The Truth behind the Fairytale

Astarion was the first in camp to wake, confused as he realized he was not in his usual spot by the fire. However, his mind calmed as the memory of last night returned to him. A smirk forming on his lips as he glanced towards your sleeping form beside him. Last night was the first night he was able to convince you to lay with him. The first stage of his plan was unfolding nicely. That was all it was, of course. How else would he ensure your loyalty to him? He was worried for a while. You resisted him for much longer than he thought possible. Never has he had to chase after someone’s affection. A hunt, maybe, but pining? That was not in his nature. And he was glad it was finally over. He’s won.

Unbeknownst to him, Astarion’s smirk slowly fell into a smile as he continued to study your sleeping form. Before he even realized it, his hand had reached out to brush loose strands of your hair out of your face. The action barely began before he stopped himself, trying to snap out of it. What was he doing? He got what he came for so now he should leave. Right? There was no point in waiting for you to wake to engage in pointless pillow talk. So why couldn’t he seem to stand? To head back to his tent and get ready for the adventure you’d surely have today. It should have been a simple feat but… you looked… peaceful. No, weak he corrected. You let your guard down too easily. If he wanted to he could drain you of your blood and you could do nothing to stop it. That’s what he should be wanting to do, he thought. However, as he continued to stare at your sleeping form, he couldn’t help his feelings of contentment. He felt almost at ease. Vulnerable, he corrected again. He should be thinking things like this. Feeling things like this. It wasn’t like him. That wasn’t the plan.

The battle between the two sides of his mind was enough to get him up off the ground next to you. He stood rather abruptly and stared out over the water’s edge, fighting every urge he had to turn back to you and pull you back closer to him. Fighting against the want to feel your skin against his. Feel your breath against his cheek as you lightly laugh at one of his snarky remarks. You never meant to, he knew. He knew you always kicked yourself for encouraging him. But you couldn’t help it. The thought made him smile. He nearly let out a chuckle before again pushing those thoughts away. Your feelings towards him just proved his plan was working, that’s all. Nothing more. Nothing at all.

“Not staying for a cuddle?” he heard you remark from your spot on the ground.

Sarcasm he decided. Surely you wouldn’t say anything of that sort seriously. Would you? No. This was just a fling. Some fun to be had to forget about your enemies for a few moments. Nothing more.

“We should join the others,” he decided plainly. Your playful smile dropped from your lips.

“So soon?”

He nodded. “We likely have a long day ahead of us, yes? Best get going before it gets too late.”

You furrowed your eyebrows in confusion but stood up nonetheless. You noticed Astarion actively avoiding your gaze as you reached for your clothes. It was as if the thought of seeing your body repulsed him.

In truth, Astarion didn’t know how well he could control his thoughts, or his actions for that matter if he saw you in all your glory in the bright of day. He knew he would not be able to control his want to capture you in another kiss, perhaps a repeat of last night if he got the chance. Instead, he kept his gaze pinned to the floor, quickly reaching around you to grab his own clothing. As soon as he was dressed, he stalked back towards your camp, leaving you behind in confusion.

---

As the days went on, you noticed Astarion distancing himself from you where he could help it. You noticed he was never caught in a conversation alone with you. He never set his tent up anywhere near yours when you would camp for the night. Never asked for a repeat of that night’s events. You thought that surely there would be no end to his teasing once you finally gave in to him. Instead, it came to an abrupt stop. No more flirtatious remarks, snarky comments, nothing. Not that either of you would admit it, but it was visibly taking its toll on you.

Astarion felt guilty, sure. But he would never admit it. He pushed any thoughts of it away. He shouldn’t be feeling guilty. He shouldn’t be feeling anything! Surely it was a spell placed on him, you were quite adept at them. Perhaps he just had to wait and they’d fade away. Nearly a week passed before he thought they could truly be his own emotions. But they were emotions he’d never felt before, he wasn’t sure how to handle them. Whatever he decided, it had to be soon. He saw how this whole thing was taking a toll on you. Both of you, really. A fact that was most noticeable in the heat of battle. You were distracted, never fully there. He always brushed the thought away until you were nearly killed by one of the Absolute’s thralls.

