Noralise: A History
I never thought I would see the day where I watched every season of The Vampire Diaries and then wrote a fanfiction within its universe.
Nevertheless, Mary Louise and Nora have become one of my favorite, if not favorite, gay lady pairings to watch on television. They're just so adorable and evil together!
Knowing television, one of them will probably die and break my little gay heart, but I wanted to write their history and I had it all come to me on how I could do it. I hope you all enjoy! This is a three-part story that shows how Nora became involved with the Heretics and met her dear Mary Louise. :)
Chapter 1: Let Me Save You
19th Century England
Huff huff huff huff.
Nora was breathing hard and fast whilte she ran through the woods as she fled the small village. She could hear shouting and voices in the background, flamed torches, people chasing after her. More specifically, the members of her coven.
Whoosh!
"Ah!" she breathed out as she ran, her 11-year-old legs screaming as she ducked and dodged tree after tree after tree. It wasn't fair she couldn't access magic without a source; they would have the one up on her as she tried to make her escape.
Her breathing was ragged and she was tiring out, only a small and thin girl, and so young still. She felt tears prick her eyes, she thought about quitting, and just as she nearly dropped, she saw it up ahead; the riverbank. All she needed was to hop in the river and pray to whatever god might exist that it carried her away without too much damage.
Only yards away now, she felt a smile reach her lips as she continued to run, her long dress filthy on the bottom, her long brown locks disheveled. It was the first time she smiled in months, and the first time in months she was so close to freedom.
"She's heading to the river!"
The voices were closer now, the legs of grown men far stronger than her at this point in time. She was close, she was yards away now, and she cried out as she made her way to the clearing.
"Almost there," she thought, her face full of gratitude. She could almost taste the water.
WHOOSH.
"Ah!" Nora screamed out, her ankle twisting from a spell and taking her down to the ground.
"No no no!" she internally panicked, her breathing heavy.
She was strong. So strong. Perhaps too strong for a girl so young, and she lifted herself off of the ground on her good leg. She pushed up and went to put weight on her bad ankle, hissing out in pain as she tumbled back down. It was no good. The ankle was broken.
She hoisted herself up on her elbows and began an army crawl, she could still hear them shouting. They couldn't be far back now, she had less than a minute at most. She felt warm tears fall down her face, not aware they were mixing with the blood from the gash on her forehead. She could worry about such things later. No way would she be taken back, imprisoned, abused, by the coven that was supposed to be her family, her home. Nora had always known she was different than the others her age, but never did she think animosity at such a difference would render the terrors she had faced.
Only a few yards away from the bank now. She could make it. She was so close.
"Edere!"
Nora panicked as she felt magic tug on her ankles, pulling her back, crying out in pain at her already injured ankle.
She had been so close, yet so far.
Nora huffed and puffed, the feet of several men stopping near her, people from her village surrounding her.
"We got her! Send word back, we can handle this from here," the man shouted, one running back to gather the others and head to the village while the other four stood by to help their leader.
"Well, well, you think you could actually get away now could ya?"
Nora tried to breathe deeply, holding back her tears. She wouldn't let them see her fear. She would fight to the bloody end. She felt the man grab her arm and yank her up and onto her back, jeering over her as Nora defiantly glared back. He chuckled at her.
"A ten year old girl, a freak of nature, and you think you can defy the most powerful witches in this village? How stupid could you be?"
Nora breathed deeply, holding onto the arm that held the top of her dress, refusing to show weakness.
"You're a defiant one, ain't ya?"
She breathed deeply, looking into his eyes, the smugness he wore.
"How conceited," she thought.
Little did he notice the small amount of magic she was dragging out of him, slowly building herself up so she could make one last attempt. This was her only shot.
"Now, what am I going to do with you, hm? How am I going to ensure you never try something like this again?"
She saw the menacing look in his eyes, the same look he had every time he tortured her. The leader of the village had taken her away from her parents once they learned of her nature. A siphoner, that was what they dubbed her, and her leader was intent on making sure the coven would not have to deal with such hubris in it's future.
