CHAPTER FOURTEEN

"Cast it again," Alice said, walking around Bella and examining the injured fawn. Bella sighed in frustration. This was the fourth time she was trying the spell and it did nothing to help the fawn.

"Alice, it's not working and she's in pain. Can't you do it?" she argued with her mentor, who in a few short weeks had become a very close friend.

"No. You need to learn!" Alice scolded. Bella took a deep breath to calm herself and focused on the gash that rested above the fawn's back leg. It wasn't very deep, but it was long and painful.

Bella placed her fingers over the fawn and once again tried to close the gash. Nothing happened. She felt foolish.

Alice growled in frustration and with a sweep of her hand closed the gap of flesh. It combined at once and the blood healed, leaving nothing but a very faint scar. The fawn leapt to her feet so quickly, Bella sat back in fight as the deer ran back into the nearby forest, relived to be healed and returned to her home.

"I don't understand. That was one of the simplest spells there was. A child could cast it," Alice grumbled, floating away from Bella. Bella sat back on her heels and stared at the path the fawn had gone down.

She had begun her training a week ago. Alice had given her tons of healing books, potions, and spells for her to memorize while the potion that held her powers back drained from her system. She did, but she couldn't cast any of them. It was enough to make her believe they were wrong about her powers, but she couldn't believe that.

She knew she had powers. She could feel them run through her body like a current, but when she tried to direct them to healing it was like they vanished.

Alice hadn't brought up the possibility that Bella perhaps possessed a different type of magic.

"Alice," Bella called, looking around to find that her friend had disappeared. Alice came floating down from a tree and sauntered over.

"Yes?" she asked with a raised brow. She didn't like to be interrupted when she was in the middle of thinking.

"Did it ever occur to you that I may have another type of magic?"

Alice started, looking at Bella with wide golden eyes. The thought had crossed her mind, but she had thrown it away, not really considering the possibility.

"You mean defensive magic? That's… a magic I'm not very familiar with. I've only ever known one other Fay to have that type of magic and…" Alice's eyes looked away, not really wanting to travel down that very painful road.

"Well it's a possibility isn't it? There had to be another reason as to why I can't cast these spills. I'm trying here, Alice, truly I am, but I can't do them."

"Well there is no harm in trying, I suppose. I only know one spell. We'll have to both study up on it if I am to teach you. But here, let's see…" Alice pulled out a simple notebook she kept hidden in her dresses. She flipped through the pages until she found what she was looking for.

"Ah, this is simple enough and should be able to test whether or not you have it. Do you see that tree there?" she asked, pointing about a yard ahead of them. Bella nodded. It was a very young tree and the trunk was very thin, the branches looking like very long tiny fingers.

"Okay. I want you to chop it down. A short flash of light should erupt from your hand and do the trick. You must be very careful, very concentrated, do you understand?" Alice asked. Bella nodded once more. Defensive magic could be very dangerous. Alice handed her the small book that showed the movements Bella's hands would have to undergo. She took a moment to carefully study the spell.

With a deep breath she twisted her hands, set her body, and aimed at the tree. She could feel the rush of excitement begin at her belly and the rush of power sweep down her arms.

Suddenly a bright flash emitted from her hand and was thrown across the field. It struck the small sapling and the tree curled within itself, turning black, and finally disappearing in a puff of ash.

Bella stared wonderstruck. She turned to Alice who watched with wide eyes.

"I did it. I did it!" she chimed gleefully.

"Did what?" a smooth voice asked and Bella turned to see Edward join them. He had just come from his own training. She ran up to see him and wrapped her hands around his neck. He lifted her easily but the unexpected collision caused him to lose his balance and they fell backward, Bella giggling loudly through the whole movement.

She landed atop his wide strong shoulders. She planted a kiss on his lips, which he quickly accepted. Their wedding was planned for midsummer. But every moment they were alone were filled with stolen kisses and gentle touches.

Bella had forgotten all about Alice as her lips moved against his. That was until Alice decided to remind the young lovers of her presence.

