Chapter 1: Dream Weaver
Author's note: Hey everybody! I decided to start a collection of random Klaroline AU one-shots that I'll post here. Some will be written from prompts through klarodrabblequest on Tumblr, and others will be ideas that come to me when I should be thinking about my multi-chapter Klaroline work instead. I hope you enjoy them! This one is AU Klaroline with human Klaus and siren Caroline. Written for a klarodrabblequest prompt on Tumblr.
"Of all creatures that breathe and move upon the earth, nothing is bred that is weaker than man."
― Homer, The Odyssey
Klaus impatiently scanned the horizon, hoping to catch a glimpse of the tiny island. As his gray eyes failed to latch onto the mysterious bit of land, he sighed in aggravation. Ship's still too far out, he thought to himself. He knew better than to consult his parchment charts, compass, astrolabe, or other navigation tools — they would prove useless. He already had spent countless hours locked in his cabin with his head buried in his instruments and maps, trying to pinpoint the island's location. The tiny spec of land was an enigma, one that would disappear from the horizon as quickly as it would appear before his startled eyes. Each time he caught a glimpse, he would feverishly mark its coordinates on whatever stray bit of parchment was handy, but sadly, his calculations eluded him whenever he tried to recreate the pathway and lead his brother's ship toward the beautiful island. Toward her.
He shook his head, removing his gaze from his cabin's small window. He returned to distracting himself with tallying the latest haul. His brother, Elijah, captained The Katerina, the most feared pirate ship on the Mediterranean. They had recently attacked a merchant ship with rich stores of pearls, emeralds, silver, and exotic spices. This precious cargo would sustain The Katerina's crew for years. Already his younger brother, Kol, was mentally spending his share of the treasure on games of chance, liquor and wenches. As he scribbled the latest figures into his ledger, he sighed as he could hear Kol's light-hearted footsteps as he skipped into the cabin without bothering to knock.
"Brother! Whatever might you be doing locked away with our treasure?" He wiggled his eyebrows and said teasingly, "I do hope it's something naughty. That said, if you intend to thrash about naked with the loot, do wipe off any soiled pieces before we have to carry them again, eh? Good manners and all that." He threw himself into the wooden chair across from Klaus' desk, propping his scuffed leather boots next to a precariously stacked column of silver coins.
With an irritated huff, Klaus pushed Kol's boots a safe distance away from the treasure. "Don't you have something more useful to be doing? Swabbing a deck? Emptying chamber pots, perhaps," Klaus asked with a wicked grin. "After all, the captain did demote you during our last voyage."
Kol's cheerfulness faded as he ground out, "I'm still first mate! Elijah wouldn't have known about my deeds had you held your tongue!"
Rolling his eyes, Klaus replied, "Your companion had you bound and gagged with the ship's pulleys! Had we not returned from the port city early, that little tart would have absconded with the lion's share of our latest haul!"
Kol shrugged his shoulders and mumbled, "Davina's a saucy minx, but she meant no harm. She's quite spirited you see, and she happened to misunderstand something she saw in the tavern. You see, I was being a good lad helping out a pretty thing whose corset strings had become hopelessly tangled, and Davina happened by just as I was —"
"Yes, yes, you're a paragon of virtue," Klaus interrupted. He added dryly, "I think our brother was more disturbed by the fact that the crew had to cut you out of the rigging and pulley system, thus delaying our passage through the Strait of Messina."
"He wasn't the only one, Klaus," Kol grumbled. "The last few trips through the strait you've been as anxious as a cornered wharf rat." He raised a questioning brow. "What has your knickers in a twist?"
"Nothing," Klaus said hastily, finally pushing Kol's feet from his desk and tossing him out of his cabin. Slamming his door shut and throwing the latch, he ran his fingers through his messy blonde curls, unable to prevent himself from returning to the port window once more to stare at the sea. It was an ethereal blue, reminiscent of her beautiful eyes, and his heart gave a funny little tweak in his chest as he recalled the first time he saw her.
