Okay, for some of you this is long awaited! I hope this doesn't disappoint!
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME!
Please remember to review at the end! :)
The knock on the door, startled Bonnie, and she quickly turned to answer. Opening it just a crack, she straightened as she opened it wider, and lowered her eyes. "Elijah, to what do I owe this pleasure?" She asked, formally.
Elijah tipped his head forward, and she stepped aside, allowing him to enter her room. "I came for a consultation. A private consultation." He answered, as she closed the door. "Kol is not here, I trust." He remarked, turning to face her.
Bonnie shook her head, and sighed. "No, he had to feed, and he prefers not to be here when he does." She answered, bowing her head a fraction with a slight smile.
Elijah hummed, and a hint of a smile touched his lips. "How considerate of him." He responded, gently.
Bonnie nodded. "What can I do for you?" She asked, folding her arms over her chest.
Elijah frowned, and she saw the contemplative expression cross his face. "I want information, concerning La Fleur and the King." He expressed, firmly.
Bonnie lowered her eyes, and moved around the room, towards the window. "She's the Lily now." She corrected, after a moment. "Anything, specific" She questioned, staring out into the daylight.
Elijah approached her, and studied her posture. "Connection"
Bonnie's eyes closed, and she let a sigh escape her lips. She remained silent, and Elijah slowly moved towards her even more, wanting confirmation on what he already suspected.
"He has had connections to them before, but with Caroline…it's…different." He explained, lowering his eyes before lifting them again to focus on her.
She kept her eyes closed, her mind refusing to open them. "You already know the answer." She responded, quietly.
Elijah's head lifted higher, with his eyes looking up to the ceiling. "Why now?" He asked, honestly.
Finally, her eyes opened, and she turned to face him. "Because she is needed." She answered, cryptically.
Elijah focused on her, and swallowed, as the message rang through his soul. "How close?" He asked, nervously.
She lowered her eyes. "Close enough, she's the key." She paused, stepping towards him. "The one to make him stronger and break the curse."
Elijah smiled, faintly, and bowed his head. "Have you told him?" He asked, absently.
She shook her head. "No, he'll know soon enough." She answered, moving past Elijah to her cushioned chair next to the table along the far wall. "Besides, didn't you wish for this to happen?" She asked, watching the older man before her.
Elijah smiled, and gazed out the window. "I wished for my brother to find peace." He began, turning back to look at her. "If the Five discover the connection between them…" He trailed off, realization hitting him as he considered the possibilities. "Her mother…"
Bonnie frowned, and reached for the crystal blue glass bowl within arm's length of her. Standing to her feet, she reached for the water on the stand behind her, and slowly poured the water into the bowl. "Elizabeth is safe, for now." She remarked, her eyes growing distant as she stared into the water. "But soon, they will discover the connection," She paused, lifting her eyes to the blank space in front of her. "He will be in danger, and she will save him." She whispered, but Elijah heard the words.
Moving forward, he glanced towards the water in the bowl, and for an instant saw his brother, in pain, with Caroline beside him, soothing his brow. "It is fate." He muttered, sighing, roughly.
Bonnie slowly turned, and searched his face. "Not fate, destiny." She returned, as his eyes grew distant. "Fate, you can change. Destiny is meant to be. Just like Klaus and Caroline, they were meant to meet, and she is meant to save him." She added, firmly.
Elijah smiled, and in a friendly gesture, touched her arm, and gently kissed her cheek. "Thank you, Bonnie." He obliged, stepping back.
"He cannot know." Bonnie called out as Elijah reached for the door knob.
Elijah looked over his shoulder, and bowed his head. "He will not hear it from me."
Bonnie nodded at the vow, and as the door closed behind him, she lifted her eyes to the ceiling. "He'll hear it soon." She whispered, turning to place her palms on the table, and bowed her head.
He would hear it soon, and somehow, she wasn't sure if it was a good turn or not.
But somehow, it had to be.
~XXX~
The brush was wonderful through her hair, softly stroking, gently untangling the tangles. Caroline smiled as she gazed at herself in the mirror in her room. The light from the outside moon was shining through her window, touching the floor in a soft light, while the candles in the candelabras were mixing with the silver strands, gently.