Nora gritted her teeth, calmed her breathing, and as he stared at her in triumph, she smirked.
She head butted the man as hard she could, temporarily stunning him. She rolled him off her, one hand on his chest as she blasted the others to the ground with a spell, sucking his magic as she did so. The four others fell, and she hopped up, stumbling towards the river as she healed herself. She was so close.
She made it to the edge and was about to jump when, bam!
Nora fell backwards, looking incredulously at the clear air.
"A blocking spell?" she thought incredulously.
She turned back and saw the four men attempting to rise, the leader turning over as well, and looking up to find small Nora there. His rage turned to humor as he laughed.
"Oh, little Nora is still too scared to jump, is she? Well then darling, it looks like you've sealed your own fate."
Nora was confused, she didn't understand. How? Where was the block coming from?
By this time the leader had risen to his feet, several yards away and ready to tear her to pieces.
"You broke my nose love. Now? Now, I'm going to show you what real pain looks like."
Nora's eyes widened in fear and terror, as he slowly approached, the other four on their feet now. She whimpered as she looked about in terror. She was out of options.
Crack!
The leader paused, turning towards the woods, hearing the branches crack. All five men looked around towards one another, unsure of what caused the sound.
"Who goes there?" one shouted out, an eerie silence following.
All five continued looking, Nora searching as well. That's when she could feel it; they were not alone.
"Huh!?"
Two of the men went whooshing back into the woods, the rest looking in awe. It only took a few seconds before heard blood curdling screams echoed off the trees to their ears. The leader's eyes grew incredulous as he looked to his other men, turning back to look at Nora, whose eyes were just as large. He realized she had nothing to do with this, and walked over to his companions.
"Whoever you are, come out here!"
The three stood in silence, listening intently. Again, no noises to be heard. It's as if the entire forest lay quiet in fear of what lurked in its shadows. Nora continued to look beyond them, trying to understand. She thought an idea, and began scooting towards the bank until she felt it's invisible wall press against her back. She took a deep breath, and began to slowly siphon magic from the wall.
The other three were still occupied with what lie beyond, Nora watching and waiting. As she drew magic from the source, she quickly observed her captors did not create this wall; someone else was out there. She used the magic to heal herself, mending her ankle slowly but surely. She was still a young witch, and found herself exhausted and her inexperience using much more magic and far more time than necessary.
Crack.
Nora perked up with the others, and before them all, a figure slowly walked out of the shadows.
It was hard in the night sky to see, but before she knew it, Nora found a woman in a long, dark blue dress, strolling out of the woods, strolling without a care in the world.
"She's beautiful," Nora thought, the blonde making her way towards the gentlemen who were between the two girls.
"Who the hell are you!?" the leader screamed, the moonlight highlighting her face. It was then that Nora noticed her face, her dress, her sleeves, and her hands… they were all covered in blood.
The woman chuckled at the question, looking at the leader with confidence and a smirk that uttered power and murder.
"Who I am is of no concern to you. I'm here for the girl."
Nora stiffened and watched the blonde. What could she possibly want with her?
"Well, that ain't gonna happen sweetheart. She's property of our coven. She belongs to us!" the leader snarled, ready for a fight.
The blonde chuckled again.
"On the contrary. You own no woman you simple-minded fool. She's above you, and we are taking her because unlike you, and your abuse, and you savagery, we will take care of her."
The leader froze, but smirked slowly after.
"I'm the leader of this coven you twitted woman!"
He began chanting in Latin, the other two men joining by throwing magic at the blonde. Nora froze, listening to his words and realizing he was attempting to throw a spell at her that would kill her. She was about to counterattack them from behind, but as she stood, a force pushed her back down. She looked across the grass towards the blonde and she finally met her eyes. She smiled at Nora confidently, winking, letting Nora know all of this magic was hers.
The leader attacked and threw a curse at the blonde, who finally tore her gaze from Nora and let it hit her. The leader laughed in victory, slowly walking towards the fallen blonde.