They were returning from a successful raid, having hidden their latest capture in the Calabria region. He had retreated to his quarters to sleep for a few hours while the galley sailed through the Strait of Messina. He drifted to sleep almost immediately, which was unusual for him; normally his clever mind made it difficult for his body to relax; he always was pondering the next strategy for the crew and how best to capitalize on their fierce reputation to secure their futures. However, on this auspicious night, a miraculous dream came to him, a beautiful dream of exhilarating light and splendor.
He found himself sitting on top of the crumbling roof of an ancient temple perched on a brilliant green mountain. From his vantage point, he could see the sparking turquoise sea surrounding the tiny island he found himself inexplicably dreaming of. A soft laugh beside him startled him, and he quickly turned to see a young woman of astonishing beauty sitting beside him.
Her hair tumbled down her shoulders in soft, golden waves that glinted in the manufactured sunlight of his dream. Her piercing blue eyes captured the turbulent seas and hinted at an ancient knowledge that Klaus longed to master. Her delicate ivory skin was encased in simple silk that draped over her small frame, leaving her toned arms bare. Her cheeks became rosy under his blatant perusal. She shyly gazed at him from under her long eyelashes. "Hello. My name is Caroline," she sweetly said, blushing even more furiously when he clasped her hand in his to lightly brush it with his lips.
"Klaus Mikaelson," he murmured. "Forgive me, love, but I am awestruck by your loveliness." He gestured toward the sun merrily casting its rays upon them, adding, "Even in the blinding sunlight, you appear to glow from within."
At his casual observation, the girl oddly seemed to grimace before schooling her face into its former innocent expression. "You possess a silver tongue with your honeyed words, Klaus," she giggled. The ocean breeze picked up, swirling her blonde waves around her slight frame.
Klaus tentatively reached out to brush a few errant strands behind her ear. When his calloused fingers touched such impossibly soft skin, the tingling sensation he felt nearly caused him to gasp out loud. Unable to help himself, he caressed her cheek, turning her face toward his so that he could gaze upon her beauty more fully. "You are a vision, Caroline." His shoulders slumped as an unpleasant thought struck him. "This is naught but a dream, isn't it, love?"
Caroline smiled sweetly, briefly leaning into his touch. "Perhaps. Do you wish it to be more?" She hesitantly squeezed his hand, her tone one of sorrow. "I get so lonely here, you see. It's so rare to have visitors and I can tell that you are special."
His heart leapt at her words and he chose to ignore his sensible side telling him that this dream was merely a product of his exhaustion and inherent loneliness. "A beautiful creature of such rare light and innocence should never feel such despair."
The tip of her tongue barely moistened her pink lips as she seemed to reach a decision. "I sing sometimes to keep myself entertained. Would you like to hear?"
"Of course, sweetheart," he hastily agreed, anxious to prologue his dream and spend more time with this enchanting woman.
Caroline's posture straightened as she tossed back her flowing curtain of hair and her voice poured forth the sweetest, most intoxicating notes he could ever imagine. Each word was a revelation that captured his imagination and nipped at his soul. He felt himself swaying to the haunting tune, completely mesmerized by her powerful voice. She held her hands out to him, reaching across the small space between them and beckoning him to come closer. She ended her melody with a heartrending plea, "You should come find me, so you can stay with me forever."
Just as Klaus leaned forward to capture her sweet lips with his, he was unceremoniously pulled from his vivid dream by Elijah roughly shaking him awake.
Klaus scowled at the memory. His brother had disturbed his slumber to alert him to the fact that the galley was leaving behind the strait and an unexpected storm was brewing on the horizon. At the time, he believed the dream to be a strange occurrence, a sweet, manufactured memory never to be experienced again. However, weeks later, when their ship returned to the waterway, he was amazed to dream of Caroline once again.
He was walking along a hidden lagoon, his gray eyes filled with wonder at the impossibly tall waterfall that fed the shaded pool. As he stepped closer, he spied a seductive shadow behind the churning wall, and he quickly averted his eyes when a long, creamy leg stepped out from behind it. "Caroline," he called out, somewhat embarrassed, "I didn't mean to disturb you."
