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Forever Bound

Chapter Two – Free Falling

"Bella, time to wake up."

It felt as if she had just fallen asleep, yet here Bella was being shaken awake.

Bella had slipped into bed drained and begging for sleep to claim her, but life was not that fair. She had been tossing and turning until dawn, before she was finally able to settle into a restless and fitful slumber.

"Bella," Esme tried again, "Have you forgotten what today is?" Of course she hadn't. "You must get up if you wish to be ready on time." She didn't. She wanted to crawl under the duvet and never come out again. However, against her will, Bella opened her eyes and came face to face with Esme, who was smiling down at her. "Rise and shine."

Bella internally groaned as Esme moved away from the bed to open the thick curtains, causing the sunlight to spill into the room and blind Bella. Squinting in the brightness, Bella slowly slipped her feet out of the warm bed and got to her feet.

Esme was not in the mood to waste any time. As soon as she saw Bella was on her feet, she dragged her into the bathroom.

"You must be clean and have beautiful hair," Esme stated as she started to run the water into the bath tub. Too tired to object, Bella did not mention to Esme that she had had a bath and hair wash the previous night.

"In you get." Bella looked up to see Esme staring at her pointedly. She also noticed that her future mother in law made no move towards the door. Blushing, Bella looked down to her feet, not moving an inch.

"Bella, stop being so embarrassed!" Esme chided her, "We have absolutely no time to waste today! In case you have not noticed, I myself am a women; nothing I see will surprise me. Now stop dawdling and get into the tub!" Where was the motherly figure from last night, Bella wondered, she wanted her back.

Slowly, Bella raised her nightgown over her head, the blush still gracing her cheeks. Sitting down in the bath as quickly as possible, Bella tried to cover herself. Esme simply sighed, as she covered Bella's hair with water and started to scrub at it. Bella decided now was the time to ask a few questions.

"What time will the wedding be?" start with the easiest first.

"Three hours past midday." Esme answered without pausing in her work.

"What am I going to wear? I don't have a dress," Bella had wondered about this. As a little girl, she had dreamed of getting married in a long white gown to the man she loved. The latter part of her dream had already been shattered, and she expected the former would soon be too.

"Alice has made you one." Who was Alice? "It's very beautiful. I'm sure you'll look like an angel in it as you walk down the aisle." Bella doubted that. She was just a plain girl with brown hair, brown eyes; there was no circumstance in which she could be considered beautiful.

"How does she know it shall fit?" Bella questioned, worried that her dress would not be the correct measurement, meaning she would have nothing to wear.

"Your mother sent us your measurements. Now, please go under the water, rinse your hair and wash thoroughly while I go and check whether Alice has arrived," and with that Esme swept out of the bathroom, leaving Bella with her thoughts.

A few moments later, Esme re-entered the room, just as Bella was wrapping herself in a towel. Placing a dressing robe on a chair, Esme quickly came over to Bella and started to towel her dry. "Alice has arrived and is waiting for you in the next room. We must hurry, we only have three hours until the service commences."

Draping the robe around Bella's shoulders, Esme led her back into her chamber. Sitting on her bed, she saw a small female, with black spiky hair, making her look like a pixie. Unexpectedly, the girl, Alice Bella presumed, came rushing towards her and enclosed Bella in a hug.

"You must be Bella! I've so been looking forward to making your acquaintance! I'm Alice Brandon, Edward's cousin. I was told you were beautiful, and they were right! Now, I've made your dress and as long as no weight has been gained since the month of April, it will fit. Would you like to see it?" Alice spoke at a hundred miles a minute and Bella found it hard to keep up.

"It is a pleasure to meet you too Miss Brandon, I wou-" Alice interrupted her, insisting that she must call her Alice; "I would very much like to see the dress, please."

Alice let out what sounded very much like a squeal and rushed towards the wardrobe, from which she pulled a magnificent looking dress. It looked quite simple at first glance, but after staring at the intricate work, it was clear it was anything but. It was pure white, with patterns made out of crystal beads working the way down the dress, from covering the whole of the bust to the whole base being covered in them. There was a thick silver ribbon underneath the bust and the dress went straight down to the floor, with a small train trailing from the back. It was a work of art and Bella's perfect dress.

"It's beautiful," Bella whispered, running her hand gently down the material; silk. Alice grinned knowingly.

