CHAPTER THREE: Change

Years passed and the boys grew even older. Niklaus was now sixteen and he had bad news.

"Elijah," he said to his friend one day as they walked the familiar forest paths, "my father informed me he is traveling for business tomorrow. I am to go with him and learn the family trade that comes with being the village leader."

His dark-haired companion, now twenty, turned to study his longtime childhood best friend. His expression sorrowful.

"Leaving the area... as in forever?" he asked fearfully.

"I do not know," Niklaus stated with a shrug, his shoulders lowered in defeat. "We are moving north to be with family in the upper region so that I may train properly. We me may be back in a year or we may be gone for much longer than that. Father was uncertain how much time this trip would require."

Elijah was silent. "Could you not stay with us? Mother would surely allow it. You are like a son to her as much as any of my siblings."

"I know," Niklaus smiled, but then he sighed. "I should go with my father though, Elijah. He told me there are things I need to learn on this trip, though he would not tell me exactly what sort of things. He said it would be a learning experience for us both, whatever that means."

Elijah shrugged, forcing a small smile onto his face. "Well, no matter the length of time. Promise you won't forget about me?"

Niklaus huffed and threw his arms around his friend. "I could never, so long as you do the same."

Elijah nodded. "Of course, Always and Forever."

Niklaus walked out of the forest and Elijah knew it could very well be the last time.

Those things he needed to learn, turned out to be more important than he had realized. Now that he was sixteen, Ansel told him the truth of their pack. He told him about the full moons curse. He told him about the werewolf blood running through their veins and he told him also, of his position that would soon be within the pack. His position as up and coming alpha.

Niklaus was at first in denial, but in time, he came to accept this newfound insight into his true self. He always wondered why the moon held such a fascination for him. He supposed that was why.

One day while on their journey, they attended a ball for a noble court in the country side. While there, Niklaus met a girl named Freya. She danced with him through one song before returning to her aunt's side. Niklaus never saw the girl again, but he wondered about her from time to time. She had seemed so sad, except for those few moments they had danced and chatted. He hoped one day he might get the chance to meet her again.

Things were also happening with Elijah. Years after Niklaus left, Henric who had reached his fifteenth birth date, was killed while hunting. Elijah had found him. He had been killed by werewolves, his mother had reported, and his father then went and slaughtered them all; every single werewolf he could find. Things began to change in their family. With the third death in their village, his mother became desperate to keep them safe. His father, more bloodthirsty. Elijah felt like he was in a prison he could not escape and he found himself wishing for those former days of happiness with his friend in the woods. Somehow, he knew even if Niklaus did return, things would never be the same. He just didn't realize how different.

Five years after his leaving, Niklaus returned. He was now twenty-one years old. He had heard the news about the wolf village from across the lake being wiped out by the Mikaelson family after they had taken the life of their youngest son, Henric. His heart went out to Elijah and his family, but he felt uncertain of how to approach him. How could he? When he himself was the same as those wolves that had torn his brother from them?

Nevertheless, he ventured into the forest upon his first day back in the village. His long blonde hair tied loosely in a ponytail and his eyes, so much more intense with age and understanding. He was now truly the prince of his people and he planned one day to be their king. He did not know Fate had other plans.

Niklaus had just stepped into the clearing of the forest where he had met Elijah all those years ago, when someone suddenly shoved him into a nearby tree. He winced at the feel of the bark against his cheek, cutting into its soft flesh. The person behind him was ruthless in their hold as they pulled his hair back and whispered into his ear.

"Who are you? Why do you come into territory not rightly your own?" the familiar voice demanded and Niklaus allowed his body to relax upon hearing it.

"Perhaps I came to pick wild berries? Or maybe I came to hunt the deer of the earth? Perhaps even more so, I came to find my long-lost childhood friend. Who knew he would so soon forget my face, hmm?"

The person behind him pulled back suddenly and released him. Niklaus turned, a smile on his lips as he met surprised eyes.

"Elijah," he greeted casually.

