*DISCLAIMER: I own nothing; characters belong to their respective owners.

As per usual I'll like to thank my amazing beta reader for all of his time and effort, he's the greatest!

Enjoy!

I-oOo-I

Rachel's POV

What a beautiful man. I never expected to marry someone like him when I got the news this was to be an arranged marriage. He's a prince after all but after hearing all those horror stories about inbreeding between royal family members I was expecting something completely different.

"I'll leave you two lovebirds alone." The king said as he left the room leaving both of us to make the other company.

"May I interest you in a little tour of the kingdom? Dalton will be your home for the next couple of days so knowing it a bit better wouldn't hurt, besides I know no better tour guide than myself so you're in good hands."

"I'd love to, thank you." He's such a gentleman.

I-oOo-I

The kingdom of Dalton was huge. The main city where the castle and a couple other buildings laid was just a small portion of everything this new land had to offer. The coach ride through the kingdom had been nothing less than lovely; the prince really meant it when he said he knew his kingdom.

"And over there's the Lima Fields, that's where most of the crops of the land are grown. We've had a couple rough months with the droughts but hopefully the rain will come soon enough."

"You sure know a lot about the kingdom, your highness."

"Please, call me Blaine. All my friends do."

King Blaine and Queen Rachel? I like the sound of that, I wouldn't have given it much thought before but the fact that we are getting married soon is both exhilarating but also frightening in a way.

"So… friends right?"

"Oh I didn't mean it in a disrespectful way, after all we're getting… married."

"I didn't mean it that way either, Blaine. I'm just glad you'd rather become friends before actually marrying me. What's a marriage if not a prolonged oath to an eternal friendship?"

"I'm glad you think that way."

The prince seemed sweet but apparently this was a sensible topic for him. I placed my hand on top of his; he flinched as soon as he felt my hand touching his. He quickly looked at me, poor thing he was just, if not a lot more terrified about this as I.

"I'm sorry about that. It was just a wrongly executed reflex, I meant no disrespect."

"No, I'm sorry. It was a reckless thing to do, I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable." The prince just gave me a slightly uncomfortable smile and then looked down while the ride continued.

I really wanted to say something else, anything but I knew things would only get a lot more awkward between us. I didn't want to ruin thing again, this was my chance to start over and prove myself that I wasn't the reason things with Jesse went sour.

"So I heard you're into arts, right?"

"I am quite fond of them yes. How about you?"

"I am as well, even if I haven't actually been deeply part of any form of it. My father thinks entertainment is something royalty is meant to watch, not take part of."

"Well that's one way to see it but I doubt I would be able to live without singing. To me it's one of those aspects that really add passion to my existence, as corny as it sounds."

He smiled. Dental care was pretty scarce around the land but apparently Blaine had either the money or the lineage to pull of a perfect, pearly, bright smile. "It's not corny, I understand what you mean. I've never really tried it, at least to the point of acknowledging as actual singing but I've desired to do so greatly for as long as I can remember. I have a high esteem for people who can hold a tune, which I'm sure you can do, I mean you have a lovely voice and I can only imagine how amazing it might sound when singing."

He has such a natural charm to him. I'll admit I'm not one to deny a compliment but when he says it I don't feel pride, it feels a lot more sincere. "You flatter me your highness but I'm sure you would be just a good."

"I doubt it, practice make perfect and sadly that's something I've lacked for a good amount of years to be considered competent."

"Then what are you passionate about? There's got to be something."

He gave it a bit of thought and that kind of bewildered me, if someone asked me that I would know my answer in a heartbeat. "Well I've developed a knack for archery and enjoy the sword practices a whole lot more than what I envisioned before actually starting."

Nodding and smiling seemed like the most polite way to "answer" back, considering he didn't answer my question. From the couple hours I've been with him I've saw two different sides of the same coin, at first glance Blaine seems so polite, proper and imposing but just like anyone else he can also be insecure, doubtful and scared.

He looked back at me. "I'm sorry this whole ride has been a wreck Rachel."

"What are you talking about? It's been just fine, besides things never work out the way we plan them. Where's the fun in that?" If someone had told me two years ago I'd be saying a phrase like that I would have never bought it, I used to be a huge perfectionist but one has to learn to think otherwise no matter how hard the method becomes.

"Still, let me make it up to you. I know a place we can talk at peace, it's also one of my favorite places."

I-oOo-I

Roses. My favorite flower for a reason, they are beautiful, boastful and really imposing yet they are also dangerous and strong, the perfect balance between beauty and power. I suppose they are what every person aspires to become, great beauty but also the power and strength that goes with it.

"It's beautiful isn't it?"

"It is."

We had taken a long ride, it honestly didn't feel like one but it was. Blaine asked for the chariot to wait for us farther away and we took the rest of the trip by feet. We crossed a small creek and reached a small piece of land surrounded by water. It was like a small island in the middle of land but the waterways surrounding it where too thin to even be considered rivers. The "island" was actually a really small hill with a big elm tree on top; the shade it produced covered the whole piece of land for the rays of the sun. The whole place was covered with wild rose bushes. Some flower heads where floating on the small creek surrounding the piece of land, the sight of all that was beautiful. The cherry on top of the cake had to be the sight of the kingdom from far away, it looked so small from a distance. The whole valley that surrounded the kingdom just made it look smaller but all that green combined with the blue sky covered with cotton like clouds was for sure one of the prettier sights I've had the pleasure to witness. The breeze that flew through the plains just added to it.

"How did you discover this place?"

