"We are getting very impatient," one of the council members says through his teeth.
"Immensely," the other one confirms his words while stroking his small, gray beard.
Stefan watches them carefully as fury fills their features. He know they can't make him do anything he doesn't want to do, especially when his personal life is in question. Their power combined can't even reach the power he possesses by himself. They can make him change his mind by boring him to death, though, but with his strong will and character, that's not likely to happen.
Court removing the king from his duty because of his unwillingness to marry hasn't been recorded so far, but there's a first time for everything. He still has time, though, he's only 18 years old.
"I'm not entering a loveless marriage," he answers calmly, his fists joined together on the table in front of him.
"You're not even looking," one of the members say but he can't be bothered to see from whom the voice came from. After some time they all mashed together into one big, annoying hammer always thumping on the top of his head.
Once again, he starts begging for silence, but also knows all of his efforts are for nothing. There's not a thing in the world that has the power to shush these men, except maybe cutting their tongues out, but he doesn't have grounds for doing so. And he would hate to abuse his position.
"Or maybe he's looking at the wrong places," Alaric voices himself, his voice amused.
His statement catches Stefan's attention, and his expression grows serious. "Meaning?" he asks carefully.
"You have been spending a lot of time with that common girl," his eyes adapt an insidious smirk.
"Councilman!" one of the members from the other side of the table raises his voice, "Sure you're not suggesting - "
Stefan raises his hand in the air to shut him up.
A smile plays over his features. "Is common courtesy a crime?" he asks calmly, hiding his true feelings very well, even though he can feel his heart beating faster than it's normal. "Can't I associate myself with a female person without any romantic intentions?" he pushes his point further.
A proud smirk disappears from Alaric's eyes and he clears his throat with a cough. "Of course, my lord, of course you can," he says a little bit flustered, not expecting Stefan to react so calmly to his accusations. He was sure he was onto something.
"I assure you, the relationship between Miss Gilbert and me is completely friendly," his heart aches upon saying those words, because to some extent they're true, to his misfortune, "I simply believe she's someone worth helping."
Silence fills the room and he enjoys it because he knows it will end sooner than he would like.
"There are so many women on the court," the councilman next to him says, "There are so many women on other courts. All of them would kill to be your wives. Why don't you at least consider them?" the man says with a gentle voice.
Stefan's expression stays unreadable. "I can consider them," this seems to make the members happy, until Stefan speaks again, "I can't promise you I will like them."
All of them gasp in unity.
Finally, Stefan stands up, "I plan to marry some day. Maybe in few months, maybe next year, I can't pinpoint that moment of my life," this is the first time his voice weavers, "But I will do it on my terms, I will marry who I want to marry, when the time comes," he raises his voice, "Is that clear?"
Some time passes before one of them responds in all of their names, apparently, "Of course, my lord."
"Now," he steps around his chair and pulls it under the table, "I'm sure you have better things to discuss than marriage that may not come in years. So I'll leave you to it."
"Is there something wrong, my lord?" Elena asks startled when he angrily stumbles into her room after just one knock to which she barely had time to answer to.
His expression becomes less serious and his features warm up when he lays his eyes on her. "Nothing for you to worry about," he replies, not wanting to burden her with irrelevant things.
Her face drops out of disappointment and he learns that keeping things from her, no matter how irrelevant they seem to him, is not a wise choice.
"I was just in a meeting with the council," he sits next to her and for the first time she doesn't scoot over because she can't handle being close to him. He invades her senses and she lets him without fighting it. "They're pushing me to marry," he says silently.
"Oh," she says in surprise. She realizes how unwise her feelings are, especially if she lets them grow. They can never get married. She could never be his wife, or his queen, and she fears he would rather stay with her either way than fulfill his duty, which might get him in trouble. "Don't you want to get married?" she asks curiously.
"Some day. Not now," he furrows his brows, seeming deep into thought, "They want me to enter a loveless marriage only so they can rest in peace and be assured I will provide them with a heir."
She frowns. "That seems incredibly cold," she murmurs, thinking about every life is hard in its own way. Maybe some people don't have the luxury of living on a court, but they will always have their own choice, which is worth more than easy life. "Plus, no one can ever be sure you will give them a heir. That depends on things which are out of our control."
"I know," he responds, still deep inside of his head, barely aware of his surroundings, "All these women they keep throwing into me, they're just not right," he shakes his head.
"Why?" she asks curiously.
After some time of being silent, he responds, "Because my heart already belongs to someone else."
He looks at her, and she's blushing. She's blushing so hard he thinks she might burn. He's not afraid because he's sure she would rise out of ashes like a phoenix if it ever came to it.
She always thought how giving your heart to someone is a painfully metaphorical statement, until she realized it's not. As you fall in love, your heart stops being your own, and you put it in the hands of another person.
