Devastation

Katherine was devastated.

Death was around her all the time. Humans and vampires. Sometimes she caused it. Too often she witnessed it. But rarely was it so close as now.

She knew she would eventually be caught by the pursuing vampires. She hoped she would be out of the woods before it happened. But only to think, she would never leave those she knew were still in there to those chasing her.

She didn't expect to make it, and she didn't. When the chase was done, she saw there were four vampires. They attempted to taunt her – she didn't respond. Maybe it was a mistake, maybe it would have bought her more time. But she wasn't in the mood. She knew help was on the way. She would just have to hold them off until it came.

And she did. She had done this time after time – not often with so many. But she was able to fend them off once the fight began. It was taking a toll on her, though.

Then help in the form of one of her vampires. She thought they might have split two against her (she was giving them a pretty good fight by herself) and two against him. But they didn't. Three attacked him. He was good - really, really good. And additional help came in the form of two more of her vampires. But by the time they arrived and two of the hostile vampires turned to fight them, he was almost gone. She was busy with her own fight, but when she stole glances in his direction, it hurt.

Damon came when he had just been killed. At least it kept the vampire from returning to her, or helping take another one of hers out. But Damon did not look good when he arrived, and he was on the defensive from the start.

And she knew no one else was coming.

Surprise and Promises

Stefan was up and moving on his own. Not fast, but the group was much faster now. Elena was not sure it was fast enough. The vampire had said that Katherine needed help. Katherine need help? How was that even possible?

"This is too slow. Carry me to her, please?" Elena said to her remaining protector.

"She doesn't want you where there is any risk to you. I have no idea how she will react when she sees you."

"Slow or fast, it'll be the same. Make it fast. Please. I just need to know."

The vampire stopped and stared at her. Finally he nodded.

Elena grabbed a stake from Alaric, and moved next to the vampire so he could pick her up. Then she had another thought. "Can you carry Bonnie as well? She can help if needed and it wouldn't be much more weight."

The vampire scowled, but let Bonnie climb onto his back and hold him around the neck as he picked Elena up. "Will you be able to hang on?"

"Watch me," Bonnie said as she tried to secure her legs.

"Stefan. Can you carry Mr. Salzman?"

"Well's just run," Alaric said. "I'm betting I can keep up with him in his current condition."

He wasn't quite right. Stefan was slower than Katherine's vampire, but Alaric still lagged behind.

The vampire quickly assessed the fight as soon as he reached it. He put down Elena as Bonnie dropped off and immediately headed towards Katherine.

Katherine managed to signal him to another direction – towards Damon, who was hanging on, but not much more.

"Bonnie, help her." Elena said, pointing to Katherine.

"I can't Elena."

Elena misunderstood. "Bonnie, please. We have to protect her."

"No Elena, I can't..."

Elena started running towards the vampire attacking Katherine, readying her stake. She did not hear Bonnie finish. "…use my power against just one when they are that close. It would hurt her too."

Katherine saw Elena approaching. "Elena no!"

The other vampire turned from Katherine and attacked Elena. Elena had moved to the side a little and was trying to position the stake in a way she thought would be effective when the vampire hit her. Bonnie's power did hit the vampire now and Elena was able to move away from it. She did drop the stake, but Katherine picked it up. When she was next to the vampire, Bonnie stopped. Katherine used the stake effectively.

Elena and Katherine looked at the others. Damon was standing still, watching them. Two of the hostile vampires were lying still – all three of Katherine's were dispatching the remaining one. Elena did not watch. She moved towards Damon, but stopped to watch Katherine who had moved to one of the bodies of the dead vampires. She saw Katherine pick up his hand, exposing the ring that let him walk in the sunlight. Elena expected her to remove the ring, but she didn't.

Bonnie was standing by Katherine now, confused by the expression on Katherine's face. "You cared for him, didn't you?"

Katherine nodded her head, but did not look at her.

"I'm sorry," Bonnie said.

Katherine stood and faced her. "If you don't already, you need to know that the only ones I will let near Elena are ones that I completely trust. Yes, I cared for him. He proved his loyalty to me long ago. That is hard to find in my world. And I knew that, if needed, he would give everything he had to protect her. Or me."

Katherine looked back down at him as she continued speaking to Bonnie. "We have a deal Bonnie. I wouldn't and haven't asked for me, but would you give your life for Elena?"

Katherine moved to her three remaining vampires without waiting for a response. The last of the fighting was over. Bonnie looked at Elena who had turned to where Stefan and Alaric were arriving.

Damon was on the move now. He pushed Stefan who fell back and hit a tree. "This is your fault!"

Elena was there quickly, pulling at Damon's arm.

