Silence persisted in the room as Kurt's wide eyes darted from Rachel to Quinn to the various furnishings of the high-ceilinged room.  He caught sight of two birds landing on the windowsill, twittering happily.  Kurt started when Cooper yipped and jumped off the bed, trotting toward the noise.  Kurt was about to call the dog back, but Rachel stayed him with a gentle hand on his forearm.  Rachel turned her head to watch and Kurt followed her lead.

The birds fluttered to the edge of the sill as the puppy approached.  Cooper tilted his head, whined at the small birds, and laid his muzzle on the sill.  The birds chattered briefly, then proceeded to hop across the stone, along the dog's nose, and over his head until they were perched atop the arch in Cooper's back.  Cooper returned to the bed, his tail wagging and tongue happily lulling out the side of his mouth as the birds alternately chirped and plucked at Cooper's fur.

Kurt laughed in disbelief, reaching down to pet Cooper's head.

"Kurt?"

Kurt shifted quickly, leaning an elbow on the pillows, which he noted were not as soft as his own, to see Blaine sleep-blurred eyes open.  He smiled as Blaine tilted his head to look adoringly up at him.

"Morning," Kurt said softly, smirking.

"What?" Blaine mumbled, blinking slowly.

Kurt reached over to pick up the still sleeping child, the baby fussing at the disruption but settling quickly into his arms.

"You might want to look around."

Blaine gave him a curious look before leaning up on his elbows.

"Rachel!  Quinn!" he exclaimed with a wide smile.  The women smiled broadly at him, though Quinn's was a touch reserved.

Cooper came around the bed, nudging Blaine's hand and gaining the man's attention.  He yipped and turned, showing off his new friends.

"Coop?"

Kurt looked on amusedly as Blaine's brow furrowed in confusion, and his gaze travelled up and around the room.  Realization flooded his expression and he scrambled out of bed, eyes darting around the spacious room.

Cooper climbed up on the bed, causing his passengers to twitter unhappily, but as soon as he sat down in the recently vacated warmth, the birds calmed.

"Are we--?" Blaine asked hesitantly.

"Yes," Quinn answered easily.

"And this is--?"

"Yes, this was your mother's room," Quinn answered again, smiling gently.

"What happened?"

"We summoned Weylan back," Rachel supplied, waving a hand at the infant in Kurt's arms.  "It was a pleasant surprise when we got all of you."

"And a potential problem," Quinn added ruefully.  Rachel shot her a glare.

"We can deal with that later," Rachel dismissed before Kurt could ask.

"Weylan," Blaine breathed out, looking awestruck at the baby.  He sat down close to Kurt and touched the infant's head reverently.

"What is it?" Kurt asked fearfully, his arms tensing around the baby.

"It's not bad," Rachel said, soothing a hand against his knee.

"Has he been much trouble?" Quinn asked.

"You mean the 3-hour crying jag he had when you sent him to us?" Kurt retorted.  Rachel's rueful expression had him softening his voice.  "Carole says he's been good."

"Carole saw him?" Rachel inquired, surprised.

"No, we've just been on the phone quite a bit," Blaine answered humorously.

"We're sorry we had to leave him with you on so little notice," Quinn said gently.

Kurt glanced at Blaine, saw the contented expression on the other man's face.

"We don't mind," Kurt said softly, looking down at the slumbering infant.  He adjusted his arms and tucked the blanket more securely around the baby.  Blaine propped his chin on Kurt's shoulder.  Neither man noticed the look exchanged by the women.

"Why don't we take him off your hands for a bit?" Quinn asked after a beat, coming around the bed and stretching tentative hands out.  Kurt looked up, hesitation written all over his expression.  "He'll be okay," she assured.

"You can have a tour of the place," Rachel encouraged.  Blaine rubbed Kurt's arm, easing the sudden tension there.  Kurt stood and handed off the baby.  Quinn leaned in and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you for taking care of him."

Quinn turned, exchanging another look with Rachel before heading out of the room, letting the door close quietly behind her.

