Hopefully no one gave up on this story yet? I'd like to thank you all for reading and wish you all amazing New Year 2013!

This chapter was beta-ed again by amazing youngandobsessed, who patiently keeps straightening my tenses and phrasing. I can only hope it teaches me something as well :)

I'll be also including this story shortly into my master fic list on my tumblr: 'tarabottiwrites' if anyone is interested ;)

Chapter 13

"I'm sorry," Blaine said.

Kurt stared at him with such anger, it looked as if there was a snowy storm revelling behind his eyes.

"For what?" he asked, dangerously calm. "For lying about who you are? Or maybe for using me for your own goals? I know why you set up our date. That bullshit about a family heirloom, fairy tales about your country... Did you have fun making that up? Or was it all planned by Rory?"

Blaine knelt by the seething witchling, completely petrified. His icy tone cut into his heart more painfully than if Kurt had shouted. "Kurt... you might not believe me now, but... everything I told you about my feelings was true. I had started to like you way before I knew who you were and I never stopped." Blaine tentatively reached for the witchling's hand, but was too afraid to touch it. "I know what I did was wrong and I'm so, so sorry for that."

Kurt reached slowly to the pendant on his neck. "Was this a 'true' gift, or would you like it back?" he asked.

"It's yours, if you still want to wear it."

The witchling held the stone up and eyed it. "The colour is a bit like your eyes. I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing at the moment." Blaine felt a small relief when Kurt allowed the stone to fall back onto his collarbone.

"I was worried about you after that meeting," the boy continued. " I even asked Rory to check on you... did he manage to get into the castle?"

"Yeah..." Kurt confirmed, looking upset. "I got him imprisoned before he would tell me his reason for coming, though."

Blaine almost jumped, shocked. "You did what?!"

"I did what a Prince is supposed to do – catching and imprisoning rebels." The witchling's blue eyes shone for a second with a cold, inhumane power, making Blaine flinch away.

"I thought you knew each other?"

"We did – for five years. That's why his betrayal felt so much worse." Kurt sighed, the light in his eyes dimming. "And then I couldn't save him – I could only make sure he wasn't turned into stone. For now."

Blaine leaned closer. "We could help him. We could try to free him." He risked covering Kurt's pallid hand with his own. The witchling didn't move away, but he shook his head, still bitter.

"The castle is too well guarded. I can't go there anymore and I don't have any friends inside that could help me."

Blaine was confused. "Wait... aren't you the Prince?"

"I'm not exactly on best terms with the queen at the moment," Kurt gazed at the boy coldly. "Which is your fault! Yours and your stupid smell! And now Maugrim's death will be pinned on me as well. I swear you'll-" snipped Kurt and immediately hissed in pain – his bitten leg hurt immensely. "Damn... I need to take care of that first."

"Rachel gave me this herb paste..." Blaine moved to get the pot, but Kurt squeezed his hand, stopping him.

"Sorry, but I'm not using some mud made by peasants. How long have I slept?"

"What does it have to do with-"

"Just tell me," Kurt growled, irritated.

"Around 5 hours, I think... I was actually expecting you to sleep till tomorrow." Blaine wondered why it was important right now.

The witchling didn't look happy about the answer. "Damn... It might not be enough to entirely heal it..." He looked at Blaine. "I need you to get me a vessel."

"A vessel?"

"Is there an echo in here? A vessel. Anything will do."

Blaine rushed clumsily to search for something suitable. He didn't have many possessions in his tent and most of them were given to him by other Narnians and therefore, it didn't really feel like 'his'. Blaine glanced at the table – the only 'vessel' there at the moment was a simple cracked ceramic cup.

"Would this work?" Blaine asked, lifting the cup for Kurt to see.

The witchling winced upon seeing the tasteless atrocity. "Will have to. I can't believe I'm going to touch this ugliness, but I don't have much choice. Bring it to me."

Blaine came to Kurt's side and helped him, gathering a few pillows together so the witchling could lean on them. He then placed the cup in Kurt's hands, unsure what was about to happen.

The witchling studied the vessel in his hands as if to remember its shape. He glanced at Blaine. "If I were you I would pay attention to what I'm going to do. You might never have the chance to see how djinns funnel their magic power into this world again," he said in a sultry voice.

He didn't have to say that twice – Blaine's eyes were glued to him now that the shorter boy had an excuse to ogle the witchling.

Kurt clenched the ugly cup so tightly to the point that his knuckles turned white. His eyes widened and shone with a royal blue light that looked as dangerous as it was fascinating. His fair skin shimmered and there seemed to be blue lights travelling through his veins under his almost translucent skin. Even the air quivered around the witchling, surrounding him in a protective dome. Blaine watched it all hypnotized. Kurt had never before looked so far from being human as he did now, but Blaine noticed that it didn't scare him. Maybe being in the company of non-humans for so long made him more open-minded, but he really didn't care about 'djinn' part of the person he cared for. About the person he loved.

