Flashback
He kept himself hidden as he looked through his hidden place as someone said "he is not breathing."
whereas another voice said "the queen has lost consciousness."
A woman said "the King must not know his son had died in the womb."
There was a quiet in the room. Someone left the room. He kept his hand on his mouth so not to make a sound. And then he heard someone say "take him. He is my son. He was born two days ago. No one will know the difference."
The woman asked "and what about Victoria?"
He said "it does not concern her" and left.
end flashback
Elijah looked down the balcony as he watched fourteen years old Niklaus mock dueling with Marcel and smiled. He stepped back from the balcony as the door opened and Victoria came in with the heating pan in her hands.
Klaus ran through the hallways of the castle when he heard a voice "your Royal Highness, prince don't run like commoners."
He stopped cursing his father's counselor but never the less started walking towards his bedchambers.
As he entered his room he stopped when as he saw someone standing there- a girl he assumed from the dress she was wearing, with her back towards him. He walked to her realizing that she had not felt his presence. As he approached her, he noticed that she was looking through one of his books. He asked "can you read?" startling her.
She spun around making his heart skip a beat at the most innocent face he has ever seen now overcome by fear. She said catching her breath "your Royal Highness, pardon me. I was just…. this will never happen again."
Before he could say anything else she scurried away leaving him bewildered wondering 'who she was?'
He gave his sword to his servant saying "I dont require you."
When he retreated, he waited for a few minutes and then headed out again. He looked around to make sure no one except for his usual guard was present and then went towards the kitchen. He knew from the past experience that the guard wouldn't follow him down to where he was going and would stay up the stairs. He went down the stairs unable to contain his excitement about telling Victoria about his victory against Marcel. He stopped as he saw the girl, he had seen in his room a while ago, standing near the hearth trying to put the log in the dying fire. He observed her for a few moments and then realized she was scared by the way she was stepping back again and again with the log still in her hand. He walked to her and said "you shouldn't be standing that far from it" making her jump.
He took the log for her hand and then leaned in and put the fire on. He turned to her and asked "what is your name?"
She said softly "Hayley."
He stared at her nervous face which was fascinating him so much that he asked impulsively "Hayley, do you want to take my books?"
He was totally taken aback by the sudden appearance of excitement on her face when she said "I will return them to you after I am done reading them."
He said "you can keep them as long as you can. Come to my bedchamber when you are free and you can have them."
The excitement on her face fell all of a sudden and she said sadly "mother wouldn't let me."
He asked "who is your mother?"
She said "Victoria your Highness."
He smiled saying "I will talk to her."
She said hastily "no. Don't. She will get in trouble."
He asked surprised "from whom?"
But she didn't reply so he said "alright then why dont you come to my bedchamber whenever you want to read my books and you can read them there."
She asked excited again "I can?"
He said "yes you can. That way I can also help you with those books."
She said "thank you your Royal Highness."
He had started to turn but for some reason he stopped and said in impulse "on one condition."
She asked apprehensive now "what?"
He said "you will not call me Your Royal Highness Niklaus when we are alone. Call me Klaus. We are friends from his day onwards"
She smiled and said "as you wish your Royal Highness."
He smiled, said "no. just Klaus."
He turned and left not knowing her saying "Klaus" softly.
From that day onwards, she started visiting his bedchambers occasionally to take his books and he was finding excuses to spend all his free time after his riding, sword fighting and other training lesson with her explaining those book to her, helping her read with the result spending less and less time with Marcel but he didnt mind it for some reason. He felt he had found a new purpose in his life. In the beginning when she started coming to his chamber, guards were curious which annoyed him for some reason but after a few days their curiosities died like all the other curiosities within the walls of this castle.
For the first two weeks, Victoria had no idea where she would disappear to but then she found out and she got really mad at Hayley but to his amusement when he told her that he had asked her to come as he was teaching her how to read she kept quiet. One day two weeks later she was sitting on the floor trying to read a French book when he got up from the chair and sat opposite her making her jump.
She said hastily "your Royal Highness, you shouldn't be siting with me."
He was unable to contain his anger and said "leave."
She looked taken aback at his sudden burst of temper but left his bedchamber leaving him angry not knowing why he had suddenly gotten so angry.
Two days went by he didnt see her and never bothered to ask Victoria about her but at last he couldnt take it any more so on the third day he went down the kitchen and asked a maid "where are Victoria's quarter?"
The maid looked at him scared at seeing him there but said "Her room is the fourth room right to the servants Hall. Do you need anything your Royal Highness?"
