"I hate you!" The twins screamed in unison and Kurts heart broke at the look of utter despair on Blaines face as he ran from the supplies he was double checking back to the twins who were wailing terribly in Mya and Leos arms. He knelt down and clutched them to him, muttering words that Kurt couldnt understand. They took a step back hastily wiping their eyes and holding hands. "Well miss you." Tim said shyly and he glanced at Kurt over Blaines shoulder as if including him in the statement. "Ill miss you too." Blaine said, his voice choked. "I love you." He added and kissed their foreheads again before returning to the mouth of the cavern and shouldered their supplies.

Tears were welling in Blaines eyes as he addressed Elder Cerridwen. She wished them luck as Elder Aine hugged them tight. The light was weak, as they were leaving well before dawn to avoid the unnecessary fuss and chaos of the whole tribe witnessing their departure. Some of the older dragons had grumbled under their breath as the news spread, the young son leaving and abandoning his tribe for a stranger. The majority, however, thought it was honourable that Blaine was willing to help others, to restore balance and ensure harmony between all the peoples in the western lands.

Blaine had no doubts about whether he was doing the right thing. It pained him to leave the twins but he knew they were in safe hands. Kurt and his village had become Blaines responsibility and he was a man of his word, he would do his best to help them. Blaine took a deep breath as they stepped beyond the vines and into the dull grey of predawn. "Im sorry." Kurt muttered, eyes trained on the ground as they trekked into the forest without looking back. "Dont apologise. You need my help and I choose to oblige. Besides, old friends get priority." Blaine grinned and Kurts shoulders fell, feeling a little lighter.

They continued on in silence and the weak light of early morning strengthened and struggled its way between the canopy above them. They had been walking all day and were considering stopping for the night when Blaine came to a halt at a clearing and a stormy expression swamped his features, his eyes fixed on an ominously smoking bush. Kurt watched on as Blaine strode towards it and reached into the branches. Kurts laugh was loud and bright as Blaine returned with the twins each held dangling by their tails. "I cannot believe this." Blaines anger seemed to wane at the sound of Kurts raucous laughter. "Kurt stop I have to sound authoritative." Blaine was desperately fighting against giggles as he dropped the twins unceremoniously to the ground.

If dragons could look sheepish then Tim and Magnus certainly did. After Blaine had dropped them they almost cowered on the floor waiting for reprimand except for once it never came. Blaine placed the supplies hed been carrying by a tree and walked back to them, falling to his knees and gathering them in his arms. "I guess yelling at you makes you even less likely to listen to me." Blaine muttered as the two dragons in his arms nudged their snouts against his chin. Guilt settled heavily in his stomach, he knew he was not the disciplinarian his father had been; he had tried to be firm but fair. Magnus gave a soft whine and Kurt lowered himself beside them placing a soft hand on Blaines bicep. Instantly the twins bounded toward him still unsteady on their feet. "Blaine just wants you to be safe," Kurt said "you want adventure and fun but there are dangers that you are too young to understand fully. Thats why, when you are forbidden to do something, Blaine gets angry when you disobey. He gets angry because hes scared youll get hurt. He loves you very much and would be very upset if anything were to happen to you." Tim appeared to nod solemnly before shuffling away with his brother behind the bush in which Blaine had found them.

The glance that Blaine gave Kurt was disbelieving and questioning, as if silently wondering how Kurt possibly knew how he felt. Shrugging, Kurts eyes dropped to the ground, looking past the blades of grass beneath him. "At least," Kurt began "I think thats how my father felt when he forbade me to leave my village."

"Kurt," Blaine said breathlessly, wrapping his friend up in his arms "Im sorry."

"Dont be," Kurt sniffed, "its okay. I realise now that he was only trying to protect me. Sometimes though I think rules need to be broken. I dont have many friends where I come from but I couldnt sit around and wait for death. I had to disobey, even if it meant disappointing my father." Blaines chest ached as tears slipped down Kurts face.

