Chapter One:

Title: Riding Accident

Characters: Elijah/Kol

Summary: The brothers find themselves with a problem after the horse is spooked it leaves Elijah with a broken leg and Kol with a concussion the afternoon of the full moon. How will they make it to the caves before night falls?


"Do hurry Kol" Elijah urged, standing in front of his brothers horse impatiently waiting for him to climb on. "It will be dark soon and we need to be back at the caves"

Fifteen year old Kol rolled his eyes. "Stop worrying Elijah, it is still hours before dusk" He drawled. "We have plenty of time"

"But it is still a fair way back to the village, and we must help prepare for the wolves tonight" Elijah countered, watching him pointedly. "We cannot simply waste time so that you may get out of work"

Kol grinned impishly at him. "Lijah, you know me all too well"

The man smirked and rolled his eyes. "Get on, Kol" He said.

The boy laughed but obediently leapt up onto his horse. "We will be fine, Elijah" He said airily. "Stop worrying, you sound old and boring"

"Better to be old and boring than dead" Elijah retorted smoothly, stepping back.

"That's debateable" Kol quipped.

Elijah opened his mouth to reply when there was a hiss from nearby and he glanced over to see a snake slithering forward.

He put a hand out to his own horse, trying to calm it, but the beast whinnied in fear and disappeared into the woods.

"GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Kol shouted as his horse reared up on its back legs. Elijah dived to the side to get away as the horses legs kicked at where his head had been moments before.

Kol clung on tightly as the horse bucked, stamping down on Elijah's right leg. The man screamed in agony as a white hot pain seared up his limb. "Lijah!" Kol was momentarily distracted, the horse gave one last buck, sending Kol to the side and into a tree. The boy slumped unmoving to the ground, blood trickling from a gash on his forehead.

The horse disappeared into the forest and Elijah let out a groan as a flash of pain seared through his leg. "Kol" He gasped, clenching his jaw and squeezing his eyes shut. "Kol!"

He breathed heavily as he waited for a reply, when none came he forced himself to open his eyes. Everything was tinged red with pain, but it was beginning to fade leaving only a numb feeling. He turned his head, searching for any sign of his brother. "Kol?"

He took a deep breath and slowly sat up, not daring to look at the bloody mess that had been his leg. He looked around, soon enough catching sight of his brother who was slumped against the tree.

Elijah turned onto his stomach, eyes clenched shut and he dragged himself forward. It seemed like forever before he finally reached Kol's side. He shook the boy roughly. "Kol! Wake up! Brother please!"

Kol groaned weakly, eyes fluttering beneath closed lids. "Go 'way" He slurred groggily.

"No, Kol, wake up!" Elijah snapped, frustrated, the pain was returning and he needed his brother to get help, he wouldn't be going anywhere, not with his leg.

The boy hissed with pain. "What did I drink last night?" He mumbled sleepily.

Elijah allowed himself to give a short laugh, even if it was slightly hysterical. "Kol, you need to wake up, now!"

Kol blinked at him, eyes wandering and unable to focus on his brother's face. "Lijah? Stop moving..."

"Come on, Kol, you have to go. Now" Elijah urged. "Please Kol, focus"

For a moment he looked confused. "Go? Go where? What happened?"

"The horses were spooked, I've done my leg, I can't get back. You have to go and get help, Kol" Elijah explained evenly, biting his lip to keep from crying out. "You have to hurry"

Kol looked dazedly down to his brothers leg, it was bent at an odd angle, obviously broken. "But... but what's the hurry?"

Elijah frowned. "The wolves are coming tonight" He said. "Don't you remember?"

"What? I can't remember... everything's fuzzy" Kol mumbled, pressing his palms against his eyes.

The man paused for a moment. "Sit up, Kol" He told him. "You need to go, now"

He was silent for a few moments and didn't move. "But what about you?"

"I'll be fine here for tonight" Elijah assured him. "But you must go Kol"

Kol blinked slowly. "What happened?" He asked.

Elijah frowned. "The horses... I just told you that"

"Oh... yes, right..." Kol winced and pushed himself up onto his elbows. "Ah..." The colour drained from his face and he lurched away from his brother onto his hands and knees, retching and emptying the contents of his stomach onto the forest floor.

Elijah felt worry fill his chest and he realised he couldn't let Kol go back on his own. He gritted his teeth and shifted himself so that he was sitting and gently patted Kol on the back.

Kol closed his eyes, swaying on his knees Elijah pulled him back quickly. "Kol! Focus! I need you to help me up"

For a moment Kol was silent and nodded very slowly. He clambered up to his feet, staggering slightly to the side before he caught hold of a tree.

"Focus on my voice Kol" Elijah gritted out, hissing slightly with pain. "You need to focus"

Kol blinked rapidly and reached down, with great difficulty the two of them managed to manoeuvre Elijah into a standing position.

Kol slipped beneath his arm and helped him lean against the tree, taking a few moments to adjust to his new standing position. Elijah silently thanked his brother for the pause so that he could reign in his emotions and stop the tears from falling.

Slowly Kol staggered forward, barely able to hold himself up let alone half carry his brother.

"We'll get home, Kol" Elijah murmured as he tentatively as Kol moved forward, Elijah couldn't put any weight on his leg without nearly passing out from the pain, in the end Kol had to act as his other leg, baring his weight when he took a step forward.

It was excruciating as they made their way towards the caves. Elijah managed to grit out words of encouragement as his brother attempted to stop for a 'quick' rest. He knew if he let Kol go to sleep for even a few minutes he wouldn't be able to wake him again.

Their progress was slow, Elijah having to guide Kol who seemed to have no idea what direction was up and what was down. He could feel himself weakening, he was leaving a trail of blood on the forest floor, his fingers had gone numb and his vision was swimming dangerously.

