The settee was long, and had more than enough room for two. Kurt lay reclined on it, holding the soon to be king as he slept. He kept his mind focused on the tasks of the next day to keep it from wandering off. There had been very little fuss in the capital. The Queen had woken up for a glass of water, and noticed the king not breathing. She'd summoned the physician, who pronounced the king dead at exactly 3:52 in the morning. Blaine had been summoned. Blaine had summoned him. And he hadn't left his side since.

Pagan slipped into the private study a moment later, carrying a large blanket. "My lord," he said, nodding. It was clear that he'd been crying. "I brought this for him."

"Thank you, Pagan. Is Yaakov back?"

"He's patrolling the palace, my lord."

"Good."

"And her grace Lopez should be here in about an hour. I've had an albatross."

"Thank the High Ones," Kurt muttered, wrapping the blanket around Blaine. Maybe she could get the new king to eat.

He must have dozed off himself, because when he awoke, Santana was there, reading a book.

She put a finger to her lips, and whispered, "How is he?"

Kurt simply shook his head.


Rachel took a few deep breaths, and leaned back against the tub. She was feeling awful again, and had been throwing up sporadically all day. She knew that Santana had left strict instructions for Cordelia to send updates on how she was doing, but Rachel really hoped the woman would leave this out. Santana needed to be with Prince… King Blaine right now.

"Oh, dear, not again."

"I'm okay, Cordelia," Rachel said, struggling to her feet. "I just want a nap."

"Let's get you back to bed, then."


Blaine allowed Santana to wipe a wet cloth over his face. He tried to pull himself together. "How do I look?" he asked.

"Magnificent," Santana said.

The coronation was in an hour. She would be in the tower opposite, behind the crowd and facing Blaine. As an heir, she wasn't even supposed to be there, but Kurt had assured her that Yaakov would be on lookout. Plus she'd brought Cynara, Markus and Cy with her as well.

"I… what will they think if I cry?" Blaine asked. "I haven't been able to pull myself together since… since I heard."

Santana leaned against the sink, and wrapped an arm around his waist. "What happened that night?" she asked softly. "How did you hear?"

"He'd… he'd seemed fine at the ball. He hugged me - said we would talk today. I stayed at the dance because I thought he was okay. He told me to have fun. Kurt and I had our first kiss…."

Santana waited patiently, knowing that Blaine hadn't had anyone to talk to. Sure, Kurt had been there, but Kurt had gotten the emotions in the moment. Blaine needed to talk it through, so she stayed quiet.

"Pagan woke me. And I knew, even though he didn't. I just...knew. I don't know what to do," he ended in a whisper.

"You keep going," Santana said firmly. "Your father left a kingdom to you. He'd want you to be okay. I know what you're feeling right now," she added, gently turning his chin so that he was looking at her. "I know. And there's never going to be a point in your life when you don't miss him. But you'll be okay. I promise. Kurt's here. I'm here. Cooper is safe with House Chang. What you do, now, is you take a deep breath, say your vows, and take your place as king."

Blaine seemed to steel himself at these words. "You'll be there?"

"Of course. That's how it works, right? Lopez stands behind Anderson. Though in this case, I'll be in front of you. Quite a long way in front of you."

Blaine managed a smile.

"I have to go get in place. Kurt's coming right now."

Blaine nodded. "Santana...thank you."

"Shut up, you prat," she said gently, smiling. "You never have to thank me."

She and Kurt passed each other in the doorway. Kurt rubbed his back when he reached him.

"Ready?" he asked.

Blaine looked back at himself in the mirror. He wasn't ready. He didn't know if he'd ever be ready. But Santana was right. He had to keep going.

"Ready."

The crowd of people from the city had assembled in the courtyard and streets. Blue and black roses still adorned the buildings of Limaria for King Darren's passing. Blaine knew that they would stay there for another three months. He knew that his coronation was only a slight balm to their grief. Most citizens of the kingdom at large were ambivalent about their kings. His father had done well in getting out to greet the common people, but still…. you couldn't have a personal connection with everyone in the seven realms. But the people in Limaria had loved him. He'd been the city's father, and Blaine wondered if a few of them shared exactly the same grief he did.

His mother was standing next to the bishop, dressed in all black.

Blaine stepped onto the podium, followed by the bishop.

"Place your hand on the Holy Word, your majesty," he said.

Blaine did so.

"When you are ready, state your vows."

"I, Blaine Darren Chris Anderson, First of My Name, do hereby assume the rights and responsibilities of my bloodline. I swear before the High Ones that I will be just and true, and that I will work to make this land prosper, as my...forefathers did before me. I come before you today in true faith, and assume my right as King of the Seven Realms."

"Kneel, my king," the bishop said. When Blaine did, he reverently removed the Crown of the Seven Realms (worn by the heir apparent), and replaced it with the Crown of the King.

Blaine rose to a cheer from the crowd.

"All hail, King Blaine the First!"

Blaine couldn't see them, but he knew Santana and Kurt were watching. And he knew, somewhere in the Far Fields, his father was watching too. He stood a little taller.


"Take a few more bites," Santana said, nodding to Blaine's plate.

He smirked. "I'm king now. You can't order me about anymore."

Santana rolled her eyes as Kurt snorted.

"It's gone to his head already," Kurt said.

A knock at the door came, and Pagan entered.

"Sorry to disturb you," he said. "But this just came from the Lowlands by albatross. It has 'urgent' written on it."

Santana stood quickly, and took it. "It's from Rachel." She unrolled the scroll and read:

Evening, my love,

I hope you and King Blaine are well. I know you were worried about me, so I thought I'd write with an update. Ridcully ran a lot of tests this morning, and he's found the issue. I'm not sick at all. I'm pregnant. I love you, and I'll see you when you return.

~RL

"Santana?" Blaine asked.

She heard him, but it seemed that his voice was coming from a long way away.

"Santana?" Blaine repeated.

Santana fainted.

FIN


LbN: Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who favorited/followed/reviewed/read all the way through! This was so much fun to work on, and I hope it made you happy! There will be a poll up on my profile tomorrow about B&B Season 2. Thank you again for reading!