AN: So hope everybody enjoyed that first chapter! A couple things to clear up:

Klaroline will be a slow burn – this story will kinda be one too sorry

Rebekah only ran away a couple months ago

The King and Queen had Rebekah and then peeled out of the castle because their eldest son died (like the unnamed one on tvd)

Caroline is a very conflicted person because she wants to be strong but she often finds herself weak

Also the villiage/countries they live in is all made up by me so that will be explained more as the story progresses, I'll give you a list of the countries and maybe post a link to a drawing I'm working on. It's nothing fancy lol

This chapter may have a few errors because it was un-betaed but hopefully next chapter will be better, sorry about that! I did have somebody volunteer to beta and I sent them the chapter but it was around the holidays and they're probably very busy so I didn't want to bother them!

Anyways, hopefully you all enjoy this chapter, please let me know what you think, you magical snowflakes keep me going!

Caroline had taken to dry heaving in the span of the next six days, clutching at the ground to steady her but finding nothing but cold. It was a horrible pattern that kept on repeating because she held nothing inside of her stomach. The guards were nice enough to give her water, but only small amounts -she was sure she would die from dehydration had they not. Food was another matter however. The Prince realized that people were able to survive longer without having any form of substance and so he deprived her of such luxuries. Every day at some point he would return to the edge of her cell and offer her the same deal, "pretend to be the Princess Rebekah or stay down here to rot." It was their little tango, he would extend his hand and she would refuse to follow his lead. That was usually when he threatened Camille.

Though Caroline had the belief in the back of her mind that he knew she'd never agree if Camille were to die -so the nightmares of her sister being run through by a sword started to fade back into the nothingness in which she was surrounded. She wasn't really sure how fast time passed around her seeing as everything was always the same. The stench of death, the frozen stone beneath her, the ways the guards watched her with hungering eyes. Caroline was sure that if she weren't under the some-what protection of the Prince than they would have had their way with her a long time ago. It made her shutter even thinking about it. The only way she ever really knew that a new day had come was when Niklaus was slowly inch open the door -as if it made her cower in fear- and slowly walk towards her, dangling a way to her freedom in front of her face.

During their fourth or fifth conversation Caroline didn't even bother moving as he entered, she laid on the floor with her hands clasped against her stomach -mostly trying to ease the pain she felt from not eating. He came to a halt near the bars as always and began to squat so that he didn't have to tower over her so much. Caroline only turned her head slightly to stare directly into his eyes -knowing full well that he deserved to know the pain she was in. She had heard from Miss Shelia once that the eyes were the windows into the soul, so Caroline prayed in that moment that Niklaus himself felt the vicious starvation clawing at her insides.

"Hello again Caroline, have you had any change in opinion of taking my offer?" His smile was wicked, not even the dimples in his cheeks could mask the venom he produced. Caroline was sure that if he stuck out his tongue it would drip poison from it's forked edge.

She held off from answering for a moment because in theory Caroline really had the upper hand. Niklaus needed her to pretend to be Rebekah because apparently they bore at least a small resemblance that wouldn't make the King and Queen question her legitimacy. Prince Niklaus had revealed this information during their second conversation hoping that Caroline would have more confidence in the plan -but he had ultimately failed. So far Niklaus had never gone through with any of his threats because he was in need of her services and so that made Caroline perfectly safe -well until the King and Queen arrived she supposed.

"I will not help you." Her declaration sounded weak and brittle, her voice cracking from being so dry. She was sure that if humans could turn into amounts of nothing she would surely become one soon. "Go away."

She noted that his anger never seemed to diminish even though he should have guessed that she wouldn't agree with him. "You dare speak to me this way? I could crush you, you pathetic girl." The Prince snarled through the bars, grasping at them with his fists until she noticed his skin fade to white. Perhaps she was foolish to anger him so often, because on the day that she dies he will be waiting for her with a sword at her neck and smirk on his lips.

