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Chapter 39
Court Trial
Edward
"She's alive, Edward," Dad said.
"Will she live longer?", I asked.
"I don't know yet, Edward. We'll have to wait and see."
Great, that's slowly becoming his standard phrase. How often have I heard that in the last few months?
"Our babies?", I asked, clawing my hands into the sofa.
"They're kicking happily," he said with a smile.
How did he manage to smile?
"What happened?", I asked.
"Isabella went down to the bathhouse with Laurent, we assume. A palace guard came along for safety, one of the guards at the door up here confirmed that to us. Then downstairs, Alec probably walked in. We assume that it was a spontaneous decision on his part to strike right there and today. Because he hadn't planned anything, Alice says. She only saw it when Alec got into the water to Bella. Alice then called everywhere, including the bathhouse. She was totally panicked ... In the bathhouse, Alec apparently first fought with Laurent, overpowered him and dismembered him," he reported.
I interrupted him.
"Was he salvageable?", I asked anxiously.
"Yeah, we patched him up. He's still a bit woozy, but I think he'll be fit again tomorrow," said Dad.
He looked at me.
I nodded and he continued to report.
"Alec jumped into the pool with Isabella and rammed a fucking long knife into her body," he said and I took a deep breath, closing my eyes briefly.
Keep calm, Edward, I said to myself.
I looked at Dad again.
"The knife was supposed to hit her heart, I think. But there was a pretty half-moon of Nanny hanging in the way. He stabbed right at the moon. The knife slipped and glided unerringly past the heart and, fortunately, just above the uterus. If it hadn't been for that damn gem, he would have hit the heart. I doctored her up downstairs and now, with Jasper's help, I've done it properly up here. We had to operate. I'd rather not tell you in detail what all was severed," he sighed.
"How's she doing now?" I asked, afraid of the answer.
"She lost a hell of a lot of blood. Also swallowed a lot of water. But she was also lucky. Not only with the gem moon but also because we were there shortly after. Otherwise she might have bled to death or drowned," he said.
She lives ... She lives... She lives... Thank you, Lord, thank you.
"Where's Alec, where's Aro?", I asked.
"Both have escaped, but a whole squad of Volturi guards including Demetri is on their heels. I also ordered Jane to be arrested in Volterra. Who knows who's all involved. If Laurent regains consciousness, we'll have a witness. Maybe Isabella can even testify, if she remembers - later," Dad said.
"Where is she?", I whispered.
"In her bed. James is sitting with her and Nanny. You were completely out of it, son. But she needs you now. Please pull yourself together, will you?" he asked.
I rose and went to her.
Dad followed me.
She was completely wired. Infusions, blood transfusion, monitoring equipment.
Nanny and James looked at me anxiously. Nanny was sitting at Bella's feet, James at her side on a chair, stroking her hand. Jasper stood on the other side of the bed, adjusting something on a beeping device. Mom, Rosalie, and Alice sat at the table and were silent.
Pale was my angel. But I heard her breath. Her heartbeat. Familiar wonderful delicious music in my ears.
James stood up and pushed me into the chair.
I took Isabella's small delicate hand in mine and stroked it.
She lives ... She lives... She lives... My new mantra. The emptiness left me, but the fear and anxiety came.
Carefully, I put a hand on our babies.
They moved easily and it felt good. As always. God, how I loved this woman. Never again would I leave her alone. Never. That was a vow.
I rose and kissed her face, I just had to do that now.
Her skin was warm and soft as always, but she did not move.
Tenderly I caressed her face, her cheeks, her pink lips.
"Senza di te sono solo metà", I whispered and kissed her once again gently on the lips. (Without you I am only half.)
My mother sobbed.
Then we waited.
Dad checked on the equipment every now and then and changed out IVs with Jasper. Rose had to go to sleep, but came back the next day. Bella was breathing and sleeping.
We waited.
Time passed slowly and I listened to every breath of my wife, to her heartbeat and to the movements of the children.
Demetri knocked.
James let him in.
Concerned, he looked at my wife and then at me. He came to me and put a hand on my shoulder.
"I'm so sorry, Your Majesty," he said softly.
I put my hand on his.
"Don't worry, Baron, I don't blame you. It was a chain of unfavorable circumstances. If anyone is to blame, it's me. I should never have left her alone," I said.
"We should have coordinated better, Your Royal Highness. I am also to blame. But I also have some good news. I have captured Alec and Aro. They are down in the dungeon."
"Yes!" exclaimed Dad, clapping his hands enthusiastically.
"Very good, Baron," I praised.
