A/N: This chapter is a belated christmas gift. Smut. Bad language. Terrible grammar. The usual.
Disclaimer: Not Mine.
Miracle
Aioka ran down the corridors. Her bare feet smacking the stones as she went. She had slipped through the hidden tunnels dodging the guards just so she could see. It really wasn't hard to do since the grownups were too busy fighting or preparing poultices, and Hogan and MaeMae had too many children to care for while the fighting was going on. She had never seen a magic battle. She had heard about them from her priestess, but they almost always featured dead people, or worst, boys. For the first time in a long time the Merlin of Magic was a girl. The magic knight looked like her. She wanted to see it for herself. When she finally got to her hiding place in the wall she frowned. A fog had descended over the grounds outside the citadel. Aoika could feel it in her bones. The cloud was magic.
She searched the scene before her until she spotted her. Priestess Aloira twirled in a magic circle her eyes the color of lightening. The other weather witches stood chanting surrounding their leader. It was beautiful. It was too bad she couldn't see the fighting. Aloira, was powerful from what her priestess had said, but no one could hold such a huge spell for that long. Aoika would have to wait to see the mistress of Sapphire in action. Until then, the pretty flashes of color streaking through the gray would have to do. Aoika smiled when blue lightning lit up the entire field…Sapphire. She was going to be Merlin one day.
-o0o-
The travelers were sneaky bastards. They kept phasing in and out of time before they could be cursed properly. No one knew they had that capability. It was obviously Du Lac's doing. She wished they had used it to help the Order instead of against it. The skill would make vampiric speed moot, but here they were. Instead of electing a new leader they were mourning their old one. This is how coven's died. They needed to have a conversation with Emily.
Greta was annoyed with the five asswholes jumping around her. She clapped her hands and Sapphire bolts shot out in all direction. Three traveler witches collapsed to the ground petrified. She had her tricks too. They would be fine, eventually. She would imprison them. She did not want anyone to die unnecessarily today. Too bad the Traveler's did not share her desire.
She heard him before he could stick the blade in her back. She whipped around in a flash, broke his wrist and plunged the sword into his gut. They always forget she was vitch-VAMPIRE and witch. Well, she hardly used her vampiric skills. She turned to be with Niklaus for-fuck, Greta thought as a silver streak shot past her head. The rose bush beyond her faded into oblivion. Did some asswhole just try to curse her into a time loop. She turned with fire in her eyes, but it was too late. Tatiana, sprung up from the mote and pulled Greta's attacker into her murky depths. Mami Waata would have chum for her pets.
"We are beating them back, mistress." Phaedra yelled as magic shot out of her hand lassoing the ankle of a traveler and dragging him out of the portal he had just created. The traveller hit the ground with a thud, and immediately giant curved bones punched through the soil, trapping him in a makeshift cage. Phaedra and Greta nodded to Katrina, the necromancer. Greta turned back to her second.
"Take Megan, and see if Oz will concede. The acting leader of the travelers is going to get his coven killed." Greta said hoping that she could still repair this relationship. Phaedra grunted. A sad smile pulled at her lips, and then she phased into another dimension.
"NO-!" Greta yelled. A blue sphere of light punched out of her. She stood there shaken, trying to calm herself, tears streaming down her face. She breathed in responsibility, loyalty, and purpose. She breathed out loss, insecurity, and vengeance. The fogged cleared, and everyone even Aloira who was a mile away lay on the ground petrified. The waters of the mote were littered with the floating bodies of the traveler traitors and their captors, the mermaids, jengua, and Mami Waati herself. Even now her pet eels and dolphins surrounded her.
For the first time the mantle of merlin was heavy. It was always difficult and complex but never a burden. She turned when movement caught her eye. Gold streaked through the trees.
Niklaus was making his move. Well, he had the right one today. Greta paused when she saw the first the flash of crimson. Sadness overtook her. She breathed in loss, insecurity, and vengeance. She breathed out responsibility, purpose, and loyalty.
-o0o-
Bonnie rode on horseback in spite of everyone's disapproval. She was anxious and ready to get there so when Stefan's man slowed Bonnie was immediately annoyed, doubly so when they stopped all together. She watched as the vampires and hybrids dismounted and crowded around the tree line.
"What is it?" Bonnie said irritated.
"Bonnie? What is going on with you?" Lucy whispered. Bonnie had been prickly for days.
"I'm fine."
"You're not fine." Lucy breathed. Her little cousin was disappearing before her eyes and becoming this person she did not know. Not only was she beholden to the vampires, she had been infected by them as well.
"I will be in an hour." Bonnie said rubbing her belly. Bean had been restless since her father had disappeared. Bonnie was up way before Lucy and Kael knocked on her door that fateful night. The hair on Bonnie's neck stood up when Kael slithered back to their party covered in scales, flanked by Maddox and Davina.
"Witchling, maybe you should move into the carriage."
"Why?"
"I am not sure it is safe for you and the baby."
"Is she threatening us?" Bonnie said dismounting suddenly, pushing through Kael and her advisors.
"Bonnie!" Lucy said slipping from her saddle as well. Cara jumped off her horse and sprinted to stand before the companion, Rochelle watched her back. Mari moved above them in the trees.
"Selina." Lucy yelled following her cousin and her entourage.
"Already on it priestess." Selina said raising one glowing fist in the air. Blood witches flooded the woods spells at the ready.
Cara pushed her way through the Gemini coven, and then Stefan's guards until she could feel the heat emanating from the light blue dome. It covered the entire field and citadel, but that feat paled in comparison to the hundreds of bodies that littered the ground surrounding one lone figure…Greta.
