Chapter 3: "Kingsbridge"

"I am because we are" – Xhosa proverb

Time: Early Spring 1174

Winter was almost over, the snow had slowly disappeared and though the nights were still cold the ground was getting softer now. Kol stepped out of the cave that had served him as a winter quartier and watched Joanna, as she stirred a small fire. The witch had allowed him to stay over the winter, when on his quest to learn everything about sorcery he had passed through the woods in late autumn. At first he had been confused why she lived her life as far from civilisation, but over time he had learned to value her and her lifestyle, though she was not able to provide the answers he was seeking, but she had kept him. He had learned from her, a lot about herbs, everything she knew about magic and about her life, that after she had cursed a couple at a wedding she had stopped practising magic. She had told him that she would not be much help on his quest, but that he might find some answers at an abbey only a couple of days from here, where they were known for solidarity and a huge library, she had told him that she had a son that lived there and that he would surely help Kol, if it was only for a place to sleep.

"It will be getting warmer now every day, you could make it to the abbey in four to five days." She looked up to him. "Do you really believe I can find answers there, you said there are no witches?" Joanna chuckled slightly "It is a beautiful place Kol, and Abbot Phillip is a very kind soul, if you do not find what you seek, I am certain that it will still be good for that restless soul of yours. They truly practice solidarity over there, just give it a try." Kol nodded, perhaps she was right and he had heard many rumours about the place and its beauty.

Far too soon he had to say goodbye to Joanna, he had tried to convince her to accompany him and visit her son, but he was unable to change her mind and so he set off to visit the small town with the famous abbey.

Kol reached Kingsbridge late, at the fourth day he had left the cave and Joanna behind and was now searching for Jack the builder. She had been right the place was beautiful he thought as he wandered through the streets. The abbey was at the north of the town and was apparently rebuilding or renewing the large church, there was a stone paved market place that told the story of flourishing trade, but it was most likely that they lived of the people and traders that crossed through town. Now he only had to find Jack, which was easier said than done. After some time he got lucky and apparently found the right door, which was opened by a blond women.

"You have" she answered with a tired smile, as he asked whether he had found the house of Jack Builder, he already moved to enter when she closed the door in front of him. He heard how she spoke to someone and the door was opened by a man of average height with blue eyes and a soft red touch to his brown hair. "Jack the Builder" he carefully asked "Yes" the man answered. Kol quickly told Jack about his mother but before he had finished Jack had smiled and invited him inside. "Kol this is my wife Gwen" he introduced a pretty women with very long wavy brown hair and eyes of the same hazel colour, two boys probably his sons, around the age of 4 and 6 were sitting in front of the fire that lighted the room. And then there was the women that had opened the door, Jack introduced her as Carolina. She had excused herself soon after his arrival and left to go home. He later the night learned that ever since the day her mother had fallen ill and later died she had stayed with the nuns at the abbey, she was here because his wife was with child, which would be due in less than a month. The two men got talking and pretty soon decided, that if Kol wanted to stay and move around unnoticed he would need to work, gladly Jack always needed working hands at what one day should become the cathedral of Kingsbridge. Kol was not that delighted, about doing honest work, but decided for Joanna´s sake to give the honest, hard life a try. ´Kol it is the simplicity that makes life difficult, not the luxury, ones you try it, ones you feel and see your accomplishments, you will be a different man.´ He missed the witch already.

It was only a couple of days later, that he experienced what Joanna had meant by a ´special pace´, he started to slowly grow into the community and found that everyone including the monks and nuns of the order shared sorrow and happiness, this town lived solidarity if one person would fall ill the order would take care of them, so that they could return as soon as possible to work. In return the people paid the services in form of herbs, care, beer and ale with firewood, corn and fruits, everything in this place seemed to be connected and circle around the abbey. It was as they were all related, one huge family and Kol was becoming one of them. But even though everything was intertwined Caroline appeared to be special she was the only person, the nuns allowed into their sanctuary and Kol wanted to know why.

