A/N 1.0: not gonna lie...sorta nervous about this chappie. just gonna throw that out there before you read it. enjoy:)

Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Diaries.

title courtesy of the song 'Broken Crown' by Mumford & Sons.

2

i contend a bargain even between brethren is a declaration of war

"What I want, in the overall scheme of things, isn't all too different from you, hybrid," Silas said, smoothing hair back from Caroline's pain-stricken face as he let go of her heart and pulled his hand from her chest.

"I refuse to stand here and decipher your riddles. My patience is wearing thin so you'd best spell out it out for me, witch."

"Temper, temper. One would think that you'd be on your best behavior since I hold something very dear to you in my grasp. But some would think that…cruel of me to bend you until you snapped before my eyes," Silas said with a humorless laugh. His long fingers brushed Caroline's temple and, muttering something that even Klaus' keen ears couldn't make out, the blonde slumped forward in his arms before Silas dropped her unconscious body to the ground.

"What did you do to her?" Klaus snarled.

"I let her go, just as you requested. I apologize for being so cruel and taking advantage of your weakness, Niklaus. You're a hard man to reach and I had to do something to ensure you'd listen to me and the girl seemed to be the only way to get through to you."

Klaus snarled in response and resumed his agitated pacing, eyes leaving Caroline's body when he heard the slow, monotonous beating of her heart.

"My request is simple, Niklaus. Do what I say and no harm will come to her. Ignore me and she will die, along with your siblings- Rebekah and Elijah, I believe? It'd be a pity for me to strip you of the only beings who care for you in some capacity. It's not my first choice, mind you. I, too, know what it is like to feel loneliness enough to make one's blood run cold and I would wish such pain on no one."

"Did I not say my patience was wearing thin?"

"Very well, very well," Silas said with a chuckle. "I was simply illustrating a point that you seem to be quite fond of when threatening others. But you're a businessman so we'll get straight to it. I need a witch."

"A witch? Seems a bit superfluous to me," Klaus said, narrowing his eyes and peering at Silas.

"One would think, wouldn't they? However, being incapacitated for two millennia puts one out of touch and takes it's toll. I have yet to restore my full powers. You know how that feels, right? Being bound by a curse that confines your true nature?" the ancient looked to Caroline's unconscious form and shook his head. "Such a taxing experience, wouldn't you say?

"Anyways, hybrid. I need a witch and not just any witch."

"A witch who practices Expression."

"Yes."

"While I do like to make acquaintances with the servants of nature for my own purposes, I rarely cross those who practice the darker aspects. Tends to get messy if I do."

"Witches talk. I'm sure you know we're quite the gossips. Finding one who practices Expression should not be so hard for the self-acclaimed King of the supernatural world and I, in my ever-infinite wisdom, have a feeling you know just the place to search. Am I right?"

"And, if I agree, what's in it for me?"

"Is the safety of your remaining siblings, the possibility of being reunited with the two who have passed, and the safety of the girl you love not enough?"

"There are two individuals, in particular, who would look to harm not only myself but those I associate myself with by any means possible. Surely, as a man who claims to experience such crippling loneliness, would see how that may be a concern to me."

"You're in luck, then. I can only tear down the veil to the Other Side by utilizing a descendant of Qetsiyah. Seeing as Bonnie Bennet has disappeared into thin air, shamed by her powers, the Other Side will remain in tack until I can get my hands on her. That does not mean I can't utilize another witch in her mysterious absence. You see, there were supposed to be three sacrifices of twelve. Two took place."

"And you need the third to regain your powers."

"Precisely. If a Bennet witch were to do the sacrifice I could regain my powers and destroy the Other Side at the same time, kill two birds with one stone as it were. But, that's no matter. I've waited two thousand years to bring back the dead, I can wait another month or two."

"When you put it that way, I'm afraid I'll have to decline my services to you. You do nothing to ensure me that my family will be safe from Esther and Mikael upon their return to this world. You'll forgive me for calling your bluff," Klaus said.

"Very well," Silas said with a sigh as he looked down at Caroline once more, a wicked smirk growing across his face before he looked back up at Klaus. "I do believe you'll see things my way eventually. When you do, there's no need to look for me. I'll find you when you have what I requested."

"I wouldn't be so sure, mate," Klaus said, matching Silas' sinister smirk. Silas only chuckled before he disappeared into the night.

With a groan, Caroline's eyes flew open and she ran a hand across her face. She looked around the clearing and her eyes widened in realization before she looked up at him as he crossed over to her, kneeling down beside her.

"What did you do?"

"Easy, love. He's gone."

"Gone? Where is he?" Caroline asked, panic and fear settling in her wide eyes.

"I…I don't know," he said, holding out a hand to her. "It's alright, sweetheart. You're okay. You're safe."

"Don't lie to me, Klaus. What'd you do to him?"

Klaus cocked his head and pulled his eyebrows together in confusion as she scooted away from him.

"You killed him, didn't you? After you told me you were setting him free. After you promised me you wouldn't touch him. How could you?!" she demanded, jumping up from the ground and backing away from the hybrid.

"Caroline, lov-"

"No! You don't get to say anything! You lied to me! You killed Tyler!"

(le long) A/N 2.0: ...

wait, what? when was Tyler ever there? Kaitlin, have you lost it? what are you doing?

you'll find out, friends. you'll find out. I bet some of you can guess, actually:) but, to clarify, if this were to be canon, we'd be in the Prom episode which, I believe, will be 4x19.

anyways, I'm no stranger to writing Klaroline and Klaus but I'm very nervous about my portrayal of Klaus in this story in particular. If there is any moment where you feel he's atrociously ooc, please tell me. There's definitely a more of a romantic feel to this story but I'm trying to shape it in a way where Klaus doesn't come across as a love sick puppy but I'm terrified that's the way he's going to come across and I don't want that. Klaus will, first and formost, always be the anti-hero, the bad guy, whatever you will in my eyes and that's the way I try to write him.

special thanks to Lorena (fangirlcurse over on Tumblr) for helping me shape this with our game of 'who can come up with the most heartbreaking headcanon'

and thank you for reading! if you have a second, please review. I really appreciate it:)