Okay guys, the last chapter was originally uploaded in it's unedited form, thanks to the anon who pointed that out, which is totally a goof on my part. I fixed it fairly quickly, but just in case, you may want to go back and re-read it before reading this one. I am so grateful for every favourite, review and follower this story has gotten, so lots and love for you all.
As always, all the love to my beta, GleekMom.
Blaine awoke early the next morning, the heavy curtains keeping out most of the sun's rays as he stretched. He felt tired after a very fitful sleep. The bed itself was comfortable enough, but his mind was plagued with thoughts over what he had now committed himself to. And the things he had said regarding Lord Hummel. Living in a house with magical objects and a lord under a spell. It was like living inside one of his stories! Yet he never dreamed he would be trapped, sentenced to remain in a place with a creature who had threatened his family. He jumped out of bed, and drew open the curtains, surveying the view as he let in the light of the day. He could see Pav was out grazing from the lawn, wondering why Lord...he supposed he should start thinking of him as Kurt now, for that monster was no lord let the horse stay. But he smiled at having at least his old companion nearby. As he gazed out the window he also noticed enchanted scythes cutting down weeds, trowels digging up spots for flowers, and rakes piling up hay and dead grass. It was all done as if by invisible people, though they were once just every day objects used by the many laborers the Hummels employed before their deaths. Blaine wondered why the grounds were suddenly now being groomed after so many years and he wondered if it was for his benefit. But no matter how homey they made it, Blaine again swore that this place would never be home.
He turned to the basin, quickly wiping down his face with the cloth provided, and decided to investigate his room before he dressed and located something with which to break his nightly fast. In the chest where he had laid his things he found more candles, some parchment for writing, a small mending kit for clothes and a few extra cloths for cleaning. In the nightstand he found a book of love poetry he had never heard of, and a few tapers with which to light the candles, as well as a comb, which he gladly used to untangle his curls as best he could. The only place he had yet to look was the wardrobe, which he found fitting, and hoped it would contain some appropriate garments for him to wear that day.
However, as he lay his hands on the bright gold handles to open it, he heard an indignant voice shriek out "Excuse me! Do you always lay your hands upon a lady without her permission? Of all the impropriety!"
It was then that Blaine noticed that the wardrobe had a face. Of course it did. His hands quickly lept from the handles, and he backed away, noting the angry brown eyes that were staring him down. "Beg pardon milady, I meant no offense. It's my first day here and I have no idea what objects are and are not enchanted. I was merely looking for some garments to wear. I really do ask your forgiveness. My name is Blaine, and I hope that we can move past this slight on my part." Blaine was always the well-mannered gentleman, even when addressing a piece of sentient furniture.
"Oh, no! Oh please don't tell Kurt I got mad at you! He'll be so mad if I drove you off, even if it really is your fault. I'm Rachel, I am...well, was, a maid here. I am also now responsible for dressing you, so let me see..." the girl responded, noises of shuffling coming from behind her doors. They opened and a hideous yellow sweater emblazoned with a kitten emerged. "This seems quite your style don't you think?" Rachel beamed at him. Blaine tried to hide his disgust and keep a polite face.
"Very stylish. However, I have never been able to pull off the kitten look. Would you mind terribly if I tried to locate something more my style?" Blaine asked. At her assent, he browsed through the drawers and racks of clothing. He located some stunning red breeches, a black tunic and a wonderful bow-tie to top off the outfit. He also located clean undergarments and a new looking pair of boots hidden at the bottom. He thanked Rachel, and was just about to change when he noticed her watching him.
"Could you perhaps...close your eyes to give me some privacy please?" he asked, the colouring rushing to his cheeks.
"Didn't seem to bother you last night. Even though I did close my eyes then as well. But fine. Spoil my fun." she replied, a bit of cheek creeping into her voice which did nothing to diminish Blaine's flushed face. He quickly changed into the new clothes, finding they fit him extraordinary well, making him wonder if they'd been intended for Kurt when he grew older as a man, or if they were magically made.
After Blaine was dressed, he thanked Rachel and made his way out of the room, wondering if he must eat all his meals with Kurt or if he was free to do as he pleased until the supper. This question was quickly answered when the candelabra he had seen so frequently the day prior made his way over to him. "Good morning Blaine! Name's Sam, I'm here to escort you down to breakfast, Kurt is waiting"
Blaine gave a tight smile, and followed Sam down the stairs. He noticed that many of the floors had been swept and the windows were in the process of being washed. The ornate clock he had seen briefly the previous evening was taking down notes and muttering to himself while he did so. "So that's five windows we need to replace, maybe more once those extra rooms get unbarred. I'll have to add it to the list for the Abrams' and hope they don't mind an increased delivery schedule. Now to take inventory of the blasted rugs."