They had worked till the sun stood high and decided to rest for an hour. He was slowly walking over the orders´ property as he sighted her, she was kneeling in the herb garden. He slowly approached her until he stood only a couple of feet from her. She looked him directly in his eyes a warm smile on her face. He stopped in front of her, as she rose from the ground "I believe we have not been introduced yet "She smiled and held out her hand "My name is Caroline." He took hold of her hand. "Kol, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance" she chuckled with a twinkle in her eyes "No need for formalities …" Before she could continue her sentence Kol already inquired "What are you doing out here?" He looked at her bare fingers only coverer to half by knitted, brown wrist warmers. She looked amused as she raised her eyebrows "I am praying that most of the herbs, have survived the frost but it is getting warmer and it looks like we have gotten lucky." She smiled at him as she used a pick to continue her work loosening up the hard soil. "So how do you like our small town?" She asked casually still keeping her hands busy. Kol shook his head he had a smirk on his lips, she noticed and tried to add something, as he grabbed another pick out of her basket and asked her to allow him to help her, she seemed surprised but told him to help himself. They worked quietly only exchanging glances here and there until Sister Mary showed up "Carolina, I am afraid I am in need for your expertise." The young nun said looking horribly guilty. "What is it" Caroline asked. "I believe a herbal mixture is in need …but I do not know an Sister Theresa" As Mary kept on rambling, Carolina smiled at him one last time, she seemed relaxed as she rose "I am grateful for your help but I do believe that you have to get back to your duties as well" she said smiling at Kol. ´Damn it´ he had totally forgotten about Jack and the abbey and his work his responsibility. He had to smile, responsibility Joanna had been right, this place was changing him, he thought as he hurried himself to get back to the abbey. "Where have you been?" Jack asked with a strict face "We need to be able to count on you, Kol." "I am sorry I helped Carolina and I got lost." Immediately Jack´s expression softened and once again Kol was surprised that not once he had to compel anybody to do for him. To his surprise he told Jack the truth as he apologized he was truly sorry about his delay. Over the rest of the day he noticed that the men looked at him differently and he could not guess why.

The following days he watched her from afar, hoping to get a chance to talk to her again, if anyone knew anything of interest in this town, it would be her. However, she also confused him, she seemed to be in desperate need to keep her fingers busy, she never rested, he found out that she was responsible for the caretaking of the villagers she helped them in illness and sorrow, in childbirth and mourning, the sisters seemed to respect her ask her advice, he had overheard conversations with the one nun that seemed to be superior to Caroline a very old nun, named Sister Theresa. He could not stop but wonder about her organisational talent, she never forgot anything, she always thought of everything and appeared to be the personification of compassion and efficiency at the same time. And though Kol told himself that he only wanted to be near her, due to her knowledge, it was rather that he enjoyed her company. He loved their small conversations, her wit and it soon became their ritual that after his work, he would find her in the herb garden, talking to her about everything and nothing. It was like they had an unspoken agreement to avoid certain topics like family and history.

So one night he wanted to find out and asked Jack. "How does it come, that Carolina lives with the sisterhood?" Jack inhaled deeply "Well, I think it is about time that we had that conversation." Jack stated dryly. He inhaled deeply before he started. "Her mother was attacked by wolves, about four winters ago, she was brought to the abbey so they could tend to her wounds, but soon they concluded that there was nothing they could do for her, but ease her pain. Ever since the day she got attacked Caroline cared for her, nursed her and when her mother was in need for nothing she took care of the others up there, you may have not noticed, but ones someone falls ill, we bring them to the abbey, to be with god one would tell you, but honestly to keep the rest from us from falling ill as well. So she started helping out, working there and after her mother died she simply never stopped. Sister Theresa kept her and taught her everything there is to know: to set broken bones, to heal fever, to keep and to give hope and love, but also to forgive. After the death she was stone cold, but Theresa did what she could do and today, it is what makes her so exceptional, all that has happened to her, she is compassionate and focused on curing the pain, she shines bright, she is the light in the darkness, but in order to be that she has to work and never rest, I believe she is still afraid to do so, rest brings out her demons. But her soul is pure, through all the suffering she would never hurt anyone. Kol she heals us, but inside she is still broken and she will need someone to mend her soul." Kol was surprised, less by what Jack said, but by the way he looked at him. Leaning forward Jack´s eyes locked with his and Kol did not know why but he had to look away.

"What about her father." He tried to continue their conversation.

Jack leaned back in his chair, still having this urging, knowing look in his eyes. "Let´s just leave it at the fact, that he was … is no good man and luckily left this place for good. We should go rest the days are getting longer, we will need our strength." And with these words he left for bed. Kol could not sleep that night, Jack´s words were roaming in his head, he thought about Caroline. He did not like what Jack had implied, Caroline needed, steadiness and structure… everything he was not. Of course he liked her and Jack´s words had made him angry, he wanted to fix her, but more than that, he wanted to protect her and he was not sure that he could give her what she needed.

Unfortunately, where ever the Mikaelsons go, trouble is not far behind and so was it this time as well. Kol was working at the roof, on the soon to be cathedral and almost lost his balance, when he heard a very familiar voice.

