London, England ; 1491
Elijah adjusted his collar while staring at his own reflection in the mirror. He let out a small sigh and closed his eyes. In just a fortnight, he will be married to Lady Abelia. William Smith's daughter is being married off to his family to ensure their safety, which is brilliant for them, but Elijah can't help but think that this whole transaction has been done wrong. Morally, nothing about this marriage plan has been right.
"Lord Elijah," Trevor, his servant, interrupted.
The lord turned to the direction of the door and gave his servant a slight nod.
"Lady Abelia wishes to see you." Trevor said, gesturing behind him.
"Allow her to enter and would you leave us be?" Elijah asked politely.
The servant allowed the Lady Abelia into her fiancé's chambers and bowed to his lord before disappearing from the scene. Lady Abelia entered, giving her fiancé a small smile as she did so. Before she approached him, she bowed to him.
"You have slept well, I hope." Elijah took her hand in his and gently kissed it.
"I have." She replied quickly.
Elijah smiled at her gently, gesturing for her to take a seat on his chair. She politely declined and remained standing.
"So how may I be of your service on this fine morning, Lady Abelia?"
Abelia looked at her feet nervously, unable to verbalize what she wanted to get out to him. There are so many things she wanted him to know, now that their marriage is nearing. Somehow Elijah deserves the right to know that her heart isn't into this union between the two of them, but it has never mattered in this type of society. Marriages are formed to link two families together, not for love. It is apparent to anyone that Abelia does not feel love for the lord, but it has been a topic that everyone has been dodging. Abelia does not wish to avoid it any longer.
When she returned her gaze to Elijah, she changed her mind. She didn't want to talk about this marriage and her feeling towards it. She is a woman and has no place in this world other than to marry, take care of the family, and give birth. Abelia has no right to tell Elijah of her feelings, even if she knew he'd be more accepting than any typical gentleman.
Instead, she glanced at the ring in his hand and ran her thumb over it.
"I just wish to see you and see how you are, my lord." Abelia said.
Elijah smiled and watched her hand as they carefully slid the ring off of his finger. His eyebrows rose but he didn't question her actions. He didn't mind that she wanted to take a look at his ring, since he barely took it off. The fact that he never did might have sparked her interest in it.
A mischievous look flashed upon the lady's face and Elijah instantly knew what she was up to. Grinning at the lord, Abelia turned and ran out of his chambers with the ring in her hand.
"Abelia…" Elijah ran after her in a human pace, constantly convincing himself to not outrun her.
The girl giggled lightly while running down the spiral staircase. The servants stopped what they were doing to glance at the lady, curiosity coating their features as Lord Elijah appeared in their view.
"Abelia, I need my ring!" Elijah called out.
In an instant, Klaus and Kol appeared by the entrance of their palace, where Abelia stopped abruptly. She gazed at Elijah's two siblings briefly before holding his ring out. The sunlight from outside illuminated on her, but it was the least of her concern at this moment. Elijah glanced at the window adjacent to the girl and cursed to himself.
Kol and Klaus looked on with amused smiles on their faces. They obviously knew of something that Lady Abelia didn't, continuing to watch as Elijah stared helplessly into the face of his dilemma.
"Come and get me then!" Abelia teased, beaming at him as she held the ring toward him.
The shy, conservative front she usually put up vanished much too quickly, and for once, Elijah hoped that she would be like the typical women. This matter is nothing to make a joke out of.
"Brother, that is a girl who is asking to be chased." Klaus commented, smirking.
Elijah rolled his eyes at his younger brother and returned his attention to Abelia.
"Abelia." He said seriously, glancing at his mistress.
Abelia bit her lips, all signs of playfulness disappearing from her features. She noticed that Elijah isn't joking around. Her mischievous nature is not fitted for this situation. As a woman of this lord, she committed to her duty and did as he requested. She walked over to him and placed the ring on his extended palm.
