A/N This story starts just before season 2 and continues through Never Been Kissed. It pretty much follows cannon up to the meeting on the staircase. It was inspired by but not based on a novella by Linda Howard, about two lovers who are reincarnated again and again, but always separated by tragedy, until they finally get it right.
The names used in this first chapter came from a Sumerian name generator, and are authentic names from this time period.
…
His Dark Prince
5025 BC, a kingdom long forgotten and buried by the sands of time.
King Namzu of Umir inspected the tribute sent to him from the king of Uruk in celebration of the peace treaty between the two kingdoms. The gifts included gems, furs, exotic feathers, and several servants. Namzu was pleased with the tribute. As he studied the servants, he noticed a young boy among them. The child was possibly the most exotic looking the king had ever seen. No more than ten years old, the boy had skin paler than any he'd ever seen before, and eyes the color of stormy seas that changed from blue to green to grey.
"You, boy, what is your name?"
"I am called Kur, sire."
The boy's voice was soft, delicate, yet sounded almost musical.
The king nodded. "My son, Prince Ablain, is in need of a personal servant. You will suffice."
Kur glanced at the boy standing behind his father's throne. The curly haired boy appeared to be the same age as him, perhaps a little younger. Their eyes met for a moment, glasz and melted gold appraising each other, and then Kur lowered his gaze respectfully.
A short while later, Kur followed the young prince down a corridor. Prince Ablain led him to his rooms, and showed him to an antechamber. "This is where you will sleep. If there is anything you need, ask Abadon, our Steward. He will provide you with what ever is necessary."
The prince looked over his new servant, not unkindly. "Are you hungry? You should go down to the kitchens and eat. Ask for Mercy. Tell her I sent you. She'll take care of you."
"Thank you, sire."
"Please, when we are alone, call me Ablain." The dark haired boy smiled shyly. "The truth is, I don't really need a servant. What I really need is a friend."
Kur returned the prince's shy smile. The prince gave him directions to the kitchen and sent him on his way.
Later that night, as the palace lay sleeping, a storm moved in. The sound of Thunder woke Kur, and the sound of cries from the main room drew him from his bed. He spotted the curly haired prince sitting up in his bed, fear etching his face as another blast of thunder sounded, drawing another shriek from the scared prince. The dark boy didn't even seem to notice Kur as he slipped up beside the bed.
"Sire? Are you alright?"
"Kur? Oh, um, yes. I'm just..."
Another boom rattled the palace, much louder and closer than the others. Kur reached out and took the other boy's hand. "Is it true your mother died in a storm on the river?"
The prince looked up at him, startled. "How did you know that?"
"One of the women in the kitchen mentioned it earlier. My Mother died two summer seasons ago, too. She died in childbirth. The baby didn't survive either."
"I'm sorry. What about your father?"
"No one knows who he was. My mother was a priestess in the Temple of the gods. I remember when I was scared, she would sing to me. Shall I sing for you?"
Another clash of thunder had the prince whimpering. The golden eyed boy nodded. "Please?"
Kur settled on the bed beside the younger boy and began to sing. The song was a lullaby, his voice high and sweet. He sang until he thought the prince was asleep. The storm had passed quickly, as desert storms tend to do. Kur began to slip off the bed to return to his room, but a small hand grabbed his wrist.
"Stay. Please."
After a moment of hesitation, he lay back down on the bed, above the covers, and watched the curly haired boy drift ff to sleep. He continued to watch the beautiful young prince for a long while, before sleep claimed him as well.
…
Kurt woke up with a groan. He was so not looking forward to today. It was the first day of his Junior year. The first day of another year at a school where he know his life would be made a living hell on a daily basis.
The only thing he had to look forward to was Glee Club, and even the thought of that wasn't enough to make him want to get out of bed. Sure, he loved to sing, he loved to perform. But he knew he'd never be the one in the spotlight. Rachel always got the solos. He'd spend another year sitting in the back row, being under appreciated by his so called friends who only tolerated him because they needed his warm body to make their required twelve members.
Sighing, he slipped out of bed and began his morning ritual, showering, moisturizing, primping, and then selecting the perfect outfit. Once he was coiffed and dressed, he went upstairs for breakfast. His dad sat at the table, reading the newspaper, eating his breakfast of bacon and eggs and drinking his second cup of coffee.
"You know eating like that is going to kill you one of these days."
