C3
Caroline had never felt so content in her life. She stood in her chamber, holding the bed post tightly while the maid tied her dress. Caroline loved dressing up but this was the foulest portion of it. With each stretch of the string, the pressure on her lungs amplified. But today the whole lot felt right. Suddenly her life didn't seem like such a gigantic disarray. Damon proposing to Caroline was one of her fondest memories. If all went well then Caroline would marry Damon and she wouldn't even have to deal with any other princes of the other demesnes. Not with Damon around.
"Oh! Love such a beautiful emotion. Makes my eyes water" a voice sounded sarcastically from the doorway.
Caroline turned her head, fully determined, to make the intruder pay for her insolence but her scowl turned into a full smile when she saw the person standing in the doorway.
"Katherine Pierce!" The blonde princess squealed in excitement and ran to embrace her friend. The skinny brunette responded by a smirk of her own and walked forward to exclusively welcome her associate.
"Caroline Forbes! Where have you been?" Katherine asked in a teasing manner fully knowing where she had been. In fact she had known the blonde princess' every move since the last six months.
The fair haired princess turned and shook her head, "I have been where I've always been." She said looking around her chambers reliving all the memories of the past few days. "Where have you been? You just left and didn't come back. I sent my trusted emissary after you but you seemed to have vanished" the princess stated sadly. It had been around a year since she had last heard from Katherine. She was the daughter of one of the most respected council members until one day she just fled the country after having a heated argument with her father.
"Katherine Pierce cannot be found until she wants to be" The brunette declared proudly and looked around the chambers. "Why do I see royal guards instead of your friends here?" she asked.
Caroline looked around a little flushed and somewhat ashamed. "Damon… he's just very…" she trailed off.
"Over protective, childish, immature, incapable, scared?" Katherine suggested faking a smug smile.
The blonde turned to give her friend a stern look, "Cautious" she answered back. The brunette rolled her eyes and shook her head slightly. Katherine had always wanted Damon's devotion and when she finally did grab his attention, he had no intention of ever making her a princess. She was just a toy for him to use and move on until he tired off her. Caroline would be her revenge to Damon. Sure the girl was caring and she loved her and she would feel a lot of regret afterwards but Katherine Pierce only looked out for herself. That's how she made it so far.
"So you're under their protection like all the time?" she asked annoyed by the guards' presence.
The blonde giggled and linked her arms with her friend's and walked out of her room after she'd done her hair and moved towards the corridor which led to Elena's bedroom. "No they're not. I get about half of an hour after dinner with Elena and Bonnie but after the guards have been fed, they're back but we utilize what little time we have for our private talks." She answered carelessly.
"I'm really glad you're back Katherine." She said before knocking on Elena's bed chamber's door. "It's like having my sister back" she said and moved inside the door motioning for Katherine to follow her.
Katherine gulped and suddenly felt the guilt course through her. She was going to betray the only person in this country that considered her to be her equal even though she wasn't of royal blood. But she pushed aside all those thoughts when a familiar pair of eyes made contact with her. In the darker corner of the corridor stood Kol Mikaelson, passing her a warning glance. She only held her head high and nodded slightly before moving inside the room with a smile.
Meanwhile in the king's private study, Damon, Stefan and William themselves were having a debate regarding the threats looming over their heads with the arrival of other royalties.
"I don't think it's a coincidence that Katherine is back when the Mikaelsons decided to show up" Stefan suggested. He never ever trusted that con. Not even one bit. She was too cunning, self-centered and only looked out for herself. Although sometimes he did seem to pity her but those days were long gone especially after she changed her identity and tricked many people who crossed her path.
"That is exactly what I am saying. We should keep that psychotic troublemaker away from Care- Damon spoke but immediately corrected himself when he saw Stefan's sharp look. "From Caroline, I mean."
The king nodded and downed his drink in one big gulp, "I suppose your observations could be correct but Miss Katherine is the daughter of a nobleman and furthermore a very trusted person in my child's opinion." He said looking towards both the princes. "I cannot just order the guards to keep Ms. Katherine away without any evidence. As of now, we just wait for her to slip and then we take action." He announced.
