C7

A/N: Hey everyone! Back with a new chapter. I've been feeling better so I decided let's write. Anyways this is going to be a longer chapter because I might not update for another week or so. Basically I combined this chapter 7 and half of 8 to make one. So here you have it. Remember me and my family in your prayers. Thanks!

It had been a week since Caroline was at the village living her life under the protection of her people. She was actually quite happy with this new lifestyle and had settled well into the routine. She liked conversing with the people there and they treated her far too kindly. Sometimes even better than her own parents. Even Stefan and Damon had settled in rather easily. Matt had left a day earlier to check if the coast was clear for them to leave too.

Caroline was carrying a basket of her dresses from the nearby stream to her tent when she saw Damon and Stefan sword fighting together. She quickly placed her basket into her shelter and ran towards the area of commotion. She smiled at the little audience that had been created by the Salvatore brothers. Both brother smiled at each other but finally the battle ended as Stefan flung his sword at his older brother and Damon stumbled back and fell on the floor, with his sword out of his reach.

Stefan smiled and held the sword to his brother's throat, gloating. "You lost brother" he said and then removed his sword and gave Damon a hand to stand who rolled his eyes at his pride.

"I let you win" Damon answered defending himself and stood up dusting his clothes.

"Stefan I see you are still the best as before" Caroline piped in in amusement and pride. Everyone knew the older Salvatore was better at sword fighting and archery than Stefan who was more of a strategic person. It was just luck that Stefan won but that didn't mean that Caroline would let a moment like this pass without teasing Damon.

"Thank you for your kind words milady" Stefan replied teasingly casting a glance at Damon who was pouting.

Caroline smiled and walked towards Damon. "Oh come on! Everyone knows you're the best" she said and gave him a kiss on his cheek. "Let's go. Lunch is about to be served" she said smiling and walked towards her tent.

Damon touched his cheek and stood there baffled. This week had turned out to be better than any other. He had lived like a normal person after a very long time and because they weren't surrounded by other royalties, Caroline was a lot more forward with him. She was a lot happier too. It seemed like she had been born to live a life among the people. She was eventually the heir of the Forbes' kingdom.

Caroline walked to her tent and noticed one of the village men standing there at guard. She smiled at him.

"It's alright. You can leave I'm just going to change and be right there." She said and he bowed slightly before closing the tent after she went in. The villagers were extremely cautious to Caroline's safety. Everywhere she was, she always had one of the village's best fighter with her. She was grateful to them for their concern but she didn't want them to feel like her servants. They had already done so much for her by hiding her from the Mikaelsons. She didn't even know how to repay the favor.

A few days back, a few of the Mikaelson soldiers along with a general came to the village for the whereabouts of Caroline and the Salvatore princes. They offered the villagers a great amount of reward but the villagers declined any reward claiming to not know anything about their location.

Caroline was so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she didn't notice someone in her camp, staring her. She hummed a tune that her mother used to sing to her when she was little and made way to the bed where she had put the basket of her washed clothing. She took out all of the gowns and started folding them neatly. Once she had five of the gowns neatly gathered, she took the bundle and was about to move when she felt something cool and sharp at her throat.

"Don't move sweetheart" 'Oh no! Not again' she thought.

Caroline closed her eyes and exhaled deeply. She had to stay strong and confident. "If you're going to kill me, just do it" she said bravely. Her firm voice even surprised herself.

Klaus merely chuckled and turned her around so that she was facing him, still not removing the dagger from her throat. "Kill you?" he questioned surprised. "I thought I made it clear that I have no intention to harm you love" he answered truthfully. He truly had no intention to bring any harm to her. He wondered what he had done that made everyone think that he would hurt Caroline.

"Then why did you attack my kingdom after I made a deal with you?" she asked boldly with such fire in her eyes.

Klaus shrugged, "Firstly we didn't make the deal and secondly your precious Salvatore brothers were planning to attack, I had to do something" he said. "But enough about that. How about we leave this God forsaken village and go back to the castle. So much work to be done. Wedding preparations and what not!" he ordered and grabbed her upper arm while removing the dagger from her throat.

"No! I'm not going anywhere with you" she spat at him and struggled against his hold.

Klaus sighed, "I have a whole battalion out here love. You can either come with me the easy way or I'll take you by force" he answered back with ice cold eyes.

"How did you find me here?" she asked suddenly stalling. Hopefully Damon would come in any moment and help her out of this.

