Title: Not a fairytale
Rating: T
Pairings: Klaus*Caroline, Elijah* Katherine, Kol*Bonnie
Summary: AU. Set in 10th century. After learning that two of his sons are having feelings for a widow, Tatia, Mikael's hatred for Klaus went to the peak and thus he thought of marrying Klaus to an unlucky girl in the village while he engaged Elijah with Tatia's sister, Katerina.
Note: I don't own Kalijah, Klaroline or TVD. Everything I write is for fun and is a part of my imagination.
0o 11 o0
Bonnie had no idea for how much time she stood there, speechless, after listening to Kol's last sentence. Caroline's original mother, a mamuna, was standing in front of them. Bonnie wished she was hallucinating, but she knew it was real. She was not sure how to respond to this rather astonishing situation. She only gaped at Caroline's mother who called herself as – Zarja.
Kol was the one to respond and make decisions instantly. Bonnie simply stood there with wide mouth when Kol tried to speak with Zarja who didn't respond to him as she was busy in watching her daughter from the distance. Kol huffed in irritation and stepped back. "Perhaps I should do it in my way."
Those words brought Bonnie back to the world of living. He meant to give migraine. In impulse, she reached for his elbow and pushed back saying. "Let me try, Kol." Taking a deep breath in, Bonnie moved a little close to the mamuna. Following her gaze, Bonnie glanced at Caroline who was trying to calm down and allowed men to take bodies for further proceedings. "Don't you want to meet her?"
"I cannot do that," was Zarja's instant reply. "It is prohibited."
A mother was not allowed to get in contact with her child? That was ridiculous. "I thought you came to help her." Bonnie muttered inspecting the mamuna's face. "Her name is Caroline." Then she informed averting her gaze to Caroline.
Zarja looked at the little witch momentarily before she turned her attention back at Caroline. "Caroline." She repeated softly.
Bonnie glanced back at Kol. "We are her well-wishers." She told, tilting her head at Zarja.
"She is in pain." Zarja said in mono-tone.
"She was in pain before now. Where were you then?" Bonnie asked. Zarja quirked an eyebrow at Bonnie as an amused smile graced her features. "I mean—have you not seen her struggling before?" The witch nervously corrected her question.
"She never called for me in the past. Now she did, I am here." Zarja squinted at Kol who smirked back. "I don't like you." Her words earned chuckle from Kol.
"Well, you are not the first person to say that." He shot back smugly. "If you are here to help your daughter, then probably you should come in peace."
"I don't need your help in anything, if that is what you are suggesting." Zarja scoffed taking a dangerous step in their direction.
Bonnie's already shivering body became rigid as stone for she remembered how brutal Zarja could turn into.
"Do you think Caroline will let you anywhere close to her—" Kol still teased with his eyes darkening gradually. His intentions were not clear but all Bonnie predicted that he might want to test this mamuna. Then his dramatic pause ended, "—after knowing what a monster you are?"
Zarja laughed out with no light in her eyes. "Monster. I am a monster, yes. And to remind you, she is my daughter." A sinister smile graced her face, her gaze danced between Kol and Bonnie. "Which means she carries my nature, my gifts with her."
"Gifts?" Kol scoffed. "For her entire life she has been called as the cursed one. And you simply abandoned her!"
Bonnie knew where this argument was heading to, and that was definitely not the good thing. Especially, when Zarja's eyes turned black as the night. Bonnie immediately stepped in between Kol and her. Zarja's upper lip curved up as a growl escaped from her. At that point, she appeared less angelic which, of course, bothered the Bennett witch.
"He only meant good, Zarja!" Bonnie raised her hands. Her actions were taken into consideration. Zarja momentarily became quiet and her eyes were back to normal. "Caroline suffered a lot because of the disability from birth. And you are not there when she needed you the most."
Zarja slightly frowned looking at the ground. "I didn't want to abandon any of my children, but it is incumbent on my kind to act in such a way. And she has to suffer," she mumbled distantly, "until she finds her true-self."
Bonnie widened her eyes for that. Did it mean Caroline would change into vicious beast like her mother? She was just to voice her thought, when Kol moved her aside and walked to the mamuna being cautious.
"Is there anything you can do to stop it from happening? Don't you want her to be happy?"
What surprised Bonnie was the concern in his voice. Kol never truly cared about anything, or at least he appeared so. And now Bonnie felt she thought wrong.
"I am afraid it cannot be possible." Zarja's cold voice brought end to silence. "Eventually, all of my children will come out of their shells. And once they did, things will be different."
