The Boy King's Journey in TVD/TO As A Mikaelson

Two weeks had passed since the morning in the courtyard. The winter moon hung low and heavy over Castle de Martel, its silver light casting long shadows through the stone corridors. Aurora paced in her chambers, her fingers twisting nervously in her skirts as she waited.

The scholars' preparations were nearly complete. Tonight, they would perform their ritual - the one Tristan had assured her would grant them power beyond measure. But something in their eyes when they spoke of "the awakening" filled her with a deep, instinctive dread.

A soft knock at her door made her jump. She rushed to open it, relief flooding her features as Klaus slipped inside.

"Nik," she breathed his name like a prayer, moving into his arms. "I was afraid you wouldn't come."

"I'll always come when you call," he murmured, his hand gently stroking her hair. But he could feel the tension in her frame, see the fear in her eyes. "What troubles you, my love?"

Aurora pulled back slightly, her fingers clutching at his shirt. "They plan to do it tonight. In the old crypt beneath the eastern tower." Her voice dropped even lower. "Tristan says it will change everything, that the power they'll grant us will ensure our family's supremacy for generations."

"But you don't believe them," Klaus observed softly, reading the doubt in her expression.

"You haven't seen them, Nik. The way they look at us when they think we're not watching. Like we're nothing but tools to be used and discarded." Her voice cracked slightly. "The things they whisper in their ancient tongue... I don't understand the words, but the malice in them..." She shuddered.

"Tell me everything," Klaus urged gently, leading her to sit on the edge of her bed.

"They brought new artifacts last night - things that make the very air feel wrong. And Tristan..." Her eyes filled with tears. "My brother is so consumed by their promises that he can't see what they're doing to him. To us."

Aurora's fingers traced patterns on Klaus's chest as she continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "The ritual requires blood, Nik. Not just any blood - they speak of 'blood that carries ancient power.' And the way they look at me sometimes..." She shivered. "Like they're measuring my worth for something."

Klaus's arms tightened around her protectively. Whatever connection Aurora's bloodline had to these followers, he intended to keep her safe from their machinations.

"When does it begin?" he asked softly.

"At midnight. They chose tonight because of some alignment they've been waiting for." Aurora's voice grew more urgent. "Nik, I'm telling you this because... because I trust you more than I fear them. But if Tristan knew..."

"He won't know," Klaus assured her, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "You've done the right thing, my love."

"Have I?" Her laugh was brittle. "Betraying my own brother?"

"You're trying to save him," Klaus corrected. "From powers he doesn't understand."

Aurora pulled back slightly, meeting his eyes. "Promise me something, Nik. Whatever happens tonight... protect him. He's still my brother, despite everything."

Klaus's expression softened. "You have my word."

Outside Aurora's chambers, hidden in the shadows, Lucien listened with growing unease. His loyalty to Vali warred with his feelings for Aurora, but in the end, there was only one choice. His lord needed to know about this immediately.

The game was about to reach its climax, and blood would flow beneath the winter moon.

-----------------------------------

In Vali's chambers, Tatia watched as her husband processed Lucien's report, the mark on his arm pulsing with unusual intensity.

"The eastern crypt," Vali mused, his black eyes reflecting the candlelight. "An interesting choice. The old stones there hold power of their own."

"My lord," Lucien added, his voice carefully steady, "they spoke of needing blood with ancient power. Lady Aurora seemed... frightened by their interest in her."

"The de Martels are descendants of travelers who witnessed Silas's entombment," Vali stated, more to himself than the others. "Their bloodline carries echoes of that ancient magic."

"Should I inform your brothers?" Lucien asked.

"No," Vali decided. "I don't wish for Niklaus to feel as if he's not being trusted. He will come to us himself."

As if summoned by his words, Klaus's footsteps echoed in the corridor. Vali nodded to Lucien, who slipped away just as Klaus entered.

