It came to my attention that in the last 2 chapters I spelled Rebekah's name wrong (Rebeka), I apologize for any confusion this caused! I will try to spell everyone's weird names right in the future!
"I do not understand why you need to leave Elijah! I have only been here for two days… Perhaps Lord Forbes could complete this trip without you?" Rebekah pleaded with me as I finished packing the rest of my things into my bag. I sighed.
"Rebekah, we shan't be gone long, perhaps a day or two and then we shall return. Do not tell me that an original is frightened of a Baroness and her daughter?" and I smirked to hear her huff of indignation.
"I am not frightened Elijah! I just do not think it wise for us to separate so soon after finding each other…" she reasoned as she made her way to sit on the edge of my bed while I put on my boots.
"I have gone on several trips with William while I have been here, I shall be fine. And Caroline and her mother and every servant in this house is the soul of kindness, you will be most comfortable… but sister will you do something for me" I ask, as I turn to look her in the eye.
"Anything" she says quickly
"Do try not to kill anyone here" I say seriously
"Fine, I shall feed and compel the staff or something-"
"No Rebekah! You must go down to the village to feed at night. We cannot arise suspicion here"
"You expect me to run to the village when I am hungry?" she asked incredulously
"Yes, I do", and she looked at me strangely.
"Brother, how often have you been feeding?"
"I feed often enough sister"
"And that would be?" and I rise in exasperation, not wanting to admit to her that I do not feed as often as I should.
"Every twelve days or so"
"Twelve! Elijah! Even after seven days I have trouble controlling my urges"
"Well obviously I have more self-control that you do sister" and I smirk at her in the mirror as I tie my cravat. She huffed in annoyance and I smiled as I looked down on the table, I slid on my ring and see a handkerchief that Caroline had made for me some weeks ago. I brought it to my nose and inhaled her sweet fresh scent, but before I could tuck it into my traveling doublet Rebeka sped over and plucked it from my grasp. I had almost forgotten she was even in the room…
"And what treasured garment is this that you are smelling and coddling so?" she teased. She turned it over and saw that my initials had been stitched into the seam with some flowery embellishments, she then brought it to her nose as well. "Oh I should have known. You wouldn't carry around something so feminine unless she had made it for you" and she handed it back to me, but I was surprised to see a small smile on her face before she turned around.
"I shall see you off downstairs brother" and then she was gone. I heard her walk down the stairs and into the sitting room where she began talking to Caroline and her father. I took a deep breath, checked my chamber for anything I had missed and then followed her.
Rebekah had been daggered for nearly a decade before Klaus released her two years ago, and in those two years she had succeeded in getting herself betroathed to a Prince, killed that Prince's sister and had gotten us run out of Portugal. She was very much the impulsive baby sister of the family and I was worried about leaving her alone with Caroline, but I couldn't refuse William. I sent up a silent prayer as I shut the door to my chamber.
William Forbes and I were heading to another port town where one of our ships had needed to make an emergency port because of damage sustained. We were heading there to inspect the damage and see if it was worth repairing and to discuss costs with our captain. The letter informing us of the damage had come last night during dinner by special messenger and we had immediately made plans to depart the next morning. I drop my bag by the front door and enter the sitting room. Rebekah is sitting next to Caroline on one of the settees and it strikes me how similar the two of them really are. Both with long blonde hair and blue green eyes, though Rebekah's are darker than Caroline's. But the way that the morning sunlight was streaming through the bay windows and right onto Caroline's hair was giving her the most angelic look that made my chest ache for a moment as I locked eyes with her. It was at times like this that I got the feeling that she wasn't looking at me but into me, like I couldn't hide anything from her…even though I was hiding everything. I wanted to tell her what I was, and there had been a few times over the past few months where I almost had, but I didn't want to put her in danger and I didn't want to see that look of disgust in her eyes when she knew. I shook my head slightly and faced William.
"Ready when you are My Lord" I smile.
