Pairing: Elijah/Tristan (M/M) sword, hand
Klaus/Lucien (M/M) hand
Prompt for kikimerio
1002 A.D., South France
Elijah tossed the saddle to his younger brother, "Do not get too soft, 'Lord' Niklaus! Remember, just but a year ago, we were but humble farmers!"
Klaus caught the heavy saddle easily, "How could I forget, Elijah, with you, always reminding me of it. We were not thirsting for blood and killing to survive a year ago either... You know, we could be lords here. For real." Klaus turned and looked at Elijah seriously. Lord Niklaus...It had a nice ring to it. A lord, him? Nay, no one would ever believe it.
"You are right. We could be. If we could deceive the right people. We would have to learn more of the customs and manners, but it is possible," Elijah agreed.
The handsome stableboy who had brought them to this place in exchange for his life, Lucien, trotted up. He was breathless and his brown locks were scattered.
"My lords, it is time," Lucien gasped.
"For what, boy?" Elijah asked.
"The Count de Martel wishes to meet with you. You do not keep him waiting. Like his son, he had a fierce temper. I shall get a flogging if you do not make haste," Lucien explained nervously.
"He flogs you for the folly of others?...Sounds like Father," Klaus spat in anger.
"Not the Count himself, but his son. He seems to find any reason to give me a sound whipping these days," Lucien complained. He unconsciously rubbed the seat of his tight worn hose through his rough tunic.
"We do not want you to feel the lash upon your back on our accounts," Elijah quipped.
"My back? Nay, more my backside. Makes it damned near impossible to sit afterward," Lucien explained. "Not that the right prick gives me much time to sit...He keeps me busy, though I am supposed to be working here at the stables."
Klaus looked at Elijah. Each custom of this country was odder than the next.
Tristan de Martel, the son of the Count himself strode in. "Lucien, boy, you are late. I suppose you want another thrashing. Who are your friends?" Tristan was dressed in finery and had the smug, arrogant expression of the lord of the manor. He held
Lucien bowed low as Tristan demanded, "My Lord, these are the children of your father's dearest friend. May I present the Lord Elijah and the Lord Niklaus..."
Tristan smirked and waited for the two to bow before him.
"My lord," Elijah said nodding his head slightly. NIklaus muttered a soft, "Mi'lord."
When they did not bow deeper, Tristan raised his eyebrows. Lucien jumped in, "My Lord Tristan, these lords are not from our lands. They do not know our customs. Your father wishes to speak to them. May I present them?"
"Yes, you may," Tristan said grandly.
Elijah and Klaus met the Count in the massive great hall of the castle. There were many other people in attendance. The Count was an old man, near his end. He could not hear well and was losing his wits. The Count greeted them hastily and then his steward dismissed the visitors promising that the Count would visit with them this evening during the feast.
Elijah and Klaus were shown to their quarters by a young, slender servant girl. Klaus looked at her with hunger. They had to feed soon. Elijah shook his head.
"Niklaus, we will find someone later. Please restrain yourself," Elijah whispered in warning.
"Aye, Brother, you are correct. We must be discreet if nothing else," Klaus agreed. The heartbeat of the girl was so loud that it pounded in his ears.
Finn and Rebekah had stayed in the previous town to try to investigate a story that a demon was terrorizing the countryside. Elijah feared it could be Mikael. Kol had taken off on an adventure and promised to find them within a fortnight.
"These rooms are large," Elijah mused. "Room enough for the rest of the family. Kol best not forget to show up this week. If Father is hunting us, it is because of his excess alone."
"Not his alone, Elijah. Like Finn said, we are all filthy gluttons, we have all feasted much since arriving, but we can control it better than Kol. He is young, impulsive. Speaking of, what do you make of the Count's son, Tristan?" Klaus pressed.
"He seems like a spoilt brat. Did you hear how he threatened Lucien? i dislike him. Truly, I do," Elijah remarked. "Would that we could feed off of him? I am sure the small folk here would not miss his like."
Klaus thought, "Aye, and poor Lucien seems too clever to be just a stableboy his entire life. He needs to flee here and make his own fortune."
"Indeed," Elijah agreed. "Come now, let us rest, for there is a great feast tonight."
"Yes, Elijah," Klaus said. He stripped off his tunic and get into the bed. Elijah did the same.
They heard a knock and groaned. "My Lords?"
"Aye?" Klaus asked.
"The Count's man has assigned me to be your servant! I am in bed here with you and attend to all of your needs," Lucien explained. "There is a small area here for servants."
"Wonderful," Elijah said. "Can you bring us a person no one would miss? Hidden? You know what we are. We need free blood."
