Sorry I've been MIA recently! It was my birthday and so my writing was slightly interrupted with celebrations. I've written two new chapters so enjoy the development of the story. Review if you feel like it, I certainly appreciate it! I also decided to abandon my 'addition'. I didn't feel like it added too much but let me know if you think otherwise...
Edward called Carlisle immediately after he finished explaining the situation to me and repeated his experiences with the newcomers.
"I have heard of this couple before" he replied after hearing our explanations of the nomads. "Garrett met them several years ago while traveling with Makenna and Charles. He explained them within the context of the 'unknowns', vampires who did not necessarily appreciate Voltuiri rule but also did not know any alternative to keeping the peace in the vampire community."
"Does Alice see them as a threat to us if we meet them?" I asked hurriedly, grabbing the phone from Edward. More and more I became apprehensive about bringing Renesmee into meeting these nomads. Even if they had hunted, a concept that made me cringe to consider, how were we to know that they wouldn't just attack her after smelling her blood? I definitely was not willing to take that risk.
"I'm not sure, Bella" Alice said, trepidation in her voice. "Renesmee is making it difficult to see. They don't seem to have any plans to attack, but that does not mean that they won't act on instinct."
Panic set in as I considered her words. "Bella, don't worry" Alice continued "Edward will know immediately if they intend to attack. You have a mental shield that can block you, Edward and Renesmee from the one who seeks out talent." Her words did little to reassure though.
If it hadn't been for Jasper and Rosalie, I think we would have been driving in the opposite direction. As I handed the phone back, a million possible outcomes raged through my mind at the same time, each of them more worrisome than the last. Interrupting these bleak thoughts Edward handed the phone back to me.
"Jasper wants to talk to you" he said, pulling me in closer. "Either way, we'll be ok and we'll make sure nothing happens to her."
I took the phone, my smooth movements marred by the fear causing my hand to shake slightly.
"Bella," Jasper said soothingly "with the gifts that you and Edward have, you could take almost anyone in a fight. But I do not think it will come to that. Strategically, meeting them is an opportunity. The rumors that you heard in Denali have been echoed by Peter and Charlotte who came to visit while traveling through just after you left. They told us many think that a confrontation is looming with the Volturi and everyone must take sides. They can give us what we need if they are friends, protection and experienced skill." He paused, allowing me to comprehend the gravity and enormity of the looming situation.
"We wouldn't let you meet with them if we felt there was a serious threat to Renesmee" Rosalie's voice said in the background, her attachment to our child bursting in her voice. "We love her too, but know you can handle the situation."
I took a deep breath, listening to the thrumming beat of my child's heart in the background, calming and steady. Maybe they were right. Maybe meeting with these strangers would ensure her safety for the future.
"What do you think?" I softly asked Edward, looking up into his golden eyes.
Emotions flickered through his face as he thought about our options: confusion, fear, and a bit of what I thought could have been calculation of the possibilities an alliance could bring. He took almost ten seconds to reconcile his varying emotions.
"Why don't we ask her what she thinks?" he replied finally.
After Renesmee woke up, we waited for her to shower and change clothes before explaining the situation to her.
She took extra time with her appearance though Edward and I constantly reassured her that she was unbelievably beautiful. Her hair dry, makeup intact, she finally registered the worried expression on my face, and the tightly controlled expression on Edward's.
She had recently begun to speak more, not using her gift as often. When I worried to Edward, he reassured me that she was simply becoming embarrassed about all the physical contact. By reading her thoughts, he learned that she needed space and time to get used to her new emotions toward the people around her and get over her awkwardness. Having remembered my own awkwardness around both strangers and parents while I grew up from my dim human memories, I decided not to push her.
"What's going on?" she asked eyes flashing between us with faster than human speed.
"Nessie," Edward said slowly, picking out each word carefully "I met with some vampires last night who were interested in us…interested in you, especially. They were friends of Makenna and Charles, who know Garrett, and were curious about our family."
"So are they friends? If they are friends with Garrett then they like us, right?" Renesmee questioned.
"We don't know yet, love" I replied. "They heard about what happened with… the Volturi." I winced as I saw a dark cloud pass over her face, knowing the fear that she held for these nightmares of her recent childhood.
"But they are not part of the Volturi" I quickly comforted her. "They just want to know more about us. They want to know more about you because of how special you are, how unique you are to our world."
"Nessie, these could be very good friends" Edward explained. "They could help us make sure that the Volturi to not threaten us. Still, we don't want you to be in any danger and so we'll take every precaution. But they are not like our family or like the Denali coven. They do hunt humans."
"It's your choice though, my darling" I felt the need to explain that she did not have to put herself in danger for the strategic advantage. "If you do not want to meet them, you don't have to."
She thought for a few seconds before her face set. "If they can help us, then we should meet with them. I don't think they'll be bad." she said determinedly, her face set.
"Are you sure? You don't have to do anything you don't want to, especially if you feel nervous about it" I said, determined to protect my child, even if she did not feel the need to be protected. I already felt helpless in this situation, never knowing exactly what was going to happen.
"No, I'll be fine" she replied, her jaw set with resolve. Her determination to help her family at whatever cost, even sacrificing her own safety, was something I both loved about my child, and caused me to fear for her future.
Edward smiled a crooked smile and mumbled to himself "Just like her mother…"
I knew that we would need to have our full strength, should this come to a fight. So, we took a quick driving trip to a nearby Interprovincial Park and hunted cougar. Renesmee also dealt with a frantic call from Jacob. He had evidently sensed her shock of fear when hearing about the Volturi and was about to start running to meet us. As Renesmee got more and more frustrated on the phone, trying to explain why it was important that she meet with the nomads, I finally stepped in.
"Jacob, we gave Renesmee the choice and told her all about the options. It is up to her to decide what she can and cannot handle" I said firmly.
"Bella, this could be dangerous!" he practically shouted back. "What are you thinking putting her into such an obviously scary situation where she could get hurt? There aren't even enough people to protect her if something happened!" He paused, fear cracking his voice when he spoke again. "Bells, I don't know what I'd do if something happened to her."
"Jake, you have to trust us." I said, hoping he would understand the potential advantages of the situation and that I was nervous too. "We would never put her in danger. Edward will know their intentions and I'll protect her with my shield. You know that I'd give anything to make sure she's safe."
"Ok Bella," he sighed, resigned to the fact that we were going to let her make her own decisions, no matter what that meant. "But you better call me as soon as its over!"
I assured him that we would as we pulled into the overcast day at Medicine Hat, waiting for the strangers to emerge from the nearby woods.