A/N: So this is my new story. It's set in Tudor England, heavily influenced by real history, Philippa Gregory and Game of Thrones. Anything you recognize is not mine.
Also remember all the lovely families in TVD, forget about them, now. They are mixed up in here, if at any time reading this fic you guys get confused holler at me and will give you a concise family tree. Now to the fic:
"Half of writing history is hiding the truth" – Joss Whedon, Firefly
Legends talk of his bravery, how he single-handedly brought an opposing army to their knees. They spoke of his strength, of all the pain he had endured but still he fought on. And they spoke of how handsome he was, how women swooned simply by the curve of his smile or the twinkling of his eyes.
But history is written by scholars and those that are not directly linked, history is influenced by what the victors want the future generations to know, many details are left out, people are left nameless and deserving accolades withheld. It is always the ones that are unseen by the history writers, who view the real history: the true nature of the holders of the famous names, and the truth behind their deeds
The passion and emotion that comes with an epic love are barely given justice in the pages of history books. The ones that shine the brightest, that makes the plates shift and hearts flutter, these are the ones that are left in the shadow of legends of great men and epic battles. The women just props in the background, beautiful objects for men to brag about.
On the surface, the story of Klaus and Caroline seems no more different than those of various other royals throughout history, but below the fights, and the crowns, and the blood, lies a love story so complex, so earth-shattering, and all-consuming that no two paragraphs in an encyclopedia would ever be able to depict.
"What praise is more valuable than the praise of an intelligent servant?" – Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
Alexandra 'Lexie' Branson had been employed with the Forbes since birth. Her mother, a talented cook with a compassionate ear, served in the kitchens and when Lady Elizabeth married Lord William, she became her confidante, whenever the troubles of her marriage, and the Lord's various indiscretions, became too much to bear.
Lexie's father was a groundskeeper in the Forbes' household, who loved her mother more than anything else in the world, and sat by her bedside every night as her fever got worse. When she passed on, he wept for days, his own death coming far too quickly after hers.
At the loss of both parents, Lexie was cared for by the Forbes family, who loved and honored her parents so deeply that they could not turn out their only child. Lexie, moved her way up the ranks in the servant hood of the household, until she was 16 and she became the ladies maid to the Forbes' two teenage daughters, Caroline and Elena.
The girls were one year apart in age, but poles apart in everything else. Caroline, was fair-skinned with blonde hair while Elena had darker features and thick chestnut hair. The girls were both considered attractive but Elena was known as the town's beauty, her amount of interested suitors far outweighed Caroline's. It was almost a known fact by the Forbes that even though Caroline was the elder, Elena would be the first to wed.
Every servant has their favorite: the one they would not mind running to the village at nine in the evening for, or sneaking an extra roll up to, and Lexie was no exception. Even though she was tasked to serve both the Forbes' girls, she always cared a little bit more for Caroline. Elena was never cruel to her, but yet, Elena never saw her as more than someone to lace her corsets or help her with her tasks. Caroline, on the other hand, always went the extra mile. Perhaps it was her way of overcompensating: Elena was the great beauty; she had to be the one with the great heart. She would engage with Lexie for hours, about simple subjects such as how Lexie's needlework was going or simply what the latest gossip about the baker's daughter who ran off with the blacksmith's son was, she always made it seem as if Lexie had something interesting to say, that she was important.
On January 8th, Mrs. Lockwood, the housekeeper, woke Lexie at 05h30. Her day usually began at 6am, as none of the Forbes were particularly early risers, but that half an hour meant a lot of extra work in the eyes of Mrs. Lockwood. Within minutes, Lexie was following behind Mrs. Lockwood, and seating herself at the servant's table for breakfast.
"So who did you say we are expecting, Mrs. Lockwood?" asked Miss Bennett, Lady Forbes' maid.
"Is it a travelling theater show?" April, one of the cleaning maids, offered up, a bit too eagerly for Mrs. Lockwood's taste.
"Or perhaps a suitor for one of the girls?" Trevor, a footman, suggested when Mrs. Lockwood remained tightlipped.
"I actually didn't say," Mrs. Lockwood responded, "but if you must know, a member of the King's court will be in attendance with us this afternoon to paint portraits of the girls to take back to the castle. The King is considering them as candidates for his new wife." Mrs. Lockwood resumed eating as if she had simply announced the general itinerary of the day.
The other servants around the table stared at her, shocked, out of all the scenarios that they assumed was going to take place that did not cross any of their minds.
"Are you saying that one of the girls might become the next Queen of England?" April questioned excitedly.
Trevor scoffed, "One of the girls? Of course it's going to be Elena."
"You don't know that," Miss Bennett piped in, "I heard the King's last wife, the one that died of a mysterious illness was blonde, he might have a preference for blondes. All men like different types."
