This a crossover (sort of) drabble set in the acotar (A court of thorns and roses by Sarah J Mass) verse, because I got obsessed and the idea of klaroline in this universe can't get out of my head.

A/N: I still haven't finished acomaf (the sequel) so if you read this and found some inaccuracies that's why, now you might wonder why did I write this if I haven't finished the book then, the answer is very simple, inspiration hit me and I wasn't a fool to say no. I hope you'll enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it

She had been a fool

A complete and utter fool.

She should have known. Should have known that something was amiss, that a deep forceful storm was brewing under all the shared smiles and wine and cordial agreements.

And now here she was, running hot on her tail. Leaving the destruction and chaos of her home behind, tears streaking her face, their path still wet as the nightmares of the fire that swallowed her people whole haunted her.

Faeries.

Armies of them had shown up at the borders of mortal realm. Led by the king, his shadows of darkness far suppressed the ones mentioned in the tales she heard as a child. He had signalled for his soldiers to step forward, had unleashed them upon the world. Monsters of all kind and sort tore through the flesh and marrow, blood spilling and soaking the ground underneath.

Going through the day's horrors, she decided that this was not the most horrifying part.

Because that heaviness on her shoulders, the weight she could feel beneath her cloak far outweighed the gore she had seen.

The mortal queens, happening upon the utter destruction, quickly banded together, searching for a way to hide the book of the breathing uncathed, undetected by the king of Hybern.

And this is where she came in. The trusted adviser, the warrior goddess as some had named her, had been called forth by the Queen's, invited in their council and deemed worthy of the task.

'Protect our world, Caroline' they said.

She pleaded. God, she pleaded so hard. (Let me be, I can not do this. Send me on the battlefield, to fight alongside our warriors, please).

But the only replies she had gotten were strong hard eyes, graceful poise and coldness that only these queens can posses tinged with the hope of survival. The king of the fae failing and being defeated.

It was with great reluctance that she was given the book, dressed in mighty warrior clothes forged of material lighter than what she was used to as opposed to the heavy leather.

"Never look back" Katherine had said "Run and pay no mind to the fire and blood you'll see, this is war and you my darling are no stranger to it".

She nodded, eyes glistening with unshed tears, not quite trusting herself to stand strong. Enveloping the brunette in a bone crushing embrace, she breathed in her scent, savouring the familiar smell of fresh lilacs on her olive tanned skin for those few moments before she knew she'd be ripped away from her.

And so, she rode to the deepest parts of the forest. The vision of the castles gradually fading behind her along with Katherine.

Her queen, her friend and her sister.

She had slowed down her horse as the sounds of clashing swords and iron had quieted. Briefly, the sadistic part of her wondered how much time did it take her fellow mortals before they realised that the only harm the steel could do is crush their hope of survival.

She shook her head wildly as if to throw the memories and thoughts behind, her breathing coming out uneven as it struggled to catch up with the beats of her heart.

The crunch of a broken twig was heard and her head snapped to the side vivaciously, her hand instinctively gripping the ash dagger strapped to her belt. Sighing inaudibly, she surveyed the space in front of her.

Narrowing her eyes in suspicion, she softly kicked her horse's side to speed its movement, unsheathing one of her smaller blades slightly to ease its accessibility.

The chestnut mare did not seem to sense whatever it is that she did, and after two hours of free wandering through the vast forest, it happily picked some wildflowers to satisfy its hunger.

Deciding to join her companion in some rest, she fell into step beside the creature, watching in amusement as it seemingly fought with some bees.

Her ear picked up a snap from her right and before she could turn the source of the sound she found her back scratching against a tree, her arms pinned to the side. She kicked and growled at her attacker, barely holding in her screams, least the fae had some companions nearby.

"Well, well, well" drawled out a masculine voice "look who I've stumbled upon".

Again, she attempted to claw at her captor before her eyes fell on his figure and knocked the breath out of her.

"You" she whispered, the word half inaudible, half not. The blond in front of her, so achingly familiar, almost cracked a grin at her reaction. Suddenly, he fell to his back, courtesy of her punching skills, and she got her sword out swiftly, aiming it at his body, a clear scowl on her face.

