A/N- Loving the love I'm getting for this story but I am easing into the explanation of their relationship so sorry about that.
Note- When Katherine's father is attending as a Doctor, or in uniform he is known as Dr Petrova. When he is attending otherwise he is known as Baron Petrova.
The very centre of Hjart, the Capital of Valhalla was Lothbrok square, to which all roads in the city led although through which non-essential traffic was forbidden. It was a large cobblestone square in which stood a large bronze statue of an eagle, the symbol of House Lothbrok.
Facing the west stood Kattegat Palace, to the east the Royal Temple, the oldest surviving Norse temple in the world where the three deities Thor, Odin and Freya were worshipped, to the south the Royal Council Chambers and to the north, the Cousin's Palace.
The Cousin's Palace was accessible through the royal road that was accessed from a private gateway just before the square and wove behind Kattegat Palace, a leafy beautiful white gravel road that Kol had nicknamed 'Spare and Rejects Avenue' for the Cousin's Palace was the royal housing of those not within the immediate succession to the throne or those who were but not in the King's favour.
However, for all the royal shame of being relegated not even ten miles from Kattegat Palace, it was a great honour for someone not in the family to be given rooms there.
At least she assumes that is why Elijah had had her taken to the Cousin's Palace, after all, her family lands were two hours from the city and a hotel would be a logistical nightmare for royal security. Whilst giving her rooms in Kattegat would be nothing short of scandalous.
Yes, they were engaged but traditionally the betrothed never slept in the Palace until the wedding night.
And now that the eyes of the country, perhaps the world would be on them, they had to follow the rules.
As much as they were able.
Katherine steps out of the car and eyes the palace before her, much more modern that Kattegat Palace, it was built in the late eighteenth century by a Queen who hadn't been able to stand her children but had been afraid to send them away to the country lest they return with an army.
There is a woman waiting at the back door for her, a red head dressed in the black uniform of the royal secretariat and assistants' pool.
"Lady Katherine" she curtsies efficiently but shallowly, "Ms Sage Falls at your service"
Katherine runs her eyes over her critically, the woman is older than her by at least five years, with a British accent and far too formal in the Norse tongue to be a native speaker, likely an émigré then, perhaps with Valhallan family or just skilled and ambitious enough to have penetrated the usually rather exclusively nationalistic royal service.
"Pleasure" she offers politely, not betraying her well-bred manners but keeping in mind Ansel's warning.
For all her lovely, strong features Sage manages to wear a blank, servile expression without a hint of falsity "Shall I show you to your rooms?"
Katherine smiles, satisfied that she had guessed right, "Please"
Sage leads her through the back hall to the back staircase, "Of course this palace is beautiful albeit more impressive when coming through the front entrance" she turns back to study Katherine as if expecting to see some open-mouthed, dumbfounded young nothing.
Katherine had spent years in Kattegat and the Ensamhet Palace, she's not going to be knocked over by high-reaching ceilings and statues.
"You are to be staying in the West Wing" Sage explained as she led her down a pretty hallway lined with paintings, "In the Blue Rooms"
The Blue Rooms?
The best rooms in the Palace.
Even with all her training, Katherine had to resist the urge to gasp when she was led first through her state room, lined in blue velvet and carpet, her interior apartment, her turquoise bedroom and her dressing room,
"Unfortunately the bathroom hasn't been refurbished since the early twentieth century" Sage explained as Katherine stood by the fire place in the room in question and eyed the copper bathtub warily, "However the plumbing has been updated and the toilet works"
"Wonderful" she smiled graciously at the woman, who then checked the message on her phone as Katherine admired her dressing room again,
"Milady" Sage called, just as she was setting down on a blue velvet settee, "I have been informed that your parents are awaiting you in your state room"
Katherine blinked in surprise, her parents?
Indeed they were.
The Honourable Lord and Lady Petrova, Baron and Baroness Rose Seng, were in her state room standing in the very centre, their heads bent together as they spoke quietly to one another.
As always, Katherine felt as though she were intruding upon them and resented the sensation. She cleared her throat daintily and their eyes shot towards her.
Alexander and Miranda Petrova.
Her mother comes forward first, "Darling"
She wraps her arms around her and kisses her on both cheeks, "You look lovely"
Miranda Petrova, former model and still stunningly beautiful, in all her life Katherine had never seen her mother with so much as a hair out of place, she was always perfectly put together. Even now, she was wearing a black dress and matching pearls that almost came close to outshining her daughter.
"Hello Papa" Katherine glanced over her mother's shoulder to see her father watching her with shuttered eyes. She couldn't remember the last time her father had shown his approval or really any emotion towards anyone but his wife.
