Post by Edward Cullen on Dec 1, 2012 12:04:25 GMT -5
Ever wonder what happens to the prince and princess after the vows are said, the "happily ever after" is written, ending the story? It doesn't end there. The storybook fairy-tales end with such a happy ending.
Except mine.
I never thought of myself fitting in a world of fairy-tales, as Bella glamorized me to be. She pictured me as some archaic white knight, and herself, the damsel in distress. I had come along to whisk the fair maiden away, as it were. Such stories usually didn't involve the chivalrous knight trying to kill his beloved in a moment of passionate abandon.
I am no white knight.
But, for the time being, I played the part. Bella, her human hormones raging daily, was content with simply being with me. I took her on a tour of the island, pointing out all the sea life, the intricate coral reefs. I took her scuba diving, revealing a submerged cave from an earlier inspection prior to our wedding. She seemed to enjoy it, reveling in the details of the rock embedded under the island deep. She seemed strangely amused that whenever we were in the ocean, the sea life scattered. At one time, I wished my own love wasn't so oblivious to my sinister nature.
It was one afternoon, laying on the white, sandy beach, that Bella cuddled next to me, her heated skin enveloping me with both a calm and an underlying fervor to be one with her again.
I settled for closing my eyes, basking in the sun beside her. As her breathing regulated, falling asleep, I pulled her close and let out a sigh. It had been almost a week since the wedding. How I remembered so well that day. I had longed for it come, knowing that with just two words, the most beautiful in the English language then, would forever seal my fate with Bella's.
As Pachelbel's Canon played softly, by Rosalie, I felt that unfamiliar fluttering again. It resided in my chest, where my long dormant heart was. It felt alive, like it was beating once more. Once more for her. Mr. Weber stood to my left, as planned, with Carlisle on my right. My best man.
I watched Alice walk down the aisle, her silvery dress swinging, her smile matching brightly. This is YOUR day, too, Edward, she said, winking at me, as she stood at her place across the makeshift altar in our home. She had outdone herself this time. I couldn't remember a lovelier wedding planned by anyone else. I had been to numerous weddings by Emmett and Rosalie, and one anniversary ceremony by Carlisle and Esme. But none of them compared to the sight of gossamer billowing from the ceiling and the strands of rosebuds and freesia adorning the door-frames and threshold at the foot of our staircase.
She's coming, Edward! Alice said, her face gleaming. I held my breath, not to avoid pain of her scent. It was in anticipation of seeing my blushing bride greeting the small audience. Of seeing her face among all our friends and family here today. Of seeing my Isabella Marie Swan.
The music swelled and I stood, twitching slightly. I felt a hand on my shoulder, with calming words. Calm down, Edward. Your bride, the one you've waited for, is here.
And there she stood. Just as I had pictured many times, her arm in Charlie's. Her face, nothing but soft cream and roses. I saw, for the first time, Bella in her wedding gown. It was shaped like a calla lily, inverted, with antique lace sown about in the edging. I knew enough about fashion to realize that this was exactly how a bride in my time would have looked. The bodice was smooth satin, pearls adorning the collar. The sleeves were sheer, trimmed elegantly in lace, too. It met at her soft neck, the mahogany locks in ringlets around her face, swept up by two silver combs. Alice had been right to keep this from me.
Oh, look how great she looks! I love her dress! Jessica Stanley said a few rows back. She was here with, of all people, of course, Mike Newton. It didn't matter that his thoughts were just short of despicable. I was the winner, the triumphant one this. No other man had won her heart. I, by some gracious part of Fate, was granted to be with this woman for eternity.
Upon seeing her face, my smile grew, breaking into a most glorious dawn of light and love. The love I had felt for her swelled to a magnitude I had yet to understand. All I could see is my Bella walking toward me, beyond any mortal's, or immortal's for that matter, opinion of beauty. She was a treasure hidden, a most wonderful secret and rare garden.
As Bella and her father neared, I reached out my hand, aching to have hers in mine. Like nothing else before, this was what I had pictured for her. Of all the men she could have chosen to spend her lifetime, her eternity, with, she chose me. Me!
Edward, she is beautiful! Esme, called, nearby. But I couldn't break my gaze from Bella. When the minister asked who gave this woman away, Charlie replied, his voice rough with emotion. He then, as old as time itself, placed her hand in mine, giving her to me. I swore to him I would love his daughter forever and I meant it. I would spend every day cherishing this woman.
The vows, as we agreed, had been kept simple, the traditional sort. Though there was nothing traditional about us, I felt complete saying such vows repeated by thousands of couples. However, none quite like us. A vampire husband and human bride. How strange, and yet, how fitting. I noticed tears in Bella's eyes as the vows came to a close. I reached out gingerly and wiped them away with my finger, her warm face causing the longing to resurface again. Even crying, she was breath-taking.
"Isabella Swan?" Mr. Weber said, his gaze, and mind, thoughtful. Peaceful. "Do you take Edward Cullen to be your lawfully-wedded husband? To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish for as long as you both shall live?"
As soft as a mouse, I heard her reply. "I do." She slipped the wedding band on finger and I clasped her hands in mine.
