Part 7
France, 1002
Tristan crossed his arms and looked at the young woman sitting on the ground. Lady Livia, the older daughter of Count de Guise. Many people in the court hadn't understood why the Count had ever acknowledged a daughter like her, they themselves would have been nothing but embarrassed by her. Obviously Count de Guise wasn't embarrassed.
According to one of his sons, the Lord Elijah, their father was very fond of Lady Livia. Tristan hadn't really paid much attention to her before, but he had to now. She was in his private garden. He had hoped for a quiet moment for himself, but apparently that wasn't going to happen. Ignoring her wasn't an option, her father was too important. He suppressed a sigh and kept his face free from emotion as he approached her. It seemed that she hadn't noticed him, she was concentrated on…drawing? He frowned, what was she doing?
"My lady," he greeted her.
She startled and tried to clumsily get up as quickly as she could. Like a gentleman, he held out his hand and assisted her.
"Thank you," she murmured, keeping her eyes on the ground.
"I apologize if I startled you," he stated.
"That's alright."
She wasn't looking at him; her insecure body language told him clearly how nervous she was. Her long curls were hiding most of her face. It wasn't difficult to tell that she had got used to hiding.
"That is a very good drawing," he stated as he glanced at the piece of paper on her hand. She had drawn few of the plants that were growing in the garden.
"Thank you."
"Do you enjoy drawing?"
"Yes," she murmured. "I… I like to observe things."
"Observe?"
She nodded.
"Plants, animals, the sky. Stars and the moon, they keep changing. I observe and I draw what I see."
Tristan had to admit that he was surprised. She was a strange woman.
"That sounds interesting," he stated. "Although I must admit that I have never met a lady who enjoys such things."
She shrugged.
"I like to look at the beauty around me."
Tristan hesitated for a brief moment before replying; obviously he needed to be subtle.
"Yes, there is plenty of beauty here," he stated and observed Lady Livia's face. Or the part of it he could actually see. Clearly she was very shy, probably ashamed of her appearance.
"Please," he said. "Feel free to continue what you were doing, my lady."
"No, I do not wish to disturb you…."
"You are not disturbing me," he assured. "I was merely planning to take a walk before joining my father."
"Oh…" she murmured and finally looked up. "If you are sure, my lord…"
"I am. Please continue."
She sat down on the ground as he walked slowly across the garden. From the corner of his eye he saw that she continued drawing. She concentrated on it completely and tugged her curls behind her ear. As he looked at her face, he noticed her big bright blue eyes. Her face was… He really wasn't sure how he would have described it.
For some reason he found himself staring at her. He had no idea why. She was nothing like the women who usually caught his interest. Not that he actually was interested in her, of course not. He was simply curious. It was true that most people wouldn't have called her beautiful, but there was something strangely appealing about her. Tristan really had no idea what that something was.
Tristan pressed his lips together as he looked at the pictures he had just received. Surveillance photos from New Orleans. She was there. Of course she was, he should have known that she would go to Elijah sooner or later. Tristan sighed and picked one of the pictures up. She was wearing a pink dress and her hair was down. He stared at the picture for a long while.
Livia Mikaelson.
His very own obsession.
Fortunately no one knew about that. No one knew what had happened all those years ago. Tristan had no doubt that he wouldn't be alive if Elijah would know. For some reason Livia hadn't told her brother. Once again Tristan felt the unpleasant sting as he thought about what he had done to her. He was no saint, but he wasn't a savage either. At least so he had thought. How could he ever make up something like that?
The strangest thing was that neither of them had ever brought the whole thing up. When he had finally dared to approach her, he had expected her to hate him. If she did, she hadn't shown it. She had changed so much; she hadn't been that shy and timid girl anymore. She had been a confident and sophisticated woman. A lady who was proud to be herself.
Tristan had liked this new Livia. He have had his people keeping an eye on her ever since he had been able to find her after Elijah's compulsion had ended. She knew about that and she didn't seem to care, as long as he kept his distance. He sighed and closed his eyes. There was no doubt that things would be messy in New Orleans. He needed to make sure that she would be safe.
That was easier said than done, she had made it very clear that she didn't want or need any kind of help from him. It didn't matter; he still needed to make sure that no harm would come to her. He opened his eyes and ran his fingers softly over her picture. Apparently the link between them didn't affect her the same way it affected him. Perhaps it was his punishment.
