amcke1991 - I am feeling amazing about this story actually. It's undergone some changes since I first thought of it, but I'm loving the direction I'm taking it in.
dreamer22 - I don't know that there will be any Forwood. Personally I never shipped them. I only ever liked the Klaroline ship for Care.
As for what happens with Kol and Elena, you'll have to stay tuned because I don't want to spoil anything yet. I will say that their story is just beginning (again ;))
Caroline folded her legs and arranged the blue skirt over the bedspread to hide the way she sat. The white duvet peaked out in rumples between their joint skirts. Her other hand lowered, passing over a steaming mug.
Elena curled her frozen fingers around the porcelain and looked down.
"Care…" her chest rose slowly and fell again. "This isn't really a hot chocolate conversation."
"I figured," she shrugged as she took a healthy sip, "that's why I spiked it with chocolate liquor and peppermint schnapps. Better?"
"Perfect," she sighed, downing half the mug. She winced around the burn as her tongue scalded.
"You wanna tell me what happened?" Caroline adjusted her skirt. "You looked freaked."
"You remember the dreams I told you about?" Elena inhaled, letting the sweet combination of chocolate and peppermint chase off the rich scent of a non existent bonfire.
"Of course, we only talked about it this afternoon." She nodded, tilting her head.
"Those people I'd never met before… I saw them tonight." Elena shoved books aside from her nightstand, making space for the empty mug. "Esther, Finn and… and Kol Mikaelson."
"You've been having vivid dreams of Originals?"
"Most are vivid, but there's one that's hazy." A pleasant warmth spread out from her stomach. "That one involves Esther and a really bad feeling. I don't know what any of this means Care; just that I couldn't meet her before finding out."
"When did you say this started?"
"The first one was before I woke up after the sacrifice; there was woods and running, and Kol and… well…" She shrugged, half nodding her head.
"Kol's the one you were dancing with before Elijah?" She clarified. "He's cute."
"And in my head mind blowing," she murmured.
"Okay," Caroline bit her bottom lip. "The way I see it there are two possible options for what's going on. Number one: Klaus, Elijah or Rebekah are messing with you."
"Unlikely, since they started before Klaus or Rebekah knew I was alive and Elijah was in a coffin." Elena slumped against the headboard and scrubbed her hands over her face and through her hair. "What's option two?"
"The dreams are actually memories of a past life where you were involved with the Original family and when Klaus killed you the near death experience triggered them."
"A past life?" She snorted, dropping her hands into her lap.
"You're the one who said they were vivid and real," Caroline shrugged. "Except for the hazy one."
"That still feels real," Elena ran her tongue over her teeth, "but blocked. You know the feeling when you're under compulsion and you don't necessarily comprehend what's happening?"
"I know it all too well," she shook her head. "And I think Bonnie would be better suited to help with this. Why'd you tell me and not her?"
"I never planned on telling anyone," she admitted. "I just got so tired and it slipped out." A small bit of weight had lifted off her shoulders when she revealed the truth to Caroline. "I feel better now that you know too."
"Think how much better you'll feel when you tell Bonnie," Caroline frowned when Elena stared down at her skirt. "Unless you don't want her to know?"
She fingered a sparkle in her skirt.
"Elena?"
"It's… it's not that I don't want to tell her," she sighed, chewing on her bottom lip. "I just feel like every time something goes wrong we all go running to Bonnie so she'll fix it, and it's not fair."
"Bonnie does a lot for all of us, and it's not fair to expect it," she set her mug aside and reached for Elena's hands, "but if you want answers before meeting Esther Mikaelson then I think you need to tell her."
Esther paced around the low table. Every few minutes she would sweep the yards of silk back in order to peer at the spell before resuming her pacing.
He held his tongue as long as possible before sighing.
"Mother, I think it's time to accept the fact that she's not coming back this evening."
"My instructions were clear Finn." Her finger trailed over the spell, tracing one name after the other. "Without her this entire evening was for naught. Why would she leave?"
"Perhaps she decided meeting a witch who has made several attempts to end her life was a bad idea," he suggested.
"No," she shook her head, perching on the sofa. "That is a decision she would have made much earlier. The fact that she was here at all tells me she meant to attend this meeting."
"Perhaps you can do this without her," he suggested, turning a thin needle over his fingers.
