How to say Goodbye
(An AU where Hope goes to save Landon instead of the Saltzmanns in 2x13)
The day had come. That awful, awful day she had hoped she never would experience, where she had to choose between saving the lives of her friends or him. She stood there in the clearing, her head was jerking back and forth, first looking at the school where her friends needed her help, then to the forest where he was about to be killed, and she had never felt so torn. Glimpses, memories shot through her mind like icy bullets; the first time Landon had died and the relief of getting him back, her trip to the 80's with Lizzie, her and Josie using magic together, but then his eyes appeared before her inner gaze, and her body shot towards the forest. She ran as fast as she possibly could, terrified that her hesitation had been too long. That the worst possible thing had happened. As she ran, she felt tears stream down her cheeks, her heart aching for the pain she knew was coming: her best friends and the closest thing she had to a father, dead. She shook her head, she couldn't let herself think that, they would find a way. They had to. Suddenly, she saw something in the distance: a fire. Her heart skipped a beat and she tried to speed up. She just knew that he was there. As she got closer, she saw three silhouettes: Landon, Mr. Williams and a figure in a red cloak. The cloaked figure was holding something that glistened as bright as the fire, projecting the light from the beacon. That was when she realized: that was the arrow. A freezing wave of terror pressed her muscles to make a final push and she almost flew trough the air with a scream, as the glistening sight of what felt like death to her shot through the air, wielded by the cloaked figure, a scream tore through the night. Her scream. "noooooo!" and without thought she threw herself half in front of, half into Landon and the teacher holding him. They were both so surprised that the lost their balance and tumbled onto the ground, just as the arrow hit its target. Only, its target wasn't there anymore. Instead stood she and she felt an intense pain in her chest. She looked down and out of her chest stuck the arrow, no longer glistening, now covered in blood. Her blood. She looked over at Landon, needed to see that he was okay. That it wasn't all in vain. He looked up at her, in shock, and as her knees caved in, he shot up and caught her as she fell towards the spruce needle-covered forest floor. "Hope? Hope, no! what are you doing here? No, what have you done!" he held her oh so softly in his arms as she lay there gasping for air. She realized she couldn't feel her legs, but it didn't matter. He was safe. It was okay. She lifted her hand up to his face and caressed it. The feeling of his soft skin made a single tear loose its grip on her eye and it slid silently down her cheek. "I'm sorry Landon. I'm so sorry. But I couldn't let you die. Not this time. Not when I could stop it." She gasped and he grabbed her hand. "No, Hope its gonna be okay fine. Its- its going to be okay. I'll get you back to school and, and.." she cut off his rambling with small smile. "Landon" she broke him off. The pain in her chest was growing, but with it she felt a feeling of serenity. That must be the peace her father must have felt, knowing he saved her. "Landon, you know there's no time. Please, just stay with me. I beg you" another tear left her eye and he wiped it away, lifting her closer to his chest. "no, no Hope you can't give up. Please, I can't lose you. I can't" the flower on her chest had grown and she was growing paler by the moment. Her eyes were fluttering, and she shook her gently to make her stay awake. "hey, Hope, you can't die. Please, don't die" he bowed his head and couldn't hold back the tears. Through the veil he saw her piercing, blue eyes as she looked at him with sorrow. "I am so, so sorry Landon. I love you.. so much" her breaths were getting shallower and she had harder time talking. Feeling her powers slipping, she looked up at him one last time, gathering the last of her strength and then she lifted herself the last few centimeters and kissed him. He tasted salty of tears and sweat as he bitterly responded her goodbye kiss. That was the last thing she felt, as everything grew dark.
He felt her grow limp in his grasp and his heart shattered in his chest. She was gone. Hope Mikaelson, the love of his life was gone. Dead, because she had saved him. The magic in the arrow had burned away har vampirism and she was dead, truly dead. He hugged her body tighter to his chest, as his legs gave out and he found himself on the ground, cradling her. "No, no, this can't be happening. I can't" he rocked back and forth and didn't even notice that Dorian moved behind him. Suddenly the older man knelt beside him. "Landon, what happened!?" he demanded to know. "I don't know, she was just suddenly there. Mr. Williams, she's gone. Really gone. I think the magic in the arrow nullified her vampire side." He cried. The teacher fell to both his knees beside him and Landon didn't have to look at him to sense his sorrow. They stayed like that for a little while, then the older man put his hand on Landons shoulder. "We need to get her back." Landon, who felt like he had no more tears left, nodded stiffly, and stood up shakily with the body of his love in his arms.
They walked back to the school in silence. Dorian offered to carry her, but he refused. He wasn't letting her go until somebody pried her body from his grasp. When they reached the front yard of the school, his whole body was shaking from the effort, and he collapsed on the grass. Suddenly, out the doors came Dr. Saltzmann running. He ran towards them but stopped dead in his tracks when he saw her. For a few seconds he just stood there, staring, then he staggered over there, dropping to the ground with Landon. "What- what happened" he stammered, his eyes filled with tears and his face locked in a sorrowed expression. "she saved me, Dr. Saltzmann. She jumped in front of the arrow; I didn't even know she was there. She's gone"
