C14
"Again!" Ester called out and Caroline resisted the urge to strangle the woman. They were two days away from the wedding and Ester was still adamant that they needed to practice everything beforehand. Even though Caroline could barely walk, she had insisted there was no other way then for Caroline to participate in the activities too. It was seeming as if this whole rehearsal was part of Ester's special punishment for Caroline. She had walked down the aisle around ten times already and still the woman was not convinced that she was doing it 'the right way'.
Caroline rolled her eyes and walked back to the start point with Rebekah's help. The wound had not yet healed. No. It wasn't even near to being healed but Ester being Ester had placed some herbs on her wound which caused it to stop the bleeding temporarily.
A maid came to Caroline's rescue and curtsied. "Lord Elijah seeks permission to speak to the princess my Queen" the young girl told them. Ester nodded begrudgingly and warned Caroline to be back hurriedly after her conversation with Elijah.
The maid helped Caroline walk back to the castle towards the library. "Thank you" Caroline said softly smiling at the young girl.
"Why do you thank me princess?" she asked confused. No one even regarded her as a human in this mansion so why would one of them speak to her so kindly?
Caroline leaned against the door of the library and motioned for the girl to come forward. "For saving me from the Queen and helping me make my way here" she whispered smiling.
The young girl giggled at the first part but nodded gratefully. She curtsied one last time before leaving. Caroline went inside the library after knocking and smiled when Elijah walked towards her and helped her into one of the chairs.
"Thank you" she appreciated his effort.
Elijah gave her a curt nod. "How are you feeling?" he asked. He hated that he had to call her here but his mother had insisted that it was only for her better. If she was too pampered or treated like a glass doll that she would become one. He would've denied her but she used her authority as Queen to make sure that Caroline would be receiving no special attention. She was only given her meals in her room for the first two days of the attack. After that, she was informed to join the dining hall. And she did.
"I'm alright" she said with a small smile.
"I actually wanted to inform you that Damon and Stefan Salvatore will be attending the wedding" he said with an uneasy smile but as he watched Caroline's face light up, his own frown faltered and he passed a genuine smile.
"I hope you are not jesting" she squeaked excitedly. Elijah laughed and shook his head 'no'. Caroline walked over to him and hugged him tightly, only to wince when it hurt her. "Sorry. I'm just excited" she said a little embarrassed.
Elijah laughed at her crimson read face. "No need to be embarrassed Caroline. I am a brother, I already know feminine enthusiasm" he chuckled whole heartedly remembering all the times Rebekah had tackled him to the ground while showering him with embraces.
Suddenly all color drained from Caroline's face and stiffened. "What did Klaus have to say about this?" she asked getting ready to receive the harsh words Klaus would've used.
Elijah smiled. "Let me be honest, he is not very enthused about the whole ordeal but he is willing to compromise for the sake of your happiness" he told her and Caroline couldn't help but smile at that. Klaus genuinely cared enough for her feelings to allow his worst enemies into his home.
"Can you tell him I appreciate the gesture and that I said thank you." She told him and when his eyebrows furrowed she smiled. "We're not allowed to see each other before the wedding. The Queen said it's tradition" she reminded him.
"Caroline, if I may say something" he asked permission before she nodded and motioned for him to continue. "You are to be the new Queen as soon as you are married to Niklaus. I believe you should stop referring to our mother as the Queen. That title is now reserved for you" he stated smiling.
"I will. I just don't feel comfortable. She dislikes me already because I'm taking the throne from her. If I don't address her as the Queen, she will think it is my motive to dethrone her" Caroline explained sadly.
"She may or may not. But it is your right" he told her and she nodded. "I will try" she said smiling. After that they both fell into an easy conversation. Elijah educated Caroline on the duties she must fulfill after the coronation. She nodded, already knowing everything from her mother and father but there were little things that were conducted a bit differently in the Mikaelson court.
After a few hours, Rebekah had shown up and had dragged Caroline away for the measurement of her wedding dress. Upon reaching Caroline almost frowned when she saw Ester waiting for her with a displeasing look on her face. "You are very late my dear" she greeted with a forced smile. "No matter you will learn to be punctual because in the Mikaelson kingdom, there are certain rules that have to be followed" she scolded her softly.
