AN: I don't own TVD or TO.

Elejahalwaysnforever - good guess... ;)

Rbenham2 - I believe all of your questions should be answered in this chapter... at least the ones that were raised in the last one. ;)

Grief.

Grief descended over the castle just as the heavy blanket of winter rose.

Relief.

Relief settled over her shoulders. The death of the youngest prince had shaken everyone to their very core; he had been so vibrant and full of life. She mourned his passing, but for her there was a ray of hope. In the aftermath of young Henrik's assassination all celebrations were put on hold. Her heart ached for him even as it rejoiced for her; she had been granted a temporary reprieve.

Guilt.

Guilt was palpable. What did it say about her that she was relieved? What kind of person did that make her?

It had been four weeks since Henrik's death. Only one had been spent in mourning. The boy's death had not been an accident.

Elena had balked when she had stumbled upon the scene. The blood had drained from her face as the bottom of her shift was forever stained crimson. She had taken everything in slowly: an arm bent at an unnatural angle, wide unseeing eyes, mouth frozen forever in the beginning strains of a scream.

The queen's wails had echoed from the stone as Lexa had fainted. It was the knife that had truly decided the next course of action; the cloth pinned to his chest was a clear message.

Elena doubted Henrik had been the intended target. Why would the neighboring kingdom murder the youngest prince? It was more likely that the boy had been in the wrong place at the wrong time; that he had simply been the first royal the assassin had found. Either way it was an act of war.

Her wedding had been postponed until further notice as the nobles had taken off for a battlefield. Most wars were fought by soldiers, but the family was not taking the death of one of their own; every royal had left. Esther, Rebekah, Sage, Caroline and Lexa remained behind.

Elena pulled up clumps of grass between her fingers. Her other arm was wrapped around her knees. She ran her hand over the soft greenery and pictured the snow; never before would she have thought herself capable of missing it.

Falling back to lie against the grass she closed her eyes. Here, in the spot he had first kissed her, she could almost feel his weight on top of her again. Her finger traced the knotted edges of the necklace while water made tracks into her hairline. Whenever she thought of him in the line of danger it brought tears to her eyes. She had felt her heart clench when it had been suggested the assassin would have taken any royal; he had been so close… it could have been him.

Nobody knew how the killer had gotten away. Although Elena did suspect; she thought he had as well because the moment he had been able to breakaway he had entered the tunnels, but whoever had done it was long gone. She had chased after him and held him when the tears finally came.

Elena had wanted to hold him again. She had wanted to kiss him before he left; perhaps not in the way Caroline had kissed her husband. While she knew her own kiss would have been passionate it would not have been on the same level; Elijah was not the type to openly display his affections.

Even a peck on the cheek would have been more passionate than Lexa's goodbye; it had been very clear that she was still angry over what had happened the week before. After she had finally told her what had happened, a few hours after they had left, Elena understood her ire.

"He what?" Elena swiped away her own tears. There was no point hiding her affection for Elijah around Lexa. She could cry openly in front of her friend without her thinking the tears were for her betrothed; Lexa had figured it out when she'd stepped back into the room.

Lexa paced in front of the hearth and gestured wildly. "He accused me of pre-marital adultery," she hissed.

"He actually said that?" Elena's eyes grew round.

"Well," Lexa simmered with fury, "not in so many words, but he heavily implied it." She told Elena about what he had heard from the servants about the speed of their nuptials. "He said they had suggested a 'time constraint'."

"He implied you were with child?" Elena stood from the chaise and caught her arms. "What did you do?"

"I must have been radiating energy," Lexa murmured. It was easier to focus on the little details.

"What makes you say that?" Elena rocked forwards.

"When Kol came in he startled me," Lexa bit her lip, "and I dropped the dish I had been using to…" she waved to her cheek, "… it broke, but when I went back in later it was fixed… almost as if it had never been broken."

"You fixed it without thinking about it?"

"I've never done that before," she slouched, "but I guess I must have."

Lexa closed her eyes and swallowed the sick feeling in her stomach. "I slapped him," she murmured, "and stormed out."

"Literally," Elena smiled when Lexa covered her giggle with her hand.

"I shouldn't laugh," she shook her head, "and you shouldn't joke." Her blood ran cold.

"I'm sorry," Elena took Lexa's hand and pulled her down onto the chaise. "You know I'd never say anything in front of anyone else?"

"I know," she nodded. "Elena, can I tell you something?"

"Of course," her finger traced the silver chain around her neck.