"What about the Mikaelsons?" Stefan asked worriedly. He could still not forget the conversation they had earlier with the Mikaelsons before Caroline interrupted the meeting.
Flashback:
"Let's just cut to the chase. Shall we?" Damon said straightforward sitting on the head chair in the dining hall. Two of the Mikaelson brothers had suddenly decided to come by along with the other possible suitors for the Forbes' Princess. If there was one thing to be known, it was that the Mikaelsons were not welcome near the Salvatores and since the Forbes had such a strong relation to the Salvatores, the Mikaelsons were forbidden to come to their kingdom along with their allies. But here they were, sitting like much respected guests.
It was Klaus who nodded and spoke up first. "Of course. You may speak your mind Damon" he leaned back in his chair and passed a smug smile to his younger brother who sat across him.
Damon clenched his fists at his dictatorial and ordering tone. Stefan looked towards his elder brother and shook his head to avoid him from lashing out and causing trouble.
"The people of your kingdom are not welcome here. You'd be wise to leave before the Queen hears of this. She will not be as kind as the King has been towards you" a council member warned.
The younger Mikaelson just laughed while the older one seemed to be controlling his amusement. "I assure you my intentions are- he was cut off by Damon.
"Less than honorable" Damon declared in a firm tone. "But let me make it clear, if you so much as make a move, I will hunt you down and eradicate every trace there is of you and your brother" he warned.
"I have two more brothers. What makes you think they won't come after you or your brother Stefan here" Klaus hissed back.
"We have the Bennett Kingdom, the Forbes kingdom along with many others. I assure you taking us down won't be a child's play" Damon answered back playfully looking straight into the bastard's eyes.
The argument continued with threats flying across each other until Stefan chose to calm down the audience and resolve the issue. He was never one to resort to violence, not when issues could be solved by simply talking.
"Let's just calm down. Shall we?" he spoke up and breathed in when he saw everyone ceased to argue.
"Now that that's settled. What is it that you desire?" Stefan asked looking towards Klaus and Kol but mainly focused on the elder Mikaelson.
It was Kol who answered. "Let's see." He spoke stroking his chin thoughtfully. "A fair haired, gorgeous beauty, for my brother here, who hasn't been seen my many people. Do you know where we can find one?" he asked sarcastically.
The whole room was silenced by his outrageous words. No one was ever even allowed to bring the princess into matters like these. Let alone to demand her in such a discourteous manner. Especially not in front of the Salvatores who would give their life for her. Or even take someone's life for her.
"How dare you?" the advisor of the kind accused standing from his chair.
"You are not capable of talking about the Princess like this. This is treason!" Another council member hissed venomously.
Damon simply held his hand up and ordered them to settle down. He narrowed his eyes at Klaus who was looking towards Damon to fall into his trap by accepting his relationship with Caroline in front of the council so that they would be outraged and hand her over to someone else. Preferably Klaus.
But Damon was not so easily fooled. Especially not when it came to Caroline's safety and future. "Of course! It is your right after all but don't be disappointed when she chooses me. For I have already talked to the King." Damon gloated proudly. Stefan smiled at his brother's antics.
Klaus simply smirked back, "Then you wouldn't mind if I try my hand with the Princess during the festivities." He challenged back.
While Damon talked with the council both Mikaelson brothers' attention was caught by some commotion on the entrance of the hall. It was the blonde beauty they were talking about. Klaus was stunned by her beauty. He had seen her once from the background but definitely not so close. Her splendor seemed to have lit up the whole room. He could hear her sweet, melodic voice but hardly make out the words she said until she called out for Damon which made his blood boil. He would have to work harder to gain the princess' affections since she only knew him as the enemy. But surely that wouldn't be so hard since all the women fawned over his charm.
The King snapped Stefan out of his thoughts. "As for the Mikaelsons. Tell the guards to keep a close eye on them. I don't want them here. But with Caroline we don't have much of a choice because of the council. They have announced that they have no objections with Klaus Mikaelson trying to court Caroline and I cannot do much to stop him." The king informed regretfully.