Bonnie was spellbound. Any other witch would have been spent. Greta stood there sneering at the lot of them. Bean punched her and Bonnie came back to her senses.
"We are witches. We protect the innocent. We are the servants of nature, and yet here you are…counted among the number to siege the Citadel, the home of the Triumvirate. The Order of the Mage."
"Yes, I said that. I also said if you hurt him. I would kill you."
"Hurt who, Bonnie, Niklaus? He lived without his sister for 75 years. He can live without out her for six months."
"You killed his sister?"
"Desiccated."
"Was this your plan all along? Is this your revenge?"
"I haven't even begun to get my revenge."
"How could you do this? I thought we had an understanding."
"I was under the same impression. It's funny, despite everything, I never wanted to kill you. Over a man? God, what a cliché."
"Until now." Bonnie said.
"Until now." Greta smiled sadly. "Cara."
Cara drew her sword and brought it to Bonnie's neck. Mari appeared but Bonnie rose her hand, looking the blonde woman in the eyes. Cara was crying. She did not want to do this, but Bonnie was going to let her choose once and for all her true master. Cara dropped her sword.
"I'm sorry mistress, I can not hurt the companion. She has welcomed me like family, and I can not betray that trust."
"Wait until you piss off her master…oops…I mean lover." Greta quipped. The Blood Coven attacked. Purple sparks lit up the sky as crimson fireballs pounded into the blue dome protecting the realm of magic from the vampire court.
-o0o-
Aoika's little heart felt like it was going to explode. She thundered through the halls. They were all petrified, every adult in the citadel. When she pushed into the keep, MaeMae and Hogan were surrounded by children trying to wake them. She closed the door and locked it with a spell her Gamma had taught her. She knew she had to call to the mages.
She climbed up to the fountain they were told never to touch. She touched one finger to the water and then whispered her message. She hoped her magic was strong enough to power it. When Gamma did it hardened like bone. For her, the waters just turned milky and then went back to its original form.
That's it, Gamma, Aoika thought. She shot up the tower steps pushing with all her might to open the doors. They would not budge. Her pallid magic beat against the ward until she was drowsy. She fell to the floor ready for a nap. Gloria opened the door looking down at the exhausted child.
"Vampires" Aoika whispered before her tiny brown eyes closed. Gloria surrounded her in healing magic then went to awaken the Triumvirate.
-o0o-
Greta knew she could not hold them off any longer. She needed some strength to hit them where it hurts. She fed power into the force field and it slicked over.
Bonnie saw the sheen and shouted. "WAIT," but it was too late the green and crimson fireballs ricocheted off the force field and took out the tree line, and a good bit of her witches and Stefan's men. Before anyone could react, a blue sliver sliced through the air and attached itself to Kael. The magic sprouted chains. The dragon fought against the curse but it crippled her as the energy pulled the serpent to the ground. Greta had collared and chained Kael like a pet...a dragon. Kael's scales fell off in droves and began to glow blue.
"Run." Bart shouted. The vampire court scurried as the scales began zipping around like bees trying to sting any of the undead flesh it could find. Bonnie watched carefully. The weapons mostly ignored the witches. Greta had found a way to seize control of a dragon's fire blades. That spell must had taken years to perfect. If she weren't pissed she would be proud she had chosen her as Merlin. This was impressive magic. It was also exhausting magic. The Merlin was going to kill herself before Bonnie found out what she had done to Niklaus. Bonnie looked up and as she suspected the dome was down.
She stood and marched toward the witch. Lucy, Selina, Rochelle, and Mari moved to follow. Cara moved as well, but Lucy turned quickly. She ripped open a portal in the ground below the Cara's feet. Lucy hated her traveler mother, but her magic had come in handy lately.
"Where did you send her?" Mari said dodging a fireblade. The scale stuck in the neck of hybrid eating into the flesh.
"Where she belongs." Lucy said catching up with Bonnie.
Bonnie watched her as she stepped over the bodies of witches from all of the fourteen covens that belonged to the order. What had happen here? Bonnie pondered. Greta watched Bonnie too. She was simply waiting for Bonnie to reach her. She didn't even turn when Cara dropped from the sky behind her.
Cara stood and flanked her true master. Bonnie wondered if the girl was even as young as she thought. She also realized that Cara had every opportunity to hurt her at her mistress's request. She was masterful in her deception. She seemed almost protective of Bonnie.
Greta watch them move through the field cautiously, but then a familiar pang echoed through her magic.
"This won't do," Greta said when they were close enough. Blue light exploded, and Greta and Bonnie were gone.
-o0o-
Niklaus woke up to the pitch black. He tried to sit up but he banged his head on what felt like wood. He found as he moved he was surrounded. Kol was cute. He had put him in a coffin. When he punched out of the box his brother sat waiting. Niklaus realized, when he stood, his body had been perforated with white oak stakes. Poor baby. He had tried to desiccate him. Qetsiyah had made that impossible ages ago. It sucked to be Kol.
"Are you really dumb enough to lock me and you in a room together." Niklaus said removing a stake from his chest with a grunt.
"Are you dumb enough to assume I am that stupid?" Kol said smiling. When Niklaus rushed him he hit an invisible wall.
"The Caverns of Insanity. You remember the tale. It exists in all realms. I have no idea which realm you are in brother but the leviathan who lives in the lake just beyond might have a clue. Don't worry, I am safe and sound, here in the magic realm. Just a days ride from your companion and that bastard child."
