( 10th century — kingdom of norway )

They had moved further North after Freya's 'death'. The totem forbade Esther from telling Mikael the truth, not that she'd want to after he had reacted to her 'death'.

Now, Esther was working double time as she helped herself grieve her missing daughter, helped Finn grieve his sister, and raised Elijah. Mikael was of no help as usual, stating that he would teach them how to be men, but everything else was Esther's doing.

He was gone more than he was home which she was grateful for. She knew that he would've just made the entire process worse.

She tried very hard to show her boys equal amounts of care. She tried her best not to neglect them and fall into depression every time her thoughts turned to Freya. Finn was a big help with that, being the only other person to know what happened, even if he was so little when it happened. Finn knew he had a sister; he knew that an evil woman had taken her.

It was rough.

Especially since the abuse had gotten worse after Freya's death. Every time Mikael was home, he more often than not laid a hand on one of them (Esther tried her best for it to be her every time.)

Esther looked out the window, focusing on her sons. Finn was sitting on a tree stump, watching Elijah who was playing in the dirt. Esther often found them like this. Finn always knew when she needed a break and took his brother out to play. She'd notice that Finn's eyes would search their surroundings a lot, as if afraid the bad lady would come take Elijah too.

Esther sighed heavily and closed her eyes. Mikael was gone once more which left her to hunt for food for herself and the boys. They were running low, but they had enough for another two days.

She shook her head a bit and grabbed her hunting gear. She dressed in her hunting clothes and made her way outside. "Finn!" She called and the boy stood to attention, looking up at her. She smiled at her oldest boy, brushing her hand through his hair, "my darling. I'm going to go hunt for some more food. There is preserved food ready to go if I'm not back by mealtime."

Finn nodded. It wasn't often that Finn had to take charge of dinner, but when he did, he always made sure he did it right. He kept Elijah fed and warm until their mother returned. Finn had gotten better with his magic, not that either of his parents knew—he didn't want to scare his mother after he heard a nightmare about Freya's magic. "I understand, mother. Be safe."

Esther kissed his forehead. "Always. I'll be home by tomorrow at the latest," she promised. Elijah rushed over, knowing that she was leaving by her dressings. He hugged her around the legs, grinning up at her. "Goodbye, my handsome boys." She kissed Elijah's forehead too, ruffling his hair.

Finn set a hand on Elijah's shoulder as they both waved. Esther waved back before she ventured into the forest.

"Come on, 'Lijah. Let's head inside," Finn said, taking his little brother's hand and guiding him back inside. 

( 𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖔 )

By the time Esther found any animal, it was turning dark. She took out her knife, slipping her fingers through the loop. She eyed the deer in front of her.

Her aim was spectacular and only continued to grow more precise as the years went on.

She made sure to stand downwind so the deer wouldn't smell her. She masked her footsteps with a spell and readied her aim.

She drew her hand back, breathed out slowly, then—

The deer startled and sprinted away into the brush.

Esther scowled in annoyance. She turned her head slightly and froze at the sight of a wolf staring at her. Flashbacks of the last time this happened came to mind, but this was different. This wolf was ready to pounce. And they weren't red.

Esther shifted her stance, narrowing her eyes as she held her knife up.

The wolf pounced but never made contact with her. Another wolf, a red blur, crashed into its side, tackling it away. Esther blinked a bit and kept a close eye on the two. They wrestled, biting and snarling.

Esther knew who the other wolf was. Could've figured it out with a brief glance. Her heart beat in tune with the wolf's own, her senses zeroing in on her.

It had been nine years since she last saw Alix in person. Since she was last able to touch her, to be in her presence. It's been three since she last saw her face.

Esther slid to the side as Alix threw the lone wolf in her direction on accident. Esther could see it was from the panicked look in the golden orbs. The lone wolf snapped its jaws, lunging at the witch. Alix readied to jump but was too late.