"We had unexpected help," Demetri continued.
"Help?" asked Dad, irritated.
"Yeah ... wolves. We met this Jake and two other wolves on the way. They had smelled the tracks of Aro and Alec and wanted to follow them too, because they were heading in the direction of their territory. He asked why we were following our own people and I told him. He was immediately very concerned about the Princess and so we followed the trail together. The wolves were really helpful, especially because they had fantastic knowledge of the woods there. We found the two faster that way!"
"That's awesome," Dad marveled.
"Have you pointed out to the alpha wolf that he is not allowed to tell in La Push? I don't want to inform the Princess's father right now. He would freak out with worry," I said.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. Black himself told me that it would probably be better if we kept silence. But he asked permission to call here to inquire about Her Highness's condition, and in view of the unexpected cooperation, I allowed him to do so," Demetri said.
"That was all right, Baron," I reassured him.
"Unfortunately, two guards lost their lives during the arrest," Demetri continued in his narrative.
"Who?" asked Dad in horror.
"Caius and Felix," Demetri said.
Dad groaned.
"Aro put up a fierce fight ... Alec did, too, of course. I couldn't stop it. Aro and Alec also took a good beating. But there is one good thing about it all. They attacked first and despite our attempts to talk to them, they didn't stop and killed the two of them. So now they have destroyed two Volturi guards in front of witnesses and we wouldn't even need the incidents around our Princess to be able to accuse them," Demetri explained.
"That's right," Dad said. "What about Jane?" he then asked.
"Not a chance. They warned her. Her children are there, but she herself is over the hills and far away. I've sent two trackers to Italy, but until they get there ... It shouldn't be that easy," he sighed in frustration.
"Someday we'll get her," Emmett said.
"Yes, and until then my wife will be THOROUGHLY guarded around the clock," I said.
"Okay," my brothers said approvingly.
Demetri said goodbye and withdrew.
He looked very disheveled.
"I'm going over to the law office," Emmett said. "Anything you want me to tell your team?" he asked me.
"Yes, I'm handing off all the cases to my young colleague. Let him hire someone else. I won't work anymore until Isabella is transformed and one hundred percent safe. Even if it takes another twenty years," I said, and everyone looked at me in amazement.
"NO DISCUSSION," I said coldly. "This is a done deal."
They were silent and I didn't care what they thought.
I would not leave my wife's side anymore. And I knew that she would be worried about that, but in principle she would be happy about it, because every separation hurt her.
Tenderly I kissed her hand, forgetting about my people around me, thinking about our beautiful honeymoon and other intimate moments with her.
We waited.
Laurent came in between and was dead beat. He blamed himself for everything and the others had to calm him down. I didn't have the strength to do that.
James went to the other rooms and cleaned up. He needed to distract himself. After a while he came back.
"My Prince?" he stepped toward me.
"Yes James?", I asked.
"You must have lost your stone by mistake. It was under the table and must have fallen out of your trouser pocket?" he asked, holding Isabella's elf stone out to me.
"Oh ...", I said. "I always carry it with me. I really didn't notice!"
I took the stone from James and it felt - as always - so good in my hand. He was something special, even I insensitive being felt that.
Nanny had jumped up.
"What kind of stone is this?" she asked excitedly.
Astonished, I looked at her.
"Hmm...Isabella says it's an elf stone. She gave it to me," I explained, holding it out for Nanny to look at.
She took my hand in hers, but did not touch the stone.
"An elf stone," she breathed excitedly.
We all looked at her, because no one understood what she had now and her thoughts were so confused ... I didn't understand anything.
"Isabella owns an elf stone?" she whispered, looking at me and James in turn.
"Yes," we nodded in chorus.
"And she gave it to YOU?" she continued to ask, and I nodded.
She was silent and thought in her language. Gibberish for me.
"Not good?", I asked, because Nanny did not dare to touch the stone.
"Yet … good. But not good that you donkey lost it. If a person ownes an elf stone, then this person can give infinite love to other people. That's why your wife is so dear! But if a witch possesses an elf stone and gives it to someone else, then that is a being whom she sincerely loves. So not she you, but YOU her. You love her sincerely, otherwise you would not have got it. If you now possess this stone, then you can protect HER with it! Her safety is in your hands, Edward. Did you have it at the concert?" she asked.
"No," I said, trying to understand what she was telling me. "Isabella gave it to me in the forest in La Push. That's where she found him as a child. So you mean if I had had him with me, none of this would have happened?", I asked incredulously.
Nanny nodded.
