The Lion and the Thistle
Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Diaries or take any credit for it
Carlisle, England
Rebekah was almost at the boarder between England and Scotland. It was dawn and they'd been on the road for the past fifteen hours. They would soon be leaving the country. She was nervous but pleased at the same time. Her whole family apart from Finn and Elijah were now in Scotland but of course she had to pretend like she didn't know Kol, which was going to hard. Klaus hasn't secured her place with the Queen's ladies yet. She'll just have to prove her worth.
She dug inside her pocket to find a small wooden horse that Klaus had made for when they were children. Rebekah smiled as she remembered him comforting her during a storm. She's missed her family and she was bored with Finn and her husband. They were now passing the middle of the town. There were people getting ready for market, there was of course heavy defences at this part of the country. They were the first to be plundered when Scotland decided to invade.
Once everything had been checked they left Carlisle and England behind.
...
Chateau de Vincennes, Paris, France
Katherine looked at least 18 years old and most of all she looked frightened. Her clothes were torn and her face was dirty. She was also shivering as she huddled up in the corner in an attempt to try and warm herself. This cell was always freezing even during the summer. It was so cold that he could see her breath as she breathed. Elijah wondered what this pretty girl was doing in a cell.
"My name is Elijah Mikaelson" he introduced himself.
She turned to look at him with a curious expression. Katherine looked beautiful and tragic all at the same time.
"It's nice to meet you Elijah" she shivered.
Elijah took off the blanket he had on and gave it to her. She mumbled polite thanks and put it around her. Katherine seemed a lot better with the extra warmth. Elijah was used to the cold by now.
"What's a girl like you doing here?" Elijah asked her.
"My family rose up against the Ottoman Empire and they paid dearly for it" she told him, "The Ottoman's treated the Catholics of Bulgaria cruelly so my father and brothers wanted to change things but they got executed. I ran away to Catholic France for safety but I didn't have any money so I resorted to crime and that's why I'm here. I'm a thief that's all"
During her sorrowful tale Elijah felt sympatric for her dire circumstances. The world was cruel but he couldn't deny that he was happy that he had some company. He hasn't spoken to anyone properly since 1558 so his social skills were a little rusty.
"What about you?" Katherine asked, "What are you doing in a cell in France?"
...
Glamis Castle, Scotland
Mary Queen of Scots was playing with one of her dogs outside. The dog's name was Joie, which was French for Joy. Joie was a corgi that was the cutest little thing that loved to play. It was so full of life as she played with it in the garden. Mary was teasing Joie with some rope and she was going crazy. She had a few ladies and her guards around her of course. The Queen of Scots was never left alone.
Elena and Caroline stood and watch the Queen playing with her puppy. Elena hated dogs; she had a phobia of the things. She was still angry with the Queen for setting her up with Kol. The court had moved on from Edinburgh so now they were at Glamis Castle for the summer. The weather has gotten warmer of late and the Queen was taking full advantage. She's organising an outside feast with games and dances.
Caroline was still thinking what happened in Edinburgh with that manipulative Englishman. She couldn't believe he really thought she was that stupid. She hadn't told the Queen about what he'd asked of her but she didn't know why. Caroline knew she should but she just felt like be betraying his trust some how. How did she figure that? She didn't owe him anything so she should just tell the Queen. So why hadn't she?
Lord Kol was approaching the ladies and their guards. He was carrying some documents and looking very pleased with himself. It was no easy task being a spy. He lived in constant fear that he would be discovered and that thought terrified him. The Scottish Queen wouldn't spare him if he did so but so far nobody but Elena and Klaus knew. Kol had no problem screwing them all over because he put his country above all others. He knew that a wise spy would kill Elena for her dangerous knowledge but he had her under control.
"What a lively dog you have there" Kol grinned.
When they saw Kol they all had completely different reactions. Mary looked pleased above words, Elena looked furious and annoyed and Caroline was worried for her friend.
"Lord Kol!" Mary beamed, "How lovely to see you"
The Queen looked completely smitten with him. Elena just rolled her eyes at her stupidity.
"It's lovely to be in your presence again," Kol said smugly sparing a quick glance at Elena.
Caroline saw that but the Queen obviously didn't.
"What brings you here?" Mary questioned.
"Just papers for you to sign" Kol answered breezily.
He presented her with the documents. Mary told Caroline to take Joie inside as she dealt with this. Elena was still there looking anywhere but at Kol. Mary was reading the documents and then signed before handing them back. She looked really happy when she was in Kol's presence.
"Good day ladies" Kol bowed before leaving.
When Kol was out of sight Mary turned to her Bulgarian Lady-in-waiting who was waiting patiently for her to finish.
"What do you think of Lord Kol?" Mary asked with devious smile on her face.
Elena was sure they were both in league with each other. Why couldn't he leave her alone? She just wanted to get on with her life. When she was fifteen she'd been sent to the French court but now he family were dead. The Ottoman's killed her parents and her twin sister Katherine.
She was sixteen when first she first met Kol. Elena was barely more than a child when she first met him. She was staying at a castle near the border when the English army led by Kol had rushed in and invaded the castle. They were there for a whole year until the Scottish army had managed to beat them back to England. She remembered it like it was yesterday.
Hermitage Castle, Scotland, 1560
"You have to learn this Elena" her tutor argued, "Every woman should know how to sow"
They were in the classroom and Elena was getting lesson on more advanced embroidery. She was the ward of the master here. Elena was new to Scotland and it's appalling weather. Elena didn't want to know how to sow she wanted to learn how to fight with those swords the boys got to learn. Her tutor was an elderly Scots woman who took no attitude.
"What if I wanted adventure," Elena argued.
