Pairing: Klaus/Ethelred-Lucie (M/mf) hand, hairbrush

*Request fulfilled for Jazmine F. ( )

1002 A.D., South France

Castle of the Count de Martel

Woods Near the Castle

Past Midnight

Elijah paced in the kitchen. "We need to speak to their leader and find out what they want. Then, we get Eira and the others back and then..."

Kol growled, "Kill them all. It would be as easily as slaughtering a pig. Let me do it, Brothers, for my thirst is great."

Rebekah slapped him on the arm. "Stop it, Kol. For all we know they have important humans there, we cannot just kill them all. Right, Elijah?"

Elijah paused, "I do not see why not. If our attempts to control them with our gaze fails, we may have no choice. But Tristan, Lucien, and Aurora need be careful as they can be murdered with fire or a wooden stake. We, on the other hand, are impervious to those tortures."

"Like I said, 'kill them all,'" Kol smirked as Rebekah, pulling a strand of her hair as he passed by.

"Elijah! Did you see that?" Rebekah shrieked. "Demon."

"Children, behave. We have some work to do. Find Niklaus, I am loathe to go out there without him," Elijah said, straightening his cloak.

Klaus entered the kitchen with Tristan, Aurora, and Lucien.

"We are here, Brother. Should not the Count de Martel himself go?" Klaus said, pushing Lucien forward.

"It mayhaps would be good experience," Elijah said, "Come on, Tristan. Walk with me and we shall prepare our battle plan." Tristan went up to walk with Elijah and Klaus turned to Lucien and Aurora.

"You two will stay close to me. Do not speak or respond without my leave. This could turn ugly fast. Do you understand?" Klaus asked, mostly looking at Lucien.

"I am 'just a stableboy' why do I even have to go?" Lucien whined.

Aurora frowned, "I thought your lady was out there? Eira, are you going to leave her to be torn away by these animals?"

"You are my true lady, Aurora," Lucien smiled. "I know that now."

Aurora slapped his face and walked away saying, "I would never bed such a coward as you."

Klaus bit back a smile. "I do not think she cares for you, Lucien. Eira is a lovely girl and most worthy of your affection."

"She is a peasant," Lucien snapped. "I care not for her kind." Lucien stomped off, holding his injured cheek. He wondered when Aurora had gotten so strong.

As Elijah and Tristan neared the gate, they ordered the guards to open it. A party of men and women on horseback and several woman on the ground were standing with some torches.

"Good people of France, we ask that you return our folk to within our gate," Elijah yelled out.

"We would love to, my lord, but you are harboring witches," A rotund man replied.

"You must be the witch hunter," Tristan answered. "None of my people are witches, we are God fearing folk. Come, bring them in, we will feast you and give a large donation to the church."

"Do you think God's will can be bought with coin," The fat man seethed.

A woman jumped off her horse and pulled the large man down off of his.

"I have been wanting to do this for a long time," She laughed as she slit his throat with a jeweled dagger.

Eira, whose hands were being held by another man screamed. Elijah vamped to free her and Tristan took off the head of the other man who was restraining some of his other servants.

"Please, know that I come in peace. I am the Abbess de Molesme. Forgive our entrance, but I did come bearing wine," a woman in a habit said smoothly. Aurora was coming up from behind.

"Abbess, why have you come here? I am no longer yours to abuse," Aurora chided.

"Child, that was a ruse. You may be surprised by what I have to say," the Abbess said. "I needed to come here and warn you and then I decided to just root out the evil myself. The others with me are loyal to me. Some are witches and others small folk who know about my little secret."

Tristan helped the other staff members free themselves from the robes and the stableman helped with the horses.

Kol cursed under his breath and said, "So much for an epic battle! I am going to hunt!" He stalked off.

"Eira, are you all right?" Elijah asked, looking over the girl from head to toe.

"Aye, the Abbess would not let them hurt us," Eira said, smiling gratefully, as the group walked to the castle.

"Indeed now, for I am as you are. Of witch blood," the Abbess said. "Countess? I hear you have someone here that was also a guest of the abbey?"

"Aye, Abbess, my dear Lucie made it here to find me. You had her treated quite roughly for a guest," Aurora said sharply.

