Chapter 3:
AN: Thank you so much for all the support so far :)
Previously: Caroline found out that she was a princess, that witches exist, and arrived at the Mikaelson Kingdom. She met the siblings, one of which will be her future husband.
So in case you're confused (like me) the table arrangement is:
At the top Mikael, to his left, Rebekah, Stefan, Elena, Caroline Bonnie, a space. At the other end is Esther, to her left; Davina, Kol, Klaus, Elijah, Katherine, Finn.
May 1492
The dinner with Caroline's new, new family was... interesting, to say the least. She found the Mikaelson royal family to be just like her mother had described them. The names of the two twins were Princesses Katerina and Elena from the Kingdom of Mirrors, odd. Caroline immediately developed a dislike to Katerina from the way she was throwing herself at Finn, clearly just because he was the oldest and she wanted to be married to him. Her sister seemed nice though, a lot more quiet and didn't throw in so many fake laughs at everything a man at the table said. Caroline sat next to Elena, with Bonnie on her other side and made some quiet conversation with the two of them for most of the dinner, trying to avoid the eyes of Klaus who sat exactly across from her. Surprisingly Kol didn't seem as intrigued with her as his brother, as her mother had implied he would be. He seemed rather occupied with talking to Princess Davina, although she noticed once when she turned to ask Bonnie something that they were holding eye contact, which her friend immediately dropped when she looked over. "A toast," Announced Queen Esther, holding up her glass and standing. "To the Mikaelson family, and all our new members." She smiled a tight lipped smile around at her children and soon-to-be children-in-laws and then drank. The others followed suite, though Caroline forgot for a moment until Bonnie nudged her. Katerina laughed aloud and Klaus chuckled then whispered something to his younger brother, making Caroline blush probably an embarrassing shade of fuchsia. She was already making a fool out of herself; why had she ever thought she could be a princess? She wasn't a princess. She was just a peasant girl playing dress up, surely they could all see through her disguise.
"May I be excused?" The blonde princess looked between the King and Queen, unsure who she was or should be asking. She saw Esther nod her head out of the corner of her eye and pushed back her chair, feeling like she was falling out of it as she curtsied and followed a guard who led her up to the room she'd been given for now. "Argh!" Caroline screamed into the blankets as she collapsed with her head on the bed and then just sat there for a few seconds before there was a tentative knock. Bonnie, probably. Trying to hide her tears by coughing then wiping her face, Caroline then said, "Come in Bon."
In came a brunette, but not the one she was expecting. By the soft, worried expression and the naturally straight hair, this was Princess Elena. Come to laugh at her? The princess walked over and started to lower herself to crouch beside Caroline, who felt an instant need to rise to this superior, gorgeous creature. Elena decided to sit on the bed and pulled Caroline up beside her.
"What must you all think of me?" Caroline found she was speaking without even being aware, but it wasn't like when Bonnie was using magic on her, this was her this time, pouring out her feelings to a stranger because she had no-one else around to tell them to. "I behaved so- so-" she paused, struggling for a word.
"Nervous?" Elena suggested, smiling. "And rightly so. We've all heard your story Caroline, this must be a shocking change. It's fair enough that you're feeling a bit lost." Caroline stopped her staring at her dress as she fiddled with it and looked up at the doe-eyed Bulgarian. She was empathising with her. This princess who'd probably been raised with a silver spoon in her mouth. This girl who'd have slept in her own room every night of her life and had horses and prim and proper family that barely paid her any attention. It was... nice. Caroline returned the smile Elena was giving her, which seemed to convince the other girl to continue. "So you have two options; you can either go back downstairs and walk tall and continue eating-"
"I can't go back down after that," Caroline interrupted. "They were all laughing at me."
Elena looked confused. "About what?"
"About not toasting!" Caroline declared, realising how silly a problem this sounded as she said it out loud.
"Oh everyone's in a daydream sometimes," Elena reassured her. "I am all the time. Perhaps Katerina was laughing at you, she's a total bitch," Caroline did a double take at the vulgar word coming from a princess but she totally agreed. "But I heard Klaus talking to his brother about something entirely different just before he started laughing, and I don't think any of the rest of us even noticed. Or... option two." Elena grinned. "You can stay up here, and I can stay with you, if you want." Caroline nodded quickly and the other girl laughed.
The door was knocked on and then swung open, this time it was Bonnie. She told Caroline that she'd explained to the King and Queen that this was only her second day of being royalty and she was probably incredibly overwhelmed, apparently they'd been completely understanding. "Yeah, maybe a little bit of uh..." she glanced at Elena. "Y'know, would have been helpful."