"Then why haven't you already?" If he was going to kill her, he may as well get it over with. The waiting was the worst, the torturous existence that she was being forced to endure was worth then any beheading. "I will never agree to you, yet you still hold me here. Allow me death and you shall be free to find another woman to play your sister."
The Prince didn't appreciate her suggestion seeing as he began to glare at her, almost as if she could be set ablaze if he lasted long enough. "You will not speak to me this way Caroline, I will find a way to break you." She nearly laughed when he departed, overcome with the ludicrous situation she had gotten herself into.

It had been two days she supposed since then and nothing had been made better -it had progressively gotten worse. She was being pushed to the point of near death and nobody seemed to care. Oh what would Camille do if she could never return to their home? Would her mother weep? Would her father? Caroline felt tears come to her eyes but they never fell. She could not be weak for herself, she could need feel pity -she had to be strong until the end because that was the sister that Camille would look up to.

She considered what would happen after she died -where would she go? What would she do? It was an impossible stem of intricate theories that started swarming around inside of her head. Would she be able to walk through the gates of heaven? Would she be sent to to hell for her stealing? Even if it was for her sister and family, it was a sin. It made her cringe when she thought of the devil embracing her with open arms. She began to shake those images away, hoping that it would never come to pass. Backtracking to her earlier thoughts she wondered what heaven would be like. Would warmth eternally surround her? Would she be at peace? Would that tiny bird her dad had kill be there waiting for her? The list of questions was never ending.

Just then Caroline heard the familiar opening of the dungeon door and took in a long breath, it had been another day of lonely sorrow, minutes ticking by like hours. She wondered if today would be her last -she silently prayed. "Please go away," she begged with her voice low, "I will not accept your offer."

"I'm going to assume you were expecting Niklaus." The man that spoke was not her usual tormentor so she whipped her head around too quickly causing pain. Caroline ignored it however in light of the fact that somebody else had come to see her -perhaps he was going to kill her. The man wore a white tunic and leather pants with his sword held close at his hip. She noticed that his hair as tied back only halfway near the top compared to the Prince who committed to it either fully up or down. This new presence walked towards her gracefully, she felt almost calm around him. He was no stranger to stubble, seeing as it spread across his chin and cheeks, the colour identical to the dark brown on top of his head.

Caroline would have sat up had she been able to. Every time she attempted to prop herself against the wall she became violently ill again, her bones were too weak and her mind too dizzy. It was the lack of food that kept her back rooted against the ground. "Who are you?" She didn't bother answering his previous question, he already knew what she would have told him.

The man smiled as he reached her then, she could see a small ray of light creep in through a crack in the bordered windows. It was merely a sliver but it allowed her to notice pitiful gaze he directed towards her. "My name is Elijah, I am the second oldest son in this family." Her stomach began to feel ill. This man would not help her, this man was a monster just as Niklaus was.

If looks could kill Prince Elijah may have been dead, "Don't think that just because you speak to me instead of the Prince that I will bend to your will." Caroline wanted her voice to be filled with conviction but it lacked the substance needed to make any form of point. She licked her lips but it did nothing for her -everything was dry.

Prince Elijah cocked his head, and he appeared to be studying her. Though not the way that a predator would, but as a bird outside of the window who just wanted a warm place to rest. He was curious. "He had told me that you were stubborn, and full of temper." Caroline rolled her eyes to think that she was such a burden he had to complain about her. How did he think she felt? "I'm terribly sorry about the inhumane way he has treated a girl such as yourself, so here." From his pocket he produced a slice of bread that was as large as Caroline's hand, if she could have pounced at it she would have. All she could do however was raise her trembling arm towards the barrier. Elijah noticed that her body was too exhausted to reach any further so he passed her the food through the bars.

She ate it all within seconds, stuffing nearly the entire piece into her mouth to hush the growling inside of her. It was barely anything but she was thankful that he had at least given her something. Caroline knew that he was going to bribe her with these kinds of luxuries but giving in would mean defeat -she did not approve of such notions. "Thank you Prince Elijah, but I will still not mascaraed as your sister."

