Chapter 3 – In Preparation
Klaus was confident as he rode up the long road of the Lockwood estate. He thought it was best to have a conversation with George before he and his family were in attenance of the party being held here the next day. He hated that it had to be today of all days, he had awoken to a grief stricken wife, and despaired to leave her for any length of time. But this was something that needed to be done.
Klaus rode straight up to the front of the Lockwood mansion and came to halt as he tried not to injure all the people running around doing the preparations. A man clearly having sort of power noticed Klaus' entrance and immediately came toward him. He bowed and said, "Is there something I can help you with my good sir?"
Klaus looked down from his horse, "I am here to see George Lockwood, he and I have some business to discuss. You could inform him of my presence?"
"Of course." He then paused, "Who is it that I should say is calling?"
"Klaus Mikaelson." He replied before the man ran off and a stable boy replaced him. Klaus slid out of his saddle and handed the reins to the boy. He began to look around the yard, taking in the house of the most powerful family of Mystic Falls, and though impressive he was not intimidated.
"Mr. Mikaelson, to what do I owe this unexpected visit?" George Lockwood asked as he came up to Klaus, his hand extended.
Klaus took the man's hand and responded, "I do not believe you find it that unexpected Mr. Lockwood."
George smiled but nodded and replied, "True, and please, call me George, I have a feeling we are about to come much better acquainted."
"I do believe you are correct, George." He agreed and then glanced around, "Is there somewhere more private we may talk?"
George nodded, "I know just the place."
Klaus followed the young man has they walked out into the back garden, their stood a large stone platform that overlooked the entire grounds. Instead of stopping there, George led him to a cellar door that opened up onto stairs that led them to a large room with many fanning corridors off to all sides with iron gates in the doorways. Klaus looked around in confusion and asked, "What is this place?"
"A gathering place, for those of us that are salves to the full moon." George informed him, and opened up one of the iron gates. On the other side was a room with chains attached to its three stone walls. George picked up one of the chains and said, "My pack comes down here on the full moon to protect others from the monsters we become. These chains are an extra precaution, before we had them, the doors were not always enough."
Klaus nodded in understanding, "How many members are there of your pack?"
"Eighteen, including myself, many are my cousins, but a few are loners that have wandered into town since its establishment." George told him as he walked back into the large room, "I need to know what your intentions are. Do you wish to join us? Rule us? Or do want nothing to do with us?"
"I gave up long ago any hope of joining a pack. I know you can sense that I am not just only a werewolf, and that the same goes for my family. I came here today, to enforce on you the fact that my family is not to be bothered, if any member of your pack comes near…"
"We will not threaten your family. Werewolves and vampires are natural enemies, but you are much more powerful than we are. As long as your family does not kill the townspeople or cause any other trouble, the pack sees no problem with your existence in our town." George promised and then took a deep breath, "We would also like to extend to an invitation."
"An invitation?" Klaus repeated, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "An invitation to what?"
"To join the pack." George said and then added, "They are rumors of a hunter, he has been traveling throughout the union wiping out any werewolf pack he can find. A member of a pack in Pennsylvania passed through Mystic Falls a few days before your arrival, he is the one that brought this tale to us. He died of his wounds within hours of us locating him. I have never seen such damage done to a body, and a fear for what will happen to my pack if this hunter was to find us."
"You want my protection." Klaus clarified, and started to think deeply on what exactly George was offering.
"Yes, we need it." George confirmed and then he asked, "What do you say?"
Klaus looked away from the young Lockwood and said, "I will meet the rest of the pack, and then I will make my decision."
George nodded, "They will all be in attendance tomorrow evening for the ball, I can arrange it so that we can have a private meeting then."
Klaus turned and smiled at the boy, "That sounds like an excellent plan George, I look forward to meeting everyone."
George held out his hand for the Original to shake and prayed that he was not making a grave mistake in trusting the man in front of him.
Rebekah looked at her dresses closely as she set them on display in her dressing room, it was a small side room just off from her bedroom. She had four dresses she could choose from for her first dance in Mystic Falls, they were all ballgowns, one was green with full sleeves, the purple one had short sleeves but a deep view of her cleavage, while the blue had a more modest neckline to accompany the shorter sleeves, and the pink was a classic southern bell dress. Rebekah slowly turned to look at her the door, Elena would be here soon and Caroline was supposed to bring in her dresses as well.
Rebekah sighed and walked out into the hall, where she began her journey to the other side of the house. She had completely forgotten the anniversary that was feel every time around this year until Caroline had appeared for breakfast that morning and Nik had reminded her.
Rebekah slowly opened the door to Caroline and Nik's bedroom, and was greeted by a depressed Caroline still in her nightclothes laying on the bed. She slowly approached the bed and said, "Elena will be here soon. Would you like me to help you get ready?"
