- continued -
Elijah was staring out at the pouring rain, unable to believe what he had discovered earlier that day. He cursed the rumors he had been hearing for the past few days that had made him curious about the truth and what he had discovered he knew was going to ruin all of their lives. He had spend the whole evening wondering how to tell Klaus about the secret he been harboring in his heart for twenty one years. At last he decided to confront him about the rumors himself hoping that he was wrong about it all this time. As he approached his room, he told the guard "I dont want to be disturbed" and entered it.
Klaus was taking off his muddy riding boots while a servant was drying his wet hair when he looked towards the door as Elijah entered. He was as surprised as the servant helping him. He wondered 'what is going on?' when Elijah told the servant "leave us alone."
After the door closed he asked "where are you these days?"
Klaus said smiling "busy falling in love."
Elijah asked playing clueless "really! who?" hoping it will be lady Caroline but when he said "Andrea" Elijah cursed himself and said "she is a maid Niklaus."
Klaus stood up saying "you know it does not matter to me. I love her. She is well educated and can represent me in society."
Elijah asked after a moment hoping to dissuade him by just logic "have you thought how much infamy it will cause?"
Klaus said annoyed now "Elijah I am going to marry her whether you like it or not."
Elijah said firmly "Niklaus you cannot marry her."
Klaus stared at him for a moment, walked to him and asked "is it an order from a king or a brother?"
Elijah, looking this stubborn face realized he couldnt wait for much longer so he said "Niklaus I need to tell you something."
Klaus asked "what is it? If it is about her then I dont want to listen."
Elijah said trying to keep his voice calm "Niklaus it is about Victoria."
That got his attention. He asked "what about her?"
He said after slight hesitation "she is your birth mother."
Klaus stared at him as if he had lost his mind. He asked after a moment of shocked silence "what?"
When Elijah was done telling him, his world had changed. He walked to the bed in daze and sat on it as his legs refused to carry his body weight. He recalled all those times when Victoria was there for him, when he was sick, when he went for studies, when he was training and got hurt. Every time he would open his eyes she was around him. He looked towards Elijah who was looking at him with so much pity that he couldn't take it and he shouted "why didnt you tell me earlier?"
The door opened and his guard came in asking "is every thing alright your majesty?"
He barked "yes. leave."
He stumbled to the bath chamber and started throwing up as he recalled him trying to make out with Hayley. He said to himself in anguish "she is my sister. No, no."
He was kneeling on the floor holding his head when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at Elijah who asked "Niklaus, I am not going to ask this of you ever again. Did you and Andrea ever…"
He shook his head saying "we kissed! I kissed my sister!" shouting at the end of the sentence.
Elijah knelt next to him forgetting he is a king and held his shoulder, cupped his face saying "you didnt know. You didnt know. Forget about it. Put it behind you. I would have taken this secret to my grave if it were not for the rumors about you and her. You needed to know this because the only relationship you can have with her is that of a brother."
He asked desperately "why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Elijah said "I didnt know you were falling in love with her. How could I? She is a daughter of a …"
He paused as he noticed the look of anguish on Klaus's face. Before he could say anything Klaus said with anguish "say it! She is a daughter of a maid. I am a son of maid too. Why dont you say it?" his voice rising at the end of the sentence.
Elijah snapped "stop that right now Niklaus. You cannot blabber about this to anyone Niklaus. Mother has no idea. This secret is between you and me. You will keep your mouth shut. Now get a grip. You are prince of United Kingdom and you can handle anything. I am with you."
He stared into the empty space and said "Elijah, leave me alone."
Elijah stared at him for a moment but didnt move. He held his hand and pulled him up.
He kept himself locked in his room thinking of his past, what life had unfolded for him, Victoria and Andrea. He observed Victoria as she did his chores. The more he observed her, the more he realized Elijah was right and then one evening two days later he suddenly remembered her crying when he had mentioned her she was a second mother to him and he knew that she knows the truth which made the pit in his stomach just bigger. Every time she would look at him he noticed the look in her eyes and make him wonder 'why has he never noticed it before? It is the same look he had seen for Hayley." Even the thought of her made him sick and he would start throwing up or break whatever he was holding confusing the servants and guards. The anger that he had gotten control of in the past six years was surfacing more and more and making him lose control.
While his world was turning upside down Hayley, having no clue as to what happened to him often wondered 'where was he?' not finding the courage to go to his chamber after that stable incidence. She had an idea that he was upset with her about not reciprocating his feelings for him but she told herself "it is just an infatuation and he will get over it in no time."
One evening a week after Elijah telling him about his darkest secret, he was staring into the fire drinking as if that will make him forget about all of it when the door opened and she came in. He said with heavy heart "Victoria, what are you doing here? It is quiet late."
Victoria walked to him and put the boiling water near the fireplace saying "you look tired your Highness. I came to ask if you needed anything."
He got up devastated unable to keep that secret any longer, wanting to confront her, walked to her and asked "why?"
She looked towards him and asked "I am confused your Royal Highness."
He said "you knew all along and you hid it from me. Be my servant. Why?"
She stood there for a moment not saying anything and then the tears started to fall as she said "a mother is never a servant to her son. It was my pleasure serving you."
Andrea groaned at the prospect of facing him as she walked to his room carrying logs which her mother had asked her to bring. As she opened the door quietly, she saw him standing next to Victoria with his arm around her. Their eyes met and then she saw the tears in her mother's eyes. She dashed to Victoria asking "mother, what happened? are you alright?"
Her hand touched his as he stepped back when she engulfed her mother after putting the logs down, sending a chill through her body. She held Victoria in her arms and asked again "what happened? Please tell me."
She looked towards Klaus who was staring at her with weird expressions. She asked "what happened? Is she hurt?"