"I know. It is the best dress I have ever made. But you cannot put it on now," she stated, pulling the dress out of Bella's reach, "First we must style that lovely hair of yours! Esme!" Alice cried. Esme came forwards and led Bella towards the vanity, on the way providing Alice with a brush.

Bella settled down on to the chair, while Alice and Esme stood behind her discussing how to style her hair. Bella found it a little odd that they did not ask her for her opinion as it was her wedding day and she was sitting right in front of them, but decided not to comment on it.

Finally, they seemed to come to a decision. Alice pulled out a very deadly looking instrument and marched towards Bella. Flinching away, Bella asked nervously, "W-what is that?"

"This?" Alice questioned, waving the instrument around. Bella nodded. "Bella sweetheart this is a curling iron. Although your hair has natural waves, we are going to enhance them using this. It will look enchanting once we have finished and added the gems." Gems? Bella was a little bemused as to why gems would be added to her hair, but was more preoccupied by the "curling iron." Although they had been invented more than ten years previously, Bella had never experienced them, and did not wish to on her wedding day; not when it could go wrong!

"Alice, are you sure that is safe to use? Isn't there some other way to style it?" Bella protested, desperate for that thing not to come into contact with her hair. Ignoring Bella's pleas, Alice wrapped a strand of hair around the iron and held it to Bella's head.

"Of course it is! Esme and I have used it numerous times. Now hold still. This will take a while."

Defeated, Bella sank down in the chair and waited for the torture to be over.

An hour later and the torture seemed to be coming to an end. Alice was on her final few strands of hair and Esme had finished with the light covering of makeup she had applied to Bella's face. A few minutes ago, Esme had left the room, leaving Alice and Bella on their own. This was when the questions began.

"So, how long have you known that you were betrothed to Edward," Alice enquired, still focused on her task.

"I only found out three days ago. My parents told me on my birthday and I left the very next day to come here. I don't know why we were betrothed, however I presume the uniting of our two families will bring a positive effect." Bella repeated what she herself had been told.

"That is probably one reason. Although, if it is of any comfort, you could do a lot worse than Edward. He is caring, educated and above all, he can carry a decent conversation. Too many men these days lack conversations skills, don't you find?" before Bella could voice her opinion, Alice continued, "That is why I am so lucky I have found Jasper. We can sit and talk together for hours."

Bella had a dominant feeling that Alice would be the one who spoke for hours, with this gentleman Jasper simply listening. Posing her own question, Bella asked "And who is this Jasper you speak of? I noticed no wedding ring on your finger."

At this Alice blushed. "Oh no Bella, we are not married, nor engaged. Jasper is courting me; although I do sincerely pray that one day it will be our wedding day." Bella had only been acquainted with Alice for a short period of time, and she had never met this man Jasper, yet she felt that anyone who caused Alice to react the way she did was someone worth holding on to. Perhaps one of them could marry for true love.

At that moment, a servant appeared at the door carrying a tray filled with different arrays of food, with Esme following behind her. "Bella, you have not eaten today, and you must do so before you wear your dress. We cannot allow anything to spoil it. The next time you have the chance to eat will be at the feast following the service, so you must keep your strength up. The last thing I want is to have my new daughter collapsing," Esme stated with a caring smile on her face. Bella smiled warmly back at her soon to be mother in law and reached out a hand for a slice of toast, and had not noticed until the pervious moment how famished she truly was.

Esme placed herself back in front of Bella, taking one of her hands in her own and started to cut her nails into shape. "I spoke to Carlisle. He informs me that Edward has just appeared and they are starting to prepare, therefore, everything should run to the schedule. Have you almost completed her hair Alice?"

"Almost Esme. Is Edward planning to wear the tux I made him?" Alice wondered, still dedicated to the task in front of her.

"One assumes. He knows how disappointed yourself and I will be if he does not!" Esme and Alice shared a laugh. Bella felt completely alone. She could not fit in to this conversation or family. She had no idea what Edward was like, how could she possibly know how he would act and voice her views on it?

Interrupting Bella's thoughts, Alice announced that she was done; and hour and a half after she had began. Looking into the vanity for the first time, Bella gasped. Her hair was far from ruined; it looked beautiful. It was in thick loose curls, which hung down around her face. Turning her head, she caught something sparkling in her hair. Taking a closer look, she saw the numerous gems in her hair, scattered across her head to catch the light.

