Kurts mouth opened, but no sound came forth. He was instantly terrified. Rachel was not only his sister and his best friend, but also the person he had clung to when his own mother had died. He loved her beyond measure and now she was gone, probably stolen by Prince Brody. Then Kurt realized that it was because he was running to the Forbidden Forest and Puck had to come after him. If Puck had been allowed to do his assigned job of guarding Rachel, she would probably be asleep in her bedchamber right now.

Kurt looked up as his father entered the chamber. The Prince didnt even think of how it looked – Blaines arm around him in protection, his own arms gripping the man so tightly his fingers were white. King Burtram blinked once, but gave no indication he noticed anything.

“Kurt, your sister is missing from her chamber and Puck found Quinn tied to a chair, her mouth filled with a rag to keep her from alerting anyone. From her description we suspect one of the suitors from the Festival last night,” the King started.

“Prince Brody,” Kurt said. Blaine turned to look at Kurt, concern in his eyes.

“Did he come to court your sister yesterday? Perhaps claiming he was from Florinda?” Blaine asked.

“Yes, and he pestered her all evening, threatening to steal her away and get her pregnant so she would have to marry him,” King Burtram said. He was studying Blaine, realizing this was the man his son was in love with. “Are you familiar with the royalty of Florinda?”

“Sir, there is no Florinda. Brody is an impostor. He has tried this before and last time was chained in the castle dungeon for six months. He was released, but apparently has set his eyes on a higher goal,” Blaine suggested. “Your daughter is in real trouble, The last girl he stole – the daughter of the Duke of Arfling – was driven to take her own life. We need to move quickly.”

King Burtram saw the sense in this and also saw that Blaine would be their best chance in regaining Rachel before something dreadful happened to her.

“I need a strong mount and a few men in case there is a struggle. I dont have time to go back home for my own horse...” Blaine started to say. He put his arms around Kurt and gathered him close in a hug before turning back to the king.

“Puck, get this man all he needs and go with him,” King Burtram said, recognizing that Blaine was familiar with the surrounding lands and could better find his beloved daughter.

“Kurt? Can you come with me?” Blaine asked the Prince and they were away to the stable before the King could forbid it.

Kurt, mounted on Navigator, kept up with Blaine and Puck as they galloped through the forest. Blaine knew all of the paths to take and was riding headlong into places that terrified Puck and Kurt – but they trusted him and followed along.

In front of the horses ran the she-wolf. Santana knew the scent of the outlaw, having run across him several times in the past. Brody and Blaine had grown up in the same village and had never gotten along. Blaine was part of the group of men that had run Brody to the ground last time.

Kurt was terrified. He didnt want Rachel to be harmed and he knew how stubborn she could be. Absolutely fierce. If Brody tried to rape her, she would never give in and Kurt was afraid she would trade her life for her virtue. He pressed Navigator forward, kicking the horse in the flank to encourage him to run faster as he fell behind.

It was almost an hour before Blaine slowed down, motioning with his hand for the men to be quiet. They were near Brodys hideout and Blaine didnt want him to be warned. He dismounted and wrapped a rag around his horses bit so it didnt jangle in the quiet forest.

Kurt, stepping up close to Blaine, could hear Santana growl under her breath.

“Quiet, San,” Blaine whispered. He took Kurts hand and squeezed, sparing a smile for the prince. He wanted to show Kurt that he could save the day and rescue Princess Rachel before any harm befell her.

Blaine walked towards the entrance to the small house made of wattle and daub. There were no windows and only the one door, so the fighting men along with Puck and Kurt set themselves up around the entrance to keep Brody from escaping. Blaine took his dagger from his belt, knowing it to be the best weapon in crowded circumstances. He glanced to his side to see Kurt holding a sai in each hand.

Blaine came up to the door and pushed it in, opening the one room hut for him to see inside. There, on the packed dirt floor, was a body – tied up and bleeding, the blood soaking into the dirt floor.

“Rachel?” Kurt asked, looking over Blaines shoulder and into the small space in the shack.

