Elijah Mikaelson & The Dragon's Legacy

Chapter 19

Elijah awoke the next morning feeling refreshed. He could not remember the last time he had a restful night's sleep. He rose out of bed and shifted, sitting on the edge of the bed before rising and heading toward the bathroom to shave and shower. A knock came to his bedroom door and Elijah, wrapped in a towel, opened the door. A gentleman of about sixty stood on the other side, neatly dressed in a modest suit. "Mr. Mikaelson, I am Larrabee, your valet. May I come in?" Elijah nodded and stepped back, opening the door. Larrabee went to the closet, opened the door and inquired of Elijah as to which suit he would be wearing that day. Elijah and Larrabee worked out his wardrobe and Larrabee explained that any items that needed cleaning would be retrieved in the morning and returned to the closet by the afternoon, including any shoes that needed to be shined.

Larrabee told him, "I understand you will be attending a Broadway show this evening. The tailor will be here at 1 PM sharp to check the fit on the tuxedo and will make any needed alterations. If you don't care for the style of tuxedo, I will make arrangements for a variety of tuxedo suits to be brought to you instead. Which does the gentleman prefer?" Elijah looked at the tuxedo and told him the one in the closet would be fine (without revealing that he had no idea what the plans were yet for the day). "One last item, Sir, if there are any items you would like me to obtain for you, please write them on this clipboard pad here (motioning toward the clipboard hanging discretely on the wall inside the closet) and I will make every effort to have the item for you before the end of each day. If there are no questions, I will leave you to dress in private, Sir." Larrabee retrieved Elijah's suit from the day prior for cleaning but paused a moment. "I believe there is something in the interior pocket, Mr. Mikaelson." Elijah opened the jacket and removed the jewelry wrapped in the protective cloth from the inner pocket. Larrabee double checked all the pockets to be sure they were empty, wished Elijah a good day, and left the room with the laundry. Elijah remarked to himself that Larrabee was a throwback to valets of an earlier time and Elijah appreciated such amenities.

Elijah put the precious package on the dresser and dressed in the suit of the day, putting the items in his pocket. He walked out of the bedroom to the sound of clinking plates and silverware, the chatter of voices, and the sounds of laughter. It was The Seven, at breakfast? No, thought Elijah as he looked at his watch, it was 11 AM – brunch then? Elijah strode toward the dining room and upon entering the voices ceased and The Seven all looked at Elijah. For a moment, he felt as though he were intruding but that moment passed quickly as Rafe stood up and motioned to Elijah to take the chair at the head of the table. Rafe pulled back the chair for Elijah, Elijah took a seat and Rafe sat back down in his chair to Elijah's left. The chair to Elijah's right was vacant. Angelica was not in the dining room. Rafe looked at his watch and told Elijah that Angelica would be out shortly and a server attended to Elijah's coffee and food selections.

Angelica appeared quietly in the entry of the dining room and the eight men stopped and stood up. Elijah pulled out the chair to his right and after she was seated, Elijah sat back down in his chair. The chatter quickly resumed and the server brought Angelica her meal. Angelica and Elijah did not speak, they both just bemusedly listened to The Seven as they bantered back and forth, joking with each other, the volume of the room rising with the men's raucousness.

It was Rafe who engaged Elijah in conversation, "Did Larrabee get you all sorted out?" Elijah nodded yes and added, "Apparently I am attending a Broadway show this evening?" Angelica grinned, "I was hoping you would let me show you a little bit of our City this evening?" Elijah responded, "That sounds lovely, I am in your hands." "It's settled then," said Rafe, and they all resumed eating their brunch. Elijah took in the relaxed atmosphere and the camaraderie between these men. He was intrigued by The Seven and their place in Angelica's life but the whole experience was a bit surreal as it was only yesterday that he learned she was alive. He questioned himself as to whether he was somehow still in Freya's pendant, in a dreamland of his mind's own creation. He shook off the notion and turned his attention to the present.