- – – CH 7 – – –
How in the world did Bella find herself in this situation? She was currently kneeling on a hard and rocky ground. The area was outlined in stone walls with jewels aligning the borders. There was a hole in the ceiling which allowed sunlight to bathe onto two set of thrones, one significantly smaller than the other. On the larger throne sat a man with shoulder length blonde hair while on the smaller throne was a beautiful woman with hair containing dozens of braids, Bella could only guess she had waist long hair. On their heads laid beautiful crowns that radiated honor and shined under the sunlight.
The king, Bella was assuming here, gently lifted his hand as though it were a chore and the people around them just drank it up! The arose as though God himself had come down, kissed their cheeks and told them to step up. As Bella began lifting herself from the ground, a soft hand held her down. Brown eyes looked up towards the owner of the hand to see Edward shaking his head at her. Murderers were not allowed to stand? That was discrimination.
“Prince Edward.” The King’s voice was loud enough to be heard from another continent. “Explain yourself. Why have you,” he paused, face distorting with disgust, “blood bonded with a murderer. Your own brother’s murderer in fact.”
“Sorry father, she must have bewitched me.” Say what now? Bewitched?! Bella’s head whirled back up at Prince Edward. Lips already parted for insults but one look from Prince Edward shut her up.
“Is that so son?” The King chuckled, a look of amusement on his face. The Queen at his side however, was not as pleased.
“Whether you were bewitched or not is of no importance!” She shrieked, “You disrespected and violated laws. That monster killed your own brother!”
Bella and Prince Edward had no other response, she was being exaggerative. Bella wondered why the Queen was so set on her being the murderer. Sure the brunette was at the crime scene, covered in blood and ran away from said crime scene as if she were responsible. Those things do not mean she was the murderer! Right?
“Why are you not grieving as the rest of us?” The Queen challenged? “Could it be you were waiting for Prince Emmett’s death? To take the throne?”
A silence stretched across the hall, or at least Bella assumed it was a hall.
“May I remind you Queen Mother, it is Prince Jasper who is currently in line for King. Maybe you should redirect your question to him.” His jaw was tight, a sign Bella knew meant he was either offended or angry… Or both.
The Queen’s expression shifted for a moment, both Bella and Prince Edward caught it. “In any case, I suggest the hanging treatment for the girl. A life for a life as they say.” She finished.
“May I remind you Queen Mother,” the King interjected, “If she were to die, Prince Edward would also die along with her.”
The Queen’s expression barely flinched, she clearly did not care for the life of one of her sons. Well, another one. She cared a great deal for Prince Emmett’s life. “I care little for the life of a traitor.”
The King regarded his wife for a moment, she was not unjustified. Prince Edward had committed a crime, however the crime of killing a royal was even greater. “I have made a decision.”
The previously loud and chattery hall suddenly filled with silence. Bella stared in awe, having so much authority that everyone would quiet to hear what you had to say was amazing. She could not help but admire such a quality, then again he was King.
“Prince Edward,” He began, “as you already know, you have committed a crime. By blending essences with the murderer kneeling beside you, you have branded yourself a traitor but fret not, we will pardon you. You are not to consumate this… bewitchment.”
Prince Edward nodded and Bella’s face would have flushed if she wasn’t hanging on the thread of life with a single hand.
“For now, she will be allowed to live for the duration of the blood bonding which should be two years.” His eyes narrowed, “and no more.”
Prince Edward inwardly gulped, his father was warning him, threatening even. “Yes Car- I mean father.”
The King nodded with a flabbergasted Queen at his side, “What in god’s name are you doing Carlisle? Why would you allow this… This… This traitor to roam our palace being a danger to us all?” The volume of her voice increased as the sentence continued, the King, now Carlisle, was beginning to lose his patience.
“Queen Mother.” Prince Edward added, “You speak as though I ki-”
“You did! You might as well have for blood bonding with that monster, you are no son of mi-!” She managed to say before Prince Edward cut her off.