"I dont think hes disappointed." He said quietly holding Kurts hand in his. "I think hes proud to have a son as brave and compassionate as you."

They were interrupted once again by the twins giggling. "Okay you two front and centre." Blaine said beaming as he pulled Kurt closer to his side. Tim and Magnus scampered out from behind the bush in their tiny human forms. "You can accompany us to the fae lands seeing as well waste too much time escorting you back to the caves." The twins grinned excitedly at one another. "But," Blaine interrupted their celebrations "You wont be coming with us to Kurts village." Kurt laughed as Blaine silenced them with a single reproachful look. "Its too dangerous to take you with us that far and we have friends in the fae lands that will watch you until we get back."

"But we wanna see where Kurt lives!" Magnus whined.

"And someday you will" Kurt added "But Blaine is right, its dangerous out here." The twins visibly deflated but nodded solemnly. Blaine stared at Kurt indignantly as if offended by how easily the twins conceded when it was Kurt speaking and not him.

.oO0Oo.

They set up camp for the night but despite the darkening of the skies the night was unusually warm which Kurt couldnt help but think was because of Blaines close proximity. Blaine had put Tim and Magnus to bed in the small tent he had bought with them originally for Kurts benefit. Being a dragon with wings like amour Blaine wasnt in need of shelter on such a clear night. The night was calm and eerily quiet, the only sound was the crackling of the fire Blaine had lit a few hours earlier. In the quiet Kurt felt his anxiety smother him. He clenched his eyes shut as panic weaved through his chest like iron chains wrapping around his ribs and pulling taught, crushing until his chest ached.

It was hard to breathe, the air rattling in his lungs, deafening and the pounding in his head making him dizzy and nauseous. He vaguely felt arms wrap around him and hold him tight, a solid warm presence against his shaking body. It was easy to lose track of time but eventually the iron grip on his chest loosened, his breath coming to him easier by the minute. "Shh its okay Ive got you." He faintly heard Blaine whisper and opening his eyes he realised he could no longer see the sky or trees; he was completely cocooned by Blaine and his wings. Moonlight filtered through the top where his wings didnt quite meet so Kurt could see the concern in Blaines eyes as he turned in his arms. "Im sorry" Kurt said quietly and Blaine shook his head. "Its okay, I was just really scared. One minute you were fine, telling me about your work and how much you enjoy making clothes and the next you fall completely silent and then can barely breathe. I didnt know what to do." The look of complete and utter helplessness on Blaines face made Kurt feel unbelievably guilty and grateful.

"Thank you, for whatever you did do." Blaine suddenly looked very embarrassed. "Well I kinda just did this." He said shrugging "My mother used to do it whenever I had a bad dream. It made me feel safe so it was the first thing I thought of." Laughing nervously Kurt felt Blaines arms tighten slightly around him. "Well that and singing." He added.

"I missed you sing?!" Kurt exclaimed, disappointed.

"Just a little lullaby" Blaine said nonchalantly and Kurt knew that if it were lighter he would most certainly see him blushing profusely. "I sing a lot Im sure there will be lots of other opportunities for you to hear me."

Kurt yawned obnoxiously, shuffling so that his head was resting against Blaines chest. "Well..." He drawled, "I am exhausted." He blinked deliberately slowly, eyelashes brushing across his flushed cheeks and Blaine sat dumbstruck, the walls his wings had made wrapping around them like a blanket. Blaine chuckled lightly, pushing the knowledge that when Kurt looked at him like that from beneath his eyelashes he might just be a slave to his every whim. "Very well" He agreed and as Kurts eyes began to drift shut, Blaine began to sing.

Golden slumbers kiss your eyes,

Smiles await you when you rise.

Sleep,

Pretty baby,

Do not cry,

And I will sing a lullaby.

Cares you know not,

Therefore sleep,

While over you a watch Ill keep.

Sleep,

Pretty darling,

Do not cry,

And I will sing a lullaby.