He began to nod his head, "I assumed as much." Elijah crouched down, leaning his arms on one of his knees for support. Caroline noticed the way his eyes evaluated her current state -he obviously wasn't pleased with his findings. "So I'm going to offer you an even better deal and I would suggest you truly consider it." While he had been kind to her, Caroline could still hear the lingering threat behind his words. He was a Royal after all.

"I'm listening." She wanted him to get his spiel over with so that she could go back to wallowing in her own filth and fading away like the seasons.

Clearing his throat he began, "I've come to understand that you have a family which you admire greatly. They are the reason you were trying to steal from the castle yes?" She nodded to confirm his statement. "Well I'm willing to help them. The palace will provide your family with as much food as they need until they no longer require it. Should it be till their deaths then that is fine. We will keep them alive and well fed." Caroline could only hear a ringing in her ears after that. Could he really be offering her such a deal? Surely Prince Niklaus would never approve of such a kind act.

"You must be lying." Her head couldn't wrap itself around the idea of her family so well off. The look of Camille with plump cheeks and touching thighs was a far away memory. Could it really be possible? Could the Prince truly wish her family good fortune and not a sword through the heart?

Elijah's smile began to spread, seeping with pity that Niklaus had never extended to her. "No Dear Caroline I'm not lying. I will personally see that your family is well, this I can promise you." She felt a wetness prick her eyes, an unfathomable feeling of joy spread throughout her bones. "Will you aid our family in our time of need, just as I wish to aid yours?"

How could she turn this down and leave her family out to dry? She could see them now in her head rotting away to nothing in her beds, Camille crying from hunger, her father working day in and day out to try and make enough money. The harsh truth was that since everybody had been losing money they couldn't afford to buy anything from a blacksmith. She wanted to be strong and hold her ground, to tell them all that she'd rather die then play as a pawn in their games but that wouldn't make her brave it would only make her a coward.

In the steadiest voice she could muster Caroline told him, "Yes, yes I will help you. Just feed my family please." Her fingers dug into the ground to concrete herself to the moment when Elijah nodded his head and promised her that they would be okay -she couldn't believe the amount of relief that started flooding through her.

After days of feeling as if death was her only ending, like the pit in which she lived in was the last thing she'd ever see Caroline couldn't stop herself from crying. Tears streamed out from the corner of her eyes without a thought of stopping. She cried for Camille, her mom, the realization that she was going to leave the prison, for the empty feeling in her stomach she'll finally be able to replenish, for every single horrid emotion that ever crossed her path Caroline let it all out. It felt like hours before she ran out of tears, her body was exhausted from all of that crying -even her bones seemed to be screaming for the sweet release that sleep could bring.

So that's exactly what she did, she let her head rest against the dirty ground and everything went black.

-o-

The first thing she could sense about her surroundings when she woke up was the overwhelming smell of pine. It slithered up her nostrils and down her throat, constricting her airways until she felt as if she couldn't breathe. Caroline sat up quickly, heaving and gasping for air as if she'd never had any before in her life. It took her a few minutes to realize that the scent was coming from the open window outside where pine trees stood tall and proud.

That was when her eyes starting adjusting to the rest of the room and her jaw nearly dropped. Caroline had been placed in a four canopy bed made from dark wood and rich golden fabrics. Much of the other decorations matched the same colour scheme, a table to dine on, a wardrobe that had the most lavish golden etchings, and even a fireplace that was roaring with flames. Caroline put her hands down on the bedding beneath her and gasped at how amazing the silk felt beneath her palms. She must still be dreaming.

The door creaked as it opened and Caroline turned her head hastily to meet the eyes of an unfamiliar woman. She was wearing an emerald green dress that complimented her dark skin tone quiet nicely, her hair was straight down to her chest and when opened the door completely Caroline spotted a tray of food which she balanced in her right hand. The woman didn't appear to notice the awakened blond at first when she moved to place the tray on the table but when she looked up, her eyes widened and her mouth was open in shock. "You're awake!"

"Yes." Caroline supposed that she should have asked the million questions that were running around inside of her brain but none of them came to her.