He was sure how long they walked for, but it seemed like forever before they came to a small clearing.

"Elijah? Kol!"

Elijah's head shot up. "Kol, do you hear that?"

"Elijah? Kol?"

"NIK!" Elijah cried breathlessly. "NIK!"

Soon enough their brother came into sight. Klaus ran forward, his eyes wide. "ELIJAH!" He gasped. "Lijah, what happened?"

"The horses" He managed through gritted teeth, grateful to be able to lean against his blond haired brother.

Kol leaned heavily against a tree and sunk down to the ground, eyes fluttering.

Elijah glanced over at him quickly. "No, no, no, Kol, not yet" He urged. "Come on"

Klaus frowned and turned to look at their younger brother who was blinking heavily. "I'll come later" He slurred. "Just a few minutes"

"No, Kol, wake up!" Elijah's eyes widened when he received no reply. "KOL!" He turned to Klaus. "Nik, Nik, take him to Mother, he needs to get to Mother now. I'll start going back on my own" He stumbled slightly, his vision swimming.

Klaus shook his head. "I can come back for him, we've got time Lijah, but you've lost a lot of blood, it needs to be stopped" He urged.

Elijah shook his head quickly. "No, you've got to save him"

"Elijah!" Klaus snapped. "You're going to pass out! I can carry him, but it will take too long to carry you as well!"

For a moment Elijah was silent before he nodded. He shot one last glance back at his brother, who hadn't moved at all, before the two set off quickly towards the caves.

It took them longer than Klaus had first thought and the sun was beginning to set as Finn appeared at the entrance. "Take him, Finn" The blond man urged. "I need to get Kol"

Finn didn't question it, instead he darted forward and relieved Klaus of their brother, letting him run back into the woods as fast as he could.

"MOTHER!" Finn hollered. "MOTHER!"

Esther appeared soon enough with Rebekah trailing after her. "Elijah!" The girl cried, rushing to her brothers side. "Elijah what happened? Where's Kol?"

The man opened his mouth to speak but no sound came out. His vision swam blurrily and everything faded away into black, voices murmuring worriedly around him.


Elijah woke an uncertain amount of time later to silence. His leg was pleasantly numb and he felt slightly giddy, no doubt a product of his mother's herbs. Gingerly he opened his eyes, it was around midday and he was lying in bed, he turned his head to the side to see that Kol was sleeping beside him.

"Elijah!" A cry from the doorway caused him to turn his head. Thirteen year old Henrik beamed at him. "You're awake! Mother! Mother! He's awake!" He ran forward. "How are you feeling? Does your leg hurt? It looks like it does! What happened? Kol didn't say much. He said he didn't remember. Do you remember? I hope you do. We're all dying to find out"

The man chuckled and sat up slowly. "I feel fine, no, the horses were spooked by a snake, so yes, I do remember what happened"

Henrik smiled brightly. "I told Niklaus that you'd be alright. You're always alright"

Esther appeared behind him and smiled fondly at her youngest. "Henrik, why don't you go and retrieve your brothers and sister? I'm sure they'll be thrilled to hear Elijah is awake"

"Yes Mother" The boy nodded obediently and disappeared out the door.

Elijah shook his head and chuckled. "Was he excited? I couldn't quite tell"

Esther smiled at him and came forward, sitting on the edge of the bed. "How do you feel?" She asked.

"Quite good, considering" He said. "I can't feel my leg at all"

"Good, that would be the willowbark at work" Esther explained. "I've strapped and braced it, you lost a lot of blood, that's why you slept for so long. Gave us all quite the scare"

Elijah looked away guiltily. "I am sorry" He mumbled.

"Don't apologise darling, I'm sure it wasn't your fault" Esther patted his good leg soothingly. "And really, no harm done. Both you and Kol will be fine"

Elijah glanced quickly over at his sleeping brother. "Really?"

Esther nodded. "He was lucky, but nonetheless he'll be fine. I've managed to keep him in bed for the day, mainly for you. He's been quite confused and disorientated, but it will pass"

"For me?" Elijah asked.

Esther smiled warmly. "You were worried about him, even in your sleep you needed to know he was safe" She moved forward and kissed his forehead. "Rest well, darling. If the pain returns let me know. I think your brothers and sister wish to see you. They'll expect a full explanation of what happened"

"Thank you, Mother" Elijah grinned.

Esther moved back just as Klaus appeared in the doorway, Rebekah poking herself beneath his arm and Henrik squeezing himself between the two so he was in front. Finn stood above them and grinned. "ELIJAH!" Rebekah squealed and darted forward.

Henrik bounced onto the bed, waking Kol who blinked groggily. "Lijah" He mumbled. "You're 'wake..."

Elijah beamed at him. "So are you"

"Barely" Klaus teased, ruffling his younger brothers hair.

Kol shook his head and barely managed to hide his smile. "Go 'way"

"Make me"

The eldest laughed and shook his head. "Stop teasing your poor injured little brother" He scolded teasingly.

"Yeah" Kol agreed, burrowing his head against Elijah's side and attempting to go back to sleep.

"Uh-uh" Elijah nudged him gently. "No sleeping, not if you want to hear what happened"

Kol let out a muffled groan. "Tell me later"

"It's now or never!" Rebekah told him.

For a moment Kol was silent before he sighed. "Fine"

Henrik cheered with excitement and made himself comfy on his brothers bed.

Finn and Klaus sat down at the end, all careful to protect Elijah's leg, which was covered by the blankets.

Esther smiled from the doorway and stepped away as Elijah began explaining what had happened the previous afternoon.


Hope you enjoyed it! :) Reviews are welcome, as are prompts. I've got a bunch of idea's laid out, they just need to be written. PM or review with any ideas, characters that you want to be included and such.