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"So what brings you here, old friend?" Klaus asked as he gestured for Lucien to enter the study, followed by his elder brother.

"Uninvited," Elijah drawled, leaning against the desk.

"I considered us old friends, Elijah," Lucien answered with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Friend is a rather broad term when your association with us ended a millennia ago," he replied.

"Well, you are my friend," the hybrid insisted, handing Lucien a glass of drink.

"Niklaus, Mrs. Lockwood is asking for you," Adelia entered the room, glancing at Lucien as he smirked at her.

"Lucien was just leaving. I'll bid him farewell and see the mayor," the Original said, chugging a mouthful of whisky.

"Congratulations on your nuptials, Miss Laurentis," the first sireling walked towards the woman as Elijah narrowed his eyes, his hand clutching the corners of the desk.

"She is Mrs. Mikaelson, dear friend. Do pay her respect," Klaus gave his input with a threatening smile.

"I prefer Ms. Laurentis, Nik," Lucien answered, looking straight at her before leaning in to place a chaste kiss on her cheek as she stiffened in place.

Elijah straightened at the gesture, his jaw clenching with anger as Klaus stood amused.

Lucien leaned in further to whisper into her ear, very well aware the other beings could hear him. "If I had known you were looking for a husband when we met, I'd have happily volunteered. Keep the lands and assets in the family, they say."

Adelia turned her head to look at him, her eyes vacant and impassive as he stared at her with devil in his eyes. He winked at her before glancing at the occupants with a smile.

Elijah glanced at Klaus and nodded stiffly. "If you'll excuse me. I have to attend to the guests downstairs," he said before leaving the room, his fingers brushing against Adelia's.

Lucien heard the door bang against the wall and commented, "Time hasn't fared well for him. Still a stick in the mud."

"That's Elijah for you," Klaus snickered.

"Klaus, we are waiting downstairs," she glared at the men.

"Well sweetheart, you could have done better," Lucien smirked and took a step back.

The Original looked at his first sired curiously and asked, "You know Adelia?"

"Never forgot the vampire who had a penchant for giving migraines," he answered. "Said she wanted to commemorate her late fiancé. Wore his betrothal ring, poor girl."

"You were with Lucien after you left Orleans?" Klaus accused Adelia half-heartedly.

Adelia crossed her arms and replied, "I was not with anyone, lest this man who resembles his thickheaded sire."

"And like a good Samaritan that I am, I couldn't resist myself from assisting her," the first sireling answered.

"You were more of a thorn in my side, Mr. Castle," the witch quipped.

"Still the formality, Lia?" Lucien made a sad face. "I thought we would rule Seattle together, but she decreed democracy. Even the philanthropist in me cried at the letdown."

"Why are you here?" Adelia questioned with a sigh.

"I need a tiny little favour."

"We do not lend those anymore," the Original chuckled.

"Hear him out, Klaus. We do not want a scene when there are guests outside," the heretic repeated.

"Adelia," Klaus said in a warning tone.

"What I need is your help, Ms Laurentis," Lucien answered.

"Absolutely not. She is not giving you anything," Klaus shook his head.

"I just need her expertise with a matter very close to my heart," the sireling said.

"And where do you need my expertise?" Adelia asked curiously.

"A general reading and your thoughts. Not every witch is as experienced as yourself," he replied and continued, "that immortality comes in handy huh."

"I am not interested in getting into debacles with witches."

"There is your answer," Klaus smirked.

"Well I had a good proposition since you are so willing to refuse," Lucien handed her a file and the witch took it gingerly. She glanced at it and flipped through it, the Kingmaker Land Development Inc. watermark stamped on the pages.

Adelia took a step forward as he smirked. "Should I be concerned you know of my interest in the property?" she asked.

"I do my research, Lia," Lucien replied. "I hate being kept in the dark."

"All this trouble for a reading? Must be something important," she mused, glancing up at him.

"Don't tell me you are considering this," the Original roared seeing the pensive look on Maeve's face. "Our family has just reunited and you are already thinking of getting into trouble with the witches. What will mother think?"

"I haven't agreed, Klaus," Adelia pursed her mouth.

"And that is supposed to placate me how?" He snatched the file from her hand and threw it over the desk.

"It shouldn't, Klaus but it was good to see you, Mr. Castle," the witch rolled her eyes before moving to leave the room.

"Always a pleasure, Adelia," the sireling said after her as the door closed behind her.

"How convenient for you," Klaus's voice came from behind him as he nursed himself another glass. "Don't mind my intrusion. I am just here to breathe in the opportunistic tinge in the air," he finished, waving a hand at him. "First that vile Tristan comes knocking at the doorstep and now you."

