Chapter 17
"Enzo said you were looking for me ?" Kol entered the office to find his three older siblings there.
"We were interrupted last time before Elijah could tell us all about his talk with the gypsies, as an interested party, do listen well Kol." Klaus crossed his hands before him before glancing at Elijah.
Said man was casually seated on his favored armchair and took his time, looking at all the people present in the room before beginning without hurrying.
"You'll be happy to know that we've reached an understanding with the gypsy side. We will forgive their transgression this time, and let them keep what they took as long as it never happen again, we will also install a fortune booth in one of our casinos for a small part of the profit and they agree to not interfere with our business or ally with any of our enemies. That won't be too hard, the police is always trying to run them out of town and old Salvatore is a snob and look down on them, especially now that they'll be allied with us, and they had a disagreement with Silas Salvatore a few years ago."
"Don't blame them, the man is a creep." Mumbled Kol, distaste evident in his voice.
Klaus lips curled upward, for once he agreed with his little brother. Disregarding his brother's interruption, Elijah continued.
"With this terms we will avoid war with the gypsies."
"That seems reasonable." Freya spoke for the first time, eyes narrowed in contemplation.
"Well, all's good, I promise not to punch any gypsies I meet as long as they don't look for trouble. Was that all ?" Kol got ready to leave, he was getting bored.
Klaus eyes were fixed on Elijah, he was waiting for the catch, there was always a catch in negotiations. As his older brother looked at him in silence, he knew he was right.
"No, that is not all Kol. The gypsies have their own traditions, they do not believe in signed contract and do not trust us enough for our words to be sufficient. However, they believe in blood."
"What, they want us to sign a blood pact or something." Kol raised an eyebrows.
"Or something. By believing in blood they mean family ties, our agreement will be sealed by marriage." Elijah nonchalantly said.
The reactions of his siblings were all a bit different, Kol was incredulous, Freya was wary and Klaus was calculating.
"You're getting married ?!" Kol questioned him.
"Not me." Elijah simply said. Kol turned to look at Klaus.
"Elijah know better than to agree to a marriage for me in my stead." Klaus smiled, but there was no mirth in his eyes.
"Then who's getting married ?" Kol was beginning to feel suspicious.
"Of course the one who's started this whole mess, should be the one to help fix it. That would be you, little brother." Klaus smirked, a bit amused this time.
"No ! I don't want to get married ! Elijah's the one all ready to go to the altar before, and both of you are older than me, why do I have to marry first." Kol wasn't amused anymore.
"Elijah's nursing a broken heart and me... I'm not interested."
"Nobody would want to marry their daughter to Niklaus." Elijah picked back, Klaus just smirked at his older brother.
"And they're alright with me ?!" Kol was incredulous, his reputation while not as bad as Nik, would still send prospecting parents running.
"From what I saw, they weren't happy with the lot of us Mikaelsons, but it is their custom. The girl they chose will probably not be too valuable in the eyes of the Elders." Analyzed Elijah. Truly, what girl would they find to sacrifice to the big bad Mikaelsons, Elijah nearly pitied her.
"How old would she be ?" Freya asked concerned.
"They would have reached the legal marriage age, but probably not any older than Rebekah."
"Then, Kol you marrying that girl is the right choice, Elijah would be nearly ten years older and Klaus is... well Klaus. You are the closest age wise, and they are right, you started all this, maybe facing the consequences will do you good." Freya gave her judgement, ignoring the look Klaus was giving her for her remark about him.
"No !" Kol crossed his arms, looking all like a pouting child to his older siblings.
"You just have to marry a girl, she's the one entering the family, it's not like we're making you go live with the gypsies. Man up little brother, you might even learn to enjoy the girl." Klaus smirked, not at all comforting.
"By the way, if anything untoward were to happen to her in the immediateness of the wedding, the deal is off. Do behave." Elijah said, giving a look at Kol, while fixing his cufflinks.
"Kol, do it for the family." Freya put in her grain of salt.
Against the combined might of his older siblings Kol couldn't hold on. But there were things he wouldn't fold on.
"Fine ! I'll marry the bloody gypsy girl ! But if she's ugly the wedding is off !"
"Well, looks like we have something to celebrate and a wedding to plan." Klaus smiled, leaning back in his chair.
