A/N: Hello, everyone. I'm glad you clicked on this story and decided to give it a go. It is a very AU story set in the 19th century about our beloved Klaine finding love and freedom together. I'd like to say that this story is based on a myth about serf fighter and is quite historical. So if you have any questions or confusions about where it takes place, what happened at that time or certain details, do not hesitate to leave comments and ask.

I wanted to thank my amazing beta - MusicArt2010 who believes in this idea and me :)

I hope you'll enjoy it. Here's only the prologue and the first chapter will be up soon. Review, favorite, follow - outcome is very much appreciated.

K.

Prologue

1847 December

Burt ran into his estate with flushed cheeks and his mouth wide open. He couldn't believe what just happened. Tears were streaming down his face, his hands shaking, his body dripping wet with water. He felt like a ghost, like some part of his body was ripped and couldn't be placed back. Moreover the man felt numb deep inside his bones. But most of all he felt scared and Burt was not a man who gets scared easily. His horse was not calm either. Everybody knew that a scared horse usually meant that something bad happened. Those beautiful creatures could just feel fear and sadness in their bones.

When Burt finally reached to the main room, he took off his coat and sat down on a chair. Burt brushed his sweaty face with one hand and let out a deep sight. He wanted to scream, but he couldn't. He had two small children in the other bedroom and he didn't want to wake them up. The last thing a father wants to do is to make another man's child an orphan. And he just did. God will never forgive him, he knew. Burt stumbled upon a cabinet and took a bottle of whiskey. He horribly needed a drink.

"You're back, daddy." A small sleepy voice came from behind and Burt turned around quickly. His son, Kurt, was standing there holding a teddy-bear he brought him from town the other day. Kurt was in his sleeping gown with blue laces, hair messy and his face white just like his mother's. A boy smiled, but frowned a little when he saw his dad clearly in the light.

"Yes, I am." Burt cleared his throat. "Is Sebastian in another room?" He asked filling himself a shot of whiskey.

"He's sleeping. He was really moody tonight, I don't like him." Kurt answered moving closer to his dad and looking at him with his wide childish eyes and pressing the toy closer to his chest. "Where's Uncle Adam?" A boy asked curiously.

Burt's back shivered. How is he supposed to explain it to his 4 year old son? How is he supposed to explain that his uncle Adam is never coming back? The man closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He knew that Kurt was stubborn, he got it from his mother, and will wait until he gets a better answer than just a shrug. Burt took a sip from his glass and put it back down on the cabinet. Then he went to his son trying not to scare him as well.

"Listen, Kurt…" Burt started trying to choose the right words. "You know, how I told you once that there are two kinds of people in this world, noblemen and serfs? Remember how I told you what each of them are expected to do and how to live?"

"Yes, daddy…" A boy nodded hugging his toy tight to his chest. He looked like an angel. So small, so pure.

"Good. Also, I told you that no matter if you are a serf or a nobleman, you can be either a good or a bad person, right?" When Kurt nodded again, Burt continued. "Well, all you need to know right now is that your uncle Adam was not a good person, so…"

"But, dad, he was so nice to me!" Kurt tried to argue, but his dad just put a finger on the boy's lips showing him to be quiet.

"Even bad people can be nice sometimes, Kurt. So as I was saying…" Burt tried to keep looking at Kurt, but it was too hard so he let his eyes wonder. He's never felt so ashamed before. "I was defending someone who is a good person from your uncle. It needs to be done sometimes. You'll understand when you grow up."

They stayed silent. Kurt was clearly thinking. Burt didn't know what was happening in his small beautiful head, but his face showed that he understands. As much as it is possible to understand being a 4 year old kid and practically with no explanation. After a few minutes Burt pulled his son into a warm embrace. He was still wet, but he didn't really care. For a moment he just wanted to hold his boy.

"Dad…" Kurt whispered slightly pulling back and looking at his dad's face. "Did you save the good person?"

"I did." Burt answered and smiled for the first time holding his son closer.

