A/N: A klaroline69 request - Caroline is a queen conquering lands and Klaus is her loyal knight. He is also the one who warms her heart and her bed.

**Special thanks to Christina (carolineswomanhood on tumblr and to be loved is to be destroyed on here) for last minute, late night beta-ing of this beast. I truly appreciate it.

The icy tip of the sword outlined his adam's apple as he swallowed nervously. He was well aware of the perspiration that was dripping down the side of his face and it meshed against the cold rain that poured down.. She licked her lips hungrily before narrowing her eyes and distorted her mouth into a smirk.

"So Lord Lockwood, would you like to repeat our agreement?"

"Not particularly," he muttered.

"What was that?" The clipped tone of her voice startled him.

"Nothing, your Grace," he responded hastily.

"Then let me hear the terms of our agreement," she repeated haughtily, "And speak up, the rain is making it very difficult for me to hear a thing."

"You agreed that you would not harm the townspeople or my family if I allowed you to take ownership of the land and cross over into the neighboring country," he dictated.

"And did you do that?"

"I tried my Grace but -"

"No, let me answer for you, Lord Lockwood," she interrupted him as she paced around him steadily, "Even though we had a signed treaty, you still prompted your guards to take up arms against us and barricaded yourself behind your fortress walls as if that could keep us out. You should have listened to the scary stories, Lord Lockwood, we are just as terrifying as the commoners say. Don't judge me by the dress, judge me by the blood that coated the grounds of insolent and disobedient lords such as yourself."

Lord Lockwood tried to plead for his life again.

"Enough!" She exclaimed, "I have no time to listen to you ramble about your inadequacies. The corpses that surround you should be testament enough to what it means to defy me. But yet you ask for mercy, that is something I do not bestow on just anyone, especially not traitorous rats like you. I would award you the respect of having me perform your execution myself," Her sword once again balanced on his shoulder, close to the base of his neck, "But alas, this robe is silk and the rain will spoil it enough without spilling your unworthy blood on it. Lord Niklaus!" She called a knight who was standing close to her right.

"Yes, your Grace?" his deep voice echoed in his helmet.

"Bring me Lord Lockwood's head with my dinner tonight," she ordered.

The last thing Lord Lockwood saw was the back of her scarlet dress as she walked regally back to her fortress as the sword met his neck.

He found her in her chambers, hunched over large maps, using her quill to plan routes, place down battlegrounds, decide where to send in spies. She was nothing if not thorough.

He knocked twice on the heavy doors to announce his presence, "Your Grace?"

"You may enter, Lord Niklaus," she responded curtly, turning her head towards him.

He noticed how strained she looked, those two lines on her forehead which he often found endearing were now tense as she resumed her study of the maps. She was a woman who was thrust into a position of great responsibility too young. Her mother died during childbirth, and since her childhood, Caroline had walked alongside her father, the King. He groomed her for her future position, educating her, letting her sit in on mediations between him and his people, he believed without a doubt that she would be capable to rule the country once he was deceased, and he found no need to take another wife and produce a male heir like so many of his advisors counseled him to. And once she was made queen, she proved more than capable, she surpassed her father's legacy and made her country wealthier and more prosperous than it had ever been before.

Queen Caroline was ferocious, ruthless and craved power, but yet anyone who was in her favor saw the bright, beautiful woman who loved her country more than anyone else and would do anything to keep her rightful place on the throne. She vowed never to marry or to bear children, she would not die in childbirth like her mother, her marriage was to her country.

Lord Niklaus entered her chamber cautiously, "How was your dinner, your Grace?"

She turned to look at him again, offering him a lascivious smile, "Delicious. It tasted like victory."

He came up behind her, resting his hands on his shoulders, "I think it's time for you to retire, you have done more than enough for today."

"But we have just overcome the last hurdle before reaching the Salvatore Kingdom, I cannot stop planning. The Salvatores are not like the Lockwoods and Donovans and all the other frivolous lords. Their lands have not been invaded in over a century, they have a strong army and well organized spies, I would not even be surprised if they expecting us. Damon Salvatore is no coward, he never shies away from a fight," she responded.

"Even so, have this night, just to bask in your latest victory and rest before the fight begins anew tomorrow," he said in an authoritative tone. He was the only one she allowed to dictate to her, whose counsel she respected above all others because she believed without a doubt that he had her best interests at heart.

