Caroline flew down the street towards the compound, Klaus thought she was dead. This was way worse than she thought. She threw open the front door of the compound, enjoying that she still had access to the barrier, they might have thought she was dead but hadn't removed her from the pre-approved list. She ran past some Hybrids she didn't recognize, heading for Klaus's wing. Throwing open their bedroom, she moved quickly finding it empty, his office and library were empty as well. She was about to throw open the doors to his studio, but Freya happened to turn the corner, right as her hand was on the door handle. Her mouth dropped in disbelief as she took in the scene.

Dismissively, she shouted, "Yeah, Freya, not dead. Have you seen Klaus?" She attempted to enter the studio but Freya threw her hand in the air, locking it mystically. Her hand fell from the door knob, whipping to face Freya, "Why the hell did you do that?"

Freya hustled towards her, pulling her away from the door and dragging her into Elijah's office. The King of the Vampires glanced up from his papers, and another Mikaelson's mouth dropped open. Okay that's weird. Elijah was cool and composed he wasn't often so shocked that it displayed on his face. What else is going on here?

Freya quickly directed her to sit in the arm chair across from Elijah, taking the remaining open seat. The Vampire King had composed himself in the mean time, "Elijah, what's going on? Where's Klaus?"

Freya and Elijah shared an uneasy look. Caroline's confusion and annoyance elevated, causing tiny sparks to generate from her nails. In. Out. In. Out. The sparks disappeared, stupid god powers. The powers were clearly tied to her emotions, so that would be a fun learning curve to deal with. Freya raised an eyebrow at the sparks, but didn't comment.

"What?" She huffed, crossing her arms petulantly across her chest.

Elijah cleared his throat delicately. "Let's start with where you have been for the last three years?"

"I'd rather not- wait, did you just say three years?!" Caroline let out on a shout. She gripped the arms of the chair, the sparks briefly returning in her surprise. She just managed to avoid lighting the chair she sat in on fire.

Freya shushed her and yanked her back into her chair. "We haven't seen you since you decimated the mansion, three years ago."

Sighing deeply, Caroline slouched in her chair, "Three years? I was only gone for half an hour at most." She sat up straight in realization, "Wait you all thought I was dead?" She attempted to stand again and move towards the door but Freya shoved her back in her seat.

Horror laced her tone, "Freya! He thought I was dead for three years! I have to see him, he's probably gone mad!" Her voice escalated in distress. Klaus suffering for three years? Gods, how had he survived? Gods, what has he done if he thought I was dead? Thinking back to her frantic sprint to the compound, nothing had seemed overly different, no mass executions and such. But three Years? She never told him how she felt before she disappeared. Gods.

The horror and guilt rolling through Caroline quickly caused the sound of booming thunder to be heard overhead, and sleet began to clink against the window. The thunder and lightning she could get used to, but now her emotions were tied to all weather? Just fantastic, love being a god. She thought sarcastically. Caroline gripped the armchair and pulled her knees to her chest, struggling to control her breathing. Freya's soft hand came down to rub her back. Her control on her emotions fraying, Caroline slowly looked up into Freya's confused eyes, "Caroline, there's clearly stuff you need to tell us."

Caroline chuckled emptily in assent.

Freya pulled a chair closer to her, putting a calming hand on Caroline's shoulder. Gulping deeply, holding onto a loose control on her emotions, she began, "I didn't die when the lightning hit me. Though I wished I had." Another mirthless chuckle, "I woke up on the floor of Valhalla with Freyja." Freya gasped next to her in shock tightening her hold on Caroline. "She explained some things to me, about myself, but more importantly, that there's someone out there killing off gods that sleep. Without there protection, their charges are left vulnerable."

Another deep gulped breath, "Freyja gave me the capabilities to fight it, but no hints on who or what it was." Caroline glossed over the fact that she was a god now, didn't seem relevant. Also she wanted Klaus to be the first person she told. "She sent me back here, failing to mention the time gap."

Freya's eyes flickered to Elijah in concern, before falling back to Caroline. "So it was only minutes for you?"

Caroline nodded her head morosely, "Can I see Klaus now?"

Freya's hand tightened on Caroline's arm almost imperceptibly but enough for Caroline's senses to be on immediate alert. "What's going on Freya? What aren't you telling me?"

