The Lion and the Thistle
Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Diaries or take any credit for it
Hampton Court Palace, England
"Have your heard the news from Scotland?" Elizabeth asked Lord Finn.
The Queen of England and Finn were playing chess in her private rooms. His wife, Lady Sage was watching them as they played. Finn was letting the Queen win of course. The Queen has seemed troubled lately, especially after the last Privy Council meeting when they'd received their spy's news. The Scottish Queen was planning on marrying into Spain and that was bad for everyone who called himself and Englishman...or Englishwoman.
"I have indeed, your Majesty" Finn answered as he made his move.
"Any ideas?" the Queen questioned.
"Maybe we should just let it play out" Finn suggested, "We don't want to insult Spain"
Elizabeth nodded as she made her move. Lady Sage was an Irishwoman who fell in love with an English solider. He was so brave, moral and strong. Finn had stood out from the other officers. She loved him dearly of course her father was against the match so she ran away with him. Sage was currently pregnant with her second child.
"His father asked for my hand when my sister died" Elizabeth scoffed.
"Phillip of Spain was never popular here," Finn agreed.
"He broke my sister's heart" Elizabeth said slowly.
The last Queen had thought she's finally found happiness when she married Philip of Spain. Of course most of the country were against the match. The Protestants didn't want him bringing the Spanish Inquisition to England and the Catholics didn't want to become part of Spain's empire. So on every side Philip was not popular at all. After a humiliating false pregnancy he left for Spain and never returned. Elizabeth's sister was not cold in her grave when he offered her marriage.
"May I advise caution?" Finn advised, "We shouldn't do anything until we have to"
"I agree, we'll wait and then we'll act" Elizabeth then turned to the game, "I believe I've won"
...
Glamis Castle, Scotland
Rebekah has finally arrived at the Scottish court. The Scottish Queen who was sitting royally warmly welcomed her in her throne. All of her favourites surrounded her. James Stewart, Bothwell, Elena of Bulgaria and of course Lord Kol. Rebekah resisted the urge to embrace her brother but of course he was supposed to be a stranger. Rebekah bowed to the Scottish Queen and rose when she indicated her to do so.
She could see that reports of her height and beauty weren't exaggerated. Mary of Queen didn't seem moral as she sat magnificently on her throne, passing judgement on them all. This was her Queen's big threat, her rival and maybe her doom or maybe Elizabeth will be hers. Many considered her Queen to be a bastard and Mary was the rightful Queen of England. People who said that opinion out loud in England would soon be dead.
"Lady Rebekah" The Queen greeted warmly, "Welcome to court"
"Thank you, your Majesty" Rebekah smiled her court smile.
When the Queen was finished with her turned to her brother who'd been waiting outside. They both hugged each other happily. It was nice to have a relative he could meet openly. Rebekah had a wedding ring on her finger. She was obviously still bound to that Lord Malachai Parker (Kai for short) of Cornwall. He was a brutal and quite frankly crazy man Rebekah had been forced to marry by the eldest brother.
The eldest brother was the head of the household with their father dead. Finn gave the orders and with Mikael's death Rebekah became his property. Elijah was the second son but since he was a prisoner in France Klaus took up the duties of the second brother. He backed up Finn and secured their family interest elsewhere because Finn couldn't go too far because of his role in Kent.
Kol as the fourth brother was completely free but he still had a role to play in helping along their family's rise. His information has impressed the English Queen so she might raise them in society when they got back. This was how the world worked, Klaus didn't like it but he'll play his part.
"It's great to see you" Rebekah beamed.
"Welcome to Scotland Sis" Klaus grinned, "We're the outlanders here"
Klaus had been feeling a bit lonely being the only open Englishman at court.
"Well I'm here now" Rebekah reminded him, "Your not alone anymore"
...
The Queen of Scots was having a feast in the dining chamber. It was just her favourites and a few other people. Lord Kol, Bothwell, James Stewart, Elena of Bulgaria, Lady Caroline and the new Milan and English ambassadors. Mary was of course sitting at the head of the table eating though some duck as the party was eating with light music in the background.