"You!" she growled before flinging herself at him, her sword missing his torso by a scratch.

"Love-" his words were cut off by another aim of hers at his person. Quickly, he seemed to realise that no possible form of conversation could be held with her in her current state. Letting her attempt to strike him continuously and using his fae speed to avoid her lethal blows.

Soon she was breathing hard, scratches littered on her face and hands, some of the blood she managed to spill coating her clothes and skin.

"Are you done yet, sweetheart?" taunted Klaus, his mirth at her anger clear on his face.

Despite her lack of energy and her exhaustion, she tried to hit him yet again and Klaus swore loudly, snatching the weapon out of her hand and throwing it to the side, ignoring her vexation.

"You have some nerve".

"And she's back" Klaus sarcastically quipped, rolling his eyes though not as irritated as one would think. She ignored those traces of fondness she found, choosing to focus on her anger and ire.

"How dare you".

"How dare I?" he repeated, mocking whispers wrapped in his words "You'll have to elaborate on what is that as I have dared to do a lot of things in my life".

"You betrayed me" she accused "betrayed us" not bothering to say if she meant them or them.

"I have never" he said, genuine hurt blooming on his face.

"Liar" she choked on the word "your king has laid waste to our land and you" she jabbed a finger at him "you outed the information I have told you out of trust".

A look of understanding settled on his face, nothing short of remorse appeared.

"But what should I have expected out of a lying pathetic fae?"

Again, she found her back colliding with the rough surface of the wood, this time staring at Klaus's livid expression.

"I. Have. Never. Betrayed. You". He punctured each word, letting her see the truth of them.

"Your loyalties are to the army" she whispered, unwilling to believe him, not when the memory of her only friend and family fading in smoke and ash was fresh in her mind.

"I told you once, Caroline" he loosened his grip on her shoulders "And I'll tell you again, I was never loyal to that wretched king".

"What?" Klaus asked as he felt her eyes on him.

She sighed "You are so strange".

She watched as his eyebrows shot up, turning to face her on his side.

"Really?" he inquired.

She hummed in confirmation, eyes wide, taking him in with a smile on her face "You are staying here, in a secluded room instead of celebrating downstairs with your fellow faeries" 'in the name of peace' she added inwardly, her mental voice taking on a haughty tone.

"I am staying here with you", he corrected, chuckling at her exaggerated eyeroll.

"You do realise no matter how many sweet words you tell me I am still not going to be seduced by you".

"Sweetheart, I have made peace with the fact that we could be in an alternative universe and my charms would be greeted by that exact same line".

A small laugh bubbled out of her throat at his dramatic expression. She still marveled at how full of life he was with her in the small confines of her room as opposed to the silent warrior that loomed over in the corner.

Though she supposes that is just another thing they had in common.

"That still doesn't tell me why you are not down there, you are one of the king's inner circle.

A thoughtful almost pain filled look passed on his face "he's not someone I like to associate with".

"Then why are you fighting among his soldiers?"

His eyes snapped to hers, cool steel neatly hidden behind affectionate warmth "That is a tale for another time".

"That proves nothing" she snapped, because no it didn't.

Klaus's blue orbs flashed around their surroundings, sensing something behind them "Caroline" he said, voice full of warning and approaching danger "we have to go".

"No" she was done playing nice.

"Caroline, please"

"Not until you tell me the truth, all of it"

His head whipped to the side and she heard some rustling in the bushes, so faint she barely caught it but if her human ear hadn't detected it until no she shuddered to think of how close her, their hunter was.

"Caroline" Again. A warning.

"Fine" Because she has a mission and she'll be damned if she fails because of her stubbornness and conflicts of the hearts.

Grasping her hand tightly in his as the world around her shift in different shades of dark. Part of her was sure she would have fell into that abyss, had it not been for the hand clutching her waist.

But as soon as it started, it ended, the ground settling underneath her giving away the most breathtaking view she had ever laid her eyes upon.

"Welcome to the court of dreams, sweetheart".

On a scale from one to ten, how medicore was this?

Your feedback whether positive or criticising is appreciated immensely.

Have a good day