"If you hurt my family…"
"WE were your family and what did you do to us?"
"Freed you." Niklaus said seriously.
"Freed us?" Kol whispered astounded. His brother was amazing.
"What has your life been like since you returned? Plotting and hiding is a dismal existence. If you are honest with yourself, you can admit, living with our monster of a father was a miserable existence."
"You're the monster or rather were the monster. Turns out you're prey like the rest of us. I see the old girl has awaken from her slumber." Kol said watching the tentacles of the beast slowly rise from the black lake.
"Pray, I don't make it out of here alive brother." Niklaus said as his bones cracked, his skin stretched.
"It has been my only prayer for months." Kol said to the giant grey wolf. He watched the beast move with lightning speed trying to rip out the leviathan throat, but instead the werewolf was caught with a whimper and dragged down to the deep.
-o0o-
"Kill them." Malachi grumbled to his coven and Stefan's men. Lucy wanted to speak but she was too busy trying to scry for Bonnie's magic.
"They are mage and they are no threat." Cara said squaring off against Malachi.
"We are vampire. We will never get this chance again."
"He is correct. You will never get this chance again." Jonas Martin said as the field filled with mages from around the country. Malachi flinched when the witch that lay at his feet moved.
"Retreat." Stefan said to his men.
"No." Malachi screeched. He watched as everyone on the field started to stir. They were embarrassingly outnumbered. He ripped a whole in the air and stepped into it.
"Did you know he could do that?" Stefan asked Davina.
"No sir. Should I follow him?"
"No, we might need you here. Someone figure out how to get Kael free."
"On it." Maddox said stepping over to the roaring dragon.
-o0o-
When Bonnie materialized she was in the grand hall. This site was sacred. Why would Greta…?
"Do you think bringing me here would stop me from beating you until you tell me what I want to know?"
"I brought you here because I didn't want my father to see that I had failed him again. To see that he was right, that the Hybrid king would kill me. But it's worst, he won't even do it himself. He sent his companion. If you're going to kill me. Do it now. I'm tired."
"Okay." Bonnie said releasing an energy spell. It bounced off the invisible force field and hit Bonnie, her power strengthening.
"I see you got your big girl panties on today, but that was risky, witchling. You would have renewed me, at least enough to kill you." Bonnie sent a fireball at Greta. The witch ducked, and sent a gust spell that knocked Bonnie on her ass.
"I know you have enough power remaining to kill. Why haven't you done it? Do you feel guilty for kidnapping Niklaus. Is that why you are sparing me?"
"Guilty for what?" Greta said watching the witch try to get up. She had to quash the impulse to help her.
"Where is he?" Bonnie said finally on her feet.
"Are you saying Niklaus is missing?" Greta moved towards her, ward in place.
"STOP IT. Can you people just be honest for once? Where is Niklaus? Where did Kol take him?"
"Kol has Niklaus?" Greta said stricken. She hadn't even noticed he wasn't there. She was so overwhelmed with the idea that Bonnie had betrayed her. Bonnie thought she helped Kol take Niklaus. She was going to kill Kol.
"You think I took Niklaus? You're not here for Rebekah?" Greta said looking over Bonnie. Some of her fury dissipated. The witch was very pregnant in the middle of a mage's duel.
"What are you talking about?"
"I don't have Niklaus. Kol framed me because I wouldn't help him with his cause."
"You're a liar." Bonnie said releasing another spell. Greta raised her hand. The spell veered to the left and crashed against the wall.
"No. She is not." Malachi said his magic shooting out of him and snaking around Bonnie's middle.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Greta screamed blasting the varlock with a fireball. It bounced off a green ward. Greta hit him with spell after spell but she was fatigued, and Malachi was at the height of his power.
Bonnie screamed until her voice was raw. He is killing me and my bean, Bonnie thought frantically. He is sucking our souls right out of our bodies. She blacked out. Malachi pulled and pulled but he kept hitting a barrier. He gasped when Qetsiyah's spirit appeared by Bonnie. Greta saw her too, but she could not stop; she threw everything she could at the varlock. She collapsed trying to save her friend.
Malachi smiled when the Merlin fell, but it faded quickly when he realized the tombs were opening and the skeletons of the past Merlins were rising from their graves. It took him a moment to recognize Diné; the necromancer was in the room hiding in the shadows. Emily's magic crashed into his but he could not give up. He had waited for this for decades. Fortunately, the elder had not ascended yet and her power was still nominal. The druid and Yemaya intercepts descended the stairs and if they formed the Triumvirate he would die here today.
Kol was an idiot; he never listened to him. Let Niklaus alone he had said. Better to hurt than kill him, but Kol let his emotions get to him. Sometimes he wondered if this fate would have befallen the vampire court without his machinations. It was all too easy, until this bitch. Malachi had to take what he could get. Two out of three souls were better than none. He opened a portal seeking the magic of his mate. Of course, he was still in the Caverns of Insanity. It's where the psycho belonged.
-o0o-
Bonnie looked down at her tummy. It looked the same. It looked swollen with life, like bean was still tucked safely inside of her, but the emptiness threatened to swallow her from the inside out. Why did this happen to her? Why did any of this happen to her? She patted her stomach trying to make sense of it. Trying to provoke a response from the baby that was no longer there. She was alone. No trace of her seed. No trace of its father-alone.
-o0o-
Hundreds of mages moved around the forlorn witch. Stefan and Marcel's army guarded them. Tragedy had joined the Order of the Mage and the vampire court.
"Look at her." Lucy said. "We have to do something."