"I am not leaving this bed." Caroline said in her 'that's final' voice.
Rebekah huffed and marched around the bed until she was looking at Caroline's tear stroked face. She looked straight at her sister and said, "I know this is hard a time for you, and that I can't even begin to understand your loss, but it has been almost 500 years. Ever since…ever since New Orleans you have been letting this affect you more than it has in 200 years. You are the one that insisted we move here to have a fresh start. Elena is the first person to even attempt to accept us in a long time. She might take being stood up as an offensive, she might stop coming around."
Caroline looked up at her and said, "Stop trying to guilt me Rebekah. Just tell her I am not feeling well or something like that."
"Are you not going to come to the party tomorrow either? Just leave Elijah and me to represent our entire family at our first public event? You know Nik won't leave you when you get a state like this for more than an hour or so, and he definitely won't go to a party without you." Rebekah tried, completely ignoring the order not to guilt her.
A knock of the door prevented Caroline from responding and Emily's voice drifted through the door, "Miss Gilbert is here, she is waiting in your dressing room."
"Thank you Emily, I will be right there." Rebekah replied and walked toward the door, she stopped just as her hand was on the doorknob, "I really hope you reconsider Care."
Rebekah was silently fuming as she walked quickly back toward her rooms. She took a deep breath and placed a smile on her face before pushing open the door, "Hi Elena."
"Rebekah, thank you for inviting me over." Elena said and was surprised when the blonde pulled her into a hug.
"Of course, I always love having a woman's opinion when it comes to my outfit choices, and you know what the town expects to see." Rebekah explained with a smile before it fell slightly and she said, "Caroline sadly isn't feeling too well today, so she won't be joining us."
"Oh, that is a shame I hope she feels better by tomorrow." Elena replied before saying with a laugh, "You have such a lovely range of choices. I only have two."
"Well it is not always the quantity but the quality that matters in choices such as these." Rebekah replied and then teased, "As it is with men."
Elena laughed as the new girl disappeared behind the changing screen, and considered herself lucky to have gained a friend in Rebekah.
It was moments like these, with the sounds of happy laughter drifting across the otherwise silent house, that she wished vampires were not gifted with super hearing. She was not in a mood to be happy, today was just a reminder of the worst day of her life, and she wished to wallow in it. She was so focused on trying to tune out the laughter that she did not hear the approaching footsteps or the door to her room opening.
"Caroline, my love." Klaus said with a comforting tone before closing the door behind him and coming to kneel in front of her, "Would you please allow me to try and cheer you on this day? I see that spending time picking out dresses was not to your liking, but I have a feeling I know something that will. I hate seeing you like this."
"I don't want to feel happy on a day like this." She answered, looking at him with almost dead eyes, "I appreciate you wanting to try."
Klaus huffed and looked at her with conviction, "I am not going to stop trying so you can either just surrender and come with me or we will continue this until you do."
Caroline glared at him, trying to see whose will was stronger at the moment, but she was so exhausted from her grief. She sighed and threw back the covers, "Fine, I will go with you. Give me a few minutes to change."
Klaus smiled and helped her to her feet, "Excellent. I will go ready the horses. Trust me love, you won't regret what I have to show you." He gave her a quick kiss to the forehead before disappearing back out the door.
Caroline slowly readied herself in her riding clothes, wishing more than anything to just be allowed to crawl back under blankets. She knew her husband well though, he would be would not allow her solitude as long as he had an idea to cheer her mood.
As she made her way to the stables, her thoughts once again returned to her children. She had failed them, it was her duty as a mother to protect them, and she was unable to do so. Now she would live forever with that knowledge, and there was no way she could correct it. There was no even another single person alive that could remember what her children looked like beside herself. The first time she had become this depressed, in the first year of her vampire life, Klaus had entered her memories to try and better understand her pain, but those visions he had experienced were not her children's true selves. The death of her children was her only true regret in her entire life, and it haunted her through the centuries.
Caroline heard the stirrings of the horses and it allowed her a focus to escape her thoughts and pain. She gave a tiny smile as she saw her husband standing between the two horses, her white mare, Daisy, on his left and his black stallion, Onyx, on the right.
"I see I succeeded at least a little." He commented at her small smile and then he helped her into the saddle, even if she not require the assistance.
Caroline didn't respond as she watched him get into his own saddle, and it wasn't until they had begun the trip that she asked, "Where is it we are going?"
"I am going to show my favorite spot from when I was a child." He informed her, and sent her one of his classic smirks.
She narrowed her eyes and aksed, "Surely it will not look the same after all these centuries?"
"No, it looks even grander. The eight extra centuries of time and erosion have added to its beauty." He explained as they trotted along and he smiled at her, "I liked to think of it as my private place. It was a chance to escape Mikael and the loudness of my home."
