If you recognize it, I don't own it! I own the OCs. I wish I owned what you recognized, lol
QUESTION: What Hogwarts house do you think the Mikaelson brothers and Miriam are in? I have my own ideas, but I would love to hear your thoughts!
TW: SLIGHT mentions of Miriam's attack, no details. ALSO some violence, but not graphic.
It was a strange feeling, Miriam decided, to know you should be injured but were not. She spent most of the day after being captured by the werewolves resting in her apartment. Her body had healed after June had given her blood, but her mind couldn't fathom it. Her mind thought her body to still be injured, because every now and then she would touch a part of her body that had been bruised, and she could have sworn she felt pain for a moment. It was a weird feeling, for sure.
Yesterday had been… not quite relaxing. Quiet, that was a better word. Yesterday had been quiet. She had talked to Baahir for a while; he had promised to come visit in a week's time. After the phone call, Miriam just laid in her bed, thinking. Most of the time she could ignore the loneliness, but yesterday had been nearly impossible. She was connected to Elijah in a way she wasn't with her grandparents or Baahir. She wanted him nearby, but she knew he had been busy with the tea party and saving Damon. He had texted her several times throughout the day, giving her little updates. She found the act very sweet.
Miriam missed him.
She was puttering around her apartment when there was a knock at her door. She opened it slowly, praying that it wasn't Mr. Boggs or Damon.
Her visitor was neither. Elijah stood there, a slight grin on his face. He was holding a gift bag in his hand.
"Hi, you," she beamed at him. After he shared his blood with her yesterday morning, Miriam felt closer with him. It wasn't the blood that formed this stronger connection, but the vulnerability he had shown her. He had been reluctant to ask her to drink from him, but it had been obvious that the act was important to him.
"Hello, elsku hjarta," he greeted. "May I come in?"
"Of course," she stepped aside to allow him entry. "Sorry, I know it's kinda small."
"Don't apologize for doing your best," he said seriously.
Miriam ducked her head, slightly overwhelmed with this amazing man. "What's in the bag?"
"You shall find out when we get back," he set the gift on her counter with a sly grin.
"Get back from where?"
"Ah, I see I have gotten ahead of myself. Let me start over. I have a question for you," Elijah said. At her nod, he continued, "I have to go touring old Mystic Falls locations with Jenna Sommers. Do you want to go with me?"
"Yes, but I gotta tell you what happens today first," Miriam said, then proceeded to outline the day according to her knowledge. After her summary, she added, "There are things that have changed, though. Damon isn't dating Andie. Luka wasn't squeezed for information yesterday. So things can change. How do you want to play it?"
"I have a plan forming," he told her. "We shall see if it bears fruit. I still need to go on the tour today, if only to continue to impress Carol Lockwood and get on the nerves of Damon Salvatore. My earlier question still stands. Would you like to go with me?"
"Of course," she smiled.
"Good. If we leave right now, I can buy you a pastry and a coffee before we meet Miss Sommers," he said.
"Okay. Let me just put on something a little more presentable," she said, rushing to her bathroom. Her closet was located in the bathroom, something she had never been thankful for until now. She might have accepted that Elijah was her mate, but she wasn't ready to change in front of him.
Miriam put on her nicest pair of jeans, her only good pair of shoes (boots), a pale pink floral top and her army jacket. She didn't have any makeup to apply. She also didn't have enough time to fight with her curls, so she just left them loose. She knew she didn't even halfway match the level of elegance and sophistication that Elijah exuded, but at least she was no longer wearing a shirt that had a cartoon character on it.
"You look lovely," Elijah assured her when she came out of the bathroom.
"Flatterer," she muttered, but was happy with the compliment. She grabbed her satchel bag, her phone, and her apartment key. "Let's go."
Elijah did end up buying her a croissant and a tea from the coffee shop at the town square. She had polished off the pastry and was halfway done with her tea when Jenna Sommers arrived. She was dressed smartly in a wine-colored shirt, tan pea coat, black pants, and black boots. Miriam felt frumpy compared to the other woman, but tried not to dwell on it. She was wearing second-hand clothing, Jenna was not. She shouldn't compare herself to other people. It wasn't healthy.
"Jenna," Elijah said warmly. "It's nice to see you again. This is my fiancé, Miriam Sanchez."
"Hi! It's nice to meet you," Jenna shook Miriam's hand.
Miriam's heart had stuttered at the word 'fiancé'. Frantically trying to recover from that big bombshell he had just dropped on her, she stuttered, "I-It's nice to meet you, too!"
"If you don't mind, Miriam will be accompanying us on our tour today," Elijah smiled charmingly.
"The more the merrier," Jenna encouraged. She looked down at her watch. "We should probably be getting going."
Jenna drove them to the old Fell property. Once they arrived, she grabbed a bag full of maps and surveys and shouldered it despite Elijah's attempts to take it from her.
"Elijah, I'm a big girl, I can carry it," she teased.
"As you wish," he held his hands up in a placating gesture.
They began to walk the property line. Elijah grabbed Miriam's hand the first time she stumbled and didn't let it go as they continued to walk. She blushed at the attention.