The moon called to her tonight, and though she had already broken protocol by going out for the past two weeks, she felt the need to go outside once more.
Lowering the brush to the vanity, she turned her head to gaze out towards the window. The moon was full, big and bright. It was beautiful, as always.
Slowly getting to her feet, she straightened, and walked towards the window. It was too risky to go into the garden once more, but was it not safe? Her thoughts ran towards the wolf, and the idea of how he came into the garden, perplexed her. How could he have gotten through the defenses? Was it safe for him to even cross the barrier? If he could get through, couldn't a member of the Five do the same?
Her mind ran over the questions, and her heart ached. She couldn't stand the thought of her friend getting hurt because she missed him. Tears filled her eyes. Saying goodbye to the first friend she ever had was going to be the most difficult part of her life. Or would she have to?
Caroline covered her mouth, and she turned away from the window. Perhaps, he could stay in the garden, hidden. She paused in her steps, and lowered her eyes to the floor, watching the silver and orange glow mix together.
"This is his home." She whispered to herself. Somehow the idea of her friend finding her seemed mute. She found him. She never knew of his home. Where he lived when he didn't come to visit her, but now… it made sense. This was his home. He belonged here at the castle.
She felt relieved at the idea, and closed her eyes. She didn't have to think too hard. Somehow, she wasn't sure how, she knew this was where her friend lived. It explained a lot.
But the King…
A gentle rap on the door, caused Caroline to nearly jump out of her skin, and she covered her mouth to hold back the squeal before moving towards the door.
Pulling it open, she lowered her eyes when she found Elijah on the other side.
"The King would like your company in the meeting hall, if you would not mind." He requested, and Caroline lowered her eyes to night clothes, covered by her robe, as it was almost time for bed. Elijah bowed his head. "I apologize for the lateness, but some nights he cannot sleep." He added, allowing her to fill in the blanks.
Caroline bowed her head in understanding, and stepped behind him as he headed towards the room she remembered from her first meeting with him.
"He's inside." Elijah instructed, and Caroline nodded, wondering why this late in the night, but then her mother had taught her to be prepared for whatever the King may choose to do.
The door closed behind her, and Caroline saw two settees, and one arm chair facing the fireplace, she wasn't sure she remembered from before.
Swallowing, she stepped towards the chairs, and sighed as she moved her eyes around the room, trying to locate any sign of him.
"Have a seat."
Her head jerked towards the fireplace, and in the chair, with its back facing her, she saw the top of his head. Quickly lowering her eyes, she walked, as calmly as she could, and sat down in one of the settees, and folded her hands in her lap.
"For someone who had a lot to say two weeks ago, you certainly are not saying much tonight." Klaus began, staring into the fire.
Caroline licked her lips, and kept her head down. "There is not much to say, Your Majesty." She answered, remembering the words she had spoken to him the last time they had met in person.
Klaus hummed, and placed his right hand underneath his chin. "There is always something to say, Caroline." He returned, after a moment. "It's one of the reasons you found favor with me." He muttered, in a tone that she couldn't hear.
Caroline tilted her head to the side, lifting it, ever so slowly, wondering why did he call her tonight.
"You have questions." He observed, absently. "Ask them."
Caroline tugged her bottom lip between her teeth, and breathed in and out. "Why did you call me this late in the night?" She asked, honestly.
Klaus sighed, and lowered his hand from his chin. "I couldn't sleep." He answered, simply.
"So, you called me to…put you to sleep?" She asked, realizing she spoke out in a rough tone. She silently cursed herself for the tone, and turned her head in shame.
Klaus chuckled, and leaned his head back against the chair. "No, I wanted to talk." He answered, quietly. "We haven't talked in near on two weeks." He added, regretfully.
Caroline's eyes widened, and somehow her heart warmed at his words. "Why haven't we?" She asked, remembering how he had said he wanted to get to know each other, earn trust, and so on.
