one

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Gone Forever

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11th Century

THE MIKAELSONS WEREN'T always a broken family. They were once happy: Klaus, Elijah, Rebekah, Kol, Finn, Henrik, and Athena. Finn was the oldest and Athena was the youngest.

Young Athena was a well-behaved child. Hardly did she get into trouble. Though when she did, it was never for a little reason. Athena didn't ever have a reason to get into trouble, and she wasn't selfish as to bring trouble to her. She was also an innocent, caring, sweet, young girl who was admired by her village.

Many families often watched as the little girl played with her siblings, their eyes filled with envy. Their children did not act the way the Mikaelson siblings did. And for that reason, the Mikaelsons were a well-known family across several communities.

While Finn and Henrik loved their sister, Klaus, Elijah, Rebekah, and Kol were the closest to her. There was no reason, it was just how it was. Henrik kept to himself most of the time though he did sometimes play with her. Finn helped their mother a lot so he wasn't really around much. Athena's remaining siblings had dedicated their time to making her life content. So Athena did the same for them.

Since she was an innocent child, never had Athena witnessed any violence before. Her siblings made sure she never saw any, so her mind stayed as pure as it could be. But there was the first day she ever saw an act of violence.

———

Athena picked the flowers in a nearby meadow by her village. She hummed softly. The young girl was only 7. Her small frame made it easy for her to dance around and not get tired. The dress she wore hung down her hips and dropped to her feet. The edges had been cut from where Esther snipped it since it was too long because the little girl had tripped.

She smiled as she picked a white flower; her favorite. Athena lifted it to her nose and smelt it; the smell she loved so much. Her sister, Rebekah, had brought her a few one day and had put one in her hair, much like she had a light blue flower in her hair right now, her hair in elegant braids.

The youngest child continued picking flowers until she heard a yell from the forest. Her head snapped up and she was about to call for her siblings when she heard a voice protest, "Please, father!"

It was Niklaus; one of her older brothers. Without a second thought, Athena dropped her basket full of flowers and ran into the forest where she heard the voice. She came to a stop and hid behind a tree.

"You are nothing but a coward!" her father screamed.

Athena peeked around the tree trunk. Her father was standing above her brother while Niklaus lied on the floor, blood running down his chin. She put a hand over her mouth to stifle a gasp. Her father was about to strike Niklaus again, but she ran out and stood in front of her brother, just as her father swung.

His fist collided with her cheek, sending Athena to the floor. Mikael stared at her in shock, as did Niklaus.

"Athena!" Niklaus said as he grabbed her, bringing her up to see her face that now held a bright red mark. Mikael clenched his jaw and ran off into the woods. Niklaus put a thumb on his younger sisters cheek.

"Ow!" Athena yelled. Tears filled her eyes and they spilled over. She started feeling dizzy and Niklaus knew she was losing consciousness. "It hurts Nik," she cried. Tears filled his eyes as well. He grabbed Athena and cradled her in his arms as he ran to the village.

Once he got there Kol, Rebekah, and Elijah were settled outside of the house.

"We have to find her Elijah, what if she got lost?" Rebekah asked. She was worried due to her younger sister not returning from flower picking.

Her older brother narrowed his eyes at her with anger. "I told you someone should have gone with her," Kol hissed.

"Help! Someone help!" Niklaus screamed.

Rebekah, Kol, and Elijah, all saw Niklaus carrying a small child in a dress much like Rebekah's. They instantly knew who it was. "Athena!" they screamed as they ran over to their sister. Niklaus's hold wavered as he couldn't contain the tears.

"Oh my goodness baby, what happened," Rebekah questioned as tears filled her own eyes.

"Father..he..," Niklaus started.

Rebekah's eyes widened. "No, he...he wouldn't."

Niklaus shook his head. Kol's hands tightened into a fist. The eldest brother there tried to calm down the situation. "Hurry we have to get her to mother, she can help her," Elijah offered.

The siblings all ran to their cottage. Esther was talking with Finn. When the siblings walked in they both sprang up. "What happened!?" their mother demanded as she ran over to her youngest child.

"Father hit her," Kol explained through clenched teeth. To say Kol was furious was an understatement. Esther said nothing as Niklaus laid his sister down on her bed. Finn rushed over with a wet cloth.

"Can you hold it there Ena?" Finn asked.

