Edward's Equal Ch 3: Bella
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight The King's equal or any of that good stuff!
A/N: Sorry about the lack of updates as always please read and review! on with the story
Meanwhile in the farthest reaches of prince Edward's kingdom there lived a poor farmer, Charlie was his name. His wife had left many years ago but before she had they were blessed with a child. Isabella (for this was her name even though she insisted everyone call her Bella) was Charlie's pride and joy and he loved her more than anything in the world. When King Carlisle died and Edward took charge Charlie and his two closest friends who also had daughters grew worried that what few things they had left to their name would soon be taken by the prince so they gathered the girls together."You three must go into hiding!" the three fathers told their daughters "there is a small log cabin high up in the mountains you will be safe there" "please come with us" Alice begged them "we must stay here" Rosalie's father answered her "there is a good chance that Edward's guards won't find our little farm we must stay and harvest what we can while there is still time" "then let us stay!" Bella asked them "it's better to be hungry and with those you love than to be full and all alone isn't it?" "yes" Charlie spoke "but I promised Renee I would take care of you we just want the three of you to be safe." So with heavy hearts Bella Rosalie and Alice said goodbye to their families and set off into the mountains together. The three found the cabin with little trouble and didn't waste any time with fixing the cabin up and making it liveable enough for three people. The mountains were lovely in the summer and the girls spent most of their time outdoors, but as it often does winter in the mountains came early that year and with it came the first snows of the season. The girls had been able to get enough firewood to stay warm having had practice with this on the farm but food was scarce. Rosalie and Alice had dried some grass and their fathers had sent some grain with them up into the mountains but that too ran short and the girls slowly grew hungrier and hungrier. One day the girls were arguing about whether or not to eat their last few handfuls of grain when they heard a growl outside. The girls bickering stopped short and all three quickly became terrified. "W-W-What is that?" Alice quivered "I... I don't know" Bella replied. Finally Rosalie who was the bravest out of the three said "I'll go out and take a look" and so gathering what courage she had Rosalie stepped outside the hut. Out there in the snow stood a wolf (A/N:can anyone guess who the wolf is??wink wink) Rosalie was about to scream but her scream was brought up short when the wolf turned to look at her he was large, muscular, and Rosalie had the impression that if he were to stand on his hind legs he would tower over her by a good few inches. His fur was russet colored but this wasn't what made Rosalie stop and stare, it was his eyes. They were dark colored almost a warm shade of brown but they seemed merry, almost as if this wolf was laughing at her. There was nothing about him or his stance at all that seemed threateningor Aggressive. In fact this wolf seemed more lost and hungry than anything, all of a sudden without even realising what she'd done until she did it Rosalie spoke to the wolf "please" Rosalie spoke in a gentle and loving tone "I don't mean you any harm but it is mighty cold out here would you like to come in?" Thank you" came the reply in a deep sort of voice almost like thunder rumbling in some far off land and Rosalie almost keeled over from shock for she had never met a wolf who could speak. Once she had recovered she turned to go inside and the wolf followed her into the shack. "Rose!" Bella and Alice cried out upon seeing their friend "you're alright!" Bella said relieved "we thought something ate you!" Alice cried. "No no I'm fine!" she assured them "it's just we had... an unexpected visitor" as she turned and gestured towards the russet colored wolf in the doorway. The two gasped in shock but the wolf quickly spoke. "Please don't be afraid rest assured that I mean you no harm" Bella and Alice turned to Rose for an explanation but she simply threw her hands up as if to say don't look at me I don't know where he came from or why he can speak!Finally Bella spoke up in a timid voice "if you please... who are you?" "I am the wolf" he replied "and one day I will prove myself a friend to you girls" Neither Bella, Rosalie nor Alice knew what to make of this creature so they decided to take the wolf at his word and let him stay with them in the cabin. "You three are kind girls" the wolf said when they informed him that he could stay with them "and I promise you that this kindness that you have shown me will not go unrewarded." Bella ground the last of the grain into flour and from this she made two little loaves