"Well, what do you want to see first?" Rachel asked, her smile bright.  "Why don't we start with the grounds?" she suggested when Kurt did not answer.

Kurt looked back at Blaine, who was nearly bouncing with excitement.  Kurt quirked an eyebrow, but huffed out a laugh at the other man's elated expression.  Rachel giggled and curled her hands around their forearms, pulling them toward the door.

"Wait, I'm in my pajamas," Kurt said, stopping abruptly.  "And I don't have any shoes."

"It's fine," Rachel waved off.

"But I--," Kurt swallowed, feeling uncertain all of a sudden.

"Kurt?"

Kurt looked between Rachel and Blaine, their expressions kind.

"You look beautiful," he answered, lifting a hand to brush along her long dark brown hair, shining in the light with not a single strand out of place, and down the deep red brocade fabric of her dress.  He fingered the sash and the trailing ribbons, seemingly floating atop the swell of the dress.  Kurt's eyes returned to Rachel's face, smooth and even-toned, the blush high on her cheeks and red of her lips looking natural and perfect.  Even the just slightly gray streak at her temple gave her a grace beyond what she had possessed in New York.

"I'm getting old," Rachel retorted with a scrunch of her nose, though her smile expressed her gratitude for the compliment.

"Oh, please.  We're not even in our thirties yet," Kurt countered with a roll of his eyes.

"I'm twelve years older now."

"Oh, right," Kurt said somberly.  "Time difference.  That's going to take a while to get used to."

"It works out," Rachel said with a shrug.  "People live longer here."

"How much longer?"

Rachel glanced at Blaine, who answered, "The oldest person I knew of was almost 400 years old."

"Basile is 407 now," Rachel added.

"Wow," Kurt breathed out.  Blaine and Rachel shared a grin.

"Now come on, there's so much to see."

"But--."

"You're going to be fine," Blaine encouraged, his smile endearing.  Kurt relented and the threesome continued on their way.

"Come along, Cooper," Rachel tossed over her shoulder.  The dog yipped and barked, slipping smoothly off the bed so as not to jostle the birds too much.  "Yes, you can bring your new friends."

"Rachel?" Kurt asked curiously.

"Oh, turns out quite a few people can talk to animals here."

Kurt saw the flash of sadness in hazel eyes before Blaine looked down and patted Cooper's head affectionately.

"Did it happen right away?"

"God, no.  It took weeks.  And it was so confusing at first that I didn't even realize it was happening."

Kurt cast a sympathetic look at Blaine as they passed through the door and into a large hallway.  Blaine returned a bracing smile and kissed Rachel's cheek, eliciting a giggle from the woman.

The rough stone walls continued outside the room, as did the tall windows.  The floor, smooth like in the bedroom, held an alternating pattern of blue and red squares.  Kurt squinted out the windows, catching glimpses of countryside bathed in sunlight.

Kurt stared up at the ceiling, letting Rachel guide him.  Colors flowed together in a mosaic of images and patterns.  The tapestries hanging high on the walls depicted variations on the coat of arms Kurt was familiar with, men and women in elaborate outfits, and idyllic scenes of castles and countryside.

Rachel led them down the long corridor, stepping delicately around a pile of rubble before descending a spiral flight of stairs.

"Rachel?" Blaine asked tentatively, lagging behind to examine the damage to the wall.  Rachel turned on the step, flashing a too-bright smile.

"Just a little accident.  We'll be fixing it soon."

"Did this happen when you sent Weylan to us?  Was it Sebastian?" Blaine persisted.

"Yes," Rachel answered after a beat.  "There's been a lot of damage," she admitted sadly.  "And we've not had the time to get to everything."

"Show me."

Blaine and Rachel looked at each other for a moment before Rachel nodded.

"We were lucky," Rachel said as they reached the bottom of the stairs and a less ornate hallway.  "Most of the damage occurred on the exterior, on the east side."

Rachel pulled a wooden door open and they stepped out into the courtyard.  The sun was warm, the sky a clear blue, and a gentle breeze fanned across Kurt's skin.  Kurt looked down, surprised to find dirt and straw, and no discomfort from trodding barefoot.  Cooper trotted off, tail wagging.