"Aye, I regret that. Your father was not the only lord to try to destroy the covens. My family and coven were dispersed across this land to hide in plain sight. When the Church leaders said they were coming here to test you and the others for witchcraft, I knew what I had to do," the Abbess said. "But I am an Abbess no longer. My real name is Antoinette de Sienna."

The lady tore off her headdress and her black curls spilled out. She had an oval face with bright eyes and red lips. Elijah found her to be the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.

Elijah took her hand and kissed it, "Enchanted, I am sure. You have great courage lady. We appreciate your strength and I would be interested in that wine. I hear the wines from Burgundy are the finest in the land."

Antoinette smiled, "Thank you, we think so. Are you from here, Lord?"

"Nay, we are from far over the seas. I am Elijah," Elijah said smoothly.

Lucie came out of the castle and pointed at Antoinette.

"Not her! She is here to kill me," Lucie screamed.

Elijah vamped to her, but it was too late. Lucie's head rolled back and as she fainted, Antoinette caught on fire. Klaus caught her and rolled her in the grass.

"She is injured," Klaus exclaimed. Elijah pushed past him and bit into his own wrist.

"Drink, my lady, it will heal you," Elijah urged. Antoinette opened her mouth and drank weakly. Elijah picked her up and carried her into the castle.

"Will she heal?" Aurora asked Klaus.

"I cannot say, if enough blood got into her system...If not, I am afraid there is naught we can do," Klaus said. "Time will tell."

Aurora went over and roused Lucie. "I shall get her abed."

Next Morning

Great Hall

Antoinette and her party arrived in the Great Hall to break their fast looking refreshed.

Elijah made his way over, "I see you have no ill effects of the young lady's wrath."

"You mean Lucie trying to burn me alive? Nay, it was for naught. I cast a protection spell on myself before I came. Also, your blood did the rest,"

Antoinette said, looking curious. "What are you exactly?"

Elijah smiled and took a seat on the bench beside her.

"Our mother was like you a witch. She lost two children too early and decided to make us faster, stronger, and immune from death. The cost of this was that we need to survive on blood. Animal will do, but to thrive, we need to feed from humans," Elijah admitted. "And we are hungry for blood much, if not all of the time."

"Oh, it sounds taxing. I thought it bad trying to pose as a God fearing holy woman for so long, I shall not fret about that anymore," Antoinette laughed.

"You had to do ill things to maintain your position?" Elijah pressed, as a servant brought a loaf of warm bread and wine over to them.

"Aye, as the Countess Aurora and Lucie have probably said, religious life can be very strict. I had to pretend to go along with it all or I might be discovered. But a witch hunt was going too far. That beast I killed last night had it coming, believe me, my lord," Antoinette said with feeling.

"I do, my lady. Would you join us today on a hunt around the grounds? It might do us good to get out of the castle and you could enjoy the lands surrounding it," Elijah smiled.

"It sounds lovely. Will Lucie be joining us? I would like the chance to apologize to her. By the time I figured out that she was a witch, she left," Antoinette mentioned.

"I will see to it myself," Elijah said. He could barely look away from the lady's lovely countenance. Nor did he want to.

Afternoon

Kitchen

Ethelred tossed Lucie the ball and she caught it with a flourish. Cook was out choosing chicken to be killed for tonight's feast and the others were out hunting. Lucie took the ball and snuck it past Ethelred and into the hallway outside of the kitchen. He tried to catch up with her, but instead knocked over a torch stand, which in turn smashed over the ceramic jug of wine on a table. Blood red wine spilled over all the stone floor and Lucie dropped the ball in shock.

"Cook is going to kill me!" Ethelred hissed. Cook was not afraid to wallop anyone on his staff, slacking or playing around. For this, it would be a hardy strapping at least.

Lucie groaned, "I am so sorry, Ethelred. I shall tell Cook it was my fault. You should not be the only one punished."

Klaus came out and yelled, "Is that the wine from Burgundy? What the devil were the two of you thinking? Ethelred, were you not to be studying with the Steward? Or reading with Friar John?"

Klaus had not felt like hunting today and since Finn was gone, someone had to look after the castle.

