A/N : Hi I am back with a new chapter. This one is from Caroline's POV. The next will be from Klaus's POV. Flashbacks are in bold italic.More angst please don't hate me.
An Agonizing Interlude
Hours became days and days months, but he did not come for her. Word that Niklaus had emerged victorious in his battle with Albert spread like wild fire. An epic war they said which had culminated more than a couple of months prior but he did not return for her.
The Danes in Bettlehem's adjacent areas were crucified both on the literal and verbal altar due to the defeat Saxons faced.
King Niklaus they now called him as he ruled both East and the South and resided in Albert's castle. Her uncle recounted the stories of the now famous King Niklaus and his escapades, knowing well how it bruised her in spirit and heart.
He was reported to have taken multiple women as his whores and was having a rather extravagant life in his new castle. Kings from all over the country offered him their daughters to secure a strong warrior King's alliance.
Her pregnancy was no secret now. Her uncle's court had declared her a sinner and she was to receive punishment soon as she delivered the illegitimate child.
It outraged her beyond words, knowing how they outright declared her child a sin. It felt as if it was she alone, among a pack of wolves who were waiting to attack soon as the time was right. Each day she expected she might die, such enormous was her grief.
Her mother was no good either she sided with her uncle. She believed that Caroline had committed the most grievous sin but she also believed that Niklaus had seduced her innocent child and he was to blame for this whole catastrophe.
They were conversing about Niklaus yet again as they all sat for lunch.
"They say he has taken many whores. Even taken Albert's daughter Princess Margery. Rumour is they are to wed this full moon." Alfred remarked well aware that his niece harboured romantic notions pertaining to the heathen.
Caroline was next in line for the throne and to Alfred's utter dismay King Althed his cousin had bequeathed it in his will. The only way to secure the kingdom now was to wed Caroline to Matthew who was Alfred's loyal subject. Thus he did everything in his power to dispel her romantic sentiments.
Caroline pricked her hand on the knife, the clang of the metal echoed but no one cared.
"Careful child." Her mother reprimanded, "Elsie clean her hand."
Elsie quickly wrapped her hand in a handkerchief. "Milady I speak out of turn but this needs tending."
"Just wrap the handkerchief for now I shall tend to it later." Caroline replied.
Her heart sank, misery a constant sentiment within her. She abhorred the way her family and people at court treated her, she had become a pariah.
With each passing day her hope that he might come for her withered and so did her love. Her love gradually being replaced by blinding fury and hatred.
She cried herself to sleep at night, forced herself to eat for the sake of her child and tried with all her might to pay no mind to her uncle's venom but it was slowly seeping inside her.
"I am sure that heathen values nothing more than silver and land. What an evil being. He ruined my daughter's life and prospects." Elizabeth lamented.
Caroline had, had more than enough. This time she dropped the spoon purposely, the sound rang around the hall silencing everyone. "He did not ruin my life I ruined my own damn life, mother. And pray tell uncle have you seen him in the company of Princess Margery with your own eyes? Your accounts of his whereabouts make it sound as if you are in cahoots with Niklaus..."
Caroline would have continued but her mother grasped her arm roughly and pulling her out if her chair slapped Caroline across her right cheek.
"Perhaps this slap shall remind you of the decorum and propriety you are expected to practice. And using such language. Is the child you bear is not a grave enough sin that you have decided to insult your King and use foul language." Elizabeth's tirade uninterrupted as Caroline found herself too shocked to respond.
"You should be ashamed of yourself for allying with the enemy. For lying beside the barbarian who killed your father in cold blood." Caroline's misery and shock intensified in magnitude.
Nothing her uncle and her mother said before had made her Klaus loathe more than she did now. She knew he had defeated her father but killing him in cold blood, it completely devastated her.
Elizabeth dragged her out of the hall and locked Caroline in her room, promptly announcing she were to remain there until she came to her senses.
When her mother left she lifted a vase and hurled it on the door, then much like the fragmented vase fell on the floor breaking down.
"So the sound the letter makes is a." She remarked as she tutored her husband. She had successfully convinced him that he should learn to read in his past time. Although he had temptingly argued that they could learn other rather pleasing things about each other.
Caroline had then struck a bargain that if he agreed to learning to read and write she shall do anything he asked of her in return. Hence she was well aware where his eagerness to learn had stemmed from.
"This letter and also you." He stated smiling with those devilish dimples making her heart flip.
"No U does not make that sound." Caroline did not catch his meaning. Her innocence was undeniably enchanting. Each day he fell more in love with her.
He chuckled, "I meant you as in my beautiful enchanting wife. You make the sound aah when I..." she clamped a hand on his laughing face, his eyes had that mischievous gleam that she was wildly attracted to. They were sitting outdoors and anyone might hear them.
"Nik. Have some shame."
"I'd rather have you." He effortlessly slid her in his lap. Her soft form was a sinful temptation, "The only reason I agreed with you was..."
"Because I stupidly agreed to your condition. Which if one were to hear about, one might have doubts regarding your love and affection."