And as soon as Blaine thought the word 'love' his heart pounded fiercely against his chest in joy. He was in love. In love with a djinn – his supernatural enemy, whom he only knew for a short time – and still he couldn't be happier. A wide grin spread on his mouth, brightening his face.

Meanwhile Kurt was channelling all his power into the ugly cup. The edges of the vessel seemed to blur and warp under the witchling's shimmering fingers. The tent was filled with crackling sounds and Kurt's face started to look really tired. Blaine was about to interrupt him and suggest to the witchling that he should rest, when the cup flashed a bright light and fell on the floor. Kurt panted furiously and hunched forward.

"Shit! I hope it didn't break," he hissed and turned toward Blaine. "Where is it?"

The boy looked around – there was no cup, just... a crystal bottle that suspiciously looked exactly like the one Kurt had broken in the forest earlier. Blaine took it – it felt icy cold – and handed it to Kurt. The witchling looked disappointed.

"Only half..." he complained examining the vessel. "At least it will take away some of the pain..."

Kurt leaned over his injured leg and carefully unwrapped the blood-soaked bandages. The wound looked raw and burning, its dark, red colour contrasting with his milky skin. The witchling moved the bottle over the bite, but hesitated. He glanced at Blaine.

"Keep my leg steady so I won't waste any of it," he ordered the boy. Blaine eagerly shuffled closer and with trembling – from excitement and embarrassment – hands he held the lean leg down.

"And don't think I'm not going to get you back for destroying my trousers and leering at my leg," snarled Kurt from above, but the corners of his lips twitched at seeing guilt in Blaine's eyes.

The witchling tilted the bottle close to the wound. When the first drop landed on the raw flesh Blaine had to use all of his strength to immobilize Kurt's limb as the witchling thrashed from its nasty sting. The poured liquid started to evaporate as soon as it touched the skin with a sizzle that reminded Blaine of the sound it made upon landing on Maugrim... The boy looked questioningly at Kurt, feeling a bit sick.

"It's meant to do that. I'll be fine," said Kurt, wincing from the burning pain.

After all the liquid was gone, the wound looked much better. The torn skin was no longer bleeding, even though the thin tissue of scarring looked like it could tear any moment.

"That's all I could do today." Kurt looked disappointed. "I really hope the scars won't be too visible... You can let go, Blaine," he added dryly.

The boy noticed he was still holding Kurt's leg and let go quickly, grimacing upon the pain in his shoulder caused by the too sudden movement. Even with being so absorbed in his own state, the witchling noticed Blaine's distress. He looked at the human's bandaged shoulder with a frown and suddenly paled.

"You're hurt as well," Kurt said quietly.

Blaine smiled, confused. "Yeah, it's wrapped up well so shouldn't take too long to heal."

Kurt thought for a moment. "You got it from saving me," he remembered.

"Small price," the boy shrugged. What Kurt was trying to say?

"If I..." Kurt pressed his lips into a thin line in a moment of hesitation. "If I was a human... Would I heal you first? Not myself?"

Blaine stared at Kurt, who clearly was surprised himself by that question. "I don't know," he answered honestly. " For starters, humans don't have amazing magical powers," he tried jokingly.

The witchling couldn't help rolling his eyes. "I know, I just..." He pouted. "Nevermind."

There was an awkward silence between them as they waited for each other to formulate uncomfortable questions with undesirable answers. Kurt glanced at his scarred leg.

"After I heal... What is going to happen?"

"What do you want to happen?" Blaine asked immediately.

"Oh, I don't know... You could tell me all your secrets plans for the war and let me return to my castle," answered Kurt with a theatrical nonchalance. Blaine laughed at that.

"Oh, we kind of figured out you were supposed to be a spy," confessed the boy with a smile.

"And... you still let me in? I don't know what my mother is scared of – you guys are obviously mentally ill and therefore harmless."

Blaine raked his curls nervously. "Actually... the rest wanted to kill you on the spot, but I ordered them to bring you to the camp instead."

"Why?" Kurt couldn't understand. "Getting hurt, killing Maugrim... for all you know that could've been my plan." And parts of it were.

"I... I had to be sure you were somewhere I know is safe," Blaine said. "I'm also pretty sure you didn't plan on Maugrim turning against you, which means your side is not safe for you either."

"Which was your fault in the first place."