"No!" Nora shouted, but again, as she attempted to stand, she was held down. She looked around and felt relief. It meant the blonde was still alive.
As the leader ran towards the blonde at the edge of the clearing, she was nowhere to be found. He looked incredulously about, the spell should have killed her, and as he slowly turned around, Nora also looked back up to see the blonde in between the other two men, hearts in her hands.
The leader and Nora's eyes grew wide, the two men falling down, their hearts in the blonde's hands. His eyes grew in terror as she smiled, looking at both objects before letting them fall too. Nora was both mesmerized and fearful.
"H-How? That should have killed you! What are you!"
The blonde walked towards him slowly, smiling all the while. She held her hand out and the man's throat began to shut from the magic, choking the life out of him. She raised her arm as he was lifted into the air.
"My darling, as I said. You do not need to know who I am, and would you like to know why?" she said, finishing her strides to stand in front of him as he clawed at the invisible hand around his neck.
"Because you pathetic and ignorant fool, you are not worthy of knowing my name. For you see, I am just like this young and beautiful girl you tried to squander. And right now? Right now, the rest of my family is in the process of killing and destroying your entire coven for their bigotry."
Nora sucked in a deep breath, the words both a heart break and reprieve.
"You're not worthy of having such a girl among you," the blonde whispered, lowering him so he could stand, her grasp still firm.
She looked him dead in the eyes and smirked, that beautiful yet menacing smirk.
"And now? Now you get to die too."
Nora heard the crack of his neck, her leader's body falling. She sucked in a breath and felt her heart race, fear pumping through her veins. The blonde stood a moment longer, then turned back towards Nora. The brunette's breathing became rapid, because something scarier and more powerful than her coven was perhaps worse of a fate for her. She turned and tried to hit at the barrier but to no avail. She then turned back and sucked in a breath, the blonde being indescribably fast and now standing in front of her.
She watched the blonde, gritting her teeth, the defiance still in her eyes. The only thing was, the blonde held no menace, no malice, no ill intent in her gaze. Nora saw only kindness and love there, but still she kept her guard.
The woman before her slowly lowered herself to eye level, smiling gently. She began reaching towards Nora's ankle, the brunette attempting to jerk it away, but the older woman was too fast again.
"Hold still," she said gently, her eyes attempting to reassure Nora, before focusing back down at her ankle.
Nora sucked in a breath as the felt the magic hit her body, the blonde focusing and working to heal what was broken. Nora watched her in awe, and before she knew it, every bone was healed. The woman looked back up at her, her gaze landing on Nora's forehead.
"You have a deep gash as well. May I?"
Nora looked at her scared, wanting to run, to flee, but again, only kindness was before her. It took her several moments, but she nodded curtly, allowing the blonde to come closer, extending her hands and using magic to heal the cut.
Nora breathed in deeply as she felt it pour through her, feeling the wound's ache lessen until extinction. She was lost in the woman's eyes, and before she knew it, her whole body felt relief, every cut, every bruise, every ache from every torture these last few months finally dissipating into thin air.
The woman finally sat back on her knees, looking at Nora fondly.
"I'm not going to hurt you, Nora," she whispered slowly, forcing the young girl to focus.
Nora looked her up and down, the blood staining so many pieces of this woman, but again, Nora's fear continued to die down.
"My name is Mary Louise."
"H-How…How did you hear about me?" Nora asked, trying to understand why this woman would come.
Her coven had discovered her siphoning powers after months of hiding them, pretending she was like everyone else. They deemed her a freak, an abomination of nature, and Nora was out casted, neglected, and abused by everyone she had ever known and loved. Mary Louise simply looked and smiled sadly at her.
"To put it as simply as I may Nora, I am like you. However, my siphoning has been transformed, as you will, which is why you saw me able to use magic like I just did. I am a special sort of siphoner."
Nora listened and nodded slowly, feeing safer, and she felt the wall behind her dissipate.
"I'm sorry for entrapping you. I didn't want you to jump and risk your life like that."
