What I Already Knew - Part One
Title: What I Already Knew
Fandom: Glee
Pairing: Klaine (with tiny mentions of Finchel)
Spoilers: none
Warnings: AU
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 25,570
Betas: the lovely Adi and Brittany who are pretty much the reason I a) entered the reverse bang in the first place and b) the fic actually got written at all
Summary: Prince Kurt Hummel and Princess Rachel Berry have been promised to each other since they were very, very young - the problem is, neither is really happy with this. And then Blaine, the Berry's’ stable boy, comes along and throws everything they’ve resigned themselves to into utter chaos.
Art: here! It’s absolutely stunning, I fell in love with it the instant I saw it and was lucky enough to be able to write for it :)
*
Once, in a land over the sea, a grand kingdom flourished, ruled by a long-standing royal tradition. Their trade bustled, their crafts were highly valued, and their music was praised for its beauty and complexity. Whilst life was not perfect, the people were, for the most part, content with their lot.
But, alas! This peace, it seemed, was not to last. Drought fell, and in a panic the rulers sought to secure their own well-being by tightening their grasp on their country’s trade. Of course, this did not sit well with the working classes - or, indeed, some of the more progressive members of the nobility. Sympathizing with the plight of the struggling masses, they decided to strike out and establish their own kingdom, offering an opportunity for a fairer system of trade and a new start. Thus divided, the two populations stabilized, and life in both kingdoms settled into a new balance, though neither regained the unified kingdom’s former glory.
Two kings, two queens, two families noble.
As time passed, the struggle for survival receded. With the drought now but a distant memory, the kingdoms’ new rulers began to question the relevance of a divide born of desperation and resentment. They said, “Let our parents’ grudges be theirs, they are not still ours! It is time our kingdoms again became one.” The sentiment was shared: the kingdoms would unite once more. However, the means were unclear, and so they decided to bide their time. The support of the people was needed, and was sadly lacking. Each kingdom still had its own struggles to face.
Kings Hiram and Leroy Berry were the first pair of kings to rule a single kingdom, and the people were wary. Issues of inheritance (an ever important concern) became complex.
King Burt and Queen Elliana Hummel were in a similar predicament. Five years married, and no heir apparent.
They each craved unity; to heal the old rift between them. They could join at once, but what would stop an uprising? Nothing. Time was what was needed.
The answer to all came at once.
Burt and Elliana had a son. Kurt Hummel, Crown Prince. A beautiful baby boy.
Soon thereafter, Hiram and Leroy’s own plans for a child came to fruition. Leroy’s cousin would carry Hiram’s child, who would become their heir - regardless of gender. It was a bold move, but they were set. And so Rachel Berry, Crown Princess, was born of both their blood. A beautiful baby girl.
Both prince and princess quickly came to be adored by their respective kingdoms, and thus a plan was born. They would be betrothed and the kingdoms rejoined when they married, at age eighteen.
Their future seemed set, and by the children’s third birthdays the promise had been accepted as merely another aspect of their royal duty. And so it may have come to pass, were it not for the son of a merchant-girl, fathered by King Hiram in a moment of reckless abandon. The existence of Blaine, if known, could undermine the integrity of the royal family. Thus his heritage was kept a secret.
A spoiled and feisty princess.
A dutiful prince.
And the bastard son of a king.
This is their story.
*
Kurt stands in front of his mirror, smoothing down his already immaculate outfit one more time. He designed and made it himself, of course - Brittany, his court-appointed stylist, is lovely, but she really has no idea what she’s doing. No, his slim-fit shiny grey suit and black shirt are his own creation. He’s pretty proud of this one, actually. Never let it be said that Prince Kurt Hummel doesn’t dress to impress. Even if it is only for the immediate members of the royal family - they will still be appreciative, he knows. He will admit that the shoes Brittany managed to find for him are perfect - black and sleek and oh so comfortable. He twirls, checking his hair again, and then makes his way to the glass case where his circlet is locked away. He eyes the plain silver band with its single sapphire and sighs. It’s no secret that he’d rather wear his mother’s old tiara. Not her formal (and intricately crafted) crown, of course, her tiara from her engagement to his father. It seems delicate, but its silver tendrils are stronger than they look. From all accounts, the tiara was the essence of his mother. The pale blue gemstones set in the very front are crystal-clear and without flaw; they sparkle like none he’s ever seen. He’s been told, many times, that they’re exactly the color her eyes were. He wishes he could remember them himself - but she’d died when he was three.
