Bella
Everyone was deserting our town. One of the runners from the front at the English border came flying onto the streets just as I was about to go visit Edward again.
"Ye all must go," he panted, as if he had been running himself. His eyes were frantic, his horse foaming at the mouth because it had been worked so hard. "The English... They are coming. Wallace had a hole in his wall, and they found it. Go, get out of here!"
Panic arose and the people fled as quickly as possible. My mother and sister got in Jasper's carriage. Emmett took his wife and child into a different carriage.
"Isabella!" Emmett yelled. "Get in yer carriage now!"
I knew that this was not the time to panic. I quickly grabbed as many of my possessions as I could before running back to the dungeon to get Edward. I could not just leave him. I needed him with me. Not only for my own personal sake, but for my life. He was English. He could talk to the soldiers.
Edward hopped in the carriage quickly with me, letting me direct the horses. I was going towards the English instead of away. With Edward, I could afford to do so. With Edward, I would be moving to England to hopefully get some insight. Hopefully I could help my kin win this war if they had a voice on the inside.
"Where are we going, love?" Edward asked.
"England," I replied quietly. "Go put some better clothes on. I grabbed some of Jasper's tunics and trousers for ye. Ye must be able to talk to the soldiers if we meet any. We must make it to England without dying."
"Of course," Edward murmured, crawling into the back quickly and changing.
I let him take over the reins after.
"If they ask, ye broke free," I told him as we continued towards England. "Ye broke free, and ye took me as yer prisoner. They will believe this."
Edward smiled at me. "I believe 'tis the other way around, Isabella."
My cheeks became hot at his words. Life had been so different in the past week since I found out I was pregnant. Before, I had been hard and angry. I had lived by my hatred for the English. When I found out that I was carrying an English babe, that wall crumbled. Edward had gotten under my skin in the worst way. I was in love for all the wrong reasons. He was English, I was Scottish; he was horrible, he did things to my people that made me sick, and he wanted nothing more than to be my downfall. But, then, he would whisper words that made my heart thump harder in my chest. He would tell me I was his, and that he was mine. He was so possessive, and the woman in me rejoiced in that. Someone wanted me. Someone needed me. Someone wanted me as theirs.
My life was turned upside down. I was in love with an English man. I was going to England whilst fleeing the English. My head ached with all the emotional and physical exhaustion I was going through.
Just as we were about to cross the English border, we were stopped by a small fleet of soldiers.
"Who are ye?" one of them asked with a sneer.
"Edward Cullen," Edward answered, his chin in the air.
"Edward?" the soldier questioned, his face turning up into a smile. "Christ, its Edward Cullen, lads! We have not heard from ye in months, Sir Cullen! Where have ye been?"
"I was captured by some Scotsmen at the chamber," he told them. "I have been a prisoner since then, but I was set free when they found out the English were coming. I took this wench with me as a prize." He pointed at me with his thumb.
The soldiers chortled. I pursed my lips, anger buzzing throughout my body. I knew Edward was just saying that. I knew he didn't mean it. But it still made me angry to hear him say it.
"Well, it is good to see ye, Edward," the soldier announced, shaking Edward's hand firmly. "I guess we shall see ye on the other side."
Edward nodded and murmured his thanks before heading towards his homeland. I had no idea as to where we would end up. London, perhaps. That was the major military base. Maybe Edward would be able to take a leave of absence for a couple of weeks before being forced to work once again.
My main hope was that Edward would remain in the dark about my second purpose in staying close to him. I hoped he would never discover that I was using him to help my kin. He would never forgive me then. I needed his trust. I would do whatever it took. I would grit my teeth and discard my dignity for my kin.
There was no line that I would not cross in order for Scotland to be victorious.
Seven months later
Edward
Isabella gave birth to a tiny boy. He has my reddish hair and her big, beautiful brown eyes. He is a tiny little thing, as Isabella went into labour early after attempting to ride a horse although she was already eight months pregnant.
Such a silly woman, my Bella is.
Not many knew of her existence. There were rumours, of course, but I did nothing to confirm nor deny them. I did not want her to be sucked into the world of prejudice that England was currently sitting in. She would never be able to look at me the same if I let her go into public without me. It was a jungle out there. A jungle that fed on Scottish blood.
Isabella seemed happy. Sometimes I caught her staring out the window in the general direction of Scotland, but most of the time, she was with me, always talking and asking questions. I could understand why her cousin had used her to get to me now. She was incredibly smart for her age and understood the art of war and deceit.
I quickly fell in love with my Bella. She was everything a man of my standard desired. She was smart, witty, beautiful, and she knew her place. She knew when I wanted to be left alone and when I wanted her to continue inquiring about what I was doing.
We made love at least once a day, even when her belly was swollen. I could not help the way I felt. She was simply irresistible, even when pregnant. She did not seem to mind.
After Alistair was born, Isabella took it upon herself to take care of the babe alone. She was upset when I suggested getting a maid to take care of him. She wanted to feed him. She wanted to hold him. She wanted to care for him all the time, even when he woke in the dead of the night.