"Did Sebastian breach the front gate?  And the battlements?"

Blaine's question pulled Kurt's attention and he was surprised to see Blaine's expression, serious and focused as his eyes trailed over the walls.  Kurt followed his gaze, noticing a crumbling tower.

"Yes."

"How did he get past the guard?"

"He cast a spell--a fog so thick neither sight nor sound could penetrate," Rachel replied, her voice somber.

"His magic has grown."

Rachel nodded gravely.  Kurt caught Blaine's worried eyes and he slipped his hand into Blaine's, squeezing tight.  They followed Rachel across the courtyard and through an arch, the large, sturdy wood and metal doors opened wide.

Down several steps and onto soft, cool grass, the trio came to a halt.  Rachel turned back to the castle, gesturing limply with a rueful expression on her face.

The stone making up the front gate had deep gouges and cracks.  The wall was similarly damaged, dark blast marks bruising the otherwise light gray stone.  Just above the wall, Kurt could make out tops of the turrets of the castle itself, looking intact.  But the two parapets connected to the front wall had taken much destruction.  The damaged one Kurt had seen from inside had suffered even more from this angle.  The entire front was no longer, broken stone bricks piled below it.  Only partially crumbling, the other one did not fair quite as badly; but dark stains marred its surface.  Men worked atop the wall nearby, hoisting stone up by pulley, and the sounds of tools echoed down to them.

"Most of the Queensmen are away, so repairs have been slow," Rachel explained as they continued to survey the damage.

"What happened?' Kurt breathed out.

"Let's save that story for later, okay?  Quinn will want to be around when we tell you."
 
"Rachel--," Blaine protested, but Rachel placed a hand on his arm.

"I promise to explain everything soon, and we have time.  But you're back, and Kurt's here."

Blaine relented after a moment, bringing his hand up to squeeze her arm.

"I have to go take care of some things.  You'll be okay on your own?"

Kurt tightened his hold on Blaine's hand.

"As long as the stables are in the same place," Blaine teased.

"They are," Rachel said indulgently.  "We're having dinner in the Grand Hall tonight.  For Weylan's return.  And now for you.  Everyone will want to see you, I'm sure."

"We'll be back," Blaine assured, tugging on Kurt's hand and heading back up the stairs.  Rachel accompanied them.

Before they got halfway up, Kurt asked, "When's dinner?"

"When we get hungry," Blaine supplied, eliciting a confused look from Kurt.

"And when is that?"

"You'll know, or at least Blaine will," Rachel replied cryptically, smirking.  Kurt's confusion only grew and he glared at Blaine when he chuckled.

"Come on," Blaine said as he leaned close, smirking, and steered Kurt away from where they had entered the courtyard.  With a parting wave and smile, Rachel strode off in the other direction.

"Are we really going to the stables?" Kurt asked worriedly as Blaine led him through a low arch and down a small alley.

"Yes."

"You take me to the most romantic places," Kurt joked lamely.

Blaine stopped, turning toward Kurt, his eyes bright in the dim light.  Kurt blinked, but could not look away from Blaine's eyes, so familiar yet not exactly like the ones he had grown used to these last couple of weeks.

"I want to take you everywhere," Blaine said quietly, sincerely.  "Show you everything.  I can't do that at home."

"I know," Kurt assured kindly, lifting his hand to cup Blaine's jaw.  "I want to go everywhere with you too."

Kurt kissed Blaine then, stomach tightening as Blaine's arms wound around him and pulled their bodies close.  Lips slid against each other as Kurt tilted his head, reveling in the soft sigh coming from the other man.  Though the kiss was relatively chaste, they pulled away breathless.

"But the stables?" Kurt asked with a scrunch of his nose when he opened his eyes.  Blaine chuckled, kissing Kurt again lightly.

"I want to see if an old friend is still there.  And that is where our adventure will begin."  Blaine smirked, his eyes twinkling with excitement.