Esther had turned to the side, her hand wrapping around the brown wolf's muzzle and slamming them to the ground. The brown wolf whimpered in pain and the witch instantly backed off as Alix lunged for the wolf's neck.

The brown wolf whined and tried to bat the older wolf away, but Alix held firm, growls, and snarls coming from her mouth. Eventually, the brown wolf relaxed, laying its head on the ground in submission. Alix stepped off, licking her chops and positioning herself between Esther and the wolf.

The brown wolf began to shrink and shift, tan skin taking its place. Naked tan skin. Esther huffed a little, her eyes turned away as she undid her coat. She tossed it to the woman who wrapped it around herself.

Esther heard Alix shifting back and flicked her wrist. Another one of her coats appeared in her hands and she draped it over the woman. Alix said nothing but threw a grateful glance at her. Esther tilted her head in acknowledgment.

Alix straightened and turned her firm gaze onto the lone wolf. "What's your name?"

"Francesca," the woman replied, tilting her head as she glanced between them. "And yours?" She asked, more toward Alix.

Esther shifted uneasily, a heavy feeling filling her chest. She kept it to herself, she had no right.

"Alix Castillo," the redhead tipped her head in the wolf's direction, "Alpha of the Original Pack." She glanced at Esther who was looking off in a different direction. "This is Esther Mi—"

"Hagen." Esther had been using her own surname even though she hated the thought of being attached to her family. To Dahlia. But anything was better than being a Mikaelson. She hated it.

Alix blinked a bit, glancing at her. She knew that she hated being a Hagen. But she nodded.

The woman cocked an eyebrow at the two. "So, you two aren't together?"

"Pardon?" Esther blinked.

Francesca smirked a little bit, looking at Alix. "You have been following me, why?"

"You ran through our lands. Why do you think I would follow you? I needed to make sure you weren't a threat," Alix huffed, crossing her arms.

Francesca's smirk deepened at the unsettled look on Esther's face when the witch caught her looking at the shown skin. "Oh, I am a threat," she muttered.

Alix cocked an eyebrow, jaw clenching a little at the looks exchanged between the blonde and brunette. Jealously fluttered through her. Alix shifted more in front of Esther and Francesca's eyes flicked to meet hers.

"I'm not a threat," Francesca smiled disarmingly, "that was a joke. I didn't know it was your land until I came across your village." She wrung her fingers together. "I'm guessing you aren't going to kill me?"

Alix tilts her head. "Depends." Two wolves appeared from behind the woman, growling and snarling. However, the spotted brown one's tail wags a little at seeing Esther. The witch smiles in recognition, tilting her head in acknowledgment. The wolf jumps from paw to paw for a moment before quickly going back on the defensive. Alix glances at the two of them before glancing back at Esther. The witch merely cocks an eyebrow back at the redhead. The wolf growls a little and turns back. "These are two of my best wolves. They'll take you back to our village. I wouldn't stray or they will kill."

Francesca raised an eyebrow, smirking a bit. "How fun." She strips off the coat and both the witch and the wolf quickly look away from the bare skin. The woman shifts and goes over to the other two wolves. One snaps at her hind legs and Francesca snarls.

"Play nice," Alix orders, and the wolf huffs. Then they're gone.

"The necklace gives her free rein to shift," Esther says, staring off into the distance where Francesca ran off with the other two wolves.

Alix walked a bit away and turned. Esther's eyes flick back to hers, surprised at the look of loathing in the redhead's eyes. Though, she shouldn't have been. Dahlia had manipulated her. "Why are you out here?" Alix demands.

Esther sighs a little. "I was hunting, Moonshine. Until your friend there decided to try and kill me," the witch explained, picking up her coat and shaking it out. She scrunches her nose a little and flicks it away, the piece disappearing. She'd have to wash it.

"She's not my friend," Alix huffed, jaw clenched, "since when do you hunt? I thought your husband would be doing that for you."

