Chapter 24

"Well, I'm sure; my king will make it up to me when the eminent danger is over." He wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me up to his lips and said he would and captured them with the same passion we had shared two nights ago. We threw clothes on the floor, stored our daggers and swords by the door.

"You know tonight; you'll start sleeping in what you call your traveling dresses. You will not be fighting in your dressing gown or robe."

"I agree."

Later that day the bird signal went off from the barn that they could see the rebels on the outskirts of town leading to the castle. After a long day of waiting and contemplating that the plan we had was still our best option, we cuddled up uneasy on the floor. I used Edward's chest as a pillow and I had a very protective arm around me. We cut jumping at any sound. The next day around 2:00 pm more rebels were seen. That night we were sure it would happen but again it didn't. At 5:00 am, Edward was muttering to himself, why didn't they attack?

I said, "Tom. Tom wanted to be here. When Caius came in with the first set of rebels and when the second group came in with no Tom. Caius was under direct orders to go find him at the hideout. That is a day trip out and back."

Edward said, "It will be tonight because he's been tied up so long, he won't wait to attack." We spoke this information only with our contingent of 13 guards for the following night to be prepared. During the day, Edward had me practicing with my daggers and sword; he wasn't taking any chances. We had a quiet dinner in our sitting room that night. We slowly moved to my dressing room where the clothes we had been sleeping on were still laying on the ground. We layed down together; he slowly undressed me. Once I was laying there in my dressing gown, he captured my lips and our tongues played a very slow dance together. Then he moved down to my legs. As he kissed his way up my legs, he pushed my gown up towards my waist. When he reached the part of my legs wrapped in gauze, he slowly unwrapped them, reapplied the salve and then rewrapped them. "You didn't scream, tonight."

"No, they are slowly getting better. I am really thankful that the rebels had to wait one more day because my muscles are almost back to normal and I don't feel a hindrance anymore. I feel like I can pull my wait in a sword fight now."

"Bella, I cannot tell you how sorry I am for doing that to you but you are to remember to wait for my cue for you to join the battle. If I can keep you out of it I want to; I want to keep safe at all costs."

"Edward, you couldn't have known that my riding a horse would have done that."

"I knew you had never spent thirteen hours on a horse."

"Your highness, I never would have told you how much pain I was in because I knew you and I's safety depended on my riding as well as my family and our children."

When I said that Edward tackled me and started kissing me; but once he moved onto my chest I started gasping.

"What Bella?" Then he realized he was laying on my heavily bruised chest. "I'm sorry I got carried away. You've never said 'our children' until now. I love you Bella."

"I love you, too, Edward. Promise me if something happens to me tonight; you'll raise the children like your own and raise them for me. Of course, I will. But I'll tell you this. You and I will survive this; we will raise Rosalie, Emmett and our other children together."

"Our other children."

"Yes, Beautiful. When I went to sleep that first night, I dreamt of you holding our children in our room in our bed. I can't wait to make those children with you even if all we do in the beginning is just practice. Now let's get you dressed and armed. I want you to try to get some rest while we lay here waiting." We did; I again laid on his chest and Edward hummed to me. The door between the dressing room and the bedroom was left open a crack. I must have fallen asleep for awhile and then Edward nudged me awake; but his hand was over my mouth. "SSHHHH," he whispered. He helped me up and we went to the crack of the door very quietly. As we got there, I heard the sand footsteps and quietly as my eyes adjusted to the low light, I saw four shadows come into the room. The first two got close to the bed; and as they took aim with the swords at what they thought was us, our guards attacked. Edward and I agreed he would go out and fight as well and I would stay hidden as long as possible. He slowly crept out the door with his swords as well as the guard from behind the main door started to approach the two back guards. Soon I was able to see four sword fights going on; but suddenly from the corner of my eye, I saw and heard more men come into the room. I grabbed my two daggers from the door jamb. I took aim and threw them at the necks of two guards remembering what Edward taught me. They dropped immediately to the ground, but two more shadows started coming in. I pulled my sword close to me plus I still had four daggers on my sleeves literally. I pulled my dagger waiting to take aim; but a shadow started to block my view of the door. They had six to our four. If I came out, I could help to even out the odds; but Edward hadn't called for me.

Then I heard Tom's voice, I was right; they had gone back for him. "Edward, where is Bella? I know she's here and close by. You wouldn't let her be far from you. She is no ordinary queen, is she? She just took out two of my guards with two daggers in the dark. Edward, you'd better be careful; she might decide to hurt you to. Maybe if we kill you, I will take her in as my queen. But I'm sure, I will have to keep her tied up while I bang her every night for fear what she would try to do to me since I am sure she will not love me and bend to my needs."