AN… Once again, the story took over, and the chapter that I set
out to write evolved into something else entirely, so you will have
to hold onto the suspense until the next chapter….
Which may not be up until next week, depending on how the rest
of the week goes for me at work. I know, I know! Go ahead and
get upset with me. I can take it! LOL
Thanks once again for all the support and love you show me
In your reviews, I read each one! I promise to try to update soon.
Disclaimer… I own nothing... Yada, yada, yada…
~UUaAP~
Chapter 17
Old Histories End,
and New Ways Begin
Bella POV
I snuggled up to Jake by the fire. The evening air was quite chilly, but between the fire, and Jacob's hundred and eight degree body temperature, I was plenty warm. I had heard the histories about a week ago, but I was excited to see Charlie, and the Cullen Family's response.
Billy took his place as the head of the Tribal Council. His voice resonated as he began to tell the story of Kahelaha, the first of the Spirit Warriors. Everyone around the fire was listening with rapt attention. Billy finished up his story and passed the the next legend to Old Quil Ateara.
Old Quil, his voice wavering, but still majestic, told the story of the Third Wife's Sacrifice. That of Taha Aki and the Cold Ones. Carlisle seemed especially interested in this segment of the the histories, leaning forward, his eyes dancing with excitement. I could practically see the wheels turning in his head. I wondered if he was trying to figure out time-frames, or identities. Whatever the case, he appeared to be fascinated.
Billy invited Carlisle to relate the story of the treaty from a first-hand point of view. Carlisle's expression was surprised, and he appeared to be at a loss for words for the shortest moment. Billy waved his hand, urging Carlisle to begin.
Carlisle straightened up, and began to speak in a strong, dignified voice. It rang with an authoritative tone I had never heard him use before.
"It was nineteen thirty-six, and my family, Edward, Esme, Rosalie, Emmett and I had decided to relocate to Hoaquim. We thought it to be the perfect balance of seclusion and cloud cover. We bought a small piece of land, and built a house. I took a job as a local physician, and enrolled some of our family in the local school. Esme, my wife," he grasped Esme's hand for a moment, smiling warmly at her "became very involved in the building of a local tribal school. It was a good life, and we lived for five months in harmony with our neighbors and community.
Once day while we were out hunting, we caught scent of a strange canine. It was something I had never smelled in my two hundred and seventy three years as a vampire. We found that whatever it was, was following us everywhere we went. Even onto our own land. After a week of being constantly on guard, and finding it difficult to hunt, we began to push out further, hoping to get away from the unknown creature's territory. Without knowing it, we had ventured into La Push. We found ourselves surrounded by the very creatures that we were trying to escape. We had unwittingly ventured into their territory.
Edward had immersed himself in the local languages and culture over the months that we had been living there, and as such had begun to learn some rudimentary Quileute. As the wolves approached us, readying for attack, Edward was able to hear their thoughts, and communicate with them. One of them, a Quil Ateara had pinned my wife to the ground, and had his teeth at her throat. Emmett attacked, and was trying to crush his chest in. I yelled for him to stop, and kneeled submissively in from the one who had introduced himself as the Alpha, Ephriam Black. I ordered Emmett to release his hold on Quil, and the rest of the family to kneel in submission to their great leader.
Edward translated as I entreated them to spare our lives. I explained that we fed only on animals, and that our desire was alike to theirs, to protect human life. Ephriam asked why our eyes were golden when all others of our kind that they had encountered had red eyes. I explained that it was the diet that caused the difference, and that he could always know a human drinker from an animal drinker by their eyes.
By some miracle, I convinced him that the words I was speaking were true, although he was still understandably wary of us. He promised us that no harm would come to us so long as we stayed off of their land, and promised to never bite a human. If we followed those two simple rules, they would spare our lives, and keep our secret. That very hour they showed us the boarders of their territory, and the lines of our treaty were born."
"We thank you for honoring us with this history." Billy spoke solemnly. "As of tonight, we, the Quileute people release your family from the bonds of our former treaty. We have watched through now four generations as your family has honored the treaty. This current generation has witnessed first-hand your tenacity in the protection of human kind. And now, with the blessing of the Ancestors, a union has been ordained between our people and yours, for we believe that Imprinting happens at the behest of the Great Spirit, and the approval of our ancestors." Billy straightened in his chair, holding his head high and proud, and looked at Edward.
"The Great Spirit of our ancestors has deemed you worthy to become one with our family, Edward Cullen. We welcome you." With that, Billy extended his hand toward Edward, and Edward rose to grasp it back.
Edward kneeled down on the ground, his hand still holding Billy's, and bowed his head slightly in the direction of the heads of the Tribal Council.
"I consider myself honored to have been chosen as protector and mate to so lovely a treasure as Leah Clearwater. I will strive to earn the sacred trust placed in me by yourselves, your ancestors, and your Great Spirit." He spoke with humility.
Sue stood, and pulled Edward to his feet. She placed a hand on either side of his face, and pulled his head forward to place a kiss on his forehead, then looked into his eyes for a long time in silence. After what felt like five minutes, she spoke to him for all to hear.
"Edward, I have watched you these past few days with my daughter. You could have refused the Imprint that was made, and sent her away. You have shown great honor in giving it a chance in the most difficult of circumstances. You were willing to sacrifice your heart in order to protect Leah, and to honor a way of life that you didn't even understand. For all of these reasons, we ask that you would take a place as a Tribal Elder."
The only sound to be heard was the crackling of the fire. I had never heard a silence so deafening. There were many different reactions displayed on the faces of the witnesses. Billy, Old Quil, and Sam looked on resolute and stoically solemn. Jacob and Seth looked surprised, but not displeased. Young Quil, and Embry looked a little bit confused. Paul and Jared looked incredulous, their eyes staring towards Sam as if demanding an explanation.
Carlisle and Esme looked every bit the proud parents that they were. Emmett could not wipe the "shit-eating-grin" off of his face. Rosalie, Jasper, and Alice had soft smiles on their faces.
The only one around the fire that really stuck out was Charlie. He sat looking dumbfounded, searching from face to face as if waiting for someone to deliver a punch-line. He kept shaking his head slowly, and every so often his eyes would lock onto mine with a dark and unreadable expression before roaming on. I was worried that at any moment he was going to either explode or pass out. I sought eye contact with Alice from across the fire. I kept looking at her, then pointedly over towards my father, willing her to tell me that he was going to be okay. She finally tore her eyes away from Edward and Sue long enough to give me a small smile of reassurance, and a quick nod. I decided to take that as a good sign, and willed my heart to stop beating wildly.
"I accept the honor that you are so graciously bestowing on me." Edward spoke diplomatically, and sincerely. "And, I promise to always honor your tribe's commitment to the protection of human life."
The somber mood seemed to lighten after that, as whispers and murmurs began to hum around the fire. It appeared that the Council meeting was over. People began to drift off to their perspective homes, or break apart into small groups heading back towards the Clearwater house. It was just after eleven at night.
Sam spoke loudly, and with great authority as everyone was milling about. "The training session for tonight is cancelled. There will be another tomorrow night. Tonight, Paul, Jared and I will stand guard. The rest of you, get a good nights' rest."
It felt like an official adjournment to a long and extremely eventful evening.
~UUaAP~
Reviews are always Welcome and Wanted!
Send me some love.