"Oh really. Pray tell Milady why?" he dramatically imitated the Saxon tongue.
She smiled at his perfect accent and imitation. "If your affection were true you would not put any conditions on me. It would be unconditional, my Lord." She replied making a rather innocent face.
He barked out a laugh, "Are you blackmailing me and reneging on your deal, Lady? You must be becoming one of the lawless Danes." Klaus knew she was trying to best him.
He saw right through her ploy. Caroline then made a pout and he kissed it. "Stop." She whined teasing him.
"I believe you made a pact to do anything I asked of you." He laid her on the grass and leaned down to kiss her more thoroughly then and Caroline was more than compliant. When she deepened the kiss he pulled back a little. He looked at her silently asking her if he should stop or not. She bit her lip and the little gesture shot heat through him.
"I can not possibly tell you to stop. That would be me going against my word and I am after all a righteous Saxon, My Lord." She said with a cheeky smile and pulled his mouth down to hers as he laughed.
Later when they lay side by side with her head cushioned on his arm she remarked, "I am wondering how me teaching you the sound of letter A led to this. But then again you would have been able to do that with other letters except maybe W and Z." Her observation had him laughing like a lunatic. "Really? Min skat."
"Yes. You would have made any other letter sound sensuous on my account like b into bh, c into ceeh." She breathed the sounds and it was utterly hilarious rather than sensuous as she claimed. He knew she was teasing him but he couldn't stop himself from laughing.
"Min skat. It sounds as if you are having breathing problems." Klaus replied and she pushed him away. "Of course you stole half of my air with that kiss."
He pulled her closer and let out a loud laugh as he buried his face in her golden hair. Caroline's lips twitched, his laugh being utterly infectious.
"Oh min skat. What shall I do without you?" the laugh still in voice.
Caroline woke up as his affectionate words echoed in her ears. For a split second she felt at peace still groggy and enthralled with the memory of their time and then her eyes fluttered open and reality came crashing.
Last night she had fallen asleep crying at the cruelty of her circumstances and the helplessness it wrought.
She blamed Niklaus for breaking his vows and dumping her here amidst people who hated her.
She blamed him for dishonouring their love and not fulfilling his vows, but most of all the grief that followed the realization that he had killed her father, it was just beyond bearable.
Her father had been her best friend more than a parent, and hearing Niklaus had killed him made her feel like a traitor. Desolation was paired up with the nauseating feeling of being a disloyal daughter to a much affectionate father.
Tears threatened again but she resisted the urge to give in. Just then her baby kicked and she smiled. The only ray of hope in her bleak life. But another dejecting thought crossed her mind. What future would her child have?
Her unborn child had already been declared a sin, what would coming days and years hold for such a young one whose existence had been blemished with accusations of illegitimacy.
Elsie entered with a tray of breakfast as Caroline dressed in a dark blue gown.
"Do you think my child is a sin, Elsie?" Caroline asked her ladies maid, who practically responsible for everything pertaining to Caroline's wellbeing.
"Milady. It is not my place to pay much thought to such matters."
"I give you permission to speak of free mind I would not hold it against you."
"A child conceived in love is anything but a sin. Then again perhaps my mother and uncle are in the right here. I have sinned so I am suffering and so is my child."
"Milady. Do not worry yourself, it is bad for the child. Love sometimes is more than a bed of roses, at times it takes thorns first to reach the roses." Elsie held a cup of tea. Caroline took a sip. It soothed her. "I hope you do not take offence I put some herbs to soothe nerves and it is also healthy for the babe, Milady."
"Thank you Elsie. I sure hope I can find my roses before it is too late."
Five days, Caroline had been restricted to her room for five days before she was let out and that too because King Matthew was here to visit her.
Her mother came inside her room in a flurry of movement ordering her to wear her silver gown, which complemented her pale complexion. Caroline did not have the spirit nor the energy to deny her. She merely nodded and then her mother left.
She sat on a bench in the garden. King Matthew stood admiring the view.
"Do you remember how we used to play in the gardens in our youth?" he asked.
Caroline just smiled, a small formal one. Knowing not what to say. That had once been friends when they were children but it was a long time ago and Caroline was too young then and did not have vivid recollection now.
"Milady. May I be less formal?" when she merely looked at him he added, "Caroline. I wish to marry you. I have the utmost respect for you from what I have heard about you."
"Really Lord. I find it hard to believe you have respect for me if it is based on what you heard about me."
"I know Niklaus tricked you into marriage and I shall love this child as my own. The marriage is not lawful if it happened under coercion. The church shall grant us a pardon if I ask them." He sat close to her now.
His blue eyes seemed earnest. He had a handsome face which she was sure the stuff of dreams of many women.
"The marriage was legitimate and he had my consent regarding every aspect of it, My Lord. In fact it was a union of love." Caroline remarked hoping to sway him from marrying her.
King Matthew then stood and asked her leave not expressing any if the sentiments he felt. As he walked away he could hear her weeping.
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