"Yes, let's be off. I want to get to the village by nightfall" he got to his feet and kissed his wife and Caroline and then he patted Rebekah on the top of her head and I had to stop my snort of laughter. The last person that pet my sister on the head found their hand on the other side of the room. I made my way over to her and kissed her on the cheek, but not before giving a look and whispering "remember, no killing". Caroline's mother had walked out of the room to see her husband off so I took Caroline's soft hand in mine and kissed her knuckles, and I felt her pulse speed up as my thumb grazed her wrist. I gave her a last wry smile and turned and walked out of the door, Caroline's pink cheeks and bright eyes the last thing on my mind as I saddled my horse.
"Don't fret Rebekah," I reached over and stroked her arm as we watched Elijah and my father ride down the long drive and disappear around the bend, "my father and Elijah have been on so many trips together, they are always fine". Her brow was furrowed and I was worried that she was afraid for him.
"Oh I know my brother is capable of handling himself. It's just-", and she didn't seem like she wanted to continue
"You can tell me if you want to, but you don't have to" I assured her again with a small smile
"I feel as though I just found him again and now he is leaving me" she said sadly. I put my arm about her shoulders and she rested her head against mine. It felt as though I was comforting an old friend and not someone that I had met three days ago.
"He shall be back before you know it. And we shall have so much fun while he is gone you shan't have time to miss him!" I assured her in a cheery voice, and I was rewarded with a small smile in return. And then an idea hits me!
"Oh you must come and meet the puppies now! That will ease your mind" and I grabbed her hand and started pulling her down the hall and we had almost made it to the servant's stairs when my mother called out to me.
"Caroline! Why are you taking Miss Mikaelson down the servant's stairs to the kitchens?" she asked
"Because, Rebekah is distraught at Elijah's departure so I thought to cheer her by taking some of the puppies outside to play" and Rebekah immediately furrowed her brow and looked down at the ground in the perfect picture of distraught young miss.
"Oh very well," my mother relented, "Now dear do not fret, we shall have a grand time and they shall return in no time at all" my mother assured Rebekah as she tucked stray curl behind her ear. "Now go on you two, be sure not give Cook a hard time" and with that we were dismissed. We quickly ran down the stairs and into the kitchens and I led her over to Prince's bed. I was shocked by how much bigger the puppies were now! But as soon as the puppies saw us they all sprang up and came charging at us. Rebekah laughed and dropped to her knees and allowed the puppies to crawl all over her and I was right beside her doing the same thing. Then I recognized one of the puppies that was nibbling at my skirts.
"Ellie!" I cried and I picked her up to snuggle her against my chest.
"Oh do they all have names?" Rebeka asked as one of the darker puppies tried to lick her face
"I'm sure that the maids have named the rest but this one's name is Ellie"
"Well isn't she just a beauty" Rebeka laughed as she reached over and scratched Ellie's ear.
"I actually named her after Elijah because they have the same eyes"
"Oh my, I'm surprised my brother allowed a puppy to be named after him" she laughed
"He wasn't thrilled of course, but once he saw her he couldn't deny that she was an Ellie" I explained
"Of course! Now, shall we take these little monsters outside to play?"
"Yes you are! Yur in me kitchen and I won't have you distractin my scullery maid!" Cook shouted from the other side of the kitchen as she kneaded some dough. Rebeka and I both laughed and got to our feet and herded all of the puppies out the door and we spent the majority of the day playing with them.
That afternoon Rebekah and I went on a walk down at the beach, the intense heat of last week had finally abated but the water was still inviting.
"When was the last time you went swimming?" I asked her excitedly
"Decades…" she answered distractedly as she stared over the waves, but then she shook herself, "At least that's what it feels like of course" and she laughed.
"Then let's change that!" and I start to remove my slippers and stockings and look back at her expectantly. She hurried to follow my lead and then we were running to the water's edge and diving under. After treading and floating for a few moments I turn to her.
"Would you like to race to that rock over there?" she turned to where I was pointing and then her face split into a large grin and she nodded. We immediately took off in that direction, splashing each other and trying to drag each other down the whole way. By the time we reached the rock we were both soaked and breathless from laughing.
"Well I must say, that race was much more fun than any of my races with Elijah" I laughed as I grabbed onto the rock to rest for a moment.
"You went swimming with Elijah?"