Athena managed a slight shake of her head. "I got it," Niklaus interjected as he pulled up a wooden chair and held the cloth to her jaw. Athena's eyes fluttered as she tried to fight off the sleep.

"Sleep darling, it's fine. You're ok. We'll be here when you wake up," Kol whispered as he kissed his sister's forehead. Rebekah smiled sadly as she put a piece of Athena's hair behind her ear. Athena's eyes fluttered closed once more before she fell asleep.

———

But Athena had many happy moments in her life. She had few sad ones, but she also had ones where she was frightened.

———

Another crack of thunder could be heard followed by a flash of light. Athena jumped up as she shook in fear. She got up and walked over to her older brother Niklaus's bed. Athena climbed into the makeshift bed next to him. Niklaus opened his eyes as he made out the dark silhouette of his youngest sibling.

"Athena sweetheart what's wrong?" he asked quietly.

Athena curled up against her brother. "The storm. It scares me."

Niklaus smiled softly, even though she couldn't see it. "Don't worry little one, I'll keep you safe." And wrapped his arms around her and they both fell asleep to the sound of the rain hitting the cold, wet earth.

———

And then there are the happy memories.

———

Athena was smiling brightly as she picked flowers in the meadow with her older sister Rebekah. Athena was only 4. She giggled as a butterfly flew by.

Rebekah smiled at her sister and grabbed her hand. "Come sweetheart. Time to go home." Athena frowned but listened. Athena hardly ever disobeyed. And when she did, her siblings thought it was the cutest thing.

Rebekah saw her sisters frown and smiled at her. "Don't you wanna show the boys the beautiful flowers you picked?" she asked. This made Athena smile and she pulled Rebekah towards their village. Rebekah laughed at her sister's eagerness.

Athena saw Niklaus playing with Elijah, as they both swung wooden swords at each other, playfully. Neither of them hitting the other. Both brothers stopped when they saw Athena and smiled at their youngest sibling.

"Hello there little one," Elijah said smiling. "Did you have fun picking flowers? Did you find any pretty ones?"

Athena nodded and grabbed the greenish-blue flower. She handed that one to Niklaus and handed Elijah an orange one, that had faded yellow. Both brothers smiled.

"Thank you, sweetheart," Niklaus thanked, then he kissed his sister's forehead. Athena blushed and smiled.

———

Another day when Athena was 6, she was running around that same meadow with Niklaus and Kol. Rebekah sat on the meadow floor, weaving a basket. Elijah sat next to her, helping her. Athena giggled as she tagged Kol. Kol spun around and Athena darted away, laughing. Niklaus ran with her, laughing as well.

Kol smirked mischievously and ran after them. Athena with her small legs ran as fast as she could. Kol ran slow so she had fun. Athena ran and hid behind Rebekah.  Rebekah giggled and Kol pretended not to notice her and 'looked' around.

"Now where could she have gone?" Kol mused.

Niklaus smiled and laughed quietly. Athena giggled and Kol ran behind Rebekah and picked Athena up, tickling her. She laughed. "Kol!"

"Who's your favorite sibling?"

"Not you!" she said between breaths.

Kol continued to tickle her. "Say it."

"You."

Kol stopped tickling her. "See? Wasn't that-"

"Not you," Athena interrupted as she giggled. Rebekah, Elijah, and Niklaus laughed. Kol smiled and laughed too. Athena smiled and hugged all of them. "I love all of you." They all smiled.

"We love you too sweetheart. Always and Forever," Rebekah promised.

———

But the one memory Klaus, Rebekah, Kol, and Elijah don't ever mention is the moment they realized Athena was missing.

———

"What?" Rebekah said as tears filled her eyes.

"She's gone. We looked everywhere," Elijah said softly, tears also filling his eyes. Niklaus picked up a boulder and threw it at a tree as he screamed in fury. Rebekah sobbed as she fell to her knees. Kol pulled on his hair as he paced furiously.

"We will find her. I will kill anyone who stops me," Niklaus yelled at the sky.

Kol clenched his jaw as tears streamed down his face. "She's really gone," he whispered. None of them said a word. Kol broke as he fell to his knees next to Rebekah, sobbing. A few seconds later Niklaus and Elijah did too. They all embraced each other, as they cried for their sister. For she was gone. Forever

Or so they thought

———

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