"Well as much as your love fills me with glee," the little fairy sarcastically commented, "We have visitors."

Edward sat up quickly as the royal guard approached them. He lifted Bella to her feet and stood in front of her.

"Your majesties, the king and queen request your presence immediately," Sir Emmett said, bowing.

Bella was taken back. They were speaking to her as well. She had known Emmett for most of her life. He was always following them around to make sure they stayed out of trouble. But he had never bowed to her. She had yet to grow accustomed to the new treatment. Most of the kingdom graciously accepted her as their princess. She was immediately loved and cared for as any other princess.

Edward nodded, grasped Bella's wrist and ran back into the castle walls to meet with his parents. When they entered the throne room, the king was pacing back and forth, as soldier spoke to him.

"What's the matter?" Edward asked, walking to stand near his father. Bella joined the queen at the thrones, a frown pulling down her lips in worry.

"We have news from Fuego," King Carlisle stated, glancing at the soldier.

"King Jeston—"

"He is not the king of my lands. Not anymore!" Bella interrupted. As soon as the marriage had been set, the lands were in King Carlisle's and Queen Esme's hands. She would rule Fuego after the wedding.

The guard blushed heavily.

"I'm sorry, my princess," the guard apologized. Bella only stared, waiting for the rest of his statement. The guard cleared his throat and continued.

"Jeston has issued an attack. He refuses to give Fuego. He is training the dragons and creating an army. They are said to attack by the end of summer," the guard informed them. Bella's heart pounded. Attack? Tiemp had never known war in her time. Tiemp was a peaceful land and had been for a very very long time.

"Dragons?" Edward hissed.

Dragons were not evil creatures. Fuego had bred some of the best dragons, but if they were being trained for war, they could quickly turn the war.

"Yes. Their training is what is holding back the attack. They may be more dangerous but they give us more time to prepare," the guard informed. Bella's head was spinning.

"What does time matter? The dragons could kill half our army before we even set foot onto the field!" Bella screeched, stepping closer.

"It matters because Jeston wants to delay your wedding. If you are able to wed sooner, the lands are officially yours princess. He would no longer have power over the people. Of course there are those who are loyal to Jeston, but he would have a large uprising in his hands. It could delay the war," the guard said. Bella blanched. She had forgotten about her wedding. Edward turned toward her.

Move the wedding up? She hadn't expected that.

"So you wed. The lands are yours. Jeston not only has to fight Tiemp, but the people in his own lands. Gives you more time to train as a Fay and the army to train for battle. With your power, Bella, you could be a better advantage than the dragons," Alice said, floating into the room and landing softly on her feet. Everyone started at her voice.

"No. Absolutely not!" Edward yelled unexpectedly. All eyes turned to stare at him. He was glaring at Alice.

"She's not going to fight in the war. If we marry sooner fine, more time. But I won't allow—"

"Allow me! This is not your choice!" Bella snapped. Edward turned on her.

"Yes it is. As your prince I refuse to let you participate!"

"Oh so it's perfectly acceptable for me to wait in some tower worrying while—"

"Yes! I won't let you get hurt. I cannot lose you," he said, grasping her hands and holding them to his chest as his eyes bore into hers. His voice was so broken; she could not manage any more anger. She snaked one hand loose from his grip and brought it to gently caress his cheek. He leaned into her touch.

"You will not lose me," she whispered.

"Bella, I can't take even the slightest chance with you. I can't," he said, begging her to understand. Begging her to free him of this worry, this fear.

"We will discuss it later. Right now I am no better prepared to be in a war than you are," she said and he relaxed. He knew his decision would never change but he hoped hers would.

"So… we have a wedding to schedule. What a shame that it won't be a grand affair," Alice mused and drifted out the room once more. Bella giggled at her carefree friend.

"We have a wedding to attend," Edward said with a smile.

"We do."

Okay so the story is picking up now. The story should be about twenty chapters so six more to go.
Thoughts?