1000 A.D
It was bewildering to think ten whole moons had passed since the day of their wedding, time seemed to be ticking by at an exhilarated pace.
Humming a hearty ode under her breath, Astrid absent-mindedly placed the rolls of the freshly baked bread in the basket, flouncing round the kitchen at a pace a pregnant woman wouldn't normally use.
Once all the hot rolls were placed securely in the wicker basket, Astrid leaned against the wooden chair, her hand falling to the prominent swell of her stomach, a smile gracing her lips.
As soon as she had missed her moon blood, Astrid had gone to see Esther, who had confirmed Astrid's hopeful expectation. She was with child.
Now approaching the end of her pregnancy, Astrid was almost nine moons along, and though the concept of birth worried her, she was excited that herself and Niklaus would soon meet their little one.
It was strange for Astrid to look back at the time she hadn't wanted to marry Niklaus, however, now she cared deeply for him, she even loved him.
The announcement of her being with child had brought them closer than ever, Niklaus had vowed not to become his father, he would never raise a hand to his child.
Placing the basket of bread on her hip, Astrid made her way out the house, swiftly closing the door behind her.
As soon as she walked through the bustling courtyard, Kol spotted her, his brows furrowed before he quickly rushed forward, snatching the basket from her. "Hey!"
Kol shrugged, holding the basket in his arms. "I believe someone told you to take it easy."
Shaking her head, Astrid snorted. "Are you going to tell tales to your mother? Hmmm. Oh, Kol, you've changed." She teased, making him grin.
"Well, what can I say. I see a damsel in distress, I like to swoop in!" Kol responded cheerily making her giggle.
Before either Kol or Astrid could make another comment, Niklaus approached them from behind, abruptly snatching the basket from Kol's grip. "I can help my wife, thank you Kol." Nik's tone was sharp.
Scowling, Kol nodded. "Very well, take it easy Astrid. And before I go, I must say, pregnancy makes you look ravishing." Sending his brother a smirk, Kol quickly rushed away before Nik could chase after him.
Sighing, Astrid turned to Niklaus, shaking her head in disbelief. This had been happening a lot lately, ever since she fell pregnant, Niklaus had become extremely protective, especially around Kol.
She was well aware that Nik disapproved of her relationship with Kol, but he was her friend.
"You didn't need to do that." Astrid commented quietly as they began making their way towards her mother's house.
Niklaus glare shifted from Kol's retreating figure before landing on Astrid, blue eyes softening at the frown on her face. "He was being kind." Astrid added.
"Kol's not kind to anyone unless there's something in it for him." Nik commented darkly, shaking his head.
Frowning, Astrid's hands fell by her side as she watched her feet. "That's not true."
"Isn't it?" Nik snorted, clutching the basket tighter.
"It's not! He is my friend."
"Does he know that?"
Whirling towards her husband, Astrid's lips parted in surprise, her eyes narrowed as she reached out to grasp his arm, preventing him from walking any further. "He is my friend, Nik. You are my husband, you are supposed to trust me."
Struggling to meet her gaze, Nik frowned. "I do trust you. It's him I don't trust."
Knowing how stubborn her husband was, Astrid reached up, her soft fingers cupping Niklaus' cheek. "Then trust me. I love you."
His cold blue eyes seemed to melt away as he smiled. "I love you too."
"You know, I forgot to tell you how beautiful you look this morning." Niklaus continued, enjoying the small flush that rose to her cheeks.
Playing with the sleeves of her ivory gown, Astrid rolled her eyes. "I do not feel it, I feel giant."
Nik rolled his eyes at this, shaking his head as a hand landed on the evident swell of her stomach. "You look ravishing."
As his fingers gently stroked over her covered up stomach, Astrid let out a chuckle when a firm kick was landed on Nik's hand. "It seems someone agrees with me too." Niklaus bragged, making Astrid giggle.
"Yes, yes. Very good, now, we better hurry and get this bread to my mothers. You know how she gets."
With that, Astrid ushered Niklaus to continue walking, his free hand linking with hers, fingers intertwined lovingly, neither noticing the figure of a frowning Tatia Petrova stood by the old white oak tree.
...
Although surprised, Astrid allowed her mother to forcefully push her down into the chair, brows furrowed as she watched her mother in confusion. The basket of bread was left abandoned on the wooden table as Sigrid quickly sat opposite her daughter, clasping her hand tightly between hers.
Desperation swirled around in Sigrid's frightened blue iris', sharp nails digging into Astrid's palm. Her mother was usually so calm and collected, something had really alarmed her.
Since Tatia Petrova had stormed into her mother's house, Sigrid's strange mood had subsided, her mother had grown back into the cold and void woman she usually was.
But today, Astrid didn't recognize the woman sitting across from her.
Leaning forward to place a hand over her mother's, Astrid frowned. "Mother, something is wrong. Just tell me."
Sigrid swallowed, struggling to meet Astrid's eyes as she bowed her head. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry child."
"Sorry? Sorry for what mother?"
Her mother had done many things to her, she had punished her by making her clean the stables out in the middle of winter, she had been a mere girl at the time and had been caught playing with Sigrid's shield.
