A/N: I hope everyone had a lovely new year, and I would like to say thank you for all the lovely reviews this story has had. They really do make me write faster! Anyway, this chapter is dedicated to my friend Sam, for being my beta and making this a whole lot better.

Prince Blaine and the Quest

Chapter Six – Feel You In My Bones

It took four long hours before Kurt had packed up everything he absolutely needed, and nearly as long for Wes and David to lug the heavy bags outside. Blaine spent the whole time drinking in Kurt, and desperately trying to make it look like he was not doing so. When the bags were finally packed, it was midday and Blaine was anxious to start to journey back to Daltonia.

"Prince Kurt, we're ready now, if you are," he said, inwardly cringing at how formal he sounded. Kurt didn't even bother to answer him; he just began to make his way down to stairs to the bottom of the castle, arm in arm with Mercedes.

Blaine walked behind them, longing to reach out his hand to grasp Kurt's. But try as he might, he could not find the courage to do so. As they stepped out of the castle, Blaine gasped silently. The sunlight hit Kurt's hair softly, making him look almost as though he had a halo. Blaine's image was improved when Kurt smiled, almost for the first time since Blaine had met him.

"Is this your horse?" he asked, walking over to Summer slowly. Under her wary eye, he circled her, before laying a hand on the pink fur of her neck. Immediately, she leaned into it, closing her eyes and whinnying softly.

"When I was a kid, before I was locked in the tower, I had a horse like this," Kurt murmured softly, stroking Summer again, "I mean, mine was blue and had a shorter horn but… she's lovely," Kurt said, smiling even more. Blaine felt a rush of relief flood his stomach as he took in the other prince's content expression.

"Yeah," he replied confidently, approaching her also, "I thought she was really girly at first, and totally lame, but…" he stopped dead when he saw the look of pure hatred that passed over his prince's face.

"Kurt?" he asked quietly, but the other boy just looked away.

"It's Prince Kurt. Let's just ride," he said quietly, pulling himself up onto Summer's back and waiting for Blaine to do the same. Sighing, Blaine hauled himself into the saddle and grabbed the reins. Beneath him, Summer shifted slightly from foot to foot, impatient to be off.

"You need to grab my waist," Blaine muttered, blushing deeply in anger and embarrassment. Kurt didn't move, however.

"I can keep on by myself, thank you." Kurt answered stiffly, and Blaine shrugged his shoulders. Summer began to walk forwards, followed by Wes with the bags and David riding with Mercedes behind him. True to his words, Kurt did an excellent job holding on without any help at all. But half an hour later, Blaine felt two reluctant hands slide around his waist and clasp over his stomach. Grinning to himself, Blaine spurred Summer forwards.

OoOoO

When they reached the nearest town they could find, Blaine jumped down from Summer's back, and went off into the streets. Kurt and Mercedes were left to stare at the cobbled roads, the stalls, the animals. It all seemed so much to take in, all at once. David walked up next to Mercedes.

"So, just how long were you in that tower?" he asked, once he was sure that Prince Kurt was too engrossed in the scene in front of him to notice. He'd only just met the prince, and he was all ready a little scared of the smaller boy.

"Seven years," Mercedes replied quietly. David wanted to ask her why, but he was interrupted by Blaine coming back to them, a heavy bag slung over his shoulder filled to the brim with food. Behind him trotted two horses, one black and one pure white with golden hooves and a bright orange mane.

Kurt stared at the white horse for a few seconds, before looking at Blaine. The prince merely shrugged.

"What? I figured you would want to ride in style, and I can tell you'd prefer your own horse," Blaine said, feeling triumphant when Kurt walked over slowly to the horse and touched her face softly.

"Thanks," he murmured, before pulling himself onto her back. Everyone else mounted their horses, and then they rode out of the town and into the wilderness.

OoOoO

When night fell, Blaine insisted that they stop and set up camp. Grateful for the stop, Wes and David jumped off at once, unpacking the sleeping rolls and the food. Mercedes carefully knocked two flints together to start a fire, while David stared at her in amazement.

"I think I love you," David muttered, as Mercedes flashed him a grin and proceeded to cook some small potatoes over the open flame, speared on a few twigs. Wes nudged David, and nodded to where, off to one side, Blaine and Kurt stood, heads bowed together as they stroked Summer and Kurt's pony, which he had decided to call Emma. Emma was shy, it turned out, but when Kurt had really pushed her, she had been fast and strong. Beautiful, just like him, Blaine thought.

Slowly, Blaine reached for Summer's ears, fondling them softly before smiling at Kurt, enjoying their closeness.

"You don't have to keep watch tonight," Blaine said softly, intending to give Kurt a rest after the long, hard ride they had endured during the day. To his surprise, the younger boy glared at him.

"I'm quite capable of keeping watch, Blaine," he replied angrily, seeming to not notice that he had called the other prince by his first name for the first time. Blaine, however, did notice; he could feel a rush of warmth to his stomach. Blaine. His name had never sounded so good to him, even if Kurt was saying it with a sneer in his voice. Nodding, Blaine seemed to reach his decision.

"All right then. I'll wake you up when it's your turn." Blaine said, turning away and calling the others to settle down for the night. He spent his shift staring at the pale smoothness of Kurt's cheeks, and the way that his eyelashes were so long that they rested on them. Eventually, it was Kurt's turn. Blushing, he woke the younger boy and climbed into his own bed, falling asleep in mere minutes.

