Author's Note: This story now has a beautiful banner created by Edward-Bella-Harry-Ginny. The link is on my profile. Thanks EBHG! Thanks also to Juliejuliejulie who advised me to make a small but critical change to this chapter. And always, many thanks to everyone who reads and reviews!
"Once upon a time there was a king and queen who wanted a baby."
"Daddy?"
"Yes, sweetie?"
"Did you want a baby?"
Edward had barely stepped into the batter's box with his latest story, and Renesmee had already aimed a curveball question at him. (Had I actually constructed a valid baseball metaphor? I'd have to check with Emmett later.) My husband's stories were chock full of all manner of rather fraught topics: relationships between vampires and humans, both loving and unhappy, vampires who preyed on humans, conflicts between vampires and werewolves. I'd asked him why he relied on such difficult material. He said there was no getting around it; fairytales deal with fundamental issues of birth, marriage and death. Besides, Renesmee was a very curious child. She regularly confronted us with probing questions. He was ready for this one, though.
"Yes," he said, reaching over to tap her on the nose. "I didn't know that Bella and I could have a baby. But I wanted one, even though I thought it might make Grandpa Charlie very angry at me."
"Why would Grandpa Charlie be angry at you? Because of me?"
"Not because of you. Of course not. He loves you more than anything," he reassured her. "Before you were born, he thought your mother and I were a little bit too young to get married and too young to be parents."
"How could you be too young?" she asked. "I'm too young to go hunting by myself, but you and Mommy are all grown up and always the same."
Edward glanced at me for help. This line of questioning was entirely his own fault, since he had introduced the subject of Charlie's initial concerns into the conversation. I raised my eyebrows at him pointedly before bailing him out.
"Renesmee, don't you want to hear Daddy's new story?"
Edward rewarded me with my favorite crooked smile. Renesmee nodded eagerly, but at the same time she touched my cheek and showed me a picture of herself talking to my father.
"Good idea!" Edward said enthusiastically. "You can ask Grandpa yourself tomorrow. Now, where were we?"
"Once upon a time there was a king and queen who wanted a baby," I prompted him.
"Thank you, love," he said sweetly. "Once upon a time there was a king and queen who wanted a baby. Finally a little girl was born, and they named her Helena. They were extremely happy, and everyone in the kingdom rejoiced with them. Flowers and cards and gifts and congratulations poured in from every corner of the land. There were blankets and books and teddy bears and toys. But among all the packages and mail, there was a strange letter that had no return address. It said, 'I am sorry to have to tell you this, but I have had a vision of your daughter Helena with pale skin and red eyes and sharp, gleaming teeth. She is destined to become a vampire. I know you have no reason to believe this letter, but I have never been wrong before. I thought you should know. From a faithful subject.'"
Renesmee looked astonished. "Who sent it?" she demanded.
"Nobody knew," Edward said. "The king and queen tried to find out, but there were no clues. They were deeply disturbed by this letter. There were stories in their country about vicious vampires who had killed many people. Nobody had seen any vampires for many years, but everyone was still afraid that they might appear again. The king and queen were very worried about the fate predicted for their brand new daughter. They did not know what to think. Their advisors counseled them to ignore the letter. It can't be true, they said. It is a sick joke. It must be from a crazy person. An enemy sent it to upset you. But the king and queen were not able to put it out of their minds.
"Finally, they decided that they had to take action. They had received a warning, and they would never forgive themselves if they did nothing and it came true. They decided that Helena would spend her whole life living in the castle, and they would carefully screen every visitor to be sure that she never met anyone who could be a danger to her. She could play in the courtyard, but they would not let her go out of the castle walls, because then they couldn't control what might happen. The king and queen were very pleased when they came up with this plan. They thought these rules would definitely prevent the awful prophecy they had received. They slept well for the first time in weeks.
"So, Helena grew up this way, confined to the castle and its courtyard. Of course, the king and queen did not want anyone to know about the contents of the letter. The people of the kingdom were told only that the princess would be raised in accordance with strictest, most elevated royal guidelines. Everyone wanted the princess to be properly prepared for her responsibilities, and they believed her parents would do what was best for her. Helena had a team of tutors to teach her math, science, history, languages and literature and give her lessons in music and painting and dancing. Performers came to the castle to entertain her. She even had friends, the children of her parents' friends and senior advisors, who visited regularly and sometimes spent the night.
"Was Helena sad?" I had been caught up in the story, but Renesmee's question gave me pause. Our daughter spent plenty of time outdoors, of course, but she also had to be carefully isolated from strangers for her own safety.