Lucien nodded, "Yes, my lord. I shall fetch you water, too. After I tend to the fire. Do you still eat?"
"Yes, we do. We do not need food to live, but we still hunger and live normally. It is just we must have a certain amount of blood a day. It is a curse, but it makes us strong and fast. Remember, as we told you on the road, if you reveal us,-" Elijah drifted off.
"It will be your last betrayal. Do not reveal our secret," Klaus demanded.
"I gave you my word that I would not. Before my family fortunes fell, I was of a lesser noble house. I thought that I would marry the Lady Aurora, but it did not work out," Lucien confessed.
"The daughter of the Count? I did not see her," Elijah said casually.
"She was sent to a nunnery. I shall attend to my duties, my lords," Lucien said dutifully. He tended the fire and then left.
Klaus turned to Elijah, "Seems like a good lad."
"Yes, but I do not think he is happy with his station...I do not trust him, Niklaus. We must watch for signs of his betrayal closely. Befriend him, if you can. You are good at that," Elijah said turning to rest.
Outside the Castle
"Lucien!" Tristan hissed.
"Yes, my lord?" Lucien answered humbly.
Tristan rolled his eyes, Lucien was as humble as the king. Before his father had lost their estate, they had grown up as equals. There had been talk of Lucien even marrying his sister, Aurora.
"What have you? Tell me what you are up to," Tristan asked suspiciously.
"Nothing. I am getting water...,my lord," Lucien added a moment too late.
"You just remember who employs you now, Father may be the lord here, but I begged him to take you in. Now, tell me what you know if these odd new guests," Tristan inquired.
"They are friends of your father and foreign. That is all I know, Tristan," Lucien slipped. Lucien raised his hand to strike his former friend when Elijah cleared his throat.
"Pardon me, would you direct me to the...latrines, please?" Elijah asked with a slight smile.
Tristan lowered his hand. "Lucien, tend to your duties. We will continue this conversation later. I shall take you, my Lord...?"
"Elijah, if you please. This is such a beautiful castle. Has it been in your family long?" Elijah asked as they walked along the wall.
"Not as long as my father would like people to believe, I am afraid. Are your quarters sufficient?" Tristan pressed.
"They are excellent. My brother and I thank you for you hospitality. In truth, we have a strained relationship with our father and we were not sure if this journey was a good idea. But I am starting to think that we will enjoy our time here," Elijah responded.
"Good. Here are the latrines. I trust I will see you at the feast tonight? You must do me the honor of seating at my table," Tristan bowed.
"Thank you. That would be a great honor. If you do not mind my boldness, it seems that you and Lucien are familiar. Has he been with your family long?" Elijah wondered.
"At one time, I thought he would be my brother by law. Before Lucien's father sickened and sold off their lands, he was almost betrothed to my sister Aurora. I pleaded with my father to take him in. He almost did not want to, but I swore that I would mold Lucien into a good servant here," Tristan smirked.
"So he went from being a noble to being a servant? And losing a bride in the process? You must tell me the whole story someday...," Elijah finished turning to go to the latrines.
Tristan felt himself speaking against his will, "The whole story is that Lucien loved my sister and tried to steal her away to spoil her virtue. I had my father hire him to punish him for getting my sister sent to the nunnery. I enjoy humiliating him and putting him in his place. It is the only pleasure I get out of life."
Elijah looked back in surprise, as did Tristan.
Tristan flushed and turned quickly and almost ran off. Why had he said all that? He had never told anyone the truth. What was happening? There was something odd about the Lord Elijah and he needed to know what it was.
The Great Hall
Elijah and Klaus were seated at the Count's table. The steward explained that the Count had taken ill, but that his son would be hosting the feast.
Elijah told Klaus what Tristan had said, "Niklaus, when I asked Tristan the question, he looked pained as if he did not want to answer me, yet he did. Have you noticed that, too?"
Klaus answered, "It has happened to me a few times, but I thought it was my imagination. It is almost when I look deeply in someone's else that they have to tell me the truth. Here comes the Count's son."
"My lords, thank you for joining me. My father is ill. I am afraid he is not long for this world. Sadly, i will be the next Count de Martel," Tristan announced proudly. Elijah glanced at Klaus.
Klaus waited until the man sat and had his wine goblet filled.
"Lord Tristan, please tell me the truth. Is your father really sick?" Klaus said looking him in the eyes.
Tristan said slowly, "Yes, I had the cook put herbs in his stew to make him sleep. He has lost his wits. I am hoping he dies soon. I hate my father. Everyone does. He is evil."
Elijah tried, "Look at me. What makes your lord father evil? What has he done?"
