chapter 31

A/N: These are the last two chapters of the story....dun, dun, dun! Remember, all italics are the characters speaking in Quedeyona. Plus, if you have trouble remembering who is who. There is a list and banner in the Cast of Characters discussion of this story group. So, without further ado, I give you the last two chapters....

Chapter 31
Bella had barely set one foot inside the council building when she heard Emmett roar from behind.

“You filthy savage!”

She and Black Wolf both turned in time to see Emmett launch himself at Black Wolf, who could only stumble back into Bella to avoid Emmett’s flying fists. Since Bella was too slow to get out of Black Wolf’s way, he had no choice but to take a stand, deflecting Emmett’s hands with his arms. Unfortunately, Emmett managed to get a fist past Black Wolf’s defenses, landing a solid blow to his stomach.

Black Wolf grunted, but quickly recovered enough to throw his own punch. The second Black Wolf’s fist connected with Emmett’s jaw, the fight was on.

Emmett’s head whipped to the side, but he managed to recover enough to take a few more swings at Black Wolf. “How dare you touch my sister, you bastard! You had no right to smear her good name!”

“Emmett! Stop it!” Bella yelled while Jasper tried to separate them without getting hit in the process.

A few of Emmett’s punches connected with Black Wolf’s body, but Black Wolf was holding his own. Ducking down, he went into a crouch before using one of his legs to sweep Emmett’s feet from under him. As Emmett went down, Black Wolf leapt on top of him and began to pummel him.

He managed to get a couple of punches in before he was pulled off of Emmett by Jasper with the help of Mountain Lion Guides. Mountain Lion Guides had just come out of the meeting room at the same time that Owl Sees Truth arrived, after a messenger had been sent to inform her that someone was trying to free Rosalie. As Mountain Lion Guides and Jasper dragged Black Wolf to his feet, Emmett muttered curses at him then tried to lunge at him again.

This time he was held back by Hawk Soars and Vanishing Fox, who were part of the council guard that day, while Black Wolf was held back by Mountain Lion Guides and Jasper. As Bella stepped up to Emmett, his struggles lessened a little.

She glared at him. “It was my right to allow him, not yours!”

That was all she said before motioning for Black Wolf and the others to follow her into the room where the council sat. It was obvious that they had all been waiting for her to arrive since Jasper had just left them after inquiring about his suspicions.

Bella walked up to the middle of the room, giving the customary greeting and respect to the council members first, thus allowing for Mountain Lion Guides and the rest of them to get settled. Wise Bear, who sat near the center of the group, nodded and spoke to her in Quedeyona.

“Greetings. What brings you here today?”


“I have been told that I can inform this council of the fact that Black Wolf and I discussed petitioning for a hand-fasting once he returned from the Danasga raid. We agreed to do this the night before he left for the raid.”


“Is this true Black Wolf?” asked Wise Bear.

Black Wolf nodded. “It is. I also made the announcement to my friends as we rode to the raid.”


“Can you name those witnesses?”

Black Wolf motioned to Mountain Lion Guides. “Mountain Lion Guides is one of them. Fighting Dog was there as well.”

The elder looked at Mountain Lion Guides. “Is what he says true?”

Mountain Lion Guides stepped forward as he nodded. “It is.”

Wise Bear motioned to Vanishing Fox, who was still standing near Emmett. “Fetch Fighting Dog.”

As Vanishing Fox left to find Fighting Dog, Wise Bear turned back to Bella. “I must warn you, my dear. Even if the two of you had agreed to ask for the right to be hand-fasted the night before Black Wolf left for the raid, we still cannot grant our permission.”

Bella nodded. “I understand, but there is one other thing I believe you should know.”


“And that is?”

Bella glanced at Black Wolf before she faced the council members to make the next announcement. Sweeping the entire council with a serious gaze, she straightened her back before finally looking Wise Bear in the eyes.

“The night before Black Wolf left for the raid,” she paused, knowing what she was about to reveal to the council was a serious issue, “I was also intimate with him.”

A few gasps came from behind Bella as Mouse Daydreams, Fighting Dog and Porcupine Smiles joined the rest of the onlookers.

She ignored the gasps as well as the mixed looks of surprise or disappointment from the council members.“And we have been intimate a few more times since then.”

“What!” exclaimed Emmett. “How is that possible?”

