The caravan doesn't make much progress that day, as expected for a group their size, and they stop in a clearing for the night beside the river.
"We need more wood for the fire," Quinn announces. She and Cooper appear to have mended any disagreements, if their ruffled clothes are any indication when they emerge from the woods.
Blaine volunteers swiftly, "I'll go."
"Better go with him, Kurt. Bring back a big load. We'll have dishes to wash afterwards." Blaine's pretty sure that he's not imagining the wink she sends him. He's become quite fond of his sister-in-law-to-be.
They walk deeper into the woods, stopping occasionally to gather pine cones and thicker branches. Kurt walks ahead of Blaine, carefully putting distance between them. That awkward discomfort from this afternoon still lingers between them and Blaine hates it. He wants their easy companionship again, wants that blossoming possibility. He wants - he wants more and he needs answers. When they're far from probing eyes and ears, Blaine gathers up his courage. "We, uh, haven't had a chance to talk about that night."
Kurt stops abruptly and turns to look at him. He's blushing. "No, we really haven't, have we."
"Tell me about the spell."
Kurt blinks. "Oh. Which one?"
"The one which I interrupted and apparently ensnared you."
Kurt stares. "Ensnared? You thought that?"
"That's what you said."
"Oh no, that's. I, um, I ensnared you."
"I'm not following."
Kurt drops his small pile of twigs, sits down on a fallen log and pats the space next to him. "Sit, I'll explain more." Blaine perches close, angling towards Kurt. "As I told you, I'm a fairy. I was born a fairy, although I didn't know that until I was eight, when I commanded my teddy bear to talk. My mother was a lake fairy who fell in love with my father; she died when I was very young, so Da never knew what to look for - I think my talking toy startled him more than me! I taught myself some simple spells, but I didn't know much, and what I did know, I had to hide it from others. Fairies aren't well accepted, precisely because of people like Sue who use their powers wrongly."
Blaine reaches for Kurt's hand. "I'm so sorry, Kurt."
Kurt squeezes back and makes no attempt at dropping Blaine's hand. "I met Carmen when I was fourteen. She established her school for the untrained fairy - those, who for some reason or another, have lost their connection to the fairy world. Rachel was a changeling child and abandoned by her parents as a baby. Mercedes was the first fairy in generations in her family and Santana has never told me about her family, but something awful happened. I've never pressed. You met some of the other students and borders, but I'm closest to them and we've been at the school for almost five years now."
Blaine nods in understanding, encouraging Kurt to continue.
"I've been feeling a little directionless for some time now. I'll be finishing up schooling in another year or two and I have no idea what I should be doing next. And then my Da got sick and I left to take care of him. That's why I was at home when we met, as you know." Kurt runs his thumb over Blaine's palm, tracing the lines slowly as he seems to gather his thoughts. "That day in the grove, I had cast a spell, one to help me find my purpose, my mission. And you walked up, handsome and regal, and for a moment, I thought I had conjured you from thin air. Like my teddy bear." Kurt smiles shyly at Blaine.
"I'm real enough, I think." He teases.
"Quite real." Kurt tightens his grip. "You walked directly into the center of the ley lines without even realizing it. I couldn't even warn you."
"I didn't feel them."
"No, you wouldn't. You haven't an ounce of the fae in you." Kurt laughs and then turns serious. "But you were caught in my spell. I could sense it swirling around you and then settling like glue, and I didn't know why you were there or if you had been lured in or if you were purposely trying to destroy everything. I tried to send you on your way, but there was this giant pull towards you. I felt it in everything."
"You were trapped then."
"No, no. I could have left at any time. It was you, you were the one trapped. Because of my spell, your plan to rescue Cooper became a compulsion, a magical quest that you couldn't walk away from. You had to defeat Sue or you would go mad or even die."
"Kurt."