"Thank the good Lord for that!" remarked Ayanna, the Cook as she passed through to refill Trevor's porridge bowl.
"It could be neither of them too," noted Mrs. Lockwood, "The King is considering numerous girls from notable homes and some from other countries as well, the girls are just two in a pile. Let us not get our hopes up, but alas we have to be on our best behavior and make sure everything looks presentable when he arrives. We are going to need all hands on deck, even the ladies maids and the valets." Mrs. Lockwood gestured towards Lexie, Miss Bennett and her husband, Mr. Lockwood, who served as Lord Forbes' valet.
After breakfast was complete, not without April and the other maids continuing to discuss the gowns and jewels the girls would have if they were to become Queen, Mrs. Lockwood pulled Lexie aside, "Lexie, I will need you to take this vase of flowers to the main sitting room. Put it adjacent to the blue chaise on the right hand side of the room." Lexie nodded, understanding fully Mrs. Lockwood's complex instructions, growing up under Mrs. Lockwood's care had its perks.
As she reached the sitting room, she heard the sounds of a whispered argument. This was strange as the Forbes were usually still asleep at this time, but the slightly ajar door revealed a very much awake, fully dressed Lord and Lady Forbes, staring at each other with anger. Lexie knew that she should give them privacy but the oddity of the scene caused her curiosity to make the decision for her.
"William, they are just girls!" Lady Forbes hissed.
"Girls!" Scoffed Lord Forbes, "Caroline is almost eighteen and Elena, seventeen. They are old enough to bare children and certainly old enough to start performing their duties for this family."
"But not the King," Lady Forbes pleaded in a low voice, "His cruelty is notorious, surely you can marry them off to a viscount or anearl instead?"
"Rumors, that's all," he waved off her concerns, "Zachary claims that the King is nothing but good-natured and he is very interested in our parish and seeing that I have no sons, I would rather my land go to the King than a distant, ungrateful cousin."
"But –" Lady Forbes countered.
"I shall hear no more of this matter, Elizabeth!" Lord Forbes lifted his hand to halt any further conversation, "Make sure that are girls are awake and have begun to prepare."
Lexie hurried out of the hallway as she heard Lady Forbes footsteps become louder the closer she got to the sitting room door. Taking refuge in a vacant room, she breathed out a sigh of relief, her mind full of worry for what could await one of the Forbes' girls.
Once the vase was safely inserted in the sitting room (after Lord Forbes had left) and Lexie had performed numerous other duties throughout the house, she was summoned by Mrs. Lockwood to help the girls get ready. Lexie had been with Caroline and Elena through many occasions – balls, banquets, teas – but nothing prepared her for the sight that was currently in front of her.
"I'm so sorry Lexie, I know we've made a terrible mess of things," Caroline exclaimed as she rushed past her with another gown to show Elena.
"Oh Lexie, I just cannot decide which dress to wear. Mother says that red is the color of harlots and I really look the best in red. Caroline is wearing blue so that is out. I really do not have many colored gowns in my possession," Elena explained as she climbed inside a cream gown.
Lexie moved to help Elena lace up the gown that she was trying on.
"So what do you think he'll be like, Caroline?" Elena questioned.
"Who?" Caroline replied.
"Why the King of course!"
"Oh I do not know, powerful perhaps, aided with an infinite ego."
"Do you think he's handsome?"
"I suppose he needn't be, he is King, his subjects will tell him he's handsome even if he isn't," Caroline responded nonchalantly.
"Oh Caroline, don't be melancholy, we can go riding tomorrow. But Cook says that her sister works in the capital and she has seen the King, and she claims that he is the most handsome man she has ever set eyes on."
"Well Cook does have the tendency to exaggerate, I'm sure it is a family trait. But Elena, I think you look beautiful in that dress. Don't you agree, Lexie?"
"Yes milady! You look like a queen," Lexie commented.
Elena smiled, impressed with her answer, "Perhaps you are right, I don't look too bad in cream and perhaps because it is close to white, it would make me look more like a bride to the King."
Caroline nodded, "Definitely, you look exactly like a prospective bride."
Once Elena looked up to standard and went to her mother to have her inspect her chosen gown, Lexie helped Caroline to style her hair.
"Caroline, whatever could be the matter?" Lexie questioned as she brushed out Caroline's beautiful long locks.
Caroline sighed deeply and responded, "I don't know why Father is making me sit for the portrait. If the King is going to choose one of us it's going to be Elena. It's always Elena. I try so hard, but it's never me, I don't know why I bother."
Lexie tugged at Caroline's hair, which made the other blonde screech with pain.
