Disclaimer: I don't own the Vampire Diaries or any of its characters.
Chapter 7
~And who are you, the proud lord said,
that I must bow so low?
Only a cat of a different coat,
that's all the truth I know.
In a coat of gold or a coat of red,
a lion still has claws,
And mine are long and sharp, my Lord,
as long and sharp as yours.~
The Rains of Castamere- Game of Thrones Soundtrack
Elena blinked and tried to shield her eyes with her hand as direct sunlight fell over her from the half open window. A cool breeze wafted inside, rustling the curtains. She shivered from the cold and pulled her blankets up to her chin and turned away from the blinding light. Her mind was still hazy from the sleep and as she adjusted her position, her hand brushed against something. At first, she thought it was a pillow but as she opened her eyes, she came face to face with the devil itself. Damon Salvatore was lying down on the bed just a few inches away from her, with one of his hand causally draped over her waist. His eyes were closed and his dark, absurdly long eye lashes almost touched the hollow of his eye. Light stubble covered his ruggedly handsome face and his breathing was slow and deep. He was sleeping.
Instantly, memories from yesterday morning flooded Elena's mind and she hastily scrambled away from him. She racked her mind to remember how she ended up asleep next to Damon and finally remembered drifting off to sleep with him still in the room. She was mortified and somewhat angry when she realized that he had stayed over for the night. The movement made him wake up and he propped himself up on one elbow, his half open eyes appraising her.
"Well, I could get used to this." He said in a gravelly voice, running a hand through his messy black hair.
"W-what are you doing here?" Elena stammered as she got out of the bed, intent on putting as much distance between herself and Damon as possible.
"I was sleeping with my betrothed. Is that a crime?" He answered her question with another question, his tone reflecting utmost sincerity. Elena's cheeks flamed up when she noticed that he was not wearing any sort of garment on his torso and the whole upper part of his body was exposed to her eyes.
"No. But what you did yesterday surely was." She shot back. "How long have I been asleep?"
"A while." Damon replied vaguely. "Yesterday's ordeal thoroughly exhausted you and I thought it would be prudent to let you sleep it off."
Suddenly, the fabric of her dress caught Elena's attention. It was a pale blue nightgown, not the dress in which she had fallen asleep. She clutched the fabric in her hand as she looked up at Damon with wide eyes.
"Ah, I was just wondering when you'd notice that." He said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He got up from the bed in one fluid motion and stepped towards her. His hair were pointing in every possible direction and his blue eyes caught the sunlight streaming through the window and shimmered like the surface of water. Elena shook her head once focused her attention back on the matter at hand.
"Look, don't come near me. Who changed my dress?" She demanded as she backed away from his advances. She tried to make her voice sound strong but from his expression, she knew that she wasn't fooling him for a second.
"Why, I did." He said smoothly. "You sleep like a log, Elena. I had no trouble at all." He said the last sentence in a sing song voice.
"Y-you-I-" Unwanted tears pooled up in Elena's eyes as she crossed her arms across her chest in an attempt to preserve her modesty. Her knees felt too weak to support her weight and she sank down onto the floor with her back pressed against the wall. This was the utmost form of humiliation and embarrassment. Damon had seen her without clothing...Stefan's brother, her once future brother in law had done this to her.
"Elena, I was just jesting." Damon said, an uneasy edge coming over his voice as he noticed her distress. "I wouldn't do that. I am not the monster you think I am."
"You didn't?" Elena croaked out as relief washed over her which was instantly replaced by rage. He knelt down in front of her and turned around so that he was sitting on the floor beside her with his back pressed against the wall.
"No I didn't however tempted I was." He grinned devilishly, showing off a set of pearly white teeth. "That handmaid of yours had the pleasure of doing it."
"I loathe you." Elena whispered as she wiped away her tears by the back of her hand. She was feeling very uncomfortable by his presence and she felt under dressed in the simple blue night gown. "You are a monster."
"Use that word carefully, Elena." Damon said as his eyes hardened. He turned to face her and when she tried to get up, he grabbed her by her arms and trapped her against the wall.
"Do you want to know what a monster is? Last night, I could have done unimaginable things to you…things you can't even speak of. I would have torn away that pretty little dress of yours, barred the doors shut and I would have devoured at each and every part of that pretty skin of yours." A menacing edge came over his voice as his grip on Elena's arms tightened. She whimpered, half at his words and half at his touch and tried to pry his hands off her wrist but it was of no use. "Am I a monster now Elena? Am I?"
