Author's Note: See? I promised more updates. :-D

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Though Caralla had said there was no need for anything so formal, Alice couldn't be stopped. She was turning this ritual into a full-blown debacle, setting chairs outside, strewing flower petals about, draping shimmery fabric here and there, and placing dozens upon dozens of small candles in little lanterns around the yard.

"Come on," she'd pleaded when everyone questioned her reasoning. "This is the first time in hundreds, possibly millions of years that an actual official binding is going to take place. Can't we at least dress up the occasion a bit?" Caralla had stayed out of that particular discussion, laughing as it became apparent that none of them could deny the little imp her fun. As she darted here and there, ordering Jasper and Rose and Emmett about like her own little workers, Caralla spoke quietly to Bella and Carlisle, whilst Esme and Edward sat off to the side and observed.

Edward sat and watched Bella, even as Esme watched Carlisle. Neither of them felt any sort of threat, but rather a radiating peace. How much of that was due to the ceremony and how much to Jasper or Caralla, they didn't know. But as everyone was gathering outside in the cool air, Edward turned to the woman beside him.

"Esme?"

"Yes?"

"I feel...I don't even know how to describe it. My logical mind is screaming that I should feel at least betrayed, yet I don't. What are your thoughts?" She was quiet a moment before answering.

"Oddly, much the same as yours. I feel like I should be upset, but all I am is...well, excited? Curious?" She paused, collecting her thoughts. "Let me ask you - do you doubt that Bella loves you above anything? Or that you return those feelings?"

"Not a bit," he replied firmly, his voice full of certainty.

"And I don't doubt my husband for one instant. I also don't doubt that this could be the best thing to happen for all of us. Am I making any sense?" Edward just nodded, smiling as Bella laughed at something neither he nor his companion heard. She turned, smiling at him from behind the wind-blown veil of her hair, and Edward found all of the love he would ever need in her eyes.

"Well, everyone, should we get this rather, um...festive...ritual started?" Caralla's eyes swept the multitude of candles and flowers and sparkly things tossed with a haphazard, yet beautiful, grace all over the yard. It was the space of seconds before everyone was sitting in their seats. As the mates of the two being bonded, Esme and Edward sat in the center of the little half-circle of chairs, having the best view of the proceedings. Rosalie and Emmett sat to their right, leaning against one another, while Jasper and Alice took their seats on the left, twining their fingers together. Esme nodded briefly at Caralla, who motioned the remaining two forward. Bella, as was apparently the custom, sat on her knees on the ground. Carlisle sank to the same position across from her, less than an arm's length away.

"Since you have made this such a formal affair, Alice, would you like me to stick to the old words of ceremony?" asked Caralla.

"Oh, yes, please!" squealed Alice. "I'm sure we'd all love to see the ceremony as it used to be performed!"

"Well," said the elder wryly, "I think this will be one of the rare times it's being performed with consent from both parties, so I can't say it will be an 'authentic' ceremony...but I have knowledge of the rare forms of protocol as well." Alice was all but bouncing ecstatically, and her enthusiasm was contagious. Edward found himself impatient and...bubbly? He looked at Jasper who smiled in sheepish apology and stopped thoughtlessly projecting his wife's emotions onto everyone present. In the next moment, though, they could all feel a massive charge fill the surrounding space, almost like the air just before a lashing, cracking thunderstorm. He realized with no real shock that he was looking forward to this. No one said anything for the longest time, but then Caralla began to speak. Her voice was that of ages past and ages yet to come, and it sent shivers through every single person there. The power in her soft speech was palpable, humbling, and yet loving and warm.

"Since time was new, the power of blood has been called to bear the burden of much of the worlds' ills. On this day, however, the essence of life will be brought to carry love, trust, and security. By time and before time, this bond shall be born, and all who are witness today shall carry the knowledge that this is truly sacred, not to be defiled or warped for evil.

"Isabella Swan, human. Have you so chosen of your own will, free and abiding, to carry this sacred trust and guard it to the best of your ability, even unto death should the necessity arise?" Bella simply nodded, her whispered affirmation audible to everyone present.

"Carlisle Cullen, akhkharu. Have you also chosen of your own immortal will, free and abiding, to carry this sacred trust and guard it to the best of your ability, even unto death should the necessity arise?" His voice wasn't much louder as he confirmed his choice, his eyes only on Bella's now, as hers were on his.