"We are trying to do something." Stefan said watching the skies. Kael had not returned from her flight. She was searching the countryside from the air. Mami Waati was searching the seas. The necromancers were whispering to the shadows in the corners in the room. The spirits would have no rest tonight.
When Greta woke, she put the whole of the mage community to work. When she could stand she called Saaphire into a circle. And when she could feel the tiniest bit of magic in her blood, she siphoned power from her sisters and formed the largest scrying dome anyone had seen since the time of the ancient ones.
"I can't...I can't find him." Greta whispered, a legion of witches chanting around her.
"What the hell are you good for? You're the Merlin." Lucy spat.
"She is the Merlin, not a God. I don't understand how Malachi is shielding himself. How Kol is shielding himself?" Mari said frustrated glaring at the seers who sat around the room their eyes silver peering into the future. The triumvirate was locked in a triangle searching the realms.
Davina popped into the hall. Everyone looked to her. She shook her head solemnly. Everyone went back to the various magic spells being cast about the room. Some stockpiled curses. Some ripped open portals. Some became one with the atmosphere to know instantly if there was a significant magical shift in the air around the realm.
"This is your fault. If you wouldn't have taken her." Lucy said staring at her, a curse forming in her hands. Cara, Greta's acting second moved closer to Lucy, which immediately caused blood witches and sapphire witches to pay attention. Rochelle moved closer leaving Grams to attend to Bonnie.
"We don't have time for this. Save your revenge for later. You're going to need me and Sapphire when we find that coward." Greta said starting her search again.
"Lucy, don't be stupid." Grams said from her place by Bonnie.
Lucy sighed. Letting the curse dissipate.
"How are we going to do that? You have been trying to find them for hours." Lucy sneered.
"I think I can help you with that, but I require the release of my brother and sister first." Finn said walking into the room surrounded by Stefan's guards. He had been following Kol quietly since his escape. The original was surprised when Niklaus's varlock entered the Caves of Insanity hours after his brother.
-o0o-
"Bonnie, we are going to the Caves of Insanity. We found them. We are going to get him. We will bring his head back. I will make him pay." Lucy whispered to her catatonic cousin. They had moved her to the Merlin's Tower in the Citadel.
Bonnie stared off into space rubbing her stomach.
"Bonnie we are going to leave you here with Grams. Rochelle, Cara, Maddox, and Mari will stay with you also." Lucy continued.
"She needs to go. She needs to take his head herself." Greta said preparing for war. Pages flipped on several tomes around the room. The spells were flying off the pages and into the Merlin's staff.
"Stay out of our coven business." Lucy said.
"I am coven business." Greta returned.
"Weren't you there when he did this? How do I know you didn't help him?" Lucy cried, tears streaming down her face.
"I did help him, unintentionally. This is my fault. And I am going to make it right. He will die."
"Greta didn't do this Lucy… and neither did you." Grams said knowingly, wiping the tears from her granddaughter's eyes. "Malachi did this. Kol did this. Go get them."
"Malachi." Bonnie whispered, her teeth showing. It was the first words she had spoken in days. She turned looking up to her cousin and Greta.
"Malachi." She said her voice raising her eyes hardening.
"Yeah, Bon. We are going to get him." Lucy said falling to her knees before her.
"No." Bonnie shook her head trying to rise. Rochelle rushed forward to help Lucy get her up.
"Bonnie?" Lucy said. Bonnie looked at Greta. Greta smiled back shrewdly.
"I'm going to kill him." Bonnie said wobbling on her feet. Greta turned to her servants.
"The Priestess of the Blood Coven requires sustenance. Bring me her robes." Greta commanded. Trays of meat, bread, cheese and fruit appeared immediately. Greta fussed at Bonnie until she ate.
Sometime later, Grams brushed Bonnie's hair. Selina washed her face. Mari retrieved her staff, and when the laundry attendant appeared with the crimson robe emblazoned with the Mikaelson crest, Greta took it from him, touching the insignia softly. She handed it to Lucy. Lucy swung it around Bonnie's shoulders fastening it in place. Bonnie took the staff from Mari.
The door opened, and in walked Rebekah. Rochelle and Mari rushed forward. Bonnie stopped them. Rebekah rolled her eyes at Greta, but continued towards Bonnie. She took the necklace from her neck.
"Your ancestor entrusted this to me a long time ago. Seventy-five years to be exact." Rebekah said glaring at Greta. Greta had the decency to look ashamed. "She said it belonged to the mistress of White Oak Castle. I believe this belongs to you." Rebekah said. Lucy took the necklace from her, quickly scanning it for curses.
"Lucy, don't waste your time or magic. I haven't seen that since I was a girl…that is Qetsiyah's amulet." Grams said touching the giant ruby ensconced in gold wire. Lucy looked down at the necklace she was holding surprised. Bonnie stared too, then turned to Rebekah.
"Thank you." Bonnie said to the vampire. She wanted to say more, but she could only think of the rage boiling in her chest. Bonnie bowed and Lucy placed the necklace around her priestess's neck. The amulet glowed, the staff hummed, and Bonnie's robe wavered.
"Looks like your ready for war. He will pay dearly for what he has done." Greta growled.
"Indeed, me and my brothers would like to help." Rebekah offered.
"No offense, Lady Mikaelson, but, you and your brothers are why we are all here." Bonnie answered.
"No, Niklaus is. My brothers and me wanted Niklaus. We never meant…Malachi has attacked our family."
"Our family?"
"You wear the crest. You carried my blood. We are family. Always and Forever."