While he kept quiet, just staring at her, Victoria recovered and said "yes, my hand got a bit burnt when I was picking the hot pan. Lets go."
She retreated from the room with Andrea not meeting Klaus's eyes whereas Klaus went to his bed and fell on it feeling more devastated. Seeing her again hit him hard that he still had feelings for her even though he now knew that she was his sister.
He didn't know when he drifted off to sleep.
He was getting really sucked into his feelings for her and it felt he was losing his mind. He would tell himself again and again that she was his sister but it was not helping. He tried to keep himself busy with Elijah and trying to do anything to keep his mind occupied but nothing was working.
Two weeks later he looked at Victoria who was putting the hot pans in his bed and said "I dont want you to serve me anymore V…" he was unable to say the name that he had been saying for the past twenty one years without any problem.
She turned to him and asked "why your Royal Highness? Have I done anything to offend you?
Klaus said "no, you have not. I cannot see my own mother…"
but she cut him off to his surprise by saying "never ever you should say this. The queen or anyone can never know about it. This is a secret between you and me and I will die with this secret."
Klaus said "I cannot sleep on this bed knowing that I dont deserve it while my mother and my…." he hesitated before saying " sleep in the servants quarter"
She walked to him and said "dont worry about me. My bones have gotten used to this. I am worried about Andrea."
He asked suddenly gotten worried "what happened to her?"
She said "I dont know what is happening to her. She is getting quieter by the day. I think if she gets married she would find some purpose in life."
His heart jumped into his throat but he asked "do you have someone in mind?"
She said looking towards him "no your Highness."
He said "I will see what I can do about it and Victoria dont call me that when we are alone."
She smiled and said "you will always be prince, King Mikael's son" and retreated leaving him lost for words.
He sat there thinking about how to resolve his feelings for her. What Victoria just told him had convinced him of his early suspicion about her feelings for him but he couldnt let her have those feelings anymore. He needed to do something. He got up and went to visit his mother but stopped as he saw her reading to her. He stood there looking at her reading in her soft voice unaware that he was there. He noticed that his mother had gone to sleep but she was still reading. After she was done, she got up and fixed her covers and turned to leave when she spotted him. She walked to him and asked "are you that mad at me for…" but he cut her off by saying curtly "hasn't your mother taught you that a maid should not talk to the prince this casually?"
She felt as if someone whipped her. She recovered quickly and said curtsying "pardon me your Royal Highness" and retreated leaving him devastated. As he settled down on the chair next to his mother's bed he thought 'maybe if he keeps this kind of attitude with her she would start hating him.'
But soon he realized that even if she was being successful, he himself was failing miserably. He thought of what Victoria had asked him after her marriage and he wondered 'maybe he should do that? If she is unavailable to him, maybe he will be able to handle this situation better.'
So a week later he went to Elijah and when they were alone, he said to Elijah "I was thinking if she gets married to someone else…" but was unable to finish his sentence.
When Elijah didnt say anything he asked "what do you think?"
He looked at his devastated face and asked "do you think that will help you?"
He said "yes but who will marry her."
Elijah said "leave that to me."
Klaus said devastated "find someone who is good to her" before walking out of the room.
Elijah was pacing in his room feeling frustrated at not being able to find someone good enough for Andrea. He felt as if it was his responsibility to find a good man for her considering she was Nilklaus's sister and Victoria's daughter - Victoria who had been taking care of their mother, who was wet-nurse to her own son, whose son was snatched from her arms to prevent his father's temper but he had not had any success in the past week ever since he had suggested it to Niklaus. He had looked at every eligible bachelor in his army thinking that would be perfect match for him so at last he summoned Marcel in frustration.
As Marcel entered the court he said "His Majesty you asked of me."
He asked him "what I am about to ask you Marcel, it will stay between you and me."
When he nodded Elijah asked "do you know anyone in the guard or army who would be a good husband for Andrea Labonair?"
Marcel stared at him wondering why is he asking that but then said "rumors are that Jackson Kenner likes her your majesty."
Elijah couldnt believe his luck but he remained composed and asked "what sort of man is he?"
If Marcel found the question weird he didnt show any sign. He said "he is hard working. Has some drinking problem but everyone has that. The way I hear it he likes her but is shy of approaching her."
Elijah thought for a moment and then said "you can go now. Send him."
In the afternoon, after talking to Jackson he summoned Victoria and said "Niklaus told me that you want Andrea to get married. I have found a good man for her. He is a guard in the castle. His name is Jackson Kenner. I have talked to him and he likes her. You should talk to Andrea about him."
Victoria curtsied saying "thank you your majesty. You have done a great thing for me and her."
As she retreated Elijah wondered does she know about her relationship with Niklaus or not?
Later that night as Victoria pushed the door open hoping she would have come to terms with her marriage to Jackson, she saw her crying on the bed. She darted to her and asked "what is it Andrea."
She looked up, hugged her but continued to cry saying "I should never have let him my friend."
She said holding her tears "Andrea my child, he is from a different world. You have to live in this world."
Andrea looked up at her and said "I know mother but I thought he was my friend. I dont know what is happening to me. I don't want to get married to Jackson."
Victoria said "the king told me that Jackson wants to marry you. There were talks among his fellow guards that he wants to marry you. You are lucky to find a man who loves you. It is the king's order and I too want this to happen for you too, my child. You are not a child anymore. You need to get married. I talked to his Royal Highness Nikalus too. He is the one who asked his majesty to do this for us."
Andrea snapped angrily "You mean to tell me Klaus wants me to marry Jackson. I dont believe it and why do we have to listen to the king?"
Victoria looked at her devastated face and at that instant it confirmed her suspicion that she had been having for while now that her daughter was falling for his Highness Niklaus Mikaelson. She thought for a moment and then said "Andrea, what I am about to tell you, please listen to it with strong heart. You cannot in any circumstances tell anyone" hoping that might change her mind.
