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Eyes uneasy, Astrid watched her husband from afar as he walked along the gardens with Marcel, his hand resting on the plane of the boy's back. Marcel had eagerly asked Nik if he'd take him to the stables to see the horses, and Klaus had happily obliged.
Conflicting waves crashed violently within her as emotions battled emotions. A frown was present on her lips as the two men she treasured the most disappeared from her sight.
Astrid was so caught up in her thoughts, she barely noticed the distinctive sigh of Rebekah reclining onto the empty chair beside her, azure orbs knowing.
Placing a hand on Astrid's arm, Rebekah's lips curled in concern as she captured her sister-in-law's attention. "What's wrong Astrid?"
Shaking her head, Astrid attempted to dismiss the subject with a wave of her hand. The last thing she needed was her worries somehow reaching Marcel, affecting the young boy who was settling greatly into their household.
"Nothing of grave concern, I assure you, Bekah." Astrid responded softly as she sat up straighter, eyes longingly glancing at the glass of wine sat on the table before them.
It was her favourite, red wine shipped all the way from Europe, made with the ripest and sweetest grapes. Astrid longed to drink the red liquid and let all her woos and worries disappear from her mind with a vast haze.
She wanted the familiar fog to cloud her brain as she giggled and gossiped with Rebekah, just like they had in the olden days; before she'd been daggered.
The reminder, the mere mention caused a sharp pain to erupt in her chest, as if the dagger was once again being drove through her.
Shaking her head, Rebekah rolled her eyes. "If it isn't grave concern then why do you look as if you want to drown yourself in that glass of wine." Rebekah motioned to the glass by pointing with her finger as Astrid snorted.
Leaning forward, Astrid didn't resist temptation as she gently plucked the glass from the table, nimble fingers wrapping around the glass as she lifted to her lips.
The sweet taste blessed her taste buds as she drained the wine before placing the glass back on the table top.
As Astrid licked her lips, tasting the remaining red droplets, Rebekah raised a brow, looking extremely unamused. "Come on, spill. You haven't been the same since... Well you know."
The blonde was evidently beyond tense as she folded her arms in her lap, her gaze wary as if she was afraid of upsetting Astrid.
Shaking her head, Astrid couldn't help the bitter laugh that fell from her lips. "Since I was daggered, yes, being left by the love of my life to rot in a coffin for hundreds of years seems to have affected me. Who would have guessed?" She couldn't help but snap.
Astrid knew it was wrong to take her frustration and anger out on Rebekah, but Astrid knew Rebekah was the only one she could trust. The only person she could vent about the situation too without fearing her husband would overhear or be informed.
As much as she wanted to completely forgive him, there was something holding her back, despite the words she had so quietly uttered.
He'd betrayed her once, he'd refused to listen to her because of his own insecurity, who was to say he wouldn't once more fall back into his old ways?
What would come of Marcel if Nik was to once more become overwhelmed by jealousy?
"I know, I know, Nik's a bloody idiot, believe me, I understand." Rebekah stated calmly, sending Astrid a soft smile as she reached out, placing her palm atop of Astrid's.
The gesture itself spoke more to Astrid than Rebekah had physically. "I don't know if I've made a mistake." Astrid finally admitted, tensed up as Rebekah frowned.
It was strange hearing such words come from Astrid's mouth.
She had and always would be head over heels for her brother, and Rebekah knew the brunette would follow Nik to hell and back, so it was rather daunting to here Astrid admitting such out loud when she had 'forgiven Nik.
"What do you mean?" Rebekah questioned, head swirling with possibilities. Did she regret staying with Niklaus, not leaving New Orleans as soon as she had awoken?
Astrid hesitated; the words stuck in her throat. "I, I forgave him because that is what my heart urged me to do... Being so distant with him, seeing him so upset, it was hurting me, it was hurting my heart. It was a different pain to the physical pain I endured... It was the pain I had felt when I had lost Ivar, and I-I couldn't bear to go through that again." Astrid's tone cracked, as Rebekah tightened her grip.
Eyes frosting over with unshed tears, Astrid bit her lower lip as she tried to keep up her strong façade.
"But, the way he hurt me, the way he left me in a box for so long, as if I was nothing but an artefact packed away till I was once more interesting-. My head, is telling me I'm foolish, I can hear it shouting, calling me a fool, for forgiving him so easy." She admitted.
Shaking her head, Rebekah sighed.
"You're not a fool, love can be blinding. And as much as Nik is an arse, he loves you, and sometimes you have to follow your heart, even if you end up hurt in the end." Rebekah reasoned.
But Astrid was not so sure as she glumly nodded.
...
He tried to muffle the yawn that left his lips as he rubbed his eyes, trying to appear upbeat and lively as Astrid tucked him beneath the covers.
Marcel had finally grown used to the comfy, feather stuffed mattress and warm blankets that he now slept on.
It had been rather strange, going from the cold floor of the barn, crammed in the small space with twenty other slaves, to a warm bed.
It had first hurt his back, his bones growing used to the hard, uncomfortable floor, but he now could melt into the soft mattress.
Astrid smiled down at him as she made sure his body was completely covered with covers, keeping him insulated as she gently ran her hand across his cheek.
"Goodnight, Marcel. Sleep tight." She beamed, leaning down and pressing a kiss to his cheek.
She couldn't help but quietly snigger at the large bags that resided beneath his eyes. He'd evidently had a very exciting, and very exhausting day at the stables with Klaus.
Once Marcel had arrived back at the manner with Nik, he'd gone on and on about the horses he'd met, and how his favourite was Nik's horse, a midnight stallion that had towered over the small boy.
Marcel yawned once more, eyes fluttering as he tried to fight the sleep that threatened to take over. Nodding, Marcel shuffled to get comfy as he licked his lips.
"Mmm, night mama." The words that left his lips stunned Astrid as she stood stiffly, unsure of how to react as a warm feeling pulsed through her veins.
Fortunately, Marcel had instantly fell into a light slumber, his chest heaving up and down as Astrid found tears coursing down her cheeks.
Unable to prevent the overwhelming wave of emotions that crashed over her, Astrid's lips parted and closed, flabbergasted.
Mama. Marcel had called her mama, the title brought pride and joy to her as she sniffled loudly. Ivar had never reached an age where he could call her mama.
Unable to move, Astrid was routed to her spot as she watched the small boy sleep. Perhaps it was disrespectful to Marcel's deceased mother, but Astrid would contently be the boy's mother, wanting nothing more than to protect and nurture Marcel.