"You presume I do not know how the potential recruits for Strix disappear into thin air?" Lucien smiled. "Elijah has a courageous heart to involve his wife in it as well."

"You two are rather chummy are you not?"

"I have no complaints about bad things happening to Tristan." He raised his hands in surrender.

"Make sure your sentiments remain the same. I would hate to see you in peril, dear friend." Klaus pat his shoulder.

Lucien bit the inside of his cheek before he replied, "We wouldn't want that now, would we? You are my humble sire."

A cautiously fond smile overtook the hybrid's face as he glanced at the other vampire. "Let's have a drink later, shall we?"

_______________

Esther's footsteps echoed in the empty hallway as she glanced around and discreetly entered a room. She closed the door behind her and looked at the organised interior, expecting nothing less of Elijah. She traced her fingers over various artefacts in the room, clearly Klaus' choice but of Elijah and his wife's taste.

Her eyes fell over the frame on the nightstand and she picked it up, scrutinizing every aspect of it. She never expected her son's affair to last this long, she thought while staring at Adelia in her son's embrace. Their union served only one purpose and that was ruined by everyone involved in the hysteria.

Adelia who was once collateral soon became a consequence.

It broke her heart to have put her son through it, but it had been for the greater good. She needed to do it. Maybe one day Elijah would understand, but now was not the time. Even if she failed, she would salvage what's left of it and a mother's connection to her child never disappointed.

The matriarch kept the frame back on the stand as she pulled out an object from her pocket and examined the feathers on it carefully. She looked at the bedpost in contemplation and hooked it to the wood swiftly.

The Original witch could only hope that among the wild knickknacks in the room, an innocent dreamcatcher wouldn't grab their eyes.

_______________

"Lia!" Jenna rushed after the witch in a hurry as Adelia turned back.

"Jenna," she smiled, "I hope you're enjoying the night."

"I am truly sorry I spoke to you that way," the vampire came to the point with an apologetic look on her face.

"It's alright." Adelia brushed it off.

"Klaus threatened Jeremy and then things went haywire with Alaric and I lost my temper and took it out on you," Jenna explained.

"I appreciate the reasoning but know that I do not like being accused of things I have no control over," the witch replied and looked into the crowd for her husband.

"You are blowing this out of proportion," the newbie vampire spluttered out, extremely anxious.

Adelia turned her attention to the woman in front of her. "I consider you a friend Jenna and I know we aren't close, but that does not imply I wouldn't be willing to lend my ears if you have problems," she told her with a sigh and continued, "it also doesn't give you the right to implicate your problems onto other people."

"It was not my intention," Jenna insisted.

"Frustration is not fueling this behaviour, it's conflict." The witch grabbed the other woman's hand to give it a comforting squeeze. "I hope you enjoy the night."

Jenna glanced away as she felt Adelia's presence drift away. She picked up a flute of champagne and downed it in one go.

"Well you are a mess," Rafael said as he walked in and stared at the woman in front of him. "You will get used to the whole vampire heightened thing over time." He passed her his handkerchief which she immediately took to wipe her nose.

"Am I a bad vampire?" she asked.

"Pardon?" The Desmond frowned at the question.

"What is happening to me?" she cried out as the people turned around and turned to look at them.

Rafael grabbed her wrist gently and tugged her out of the manor.

"It's okay to be over-emotional now. You will learn," he pacified her and sat her down on the stairs of the entrance, taking a seat beside her. "You cannot be a model vampire even if you try."

"Have you seen Caroline? She is such a good vampire without even trying," Jenna said and covered her face. "I am trying, but everything is falling apart!"

"Stop comparing yourself to other people," he insisted.

"I should try harder," Jenna sniffed.

"Do it at a pace you're comfortable with," he smiled at her. "Being a vampire doesn't change a person unless they let it define them. Stop seeing yourself as a creature and be who you really are, Jenna Sommers. Vampirism is an extension of yourself and not the other way around."

"It's not that simple," she mumbled and looked at him.

"Nobody told you it would be but wait," Rafael stopped as a thought hit him and continued, "You really have nobody to tell you except that Cinderella."

"Cinderella," the newbie vampire chuckled.

He rolled his eyes and stifled a grin. "You chose to wrap your head around Cinderella from that sentence. Wonderful."

They sat in silence for a few moments as they caught the sight of Caroline admiring a horse.

"Thank you." Jenna turned to him and added, "I already disappointed Jeremy, I don't want the same for Elena."

"Let them own up to their actions. Unless they realize the severity of it, they won't learn," he replied.