"Y-you speak of these things as if you have done them previously." She somehow managed, truly afraid of him for once. Her heart pounded in her chest and her arms started becoming numb where Damon was holding them in an iron grip. At her words, his hard eyes softened up a bit.
"I haven't done these things, Elena. But I have seen enough." He said, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You are hurting me, My Lord." She said as she avoided eye contact with him. He instantly let go of her arms and she almost cried out as blood rushed back into her veins. She rubbed her arm with her hands and kept her eyes fixated on the floor. How had her life turned over in such a short span of time?
"My apologies. I don't know what came over me." Damon said, suddenly sounding very uncertain. Elena was almost surprised to see a guilty look on his face. He offered her his hand but she stood up without his assistance and made a point of ignoring him.
"I would like to get dressed now, My Lord." She said, trying to sound cold and nonchalant. She secretly feared provoking his anger. She had no doubt that where Damon had gripped her would form bruises in a few hours.
"And?" He said as he raised an eyebrow.
"I would like you to leave now, My Lord." She said stiffly, hoping that he would leave her in peace.
"Aww Elena, are you going to be so formal with me? I secretly enjoy it when you are free around me. Like the night we took a stroll in the garden..." A smirk curled his lips as he appraised her with his ocean blue eyes. He was leaning against the table and he was still without a garment on the upper portion of his body. Sunlight fell on him, illuminating his powerful looking muscles.
"Come here, Elena." He suddenly said as he noticed her eyeing his half naked body. She quickly looked away and stood rooted to her spot and pretended that she didn't hear him.
"Barred doors...ripped dresses...remember?" His eyes conveyed the threat while he extended his left hand towards her. She had no choice but to obey. She took small steps towards him while her hand clutched a fistful of her cotton nightgown near her waist. She approached him with downcast eyes and a loud gasp escaped her lips when he took her by her waist and pulled her towards him. She slammed into his chest due to the force of the action and he chuckled as his arms snaked around her waist, holding her in an inescapable prison.
"I believe patience is one quality in which I lack." He whispered into her ear, his lips grazing the side of her neck. "So enticing. So Irresistible…" he breathed against the skin of Elena's neck as his lips trailed down to her collarbone. The tip of his nose grazed her skin while his hands remained firmly planted at her waist. Her breathing sped up and she involuntarily closed her eyes because of the somewhat foreign sensation. Blood pounded in her ears and her hands rested on his exposed chest due to the lack of space. She was a prisoner where she once thought she would be queen.
"Damon…please…." Elena whispered as his lips explored her skin.
"I know you want me, Elena. I can feel it. I know you can feel it too." He murmured as he gently nipped at her exposed neck. He brought his head up and rested his forehead against hers and his slender nose aligned with Elena's. She squirmed due to the extreme level of closeness and looked anywhere but his eyes.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Suddenly a glint caught Elena's eye and she saw a silver dagger was resting on the table against which they were leaning.
"Don't deny yourself the bodily pleasure." Damon's warm breath wafted against her lips, almost making her head swim. He took one of her hands in his own and he placed it over his chest, right where his heart was situated. The rhythm of his heart was strong and steady unlike her own, which was racing like a wild horse. He guided her hand lower over his fine muscles and her cheeks flamed when her hand grazed over his strong abdomen muscles.
"Tell me what you are feeling right now." He said as he took her chin in his hand and forced her to meet his gaze. She unwillingly tore her gaze from the dagger as she looked into his sparkling eyes. As she had predicted, all thoughts left her as she lost herself. In that moment, she didn't care that this was Damon, not Stefan and nor did she care that he was only half dressed. Nothing was real except for him.
"I….." Elena tried to form a coherent sentence as he looked at her expectantly.
"Yes?" He said encouragingly.
"I feel...nothing." She said, finally coming back to her senses. She tore her gaze away from his face as she tried to focus on her escape plan.
"A blatant lie." Damon said as he lifted his hand and rested his thumb against Elena's lower lip, surprising her. The tip of his thumb gently moved along the outline of her lip as he leaned down to whisper in her ear.
"Tell me you don't feel the warmth between your legs and I will leave Mystic Falls this instant and never come back."
