Author's Note: Here's a new chapter...enjoy!
2. Home…
By the time I got home Uncle Charlie had finished packing our things, waiting for me with a concerned look on his face; as soon as he saw me he pulled me into a fierce hug and I couldn't stop myself from breaking down again.
"You alright kiddo?" he asked me after I had calmed down
"I'm fine Uncle but please don't tell anyone about what happened with the Cullens, it would only make them all worry about me even more and I don't want their pity" I pleaded with him, Charlie searched for something in my eyes before he let out a breath
"Sure Bells but no one would pity you Bella, we all love you and they will understand but I won't tell them about the Cullens if you don't want me to" he answered softly as he looked at me.
"Thank you Uncle" I whispered quietly as I gave him a tiny smile. I truly am lucky for having Charlie with me
"You ready?" Uncle Charlie asked as he wiped the remaining tears from my face. I could only nod at his question; I don't think I'll ever be okay and the hole in my heart seems to agree with me.
"Time to go home" I whispered and Uncle Charlie smiled as I felt the magic flow through me as I opened the portal.
I stepped through the portal and I stepped out into the throne room, nothing had changed since the last time I was here and Uncle Charlie stepped in behind me as the portal closed behind him.
"It's good to be home" Uncle Charlie spoke up with a huge grin on his face and I couldn't stop the tiny smile from spreading on my face. The throne room door burst open and my dear family rushed in.
"BELLA, CHARLIE" they all yelled and before I knew it, me and Charlie where squashed into a group hug
"It's truly good to be home" I muttered with a grin even though my heart ached for the family I had left behind.
"I was worried sick" Gwen whispered to me as I gave her a tiny smiled and took a good look at everyone in the room as I slowly took in all the smiling faces it truly hit me, just how much I missed everyone, but I noticed that Arthur was looking exhausted and worried.
"What's going on?" I asked him with worry
"Nothing Bella" Merlin answered back quickly and I knew he was lying from his nervous twitching
I looked at Arthur straight in the eye "Arthur?"
He let out a heavy sigh; he knew that he couldn't keep anything from me
"It's Morgause" Arthur rushed out
"Morgause?" I asked confused, what does she have to do with this; she's dead.
"Bella, Morgause survived, the men who were patrolling had seen her with Morgana but they couldn't do anything because Morgana attacked them" Guinevere murmured with a sigh
"Why didn't you tell me anything? I would have come back immediately" I muttered
"We didn't want to worry you about anything since they hadn't done anything yet and you needed a break Bella" Gaius replied
"Still….." I trailed off
"Bella, what happened?" Gwen asked
"Huh?" What was she talking about? Gwen moved over to me and cupped my cheek, lightly running her thumb under my eyes
"Have you been crying?" she asked, and just like that a major spotlight hit me…everyone stared at me in worry and confusion and they started to talk over one another
"Tell me who hurt you; I will kill that foolish person for hurting you"
"Are you hurt?"
"Bella?"
"What happened?"
"Should we prepare a funeral for someone?"
"Do you want me turn the person into a chicken and cook it for you?"
"Percival get the shovel and start digging a hole in the forest"
"Everyone calm down!" Charlie bellowed causing everyone to stop talking and look at me for answers
"Nothing happened…I was just having a rough day" I murmured sort of omitting the truth and I honestly wish I could tell them but I couldn't, at least not now
Gwen looked me in the eye searching for something before she let out a sigh "when you want to talk I'm here Bells remember that, we're all here" she whispered planting a kiss on my forehead…Gwen was like my mother in a way, she was always there for me since she started working in the castle and she became a real sister to me when she married Arthur and I could always rely on her to be the mother and sister role in my life.
I shot her a grateful look but I could still see the worry reflected in each pair of eyes present in the room and poor Charlie was looking uncomfortable since he knows he's gonna get interrogated by the boys when they leave the throne room
"Alright, there will be a council meeting tomorrow after breakfast." Arthur ordered us all and we nodded our heads and murmured "yes sire"
Everyone left to their chambers after Arthur dismissed them but he told me to stay back, Arthur walked over to me and pulled me into a bone crushing hug which I reciprocated
"I'm glad your back Bella" Arthur murmured to me
"It's good to be home"
"Isabella, whatever happened in Forks you should know that I would always be there to listen and then throw the people who hurt you into the dungeons or feed them to the dragons" he grumbled and I couldn't fight back the smile that tugged at my lips, Arthur was the only one who ever called me Isabella and got away with it.
"Go to sleep my little one, you'll need your strength for tomorrow" he told me which earned a scoff from me
"I'm not that little and excuse me but I'm only an hour younger then you" I growled earning a chuckle from the stupid ass
"Night Baby Bell" he whispered in a teasing tone and I replied with a jab to his ribs which made him wince
"Night Brother" I replied and I walked out of the throne room. I took my time walking up to my chambers; the familiar stone walls, the Pendragon crests hanging on the walls, the familiar guards and the flames flickering of the touch as I walked by. I smiled at the huge portraits of my ancestors and other paintings that hung on the wall and I passed stone status of angels, dragons and other statues. I climbed the stairs and walked into my chambers.
