Title: A Ballad of Ashes and Embers
Rating: M
Genre: Alternate Universe/Alternate History
Pairing(s): Bonnie/Klaus, Stefan/Emily, Elijah/Katherine, Katherine/Lucy, Elijah/Lucy, Lucy/Elijah/Katherine, Tyler/Elena, Rebekah/Kol, Rebekah/Damon, ect.
Summary: Long ago, in a time forgotten, a scorned sorceress queen barters her daughter to win back her throne. The resulting marriage between the first known hybrid and the last of the most powerful bloodline of enchantresses ever in existence becomes the key to restoring the ways of old and bringing back the balance that his creation destroyed.
Klonnie Appreciation Week Theme: Free For All (Day Seven)
Warnings: Violence, Torture, Character Death, Sexual Content, Incest, OCC-ness, etc.
An Emergence of Dread
"Fear cuts deeper than swords."
― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
The Werewolf Land and Isles, Lupos Palace
Bonnie Bennett-Mikaelson ran her hands over the small trunk that held her phoenix eggs and sighed. She still had not figured out what she would do about her mother. Her conscious would not let her kill her. A part of her was sure even now that the only reason that her mother was not loyal to her was because Abby Bennett had only ever been loyal to herself.
Bonnie had ordered the others to keep their marks covered and keep her mother in the dark and they had agreed without objection. They would begin traveling across the isles soon. Gathering solders before they crossed the Bloody Sea and took back Mystic Landing. They were holding off in order to receive a blessing from the wolf gods.
Bonnie had discovered that they had contacts on the mainland after showing her alpha the letter she had received. Apparently, though Mason Lockwood had been shunned from his house and his family, he still secretly communicated with his nephew Tyler. The boy had succumb to the curse himself and was kept locked in the dungeons of his home during the full moon.
He did not like having to hide and did not feel that he should be ashamed of what he was. He had written to Mason and had in turn learned of the alpha and his cause, and of the prophesy that involved Bonnie herself. Since then he had been keeping them informed and he had even helped to create a safe haven for witches on the mainland in a small bit of their territory that still remained untouched.
It was through him that Emily had discovered Bonnie's wedding and the beginning of what was to come taking place. He, Emily, and a refuge from House Salvatore would come to join them on Moon Island, the first they would visit, on the condition that they all bore the mark.
Mason had heard from Tyler that he and a few others that were duty bound to both House Lockwood and Donovan bore the mark. In fact the whole of House Donovan bore it, a fact that did not surprise Bonnie. The Donovan's were humans and it would only make sense for them to be loyal to her when the only other option would be loyalty to the very creatures that were diminishing the human population.
But Bonnie was not worried about those that were loyal, but rather those that were not. Her mother could not be trusted and she knew that eventually she would have to act.
Bonnie cleared her throat as the door to her bedroom opened and her husband walked inside. He seemed to be subdued. It had been clear that he did not agree with her choice to let her mother live but he had let his own feelings go out of respect for Bonnie.
"You are not ready for the ritual," Klaus said as he eyed her.
Bonnie looked down at the flowing blue dress that she was wearing. She was meant to be in wolf skin like the others. When one addressed the wolf gods, one dressed as a wolf. "Are you angry with me?" Bonnie asked.
The alpha frowned. "Of course not," he said, "There is still plenty of time. I will send the omegas in to dress you."
Bonnie shook her head. "Not about the ritual," she sighed, "About mother."
His expression closed again and he swallowed. "No," he told her after a moment, "I know more than anyone what it means to love your mother and fear her at the same time. But if she harms you in any way I will have to ignore your wishes and kill her myself. I cannot have you hurt."
"Because you cannot take back the throne without the rightful queen?" Bonnie laughed only half joking.
"I have had my own throne for some years now," he said, his expression hard, "I did not miss the mainland or even my family as I have created my own lands and my own family. I care nothing about the throne or the happenings of Mystic Landing outside of the suffering of the witches because it was witches that saved my life. It was witches that gave me something to live and fight for when they showed me your face. If that throne did not belong to you by right I would not give a damn about it. You are my wife, my mate, and have been even before we married. If someone harms you or takes something that belongs to you they must suffer and die. There are no other options."
