Rating: T

Characters: Sebastian, Kurt, Hunter, Mr Puss (the cat)

Warnings: Sexual references

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

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CHAPTER 11:

When Sebastian woke, light streamed into the tent and he could smell something cooking. He was still lying on his stomach and Sebastian carefully reached back to brush his fingers over his back. The skin felt a lot better, less dry and more like raised skin than scabbed over wounds. Sebastian carefully crawled out of the tent, grabbing his shirt before he wandered over to the campfire that Kurt was hovering over.

"Good morning," Sebastian yawned.

"Good morni- woah, why is your shirt not on?"

Sebastian laughed at the elf's reaction. "Can you just check my back, please? Tell me how bad it is?"

Kurt muttered under his breath, words Sebastian didn't recognise but it sounded like cursing. The elf got to his feet, moving to inspect Sebastian's wounds with gentle fingers and a steady gaze.

"Say something please," Sebastian said impatiently.

"It looks good, they've all closed up," Kurt murmured. "They're all raised though, and not particularly nice to look at."

"Thank you so much, I've never felt more confident in my life. That was just what I needed to hear before I go off to rescue the love of my life from a magically protected fortress castle," Sebastian said dryly. He pulled on his shirt before he looked to Kurt with a smile, the elf rolling his eyes playfully before he knelt back down beside the fire.

"I found some poor rabbits who must have been hurt in whatever fight happened in the forest the other day. I put them out of their misery and figured they would make a good breakfast."

Sebastian nodded. "Well, I'll pack up the tent and then after we've eaten we can head off."

"You might as well leave the tent actually," Kurt called from the fireside.

"Why?" Sebastian asked with a frown.

Kurt gestured to the east, where the forest ended. "Beyond those trees it's a straight half-a-day's walk to King Hunter's castle. A horse would make us more noticeable. We can leave after breakfast and be back tonight – if everything goes according to plan."

"What happens if it doesn't go according to plan, though?"

Kurt caught his lip between his teeth as he turned to face Sebastian. "I would suspect that it wouldn't matter because we would both be dead."

Sebastian nodded again before he sat down. "Then I guess we had better come up with some strategies."

Over breakfast they decided that Sebastian would lead them across the plains and into the castle and that Kurt would lead them back so that Sebastian could take care of Nick. Kurt explained where the secret passage in the outer city wall was, painting vivid images in Sebastian's head of where they were going. It was nerve-racking but when they doused the fire and tied their weapons to their belts, Sebastian knew they could do this.

The grass on the plains was tall, almost reaching to Sebastian's shoulders, and the sun was hot where it hovered in the cloudless sky. King Hunter's castle was an eyesore at best. It was made of a dark stone and stood in the middle of the plains. Sebastian couldn't understand whether that was an advantage or not but his attention soon turned to where the land dipped on one side of the castle.

In the glare of the mid-afternoon sun, Sebastian and Kurt found themselves giving the castle a wide berth as they drew closer to their destination. They had been close all day long but as they neared the outer wall of the citadel, Kurt lingered to keep an eye out while Sebastian searched for the tunnel.

At the lowest point of the dip in the land, Sebastian found an archway marked on the bricks of the wall. He tapped a short rhythm against the bricks before stepping away to watch with Kurt as the bricks slowly disappeared one by one. The tunnel was barely big enough for them to walk through it, the bottom was filled with water up to their ankles and a foul stench wafted out to meet them.

"Are you ready for this?" Kurt asked quietly as he drew his sword. "There's no turning back once we get in there."

Sebastian drew his own sword and looked to Kurt. "We have to find Nick."

The tunnel was far more unpleasant than Sebastian had anticipated. It was cold and the water was dripping from its ceiling and all Sebastian could hear was the echo of his footsteps. He felt like he was giving himself away but there was no way to quieten his passage. He and Kurt walked for a long time in silence before the tunnel opened out onto a stone corridor.

Kurt yanked Sebastian back when he moved to step into the open. "Are you insane?!" he hissed. "We can't just walk out into the open! Do you actually want to get yourself killed?!"

"We're not going to rescue Nick standing in a dripping pipe," Sebastian growled.

"You need to go left down the hallway to the stairs. But you're not going until the path is clear! The last time I was here Hunter was thinking of putting magicians down here to stop me getting in and rescuing the elves he'd captured."

"And it's a good thing King Hunter did."

