•

____________________

'Why,' he asks, 'do you gaze in my face?'
'You are the light that dominates all space.
So where else in creation would I look?
You are the stars, the ocean, mountain, brook.
Of flamboyance my love is now accused
My heart's a drum, its beating is excused.

- Rumi, Light On Light

__________•__________

January 1862
Alexandria, Louisiana

"Your father has chosen to not get involved and take a side in the war. You should expect retaliation," the man replied.

"The generals cannot force us to give them soldiers if it is not what the townsmen desire," she told the man, eyeing his drink.

"This is war and you father will not be able to keep it out for any longer. Cloverville has resources and only a fool wouldn't want that in their pockets," the man laughed and saw her watching his glass before he passed it to her.

"My father trusted you." Adelia blinked, looking around the room to see minimal companions. Her gaze fixed onto a man entering the room and Adelia's companion followed her gaze to look behind him.

"Many people trust me," the man replied impassively.

"I am aware," she breathed out and passed the drink to him who nodded slyly.

"Of course," he said taking a huge mouthful of his drink. "I will give my regards to the General."

Adelia smiled and started rearranging her veil, "You have my condolences." She stood up as he frowned in confusion.

She curtsied politely, bidding farewell and started to walk away as the man began coughing vigorously. Adelia opened the door, hearing the glass shatter to the floor and entered the corridor, ignoring the dying man as the passers-by rushed towards the room.

Suddenly a hand caught her wrist and pushed her into a room by the corridor, surprising the witch, who immediately took out a knife hidden in her sleeve.

He pinned her to the thin wall, holding the hand with the knife to direct the sharp edge towards her own neck.

Her unoccupied hand found the holster at his side, the sound of a revolver uncorking resounded the room as Adelia pointed it into the man's stomach, finger ready to press the trigger until she saw his face illuminated by the candle beside the bed.

"Elijah?"

The Original's heart stopped as he recognized the voice.

Adelia lowered the gun, breathing heavily with the recent adrenaline as he remained silent. His ring finger slowly trailed up the fate line of her palm to retrieve the weapon from her grip. The shawl adorning her shoulders slid down to the floor simultaneously.

The witch gently pushed the knife away from her neck and he let her. She untucked her veil and Elijah gulped.

"What are you doing here, Miss Laurentis?" he asked looking away.

"In a gentleman's club? A lady cannot leisure away her time playing cards, Mr. Mikaelson?" she answered, uncharacteristically playful.

"I will inform your grandmother if you do not," he impassively replied. "Now tell me."

"I am not liable to answer to you," Adelia sat down on the unkempt bed and wiped away the blood from her head.

"I apologize. I meant you no harm." Elijah noticed the injury to her forehead and offered his handkerchief.

"You do not have to lie to me, Mr. Mikaelson," she smiled and took the handkerchief. "You did mean me harm."

"You killed my informant," the Original pursed his mouth.

"He was yours too?" Adelia chuckled. "He wasn't loyal and would have turned his back on you as well."

"That man had vital information that was of utmost importance, Miss Laurentis," he pointed at the closed door.

She got up, glaring at him. "I do not consider your information more important than his betrayal."

"You are unaware of what you have cost me."

"I am sure it is no more than a thousand lives," she replied.

"I did everything to reach here and you went on to kill him," Elijah harshly enunciated.

"What are you going to do?" she met his hazel orbs defiantly and grabbed his hand holding the knife to point it at her neck. "Only if you dare."

A trickle of blood flowed down her column, wetting the collar of her gown in red and he threw away the knife immediately.

The Original bit into his wrist and offered it to her. Adelia stepped back.

"It will heal," she looked away when the door abruptly opened and Elijah instantly threw her onto the bed, climbing over her.

___________________

Elijah sat reading the newspaper when he felt a nudge on his foot. He looked down to see his wife's new pet dog licking his well-polished leather shoes.

"Why don't you go bother someone else?" he said.

Asher whined and nudged his foot with his head.

"Adelia is asleep. Why don't you wake her up? She might appreciate a wet glob of drool. It was her idea to keep you after all."