“Oh please mother, do not fool yourself. I was never your son to begin with.” He answered bitterly and another silence stretched across the hall. Bella was beginning to feel like a minor character, as if her life was not on the line. Obviously, there was some sort of conflict between Prince Edward and the Queen, but why?
The King cleared his throat, “Prince Edward, Queen Esme, do not being personal conflicts into this. My ruling was stated and yet you continue to argue. Tell me, was my decision dissatisfactory?” The Queen opened her mouth to assert her opinion before the King gave her a single look, “Well?” He asked to which the Queen’s mouth closed.
Prince Edward nodded and grabbed Bella’s elbow to help her stand. “I thank you father, you shall have her head in two years time.” Sharp emerald stared down at Bella, “Let’s go.” Bella, dumbfounded, stood up and left the room with him. Now she was finally able to let out her tears and frustration.
“I could have died just now! You guys were talking about a girl’s life and yet you didn’t even flinch when she asked me to be hanged!” Her eyes widened from shock, “Really?”
“Hanging is a common practice, what are you talking about?” Prince Edward gave her a bizarre look.
“Not where I come from…” She muttered, sure that he had not heard her words.
After a few moments, Bella thought, “Wait, he said I only had two years to live, what are we going to do?”
Prince Edward shrugged, “those two years could be for anything. Two years to prove your innocence or better yet, two years to implant doubt about your guilt.”
Bella frowned, “Two years to find a way back home…” She muttered softly. “Wait plant doubt about my guilt? How is that supposed to help.”
Prince Edward’s expression challenged Princess Alice’s I-can’t-believe-you-are-so-dumb look. “Clearly it takes time to gather evidence and the only way to a fair trial, in fact a trial at all, is for there to be no doubt. At this very moment, there is no doubt in Carlisle’s mind that you are the murderer and there is certainly no doubt in Esme’s mind that you are the murderer. As long as I can make at least Carlisle think you’re remotely innocent, he won’t sentence you to death. As you saw, father has the final ruling.”
Bella’s brain was turning the gears, the caste system was so much different in this time. The King has the final say, the Queen has barely any say at all, hanging was a common thing. She really was in the old ages! One thing was for sure however, she needed to find a way out of this time and back into her own.
The two walked in silence, side by side, back into Prince Edward’s room. “So where am I staying?”
Prince Edward’s delicate brow gently lifted, “Where do you think?”
“Well a separate sleeping room is necessa-” The Prince cut her off,
“Don’t flatter yourself, I would never lay a hand on you.” He shrugged, “But sure, go ahead and try to look for a room. Do not come crying to me later on when you realize you died from a midnight choking or murder.”
Bella’s eyes widened, “They would kill me in my sleep?” Now that she thought about it, it made perfect sense. She was sure there were many Queen Esme followers willing to commit murder and pay for it. This is what was bad with this time period. Anyone found guilty did not need a shred of evidence against them, as long as someone saw a particular suspicious activity, you were sentenced to death. They really needed to invent the whole DNA testing right about then.
Bella sighed, “Okay.” She mumbled and sat on his bed which was surprisingly soft for an old age bed. Prince Edward walked to a separate room connected to his bedroom, probably a bathroom of some sort and returned with more comfortable raiment. His clothing consisted of very loose silk wrapped around his body with golden looking metal and emerald looking jewelry braces across his wrists, legs and forehead. He sat on his bed and layed down without a care in the world.
“We need to find you proper clothing.” He suddenly said, “Your clothes attract attention, where did you get such material anyway?”
Bella frowned, this was normal clothes but in this day of age, maybe it was some sort of special cloth. “Um… In… Washington?”
Prince Edward rolled his eyes, “From which merchant?”
“Um… Forever21?” She laughed awkwardly, of course he would never know what that was.
“This is going nowhere. Whatever, pay no mind to it. I have a question for you.”
Bella shrugged, “Shoot.”
Assuming she meant for him to continue, Prince Edward went along, “What was that piece of contraption from earlier?”
The brunette frowned and cocked her head to the side, “Contraption? Oh you mean my phone?”