"The old Fell property actually starts just beyond that fence," Jenna pointed.
"Ah, the Fells. One of the 'Founding Families'," Elijah said.
"Why do you say it like that?"
"My research showed me that this area was actually settled almost two full centuries earlier. It was a migration of townsfolk from the northeast. Salem, to be precise."
"Massachusetts? As in the witch trials?" Jenna asked, excited.
Elijah nodded. "Which means the ever-lauded founding families… didn't actually found anything."
Trading a sly look with Miriam, Jenna said, "Well, I bet it was the men who made a big deal about being founders back in 1860. Men are very territorial."
"Yes, they are," Elijah mused.
Miriam snorted. She and Elijah were facing the road, so they could see Alaric walking towards them. Jenna turned slightly and spotted him. She frowned slightly before remembering she had to play happy tour guide.
"Elijah, Miriam, this is my f-friend, Alaric Saltzman," Jenna tripped over the word 'friend', but recovered. She looked at Alaric questioningly.
"Yeah, I got your message about walking Elijah here through the old property lines. I thought I would tag along. You know, being a history buff and all. Where to next?"
"Well, I know Elijah's interests lay elsewhere, but I'm curious about the freed slave property owners. As we all know, the descendants of the enslaved are the true keepers of American history," Miriam said, an innocent look on her face. Alaric looked at her, probably confused on why she was there.
Jenna was thrown by the request. "Well, I only brought the surveys. I got that list in the car. Just give me a sec."
She walked back towards her car, leaving Alaric with Elijah and Miriam.
Elijah looked like he was measuring the other man up. "Alaric Saltzman. So you are one of those people on Elena's list of loved ones to protect."
"So is Jenna," Alaric pointed out.
Elijah smirked. "You don't have to be jealous. I have no interest in Jenna; Miriam here is my fiancé."
"You're Miriam?" Alaric focused on her.
"Yes. I assume you've heard of me?"
"Yeah, Damon's mentioned you several times," Alaric's eyes were examining her for anything supernatural.
"It's nice to meet you," Miriam held her free hand out; her other hand was still firmly clasped in Elijah's.
He shook her hand warily, as if he expected it to bite him. She rolled her eyes at his hesitance. She wouldn't- couldn't- hurt him.
Jenna returned. Miriam could tell that the other woman was miffed at Alaric. Jenna ignored him as she led Elijah and Miriam around the old property lines. Miriam didn't blame her. Jenna could tell that secrets were being kept from her, and she didn't appreciate it. Miriam had always thought that Jenna's story was tragic. She had been a grad student whose only responsibility was turning in her assignments on time. After her sister and brother-in-law died, she was suddenly a parent to two angsty teenagers. And instead of coming clean to her, Elena and the others purposely kept her in the dark. Their carefulness around Jenna had been for naught, because she still became a vampire and died by Klaus's hands.
Miriam was trying her hardest to change that. Elijah had captured a werewolf the night before, and it was easy to make a vampire. Hopefully Klaus would accept his brother's gifts and leave Jenna alone.
Miriam was going to try harder to save innocents. There had been many people over the last couple of years that she could have saved, but she had been too scared to intervene. She could blame her actions on preserving the plot, but she knew in her heart of hearts that she was terrified to actually make a big change.
The changes she had made, up till now, had been small. Caroline hadn't been abused by Damon, but she had still been used. Caroline had still been captured by the werewolves, though Miriam had stopped some of her torture. Now, though, Miriam knew she had to start making bigger changes. She couldn't let Elijah get daggered tonight.
The man in question lightly squeezed her hand. His eyes were on Jenna as she talked about the new piece of property they were walking on, but Miriam could tell that his focus was on her, not the grad student. He tugged her closer. He pulled her arm up and tucked it in his, like the old-fashioned love interest he was.
He was just so… intense. He wasn't like her high school boyfriend, who had shallow feelings and half-hearted romantic gestures. Her high school boyfriend had been a loser. Teenage Miriam had accepted his lukewarm attention because what girl doesn't want a boyfriend? Adult Miriam knew that her younger self would have fainted at the first romantic gesture from Elijah. She was starting to realize that every word that passed his lips regarding her was sincere. He cared deeply for her, and she found herself caring deeply for him. It had only been roughly a week, and only a handful of interactions, but she could see herself falling in love with him in no time.
Elijah didn't release her for the duration of the tour, not the Miriam minded. After her capture and torture by Brady the werewolf, she desperately wanted positive, gentle physical affection. She wanted someone to comb their fingers through her hair, like her Abuela used to do when she was younger. Elijah didn't seem to mind touching her, which was a good thing. Every touch was like putting aloe vera on a sunburn.
After the tour Alaric practically fled to the Grill. Jenna rolled her eyes and suggested they go to a charming little café to get something to drink. With her lying, territorial love interest out of the way, Jenna was fun to be around. She had a snarky sense of humor, and was unafraid to tease Elijah. Elijah, in turn, thoroughly charmed her.
They drank coffee at the café until Miriam's stomach rumbled.
"Let's get you something to eat," Elijah proposed.
