Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns everything in the Twiverse.

A/N: Would it do any good for me to apologize for how long this chapter has taken to reach you?

Chapter 42: The Throne Room

Bella's POV

Patience was never my strong suit.

Even as a little girl, whether waiting for the library to open or for Renee to finish one of her culinary catastrophes so we could go ahead and order a pizza, I have always struggled with the need to wait. Usually I would distract myself with some other activity to speed the time along, but now, there were no diversions available.

There was only Aro, his diabolical mind, and the seeming eternity he was using to decide our fate.

Thanks to Caius and his ingenious interruption, our trip to The Throne Room had been on hold for the past six minutes, six minutes which seemed inordinately long to this PMS-ing human. Edward's fingers had not stopped moving over mine since Aro had paused mid-stride to consider Caius' opinion, and I knew Jasper was using the best of his influence to reset my frazzled nerves.

But there was nothing to be done. Aro would do whatever he was going to do whenever he was going to do it, and there was nothing I could do but wait.

Time had never passed so slowly.

I glanced at Edward and marveled at his demeanor. His brow was smooth, his jaw relaxed, and he seemed almost bored with the delay. If I didn't know him as well as I knew myself, I might have believed him to be calm.

But I could feel the tension in his touch as he caressed my hand. I could taste the annoyance in his silent sighs, and his refusal to look at me suggested that his frustration was at its peak. The Volturi were likely blocking their thoughts, but I doubted the rest of the family was being as discreet. And the influx of unwanted opinions would soon drive my husband crazy.

"This is quite the conundrum," Aro mused as if he were truly perplexed. "What to do?"

"May I suggest that you decide before the century ends?" Caius asked.

"What troubles you, brother?" Aro smiled. "Is the newest Mrs. Cullen tempting your thirst?"

I stifled a shiver as Edward drew me closer.

"Hardly," Caius replied as if offended. "But this little charade has already consumed most of my morning, and I have more pressing concerns to address."

"Charade?" Aro repeated. "That's an interesting word. Whatever do you mean by it?"

"You read me too closely," Caius said. "I mean only to advocate for expedience."

"But did you not just infer that we could save time by eliminating some of our guests?" I didn't like his phrasing, and neither did Edward from the way he clenched my hand. "And now you are questioning the merits of the very discussion you initiated. Surely you can see my confusion."

"This is a waste of time," Marcus snapped, and the reaction of his brothers suggested that it was an unusual occurrence. "Aro, make your decision and let us move on."

"I apologize for my brothers' rudeness," Aro said to Carlisle. "They are usually much more civil when we have visitors."

"Think nothing of it," Carlisle said. "In fact, I agree with them."

"Oh?" Aro said.

"Caius is correct," he explained. "In order to glean the whole story, you need only speak with Tanya and Bella."

My heart stuttered in my chest at Carlisle's statement, drawing the Volturi's attention.

"Surely you don't expect me to leave her," Edward said in a low voice. Caius hissed, and I recognized the sound from before.

"I don't see why you couldn't," Carlisle replied. "Aro is without his beloved today, and he is surviving the deprivation."

Aro's mouth twitched, but he said nothing.

"They are newlyweds." Eleazar couldn't erase the shock from his voice. "On their honeymoon, no less."

"Volterra is a beautiful city which they can later explore together," Carlisle said. "But extra bodies in The Throne Room would only belabor the point and needlessly extend our trip."

"Are you in a hurry to leave?" Caius asked.

"Do you not want us gone?" Eleazar retorted.

"Either way," Carlisle continued, "there is plenty of amusement for the rest of us while Tanya and Bella are meeting with you. I have longed to share Volterra with my bride."

"I do wish to visit The Sulpicine Garden," Esme smiled. "I hear her roses are unparalleled."

"Sono bellissime," Carmen said. "They alone are worth the trip."

"And I'm sure there's somewhere to shop within these walls," Alice said. "Everything has a price and all that. Care to join me, Tanya?"

Tanya's nod was more bewildered than enthusiastic.