He wasn't a handsome man, he was attractive or had been in his youth but he was intelligent and ambitious and- according to rumour anyway- kind, gentle and skilled on the violin.
He takes his daughter's hand and presses dry lips to her forehead, "For you my daughter"
She's confused by the strange greeting but brushes it off, "What are you doing here?" she asks and Miranda shares a glance with Alexander,
"We wanted to see you of course" she laughs lightly,
"It has been five years since we've seen you, or heard from you although Elena kept us updated"
Katherine shakes her head, feeling stupid, "You're right, sorry I'm just tired, I only just got off the plane an hour ago and haven't even stopped yet"
Alexander regarded her solemnly, "You haven't spoken to the King then?"
It's on the tip of her tongue to point out that she and Mikael hadn't been in the same room or even the same castle for over half a decade but then she remembers that Mikael is dead.
And Elijah is King.
So this wasn't a social call after all, her parents were cornering her to ensure that she was still engaged to Elijah.
Still on track to becoming Queen and rising them all to the very heights of greatness.
Whatever she was going to say, whatever comment she was going to make was lost when one of the far doors opened and an all too familiar head stuck through,
"Oh good," Elena called, in a bright, loud tone, obviously intending to interrupt the conversation.
"I was told you guys would be here but this place is a maze!"
Elena Petrova, Katherine's younger sister by a year then strode into the room with the casual innocent grace that Katherine herself had never managed, the door stays open and her husband Stefan Salvatore, The Honourable Stefan Salvatore, Second Son of Count Giuseppe Salvatore, followed with an excited squeal on his heels.
Nadia Petrova-Salvatore came careening into the room in a blue Disney princess costume and a (hopefully fake) diamond tiara in her brunette hair. She spotted Katherine and came to an almost comical stop, her feet digging into the carpet, "Mummy, she looks just like you!"
Katherine could hardly breathe but Elena hurried forward with a smile and bent down beside her daughter,
"Sweetie this is your Aunt Katerina from America, she's the one who sends you all those presents remember?"
"And takes me to Disneyland!" Nadia perked up at the memory before throwing herself into her aunt's arms and pressing a sloppy kiss to her cheek,
"Are we going to Disneyland?" she asked hopefully,
Katherine laughed and released her, "Not today baby but we have a whole palace to play in here and we can wear jewels and play dress-up"
Nadia cheered and spun around in a childish attempt at ballet before focusing her attention on the throne at the end of the room under the canopy, with a glance up for permission she quickly runs over and climbs up before turning around and beginning to command her imaginary kingdom.
Meanwhile the adults congregated at the large French windows to overlook Lothbrok square where the media was gathering outside Kattegat and the Cousin's Palace, along with citizens and tourists, all standing and watching as large screens were set up in the square so that people could gather to watch Elijah's address to the nation.
Twisting her head, Katherine could see that, in the strange British custom, a few bouquets and wreaths had been set up outside the palace gates. She frowned at that and wondered whether this had been done by people who had forgotten their custom or if servants had been paid to do this to satisfy the world media.
The Gods knew it couldn't have been done out of love for Mikael.
Her sister takes her arm and smiles lovingly before turning to their parents and in that instant Elena Petrova-Salvatore has gone from loving mother and wife to skilled Machiavellian manipulator.
She was a Petrova after all.
Their grandfather Piotr had escaped Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp as a child and made his way to Valhalla, he had been a skilled musician and come to prominence as a performer in the Symphony. He had become a philanthropist and been honoured for his deeds with a baronetcy, he had defied death for his Romani heritage to become a land owner, he had raised his son Alexander in the hopes of making him a member of the King's Minor Council but Alexander had defied his father to become a doctor and earned himself the highest marks in his year, winning an internship at the prestigious Royal Hospital and catching the attention of Queen Esther when his sharp eye had correctly diagnosed Prince Niklaus' asthmatic distress when the boy was a few months old. He had ingratiated himself with the Lothbrok's, becoming their Chief Physician and earning the title Royal Doctor by the time Katherine was fifteen and when Piotr had succumbed to old age, he had gone smiling, knowing that a marriage alliance had been suggested by Queen Esther between his oldest grand-daughter and Prince Kol.
Yet in the spirit of family tradition, Katherine had defied her father and fallen in love with the Prince Elijah who had proposed to her on her seventeenth birthday.
In three generations the Petrova's had gone from roaming gypsies denied citizenship in Europe and threatened with extermination to one step from the throne of Valhalla.
The next Petrova child born would be heir to the kingdom.
If all went to plan.
