Day 1 of Trip
September 28, 998
Ten days till the full moon

Elena felt nervous for a multitude of reasons; but all things considered, how could any person really blame her, she thought sardonically. Not only had she been yanked out of her own time and then thrown over a thousand years into the past, she might end up being stuck there with no easy way to return. Just the thought of never again seeing her brother or the people she cared for was heartbreaking enough. Then to throw salt on an already open wound, she'd not only encountered a direct ancestor to one of her best friends, she also had met another person who unfortunately shared the same face with. Oddly enough, so far her first impressions of Tatia were rather a drastic improvement when compared to her own first jarring encounter with Katherine. But if anyone had even once suggested that she might one day be walking through a long forgotten viking village that predated even her own Mystic Falls, she probably would have sworn they were either joking or crazy. God, she was even starting to miss Damon, of all people. Her complicated relationship with Stefan's older brother had subtly changed. Ever since Stefan had left with Klaus all those months ago, she'd grown closer to the older Salvatore. Now that she was most likely stranded in the past, she could truly admit to herself that she'd been trying to change him; but he'd been right when he eventually rebelled against her attempts, stating that he was a vampire.

Shaking her head, feeling annoyed with herself, she absently played with the silver bracelet Ayana had given her just before leaving the cave network. She didn't know how it worked, but supposedly the only people that could see her would be Tatia and Ayana. At least for now, no one yet knew of her existence. That would change when they hopefully returned in just over a weeks time, but she still felt nervous. Which for Elena she was so far thankful for. They or more accurately she had yet to encounter one of the four Originals she'd previously met in her own past. Elena hurriedly sidestepped an oblivious villager carrying a basket of fish and then quickened her pace in order to catch up with Ayana and Tatia as they pressed onward.

Being invisible was not as easy as she'd first imagined it should have been. Elena was quickly coming to that realization when she had to go out of her way to avoid bumping into yet another village who this time had unknowingly blocked her path. Elena had to quell her growing frustration from boiling out her cloak of anonymity would be torn away if she so much as spoke to another person. Ayana had reassured her that the glamour would not break if she inadvertently spoke aloud, but even Elena had to agree that a voice seemingly coming from thin air would raise too much of a suspicion. She was really tempted to take her time looking around, but she feared that if she surrendered to her curiosity she'd become separated from either of her only two friends in this time.

So it was a rather unpleasant surprise for her to inadvertently stumble into the backside of Tatia's still form. Thankfully Elena hadn't been moving fast enough to knock Tatia completely over. Still her momentum was enough that they both moved forward together before a pair of strong arms caught Tatia and by Elena by proximity preventing them both from stumbling any further. Tatia's back blocked Elena's view so she had yet to see who had prevented the pair of them from falling to the damp earth.

"Easy there Tatia, I've got you. Are you feeling okay?" a way too familiar voice spoke, and although it lacked a British accent, that voice had been haunting her for months now. Elena carefully backed away from the awkwardness, not to mention her own sudden discomfort from being so close to the person that would one day use her as a sacrifice.

"She's fine Niklaus; now can we go practice? You'd promised to teach me!" An unfamiliar voice spoke. Elena's view was blocked by Klaus and Tatia. Her curiosity piqued and Elena side stepped enough till she could view whoever had just spoken. His features looked similar to the first original she would meet in a musty derelict Mansion in their very distant future. But it was his eyes and too youthful features that made her shoulders droop slightly. Whoever he was, he was not her Elijah.

"Brother, I have not forgotten my promise. I've always kept my promises and besides, it's not even midday. We have time," Klaus shrugged indifferently.

"That is until Tatia conveniently fell into your arms. I've seen how you look at her. Perhaps I should ask Elijah for help and give you both some time alone together," his younger brother huffed. Elena couldn't help feeling herself a voyeur watching their brotherly interaction. Elena had never considered that Klaus might hate being compared to his more noble, and in her eyes, more capable older brother, but now she was beginning to consider if that tension between siblings had become more intense after they were turned into vampires. Thinking about family only helped to remind her of her brother Jeremy, her sole remaining relative. Her chest tightened as she considered the possibility that she might never see him again.

"Henrik!" Klaus snarled. Tatia's intervention surprised both him and Elena herself when she placed a soft reassuring hand on his forearm.

