Title: Tribute

Rating: T

Couple(s): Caroline/Damon + Stefan + Klaus

Warning: Language and minor sexual situations

Note: Inspired by Red Riding Hood

Important Note: Please check out my first Vampire Diaries/Harry Potter crossover fanfic "Of Bonds and Blood" and tell me what you think. Draco/Caroline pairing with a bit of Viktor/Caroline.

[Trib•ute

noun: a gift, payment, declaration, or other acknowledgment of gratitude, respect, or admiration.]

I

White silks skirted around the pyre—pale, warm flesh of arms swaying to the melodious hymn so uniquely savored for nights such as these. The new moon was almost invisible to the eye; the heat from the feu de joie radiating the space of their ritualistic dancing. Caroline allowed her hips to turn about where she stood, the hem of her gown grazing the ground beneath her. She wore her mother's ivory, linen dress; elegant lacing on the sleeves of the habitual figs of the village. Her lips quirked into a slight smile as her neighbors sent words of congratulations her way. It was her betrothal ceremony after all. And standing at the other end of the gathering, receiving pats on the back from a group of their friends, was her intended—Tyler Lockwood, son of the long deceased village leader.

She'd grown up with the boy, as they were both members of families that founded Mystic Falls...named after the majestic flux that provided them with life. He was a decent man—attractive to the eye with his brood shoulders, tall frame, dark hair and eyes, and pleasant face. He was an even better hunter; along with his young uncle Mason, who'd seemed to take him under his wing as a prodigy only two summers ago after the death of his father.

Her eyes raked over his form. He wore an ivory tunic, with gold brocade and trim finish, and a heavy belt; his dagger lay in its sheath resting on his hip. Elena and Meredith had told her how lucky she was to be engaged to such a prominent figure—how well she'd be taken care of. She felt his dark eyes searching the throng of dancers, sweeping over where their parents sat, at the table designated for members of the council, before falling on her. Allowing a soft smile to graze her mouth, she gave a nod of acknowledgment; her long, blonde locks bobbing slightly. Craning her head toward the council, she found her mother watching her behind sympathetic eyes. Elizabeth knew how helpless her daughter felt being put in this position. Destined to be married to a man she did not love; she knew it all too well. William had come to her with an offer from Carol Lockwood, who wished to marry off her son to someone worthy of the name. Caroline knew of Tyler's short lived tryst with Victoria Donovan—a girl of inferior birth.

Carol did not favor the idea of her son being with Victoria. She saw no prestige in it—aside from that, she detested the young woman. She was a common whore and her future daughter needed to be someone of superior birth; preferably one that belonged to a founding family. Elena Gilbert, Blair and Tina Fell and Caroline Forbes were the most sought after young women in Mystic Falls. Both Fell girls were aesthetically pleasing to the eye; however Elena was, of course, the primary victor with her rare doe-eyed beauty. She'd be able to keep Tyler enthralled; but aside from that, she was already engaged in a courtship with a baker's son—Matthew Donovan, the younger, more promising brother of Victoria. Blair lacked a certain zeal that could keep Tyler faithful, and although Tina was both beautiful and enthusiastic, Carol could not stomach the idea of the blonde and her son together; as it was common knowledge among the village that she was not the most virginal of choices.

That singled Caroline out as her son's future companion. When the realization came to her it was almost too perfect. The two had shared an almost kinship as children, and Tyler respected Caroline too much to ever be unfaithful to her; as she had been the one to stand up for him when he was a scrawny boy of six. She'd also matured into a remarkable beauty; Carol assured herself that the children she bore would be the prettiest in all of Mystic Falls, maybe even beyond the borders of their village. William accepted the offer on behalf of his daughter, leaving no room for neither she nor Elizabeth to object—though neither of them would.

"Hail," a familiar voice muttered, voice laced with disdain, suddenly from behind her. The blonde turned on the heel of boots, eyes meeting the pensive stare of none other than Victoria Donovan.

"Vicki..." Caroline acknowledged the softening in Victoria's expression at the old nickname,"...thank you..."

Brow raised slightly, the brunette's lips pursed into a scowl.

"He will nay want you as he does me," She bit out in a low tone so that those frolicking about did not overhear. Caroline's eyes drifted over again to where Tyler stood, hoping for some form of relief. She had no experience in dealing with spurned lovers. But sadly, the Lockwood was nowhere to be found.

"Tyler loves me," She continued dryly, eyes sliding over the blonde's frame with an unimpressed expression, "not you. How could he? Thy are nay more beautiful than I."

