C6
Damon could swear his head was going to explode if she didn't stop yelling at him. Caroline had been yelling, screaming and crying since the past hour. They were in the outskirts of the Forbes' kingdom which was deserted and that helped because they were trying to hide. Klaus had sent out a few parties of his soldiers to look for them. They barely dodged the rally of horsemen of the Mikaelsons when they were riding and Caroline woke up to create her dramatics.
"Caroline you need to calm down" Damon spoke up running a hand through his raven hair.
She looked up at him from where she was sitting in a field of corn and glared him. "Calm down!? Calm down!?" she shouted at him incredulously. "My parents have been captured. My kingdom had been taken away from me. I don't know how many of my people died and you kidnapped me and took me here!" She pointed out at him as more and more tears streamed down her face. "In the middle of nowhere!" she yelled at him looking around for any sign of anything.
"It's not the middle of nowhere. I know where we are. We're just stopping to catch our breath and then we'll be on our way" Damon answered back softly. "As for your parents, I assure you we will get them back. Right now we need to head to the Salvatore's territory." He said and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Once we get there father will be able to handle the situation better" he reassured her.
"It is my responsibility to look after my people and my kingdom. You and my father have taken it away enough times. From now onwards I will decide what will happen." Caroline announced and wiped the tears from her face. She had to be strong. For the sake of her country and for the sake of her parents.
"You don't know what you're dealing with Caroline" Damon spoke up sternly. Why could she not understand that he was trying to protect her from everything when she insisted on being in danger?
"Of course I don't. You never let me know of anything- she was cut off as Stefan came running to them.
"As much as I love to see you insult Damon" Stefan said and smiled slightly. Caroline was the only one who could bring someone as high headed as Damon to his knees. Literally whenever she wanted. All she had to do was bat her eyelashes at him and smile at him innocently.
Damon scowled at him, "Thank you brother" he muttered sardonically.
"We need to leave. Klaus has sent out a whole army to look for us" Stefan stated and looked far where he could see tiny figures which were actually masses of Klaus' men.
"Where did Matt go?" Caroline asked looking around for him. Surely he was just behind them, where did he go all of a sudden?
Stefan looked at Damon sternly, "He's gone to make arrangements for us to stay the night. Which Damon should be doing but of course he's apparently occupied" he taunted and glared his brother.
"Of course brother. I am useless. Totally useless. We should all use this time we have to insult Damon" the older Salvatore replied rolling his eyes.
Caroline smacked his arm and looked at him with a serious expression, "I'm going back. He could harm my parents" Caroline said and started walking towards the direction of the guards.
Both Damon and Stefan rolled their eyes and chased after her.
"Hold up Care" Stefan said and gently grabbed her arm.
She turned and gave him a look, "Stefan I can't. They're my parents. If anything ever happen to them, I would never be able to forgive myself" she countered and shook off the tears forming in her eyes.
"Do you seriously think that I would let your parents stay there if there was any chance of harm coming to them?" Damon asked suddenly feeling offended by her lack of confidence in him. Caroline just turned to face him and looked down.
He grabbed her hands softly and pulled her closer, "They are like my parents to me. Klaus has only kept them as leverage to keep you under his grasp and if you go to him, he will succeed." Damon reasoned and saw as understanding settled in her eyes.
"So what is the plan?" she asked finally relaxing a bit. She could trust Damon and Stefan but she was not going to be weak, little Caroline anymore. Her kingdom had been captured because of her stupidity to let the men handle the situation when they clearly weren't capable.
"I received word that Elena and Bonnie are safe and will be reaching the Bennett kingdom shortly" Stefan spoke up.
Damon pondered for a minute and then spoke up, "Then we must set for the Salvatore region as soon as possible. Once we're there. We gather our strength and allies and attack" he answered.
Caroline shook her head, "No" he refused and both brothers looked at her in shock. "He will be expecting that. He will have the path towards your kingdom completely surrounded. I'm sure there'll be an ambush as soon as we step foot on that path" she countered confidently.
"Caroline's right. We must lay low for a week. Then we'll make our way to wherever suits us" Stefan agreed and they all nodded except Damon who groaned in response which got Stefan and Caroline to smirk.
"Oh however will Prince Damon Salvatore live in a poor village?" Caroline exclaimed dramatically and then laughed along with Stefan as they made way to Matt who seemed to be coming their way quite cheerfully.