None of you saw it coming. You had never once been downed in battle. Something Astarion always admired you for. However, the bastard got an upper hand on you. Some elf that you encountered on the road. No one saw him waiting in the shadows for your party to pass by. No one warned you in time. One hit was all it took to send you to the ground in pain. All it took to truly infuriate Astarion. While Shadowheart and Karlach rushed to your side to aid you, Astarion charged the attacker, ripping him apart in such a way that would cause even a grown owlbear to cringe in disgust. He didn’t deserve the mercy a quick death would provide. How dare he lay his hands on you. Harm you. Astarion would not stand for it. His actions quickly gained the attention of the other members of your party. Sure they all knew that Astarion was not one to shy away from gore, but his actions went further than they’d ever seen him go. By the time he rejoined the group, his torso was thickly sprayed with the attacker’s blood.

“We should make camp for the night,” He spoke, ignoring the looks from everyone around him. “Allow you time to recover.”

“And give you a chance to wash I hope,” Shadowheart grimaced, but agreed in the end.

---

Once you all had made camp, Astarion contemplating whether or not he should check on you. Surely that’d be something that a friend would do. Right? There were no rules stating you couldn’t be friends.

Before he could sway his mind one way or the other, you spoke up, saving him from the civil war blaring in his head.

“I hear you rather gruesomely defended me on the road today,” you said with almost a chuckle, startling him.

“Yes,” he chuckled, “Yes perhaps I did go a bit far.”

“On the contrary,” you assured him, placing your hand on his shoulder. “I’ve come to thank you.”

Astarion was frozen. Half of him wanted nothing more than to grab your other arm as well and hold you to him as tight as possible, showering your face with kisses. The other part wanted to make some snary comment, distancing him from you and keeping his walls up.

“Are you alright?” you asked him with furrowed eyebrows, removing your hand from his shoulder as you saw how it affected him.

“Yes,” he replied too quickly. “Yes, of course, I’m fine.”

“Are you sure? Cause I-”

“Oh for God’s sake would you please stop caring about me for one second!” he finally exploded.

“Excuse me?”

“Gods this shouldn’t be so vexing, but you. Your very presence. The way you speak to me just drives me mad!”

You stepped back with your eyes widened in shock at his sudden outburst. You weren’t sure if you should be offended, hurt, or angry. So instead you settled on silence.

“Look,” he continued. “I had a plan. A very, simple plan. Seduce you, sleep with you, manipulate your feelings so you’d never turn on me.” You could hear how his voice wavered, hinting at breaking as he finally unburdened himself. “All you had to do… was fall for it. And Gods did you make me work for it. I’ve never met anyone who’s resisted me for so long. But that effort? That chase? Made you all the more rare of a prize. And what a prize you are. I’ve had to fight every instinct in my body not to give in to you. It’d be so easy. It’d be blissful. But it’s unfamiliar territory for me.”

If you were shocked before, it did not compare in the slightest to how you felt now. You had been rendered completely speechless. Astarion stared back at you, his eyes begging you to say something. At this point, he’d take anything.

“So… what are you saying?” He’d take anything but that, he sighed as you found the words to speak.

“I don’t know how to make this more clear for you,” he said with a sarcastic chuckle. “You’re… incredible. Everything about you. I find myself infatuated by every little thing you do.”

“So you… have feelings for me?”

“Yes,” he hissed, stepping closer to you so you could feel his breath tickling your face. “And it's killing me.”

You were rendered silent again. You weren’t sure how to react. In the end, you decided that words were not the way to go. Instead, you put your hands on either side of his neck and pulled him towards you, capturing his lips in a passionate kiss, not knowing if perhaps it would be your last.

Just a few moments passed before he pulled himself away from you, no easy feat for him. “I don’t know how to give you what you need,” he said quickly, as if ashamed of himself. “You deserve something real. I want to give you that. But I don’t know how.”

As he looked down in shame, you moved his chin back up to look at you, kissing him again only softer this time. “I can teach you,” you offered. “This… whatever this is… I don’t want to lose it.”

“I’m not sure how easily you can undo 200 years of me being the rake,” he chuckled.

“Well I am going to try,” you decided. “No matter how long it takes. I’m not giving up.”

The London social season had been in full swing by the time the Mikaelsons had returned to the city during one of Lady Danbury’s events. Elijah and his siblings had barely walked through the doors before ruthless mamas began to smooth our their daughter’s dresses while eyeing them from across the room. Elijah was the prize, certainly, but if any woman was to catch a Mikaelson son at all they would consider it a win. Rebekah had also never had a difficulty keeping her dance card full. 