"The Grill has takeout options, if you want to get something to go," Jenna suggested innocently.
"Oh, um," Miriam hesitated, not because she wasn't hungry, but because her budget wouldn't allow her to spend fifteen dollars on a burger. It would be wasteful. Those fifteen dollars could be spent on groceries that would feed her for several days.
"Come. I'll buy you lunch," Elijah said, in-tune to her reluctance.
"Alright," she caved, because food would always be more important than her pride.
They walked across the street to the Grill. Miriam squeezed Elijah's hand, knowing what was coming. She wondered how he would handle the dinner invite. She had told him earlier about the Mystic Falls gang's attempts to kill him. He knew how this day could go.
They walked into the restaurant's dimmed lighting. They were talking about Jenna's classes casually. As they walked deeper into the space, Miriam could see Damon and Alaric sitting at a table. Damon spotted them and raised a hand to get their attention.
"Hi," he greeted, his eyes narrowing when he saw Miriam and Elijah's clasped hands.
"Hey, guys," Jenna said as she walked up to their table.
"So, I heard you two had quite a meeting of historical minds today," Damon teased.
Jenna seemed thrown by the words and tone. "Yeah, I guess you could say that."
"And Miriam! You're engaged now? Where's the ring?" he said, tone light but eyes intense.
Before Miriam could say anything Alaric interrupted her. "Well, as much as I'd like to continue this, I've got papers to grade." He put down some money on the table and got up.
"Great idea, Ric. We should continue this. Let's have a dinner party, say tonight. I'll host," Damon suggested.
"Yeah, I'm free," Jenna said at the same time Alaric said, "I don't know if tonight works…"
They exchanged a look, and Jenna's challenging gaze won out. Damon looked pleased, Alaric looked nauseous.
"Great! Lovebirds?"
"It would be a pleasure," Elijah said. Miriam swallowed and nodded.
"Great," Damon smiled like the cat who got the cream.
"If you'll excuse us, we are getting take-out," Elijah said. "Jenna, it has been an absolute pleasure. Gentleman, until later," his smile was sharp as he led Miriam towards the counter.
They both ordered a meal to-go. Miriam squirmed in anticipation of hearing Elijah's plans for that night, because she doubted he would allow himself to be daggered.
Finally, their food was done and they were walking back to Miriam's apartment.
Once they were safely back in her apartment, she set her food down on her counter and exclaimed, "What the hell, Elijah!"
She wasn't made at him, but very, very confused.
"Let's eat," he suggested, and sat down on her couch. Confused, but hungry, she picked up her food and joined him on the couch.
After they had finished maybe half of their meals, he began to lay out his plans.
"I have no intention of getting daggered tonight, regardless if it will or will not kill me," he stated. "That being said, I need to attend tonight. You told me that Damon Salvatore is determined to kill me. He needs to know that he cannot. To do this, I need to put down his attempts and take the dagger from him," Elijah explained.
Miriam slowly chewed her burger. She hadn't thought of that. Her main goal had been just to decline the invitation, but Elijah was right. Damon wouldn't stop until it was proven to be impossible. She just hoped that he would stop trying to kill Elijah after tonight.
They finished eating. Elijah got up and picked up the gift he hand left in her apartment before they had gone to meet Jenna.
"Do you want to open it now?" he said, his smile light.
"I would never turn down a gift," Miriam teased. He handed the bag to her, and she accepted it eagerly.
She pulled the colorful tissue paper out and set them in-between her and Elijah. She had half a mind to smooth them out and save them, like her grandmother would have. She ignored the feeling and reached her hands back into the bag. She pulled out a beautiful, soft, baby pink cashmere sweater.
"Oh!" she hadn't touched something this soft in years!
"I thought you would enjoy something useful but pretty," Elijah said. "And I liked the idea of you in pink."
Miriam blushed. She didn't want to look at his smug gaze, so she focused on the pretty pink sweater in her lap. It was soft, so, so soft. She ran her fingers over it, reveling in the texture and the color.
"There is one more item in there," Elijah pointed out.
Miriam reached inside the bag again and pulled out a candle. It was like any other store-bought candle. It too, was pink, and encased in a clear glass container.
"Thank you," she lifted it to her nose and sniffed. "It smells lovely."
"I'm glad you like it. If you'll humor me, only light it a couple of times, and not for long."
"Okay?" she said questioningly, but he just smiled enigmatically. She rolled her eyes. "You called me your fiancé earlier."
"So I did," he smiled.
"Why?"
"What else would I call you to someone who is not aware of the fantasy world we live in? Girlfriend is too childish a term for what we are. Wife seemed too intense; we still do not know each other well enough to act like man and wife. I hope I didn't overstep your boundaries," he said, uncertainty replacing his earlier smugness.
"No, I agree that Jenna wouldn't understand, you just threw me for a loop," she tried to scold him, but a smile broke through. "Maybe warn me the next time you use a term that will shock me."
Elijah smirked. "Oh, I will be sure to do that."
Miriam doubted it. He may be the noble brother, but he had a wicked streak in him a mile wide. There was a reason he stayed so close to Klaus over the centuries.