"Kin of these two, akhkharu all, bear witness to this bond until such time as you are no more." From somewhere in her sleeve she produced a shining bronze dagger, gleaming and intricately engraved.

"Isabella, your blood is the first to flow." Without a word Bella grasped the knife, holding her hand out, palm up as she'd been instructed earlier. Edward watched in fascination as she drew the blade quickly across her tender skin, the edge so sharp that it took a few moments for her body to realize she'd been wounded. After a few seconds, though, a thin line of red appeared on her porcelain skin, slowly growing larger and darker as her blood began to well between the severed edges of her skin.

"Carlisle. By accepting this, her offering, you accept her life as your own, to protect, to nurture. This vow cannot be forsaken or broken by thine own desire nor the manipulations of any others. Drink, and guard her forever." Everyone watched in enthralled silence as, his eyes never leaving Bella's, he lowered his head. At first he simply inhaled her scent, gently licking the pulse in her wrist, but shortly he moved his tongue down to where her blood was pooling, smooth and vibrant, in her palm. He lapped at it as a cat would a saucer of milk, finally closing his mouth over the wound and feeding gently. As he lapped at her skin her body had begun to staunch the flow on its own, and after a moment all that was left were faint pink traces in the creases of her palm. Shortly, he'd cleaned even those away, leaving her skin smooth and unbroken but for the slice that was already closing of its own accord. He sat up straighter, his eyes beginning to take on a tinge that wasn't red or gold but a burnished umber or sorts. Edward knew he'd never seen that color before, and wondered if it had something to do with the bond.

"She is in your charge now, to cherish and champion, until time itself forgoes all bonds and withers." She paused, taking the knife back from Bella and handing it to Carlisle who took it solemnly.

"Carlisle, your blood is the last to flow." In a motion similar to Bella's he bared his palm, and while everyone looked on, wondering how futile the gesture would be as nothing could puncture a vampire's skin, he ran the blade over his own palm. There were gasps all around as, to everyone's shock, he began to bleed as easily as Bella had. Caralla's voice drew them out of their questioning for the moment.

"Isabella. By accepting this, his offering, you accept his soul as the protector of your own, placing your own being as his rock and support. In hard times he will draw upon your strength. In gentle times you will be his light. This vow cannot be forsaken or broken by thine own desire nor the manipulations of any others. Drink, and cradle him forever." Without hesitation she leaned down, pressing a soft kiss on his fingertips before swiping her tongue out across the thick liquid on his hand. Her expression went from unsure to contemplative as she gently drank from his open palm, eventually settling into contentment as she cleaned his palm much like he had for her. After all traces of his blood were gone, she placed her own hand over his and they both lifted their gazes to Caralla, signaling their acceptance. She smiled, her eyes slowly shifting to the dark, swirling color that the Cullens recognized from her earlier mind-walking. The very air felt charged with electricity, building upon itself and shrouding the group in a veil of emotion and sensation.

"Thus is the bond forged - bear witness now and forevermore." It seemed to those watching that, for a brief moment in time, their joined hands almost glowed, and then all was still, the air was quiet, and Caralla was hugging both Bella and Carlisle.

"Rejoin your family, darlings. I shall see you on the morrow, before I take my leave."

"Oh, you can't be leaving yet!" cried Bella. Caralla tucked the human's hair behind her ear.

"But I have to, Bella. I've been gone from my island for too long. They cancontinue in my absence, but I...well, I miss them." They enfolded one another in a warm embrace for a moment. "Go talk to your family. I'll see you in the morning."

"Thank you, Caralla," she whispered.

"Yes, Cara. Thank you, for everything." Carlisle hugged the gorgeous vampire as well, and she was smiling when she pulled away.

"Well, I couldn't let you kill this wonderful little human with your insanity, now could I?" A quick peck on his cheek and she disappeared into the forest, gone from sight before even the preternaturally sharp eyes of the Cullens could register her leaving. With a grin, Bella turned to find Edward standing before her. A quick sliver of question filtered through her mind, but then he opened his arms and welcomed her home.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Caralla's translation guide:

akhkharu: Sumerian word for vampire. Though Caralla uses it with fondness, in the beliefs of ancient Sumer the akhkharu was an evil bloodsucking demon. Makes you really begin to wonder how old she truly is if she still uses Sumerian language smoothly. Honestly, I don't even know how old Caralla is. She's become more a mystery to me since I began writing her than she would have been had she remained in my head and not on paper. LOL