"I—" Caroline spoke up, a flood of heat rushing to her cheeks in embarrassment at the girl's disregard for decorum. She really wished someone would come rescue her from this torture. "Victo—"

"There you are," his voice called, habitual face coming into view from over Victoria's shoulder. Damon—he had been the center of her childhood affections. With his strong form, uniquely gruff yet soft features, he had been the center of most her girlish fantasies as he'd been somewhat of a mentor to her during her youth.

She noted that he wore the traditional hunter's ceremonial tunic. His hair was in its usual cut, allowing her to meet his eyes.

"Salvatore," Victoria spoke up at the intrusion, a wide smile brimming on her lips, "What a pleasant surprise."

Damon stared between the two, wearing a mask of content. Caroline bit lightly into her bottom lip as his gaze swept over her dress in appreciation before turning his attention to the brunette.

The man was no fool to the feminine wiles of such a lady as Victoria—who was far from proper.

"I beg pardon, I wished to offer my congratulations to the young bride to be," he retorted smoothly; giving Victoria a pleasant enough smile before diverting his eyes onto the blonde before continuing. "And I also hoped that you may grace me with your counsel..."

Caroline stared back at him curiously, nodding hesitantly at his request.

"We will continue this at another time, Caroline," Victoria declared before Damon could pull the young woman away from her company. The blonde allowed the Salvatore to guide her away, a hand resting on the small of her back, its heat sending a sensation of warmth throughout her body, down to the pit of her stomach.

"I give you thanks," She murmured as he led them toward an unoccupied barn, granting them entry. "I did no—"

She grew silent and watched him close the barn door, securing it behind him before slowing turning to face her; a strange glint in his eye. Damon stared back at her, expression stoic as he took as he took a step toward her; reflexively she took one back.

"What did you wish to speak of?" Caroline inquired, taking another step back as he approached her unhurriedly. She suppressed a surprised yelp at the unexpected impact of a wooden pillar to her back leaving no room for escape as the Salvatore closed the space between them. He raised a hand to her cheek, cupping the red hued skin softly. "Damon…"

"Do not marry him," He finally spoke up, fingers caressing the bridge of her neck sending another shiver throughout her body. Caroline's eyes widened at the request, lips quivering as his gaze drifted down to them hungrily before he added huskily, "We could leave this place…be together... "

His lips fell over hers before she could manage a reply, the taste of them sweet as they moved against hers heatedly. His hands moving to her hips, pulling her closer to his imposing frame as she finally gave in to the sensations of his experienced mouth. Caroline's hands running through his dark brown curls, nails raking over the nape of his neck. She pulled away a moment later, eyes wide as they stared back at the proud Salvatore, lips tinted red, a soft smirk twitching at the corners of his mouth. His hands moved up to hold either side of her dazed face, placing another, more gentle kiss on her lips.

"You have been mine…from the moment I laid eyes on you," His whispered, thumbs rubbing slow circles on her warm flesh. "I could go on after the death of my brother only because I knew I had you."

Caroline recalled how broken the man had been after a villager had stumbled upon the mangled corpse of Stefan Salvatore, Damon's younger brother, on the outskirts of the village. It had been an animal attack—one that had the hunter paranoid to the outside world. She had been by his side when others turned away insensitively to the pain he was undergoing.

"Damon, I—" The blonde stammered, lost in the feel of his cool skin against her own. It was something she thought she could only ever dream of. "It is you."

His expression softened at the reveal, big, blue eyes filled with pleasure.

"It is you I wish to be with," She admitted, brows furrowed in seriousness as she griped his shoulders. Damon's smirk twisted into a smile as he ran a hand down her side, resting it on the small of her back and pulling her frame against his.

She brought his mouth down to hers for another searing, overwhelming kiss. The Salvatore flattened her into the column supporting the barn, hoisting Caroline up as she raised her legs; pressing her thighs into either side of him. Their lips danced, hands exploring each other's bodies enthusiastically. Damon shifted his body, holding the blonde against him as he moved, resting her onto the bed of hay covering the cold soil of the barn.

"Caroline," He whispered, grazing the supple skin of her neck with the back of his hand. He stared down at her, eyes softer than usual. A shudder ran through her body at the feel of his body hovering inches from her, heat pooling at the very center of her; the sweet scent of his musk invading her senses.

"I love you, Damon." She reassured him, hand trailing up and down his back tauntingly.

His eyes closed in thought as her hands moved beneath his shirt, fingers tracing shapes into his back. Cool breath fanning out across his face as she stared up at him.

"I nay wish for anyone else," She whispered, lips hovering by his ear as she confessed this. His eyes snapped open, blue clashing with blue as he moved to his knees for a moment, staring down at her dutifully. His hands moved to the ends of his tunic, tugging it off with one swift pull, revealing his pale, toned chest.

Caroline watched as his fingers traveled to her bodice, unlacing it with tortuous leisure. Her eyes locked on his as he pushed the offending material away. He worked his way up her body until she was completely pinned beneath him, a wry look on his face as he stared down at her.

