Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Still Waters

By SkyDancingHobbit

Chapter 05: Lady Isabella

When life offers you a dream so far beyond any of your expectations, it’s not reasonable to grieve when it comes to an end.

Bella Swan, Twilight, Preface, p.1

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Upon waking the next morning Isabella blinked at the ceiling, the golden guild, beautiful painting and woodwork all declared her to be in another room of the Castle, this was only to be further when she rose to a sitting position; the fabric of her sliding in the most intimate fashion against her skin as she moved prompting her to look upon them. Silk, forest green silk! Her eyes widened as she ran a hand over the fabric that covered her thigh enjoying the sensation for a moment before she looked about her with great interest drinking in her new surroundings.

The second thing she noticed beyond the quality of her bedclothes was the amount of space she’d been given, a room had been her first guess, she now swiftly amended that statement with something closer to the truth. foot for foot she was sure this single room had more space than the first floor of her entire house. Richly grained woods with a dark honey brown stain comprised the floor, of what little of it she could see that wasn’t covered in a thick lush rug sporting a lovely ivy pattern. Slipping out of bed she sunk her toes into the deep pile closing her eyes in bliss, nothing the Cullens had owned even came close to this!

Drawn on by curiosity she abandoned her enjoyment of the rug to explore further. A bathroom done in pale rose and the same complementing cream of her bedroom was just out of sight, soft lighting softening the lines and marble tile into a seamless line. Fresh green towels laundered probably that morning bade her take a shower, though she had done so the day before. Turning the golden tap she found much to her delight an assortment of oils and beads, she could customize once she found a combination to her liking. Choosing sandalwood and rose oil she dropped the beads into the speedily filling tub. the scent rising up to meet her on the wings of steam that was beginning to cover the air with a soft haze. Slipping out of the nightgown and tank top she normally wore, Bella slid into the bathtub, which could have easily accommodated 5 people in comfort and closed her eyes. If this was to be her life, so far it wasn’t anything to complain of.

She soaked for longer than was necessary before attending to her hair. Happy to wash the events of the day before from her mind in the same fashion. If the Cullens truly thought this entire event her fault, then she knew there was nothing she could say or do to change their minds. She had gotten out of the tub as she mulled over these thoughts and had gone to the closet, which was in truth closer to a small store if she was honest and after looking over the selections stepped into a gown of light blue with white and gold lacing up the front. Before closing the door she smiled spying a small assortment of hoodies and sweatpants on the last shelf. She might be forgetting her old life but it was nice to have reminders of her time of birth close at hand and she silently thanked whatever immortal hand had arranged it to be so. Taking a seat at the vanity glass she had just begun to brush out her hair when a soft knock sounded at her door. Pleased by this small courtesy, when she knew perfectly well every other member of this castle could have simply ripped the door from its hinges had they wished. she called out.

“Come In!”

Her visitor turned out to be Jane. bearing what looked like a letter on a tray which she placed at Isabella’s elbow.

“Lady Isabella, Master Marcus wishes you to meet him in the music room after you’ve eaten, if you’re agreeable to it, what answer shall I send?”

It had been spoken with a quiet deference, though whether to her title change or

her Master, Isabella couldn’t immediately discern. It mattered naught in the end. In the mirrors she took notice of the fashion in which the blond immortal had kept her eyes lowered though her posture hadn’t changed.

“Tell him I shall be there directly, after I have eaten and read the missive Jane, thank you, it was kind of you to bring the letter I don’t think I could find the front door on my own”

Her tone was softer, lacking the ice of the Masters of the castle who demanded and were granted absolute loyalty from their lessers, either by choice or manipulation. Isabella couldn’t live like that. Jane looked up in surprise her crimson eyes softening for just a hair as she dropped into a curtsy before departing.

“Yes My Lady.”

She had reached the door when she lingered for only a moment before speaking just loud enough for Bella to hear it before she was gone.

