"It's them, It's them!"

"Oh my God, do you think they'll wave back?"

"Charlie, Charlie they're coming this way!"

"Ah! Prince Kurt, Prince Kurt, over here!"

Blaine cringed away from the sounds that met his ears as he followed closely behind Kurt, who walked at a determined pace. It just reminded him that this was their fault. Even if they never meant for it to happen the people were yelling their names like they were celebrities.

Kurt stopped suddenly a few feet away, causing Blaine to crash into the back of him and a group of women at the front of the crowd to giggle. From the way Kurt was marching ahead of him Blaine was expecting an almost angry response from the Prince, so he was more than surprised when he came out with:

"Hey Guys," in a quiet voice.

The Crowd screamed in response and Kurt reached behind him, making a blind grab for the young slave and tugging him beside him.

The crowd screamed again and laughed as Blaine tripped over his feet from the sudden action. The Slave blushed red and hid ever so slightly behind Kurt who Blaine noticed had gone very, very still and quiet and so had the crowd. They were watching intently, barely breathing in case they missed something that their Prince had to say. Blaine, mirroring the crowd, studied his boyfriend earnestly. There was a slight shake in the future King's voice as he took a deep breath (while the audience held theirs) and addressed the crowd of hundreds.

"I'm honored that you have all come out today, and I....we," he gestured at the Slave standing awkwardly next to him, "thank you for your supportive views. This Kingdom has been suppressed under the...the er....looming, the looming weight of the governors for far too long. I'm fed of being...of being suffocated by them. I believe that this Kingdom should be run by a King. A King who listens to his subjects and is able to make the right choices for everyone."

"King Kurt!" Someone called from the middle of the crowd.

A chorus of cheers followed and Blaine watched the Prince's cheeks heat up even though the air around them was icy cold.

"King Blaine!" Another called at the top of her lungs.

The Slave completely froze. Him? King?

"Kings Kurt and Blaine!"

"King Kurt and Blaine. "

"King Klaine!"

Blaine felt his cheeks get hotter and hotter with every call, hiding his face in Kurt's shoulder.

The chants got louder and louder. Blaine couldn't decide if he liked the idea or not, he never thought about it. But if this did work out somehow, and he married Kurt, he really would be...be a King?

"Kurt, come on," Blaine mumbled, doing his best not to move his lips.

"They're not safe."

"You think chanting 'King Blaine' is going to help them?"

"I didn't tell them to."

"Well make them stop. You're their Prince."

"So are you by the sounds of it."

"Kurt."

"Fine."

Kurt took a step forward, "Shh, please. Guys, please."

The crowd slowly grew quite until the only noise was a small child crying somewhere in the back. Kurt cleared his throat and then he looked at Blaine with an unsure glance.

"Guys, we both really appreciate this but the last thing we want is for anyone else to get hurt. The royal family is meant ro protect their subjects not put them in danger."

"And the subjects are meant to serve their rulers," Someone yelled in reply, a few echoes of agreement following.

"There needs to be strategy before action is taken. Please refrain yourself s from anything that might cause you harm. We're both honored to have you all behind us, and together I'm sure we can make this Kingdom the best it can be," Kurt all but begged, his hand gripping tighter around the Slaves.

"We should go to war!" Someone yelled.

"Yeah!"

"We can win, there are so many more of us!"

"No," Blaine shook his head, "Violence is never the answer."

Everyone stared. It was the first time the younger had spoken.

"Self defense," Someone replied.

"No," Kurt shook his head, slipping his arm around Blaine to show his support, "We are going to look at the best possible situation for this professionally. We will keep you all updated. But now you should all go home where you're safe...Please."

Slowly but surely the crowd dispersed and Kurt turned around to face Blaine.

"I really don't want to be King."

Blaine sighed, "You will. "

"No I really won't. "

"When you're ready you will. "

"What do you know?" Kurt stuck out his tongue, "Your just a Slave."

Blaine raised an eyebrow, "A slave who seduced the Prince of the Kingdom...and is currently wearing the most expensive bowtie ever made."

Kurt laughed, reaching forward and adjusting the dark green bowtie around Blaine's neck, "Well the gold thread just looks so pretty in the light. Cost is no option when it comes to my man," he winked.

Blaine blushed, "Well I don't know how you're going to top this for my birthday next week."