When he woke up, the embers of the fire were burning low, and he could only see three figures lying sprawled out on the ground. Cursing, Blaine noticed that Kurt's bedroll was empty. Silently, so as to not wake the others, he got to his feet and began to walk through the trees. In the pale moonlight, the forests of Hummelton looked even more beautiful than they did during the day.

All around him, Blaine could see the small, harmless fairies that Hummelton was so famous for flitting around over his head. They glowed pink, purple and blue against the night sky, and Blaine could feel a soft smile tugging at his lips just from looking at them. He journeyed deeper and deeper into the forests, stopping every now and then to look at the beauty all around him.

But try as he might, Blaine could not find Kurt. Sighing, he was just about to give up… when something changed. Distantly, he could hear the notes of a song, clear and high. Blaine strained his ears to hear more, moving softly through the trees in the direction of the sound. And then he burst into a beautiful clearing, and his jaw dropped. The clearing was home to a large, deep lake, surface glittering in the ashen moonlight. Blaine could see fairies swooping down and touching the water lightly with their fingertips, before flitting away again. It was a beautiful sight, but his attention was focused on the singer in the middle of the lake.

Standing there, waist deep and topless in the clear water, was Prince Kurt. He was turned to face Blaine, his eyes shut as he sang. Blaine, unable to help himself, lowered his gaze down to Kurt's chest, where rivulets of water were chasing each other down, shining softly in the light. His skin was like ice in the moonlight, almost white and looking almost pearlescent to Blaine's admiring gaze. Kurt's hair was wet and plastered to his forehead, his lips open in song. He looked like some sort of beautiful wood nymph, and for a second, the prince's breath was stolen.

Blaine could feel the same hot lead that always seemed to gather whenever he was around Kurt, but now there was something different as well. Blaine felt the desperate need to protect Kurt, to keep him safe and see him smile. With a jolt, Blaine realised that he was falling in love. With that in mind, Blaine unconsciously stepped closer, intent on making out the words of Kurt's song; when a twig snapped underneath his foot.

Immediately, Kurt stopped his song, and opened his eyes, alert to the first sign of danger. Blaine flinched when Kurt turned his furious gaze on him, eyes dark with anger. Flushing, Blaine dropped his gaze.

"I… I'm sorry… you were missing and I thought I should look for you and…" Blaine stammered.

"Turn around," Kurt said, and Blaine hastened to do as he asked. With his gaze safely fixated on a large oak tree, Blaine could hear the noise of water splashing as Kurt walked to the edge of the lake and pulled himself out. He could hear the sound of clothes being slipped on behind him, and occasionally Kurt's annoyed noises when something wouldn't slide on his wet skin comfortably.

Eventually, Kurt seemed to be finished, because Blaine could hear footsteps walking up behind him, and then stop abruptly. Slowly, he turned around, only to find Kurt standing right in front of him, so close their breath mingled in the cold air. They were less than an inch apart, all it would take was one small lean from Blaine. And then Kurt went to take a small step back, but Blaine stopped him, placing a gentle hand on his waist. Startled, Kurt looked up at him, all anger gone from his eyes to be replaced with something else entirely.

"You sing really well," Blaine murmured softly, raising his free hand to stroke his thumb down Kurt's cheek, placing in tenderly on the other prince's lips. Kurt's eyes fluttered shut, and he leaned in, breath ghosting across Blaine's lips. But before their lips could finally connect, they heard loud crashing through the bushes, and they sprung apart.

"Blaine!" Wes gasped, as he smashed into the clearing noisily.

He seemed not to notice Kurt's bright blush, or the way that Blaine was glaring at him furiously.

"David woke up and said you guys weren't there. So I came to look for you," Wes explained, still not noticing Blaine's anger. Instead, Wes grinned, and grabbed Blaine and Kurt's hands. Startled, Kurt let himself be pulled along behind Wes, heading back towards the camp. Blaine followed behind, more frustrated and angry than ever. He and Kurt didn't speak even when they were back at camp. They just curled up and slept.

OoOoO

The next morning, and Blaine could tell Kurt was ignoring him. He laughed with David, chatted to Wes, and got his horse ready with Mercedes; but never once did he look at the other prince. Blaine could tell that his friends had noticed this, and so as soon as they were riding – Wes, David and Blaine in front, Mercedes and Kurt a few metres behind – he decided to tell them the whole story of the night before, including seeing Kurt in the lake.

"He just looked so beautiful… maybe I should go talk to him…" Blaine added, making to wheel his horse back before Wes grabbed his reins in a panic.

"What?" Blaine asked, irritated at being stopped. Wes just shook his head, and stayed silent for a few moments.

"You never tell a girl you like her, it makes you look like an idiot." Wes said suddenly.

"Prince Kurt isn't a girl," Blaine replied, glancing back over his shoulder to where Kurt and Mercedes were riding side by side, laughing and chatting non-stop. As if he sensed his gaze, Kurt suddenly looked up, and Blaine felt himself flushing for being caught. At Kurt's questioning stare, he smiled slightly, and then turned back to Wes and David, who were watching him with amusement.

"No, he isn't," David agreed, "but you like him all the same. So, just woo him. You can do that," he added cheerfully, slapping Blaine on the arm before spurring his horse into a canter, Wes right at his side. Behind them, Blaine groaned softly.

He was still watching his friends – who were a good two hundred yards away - when another horse drew up along side him, and Blaine turned to it, expecting to see Wes or David, maybe hoping to see Kurt. He had no time to call a warning before the fist collided with his cheek and the darkness consumed him.

OoOoO

To be continued...