“Thank you Isabella for your kindness”

Poor girl, how long she had been under the heel of those higher on the food chain Isabella couldn’t guess, it must have been very lonely. Combine that with her gift and it made for many subordinates but no one she could truly have called a friend. Lifting the letter from the tray Isabella mentally added Jane to the short list of those she wished to know more of in her new home. Picking up a letter opener she carefully lifted the paper and flicked it open a rush of sudden warmth in the region of her heart taking her completely by surprise, it lasted but a moment, but she felt something! Marcus’s elegant hand rose to greet her and she eagerly devoured his words as she lifted half of a croissant with her other hand.

Meus eternus diligo,

For the first time in nearly three thousand year I take up my pen to convey my thoughts. First rest assured of two things, on this the first day of your new life. First, you shall be protected, in my small world outside the throne room now there is nothing more precious to me then you. Second you will be loved. Indeed were it possible I would lay my immortal heart at your feet as if in offering, I have waited so long for your touch. the sound of your voice and the warmth of your smile. These two gifts I offer freely to you Lady Isabella the best in my keeping in return for your promise.

Marcus Volturi

Though lacking the great verse or flow of the great love poems of the age Bella would have been moved to tears had she been able. Every word even in written form bled from his shattered heart, speaking of a longing and a desire she could nearly feel on the parchment. She lifted the letter to her chest for a moment savoring the promises for what they were. A confession of love from an immortal heart long lost to winters chill. Carefully folding it back into a small square she placed it in a drawer of her vanity to be savored again come a private moment. Taking a moment to check for crumbs and swallow the cooling cup of coffee on the tray she swept from the room. As if hearing her footsteps on the stone once again the soft sound of music rose to guide her to his room. It took her less than three minutes to reach the familiar carved door, which swung open even before her feet had come to a complete stop.

Exhaling to catch her breath and compose herself she entered, her footsteps only now reaching her own ears, fading quickly into silence as they met the rug..Dressed in a white silk shirt and black dress pants his cloak absent from his form the edge of which she spied hanging neatly in a closet but the only thing in the room she cared about at that moment was the immortal sitting almost idly at a beautiful grained piano bench his pale fingers tracing almost without thought across the keys, the melody was one Bella knew and a soft gasp escaped her lips in surprise.

“This is Dulcinea!”

He never paused merely slowing the tempo, a sharp click signaling he had switched to a recorded version of the song, he rose with courtly grace and bowed before her regally offering a pale hand. His eyes had softened just a fraction of a degree as he held her gaze. Pleased it seemed that she had accepted his invitation for company, double so for guessing the song title. It being one of her favorites from a musical called Man Of La Mancha

“You are correct my Lady, would you care for a dance?”

It was her turn to drop her gaze for a long moment she found the correct words to answer.

“I would indeed but, I’m afraid it was not part of my upbringing”

“you never learned?”

Though soft and lacking any trace of a rebuke he did not drop his hand merely moving closer and with a gentle hand drew her into a close embrace; one hand encircling her waist while the other gently took her right hand.

“Then I shall take great pleasure in teaching you, for truly there is a magic to it, the body can say things the tongue has no words for, that if is, you’ll allow it.”

She had but to nod and the music began again, him leading her slowly the first few steps, using only a gentle pressure to guide her in the direction she was to go, it was in a count of four Bella realized, A Waltz! If a slow tempoed one. His soft counting dropping in tone as he tilted her chin with a gentle finger brushing it along her right cheekbone their gazes met once more.

“No don’t count the step Isabella, look at me, right at me, I won’t let you fall”

So bidden she gladly obeyed, forgetting the events of the day and even her new life and the Cullen’s possible abandonment, all that mattered, all there was in her world for that moment was the music and Marcus, and it was enough. In moments she had relaxed and was floating with him around the room in the timeless movements of the dance. At one point he had drawn her closer and began murmuring the lyrics in her ear, his voice no more than a whisper. It was a moment a pure heaven and the first ripple across waters long held still by winters chill.