The first thing Kurt did when he got home was march right to his Fathers rooms, still in his peasant cloths. The picture of Blaine being dragged away by Hunter making his blood boil, if a street vender could cut off your hand for stealing then what would Hunter do to Blaine? He closed his eyes and breathed. He couldnt think about that.

He burst into his Fathers room. Burt looked up from his desk where is he writing. "Kurt!" He said and jumped up from his chair. "Youre home!" He ran to him and wrapped him in his arms "Your home and your safe." He held Kurt for a moment and Kurt melted into his fathers embrace, it had been so long since Burt had shown him this kind of affection. Burt held him out at arms length to look at him. "What are you wearing?"

Kurt ignored the question. "Oh, so you noticed I was gone did you?" He was so grateful for the hug, but he was still angry with his father.

His fathers brow furrowed, "Of course I did. I have people out looking for you! I was so worried."

Kurts angry expression softened some at his fathers words. "Dad, I need your help. William had someone arrest and I need you to free him."

Burt looked at him steadily for a moment. "If he was arrested Im sure there was a good reason."

"What? No. You dont understand-"

"Did this person break some law?" Burt asked.

"No! I mean… yes, but that isnt…" Kurt was frustrated and couldnt find the right words. "You dont know what its like out there."

Burt got that far-away look in his eyes that Kurt was beginning to recognize and hate. "Dont Dad, dont do that. Say with me, listen to me!" Kurt begged desperately.

"If William had him arrested, then you need to talk to William." Burt said monotonously not even looking at Kurt.

"Dad. I need you! Youre Sultan!"

"You need to talk to William." He repeated and turned away from Kurt.

Kurt brushed away his angry, hurt tears. "Fine!" He yelled and then left the room.

Hed go to William then. If his dad wouldnt be Sultan than Kurt would be the Prince! He stormed into Williams room without knocking.

"William!" He shouted.

William spun around from the wall he was facing and looked surprised to see Kurt, he bowed deeply holding out the cape of his robe. "Prince Kurt, what a pleasant su-"

"You had a boy arrested from the marketplace today." Kurt interrupted.

"Well yes, I did. He was a dangerous criminal."

Kurt knew that Blaine was a thief, but there was no way hed ever hurt anyone. "Dangerous? A dangerous criminal? What is his crime?"

"Why… kidnapping the Prince, of course." William answered

Kurts jaw dropped. No, no they couldnt pin that on Blaine, If they did hed… they kill him. "He didnt kidnap me!" Kurt said his heart in his throat. "I ran away."

William gasped a looked taken aback. "No! Oh my Prince. Im so sorry if only I had known!"

"What do you mean?" Kurt asked his stomach churning.

"Sadly, the boys sentence has already been carried out."

Kurt felt like he was going to be sick, he forced himself to ask, "What sentence?"

"Death." William said.

Kurt gasped.

"By beheading."

"No." Kurt said, his legs feeling weak. "No no, please no." He fell to the floor, a sob caught in his chest.

"I am exceedingly sorry, Prince."

"How could you?" Kurt whimpered and then he dragged himself off of the floor and ran from the room, not able to be near William for a moment longer. Blaine was dead. Blaine was dead? This had to be a nightmare, it couldnt be real.

He got to his room and flung himself down on his bed crying. He heard Mercedes enter and rush to him the bed dipped as she sat down next to him.

"Oh, Kurt. Whats wrong?"

"Its my fault!" Kurt sobbed into a pillow as she started rubbing his back.

"Whats your fault?" She asked kindly.

"Hes dead. Because of me." Kurt could fell his heart breaking.

Blaines wrists were sore where they were chained to the wall above his head. He sat on the cold damp floor of his cell, his threadbare pants and vest doing little to give him warmth. A musky rotting smell lingered in the place and there was a steady drip, drip, drip of dirty water in the corner.