Ethelred shook his head, "I was to work in the kitchen today. They were short-staffed because so many went on the hunting party. Even Eira went..."

Klaus frowned, "It did not look like you were working to me, young man!"

"I am sorry, my Lord," Ethelred said, looking down. "It just...broke."

"It 'just broke.' And you, Lucie? Did not Elijah ask you to attend to the hunting party? The Abbess wanted to make her amends with you," Klaus asked the younger teen.

"I did not wish to go, my Lord," Lucie admitted. "I snuck back in whist no one was looking. We do not know what happened to the wine." The leather ball they were playing with rolled across the floor and Klaus eyed it with suspicion.

"You both need punishment then if you are also going to lie. I shall have someone clean this up. You know where my bedchamber is? Go there and face the wall. I shall be up in a moment to discipline you," Klaus determined. He sent both teens off with a swift slap to their posteriors. He got a yelp out of Ethelred, but Lucie just hurried on her way.

Klaus found Cook and explained that he himself had smashed the wine. He asked for someone to clean it up and that he was instructing Ethelred and Lucie for the afternoon.

Klaus found the children facing the wall and whispering to each other. He was not pleased. He and his siblings had broken many things over the years and lying never did anything but worsen the punishment.

"I hope you are both thinking about where foolishness and lying get you," Klaus said as he dragged over a straight-backed wooden chair in the center of the floor. "Do not move or speak, I will be back."

Klaus entered Rebekah's chamber and found her heavy hairbrush next to a highly polished piece of tin at her dressing table. He walked back to his room trying to calm down and remind himself they were just human children in need of a firm hand.

"Ethelred, come to me please," Klaus said firmly.

The well-built lad turned and shamefully walked over to Klaus. His ruddy face and light blond hair with tones of red was in his face and Klaus brushed it back.

"You have behaved like a small lad today. Do you wish to tell me why I needs put you over my lap to spank?" Klaus started.

"Please, lord, I beg you, if you need whip me, whip me, but I am too big to go over your lap," Ethelred pleaded.

"Let us see," Klaus said, pulling Ethelred's husky body over his thighs. "It seems like you fit just fine." Klaus flipped up his tunic and popped his well-muscled rump firmly. Smack. Smack.

"I lied about the pitcher! I am sorry, my lord, I broke it!" Ethelred.

"I know you did, lad. I heard the whole thing," Klaus smiled. "And when you act like a boy, you get treated like one."

Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack.

Klaus swatted Ethelred over his hose for another long moment.

"I am not sure you are feeling this, young man. Let you lose the protection of your hose," Klaus said, he tugged down the cream colored hose and then spanked Ethelred over the thin cotton layer of his drawers.

Whack. Whack. Whack.

Klaus could see these blows smarted more and the boy began to wiggle and kick out his legs.

"It tis fine. You need not hold it all in. Mademoiselle Lucie will be spanked next," Klaus vowed. Lucie heard this and begun to weep facing the wall, while Ethelred was still trying to be stoic and brave.

"Cook's paddle or spoon is much worse, my lord," Ethelred admitted. He could not in good conscience raise much of a fuss over a few smacks with the lord's bare hand.

"I imagine it tis," Klaus said. "Go fetch that hairbrush on the bed. We shall see how that fares in comparison to Cook's tools of the trade."

Ethelred let Klaus help him up and toddled over to the bed with his drawers and hose around his ankles. He handed the brush to Klaus, still looking guilty, and now flushed with the shame of being spanked over his lap.

"Back over," Klaus said. He heft the brush and rubbed it over Ethelred's, still mostly pale, bottom.

Whap! Whap!

Klaus snapped down the brush right in the center of Ethelred's right cheek. The boy jerked and let out an "Ah" moan. Klaus popped his left cheek in turned. Soon he worked out a rhythm on the boy's rump until it was pink and even red in some spots. Klaus heard Ethelred finally begin to cry as he paddled his bottom in the same spot a number of times, no one could steel themselves against that sting, he knew.

"I ammmm sorrrrry, my lordddd," Ethelred wept as Klaus raised and lowered the brush on his sore bottom.

Whap! Whap!

"I know. Why did you lie?" Klaus asked, still whacking. Whap! Whap!