Soon enough it was time for Elijah to leave. Miriam walked him to the door. He exited her apartment, but hovered in the hallway.
"Stay close to me tonight. I do not trust Damon with your well-being," Elijah said sternly.
Miriam nodded. She wasn't stupid. Damon had done some pretty reckless things to other people. If he really wanted to hurt Elijah, he just might try to hurt Miriam.
"I'll pick you up in a couple of hours," Elijah promised. He kissed her cheek almost shyly, then left.
"It's not a date," Miriam told herself firmly.
She had been repeating the sentiment over and over again ever since Elijah left two hours ago. She had almost two more hours until he came back to pick her up for the dinner party, and she was going insane. In her head she understood that a dinner party where Damon was planning on daggering her mate wasn't a date… but her inner romantic heart was telling her this would be the first time she and Elijah were going somewhere together, as a couple.
Miriam had spent a long time staring at her closet looking for something to wear to the non-date. The amount of nice clothes in her closet was slim. She was tempted to wear the sweater Elijah had just gotten her, but she didn't want it ruined if tonight went pear-shaped. She decided to wear the black dress Baahir had gotten her the first year she arrived in this world. It was becoming loose in some areas, due to her unhealthy weight loss.
Her bad diet, hard manual labor, and stressful circumstances had all contributed to her weight loss. Miriam was fully aware she wasn't as healthy as a person should be. Poverty sucked for a multitude of reasons, but her most pressing reason was the malnutrition. Miriam's constant struggle was calories versus nutrition. It was cheaper sometimes to order off the dollar menu at McDonald's than to eat a salad. Fruit was extremely expensive; it had now become something like a treat for her. Whenever she had extra money she would buy fruit. A couple of her soulmate dreams had revolved around them feeding her fruit, like some kind of queen.
"Fuuuuck," Miriam moaned as she surveyed her weak closet and small bathroom. She needed a razor and makeup and she only had an hour and a half!
She quickly left her apartment to knock on the apartment next to her.
June opened the door. "What's wrong?"
"I need to go to the drug store. Are you free to go with me?" After her abduction June and August had made sure that Miriam knew she wasn't allowed to go anywhere without an escort. In her past life she would have protested the restrictions, but after being kidnapped twice, she welcomed the extra protection.
"Little human, I am always free," June smirked.
The two women grabbed their respective bags before leaving. Luckily for Miriam's tight time restrictions, there was a drugstore only a block away. Once there Miriam grabbed a small basket and began walking the aisles.
"What are we looking for?" June questioned.
"Cheap makeup and razors, and maybe some large hair clips," Miriam answered.
"Oh, before I forget, here," June pulled a card out of her bag and handed it to Miriam.
She accepted it hesitantly. It was a credit card, with Elijah's name on it.
"What? Why?" Miriam was confused.
"Elijah wanted you to have that until he could get you your own," June explained, her eyes filled with mirth.
Panic gripped Miriam. "No, I can't," she tried to give it back to June, but the vampire just stepped back.
"Nope! That's yours, at least temporarily," June smirked, but when she saw how frightened Miriam looked, she frowned. "Hey, it's okay. He wanted you to have it, I didn't steal it."
"I haven't- I can't… I can't," Miriam hated herself, just a little bit, when her eyes began to water. Gifts were one thing, but a credit card! She couldn't accept something like that. She had basically been on her own for the past two years. Baahir, sweet Baahir, tried to help when he could, but she learned quickly that she couldn't rely on him for a source of income. He sent money, yes, but not frequently enough to supplement her income. He still believed that she had her old rent price, and believed that his random monetary gifts were just bonuses. To be far, Miriam hadn't told him the truth. She hadn't wanted to stress him out, especially since he was focused on Marcel's war against the witches. Not being honest with him came at a large cost, she knew that. But now Elijah… she knew he meant well, but she couldn't rely on him to support her. If she failed in her quest to get him to reconcile with Klaus, she knew that Klaus would dagger him, and she would be all alone again. She hadn't met any of her other soulmates, so she couldn't run to them for help, either.
Miriam knew she was being ridiculous, but she didn't want to get used to money (security, if she was being honest) if Elijah was going to leave her.
"Hey, it's okay," June looked freaked out. "Should I call Elijah?"
"No!" The idea of calling her ancient, elegant mate because she was crying over him paying for a couple of items was absurd. "No, I'm sorry. It's been a long week."
She made a valiant effort to blink the tears away.
"He wants you to be taken care of," June said, her eyes knowing. "As a man from a bygone age where the men provided for the women, as a protective vampire, and as the older party in your bond, it kills him to see you struggling financially. If he had his way he would have immediately bought you a large house and given you everything you needed and wanted. He's trying to reign it in, because he knows it would freak you out. So allow him to pay for this shopping trip."
Miriam nodded and took several fortifying breaths. She would need to talk with Elijah about her fears, and the fact that she still didn't have any legal papers.
"Okay, let's do this," her grin was weak, but she needed to reassure her bodyguard that she wasn't a total mess.