"Perhaps you are right," she said, the naughty smile returning to her face. "In fact, I have not rewarded for your good work that you did today, Klaus" she said as she caught his lips with her own.

Klaus clenched his eyes shut as he kissed her back passionately, unleashing those emotions which he held exclusively for her. Her lips released his and began trace over his rough stubble, down his neck, her small hands resting on the firm plains of his chest.

"I didn't do it for a reward," he choked out, "I fought because that it is my duty. For the country. And for you. Always for you."

She detached her lips from his neck before smoothing out her skirts and sinking to her knees. "And for that, the country and I thank you," she remarked.

Her hands fingered the laces of his breeches before loosened them and she slowly pulled them down, she smiled at him again, "The only man that I'd get on my knees for," she murmured as she took his cock in her hands. Holding the base, her lips coated the tip, gently covering it. Those same lips that sent men to their deaths, that shouted out battle calls, were with utter ease pleasuring him in the most intimate of ways.

He groaned as she took more of him into her mouth, her hand moving up and down his shaft, as she moved from gentle to hard in record time, sucking his manhood with all she had in her. Her tongue swiveled around the head of his cock before she resumed her sucking. He lost his sense of vision as all he saw was stars, he always tended to lose himself in her presence. Her mouth released him before her tongue tenderly licked up and down his length, she carried on this rhythm, her gentle kisses and hard sucks, before she took him deep in her throat and the sounds he made was inhuman. She continued to milk him, until he lost all his resolve and grabbed her by her blonde tresses and pulled her off him.

"For gods sake, Caroline, I almost came in your mouth," he panted.

She licked her lips salaciously, "Oh how I love it when you call me Caroline, all this 'your Grace' this and 'your Grace' that. becomes extremely tedious."

He eyed her incredulously as she moved to a standing position again and began to unbutton his shirt, "Marry me."

"You know I can't do that," she responded nonchalantly.

"Why not?" He questioned angrily, "I come from a notable family, I have been loyal to you for many years, and even more importantly I love you and I will never stray."

"I cannot marry," she replied, "No man and no child is coming between me and my country. In years to come I will be remembered as the Queen that changed the face of the realm, not as someone's wife or another's mother."

"I would never take the throne from you. I will walk alongside you, a step behind, taking direction and cue from you. I will worship and serve you in whatever role I play, as your knight or as your husband."

"You say that now, but I've seen your thirst for power. I watched how you smiled as you slaughtered men like sheep, I've seen the adrenalin rush you get when a subordinate cowers at your feet. We are the same, Klaus, we will never be able to rule together, one would destroy the other, and I'm not willing to take the chance of you destroying me."

Klaus sighed as he slowly untied the laces of her gown and made quick work of her corset, this discussion was one they held regularly and it always ended with her winning and Klaus conceding. As much as he wanted to fight the issue further, in the back of his mind he knew that she would never accept his proposal so he would take what she would allow as long as he could.

Their bodies fell together as it did many nights, a myriad of kisses and touches and lustful glances. Her lips at his ears describing the deaths of the soldiers he had cut down on the field, him telling her how Lord Lockwood begged for mercy, their darkest desires unleashed as he thrusted into her and she arched her back, enticing him to go deeper, to push her further, to make her release all the more sweeter.

No other woman, no other man, would ever understand their love of blood and power like they did for each other. Intercourse was more than just a rough tumble, intercourse was where they released their true nature and desires, intercourse was where they became one.

Klaus sought Caroline out after her meeting with some of the nearby townspeople. He was in no state to wait upon a queen, with the gashes across his cheek, and his armor coated in mud but what he had to say could not wait, and he knew Caroline well enough to know that his attire would not matter to her in the grander scheme of things.

"Your Grace, they are advancing in on us," he reported to her in a hushed whisper, "We lost 352 good men today."

She swallowed thickly, "And on the Salvatore side, are they losing men as well?"

"Yes, thanks to your spies, we have been able to predict many offensives and strike them before they strike us, but many of their troops fall through the cracks," he informed her, "They are extremely strong and well trained, it seems as if decades living in a military regime has made them impenetrable."

"But yet, no other army has kept them fighting for over three weeks. We need to move faster, bring the spies to court tomorrow, and the generals we will strike deeper and harder until Damon Salvatore will have no choice but to seek a meeting with me and make a deal," she said with a self assured smile.

Two weeks later King Damon Salvatore summoned her to his castle for a meeting.