The man before him, now twenty-five, was tall with long brown curly hair. He looked much stronger than he had all those years ago and his chin, more chiseled. His shoulders, broader. He looked more like a man than a boy now.

"Niklaus..." he whispered, his eyes taking in the man before him with a strange hunger.

Niklaus however thought nothing of it as he stepped forward and Elijah met him, embracing him. They held that position for a moment before Elijah pulled back, his fingers running through the others blonde curls with a gentleness the brunette had only ever used with Niklaus.

"You got old," Elijah whispered.

Niklaus chuckled and playfully pushed him away. "You are one to talk, Elijah."

The two smiled, their foreheads resting against one another as they had once done as children.

"Elijah, everything alright?" a voice shouted as footsteps came running closer.

The two turned just as Kol and Rebekah stepped into view. Both were now in their upper teens and they looked just as shocked as Elijah when they saw and recognized Niklaus.

"Nik!" Rebekah hollered, running into his arms.

Niklaus laughed as he spun her around before turning to Kol and ruffling his hair. Kol smiled just as Finn and Mikael stepped into view. Finn stayed serious though gave the blonde a nod of acknowledgment, but Mikael looked very unhappy upon seeing him.

"This is not your land, Anselson. You should be leaving."

"Father!" Elijah and Rebekah yelled in outrage, "This is Niklaus."

"I know who he is," Mikael replied gruffly, "we are at war. He should leave."

Elijah looked ready to protest, but Niklaus waved it away. "And so I shall, Mikaelson. I merely came to have a small reunion with some close friends with whom I am not at war."

Mikael ignored him and continued past them and further into the woods. Finn followed him and reluctantly so did Kol. Rebekah grabbed his hand in a gentle squeeze of affection and then moved to follow. Elijah watched them go.

"After Henric died, he just... he and mother both have not been the same."

Niklaus nodded, hesitant. "That is understandable. I had heard about your brother while away. I am sorry I wasn't here for you during that time, Elijah."

Elijah waved his concerns off.

"My father, he has been mercilessly hunting all wolves he finds in the forest, no matter who or what they are since then. If you enter the woods, watch for the traps. They can hurt humans as well."

Niklaus nodded, inwardly noting to tell his father and his pack of these things.

"I should be going. I do not wish to upset your father. I will see you again Elijah."

Elijah waved until he vanished from view. He had missed his friend, but having him back felt almost like a dream. And in this life, it was a dream out of place with how violent his reality had come to be. Still, he would protect Niklaus from that reality, the best he could. This he swore.

The night of the full moon came several weeks later. It would be Niklaus' first night fully changing into his wolf form now that he was twenty-one years of age. He had told his father of the dangers in the forest, but it was ritual for those changing, especially future alphas, to bring back game from their first hunt and the forest was the only location that this could be done relatively safe and close to the village housing his pack.

As the moon rose, the transformation began. His bones broke and he cried out in pain, he felt his skin breaking apart as his fur took root and when the moon was finally above him, he was a wolf of the darkest coloring. His fur was a deep black, his eyes a rare teal color. The only sign of his blonde hair was the blonde streaks crisscrossing over his eyes and down his muzzle, as well as his golden paws. he was a beautiful, strong, elegant looking wolf.

"Be fast and hunt mercilessly," his father told him once he was changed. They had worked those five years on learning to control the beast within. Niklaus was proud he had succeeded in that endeavor.

As Niklaus hurried into the forest, his legs going as fast as possible, he kept his eyes peeled both for game and traps. He took Elijah's words to heart about his family killing wolves they found within the forest; for that reason, he would make certain he was never found.

At least, that had been the plan.

As he hunted, he picked up on a strange scent. Intrigued, though he knew he should stay clear of this new smell, he investigated. What he found, shocked him. Elijah ad his siblings stood around the clearing, bodies loitering the area. Blood dripped from their teeth and their eyes, darkened, seemed primal in nature. Mikael stood at the back, watching, his eyes narrowed and his teeth ground together. Esther too stood nearby, her head hung low as though she could not watch her children feast upon the villagers they had slain.

'Vampires...' Niklaus realized. 'Elijah... you are a… vampire."