Caroline nodded clenching her teeth together angrily. She had wished it would only be Rebekah accompanying her when she was giving her measurements but apparently her wishes were not fulfilled because not only was Ester there but Katherine was also there. "Of course. My apologies. I got held up" she excused herself trying to keep the tears forming away. She just felt everything was very overwhelming. She imagined the same situation if she would've been getting married to Damon. She wouldn't have to deal with any evil mother-in-law or any evil Katherine.
"Let's get on then" Ester said waving her hand for Caroline to step forward and let the ladies work.
The dress that Ester had selected was, no doubt, one of a kind but it was too extravagant for Caroline's taste. The trail was at least ten meters long. But again, Caroline had no choice in the matter.
"Rebekah and Katherine will stand by your side while Elijah and Finn will stand next to Niklaus. Kol can walk you down the aisle" Ester told her as the ladies finished taking everyone's dress measurements. Katherine smirked at Ester's order and knew Caroline was just minutes away from exploding. As much as she endured the evil Queen, she wanted Ester to be put in her place.
"My friends Bonnie and Elena will also stand by my side" Caroline spoke up tired of Ester's constant controlling demeanor. "And my father will walk me down the aisle" she added not looking at Ester but fixing her hair in the mirror.
"I beg your pardon?" Ester said looking at the young princess. "It is a tradition that one of us walks down the bride" she told her.
Caroline shrugged. "It is a Forbes' tradition that the father walks his daughter down the aisle" she countered turning to look at the Queen.
"You are to be a Mikaelson" Ester pointed out narrowing her eyes, trying to keep her anger at bay.
"But I am still a Forbes. And I will be until I walk down that aisle." She retorted with a pointed glare. "When my father walks me" she added with a bitter smile.
All amusement left Ester's eyes as she stood up and walked to Caroline. "Are you disregarding a direct order my dear?" she asked in a dangerous voice.
"Order?" Caroline chuckled. "Excuse me but I don't think you are in any position to order the future Queen" she countered tired of Ester's nagging.
"Not yet my dear." Ester reminded her.
"We can ask Klaus about his opinion on the matter" Katherine added innocently batting her eyelashes at the Queen.
Ester smiled knowing her son would never disobey her. That, too, for a mere girl. "Of course." She replied and ordered a maid to go fetch Klaus. Both women kept glaring each other while Katherine smirked knowing Caroline would eventually win. One way or the other, the girl just knew how to get things done her way.
Rebekah sensed the anger and upcoming storm. "Perhaps, both, Kol and King Forbes can walk her down the aisle" She offered trying to dissolve the issue.
"No" both the women spoke up in unison.
"You called for me mother" Klaus said surprised to find both his mother and future wife standing head to head and staring each other with such ferocity, it even scared him a bit.
Ester only broke eye contact to look at her son. "Yes. We were having a little disagreement here and I thought you could talk some sense into Caroline here" Ester told him sweetly smiling at him.
Klaus' eyebrows furrowed. He didn't understand the meaning of what his mother had told him but from the tone and the tension in the atmosphere he knew trouble was brewing.
"Mother wants Kol to walk Caroline down the aisle while Caroline wants her father to be the one" Rebekah clarified biting her lip and closed her eyes, not wanting to see the sad look on Caroline's face when Klaus would deny her and side with Ester. Klaus never disobeyed an order or request from Ester. Never.
"It is a tradition" Ester spoke up defending her way.
Caroline turned to Klaus with an expectant look. "It is our tradition too that the father is the one to walk his daughter down the aisle." she told him and fixed Ester a hard look. "Besides, walking down the aisle with Kol will spread false rumors which I'm sure we don't need to face after such a … scandalous engagement" she added brazenly.
Klaus considered this every aspect of the argument before he spoke up. He knew one of them was going to be upset but it depended on him who it was going to be. Did he want Caroline to be upset with him when he was so close to gaining her affections? And with the Salvatores coming, he did not want to risk throwing her into Damon's arms for comfort. "Caroline has a point. The rumors will be nasty besides all my brothers will be standing by my side." He announced and walked away before he could hear the verbal onslaught of his mother.
Caroline smiled triumphantly as Ester stormed out angrily intent on giving her son a piece of her mind. Now that she replayed Elijah's words in her head, she knew she should've done this sooner rather than later.
Rebekah gaped and stared at Caroline in awe before walking after her mother to calm her down. All the ladies turned to Caroline slight smile and wide jaws. "What?" she asked softly.
"Nothing milady. It's just no one speaks like that with Queen Ester" one of the ladies spoke up a little happily.
All of them nodded. "Everything goes in accordance with the Queen's wishes" another complained.