Freya's was deliberately avoiding eye contact and Elijah responded coolly, "This is going to be hard to hear Caroline, especially since it was such a short time for you. So Freya if you will-"

Caroline felt waves of calm fall down on her like a warm blanket, and she smiled serenely at the two siblings. Freya had clearly cast a soothing spell over her in attempt to keep her powers under control. She wished she could have told Freya not to bother, no spell Freya had was going to soothe a god.

"Until a week ago, we hadn't seen Klaus for nearly as long as you've been gone. He disappeared from New Orleans the day you disappeared." Small sparks of lightning began to dance across her fingertips. "He showed up at the mansion, a couple of days ago." Elijah cleared his throat delicately. "It appears he has no memory of you, Caroline."

Freya felt a punch of power a millisecond before she was tossed across the room. The wallpaper began to burn as lightning seemed to fly from Caroline. Her voice was enraged as it echoed, her eyes completely white, "What do you mean, no memory?"

Elijah was pinned against the wall, having been thrown out of his chair. His voice was tight as he ducked to avoid a stray lightning bolt, "We don't know what happened Caroline! We're trying to figure it out ourselves!" His normally cool tone, evaporated at the power seeming to erupt from her.

Freya used that moment to use her magic to mystically relax Caroline. Her eyes returned to their normal blue, but lightning still circled around her. Freya simply wasn't strong enough to control Caroline's new powers. Turning away from the two siblings, she took deep, loud breaths, pulling the lightning into herself. She took a big final breath, gaining control, putting her hands out at her sides as the lighting disappeared. "How are we going to fix this?"

Elijah straightened his chair and sat back at his desk, smoothing his ruffled hair. "We are already working on it, Caroline. But in the meantime, it might be wise to play along."

Caroline sputtered, "You mean you want me to pretend that he means nothing to me? Plus, won't he recognize me as his mate once he smells me? You're gambling with him not knowing I'm here now!"

Freya picked her chair up, and stood behind it, placing her hands on the back of her chair without sitting. "If he didn't scent you earlier, we're probably safe. He probably will recognize you as your mate by your smell, I can't do anything about that. But I can…" with a wave of her hand, a glamour formed over her mating mark. "That will keep him from asking too many questions, until we can fix this whole memory thing. But remember Caroline you have to pretend you don't know him."

Caroline rubbed her neck where she knew her mating mark laid, it felt almost wrong to have Freya hide it even if it was for Klaus's own good. There was no telling what seeing his mate with his mating mark on her, with no memory of her or claiming her, would do to him. "I'm not going anywhere till this is over, Freya. So we need to agree on how you're going to reintroduce me to him." She paused, chucking without mirth, "This is so fucked up."

Freya made a dismissive motion with her hand, "That's easy, we'll have Bonnie introduce you, using your own backstory. Closer to the truth the easier it is to remember."

"Bonnie! Where is she?" Caroline headed for Kol's wing not waiting to hear the answer.

"Can't breathe!" Caroline wheezed out as Bonnie hugged her with her newly acquired immortal strength. Caroline had found her and Kol in an apartment across the street, which now needed new wiring, as at the sight of Caroline, Bonnie had blown every single fixture with her magic.

Bonnie finally pulled back, restraining herself from embracing Caroline for a second time. Kol had even given her a warm hug upon her appearance, something she appreciated from the immortal. He looked at Bonnie as if she hung the moon, and Caroline again regretted ever being against their pairing. She also didn't miss the large engagement ring, on Bonnie's finger, holding Bonnie's hand up, widening her eyes at the ring.

Bonnie smiled, "He proposed a year ago, he's been trying to set a date, but-" Bonnie's chocolate eyes misted, "I had trouble picking a date because I couldn't plan a wedding knowing you weren't going to be my maid of honor."

Caroline teared up slightly, hugging Bonnie again. Wiping her eyes, she sniffled before continuing, "I'll explain everything another time and of course I'll be your maid of honor." Caroline smiled weakly, "Right now, I wanted to get your opinion on this whole Klaus memory thing." She couldn't conceal her dismay at the situation in her voice.