The dog observed him and barked, wagging his tail. Elijah annoyed, folded the newspaper and stared at him, veins creeping underneath his eyes.

The dog took a step back, horrified; his servant was not from this world! He looked towards the room where his other servant was resting before turning back to the demon. He barked and continued barking, hoping the female would come to her senses and save him.

The Original pursed his mouth and took a deep breath as the barks deafened his heightened hearing. Why did his wife have to get herself such an annoying creature?

"What's happening?" Adelia entered the room, tying her nightgown when Asher rushed to get behind her.

"Your pet seems to have forgotten who's the man of the house," the older vampire replied.

The witch rolled her eyes and scooped up the dog in her arms. "Did he scare you, my love?" she asked the dog who whined in agreement.

Elijah stared at her in disbelief when she went on to kiss the dog's nose. "As much as I love your delectable lips, they better not touch mine after they have touched his," he replied before going back to the newspaper.

"You are silly. Asher is very hygienic after the bath," she chuckled and the dog perked his ear up. "I will get your fur products today but for now, you will use mine, won't you, my love?" Adelia kissed his nose again. "I will give you a bath."

The dog started squirming in her arms suddenly—his worst nightmare had come true.

"Do you not like female shower gel?" the witch questioned with a frown, "you can use Elijah's if you desire."

The husband in question raised his brow. "I have to share my belongings with a dog?"

"Only for today," she nonchalantly replied before looking at the squirming animal in her arms, "we will get you a rubber duck too."

Asher nipped Adelia's fingers before shooting off to stand beside Elijah.

At least the demon and him were on the same page—he did not like the demon and the demon did not like him.

"I am afraid I'd be of no help," Elijah mused, staring at the creature. "You are her first pet, the expectations are rigorously high."

The dog barked at her, making her frown before she waved her fingers and he started sliding across the floor towards her. He whined and scratched the marble floor to no avail.

Asher suddenly realized that his female servant was another kind of demon too! His gaze went towards the other demon who looked at him impassively as he howled for mercy.

"Yes, we are clipping off those nails after shower. You are now an Original's pet, you represent your owners so you should be immaculate like the man sitting there," she pointed towards Elijah.

"He is yours, Miss Laurentis. I take no responsibility," the Original said.

"Don't mind him. He is just sad we won't share a bath anymore," she cooed at Asher who was being dragged towards the female for a trip round the tub.

"We won't?" Elijah questioned incredulously—was he supposed to give that up too for a dog?

"Then you might have to give him a bath instead," Adelia answered.

"I am not coming second to a canine, Mrs. Mikaelson," he gave her a pointed look.

"Well, Mrs. Mikaelson thinks that Mr. Mikaelson should be more mature about the third party in their marriage."

Asher whined in grief but again he was ignored as his servants continued arguing. They should listen to him, he was the master!

Adelia looked at him and entered the bathroom.

He howled again before the door to the apartment opened and he got dragged out of view into his personal hell.

"Was that a dog?" Rafael asked after the face disappeared behind the door.

"His name is Asher and your friend's latest fascination. I believe her next graduate course will be of a veterinarian," Elijah answered.

"How wonderful," he sarcastically replied. "Why don't you become a news presenter then? Always with the bloody paper."

"We are leaving in ten minutes. Let me inform Adelia," the Original said ignoring Rafael's remark and got up when their heightened senses picked up a struggle in the water and splashes on the ground. "On second thought, it can wait. I don't want to give the poor creature false hope for a rescue."

___________________

"You okay? Is Ray getting heavy?" Klaus humoured, glancing at the Salvatore carrying an unconscious Ray over his shoulders.

"I'm fine. I don't understand why are we even doing this. Adelia's friend Rafael even showed you that it's not going to work," Stefan explained.

"You sure about that?" he replied. "Her dearest friend could have done anything to my wolf. I won't believe it until I see it myself, on my terms. You know, we've been walking for quite some time now. If you need some water or a little sit-down..."

"You know, I get that we're, uh... we're stuck together, but if we could maybe just skip the chitchat, it'd be great."

"So much brooding. Your self-loathing is suffocating you, my friend," the hybrid joked.