Blaine had never been in this much trouble, never in such a tight spot that he couldnt think of a way out of it. Hunter seemed to have finally caught his rat. What would happen to him now? Blaine could hardly focus on his predicament though. All he could think of was Kurt.

"Hes the Prince?" Blaine said to himself. "I must have sounded so stupid to him! I should have never gotten involved."

But he couldnt get Kurts crystal blue eyes or beautiful smile out of his head. He was so… so bright and good and he actually saw Blaine the way no one ever did. Blaine sighed. Why out of all the boys in the world did Blaine have to fall for a Prince?

"He was in trouble though, what else could have I done?"

Blaine closed his eyes and pictured Kurt sitting next to him on the ledge, eyes sparkling and smile so sweet. Blaine leaned forward at just the memory of Kurts lips so close to his own. "He was worth it." Blaine whispered to himself.

Blaine shook himself from the memory. "Not that it matters, Ill never see him again. Im a street rat, and theres a law. Hes got to marry a prince... He deserves it."

Blaine looked around the dank cell, a rat running by his feet. He wasnt going to ever see anyone again if he didnt figure a way out of this. "Im such a fool!"

"Youre only a fool if you give up." A voice said from the darkness making Blaine jump. An old wrinkled man hobbled out of the corner. He had a long scraggily beard and his face was grey and covered with liver spots, he hunched over a wooden cane and his clothes were tattered and hung to the ground.

"Who are you?" Blaine asked as he watched the old man slowly make his way towards him. The man stopped next to him and pulled something small and thin out of his robe, he started picking Blaines locks with it, releasing his hands.

"Just a lowly prisoner like yourself." The man said smiling and showing his yellow teeth. "But together we could be more!"

Blaine rubbed his sore wrist as he warily watched the old man. "Im listening."

"There is a cave, boy. A cave of wonders." The man said with a gleam in his eyes. "Filled with treasures beyond your wildest dreams. Treasure enough to impress even your Prince, Id wager."

"Everyone knows the law, he can only be with another Prince." Blaine said his chest aching at the thought.

The old man laughed, "Havent you ever heard of the golden rule? Whoever has the gold makes the rules!"

"So why would you share all of this wonderful treasure with me?"

"I need a young man with strong legs and a strong back to go in after it." He said tapping his cane against Blaines legs and back in turn.

Blaine was starting to get excited, but he made himself slow down. Things that seemed too good to be true usually were. "Uh, one problem." He said. "Its out there, were in here?"
"Ive been waiting for someone just like you." The old man said as he walked to a wall and pushed open a hidden exit. "Things arent always what they seem. So, do we have a deal?"

Something was off about this, Blaine knew it, but if there was any hope that he could have even a chance with Kurt, hed take it.

"Deal." Blaine said and held out his hand. The old man cackled and shook his hand, and then they both slipped out of the cell on towards freedom.

Once Blaine found himself in the dessert with the old man he knew that either the man was a crazy old loon, or hed gotten himself mixed up in something much bigger than hed expected. The man pulled two golden pieces of a carved beetle out of his robe and slotted them together. The beetle seemingly came to life, buzzing through the air and landing in the sand.

Blaine gulped, magic was involved here. The earth started to shake and shutter and this with a clap that spilt through the air the sand began to rise, swirling and moving and shaping itself. Within moments Blaine and the old man stood in the shadow of a huge lion head made of sand, with red glowing eyes.

Then the lion spoke with a deep thundering voice, "Who disturbs my slumber?"

Blaine looked at the old man and then swallowed his fear and stepped forward. "It is I, Blaine."

That lion spoke again. "Proceed. Touch nothing but the lamp."

On the way the old man had told him what they were after, a lamp that would be hidden in the depths of the cave. If Blaine got him that lamp then he would be rewarded. Blaine straightened his shoulders and stepped forward as the lion widened his mouth as an entry to the cave.

He looked inside and then took a step forward, feet moving him down a sandy stairway as he walked into the depths of the cave.