The drugstore didn't have a wide variety of makeup, or even the brand that Miriam used pre-universe jump, but it had enough. It was cheap makeup, but it was better than nothing. The two women returned to their apartment building, and Miriam started to get ready for the dinner party (it's not a date!).
Miriam showered, shaved, and got dressed. She let her hair go wild, with a large clip at the back of her head keeping the majority of it out of her face. She put on her brand new makeup, the act one she hadn't done in literal years. She hadn't been big on makeup in her before-life; a result of being raised by conservative grandparents. It made her feel fancy, now.
She wrapped one of the colorful scarves Baahir and Philip had gotten her for her birthday around her neck, enjoying the way the bright colors made her plain black dress less boring. She slipped on her only pair of heels just as Elijah knocked on her door.
"You look lovely," he complimented when she let him in.
"Thank you. You look dashing as always," Miriam said as she put on her army jacket.
"Thank you. Are you ready to go?"
"Yes." She grabbed her keys and phone.
June was in the hallway when Elijah and Miriam left her apartment.
"Jonas and August are on their way back with the packages. They should be there by dessert, and I'll meet up with them then. Miriam, you're looking hot," June leered at her.
Miriam rolled her eyes. "Thanks, I guess. Do I want to know what's going to happen?"
"What's the fun in spoiling a surprise?" Elijah said mysteriously. "Come. If we dally any longer we will be late."
"Bye, June!" Miriam called as they set off down the stairs. "I'll see you later, for whatever you have planned!"
June laughed.
"Do I even get a hint?" Miriam asked once they were in Elijah's car.
"All I am going to say is that tonight will be different from your knowledge," he said.
That scared Miriam. She had been reluctant to act, to change the plot, because she didn't want to be purposeless. If she wasn't there to change the plot subtly, then what was her reason for being in this new world? She had suffered in a multitude of ways since getting hit by Baahir's car, and she wanted that suffering to mean something.
"Just… promise me that you won't do something rash," she said uneasily.
"Falleg kona, I am rarely a rash person." Elijah reached over and grabbed her hand. He interlocked their fingers. "I can tell you are nervous. Don't be. I will take care of you, tonight and forever. You will not be forgotten and you will not be pushed aside. I realize that as a human you cannot fathom the depths of my affection for you. Nevertheless, you will eventually understand that I care for you in a way that will not waver. This is not a human relationship. There will be no 'breakups'. This is it, Miriam. You are it, for me."
Miriam let his words comfort her.
They drove in silence for a couple of minutes.
"I have had two boyfriends," she said suddenly. "One in high school and one the summer before… before I came here. I had feelings for both those guys, but I had known each guy for years before starting a relationship with them. I say this because I am scared of how intense my feelings for you are. I haven't felt like this for anyone before," Miriam revealed. "I have known you for a little over a week and the fast pace scares me."
"We will take it slow," he assured her. "We will go slowly, and together. I won't insist on cohabitation, or anything of that kind unless you desire it, but I do insist that you let me take care of you, financially."
"June called you," Miriam slumped in her seat.
"She did. It is her job to report on you. What was the issue this afternoon, if you don't mind me asking?"
"I haven't told you my whole story, and I'm not going to tell you on the way to Damon's dinner party. But I will tell you this; I don't have any legal documents."
"You don't have a passport?"
"I don't have a passport, or birth certificate, driver's license, or social security number. That's why I work a crappy job and live in a crappy place. Good paying jobs require identification to hire you. The good jobs also want you to have a bank account, which I also don't have, because you need an ID for one. That was my original plan, you know. I was going to approach you, promise to work for you, in exchange for you getting me a social security number and a birth certificate," she confessed.
"Nothing else?" Elijah seemed surprised.
"Well, I was going to give you the option of the physical IDs or enough money so I could pay someone to get them for me. Baahir and I have been saving to get a good forgery made, but we still need a lot more."
"Elskaðir, I will get you identification as soon as possible," Elijah promised. He turned down the road to the Salvatore Boarding House. "We have ran out of time, but we will be talking later. There is a lot you aren't telling me, and that is fine, but there are things we need to discuss with each other."
"I agree," she smiled at him.
He parked the car and they got out.
"Into the belly of the beast we go," he quipped as he knocked on the door.
Damon was the one to open the door. He flashed a charming smile at Miriam and Elijah.
"Good evening," Elijah greeted.
"Thank you for coming, the both of you. Please, come in," Damon stepped to the side so they could enter.
Miriam went to step inside the house, but a gentle hand on her arm kept her from crossing the threshold. Without looking at her, Elijah addressed Damon: "Just one moment. Can I just say that if you have less than honorable intentions about how this evening is going to proceed, I suggest you reconsider."
"No, nothing dishonorable," Damon lied. "Just getting to know you."
"Hmm. Well, that's good," Elijah led Miriam into the house. "Because although Elena and I have this deal, if you so much as make a move to cross me or harm Miriam, I will inflict upon you a pain your pathetically small brain cannot even begin to comprehend. Are we clear?"
"Crystal," Damon said, looking nervous for the first time.