He left without even bothering to reply.
Hayley said to her as she rubbed her hands "mother, it is very cold mother"
Victoria sighed and said "get under the blanket and you will feel warm."
She said "mother…" but there was a knock on the door. She got up and went towards it saying feeling a bit annoyed "it is late. What do they need now?"
As she opened the door Klaus asked "I need to ask you why were you not in my chamber for your lessons?"
Hayley curtsied asked in surprise "your Royal Highness! what are you doing here?"
He stepped in, looked around the small room, cold, a shiver went through him as he felt the cold. He looked toward Victoria as she asked "Hayley who is it?"
He asked "why is this room so cold Victoria?" making her spun towards him.
She said hastily "your Royal Highness, you shouldn't be here. You should leave. If the King finds out, you will be in trouble."
He sat down on one of the beds and asked eyeing the plate in front of Hayley "what are you eating?"
Hayley looked at her mother and said "I will get something from the kitchen your Highness."
His heart contracted but he said "I will have what you are having."
Victoria said looking at Hayley's plate "your Royal Highness, I was busy when the food was being served so by the time I was done it was finished so I have made some porridge."
She left the room and came back with a plate in her hand with some porridge in it and put it in front of him and said "this is all we have your Royal Highness. You start and I will put some more on" and headed to the servants' hall.
As she left he looked at Hayley and asked "why arent you eating?"
She shook her head saying "I am not hungry."
He said "eat" authoritatively."
She continues to look at him as he ate sitting on her mother's bed as if it was his room.
When Victoria entered the room a few minutes later, she saw them eating together and felt her heart squeeze. She poured some more for him and some for herself as Hayley scooted back. He looked at her questioningly. She replied shyly "I am done your Highness."
Later when they had eaten Hayley got up took the plates to the servants hall whereas Victoria said to him "you should go now."
But he said authoritatively "I want to stay."
He felt warmth for some reason even even though the room was a bit cold. A few minutes later the door opened and she entered he rubbing her hands. Their eyes met but then went to sit with Victoria sitting on her bed. She snuggled close to her mother making Klaus's heart jump. He wondered 'how long has it been since he himself had snuggled close to his own mother?' but it seemed those memories didnt exist.
He startled when Victoria said "alright one last time."
He wondered what they were talking about but the realized that she was going to tell her a story. As he listened to the story, his gaze went to her snuggled close to her mother in that thin blanket. Their eyes met in the dim light of the oil lamp.
She continued to look at him and then as he watched her eyes started to droop. He smiled as he realized that she had fallen asleep in her mother's arms.
Victoria looked down at her bowed head and stopped talking when Klaus said "what happened next?"
If she was surprise she hid it and continued to tell the story.
When she was done she said to him "you need to go. Your mother must be getting worried."
Klaus nodded, got up and left.
Flashback Victoria fourteen years ago
She wiped her hands with her apron wanting to hold him and nurse him but seeing the cradle empty stopped her heart. She turned around and asked "where is he?"
He said drunkenly "I gave him to the king."
She stared at him for a moment before asking "what?"
He got up with the bottle in his hand and repeated "I gave him to the king. Queen's midwife told me his son died so I gave him to the king."
She asked in a loud voice on the verge of panic "why?"
He said taking a sip of beer "he is the king and I am to serve him."
She yelled in anguish "no" and ran out ignoring his shout 'Victoria, no."
As she opened the door of queens's bedchamber she saw a woman holding a baby. She darted to her saying "This is m…" when she heard the queen say "give me my son."
The midwife took the baby to the queen glancing at her for one last time.
She stood there as the queen watched the baby when the door opened and King came in. Everyone bowed including her.
He dashed to his wife's bed, took the baby from her and said "my son Niklaus Mikaelson. Arrange a wet-nurse for him."
The mid-wife said "your highness. Victoria's child died this morning because of cold. She can nurse him."
King walked to her saying "nurse him."
She stood there shocked as the crying baby was handed over to her.
She looked towards King and Queen's happy faces wanting to scream that he was her son but she realized that the King will kill everyone so she crushed her heart saying "yes your majesty."
end flashback.