Burt grunted, smiling. "At least I'll die a happy man. You ready for a new year, kiddo?"
"As ready as I'll ever be to face the never ending flow of ignorance and disappointing lack of respect from the intellectually challenged masses of William McKinley High School."
"I see the snark factor has increased this year." Burt teased, but then sobered as he looked at his only child. "Promise me you'll tell me if things get too bad this year? I know I'm not the most observant parent, but I know you went through some rough times last year. I just want you to be happy."
Kurt smiled and hugged his dad. "I promise."
…
"Welcome back, Homo!" The voice preceded the sensation of ice cold slush slamming him in the face with the force of the titanic ramming the iceberg. Yep, just another wonderful day at McKinley, and school hadn't even officially started yet.
After retreating to the nearest (girls) bathroom to clean his face, he examined himself in the mirror. He'd lucked out. He'd still been wearing his coat, and the scarf he'd paired with it had protected his new shirt from getting ruined. He didn't even need to change clothes. He finished restyling his hair and was about to leave, when the door opened revealing one Quinn Fabray.
Once the HBIC of the school, Quinn had mellowed some after the scandal of the previous year. She took one look at the pale boy in front of her and smiled sweetly. "I see the Neanderthals struck early this year. Are you okay?"
Kurt smiled his usual Bitch, please smile. "I'm fine. They didn't manage to ruin anything this time except one of my older scarves. No harm no foul. Maybe it's a sign that my luck is changing this year."
They both laughed, and the blonde girl hugged him. "I'll see you later in Glee."
"Later, Quinn."
His luck didn't last long. By lunch time, he'd been shoved into lockers three times, and had a second slushie facial. And he'd lost count of the homophobic slurs that had been thrown his way. By the end of the day he wasn't even sure if he had the strength to face Glee club.
He took his seat in the back, wondering how long it would take for Rachel to make some egotistical comment in that irritating voice of hers that would set him off. By the end of the hour, he was exhausted and ready to go home.
…
5020 BC, Forgotten kingdom of Umir.
The pale boy with the strange eyes stood beside his prince as the delegation from Ur was presented. The past five years had been good to both boys. Kur's long and lean body had filled out, and the auburn hair was pulled back off his face with a leather thong, displaying those exotic eyes. He was slightly taller than Ablain, though the dark prince was more muscular.
The darker boy was nervous. Among the delegation was his betrothed, Princess Radjni of Ur. They had been promised to each other practically from birth, though they had never met before this day. Kur could see that his friend was afraid. Taking advantage of the throne blocking anyone from seeing, he placed a hand reassuringly on the other boy's back. The younger male leaned back into the touch gratefully.
"King Namzu, Prince Ablain, may I present Princess Radjni."
The girl stepped forward, head bowed in what should have been a respectful manner, but seemed somehow rude from her. She was petite, with straight brown hair that was decorated with chains of gold coins and opals. Though they could not see her eyes, her face was angular, her nose prominent, though it did not mar her classical beauty.
The king glanced at his son, who stepped forward obediently to greet his soon to be bride.
"Welcome, Princess Radjni. I hope you will be happy here."
The girl looked up at Ablain appraisingly. Kur could now see that the girl's eyes were brown. He didn't like the calculating way she looked at his prince, nor did he like her voice when she spoke. "I'm sure I'll adjust to this...new home of mine."
Kur saw the flare of annoyance on Ablain's face at the girl's words. The way she spoke made it clear that she was not impressed with her "new home" at all.
Later, after the celebration banquet, Kur helped his prince prepare for bed as he listened to the younger boy rant about his betrothed.
"..and through out the entire meal she kept making snide remarks along the lines of 'in Ur, we have feasts with hundreds of different dishes and everything is so delicious. The food here is so bland!' And she found fault with everything from the quality of the marble in the throne room to the lack of adornments in her room, despite her being given the grandest guest room in the palace!"
Kur smiled at the younger male. "At least you did not hear what she said about the evenings entertainment. You were distracted by the Steward asking if you wished him to fetch more wine when the princess proclaimed that she was much more talented than our singers."
The curly haired boy sighed and moved to the bed. He looked down at the covers. "Can I confess a secret to you, Kur?"
"Of course, Sire. I shall take your secrets to my grave, you know that."
The curly haired boy ran his hand nervously over the soft pelt that made up the covering beneath which he slept. "I'm in love with someone."
