Chapter 2

Chapter 2

As the days passed, it became more clear that I had been reborn as a Mikaelson in the 10th century, and it was not some weirdly realistic dream. At the very least, I could say that this life would be less boring than the last if I lived long enough to enjoy it, that is.

Life was slow for now, every day the same. I would sleep the majority of the day, I would be fed, and a whole host of people I had not seen in the show would come and see me. I suppose these were the other villagers. There were a lot more of them than I expected. In all honesty, from what I remembered from the show, it was a small village, but from what I could tell, there were probably a few hundred people living there. When awake and not surrounded by strangers, I would try to speak to little or no effect, just resulting in incoherent noises, although that could be expected from a newborn. This inactivity just left me with my own thoughts, and I tried to think back to my days of watching The Vampire Diaries and its two spin-offs. Unexpectedly, it seemed as though my memory was near perfect, being able to recall most events in the shows with amazing clarity. I knew I needed to prepare for the future and all of the threats that came along with it, even if I did become an original I was still far from being the top of the food chain characters like Dahlia, Inadu, Cade, Silas and a few others would still be a threat that I may have to face. Just as I was beginning to start thinking about the future, the door at the front of the room creaked open, and a small figure darted in, Finn, I presumed it was hard to tell with the lack of light in the room. I looked around at the small room we where in, from what I could tell it was one of two in the small hovel our family resided in, this room was only about three metres in width and just a bit longer as far as I could tell, in the corner sat a large bed covered in animal furs similar to the one on the floor. I was knocked out of my thoughts by the familiar face of Finn popping up over the top of the crib, a big grin plastered on his face as he picked me up. Out of the two of my brothers, I had seen Finn the least as he only visited maybe twice a week since I was born, compared to Eli, who visited multiple times a day intending to try to get me to say his name. I was still a long way off speaking, so I appreciated the times when Finn visited the most, as he did not try to get me to speak; he only spent a bit of time talking to me.

Finn was also where I got most of my knowledge about the village. At first, I was a bit confused that I could understand the language, as it was not English, but I supposed it was a skill I got from my rebirth.

Within, a year, I could both speak and walk. It was a difficult process, but both of my parents seemed especially impressed by the speed at which I learned to do both. As I learn to speak, I quickly realised that I was not speaking or hearing in English, for some reason, my brain seemed to translate it for me, but as I learned more of the native language, the difference between the two seemed larger.

Over the next few years, I learned how to read and write in the native language too, the reading being exceptionally difficult as it was runes, but with time, I became quite skilled with them.

As soon as I could walk, I helped around the farm, starting with small things like feeding the few goats we had or carrying small amounts of produce from one place to another. I also started training with Mikael, Finn and Elijah. It was difficult at first, especially since I could not use most of the weapons until I got older, whereas both my brothers were already excelling with bows and were alright with other weapons.

About a year after I was born, Esther had another child, Klaus. I was excited to finally not be the youngest, but I knew deep down that this was where the trouble would begin. Klaus was so small and innocent-looking. It was hard to believe what he would become.

Kol was born not long after that, the youngest original brother. I just hoped that, unlike the show counterpart, I could somehow rein in his bloodlust.

A year after Kols' birth, the youngest original and only original sister was born, excluding Freya, of course, Rebekah and I felt a need to protect her from the harshness of this world and possibly even Klaus. I never had siblings in my first life, so the need to protect them seemed odd to me, but I knew instinctively that I had too.

Finally, a few years after Rebekah was born, the last Mikaelson sibling was born, Henrik. Out of all my siblings, I knew the least about him, as he was already dead before the originals were created. In fact, his **** was the reason that vampires were created.

Shortly after Henrik was born, our parents told us he would be our last sibling, as his birth was extremely difficult. The mood that night was especially sombre. Rebekah seemed especially distraught as she would have no more younger siblings to dote over.