“No, thats Brody,” said Blaine, walking up to the man. He was tied with his hands behind him, tied to his ankles. There was a rag stuffed into his mouth and his left eye was swollen and purple.

Blaine knelt down and removed the rag from his mouth and helped him to sit as best he could upright. Brody looked shaken and a more than a bit frightened. Kurt stepped forward, grabbing his shoulder and looking into the outlaws eyes.

“Where is my sister?” he demanded, “who stole her from you and where did they intend to take her?” Kurt shook the man when he didnt answer right away, then held one of his sai to the mans neck. “Answer carefully.”

“She is gone, but no one took her,” Brody said. “I let her go.”

“Youll forgive me if I dont believe you,” snarled Kurt and scratched along Brodys neck with the sai – making it bleed but not wound the man.

“Get up, youre coming with us until we find her,” Blaine said, cutting the rope tying his feet and leaving the one on his wrists. He dragged Brody to Pucks horse and helped get him mounted behind the bodyguard so they could continue to look for who stole Rachel.

The tracks were confusing, and Blaine scratched his head as he tried to read them. He could plainly see where Brody had dragged the princess into the hut, but there were no others to be found. The one horse that apparently brought them there last night was gone, his footprints showing he galloped away some time in the night. As Blaine circled the hut once more, he couldnt help but wonder of Brody had indeed let the princess go.

“Why? You took the time to steal her, bring her out here and hide her away – what made you let her go?” Blaine asked him, but Brody refused to talk and they had no time to waste.

Santana came running back to Blaine, whining and turning in circles before she took off down another path, Blaine in hot pursuit behind her. They lost the wolf several times, but always managed to find her again as she kept on the trail. Finally they approached a small stream and Kurt could see a horse tied to a tree branch.

They entered the grove, cautious so as to be able to assess the situation before attempting to wrest Rachel from this new band of outlaws, but there was no one in the clearing but the horse. Kurt dismounted and walked into the clearing, scanning for clues. Blaine was beside him, reaching over to touch the Princes shoulder to let him know they would continue until Rachel was found. Brody was restless on the horse behind Puck and the guard hit him with his elbow when he moved around too much.

“Im going to cut a hole in your belly and pull out your guts to feed the hogs if Princess Rachel is harmed in any way,” he said quietly to Brody and the man settled down.

Santana whined again, sniffing at the brush beside the stream. Kurt followed her over and just as he neared a large grouping of brambles Princess Rachel came out from behind them, running to Kurt and throwing her arms around her beloved brother.

“Rachel!” he shouted, hugging her close to his body and kissing her hair. “Rachel, are you okay?”

“Of course I am. I had to hide to be sure it was you coming and not another band of outlaws,” she explained. “One cannot be too careful in the forest,” she smirked.

“But...how did you get away?” he asked, looking for the band of men that had taken her from Brodys hut.

“You mean from Brody?”

“No, the men who took you away from him,” he said, looking for signs of the outlaws.

“There were no others. I got away from Brody, took his horse, and was on my way back to the castle when I heard you coming. I hid behind the brambles until I was sure it was you,” she explained patiently once more.

“How did you get away?” Kurt asked, a look of astonishment on his face.

“Ask him,” she said, giving him a glare. The man cringed and looked away.

“Well, since he wont talk – not that I blame him, its embarrasing – I will tell you. He came into my bedchamber and hid behind the bed while we were still in the hall with Father. When I went to bed, he waited until all the guards were gone or asleep and put a hand over my mouth, then gagged me and tied my hands and feet. He also tied Quinny up when she came into the chamber to check on me. He told me he had you tied up and on another horse so I wouldnt struggle. He must have guessed how much I love you, brother, and used it against me.

“When we got to his wattle-and-daub hut in the forest, I was completely lost. It took me half a night to get my bearings, but when I did I could see he wasnt the brightest star in the sky. I pretended to have fainted and when he got me untied to have his way with me, I grabbed his dagger and cut him. Then I hit him over the head with the handle of an axe I found in the corner and I tied him up and started for home. Im not harmed in any way, dear gallant Kurt. I knew you would come after me, and I couldnt have this mans murder on my hands. So I tied him up so he could feel how this was,” she smirked, aiming and missing as she launched a kick that barely missed Brodys leg.