"The stone is Isabella's soul. You're holding your wife's life loosely in your hands right now!" she said, giving me a nasty look. "Press it on your bare chest, where your heart is," she commanded, "now!"
I opened my shirt and pressed the stone to my chest.
"She'll wake up in three minutes," Alice said suddenly.
"Then you can put it in your shirt pocket now, you unlucky fellow, and never lose it again!," said Nanny angrily.
We were all just gobsmacked ... in disbelief. This was unbelievable. And how did Nanny know something like that ... and Sue? Well ... wolves seemed to be such strange psychic creatures, too. I still couldn't believe it and I also blamed myself.
James eyed me.
'I wouldn't have thought that either, my Prince, and certainly the Princess didn't know it either. She only acted intuitively when she gave you the stone,' he tried to reassure me.
"Yeah, but she always intuitively acts right and I act wrong," I sighed in frustration, kissing the stone and letting it slide into my shirt pocket.
I would put it in a leather bag and wear it around my neck in the future. A stone, such power - I really was a donkey.
I sat down on Isabella's bed next to her, held her hand tightly in mine and looked at her.
She would be reassured when she saw me, I knew that.
Her fingers moved lightly in my hand.
Gently I stroked over it.
"It's all good, darling, you're safe," I kept whispering.
Then, finally, she opened her eyes and looked at me.
"Edward," she breathed.
"I'm with you, Bella, completely here and I'm staying here too," I said with a smile.
She eyed me and smiled weakly. Then she looked down at her belly, startled.
"Our two are in top shape, darling," I said with a smile.
She exhaled in relief. A tear ran down her face.
I gently wiped them away.
"Don't cry, everything is fine. I am here. You are safe. Your injury is bad, but treatable. The babies are fine. Aro and Alec are in the dungeon. Laurent also survived," I enumerated.
"Who didn't survive?" she asked.
She has a seventh sense, I thought with a sigh.
"The door guard and two Volturi guards," I said.
She closed her eyes.
"Please don't get upset. They gave their lives for you in the line of duty," I whispered.
"I know," she nodded, looking at me sadly again, and now more tears were running.
Carefully, I wiped them away.
"Don't leave, please," she whispered.
"No, I won't go, ever again," I promised her.
"Thank you," she said softly. She looked around and everyone smiled at her with relief. "Thank you all," she whispered, and her gaze lingered on James.
He smiled gently at her.
And in his mind he reproached himself for the hundredth time for not having hurried more.
"I want to listen to you and change the bandage, little one," Dad said.
She nodded.
Dad threw out all the women - except Nanny. Laurent also had to go.
With Jasper and Nanny's help, he tended to Isabella's injury and doctored her up while James and I waited.
After that she was very exhausted. She drank something and looked at me.
"Will you come to me again?" she whispered.
I lay down in bed with her and put my hand on her belly. She snuggled a little on my shoulder.
I couldn't take her in my arms yet ... every movement hurt her.
"Is Demetri one of the guards who was killed?" she asked quietly.
"No, love, thank God not!", I said and she breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'm glad," she sighed. "Who was it? Did I know the men? I'm so sorry," she said dejectedly.
"No. It was Caius and Felix. They belonged to Aro's staff, just as Demetri belongs to us," I explained.
"So all of Aro's direct guards are dead now?" she asked.
"No. Hmm ... how do I explain this. Well, Demetri is dad's friend and also our friend. He would give his life for all of us. But he's fair. Now if my dad did something very wrong, Demetri would still turn him in and kill him if need be - although I'm sure he would find it very difficult. In this way, Aro had Caius and Felix. In principle, they stood by him, but when it came down to it now, they would have betrayed him because his actions were wrong. But the amazing thing is that Aro attacked first and killed his two most loyal guards himself. Thus, we can now accuse him for that reason as well. To come back to your question, Aro's circle also includes Marcus. He is also here at the moment. But you don't have to worry about that. He is on our side. He is Demetri's best friend and also Jasper's. He hasn't met you yet, but I'm sure he'll be on our side right away. So there's no one left to hurt you, darling."
"Besides Jane?" my way-too-smart wife asked.
I had suspected it. I so wished that she wouldn't have to be afraid anymore.
"Yes, unfortunately she got away from us at the moment. But we will find her, darling. I won't leave you alone anymore. I'm going to reinforce the guards. We'll look for Jane and we'll make sure that no one can get to you and the children," I promised her.
She looked at me.
"I'm so scared, Edward."
She cried again and I gently pulled her to me, wiped away her tears and kissed her.
"Please, Isabella, don't cry, don't get upset. We'll keep an eye on you. We'll never make a mistake like this again," I said.
