Chapter 9

His laugh didn't last long. In front of him, Nora's face had fallen and there was now a distant look in her eyes. Had he been someone else, he would have thought she was not affected by the situation. However, Kol knew Nora. He knew her well and it was easy for him to see the tension in her shoulders and the apprehension in her eyes. Oh, it was hidden. Well hidden, even. But it was there and he knew it.

"Nora…," he said in a kind voice, "Darling, surely you do not expect me to believe such nonsense? This is madness."

Her face softened and she sighed. "Of course it is." She then moved toward him and touched his cheek. "I knew your name," she continued, pleading.

"You did." He grabbed the hand touching him and squeezed her fingers. The last two years brought a few callus on her hand. It wasn't as soft as it had once been. "But how many other reasons are there to explain this?"

"I speak a language you had no knowledge of."

"From your place of birth in the old world."

"I could not survive on my own."

He smirked, "Just you being you Darling." Well, he guessed she could blame her rich family in the old world for spoiling her. Sure, she had never told him being a heiress or something, but he had caught her more than once staring towards the ocean, that vast expanse of salt water which separated them from the old world. Even the best eyes couldn't catch the barest glimpse of the birth land of his parents and his brother Finn.

His smirk disappeared and he touched Nora's forehead with his free hand. No fever. Nothing to indicate she had ingested a poisoned flora. Aside from what she said about time-travelling, she didn't look delirious.

She shook her head and slapped his hand away from her. "I'm not crazy! Nor am I sick!"

"And yet you are asking me to believe in time-travel!" he retorted. At this point, this was beyond madness and he couldn't help but get irritated. "The mere idea of travelling through time goes against every rule of Nature. Against every thing I have faith in!" Couldn't she understand him?

She bit her lips. "And me?" He tensed. "Cannot you believe in me?" She raised her eyes to meet his. "Please," she pleaded," I… I am begging you. Believe me."

The blue of her eyes was glistening with unshed tears as she stared at him with intensity. Without thinking, he stepped back and immediately regretted it when pain flashed in her eyes.

All his life, Kol believed - truly believed - in very few thing. Two, actually. Firstly, his siblings, and, secondly, the mother Nature and the magic it gifted him. The power running through his veins was as familiar as his own hands. It was a part of him, and he wielded it as easily as he moved his hand or listened to the wind. However, this power came with rules. They were few compared to the numerous possibilities offered by magic. However, they were also very strict and never had he dared to flout them. How could he? When his lips prayed the Odin's name to not needlessly clash with his father every fiber of his body vibrated for Nature. Nature was the divinity guiding each of his steps. It gave and gave, again and again, and asked for so little in exchange. How could he refused a few rules, especially when they aimed to protect the balance of the world?

And yet… Yet Nora's blue eyes pierced him as they often did. Telling him her secret had scared her, yet she still told him. Why? Because she wanted to do right by him? Could it really be so simple?

"Please," she begged him again.

He glanced away, looking instead at the forest they would need to walk though after. Would she still trust him if he were to refuse to believe her? Would she go somewhere he couldn't follow? Would he even see her again? And if… If she was saying the truth, would she travel through the veil of time, leave this world and only go back when he had been turned into a little pile of dust?

At this thought, his blood rushed to his stomach and a lump appeared in his throat. He showed nothing of the turmoil inside him. The expression on his face didn't change, even though the idea to never see her again was… almost unbearable.

Nora sighed and furrowed her brows, a crease just above the bridge of her nose. "It is alright. I… won't leave you. Even if you don't believe me, you're stuck with me. After all, I have time on my side. One day, you will believe me. I just know it."

"You do huh?"

"Yeah, I fucking do."

Despite her words, her blighted hope was obvious. Her eyes weren't even meeting his anymore and she was looking at the sky as if it had all the answers they could ever seek. As if it was the most beautiful thing to set eyes on. You would thing she had never seen her reflection under the sunlight, especially when she was smiling. Not like now, with every line of her face tinged with weariness and dejection.

It left him with a bitter taste.

If she was saying the truth… What would it mean?

He moved toward the bank and grabbed a rock on the ground. Its surface was rough, the rock heavy in his hand. If he were to throw it in the water, it would sink without fail. Only a miracle, or at least a very slight chance, would make it ricochet off the water.