The following morning Klaus was with the queen but he could see that she was distracted about something. He asked her "what is it mother?"
She said "nothing my child. I have not seen you for a while."
Klaus said "Elijah had been keeping me busy and then I had to tend to the estate. I apologize if you felt neglected."
She said "I miss Andrea. She is really good" after the maid took the heating pads from her bed.
He held his breath hoping that she wouldn't tell him about her but she continued "I hope to see her tomorrow. She is getting married today."
Klaus asked whispering "who?"
She said "Jackson Kenner. He is a guard of the castle. Elijah tells me that there are rumors that he liked her for a long time."
Klaus got up saying "I have to go mother."
He kissed her and left.
Near afternoon Elijah summoned him and told him that he will be officiating the marriage ceremony between Hayley and Jackson that evening. He could hear the looming unsaid invite to the wedding and even though he didnt want to go, he realized that he had to for Victoria's sake. And that even if the world didnt know about their relationship she knew and she would be heartbroken if her own son didnt attend his sister's wedding so he made an appearance to a simple and small wedding affair. Seeing her dressed in white, being kissed by another guy made a drop in his stomach, anguish on his face which he hoped no one noticed but he immediately realized that he was not getting that wish too as he averted his eyes to one direction and caught Elijah looking at him. He shook his head and left the court.
A week after her marriage to Jackson he decided something. He walked to Elijah's bedchamber and said to his counselor "leave us alone."
After they left Elijah looked at him and asked "what is it Niklaus?"
Klaus said "I want to move to countryside with my mother."
Elijah sat up saying firmly "No, Niklaus you cannot do that. Mother will be devastated. She is already not feeling well. I will not let you do that."
He said devastated "Elijah, I cannot see her working for me every day and do nothing."
Elijah got up, walked to the window and said "Listen. I cannot even begin to imagine what you are going through but what I can tell you is that if she works for you then you get to see her every day. And this is the last time you mentioned about moving out. Andrea has been married to Jackson. You need to pick up your life and move on. Perhaps lady Caroline…"
He turned around to see his reaction but the room was empty. He sighed and turned to look out of the window again not knowing what to do- He who was running a country successfully was unable to lend a shoulder or an advice to his brother.
Even though he was angry at Elijah's suggestion but thinking that it might help he started spending a lot of time with Caroline wanting to forget her but he was not being successful. He told Victoria not to do his work but she was adamant and continued to do so. He started visiting his mothers at times when she were not in the room and he managed to avoid her and before he knew it two months went by, glad that he didnt know what was happening in her life. If he had lost something he had gained something else too. Knowing that Victoria was not just any maid but his mother was a light in the dark tunnel- a light that keep him going every day. Now that he had seen him at the marriage ceremony he often spotted Jackson in the castle and wondered 'are they happy together?' but answered himself 'why wouldnt they be? Jackson loves her and she is someone who is so full of love and care that anyone would love her." Not once in these past two months he asked Victoria about her not having the courage to do so, afraid that if he took her name, he would start to drown again and to his relief, if she found it strange that he never asked about his sister, she never brought it up.
After these past two months spending time with Caroline he had realized that she loved him and he was getting some normalcy with all the time they spend together, not seeing Andrea at all, avoiding going to his mother's room when she usually was there but sometimes he would just get tired of shallow and petty conversations with Caroline. One particular evening after spending he day with Caroline he was trying to read a book when Victoria walked into his room. After a few moments Klaus noticed the same devastated look on her face which he had been seeing for the past few days but whenever he asked her she had refused to tell her. Seeing it again, with determination of getting to the bottom of the cause he asked "what is it?"
She startled as she looked towards him and said "nothing your Royal Highness."
He said feeling annoyed "dont call me that. I deserve to be called son when we are alone."
Victoria said "you will always be my son but I cannot dare to call King Mikael's son …."
He walked to, grabbed her hands gently and said "I am your son. Not King Mikael's. Now tell me what is wrong? Why are you upset?"
She looked towards him and asked desperately "it is Andrea your Highness."
He asked with sinking heart "what about her?"
She asked again in the same tone "why did you get her married to Jackson?"
He asked confused now "why?"
She said after a slight hesitation "he is not a good man."
He said shocked "what?"
She said, eyes brimming with tears now "he hits her all the time. She just takes it without saying a word. It is like she has lost the will to live."
He looked at her in shock and asked "where is she?"
Victoria said "she is in her room but I beg you not to go to her."
Klaus freed his hand from hers and headed out.
She was trying to put the balm on her back but was unable to when the door opened and he walked in. She immediately turned toward him and said "your Royal Highness what are you …" as she tried to cover her back with her shawl when he cut her off by saying "show me!"
When she just stared at him he walked to her, he turned her around and stared at the angry red mark, on her naked back, oozing blood. He controlled the bile that rose in his throat and said controlling his anger "sit and give that to me."
He took the balm from her hand and applied it on her back sending a chill through her body. When he was done he turned her towards him saying "Hayley, I had no idea."
She said "you need to go. If he comes back, he will be upset."
Klaus said feeling frustrated "you cannot live with him like this. He cannot raise his hand on you ever again."
She said with a slight touch of smile on her lips which he noticed never reached her eyes "he is my husband. He can do whatever he wants to."
There was so something in her eyes that made him feel so guilty.
He said "Hayley, I …."
She tried to smile now but it seemed her jaw was locked, in fact her eyes brimmed with tears. She pulled the shawl over her shoulder saying "your Royal Highness, it is getting late. You need to leave."
He stared at her face wanting to hug her, console her but he dared not. She was his sister he reminded himself.
After he left she sat down, letting her tears down. She said to herself "I deserves this for the sin I have committed. Kissing my own brother. Developing romantic feelings for him!"