“I believe you, Rachel. I pity any man who tries to take advantage of you,” Kurt muttered under his breath – but Blaine caught it and winked at Kurt. “Shall we get you home to father? Hes very worried about you.”

Princess Rachel got back up on Brodys horse and turned it with the reins to follow the path in front of her. Blaine rode up and spoke to her for a moment and she nodded and he slipped into the lead position to show her the fastest way back to Sunvale Castle.

The ride was short and very quiet as all of the men, and Rachel, kept their thoughts to themselves.

Coming within sight of the castle, Blaine curbed his horse to allow the royal siblings to assume the lead and walk first through the gates. King Burtram was in the courtyard and Princess Rachel rode up to him, sliding off the tall horse and handing the reins to Sam the stable boy before kneeling in front of her father. She bowed her head and was soon joined by Prince Kurt.

“Raise,” the King ordered and his children lifted their heads as Burtram came to help Rachel up and hug her close, feeling the burn of tears that started in his eyes but he never allowed to spill over.

“Father!” Rachel breathed, his own arms around her father as he held her and rocked her back and forth.

“My Rachel, what happened? How did Kurt and Blaine save you from this dastardly man?” he asked, glancing at Brody.

“He stole me from my bedclothes, barely allowing me to dress before he took me away. He took me to a small cabin and that is where I escaped,” she said as if this happened every day.

“You escaped? By yourself?” King Burtram asked and Rachel told him the details.

“I am so proud of you, my princess,” Burtram said, smiling down at his feisty daughter.

“Does that mean you think I am strong and brave enough to rule a kingdom?” she asked. The king stopped, knowing he was trapped. His daughter had a sharp mind along with her bravery and strength. He loved Kurt, but wondered if he could have done the same in the same circumstances. He turned to Kurt and Blaine beside him, observing how Blaines arm was supporting his son, how Kurts eyes never left this man in spite of being in the presence of the king.

“Daughter, I think it is at least time to talk about possible changes in the way rulers inherit the throne in Lourienn,” the king agreed. He was not so blind as to see that Rachel would make a good leader, a brave and resourceful person that also had a kind heart. He could see that Kurt would never be the same on the throne, he resented it too much, this not being in charge of his own life. The gears were turning in Burtrams head and he made a decision. He had a lot of negotiations and meetings before he could go ahead and just decree a new law, but he could start the ball rolling.

At supper that night, Prince Kurt sat beside his lover, Blaine, who was an honored guest because of his bravery in heading the group to save Princess Rachel. Kurt was beaming, so happy that his father was allowing this. He could not keep his eyes off of Blaine all through the meal. It made Burtrams heart beat just a little harder, knowing his son was in love with a very brave and handsome man. He was also so proud of Rachel as she neared womanhood and displayed so many virtues – her ability to command in a situation where calm heads are recognized and followed, her concern for others including her brother, and the compassion and strength a real leader must posses.

The King had given a lot of thought to the case his children brought up – could he or should he change the laws of inheritance in his kingdom? Should women be allowed to become leader if there are no reasons not to? It was something hed given a bit of thought to over the years, but this incident with Rachel may have triggered a whole new way to make the leadership of the House of Lourienn viable and still earn enough money to keep it going into the next generation. He wondered if the forced law change would alienate him from his people. There were right and wrong things in both sides of the argument, and Burtram wondered what the long term dangers of it were.

He worked it all out with Puck and a few of the others – they would escort the royal family to their seats as soon as the King made his speech. Burtram got excited and made his way out to the center of the great dining hall to make an announcement.

“My fellow Lourienns, There is a new law in our kingdom as of tomorrow morning as the sun rises. Tonight I am happy to reveal it to one and all, to be taken as the law of the kingdom of Lourienn now and into perpetuity. . . “