The girl flattened out her dress and began making her way towards the bed, she made sure to pick up an apple on her way. "Here you should eat, you look positively dead." That sounded like an insult but once the apple was placed in front of her she couldn't bother to care. Her mother had always told Caroline that if she wasn't going to play like a lady she could at least eat like one. This time however Caroline disregarded the request and devoured the apple faster than she knew she could. "Slow down you're going to end up chocking!"

She coughed at the sound of the girls voice, realizing how monstrous she must appear. "I'm sorry, I haven't eaten in days."

She turned away from Caroline and made her way back towards the table where the food was placed. The girl picked up the tray, bringing it back in Caroline's direction. "Then I shouldn't deprive you any more." Caroline smiled as the food was placed beside her on the bed. She saw bread, fruit, chicken and even a small cup of water. "I'm Bonnie by the way, Princess Rebekah's lady in waiting."

Caroline's eyes flickered up quickly to meet Bonnie's and she suddenly remembered what she'd gotten herself into. "Oh no!" She exclaimed, swinging her legs off the bed in an attempt to stand. Within moments her head was swarming with a sort of fog and Caroline could no longer feel her legs. She was sure that in moments she'd be greeted by the hard wooden floor but surprisingly Bonnie managed to catch her before she made impact and bring her back to her feet.

"You must not strain yourself Caroline, you're weak and need rest." She pushed Caroline back onto the bed, gently leaning the blond girls head back onto the board behind it. "I was sent to make sure you eat and after that you must sleep." How did Bonnie know her name? Who sent her? Everything was starting to become black splotches in her vision, as if she had been poisoned. "Here have some chicken."

Caroline took the meat in her fingers and quickly started to chew it. Her tongue exploded with joy at the taste of such luxuries, even when her family had more money to spare they'd never been able to afford a chicken for dinner. "Thank you very much Bonnie but why are you helping me?" She enquired, watching the woman smile as Caroline ate. "You owe me nothing."

Bonnie shrugged her shoulders, "I have been asked by Prince Elijah and he has always been kind to me." Caroline wondered if Prince Niklaus knew anything about her deal with he noble Elijah, about her release and the fact that her family was going to survive after all. Bonnie took a seat at the edge of Caroline's bed, playing with the fraying at the bottom of her sleeve. "Besides as Rebekah's lady in waiting I must start tending to you, otherwise the King and Queen will know that this is all a farce."

Caroline gulped -she would have to fool the King and Queen into thinking she was their beloved daughter. How on Earth could she be a Princess when she'd never even acted as a girl in her own village? She was no lady by any means, she lied to steal money and she brought home dirty animals that had no place in her house. "What have I done?" She began to panic. "I cannot be Princess Rebekah! I'm no lady!"

Placing a compassionate hand on Caroline's knee the brown haired girl assured her that everything would be alright. "The Princes will teach you, they will help you and you will survive this." That was something Caroline hadn't thought about since she first received Niklaus's ultimatum -she could be killed. "Now get your rest Caroline, when you awake the other ladies and I will help bathe you and you shall start your lessons."

-o-

The country of Tarrentdale -Caroline's home- had a very strong reputation for defending itself, their borders were the longest standing, untouched borders in nearly three hundred years. That could have been due to the fact that two of it's surrounding countries were their allies, and even though the third one was hateful and ready to pounce at anything that moved -it was too small to attempt war on anybody.

Caroline had learned bits and pieces of this world history from her father and neighbouring men around the village. She'd always been so fascinated learning about the country of Benovella and how the Queen had given birth to four children at once, or in Crownia where it's said that they grow so much fruit they're rolling in it. One of the eldest men in the town told her past experiences he had when he worked for the Royal Family of Tarrentdale himself as a knight that was sent to fight for Benovella when Lindel decided to try and take over one of their towns sitting near the border. Of course Caroline had been sceptical at first seeing as the castle appeared to be filled with nothing but empty hallways.

However now all the stories started to flutter back to the front of her mind and Caroline was overwhelmed with the situation she'd managed to get herself into. Bonnie left her alone with her thoughts but she was unable to rest no matter how long she tried, staring endlessly at a piece of golden fabric that hung from the top of her new bed -it was enough to drive a sane woman mad.