"She will never be safe around Klaus. I have to protect her," Jenna told the man.

"Your niece is a doppelganger," he started, "She will never be safe. If not Klaus then somebody else will be there. Don't exclude the Salvatores from the danger list."

"Damon and Stefan protect her," she bit her lip. "Stefan loves her and I have seen it. Only if Klaus didn't make him give up his emotions."

"Elena is the safest around Klaus. He hasn't made a name in the supernatural world for nothing. People fear him," he explained. "They wouldn't dare lay a hand on her if they know she is under his protection."

"You do not fear him," she pointed out.

"My insurance is someone very near and dear to Klaus and I take full advantage of my association with the royalty of the supernatural world," Rafael smirked.

"And you say you hate them." She rolled her eyes.

"I do not have to like them to get them on the same page. Mikaelsons know fruitful negotiations very well."

"Negotiation for what?" Jenna furrowed her brows in confusion.

"If Elena cannot get out of this then she should make the best of it. Negotiate. She wants protection for her loved ones, and Klaus will do that. She wants monetary benefits for her little donation every few months; Klaus will have no problem fulfilling any of it. She wants to secure safety for her ten future generations; the Original will make sure of that," Rafael elaborated as the wheels started churning in Jenna's head.

"They are the Originals," she air-quoted the words.

"Not everything has to end in a fight, you have to use your brain as well. Klaus is reasonable, more so than any other Mikaelson."

_______________

Elijah walked up to Elena as she seemed visibly frazzled and asked, "So how was my mother?"

"Intense," the doppelganger breathed out.

"And for what reason did she need to speak with you in private?" he enquired while offering her a glass of champagne.

Elena stiffened and glanced up at Esther on the staircase who was looking down at her.

"Elena?" the Original whispered, "should I be concerned about my mother's intentions?"

"She just wanted to apologize for trying to have me killed," she answered firmly.

"So it's true, then? She's forgiven Klaus?"

"It's true," Elena said as Elijah stared at her, slowly unnerving her.

"You are late," he took a step back and turned towards Adelia who came to stand beside him and took the second flute from his hand. "Where is Niklaus?"

"He is coming," the witch informed him as he nodded when Esther started addressing the guests.

"Good Evening, Ladies and Gentleman," the Original witch smiled and continued, "Waiters are coming around with champagne. I invite you all to join me in raising a glass." She looked around at her children. "It provides me with no greater joy then to see my family back together as one. I'd like to thank you all for being part of this spectacular evening. Cheers!"

"Cheers!" Everyone drank from their flutes with a smile as they went to settle in.

Elijah stared at the doppelganger's retreating figure with a frown as Adelia took the glass from him, worry evident on her face.

"What is bothering you?" she softly asked.

"Something is not right, my love," he answered as he watched his mother disappear inside the study.

"Lucien?" Her brows furrowed.

"Not him." He glanced around. "But I do hope he is on his way out."

"Do you wish to talk to Niklaus?"

"He is relatively happy tonight, let him be. I am sure it's nothing, Miss Laurentis," Elijah replied, giving her a reassuring smile.

"If you say so," she said and patted his hand lovingly.

_______________

"I thought Elijah was the most friendly of the lot," Jenna spoke to herself. "He invited me."

"Why do you think you people never figured out Adelia was Elijah's wife when he first arrived in town?" The Desmond chuckled. "He never lied but found a way around his words. But Klaus, he is very upfront about his propositions."

"Klaus has thousands of enemies as well. How is she even safe in his vicinity?" she questioned him curiously.

"You only see what you want to see, Jenna. Klaus doesn't come alone. That family has each other's back, even begrudgingly," he put forward his point and then added, "Though not sure about Bekah. Your niece really made a bad impression on her."

"You do not know Elena." Jenna shook her head in frustration.

"I do not need to know about her," he sighed. "Klaus likes to stir drama from time to time, but that is how he is. If you don't bother him, he won't bother you and the Salvatores along with your niece do exactly the opposite of that."

"This is giving me a headache," the woman said, pinching her head.

"You are a vampire," he answered.

"Please refrain from using logic under these stressful circumstances."

"Cheers to stressful life." Rafael clinked his flute with hers.

"I will keep your words in mind," she hesitantly admitted.

"The world doesn't revolve around Elena. Don't make your world revolve around her problems," he softly said.

"So that's your story?" Jenna narrowed her eyes then. "You are always around Adelia."

"And that's the thing you should know. We choose our battles. Though I won't say it out loud, I am thankful to Elijah for giving her the agency to decide for herself," he smiled at her. "Fate may have tied her to this family but accepting it was her choice."