"Then it's settled." Carlisle smiled at Esme and turned to leave. "I'll take Esme to the garden while Alice spends a small fortune. Jasper, I'm sure you and Edward would like to see the…"

"Just a moment." Aro held up a hand and stared at Carlisle. Our proud patriarch held his gaze without guile, and when their silent standoff ended, Aro smiled. "While I appreciate your desire to experience more of our fair city, I'm afraid I will have to insist on meeting with all of you."

"Are you certain?" Carlisle asked. "We would not wish to overwhelm your day."

"Nonsense!" Aro beamed. "It would be a pleasure to receive you all. Delphine?"

I'd missed her arrival while I was trying not to faint. "Yes, Master?"

"Kindly escort our guests to The Throne Room while I confer with my brothers."

"Right away."

Carlisle bowed to Aro before taking Esme's hand and following Delphine out of the room. I was so relieved that we were all staying together that I glanced at Aro as we exited the theatre two-by-two. But the iciness in his gaze stopped my heart, and I realized that his politeness was a mask.

He was livid.

Had I not been so thoroughly briefed on Aro's ways, I would not have understood why. After all, Carlisle had embraced the possibility of separation, speaking of the notion as if it were ideal. And what could Aro want more than that?

Plenty.

He wanted to disarm us, to undermine our sense of security. He wanted to put us on edge and cause division if he could. Above all else, he wanted to remind us that all diversions aside, he was in control.

But he never got the chance.

Because with a serenity that was almost sinister, Carlisle had defeated him. He deflated Aro's plans by prematurely accepting them and punctured his ego in one smooth move.

It was a beautiful thing to behold, and I had never been more proud of the good doctor than in that moment.

But as we arrived at the antechamber of The Throne Room, I began to wonder how Aro would respond to Carlisle's opening maneuver. Aro could not abide being bested, and I hoped that we wouldn't pay for our father's savvy with our lives.

Or something else we couldn't afford to lose.

"Quinn will admit you when the Masters are ready," Delphine said. "It shouldn't be long."

"Thank you," Carlisle replied.

Delphine's eyes lingered on him for a moment too long, and she took her leave.

"Are you all right?" Edward asked as he caressed my arm. His eyes conveyed his meaning as his tone reminded me that my reply would be overheard.

"Yes, thank you." I'm just glad we're still together. "I'm glad I remembered my gloves."

"As am I." I would not have left you, no matter what. "The Throne Room should be warmer."

"Have you ever been there, dearest?" Esme asked.

"Once," Carlisle replied. "Under very different circumstances."

"That sounds ominous," Jasper said.

"Yes, but not the way you think," Carlisle said. "They were trying to… that is, they thought…"

Edward chuckled, reading his mind. "You never told me that."

"Surely you can understand why," Carlisle replied, and I was surprised at his embarrassment.

"Out loud," Alice complained.

"Don't you hate when people have silent conversations?" Kate teased.

Carlisle cleared his throat. "Aro sensed my discontent here and wanted to help. So he, er… that is, he arranged for…"

"A girl?" Jasper asked.

"Several, in fact," Carlisle groaned, causing Eleazar and Jasper to laugh.

"Several?" Esme asked with an arch of her eyebrow.

Carlisle seemed to redden before my eyes. "They wanted me to have a choice."

"Describe them." Esme folded her arms across her chest. "Were they blonde? Brunette? Slim? Buxom?"

Alice couldn't stop her giggle. "I never thought I would hear Esme use the word 'buxom.'"

"I recall not a single thing about them." Carlisle reached for his wife's arms to uncross them. "For they were not you and wholly unworthy of remembering."

"You lie." She kissed his cheek. "But that was a good answer."

"What about you, amor?" Carmen turned to Eleazar. "Anything you'd like to confess?"

"Should I get on my knees?" he asked.

"That might help," his wife smiled.

Other conversations continued among us, the harmless banter covering the relief at our near-miss. At some point, all gazes drifted toward Alice with one question in their eyes. She nodded at each of us, and we relaxed even further.