"Then I'd call you delusional!" the old woman corrected harshly, "We are born, married off, give birth and then die. That is the cycle of life girl, you should kill those silly delusions now girl before you are gravely disappointed"
Elena rolled her eyes and got on with her sowing. Suddenly she heard yelling and cries coming from below. She put her embroidery down and stood up to look out of the window. To her horror she saw English soldiers attacking the castle. The old lady didn't look frightened; in fact it looked like she welcomed death. Elena didn't want to die though so she tried running through the door. Before she could get there soldiers burst into the room. Leading them was a man with brown hair and eyes and a handsome but cruel face. The man looked blood thirsty and terrifying.
"This castle is now under English control" he announced with glee.
The old lady just spat on him, which earned her a smack round the face by one of the soldiers. The man was looking at Elena like she was a piece of meat. He licked his lips and he looked her up and down. Fear gripped her as she tried to calm down. If they were going to kill her they would've done it by now.
"You and the rest of your family are hostages," Kol told them, "You will be our guests"
Kol gave her another hungry look before turning to his soldiers.
"Lock the old woman in dungeon" he grinned, "I like this one"
Elena wanted to take back her wish for adventure but it was too late. You really should be careful about what you wish for. Elena decided to be brave and not let this monster get to her. His men took the old lady out but she sure put up a fight. The old woman bit, cursed, hit and kicked them. She certainly had a lot of fire in her. The man was looking at the scene with an amused expression. When they were gone he turned to her.
"Scots can be such savages, don't you think? I'm Kol Mikaelson of Kent" he smirked ruthlessly, "What's your name darling?"
"Elena of Bulgaria" she told him in a weak voice.
Kol lightly stroked her cheek, as he looked deep into her eyes. Elena was terrified at what he was going to do next.
"There is no need to afraid of me darling" he said softly, "We are going to get to know each other"
Kol kissed her without warning and Elena's whole body jumped a little in surprise. She'd never been touched in that way before and she was terrified but curious as well. He broke off and looked at her curiously.
"Aren't you going to scream and try to run away?" Kol laughed.
To this day she know what possessed her to say what she said next.
"I won't if you don't" Elena grinned.
It was at that moment that Kol stopped looking at her life a piece of meat. He grinned and continued kissing her and sliding his hands up her leg. Kol started gathering her skins up as he continued kissing her. Alarm bells rang in her head as removed his clothes. What was she doing? This man takes over the castle by force and now she's instantly sleeping with him? What was wrong with her? Elena knew she had to be smart. She wanted to be on his right side so she could escape. Maybe she could get word to Marie de Guise? Or maybe that was all an excuse for something she wasn't ready to admit.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Kol entering her. Since she was a virgin she cried out in pain and then in pleasure as he slowly began pounding into her. Elena was trying not to enjoy it but she couldn't help it. It was the beginning of a long year as Kol ran the castle. Many tragic and life altering things happened there. But the Queen tugged Elena out of her thoughts.
Glamis Castle, Scotland, 1562
"What do you think of Lord Kol?" Mary repeated.
Elena took another moment before responding.
"I think he's dangerous," Elena answered but the Queen just smiled.
"He is isn't he" she giggled.
...
It was at least 25 degrees outside as the court celebrated summer in the grounds. There was lively music playing as everyone danced to the merry tune. The Queen was dancing with Lord Kol and Caroline was observing the celebrations with a smile as she watch her friends dance. Someone came up next to her and to her annoyance it was Klaus Mikaelson who was giving her an amused grin. He still had a black eye that Caroline had given him.
"I hope your enjoying the festivities Lady Caroline" Klaus smiled.
"I am indeed" Caroline responded shortly, "May I ask you gave you that black eye? Did you piss someone off?"
Klaus gave a quick smirk before answering her. The sunlight illuminated her like and angel. An angel who gave him a black eye he thought to himself.
"Well some people can read people's intentions wrong" Klaus told her, "Would you like to dance?"
"No" was all she said before leaving to find better company.
Caroline managed to avoid him for most of the feast but at the end when most people had gone back to their chambers Klaus stopped her sitting on one the benches looking at the stars. The music was still playing but it was slower now. Klaus decided to join her so he sat next to her on the bench.
"Please give up" Caroline protested, "I'm not going to recommend your sister to the Queen so just leave me be"
"I'm not here because of my sister"
Caroline looked at him sharply, partly in disbelief and partly in curiosity. She raised an eyebrow as he continued.
"I'm here because I enjoy your company" Klaus confessed.
By the look of Caroline's face he could tell she clearly didn't believe him. So he decided to do something reckless. Klaus gave her a soft kiss on the lips leaving her dumbstruck in amazement. He then stroked her soft hair before leaving her alone. Caroline was still too shocked to form any words so she didn't say anything as he walked off into the night.
...
It was midnight and Kol was waiting Klaus in the secret part of the garden where they can't be overheard or seen. Klaus was a few minutes late but he seemed to have a skip in his step. He decided the question his brother on his mood later, now they had important business to discuss.
"Your late brother" Kol said.
"I was detained" he smirked, "Now what have you learnt?"
Kol looked around again for anyone who could be close by before answering his elder brother.
"The Queen has offered to marry that mad Spaniard" Kol informed, "Don Carlos of Spain. He's considering her among some other brides. I don't have to tell you how bad this would be for England. Spain is one of the most powerful countries in Europe. We do not want the Scots and the Spanish forming an alliance"
Klaus looked deeply troubled by this news. The last thing England needed was Spain as an enemy. Their Queen flirted with men but never married them. Klaus didn't think she ever would marry but when you remember what happened to her mother can you really blame her?
"Thank you for this Kol" Klaus thanked his little brother, "This news will go straight to London"
Despite this troubling news he was still happy inside. He was sure that he could get his Scottish maiden to come around.
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