She sighed thinking 'her husband had taken that secret with him to his grave leaving her to deal with what he left behind.' She pulled the blanket over Hayley's shoulder and tried to sleep eventually managing it thinking that he will never come there again. But to her surprise from that day onwards he started coming to their room often to Hayley and Victoria's surprise. He would sit on the bed and have dinner with them if they were having some and often would end up sleeping there on Hayley's bed not knowing it was hers whereas she would sleep with her mother on the other bed. A couple of times his father, hearing the rumors about him spending time in the servant's quarter, reprimanded him but being the stubborn boy he was he would listen to all his reprimand in one ear and out the other. Against all Victoria's caution and lectures he continued to go there and then started to share her thin blanket to her and Victoria's surprise. He started loving sharing that thin blanket with Hayley, having never been able to do that with Elijah or Kol, as he listened to the stories Victoria told them often falling sleeping in that position only to wake up when the thunder was roaring and find her hand in his.
She would ask him "why do you come here Klaus? It is so cold here."
He realized he loved hearing his name from her mouth.
but he knew he would never tell her this and would just say looking towards Victoria "If you knew this was the warmest place in the castle you wouldn't never have asked me this."
To his relief she had started visiting his bedchambers more to borrow his books. In the beginning she was hesitant in staying alone in his room but then that wall also crumbled as he, sensing her hesitation, started telling servant to stay with them while the went through the books with the result she started spending more time in his room now able to read books and listening to the history stories he had in store for her.
Hayley had really gotten to know him during this time and the infamous temper that she used to hear about proved to be right as she discovered that he was short of temper. Even the smallest things would make him angry. She would often wonder 'why is he so friendly with her and her mother seeing that he is a prince and they are the servants of the castle?' but then he surprised her more when he started including her in the playtime when lady Caroline and lord Tyler visited who were kids of Duke Lockwood- Duke of nearby estate. Even though she felt out of place during that time with Kol always making fun of her, lady Caroline and lord Tyler passing condescending remarks to her whenever he was not listening but he insisted and seeing his short temper she would indulge him for the budding friendship. She soon discovered that their favorite playtime was playing King and Queen. She would often end up playing maid to Queen Caroline who happened to have a crush on king Klaus.
Before they both knew it, a few months went by. During this time they became really good friends. Within the confines of his chamber she was his friend, talked to him as her equal but outside his room she was the daughter of the woman who served him. The rumors about their friendship spread through the castle but he didnt care about it and would get angry when she would try to distance herself from him.
One evening when Duchess Lockwood was visiting she knew he would be busy with lady Caroline so she decided to get a book from his chamber after helping out her mother in the kitchen. As she entered his room, she stopped when she saw lady Caroline kissing a boy. She turned to leave as she recognized him. Seeing him with lady Caroline in that position was a shock for her. She wondered 'why was she surprised? They were both from same social stature. It was about to happen' but Caroline is mean- she told herself and Klaus is her friend.
Before she knew it a year went by. One evening she walked into her room and found her mother crying softly. She asked her getting worried "what is it mother?"
She said "his majesty has send his Royal Highness Niklaus to France to get better education."
Hayley felt her heart jump to her throat and before Victoria could stop her, she was running through the kitchen and servant corridors to see him but by the time she reached the grounds, his carriage was leaving. She wondered 'why didnt he say good bye?' but then chided herself for thinking that.
Klaus looked around the house where he had spend the past 15 years, where he had a lot of good memories and was leaving it now. He looked at the grounds as the carriage took him towards his new destination when his gaze fell on her standing near a tree. He smiled at her at the same moment he saw the tears fall from her eyes and her hand rose in the air.
He left and she and her mother continued to live in the castle. She continued to build on what he had taught her. He didn't return but she never forgot him. Victoria continued to serve the queen and one day after she had just turned eleven years old she introduced her to the queen and from that day onwards, she started to help her mother with with the queen chores. She missed him but with the passage of time those memories were fading away but often at night under the blanket she would feel his presence. On those nights she would close her eyes and pray wherever he was he is happy. When she was missing him she noticed her mother was missing him too and often she wondered what was the pull between him and her mother or between him and her but could never come up with an answer. King and the queen went to visit him after every few years but he never returned. Even though his room was closed, she and Victoria would go to his room and clean in once a fortnight. Five years later his father died, still he didn't return which was devastating for the queen but he refused to come. His brother became the king, still he didn't come on the coronation and before she knew it another years went by. With the passage of time the feeling of his hand on hers was lost somewhere but the times they had spend together in that room, chatting, reading books were with her and they would always be with her.