-O-
Back to the gypsy encampment, four women were sitting in a caravan to talk about their side of the agreement with the Mikaelsons. One of these women was Sophie, the others were the clan Elders, Agnes, Bastianna and Sophie's sister, Jane-Anne.
"How did the Mikaelson react to the marriage condition ?" Agnes asked.
"Elijah Mikaelson didn't even bat an eyelash when I brought it up." Sophie mentioned, she hadn't thought he would take it that well herself.
"Are the Harvest girls ready ?" Bastianna questioned.
"Yes. Though Cassie and Abigail are still immature." Sophie answered respectfully.
"Who did the Mikaelsons chose on their end ?" Jane-Anne asked in concern.
"Kol Mikaelson." Sophie said seriously, understanding her sister's concern.
The three Elders stayed silent for a moment at the information.
"Abigail has already been promised by her parents and cannot be chosen." Agnes broke the silence.
"Cassie would be an unsuitable match as well." Bastianna commented, but everyone knew Cassie was a favorite student of hers.
Jane-Anne closed her eyes, she could not bear to part with her daughter, send her to them.
Sophie worriedly glanced at her sister, knowing that she was thinking of Monique.
"Let Davina marry Kol Mikaelson." Jane-Anne finally opened her eyes and spoke.
The three other knew that she had just sacrificed another girl to save her own daughter, however, they did not have any objection to the choice. Davina was an orphan, her parents had died a few years ago, leaving her to be raised by the clan, but she had a rebellious streak who'd caused them a headache more than once.
"I made clear to the Mikaelsons that if anything happen to the daughter we send soon after the wedding, any agreement would be void." Sophie spoke again.
"Then we do not have to worry. It is decided." Bastianna concluded the talk.
"Sophie, announce the news to Davina." Agnes commanded before the group separated.
-O-
Davina listened disbelieving as her future was decided for her.
When she'd become a Harvest girl a year ago, she hadn't thought much of it, three other girls in her age group had been selected too, and basically Harvest girls were young girls having reached the marriageable age of sixteen, and were getting ready to be wedded.
But the more she listened to the lessons on their customs and the duty to their clan through marriage, the more she didn't like the idea of others arranging her marriage for her. She wanted to marry for love, like her parents had. And the term 'Harvest girl' became distasteful, like she was a flower ready to be plucked. It did not help that the boys of their clan would watch them with covetous eyes. Cassie soaked up the attention, Monique was untouchable as her mother and aunt were prominent members of the clan, Abby was already betrothed, but she was an orphan, if it wasn't forbidden to touch a Harvest girl, those boys would already have put their hands on her. It was the only reason she was grateful to her status as such.
But the day she'd dreaded was apparently already here. She was to be married off to a stranger.
"No." Her clear voice resounded in her tiny room, as she faced Sophie.
"I'm sorry Davina, it has already been decided."
"I don't care." She set her chin stubbornly.
"You are helping the whole clan avoid a war by marrying, you should be proud." Sophie patiently tried to convince her.
"If it's such an honor why don't you let Monique have it, she's a Harvest girl too." She said bitterly, how much did this decision come down to the fact she didn't have any parents to fight for her, she could well imagine. She was just disposable in the Elders eyes.
Sophie frowned, but could not help pitying the girl before her, still Monique was indeed her family and she would protect her, as Jane-Anne had often protected her growing up.
"You won't have to worry about your safety as long as you don't betray your new husband's family, I made sure you would be treated well. And the Mikaelson for all of their reputation, their family always comes first, you entering their family is a good thing." Sophie persuaded.
"It's not like I have a choice do I ?" Davina clenched her hands as her narrowed eyes glared enough at the floor at her feet to burn a hole in it.
"No." Sophie simply said.
-O-
"Congratulations Davina !" Cassie plopped next to her as she was reading before her caravan.
"I heard the one she's marrying is Kol Mikaelson. He's the one who beat up Lee and his boys." Abigail shared her gossip as she took a seat as well.
Well, she already liked her future intended better, Lee was a bully, always cockily strutting around.
"What matter is that she is doing her duty to the clan, like the Elders taught us."