"I see," Bonnie whispered, not really knowing what else to say. She had grown used to her mother's verbal abuse. To being unwanted. She did not know how to react to someone being of the opposite mind.
"I understand that this marriage was not your choice," he continued, "That I am not what you want. That even what I can offer you means nothing as it has only been a short while since you have learned of your destiny and accepted that you are the rightful heir to the throne. But you must understand that I have never walked a path and I have never made a choice, since I saw your face; that would not lead me directly to you. That you are all that I want and the only thing I expect in return is for you to believe that and to trust that. Do you understand?"
Bonnie swallowed and nodded. "I will not question your motives again," she said.
A stiff nod followed her words. "You have had your mother and only your mother nearly all of your life," he said, "I do not expect your obedience to her or your trust in her to waiver overnight. But remember, I bear not only the blessings of the spirits but your mark as well. She is the one that we know of in these lands who does not."
Bonnie was unable to argue with him, and did not want to. But as he seemed to have shut down, she was too afraid to agree with him as she was sure he would see it as an attempt to pacify him. Besides that she did not agree entirely. Though, the marriage had not been her choice he did not repulse her, which was what he seemed to think. He was the first man she had ever been with and the only man she would ever be with. The first to desire her and they would be connected on that basis alone. He seemed to see worth in her that she did not see in herself, and though she was not sure how to react to his apparent devotion, that did not mean it did not move her.
She did not know what how to articulate her feelings and so she silently watched him go.
:::
Shadow Towers, House Petrova
Katerina Petrova stood staring out of the window in the servants quarters that had very little of a view outside of darkened alleyways and streets that smelled of food from vendors and urine.
She pretended as if she did not hear the sounds of her lover packing behind her. "I cannot believe that you would leave me here alone to rot in this place," she commented, as she ran her hands down her pink gown.
There was a sound of a huff behind her and then a bitter laugh that made her wince. "Poor little Katerina," Lucy sang, "Always the victim." She closed the rucksack she had packed and shouldered it. "Well excuse me, my lady, if I do not wish to subject myself to slavery and to ignore the war that is coming to reclaim the throne for my family because it will deprive you of my servitude and my tongue between your legs."
She turned then, eyes glaring. "It is more than that and you know it," she spat, "And I have never treated you as a slave."
"Perhaps not but you never stopped the others from doing so," Lucy shrugged, "Particularly your little doppelganger whom you claim to be superior to and yet your own selfishness matches hers as you would have me stay here and suffer rather than go free and find what remains of my family. A family that your last lover helped to slaughter."
Katerina winced at the mention of Elijah Mikaelson. He had been kind once and noble. But he had slaughtered witches because of loyalty to his father. He had put duty to the Usurper above her and what was right and good. Even in losing her, he would not waver.
When Katerina had taken up with Lucy it was meant to be a temporary arrangement. A way to stave off loneliness. She had seen her as someone she could use for her own wants and desires in the beginning. But things were different now.
"As if I would have you stay in this hell if it did not mean leaving me," Katerina hissed, "I love you, more than I have ever loved anyone outside of myself and you know that."
Lucy shook her head. "You know nothing of love, of giving, of selflessness," she sighed, "You who had Elijah turn you as soon as the Usurper took the throne so that you could survive the first war alive. And yet you refused his proposal because you had gotten what you wanted. You had your immortality even if you did not believe in his cause and in what you had become. And still he doesn't know the reason that you abandon him. You could have spoken to him. Got him to see reason. Got him to help so many of my kind but you left him and called him monster. You said he was not worth saving because you decided you wanted me instead. And now I am expected to turn my back on myself, my family, and my kind because you wish for me to stay here. Everything is and will always be about you and your feelings. Damn everyone else."
