Isabella pressed closer to Edward as she watched with wide eyes. Edward protectively wrapped an arm around her waist. "You have never been to court before, have you, beauty?"

She shook her head. "Is it always this chaotic?"

"At times, though events such as this are rare. It is not every day that a prince chooses his bride, or leaves four ladies highly available for well made political matches." He paused and brushed his lips across her ear. "I cannot tell you how relieved I am our marriage is based on love and not political gain. My mother tested the limits of my trust in her with this marriage market. It was my intention to go back to North Swan for you, but my mother was adamant."

Esme chuckled from behind them. "I saw that this would not only bring you your love match, but three others as well." She nodded to a rather large man with dark curls and boyish grin. "That man over there, Lord Emmett, will place the highest bid on Lady Rosalie and they will be able to make the babe she hides from their secret trysts together legitimate."

Isabella gasped and looked at Esme with wide eyes. "She is increasing and yet was presented to marry Edward?"

"Aye, twas a risky chance to take. Her odds were the greatest that she would be chosen."

Isabella hummed in agreement. "Rosalie is exquisite."

Edward growled into the crook of her neck. "Not nearly as breathtaking as you, Isabella. No other lady here could come close to your radiance." Heat flushed her cheeks and Isabella's heart sped at Edward's sweet words.

Esme chuckled. "My son is correct. You are absolutely gorgeous, but the connection between you two goes much deeper. As does the one with Emmett and Rosalie."

"Who else will make happy matches?" Isabella asked as she leaned into Edward's embrace.

"Lady Maggie and Lord Liam will be quite happy together. Lord Riley and Lady Tanya will, too. Their matches might be fueled by political gain, but will quickly turn to love."

"What of Lady Alice?" Isabella asked, curious about the girl who had so wrongly predicted her future.

Esme's happy expression became more subdued. "She will be married to Lord James though she hopes for Lord Jasper. Theirs will be a more traditional marriage and provide political allies James's family needs. Alice likes to think herself gifted with the Sight, but she is not able to decipher her visions well."

Isabella laughed and nodded. "Aye, she did tell me my match would not be a happy one." Edward scoffed behind her and Esme lifted a knowing brow.

"I did see her say something to upset you the first night, but I knew once you and Edward found one another again all would be well."

"Very well indeed," Isabella agreed. The room still bustled around them as bidding escalated. Isabella glanced at the different groups gathered around the fathers of the eligible ladies. "How does your gift work, Empress?"

"No titles in our family, call me Esme," she corrected before continuing. "I have flashes of knowledge that imprints into my mind. Nothing I can focus or predict, it simply comes to me from time to time. When Edward returned home from the latest fighting across the sea, I saw this marriage market and knew four happy couples would come of it.

"My son has always pined for a young lady he met while on a mission and I knew she would be one of ladies presented. The other couples did not become clear until all of the ladies were presented the first night. Then I knew you were the woman my son would choose and who the other ladies would marry."

Esme reached out and squeezed Isabella's hand for a moment. "I am sorry you had to wait five years, Isabella. My son has been busy with his duties as a soldier. The Quileutes have been very contentious these past years."

Isabella nodded. "I am aware. I have kept track of the fighting and our army involvement." Edward caught her gaze and she felt warmth in her cheeks. "I worried for you," she quietly added. His eyes softened and he lifted her hand to his lips.

Isabella ducked her head as a shy smile crossed her features. The movement of a man with dark hair and eyes stepping over to the Emperor's side caught her attention. "That is Eleazar, one of my father's most trusted advisers," Edward murmured in Isabella's ear.

When Eleazar fell back, Carlisle turned to them solemnly. A chill danced down Isabella's spine. "Quileutes war ships have been spotted off the northern coast."

Thoughts?