"You can talk about magic," Said Bonnie. "Elena's a Petrova, the royals know all about it." Oh. The three girls sat on the blonde's bed and chatted for hours, Bonnie even showed them a trick where she made feathers levitate and fall down around them. As amazing a friend as Matt had been, she'd never had this kind of friendship before, not with him, not with Meredith, not with anyone.
The next morning brought nerves to Caroline's stomach. Today was the today she would find out who was going to be her husband, the man she would be devoted to forever. Thankfully she got to spend her morning with Bonnie and Elena; they had considered inviting Princess Davina to join them for the walk but knew if they did they would also have to invite Katerina and Rebekah so decided not to. The three girls were strolling in the gardens when from around the corner of the hedges came Klaus and Kol. The brothers were both smirking mischievously and Kol spoke first. "Ladies," His eyes went to Bonnie and he cocked his head. "Mistress Bennett." The brunette's eyes narrowed and the other two girls turned to look at her briefly. Both boys just burst out laughing.
"Enjoying the palace?" Asked Klaus.
"It is quite nice," Caroline replied. "Afraid I can't say the same for its inhabitants."
The dark haired prince gave her a mocking look. "Ouch. Did we do something to offend you princess?"
"Oh you know," she said, struggling for an answer but trying to play it off. They hadn't done all that much yet, but there was something off about them, and her mother's words form the letter stuck in her head. "Laughing at me, singling out Bonnie, that cold greeting yesterday." Do not anger them, she remembered Queen Elizabeth's words. Their personalities change quickly. Best to stop there. "We should be on our way," she grabbed Elena's arm and started to pull her along but Klaus put out a hand. She froze.
"Don't forget about the engagements announcement," the blond reminded her, but it came out sounding almost threatening. She just nodded briefly and then pulled her two friends away.
When they were out of hearing range of the boys Elena turned to Bonnie, her eyes dancing. "What's going on with you and Kol?"
Her adviser bit her lip. "I don't know what you mean."
"Oh come on," Caroline said, trying to get into the conversation though her mind was still reeling with the looks Klaus gave her last night, and the tone to his voice today.
Eventually submitting to their questioning, Bonnie let out an "okay, okay! We may have had a little moment at the Christmas ball." Caroline's mouth dropped open and Elena's did the same. "Which may have led to a little something more." The two girls gasped and then laughed. "It's never happening again- I must have been drinking without realising it, I would never usually do something like that."
"It's okay Bonnie," Elena put a hand on her friend's back. "We're just joking around with you." Bonnie's eyes moved away from them but her cheeks stayed red, perhaps even more so than before. Caroline followed her line of sight to see the two young princes stood by a horse each, their eyes on the girls. Instead of turning away as one should do in this situation they kept their eyes glued on them and Kol even wiggled his fingers in a mocking wave. They looked amused, but they couldn't have heard them talking, surely, they were too far away.
The afternoon came around a lot faster than Caroline would have liked and she soon found herself walking past the ballroom, which was being prepared for later that night, towards the throne room.
"I know this is a very important moment for you all," King Mikael smiled a tight lipped smile at his children and soon to be children-in-law. His wife stood beside him, along with Stefan and Rebekah, since he was the only prince here so it was obvious he was engaged to Rebekah. "So I'll get right on with it. Katerina."
The brunette stepped forward; slow, confident, regal- she was trying a bit too hard in Caroline's opinion. "Your husband will be Prince Finn." The Petrova princess smiled wide at her sister, a mocking 'haha I win' type smile, before prancing over to her betrothed. Elena was with Elijah, leaving Caroline's only options to be the worst of the Mikaelsons; the ones her mother had warned her away from. Davina was with Kol, leaving her to walk towards Klaus.
"Excellent," Announced Esther. "We will see you all tonight then."
When Caroline got back from helping Elena choose what to wear the two of them came across a box on her bed. "Open it then!" The brunette declared and Caroline moved towards it just as Bonnie came in complaining about how Katerina was treating her as a slave not a well-respected adviser. Elena's advice was just to ignore her, that was what she tried to do, after all. "Ooh what's in the box?" Asked Bonnie.
Caroline opened it up, finding inside a bracelet, a piece of paper, and a lot of magnificent blue fabric. The girls peered over her shoulder, gasping at the beautiful dress but Caroline picked up the note, reading the swirling script as she fiddled with the bracelet in her hand.
I didn't think you'd have many ball gowns fit for this occasion and this one is in the colours of your kingdom
Fondly,
Klaus
Brief, but she supposed he'd be talking to her later tonight. She glanced between the dress and her huge closet, surely there'd be something in there. "What are you doing?" Elena asked. "This dress is gorgeous!"
