A/N: I never expected people to favourite this story after one chapter, so I am very pleased :D To let you all know, this is my first fanfic of Vampire Diaries and my first ever posting on here, so please feel free to give me constructive criticism. I do have a Beta who will try her hardest to pick out any mistakes, but if she fails, do not be shy. Tell me :D Btw, I am from the UK so my spellings will be different.
So enjoy this chapter!
The Salvatore garden stretched for acres and encompassed nearly all of the surrounding countryside. In the gardens, Giuseppe had ordered gardeners to create something beautiful and worthy of his presence. Indeed they had created some of the most beautiful garden work in Mystic Falls but Giuseppe rarely frequented the garden.
It was in the garden, in a small knee length maze the gardeners had created, that Morgana was wandering through, her hands clasped behind her back and Amelie directly behind her. It pained her to have the girl walking behind her but at the Salvatores if Amelie was seen beside her mistress, it may cause something of a stir.
"Are you happy here, Amelie?" Morgana asked, her silvery blue dress shimmering in the Virginian sun. She felt uncomfortable in her dress as it was very tight fitting. If she was at home she could have worn another dress but appearances must be kept.
"If you are happy then I am," Amelie replied, her head bowed. "I only live-"
"Do not repeat that Southern nonsense," Morgana cut her off. "You sound like a Confederate. We are not Confederates."
"As you wish, Miss Morgana."
She stopped and turned around to the girl who was only a year or two older than herself. She took the handmaiden's hands in hers and forced her to lift her head. Amelie was a beautiful girl but her status demanded that she did not. Her dark eyes were her prominent feature and they contrasted with her fair skin and blonde hair which was hidden beneath the white bonnet she wore.
"Amelie, you are my most trusted friend," Morgana said, earnestly. "If you are not happy here, then I will not be happy here. You are family and you will be treated as such."
"If I am your friend and indeed your family," Amelie said, her dark eyes flashing angrily. "Then why must I wear the clothes of a serving girl and do your bidding whenever you ask? Why must I be treated as nothing more than the dirt on which these people walk on?"
Morgana faltered and Amelie wrenched her hands from her mistress' and turned on her heel, stalking away. Morgana sighed and covered her face with one hand, feeling again the painful loss of her father. It would be easier if he was here. She could turn to him for advice and this entire scene would most likely have been avoided.
"I could not help overhearing," a voice said, startling Morgana. She spun around and found herself face to face with Damon Salvatore. She saw that he was in his grey Confederate uniform and she couldn't help but judge him. Loyalty to the Confederacy was not one of her morals. His blue eyes twinkled in the sunlight and a half grin was on handsome face. Maybe, she could overlook the one thing she deemed wrong with him.
"Could you not, sir?" she said, smiling playfully. "Nothing at all in this beautiful garden could have stolen your attention for a few minutes?"
Damon swept his arm back and showed Morgana a stone bench in the corner of the outer hedges that separated the small maze from the other parts of the garden. The bench could not be seen if you were not looking for it which would be why Morgana had not noticed Damon's presence earlier.
"I am afraid that my attention was already stolen by the most beautiful flower in the garden," he said, smoothly. He offered her his arm and she took it, her smile brightening. He led her to the bench and she sat down.
"Where is this beautiful flower?" she asked, her eyes searching the maze. "I do not think I can see it."
"You have seen it more than I have," he replied, sitting next to her. "Every time you look in the looking glass, I believe."
Morgana blushed and she instantly covered her face with her hands. Damon looked at her in alarm, convinced he'd upset her but when she removed her hands he saw that she was trying to stifle a laugh.
"Mr Salvatore," she said, laughing. "Your flattery is most amusing. I have not been complimented in such a way before. I commend you."
Damon was relieved he'd only made her laugh, thinking it would be a terrible way to start any sort of friendship with her. When she'd stopped laughing, her entire face turned troubled and Damon knew she was thinking about her conflict with the handmaiden.
"She will not be angry with you forever," Damon said, quietly. "How could anyone remain angry with you?"
"It is not as hard as you think, Mr Salvatore," she said, shaking her head. "There have been many times when Amelie and I have become angry with one another. It would be easier if my father was still with us. He would know exactly how to deal with this. He always knew."