Eventually she was broken from her trance when the door began to creak open -she'd really have to get that fixed- and Caroline spotted a brown haired woman enter the room from the corner of her eye. "Hello Bonnie." She greeted, hoping that the girl had come to remove her from her eternal torment.

Bonnie nodded her head in acknowledgement, not even uttering a quick greeting to the blond girl. Caroline realized that Bonnie didn't need to treat her as royalty because she truly wasn't a part of the Mikaelson family. As much as Caroline slept in Rebekah's quarters and was given her name by others around the castle she was not a royal. Trying to force back the lump in her throat Caroline asked, "am I ready to start my lessons?"

"No I'm afraid you must bathe first, then you will start your lessons." Bonnie extended her hand for Caroline to take, it was cold to the touch. She wondered where the girl slept at night, was it in a nice bedroom like the one she herself currently resided in? Though she didn't dare ask in fear that Bonnie may become upset. "Come now." This time when she stood she did not feel the need to collapse onto the ground.

Outside of her door stood a man in armour that bore the family crest. He had golden blond hair that hung down to his shoulders and charming blue eyes that reminded her of the ocean. Caroline felt something friendly about him that made her feel more at ease. "Caroline this is Matthew, he's Rebekah's guard and now hes yours."

"Nice to meet you Caroline -I mean Rebekah." He tried to hide his smile but both women could still see it. Matthew seemed innocent and carefree unlike the many inhabitants of the building she'd met already.

Caroline grinned at him, "You as well Matthew, hope I'll be seeing you later." With that Bonnie took hold of her hand and began their journey towards Caroline's bath.

Bonnie led Caroline down a hallway draped in golden tapestry and large windows. Outside she saw breathtaking views of trees that stood taller than any building, and water that shimmered under the suns glare. She wondered what her town appeared like when she was so far up. Nevertheless, they reached their destination at the end of a corridor and turned into a room on the right. All she could see was white as she entered, white walls, floors and ceiling. There was a fireplace in one corner but it was not burning and a window that reached the enter length of the wall straight in front of her. In the centre of the room stood up a tub so large she was sure it was a lake. Made from glorious stone with legs that resembled lions feet Caroline approached it, watching the steam rise from the water it contained.

"I get to use this?" She gasped in shock thinking back to having to bathe herself in the river, just praying that no man would walk by and spot her. It happened once when she was thirteen but she kicked little Johnny Timings in the knees, collected her things and dashed back home.

From the corner of the room emerged two figures Caroline had never seen before, both were petite in size with dark hair though one was lighter than the other. The girl on the left had her hands folded in front of her and a nervous expression which deemed opposite to the girl on the right who was holding back a giggle. "Yes Caroline you do." The girl finally allowed herself to laugh taking another step towards the blond. "I'm Davina and this is April." She pointed back to her timid friend who offered a gentle smile. "Let us help."

At first Caroline felt awkward about letting the girls help her but despite her rest, food, and new ability to walk she still felt weak and so she accepted their service. The water was so warm it burned her at times but each singe felt like she was shedding off her old skin and becoming something new -something like Rebekah hopefully. The bath didn't last long -which she was disappointed about- but once it was over she realized she had no good clothes to wear.

That was when April brought forth a beautiful red dress fit for a Queen. Caroline felt the fabric between her fingers and was in awe of how something so lavish was ever made. When she managed to put it on she took a look at herself in the mirror, eyes glued open in shock at how stunning she managed to look. She'd never really gotten many good mental pictures of herself before that moment and so she capture it and saved it away from a day when she felt as though nothing was right.

-o-

The ladies led her down towards what appeared to be a library which allowed Caroline to gain a better view of her new home. It was stunning, magical and everything she could have never dreamed possible. However the dark stone walls also reminded her that this wasn't really her home -more like her prison. Davina pressed on the large wooden doors when they arrived, and she noticed that golden designs were etched into the wood like a frame. As they entered Caroline noted that much of the shelves were designed that way as well. Stacked to the brim with so many novels she couldn't count them, the bookcases stood high against the wall at least the size of four men.

