THE ENTIRE GUARD POPULATION WERE FREEING THEMSELVES FROM THE SHACKLES OF THE OUTER WALLS TO PROTECT THE BALLROOM.

It was beautiful, though many changes had to be changed to fit the standards set in the law books Marcus and Aro wrote once upon a time. We had to have seating, as well as the correct tables so one of the guards could list out exactly what was said on both sides. We had two of them during this hearing, considering just how many people were in the ballroom.

The place reminded me of a TV show, like a set that wasn't supposed to be used for real things. You could still see how this was a gaudy ballroom meant for the elite class to dance and have a good time. From what I was told, they hadn't used the room for many things in the past few centuries. Humans would take notice of these private events. The conspiracy theorists would throw a tantrum.

We all had to dress accordingly, which meant I was wearing my hair up and out of my face. I wore a long black dress with a Volturi pendant around my neck to signify that I was indeed a member of the Coven. It was pure gold and beautiful.

Renata was going to be guarding me, considering her gift would be crucial in case someone wanted to attack me. Key word: wanted, because they couldn't.

"Are you ready for this, River?" Luna asked as she walked into the ballroom. "First hearing is the worst."

"I'm ready," I responded, knowing that was fully a lie.

I'd never actually gotten any training when it came to the law. I was studying to potentially become a nurse or somewhere in the health field. Law and politics were not exactly my area of expertise. I wasn't a part of the speech and debate team, most of those kids were kind of annoying.

"I know you'll do great," she encouraged, "This is land and territory plus a human needed to be turned. There's not that much to it."

God, I wish that were the case. That just wasn't... It wouldn't be easy. Aro and Caius were not happy with the Cullens, Marcus was more sympathetic but only had me to counteract anything that they wanted. That would mean a tie... we needed to be seen as a unit rather than four people with their own personal agendas.

The guards came first. I was the first one in the room, but my boyfriends came in soon after. They were clearly ready for this. They'd been through this so many times. Hearing after hearing, trial after trial. They'd traveled for trials before!

I sat down in the chair that had been provided for me, right next to Marcus. We had a little vase of flowers on the table. They were pretty, and must have come from the garden. Purple hyacinth, one of my favorites for arrangements.

Marcus had a solemn look on his face that I hadn't seen for a while. He'd been happier in the past few weeks, from what I'd seen, but I understood why he wasn't now. He didn't want to have this hearing now, while Andrei was on the loose. He felt the need to protect his people.

What he didn't realize was that this was the best we could do to help the people. The Cullens just had to be handled now, before they talked to more people and before things got out of hand. Oh Hell, things were already going to boil over. Nobody was happy with what the Cullens had done with Bella. At least not in our Coven.

The Cullens came into the room last, dressed in semi-formal clothes that were common for events. Their Coven had shrunk, barely any members were left. Jasper was forced to guard outside, since he had technically not left the Coven but was not addressed as a member since he was planning on leaving.

The Wolves from the reservation were also dressed well and had their imprints with them. They were not as happy about being forced to bring their imprints, but had complied due to them being promised shelter and safety by the Volturi.

I stood up, having forced myself to act as the main reader of information in this hearing. It was mostly a monologue from me, as most hearings are. We'd hear from both sides and if we couldn't come to a reasonable conclusion we would have to bring it to a trial later today.

"Good morning, everyone," I greeted, still anxious about speaking in front of such a large group of people, "I am River Acastia, acting Queen of the Volturi. I will be leading this hearing in the ways of the Volturi, in this ballroom. If you wish to speak you will wait for a turn. Every member of each side will have a chance to speak and be spoken to.

"In order for this hearing to go accordingly you will be abiding by the rules of the room. You will not lie, slander or defame, or attack within these walls or inside the city of Volterra, for it is a city of peace between all Covens and now, Packs.

"For this hearing between the Uley Pack and Cullen Coven we will discuss land disputes. After, the Uley pack will leave and the Cullen Coven and the Volturi will discuss the order of turning issued on March 19th, 2006 and its lack of completion.

"We will start this hearing with the side and their leader that brought this issue to the Royal Court. Seth Clearwater, Jacob Black, Sam Uley, you and your imprints may discuss first with the leaders of the Volturi over the dispute that you have raised over your tribal land and the Cullen Coven," I ended with a sigh before sitting down.

My hands were shaking slightly as Sam Uley stood up from his seat, glaring daggers into the Cullen Coven.

"First of all, we would like to, as a pack, thank the Volturi for inviting us here under your protection from any retribution." The anger was clear in his voice. "Our many tribes have been on this land for thousands of years. We have had our land taken by settlers and colonists, only some of it remaining our own.