Klaus smiled. "I had my sources. One that goes by the name of Katherine Pierce" he said and watched her wide eyed reaction carefully.

"She told you?" she questioned not believing it fully herself. How could her best friend betray her like this? Maybe Stefan and Damon were right, she shouldn't have trusted her. But there had to be a good reason for her betraying Caroline. He must have threatened her.

"You threatened her. Didn't you?" she asked with hate and revulsion. How could a man be heartless enough to threaten a lady?

Klaus chuckled at her question, "Threatened her? Love she came to me by herself with the information. She's not living as a prisoner. She's living much like a respect guest." He answered gleefully.

"Katherine is… in… association with you?" she stammered as her eyes filled with tears. She considered Katherine like her sister and her betrayal cut deep. Deeper than an actual wound.

Klaus smirked. "Not in association with me. More like with my brother Elijah" he said and snickered at his own joke, leaving Caroline glare him.

"Enough talk about them. Let's talk about us" he commanded and she narrowed her eyes at his bossy tone.

"There is no us. Never will be" she spoke and jutted her chin in confidence.

"We shall see. For now we have to leave" he ordered with narrowed eyes and as soon as he lifted the flap of the tent to check if there were any Salvatore brothers outside or not, Caroline saw her opportunity and ran in the opposite direction towards the other end of the tent.

Klaus turned when he heard commotion and saw Caroline lifting the tent from the other side and escaping. With a low growl, he ran towards her and almost tackled her to the ground before she could even get out of the tent. He was extremely humiliated that he had to do this in order to keep her with him but she left him no choice.

"DAMON!" she screamed at the top of her lungs before Klaus covered her mouth with his large hand.

Klaus felt her squirming underneath him, trying to get him off of her so she could run off to her precious Salvatores but he couldn't allow her to do that. He was ashamed that he had to resort to violence to take her but he would spend the rest of their life together, making it up to her if needed.

"I told you to stay quiet. Now there's going to be a bit of a problem love." He whispered coarsely in her ear as she struggled underneath him.

"I refuse to go with you!" she shouted at him again still trying to fight him off.

He shook his head at her inflexibility and sighed, "I'm afraid you don't have a choice" he answered.

He held onto her tighter and got off the floor, picking her up with him. He took the handkerchief from his pocket and gagged her mouth with it in an instant. When she tried to open it, he grabbed both her wrists and tied them together with another piece of cloth. She continued to struggle. He rolled his eyes at her stubbornness and threw her over his shoulder before getting out by the back of the tent.

Caroline could feel the tears forming in her eyes. She had been captured. It hurt her even more because it had been because of her own friend. Katherine. That bitch was going to pay for this.

Where was Damon? Why hadn't he come yet? Had he even heard her call out to him for help? Had anyone heard her call out for help? Was this the end? Maybe it was good that she was being taken away. Maybe this way she could see her parents.

He was just able to take a few strides out of the tent when he felt sharp at his back. At first he thought maybe the blonde beauty had cut her hands free from the bondages and pressed a dagger at his back but then his worst suspicions were confirmed. They had been found.

"Stop and put the princess down" a villager warned sternly as he kept his sword pointed at Klaus. The blonde Mikaelson groaned and rolled his eyes before putting Caroline on her feet but not letting go for her due to the grip on her upper arm.

"You don't have to cause a problem. Name your price" Klaus offered casually. Everyone had a price. Katherine did, this person would have one too and he'd be willing to pay anything for Caroline.

"You cannot buy me" the villager said not moving his weapon by one centimeter. "I suggest you let her highness go before things get ugly" he warned again.

"YOU DARE THREATEN ME!" Klaus roared angrily. "I am Prince Klaus Mikaelson. I will not be threatened by you or anyone else" he threatened back. There was no way he was going to intimidated by the likes of a mere villager.

Caroline kept glancing between Klaus and the villager. He was a young boy, no more than the age of twenty years she was sure. She was glad that Klaus didn't have his sword out otherwise the boy would've most probably gotten hurt because of her.

She was even more relieved when she saw Stefan and Damon along with Matt running in her direction. She breathed a sigh of relief.

Damon was first to reach and went to stand right in front of Klaus. "Leave. Her" he ordered with a hard and stern voice.

Klaus was not one to back down either. "I have a whole army out here. I don't have to do anything you say mate" he answered equally sternly still keeping a tight grip on Caroline's arm.