"I smell wolf," their father suddenly said.

Niklaus went lower to the forest floor, his black fur helping him to blend into the shadows.

"Finn, Kol. Come with me. I will not have wolves around our home."

The three vanished faster than Niklaus could keep up with. His eyes however, remained trained on Elijah who was cleaning his mouth and hands. He looked so... sad. Disgusted, even.

"Rebekah, help me with these bodies. Elijah, go find me wood with which to burn them."

Elijah nodded and turned to do as she instructed. He suddenly stopped, his eyes roaming the forest before moving on. Niklaus wondered if he had sensed someone watching him. As Elijah ventured into the dark, walking at a rather slow pace as Niklaus followed along behind him, he suddenly stopped when he was far enough not to be heard.

"If you wish to keep your life, little wolf, I suggest you leave now."

Niklaus blinked. He knew it would be stupid to step out, but he felt almost compelled to do so, when he saw the tremble in his friends' hands.

Elijah turned and stared at the black wolf that had stepped out from the shadows. For some reason, he felt a sense of familiarity when he had noticed its presence earlier. He had been pleased when his father and brothers had moved past the area, because for an odd reason he could not describe, he wanted nothing to happen to this particular wolf, though he knew not why.

"Go on then, leave. My father will return if you do not," he warned again.

The wolf continued to stand there.

"What? Can you not understand my tongue?" he asked, suddenly angry, "Leave!"

The wolf stepped towards the trees at the aggressive tone, but he slowed and looked back before suddenly walking up to the lone vampire. Elijah stepped back, suddenly afraid. As he looked down into those beautiful teal eyes, he swore he could almost hear Niklaus' voice, but surely not. He felt his fear rising as the wolf continued to stare at him, a very un-wolf like thing to do. Desperately, he knelt before the beautiful creature.

"Please, tell me you are not who I think you are. Please tell me you are not Niklaus. I beg you."

Niklaus could only stare. There was no way to talk to Elijah in this form, but he felt suddenly desperate to reach him, to tell him not to be afraid of him. To tell him it was okay.

He knew of only one thing that might tell him the truth. He leaned his forehead against Elijah and Elijah shook and fell back, falling to the forest floor, shaking.

"Oh gods... you saw that... Niklaus, I didn't... Mother changed us... I would never... You must understand, I didn't want to kill those people. I..."

Niklaus licked his friend across the cheek. Elijah went silent. Even though he knew this was against the rules of the ritual, Niklaus forced his beast to change, just as his father had taught him. He could control the change at will due to a witch's spell cast upon him in his favor a couple years ago, a spell that allowed him control even under the light of the full moon. It was rare for any werewolf, but for an alpha and for the son of former witch, it was possible.

Elijah watched as the wolf morphed back into a person. Niklaus shook, his body heaving with the trauma the change always put upon his physical form, but Elijah did not move to comfort him. Instead, Niklaus moved on his own. Neither cared about appearances or the skin between them when they embraced. Elijah craved the affection and acceptance, the forgiveness he knew he didn't deserve, but that his friend openly offered up.

"Rest easy Elijah, I am aware of what has happened."

Elijah pulled back, confused.

Niklaus explained how most of the villages had heard rumor about the family that had cursed themselves after the death of their youngest, swearing revenge against all those dared to cross their path. He just hadn't wanted it to be true.

"So you knew all this time," Elijah grunted, suddenly feeling vulnerable.

"I suspected it was true, but I did not know for sure until I saw it tonight with my own eyes."

Elijah sighed and leaned forward against his friends' shoulder.

"I am sorry you had to see it, either way."

Niklaus smiled and gently, almost lovingly, pat his friends head. "I'm not. Now I know your secret and you know mine."

A shiver wracked the blonde and Elijah suddenly realized his friends condition and hurriedly took the cloak from his own shoulders and wrapped it around Niklaus. The blonde sent a grateful smile his way as the chill of the night was hazardous to his naked form.

"Can I take you to the edge of the forest?" Elijah asked.

Niklaus frowned. "I must complete the ritual my pack set for me."