"It's beautiful Alice. Thank you ever so much," Bella was able to get out, as her breath had been taken away.

"You're welcome. Don't ever doubt what I can do again," chuckled Alice, encircling Bella in a hug from behind. "Now, there is still no time to waste! We need to get you into your wedding gown. Go into the bathroom and put on the petticoat that has been placed out for you." Alice ordered Bella.

Wanting desperately to know what the dress would look like on her, Bella complied with the demand.

Minutes later, Bella emerged in the petticoat, trying to cover herself up a little. Both Esme and Alice sighed, before dragging her into the middle of the room. "As I said before, this dress should be the perfect fit." Alice told Bella as she helped her step into it and pull it up.

It was only then that Bella noticed the back of the dress was a corset, which ended at her waist, before turning into the front of the dress; silk and crystals. Alice tightened the corset so much Bella started to struggle for breath.

"Oh Bella really. Have you never worn a corset before?" she had not, "It needs to be this tight to show the full effect of the dress. You will become accustomed with it." Bella hoped so; she did not wish to collapse due to lack of air to her lungs!

Finally, Alice deemed the lacing tight enough and stepped away, allowing Bella to view herself in the mirror. Tears pooled in her eyes. She looked almost beautiful.

The dress flattered her figure without exposing too much, thank goodness. The effect of her hair with her dress set the whole image alight. Bella had never seen herself look like this, practically radiant.

"It's wonderful Alice. I cannot thank you enough," Bella started to sob. Sharing a worried glance, Alice and Esme rushed to Bella; Alice pulling her into a light hug so not to crease the dress, while Esme wiped the tears gently away.

"Bella darling, whatever is the matter?" Esme asked her soon to be daughter, who just shook her head, "Sweetheart, tell us what is wrong. We cannot help you if we do not know the dilemma."

Trying to catch her breath, Bella replied weakly, "It is nothing serious, I'm just being silly. It is just the fact that I am only sixteen years old, I'm getting married, yet I have never met my husband," seeing Esme look down at the floor Bella quickly continued, "I will go through with it of course, as it is what both our families desire, so there must be good in it. I will just miss my family, they live so far away from here and they're not even coming to my wedding, t-their own d-daughter's," here Bella started to sob again, unable to imagine what it would be like to walk down the aisle without holding on to her father's arm as she had always pictured.

Esme joined the hug, "Darling, your family will be there. Alice and I will be there. I know it is not the same, but in less than two hours we will be family. I know this must be extremely hard for you, but your parents, Carlisle and I know this will work out. Please trust us with that." Esme requested.

Nodding into Esme's shoulder, Bella tried to get her tears under control; she could not mess up all of Esme and Alice's hard work. Pulling herself together, Bella drew herself out of the two ladies' embrace and smoothed down her dress.

"What shoes do I wear with the dress Alice; we do not have much time left." Smiling softly at her, Alice went into the wardrobe and pulled out a pair of white shoes, with a heel.

"Alice, I cannot wear a heel! I fall over everything and anything. If I were to wear that, I would most probably knock myself and the whole congregation out!" Bella complained.

"Nonsense," Alice dismissed with a wave of her hand, "If anything like that happens, and it won't, Edward will be there to save you," She said this with a sly smile while Esme chuckled in the background. Seeing the battle was lost, Bella resentfully reached out for the death traps and slipped them on her feet. Alice smiled in triumph.

An hour later, it was three hours past midday and Alice, Esme and Bella had just arrived at the church, after riding through the village in an open carriage. The village itself was stunning, even Bella could recognise that despite all the butterflies, which felt more like giant moths, fluttering in her stomach.

"Alice and I must head into the church now Bella. You must wait here until you hear the organ playing, then you will walk down the aisle and join our family." Esme explain to a pale and shaking Bella. Giving her one last hug and a final bid of good luck, Alice and Esme made their way into the church.

"Bella, pull yourself together. This is what your family wish for you. You must not let them down!" Bella reprimanded herself as she waited to hear the organ playing, "You must go in there, marry Edward and produce the heir both families need."

Breaking Bella out of her self-scolding was the sound of music floating out of the church doors and filling her ears.

Bella stepped forwards and entered the church, taking a deep breath.

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Yes I did my research and although it sounds odd, the hair curler was invented in 1866 by Hiram Maxim!

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The wedding is up next, Bella and Edward will finally meet!