Azalea found it rather... daunting, her new home of sorts as she ran with the other girl called Rebekah through the trees, her laughing as she did so. Azalea was smiling, her hand in the girls, but she just couldn't... find it in her to smile for some reason.
They stopped before a massive tree that had a makeshift swing attached to it made of rope and a slat of wood.
"Come Azalea!" Rebekah called, a wide grin on her face as she motioned for the girl to sit down. Azalea smiled now, then sat down, feeling Rebekah jump on behind, standing on it rocking the swing back and forth as she held the ropes tightly, trying not to fall of
"Do you like me Azalea?" Rebekah asked now as she slowed down, and the elder girl looked up, a smile upon her face. "I do." Was her answer, and Rebekah beamed- she'd always wanted a sister that was only a year or so older than her... and now she had one to play with.
The pair screamed now as someone pushed them hard, both scrambling to grab a hold of the rope. Rebekah and Azalea turned now, both scowling.
"Niklaus!" Rebekah hissed, jumping down and facing her grinning elder brother. The boy met his sisters angry eyes, then chuckled. "What? Did I scare you?" There was a smirk on his face now, and Rebekah pouted.
"You are such a bully Nik. I'm telling Father."
The boy scoffed, then grabbed his sisters arm as she went to walk off, and Azalea watched as he told her. "Don't."
Rebekah yanked her hand away, and smirked, walking off, but after a second, Niklaus took after her and yelled. "Don't you even care that he will shout at me again-!"
"Maybe I don't." Rebekah snapped, turning around and sticking out her tongue at her brother, the smirk growing. Azalea sat down on the swing, not inclined to getting involved in this- arguments weren't her type of thing.
"What is going on here?"
She jumped at that as a new voice appeared behind her, and she turned to see a older looking boy of about fifteen walking forwards, frowning, his long oak hair blowing a little in the afternoon breeze.
The pair that had been arguing quietened down now, and Rebekah spoke. "Nik was bullying us."
Azalea watched him roll his eyes, then sigh. "Niklaus, stop being such a pain. Do you want Father to shout at you again? You know the temper he has." As his younger sibling stayed silent, he turned his attention to the unfamiliar girl sat on the swing, frowning.
"You I do not recognize."
Azalea opened her mouth to speak, to tell the teenager who she was, but Rebekah beat her to it-
"Her name is Azalea... she's our new sister!"
The teen raised an eyebrow, surveying the girl- she looked the same age as Klaus, fire red hair and bright emerald like eyes. "What-? I'm confused."
"My family were murdered by wolves..." Azalea mumbled now, not meeting his oak brown eyes as he tried to meet her own. He sighed, then just said to Rebekah. "Does Father know about this?"
"Yes. Mother has convinced him to let her stay... please say you are not against this Elijah. She has no where else to go... and I like her. She's fun!"
Elijah was silent, then looked at the girl- she seemed afraid that he would say No and try to convince his father that she should leave, but Elijah smiled. "Hello Azalea. I'm Elijah."
Azalea smiled, then nodded. "Hello."
"I'm going home." Rebekah said now, turning away and walking off. "Azalea?" She called, holding out her hand, but the flame headed girl shook her head. "I shall be back later."
"Play with the boys then!" Rebekah called teasingly as she walked off, then Niklaus left too without another word, making Azalea feel bad and wonder aloud.
"Have I done something wrong-?"
Elijah sighed, watching his brother vanish into the trees. "Niklaus can be like that at times. Don't worry- it's not you."
Azalea nodded, making Elijah smiled faintly, then headed off after his sister.
-AyKiS-
Azalea sat on the swing for a while, staring into the trees, thinking-
This family... they seemed nice enough, and to take her in... that was beyond lucky. Maybe she would find happiness here of some sort-?
But still she missed her parents... the images of them being torn to pieces while she managed to escape still burned into her memory, and she doubted that they would ever fade away. It hurt so much that she wanted to cry again, but knew it would do nothing to get them back- they were dead...
And staying dead.
She got to her feet now, treading the longer path back to the house.
But she heard something as she turned a corner, making her frown and call. "Anyone there?"
There was silence, but her feet led her forwards, and she soon found herself deeper in the woods, starting to get darker from the dense trees and foliage.
A small, scuffed out path led her way as she did so, and she frowned as it stopped before a massive bush, seemingly no way to go through it.
She reached out a tentative hand now, fingers brushing the cool green leaves, then found that it was just a ruse, pulling it aside almost like a door-
At least, hiding a doorway.
Azalea felt her adventurous side take over her as she stepped forwards, crouching down and crawling into the small space, unable to stand up. But a moment later, her eyes widened as she found a large grassy verge before her, the way through the bush behind her over already.
She stood up now, staring across the grass at the tree next to a small enclosed lake with a waterfall trickling down the back of the rocks. Everything shiny and wet.
Wow. What a hidden gem this was, hiding in the forest.
As Azalea stepped towards the edge of the small lake, she felt a prickle on the back of her neck and turned, heart racing against her chest as she did so, but found a frown appear on her face at the figure sat at the bottom of the silver birch tree, face hidden as he looked down, arms wrapped around his legs.