But as they were the most ambitious family in Europe…
"The next few days will be crucial for us" Miranda begins, "Our family will have to present itself with a united front and Stefan, Giuseppe and yourself will have to attend the funeral alongside us. I doubt your brother will return to Valhalla for the immediate future…" she trails off and they all have a moment of uncertainty,
Would Damon Salvatore return?
"I spoke to him a few days ago" Elena says, "He has some sort of business deal in London, it's big and I don't think he'd leave especially when…"
When at this point he was essentially disowned by his father. All that was left was the rewriting of the will leaving everything including the title of Count and the ancestral chateau of Mörkt trä.
"Very well then" Miranda continues, "Katerina darling, you will need to contact Elijah as soon as possible to offer your condolences, and to remind him of your betrothal, your affection for one another, your loyalty…"
"Passion and burning desire?" Katherine interrupts sarcastically, "Don't worry mother, I know my duty, I remember what the family requires of me"
She remembers the first time the burden of duty had fallen heavy on her shoulders, the knowledge that she would be Queen and that she would earn that title…
Momentarily overwhelmed by her future and the ghosts that haunted the past, Katherine shivers and notices that the room is far too quiet. Her eyes fly to the throne but Nadia is long gone.
"Nadia!" she calls frantically, alerting the rest of the family to the issue.
Gods, the Cousin's Palace was a mess of marble stairs and hidden passageways.
If Nadia got lost or hurt…
She rushes out of the state room and races down the hallway, shouting Nadia's name while Stefan runs straight down to the servant's quarters to see if there was anyone in the palace who could help them search.
She is moving so fast that she almost misses Nadia entirely, only catching a glimpse of her out of the corner of her eye.
Nadia is standing on the landing of the grand stair case before a kneeling man. His head is bowed and he's facing away from her but she recognises the line of his shoulders and his dark brunette hair.
Elijah.
King of Valhalla.
Who, with the patience of a man with many younger siblings, was tolerating being whacked on the head with a plastic wand.
"Nadia!" Katherine hurried down the stairs, her heels clattering, gripping the banister so that she wouldn't slip on the worn stone, Nadia looks up and gives her a toothy grin,
"Look Aunty" she announces proudly as she approaches, "I got a knight now"
Elijah elegantly rises to his feet but maintains eye contact with the little girl,
"Thank-you Queen Nadia of Arendelle" he bows and she giggles happily, "I shall treasure this honour"
Katherine is certain that she's stopped breathing, her heart doesn't seem to be beating either. Her body is tingling with electricity and the tips of her fingers and toes feel as though they could shoot sparks. When Elijah turns his head to meet her gaze the air goes out of her lungs.
It's been five years and no time at all.
"I've been knighted by a foreign Queen and conscripted into her service in one fell swoop" he comments softly, his voice rough and slightly breathless himself,
"Petrova's always were time-savers"
It is a joke and Katherine wants to laugh but she's worried that if she attempts anything more than a smile that she will be sick.
Her parents arrive on the scene and Miranda artfully gasps "Your Majesty" to draw attention.
They both drop to one knee as per the one day tradition and Elijah steps forward,
"Rise and greet your new King" he responds with an intonation that confirms that he's uttered the phrase several times already today.
She remembers belatedly that she herself hadn't knelt and begins to lower herself but Elijah flickers his fingers at his thigh, catching her attention,
"Don't" he whispers and she straightens up.
Her parents practically fall over themselves paying empty flattery to the new King, offering condolences over Mikael's death and assuring him of their loyalty before Alexander reaches over and scoops up Nadia, carrying her downstairs despite her protestations that Queens weren't carried and that she wants to stay with her aunty and new friend.
Katherine almost follows her without thinking before Miranda slaps a hand on her arm and digs her nails into her skin,
"We'll take Nadia outside to run around" she says with faux sweetness, "You stay and catch-up with your fiancé"
That was a command if ever she'd heard one.
Her mother offers the now acceptable curtsey and skips down the stairs after her father, moving through the palace as if she had been there one thousand times before and knew its layout intimately.
After a few moments a door slams somewhere and they both start as they become all too aware of the fact that they are standing there alone and unobserved.
What they wouldn't have given for this opportunity all those years ago.
Katherine takes three shaky breaths and lifts her head, forcing herself to look back into Elijah's coffee coloured eyes.
They had changed, there were lines around them now that hadn't been there before but they were still so alive and so overwhelming with their intelligence, perceptiveness and above all their warmth.
Before she can take time to doubt herself she is stepping forward, pressing her face to his chest and resting her flat palms on the hard plains of his stomach. She closes her eyes and inhales his familiar scent, losing herself in the memories of all the times they had been in this very same embrace. His arms hover around her shoulders and his hand floats above her curls before his chin rests on her head,
"I am glad you're back" he whispers and her lips curl up into a smile,
"Thank-you"
He releases her and offers her his arm, she slips her hand through and rests it on his forearm as he walks her upstairs, turning right and entering the hallway leading to her rooms.
