Hello my lovelies! This is the result of a poll I had on my profile. This came in first, so I hope you enjoy the first chapter of this story! I tried to keep the characters true. I hope I succeeded.
The Setting for this story takes place in late 1100 and early 1200, during the time of the Crusades. In between the Second and third Crusade. This will be important later on. Also, for the sake of the story, Mystic Falls, the Kingdoms of Lockwood and Forbes are where England is. Keep this in mind.
Please review at the end and let me know what you think of this chapter! :)
The carriage rolled onward through the wooded area between the two kingdoms of Forbes and Lockwood.
Caroline Forbes sighed as she looked out the open window and into the woods she knew to be called Mystic Falls. She propped her arm on a small opening next to the door, and watched as the trees passed by, while she placed her chin on her opened palm.
"This is your wedding day, Princess. Should you not be happy?" Bonnie Bennett, her lady-in-waiting, asked from across Caroline.
Caroline turned her face, and frowned. "How can I be happy?" She asked, with a frustrated sigh. "I'm marrying a man I have only met four times, not to mention he is the most self-centered, egotistical, bad-tempered man I have ever met." She stated, her voice displaying her annoyance.
Bonnie smiled. "I have to say, Prince Tyler does not have the best reputation." She replied, her face contorting at his name.
"I should think not. He once sent a man to the dungeon for even approaching him." Caroline stated, shaking her head.
"I'm sure the prince had his reasons." Bonnie tried to reason.
Caroline shook her head once more. "The man was his personal guard, Bonnie. He was to protect the Prince, but Tyler sent him to the dungeon. I heard later, he had the man executed." Caroline added, with sad eyes.
"You were with him at the time." Bonnie replied, softly.
Caroline nodded. "I was. He thought he impressed me, by showing his power." She replied, looking down at her hands.
"How can I marry a man like that? Can you imagine it?" Caroline ranted, angry tears building up in her eyes.
Bonnie shook her head. "I cannot, Princess." She replied.
Caroline brushed her long blonde hair back, with an angry sigh.
Bonnie smiled at her Princess' attitude. Caroline was not like the other Princesses. When she had an opinion, she voiced it, especially if it was for the people. She loved her kingdom, and the people, which was refreshing.
When Caroline was a little girl, the council and even her father thought she was a homely girl. Her hair was always messy, and she had major freckles over her face, and she was always into something. She was a tomboy by heart, learning and mastering the sword and the bow. Bonnie had met Caroline when they were only seven years old, and they had become fast friends. It did not matter to Caroline if Bonnie was from another color, she was a wonderful person. Though many looked down at her for being the daughter of gypsies, Bonnie still smiled when she remembered the day someone ridiculed her for having a friendship with a white girl, Caroline stood proudly and said Bonnie was her best friend, the best friend of a princess, and if they had something to say, for them to say it. Since then, race was no longer an issue in the kingdom, thanks to Caroline.
Being close to the homely princess, meant Bonnie had witnessed Caroline's transformation first hand. The council and the people were amazed at what she had blossomed into. She had transformed from, what the people called, an ugly duckling, to the most beautiful woman in the kingdom. For this, everyone called her the Swan Princess.
It didn't matter to Caroline if she beautiful or not, and Bonnie knew it. She never even considered that she was beautiful, which completely affected her personality. Caroline was the sweetest person the kingdom had ever known, but she had a temper many shuddered at, which Bonnie had seen firsthand.
"I always dreamed of marrying a totally different person." Caroline began, moving her hands around.
"What kind of man, Princess?" Bonnie asked, watching her carefully.
Caroline sighed, and looked out the window once more. "Someone I can talk with, and who listens to me, someone who will treat me as an equal, not just an object to be had." She replied, her voice distant.
Bonnie smiled, faintly. "What about looks?" She asked, bringing Caroline back to the present.
Caroline laughed. "No doubt, he should be easy on the eyes." She replied with a nod and a wink.
"No doubt." Bonnie agreed with a smile, and they both erupted into laughter.
"What about you, Bonnie?" Caroline asked, after they had quieted.
Bonnie sighed. "I'm not sure." She replied in a whisper, reaching up and fiddling with her necklace.
"I'm sorry, I should not have asked." Caroline replied, reaching across, and grasping Bonnie's other hand.
Bonnie shook her head. "It's fine. It's just I miss him so much." She whispered, tears coming in her eyes.
"Damon was good man, Bonnie, just remember that." Caroline comforted.
Bonnie nodded, and let her tears fall. Damon Salvatore was a member of the royal guard, and Bonnie's intended. He had perished in the line of duty, and no one ever knew who had killed him and two others, and the King vowed he would find who would, but that had been a year ago. Many had thought it was the rebels living in Mystic Falls, but Caroline was not so sure. She had heard the rumors, and every rumor told of a family who lived in the forest, who stole from the kingdom, particularly the Lockwood kingdom, and helped the innocent who lived there. They never killed. They may injure, but never kill. At least that was what she had heard.
