"Once upon a time there was a young prince who was in love with a vampire." Edward looked at Renesmee's shining eyes and nodded. "Yes," he told her.
Her mind must have immediately filled with questions at the dramatic opening of his new story. Yes, what? I asked him mentally. He grinned at me. "Should I tell Mommy your question?" he asked her. She nodded.
"Yes, you two are the most wonderful girls in the world."
"Daddy! Not that! That wasn't my question!" Renesmee's perfect little face formed an adorable pout.
He chuckled. "I'm sorry. I can't keep my thoughts straight when I'm surrounded by so much beauty."
I rolled my eyes. "You sure have a golden tongue."
"You would know," he smirked.
"Edward! Get on with the story!"
He laughed. I loved seeing him so playful and relaxed. Our daughter had brought out aspects of my husband that I'd never imagined. He hadn't aged in almost a hundred years, but being a father made him both older and younger. The air was loaded with the lovely scent that meant my family, and my heart was bursting with happiness. Paradise wasn't a garden or a tropical island. It was right here and right now, with Renesmee's joyful expression and Edward's rich, compelling voice continuing the story.
"Yes, he knew she was a vampire. You see, a long time before the story begins, the rulers of the kingdom had discovered that there were vampires living among them."
"Like the pack!" Renesmee exclaimed.
Edward nodded. "Something like that," he confirmed. "But the rulers were not able to fight vampires like the wolves can. Still, they agreed to let the vampires stay, and the vampires agreed not to hurt anyone and to protect the people of the kingdom from any enemies that might threaten them. The prince and his family knew the secret, but they were the only ones. His name was Malcolm and the girl he loved was named Caroline. Caroline was so pretty and so intelligent and so interesting that of course he fell in love with her. And Malcolm was so handsome and so kind and so much fun that she fell in love with him.
"It sounds like everything was perfect for this beautiful young couple. But if that were the case, there would be no story. In fact, there was a problem: Malcolm's mother, the queen. The queen had married into the royal family and she was not at all happy to learn that there were vampires who were permitted, even encouraged, to make their home in the kingdom. She felt that such creatures could not be trusted. Her husband the king pointed out that there had been no trouble from these vampires for generations and that they did their part to keep the crime rate exceedingly low. The queen said they were just lulling him into a false sense of security and were planning to strike when least expected."
"Huh," Renesmee scoffed. She showed me a picture of Edward hunting. The lion, a fearsome predator in its own right, had no chance. I understood her point. We were so strong and fast that we didn't need the element of surprise. Edward chuckled at her thoughts.
"The queen was not thinking logically," he explained. "She just knew she didn't like vampires. She felt nervous and uncomfortable around them, which is very natural. She was aware that Malcolm liked to spend time with Caroline, but she didn't know how much he cared for her. She assumed that he felt the same way she did. She thought he was just cementing the alliance for when he became king. Well, you can imagine her reaction when Malcolm told his parents that he and Caroline were in love and wanted to marry.
"'Impossible!' she declared. 'She's not our sort. You should marry a proper princess.'
"'I love Caroline, and I won't have anyone else,' Malcolm declared.
"'You won't be able to have children. This will be the end of the family.'
"'We want to have children, and we will have them, by adoption. That could happen if I married a human girl instead, you know. The only difference is that we already know.'
"The queen continued to state her objections. 'She won't be able to perform her official duties because she can't go out during the day.'
"'We will tell everyone that she has exceptionally sensitive skin and has to stay inside or be protected from sunlight.'
"'People will notice that she doesn't get older.'
"'They will simply think I am a very lucky man. And they will be right. Mother, we have thought about and talked about everything. We are in love, and we want your blessing to be married.'
The queen asked the king what he thought. 'It is unexpected, to be sure,' he said. 'I think Malcolm and Caroline must love each other very much or they wouldn't be prepared to take such an unusual step. We should be happy for our son.' But the queen was not at all ready to accept a vampire as her daughter-in-law.
"'Mother, please just give her a chance,' Malcolm begged. 'If you got to know her, you'd see how special and wonderful she is. She's so beautiful, so smart, so graceful. She'll be a wonderful queen someday.'