And then the ornate double doors opened and Quinn indicated that we could enter.

The Throne Room was a smaller, equally round space made entirely of gray stone. The smooth wall was interrupted only by a handful of windows and a stone bench that hugged the outer ring of the chamber. Only three chairs rested on the elevated platform with an ominous black door on either side of it.

I could only imagine their purpose.

The stone-faced members of the Volturi were already seated on their thrones. Aro's crimson eyes were impassive as we arranged ourselves in front of them, but I was not fooled. He was cataloging it all, missing nothing. So I made sure to avert my eyes unless directly addressed. For all I knew, he could lift the truth from my mind with a glare.

I was so preoccupied with this plan that I didn't notice that Carlisle had placed me at his immediate right with Edward on my right. Eleazar and Tanya were to Carlisle's left, with the rest of our clan behind us. Here I was, trying to avoid the spotlight, and Carlisle had placed me in its center.

Craptacular.

As Carlisle had enjoyed the proverbial last word during the first exchange, he folded his hands behind his back and waited for Aro to begin. The raven-haired ancient took his sweet time acknowledging us, earning dirty looks from Caius and sighs of boredom from Marcus.

At least we weren't alone in our feelings.

With a sudden clap of his hands, Aro spoke. "Tell me what brings you to Volterra."

The question seemed simple enough, but I was glad that I didn't have to answer. We had essentially eavesdropped our way across the ocean, and I suddenly wondered what Aro would think of that admission.

"We were made aware that someone with whom with have unfinished business was here," Carlisle said.

"And how did you come into this information?" Aro asked.

"Alice saw him enter this very room yesterday with our name on his lips," Eleazar said.

"Is this true?" Aro asked her.

Alice peeked around Edward. "It is."

"Extraordinary," Aro breathed.

"These visions of yours." Caius eyed her as she came forward. "Are they infallible?"

"Nothing is infallible," Alice said lightly. "But I know what I saw."

"Who did you see?" Marcus asked.

"A nomadic vampire with whom our family has a complex history," Carlisle replied. "He goes by the name Laurent."

Aro revealed nothing as he absorbed this information. "And what business could he have had here?"

"We have our suspicions," Eleazar said.

"And they would be?" Aro asked.

"In the interest of time," Carlisle said, "might we first confirm the truth of Alice's vision?"

"Is that necessary?" Caius asked. "If her vision is certain, shouldn't it be sufficient alone?"

"We'd like to hear it from the horse's mouth," Jasper said.

"Do we look equestrian to you?" Caius snapped.

"If the saddles fit."

"I would like to hear more about these visions," Aro said as he fought a smile.

She bowed slightly. "What would you like to know?"

"Everything!" Aro said with glee.

Alice cocked her head to one side. "Care to narrow that down?"

I was shocked at her candor, but Aro seemed amused. "You say your visions are unreliable."

"I would not say that," Alice replied. "But I understand that others might."

"An artful dodge," Caius snorted.

"Who doesn't love Oliver Twist?"

Aro smiled at Alice's retort. "Are your visions certain?"

"My visions are certain as long as the person involved is sure of their course," she said. "Once the decision changes, the future changes with it."

He pondered this. "Have you ever been wrong?"

"Meaning?"

"Has a vision not come true?"

"Thousands of times."

"Then you admit your visions are flawed?"

"I see the results of decisions," Alice replied. "So if Esme considers planting five different varieties of hydrangea in her garden, I see the outcome of each possibility. If she chooses lisianthus in the end, it is not my visions that are faulty. The decision has changed the outcome."

"Yet you do not consider yourself fallible."

She smirked. "Do you consider yourself fallible?"

Aro's eyes widened at her comment, and I was equally shocked. He recovered faster than I did and cleared his face. "Your confidence in your gift is admirable, but beware of pride. It can make one blind."

"I'll keep that in mind," Alice said.