"Klaus you can't win here. Let her go. Do you think she'll want to marry you if you're treating her like this?" Stefan tried to reason with him rationally. It seemed to have worked and Klaus' eyes immediately widened and he let go of Caroline who stumbled closer to Damon.

Damon quickly untied Caroline and hugged her tightly before he glared the Mikaelson again. He seemed to be very uncomfortable and shifted from one foot to the other. He looked in the blonde beauty's direction and looked down ashamed.

"I apologize for my behavior but I will have you Caroline" he pardoned with a serious look and without a second thought backed away until he disappeared completely.

Caroline let out a breath, she hadn't realized she was holding as she saw him disappear. She hugged Stefan and then turned to her savior.

"I cannot thank you enough. I don't know how to make it up to. You saved my life today. Th- Thank you" she said rambling and stuttering but she didn't care. She owed the young man everything.

He bowed to her and kept his eyes lowered, "You are our Queen. We will never let anything happen to you" he answered with a smile.

Matt clasped his back and smiled at him. "You will be greatly rewarded for you services" he promised.

"Thank you sir" he answered bowing and then left taking his leave.

"We need to leave" Damon spoke up seriously. Now that Klaus had found them here, he would bring his whole army here if he hadn't already.

"We'll go get the horses ready" Stefan and Matt both nodded and left to get their means of transportation ready.

Caroline turned to her fiancé and faced him with her tear stained cheeks. He looked at her and instantly wiped her tears with his thumbs. "Don't worry Caroline. I promise I won't let anything happen to you" he promised and kissed the top of her head before pulling her in for a hug.

"He told me… Katherine is … she's in association with them Damon" Caroline sobbed hysterically into his chest as he held her and whispered soothing words and stroked her hair softly. "Damon she betrayed me. She told them I was here" she continued.

"Shh! It's okay. I knew she was up to something the moment she step foot into our home" Damon cursed. He had a feeling that she was doing all this partly to annoy him and get back at him for playing with her. He should've killed her when he had the chance.

"We're going to my home" he said pulling away to look into her eyes. "Our home" he said and smiled at her affectionately.

Caroline was all set to travel. They knew that they would have to hurry because Klaus would most probably be looking for them to get out of the village but it was their only chance. She had already caused enough trouble for the villagers and she sure wasn't going to let them get hurt in all of this.

All the villagers had gathered as Damon, Stefan and Matt grouped towards the men and thanked them for their hospitality. Caroline went towards the women and then the girls. She hugged each and every one of them. Last left was little Madeleine who was sobbing slightly. The blonde princess bent down to her level and lifted her chin with her fingertips.

"Don't cry little one. I'll only be gone for a little while. I'll be back to visit you soon and then you can come with me to my castle" Caroline promised her smiling but internally she was hoping she would have that chance.

The girl threw her arms around the princess' neck and hugged her tightly which Caroline returned gratefully.

When the little girl pulled away, she looked up to see the princess and blushed, "Can I come to your ceremony when you marry Prince Damon?" she asked shyly.

Caroline smiled and laughed before pinching the young girl's cheek. "Of course you can. You will come to my wedding. Everyone will. But for now I must go. Take care of yourself till then" she promised and hoped that she would get married to Damon in the end because today Klaus had made this intentions towards her very clear.

Caroline reached up to her hair and pulled out a hairclip with intricate designs on it with rubies and diamonds. Elena and Bonnie had given her that once she was younger. She loved it instantly and it was her favorite clip.

She placed her hairclip in little Madeleine's hair and smiled, "Hold onto it for me. Will you?" she asked politely. The little girl nodded and giggled as she touched the clip in her hair.

The princess then got up and smiled at everyone, thanking them once again for their warmth and then walked to Damon. He nodded at her and helped her onto his horse first and then climbed onto it himself.

Stefan and Matt followed their example and then the three horses started trotting away from the village towards the Salvatore kingdom.

A FEW DAYS LATER:

Klaus could not believe his bloody luck. First he had Caroline in his grasps and then she escaped. Then he found her again and she escaped again and now when he had his people surround, she had still managed to cross over to the Salvatore kingdom. It was just too much. He needed to be firmer. It was his mistake that he had let Caroline go in that village. He could've easily ransacked that poor little township but he instantly knew that those people meant a lot to his future wife and he didn't want to upset her more than he already had.

He had received the message from Giuseppe Salvatore, King of Salvatore kingdom, a few hours ago that he wanted to have a meeting with him. In person.