Klaus lifted his eyes to the ceiling. "Much has been on my mind these past few weeks, I would not have made good company." He admitted, honestly.
Her eyes lowered to the floor, and she hesitated before her next words left her lips. "What has been on your mind?" She asked, curiously.
He was silent for minutes, and she began to wonder if she had said the wrong question. "You saw me." He answered, and she felt fear for the first time in days.
"I…" She began, her voice beginning to crack, and she started to shake her head. "It…it wasn't a good look, Your Majesty. I'm sorry." She prattled on, hoping the words would spare her life.
"You're safe, Caroline." He remarked, moving his head forward. "Remember it was a free room that night." He added, leaning forward to place his forearms on his knees. "You didn't run." He concluded, simply. "I've been trying to figure out why."
His words stunned her, and for a moment, she couldn't speak. Her eyes moved around, not truly focusing on anything, as she finally opened her mouth. "Why would I run?" She asked, simply.
Klaus turned his head, and even though he couldn't see her due to the edges of the chair, he envisioned her. "Because they all did." He answered, lowly, but this time she heard.
"I'm not them." She returned, strongly, well, stronger than her previous words. Her strength was increasing with each word, and somehow, she got the impression that he wanted this. Needed this.
He hummed, and turned his head to focus on the flames before him. "No, you're not." He revealed, clasping his hands together in front of him, and became silent for a few moments. "What would you say if I told you I have come to a decision and it concerns the witch?" He asked, and Caroline gasped, lowly, before regaining her composure.
"I would ask what the decision is." She answered, her voice becoming cautious and tight.
He smirked, and bowed his head. "What if I said I will allow her to roam freely through the castle and the grounds, as long as someone is with her?" He asked, somehow finding this amusing.
"I would say she is still not free." Caroline remarked, staring ahead. "But… it's a start." She added, sensing his tense mood. "Have you told her?" She asked, carefully.
"No," He answered, simply.
"Then why tell me?" She asked, honestly.
"Because you care." He answered once more, stiffly.
She smiled, and dipped her head. "I care about everyone." She returned, lowly, but she knew he heard her.
Klaus lifted his head, and sighed. "What if I told you I want you to see me?" He asked after a moment of silence, listening to her heart beat faster in her chest.
"I would ask if you trust me, Your Majesty." Caroline revealed, breathlessly, her eyes focusing on the chair.
Klaus closed his eyes, and breathed out, slowly. "What would you say if I say I'm beginning to?" He asked, with a low growl.
Caroline's hands tightened in her lap, and her throat became dry. Fear of the words becoming stuck in her throat became a reality for a brief moment, and she couldn't find the words. Closing her eyes, she wished he would know that it was enough. Slowly, the words formed through her lips, and relief and anxiety encompassed her soul at the same time. "That's a good start." She revealed, slowly feeling the truth surround her.
Klaus smiled, and slowly stood up. Pausing, he inhaled deeply, staring into the fire. It was now or never, and for some reason, he wondered if he should have waited.
Turning to the right, he walked around the chair, and studied the blonde woman still seated in front of him with her eyes closed. Aching to reach down to touch her, he closed his eyes, and clenched his hands tightly into knuckles, feeling the claws cut into his palms for a brief moment, before flexing them out. "Open your eyes, Caroline." He commanded, lowly, slowly opening his eyes to see her reaction, but some part of him wished to keep them closed.
What if she was repulsed by him? She didn't run before, would she run now? "Caroline, look at me." He commanded once again, and watched as her eyes slowly opened in a flutter. His body became stiff as her eyes caught his, and he waited, and she gasped with her right hand covering her mouth in shock.
Caroline's heart seemed to skip a beat at the sight of the man in front of her, and with a steady ease, she lowered her hand from her mouth, and rose to her feet, realizing as she did she as the same height as him, or almost. His face was oval with lips full and sensual. He had a near beard on his face, and contrary to what others may have thought, it gave him a regal appearance. His hair was cropped and curled on the top of his head. He was handsome, she thought, moving her eyes to his once more. His eyes… were a golden yellow tainted blood red around the iris. Dark veins were puffed underneath his eyes almost down to the middle of his cheeks. His ears were rounded, with a touch of a point at the tips. His mouth opened, and she could see elongated fangs, twice the size of what a normal vampire would have, according to what she had read.
