After the Confrontation : a Volturi one-shot

What happened when the Volturi returned home after meeting with the Cullens and their witnesses in America. Not everyone was happy with Aro's decision to refuse to fight, but then they did not see what Aro had seen. Does he dare tell them?

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The Volturi had returned to Volterra and the sanctuary that was their castle, after their confrontation with the Cullens. Everyone had retired to their individual rooms to change from their battle dress and back into their everyday clothing.

Aro's thoughts were still on the meeting out there on the field of snow. Seeing his old friend Carlisle after so many decades felt good despite the circumstances. But Aro had no idea what Carlisle's true intentions were. Perhaps he had none. Edward's memories showed the ancient vampire the conception and birth of his and Bella's hybrid child. Vampires had existed under the assumption they could not breed as humans did. They could only create new vampires through transmission of their venom.

Aro had been allowed to share Renesmee's memories, as well as those of her father Edward. For the briefest of moments, he considered the benefit of having hybrid children in the coven, and decided the risks were too great. He was still disturbed by all he had seen and experienced. Even though it had not happened in reality, it felt as if it had.

Aro had barely finished dressing, when Caius stormed into his chambers.

"Brother, what was that all about? You refused to fight the Cullens despite their guilt."

Aro exhaled an unnecessary sigh. "Guilt? What were they guilty of, Caius?"

Caius opened his mouth to speak, then shut it. He fumed in silence, realizing Aro was right. The werewolves were not werewolves. but rather they were shapeshifters, born to destroy vampires in wolf form. That alone pissed him off, but they had not committed any crime. Not one he could see.

Aro had seen though. His vision showed him the destruction rained down on his people by the shapeshifting wolves. His most difficult loss was Jane, her child-like body mauled, her head removed by the sharp teeth of a large black wolf. Her brother Alec had already been destroyed, by the strong dark-haired Cullen son. No, this was not true. His coven was undamaged, whole, everyone still alive. He released a sharp exhalation.

Caius looked at Aro when he heard the sound. "Brother, what is wrong?"

Aro's thoughts were back in America. He turned and placed a hand on Caius' shoulder. "The field of snow. You have no idea what I saw, brother."

Caius stared at Aro as if the ancient vampire were demented. "I'll get Marcus."

"Yes, Caius, fetch Marcus. I want to speak with you both." Once Caius had left, Aro paced the floor. What was he going to tell them? He had heard the disgruntled whispers from his Guard. They had been gnashing their teeth, eager for a fight against the Olympic coven, and now wondered if their leader was a coward. Or had he put the interests of his former friend above those of their own coven.

It wasn't long before Caius had returned, followed by Marcus. "What is it you need to discuss with us, Aro?" the taller vampire asked.

"Please sit down, both of you. There's something you should know, before you accuse me of cowardice or favouritism toward Carlisle." Marcus sat on the sofa, while Caius took a seat on the chair by the fireplace. Aro paced on the tapestry that lay on his marble-tiled floor, muffling his footsteps.

"It happened when Alice appeared. I took her hand and began reading her memories. She had found someone who could explain the Cullen hybrid's existence and reasons why she would pose no threat to our kind. Truthfully, I didn't want to know more. My mind had been made up. Alice must have read that in me."

Aro was still shaken by the vision she had shared with him. He paced some more, before stopping in front of Marcus and Caius. "I was shown her vision of the future if we initiated combat with the Cullens and their witnesses. Our future, brothers. I saw no reason to proceed any further. And when her own witnesses appeared, and the truth was known, I decided going home was the better way, the only way to save us all."

"So that was your silent request for my approval," Marcus asked.

Aro merely nodded.

Caius was listening to Aro's words, but when he indicated it was to save them, he interrupted his brother's explanation. "What do you mean by that, Aro?"

"In Alice's vision, our coven was nearly wiped out," Aro replied. He looked down at both Caius and Marcus, his long ago co-founders of the Volturi. Together they sought out the best recruits, those with gifts that would build and strengthen the coven.

His expression took on a look of melancholy Marcus was familiar with. "What is it, Aro?" he asked.

"We...the coven members...were destroyed one by one. The first to go was Alec." Aro's eyes dropped to the floor. "Many others followed. Demetri was then destroyed by Edward. And Jane...that was the hardest to watch. I am Jane's sire, her father for all intents." He went silent, the scene still fresh in his mind. The shock of seeing Jane decapitated caused him actual pain. "Caius, you were next, destroyed by Irinas' sisters."

"Impossible!" Caius couldn't believe that any conflict would have him end as a loser.

"Marcus, the Romanians Stefan and Vladimir destroyed you. You did not seem to mind however."

Marcus thought a moment. More than likely, he would not mind. His days of loneliness would finally come to an end. "Is that so, brother?"

"And I was the last of us to go, at the hands of Edward and Bella."

"You should have killed them before, when you had the chance, Aro!"

"Caius, it was but a vision of our future, and why we could not do as you suggested and continue down the same path to that end. I decided I would rather look like a coward than lose any of you or the guards." His feelings felt sincere as he looked from Caius to Marcus.

"You are no coward, Aro," Marcus intoned. "You did what was best for the coven. We let them go home in peace, as we have returned home, and with no loss to either side."

"I don't think Tanya or Kate would agree. We still enforced the law." Aro knew he would have an enemy in the Denali sisters.

Caius went to stand at Aro's side. "Marcus is right. There was no gain in fighting the Cullens." It was difficult for the blonde vampire to articulate his desire to punish someone for the attack on him by the Children of the Moon. Fighting the shapeshifters would be like blaming an ant for something a spider did to him. "Should we tell the Guard the truth? If we let their beliefs fester, the leadership may be at risk."

Aro smiled, nodding his head. "We should. Not just to restore any lost faith, but because they deserve the know the truth." The three Volturi left Aro's rooms and headed for the audience hall. "Caius, gather the entire coven. I have an announcement to make."