Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.
Edward arrived at the mental institution and was reunited with Bella. Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper searched Forks for survivors and told the wolves Bella was dead. The Cullen's camp was attacked, but Carlisle made a truce with the other coven's leader and they were informed of the Volturi's mandate. Next the Cullens met with the Denali coven. Meanwhile, Laurent betrayed their whereabouts to the Volturi. The Volturi returned to Denali and took Bella, agreeing to let the Cullens accompany them to Volterra after some quick thinking on Bella's part. They arrived in Volterra and Bella met the other survivors; the survivors were shocked and appalled when Edward entered.
Chapter 13 (BPOV)
It is with a knowing smile and thumbs up from Alice that I slowly open the door.
Edward is waiting for me outside the door, just like Alice said and as gorgeous as ever. Apparently someone has gotten to him too, judging by his sleek suit. He smiles his crooked smile when I peek out of the doorway, and my eyes lock on his face as I analyze his reaction to what Alice has done to me. I am pleased with my observations. The only parallel I can draw is the way he looked at me after Alice had finished her prom preparations on me; I smile at the memory, however out of place it may seem in this new place.
"Well," I say, deciding to take advantage of Alice's hard work and twirling slightly, "What do you think?"
"You look positively stunning," he compliments me, golden eyes shining.
Unable to keep up my Alice-esque behavior for long, I blush at his comment. His cool fingers brush my cheek gently, only causing me to blush more profusely.
He chuckles good-naturedly as his hand moves to take my hand. "Are you ready?" he asks excitedly.
I tilt my head to the side in confusion before craning my head back toward the door. Alice. I had a feeling she wasn't just dressing me up like this to catch up with the Cullens. I rack my brains for some occasion that she might have had in mind, but I come up blank. "Okay," I admit bashfully, "You lost me."
"I, Miss Swan, am taking you out to dinner on this fine evening," he tells me pleasantly, offering me his hand in a grand gesture.
Hiding my surprise and curiosity, I place my hand in his. "And where might we be going on this so very fine evening, Mister Cullen?"
"It's a surprise," he replies slyly, bending forward to kiss my extended hand softly.
I look at him imploringly. "Come one, you know how I hate surprises," I beg.
"Trust me, you'll like this one," he advises me smoothly, "I want you to close your eyes. I'm going to have to carry you there; it'd be quite the walk for a human."
Sighing reluctantly, I close my eyes as he sweeps me into his arms bridal style. I recline trustfully in his arms, relishing in the feel of the wind as we speed through the halls. A smile stretches across my face as I remember the first time he ran with me nearly a year ago. Things were so different then, more complicated in ways and simpler in others. There was nothing stopping us from being together then, except for Edward's self-enforced limitations, while now there is a coven of vampire royalty saying that for us to be together forever would be a terrible crime. On the other hand, our relationship is so much easier now. Even after months of separation, we are incredibly close. That day in the meadow, I could hardly get close to Edward without having to worry about whether or not it would become too much for him.
"You can open your eyes now," Edward tells me gently, his face dangerously close to mine. Doing as he says, my eyes flutter open. My lungs lose all ability to function for several seconds as I gaze into his smoldering golden eyes with awe. I am only aware of how close Edward's face is to mine.
He leans in slowly and his lips almost touch mine before we are very rudely interrupted.
"Greetings, lovers, my name is Emmett and I will be your server on this fine evening," a very familiar voice proclaims boomingly, causing both Edward and me to jump.
"Was that really necessary, Emmett?" Edward sighs, setting me gently on my feet. The lack of contact would have been unbearable if not for the tight grip I kept on his stone hand.
Emmett holds his hands up in mock surrender. "Don't shoot the messenger, man. I'm just here to take you to your table."
"Table?" I inquire, surveying my surroundings. This is like no restaurant I've ever seen before. In fact, with the familiar stone passageway and ancient décor, I'd say we haven't even left the castle. This dark corridor is definitely, however, a part of the castle I have not seen before. It lacks the powerful grandeur that the halls I had seen had while maintaining the feel of the primeval coven.
"I did say I was taking you out to dinner, didn't I?" Edward laughs, more carefree than I've seen him in a long time.
I smile, pleased with his mood. "Of course. Lead the way, Waiter Emmett!"
He bows dramatically before gesturing theatrically toward a small, wooden door I hadn't seen before. It's faded brown coloring blends in with the wall, and I probably would not have seen it if it hadn't been pointed out to me. I glance questioningly up at Edward's amused face, but he simply gives a nod of affirmation. Emmett is holding it open before I turn back. "After you," he says smoothly, a goofy grin stretching across his face.
Promising light glows inside and I pull Edward toward it thoughtlessly, drawn to it. The room revealed to me is very simple. A simple table draped in an ivory cloth is the main focus of the room, a myriad of candles alight around it. The quaint wooden floor and cream walls give the room a simplistic quality, and I love it instantly. A single candelabrum sits in the middle of the circular table, three pale candles flickering.
"What do you think?" Edward asks with a nearly indiscernible note of suspense in his tone.
I whirl around to look at him, my eyes wide. "It's beautiful," I tell him breathlessly.
This seems to please him. He pulls out the nearest chair for me chivalrously, and the gentlemanly gesture causes warmth to grow inside my chest so pleasant that I don't feel the need to tell him I'm perfectly capable of sitting on my own. I've really missed moments like this over the past few months. When things looked bleak in the asylum, I would imagine things like this, but my imagination never did him justice.
Only once I am fully situated does Edward move to his own seat. Focusing on the perfect man sitting across from me, I suddenly find it difficult to believe I ever considered our surroundings even pretty. Everything else is nothing in comparison to Edward's glory. I lean toward him unconsciously, and, if I have functional eyes, he does too.