"Are you so paranoid that you cannot speak to me without your trusty stead nearby? I suppose the rumors are true, you are turning senile," King Damon said sardonically as Caroline and Klaus entered his throne room.

"No, merely cautious," Caroline quipped back, barely missing the beat, "The rumors of me are barely heard over the ones that say that those who enter your private chambers never exit, with the exception of the Queen of course." She gestured towards Queen Elena.

"Your disrespect is not appreciated here, your Grace," Damon said through gritted teeth, "So I'll make this simple for you, withdraw your knights and we shall decide not to kill all of them." He offered her a patronizing smile.

Caroline gave a hollow laugh, "It's a good thing you are easy on the eyes, good King Damon, because you are lacking in the cerebral department. We are slowly but surely killing our way through your kingdom, and we will not stop before we have you and your lovely queen over there as bones in the foundation of our new castle." Her eyes narrowed, there was no more amusement left in her glare.

"We had one of your knights over for dinner the other night, didn't we, Lord Niklaus?" She said mockingly, "And for dinner, I mean his severed head sat on the table while we ate around him. What was his name again, Lord Niklaus?"

Lord Niklaus didn't answer her, just continued to stare at King Damon, his hand on his sword.

"Oh wait, I remember," Caroline said, "I think he said his name was Stefan, just as I stuck my sword in his neck. Pity though, he was such a good looking lad."

Damon shot up from his seat and made for Caroline, his knights intercepted him and Klaus moved to stand in front of a cackling Caroline.

"HE WAS MY BROTHER, YOU EVIL WENCH!" Damon bellowed at Caroline as his knights struggled to keep him back.

"Oh I think I do recall my spies revealing something to that nature, although they also said he was in charge of the military and the finest knight you had in your employ, so your Grace, will be willing to strike a deal now?"

The second time that Queen Caroline was summoned to King Damon's court, he was far more composed, his face stonily serious. In addition to the King and Queen, this time in the throne room, sat a young girl of about eighteen years old, who resembled a younger Queen Elena but with the jet black hair of King Damon. Caroline surmised that she was their daughter being trained in diplomatic relations, just as she had when she sat the feet of her father.

"Your Grace, your courtier says that you have a plea for me?" Caroline asked as she entered.

"Yes, your Grace," he responded, "We, the Salvatore Kingdom will surrender our arms, and call off the fight, if your men promise to kill no more villagers and if you allow us to continue to govern the land and keep our status and castle, but work under your leadership."

Caroline smiled brightly, "Oh Damon, this is all I ever wanted. If only you had this much common sense in the beginning, you might have been able to save your brother."

Damon's straight face wavered slightly as he looked as if he was attempting to keep his mouth shut.

"So how would you like us to do this? The usual old blood contract?"

"I was thinking more of a marriage contract," Damon countered.

"No," Caroline responded blankly, "I will not be married."

Damon chuckled, "I did not mean you, even I know that's a lost cause. I mean the next best thing, your right hand, Lord Niklaus to my daughter, Princess Katerina."

Klaus growled behind her as his hand tightened around the hilt of his sword. "Or I could just have all of you killed," Caroline responded through gritted teeth.

"Queen Caroline, you may be a capable ruler, but you don't know this realm," Damon bit back at her, "You need us because for centuries my family has ruled this country, and the people know and trust me. If we are not on the throne, you will be dealing with rebellions every other week, they will burn their crops, they will attack your knights, you will live in constant unrest. I know you are a ruthless leader but you are a smart one too, you know you cannot do this without us."

Caroline pondered over his words for moment before replying, "You have a deal."

"Why? Caroline? We could have worked out another deal. Between the two of us, we could have been able to work out a more reasonable contract," Klaus hissed as they entered her bed chamber.

Caroline moved to remove her jewellery, seemingly nonplussed at Klaus' outbreak, "I thought we got off quite lightly," she shrugged.

"Lightly!?" He fumed, "I have to live my life attached to some dimwitted princess all because it's convenient for you. You know this is not what I want, have I not been serving you loyally for years?"

"You swore an oath to the country, to me as your queen," she responded coldly, "This is what is best for both, are you telling me you are willing to go against this? To become an enemy of the state because you are not willing to marry one of the world's most beautiful princesses?"

"No, of course not, your Grace," he replied hurriedly, "I just..just don't want to give you up." He cupped her face, his hard, coarse fingers tracing her chin as those beautiful blue eyes that haunted her dreams stared down at her.

She smiled slyly, "Who says we have to give anything up?"