"You listen to me, Caroline Forbes, and you listen well because I shall only say this once: You are just as, if not even more, beautiful than Elena. These idiots in this godforsaken town do not know true beauty even if it hit them on their head. Although I think a king cannot discern a good queen by simply a portrait as there is much more to be being a queen that simply one's physically beauty, I think you would make a fine queen, you are kind, you are smart and you light up every room that you enter. Elena has conventional beauty but she does not have the warmth and the loving nature that you do. I don't know this King but he would be a damn fool to choose anyone else but you."
Caroline offered her a warm smile and responded, "Thank you, Lexie. I don't know what I would be able to do without you."
"Well," Lexie joked, "You might have to learn fast if the king chooses you. You will be surrounded by fancy ladies-in-waiting from all the noble homes, you would forget all about me."
"I would never forget you," Caroline answered earnestly, "And I'm not like Elena, I don't aspire for a royal match. I wish for a love match, even though that seems unlikely, I wish for a man that will love me with his whole heart, who would not just see me as mother or a pretty wife. I wish for a marriage with passion and tenderness, and if that means that would have to marry the poorest man in the village I would not mind."
"For you all you know, you might have this amazing love with the king."
"If the fates incline me to marry him I hope that you are right," Caroline responded.
'Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks' – Plutarch
Alaric Saltzman was tired. Tired and homesick. For three weeks he had been traveling around the country, painting portraits of prospective wives for the king. Sleeping at inns, eating in the homes of the nobility, so eager to treat someone who works for the king well.
He could not complain about his treatment, he truly was treated like royalty. Parents hoping that if they butter him up, he would paint their daughters in a more flattering light.
It was not the job that upset him. It was an honor to be chosen by the king, purely based on his talent, to be the official court painter; it would be what he will tell his grandchildren one day. No, it was the timing. His wife, Jenna had just given birth to their first child and he was not there to see it because he was busy trying to replicate the cushiony cheeks of the face of one, Lady April of Youngschurch.
The girls were just like their parents: pompous and far too eager for the crown. If they knew how much it work and pain it takes them to keep their crown, they would wish for a simpler life. So he was not eager to paint the Ladies Forbes of the seaside town of Fallshire, listening to one girl jabbering about the gowns that she would own as queen was challenging enough, but two, he would need to be a saint to survive that.
The Forbes parents were predictable, rushing to accommodate him, listing ways, which their daughters would be good queens, describing their skills and talents like they were prized horses. The first girl that he painted, Elena, had a beautiful, symmetrical face, which made it simple for him to paint. Elena spoke about how she could speak French and Spanish perfectly, how everyone commends her pianoforte and Alaric rolled his eyes, this all sounding too familiar.
He cleaned his brushes while he waited for the other daughter to make her appearance. He expected a replica of Elena, perhaps more arrogant, but the girl who came bouncing into the sitting room was a radiant beauty. She had kind blue eyes; accentuated cheekbones, which seemed to give her face so much character, and an infectious smile, which made the corners of his mouth turn up involuntarily.
"Good day, where would you like me to sit?"
Alaric was silent for a minute, allowing his eyes to wander over her interesting face one more time before he instructed her where to sit and in what position and he began to paint her.
Caroline's conversation topics differed to Elena's and the other girls that he painted. She did not attempt to sell herself listing her achievements, she barely spoke about herself, and neither did she ask him about life at court. Instead she asked him about how he started painted, whether he enjoyed it, if there was anything else he wanted to do with his life. She asked about Jenna, how they met, how he felt when he found out she was pregnant etc. For many people, her questions might have sounded intrusive or inquisitive, but to him it was a welcome change. Never had any of the subjects in his series of portraits been interested in him as a person and he enjoyed talking about Jenna and his family, the love he felt for them being pored out into the painting as he replicated Caroline's face on the canvas. In his opinion, her choice of topics said a lot about her character – that she's interested in others above herself and her own matters, especially someone that was a class beneath her.
He lost track of time, as he was painting Caroline, telling her about the summer's day when he met Jenna, her just a farmer's daughter, and he a painter, and how every night after the first time they met, he would attempt to paint her from memory buthers was the first portrait that he painted that he was unsatisfied with. It was like every time that he would see her, he would notice another aspect of her beauty, which he failed to notice the night before when was painting. And he would go back and try again, but each time he would fall short, it was like she was too stunning to commit to canvas. She was his enigma.
Caroline smiled to herself as she listened to him. He was not usually a big talker, Jenna played that role, but there was something about Caroline, which encouraged him to share with her and he reveled in the first time that he really enjoyed himself which performing his duty for the King. He was sorry to leave the Forbes' household once he had completed Caroline's painting, but there were many other ladies across the nation waiting for their portrait to be painted and he has said farewell to the family, he gave Caroline an extra nod, saying a silent prayer that she might be the next Queen of England.