Caroline flashed them all a reassuring smile. "Well, things are about to change around here. After all, I'm about to be the new Queen" she told them with her soft, melodic yet authoritative voice.
"Caroline. Can I talk to you?" Katherine asked. "Alone?" she added and when the blonde nodded all the ladies curtsied before leaving the room.
The blonde crossed her arms over her chest. "What do you want?" she asked straight forward.
"You are still angry at me" Katherine commented disappointedly.
Caroline stood stoic. "I'm still getting married to Klaus. Not Damon" she retorted unable to help herself.
"Come on Caroline! You and I, both know that marrying Klaus is one of the best things that is happening to you!" the brunette exclaimed knowingly. "Besides Damon is a childish immature person who wouldn't have been able to take care of you. Klaus is … perfect for you. He cares enough for you to stand up to his own mother" She added proudly and in that moment she could not believe that she was actually supporting Klaus and his actions.
"Stop pretending like you did that for me. You did it for yourself. Because of your so-called love for Elijah. You didn't give a damn about me!" the blonde exclaimed angrily. "You still don't" she added sadly. "Damon was the best choice for me" she mumbled wishing things could be that simple once more. "You had no right to choose for me" she accused glaring her.
Katherine huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "Stop lying to yourself Caroline. You know what kind of a monster Damon is" the brunette reminded her cruelly.
"He was only that way to you because you left me to die!" Caroline yelled at her tears started forming in her eyes.
Katherine scoffed. "So you justify his actions against me?" Katherine accused hurt by the blonde's previous statement.
"No I don't." Caroline assured her shaking her head. "But he was in a bad frame of mind then. He has changed now" she told her.
Katherine rolled her eyes and flipped her hair from one side to the other. "You are still the naïve little girl you were before. Aren't you?" the brunette questioned mockingly. "Damon only wanted to marry you for confirming his alliance with your father. He doesn't love you. He merely wants you because of the power your daddy will give you" she told her cruelly.
Caroline frowned at her words. She never thought Katherine would stoop low enough to use Damon like this to manipulate her. Losing control of her anger, Caroline brought her hand up and slapped Katherine across her face. "Don't you dare say things you don't know anything about!" Caroline warned her as a few tears slipped her eyes.
Katherine's eyes widened and she held a hand to her cheek where Caroline slapped her. She could not believe the blonde had actually slapped her. "You are going to pay for this" Katherine whispered menacingly before walking out.
Tears slipped freely from her eyes as Caroline slid to the floor crying uncontrollably. She still couldn't believe that Katherine's words could have such an effect on her. It was just cruel. She sobbed for hours, about Damon, about her family, about her life and about her future.
The young maid from the morning came by as she saw Caroline on the ground. "Are you alright Princess?" she asked worriedly as she bent down to help Caroline up.
Caroline wiped the tears from her eyes and patted the spot next to her, motioning for the young girl to sit. The girl obeyed the request and sat down next to the princess. It felt weird that she was being treated like an equal. Like a normal person. It was different. Very nice.
"What's your name?" Caroline asked her softly.
The girl looked shocked but recovered quickly. "Maria milady" she muttered.
"Caroline" the blonde said holding her hand out with a smile. The young maid smiled and shook her hand. "I know" she whispered.
"Are you alright milady?" Maria asked again, worriedly.
"I'm fine. I'm just tired and I need to rest. Can you help me up?" Caroline asked tiredly. She could feel her head was getting heavy.
The young girl nodded and quickly stood up to help the princess stand. Caroline grabbed her hand and let her pull her up. Suddenly Caroline felt excruciating pain in her stomach. She grasped her abdomen tightly and screamed loudly. "Aaaah!" she yelped and fell to the floor.
"PRINCESS" the maid called out as she rushed to help Caroline. She removed Caroline's hand from her stomach and saw blood pouring out of the dress. "I fear you have torn open your stitches. Let me get help" she reassured the blonde laying on the floor and yelled for the guards to come. A few seconds later, the door flew open four guards entered the room. "What have you done?" one of them accused the young maid.
"She did not- it's my-y faul-t" Caroline choked out in pain but the guards paid her no attention and seized the young maid. Caroline tried to speak but the words got stuck in her throat. Her eyes were fluttering open and close by the time another set of guards approached with Elijah in front of them. His eyes widened at the scene before him and he quickly ordered one of his men to get his mother.
"Don't close your eyes Caroline" he told her holding her hand and squeezing it.