"Maybe it's 'cause I'm a little tired of hunting werewolves. We've been at it all summer," the Salvatore answered.

"Thanks to our pal Ray, we found ourselves a pack. There," Klaus finished as they came to a stop at a camp.

Looking around Stefan concluded that it was hastily abandoned, only four or five people to be seen standing on guard who turned to look at them immediately. He put Ray on the ground when a standing woman rushed over to him.

"Ray! Oh, my God," she crouched down to look at their alpha before warily glancing up at the intruders. "What's going on?"

"The important question is who am I. Please forgive the intrusion. My name is Klaus," the Original introduced himself with a smirk.

"You're the hybrid, we know," she replied making Klaus smile.

"You've heard of me. Fantastic," Klaus sat down followed by Stefan, "It's fascinating, actually... a werewolf who isn't beholden to the moon, a vampire who doesn't burn in the sun. A true hybrid," he continued and on accord, Ray woke up. "Excellent timing, Ray. Very dramatic."

"What's happening to me?" the transitioning werewolf asked.

"Stefan?" Klaus gestured for the Salvatore to look into it who wordlessly obeyed.

"Are any of you human?" Stefan inquired about the remaining creatures. "Your friend here needs human blood to complete his transition to vampire. If he doesn't get it, he will die."

"Doesn't take much, just a sip. Anyone? A boyfriend, a girlfriend, along for the ride?" the hybrid's gaze fell onto a man, "you!" he rushed over to him and bit his forearm and Stefan grabbed him before throwing him to the ground in front of Ray.

The woman tried to protest but Klaus stopped her.

"If you don't drink it, Ray, I will. The problem is I don't know how to stop," the ripper ordered with a threat.

"It's the new order, sweetheart. You join us, or you die," the Original proposed and once again looked around. "Now, where is the rest of the pack?" When she did not answer, he squeezed her neck.

"A woman arrived an hour earlier to warn us. She told us to leave. The pack followed, only we stayed," she whimpered.

"She'll thank me for that later, heh," Klaus finished and twisted her head to kill her. "Okay, who's next?"

___________________

"Elijah," a man entered the room, closing the door behind him and Adelia's eyes widened when she pinned his voice to be of the General's. "The man you were looking for was left dead a while ago. Forgive me if it sounds intrusive, but what was your business with him?"

"That is my business, Roger. But I am extremely thankful for the help," Elijah pinned her hand to the bed which was pushing him off and discreetly nodded, meeting the witch's eyes who instantly stilled.

"Alright," Roger huffed and changed the topic. "How do you like the services?"

"Extremely pleasurable," the Original quipped, trailing his knuckles down her jaw to turn it sideways so the General wouldn't see her face.

Roger walked closer with a frown. "I am certain she's not one of our girls," the man said, staring at her violet embroidered gown.

"I can assure you she is," Elijah shook his head to gesture her not to panic, hearing her heartbeat rise with each passing second.

"With that expensive jewellery adorning her dainty ankle, I assure you she is not," Roger laughed and Adelia twitched her foot to hide it under her gown, the attempt unsuccessful due to her position beneath Elijah. "Which noble lady have you invited to bed, Mr. Mikaelson?"

The Original caressed her pulse with his thumb when she hid her face into his shoulder as the footsteps came closer. Her nose lightly grazed his nape and he shivered, his hand coming down to clutch her waist tightly. Her back arched at the strange contact and he closed his eyes, inhaling the rose fragrance off her skin.

Intertwining their fingers, Adelia hid their joined hands under the duvet and started siphoning a little magic off the Original vampire. He hissed at the suddenness, lips touching her earlobe when the approaching footsteps stopped at the other side of the bed curtain.

"I do not indulge in the presence of an audience, Roger," Elijah said with a hint of irritation, well aware the man was privy to their unmoving silhouettes behind the fluttering lace.

"This is my club," Roger smiled, "I will not have my business tarnished otherwise should you manage to bed a lady of a reputable family in my establishment."

"You think wrong."

"Then you wouldn't mind me taking away the gold. We do not allow gifts," he said and went to touch the ankle lain with the gold piece when a hand grabbed his an inch away from the foot.

