AN: Thank you so much for your reviews. It encourages me to continue. Please note that there are reasons this is rated M. This chapter has violence and violent situations. The next chapter is almost ready. Please enjoy. Let me know what you think. Stay safe and be good people.

Chapter 7

The fall night was cool. It was colder than the night before. Soon winter would be upon them bringing bitter cold winds from the north. The ground would be covered in thick blankets of snow after the heavy rains ended and the inhabitants of the forest would go into hiding, finding warm, dry surroundings to take refuge.

The moon was shrouded by clouds restricting its illumination of the night and the stars too were cloaked, denying their brilliance. A deafening, menacing silence invaded the forest.

Bonnie had finally fallen asleep after laying on Klaus' side of the pallet crying for her husband. She made up her mind that she could not be without him and because he would not ask it of her, she would go to him. As much as she loved the forest, she loved him more and her place was with him. After her decision was made slumber overtook her and she was at peace.

Bonnie….

Bonnie….

The tiny witch woke with a start, looking around she saw nothing out of the way save the fire, which was just golden embers, but this bothered her not, she was warm under the furs. She allowed sleep to take her again.

Bonnie….

Bonnie….

Rustling…

Again, she woke after hearing her name and feeling something brushing her face. Her green eyes tried to focus, she blinked several times, then she saw the cause of her disturbance. Blue flickering lights danced before her. They moved rapidly as if they were agitated. The sprites were jutting around wildly, they had never come into her hut before, this awareness fully set Bonnie to alert. Turning to sit up fully she then saw the weeping maiden and the little boy hoovering by the fireplace.

Bolting up, Bonnie got up front the pallet. The spirits roamed the woods as did the sprites but they never passed the wall of stones in front of the little cabin without her permission.

Something was wrong!

"What…?" Bonnie didn't finish her sentence.

"Listen!" Urged the spirit of the young boy, as in a hushed voice as he turned his head to the door.

The sprites gathered around Bonnie almost pushing her to the door. She was dressed in her linen frock, hair wild and untamed and shoeless, but she slowly moved to the door and cracked it open. With her ear tilted out, closing her eyes and letting her senses reach out, she listened.

Nothing…

Nothingness.. She heard nothing and this was wrong. Even for the dead of night it was too quiet. She heard no woodland creatures scurrying around, no creeping insects crawling...not even the wind moved through the trees or grazed the grass blades causing whooshing sounds. The forest was deathly quiet.

Bonnie looked back at the appropriations questioningly.

"Listen!" Cried the young maiden with frustration.

Bonnie turned back around and focussed again listening, trying to ascertain what they were trying to tell her.

Snap..!

Clank..clank..!

Breathing...heavy...labored…!

She heard them. There were men in the forest. They had weapons. She inclined her head more and concentrated. She could hear them talking but it wasn't Gealic or Norse. Foreigners had invaded. She had to warn Klaus, this was her first thought, but her second was to protect her forest.

"Thank you," she said to the spirits and sprites, with a bowed head, "Go away now." The spirits disappeared but the sprites flew around wildly making flickering sounds.

"I must dress and gather my things, you go your way and I will call for you. Go on little ones." Bonnie shooed them away.

Bonnie flicked her wrist and the fire blazed. She walked to her table and began to gather herbs, vials of potions and assorted gems of different shapes and sizes putting them into a leather satchel.

Walking towards the corner of the hut, Bonnie kneeled down lifting her hand she spoke, "What was once hidden is now revealed, what was concealed in dark let it be found."

The ground shook, dirt shifted falling over itself being displaced. From underneath the loosened ground, pushing up to the surface was a leather trunk.

It had been a long time since Bonnie laid eyes on the trunk or its contents, she thought she never would ever again.

XX

The two sentries positioned at the gate took turns walking around the perimeter just outside and around the gate. Ivar waited for Gunnar to return so that he could relieve himself during his round. Impatiently he huffed cursing the elderly man for his old crippled ass when he thought he heard a strangled cry. He wasn't sure but he decided to check it out.

He cautiously walked to the side of the wooden structure with his sword in hand, half way down the long structure he saw what he thought was torn rags. Upon closer examination he saw the bloodied remains of Gunnar, his body was torn apart, body parts were skewed about in a bloody mess. Realizing he had to sound the signal Ivar snapped out of his stupor and started running, behind him he heard the growl of a wolf.

Running faster he sprinted towards the gate's doors, nearly around the corner with the side visible, Ivar slowed down, breathing a sigh of relief in anticipation, this was his fatal mistake. Just at the door , hands extended reaching out...Ivar was slammed into from his left side. Flung onto his back a huge wolf pounced onto his chest squeezing his throat between its sharp teeth, shaking its head flinging blood, bone and skin as it severed the head from the body.

Under the cover of night and with the gate unguarded and open several wolves along with other MacAskill-Lockwood men and English soldiers snuck into the village killing at will and causing chaos.

The men ran amuck. "Sigurd said to be sure to kill Connor's woman, making sure to rip the babe out of her," said one man to several others as they dispersed to burn and kill.

XX

Klaus couldn't sleep; he missed Bonnie. He would go see her in the morrow and make her see reason, they needed to be together, it was as simple as that, there was no way that he would be without his wife if he did not have to be, whether she liked it or not. But hopefully she would like it, he mused.