"Brother," Klaus began, his expression grave. "We need to discuss tonight's activities."

"From how you're acting, I presume Aurora finally let you in completely and told you everything," Vali stated rather than asked, watching his brother's reaction carefully. Deep down though, even though he hid it, he found something about this a bit off.

"They mean to use her in some ritual in the eastern crypt," Klaus replied, tension evident in his frame. "Something about her family's connection to ancient powers. I gave her my word that I would protect Tristan, but..."

"But you fear that promise may complicate matters," Vali finished. The mark pulsed again, stronger this time. "These scholars aren't acting as merely collectors anymore, are they? They're finally showing their true colors."

Tatia moved to pour wine, her movements deliberately casual. "The question is, do we stop them before the ritual begins, or do we wait to see what they're truly planning?"

"We wait," Vali decided, his eyes meeting Klaus's. "Let them begin their ritual. Let them reveal their true purpose. But brother..." his voice carried a warning edge, "your feelings for Aurora cannot interfere with what needs to be done."

"I won't let them harm her," Klaus stated firmly, his voice rising with emotion. "Whatever game you're playing, brother, Aurora isn't just another piece on your board."

"And that's precisely what concerns me," Vali countered, turning to face Klaus fully. "Your feelings for her are making you reckless. We need to be strategic about this."

"Strategic?" Klaus's laugh was sharp. "While they prepare to use her blood for some dark ritual? While they manipulate her brother into madness? No, Vali. We end this now."

"And risk losing everything we've worked for?" Vali's black eyes flashed with black veins. "Think, brother. If we move too soon, we lose our chance to understand what they're truly planning. The ritual, their connection to Silas-"

"I don't care about Silas or his followers!" Klaus snapped. "Aurora trusted me with this information. She came to me for protection."

"She came to you because they wanted her to," Vali's voice carried an edge of frustration. "Can't you see? Everything about this feels orchestrated."

"Or perhaps," Klaus stepped closer, his voice dropping dangerously, "you're so obsessed with your schemes that you can't recognize genuine fear when you see it. Aurora isn't playing a part anymore, brother. Her terror is real."

"And what do you propose?" Vali challenged, the mark pulsing stronger with his rising frustration. "That we storm the crypt, reveal our true nature to everyone, and hope we can fight our way through whatever ancient magic they've prepared? All because Aurora batted her eyes and played on your protective instincts?"

"Watch your tongue, brother," Klaus growled, his eyes flashing gold. "You didn't see her fear. You haven't watched these past months as they've slowly tightened their grip on both her and Tristan."

"No, I've been watching everything else," Vali countered. "The artifacts they've gathered, the power they're amassing. This isn't just about the de Martels. Whatever they're planning-"

"Will get Aurora killed if we wait too long!" Klaus interrupted. "You speak of strategy, but I made her a promise. I won't stand back and watch while they-"

"Enough!" Tatia's voice cut through their argument. "Both of you. This bickering serves no one." She moved between them, her expression stern. "Vali, Klaus's concerns about Aurora are valid. And Klaus, your brother's caution about rushing in unprepared is equally so."

The brothers stared at each other for a long moment before Vali spoke again, "We won't let them harm her, brother. But we need to be smart about this. If we move too soon..." he trailed off for a moment as he took a deep breath and sighed, calming himself.

"If we move too soon, they'll simply adapt their plans," Vali continued, his tone softening slightly at Klaus's obvious distress. "And next time, we might not have Aurora's trust to warn us."

"Then what do you suggest?" Klaus asked, still tense but willing to listen. "Because I won't leave her unprotected."

"We don't," Vali replied, moving to the window to observe the setting sun. "But we make them think they have the upper hand. Let them believe their manipulations are working exactly as planned."

"You want to use Aurora's warning against them," Klaus realized, his expression conflicted.

"I want to use everything against them," Vali corrected. "Their confidence, their assumptions about us, even their choice of location. The eastern crypt has only three exits - all easily monitored."