"I had to come with you. Make sure you succeeded because I couldn't bear the thought of someone innocent dying because of my haphazard spell. Then I got to know you," Kurt chokes up, "and you dying would have killed me. I couldn't let that happen. I figured I would be the secret weapon. If Sue didn't know that I was a fairy, I could protect you, until you killed her. I should have known that you with your big heart would try to sacrifice yourself instead. I wasn't prepared for that, and I almost lost you."
Kurt's crying then, a slow escape of tears sliding down his cheeks, avoiding Blaine's eyes. "I was too slow. Before I was able to cast a counterspell, you were trapped. I distracted her and she lost control of her spell. But you-you-." He glances at Blaine, the tears falling freely. "I'm so sorry, Blaine. Can you ever forgive me?"
"Kurt," Blaine breathes out, reaching out to wipe the tears away. Kurt looks up with so much hope and pain. "Kurt."
Heart beating in his chest, he can't resist any longer. Blaine leans over and kisses Kurt, hand cupping Kurt's jaw with gentle pressure, drawing him closer. Kurt stills and then with a sigh, melts against Blaine and kisses back, a gentle learning of lips. Blaine's beating heart calms with the rightness of this moment.
Blaine pulls away. Kurt looks stunned yet happy, rosy pink flushed across his cheeks, vulnerable and open and beautiful. Blaine cradles his face, thumbs rubbing over his jaw. "There's nothing to forgive," he murmurs, and wipes away the tears that spill anew. Kurt nods and leans in for another kiss that takes Blaine's breath away.
When they part, Blaine is breathing heavily. He looks away with a blush. "We should - should we get back?"
Kurt shakes his head. "No."
"No?" He gets out and Kurt surges forward, kissing him again, opening his mouth and drawing Blaine in. Gentle kisses become demanding in an instant. Fire warms Blaine's core as he presses deeper, wrapping his arms tight around Kurt's shoulders. Kurt, for his part, is insistent, tugging Blaine closer. With a smooth move that makes him huff against Kurt's lips, he lifts Blaine up onto his lap, hands shifting down to rest on Blaine's hips, while never breaking the kiss.
Kurt pulls away and before Blaine can even open his eyes, he's sucking firm kisses under Blaine's jaw and along his neck. Blaine whines, the fire burning hotter and settling deep into his pelvis as he struggles to get closer, infinitely closer to Kurt. His breath comes out in pants as he tilts his neck to Kurt's exploring lips and he shudders when Kurt nips at his collarbone. His body rocks forward, almost on its own, seeking Kurt's answering friction.
Blaine pulls at Kurt's clothing, needing to touch his skin. Frustrated by the layers, he reaches between them, tugging at Kurt's breeches and his fingers brush against Kurt's prominent bulge—
Kurt gasps and lurches into Blaine's touch and promptly loses his precarious balance, toppling them backwards off the log. "Oof!" Kurt huffs as Blaine's weight pushes him into the forest floor.
Blaine scrambles to his knees. "Kurt? Are you hurt?"
Kurt stares up at Blaine, and then starts shaking, body racking in laughter. Blaine can't help it and joins in, laughing at the absurdity of it all, collapsing next to Kurt in giggles. He looks over at Kurt and laughter bubbles up again, and they laugh until their sides cramp.
They lie side by side as the mirth fades. Blaine stares up at the whispering trees, embarrassment replacing his amusement, the fire in his groin fading. "I… apologize for my… impropriety."
"Blaine." He feels Kurt's fingers tangling through his. "Look at me, Blaine." Blaine looks over to see that heart-twisting smile that he has grown so fond of. "I rather liked what you were doing."
"You did?"
Kurt's smile turns coy, as he deliberately brings his hand to the front of his breeches, undoing the small buttons and pushing the flap down. "I did and I would like you to continue."
Blaine stares dumbly down between the folds of fabric. The sight of Kurt, neatly and primly dressed in the latest fashions with kiss-reddened lips and debauched hair. Blaine twists to kneel over Kurt, leaning down to capture his lips in a lingering kiss. "Would you now?" He mouths at Kurt's jaw, nipping at the soft skin. "Do you like this?"
Kurt sighs and tilts his head closer. "Mmm hmm."