Jasper came closer.
"She is terribly scared and also in pain. It feels terrible, it's not good for the kids. I'm going to give her a mild sedative and something for the pain," he said.
Dad nodded in agreement and Jasper drew up something in a syringe and injected it directly into her via an IV bag.
Shortly after that, she was a little calmer.
Dad thought she was out of the woods, but for the next forty-eight hours, Dad and Jasper took turns staying with us to monitor her. After that, she was allowed to get up, shower again, and 'live' again. She was told to take it easy, the stitches from the suture under her breast would still need to be removed, but things were visibly improving.
Still, the fear remained and she was in pain, too. She didn't talk about the incident in the Princess bath, dodged my questions, and tried to be friendly and optimistic. Nanny was often there, talking to her or us, but we didn't get Isabella back to the happy old mood.
The wolf called daily and I let him talk to James, who calmed him down.
"I want to get dressed properly today, Edward, I'm so tired of this," she said one morning.
"Okay, let's make you even prettier today," I said with a smirk and kissed her tenderly.
We showered together. I helped her wash her hair. She couldn't lift her left arm above her head because it hurt too much.
Everything inside me ached.
What had that moron of a Prince done to my wife! She was like a rose, so beautiful and blooming. But so imprisoned in herself. If you tried to touch her, you would meet thorns. An aura of sadness and fear surrounded her, where otherwise only joy, desire and love had been noticeable.
Gently I dried them and could not help myself.
I tenderly kissed her shoulders, her neck.
She smiled softly at me and pressed her naked body against mine - as far as she could with her big baby bump.
"I love you so much, Isabella," I whispered.
"Edward, I you too. I was so afraid I would never see you again. That was the worst. The thought of having to leave this world without seeing you once again," she said softly.
I held her close and stroked her back.
I didn't want to tell her what I had felt when I saw her floating lifeless in the water, in her blood. Just the memory of it hurt me immensely, choked my throat.
"Do you still desire me?" she asked softly.
I gently took her face between my hands.
"What kind of question is that? But of course, my sweet. You are the only being in the world that I desire ... every hour, every minute, every second!"
"Then love me now," she said.
"Here?", I asked.
"Yes," she said.
I gently lifted her onto the massage couch.
"Are you sure? Isn't that too uncomfortable? You're still in pain, aren't you?", I asked.
"I'm sure, and here's swell, isn't it?"
She carefully lay down, slid her rear end up to the edge, spread her legs and pulled me close to her with her feet.
As she lay there - so open and ready for me - my penis was immediately in joyful anticipation. I bent over her, kissed her, stroked her velvety skin, licked gently over her nipples and enjoyed the moans I triggered in her.
She stroked my arms and had her eyes closed.
I bent down in front of her and kissed her vagina.
I knew she loved that.
"No," she whispered, "please come up!"
Astonished, I straightened up again, gently hugged her upper body and penetrated her.
She groaned and so did I.
How I had missed that! So many days had passed and now again this beautiful tightness and warmth around me. I pushed very slowly and pleasurably into her, also to hurt her in no case. Tenderly, but demanding, she met my thrusts and so we formed an intimate unit. She moaned softly under me. Her small hands clawed at me. I sped up a bit and felt her climax approaching and then she exploded around me. So I let myself go and came too. What an orgasm, what an erotic fulfillment of my needs! God, how I loved this woman.
We paused, my penis still pulsing inside her and her inner walls vibrating and twitching around me.
"Ti desidero (I desire you!)", I whispered. "Ho bisogno di te (I need you!)", I whispered in her ear and kissed the earlobe.
She kissed my chest and I looked at her.
Heavens, why was she crying?
Thick tears ran from her eyes.
"Baby, what's wrong ... hmm ... did I hurt you after all?", I asked worriedly, trying to pull out of her.
"No!" she cried out. "Please, stay still like that," she said, holding on to me convulsively.
I hugged her tighter and kissed her face, every place I could catch.
"Did I really not hurt you?" I asked again.
"No," she said, "I hurt you."
"You hurt me?" I asked, irritated.
"I ..."
She swallowed and closed her eyes.
"What, dear? Please tell me?", I asked desperately.
"I kissed ... I kissed Alec," she said, sobbing, and now torrents were running down her face.
"You kissed Alec?", I asked.
"Yes," she said.
"When?", I asked.
I somehow not knowing what to do with it. She hated Alec, didn't she?!
"Before he tried to stab me," she whispered, completely distraught.
"What? Did he try to rape you or something?", I asked, horrified.
