The Boy King's Journey in TVD/TO As A Mikaelson

Months had passed since the battle, but its echoes reverberated far and wide. The name "Vali Mikaelson" was spoken in hushed whispers and exalted cries across the land. To many, he was no mere warrior. Legends sprouted like wildflowers, painting him as the reincarnation of Týr, the Norse god of war, justice, and unrelenting strength.

His unyielding ferocity in combat, his relentless protection of his kin, and his ability to crush all who opposed him mirrored the divine resolve of the one-handed god who bound the wolf Fenrir. Some whispered that Vali's scars were more than flesh deep -- that they marked him as a mortal vessel of something beyond human.

Vali heard the tales but cared little for the awe or fear of others. His solace lay in the quiet of the forested hills, the shadows of ancient pines, and the cold comfort of the stone caves where his family sought refuge each full moon. Yet, despite the stillness of their hidden life, a storm raged within him.

The mark on his arm still burned, feeding his hunger for battle and sharpening instincts that sometimes felt foreign -- memories and feelings he could not place but which guided him like whispers from a past life.

The Mikaelson family's cave was deep and sprawling, with alcoves and crannies that provided pockets of privacy. The main chamber, where the family gathered, was dominated by a large fire pit. Shadows from the flickering flames danced across the walls, casting the space in a warm but eerie glow. Though it was a shared refuge, its sheer size allowed even the restless to slip away unnoticed if they were careful.

Niklaus was one of those restless souls.

Sitting near the edge of the firelight, Niklaus tapped his fingers against his knee, his eyes flicking toward the entrance. His jaw clenched and unclenched as he stared at the silvery light spilling in from the full moon.

He waited for the perfect moment. When his family's voices lulled into silence and their attention scattered, Niklaus rose to his feet and crept toward the cave's edge.

"Where are you going?" Henrik's voice, though hushed, startled him. The youngest Mikaelson had followed him, his wide eyes gleaming with curiosity.

Niklaus turned, pressing a finger to his lips. "Back to sleep, Henrik," he whispered. "It's nothing."

But Henrik wasn't so easily deterred. "You're going to see the wolves, aren't you?"

Niklaus stiffened, his posture rigid. "No. I'm... just getting some air."

Henrik smirked knowingly. "You always look like that when you're lying."

Niklaus sighed, his frustration evident. "Even if I were going, which I'm not, you shouldn't be following me. It's dangerous."

"That's why I want to come with you!" Henrik said, his voice earnest. "Please, Niklaus. I want to see them."

"Absolutely not," Niklaus said firmly. "Do you know what Father would do if he found out? What the wolves might do if they caught us?"

Henrik stepped closer, his young face set with determination. "But you're going anyway, aren't you? And you're not scared. You're brave, Niklaus. You'll keep me safe."

"That's not the point!" Niklaus hissed, glancing back toward the main fire where the rest of their family lingered. "It's one thing for me to risk it, but I can't-"

"You can," Henrik interrupted, his voice rising just slightly. "I'll stay close. I won't make a sound, I promise."

Niklaus groaned, running a hand through his hair. "You don't understand. The wolves... They're not just animals, Henrik. They're monsters." That is what father always told them. Though still, for some reason, the words always tasted like bile on his tongue.

"They're people too," Henrik said softly. "Aren't they? People who were cursed. What if they don't want to hurt us? What if they're just scared?"

Niklaus hesitated, Henrik's words catching him off guard. "You've been listening to Mother too much," he muttered. "Wolves aren't scared. They're predators."

"But you've always said I need to see things for myself," Henrik pressed, his voice pleading now. "You always tell me to be brave."

Niklaus closed his eyes, exhaling sharply. "If we get caught, Father will kill me."

"We won't get caught," Henrik promised, tugging on Niklaus's sleeve. "Please, Nik."

Niklaus finally relented, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "Fine. But you stay close to me, and we leave at the first sign of trouble. Understood?"

Henrik nodded eagerly, a grin spreading across his face. "Understood."

Niklaus glanced back toward the main chamber one last time, his gaze darting to Vali, who sat sharpening his axe near the fire. Though the two brothers often butted heads, Niklaus respected Vali's sharp instincts. He waited until Vali seemed engrossed in his task before slipping out with Henrik in tow.

Unbeknownst to him, Vali wasn't as distracted as he seemed.

The moment Niklaus moved, Vali's sharp ears caught the faintest shuffle of footsteps heading toward the entrance. He paused, tilting his head slightly, his enhanced hearing picking up the hurried whispers of his brothers. Henrik's voice was unmistakable.