"Finally the queen agreed that Caroline would be invited to stay at the castle for the weekend. Malcolm was pleased that his mother was willing to spend time with Caroline. But the queen did not really have an open mind. She saw the visit as an opportunity to prove to her son that the relationship would never work.
"She prepared the guest room very carefully for Caroline. 'I want to be sure she is comfortable,' she told her husband and Malcolm, as she gave orders to install a stack of twenty mattresses on the bed.
"'Mother!' Malcolm said impatiently. 'You know Caroline doesn't even sleep!'
"'That may be,' the queen said grandly. 'But I want to show her my royal hospitality by making the guest room as luxurious as possible.' The king and the prince sighed and let her have her way.
"But the queen had a secret reason for piling up so many mattresses. She believed very firmly that in order to run the castle properly and be an asset to the kingdom, a princess must be able to notice anything that was out of place or not quite right. So underneath the bottom layer, she placed a large diamond earring. Caroline's failure to detect the gem would give her fresh ammunition to ensure that this wholly inappropriate relationship ended.
"The sun shone late into the evening on that summer day, so Caroline did not arrive at the castle until shortly before bedtime. She was very nervous, because she knew this weekend would be pivotal. The warm greetings from Malcolm and his father helped put her at ease, and even the Queen seemed nice enough as she escorted Caroline to the guest bedroom. Caroline was a bit startled to see the unusual number of mattresses on the bed. She glanced at Malcolm, and he just shrugged in apology. So she simply thanked the king and queen and wished them all a good night.
"The queen was rather agitated in the morning as the family went to Caroline's room to begin the day. 'Good morning!' Caroline said, greeting Malcolm and his parents cheerfully.
"'Good morning, dear,' the queen said. 'How was your night?'
"'Fine, thank you,' said Caroline. 'But there was something strange. I found an earring in the bed, underneath all the mattresses.' She held it up. The morning light filtering into the room caused the diamond and Caroline's skin to sparkle. 'Were you looking for this?'
"'My earring!' the Queen exclaimed in consternation. 'I am so sorry. I don't know how that could have happened.' She was disturbed that her plan was unsuccessful, but to the others it seemed that she was upset that she had lost track of her jewelry.
"Malcolm was glancing around in confusion. 'The room looks different somehow,' he remarked.
"'Oh, that,' Caroline said sheepishly. 'Well, as you know, I don't need to sleep. So I brought my craft materials, and I decided to pass the time by crocheting some lace panels for the windows here. But if you don't like them, you don't have to keep them,' she added quickly. 'The window treatments in this room are really lovely. I just like to keep busy.'"
"Aunt Alice is the same way," Renesmee interjected happily.
"The queen approached the windows to examine Caroline's handiwork. 'You did this? All in one night?' she asked. 'They're beautiful. And you incorporated the flower motif from the fabric curtains. What a nice detail.' She couldn't help smiling at Caroline. 'May we keep these? They are just the perfect finishing touch for this chamber.'
"'Of course,' Caroline said, smiling back. 'I crocheted these panels for you and for this room, and I'd be delighted to make more designs anytime.' Malcolm was thrilled to see his mother behaving with approval towards his love.
"'Thank you very much,' the queen said. 'Now, you two run along and have fun together this morning. But I hope Caroline will join me later. At 3:00 we are holding a tea party for some of the ladies of the village and their children.'
"'Mother!' Malcolm objected. 'Caroline doesn't eat or drink like we do. And it might not be safe for her to be outside.'
"'Don't worry about that, darling,' the queen replied. 'The forecast calls for heavy clouds, and I've ordered a large canopy to be set up. Caroline simply must learn how the royal family is expected to entertain.'
"'That sounds lovely,' Caroline said bravely. 'Of course I will be there.'
"As Caroline made her way across the castle lawn to the party, she knew she was still on trial. The queen introduced her to the other guests, and she began to relax somewhat as they chatted pleasantly. But something attracted her attention. She asked to speak to the queen privately. The queen didn't want to leave the guests on their own, but she saw that Caroline was quite determined and she took her aside.
"'What is it?' she asked, somewhat sharply. 'We really ought to remain with the others.'
"'I'm sorry,' Caroline said quickly. 'There is something wrong with the cream you are serving with the tea. It's gone off. I can smell it.'"