Blaine was a bit naive, definitely smitten, but not stupid. "Hey, I'm not the only guilty party here!" he protested. "I liked you. You liked me. We were on different sides. I guess it was meant to blow up in our faces sooner or later."

Kurt blushed guiltily at that retort, but wasn't about to back down. "It's funny how you used the past tense for 'us' there," he spat. Blaine's ears twitched at that.

"I didn't know if there was still an 'us'. Is there a chance..."

"Oh, I don't know. Is the great and mighty King of Narnia still interested in an evil witch?" sneered Kurt.

"No," said Blaine, but before his answer could sink in, he added. "But he is interested in a beautiful, not-so-evil witchling."

"Really? And it wasn't for him only a short, meaningless affair?"

Instead on allowing their banter to continue, Blaine leaned forward, cupping Kurt's face. His shoulder protested in pain, but the boy couldn't have cared less, because he finally had the chance to do, what he had wanted to do since coming back to the camp. Blaine pressed his lips to Kurt's, muffling the witchling's protests. Kurt's lips seemed drier than before, but they still were perfect, and after a moment of shock he responded to the kiss.

For Kurt, their sudden intimate connection reminded him of how he had felt in Peter's tomb that night and later, during their date in the castle's gardens – when they both had nothing to do with any war yet. Only what they wanted had mattered. The witchling encircled Blaine's shoulders with his arms, feeling the pure warmth emanating from the boy that he had missed so much. It brought back all his favourite memories: the date with Blaine, nights spent talking with Rory, the rare moments when he could meet and hug his father... He marvelled in them until he felt Blaine pulling away.

"...rt. Kurt!" the witchling saw Blaine's pained face.

"Your hug... My shoulder started to hurt a bit," the boy explained.

"I'm sorry!" Kurt quickly retreated, his eyes blinking rapidly. "It just felt too nice, too natural as if-"

"As if we were meant to be together?" Blaine finished for him with a hopeful look.

Yes. "I don't know, It's all too confusing."

Blaine shook his head. "For me it's actually all perfectly clear."

Kurt tilted his head questioningly at the sudden confidence and calm in the boy's voice.

"I..." Blaine covered the witchling's hand with his own and could feel the tremble of anticipation and fear under Kurt's luminous skin. "I think I love you, Kurt. No, I'm pretty sure I love you."

The witchling froze. Oh, he knew the phrase 'love'. Rory would always tear up and babble about his undying feelings toward Sugar after drinking too much wine. Ingolf was very interested in a certain snow white-coated female wolf from his pack and would wail to her all nights, hoping. Also Kurt's father would sometimes whisper sadly these words to him or Jadis – although the latter never said anything in return. Somehow, it seemed that 'love' was not as much a happiness as rather a suffering. And Djinns didn't like the idea of 'suffering'. Kurt felt like he should explain this to Blaine, but wasn't sure how.

"I don't think it's possible for me, as a djinn, to ever love you," he said really slowly, watching as Blaine tried to hide his disappointment. "I still like you, though," he felt the need to add.

"It's okay," replied Blaine. He expected such a response to his badly-timed confession, but it still stung. The boy stood up clumsily. "I'll let you rest. There will be a guard in front of the tent, so shout if you need anything."

Kurt watched the short, but well-built silhouette move toward the entrance and then he remembered something.

"Blaine!" he stopped the departing boy for a moment. "Tomorrow... come back, okay? I'll heal your injury."

Blaine glanced at the witchling over his shoulder. "I'll definitely come tomorrow," he promised before walking outside.

Blaine Pevensie could have probably spent the entire night thinking about Kurt and his hopeless feelings, but Sebastian was about to present him with an alternative.

"Let's go there," the taller boy said.

"Where?"

Sebastian groaned, impatient. "To Cair Paravel, of course. Aren't you curious about the place? Please, don't tell me Aslan hasn't shown it to you."

"Aren't we supposed to wait till we win the war against Jadis?" Blaine looked around the camp as if expecting Aslan to eavesdrop on them.

The camp, however, was quiet, except for the night guards talking to each other for entertainment. No one would stop the future kings of Narnia to go wherever they wanted anyway.

"I've already checked it out earlier while you were busy with your little spy," Sebastian continued to convince his friend. "The door is open – it seems 'enchanted' doesn't equal 'closed shut'."

Blaine's resolve was beginning to break. "Why do you need me? It looks like you could see the castle by yourself just as well."

"It's not as fun. Come on, Blaine. Didn't you want to have adventure?"

That was true. He wanted to see something new, something that would occupy his mind instead of his unrequited feelings for the beautiful witchling. Blaine nodded and let Sebastian lead the way to the cliff.

If the guards had any concerns about their future leaders' night-time stroll, they didn't voice them, letting them pass in silence. Blaine and Sebastian for some reason also were quiet during their journey to the castle – making the moonlit trip seem almost like a soundless dream.