"And this?" He sucks on his neck, relishing the slight differences in taste.
Kurt takes longer to answer. "Yes."
Blaine reaches between them, sliding his hand into the fold of Kurt's breeches. "How about this?"
Kurt shudders. "Oh gods, Blaine," he moans, a flush spreading down below the collar of his shirt. Blaine follows the flush with his tongue, mapping the sensitive spots on Kurt's neck and collarbone. He admires the contraction of Kurt's muscles, the way the skin slides taunt over hip bones, the tickle of fine hairs under his fingertips. Every reaction of Kurt's he catalogues - hands gripping Blaine's shoulders, pulling Blaine down for an open kiss before breaking away to pant anew, hips twitching. Watching Kurt fall apart in his hands is overwhelming, a gift and reality that not even his most detailed daydreams could have prepared him.
Kurt is needy in his kisses in the aftermath, deep tender kisses interspersed with soft caresses of lips across Blaine's cheeks and forehead, which Blaine returns eagerly. Which may be why Kurt's firm grasp is a surprise, breeches unbuttoned and pushed aside and it's his turn to gasp as waves of pleasure rise and peak. Perched across Kurt's strong body, feeling Kurt's broad chest underneath his groping hands, Kurt's own hand on him, warm and sure, Kurt's eyes never leaving his face - bliss crashes through over him in mere minutes.
After Kurt's cleaned them with a handkerchief and fastened buttons more deftly than Blaine could manage, they walk back to the camp, hand in hand. Their disheveled appearance attracts attention from their companions and a few wolf-whistles, and Blaine grins broadly in response. Kurt's cheeks are pink but he makes no attempt at pulling away.
Cooper stirs a pot near a large fire with Elizabeth on his hip. "Blaine?" Cooper questions, "where have you been and what…" He trails off at the sight of their entwined hands, uncertainty in his voice.
In answer, Blaine lifts Kurt's hand and kisses it. "I told you, dear brother, that I do not need your assistance to make a match."
Cooper stares for another moment, and then claps Blaine firmly across on the shoulders, dropping the ladle into the soup. "You sly fox, you certainly have the royal charm! Quinn! Did you know about this?"
Quinn takes one look at them and sighs. "I suppose you forgot the wood?"
It's three and a half weeks before they arrive in Clarington. He'd normally be itching to return home to his routine, although that's bound to change with Cooper's return, but he and Kurt are separating here in Clarington. Kurt is returning to Adayn to complete his studies and Blaine doesn't know the next time he's going to see him. He's enjoyed every moment on the road with Kurt: conversations while riding horses where they chit chat about royal duties and the construction of spells, swinging Beth between them when they walk, cooking dinner over the fire while bantering with Cooper, sleeping next to Kurt with their legs entwined (Blaine doesn't know how he's ever going to sleep alone again), and stealing moments away from prying brothers and curious onlookers where he maps out every spot that makes Kurt gasp. With every moment and every discovery, Blaine falls more in love.
Most of their motley group has departed by this time to return to their own lands and families or to seek new adventures with better monetary rewards. A few people continue along, as Cooper and Quinn have promised well-compensated work with generous holidays. Experiencing hard toil has shaped his pampered brother into a considerate man and those still in the company are loyal.
Blaine is a little nervous as he approaches Clarington, memories of their stolen horses and harassment by the local gang at the forefront of his mind, but the town is quiet. Kurt grins broadly at the notice posted on the town sign announcing the date for the Warblers' trial.
"Kurt! Kurt! Blaine!" Blaine looks up to see a cluster of young women leaning out one of the inn's windows.
"Mercedes! Rachel! What are you doing here?" Kurt calls up, delighted at their appearance.
"We heard you were coming and Madame Carmen allowed us the day off to surprise you!" Mercedes replies.
"We ordered supper and beds at the inn for all of us," Santana hollers, "alas, I forgot my money purse, so Prince Blaine will have to pay."
"Santana!" Kurt hisses.