"But it's from Klaus," Countered Bonnie, who'd read the note by now.
"Who cares, this dress is gorgeous!" The brunette repeated. The three of them analysed Caroline's closet but there was nothing more beautiful or suitable than the dress still sitting in the box, so she sighed and pulled it out.
The ball had been a total bore so far. First they'd been announced and then seated at the head table, where Klaus made no conversation with her and instead spoke across the table to his brothers. Each of the royal couples were taking time to walk around the ballroom and talk to the guests and when Rebekah and Stefan returned it was their turn. They both stood up without touching, no hand hold, no arm linking. Caroline just followed slightly behind Klaus.
"Niklaus Mikaelson!" A young man came over and embraced Klaus, drawing back and looking at the two of them. Judging by his appearance he was royalty as well. "So this is your fiancé?" Caroline smiled, doing a small curtsy and holding out her hand for him to kiss. His eyes met hers and she blushed. "She's beautiful."
Klaus snatched her hand away before the man could kiss it and she turned to him, surprised by the contact. "Indeed she is." Hm, the first touch, the first compliment, albeit him just agreeing with his friend- sounded like someone was jealous. Caroline smiled a little.
"Are you not going to introduce me?" The man asked, a glint in his eyes.
Klaus gave him a look and then said, "Caroline, this is Davina's father and my old friend, King Marcel." This was Davina'a father? But he only looked ten years older than her, in fact he looked around the same age as Klaus, maybe a little older, but not by much.
"Well I wish you all the best in marital bliss old friend," King Marcel told her fiancé.
Klaus grinned devilishly. "And I you in finding your queen." He smirked. "So sorry it couldn't work out with you and Rebekah." The King's eyes flashed with anger and was it just her or did spider like veins begin to appear. She blinked and they were gone, probably just her imagination.
"Marcel!" Called out a voice. It was Princess Davina, calling her father by his first name- it was unheard of where she came from. "Come on, let's go." The petite girl led her father over to where Kol sat, drinking.
"Excuse me," Mikael announced, clinking his wine glass. Everyone fell silent. "This is a monumental occasion for all of the kingdoms, we are forgetting our past troubles and moving on, forming one family. To celebrate we are holding this ball and I would like to begin with one of mine and my wife's favourite dances; a centuries old waltz."
The Queen smiled a tight lipped smile. "So find a partner and take your place on the floor."
She looked to Klaus, momentarily worried he would embarrass her and go dance with another lady but he took her hand and led her to their spot in the line up; Elena and Elijah were just in front of them. As the music started their arms were crossed and they began to slowly walk forward, Caroline glad of the lessons the girls had given her this morning.
"You're quite the dancer," Klaus said courteously.
She inclined her head to him a little. "I have experience. I happen to be the reigning Queen of the May."
She'd intended it as a little joke but any laughter died on her throat as Klaus bowed while she curtsied and he breathed against her neck in a low and husky voice, "I know." She shook, but tried not to let his hand wrapped around hers and the other hand on her back affect her. It was hard. His touch was like a sinful fire burning her. "I imagine it was nice to leave all that behind; the simple village life, your fake family, that blond boy. What was his name? Max?"
"I-" She shook with anger and wanted to scream at him but counted to ten in her head. He was just trying to get a rise out of her. Probably looking for some entertainment in a cruel, twisted way. "I don't want to talk about that with you." Although mainly managing to reel in her anger she couldn't stop herself from hissing out the last word. Klaus seemed mainly amused, although was that a flash of... no maybe not.
"Alright then, onto more mild mannered subjects." He twirled her. "Like how ravishing you look in that dress." Despite the fact that just seconds earlier she'd been furious with him, the feeling of Klaus' breath hot on her shoulder made her want him to hold her tight against him.
She shrugged, trying her best to act cool. "I didn't know exactly what to wear to a ball, I assumed this would be suitable since you gave it to me and I'm sure you wouldn't want your fiancée to embarrass you."
He nodded, looking contemplative. "Hm, and what's your excuse for wearing the bracelet I gave you?" She reached to touch the bracelet unconsciously and he pulled her back, whispering into her ear as he held her. "I have business to attend to." And then he had spun her out of his arms and she was stumbling into someone else. How embarrassing. She looked up and met blue eyes and dark hair. Another prince, by the looks of it. He led her in the next dance, talking about himself for most of it and she was quite glad when it was over and she could walk back up to the main table.
