King Burtram sat in the dining hall. All of their visitors had left yesterday and the castle should have been quiet – and it was with the exception of Prince Kurt, hurling himself against the solid oak door to his bedchamber. Burt removed the large key from his pocket, running his finger over the ornate pattern. Hed locked his son in his bedchamber last night. Hed had no choice.

Late last night, Puck had knocked on the Kings chamber door. Normally Burt might have gotten upset, but he was already awake, contemplating what to do about Rachel. His beloved daughter had cried herself to sleep after Prince Brody had courted her all evening. The King had been happy about Prince Brody at first – the young man was the Heir Apparent to the Crown of Florinda and stood to inherit a fortune upon his wedding day. He appeared to be well-mannered and polite, and he was good to look upon with his sandy brown hair, even features, muscled body, and dark gray eyes.

Then the Queen had come to Burtram and spoke to him. She had come when all of the guests were settling down for the night and told Burt about the rumors she had overheard – of the young Prince of Florinda and the threats to Rachel. The foolhardy young man had dared to tell Rachel that he would marry her and if she denied him, he would kidnap her and force her to bear his child to make the union lawful.

Of course the King sent guards to Prince Brodys quarters in one of the outbuildings, but the Prince was gone along with his parents and guards. There was not a scrap left. King Burtram had heaved a sigh of relief. Suddenly he decided he hadnt cared for the prince to begin with – so full of himself and pushing his way around.

Then Puck came, head hanging and eyes puffed. It wasnt like Puck to get emotional and the King took this seriously.

Puck told his King about Kurt seeing the boy in the forest with the wolf, how it had been going on for weeks and then finding Kurt gone later that very evening. Burts eyes narrowed as he thought of his eldest son disobeying him. Puck went on to say several of the castle residents saw Kurt returning across the meadow with the foreign boys large she-wolf following him, as if she was guarding his travel back to Castle Sunvale.

Puck went on to tell the King about more trysts, times when Kurt had sent Puck on an errand or bid him go to sleep early because Kurt claimed to be tired. It seemed that for the few weeks that they had lived here in Castle Sunvale, Kurt had been seeing this boy from Phalen Coill, trysting in the Forbidden Forest.

It was Pucks opinion, which he shared with the King when prodded, that Kurt had seen this boy every night. Last night hed been gone longer than any time before and given the number of strangers about the grounds, Puck had left Sam to guard Rachel and had then followed Kurt into the woods. Puck had tracked his prince, finding his footprints going into a cave.

Puck showed King Burtram the wound on his shoulder, peeling back his bandage which made the punctures from Santanas teeth break open and bleed again.

“The wolf bit you?” Burt asked, placing a comforting hand on Pucks shoulder. He was careful not to press near the wound. “I think you probably need to see the physician in the morning.”

Puck nodded.

“Okay, then what happened?” Burt asked, tapping his toe on the stone floor as Puck blushed and tried to think of an easier way to tell this man what he had found the Prince Kurt doing.

“Kurt – Prince Kurt was rolled in the furs with that boy from Phelan Coill. He was...his mouth was...” Puck coughed and started over. “They were naked in the furs and were...” Puck found himself unable to say the words. King Burtram glared at him.

“Just tell me. You came in here to say this, just say it then,” Burt snapped.

“He...Blaine...Prince Kurt was sucking him off,” Puck stated, thrusting out his chin.

“Oh. Well, I am not greatly surprised. The problem is not what activity Kurt was engaged in as much as the fact that he disobeyed my direct order. Thank you, Puck. Now, go get a nights rest. I will take care of this,” the King said, preoccupied with his disappointment in his eldest son.

King Burtram had gone to Kurts bedchamber, asking his son about the midnight trysts that had been going on under his very nose. Kurt had ranted, citing how unfair his life was, how he was more a prisoner than the thieves in the dungeon. King Burtram felt bad for his son, he understood how the obligations of being a Royal person in this place confined them.

“Kurt, my son, I am so very sorry. I know the laws do not take into account what we want in life, but with great responsibility comes great reward. You might not think of it now, but one day you will see what a great privilege it is to lead our people into prosperity. Unfortunately, this privilege can take our personal lives away from us, but that is the price we pay. Ive paid that price, Kurt, and so have all the rulers before me.”

Kurt sat quietly, knowing his father was trying to comfort him the only way he knew how.

“And so, Kurt, I want you to give me your solemn promise that you will not see this boy – his name is Blaine? I want you to swear to me as your sovereign leader that you will never see him again,” the King asked, expecting Prince Kurt to bow his head and agree.

Kurt did not.

“Im sorry, Father, but I cannot. I may have responsibility to my people, but I did not ask for it. I am willing to give up a lot of things for the betterment of the kingdom, but I can not and will not betray my own heart. I love Blaine beyond anything I have ever experienced. I love him, Father, and I am not willing to give him up – even if it is for the whole kingdom,” Kurt said, his head down and his hands twisting in his lap.

“I am so sorry to hear that, Kurt. I have no choice but to lock you away from him, and one day you will forget about him.”

Burt walked out of the chamber, pulling the key from his pocket and locking the large oak door behind him. He would be sure that Prince Kurt got food and water, but he was going to make sure his son stayed in his chambers until he could see reason.