Flash back
Victoria said "Andrea, what I am about to tell you, please listen to it with strong heart. You cannot in any circumstances tell anyone."
Andrea said "what is it mother?"
Victoria said hesitating for a moment "Andrea you are King Mikael's daughter. I was there when you were born to queen Esther. She was so happy to see you. Having you after all the boys was what she wanted but the king was really angry. He wanted a son so he ordered to take you away so a maid- the midwife who delivered you took you from his arm before I could do anything. For the rest of the castle you died in womb. Only two people knew who you were. Her and me. I saw how much she cared about you. Two years later when that maid died, I took you in and raised you as my own. I had lost one child, my husband had died and I didnt have anymore children. I am telling you this because they are your family. You should do anything in the name of your family."
Andrea stared at her saying "I am sister to his Royal Highness Niklaus and Kol and his majesty."
She walked to the bed missing the devastated look on Victoria's face but she heard her say softly "yes, you are."
She fell on her knees stared into the fire thinking of their kisses in the barnyard, in his room feeling sick to her stomach and then said hollowly "I agree to marry Jackson."
ended flashback
She got up slowly ignoring the pain in her back hoping her child was safe as she put her hand on her stomach and laid down on the bed not wanting him to come back and have his ritual rough sex with her. She was fast asleep when she woke up from a familiar smell of beer close to her lips and his hand sneaking under her dress. She closed her eyes, willed her tears not to come and let him use her like every night.
He spend the night pacing in his room unable to keep the marks out of his mind. He felt like killing Jackson. How dare he? He told himself She is his sister. He admitted to himself reluctantly as his heart contracted refusing to accept the sentiment he was trying so hard to develop for her. He sat on the settee near the fireplace holding his head as a voice said to him "you are still in love with her."
He looked into the fire wondering if he gets married to Caroline himself then that might help him forget her.
Elijah was listening to his counselors when the door opened with a bang and he said "Elijah, I want to marry Caroline. Announce my engagement."
Elijah stared at him and then slowly stood up saying "leave us alone."
When the room emptied he walked to him asking "what happened?"
Klaus said not looking towards him "I just cannot forget her. I just cannot. I want someone in my life to distract me from her. She is my sister for goodness sake. What am I doing?"
Elijah looked at his devastated face and said "I think it is a good idea provided if you love lady Caroline."
He said desperately "I have loved Elijah. I will never love again. This is just something I have to do to forget that love."
At last when he nodded he turned back and left.
She was washing dishes when she noticed hustle bustle in the kitchen. She looked at Victoria and asked "what is going on? Is there a function in the castle?"
Victoria said "Your Royal Highness Niklaus is getting engaged."
A plate dropped from her hand causing Victoria to look at her with pity in her eyes. She said "oh that is a good news."
She picked up the shards of the plate and put them in the trash.
She wiped her face and walked to the balcony where maids were standing looking though the opening. She stared in the court as she spotted lSY Caroline sitting next to Klaus and smiled. She heard a maid say "they look so nice."
She said "yes they do."
Turned around and left.
The wedding was in a month so Lady Caroline had decided to move in with him. He wanted her in different room but she insisted and then he remembered his reason for getting married so he let her share his room. When she said "I need Andrea to be my maid" he thought she was joking but she looked very serious so he looked at her and said "love you can have anyone. Why her?"
Caroline said "Niklaus, Dont think that I have forgotten how you felt about her. I want her to work for me. As the future princess is that too much to ask for?"
So she started working for her in addition to his mother. In the beginning he couldnt stay in the same room whenever she would come in but then he couldn't avoid her as Caroline had started asking her service at many odd times. At times he would wake up in the middle of the night seeing her massaging Caroline.
Where it was difficult for him, it was equally difficult for her to see him day in and out. Every time she would see him, she would remember the kisses they shared and she would feel sick to the stomach. Once she walked onto him and Caroline half naked in the bed and that just made her heart sink and she realized that even though she knew he was her brother and she was married to Jackson and was carrying his child, those feelings that had started for him were still there and somewhere deep down she still wished if only he were not her brother.
She had been getting really tired with this untimely summons by Caroline but she had no other options so she continued to serve her which sometimes were a good thing because it helped her escape Jackson who had turned out to be really possessive and jealous and apparently hated an intelligent wife.
The only time of the day she would looking forwards to these days was when she was in queen's room doing her chores. During those quiet evenings after reading to the queen as she would fall asleep she would wonder 'why did he ask to marry her if he wanted to behave that way with her?' She often wondered looking at her 'does she know about her? Should she ask her mother about it but how would she know? Does she herself want to find out? What if she knew but didnt want her in her life? Is that why she is so nice to her because she knows that secret but then why has she never told her this secret. Is it because of the king because he didnt want any daughters but the king is dead now.' She would get so tired of all these questions that then she would stop thinking about it making her heart at content after telling herself that Victoria is the only mother she knew. She does not need to have another mother. Even with all these conflicting thoughts she felt relieved that she was serving the queen who was getting sick day by day for some reason and the healers were unable to determine why was that happening.
Her feelings for the queen, his majesty, his Royal Highness Kol had changed so much after this revelation that often she felt that her heart would explode of keeping that secret. The only person for whom her feelings has not changed was Royal Highness Niklaus to her dismay.
Soon two weeks went by.
She was feeling particularly tired one night and wanted to go to her room and sleep when a maid told her that lady Caroline had called her. She groaned and cursing her she went to his room. As she entered she saw him sitting near the fireplace reading a book which reminded her that she had not read a single book for the past almost three month since the time Jackson had found her with one and started beating her with the leather shank for the first time ever and continued to do so afterwards for many other reasons that she never understood. In the beginning she tried to have some discussion with him but after some time she had realized that he didnt like to be challenged or expected an argument or discussion with a woman so she had stopped doing that.