Like it wasn't bloody obvious! They were going to negotiate for the return of the King and Queen of Forbes. He was not going to bow down again. He had already lowered his aims and he'd be damned if he got any lower. This was not living up to the Mikaelson standards, he was giving in. Because of a girl. A woman.

No! He wouldn't be weak. He was sure his father would already be mad at him for delaying the plans. It had been around 10 days since the attack. He should've been back at the Mikaelson castle by now but here he was at the Forbes' trying to lure out the stubborn princess.

"Brother" a voice called him out of his thoughts. He turned and saw his brother Elijah.

"Elijah. What brings you here?" Klaus asked as he moved to his brother and motioned for him to come inside his room. Or rather his future wife's room.

The elder Mikaelson stepped into the room gracefully and admired the ceiling of painted glass before he settled onto the chaise. "Have you heard anything from the Salvatores?" he asked curtly.

Klaus turned to him and sipped the alcohol he had in his hand, "Yes I have. In fact they will be joining us in a day." He answered simply not wanting to jump into any details. But of course his elder brother wouldn't let anything go. He sighed. "Giuseppe sent for a meeting in person for the settlement of the matter. They're sending Caroline but I'm sure she'll have the knights in shining armor with her" he grumped in an annoyed tone. He really did hate Stefan and Damon. Always putting their noses where they shouldn't.

"That is great news Niklaus!" he chimed. "Father will be pleased. I take it that we'll be home in a matter of two days then?" he questioned. He had no doubt that his brother would make sure that they would be back as soon as possible but as of late, their plans weren't exactly following route.

Klaus only nodded with a tight lipped smile.

"Henrik misses you. So does our sister and mother. The messenger told me so before he unloaded father's message to hurry up" Elijah commented with a hint of a smile.

"Well then tell the messenger to tell Henrik that I'll be returning as soon as possible and I'll bring his sister-in-law with me" he said beaming like an idiot. Klaus did love Henrik the most out of his siblings if he had to choose. He was the youngest, 14, and one of the closest people to Klaus.

The elder Mikaelson smiled fully and nodded, leaving the room and his brother to his own devices.

Caroline was pacing. The messenger had been sent and they had received an answer. Klaus had agreed to the meeting but only in private. Of course that had been an issue for everyone around. Bonnie, Elena and Damon had straightaway wanted to shove the answer 'NO' right into Klaus' face but Stefan and the King were smart enough about it.

Honestly Caroline didn't care what anyone thought anymore. She was just going to do as she thought would suit her family and her kingdom best. Her parents were already captured and here she was again acting like a defenseless little girl. She couldn't do that anymore. She had to look out for her parents.

Finally after hours of arguing, it was finally decided that Caroline would go back but with Damon and Bonnie by her side. She would've preferred if Stefan would've been by her side but one of the princes needed to stay back and Damon was not backing down so there was not much of a choice.

She sighed and got up, soothing the wrinkles in her dress before she walked towards the King's study. She had been called a moments ago and she was sure she knew why. Once she got in, she noticed that only Giuseppe was sitting inside. No Stefan or Damon and she was partially glad for that.

"Have a seat Caroline dear" he welcomed her and smiled sweetly. He always thought she was a sweet little girl and much more than Damon deserved.

She nodded respectfully and took a seat across him.

"I'm sure you know why I called you here?" he asked.

She nodded sadly, "Yes" she whispered almost broken.

"I know that these decisions are hard my child but it doesn't mean that they are not for your own good" he advised wisely. "Damon's mother and I were married in much similar circumstances and yet we found love. I hope you will too." He said and smiled sadly.

"I don't need love. I need to do what is expected of me" she answered coldly trying to keep the tears at bay.

"I truly do hope you find love wherever it is that you settle" he answered finally before he nodded at her.

She nodded back and stood up, "I only hope that one day Damon can find it within him to forgive me" she murmured sadly and curtsied before leaving the room. She had to make a decision and no one could help her out of this one. She was stuck between her own happiness and her family's and her friends'. She'd always choose her friends and family.

A/N:

There you go guys! A very long chapter. Took me days to write. Kind of filler but the next one is the more important one. I tried to skip as many events as possible but some scenes needed to be showed. Gave a little Klaus POV. I'll try to update soon but I have my support group sessions and then these creepy family dinners coming up so it won't be possible.

Thank you everyone for your support and love. I cannot thank you guys enough. Really appreciate it.

Read and Review. Hope you guys enjoyed.