I appreciate all the support! I hope you like this chapter. It's more of a filler chapter, but it brings up some questions that will be answered later.

Enjoy!

"What have you done?" Hayley yelled, the door to his study slamming shut behind her.

"You'll have to be more specific," he answered with an air exasperation as he lounged back in his elaborately carved seat, the thorny vines seeming to stick out, ready to draw blood from an unsuspecting victim.

"You're betrothing our daughter Gwendolyn to Prince Lockwood?"she growled like a mother wolf standing protectively over her cub.

Klaus's feet hit the floor with a loud thump that bounced off the book cases that lined every corner of the room. "Ah, I see pillow talk is still a prevalent tactic to garner information."

"She is ten years old, Klaus," she announced, ignoring his comment.

He rolled his eyes and came around the desk picking a thick dusty book from one of the shelves. "She's not getting married tomorrow. She'll marry when she comes of age and we deem her ready. Besides, it's just an offer. Who knows if the Lockwood's will accept." Before Hayley could speak again Klaus resumed. "This is for the good of the country."

"This is for the good of you," she accused.

"Don't forget to whom you speak." The fierceness of his eyes told her she would regret it if she spoke another word on the subject, but she took the chance anyway.

"You're selling your daughter just like you sold Rebekah."

"These are the times we live in, Hayley. Would you rather your princess marry a pauper?" he asked, glancing up from the worn leather bound and Hayley's eyes fleeted away. Klaus knew he had her, Hayley would never give up the life she was used to living. "Or perhaps would you like her to marry a cousin, because princes and dukes are running quite low these days."

He set the book down on the desk and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. "This marriage, whenever it may happen, will bring peace between two families."

"Until when?" she gritted, glaring at him.

"That's none of your concern." He walked around to his desk again, looking down at the papers that were sprawled out and opened the book again, seeming to compare them. "Leave. Go find Elijah to listen to your woes."

He heard her skirts flutter angrily before the door shut harshly behind her.

There were always reasons behind his decisions, but he didn't have to let the others around him know. Yes, his daughter marrying the Lockwood boy would benefit him just as Rebekah's marriage had, but who knew, maybe it would never come to fruition.

He studied the sketches on the papers in front of him which had come back with the explorers. They had found more land, but something about the drawings were eerily familiar. He'd finally been able to track down what his mother had called a grimoire, which he always thought to be rubbish, but now seeing these drawings, he felt like he'd seen them before and now it was plaguing his mind.

He read passages that seemed to tell of the future, not the witch's brews his mother ranted about, and he could've cared less. The future could always change as his mother had told him. However, she also said no one could outrun destiny, which to Klaus seemed like an oxymoron. His eyes grew tired and bored from reading script after script of nonsense until he saw what he'd been looking for.

As he read the inscription below the sketches that were exact replicates of the ones that sat on his desk, he smiled. According to the book, that wasn't a grimoire as his mother had claimed, the lands were rich in resources, more than his entire country and the Salvatore's combined.

Klaus called for the guard who he knew was standing sentry outside the room and ordered him to bring Benedict to him. He needed to know everything of what the explorer saw.

oooOooo

"Well, it's quite extraordinary," he complimented with a smile towards his eldest daughter.

"Do you really like it?" she asked shyly, searching his face for a lie. "Do you think I'll be as good as you someday?"

He placed the canvas on the table, careful as to not harm it in any way. "I believe you'll be better," he answered and she squealed, a sound Klaus usually despised, but coming from his daughter it only made his smile widen. "Do you know where I think we should hang it?"

Her face became serious as she looked at him with her large brown eyes that could have come from no one but Hayley. "You want to display it in a hall?"

He leaned down so he was about eye level with her. "My hall."

The hug he received almost toppled him over. He was glad he could make at least one person happy that day, he thought sardonically.

Caroline was about to walk into the sitting room when she noticed Klaus speaking to his daughter and the look on both their faces melted her heart. When she saw the girl hug Klaus she smiled. It was nice to see that he was human and could be a father, not just the almighty king. She wondered why he let so few people see it.

Klaus's eyes flickered to Caroline as she stood watching. He pulled away from his daughter and recommended she start on her next painting, asking her to refine her landscapes. The girl flounced out of the room excitedly as Caroline timidly stepped into the ornate sitting room that was decorated in rich warm colors. It was reminiscent of the palace Rebekah had decorated and made people feel welcome, unlike the darkness that covered the rest of it.

"Lady Caroline, what may I do for you today?" he asked, his voice and features stoic. He couldn't let her see how much she effected him and couldn't let her see how she made him feel. He didn't need her making him feel at a time like this. This was a time for plotting and war, not wooing a woman who thought so lowly of him that he had to constantly try and prove himself worthy. It was absurd, he thought, but yet he knew he wouldn't give up.

"I was hoping to find you alone," she admitted.

His eyebrow arched in question.

She took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eyes, conveying her sincerity. "I wanted to apologize."

He was confused for a moment. It was rare someone apologized to him unless he demanded it or the person felt it was the right thing to do since he was a ruler.

She stepped forward quickly, seeing his response in his eyes, he supposed.