As everyone ignored his outburst for the moment, Wise Bear motioned to Fighting Dog. “Fighting Dog, we have been told that on the journey to the Danasga raid, Black Wolf made an announcement. What did he say to you?”

Fighting Dog stepped closer to where Bella was before he answered. “Black Wolf told Mountain Lion Guides and I that he intended to ask for White Swan’s rights once he returned to the village. White Swan had already agreed to be hand-fasted to him the night before we left.”

Wise Bear nodded before he joined the other council members in whispering together. It was apparent to the onlookers that the debate was a rather heated one.

Not only was the council trying to deal with the fact that their chief had been intimate with a woman whom he was not hand-fasted to, but that woman had also been a white slave too. The fact that Black Wolf had been intimate with her more than once, told the council that they couldn’t just simply ignore it since they knew what that could do for the chief’s future.

A few moments later they finally seemed to come to an agreement as Wise Bear turned to face Bella once again. “While these testimonies add weight to our agreeing to allow a hand-fasting between you and Black Wolf, we still cannot do much since you are no longer a part of the tribe. You must still have the permission of your caretaker.”

Bella gritted her teeth as she glared at Emmett. “So give it to me!”

Emmett narrowed his eyes. “How were you able to be intimate with that savage when I had already freed you from this village and taken you to Jasper’s?”

Bella rolled her eyes. “Since Jasper came to talk to Alice often at your behest, he also talked to Black Wolf. We sent messages to each other through Jasper and managed to arrange some late night meetings.”

Emmett turned to glare at Jasper. “You covered for them!”

Jasper shrugged, obviously not threatened by Emmett’s posturing. “I’m not blind to their feelings for each other. I’m sure anyone else standin’ in this room ken also see what ya refuse ta see.”

Emmett huffed as he took in the acknowledgements from everyone else in the room. Turning back to Bella, he remained stubborn as he shook his head. “I’m not changing my mind.”

Bella let out an aggravated sound as she lifted her hands towards her brother in a choking motion. Black Wolf stepped towards Emmett and spoke loud enough so everyone could hear.

“Emmett, I offer you both Alice and Rosalie if you agree to allow Bella to stay so that she may be hand-fasted to me. You can keep your bounty, all I want is Bella and you may have the others.”

Emmett lifted his chin. “I will get the rest of the earnings I need to release them! I will not trade my sister to you!”

As Bella began to advance on her brother with a murderous look in her eyes, the others began to speak up.

“Emmett, listen to me! I think you should take the trade!” said Alice.

He turned to look at her. “Are you out of your mind?”

She shook her head. “No, but Jasper is right. You refuse to see what the rest of us do. Bella loves Black Wolf and he loves her. He’d do right by her, Emmett. You would never have to worry about that!”

“She’s right,” added Porcupine Smiles. “Black Wolf is Fighting Dog’s older brother and I am now married to Fighting Dog. Take it from someone who was mistreated by the tribe I was with before I came to the Quedeyona. You have nothing to worry about here. Bella will be in good hands with Black Wolf.”

“And she will have all of her friends around her too,” said Owl Sees Truth. “Although Bella doesn’t need protecting because she’s saved my life as well as my little sister’s, we will definitely be there for her the way she’s always been there for us.”

Jasper nodded. “I’ve been ‘round the Quedeyona all me life an’ me pap afore me. I count Black Wolf as one o’ me best friends. Believe me when I say that I know Black Wolf would never hurt tha ones he loves. He’s even helped me out many times.”

Rosalie stepped close to Emmett, placing a timid hand on his arm she spoke her piece. “Emmett, as much as I don’t want to be here in this village. I have to agree with them… Black Wolf would never hurt Bella. She was always there for me when I first came to this village and despite my feelings against everyone here, she was always my friend. Bella always had the level head between the two of us.”

She turned to give Bella an apologetic smile as she added. “She always listened to me complain about being here without ever getting mad at me. Even when I was unintentionally putting down the things she loves about this village, she was always fair.”

She looked back at Emmett. “And she always protected me from harm as best she could even when I was being stubborn about it. Most of this was before Black Wolf came back from being schooled by our people.”

Alice stepped forward. “So you see? Bella doesn’t need you to protect her. She was always stronger than I was, Emmett. She was always the one who could adapt with the changes. I think you should let her lead her life the way she wants, where she’ll be the happiest. Rosalie will be happiest away from here, so you should take her away with you.”

Emmett narrowed his eyes. “What about you?”