Her dark blue eyes filled with tears and Damon panicked, unsure what to do with a crying girl. Katherine never cried, it was not in her nature to do so. She was strong and independent, but Morgana was only human, still emotional.
"I do not know what to say, Miss Morgana," Damon said, clearing his throat unnecessarily. "I have only ever fought with my father and brother and to clear the air we simply shake each other's hands and it is forgotten."
"But it is not that simple with Amelie," Morgana cried, her tears spilling over. She turned to face Damon, her knee touching his. Damon looked down at the contact, his heart beating fast. To touch her now would be out of bounds, not within the confines of etiquette. He had to be careful not to offend her. He reached inside his jacket pocket and brought out his handkerchief. She took it and dabbed at her eyes. "Forgive me, I am not one to display my emotions so openly. I am just-"
"I understand," he said, and despite all what he was telling himself, he took her hands. "I understand your loss. I too have lost a parent. I know the emptiness that you feel inside, the aching hole in your heart. There is no need to hide from me."
She opened her mouth to speak but running footsteps and laughter could be heard coming towards them. She moved away from him just as the giggling form of Katherine Pierce appeared. She touched the stone statue of a cherub and turned to face someone else, who they couldn't see just yet.
"I win. What's my prize?" she laughed, stepping forwards. Stefan Salvatore appeared then, a sly grin on his handsome face. Morgana could see that this was an intimate moment between Katherine and Stefan and if he was to have any luck, she might give him a sweet little kiss. But when she glanced at Damon and saw his face had twisted in jealousy, she wondered if Stefan was the only Salvatore who wanted a kiss from Katherine.
She watched as he rearranged his face into a casual grin and call out to Katherine.
"Whatever you want it to be," he said, coyly.
Stefan and Katherine both turned and looks of surprise crossed their faces before Stefan grinned widely and ran over to meet his brother.
"They extended your leave?" Stefan said, clasping his brother in a hug.
"I was simply having too much fun to return to battle," Damon laughed, clapping his brother on the back.
Morgana watched the exchanged thoughtfully, feeling awkwardly out of place. Should she leave? Or should she stay, maybe Damon would sit down next to her again when Stefan and Katherine continued their – whatever it was.
"Your commitment to the Confederacy is inspiring," Stefan joked, pulling away. Both brothers turned their back on Morgana to look at Katherine, who's brown eyes were sparkling with excitement. She was close to the Salvatores and with one finger, she caressed their chests.
"Well this works out wonderfully for me," Katherine said, smiling seductively.
"How is that, Miss Katherine?" Damon asked, throwing an arm around his brother's shoulder. Morgana wondered how long their brotherly love would last if they were both vying for Katherine's attention.
"Now I'll have both of you here to keep me entertained."
Morgana raised an eyebrow, wondering if the brothers knew she was playing them against each other. She'd only seen the three of them together for less than a minute and could tell what was really going on.
"First and foremost, I'll need an escort to the Founder's Ball." Katherine turned around just as both brothers bowed to her.
"I would be honoured," Stefan said as Damon in a sweeping gesture of his hat said "With pleasure." They both straightened and looked at each other, eyebrows raised and their eyes flashing dangerously. When Katherine turned back around, their eyes snapped to hers and a smile lit up her face.
"The smart and kind Salvatore brothers both coming to my rescue," she said, lightly. "How will I ever choose?"
She clasped her hands behind her back and walked away, her head held high like royalty. Stefan and Damon glanced at each other and immediately began to argue over who would take her. Morgana took this as her moment to leave and tried to do so quietly, only she managed to trip over the hem of her dress and fall backwards over the small hedge of the maze. The first person to her rescue was Damon who was trying not to laugh as he offered her a hand.
"Miss Morgana, are you hurt?" he asked, his blue eyes sweeping over her for any damage.
"Only my dignity, Mr Salvatore, I assure you," she said, feeling the heat of embarrassment in her cheeks. "If you'll excuse me, I must be getting back."
He nodded and she hurried off, careful to lift her dress slightly at the front. She did not need another trip to the ground in front of Damon Salvatore again.
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