Disclaimer: One of the scenes here is inspired by a scene in the Fables comics. And I do not own The Vampire Diaries or The Originals. This is purely a work of Fanfiction.

~TGITW~

Chapter 8: Truly, Madly, Deeply (Part 3)

"Truly, madly and deeply, as the writer said." – Beauty, Fables

MYSTIC FALLS. 1000 A.D.

Elijah's POV

Niklaus was acting strangely.

Ever since that night – when my brother and I saw Faith dancing beneath the moonlight –

Niklaus had been behaving differently. Well, to be honest, we were both acting outside of the norm.

I was quieter than usual, simply observing the festivities that was happening. Here we were dancing around the campfire in masks, and all I did was watched and wondered about my brother.

I could tell he was going through something. Usually, when Niklaus was feeling guilty or running away from something or having a bad day with Father, he would run straight into trouble.

And in true Niklaus fashion, he was acting up. He was chasing after the girls and flirting with them, Tatia included.

I looked on as my brother danced with the girl that was the envy of the town. Normally, I would feel saddened by the scene, but I let my brother dance the night away with Tatia.

Instead, I decided to head back, stopping by the pig's pen to feed it. It was then that I heard Tatia approached me.

We talked for a bit then she extended her hand out and touched my face.

"I choose you Elijah."

I was elated. The most beautiful women in the village had chosen me.

I drew in to kiss her then kiss her some more.

It was what I had desired for the longest time. Yet, there was something troubling me.

The image of Faith dancing beneath the moonlight was burned deeply in my head.

Faith lifting her hands up, moving with such gentleness and grace. Her hips swaying to an unknown melody. From the top of her head to the tips of her fingers, she exuded heart and soul. Her movements carried passion but also melancholy. As her figure continued to dance beneath the moonlight, it painted a picture of mystical beauty.

I had always wanted to be with Tatia and had only ever seen Faith as a someone to protect.

So…Why can't I get Faith out of my head?

~TGITW~

The first snows had fallen on Mystic Fall. I watched as Faith stood by the door. She was wrapped up in a bundle and had a satisfied look on her face. She reached out her hand and let the snow fall on it.

I thought back to the happenings of the past days. When I saw her dancing during the night. When she was all I could think about even when Tatia had confessed. Even when I kissed Tatia, I could not shake off Faith's face from my thoughts.

Faith had always looked at me with eyes of adoration, of trust, of hope. I in turn had wanted to reciprocate her feelings. She looked at me as if I was her whole world. As if I was her rock that she couldn't live without. I felt the need to protect her.

I could still hear the words that she spoken to me: "You're strong Elijah. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You don't realize it now, but you are strong, and you will only get stronger. You may not think yourself strong enough to protect your family right now but that's okay, you will only get stronger from here. You will be strong enough to protect everyone you've ever loved. I believe in you."

In my mind, her words still rang clearly, serving as a reminder that there was someone who believed in me, even when I could not. I did not know when things started to change, but it had.

She had faith in me. In who I was and who I could be. I wanted to become the man that she had faith in. I wanted to become all that she saw me to be. I wanted to prove that I was worth every trust every hope every faith that she had in me. She made me want to be a better man. And I wanted to return every bit of affection she had given me.

I suddenly realized it. I wanted her.

~TGITW~

The first thing I did was to break it off with Tatia.

It felt horrible to do so and it didn't help that Tatia did not take it well. At first, she thought I was joking, then she thought I was breaking up with her because of Niklaus. When she finally understood that I no longer had any feelings for her, she begged me to change my mind. When I insisted on breaking things off, she became angry and cursed me.

I shook my head as I recalled the experience. I guess she wasn't used to rejection.

It had been different with Tatia. I had been swept away by my attraction to her beauty. Tatia was like a fairy queen, someone who stood at top, out of reach by men. For someone liked her to choose me made me feel special. I longed for her, lusted for her even. I was so caught up in romancing her that I had mistaken my feelings for love. But at the end of the day, my love with Tatia was the hollow kind of love, with not a particle of real love. I realized too late, that I had been engulfed by all my romantic notions of love rather than actually loving the girl herself.

With Faith, it had been different. In all those times we spend talking with each other, spending time out in the woods, comforting each other, laughing together, a true bond had been formed. With her, I felt I could truly be myself. I didn't have to pretend to be the noble Elijah or the good son or the caring brother. I could just be myself.

There was an unspoken bond of trust and love between the two of us. A willingness to put the other above our own. A true love.

