AS THE SUN ROSE ON THE HORIZON, WE strolled amidst our coven, eagerly anticipating their arrival. The air was thick with anticipation and excitement, as we prepared to welcome our judges, juries and, possibly, our executioners.

The field lay beneath a blanket of pure white, a canvas of snow that stretched out as far as the eye could see. We stood motionless, our eyes fixed on the horizon, waiting for the arrival of our accusers. We were here to bear witness, to defend those who had been accused of the impossible.

The air was thick with tension, a palpable sense of unease that hung heavy around us. We were here to prove their innocence, to show the Volturi that they had been wrong. But we knew that the odds were stacked against us.

As we stood there, our breaths forming clouds in the frigid air, a dark mist began to creep towards us. It moved with a grace and elegance that belied its sinister nature, gliding effortlessly through the snow.

We knew that the Volturi had already passed judgement on our friends, that they had condemned us to death before the trial had even begun. They cared nothing for justice, nothing for our safety. All they wanted was power and control.

But we were not afraid. We knew that if we had to die for our freedom, then it was a sacrifice worth making. And so we stood there, resolute and unyielding, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

And then, in the distance, we heard the faint sound of footsteps. "The redcoats are coming," Garrett muttered to himself. "The redcoats are coming."

We braced ourselves for what was to come, knowing that our fate was inextricably tied to that of our friends and family.

Garrett moved closer to Kate as he muttered his chant.

"They did come," Vladimir whispered to Stefan, his voice barely audible above the rustling of the leaves.

Stefan's eyes widened in disbelief. "The wives? The entire guard. All of them together. It's well we didn't try Volterra."

As the Volturi approached with a slow and calculated gait, a swarm of vampires emerged from the shadows behind them. Their faces were stoic, their expressions unreadable. At first, there was a palpable sense of shock and unease as they beheld the unexpected force before them. But that feeling quickly dissipated, replaced by a sense of confidence and superiority. They knew they held the upper hand, with their overwhelming numbers and the unstoppable Volturi at their backs.

Their features returned to their usual impassive state, revealing their true intentions. This was no mere gathering of vampires - it was an angry mob, fueled by a desire for justice and retribution. Their eyes glinted with a fierce determination, and their bodies tensed with anticipation. They were ready to unleash their fury upon those who dared to cross them.

And then, as if the universe had conspired against us, the Volturi advanced with a slow and majestic gait, their numbers already overwhelming. But fate had more in store for us, as more vampires began to enter the clearing behind them, their faces seemingly expressionless. At first, shock and anxiety rippled through the air as they beheld the unexpected force awaiting them. But that concern passed quickly, replaced by a sense of security in their overwhelming numbers and their position behind the unstoppable Volturi force. Their features returned to the expression they'd worn before we'd surprised them, their mindset clear as day. This was an angry mob, a frenzy of desire for justice.

It was then that I realised the true depth of the vampire world's feelings towards the immortal children. This motley, disorganised horde of possibly forty vampires was the Volturi's own kind of witness, ready to spread the word of our eradication once we were dead. Most of them looked like they hoped for more than just an opportunity to witness - they wanted to help destroy.

Despair weighed heavily in the air, pushing me down with more pressure than before. I noticed Irina hesitating between the two companies, her expression unique among the others. Her horrified gaze was locked on Tanya's position in the front line, and Edward snarled a low but fervent sound. I gave her a death stare, knowing that we were in for the fight of our lives.

"Alistair was right," Edward murmured to Carlisle.

"Alistair was right?" Tanya whispered.

"Caius and Aro come to destroy and acquire. They have many layers of strategy already in place. If Irina's accusation had somehow proven to be false, they were committed to find another reason to take offence. But they can see Renesmee now, so they are perfectly sanguine about their course. We could still attempt to defend against their other contrived charges, but first they have to stop, to hear the truth about Renesmee." Then, even lower. "Which they have no intention of doing."

Jacob gave a strange little huff.