I was about ten now, and my training had not stopped. Every day, I did my own workout routine with makeshift exercise equipment. After completing that in the early morning, Father trained the rest of us with weapons, from spears and swords to bows and daggers. He said we needed to train with a variety of weapons just in case. I could not agree more. Elijah and Finn were both brilliant with bows being the best in the village, and we're both proficient with spears and daggers too. Klaus was decent with a sword and had started practising with a dagger as well, being quite formidable with both, especially for his young age. I had taken to the sword like a fish to water, I was a prodigy even at a young age, I excelled, even Mikael had to admit I was extremely good for my age. Kol, Henrik and Rebekah could not train with us, unfortunately. The first two were too young; Kol would start in a year, and Henrik would have to wait a while. Rebekah was a girl, so her father refused to let her.

I had noticed a few worrying things, the first being that Klaus was not very fond of training, much preferring to make art, that being a bone of contention with his father. Secondly was father himself his temper was getting thinner each day i had been struck a few times for simple mistakes, Finn and Elijah suffering from equal treatment, but klaus, father seemed to hate him he always seemed to catch his ire, already myself and Elijah have had to step in between them, the worst part being mother does not seem to care never once stopping him.

Over the next four years, we all grew quickly. The exercise I use transformed me into quite the formidable fighter with great strength, agility and flexibility. My skills with weapons have increased. I had become nearly unstoppable with a sword and even started to implement a throwing hatchet into my personal style to great effect. My previous life's medical knowledge was also helpful in slight amounts to treat wounds and disease, although I used it sparingly and with great care to avoid suspicion falling on me. I had also started to uncover my own magic a year ago, much to both Kol and my mother's excitement, as both wanted to teach me what they knew in that particular field. It turned out that, unlike Kol, I was a syphon. I was quite pleased to be a syphon as though I did not have my own magic and hat to draw it from other sources, particularly an amulet my other created for me, I would keep my magic when I turned into a vampire.

My brothers also excelled with their particular weapons, something Father took in stride. Kol had unlocked his own magic years before me, and unlike mine, his was his own. he had become quite skilled in witchcraft over the last couple of years and had begun teaching me the basics.

I was taking my daily walk by the river, having just cleaned myself in it, hygiene was very important especially with no antibiotics or other medicine about. The air was crisp, the sun just beginning to rise. I saw my brother Niklaus resting against a tree, ree painting on a piece of bark. I decided to call over, "Brother, what are you doing out here so early? Have you decided to join me in training for once?". Klaus looked up, with a slight surprise on his face at seeing me "No, I came out to enjoy the day and do some painting, training can wait". I shook my head at his reply, always the same. I thought, "But if you do not train often, how will you impress Tatia? Surely you do not want to make it too easy for Elijah to woo her". I replied knowing full well that the mention of the young doppelganger would make him want to prove himself. I of course knew Tatia quite well, well, she was widowed recently, and since both Klaus and Elijah had been competing for her affection. I could understand why they were both infatuate,d she was stunning, as all Petrova doppelgangers seemed to b,e not to mention she was sweet, kind hearted and friendly, if I had not known the trouble that all Petrovas brin,g I might of joined my brothers in attempting to court her. I saw Klaus' face tighten at the mention of Tatia. He rose quickly and laid a hand on his sword "So eager to be smacked down by me, brother", he replied with complete confidence. I smirked and let my own hand drift to my sword, "Not on my worst day, brother, you better take that necklace that mother made you off, you don't want it to get damaged when you hit the floor, do you"? I asked my grin widening.