Renesmee wrinkled her nose. "Human food!" she exclaimed with disgust.
Edward grinned at her. "It doesn't smell very good to vampires even when it's fresh," he agreed. "But of course Caroline could still tell it was spoiled much better than the humans could."
"The queen's mouth dropped open. 'Oh, no!' she cried. 'Are you sure?' When Caroline nodded, the queen directed her to return to the party while she quickly gave orders to replace the cream before anyone could use it. She rejoined the others, beaming with satisfaction that the problem had been taken care of without the guests being aware. She smiled warmly at Caroline and made sure she was included in the conversation. Caroline was very pleased with the queen's more positive attitude towards her. As she talked to her hostess and the other guests, she suddenly heard a faint sound, too quiet for any of the humans to notice. What do you think she heard?"
"A mouse?" Renesmee guessed. Edward shook his head. "A bird?" Another negative gesture. "Tell, Daddy, tell!" she begged. "What was it?"
"'Excuse me for a moment,' Caroline said politely. 'I'm going to see what the children are up to over there.' She had heard a small child whimpering in fear. She walked at a swift human pace to where the younger guests were playing, and she saw that a little boy had climbed high up in a tree and was afraid to move.
Renesmee pressed her hand to my cheek and presented an image of herself leaping down from a very tall tree.
"That wouldn't happen to you," I agreed. "But the boy in the story isn't like you. He reminds me of someone, though." She looked puzzled. "Me, when I was human! The first time that Daddy went running with me on his back, I was so sick and scared that when he stopped, I couldn't let go." She giggled at the thought of my incapacity. Edward's crooked smile and the love glowing in his golden eyes told me that we were thinking of the same thing—the kiss that had followed that moment.
"What happened to the boy?" Renesmee asked, snapping us out of our memories.
"Just as Caroline drew near, he began to try to climb down, but his eyes were shut tight. He couldn't really see where he should put his feet, and he tumbled out of the tree. The queen and the ladies heard the screams from him and the other children who were watching. They came running and they all saw Caroline catch him. Of course, the boy's mother was extremely grateful to Caroline for saving her son, and so was everyone else. The queen suspected that Caroline had heard something that made her go near the trees, but the others were just so relieved that nobody was hurt that they didn't wonder why Caroline had been there.
"That evening, the queen spoke to Malcolm and Caroline. 'The king and I have talked it over,' she announced. 'We have decided that you should not get married next summer as you requested.' Caroline's face fell and Malcolm opened his mouth to protest, but the queen held up her hand for silence. 'We think you should get married as soon as possible,' she continued. 'Caroline, I am sorry that I was hesitant at first, and I now believe you will be a wonderful addition to our royal family.' One month later, when the young couple were married, Caroline wore the diamond earrings that the queen had put under her mattresses to try to trick her."
"Thank you, Daddy," Renesmee said, with an expression of perfect contentment. "Do you know what that story reminds me of? When I was little and our friends came to see me. They didn't like me at first, but then they did."
I smiled at my miracle child. "To know you is to love you," I said stroking her hair.
"There's a song with those lyrics," Edward commented. "Do you know it?"
I shook my head. "Sing it for us, please."
To know, know, know her
is to love, love, love her.
Just to see her smile
makes my life worthwhile.
Yes just to know, know, know her
is to love, love, love her
and I do, and I do, and I do.
And I do, and I do, and I do.
I'll be good to her.
I'll be true to her.
Everyone says there'll come a day
when I'll walk alongside of her.
Yes just to know, know, know her
is to love, love, love her
and I do, and I do, and I do,
and I do, and I do, and I do.
His enchanting voice fell quiet, and I could tell from the precious sounds of our daughter's breathing and heartbeat that she had fallen asleep. We sat in silence for a few moments, and then he whispered my name.
Yes? I answered without speaking.
"I do."
Author's Note:
Edward's song is by Phil Spector and was originally written as To Know Him Is To Love Him. It was a number 1 hit in 1958, and I'm sure that Edward knows and likes it. It's been recorded by various musicians including the Beatles and has been adjusted to To Know Her... or To Know You...
I hope you liked the story! Please review and let me know what you think.