In a sudden twist of fate, the procession came to an abrupt halt, catching us all off guard. The once perfectly synchronized movements were now replaced with an eerie silence. The Volturi, with their impeccable discipline, froze in unison, as if they were one entity. They stood a hundred yards away from us, their presence looming over us like a dark cloud.

As I stood there, I could hear the beating of large hearts behind me, growing louder by the second. I dared to steal a glance to my left and right, and what I saw left me in awe.

The wolves had arrived.

They flanked us on either side, forming a protective barrier with their long, bordering arms. In a fraction of a second, ten wolves emerged from the trees, some familiar faces and some new. Seventeen of them spaced evenly around us, with Leah standing beside Ethan. The newcomers were all young, with oversized paws and towering heights. It was clear that a werewolf population explosion was inevitable with so many vampires encamped.

But with this stand, more children would die. I couldn't help but wonder why Sam allowed this. But then again, he had no other choice. If any of the wolves stood with us, the Volturi would surely search out the rest. They had gambled their entire species on this stand.

And we were going to lose.

I understood why Dad had left them. Their murderous bloodlust was one that made me want to sink my teeth into them, to rip their limbs from their bodies and burn them. I could even dance on their ashes if I wanted to. But then, I heard a low, fierce snarl, and I saw Bella smiling at the dark figures. It came from my friend.

Zafrina and Senna's voices reverberated through the tense silence, their growls barely audible. Edward's grip on Bella's hand tightened, a warning to remain cautious. The Volturi's faces remained stoic, their emotions concealed behind a veil of indifference. However, two pairs of eyes betrayed a flicker of feeling. Aro and Caius stood at the center, their hands clasped together, evaluating the situation. The guard stood still, waiting for the command to strike. Aro and Caius didn't exchange a glance, but their silent communication was palpable. Marcus, on the other hand, seemed disinterested, his expression almost as blank as the guards'. It was as if he had seen it all before and was bored with the proceedings.

Aro's eyes darted in my direction, a sly smirk playing on his lips as he let out a huff of amusement  I bit my lip, trying to keep my composure in the face of his intimidating presence.

"He's surprised to see you here," Joseph remarked to Dad, breaking the tense silence that had settled over us.

Dad's eyes flickered to the ground, his hand gripping tightly onto my mother's as if seeking comfort. I couldn't blame him - the Volturi's witnesses were glaring at us with furious intensity, their bodies leaning forward as if ready to pounce at any moment.

But they kept their distance, staying near the edge of the forest and leaving a wide berth between themselves and the Volturi soldiers. Only Irina, with her fair hair and filmy eyes, hovered close behind the Volturi, flanked by two massive bodyguards.

As I watched, I couldn't help but wonder about the two fair-haired women standing beside the bodyguards. Were they the wives? And what about the woman in the darker gray cloak just behind Aro - was she his own shield, or perhaps his wife?

The air was thick with tension and uncertainty, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something big was about to happen.

As I gazed upon the two diminutive, charcoal-hued cloaks, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and trepidation. Alec and Jane, the tiniest members of the guard, stood stoically at Marcus's side, flanked by Demetri on the other. Their countenances were serene, betraying nothing of the immense power that lay within them. Clad in the deepest shades of grey, they were like shadows come to life, standing in stark contrast to the obsidian robes of the ancients.

Vladimir had dubbed them the witch twins, and for good reason. Their abilities were the very foundation of the Volturi's offensive, the jewels in Aro's collection. With a mere glance, they could render their victims helpless, their minds reduced to a blank slate. It was a power that struck fear into the hearts of even the bravest of foes.

As Aro and Caius surveyed our ranks with their crimson-hued eyes, I could sense their disappointment. They scanned our faces again and again, searching for the one who was missing. But try as they might, they could not find what they were looking for. And so, with a heavy heart, we prepared to face whatever lay ahead, knowing that the witch twins would be at the forefront of the battle to come.

"He's looking for Alice," Joseph said.

Maybe Alice being on the run was a good thing she did. Edward's breath speed.

"Edward?" Carlisle asked, low and anxious.