-o0o-
The gray wolf used all its strength to fight against the leviathan. Fangs tore into slimy flesh. Niklaus's claws carved their way through the creature's middle, even as the beast dragged the werewolf to the bottom of the lake. Niklaus's lungs burned. The dark was taking over, but there, a glimmer of light. Niklaus fought to take control of his wolf, eventually, the wet fur slicked into skin. His claws retracted, and the tentacles that were purchased on the huge canine constricted to hold the man, but Niklaus, the original vampire, was too quick. He wiggled free swimming towards the light. The beast chased him relentlessly, tentacles grazing skin, but fortunately the hybrid reached an underground tunnel just big enough for him to swim through. The leviathan was left howling about her loss of a meal.
When Niklaus broke the surface, stinging air filled his lungs happily. Light blinded his eyes. When he had a moment to catch his breath, he raised his head to take in his surroundings. He was in a moss-covered alcove. Malachi stood alone powering a strong spell manifested by a huge green sphere on the other side of the shore. Inside the spell two faint wisps of light hung suspended.
"Malachi" Niklaus called weakly. The varlock spun stunned. The wisps grew brighter almost as if they were twinkling. Niklaus was mesmerized. He did not see the giant green blast until it was too late.
-o0o-
Malachi watched Niklaus crumple. This was getting out of hand. He sent out a lasso spell but was knocked over when he released it. Something had pounced on him. When he stood he could not find any trace of it. He searched the alcove and decided this was not as safe as he originally thought. He could not find Kol, and somehow Niklaus had found him here, in the Caves of Insanity, the place that existed in all realms. What are the chances? He called his power into him but the souls would not budge. When he stepped closer a crimson dome stopped him from moving too close. Malachi spun again looking for the source of this power. No one was here except... Malachi cautiously made his way over to the king. He lay there, hair mostly slicked to his scalp. Some strands had started to dry and curl. Malachi moved closer and was stopped again. Niklaus too had been covered in blood magic. Malachi panicked. Was she that close? Would Greta come too? Surely she would. The triumvirate? He would be done for. This is not what he planned. Why did he ever think he could control Kol Mikaelson?
-o0o-
"Don't you hold the keys to this prison? Why have we not found him?" Lucy asked worried about Bonnie. They had been at this for hours. Who were they kidding? Two pieces of ham and pomegranate seeds were not going to cure days of fatigue and depression.
"I'm so glad Bonnie took your place in the drawing. I would have surely have killed you within hours. I just took the mantle of Merlin. I've been busy saving the realm."
"Fine job you've done and it's been months."
"Lucy, please." Bonnie said softly. Her eyes closing in frustration.
"Do you need to rest?"
"I need to find this madman." Bonnie answered. A rock ricocheting off the cave walls got everyone's attention. Mari moved in front of Bonnie. The Merlin, the Blood Priestess and their attendants peered into the darkness, still as the night. After a moment, Greta moved forward.
"It may be pixies again." Greta said thinking of the creatures they had to dispatch earlier.
"Or it could be an inferno from the 7th dimension." Lucy said. Bonnie ignored them watching the darkness. There, the quickest glimpse of a white gossamer gown and gray locks rounding the corner.
"This way." Bonnie said taking off after her foremother. The spirit moved quickly. Bonnie followed a burst of energy affecting her. Greta followed closely on her heels. The rest of their party tried to keep up but the tunnel darkened and was overwhelmed with the buzzing of wings.
-o0o-
Kol had been wondering the caves, slipping in and out of realms watching for his brother. When he stumbled upon the hidden alcove he almost moved along when he heard a ruckus, but a translucent wolf ran up to him, stopped and then turned towards the sounds. It was beckoning him forward. He walked into the room and smiled.
"Malachi?" He said in wonder. "What are..." He looked at the unconscious form of his brother. "You've found him!" He said overjoyed, and then he noticed the dome covered in crimson magic with two small wisps.
"Are those souls?" Kol said stepping forward.
"You forced me to act." Malachi said grief-stricken. The souls might as well been anchored to the ground. He tried everything but he could not move them.
"What does that mean?" Kol said walking towards his idle brother. The wolf appeared out of thin air in front of the king. It growled and snapped at the original.
"What the fuck is that?" Kol said in wonder.
"I have no idea." Malachi said at his wit's end.
"It's my child's wolf, you dullards. Kol what have you done?" Niklaus slurred. Too exhausted to move. Malachi's spell pulled him back into unconsciousness.
"What does he mean?" Kol said spinning towards his ex-lover.
"He means you ripped the soul of my children out of my womb, and now I am going to rip the hearts from your chest." Bonnie said walking unto the shores of the alcoves.
"WHAT DOES SHE MEAN? I TOLD YOU THE CHILD WAS OFF LIMITS. YOU TRIED TO KILL MY NEPHEW?" Kol spat moving towards Malachi.
"And I told you, I would do anything to unseat the king." Malachi said throwing a curse. Kol collapsed to the ground not a foot away from his brother. "You made me do this. You forced me." Malachi whispered to his mate.
Malachi and Kol had shared many things as young boys: an unlikely friendship, secrets about the abuses of their families, occasionally their bodies, and their unbridled hate for Prince Niklaus. Niklaus was spoiled and a bully. He took out the humiliation he experienced from his father on those around him, and no one bore the brunt like Malachi, the youngest and poorest of their group of friends. When Niklaus caught Malachi and Kol together he exposed them as an offhand joke to impress a girl. The courts were electrified with the gossip for months. Mikael gave Kol a black eye and bruised ribs for his trouble, and Malachi's father disowned him. The plight only made Kol and Malachi closer until Niklaus overthrew the King. Now Niklaus and his family were again driving them apart.