I drew my sword and he followed suit. he had taken the necklace off and put it with his paints, that's good, I thought, he may be stronger without it, but that's what I want; otherwise, it may be too easy. We started to circle one another, judging each other's stances, trying to anticipate the first strike. Klaus shot out with a thrust aimed at my chest. I moved slightly to the side, letting it sail past. I smirked and dodged another strike. A few more came towards me, but I was too fast for them, dodging each with ease, as the last in a group of strikes came for me, I countered with one of my own. He saw it coming and moved back, perfect. I delivered a barrage of slashes and thrusts, each one designed to put him on the back foot, but he managed to block one, locking our blades together. While it was true that under normal circumstances I would be greatly stronger than Klaus, he was not wearing the necklace that his mother gave him, which limited his strength, so the blade lock **** me back. I smirked, this was going to be fun, I pulled backwards and to the side breaking the blade lock, then delivered a three blows the first at chest height, he dodged, the second aimed at his leg, he blocked it, the third was a thrust that he turned out of the way of only just getting clear. Klaus moved forward quickly using pure strength to carry his strikes through. I blocked the first, and the vibration ran through my arm. He was using most of his strength. If I blocked too many of these, I would lose, so I ducked, weaved and dodged the next strikes. I spun my blade around my hand, then thrust twice more at his arm before delivering slashes toward his chest, but none made their mark. He spun on one foot,ot delivering a strike to my left side, but it was too slow, seeing my opening, I blocked, then spun my sword while pushing down on his, the result was his grip loosening. I took advantage, grabbing his wrist and driving my shoulder into him. I was looking down at him, he was disarmed, on the floor and smirking, his hand raised towards me. I helped him up and he started laughing, "You have not lost your touch there, brother, care for a rematch?". I laughed at that, "Sure, why not? " I responded, glad that he was enjoying training for once.

It was an hour or to later that we called it quits both of us heavily out of breath, our knuckles split and small wound adorning our bodies nothing to serious of course but training had gone well." Asmund I am going to head back i wish to clean up then speak to Tatia before the day truly begins". I smiled towards him and wished him good luck with Tatia before watching him go. I looked around, and it was peaceful this early in the

[morning.

As

](http://morning.As) I attached my sword back onto my belt I noticed a blonde head of hair making its way towards my location, no doubt Rebekah, she seemed to always be close by when we were training. "Asmund, are you finished training now?" the voice of my sister broke through the calm of the forest. "Bex, it's good to see you. I am finished training, but why are you out here alone?" I questioned, knowing Father had forbidden her from venturing through the woods alone. "I was bored, I finished my morning chores early, a nd there was nothing to do in the village", she replied with a grin. I smiled at her and told her to follow me as I set off through the woods picking up the bow I brought with me. I had planned to go hunting and I supposed Rebekah could tag along. As we walked, she would occasionally break the silence, usually to talk about gossip from around the village. It did not really interest me, but if it made Rebekah happy, then I would listen. As I saw our prey, I told Rebekah to remain quiet. She did so without question and crouched down beside me. I drew my bow, aimed and loosed the arrow, sailing through the air and hitting the rabbit that I had seen. While archery was not my forte, never being anywhere close to Elijah and Finn's skill, I was still decent with a bow. We continued like this for a while. I had about eight rabbits, enough extras to sell at market, I thought, before Rebekah spoke once again, "Can I try, please, Asmund?". I looked at her, I knew father would kill me if he found out, but I just could not say no to her, "You can be, ex as long as you do not tell anyone, you know how father would react if he found out". She smiled and jumped up and gave me a hug before immediately crouching down again, I handed the bow to her before instructing her on its use. She spotted a rabbit quite quickly and lost the arrow, it went close but missed, and a dejected look filled her face. I smiled again and assured her that we would not stop today until she had got a rabbit herself which seemed to encourage her more. We had been at it for another twenty minutes by my reckoning before she took her sixth shot and got a rabbit, her face immediately filled with joy before she walked to get it. I added the rabbit to the others on my belt before telling her to follow me again back home. We diverted on the way back towards the river, all the while she was excitedly talking about how much fun hunting was. Laughing, I came to a stop near the river and picked up a stone. I figured that we could have a bit more fun before heading back, and as such started to teach Rebekah how to skim stones. After a while of skipping stones, we needed to head back, much to Rebekah's dismay. As we got home, she spoke again, "Thank you, Asmund, today has been fun". I smiled before responding, "Any time, Rebekah. I had fun too, but I have to get these rabbits to market. I shall see you later". I watched her continue home for a minute before turning towards the market with a smile on my face.