As she filed the tub with water, she looked up as she rubbed her aching back and their eyes met for a second only to be interrupted by Caroline walking in, stripping down to nothing before getting in the tub.
As he watched her move the loofa on Caroline's back his heart sank just like every time when he would see her working for Caroline. Every time she would scold her he would want to jump in and hug her but he knew the limitation of their relationship.
While he was lost in his thoughts she was wondering 'if he ever finds out that she is his sister what will his reaction be?' As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she discarded it saying to herself "no, she would never want him to go through what she is going through." She poured water on Caroline's hair and said to herself 'it is good that he changed his mind about her before finding out about their relationship otherwise he would have been as devastated as she is right now but what changed his mind?" She stopped the thought process at once scolding herself for even entertaining that thought. She should be happy that he changed his mind otherwise knowing how stubborn he can he, he might have wanted to continue their relationship.
When she was done, she helped her change into her night gown trying to block the image of what she and his Royal Highness would be doing in bed later that night and then after making sure that their bed was warm where Klaus had already settled in she left.
She hurried towards her room cursing Caroline for making her late remembering how angry Jackson was last time when she was late. The moment she opened the door Jackson grabbed her arm and threw her across the bed and was on her before she knew it. He had lifted her dress and was in her making her gasp for breath.
She gasped "Jackson please be gentle. I am with child" but he was not listening. He was pounding in her so hard that the yells of pain escaped her mouth and when he was done with her he got up, put on his pants and then grabbed her arm pulled her towards him hissing "where were you? Who were you with today? Tell me whose child are you carrying?"
She said crying now "Jackson please it is yours. I .…"
He grabbed her hair and hissed "you lie! Next time you will come early when I need you." He pushed her towards the wall and left the room.
Hayley tried to get up but her legs were hurting from the forceful sex he just had with her and there was this terrible pain in her stomach and then to her horror she saw something wet on the floor in the dim light of the lamp. She sat down holding her stomach and touched it. A moment later seeing red on her hand she started screaming "mother. mother."
Next day, he was looking through a book when he heard Caroline say "where is Andrea? Ask her to come and warm my bath."
He rolled his eyes at that order but continued to read when he heard an unfamiliar voice say "my lady, she is not feeling well. How may I help you?"
Caroline said with annoyance "hmm.. what happened to her? You servants get sick too quick"
Klaus put the book down on the table slowly, thinking what has happened when the maid said "she lost her child my lady."
He thought as if he was run down by a stampede- the pain was unbearable. The first thought that came to his mind 'she was carrying Jackson's child!'
He felt a punch at this thought and it took all his will power to not look back towards Caroline. He walked out of the room and then stood there shocked and then started running towards the servants quarters ignoring the guard.
As he reached her room, he said to the guard "stay."
He opened the door and entered the room with a feeling of dread in his stomach. He stared at her lying on the bed with eyes closed and Victoria holding her hand. He walked to her not taking eyes off of her face. Victoria turned to him with tear strained face and said tearfully "he killed her child."
Klaus felt as if someone crushed him. He asked "how is she?"
Victoria said sobbing "I dont know. She woke up a while ago for a short time but had not ever since. The midwife said she will recover but the loss can cause her depression."
He turned around as he heard a voice "Andrea, I need my…"
He dashed to Jackson and punched him hard. He said "how dare you come back after what you have done?"
Jackson said giving off a whiff of bad smell of cheap beer telling Klaus he was drunk "she is my wife…"
He shouted "not anymore. You come near her and I will kill you myself."
He turned to Victoria and said "he is not to come near her again."
He turned and left but not before saying to Victoria "I will arrange someone to take care of her."
He told the guard "stay" and barged into the room and said "Elijah, Jackson and she cannot remain married."
Elijah asked "what happened?"
Klaus said devastated "he hits her."
Seeing shock on his face gave him no satisfaction "how do you know?"
Klaus was quiet when he walked to him and asked "how do you know Niklaus?"
Klaus said "I saw the marks on her back. He …." he hesitated and then said devastated "killed her child."
Elijah said furious "what?!"
Klaus said "yes. I assure you brother, it is not because I still have feelings for her but because I cannot see her like this. I am supposed to protect her. She is my…." unable to say the word he continued "she is my sister and look what my ignorance of Jackson caused."
Elijah said firmly "it is not your fault. Jackson claimed he loved her. Who was to know? I will talk to Jackson but as his wife, he can do whatever he can with her."
Klaus groaned and left the room.
He wanted to go and see her again but he had lost all nerves. That night he was unable to sleep, unable to make love to Caroline who was after trying to seduce him for some time went to sleep.
Next morning he left the castle very early in the morning. When he came back around noon, he stopped as he saw her.
Andrea was putting the pot down for Caroline when she heard a sound behind her making her jump. There was so much fear on her face that broke his heart. He asked "how are you?"
She smiled but her eyes brimmed with tears to his heart ache. She said "I am fine your Royal Highness."
He said "Hayley I…."
Andrea said "no your Royal Highness, You cannot protect me from him. You lost that right when I got married to Jackson."
Klaus controlled the urge to tell her why he couldn't be with her and said "we are still friends Hayley."
She said "no. I am married and I don't become friends with other men and it is Andrea." She longed to tell him that she knew why they couldn't be together but she suddenly felt dirty even thinking about it so she limped away from him making him want to kill Jackson.
A couple of weeks went by during which she continued to serve lady Caroline while getting better with each passing day, trying to avoid meeting his eyes. She loved sitting in queen's warm room but he had started to visit it again before her sleeping time which was making her uncomfortable so she started to leave early instead of sitting there longer after the queen had gone to sleep. During those interactions she could feel that he wanted to talk to her but she didnt dare encourage him. She would just do her job and retreat the room quietly.