"No matter what I say I cannot win with you," Katerina said, throwing up her hands, "You act as if everything is black and white. As if there is no gray. The only thing leading you to believe that there is a war coming is some cryptic message from Emily and whispers from the other side, that's it. If they are wrong-"
They both bore the mark of the phoenix, though Katerina seemed to forget, and that was all the answer that Lucy needed. "The spirits are never wrong," Lucy interrupted. The spirits had led them for centuries. There was no sense in doubting them now.
Katerina rolled her eyes at the surety in Lucy's tone. "If they are wrong," Katerina repeated, "Then you running will only lead to you being hunted down and killed. I cannot lose you. Don't you understand?"
Lucy began to collect the weapons that she had stolen from the Petrova reserves. A few swords, daggers, and a crossbow. "I understand that you are afraid and you are letting that fear cripple you into inaction," Lucy said, "I will not get caught. I know my fate. I offered you a chance to come with me and assured you that you would be safe. But you refused. So all I have is myself now and that is all I need."
They had been together nearly fourteen years now. The supposed heir to the Bennett throne was now sixteen. Lucy had sustained her youthful appearance with magic. Katerina had never been with anyone as long as she had been with Lucy. She lived for the woman. Breathed for her. It had not been this way with Elijah. Or anyone else that she had loved. That was why she had offered to change Lucy long ago, but Lucy did not want to lose her powers and so she settled on a spell that would stop her from aging.
Lucy was even happier with her choice to remain human when she was told by the spirits of the rise of the last of the line. She had chosen to leave in search of her family right after. There had been and still was nothing that Katerina could do to stop her.
She grabbed Lucy's arm as the witch moved to walk around her. "At least allow me to help you escape."
Lucy shook her head. "Take care of yourself," she told her, "Be sure to hide the mark that you bare on your forearm. If you are found to be loyal to my queen then you will die." She did not understand how Katerina could bear the mark of the trusted and still not fight for their cause. "I don't need any help," she sighed. Katerina would spend the entire time trying to persuade Lucy to stay she knew. It was best that she cut ties and let things end there. It was hard for her. Harder than she would ever let on but Lucy was a Bennett. She was strength. She was determination. She was fortitude. She was phoenix. She was flame. She would do what was right and staying in enslavement while her family fought for their throne and her freedom was not it.
"Well then," Katerina tried again, "Would you at least write to me when you get to wherever you are going. Let me know that you still live."
"You will know that I live when my queen takes back Mystic Landing and you hear of me and what remains of my family advising her on the throne," she said and she pulled her arm away. She turned a moment and Katerina moved to speak but was silenced as Lucy leaned down and pressed her lips against hers. "Goodbye," she whispered and then she was gone.
:::
The Werewolf Land and Isles, Lupos Palace
After the ritual was complete Bonnie sat next to Atticus Shane as the others begin to ready themselves for the trip to Moon Island. Bonnie was still avoiding her mother and she still had not managed to find a way to approach Niklaus after their conversation prior.
There were things that she was uncertain about. Things that she wanted to know about the mainland. Shane was the closest connection she had to the land where she had come from. It had been years since either her husband or his delta had been away from the Werewolf Land and Isles. Shane did not have such a major degree of separation.
She glanced over at Shane and frowned. "Could you tell Ser Shane," she whispered, "My people…what is like for them on the mainland?"
He sighed as he looked up into the night. "Things are bleak," he revealed, "They are enslaved. Mind and body. Forced to abuse their powers in many way. They live in poverty. But they are strong. They find hope in the old ways. They find hope in you, my queen." He turned to her, his face and eyes serious. "Even before she died," he whispered, "My wife believed that you would save them all. Until the bitter end. You are the key to everything, beta. Everyone who suffers at the hands of the usurper; witch, vampire, and human alike will look to you."
Bonnie swallowed, feeling a huge weight now on her shoulders. "What if I'm not good enough?" she frowned, "What if I'm not strong enough? I know nothing of ruling. I am still even after all of this time a novice in terms of my power. What if I cannot bring what has been foretold to light?"