"She had a husband before Elijah, right?" Jenna asked, curious about the woman who most of the times seemed so involved in this family and sometimes completely detached. "I read about it in Seattle."

Rafael looked at her. "Jasper was my cousin," he informed her and her eyes widened at the nugget of information. "He once told me Adelia to him was so soft and innocent because every bit of her was made of kindness. He returned it tenfold."

"And Elijah?"

"I am partial to my blood so I shall withhold all the unsavoury comments for the Original, but I do believe he is a closet masochist."

"You talk in riddles." She shook her head in disbelief with a giggle.

"I am aware that my awesomeness is grating on your nerves, but do keep up," Rafael shrugged his shoulder.

"Shut up." She pouted as her fingers played with the poofy material of her gown.

"Excuse me," he said suddenly, holding up his ringing phone and got up to walk down the stairs.

Jenna stared at him from the corner of her eyes and took a deep breath. Feeling eyes on himself, he turned back to glance at her as she looked away immediately.

_______________

"And she flees," Kol said, watching Caroline leave and clinked flutes with Elijah. "You owe me a hundred, 'lijah."

Elijah rolled his eyes and pulled out a note from his pocket. "Don't tell my wife," he warned his youngest brother.

"That'll be two hundred," the mischievous one put it out as the noble one handed him another note.

"What are you two doing here?" Klaus came out of his art room and walked up to them.

"Learning, Nik," Kol quipped and continued, "How to chase away a girl. Your demonstration was exemplary, brother. Mind sharing the do's and the don'ts."

"You were spying on me?" The hybrid glared at him.

"I am offended," he replied, dramatically putting a hand over his chest. "What if the blonde tried to sink her claws into you?"

Elijah snorted, putting away his drink.

"Elijah! Were you an accomplice as well?" Klaus thundered over the brother who was supposed to act more mature.

"We were protecting you," Kol answered and continued with a sad face, "You cannot even care about your brother's well-being these days!"

"Louvre, Niklaus? Seriously?" Elijah spoke with a smirk.

"Well, it could be true!" the hybrid said, offended.

"Is it true, Nik?" Kol made a face.

"Oh buzz off you two," Klaus said before walking away as Elijah patted Kol's shoulder in appreciation.

_______________

"Send the refills to that table," Adelia told a waiter.

"Yes, ma'am," the man nodded and went away.

"Busy are you?" Elijah came and wrapped his arm around her waist, smiling at the people.

She leaned closer to him and whispered into his ear, "I am."

"May I have a dance?" He trailed his fingers up his wife's palm, waiting for her.

"Stop evading the issue," she insisted.

"Did you agree to whatever Lucien had in mind?"

"I did not accept it, but I did not refuse it as well," Adelia answered, noticing the diversion.

"But you need time," Elijah completed for her.

"I do need time," she agreed.

"I cannot stop you, can I?" The Original sighed under his breath, kissing her nape.

"You can try," Adelia smirked and leaned into him.

"You wouldn't be my wife if you were this compliant," he said in humour.

"One would think you love getting into fights with me," she said, brushing a hand over his suit-clad chest as her eyes twinkled under the low light.

"I am willing to showcase my disagreement under the sheets," Elijah suggested, fingers tracing her delicate wrist as he met her eyes before taking a sip of the drink.

"Do you volunteer to get punished then?" Adelia said lowly, backing him into the counter as she deliberately moved her thumb over his wet lips.

Elijah immediately gripped her wrist, looking around when the witch brushed her fingers against his throat and he stiffened under her touch, glass tightening in his grip.

"Let's keep the dog out of our room tonight," he suggested with a gulp.

"Only if you let me tie you up," she proposed.

"The gown stays," the Original replied, "and the heels."

"I thought you wouldn't ask," she giggled, meeting his lips and he smiled.

"Elijah," Esther called from behind them and the couple froze. Adelia immediately retrieved her hand and turned around as the man discreetly tried to wipe off the lipstick stains.

"Esther, hello," Adelia said nervously as Elijah's head peeked from over her neck.

"Mother, do you require anything?" the Original asked, clearing his throat.

"Meet me upstairs," she replied as the couple caught a glimpse of Klaus carrying his unconscious little brother from the back door.

_______________

"No violence, that was all I asked. Rebekah and Kol disgraced our family tonight," Esther said in a stern tone. "Have you been disciplining your siblings like this all your years? So unruly, so unkind."

"It won't happen again, mother. I'll deal with them," the noble one answered, sliding off the accusation.