of bread which she then split into halves and divided the halves equally among her friends, the wolf and herself. "You are a wise girl" the wolf said to Bella "I assure you that such wisdom shall not be overlooked." Bella wasn't quite sure what to say to that so she just nodded. A little later that night Alice's stomach rumbled "I'm so hungry" she whined "I know Alice" Bella said soothingly "but we don't have any food left." "Are you sure?" the wolf asked "yes" Bella said unsure of why he had asked the question "show me" he commanded. Confused by his request Bella lifted the top off of the grain jar to show the wolf that it was empty... and in there she found more grain. "That's funny" Bella said to herself "I'm sure the jar was empty" but didn't question it she just took the grain and ground it into flour as she had before and from that flour came two more little loaves of bread which were divided equally among the four of them. From then on every time Bella was sure that the jar was empty the wolf simply said "show me" and there in the grain jar Bella found enough grain to feed the four of them and get them through the winter. Many nights later Bella and the wolf were sitting at the table Alice and Rosalie both being long asleep when the wolf suddenly asked "why do you seem so sad my child?" "I am worried for my father" Bella replied Alice and Rosalie's parents too we haven't seen them in so long" "your families are all alive and well" he assured her and Bella believed him for she knew that this was no ordinary wolf. "I am also worried or my country" she continued "it is ruled by a selfish, arrogant, and spoiled prince who does not care for the good of his people only for himself." The wolf stared off into space thinking for a moment before saying "Ah yes! that is the kingdom which searches for a woman. A woman who the prince will declare to be his equal in beauty and wealth as well as wisdom. If such a woman were to suddenly come forth then the kingdom would most surely be saved." The wolf then turned so he was looking Bella directly in the eyes "do you wish to help your people?" "Don't be daft!" Bella cried out "I mean I wish I could but as you can surely see I'm not beautiful nor am I very wise and I am so poor that I would have starved and Rosalie and Alice along with me if you hadn't come to help us!" "Look at my neck" the wolf commanded. Bella did this and for the first time since meeting the wolf she noticed a simple circle of gold, almost like a collar of sorts around his neck. "What is it?" Bella asked him hesitantly "Go wake Rosalie and Alice and I will explain things" came the wolf's reply. Once all three girls were gathered around the table the wolf continued "on the night of Bella's birth a prophecy was made, a prophecy about Isabella or as you call her now Bella. Not unlike the prophecy made shortly before the king's untimely death. The prophecy foretold that in seventeen years time Bella was to become a King's equal" Rosalie and Alice both glanced at Bella who was at a loss for words, unsure what to make of it all. The wolf removed the collar from around his neck and gave it to Bella "take my collar and place it on your head" Bella did this and the little cabin was suddenly filled with a heavenly light that emanated from the little circle of gold. "Is it magic?" sje asked "The circlet of a friend is always magic" he replied before continuing "from here you are to go down to the capital where you will find a councilor who serves Prince Edward. Tell him that you are the princess that he has been searching for" Bella snorted "I'm not a princess you of all beings should know that" the wolf simply responded "this is your destiny you can't run from it. this is what you were meant to do" Bella could not deny this for deep down in the bery dephs of her soul she knew that he was right. So after many hugs and goodbyes from Alice and Rosalie Bella was about to set off. Wait the wlof suddenly called from inside the shack"what is it my friend Bella asked before you go into the world of humans you must know this do not speak of me or say that you have met me. The humans will not understand the friendship we share" Bella nodded in understanding "I will never forget you" she said to her friend "and I will never forget you" the wolf replied "now go" and so bowing respectfully to the wolf Bella set off down the mountain.
Into the world of people.
To the capital.
To the councillor's house.
Where she would claim to be Prince Edward's equal.
Just the mere thought of making such a claim had Bella's head spinning and her stomach doing flip flops.
"God help me do this!" she silently pleaded
A/N: so what do you think? I promise you next chapter Edward and Bella will meet! and don't worry about Rose and Alice they haven't been forgotten! They will reappear at some point. Also for those of you who didn't guess the wolf is Jacob and yes he will be back a little later as well. Please review!