"I wassss scarrrreeddd of a beatttting," Ethelred wailed.

Klaus heard his words and only gave him a last tap with the wooden brush.

Tap.

He lifted the boy and put him on his lap.

"My brother Kol must have been telling you ill stories of all the horrendous whippings he has received, hmm? Well, he is wont to fib like you did. Now I am deceived or did you learn your lesson today?" Klaus asked tenderly.

"I-I d-did, L-Lord," Ethelred hiccuped and sniffed. Klaus pulled the boy into a hug and let him sob on his shoulder until he got his tears under control.

"There, there, all forgiven. Now march over to the wall and hold up your tunic. I want to see your red arse and you thinking about how you will behave honorably in the future," Klaus said, rubbing his rear softly.

"Lucie, you are next, young lady," Klaus called. He put the hairbrush on the floor to his left so she could see it as he warmed up her naughty rear for her with his hand.

"Please, Lord. This was all my fault. I took the ball and was running...," Lucie confessed.

"I know, lass, I heard the whole thing. Take your punishment and we will put it behind us, so to speak. I told Cook that I broke it," Klaus confided.

"Is that not lying, Lord?" Lucie sniffed. Klaus laughed out loud.

"Ah, it is, but I shall be punished by having to hear my brother Elijah whine about the lost wine that I wasted. He shall never let me forget it," Klaus said, as he pulled her slim form over his lap. He flipped up her dress and one of her slips to access her cotton drawers. Klaus only rested his hand on her rump a moment before starting to bring the flat of his hand down.
Swat! Swat!

Unlike Ethelred, Lucie hollered and kicked from the start. "Awwwwwww!"

Slap. Slap. Slap. Slap. Slap.

Slap. Slap. Slap. Slap. Slap.

"You need to tell the truth when I ask you something," Klaus lectured.

Slap. Slap. Slap. Slap. Slap.

Slap. Slap. Slap. Slap. Slap.

He swatted her thin drawers for a short time and then asked Lucie to give him the hair brush.

"And the Lady Antoinette only wished to apologize to you for her ruse," Klaus added. "Why not let her?"

"I have nothing to say to that bitch!" Lucie roared.

Klaus' eyes grew wide and he tapped the flat side of the brush on Lucie's bottom.

"You really do need a good spanking today, do you not?" Klaus said beginning the punishment.

Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!

Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!

"Nooooo, Lord!" Lucie protested. "Please..."

Klaus pulled in Lucie tighter as she bounced and thrashed over his lap. He almost had to restrain her with his right leg, but just pulled her in tighter with his left arm. She was quite strong.

"Will you speak to the lady tonight at the feast? Or do you want to stay in Aurora's chambers sitting on your sore behind?" Klaus prodded.

Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!

Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!

Lucie's wailed grew louder and soon her bottom was a bright red.

Just as he was about to give her another flurry of swats, he heard, "I will speak to her. The Abbess."

"Good. Then, I suppose we are finished here," Klaus said. "I only do this as I care about you. Do you understand that, my dear?"

Lucie sniffled and nodded as Klaus sat her up on his knee. She shrieked and bounced and he shifted her a little.

"May I comfort you? Or are you too angry with me?" Klaus asked, using a fresh linen from his jacket to wipe her face clean.

"I am not vexed at anyone other than my stubborn self," Lucie confessed. Klaus wrapped his arms around her.

"It tis not easy to be your age. You are in a new place with new people. I was not angry at you for trying to amuse yourself, just your lie. It twas not a clever lie either," Klaus jested.

That got a smile out of Lucie. "Forgive me, but I learned to lie at that Abbey. And I suppose the Abbess was the greatest liar of them all?"

"Mayhaps, you are right, child. How about we agree to not lie to each other? Is that a start?" Klaus asked.

"Aye, tis a good one," Lucie said.

"Ethelred, you may pull up your hose and lower your tunic. I want you to go rest in Lucien's chamber. Lucie, you needs rest in my bed. I have some ledgers to examine as you sleep," Klaus informed the two. He stood and hugged Lucie again and held his arm open to Ethelred, before settling them down for a nap. Soon, Klaus was dozing in his chair as the younger ones slept in the beds. That would at least be well-rested for the feast tonight.