“Fowne?” He repeated but with an accent, it was too funny and caused Bella to burst out laughing. “Yes.. Fowne, well here’s how it works…”
How in the world did Bella find herself in this situation? She was currently kneeling on a hard and rocky ground. The area was outlined in stone walls with jewels aligning the borders. There was a hole in the ceiling which allowed sunlight to bathe onto two set of thrones, one significantly smaller than the other. On the larger throne sat a man with shoulder length blonde hair while on the smaller throne was a beautiful woman with hair containing dozens of braids, Bella could only guess she had waist long hair. On their heads laid beautiful crowns that radiated honor and shined under the sunlight.
The king, Bella was assuming here, gently lifted his hand as though it were a chore and the people around them just drank it up! The arose as though God himself had come down, kissed their cheeks and told them to step up. As Bella began lifting herself from the ground, a soft hand held her down. Brown eyes looked up towards the owner of the hand to see Edward shaking his head at her. Murderers were not allowed to stand? That was discrimination.
“Prince Edward.” The King’s voice was loud enough to be heard from another continent. “Explain yourself. Why have you,” he paused, face distorting with disgust, “blood bonded with a murderer. Your own brother’s murderer in fact.”
“Sorry father, she must have bewitched me.” Say what now? Bewitched?! Bella’s head whirled back up at Prince Edward. Lips already parted for insults but one look from Prince Edward shut her up.
“Is that so son?” The King chuckled, a look of amusement on his face. The Queen at his side however, was not as pleased.
“Whether you were bewitched or not is of no importance!” She shrieked, “You disrespected and violated laws. That monster killed your own brother!”
Bella and Prince Edward had no other response, she was being exaggerative. Bella wondered why the Queen was so set on her being the murderer. Sure the brunette was at the crime scene, covered in blood and ran away from said crime scene as if she were responsible. Those things do not mean she was the murderer! Right?
“Why are you not grieving as the rest of us?” The Queen challenged? “Could it be you were waiting for Prince Emmett’s death? To take the throne?”
A silence stretched across the hall, or at least Bella assumed it was a hall.
“May I remind you Queen Mother, it is Prince Jasper who is currently in line for King. Maybe you should redirect your question to him.” His jaw was tight, a sign Bella knew meant he was either offended or angry… Or both.
The Queen’s expression shifted for a moment, both Bella and Prince Edward caught it. “In any case, I suggest the hanging treatment for the girl. A life for a life as they say.” She finished.
“May I remind you Queen Mother,” the King interjected, “If she were to die, Prince Edward would also die along with her.”
The Queen’s expression barely flinched, she clearly did not care for the life of one of her sons. Well, another one. She cared a great deal for Prince Emmett’s life. “I care little for the life of a traitor.”
The King regarded his wife for a moment, she was not unjustified. Prince Edward had committed a crime, however the crime of killing a royal was even greater. “I have made a decision.”
The previously loud and chattery hall suddenly filled with silence. Bella stared in awe, having so much authority that everyone would quiet to hear what you had to say was amazing. She could not help but admire such a quality, then again he was King.
“Prince Edward,” He began, “as you already know, you have committed a crime. By blending essences with the murderer kneeling beside you, you have branded yourself a traitor but fret not, we will pardon you. You are not to consumate this… bewitchment.”
Prince Edward nodded and Bella’s face would have flushed if she wasn’t hanging on the thread of life with a single hand.
“For now, she will be allowed to live for the duration of the blood bonding which should be two years.” His eyes narrowed, “and no more.”
Prince Edward inwardly gulped, his father was warning him, threatening even. “Yes Car- I mean father.”
The King nodded with a flabbergasted Queen at his side, “What in god’s name are you doing Carlisle? Why would you allow this… This… This traitor to roam our palace being a danger to us all?” The volume of her voice increased as the sentence continued, the King, now Carlisle, was beginning to lose his patience.
“Queen Mother.” Prince Edward added, “You speak as though I ki-”
“You did! You might as well have for blood bonding with that monster, you are no son of mi-!” She managed to say before Prince Edward cut her off.
“Oh please mother, do not fool yourself. I was never your son to begin with.” He answered bitterly and another silence stretched across the hall. Bella was beginning to feel like a minor character, as if her life was not on the line. Obviously, there was some sort of conflict between Prince Edward and the Queen, but why?
