"Falling"

And So It Begins

Despite all that happened over the course of the last four months, all that Jensen can think of is how lucky he is. The letters to and from Bella's father kept being sent and received; plans began being drawn for when Bella's father at last decides to declare war; the military presence in and around the Castle increased, although covertly, so not to tip off her father or send the people who live in Court into a panic; and through all of this, Jensen was still grateful to have found a woman that loves him for who he is and not just his title.

The courting process had been simple, actually. After informing Josh of his intentions to court Bella, receiving his blessing to do so, they began spending as much time as they could together. From riding together every morning, where they discussed their plans for the future, to midnight meals, every spare moment was spent together.

Still thinking about the last four months, Jensen enters his brother's study one morning, having been summoned, and finds him reading a letter, concerned etched onto his features. He stands on the other side of the desk, across from Josh and asks him if everything's alright.

Josh looks up and hands him the letter, telling him to read it. The look on Josh's eyes tells Jensen that he isn't going to like what the letter says. Reading it to himself, he quickly realizes that it's a declaration of war sent by Bella's father, and one of his terms is that they send Bella back to him immediately, otherwise Williams will target, not only Josh and Jensen, but their mother and Mackenzie as well.

-"What do you plan on doing?" - Jensen swallows thickly, worry gripping his heart.

-"I already told mother and Mackenzie what is going on. We need to send them away to one of our allies so they can be safe."

-"No, Williams will be expecting that. They'll be safer here in the Castle, where we can protect them."

-"Fine. Get the men ready. I will be sending my answer as soon as you leave."

-"And Bella?" - Jensen asks, his brother looking up at him and seeing the worry in his eyes.

-"Unless she wants to go back, I won't force her to go. Besides, I know that if we do send her back, there is a high probability that Williams might kill her once he learns that he has been mislead and I do not want that to happen."

-"She deserves to know what's happening and the threat that her father made. I'm sure that, once she learns that he threatened mother and Mackenzie, she will want to go back to protect them."

-"Let our mother and Mackenzie talk to her. I'm sure that, between the two of them, they can convince her to stay. I need you to focus on getting our men ready for what's to come."

-"I will. And... thank you for wanting to protect Bella the same way you do with mother and Mackenzie."

-"Jensen..." - Josh sighs. -"Look, Bella is already family, even if you two aren't married yet and I will protect her just as I would if you two were already married. Now, go so I can tell Williams that we are ready for him, whether he expects it or not."

Jensen excuses himself with a nod and leaves the study, headed for Bella's room before going to the barracks to deliver Josh's orders. He knows his priorities are a bit distorted at the moment, but if anyone is going to tell Bella what's going on it's him.

Josh watches his brother leaving and knows that, even though he told Jensen to get the men ready, he is going to see Bella before heading for the barracks. Josh can't blame him, in his place, he would probably do the same.

It will always amaze Josh just how hard his brother has fallen in love with Bella. And despite their family's history with her father, every single member of their family has embraced her as one of their own, something that Josh hadn't been expecting.

He had hoped that Bella had been wrong and that her father truly wanted to put the past aside and forge a new alliance, giving Bella and Jensen an actual chance at being together. But when he received the letter moments ago, he knew they were in for the battle of their lives. All Josh can hope now is that this mess won't end with someone having their heart's broken.