"Niklaus, Henrik, please no fighting I'm fine. Really." Tatia spoke softly to them both. Klaus visibly relaxed and Elena watched an odd smirk quirk form on Henrik's lips before he froze. Elena heard a sharp intake of breath coming from Tatia and for a moment Elena didn't understand what she was transpiring before her own eyes. It almost seemed like Tatia was placing herself in front of Klaus as if to shield him. Her lips twitched as if in preparation to ask when she finally caught sight of Ayana giving her head a slight shake in negation.

"Boy! What is going on here? Why are you not starting your brother on the basics of swordsmanship? Instead I find you wasting the day cavorting with a betrothed woman no less? Have you no shame nor honor, why can't you be like your brother Elijah?"

Elena couldn't resist the urge to flinch when she looked over her shoulder at the man who, despite his appearance being much more rustic and sporting shoulder length dirty blond hair rather than the more modern attire he'd been clothed in the last time she'd laid eyes on him, was familiar. There was something about Mikael Mikaelson that demanded obedience and that unnerved Elena, considering that she had only met him once and that was shortly before thrusting a white oak ash dagger into his chest as part of their plan to draw Klaus back to Mystic Falls. Fat lot of good that had done, Elena considered mutely.

"Father we were just going to retrieve the wooden swords that Niklaus had crafted for us." Henrik spoke defensively for his brother.

"Henrik shouldn't you both already be carrying your weapons wooden or not? Niklaus you'll never become a warrior with that attitude!" Mikael chided. As he spoke his eyes were firmly fixed on the older sibling. Elena watched as Klaus wilted under his father's glare. For a brief instant she actually felt pity for the person Klaus had been and forgot who he would become. Was there a way to prevent the events that lead to them becoming vampires Elena found herself pondering the possibilities when a new voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Husband, I had asked Niklaus to deliver a draught of elixir to the Aumont family home for Abigail's morning sickness before he and Henrik started this morning," a woman spoke, who until now Elena had really noticed before. Where had she come from, Elena asked herself.

"Well then he still should have picked up their practice weapons before departing the house then." Mikael retorted.

"Husband, they are both still young I didn't want them to accidentally drop the draught while carrying their weapons. I told them to come back to the house then collect their weapons."

Watching the tableau unfolding in front of them Elena didn't yet know her name, but she knew from her discussions with Rebekah and Elijah in her timeline that their mother had been a very powerful witch. She had striking features and she and her son Klaus shared the same hair coloring.

"Esther, why do you insist on coddling the boy? Our eldest Finn is turning out to be a very promising warlock and Elijah has never come home empty handed from one of his hunting trips."

"Mikael…" Esther spoke, softening her words. "Our children are growing up so fast my husband, and on the anniversary of losing our beloved Freya. Please let them be, just for today," Mikael's breath caught and for a brief instant Elena wondered if what Esther had said would rebound on her. To her own surprise, she watched as his harsh expression melted away before he wheeled to face his wife, blocking Elena from witnessing what transpired any further.

Feeling as if she was being watched Elena turned to find Ayana watching both her and the scene going on in front of them. Elena smiled weakly at the witch and motioned with her hands to ask if they should depart. Ayana surreptitiously motioned for Elena to draw closer to her and Tatia but gave no other indication that they should leave just yet, making Elena wonder if Ayana needed to speak with either Mikael or his wife Esther.

"For you and for our beloved Freya I will allow our son's inattentiveness to pass just this once." Mikael spoke finally breaking the awkward silence that had descended amongst them. Mikael turned to face his children his eyes momentarily softening on Henrik visage before fixating on Klaus with a steely glare. "From this day forth, however I expect both of you to carry your swords with you at all times do I make myself clear?" Mikael's threatening tone in his verbal command left no room for misinterpretation from either of them.

"Yes father." They spoke in unison. Mikael took a step backward to allow them to pass, but as Klaus and Henrik stepped even with their parents Mikael's hand shot out and grabbed Klaus's bicep pulling his son forcibliy towards him. Elena had to strain to hear what the Elder Mikaelson said to him but she caught a few words.

"Where… Mother's necklace… If I ever catch… without it I'll…." Mikael seethed.

Klaus's free hand shot up as if to find the missing item and when his fingers didn't find what they sought, his complexion visibly paled. He didn't speak, only looked regretfully towards his mother before bowing his head in anguish. His reaction was totally alien for Elena. The Original Hybrid had never once shown signs of weakness and had even boasted at being two steps ahead of everyone. She couldn't help wondering what was so important about the missing necklace? For now, her question unanswered, she watched as the two brothers quickly departed. The tense atmosphere that had existed lessened and both Mikael and Esther smiled fondly at Ayana.