She was afraid. Afraid that everyone was wrong and that her mother was right. Afraid that she was worthless. Afraid of failing. Afraid of succeeding. Afraid of the responsibility she would have to take on if she were to take back her birthright. But she could not do nothing. There were too many lives at stake. She would have to put her own feelings aside. She would have to fight through her own discomfort and insecurities and push forward.
"You will be," Shane said and he sounded certain, unflinchingly sure, "You are. You could bring the people of all lands to their knees on your own but you will not be alone. Not in this. Not ever again." He held out his arm and displayed the phoenix feather on the inside of it. "Those loyal to you will live and die by your side," he stated.
Bonnie frowned and stood. Everyone was saying that but it was hard for her to believe them. "Thank you for your words of faith," she said just the same. As Shane stood as well, Bonnie saw something in his eyes that made her uncomfortable. "I must return to my husband," she said, quietly.
At his nod she walked away, aware of his eyes on her as she went.
:::
The Old Witch Lands, Travelers Way
Emily Bennett stopped in the middle of a clearing in the forest a long way away from Crow's Arc. It was the first time they had stopped in some time. Stefan stood beside her and Emily sighed as she noted his nervous expression. The spell would have to be performed here. In the land of the Travelers they would be protected.
They would have to do the spell before they reached Moon Island. Stefan would not receive a warm reception of any sort if they did not.
"I meant what I said before Emily," Stefan said, his face firm and his tone serious, "If after the spell is performed I do not bare the mark I want you to kill me."
They had discovered after Stefan began having strange dreams that there were witches in the Salvatore bloodline. One in particular that had been the lover and close companion of their mother goddess Qetsiyah when she walked upon the land before she became goddess of the Other Side. They had further more found out that once Stefan had been turned he had been unable to access the powers that he was supposed to possess. The spell along with the elixir in the vile in Emily's satchel would restore him to his human form and restore what was loss to him.
Prior to their departure from Crow's Arc the two had become something close to lovers. But Stefan refused to lay with her until she was certain that he could be trusted. He was unlike his brother in that respect as well as in many others.
Emily had been made to share Damon's bed while she was under the servitude of the Salvatore household. It had not been by force exactly but she had been left with little real choice in the matter. Threats and manipulation left very little room for argument when one was virtually a slave.
The most disturbing part of the exchange was the fact that Emily was certain that Damon actually had genuine feelings toward her. He often had begged her not to leave him. Often spoke to her in soft words of devotion and adoration when they were together. However, the sentiments seemed empty given his actions and only strengthened Emily's wish to see the Salvatore dead.
Stefan was different. He treated her like a human being. He defended her against his family. He helped her with the household chores. His guilt often haunted him over the dethronement of her family. He never asked her for anything and gave her anything that she asked of him. It was because of him that she had managed to survive life on their estate for as long as she had. He had been her strength as she had awaited the emergence of her queen.
Even still however, the spirits did not see Stefan as fit to be trusted. He unlike Emily, did not bare the phoenix feather mark of those loyal to the Bennett line. Emily knew why that was the case and so she was certain that once he was human it would appear.
Vampirism effected Stefan more profoundly than most. He was often plagued with the thirst and blinded when he partook in too much blood. Blood was his sustenance so he could not stay away from it but at the same time it was his weakness. When he binged he became a different being altogether. He was merciless, monstrous, and unable to be controlled. As long as he was a vampire, even with the times in between where he dried himself out and fed from animals, that part of him was at risk of taking hold. And that risk was not one that the spirits were willing to take.
"It will not come to that," Emily said, as she began to draw a pentagram on the earth with a stick, "Everything will come to right when this has been done. You will see." She tossed the stick aside and motioned for Stefan to stand in the middle of it. Taking off his cloak he took his place at the center of the pentagram. "I know you heart," she whispered, reaching a hand out and touching his chest, "And it is good."
She handed him the vial with the elixir and nodded for him to drink. When the bottle had been downed, she stepped out of the pentagram and said the incantation. She watched as flames consumed Stefan's body. She winced through his screams and told herself that it was a necessary evil.