Esther drops her head a little bit, her own jaw clenching. "Don't push that bullshit on to me, Alixandra. I am not some helpless piece of cattle." She shoots the redhead a glare and attaches her knife back to her waist. "If all you have for me is insults, then I am leaving. I have my children to feed."

Alix's face shudders for a moment, and Esther feels tears burn the back of her eyes at the expression on her face. She winces and drops her head even further, brushing passed the woman in the direction of the deer.

"You..." Esther pauses at Alix's voice, "you have children?"

Esther swallowed hard and gave a short nod. "Two boys. Finn and Elijah." She brushes her hands on her trousers, inhaling shakily.

"Are they... How... old are they?"

Esther bites her lip. Hard. "Not old enough. Not anymore." She starts walking again. Freya was gone now. She didn't even know if her daughter was still alive or if Dahlia had been so cruel as to take her life. It didn't matter, when Finn was of age... they would look for her. Esther had spells going all the time to try and find her. For even a glimpse.

A noise comes from Alix's throat. "What do you mean?" She asked. Esther doesn't respond. "Esther!" Alix shouted, running after her. She grabbed the witch's arm and spun her around, "what does that mean?" She demands, looking a little wild-eyed.

Esther shakes her head a bit, a sob ripping from her throat. She falls into Alix who catches her. Who always catches her. "She was so beautiful, Alix. She was so strong and kind... she was so much like you," Esther choked out, gripping the coat wrapped around Alix's body, holding it like it was her lifeline.

Alix felt like her whole world was ripped out from underneath her. She had a daughter. "What..." Alix gently pulled back, keeping Esther's head up, "what happened?"

Esther shook her head once more. "I wasn't strong enough to stop her. This damn, fucking—" she tries to rip off the cuff like she had done many nights since Freya was taken from her. It digs into her skin, refusing to budge. It shocks her and she shudders, ripping her fingers away as if they were burned.

"Who?" Alix snarls, tilting her head down so that she could meet Esther's tear-filled eyes.

"Dahlia," Esther whispered, "she took her from me. All because I was stupid enough to trust her. I—I told her I'd g-give her anything as long as I could have children. I..." Esther grabbed at her chest, the muscle pounding in her ears, "I never thought she'd come for my child."

Alix tugs Esther back to her, her eyes shining gold. 

( 𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖔 )

"Mummy!"

Esther picks her head up, smiling when Elijah comes running out of the cottage. She scoops him up once he reaches her, pressing kisses all around his face. "Hello, my sweet boy. How have you been?"

"Good!" Elijah giggles, wrapping his little arms around her neck. She smiles a bit wider, the heavy feeling in her chest dissipating slowly.

Finn waves at his mother as she grows closer to the doorway he is standing in. "And you?" Esther smiles, brushing a hand over his head. She taps his nose gently with her thumb.

"Good, as well, mother." Finn tilts his head when he notices that she has come back empty-handed. "Bad hunt?"

Esther glances away from him for a moment, her mind going back to her minor (sure, minor) break-down in the woods and then to what had occurred sometime after. "Yes. I shall go out later. I apologize for staying away so long."

Finn shrugged his shoulders a bit. "We were fine. I had it handled," he puffed out his chest a little, head held high.

Esther chuckled, setting Elijah down by the table and tapping her son's puffed chest in amusement. "Of course you did, my boy. I do not doubt that." Finn smiles a little and takes tries to take her coat. "Ah, um, no. I must wash this. Very dirty," Esther quickly says, tossing the garment away before her son could touch it.

Finn tilts his head a little at her flushed face. "Right..."

"Mummy, you're cheeks are pink!" Elijah giggles, pointing to her flushed face which only causes them to deepen.

"Oh, hush you," Esther gently flicked the side of Elijah's head as she made her way to her room. Elijah just giggles some more, taking Finn's hand. "We will head down to the river later today, before the second meal so I can bathe you both. Then we'll enjoy our meals and I will go hunting tomorrow—"

"Puppy!"

