New Beginning

Chapter Thirty-Seven

"El, you should not be in the river! You'll get soaked through and mother will be angry," she warned, eyes filled with fear.

Elandra's laughter died down, and reluctantly she bunched up her dress, carefully exiting the water. "I am sorry, Bekah. I blame Henrik; he is a bad influence," young Elandra said, throwing a wink over her shoulder at the approaching boy.

Rebekah huffed, her expression softening as her youngest brother sauntered forward, proudly smiling at his brothers. "Yes well, be that as it may, Henrik should know how angry mother will be if you come home with your dress ruined," Rebekah said, her brow raised as she glanced down at Henrik.

Henrik rolled his eyes, a bright smile engulfing his face, his eyes shining with carefree happiness as walked backward toward his brothers - hands folded into his pockets.

"You're both just angry that you lost the hunt. Kol found you only moments after we started, and I found Elandra not but a few minutes later," he said, a small smirk on his lips.

Niklaus guffawed, bending forward as he placed his hands on Henrik's shoulders, face red with his laughter. Young Elandra placed her hands on her hips, her nose wrinkled with displeasure.

"Rebekah and I are always at a considerable disadvantage when we play this game. It's four against two, and two of you are hunters. I think we do well considering..." she said, narrowing her eyes at Niklaus's continued laughter.

Henrik rolled his eyes, leaning his head toward the sky, and released a giant sigh. "Ugh, you both say you want us to treat you like we treat each other but then you whine about it," he said.

Rebekah scoffed, her eyes widening as her jaw dropped. "We do not whine!" she shouted in disbelief.

Kol leaned down, his lips close to Henrik's ear, and theatrically widened his eyes. "You better run, Henrik," he said.

Elijah stepped to the side - raising his hands at young Elandra when she glared at him as if he had been the offender - and Henrik stepped back, his eyes racing around for help as Rebekah advanced. Henrik dashed up the nearest hill, his head tilted to the side as he shouted over his shoulder. "Lannie, I didn't mean it; call her off!"

Young Elandra lifted her hands, cupping them around her mouth, and stepped onto the tips of her toes. "Sorry, Henrik but if Rebekah wants to thrash you, it's going to happen!" she shouted.

Elijah walked up beside young Elandra and I came closer, watching their interactions closely. Niklaus stood off to the side, laughing merrily with Kol as they both watched Rebekah chase Henrik.

"Are you having fun, Lannie?" he asked, lips curled teasingly.

With a good-natured sigh, young Elandra covered her face with her hands. "Goodness, I cannot believe he still calls me that, and you just spur him on," she said, nudging Elijah with her elbow.

Crossing my arms, I watched as Niklaus glanced over his shoulder, an uneasy expression flashing across his face. Elijah laughed, his hazel eyes sparkling, and my stomach twisted with regret.

"It just stuck, and I think he likes having something he alone shares with you." Elijah looked on at his youngest brother, fondness in his gaze, and shrugged. "He knows I only use the nickname to irritate you," he said, nodding toward Henrik - who stood in the middle of a patch of wildflowers, laughing at an exhausted Rebekah.