It was well past the first soiree of the season, but it was the first that the Mikaelson siblings had made an appearance at. The marriage-minded missus of the city (and their mamas) always kept a keen eye out for them. While they may not have had the status of the Duke, the Mikaelson family was both well known, respected, and equally as feared. Not even Lady Whistledown dared to write more than their names. 

“Must we return to this god-awful city every year?” Niklaus groaned as the wave of young bachelorettes swarmed towards them. 

“Speak for yourself,” Kol smiled, watching the ladies with a much different expression. “I rather like being adored.” 

“Mikaelsons!” they all heard coming from the opposite direction. Upon inspection they saw none other than Anthony Bridgerton advancing towards them. Rebekah and Elijah turned toward him with bright smiles with Niklaus and Kol tended to the hoard of ladies with empty dance cards. 

“Bridgerton,” Elijah greeted with a smile, meeting his arm in the middle to shake his hand in greeting. 

“You’ve missed a great amount in the short few weeks you’ve been absent this season.” 

“Yes, well, we had some family business to tie up back in the states across the water.” 

“No matter, you are all here now. You must join our family for a promenade sometime soon so I might regale you with all the happenings from the season thus far.” 

“I’m sure we’ll catch up plenty with a reading of the last couple Lady Whistledown issues,” Rebekah remarked with a small chuckle.

“Yes but surely, sister, as you know as well as I Whistledown doesn’t know everything,” Elijah corrected before turning back to Anthony with a smile. “We’ll be glad to join you, Bridgerton. You shall name the day.” 

“Fantastic! Oh and we must not forget the ball my mother is hosting at our estate in the country. You’d all be welcome there as my guests if you so desire.” 

“I would be honored, my lord,” Rebekah said with a smile, bowing her head slightly. It was no secret that she fancied the man. Her whole family could see it. While Rebekah had no intention of being courted or heavens forbid marrying anyone, she could still dream about the life she might live were she able to. The beautiful family that might surround her. The number of children she and the viscount might have been able to have together. But that was nothing more than a fantasy. Precisely the reason that Elijah was hardly ever seen taking any young ladies to the floor. He felt it foolish to fill them with futile hopes of him proposing. Every respectable lady of the ton desired marriage, children, a real family. Something none of the Mikaelsons would be able to provide. 

Nonetheless, the Mikaelsons always appeared before the ton each year during the height of the social season just long enough to maintain appearances. Not to mention, Kol had not found an easier afternoon snack than that of a young lady hoping for a betrothal. They never killed any of the members of the ton, of course. Such a high standing society member would surely be missed. Nothing a bit of the vampires’ own blood and a little compulsion couldn’t resolve.

“You must meet my dear cousin,” Anthony stated after a brief moment. “She’s come to live with us after the passing of her mother, my aunt.” 

Anthony turned as he beckoned you over to them. Elijah sighed as he looked down at his feet, readjudsting his posture to be more proper as he awaited your arrival. When his eyes met yours, however, his reluctance towards the introduction vanished. 

“Mikaelsons,” Anthony continued. “This is my cousin, miss Y/n Ledger.” 

“A pleasure,” you said with a polite smile and a perfect curtsy. 

“The pleasure is mine,” Elijah replied quickly, offering his hand for you to take. Once you softly placed your hand into his, Elijah brought it ever so slowly up to his lips as he touched the softest kiss to your gloved hand; an action that did not go unnoticed by Rebekah, nor the ravenous mamas behind them. Elijah was not one to give more than a curt nod to young ladies introducing themselves. “Lady Ledger-”

“Just miss Ledger,” you corrected. “Lady Ledger was my grandmother.” 

While the response was simple, it answered many of Elijah’s questions. For one, you were not married. If you had been married you would either hold a title as a lady or hold a different last name than your grandmother. Second, your mother was not married. Had your father been a Ledger himself, your mother would hold the title of Lady Ledger, not your grandmother. As that title is still her grandmother’s to hold, your mother hadn’t married a lord to gain the title herself. Thirdly, she must be related to the Bridgertons through the sister of the current vicountesses Bridgerton. 

“Pardon me, Miss Ledger. Would you care to do me the honor of a d-”

“Y/n, surely you must join me for a cool glass of lemonade,” Rebekah interrupted, linking her arm through yours as she dragged you away to the drinks table. 

Elijah stood dumbfounded as you both walked away. Rebakah knew it was improper to interrupt, but after living for 800 years she couldn’t come to care. Elijah watched your expression closely. He expected a protest, or for you to at least look back towards him. There wasn’t a chance you didn’t catch what he wanted to ask you. Any other lady would have jumped at the opportunity to be led to the floor by a Mikaelson. Especially by Elijah, being the eldest for all intents and purposes. 