"Five hundred years ago vampires attacked our people, killing many. Our people became Shifters to protect ourselves from Vampires. Any time there is a vampire around, our people become Shifter Wolves. Without the presence of vampires, we would be average human beings with normal aging processes. We are protectors of our people.

"The Cullens have forced us to become Shifters again, to the detriment of our families. Casualties have occurred due to this! My Emily has a large scar on her face due to the nature of my wolf, Harry Clearwater died of a heart attack. If the Cullens had not come back, we would probably have lived thinking that vampires were just myths. We wouldn't have to fight for our lives because of those damn Newborns in Forks.

"Carlisle Cullen has brought war to our doorstep. We have asked them to leave, and have been as inhospitable as possible, but they refuse! They could be anywhere, they were in New York for months but came back!" Sam stopped, clearly angry as he laid out his side.

His imprint stood up and put a gentle hand on his shoulder, calming him down just a bit.

"We want them out of our territory and out of our lives," Sam ended with.

"I agree," Emily said as she nodded her head. "I love Sam, but he did not choose to be under this stress. He will never grow old, any children that we have will be shifters from the age they hit puberty and will be unable to age until they stop shifting. Leah has shifted, which means that women can. Our potential kids are at risk, wolves are meant to protect but the gift is not perfect. It was an accident, but it will be on my face as a reminder forever."

Both of them sat down. There was a short silence before Seth stood up.

"I started shifting when I wasn't even a Freshman in High School. I haven't shifted since the battle and I plan on stopping so I can grow up. People will notice if the Cullens don't leave. The tribe knows, they've always known, but they haven't shared the secret because why would they? It puts us at risk as well! My imprint is physically two years older than me, but mentally? We're the same age. I deserve to grow up in my home, at the reservation, without the Cullens stirring the pot. We've been on that land for more than 6,000 years," Seth said to us.

They were all looking at us, everyone else silent. I knew from their testimony that they were holding things back, wanted to say so much more but couldnt due to the rules. The animosity ran deep.

I read the papers. Even without the testimony of the shifters I would give that land to them. Why should the Cullens have more of a right than the native people of the land? They didn't have a single right to the land and needed to get off of it.

Being in a rural place was also an issue for most of these vampires. Most claims that I'd gone over in the past day and a half had been for places that had a large number of people in it. Certain areas of Seattle, the rich district of New York City... Everywhere had so many people. Deaths were suspicious only if they happened where people didn't usually go missing.

Forks was a terrible place to settle down. Animals going missing would be an issue for the native people who still hunted on occasion to save money (since from what I'd learned from Jasper, the government weren't funding them that much and many never left the reservation).

The only thing the place had going for it was the fact that it was super shady. Otherwise, I couldn't see a good reason to settle down there.

Jacob was the next to go, since Seth's imprint seemed to be the meek young girl that Andrei had taken and dumped in La Push:

"I agree with the sentiments of my pack members and Emily. Our community has rights to this land according to your laws, but we were never told that we did. The Cullens also purposefully did not tell us about the Volturi or territory rights. I personally believe this was malicious, but this cannot be proven unless one of your own looks into the memories of the Cullens."

I looked over to Aro, who was listening with intensity. He didn't share with his features what he thought about all of this.

Marcus didn't show anything either. He was busy watching the reactions of the crowd, his eyes at some points glazing over to see the bonds between everyone, seeing if they had changed. I wish I could have a grasp of that, seeing bonds. Could he see ours? Of course he could.

As I stared at the man who was speaking I saw Chrissy right beside him. I was happy for her. God I missed her. Missed how we used to do things together. She couldn't look me in the eye as her mate sat down next to her. I doubted that she would speak, she never liked public speaking. I didn't blame her for it.

I stood up, having heard from the leaders of the Pack and who sent the dispute over.

I said, "Now that we have heard the side of the Uley pack leader's side of the territory dispute, I will allow the Cullen's Coven Master Carlisle Cullen and his mate, Esme Cullen, to speak their piece on why they want the land and why they believe that it would be in the best interest of both for them to live there."

Whatever he was about to say, it would have to either disprove the voices of the wolves or show that they truly needed the land. I doubted that they could prove either of those things. As much as I wanted Carlisle as a friend, they really weren't going to win this.

Why did it have to come to this?

---

note that this whole hearing/trial has been split into three chapters so that it isn't so massive. now that I can schedule the updates this will be so much easier for everyone, especially me since I usually write the chapter the night before it's due to update (if it isn't already done the week prior, sometimes I write more)

hope these next few chapters are interesting to watch as the cullens have to come to terms with what they've done to the shifter community. wish we could have seen more government in the original books but at least we have fanfiction.