"Klaus," Caroline replied in a joyful tone, "I'm so happy you came back to see me." She touched his shoulder lightly, and his breath caught in his throat as he saw her damp body barely concealed beneath the clinging fabric of her dress. "I've missed you," she said coyly, gazing at him from underneath her lashes. "I need you here with me. I want you to find me," she added with a teasing lilt to her voice that hadn't been apparent during their first meeting.
"I believe I shall always find you, love," he vowed, his mind slowly catching onto the fact that this fantasy was more than just a dream. He could no longer pass it off as mere coincidence — dreaming of the same impossibly beautiful woman he had never met, but his subconscious could only conjure her presence when the galley sailed a specific area of the strait. There was something more here than what his rational mind could comprehend.
She flashed him a blinding smile, caressing his strong forearms while she sweetly pleaded, "I'm so lonely here. I need you to come be with me." She captured his bewildered gaze with her soulful stare and parted her petal-soft lips to sing to him once more. Her powerful notes held a plaintive cry that nearly moved him to tears as he longed to touch her. He needed her light, the enigmatic innocence and seduction that she wore as equals upon her ivory skin.
Succumbing to her mysterious pull, he dipped his head to kiss her gently. As her tongue caressed his, playfully swirling and teasing, he groaned in delight, pulling her wet curves to his trembling body. He allowed himself to become lost in her electric touch and delicious fragrance of honey and wildflowers. He pulled away suddenly, gasping for air. "Apologies, love. I didn't mean to be so forward," he stammered.
Confusion colored her lovely face. She murmured, "But I don't mind, Klaus."
"But I do. I wish to treat you with the respect you deserve, not give into my baser desires." He smiled at her, somewhat embarrassed by his admission. "In my world, I am far from a gentleman, sweetheart, but here, in your world, I long to be more — for you."
The startling blue of her eyes seemed to swirl and fluctuate like the ebb and flow of the tides. "I — I'm not sure what I'm supposed to, um…" she trailed off helplessly. Clearly, she was wrestling with some internal struggle.
Klaus took her hand, smirking at her as he led them toward the sound of the waves crashing along the beach. "Perhaps you could sing for me again," he asked hopefully.
"No!" Caroline's eyes widened at his suggestion, and her vehement refusal was peculiar. Her expression softened as she gave him a careful smile. "I mean, my voice wavered toward the end there, and I don't want to lose it completely. I wish to be perfect for you."
"You do not have to be perfect, Caroline. You just have to be you," Klaus reassured her, earning a stunned look from her once more. They spent the rest of his dream wandering along the sand, the warm waves tugging at their ankles. In between the occasional sweet kiss, they talked about everything and yet nothing, lapsing into a comfortable silence of familiarity that typically only old lovers can boast.
He shook himself from his thoughts, and peered hopefully out his window. His persistence was rewarded when he saw the twinkling light of the mysterious land mass in the distance. Like a man possessed, he tore through his desk drawers looking for his journal. When his fingers touched the worn leather cover, he eagerly pulled it to him and rushed to the top deck. He already had filled pages with her extraordinary visage, and now he wished to capture the magical plot of land he believed she called home.
Into his drawings he poured his desire for Caroline along with his frustration at being unable to moor the galley nearby so that he could reach her. He scowled at the sharp rocks that jutted from the sea, surrounding the tiny island on all sides. The jagged stone along with the thick mist formed an impenetrable barrier around the island that prevented Klaus from seeking out Caroline. "I have half a mind to simply jump overboard and swim to her", he grumbled.
"What's that, brother? Talking to yourself, are we?" Kol mocked, "What did I tell you about drinking the sea water? Turns a bloke barmy."
"Not now, Kol," Klaus grimaced in irritation at being interrupted. "I must perfectly capture that lovely island in the distance."
