AN: I've never written a period piece before and I have hated history since it was introduced to me in the... third grade was it? If its any consolation I've read Jane Austin. Okay that's not a qualification but I will do my very best.
Elena Gilbert was no longer a Gilbert. She had been exiled to England. Her father had given her enough money to survive on for a month, if she exercised economy. Seventeen, or rather sixteen years of being an exemplary daughter and her severance was six dresses, one she was wearing, two pairs of shoes, a corset, a toothbrush and a washcloth. All packed neatly into a small suitcase by her very sad but unopposing mother. "Pardon me Miss," a male voice pulled her to present reality, "Do you need help with your bag?"
"Thank you, you're very kind," she handed it over, "I am Elena," she offered her hand.
"Trevor," he put his fingers under hers and gently lay his thumb over them. She curtsied. After a small nod he let her hand go.
"Do you know the country well?" she asked, "I'm looking for a place to stay."
"Why yes Miss Elena," Trevor nodded, "Right this way," he offered her his arm. Elena put her hand in the crook of it and they walked. "You are not from here," Trevor could tell by the accent.
"No, I am not," Elena said sadly. She was so homesick already. "I hail from America," she smiled.
"Welcome to England. I hope it won't be too much of a disappointment to one used to the land of dreams," Trevor smiled back. He could see the sadness in Elena's eyes. It was the very thing that drew him in. She'd stood there for at least ten minutes looking so lost and so sad she did not seem to notice the passage of time.
"I'll just have to bear it then, won't I?" Elena put her head on his shoulder without conscious thought, "Apologies," she removed it at once, "I'm just so tired," she explained. If she didn't want her stay in England to meet the same tragic end as her American existence she was to learn propriety.
"Perhaps it would be wise to rent a carriage then," Trevor came to a halt, "We have a long way to go and the sun is not on our side."
"I'm sure the walk is just what I need to get the blood going," Elena fibbed. There was no way she could afford to rent a carriage.
"I fear I won't be able to fend off danger if I tire myself so. Please allow me to rent a carriage Miss Elena," Trevor pleaded. He guessed that Elena's objection to the carriage was economic and ventured to be a gentleman. It was not polite to mention a lady's lack of fortune.
"You are very sweet," she blinked back tears. She could see what Trevor was trying to do. No one had been kind to her in a long time. It was the price she paid for bringing such shame upon herself and upon her family. "Thank you," she smiled. They rented a carriage and Trevor told her all about the countryside.
"How will you get home?" Elena asked. It was in her nature to worry about others.
"I'll walk," he smiled, "I live close to where you'll find lodging."
"It will make me very glad to have you as a neighbor," Elena replied. She told him about America as they journeyed through the countryside.
"Here we are," he helped her out of the carriage. It was a modest cottage with a small garden.
"Do you think they have any vacancies?" she asked when they were standing alone with the carriage going back to where it came from.
"I wouldn't have brought you here otherwise," Trevor assured, "I'm not that much of a cad," he smiled.
"I would never think that of you," Elena brushed his forearm, "And those are not the vacancies I was inquiring about."
"You're looking for work?" Trevor was surprised, to say the least.
"I must find some means of sustaining myself," she looked down.
"You're not an old maid," he shook his head at her, "You can't be older than twenty and, if I may say so, you're very beautiful."
"You think my time would be better spent looking for a husband," she started towards the little house.
"You don't?" he was puzzled. Elena was quiet. She was ruined even though no one on this continent knew it. How could she marry a man without telling him that she had borne a child out of wedlock? How could she expect him to marry her if she did? Worse, what if he was so appalled he spoke her shame to others? "Life is for living Miss Elena," he continued. She forced a smile. Life without all the people she cared about was empty.
"And I will live it better if we are friends," Elena stopped and turned to her companion when they reached the threshold.
"Then consider it improved," Trevor smiled and offered his hand to help her across. She placed her hand in his and walked inside. A stout, sweet-looking woman greeted them.
"Thank you Trevor," Elena curtsied.
