I do not own TVD or TO.

I meant to have this chapter up yesterday, but I made last minute changes and had to rewrite large chunks of it.

See the bottom of the chapter for my inner history nerd... I've left a few notes on the middle ages.

Betrayal.

Betrayal stung more than anything she had ever known. Promises had been made, and like the foolish girl that she was she had believed them. Then he had shown his true colours to her, unintentionally and unknowingly, but it had been done.

Adelaide carried a pitcher of warm water in her hands. She balanced the porcelain jug between her left arm and her torso and used her free hand to push open the door. She paused when the smell reached her nose; the room was doused in a layer of sweat and sex.

She slammed the door shut and dropped the pitcher onto a table before sprinting to the bed.

"My lady?" She pulled back the covers and gasped when she saw the dark marks on the olive skin. Bruises bloomed across her upper arms and shoulders; blotches blossomed over the formerly smooth column of her throat.

Adelaide felt her heart plummet when she heard the soft whimper. It was clear she had made some attempt to clean herself but she had been unable to reach the spattered fluid on her back; it had dried in long streaks of white over her spine.

"Lady Elena," Adelaide carefully pulled her into a sitting position, "what happened?"

Doe brown eyes blinked blearily in protest to the early hour. The bedsheets slipped down around her waist; she knew she probably should have been embarrassed but she was too exhausted and sore to care about her modesty. She had been so sore she hadn't bothered to replace her shift before sliding into the bed.

"Lady Elena…?" Adelaide trailed off. Her eyes had been inspecting the multiple discolorations when they trained on the violated woman's stomach. There was a very noticeable bulge between her hips… a bulge that hadn't been there the previous evening. Her question was hesitant. "Lady Katerina?"

Her vision seemed to fade around the edges as the world tilted and she lost consciousness.

Adelaide caught her swaying body. She reached for the shift at the foot of the bed. After several moments of struggling with her limbs she managed to cover Katerina. She carefully replaced her on the bed before running to the door.

"You," she barked at a passing guard, "find me a physician immediately. Lady Petrova is ill."

Kat took hesitant steps with the aid of Adelaide and lowered herself into a seat in the great hall. She had managed to wake up enough before the physician came to tell Adelaide nobody could know that Elena was gone.

Maybe it was the desperation in her eyes that made Adelaide agree with her request.

The physician had proclaimed that she and her child were both fine, but in the future she should avoid lying with anyone while pregnant as it could harm the child.

Naturally it had taken the morning for word to reach everyone in the castle; by the time the messenger arrived at lunch the entire court was aware of 'Elena's' condition, and that 'Katerina' had run away.

Damon had taken immediate advantage of the situation to announce to the queen that he had canceled his engagement because of her pre-marital adultery.

Kat had wanted to scream at him. She'd wanted to reveal herself then and there and slap him repeatedly. The persistent throbbing in her body made her want to shove something in him and see how he liked it. She didn't though. If it became common knowledge that Elena was the one who had fled the castle Damon would immediately send someone after her.

"What could possibly be so important that the search for Alexandria has been halted?" Esther glared regally at the guard who had accompanied the messenger.

"Your Grace," the man bowed. His eyes cut to the Salvatore's on the edge of the room before straightening up. "There was a series of accidents on the road ma'am."

The blood drained from Esther's face. A sob tore from Caroline's throat. Rebekah's knees gave way beneath her.

Kat felt her stomach plummet. Elena had been too late. She gripped the cup in her hand until her knuckles turned white. The blood drained from her own face when Damon approached the queen and offered quiet condolences. She could tell by the way the queen's brows knit together at the quiet suggestion of his father.

"Our kingdom is now on the brink of war and without a head of power," Lord Salvatore murmured quietly. "I know that the timing of this is not ideal, but now is the time to solidify your strength. Without hope for a male heir your enemies will be at the gates in a matter of weeks."

"What exactly are you proposing, Lord Salvatore?" Esther drew in a steadying breath and blinked away her tears.