"Laurent was here yesterday," Aro said as he dismissed Alice with a wave of his hand. "And he wished to see us about a matter concerning your family."

"May I inquire about the nature of this matter?" Carlisle asked.

"It is not my place to carry tales," Aro replied.

"Did he not seek you out?" Tanya pressed.

"He did."

"Then it is precisely your place," Kate said with an edge in her voice.

"You would do well to remember yours, Katrina," Caius sneered.

Kate's eyes narrowed at the use of her given name. "How could I forget it?"

"We seem to be dancing around the subject," Esme spoke up, surprising us all. "Are we not all friends? Can we not speak freely?"

"Of course, my dear." Aro's tone belied his pleased expression. "We are at your disposal."

She looked at Carlisle. "Well, then."

"With your permission," Carlisle said. "Tanya and I would like to explain our family's connection with Laurent."

Aro nodded. "The floor is yours."

With a speed that left me breathless, Carlisle and Tanya relayed the events of the past year, starting with Laurent's arrival at the baseball clearing and ending with yesterday's vision. I could barely catch it all, but I knew from the ticking of my watch that the entire story took thirty seconds to explain.

"We believe he has come here to seek asylum," Carlisle concluded.

"Or to escape our inquiries about our sister," Tanya said. "Either way, he must answer for what he has done."

"And what has he done?" Caius asked. "If what you're saying is true, most of the fault lies with Victoria and James. Both of whom are dead at the hands of the Cullens." He smiled. "And by that score, Laurent is within his rights to avenge his coven."

Jasper snorted. "Over my scorched body."

"James answered for his attempt on Bella's life as did Victoria," Edward said. "There is no law against that."

"No, but we are coming to the material point," Aro said as he rose from his chair. "Bella is human and knows of our existence. And there is a very clear law against that."

I clamped my mouth shut for fear of speaking too soon.

"She did not learn of the truth from us," Edward replied.

"We shall see." Aro walked to the center of the room and held up his right hand. "Isabella?"

I looked at Edward, and he nodded. With my head high, I walked up to Aro, stopping a full foot in front of him.

"Closer, dear," he grinned. "I won't bite."

"As if," I muttered.

"Oh, you are a treasure!" he cried. "I cannot wait to see into that clever mind of yours." He glanced at his right hand. "If you please."

I lifted my hand and placed it against his, shocked by its frigid weightlessness. Aro closed his eyes and took on an angelic appearance. For the smoothness of his features, he could have been a statue.

Until he snatched his hand away and glared at me. I was startled by the hatred in his eyes, but it disappeared so quickly that I thought I imagined it. "Fascinating," he whispered. "Is this unusual?"

"She is immune to other mental gifts as well," Edward replied. And though I couldn't see him, I could feel his relief.

"So you can't read her mind?"

"No."

Aro raised his hand again. "I don't believe you."

Edward soon appeared beside me, and I instantly relaxed as his free hand grabbed mine. With a swift look at me, Aro closed his eyes as their palms met. His brow furrowed and flexed as he invaded Edward's memories, and I was surprised to discover that I envied him the privilege.

Aro released Edward's hand but did not open his eyes. Edward chanced a glance at me, and I stared back with all the love I could summon. Aro knew it all—there was no turning back now.

All too soon, Aro opened his eyes and studied me, his ancient red eyes ripe with the truth. I did not blink or look away, wanting him to know that I was not afraid.

Despite the tremendous trembling in my heart.

"Enough!" Caius suddenly shouted, ramming his fist on the arm of his chair. "It is clear that the Cullens are in violation, and they must be made to pay!"

I heard Jasper's snarl and felt the tension rolling through Edward's body. There was another sigh from Marcus and a gentle admonition from Carlisle.

But it was Aro's reaction I wanted.

"Patience, brother," Aro said. "The truth will always set us free."

"And what other truth can there be?" he countered. "Did the Cullens not destroy Laurent's coven?"

Aro looked at Edward. "They did."

"And have they not enfolded this human into their lives?"

He looked at me. "Indeed, they have."