"What? You're bedding him, so I'm sure he won't mind." Santana winks salaciously.
Mercedes and Rachel drop their jaws and start clamoring over each other. Kurt marches into the inn doggedly ignoring them. Blaine grins and follows him in.
Kurt's friends are even more astonished by Cooper and Quinn's appearance and drop into curtsies but that doesn't stop them long from questioning Kurt about Blaine and demanding answers. Kurt's tight-lipped about most of their romance but he easily holds Blaine's hand and the teasing is good natured and loving. Rachel is magnanimous in her disappointment that Blaine has been claimed by her best friend. "We make beautiful music together, Prince Blaine, but Kurt also has a beautiful voice and I'm sure you two will be just as lovely together." Blaine relaxes as ale and chowder are shared around the table while Cooper boisterously regals them with the same tales of his bravery that Blaine has now heard a dozen times.
"Blaine! You're back! How was your resurrection?" The blonde, self proclaimed oracle plops down beside him.
"Brittany?" He questions. "What are you doing here?" At Kurt's puzzled look, he explains, "Brittany is an oracle who works at the inn in Westerville. I met her when I was just getting started, right before I met you."
She beams. "You remember me! I was so afraid that with your death you would have forgotten."
"I. I didn't die."
"You didn't? But you're returning home triumphantly! You should have been resurrected, undergone ascension by this point!"
Unbidden, his mind lingers on the memory of Kurt's hands touching his skin. Ascension is one word for the bliss that Kurt coaxes from his body. He doesn't think that this is what Brittany is referring to and he blushes when Kurt knowingly catches his eye. "No deaths here."
"How did you defeat your enemy then, without the blessing of the gods?"
"I didn't. Cooper broke his sleeping curse before I even got there. And Kurt's the one who defeated Sue."
Kurt shakes his head in disagreement. "Not really. All I did was distract her. The curse collapsed on Sue - in the end Sue defeated Sue."
"You broke the spell on me, though." Blaine argues back. "The sleeping spell. When you kissed me. That's when I could move again."
"I didn't - oh."
"Quinn says it would break with true love's kiss." Blaine's face heats up. He hasn't said that word to Kurt, even though he feels it in every heartbeat. Kurt's mouth opens in response.
"I don't understand." Brittany interrupts. "You were supposed to be the hero! He's supposed to be your prize!" She gestures at Kurt.
Blaine shrugs. Prophecies mean little to him, especially after their long journey. "I guess it was a different adventure than what you foresaw."
Kurt lifts his hand and kisses his palm. "Blaine is the bravest man I know. You should have seen how he stood up to Sue. He'll always be my hero."
Santana snorts loudly. "Wanky."
"I suppose it doesn't matter since you're getting your happily ever after," Brittany starts to say, then trails off as she notices Santana in the corner. "Oh. It's you." She breathes.
Santana frowns. "Have we met?"
"No. I am your downfall and your salvation. I just didn't think that happened in this story."
Santana blushes madly and for once, seems speechless. She stands up abruptly. "Excuse me. I think I need to have my future read." She grabs Brittany's hand and rushes them out of the room.
"Well!" Rachel proclaims, "I didn't understand a single word that that woman said. Did any of you?" The group shook their heads, Blaine in bemusment. "Tell me more about this spell of Sue's, Kurt! I can't believe you didn't bring her back with you."
"Carmen didn't want her moved until she could inspect her herself. I anticipate that we'll go back in the spring for more testing and confirm we didn't leave any spelled persons there. There were so many frogs, I'm afraid we missed some." Kurt shudders. "And the princes will be sending soldiers next summer to tear down the castle. Hopefully that will weaken the ley lines of her power, so when we do break the curse, we can do it in a controlled fashion."
"Do you think... could one of the frogs be Finn?" Rachel's eyes shine.
Kurt reaches over and holds her hand. "I don't know. Madame says it's going to take a lot more testing before we know anything."
She nods and wipes her eyes, steering the conversation away from her missing love.
