Waging Wars: A Klaroline Fanfiction

18.

The study at midnight was quiet except for the tapping of Phillip's short nails on the wooden desk. Elijah strolled into the dark room that was lit only by moonlight, taking a seat and waiting for Phillip to speak.

The news of the Salvatore's defeat didn't surprise him. He knew their reign had been coming to an end. Damon wasn't a ruler like Giuseppe, his father, had been. Even Stefan, the smarter of the two, wasn't fit to run a country. They always seemed to have half ideas and ran head first into battles without a thought out plan. Klaus and his army were the only reason the brother's had succeeded in fending off the Lockwood's initial attacks.

Katherine had mentioned that Phillip thought it was Klaus's influence and Elijah couldn't soothe the worries when he didn't doubt it himself. Klaus was conniving and knew how to get what he wanted. He always had a plan and then a backup plan.

"This was your brother's doing," he heard Phillip whisper gruffly.

"Possibly."

"They're dead, both King Damon and Prince Stefan. I heard they can't find the former queen."

"She probably heard and went into hiding. There will be a price on her head."

"I also heard news that King Richard fell in battle. If Tyler knows what's good for him he'll protect himself with an heir."

"Gwendolyn is much too young," Elijah said, knowing Klaus would never allow his daughter to marry at the age she was. Even if they did marry it was unlikely the girl would be able to bear a healthy child, no less a child at all.

"He could null the betrothal," Phillip offered and Elijah could tell he was lost in his own mind. "Find Queen Elena and make her his queen. Then Klaus would be alone without an ally. It would be perfect."

"If you're thinking that the Lockwood's would become your ally I'd have to disagree. Tyler is inexperienced and arrogant. His father barely groomed him to become king and if it came to a battle Klaus would destroy him."

"What do you suggest we do?"

"We wait."

Phillip stood from the desk with a huff. "I'm tired of waiting," he whined.

Elijah sighed. It was difficult speaking to Phillip at times. He reminded him much of the new boy King Tyler and the departed King Damon. They were always quick to play their hand, not thinking of the consequences. "If we wait Klaus will eventually make a mistake and the more we wait the more we can be prepared for when he does. We can watch his plans unfold and will be able to predict them better for the future."

"My mother wouldn't have waited."

"Yes, she would have," he disagreed.

Phillip scoffed and laughed at him. "You didn't know my mother very well. She painted a marvelous picture for all her allies to see. She was ruthless and kept many secrets."

Elijah sat back in his chair, interested. He and Klaus had always said the queen was easy to read, but perhaps that was what she had wanted them to think. "I'm guessing she was very mistrustful then."

Phillip smiled evilly. "Only I knew the real Queen and even after she tested me it wasn't for years later that she began to trust me at all. Her own son."

"Test you? Did she make you kill people as you had me kill Caroline's parents?"

Phillip's laugh was hearty. "Like I said, my mother kept many secrets and only let you see what she wished. She had Queen Caroline's parents killed the day after the girl's ship left port." Elijah was stunned silent. "She wasn't as patient as everyone presumed."