"What?" The pale boy sat beside the prince on the bed. "You are in love with a girl here in the palace? Who is it?"
The other boy sighed, not looking at his servant. "It's not...it's not a girl."
Kur sat back slowly. "Oh."
Ablain studied the older boy from under his eyelashes. Slowly he reached out and took Kur's hand. The pale boy smiled softly, and they both leaned forward shyly until their lips brushed each others'.
…
Tuesday was worse than the previous day had been. Kurt had no sooner stepped away from his locker, heading toward his first class, when no less than four slushies came flying at his face. Between second and third period, he'd been shoved into a locker so hard he thought his shoulder might actually be dislocated.
And the worst part of his day? Not having a solo during the awesome number they were going to perform at lunch to try to attract new members. Oh well. At least he was rocking the hairstyle Santana hand given him, and he had to admit the Tshirt made him look H.O.T.
Artie: Finn: Puck: Say what up to TyTy Santana with New Directions (Puck): Now you're in New York (Rachel: You're in New York) (Aha, aha, aha) Let's hear it for New York (You're welcome, old G) Finn (Mercedes): Welcome to the Melting Pot (Whoa-ooh) Puck (Mercedes): Three-dice Cee-Lo (Whoa, ooh-ooh) Santana with New Directions (Puck): Now you're in New York (Rachel: You're in New York) (Welcome to the bright lights, baby) Let's hear it for New York (Mercedes: Oh) Artie (Mercedes): Caught up in the in crowd Finn (Mercedes): Came here for school Santana with New Directions (New Directions): Now you're in New York (Rachel: You're in New York) (Mercedes: Yeah, yeah, eh) Let's hear it for New York Mercedes with New Directions Girls: Finn and Mercedes with New Directions: Santana with New Directions (New Directions): Now you're in New York (Mercedes: New York, New York) (New York) Let's hear it for New York (Mercedes: New York)
Yeah
Yeah, I'm up at Brooklyn
Now I'm down in Tribeca
Right next to DeNiro
But I'll be hood forever
I'm the new Sinatra
And since I made it here
I can make it anywhere
Yeah, they love me everywhere
I used to cop in Harlem
All of my Dominicanos
Right there up on Broadway
Brought me back to that McDonald's
Took it to my stash box
Five-Sixty state-street
Catch me in the kitchen
Like a Simmons with them pastries
Cruising down 8th street
Off white Lexus
Driving so slow but BK is from Texas
Me, I'm up at Bed-Stuy
Home of that boy Biggie
Now I live on Billboard
And I brought my boys with me
Still sipping Mai Tai's
Sitting courtside
Knicks and Nets give me high fives
Jigga, I be spiked out (New Directions Girls: Come on)
I can trip a referee (New Directions Girls: Come on)
Tell by my attitude (New Directions Girls: Come on)
That I most definitely from
In New York (From, hey, aha)
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of (Yeah)
There's nothing you can't do (Yeah)
These streets will make (with Rachel: you feel brand new) (New)
Big lights will (with Rachel: inspire you) (Come on)
New York
New York (I made you high, jigga)
Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game (Oh, ooh-wooh)
Dude I made a Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can
You should know I bleed Blue, but I ain't a crip, tho (Oh-ooh-woah)
But I got a gang of brothers walking with my clique though
Corners where we selling rocks
Africa bambaataa, home of the hip hop
Yellow cap, gypsy cap, dollar cab, holla back for foreigners
It ain't for they act like they forgot how to act
Eight million stories out there in it naked (Oh-wooh, woah)
The city is a pity, half o' y'all won't make it
Me, I got a plug Special Ed, "I Got It Made" (Woah-ooh-ooh)
If Jesus payin' LeBron I'm payin' Dwayne Wade
Three-card Marley
Labor Day Parade
Rest in peace, Bob Marley
Statue of Liberty (Whoa) (New Directions: Come on)
Long live the World trade (New Directions: Come on, yeah-eah)
Long live the kingdom (New Directions: Come on, yeah-eah)
I'm from the empire state from
New York (Rachel: New york) (Hey)
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothing you can't do (That won't do) (Mercedes: You can't do, oh)
These streets will make (with Rachel: you feel brand new) (Mercedes: Brand new, baby)
Big lights will (with Rachel: inspire you)
New York
New York (Rachel: Yeah, hey)
Lights is blinding (Oh-ooh, wooh)
Girls need blinders
So they can step out of bounds quick
The side lines is (Oh-ooh, woah)
Lined with casualties
Who sipping life casually
Then gradually become worse