Bonnie was annoyed Malachi viewed Kol as a bigger threat than she, blood magic tumbled through the air like a tomahawk. Malachi barely blocked it, stumbling as he did so. Greta walked in the room her hands and eyes swirling with blue.
"Stay out of this." Bonnie said quietly.
"Stay out…Are you sure you don't want me to help?" Greta said walking around the duel. The air was lit up with green and red. It looked like a Christmas. The Merlin saw an opportunity. Her hand moved slightly. Malachi tripped over a summoned pebble and Bonnie hit him dead on siphoning the varlock's power.
"I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP" Bonnie roared. Greta sighed, but minded the priestess, mostly.
Lucy entered the room breathless. When Bonnie and Greta took off, their party was bombarded with a swarm of Peris. There was an earthquake and then a cave-in. Lucy, Rochelle, and Mari fought their way through the swarm, and then Lucy dug her way through to her mistress. She was sure Mari and Rochelle was not far behind, as for the rest of their party she had no idea. Bonnie was busy casting. Greta was pacing on the sidelines. Lucy was about to join her there when a small shimmering wolf appeared to her. She looked down at it in wonder, and then followed it over to the crimson dome just beyond the mages' duel.
Bean was alive, Lucy thought…or rather, Beans were alive. She was having twins. There would be two heirs. Bonnie's childrens' souls hung suspended, protected by crimson magic. It was a miracle. It was…impossible. How? Lucy gasped when the ghost of her foremother appeared outside the dome smiling. Lucy nodded to the spirit. It smiled proudly and slipped back into nothingness. Lucy immediately knew her place.
"How long have you been plotting against me?" Bonnie asked as a nasty flesh eating curse touching Malachi's ear. The appendage immediately fell to the floor from decay. That did not stop him. His hand shot out and a sphere of water bounced out of the lake towards Bonnie. Bonnie looked at the ball and it exploded in scorching steam. A gust spell sent most of it Malachi's way.
"Been there. Done that." Bonnie said as he screamed. Greta clapped her hands.
Malachi looked over to the Merlin. "I did this for you, you know. For us. For once, I wanted you to know there was someone more powerful. Someone who would love you like you should be loved. Look at him, an easy kill."
"Then why isn't he dead?"
"Greta?" Bonnie said throwing another spell at the varlock.
"What? He's had all the advantage. He's been ahead of us this whole time, and Niklaus is still alive. The babies are still alive. And you're here, Priestess. He's lost. He just doesn't know it yet."
"The Babies?" Bonnie whispered, noticing the crimson dome for the first time. Lucy, Kael, Selina, Cara, Mari, Maddox, Bart, Rochelle, Gloria, Rebekah, and Grams surrounded the dome, protective magic, battle spells spinning in their hands. Greta pitied the person who tried to break that circle. Hell, she pitied the person who touched her ward protecting the alcove. That's if they survived the hybrid monsters in the trees outside the cave.
Malachi took advantage of Bonnie's inattention and threw a dagger curse. He yelped when the green magic crashed into the original instead of his intended target. Finn and Elijah rushed from Niklaus's side to Kol's as he folded to the ground.
"YOU MADE ME DO IT!" Malachi cried in grief.
"And you made me do this." Bonnie said releasing every ounce of her power. A crimson wave flooded the floor rushing towards the varlock. He tried to move but the ground below him turned to blue molten rock. Bonnie's spell washed over him forming a sphere. Malachi thrashed against the barrier trying to free himself, but everyone stood there and watched him suffocate, drowned from his own signature spell. When he collapsed the magic transformed from crimson liquid to electric blue plasma. His bones turned ash.
"I don't need your help." Bonnie whispered, swaying.
Greta and Lucy rushed over to her. They moved when the crimson-tinged wolf ran up to her sniffing her hands, licking her face.
"How is this possible?" Lucy whispered to the Merlin.
"They did it. They created a tribrid. The tribrid. It just happens to reside in two little souls."
"How do we fix this?" Lucy said looking at the state of her cousin's family. A comatose Niklaus was surrounded by his siblings. The babies separated from their mother's womb.
"I don't think we have to." Greta said looking to the dome. Qetsiyah spirit appeared, and then the dome burst. All the witches stepped backwards as the ancient one's ghost coaxed the two wisps forward until they hovered over Bonnie. The wolf's body melted into crimson energy and returned to its owners. The wisps surged towards their mother's belly. Qetsiyah smiled looking out at the legacy she had wrought.
"It is done, my old friend. I will take care of them. All of them." Kael said. The spirit bowed her head, and then turned to Greta.
Everyone looked between the ghost and the Merlin. Greta sighed, eventually nodding her head. "I will too." The ghost bowed again.
Qetsiyah looked down to Bonnie who had just opened her eyes. Her stomach bouncing with life. "Thank you." Bonnie whispered to her Tessa. The ghost bent down wiping a strand of hair out of the witch's face, and then rose floating above them. She looked over to Niklaus who was still unconscious, shaking her head, and then dove towards his center and disappeared.
Niklaus hopped up into the air, ready to fight. He looked at the men and women surrounding his companion. His brother lying unconscious on the floor. The scorch mark on the ground, and at Lucy and Greta who pursued their lips at him.
"Finally." Lucy said helping Bonnie sit up.
"Hmm. The Damsel is awake." Greta said. Niklaus took one look at his spent companion and walked towards his siblings with murder in his eyes.