"Adventure, huh?"  Kurt leaned back in until his lips were ghosting against Blaine's.  "I'm pretty sure it's already started."

Kurt's lips against his silenced Blaine's laughter.  The kiss deepened quickly this time, lips parting in tandem and tongues sliding against each other.  Kurt wrapped his arms around Blaine's shoulders, pressing even closer and unsteadying them so that they stumbled against the stone wall.

Birds twittered and cooed, creating a quiet, soothing melody.  Blaine's fingers slid through Kurt's hair at his nape, warmly massaging his scalp in time to the enchanting song.  Kurt hummed his approval, feeling the heat traveling down his spine.  The melody settled into his brain and heart as their tongues danced languidly.  The warmth settled in his chest and lower, flickering in rhythm.

It took Kurt a moment to realize that it was quiet again, and another to realize that Blaine was no longer kissing him.  He tilted his forehead against Blaine's, feeling lightheaded.  His heart fluttered back into an even beat, and an overwhelming calm and contentedness clouded his brain.

"Oh my," Kurt breathed out.

Blaine's soft laugh had Kurt tilting his head back and blinking his eyes open to meet Blaine's amused ones, still dark with lust and a little dazed.

"That's usually my line."

"What was that?" Kurt asked, forcing his brain back into focus.

"I don't know," Blaine answered honestly, untangling his fingers from Kurt's hair and leaning his head against the wall.  "But it was wonderful."

Blaine's dopey smile was contagious, and Kurt found himself laughing breathily in agreement.

"Oh," Blaine abruptly said, lifting his hand back to Kurt's shoulder.  Kurt followed the motion, seeing a flash of yellow before he jumped in surprise.  Blaine tightened his arm around his waist, not letting Kurt move further away.  "It's okay."

Kurt settled in the comfort of Blaine's arm, craning his neck away from his shoulder and eyeing the now twittering creature.  Blaine returned his hand to Kurt's shoulder, and the recent arrival hopped onto Blaine's outstretched finger.

"We haven't properly met," Blaine prefaced, bringing the small bird to eye level.  "I am Blaine, and this is Kurt."

The bird chirped, turning around.  To Kurt's continued surprise, another small bird landed on Blaine's finger.  Both birds began twittering excitedly.

"Oh, you're Cooper's new friends," Blaine said with a knowing nod.  "Yes, I am Prince Blaine," Blaine continued with a laugh.

"Blaine?" Kurt interrupted, eyebrow raised and smirk forming.  Blaine's eyes flickered to his then back to the tiny birds before widening.

"I can understand them," Blaine said, awestruck.  A smile appeared, slowly growing.  Suddenly, he launched himself at Kurt, hugging him tight.  "I can understand them!" he repeated happily.

The creatures fluttered away from the sudden movement, chirping agitatedly.  Blaine pulled away from Kurt just as suddenly.

"Oh, I am so sorry!"

The birds swooped closer, twittering as they beat their tiny wings.  Blaine listened raptly, laughing joyfully when they flew in a circle around his and Kurt's heads and departed.

"Thank you!" Blaine called after them before wrapping his arms back around Kurt, tucking his face in the crook of Kurt's neck, and sighing blissfully.  Kurt ran his hands over Blaine's shoulders and pressed a kiss to Blaine's hair.

"I am so happy for you."

Blaine lifted his head, expression so genuinely delighted that Kurt's heart picked up speed.

"What did they say, at the end?"

If it was possible, Blaine's smile grew.

"They promised to come back with more friends next time we kissed."

"Oh, God," Kurt said, mortified.  "I thought I was imagining the birds."

Blaine's laugh rang out as he tugged Kurt back on their way.

.....

"Hello, Devlin," Blaine greeted, rapping his knuckles on the low wooden gate of the stall.

The horse, hair a luminous pearl white, tossed his head and snorted, flicking his tail.

"It has been a long time, but I'm here now."

Devlin pawed at the ground with his front leg and gave a neigh and another snort.  Blaine chuckled and unlatched the gate, letting it swing open.  Devlin trotted out with his head high, passing Blaine and Kurt without a look.