Kol squinted at his brother, trying to determine the cause of his vexation. "Why? It's naught but a bit of sea-roughened rock and scrub brush. You fancy popping a hole in Elijah's obsession, mate?"
"Of course not. It's far too treacherous to steer The Katerina nearby. Trust me, I've examined the problem extensively," Klaus muttered. He thumbed through his journal, carefully handling the pages with the familiar lines of Caroline's face with a deliberately delicate touch.
"Well, well, who's that saucy little wench," Kol asked with a grin, grabbing at Klaus' hand to prevent him from turning the page. It was by far Klaus' favorite drawing of Caroline; the moment he first saw her perfectly perched atop the crumbling temple roof with the sea to her back and her glorious golden waves tumbling down to her waist. He had captured her innocent, sweet smile along with the contradictory knowing look in her startling blue eyes.
Embarrassed, Klaus snatched away his journal, hiding it from his brother's view. "That's Caroline. She's — she's someone I occasionally dream about." He closed his eyes shut when he realized how absurd he sounded. He prepared himself for his brother's mockery.
Instead, Kol seemed thoughtful and perhaps a touch concerned — rare emotions for the normally mirthful brother to display. He carefully looked at Klaus, as though seeing him clearly for the first time. "And is there a specific stretch of time she appears in these dreams of yours," he asked mysteriously.
Confused, Klaus opened his eyes in surprise, nodding at his brother. "Yes, my dreams seem to occur when our ship passes through these waters." His gaze wandered back to the twinkling landscape of Caroline's mysterious island. "She's somewhere upon that island; I can feel it. I need to get to her, somehow," he sighed, his troubled eyes flickering back to the stunning woman he had captured in his journal pages.
Kol's attention was momentarily diverted by the sudden appearance of a finback whale in the distance. As the rest of the crew abandoned their duties and clamored for a better view of the majestic beast, Klaus completely ignored the spectacle, far too enraptured by his drawing of the mysterious girl. He watched Klaus move away from the crowd that had gathered so that he could gaze at the strange bit of land in the distance by himself. Kol studied the strip of land, a grim look of determination upon his boyish face.
Elijah appeared at his side, noting the unusual change in his younger brother's demeanor. "What vexes you, brother?"
"Trouble," Kol responded simply. "And I know how to stop it."
That night, Klaus anxiously lay in his bed, squeezing his eyes shut and surrendering to the sweet pull of his dream. Caroline was lounging upon a series of elongated stones in a grassy field. She was wrapped in a loose shift with her creamy ivory legs upon display. "Klaus! You're here!" She seemed to melt into his eager embrace. "I've missed you," she murmured against his curls, the skin at the nape of his neck shivering pleasantly as her breath brushed against it with the softest whisper.
"As I have missed you, sweetheart," Klaus replied. As he leapt upon the tall rock to settle next to her, he asked, "Where are we?"
"It's a dry dock. This land was once an ancient harbor," Caroline revealed, running her hands across the rough-hewn stone.
His eyes widened in wonder as he took in the scenery, trying to imagine what it must have been like long ago when it was a bustling port city. His fingers twitched as he wished fervently for his journal so he could sketch this inspiring piece of history. "I wish I could draw this moment, here with you," he whispered, placing a gentle kiss at her temple.
"You have an artist's soul, Klaus," Caroline sighed, squeezing his hand. "You are meant for far greater things than the life of a pirate. I see you upon your ship's deck, drawing all manner of creation in both golden sunlight and silver moonlight. You toil away at your tasks, endlessly seeking to capture each moment of your world, to savor it as thought it was your last." She shook her head as a melancholy note entered her tone. "I envy you your passion for this life. You are more precious than you know."
Klaus placed his calloused hand under her delicate chin, tilting her face to his. "You are the treasured one, Caroline. I have traveled the world and never encountered another such as you. I must tell you, you have to know that I —" His confession was cut short when he was ruthlessly pulled from his blissful dream. He sat up in his bed, gasping as his heart thundered in his chest. He looked about his cabin wildly, trying to ascertain what had occurred.
