Chapter Twenty-One – Trails

Chapter Number: 21
 
Chapter Name: Trails
 
Page Numbers:
461-486
 
Date of Chapter:
June 14th, 2006
 
Summary:
As She and Edward prepare to “go camping”, Bella is confronted by a pouting Alice regarding the plans for a Vegas wedding.   Alice’s mood lifts when she has a vision of Bella giving in and allowing her to be in charge of the wedding.   Bella and Edward pack a lot of gear for the trip as Alice predicts the weather will be stormy.  

When Bella and Edward get to the woods, they split up so that Bella can leave her scent for the newborns to pick up.  While leaving the trail, Bella and Edward discuss Alice’s plans for the wedding.  Edward lifts the mood by suggesting that Emmett get his clerical license and read their vows. Towards the end of the clearing, Bella falls and cuts her palm.  She warns Edward to stay away while she cleans up the blood.  When he ignores her warning, Bella is surprised to learn that, while she still smells the same to him, Edward is no longer tempted by the scent of Bella’s blood.  He explains that the thought of losing her to death was “a very educational experience” and that his reactions have since changed.  Edward bandages Bella’s hand for her.

To Bella’s surprise, a human rather than werewolf Jacob joins them in the clearing and he and Edward look at the map to determine where they will all meet up.  None of them seem too excited about working together during the next step of the plan, but with nine miles to trek before reaching the campsite, they get going anyway.

Jacob picks Bella up and begins to run through the woods in the direction of the camp.  He notices “the rock” Edward has added to Bella’s bracelet.  Before Bella can put two and two together that the heart charm is a diamond, Jake interrupts her thoughts by mentioning that it has been a while since she has been down to La Push. This leads to a conversation about the last time she visited Jacob and that she was still upset by his behavior.  They bicker about the kiss and Jacob hypothesizes that Bella likes him better in wolf form because she is attracted to him in his human form.  Bella denies the accusation, saying that if she prefers him as a wolf it is only because he is unable to speak.  

Bella admits that she has done something “bad” and tells Jake that she has asked Edward to stay behind with her and not fight the newborns.  She confides in him her guilt and tells him that she’ll feel responsible for any injuries or losses due to his absence.  She says that while she couldn’t stand to lose any of them, she is the most afraid of losing Edward.  Jacob concedes that Bella loves Edward, but thinks it is possible to love more than one person at the same time. While Jake doesn’t deny that he would not stay out of the fight if Bella were to ask him, he argues that Edward staying behind at Bella’s request does not mean that he loves her more than Jake does.  

Bella asks Jake about his role in the pack.  Jake admits that he should be the Alpha, but that he feels it is really Sam’s place to be chief.  He says that while he has come to terms with being a werewolf, at first it felt as though he was “being drafted into a war you didn’t know existed”.   
Bella is relieved when Jake announces that they are near the camp, but unhappy when she learns that he will be sticking around overnight.  Edward, who has already set up camp and is pacing around waiting, rushes to Bella’s side and gives Jake a sincere thank you for delivering Bella safely to the campsite.  As the storm picks up,  Bella and Edward head for the shelter of the tent and Jake heads off to the forest to change into wolf form and check in with the pack.
 
Characters Involved: Edward Cullen, Bella Swan, Alice Cullen, Jacob Black
 
Characters Mentioned: Emmett Cullen, Jasper Hale, Seth Clearwater, Sam Uley, Newborns
 
Places Visited: Cullen Estate, The Clearing, Campsite
 
Memorable Quotes:
 
 
"I can’t see where you are exactly, because you’re taking off with that dog this afternoon."  ~ Alice to Bella and Edward  
 
“ Please, please, please,” she whispered.  “Please Bella, please- if you really love me…  Please let me do your wedding.”  ~ Alice to Bella
 
“Bella has issues with jewelry.”  ~ Edward to Alice
 
“Emmett can get a clerical license off the internet.”  ~ Edward to Bella
 
“I lived through an entire twenty-four hours thinking that you were dead, Bella.  That changed the way I look at a lot of things.”  ~ Edward to Bella
 
Important Information learned:
Alice has “seen” that Bella will say yes to a big wedding.

Bella does not know that the charm Edward gave her is a diamond.

Bella’s blood no longer has the same effect on Edward.

Jake is supposed to be the Alpha of the wolf pack but he has decided not to step up into the position.
 
Chapter Prepared By: llovetwilight