Her whole face flamed up at his outrageous words and she focused on controlling her breathing as she tried to form an eligible reply. He chuckled as he took note of her reaction and shook his head mischievously.
"What? No great words for me? No admonishment?" He said, his tone dripping with amusement. Elena's mouth felt as dry as cotton. She tried shifting towards the right so that she would be able to reach the dagger and she almost got hold of its hilt when…
"My...Lord?" Rebekah came to a standstill at the entrance of the room as she eyed the scene before her nervously. She instantly averted her eyes when she saw the positions they in and Elena made use of the diversion and pushed away from Damon. "Forgive my intrusion." She said with a bow.
"I could have you hanged for this interruption, you know." Damon said casually as he sat down on the armchair beside the table and filled a glass with wine for himself. "What do you want?"
"Lord S-Stefan summons you and Lady Elena in the royal grounds, My Lord."
"Oh, right." Damon exaggeratedly slapped his hand over his forehead as he groaned. "I had almost forgotten about that fool." He waved a hand, dismissing Rebekah. She quickly turned around and was gone before Elena could even blink.
"We will continue our…talk later, My Lady." He said as he quickly took her hand in his own and kissed it. Before she could even assess what was happening, he gathered his shirt from the bed and left the room. She sat down on the chair beside the fireplace to catch her breath. Her blood was running fast and hot in her veins and even the tips of her ears were tinged red. She couldn't gather the courage to summon a handmaiden lest she see her in this condition so she took a deep breath and started readying herself. Today was the day her fate would be decided.
x~x~x~x~x
"Oi! Wake up! You had to go whoring around today of all days?" Damon poked Alaric in the back with the flat end of his sword. His half naked form groaned as he murmured something unintelligible while the girl beside him smiled at him invitingly.
"I swear I'd have you and this whore fed to pigs if you don't get up from that bed this instant." Damon threatened him as he took him by the arm and yanked him halfway down from the bed. The girl wrapped the bed sheet around her torso and giggled but her amusement was quelled as he shot her a threatening look.
"Christ!" Alaric yelled out as he battled with the tangle of sheets that covered him. "Spare me for once, Damon!"
"Not today, my friend. You have to act as my squire against that idiot who calls me his brother." He said as he rolled his eyes. He was really running out of patience at this point.
"I hadn't enjoyed a good woman in over two years and when I got one, you come barging in like you own the place…" He grumbled as he got up and dusted his trousers. Damon turned towards the harlot who was watching the scene unfold with barely disguised amusement.
"You. Out."
She instantly got out of the bed and after bowing, she left, her hips swaying a bit more than necessary. Damon coughed and crossed the room and threw the windows open to chase out her somewhat sickening perfume.
"And to answer your protests, I do own the place, you fool. Now get your indecent arse out of my sight and come back only when you are properly dressed."
"As you say, your Grace." He said, his words coated in sarcasm. Damon waited in his room, nursing a glass of mead in his hand until Alaric returned.
"What do you want from me, Damon?"
"I see everyone who is a part of this Kingdom has a tendency to turn deaf to my words." He said as he narrowed my eyes at him. "I said I will need a squire."
Alaric took a seat opposite him and fixed him with a piercing gaze. "Look at my face and tell me; do I look like a squire to you?"
"Uh, at this moment you seem lesser than a beggar, no offense. So I'd say yes, you do." Damon replied and pressed his lips together, trying not to laugh.
He scratched his stubble covered jaw with his hand as he looked away "Yes, I am in severe need of a good shave."
"Tell me friend, how much did you pay that girl to spend the night with you? By judging the way you look right now, it must have been quite a sum-"
"Okay, okay I will be your squire, now get out of here!"
Damon could not hold back any longer and a chuckle escaped his mouth as he got up and smirked at Alaric. "Good. I will see you at the melee grounds in half an hour."
Damon left Alaric's allotted room without another word and he headed towards Stefan's room. He couldn't help the grin that crossed his features as he opened the door to his room and saw him struggling to put on his breastplate.
"Need some help, O' brave knight?" Damon called out dramatically. Nothing pleased him more than an aggravated Stefan.
"You." He said as he turned to face him, his eyes instantly darkening with barely suppressed anger.
"Me." Damon replied as he raised an eyebrow. "Were you expecting that Mother would come and help the little prince dress up for the tournament?" He asked him as he adopted a child like tone. A shadow crossed Stefan's young features and he took a step towards his brother, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
"If I were you, I'd leave right now." He spat out from between his clenched teeth.