Tristan winced, "He takes pleasure in tormenting others. He killed Lucien's father for not being about to pay his debt. But my father does not need the coin. He is wicked and cruel. Father sent my sister away for falling in love. But really, he hates her because she looks so much like mother, who died birthing her."
Klaus frowned, "You will forget that you told us this. Forget your suspicions of us."
Tristan blinked and looked around in confusion, "Can I offer you more wine? Wench! Fill these goblets now!"
Lucien was trotting by carrying a tray. Tristan called to him, "Lucien, my old friend, come sit with us. Act like you are worthy to sup with us a moment."
Lucien glared for a split second and then smiled and obeyed.
Tristan offered, "Have some wine."
Lucien froze. Elijah smiled kindly, "It is fine. Have some wine, Lucien."
Lucien drank deeply, but looked horrified. Klaus noticed and nudged Elijah. "Something is wrong."
Elijah asked, "Lucien, what of it?"
Lucien gasped, "I poisoned the wine...for revenge for my father. We are both going to die!" Lucien started to pass out.
Klaus said, "Get them to our quarters. We can heal them with our blood!"
Elijah thought he understood. They had noticed some odd effects with their blood on humans. Elijah told a servant with a torch to come with them for light.
Tristan was still able to walk. Klaus dragged out Lucien, making him seem drunk. But by the time, they got to their quarters, both men were barely conscience.
Klaus extended his sharp fangs and bit into his wrist. He poured his blood into Lucien's mouth. Elijah watched and did the same with Tristan.
"It's not working. We must break their necks," Klaus said as he snapped Lucien's neck quickly.
"But you said we would heal them!" Elijah gasped.
"I think it better this way," Klaus said. Elijah followed his example and killed Tristan in the same matter. They laid the bodies on the flood.
Elijah went into the corridor. He asked two serving girls to come with him. They dare not disobey a nobleman's request.
Elijah and Klaus both fed lightly off of them after telling them not to scream. It worked.
They bit into the women's wrists and dribbled the blood into Tristan and Lucien's mouths. Nothing happened.
"Stay here, please," Elijah ordered the woman.
After a few minutes, the lifeless men returned to life. They were hungry and soon were feeding from the wrists of the terrified woman.
"That's enough," Elijah ordered. They did not stop. Klaus pulled them off.
"We do not want to have to deal with these bodies," Klaus said to the newly made vampires. Klaus compelled the women to leave and not remember any of this. They left without incident.
Elijah scolded them, "You do that again and you both are getting a whipping!"
Tristan whimpered in response. Lucien growled and snapped at Klaus.
Klaus went to slap him, but Elijah caught his hand. They were hungry for blood.
"Nay, do you want to be like Father? If they need discipline, they will get it, but not like that," Elijah insisted.
"They are a touch too old for a thrashing, no?" Klaus asked archly.
"We were not. They are younger than we were the last time we got a good hiding," Elijah explained.
"True. I suppose it works when you put Kol over your knee," Klaus reasoned.
"Niklaus, they are our responsibility now. We have to teach them well. Now, focus. How are we going to explain Tristan's absence?" Elijah asked.
They heard a ruckus outside their chambers. Klaus put out his head and asked someone what happened.
"The Count de Martel is dead," the voice said.
Elijah leaned down to Tristan, "My condolences and congratulations, Count de Martel. Now, let us get you to your chambers."
Tristan frowned and then blurted, "I killed my father! I did not mean to, but he was a devil..." Tristan began to weep and panic.
Elijah leaned down, "Settle down now. We need you to act like the lord of this manner. You cannot admit what you did to anyone."
Tristan nodded, "But I cannot go out! I am a murderer, just like he."
Elijah warned him, "Stop this nonsense or I will thrash it out of you."
"But I killed my father!" Tristan shrieked loudly.
Elijah asked Klaus, "Why is he not listening? Sometimes it does not seem like our mind powers work."
"Maybe he is too upset for it to work?" Klaus asked. He was getting Lucien set up in the small bedded area on the floor near the fire.
Tristan began to sob and tear at his hair and his fine tunic. He drew his short sword and went to stab himself. Elijah caught the sword, turned Tristan and slapped the flat of the short sword on his hose covered behind firmly. Whap! Tristan responded with a shrill gasp of shock and tried to angrily turn to Elijah.
Elijah chided, "I think it is time for someone to teach you proper manners, Count."
Tristan was upended over Elijah's knee which he propped up on the bed and paddled several times with the sword. Tristan wept and howled. Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
Elijah held the struggling vampire over his knee until he calmed. "I shall let you up if you behave. If not, you will get a spanking on your bare buttocks. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Lord Elijah," Tristan hiccuped. Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack!