That was until Sebastian stopped Blaine with a hand on his arm. "Careful, some stones here are dangerously loose," he whispered and insisted on holding the shorter boy's hand while descending from the hill onto the path that led to the main gate.

They could see the castle from afar and Blaine got the weird feeling of deja-vu. He soon recalled that he had seen already one castle in Narnia during night time – the White Witch's castle. Both buildings seemed surprisingly similar in construction and Blaine couldn't help but wonder if Jadis tried to mimic Cair Paravel to make herself feel more like a proper queen.

Both boys passed through the arched entrance. The courtyard was menacingly empty. The floor made of white stone reflected the light from the waxing moon. The walls were overgrown with ivy that made the place look like Sleeping Beauty's home. Blaine almost expected to see some snoring servants lying around.

"This way," Sebastian urged him to cross into the interior of the castle through the massive wooden door, which they opened effortlessly. Once inside, it was easy to find the throne room – they just needed to follow the biggest staircases and the widest corridors. The way up was rather uneventful and dull – alternating between stone stairs and stone passages. However, the throne room...

"Wow..."

"That's one word for it," chuckled Sebastian.

Blaine looked around the massive space, full of ornate columns, crystal chandeliers and paintings – everything was covered with a layer of dust, but showed no other signs of decay. At the other end of the room across from them the floor was raised by a podium. There sat two enormous stone thrones – Blaine guessed they would belong to Sebastian and him.

"But that's not all," said Sebastian as if he knew what Blaine was just looking at. "Check what's behind the thrones."

Blaine walked through the room toward the podium. It was hard to see much in the moonlight, but he could recognize the framed opening behind the stone chairs – it was the terrace overlooking the sea that he had noticed during his talk earlier with Aslan. He could clearly see the foam on top of the waves below and hear their calming rhythmic sound.

Blaine stood there, taking in the view in front of him for a few minutes before admitting, "I could get used to this."

Sebastian noiselessly appeared by his side. "Me too. Although the view kind of makes you lonely, doesn't it?"

Blaine glanced at the taller boy and noticed that Sebastian must've been watching him the whole time.

"Maybe," his reply was cautious as he suddenly felt uncomfortable under the stare of his friend's green eyes.

"I knew for a long time that you never belonged in our past world. Too much charisma, too much good will and not enough shrewdness," Sebastian said out of the blue. There was a softness in his voice that his cousin had never heard before.

Blaine frowned, his head starting to feel dizzy from confusion and unease. The taller boy continued.

"You know, you are actually quite similar to aunt Lucy – at least in relation to her first trip to Narnia. Making friends so easily with everyone here, making everyone care about you. And adapting to all these crazy rules here with such ease... Aunt Lucy was always sure that together with her siblings they would make great kings and queens and help the Narnians. So do you."

"I... what are you trying to say, Seb?" Blaine could feel his hair stand up on end even though the night was warm.

"That you belong here and I feel like being close to you is where I belong."

Blaine had to run that sentence through his head few more times before he paled from the sudden realisation. "Sebastian... you were always my best friend-"

"Spare me the talk, Blaine," interrupted him the taller boy, faking the confident smirk. "I know you'll never look at me like you look at that creature called 'Kurt'."

"Then why..."

"Why tell you I like you now? To put my cards on the table, Blaine." Sebastian's facade dropped a bit as his voice was tinged with determination. "I want you to know I'm here for you alone. I really like you and I'm sure you could grow to like me while ruling Narnia."

Blaine bit his lower lip. Getting together with Sebastian – oh, how weird was it to even think that after so many years of being only friends - would be such a simple solution to his problems. Two kings on two thrones, together... but it was too late for that now. His heart was full of Kurt – the ice djinn whom he loved.

Sebastian grimaced. "I can read your face like a book, you know. And it hurts to watch you getting hurt by that lying creature."

Blaine shook his head vigorously. "Don't call him 'creature'. He also has never lied to me."

"But you are hurt."

"I don't want to talk about it," Blaine dismissed him, turning away from the serene view of the moonlit sea.

"You will, one day. Because one day you'll see it could never work between you two," Sebastian shouted after him, the echo amplifying the part of his last sentence ominously.

Blaine again shook his head, refusing to look back. He had to get out of there. The castle's locations was as romantic as in a fairy tale, but he was there with the wrong person. It should be Kurt confessing his love to him on that terrace, not Sebastian.

Even with its unicorns, talking animals and enchanted castles... Narnia was no fairy tale land and no one said that Kurt would be Blaine's promised only true love.

Next chapter: Guests from the White Witch's castle...