Elena sat in her room alone as the ball progressed. She'd told Elijah she'd been feeling ill and he'd promised to cover for her. She started to take off her shoes, uncomfortable from all the dancing, and her handmaiden was still downstairs, when there was a knock on the door. "Come in," she called, though she just wanted to sleep off this migraine. In came a familiar prince with dark hair and glittering blue eyes. Damon. "What are you doing here?" She asked. He shut the door behind him and slowly approached. She matched him step for step until she met the wall and then she returned to questioning again, stuck with nowhere else to run. "Damon?" He was in front of her now. "Damon, don't-" his lips smashed into hers and she struggled until she could finally pull away. When he started to pull down her dress she fought even harder until he was the right distance for her to slap him across the face.
"Elena?" For a second at least he was back to normal. "Run!" She stared at him for a second too long before starting to run. He grabbed her arm and pulled her back into him. What was going on? For a second Damon had seemed normal and then he was back to... this. It was like he was under a trance or... compulsion!
"Damon," she tried to get his attention but he was busy with the back of her dress. "Damon! Damon get off of me!" She screamed at last. As she screamed he was pulled away and she turned to see her saviour holding her friend against the wall. She pulled her dress back up and screamed at Elijah desperately to stop. "He's been compelled! It's not his fault." Her fiancé stared at her for a moment and then stared into Damon's eyes, his pupils dilating.
"Did someone compel you to do this?" Her friend nodded. "Who?" Bit out Elijah. The dark haired man's eyes darted back and forth and Elijah repeated the question. "Who was it?"
"Katerina."
"I hate her," Elena said as the two princesses sat on a bench in the gardens. The brunette stood up and clenched her fist. She spun around to face Caroline. "I didn't think I was capable of hate but I... HATE her."
"Siblings can be awful, can't they?" Caroline sighed, thinking of Logan.
When she'd returned from the ball last night she'd heard crying and had gone into her new friend's room, where Elijah was holding her, and Bonnie was sat beside her holding her hand. After a nod from his fiancée Elijah had told them what had happened; that Stefan's older brother had tried to hurt Elena, under the influence of someone else. Caroline wasn't sure how much of someone else's influence he could be under for this not to be his fault whatsoever but Elijah issued him a complete pardon.
Elena seemed to hesitate. "They can be, Katerina certainly is, but I have a brother too, you know, Jeremy. I miss him dearly." She sat back down on the bench, sighing.
"I feel the same way about my sister Meredith," She sighed then said somewhat bitterly. "At least you will get to see your sibling again, mine is lost forever." She expected anger from the other girl but instead the beautiful princess put her hand on Caroline's and spoke softly, "I am sorry about that." They glanced between each other for a few seconds and then, "what was your life like there? As a peasant? Do you miss it?" It was a complicated question with a complicated answer. She didn't miss that life, the one where she starved and slept on the floor, but she missed the people, she missed the freedom. She tried her best to explain it to Elena and surprisingly the the girl seemed to understand her, nodding along. "A longing for freedom. I believe that is one of the only things Katerina and I have in common, besides our appearance," Elena chuckled. "Though she desires hers through command of others and I just wish to get away, to be free of the burdens royalty carries."
"Like what?" Asked Caroline, though she knew a few.
"Like-" The bushes parted and in came Bonnie. Elena relaxed when she saw who was there, and continued. "The Kingdoms of Petrova, Salvatore and Forbes have always been closest while the Kingdom of Gerard often stands with the Mikaelsons. As a result I have spent many a ball on the arm of Prince Stefan, or his older brother Damon, though he often seems entirely more interested in Katerina than I. Stefan though, always pays me attention and I find it incredibly gentlemanly of him... When we were six we used to play make believe that we were married. On my sixteenth birthday he snuck outside with me and kissed me underneath an old oak tree."
"You love him!" Declared Bonnie, catching on quickly.
Princess Elena simply blushed and said, "it is one of these burdens I speak of that nothing can ever come of it."
"And why not, pray tell," Caroline leant forwards. "He is a prince and you a princess, this would still be a beneficial marriage for the both of you, would it not? Could you not tell your parents of your feelings?"
"No," Elena sighed. "For the Mikaelsons want these unions and whilst the peasants heed the royals, the royals heed the Mikaelsons."
Intrigued, Caroline put a hand on her chin, resting it there. "What are you talking about?"
Elena's eyes seemed to turn darker. The sweet love struck girl of a moment ago replaced by someone else, someone full of fear. "Do you mean to tell me that you do not know?" The brunette's eyes went to Bonnie. "That no-one has told you?" Caroline shook her head.
Bonnie's eyes met hers as Elena stared at the other girl, daring her to tell. "The Mikaelsons are vampires."
Next Time: Caroline deals with the news that her new family are bloodsuckers while the Original Siblings plot a revolution.