"There's not much to do in the castle so wandering about is probably the best way to kill time. If I'd knew I would be able to find gems like this place I would have done it a lot earlier."

"Well I'm glad you did, I can't remember the last time a panoramic view evoked so much joy in me."

"I'm glad you liked it. People say that the most beautiful placer lay where the wild roses grow, I guess they're right."

"You know something? I've always preferred wild roses to regular roses. The normal ones look a lot more elegant and fancy but the wild roses, while not as refined in looks, sure look a lot more happy and relaxed."

Blaine grinned. "You're right, what's the point of looking so regal when you're not being true to yourself?

"Exactly."

We had been sitting down ever since we arrived but before we noticed we where both lying on the ground. The grass was soft and the rays of light kept us warm.

"I've thought about this for a while now but couldn't find the best moment to say it, you're a remarkable and beautiful woman Rachel. You really deserve a lot better than what I have to offer."

"Why do you say that?"

"I never really appreciate what I'm given, you're way too precious to be wasted in someone like me."

I really hate when people degrade themselves while trying to gain me over yet Blaine seemed so vulnerable while doing it that I actually fell for it. "I'm sure it will work out, so far you've done a fantastic job."

"I don't want to risk ruining it, because believe me it will happen."

"What's life without risks?" He kept silent; still I could tell he was in the same posture about the matter as he was before. "Besides if it's such a big deal I don't worry about it, I can teach you."

"I'm a bad student."

Feisty, I like that.

I-oOo-I

Before we knew it we both fell asleep on the valley and by the time we woke-up dusk was already taking over. The whole ride home was a lot more entertaining than what I expected from it. Blaine told me about his friends at Dalton, he spoke highly of them. Apparently there where this two guys at school, Nick and Jeff who he had been friends with for a long time. There was also this girl, Santana, who he also had known for a while now. She was the one who gave him that strange ring he wore, I really don't know what was up with that thing but I could never really tell what color was the jewel that adorned it. Finally there was this boy, Sam, who he spoke really highly off. From what he told me he had everything one could had asked for, beauty, brains and personality. He smiled quite a bit when mentioning him, they had to be pretty close friends because I had never seen him so relaxed or elated before but when he mentioned him it was as if Blaine's whole problems when down the drain. Once we arrived at the castle we ate dinner and the maids helped me unpack most of my stuff.

"Son, why don't you show your fiancé to her chamber?" The king asked, I could tell he was pretty happy about saying that.

"Should I ask the maids to clean the guest room before I get her there?"

"Hah! Look at you, always the comedian. I meant her new room as in the room you'll both share, you're getting married after all. It's better to get the intimacy going as soon as possible, that way when you both are finally ready to-"

"Alright dad, we get it. No need to get graphic about it." The king chuckled while the queen just rolled her eyes.

"Don't let the old man intimidate you Rachel, he's just glad you finally arrived."

I simply gave a polite smile and walked away with Blaine. He was still blushing and probably uncomfortable about his father's comment.

"I'm sorry about that, dad can be a bit pushy at times."

"Don't worry, it tends to happen."

Once we arrived at the room Blaine showed me the dressing room and I got my nightgown on and came out as quickly as possible. Bad idea. Once I walked out I noticed Blaine thought I was going to take a lot longer and decided to do his changing while on the room. He had barely put on his pants and he was still shirtless and whatever stuff he used on his hair was starting to wear out so his natural curls where beginning to show. I've seen enough brutish looking men to know those aren't my type and looking at Blaine that way was just rectifying my decision. His body was chiseled perfectly and his unruly haired just added more to the charm, a wild rose indeed.

"Oh my, this is embarrassing."

"Blaine, how could it be embarrassing? You're perfect."

He blushed while trying to mask a proud smile. "Still it's not appropriate, I just thought you would take a lot longer."

"I suppose I should have let you know, sorry about that." Still I regret nothing.

"Well I suppose we should sleep now, I still got a lot to show you tomorrow." Blaine said as he putted the shirt on. The whole time we where together earlier I saw Blaine as a sweet, lovable boy but seeing this just reminded me he was also a red blooded man and if this marriage was supposed to work I needed to remember that. His father also had a point, intimacy was an important part of a relationship and start thinking about didn't seem like such a bad idea.

We both laid on the bed and kept ourselves comfortable. "Today was a lovely day Blaine, thank you."

"A lady like you deserves the best."

That's it; it was now or never, as soon as he finished I gave him a good night kiss. He seemed tired to proposing the idea of getting down to it would have been both uncalled for and quite rushed but locking lips didn't require much energy and to be honest it felt great. I apparently caught him by surprise but his lips where really soft and as redundant as it sounds, kissable. But what really caught my attention where his eyes, the color of those two orbs where just so beautiful. Caramel colored and quite mesmerizing, even if Blaine couldn't really tell me what was his passion those eyes reeked with it.

"Good night, my prince."

"G-good night…"

I-oOo-I

A/N: Chapter ten already? Time does go quick! While I wanted to add some of Blaine's opinions on the chapter I felt Rachel deserved the spotlight. I also wanted to remind (those few who might even forget) that as much as Blaine gushes over Sam's beauty, Blaine is also a sexy beast himself and I felt Rachel could be the perfect way to transmit the message (at least until Sam decides to do it himself). Finally, if you can't tell by the title I took inspiration from the song "Where the Wild Roses Grow" for some bits (and I'll continue to do so for some portions of the story). Once again thanks everyone for your love and support, I wish the same to y'all.

Hope you're enjoying the ride!