While she was avoiding him he was worried about her. He would look at her feeling helpless at not being able to help her without revealing their relationship to the world and would just hope that he was treating her well after his reprimand. When he would ask Victoria about how she was doing, she would just say "she is getting better your Highness. She is very strong and can manage anything."
Klaus was sitting in his room thinking of Esther's declining health condition because of which the wedding has been postponed for a few days so Caroline had gone to visit her parents. He could feel the end nearing and that was just making him too depressed. he was lost in his thoughts when the door opened and his servant came in and said "Your Royal Highness Niklaus, your mother wishes to see you."
He got up and headed towards her bedchamber.
As he entered he saw Elijah sitting next to her holding her hand and a few more people, men and women tending to her, Victoria sitting next to him holding her hand. As she approached her she said in a clear strong voice "I need to talk to my sons in privacy."
Klaus looked towards Elijah who seemed clueless but the room emptied.
Esther grabbed his hand and said "Niklaus, Elijah, I need to tell you something."
Klaus asked feeling helpless at not being able to do anything "what is it mother?"
flashback
eighteen years ago:
She was pushing and sweating in pain. She could hear voices and then someone said "it is a girl."
She slummed back on the bed as someone put a naked child in her arms. She smiled, looked at her when her child shifted in her arms and she spotted the birthmark- a moon shape birth mark. She bend to kiss her when she heard a roar "take her away. I dont need a girl. I needed a boy."
And a moment later someone took the baby from her arms now wailing.
She lifted herself up and said tired "no. Give me my daughter."
He said harshly "your daughter is dead. She is dead. Your child is dead."
She screamed "no, give her to me."
The last thing she heard before she lost consciousness was some woman saying "your majesty I will take her."
end flashback
She looked like she was staring into the past. She continued "I knew she was not dead but there was no one who could help me find her. A year later, I was in my chamber trying to forget that awful night when my daughter was taken away from my arms when Victoria came in bringing my clothes. While helping me with my clothes she said "your daughter lives."
Klaus exchanged a look with Elijah who was as confused as he was.
Esther continued "I asked her…no I begged her to tell me where she was but Victoria wouldnt tell me. She said when the time will come, she will tell me but for now she was in the castle and was fine and she requested for the things to go as they were going and never ask about her again because if the king finds out he will kill her. I was very surprised by her request but I knew your father so I granted it. She continued to look after you and me but never told me where my daughter was. And then one day after you left for France, she brought in a girl with her. She was about 12 years old. Her name was Hayley. Victoria asked me to let her serve me as she was getting old. For some reason, there was this pull towards her which I never understood. Five years she served me and then I got sick so I begged Victoria to tell me who she was. When she told me it was Hayley I couldnt believe it at first but then she told me about the birth mark on her shoulder- the birth mark that I can never forget. Not a day has gone by since then when I didnt want to hug her but I couldn't because your father wouldn't have accepted her. I was so afraid of him that even after him passing away I wouldn't dare tell her that she was my flesh and blood. The only thing I could do was be kind to her and let her be near me and I did."
Klaus gaped at his mother. His eyes went to Elijah who was as shocked as he was but Esther now having trouble breathing continued "Niklaus, Elijah she is your sister. You will take care of her. You father…." but then she took a deep breath and started to drift off. He felt her hand leave his and said in panic "mother!" but Esther had drifted off into a deep sleep from where there was no coming back.
Elijah bend over her and after a moment said in a whisper "she is gone Niklaus."
He got up, stepped back and said "how is it possible?"
They both turned towards the door as it opened and to their surprise she walked in. Their eyes met for briefest of a moment but then she walked to queen's bed, knelt down, grabbed her hand, kissed it saying "rest in peace.…" She hesitated for a moment then bend down kissed her forehead whispering "mother" in a low voice so that no one listens to her.
Klaus saw her hesitating a moment and then she leaned in and kissed her forehead but he caught her muttering a word that shook his world. She then got up and without looking at anyone she left.
Klaus was looking at his mother still in shock at what they had found out when he heard Elijah say "go."
Klaus still didn't know what to do but then he ran out. As he stepped out, he saw Victoria. He asked her "where is she?"
Victoria looked at him confused but then she knew and said "in her room. Is the queen…?"
Klaus said "yes she has."
Victoria said with tears falling down her eyes "may she rest in peace."
Klaus stared at her as he watched the tears falling from his eyes.
He suddenly realized that the queen has died so he retreated back to her room where now people had gathered. His eyes met Elijah who was looking remorseful but in control. He could see him asking him something but he shook his head. The door opened with a bang and Kol entered. He rushed to his mother's bed and sat down and let the tears come down.
The next day, after the funeral Elijah walked to him and asked "where is she? She should be here."
Klaus said "I was waiting for the right time to go talk to her."
Elijah said authoritatively "go now and bring her here."
When he reached her room with the guard following him, he paused for a moment wondering how to talk to her, how to get her out of this mess named Jackson. Ever since it had started to sink that she was not his sister, on one hand he could see hope but on the other he knew she was married to Jackson. He was lost in his thoughts when he heard a scream from inside. Without thinking he opened the door and saw her cowering on the floor and Jackson using the rope to whip her. He dashed to him, pulled him back and pushed him away. He roared "you touch her once more and I will skin you alive."
He shouted "get out of my way. She is my wife."
Klaus roared "then treat her like a wife. Not your slave."
He turned to her saying "Hayley…" He grabbed her arm when he heard Jackson roar "you dare touch her. You are touching my wife. I am going to kill you."
Klaus turned to him and saw a knife in his hand. He waddled to Klaus swinging the knife in his hand which Klaus dodged. He turned around just in time to see Jackson push Hayley to the stone wall which made him lose his temper. He looked at Jackson who was still swinging his knife and was advancing towards her. At the same moment the door opened and his guard came in. He acted quickly as he saw Jackson attacking Klaus and jabbed him with his sword. Klaus turned around, spotted the blood collecting on the ground making him panic. He rushed to her saying "Hayley… no, no. Please open your eyes. No please no. Not after all this" picked her up and rushed out.