Blaine listens as Kurt talks animatedly with Rachel and Mercedes. He loves seeing Kurt in his element, but as the evening hours wan and their few hours together dwindle, he becomes more withdrawn.
Kurt must have noticed his despondent mood, as he sends Mercedes and Rachel away for the evening and leads Blaine to their private quarters. There, they undress silently and slip under the covers, facing each other, with a single candle flickering light across their faces.
"I don't want to leave you." Blaine confesses. He hates how his voice cracks. "I know it's the right decision, we both have responsibilities, but now that it's here… I'm going to miss you so much, Kurt, I can't even breathe thinking about how much, and it's happening tomorrow-"
Kurt brushes his fingers through Blaine's hair, pulling him close for a kiss. Blaine closes his eyes as Kurt brushes more feathered kisses across his eyelids, trails slow, gentle kisses across his forehead, down to the tip of his nose, across his cheek. "Kurt…" he breathes, tipping his head in search of Kurt's lips.
"Shhh. Let me. I need to memorize you—map every part of you—take this memory with me. Let me–" the pause is slight but significant, as he cups Blaine's face with his hands, "let me love you, Blaine."
Blaine can only nod in acquiescence to the hands and lips tracing across his body. Kurt kisses lightly across his chest, sucks on his nipples that pebble at the sensation. He nips at his hips and upper thighs and Blaine throws his arm across his eyes because seeing Kurt's opulent worship of his body will make this end much too soon. There's a moment of reprieve from that, when Kurt finds a ticklish spot under his arm and Blaine writhes in unrestrained laughter and squeals as Kurt merciless tortures the sensitive areas, before soothing and distracting with deep, hungry kisses.
Blaine is a tangle of heightened nerves and emotion, engulfed in love and lust for this man—this kind, good, funny, loving, sexy man. Kurt is singular in his devotion to Blaine, guiding him to maximum arousal. Pleasure builds as he seeks more- he needs- more- there- oh gods!- and he shudders with the cresting release. It's too much—it's perfect. Kurt mouths along his neck, panting wetly as he comes apart. Blaine will never tire of the open adoration and trust that is the gift of Kurt surrendering to his heart's desires.
Blaine rests his head on Kurt's chest, feeling its rise with every breath, listening to the comforting thump of his heartbeat slowing as the adrenaline dissipates. Kurt threads his fingers through Blaine's hair, rubbing the tips of the curls with his fingers, and it's in this perfect stillness that Blaine decides to speak his truth, early and rash that it might be. "I don't want to leave you because I love you."
Kurt's fingers stop and his hand is heavy on Blaine's head, before he continues stroking. "I-I love you, too." Blaine twists to take in his luminous smile - he'll never tire of how it spreads over his face and rests in his eyes. They talk through the night, murmuring secrets in the velvety darkness, exposing hidden pains and flaws, and sharing wishes and dreams never told to others. As the dawn paints their room in gold in the early morning, they share one last moment of love-making, drawing out each other's pleasure, before dressing and heading downstairs.
The mood is somber as Blaine leads Blackbird out to the courtyard where Cooper and his family are waiting, his hand tightly encompassed by Kurt's. Even Blackbird seems a little down, especially when she notices that Pavarotti is not amongst the caravan. She fidgets, stepping side to side, and halts abruptly. Blaine focuses his energy on calming his horse to hide the tears threatening to fall, until he can hand the reins over to Cooper to say this last goodbye.
He turns to face Kurt, and, suddenly, Kurt is in his arms, hugging him fiercely. "I am never saying goodbye to you."
Blaine can't say anything, just nods and buries his head into Kurt's shoulder for one last moment. He drinks Kurt in and then swings up onto Blackbird. He nudges the horse forward, determined not to cry. He can do this. They can do this.
"So," Cooper asks as they leave the village behind, breaking the silence abruptly, "is it too early to start planning the double wedding in the spring?
A/N: For the adult readers, I've posted a more explicit version of their first time over on AO3 under my penname of redheadgleek. Thanks for reading and commenting.