"They're not sure how to proceed. They're weighing options, choosing key targets: me, of course, you, Eleazar, Tanya. Marcus is reading the strength of our ties to each other, looking for weak points. The Romanians' presence irritates them. They're worried about the faces they don't recognize, Zafrina and Senna in particular, and the wolves, naturally. They've never been outnumbered before. That's what stopped them."

"Outnumbered?" Tanya whispered incredulously.

"They don't count their witnesses," Edward breathed. "They are nonentities, meaningless to the guard. Aro just enjoys an audience."

"Should I speak?" Carlisle asked.

Edward hesitated, then nodded. "This is the only chance you'll get."

Carlisle squared his shoulders and paced several steps ahead of our defensive line. I hated to see him alone, unprotected.

He spread his arms, holding his palms up as if in greeting. "Aro, my old friend. It's been centuries."

The white glade was quiet for a long time. The tension rolled off Edward as he listened to Aro's analysis of Carlisle's words. The strain climbed as the seconds ticked by.

Aro stepped forward out of the centre of the Volturi. The shield moved with him as if the tips of her fingers were sewn to his robe. For the first time, the Volturi ranks reacted. A muttered grumble rolled through the line, eyebrows lowered into scowls, lips curled back from teeth. A few of the guard leaned forward into a crouch.

Aro held one hand up toward them. "Peace."

He walked just a few paces more, then cocked his head to one side. His milky eyes glinted with curiosity.

"Fair words, Carlisle," he breathed in his thin, wispy voice. "They seem out of place, considering the army you've assembled to kill me, and to kill my dear ones."

Carlisle shook his head and stretched his right hand forward as if there were not still almost a hundred yards between them. "You have but to touch my hand to know that was never my intent."

Aro's shrewd eyes narrowed. "But how can your intent possibly matter, dear Carlisle, in the face of what you have done?" He frowned, and a shadow of sadness crossed his features—whether it was genuine or not, I could not tell.

"I have not committed the crime you are here to punish me for."

"Then step aside and let us punish those responsible. Truly, Carlisle, nothing would please me more than to preserve your life today."

"No one has broken the law, Aro. Let me explain." Again, Carlisle offered his hand. Before Aro could answer, Caius drifted swiftly forward to Aro's side.

"So many pointless rules, so many unnecessary laws you create for yourself, Carlisle," the white-haired ancient hissed. "How is it possible that you defend the breaking of one that truly matters?"

"The law is not broken. If you would listen—"

"We see the child, Carlisle," Caius snarled. "Do not treat us as fools."

"She is not an immortal. She is not a vampire. I can easily prove this with just a few moments—"

Caius cut him off. "If she is not one of the forbidden, then why have you massed a battalion to protect her?"

"Witnesses, Caius, just as you have brought." Carlisle gestured to the angry horde at the edge of the woods; some of them growled in response. "Any one of these friends can tell you the truth about the child. Or you could just look at her, Caius. See the flush of human blood in her cheeks."

"Artifice!" Caius snapped. "Where is the informer? Let her come forward!" He craned his neck around until he spotted Irina lingering behind the wives. "You! Come!"

Irina stared at him uncomprehendingly, her face like that of someone who has not entirely awakened from a hideous nightmare. Impatiently, Caius snapped his fingers. One of the wives' huge bodyguards moved to Irina's side and prodded her roughly in the back. Irina blinked twice and then walked slowly toward Caius in a daze. She stopped several yards short, her eyes still on her sisters.

Caius closed the distance between them and slapped her across the face.

It couldn't have hurt, but there was something horrifyingly degrading about the action. It was like watching someone kick a dog. Tanya and Kate hissed in synchronisation.

Irina's body went rigid and her eyes finally focused on Caius. He pointed one clawed finger at Renesmee, where she clung to my back, her fingers still tangled in Jacob's fur. Caius turned entirely red in my furious view. A growl rumbled through Jacob's chest.

"This is the child you saw?" Caius demanded. "The one that was obviously more than human?"

Irina peered at the Cullens, examining Renesmee for the first time since she spotted her. Her head tilted to the side, confusion crossed her features.

"Well?" Caius snarled.

"I... I'm not sure," she said, her tone perplexed.