Now, I prepared to confess my feelings for Faith. I cannot wait any longer. I must confess to the one who my heart longs for. The one whom I loved truly, madly, and deeply. Faith Mikaelson.

I only hope it was not too late.

I looked for her in her usual spot, under the oak tree by the stream, but she wasn't there. I searched other places she could be, and it took some time, but I finally found her. She was in the barn doing some chores.

I entered the barn and closed the doors behind me.

"Elijah?" Faith asked, noticing my presence.

I approached her nervously. All the while trying to catch my breath after all the running around I did.

I stopped just in front of her. Just the two of us.

Even in her dishevelled state, there were none more alluring to me.

"Faith Mikaelson," I whispered her name.

"Yes?"

"I love you."

There was no long-winded declarations of love or explanations of why I loved her. I simply poured all my feelings for her in those three words.

I watched as surprise filled her face. She was astounded.

"I cannot believe it. Are you serious right now? This is not a dream is it? You actually love me?" She asked.

I nodded silently and looked at her affectionately.

She reached out and placed her hand on my lips, tracing my jawbone then cupping my face in her hand. We both leaned towards each other and kissed. The moment our lips touched, it was both electrifying and magical.

She then pulled away from the kiss smiling. Her smile was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.

"Elijah Mikaelson, I love you too," she said with eyes shining brightly.

Hearing the words that I was waiting for, I felt utter joy! I lifted her up and swung her around.

The women I loved, loved me!

~TGITW~

MYSTIC FALLS. 1001 A.D.

It was a warm fall day. The leaves were changing from green to yellow and red. Faith and I were sitting under a tree beside a stream of water. The same place where I saw Faith dancing. Faith leaned against me with my arms wrapped around her. We were both perfectly content, enjoying the serene moment.

Suddenly, Faith looked up to study at my face. She couldn't help but let a grin break out on her face.

I asked her, "What are you thinking?"

Faith placed two fingers over her lips debating if she should answer me.

"I still can't believe you're mine," she replied after some thought. A smile still on her face.

"Well, believe it," I grinned back at her and wrapped my arms around her even more tightly.

I leaned closer and trailed kisses on her forehead, her cheek, then her lips.

We share a passionate kiss before Faith pulled away gasping for breath.

"Stop," she tells him playfully. "We can't go further than this Mr. Mikaelson."

"Is that so?" I replied with an equally playful grin before kissing her again.

~TGITW~

I fiddled with the ring in my hand.

After months of courtship, I was ready to take the next step with Faith.

We had spent more and more time with each other. And as the days passed, we grew even closer with each other. We would take walks in the woods. I would lead her through the woods to our secret place with our hands interlocked. When it got too cold out, I would place my cloak over her to keep her warm. At the dinner table, we would steal glances at each other.

It was during these times that Rebecca and Niklaus noticed the changes in our behavior. Rebecca's response would be to tease her friend. Often causing Faith to go quiet or blush or to look down on the floor as if something fascinated had happened to the ground. Niklaus on the other hand, not really saying much. Instead, he would pretend he did not see anything and ignore us. Personally, I was surprised he hadn't gone after Tatia again.

As time passed and the seasons changed, I grew more and more eager to tie the knot with Faith. In the days leading up to my proposal, I had pleaded for my brother's help relentlessly. He was the artistic craftsman in the family. And I had nagged him for his help in creating a ring for Faith. He finally gave way at my insistence.

It was the ring that he made for me that I was fiddling in my hands. Inside the ring was inscribed the words Faithful & True. It was to be my promise to her as her future husband.

I was even more nervous than when I confessed my feelings to Faith. But I walked determinedly to the spot we were to meet.

And there she was, underneath our oak tree by the stream. A wind blew passed her causing a swirl of orange and yellow leaves. I could hear her laughter as the wind blew through her hair and tickled her.

I approached her smiling. Then knelt down before her and offered the ring up to her.

"Faith Mikaelson, I offer this ring to you. As a symbol of my promise. To be faithful and true. It is a symbol that I choose you. That I dedicate my life to you forever. Will you marry me?"

She gasped in surprised then slowly her lips spread into a smile. She gazed into my eyes and I could see the affection in them. As she was about to give a response, a commotion in the woods interrupted us.

We could hear shouting and cries in the distance. Faith and I glanced at each other before heading towards the screams.

We rushed into the woods and reappeared in the cluster of huts which was our homes. Kol had arrived wailing in despair. In his hands was the bloodied body of Henrik.