"The keyword here is if. You can never be me, Saint Stefan, so don't even try to imagine it. You'll only end up embarrassing yourself."
"Look, Damon. I am giving you another chance...let's end it all right here and no one will be harmed. End this nonsense and I will forget it ever happened." He said as he removed his hand from the sword in a placating gesture.
"I wish I could say that I admire your brave words, Stefan, but I sense nothing more than cowardice right now. Is the little prince scared?" He laughed as he crossed my arms over his chest.
His hands clenched into fists and he burst out. "I may not be you, Damon but I am not a coward either. I would rather die than back out. Elena is the love of my life and I will do anything to make her mine, as she rightfully was before you barged in and turned our lives upside down."
"You can't even put on your armor on your own and you talk of undying love? You don't stand a chance in front of me. Love does nothing except for making you weak." Damon replied as he rolled his eyes.
"That's where you are wrong, Damon. Love has given me the strength to fight my own brother and as much as I despise it, it has to be done." He said, his green eyes glimmering with determination. Even Damon was taken aback by his words but he tried not to show it as he kept his features in a composed mask.
"I will not respond to that because your saint talk is beyond my comprehension. I will just remind you that I will not go easy on you, brother. We will be fighting with real steel swords instead of wooden ones like we used to in our childhood." Damon said as he tried to intimidate him into giving up. "Give up now and it will save us all a little bit of time and effort. Either way, you lose."
"In that case, I would rather lose with dignity." He said as he raised his head high.
"Well, good luck with that. And…that." Damon said, motioning towards his breastplate. He turned around and walked out of the room before Stefan could respond. It was almost time and he had to get ready. With Alaric's help, he adorned his black steel armor. The breastplate was encrusted with his family sigil: a golden roaring lion. He unsheathed his sword and held it in his gloved hand as he did a few practice cuts and swings. When the trumpets sounded outside, he took his helm in his hand and exited the tent which had been set up for the participants. Just as he had requested...no, just as he had ordered, the arena was full of people. The whole village had gathered to see the battle between two brothers fighting to claim a woman.
Their Father, King Giuseppe Salvatore along with his wife Elizabeth Salvatore were seated at a raised podium. Caroline was sitting beside King and Queen Gilbert and everyone looked grim to say the least. Caroline looked at Damon with disapproval as he passed by and he couldn't help but wink at her.
He almost laughed when Stefan emerged from his tent. He was adorned in a shining silver armor. His image reflected the exact opposite of Damon's; black verses white. Light against darkness. His squire, a little lad of about fifteen years, trailed after him carrying his helm. One of their Father's old council members, Revenue Master Lord Belric stood up from his chair and motioned for the crowd to quiet down.
"He can't even manage his own armor, how will he fight against me?" Damon muttered to Alaric with a smirk. He didn't respond and kept his eyes fixed on Lord Lockwood.
"Welcome! Today we have gathered to witness a battle between Ser Damon Salvatore, son of King Giuseppe Salvatore, first of his name, champion of the trident tournament, designated as Knight of the Shadows, champion and winner against-"
"Everyone knows who I am, Lord Lockwood. Can we begin now?" Damon called out impatiently, cutting the Revenue Master off. A few people in the stands gasped but he couldn't have cared less.
"If it pleases you, My Lord." Lord Lockwood said stiffly as he got down from his podium. Another round of trumpets sounded, signaling the start of the sword battle. Damon saw Stefan turn his gaze towards the stands and nod. He followed the line of his sight and saw that he was silently communicating with Elena. She was sitting in the noble section of the stands and was surrounded by a few women from the court to keep her company. Her eyes were fixed on Stefan and she was fidgeting in her seat. Damon peered at her closely and saw that her eyes were red and puffy and her face appeared pale. An unexpected emotion gripped him as he saw her wearing one of her full sleeved gown that covered her arms, probably to hide the blooming bruises. It was because of him, because he had gripped her too hard in a moment of insanity.
"Damon, watch out!" Alaric shouted from behind him. He turned around just in time to see Stefan's sword coming down at him with full force. He brought up his own sword by reflex and somehow managed to block his blow, all the while cursing himself for being distracted.
