Chapter 36
Kurt's eyes snapped open with the first rays of sun. It had been his first night in Bellezza and he felt well rested—as he hadn't felt in years. With a renewed attitude, he stood from bed and walked to the small balcony of his temporary room and opened the door to let the sun get in.
Looking down, he closed his eyes for a brief second to later open them and discover that where his shadow was supposed to be, there was still emptiness.
"What did you do dad?" He whispered to himself, and in that moment the doors of the room swung open revealing Blaine, still wearing his pajamas,
The young Prince looked down and gasped as surprised as Kurt had done a few seconds ago. He was expecting Kurt's shadow to be there by morning and these recent events clearly complicated everything.
"I'm sure everything will be fine." Blaine said, trying to remain positive.
"I used to think like that, but I'm not sure anymore." Kurt said, looking down and sighing in defeat.
"Don't think like that, Kurt." Blaine said, getting closer and lacing his arms around Kurt's waist. "Regardless if you have a shadow or not, today we will have a wonderful wedding. If we have to use the entire guard to protect you we will, do you understand?"
Kurt nodded. "I just thought that by now I'll be completely in here...I'm afraid."
"You don't have to be." Blaine said, turning Kurt's body so they could look at each other. "I will protect you even with my own life. Nothing bad will happen. If by the time our wedding starts you still don't have a shadow, I'll ask my father to let the guard in. You don't have to worry, okay? We will protect you."
Kurt nodded and hugged his soon to be husband. "I just want today to be perfect."
"It will be." Blaine reassured him. "It will be."
"I love you."
"And I love you more, now…" Blaine said, raising Kurt's face, "are you ready for the family breakfast? It's going to be a very chaotic one...Anderson's style and even worst than yesterday. The last time we were all together was for Arianna's funeral, so it wasn't exactly a happy reunion, and now...well, you saw them yesterday. They have a lot of reasons to celebrate."
"I'm more than ready." Kurt admitted. "In fact, I'm looking forward for Jade's story...he had been talking about it since yesterday."
"I know! He always does that. He teases everybody with some sort of story and then when he finally reveals the big thing, it turns out to be some silly stuff he did."
"So, is it not going to be good?"
"Probably not, but it's going to be hilarious for sure…he and the twins are always fighting. Always. So every time Jade tries to share a story the twins just make it better with their mocking jokes and hilarious remarks."
"Yes, I saw them fighting yesterday before we started with the archery test."
"Speaking of that, when did you get so good with the bow?" Blaine asked, twitching his eyebrows.
Kurt laughed. "Well, it turns out that I had a very good teacher."
"You did?"
"Yes, he was soooo good. Did I ever tell you that he was also super handsome and sexy when he threw those arrows at the target?" Kurt said jokingly.
"Oh, really?" Blaine asked, following Kurt's game. "How sexy?"
"Too sexy! I'd say that god-like sexy. He had those arms that could make you melt and when he focused his gaze on the target...oh my! A sin in the flesh. He was totally my type."
"Hey!" Blaine protested. "Don't try to make me feel jealous of myself!"
Kurt laughed and hugged Blaine. "Lucky me, he's going to be my husband in a few hours, to have and to hold forever."
Blaine rolled his eyes playfully and kissed him. "And ever."
They both smiled and looked into each others' eyes—blue to hazel. The colors of the sun and the sea together.
They were lost in their little moment, when there was a knock on the door.
"Kurt, it's me, Cooper! Are you awake?" He asked through the door.
"You have to go," Kurt whispered, "if he sees you here, he's going to believe that you spent the night with me and I can promise you that we won't hear the end of it." Kurt said, already pushing Blaine to the far wall, where he knew the secret door was.
"Fine, but wait!" Blaine said, removing the ring from his finger and placing it on Kurt's hand again. "This is yours."
"Kurt!" Cooper knocked again.
"Thanks, B, now go...or else your brother is going to make his way in without permission." Kurt whispered.
Blaine nodded, and with one last until-later kiss, he opened the secret door and disappeared.
"Come in, Cooper!" Kurt exclaimed, taking a deep breath and getting himself ready to face whatever shenanigans his future brother in-law could have in mind for this early hours.
o-o-o-o-o
Breakfast as Blaine had predicted turned out to be a very chaotic Anderson's style gathering. Kurt had always wondered why the Anderson's dining table had so many chairs, he knew they usually had a lot of guests in the palace, but not that many to have a table for forty something people at once.
But now that they were taking their respective seats next to Cooper, Kurt thought the table wasn't big enough.
Doing a quick scanning of the family, he estimated there were at least thirty or more people, counting them. From his 'fake' family only Doctor Lombardi was present, but from Blaine's everybody was there. His uncles, aunts and cousins. They all were talking and laughing in such a family way that Kurt couldn't help but long for his own family and imagine them sitting there with them, enjoying the wonderful breakfast that he was sure the culinary people had prepared for them. All together chatting as a big old family.
"How did you sleep, sweetheart?" Pamela asked Kurt. Only her, Richard, Cooper and Doctor Lombardi knew it had been technically his first night in Bellezza.