"The Empire does not require that its servants love each other, merely that they perform their duty." – J.M. Coetzee, Aspettandoibarbari
Jonas Martin had been a manservant at court for 23 years. He served three kings, five queens and countless royal children. His longevity at court was something to be admired, in a country where every second person was tried for treason merely for blinking during the Lord's Prayer. Jonas knew who to trust, how to act and where to get the best information.
The King trusted Jonas more than he trusted his own flesh and blood, especially since the loyalty of his own kin were so questionable. Jonas did not have any passionate feelings or any strong sense of religion, he believed that God chose the King and he was to be respected. If the King should announce that church was to be held in barns instead of stone buildings, Jonas would follow him. If the King should wake up one morning and decide that there any man with brown hair was a witch, he would agree with the King, because the King was second only to the angels and heavenly beings, what right did he as a common man have to question him?
The young members of court did not think like him, they were full of passionate ideas of reform, which would just end up as their death sentence. They spoke too loudly about subjects which wiser men have lost their heads for. But these men do not know war, and pain and suffering. They have lived privileged lives, lucky enough to be born into noble families. They do not know how much is lost when one tries to bring about reform, how much blood is shed, there is no glamour in war.
As a young man he fought for the crown, he defended his King on the battlefield and watched as good men from well-respected families fell like rag dolls when faced with the swords of the enemies. The swords do not discriminate, they do not care how much gold your father owns or what a fair maiden your mother was, the sword has one aim and that is to kill whoever gets in its' way.
But the young men, who filled up the courts too easily and who infiltrated impressionable minds with the lofty and unrealistic dreams, were not like those who fought in the battle, these men were arrogant and over-confident. They believed themselves untouchable, but that was because they had not experienced the wrath of the King. Those who had lost family members to Tower or to the axe were more modest, more likely to whisper or keep their head down when in the presence of the sovereign, knowing better than to doubt the cruelty of the King.
"Martin!" Matthew Donovan, one of such gentleman, interrupted him from his thoughts as he wandered the grounds, "Your Grace and Lord Salvatore require your presence."
Jonas nodded his head as he followed the blonde head of the young man. Matthew was awarded his place at court as the Donovan family was one of the King's gentry, his father being Sir Charles Donovan, the Earl of Lancaster and his sister was Queen Juliet, the King's beloved second wife who gave birth to the King's heir and died from a mysterious illness.
It was by birthright and not by duty that an insolent child like Matthew held a higher position in court than he did. Jonas knew almost everything that was happening at court and he knew that Matthew spent more time trying to charm the ladies maids or drinking with the other young men, and not nearly enough time performing his duties in the household of Lord Salvatore, the King's main advisor. But these concerns were not Jonas' priority, as long as Lord Salvatore and his subjects continued to respect the wishes of the King, he was happy.
"I think the King has selected a wife," Matthew told him in a hush whisper as they made their way into the King's wing of the castle, "Lord Salvatore has brought him portraits of many beautiful women, but apparently the King has narrowed his choices down to three daughters of noblemen." Jonas nodded, understanding that his task now stood to alert the various applicable people about the King's choice.
They walked in on the King and his advisor poring over various portraits, rejected girls who were not attractive enough for the King's tastes and whose families were not wealthy enough to make up for their lack of beauty portraits were laying on the ground, waiting for a servant to pick them up.
"Your Grace, I really think that you should consider one of the Forbes' girls," Lord Salvatore remarked to the King, "While the Fell girl is certainly beautiful, her father is too smart for us to be able to take his land, it would not be a mutually beneficial relationship. The Forbes' girls are equally beautiful, my sources reveal that they are intelligent and are genteel enough to be a capable and regal queen. In addition, William Forbes has prime land by the sea, which is good for trade and my consultations with him has revealed that he will handover his land, as part of the dowry if you should choose one of his daughters. He is also a protestant and has long since donated to your cause."
The King ran a hand over his face before picking up the two portraits of the Forbes girls, he looked at each one intently, studying their faces, their expressions, what emotions their eyes held, before putting one down and handing the other to Lord Salvatore. "This one, she shall be my queen."
Lord Salvatore turned to Jonas and beckoned him closer, "Martin, please inform Lord Gilbert that King Mikael has selected Caroline Forbes."
A/N: I promise with my cold dead heart that this is a Klaroline story and your beloved Klaus will be in the next chapter and they shall meet. Also where he fits in will be explained. Holler at me in the reviews, tell me what you think, or ask me what you what you want to know.
Also, I do a lot of research but there will historical inaccuracies and I know the TVD names are not British royal names, but lets turn a blind eye to that.
A special thank you to my beta Tanya (angellus08 on FF and klarolijahs on tumblr) let Tanya know if there's any mistakes, and Nicole who made the cover (nfinneman on tumblr). I love these two more than life.
Catch me on tumblr at gendryaslove