Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Diaries.

~Part I: Victory of the People~

Chapter II

"Everything is a contest. All dealings among men are a contest in which some will succeed and others fail. And some are failing quite spectacularly." ~Brandon Sanderson

seven years later

"Look at you, Niklaus. Sitting on your ass and whittling while rest of us work and help around the village," Finn goaded upon coming into the small clearing.

Klaus looked up from where he was guiding the blade in Henrik's hand across the wood and glared at his older brother but otherwise paid him no mind.

"Shove off, Finn," Kol groaned from his place on the ground across from Klaus and Henrik. "We're making arrow heads. We don't eat if our hunters don't have anything to take down a buck with, dullard."

"Of course, brother. I never implied you were sitting idly by while the rest of us worked. Perhaps you should listen to what I say before childishly blurting whatever comes to your mind."

Klaus growled and jumped up. After years under Mikael's harsh hand and mouth and his mother's seemingly blind eye to the treatment he received, he'd learn to accept the abuse but when it was reciprocated on his siblings he often struggled to restrain his temper. Within moments, he was scowling inches from Finn's face.

"Care to call me out on my inactivity again or would you rather our little brother get in a situation where he knows not how to care for himself? Not that it would surprise me how little you care for our well being when you're comfortably nestled under mother's arm. See, you Finn, can turn a blind eye to the horrors of the hunt and battle Henrik and the rest of us must face whilst you practice your hocus pocus," he snarled.

"Temper, temper, Niklaus. There's no need to be nasty. I was simply observing a fact that you neglect your duties as a member of this village more often than not."

"As was I, dear brother. You see, the only reason you're out here slaving away like the rest of us commoners is because Elijah had to accompany father to the next village. And as adorable as it is that you've decided to come out and participate in our chores I think it's about time you run back home to mummy, don't you? I'm sure she's eager to have her charming boy back in her clutches instead of out in the mean world."

"You little bastard," Finn growled, dropping the kindling he'd been gathering to shove Klaus in the chest, pushing him backwards. Klaus advanced on Finn again, raising his fist. He knew Finn wouldn't hesitate to inform Mikael of his actions upon the man's return but he didn't care. It wasn't like Mikael would waste any time in finding a way to torture him.

Kol grabbed him from behind, pinning his arms to his sides before he could strike. "Let him go, Nik. He's not worth it. Not with what father will do to you when this imbecile tells him and mother what you've done."

"What's going on here?" Elijah asked as he walked into the small clearing, observing his brothers with narrowed eyes.

"Nothing," Klaus growled, shaking himself loose from Kol's grip and stalking back to where Henrik sat with wide eyes.

"Ah, good to see you've returned, Elijah. Was your and father's venture successful?"

"Yes. In fact he was setting out to look for you. If you hurried I'm sure you could catch him before he gets too far."

Finn nodded and hurried to gather the wood he'd dropped, meeting Klaus' gaze as he knelt down, a silent threat in his brown eyes as he raised his eyebrows in warning.

Klaus glared daggers at his brother's back as he left the clearing, leaving the four of them in silence.

"What is the meaning of this?" Elijah demanded, turning to look at Klaus, as soon as Finn had left.

"Finn doesn't know when it's in his best interest to keep his bloody mouth shut," Klaus grumbled, averting Elijah's gaze. He didn't want to see the disappointment he knew was headed his way. Instead, he busied himself in critiquing Henrik's whittling.

"Niklaus," Elijah sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You swore to be on your best behavior while we were gone."

"And I was. I didn't punch the idiot like I should have."

"Only because Kol held you back."

"You know what, 'Lijah? I don't need your criticism. I'd gladly take father's threats if it meant teaching Finn where his place is with the women."

"Mind your tongue, Niklaus," Elijah snapped, nodding his head in Henrik's direction and Klaus only rolled his eyes.

"He's not a child anymore, 'Lijah," Klaus snapped back, not in the mood to deal with Elijah on his case about the simplest things. He knew his older brother did it in his best interest, desperately trying to keep him out of trouble with their father but there was only so much of it Klaus could take before it became suffocating. And there was only so much he could do to control his infamous temper when he felt cornered without an escape.

Klaus was also thankful that Elijah knew him well enough to realize he needed to back down before Klaus redirected his temper onto Elijah. If there was anything Klaus hated it was being at odds with his eldest brother, or Rebekah for that matter.

Elijah took at deep breath before speaking again. "Clearly you need to get out, Nik. Let's go hunting tonight. It's been too long since we've gone together."

Klaus looked up at Elijah, a mischievous glint in his blue eyes and a smirk on his face. "Gladly, Eli. Would you like to join us, Kol?"