"I apologize, my lord." Abelia mumbled.
"No need, Abelia. Please do not take my ring again." Elijah shot her a warning look.
The lady nodded, biting her lips nervously.
"Now if you'll all excuse me, I must now retreat to my chambers. I have to look through our list of invitations for the wedding." Elijah saluted the rest of the clan and turned from Abelia.
When Elijah disappeared from Abelia's vision, Kol and Klaus broke into a great fit of laughter. The lady turned to the pair of Mikaelson siblings and scrunched her nose.
"Aww, that was brilliant!" Kol was the first to talk.
Klaus gave a small chuckle before returning to the living room. The servants all left the entrance area and resumed to what they were doing before this commotion, leaving Abelia with Kol, the man she could not find herself to resist.
"Sometimes I feel like I am the only one left with humor in this household!" Kol approached Abelia and extended his hand out for her.
She blushed lightly and took it, watching as he kissed it lightly.
"Walk with me through the gardens, will you?" Kol requested.
Abelia did not decline this time. She hooked her arm with his and let him escort her to the gardens. As they walked in silence, Abelia tried to contain herself. She was cannot let herself rest at ease knowing that the main reason why she did not want to go on with the marriage her father arranged because of the man beside her.
"Abelia, if you need to say something, you can tell me."
She turned to him in mild shock. Kol can sense her unease in a matter of seconds which is another reason why she felt close to him. He understands her like no one else has ever. The fact that she can relate to him is a contributing factor to her attraction towards him.
"I trust you, Kol." Abelia said seriously.
She didn't want to grin and be playful, as she usually is with Kol around. This time, matters are more serious because in just a fortnight, she will be married to Elijah. She is not ready for it to happen yet, especially if she feels so wrong for doing it.
"Cut the small talk and get to the real stuff." Kol said impatiently.
The lady smirked lightly at the remark and looked down at her fingers.
"I feel as if I cannot go through with the marriage."
"For some reason, I had a feeling you would say that."
"And why is that, Lord Kol?"
"Lady Abelia, you and Elijah are nowhere near a match made in heaven. I am sorry to be breaking the news to you now, but you need to realize this before you actually get into this marriage with him."
Abelia looked over at Kol only to notice that he has been staring at her the whole time. They both stopped walking and just glanced at each other for a few moments. Kol's usual arrogant, playful demeanor is nowhere to be found which scares Abelia a bit. His dark brown eyes fell on her intensely, unable to allow her to break gaze.
"Do not do this if it is not your desire."
"I have no choice. I will be shunned by my family and by this society."
"Who cares of what the bloody people want. They are not you. They don't understand what it is that you want and they never will. It is no fun to give in to what people ask of you. You do what you want because this is your life, Abelia."
"It is easier said than done, Lord Kol."
"You are right, but I don't care. You still need to do as your heart desires."
Abelia sighed loudly, finally allowing herself to turn away from Kol's mesmerizing stare. Kol is never wrong when it comes to the outlook on life. They both have that in common. Abelia used to do what she wanted, often crossing boundaries beyond what is expected of her. She often disappointed her father during her childhood with her drastic antics, and it never bothered her because being mischievous was what she wanted to be.
However, when another family's honor and reputation is put on the line, Abelia cannot make her own decisions as it wouldn't only affect her family.
"Lady Abelia, what is the fun in life when you are forced into a marriage you wish to be annulled from?"
"I respect Elijah."
"Respect isn't love, darling."
"Marriage isn't about love, Kol."
"To me, it is."
"If only everyone believe it is."
"It doesn't matter what they think. It only matters what you think."
"Kol…"
"Do as you wish, I am only merely advising you."
Abelia bit her lips, shaking her head as she made her decision. As much as she wanted to honor her family and the Mikaelson family, she cannot do this to herself or Elijah. He must know that she has no love to give him, and is too polite to annul their plans. Elijah must prefer another woman to her. The mindset convinced her to do the right thing.