But she knew who is was.
Azalea walked forwards now, then asked lightly. "Niklaus?"
The boys head snapped up, and his eyes were filled with alarm at the fact she'd found this place. Azalea saw that his usually sky blue eyes were rather red around the rims, tears still sparkling in his eyes as he scrambled to his feet, backing off.
"How-? How did you find this place-?" He just said, eyes growing ever wider. Azalea wondered for a start why he'd been crying, but then just said-
"I followed a path."
"This is my place! You can't come here!" He yelled now, hurriedly wiping the tears away from his eyes, but it was too little, too late.
"Why are you crying?" Azalea had to ask now, frowning. Niklaus almost flinched, then snapped. "I wasn't."
"You are lying."
"So what if I am? You don't know me! No one knows me!" He snarled, eyes narrowing, making Azalea feel a little worried- he seemed a little hostile that she'd found his little hidey-hole in the forest.
"I'll... go-" She muttered now, going to leave, but Niklaus sighed. "Wait..."
Azalea was silent, then Niklaus just said. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
"You didn't." She told him, playing with the sleeve of her dark blue dress, staring at the boy who looked lost. He was silent, then he muttered something Azalea didn't catch, and he sighed. "I'm hiding."
She frowned. "Why are you hiding?"
He sat back down against the tree, staring at the waterfall crashing down. Azalea hesitated, then sat down next to him as he said. "My father hates me..."
Azalea was silent, then frowned. "Why? I'm sure he does not."
"Oh... he does. I assure you." He muttered, feeling more than a little rejected. "Father... I know that he favors my siblings over me. He does not seem to care about me at all."
"Maybe if you spent some time-?" She started to suggest, but Niklaus scoffed, backing off and pulling up the left side of his dark tunic where Azalea spotted a dark bruise, and he said bitterly. "Father has a temper..."
Azalea felt sorry for him as he yanked it back down, adding. "He makes me want to run away from home."
"So that is why you come here?" Azalea guessed, and he nodded, meeting her eyes. "It feels like me against the world..." Niklaus had no idea why he was telling this girl whom he didn't even know. But she was alone... and so was he. Or at least he felt like it.
"I'll be your friend." Azalea smiled now, making the boy feel surprised more than anything.
"Truly?" He asked, eyes wide. Azalea nodded, making him crack a smile. "Thank you."
Azalea smiled once more, then asked. "Are you hungry?"
Niklaus paused, then nodded. "I am. It's nearly dinner too. Mother should have it cooked by now. We have wild boar tonight. Do you like that?"
She nodded. "I do." Azalea got to her feet now, holding out her hand for the boy to take, and after a second, he did with a smile, the red very nearly gone from his eyes as they made their way towards the hidden exit, crawling out into the woods, letting Niklaus lead as he led her back to her new home.
-AyKiS-
When they returned to the house, the nerves got to Azalea, making her stop dead at the edge of the trees, staring at the smoke rising from the building.
"What if they don't like me? Your father seems... he scares me." She worried now, making Niklaus chuckle. "Believe me- if he did not like you, he would have left you out there in the woods alone."
Azalea flinched, making him add on. "Mother adores you already. Trust me- she'll love you. And you will too."
"What do I even call them-?" She muttered now, eyes widening. Niklaus sighed, then told her. "Don't worry so much."
"What are their names?"
"Esther and Mikael." Niklaus told her, pulling her forwards with a grin. "Come on! They don't bite."
Azalea paused, then finally stepped inside the house, the smell of cooking meat hitting her first, then the sound of chattering from the main area of the house, a long table set up in the middle. Azalea saw candles everywhere, lighting up the place in a warm glow. There were wooden goblets already set up on the table, along with matching plates.
Mikael was sat at the head of the table, and Azalea felt a little shiver of fear go through her at the mans sharp eyes. He truly did seem scary.
And now that very same man was beckoning her forwards, sitting up straighter, eyes not leaving her as she walked forwards, standing before the man.
"Hello my dear." He just said now, setting a hand down on the table, eyes not leaving her once as he said. "Welcome to my home."
Azalea smiled faintly, then nodded. "Thank you."
Mikael chuckled once, then put a hand on his knee. "Sit." She sat, not wanting to offend him... especially after the way he seemed to hate his son.
"You may stay here with us... but there are conditions." He told her, eyes fixed upon hers. Azalea felt cold at that, then asked, trying not to show any fear. "What are they?"
"You are treated like my other children. No exceptions. You help Esther and Rebekah with the cooking. Anything my wife requests of you around the house, you do it. Yes? No favoritism."
Azalea felt more or less relieved by that- she was expecting something... bad. Eat worms or something.
"Yes sir." She hurriedly said, nodding and added. "I used to help my mother around the house."
Mikael didn't move, but merely said. "Then welcome to the family."
"Yes Mikael."
He actually chuckled at that, then he just said. "You may call us Mother and Father." Azalea nodded, then he made a motion for her to shift of his knee, and she did so in an instant, taking a seat next to Niklaus near the end. It didn't go unnoticed, and Mikael snorted silently- she would take a shine to him, wouldn't she?
