Blaine wrenched his eyes open but saw nothing but the blurred shapes of faces hovering above him. He could hear them all calling his name but the sound was muffled. He clenched his eyes shut again; staying close to the cold and solid ground beneath him as the noise became clearer, drowning out the echoes of Maeves singing. Breathing was easy now, the smoke had lifted with her departure and when he opened his eyes the hall was how it once was, filled with warmth and light, but he didnt feel it. As he tried to sit up all he felt was darkness, he knew better than to ignore the Morrigans warning. Without warning he had a lapful of Kurt, holding on to him tightly and studying him for any signs of damage. "Blaine! Youre alright!" He said breathlessly, worried blue eyes never leaving him for a second. Blaine smiled a little. "Im fine." He said distractedly, nudging him to stand and following him shakily to his feet.

Malik and Gaël didnt speak but Blaine knew what they were dying to ask. "Maeve delivered a prophecy. ‘There will be war. There is discord in the North. Past battles will be renewed the result of a brothers betrayal. And all shall burn." He relayed, leaving out the parts about himself, how she had called him weak. Malik looked solemn, his eyes lowered to the ground.

"I did not expect to see another war in this lifetime, at least not like the last."

"A war?" Kurt interrupted, panicked "But you said it was a prophecy. Prophecies can change right?" He clutched at Blaines hand desperately, unwilling to believe that not only the lives of his people were at stake, but those of everyone hed met. "Yes but-" Malik began.

"Maeve is a seer; shes delivered a prophecy like this before, about the last war." Blaine finished and sighed frustrated, it was a long story.

"I know its hard to wrap your head around," he continued "seeing as mortals werent really involved and you knew nothing of our existence. There was a war between dragon kind and the fae of the north, known as the warlocks. I was born into it; its how Cooper and I lost our family and clan." His head was pounding and he rubbed his temples in an attempt to alleviate the pressure there. He knew Kurt would have a multitude of questions but answering them was not his main priority. He needed to get Kurt back to his people, they still needed his help and if there was to be another war his village would be the safest place for him. Once there he would try his best to convince him to stay.

Kurt stayed mostly silent. A war. An entire war had raged and Kurt hadnt known anything. The sheer magnitude of his past ignorance was overwhelming. Yes he was only a child then, the same as Blaine was but still. He lived a childhood that was safe and warm and free from strife. Blaine was raised during a war, in danger and in fear. Blaine had lost almost everything he had known by the time he was eight, left with nothing but his brother and grief until Cerridwen and Aine found them. He was hit with the realisation that he had barely scratched the surface, that this new world he was a part of also had a history, had scars that he knew nothing about. How could he be one of them when his whole life had been lived in blissful ignorance?

He just stood, watching as Malik gave orders to his attendants and Blaine spoke animatedly with Gaël in words he couldnt understand. He hated that there was so much that he didnt know or understand and he hated that he might never know everything. The world almost seemed to spin as the hall filled with people, the hustle and bustle fading to a din as Blaine approached him. "Are you okay?" He said gently, eyes tired and worried as he gently took his hand. "I umm-" Kurt started, unsure of how to answer "this is really bad isnt it?" He asked instead and Blaine nodded

"Potentially. We have time on our side. Theres a possibility things will change, that any disturbance in the north can be handled peacefully. Theres hope." Kurt nodded and just looked at Blaine for a long moment. His clothes were still in disarray, his face drawn and pale but his eyes still blazed with determination, with passion and hope. There was fear there too; anxiety and sadness but Elders Cerridwen and Aine had taught him well, Aine had assured him of it. If there was anyone who could stop what Maeve had said was coming, he knew it would be his Blaine.

He held Blaines face in his hands and kissed him, slow and sweet and aching. He heard Gaëls victorious whoop but ignored it, mind focused on Blaine and the flood of emotion he felt boiling over inside him. When he pulled away Blaine managed a small smile before burying his face in his neck, breathing him in and clutching his waist in the process. He hated how everything between them had only just begun yet the world was already conspiring to pull them apart. He held on a little tighter until a hesitant cough sounded from behind them.

"Blaine I think-"

"I know." Blaine said, extricating himself from Kurt and wrapping an arm around his waist. "If you would-"

"Your belongings and some supplies are ready when you are." Malik said smiling slightly.

"Thank you so much your-"

"Please Taliesin," he interrupted "call me Malik. We wont be needing titles if we are to work and fight alongside each other." He bowed and Blaine hesitantly bowed back, bewildered by the gesture. "Okay um, can someone take me to see the younglings?" Blaines voice wavered.

"Of course."

.oO0Oo.

Both Kurt and Blaine were shaking and crying silently by the time they opened the door to Skylars bedroom where she was hosting a sleepover for the younger members of court. The entire populace of the room froze in a tableau of mischief when Kurt and Blaine entered the room, noticing Tim and Magnus at the centre of it all pillow fighting, again. Feathers, drifted slowly to the ground and within an instant Kurt and Blaine followed them, falling to their knees as Tim and Magnus ran to them, their endless barrage of questions rushing from them before they even reached them.

"Why are you crying?"

"Are we in trouble for the pillow fighting?"

"Why are you holding hands? Are you married now?"

"Because we are and no we arent." Kurt answered bemused electing to ignore their first question altogether. "Of course they arent silly." Tim said haughtily "There has to be a party and they have to wear dresses."

"Yeah but theyre boys. Boys cant wear dresses."

"Can too! Skylar wears dresses!"

"But Skylar is a girl remember!"

"Oh yeah well Malik wears dresses!"

The twins continued to yell at each other, their little tails twitching as smoke began to unfurl from their nostrils. "Okay okay break it up!" Blaine said, separating the two and holding them close, fearing another incident like the one that occurred at the vineyard. "We arent married but we will have a party if we ever decide to and we may or may not wear dresses we havent decided yet." Blaine smiled and glanced over to Kurt as if to see if what he said was okay. Kurt nodded and moved closer, wrapping his arms around Blaine and the twins. "But really," Blaine added, "we came to say goodbye."

"WHAT?!" The twins yelled in unison, the sound causing the other childrens heads to turn their way. "Dont act so surprised we told you youd be staying here with Gaël while we go to Kurts village." Blaine said sternly, fighting back tears. He hated arguing with them, hated that he had to leave them in someone elses care to make sure they were safe.

"Youre going now?" Tim said sadly and Blaine nodded.

"Were leaving just before dawn. Gaël will look after you and take you home. Well see you again very soon." Kurt added. Tim nodded resolutely despite his sniffling.

"Okay." He said "Well be okay, wont we Magnus." Magnus nodded too and they hugged Blaine and Kurt very tightly in turn before they all got to their feet. "I love you so much." Blaine said, voice choked and cracking. He clutched Kurts hand in his as he echoed the sentiment and didnt let go until they exited the courtyard, backpacks and hearts a heavy burden.