A giggling flurry of blond curls streaked past the thick trees surrounding a small Norse village. Twigs & leaves snapped under her quick feet. Fast behind her was a boy of sixteen years that was chasing her.
"You cannot catch me Elijah!" she threw over her shoulder before taking a sudden turn.
Wearing a good natured grin he followed her. Deciding to end the game, he ran at full speed & quickly caught her. Wrapping his arms around her sides, he spun them around a few times before setting her back down on the forest floor.
"You always say that Naomi," he said, "but it has yet to pass."
Crossing her arms, she pouted. "It's not fair," she complained. "You always catch me."
He let her shimmer down as they walked back to the village. "Hmm. Perhaps we should have a rematch when you have gained a few more years."
They reached the outer limit of the village, huts & other dwellings dotting the cleared woods area. He waived at some of their neighbors as they passed by. Despite being in a tranquil mood he panicked when he felt Naomi's little hand leave his. Worriedly, he scanned all around him. He visibly relaxed when he saw her run into her mother's waiting embrace. Relieved he strolled over to the duo. Seeing Elijah walk up to her, Lina, Naomi's mother, drew him into a hug. He smiled at her as he pulled away.
"Thank you, Master Elijah, for entertaining my daughter's ridiculous fantasies." In the order of their village, Naomi's family were lowly crop planters while the Mikaelsons (his father Mikael, anyway) were the clan leaders, so to speak.
"Really it is no problem Lina. It saves me from more, unsavory duties, after all."
As the eldest son of Mikael Mikaelson, Elijah was expected to become a warrior like his father. However, he much preferred studying & watching after the young Naomi. A girl of six, she was the most adorable being he had ever seen. She had wispy blond hair & large, luminous blue eyes that dominated her heart shaped face. Surely, he thought, she would grow up to be quite a beauty.