They stop in front of the painting of one of his ancestors and pretend to admire it, able to pick up on the artistry but with only the basic appreciation.
"I wanted to see you before the address tonight" he confesses, his voice quiet before remembering that they don't have to hide with whispers and in shadows anymore,
"You will never believe whom I was able to meet with today"
Katherine lifts her chin and applies her mind to the statement, running through memories and logic before smiling proudly,
"Professor Alaric Saltzman" she guesses and he smiles,
"How did you know?" he asks fondly as they move along and pretend to study the next painting,
"Easy" she gloats, "You told me once that your first act as King would be to find an advisor who will provide opposition to our way of life. A progressive incapable of being bought with wealth and status, who will sit on your Council and provide an unbiased opinion on behalf of the citizens of Valhalla. Who would advise you on how best to set up a democratic Parliament as they do in other countries where those outside of the elite could be elected and have a say in the running of this nation" she recalls all this with ease, there had been a great many discussions between them about this,
"And Professor Alaric Saltzman is the best choice out there, he is an academic yet still an activist, intelligent but sociable and focused on progress as opposed to blood-soaked revolution, unlike the other options out there…besides" she turned her face towards him and smiled alluringly, "I'm the one who first found him, remember?"
He met her smile and squeezed her hand, "I booked an appointment under my nom de guerre and walked right into the offices with nobody realising who I was before it was too late. He was quite surprised and somewhat annoyed but he met with me and I managed to convince him to attend the Council meeting on Friday"
On impulse, Katherine reached up and kissed his cheek, "I'm happy for you"
He grins, "Will you come to the address this evening?" he asks and she nods,
"Of course, may I bring Stefan and Elena too?"
He nods, "Not Nadia however, I'm worried that she will challenge me for my crown"
"Well" Katherine drawls, "She is a Petrova so she would win"
He laughs and they resume their path, only now they aren't stopping before the paintings but continuing along the hallway to the Blue Rooms, through the state room and through to her interior apartment where she began to feel the uncomfortable prickling of anxiety. But he didn't continue to her bedroom but led her to the window,
"This room has one of the best views in the Palace" he tells her, "See?"
She looks out into the early evening and hums with appreciation, she could see so much of Hjart from the window, the Royal Road leading straight through the city all the way to the modern business district in the distance across the river.
She stands and stares into the beautiful city, the night a sapphire blue polluted with grey and the lights of the buildings, street lamps and the cars, creating a fascinating pattern which was lovely to watch. Hands that are large and able but still gentle caress her shoulders, sweeping her hair over her should and lips brush against her neck, she gasps softly but doesn't pull away and he exhales against her skin,
"It will be at least a year before we can be married" he murmurs apologetically,
"Between the traditional waiting period, mourning, the coronation and the current state of the European economy…"
"Its fine" she tells him, not turning her gaze away from the window, "We've waited so many years already, what's one more?"
She senses his hesitation and is aware of the only short distance between their hips, so little air between them and so many memories.
"I should go" he finally says, checking his watch,
"I'm already supposed to be getting ready, my staff are already panicking over their sudden promotions, my disappearance could cause hysteria"
"You shouldn't have snuck away to see me" she chides gently, facing him, "I'm fine Elijah"
He glances down and plays with the cuffs of his shirt, "I know" he assures her, "If anyone can navigate their way through a palace it's you but I did…" he broke off,
"You wanted to share the news of your triumph with me" she surmised, squeezing his hand,
"I'm glad you did, I'll see you tonight"
He steps away and hangs on his heel before surging forward and stealing a brief chaste kiss before striding out of the room.
Katherine licked her lips and went to sit down before remembering that there was nothing but floor and righted herself, drifting across to the settee and dropping onto that.
She rubbed her fingers across her lips and smiled to herself.
"Wow"
Her head shoots up and she sees Elena leaning against the doorframe,
"Last time I saw you smiling like that…"
"You were an innocent little sister who had no idea why I was smiling like that" Katherine finishes with a playful glare, "And as far as our parents and I are concerned you are still a sweet little virgin"
Elena fixed a mock serious expression on her face, "Totally, one hundred percent, Stefan and I don't even kiss"
The sisters giggle and Katherine waves a hand, inviting Elena to cross the room and settle on the armchair opposite her, "So…" she stretches out the word, "Did your reunion go well?"
Katherine blinks and shrugs, "I don't know, ask me tomorrow morning"
"Why?" her sister catches on immediately, "What happens tonight?"
"He comes to see me after the address"