1000 A.C
Tresses of chestnut spirals splayed across his chest, each glossy ringlet cascading down her bare shoulders as she pressed her cheek comfortably into the nape of his neck.
He had no idea how long they had been laid like that, Niklaus running his fingers down the curve of her pinched waist and widened hips.
With a tranquil smile on her flush, thin lips, Astrid's bright eyes met his, her vibrant iris' scrutinizing him.
She was no fool, she could feel the tension that resided in his broad shoulders, it had been there since she had brought Rebekah home the following night. Something was clearly occupying that complicated mind of his.
"Is something wrong?" She asked, her voice a brash contrast in the silent cottage, the only other sound being the low crackling of the fire.
His eyes drifted to the dying embers, ribbons of red and yellow desperately trying to spark a brighter hue.
Turning his divided attention to Astrid, his fingers never ceased their movement, continuing to caress her heavenly body as he tried to soothe her concerns.
"Nothing to worry about, I promise." He responded.
Despite all that Tatia said, despite knowing of Kol's apparent affection towards his wife, Niklaus wouldn't believe Tatia's poisonous words, even if the voice in the back of his head called him a fool for doing so.
He couldn't let Tatia slither her way into his head and mess up all that was good between himself and Astrid.
Tatia seemed to get a thrill out of mischief and mayhem, she enjoyed playing those around her as if it was all a foolish game. She wanted him to turn against Astrid and their child, she wanted him to pine over her, like he once had.
Believing his words, Astrid nodded, placing a warm kiss to his chest, just above his heart.
"Is this about last night?" She teased knowingly, a predatorial grin on her lips.
It was no secret that Niklaus hadn't been too pleased when Astrid had returned to the cottage with Rebekah in tow.
As soon as she had entered the house, Rebekah had carelessly flopped and laid out on their fur bed, a mischievous grin on her lips.
She had gleefully and rather quickly pointed out that she was staying the night and he would be sleeping in the spare cot, much to his annoyance.
Apparently the two were having what they had named 'a girl's night', whatever that meant.
When Astrid had retreated to the kitchen to fetch some wine for Rebekah and a hot drink of tea for herself, Rebekah had happily teased Nik about how he was only being grumpy because 'he wouldn't get any that night'.
As irritating as his little sister was, Nik could tell she had been upset, her big blue eyes rimmed an alarming red, though he felt no need to intervene and make the situation worse, as Astrid was clearly handling it.
When Astrid had returned with a horn of wine for Rebekah, which the blonde quickly gulped down, what with her usually only allowed one horn during special occasions, Nik had quietly retreated to the spare cot.
It had been the first night he hadn't slept beside his wife, he had missed her warmth and presence.
The cot had been harsh on his back, and Rebekah's obnoxious giggle had kept him awake till the early hours of the morning.
But at least his sister had left early in the morn, returning to her home and allowing Nik to crawl back into his bed with his wife. Although the two hadn't caught up on any sleep.
Shoving back the furs that clung to his perspired upper body, he chuckled, winding a muscular arm around her swollen stomach.
He often liked to caress her bump, feeling his son or daughter kick eagerly against his palm.
Fingertips danced delicately across the swollen skin.
Cheeks flushed, skin covered in a sheer layer of sweat and curls tousled and untameable, Niklaus had never seen his wife look so beautiful. "I think we've more than enough made up for last night." He chuckled.
"That we have." She chuckled, her mind thinking back to all that had happened that morning. It seemed her pregnancy made her insatiable, not that Niklaus seemed to mind.
Sapphire orbs landed on the rope necklace that hung around his neck. She often noticed Nik absent-mindedly holding the charm between his fingers when he was deep in thought.
Clearly, it had deep sentimental value, and now that she thought about it, Astrid had never seen him without it, even when he bathed.
Turning to lay on her side, chocolate curls splayed down the delicate arch of her back as she gazed down at her husband.