"What do you think?" Edward turned the question back to her. I pressed Renesmee's hand to my cheek to get a glimpse of her thought process. I knew she'd pull away if she didn't want me to see. She reviewed memories of running and playing in her favorite outdoor locations in every season and time of day. Then she flipped through images of our family, Jacob and our Quileute friends, Tanya, Kate, Garrett, Carmen, Eleazar, Nahuel, Huilen, Zafrina. So many people who knew her and adored her.
Finally she announced her answer: "I think she was happy because she had her family and friends."
"I think you're right," Edward agreed. "That's what really matters. When Helena was very young she didn't realize there was anything unusual about her lifestyle. But of course as she got older, she noticed that everyone else could come and go, but she was never permitted to leave the castle walls. Her parents told her that she was special. She was the princess. Helena asked if she could go out wearing a disguise or with bodyguards, but her parents said this was not possible, and they redoubled their efforts to provide everything she might need or want in the castle. Helena often looked wistfully through the windows and loved to hear from her friends about the marketplace and the lake and all the sights she was not permitted to see in person. But she knew her parents loved her very much and she accepted their restrictions.
"When Helena turned eighteen, her parents gave her a special gift that she wanted very much: a puppy. He was friendly and frisky, and she named him Sparky. They spent hours playing together in the courtyard, and at night he slept curled up at the foot of her bed. One morning Sparky woke her up very early, while it was still dark out, She tried to push him away and burrow under the covers and go back to sleep, but he kept licking her face and tugging on her sleeve. Finally she got up to see what he wanted. She followed him out of the door, down several flights of stairs, past many dark and quiet rooms to the kitchen.
"'Are you hungry?' she asked him. He ran to the door. She knew that tradespeople from the village delivered goods to this door, which opened outside the castle. Sparky whined and scratched at the door. Helena decided that she could let Sparky out and remain inside. She had trained him to come when she called. Everything would have worked out fine, except…" Edward's voice trailed off.
"Except what?" I demanded.
"Except," he said slowly. "I was thinking that this story is very long already. Maybe Renesmee should go to sleep now and hear the rest tomorrow night." Renesmee's face took on a look of complete shock.
"No!" she gasped.
"No?" he asked.
"Please, Daddy, please finish the story! I will go right to sleep after," she promised earnestly.
"What do you think, Bella?"
"Hmm." I pondered for a moment. "I think if you don't keep telling the story, we will have to subject you to tickle torture." Renesmee giggled.
"Two against one," he grinned, shaking his head. "I'd better surrender." I nodded at him with satisfaction while Renesmee delighted us with a huge smile. "So," he continued, "everything would have worked out fine, except that a rabbit ran past Sparky and into the woods, and Sparky took off after it. Helena was beside herself. She knew she shouldn't go out, but she couldn't let Sparky get away. Dawn was just breaking. She thought she could catch him and get back before anyone in the castle woke up and realized she was gone. Her love and worry for her pet was stronger than her wish to obey her parents. She ran after Sparky into the woods, calling his name.
"But Helena was accustomed to the smooth pavement in the courtyard of the castle and to trees that grew in pots. She had never been in the woods before. She tripped over a tree root and fell onto her hands and knees. Her dress was torn and dirty, and she had cut her leg. She tried to get to her feet and keep going. Suddenly a strange young man appeared before her. He was very pale and wonderfully attractive."
"He is a vampire!" Renesmee exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.
"Do you think so?" Edward asked. "Let's see what happens next."
"'Are you hurt?' the stranger asked in a beautiful voice.
"'No,' Helena answered, forgetting her worry and her pain as she stared at this fascinating person.
"'You're bleeding,' he pointed out."
Renesmee held her breath and squeezed my hand.
"She followed his gaze to her leg and gasped as she remembered where she was and why. 'My puppy got away, and I was chasing him,' she explained.
"'Your puppy?' he asked.
"'Yes, my puppy Sparky!' she said, her face crumpling in distress. 'I'll never find him now.'
"'I think I can hear him,' the man said. 'Wait here.' Before she could even answer, he vanished, and in moments he had returned with Sparky barking and wriggling frantically in his arms. Sparky scrambled away from the man and jumped onto Helena, licking her face and wagging his tail with great energy.
Renesmee's grip on my hand slackened. "He is a good vampire," she whispered in relief. Edward smiled and carried on with his tale without pausing.
"'Oh, thank you!' she exclaimed, patting Sparky and trying to calm him down. 'Thank you so much!'
"'It was my pleasure,' the stranger responded politely.
"'My name is Helena,' she said.
"'Helena?' he repeated. "Princess Helena?"
"'Yes, of course,' she answered. Since she had only met people who came to her home, she was used to everyone knowing who she was.
"'But you are not supposed to be out of the castle,' he reminded her.
"'No,' she agreed. 'But I don't want to go back just yet! I like it out here. The light is so pretty coming through the trees, and there are different smells and sounds. And….' She paused for a moment. 'I never met anyone like you.'