Davina raised her eyes from her book to watch Monique sit across her. She'd always been the most fanatic of them about their customs. But she'd like to see her if she didn't have her mother behind her to choose the perfect husband for her daughter. Evidently Kol Mikaelson didn't make the list.
"Is that all you came to say ?" Davina finally broke her silence.
"You're the first out of us to get married, it's worth celebrating. I always thought Abby would be first." Cassie insouciantly said.
Davina wanted to correct her, there was nothing to celebrate, she was being sold to a stranger in a matter of days.
"We have a lot of preparation to do before the wedding, Mother said we should help you."
"Oh ! Let's go have a look at the wedding dress. Embroidering our own wedding dress was the most fun part of Harvest girls lessons." Abigail got exited.
Davina herself hadn't minded the exercise as much as others, like listening to Bastianna droning about customs. She wasn't too bad with a needle and had enough artistic sense to sew an array of flowers along the dress hems and over the veil.
"Come on, let's go." Cassie pulled her to her feet and her caravan.
Davina could only helplessly follow along. Not feeling an ounce of the joy of the girls around her. Monique wasn't as exuberant but smiled nonetheless. However, Davina could feel her eyes never leaving her, and she knew she was probably sent with the others to occupy her and make sure she didn't try to run away.
Davina smiled bitterly. It seemed this marriage was inescapable. Fine, she'd go along with it. For now.
-O-
"Don't be so gloom brother, it's not the end of your life." Klaus was taking enjoyment in the situation.
He and Kol were at the Mystic, the next day the wedding would be taking place, and it was supposed to be the last night of Kol unmarried life. The groom in question was half-way drunk already and they'd only been here an hour.
"Shut up Nik." Kol mumbled, his head on the table, his mood sour.
Klaus only felt like laughing at his little brother, but restrained himself. He saw a certain blond approaching their booth with a tray loaded with alcohol and greeted her with a smile.
"Caroline, you came just at the right time with our refill."
"What's with him ?" She inclined her head in Kol direction.
"Don't pay any attention to Kol, love. He's being dramatic." Klaus took a sip of his Bourbon.
Caroline shrugged and turned to leave when Elijah Mikaelson made his appearance, glancing at her in passing and sliding in the booth next to Kol.
"Elijah, nice of you to join us. I worried you might not make it." Klaus raised his glass to him.
"Right, come and spectate my misery." Slurred Kol making his brothers roll their eyes.
"Here, drink." Klaus put one of the drink just bought by Caroline before him.
"Maybe you should rather cut him off, he will need to be able to stand and speak tomorrow." Sarcastically said Elijah taking a drink himself.
Ignoring him, Klaus turned to Caroline, who stood watching the interactions between the brothers.
"How about you join us for a drink too Caroline ?" He invited her, gesturing to the seat next to him.
"No ! No girls tonight Nik ! That's my night !" Kol raised his head and glared at him.
"It is against tradition." Elijah added, as he watched Caroline and Klaus in speculation.
Caroline knew when she'd overstayed her welcome.
"I think I'll leave you between men. But thanks." She gave a small smile and left.
Klaus frowned.
"Who is she ?" Asked Elijah.
"Nik's girl." Kol suddenly had a grin, as if wanting to get Klaus in trouble. Elijah raised an eyebrow, interested.
The blond Mikaelson just rolled his eyes.
"She's not my girl." He simply said.
"By that you mean you haven't succeeded in taking her to bed yet right ?" Kol snorted.
Klaus inwardly didn't deny, but he still sent a look at Kol for good measure.
"Oh, come on, don't deny it Nik. As if you wouldn't rip out any guy who'd make a move on her."
The very thought sent Klaus blood boiling, which he really couldn't understand why he felt such toward that little blond barmaid. But he didn't need to inform his brothers of that.
"She wouldn't happen to have been your escort to a certain banquet ?" Elijah wondered.
"If she is ?" Klaus raised an eyebrow.
"Deal aside. The punch does make more sense now." Elijah nodded, satisfied of his conclusion.
"Ugh !" Kol put his head back on the table. Talking about the pretty girl his brother was chasing, his own thought went back to the unknown girl he'd marry the next day. "I swear I'm calling this wedding off if she isn't at least pretty." He swore.
As usual, his brothers ignored him.
Do the witch of NOLA not perfectly fit the role of the gypsy though?
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