Don't bite the apple Eve (Uuh, ooh)
Now your in-style
End in the winter gets cold
En Vogue with your skin out (Whoa, hoo)
The city of sin is a pity on a whim
Good girls gone bad
The city's filled with them (Ooh, woah)
Mommy took a bus trip
Now she got her bust out
Everybody ride her
Just like a bus route (Ooh-oh, oh)
Hail Mary to the city, you're a virgin
And Jesus can't save you
Life starts when the church end (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
Graduated to the high life
Ball players, rap stars
Addicted to the limelight (Oh, whoa)
Dub MHS got you feeling like a champion (New Directions: Come on, yeah-eah) (Oh, woah)
The city never sleeps (New Directions: Come on)
Better slip you an Ambien (New Directions: Yeah-eah)
In (with Rachel: New York) (Finn: In, uh-huh)
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of (Rachel: Hey, yeah)
There's nothing (with Mercedes: you can't do) (You can't do)
These streets will make (with Rachel: you feel brand new) (Mercedes: New) (You feel brand new)
Big lights will (with Mercedes and Rachel: inspire you) (Inspire you)
New York (Mercedes: New York)
New York (Rachel: Yeah, hey)
One hand in the air for the big city
Street lights, big dreams all looking pretty
No place in the world that could compare
Put your lighters in the air
Everybody say yeah, yeah (New Directions Girls: Come on, come on)
Yeah, yeah (New Directions Girls: Come on)
In (with Mercedes: New York) (New York)
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of (Mercedes: Jungle, yeah, yeah)
There's nothing you can't do (You can't do)
These streets will make you feel brand new (Mercedes: Brand new) (Brand new)
Big lights will (with Mercedes: inspire you) (Inspire you)
New York (Mercedes: New York)
New York (Mercedes: New York)
Hey, at least no one was throwing food at them. That was a plus.
…
The rest of the week was rather eventful, though thankfully that had less to do with slushies or locker slams than the antics of one Rachel Berry.
"You sent her to a crack house? Are you out of your ever loving mind? She could have been killed! That is low even for you, Rachel!"
"I know Kurt. I'm sorry! I just freaked out!"
"Why, because you finally realized there are actually people out there more talented than you? You are so selfish!"
He watched the shorter girl as she ran off crying, and shook his head.
…
5017 BC, a small fisherman's hut on the outskirts of Umir.
The two boys lay on the bed, so wrapped up in each other, they were oblivious to the storm that raged outside the tiny enclosure. Once their passion was spent, they lay side by side, staring adoringly into each other's eyes.
"I wish we could stay here forever." The pale boy said, tracing a hand over the smaller boy's hip.
"I wish we could, too. Sadly I must return to the palace soon. My Father is becoming suspicious, and my darling bride will be furious if I miss another meal."
Kur smiled playfully. "We should run away together. Take one of the fishing boats and just drift down the river and disappear."
"Sounds perfect, as long as we don't drown, or get eaten by crocodiles, or starve in the desert." Ablain laughed, and kissed his lover again.
"You should go, before the storm gets worse. I'll follow you shortly."
The prince sighed, but nodded, and after another sweet kiss, he slipped from the bed and dressed. He sent one more kiss towards the older boy as he left the tiny dwelling, heading back towards the secret entrance to the palace.
Kur lay back on the bed for several moments, smiling. While the law stated that the prince could have any lover he wished once he was married, they knew that their love wouldn't be accepted by the king. They didn't mind. They found opportunities to be together as often as they could, and they had a few sanctuaries such as this hut where they could slip away and not have to worry about royal duty or palace services.
When they were alone in their havens, they were just two boys in love.
With a sigh, Kur stood and began to dress. The sounds of the storm grew stronger. In the distance he could hear a strange rumbling. Concerned, he opened the door to investigate.
The wall of water swept him away before he even had a chance to flee. He was tumbled under the surface, thrown this way and that. The dark water rushed into his mouth as he tried to scream. His lungs burned for air. As the blackness began to take him, he had one last thought.
"I'm sorry, Ablain! I love you! I'll come back to you someday!"
…
Kurt woke up crying, unable to hold on to the memories of the dream.