The King cleared his throat, “Prince Edward, Queen Esme, do not being personal conflicts into this. My ruling was stated and yet you continue to argue. Tell me, was my decision dissatisfactory?” The Queen opened her mouth to assert her opinion before the King gave her a single look, “Well?” He asked to which the Queen’s mouth closed.
Prince Edward nodded and grabbed Bella’s elbow to help her stand. “I thank you father, you shall have her head in two years time.” Sharp emerald stared down at Bella, “Let’s go.” Bella, dumbfounded, stood up and left the room with him. Now she was finally able to let out her tears and frustration.
“I could have died just now! You guys were talking about a girl’s life and yet you didn’t even flinch when she asked me to be hanged!” Her eyes widened from shock, “Really?”
“Hanging is a common practice, what are you talking about?” Prince Edward gave her a bizarre look.
“Not where I come from…” She muttered, sure that he had not heard her words.
After a few moments, Bella thought, “Wait, he said I only had two years to live, what are we going to do?”
Prince Edward shrugged, “those two years could be for anything. Two years to prove your innocence or better yet, two years to implant doubt about your guilt.”
Bella frowned, “Two years to find a way back home…” She muttered softly. “Wait plant doubt about my guilt? How is that supposed to help.”
Prince Edward’s expression challenged Princess Alice’s I-can’t-believe-you-are-so-dumb look. “Clearly it takes time to gather evidence and the only way to a fair trial, in fact a trial at all, is for there to be no doubt. At this very moment, there is no doubt in Carlisle’s mind that you are the murderer and there is certainly no doubt in Esme’s mind that you are the murderer. As long as I can make at least Carlisle think you’re remotely innocent, he won’t sentence you to death. As you saw, father has the final ruling.”
Bella’s brain was turning the gears, the caste system was so much different in this time. The King has the final say, the Queen has barely any say at all, hanging was a common thing. She really was in the old ages! One thing was for sure however, she needed to find a way out of this time and back into her own.
The two walked in silence, side by side, back into Prince Edward’s room. “So where am I staying?”
Prince Edward’s delicate brow gently lifted, “Where do you think?”
“Well a separate sleeping room is necessa-” The Prince cut her off,
“Don’t flatter yourself, I would never lay a hand on you.” He shrugged, “But sure, go ahead and try to look for a room. Do not come crying to me later on when you realize you died from a midnight choking or murder.”
Bella’s eyes widened, “They would kill me in my sleep?” Now that she thought about it, it made perfect sense. She was sure there were many Queen Esme followers willing to commit murder and pay for it. This is what was bad with this time period. Anyone found guilty did not need a shred of evidence against them, as long as someone saw a particular suspicious activity, you were sentenced to death. They really needed to invent the whole DNA testing right about then.
Bella sighed, “Okay.” She mumbled and sat on his bed which was surprisingly soft for an old age bed. Prince Edward walked to a separate room connected to his bedroom, probably a bathroom of some sort and returned with more comfortable raiment. His clothing consisted of very loose silk wrapped around his body with golden looking metal and emerald looking jewelry braces across his wrists, legs and forehead. He sat on his bed and layed down without a care in the world.
“We need to find you proper clothing.” He suddenly said, “Your clothes attract attention, where did you get such material anyway?”
Bella frowned, this was normal clothes but in this day of age, maybe it was some sort of special cloth. “Um… In… Washington?”
Prince Edward rolled his eyes, “From which merchant?”
“Um… Forever21?” She laughed awkwardly, of course he would never know what that was.
“This is going nowhere. Whatever, pay no mind to it. I have a question for you.”
Bella shrugged, “Shoot.”
Assuming she meant for him to continue, Prince Edward went along, “What was that piece of contraption from earlier?”
The brunette frowned and cocked her head to the side, “Contraption? Oh you mean my phone?”
“Fowne?” He repeated but with an accent, it was too funny and caused Bella to burst out laughing. “Yes.. Fowne, well here’s how it works…”