"A marriage you're grace," he offered her a small smile. His eyes glanced towards the princess. He nodded solemnly when the queen agreed. "I'll make the necessary arrangements."

Rebekah swiped at the tears on her cheeks and opened the door to her chamber. She drew in a deep breath when she saw Caroline's red-rimmed eyes.

"I-I…" Caroline crossed her arms and sniffled. She took a moment to center herself and find her voice before trying again. "I c-can't be in there." She had retired to her chamber several hours after the sun had gone down only to be overwhelmed by the presence of her husband in their room.

"Come on in," Rebekah stood aside.

Her fingers combed through the damp curls. The rain had let up after an hour, but the water had clung to their clothes. It was a marvel that they were not all down sick.

Elena gave up on the knots and straightened out her shirt where it hung by the fire.

They had taken up residence at an abbey that the brother's had known about. The nun's had been kind enough to take them in and offer them shelter from the cold.

It might have had something to do with the fact that Lexa had all but fallen asleep; Kol, who had been carrying her, was not far from joining her in the realm of dreams.

Elena and his brothers were not faring much better. She and Nik had begun to stumble over the uneven ground; both of them exhausted from their ordeals. Nik had been healed, but he was still drained and when calm had settled around the party the energy had slid from his body.

Elena had been shown to a room and given some dry clothes by one of the younger nuns. She'd barely stripped out of her wet things and pulled on the dry shift before falling asleep on the cot. She wasn't sure how long she had slept, but when her eyes fluttered open the moon had been high in the sky.

She fingered the soft material of her shirt and sighed when she found it completely dry. Her trousers were as well. She had just replaced her own clothes and started on her hair again when there was a soft knock on the door.

"Elijah?" She breathed. A soft smile turned up the corners of her lips.

"Elena," he chuckled and reached out to carefully untangle the large knot in her hair. "I didn't wake you?"

"No," her breath hitched when his fingers brushed over her neck. "I woke up a little while ago. I don't think I was left alone ten minutes before falling asleep. What are you doing awake?"

"I wanted to talk to you," his stomach knotted. "You never actually answered me." Nik had come back to drag them back into the cave before they caught their deaths; he hadn't said a word about the position they had been in.

"Will you marry me, Elena?" Elijah held his breath.

Elena knew that women had no power of their own in the world. Choices were made for them. She had been told what to do and where to go her entire life. She had even been told who to marry. Never had she considered the possibility that she would be offered a decision of her own; never had anyone treated her with that kind of respect. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined herself in the position to completely crush someone as she was now.

"I didn't think that required a verbal answer," she teased. "Yes, I will marry you." She gasped when he pulled her from the room and kissed her cheek. Her eyes narrowed when he guided her down the hall. "Where are we going?"

"To find a witness."

"We're getting married right now?" Elena blinked. "Tonight?"

"I have every intention of spending the rest of my life with you, Elena Petrova," Elijah stopped when they reached the chapel, "whether its thirty days or thirty years."

"It better be closer to thirty years," she poked his chest. "Don't you dare go and die on me."

"I wouldn't dare," he caught her hand. "You'd have my head if I tried."

Elena laughed quietly. "What about…"

"The pomp and ceremony?" He chuckled. "Never much cared for it, but if that is what you want I will gladly arrange it later."

Elena exhaled slowly. "It always seemed a tad ostentatious to me," she stretched up on her toes and brushed her lips over his.

They both knew there was another reason for the haste. They were going to attempt something dangerous; there was a good chance one or both of them would not survive what was to come.

Elena tilted her head to the left when footsteps echoed off the stone. The sharp taps grew closer as she and Elijah walked to meet their fellow nightwalkers.

Kat took a deep breath and drew her dressing gown closed and huddled before the fire. She had spent several minutes pushing the chaise until it blocked the door to her sister's room.

