The Lion and the Thistle

Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Diaries or take any credit for it

Lombardy, Milan

"You didn't think I'd leave you in that miserable place did you?" Bonnie grinned at her old friend.

Bonnie and Damon have been friends for years. She was apart of their 'gang' who terrorised Milan. Damon, Bonnie, Enzo and Katerina. They were the golden four for many years until Katerina left to go the France for some reason and haven't been heard from since. Enzo and Bonnie had managed to escape the Spanish when they'd come after them. Surely enough Enzo came into the room and gave him a welcoming pat on the back.

"It's great to see you're finally out mate"

"Well isn't this nice a reunion" Damon grinned.

His friend Bonnie and Enzo looked like they had something else to announce. Enzo was looking at Bonnie affectionately and she was smiling back. They were all wanted by the great state of Milan who was determined to find them. There were wanted posters all over Milan of the troublesome four.

"Enzo and I are going to be married." Bonnie happily announced.

Bonnie and Enzo have been dating for a long time and so had Damon and Katerina. Damon had been heartbroken when he'd woken up one morning to find Katerina gone. He remembers it well, it was two years ago and it was a spring day. He'd woken up to find that he was alone. Apart from a note sitting where his Katerina should be. Damon had read it to discover that was leaving and that was it. There was no reason why in the note, which was beyond strange.

"Congratulations" Damon said, trying to hide his jealousy, "But we've got to leave Milan as soon as possible"

"Where do you suggest?" Enzo asked.

"How do you two feel about Scotland?"

...

Stirling Castle, Scotland

"Get off my daughter Sir!" Caroline's father yelled.

Klaus and Caroline immediately detached and stood up to face the furious looking man. Caroline was going beetroot red at the horror of her father seeing her in such a way. Her father looked like he was ready to kill something and that something would be Klaus. Caroline noticed that both men had their hands at their swords ready for a fight.

"How dare you disgrace my family!" her father roared.

"Father-" Caroline began.

"Be quiet Caroline!"

"It was not my intention to disgrace you" Klaus said quickly.

William took out his sword and pointed it at Klaus. They both locked eyes with each other for a few on moments while Caroline looked on helplessly. Klaus did take out his sword he just glared at her father with a cold stare before talking in a calm and clear voice.

"Are you threatening the Queen Elizabeth of England's ambassador?" Klaus looked a little smug when he said that, "Should I tell my Queen that during my stay at Scotland I was threatened by one of the Scottish nobles? I thought your Queen wanted peace from us or have I got it all wrong?"

Her father looked murderous but was wise enough to lower his sword. Klaus gave him a mocking smile before turning to Caroline.

"I hope I will see you again some time soon" Klaus said softly before leaving.

There was a moment or two of silence before William directed his anger towards his daughter. He desperately hoped that no potential husbands had seen them. James Stewart has proved to be a capable ally. William will find some way to thank him for his help. He'll make sure his daughter never goes near that Sassenach again.

"You will never see that man again," her father dictated in a low and threatening voice.

"But Father-" Caroline cried.

"I will find a husband for you by the end of the week"

...

"Where have you been?" Rebekah was beaming with happiness.

Klaus had just re-entered his chambers and he was feeling sorry for the trouble he caused Caroline but he didn't regret kissing her for one moment. Klaus only wished he'd been more discreet about it but now it looked like her father was going to try and keep her from him, well he could try.

"None of your business sister" Klaus said, "Why are you beaming?"

"Guess who arrived this morning?" Rebekah questioned excitably.

Before Klaus could answer his older brother walked in. He hasn't seen his brother in four long years. After years and years of trying to get him free only to receive sharp no's in reply. Klaus had almost given up hope of ever seeing him again. Over the past few months Klaus even thought that Elijah might be dead but here he was before him. He could see that his brother has changed quiet a bit since their last meeting.

Elijah eyes looked older and his skin looked pale like he's rarely seen the sunlight. He looked thin and physically weaker then before. Elijah has always been mildly muscular but now he was as skinny as a rake. Klaus could tell that his brother has suffered dearly and didn't want to think about what his brother's been though.

Klaus walked towards Elijah and then suddenly embraced him fiercely. He couldn't quite believe that his brother was before him. When they'd finished Klaus smiled a true and genuine smile.

"It's great to have you back brother" Klaus said truthfully.

Wine was provided for them as they sat by the cool window to catch up. Elijah told them all about being captured and his time in that gloomy cell. Rebekah whimpered when he told her about his living conditions but he consoled her telling that his time in captivity wasn't completely miserable.

"Katerina got me through those last few weeks" he informed them, "But now she's all alone"

"Don't get any heroic ideas about rescuing her brother" Klaus joked, "We've just got you back"

Elijah smirked before taking another gulp of wine.

"Why did they let you go?" Rebekah wondered.

"It was Freya who managed to convince her mistress to let me go" Elijah explained.

Freya's mistress was the Dowager Queen of France, Catherine de Medici. She's been serving her for three years, hoping to get Elijah released. The old Queen had been a tough nut to crack but eventually she managed to convince her to let her younger brother go.

"I'll write to Freya and thank her" Rebekah promised, "So what's your next move Elijah?"

"I'm going back to England in two weeks" Elijah informed them, "I have to swear my loyalty to her to get my titles back"

"Good luck brother" Klaus nodded.

"I see your having a family reunion without me" came a cheeky voice behind them.