"Fine thank you, Pamela," Kurt said. "I haven't slept like that in years."
"I'm glad to hear that." She replied with a sincere smile on her face.
The servants started to serve breakfast and Blaine squeezed Kurt's hand in the most intimate and natural gesture. Kurt couldn't help but notice that Richard was doing exactly the same thing with Pamela, and his heart melted. This was going to be his life from now on—maybe with less people in the table every morning, but still—and he loved every bit of it.
"So, Kurt…" Giuliana Anderson, the youngest daughter of Raphael Anderson regent of Bellona, said, "Blaine told me yesterday that you like to design clothes."
"I do." Kurt replied, taking a quick sip of orange juice.
"I don't know how familiar you are with all our the traditions since you're technically from Amerighi, but I'm about to turn 16th." She said, as a way to explain why she had brought the clothing design topic to the table. "And it's a really special event in the life of any Talian girl. Is when we are formally introduced to society."
"Okay." Kurt said, not really understanding what all of that had anything to do with the fact that he liked to design clothes.
"Aunt Pamela also informed me that you have a great taste in clothes, so I was wondering if you could, perhaps, help me with my dress for that Ball? I could send the tailor here so you two don't have to go to Bellona, but you could also come anytime, it would be fun and just for a couple of days."
"I'd love to help you and-" Kurt said, sharing a quick consulting look with Blaine, "we'd love to go to Bellona, I don't know the city so…"
"Oh my God, you're seriously incredible, Kurt!" Giuliana said, standing from her chair and running to give Kurt a quick hug.
"Giuliana, behave yourself. And watch your language." Raphael immediately said.
"I'm sorry, father. I got excited. It won't happen again." She said, taking her seat again, but winking playfully at Kurt and Blaine, and mouthing to them, 'Best cousins in the world!'
Kurt and Blaine smiled at her and returned their attentions to their respective breakfast plates. Soon the small conversations started to take over the table and Kurt found himself trying not to miss a single one of them. Especially the one that was happening at the end of the table were Jade Anderson, Felix's only son, was full on sharing his amazing story about swords, fights and a particular lady who according to him, was some sort of sorceress; while the twins, as Blaine had already warned him, were making fun of him.
o-o-o-o-o
The day quickly slipped by and the time to get ready for the wedding finally arrived. The guests were already arriving so, very reluctantly Kurt and Blaine had separated and gone to different rooms within the palace, promising to see each other again in front of the altar.
The room in which Kurt was getting ready for the wedding was very similar to the tailoring room in which he had been making all the previous measurements for his suit, but this one was a bit different. It had walls covered in mirrors instead of fancy wooden panels like the rest of the rooms, and a single pedestal where he was currently standing while his serving-maid and the tailor made the proper and final adjustments.
"Could you turn around again, Your Highness?" The tailor said.
Kurt nodded, and turned facing the tailor who was fixing the hem of the pants.
"Now, could you bend a little bit, just to make sure we have the right measure." The tailor said again.
Kurt nodded and bent a little, having to rest his hands above his tights since he had been feeling a little lightheaded due to the nervousness.
Although he had told Blaine he was okay, the truth was that he was beyond nervous. For starters he was getting married, like really getting married and even though that thrilled him, he couldn't help but also feel anxious and nervous about it. But what really had him on the verge of going crazy was the problem with his shadow. He was still a itinerante faking to be an Amerighi boy from this world, and he was afraid of what might happen later when he had to walk down the aisle.
"You can straighten yourself now, Your Highness." The tailor said.
Kurt straightened himself and had to grab from Eloise because the whole room started to spin and he felt like fainting for a minute.
"Are you okay?" A voice said, peeking through the door.
Kurt immediately felt the blood returning to his body. "Ray!" He exclaimed, "Oh, thank God you're back!" He said, stepping down from the pedestal and completely ignoring the tailor and Eloise.
"Are you okay?" Ray asked, noticing Kurt's still-a-bit pale face.
"Yes, I just felt a bit dizzy, but it must have been because of all the nerves and-" He trailed off.
Ray made a hand motion to let the servants know that he wanted to speak in private with Kurt, and they waited until they were alone.
"I still don't have a shadow." Kurt said, as a matter of explanation. That phrase summed up all his worries.
"I know." Ray said simply.
"Did Blaine tell you?"
Ray shook his head. "No, I haven't seen him yet. I wanted to see you first. I knew you'd be worried about it. But don't worry, if my calculations are correct, you'll have a shadow in a couple of hours at most."
"Really? How do you know?"
Ray smiled conspicuously and shrugged. "Let's say that I just know...how was everything yesterday?"
"Amazing!" Kurt shared excitedly, "I beat Blaine in two of the contests."
"Let me guess...archery and crafting."
Kurt nodded smiling. "He was so impressed when I aimed all the arrows right in the center. I bet he didn't see that coming."
Ray laughed. "It seems you were born for this life." Ray said, and Kurt's smile died a little. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just-" Kurt trailed off, "I feel kind of guilty for enjoying this so much, when I know my family must be devastated back in Lima."