Six years later:
He wondered 'why has he decided to come back? Elijah is already the king. He is not needed here. He was happy in France away from the suffocating life of the castle. What is that pulled him back to this castle?' He looked around at the happy faces, spotted some familiar faces, among which were Caroline whom he noticed had become really beautiful and Tyler who had grown up too, Marcel and some of Kol's friends. He saw Kol dancing with a young woman, smiled at seeing how grownup he had become- a spitting image of Elijah. He then turned towards his mother who looked weak because of her recent illness but had a smile on her face bringing a smile to his face too and he knew that it was these relationships- the relationship which were stronger than any suffocation he felt in this castle and he was unable to stay without them any longer. As he watched her, a young girl approached her and said something softly to her. He continued to watch her not knowing that someone was observing him and then she nodded, curtsied and left the hall.
Elijah sitting on his chair, noticed the smile on Klaus's face. He followed his gaze and spotted the source of that smile. He leaned in towards him and said in a low voice "I thought that smile was for lady Caroline but apparently I am wrong."
Klaus asked keeping his voice down too "and why would you assume that you are wrong?"
Elijah said "because right now your smile is for her."
He said in the same low tone "sod off Elijah" got up, walked Caroline standing close to Tyler, curtsied her, offered her his hand and pulled her on the dance floor.
Later that evening after the function he was taking off his coat thinking about Victoria and Hayley who had been in his mind ever since he had returned and even before that. In reality he realized that he had not been able to keep them out of his mind. He put his coat on the settee when he heard a sound that made him turn towards the direction. He saw the door to the bath chamber open and saw a young woman in the candles light from the chandelier. He was about to say something when he noticed her eyes dart to the door. He walked to her and asked "what are you doing here?" making her jump.
She spun around in shock and then stared at him without saying anything. He recovered from the shock at seeing the girl who had caught his attention at the function but then his eyes went to her shoulder and noticed the torn dress which hitched his breath. He grabbed her arm and pulled her towards her and for the first time noticed terror on her face. He opened his mouth to say something but then she flinched as they heard the running steps. He felt her hands grabbing on to the front of his shirt and he impulsively spun around shielding her body from the invaders as the door opened. He asked "what is it?"
The guard said curtsying "pardon me your Royal Highness, we were just looking for someone .…"
Klaus said sternly "leave. I am busy."
He retreated saying "pardon me your Royal Highness."
He turned and left.
As soon as the door closed, Klaus stepped back from her and said "what are you doing in my chamber?"
She said now looking obviously nervous "pardon me your Royal Highness, I was just… It will never happen again."
Klaus said unable to keep his eyes from her beautiful hazel brown eyes reminding her of someone else's brown eyes, hair pulled back in the bun and pink lips "yes It will not. Now leave."
She pulled her dress back on her shoulder and stepped towards the door when he asked "what is your name?"
She said without looking back "Andrea, your Royal Highness."
Andrea ran into the kitchen, hugged Victoria from behind and said "he is back mother. He is back."
She smiled and said "yes I know my child. This function was for him."
Andrea asked in same tone "have you seen him?"
Victoria turned to her and asked "no. But it seems that you have?"
When Andrea smiled she said "Andrea remember my child, he is a prince and we are his servants."
Andrea picked up the carrot saying "as if you will let me forget it" kissed her and headed out to get the logs thanking her luck that he saved her from drunk lord Tyler while at the same time cursing herself for choosing his room to hide.
Later that night when she laid on the bed she couldnt shake off the feeling left behind by his touch on her arm. She turned to one side feeling frustrated thinking 'he is a prince. You are the maid of the castle. He is not your friend anymore. Stop living in dreamland.' The last thought in her mind was does he remember her? But it didnt seem like that.
While she was lying in her bed thinking about whether he remembered them or not he too was thinking about where Victoria and Hayley were? So the next evening after spending the day with Elijah catching up about what has been going on in both of their lives- getting to know what had been happening in his absence and getting to know about the state affair and how much his involvement was needed by Elijah in running the affairs, he went down to the kitchen surprising the maids there. He looked around and the spotted her cutting the vegetables near the hearth. He observed her taking in her white hair making her look old and then he walked to her and said "Victoria."
She looked up, smiled as she stood up and said "your Royal Highness, what are you doing here?"
He laughed so easily that it surprised him too and said "somethings never change. You have gone old Victoria."
She said with kind smile "your Royal Highness, I am getting old but you have become more handsome with the day."
He laughed and asked "where is Hayley?"
She said "she is working in the castle somewhere your Royal Highness."
To his surprise he felt like hugging her but there were people around him and he was after all a prince so he said after a moment "I will see you around Victoria. Will you still serve me?"