Before Kol answered, Henrik nudged Klaus and looked up at his big brother with pleading eyes.

"No, Henrik."

"Why not?" the boy pouted.

"Not tonight. We need to hone your skills more before you come with us."

"But, Nik! You just talked about taking me with you only yesterday! I'll only get better if I go with you, Eli, and Kol!"

"I said not this time, Henrik."

Henrik crossed his arms and glared up at Klaus under his eyelashes.

"Look, I will take you on a trek soon. Not tonight but as soon as I think you're ready to wander the woods at night."

"Promise?"

"You have my word," Klaus said, a smirk pulling at his lips before he pushed Henrik into the grass and the two began wrestling, Kol joining in quickly enough as Eljiah stood watching the three of them with raised eyebrows.

Working in tandem, Kol and Henrik pinned Klaus to the cold ground quickly enough and he laughed, a full sound that rang through the small clearing. As difficult as things were, he wouldn't have things any other way.

They sat huddled together silently in the brush, their breath escaping their mouths in clouds from the chill in the air. Finally, the family of deer emerged from the cover of foliage. The buck looked around cautiously, the doe and fawn waiting behind him, tense and prepared for flight.

Two of the hunter's knocked their arrows swiftly and silently, keen brown and blue eyes never leaving their prey.

"Don't you dare move a muscle, little brother," Klaus warned in a threatening whisper to the third hunter. The boy had constantly been moving all night, rustling leaves and scaring off any game that may have been in the area.

"Sorry I have to constantly move so I don't freeze to death. It's not my bloody fault you two picked the coldest night for your little hunting expedition!" Kol whisper-yelled back, glaring daggers at Klaus.

"Bloody hell, Henrik would have been more useful than you," Klaus growled.

"Quiet, both of you!" Elijah demanded. "If we have to track anymore deer through these woods tonight, I'll serve both of you on a platter instead."

Klaus and Kol exchanged an exasperated look and Klaus rolled his eyes at his younger brother as he made a face at Elijah.

"If you two have finished with your foolishness, I'd love to take this buck down, Niklaus."

"Just the buck?" Kol asked, cocking an eyebrow and huffing in annoyance when his question was ignored.

"On three, then 'Lijah. Furthest from the heart has to make the kill and skin it," Klaus said, smirking as he shot Elijah a mischievous glance. It was a deal the brothers had made since they began hunting together years ago. "Or perhaps we shall put Kol to use instead."

"One."

"Two."

"Three."

Both brothers loosed their arrows and watched as they hit the target, the animal crying out as the doe and fawn ran back into the trees for cover. After the shock wore off, the buck ran after the other two, the arrows deeply embedded into his body.

"Better follow it before it gets too far," Kol drawled, leaning back against a tree trunk. "What?" he asked as both Klaus and Elijah looked back at him. "I'm not a hunter in this little venture. I needed to escape Bekah's constant jabber Havarth."

Klaus snorted in amusement as he stood, offering his hand to his younger brother. "You mean you came to plague us with your constant talk about Bryn. She's all you bloody think about, mate!"

"Is not! I'm not a adolescent girl with raging hormones who gossips about my best mate."

"So you choose to bed his sister, then."

"Niklaus, stop pestering him," Elijah warned, stifling a chuckle.

"Please, 'Lijah. The day before you and father left, you burned my ear off chattering about Kol and his little affair, voicing your concerns as if you were an upset mother hen."

"Great! So this is how you two spend your days, gossiping about me. Not that I'm not flattered, dear brothers, it's just a wonder the entire bloody village doesn't know with your large mouths."

"It's not like you want to keep it a secret yourself, Kol," Klaus continued, trekking in front of his brothers and looking intently for the buck's trail as he went. "You, and Havarth for that matter, enjoy boasting the number of village girls you've gotten into bed with. And, I swear to all that's holy, if I find out our sister has become a notch on you best mate's bed post, I will knock your teeth out and hunt Havarth to his end."

"No need t-"

Klaus whirled on Kol, standing inches from his younger brother's face. "This is our baby sister we're talking about," he growled. "Family above all, Kol."

"If you had kept your mouth shut and let me finished what I had to say then you would have heard me say that I'm offended that you think I'd let him get his hands on our sister. You aren't the only who cares for her wellbeing, Nik," Kol challenged, drawing himself to his full height so he was nose to nose with Klaus.

"Just be lucky we're on the same page," he warned.

"I don't think it's lucky when we've managed to chase 'Lijah off with our bickering, again."

"Let's go catch up with him, then. It's about time you skinned that buck."

"Gross. I will do no such thing so you best get that out of your head now. We all know the kill is your favorite part of the hunt, Nik."