"And Aurora?" Klaus pressed. "What protection can we offer her if we're letting this ritual begin?"

"The best kind," Vali turned back to his brother, the mark pulsing steadily now. "They'll be so focused on watching you try to protect her, they won't notice what's really happening until it's too late."

"You're suggesting we let them think they've won," Tatia observed, understanding dawning in her eyes.

"For a moment," Vali agreed. "Just long enough for their guard to drop. But brother," his black eyes met Klaus's, "this only works if your reaction to Aurora's danger is convincing. They need to believe you're acting purely on emotion."

"You want me to play the desperate lover," Klaus said slowly, understanding dawning. "While you..."

"While I ensure they never leave that crypt," Vali finished. "But for this to work, your concern for Aurora needs to blind you to everything else - at least in their eyes."

"That won't be difficult to fake," Klaus's voice carried an edge. "Considering I am genuinely concerned."

"Good. Use that." Vali moved closer, lowering his voice. "But brother, understand this - if things go wrong, if the ritual progresses too far..."

"You'll do whatever needs to be done," Klaus finished, tension returning to his frame. "Regardless of promises I've made to Aurora about protecting her brother."

"Would you prefer I lie to you?" Vali asked quietly. "Tell you everything will work out perfectly? That we can save everyone?"

The brothers stared at each other for a long moment before Klaus spoke again. "No. But Vali... give me a chance to save them both before you resort to more permanent solutions."

"You'll have until midnight," Vali agreed, the mark pulsing as if in response to the weight of his words. "After that, we do things my way."

Tatia watched this exchange with careful eyes. "And what of the others? Elijah, Kol, Finn?"

"We'll need Elijah and Kol near the crypt," Vali stated, his fingers tracing the rim of his wine goblet. "The scholars have been watching us all, categorizing us, thinking they understand our family's dynamics."

His lips curved into a cold smile. "They see what they expect to see - myself and Tristan as the calculating ones, you and Aurora as the passionate fools in love. The rest of our family? Mere background players, like the Count himself."

"Indeed, my dear husband has been quite busy. They've cast him as the monster pulling strings while you dear brother-in-law play the lovesick noble," Tatia observed, her tone amused. "Though I must say, Nik, you've played your part admirably."

"This isn't entirely an act," Klaus replied, though his expression remained troubled. "But brother, getting Elijah and Kol in position without raising suspicion... the scholars watch every move we make."

"Which is precisely why their presence won't seem suspicious at all," Vali's black eyes gleamed with dark amusement. "After all, what could be more natural than Elijah's diplomatic maneuvering or Kol's scholarly curiosity about new artifacts?"

"Lucien," Vali called softly, knowing his servant was waiting nearby. "Tell Lord Elijah that the Count has concerns about tonight's protocols regarding our scholarly guests. And inform Lord Kol that the artifacts being moved to the crypt might be of... particular interest to his studies. The should understand what I mean by these words."

As Lucien departed, Tatia moved to stand beside her husband, her fingers trailing along his arm where the mark pulsed steadily. "It is still quite hilarious if you think about it. These so called men of knowledge, priding themselves on their intelligence thinking they're so clever, manipulating everyone into position and yet they don't realize they're the ones being played."

"Unless they do," Klaus countered. "We're not the only ones capable of deception, sister. If they suspect-"

"They suspect exactly what we want them to," Vali interrupted. "I already told you. They believe they understand our family's fractures, our weaknesses. You, driven by love. Me, by power. Our siblings, by their own petty interests. I have made sure of that, now stop doubting me. I don't like repeating myself."

Klaus was silent for a moment before he ran his hand over his face, through his hair with a sigh, "And what do they think drives Aurora?" Klaus continued to then ask, his voice carrying an edge.

"Fear," Vali replied simply. "Fear and devotion - to her brother, to you. They're counting on it. Which is why, brother, when you return to her, you must let her believe you're acting alone. Her fear must be genuine."

