Immediately Seth pushed Ateara behind him as Jacob moved Renesmee. Ateara clutched onto his shirt, shaken with nerves. However, seeing Seth facing his fears gave Ateara the strength and courage to do what he does best. He raised his shield around everyone he loves. Medea began to shoot bolts at Edward, but growled darkly after realising that it wasn't touching him. Her eyes scanned the group, first she looked at Bella, wondering if she was the cause of this. Then she realised instantly it was actually Ateara that was preventing her from doing any form of damage. Medea tried again and failed. Every Bolt she sent was absorbed into Ateara's shield. Ateara hadn't felt that much power before, he was struggling to keep control.
Seth, seeing he was struggling, turned to face Ateara and whispered. "You can do this. You can wield this power and turn it back on her."
Ateara's eyes were clenched shut, but relaxed after the sound of Seth's voice. Slowly, he opened his eyes, he saw Seth gazing right back at him. He smiled back at him gratefully, it was just the power boost he needed. Ateara shot a single bolt hurtling towards Medea. She moved just in time but it still grazed her right leg causing her to stumble. As she limped away she turned to them and glared.
"You're going to regret that. When I return I will be at my full strength and I will kill you all!" Medea yelled as she groaned in pain. Then she disappeared into the distance.
"We haven't seen the last of her. In fact we have…" Seth started to say, "Made her very angry" Ateara finished.
"Come on, let's finish preparing our ritual bliss then I can become Seth Cullen Black," Seth chuckled.
---o0o---
In the early hours of the morning, daylight hadn't quite broken out yet. Ateara hadn't slept as he lay next to Seth who was sleeping soundly. Quietly, he crept outside and walked to the stream, the sound of the water flowing helped soothe his troubled thoughts. It wasn't the thought of him marrying Seth, that was the only thing that kept him going. It was thinking about Medea and her whereabouts. Wondering what kind of revenge she was planning. Unbeknownst to him, Seth had awoken. He crept up behind Ateara which startled him, pulling him out of his thoughts.
"Don't let Medea get to you. She will come and it frightens me too, but we are stronger together. We just have to stay vigilant. I should be able to sense her coming," Seth tried to reassure him.
"Yeah I know, but it's the thought of not knowing what she is planning, I have no idea how to prepare myself or us. I have a horrible feeling that she may try during our magical day," Ateara poured out to Seth.
"It will be alright. I will put up some protective spells that have worked for me. Also, I will find a spell to strengthen Bella's shield," Seth said, stroking Ateara's cheek gently pulling him against his shoulder.
"Let's just sit here for a moment," Ateara suggested when he felt Seth starting to move.
Seth sat down on the ground with his back against the tree trunk, he patted the top of his thigh. Ateara smiled and laid his head on his lap. With one hand in his hair and the other on his chest, Seth gently eased his troubled heart as he softly spoke.
All acts of harm and negativity
will now return to thee.
All bad you try to send our way
upon your own self, hold sway.
All actions, thoughts and words of hate
become your own decided fate.
By all up high, the worlds and the wise
By oceans wide and deep blue skies
By day and night, and powers three
This is my will, so must it be.
Give harm to none, nor return on me.
Seth saw a sleeping Ateara and smiled, then drifted off into a deep sleep himself. They didn't wake up until it was nightfall and then they both headed back home, where everyone was worried.
They could only see Ateara but not Seth who was standing next to him. When they asked what he had been doing, they had become confused at the mention of Seth.
"Seth! What's going on? Why can't they see you or act like they don't know you? Has this got something to do with…" Ateara stopped when he noticed Seth's expression had changed suddenly.
"Medea! This is what she does. She removed me from the minds of people around me, only you are not affected because of our deep bond. All you have to do is keep telling your family about me, or show them images of our fondest memories to break the spell. Eventually, they should start to remember me but I don't know how long it will take," Seth advised.
"Is there another option?" Ateara asked.
"Kill Medea. However, it isn't that easy," Seth explained. "You are protected from any harm," he added.
"What's that supposed to mean? What have you done?" A frightened Ateara asked.
"It's not important, keep planning our big day, I promise I will be there. For always and forever," Seth said, wrapping Ateara into his arms.
That night when they went to bed, Seth slept soundly as usual, but Ateara was wide awake, worrying about what Seth meant and what was to come.