Severed Heaven (Niklaus and Elijah Mikaelson)

Chapter Six: Rattle The Cage

1312, France

     Toward the end of July things really came to a head. The Originals had gained quite the popularity for themselves despite the fact that they lived just outside the village, afgelegen. Yet, plenty young women seemed to know their names, each and every one of them hoping to catch sight of them whenever they'd come down to the market. Aside from the romantic affection they all received, even the workers seemed to appreciate them, perhaps even going so far as to admire them.

As I thought about how effective their arrival had been for the coven, a sudden thought confused me. It was an immature and embarrassing kind of thought, because I wondered whether Niklaus had amused himself with the countless of desperate woman down in the village. He must have, I thought to myself. It seemed so obvious to me that he must enjoy the attention, although I didn't truthfully know and could never be sure. But why wouldn't he? The image in my mind left me horrified, yet I continued to picture him with women that weren't me. Never had I been so foolish over a man. I'd even sworn to myself that I'd never be, and now, here I was— completely swooning over him in my own taunting mind as I made my way back home from the market, which should be one of my few enjoyable weekly walks.

It wasn't, though. What, or rather who, made it close to unbearable, and I did not feel bad about the slight irritation towards him, was Kol Mikaelson. He had been right on my heels the entire time, making sure no peaceful moment would occur at all. I'd probably never met anyone so talkative. "I saw you down there— at the market, and I called you, but you didn't hear me." Oh, yes I did. "And it's not that I wanted to walk back with you just because you're you, however when I lost you in the crowd—"

"Is there something you want, Kol?" I asked him with a light chuckle. How could I stop this guy from talking endlessly?

He seemed to find himself unwary by my sudden question. "Not— not necessarily." He sounded unsure about his response. "Just walking you home, like Nik would." My insides tensed up at hearing his name, and I didn't breath for a moment. "And I thought, perhaps, you're afraid to be alone in the dark." He said, but I couldn't quite tell whether that was a joke or not.

I admired his nobility, although I couldn't help but give him a chuckle. I clutched the basket filled with herbs and fruits around my arm. "The sun's only just setting, and besides, we're almost there."

Not minutes later, there was a sudden interruption when Kol had just started giving me a million of opinions on these days's farming. The voice that interrupted was one that plenty enjoyed, and it belonged to a face that was as handsome as they come, and let's not forget to mention the British accent that haunted his words just perfectly— it was Niklaus. "I'm sorry, miss." He said in a jokingly manner. "Is this man bothering you?"

Of course I couldn't even answer him, because Kol spoke on a whim. "Brother, we were perfectly fine without you."

"Unlikely." He said.

Kol, now walking backwards while facing me, looked at me questionably. I thought better not to agree. I hoped not to offend him, but he then threw his hands up in the air cluelessly. "How come the girls always side with you, Nik?"

"What— I didn't even say anything." I said in my own defence.

I supposed that Kol had either read my face, or he'd heard my damned heartbeat rise whenever Niklaus spoke. In spit of that, he didn't seem to be bothered much at all by Niklaus' appearance. When he decided to part ways with us, both Niklaus and I received a wink from him before he jogged off the hill, leaving myself dangerously alone with the one person I admired way too much.

The wind blew my hair into my face, but it wasn't able to blow away my confidence just yet. There was a silence between him and I that was only bearable for one reason; it was a silence in which I felt comfortable. And as we walked down the hill under the burning July sun, I found myself actually forming the confessions in my head. I had to tell him at one point, right? Or could I keep this a secret forever and let him figure me out as time passed?