Caroline moved to the other seat with young girl, and pulled her into her embrace. She brushed Bonnie's brown hair and slowly rocked her.
"You'll find someone new, Bonnie. I'm sure of it." Caroline whispered, as Bonnie pulled back.
Bonnie shook her head. "No, I will not. I don't think I could risk being hurt again." She replied, looking at Caroline. "Enough about my problems, I hate burdening you, Princess." She added, sitting straight.
"It is no burden when it a friend, Bonnie." Caroline stated, taking Bonnie's hand in hers.
Bonnie smiled, and nodded.
Suddenly the carriage stopped, and Caroline looked out the windows from one end of the carriage to the other, and frowned.
"What is going on?" She asked, frowning as she continued to look.
"Maybe it is a log in the road." Bonnie replied, looking out the window.
As the two girls looked out of one window, the carriage door opened and they jerked around to find a thin tall brown haired man, with brown eyes, wearing a black mask, standing on the ground looking at the women, like he had just found a delicious meal.
Caroline pushed her body in front of Bonnie, but it did no good, as the other door opened, and she turned to see another man, but this one was not as tall or as skinny. His sandy blonde curls complemented his features, or what Caroline could tell of his features. His scruffy beard, not too long, but not too short either covered his face, and she saw his eyes were not brown, but blue. A deep, mesmerizing blue.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she realized what they could possible want.
"Look at what we have here." The tall skinny man said with a smile.
"Please just take the jewels and gold; just leave me and my friend alone." Caroline spoke with slight dignity.
The blue eyed stranger stared at her with a smirk on his face. "Oh, I don't think so, Princess." He stated with a wider smile, and deep accent.
Caroline swallowed at his remark, but still covered her friend with her body. "Please, just let us go." She again pleaded.
The stranger shook his head. "I can't do that, Princess." He replied, reaching in and grabbing Caroline's arm, and pulling her firmly, but oddly gently out of the carriage, while the other masked man grabbed a struggling Bonnie.
"Oh, this girl has a fire in her." He replied, holding Bonnie tightly in his arms.
Bonnie scowled, and spit in his face. He recoiled and held her firmly with is left arm, as he wiped the spit from his face.
"We are going to have some fun, my little spitfire." He stated, holding her close.
"Don't you dare hurt her!" Caroline yelled as she struggled against her captors hold.
The masked man laughed and shook his head. "That's the beauty of being a bandit, my dear. I don't answer to your laws or anyone else's, but my own." He replied with a smirk.
"Kol!" The blue-eyed stranger shouted, holding Caroline tightly in his arms.
Kol glared at his brother, giving a curt nod, dragged Bonnie off towards the wagon waiting twenty feet away.
Caroline struggled. "Where is he taking her?" She asked in a demanding voice as she continued to struggle.
"Don't worry, love. You'll join her soon enough." He whispered in her ear.
Caroline glared at him over her shoulder. "I'm not your love." She stated, jerking her shoulders, causing his grip to cut deeper on her upper arms.
He chuckled as he dragged her towards the wagon.
"Why are you doing this?" She asked, before he lifted her into the wagon and began tying her hands.
"Because you are Tyler Lockwood's girl, it's nothing personal. You are just collateral damage." He stated his blue eyes staring into hers.
She glared at him. "I'm nobody's girl." She whispered with anger.
He peered over her face, and lowered his eyes to the yellow dress with slight frills, but otherwise simple. It was slightly off the shoulders, and her curly blonde hair draped down her back, but a strand was over her shoulder lying down over her chest. He moved his eyes back to her face. Her flawless skin looked so soft, and her lips were delicate. Her eyes captivated him more than he cared to admit.
"We have to get moving." Another masked man replied as he stepped forward.
Caroline turned her head, and noticed the man carried himself with dignity. He was more closely, psychically to the man in front of her, but his eyes were closer to the man called Kol.
Both men nodded and pushed Caroline and Bonnie further in the wagon, before hoping in the back with the girls, while the distinguished man, hoped in the front, and clicked the horses to move.
Caroline glared at the blue-eyed stranger, and found him watching her. She rolled her eyes at him, which caused him to smirk.
"Rogue" She whispered, turning head away from him.
"What was that, Princess?" He asked, with a smile.
She jerked her head back to him. "I called you a Rogue." She stated cocking her head and her right eyebrow coming up.
He laughed and looked at the other man. "I've been called many things in my life, but that would have to be a first." He replied with a nod of his head, and pointed a finger at her.
"It won't be the last. I'm sure." She stated, turning her head.
He chuckled. She was a challenge, and he always enjoyed a challenge.
Okay, what did you think?
I hope to have the second chapter up tonight! The runner up on the poll will up tomorrow.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Until Next Time...