Suddenly, his ears were accosted by the cacophonous sound of a fiddle being played abysmally. He stumbled from his covers, running to his cabin door to hurl it open and demand an answer for his slumber being disturbed, but the handle wouldn't turn. He twisted the metal and pounded on the solid wooden door with all his might, but it would not give.
"Ah, brother, you're finally awake," Kol called out cheerfully. At Klaus' colorful curses, he chuckled as he continued to strum the strings awkwardly. "You can cease the incessant banging — I've tossed half the bloody food stores against your door. Those barrels won't be budging until morning when it's safe once more."
Elijah came on deck, scowling as he pulled on his ragged waistcoat. "Kol, what is the meaning of this?"
"Trust me, Elijah, it's for the greater good," Kol sagely intoned as he continued to pluck horrendous notes from his fiddle.
Elijah considered his brother, whose expression seemed caught between mirth at Klaus' increasing vitriolic language and determination to continue his dreadful playing. "Do you care to elaborate," he asked tiredly, pinching the bridge of his nose in irritation and wincing at a particularly screeching, off-key note.
"Not especially," Kol responded. "Just know that it worked for Orpheus, and while I couldn't scrounge up a lyre, I figure a fiddle's close enough," he said with a roguish wink. Elijah decided to leave his brothers to their bizarre spat, and returned to his own quarters to try to block out the appalling noise.
The next day, the crew gave a resounding cheer when Klaus hung Kol over the side of the galley by one ankle until he allowed the infernal fiddle to slip from his fingertips into the sea. Alarmed by Klaus' behavior and the crew's enthusiastic support, Elijah promised that he would keep Kol barricaded in his own cabin to ensure everyone would sleep undisturbed. Throughout the day, Klaus could be seen pacing impatiently along the deck, casting furtive looks at the horizon as he seemed fixated on a tiny drop of unremarkable land. Elijah thought to ask him about it on multiple occasions, but the agitation upon his face quelled his curiosity.
Finally, evening was upon them and Klaus flung himself into his bed, eagerly anticipating his rendezvous with Caroline. Kol had rudely interrupted him the night before, but it mattered not for tonight he would tell Caroline of his love for her. Surely, he reasoned, if she felt the same, she could help him determine how they could be together. After all, a creature as otherworldly and powerful as she would undoubtedly hold the answer. He closed his eyes and was immediately drawn into the dream.
It was nightfall, and the moonlight came through the missing pieces of temple roof, bathing everything it touched in a silver glow. He glanced around, taking in the towering columns and crumbling bits marble in wonder.
"I've brought you to the temple where we first met," Caroline explained, walking toward him with a soft smile.
He gestured to the elaborate mosaic that covered the floor, its remarkable beauty still evident despite many sections of the tiny glass pieces missing or damaged. It depicted an intriguing scene of three birdlike creatures perched upon a mountaintop and surveying an acropolis below them. With a tone of hushed reverence, Klaus whispered, "It's beautiful." He grasped both of her arms, bringing her closer to him. His smile was sincere with a charming touch of apprehension as he said, "Caroline, these past few times we've met, I've found myself struck by your beauty and your mystery. I realize now that what I feel for you is more than I've ever felt before. I am in love with you."
Her blue eyes softened as she leaned forward to touch her sweet lips to his, communicating all the passion and fire she felt for him with one simple act. She pulled away as she sensed his growing need for air and brushed aside his blonde curls. "I love you as well, Klaus. These stolen moments we've shared have been my happiest."
He eagerly kissed her again, pulling her into a tight embrace as he inhaled her familiar aroma of honey and wildflowers. Laughing, he cupped her flushed cheeks and gleefully said, "Then let's have these moments forever. I don't want to spend my life sailing these infernal waters and waiting for nightfall to see you in a dream. I want you — always." His gray eyes sought hers, trying to understand the sadness he found there. "Don't you want that? Tell me what I must do to be with you."
She curled her hands around his, shaking her head gently. "Klaus, there's so much you don't understand," she began carefully.