A few hours later, he turned towards Victoria who was looking down at an unconscious Andrea burning up lying on his bed, her head bandaged up.
She said "I along with the mid-wife were with her when she gave birth to her child and when the king gave that order. No one wanted to take her child away from her but it was King's order so the mid-wife who brought her into this world sneaked her out of the queen's room without telling anyone. The very next day, the castle found out that her child had died. We all mourned for her death but no one knew that she was alive in that castle being raised as the daughter of a mid-wife. She raised her as her own until she was two years old. When she died of pneumonia I took her in and raised her as my own. The only people who knew she was King Mikaels' daughter were her and me. She had died and I kept that secret with me."
Klaus felt if his heart could take any more shocks it would explode. He asked "when did mother find out?"
She said "a year ago, Queen Emily was getting sick day by day. She wanted to meet her so I told her but we agreed for her own safety we will never tell her about her about this secret. The queen had only one request from me. That she will be called Andrea, the name she had always wanted her daughter to have. I gave her that name, ever since she had been called Andrea."
Klaus asked "and when did Hayley find out?"
Elijah still recovering from the shock that life had just opened up to them asked "she knew? Andrea knew?"
Victoria said "the day his majesty send her Jackson's proposal. I thought that if she thinks that you and she were siblings she would…."
Klaus spun towards her and said in shock "you knew how she felt about me! You told her all this so that she gets married to someone else. Why? You knew that I am not king's son and she is not your daughter. Why?" not knowing how his words were affect Elijah.
She said "to the world you are and you will always be. You and she can never be together. You are a prince and she is the daughter of a maid and no one can change that fate for both of you. I know you are stubborn. For you, status difference is nothing but it is something. If I had not told Andrea this you would have found a way to get married to her. I saw the way you looked at her. You are…" she hesitated and then continued "my son. I know you very well."
She looked towards Elijah as he asked "does she know that mother knew about her?"
Victoria shook her head now crying softly "no. I couldn't bring myself to tell her after breaking her heart so badly and she never asked. Three days after her marriage to Jackson I found out that Jackson hit her for the first time and in front of that nothing else was important."
She looked toward Klaus who was staring at her fragile body as he muttered "she was never my sister."
Victoria looked at his back heart broken "no, she was never your sister. You are the prince, she is the daughter of a maid. Your wolds are far apart."
She looked towards Elijah who looked as broken as Klaus. Her eyes filled with tears as she saw him sitting next to her holding her hand. She walked to him and said "I have never asked anything from you … my son."
Klaus thought his heart would explode but to his surprise it was not. It was proving to be stronger then he had ever imagined. He turned to her on hearing the word he had been wanting to hear form her lips ever since he had found out about her but still he felt that the things were not right in the world. He turned to her and stood up holding her hands saying "today, you chose to call me that when you are asking me something. You have all the right to demand me to do something for you."
She said with tears now running down her cheek "let her be. She is broken. He broke her. You cannot mend her. Let us leave from her to never come back."
He stared into her anguish face and said "as your son, I am going to refuse your first request. I will not leave her and you ever again. You are my mother and she is not my sister. I am going to make her my wife. I am not a prince. I will leave everything and we will move to countryside. You, me and her" dropping a bomb on Elijah.
She sniffed and said "no. Dont do that. A prince cannot marry the daughter of a maid."
He said "then I will renounce my title. I am not a prince. From this day onwards, I will live where my mother lives."
She looked into his determined eyes and said shaking her head "I cannot let you destroy your life for us."
He pulled her in a hug saying "I am not destroying my life. I am making my life."
He looked towards Elijah who was staring in the fire and said "your majesty, I would like your permission to marry Andrea Labonair and leave with my mother."
Elijah looked back at him, stared at him for an endless moment and then said "she is my blood. She cannot leave this castle. She was born a princes but deprived of her right. She will get her birth right. You are a Mikaleson within the confines of this castle and a son of a maid within the confines of this chamber. She will be princess to the world after her getting married to you who was raised as prince and you will be prince to the world getting married to her who is a princess by birth within the confines of this room."
Klaus stared at him for a moment, feeling too overwhelmed and then he nodded.
When she opened her eyes, she at once knew from the soft plush bed under her that it was not her room. She immediately recognized the dark maroon curtains and knew whose room was it and she wondered 'why she was there. If some one saw her she will be in trouble.' She was staring the ceiling thinking of finding courage to get up and leave and didnt hear the door open.
He walked into his bedchamber wanting to hold her. As he entered he saw her staring at the ceiling. He walked to her and said "Hayley" startling her.
She sat up at once but a pain shot through her head.
To her surprise he held her hand and was about to say something when she said yanking her hand from his grasp "this is not appropriate. Where is Jackson?"
Klaus said hastily "listen, I need to tell you something."
She said shaking her head "no. Where is Jackson?"
Klaus said harshly "he died."
Andrea said feeling dizzy "you killed him!"
He said harshly "He was acting stupid but I didnt kill him. My guard took care of him."
She tried to get out of the bed but she winced with pain. She said "what happened to me?"
Klaus thought for a moment about the speech he had been preparing for the past two days while she laid sick on his bed losing and gaining consciousness but when it was time to say it, he didnt know how to say it so he said "Andrea, I have to tell you something. Please listen to me. You cannot tell this to anyone under any circumstances."
She looked at him with dread remembering the last time her mother had used these words before turning her world upside down.
As she stared at his face he said again holding her hands "I am not King Mikael's son."