"Please Father, tell me about this place, it appears to be truly magical." A huge smile lay on the Abbots face as he talked about the structure and their community. Kol looked down on them in disbelief, why? what the hell was his brother doing here. "Tell me son what happened, that you are travelling all alone through this beautiful land of ours." "I worked for a Lord not far from here, I was responsible for his numbers and accounting, unfortunately we had a disagreement." Elijah paused before he continued "I feared for my life." "I understand the higher Lords and Ladies can be difficult at some times." The abbot chuckled. Elijah was surprised he had never met a man of the abbot´s position, who was talking like that about the strong and powerful ruling this country. "You are most welcome to stay, though I am afraid I will have to ask you for something in return, this is nothing personal but the pillars on which our community is build" The abbot seemed serious now "We will talk about this later, meet me after supper." "Brother Jacob will take care of you and show you to your cell." While Elijah was thanking the elderly monk for his hospitality, Kol´s thoughts were racing, why was Elijah here, for him or was it indeed a coincidence, he did not believe one word of Elijah´s explanation, it sounded wrong, but of course Abbot Phillip was too good of a man to doubt this, he was a truly pure soul, who had never ones broken his vows.

Elijah was surprised by all the places his brother could have picked, he had chosen this small town. If the witch had not located Kol here, he would have never thought this was possible. This place was small and silent and though it had a very unconventional abbey with a female and a male order, it was as al close to ´normality´ as possible. Now he only had to find Kol and convince him to leave with him. Usually he would just look for the greatest bloody mess, the most scared people, talk to victims, but unfortunately there were none. He slowly walked over the abbeys property and looked over to the beautiful church the builders and craftsmen were working on. His throat tightened, he needed to find Kol.

Kol decided to ignore his brother's presence, if it was an unlikely coincidence it was possible Elijah would not find him, after all he enjoyed this community and had not once harmed any of its members and after spending almost three month in this place he had grown fond of it and considered himself a part of it.

The sun was about to set down, as Kol was laying last hand on some wooden beams they would need in the morning. "You are not easy to find, brother." Elijah addressed him. Kol spun around looking at his brother, who stood a little more than five feet away from him. As usually Elijah was dressed properly in clean and tidy cloth, his hands crossed behind his back, his eyes inspecting the inner part of the cathedral. "Elijah." Was everything Kol responded, before he turned back to his work pretending Elijah was not there. "Working life suits you, who would have thought that you could live a less gruesome way of life." Elijah inspected his brother, rolled up sleeves, working bottoms and shoes, sweat and dirt on his hand and face, this was his brother but different to the one he remembered. He had walked around the beams now standing in front of his brother, observing him working. "Well, at some point …" Kol´s words were interrupted by a loud and horrible sounding crash, as Tommy climbing down the scaffolding, fell. "Tommy" he yelled and started running.

He hurried over to his friend, as fast as a human could and knelt over him while Jack and James, the only other workers that were left ,rushed over. "Find the Sisters" Jack told James, who immediately started running, we have to get him over to the infirmary. Tommy looked bad his leg was obviously broken and bleeding and he was not answering them as he laid there in a horribly crippled angle. The only thing that calmed Kol was the fact that he could still hear his heart beating. He stared at his brother as he picked up Tommy´s upper limbs. Jack grabbed on leg and Elijah was instructed to hold the broken one. "Let´s move" was all Kol could say, as they carried him out of the church towards the infirmary. Sister Mary was shocked, she felt over challenged and had no idea what to do or where to start and she looked Kol in the eyes with all her helplessness. "Find Carolina, please." She stumbled. Kol and Jack nodded before they rushed out of the infirmary as Elijah tried to follow them, she took hold of his arm with a tight grip, as if her life depended on it "Please don´t leave me." She begged him. Elijah did not know what to say but his manners did not allow him to leave him so he stayed, he had not yet replies as a fierce looking blond women entered the room. Her eyes were solely fixed on the patient as her eyes skimmed him from head to toe, as she relieved herself of her Cape and wrist warmers. "Tommy, Can you hear me" She kneeled down next to his head she placed a hand on his shoulder slightly moving him. Her eyes were full of concern, as Tommy moaned in pain she smiled. She looked up to Mary and instructed her to get warm water and clean linen sheets. The young nun visibly relaxed as she started to collect the demanded items. The blond looked up to Elijah and he looked in her beautiful blue eyes for the very first time. It was the moment he noticed that he wore no habit or any sort of religious gown she looked at him with a small smile on her lips. "He will be fine." He watched her and the whole room seemed to be warmer. He quietly observed her as she started to cut open the man´s trousers, cleaned the wound, set the bones, he noticed that a nun entered she watched the blond saw her working and gestured Sister Mary to follow her, he saw the pride in the Sisters eyes as she inspected Caroline´s work from a distance before she left. He was impressed as he watched her every move, her gentle touch and attentive eye, how she noticed the slightest changes, she was concentrated but calming, she spoke to Tommy as he slowly gained consciousness, he had never experienced such fierceness, directness and compassion. He was astounded by her thoroughness. Never in his life had he met a woman like her. She was still working as Tommy glided into a sleep. She must have noticed his gaze, because she shot him a very amused look as she created a herbal mixture. "Could you please hand me the hot water?" She asked him, Elijah followed her instructions. She seemed far more relaxed now. He was fascinated. The whole time she had seemed to be in control. Who was this woman? He needed to divert his train of thought. "Will he be crippled?" he asked her carefully. She met his gaze "No, he won´t." She smiled a heart-warming smile at him and looked him in the eye. "How long" She chuckled slightly as she continued to pestle her herbs. "Everything worthwhile takes time … so does healing." There was something else in her eyes something he could not quite pinpoint, but it was there, sadness he wasn´t sure. Elijah followed the meticulous movements of her hands with his eyes. In his personal experience he had come to believe that some wounds could never heal, if the last centuries of his existence and Niklaus had taught him something, it was this.