"I cannot," she tapped the paper. "I require the blood of the doppelgänger to bind you and unmake you. Without her blood we cannot move forward, and I can think of no other time to have everyone share the same drink."
"Dinner?"
She shook her head. She might have gotten most of her children to partake in a shared drink tainted with the doppelgänger's blood, but they had a tendency to scatter and she suspected it would happen sooner rather than later.
"Kol blames Niklaus for what happened to her, and despises Elijah and Rebekah for how they handled the situation. He remained at my request, but I would not be surprised if he vanished by week's end." Her jaw ached as she clenched her teeth in time with the music drifting up through the floor. "Curiosity alone should have brought her. Unless she…"
He tilted his head, bringing the needle to a stop against his palm and waiting. The longer his mother deliberated the deeper the furrow between his brows grew.
"She couldn't," Esther decided, shaking her head.
"She couldn't what mother?"
"What were she and Elijah discussing before she ran outside?" She lifted a bundle of sage from a shallow bowl and relit it, fanning the smoke around the room.
"He attempted to apologize for something, and she inquired after our identities. Why does that matter?"
"I am likely incorrect about her abrupt exit, but I am going to tell you something about the newest doppelgänger that under no circumstances can reach the ears of your siblings," she looked up sharply, "especially Kol."
He sat on the edge of the sofa, intrigued.
"Vivid dreams that you think are memories?" Bonnie examined the hanging dresses over the closet door. She recognized Elena's as one from the back of her mother's wardrobe, but Caroline's gown remained a mystery.
"Is that possible, or have I been reading too many philosophy books?" Caroline finger combed her blonde curls until they bounced across the shoulders of Elena's borrowed sweater.
"When did you start reading philosophy?" Bonnie hopped onto the bed. She dragged her bag onto the mattress and pulled out her grimoire.
"I can't have a hobby?" She lifted a single brow.
"I just never thought you'd be into that sort of thing," Bonnie flipped through the pages.
"I didn't used to be into the supernatural either." Caroline smirked.
"Yet, somehow that's our entire life these days," Elena muttered, whipping her hair into a messy high ponytail. "Is it possible Bon?"
"It would explain the faces you'd never seen before," she nodded, "and it's not like it's without precedent. Apparently witches reincarnate all the time. My mom said that's why some are more powerful than others; they've amassed magic over lifetimes, and brief stints on the other side meant they could more easily access spirit magic."
Bonnie came to a stop on a page less cluttered than the rest. A single inscription filled the circle created by a snake eating its own tail.
"This is one of the spells my grams taught me. She said I had an old soul and using this spell would let me see some of the memories from a past life."
"Did it work?" Elena reached out. Her fingers tingled when they touched the page.
"Yeah; I remembered dancing with my coven around a bonfire beneath a full moon." Bonnie smiled. "I could taste the magic and feel the beat of drums under foot. It was awesome."
"So if Care's right then this spell will show me more of these 'memories'?" She worried her bottom lip. "Is it gonna be like dreaming, or like tonight?"
"Tonight?" Caroline shifted on the bed.
"I had another one when you found me. It felt like I stepped into the past; I saw each of the Originals and I think… I think I saw Tatia too."
"It's more like sleeping," Bonnie swallowed. "Knocks you out for a bit while your consciousness goes back in time to your former body."
"Is there any control over where you go? Or when, I guess?"
"Grams told me I'd see memories that had to do with my current state of mind, but you've seen some already. Maybe if you're thinking of one when the spell is done you'll go there?" She played with the edge of the page. "Technically the spell only works if the person remembering is the one doing the chanting."
"Then how is this spell gonna help me? I'm not a witch Bon."
"Actually…" her eyes flickered between her friends. "Grams told me you had potential."
Elena's mouth popped open.
Caroline's eyes widened.
"And I wasn't supposed to say anything until you tapped into it yourself."
Elena worked her jaw as the seconds ticked by until Caroline's gasp broke the silence.
"Why wouldn't you tell me that?" Her heart beat fast.
"Because you can't force magic, Elena, and some people never tap into it. You could have gone your entire life without casting a single spell. Grams thought that if you knew Stefan and Damon would find out and try to make you learn; it would have just driven you nuts, knowing you could do something but being unable to."
Bonnie sucked in a deep breath and flipped the book around. The memories already in her mind were promising; only magic could have unleashed them.
"Do you want to give it a try?"