"I was wrong. The things I said weren't nice and," she took a big breath and looked at the ground, shaking her head. "they weren't even true. "I..."

He cut her off. "It's fine. Apology accepted," he offered shortly. He snapped his fingers at a guard that hovered near. "Take this painting to be framed," he commanded, passing the canvas off. "And do be careful, it's still wet." He turned back to Caroline as the doors shut behind the guard. "Is there something else?"

She sighed. "I get it. I hurt you, so you're trying to hurt me back."

"I wasn't hurt by what you said, Sweetheart" he scoffed, as if the concept was ridiculous.

"I don't believe you," she countered adamantly.

He stood quietly for a long time before taking a seat on one of the many chairs by the great fireplace. "I've done many bad things, Caroline," he said towards the crackling fire. "You'll hear more about me the longer you stay here, only this time they'll probably be true, so save yourself from my monstrous ways." He knew he was being self deprecating, but he was twisted and broken, and he wasn't going to change who he was.

She sat next to him, glancing between him and the fire in silence. They watched the glowing orange flames lick the wood for some time before Caroline broke the silence. "I'm not exactly a saint," she stated and he rolled his head to look at her, but she stared off to something Klaus couldn't see. "I've killed someone." When he said nothing, she continued. "I was walking alone and he attacked me."

Klaus pursed his lips in anger. If she hadn't killed her assailant Klaus would have people scour the world for this man. He imagined how he would have someone bring the man into the keep and Klaus would personally torture him. He'd cut off this unknown man's fingers for trying to touch her. He'd skin him alive. He was brought out of his angry musings by Caroline's soft voice.

"He didn't know I was carrying the dagger my father had commissioned for himself." She shook her head, trying to rid the images out of her head, but it seemed they weren't going anywhere. "I had just gone to get it for him and he offered to come with me, but I wanted to do it alone. I guess I did it to prove to myself that I'm strong or brave. Or maybe prove it to him."

"You are strong, Caroline. I've seen it." He smiled at her. "I've heard it with my own ears."

She gave a tight laugh, but continued. "There was blood everywhere. I didn't think a person could hold that much blood in their body." Tears gathered in her eyes and Klaus knelt in front of her, cupping her dainty hands in his and gliding his thumb across her wrist soothingly.

"You are brave. You did what needed to be done. No one would fault you for that." When she didn't respond he continued. "Not all people who do terrible things are terrible people. Do you understand?"

Her watery gaze met his and she nodded. "So now you know one of my secrets."

His smile was small and hesitant, almost shy. "Friends, then?"

Caroline smiled brightly and even though her eyes were rimmed with red, they still shined.

Friends, he thought. He had never had any friends growing up. He had his brothers to play with and a throne to prepare for. He was never given the luxury of having someone other than family he could talk to or trust, but something about Caroline made him trust her. She made the steel around his heart crack. He had always turned his inner pain into anger and that meant pain for others, never letting any good in and she had morals, something he lacked.

She wasn't naive, but there was still an innocence to her, even if she didn't think so because of her past indiscretions. She had told him a secret that he was sure she had promised to herself to never tell a living soul, especially one who could send her to her death for the crime. He wanted to trust her. He wanted to talk to her and tell her things because he could barely trust Elijah to keep his secrets anymore. Kol had never been someone he could go to for advice. He was barely ever without a courtesan on his arm long enough.

Klaus's brow scrunched thoughtfully before her blurted, "I'm trying to betroth one of my daughters to Prince Lockwood." A sigh slipped through his lips and he felt a weight being lifted off his chest that he hadn't known was there.

Her own light brows scrunched in confusion as he sat back on his haunches in front of her. "Is that something she wants? And isn't he kind of old?"

"He's not that much older. Maybe eight years at best." He stood, watching the colors of the rug blur by as he paced back and forth. "Does it matter if she really wants this? It would do well for the family."

Caroline grabbed his arm once he went to pass her again, stopping him in his tracks. "Will she at least be happy? I don't know the prince, but will he treat her as Prince Philip treats Rebekah?"

Caroline worried her lip and Klaus shook his head before asking the question he dreaded. If the answer was yes he'd never forgive himself and he'd be jumping into a war much sooner than he had intended. "Does he hurt her?"

Caroline shook her head, placing her hand in his. "She isn't happy though. She hides it well, but I can see it. When she's here she's happy. She loves her family and I think she wishes she was back here. She considers this her home."

Klaus swept a loose wavy curl behind her ear. "And do you call that palace your home?"

She gave him a sad smile and stood. "I don't think I have a home anywhere."

"This could be your home," he offered quietly, but she laughed, shaking her head. Her eyes grew soft and he heard her breathing stutter, offering him a glimmer of hope.

Caroline ripped her hand from his as the large door opened, a guard towering inside of it. "Your Majesty, Sir Benedict and your brothers await your presence in the council's chamber."

Klaus nodded and then turned to Caroline. He was disappointed he'd be leaving her, but there were important things that needed attending. He guided her hand to his lips and placed a soft kiss upon it. "I hope to see you again, Lady Caroline."

Her eyes were wide and Klaus didn't think she was breathing, which only made a devious smirk bloom on his face before following the guard.