Victoria smiled saying "yes your Royal Highness."
He walked away not knowing the tears that were falling from Victoria's eyes not being able to hug her son.
He walked into his mother's chambers and the first person he spotted was the girl hiding in his chamber. Their eyes met but she looked away immediately. His attention went to his mother when she said "Andrea, get me some warm water for my feet. They are hurting and after that put some more logs in the fireplace. Today you dont need to read to me. My son is here. It will get late by the time we get up."
She said softly "yes your Majesty."
As she retreated he walked to his mother and kissed her hand saying "how are you mother?"
Esther said "I am good. Where were you? I thought you would come to see me first thing in the morning."
He opened his mouth to say something but before he could say anything she came back with a pot filled with water. She put it on the carpet while Esther put her feet in it.
He looked away from her and said smiling "I got lost in the castle. I had forgotten how big and cold this place is."
It took all her willpower to not look towards him remembering the time when he had told her that her room was the warmest room in the castle.
She smiled when he added "no. The king" laughed "I still cannot believe he is the king. Any way Elijah kept me busy telling me what he had been doing behind my back and then it got late so I went to meet Victoria. It has been a while and it was getting late so I thought she might go to sleep. You on the other hand I have the whole night to talk to" as he grabbed her hand but he noticed that her eyes were going to Andrea again and again as she continued to massage her feet.
Andrea continued to wash queen Esther's feet while listening to her telling him about how much she had missed him, scolding him why he didnt come on two major events of her life and asking him what has been going on with his life. She then got up, wiped her feet, took the pro to the bath chamber, came back, put another log in the fireplace and then put the heating pans under her covers to keep her bed warm at night listening to what he had been doing in France not knowing that two pair of eyes were occasionally following her as she moved quietly around the room.
At last she stood aside waiting for him to leave so that she can help queen to bed when he said "you can leave. I will take care of it."
She looked at him in surprise but left.
He wondered again 'when will he meet her? Where is she?'
Andrea had realized by now that he had not recognized her which broke her heart but then she told herself 'what did she expect? He is a prince. She is maid'' but that didnt help her heartache at the thought of losing a good friend- her only friend so she started avoiding him thinking that might help her forget about him too but that was hard to do as he had chosen to make regular visits to his mother before she went to sleep while she was helping her get into the bed.
He didnt see Hayley anywhere for the next few days and his ego and the anger that he had thought he had left behind somewhere in France, was him from asking Victoria again about her whereabouts as he wondered angrily 'she must know he is back. If she does not want to meet him then why should he? He is the prince. She should …' but he was unable to finish his thought process so he went for riding.
During riding his thoughts went to his mother and her maid. He wondered, looking back at the past few days ever since he had returned, seeing her behavior with Andrea 'what was about that girl, that makes mother behave with her differently then the other maids?'
He got off his horse wondering 'how will he survive this environment? Living in France in that place had taught him many things and one was to have his privacy which he was unable to get in the castle and not having people wait on you hand and foot. Ever since he had come back, he had been seeing that, guard 24/7, maids to help give him bath, help him change his clothes which was starting to annoy him. Even now a few guards were riding with him at a distance. They wouldnt follow him too close knowing his temper on invasion of privacy but still it bothered him.' He felt as if he had no privacy but that was the downside of being a prince he had discovered now. Nothing was private. He got off the horse feeling very annoyed and walked into the stable. He tied the horse and walked out. As he looked around he saw her from a distance. He didnt know that his lips had curved into a smile as he walked to her.
She looked up and stopped as she saw him walking towards her. Klaus got surprised when she started to turn away from him and couldnt help but ask "are you avoiding me?"
She turned back to him and smiled saying "no your Highness."
When he didnt say anything she started to walk away but then stopped, turned around and asked "you dont recognize me. Do you?"
Klaus asked surprised that he was talking to a maid so casually "should I?"
She shook her head saying "no."
She turned around as she heard a woman saying "Andrea, come. Help me hang these clothes."
Andrea said "your Royal Highness" curtsying him before leaving him. His eyes followed her, trying to figure out from where he know her but couldnt figure out.
As he watched, she started hanging clothes on the wire with Victoria. He thought for a moment and then walked to Victoria. He sat on the broken stone wall and asked "Victoria, dont you get tired of all this work?"
She smiled and said "it has become a habit now your Royal Highness and Andrea helps a lot."
He asked "Andrea?"
She looked toward Andrea and said "my daughter. Your Royal Highness."
He stood up asking "that is Hayley?"