"You will not touch her," the Original gritted his teeth and swiftly broke his neck.

Hearing the sound Adelia sat up, horrified, "You killed him."

"Your grandmother would appreciate that to a man putting his hands on you," the vampire impassively replied.

Her fingers promptly went up to feel the ghost of his touch on her neck as their eyes met.

"He knew everything," the witch glared at him.

"He wouldn't be missed just as the dead informant outside," Elijah said while fixed his cuff-links.

"This was intentional," realized Adelia.

"I have no idea what you're on about," he looked at her before extending his hand towards her.

Adelia glanced at his hand and looked away, crossing her arms. Elijah took a step forward and the witch turned towards him hesitantly, before placing her hand in his.

The Original tightened his grip as she stepped down the bed, closer to him. He touched the wound on her head gingerly, making her wince, and he instantly removed his fingers.

Taking his handkerchief back from her, he pressed it lightly over the injury and she scrunched her eyes shut, hand scrunching his lapel tightly.

Elijah's lips turned up without his permission and he stepped closer to Adelia, his boots brushing against the hem of her gown.

The witch did not open her eyes but felt the proximity and exhaled, her warm breath hitting his nape.

He watched as she took a step back.

___________________

"Bad news, my friend. End of the road for you," Klaus told the lone human before he drank his blood, rendering him dead. Suddenly the female werewolf stood in front of him. "Careful, love. There's only one Alpha here," he said and witnessed all the creatures moving around the camp, appearing like zombies. "Bloody hell."

"Need help, Niklaus?" Adelia appeared behind him and sighed looking at the scene.

"You are late to the party and yes, I'd appreciate it," he commented before dodging a wolf.

The witch rolled her eyes before snapping her wrist as all hybrids fell down holding their heads.

"The head or the heart?" she enquired.

"I love a massacre with a touch of blood. The head please," he muttered nonchalantly with a smirk as he killed off an approaching hybrid. She gave him a look at his comment, "Seriously, Maeve?"

"I am not going to do your dirty work. Your pack of lovely wolves are going insane. Kindly finish them off, they wouldn't survive the transition anyway," Adelia said, shrugging her shoulders.

_______________

Stefan walked back to camp back with Ray over his shoulders and saw the rest of the werewolves lying dead on the ground. He dropped Ray to the ground and noticed Adelia leaning against a tree.

"Hello, Mr. Salvatore," the witch sent him a minute wave.

"They went rabid. Some of them, I killed. The others just... bled out. In the end... they're all dead," Klaus mumbled and threw the bottle of beer in his hand before screaming, "I did everything I was told!"

The Original took a deep, composing himself, "I should be able to turn them. I broke the curse. I killed a werewolf. I killed a vampire. I killed the doppelganger."

Stefan and Adelia shared an uncomfortable glance.

"You look like hell," the hybrid commented seeing Stefan and turned to Adelia, "and you've come to gloat for my failures."

"I did not have to gloat, Nik. The scenery is speaking for itself," she replied.

"Last I checked, I'm dying... and you don't want to heal me," Stefan said while Klaus looked down at Ray's body. "I had to take him out. I didn't have a choice. I failed you. I'm sorry. Do what you have to do."

"It should have worked," he impassively mumbled before taking an empty bottle of beer and biting his hand to pour his blood for Stefan. "Tell me Maeve, why it didn't?"

"I have theories, but none of them I am willing to share unless you give me the coffins," she answered, standing upright.

"You know why," the Original realized and blurred forward making Stefan fidget, "Tell me!"

"You cannot command me, I am not one of your lackeys," Adelia said impassively.

"Tell me! Or I will have Elijah daggered again!" Klaus yelled at her before gripping her arms tightly. "Where is my brother, Maeve?"

A hard gleam took her eyes as he threatened Elijah. "So far you've fallen, Niklaus. Using your own brother of thousand years as leverage for some hybrids of one night who wouldn't even call you family."

"Do not talk to me about loyalty!" he continued shouting.

"I have given you no right to shout at me!" the witch gritted her teeth. "If you want a polite conversation, I suggest you cease this rudeness. I will not tolerate it."

