A/N: If you haven't noticed, I'm writing two stories at once. Who here doesn't have a life? ME...ME...ME..

But whatever. I love Damon and I love Elena and I love my readers and this is my commitment to all (so please leave some comments and make me happy :P )

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters used in this story.

Suddenly the door to the Gilbert's house burst opened. Two men came rushing in and to everyone's dismay; Robert was being supported in the middle. His frame was weak and bloody. The weight of him was completely supported and he was unable to walk. As the young Gilberts approached their wounded cousin, only then they realized one of his legs was missing.

"Good god! Robert…" John came to his side as they set Robert's limp body on a reclining chair. All of them were in shock, speechless at the gruesome sight of him, barely alive. "We found him at the side of the road, just outside the village" one escort told John. It was needless to say, they all assumed the worst from the negotiation held with Lord Salvatore.

"Quick get him some water…and call the physician" Miranda told his son and rushed to Robert.

"What happened, my dear boy? Tell us…" She asked after life was restored in him by a swig of water. His voice was rasped and he could barely form words but it was clear enough to be understood "W-We were attacked…" He had lost a lot of blood and by his appearance, had been limping all the way back to them after losing his leg. His clothes haggard, bruised and badly wounded, Robert looked no less than a man mauled by a wild animal.

"…and Elena, what news of her?" Tears gathered in Miranda's eyes.

"Elena…she's… dead!" those words seemed to use up all his energy as he breathlessly said but the Gilberts looked at him in utter disbelief. Miranda simply shut her eyes and allow her days of speculation be confirmed by her nephew as voices broke in the background. "The whole set up was a lie? A mere excuse to slaughter?" Wilson sounded appalled and disgusted. A solemn silence engulfed the room as the reality of Elena's death sank harshly in her family's hearts. Miranda felt her insides pulled out and ripped apart; while her sons' escalating anger overcame their grief ever so quickly.

"That….that beast has gone too far! We must find him and end him NOW!"

"He never wanted to bargain any deal in the first place! This is a war crime! Blasphemy…"

"We must avenge our sister!"

Anger was erupting from one corner of the house to the other until the roof shook; only John was quiet, immersed in hatred mixed with reluctant acceptance of Elena's death. His daughter was dead and for no apparent reason other than a manipulative war game, played in the skillful hands of a merciless war Lord. Regret fell over him. It was hard to understand why Salvatore would play up such a charade of a kidnapping only to attack a small group of messenger unless it was to provoke him. That possibility was also caught on by one of his son.

"This makes perfect sense father…"Jonathan voiced out. "…Salvatore has been attempting to penetrate our borders for years now to get to Mystic Falls. We are his only route to get there and our army has been on defense ever since. He wants us to be provoked enough to attack them instead as a change in strategy…"

"Aye, this is true. We all know that blood thirsty savage wants to get to Mystic Falls through us, and his foul play proves him to be a man with no honor or enough dignity to fight us fairly…"another voice came forth.

Somewhere in his chaotic mind, John took heed of his family's words. In all his years as a soldier, John had never witnessed such cruel deceit. He felt his blood boiled as he deciphered what this could mean to the war between him and Salvatore taking into consideration the advice of his sons and Elena's death that shall not go to waste. "Father, we must act fast…" Jeremy came from behind him, his voice sharp.

John glared into the fire. It seemed less fierce in comparison to his immeasurable rage. And as John's mighty fist forcefully hit the bricks of the wall next to the fire place, causing it to crumble under his strength, he came to a monumental decision;

"Assemble the army…" was the order they all had been waiting for.


"Move out!" his commanding voice echoed far in the woods. Instantly, sounds of galloping horses and marching men commenced in respond to his orders. Elena hastily got on her horse. Due to her desire to bathe in the shivering cold river that morning, she had to travel up stream to avoid hundred pairs of male eyes which in turn had caused her more time. And now the army had marched on with her lagging far behind. Although she was acquainted with the brown colt she was given, he was disobliging to her summons to go any faster. She clicked her tongue and try kicking him gently with her heel but to no avail while the troop furthered itself from her and her lazy horse.