Elijah sighed. "Did you not remember my warning?"

Nik sighed too. "No, I did. This is tradition though and my pack could not be convinced to do otherwise."

"Even at the expense of your own life?" Elijah growled.

Niklaus smiled and brushed some hair away from his friends' face, calming him. "I am safe, Elijah. Fear not."

Elijah studied his friend before nodding. "Very well, I will assist you, but then you must go."

As Niklaus stood, an arrow suddenly came out of nowhere and struck his side. He hollered in pain and Elijah jumped at the sound before hurryingly dropping to his side. The two stared as Mikael stepped out of the shadows, a deep scowl across his face.

"Well, well, well. I knew I smelt a wolf, but who would have guessed."

"Father, please, he was just leaving."

"No, I don't think so. He was spying and you know what we do to spies my son?"

Elijah swallowed as Niklaus groaned, his blood spilling heavily from his wound. It preyed upon Elijah's senses, but he held it together as his father stepped forward, Mikael's own vampiric senses going wild at the smell.

"We kill them," he hissed, his eyes deepening in hunger.

"Father, this is Niklaus, not just some wolf. He is our friend. He is my friend!"

Mikael growled and threw his son into a nearby tree. Elijah hit hard as Mikael bent and grabbed Niklaus around the throat.

"Mikael, stop!" a feminine voice commanded.

Mikael turned and looked at his wife whose eyes were wide as she took in the scene. "Release him."

"He was spying. He shall die."

"Put. Him. Down. Now," she growled.

He growled back. "Why do you care about this boy so much? Is it because you knew him as a child? He is nothing. His continued existence could be a risk to our families very survival. He. Means. Nothing."

"He means a lot to me and to his pack and his family," Another voice stated.

Mikael turned and spied Ansel as he stepped out of the shadows.

"Ansel..." Esther whispered, stunned.

Mikael looked between the two and his grip around Niklaus tightened when he saw the familiarity they shared.

"He is our son," Esther finally said, "your step son, and you will let him go, Mikael. Now!"

Elijah's eyes widened as he saw his mother step up next to Ansel. "If you love me at all, you will release that child."

Mikael stared down at Niklaus who was slowly being suffocated to death. This thing... was his step son? His wife betrayed him for a dog.

His anger grew greater the more he looked at the boy in his hands. He threw Niklaus down onto the floor and then turned and locked eyes with Ansel.

"You will pay with your blood," he swore.

The two vanished into the night as Ansel transformed and attacked. Esther and Elijah hurried to Niklaus' side.

"He is losing too much blood," Elijah whispered as he held his friend... his brother, in his arms.

"I know," his mother whispered, her voice shaking above the sounds of fighting coming from behind them. "He is dying."

Elijah gripped the cold hand tightly. He couldn't lose him now, not now, not when he just found out they were blood.

"I am sorry I did not tell you the truth Elijah, but at the time he was a secret I desperately wanted to keep safe. I could not risk your father finding out or he would have killed him as a child without hesitation."

Elijah was silent as he stared down at the pale figure, now barely breathing.

"Mother... please, save him."

She looked up at her older son and down at the younger. She had only one choice if she were to save him.

"He will become like us, an immortal. A monster…"

"A hybrid," Niklaus whispered, "No, Esther. Elijah, let me die. Let me die."

"My son," Esther soothed, "I cannot lose you now. WE cannot lose you now. Please, drink."

Niklaus looked at her and the cup she held that was full of herbs and her own blood, before he looked back up at Elijah. His skin was pale and stained with blood and Niklaus realized it was his own blood staining the man's skin.

"Please Niklaus... I need you," Elijah begged, "I know this is a selfish reason, but I…"

Those words had him relenting. "Alright mother. Give me the cup."

Elijah assisted him in drinking and as he choked it down, he could already feel a change taking place. Everything seemed sharper, his muscles burned, and his wound seemed to dim in pain. Before he knew it, the forest around him was louder than ever before, every sound seemed to pierce his ears and each smell, magnified. He groaned at the pain it brought to his head and he heard whispers, but could not clearly make out words. Suddenly he felt his body being lifted and all he knew, was someone was running through the forest while carrying him.