Despite what society thinks, marrying someone you do not love is not fair to any of the parties.
"Kol, I must speak with Elijah now." Abelia's eyes met his urgently.
"Do you need me to escort you to his chambers?"
"If you wish to." She replied.
Kol paused for a moment.
"Actually, I really don't want to."
Laughing lightly, Abelia excused herself from the garden and entered the palace again. A servant acknowledged her entrance and smiled at her politely.
"I wish to see Lord Elijah now." She said.
The servant gave her a curt nod and gestured for her to follow suit. She let out a deep breath as she walked up the spiral staircase to Elijah's chambers. When the servant vanished inside the lord's chambers, Abelia felt herself shaking uncontrollably.
Elijah is honorable and respectful, but how will he react when she decides to break the marriage?
"Lady Abelia, you may enter." The servant reappeared, gesturing for her to enter.
The lady held a long breath and entered Lord Elijah's chambers.
"My lord."
"Abelia." Elijah looked away from the quills on his desk and smiled brightly at her.
"I wish to speak with you, matters that are important."
"Please precede, my lady."
"I have to do the right thing because I wish to do you no harm, Elijah." Abelia forced herself to look straight at him.
She cannot try to escape this situation by looking away.
"I never doubt that." Elijah said brightly.
"I believe that this marriage between us will not benefit either of us."
Elijah paused for a second and stared at the lady as she fidgeted uncomfortably. He appreciates the fact that she is being completely honest with him, but he did not know where she got the idea from.
"I think the marriage benefits your family and mine, Lady Abelia."
"But, I do not think that it is fair to you."
"How is it not fair to me?"
"I do not love you, Elijah."
Elijah nodded.
"I know."
Abelia refrained herself from bursting into tears. She did not know how to continue this conversation. But she has to because it is right. Kol has been right when he advised her to do as she pleased. She is living her life and she cannot be forced into a marriage she wished not to be in.
"I don't feel love for you and I can't marry you because… because…" she cannot bring herself to say it.
"Because you love someone else." Elijah said, completely understanding.
Abelia let out another deep breath, bracing for the worse. She will be returned to her family, disgraced and dishonored. Her father might disown her for disrespecting his decision of her lifestyle.
"I do love someone else."
"Kol, is it?"
Abelia did not reply because she knew that Elijah knew of her feelings for his brother.
"I apologize for dishonoring you."
"Abelia." Elijah said sternly.
"I am undeserving."
"I do not wish you to think that."
Abelia slid the ring off her finger and handed it to Elijah. He glanced at the item in disapproval, refusing to accept it.
"No, I still wish for you to keep that."
"I cannot keep it, for my love does not lie with you."
"Please, my lady, it is my only wish."
Abelia did not feel right about keeping the ring. She cannot bear to see it and think of the action she took to talk Elijah out of this marriage.
"Abelia, I am not angry with you. Please know that. I wish for you to be happy with the decision you've made. It is hard to look good to the people if our marriage breaks apart, but I want you to know that you still have the freedom to pursue my brother."
Abelia could not believe she just heard the words from his mouth. He was supposed to shun her and to say ungrateful things to her. But he understood how she felt, and for a long time, she thought only Kol does.
"I cannot dishonor you like that, Elijah."
"Abelia, you really have that affection for Kol. You laid with him and you spend all your time with him, of course it is expected. As arrogant he is, I believe he deserve to have someone to accompany him on the journey of life. You both deserve this opportunity." Elijah did not wish for Abelia to pursue her brother, because it would endanger her life, but he needed her to believe that he respected her decision.
"You wrote your invitations."
"I got an opportunity to practice my penmanship."
Abelia laughed.
"So you are not angry with me?"
"Nope, just a bit disappointed that you didn't tell me this sooner."
Elijah gestured toward the invitations on his desk. They both stared at it for a few moments before bursting into laughter together.
It is safe to say that everything went well for Abelia.