I stood with Charlie in the now empty master bedroom, in my flowing white gown, sheer veil and with the sword that glisten dangerously in the low light held tightly in one hand, I looked like some kind of viking warrior priestess. I could hear everyone downstairs. Carlisle was standing at the alter, ready to tie Edward and I together forever, I could hear the soft breathing of the vampires, the Cullen's and Denali's present and already seated, I could also hear Angela's heart beat – slightly elevated in her excitement. Jess was just about to walk down the aisle with Jasper, who was Edward's Best Man.

"You ready, Bells?" Charlie asked, offering me his elbow for me to rest my hand on so he could lead me downstairs.

I placed my free hand on Charlie's arm. "Let's do this." I nodded.

As we walked, I had to keep the large sword aloft. It was as long as my arm was and if I wasn't careful, the sharp tip of the sword would drag along the ground. The weapon was a family heirloom, something Charlie had returned to the ruins of his ancestral home to reclaim. The long-sword felt heavy with the weight of the history it carried with it. The hilt was soft against my slightly sweaty hand, aged leather smoothing the way. At the cross-guard was the Swan family crest – a small shield with a swan, wings thrown out dramatically – it stood out, embossed against the metal.

As we made our way down the stairs and through the estate, I focused on the soft breathing of the vampire waiting for me at the alter. Edward.

Charlie led me to the back porch, and when he opened the door I swear, my heart stopped. On either side of the aisle, our few guests sat in white chairs, and even though they were all looking at me I couldn't find it in myself to care. Under a canopy of blooming flowers, in front of a blazing backdrop of Virginia in the fall. The woods beyond the house were alive with oranges and reds, and in the muted, setting sun it was like the world was on fire.

My feet were moving without any conscious thought on my part. I just allowed Charlie to lead me down the aisle, towards Edward. Towards the rest of my forever. Everything else in the universe didn't matter. The missing homicidal vampire out for my blood – disappeared like smoke. The endless void of my future, always moving, always being hunted, no longer looked so bleak.

Edward was wearing a deep, dark emerald three-piece-suit that fit his frame perfectly. His amber eyes were wide and glistened with un-shed tears as he smiled at me. The smile was a little bit wobbly, as if he couldn't quite catch his breath, and I was certain that if he were capable of tears, they would be falling down his face freely.

Finally, after what felt like forever, we reached the end of the aisle.

"Hi." I whispered, my voice wavering with emotions. Edward's smile just widened slightly as Carlisle asked,

"Who gives this woman to be wed?"

"I do." Charlie responded, pulling me the final step forward and prying my hand from his arm where I had been unknowingly holding it in a death grip. My warm hand met Edward's ice cold skin, and the shock of it sent jolts of electricity shooting down my entire body. From the way Edward sucked in a surprised breath, he felt it too.

With one hand still gripping the sword, and the other in Edward's I stepped up to the alter and turned to face Edward.

"We are gathered here today to witness the union between Edward Anthony Mason Cullen, and Isabella Marie Swan." Carlisle spoke clearly and loud enough for the human in the front row to hear him. Jess shifted by my side and I thought I heard her sniffle lightly. Carlisle pulled out a cord of intricately woven white rope, it was twisted and braided beautifully with an elaborate Celtic knot in the middle. "Before the hand-fasting we will have an exchange of ceremonial weapons."

I hoisted up the long-sword, and pulled my hand out of Edward's I balanced the thin blade on the palm of my hand. "I give you this blade as a reminder of my solemn oath to you. I vow to always be by your side, and I will always place myself between you and your enemies. From this day, until my final day." I raised up the sword in offering and Edward took it with cautious hands. He appraised it for a moment, before he passed it behind him to Jasper, who held it in front of him with both hands. With his strong shoulders and sure footed stance, he looked like a soldier waiting at attention, holding the sword with the blade pointed downwards.

My attention was pulled back to Edward as he produced a sword of his own. It was significantly smaller than the one I had given Edward, this was a short-sword, still in it's ornate sheath. The sheath was polished brass, with steel filigree of the moon in it's shifting phases, with little bursts of starlight. Edward pulled the sword from the sheath with a deadly sound of metal on metal, he laid the blade of the sword in his palm just as I had done.

"I give you this blade as a reminder of my solemn oath to you. I vow never leave your side, and to protect you always, in both word and deed. From this day, until my final day." Edward's voice was thick with emotion as he carefully laid the sword in my hands. It was a beautiful weapon, and looked deadly sharp. I looked it over as Edward handed me the scabbard. I sheathed it easily and handed it back for Jess to hold for the rest of the ceremony.

"Please, hold hands." Carlisle intoned as he held up the white corded rope. Edward and I clasped hands, my scorching skin against his icy flesh, two opposites coming together in the most unlikely of unions. Carlisle began to weave the rope around our wrists and forearms, "With this rope I bind you, body and soul." Carlisle tied the rope together, where our hands met. Carlisle then began the recitation of the vows, something that was more from Edward's side of things than my own. "Edward, please repeat after me. I, Edward Cullen, do hereby take you, Isabella Swan, as my lawfully wedded wife."

Edward smiled at me, soft and warm as he gazed into my eyes and spoke, "I, Edward Cullen, do hereby take you, Isabella Swan, as my lawfully wedded wife."

Carlisle continued, "To love and protect, from this day forward, in sickness and in health, until parted by death."

Edward's eyes didn't stray from mine, "To love and protect, from this day forward, in sickness and in health, until parted by death."

"Bella, please repeat after me." I nodded mutely at Carlisle's words, I felt indebted to him, since I was unsure if I could remember all the words on my own. "I, Isabella Swan, do hereby take you, Edward Cullen, as my lawfully wedded husband."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and blinked back the tears in my eyes. I was grateful for the veil still covering my face, even though I was sure it didn't do much to hide me from Edward's vampiric gaze. "I, Isabella Swan, do hereby take you, Edward Cullen, as my lawfully wedded husband." I murmured gently, Edward squeezed my hand reassuringly, the place where our hands were still tied together tingled pleasantly.

Carlisle continued, and I could hear the smile in his voice as he spoke, "To love and protect, from this day forward, in sickness and in health, until parted by death."

I felt a few tears spill down my face as my love for Edward exploded in my chest and filled my entire being, I couldn't help but allow that love to spill over, and Edward's hand gripped mine harder as he was overwhelmed with my devote affection for him. He wasn't the only vampire affected, as Carlisle shifted and cleared his throat and Jasper swayed on his feet ever so slightly. I finally managed to speak the words. "To love and protect, from this day forward, in sickness and in health, until parted by death."

I could hear Jess sniffling behind me as Carlisle finished. "With your hearts and hands now bound together as one, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Edward broke out into an excited grin as he reached out with his free hand to lift up my veil. Slowly, I was revealed to Edward and he immediately cupped my face in his hand, wiping away the stray tear that remained. He pulled me in and before I had fully prepared myself, Edward's lips were on mine. I gasped into the kiss, and returned it greedily, my tongue teased at Edward's lip and I heard him growl slightly as he pulled away and I whined slightly at the loss.

"Enough of that, Mrs Cullen." Edward murmured teasingly as he rested his forehead against mine, "There will be plenty of time for that later."

With that, Edward turned us to face our family and friends, who all stood up and cheered loudly. The hard part was over, and I was now Mrs Isabella Cullen. Now it was time to relax and have a good time with my loved ones – and try not to obsess over what Edward and I would be getting up to later that evening.

A/N: I know it's short but I hope you liked it! Smaller chapters is how I will have to write for a while, but hopefully it means more content in the long run!