Chapter 4 : The One Named Alexander

Unknown

Free fall down into the unknown

Give you my heart and relinquish my soul

It's best for what life shall bestow

So I take a big step in the unkown…

- Steve Escalera

It was extremely hot that morning. Everyone had been so excited for the travelling fair coming to town at midday that she had barely had anytime to cool herself off before Esther had pushed them all out the door. Neither of their parents particularly enjoyed socializing with their fellow villagers, but their children did not share their preferences at all.

"Dear Lord, Rebekah! How can you stand to wear that in this heat?" Emma groaned in exhaustion, gesturing towards the ridiculously heavy and long dress that her older sister was wearing.

"I suppose that you are just too sensitive to the heat." Rebekah smirked down, her impressive sixteen years towering over Emma's mere thirteen in an attempt to condescend on her sister. However, Emma just rolled her eyes in disbelief and continued to follow her siblings to the village square. The path that led there was relatively shaded, but all of the Mikaelson siblings still perspired heavily in the stifling heat. Finally, they reached the square, and all thoughts of coolness left their minds when they saw the caravans that filled the wide space.

The fair came every year to their village, bringing an exciting event for everyone to look forward to. All of the people in the caravans were foreigners, brought together in that colony by the sole purpose of travelling freely around the world. They sold goods they made with their own hands, and sometimes they brought objects from other parts of the world. Exotic spices, clothes of brilliant colours, and food that nobody had ever even heard of were brought to them every year. It was simply amazing, especially in a village as secluded as theirs.

"What do you think?" Emma inquired Niklaus eagerly, as she held out a cerulean scarf made out of an oddly smooth material that a gypsy woman was showing her. It had an inlaid gold pattern that made it seem as if it were meant for someone of royal blood, but it drew her towards it with its elegantly stitched flowers. He leant against an empty barrel, having decided to accompany her after everyone had somehow managed to disappear on them. Five seconds upon arrival, and both siblings had already been alone.

"It matches your eyes. It's a very nice colour." He remarked sincerely. It was odd for Emma to hear one of her siblings actually not patronize her, for once. She was the second youngest, Henrik only two years younger than her, and she was always extremely annoyed when her elder siblings talked to her as if she were still a child, and not already out of childhood. Niklaus always treated her with respect and never hid his genuine opinions from her; he was her favourite because of that. She sent a small smile his way, turning to the gypsy woman to pay for the scarf as she reached into her sack of bronze coins.

However, Emma halted halfway through her turn, an overwhelming feeling of nausea washing over her. She clutched at her head, feeling her face suddenly flush with uncomfortably strong. Her darkening vision scared her, and she was Niklaus reach towards her through the darkness, a frightened look on his face.

Not again.

"Miss? Miss? Can you hear me? Are you alright?" an unfamiliar voice echoed through her mind, making her flinch. Her body was so heavy that it was difficult for her to even open her eyelids. However, when she finally did, Emma was shocked to see that the person leaning over her was not Niklaus. Instead, it was the most beautiful person she had ever seen.

He had dark brown hair and light brown skin, a pointed face with high, pronounced cheekbones, and bright brown eyes that left her breathless as they bored into him. He wore dark clothes, made of rough fabric, and they hung loose around him, hiding his frame. For a moment, Emma was quite confused, and was about to open her mouth to ask who he was - and where she was - when she was suddenly cut off.

"Are you alright, Miss? You had quite a fall. Do you feel ill?" he asked her, his brow creasing with worry that made her confused. Why would she feel ill? Then, Emma remembered it; she had awoken that morning feeling too hot to even move. It had only happened a few times in her short years, once when she was five, and when she was ten. Both times, she had spent the day in bed feverish and weak, worrying her entire family, especially Niklaus, Elijah and Rebekah. Finn, Kol and Henrik had never cared much for her at all. Now, it seemed that the sickness had come back, and at the worst moment possible.

"I-I am fine." Emma strained her throat to get the words out, but regretted putting in any effort as her stomach lurched and heat overwhelmed.

Something cool pressed down on her forehead, and Emma let out a sigh of relief as the heat and the churning in her stomach subsided. Looking up, she saw that the person was back. He pressed a cloth soaked in clean, cool water down on her head, making sure that it remained cool by dipping it back into a bucket he had by his side. Suddenly, Emma realized that she was not outside. She seemed to by lying down on a small bed in the corner of a dark caravan, the door shut so as to not let any cool air out. It was decorated as she would have decorated her own bedroom, but with more than that. This person had brought her to his home to help her…but where was Niklaus? Was he worried about her? Of course he would be, but consistency was not a highly favoured among her family.

"Before you ask, your ever-patient brother is waiting outside. He was very worried about you when you collapsed, and since it seems I am the only one among these people equipped to help you, he was directed here." The person sighed wearily and removed the cloth, hanging it over the edge of the bucket. Emma watched as he stood up, and made his way over to the small chest near the door.

While he had his back turned, Emma sat up, relieved when she was able to move without feeling the need to empty her stomach. She swung her legs out and touched them to the floor, hearing it creak lightly underneath her weight as she stood up. He looked up, and she felt her heart stop. The way he looked at her, in awe and in disbelief, left her slightly breathless and all the more confused. She had never felt like this before. Never.

"Do you wish to leave now? It is nearly dusk." He offered, gesturing towards the door as if it were nothing to him. But Emma could see him still looking at her, and unsure of whether to say anything, she stepped forward abruptly. The sudden crossing of the distance startled both of them, but Emma simply held out her hand. He hesitated for so long that she nearly withdrew it, but just as she was about to move, he took her hand. His was warm and calloused, like Elijah's after sparring in the yard with Nik.

"I wish to repay you for taking up your time." He blinked owlishly, nearly eliciting a laugh from her. "Honestly, there's no need for that."

"You saved my life." It seemed like the most logical argument in the world.

And it worked.

"Emma met somebody today at the fair today, Mother."

Esther turned, halting her daily preparation the vegetables and the meat for dinner as the sun dipped below the horizon. She looked from Niklaus' surprisingly calm face to Emma's face, frozen in a look of shock and fear. The two siblings stood side by side in the doorway, having let the others go in first to be alone with their mother. Nobody had questioned them about their day when they had all regrouped, but Emma did not mind. She did not like her life being intruded upon.

For several very long, drawn out minutes, Esther looked her daughter in the eyes, not speaking, just staring at her with an odd look that made Emma uncomfortable. Finally, Esther spoke, a bemused smile growing on her face.

"What is his name?"

Emma saw Niklaus grin out of the corner of her eye, and she gently elbowed him in the stomach, before replying.

"Alexander."