"'Well, I have certainly never met a princess, so this is a new experience for both of us,' he replied with a smile. 'My name is William.'
"'Do you live near here?' she asked. 'What are you doing in the woods?'
"'Oh, I spend lots of time here, especially at night and early in the morning,' he said. 'It's quiet and beautiful. I know a nice place where we can talk for a little while. Can you walk?' She nodded, and he led her a short distance away where there was a fallen tree to sit on. Sparky romped nearby and investigated all the trees and plants and rocks around them. He showed no inclination to dash off again. William asked Helena what she liked to do, and she told him about some of her favorite books. He had read some of them and recommended others he thought she might like.
"'I think you should go back home now,' he said after they had been chatting for a while. 'Everyone will be dreadfully worried if they realize you're gone.'
"'But,' she said, looking into his eyes. 'Can I see you again? Will you come to visit me? Please?'
"'I don't think that will work,' he said slowly. 'Visitors for the princess must be approved.' She dropped her gaze and blood rushed into her face.
"'Well, it was lovely to meet you,' she whispered. 'Thank you again so much for catching Sparky for me. I'll never forget you.'
"'Wait!' he said, frowning. 'I'm sorry. That sounded like I don't want to see you again, and I do.'
"'You do?'
"'Yes. I just don't think I can come to the castle. Your parents would never agree.'
"'Why not?'
"He sighed. 'It's a long story. Maybe I can explain next time. Do you think you can meet me here in the woods again?'
"Now, what do you think happened next?" Edward asked.
"I think Helena said yes!" Renesmee replied happily.
"You're right, because that is what would have happened. But you're wrong because, just then, just as she was about to answer, they heard something that made both of them freeze in panic. It was a very loud noise booming through the trees. Helena recognized it as the voice of the chief of security for the castle, speaking into a bullhorn.
"'Princess Helena! Princess Helena!' the chief said. 'We know you left the castle. Come out immediately!'
"'Oh, no!' she exclaimed. 'You should go. I don't want you to get in trouble. You haven't done anything wrong. I am not sure when I can sneak out and meet you. I'll have to get a message to you somehow. But please just go now!'
"The chief's amplified voice continued to fill the air. William objected to Helena's request, but she insisted that he leave. So William reached over and took her hand and when he saw her pleased expression, he lifted it to his lips and kissed it. Then, as quickly as before, he departed. Helena turned to make her way towards the people who were searching for her. 'I'm here!' she shouted. She began running, so as to get to them sooner and relieve the anxiety she knew her parents must be feeling. 'I'm sorry! I had to follow Sparky!'
"'Princess Helena! Stay where you are. We'll come get you.' Just as the chief spoke these words and directed the search team to where Sparky was racing out of the trees ahead of his mistress, Helena tripped again. This time, she didn't get up. The security officers rushed over, and they saw that Helena had hit her head on a rock. She was unconscious and badly hurt. They carefully loaded her onto a stretcher and took her back to the castle.
"The royal doctors examined Helena's injuries. She was in a coma, and they told her parents to prepare for the worst. Helena might never wake up. Or her vital functions might deteriorate, and she would slip away. Her parents were devastated. One of them was always with Helena, and often both of them sat together at her bedside, lamenting how things had turned out.
"'If only she had stayed inside the castle like she was supposed to…'
"'If only we hadn't gotten her the puppy…'
"'If only we had let her go out of the castle so she was familiar with the woods….'
"'If only we had kept her under better supervision….'
"The king and queen took turns uttering these useless regrets.
"'But,' the queen said. 'I don't understand, because the letter said that she would become…' Her voice dropped to a whisper. '….a vampire.' She continued in a normal tone of voice. 'If the letter had warned us that she would trip and hit her head and go into a coma, we could have taken proper precautions.'
"'I guess the letter was just wrong,' the king said sadly, patting Sparky who lay curled at Helena's feet.
I glanced at Renesmee. She was absolutely mesmerized.
"Everyone in the kingdom was concerned about the princess. The doctors said all they could do was wait and watch and hope. Her parents decided they had nothing to lose. They promised that anyone who could revive their daughter would be rewarded with her hand in marriage. Many people came to try to wake the princess up. Physicians came: young doctors with the latest experimental techniques and experienced doctors with tried-and-true remedies. Village healers came with colorful crystals and aromatic steam and special lotions. Her friends came and pleaded with her to return to them. Comedians came and told jokes that might startle her to her senses. Musicians came to perform, hoping that familiar tunes or perhaps the sheer volume of noise would reach her. Nothing worked. It seemed like Helena would sleep forever.