"Thank you, Elijah. I wish the others were more like you," she smiled as he nodded and moved to exit the room. "If you are not happy with Adelia then you must let her go."

Elijah stopped in his path and turned around with a frown. "Mother, what gave you that impression that I am unhappy?"

"Obligation turns into poison," the matriarch replied, her hands fiddling through the spell book.

"Adelia is not an obligation. Though I must admit I'm quite offended you suggested that," he replied.

"I know how it is to live in a loveless marriage. I do not wish the same for you," she explained, looking away.

"Not all are how you and father were and not everyone is how you are," Elijah said and she immediately looked at him. "Even doubting my wife's faithfulness to me is a sin in my eyes. I will not tarnish her honour."

Esther blinked and turned her nose up. "Rebekah told me the circumstances under which you two got together," she told her son.

"The circumstances might have been inconvenient, but I have never used it as a means to justify the shortcomings in our marriage," the Original answered, his voice slowly turning to steel. "I have never taken any relationship lightly, so what gave you the impression, mother," he paused and continued, "that I took her as my wife when I did not mean it? Have I failed as a husband?"

"No, you didn't," she stepped forward, trying to placate him. "You are my son, you would never fail. But Adelia did, she failed you." Seeing the look in her son's eyes, she continued, "Her priorities linger outside our home. Why did she not choose to stand beside you the night of my resurrection? Something tells me this happens often. That is not how a wife should behave."

"She is free to stand her ground the way she wishes to," Elijah said, taking a step back.

"This family is not one to be kept as a second or third priority," Esther said, her eyes now narrowed.

"My wife's freedom to prioritize her duties and even her disagreements with me is a part of who she is and I am not willing to change that to quell my fears," the noble son replied.

"There are no equals in a marriage. There is always one who has the upper hand," the mother said, her eyes reminiscent of fear. "You are an Original, you are my son and you have no equal."

"As the woman I love, Adelia was, is and always will be my equal. I refuse to see her any less than that," he answered and took a deep breath, "Now kindly tell me what brought this on?"

Esther turned to him as they looked at each other. Silence ensued in the room before she took a seat on the couch in defeat.

"I wanted the village to envy the family I had, the perfect children Mikael and I raised," she crossed her legs and straightened her shoulders with pride. "I wished the same envy for the wives my sons chose for themselves, to bear lovely children who will be so greatly adored by my husband. I wanted a perfect family, I still desire it."

"Mother, what do you want?"

"Your wife is a very beautiful woman, the kind I always wanted as your bride back then. Nobility for my noble son," the matriarch replied with a fond smile but it slowly disappeared. "But since my resurrection, I have also noticed how your younger brother clings to every thread that connects him to his family. Klaus' paranoia and possessiveness have robbed his siblings of their happiness for centuries."

"What does Niklaus has to do with Adelia?" He asked in a dismissive tone, his fist clenching behind his back.

"Have you never wondered why Klaus allows you your beloved?" Esther watched him curiously.

"They have known each other since before Adelia has known me. Niklaus considers her a dearest friend of his," Elijah answered.

"Your exasperation tells me that her loyalty to your brother keeps you tethered to him as well," the witch informed, noting his tautness before she softly continued, "The loyalty that has generated an affection in Klaus'unforgiving heart." She finished and the Original closed his eyes.

"The affection that will never be returned," he replied, pinching his head. "Her faithfulness to me and loyalty to Niklaus has kept her in the family for this long."

"This is no simple affection, Elijah. Not her loyalty to Klaus makes him call her Maeve. It is a longing, a deep-rooted desire for a girl who belongs to his brother, a woman who is your wife," she finished hastily, her eyes alarmed. "I will not let another Tatia ruin my children."

"Adelia is not Tatia. She has taken this family upon herself out of kindness and love she has for us. I will not tolerate anyone chastising my wife for being kind to my brother since the beginning. Do not dishonour them and their relationship, mother," Elijah said, his eyes hard.

"Your mind has justified your wife's duties, but what do you have to say about your brother?" She gave him a sad smile, almost out of pity.

"Mother, Niklaus gets to be around her because I let him be," he confessed as the air stilled. "Their companionship is the result of the line that I drew between them. His affections move around the circle, the vestige that our relationship holds. Mine and Adelia's and Niklaus and myself. My brother respects it enough to not cross it."

Esther looked at her son's approach with a stunned expression. "My perfect family is just an illusion, isn't it? I will never have my family. It is so broken from within. Oh, what do I do?" She muttered to herself. If her noble son was willing to go this far to secure his relationships, what were the rest of them capable of?

