Part I: Little Red Riding Hood, featuring Caroline & Klaus
Caroline gathered the last of the freshly baked bread and pies and placed them into her basket. She held her tongue as her mother continued to hover.
"Now, you will be careful, won't you?"
"Yes, mother..."
"Remember, stick to the path and -"
"Don't talk to wolves," Caroline sighed, rolling her eyes.
Her mother, who was also the Sheriff in their small village, said the same thing every time she went to deliver food to the poor and sick on the other side of the woods.
"Don't take that tone with me, young lady - you just remember what happened to Hayley Marshall," her mother cautioned.
"Well, what was she doing out in the woods on a full moon, I'd like to know," Caroline began.
"Never you mind," her mother said. "Just know that the wolves are not to be trusted and that one of them lured that poor girl out there - she hasn't been seen since."
"Yes, mother," Caroline dutifully replied.
Although Caroline kept her thoughts to herself, she was beginning to wonder if wolves even existed. She had certainly never seen one. Nothing even half as exciting as meeting a real wolf happened to her during her many sojourns into the woods.
Besides, no one really knew what had truly happened to Hayley. No one had seen her since that fateful night, but that didn't necessarily mean she was dead, torn to pieces by wolves - did it?
Caroline let out a small snort of disbelief. Men who lure women into the woods and turn into wolves each month on the night of the full moon - honestly.
She had long suspected her mother used Hayley's disappearance and the tale of wolves in order to ensure she didn't dally in the woods too long.
Personally, she thought it rather obvious that Hayley had merely moved on in her search for her family and that wolves simply didn't exist.
Her mother continued, oblivious to her young daughter's thoughts.
"Now, I'll be at the castle all day today, going over security precautions. Are you sure you wouldn't rather go to the ball tonight?" she asked anxiously.
Caroline scoffed. "No mother - no one will notice me, not when Elena of the Mystical Falls will be there."
"Caroline," her mother gently chided. "Elena is lovely, but so are you. The prince would have to be blind not to notice you. I'm quite certain my debutante dress would fit you -"
"No, mother!" Caroline exclaimed, horrified. "Thank you," she hastily added. The only thought more depressing than going to a royal ball and being ignored while everyone simpered over the magical, ethereal Elena was wearing her mother's old ball gown.
"I would much rather do my good works for the poor and sick," Caroline said.
"I suppose there will be other royal balls and the opportunity to catch the prince's eye," her mother mused. "There's no reason your first kiss shouldn't be with a prince," she continued. "And then you'll marry and live happily ever after."
Her mother smiled happily as she looked upon her daughter fondly.
Caroline smiled an obligatory smile at her mother's vision of her future but remained silent. Although every young woman dreamed of finding a prince, a magical kiss and living happily ever after - Caroline wasn't certain that was the future she saw for herself.
I don't quite know what I want...
"Besides, tonight 's ball will be focused on the princess and her choice of suitor. The king told me in the strictest confidence that he plans on announcing her engagement at midnight."
"Do you know, I've never once seen the princess outside of the castle to do good works around the village," Caroline said, the disapproval heavy in her voice.
The Sheriff sighed. "Well, it's not always easy being a princess, poor thing - her family is very protective of her."
"Don't forget, mother, I'll be staying with Kat and her family tonight on the other side of the woods once I deliver everything. I'll be home tomorrow morning."
"Alright, dear. Remember, be careful, stick to the path -"
"And don't talk to wolves," Caroline recited.