"I see that you and Tatia are off to collect the latest additions to our ever growing colony." Esther spoke warmly to her once mentor. Esther's husband Elena observed silently from the periphery for once not taking charge of the discussion.

"Yes my old friend we shouldn't be gone for more than a weeks time. If it wasn't for the fact that Tatia's betrothed is counted amongst them I would not have allowed her to journey with me, but as it is Tatia should take the time to get to know her future husband on the trip back. Wouldn't you agree Tatia?" Ayana responded. Before Tatia or Esther could respond Mikael found his voice and spoke once more, but in an more respectful tone towards the older witch.

"Ayana I wish that you'd reconsider my offer to take some of our men along with you. I'd prefer to send Elijah along with you but he is out hunting game for our family's table." Mikael said.

"The fewer people the better Mikael. Bladed steel and arrows are one thing but not against my magic and considering the full moon is soon to be upon us all, the need for haste as well." Ayana countered. Based on her tone Elena wondered if this particular discussion had come up on more than one occasion beforehand.

"Still I would think it would be better if-" Mikael was interrupted when his wife fixed him with a penetrating look.

"Husband I know of your concern about the werewolves interference in the lives of our people, but she is right. The outpost our latest arrivals to our world are currently waiting in is warded well enough to protect them from harm. But even I wouldn't so tempt the gods with leaving innocent people out in a strange new world unprotected. Ayana's magic will help mask their pending arrival into our homes. Speaking of which how many colonists are waiting for you?"

"By my latest count after two longships had to turn back, only four extended families totaling forty souls together, and then there are six additional with Tatia's betrothed as well as her cousin Elena." Ayana answered carefully. Elena tensed when she realized that Ayana was starting with what she considered a rather elaborate plan to introduce her into their community. They hadn't had too much time to discuss it but Ayana had promised to explain in detail once they were safely on their way.

"Cousin? Who is this Elena?" Mikael demanded. To her credit Ayana didn't even flinch under his icy stare instead she met his with her own Jarl he might be but as she was a powerful witch she was not so easily cowed, he frowned in annoyance but recovered quickly just before he switched to Tatia.

"Tatia I wasn't aware that you had any cousins let alone any surviving relatives back in the old country?" he probed.

"Sir, Elena would be of my late mother's older brother's family. She told me once that he'd moved to another village with his new wife. If it wasn't for Ayana's family, I wouldn't even know that I had a cousin Elena," Tatia answered. She backed away when Ayana interrupted.

"With all due respect Mikael Mikaelson I'm responsible for knowing who is coming to the new world. However for the sake of my friendship with your wife I will tell you now that I'm doing my cousin in the old country a favor by taking Tatia's cousin Elena Petrova into my own household. You of all people know that my family and the Petrova's have a deep connection going back several generations. She thought it would be fitting. Considering Elena recently lost her husband, she'd almost missed this migration." Ayana retorted Elena frowned she wasn't so sure about the notion she'd been married, but she'd wait till Ayana could explain she watched as Mikael actually took a step backward. How often did a woman talk back to him Elena wondered.

"Very well but this Elena and the others still need to be tested once they arrive. I will not allow a beast in hiding join our ranks. Oh and when you arrive there tell Bron that he and his men garrisoning the outpost will be rotated out before the next new moon." Mikael snapped throwing his hands into the air before storming away.

His wife Esther soon followed but not before stopping to look at Ayana and Tatia with a apologetic expression that faded as her gaze passed over the spot Elena silently stood. Elena didn't dare move her feet were rooted to the earth as if she were suddenly transformed into a tree. Could she be seen, Ayana had reassured her that only she and Tatia could see her but Esther Mikaelson was a witch after all. Elena moved to speak when Esther smiled at her friend then wished them all a safe journey.

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Klaus grunted as he parried his younger brother's blow and wisely decided to take a defensive step back to collect his breath. He didn't know why he tired so easily. He was just as physically active as anyone else in their family. He wasn't ashamed to admit, at least to himself, that more than once he'd compared his own physique to his other male siblings and found nothing too despairing. Of course Elijah was more defined than he but nor was he himself any slouch either, and yet the issue of his weakness as well as lack of stamina vexed him.

"Are you alright, brother? I didn't think that my strike was all that intense," Henrik asked, his voice laced with concern. He watched as Klaus fingered the silver Starling Necklace their mother had created specifically for him.