"Pleasure meeting you Miss Elena," Trevor kissed her hand and took his leave. Elena took her dinner in her room. She didn't have the energy for a bath. The reality of her situation hit her like a ton of bricks. She collapsed on top of the covers and cried herself to sleep heaving painful sobs. Trevor walked home with a smile. Elena was a sweet girl. Despite her sadness she had managed to cheer him up. "Good evening Rose," he smiled as he walked into the little cottage the two shared. Rose looked at him pensively then looked down. "What have I done now?" he rolled his eyes. Trevor had been the kind of human who never turned a beggar away or passed a weeping woman without offering a shoulder. A trait that, in its magnified state, annoyed Rose to no end.
"You've angered my brother," the response came from Elijah, just outside the light cast by the candle.
"My Lord," Trevor bowed automatically.
"The Lord Niklaus is a little underwhelmed by his upcoming birthday party," Elijah stood deliberately, "This is not yet a problem but, knowing his temper, I'm sure none of us want it to become one."
"Of course not My Lord," Trevor shook his head.
"What are we going to do about it?" the original changed his stance to face both Trevor and Rose.
"We'll make the manor stunning My Lord," Rose promised, "A shipment of the finest wine coming in tomorrow. It- it was delayed but that's been sorted out now. We're back on schedule and everything will be ready in two days, if we have to work through the night to get it that way. Isn't that right Trevor?"
"Yes My Lord," Trevor nodded fervently.
"Anything you would like to add to your friend's efforts?" Elijah honed in on Trevor.
"There is a beautiful gem I brought for the Lord Niklaus," it just slipped from Trevor's mouth, "A woman from America, very beautiful."
"There is hope for you yet," Elijah gave a smug little smile. Trevor opened the door. Elijah exited with his sister and walked off into the night.
"That was cruel brother," Rebekah smiled, knotting her arm into Elijah's and leaning into him.
"I suppose it was," Elijah conceded, "But this is how you get people to do things. Torture one and the rest fall in line."
"Brutal but effective," Rebekah smiled wider at her brother's logic. The two walked home at a leisurely pace.
"What did you just do?" Rose asked her close friend.
"I panicked," Trevor admitted, "He scares me."
"Does this woman even exist?" Rose clutched her hair.
"Not for entertainment," Trevor hissed. Elijah was a good way away by the time they'd started talking but they were still afraid to speak up.
"She is if you don't want the wrath of the originals coming down on us," Rose put a heavy hand on his shoulder, "Your inability not to ramble and say things like 'we'd be happy to plan a party for Lord Niklaus' is going to ruin us Trevor. From now on, say as little as possible to and around Elijah. If you can't do that then let's move to the South Pole."
"They make really nice boots there," Trevor wasn't really joking. Being terrified of Elijah was ruining his life.
"Klaus would follow us there and kill us just on principle," Rosemary sat and put her head on the table.
"We'll get through this," Trevor rubbed her shoulder.
"Yes," Rose put her hand on top of his, "And when we do I'm going to beat you to a pulp."
"I deserve it," he nodded.
"That you do," Rose closed her eyes and moved to rest her head on their joined hands.
Some four miles from this family two brothers sat drinking wine. "Trevor has organized you some entertainment," Elijah mentioned.
"Five hundred years Elijah," Klaus sighed, "I've seen it all."
"I'm trying to cheer you up Niklaus," Elijah put down the glass he'd been cradling and not drinking during this entire conversation, "Try to enjoy yourself. Forget about the curse for one night. Be Niklaus the man, not the vampire, not the werewolf, just my brother."
"Not the bastard son of a dead adulterer," Klaus added.
"Forty eight hours sans bitterness and anger is all I ask brother," Elijah clapped his brother's shoulder.
"Since you ask so nicely," the blond polished off his wine. He snapped his fingers and a woman appeared.
"Niklaus," Elijah sighed as his younger brother put an arm around the woman's waist.
"Get off your high horse Elijah, you know well this is the fate that awaits the American you promise," Klaus moved his hand up her skirt and bit into her neck. His brother walked off quietly. Elijah's morality was ingrained in him. He could not watch this. But he had spent the past five centuries with his brother. He couldn't stop it either.