Alice nodded. “I will go with you too, but only if you promise to let me have some peace and quiet. However, you should know that I do not have any hatred for this village at all. And I already consider Black Wolf to be like a brother to me because he took care of me and was never cruel to me.”

It was a few silent moments as Alice and Emmett stared at each other before Emmett finally sighed.

Looking at Bella, he reluctantly nodded. “Fine. I can see that I’m outnumbered. I’ll take Rosalie and Alice if you want to stay here, Bella.”

Bella grinned as she turned to Black Wolf and gave him a nod.

Black Wolf turned to the council members with his offer. “I agree to trade the two slaves that I own to Emmett Swan in exchange for his sister, Bella Swan so that she may be welcomed back to the tribe as White Swan.”

The council members nodded as Wise Bear spoke to Emmett. “Do you agree to this trade, Emmett Swan? For your sister, you will receive in trade both Mouse Daydreams and Darting Rabbit, nothing else.”

Emmett grudgingly nodded. “I agree.”


“Do you wish anything else in trade for the two slaves you will be giving up, Black Wolf?” asked Wise Bear.

“No. The return of White Swan to the tribe is all that I ask for.”


“Very well then, we will allow this trade,” answered Wise Bear as he motioned to the rest of the council members.

“Let all those here be witness to this trade.” He looked at Rosalie and Alice in turn as he continued. “Mouse Daydreams and Darting Rabbit, you have been given into the care of Emmett Swan in exchange for Bella Swan.We ask that you both go gather your belongings immediately so that you may leave this village with your caretaker.”

Both Rosalie and Alice nodded before leaving the council building with Owl Sees Truth and Jasper in tow. While everyone waited for the others to return Mountain Lion Guides and Black Wolf went to talk to the rest of the council members as Fighting Dog and Porcupine Smiles retreated to a corner to talk quietly together, leaving Emmett and Bella alone for a while.

Emmett pursed his lips as he looked at his sister. “I really hope you know what you are doing.”

Bella sighed. “I do, but even if I make mistakes they’re mine to make. I’m not afraid of this Emmett. I know what I want.”

Emmett shook his head. “Yeah, apparently you do. Even our timid baby sister is adamant on that fact.”

Bella grinned. “Alice is slowly coming into her own too. She just needs time and a lot of space to discover herself.”

At her pointed look, Emmett held up his hands. “I know, I know. I will do my best to give her the space she needs.”

“And?”

“And I’ll try not to be so bossy with her the way I tried to be with you.”

“Good and you have to allow her to make her own decisions and mistakes too. Don’t try to hold her hand all the time or act like the overbearing, protective father.”

“Okay, okay.”

Bella nodded as Alice and Rosalie finally returned with the others. As they moved to stand next to Emmett, Wise Bear acknowledged them.

“Are you both ready?” he asked.

Both Rosalie and Alice nodded.

“Very well then, you are both given into the care of Emmett Swan and Bella Swan is given into the care of Black Wolf.”

Bella walked over to stand next to Black Wolf as Wise Bear indicated.

“Now that the trade is done, you and yours are free to go, Emmett Swan.”

Emmett nodded to the council members. “My thanks.”

Wise Bear gave a nod of acknowledgment before turning to smile at Bella. “Welcome back to the Quedeyona, White Swan .”


“It is good to be back,” replied White Swan as she took Black Wolf’s hand.

As Emmett motioned for Alice and Rosalie to follow him back to where Owl Sees Truth and Jasper were waiting for them near the entrance, Black Wolf led White Swan to the center of the floor to face the council.

“If I may, I would like to formally ask the council for permission to be hand-fasted to White Swan.”


“NO!” screeched Brown Skunk as she entered the room, dragging her bewildered father with her. “The council told my father that they would consider his request! You have not denied it yet!”

She turned to glare at Little Pelican. “Father! Tell them! Tell them that they must answer your request!”

Before Little Pelican could speak up, Mountain Lion Guides interrupted. “While the council has not refused Little Pelican’s request, we must do so now. Other things have come to light that take precedence over that.”

Little Pelican frowned. “Things better than my offer? And what might that be?”

Mountain Lion Guides looked to the other council members before he looked to Black Wolf. “We have discovered that Brown Skunk had been secretly helping White Coyote to build up his bounty in order to be rid of White Swan. Not only that, but Whale Sings overheard Brown Skunk telling Spotted Bat that she had even tried to get Badger Snaps to help her get rid of White Swan.”