"Is this what you truly want?" He asked her gently, his hardening manhood pressed against her warm, wet heat. She nodded slowly, wrapping her delicate arms around his neck; staring up at him in expectance.

"I love you, Caroline."

II

Caroline approached her long time companion Elena, a sly smile on her face as the brunette turned to greet her.

"Now where have you been?" She inquired with amusement, directing her attention to the Council's table before continuing informatively, "Your father is just about to make a proclamation."

The young woman's face fell as she turned, eyes finding Damon rejoining the crowd expressionless. No one would know what they had done…no one would know of their plan to leave the village at the first sign of light. As if he could feel her watching him, he peered over his shoulders, a whisper of a secret in his eyes as he granted her a slight smile before turning questioningly to William Forbes.

"By light of moon we celebrate," The man's voice cut through the night, chalice raised in hand as he spoke, eyes finding her in the crowd. "The future union of my only, beloved daughter…Caroline, and are long deceased, but not forgotten Village Leader's only son, Tyler Lockwood."

She cringed internally at his words. She would be disappointing him if she left, but there was no way she could endure what her mother had. A marriage to a man who had no great love for her—none as great as the love Damon held for her.

"May they be fruitful and bare man—" His words froze on his tongue as his eyes danced over the villagers; body growing visibly tense as he placed a hand on Elizabeth's arm, pulling her from her seat.

"What is it?" Caroline inquired to her companion, "What is wrong?"

"I do not know…" Elena whispered back, turning to face her in confusion. The blonde's eyes swept over the people, falling on three clocked figures suddenly standing in the center of the throng.

"Wha—"

A scream erupted from behind them, eyes turning in the direction of the sound as Victoria appeared running from the thick of woods as a fourth darkly shrouded figure appeared, scooping her up off of the ground and plunging something into her neck.

The village erupted in chaos as people fled the scene, pushing the girls out of their paths in escape.

"Damon," Caroline stammered, searching the space for him as Elena grabbed a hold of her arm and began to pull her toward the safety of the church, far off in the distance. The remaining three began their pursuit of the people—hands outstretched before two of them as they approached. She watched as a Blair and Tina Fell were flung to the ground by some unseen force—screaming in pain. The Salvatore suddenly appeared a few paces away, looking about him franticly.

"Damon!" She called, pulling her hand free of Elena's hold as the man turned at the sound. The brunette disappeared into the safety of a nearby granary.

"Caroline," He sighed as he took a step to close the distance between them.

She froze as one of the figures suddenly appeared beside him, wrapping an arm around his neck and twisting his struggling arms behind his back.

"No," Caroline's breath hitched as the man's head shot up as if he could have heard her from such a distance. His countenance suddenly came into view by the light of the roaring fire behind him. She gasped at the familiar set of green orbs, a tinge of red in them—dark veins throbbing around the corners of them, giving him the look of a demon.

"Stefan?" She gasped in confusion as the dead boy smirked back at her before plunging his teeth into the side of Damon's neck, blood dripping down his paling skin. Before she could move to help the man a sudden force hit her, knocking her off her feet and the wind out of her.

Caroline stared up as another of the veiled figures stood over her. Her eyes were unfocused as the scent of blood and death filled the night air as she slipped into unconsciousness.

Her eyes fluttered open, the unsteady movement of ground rolling beneath her. She pushed herself up into a sitting position taking in the fearful expressions of Victoria, Tina, and Sarah. Elena had managed to get away safely from whatever it is they had fallen into. They were in a cart walled like a prison; hands and feet bound by chain. Dried blood soiled the pale skin of Victoria, whose eyes were darkened over; clouded in fear.

"What has befallen us?" Caroline whispered, as a sheet was pulled over the cart; cloaking wherever they were from her.

Sarah was the first to speak up, "They did not say much."

They? The blonde realized she meant the four that had attacked their village. She wondered what had happened to everyone else, whether they had gotten away…were safe…or if they had been slaughtered. Then she recalled the last thing she had seen before passing out.

Stefan—he was alive. And he had hurt Damon. Her blood ran cold at the notion as she stared between the girls she had grown up with. They seemed broken now as they cowered in their corners, eyes watching her.

"They will come for us," Tina assured herself, eyes drifting down to the frayed hem of her gown. "They will nay leave us to die."

Caroline sat in silence, listening to each girl as they tried to ease the tension building up inside of them at the unknown. None of them had seen what had become of Stefan. He was a demon of the night. The very thing they had been told about in stories—stories she thought were meant to simply make children behave. But now she knew the truth…Stefan was a vampire. And he had bitten Damon, who was nowhere to be found. He was lost. In her heart she could not believe that but what she'd seen had not been a dream. It was all not make believe, and no one would come to their rescue. She knew the Council would not risk the blood of any more innocent people.