She said with a smile "yes your Royal Highness but she is not called by that name any more."
He stared at the girl trying to see the thin, shoulder length hair always open and normally covered in soot but all he could see was a beautiful young woman with great complexion and black hair tied in the bun. Gone were the self-doubting eyes, replaced by confidence that he had started to see when he was leaving. He walked towards her, pulled back the bed sheet she had just hung and said "hmm you grew up beautiful."
She said "and here I thought you would remember me" with a smile.
He asked "why didn't you tell me?"
She said "you are a prince and I am a maid. It is not appropriate for a maid to approach a royal."
He said "as I recall you and I were friends."
She said at once "your Royal Highness that was childish dreams. We are not kids any more."
He smiled looking into her hazel brown eyes as he said "yes we are not" making her blush.
It has been two weeks since he has returned, he was getting adjusted to the life in the castle again. Elijah had not needed him much so after spending some time with him in the morning he would retreat to his room and read some book or go to riding or sword fight with Marcel who had become a guard of the castle. One day Kol came to his room while he was reading a book as usual and said "I have invited a few friends for playing cards. You are welcome to attend."
Klaus got up putting the book down and asked "what about Elijah?"
Kol rolled his eyes saying "Elijah does not have time to play games with us. He is busy running the estate."
He nodded, got up and left groaning as a few guards started walking behind them. He made a mental note of talking to Elijah about this.
As he entered the room, he spotted her with some other maids serving in the room. He walked to an empty chair and sat down. Soon he got lost in the conversation with Kol's friends which for a weird reason included Tyler too. He wondered 'when did they become friends?' as he recalled how much they hated each other.
He picked up his glass and sipped it as he played cards while his eyes wandered to her walking around the room serving men and women. His eyes narrowed as he saw Tyler grabbing her hand as she poured the wine in his glass. He scooted forward wanting to do something but to his amusement she pulled her hand back and walked away from him.
She walked to his table and was pouring the drink when she looked up and their eyes met and she smiled making his heart jump.
Later that night, he couldn't sleep so he got up and after pacing in his room for a few minutes, put on his robes and left the room. After a few steps he looked at his guards and said "I dont need you."
They hesitated but listened to him to his relief.
She was writing something in a journal when there was a knock at the door. She looked towards her mother saying "who could it be?" as she got up and opened the door but stepped back in shock.
She asked "your Royal Highness, what are you doing here?"
Her mother hastily walked to him asking "Your Royal Highness, do you need anything?"
He looked towards Victoria and said "no, I just wanted to come and talk."
He entered the room where he had come many times. He strolled to the hearth and turned to face mother and daughter saying "am I not welcome here anymore Victoria?"
She said "you are your Royal Highness. It is just that …."
He asked cutting her off "what is the problem then?" as he settled down on the same spot on the bed where he used to sit many years ago.
He spend the next hour with them talking about their time separate and losing track of time. He couldn't keep his eyes off of her face whenever she talked. Gone was the shy meek girl who would doubt everything and was afraid to speak up her mind. He could see that she was feeling uncomfortable because of him which was strangely amusing him. By the time he left he was feeling contend but with tightening in his stomach the reason for which he couldnt figure out.
The next two days he spend very less time in the castle as he had started visiting his estate that Elijah had appointed him- taking tour of the big house, looking at crops being grown there and getting to know the tenants. At the end of those two days he was dead tired. He fell on the bed after telling the guards not to disturb him and as soon as his head hit the pillow he went to sleep. When he woke up in the morning, he groaned as he saw the silhouette of someone quietly walking around in his room in the light coming through the curtains. He said with annoyance "I asked not to be disturbed."
Nothing could have prepared him for the voice he heard "you should talk to my mother about that your Royal Highness."
He sat up taking the robe from her hands and asked "where is Victoria?" as she pulled back the curtains.
She said "mother is ill."
He asked "for how long?"
She said "since yesterday" still not looking at him.
He got up went to the bath chamber said to his personal servant "I dont require you."
He put on his clothes and headed towards the door.
She looked at him bewildered and asked "your Royal Highness."
He said "I am going to see what happened to her" while left the room not knowing that there was a smile on her face.
For the next two days even though she told him to leave multiple times but he kept visiting Victoria, talking with her, sitting with her while she slept. When he told her that he does not want Andrea to serve him anymore she looked confused but when Andrea didnt come to his room the next day he smiled realizing that Victoria had listened to him which was a relief to him. As he would sit with her while she slept he realized that she had gotten old and weak and probably the work was too much for her so he wondered why doesn't he give Victoria a break but then he realized that if he gives her break then he woldnt be able to see her that often and that was not acceptable for him so he had dropped the idea but to keep her work load light he started asking another maid to assist Victoria.
