Renesme's Dream

Chapter 43: The Fight, Part I

All at once, different types of attacks assaulted my shield. Alec's numbing appeared as a million tiny pin pricks of shining gray light. Jane's torturing punch came as dark crimson blows. Chelsea's confusion came as a flashing bright light. They all assaulted me at once making me flinch for just a quarter of a second.
"Benjamin is about to go."
Edward narrated for me as I closed my eyes, focusing on my shield.
I already knew what was coming, so the loud roar of soil tearing itself from its earthen bead did not startle me. Benjamin pulled up the earth to form a wall between the two armies. Zafrina used her imaging powers to make the Volturi see the wall as a thick slab of steel.
"It's working!" Edward said excitedly.
I strengthened my shield a tiny bit, knowing that when they figured it out, their furious attacks would come even harder than before.
"Wait...Aro's figuring it out." he said disappointed. We had hoped that it would confuse them for long enough for a few of our soldiers to sneak around and take them by surprise.
At Aro's command, they ran strait through the dirt, crashing the wall down in a shower of soil.
"Zafrina!" Jasper called. I knew that by now, Zafrina would be filling their minds with false images of swirling blackness and loud noises to distract and confuse them.
"Now!" Jasper led the charge, taking up his old role as military leader. He led them strait into the Volturi. I shuddered as the sound of grating nails on unpolished porcelain hit my ears as their bodies collided.
Teeth gnashed, nails raked, and limbs tore. Screams of both agony and victory danced with each other on the night breeze.
I focused in on my shield, making sure its spread over each one of my family members and friends was even and strong. It ebbed and flowed like liquid mercury mixed with rubber. The resulting creation was a pliable, thin, sturdy veil that swirled in metallic sliver and black clouds over the surface of my shield. It was flexible and easy to form at my will, molding itself over the ever moving forms of my family and friends.
I forced myself to concentrate, to view the fight through the changes in my shield, rather than opening my eyes. I could see much more of it this way- every little detail was brought to my attention by the shifting form of my shield. When Rosalie leaped into the air to avoid an attack, I saw the move as I moved my shield to leap with her. When Emmett smashed the head off of a Volturi guard, I saw it happen as my shield moved along with his fist.
Carmen and Eleazar Teamed up against a group of Volturi, springing off of each other in a graceful dance as they took down guard after guard. 
I saw every move, felt every action as I managed my shield. The natural urge to watch with my eyes was overwhelming. Only with great concentration did I manage to keep them closed.
"You're doing beautifully, Bella love. Jane is becoming increasingly furious that her powers have no effect." Edward's voice was smug next to me. "And Alec is fuming....wait a moment....what are they doing?" His voice tremored. It took all the self will I had not to open my eyes to see what he meant.
"What? What Edward?" I demanded.
"The Volturi are sending part of their army from the rear up the sides, it looks like they're heading for the ridge."
The wolves snarled in anticipation, pawing the ground eagerly and glancing back and forth. 
Edward took a step behind me, turning his back to mine. "I'll try to keep them off of you."
"Call for help!" I said.
"Emmett! Jasper!" He hollered, his voice lost among the racket of gnashing teeth. There was no was his brothers could have heard him.
The Volturi soldiers were half way up the ridge now, and I could feel my concentration slipping. The wolves charged at them, their strong teeth ripping off limbs and heads. 
With a jolt of fear I felt Edward step away from me, into the fight. Dread and terror filled my thoughts, distracting me.
"No!" I told myself. "I must focus!"
A moment later I felt him at my back again. "The wolves took care of most of them. They're gone." I heaved a sigh of relief and refocused.
The Volturi leaders were in the center of the valley,