Jenna, sweet, innocent Jenna, chose that moment to walk into the hall. Elijah turned away from Damon and walked towards her, gently pulling Miriam with him. "Jenna," he said warmly. "Wonderful to see you again. How are you?"
"Nice to see you, Elijah, Miriam," the woman smiled at them.
"You look nice, Jenna," Miriam complimented as she shrugged out of her jacket. Elijah took it from her.
"Thank you! So do you. Love the scarf," Jenna gushed. "Oh, I'll take that, Elijah. There's a coat closet over here."
"Thank you," Elijah relinquished control of Miriam's jacket.
"Come meet everyone," Damon had recovered and his usual smirk was back. "I'm sure everyone will have lots in common with each other."
What followed was a very awkward round of introductions. Alaric was visibly nervous to have Elijah so close to Jenna. John was too busy needling Alaric for his ring back to make chit chat. Jenna seemed determined to have a good time and was trying for some sense of normalcy. Damon made snide remarks to nearly everyone in the room. Elijah pretended to be blissfully ignorant of his words. Miriam was regretting coming.
They managed to suffer through a salad course and the beginnings of dinner before Jenna remembered Elijah's supposed research. And thus the conversation turned to the Salem witch trials and massacres. Damon believed Elijah was still searching for the location of the murders, but Miriam had already told Elijah everything he needed to know that morning.
Finally dinner was over.
"Would anyone care for some cognac? I have a bottle that I've been saving for ages." Damon got up from the table.
"None for me, thanks. Nine bottles of wine is my limit," Alaric said wryly.
"Why don't us men have drinks in the study while the women clean up?" Damon suggested.
"Wow, you're going to make the only person of color in this room clean up after the white men?" Miriam snorted. "It's 2010, Damon. Clean up your own dishes."
Damon looked around the room and found no supporters. With a loud huff he grabbed a couple of dishes and marched into the kitchen.
Jenna cackled. She forcefully handed some plates to John. "Here you are, gentleman, make yourself useful. Hmm?"
With the help of the men the table was soon cleared off and the dishes piled high in the kitchen sink.
At one point Alaric and John had an argument about the ring and John stormed out of the room. Miriam rolled her eyes; she and Jenna could plainly hear them arguing.
"Now that we've all cleaned up, you can go," Miriam told Damon. He narrowed his eyes at her, but led a smiling Elijah into the library for drinks. Miriam turned to Jenna. "Wanna pilfer Damon's kitchen and try to find ingredients to make dessert?"
Jenna looked relieved. "Yes, please!"
They found ingredients to make snickerdoodles, which made Miriam irrationally happy. She loved cinnamon. One of her soulmates smelled like cinnamon. Not Elijah; Elijah smelled like old books, expensive cologne, and shoe polish. There was also a smoky edge to his scent that made her think of curling up by the fire and reading a book.
They had just popped a tray of cookies into the oven when Alaric streaked past them and barged into the library. Jenna raised an eyebrow at the strange behavior.
Elijah entered the kitchen looking very amused. "Alaric said you required my help, darling?"
"I think we're good now," Miriam said, accepting the kiss he dropped on her forehead. "You want some coffee? Jenna just made a pot."
"I am more of a tea drinker, myself, but I wouldn't mind a glass of water."
"There's a pitcher on the table," Jenna said as she grabbed the ornate coffee pot. She took it out into the dinning room, and poured a cup for John, who was sitting at the table. "Sorry, guys, but dessert won't be done for another five-ish minutes."
"That's fine, Jenna. Good food takes time," Elijah said. He accepted the glass of water Miriam poured for him and sat down at the table. Miriam sat down across from him, her nerves jittery.
Jenna flashed him a thankful smile before going back into the kitchen to check in on the cookies. Damon and Alaric came back into the room. Alaric's phone rang and he excused himself. Damon sat down and glared across the table at John.
"Elijah, did John tell you he's Elena's uncle-slash-father?"
John sneered at him.
"Yes, I'm well aware of that," Elijah said, his eyes on Miriam, who had her eyes on Alaric, who was pacing the hall behind Elijah. Was he going to make a move to dagger Elijah?
Oblivious, Damon continued to needle John. "Of course, she hates him, so there's absolutely no need to keep him on the endangered species list."
John pointedly ignored Damon and turned to Elijah. "What I'd like to know, Elijah, is how do you intend on killing Klaus?"
Elijah took his eyes off Miriam to sternly look at both John and Damon. "Gentlemen, there's a few things we should probably get clear right now. I allow you," he pointed at Damon with a fork, "to live solely to keep an eye on Elena. I allow Elena to remain in her house living her life with her friends as she does, as a courtesy. If you become a liability, I'll take her away from you and you'll never see her again."
Both men looked angry but cowed.
Alaric decided to make his move. He rushed forward, intent on stabbing Elijah in the back, but the Original was faster. He vamp-sped out of his seat and caught Alaric's arm just as it was about to thrust the dagger into his heart.
"I'll take that," Elijah plucked the dagger out of Alaric's immobile hand and tucked it away in his inside jacket pocket. "And your punishment."