Less than two ricochet, and Nora lied. More than two, and she told him the truth.

The movement of his arm and his wrist was smooth and accurate when he launched the rock. It flew across a few meters before it touched the surface of the water and, to his surprise, bounced. Once. Twice. Thrice. A fourth and fifth time. Finally, the sixth time saw the rock disappear.

Uh-huh. It was a good thing that he wasn't the kind of people to make decisions like that.

Shaking his head, he turned to face Nora, "Alright, explain."

He definitely wasn't seeing a sign of Nature because the rock had bounced several times. He was just particularly gifted. Still, he could at least listen to what Nora wanted to say.

She hesitated for but a moment before she came to sit on a boulder next to him. One leg hanging above the water, she bent the other and leant on it with her elbow. The kiss they shared in the water now seemed like a old memory, one that had happened a long time ago. This day had definitely been too long.

"I haven't always been travelling through time you know. Once, I had a normal life, without magic or anything supernatural. I was just one woman among so many others."

"And when was that?" he cut her off. It was hard to believe the young woman sitting by his side had once been a 'normal woman'.

"A thousand years in the future," she replied simply, as if it was nothing more than a comment on the color of the grass. There was no sadness. It was merely a fact. Nothing more, nothing less.

He, on the other hand, almost choked on his own saliva. A thousand years in the future?! What. The. Fucking. Hell?!

"H-How?" he managed to say after he caught his breath.

"I don't really know, although I think you do. Well, you in the future. You won't tell me a thing because we made a pact. No matter what happens, I cannot tell you what we live in your future. The same goes for you."

"Why?" he asked even though the answer was obvious.

"So as not to try to change the course of time, fail, and needlessly suffer." Then, without turning her gaze away from the reflection of the moon, "you are not surprised."

He nodded mechanically, "not really. If it is true, then your very presence here implies that time is set in stone. We do have free will, our actions and thoughts have simply already been recorded. Time is not a line, with a point A and a point B. More like… a succession of ripples." He took ahold of her hand and followed with his fingers the lines on her palm, relishing in the fire swirling under her skin. He could almost feel the flames licking his skin. "What I would like to know is how you have ended up a thousand years in the past."

"I died."

He turned his head so fast that there was a very audible crack. "What?!"

"Shocking, right?" she laughed weakly and her fingers closed on his own. "Don't worry, I am here, so everything is alright." As if it was that easy. "Anyway, when I woke up, I was in the past with you."

"Me?" Now, that didn't make any sense. Why would some woman of the future end up by his side when she died? Why him? Of course, it was possible that new spells had been invented by then, but he wouldn't even be alive in a thousand years. So why?

"Yeah. I don't know how you do it, but you always find me. Always." With that said, tension disappeared from her body. Her hold on his hand loosened and she broke into a wide, open smile the first time since they left the lake. "I couldn't control myself at the beginning. I was so scared and could end up a human torch at any time. And when it happens, I time-travel. And space-travel too, I guess, because I can never be sure I will be in the same place "

He had yet to decide whether he believed her or not. But she seemed so sincere, and the idea that she had already known death made him draw her into him and wrap his arms around her waist. She buried her face in his chest and breathed deeply.

How did it feel, to be in another time? A thousand years. Hundreds of lifetimes. Had the world changed? Undoubtedly. And to what extent? How did Nora remain strong when she was stuck in an era that wasn't her own, and not only in another continent like he had always thought.

"What happened?" he ended up asking.

"You. I told you, you always find me. You helped me. Now, I can control myself. I only travel when I feel one particular feeling."

"Which one?"

"I…Sorry, I don't really want to talk about it," she replied, obviously uncomfortable.

"Alright." He inhaled softly, hundreds of thoughts swirling in his mind. "You know, I should be verifying the truth of your words with magic. There is a spell for that. I ask you a question, and magic makes you answer. My mother uses it sometimes, usually on Nik and Elijah."

"Do you want to do it now?"

There. No trace of distrust. Only her faith in him. Her trust that he wouldn't abuse his power. She believed in him. Maybe… Maybe it was time he showed her his trust in her.

"No Darling, I believe you," he stated firmly.