"Who are you to even demand civility from me?"

"I am your elder brother's wife so if you have any respect for him and a little dignity for yourself, you will stop this," she punctuated the words with a glare.

"You are Elijah's wife, not mine. Do know your limits, Maeve," Klaus said heatedly.

"Loyalty has to be earned, Klaus. One who hasn't been able to earn his share from his own family would never have another's," Adelia continued as a hurt expression took over his face. "I won't help you. You are my family but I have others too. You think your hybrids are more worthy than those you put in coffins. Elijah did everything for you and this is how you repay him? I won't grovel to you anymore. I will find them and take them from right underneath your nose," she shrugged off his hand and took a step back.

"Maeve," he said before taking her face in his hand, caressing her cheek lightly, "please tell me."

"Forgive me, I can't," Adelia replied, giving him a hesitant look when Klaus pushed her neck to the side with the same hand as she tumbled onto the forest floor, temporarily dead.

Klaus stared at her prone figure lying at his feet, "We're leaving. It appears you're the only comrade I have left." He took a step back, looking around the forest and hesitated. Her earlier words echoed in his mind and he hardened his resolve before turning his back to her and walking away.

"She certainly knows where to hit. You must hold her in high regard if you haven't killed her, well permanently, for not helping you," Stefan commented, falling into steps beside him.

Klaus pursed his mouth, "Unless you want a bite from an Original hybrid, do not speak."

___________________

Fixing Adelia with a stare as she continued looking away, Elijah took a long glance at her beautiful face before rearranging the veil over it, surprising her.

"Where is your carriage?" he asked Adelia.

"A little away," the witch answered.

"Come," the Original did not wait for her answer as he started leading her out of the room. He hid her behind him whenever they encountered a person in the corridor, his fingers gripping her nimble ones.

Her heart beat erratically as she looked down at her feet during their walk, submitting to his will when he continued dragging her along the nooks of the club towards the exit.

"Is it hurting?" he questioned after a moment, for the wound on her head.

"Yes," she replied softly, withholding the urge to run away from him, for her wounded heart.

They reached outside to already see the sun setting down.

"I request you take my blood," Elijah faced her, offering his wrist again and she blinked in confusion, out of a daze.

"No, it is not hurting anymore," Adelia realized and left his hand abruptly, walking down the path towards the carriage.

Elijah sighed, staring down at his empty palm and followed her.

"You should be on your way. Thank you, Mr. Mikaelson," she said after a minute.

"The carria–"

"–is visible from here," she gestured towards the vehicle under a tree.

Elijah exhaled and opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

The witch gulped and nodded in farewell. She turned around and took a step when his voice stopped her in his tracks.

"How have you been?" the Original asked from his spot in the middle of the road.

Adelia's breath hitched at the enquiry as she glanced at her fidgeting hands. Taking a deep breath, she continued walking and did not turn back.

Elijah's heart broke when she didn't answer and he anxiously fixed his cuffs. Glancing at her retreating form climbing the carriage as the driver shut the door, he turned around, his heart constricting within his chest.

___________________

Adelia woke up amidst the woods, massaging her neck and slowly sat up to look around. Remembering the last thing that came to her mind, a tear slid down her face before she wiped away her suddenly wet nose.

A twig snapped in the vicinity and the witch immediately stood up alert.

"Come out whoever you are," she ordered and all she could hear was a rapid heartbeat. "Do not be scared. I will not hurt you."

Adelia waited and was disappointed when nobody came forward.

A tiny head peeked from behind the tree and she squinted her eyes as a child rushed behind another tree.

"Hello there. I am Adelia," she sat down on her knees and waved at the four-year child who peered at her hesitantly. "Are you lost?"

"Mommy," he pointed towards one of the bodies and her smile instantly disappeared.

"Why don't you come to me? You must be hungry."

"I want mommy," his lips quivered.

"You can call me Lia. What is your name?"

"Tobias," the child replied.

"It's alright. I will help you. Please come to me. We will leave this place, together," Adelia offered.

"She is here."

"Your mommy is in a better place and she wants you to come with me."

