Autumn 1001
"Mother, I ask that you include Alvia in the ritual."
"Elijah."
"She is my wife!" he said passionately, not quite yelling at his mother.
"We would have to include Kára as well, that could be too many."
"I do not wish to undergo the ritual if she is left out."
"Of course you will, you are my son. Do not make me suffer the loss of another of my children."
"Is nine really too many to include, mother?"
"It is difficult magic enough with seven, and seven is a powerful number. Are you sure you would not reconsider?"
"I will not. If you do not find a way to include Alvia, you will not include me."
"Children, place yourselves in the circle."
"Is father not also joining?" Finn asked.
"Your father and I will not be participating."
"We will not?" Mikael asked bordering on outrage.
"We can do the spell next year, but I want the seven children to go first."
"There are only seven of us, Esther."
"She's including me?" Kára whispered to Niklaus.
"Yes, love," he gave her a dimpled smile.
"Mikael, I will not lose another of my children. We may gain immortality soon enough."
Spring 1002
"You killed Mikael?"
"You sound so surprised, Care."
"Well, I'm glad he's gone. He was awful to you and that is not allowed." She sat her head upon his shoulder
"Is that so?" He held back his laugh with a chuckle.
"It is," determination and tenderness filled her voice as she turned to see him.
"The same goes for you, you know?"
"I know," she said looking up to meet his eyes.
Autumn 1002
"Are you not doing the ritual, mother? Kol could help you with the magic."
"No, I asked to not see the death of my children. With your father gone, there's no point. Magic like that has a price I would never ask your brother to pay."
"So you make us lose our mother?"
"That will not be for a long time yet."
"You should see our lives, mother."
"To do that you would need to live your own. I have seen two of my sons married."
"Do you wish me to join them in that?"
"I want you to be happy, Finn."
Spring 1998
"Elijah, the witches have Caroline."
"When has that stopped you before? Do you require assistance?"
"Not like the other times. They cursed me!"
"The witches had you?"
"No. They didn't need to."
"I do know who I'm speaking to, but could you be a bit more forthcoming with information?"
"They made Caroline human."
"Impossible."
"I'm not sure if they succeeded on that front, but she's about seven years old now and doesn't remember me."
"Ah. … Let us visit Mariauna, she can give us more information, surely."
"What will I do, Elijah? Without her?"
"She's still there, you can get her back. Somehow, there is always a loophole. We will get this figured out."
"So, what can you tell us about this curse?" he asked Mariauna, the current witch loyal to the Mikaelson family.
"It would be impossible to make her human, but this is about as close as she can get. She won't have access to her abilities and she will age. It's not possible for her to die without a white oak stake to the heart, so I wouldn't worry on that front."
"Her memories? Personality?" You could tell he was trying not to snap, but it didn't come across that way.
"Her personality will remain, but her memories will only be returned with the rest of her abilities."
"And those are unlocked how?"
"She needs to fall in love with you," the witch explained, resigned.
"WHAT? I am quite sure that Caroline loves me as much as I love her an-"
"No one doubts that, but this Caroline doesn't," Elijah guessed. "She doesn't know you, how could she?"
"Well, I'm not going to get a seven-year-old to fall in love with me, is that even possible?"
"So you will have to wait. I know you are capable of getting through this."
"There's one more thing I should mention. She is stuck, geographically, in the city the spell took place."
"Do you know where that was?" Elijah asked.
"Where else but the city of my birth."
"Mystic Falls, they call it now?"
"Yes, Mystic Falls, Virginia."