Mr. Weber then turned his gaze on me. "Edward Cullen? Do you take this woman to be your lawfully-wedded wife? To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish for as long as you both shall live?"
As long as forever... "I do," I said, my words thick and victorious. She was mine. For all eternity. I carefully placed her wedding band next to her engagement ring, my mother's ring, and again, gently squeezed Bella's hands.
Get ready, little brother! Emmett said, his face alight with playfulness. Then the words I had waited for came.
"By the power invested in me by God and the State of Washington, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Edward, you may kiss your bride."
My face couldn't have possibly stretched much more, my smile exuberant. I cradled Bella's face in my hands, noticing her depth-less brown eyes sparkling with tears. Joyful tears, I knew. I felt as if the entire world, the entire universe, had stopped to watch this moment in our minuscule lives. Here was my bride, my wife. The woman I longed for before I realized it. She was here, now, and nothing would take this away from me. I bent my head toward hers, placing a tender, adoring kiss on her soft lips.
Again, I was at a loss for words. Nothing in my vocabulary could describe it.
I felt her arms stretch around my neck, the bouquet brushing against my ear. She was throwing herself into it. Headfirst, as usual. I would never tire of loving her. Never.
A smile played at my lips, remembering that wonderful day. I was glad Bella had decided not to run to Vegas. I knew she would have if Alice hadn't played the guilt card on her. At first, I was angry with Alice; no one was respecting Bella's opinion on the matter. I barely got her to agree to marry me without some sort of compromise on my part. Much less a fancy wedding that Bella was destined to hate. But, again, she surprised me.
Bella took to that day like a bird on wing. Effortlessly, she walked down that aisle to meet me, to become my wife. If it had been her choice, I would have gladly taken her to Vegas and we would have married in jeans and old shirts. I would have done anything she asked, just as long as she would be my wife.
And then, of course, she demands one single, solitary thing in return. I hadn't imagined, of all things, that she would request her last human act to be uniting with me in the most intimate of ways, but as I had longed for her over the past year, so, I guessed, she had me.
And, to be quite frank, even if I loved every minute of her warm, bare body against mine in heated passion, I couldn't risk her humanity right now. The honeymoon would be over soon and I would take her home and turn her. Carlisle had everything prepared when we got back. We would leave that day, from Forks, and be moving up to Alaska for the time being. The treaty, even if it HAD been broken by Jacob Black originally (unknowingly), we were still held by it.
I sighed again, opening my eyes to watch Bella in peaceful repose, her breathing rhythmic.
"I love you... Edward.." she called softly, in her dreams.
I love you, too, Bella. With all my heart and, for what it's worth, my soul.
Except mine.
I never thought of myself fitting in a world of fairy-tales, as Bella glamorized me to be. She pictured me as some archaic white knight, and herself, the damsel in distress. I had come along to whisk the fair maiden away, as it were. Such stories usually didn't involve the chivalrous knight trying to kill his beloved in a moment of passionate abandon.
I am no white knight.
But, for the time being, I played the part. Bella, her human hormones raging daily, was content with simply being with me. I took her on a tour of the island, pointing out all the sea life, the intricate coral reefs. I took her scuba diving, revealing a submerged cave from an earlier inspection prior to our wedding. She seemed to enjoy it, reveling in the details of the rock embedded under the island deep. She seemed strangely amused that whenever we were in the ocean, the sea life scattered. At one time, I wished my own love wasn't so oblivious to my sinister nature.
It was one afternoon, laying on the white, sandy beach, that Bella cuddled next to me, her heated skin enveloping me with both a calm and an underlying fervor to be one with her again.
I settled for closing my eyes, basking in the sun beside her. As her breathing regulated, falling asleep, I pulled her close and let out a sigh. It had been almost a week since the wedding. How I remembered so well that day. I had longed for it come, knowing that with just two words, the most beautiful in the English language then, would forever seal my fate with Bella's.
As Pachelbel's Canon played softly, by Rosalie, I felt that unfamiliar fluttering again. It resided in my chest, where my long dormant heart was. It felt alive, like it was beating once more. Once more for her. Mr. Weber stood to my left, as planned, with Carlisle on my right. My best man.
I watched Alice walk down the aisle, her silvery dress swinging, her smile matching brightly. This is YOUR day, too, Edward, she said, winking at me, as she stood at her place across the makeshift altar in our home. She had outdone herself this time. I couldn't remember a lovelier wedding planned by anyone else. I had been to numerous weddings by Emmett and Rosalie, and one anniversary ceremony by Carlisle and Esme. But none of them compared to the sight of gossamer billowing from the ceiling and the strands of rosebuds and freesia adorning the door-frames and threshold at the foot of our staircase.
She's coming, Edward! Alice said, her face gleaming. I held my breath, not to avoid pain of her scent. It was in anticipation of seeing my blushing bride greeting the small audience. Of seeing her face among all our friends and family here today. Of seeing my Isabella Marie Swan.
The music swelled and I stood, twitching slightly. I felt a hand on my shoulder, with calming words. Calm down, Edward. Your bride, the one you've waited for, is here.