"Then pronounce them guilty and return me to my day!"

"Very well," Aro sighed as my heart prepared to burst. "You may go."

"What?" Caius came to his feet. "What is this?"

"I have no wish to hasten these proceedings," Aro replied. "But I am weary of your rushing me." He turned to face him and smiled. "So be gone. We can debrief you another time."

"I…" Caius clenched his hands at his sides, his rapid breaths filling the room. "You mistake me, brother. I only meant to glean what you learned from the young groom's mind." He resumed his seat and plastered the most awkward of smiles on his face. "Please continue at your pace."

"As you wish," Aro shrugged.

"I too am curious," Marcus said with less urgency. "Is Edward in earnest about Isabella?"

"It is clear that he has never read Isabella's mind, a fact that vexes him greatly," Aro said. "It is also clear that she was well on her way to discovering our secret before it was revealed to her by someone else."

"So there is no violation," Marcus said.

"No," Aro said without pleasure. "It would seem not."

"And what of Laurent?" Carlisle said as Edward and I slipped back into line. "Is he still here?"

"Yes," Aro said.

"May we see him?" Tanya asked.

Aro returned to his throne. "To what end?"

"To bring him to account for his dealing with the Cullens and my sister."

Aro looked to Marcus, and I was unsurprised at his answering shrug.

"I see no harm in that," Aro said. "Santiago?"

The black door opened to the rulers' right, and through it entered the largest, scariest vampire I had ever seen. His red eyes seemed to glow in his face, and his mouth seemed incapable of mirth. In spite of his plain clothing, I could see the unyielding bulk that lay beneath the fabric. If ever there were a Broadway version of David and Goliath, Santiago would get the latter part hands-down.

I was so focused on him that I didn't readily notice that there was someone else with him, a much smaller figure in a white hooded cloak. If not for the dark fingers dangling from the wide sleeves, his identity would be a secret.

Behind me, Tanya hissed.

"Remove his hood," Aro commanded.

With a nod to his master, Santiago yanked the hood from the figure's head. And even though we had known who it was, the sight of his serene face was too much for some to bear.

"Murderer!" Kate screeched as she launched herself at Laurent.

"Katia, no!" Carmen shouted as Eleazar held Tanya back.

Before Kate could reach the prisoner, she fell out of the air and collapsed, her face twisted in pain. As she writhed on the floor, Edward pressed my face to his chest, shielding me from the sight.

But not before I caught the arrogance in Laurent's eyes.

"Stop it!" Tanya cried. "Aro, please."

"Santiago, you may leave," I heard him say.

At length, I heard a door shut in the distance, but Kate's groanings only increased. I peeked through Edward's hand and watched a terrible smile spread across Aro's face. "That is well enough, Jane."

Kate cried out as the debilitating illusion left her body, and Tanya ran forward to collect her. As they returned to the safety of our cluster, I watched a diminutive cloaked figure pass through the left door.

She came, she tortured, she left.

"Do you see?" Laurent said to the Volturi. "This is exactly why I came! She is out of her mind with grief and falsely blames me for her troubles."

"Falsely?" Kate hissed, her mouth uninhibited by Eleazar's restraining grasp. "You killed our sister!"

"I did no such thing."

"Liar!"

"Victoria lied to you, Katia, and you have…"

"Don't you dare take liberties with my name!"

The sound of two thunderclaps cut across their argument, and I turned to see Marcus on his feet.

"If you could lower your volume," Aro said. "My brother has sensitive ears."

"Aro," Carlisle said with saintly calm. "I assume that you have heard Laurent's side of the story."

"I have."

"And you know ours," Tanya said, adopting Carlisle's tone. "So you are in the perfect position to judge."

"Is that why you have come?" Caius asked with interest. "To let Aro judge this matter and abide by his decision?"

"We have business with Laurent, and he is here," Kate said. "That is why we have come."

"I have no further dealings with them," he said to Aro. "My beloved Irina is dead, and now…"

"How dare you call her 'beloved' after what you did?" Kate hissed.