Caroline was trying not to look at Klaus as she enjoyed her dinner. Elena was doing the same thing with Kol. The spy was finding it amusing as he continued on charming the Queen. James Stewart had the Queen he wanted to sit next to Lady Caroline because he found he quite beautiful or course the Queen had agreed.
"So Lady Caroline" Lord James began.
Mary was still flirting with Kol, Klaus was having a conversation with Stefan about Italian politics and Bothwell was trying to direct the Queen's attention away from Kol. It was quite pathetic but the Queen loved it. Elena was simply trying to seem invisible.
"How have you enjoyed court so far?" James asked her.
"I have enjoyed it so far" Caroline told him, "The Queen has been nothing but kind to me"
Not to Elena though but she didn't add that bit. James nodded before he took a quick sip of his wine.
"That's because she is the most graceful and dignified of Queens" James exaggerated.
At that moment the Queen broke into a silly laugh and then began flirting again with Kol and Bothwell. Caroline saw James roll his eyes at his sister's behaviour but said nothing about it.
"Do tell me about your home" James continued.
Caroline told him all about her home while Klaus turned to Bothwell who'd obviously gotten bored of trying to catch the Queen's attention and started talking about Scotland's finances. Stefan turned to Elena who was sitting next to him. She was looking very pretty in her blue dress. Stefan decided to take a chance so he started talking to her. He didn't notice but Kol temporally frowned.
"How are you this evening Lady Elena?" Stefan asked sweetly.
Elena smiled at his attentions and answered him. She was halfway through her meal but she wasn't hungry. Elena was never hungry when Kol was around.
"I am well" Elena beamed, "How are you"
"I can't complain" Stefan beamed back.
"Are you finding Scotland to your liking?" Elena asked.
"I am indeed," Stefan, told her, "The scenery here is beautiful"
"I agree," Elena nodded, "The people here are friendly too"
For the next half an hour Elena completely forgot about Kol. Klaus's attention had shifted Caroline and the Queen's bastard brother's conversation. He saw Caroline giggle at something Lord James had said, which annoyed Klaus immensely. Klaus caught her eye briefly but he wasn't sure if it was love or hate.
"How about you?" Elena wondered, "Have you got any siblings?"
Yes, he had a sister called Sarah and a brother called Damon but Stefan was trying to block Damon from his mind so he decided to lie to her.
"Only one" he lied, "A sister called Sarah, she's in Scotland actually"
Klaus wanted to interrupted Caroline's conversation so he did.
"Lady Caroline, I hear you are fond of horses. Will you show some to the horses in the stable" Klaus began, "I have an interest in them"?
How did he know she liked horses? Caroline was in front of her Queen so she couldn't decline, which was very clever of him.
"Of course" Caroline agreed.
On Elena's way back she was walking back to her chamber. Lord Kol was waiting inside her rooms. Elena panicked immediately, what would people think if they'd seen him come into her room late at night. She was ruined if anyone saw. Elena and Stefan had had quite a nice evening and she was actually happy for once and now he had to come and ruin it.
"What are you doing in here Kol?" Elena whispered harshly.
"Do you like that dull Italian?" Kol asked in a harsh tone.
"It's not your concern" Elena retorted.
Kol tried to get close to her but she backed away from. He rolled his eyes as he Bulgarian beauty glared at him.
"I think you've forgetting that I know your secret" Kol reminded.
"And I know yours!" Elena countered, "Or shall I go to the Queen and tell her that you're an English spy"
Kol looked hurt and backed off a little for the moment.
"What happened between us?"
"You know what!"
Hermitage Castle, Scotland, 1560
Kol and his men have been there for a week. Her tutor and the family that live there were still in the dungeons. Kol had taken a fierce liking to her so now she shared his bed every night. Elena was currently having dinner with him in his private chambers. They were both quite alone she was scared of him but also beginning to feel a fondness for him.
"Why are you in Scotland Elena?" Kol wondered.
"My family sent me here before they got murdered" Elena revealed, "The Ottoman's did it"
Then he said something he hadn't expected him to say. Kol put his hand in hers and looked deep into her eyes.