He was running fast and not looking back. A freezing cold started to paralyze his whole body and the light fur coat wasn't warming him enough anymore. A small boy, about 5 years old with black curly hair and huge terrified eyes, was running as fast as he could, barely catching his breath and dragging another boy, even younger, with him.

"Run, Cooper, run…" He whispered trying to not attract any attention to them and encourage his brother.

But it was too late. Hunting dogs were so close that Blaine could almost feel them breathing on his back. They were terrifyingly huge, black and angry. Their barking seemed somehow too loud for his human ears to capture. He cried without even realizing it, but didn't stop running.

"Run, brother, run!" He screamed before falling for a second and feeling a freezing snow in his mouth and all over his face. Blaine started spitting. It was painful and cold and for a minute, his mind was jumbled.

Loud laughter could be heard somewhere in the distance. It was probably noblemen hunting and having fun. They didn't care if they hurt some of their serfs. Blaine understood that much even if he was still just a child but couldn't understand what he and his brother did wrong to be chased after in the first place. There were enough animals to hunt… Blaine could feel how his brother was running slower and slower, steadily losing every last bit of strength he had. Cooper was always the weaker one. A few feet in front of them was a huge river, cold and promising a fast death to anyone who was foolish enough to fall into it.

It happened all too fast. Blaine kept screaming for his brother to run faster, while he ran as fast as he could trying to not think about noblemen and dogs running after him. One minute he was running, and the next minute Cooper was falling into the cold river and screaming for help. Blaine fell on his knees and caught his brother's hand. He kept screaming and cried for help. None came, but he kept holding. He couldn't lose his brother, the only one he had left in this world.

"Oh come on, Adam!" He heard his master shouting through a soft laugh. He couldn't understand how but the laugh was soft and pitying even. Blaine thought he could recognize it anywhere now. "They're just children, leave them alone."

"Children!" An angry shout scratched Blaine's ears, but he didn't recognize the voice. The sound of horses came closer and closer as he clutched his brother's hand. He didn't have any power to drag him back, just hold him and expect a miracle to happen. "My Sebastian and your Kurt. They are children. And these are snakes that are going to grow up and bite at your throat. So when you find snakes on your land, you kill them."

It was the last thing Blaine heard. The last thing that he expected to hear in his life. He sobbed, Cooper screamed. He heard another scream, an older voice, dogs barking, horses… And suddenly he felt himself falling down to the river still tightly grasping his brother's hand. Then everything went black.

1861 April

"Have you dreamt about your brother again?"

Blaine threw a cold splash of water on his face and stayed silent. He couldn't shake the anger and fear that was spread all over his body, but weakness was something he couldn't show. It was one of those nights when he just couldn't sleep. The same dream was coming back every other night, never leaving him alone and he just wanted somebody to hold him, but nobody ever did. He wanted to feel warm instead of always feeling so cold. Just like the river, he remembered.

"Are you ok, Blaine?"

He ignored his friend's question again. He was ok. Serfs are always ok. They never complain, they never cry. They just work, sleep and drink... Filthy rats, not even human, they say. Horrible words really, but that's exactly how their noblemen saw them. That's how society was treating them. Poor boy, to be born a serf, they used to say. Blaine dried his face with his dirty shirt and turned back to face his friend, Sam. The guy looked genuinely concerned.

"I'm fine." He muttered and put the shirt back on. Glancing out of the window, he knew it was already a new day dawning, a new morning. "We need to get to work." Blaine added then not looking his friend in the eyes. "If a master finds out that we were sleeping too long, we're going to be in so much trouble."

"Our master hasn't shown his ass here in for forever, Blaine. Don't worry." Sam answered, but pushed him a scythe in hands and took his own.

In 1861 the Emancipation Reform was signed by the Czar of the Empire. The manifesto proclaimed the emancipation of the serfs on private estates and of the domestic (household) serfs. By this edict more than 23 million people received their liberty.Serfs were granted the full rights of free citizens, gaining the rights to marry without having to gain consent, to own property and to own a business.

The catch was they gained only their freedom and no land...