She trailed her eyes back to his, and saw the loneliness in them, and something…else. He was familiar, and yet she couldn't place him.
She wasn't afraid. Somehow, she wasn't afraid. She wasn't sure why, but something told her she needn't be.
"You are not running." He observed, as she continued to move her eyes over his face, and lowered them to his hands, where his claws were forever extended.
Caroline moved her hands forward, curious to touch his hands, but slowly pulled them back, as his words sank in, and she lifted her eyes to meet his gaze. "Why would I?" She asked, and it was that moment Klaus realized he was right.
She wasn't like the others. "Others have run from the mere sight of me. Some even threw stones and tried to scar me." He answered, holding her sea colored eyes.
Caroline shook her head. "Perhaps, you rushed them to look at you, and not given them time to see you." She returned, feeling something happen inside her.
He hummed, and held her eyes. "Perhaps, I never cared for them to see me." He countered, watching her eyes light up a fraction.
"Well, you should." She admitted, honestly. "How do you expect to rule over so many, and not have them see you?" She asked, strongly.
"Why should I allow them to see me?" He asked, his eyes flashing a golden color, hinting his temper, but Caroline didn't back down. "I am what I am, and the people only need to know that I am their King, and that is all." He paused, backing away a fraction. "They don't need to see the beast I am."
"How do you expect the people to love you and follow you if you won't let them see the man behind the beast?" Caroline asked, her temper flaring.
"I don't ask for love, Caroline." Klaus returned, roughly. "Love is weakness. It's a fool's notion that deserves no high praise for a King." He added, angrily.
"Love is not weakness, Klaus!" She shouted, and gasped as she realized what she had said, and covered her mouth.
He tilted his head back, still focusing on her. "How do you know my name?" He asked, his eyes narrowing.
Caroline's eyes widened, and she stepped back. The moment that had been the first step in trust had been shattered by her anger. "Everyone knows." She whispered, and he stepped towards her, until the settee hit the back of her knees, and she fell with a squeal into the seat.
Klaus' jaw tensed, and he bent over to glare into her eyes with his hands on the back of the seat, positioned either side of her. His breathe hit her face, and the heat from his body mixed with hers. "Love is what turned me into the creature you see before you, and no one outside of family is allowed to call me by the name you spoke." He growled, her mouth opening as she breathed in and out.
Her breathe mingled with his, and even though she realized she should be afraid, she…wasn't. Her body felt the fire burn in her veins at his proximity. "I was told the story." She began, gathering her strength, realizing, briefly that he wasn't moving. "Your mother loved you." She stated, firmly, watching the pain enter his eyes for only a moment. "I'm sorry for calling your name, but I'm not sorry for defending love." She added, searching his eyes.
His jaw clenched, anger raged inside him, and yet he couldn't kill her. Something, he didn't know what, was holding him back. Perhaps it was the kindness and strength he had seen her give when he was the wolf, or perhaps it was the tenderness in her gaze when she first gazed on him.
He searched her eyes, and time moved unhurriedly between them. His gaze moved from her eyes to her lips, taking in the firm look of the smooth lips, before lifting his eyes to hers, noticing hers were focused on his as well, only for a moment, lifting them until she was holding his eyes.
Their eyes never shifted from each other. Their breaths mingled together. Their bodies radiated heat, as Klaus seemed to lean even closer with his claws puncturing the material in the settee. Caroline's heart raced at the proximity.
With a growl, Klaus jerked away, and Caroline was left sitting in the room, alone, as the door slammed behind him.
She released the breath she was holding, and slowly her right hand lifted to touch her lips, before lowering it to her chest.
Something had happened in those moments, and she wasn't sure if it was good or bad.
~XXX~
Bonnie wrapped her arms around her body, and lowered her eyes to the ground below. She watched with satisfaction as Klaus raged in the garden, before falling to his knees with a cry to the moon, and transformed into the wolf.