Sam kept walking, and commented, "That's Elliot. He pretty much runs the show around here. I'll introduce you when he's not busy and going out of his mind. You already met Mercedes and Rachel, so no need to introduce them. I'll have to show off my girl Brit later, but otherwise we don't have as much staff as we do enchanted objects. The laborers stayed clear away after Bieste paid them off, and none of them lived here, so none of them got caught up in this curse. Any ways, this is the dining room, Kurt's probably getting impatient, so I'd go through, and I'll see you later!"
Blaine was amazed at the rate at which Sam talked, and was then left before a massive door while he hopped away to goodness knows where. Blaine straightened out his clothing and pushed open the door, intending to greet Kurt politely but was cut off by a gruff voice. "About time you got up. Come on, sit down, I'm already done. Meals are served for all at one time, don't expect special treatment just because you're a guest."
"Is that the new word for prisoner now? I had always thought that guests were free to leave, something I have not been given leave to do," Blaine replied in a terse tone, but sat nonetheless. There was a simple meal of porridge, coffee and fruit that awaited him. Kurt glared at him, motioning to eat, and muttering something under his breath about taking his meals in his room from then on. Part of Blaine would have preferred it, but he knew he would go stir-crazy if he was indeed banish to the bedroom with naught but Rachel for company for months. He ate silently, hatefully taking in Kurt who was munching on an apple as he grumbled over a file he was reading in front of him though too quietly for Blaine to make out the words. This is just an uncomfortable meal, Blaine thought. He continued until all the food was gone and his cup drained.
Kurt looked up finally. "If you would like something to do, you will have noticed the servants have taken it upon themselves to fix up the manor and grounds. You will be spending a good deal of time with them, so you might take the time to get to know them. I am also sure they would appreciate help. If you choose not to, feel free to excuse yourself and stay out of their way. I have things to accomplish, so I will see you for our evening meal." With that, Kurt gave a small bow and left the room, one sheet of paper falling to the ground by the door as it closed.
Blaine knew he shouldn't. He should give it straight to one of the servants to deliver. But he was nothing if not curious, and if he was to be trapped here, then he should know what was going on. He picked up the parchment and read;
'Lord Hummel may be attempting to reinstate himself as the Lord Magistrate of Lima. We fear he will seek retribution against the Council if he is once again in power. We should entreat Lord Clarington to volley against this movement, and attempt to fool him into exposing or even eliminating Hummel. With him out of the picture, we can lift the ban against magic that we put in place to placate him after Terri went rogue. It has limited our coffers to not offer spells and charms to such a large kingdom. We shall have a meeting to discuss the issue at the next full moon in two weeks time.
Lord Figgins, Head of the Mages Council'
Blaine was outraged. How dare they! First they curse all of the staff, fully justifying retribution in his mind, and now they were trying to take over? Just in order to gain a profit? It was despicable! He may have no love for Kurt himself, but no one deserved the fate of having their humanity stripped away. Blaine didn't know what he could do to stop them, but he was determined to try. If the Council was content to let the people suffer under Hunter's rule, then they deserved to be demolished. Kurt may never take his throne, Blaine saw no evidence that he was intending to, but perhaps he had hopes of installing a successor in his stead. If so, then perhaps, loathe as he was to speak with Kurt, Blaine could talk with him of the unfit way the kingdom was run. It would be for the good of the realm and that outweighed his dislike of the creature keeping him here.
For now, Blaine folded the letter, placed it in the pocket of his tunic and went out looking for Sam in order to receive a tour of the manor. If nothing else, he was not giving up a chance to explore the once beautiful home and hopefully restore it to its former glory. He had always appreciated architecture, and it was a shame that such a beautiful home was now in ruins. He could see rugs being rolled up, brooms and rags and mops everywhere, the appearance of the hall markedly different from when he had sat down to eat. If nothing else, Kurt's servants worked fast. It was then that he saw Elliot approaching and prepared himself for work.
"Hey man, I'm Elliot. I'm essentially the head of the household, in charge of the day to day running of the place while Kurt looks after the kingdom. It's nice to meet you. I know Sam is supposed to introduce you to everyone and give you a tour, but since you're the only one around with thumbs, do you suppose you could give me a hand unbarring all these doors down here so we can start cleaning them? I meant to ask Kurt, but he's off to bitch out Ken, and I know better than to get in his way when he's in a mood." Blaine quickly assented. Growing up on a farm he was used to manual labour, and it actually felt good to take up a hammer, one of the few non-magical tools lying around, and get to work.
By the time the sun was setting, every door in the manor had been unbarred, and almost all the rugs had been sorted out into piles to be washed or thrown away. Blaine had met the rest of the staff, Artie, whom he got along with quite well, and Brittany, whom he found a bit daft, but whatever made Sam happy. There were a few rooms he had yet to explore, but as of right now he was content to soak in the bath he had requested, cleaning off a hard day's work. Closing his eyes and letting his aching muscles relax, he quietly awaited announcement of the evening meal. Sam had said it would be a bit later than usual if he was content to wait.