I had not thought of such a thing at all. Was that the reason why she was so unhappy?
"After he overpowered Laurent, he got into the water with me. He said that he finally had me alone, that he would have to kill me because I had chosen you instead of him, but that he would kiss me at least once first," she explained through sobs.
"You poor one," I whispered, trying to calm her down.
"Edward, I was so scared. And I was frantically thinking of what I could do to delay the murder. And then I thought, I thought that ..." she sobbed.
But a light dawned on me.
"You thought if you returned the kiss, it would last longer and he would wait longer?", I asked.
"Yes, that's how it was. I hoped that someone would finally come and help me," she sobbed.
"Darling ... God ... I'm not mad at you! Can I get out of you now and take you in my arms?", I asked.
"Yes," she said hesitantly.
I pulled out of her, sat down on the massage table and moved her onto my lap.
"Did it work then?", I asked gently.
"I think so. He kissed me for a long time, but it was so awful. I didn't want to kiss him after all, but I forced myself to do it. I put my arms around his nape and returned the kiss. But he tasted so terribly different from you. I tried to imagine that I was kissing a nice person, but that didn't help either," she sobbed. "I'm so ashamed, so sorry. Please believe me," she said.
"Of course I believe you. What happened when he let go of you," I asked.
"He kissed me for ages, then my shoulders, my neck. He caressed my chest and babbled compliments in my ear. I was so panicked and thought he was going to rape me I gritted my teeth, but a tear ran down my face. He licked it away, probably realizing that I was just playing up to him and letting his advances wash over me in disgust. Right after that he pulled the knife out of the cape, looked at me and stabbed. Pulled the knife out again because that's when voices and footsteps finally approached and ran away."
I stroked her.
"I'm so sorry you had to go through that, darling," I whispered.
"Aren't you mad at me?" she asked fearfully.
"No, I love you and I know you love me. Please, please, don't worry. I find you just as attractive and lovable as ever!", I said and she hugged me tightly.
"Thank you," she whispered, "I felt nothing but disgust, hatred and fear. This is in no way comparable to you. You give me joy, pleasure, love and you taste so good and I'm not disgusted at all and ..."
I laughed and kissed her deeply. She returned the kiss and the tears dried up.
From then on, she felt a little better and was no longer so gloomy. That must have been weighing heavily on her heart.
When she slept a little at noon, Jasper came to check on her.
"She's feeling a little better," he noted happily.
I told him about the conversation in the bathroom.
He nodded.
"She must have been terribly frightened and acted out of desperation. But she is so sensitive. She knows that on the other hand it wasn't right and that puts an extra burden on her. On top of all the drama around it. She really needs to talk about it. She needs help."
"Yeah, I think so, too. Do you think she trusts you enough to talk to you? Or Alice? We can't send her to a strange psychologist or psychiatrist. What would she say there? 'I was almost stabbed by a vampire, in a Princess bath, but other vampires found me and nursed me back to health?'", I said.
Jasper agreed with me.
"Yes, that leaves Alice or me. I'd rather she came to me. First, because I could give her medicine right away if she gets too upset, and second, because Alice loves Bella so much. She would just be too emotionally involved and suffer along," he said.
"Okay, Jasper, I'll talk to her about it," I said.
Jasper said goodbye again.
James looked at me.
"The Princess's food is getting cold. Shouldn't we wake her up, my Prince?" he asked.
"Yes, you're right. She needs to eat. She's already lost weight again. That's not good for the babies either," I said.
Tenderly I kissed Isabella awake.
"Hmm ...?" she murmured.
"Your food, my sweet. You have to eat," I said.
"Yes, I'm hungry, too," she said.
She got up and disappeared briefly into the bathroom.
Now there was another knock.
It's like Grand Central Station here, I thought, annoyed.
James opened.
Ah ... Demetri and Marcus.
Both bowed to me as they entered.
I asked them to come into the living room and take a seat there.
"How is Her Royal Highness?" asked Demetri anxiously.
"Good would be an exaggeration. Better, I would say. She is in pain, can't lift her left arm, is still scared, and is absolutely changed. Nothing of her light-heartedness and former cheerfulness is left," I reported honestly.
"That sounds bad," Demetri said.
At that moment Isabella came out of the bathroom.
Barefoot, in her pink dress, hair open in waves flowing around her body.
Oh God, she is pale and she looks even more delicate than usual, Demetri thought in horror. And then he thought of her, saw her in his mind's eye, running happily through the forest, twirling leaves enthusiastically.
When had that been, I mused.
What a petite beauty, Marcus thought in amazement.
