A/N: Well, since no one answered my question about the flashbacks, I decide not to worry about writing another one and just leave what I had already written. Also, some of the things that are mentioned as being punishable by death, I'm going to admit, I'm not entirely sure are true, but if it's not, this is still a fictional story, in fictional England, so I can make my own laws if I want to.

England, November 1485

"Why did you have Caroline send me all the way out here?" Elena asked Damon in frustration.

"Anne died this morning."

Elena breath hitched in her throat. "What?"

"I'm sorry, Miss Elena. I came to feed her this morning and she was already gone. She must have passed during the night."

"Oh." She was on the brink of tears. "Where is she now?"

"I already buried her."

"You...you buried her? We're not going to use her for food?"

"Why would we do such a thing? She was a friend. It would be as if you passed and I cooked you."

Elena smiled. "You think of me as friend?"

Damon's expression turned serious. "I think of you as more than a friend, Miss Elena."

Elena paused a moment to consider his words. "I see." She paused again, then continued, "Thank you for taking care of her these past few years. I appreciate it so very much."

Damon nodded and Elena stepped forward and kissed him lightly on the cheek. When she slowly pulled away, she saw that his eyes were closed. He opened them hesitantly. Elena held her head down and turned to walk away, but Damon quickly grabbed her hand and spun her around, capturing her lips with his.

England, December 1485, 1 Month Later

"Good morning, Milady."

"Tis not a good morning, Caroline." Elena groaned from her bed.

"Are you ill?" Caroline asked her.

"Just ill with grief."

"Over Anne? But that was nearly a month ago. Maybe we should send for a doctor."

"No." Elena said quickly.

Caroline looked around to make sure no other handmaidens were in the room, then closed the door.

"It may not be any of my business, but is there something else that you aren't telling me?" Caroline whispered as she neared Elena's bed.

Elena closed her eyes. "I was with another man," she said softly.

"When you say 'with', you mean to say?" Caroline asked.

"Intimately." Elena whispered.

Caroline's eyes grew huge and a gasp escaped. "Oh!"

"And then the next night, the king called for me to bed with him."

"When was this?"

"Around the time when Anne died."

"Well, then maybe your sickness means you are with child!" Caroline said with a smile. Elena groaned in response. "Oh." Caroline said with realization. "You've already thought of that."

"I haven't just thought it. I know it."

"How can you know this soon?" Caroline asked her.

"Call it intuition. And I know what it feels like from the two times before. I just don't know how to tell Niklaus."

"I'm sure he'll be thrilled at the possibility of having a son."

"I meant to tell him about Damon."

"Damon? What does he have to do with-" Caroline stopped mid-sentence when she saw the look on Elena's face. "Oh. He's the man you were with."

Elena nodded.

Caroline took a deep breath. "Maybe you should keep it secret."

Elena shook her head. "I can't lie to my husband any longer. I'm going to tell him tonight."

"Then I'll come with you."

"Thank you, Caroline, but it's something I must do on my own."

"Your Majesty," Stefan said to the king. "The queen is here to see you."

"Bring her in." Niklaus said with a smile from his throne. Elena was brought into the throne room. "What brings you here, Love?"

Elena wouldn't make eye contact. "I fear I have been unfaithful to you."

Niklaus's kind demeanor was immediately transformed to one of anger. "You what?"

"I was with another man, and I believe I am with child. Only, I'm not sure of who the child's father is."

"How dare you have an affair!" Niklaus roared.

"I'm so sorry, My Lord. But I have told you and I'm ready to accept the consequences."

Niklaus paused for a moment before uttering the word,"Death."

"My Lord?" Sir Stefan asked in surprise. Elena's cheeks drained of blood.

"You heard me. She brought me shame. She doesn't deserve to live. Guards!"

Two men grabbed Elena's arms and started to walk off with her when the heavy doors in the back opened. "Wait!" The young woman yelled.

"Who is this?!" Niklaus asked, outraged.

"Caroline!" Elena yelled in shock, not even hearing her husband's question.

"Caroline?" Niklaus said the name as if recalling it from somewhere.

"Please! You can't kill her!"

"And why shouldn't I?"

"What about your children? They need their mother! And what about this baby? What if it's yours? What if it's a boy? With Miss Elena's death, you would be killing your heir. And isn't it enough that she told you of her transgression? She could have kept it a secret, but at least she was honest!"

Niklaus was silent for several moments. "You do realize that your coming in here without permission is also punishable by death?"

Caroline nodded. "I'm aware. You may kill me if that's is what you must do, but my job is to serve my Queen. And I take that job very seriously."

Niklaus was again silent for several moments. "Let her go." He told his guards. Elena was unhanded and Niklaus turned to her. "Be aware that your handmaiden has saved your life." Elena nodded. "The child you carry, will be raised as my own, no matter of it's true paternity. Now leave."

"What about Caroline?" Elena asked.

"I told you to leave."

Elena ran to Caroline and hugged her. "Thank you. No matter what happens, I want you to know that you are truly my best friend."

Elena was pulled away from Caroline by the guards and escorted out of the room.

"As for you, Caroline..."

Caroline bowed her head, "Yes, My Lord?"

Niklaus walked over to her and lifted her head to make her look at him. "You are very bold, and you have a sharp tongue. It can get you into trouble, so I would be mindful of it." Caroline nodded. "But, then, your outburst has stirred something in me. Elena's unwillingness to be my bride when I first met her is what attracted me to her. But the rest of the time she has always been so devoted and obedient. Until now at least, but even then she never talked back to me. You, though. Your defiance attracts me to you." Caroline looked away. Niklaus leaned in and whispered "Do I disgust you? I do hope so. Your punishment will be my reward." He said with a slimy smirk. "You may leave. For now."

Elena jumped every time her door opened, hoping it would be Caroline. She hadn't seen the blonde handmaiden since Caroline had saved Elena's life, and all she could do was hope and pray that her friend wasn't dead. Finally, her door open and Caroline came in.

"Caroline! You're alive!" Elena ran over to her friend and threw her arms around her, but Caroline flinched. Elena slowly let go of her. "Are you mad at me? Did Niklaus punish you? I'm so sorry. I never meant for you to get involved-"

"It's not you." Caroline's voice broke. "I'm just sore." Elena pulled Caroline's sleeves away from her arms and saw bruises.

"What happened?"

"Nothing. I fell."

"You fell? When? How?"

"It's not important." Caroline shook her head and tears threatened to fall.

Elena shut the door and gingerly pulled Caroline to the bed.

"Caroline, you are my best friend, and I would hope that I am yours. Please, tell me what has happened."

Tears now fell freely and Caroline choked back a few sobs. "King Niklaus..." She started, but stopped and waiting a moment before continuing in a whisper, "Forced himself on me."

"He what?!"

"You mustn't tell anyone. He'll sentence me to death. He told me so."

"How did this happen?"

"After you left, he told me that my defiance attracted me to him, and last night, Sir Stefan brought me to the king's room. I didn't want him to do it, so I struggled with him, which he only seemed to enjoy more. It was awful."

"I'm so sorry he did that to you."

"It's fine. I'm just glad we're both still alive."

"I am as well."