"Majesty, I require your assistance here." Bonnie said quietly.
"Did they do this to you? My siblings-"
"Have come to my aid, and have earned my protection. You will have to go through the Blood Coven to get to them." Bonnie answered plainly.
"And the whole of the mage community to get to the blood witches." Greta warned when Niklaus still moved forward. Niklaus ignored Greta.
"Bonnie, My siblings-"
"Our my family. Our are family...always and forever."
-o0o-
He just showed up one night with an army of servants. When she and Lucy heard the racket and went to investigate, they found women moving in the back of her shop putting her belongings in baskets. Lucy took one look at the king, and went back to her station at the counter.
"What the hell Niklaus?" Bonnie yelled.
"The castle is safer for you and the babies."
"You don't get to do this Niklaus."
"Please come home."
"We can talk about this later-" Bonnie said turning back to the shop. She shrieked when he swept her off her feet.
-o0o-
"Put me down." Bonnie yelled half-heartedly. She had been struggling against his arms for an hour now, and no one came to her rescue. Not one blood witch, bodyguard, Sapphire liaison, original, even Lady Caroline shook her head as they passed.
"Witchling, you forget I can tell when you're faking it."
"So you believe." Bonnie said looking at the door to the King's war room. "I have a business to run."
"Lucy is capable, besides Kael says you need bed rest." Niklaus said opening the double doors to the room.
"I don't care what-" Bonnie stopped mid-sentence. His war room had been turned into a nursery for the twins. Two cribs sat against the far wall. The linens a crisp white. The goose stuffed quilts had teal stitching and embroidery. Bonnie walked over to the cribs peering into them. W-A-M were stitched into the corner of one quilt, and N-E-M was stitched into the other. She turned away from him hiding the tears. She walked around the room touching the rocking horse, picking up the stuffed crimson wolf, and leafing through the hand painted children's books. She finally stopped in front of the fireplace, were the portrait of them hung.
This is how he saw her. She stood beside him, her crimson robe, staff, and amulet prominently featured. So were their intertwined hands, the Mikaelson crest gleaming. Bonnie tried not to make too much of the crown on her head. He had just painted this. This unspoken apology, proposal.
"How do you know it will be a girl and a boy?" Bonnie asked quietly. This is not the question Niklaus expected.
"An old friend told me." Niklaus said. It was a week before Qetsiyah's spirit stopped whispering things in his head. The ancient one was at rest at last. "Are you satisfied with the room?"
"It will be a lovely nursery when they visit you in the castle."
"Do we have to do this, love?"
"Yes." Bonnie said looking at him fiercely.
"Fine. We have done a number of hurtful things to one another, but the fact remains you are the mother of my children." Niklaus said. Bonnie sighed, waddling towards the door.
"You are also the consort of White Oak Castle. I love you. I found I can't live without you. I refuse to live without you. You belong beside me." Niklaus added to her back.
"Do I? Am I supposed to climb the three flights of steps to nurse my children in the middle of the night?"
"I have moved your quarters closer, would you like to see them?"
"I suppose, before I make my final decision." Bonnie responded.
"Before we go, do you have anything you want to say to me?" Niklaus asked. Bonnie sighed.
"You should know that I love you. That I would burn down the world for you. That you are my king, Majesty. For heaven's sake, I rescued you from the big bad men, and yourself."
"Your eloquence overwhelms me, my love."
"The are no words to express the infuriating, confounding, and overwhelming love I feel for you."
The king walked over pulling her into his arms. He returned her sentiment with his kiss. Her lips were aching when he pulled away, pushing on one of the numerous bookcases on the wall. It opened into the old passage that emptied into his chambers. Her belongings were intermixed with his. Her bookcase had been moved again. It sat nestled by a nursing chair and a magic altar. Bonnie noticed several portraits were missing from the wall.
"Your new chambers." He said still amazed at how right this felt.
"A companion allowed in the Upper Court?"
"Never, but the Advisor to the Merlin of Magic, the Queen of the Vampire court, The High Priestess of the Blood Coven, The Wife of the Hybrid King and Mother of the heirs of White Oak Castle commands the upper court."
"You would have an austenite for your queen?"
"I would, if you would have a vampire."
-o0o-
Niklaus ordered food, and they dined by torchlight, talking through their plans for the future. The treaty between the Order of the Mage, Vampire Court, and Weres had been renewed. The vampire court finally enjoyed a close relationship with the Merlin. Kol was still locked in the dungeons, but Rebekah, Finn, and Elijah's titles, land, and property had been restored. Kol would have his too when he finished his sentence in Greta's magic prison. A number of their family and friends were jockeying for the role of godparents, and they had a big decision to make, which meant they argued for the rest of dinner.
When Bonnie commented on her aching back, Niklaus ordered a bath and washed her from head to toe. He dried her off, and wrapped her in a new silk robe that was apparently made for her maternity, and they returned to their chambers. Bonnie waddled over to her altar. As suspected everything was as it was in her shop. He was nothing if not meticulous. She reached under into the storage compartment and pulled out her lotion. She went and sat on the bed and pulled off her slippers. Her feet hurt, even though Niklaus had mostly carried her throughout the day. She started slathering the cream into her skin when Niklaus returned with a cotton dressing gown, and took the bottle and began to rub her poor swollen feet.
Bonnie moaned. Niklaus continued massaging into her legs then he untied her robe kissing her stomach. He lathered her body until it was soft and smelled of lavender... and her arousal. The scent was too tantalizing so he tasted her, despite his promise to himself to take it slowly. How he missed the sound of her delight. He licked and sucked at her bud until her hips were jerking. He ran a finger through her folds. She was dripping, he had to have her.