"Oh yes, many times now. Occasionally I even win, but I suspect that is by his own design"
"I have never known my brother to do anything… fun before" Rebekah said in shock
"Oh he is the most fun though Rebekah honestly!" I assured her
"I always thought he was much too noble and serious for such activities"
"Oh well of course he is those things, in fact he has saved my life… I believe four times now"
"Four times!? Caroline you are seventeen years old, what on earth could you need saving from?"
"Oh you would be surprised…" I said, not sure how much I should reveal of what Elijah confided in me.
"Well I need to hear all about these great adventures that caused your life to be in danger. Would you tell me later please?" and she just asked so sweetly that I couldn't help but to agree.
We returned to shore and made our way back to the estate to dry off and redress for dinner. With the men gone we all agreed to have an informal dinner in the sitting room and simply relax before the house party started in a few days. Throughout the meal there was much laughter and many stories being exchanged on both sides. It was remarkable to hear about Elijah as a child.
"And you also have an additional three brothers besides Elijah right?" I confirm with Rebekah during one of her stories.
"Yes I do…" she said, a confused look on her face
"You have four brothers young lady!?" my mother clapped her hands together with a laugh, "Well that is quite something. I had only two brothers growing up, both younger, and I thought tha was a trial"
"Well there is never a dull moment that is for certain"
"And what of your parents dear? What ae they like?" my mother asked as she took a sip of tea
"Oh mother, we have quite exhausted Rebekah, I fear, with all of our questions. And today we were out of doors all day playing with the puppies and then on a walk and swim." I cut in, trying to save Rebekah from answering, or having to lie.
"Oh you are quite right Caroline, why don't you two retire to your chambers and get some rest?"
"Thank you Lady Forbes, I do find myself quite exhausted. Caroline has been excellent at keeping my spirits high all day, I do not know quite what I would have done today were it not for her" Rebekah smiled at me and my mother beamed in response.
"That is my sweet girl" and I leaned down to kiss my mother on the cheek and Rebekah gave a little wave and then we were walking up the stairs.
Rebeka turned to me as we made it to her door.
"Thank you for today Caroline, I meant what I said downstairs" she said
"Oh you are so welcome, today was such fun for me as well" I assured her and I impulsively leaned toward her and wrapped my arms around her. I felt her stiffen a bit at first but then she relaxed against me and I felt her arms wrap around me in return. 'These Mikaelson children are a hard bunch' I thought to myself and then I pulled away. We smiled and then I continued onto my chamber a little further down the hallway.
The next day passed in a similar way to the one before. Rebekah and I spent the morning in the garden with the puppies and in the afternoon we retired to the library to read and relax before dinner, which was much the same as the day before. But tonight I did try and deflect some of the conversation away from Rebekah for fear that they may broach a sensitive topic for her. After we had finished eating and drinking our tea, Rebeka and I retired to our rooms.
Mary had brushed out my hair and helped me into my shift and I found myself a bit restless.
"Mary would you please go down to the kitchen and ask cook if she could prepare two cups of chocolate for me?" I asked before Mary exited the room
"Of course" and she hurried to catch cook before she retired. I went to my wardrobe and retrieved my warmest dressing gown and I tied it over my shift. I then hunted down my slippers from beneath my bed. Afterward I braided the top of my hair and secured it with a ribbon, and then there was nothing left to do but wait for Mary to return. I hoped that Rebekah was still awake and that she would want the late night company. Luckily I didn't have to wait long and I sprang up as Mary reentered the room, a large pot in her hands and two cups.
"Excellent! Thank you Mary, you may go to sleep now"
"Good night Caroline" and she gratefully went on to bed. I knew that Elijah would return tomorrow so tonight was the last chance I would get to talk alone with Rebekah. I carefully balanced the pot and the two cups in my hands and made my way down the hall to her chamber and knocked on the door. I heard a quiet shuffling inside before the door opened and Rebekah peeked around it.
"Hello, I thought you might like a cup of chocolate before bed?" and I held up the pot, getting a bit too hot for the comfort of my hand.
"Oh… alright yes, that sounds wonderful" and she smiled and opened the door wider for me to enter. I was determined to get some answers about her brother, I just hoped I was ready to hear them.