"Beautiful isn't it?" She jumped when she heard him speak but quickly recovered upon discovering that the stranger was Prince Elijah and not Prince Niklaus. "My mother had it designed, she made sure every last detail was perfect. Though it's been barely touched by any other than my brother Finn and I since she departed." Caroline saw the hurt hiding in his eyes but she said nothing.

"If you don't mind me asking Prince-"

"Please called me Elijah," he interrupted with a raised hand, "if we're to be siblings you mustn't address us with such formalities."

She looked towards the ground before nodding, how many new rules would she be learning. "Then if you don't mind me asking Elijah," she dragged out his name but it felt odd to say without a title in front of it, however Elijah smiled so she figured it sounded alright to him, "what am I doing here?"

He moved swiftly towards a set of large cushioned chairs near the middle of the room, taking a seat and motioning for Caroline to do the same. She hurriedly joined him, not wanting him to get angry with her and throw her back in the dungeon. "In order to become Rebekah you must learn about her. She knows all about our family history, as well she had a vast knowledge of the countries in this region and their rulers. She was a bit of a gossip if I must say." She watched a tender smile spread on his face as he spoke of his sister. "You must also learn the definite things that our mother and father would know, as well as royals that have visited."

Caroline nearly paled at the thought of trying to remember all of that information, "How shall I know what others do?"

Lifting his eyes to peer into hers Elijah spoke, "our parents only know what she had told them through letters and not a single one has ever left this castle without a copy being made by one of my servants." She shifted a little in the chair, at least that part would be easier. "As for the visitors, well I'll deal with that when we get to it."

Letting out a deep breath she hadn't known she was holding Caroline nodded. "Will you be teaching me?"

Elijah laced his fingers together upon his lap, "Most of the time, though my brother Prince Kol has more knowledge of the goings on between royals." She knew that Elijah was trying to say that his brother was a gossip like Rebekah but she kept her mouth shut. "There may be other things you should learn but those as well will be dealt with whenever they become our issue at hand."

"May I ask another question?" Elijah hesitated for a moment and Caroline became worried that he would decline her offer. Though he proved her wrong when he gestured for her to continue. "Is my family safe and fed?"

He observed her with curiosity and then it morphed into something like understanding, "Caroline I can assure you that your family has been brought provisions by some of our knights and are now under royal protection should they need it. One of your village friends aided our men in finding the right house, her name was Miss Shelia I do believe." Caroline felt a burst of happiness emanating through her veins. "My men informed your family that you were to be kept at the castle until a time we deem it's safe for you to leave." Caroline noticed how he wavered on the end of his sentence. There would never be a time that was acceptable for her to return home -she was stuck there forever or until death.

Instead of pointing out his lack of hope for her situation Caroline changed the subject, "May I ask one last question?" Elijah gazed at her for a mere moment before he nodded. "You speak of Princess Rebekah in the past tense. Do you fear she's passed?"

He turned his head downward in shame at her observation. As she waited for him to answer she could swear that she could hear the churning of answers inside of his head. "Rebekah is dead to me, and that is why I cannot speak as if she'd alive."

Caroline nodded but she didn't really understand. Camille was everything to her no matter what, through thick or thin, sickness and health. If the little blond girl decided to run away then Caroline would be filled with sorrow but she would never pronounce her sister dead in her heart. Though that hardly seemed like it was a subject in which Elijah wanted to argue so she stayed silent about it.

Elijah broke the silence, "Shall we start then?"

ahhhhhhhhhhhhh i know there's almost no klaroline please don't hate me!

this story needs time to build and the chapters have been taking longer than i originally thought, but hopefully you're not all getting bored!

Okay so next chapter we'll learn more about the countries and stuff and the other royal families, that will be fun! And I promise Klaus will be more prominent!

Also, to anybody that reads Game On, I'm sorry that I haven't updated but I'm still trying to figure out Elijah's game and how I want the whole thing to end so bare with me please!

Thank you!