"Oh I'm sure I'll come up with something," Kurt smiled, "My imagination runs wild when it comes to you."

Blaine pressed a small kiss to Kurt's cheek, "I know."

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The ashes of Dragon fire tumbled from Blaine's mouth as he trudged around the garden.

"Cas?"

He had his hands submerged in his pockets, "Cassy?"

The frosted grass crunched under his boots, his toes numb even in two pairs of thick socks. The sky above him was a deep gray and everything around him seemed to be frozen in place, not a sound could be heard apart from the crunch of the grass, the birds remained silent and curled up together in their nests, and the insects had buried deep down into the earth looking for warmth. Blaine wished that he was curled up in bed with Kurt who was currently asking his Dad for some advice. The sound of a high pitched giggle coming from the shed caught the slave's attention and he walked quickly around to the other side of the shrub that he was currently on, walking up to the door and pulling it open without much of a second thought.

"Blaine! Crap."

"Oh my God, no, no, no ew," Blaine stumbled backwards, his hand covering eyes.

"Craig, Craig stop it," Cassy giggled again, "Put your shirt back on."

"I hope you know this sight will be forever burned on my retinas," Blaine told them, his hand still over his eyes as Cassy and her blonde haired partner made themselves decent.

Cassy buttoned up her flowing bright pink shirt, the same color of her currently heated cheeks, "How was I meant to know you were looking for me?"

"How was I meant to know you two would be....would be...in a shed Cassy! What the hell?" Blaine wearily removed his hands from his eyes.

"You know privacy is rare around here. At least you don't have to share your room with thirty other people, " Cassy grumbled as Craig slipped his arm around her now shivering waist.

Craig was the blonde haired slave that had stolen Cassy away in the market those months ago. He had been brought by a kind owner about a half an hour walk away from the palace and since then the two had become inseparable - even though both Blaine and Kurt thought he was far too vain and stuck up to be with Cassy, who had always been so innocent and sweet.

"Doesn't your owner object to you being here so often?" Blaine asked through gritted teeth.

Craig shook his head, his long blond hair flowing like a cascading waterfall down to just above his shoulders and his strong arms almost bursting through the material of his purple sweater, "Not at all, I'm pretty sure the rich old man just wanted some company and had some money to spare. He treats me like his son not his slave. "

Blaine swallowed heavily. Even though his and the Kings relationship had never been terrible, recently he had noticed Burt going silent and tense whenever the slave was around. He was sure he was the one being blamed for the whole situation.

"What did you want?" Cassy asked, twirling her hair around her finger.

"I wanted to ask if you needed any help with your work today. But I can see you're busy."

"If anyone is helping this beautiful women with anything, it's me," Craig announced, making Cas giggle and blush.

Blaine gritted his teeth, "If I want to help my friend I can."

"Blaine, it's fine. Go have fun with Kurt, I'll see you later okay? Craig can help me if I need it."

"Right, of course. I'm sorry," Blaine mumbled, turning to walk back to the castle.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hey Baby," Kurt frowned, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah."

"Have I done something?"

"No."

Kurt swallowed and chewed his lip, "Look, I'm sorry if I..."

"You haven't."

"Oh...okay," Kurt pulled his knees up to his chest, "W-what are you up to?"

"Nothing really," Blaine flipped the page of his book.

"Do you want me to leave you alone?" Kurt played with his hands, feeling his heart sink.

"No."

Kurt wrapped his arms around himself letting out an "Okay" in an unsure voice. He sat in silence for a while before deciding to get under his comforter, the noise of shuffling sheet thick in the tense air and the tears threatening to fall from his eyes. He hated when Blaine was so blunt towards him. He felt like Blaine didn't want him around, and was torn between hiding away and trying to fix things between them - which was really hard when Blaine wouldn't tell him what was wrong. Blaine had definitely come a long way from the scared cowering little boy that Kurt had first met, but he still hid himself away and locked people out when there was something really bothering him.

He tried to get comfortable but the unease in his stomach and the tears in his eyes made it impossible. He wished Blaine would say something, but was too worried about annoying him to speak first.

Eventually Blaine spoke, "You asleep?"

Kurt debated if he should pretend to be for a second, "Not yet."

"Kay, well night."

"Are you not coming to bed yet?"

"No."

"Oh, okay. Good night then."