Chapter 14

Leif and Haldor could hear what was being said in the other car as well as the Cullen's. Leif spoke while still looking out windshield, "Carlisle, my mother is a very compassionate woman and has asked that we give Edward a certain amount of latitude expecting this to be very difficult for him. You need to understand that this goes against everything we are, especially those with berserker blood, such as Soren, Haldor and definitely my father. When a berserker mates it is as if two halves make one whole, they are more intertwined than you can ever imagine. When they are apart it is like missing a limb and having a phantom ache. This is all the more powerful for my parents because my mother is of the berserker bloodline also, one of only 3 women to be so throughout time. When the link between them is fully open one can tell you not only where in the world the other is but also how they are feeling, if one gets hurt the other immediately knows. When one of them shuts off the link the other knows things are dire because the mate is trying to protect them. I have seen it in action my entire life and it still baffles me. I have seen my father sit outside and look to a mountaintop a split second before my mother comes into view and I have been in meetings with my mother and visibly seen her body relax the second my father steps foot on Hamilton land, it is a very special bond. As compassionate as my mother is she knows it grates on my father to even invite Edward onto our land let alone protect him. I don't think any of you truly understand the dangerous ground he treads on when he makes comments like the one he just did. A berserker can only go against their nature for so long and it will become physically painful. With their bond this is not something my father can hide from my mother for long and I can tell you from experience she 100% will not tolerate anyone hurting her mate. I fear if Edward can't get his emotions under control and it becomes too painful for my father, she will kill Edward herself no hesitation and no mercy. When it comes to protecting a mate no mercy is ever shown, EVER."

The cars screeched to a stop in the castle courtyard, Michael and Leif grabbed their swords and get out. "Holy shit," Emmett yelled "Things are rising up out of the ground. What the hell is happening?"

Michael turned to the cars, "We have this get them inside now!" With that order given Haldor and Keldan opened the doors and escorted the Cullen's inside the castle. Once inside the keep they were greeted by a young man, maybe 15 years old. "Hello, I am Anthony, Leif's oldest son. I need to put the Hamilton Crest on you and then I will show you to your rooms." While the others looked on Anthony went up to them one at a time and placed his palm flat on their right bicep and murmured words they didn't understand. When he pulled his hand away the Hamilton Crest was imprinted on their bicep.

"How did you do that?" Jasper asked. "It's magic" replied Anthony, "Now if you will follow me to your rooms. Please stay inside the suite until someone comes for you. We do not want to have to lock you in and it is for your protection." Anthony opened the door and allowed them to pass in front of him saying, "Someone should be up to get you in a few hours, once everything is taken care of outside."

Anthony closed the door and went to tattoo the protection ruins on the Escorts so they could help clean up outside what had been awakened during the ward strengthening spell. As soon as the door closed Carlisle turned to Edward and asked, "Did you hear what Leif said just before we got to the castle?" Edward nodded. "I want your word Edward that you will behave. There are too many things we do not yet understand here. You can't approach her first and never on your own." Carlisle looked at Edward, who remained silent. "DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" Carlisle all but shouted at him. "YES" Edward shouted back, "I understand but do you really believe she would allow them to kill me? Or that she is capable of killing me herself? Well, I can't believe it. I won't, she loves me."

With that statement Rosalie had reached her limit, "SHUT UP EDWARD. I am tired of going over this with you. Now, we all know I wasn't fond of her and did not want her to become one of us. That being said, she did love you Edward in ways you didn't love her. She was willingly to give up her life for you and I don't just mean her human life but her way of life. Her family, friends and any dreams she had for how she wanted her life to be. Had you not left and refused to change her, I have no doubt she would have stayed with you for her human life. She would have hated it but for you she would have done it."

"What do you mean she would have hated it?" asked Edward. Rosalie laughed, "For a mind reader you can be stupid. So you really think she would have enjoyed getting older next to an always young guy. Being called your mother, gray hair and then your grandmother? That would be humiliating for anyone and to pour salt into a wound, you would kill yourself after she dies rather than spend eternity with her. That had to be a big ego booster. So after you already have her believing she isn't enough for you, you leave her telling her she isn't and confirming all her fears. Do you really wonder why she never came looking for you?" "Not when you put it like that." Edward whispered.

"You threw this away Edward. You didn't trust she knew what she was getting herself into. You didn't think she loved you enough. You thought because you are a mind reader and other people her age act a certain way so would she. You never really saw the real Bella. So, because you couldn't read her mind you doubted her on every level, you took away her choice and made decisions for her based on what you wanted or how you would have handled things. You have heard the sayings 'actions have consequences' and 'you made your bed now lie in it' both of those are true in this situation. I will not sit by and let you destroy this family because you selfishly want something you set aside earlier. If you love her, prove it. Respect her decision not to come look for you, do NOT seek her out and keep your mouth shut until we have heard the whole story. If you can't do that I will have Emmett stick to you like glue and make sure you leave her alone!"