Elijah changed his grip on Alaric's arm. There was a loud crack, and Alaric began shouting in pain. Elijah callously dropped the broken limb just as Jenna ran into the dining room with a plate of cookies.
"What's wrong?!" She exclaimed.
"Attempted murder," Elijah said casually. "Gentlemen, if either of you so much as twitch a finger I will pull your stomachs out through your throats."
Jenna gaped at the scene. John looked frozen in his seat. Alaric collapsed to the ground, groaning in pain. Damon seemed to realize his plan had failed, and looked stoic.
Elijah pulled out his phone. "August? Bring them in now, please."
August, Dr. Martin, and June came into the house. June was dragging an unconscious Stefan Salvatore. August was pulling a struggling Elena, who had her hands bound.
Jenna gasped and tried to run to her niece, but Elijah stopped her. He gently pried the plate of cookies out of her hands and set them down in front of Miriam. Damon sent her a 'what the hell' look when she took one and bit into it. She shrugged. She wasn't in danger, and the cookies were warm from the oven.
"Please, Jenna, sit down next to Miriam. All will be explained in time," Elijah smiled, but it was not kind. Jenna dropped in the chair, pale.
"What are you doing?!" cried Elena. She spied Alaric on the ground. "Ric?!"
"He suffers from a broken ulna and radius, nothing more," Elijah picked Alaric up by his collar and threw him into a chair. "Please, sit, Miss Gilbert."
August forced the teenager into a seat and stood behind her to keep her from getting up.
"Now, I recently became aware of a plot to kill me," Elijah said conversationally. He began to circle the table like a hungry lion, looking for the weakest link. "By some miracle, you have acquired the tools to do so. Congratulations, by the way. That's an impressive feat that I am sure was accomplished by someone much more intelligent than anyone at this table, Miriam excluded."
For once, Miriam actually felt safe. She didn't know what was going on, but she knew that Elijah had the upper hand. It was a heady feeling, to know that she was protected.
"You all seem to believe that I am some mustache-twirling villain. Yet, I was content to let everyone live out their lives until the sacrifice. I have even taken steps to make sure no one in this room dies. Despite saving your lives multiple times, you seek to deprive me of mine," Elijah tsked. "That is very rude. What was your plan, by the way? You defeat me, sure, but what of Miriam?"
Every eye went to her, and she suddenly felt self-conscious.
"What were you going to do to her after you had killed her mate right in front of her?" he questioned, his eyes going cold. "I would like to believe you would leave her alone, but based on your track record, I think not."
"We wouldn't have hurt her," Alaric moaned. "Damon was going to compel her."
"I can't be compelled, fucker," Miriam said, offended.
"This is your problem, children. You do not think things through," Elijah said, a slight smirk on his face.
"This wasn't my idea!" Elena protested. "I didn't know they were attempting to dagger you until your goons forced Stefan to call Alaric and tell him that if Damon used the dagger it would kill Damon. I am still honoring our deal!"
"At this point, young doppelganger, I don't care," Elijah shrugged off her protests.
"Please, believe me!" Elena implored. "They were just trying to protect me! At least leave Jenna out of this!"
"I think not," Elijah walked around the table until he stood behind a shaking Jenna. "Here is what's going to happen. After we finish talking, Miriam and June will explain everything to Jenna. I will no longer go behind backs just to talk to you, Elena."
"No, Jenna stays out of this," Alaric protested.
"You have 204 more bones I can break, Alaric. I suggest you stop talking," Elijah snapped.
Miriam saw June snicker at the threat. The female vampire looked like Christmas had come early.
"Here's what's going to happen. You will all continue your simple little lives with all the normalcy and happiness you can muster. At the next full moon, someone will come for Elena. We will do the sacrifice, and I shall return Elena to you in perfect health. She will be none the worse for wear. I believe young Caroline explained this to you?" Elijah questioned.
Damon scoffed. "Barbie will believe anything she hears. How can we be certain that Elena won't be harmed?"
"I know of at least two ways she can survive the sacrifice without becoming a vampire."
At the word 'vampire' Jenna froze next to Miriam.
"I am still willing to do this the easy way," Elijah said magnanimously. "Even with your pathetic little attempt to do away with me. I am not your enemy. I will say it again, just in case you hear me say something different: I. Am. Not. Your. Enemy. Does everyone understand this? Because it should be a simple concept to grasp. I, unlike Klaus, am willing to keep Elena alive. If you get rid of me, there will be nothing standing in Klaus's way. Elena will be a sitting duck. You can run to the ends of the earth but he will still come for her, and he will kill everyone she loves just to spite her. Is that really what you all want?"
Everyone involved in the Elena drama looked down at the table like scolded children.
Miriam took advantage of the silence to speak up. "Klaus is coming in a week. He won't care who he hurts, who he kills, to get what he wants. Please, we've got a plan to keep everyone alive, but you can't go rogue," she pleaded.
Damon, Alaric, John, and Elena were glaring at her. Jenna just looked overwhelmed.
"My mate has a soft heart," Elijah explained. "Right now she is willing to protect you all from my wrath, but I would not push your luck," he warned. "Now, Miriam, take Jenna to the library with June while we revive Stefan and explain the new order of things to him."