I stopped in front of my open door and took a deep breath as I looked around; nothing has changed, I was greeted by the fireplace burning with fire in the far corner above the fireplace a portrait of my family hanged proudly; Arthur stood in the middle with me and Gwen on either side of him, behind us stood all the knights; Gwaine, Percival, Leon, Elyan and Charlie. On the right side where Gwen was, Merlin stood holding Angel and Gaius stood next to him looking at us with a smile and on the left side where I stood was Elizabeth also looking past us most specifically at Gwaine. Every time I looked at that portrait it makes me smile. In front of the fire a few armchairs were arranged facing the fire and a small oak table sat in the middle of the chairs with papers scattered on it and a few scrolls. On the other side was another door leading to a modern toilet that was only in the castle. In the middle of my chamber was a larger table with one oak chair, the table had my writing utensils and other papers. One wall was completely turned into a bookshelf with all my books, on the other wall was an archway which leads to my bed resting against the wall with a side table which had a candle lit up. On the other side was my large wardrobe. My chamber had the Pendragon crest and several other portraits.
I walked through the archway and over to my wardrobe, I pulled out my lilac night gown and walked into my bathroom; one advantage of being royal was that we could afford the money to improve stuff and we used that to upgrade our bathrooms, so now we have a tub with a built in water system and now maids don't have to carry water in and out and we have toilets which is way better then chamber pots.
I climbed into my queen sized bed which had red velvet covers with flowers etched onto it and I blew out the candle letting my room fall into pure darkness and I let the tears fall, the ache in my heart only intensified as I realised how lonely it felt to be in this huge bed without Edward by my side, somewhere through the quiet tears I slipped into the dream world.
(Dream)
I felt a cool breeze blow in my face as I opened my eyes and I realised I wasn't in my bed anymore and this wasn't my chambers; I could feel panic slowly building up in my chest. The panic completely vanished when I realised where I was, I was in Edward's meadow but the panic hit me full force when I caught the eyes of all the Cullens
That's also when I heard growling and snarls, I couldn't stop the gasp that left me when I looked at their faces, their once stunning amber eyes are now pitch black filled with hatred and rage; my worst fears were coming true and my heart pounded in response much faster my whole body was frozen unable to move an inch as I looked at them.
"Are you happy now, Bella?" Edward asked with mock happiness.
"You lying whore" Rosalie growled
"We loved you" Alice spoke in broken voice
"You don't deserve anyone's love" Emmett snarled at me
"We trusted you" Esme cried out
"How could you Bella?" Carlisle murmured shaking his head in disappointment
"We should snap your puny head and make you suffer just like you made us suffer" Jasper drawled
I couldn't listen anymore, I covered my ears and I kept shaking my head and begged them to stop over and over again, praying for this madness to end; to stop the painful blow to my heart from their words; which I knew I deserved.
I shot up from my bed, I was breathing so hard and I could feel my heart beating so fast. As I looked around I realized it was only a dream but it felt so real. I pushed my blankets away before climbing out of bed; I walked over to the windows in the other room and pulled back the curtains back to see the sun hidden behind the trees, not fully raised yet. I shivered slightly since the fire was dying down and decided to get ready for the day.
I pulled on a red tunic which reached to mid-thigh and I rolled the sleeves up to my elbows, I pulled on a tighter pant and my boots. I grabbed my sword and placed it into my belt and I let my wet hair fall in waves down my back to dry naturally and I was ready for the day, since there was nothing to do I decided to check on my horse; god he is going to be mad at me for leaving without a goodbye.
On the way to the stables I stopped at the kitchen to grab an apple for my black beauty .As I walked into the stables the horses neighed in almost a greeting and I couldn't help but chuckle at them.
"Missed me?" I asked Thunder as I walked over to him and I got nudged by his muzzle.
"I missed you too, Thunder" I whispered as I stroked his muzzle and he snorted back and I couldn't stop chuckling at him.
"Awww, you mad at me?" I asked and he neighed which caused me to laughed slightly easing the pain in my heart.
"I'm sorry buddy" I murmured as I kissed him. I smiled at him and I gave him his favourite apple.
"I guess this won't change your mind?" I asked with a chuckle as he started gobbling the whole thing.
"Slow down Thunder" I spoke up with another chuckle and I patted him
"And now I am forgiven" I stated with a smirk as he finished off the apple.
"Bella?" I heard a very familiar voice ask
"Claire" I squealed as I turned around and I was met with a very familiar face, her black hair was in a bun and a few strands where falling out form the bun, her sun kissed skin glowed in the rising sun which bounced around her back from the open doorway.
"Oh my god Bella" Claire squealed and I was enveloped in a tight hug
"God I missed you" she whispered
"I missed you too Claire, how have you been?" I asked as she let go of me
"I've been good, this place has been so dull without you Bella, you're the light and happiness to this place and when you left, I guess everyone was crushed and worried sick about you" Claire whispered and the guilt I've been harbouring only increased with this fact
"I'm sorry" I murmured looking at the floor
"Don't worry about it, we understand" she murmured with her grin
"Is everyone awake?" I asked
"Yep and I think they are going to have breakfast now" Claire answered
"Great, thanks" I replied and I gave her a small smile
"See you around Claire and bye Thunder" I called out as I ran upstairs and I slowed down into a walk as I made my way to the dining room; since I'm still a lady and ladies don't run, who am I kidding. I smiled at the guards as they opened the door for me in thanks and walked in.
"Morning everyone" I greeted as I sat down on the left side of Arthur
"Morning Bells" they all answered back
The maid laid out my food and I smiled at her and murmured a thank you before I dug in.
The conversation throughout breakfast was light and cheery.