"Having problems milady?" a warm and friendly voice startled Elena. She hadn't expected anyone to be near her and felt a little nervous in his presence. "Well my horse seems to have a mind of his own, particularly stubborn today…" she replied the man's smile. "Curtis…" he rode alongside her. "…the horse's name is Curtis. Try giving commands with his name."

Elena was confident she could handle her steed especially when her hobby was chasing wild horses in the fields with her brothers. Back home, she had Melanie. If she had caught, tamed and trained Melanie, surely she could overcome 'Curtis'. "Alright…"she raised her chin and gripped the reins tighter as she prepared to give it a try. "Curtis…faster" she kicked again but was replied with a shake of the head and no increase in speed at all. Alaric's hearty chuckle made the atmosphere between them somewhat familiar and relaxing.

"Are you new at horseback?" Alaric took the reins from Elena's hands and started tugging her horse forward to move at his own speed. "Honestly, I feel insulted. I was taught horseback riding since I was three…" she naturally fought back when challenged.

"Huh…that young?"

"This horse Sir Stefan gave to me is probably retaliating…"

"A protest?" Alaric felt his face muscles stretched; muscles he hasn't used in a long time, as he suppressed a smile.

"Of course, I would too if I was named Curtis, that's a horrible name! My grandfather was named Curtis and he did nothing but sat and slouched. Your entire life could be scarred with a name like that" Alaric's head fell and she saw his shoulders shake but had no idea he was trying hard to mute his laughter. Elena spoke bluntly without knowing that Alaric was the owner of that horse. Thus, he had felt responsible for helping her manage it and left the troop to find and assist her with Curtis.

"My mistake milady…" he suddenly admitted to a confused Elena and then patted Curtis' head. "…I'm sorry Curtis for scarring your…entire life…I hope the other horses didn't mock you too much for such a horrendous name" he finally broke out in laughter.

"Oh…" Elena was stunned but gave out a sigh of relief when Alaric showed no signs of anger. She heard him to be the most serious one among them all. But ever since she encountered Damon and his men, every rumor about them proved to be untrue. It was said, the army was heartless and cold and yet they welcomed her with warmth and music that night at dinner. It was said, Alaric was a man with a dark past whose life purpose was to relived his murderous tendencies on the battle fields and know nothing of joy but there he was, laughing with tears in his eyes in front of her.

But the biggest lie was about how monstrous Lord Salvatore was. She wished she could tell the world how wrongly they had judged Damon Salvatore. His icy blue eyes did not look at her with villainous intentions and his hands never feel upon her with cruel force. He was nothing short of an honorable gentleman, a man with principles and so much compassion. Unfortunately, all of that was tucked away and hidden under his heavy metal armor called 'duty' and he was forever misunderstood, seen as what he has to be instead of what he truly was.

A third party suddenly came between them that snapped Elena out of her wandering thoughts. "Milady, come with me…" Stefan glanced at Alaric before taking the reins from his hand. "Where are you taking her?" An odd question came from Alaric who was enjoying Elena's company before Stefan's intrusion. "Haven't you noticed we were conversing? It's very rude of you Stefan…" Alaric chuckled at him.

"Oh, I'm aware of that…in fact your laughter was heard all the way in the front of the line…" he shot Alaric a conspicuous glance that he quickly understood and sneered. Elena just looked back and forth between the two in puzzlement and wondered why she was being passed around like an inanimate object. "That's typical of him isn't it?! Well why not he come back here and get her himself?" Alaric snatched Curtis' reins back from Stefan's hand.

"My thoughts exactly…"

Three heads turned to see Damon on his black steed, right next to them, smirking as he took the reins to Elena's horse as if he was the only one truly entitled to it and guided her to the very front of the contingent. Alaric and Stefan were left flabbergasted as they watched Elena took their positions next to Damon in the front.

Not fully understanding the status Damon had placed her in when he invited her to ride in the front, Elena felt strange when words and whispers suddenly broke among the army of men.