She knew what she should do, but the thought of venturing into the corridor was terrifying. She had made a point to avoid Damon all day, but still she had caught the look in his eyes.

She rocked forwards and wrapped her arms around her knees when the pounding began on the door. She was barely able to breathe until he had left.

She waited until the moon had risen high in the sky before unbending her stiff limbs and shoving the chaise aside. Kat peered into the dark corridor before stepping out and tiptoeing down three doors.

Her knuckles wrapped loudly on the wood.

Kol opened his eyes and found his vision obscured by a field of gold. Slowly the memory of the day trickled back. The Salvatore's had attempted to kill them all, and in their minds had succeeded. His wife and her dearest friend had traveled through the night to save their lives.

His wife was pregnant. His wife was a witch. His wife loved him. His wife was currently laying half on top of him in the narrow bed.

Kol smoothed back her mussed curls. The soft smile dropped when he remembered the brother they hadn't saved. He and Finn had not been particularly close but now that he had a chance to think about it his heart clenched tightly: two brothers and his father. And without Elena's quick thinking he might have lost his wife and unborn child as well, not to mention his own life. He really owed the woman a debt of gratitude.

Carefully he rolled Lexa over and moved to stand up. He stopped when her fingers closed around his wrist.

"Where are you going?" She frowned up at him.

"I just needed to stretch my legs," he lifted her arm and kissed her wrist.

"I'll go with you," she swung her feet around and stood.

"Darling," Kol wrapped his arms around her waist, "you're exhausted."

"So are you," she tipped her head back and blinked. Her eyes narrowed when she saw the clothes she had been wearing hanging by the fire. "Kol?"

"Yes, love," he kissed her temple.

"Where are we?"

"An abbey," he murmured. "I picked you up when you started to sway. You were sound asleep before I'd gone three steps."

"Oh…" her fingers rose to the scar on her jaw.

"Nobody saw it," he removed her hand. "Between turning your head into my chest and your hair it was completely concealed." He saw her flush when he brushed his thumb over the mark. "I brought you inside and took off your wet clothes; one of the nuns brought you the tunic. She actually offered to change your clothes, but I told her no."

"I suppose stretching my legs is out of the question?" Lexa sighed.

"Not necessarily," Kol pressed his lips to her jaw. "It is the dead of night. We're unlikely to find anyone up and about."

She couldn't believe she had ever considered going back to sleep. She couldn't believe Lexa and Kol had been awake as well. She couldn't believe that he'd had a ring with him; he'd had it since before he had left the castle.

Later she would ask him just what he'd been planning, and why he had gotten her a ring when there had been no hope of ever giving it to her. Or maybe she wouldn't.

In that moment Elena could only focus on him. They had returned to the chamber she had been granted by the sisters. The door had barely closed when they'd pulled each other in to a kiss.

Their mouths moved hungrily together, as eager as the first and as desperate as the last.

Warmth spread through her. Passion ignited her and chased away the last of the chill that had clung to her bones. Her flesh tingled beneath the gentle caresses of his hands. She never thought it would be the case but her body ached for his touch.

A shiver raced down his spine when her hands dipped under his shirt and splayed across his back. His desire flickered to life when she dropped his shirt on the floor and drew his mouth back to hers. Slowly, carefully he lifted her own shirt over her head.

A flush settled on her skin when she realized she was bare from the waist up as she had forgone her corset. Her embarrassment was momentarily forgotten when he stared into her eyes; she could very easily get lost in his loving gaze.

Her breath caught in her throat when he walked her backwards until her legs hit the bed. She felt her knees weaken and was immensely grateful when he guided her to sit. If she had been expecting him to push her to lie down she would have been disappointed.

Elijah knelt on the floor in front of her and pulled off her boots. His left hand slid up her leg as his right grasped the back of her neck. Their mouths moved together slowly. He groaned when he pulled back and she nibbled on his lip. He tilted his head and laved kisses over her jaw to her ear.