"ELIJAH!"

Esther sprints after her son, her heart pounding at Finn's panicked scream. However, she slows when she realizes who the 'puppy' is. Finn goes to run passed her, thinking his mother froze in fear, but she catches his arm. "Easy, Finn," Esther mutters, still staring at the wolf in slight awe.

Elijah giggles as the wolf sniffs at him, squealing when the wolf's cold nose touches his cheek. "Pretty," Elijah whispers, running his fingers through the red fur.

The wolf nipped at his ear affectionately.

"Mom?" Finn looked up at Esther curiously.

"Fetch some of my clothes, will you, dear?" Esther asked quietly, glancing down at her eldest son. Finn glanced between the wolf and his mother before quickly doing as he was told. "Elijah." The boy looked up at her and rushed to her side. She scooped him up, setting him on her hip.

The wolf whined softly, tilting her head to Esther.

"Hi," the witch murmured. The wolf barked and Elijah jumped a bit, his eyes wide. Esther shot the wolf a look and her ears folded back in apology.

Finn came back with a bundle of clothes, tilting his head as he awaited what to do next. The wolf slowly walked closer and Finn tensed. The wolf halted and whined, sinking down onto her belly. Then she began to crawl causing both boys to giggle, though Finn was more reserved.

Finn knelt slightly and the wolf took the offered clothes gently between her jaws. Then she disappeared into the forest.

Finn slunk back to his mother's side, looking at the three deers lying on the ground in curiosity.

Alix walked around the tree, fully clothed and tying her hair back. Finn gasped in recognition, his eyes wide. Elijah just looked on in awe. "Puppy?" He turned to his mother.

"Wolf, my love. You remember the stories?" Esther tilted her head a bit, smiling softly at him.

"Oh!" Elijah nodded quickly.

Esther set a hand on the side of Finn's head as the boy grabbed onto her trousers. "Mommy, is that...?"

"Yes," the witch murmured.

Alix waved shyly to the two boys. Then she looked at Esther who stared at her in confusion. She had thought Alix went right back to her pack to tell them the news about Dahlia even though Esther had told her not to. Dahlia was powerful and there would surely be casualties.

"You said you needed to hunt," Alix murmured, then gestured to the three deer, "it was partly my fault you could not."

Esther hummed, nodding. "So... you provided for us?" She cocked an eyebrow.

Alix blushed a little bit, shifting on her feet as she stood tall. "I... suppose I have." Esther smiled a little, nodding once more. Alix cleared her throat and came a little closer. "Hello," she said toward the two boys, "my name is Alix."

Finn looked up at his mother. She nodded to him, brushing her hand through his hair. He looked to Alix and stood straight. "I am Finn and this is my little brother, Elijah."

Elijah waved, grinning. Alix waved back with a small smile. Finn hesitantly made his way over to the deer, looking them over.

"Mother, can I skin one this time?" Finn looked up.

Esther sighed a bit. Finn has been wishing to learn, but Esther hasn't had the time to teach him. Alix looked at her for a moment before she knelt down beside him. "If your mother cannot, I can. We'll work together to skin these three and then your mother can preserve them. Yes?"

Finn nodded quickly, anything to help his mother.

Esther smiled a little as she watched her son and Alix get along. "Can I do it too, Mummy?" Elijah asked.

"You are not old enough," Esther replied, tapping his jaw gently, "soon you will be able to, my dear. I promise."

Elijah sighed but nodded.

Alix looked up, meeting Esther's eyes. The witch mouthed 'thank you' to her and the wolf merely beamed. 

AN: I started the first chapter of the Katherine book at school today and I'm genuinely so excited to share that with you guys. (I am writing this on Tuesday for clarification.) I had to be awake at 6 tho guys :( it's been a long day.

anyway, hope you enjoyed!!! :)) 

alix finally met the boys!!

wc: 3102