A Knick In Time

Northern Warriors

Seeing Iduna with her newborn, healthy baby brings me joy. I think, I'm going to like being a midwife. When I walk through the village a few days later, in order to go and check on mother and child, I find my path to be unusually empty. There are no men working outside, walking around, like they normally do. Only a few women.

"Rebekah." I see the blonde girl passing by and stop her, "Where are your brothers?"

"Why, do you miss them so terribly?" she remarks. Her voice doesn't sound as mocking as her words. She seems... worried.

I give her a poignant glance. "This place seems to have half as many people running around than usual. That's why. Seriously. What's going on?"

"I suppose you and your sister haven't been informed. Well. A neighbouring village is attacking ours. My father has gathered all the men he could find and left to fight them. They should be back sometime soon." Rebekah says, her voice purely informative, but the way she is clutching the bucket in her hands, her knuckles whitening, tells me that she is scared for her family.

And now that I know what's going on, she is not the only alone in her worry anymore. I think of Elijah and his kindness to me when I needed him. I may not have wanted him to die when I was still in my own time, but now, the thought of him getting hurt scares me to the bone.
"Is there anything we can do for them?"

"Take care of the houses while they're gone and tend to their wounds when they return." she answers shortly.

I bite my lip and frown. "Nothing else?"

"No."

***

Waiting has never felt so dreadful. In order to keep myself occupied, I hurry to do all my chores and when I finish them, I start collecting things we might need when the men come back; such as bandages and some medicinal plants I picked up in the forest. Also, I know the Mikaelsons will still be alive in a thousand years from now, so I know they won't die. Still, this is torture.

Eventually, thank god, they do return. Many covered in blood, especially Mikael, some wounded and at least one hasn't survived the battle at all. Thankfully, Elijah and his brothers aren't badly hurt. However, Elijah does have a long wound from a sword on his left arm. I offer to tend to the wound. He raises his brows at my offer, but then reluctantly accepts.

I do my best being extra careful when I tend to his wound. "Does it hurt much?"

"No, not anymore." he answers, studying me through his cinnamon eyes. "Elena, you know you didn't have to do this. My mother would have been more than capable to help me out."

"And you didn't have to carry me home from Iduna's hut. I suppose we're both rather generous." I reply.

He smirks. "Indeed."
Still fixating me with his gaze, Elijah gets up from his seat and comes to stand before me. His hand finds my chin and gently strokes the side of my jaw with his thumb. A warm tingling emerges from his touch and makes me shiver in delight. It lasts only for a moment. Then, he takes his hand away again.
"Thank you, Elena." he murmurs softly.

He leaves the hut.

***

That moment we shared stays insistendly on my mind. When I close my eyes, I see Elijah's warm, dark, cinnamon gaze imploring me and it makes my chest feel all fluttery. I've felt something like this before, so I know what it means. I suppose, sometime during the last couple of months, I must have started to develop feelings for Elijah. Which is not great, for a number of reason. I'm from another time and he doesn't even know who I really am. And, he is my sister's suitor, not mine.

But still, maybe it will be enough just to see him sometimes, and perhaps exchange a few words here and there. After all, he is a great guy and I've always enjoyed our talks. Maybe, I'll eventually go back to my own time and this way, I'll be able to look back on this as a period of friendship between him and me.

That's what I firmly tell myself a few days later when I walk to the grounds where people celebrate, knowing I'll probably find Niklaus and Elijah there. And I do. The two brothers are busy having a friendly fight with their swords, or, at least I think it's friendly. It's hard to tell from the distance, but it seems a bit like they're recreating the fight they've recently won. Rebekah and Henrik stand beside them and watch them fight, visibly enjoying the show. I know how relieved Rebekah must be, now that all her brothers have returned from battle safely.

When I walk closer, I see Mikael coming through the woods, a dead rabbit in hands. He hates his sons fighting for fun, I know it. I've seen him beat Niklaus bevause of it once. But he hasn't seen them yet.

As quickly as I can, I run over to Niklaus and Elijah. "Stop this, now! Your father is coming!"

The Mikaelson brothers turn their heads to me for a second, then exchange a brief glance and quickly put away their swords. Not a second too early; Mikael emerges from the side and sees us.
"What are you doing here? This had better not be another one of your foolish games, boy." Mikael threatens, glaring at Niklaus.

I see the future hybrid lower his head with fear and step forward. "Actually, those two were talking to me. I've asked for their help."

"Have you now?" Mikael eyes me suspiciously, "Asked for help with what?"

Quickly, I search my brain for a suitable excuse. "For help with... our table."

"Your table." Mikael still sounds a bit disbelieving.

I nod and straighten my shoulders. "Yes, our table. It took some damage yesterday and since your sons are such noble men and good friends, I thought, maybe they could help us with that. You see, Tatia and I are both women, so we didn't exactly learn how to be a good carpenter."

"Of course not. That's men's work." Mikael scoffs, giving me a disdainful glance.

I suppress the urge to roll my eyes. "Yes, indeed. But the only man in our hut is Haakon. And I'm afraid he's not quite there yet."

"Which is why Niklaus and I offered our help, as a sign of good neighbourship and friendship." Elijah adds.

"Hm." The original father huffs. He still doesn't look all convinced, but he refrains from saying anything more and walks away.

When the two men are certain their father is gone, Elijah turns to me.
"So... your table needs repairs?"

I meet his gaze and smirk softly. "Not even in the slightest."

Elijah laughs fondly and comes closer to me. He stops right in front of me and gives me a grateful, beaming smile. His cinnamon eyes sparkle as he hold my gaze, oozing warmth.

"You lied to him?" Niklaus looks at me slightly terrified.

I unwillingly tear myself away from Elijah's magnetic eyes and look at his brother instead. "He was going to beat you again. I wanted to help."

"I don't need your help." he says quietly. Then, he simply turns away and leaves.

Elijah watches him go and sighs a little. "Don't misunderstand my brother, Elena. In his own way, he is very grateful to you. He's just too proud to show it."

"Yeah, I got that." Klaus' pride has always been a major issue.

Elijah takes one of my hands in his and looks at me poignantly. "But that doesn't mean we appreciate your help any less. In all the years we've been here, few people have ever dared to speak up against my father. I admire you for your courage. And I thank you, Elena. If there ever is anything, and I mean anything, I can do for you, I will be there for you. I give you my word, Elena."