We rose, I pulled her next to me and put an arm around her hips.
She eyed Marcus.
Both guards bowed and Demetri said, "Your Highness, I wanted to inquire about your condition and am happy to see that Your Majesty is able to leave the bed already!"
She gave him a smile.
"I'm fine again, Demetri. Please don't worry and thank you for everything!" she said softly.
"Darling, I want you to meet Marcus. I already told you about him," I said.
Marcus bowed once again.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty!" he said.
"Me too," she said with a smile and extended her hand to him.
He breathed a kiss on it and bowed again.
She smells heavenly, he thought.
We sat down. I gently pulled Isabella next to me and held her hand in mine.
"Marcus will also be our personal guard from now on," I explained to her.
"You mean mine?" she corrected me, giving me a look that spoke volumes.
The woman could not be fooled.
I nodded.
"That's right."
"Okay," she said, then looked to Marcus. "Thank you, Sir."
"It's an honor," Marcus said, thinking: What a enchanting woman!
The next person whom she had wrapped around her finger.
James walked in.
"I hate to interrupt, my Prince, but the food ..."
Isabella immediately rose and went to him.
"Thanks, James, I'm already here," she said and he escorted her to the table.
"She is very tarnished and you are right, Highness. The radiant happiness has gone from her," said Demetri.
"We're going to get it back for her, Demetri. She's afraid of Jane. We have to find her!", I said. "I think the presence of Aro and Alec in the dungeon also scares her. They are in the palace and she feels that."
"I can reassure you on that, my Prince. The King has scheduled the trial for tomorrow and almost all the guards are therefore still there," he said.
"Oh ... that's good. I will participate," I said.
"The Princess has been summoned as a witness," Marcus said, looking at me anxiously.
"She's not up to it yet," I said immediately.
"I'm afraid so too," Demetri said. "It's definitely not going to be peaceful either... and how will she react to Alec?" he asked worriedly.
"Did my father order this?", I asked.
"No, the Volturi court," said Marcus.
That's what I thought. Father wouldn't want to do that to her.
"We'll just say that she's not yet able to do that health-wise," I said firmly.
"Then the trial is guaranteed to be adjourned," Demetri said.
"I think so too," Marcus added, thinking worriedly that Isabella would fall over if Alec blew on her lightly.
We turned over in our minds and were at a loss, but all three of us agreed that it couldn't be good for my wife.
"Then I'll just take her on a trip and then they should just postpone it. I definitely don't want her to get upset again. That's not good for our babies either. She's really had enough excitement now," I said.
"What's not good for me and the babies?" asked Isabella, who just rejoined us and snuggled close to me.
I sighed, Demetri and Marcus were silent.
"You must tell her, Your Royal Highness, then she must decide for herself," Demetri said, and I knew he was right.
"Tomorrow is Aro and Alec's court hearing. I thought we were going on a trip," I said curtly.
She smiled at me.
"You're a damn bad liar and you can't hide anything from me. Well, what's the problem?" she asked.
"You're called as a witness," I whispered desperately.
"But we'll fix it so you don't have to go, Princess," Demetri promised.
"I'll go there," she said simply.
I groaned.
I had suspected it.
"Your Majesty, this is not necessary. You still need rest and a confrontation with Prince Alec would surely only frighten and upset you unnecessarily," Demetri said gently.
"Your caution in all honor, but I will go," she said firmly.
James brought her her tea.
"Thank you," she said, accepting the cup, leaning back and remaining silent.
Any further attempt at discussion is pointless, Demetri moaned in his mind.
He knew her well enough by now.
"We could tie them up and tie them to the sofa," I suggested and he laughed.
My wife looked at me reproachfully.
"I was joking, love," I said.
"I'm assuming so," she said, sipping her tea.
"If you're scared, you really don't need to go there. We'll find ways to get around it. Just think about you and the babies, hmm...?" I tried the gentle approach again.
She looked at me again.
"No chance, Mr. Volturi," she said.
"We'd best sit her between Jasper and James. They certainly don't need to testify," Demetri said and I nodded.
"Is James allowed to come?" she asked fearfully.
"Yes, I think so. I will apply for it," I said.
"Thank you," she said.
The whole thing gave me more of a stomach ache. I knew that Volturi trials didn't work like human trials. It was more violent and I hoped that the execution of the sentence would be delayed at the end until I had left the room with my wife.
We spent the rest of the day in the rose garden on the swing.
Isabella said that she urgently needed air, so I packed her in a thick jacket and carried her into the garden. She did not manage to walk longer distances yet. I enjoyed holding her so close in my arms. I knew she was safe there.
