Rating: PG

Characters: Sebastian, Kurt

Warnings: None

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the recognisable names used in this fic.

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CHAPTER 10:

Sebastian and Kurt didn't talk much throughout the day which left the man to wonder about his new companion. Why was Kurt not accepted by the elves? Sebastian had always thought they were a very open and loving people. Why did Kurt know how to break into King Hunter's castle? What had he needed to know that for? Sebastian had a feeling there would be plenty of dinner conversation whenever they stopped for the night.

Kurt dropped down from the trees as they reached the edge of the forest at dusk. He led Sebastian along the outskirts of the forest until they came to another branch of the stream Sebastian had stopped at that morning.

"What food do you have for dinner?" Kurt asked as he watched Sebastian dismount.

"Salted meat I think," Sebastian answered as he checked his saddlebags. "Do elves eat meat?"

"Not usually, on special occasions we do. I can make an exception though, I don't mind," Kurt answered. "I'll go and collect some firewood. Let that poor animal have some water. He's been so good today."

Sebastian smiled at the praise before he removed the saddle and led the horse over to the stream. He stroked the creature's neck as it leaned down to drink before turning back to the small clearing Kurt had led them to. He considered pitching the tent but knew that would be easier with Kurt to help and instead pulled out the meat and skillet.

Kurt soon returned with an armful of firewood and he set about lighting the fire.

"Kurt, can I ask you something?" Sebastian asked as he watched the sparks ignite.

"Yes, I'm gay," he answered without looking up.

"No, no, that wasn't my question. I mean, that's fine if you are, but that's not – I mean-"

"Breathe Sebastian, it's fine. You were curious, it's not a problem."

"That wasn't what I was curious about… But is that why you left Lima?"

Kurt nodded, finally looking to the man. "They tolerated me but tolerance wasn't enough anymore. I didn't feel comfortable to act on it, you know?"

"Yeah, yes I understand that."

Kurt watched him before venturing, "You're gay too, right?"

"How could you tell?" Sebastian had always thought he hid it rather well. He supposed it was more obvious to someone who was … like him.

"You're eyes lit up when you were talking about Prince Nicholas," Kurt answered with a smile. "I bet that isn't an easy relationship."

"No… Nick's family doesn't know about us, only our friend Blaine does. Blaine's gay too and he's helped us out a few times."

Kurt nodded before he reached for the skillet. "We'd better cook this meat or we'll be up all night."

Sebastian handed him the skillet before he tried to let himself relax. "And how do you know about the secret passage into King Hunter's castle?"

"I used to be a scout for the Queen. It was my job to keep an eye on the neighbouring cities and countries. Sometimes I would have to accompany patrols to Springs and help them break elven prisoners out. I found the secret passage early on in my career, that's how I was able to climb the ranks so quickly."

"So you're young for an elf?"

"Reasonably," Kurt shrugged. "I started working for the Queen earlier than most elves start work. It was always just my father and I. He got sick a few years ago and couldn't work as much so I tried to help. He works on the Queen's council now though so he'll be alright without me."

"It can't have been easy to leave him though," Sebastian noted as he carefully reached back to rub over the scars on his lower back. He wanted desperately to scratch them, the dry skin itchy and irritating, but he knew that would only make them bleed.

"We talked about it for a long time; he understands why I felt I needed to leave. And who knows? Maybe I'll go back one day." Kurt was watching Sebastian uneasily. "I did say this morning that I might be able to help your back heal… Do you want me to do anything about it?"

"What can you do?" Sebastian asked as he pulled his hands away. He couldn't understand why it was taking so long for the wounds to heal and if whatever Kurt was going to do would impede the healing process, he didn't want a bar of it.

"There's a special kind of plant that if you soak its leaves in cold water and then apply the water to wounds, the wounds heal faster."

"And you'd be able to find that plant around here?" Sebastian asked.

"I should be able to, I can go and search now and we can soak them while we have dinner."

Sebastian nodded. "Alright."

Kurt handed him the skillet handle. "That shouldn't need much longer," he said as he got to his feet. "I'll be back soon."

Sebastian nodded before he settled in to wait for their dinner to cook. Watching the flames lick at the bottom of the skillet was soothing and Sebastian felt his eyelids drooping. He forced them open again when his hand began to feel warmer. He pulled the skillet back from the flames, inspecting the meat before he moved the skillet to rest on the ground beside him. He quickly checked his hand over, thankful to find it void of burns before he sank into silence, waiting for Kurt to return.

When the elf came back, Sebastian set about cutting up the meat into smaller pieces while Kurt filled a small bowl with water from the stream and mixed in the leaves he had collected.

"That should be ready to go by the time we've eaten and pitched the tent."

"Why pitched the tent?" Sebastian asked as Kurt sat across from him.

"The water needs to be able to soak the wounds. It'll be easier if you lie on your stomach and then let it soak in while you sleep. I can take the first watch."

Sebastian nodded before he carefully plucked one of the pieces of meat from the skillet. The dinner was bland and dry but Sebastian knew he shouldn't complain. Kurt looked less than pleased as well but they ate in silence.

When he was finished, Kurt brushed the residual food from his hands before pushing himself to his feet. "I'll get started on the tent; you go wash out the skillet so we don't attract animals during the night."

"Yes mother," Sebastian laughed as he wandered over to the stream. He rinsed the skillet out as best as he could, only his sense of touch helping him tell whether it was clean or not before he returned to help Kurt finish pitching the tent.

"Go put down a blanket or whatever it is you have to sleep on and take your shirt off. I'll be there in a second," Kurt said as he crossed to where he had left the bowl.

Sebastian complied and rolled out a woollen blanket on one side of the tent before taking off his sword and tugging off his shirt. The cool air washed over the scars and wounds in his back and he sighed contently before lying down.

"Alright, I'm sorry if this stings or is cold or whatever. If it starts to burn though, tell me and I'll stop," Kurt said quietly as he knelt beside Sebastian. "I haven't seen wounds like this from a lashing for a long time… Those knights must have really hated you."

"A lot of people in Dalton hate me. I wasn't the nicest person when I was at school. I made a lot of enemies," Sebastian explained as the cold water was smeared over his back.

"How?"

"I spent a lot of that time drunk so I don't really remember but a lot of people just didn't like my attitude. I was irresponsible, rude, arrogant – that all only really went away when my father disowned me a few months ago."

"Why did he disown you?"

"He considered my behaviour "misconduct" and told me that I was "indiscreet". I think he was just trying to find a different way to say he didn't want me anymore because I'm gay."

There was a pause before Kurt responded. "You'll be alright, though. People like that aren't worth the effort."

"I suppose you're right."

"Alright, let that soak in and I'll wake you at about midnight."

Sebastian nodded slightly but he was already slipping into sleep. He felt closer to Nick already and knew that in a few short days, they would be together again.

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A/N: It's 4:30 in the morning but have another chapter. Now I can jump straight into the awesome stuff later :p The rest of the story is pretty dark though so just be mindful of that. This is probably the most "happy" it's going to be for a while. Thanks for reading :) –Frankie xoxo