"What did they say?" Stefan asked as Damon and Caroline bickered with each other like children.
Matt sighed but then a small smile crept his face, "They allowed to let us stay and keep us from the Mikaelson soldiers, whoever, they want to meet Caroline in person" he said with a smile on his face.
"Who wants to meet her?" Damon asked protectively. Caroline rolled her eyes at his possessiveness and jealousy.
"My people" she answered shaking her head and moving towards the camp site of the village. "Unlike you I have a very good reputation around and my people actually love and adore me" she stated over her shoulder with a proud smile.
"Of course. Everyone does" he said even more proudly with his signature smirk and began moving after her.
Klaus was fuming with rage. Not only had his guards let Caroline escape but also refused to shed more blood once he'd ordered them to kill all the prisoners. The Mikaelsons' army was supposed to be fearless and bold but it was turning out as if the Forbes' kingdom was the downfall of his army.
Nothing was going according to plan. First the princess had escaped from right under his nose. Secondly his men were getting tired. Then he had simply wanted to lure the princess in his grasp again when he offered the king and queen to simply hand over their daughter to him as his bride in return for their throne and their kingdom. He would let them stay crowned as the King and Queen but the Forbes kingdom would obviously have to be allies with the Mikaelsons and to betray the Salvatores and any other who dared to stand against them.
He was enraged when they refused his offer. He had even reassured them that he would love and cherish Caroline like a Queen she was supposed to be but they practically spat in his face saying that either Caroline would marry a Salvatore or she wouldn't marry at all.
What did Damon have that he did not? The older Salvatore was an excuse of a man. He knew nothing of what meant truly cherishing a woman with the caliber of Caroline. He carted her around like a glass doll while she was a keen and gifted woman. A Queen.
Regardless of their "kind observations", Elijah, his ever so noble brother, had insisted that the King and Queen be treated with respect and valor as guests not prisoners. The Queen only scoffed at this. She was much like Caroline. Bold, fearless, strong. All admirable traits. The Forbes' women were always very cunning.
He had barely paid any attention to Finn's story about this debacle with Stefan Salvatore. He could only think of how to get Caroline back. She had escaped and he wanted her back. In his clutches. He had sent some of his most loyal and trustworthy soldiers along with two of his generals to bring him Caroline at any cost necessary. He was certain that she hadn't crossed the border yet or so his spies said so. They'd best not be lying to him. If he found otherwise, he'd have their heads on a spike.
In a fit of blind rage, he threw everything on the vanity onto the floor and rummaged through the drawers angrily. He was in her room. He had decided to take up that room the night he had told Kol that they would have to attack.
"Kol, send the messenger to Elijah and Finn. I suspect the Salvatores are making their next move." Klaus said not looking up from his sketch book. He was printing his memory of the blonde haired princess when her eyes widened as he kissed her.
Kol nodded and immediately sent one of the messengers but when he came back, he snickered, "Really Nik? The princess is that stubborn that we need to go to war?" he asked purposely trying to rile him up.
Klaus didn't look up at him and kept perfecting his drawing, "She was hardly anything but cooperative. Innocent little girl, she is" Klaus said smiling fondly at the memory of how shocked she was at the death of mere soldiers.
"If she's so innocent, why don't you leave her alone and go for the Bennett girl?" Kol added confused.
Klaus sighed and dropped the pencil from his hand, "Because Kol, she is what I desire and I always get what I want" he answered and left.
"Now Nik, is this a way to treat the room of my sister-in-law?" Kol's sarcastic voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Klaus clenched his fists, "Do you have any news on Caroline?" he asked directly skipping to the point. He didn't want to deal with Kol right now.
Kol sighed and placed a hand over his heart dramatically. "I always do have to save the day" he said and motioned for someone to come inside. "Katherine Pierce please enlighten Niklaus with the current position of your beloved friend" he muttered mockingly.
Klaus' eyes shot up and his curiosity was peaked. Katherine walked in shyly and fidgeted with her hands nervously. It was very unlike her.
"Well?" Klaus asked irritated by her lack of response.
She sighed. "There's this place. A village on the outskirts of the kingdom, where Caroline went in case there was ever a threat or if she was upset with her parents" she told them remembering the one time Caroline took her there too. The people there adored and worshipped her like a Goddess.