The next day came much too quickly and Isabella got dressed.
She opted for an absolutely regal dress.
I put the Volturi cloak over her, but I didn't have a good feeling about it. Maybe I should flee with her for good. To our lonely island? Never again hear the word Volturi, never again stress for her, horny men, greedy nobles ... A beautiful dream ...
I handed her my arm and led her to the meeting.
James, Demetri and Marcus followed us.
The palace guards opened the double doors for us and bowed.
We entered and Isabella's grip on my arm tightened.
I reassuringly put my hand on hers.
On the right, the judges' desk was set up. I saw Santiago and Corin.
Aahh ... that was good. Those two were capable. My family was classified as partisan and excluded from the chairmanship.
To the right, opposite the judges, at another desk sat Aro and Alec, surrounded by umpteen Volturi guards. On the left opposite the judge was a kind of lectern, which was empty - for the witnesses. In the center left were rows and rows of chairs for the spectators, almost full. A steady murmur filled the hall - everyone was talking. In the front row sat Dad and my brothers.
I led Isabella there.
I sat down next to Jasper, on my other side Isabella sat down, next to her James, Marcus and lastly Demetri, who would most certainly be called out for his leadership of the search party and his presence at the arrest. Many eyed my wife and thought of her, but surprisingly only reverently. Except for Alec and Aro - and I tried to leave them out of my thoughts.
When we were seated, Santiago quietly said "Silenzio!" (Silence!), and immediately there was such silence in the room that you could have heard a pin drop.
Alec looked over at us with hatred, Aro stared straight ahead. My wife looked at her hands and turned her wedding ring in a circle around her slender finger.
I put an arm around her and she leaned lightly against me.
Jasper sent a wave of calm over to her and I nodded to him gratefully.
Corin began.
"We are hearing today the charges against Aro Volturi, King of the Volturi and Alec Volturi, Crown Prince of the same. I read the indictment:
Alec Volturi, you are accused of
- Princess Isabella Volturi, wife of Crown Prince Edward Volturi, of having poured a poison into a drink at a public event to cause her death.
- You are said to have ambushed the same lady in a bathhouse and tried to murder her with a knife. Before that, the lady was sexually harassed by you. All this, although they knew that the Princess is pregnant and defenseless.
- They allegedly killed a palace guard for no reason.
- They are said to have seriously injured the Princess's personal guard.
- You helped your father, King Aro, destroy two Volturi guards, attacking first and being unwilling to talk.
- Most recently, you are said to have vehemently resisted arrest by Volturi guards and to have insulted the guards to the utmost and attempted to attack them on several occasions.
The prosecution is seeking the death penalty.
.
Aro Volturi, you are accused of
- To have ordered her son, Alec Volturi, to kill the pregnant Princess Isabella Volturi for base reasons.
- Having destroyed two Volturi guards, attacking first and not being willing to talk.
- Most recently, you are said to have vehemently resisted arrest by Volturi guards and to have insulted the guards to the utmost, as well as to have attempted to attack them on several occasions.
The prosecution is seeking the death penalty.
What do you have to say about the accusations, Prince Alec? Would you like to comment on them?"
Alec rose.
"My father threatened me and asked me to harm Princess Isabella. But I love the Princess. Never could I have harmed her. I am innocent. In the murders of the Volturi guards, I gave little support to my father because I was afraid of punishment on his part. In the arrest, I resisted because I was afraid. I request a pardon with a prison sentence."
He sat down again.
Isabella trembled slightly, I think with indignation. Alec's thoughts were quite calm, which amazed me, and he hid, as best he could, digressive thoughts. He was an artist of distraction, knowing full well that I was eavesdropping on him.
Aro stood up.
"I have only mentally harmed Princess Isabella because she is trying to undermine our kingdom. She wants to take advantage of my family and play us off against each other. However, I never really harmed her, but only wished that she would disappear, I admit. But of course I have nothing to do with my son's actions, he is responsible for that himself. The Volturi guards threatened me, so I acted in self-defense. I request my acquittal."
He sat down.
Isabella looked at me in disbelief.
I stroked her hand reassuringly.
I would have liked to whisper something to her, but I knew that here - in a hall full of vampires - that would not be anonymous.
Corin said, "I'm asking the Princess's personal bodyguard, James, to take the stand."
I had not expected that. James was also astonished, but remained calm. As always, he was only worried about my wife. Because he now had to leave her side and because he knew that she would now be worried about him.
He went forward, stood at the witness desk, and began.