Bonnie swung a comforting arm around her shoulders, leading her to the loveseat in the apartment. Kol took an armchair off to the side, remaining a part of the conversation, but separating himself so as not to intrude on their reunion. Bonnie patted Caroline's hand reassuringly, before leaning down to pick up the vellum envelope with her name inscribed in looping script. "So, I know you saw Kat before coming over here," Kat had almost taken her to the ground in her excitement, crying and scolding Caroline for being gone for so long.

"Yeah, she told me that she was going to throw a party for me, celebrating my return, under the guise that she is throwing it for Klaus." The sorceress had explained she couldn't wait to try out her new queenly wardrobe.

Pulling the invitation that had appeared on Bonnie's kitchen counter earlier, Caroline sighed slightly annoyed but not at all surprised by its contents. "Kat is throwing a ball? Tonight?!"

Attached to the list was a confirmed guest list, magically updating itself as each immortal responded to the invite. There were already over a hundred names on the list. It would be the first time the Mikaelsons had opened their house to the Lore, usually cloistered and secluded from other immortals, most immortals were coming because they were curious. Bonnie snickered, stealing the invitation and guest list from Caroline. "Kat doesn't know the meaning of a small party does she?"

Caroline couldn't help the sigh that left her when, she saw Klaus's name appear on the list. Why doesn't he remember me? Kol moved from the armchair, squeezing next to Caroline to place his warm arm over her shoulders pulling her comfortingly into his side.

"We'll figure this out, little bit. We all know that Nik's feelings for you can't be erased forever."

Caroline shot him a sad smile before looking again at Bonnie. Heaving a deep sigh, but enjoying Kol's comforting presence, "It's just on top of everything? I have to find some mysterious shadow figure who can kill a god, get control of my super annoying new powers, and he doesn't remember me?"

Bonnie scooted closer to Caroline, putting her arm around Caroline as well, until the two immortals formed a shield over the Valkyrie. "I know it sucks Care. But you have to understand… when you disappeared… I've never seen someone as destroyed as Klaus. I honestly think he might have had his memory changed because he couldn't live another day without you."

Caroline shuddered, barely holding in tears at his pain. Sniffling, she gathered herself up, standing from the couch and grabbing the invitation off the table. "This is no time for tears. We've got a party to go to!" She was covering her despair with false optimism, and Bonnie let her.

Klaus covered his annoyance, as all five of his siblings invaded his study, turning it into a salon as they all got ready for the ball. Rebekah had mentioned that it was her one request for the night that they all get ready together, like the old days, sans spouses. They were barely concealing the thrum of excitement about the night ahead of them, Klaus's paranoia already began to flutter at his siblings suspicious behavior, but none of them had done anything yet to heighten it. Not yet, anyway. Six full length mirrors for each sibling, each had a rack of clothes to chose from. Kol was already dressed in his tux, a royal purple sash with the Mikaelson seal declaring him a prince. Finn was dressed identical but his sash was emerald green, Elijah in a tux, was without a sash as King of the Vampires, he'd wear the crown. Rebekah and Freya spent the first twenty minutes picking outfits for each other. With their outfits selected, they sat in studio chairs for hair and makeup.

Kol was smirking as he looked into a full length mirror. Enjoying his own reflection, he called to Beckah, "Beckah, tell me how handsome I look."

Rebekah, in the midst of having her makeup done, scoffed and responded, "Oh Kol. You know I can't be compelled."

Elijah and Finn laughed at Rebekah's rejoinder, and Freya, her makeup done to play up her mysterious nature, moved over to her youngest brother giving him a sisterly kiss on the cheek. "You look very handsome, brother."

Kol shot a victorious look at Beckah, "See Beckah? That's a real sister."

Beckah snorted, "She's only nice to you because she hasn't had a thousand years of your antics."

Freya chuckled, moving into the bathroom, where the gowns were hung to change into. As the door closed behind her she called out, "That's probably true!"

Klaus managed a small smile at that. Wasn't this what he'd always wanted? His family together safe from Mikael, happy? Staring at his reflection in the mirror as his tailor fixed his tux, he felt the echo of emptiness that used to haunt him daily. But he recognized that this emptiness wasn't like the loneliness of before Mikael's death, it was sharper and seemed almost like despair. But at what?

Why am I not happy? His sight blurred as he glared at his reflection, what am I missing? My siblings surrounding me, why do I feel this sorrow? Is there something more I'm not seeing? He surveyed his siblings with a calculating eye, are they planning to betray me? Old paranoias died hard, and even with Mikael's death, his siblings could still be plotting against him. Which ones though?