"It was never perfect mother," Elijah said and she stiffened in her seat. "Our father was abusive and you turned a blind eye to what he did because your treachery weighed heavily upon you. You wanted to protect yourself before you protected Niklaus. You feared your own husband."

Esther got up, her eyes narrowing at the accusation. "When did you become this cold, Elijah? Disrespecting me, your father, and our relation."

"If we had this conversation millennia ago, we wouldn't have been here. I would've protected you and Klaus. Finn would've come with us. Kol, Rebekah, Henrik," the Original replied.

"You think he would've let us live," she walked to him desperately as a tear slid down her eye.

"We died either way mother," Elijah said in a morose tone as he started raising his voice. "If it was fated to play out that way, then at least I wouldn't have become an accomplice to the torment my parents inflicted upon my brother to try and fix him."

"I needed your father!" Esther shouted. "I needed him to protect our family. There is something out there more dangerous than him. I lost my little Freya to it, I did not want you to lose your happiness as well."

"I have already lost the happiness bestowed upon me," he informed her with a gulp and continued, "But I am not the one to justify that loss by inciting fear into my wife for the inevitable. I am not my father and neither will I let Adelia become you."

Her eyes narrowed dangerously at her son's implication, of daring to throw her mistakes on her face. "Allowing your brother to bask in her, giving him pain for your selfish desires, that makes you worse than your father," Esther said heatedly. "You realised it very early that the only way he'd ever allow you to be with her is if he is allowed as well."

"Goodnight, mother," the Original replied with a clenched jaw and left the room.

_______________

"I warned you to stay away from Maeve, brother," Klaus' voice boomed from behind him and Elijah turned around. "You have betrayed me, right under my nose."

"I have not," the elder Original impassively replied. "That was years ago."

"And you are still aware how much of a displeasure it is to me when you roam anywhere near Maeve without my knowledge," the younger one seethed.

"I am sorry to have troubled you. What a misfortune," Elijah drawled.

"You dare stand against me, for a mere girl," Klaus took a step towards his brother.

"And who is it that finds displeasure in my association with the same mere girl."

"I am allowed whatever I desire, but I have not given you the right to have yours and you will not," the younger Mikaelson glared at the noble one.

Elijah's eyes teared up for a minuscule of a moment at the statement as he chuckled to himself recollecting Sharel's words.

Do not look at her; do not speak to her, go near her, think of her.

"I am not allowed to have my share of desires because apparently, your command should eclipse my happiness. I have let you do that to me, do that to our siblings, to Rebekah, to Kol, Finn."

"Your heartfelt words will not change my mind," Klaus said, eerily unnerved by his brother's calm demeanour. Maybe he was fretting; maybe his brother really did not love Adelia.

"What a novelty it is to be your brother, Niklaus," Elijah sighed, tiredness seeping into his voice. "I have resigned myself to a life of misery, all for you."

"You are my brother, I will not let you fall weak," the younger brother explained with a grim expression.

The elder Mikaelson walked over to the drawer and pulled out the sapphire pin, his thumb caressing the objects as a tear fell over it. He closed his eyes and stepped toward his brother, not meeting his eyes.

"Destroy them," Elijah calmly stated and Klaus' head snapped towards him in disbelief—he knew how dear the objects were to his elder brother.

Klaus' resolve faltered when he saw him place the things on the table between them. Elijah turned around to move upstairs but stopped as his foot touched the first stair. He looked at the objects and came back to grab them within his fist.

"Allow me this reprieve, brother," the noble Original requested the younger one, the impassiveness radiating off him.

Klaus stared at him and his desperation, his bloodshot eyes and his quivering fingers. Maybe he could allow Elijah to keep the last of his hope and sanity for the time. He nodded lightly, giving his approval to keep the tokens.

Elijah glanced at him and tossed the objects into the fire of the crackling fireplace making Klaus' eyes widen. He opened his mouth in shock as his brother turned to him.

"Thank you, Niklaus. I will forever be grateful for your kindness," he said, his stature absolutely stoic.

"Brother," the younger Mikaelson breathed out as he watched Elijah ascend the staircase when a crack resonated the compound and soon his brother's heavy body tumbled onto the floor.

Klaus stared at Elijah's prone figure and glanced sideways to see his paramour striding up to him to hand him the dagger.

He sighed and walked towards him and bent down, fingering the pointed tip of the weapon as hesitation turned him numb.

The Original lifted his head to see the blue sapphire pin turning red in the fire and pushed the dagger through his brother's heart.

He would wait for Maeve to live out her human years or get her far away from this place, whichever happened sooner. He wouldn't allow an impossible prophecy to steer his brother's destiny when only he had the right to do so.

