The Course of Fate

                                    

                                          

"Where is Niklaus?" I ask, alarmed.
Rebekah shakes her head. "Don't you think that's the first question I asked? He's out searching for Henrik, he wasn't with him last night. He didn't take him anywhere and I don't think anyone else did either."
"Well... that's a good thing. It has to be. Henrik is... probably around here somewhere. We just have to find him." I say mechanically, not really believing my own words. But no matter, I need to try to remain calm, for Rebekah as well as for my own sake.
Kol, Finn, Michael, Esther, Niklaus and Tatia are already looking for Henrik. I join the search. Everyone is worried.
So many good things were happening lately, so much occured that I know will make a difference in future... I was so desperately hoping that this one thing would be changed too, that poor litte Henrik would not die.
But it seems, at the end of the day, there is no defying fate. Niklaus finds his little brother just a little while later - slaughtered by werewolves. It seems like he snuck out by himself.
The news of Henrik's death hits the Mikaelson family like a storm of blades. I hold Elijah while he's crying when Ayana confirms that there's nothing she can do for his youngest brother. 

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
Everyone is devastated. Rebekah, Niklaus and Esther cry openly, not bothering to hide their tears while leaning on each other. Kol and Finn are more private about their mourning, retreating somewhere where they each can be alone when they see what has happened. Obviously, I don't know for sure what they do when they're alone, but the looks on their faces indicate that they want to hide their tears. Even I cannot contain my sadness, and I was the one who knew of this incident for many years. Elijah and I find solace in each other.
Mikael is a different matter. Instead of crying, he suddenly begins to look like a man twice his age. His hard expression reflects grief, but also determination. I suspect I know what this means. Esther, after the initial shock and crying, becomes just as determined. 
Things move fast from here. Ayana gets invited. Esther and Mikael appeal to her for help, but she refuses. 
I knew the story before. But knowing it and living it are two entirely different things. Witnessing the tragedy, seeing the slain, deformed vody of poor, young Henrik... I feel like someone poured acid over my soul. Freezing cold, numbing acid. Especially the thought of his age makes me wince. Henrik was barely 13 years old.
The next chapter of this story is also familiar to me, and yet so strange. For the next part though, I am not much of a witness. 
A few days after Henrik's demise, Esther approaches me and asks me to spend the night at Tatia's.
"Our family has taken a great loss, Elena. What we need now is time for ourselves, to grief and to stand by one another. I hope you understand this. Niklaus will be staying here tonight."
I look at my mother-in-law for at least a minute without saying anything. Finally, I sigh. "Yes, Esther, I understand. I understand maybe better than you think I do."
Part of me thinks I'm being selfish for not trying to stop her. Another part doesn't want her to be stopped because I know if she doesn't do what she's about to do, I will never get to meet her children in future. In fact, if this doesn't happen, future me would never encounter the originals. Which would have the effect of me never coming here in the first place. 
However, since I'm here and considering what happened to Henrik, I'm fairly certain I won't be able to stop her anyway. 
So, that night, it's just me, Tatia and Haakon in Tatia's hut. Just like old times. Except this night, I lay sleeplessly on my sleeping place, knowing what Esther and Mikael are doing to their children right now and feeling sick to my stomach for not stopping them. At least, they know what to expect. I told them just about everything.
The difference between knowing a story and living it becomes clearer over the next few days. I watch the newly turned Mikaelsons struggle with the bloodlust. The fear of Elijah losing control has both of us keep our distance from each other. It feels awful, staying away from my own husband. I miss him.
Despite everything, the original family is carving their way as predicted. Esther makes them daylight rings.

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
The other villagers slowly turn away from them and a week after their transition, they burn down the big old white oak tree in the centre of the village.

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          

Things actually start to go more smoothly and peacefully for a while after that. Until the fateful next night of the full moon, when, inevitably, Niklaus' werewolf side shows itself.

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
Mikael is furious. He calls Niklaus a monster, an abomination, and tells everyone to stay away from him. To my surprise, Kol takes initiative and brushes past his father.
"It's alright, brother! You can do this! It's going to be alright!" he says reassuringly.
Finn pulls him away from the transforming Niklaus, hissing in a scolding manner: "Do you want to get bitten? Leave him be!"
We do our best to keep any potential victims away from Niklaus while he wanders the woods as a wolf, but it's not an easy task. In the end, he slaughters three villagers before he eventually changes back into a man. When that happens, Elijah goes to check on him, make sure he's alright. 
Meanwhile, I am talking to Tatia, telling her that her husband has turned back into a man. I think she has a right to know. However, one thing I didn't think would happen is that Tatia react to my messege by getting up in order to go and see Niklaus for herself. I quickly decide to follow her, hoping this won't end too badly.