"Late one night, Helena took a turn for the worse. The nurses noticed that her vital signs were weakening. Her heart rate was slowing, and the level of oxygen in her blood was falling. Her mother stroked her hair and wept silently. Her father held her hand. In the morning, they announced to the kingdom that despite everyone's hopes and prayers and all the attempts to heal her, Helena was very close to death.
"Shortly after this statement was made public, a young man presented himself at the castle gate. He said he wanted to try to save the princess.
"'It's too late,' the gatekeeper informed him.
"'Too late!' he exclaimed in horror. 'Did she die?'
"'No, but she's very weak. She only has hours to live now.'
"'Then I am in time!' he insisted. 'Please let me in. I know I can wake her up.'
"The gatekeeper grumbled about impertinent young men who intruded on a house of sorrow, but he sent word to the king and queen that another person had come to try to revive the princess. They also believed it was too late. They wanted to spend Helena's last moments with her in private. But they felt they had to try everything.
"The visitor was escorted to Helena's chamber. Sparky immediately jumped from Helena's bed and ran over to sniff him and lick his hand. The king and queen thought he was a very handsome young man. They noticed that he had very pale skin and very unusual golden eyes.
"'Greetings, your majesties,' he said politely, in a smooth, melodious voice. 'My name is William.'
"William," repeated Renesmee with a contented smile.
"The queen looked kindly at him. 'It's nice to meet you, William. Do you think you have a way to save Helena?' she asked.
"'I know I do,' he said confidently. 'But it is rather unorthodox.'
"'Well, all conventional methods have failed,' the king admitted.
"'Please go ahead,' the queen said. 'There isn't much time.'
"The young man shook his head. 'With all due respect, your majesties, I want to make sure you understand what you are agreeing to. First, you will have to leave me alone with Helena for three days. And take Sparky with you.'
"'Three days!' the queen exclaimed. 'But—'
"'I know,' he interrupted. 'She is not expected to live that long. But she will be awake and ready to speak to you three days from now.'
"The king and queen looked desperately eager.
"'Second,' William continued. 'You may hear her screaming. The procedure is extremely painful.'
"'Screaming?' the king asked incredulously. 'But she hasn't made a sound in months, since the day she hit her head.'
"'No matter what you hear, you must leave us alone until the three days are up.' The king and queen nodded their agreement. 'Third, it will take several years for her to recover fully from the treatment. I'll help her through all that and tell you later what arrangements will be necessary then. But you have to accept that during that time you won't be able to be close to her. You can only speak to her from a distance.'
"'But you're saying that after that time, she'll be cured? Able to walk and talk and everything as before?' the queen asked hopefully.
"'Yes,' he said. 'She will be able to walk and talk, nearly everything she did before. But she will be different. That is the fourth condition you must agree to.'
"'And you can marry her,' the king reminded him. 'William, if you can do this when the situation has become completely hopeless, you'll have earned the reward we promised and much more besides.'
"'Well,' William said. 'We can ask her what she thinks about that when she wakes up.' The king and the queen kissed Helena and said goodbye to her. They liked William, and they could see that he had no doubt in what he was saying, but they had been disappointed many times.
"As soon as William and Helena were alone, he approached her and gently ran his finger along her cheek. 'I'm sorry, Helena,' he said. 'I hope this is the right thing to do.' Then he bit her. As you guessed, he was a vampire, and he knew that his venom would heal Helena's injuries as it transformed her into a powerful, ageless being like him. As he predicted, Helena screamed with the pain of the venom spreading through her body. He talked to her and explained many times what had happened to her since they had met in the woods and what was happening now. Everything happened as he had assured her parents. Helena did speak to them when she woke up. She said that she felt very well and strong, but she could not be near people just yet. William showed her how to hunt animals as he did, and over time she became accustomed to her new needs and abilities.
"When she felt ready, they saw her parents in person and explained that they were both vampires. The king and queen were rather shocked, but they had grown to trust and love William for helping their daughter, and of course they were grateful that Helena's injury had been cured and she was healthy. They had to admit that William and Helena were quite different from what they had feared. William and Helena got married, and as far as I know, they are still living happily together to this day."
Renesmee sighed happily. "Daddy, I love that story," she said sleepily.
"Thank you, sweetie."
"I have a question."
He nodded, smiling at what he heard in her mind. "Ask so Mommy can hear."
"If nobody sent the letter, then they wouldn't keep her in the castle, and then she wouldn't get hurt that way, and then the letter wouldn't come true. What would happen if her parents didn't get the letter?"
"That's a good question," I praised her.
"I don't know," he said. "That would be a different story. What do you think would happen? Would Helena meet William anyway? Would she still end up as a vampire even without the letter?"
"Yes. Because some things were meant to be."
But it wasn't our daughter who answered Edward's question. It was me.
Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed the story. I didn't want them all to be princess/romance tales, but I thought it was time for another one. Please let me know if you liked it!