Laying in the bed, arm over his eyes, he thought he heard something. He stilled and then he heard it clearly, a shrilling cry that pierced his heart. Again and again it sounded, calling to him, a warning, it was Anthus. Klaus bolted up donning on his boots and gathering his sword and knives, he ran for the door.

Upon opening the door he looked up to see Anthus flying in circles cawing. Adjusting his eyesight to the area below the bird he saw the wolves running through the village.

Klaus kept to the shadows making his way to the watchtower where the sounding horn was located. As he rounded the corner he came face to face with an English soldier, with his sword in hand and preternatural reflexes, Klaus sidestepped the lunging man avoiding his sword while using his left hand to rip out his throat.

Continuing to the top he blew the horn several times ensuring the call to arms was heard. However by this time buildings were being burnt and he could hear the screams of women and children, and shouts of men fighting. Pandemonium overtook the village. Klaus wanted to shift as he was now seeing some of his men shifting to fight but he had more on his mind than savagery and he had to strategize so he had to keep the beast at bay, at least for now.

Coming down from the tower he ran into Kol. Breathing heavy, Kol asked, "Have you seen Elijah or Marcellus?'

"No," answered Klaus as he turned to face an oncoming enemy. Kol was at his back fighting another assailant. Metal against metal rang out as they fought, both graceful and skilled fighters.

XX

Marcellus woke from his sleep when he heard the horn, grabbing his sword he went out into the night. He witnessed villagers being assaulted by wolves and men. He saw red at the killing of innocent children running trying to find a safe place.

His first instinct was to get to Rebekah's longhouse which was on the far eastern side of the village, which was farthest away from his. Travelling with purpose he killed any wolf or man he didn't recognize, even in wolf form he knew his men and of course he knew his family.

Making his way up the path towards Rebekah a wolf jumped out blocking his progress, as it jumped up to attack he reached into his cloak and threw two sharp knives straight for its heart. With a whimper the wolf fell to the ground and died, both knives pierced its heart.

Knocking on Rebekah's door, he yelled, " Bekah, it's Marcel, open up." Barely before he finished his sentence she was in his arms.

"Are you hurt?" She asked peering at him as she touched him checking for wounds.

He chuckled, " No love...uhm... sorry, Rebekah..I am well. Are you?" Marcellus asked, looking at her swollen belly.

Rebecca cupped Marcellus' chin with one hand, smiling, "We are well," she said rubbing her protruding belly with the other. Looking at him soberly, she added, "You have always been my heart's true love there is no shame in that."

Marcellus was about to say something but thought better of it, instead he instructed Rebekah to get her cloak. "I will take you to shelter."

Walking through the night Marcellus kept Rebekah close as they traversed through the chaotic village. Women and children were crying, men were fighting.

Rebekah paused making Marcellus stop. "What ails you?" He asked searching for any signs of distress.

"I cannot seek shelter while these people, my people are dying. I need to help them. I will gather as many women, children and elderly as I can and take them to the great hall. You must find my brothers," she passionately replied.

"No Bekah, I will not leave you, not in your condition," he declared.

Around them was death and violence, they had no time to debate. Rebekah forcefully moved out of his grasp, staring at him with angry eyes. "Am I not a Mikaelson?" She paused, he said nothing. "I can take care of myself." Her face softened. "I promise you that I will take care. Go!" She commanded.

Looking at her with eyes filled with love and pride, Marcellus leaned down kissing her roughly, but quickly. "You are a Mikaelson and I love you. You take care. Do not hesitate to kill anyone that tries to stop you." He ordered. They looked into each other's eyes silently promising to see each other again, then they went their separate ways.

XX

Klaus lost sight of Kol as they were fighting, but he had seen Argyll and Elijah fighting against some English soldiers. Since the horn sounded more men on both sides entered the melee.

The MacAskill-Lockwoods and their English comrades were raiding the village, killing indiscriminately, but Klaus' men were effectively thinning their numbers, however there were many of them and all of Klaus' men were not there (half had been dispatched to the western coastline). The MacDougalls were dealing with the wolves and putting out fires and trying to gather the wounded as well as protect the innocent.

Klaus was killing marauders as he went, slashing and stabbing chests, slicing throats and lopping off extremities as he cleared his way to the stables. Anthus followed, keeping pace, watching from on high.

Anthus cawed, alerting Klaus of the wolf charging him from his left side. He turned in enough time to grab the animal by its neck mid air before it made contact as it leapt for him.

Klaus broke its neck letting the dead body fall gracelessly to the ground.

"Interloper! Turn around and face me! You coward, you killed Sheamus-Tyler and you will pay for it!" Shouted a voice from behind Klaus.

He turned to see four men standing there, he assumed that they were kinsmen of Sheamus-Tyler. He smirked as he prepared to fight. He was aggravated that they were delaying him from getting to his wife so he taunted them.

"If the bastard was half the man he thought he was he may have lived longer than he did."

"But maybe it's not his fault that he was half-witted and cockless. Perhaps that is all the MacAskill-Lockwood clan produces." Klaus laughed as he noticed the intended reaction he got.

The three men moved to advance, but were halted by the leader, " The bastard is mine. I'll let you have what's left," he grinned arrogantly at his kinsmen. Looking at Klaus, he shouted, "You will pay for that insult and more."

"So you have stated," Klaus retorted nonplussed by the leader's bravado. Extending his sword as an invitation, Klaus asked. "Shall we then?"

XX