We gave Renesmee the time she requested, and I shielded her thoughts from Edward when she came back. Life seemed to go on, though I was constantly anxious for her wellbeing. As she slept that night, I left my sleeping daughter with Edward to go talk with Esme to try to assuage some of my fears. She assured me that every child went through a period where they needed independence. Still, I was uneasy as I headed back to my husband's embrace. Was our daughter growing away from us?
The next morning, life began again at high speed. I was determined to keep life as normal as possible for Renesmee and started her lessons with Esme over again. My eager daughter was more than willing to start as soon as possible, but she did have a few demands.
"I want to start fighting lessons with Jasper. And I want to work with Asita to expand my abilities"
Shock must have read all over mine and Edward's face as she quickly qualified her reasoning. "I just think that if I'm going to be in danger, I should know how to fight!"
"You won't be in any danger, love" Edward insisted.
"Do you know that for sure?" Renesmee insisted. I silenced him by putting my hand up as he instinctively began to reassure her. We didn't know that she wasn't in danger. We didn't know that she wouldn't have to fight. I sighed.
"Alright, Nessie. If that's what you want" I said in resignation. "But we aren't going to let you be alone with either of them. And, I think that Edward should be allowed to hear your thoughts while you work with both of them. You are still half-human."
"Mom! I need to have my privacy!" She screamed back. "Why can't you trust me?!" She spun out of the cottage, leaving me weak with regret and about to go running after her to beg forgiveness. Edward's gentle touch paused me.
"You need to stay strong, love" he said gently.
"I know. You're right" I sighed, though I felt the pain where my heart used to beat. "I know she needs rules, but how can I refuse something that I asked for not so long ago? I needed to learn to fight and protect myself and my family and she wants the same thing." Edward winced at the reminder of my combat lessons before our confrontation with the Volturi just two years ago. It frightened me to think that this time I would undoubtedly need the skills.
"I'll train with her. We both can" I suggested to Edward, quickly continuing as he started to interrupt. "If she's anything as stubborn as you, she won't back down."
Edward smirked. "I think the stubbornness comes from your side, thank you. Come on, let's go find her."
We quickly found her scent and followed her train to her. She was sitting dejectedly, high up in a tree. Edward soothed her while I negotiated to find a common ground. We finally agreed that she would do lessons that we would attend and perhaps participate in. I agreed to shield her mind on the condition that she came to us if something was worrying her.
"We want to help you and be there to support you" I said fervently. "Please don't shut us out." She smiled sadly before nodding her assent.
The day passed relatively smoothly from there. We welcomed Asita and Davide back while attempting to contact all the friends we knew. Alice saw no immediate plans for attack from the Volturi, so I decided that it was time to strategize and let our allies know of the situation instead of rushing into defense mode. Though I did believe some sort of battle would occur, I didn't want to push the attack earlier than necessary with aggressive movement. The rest of the family agreed.
"We've already contacted our Denali cousins. They are staying where they are for the moment but said that they could be here whenever we needed them" Carlisle paced the room, thinking through all the different avenues available. "We'll also need to see if we can contact Amun, Kebi, Tia and Benjamin if they are even still in Egypt."
Edward nodded his agreement. "The nomads will also be important" he said softly. "We don't want the Volturi to start twisting their minds to incite a war against us."
"It is to late to keep the nomads out of the conversation, clearly" I said, gesturing to the window where Davide sat watching Renesmee and Esme's lessons with interest with Asita close at his side. "If there are rumors about us, it is best that we face them directly, even welcome others to come ask us questions about our way of life." There were options open to us for how to approach the hundreds if not thousands of nomads throughout the vampire world.
"Certainly we could reach out to Charles and Makenna, as they seemed open to Renesmee…the last time" Carlise finished hesitantly. "Maybe if we could explain our cause, they might stay out of it."
"Most won't know what to do" Jasper said quietly from the corner. "Think of Alistair. He was terrified of being on the wrong side of the winners in a confrontation. Many will probably think that we are forcing them to choose to be with or against the Volturi."
"Aren't we?" Emmett asked, managing to sound frustrated and eager at the same time. "Either way there will be a change in our world. The Volturi have corrupted their power, taken what they wanted and massacred thousands."
"Emmett's right" I said, "Yes, they have kept order, but at what cost? The rest of our kind must make a decision about what they want to see in the new world. They can stay out of it, but they shouldn't be made to choose a side without knowing what it is that both sides stand for" I finished, working myself almost to anger. I looked over at Edward whose eyes blazed amber with pride.
"Ok, Bella" Carlisle came up to me and put a hand on my shoulder. "We'll start contacting everyone we can. Some of us can leave tonight."
"The wolves aren't going to like this" Edward said quietly while the rest of the family moved into the dining room, strategizing about where each couple should go first.
"I know" I replied. "I was considering the best way to handle this. I'll go find Jake and see if we can find Sam to discuss the situation. Both Alpha's will need to be there. We shouldn't make them fight with us and they won't just let vampires stroll through here while we brew a war."
Edward shrugged his shoulders and sighed but nodded slightly, accepting that discussion was the right route. He still bore some hard feelings against Sam for wanting to kill Renesmee, though we both knew he couldn't do it now.