Klaus smiled. "Kol get the riders ready. I'm going to go get my girl myself" he said pleased with Katherine's answer. He was about to rush out of the room when she called out to him.
"Wait!" she called out.
He turned and closed his eyes and breathed in to relax himself, "What?" he hissed. He didn't need anyone to delay his search for Caroline.
"There's something you need to know before you march there and demand Care" Katherine warned.
It was Kol who barked at her impatiently this time. "Get on with it" he said.
"The people there won't give her up easily. They adore her." She said and waved her hands for the theatrics. "They worship her like she's their Goddess. I don't know really. It's very awkward but they consider her their true Queen and they'd die for her" she mumbled and then smiled sarcastically. "Have fun" she taunted and walked away.
"Get the horses ready" Klaus said to Kol and turned on his heel to get ready.
Damon, Stefan and Matt had been given a tent to share while Caroline had gotten her own independent one and the villagers were swarming around her like little children fascinated by a fairy. They had practically begged to build her a throne of her own in the middle of that little village but she gracefully declined and told them that she wanted to be part of them and live with them like her family.
Everyone knew that the princes were of royalty too but no one paid much attention to them. Caroline was their main concern. She was their Queen. She was the sweetest person ever and she resembled Victoria Forbes in every way. The way she walked, talked, carried herself, even danced like her ancestor and she was the definition of perfection and grace which is why the villagers believed her to be a Goddess and Caroline always helped them out during their hardships. They could only pay back the favor by helping her out whenever she needed them.
Caroline changed into a much simpler gown that one of the village girls had given her. It was crème colored gown with full sleeves and a low neckline. The girls had braided her blonde hair and delicately placed flowers into it. She walked out of her shelter smiling and giggling to something one of the girls of the village said to her.
Damon watched her as she was completely carefree and happy. She looked beautiful while smiling. Her smile could light up the whole village. She looked beautiful. He stared at her and saw how the village girls sat her near the fire and gave her food. Stefan came up next to his brother watching him mesmerized by the blonde princess. He always knew there was something special between both of them.
"Don't stare. Everyone knows she's beautiful" Stefan taunted and put a hand on his brother's shoulder.
Damon seemed to be in deep thought. "This is all my fault" he muttered. "You sent Elena with Bonnie. I should've sent her with them but I was arrogant enough to think we could hold them off" he said clenching his fists.
"It's not your fault Damon" Stefan said and smiled at his brother sympathetically. "You chose to keep her close where you think she'll stay safe. Don't worry. We won't let anything happen to her. We're going to get out of here and then we are all going to find our 'happily ever after' as Caroline says" he said and both the brothers laughed.
"Thank you brother" Damon said and hugged his brother. Both of them smiled and took off to talk to the men.
Caroline watched both the brothers have their moment and watched in awe. She was missing her parents terribly and wanted nothing more than to go to them but she had been naïve enough times already. She needed to be clever in such a situation.
"Do you fancy him princess?" a little girl no older than twelve years asked her smiling at her sweetly and pointing towards Damon.
The older woman in between the girls scolded her, "Remember you're place. She is our Queen" she scolded the young girl who looked down ashamed. "I apologize your majesty" the woman excused for the younger one but Caroline smiled sweetly and shook her head.
She put her finger under the young girl's chin and made her look her in the eye. "What's your name?" she asked softly.
The girl nodded eagerly, "Madeleine" she answered.
Caroline smiled in return, "Call me Caroline then. I have to blend in. Princess or your majesty makes me feel like an outsider. Like a guest" she whispered sadly and all the girls agreed to call her Caroline.
"It is hardly proper your- I mean Car- forgive me" the older woman stammered.
The princess grabbed her hand and squeezed it in reassurance. "Believe me you all are like my family. There is nothing improper about it" she assured and the woman nodded gratefully.
Caroline turned her attention to the young girl and smiled at her, "I do believe I like Damon. We're going to get married soon enough" she announced and placed a finger on her lips indicating it was a secret.
"He is your prince?" Madeleine asked curiously and totally fascinated.
"I believe he is" Caroline answered looking at Damon with an adoring look in her eyes.
Little did she know that her prince was waiting elsewhere for her?
A/N: I used italics to indicate a flashback. Hopefully you guys enjoyed. All Daroline in this chapter, no Klaroline but I promise you'll have Klaroline in the next and then even MORE and gradually it'll keep increasing until I kick out Daroline completely.