"But Damon I want you to stay close to her. She is far too trusting. Don't let her out alone with him" He instructed cautiously.
Damon and Stefan both nodded and headed out after bowing slightly leaving the King to his own thoughts.
The Mikaelson brothers were sitting I the guest chambers they had received from the Forbes king. He was a fool to let them into his home. He would destroy him and after the previous day, he would not only destroy him but also the Salvatores and just to add a bit more acid, he would also take away his daughter. Yes. He would take away Caroline Forbes. She was breathtaking. He had seen many beautiful women over the years but never had he seen anyone as… as… radiant and full of light as her.
Klaus would make sure that William Forbes' greatest regret would be allowing him to stay under his roof. He would not only destroy the Salvatores along with the Forbes but also all of their allies. But that didn't mean he'd need to destroy each and every person. He'd definitely make an exception for the blonde beauty if she'd remain submissive and compliant.
"What plagues your mind brother?" this younger brother pulled him out of his thoughts. He didn't really want to bring Kol with him considering he was the craziest and most impulsive brother but it was better to leave the command of his entire battalion under the supervision of his 'wise', elder brothers Elijah and Finn.
Klaus stroked his chin thoughtfully and turned to look at his brother with a wolfish grin plastered to his face that screamed 'Caroline Forbes'.
Kol snickered playfully and shook his head, "Are you sure about this Nik? The blonde spitfire is genuinely a beauty but I've heard she is as arrogant as all the Forbes women" he chimed in seriously.
"Nothing a Mikaelson can't handle, I'm sure" Klaus answered back confidently. Little did he know that getting in the good graces of Caroline Forbes would be harder than he could ever imagine.
The next morning was the day Caroline was dreading the most. The final festivities would start and she would have to be introduced in front of all the people once again as she was once when she was born. But now it was different. Now it felt like she was being showed off for auction. But it made her feel better that it was kind of a fixed auction. Everyone in the inner circle knew she'd eventually marry Damon the rest was only to keep up appearances.
That moment came earlier than anyone could've imagined. Now here they were. Caroline, Bonnie and Elena standing in the ladies room to fix their appearances after attending the launch of the merriments for three hours and still they were only excused for a little while. Elena was soothing out the wrinkles in her dress while Bonnie was helping Caroline with her hair.
"So has Stefan talked to you yet?" Caroline asked concerned for both her friends. They seemed to be doing fine a week ago and suddenly their couple was nonexistent.
The adopted princess sighed and looked away, "No he hasn't and neither have I any intention of talking to him if he does not care" with that said Elena walked out of the door back towards the public gardens where the festivities were held.
"Do not fret. I will talk to Stefan myself" Caroline reassured Bonnie who seemed a bit shaken up by her sister/friend's behavior. Soon they both followed in suite and joined the celebration.
Caroline met many people as evening approached. She could swear she hadn't met these many people in her life as she met in one day and remembering each and every one was an even bigger issue. Right now she needed to look for Stefan. She looked around and found Damon chatting with her father and a few other nobles, Bonnie with Elena and her mother but no sign of Stefan. She politely excused herself from her conversation with a potential suitor who was just gloating over his accomplishments.
She walked around the fountain many times and looked in the corner when she found someone who looked much like Stefan. At seeing the whip of blonde hair Caroline figured it would be Stefan so she stalked to him with as much stealth and speed as possible in that heavy dress which literally pulled her down to the ground.
"Stefan?" she named out once reaching close to him. When he didn't turn she stubbornly walked over to him and turned him around to face her fully intent on giving him her piece of mind.
"Are you tone-deaf or just discounting me?" The blonde grew hot with his oblivious state but was immediately taken aback when the man she scolded wasn't Stefan but someone else. She was in deep trouble. Yes! Very deep trouble.
"I could never ignore you love" the man answered and held his hand out for her to take. "Klaus. Klaus Mikaelson" he chimed in with a mysterious smirk plastered to his face.
Caroline's eyes grew wide as realization stuck into her. Did she just hear Mikaelson? As in the very Mikaelsons who were hated by the Salvatores and the Forbes?