Adelia and Elijah will have to stay away from each other if he wanted to outrun the damned thing.

_______________

"How was your rendezvous with Ms. Forbes?" Adelia asked him suggestively as Klaus peered up at her.

"Go back to reading," he said, setting his head back on her lap as she hummed and turned the page of the magazine. Not a minute of silence passed when he continued, "She was exquisite." The witch smiled, her fingers caressing his hair absent-mindedly.

"I never knew you had an interest in her," she prompted.

"The interest is very newfound," he answered softly.

"Are you blushing?" She chuckled, patting his cheek.

"How dare you insinuat—"

"Adelia," Elijah's steel voice resonated in the living room as he appeared in the stairway looking at the pair with disinterest.

"Oh Elijah, are you hungry? I can reheat your dinner," she said, patting Klaus' head for him to get up as he complied, going back to sketching.

"I am tired; I wish to retire for the night."

"Klaus was hungry a little while ago; I shall reheat his dinner and join you in a few minutes."

"I am sure my brother is able enough to work a few appliances," Elijah replied tersely.

Klaus looked up and raised his brow at their discussion, his brother's mannerism towards his wife very strange.

"Maeve I am not a child," the hybrid rolled his eyes, not happy to play the peacemaker.

Adelia looked between the brothers and nodded, quickly bidding him Goodnight.

"Goodnight, Elijah," Klaus said to get no response from his brother as she smiled apologetically at him.

_______________

Finn strolled in a minute later and shut the doors.

"Are we all right to speak freely?" He asked his mother.

Esther sniffed, wiping her nose. "Yes, the sage still burns," she replied and wrote her children's names on a piece of paper.

"You aren't having second thoughts, are you?" The eldest asked, remembering her expressing her doubts earlier.

Esther looked at her son and nodded, "Not anymore." She stated firmly.

_______________

Elijah pushed open the wardrobe and shuffled through various drawers to occupy himself, his mother's words echoing in his head. He contemplated telling Adelia as he heard the shower running in the bathroom and sighed.

He opened the drawers swiftly and banged them shut when a very familiar box caught his eye. The Original stared at it for a minute and picked up the box hesitantly as his chest burned at the denial.

His fingers lifted the lid to see the ruby anklet on the cushioned interior and his thumb ran across it with a blooming fondness. The sound of the shower going off reached his ears, breaking him out of his daze. He looked at the anklet and the all familiar pain constricted his heart when he hurriedly closed the lid to put it away.

The Original closed the drawer and pinched his forehead and took deep breaths. As the soft pitter-patter of feet came towards the room, he exited the walk-in and gulped down a glass of water.

"Elijah, we have to speak about Lucien. Where is Maeve?" Klaus entered his brother's room to notice him loosening the bow tie from around his neck as he finished the water. "You look troubled."

The noble Original shut his eyes at his voice and looked away to reign himself in. The glass cracked within his fist to shatter immediately, the blood dripping onto the floor.

Klaus frowned at his behaviour. "Are you alright?" He asked gently.

"I need some air," Elijah answered impassively and moved past him with a glare.

The hybrid stood still at the place, wheels churning in his head about the possibilities for Elijah's hostile behaviour.

"Have you seen Asher, Elijah?" Adelia walked in, wearing a robe and stopped seeing Klaus. "Oh, your majesty," the witch gave him a dramatic bow making the hybrid roll his eyes, "May I inquire where my husband is?" She drawled.

"He just left," the Original Hybrid answered. "Did you two have a disagreement? Elijah was sulking."

"If he was sulking, it was for sure not because of me," she replied and looked at the broken glass at her feet, the droplets of blood leaving a trail.

He stared at her for a minute as she raised her brows. Klaus cleared his throat and said, "Your dog. He's with Bekah."

"If you do not mind, kindly tell Bekah to send him here before she goes to sleep. Don't want to hear any complaints about his fur tomorrow," she chuckled.

"I'll send someone to clean this in a minute," the Original said before he left the room, the witch staring at his retreating figure with a frown.

_______________

Rebekah entered the Grill with defeated steps and faltered when she spotted her brother.

"What are you doing here, brother?" She asked Elijah, sliding into the seat beside him.

"Mother won't be happy to see you here," he told her.

"Well then I trust you take care of it," she smirked as the bartender poured her a drink. "Is Adelia in the washroom? She better have lipstick."

"She is not here," Elijah said, taking a sip.

"My noble brother," the blonde smiled, "abandoning his wife for a miserable drink. Was it Lucien?"

"I do not care about Adelia's association with other men," he sighed.