A growl of frustration rumbled low in Vali's throat. He gripped his axe tighter, his instincts warning him that this was no simple mischief. Yet, he didn't follow -- not yet. He would give Niklaus the benefit of the doubt, but his body remained tense, ready to spring into action.

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Niklaus and Henrik crept through the forest, the moonlight guiding their way. Henrik clung to his older brother, his earlier bravado waning as the howls of wolves echoed through the trees.

They reached a dense thicket overlooking a clearing. Niklaus gestured for Henrik to crouch, and together they watched as the wolves began their transformation.

Henrik's eyes widened in awe as the first of the wolves emerged. Its silver fur glistened like molten metal under the moonlight. Another wolf followed, then another, until the clearing was alive with their movement.

"They're incredible," Henrik whispered, his voice filled with wonder.

Niklaus didn't reply. His attention was focused on the wolves' movements, his instincts on edge.

The black wolf, larger than the rest, lifted its head suddenly, sniffing the air. Its glowing amber eyes locked onto their hiding spot.

Niklaus's heart sank. "Henrik," he whispered urgently, "we need to leave. Now."

Before Henrik could respond, the black wolf let out a menacing growl and lunged toward them.

Back at the cave, Vali's instincts flared. The distant sound of snarls and a muffled cry reached his ears. He stood abruptly, his axe already in hand.

"Elijah," he said, his voice low but urgent. "They're in trouble."

Elijah frowned, looking up from the book in his lap. "What are you talking about?"

"Henrik and Niklaus," Vali growled, heading for the entrance. "They're outside, and they're not alone."

Without waiting for Elijah's response, Vali bolted into the forest.

As the black wolf closed in, Niklaus shoved Henrik behind him, drawing a dagger he'd hidden in his boot. But the wolf was too fast, its massive body barreling toward them.

And then, like a force of nature, Vali appeared.

He crashed into the clearing with a roar, his axe gleaming in the moonlight. The black wolf turned its attention to him, growling low. Vali didn't hesitate. He swung his axe in a deadly arc, the blade biting into the wolf's side. The beast howled in pain, staggering back.

"Get him out of here!" Vali barked, his voice like thunder.

Vali barreled into the clearing, his axe flashing in the moonlight. He met the black wolf head-on, swinging his weapon with terrifying speed and precision. The blade bit deep into the creature's side, and it howled in pain, stumbling back.

Niklaus and Henrik froze, their eyes wide as Vali stood between them and the pack of wolves now emerging from the shadows.

"Stop standing there like a fool and do as your told Niklaus! Get Henrik out of here!" Vali shouted, his voice a roar of command.

Niklaus hesitated for only a moment before grabbing Henrik's arm and pulling him away.

The black wolf recovered, its eyes burning with rage. It lunged at Vali, its claws slashing through the air. Vali dodged, but another wolf joined the fray, its teeth snapping at his arm. He swung his axe in a wide arc, driving them back, but not before a third wolf lunged from the side.

Its claws raked across Henrik's arm, drawing blood. Henrik cried out in pain, and Niklaus turned, his eyes wild with fury.

Vali roared, his voice shaking the very air, and charged the wolves. His axe moved like a blur, cutting through flesh and bone with terrifying efficiency. The black wolf, sensing its pack's defeat, growled once more before retreating into the forest, its pack following.

Vali turned to his brothers, his chest heaving, his body slick with sweat and blood. "Are you hurt?" he demanded, his voice rough.

Henrik held his arm, blood seeping through his fingers. "It's just a scratch," he said, though his voice wavered.

Vali's eyes narrowed, and he knelt beside Henrik, examining the wound. "We need to get back to the cave," he said. "Now."

Niklaus nodded, his usual bravado tempered by the fear of what might have happened.

As they made their way back, Vali's thoughts swirled. The mark burned beneath his skin, his instincts screaming that the danger was far from over.

In the distance, the wolves howled again -- a sound that carried a promise of more blood to come.

For the Mikaelsons, the danger was far from over.

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The cave was cloaked in uneasy silence as Vali, Niklaus, and Henrik returned. Henrik's arm was wrapped hastily in a strip of Niklaus's tunic, blood seeping through the fabric. Elijah and Kol stood as they entered, their faces pale with concern.

"What happened?" Elijah demanded, striding forward. His eyes darted to Henrik, then to Niklaus, his tone sharp. "You took him out during the full moon?"

Niklaus raised his hands defensively. "I thought we'd stay far enough from the wolves. I didn't think-"

"You didn't think at all!" Elijah snapped, cutting him off. "You risked Henrik's life!"

Henrik flinched, his small frame trembling. Vali stepped between them, his voice a low growl. "Enough, Elijah. Blame can wait. Right now, we need to make sure he's safe."