Ray gave Kurt a fatherly smile and instead of saying something, he took something from inside his always-black cloak. It was a red velvet sack.
"I have a wedding present just for you." The old itinerante said, handing him the sack. "I know the huge sacrifice you made in order to save your life, and even though this won't start to fix in any matter what it's going to happen soon, it will certainly help you feel better and to not feel guilty about enjoying this new life you have and deserve."
Kurt frowned confused. "What is it? Is it a new talisman to go back to Lima?"
"No, it's not. We will take care of that later, but why don't you open it? I'm sorry about the wrapping, but I didn't have time. Technically, I'm just arriving."
"Where were you?"
"You'll know in just a minute, just open the sack, Kurt."
Kurt very hesitantly opened the sack and inside there was a silver framed mirror.
"A mirror?" He asked confused.
"It's not just a mirror, Kurt, is one of my special mirrors." Ray said, smiling at him.
"But I don't know anyone in this world with whom I could possibly want to communicate."
Ray laughed a little. "I know that, and this mirror doesn't work in Bellezza...or Talia for that matter."
Kurt stopped breathing for a moment, it was as if suddenly all the pieces fit together. With anxious eyes he took the mirror from inside the sack and hold it in his hands. The image was blurry, but he could recognize the image in front of him even in his sleep.
"My house!"
Ray nodded, smiling. "It's going to be a bit unstable for some years, but with time this mirror will be as clear as mines and you'll be able to watch them anytime."
Kurt was speechless. In the blurry image on the mirror he could see his dad's room. He couldn't hear him, but judging by the dim light he was sure he had fallen asleep with the TV on.
"As you have already noticed, your father has the other one, so he will be able to see you too. You won't be able to communicate verbally, but at least see each other and pass on some written messages."
Kurt smiled so broadly he thought his cheeks were going to explode, and launched himself into Ray's barely open arms. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Kurt said, while tears spilled down his face. "This is the best wedding present ever!"
"Wait till you see the fireworks." Ray said, smiling proudly. "I outdid myself this time."
Kurt laughed wiping the tears from his eyes. Life couldn't be more perfect for him at that precise moment. Shadow or not.
o-o-o-o-o
Blaine was standing in a similar room as Kurt was where a tailor was helping him with the last details of his attire. He was looking at himself in the mirror and smiling like a five year old opening his presents on Christmas' morning.
"Looking good!" Ray exclaimed, making his way inside the room.
"Ray!" Blaine exclaimed back, taking a small jump and making the tailor to stumble back. "My apologies, sir."
"Don't worry, Your Highness." The tailor immediately said, recovering his previous position and finishing Blaine's suit.
"When did you arrive?" Blaine asked.
"Almost an hour ago, but I was with your future husband to be."
"So, do you know what's happening?" Blaine asked carefully, aware of the servants present in the room.
"I do, but you two don't have to worry. I already took care of that."
Blaine frowned confused.
"I went to Amerighi." Ray said, emphasizing the word so Blaine knew he was actually referring to Lima.
"You did? For real?"
"Yes." Ray nodded. "And I took care of the matter myself, so it will happen any time now. I also gave Kurt an extra wedding gift that I'm sure he'll share with you as soon as you two have some time alone after the ceremony."
"What is it?"
"A silly thing, don't worry about that." Ray said, making a dismissing gesture with his hands. "But look at you! You look exactly like your father, well, don't tell him I said this, but you look better, you have the beauty and grace of your mother."
Blaine smiled broadly, he had all his emotions bubbling under the surface and he just needed a little push to let them flow.
"I'm so glad to be here today and witness how you finally reach your own happiness." Ray said, placing a hand on Blaine's shoulder. "Since you were a little baby I always looked at you and saw something else. You are special Blaine, and I'm happy that you've found your special someone in Kurt. You two are more than meant to be together and-" Ray trailed off a little bit. His voice was cracking.
"Excuse this old man...I'm a little sentimental." He said, recovering his composure. "But today is a very happy day for all of us who love you and, well, I think I just want to wish you all the best. I wasn't present yesterday to send a lantern to the sky with all my best wishes, but tonight when the lights touch the sky, remember that I wish you two all the happiness in the world. You both deserve it."
Blaine stepped down from the pedestal and embraced Ray. "You don't know how much your words mean to me, Ray. Besides being my friend, you're like a second father to me. And if there's someone in this palace who always looked for my happiness that's you, so I'm beyond grateful to share this day with you." Blaine said, wiping the few tears that had managed to escape from his eyes. "I love you dearly, Ray."
"I love you too, little one."
Blaine laughed sweetly. "The last time you called me like that was when I turned twelve…I thought I had outgrown that nickname."
"You did, but for me you will always be my little one." Ray said, giving Blaine a sweet smile—the ones he very rarely used, but that Blaine knew where reserved just for him. "Now, are you ready to say I do?"
Blaine nodded frantically. "Yes! I can't wait!"
"Then let's go, it's time!"