"She does?" his brows furrowed as he looked at her extended palm.

"Indeed," she smiled and he immediately grabbed her fingers. "You are very cold, darling. We must arrange a hot bath for you. Would you like that?"

Adelia got up on her feet as they trekked out of the woods, his grip on her fingers tightening with each passing second.

She stood on the side of the road and messaged Elijah as the child fell asleep in her arms a while later.

Some minutes later, the Original pulled up and rolled down the window to frown seeing a child with her. She immediately got into the backseat, shutting the door softly and laid the child down in her lap as Asher wagged his tail beside her.

"Niklaus?" he simply asked.

"I told them to leave but some stayed back," Adelia replied.

"We cannot travel with him at this hour. I will get us rooms on our way," the Original said after a moment.

"His name is Tobias."

"I see," he replied impassively and she looked away.

___________________

March 1862
Alexandria, Louisiana

The dry leaves crunched under her feet as she ran through the forest hurriedly. Gown well up above the ankles, bordering on inappropriate, Adelia held the heavy layers within her fingers and didn't dare look back.

Hiding behind a tree, a shot splintered the tree beside her, making her jump before she once again started running beyond the foggy creaks of the forest.

Hair billowing wildly, the hairpin failed to confine the brown tresses as she looked back and immediately hid under the roots of a giant tree.

This was ought to happen when you sneak inside a prison to look for your dearest friend who was foolish enough to get caught. Her father would reprimand her, kill her and then resurrect her to kill her again.

Rafael's fate now sounded similar to heaven compared to the repercussions she'd have to face.

As the footsteps came closer, she peeked from under the tree and used her remaining magic to make them fall asleep with a wave of her hand. Hesitantly she came out and continued trekking the forest for a way out.

After half an hour of no success, a tear slid down her face when she realized she might indeed be lost in the depths of the forest.

Adelia was already missing her father and internally hoped he would forgive her if she returned dead from starvation or as a wild animal's meal.

___________________

"Elena did not tell me where she was going! And Alaric let her accompany him to a wolf territory with Klaus around!" Jenna's voice blared through the phone speaker kept on the counter as Adelia checked the water temperature before closing the tap.

"I did not spot them," she replied.

"I am her guardian, she should at least tell me where she is venturing off to. Undermining authority for a guy who kills because he lusts after human blood is not how I envisioned my niece's future. What would my sister say?"

"Your sister would say that you should take this matter directly to Elena," Adelia said and picked up the child in her arms who looked excited seeing the bubbles in the tub.

"Handling teenagers is exhausting," the newbie vampire sighed. "Where are you?"

The witch put the now naked child into the tub who immediately started playing with the water. She got up and discarded his soiled clothes. "In a hotel somewhere. I didn't bother with the location. We will leave for Seattle in the morning."

"Is there a child with you?"

"I found one in the same woods. We will get Tobias into Lumiere and get him into a home, probably a werewolf one if my people fail to locate his family," Adelia pulled up her sleeves before crouching next to the tub to rinse his hair. 

"Smart," muttered the redhead. "Your husband hasn't made a smart-a*s comment yet. Is he being his grumpy self?"

"Elijah is asleep," she replied hesitantly.

"Oh, I need a trip out of this town. I think I deserve it after I died, became a vampire, handled teenagers and am currently on a relationship break."

Adelia laughed as she used a showerhead to wash the suds off Tobias, "I would suggest Seattle but who am I to manipulate you."

"If you have already taken this much pain to manipulate me, I will be down in a day or two," Jenna huffed.

"I will send Rafael to receive you if you do not mind."

"Of course not, I am all for free service," the vampire giggled.

"I will see you then. It's vacation days for the kids anyway."

"Mm-hmm. Goodbye, and take care."

"You too," Adelia finished as the dial tone echoed its end. She turned her attention to the now clean child. "Now we go to sleep." She scooped him up in a towel as he giggled and stood on the bed.

"I love spiderman!" he exclaimed gesturing to the new set of clothes Elijah's men got for him. 

"You do?" the witch widened her eyes dramatically.

"I do," he laughed as she proceeded to tug the shirt down his neck. "Can we have those fries again?"