Elena flattened her palm over the image when Bonnie spun the book around. The tingle spread through her skin, racing up her arm to her heart. She drew the finger around the snake from mouth to semi devoured tail.
"What do I have to do?"
"Place the three candles in my bag on the floor in a semi circle," Bonnie instructed.
"You're not gonna help?" Caroline frowned.
"Elena's the only one who can touch this stuff," she shook her head.
Elena slid to the floor and dug out the candles. She placed them and looked to Bonnie for further instruction.
"Kneel so the first two are on either side of your knees and place the grimoire between you and the middle candle. Alright, good, now you need to read the spell."
"I don't have to light the candles?" She glanced up.
"If the spell works they'll light on their own, one at a time. Just think about the memory you want to see and recite. I can't guarantee you'll get that memory; you're kinda rewriting the rules here."
She nodded once and slid her palms over her thighs, wiping away the sweat. She sucked in a deep breath summoned what she could recall of the dream about Esther, and tilted her head down before beginning to read.
"Trase kosyon an dwe evite. Kote sa yo te premye moun ki anbrase lavi sou latè."
The candles flared to life at once before she reached the third syllable. Halfway through she lost the fragments when twinkling eyes invaded her thoughts. On the final word of the spell her eyelids fluttered and fell shut.
Caroline moved, placing pillows to break her backwards fall.
Bonnie rearranged her legs to keep the candles from toppling.
"What's it mean that they all lit at once?" Caroline eyed the flickering flames.
"I have no idea."
"That sounds like a very human urge to me."
"We shall see," his voice tore out of his throat as a low husky growl. He dropped his hands to cup her behind and lifted her.
She wrapped her legs around his waist, laughing all the way to the large rock he placed her on. Leaning back on her palms she caught a glimpse of the pool below the waterfall where his brothers were locked in conversation with a young woman; she recognized her cousin instantly.
"What if someone sees us?" She threaded her fingers in his long hair.
"Sees what?" He countered. His left hand untied the laces at her back as his right rucked up her drenched skirt.
"Us," she giggled. Her gown dropped, revealing her flushed breasts to his hungry eyes.
"Us what, love?" He dipped his head, catching her nipple between his teeth and sucking hard before releasing her with a soft nip. "What if someone see us – a betrothed couple – making passionate love atop the falls?"
She nodded, glancing over her shoulder and spreading her thighs for his wandering fingers, gasping when he found the object of search.
"We could get in a lot of trouble for this," she rocked against his hand, slim fingers reaching for his trousers.
"Or…" he dragged his lips down her cheek, "… you could get pregnant…" he broke off with a gasp when her delicate hand closed around him. It took him a long moment to regain his thoughts. "Then father would have to relent and move up the wedding… instead of… of… of this incessant… it's bloody hard to think when you do that…"
He gave her a mock stern look.
"Shall I stop?" She slowed her hand's movement.
He gave her a long hungry look and pulled his hand from between her spread legs, yanking her to the edge of the rock. His mouth covered hers, swallowing the moan that followed their joining.
She arched into him, raking her nails down the back of his shirt until she could lift it and scratch at his skin.
Water splashed around them with each snap of his hips, but the sound was thankfully drowned out by the falls.
She knew he was close when he snaked a hand between their bodies and began rubbing her in the way she had shown him she liked. Waves of fire crashed down on her and by the time she could breathe again he was panting against her neck.
He pulled out and they stumbled the rest of the way to shore where they stretched out on the warm grass and let the sun work on drying their clothes.
She rubbed her thighs together, turning her head to the side to watch as he fiddled with her fingers.
"What if I am pregnant," she whispered, "and your parents still insist on your siblings wedding in order?"
He propped his body up on his elbow and flattened his palm over her flat abdomen. A slow smile spread across his lips, but she knew his words were far from teasing.
"If that is the case then we shall elope – provided of course that you agree," he bent, kissing her brow. "We shall elope, finding another witch – Ayana perhaps, or Finn – to perform the rites, and then I shall know the great pleasure of watching the woman I love grow great with our child."
"I see you have this all planned out," she smirked.
"Oh darling," he grinned, "when will you learn that I plan everything out? There is just one thing I must know before we are to be husband and wife."
"Oh," she rolled her eyes, "and what is that?"
He looked around them quickly before leaning down and staring into her bright eyes.