Kurt paced the floor in front of his window, stopping every so often to stare out the window at the edge of the meadow. He promised Blaine that he would meet him there this evening. What would the boy think when Kurt did not show up? That he was ill, or worse yet that he had found another to love? Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Kurt didnt know how he could let Blaine know to go back home and not wait. The only person he knew to carry his most intimate messages was Puck, but Puck had betrayed him to his father. Could he ever trust anyone again?

The hurt and anger of what Kurt saw as Pucks betrayal sat in his belly like a burning coal as he walked back and forth,

That was when he thought of Rachel. He had been best friends with his sister for all of their lives. They shared their own opinions of the laws of their kingdom, things that would be acted upon when they came of age, and when the burdens that came with being royalty came down upon them harder than usual, they could go to each other to get some respite.

Kurt tried to think of some way to get Rachel to come to him, but in his heart he knew it was useless. Calling upon Rachel would only serve to bring her into this mess, and he didnt want to do that just now.

Kurt had given up. He didnt want to involve his sister, and he could find no way to signal Blaine. He tied a gold scarf to the hinge on the window, but since there was no prearranged signal, he couldnt expect Blaine to understand. The Prince was lying on his bed, his eyes puffy and red. He was looking up at his ceiling and wondering how his life was going to go – was there any chance that he might be able to have Blaine if he agreed to marry a woman? He would give her anything to make her happy, let her have a lover if she wanted, just so it looked right on the surface, then live with Blaine as his husband in secret. Princess Tina might be a good candidate...but, would that be fair to Blaine?

Kurt looked out his window when he heard a noise. He rose up out of his bed and walked to the little balcony, opening the door and stepping into the cool evening air. He took a deep breath, looking for the source of the noise.

There were birds in the trees near the wall, but that sound hadnt come from a bird. No, it was more like an animal? A scrape and then a thump of something heavy landing....

Arms went around Kurts waist and he turned towards the scent he knew like he knew the sun rises in the east.

“Blaine...you came,” Kurt sighed, then looked out over the stones that make up the balcony. There are wisteria vines all over that side of the castle. From the thickness of the vines he deduced that they had been there for decades. Kurt looked up, smiling at Blaine while the boy caught his breath. It was a long, hard climb up the wall to Kurts balcony.

“Kurt, youve been crying. Whats wrong? Why didnt you come to me tonight?” Blaine asked, adjusting the boys collar just to keep his hands occupied. “I waited hours at the edge of the forest.”

Kurt leaned on his lover, snuggling as close as he could get before speaking. He felt safe with Blaines arms holding him.

“My father locked me in my chamber. I didnt know how to tell you – did you see the gold scarf I hung in the window?” Kurt asked.

“Yes, but when I didnt know what it meant, I waited for dusk and came to your window in the hope that you would be alone. I dont think your friend Puck likes us together,” Blaine said, a frown wrinkling his brow.

“No, he doesnt. But it isnt any of his business,” Kurt snapped. Pucks betrayal to his father was going to sting for a long time.

“Are you glad I came?” Blaine asked and Kurt leaned forward and kissed his lips.

“Yes, Im glad,” Kurt replied, pulling Blaine closer and giving him another, longer kiss.

When they had kissed for a while, Blaine stopped to look around the room.

“This is your chamber?” he asked and Kurt nodded. “It is...so luxurious. Your father must be a hard worker to provide you with such a room in the kings castle.”

Kurt just smiled. He was pulling Blaine down to sit on the bed when there came a knock at the door.

“Prince Kurt, are you hungry? Your father, the king, wishes to know if he should send up some late supper,” came Marleys voice from the hallway.

“No, Marley. Im not hungry. I will wait for breakfast in the morning. Please let me sleep,” Kurt said through the oak door. He waited until he heard Marleys feet walk away, then turned to Blaine.

Blaine was standing right behind him, his face shocked and his mouth opened.

“Prince Kurt? Youre the Prince?” he asked, but obviously he already knew the answer.

“Yes. I have no control over it, though. I was born to it, there were no choices to be made. I understand your people do not have the same system? You elect your leaders?” Kurt asked.

“Ah...yes, that is true. One must want the job and then fight to get it. That man or woman is chief until the ften years is up, then they can step down or choose to fight again,” Blaine said, trying to simplify the government of his tribe.

“I had heard that. I wish we were like that – here the king is not chosen, he is born to the role. I am the eldest son of my father. Rachel is older, but women cannot inherit the crown. Mores the pity because Rachel would be so much better than I would at being in charge. She is fearless, more compassionate, and she wants it,” Kurt said. He was sad and his face reflected every thought that went through his mind. Blaine stepped closer and put his arms around Kurt, gathering him in closer to stem the tide of tears.

“I hate it, you know. I hate the idea of being king, Im not worthy by any stretch of the imagination. I wish I could change it.”

“Why cant you? Does your father rule? I would think he could make a royal decree to make females eligible to inherit of he wanted to,” Blaine reasoned.

“Rachel and I have thought of that, but we havent told our father yet. Maybe its time we did that...” Kurt thought aloud.

There was the noise of a key in the door and Blaines arms went around Kurts waist, pulling him close to his lovers body while at the same time, Blaine stepped so he was shielding the Prince.

The door swung open and there stood Puck, his face ashen.

“Prince Kurt, someone has stolen Princess Rachel.”