Elijah Mikaelson & The Dragon's Legacy

Chapter 12

It was 1626, and nearly four years had passed since Niklaus and Rebekah had come to live on the estate. Niklaus walked the grounds that morning, reflecting upon how quickly the time had passed and how truly content they all were. He looked back at the grand house and found his mind wishing that the old Duke had been his father, their father, and how much different their lives would have been. He came upon the garden that Angelica had planted just for him, and in this garden various plants were grown to provide Niklaus with an exotic array of colors needed for his painting pallet.

Niklaus had noticed that Angelica was never one to sit still for long. He was impressed with her development plans for the estate, she and Elijah would spend hours in the study, pouring over those plans, collaborating as if they were of a shared mind; she always seemed to have some new book or manuscript with her to read and discuss, oh how she loved to debate the issues of the day, and she was quite persuasive and determined when making her point. Niklaus would bait her just to be able to sit back and enjoy how passionately she defended her position, but she did it with such grace and style that Niklaus would throw up his hands and relent, "There was no winning an argument with that one!" he would say, feigning annoyance then breaking into his trademark grin.

She quite often was thinking of how to make others in the house happy – Niklaus and Rebekah had to be careful what they expressed out loud to Angelica, because if she could fulfill what they desired, she would find a way. This garden was an example. He had commented about being unable to find a certain color for his paintings and after some friendly interrogation by Angelica, a bit of research in the library, a few special orders and next thing Niklaus knew, the garden had been planted and he would not be short of color again. Niklaus smiled as he had never met anyone like her in his 600 years on the earth, she was unique, she was special, and he was elated that she was a part of his family.

For her part, Rebekah relished in having a little sister and she would often pull Angelica away from Elijah so that they could spend time together alone. Angelica would ask more worldly questions of Rebekah, about her travels, what she had seen, fashion, style ... men. Rebekah found Angelica's sheltered upbringing to be an interesting contrast to Angelica's knowledge of, well, just about everything. If it was written down, it seemed she had read it and remembered every word, every picture, every poem, every play, every line. Rebekah found that to be an amazing skill and admired Angelica for her intelligence – she did not stop at simply reciting what she had read, she analyzed it, dissected it, cross-referenced it, researched conflicts and developed hypothetical solutions. Angelica just lacked worldly experience although now she was no stranger to the violence that men would inflict upon their fellow man. So Rebekah would share with her stories of the world beyond Montecito.

As older sisters are wont to do, and with Rebekah's penchant for playfulness if it would make her stuffy brother Elijah uncomfortable, Rebekah would give Angelica suggestions on how to make the marriage bed more interesting. Angelica would then try something new with Elijah and he would know Rebekah was behind it. On more than one occasion, Elijah asked Rebekah to stop putting ideas in Angelica's head. Rebekah would laugh, Elijah would get flustered, and Rebekah would bide her time until the next opportunity would arise.

Although Angelica had always been athletic, since the attack five years ago, she had determined she was going to learn how to fight properly. She had begged Elijah to teach her but he was reluctant, he was worried she would get injured in the process and Elijah could not bear the thought that he would be the cause of it, regardless of the fact he would heal her if he did. He never wanted her to feel pain by his hand, ever. But Rebekah did not deny Angelica's request and began to teach her privately the art of the sword and other techniques for fighting. Niklaus happened upon them one day and Rebekah swore him to secrecy to never tell Elijah what they were doing. Elijah was too protective of Angelica and as a mere human she needed to know how to protect herself. Niklaus did not like keeping secrets from Elijah but agreed as this secret was harmless. Rebekah was impressed at how quickly Angelica mastered the physical arts Rebekah taught her leaving her to wonder whether there was anything that Angelica could not master.

As Niklaus walked back toward the house, he noticed a man quickly approaching on horseback and stop at the front of the house. The door knocker echoed in Niklaus' ear as the man banged it with force against the door. Niklaus saw the door open and the man disappeared inside. Niklaus quickened his pace and returned to the house to see the man in the foyer with Angelica and Elijah, and the word "plague" was being discussed. There had been several deaths in the village and this man was a messenger sent by the village doctor to inform them of what was occurring. Angelica readied herself to go down to the village but Elijah told her no, that she needed to stay at the estate, it was safer that way. Elijah would go to the village to see what was happening. Angelica did not take his denial well – and for the next forty five minutes she presented point after point to him on why she needed to go for herself. "Their first argument," thought Niklaus, "well, it had to happen eventually."

Elijah was beside himself, there was no winning the argument with her, even when he cited her personal health and safety. Elijah eventually conceded but with a condition. He already shared his blood with her each time he fed upon her, but if the plague were truly here and there was no keeping her out of the village to help the sick, he needed to ensure she always had his blood in her system before going to the village in order to keep her healthy. Angelica agreed to his terms and went upstairs to change her clothes before she went to the village. Niklaus looked at Elijah and they both knew what was going to happen next, they had seen it before with illnesses like this over the last 600 years – many more were going to die before it was through.

And that is exactly what happened, many died over the next few months. Elijah and Niklaus established quarantine areas to try to keep the sickness confined. Rebekah and Angelica helped the village doctor tend to the sick and the dying. Elijah ensured that each morning and evening, Angelica's tea contained drops of his blood. Rebekah admired Angelica for her tireless work, long hours without rest. Angelica was exhausted but never gave in to that exhaustion – she had tremendous fortitude. Much to his chagrin, she made recommendations to the doctor on methods to prevent transmission of this invisible enemy. "Information she had garnered from those books that she reads, no doubt," thought Rebekah. But the doctor relented to Angelica's proposals as her methods seemed to work. Eventually, the illness died out, and in the aftermath, seven of the farms in the Dukedom had lost whole families to the plague, half the villagers were dead since the plague had started in the village and spread rapidly before quarantine plans were put in place.

Elijah was relieved but cautious about whether the plague had truly passed, knowing first-hand how these things will resurface without warning. So as a precaution, Elijah continued to spike Angelica's tea or wine with drops of his blood for weeks afterwards without telling her what he was doing. Elijah was not about to risk losing his precious Angelica to this unseen enemy.