"I am raising him as if I were still in Scotland," she told me indignantly.
Isabella was a Scot through and through. She kept her husky accent even after being surrounded by Englishmen for almost a year. She refused to accept her new living arrangements. It made me love her all the more.
Alistair continued to grow and soon he was sleeping all through the night. Isabella was content with letting a maid take care of him now that he was six months old.
This made me extremely happy. I had my Bella back.
"Finally we are alone," I murmured after Alistair was put to bed.
Isabella grinned at me. "Oh, Sir Cullen, do not at as if I have not been taking care of ye as much as I have cared for Alistair."
I chuckled as she climbed into our bed. 'Twas true. Isabella had taken very, very good care of my needs even when Alistair was just a newborn.
"My Bella, I am only happy that yer happy," I told her as I undid her garments as quickly as I could, sucking on her earlobe.
Soon, we were both naked. Isabella climbed on top of me, sinking onto my hardened prick easily. She was still as tight as the first time we had come together in this way. She was still in control of me. She still had me in awe.
The only thing that had changed was that we could not bear to hurt each other anymore. Isabella was delicate and I loved her more than my own life. I could not hit her nor could she hit me.
However, our pairing was still passionate. She could still make me lose control and I could still force her to speak in her native tongue and moan until she finally came.
Nothing and everything had changed between us.
When Alistair was a year old, Isabella threw a small party for him. The boy was growing quickly. He enjoyed spending time outside with us, riding the horses and playing in the meadow behind the house. He was slowly learning to speak, both in English and Gaelic. He would be a smart lad, my Alistair.
Traditionally, most men did not have much to do with their children until they were old enough to work. I wanted to be a part of Alistair's life, though. He was just another addition to my love for Isabella. Without them, I would be nothing.
The final battle was coming. Isabella begged me not to go.
"For what reason?" I asked her. "For me to not kill yer kin or for me to not be in danger?"
She looked pained. "Edward, ye know I love ye, but I cannot simply forget my kin. Ye know that."
The fact that she still cared about her kin as much as me made me jealous.
"I must, Isabella," I told her grimly. "Ye know that."
Tears formed in her eyes. 'Twas the first time I had seen her cry since she saw our son for the first time.
"Eideard," she mumbled, grasping my shirt tightly in her hands. "Riaraich, mo gaol."
I closed my eyes, trying not to soften at her softly spoken Gaelic words.
"Mo gaolaich sibh," she said fiercely. "I love you, Eideard. Is that not reason enough to stay with Alistair and me?"
My forehead met hers. She knew exactly what I needed to hear in order to stay here with her and Alistair.
"Isabella," I whispered, "I love you."
She shook her head against mine, letting a sob escape her lips. I did not want to see her hurting over me. I could not handle seeing her cry.
I kissed her gently on the lips. She responded enthusiastically, throwing her arms around my neck and pulling me down to her height. Her tongue forced its way through my pursed lips, begging me to join her.
But, I could not.
When I pulled away, she said, "What if I never see you again? What shall I do? Continue living in England as your mistress?" Now she was angry with me. "You said I was not your wench and yet you never married me. I am the mother of your son and yet I am not worthy enough to share your name." She turned from me, her head hung. "Edward, I love you and I want you to stay with me. Marry me. Produce more children with me. Please."
Once again, she knew all the things that could make me consider staying home.
"Isabella, I will marry you when I come home" – she sobbed again – "and we will continue making our family grow. You will soon be Isabella Cullen and we shall produce the strongest and most beautiful children England has seen."
"Please," she begged once more, turning to look at me with tear-filled eyes. "Please stay with me."
I sighed. "I cannot, Isabella. I cannot."
"Fine! Leave!" she screamed. "I hope you die, Edward!"
I had finally broken my Scottish temptress.
The battle did not go as planned. I realized quickly why Isabella did not want me to go. She had been relaying information back to her kin somehow. They knew our plans, they knew everything.
I should have been angry. I should have told someone what had happened. Instead, I was impressed, and there was no way in hell I would ever tell anyone of Isabella's deceit. I could not sacrifice her.
Many men were lost, much blood was shed. Luckily, Isabella had sent word about my involvement in the battle. I was taken prisoner on the first night and Isabella met me as soon as I entered Scotland.
"I told you not to go," she reminded me stoically.
Isabella was still upset with me, but she did not let me die. She kept me. That could only mean that she still loved me and still wanted me. I could live with that.
"I love ye," I whispered in her ear while she drove us to her old home.
"I love ye," she replied, smiling a small smile for me.
"I love ye, Mum and Papa!" Alistair exclaimed from the back of the carriage.
Isabella laughed in relief, tears filling her eyes once more.
Long live Isabella. I am forever your prisoner.
The End.
I'm finally done The Scottish Temptress after a year.
Hope you enjoyed it. I know I did.
The reason why I picked Alistair was because it means "protector of mankind." Isabella wanted her son to be a strong fighter for the Scottish, and protect their land. That's why his name is Alistair.
Mary.
