As Isabelle left the room she could hear the screams of the druids echoing off the walls. Her thoughts drifted to exactly what was happening in the dungeons and it made her heart heavy. She had heard what Carlisle said to the others, about even if she hadn't left she would not be who they had known and that was very true. She has lived for 3,000 years through the ancient times. Some of the darkest, cruelest and most primal times on earth, of course that changes a person. Could Edward have helped her not only survive but flourish during those times, she didn't think so. During her travels trying to find her mate she realized how far outside the supernatural norm the Cullen's lived. It was that more than anything that helped her get over her feelings for Edward. Somehow she knew in her gut what she would have to endure as the Keeper and also knew in her heart that Edward did not have what it would take to survive it with her. She recognized that he was still a 17 year old boy and it would kill him to do the things she and Gabriel had to do to survive and to keep their world safe. If he could not come to terms with his feelings about her on his own she would need to need to be 100% honest with him and she knew that had the potential to crush him. She did not want to do that, she cared about the Cullen's and Edward but their relationship had shifted he needed to accept that.
Isabelle returned to her chambers looking for Gabriel to talk about the Cullen's wanting to stay and be trained. She found him by the fireplace holding a picture of them on their wedding day deep in thought. She laid her head on his back, "That was one of the happiest days of my life. We had already been mates for so long and for you to want to declare to the world again that I was yours, I had never in my life felt so loved and our bond deepened. I have never doubted your love for me; please tell me this mood you are in isn't about Edward. If you have begun to doubt my love for you it would break my heart and I need you more than ever now." He pulled her into his lap and kissed her, pouring all of his love and devotion to it. "This is not about him and I have never doubted your love for me. Your love, adoration, pride and faith in me have made me the man I am today. I could never doubt you or your love, I trust in you, in us unconditionally. I suppose I am in this mood because of what is coming. This is the battle we were warned about and have always prepared for. I do not want to lose you or any member of the family and this is the battle that could cause that. I know you feel it too don't deny that." She couldn't deny it and that scared her, so she just nodded her head.
After sitting that way for a while she looked to Gabriel, "I spoke with the Cullen's earlier and they have a few requests." He raised his eyebrow at her for her to continue. "The gave me a list of which vampires they want to call for help, the Denali's, Siobhan's coven, a few nomads and the Volturi. I do not have a problem with that, do you?" He thought for a moment, "No. I think they should all be fine, but do they realize that only the brothers will be on their side? I can't imagine the guard doing against them but they won't be here for the Cullen's." Shaking her head, Isabelle said "I am pretty sure they realize that but at this point they will take whatever help they can get and we should too. They are also talking about which vampires are actively working against them. We are on the same page there thinking it is the Romanians, we will have to come up with a way to deal with them."
"They want permission to stay here for the week and have some weapons training. I know you and the boys will be busy strategizing but I thought perhaps the children could show them the basics. I am not sure I want them training with you guys anyway, they need to be in one piece for the meeting." Gabriel thought for a moment, "I don't have a problem with them staying for the week. Carlisle's help is definitely welcome on figuring out the hybrids. We can have the children train them on the weapons, maybe at the end of the week the adults can do a sparring session with them to see what they have learned. That could prove fun for the boys." Isabelle laughed, "Just be sure it is done in fun and not to teach anyone a lesson. OK?" Gabriel agreed.
"We will need to forge more training weapons; the ones we use in battle could kill them." Isabelle continued. "I also think we need to send either Thorne or Thunder to the Fae. We need to know if we can count on any help at all, which I don't expect and we will need the Sword of Light." At the mention of the sword Gabriel's eyes widened, "Are you sure the sword should be brought out?" "It is the only thing that can kill the Brude's if they are unwilling to help us." she said. Gabriel took her face in his hands, "I know but it is also the only thing that can kill you and the twins." She leaned her head against his, "I think it is a chance we will have to take. The Brude's must be destroyed." He nodded in agreement, "OK. I trust you to keep yourself alive. Now, do you want to tell the Cullen's they can stay or should I do it?" "I'll let you do it. I am sure you will get some fun out of their reactions when you tell them you and the boys will spar with them at the end of the week." she said laughing.