2 years later

"Your Grace, Lord Niklaus has a request for you," a courtier announced as she sat in her throne room and responded to the pleas and requests of her people.

"He may enter," she could not help the smile that adorned her face when he entered, among all the stresses and humdrums of running her kingdom, he was a welcome distraction.

"Your Grace," he bowed before her throne. His hair had grown longer in the past three months in which she hadn't seen him and all she could think about was her fingers tugging on those perfect curls as he confessed his feelings of adoration and love to her over and over again. She always attempted to appear aloof to his admissions but she was addicted to them, to the feel of being loved and appreciated and desired, the way that only he could.

"Lord Niklaus, it has been a while," she smiled down at him.

"It has, your Grace," he responded politely. She noticed he did not catch her eye, and that his entire demeanor had changed. He appeared stiff, uncomfortable.

"I hear you have a request for me?" She questioned.

He cleared his throat. "Yes I do," he said, "If it pleases, your Grace, I would like to request a transfer to the Salvatore Kingdom."

"Why would you want that?" Her tone became slightly hysterical, giving away far more emotion than she had intended.

He bowed his head, "My wife, your Grace, she is with child, and she would prefer to be close to her mother, and…and I would like to go with her."

Caroline closed her eyes for a minute, begging her mind to ignore the gnawing feeling in her stomach. She had orchestrated this, she had attempted to push away her only weakness, she had always known this alternative existed and she would live with the consequences.

She opened her eyes, and offered him her brightest, most forthcoming smile, "That can be arranged, I shall speak to the necessary council men and they shall let you know. Thank you for years of service and congratulations to you and your wife."

Klaus nodded, he began to walk out before stopping in his tracks, he turned around slowly, looked her straight in her eye, before smiling sadly and walking out. That day the last door to her heart was shut, and nobody else would ever get anywhere close to the hold that Niklaus had.

8 years later

It had been ten years since the Salvatore Kingdom had joined the Forbes' Kingdom and it had been a fruitful decade for both areas of the realm, the merger ultimately was what both kingdoms needed, and it was only a forward thinking ruler such as Queen Caroline who could have predicted this.

The anniversary was celebrated by a banquet held in King Damon's castle, Caroline had thrown herself so much into the running of her kingdom that she barely gave herself time to feel. Feeling reminded her of him, and of the fact that she would never be with him again, because of her own selfish reasons.

The minute she saw him, across that crowded banquet hall, all the air left her lungs. She was known for her verbose nature but not a word could leave her lips as she stared at him. Time had aged him, but to her he looked just as perfect as he did the first day she saw him when he was a young knight searching for adventure and she was instantly enamored. She smiled shyly at him, and he offered her his signature smirk. She saw Princess Katerina in the distance, deep in conversation with her mother, her belly swollen. Caroline's stomach dropped. Katerina was giving him the life he always wanted: a devoted wife, a family, love; the life she could have never given him.

Klaus, sensing her discomfort, made his way over to her, a young girl with dark black hair and bright blue eyes tagged along behind him, her tiny hand encompassed in his larger one, Caroline could not help but stare.

"Your Grace," Klaus greeted as he bowed to her, and the young girl with him did a curtsy while smiling shyly.

"Lord Niklaus, what a pleasure to see you," she responded tenderly.

"I would like you to meet someone very special," he remarked, "This is my daughter, Caroline."

"I have the same name as you!" The little girl quirked back.

Caroline smiled affectionately, "Did you know it means 'free man'?"

"Yes, my daddy told me all about what a special name it is and how I was named after a strong, beautiful queen who continues to free her people. When I am grown up I wish to be just like you."

Caroline crouched down, until she was level with the little girl before saying, "No, little girl, you need to forge your own path in life. It is all good being beautiful and strong but once you find love, you should never give it up even for all the land and the power in the world, because you never realize what is truly important to you until it is gone." She glanced back up to her old knight and his eyes shone with understanding, wistfulness and just a twinge of regret.

A/N: This the first time I tried to write dark, so please please let me know what you think, I need all the feedback I can get. I was tremendously nervous tackling this.

And thank you to NikMik, thexlittlexlisa, jomomayheart, klaroline4everlove, CrazyLazyAlien, SweetyK, utterlyobsessedlove, jessnicole, MsCindz, Biancs, chillwithJyl for your reviews on the last drabble, I truly appreciated all your feedback and I'll look into writing a sequel.

Once again, thanks for the support.