Caroline remained in silence as they continued on, he had told her all about his life, not escaping a single detail, but she still was amazed when he choose to share something without her having to press for it. He stopped and Caroline followed suit, and she could hear a waterfall in the distance. As he dismounted she asked, "Am I finally going to see the falls that gave the town its name?"
"You are, but we are going to go all the way to top, something I am sure not many people have done." He answered as he held out his arms to help her down.
"I would expect nothing less from you." She commented as she felt his arms wrap around her as soon as her feet touched the ground.
"You need something to help clear your mind and your guilt." He told her, not offering further explanation before he leaned down and placed a chaste kiss to her lips.
As he pulled away and fetched a small basket from Oynx's saddle, she asked, "How will a waterfall help with that? I doubt it will compare to those we have seen in other parts of the world."
"You will see." Was all he said in response before holding out his free hand to her, "Please, just keep an open mind."
Caroline placed her hand in his and side-by-side they walked the short distance that remained to the falls. Caroline felt her shocked breath leave her lips, it was beautiful. There was an ancient sense of beauty to the way the water cascaded over the edge and splashed into the waiting pool. The waterfalls she had seen before were larger, and surrounded by a dense, thriving rainforest or tucked between towering mountains, but this one had found its home in a silent Virginian oak forest and was just as magnificent.
Klaus leaned in and whispered in her ear, "I told you it would help."
She smiled and turned to him, "I love you Nik."
"I love you Caroline. You are never alone." He said in return and gave her a long kiss, "Now, let's have some of this food and talk about your children, this will be a day of remembrance for them, not a day of grief."
Caroline could feel the tears start to form in her eyes, "God was smiling the day he sent you to me."
Klaus cocked his head and replied, "I will forever be grateful to whatever power conspired for our union, for you are my everything Caroline, without you I would be just another monster terrorizing the people of this earth."
"And without you I would have a died a bitter woman with nothing but hatred and anger to take with me into the next life." She cupped his face with her hands, "We saved each other my love, and we will continue to do so for the rest of time."
"Amen to that." He answered and gave her one more long kiss before he started leading her up the long trail that would take them to the top of the falls, their hands intertwined.
Elijah was shocked when he returned home from his business in town to see that Caroline had joined them for dinner. He smiled kindly at her as he took his seat, "How are you my dear?"
Caroline smiled sadly back at him, "Better than I was earlier, Nik reminded me of everything I have to be happy about today."
"I am glad to hear it, I really do hate to see you in so much pain." Elijah told her, reaching out and giving her hand a squeeze, "I love you, little sister."
The blonde giggled, it had been almost two centuries into their relationship before Elijah uttered the endearment to her, and she loved hearing it each time, "I love you too big brother."
Elijah nodded and sat back into his seat, "Speaking of, where is your husband?"
"He will be along, in his clumsiness he poured some wine down his shirt." She answered with a laugh, and Elijah joined along.
"Where was this attitude when Elena was here?" Rebekah asked as she came into the room and took her seat, directly across from Caroline.
Caroline sighed and answered, "I am sorry Bekah, I should have heeded your earlier words. I was being stubborn this morning, it will not happen again, and if it does, I give you permission to dump some ice cold water on me."
"I will accept that apology." She said with a smile and then added, "When dinner is over I will show which dress Elena and I picked out."
"That sounds excellent." Caroline agreed, and then asked, "How did Elena take my absence?"
"I told her you were feeling ill, she understood." Rebekah informed her and then turned to Elijah, "She did inquire about you though."
"Is that so?" Elijah asked, trying to show disinterest, but neither of the women in front of him believed it. To distance himself he got up and poured himself a glass of wine before saying, "What did she ask?"
Rebekah winked at Caroline before saying, "She was just curious as to your whereabouts, I think she was hoping to run into you."
"You should ask her for a dance at the Founders Ball tomorrow." Caroline commented, and took a sip of her own glass of wine.
Elijah turned and looked at the two blondes sitting in front of him, "Why are the two of you pushing so hard for me to take an interest in Elena? Have you forgotten what happened the last time I fell for a doppelganger?"
Rebekah looked away but Caroline held his gaze, "I have not, but this time will be different. Elena is not Katerina, she will not play with all of our emotions just to reach some devious goal of immortality."
"Why are we discussing that horrible woman?" Klaus asked as he walked into the room, "She hasn't popped up as she?"
"Don't look so excited at the prospect." Caroline chided him, but he just shrugged and sat down in his chair.
"I wish to torture her a bit before I kill her." Klaus simply commented.
"You did kill her entire family." Rebekah reminded him.
"Yes, Kol and I had a pleasant time with that act, but I still didn't get the prize." He answered in return and then looked over to his brother, "I do, however, agree with their other statements. I do not think Elena would treat you in the same way."