His teeth grazed her ear and drew a soft moan before he moved down towards her breasts. He heard her breath turn to small gasps when he sucked on her nipples in turn.

"Elijah," she breathed. Desire coiled in her belly. It grew under the gentle assault of his tongue. Her abdomen clenched tightly when his thumbs hooked in the waist of her trousers. She lifted her hips and blushed under his heated gaze.

"Elena," he cupped her cheeks and brushed his lips gently over hers, "are you alright?"

She nodded and chewed her lip.

"Elena?" He arched an eyebrow.

"Is this going to hurt?" She met his eyes.

"It shouldn't," he tilted his head. "Do you trust me, Elena?"

"Yes," there was no hesitation in her voice.

"Then lie back, darling, so I can put my beautiful wife at ease."

"Mmm," Elena wrapped her arms around his neck, "say that again."

"Lie down wife," he grinned.

"Just so we're clear, husband," she smirked up at him, "that is the only order I will ever take."

"I wouldn't have you any other way."

Elijah licked and nipped his way down her torso pausing only to lavish further attention to her breasts. He made his way down further when her hips began to twist. He looked up and met her eyes as his hands gently grasped her knees and pulled them apart.

Elena's abdomen quivered. She shivered when his lips grazed her thigh and drew close to the ache that had settled between her legs. A gasp fell from her mouth.

He slid his tongue through her wet folds. He sucked on the bundle of nerves and delighted in the wanton moan that reached his ears. Sliding back down, he ran his tongue again through her slit before delving into her dripping centre.

She was powerless to stop the undulation of her hips under the assault of his tongue. Pressure built in her belly. Her fingers, which had threaded through his hair, tightened their grip as every muscle in her body clenched; she felt her arms and legs tremble. She bucked her hips when he slid a finger inside. Her muscles let go all at once when he crooked his finger and massaged a spot inside of her that made stars explode behind her eyes.

She drew in heavy breaths that shook her chest when he sat up and added a second finger.

Elijah kicked off his boots. His free hand worked off his trousers; his erection sprang free when the last of his clothes were gone. He felt a throb of desire race through him as he watched the pleasure cross her face. He shifted to hover over her and added a third finger.

Elena moaned into his mouth when he kissed her; his tongue mimicked the massaging motions of his fingers.

He pressed his thumb to her clit and shifted to murmur against her ear. "Let go, love." He smiled when her walls convulsed around his hand. When the fluttering stopped he pulled his fingers free.

Her legs spread wider to accommodate him when he positioned himself between her thighs. She arched her neck and caught his lips in a kiss. She nodded when he met her gaze.

He eased into her tight wet sheath gliding forward until he was buried to the hilt. He groaned at the feeling.

Her mouth popped open. She gasped at the intrusion and was immensely grateful when he paused and gave her time to adjust.

Slowly he began to move. Their hips rocked together while mouths exchanged slow, languid kisses.

He propped himself on his left arm and ran his right hand over her flushed skin. He moaned into her neck as she raked her nails down his back. When she wrapped her leg around his waist he increased his pace.

"Lady Elena?" Rebekah blinked tiredly. She stifled her yawn with her hand. "I am in no mood for an early morning chat," her eyes narrowed. She hadn't been asleep, but she was not receptive to visitors either.

"Katerina," she held her hand over her heart. "Believe me, your highness, this is a conversation you want to have."

Leave me some reviews and let me know your thoughts.

Notes on history (because I am a total history nerd... I also majored in it):

During the middle ages men and women did not need to be married in a religious ceremony. They could be married anywhere from the church to their bed. All that was required was saying they were married and giving a wedding band. Getting married was not difficult. Proving you were married later is where things often got tricky; that's why they needed witnesses, but since God was the ultimate witness physical ones were not required. The only thing truly required was the consent of the two people involved. Some people would get married at the doors of churches to give the proceedings a greater religious weight, but it was not required. If an engaged couple were to have sex it would make their marriage legally binding.