Ever since her mother had told her not to serve him, she had only seen him a few times and that was only when he came to visit his mother every night just before she would fall asleep. She felt really depressed but she realized she couldn't do anything about it. She kept on serving the queen with the same dedication she had been showing for the past six years and her mother before her. Sometimes she just felt so bad for her to be alone while her three sons were so busy that they could only make a visit to her once every two days except for Klaus who made it a point to come see her every night. Elijah she knew was busy because of his position but what was the reason for Kol not seeing his mother every day she would wonder. During the past six years she had realized that queen treated her differently than her other maids which had encouraged her gradually open up to her- have conversation with her, give her the company even when there was no chores to be perfumed. She would often just sit with her after making her hair while she gazed into the fire without saying anything. She often looked at her sad face and wondered 'what is it that makes her sad? She has three wonderful sons. Even if they dont come to visit her as much as she would have liked it would but still. She is a queen. Why is there so much sadness behind those eyes which she so successfully hides in public?' She wondered is the cause of this sadness this loneliness considering she had stopped making public appearances? One of those evenings she settled the queen in the bed and was about to leave when she said "Andrea, stay until I fall asleep."
She turned, smiled and sat on the floor near her. She didnt know how but after a few moments her head rested on the bed and her thought went to Klaus. She wondered 'what is going on with her? He is the prince. That time has gone. Forget about it. His life and your life are totally different. Look at yourself, you are serving his mother."
She startled when she heard him say "she is asleep. You can leave now."
She got up feeling flustered and headed towards the door when he grabbed her hand to both of their surprise. He pulled her toward her slightly saying "when are you going to stop running away form me?"
She said panicking now "your Royal Highness, someone will see us. Please let me go."
He said not letting her go "say my name."
She looked into his blue eyes and whispered "Klaus."
He continued to stare at her, his eyes went to her pink lips and even though she looked composed he could feel her nervousness at this closeness and suddenly he felt like kissing her to his surprise so he leaned back whispering "dont forget my name ever."
She stepped back and headed to the door not knowing that there was a smile on his lips.
As she opened the door to leave, she turned around in impulse and caught him looking at her. Her heart jumped a beat and she hastily left leaving Klaus confused about what was happening to him.
A week later, after coming back from a function arranged by Duke Lockwood, he was walking in the corridors late at night not being able to sleep on account of thinking about Hayley when he took a turn and got excited as he remembered his old room. He walked to it, pushed the door opened with a loud creek sound.
He entered the room expecting it to be empty but stopped as he spotted her reading a book in a candlelight. She jumped up asking "your Royal Highness … Klaus what are you doing here?"
He walked to her saying "me? This is my room."
She said "but you have been in different room since you came back" forgetting the formalities for some reason.
He smiled at the lack of formalities and said "well. As this is my castle I can be in any room. What are you reading?"
She showed him the book bringing a smile to his lips. She started to leave when he said "Stay."
She turned to him and asked "how was your evening with lady Caroline."
His expressions changed to surprise then to smile as he walked to her saying "jealous."
She snapped "why should I be?" immediately regretting her tone. If he found anything odd he didnt say anything to her relief.
He said "I dont know. You tell."
They were so close to each other that if he just leaned in he could have touched her lips which he was longing to touch right now. He continued to look into her eyes unable to look anywhere else when she asked "how was it?"
He said "boring."
She asked "why do you go then?" not knowing her voice had reduced to a whisper.
He said whispering not taking his eyes off of her face "because no one gives me company here."
She started to feel nervous and took a step back but a hand grabbed her hand stopping her motion.
He stepped towards her and whispered "may I?" to both of their surprise.
She didn't know what to say, her lips refused to say anything. Before she knew it he leaned in and holding her hands, brushed his lips against hers and kissed her. She immediately broke the kiss saying "this is wrong. You are a prince and I am your servant" feeling flustered.
She hastily left the room leaving him steaming in anger.
Klaus entered his mother's room thinking of finding her there and confronting her about the kiss but seeing a new girl just made a drop in his stomach. During the conversation with his mother, he asked casually "where is Andrea?"
She said "Victoria is sick again so she is with her."
He asked "what happened to her?"
She said "I dont know. Andrea told me she had fever and flu."