Lexa took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "I…" she exhaled slowly, "… I am with child… a few weeks along; if I had to guess I'd say it was the wedding night."

"Does he know?" Elena's eyes flickered to the green silk covering Lexa's stomach.

"No," she stiffened. "I was scared to tell him. I didn't think he'd believe me…" Lexa swallowed the bile rising in her throat.

"You thought you'd be confirming his accusation," Elena wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "The wedding was moved up because of what happened in Italy, wasn't it?"

She nodded against Elena's shoulder. "I think so."

"Maybe it's not my place..." Elena hesitated.

"What is it?" Lexa sniffled. Her hand pressed her stomach gently to quail the rising storm.

"Have you considered telling him the truth?" Elena felt her stiffen against her shoulder. "Not about that… unless you want to, but about the attempt on your life; that is what it boiled down to."

"I can't," she shook her head. "I can't tell him that. And I couldn't tell him this," she flattened her palm over her abdomen, "but I have to tell him this…"

A weight settled on her heart as her throat tightened. "What if he doesn't come back? I need him to come back… I love him… I should have kissed him goodbye. The last thing we did was fight, Elena."

Elena sniffled and sat up. She had assured Lexa her husband would return in one piece with a beating heart, but they had both known the truth. Neither of them was capable of predicting the future.

Slowly, reluctantly, she climbed to her feet. She would have gladly spent the entire night underneath the stars; Kat wouldn't come looking for her they were not even sleeping in the same room anymore. Lexa, however, had been having trouble sleeping alone. Elena woke most mornings to find her friend sleeping beside her after taking the path to her chamber through the tunnels.

Before she even had a chance to start back towards the castle she heard a twig snap to her right. Her skirt spun around her ankles when she whirled. Elena sagged with relief when she saw that it was Adelaide.

"My lady," Adelaide held a hand over her pounding heart and gasped. A thin sheen of sweat had broken out across her brow. "He's back."

"Elijah," the relief was palpable. It was quickly displaced with fear; it paralyzed her. Why would Adelaide run for her in the dead of night? Why was he the only one back? Was he hurt? How badly would he need to have been injured to have been sent back from the field of battle?

"Not the prince, mi'lady," Adelaide straightened. "Lord Damon. He's looking for you. I had the guards bar him from entering your chamber until you could be made presentable."

Elena felt her mouth turn dry. What did he want? Why was he outside her chamber at midnight? Were they to finally be wed? The sudden desire to race for the stables and ride off into the night overcame her.

She swallowed the urge.

She had nowhere to go.

Elena shifted from one foot to the other while Adelaide brushed the grass from her hair and back. She nodded gratefully and opened the door into her chamber; luckily she had worn her dress to the clearing so there was no need to change.

"Do I look presentable?" Elena rolled her shoulders. She clasped her hands in front of her body when Adelaide nodded. "Where's Lexa?"

"Still in her chamber," Adelaide looked Elena over once more before making her way to the door. "Shall I let him in?"

Elena checked the crucifix around her neck before nodding. He'd probably break down the door soon anyway.

"Mi'lord," Adelaide curtseyed when he entered.

"Leave us," Damon waved his hand.

"That would be highly improper," Elena lifted her chin. She gave Adelaide a disbelieving look; surely she'd heard him wrong. They couldn't be alone together.

Damon's eyes raked over her body; they lingered on a dark stain near her hem. "What kept you so long?" He advanced on her.

Elena stepped behind the chaise. "I was sleeping," she lied, "Adelaide had to rouse me; I was less than presentable and in no condition to meet my betrothed." Her fingers closed around the bottom of the necklace.

"Well then," Damon smirked, "it's a good thing I am no longer your betrothed."

"What?" Shocked Elena could do nothing but blink.

"I have cancelled our engagement," Damon pulled some papers from his belt. "I thought you might like to watch the contracts burn." He cast a disdainful look at Adelaide and gave her the parchment.

Elena saw the nuptial agreement in his hands. Her name was spelled out beside his as clear as day. Her eyes grew wide when he threw them into the fire.

"Why?" She watched the edges of the parchment curl. Am I really free?

"That's not your concern," he glared at Adelaide.

Elena was too caught up watching the papers burn that she didn't catch the animosity he was aiming towards Adelaide. Engagements were not canceled without reason.

She jumped when the door opened to admit her sister.

"Have you heard?" Kat sealed the door and crossed the chamber to sit at the vanity.

"He told me himself," she slouched back against the chaise; her fingers absentmindedly toyed with the red material.