When she continued to stare at him he continued to tell her what he had found out in the past one month through Elijah and Victoria. When he was done telling her, she was quiet for a moment and then she said shaking her head "no, that is not possible. You are just saying that because you…"
He grabbed her from her shoulder and said harshly "Did you ever wonder why was Victoria so loyal to me? Why was there that bond between her and me?"
She felt as if something was seriously wrong, she said "no… no dont tell me this. I dont want to listen to it. Please don't take her away from me…"
He said hastily holding her hands realizing her fears "I am not taking her away from you. She is mother to both of us. She brought me in this world but she raised you as her own too. She is your mother to the world but I request you to share her with me within the confines of this room."
She said "please your Highness. Someone will come. You are my…"
He said cutting her off "you know that is not true. You know it. Don't say that."
When she continued to stare at him he said "I know about you. You were born a princess and you are a princess. I know that. I beg of you Hayley, believe me. I am not lying."
He could see her already broken expressions turning to devastation and he wanted to engulf her in his arms. When she didnt say anything "Hayley I love you. I have loved you for a long time. I dont want to lose you again. Be my wife?"
She said devastated "you are engaged."
He said "I am not anymore. That engagement broke the day I found out the truth about you. I want you. I have always wanted you."
She said "no, I cannot break a home. I cannot break lady Caroline's heart. She loves you."
he grabbed her hand and asked "and you?"
She said "I… " hesitated for a moment and then continued "my love for you will never die but I cannot be with you. Can you please leave me alone?"
He looked at her hands in his hand, brought them to his lips saying "all this mess in our lives. Please dont make it more messy. Say yes."
She stared into his face but didnt say anything.
A week later:
She was looking out of the window when she heard the door open.
He stared at her back, dressed in the same clothes she had been wearing at the ceremony an hour ago. He walked to her feeling his heart jumping out of his heart. As he reached her Andrea said "I was so devastated when I found out that you were behind my marriage to Jackson but then my mother told me about my relationship with the queen. It still didnt make any sense why would you turn your back on me but …"
He pulled her towards him before she could finish her sentence and pressed his forehead against hers saying "do you know how hard it was for me to even look at you when I thought you were my sister. The only way I could not look at you like that was if you were not available to me. That is why when she told me that she wants you to get married to have some purpose in life I thought it was a good idea and then Elijah told me that Jackson loved you. If only I had known Hayley."
She suddenly started crying and he gathered her in his arms saying "you are safe now. You are safe now."
She continued to sob into his chest and then he scooped her up and carried her to his bed and gently laid her down. He wiped her eyes asking "do you trust me?"
She nodded. He slowly and very gently started undressing her making her very nervous. When she was in her slip, he took off his shirt and got under the cover with her. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her towards him. She anticipated something else but none happened so she closed her eyes feeling the warmth of someone other than her mother's around her body reminding her of nights they used to spend under that thin blanket while her mother told them stories. The strong arms around her waist held her firmly against him- the arms she was sure will protect her form the likes of Jackson and went to sleep in his arms.
He kept holding her until he felt her body relaxing against his. The guilt of not knowing about Jackson and making her suffer alone for so long was eating him up. He put his lips on her shoulder and gently kissed her where he knew were the angry rope marks. He continued to hold her unable to sleep and then he took his arm off of her and went to sit near the fire trying to find the calm to remove his guilt.
She woke up not knowing what woke her up and then she remembered what happened previous evening. She looked around but the bed was empty. She sat up and looked around and spotted him lying on the carpet near the fireplace. She went to the fireplace and laid next to him. He looked towards her saying "what woke you?"
She said softly "I dont know."
She stared at his face and asked "why are you lying down here?"
He said "I am unable to forgive myself for putting you through all this. If I had know Jackson was…"
She said "what he did to me you have nothing to do with it. You were there for me when he, my husband was not there."
He pulled her towards him in a warm and safe hug. After a moment she said softly thinking about the past three months of her life "in the beginning it was not bad but then he started to get really rough. I thought that perhaps that is how it happens so I kept quiet. He would get angry at how I would talk to him. I never understood what was wrong about it. I used to talk to you that way too. First time he hit me was because I was reading a book when he wanted to make love to me. That night after hitting me he was so rough with me that I ached all over my body and from that day onwards everything he touched me I felt sick. When I found out that I was carrying his child, I cried for the whole night not knowing what to do. The night I lost that child because of him, I cried for the whole night not knowing what to do and I hated him. I hated him so much but he was my husband. I still feel him on me. Make me forget about him."
When he kept quiet controlling his anger she continued "you said to me once that I cannot say no to you after we get married. It never crossed my mind that you meant what you said."
She saw a ghost of smile on his sad face but then he leaned in and planted a kiss on her lips and felt her body getting relax. He grabbed the soft plush gown from the settee and laid it on the ground, pulling her on top of it and starting kissing her neck. He could feel her flinching at his touch knowing well why was that happening and he was hating seeing her so scared even though Jackson was not there. He wanted to wash all her bad memories, he kissed the fading marks of ropes on her skin and his heart ached what he had put her through by suggesting that marriage and through his ignorance of the situation. When he kissed her lips whispering "I love you Hayley. I have loved you since the moment I saw you in my room trying to read that book but it took be seven years to realize that I loved you."
Andrea choked and said "that long! That much Klaus. Dont love me this much. I am not used to this much love."
Klaus heart broke and he said "you deserve more then this Hayley and I will give it to you. I love you so much that you cannot even imagine" as he kissed her tears away and continued to make love to her.
The end:
I hope you enjoyed it. I have been using Andrea and Hayley interchangeably. I hope you were not too confused. You see Klaus would always address as Hayley even though she was known for Andrea now but it was Hayley he had fallen in love with :). Writing for Jackson and Croline this way was particularly hard because i Dont think that Jackson and Caroline are even close to what I have written but the story to progress, I had to make them a ... well you read it.