Rebekah appeared from the shadows, her wide eyes fixed on Henrik's arm. "Henrik," she whispered, her voice trembling. "You're hurt."

"It's just a scratch," Henrik said weakly, but his face was pale, his body trembling from the shock.

Rebekah knelt beside him, brushing his hair from his face. "We should clean it," she murmured. "Mother will know what to do."

Vali nodded and turned to Kol. "Fetch Mother. Now."

Kol hesitated, his expression unreadable, before slipping out of the cave.

When Mikael entered the cave shortly after, led by Kol, his presence was like a storm. His cold blue eyes swept over his children, landing on Henrik's injured arm. His jaw clenched, his expression hardening into a mask of anger and frustration.

"What happened?" he barked.

Niklaus opened his mouth to explain, but Mikael raised a hand, silencing him. "You endangered us all," he snapped. "Every full moon, I tell you to stay hidden, to stay safe, and this -- this is why!"

"It wasn't Niklaus's fault!" Henrik protested, but Mikael ignored him, turning his fury toward the situation at large.

"These wolves," he muttered, pacing the cave. "Every month, we cower like animals in a hole while they roam free. Freya is already dead by the plague and now I almost lost another child because of them..."

"Mikael," Esther's voice cut through the tension as she stepped into the cave. Her eyes fell on Henrik, her face softening with maternal worry. She hurried to his side, gently unwrapping the bloodied cloth around his arm.

Mikael turned to her, his voice low and cold. "This cannot continue, Esther. We cannot continue living in fear."

She glanced up at him, her expression wary. "The wolves are a part of this land, Mikael. There's nothing we can do to change that."

"There is," he said sharply, his gaze hardening. "You spoke once of magic -- of a spell that could make us stronger, that could make us immortal."

Esther froze, her hands stilling over Henrik's wound.

Later that night, Mikael and Esther retreated to a secluded grove, far from the prying eyes of their children. The air was thick with tension, the moonlight casting long shadows across their faces.

"Mikael," Esther began, her voice firm, "I will not perform such magic. It goes against nature."

"Nature be damned!" Mikael snarled. "Did nature protect Freya? Did nature save Henrik tonight? No. Nature abandoned us."

Esther shook her head, her hands trembling. "What you're asking for is forbidden. The spirits-"

"The spirits don't care about us!" Mikael interrupted, his voice rising. "Every day, we grow weaker, Esther. The wolves grow stronger. If we don't do something, we will lose everything -- our children, our home, our lives."

Esther looked away, her heart heavy. "I told you about that spell as a cautionary tale, Mikael, not as a solution. The witch who created it defied the balance of life and death. It will come with consequences, ones we cannot foresee."

Mikael stepped closer, his voice low and insistent. "What consequences could be worse than burying another child? Than watching our family torn apart?" He grasped her shoulders, his eyes blazing with desperation. "You have the power to save us, Esther. To protect our children. Would you truly let fear stop you?"

Esther's resolve wavered. She had seen Mikael's anger before, but this was something different -- a deep, primal fear of loss that mirrored her own.

"And what of the price, Mikael?" she whispered. "What will this spell demand of us?"

Mikael's jaw tightened, his voice softening just enough to sound convincing. "Whatever the cost, it cannot outweigh the lives of our children. You know this."

Esther closed her eyes, a single tear slipping down her cheek. "I'll need time," she said quietly. "Time to gather what's required. To prepare."

Mikael nodded, relief flashing across his face. "Then do it. Whatever it takes, Esther. Make us strong. Make us unbreakable."

As Esther turned away, her heart heavy with dread, Mikael's gaze hardened. He would protect his family at any cost -- even if it meant defying the gods themselves.

Meanwhile, the children huddled together around the fire. Vali sat apart, sharpening his axe, his sharp eyes scanning the cave entrance. Rebekah tended to Henrik, whispering soothing words to distract him from the pain.

"Where do you think Mother and Father went?" Kol asked, his voice unusually subdued.

Elijah shook his head. "Whatever it is, it's not our concern. We need to focus on keeping Henrik safe."

Vali didn't speak, but his instincts churned uneasily. Something was coming -- something far greater than any of them could imagine.

And deep down, in the quiet recesses of his mind, the mark pulsed with a strange anticipation, as if it, too, knew that the Mikaelson family was on the brink of a transformation that would change their lives forever.

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(Author note: Hello everyone! How was the chapter?

Henrik lives! Awesome right?

Do please comment how you found it and what you found bad or good and what you want improved.

Also, how did you find the battle and Vali's protective rampage? I do want to stress after all that he does very much care for his family.

Well, I hope to see you all later,

Bye!)