Elijah clapped a hand on his shoulder snapping him out of his paranoia spiral. A rare smile stretch across his brother's face, his ivory crown glinting in the fading daylight. "I know a ball is probably the last thing on your mind, Niklaus." Taking Klaus's own ebony crown from the valet, he placed it neatly on his brother's head. "But try to have fun, we've missed you since your absence. Who knows what the night might hold?"

Oddly whimsical sentiment from Elijah. Snapping his tux's lapel, his siblings gathered behind him, all prepared for the ball below. They're faces were all anxious and excited, causing a shiver of foreboding to jump down his spine. Rebekah wore blood red gown with a blue sash, looking every bit the princess. Freya had decided on a black gown with a black sash, portraying the poison flower, look but don't touch.

They were clearly waiting on him, before proceeding to the party below, he shifted uncomfortably again at their attention, leading his siblings out to the balcony looking over the courtyard below. Opening the entire first floor to the party had seemed excessive, but taking in how many Loreans had actually shown up to the ball, it almost seemed like they might have to start turning people away.

One of his hybrids stood sentry at the base of the stairs leading to the second floor. All his siblings spouses lined the staircase, waiting for them. One by one they descended the stairs, his hybrid announcing them.

"Prince Finn and Princess Sage!" Finn's face nearly cracked from the grin at his wife, her gown matching his sash.

"Prince Kol and Princess Bonnie!" Yet another one of his siblings descended to their delighted Bride's arm. Though Bonnie and Kol were not married yet, Bonnie was still considered a princess of the vampires to the Lore, marriage was a more modern invention.

"Princess Rebekah and Prince Stefan!" Stefan shot him a puzzled look as he took Rebekah's hand leading her down the stairs. What was that about?

Freya had come up next to him, linking her arm in his. Whispering, "Will you be my date this evening, Brother? I'd hate to be announced alone after all these married people."

Klaus sent her a small smile, nodding his head.

"King Elijah and Queen Katerina!" Katerina's gaze lingered on Klaus for a second too long, immediately sending his paranoia sky rocketing.

Gripping Freya's arm tightly, he muttered, "What the hell is going on Freya?"

Freya winced when he applied too much pressure, soothing her hand over his. "Don't let your paranoia run this night, Mikael's dead. Let him die."

"King Niklaus and his sister, Princess Freya!"

Before Klaus could grill her over her cryptic comment, they descended the stairs after their siblings, heading straight for the ballroom to start the first dance. Once cornered on the dance floor, Klaus prodded Freya, "Why did Katerina want to throw this party?" His voice left no room for argument.

Sighing indulgently but her eyes crackling with annoyance, she answered, "To celebrate your return to the fold, brother."

His grip on her hand squeezed roughly, warning her, "I've been home for a week. Why tonight?"

Irritated, she shot magic into his hand sending crippling pain down his arm. Though he didn't cry out, he got the message loosening his grip, "I just find the whole circumstance curious."

Rolling her eyes in annoyance, she muttered, "Can't come soon enough."

That had his grip on his sister turning almost punishing again, "What can't? A chance to kill me?"

Freya's genuine shock caused him to loosen his grip even more, "Kill you? Brother, we just got you back. This ball is all about making you happy."

The first song came to an end, the siblings and spouses disappearing to mingle among the immortals. Freya stomped off the dance floor in clear irritation at her brother. Storming past a dark-skinned woman with riotous black curls, she didn't notice as the woman's back snapped straight and her eyes followed the Mikaelson witch's exit, glowing ice blue.

Equally irritated with his siblings, he stormed off in the opposite direction, into the courtyard. Multiple immortals tried to pull him into conversation, but he managed to avoid them with a dry comment and a menacing smile. Seeking some peace, he found Elijah talking to Bonnie. "Well where is she?" Elijah snapped.

Bonnie noticed the approaching Klaus, smoothly transitioning and ignoring Elijah, "Seems like everyone in the Lore has come out to have a look at your family, huh?" Swiping a champagne glass off a tray, she shot it back, slamming the glass back down. "Quite a night. Don't you think Klaus?"

