Through His Eyes (The Originals)

The Axeman's Letter

 "Hello, darling." I could feel Tristan's arms around me. "You sleep well?"
 
"Well enough. You're very exhausting, you know."

 He gave me a mischievous smile. "I wouldn't have it any other way." 
 
 I brought my lips to his, pulled him down on top of me, our arms around each other...

 ~~~~~~

 "Get up!"
 
 I awoke the next morning to Klaus literally dragging me out of my bed.

 "What do you know about what Tristan and the Strix are planning?" he demanded.

 "What makes you think I know anything?" I shot back. I wasn't afraid of him, however much he tried to scare me.

 "I saw you. We all saw you with Tristan last night. I knew you lied to me when I asked if you knew him. Now tell me the truth, Father. What is your connection to Trista de Martel?"

 "Fine." I pushed his hands away. "You want to know the truth, son? I met Tristan in Dublin nearly a century ago. I lived in his house. We had sex multiple times. I met Aurora and Lucien. I learned all about their pasts with you." I sighed and walked to the window. "I let Tristan convince me to become part of the Strix. Then I found out about the prophecy. One by friend, one by foe, one by family. I didn't want Rebekah and Elijah to die. I thought if I killed you, that would be the one by foe. Then I would do whatever I could to protect my children from the prophecy. I thought I could save them. But I never got the chance. And now...I am afraid the prophecy is going to come true."
 
 Klaus was silent for a long moment. He was probably trying to make sense of the 'sex with Tristan' part.

 "That witch is dead," he finally said. "She was poisoned. As for Tristan, do you plan on rejoining the Strix? I certainly hope not. If you were, I would make you a spy, but I don't trust you enough for that. In fact, I don't trust you at all. I have Marcel to help me, anyway." He moved his gaze around the room. "There is still one white oak stake left, isn't there? I know you have it hidden somewhere."
 
 He looked back at me, and I just stared right back. I knew he wanted me to give away where it was. But I wouldn't.
 
 After what felt like hours, Klaus said, "The Axeman Jazz Fest is today. Why don't you go out and have fun? I have things to do."
 
 I felt a deep sense of relief as soon as he was gone. I got down on my knees and pulled up one of the floorboards. It was still there. After I'd gotten dressed, I tucked it into my jacket. Just in case I would need it. 

~~~~~~

 It didn't seem very exciting to me. I honestly couldn't see what all the fuss was about. I did find out that this was the day the witches had to pay tribute to the Regent. I went to find Davina to say hello, but all I got was a 'Go away, Mikael'.
 
 I didn't stay there for long.

 It did not escape my notice, however, that she had enlisted Hayley and Jackson Kenner as some sort of bodyguards. Did she have leverage over them, I wondered? I tried asking her about it. That time I got, "If you don't get out of here, I will hurt you. Badly."
 
 So I took to walking about the streets of New Orleans, trying to get in a festive mood.
 
 It wasn't working.
 
 Perhaps I have spent too much time in my own world, I thought, and not enough time in the real world. 

 I turned a corner and walked straight into Marcel Gerard.
 
 "And what are you up to?" I asked.

 "That's none of your business," he said and tried to get past me.

 "If it concerns the Strix, then it might. I suppose you're spying for Klaus?" 

 He smirked. "Your aim's a little off, old man. My men and I are following Tristan for Elijah. You were close, though."
 
 "Great. I'll join you."

 His smirk quickly faded. "I don't think so. You may be a Mikaelson, but you're no friend of mine."

 Now, did he really think that would work? I trailed along behind him and his men, much to his annoyance.

 We followed Tristan to an old warehouse. One that had been bought by Kingmaker Land Development. Also known as Lucien Castle. 

 "I knew it," I said to Marcel. "Those two are working together."
 
 "Do you know them?" he asked.
 
 "Unfortunately, I do know both of them. You had better tell this to Elijah. I have the feeling he'd take your word for it before mine."
 
 I walked back to the compound as the sun went down-and returned to find, of all things, Elijah and Klaus attempting to rip each other to pieces.
 
 "What are you doing?" I quickly got between them. "What is this?"
 
 "Ask your legitimate son," Klaus said, pointing to Elijah. "He took Aurora away from me. He compelled her to think I was a monster."
 
 I looked at Elijah. "Did you?"

 "I didn't know at the time what compulsion was," he said. "I didn't know what I was doing. And I knew she was better off without him, without us." 
 
 "I will destroy you," Klaus growled and charged for him. I slammed him against the wall and pulled out the white oak stake.

 "I will use this on the two of you if I must," I threatened, gripping the stake tightly in my hand. "I went with Marcel and his men to track down Tristan. He went to a warehouse recently bought by Lucien. And when I knew Tristan years ago, Lucien was there as well, and they seemed to work together very well. If you are going to defeat them and stop this prophecy from happening, you have to work together. Now, stop trying to kill each other and get your acts together!"

 "Are you really going to stand there and tell us what to do?" Elijah asked.

 "Seeing as I am the one with the only weapon that can kill an Original, yes. I am your father. I raised you, and I did not raise you to behave like savages. You are going to make a truce, clean all that blood off, and work together. Or I could always break this stake in two and put one half into each of you."
 
 They seemed to think I actually meant it. I believed me, listening to the words coming out of my mouth. They grudgingly shook hands and went to clean the blood off themselves.
 
 Of all the things I'd done in my time, nothing was more difficult than being the father of Niklaus and Elijah Mikaelson. 
 
 That was how I learned why so many people choose not to have children.