solstice [k.mikaelson 1]

iv.

The days following the ball blurred into weeks, and soon enough, it became a quiet routine for Margaret to slip away from the constraints of court life to meet Kol in secret. In the hidden corners of the castle and the shadowed edges of the woods, they found refuge from the heavy expectations surrounding her every move. These private meetings had become Margaret's escape, the only part of her life where she felt truly free.

One evening, Margaret found herself wandering down one of the less-travelled corridors of the castle. The setting sun cast long shadows through the narrow windows, painting the stone walls in a wash of gold. She reached the hidden garden, a small, enclosed space where roses grew wild and ivy crept along the walls. It was their meeting spot, a place untouched by the eyes of the court.

Kol was already there, leaning casually against an old stone pillar, the corners of his lips lifting into a teasing smile as soon as he saw her.

"You're late," he said with mock disappointment. "I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about me."

Margaret shook her head, feeling her cheeks warm under his playful gaze. "You'd survive without me for a few hours."

Kol let out a soft chuckle and pushed away from the pillar, his movements graceful and fluid as he crossed the garden to stand beside her. "I'm not so sure about that, Maggie."

Margaret blinked, her heart skipping at the sound of her new nickname. "Maggie?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Since when do I go by that?"

Kol grinned, the mischievous glint in his eyes ever-present. "Since now. Margaret is far too formal, don't you think?"

It was strange, the way the nickname softened things between them. It felt intimate, personal in a way that was hard to explain. Margaret wasn't sure how to respond, but she couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. "Well, Maggie it is, then," she said quietly, surprised at how easily it came.

They began walking through the garden, the soft rustle of their footsteps filling the evening air. The castle behind them felt like a distant world, a place full of political games and the weight of her mother's expectations. Here, it was just the two of them, hidden away from everything else.

"I wish we could stay out here forever," Margaret admitted as they strolled past the climbing ivy and the fragrant roses. "No one bothering us, no one watching... It's like another world entirely."

Kol nodded in agreement. "It's peaceful, isn't it? I can see why you like it here. It's a good place to escape."

The word "escape" lingered between them. Margaret knew that Kol had been a wanderer long before they'd met, someone who didn't fit neatly into the structure of the court. He understood her longing to break free better than anyone else.

"So," Kol began, looking at her with a curious expression, "if you could run away right now, where would you go?"

Margaret stopped and thought for a moment, gazing up at the fading sky. "Anywhere but here," she said softly, and then after a pause, added, "Maybe somewhere by the sea. I've never seen it before."

Kol raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "Never? Not even once?"

Margaret shook her head. "No. I've lived in castles and courts my whole life. The furthest I've ever gone is to another noble's estate. It's all the same—walls, guards, expectations."

Kol's gaze softened as he watched her, something unspoken passing between them. "We'll change that," he said with quiet determination. "Someday, I'll take you to the sea. You deserve to see it."