That made Bonnie to squint at mamuna in front of her. It didn't sound fine. No, definitely not. "Can you tell us more about it?"
Niklaus was anxious while he watched the girl who used to lighten up everything with her smile. The smile that would melt his heart was lost from that tragic night. A ceremonial took place and the whole village attended to pay tribute to Caroline's dead parents.
What he observed was—Caroline's eyes which were dry and she became rigid. He didn't understand why she was even feeling sad for someone who tortured her. As far as he knew she was mistreated by her parents, too. Or maybe he didn't know that well about them. That night he consoled her, but he was really confused why she loved her parents that much. If he lost his father, then he would not take as Caroline did. He wouldn't be that sorrow. He loved Esther dearly, but not his father. Niklaus would be happy if Mikael was gone for good.
It pained him to see Caroline in such a way, and though he wanted to ignore that feeling, he failed.
Standing at some distance from her, Niklaus averted his gaze from Caroline when Mikael spoke for the first time after they entered Caroline's house. "We must find whoever did this and punish them."
The head of village who occupied one of the positions beside Mikael on table replied with an assuring nod. "I spoke to a few men in our village. Even the new family decided to get into the hunt. This shall not be ignored." Looking at Caroline, he added callously. "You must be careful."
Niklaus wanted to roll eyes at him. This headman was being an arse even then. He was not happy with what happened, but neither was he concerned about Caroline's state. Of course if she was a regular girl like others, then she would have received sympathy. A few who were repulsed by Caroline were now scared of her, after her strange behavior on the other night.
Then Katerina slowly came up with something that shocked everyone. "She cannot stay alone. Not after this incident." Looking at Niklaus she raised her eyebrows as if she was asking for his support. "We have to take her to our home, don't you think?"
Niklaus opened and closed his mouth simultaneously as he gaped at his sister-in- law. Wouldn't that be against—
He never got a chance to complete his thoughts. His mother did that for him. "Katerina—" Esther admonished softly, "we cannot simply take her before wedding. Now since Niklaus and she are engaged, it is against our tradition!"
"But it is the matter of her life," Niklaus dared to speak out and obviously earned a glare from his father. He didn't care about it, though. "What if these attackers are their enemies? They will come for her and Caroline cannot be left unprotected. I won't let her stay alone."
There. He said it.
It seemed like a declaration— to everyone and to self that he cared about her. Yes, he always did in past and he would in future. He might not tell it out loud, but his actions proved.
"Can I take her with me?" the old Bennett witch asked headman. "I am sure she would not cause any trouble." She said while observing Caroline from one corner. Something in Ayanna's eyes had Niklaus to suspect. She did not look like the person with bad intentions, but something was bothering her. "It is the only best for everyone."
And after her suggestion, no one obliged.
Her in-laws were overly strict. Caroline could live with them until wedding, and Katherine strongly believed that if her friend was surrounded by loved ones, then there would have been a chance for Caroline to cope up pretty soon. Why could not they understand that little thing? Huffing loudly in slight irritation, Katherine walked to Sage who was carrying her newborn. Looking at him, Katherine's temper went down gradually. His cheeks turned pink as he let out hiccups and whined.
"What happened to him?" Katherine asked, concerned.
Sage sighed worriedly. "I do not know that. Normally he sleeps during this time of day. But—" she rocked him gently. "He might be having stomach allergies. He didn't even sleep last night."
Stomach allergies. It didn't sound good. Infants in their village were prone to such allergies and few of them died within days after birth.
"Finn went in search of proper herbs. I really hope he would return soon." Sage looked down at her child.
"Where is Dora?" Katerina asked, touching his cheek. The little girl usually wouldn't leave her brother alone.
"She is with Finn. Katherine, can you please help me and finish my chores?" Sage requested. "I cannot—"
"That is fine, Sage." Katherine pressed her lips into thin line.
Well, it seemed like she was going to have hectic day ahead. She had to begin with her set of chores before anything.
Elijah stared at Tatia in disbelief when she suggested something against his principles. "Tatia-" he was not sure how to react to this situation. Letting out a sigh, he frowned. "I thought you knew me well-"
The brunette shrugged her shoulders, looked so fragile when she cut him in the middle. "I know you Elijah! I have seen you with my sister and you are not happy either. Which is why I am asking you to leave with me." She stepped a little close to him, expecting him to say something. And when he did not - actually he was still astonished from what he heard - Tatia reminded him in shaky voice. "Have you forgotten your word, Elijah? We exchanged oaths, did you remember that?"