She just never thought someone else would entrust her with their heart because she's an incredibly clumsy person. She might drop it unwillingly.
"You have a duty to preform," she lowers her look so she doesn't have to make eye contact with him.
"You sound like them," Stefan huffs.
"Well, my lord," she says extremely silently, "Maybe they're right."
"Do you really believe so?" he asks surprised.
She raises her look to him and even though she can't force herself to speak, her eyes give him the answer. No. No I do not.
"We deal with so many difficulties," he frowns, "I believe who is going to marry who should be the least of our problems."
After some time his face lights up. "I always talk about wanting to change the world," he locks his eyes on hers, "Maybe I should start with myself."
"I can see it now," Damon whispers, taking a chair next to his brother by the table.
They're having Sunday lunch all together. He is sitting by the end of the table, between Caroline and his brother, while Katherine and Rebekah are smothering Elena with numerous of questions. She's smiling, and even Rebekah seems more open to having Elena there, despite her initial comments.
Stefan realized Elena has that effect on people, she radiates a certain kind of light which draws people in. She can charm them with her smile and the look in her eyes. That's her greatest weapon.
He thinks he might enjoy this kind of loudness.
"See what?" Stefan asks while carefully studying Elena.
He can't stop staring at her. He can't get enough of her.
"Why you want her," Damon points to Elena, and Stefan shifts his attention to his brother. "She is beautiful. Extremely beautiful. I can see why you would like to - " a smirk dances on Damon's lips, but Stefan stops him mid sentence.
"Please," he huffs tiredly, "Do not finish that sentence."
Damon laughs. "But, I have to warn you brother," his voice becomes half serious, "You can clean her up and give her new clothes, but she still doesn't belong here. She belongs out there. And out there she's not even as half as beautiful."
"Then you're blind," Stefan says while gritting his teeth.
"Do you know she could destroy everything?" Damon says bitterly, "Your position, our family, hell, whole society. Women caused many wars. Is this one really worth it?"
Stefan smiles in Elena's direction. "She is," he can feel Damon stiffen next to him, "But none of that is going to happen, brother, so you can rest easily."
"This won't be enough for you," Damon shakes his head determined, "You may be humble, but even you have your limits."
Stefan stares at him in awe, fearing that his brothers words might be true.
"Miss Gilbert," Damon calls for her, and blood in Stefan's veins turns into ice, "How long do you plan on staying with us?" he asks once he gets her attention.
"As long as our lord wants me to," she answers diplomatically.
Damon smirks. "How long, my lord?"
Stefan's look lingers on Elena, and her cheeks become rosy. "Brother, have another glass of wine," he pours some more wine into Damon's glass to shut him up, knowing alcohol would do the trick.
Caroline takes that time, and Katherine and Rebekah's amusement with Damon, to move herself closer to Elena.
"Miss Gilbert," she greets her while taking a chair next to her.
"Miss Forbes," Elena nods her head with a smile on her lips.
"I've been talking to our lord the other day," she decides to cut to chase as soon as she gets the chance, and Elena's expression grows serious, "He seems to be growing more and more fond of you each day," Caroline comments, a smirk painting itself on her lips.
"Does he?" Elena asks amused, her gaze lingering in space between Caroline and Stefan.
She knew Stefan shares most of his thoughts with Caroline. She doesn't mind. She knows he would never tell anyone something too personal.
"Oh yes," Caroline confirms it, "You know I'm fond of you, don't you?" she directs her question to Elena.
Elena smiles. "Well, I was hoping so, since I'm very fond of you as well," they keep their conversation on minimum tone.
Caroline returns her the same smile. "I know our lord doesn't seem like the rebellious type, or the one who would even take risks, but when he cares for something, or in this case someone," she stills her look on Elena, "He's ready to tear the whole world apart."
Shock becomes evident on Elena's face.
"You never would tell, would you?" Caroline smiles, glancing at Stefan, "He doesn't seem the type. I think only his brother and me are aware of it, and we're both worried. For different reasons, of course. I would rather not discuss his, since they're extremely uncomfortable, but.." she shifts her attention back to Elena, "I do not want to see Stefan heartbroken," she whispers, making sure no one hears her using his first name, "I want to make sure you're ready to endure for him as much as he's for you."
"But - " Elena starts flustered, not knowing what she's talking about.
"If the time comes," Caroline interrupts her, thinking of replacing if with when.
Elena nods. "If the time comes, I'll stand by him through everything. As long as he wants me."
Caroline seems to catch her breath on her words. She lays her palm on top of Elena's hand and whispers, "Thank you."
AN: Just a filler chapter, hope you enjoyed it nevertheless! :)