"Well," Emmett asks, a mischievous smirk on his face, "What would you two lovers desire to eat on this fine evening? Can I interest you in some B negative? How about some O positive? Or an irritable grizzly, perhaps?"
Edward just rolls his eyes at his brother, to my surprise. Usually vampire jokes upset him. My smile widens; I don't know what happened to make my beloved in such a good mood, but I sure am thankful for it, whatever it was.
"Fine, fine, I guess you want to order from our new human menu," Emmett grumbles, the dimpled grin never fading. He seems to think for a second before turning to me. "You have anything in mind?"
I contemplate this for a moment. No specific cravings are urging me on at this very moment. Something that isn't very messy to consume would also be a very nice touch, considering how awkward it would be to have some unattractive chunk of human food gunk stuck in my teeth all night. My wandering eyes land on Edward, and I know what I want.
"Mushroom ravioli, please?" I request, trying to keep my eyes on Emmett.
He tilts his head to the side and looks at me for a moment as if I'm speaking Scandinavian. Then, after a quick look from Edward, he nods minutely. "Sure. Your, uh, food will be out in a bit," he says hurriedly before scurrying out the door we'd come in.
"I don't think I've seen my brother that confused since Carlisle tried to explain to him why he suddenly sparkled like a 'fairy,'" Edward comments once I assume Emmett is out of hearing range.
I can't help it; the image of Emmett if he was like a fairy makes me burst into laughter. "Emmett?" I laughed, "A fairy?"
Edward laughs with me. My heart swells with the sound of his joy. "He was mortified!"
After our laughter finally dies down, Edward's smile softens and he reaches over to wipe a tear of laughter from my cheek. "What are you thinking?" He asks lowly, his golden orbs entrancing.
It takes me a minute to form thoughts coherent enough to voice, and it doesn't help that I suddenly forget what we were talking about. Come on, Bella, I think to myself, Say something intelligent! But even then I can't bring myself to say something.
Edward, however, always sharp with his photographic memory, is romantic enough for both of us. So he recites, his passion laced in every line, "Beloved! amid the earnest woes/That crowd around my earthly path—/(Drear path, alas! where grows/Not even one lonely rose)—/My soul at least a solace hath/In dreams of thee, and therein knows/An Eden of bland repose."
My lips seem to move of their own accord when I speak again. "And thus thy memory is to me/Like some enchanted far-off isle/ In some tumultuous sea—/Some ocean throbbing far and free/With storms—but where meanwhile/Serenest skies continually/Just o'er that one bright island smile," I whisper, bewildered with myself as I easily recite the words I wasn't aware I knew.
Edward beams at me, and I think for a moment that my heart might burst with pride for making him so happy. "I love you," he whispers tenderly.
"And I love you," I respond strongly, "Forever."
The door swings open then, startling me. "Did someone order an irritable grizzly bear?" Emmett asks loudly, holding up a small teddy bear with one hand, his other stashed behind his back. Edward shoots his brother a frustrated look, and Emmett shakes his head in response. "Tough crowd, I guess. Anyway, Bella," he says, pulling a plate out from behind his back, "I've got your dirt."
"It's not dirt, Emmett," I chastise him playfully, "It's a delicious meal."
Emmett wrinkles his nose in distaste. "Whatever keeps you alive, I guess," he shrugs, "Enjoy your evening."
And then we are alone. I turn my attention to the food he brought, and smile at what I find. It's obvious that whoever cooked this behind the scenes tried very hard to do it right. The ravioli is slightly burnt, but otherwise it looks edible. I gingerly pick up my fork, spear a piece, and place it in my mouth.
"How is it?" Edward asks eagerly, looking at me as if I were about to tell him the secret to life.
"Delicious!" I announce, holding up my fork for emphasis.
The rest of the meal passes by in comfortable silence until I set down my fork for the last time. "Would you like to dance?" Edward asks, casting the full force of his eyes on me.
"I-I don't know if that's a good idea," I respond, glancing around warily, "And there's no music."
Edward smiles and says, "Of course there is." Music begins to play then, and I look around suspiciously. There is no remote in Edward's hand, nor is there a stereo anywhere in sight. I suspect someone is listening in. Alice, maybe? He holds out his hand for me, and I couldn't have restrained myself from grabbing it if I had wanted to. Edward pulls me close as the words begin.
"I was a quick-wit boy
Diving too deep for coins
All of your street light eyes
Wide on my plastic toys
Then when the cops closed the fair
I cut my long baby hair
Stole me a dog-eared map
And called for you everywhere"
A glistening tear sneaks out the corner of my eye as memories of prom flow through my mind. I peer up at Edward's face adoringly, and I know with ultimate certainty that this is the happiest I've been in months. Then the music fades, and a stab of loss rings in my chest. Don't make it stop, I want to plead to whoever is in charge of this, Don't ever let this end. Edward pulls back, his shining eyes never leaving mine. He gets down on one knee.
"Isabella Swan," he begins confidently, "You own my heart and my existence. You are my love, my soul, my moon and my sun. Every second I spent without you was a second having my heart wrenched from my chest. I promise to love you every single day of forever. Will you marry me?"
Author's note: Yes, I know, this was a very fluffy chapter and I left you off on a cliffhanger. Don't worry, the next chapter should be much more dramatic. I've decided not to tell you when the next chapter will be out. I got only one review last time (Thanks, Guest!). I expect more this time. My goal for this chapter is 100 reviews. We have 88 right now, and I think you can do it. Just a few words are awesome, really. And, just so you know, the poem was "To F_" by Edgar Allan Poe and the song was "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" by Iron and for reading!
Review prompt: What will Bella say to the proposal?