The cart suddenly came to a halt and the woman grew silent as the sheet that had been hung over them was tugged off, revealing the same four bodies standing before them.

One stepped forward and unlocking the blots that had sealed them inside and flinging open the barred doors. A set of hands reached out and grabbed her, pulling her out of the cart and pushing her into the awaiting arms of another cloaked figure. She recognized the scent of lilac—a scent that was habitual to their village. Caroline risked a peek over her shoulder, finding herself in the strong hold of Stefan Salvatore, face void of expression as he pulled her toward the entrance of an ominous manor. The others followed behind, each with a firm grasp over the other three girls.

Great tapestries hung from the walls, a cold, eerie feeling overwhelming her as they entered an expansive throne room. Stefan and the veiled trio prodded them each to their knees, before a seat of gold fit for a king. They hovered behind them as the doors to another chamber of the manor pushed open and as a finely clothed man entered, decadent to their eyes.

"We've brought you gifts My Lord," an unfamiliar voice spoke up, pushing the hood of his cloak.

The man sank into his seat, expression hinting to a minimally piqued interest as his eyes raked over the four promised as tribute. He recalled the men among his ranks worried he would end their lives with the flick of the wrist not only because he could but because they had failed at procuring the Doppelganger. The one thing he truly needed before he could make himself king.

"Greta," He finally said, voice calmer than Caroline had expected. The shortest of the four stepped forward, pulling back her hood to reveal a youthful face, poised with darkness.

"Yes, my Liege?' She bowed before him.

"I wish for you and Maddox to return to the others," He requested, though the command behind it was evident. The final cloaked figure stood forward, bowing in understanding before following with the petite woman from the room, leaving Stefan and the dark haired man among them and the obvious Vassal.

"Trevor," The man spoke up again after the departure of his two followers, eyes narrowed at the man with disdain.

"Yes, Lord Niklaus?" Trevor inquired voice a bit shaky to the ear.

"You may remove yourself from my presence." He chirped with feign enthusiasm, icy, blue eyes gazing back at him with contempt before redirecting them at Stefan. "What have we here Stefan?"

"As Trevor stated so bluntly Klaus…they are gifts, from the village of Mystic Falls." The Salvatore informed him, eyeing Trevor as he retreated through the door Klaus had entered, closing the doors behind him.

"So I've been told," The man chuckled lightly as he got to his feet and approached the four kneeling women. His eyes fell on Victoria, whose lips quivered as she dropped her gaze to the floor. He moved to Sarah, who whimpered under his unrelenting stare. She began murmuring words, asking to be let free, begging in a sense. Klaus simply snorted and moved onto Tina. The blonde's eyes weld with tears as he reached a hand out to graze her cheek, fingers lightly brushing across her face before pulling them away.

"I am unimpressed by the woman of your village, Stefan," Klaus exclaimed, as his eyes finally landed on Caroline, who refused to flinch under his hard stare. "Oh, but this one…"

The doors to the room suddenly opened and two men appeared, dragging in the body of a familiar dark haired man. Dropping him at Stefan's feet, inches away from Caroline's touch of comfort.

Damon. He lay battered and bruised—lips tinged with blood. Caroline closed her eyes at the sight. What had befallen him? Klaus let out a hoarse laugh as the two men left them to their own devices.

"And who is this?" Niklaus inquired, attention drawn away from the blonde, thankfully and onto the man unconscious on his floor.

"My brother," Stefan informed him solemnly, eyes remaining unchanging to the storm of emotions rotating around in his heart. He had not wished for his brother to share his fate but he could not leave him behind again. Not after the pain he'd endured after his death.

"Well then," The man said, not as surprised by the reveal as he ought to have been. "We must find room for him, I suppose."

"And what of your gifts?" The Salvatore inquired, ignoring the urge to spare a glance down at Caroline. The girl he had known since infancy. He knew the other three well—but none were as endearingly sweet as the blonde.

Klaus looked them over silently before saying, "I have no use for them; leave them for my men…except for this one."

His eyes were trained on Caroline as he spoke, an amused sheen in his eyes as he returned his attention to Stefan. "Clean her up. And give her a room."

Stefan nodded obediently, grabbing a hold of her arm and pulling her off her knees. He would never admit he was happy she'd been spared the plight of Niklaus' men. To show emotion was to show weakness, and he had already proven his weakest point by bringing Damon along. He lifted Damon's body off the ground and led the way to the wash room, a firm grip over the blonde doomed for an even more grueling punishment than her three companions. At least they would die quickly.

Thank you for reading! Please leave a review and tell me what you think.