As soon as the two of you were gone, Elijah was swarmed by the ton much like his brothers were just moments before. Nikalus and Kol could not agree to another single dance, having agreed to partner with a different lady for each one, so naturally the crowd has turned next

‘’ towards both Elijah and Anthony, knowing this was the season the viscount longed to secure a wife. 

Anthony looked towards Elijah with raised eyebrows as he let out a deep sigh before having to face the wolves. 

--- 

As the week went on, Elijah and Rebekah agreed to join the Bridgerton family in a turn about the park in Mayfair. Rebekah loved their family. She envied Violet’s ability to have so many children. A life she longed for herself. Elijah, on the other hand, wanted to know more about you. 

“Bridgertons,” Elijah greeted the family with a nod as they approached. “Miss Ledger,” he said toward you.

“My lord,” you greeted back with a smile and a small bow.

“Would you care for a turnabout the lake?” he offered, holding his arm out for you. 

“Oh,” you said with a slight tone of surprise, looking back at the Bridgerton family. Before you could find the words to accept or deny, Violet spoke up for you. 

“She would love one,” Violet beamed with a nod, pulling you forward to take his arm. 

You chuckled in defeat as you wrapped you arm around his, hand resting on the crook of his elbow. 

The two of you had barely gotten ten feet from the rest of the family before he bagan to bombard you with questions. You didn’t mind, of course. Most most began conversations this way, especially when “interviewing” their potential matches. 

“So I really must ask,” he began. “How is it that you’re not married yet?” 

You chuckled at his question, one of the ones you expected to hear first. “Well, my mother had me out of wedlock. If it wasn’t for or connection to the Bridgertons then I would be labeled a bastard child and thrown out of society entirely. Instead, my mother trained me from a young age so I could have the perfect match. She was determined. Too determined. Her determination ended up turning away a lot of possible suitors.”

As you spoke, you noticed Elijah was genuinely interested in what you had to say. He wasn’t spaced out as you rambled on, he didn’t seem annoyed or simply waiting for you to be finished. He wanted to know about you. About your life.

“As the seasons past, and I got older, everyone began to lose interest. I’ve been officially put ‘on the shelf’ as they would call it, at the ripe age of three and twenty.”

“Yet you still attend events with the rest of the ton?” he questioned. 

“Living with the Bridgertons comes with a surplus of invitations,” you explained with a smile. “And Eloise needs encouragement through her first season.” 

Elijah let out a laugh at that. “I pity any man who tries to tame her.” 

“Not possible,” you rebutted with a laugh of your own. “Eloise is one horse that cannot be tamed.”

As you continued to walk, you noticed many eyes turned to stare at the two of you. 

“And what of you?” you asked him. It was his turn to answer your questions. 

“What of me?” 

“Surely you have your number of available matches. Why have you gone so long without securing one?” 

Elijah chucked while glancing to the floor, watching your feet walk in sync. “In truth I’ve never had the desire to settle down with anyone,” he explained. “It didn’t seem like the type of life I was meant to live.” 

“And now?” you asked. Both of your steps had halted as you turned to face one another, his eyes searching yours as if trying to find the words to answer you. 

“Now…” he began, not truly knowing what his answer was. “Now, I’m not sure what the future holds for me.” 

The two of you stayed in silence you a couple moments longer, stuck searching the others eyes for answers to questions you didn’t know. It wasn’t until you remembered where you were that you tore your eyes from his, clearing your throat.

“We should make our way back,” you said simply. “They’ll be serving tea under the gazebo soon. Would you and your sister care to join us?” 

It was Elijah’s turn tp clear his own throat, facing back towards the path in front of you as he continued to walk.

“Indeed,” he nodded. “That would be quite agreeable.”

After a few moments of silence, you spoke up again. “You must join us in Aubrey Hall next week.”

“Yes, Lord Bridgerton mentioned retiring to the country for a ball his mother is hosting.” 

“He’s invited the Sharma family to join us before the rest of the invited guests arrive, I insist your family do the same.” 

“Are you certain?” he asked with raised eyebrows. “We would not wish to be a burden.”

“It’s no trouble at all,” you assured him. “There is plenty of space and I could use the company while Anthony is busy in his dance of courtship. I shall discuss it with the family upon our return.” 