"It wasn't brother, and mind your stance. Father will beat me black and blue if he catches you as you are right now!" Klaus snapped. He instantly regretted treating his little brother that way. He swore he didn't want to become like their father and yet he was treating his favorite sibling no better than their own father did him.

"Sorry Henrik. I didn't mean to snap at you as I did, I just have a few things on my mind," Klaus offered in apology and smiled fondly at his little brother. He could still remember the day when his mother had first let him hold his baby brother. He had only been six at the time and despite his father threatening to skin him alive if he so much as dropped their newest sibling, he had instantly taken a liking to him.

"I didn't really take offense brother and as to what is currently on your mind it wouldn't so happen to be about a certain brown haired, doe eyed beauty?" Henrik questioned not even attempting to hide the mischievous smirk he had directed towards his older brother.

Klaus stood ramrod stiff and quickly surveyed the surrounding area for anyone who might have overheard. Elijah and Finn would never say anything publicly but he knew they would find a private place to at least discuss the matter with him. His younger brother Kol wouldn't afford him that luxury and if he was lucky only half of their village would know it by nightfall. His only sister would be of real concern when he considered how moody she could become ever since she had entered puberty. If what mother had said about the spirits of nature were true then his sister was going to turn into a beautiful young woman in her own right. Truth be told he didn't know exactly how to feel about that as well but he sure wasn't going to be discussing the matter with his baby brother.

"Henrik, watch your tongue! You never know who just might be lurking about. Besides Tatia is now firmly out of my reach, lest you forget she has gone to meet with her betrothed. And yes I will admit that I like her, and so do a number of available men in the village. Even Elijah is not immune to her allure; but like he has already, I too must move on as well," Klaus hissed, keeping his voice low. The bitter truth of his last statement ate at him. Shaking his head to clear his lingering thoughts, he looked about one final time. They were in a clearing near their family's long house, but although he hadn't seen anyone they could just as easily be overheard.

"Look I'm sorry Niklaus I know how much you like her and although I don't quite yet understand the odd attraction of girls boys develop on the cusp of manhood. I do have eyes brother." Henrik said sympathetically. They stood in awkward silence for a short time before Klaus cleared his throat nonverbally signaling an end to their current discussion.

"Let's get back to working on your stance. You need to hold your sword arm more like this," Klaus coughed and took up the posture he was now demonstrating. Very few of his family understood him and other than Henrik who knew him, best his sister and Elijah would come in a close second or third depending on the day. He really had no idea what he might do if he or his family lost their little brother.

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Elena felt as if they had been walking for hours. "Oh yeah we have been walking for hours." Elena muttered to herself.

"Did you say something Elena?" Ayana asked, pausing long enough to look back along the path they had been following all day. Elena had surprised her by keeping up with the grueling pace Ayana had set for all of them.

"I'm good Ayana. I can keep up if that is what you're worried about." Elena answered. Her feet ached from the unfamiliar footwear Tatia had given her and all she wanted to do was sleep for a week. But she knew better than to complain. They still had to get to the destination and the sooner they arrived there the better. Besides as much as she had initially hated getting up early in the morning to train with Ric she had grown to appreciate the solitude of her morning runs it gave her time to think.

"Perhaps we can take a break for a short time, Ayana?" Tatia asked hopefully. Ayana looked up at where the sun was in the sky and sighed in resignation. They had made good time and according to Ayana they were close to the clearing they would stop at for the night. She was tempted to push on but the hopeful look Tatia was throwing in her direction gave her enough reason to take a brief respite. Fortunately she could use the nearby water source to refill their water skins.

"Alright girls we will stay long enough to catch our breath and take advantage of the nearby brook to replenish our water." Ayana sighed shifting her burden off her shoulder. Without her asking Tatia collected all of their water skins and moved off to refill them leaving Elena and Ayana somewhat alone.

"You've really surprised me Elena I pushed us hard and you haven't once complained and you even managed to keep up with the pace I set for us." Ayana said admirably eying Elena from the same place where she had dropped her burden.

"People lately, in recent years from my timeline, have said similar things to me, so I shouldn't really be surprised that anything would be different nearly a thousand years in the past. Speaking of which, I've been thinking over some of the things we've been talking about for the last couple hours on your forced hike and I have a couple of questions," Elena chuckled. She sighed and leaned back against the rock outcropping she had conveniently stopped next to when they had halted their trek through the forest. Her poor feet cried out in agony to be released from their confinement and although she was sorely tempted, Elena wasn't quite sure that she could squeeze them back into her shoes. There is no way in hell I'm going to go running in this forest barefoot from a sudden threat, Elena groused, rubbing her calf muscles and hoping to ease the lingering pain there at least.