After a moment the flames died down and Stefan laid unconscious and naked in a pile of ashes. Emily retrieved his cloak and placed it over his body. She lifted his hand and smiled as the phoenix feather that shown brightly against his skin.
She took Stefan's face in her hands as his eyes blinked open. "How are you feeling?" Emily asked.
Stefan smiled as his eyes landed on her. "The thirst," he said, "It's gone." He tried and failed to get his fangs to surface. He was well and truly human again. "I can feel my power, Emily," he grinned, "I can feel it."
"Look at your arm, my love," she responded.
He looked at his arm and found the mark of those loyal to the Bennett cause. "You were right," he said, leaning up and kissing her lips, "You always are."
"It is time that you realized it," she said, "Now we will set up camp. The magic on these grounds will keep us safe. Lucy will be here tonight. Tomorrow when Lockwood and Donovan arrive we will begin our journey to Moon Island to join our queen."
:::
The Werewolf Land and Isles, Lupos Palace
Even as he sat in the room that he shared with his wife on the bed that they had shared the night before, Niklaus felt separate from her. He was not worthy of her and he would never be no matter how hard her tried but he was try until the day that he stopped breathing.
He had wanted her acceptance more than he had ever wanted anything. Rejection was all that he had ever known outside of the wolves and the spirits who protected him. His family had shunned him. But he had thought that would be able to create a new family. The spirits had shown him what would one day be his and he had found a reason to keep going. To thrive and lead the wolves.
But he had to remember that while he had always wanted Bonnie, there had never been a moment before or after they had wed that she had wanted him. Her choice had been taken from her and he could not blame her for being reluctant. He was after all an abomination. His mother was after all the wife of the Usurper that had taken her throne. She had every reason to hate him.
He was afraid that she would leave him. That she would choose to run and create her own army. It was possible. She had followers. Those who were loyal to her and the old ways. She could even take the wolves from him now. He was their leader but she was their queen. Theirs to love, shelter, and protect. She did not need him. Not truly. It was he that needed her.
Klaus looked up as the door to the bedroom opened and smiled as Bonnie walked inside. She had changed since the ritual. She was now wearing a dress of blue silk. It flowed down to the floor hanging from her frame. It was her mother's doing Klaus knew.
He had heard from Hayley that Bonnie had liked the wolf skin dress. She had approached her about being outfitted like the others all the time, in lines and animal skins. She had wanted to show that she was of the people. But her mother had said that she must always be elevated. Separate. Klaus knew that the woman would continue to be a problem and while he wanted her dead and soon he would abide by Bonnie's wishes.
Bonnie stopped in front of him and pulled the sword she had been given as a wedding gift from behind her back. "I talked to Shane," she said, slowly, "About the people. My people. They need me. It is time that I stopped being afraid." She held out the sword to him. "This sword," she said, "I would like to learn how to use it."
Klaus didn't bother hide his pride as he nodded. It would seem she was gaining her strength and that she would need him for something after all. "And so you shall, my love," he said, "So you shall."
:::
Crow's Arc, The Castle of House Salvatore
Rebekah Mikaelson frowned as she listened to the sound of Damon Salvatore pacing in the next room over. Her father had chosen to ignore the sign of the Bennett reign reemerging. And even though Rebekah could very clearly sense their growing fear majority of the Salvatore household chose to follow her father's lead and so had her mother and Finn and Elijah. She and Kol were smarter. They took the omen seriously. Damon was upset as well but it was not the threat of war that had him on a rampage but the absence of his brother and Emily Bennett.
He had made a nice show of smiling and being accommodating as he had shown her family to their rooms but after he had broken down. He had been muttering to himself for hours. He had been talking to himself about how he could retrieve his brother. How he could persuade the witch to come back to him. He would go after them or so he claimed. Hunt them down and lock them up so that they would never try and leave again.
Him mourning his brother Rebekah could understand. They're relationship was a close one. They were best friends and comrades. They thrived off the existence of the other. Her own brothers had born witness to it during the first war. However, he could not understand his mourning the loss of Emily Bennett.
