CHAPTER TWELVE
Edward had to admit. He was hiding. He could immediately spot every princess in the room. There were seven. Seven. Out of those he recognized two from past encounters. Even though he didn't truly know them.
Their dresses with large and floated around them as they walked. Their best jewels adorned their necks and ears. Tiaras all placed carefully upon their heads and they kept a safe distance away from one another. Edward sighed and leaned against a pillar. The music was loud and the guests chatted happily, drinking and eating, all waiting for Edward to pick his first dance of the night.
"What a fine place to spend the night of your Courting Date," his mother laughed as she came into vision. She wore one of her more elegant dresses, her crown of gold and red rubies decorated her amber brown hair. Edward scowled.
"I don't know half of them," he pouted. Esme sighed. She knew this was not her son's wish. It was not her wish for him either. But it was time when responsibilities overruled desires. T'was the life of a noble.
"Give them a chance. They all came here for you and I raised a gentleman. You do not keep ladies waiting," she said and pushed his shoulders around. He slumped down and took a deep breath, turning, and walking into the ballroom.
As he stepped down the steps the bands trumpets went off, announcing his presence. The princesses flutter about until they saw him.
"It is time for the first dance to begin," The maestro announced and the music played. The princess gathered in line and Edward walked to the front, offered his hand, and led the princess to the dance floor. The guests gave him a wide berth and allowed him to dance.
And so it began.
The first princess talked of nothing but her dogs. She was out.
The second and third talked only about themselves.
The fourth didn't talk at all, and looked just as bored as he was.
The fifth talked of home life and her younger brother, even tried to draw him into conversation, but he did not share. Edward saved her in his mind. If he had to marry anyone why not it be her. She didn't seem self absorbed and her love for her brothers was genuine.
The last two blurred together and by the time he bowed and thanked the seventh princess, he was ready to sleep. His ears had been chatted off all night and two of the princess continued to step on his feet making them throb in pain.
But as the last princess walked to rejoin the line, the most dreaded part of the night came. He would have to choose his bride.
The music announced what time it was and the maestro declared that Edward would now choose his bride.
Edward's heart pounded. No. He chose no one. He wanted none of them.
The crowd waited in hush silence as he ran his sight down the line
He spotted the fifth princess, her hair blondish red and eyes bright blue. She smiled with hope. She would make a fine bride, he presumed.
Suddenly a commotion in the crowd caught his attention. His eyes shifted toward the sea of guests, shifting oddly to let someone pass. When the said someone finally reached the open, Edward's eyes widened in shock.
There before him stood Bella.
Her hair shined with ringlets and there was an almost otherworldly glow about her. She wore a pale cream dress with corseted top and golden embroidery. Her skirts fluttered about her, making her seem as though she was floating above the ground. The sleeves of her dress came past her shoulders leaving her neck and collarbone bare. Edward had never seen her in anything other than her handmaid gown. She looked stunning. But what caught his attention was the glittering diamond tiara on her head. A sign marking her as a princess.
She was taking deep breaths and her cheeks were flush. Had she ran here?
"I request a dance with the prince," she said, entering as a possible candidate.
A gasp among the guests and yelps among the princesses.
"She…She is not eligible! She is his handmaid!" A princess snarled, pointing an accusing finger at Bella. Edward turned to see the dog lover had stepped out of her line and was the source of the yell.
"She cannot enter! She is…lower than a peasant!" agreed the fifth princess with a nasty scowl overcoming her features. Edward had sorely misjudged her.
Soon shouts from all over came into the ball room.
"Silence!" Edward shouted with authority. He was appalled at how quickly the ball room had elevated into chaos. He grasped the bridge of his nose to calm his emotions. What was Bella doing here? He looked up at his mother and father who watched from their thrones. His father stared at Bella with guarded eyes.
The ball room still skittered with harsh whispers. Bella kept her head high and her eyes focused on the only one in the room that mattered to her.
"She is a princess, therefore qualified for the position," his mother suddenly said. All eyes turned to stare at the Queen. Edward felt his jaw slack. What?
The room bursts into a chaotic mess once more. The queen held up her hand to silence the crowd. She stood from her throne and beckoned Bella toward her. Bella took slow hesitant steps toward her queen. The queen placed two gloved hands on her bare shoulders and turned her to face the room of judging eyes.
"Isabella is the lost princess of Fuego," the Queen announced the crowd took in a sudden breath. The lost princess.
There were rumors and tales that the princess of Fuego had not truly died, but was hidden. Edward had never believed it, but now he was beginning too. Fuego was a neighboring kingdom. They were known for breeding dragons. The majesties that ruled there had lost their only baby many years ago. But with the death of the daughter also came the disappearance of Rose. One of the most powerful healing fairies in the world. People began to spread rumors that she had taken the baby and were living happily somewhere within the forest.