With those words, Wise Bear snapped at Vanishing Fox. “Fetch Whale sings and Badger Snaps!”

As Vanishing Fox left, Wise Bear turned to look at Emmett who was still in the room with the others. “Hawk Soars, translate for me. Is it true what Mountain Lion Guides just told us?”

Hawk Soars repeated what Mountain Lion Guides had said, then the words Wise Bear had asked. Emmett nodded as he looked at Wise Bear while Hawk Soars translated for him.

“Yes. I will confess that Brown Skunk came to me and offered to help me build up the bounty to free myself and my sister. She also got her friends to help me out and they all said they would ask around the village to see if anyone else had a job that I could do to earn more bounty. She told me that the only way I could get my sister was if I was free first and she was not hand-fasted to Black Wolf yet. She said the council would not deny a free family member the right to take their own back, she said you do that to keep the peace between us.”

Brown Skunk tried to act all innocent as she said, “I was only trying to help him stay with his sister. I had to make sure that he understood there were only certain ways guaranteed to keep his family with him.”


“Do not try to make yourself look innocent, Brown Skunk!” growled Mountain Lion Guides. “Whale Sings told me exactly what she heard you say to Spotted Bat about your part in all of this!”

As the last words left his mouth, Whale Sings walked into the room. Wise Bear motioned for her to take the center before he spoke to her.

“Whale Sings, could you tell us exactly what the conversation between Brown Skunk and Spotted Bat was. The one that you then told Mountain Lion Guides about.”

Whale Sings nodded. “I was intending to walk through the center of the village when I saw Brown Skunk and Spotted Bat sitting in the shade watching the council building. At first I was just going to keep walking on until I heard them mention Black Wolf’s name. So, I leaned against a wall and listened to them since they were so intent on watching the council building.


I heard Brown Skunk tell Spotted Bat that the council had told Little Pelican that they would persuade Black Wolf to hand-fast to her as soon as he had returned from the raid. She assured Spotted Bat that since White Swan was now out of the way, there was nothing for her to worry about. She also mentioned that she went through a lot to help the pale-face raise the bounty to free White Swan, so I knew she was talking about White Coyote.


Then she mentioned that she was glad White Coyote had come through since she had not been able to convince Badger Snaps to take White Swan. It seems Brown Skunk believed Badger Snaps wanted White Swan for himself, but was too afraid to stand against Black Wolf. In any case, she vowed that Black Wolf would be hers.”

Brown Skunk again tried to look innocent as she spoke up. “As I said before, I only helped White Coyote out because he seemed to want his sister with him very badly. As for my father’s request, no one can argue that our union would not be a good one for the tribe! I come from a strong bloodline, as does Black Wolf! I know you all agree, otherwise you would have denied my father’s request already.”


“Brown Skunk,” interrupted Wise Bear, “while we cannot deny that it is a good thing to help someone like White Coyote keep his family together, nor is it a bad thing for the bloodlines of yours and Black Wolf’s to be combined, that is not the point here. It seems that despite your good intentions, you went about trying to achieve results in a very devious way.”

He motioned to Badger Snaps who had walked in during his speech to the woman. “Badger Snaps, now that you are here, would you please tell us exactly what you and Brown Skunk discussed when she went to you for help in dealing with White Swan?”

Badger Snaps nodded before giving a slight scowl to Brown Skunk. “Brown Skunk came to tell me that she could help me get what I wanted. She was under the impression that I wanted to make White Swan my woman. I will admit that my actions and behavior towards White Swan while she had been my father’s slave were suggestive and lewd. All I can say to that is that I was immature and did not see the error of my ways at the time.


However, once I returned from the war with the southeastern tribes, things had changed. I no longer was interested in White Swan and respected that Black Wolf was interested in her.


Brown Skunk insisted that the council would never allow their future chief to take a lowly slave as his woman. She said that the council were not aware of their courtship and that he was simply playing with the slave.


I informed her that my father, Crow Flies, knew of their courtship since he allowed Black Wolf to call on her often. I was also certain that Black Wolf’s family, including his father were aware of their courtship. Even if the rest of the council did not know, I am certain Bright Wolf did.”


“Is what he says true?” Wise Bear asked Black Wolf.

“I do not think my father knew that I intended to ask for the right to be hand-fasted to White Swan,” replied Black Wolf. “But he knew that I was courting her. He saw my feather in her hair. So did my mother and brother.”