Klaus smirked before turning and jogging off down the path. The kill was his favorite part, he just couldn't understand why. There was just something immensely satisfying to the young man about the control it gave him. By slitting his game's throat he ensured his siblings ate, he put the poor creature felled by his arrow out of its misery while muttering a prayer of thanks. It all gave him a rush he simply couldn't explain to himself or anyone.

Thankfully, his brothers didn't question his fascination with the more gruesome aspects of the hunt and he could just simply be out here in the woods. No hiding from Mikael, no cowering away from his father's reach.

He heard Kol speed up behind him, making a move to pass him and Klaus smiled. He let the boy pass him for a moment before speeding up, his long legs easily increasing the pace of their race and allowing him to move swiftly past his brother. He'd always been fast, and competitive for that matter. Life was a game and he played to win it.

The skidded to a stop when they came up on Elijah's back, Kol grumbling and Klaus laughing as they caught their breath. Elijah simply shook his head at their antics. It happened too often for him to be alarmed but it, not that he was surprised since Kol took after and looked up to Niklaus more than he would care to admit.

"The blasted thing couldn't have made it too far! Your arrow pierced its neck and mine hit just behind its shoulder. It should have dropped dead by now," Klaus snapped as he knelt to look at a smear of blood on a nearby bush.

"He's not too much further. He can't b-"

"Help me!" a feminine voice cried from not too far away.

All three brothers snapped their heads in the direction and saw a cloaked figure running towards them through the thick underbrush while clutching something to her chest.

"Help me, please!" she cried again, coming nearer and nearer to them. Chestnut colored hair spilled out from underneath the hood of her cloak and there were layers of unshed tears clouding her brown, doe eyes. "I'm lost. I'm looking for a village…there's supposed to be a woman there who can help me."

"What is it you need help with, m'lady?" Elijah asked, reaching out to the distressed woman.

She looked up at Elijah and then to Klaus and he felt his breath leave him as her brown eyes warily glanced at him and then at Kol. He was convinced he'd never seen someone so beautiful.

"Please," she begged them, smoothing out the blanket she had draped over the lump cradled to her chest. "It's my son. He's fallen ill and my mother says he will not last the night. I heard there were women a few villages over who possess special healing powers that can help me."

Elijah looked from her to Kol and Klaus, the latter not paying any attention to his brother's questioning gaze. His eyes stayed on the woman in front of him who was clutching, what he presumed to be her son, to her. Of course she would have a husband, he didn't know why he even thought for a second she wouldn't, especially with a babe held tightly to her chest. But, she pulled on his heart string with her despair, remembering the time young Bekah had fallen ill a particularly cold winter. Elijah had warned him she may not make it through and he hated the helpless feeling that had overcome him as he had watched his baby sister burn with fever.

"Of course," he said, without looking at Elijah. "The woman you speak of is our mother. I can take you to her."

"Thank you," she sighed, her eyes flashing to his face as a brief smile graced her full, chapped lips.

"What about our game, Niklaus?" Elijah asked, giving him a pointed look.

"I believe you and Kol can handle it from her, brother. I'm the fastest of the lot of us. If anyone can get her back, it's me."

"Very well," Elijah side, his eyebrows pulling together as he gave his brother a brief glare before turning back to look at the woman. "My brother, Niklaus, will accompany you back to our village, m'lady. Our mother can help your son and give you refuge for the time being."

"Thank you….?" She trailed off, silently asking for his name.

"Elijah."

"Thank you, Elijah," she said, flashing him a bigger smile than she had given Klaus.

"Shall we, m'lady?" he asked, desperate to tear the woman's attention away from his brother. Seeing her act overly friendly with Elijah filled him to the brim with a jealousy he didn't quite understand. It wasn't as if he could court her. The woman had a child, for Odin's sake.

He didn't miss the way her gaze lingered on Elijah as he put a hand on her waist and ushered her away. He sent Elijah a smug smirk before nodding at Kol and turning to walk at the woman's side.

"I didn't catch your name, love," Klaus said kindly, smiling down at her.

"Tatia. My name is Tatia."

A/N: dun dun dun...she's here. The Original Golden Vagina has reared her ugly head. (not that Nina Dobrev is ugly by ANY means. she's flawless. Tatia on the other hand...

yuck.)

I tried to throw as much Kol in as possible in light of recent events. he'll make more appearances throughout the rest of the story but I really just felt the need to add him in here because I just can't deal with Klaus helplessly watching Kol's murder and then sitting, locked in a house so close to his body but unable to do anything and then Kol dying thinking Klaus hated him and had plotted his murder. nope. it's too much:'(

anyways, thanks for reading, loves, and I hope you enjoyed it:) review if you have a minute! it's my birthday and I couldn't think of a better present than hearing from you all:)