She was much too round to get up to their usual revelry, so he lay her down gently on her side, making sure her position was comfortable, and then took her from behind. He playfully bit into her shoulder, licking the back of her neck, as his hands massaged her swollen breast. He slid into her slowly, taking his time to sear every inch of him inside her brain. He rocked into her the relief to have her safe and sound in his arms. He rolled into her the pride he felt when he learned the truth about the Caves of Insanity, and he stroked into her the dizzying love he felt. Her cries of passion were urging him on. His hips bucked wildly. His grip on her hips tightened until he released every emotion he had been experiencing for the last few months inside of her. He kissed her neck and her shoulder. He chuckled when she started snoring softly.
-o0o-
"I hate you. All of you!" Bonnie yelled as Lucy patted the sweat from her brow. Caroline fanned her. Niklaus held his wife's hand watching Kael and Grams work.
"Is everything okay?" Niklaus asked for the fiftieth time.
"Again, It's fine majesty." Kael said watching the first baby crown.
"We've been here for hours. Is this normal?" Niklaus asked.
"I'm sorry the birth of your children is taking so long. Why don't you try squeezing a watermelon out of your penis."
"That's not what I meant, witchling." Niklaus said kissing the top of her head. "I just need to know everyone knows what they our doing."
"I delivered the mother of your children." Grams said. "Bonnie we are almost there. I can see the head. Push baby."
"And I delivered you." Kael said handing him a baring stick. Niklaus gently placed the stick in Bonnie's mouth. He smirked down at her when she bit him.
"Now Bonnie, push with the contractions." Bonnie boar down and pushed with all her strength. She felt like she was being ripped in two. Kael pulled a small tan body from the witch's womb. Seconds later cries rung out. Tears came to the hybrid's eyes as Selina and Rochelle took the baby and cleaned her up.
"Say hello to Winifred." Rochelle said presenting the baby to the parents. Niklaus wiped his eyes and reached for his wailing daughter. The girl instantly quieted. He held her so Bonnie could see her.
"Hi Freddy." Bonnie said smiling.
"God, no." Niklaus said looking to his wife. She frowned up at him and grunted again.
"Erik is coming Bonnie." Grams said already seeing the crown of his head.
"That's quick, little one. Are you guys inseparable? Do you miss your brother?" Niklaus said talking to his daughter. Everyone just stared at the monster of legend, the devil himself, rendered a pile of mush one minute in his daughter's presence.
Bonnie smiled. She felt another contraction and bore down, screaming through the pain.
Kael pulled her son from her and handed him to Selina. The witch turned to Lucy, and the witch flew across the room.
"What's wrong?" Niklaus said panicked.
"What is it?" Bonnie whispered. Grams was casting to sew Bonnie up, as Kael cleaned. The healer could not be in two places. She has trained Lucy up right. She trusted she could handle this.
Lucy hands worked furiously casting the scrying spell.
"He's not breathing." Rochelle said solemnly. Niklaus moved closer with Winnie in his arms. The baby's eyes slowly opened. Niklaus could swear they were on her brother.
"He's perfect. There's nothing...He just won't breath." Lucy said applying two fingers to his tiny chest. Winifred squirmed in her father's arms. Niklaus looked down at her startled. His wolf called to her. Everyone watched stunned as Winnie turned into a baby wolf pup and howled. The pup barked at the unmoving baby, and then howled again. Erik's little body jumped, his mouth curling in tiny rage as a wail erupted from his little lungs. Relief broke out around the room. Niklaus laughed. Bonnie cried. Winifred snuffed closing her eyes burying her head in the crook of her father's arm. Erik quieted as well taking his first look at the world.
"Well he's a stubborn one." Grams said checking to make sure Bonnie is healed properly.
"I wonder who he gets that from." Kael says cleaning, placing the soiled rags into the fireplace. Selina went to clean the boy and ran into a force field.
"Uh...Lucy." Selina said to the witch who was currently petting her niece. Lucy looked at the ward in wonder.
"Bonnie, what miracles you have born." Lucy said testing the strength of the ward. Erik tried to cry again. Winifred lifted her head and barked at him. The girl looked to her father when Erik would not settle. Niklaus stared back. He finally walked over to Bonnie laying the pup in her arms. Winifred buried her head in her bosom, and then her fur melted. Her little body rippled and Bonnie was staring down at the most beautiful little girl she had ever seen.
Niklaus walked over to the table.
"Hello son." Niklaus said tears in his eyes. Erik eyes followed Niklaus's voice. "It's okay. Daddy's here. Mama too. So is your sister. We have to get you cleaned up and warm so you can visit with your mum. Can we do that?" Niklaus took the rag from Selina and the ward shrunk into his son's tiny body.
Niklaus cleaned the boy and dressed him. When he was done he placed him in Bonnie's arms beside his sister. Grams, Selina, Rochelle, Kael and Caroline left begrudgingly, so Marcel, Stefan, Rebekah, Finn, and Elijah could enter. Niklaus couldn't help himself. He smiled broadly taking in the sight of his family. His eyes were shining.
"What is it?" Bonnie asked watching her husband. Marcel was holding Winnie, while Stefan cooed at her, and apparently Finn was the only one allowed to hold Erik outside of his parents to Rebekah's dismay. Elijah's attention was split between both children.
"You fulfilled the prophecy."
"Prophecy? Is that what started all of this?"
"Yes, that and that crooked smile."
I hope you enjoyed it! Happy Holidays.