"If you be a good boy then I'll give you an extra chocolate as well, tomorrow," Adelia smiled as he jumped in joy and she switched on the television. "I have to get out of these clothes. Will you be fine alone for a while?"

He nodded his head vigorously and she giggled before entering the adjacent room through the connecting door.

She saw her husband sleeping with the book over his chest and lightly tugged it to keep it over the nightstand before switching off the lamps.

A smile fleeted over her face seeing her change of dress folded over on the couch and glanced at Elijah lovingly when Asher climbed over the bed to lay beside him on the soft covers. She kissed the dog's mane silently.

Adelia stepped inside the child's room to see him fast asleep with the television light shadowing his face. She switched it off and tucked the sheets around Tobias.

Taking a seat on the couch across the bed, she opened the bookmarked page her husband had been reading and started going through the blurb of the book.

___________________

She walked along a barely used path under the winding dusk with trepidation about her upcoming fate when a carriage came and her eyes widened in hope.

It stopped and a man came out who she recognized as the dead General's brother. She withheld the urge to narrow her eyes.

"Good evening, lady. You seem to have lost your way here," he said looking at her dirt-stained gown and unruly hair.

Adelia cleared her throat and patted her hair to make herself presentable. "Bonjour. Je ne parle pas l'anglais, mon seigneur," the witch replied timidly in a French accent, almost innocent as she peered up at the man from under her lashes.
[Hello. I do not speak English, my lord.]

"I am afraid I do not understand French. I am James Sinclair," he placed a chaste kiss on her hand as she curtsied politely.

"Maeve Fleureau. On m'a volé alors que j'allais à Alexandrie. Je retrouvais mon chemin," she replied.
[I was robbed on my way to Alexandria. I was finding my way back.]

"I shall call my friend. Maybe he'll be able to help you," James said and called out, "Mr. Mikaelson!" Her eyes widened when Elijah walked towards them, his own eyes glimmering in surprise when he saw her appearance, not gone unnoticed by the other man "This lady here only speaks French. But you seem to know her."

"Mr. Mikaelson, comment avez-vous été?" Adelia curtsied when he kissed her hand softly.
[How have you been?]

"Vous ne devriez pas être ici," Elijah said with a smile, keeping the facade.
[You should not be here.]

"Et comment vais-je, Monsieur Mikaelson? Je ne possède pas vos traits pour trouver ma voie en sentant les humains," she grinned and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear as his eyes followed her actions.
[How shall I, Mr. Mikaelson? I do not possess your traits to find my way out smelling humans.]

Elijah turned to James and nodded. "If you'd allow, the lady can accompany us and I shall send a missive to her father by the morrow."

"I cannot refuse my abode to such a beautiful lady," the man smiled eyeing her up and down and Elijah narrowed his eyes when James extended his elbow to her.

"Je vais dire à mon père de vous vider," she replied with a smile and took his hand.
[I will tell my father to gut you.]

"You speak such beautiful words, Miss Fleureau," James said as they walked towards the carriage, Elijah following closely behind.

"Vous êtes aussi nauséeux," she hummed innocently and the Original smirked as they sat inside.
[Yours are just as nauseous.]

"Miss Fleureau," Elijah called and she looked at him with a hint of mischief in her eyes that had him falling for her once again. Gulping down the expected words, he smiled, "Continuez s'il vous plaît."
[Please continue.]

A genuine bright smile took over her face as she carried on her conversation with the other man all the way.

Elijah stole glances at her and went to look out the window as a smile spread across his face.

"You truly are very stunning," James said with a look of awe, his eyes trailing over her features again.

"Je suis flatté, merci," she smiled and unconsciously fiddled with the emerald ring on her finger.
[I am flattered, thank you.]

Elijah caught the glint of the betrothal ring from the corner of his eyes and his heart immediately sank. He took a deep breath, not looking at her for the rest of the journey.

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A/N: Adelia and Elijah meet again after two years under not-so-favourable circumstances and it turns out that she is now betrothed. So Arnold did manage to find a horse for his daughter [reference to Destined].

Credits to Google Translate

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last edited: 01/2024