After leaving his mother's chamber he went towards Victoria's room wondering 'what happened to her again. She just recovered.'
A few servants in the servants Hall curtsied him as they were used to seeing him there now.
He knocked at the door waiting impatiently for her to open it.
As he entered the room, he immediately knew that she had lied about her mother's sickness as he saw Victoria sitting on a chair knitting a scarf looking perfectly fine. He looked around and caught Andrea's eyes. As their eyes met she looked away. He walked to Victoria to her frustration and settled down making her nervous.
She turned away from him as she heard him ask "what are you making?"
Victoria sighed and said "your Royal Highness, His majesty and your mother will not like it if you continue to visit us."
He said smiling"if they dont like it ,they can talk to me. You are like a second mother to me. You are the one who nursed me so pardon me if I hold a high place for you in my life."
He was immediately taken back as the tears started to fall from her eyes. He asked holding her hands impulsively "what is it Victoria?"
Andrea spun towards them and hurried to her mother asking "mother what is it?"
Victoria said wiping her eyes "nothing my child."
She then looked toward Klaus still holding her hand "you shouldnt be here your Royal Highness."
He asked feeling confused at her crying and this wired feeling he was having "what is it? Have I done something to upset you?"
She said "no. no. You have not done anything. I request you to go" unable to contain the desire to hug him any longer.
His yes met Andrea's who said "your Highness please."
He slowly let go of Victoria's hand and headed to the door. As he opened the door he heard her ask "mother tell me what is it?"
He closed the door feeling bewildered and confused at what had happened.
Next day after coming back from his estate he went to Victoria's room again but Victoria was normal. He tried to catch Andrea's eye but she was avoiding him. Later that night, after visiting his mother where he didnt see Andrea again, when he fell on the bed he sat up at once as it hit him what really had pulled him back to the castle and why she was avoiding him and a smile appeared on his lips. He got more and more convinced that what he was feeling for her, she was feeling the same thing for him too. The last thing that was in his mind before going to sleep was the decision to find out for himself.
For the next few days he acted normal with her as if that kiss never happened between them, like he used to when they were just friends which he found was good because she started to reciprocate the same way after slight hesitation. He continued to visit them whenever he found time. Often they would end up discussing a book while Victoria sat in the corner knitting her scarf. During his visits to his mother's chamber he often caught her looking at him. He would sit there while she would read something to his mother impressing him at how good of a reader she had become. Every time he would see her there was this tightening of the muscles in his stomach. Just within a week he was sure he loved Andrea Labonair.
While he was discovering his feelings for her, she had also managed to do that in the dark hours of the night which had frightened her leading her to make an oath to herself that she would never tell anyone not even to him about her feelings for him.
He spend the next day playing polo with the guards, Marcel and Kol. After polo he asked them to leave him alone and went for riding trying to figure out what he was going to do about him and Hayley. He lost track of time until the first drop of rain fell on his head so he headed back.
By the time he reached the stable, he was socking wet. He got off, shook the water off of his head and was turning after closing the gate when he saw her looking out at the rain.
He walked to her and asked "what are you doing here?" startling her.
She turned to him feeling suddenly nervous with the closeness after recently discovering her feeling for him. After a moment she said sounding casual "I was here to get some logs for her Majesty's room but it had started to rain really heavy."
He said looking at the rain "yes it has. Lets wait the rain out and then you can go."
She said "mother must be worrying your Highness."
but at the same time she jumped as she felt his hand on her waist.
She said in a soft voice "your Highness…" but he was already turning her towards him. He whispered "Klaus."
She didn't know what was happening as her eyes fixed on his lips and bit her lips.
He hesitated just for a moment but then leaned in and kissed her. She felt trapped as she realized that her body had deceived her and had let him kiss her. He pulled her towards the hay stack, laid her on the hay gently but as his hands went to her breast, she gasped and came back to her sense. She said hastily "I dont think it is a good idea. I am not your equal.
He said firmly "but you are. You can stand with me in any court, in any argument, in any social circle."
He leaned in and kissed her again gently at first and then before he knew it he was kissing her so passionately that he was unable to breathe and she was returning it and then he rolled them over. She could feel his hardness against her and was feeling weird. On one hand she wanted him. She wanted him so bad but on the other hand she knew her limitations so when his hand started to pull her dress up she said "Klaus no. I …."
He pushed himself up and after staring at her for a moment he said angrily "you will not say no to me when we are married Hayley" and left in the pouring rain.
- continued-