She took in a sharp breath, shocked. "You do? Really?"

"Yeah, I do." And he truly did.

"Good. Then there are some things you need to know."

He flicked her nose softly, "What about that promise of you ? About not telling me of my future."

She shook her head, "no promise is worth your despair." She cradled his face. "I fell in love with the future you, years ago." He tried to say something - what, he wasn't sure though - she she stopped him. "You are different, but still the same for so many reasons. To me, no matter the time I am in, you are always the man I love. You save me in more than one way Kol. Let me do the same for you."

What kind of answer was she expecting? Did she want him to confess his eternal love for her, even though he wasn't sure of it? How could he know whether or not he loved her? Sure, he wanted to marry her somedays in the future, make sure that she was happy and safe, but to call this love? Besides, "have we not just say that time was unalterable?"

She licked her lips. "Maybe, but for you, I want to change the future. More than anything in this world, I want you to be happy."

"And you believe I'm not in your future?"

"I -" she hesitated, "I think your are. Sometimes. And sometimes you are not."

"Well, I cannot be happy all the times Darling," he grinned. "Although I am glad to know you will be by my side years from now. Surely it cannot be that bad."

Besides, he had enough difficulties accepting the existence of a time-traveler and what it meant for Nature. He wasn't going to try breaking the timeline. Especially as he wasn't sure what would happen to Nora should they ever succeed. Would she disappear? Would they even meet? He wasn't about to try changing the future and risk Nora's life only to be happier.

"Kol… Henrik is dead in my future."

No.

No

No no no no no no.

Not Henrik. Not Henrik and his warm smile. His kindness. His peaceful dreams. His laugh. Just… Henrik.

Anything. Hell, anyone but Henrik. Not his sweet little brother.

He staggered a few steps back and tried to breathe. He couldn't. It was like his lunges had forgotten how to breathe. No, it wasn't that. It was like the world had been pulled out from under his feet. Like it had stopped turning and he was the only one left, the only one still moving. But not his lunges as they were waiting for time to resume its course. Nora wasn't helping, instead staring at him with pity and apprehension, as if he were an injured wild animal with unpredictable reactions.

Eventually, he lowered his head, eyes on the ground. A few locks of hair obstructed his sight and projected a shadow onto his face. He clenched his fists and his nails bit into his palms, carving five bloody moons on each hand.

"Tell me," he said darkly.

"Kol, -"

"Tell me!" he snapped.

And so she told him. In fact, she didn't even know that much. His future self hadn't said much. Why? He didn't know. The idea that she could be lying didn't even cross his mind. All he knew was that he would do anything to stop the wolves. Henrik would not die. Not on his watch. And if he had to defy Nature and break time, then he would. All the magic of the world wasn't worth his little brother's life.

The next day, as Henrik sat on his shoulders to pick apples, Kol couldn't help holding him tighter than usually and listening to his every words with rapt attention. He would save him. He could do it. He just had to plan now. First, secure the forest. Second, create a spell to make sure he always knew where Nora was. A thousand years was a long time. He doubted his actions would stop her from ending in the past after her death. All he had to do was to make sure he could always find her. Once done, he would be able to be there when she did time-travel. She would fall in love with him and want to save Henrik for him. Of course, by then Henrik would not be actually dead, but she didn't have to know that. Maybe one day, when they were both old, with children of their own and years shared as husband and wife, he would confess his lie, but until then he would stop at nothing to save Henrik.

That's it for chapter 9 ! Sorry for the very late update but I had to finish my thesis. Good news : it's done! I've passed it just yesterday morning and god, it feels so good to be free! (Well, I just have to begin my search for a job now. Even though I'm very very very shy.)

Anyway, this chapter has been hell to write. Seriously, I've parts of later chapters already written, I knew what I wanted for this one, and yet, I couldn't find the right words. I hope the result was worth the wait. And what do you think? Will Kol be able to save Henrik? What will happen? Any guess? And can you guess what feeling makes Nora time-travelling?

The next chapter will be a bit shorter and the last before we get to the famous year 1001.

Also, thank you so much for the reviews :) I'm pretty sure I've said it before, but they never fail to make me smile, so thank you ;)

See you next time guy! It won't be long, I promise.