Obviously those were false because the princess had been living underneath Edward's nose for years.
"I request a dance with the princess," Edward said, walking toward his mother. Bella smiled slightly. He held out his hand and Bella grasped it and they walked toward the middle of the ball room, the crowd parted and watched speechlessly.
The music started and Edward waltzed her around the room.
"You didn't tell me," he said, staring at her bright eyes. She took a deep breath.
"I wasn't allowed. I'm still not allowed. I'm sure you're parents aren't very happy with me," she said, looking away from his intense gaze.
"What do you mean? Why would they be angry? And that talk of being a Fay. Was it a jest?" he questioned, suddenly so confused and looking for answers.
"No, no it wasn't. I am still a Fay. I was on my way to meet you last night, when Alice caught up with me. King Carlisle had asked for me. She brought me to his quarters. He told me everything," she said. Edward raised a brow. She took a deep breath and prepared to tell her story.
"My parents had given up hope of conceiving an heir. They didn't believe it to be possible. They placed their adviser, Jeston, as their heir. He was to claim the kingdom when the time came. But my mother found Rose who agreed to help her conceive a child, me. When I was born, Jeston was furious. He had lost his chance to rule the country. He sought the help of Vlasta," she said and was stopped by Edward's angry hiss.
"Vlasta. The sorceress. The dark sorceress? Why is it even as a babe, you cannot stay away from danger, do you have any idea how powerful she is?" Edward asked, his eyes filling with worry. Vlasta was infamous among the land. Her power was legendary.
"I do. And so did Jeston. He made her fall in love with him and then used her. He promised to make her his queen, once I was taken care of. Vlasta was to kill me. When Rose heard of this, she gave her power to me. By giving me her power, Vlasta's magic was rendered useless against me. Because Fays cannot harm another Fay's sacrfice. However, Vlasta wasn't aware of this exchange and casted a spell anyway. My parents decided to let Jeston think his plan had worked so he would stop trying to kill me. They claimed I had died in my sleep and sent me off. I came here, where I was raised by your parents. By keeping me a handmaid and hiding my powers, Jeston would never know. When I came of age, I would take the land and extinguish any power Jeston had in court, but…"
"Something went wrong, didn't it?" Edward asked, quickly turning them away from prying ears and back into the middle of the empty dance floor. Bella followed along, finding herself to be quick on her feet.
"Yes. Quite recently Jeston realized my parents were lying. They lost their lives in an 'accident'. There's no proof that Jeston has killed them, so he is now taking over Fuego," Bella whispered, looking at Edward's strong soldiers instead of his empathetic eyes.
"Oh," was all Edward could come up with. There was so much to take in.
"That's what you were told yesterday. That's why we could leave? You have to claim Fuego?" he asked, understanding slowly sleeping into his mind.
"I do. But I need to be trained first. If my powers are kept back too long, they could kill me. I wasn't allowed to tell you. I should still be in hiding, because it's dangerous. Until I come of age, the kingdom isn't mine, it's Jeston's, but well if you choose me…"
"The kingdoms are joined into one. Which means my parents have power, until we rule," he answered a bright smile came over his face. She nodded her head.
"Yes, which means Jeston is no longer in control of my kingdom. But I do not want you to feel obligated in choosing me. I did not come here because of—"
"Why did you come here then?" he asked, his eyes darkening. Bella swallowed. She was afraid he would ask her this.
"I—uh… I well—"
Edward smiled at her which cut off her nonsensical babble. For he had come to the realization not long ago and now that he had the opportunity, he would tell her.
"I love you, too," he whispered into her ear and she blushed heavily. How did…
Oh, she didn't care. He had just said the very words she wanted to. She laughed brightly and suddenly the music ended. Edward pulled away and bowed. Bella curtsied and made a move to go, but Edward clasped his hand over hers, preventing her from going anywhere.
"I choose Bella, princess of Fuego," Edward announced. The room erupted into applause. She stood in the middle of the room, her hand held tightly within Edward's, surrounded by people who were astonished to see she existed, who were happy to see her. The cheers they granted her.
She truly felt like the princess she was.
So Fuego… breeds dragons… see my little play on words…
Anyway to clear some other things up in case you were confused:
Rose gave her powers to Bella because this meant she could not be killed by magic. Because Rose no longer had her powers, she died. Which makes Bella very sacred or people like Bella, very sacred which prevents other people's magic from harming her.
Hopefully that made sense.
-T.T