"Only a couple?" Ayana teased.

"Well for starters how the hell do I know how to understand let alone speak your language? For context I normally speak in what we call Modern English but I know thanks to a rather pushy history teacher acquaintance of mine that it did not exist until the late fourteenth century. So how can I speak whatever it is?"

"I was wondering if and when you would eventually ask that particular question. For future reference you are speaking in what you and the people of your time would call Old West Norse." Ayana stopped as if hesitant to continue but started up again trying her best to soften her next statement. "Elena the only thing I can say as to how you can communicate with us would be that the spirits of nature had to make some necessary changes inside your mind."

For a tiny fraction of a second, Elena thought she had mistakenly misheard Ayana but the regretful expression on the older woman said otherwise. Quiet rage boiled inside of her. How dare they or it do whatever they fancied themselves? Compulsion was one thing, and thankfully she knew of a means of deterrent, but this was something else.

"Child I know that it feels like an intrusion of your person, but they had no other choice. What would you have them do place you in our time with no means of communication? How would that help you to acclimate to our world?" Ayana spoke carefully.

Elena still felt like shouting but Ayana's last statement did make a logical sort of sense. If they had left her to her own devices she would have had to learn the hard way and there was no way in hell she was going to be anyone's Friday to their Robinson Crusoe. Suck it up Elena you survived being sacrificed for a stupid curse, Elena chided herself.

"How long will it last?" Elena asked finally.

"Elena, as far as I can tell its permanent for however long your in the past, and its not like you can't still speak in your formerly native tongue any longer. It's just harder."

"Explain." Elena demanded. Ayana didn't take offense to Elena's demand instead she pursed her lips in thought before answering her question.

"Think of your former language as a newly learned secondary foreign language and to speak in it you only need to think of what you want to say in what you called Old West Norse and then translate it to English. And before you ask there will be words that don't easily translate, but that should help prevent you from saying something that should stay in the future." Ayana answered. She paused and then suggested Elena give it a try. Elena feeling somewhat mollified now considered her options and doing as Ayana had described she let loose a torrent of profanity that had her parents been alive would have ended with her grounded for at least a week if not more.

Ayana eventual reaction was not what she had expected the witch who had been sitting across from her burst into laughter and Elena's cheeks burned with embarrassment. Had she not spoken in English she wondered?

"No Elena I couldn't actually understand what you had said but still I am a grown woman and I've heard enough foul language in my life to get the jist of what you meant. Very well done do you have any more questions while we are on this particular topic?"

They spoke a little longer and Elena was relieved to know that she still could read and write in English but was rather disappointed that she couldn't do the same with Old West Norse or simply Norse as she started calling her new native tongue. Ayana hadn't seemed surprised but she had continued on by explaining most Norse people didn't either. Instead most could read and write in Latin thanks to the former influences of the Roman Empire. Thanks to Bonnie insistence Elena had more than a passable level of skill in that area. Tatia returned with all of their water skins refilled and after a short pause to give her time to relax for bit as well Ayana stood up and collected her belongings. Taking the queues from Ayana actions both Tatia and Elena did the same. It was long before they were back at their original pace.

A while later, the sun now significantly lower in the sky since the last time Elena had checked, Ayana had only indicated that they were very close to the clearing they were going to stop in for the night when Ayana froze and held up a hand in warning. Elena, who before then was just about to ask another question about what had transpired that morning in the village, froze as well when an unfamiliar voice spoke from somewhere close behind them. Elena froze in place. How had they missed whoever it was? Had they been followed by someone from the village, she wondered as she slowly turned around. Thankfully she hadn't bothered to take off Ayana's bracelet, and she hadn't spoken aloud for quite some time since they had stopped earlier. She had been lost in her own thoughts when the unannounced intruder had finally revealed himself to Ayana and Tatia. As far as she knew she was relatively safe just so long as she didn't bump into anyone or say something.

"Greetings to you Ayana, Tatia. Might I ask what are you doing in my people's forest?"

"And to you as well Ansel my old friend." Ayana returned the informal greeting. From Elena's vantage she was stunned to see that Ayana hadn't so much as blinked or for that matter appeared to be at ease. Tatia on the other hand looked absolutely petrified and it was a miracle that she hadn't given Elena away just by looking directly at where she was standing.