Curiosity sparked in those soulful eyes of hers as he met her gaze. "I've never seen you without it." She commented inquisitively.
Reaching up to tuck a brown tendril behind her ear, Niklaus smiled softly. "My mother gave me it as a boy. She said it would keep me safe, it would remind me that she would always be with me."
A soft smile spread across his wife's rosy lips, her fingers trailing across his chest as he slowly reached to unclasp the necklace.
Watching her husband with furrowed brows, Astrid could barely contain her surprise as he unwound the necklace from around his neck.
With a sudden gentleness, Niklaus reached forward, clasping the necklace securely around her neck, the metal charm falling a couple of inches short of her cleavage.
Admiring the view before him, Nik grinned, ignoring the sudden uneasy feeling that itched away at the back of his mind.
Thoughts of Kol and Astrid flooded through his mind like a bad memory replaying itself over and over again, however, his thoughts were eased by Astrid moving her hand so it rested above his heart.
Taking in the sight of his naked wearing the cherished necklace gifted to him by his mother, Niklaus grinned. "It looks better on you, my love."
Almost knowingly, Astrid leaned in, a catlike smile on her lips as she gently bumped her nose against his. "Is that just because I'm naked?"
He pretended to think about it, pursing his lips, making her giggle and nudge him in the stomach.
Turning her attention away from the handsome man beside her, Astrid frowned distastefully at the sunlight that streamed through the thin curtains.
It was no doubt mid-morning by now, perhaps even later. As much as she wanted to lay in bed with her husband all day, wrapped up in his secure embrace, she couldn't.
She had her household chores to complete, but more importantly, she needed to visit her mother.
Astrid knew her mother better than anyone and was well aware Sigrid could be dying and would dismiss help from those around her, she detested showing any sort of weakness, wherever it be physical or emotional.
Once she saw her mother well and about, her worries would be tremendously eased. Eyes flickering back to her husband, Astrid sighed. "We should get up. As much as I don't want to."
Pouting, Nik lowered his lips to her sore breasts, fingers running up and down the outline of her hips.
Voice muffled, Nik spoke up, not moving his lips from her bare chest. "Who says we have to? Let's just stay here all day." He tried to convince her.
And as much as she wanted to yield- and she really, really wanted to yield, she knew she had to check on her mother. Even if his wet lips soothed her aching breasts and his soft fingertips caused her stomach to flutter.
Reaching out, long fingernails raked through his dark blonde hair, a pleasured sigh leaving her lips.
"Nik-"
He was relentless, his lips paying extra attention to her erect rosebud nipples, enjoying the small moans that she was clearly trying to hold back but reluctantly released.
With all the self-restraint she had, Astrid gently yet firmly pushed Niklaus back, his wet lips making a popping noise upon separation as she sat up. "I need to check on my mother, something isn't right."
Perched on the edge of the furs, Astrid pulled her robe from the bedside chair, standing to wrap it around her body.
Fully well knowing her husband would be brooding, Astrid picked out a pair of breeches for Niklaus- the first pair she had found- throwing them onto the bed.
"Now get changed, my mother might come round and I highly doubt she wants to see you naked." She teased.
Picking up the brush made from bone, Astrid tenderly ran the brush through her curls, taming the frizz and stretching the tight curls. Once she deemed her hair acceptable, Astrid turned around, raising a challenging brow at the man across from her.
Leaned back against the furs, arms folded behind his head, Nik simply smirked up at his wife, the breeches untouched at the end of the bed.
Sending her husband a stern look, Astrid used her best mothering tone. "Get dressed." She ordered, not giving him a chance to reply before she headed to the kitchen, no doubt to heat up some water so she was able to make some porridge.
The necklace hung comfortably around her neck, dangling evidently through her wide, open-necked robe, they way it sat, it was almost as if it was just a simple necklace- almost.
prepare for the next chapter because a shit storm is heading in Astrid and Klaus' direction...