Sebastian turned away from Kurt to find himself faced by a group of no less than five grisly-looking guards. The one who must have spoken watched the intruders with a smirk. Sebastian turned again to try and run but he and Kurt only made it a few feet before they were stopped again by the guard who had spoken.

"M-Magician," Kurt gasped as he stepped back into Sebastian.

"Admit it, boys. You are outnumbered. This will all be over much faster if you just agree to come quietly." The sound of snickering echoed around them, a joke that they were not privy to, before their arms were forced behind their backs and their weapons were confiscated.

They weren't led past the dungeons and when they were led along a wider corridor, four other guards joined them. The interior of King Hunter's castle was much like its outside but with torches lighting the corridors and long carpets lining the floor. Sebastian wanted desperately to look to Kurt, to find reassurance in his eyes but when he finally got the chance, he only saw his own fear mirrored in the elf's face.

The guards stopped outside a pair of large wooden doors that had been painted black. Sebastian felt them bind his wrists with some kind of itchy rope before the doors opened and he was pulled into a grand hall. Dark purple and blue tapestries hung on the walls and statues lined the path to the raised platform where King Hunter Clarington sat in a throne draped in black cloth. He was young, still with a baby-face, and dressed casually in a loose shirt and slim-fitting trousers. A white cat was settled on his knees but was quickly discarded when the king saw he had company.

"Now who do we have here?" he asked, a sly excitement edging his tone. Sebastian spared him a glance but when King Hunter leaned forward and peered down at him, he averted his gaze. Sebastian and Kurt were forced to their knees and the magician stepped forward.

"Intruders, your majesty. They knew about the secret passage leading into the dungeon corridor."

"But what are their names? I want to know the names of these lovely young men." King Hunter had stood and was making his way down the steps from his throne and heading straight for Sebastian.

"My name is Kurt, formerly from the city of Lima," Kurt answered, his voice strong and proud.

"And you?" Hunter murmured as he stood over Sebastian.

"Sebastian," he answered. There was no point explaining that he had no family. He was going to die anyway.

"Just Sebastian?"

Sebastian nodded before he looked down at the floor again.

"And what is your purpose here, Sebastian?" Hunter asked as he clasped his hands behind his back and began to pace slowly back and forth.

Sebastian looked to Kurt who was silently pleading for him to keep quiet but he couldn't do it. "We were trying to find the Prince of Dalton."

Hunter paused and looked back to Sebastian with a smirk. "And why would an elf and a man with no last name be after a prince?"

Sebastian bit his lip and shook his head before looking down at the floor again. He heard footsteps before fingers gripped his chin and tilted his head upwards again. Tears welled in the corners of his eyes and Sebastian cursed himself for betraying Nick as King Hunter began to laugh.

"The boy is in love with a prince! Oh and King Benjamin's son too! That's practically a death sentence!" Hunter clapped his hands and laughed again. "Oh this is just too perfect!"

"What do want us to do with them, sir?" the magician asked.

Hunter slowly recovered from his laughing fit and waved a hand before he returned to bob down in front of Sebastian, looking him right in the eye. "What do you say to a little deal, hmm? You and I make a little arrangement regarding your little prince's fate…"

Sebastian reluctantly nodded for Hunter to make his offer. His heart was thudding painfully in his chest as anxiety coursed through his veins. This would either end splendidly or chaotically but Sebastian's only hope was that he would see Nick again.

Hunter reached out and gently stroked Sebastian's cheek, the boy shuddering but not pulling away. "You let me … have my way and I let you and your little friends go home in one piece."

Sebastian took a deep, steadying breath. "Alright, but you also promise to never threaten Dalton again."

"I'm gonna need a little more incentive then," Hunter whispered in Sebastian's ear.

"What do you want?" Sebastian forced out, clenching his fists tightly in an attempt to distract himself.

"Three drops of blood."

Sebastian sighed and nodded. Of all the things he could have asked for, Hunter picked something Sebastian could bear to give. The King stood again and Sebastian felt himself relax but he could still feel the anger pouring from Kurt.

"Take the elf down to the dungeons but see that he and the Dalton prince are fed. Sebastian will be coming with me."

Sebastian watched sadly as Kurt was dragged away but if this was what it would take to free them all, he was glad to do it.

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A/N: Poor Sebastian, what a mess he's gotten himself into now. And what does Hunter want with his blood? All will become clear eventually :p I hope you're enjoying it and thank you for reading –Frankie xoxo