"I have been with the Princess since the first minute she lived here in the palace. Prince Alec has harassed her from day one, ignoring her wishes and frequently ambushing her and trying to pressure her. On King Aro's birthday, Aro instructed his daughter Jane to test how the Princess would react to Jane's gift, since it became known that Princess Isabella could block Aro's gift and Prince Edward's gift. Luckily, the princess was able to block Jane's gift as well. However, it did force me and my prince to the ground. Prince Alec tried to enter the Princess' chambers several times and threatened me. At the event, Prince Emmett fetched water for Princesses Rosalie and Isabella and was accompanied by Prince Alec. Princess Isabella's water was subsequently poisoned, not Princess Rosalie's, and only Prince Alec can be considered to have done this to her. The Princess only survived because she accidentally spilled over half of the glass. Princess Isabella has the gift of sensing when someone wants to harm her. She has verbalized fears of King Aro and Prince Alec as well as Princess Jane from the beginning, even before we knew about this gift. I cannot say anything about the rest of the events, as I was not present."
"Who noted these gifts of the Princess?" asked Corin.
"That Prince Edward could not read her mind, he noticed immediately and told us. King Aro danced with the Princess at his birthday party, found out about it, tried to read her mind himself and also failed. Tysja Nanny found out the other gifts of the Princess, namely that she can distinguish good from evil, knows when someone wants to harm her and that she is a shield, probably so powerful that she can protect other people with it. The gifts are likely to increase once the Princess has been changed," James explained.
"Is the Tysja currently here in the palace?" asked Santiago between them, sounding astonished.
"Yes, she's been back here since the Crown Prince and Crown Princess wedding, Sir," James said.
Santiago nodded and I saw a smile around the corners of his mouth - and I knew why.
"What motives ... do you think, James, the defendants had for harming the Princess in this way?" asked Corin.
James thought about it for a moment.
Then he answered, "Fear ... Fear of the Princess' gifts. Envy ... Envy that the American Royal Family might become stronger and more powerful than the Italian one. Last but not least, fear of the heir to the throne that the Princess might give birth to, since he will probably inherit gifts from both parents. In the case of Prince Alec, still jealousy, because he had also fallen in love with the Princess, but she hated him from the beginning!"
"Thank you, James. You can go back to your Princess!"
James nodded and came back to us.
Relieved, Isabella took his hand in hers and squeezed it. He stroked her right hand, I her left.
Laurent was then called to the stand, having waited outside.
He looked worriedly at my wife for a moment.
His thoughts were more restless than James' because he didn't want her to be here.
He took the stand.
"I was alone with the Prinzess in the bathhouse. We 'ad ordered a palace guard to stand outside the door so that she wouldn't let anyone in and the Prinzess could bathe in peace. Suddenly we 'eard the sound of fighting. Then Prinze Alec shoot in and attacked me without warning. I was only able to defend myself briefly. 'e tore off both my arms and legs and left me lying there. Through the door, I saw the palace guard lying dead in a pool of blood. Then Prinze Alec went to my Prinzess and stepped into the pool with 'er, saying, ''ow long I've waited for thiz.' Then, unfortunately, I lost consciousnez. When I woke up again, Prinze Emmett 'ad gathered my body partz and the King 'ad patched me up."
"So you are sure that the Volturi guard in the bathhouse was Prince Alec?" asked Santiago.
"One 'undred perzent," said Laurent.
"Do you believe the Princess's statements?" he asked.
"Allways, Sir, she's the purest creature I know. She would neever lie," he said firmly.
"Thank you, Laurent. You can go," said Corin.
Then my father was called, who had to describe what poison was in Bella's glass, what effect it had, and what injuries were inflicted on her in the bathhouse. He described my wife's state of health and that it was actually much too much for her to be here now, as she was still in pain and too weak.
Corin then said, "I am sorry to hear that, Princess Isabella. We will make every effort to move forward quickly. If it becomes too much for Your Majesty, please let me know!"
Isabella nodded.
Then Demetri was called, who told about the pursuit of the perpetrators, the fight and the murder of Caius and Felix. He also told that Alec had run after the Princess after his sex-action, tried to stop her against her will and James was attacked by him when he tried to defend his Princess.
After that he was allowed to come back to us.
"We call Crown Prince Edward Volturi to the stand!" said Corin afterwards.
Isabella sighed.
"Take it easy, darling. Don't worry, please," I said.
James still held her right hand and Jasper now moved closer to her to hold her other hand.
I went to the witness stand.
Alec and Aro both looked at me with hatred.
'You won't get away with it,' thought Aro. 'I will find ways to destroy you and your broad and your brood!'