"Are you sure you're not part animal?" He cocked an eyebrow. "I think you've left slashes down my back."
She swatted his arm, laughing, and rolled until she straddled his hips with a wicked smirk on her lips.
"Perhaps I should leave matching scars on your front."
"Yes, please."
His eager response sent them both into a fit of giggles.
She brought her hand up to cover her mouth as the thought registered. The memory she had fallen into resided far from the one she wished to see. She needed to know about Esther, but that bright light in his eyes proved infectious. She leaned into the sound and felt the world change around them.
From her peripheral vision a medieval castle towered above their heads, but the vast majority of her concentration was on the wry smirk on his face.
"Kol…"
"Only joking, love," he knelt in the grass in front of her.
"What are you doing?" She asked, unsure if she believed him.
His hands dipped under the hem of her blue skirt, catching her behind the knee. Her fingers dug into his shoulders for balance as he lifted her leg and dragged the tips of his fingers over her heel., slipping the silk shoe from her foot with ease. He lowered her leg and reached for the other.
Sharp grass tickled her toes.
"Is that better?" He carefully bent her knee, slipping the second shoe from her foot.
She nodded, giggling. He held her balanced on one foot for a moment as he looked up to where the laughter danced through her eyes.
"How's your balance?" Mischief flickered over his face.
"… It's fine," her eyes narrowed. She wanted to know what he was planning and why she needed decent balance for it but before he could say anything further a masculine voice interrupted their solitude.
She twisted on instinct to see and wavered; only Kol's sudden iron grip on her waist kept her from toppling backwards.
"Lord Kol," the man cast them a tight smile, "we've been wondering where you ventured off to." His cold eyes turned to her, glancing towards her exposed ankle. "And who is this… ravishing creature?"
The smile he sent her way was a touch shy of gentlemanly; a shiver swarmed over the back of her calves.
"Lord Tristan," Kol stood with her shoes in one hand and adjusted her skirt, hiding her toes from view. He placed a possessive hand on her waist.
Lord… lady… fine clothes in place of worn wool. The second memory wasn't right either.
"I don't understand," Finn paced the length of the couch, rubbing his palm across his neck as he did. "Surely the truth would be more beneficial than keeping her in the dark."
"In what way?" Esther straightened her shoulders. "You knew her well, Finn; arguably only Kol and she knew her mind better. She would never consent to aid in our plans."
She made certain to stress the word in case he began leaning towards his siblings.
"She will believe there is a sliver of true humanity in them; that they are good beneath everything."
In his mind he heard his own laughter. Between the transition and finding his beloved Sage she had been one of the few to make him feel normal, like the man he had been before becoming the beast. Words he thought lost in the span of time returned until he could feel the snow beneath his knees and her hand on his shoulder: 'do not mistake my nature for naivety. I can recognize the wicked intent of a person better than most, so know that when I see a glimmer of virtue in the heart of anyone it is because it is there'.
"She was always naive," Esther went on.
"She was always kind, mother," he shook his head, "too good for any of us."
"Which is why it is better that she remains unaware of her true identity," her eyes shifted to the spell, avoiding Finn's occasional gaze. "She is better off as she is."
As she was, the doppelgänger posed minimal threat.
"If she knew…"
"She would contrive to stop us!"
"Only if she knew the full plan," his nose wrinkled when he stepped closer and got a large whiff of burnt sage. "If she believed she were helping you to reverse what you did to us, so that we might live on in peace, she would jump at the chance. She told us once that she wished she could reverse what you had done."
After the clock struck midnight a brisk wind blew through the open window, fluttering Elena's curtains and extinguishing each wick. She gasped, jerking awake.
Her foot collided with a tall candle, toppling it. Wax spilled across the floor. It cooled in spatters across the hard wood.
She heaved.
Caroline wrapped her arms around Elena, hugging tightly as her breathing regulated.
"Are you okay?" Bonnie knelt, reaching for Elena's hands. "You were out a while. A lot longer than I was."
"Did you see what you wanted to see?" Caroline loosened her grip.
Elena's eyes fell on the open grimoire. "That spell is a mess."
"What happened?" Bonnie pushed her hair behind her ears.
"I was in one moment, and then I'd jump to another one. None of them were what I wanted to see."
"So you didn't learn anything?" Caroline sighed.
She shifted, scooting to sit with her back to the nightstand. "I wouldn't say that."