While she understood love. She had seen it and respected it. It was clear from his words that Damon was not in love with the witch but rather obsessed with her. And clearly if she had run then she had not returned his feelings of ardor.
She stopped eavesdropping on Damon's ranting as she felt Kol's presence behind her. "You should be happier," he said, as he wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her shoulder, "I highly doubt you will have to perform any wifely duties even if the marriage does take place. His heart lies elsewhere."
"What he feels for the witch has nothing to do with the heart," Rebekah frowned, as she leaned back into the embrace, "it has to do with lust and fixation. There is no love there."
"And you know love?" Kol asked, his tone teasing. He smiled as she nodded and placed her hands over his own. "I know the others are choosing to ignore the warning and the phoenix siting," he whispered, lowly into her ear, "But I will not. When the time comes we will run. If at the end of this war you and I are all that remains of our house and our family then so be it."
"As far as I'm concerned," Rebekah murmured in answer, "We are already all that remains."
:::
The Werewolf Land and Isles, Moon Island
Bonnie walked across the black sand of the beach on Moon Island. She was heading in the direction of the others after leaving the ornate tent that she would be sharing with her husband. The journey had gone well and they had set up came on the shoreline so that they could see the others as they sailed in over the next few days.
Her mother was still unaware of the others of their line that would arrive to join them. Still unaware of the marks and Bonnie's destiny on the throne. It was too soon for her to discover the real truth. Her mother was too volatile and Bonnie's emerging strength was too fresh.
Besides, tonight was not the night for confrontations. It was a night to celebrate their first successful journey. The lupos had created a bonfire on the beach and there was feasting, sparring, fucking, and dancing.
Bonnie smiled as she felt Hayley's arm loop through hers. While they were drunkenly celebrating the omegas still served but after a certain point where jubilation and inebriation took hold; they were all pretty much equal.
"You should dance for the alpha," Hayley whispered into her ear, "You said that you wanted to show him that you are no immune to his affections. It would be as good a way as any."
Bonnie ran her hand over her attire. It was a layered fringed dress made out of white snake skin. It was much like the dress that Hayley and the other women wore though the animal skins and the lay varied. Her feet were bare and the dress exposed her legs. The halter neck exposed her back as well and Bonnie felt almost naked. Underneath the dress she was. The only reason that she had agreed to the dress was because when she had put it on Hayley had told her that she looked like one of the lupos. That was what she wanted. These were her people now just as much as the witches on the main lands were.
"I cannot dance as you dance," Bonnie sighed, "The dress will be enough." She had seen the other women dancing. Moving with their whole bodies. Arms waving. Backs arching. Hips gyrating. There movements were sensual and unrehearsed. Bonnie's mother had always raised her to be poised and collected. To be in control of her body at all times. She didn't think her body was capable of such free movement.
"I can teach you," Hayley said, undeterred by her reluctance, "Come."
Bonnie allowed herself to be pulled forward. She looked around her and smiled at Niklaus as she caught sight of him sitting and chatting with Mason next to the fire. He gave her a stiff nod. She was not surprise. This was his alpha face, his face for the people. He never softened unless they were alone.
Bonnie hesitated as she saw her mother standing off to the side near Jonas. She was looking at the lupos in disdain her body stiff. She was clearly looking down at the people that she would have fight her battles. Bonnie frowned. Her mother wanted to think that she was above these people but Bonnie had found more kindness, grace, loyalty, and welcome among them than she had seen her mother show to anyone in her entire life.
Bonnie nodded to herself as she remembered the alpha's words at the feast after their wedding. Refusing to allow herself to be intimidated by her mother's attitude. She let herself be led through the sea of gyrating bodies and began to follow the motions as Hayley's hands guided her hips.
She closed her eyes and allowed herself to move to the rhythm of the thundering drum of the music. For a moment she was able to let herself go and she felt more freedom than she had in all of her life. When her eyes opened they fell on her husband. His eyes were yellow and hungry but he did not seem angry. They were full of something else. Before Bonnie could assess it she was grabbed by her arm violently.