"I'm sorry"
Over the next few months Kol and Elena would sleep together at night, have breakfast, Kol would get on with his duties then they'd meet for dinner again. Elena felt like a traitor for sleeping with the enemy like this but then again Elena wasn't Scottish so England wasn't her enemy. Sometimes her mind drifted to those poor prisoners in the dungeons.
Kol had been there for almost a year and she'd grown to love and trust him. The others were still imprisoned but she rarely thought of them these days. It was then that she's made a startling discovery. Elena was with child! She was going to have a baby outside wedlock. The seventeen year old was terrified because she was now officially ruined.
A baby born out of wedlock was seen as a great sin. Her child would be labelled for life as a bastard. Elena wasn't sure if she could live with shame. When Elena told Kol was expected him to marry her but that didn't happen.
"Kol" Elena said nervously at dinner one evening, "I'm pregnant"
He just gaped at her in shock for at least five minutes. Kol looked stunned at the news he was waiting for the punch line but it didn't come. He was going to a father and that scared him.
"How far along are you?" Kol asked.
"Only a few months"
"Then you can get rid of it" Kol suggested.
Get rid of it? This wasn't going to plan.
"No!" Elena refused.
Elena was brought back to present by Kol kissing her.
Glamis Castle, Scotland, 1562
"Get off me!" Elena protested as she stepped back.
"I-" Kol began.
"Don't talk to me," Elena cried, "Get out before we're both discovered!"
To her surprise he left her alone with her memories.
...
The next day Klaus and Caroline we're at the stables. Caroline was showing him their best warhorse. It was a beautiful day in Scotland; the sun was blazing hot above them. Although, it wasn't sticky hot like it had been earlier now it had a gentle breeze to it. Klaus' black eye was faint now as she talked about a horse called Foi that means faith in French. It was a beautiful white horse that looks like it's from heaven itself.
"She's a beautiful horse," Klaus observed.
"She is" Caroline agreed, "Wait, your not checking out our best horses in case of an attack are you?"
Klaus laughed as he stroked the horse soft coat. It really was a stallion of a horse; he wouldn't want to face that on a battlefield.
"You've rumbled me," he laughed putting his hands up for good measure.
Caroline chuckled as she began to show him around the rest of the stables. There was a bench near by and without warning Klaus sat down and indicated she should sit next to him. Caroline still didn't trust Klaus but she wanted too.
"Why did you invite me here?" Caroline questioned him.
"Because I want to talk to you" Klaus smirked, "Come one get to know me"
Caroline looked hesitant so Klaus said:
"I dare you"
She relented and sat down next to him when she asked him what he wanted to talk about Klaus said he wanted to talk about her. She laughed but then reminded herself that's he's properly just using her. This thought made her stiffen up. Before she could say anything a man Caroline vaguely recognised him from court. His name was Sir Tyler Lockwood; he was a knight from the Highlands. The man looked completely furious at Klaus. Caroline could clearly see the anger in him boiling to the surface.
"You killed my Mum!" he shouted.
Klaus was irritated by this interruption; this man had picked the wrong time to pick a fight with him. He glared at Sir Lockwood for a few moments before turned back to Caroline but she wasn't there.
She'd gone...
Pusterla di Sant'Ambrogio, Milan
Damon Salvatore was currently languishing in a cell with twenty other men. His neck, legs and feet were all chained up. The cell itself stank of sweat and human waste but he'd gotten used to that foul smell by now. Damon has been here for one year and he'd already forgotten what it's like to see the sun. He'd give anything to feel the sunlight on his face and the smell of clean air.
He'd slaughtered his way through Milan, drinking, killing and just outright mayhem so the Spanish caught him and locked him up. Damon's partner in crime was Enzo but he managed to escape capture...lucky bastard. So there Damon was, a prisoner until they decided to execute him. Damon was thinking about Katherine, he was thinking about how he'd gotten in this mess.
"You Damon Salvatore?" a guard asked.
Damon looked up to see a man who was grinning broadly. Were they about to execute him? He wasn't afraid of death anymore; in fact given his present circumstances he rather welcomed it.
"Kill me!" Damon cried, "I don't care anymore"
"Kill you?" came the guard in an amused voice, "I'm rescuing you"
Please Review!