That's it. His eyes flickering, he locked eyes on his brother, "I'm done with these innuendos, Brother. Somebody better tell me what the hell is going on, before I set a new record for behead-"

He broke off as every nerve in his body came alive, his beast clamoring, and his eyes solidified ice blue with red around his irises in a single breath. Several party guests who noticed the change began to hesitantly skirt away from him, wary of the legendary immortal. Lavender and honey, the smell of summer, of light. Turning his back on Elijah and Bonnie, he followed his nose to the source of his awareness. In the corner of the courtyard, he saw his siblings' cousin, Emmaline MacRieve, embracing a woman with long blonde hair. Daughter of Mikael's brother, Demestriu, she was hidden from her father and his family with her mother's people, the Valkyrie. It didn't explain his reaction to the woman. His eyes narrowed as the scent appeared to be drifting from the other blonde, Emmaline was conversing with. Though only her back was visible to him, he could appreciate her delicate figure, recognizing her as a shield-maiden, especially when her hand interlocked with Emmaline's had sparks dancing around it. Could this be her? My queen?

Barely able to stop himself from bolting across the courtyard for her, he slowly stalked his prey. He watched the way she interacted with Emmaline's husband, Lachlan, as King of the Werewolves, they had a truce going back centuries. His queen appeared welcoming to the werewolf king, if slightly wary. Klaus and Lachlan had agreed that neither would move against each other, Klaus restricting his rule to his hybrids, not extending into werewolves. He would have never agreed to it now, but at the time, it had been the wiser course. As part of the truce, he'd always offered the hybrid change to werewolves, not turning people at will, except for a few more recent exceptions. Exceptions, Lachlan was to know nothing about. Thrusting himself into their closed circle of immortals, he threw his hand out to Lachlan for a hearty handshake. Which the Scot returned with equal eagerness, "Niklaus Mikaelson, been a long time since a gathering of the Lore such as this." Klaus could almost be grateful for their historic truce, because if Lachlan had felt they were at war, he would not have come to the ball, and Klaus's Queen might have remained out of his reach. The one time I was able to exert true patience, and this is my reward. He might have to reconsider his whole, defeat of my enemies only comes when their heads roll approach.

Lachlan has been imprisoned in the catacombs of immortal flames under Paris for the last century and a half slowly burning alive only to have his immortality revive him, just to burn again. When he looked the werewolf in the eye, he felt the echo of pain . Emmaline has saved Lachlan from total madness after his escape, her soothing presence on his troubles, prevented him from dwelling on the past, instead looking towards the future. Emmaline MacRieve, half Valkyrie- half vampire, lit up at his arrival. He bowed his head politely in her direction, Lykae were territorial, and Lachlan appreciated the respect Niklaus showed her. He wasn't fooling either of them though, they both knew why he was here. Clearing her throat delicately, Emmaline made the introductions, "Niklaus Mikaelson, King of the Hybrids, I'd like you to meet my sister, Caroline Forbes."

Turning to the newcomer fully at her name, she held her hand out for a handshake, which he snatched in his hand bringing it delicately to his lips. He heard her breath catch at the gesture, and the second he touched her hand, it was like electroshock. It is really her. Luminous skin, glittering blue eyes, her golden locks tossed carefully over one shoulder. He couldn't help that his eyes looked her up and down in assessment. Voluptuous body, pert full breasts, small trim waist, and hips that flared out delicately in her floor length gossamer blue gown.

She snatched her hand away at his perusal, "You know it isn't polite to stare upon first meeting someone, Your Majesty." She drew out his title as if it was an insult. Curious. She was clearly offended at his open assessment of her. When she looked at Emma with a meaningful look and turned to leave, Klaus reached out to stop her, "Surely, you're not leaving the ball so soon? I was hoping you would save me a dance."

Her eyes looked up at him in surprise at stopping her, and again that potent electricity sparked between them. Her voice was drawn out, as if drugged, "I thought I could, but it might be too hard."

"What is too hard about it? Tell me any obstacle, and I will remove it." He tried to hide the excitement in his voice and his willingness to destroy any obstacle in her way with utter brutality.

Glancing around the room, as if looking for an escape hatch, she held up a single finger. "One dance."

He nodded in assent, letting go of her so she could mingle. Whipping back around to face Emmaline, "Tell me everything."