Mikael already had a number of thoughts crammed inside his head, but at the moment the one on what the neighbors would think of them taking in a stray from the woods would come across as-
She could ruin their standing in the settlement.
He pushed his pride away at last as his wife walked in, asking for Azaleas help bringing in the food.
The girl got up straight away, keeping her word and making Mikael sigh a little- god he'd been rash to let his wife overrule him concerning her staying...
If she was a big a failure as Niklaus, he could throw her out. It was no big a deal.
Just then, there was footsteps and a pair appeared through the door, making his mood lighten just a tad at his eldest and youngest son walking in- Elijah and Henrick.
They were a family though. The man couldn't deny that.
-AyKiS-
In the kitchen, Azalea was holding the wooden tray of sorts out while Esther laid out the slices, telling Rebekah. "Take that one out."
Rebekah nodded, then took it from her new sister, leaving the woman with the new addition to the family.
"Do you like it here, Azalea?"
She smiled and nodded. "I do thank you."
Esther was silent now as she finished up, handing the girl the bowl of vegetables. "Your name comes from flowering shrubs, doesn't it?"
The girl nodded. "My home was surrounded by ones the same color as my hair in the spring. For several weeks they would bloom... it was so beautiful. So my mother named me after them."
Esther smiled a little, then sighed. "Take that in please." Azalea nodded, then walked into the main room where the men and boys were talking. Rebekah had sat down now on Niklaus' other side, and as Azalea set down the rest of the food, she sat down next to him, smiling a little.
She looked across the table and found an unfamiliar young boy of about eight or nine before her. Azalea frowned, then asked. "What is your name?"
He smiled a little, then told her. "Henrick."
Azalea smiled. "I'm Azalea."
"I know." He just said, and Niklaus leaned to her, saying with a smirk. "My little brother is on the shy side." But now Niklaus hissed as something kicked his leg, scowling at his brother who was smirking.
Esther finally took her place now, reaching forwards and taking the first slice of wild boar, making Mikael raise an eyebrow- as head of the household, it was his privilege that he got first choice.
She flashed him a smirk, daring him to steal it from her, but he let her off with it-
She was his wife after all.
For Azalea, it was strange having a family meal. Especially of this size- it had been just her, her mother and father before. This was... there was six more in her 'family' now. Niklaus, Elijah, Rebekah and Hendrick. Then there was 'mother' Esther and... Mikael. The man she was still secretly scared off, head of the house and 'father.'
Family.
-AyKiS-
When the sun went down and the sliver of moon came up into the sky, the family turned in.
Rebekah was excited to be sharing her room with Azalea, and gladly welcomed her in, making Niklaus smirk before going into his and Elijahs room-
Rebekah would soon have her running out. His sister talked too much sometimes.
When the candles were blown out, the covers pulled up over the pair, Azalea couldn't stop thinking-
Did she actually belong here-? Yes, they had welcomed her into the family well enough... but she was still worried the head of the house might throw her out.
She lay there for almost an hour, thinking about this man, letting the fear that she would be left to roam the forest once more take over her so much that she got to her feet, treading silently across the wooden floor, pulling the door open with a low creak, slipping out into the hallway to the room down the hall, knowing full well she shouldn't have been doing this... but she slipped inside, eyes peering through the darkness.
They were asleep.
Or so she thought...
"Lea?"
She paused now, then a candle was lit, showing her through the flickering light both Niklaus and Elijah fully awake. They had something half hidden under the bed sheet. A chess set Azalea recognized from the sprawled pieces.
"We thought you were Father." Elijah chuckled quietly, bringing the set out properly. "He would not be too happy to find us playing games when we are supposed to be asleep."
She sat down next to Niklaus now, staring at the set and Elijah asked. "Can you play?"
Azalea bit her lip and shook her head. "No."
Elijah chuckled, then set it up, facing her. "I can teach you if you want?"
She smiled at that and nodded, making Niklaus snort. "Elijah is too good at chess."
"Why thank you for that compliment." Elijah smirked to his younger brother, readjusting his position on the bed, crossing his legs.
Niklaus smirked too. "O' mighty chess king Elijah (!)"
Azalea couldn't help but giggle at that- her new brothers were too funny. Elijahs smirk grew, then the teenager retorted. "You can keep calling me that tomorrow if you want."
"You have more chance of flying like a bird... right out of that window." Niklaus told him, pulling the wolf fur covers around him and Azalea more as Elijah started with his chess lesson of sorts, making the younger brother fake a yawn of boredom.
Azalea listened intently, taking it all in-
Maybe she did fit in this family after all.
Oh wow! So Mikael was the Original Daddy:D yay! Love Sebastian Roche:') epic actor! Especially in Supernatural as Balthazar:) Anyway, a new update! Thanks for the lovely reviews so far:) I'm glad people are interested in this- been a while since I wrote anythingXD got a little carried away with the length of this one, but oh well-so much fun writing the 11th century and teen Originals. And Mikael- what a dick that guy is-_- cant help but like him thoughXD next up soon enough- hope you like and please review:) x Nic PS this story was inspired by Christina Perri- A Thousand Years. Beautiful song!