Kol had slipped through the secret entrance to see if it was true. He adored his older brother and looked up to him. Elijah being a prisoner for all these years has left an empty space in his heart. He knew the risk of being here but he didn't care. He had to see his brother properly before he left for England.

Elijah smiled broadly at seeing his baby brother. He got up immediately and embraced him. Their family was reunited.

...

"I need a husband for my daughter" Forbes asked James Stewart.

James and Forbes were in James' main office. He was working hard on a new bill that his sister wanted to pass. What did that French woman know about running Scotland anyway? He felt a sense of glee seeing his Lord Forbes looks so angry when he came in. James had done that on purpose to get back at that cocky Englishman. He looked up from his desk to see Forbes standing before him.

"Do you have anyone in mind?" Forbes asked.

"I have to perfect candidate" James grinned.

...

Brandenburg, Holy Roman Empire

A rich widow was sitting in her carriage as the rain came pouring down. She was marrying some Spanish Lord hundreds of miles away. Her previous husband had died from the pox so when he died he left her a very wealthy widow. They'd only been married a year so they'd had no children so the fortune was all hers. Her goods have already been shipped to her new home in Madrid.

Tatia prepared herself for the long trip as she settled down into the cozy carriage. Suddenly she heard the sound of a tree falling down ahead of them. The ground vibrated violently as the driver stopped the carriage. It looks like they were stuck there for now. Then she heard a deep and commanding voice sound from in front of her.

"Hand over the Duchess or we will have no choice but to take her by force!" he sounded Italian.

They wanted her? Fear and hit her like Thor's hammer but she forced herself to be brave. She had at least seven guards with her so she didn't think she had anything to worry about but then suddenly she heard the sound of arrows and then the screams of her dying men. After a few minutes it suddenly went quiet. Her mind was panicking because she just didn't know what to do.

Without warning the carriage door opened to reveal a man with raven black hair and pale skin.

"Goodnight Duchess" the man smirked before knocking her out with the butt of his sword, "She's going to have a bruise tomorrow"

Enzo was already stealing the weapons from the guards while Bonnie was just emerging from the hill with a bow and arrow in her hands. Bonnie was an ace with that bow so they normally let her hide somewhere on high ground so she can kill the guards quickly and cleanly. To Damon's horror the Duchess looked exactly like Katerina. Damon shrugged and put it down to a coincidence.

"So this is our last job until he head for Scotland?" Enzo wanted clarification.

"Yes" Damon nodded, "We desperately need the money. So we'll random this girl, collect the money and leave mainland Europe forever"

"Why are we going to Scotland again?" Bonnie wondered out loud.

"Because it's the perfect place" Damon answered, "If we go to the Ottoman Empire then we'll stick out. Do you know what they do to non-believers over there? It's not pretty. We don't want to attract attention. The Spanish are the most powerful country in Europe so they can pressure the other countries to hand us over. Scotland is at the very edge of Europe. It's out of the way and very far from Milan"

Bonnie's parents had been slaves. They were born into slavery and they died in slavery. When they died Bonnie was hit by a chilling thought. They're whole lives were spent in enslaved to those monsters they called their masters and she thought to herself: what a waste. They never knew a day of freedom in their lives and that was just plain sad. Bonnie was determined that she wouldn't meet the same fate. So she managed to escape from her slave owner and she has no regrets.

Stirling Castle, Scotland

Caroline and her Mum were sowing in the parlor. They were sowing some shirts for the poor as a musician played a cheerful tune but neither Mother nor Daughter felt cheerful. Caroline's Mum had her beady eye on her daughter. Obviously her father had told her about the incident this morning. Elizabeth wasn't speaking to her daughter out of shame. She's thought she'd taught her child better than that.

Caroline couldn't stop thinking about Klaus. It hurt her that she'll never be able to see him again and that she'll be married off to some random stranger. She loved and respected her parents but that didn't mean she didn't think them a bit harsh sometimes. The musician's were playing a catchy flue tune but she didn't feel like dancing. Her father came back into the room with a satisfied grin on his face.

"You are to marry the Frenchmen, Tristan de Martel"

...

Leeds Castle, England

Lord Finn was sitting alone in his chambers as he listened to the howl of the wind outside. It must have been quite late at night as his wife and children had long gone to bed. He was waiting for a certain person to meet him here at midnight. Lucien Castle was the sort of man every monarch needed. He had no remorse, no conscience; he was willing to do anything to keep Elizabeth on the throne. Castle was an assassin, spy, thief and so much more. Every monarch needed a Lucien Castle.

Lucien himself appeared as he came through the secret entrance. He was dressed all in black, his clothing looked very expensive. Lucien had brown hair and Finn supposed some girls might think of him as handsome. Mr. Castle began his life in the gutters of London and had worked his way to the top.

"What can I do for you?" Lucien asked him with bowing.

Considering what he was about to ask he decided to let the breach of protocol pass.

"The Queen has asked me to give you a mission but of course you must tell not a soul about it"

"I understand" Lucien nodded.

"The Queen needs you to kill someone for her" Finn told him a low voice, "Her Majesty wants you to kill William Forbes of Moray"

"I'll got to Scotland immediately" Lucien agreed.

Lucien knew better then to ask questions. If it's one thing he's learnt as his time as an assassin, it's that a good assassin never asks questions because being nosy could get you killed.

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