"Who told you?" Kat tilted her head and leaned forward. "The messenger came to tell you specifically?"

Elena's fingers stilled. "What are you talking about?"

"The king is dead," Kat's foot jiggled, "he was killed in battle. What are you talking about?"

"My marriage," Elena sat up. "The king is dead?" She paled; he had lost his brother and father in the span of a month.

Kat nodded. "What's going on with your marriage?" She crossed her hands over her stomach.

"He called it off," Elena breathed. "He wouldn't tell me why."

Kat chewed her lip. "I might know," her eyes traced the line of her sister's belt. "Before they left I told him."

"Told him what?" Elena felt a sense of foreboding in her chest.

"That…" Kat flattened her hand over her stomach.

"No?" Elena's eyes dropped to her sister's trembling fingers. She could make out the smallest shift under her dress; a tiny protrusion between Kat's hip bones.

Elena paced outside the door to the library with her sister. They had stopped to offer condolences to the queen and the remnants of the royal family before making their way to the hall of books.

She couldn't believe that after everything she was still protecting her sister's reputation. There was very little time left before Kat would begin to show; if they were not wed by that time her sister would be ruined: a fallen woman.

"Elena," Kat caught her hand when she reached for the door. "Before we go in there…"

Elena squeezed Kat's hand when her eyes shimmered.

"I…" she blinked back her tears, "… I'm sorry. I thought you hated him, and while that's not an excuse, I'm sorry. I would not have done it if I thought you cared for him."

Elena cursed herself when she felt herself starting to forgive her. "Why did you do it, Kat?" Her voice dropped to a whisper when mourners walked passed them.

"He…" Kat tucked her hair behind her ear. "He told me… he loved me. That he wanted to marry me."

"Kat," Elena sighed, "we were three days from getting married, and he hadn't called it off." The more she heard the more she doubted he had left her for her sister.

"You don't think he'll do it?"

"I think we need to find out," Elena pushed open the door.

Lexa braced her hands on either side of the open window and breathed in the night. The cool air cleared her head and soothed her stomach. Behind her she could hear her mother and sisters-in-law crying.

Sage had been the first to slip away from the group; she was seven months pregnant with her first child. The baby had started kicking and she had to get up and move.

Lexa had left next. None of them knew about her own condition yet and she had feared they would find out if she stayed in the room any longer. She had been certain she was going to vomit until she reached the window.

She rested her head against the cold stone and breathed deep. Each lungful of air eased her morning sickness until she was able to stand without fear of falling. Drawing her dressing gown closed over her shift she peeked through her lashes at the window sill.

Lexa tilted her head when she saw the marks a few inches from her shoulders. A dark red stained the stone at the edge long, thin white marks: scratches. The sob caught in her throat as she braced her hands and slowly rocked forward.

The scream tore through the night when she saw her. The bright red hair was impossible to miss on the stone walkway.

A hand clamped over her mouth.

Elena and Kat looked this way and that upon entering the library. The low murmur of voices drew them towards the center of the room and the crackling fire.

Elena pulled Kat to crouch behind a bookshelf when she heard his father.

"You must have ridden without break to beat them here," Lord Salvatore sipped his drink. His eyes were locked on the fire.

"I snuck away in the dead of night," Damon chuckled. "I had to ensure the engagement was nullified before we could continue."

Elena covered Kat's mouth before she could announce their presence. Something about his laugh had set her hair on end; it was almost sinister.

"This has to be done right, Damon. There can be no mistakes."

"I know," his fingers drummed over the back of a couch. "The princes will be traveling back with the king's body for burial. Accidents happen along the road all the time."

Elena's eyes grew wide at his words.

"Every heir Damon."

"Yes, father," he nodded. "I've already taken care of one, and made arrangements for the others. Soon only the princess and the queen will be left. A swift marriage to the most powerful noble in the land will ensure her kingdom's survival."

"Princess Caroline and Alexandria?"

"There is no need for them to come to harm," Damon swallowed a mouthful of wine. "So long as they remain childless they are no threat; they have no claim over Norway."

"Lady Elena and her sister?"

"One is very soon to be ruined," Damon snickered. "Perhaps I'll ruin the other later tonight. I'd have done it when I told her of our engagement, but there was a servant in the room."

"Later, then," Lord Salvatore grinned.

Elena pulled Kat back into the shadows. They huddled there until Damon left with his father. Only when the door closed on both men did Elena lift her hand from Kat's mouth. She heard the sob before she saw her sister's face.