Freya muttered in irritation under her breath at Klaus's paranoia. She headed to the kitchen, gracefully skirting around loitering Loreans. She nodded at several she knew, many she had met when she frantically searched for a way to resurrect Caroline. She wasn't a fan of opening their home to people, she preferred just her family to be present for the occasion. One thousand years of slavery to a Wiccan deity, made her nervous around large groups of people, she was never sure who she could actually trust. If my own mother could give me up, why not a stranger?

Unlike Klaus, however, she minimized all contact with those outside her family. Klaus could engage the masses and know his reputation was so fearful, so awe inspiring, none would strike against him in public. Privately her brother feared betrayal from those closest to him. Freya knew she did not have to fear that from her siblings, but she did not have the reputation Klaus did to protect her in public. The kitchen was blissfully empty, ducking her head under the sink, she wrapped her fingers on the hidden bourbon bottle that Josie thought she kept hidden.

"Now that's an unexpectedly delightful sight." A smoky female voice intoned, close behind her.

Freya jumped in surprise, nailing her head on the counter, whirling around with her hands up, prepared to fight. The mocha-skinned woman held up her hands in mock surrender, her chocolate eyes light with laughter. Freya groaned, rubbing her head, placing the bourbon bottle on the counter. She still kept her suspicious eyes on the stranger. "Who are you?" She snapped.

The woman's smile widened, swiping the bottle from where Freya had placed it, yanking the top off before taking a swig. Freya's mouth dropped open at the gall.

Snatching the bottles back, cradling it to her chest, she demanded, "I believe you failed to answer my question."

Still she didn't drop her smile, just tilting her head slightly, her riotous curls falling over her shoulder. Taking several steps closer, she left less than a foot of space between them. Freya fought against the need to step back, she would not retreat in front of this woman. She was a Mikaelson! Her eyes did narrow in suspicion at her.

"Orchids and petrichor." She whispered, her eyes focused on Freya's face.

"What are you talking about?" Freya demanded, her voice was slightly breathier than usual, she just hoped the stranger didn't notice. She wasn't used to someone being so close to her, invading her space and refusing to back down.

"Keelin." The stranger stated matter-of-factly.

"What?" Freya asked dumbly.

"My name. It's Keelin." Freya barely caught Keelin's eyes lingering on her lips for a second too long before looking into her eyes again. What exactly was going on here?

"Fine. What do you want?" Freya whipped out. Keelin registered no intention of stepping back from her pose, in fact she seemed to be moving closer to Freya, microscopic inch by microscopic inch.

"Meet me for a drink." Keelin ordered.

Freya's head snapped back in surprise, she dared to give a Mikaelson orders?

"I have information you need." Keelin dangled.

Freya crossed her arms over her chest, still cradling the bottle,, "What possible information could you think I need?"

Keelin smiled again, but it was smaller, saddened, "Information to keep your family safe."

She straightened in alarm, "Are you threatening them?" Calling power into her hands, she was prepared to let it loose on the immortal of undetermined species.

Keelin shook her head, "Not threatening, merely informing. Meet me for a drink, tonight at Rousseau's." Freya covered her alarm at the mention of the bar she often frequented. Had she been following her? Freya let her power cool, prepared to blow off this order for a meeting, Keelin had provided no concrete evidence that her family was in danger.

"Before you think about standing me up, don't forget that Lachlan MacRieve is in the courtyard, I'm sure your brother's truce with him would be tenuous if he knew about all the new hybrids Klaus had turned against their will." Her voice was crisp but smoky, and underlaid with steel when she threatened.

Freya's eyes burned as anger courses through her, "What's to stop me from killing you now to prevent that?"

Keelin was almost flush against her, her throaty chuckle making Freya shiver involuntarily. The hell is that about? "I brought backup. If they don't see me alive leaving the party, they'll tell Lachlan."

"Fine, I'll meet you." Freya responded behind clenched teeth. Slamming the bourbon bottle down on the counter in annoyance at being out maneuvered.

"Good." Before Freya could process her intent, Keelin leaned forward and brushed her lips against her's. The kiss short-circuited Freya's mind, leaving her only with the impression of lemons on her lips. "See you then." Keelin added before flouncing from the room, leaving a thousand year old witch, utterly stunned in her wake.