The hall room inside Mikaelson Manor had transformed into something out of a scholar's fever dream. Books, scrolls, ancient tomes, and handwritten notes covered every available surface. The scent of aged parchment mixed with the faint aroma of burning candles, the dim light casting shadows over determined faces.

Alexandria sat at the long wooden table, eyes scanning a thick, crumbling book titled Binding the Unbound: The Laws of Magic Beyond Life and Death. Hermione sat to her right, scribbling furiously in a notebook as she flipped through The Veil and Its Mysteries. Across from them,  Hayley and Freya were engaged in a quiet but intense discussion over Dark Magic: The Forbidden and the Forgotten.

At the head of the table, Klaus leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable as he twirled a dagger between his fingers. Elijah stood beside him, reading an open scroll with narrowed eyes, while Rebekah tapped her fingers impatiently on the table.

"This is absurd," Kol muttered, tossing his book aside. "We've been at this for hours, and all we've got are theories."

"We need more than theories," Alexandria countered, her voice sharp but controlled. "We need a flawless plan."

Klaus smirked. "Then by all means, love, let's hear it."

She took a deep breath. "Morgath Vanholm isn't just powerful—he's bound to the Veil itself. That means traditional magic won't work on him. We have to force his soul to move on."

Freya nodded. "That aligns with what we've found. The Elder Wand has the power to break even the strongest magical ties. If we can sever his connection to the Veil—"

"He becomes vulnerable," Hayley finished.

Alexandria turned to Hermione. "What about the Resurrection Stone?"

Hermione pushed her notes toward her. "If the Elder Wand severs his connection, the Resurrection Stone can act as an anchor. It will pull him into the afterlife whether he wants to go or not. But..."

"But?" Klaus drawled, raising a brow.

Hermione hesitated. "This is all theoretical. There's no record of anyone ever doing something like this."

Kol scoffed. "Brilliant. We're making history."

Alexandria ignored him. "That's why we need a failsafe. If anything goes wrong, we need something—someone—strong enough to hold him back long enough for us to force him through the Veil."

All eyes flickered toward Klaus and Elijah.

"An Original Vampire," Freya murmured.

Elijah met Alexandria's gaze, his expression unreadable. "You want one of us to be the failsafe?"

"Yes," she admitted. "Your power, your immortality—it might be the only thing strong enough to restrain him."

Klaus chuckled darkly. "Well, darling, if you needed someone to do the impossible, you certainly came to the right place."

Hours later, as the others continued pouring over books and refining the battle strategy, Alexandria found herself wandering through the manor's dimly lit halls, her mind a tangled mess of thoughts.

She had made up her mind.

She had to tell Elijah.

No one else. Just him.

Finding him was easy—he was standing by the massive window in the library, a glass of bourbon in hand, gazing out at the moonlit gardens.

He turned as she approached, his sharp eyes scanning her face. "You have that look again."

She exhaled. "Elijah... there's something I didn't tell the others."

He set his glass down. "Go on."

She hesitated for only a moment before finally whispering, "Nexus Vorti."

Elijah's brows furrowed slightly. "What is that?"

She explained everything—Death's revelation, the energy released when someone as powerful as Morgath dies, and how it could bring someone back.

"Who?" Elijah asked quietly.

She swallowed. "Fred Weasley."

Understanding flickered in his eyes. He knew about the war. Knew about the pain it had left behind.

"And you need an Original to channel that energy," he concluded.

She nodded. "I was going to do it alone. But... I trust you, Elijah. More than anyone. And if I do this, I need someone by my side."

A slow, knowing smile touched his lips. "Then you will have me."

Relief flooded through her. "You'll let me channel you?"

"Yes," he said simply. "But we tell no one. This secret is ours alone."

She let out a shaky breath. "Thank you."

Elijah reached forward, gently brushing his fingers against her cheek. "You carry so much weight on your shoulders, Alexandria. But you are not alone."

Emotion swelled in her chest. Before she could stop herself, she leaned into him, and then—

Their lips met.

It was slow at first, tentative. But as soon as she felt the warmth of his touch, the restraint snapped. His hands slid to her waist, pulling her closer, deepening the kiss until she was dizzy.

The world around them faded.

For the first time in what felt like forever, she let herself be vulnerable. Let herself feel something beyond war, beyond duty.

When they finally pulled apart, Elijah pressed his forehead against hers, his breath uneven.

"After this is over," he murmured, "after we've won—I will take you on a proper date."

She let out a soft laugh. "A date?"

"Yes," he said, a smirk playing at his lips. "A courtship, in fact. The way it was done in the early 20th century. I'll pick you up at your door, take you to dinner, dance with you under the stars."

She smiled, her heart swelling. "I'd like that."

"Good," he murmured, pressing another lingering kiss to her lips. "Then it's a promise."

And for the first time in a long time, Alexandria allowed herself to believe in a future beyond war.

A future where she could be happy.