"It has begun." She remarked, smiling, and lifted her eyes to the sky. Her smile widened as the second star beside the moon, brightened as if it was smiling too. With that twinkle, Bonnie bowed her head in reverence.
"It's a start. I'll be ready, Esther. I promise." She added, lowly, and stepped away from the window.
"Who are you talking to?"
She smiled, and shrugged, approaching Kol, who was sitting up in bed, waiting for her. "No one in particular," She answered, as she crawled into the bed, leaning against his side, as his left arm wrapped around her, holding her close. "You'll hear him howling tonight." She muttered, and he groaned. "He revealed himself to her tonight."
"And for that he's throwing a fit?" Kol asked, curiously.
"He's throwing a fit because they had an argument. She's getting to him." Bonnie corrected, lifting her head to look at him.
Kol hummed, and rolled his eyes. "This has something to do with the connection, doesn't it?" He asked, lowering his eyes to hers.
Bonnie smiled, and nodded. "Yep, and that's all I will say." She revealed, and he groaned.
"Bonnie…" He pleaded, but she laughed, and shook her head.
"All will be revealed in due time." She countered, smiling.
"I hate cryptic messages." He stated, roughly.
She smiled, brightly, and touched his face, tenderly with her left hand. "But you don't hate me." She returned, and he sighed, dramatically.
"Alas, I can't." He stated, before laughing with her, knowing that she truly couldn't reveal the truth until the right moment, even to him.
As they snuggled in the bed, with Kol holding her close to his side, he dropped a kiss on the top of her head, and sighed as she drifted off to sleep in his arms.
He smiled
~XXX~
Caroline wiped the last of her tears as she sat in front of the statue, and closed her eyes.
She felt the familiar touch of a wet nose on her arm, and she turned with a sad smile. "Hey, wolf," She whispered, scratching his head. "I saw the King today, and I did a stupid thing." She began, and felt the tears building up again. "I called him by his name, which is forbidden until he gives permission." She continued, shaking her head. "I don't know why I did it, but it just seemed so natural." She added, bowing her head, and the wolf whined, as he laid down beside her with his head in her lap.
Wolf listened to her words, and as she spoke, he came to realize that she was right. It did seem natural for her to say his name. Why didn't he see that?
"I mean, I get that he's hurt because of what his mother did, but from what my mother told me, his mother did it to protect him, in her way." She continued, and Wolf whined. "How could he see that love is a weakness? His mother confined him and his family within the walls of this castle, because she loved them. How is that weakness?" She asked, shaking her head. She sighed, and closed her eyes, stroking Wolf's head.
"I don't know if he'll ever forgive me, but you know what?" She paused, determination filled her eyes. "It seems to me that he needs this. I don't believe anyone has ever stood up to him, so you know what, wolf?" She began, as wolf lifted his head to look at her. "I'm going to show him that love is not weakness, and that the Lily is more than just a speaker or the flower for the people. I don't know how, but I'll figure it out." She continued, strongly.
Wolf growled in agreement, and she smiled with a laugh. "If he wants me to be honest, then that's exactly what he's going to get." She confirmed, smiling brightly. "Yes, that's exactly what he's going to get."
Wolf whined, and something in his head told him, he wasn't sure if this was a good thing or not, and yet, he couldn't wait to see the new Caroline.
~XXX~
The next morning Caroline discovered a note underneath her door. As she unfolded the note, she felt a smile touch her face.
Thank you for your honesty. I hope to see more of it.
Please be kind! I'm not forcing you to read it if you don't like or approve it!
I hope you all enjoyed the reveal, and Caroline's reactions. I wasn't sure about the scene with Wolf Klaus, but it did show Caroline's determination for the future!
My life is in a hectic place at the moment, so writing is the only pleasure I can afford at this time, which means, I'm trying to find the time to write and update! I had hoped to have some stories finished by September, but the hope had died when I ran out of time. Luckily, for the next few weeks, I have a mini-break in my studies, which means only discussions are due not papers, so maybe more time to write. *crossing fingers*
Next Chapter: Getting to Know You
Until Next Time...