She was not surprised when she was turned to face her mother. She opened her mouth to speak but Abby immediately began to drag her back in the direction of her ten. Out of the corner of her eye Bonnie saw Niklaus stand to follow and his eyes were lethal.
As they reached the tent Bonnie scowled. She did not want Abby in a space the she and Niklaus were meant to share. As apprehensive as she had been about the marriage she preferred her husband's company to that of her mother's. When she was with him she was at peace and she did not want Abby to infiltrate that.
Abby lifted the tent's flap and threw Bonnie to the floor that had been covered in blankets and furs. Bonnie turned and glared up at her.
"How dare you," Abby yelled, railing on her, "You are an embarrassment. Lowering yourself to level of those people. You are to be a daughter of a queen. You are above these animals. Act like it."
Bonnie stood to her feet and laughed. She had had enough. "The daughter of a queen," she sighed, "Mother there is already a queen here and it is not you." Abby lifted her hand to strike but stopped as Bonnie closed her fist her powers cutting off her mother's airway. "This is my land," Bonnie said, "These are not animals…they are my people. They are loyal to my husband. They are loyal to me. I am their queen and you are nothing but my mother."
Abby fell to her knees holding her throat. She gasped for air as Niklaus entered the tent. He looked at Bonnie, silently asking for permission to end her mother's life then and there. However, Bonnie shook her head. She would give the woman one more chance. One more chance to learn her place because Bonnie was beginning to understand her own and it was not below Abby. Not at all.
"The next time you raise your hand to me remember this," Bonnie said, kneeling to whisper into her mother's ear, "One word, one gesture, one wave of the hand, or one nod of the head. That is all it would take and I could have your head on platter. These people. This army that you so wanted. They would kill you if I asked because it is eye who is the wife of their king and not you. I who am both wolf and phoenix. And I promise you this…if I hear you insult them again then I will save them the trouble of doing my bidding and kill you myself."
Bonnie released her and Abby breathed in deeply. She stood and glared between Bonnie and Klaus. "I do not know what this mutt is filling your head with little girl but you will regret this," she said, "You may think you have the power now but we will see who the true queen is when we cross the Bloody Sea."
Bonnie blinked at her. Her face was impassive. Abby frowned and attempted to hide her trepidation. Bonnie had always feared her. Admired her. Followed orders. The girl was not afraid anymore.
Bonnie walked around her mother and took her husband's hand. "I would like to dance again for you," she said, and he smiled. She glanced back at her mother. For the first time she saw weakness and she began to wondered what had made her fear the woman for so long in the first place. "Tread lightly, mother," she said gravely, "You have been warned." Abby glared but said nothing. "Enjoy the festivities," Bonnie smiled, "And be gone when we come. This tent was meant for royalty. I'm sure you will find more suitable accommodations down the beach a little ways."
Bonnie turned and left he tent without another word. As she looked up at Klaus there was pride in his eyes and in that moment she felt worthy of it.
:::
The Old Witch Lands, Traveler's Way
Lucy Bennett frowned as she heard a noise behind her. She had felt for some time as if she were being followed. It was the reason she had not gone straight to Emily's camp.
"Show yourself," she said as her hand found her sword. She would only use her powers if necessary. There was magic in the grounds that protected her where she was and so she doubted it would come to that.
She braced herself for a confrontation as a lone cloaked figure never stepped out from the cover of the trees. She frowned as she recognized the person and her hand left her sword just as the woman pulled down the hood to her cloak. "Katerina," she greeted.
She was wearing all black. Even her hair had even gone from brown to black. She carried a rucksack on her back and her dress was modest, not the normal embellished dress that normally adorned those of her house. "I have deflected from my house," she said, "Left my home to follow you and your cause. I am not longer a Petrova and so I cannot bear the name I was given by them either. From this day forward my name is Katherine Pierce bastard daughter of no one from a house with no name."
Lucy swallowed. She had not expected to see her ever again. She was sure that their last goodbye would indeed be their last. But the woman was too selfish to have left without a motive other than herself Lucy knew. "They found your mark didn't then?" Lucy accused, "And you didn't have any choice but to run?"