Gabriel kissed her nose and sat her down in the chair, he went to collect Carlisle and tell the Cullen's they could stay. As soon as everyone was in the room Gabriel spoke to Carlisle, "Isabelle showed me the list of vampires you want to call to your aid and they look fine, I believe they will help you or at least not work against you. Remember the Volturi guard will only be loyal to the brothers do not expect them to actively help you unless they are ordered to. She also told me you wish to stay the week at the castle and maybe be trained." The Cullen's all nodded their heads. "That is fine also; your training can begin tomorrow morning with the children. Maybe by the end of the week you will be skilled enough to spar with the adults." Gabriel said with a sparkle in his eyes. At his words all of their eyes went wide. Emmet & Jasper looked excited at the prospect of new training, the women looked apprehensive and Edward looked almost fearful. Edward knew he was the one they would go hardest on and he suspected Gabriel would want to spar with him personally.
"Why wait until tomorrow? It is morning now we could start immediately." asked Jasper. Gabriel shook his head, "We need to forge new training weapons for you to use and that will be done today. Someone will come by to get your measurements so weapons can be made especially for you. The weapons we use in battle are enhanced for lack of a better word. You know a lycan bite will slow down healing in a vampire, and enough bites can kill one. Just as vampire venom is poisonous to the lycans. Over the centuries we have found ways to use that to our advantage in battle. The battle weapons are forged with ground up lycan canines and then coated and hardened with vampire venom. They also have certain spells and blessings protecting them. We have enough vampires and lycans here to supply us with what we need and we will also forge battle weapons for you. The training weapons do not have any of the enhancements I mentioned so they will be safe for everyone to use without causing too much damage to anyone."
"Also by tomorrow morning we should just be doing mind scans on the druids and we will be able to free up someone to act as a blocker for Edward so he can join in on the training also. Unfortunately we can't spare anyone today and I need to talk to the children about what to focus on teaching you first. The rest of you are free to enjoy your day just be sure to stay on Hamilton land. Actually it would probably be a good idea for you to familiarize yourself with the boundaries and where everything especially the rings are located. If the fight comes to us you need to know the safe places and how to call for aid. Once you return Edward can take the information from your minds so he is not behind on anything. If Edward is willingly it would be a good idea to become more familiar with the world you live in. You need to know more about the history of the different Clans. I could have someone deliver some of our books for Edward since he is stuck in here and then he can tell you about what he has learned. I have to say, Isabelle and I are surprised at the things you do not know about our world and its history. Is that acceptable to you Edward?" Edward replied, "Yes. It will be good to do something useful instead of pacing all day. Thank you."
Carlisle returned to the lab while everyone but Edward left to scout the castle, village and land. They needed to know it like the back of their hands and as Carlisle had, finding all the secret passages and tunnels was almost a challenge to them. By the time they were done only the immediate Hamilton family knew the grounds better.
Gabriel had gone to find his wife and family; once everyone was gathered duties for the next week were handed out. Thorne would go to the Fae and request help and the Sword of Light. Haldor & Heidi along with Grim & Jillian would be helping the clan members brush up on their defense and weapon training. Thunder, Iris, Elisabeth, Ruth and
Catherine would be overseeing the making of the new weapons for the Cullen's. Ingram & Kate, Leif & Mary and Digby would be scanning the prisoners. Michael, Soren and Gabriel would be planning their strategy for the meeting. They had to be prepared for anything to happen. Keldan and Isabelle would be overseeing the children's training of the Cullen's. The children were looking forward to it and could not wait to show the Cullen's and their family what they could do and ran off to plan the morning training session. Gabriel held Anthony back for a moment and told him which books to pull from the library to take to Edward in the secure room.
Once they were alone Gabriel turned to his wife, "You do realize that the Cullen's will need to be told everything before the meeting? We can't ask them to accompany us and not know all the facts; it would be extremely dangerous and unfair." "I know" she said, "I am hoping they learn most of what they need to know in the next 24 hours, then the only thing to discuss is how to save them and us. We are the ultimate target Gabriel, the Cullen's are just the Brude's way of saying the ends will justify the means."