Blaine was just glad there was a separate room for bathing and he didn't have to worry about hiding himself from Rachel's view. He was also pleased that nothing in this room was enchanted enough to watch him. He sighed, and wished he could soak the entire evening away, but knew that it would be rude to have Kurt waiting on him for two meals. He'd do anything not to gain more ire of his jailer. He dried himself off and re-dressed quickly, yanking a comb through his curls, then scrunching them back before they began to dry. He adjusted his seams before grabbing his satchel, wherein he had stashed the note he had found. He intended to confront Kurt with it after they had eaten.
He went down the stairs to the dining room, where he saw Kurt speaking with Elliot, so he stood just outside the doorway to give them a moment to finish their business. He may be in an unfortunate situation, and he did have some manners, but it wasn't his fault if he could accidentally overhear everything being said.
"Please thank Marley for her mail delivery the next time you see her Elliot. I wish what she had sent had better tidings in it though." Kurt said.
"What is the Council up to now?" Elliot asked with a sigh.
"Oh, you know, plotting to overthrow me or eliminate me as usual. Seems they think I wish to rule the kingdom and disband them. They intend to vote on the whole matter at the next full moon," Kurt said, a hint of mirth to his voice, as if plots against his life were a commonplace affair.
"Kurt...you aren't worried about the fact that they want to kill you?" Elliot looked aghast.
Kurt just gave a wry smile. "It's Figgins. It's not the first time he's thought about it I'm sure. The Mages are complacent at best, but there are only a few who would dare ever try something alone, and the rest can never come to a single decision. By the time they concur on a plot I will either be stuck like this and appoint Lord Nicholas in my place or be returned to myself…if Hell has decided to freeze over," he added with a smirk.
"Excuse me," Blaine interrupted, "but I have to agree with Elliot." He took a tentative step inside the room. "If the Council is truly intending to pair up with Hunter, then stopping him from ruining the kingdom even further might become next to impossible. And while the people may not love him, he can afford enough men to storm this manor and harm you and every one in it. You have to do something to ensure that does not come to pass."
Kurt was livid. "And just how would you know that they are planning on involving Lord Clarington?" Blaine held out the note he had found earlier, looking very unapologetic, and Kurt's anger only grew. "It is one thing to eavesdrop sir, but yet another to read papers that are not of your concern! It would behoove you not to get involved in matters you know nothing about!"
Blaine stomped forward, almost in Kurt's face. "I have been living in the village my whole life! I have seen what he has done to the place since he came into power! I remember what it was like when the Mages were still allowed. My parents have told me the tales, there was chaos until your parents gained enough power to demand they monitor the misuse of magic. Hunter will do no such thing, he will let them run amok and the kingdom will be ruined while you sit back and let it happen!"
"You think I don't know the dangers of magic?" Kurt snapped back. "The dangers the Council unchecked presents? They allowed Terri to run around after many warnings of violence. So she was able to kill my parents! They allowed Sue to still use magic, after transforming noble men the world over and now I'm a monster! They decided this wasn't a slight enough and cursed every living person who lived here to en eternity of misery trapped as objects so that no one could spread the word of how they had royally fucked up again! So do not lecture me about magic, about how awful the Council is. Do not presume that you are more well-versed than I who has actually had magic affect me. You know nothing of it!" Kurt fumed, the roar coming into his face as the volume rose.
Blaine did not back down though. "So what do you intend to do about it? You cannot let this-"
"THERE IS NO CHOICE!" Kurt screamed, rising from the chair as he slammed his hands on the table. "It is my problem and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it without them acting first! If not for the spy we have in the Council I would not even know about this, so I must not draw suspicion, I must not put them on the guard. Do you understand me?"
"No. No, I really don't," Blaine argued, his frustration growing with every word. "It seems you're willing to let them just walk up and kill you and destroy everything in the process. Let them allow Hunter to ruin the kingdom further! Because it seems to me that you're just afraid to be cursed even further!"
Kurt looked at him, murder in his eyes. "They cannot curse me any further! I'm already a monster! I am not afraid of them! But if you feel that way, then you are free to go and do what you can to stop them. Just...go."
Blaine froze, the pain in Kurt's voice echoing in his mind. "I didn't mean-" he whispered.
"I SAID GO!" Kurt screamed, letting out a roar, and Blaine did not have to be told twice. He ran through the hallway and out the door, seeing Pav almost waiting for him, and quickly mounted, galloping into the forest and towards home as fast as he could.
The sun had set though, and Blaine was not that familiar with the forest. And though there were not many paths, he knew in an instant that he had taken the wrong one. The trees were twisted shapes, the path rocky. In the nearby bushes he could hear rustling. Knowing he had made a grave error in foolishly running from Kurt, he tried to turn Pavarotti around, only to be face to face with two giant wolves.
"Oh fuck."