"No," he protested quickly. "I realize that you are more than what you appear. How could I not? The strange manner in which we must meet — it's obvious that there are secrets yet to be revealed. But I love you and I must know the truth." The desperation in his voice was heartbreaking as he pled, "Show me your true form. Show me who you really are."
She pushed away from him, her blonde waves partially obscuring her face. "You don't know what you ask of me, Klaus." Her forlorn tone spoke volumes. Her voice quavered as she murmured, "Just know that with you I am my true self." With great sorrow etched upon her beautiful face, she allowed the moonlight to fill her body, casting an ethereal glow upon her ivory skin. Beautiful white wings appeared at her back, covered in a pearlescent sheen. Deadly-looking claws grew from her hands and she quickly hid them behind the folds of her simple blue shift in shame.
Klaus was startled by her appearance, but also confused. "I — I don't understand," he stuttered. "You're an angel," he ventured cautiously.
Caroline dropped her head, her voice broken as she softly revealed, "No, Klaus. Not an angel. I am…I am a siren. I was once a mortal woman, born on this island. My sisters and I were happy here, and we were even companions of the goddess Persephone. However, when Persephone chose to be with Hades, her mother, Demeter, was full of rage and cursed us, transforming our bodies into this."
He backed away from her in horror. "A siren? A creature that lures mortal men from their ships and when they reach the shore, they are devoured!" His voice was full of venom as he roared, "All this time, it was a trick; you felt nothing for me, only looking for your next meal!"
Caroline tearfully reached out to him only to immediately halt her advances when she saw how he cringed from her touch. "No! No longer do I wish you harm, Klaus. At first, I was following my true nature, but it changed. You changed me."
He clenched his fists and angrily spat, "You lie! It was all a lie!"
"Please, I want to be with you; now that you know the truth, we can be together," she said with a hopeful look despite her flowing tears.
His gray eyes glinted as he coldly replied, "But I don't want to be with you."
A heavy silence filled the temple as the harsh words lingered in the air. "Very well," Caroline responded dejectedly. She quickly severed their connection, sending him back from the dream she had given him.
Klaus awoke with a start, clutching at his heart. Why did it ache so? He clenched his jaw as he desperately fought to hold onto his rage at Caroline's betrayal. She had deceived him, lied about her intentions each time they met. She never loved him. Creatures such as she couldn't possibly love. He tossed aside the covers and began pacing. When the memory of her tearful face, how shattered his spiteful words had left her, entered his mind, he hit the wall in anger. Everything she had told him was a lie. But how could he be sure?
He recalled their walk along the shoreline. He had told her tales of his family, how he and his brothers had left their home to become pirates, seeking a life of adventure far away from their father's violent temper. Her delightful laughter had warmed his soul when he revealed how Kol had been so enamored with his latest conquest that he had failed to moor the ship properly and Elijah and a handful of crewman had to swim from the shore to their unmanned vessel before it floated away. However, Caroline had grown quiet when he asked her to tell him of her family.
"There's not much to tell," she had shrugged carelessly, keeping her gaze firmly upon the sparkling sea. I lived here with my sisters for a long time, but they — they are no longer with me." The sadness in her voice had lingered unpleasantly between them, and he changed the subject as he refused to force her to speak of something that caused her pain.
His gray eyes widened as he considered that sentiment. He didn't want to cause her pain. Because he had loved her. No, he thought, running his hands through his curls, he loved her still. The pain in his heart and the panic he felt at never seeing her again was all too real and he realized he couldn't turn his back on what they could have. He flew out of his cabin and onto the deck, letting out a moan of despair when he saw how the ship had passed by the island. Already it had grown smaller as each wave took them further away from his love.
Without thinking, he plunged into the sea, intent upon swimming to her before it was too late. He fought the strong current, and as he raised his head out of the surf, he could just make out her figure as she stood upon the shore. He smiled despite the salty spray burning his eyes — Caroline would understand that he had heeded her call at last.