By allowing her to ride next to him, Damon had unspokenly granted her a high honor and elevated her rank. She now had authority equal to Elijah, Mason or Stefan, allowed to be in his trusted circle. Although she had been with the troops for a week; that moment, her presence was officially declared and acknowledged. Damon's commanders and advisors glanced at her with confused expression and she felt anxious while Damon rode quietly as if nothing has changed.

He never spoke a word to her throughout the journey. Elena was doubtful about what to say to him; he was seemingly a different person when among his men, stern and expressionless. Afraid she might say the wrong words, Elena decided to stay quiet.

By the evening, the marching troop halted and they rested in an open glade. Food supply was running low and they had only bread to break and share. Damon took Elena to a secluded clearing where fallen tree barks provided them seats. He took her hand in his as he assisted her, a gesture that warmed up her entire body. Like porcelain treasure, he treated her with so much care and gentleness that Elena could not help but admire.

Dusk was approaching in a few hours and she wondered if they would set camps like before. "Are we staying here for the night?" she pinched a small bite out of her bread. "No, we need to keep moving, time is running out. We'll cover more distance until midnight and then take a few hours of rest." He drank some water and then intently watched her eat. He propped his elbow on one knee as he studied her. It was apparently interesting to watch her chew.

"Can you keep up with me?" he teased when she turned her body slightly to evade his stare."If you're tired, I could just leave you here and come back for you when the war is over" she turned to see his seductive smile and fought the urge to laugh.

"You mean in a decade? I can't promise you I'll still be here…" she smiled back warmly. He chuckled while his captivating eyes never left hers, admiring her every delicate features. Things between them were far more comfortable after that night at the lake. Their guards were down and Elena was quite certain her heart was open. Something between them has changed and instead of repelling his closeness, she craved it now, her body almost demanding to be near him. Perhaps Damon too had the same urges therefore invited her to ride alongside him earlier.

Suddenly it occurred to her the seriousness behind his light teasing words. Her eyes widened and her throat felt dry as she recalled his words over and over again in her head. Did he really have the intentions to find her after the war? Did he mean he wanted to be with her if circumstances allowed it? Did she unknowingly make Lord Salvatore a vow? That she wanted him to find her once the war was over?

It was difficult to answer these questions when her own feelings were not sorted out. This connection, whatever it was between them was complicated enough to make sense in the present, let alone in the future. She had never given it much thought and the possibility of the war even ending any time soon. Her head started to spin with riddles and she instantly lost her appetite.

Damon took the leftover bread dangling from her hands and ate it, oblivious to the life crisis Elena was experiencing that very moment. As a way to tell time, he looked up towards the sky and found it darkening. Soft sunlight was reflected in his ocean blue eyes that entranced her…they were too beautiful to be real. It was enough to silence her thoughts and she knew those eyes will haunt her forever. She watched as he dusted off breadcrumbs from his hands, ready to make a move. "We should get moving" his deep voice alerted her.

Regret fell over her when she remembered that the moment he stepped out to join his army, he was no longer the kind man she knew but instead turned into a cold emotionless war lord with metal armor not just around his body but his heart too. She anticipated the harsh silence that will inevitable fall between them for hours to come as she sighed aloud unknowingly.

Damon turn to smiled at her as she stared at the ground disappointingly. As if he could read her, he instinctively placed his hand at her jaw and lifted her alluring face to him. He tilted his head to one side and his jaws tightened as he reached for her lips. His cool lips brushed against hers gently, reassuring her of his feelings that took Elena completely by surprise.

Their kiss was brief, sweet, passionate and unmistakably public. She blushed at the thought of his men standing guard not far away as her heart thudded against her rib cage. embarrassed by their open display of affection that even married people dare not attempt. But Damon didn't mind it. He simply smirked at her seductively, satisfied that the sweet reminder of her lips would give him the strength to carry on the rest of their route.

~Swoon~ sexy Damon. Sorry for the late update. Will try to work faster :)