Kat took a shuddering breath before spinning on her knees to face Elena. "You have to get out of here."

Elena raced around her chamber throwing anything she might need into a leather bag. She stripped down to her corset before pulling on a long shirt and trousers. She added boots, her gold belt and her sword before slinging the bag over her shoulder.

"What about you?"

"Not much more he can do to me," Kat shuddered. "Where will you go?"

Elena hesitated. She knew where she wanted to go, but she didn't know where that was. "I'm going to try and warn them; with any luck I'll get ahead of whatever 'arrangements' he has made."

Kat jumped to her feet and caught Elena's arm. "Are you insane? Why would you put yourself in harm's way?"

Elena closed her eyes and sighed. "You had your affair, Kat," she met her twin's anxious gaze, "and I had mine."

"You've already been ruined?"

"No," Elena shook her head vehemently. "Mine was strictly emotional. The fact is I love him and I have to warn him."

"Warn him…" Kat's brows arched. "I'm assuming he is unattached. That leaves only one…"

"Yeah," Elena nodded. "You need to try and warn Sage…." Elena stopped halfway to the door: Lexa!

A harsh pounding sounded on the heavy wood.

"Now what?" Kat breathed. "You can't go out that way."

"I was never going to," Elena cursed. She spun on her heel and walked across the room to the wall behind the bed. She heard Kat's sharp intake of breath when she opened the hidden door and picked up a candle. "Are you coming?"

Kat eyed the dark passage before shaking her head. "No," she walked her sister backwards into the tunnel. "Someday you'll have to explain about this," she nodded to the door, "but for now run. I'll try to distract him as best as I can."

Elena paused at a branching path. There was no hesitation in her movement when she lowered her bag and sword; she hid them in the shadows before taking the tunnel towards the great hall.

The candle sputtered on the stone floor. She listened carefully before pushing the panel and peering down both sides of the corridor.

She couldn't believe her luck. A petite blond stood in front of an open window a mere ten feet away.

Elena darted forward when she heard the scream. She knew she was too late when feet pounded over the floor.

Wrapping her arm around Lexa she dragged her quickly back into the tunnel and pressed her into the stone wall.

"Be quiet," she hissed. She managed to kick the panel closed while fighting with the struggling blond. "Lexa," she tried again, "stop fighting me."

Lexa's eyes swivelled around the dark before settling on the brunette. She drew in gulping breaths and nodded.

Elena lifted her hand and reached for the candle. She motioned for Lexa to follow her into the darkness.

"You need to be quick," Elena shouldered open the hidden door to Lexa's chamber. Elijah had shown her the way before he had left.

"Quick?" Lexa's teeth chattered. Her eyes narrowed when she spun to face Elena.

"You didn't hear a thing I said, did you?"

"I'm s-s-sorry," her curls shook around her head.

"You have to change," Elena passed her shivering friend. She started digging through Lexa's trunk. She groaned when she found nothing but silks. "Damn." Scratching her head Elena reached into her own bag and pulled out the spare pair of trousers she had packed. Lexa was shorter but it wouldn't make a difference once the pants were tucked into the boots Elena passed her.

"Where are we going?" Lexa pulled on the items with shaking hands.

"Damon Salvatore and his father," Elena muttered under her breath, "have planned a coup. They've made arrangements to do away with every potential heir to the throne."

Lexa's head snapped up. Her hands steadied as she laced her boots. "Kol?"

"And Elijah," she nodded. "Damon won't hesitate to kill you as well."

Lexa flattened her hand over her stomach. "Do you have a plan?"

"Find them before the hired assassins," Elena shifted fabric around. She stood when she couldn't find anything that would work and crossed to another chest. She pulled out a dark green shirt she assumed belonged to Kol and passed it to Lexa along with a belt from one of Lexa's dresses. "I also need to get you out of here because the second Damon learns of your condition…"

"I'll be dead," she tied off the shirt and reached for her cloak. "Do you know where they are? What path they'll take?" Slowly the conversation in the tunnels came back to her.

"No idea," Elena ground her teeth. "Do you need anything else?"

"I don't have any weapons, Elena," Lexa frowned. She was just shaking her head when an idea occurred to her. She bent by the bed and pulled out a small leather book from beneath the mattress.

So... tomorrow promises to be super hot and absurdly sunny. Since I burn after 5 minute in the sun (no that is not hyperbole... ok... maybe 10) I'll likely spend the hotter part of the day in the A/C writing. There might be two updates tomorrow. One for Lexa's backstory and one for SAF.