There was a knock on the door that took them all by surprise. Carlisle opened the door to Anthony, "The Executioners are ready for you please follow me to the solar." Jasper looked at Carlisle, "How did he get to the door without any of us knowing? And why can't I sense him?" Carlisle answered, "You will find when it comes to the Hamilton family none of the normal indicators apply. They are very good at what they do and apparently training starts very young." Anthony just smiled and said "Yes it does. Here you are, go on in and have a goodnight." Anthony walked away, the Cullen's each took a deep breath they didn't need and entered.

The solar was a beautiful sunroom with a table that sat 40. At the moment there were 9 men sitting at it, each with an empty seat next to them. Gabriel stood and walked to Carlisle, "Welcome back Carlisle. Let me introduce you to my sons. Starting with the oldest we have Michael and Leif, which you have already met. Then we have Soren, Digby, Grim, Haldor, whom you have also met and Ingram. Last at the table is Keldan, who was also one of the escorts. There are two more, Thorne and Thunder, but they have not returned to the castle yet. Please take a seat and introduce your coven."

The Cullen's sat and Carlisle introduced them, "This is my wife Esme, Rosalie and her husband Emmett, Jasper and his wife Alice and Edward." As Carlisle spoke Edward's name all eyes turned to him and he became visibly uncomfortable. The Hamilton's hoped he got the message not to start anything, when he couldn't keep eye contact with them they assumed he did.

Gabriel started the conversation, "The Guardians will be joining us soon. We captured an unknown hybrid the other day, they are checking on him and taking one last walk around the grounds to be sure everything is operating as it should. Let's go over some things while we wait for them. We realize you may need to hunt while here and have set that up for you. Even though you will be here for a few days the tests and scans are taxing, so please lets us know and we will show you the trails. I hope Carlisle has already told you the clan is very accepting, they are aware you are here so walk freely within the walled grounds. If the children become a bother, please let us know. They love the rainbows. I am sure you are wondering about the tattoo's we gave you? When we realized someone was trying to get into the castle walls we decided to strengthen the wards to a lethal setting. That was the ceremony that was happening as you drove in; the crest protects and allows you to go back and forth across the wards without any consequences."

Jasper leaned forward, "May I ask a question?" "Of course" Gabriel nodded. "What was coming out of the ground?" Jasper questioned. "You need to understand" Gabriel began, "the ceremony the Guardians were doing is ancient magic and can be very dark. What was happening was a cleansing of the land. To ward off evil we first had to be sure any evil inside the walls was taken care of. What was rising were evil things that had been buried for who knows how long, but they needed to be dealt with so they couldn't attack us from within. Some were: beasts, humans, lycans and vampires, they were killed and reburied outside of the clan lines."

Suddenly the french doors behind the men opened and in walked the Guardians. "Ahh, here they are" said Gabriel standing. "Let me introduce you to them as they sit by their mates. They are: Iris, Kate, Heidi, Jillian, Elisabeth, Ruth, Mary and Catherine. This lovely lady is my wife Isabelle." Gabriel offered his hand to her and you could see their tension release as they touched. Carlisle was used to it, the others didn't know what to make of it and Edward looked as if he wanted to leap over table. Jasper was actively trying to calm down Edward when Carlisle spoke, "Edward perhaps it would be best if you left?" That snapped him out of it, "No, I'll be fine. I apologize for my behavior."

Isabelle spoke then, "It is nice to see you all again, although I wish it could be under better circumstances. I am sure you have many questions for me and I will gladly answer them the best I can." She looked over at Gabriel, his eyes had gone ice blue and he was putting war braids in the front of his hair. He was staring at Edward who was staring at her. She hadn't been at the table for 20 minutes and they already needed a break. She knew this would not end well.

"But before we get to my story" Isabelle continued, "We need to check your marks and reapply Emmett's. If problems are found with anyone else's we will reapply them all. Mary and Kate will take you to the lab for this process. We will meet back here in two hours and then story time can begin." Mary and Kate exited with the Cullen's.

Isabelle took her husband's hand and said "Walk with me." They walked outside before she spoke again. "I know how hard this is for you, I can feel it. I appreciate the effort you are making to be civil about this. You need to start considering the fact that I will need to talk to him one on one to explain why I never sought him out after I knew the prophecy." Gabriel's head shot up and his back shivered. "Of course you will be there with me" she hurriedly said to calm him down. "Please remember I am yours. No one ever has or will touch me the way you do. You are my mate, my husband, my lover and my life. I searched 3 years for the one who was man enough to stand by me and worthy of my love. My search ended the day I saw you, never forget that. I chose you as you chose me – I love you cèile." "As I love you cèilean" Gabriel said "and I will try to expand my patience at the next meeting." "That is all I ask" she said.

"Now" Gabriel purred, "We have over an hour before we are due back. There is a lovely flower that glows in the moonlight in the center of the garden I have been waiting to show you." "I don't know my husband is a jealous man" she said shyly, "He wouldn't like me walking in the garden with another." "Then he shouldn't have left you alone." he said. "Besides I know your husband and I am pretty sure I can take him." She laughed as she ran into the garden, "If you can catch me you can show me this glowing flower."

Neither of them noticed that Edward had moved to the parapet of the castle. As he watched them together he started to see what Carlisle had been trying to tell him. For the first time he began to doubt that he could get her back and it hurt beyond belief.

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or its characters.

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cèile is Gaelic for mate – male

cèilean is Gaelic for mate - female