And there she stood. Just as I had pictured many times, her arm in Charlie's. Her face, nothing but soft cream and roses. I saw, for the first time, Bella in her wedding gown. It was shaped like a calla lily, inverted, with antique lace sown about in the edging. I knew enough about fashion to realize that this was exactly how a bride in my time would have looked. The bodice was smooth satin, pearls adorning the collar. The sleeves were sheer, trimmed elegantly in lace, too. It met at her soft neck, the mahogany locks in ringlets around her face, swept up by two silver combs. Alice had been right to keep this from me.
Oh, look how great she looks! I love her dress! Jessica Stanley said a few rows back. She was here with, of all people, of course, Mike Newton. It didn't matter that his thoughts were just short of despicable. I was the winner, the triumphant one this. No other man had won her heart. I, by some gracious part of Fate, was granted to be with this woman for eternity.
Upon seeing her face, my smile grew, breaking into a most glorious dawn of light and love. The love I had felt for her swelled to a magnitude I had yet to understand. All I could see is my Bella walking toward me, beyond any mortal's, or immortal's for that matter, opinion of beauty. She was a treasure hidden, a most wonderful secret and rare garden.
As Bella and her father neared, I reached out my hand, aching to have hers in mine. Like nothing else before, this was what I had pictured for her. Of all the men she could have chosen to spend her lifetime, her eternity, with, she chose me. Me!
Edward, she is beautiful! Esme, called, nearby. But I couldn't break my gaze from Bella. When the minister asked who gave this woman away, Charlie replied, his voice rough with emotion. He then, as old as time itself, placed her hand in mine, giving her to me. I swore to him I would love his daughter forever and I meant it. I would spend every day cherishing this woman.
The vows, as we agreed, had been kept simple, the traditional sort. Though there was nothing traditional about us, I felt complete saying such vows repeated by thousands of couples. However, none quite like us. A vampire husband and human bride. How strange, and yet, how fitting. I noticed tears in Bella's eyes as the vows came to a close. I reached out gingerly and wiped them away with my finger, her warm face causing the longing to resurface again. Even crying, she was breath-taking.
"Isabella Swan?" Mr. Weber said, his gaze, and mind, thoughtful. Peaceful. "Do you take Edward Cullen to be your lawfully-wedded husband? To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish for as long as you both shall live?"
As soft as a mouse, I heard her reply. "I do." She slipped the wedding band on finger and I clasped her hands in mine.
Mr. Weber then turned his gaze on me. "Edward Cullen? Do you take this woman to be your lawfully-wedded wife? To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish for as long as you both shall live?"
As long as forever... "I do," I said, my words thick and victorious. She was mine. For all eternity. I carefully placed her wedding band next to her engagement ring, my mother's ring, and again, gently squeezed Bella's hands.
Get ready, little brother! Emmett said, his face alight with playfulness. Then the words I had waited for came.
"By the power invested in me by God and the State of Washington, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Edward, you may kiss your bride."
My face couldn't have possibly stretched much more, my smile exuberant. I cradled Bella's face in my hands, noticing her depth-less brown eyes sparkling with tears. Joyful tears, I knew. I felt as if the entire world, the entire universe, had stopped to watch this moment in our minuscule lives. Here was my bride, my wife. The woman I longed for before I realized it. She was here, now, and nothing would take this away from me. I bent my head toward hers, placing a tender, adoring kiss on her soft lips.
Again, I was at a loss for words. Nothing in my vocabulary could describe it.
I felt her arms stretch around my neck, the bouquet brushing against my ear. She was throwing herself into it. Headfirst, as usual. I would never tire of loving her. Never.
A smile played at my lips, remembering that wonderful day. I was glad Bella had decided not to run to Vegas. I knew she would have if Alice hadn't played the guilt card on her. At first, I was angry with Alice; no one was respecting Bella's opinion on the matter. I barely got her to agree to marry me without some sort of compromise on my part. Much less a fancy wedding that Bella was destined to hate. But, again, she surprised me.
Bella took to that day like a bird on wing. Effortlessly, she walked down that aisle to meet me, to become my wife. If it had been her choice, I would have gladly taken her to Vegas and we would have married in jeans and old shirts. I would have done anything she asked, just as long as she would be my wife.
And then, of course, she demands one single, solitary thing in return. I hadn't imagined, of all things, that she would request her last human act to be uniting with me in the most intimate of ways, but as I had longed for her over the past year, so, I guessed, she had me.
And, to be quite frank, even if I loved every minute of her warm, bare body against mine in heated passion, I couldn't risk her humanity right now. The honeymoon would be over soon and I would take her home and turn her. Carlisle had everything prepared when we got back. We would leave that day, from Forks, and be moving up to Alaska for the time being. The treaty, even if it HAD been broken by Jacob Black originally (unknowingly), we were still held by it.
I sighed again, opening my eyes to watch Bella in peaceful repose, her breathing rhythmic.
"I love you... Edward.." she called softly, in her dreams.
I love you, too, Bella. With all my heart and, for what it's worth, my soul.