"Damon, no! Leave him alone. What's wrong?" She managed to get between them.

"That house he supposedly burned down," Damon began. "One of the vampires chasing me was from that house. I recognized him. He didn't do what he said he did."

Elena turned back to Stefan. "Stefan? What happened?"

"I did burn the house down. But I left the tunnel. I had to give them a chance, Elena, a chance to change. You would have wanted me to."

"Now you're blaming her?" Damon asked angrily.

"No Damon." Elena said as she turned back to him. "Maybe he's right. Maybe I would have wanted them to have a chance."

"Vampires don't change Elena," Damon said bitterly.

"Stefan did. You did. And I had to give you a lot of chances. But there were only four in the house, and one was killed."

"They had friends or they went recruiting. And how can we know if we've killed them all yet?" Damon said. He hadn't calmed down much.

"Damon…" Elena began. She was cut off by Katherine.

"He's not wrong. A word please?" Katherine said, nodding her head to tell Elena to follow.

Elena did, but not before pulling Damon away from Stefan, and when she thought they were far enough apart, saying "Stay? We need to talk."

Damon did stay.

"Are you OK?" Katherine asked.

"Just a little sore." Elena said.

Katherine nodded. "We can't keep doing this, Elena. What exactly did we risk both of our lives for today? A town that has wanted to burn me for 150 years? And Damon. And Stefan."

"I can't let people die. And they don't want that anymore. They don't even know what you are."

"John Gilbert did not act alone, Elena." She sighed and shook her head before continuing. "I've come to learn some things about you since our association began, Elena. I know that you will do anything I ask of you, regardless of any risk or danger involved. And I know that you will protect me without thought for yourself. You have been completely faithful to your pledge to me. And I have no doubt that you always will honor your pledge. I don't take this lightly."

"We have an agreement. Bonnie will be safe and you will leave Jeremy and Jenna alone."

"As long as they leave me alone. But remember, Gilberts are targets. I will do all I can to ensure your safety, but the others…"

"Neither would betray you. And Jenna is not really a Gilbert."

"She is Jeremy's guardian, and yours. That makes her target enough." Katherine shook her head again. "We have to come to an understanding, Elena. The price today was very high. I can't help you to be safe if you try to escape your protection."

"You won't let them help. If they would just help when I ask them…"

"Elena. I am risking people I care about to protect you." Katherine hesitated and added, "If you ask them to help Damon or Stefan, I will permit it. But you must ask. And anyone else is too much. Do not test them further."

"They're staying then."

"Yes. The rules remain in place and they will not interfere with your life. If things stay calm, you will not see them. I hope you will sleep better knowing they are there, but that may be too much to ask. I also hope you will see it for what it is - a token of my appreciation for your loyalty, and a manifestation of my pledge to protect you. I have people who will do almost anything for me, but I don't have anyone like you. You are unbelievably valuable to me."

Elena was a little shocked – was this some kind of compliment? She nodded her head.

"We will make sure the woods are clear of any threat before we leave." Then Katherine surprised Elena. "New bracelet? A gift?"

Elena nodded. "Damon."

Katherine nodded her head. Elena could not read her expression. For some reason, Elena felt she had to explain.

"Damon said it was a…"

"No need, Elena," Katherine interrupted. "That is between you and him. I will keep my promises to him, and I expect that you will as well. We have some clean-up to do. You will still have an escort when you leave the woods, but it will be unseen." Katherine left to join her vampires.

Everyone was looking at Elena as she returned to Damon. She could tell they were ready to leave. And it looked like Damon and Stefan had calmed down. Her talk with Katherine had certainly calmed her.

"I'm sorry I got so upset at you," Elena told Damon. "I understand your reaction, but he did what he did because of who he is. I wouldn't want that to change anymore than I would want you to."

"I just can't believe he would take the risk – with you."

"And you're risk-free? I stayed with him because of what he is. I met you because of what he is. I am wearing this bracelet now because of what he is. And now, I need to go with him and explain what the bracelet is and what it means."

"You sounded earlier like you were going to let him figure it out on his own."

"No," Elena said. "I owe him the truth. Today he helped me, he saved me. Just like you have done. You're brothers, and you fight. But I'm alive because of both of you."

"I can't promise I won't get jealous of whatever time you spend with him," Damon said.

"It's not a flimsy bracelet, Damon. Nor is my promise to you flimsy. I will keep it. Sometimes, like today, it will suck royally. Sometimes, like today, I will want to give him more than the promise would allow. But I will keep it."

She gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked towards Stefan. She turned back before too long. "I'll be at the Boarding House, if you go home this evening. And I'm still waiting for details on dancing…"