"I remember everything, Tatia." Elijah clamped his jaws together and glanced at his surroundings. People were busily roaming around village, few were buying and a few were selling household things. It was market-day. Elijah and Tatia were standing behind the place. "I also remember that I am married to your sister, Katerina." Shaking his head, he enunciated. "If you knew me that well, then would have known I will do no such thing that breaks my family." He gripped the hilt of his sword as he continued. "Directly or indirectly-" he contemplated and decided to choose words in proper manner.
No, he had no right to blame her or anyone. Elijah strongly believed that it was not particularly anyone's mistake. "Directly or indirectly, you came in between me and my brother which almost strained the relation." Sighing out, he said keeping his voice free from emotions. "I have cared for you and I still do, Tatia." He glanced at people and found his wife, Katherine walking among them. His lips twitched to the slightest as he stared at her. "But I cannot leave my woman, who put her faith in me."
"But the point is: can you love her like me?" she questioned him.
Elijah looked back at Tatia for one heartbeat before he turned to Katherine again. "I may not love her now, but I know I will learn to love her. Sooner or later." Tatia found her sister in the crowd, and could not help but be jealous of her. "I wish you a happy life, Tatia." Elijah ended their discussion with that sentence and marched in Katherine's direction.
"Would you mind if I join?" he asked, making her to face him.
Instantly, she was surprised. "Elijah?" She appeared like she got trouble to recollect words. "I thought- you are-"
"This is supposed to be Sage's work, I believe." He said looking at her basket and took it quickly.
"She is needed somewhere else." Katherine muttered and observed him from the corner of her eyes.
"Hmm." He buzzed as they resumed their walk. "How is your friend doing?"
Katherine let out an audible growl. "Her life is in danger and yet she is mistreated." She complained, her voice filled with distaste. "I thought bringing her to our house might help her. Niklaus and I wanted it, but the elders are not fond of that idea since she and your brother are engaged now. Caroline is now moving in with Bonnie and Ayanna."
Elijah nodded while listening to her. "Do not worry. Ayanna is a great person and I am certain she will take care of your friend."
"I know." Katherine wrinkled her nose a little. "Though, living among us would be different, with people who love her." Her husband fell silent after that. And when he did not respond, she laughed out awkwardly. "What are you thinking?"
"You are a very good companion, Katerina." Elijah admitted with a smile of his own. "Of course, you are an excellent wife." When Katherine's smile faded, bit her lip, he added. "I am so confident you will make an extraordinary mother."
After that, the environment did not reflect ease like it did before then.
"Have you eaten anything from morning?" Niklaus asked Caroline when she stepped out of Bonnie's house after almost three days. She was having the bucket in her hands which he tried to take. But Caroline looked at him sharply and quivered head as no. It confused him at first but he understood that her cold demeanor was just an act.
"Stop it, Caroline." He admonished and grabbed it from her hands. She stared at him blankly before she resumed her walk toward the woods. Having no idea how to move further, Niklaus brought up a smile and asked. "What you planned to do today?"
Caroline shrugged her shoulders lightly as she avoided his gaze. Once they were alone, Niklaus stopped her and touched her arm, forced her to see his face by thrusting her chin in his direction. "You cannot stay like this forever, Caroline." He spoke softly making her to sigh. Her teary eyes made him to shake his head slowly. "Do not cry, love. You know you are not alone. You have Katerina, Bonnie, Ayanna, Kol. Henrik and Rebekah - just you have to meet them and they will grow on you pretty soon." After dropping a moment of pause he blurted out. "You have me, Caroline."
It made her to look up at him. Then he nodded sincerely. "Yes, I promise. I would never let you go." He cupped her cheek, and she leaned into his palm instantly. "Trust me when I say I would not allow anyone to harm even your finger."
A tear crawled to her cheek from her right eye as she smiled lightly. Shuffling a little to his side, Caroline pressed her face to his chest and took him by surprise. Niklaus gulped down a little before he wrapped hands around her as his lips widened.
And there, away from the couple, Holger stood placing his hand on the tree. He licked the corner of his mouth as he watched them through squinted eyes and flaring nose.
0o 11 o0
So much shit is going on, and I don't know where to start. I'm glad to say my documents, laptop are safe after mini-surgery it went through, lol. And coming to Caroline's state: Sorry if I have given any hopes, but she will be mute in this story. This disability is permanent.
Hope this chapter is not idiotic. Thanks for your patience. Let me know your thoughts! =)
Take care, readers!