"Hold on..." he finally heard in the voice of the man carrying him, "you must hold on."

"Father..." Niklaus whispered out, a memory tugging at him.

The body trembled that carried him. "He is dead."

Niklaus frowned, his mind not registering and he began to fight the arms holding him. He had to get to his father. It was important…

"Hold still, you are weak and your body is still changing. You need someplace safe to rest."

"Father, I need my father... he..."

"He's gone, Niklaus. I'm sorry," the voice choked at it spoke, "just sleep. please. I'm so sorry."

Niklaus needed no further prompting. He closed his eyes and knew no more.

When Niklaus awoke, he was lying in a cave on some furs and several blankets were laid on top of him. At his side, he noted Elijah sitting by the fire, and further down, he also noted Finn, Rebekah, and Kol, all sleeping.

"Your awake."

He turned his gaze back upon Elijah who met his eyes.

"Do you understand what I am saying?"

Niklaus frowned. "Yes?"

Elijah let out a sigh of relief. "Good. You were out of it before and I... you didn't seem to understand anything I told you."

Niklaus was quiet and Elijah did not want to rush him.

"Where is my father? Esther and Mikael? What happened after they began to fight?"

Elijah cast his eyes away.

"It is a long story."

Niklaus hummed. "I do believe I have the time."

Elijah sighed. "Niklaus... your father is dead."

The blonde closed his eyes. In his heart, he knew this to be the truth, but he wanted to argue. He wanted to shout to the heavens that Elijah was wrong, but he also knew Elijah would not lie to him.

"And your parents?" he asked instead.

Elijah turned to him.

"Our mother is also dead. Mikael killed her when she defended us against him. Mikael has vanished, no doubt looking for us, but he will never find us. Not while we stay here. Mother enchanted this cave. He will never find us, so long as we remain within its walls."

The two sat in comfortable silence before Niklaus spoke.

"What I drank... It made me like you?"

Elijah did not meet his eyes. "You were going to die, Niklaus. You had to."

Niklaus was silent. "Perhaps it would have been better."

"Don't say that!" Elijah suddenly shouted, before quickly quieting down when he saw his siblings stir, "I need you. I just found out you are my long-lost brother, I can't lose you now. Not now. I have already lost everything else…"

Elijah leaned forward, his head resting in his hands. "I need you, little brother."

Niklaus stared at the ceiling of the cave for a moment before suddenly laughing. "I always knew deep down, I think, that you were my brother. It just makes sense, considering how close we are to one another."

Elijah smiled and nodded. "I think I did too."

"Me to!" Rebekah suddenly whispered, appearing at his side.

Niklaus smiled. "I think I shall be glad to have you as a little sister, Rebekah."

Rebekah hummed in pleasure as Elijah shook his head, amused. Niklaus frowned as he thought of his father.

"What did Mikael do with the body?"

Elijah closed his eyes. "Strung him up at the front of your village. Last I heard, he was slaughtering your pack. I'm sorry Niklaus, this is all my fault. If I had just left you alone, you probably never would have been noticed. I just..."

"It's not your fault, Elijah," Niklaus stated as he touched his friends leg, "its Mikael's, if anyone."

"Yes, it is," Rebekah agreed, "but now brothers you must rest. We have a long day ahead of us."

The next morning, Finn and Kol went to check out the village. Elijah went to gather provisions for the trip and Rebekah and Niklaus buried Esther.

"So what will happen now?" Niklaus asked, "what will your family do now?"

"Your family too, Nik. Besides, what can we do? Mikael will never stop hunting us. You either, I think."

Niklaus frowned, his grip tightened on the shovel.

"We will always be by your side, Niklaus. Do not think this is your fault. It is not. We are your family now. Truly, we always have been, even before we knew you were blood. You were the family we chose, always and forever."

Nik smiled just as Elijah walked up. "I agree with Rebekah. We will remain by your side brother, so long as you wish us. Always and forever."

"Always and forever," Niklaus repeated, "thank you, my family."