Caroline nodded weakly but it hurt a lot and her eyes felt so heavy. So heavy…. And as soon as she closed her eyelids Ester came and frowned at the scene. She quickly scurried away everyone from the room and opened Caroline dress and inspected the wound. Two of the stitches had indeed been torn out. She was sure it would've happened because of the activity she had caused. Of course there was nothing serious but the young girl would have to endure quite a lot of pain. She sighed and brushed the blonde hair out of the young unconscious girl's forehead. Looking at her, she suddenly felt so guilty. Sure Ester was upset that Niklaus was fawning over the girl and had ordered the wedding to be held so quickly but it was no excuse for her to be treating Caroline that way.
The girl truly was innocent and that was what irked Ester the most. She had been this innocent and naïve when she came and for that reason she had suffered so much and seeing Caroline, the living naïve blonde, reminded her of the cruel way she had to learn things. Sure Ester's scolding would be considered harsh now but in the future when Caroline would be a respected Queen she would see the purpose behind Ester's harshness.
"Calm down Niklaus!" Ester said rolling her eyes for the umpteenth time "I checked her myself. She's fine"
Klaus paid no attention to his mother. He knew he was being paranoid but he couldn't rest. Not with the Salvatores coming up like this. He knew Damon had something up his sleeve. Something so big that he would be able to take Caroline away. He had to be sure they were bound by marriage before Damon came but of course, when it came to those bloody brothers, no plan of his worked. Caroline could not afford any more physical activity. Which meant they had to call off the wedding. Or at least postpone it.
"How am I supposed to calm down when my wife is down there bleeding and her ex fiancé is on his way here to claim her?" Klaus seethed in anger.
Rebekah smirked at her brother's jealousy. He really did have an interest in Caroline. "Well to be fair, she's not your wife yet" the blonde taunted with a knowing smirk. Katherine rolled her eyes and looked away.
"He is right Rebekah. This is not a matter of jesting. This is serious" Ester interrupted. "If Damon Salvatore is able to take her away, we lose everything. Our armies will have suffered the casualties for nothing. Not one person will be able to believe in Niklaus' ability as a leader" she said and looked to her son who seemed to be in deep thoughts.
"And Nik will lose the girl of his dreams" Rebekah added chuckling at her own joke.
Katherine was on the verge of snapping. Ever since Caroline had come here, she had stolen all the attention and affection that Katherine had worked so hard for. But she wasn't about to let everything go fall into Caroline's lap. Besides the blonde still had to pay for the slap she had given.
"Well, you could stop that from happening if you knew the weak points in Damon and Caroline's relationship" Katherine mused in gazing at her nails with a smirk. The smile from Rebekah's face fell and as soon as she was about to stand up and warn Caroline her mother stopped her.
"No Rebekah! This is the matter of your brother's happiness. She may be the one who can bring him back to us. Please don't destroy his chance at happiness" Ester whispered as Katherine's smirk brought some relief on Klaus' face.
"Tell me" he ordered.
"Well, firstly, Caroline hates when Damon tries to be way overprotective and controlling. She doesn't tell anyone but I know" she told him shrugging.
"And?" Klaus urged her.
Katherine flipped her hair. "Damon hates it when she resists him or becomes too stubborn and he also gets jealous very easily." She added.
"Sounds like someone I know" Kol chimed in crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the doorframe. "What's cooking up in this pot?" he asked receiving confusing glares from the room at which he rolled his eyes. "IT MEANS what are you lot planning here?" he said shaking his head.
"Please stop speaking this gibberish Kol. It makes me doubt that you are still not sober" Ester scolded.
Klaus pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "We're planning to break the bond between Caroline and the Salvatores. Katerina here knows my dear Caroline more than anyone and is willing to help if we promise to hurt Damon" he explained watching the mischievous glint in his brother's eyes.
"I'm in" he said. "After all I still have to get my revenge from Stefan" he remembered the way Stefan had knocked him out.
"Anyways" Katherine said bringing the attention back to herself. "Stay close to her and well… show Damon that she's close to you. After that, trust me, he'll never even want to see her face again" she promised darkly.
"No wonder she hates you" Rebekah drawled glaring everyone in the room. "You all expect to win her favor after you break her heart. Shame on you all" she hissed angrily and stomped out.
There was an eerie silence in the room. No one spoke, there wasn't a sound until Kol smiled and clapped his hands together. "So when do we begin" he announced with a huge grin.