She chuckled and looked at him. "Klaus then. Did mother say anything? You know she's still stuck in her times and ways," she patted his hand.

"Do I let him get away with everything?" The Original asked his sister.

"Stop comparing your relationship with your Adelia to their friendship," Rebekah insisted. "Her presence beside you for more than a century isn't enough to prove her love that you have to ridicule that with your insecurities over something mother said. You are turning into Klaus."

"I fear I'd never be good enough for her, Rebekah," Elijah confessed softly.

"She hasn't left you still so give your worries a rest. Rafael would've rioted if he thought you were not doing right by Adelia. So brother, give yourself some credit for her happiness and be happy. Not all of us get that privilege from Klaus."

"I thought he liked the Salvatore boy," he smiled.

"Until it was convenient," she pouted. "Did you forget he impersonated me and wrote of my escapades with Stefan while I was rotting inside a coffin?"

"He was protecting you. Father was very close when I met him last," he informed her and sighed. "We were truly happy in Orleans, at peace for the first time in centuries."

Her smile faltered as she looked away and gulped down the drink. "You should head home. It's quite late."

Elijah nodded and got up, paying for both their drinks. "Will you be alright?"

"I can handle myself," she smirked. "Remember to not silence your phone, brother. You are my standby chaperone for the night."

"Always at your service, little sister," he kissed her head. "Do not get into trouble."

"You wish," Rebekah winked at him as he headed out of the establishment.

_______________

Blood splattered the grass as Adelia crouched on the ground and heaved out, Rafael rubbing her back worriedly.

"What is happening to her, mother?" Arnold asked Sharel.

"We shall talk in private," the elderly witch pursed her mouth, staring at the boundary of the city of the dead they just passed. Her gaze travelled to her granddaughter to see her covered in her own blood, the clear tears now trailing red.

Adelia clutched the wet soil with her fingers and cried out in pain and gurgled out blood again.

The carriage driver returned with water in a wooden pale as Rafael poured a fistful of it over her head.

Arnold glanced at them and gulped, the setting all too familiar.

"We have to return," Sharel announced, "It will kill my granddaughter at this rate."

"We are not returning, mother," Arnold insisted.

"Do you not see what they are doing to her?" She glared at her son. "They bound her to the ancestors. The moment we crossed the boundaries, this started. I was an elder, I know their wicked ways."

"Then what shall we do?"

"We return. The moment the magic on them fades, we leave," the Beauchêne witch announced. "Rafael! Get her back into the carriage." She said, walking towards it.

Arnold looked at his mother with a frown as his forehead creased in confusion, "Them?"

_______________

Elijah leaned against the wall beside the window to look out in the dark, his thoughts not letting him rest. He frowned and took a deep breath, making up his mind to apologize to his mother first thing in the morning.

He opened the windows to let the air in and took a chair to sit beside the bed. The Original glanced at Adelia as she slept peacefully, her arm extended to curl into his pillow. He touched her fingers ruefully when he noticed her bare finger, devoid of his ring. A frown took over his face when he remembered it was with Rafael after her debacle with his mother.

He eyed the black folder on the nightstand and opened it to see the initials of Lucien's company on the pages.

"Elijah, where were you?" Adelia blinked open her eyes.

"At the Grill," he gave her a little smile and climbed over her to get into the bed beside her with the folder in his grasp.

"You reading it?" She smiled up at him as he settled against the headboard.

"Should I?" He humoured.

"You are too curious for your own good," she chuckled. "I am off to sleep. Don't stay up too late."

"Get your ring back from Rafael would you?" He pointed at her hand.

Her eyes widened. "I absolutely forgot," she tsked and continued, "But don't worry, Mr Mikaelson. I am taken and you have no chance."

"Who do I have to kill?" The Original raised his brow.

Adelia rolled her eyes and wrapped her arm around his legs. "Good night, Elijah."

"Good night, my love," he smiled as she drifted off to sleep. A sigh escaped his mouth as he opened the file to go through it, a long night awaiting him.

The clock struck two as the door to their bedroom creaked open and Asher strode in, his beady black eyes gleaming in the dark. He came to stand beside the nightstand and thumped his paw on the floor repeatedly as a wet ball of crumbled sheet rolled out of his mouth. He laid over his sleeping demons as a muscular arm held him close.

The dog's ears perked up as he saw a shadow pass down the hallway before the newest member of the family blocked the light of the corridor as Esther peeked in through the little crack left open by the dog.

He knew this woman standing at the door was not cuddly like his sweet demon so he narrowed his eyes and waited, waited as she shut the door and went away.

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