Katherine rolled her eyes. "You really are too paranoid for any ones good, darling," she sighed, "Even if they found the mark they would not know what it means. The witches are keeping their mouths shut about most things regarding our queen and those of house Petrova believe she is a myth just the same. They will not take this war seriously until the usurper says that they should."
Lucy's eyes narrowed. "Our queen?" she laughed, "Why are you here?"
Katherine threw up her hands in the air. "Because I love you, you wretched shrew," she spat, "I kept thinking that there was a chance that you would die doubting my feelings and I could not allow that to happen."
Finally Lucy allowed herself to smile. "No one is going to die," she said, ignoring the scoffing sound her love made at the sentiment, "And I'm glad that you're here."
"Then act like it," Katherine sighed as she came up to stand beside her.
Lucy took her hand and nodded. "I love you, too," she said. Turning onto the pathway ahead, Lucy guided her in the direction of Emily's camp site. A called heard up above caught their attention and Lucy smiled as she saw Emily's phoenix, Blaze flying up ahead.
"Is that…?" Katherine trailed.
Lucy grinned. "It is and if it has returned then that means it has found the queen and delivered Emily's message," she said. She turned to Katherine and raised a brow. "Do you believe me now?"
"I am beginning too," was her answer.
:::
The Werewolf Land and Isles, Moon Island
Niklaus sat amongst the furs that lined the ground of the tent that he shared with his wife. She had handled her mother for the moment but he knew the woman would remain a problem. He listened as Bonnie walked into the tent and sat down behind him placing her hands on his shoulders.
"If she causes you harm again then she dies," he stated. She could argue if she wished but he would not let up this time.
Bonnie wrapped her arms around his middle and laid her head on the back of his shoulder. "If she does I will not only allow you to kill her," she whispered, "I will happily watch."
"What change of heart you have," he said. He turned his head slightly so that he could see her face. Her expression was hard. Serious.
"My whole life I had been made to feel as if I was not good enough," Bonnie whispered, "As if I were no more than a pawn. I had a home with Jonas and his children but even that was ripped from me due to this marriage. Now I have to fulfill a destiny that I did not know what I had and I have all of these lives in my hands. I cannot…I will not let them down simply to appease my mother."
Klaus frowned and nodded. "I know that this marriage is not what you want," he sighed, "But I found a home with the wolves in the same way you did with Master Martin. I had a destiny that I had to fulfill as well, at that was you. You may fear your destiny but my destiny at your side became my hope. You became my hope. And you are the hope of those people on the main lands that now suffer. I may not be worthy of you but…there is no one who believes in you more than I. I will not rest until the usurper is killed and you reach the greatness that I have seen."
He was sure that his declarations would be met with the same befuddled expression that she held each time words of devotion left his mouth but this time she smiled. "You sell yourself too short, my love," she said, smiling wider at his shock at the term of endearment, "I feared you before and I was indifferent but now…Your people are loyal and I want to be of them. I want to take them as my family as well. As for you…I understand now why you were chosen for me. Why it had to be you."
She paused and stood. She walked around him until they were face to face and then knelt down in front on him. He eyed her as she took his face in her hands. "I was weak," she whispered, "I allowed myself to be belittled and controlled because I knew no other way. But then you…saw something in me before we met. The night at the wedding when you told me not to let my mother intimidate me I felt the beginning of something. Since then you have been so patient with me, so devoted. Before when you said that I would be great I did not understand but now I am beginning to believe you. You say that you are unworthy of me but I…I did not feel worthy of anything until I saw your devotion to me. If I am your hope Niklaus, then you are my strength. Do you understand?"
Klaus smiled softly and his expression became so gentle she almost thought that she was looking at someone else and not her husband. "I understand," he nodded.
Bonnie leaned forward and kissed his lips. It was the first kiss that she had initiated since they had wed.
End Notes: Upon rereading I really enjoyed this one. Hopefully you enjoyed it as well. There are more reposts to come. The longer the fic was initially the longer it will likely take for me to put it back up so bear with me. Thanks for reading.