Elijah turned him to look in his eyes, "You will remain calm and do exactly as I say from now on. We will go stay in your chambers. You will behave properly or have a very sore bottom."
"Yes, Lord," Tristan said with downcast eyes. "May I have more blood, please?"
"Later. If you listen. Niklaus, we shall take our leave. Do not let Lucien out of your sight. I fear they could lose control," Elijah said.
Klaus was covering Lucien with a blanket and sitting by him near the fire. Lucien had blood on his face that Klaus wiped away with a cloth.
"Good thinking, Brother. I will do that. Good night. I feel like our lives are on a new course. We have to be very careful, as we have much to lose," Klaus said softly.
"Indeed. Come now, Tristan. Stop rubbing your behind, young man," Elijah scolded. Tristan's hands lifted off his stinging seat instantly. He docilely followed Elijah out of the chamber.
As soon as they left, Lucien began to giggle uncontrollably. "This is what I wanted! I knew you could do it. Thank you, Lord Niklaus! Now Tristan has a new master, your brother. I have longed for him to get a lashing for many years. Ha!"
Niklaus' face darkened, "You tried to murder him tonight. Innocents could have died from that wine. Stop now, or I will warm your bottom up as well."
"I have been flogged so many times, you think a child's punishment will bother me?" Lucien sassed.
"Let us see," Klaus said. He flipped Lucien on his stomach on the floor. Before Lucien could react, Klaus flipped up his tunic and pulled down his hose to bare his pale, toned buttocks. Lucien tried to struggle to pull down his tunic to cover his exposed behind, but Klaus caught his hands with his left hand and pinned them at his lower back.
Klaus slapped Lucien's pale right check first. Smack!
Lucien raised his head and howled, "Owwww." Klaus slapped the left side of his behind. Smack!
"This is how our mother taught us how to behave. Perhaps, you missed out on that here?' Klaus scoffed as he began to spank Lucien's bare cheeks hard. He left pink handprints all over Lucien's behind as Lucien tapped his feet into the floor. Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack!
"Forgive me, Lord! I was impertinent...," Lucien apologized.
"This is what will happen every time so I suggest you control yourself," Klaus lectured. Spank! Spank!
Klaus spanked him another two minutes until the newly made vampire was sobbing and begging for Klaus to stop spanking. Lucien tried to turn to the side and shift, but it was impossible.
"I am s-sorry, lord! It h-hurts," Lucien wailed. Klaus' hand was stinging and Lucien's bottom was a solid red.
"Finished. You have been punished well. I am going to pull off your hose and let your behind cool off, but the next time I need to spank you. You shall not get off with just my hand being used," Klaus threatened. Klaus gently removed his hose and then patted his back. The new vampire was sobbing so pitifully that Klaus picked him up and carried him to the bed. He laid him on his stomach and sat next to him on the bed rubbing his back.
"I will let you feed again in the morning. I know this is all new and overwhelming. Go to sleep and we will talk in the morning," Klaus promised. He went to get up and Lucien stopped him.
"P-Please d-do not leave me," Lucien whispered.
Klaus nodded. He blew out most of the candles, aside from one and got in the bed. He heard Lucien still sniffing and end up holding him to him.
"You will be fine. I will look after you. How is your bottom?" Klaus asked softly.
"It stings, but feels better. I am healing so fast. Is that this curse? I did want to kill Tristan, but I also wanted to be like you. It was a dangerous plan," Lucien admitted.
'It was and we will discuss it later. Right now, sleep your eyes and sleep. I would hate to have to heat up your sore rear again, but I will if you disobey me," Klaus vowed.
"I believe you," Lucien whimpered as he snuck a hand back to rub. He really did. "Any punishment is better than being Tristan's servant."
"I will teach you everything I know. You will never have to be a servant again, but you will have to obey us for your own safety. If you do not, I am also not afraid to sit you facing the corner on that sore bottom. For someone who moves as much as you, you would not care for it," Klaus smiled in the darkened room.
"I will try to obey you. But...obedience has never been a strength of mine, I fear," Lucien admitted.
"Shh, we shall work on it. Sleep," Klaus said as he patted Lucien's bare bottom in warning. Klaus did not want to spank him again, but he wanted to show the boy that he would tolerate no disobedience or misbehavior.
Lucien shivered and forced himself to shut his eyes. He was soon asleep. Klaus was not sure what caused him to want to turn these humans into monsters, but he had wanted it. He knew Elijah would benefit from having someone to look after.
Soon, Klaus fell into sleep curled up next to Lucien. He knew it would not be easy, but something about it felt right.