Astrid had to be taken to the Esther in the morning, who had expected the girl to die from pneumonia developed from the cold.
She could also recall the countless amount of times Sigrid had struck her, for talking back to her mother and for not doing what she had been told, Sigrid had not been afraid of discipline.
But why would her mother apologize now? Why not at the time?
Squeezing her hand to get her attention, Astrid jumped when her mother's head lulled back, eyes flashing a milky white as she let out a loud wheeze.
The sound similar to that of someone struggling to breath.
Jolting up from her chair, Astrid softly gripped her mother's shoulders, shaking them to try and snap her out of whatever trance she was in.
"Mother?! Mother!?" Astrid called relentlessly, now shaking her mother roughly as a gut wrenching feeling settled in the pit of her stomach.
Letting out a shaky breath, Sigrid jumped, hands resting over Astrid's as her eyes faded from the melancholy white to the vibrant blue Astrid was so used to seeing.
"Mother? What was that? I'll go and get Esther, she can help-" Before Astrid could finish the words that seemed to rush out of her lips, Sigrid gripped her hand tightly, shaking her head.
Leaning into her daughter, Sigrid moved her lips to Astrid's ear, lowering her tone to a barely audible whisper.
"It shall be then, when the mark of the one becomes the mark of many, a crimson river shall bring forth the dawn of evil and the age of death." Her mother's words were haunting, her words full of anguish as her hands began to tremble before she fell forward, eyes rolling back as Astrid let out a horrified scream.
...
Returning to the cottage, Niklaus smiled when his sister caught up with him, a big grin on her face as she linked her arm through his. "Nik! How is Astrid and the babe?! I didn't catch her this morning." Rebekah's lips curled into a soft pout.
It was no secret Rebekah was rather fond of his wife, the two had forged a close friendship and Rebekah was extremely excited to become an aunt.
"She's fine, Bekah. And so is the babe." Niklaus informed his sister, shaking his head in amusement. "-As I tell you every day." He teased.
Her cheeks tinged pink as she let go of his arm, jabbing him painlessly in the stomach with her elbow. "Hush! I was only checking she was okay!" Rebekah whined, making Niklaus let out a laugh.
"Anyways, I better be off. I promised to meet someone by the market." Rebekah exclaimed, her eyes twinkling at the thought as she instinctively reached up to flatten her hair.
Raising a brow at this, Niklaus eyed his sister suspiciously. "A friend?"
Nodding innocently, Rebekah leaned up to place a kiss on her brother's cheek, bidding him a farewell before rushing off in the direction of the market.
Shaking his head at her antics, Niklaus smiled, did his sister think he was a fool?
Rebekah was always daydreaming about boys and marriage, perhaps she had finally found someone she deemed good enough for her.
And though Bekah might have thought that this man was good enough for her, Niklaus knew no one was good enough for his precious sister.
"She's very lovely, isn't she." Tatia Petrova's voice rang out from beside him.
Turning to the pretty brunette he had once held a flame for, Niklaus was surprised to see her away from Elijah's side. Though it was her comment that astonished him the most, clearly she didn't have any quarrels about lying to his face.
It was well known that Rebekah hated the brunette, she would use any opportunity to complain about Tatia, wherever that was behind her back or to Tatia's face.
The feeling was clearly mutual between the two girls.
"Yes, she is." He kept his reply short and continued walking, hoping Tatia would get the hint and find someone else to bother.
Keeping up with his long strides, Tatia smiled prettily. "How is your wife? She must be very close to giving birth now. Hopefully nothing tragic happens, labor can be very difficult, especially for younger women like herself-"
Tatia let out a surprised gasp as she was sharply pinned against the tree by the sleeves of her dress, Niklaus scowled as hot blood coursed through his veins, fingers twitching in rage when his darkened eyes met hers.
The primal instinct deep within him urged him to protect his wife and offspring.
"Niklaus-" Tatia breathed out, though he hadn't hurt her, he clearly had caught her off guard.
"Don't talk about my wife like that."
He quickly let go of her, his arms falling to his side as she slumped against the tree, crossing her arms.
For a moment, Tatia could have sworn she saw a flash of amber in his eyes, but quickly dismissed the thought, it must have been a trick of the light.
"I meant no disrespect, I just came to warn you."
He raised a brow at this. "Warn me?"
"Of your wife's intentions."
Shaking his head, Niklaus turned on his heel, he didn't want to listen to her filth. He had kept away from Tatia for this very reason.
Niklaus had soon come to see that Tatia wanted things she couldn't have, she hadn't wanted him when he desired to court her, but when he was happily wed she wished to have him.
"Niklaus wait!" She quickly hurried to his side, holding the bottom of her dress as she grabbed his arm. "You haven't noticed her strange relationship with your younger brother? The way Kol speaks to her?"
Niklaus froze, eyes dangerously cold as he met Tatia's gaze.
"What are you saying?" He asked darkly.
"I'm saying that your wife has been unfaithful with your brother. Surely you have seen these signs. Oh my poor, poor Niklaus." Her hand caressed his cheek and for a moment, Tatia was convinced she saw that familiar yellow tint once again in his iris'.
