AN: I have decided to give this story another try! So I hope you like this chapter, please let me know what you all think!
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.
Chapter 7
Freedom?
September 14 1933
Volterra, Italy
I woke up the next morning to the sun shining through my window. I sat up in bed and stretched before removing the covers and walking over to my window. I looked outside at the garden and sighed. I longed to go outside the castle, I hadn't even been into the garden before! I wanted to breathe fresh air, touch the roses, feel the grass and climb a tree! Can you believe that I haven't even climbed a tree and I've just turned 16? I've missed out on so many things. I crossed my arms and lay my head on them while continuing to stare out into the garden. I knew that I would have to get ready for today and go find some breakfast before finding out what my father wanted me to do today. I really wanted to talk to Edward some more, I couldn't explain the need to be around him but I just felt this very strong pull towards him. I had stayed up late last night thinking about it and trying to figure out what it could be before I gave up.
I walked away from the window and went to my closet to pick something out. I picked out a deep blue dress and decided that I would put my hair in a bun today. Once I was dressed I left my room, surprised to find that Felix was nowhere to be found. I breathed a sigh of relief that was a rather good start to my day not having a fight with Felix. I went into the kitchen and grabbed an apple to eat before heading off to find my father.
I found my father in the library sitting with Carlisle and Esme.
"Good morning my dear Isabella," my father smiled at me, he rose from his seat and came to give me a hug and a kiss on my cheek.
"Good morning father," I replied returning his hug.
"Come and have a seat, " my father insisted leading me to the couches where he, Carlisle and Esme sat. Carlisle and Esme smiled at me as I approached and Carlisle rose to give me a hug.
"Good morning Bella,"
"Good morning Uncle Carlise, good morning Esme," I smiled at Esme before sitting next to my father.
"Good morning Bella, I hope you slept well after last night," Esme said as she smiled kindly at me.
"I did thank you," I replied.
"Did you have a good time last night, Isabella?" my father asked me.
"I did father. It was wonderful to meet all the vampires," I replied.
"I noticed you spent a lot of time with Edward," my father asked me, with a slight twinkle in his eye.
"I did, Edward is very good company to be around," I replied cautiously wondering what my father could be up to. Father smiled at this response.
"That's great Isabella. I have just been speaking with Carlisle and Esme who were explaining how Edward also enjoyed your company and mentioned that you longed to leave the castle walls and explore," my father said. I nodded, not feeling the need to provide a response as I hadn't exactly kept it a secret that I wanted to leave these walls and explore. "Well, we were wondering if you would like to travel with Carlisle and Esme, and they're family, back to their home when they leave and spend some time with them exploring the world a little?" My father asked me. I looked between Carlisle and my father in confusion and surprise. My father, the one who never wanted me to leave and to marry Felix, was offering me the opportunity to leave these walls with Carlisle and his family? What made him change his mind?!
"Really? You'd let me leave these walls with Carlisle? What happened to keeping me inside the castle walls?" I asked him. My father sighed.
"I realize now that it's not right to keep you locked up here, so I figured before you turn seventeen, I could let you travel a little before you settle down." My father explained. I was lost for words. My father was giving me some freedom!
"I…I would love to travel with Carlisle and his family," I finally said after a few minutes of silence. Carlisle and Esme looked very pleased and my father smiled and clapped his hands together.
"Excellent, it will just be for a month though Isabella, and then you will return here. Understood?" My father said looking at me with a serious expression. He probably expected me to run away.
"Understood. Will…Felix be coming on this trip as well?" I asked cautiously, afraid of the answer. What was I going to do if Felix ended up coming along? The trip would be a disaster!
"No he won't, I believe you will have enough protection with Carlisle's family. Plus I know how often you two fight; it makes me concerned about what will happen if you marry." My father replied, looking at me with a worried expression. "I will confirm all the arrangements with Carlisle now and then I'll let everyone know about the decision and then Carlisle will inform his family." My father looked at Carlisle for confirmation and Carlisle nodded. "Excellent, so Isabella if you could not mention this to anyone until I make the announcement,"
"Yes father," I agreed smiling brightly. I was going to be leaving these castle walls! My dream was going to come true!
"Very well, then you may leave Isabella. Also, I give you permission for the next two weeks to go outside into the gardens. Felix has mentioned to me how you spend a lot of time staring out the window," my father continued. I blushed at that. It was bad enough that Felix had watched me do that, now my father, Carlisle and Esme knew about it too. "But you can only go outside if you have someone with you. Understood?" My father explained with a serious expression.
"Of course father," I replied standing up and giving a small curtsey before leaving the room. Once I left the room I wandered around the castle in search of Edward, hoping that he would accompany me into the gardens for the first time in my life. I ran into Emmett walking through the halls.
"Good morning Emmett," I greeted him, smiling widely. Emmett chuckled.
"Good morning Bella, what has got you in such a good mood?" He asked me with a big smile, his dimples showing.
"Just some news that I have received, I was wondering if you knew where Edward is?" I asked politely. Emmett suddenly got a twinkle in his eye.
"Fancy Edward do you?" Emmett asked, winking at me. I blushed then, though I didn't know why. It's not like I liked Edward…right? Emmett laughed then. "Don't worry Bella, your secret is safe with me," he whispered "Edward is in the music room," Emmett told me and walked off, not before smiling and winking once more. I blushed again and hurried off to find Edward.
I found Edward playing the piano in the music room; I stopped in the door and listened to him play. It was beautiful. I never heard such beautiful music coming from the old piano. No one in the castle played and I had never been taught. I waited for the song to be finished before making my presence known.
"That was a beautiful song, Edward," I said softly, slowly walking into the room. Edward turned on the piano bench looking surprised.
"Thank you, I didn't realize that you were there…how long have you been standing there?" He asked as he stood up from the piano.
"A few minutes, what was that song called?" I enquired.
"Esme's song," he replied looking at the floor in embarrassment. I looked at him in shock at the realization.
"Did you write that song?" He looked up at me and nodded. "Edward, that was amazing! I had no idea that you could play piano!" He smiled at me.
"I have been able to play since I was young, my human mother made me learn piano and I've been playing and writing songs since then." He explained.
"That's amazing. I can't play any instruments," Edward looked at me slightly confused.
"You haven't been taught how to play instruments even though you've been kept inside these walls?" He asked me. I shook my head.
"Haven't been taught how to play an instrument, only how to read, write, sew and sing." I replied. Edward seemed shocked at how little I had been taught in all my time inside these castle walls.
"Was there a reason that you came to the music room?" He asked, changing the subject quickly. I nodded.
"Yes, Emmett told me that I could find you here as I was wondering if you would like to escort me to the gardens?" I enquired, suddenly feeling foolish for seeking out Edward and asking him to escort me somewhere, I had been taught to wait for the gentleman to seek you out and ask to escort you places. I blushed a little then at my foolishness and looked down at the ground, ready to be reminded of my place as a woman. I felt a gentle touch, pulling my chin up until I was looking into Edward's topaz eyes.
"I would love to escort you to the gardens, Bella," Edward said softly, looking deep into my eyes. Edward then removed his finger from under my chin and offered me his arm. I blushed once more as I accepted his arm.
"Thank you, Edward," I said as we began walking out of the music room.
AN: So what do you think? Did you like it? Please be honest. If you hated it, I want to know before I keep going.