"Are you really going to stay mad at me?" Blaine asked lightly, coming alongside the horse and tugging gently on his mane.  Blaine scratched at his neck, but the horse still did not turn his way.  Blaine pushed up on the balls of his feet to scratch between Devlin's ears.

Devlin's ears dropped and he nickered.  When Blaine scrubbed his hand down over the horse's forehead, Devlin dropped his head and flicked it toward Blaine, knocking him a bit off balance.  Blaine laughed, turning to face the horse and scratching his muzzle with both hands.

"I'm glad to see you," he said with a wide smile.

Devlin nickered again, bumping his nose under Blaine's chin and causing the man to laugh happily.

"I have someone I want you to meet."

Devlin tilted his head toward Kurt, snorted, and tossed his head.  Blaine gave the horse a stern look before turning toward Kurt.

"It's okay, he won't bite."

"I beg to differ," Kurt murmured, eyeing man and horse warily.  He had kept his distance during Blaine's exchange with the horse, and was reluctant to approach.

Blaine stretched out a hand, wiggling his fingers and smiling encouragingly.  Kurt took a deep breath and closed the distance, his hand clasped tightly around Blaine's.

"Devlin, this is Kurt.  Kurt, Devlin."

The horse pawed at the ground and snorted again.  Kurt leaned back, still wary.  Blaine patted down the horse's forehead.

"He won't hurt you."

"So you say," Kurt countered.  Devlin snorted again and lifted his nose.  "He has other ideas."

"He's all bluster," Blaine explained.  "Always wanted to run away when we were slaying trolls," he teased, patting Devlin's shoulder.

Devlin snorted and whinnied, shaking his head.  Blaine shook his head and Kurt laughed nervously.

"You ran from a rabbit?" Kurt asked incredulously, causing Blaine's eyes to dart back to his face and Devlin's head to tilt toward him, ears up.  "What?" Kurt asked, tension returning.

"I was only eight," Blaine explained slowly.

"Okay," Kurt said just as slowly, comprehension eluding him.

Devlin snorted, nudging Kurt's cheek with his nose.  Kurt turned a glare on the horse.

"I am not slow," he argued.  He rubbed his hand against his now damp cheek.  "And who taught you manners?"

Devlin whinnied and tossed his head, and snorted right in Kurt's face.  Kurt leaned back, scrunching his nose in distaste.

"Right, barn.  You're so clever."  Kurt continued to glare at the horse.  Devlin nickered.

"Kurt," Blaine prodded.  His tug on Kurt's hand finally drew his attention.  The smirk on Blaine's face only increased Kurt's annoyance.

"Oh, God.  You really do have a sassy horse."

Amused, though slightly confused, Blaine chuckled.

"And?" Blaine prodded again a moment later.

"And--," Kurt repeated, perplexed.  Blaine looked on excitedly, his fingers squeezing Kurt's every few seconds.  Kurt's brain finally caught up with the situation.  His jaw slackened and his eyes widened.  "And I can understand him."

Blaine's smile grew and he leaned in for a quick kiss.

"But it took Rachel weeks," Kurt said, still baffled by the turn of events.

"Seems Daltasia suits you."

Kurt smiled dazedly.

Devlin let out a series of nickers and a snort.  Kurt looked at the horse sternly, smile disappearing as quickly as it had come.

"Dev, be nice," Blaine chastised with a laugh before Kurt could say anything.  He leaned in to scratch at the horse's forehead again.  "He's my Undine," Blaine said softly.

Devlin's entire demeanor shifted--his ears settled and his head angled down, closer to Kurt as if to better assess him.  He nickered softly.  Kurt's expression eased.

"I love him with all my heart," Kurt answered sincerely.

Devlin nickered one more time, then bumped his nose under Kurt's chin, just as he had done with Blaine.  Kurt huffed a laugh of disbelief and with only a brief hesitation, lifted his fingers to scratch at the horse's muzzle.

"So, what do you say, Dev?  Up for a ride?"