"Come on," Miriam encouraged. She grabbed the plate of cookies- she liked them, okay?- and led a shaking Jenna away.
"What the hell just happened?" Jenna gasped once the three women were alone.
"Sit down," Miriam pulled the other woman to a couch while June filled several glasses with expensive alcohol.
"Drink," ordered June, thrusting a glass into Jenna's pale hands.
"I'll explain everything," Miriam said, and launched into a story of vampires, doppelgangers, and witches. She tried to keep things as simple as possible for the overwhelmed woman, but also made sure to touch on all the points. She didn't want Jenna to be ignorant of anything that was coming her way.
"And everyone knows but me?" Jenna sounded miserable as she asked her first question after Miriam's tale.
"Basically," Miriam said sympathetically. "They're trying to do that stupid 'you're safer if you're stupid' shtick that superheroes always do. It sucks. But anyway, you're not ignorant now. You're caught up."
"She's truly not in danger?" Jenna clarified, talking about her niece.
"Elena is in a lot of danger," Miriam didn't want to sugar-coat it. "Klaus wants her for the ritual; it calls for the moonstone, a vampire, a werewolf, a doppelganger, and needs to be performed by a witch. A vampire and a werewolf need to die, we can't help that. What we can help is who those creatures are. Tyler Lockwood is a werewolf, but he doesn't have to be the werewolf used in the ritual. Caroline, Damon, and Stefan are all vampires. Any loved one can be turned into a vampire, but we are trying to make sure it isn't anyone you care about."
"If I had my way it'd be Mr. Boggs," June muttered from across the room. Miriam privately agreed with her.
"But two people still have to die!" Jenna pointed out.
"Yes," Miriam allowed, "but the sacrifice is going to happen regardless of our attempts to stop it. So instead of stopping it, we can supply the right people. For example, a werewolf that enjoys torturing vampires. If a murderer or child molester was turned into a vampire for the express purpose of being killed in the ritual, would you really shed a tear?"
"... No," Jenna admitted.
"Then you can understand where I'm coming from. I know what's going to happen in the future, and I'm trying to subvert pain from the kids."
"Even if some of those brats deserve it," June said, and shrugged when both Jenna and Miriam glared at her. "Hey, I'm just speaking the truth."
"Whatever. You're sure Elena won't die?" Jenna locked eyes with Miriam.
"Yes, I'm sure," Miriam said firmly.
Elijah chose that moment to walk into the library. Jenna shied away from him, still wary after his display of power earlier.
"Are you ready to go, Elskaðir?" Elijah asked.
"Yes. Is everything alright with the others?" Miriam accepted his hand and stood up.
"They are well aware that they are on their last shred of mercy from me," his eyes flashed with anger. "They are also aware that threatening you in any way will result in Elena being permanently taken away."
"I'll keep her in line," Jenna vowed, standing up as well, but maintaining her distance from Elijah.
"Let's go," Elijah took Miriam's hand and let her into the other room. Damon was feeding Alaric his blood to heal his broken arm. Stefan had been revived and was holding Elena in his arms. John just glowered at everything that moved.
They grabbed Miriam's jacket and left the Salvatore house. Dr. Martin, August, and June followed them out.
Elijah and Miriam were halfway back to her apartment building when he said, "I think that went well, don't you?"
Miriam stared at him in disbelief. "Are you serious? You were almost stabbed!"
"Yes, but I wasn't," he pointed out, using the same logic a teenage boy would use.
She just shook her head.
"With this chapter of trials behind us, are you willing to look at other places to live? I promise I will find you an apartment or house that you are comfortable in; I just want you out of the apartment you are in now," Elijah didn't plead, but he was close to it.
Miriam thought about it. She knew the place she was living was horrible. Her landlord was a dick, the rent was too high, and the space was too small. Elijah was promising to finance another place for her to live. If it were any other person, even Baahir, she would have said no. She was used to paying her own way. She wasn't used to depending on others, or other people providing for her. But this wonderful man! He hadn't pushed her to immediately move, even though it was clear he didn't approve of her living situation. He had sent bodyguards to protect her and he offered to pay for the things she needed. He was insistent without being pushy.
The act of someone buying her a place to live didn't sit right with Miriam, but Elijah buying her someplace to live did.
"Yes, I'm willing to look at other places to live," she said. "Where were you thinking?"
Elijah just smiled.
elsku hjarta = dear heart
falleg kona = beautiful woman
Elskaðir = beloved
Some dialogue taken from the episodes.
So after I yeet the new chapter at you folks, I try not to check in on it until the next day. The next day I check in and read all the lovely comments you guys leave. It's the highlight of my day, and if I'm being honest, I write the chapters mostly for the comments, lol
Hopefully you enjoyed this! I'm trying to make Miriam not as sad and lonely anymore. She has a mate now, and he has the means of taking care of her. I didn't want her to continuously reject his offers to help her, but I also wanted to show that it's hard going from being entirely self-reliant to having someone completely willing to support her. Change, even good change, is hard to adjust to.