Damon exerted force and threw Stefan back with his sword. He did not fall but staggered back, giving him enough time to survey his weak points. He attacked him from the left, swinging his sword with as much force as possible. It came in contact with Stefan's sword and the impact ran up his sword arm, shaking him to his bones. The crowd was cheering and screaming in the stands but he had eyes only for Stefan. They circled each other, looking for an opportunity to strike.
"Shadow Knight! Lord Stefan stands no chance in front of him!"
"I bet on Lord Damon! It's clear who will win! Place your bets everyone, place your bets!"
"Lady Gilbert rightfully belongs to Lord Stefan!"
"I bet all of my cattle that Lord Damon would win!"
Damon tried to tune out the crowd's cries as he focused on Stefan who was looking for a weak spot so that he could attack. He swung at Damon's feet with his sword but he jumped up at the right time, barely avoiding the hilt, glad for the lightness of his armor. He ducked back as he swiped horizontally at his chest.
"That's all you got, Saint Stefan?" Damon taunted him. Stefan was turning out to be a better fighter than he had anticipated. He growled at him as he brought down his sword on his older brother with both hands to exert as much force as he could. Damon put up his own sword and blocked his attack as he grinned at him triumphantly. "A child would do better than you."
He pushed him back and this time, Stefan landed hard on the ground. A series of gasps and cheers ran down the stands as he panted for air.
"Stefan!" Elena's cry was the loudest. "Stefan, get up!"
Damon turned to face Elena, a smirk dominating his face. Tears were running down her cheeks as she looked at him with hatred evident on her face. He did a little bow in her direction but his smirk turned into a grimace as Stefan's blow knocked him out from behind. He fell hard on his chest and the hard steel armor did little to cushion the impact. For a moment, his breath was knocked out of his lungs and he lay face down on the ground. He rolled over just in time and Stefan's next blow hit the ground instead of his exposed back. The impact buried his sword deep into the mud ground and it gave Damon an advantage of a few seconds. He scrambled up and aimed a kick at Stefan's mid section and knocked him backwards. He unhinged his sword from the ground and threw it over his shoulder, far from the reach of his brother. It took just one more swing and Stefan was at his mercy. He lay at Damon's booted feet, defeated and bruised. The trumpets sounded, declaring the winner. It almost felt like the fight ended even before it started.
"What did I say, Saint Stefan? You should have listened to me and it would have saved some time...and would have saved you from humiliation. Do you think a woman of Elena's stature would still love a useless, defeated Knight?"
"Enough!"
Damon turned around and saw Elena standing a few feet away from him. Her face was red with anger and even though tears ran down her face, they did little to hinder her.
"It is all a game for you, right My Lord? Well, I surrender myself to you. You win!" Elena shouted at him, her chest heaving with emotion. "You may do what you please with me but leave Stefan alone."
"Elena!" Caroline rushed forward. "What are you saying? You can't just give up, not after what Stefan has been through for you!"
"Caroline, I really appreciate you standing up for me but right now I would like to deal with this in my own way." Elena replied firmly. "I don't want anyone getting hurt on my behalf." Disbelief and hurt crossed Caroline's features but she maintained a dignified silence as she backed away.
Stefan got up on his own accord and he shrugged his squire away when he tried to help him. The crowd was beginning to disperse by now on King Giuseppe's orders.
"Elena…" Stefan wheezed. "I have nothing to offer you except for my apology." Stefan said as he refused to meet anyone's eyes. His lower lip was bleeding and there was a cut beneath his eye.
"A defeated Knight's apology is of no value, Stef." Damon snorted. "Maybe you should give up Knighthood and become a preacher. A proper Saint Stefan."
"Ser Damon Salvatore, I would like to have a word with you." Damon turned around and saw his Mother, Lady Elizabeth Salvatore coming towards him. He sighed as I handed his sword and helmet to Alaric.
"What is it, Mother?"
"Silence! Did I give you permission to say a word, Ser?" Her words had a cutting edge to them even though she didn't raise her voice. "Follow me." And after giving him a cold look, she gathered her skirts in her hands and stormed inside the castle doors.
Alaric nudged his friend. "Looks like you are in trouble."
"Oh Elena, you will be the death of me." Damon muttered to himself and followed his Mother inside the castle.
So that was Damon VS Stefan! We already kinda knew who would win, didn't we?
Thanks for all the positive feedback!