Nora breathed deeply, looking back towards the river. She could jump. She could so easily jump once again, but she turned back towards Mary Louise and for the first time in ages, she felt no desire to run. She felt safe.
"W-What do you want with me?" she asked, feeling stupid for stuttering but unable to control her panic at this moment. All Mary Louise did was smile in return.
"My darling, we have come, my family and myself, to take you away from this place."
"Your family?"
"Yes dear. You see, you are not the only one who was born special, unique if you will. There are other siphoners like you, and also like you, we have been abused, hurt, imprisoned. But as we traveled through this part of England, we felt a shift and after searching, discovered another siphoner, you, nearby. We knew we had to come and find you."
Nora took everything in, listening to the blonde before her.
"I understand your hesitancy… I understand you may not want to come with us, after everything…." Mary Lou drifted off, Nora briefly remembering her entire village was probably in ruin.
"You have the choice to go on your own, but… but I promise we are here to help you, to be there for you… all of us, my family and I, we know the pain you have been through. We want you to join us."
Nora looked deeply into Mary Louise's eyes. The woman before her was absolutely beautiful. Her big eyes full of kindness, her face sincere, even with blood staining half of her perfect jawline. Her blonde hair shined in the moonlight, her body the perfect physique. Nora watched this goddess before her and began to weep.
Mary Louise reached for Nora just as Nora did the same, the small girl crying out as strong arms encircled her. She sobbed into her shoulder, and for the first time in her life, she felt understood… she felt what home feels like.
"It's okay my darling, I'm here to help you. We're all here to help you. You're safe now."
The words made Nora sob deeper and she felt herself rise off the ground, Mary Louise cradling the young girl bridal style as she headed back towards the village. Nora didn't notice the trees flash by in an instant, too busy clutching to Mary Louise for dear life. It wasn't until she smelled the smoke and ash and felt her savior slow down that she realized they had moved.
"Is she alright?"
Nora heard a female say, and she finally looked out in front of her, her arms still wrapped around Mary Lou's neck. She noticed a tall, thin and beautiful young woman before her, also stained in blood. A black man was behind her, watching Nora closely. Nora felt fear, until she saw him smile, kindness in his eyes as well. Was it a contradiction for kindness and bloodstaining to all be in one face?
"She will be," Nora heard Mary Lou say, feeling her strong arms tighten slightly.
Nora heard other footsteps approach, and turned her head to see another woman. The woman was beautiful as well, dark brown locks wrapped up in a bun. She smiled lovingly, heartbreakingly at Nora as she stood before them. She reached a hand out to Nora's face, the girl flinching slightly.
"It's okay Nora, this is Lillian. She's my mother," Mary Louise whispered, Nora, instantly relaxing.
Lily glanced at Mary Lou with a smile, then back down to Nora.
"Hello my dear," she said softly, rubbing her cheek gently.
Nora looked into her eyes and before she knew it, Lillian was lowering her head, planting a kiss on Nora's forehead, making the girl gasp.
"It's okay my darling. You're safe now. You're with family."
Lily pulled back, and Nora saw two other men approach her from behind, all smiling kindly, all stained in the blood of her people. In normal circumstances she would have felt fear, but tonight? Tonight she finally felt safe.
"The fires will have attracted nearby villages by now, we should really get moving."
The group nodded and began walking, Nora letting Mary Louise hold her as they went. For some time, she breathed quietly, letting Mary Louise take her. She toyed with her blonde hair, watched her face while they moved, and finally worked up the courage to speak.
"Where are we going, Mary Lou?"
Mary Louise smiled softly, already approving of the nickname given her.
"Anywhere we want my love. I promise, we'll be safe."
For the first time all night, Nora smiled, wrapping her arms more securely as the woman carried her off with the family, not knowing the adventure of a lifetime she was about to embark on.
Final author's notes. I understand that in the series, we see Mary Louise as very nervous and insecure. I still think I'm close to canon with her, her future self is just all sorts of nervous at the moment, but I think she's a badass deep down. Anywho. Read and review please and thank you.