Klaus's jaw tightened. "You're asking me to manipulate her."

"I'm asking you to keep her alive," Vali corrected. "The more convincing her terror, the less likely they are to suspect our true plans."

"Fine, but now tell me, beyond keeping everyone in the crypt," Klaus pressed, studying his brother carefully. "What exactly are you planning, Vali? This obsession with Silas and his followers... I've noticed how you act whenever it comes up. I'm not a fool brother, I know you well enough to see that whatever you are planning is more than just about breaking our curse, isn't it?"

Vali was silent for a moment, his black eyes reflecting the dying sunlight. The mark pulsed steadily on his arm as he considered how much to reveal.

"The curse is part of it," he finally said. "But these travelers, these followers of Silas... they're connected to something older. Something that calls to this," he gestured to the mark. "I can feel the draw growing stronger with each artifact they bring into the castle."

"The mark responds to power," Tatia observed quietly. "To challenges worthy of its nature."

"And Silas represents the ultimate challenge," Vali agreed, his voice carrying an edge of dark anticipation. "The first immortal, a being of power that may match what I've become."

Klaus's eyes narrowed. "So this isn't just about protecting our family or breaking the curse. You want to face him."

"I want to understand what we're truly dealing with," Vali corrected, though he couldn't deny it. The sensations he's been getting from the Mark the closer he got to this ritual makes him believe that the Mark somehow has a connection to it. Which he knows isn't impossible, for the moment he was born into this world, he was put into its framework, its laws applying to him.

"These followers, their rituals, the power they're gathering - it's all building to something bigger than just the de Martels or their bloodline. Silas as I just said may be a possible threat Niklaus. You've heard the stories yourself when we were children.

How he was once the mightiest witch to walk the earth, Nature's Chosen, but now its greatest shame. No longer one honoured by nature, fallen, a disgrace. The First Sinner. Silas is said to be able to bring the end of days, and seeing as we are immortal brother, I don't want the world to end, since it is my ambition to one day rule it." Vali continued. 

Vali since remembering everything and doing his own research about Silas, through his Mother's grimoire and what he found from the travelers, has already noticed that the first immortal is possibly far more powerful than he was originally supposed to be. Something, the paranoid bastard that he is, will thoroughly take into account when it comes to dealing with him.

"And how are you possibly going to accomplish that by facing him, since you still don't deny it." Klaus questioned.

"Brother, these scholars are most definitely not the only ones seeking to raise the bastard. His rise is pracitcally guarenteed. What we need to do now is delay it as much as possible till I have more understanding of what my connection to him is, so that I then can permanently end him, with this," Vali says as he pulls out the First Blade from his inner breast pocket.

Klaus immediately flinches at its appearance, for every raw nerve end of his tells him to flee at its sight. Tells him to run and never look back.

For this can end him.

The Hybrid soon enough regains his composure as Vali once more puts it away, masking its aura once more.

"Fine, but what about Aurora? About Tristan? Are they people you are willing to see as allies and actually take into consideration in this quest or do you see them as simply justified casaulties of war?" Klaus questioned, his tone demanding

"They're whatever they choose to be," Vali replied coldly. "Either obstacles to be removed or allies to be protected. Tonight will determine which."

----------------------------------------

(Author note: Hello everyone! Hope you all enjoyed the chapter!

Now, what could possibly be the ritual that is being done? Does anyone have any ideas what its true purpose is? I'm giving a hint, focus on the name First Sinner, and think about who it correlates to. 

Now, tell me how did you find the interactions between everyone?

How do you think this will end? Will Klaus and Aurora end up together? Or will it end in tragedy and create the love-hating Klaus we all know and love.

Well, I am quite interested in what you guys think, do please comment and review. The more comments and reviews there are, the more I want to write, because I love engagement with you guys.

Well, I hope to see you all later,

Bye!)