"Every wound can heal, it might take time, it might change you, it most certainly leaves a scar, but with tenderness, compassion and care, I learned that even the worst damage can heal …" She paused and he could not lose the feeling that she could see right into his soul as she continued. "…I am most certain that he will walk and work again before the summer has reached its height." She paused once again. "He will need his families support, he won´t be easy on them, he will feel useless and out of control, punished and alone, but their endurance and trust will be worth the time and effort." Elijah stared at the girl, he had a feeling, that she knew what she was talking about and even though she talked about Tommy it hit right into the sour spot of his heart, that Niklaus had caused over the past 3 centuries. She seemed to be no older than 16 or 17,but she spoke words he would never forget, word that gave him strength in the darkness and kept him going, words that he would move in his heart, that gave him against his better judgement hope that his brother was not lost yet.

After he left the building he noticed that Kol had been waiting for him. "She is truly special" Elijah said still deeply moved from her words. He was certain that she had not been aware of the words meaning to him. "The order the nuns they respect her, place great responsibility into her hands. He tried to distract from the true meaning of that statement. Kol looked up to him with an expression, a look of protectiveness, worry and pride, he had never seen on his younger brother. "She is their light." Was all Kol said. Elijah wanted to ask about her, but he didn´t, Kol seemed to be eager to change the topic as well. But he could not argue with his brother´s statement that was what she was ´Light´.

Time: switch to Present

And that was how he wanted to remember her as the woman that showed him light and toughed him patience and hope, to be there for his brother as long as he needed him. He sat on the couch, still wearing a suit, while he stared into the orange red flames of the small fireplace in the mansions living room. A small tear ran down his cheek as he thought of her. He still had faith in her words, still cherished them. He would never, never forget her, his light, his hope, his family.

Author´s Note: Hello everybody, I am soooo sorry this took me so long, but honestly every time I opened this chapter I found something I could do better, so now I am at a point where I will simply post it ;)

Disclaimer: Some of you might have noticed small references to Ken Follett´s ´The pillars of the earth` I do not own any of his ideas regarding a cathedral in Kingsbridge and I used his work as a guideline for society of that time, I do not own any of his characters (Jack and Phillip). I also do not own any TVD or TO characters. What is left: the idea, some Sisters and the infirmary, are creations of my fantasy.

Guys THANK YOU so much for REVIEWING, FOLLOWING and FAVOURITING this story, it means a lot to me :) and I think I owe you some answers:

- I was asked a lot about Caroline and Klaus, they will interact but Caroline shares no past with him, they meet for the first time in New Orleans in chapter 5. I am sorry, but we will see how their relationship will develop …

-Ok Kol and Caroline definitely have some kind of thing going … he is a little scared of it and has not yet decided how he feels, fact is he cares enough about her and the community that he behaves himself daniellerae23 I loved your suggestion about Kol being a fling and Elijah all serious, but I am not sure whether I want Care to become a second Elena ...

- Yes Elijah, the manifestation of the proverb calm waters are deep … and yes I picked a pre-Katerina time to make Care the ultimate thing and he definitely loves her, but let´s remember that they are both damaged goods.

Please keep those questions and comments coming :) I live of their inspiration.

Thank you for bringing grammatical and spelling errors to my attention I will try to eliminate them. ;)

Sooo, last but not least, next chapterit is time that we confront Rebekah about her wired so out-of-character behaviour … let´s see how that goes ;)

Have a great start into the week - Kathie