A silence overcame them as Emily and the other servants arrived with their meal. Once the food was placed, Caroline stalled the witch, "Emily, what is your opinion on Elena?"
"She has a good heart, selfless and pure, but as it is with all doppelgangers that come into contact with the supernatural, her fate has become clouded." Emily explained to them and then added, "I do however think she will be needed. I have a sense that something is coming, something that will try to destroy us all."
"Do you have anything less cryptic?" Klaus asked, getting nervous, he hated witch speak.
"No, I will try to gain something more." Emily promised before taking her leave of them.
"Wonderful." Caroline commented before taking a bite of her food.
Rebekah nodded in agreement before saying, "Let's not worry about it for now, and do what we came here to do. Have a new start at life."
Elijah silently agreed as they all fell silent, and his thoughts wandered to Elena.
Elena's thoughts were on Elijah as well as she ate dinner with her father and brother. They were both talking about the business, and she had no interest in hearing about it, as she considered it very dull.
"How was your visit with the Mikaelsons today Elena?" Her father asked suddenly, shaking Elena from her thoughts of the eldest Mikaelson and how he might view her dress choice.
"It was very pleasant. Caroline was feeling a bit under the weather, but Rebekah and I had a glorious time." Elena informed him, and the added, "I have picked a wonderful dress to wear tomorrow."
"That is good news, I am sure you look very beautiful." James commented and have his little sister a warm smile.
"I hope that you use this opportunity to try and find a suitor Elena." Jonathon responded, "I know that you see Stefan more as a friend than a lover, but maybe you could give Damon a try? Or perhaps George Lockwood?"
Elena rolled her eyes and with a bitterness in her voice said, "I will find a suitor when I see fit too, and I will decide who that suitor is, not you Father."
Jonathon set his fork down with a clank, "I worry about you Elena. What will do you when I am not longer around? Surely you cannot expect to become a burden on your bother and his future wife?"
"Father, please…" James tried to say when Jonathon interrupted him by holding up his hand.
"I want you to dance with both Damon Salvatore and George Lockwood at the party tomorrow night, and any other eligible man that offers his hand to you. Is that understood Elena?" Jonathon aksed, his voice low and dangerous.
Elena glared at the man, she had never been angrier at him, and said, "I will dance with whoever asks, but that does not mean I will marry them. We live in different times now Father. I have a right to marry for love, not to form an alliance between our family and another."
"You will marry whoever I approve of, and do not think I am blind. I am sure you do not only attend to the Mikaelsons as often as you do simply for the company of women. That Elijah Mikaelson is a stranger, and unfit to wed an daughter of mine." Jonathon told her, his voice caring the tone of finality.
"I will marry who I want, whether you approve or not." Elena replied, her tone on match with her father's.
"I will not offer up your dowery if I do not approve." He said to her back, his voice in a low whisper.
Elena stalled and looked over her shoulder, "I never said I wanted it." She said back before she continued on her way and once she was out of sight of the door she ran to her room.
About twenty minutes later Elena was interrupted from writing in her diary by a knock on the door. She closed the leather bond book and said, "Who is it?"
"Your brother, may I please come in?" James asked through the door.
"Yes." Elena said simply and turned to look at he door as it opened.
James came over and sat on a bench located near her writing desk, "I am sorry for Father."
"It is not your fault that he wishes to control my life." Elena assured her brother, "I do not blame you for anything."
James sighed, "I should have stood up for you. If you want to be Elijah Mikaelson, I will support you."
Elena smiled at him, "I have not chosen to be with Elijah, or any other man for that matter. The reason that I got so angry is because he has no right to say that I can be with him or not."
James nodded, and then said, "I am afraid to tell him about Margaret, what if he disapproves? I do not think I have the strength to fight him as you do."
She laughed at her older brother and told him, "Margaret Fell is high of Father's list of choices for you, of that I am certain. You have nothing to worry about dear brother."
"Are you sure?" James asked, giving her a small smile.
"Yes, on this I am very sure." Elena said, returning his smile, "I love you James."
"I love you too Elena." James whispered in return and lent over to place a kiss of her on forehead, "I meant what I said, I am on your side Elena, no matter how you choose to live your life."
"And I will be forever grateful for the support." Elena answered him before pulling him into a hug. And has they parted, Elena could help the fact that her thought immediately returned to the Mikaelson family, and she wondered what it was about them that she found so attractive.
AN: I apologize for the long wait between updates, it has been a busy month for me.
I hope this chapter was worth the wait, and I can promise that the next chapter will be up much sooner seeing as I have already written 3/4 of it. As a preview, the Founder's Ball is just full of intrigue.
Please let me know what you thought of this chapter, whether it is something good or bad. Also, if there is anything you wish to see more of, see less of, or something you want to happen, don't be afraid to mention it. As a side note, this story still needs a cover if anyone is interested in providing one :)
Have a Happy Easter!