Fighting Dog nodded. “Those that are close to Black Wolf saw the feather in White Swan’s hair. We knew what it meant.”

Brown Skunk finally snapped at the room. “Oh please! It matters not if the slave wore his feather! That is over and done with! What matters now is that the council tells Black Wolf what a mistake it will be for him to hand-fast to that slave! It would be an embarrassment to the entire tribe!”

Mountain Lion Guides rose to his feet. “I do not see it as an embarrassment, Brown Skunk. You do forget that White Swan is no longer a slave!”


“She is too! Black Wolf just traded her for the two slaves he had!”


“I traded my two slaves for Bella Swan, so that she could return to our tribe as White Swan. I never said she would return as a slave, just as White Swan.” replied Black Wolf.

Brown Skunk gaped at him before she turned to Little Pelican. “Father! Do something! Are you going to let them shame us like this?”

Before Little Pelican could say a word, Wise Bear stood up. “Little Pelican, I would suggest you take your daughter out of here before she does something more to embarrass you. I am sorry to say that the council will be refusing your request to hand-fast Brown Skunk to Black Wolf. Despite what some of us may feel, it seems that the relationship between Black Wolf and White Swan is much too intimate for the council to come between.”

Little Pelican frowned. “Too intimate? What does that mean? She simply wears his feather!”


“No,” replied Black Wolf, “I have been with White Swan in the way that a child between us is now very possible. The council knows I would be remiss to set her aside should she be carrying my son.”

A gasp came from Brown Skunk as she whirled towards White Swan. Screeching, she launched herself at her rival. “Why you shameful bitch! How dare you use your deceitful ways to trap our chief in your web! If they won’t put you in your place, I will!”

Before her outstretched claws could reach White Swan, Black Wolf was there. He grabbed her forearms, shoving her back towards her father.

“Little Pelican,” he growled. “Remove your crazy daughter from my sight before I do more than banish her from the village!”

As murmurs rose around the room, Black Wolf went on. “As the chief of the Quedeyona tribe, I invoke the right to banish Brown Skunk from our village on the grounds that she just tried to harm my intentional bride. Should she ever succeed in laying a hand on White Swan, her punishment shall be death! As it is, she is not allowed anywhere near me nor my family, which includes every single person in this village. You and your family are more than welcome to join her in her banishment if you should choose to do so.”

He turned to sweep his gaze over all of the council members. “Is there anyone here who refutes my decree?”

Wise Bear and Mountain Lion Guides immediately began to shake their head, which prompted the rest of the council to follow along. It appeared none of the other ones wanted to go against those three most powerful men.

Wise Bear spoke up next. “It shall be as Black Wolf has decreed. Little Pelican, please remove your daughter from this village immediately. Her name will be stricken from our records.”

Little Pelican knew there was nothing he could do to change their minds. Their votes were in, all of them seeming to support their new chief fully. With a sigh, he wrapped his arms around his daughter, dragging her out of the room. Her screeching threats continued to echo around the room even as they became fainter the farther away she was from the council.

After a few moments, Wise Bear looked to Vanishing Fox and Hawk Soars. “You two will accompany Horse Dances to Little Pelican’s home. All three of you are to make sure he packs up his daughter, then you will escort her and anyone else who chooses to go with her out of the village. Once she is gone, return here to inform us of all who have gone with her, if any.”

Horse Dances rose stiffly from his council seat, joining Hawk Soars and Vanishing Fox as they strode out of the building to do as Wise Bear instructed. Once they were gone, Wise Bear returned his gaze to White Swan.

Giving her a smile, he asked, “Now that all has been taken care of, let’s return to Black Wolf’s request. White Swan, do you accept it?”


“I do,” replied White Swan without any hesitance.

“Then it is our pleasure to give Black Wolf permission to be hand-fasted to White Swan.”

Black Wolf grinned before moving to stand before White Swan. He took her hand in his, then spoke loud enough so that even all of their friends and family could hear.

“White Swan, I know we have already done this before, but I want to do this where everyone can see and know just how much I love you.”

Once more he went down on one knee the way he’d done the night before the raid. “Isabella Marie Swan, would you allow the Great Spirit to bless a marriage between us?”

White Swan gave him a dazzling smile. “Yes, Black Wolf. I will.”

As their friends and family cheered them on, Black Wolf rose to his feet to pull White Swan into his arms for a kiss that would finally start the event that had been a long time in coming.

Their new life together.