Leaving Renesmee in the care of our family with strict instructions to allow no practice with Asita or sparring with Jasper, we flew through the woods toward Forks, carefully keeping to the tree-line as we approached La Push.
I heard a heavy heart thumping not too far away and called out loud enough for whoever was scouting to hear "We would like to talk to Sam and Jake. Can you ask them to come, please?"
"It's Leah. She is running back for Jake. Sam must be there too. They are both at Billy's, not too far away" Edward explained as Seth ran away. He frowned as he listened to her thoughts.
"What is it?" I asked gently, sensing the subtle concern denting his brow.
"Billy's sick" he turned to me, concern written across his face, both for my sake and from the connection he had developed with Jacob over the last two years. Billy was like an uncle to me and so close to Charlie. "He started feeling stomach pains a little over a week ago but has gotten worse. Although he has insisted that he does not need to a doctor, I'm pretty sure that Jake is going to force him soon."
My concern for Billy and Jake welled up. I had no idea that Billy was sick and was a little hurt that Jake hadn't said anything, though I suppose I'd been angry enough about yesterday that I hadn't given him a chance to say anything. Guilt streaked through my gut as I considered my anger with Jacob. How many times had I hurt him already? He needed to be with my daughter. I would protect her as much as I could but what could I do for my best friend, the one who had almost fled my world over grief for me? Edward pulled me to him as I felt the pinpricks behind my eyes which could no longer cry tears.
"I had no idea…" I trailed off into his shoulder. I couldn't afford compassion at the moment, however. I forced myself to calm down and turn back to the problem at hand, keeping my family safe. After a moment, I pulled away, looking up into Edward's molten eyes, a look that endowed me with strength. Slowly I heard the pair of heavy heartbeats and softly padding feet that signaled Sam and Jake's approach. I felt the slight shift in the air as they phased back into their human forms and walked toward us through the trees.
"Thank you for coming" I started formally, a façade which broke instantly as I observed Jacob's slumped shoulders. "Oh Jake, I'm so sorry!" I cried, lightly running toward him as I flung my arms around him, becoming enveloped in his rough embrace. I disregarded the repulsive odor his body gave off as I felt him wince from my own smell.
"It will be ok, Jake" Sam said quietly. "Billy's a tough old man. I don't think he's leaving us anytime soon."
I stepped away and felt Jake nod slowly before pulling an arm across his face. I walked back to Edward, prepared to tell the news I had come to give.
"Jake must have told you by now that we believe the Volturi are coming back and probably intend a fight" I said when Jake turned to face us again. "We don't know when, but we aren't prepared to sit around while they amass a force to try to destroy us. We currently believe that they are attempting to manipulate the rest of our world, though Alice is having difficulty seeing their exact course of action. All we know is that it centers around a figure, a vampire new to the guard most likely, that seems to be in all of their plans."
"Who is this vampire?" Sam asked. "What does it mean if Alice does not see it?"
"We aren't sure" I said, feeling frustrated at my own lack of answers. "It could be that they are avoiding telling decisions to the guard in order to go around Alice or that there are outside influences or even that they are not sure they want to fight. It is as yet unclear."
"So what are you doing?" Jacob asked, wary suspicion leaking into his voice.
"We are asking for another meeting of our friends" I explained carefully, picking my words so as to not alert undue fear or anger. "Similar to the Volturi's last 'appearance' we are simply attempting to solidify bonds between those who we call friends."
"And…?" Jake asked, hearing my reluctance to go on. I felt Edward stiffen next to me, ill at ease with whatever thoughts were going through Jake's head.
"Well, we also want to make sure that the Volturi do not take advantage of this opportunity to gather nomads and distort their impressions of our family. So…" I trailed off, uncertain as to how to continue.
"Yes?" Sam's polite voice had a flat edge that hinted at anger. I steeled myself for their response.
"So, we were hoping you might accept that some of the nomads will be in the area, finding out more about our family and deciding whether they are willing to be involved" I finished, a note of authority and strength ringing in my voice. Sam must have heard this shift judging by the way his eyes widened slightly at me.
"Yes, she has taken the position of leadership within our family" Edward answered Sam's unspoken question. "I guess that would be accurate…an 'Alpha' within a vampire family." His lips twisted into a wry smile.
"Well, of course we honor the treaty we made and fight beside our family if it comes to it" Sam responded after thinking for a minute. "Renesmee is part of our family. We would never allow anything to happen to her or to you, our allies. We do not want the nomads on our land or hunting in the area. Who knows? Maybe they will choose to not hunt humans."
"Thank you for your understanding" I replied, relief radiating through my body. I was so grateful to have the support of the packs, though I felt a twinge of fear thinking of them going against the Volturi. "Jake?"
"Well, you can't expect me to just sit by!" He exclaimed, smiling. "Of course I will fight, though I cannot speak for my pack. Though I'm sure that Quil, Embry and Seth at least won't object." He smiled and we heard a growl in the forest. "I guess Leah wants to be part too."
"We appreciate your assistance. I'll let you know if we get other information. Thank you again" I finished, smiling before I turned back toward the house.
The wolves might be on our side, but that did not mean this was over. Not by a long shot.