A Knick In Time

Paint from Berries

I don't know if she was only pretending to be against it because she wanted to put me in my place and keep me from stealing her future husband or if she simply changes her mind, but Tatia ends up following my advice. Only a few days after the werewolf night, she asks Elijah to take care of Haakon for her, only for a while. The noble Mikaelson is surprised, but agrees.

He takes my nephew with him on a hunting trip, showing him how to use a bow. Out of pure curiosity, I follow them and watch. Elijah shows Haakon how to hold the bow, aim and fire the arrow. The little boy does as he is instructed, but misses the target - a tree stump - anyway. He looks disappointed.

"It's alright. You'll hit it next time. Shooting, just like everything else in life, requires practise." Elijah assures him and gives him a gentle smile, "You are still at the beginning of your life. Don't be sad if you need some time to learn."

Haakon nods eagerly and takes another arrow. The scene makes me smile. I may think that Tatia was wrong about Klaus' parenting abilities, but she was definitely right about Elijah's. He would be a wonderful father, I can just picture it. The warmth that spreads in my chest at the sight makes me sigh.

On the next day, Tatia asks Klaus to look after her son. He, too, agrees to do it, with even more eagerness than Elijah and a lot less surprise. Elijah probably told him all about his shooting lessons yesterday. Klaus is visibly relieved to get a shot too.

However, this time, a patient of mine comes to me for help with her pregnancy, so I can't see what Klaus does with Haakon. But as it turns out, I don't have to. Tatia does it for me. When I come home to our hut shortly before the sun sets, my sister is there, staring at what looks like a piece of wood.

"Hey," I approach her, earning a scolding glance, "I mean, greetings, Tatia. Would you mind telling me what you're looking at?"

My viking lookalike sighs and meets my gaze. "Niklaus took Haakon to the woods today. I followed them. I had a few ideas of what he might plan to do, but what I saw wasn't one of them." Tatia turns the piece of wood between her hands so I can see it. There's something painted on it, with what looks to be a creamy substance made of berries. Knowing Klaus, I am not surprised by my sister's next words.
"He showed him how to paint. I didn't even know Niklaus liked to do that. When Haakon asked him why they were doing it, Niklaus said 'because it's a special kind of freedom. In life, everyone tells you what to do and how to be. But when you paint, you're the master. Every color you use, every brush you make with leaves or sticks, is entirely up to you. No one can take that from you'."

My sister opts for silence after saying that. At least her voice has silenced. Everything else about her has never been louder. Her hands are fiddling with the painting, her eyes are streaming and she's chewing on her lip. I decide to remain silent too and wait patiently until she speaks again.

Eventually, she draws a deep breath and looks at me again. "I always thought of Niklaus as a childish but charming man. I never knew he could be so... caring. So perceptive, sensitive. Now that I've seen this side of him, I'm conflicted. In truth, I can't help but understand him. Wanting to be free, wanting to make my own choices... that's what I want too, I've always wanted that. That's why I didn't burn myself to death when my husband died, it's why I'm always trying to live my life as I want instead of doing what people tell me to."

I watch her. She is obviously conflicted. For a while, I'm not sure what to say to that. Eventually, I decide for this: "I can't tell you what to do or feel. It's your choice. Just... think about it and make sure you won't regret it later."

***

The next day, I'm being approached by another Mikaelson.

"We need to talk." Rebekah says without greeting.

I nod apprehensively. "Alright."

"Your sister seems to get it more on with both of my brothers and I don't like it. Things at home are escalating. Mother and I just had to break up a brawl between Niklaus and Elijah." she tells me, obviously upset.

I bite my lip, worried and a little unsure. "I honestly thought she would decide for one of them soon, so-"

"Soon? How soon?"

"I don't know." I admit.

Rebekah sighs in annoyance. "Whatever your sister is doing, she had better stop it as soon as possible, because this is getting out of hand."

"I understand."

My conversation with Rebekah drums in my head when I head home a bit later. Fuelling the tension between the Mikaelson brothers was never my intention. Honestly, I'm not sure what I wanted when I suggested the babysitting. Maybe it was just to create a bit more time before my sister marries Elijah. This way, I can spend a bit longer watching him from afar and dream about him. Which is silly, of course, but what do you expect from a woman who's in lo- I mean, who likes an amazing man so much?!

When I arrive at our hut, I see that Tatia is busy talking to someone. That someone being Klaus Mikaelson. He and my sister are standing in front of our hut. I get there just in time to see Niklaus hand my sister something. I can't recognize what it is and I can't hear what they're saying yet, but I do see Niklaus seeming nervous and kind of insecure about what he's saying.

My sister, in return, inhales deeply, purses her lips and then nods. Niklaus breaks into a huge beaming smile, seemingly oercome with joy. He eagerly leans down and kisses Tatia. She returns the kiss.

Just as I am about to retreat, thinking my sister and her suitor need some time for themselves, they pull out of their kiss and start gazing at each other. Tatia is the first one to speak. She says: "You should've been home an hour ago, Elena."

Her and Niklaus' heads both turn to me. I blush, feeling awkward. "I was called to another woman about her pregnancy."

"Is that so? Well, then I suppose I better leave the two of you to talk. Your sister has great news for you, and I have the same to tell my own family. Good day, Elena." Niklaus says and leaves.

I turn to Tatia. "Great news?"

"Yes."
She gives me a long look. Then, she sighs and her gaze softens a little. "Niklaus has just asked me to marry him and I accepted his proposal."

"Oh my god. That's amazing! I'm so happy for you!" I exclaim and excitedly hug my sister.

She returns my embrace. Then, she looks at me again. "I honestly don't know if I should thank you or be angry with you for giving me the advice you gave me. Marrying Niklaus seems risky. I wouldn't have had the risk if I just married Elijah. But if I hadn't seen him with Haakon, I probably never would have realized that I was wrong about him."

"Marriage always comes with some sort of risk, doesn't it?! But I've got some questions. First of, what is that?"  I ask and point at whatever it is Niklaus gave her.

Tatia holds it up. It's another piece of wood with a picture on it, made with paint from berries. Even though it's only a very rough first beginning of the future hybrid's artwork, I can clearly recognize the person in the painting as Tatia. I smile. This is really romantic. "Alright, I get it. Just one last question." I stop smiling, put my hands on her arms and look her poignantly in the eye. "Do you love him?"

Tatia chuckles softly. "Yes."