My head was spinning as Laurent continued to spar with the Denali sisters, and I rubbed my temples in search of relief. Edward pulled me closer, and I felt him nudge Jasper. Our brother shook his head, and I was afraid for the first time. The sister's grief made them impervious to Jasper's talents, and if they didn't calm down soon, the situation would be out of our hands.

"Stop!" Caius suddenly roared. "You're behaving like animals."

"This is most diverting," Aro cooed, his delight turning my stomach. "A shame it must come to an end."

"Katrina," Marcus asked. "Do you have proof that Laurent killed your sister?"

"We have Victoria's testimony which Aro heard in my mind," Edward replied.

"So I did," Aro agreed.

"Is that sufficient?" Caius asked.

"What?" Tanya asked.

Caius examined his fingernails. "Is it not possible that Victoria lied?"

"Nothing she says can be taken for truth," Laurent insisted. "She is the mother of lies!"

"Like mother, like son," Alice said.

Laurent glared at her. "Victoria is not my maker."

"Mind your eyes, boy," Jasper said. "Assuming you want to keep them."

"This is becoming tiresome," Marcus said to Aro.

"Agreed," Caius said as if he hadn't started the trouble.

"Yes, but your question deserves an answer," Aro replied. "Is it possible that Victoria lied about Irina's death?"

"That is highly unlikely," Eleazar said.

"But not impossible?"

Kate bit off an expletive as Tanya ran an angry hand through her hair. The gesture reminded me so much of Edward that I gasped.

"Is there something amiss, Isabella?" Aro asked.

Crap.

"No, I just… I'm surprised that you are appealing to us so often."

"Really?" Aro asked. "And why is that?"

I shrugged, trying to shake off my nerves. "According to the Cullens, the three of you rule this world with a steady, righteous hand."

"And?" Caius pressed.

"And if that's the case, then our words and opinions shouldn't really matter."

"What are you saying?" Marcus asked.

I hardly knew what I was saying by the time I'd begun, but it was too late to stop now.

"I am saying that the facts of the case have been laid bare. Laurent aided Victoria in carrying out a revenge plot against my family and used Irina and Tanya to do it. Regardless of how things may have started or whatever apologies may have been made, we feel that he is responsible for Irina's death and should be held accountable. If you agree, then he should be punished. If you do not, then we should be on our way. Otherwise, as Marcus insists, this is a waste of time."

If not for Edward's hand on the small of my back, I would have passed out when I finished speaking. But his love and strength buoyed me, and I stood firm. Laurent looked stricken by my appeal, and I took some comfort in that.

My eyes had landed on Aro in the middle of my rant and remained there as he debated. He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers in front of his mouth. As he tapped them together, I prayed that I had somehow appealed to his more rational side.

Or, at the very least, that he wasn't preparing to slaughter us.

"You say there was a plot against your family," Aro said at length.

"Yes," I said. "Against the Cullens."

"Is that all?"

"All?"

"Is that all you meant?"

I blinked at him. "I don't understand."

"If we are to discuss the plot against your family," he said softly. "Aren't there more involved than just the Cullens?"

"Of course. I'm sorry," I said. "The Denali clan was also greatly impacted."

"Yes, but not them."

"I don't know what you mean."

Aro leaned forward. "The Chief."

"The Chief?" I echoed as the bottom fell out of my stomach.

"Your father, Chief Charlie Swan," Aro supplied. "Were you not going to mention him?"

My lips were moving without sound, and I couldn't get my brain to cooperate.

"What does Charlie have to do with this?" Carlisle asked for me.

"Everything," Aro said with a sneering smile. "Absolutely everything."

Oh Aro… what are you up to now?

I am so sorry about the delay in posting this chappie. RL has been a big ol' bear, and I'm trying to balance it all. Just know that I appreciate your support, alerts, reviews, and other goodies. I promise to respond to the reviews I've missed... unless you write as a Guest, and then I can't :(

Until next time…

ladylibre