As the two of you walked back towards the Bridgertons, you felt eyes on you left and right. Both lords and ladys staring at the pair of you with two feelings on their mind. Confusing and envy. 

---

As the Mikaelsons dismounted from their carriage at Aubrey Hall, the entirety of the Bridgerton family was waiting to greet them. 

“Lord Mikaelson,” Violet smiled, greeting him with open arms. 

“Elijah, please,” he corrected, bowing his head slightly towards her. “You’ve invited us to be guests in your home, its only fair that you might call us by our given names. You know my sister, Rebekah,” he continued, motioning towards his siblings. “And might I introduce my brother, Niklaus and Kol.” 

“A pleasure, Lady Bridgerton,” Kol greeted with a bow of his own, followed by Niklaus.

“You have a lovely home,” he spoke up with a warm smile. 

“While you’re here you may think of it as your own,” Violet began before motioning towards the front doors. “Please, we were just about to sit down for tea. The Sharmas should be arriving any moment.”

As the group walked into the house, Elijah’s face lit up with a smile seeing you sitting in the parlor, waiting for everyone else. 

“My lord,” you smiled, standing up to offer a quick curtsy. “I’m pleased you could make it.”

Elijah grabbed your hand before your eyes raised to meet his, bringing it once more up to lightly caress it with his lips. Your breath hitches in your throat as this time, you weren’t wearing your gloves. 

“I wouldn’t miss it,” his said, looking back at you with a smile, you hand staying in his while he looks up at you. 

His eyes held yours for another moment before you heard a throat clear behind you. Elijah turned to see Kol with a sly smirk on his face.

“Ah, yes, miss Ledger allow me to introduce my brothers, Kol and Niklaus.” 

Both men in question smiled warmly as they each gave the the girl a quick bow. 

“Brother,” Elijah continued. “I’d like you both to meet miss Y/n Ledger. Cousin to the Bridgertons.” 

“Pleased to make your acquaintance,” you said with a smile of your own, giving a small curtsy. 

“Miss Ledger,” Niklaus starting, stepping forward to be next to Elijah. “I hear you’re quite the artist. I myself dabble in painting every now and again, I’d love to see your work.” 

Elijah looked towards his brother uneasily. Anyone who overheard him may have taken his comment as a kind remark, but Elijah didn’t miss the calculating grin on his face. He had an agenda. 

“An artist?” Elijah repeated with a slight tone of surprise. He wasn’t sure how his brother came to know this.

“Yes, brother. I’ve done my research,” Klaus answered back simply. 

“Oh,” you began, a bit take off guard by his knowledge of you. “Well I’ve tried my hand at painting every now and again, but Benedict is the true artist of the family. It’s him you’d be wanting to speak with about it.” 

“Miss Ledger I don’t recall ever seeing you on the dance floor,” Kol spoke up next. “You must allow me to lead you sometime. I am, after all, the best dancer in the family.” 

“Perhaps the best male dancer,” Rebekah spoke up, seemingly appearing beside him. “Both of you, stop overwhelming the poor girl.” 

“Oh, I really don’t mind, Lady Mikaelson.”

“Rebekah, please,” she almost scoffed. “Titles make me feel much too old.” 

“I couldn’t possibly-”

“I insist,” she interrupted. “In any case, we are all most comfortable being called by our given names. When one hears the name ‘Mikaelson’ being thrown from across the ballroom we never know for who it is intended for.” 

“Very well, Rebekah. Then you all must call me Y/n. Especially here in the country, away from the rules of London society.” 

“Lord Mikaelson,” Violet could be heard from behind, approaching the small group in the parlor. 

“Again, Elijah really is fine,” he corrected again with a chuckle.

“Elijah,” she repeated, a warm smile on her face. “You really must allow Y/n to take you on a tour of the grounds. I hear you’re quite the reader and my late husband, Edmund, had quite the collection in his library.” 

“But aunt Violet,” you started before Elijah could give an answer. “I told the kitchen staff that I would assist in serving the tea.” 

Violet waved you off. “I shall send down Eloise to help them. You go on and show Elijah your uncle’s library upstairs.” 

“I would love to see it,” Elijah added, urging you with his smile.

“Very well,” you nodded. Elijah help out his arm, motioning for you to go first, following close behind as you led him up to the Bridgerton’s library. 

“Might they be needing a chaperone, Lady Bridgerton?” Rebekah asked her with a sly grin, catching onto Violet’s schemes.