He shakes himself mentally, and retrieves the key to the case. He carefully, carefully, takes out his circlet and fixes it on his head. He fights the urge to go and take out the tiara instead, and calls for Brittany.
He’s sixteen, now. Time for him to step up as Crown Prince.
Or so everyone keeps telling him.
*
Rachel throws her arms in the air as she spins, her pale pink dress fanning out perfectly as she does.
“Look, Santana, I could just fly,” she says, looking at her lady-in-waiting for confirmation.
Santana, to her credit, manages a smile.
“Yes, Your Highness, you look lovely. With no help from that atrocious dress.”
“But it’s pink!” Rachel exclaims, now bouncing over to her rather large selection of tiaras. She is a Princess, after all. She knows that tonight she has to wear her official one, but she makes a show of looking them all over anyway.
“Yes, it’s very… pink,” Santana drawls.
Rachel pays her no mind, and carefully picks up her official tiara - gold, and finely woven with tiny amethyst stones set in the center, along with the tiny gold flowers. She’d had it made when she was fourteen, and she does still love it. Santana had tried to make her wear a dress that was the color of the stones, but she loves this one far too much. Besides, it’s the Princess’s sixteenth birthday! It’s practically a rule that she has to wear pink.
“Are you quite done?” Santana says. “Your party has already started.”
“But I’m not ready!” Rachel pouts. “I can’t find my shoes…”
Santana walks over and picks up the bright pink high heels near the dresser and says, “you mean these ones?”
“Oh yeah! Thanks, Santana,” Rachel says, slipping them on quickly.
“Hurry up, Your Highness,” Santana chides, but she’s smiling. “My job’s on the line here.”
It’s not, of course - as long as Rachel wants her as her lady-in-waiting, her lady-in-waiting she’ll stay. King Hiram and King Leroy have never denied her anything. Rachel looks at herself once more in the mirror, making sure she looks like the princess she is. Satisfied, she spins back to face Santana, with a near-shout of, “Let’s go!”
*
Blaine feels very out of place.
It’s a party to celebrate Rachel’s debut into society - not that there was ever any doubt who she is. Everything is pink. Everything. And sure enough, Rachel herself is decked out in pink from head to toe. Blaine chuckles to himself. She does look very pretty, and she certainly fits the part of Crown Princess. Sometimes, he wonders what his life would have been like if he’d grown up as part of this family. This is one of those times. He’s been living at the royal residence for almost a year, ever since the attack. He’s grateful to the Kings for taking him in, and he realizes the genius behind the decision - who better to protect the gay boy than the two Kings - but he still feels like he’s stepping on toes by being at this party.
He’s jolted out of his reverie by Rachel herself. She’s spotted him where he’s tucked himself away in a corner and rushes over. Only Rachel would interrupt her own party to greet the stable-hand, he thinks. She doesn’t know that he’s her brother, just that her dads hired him and that she was to make him as welcome as all of her staff. She’d taken a definite shine to him in the months since he’d arrived at the castle, and he loves her for it.
“Come on, Blaine, come say hi to Dad and Dad,” she says in a rush, grabbing his hands and physically hauling him to his feet. He has no choice but to follow. In some ways, Rachel is the quintessential princess figure - pretty, driven, spoiled beyond belief - but in others, she’s so different. She’s brash, she’s loud, and she’s as bossy and as stubborn as anyone he’s ever met. And Blaine used to live with his half-brother, Cooper - he knows what pure bossiness is. Or he thought he had, anyway.
Rachel is still babbling away, and Blaine vaguely registers the introductions she’s making. She refers to him as her friend, rather than the stable-boy, and his heart warms just that little bit more.
Soon enough, they pass through the head table and Blaine feels himself relax. Of course, the emcee of the party starts talking over the crowd at that very moment.
“Alright, alright, be quiet everyone!” It’s practically a screech, and the room does fall silent.
“That’s better. Now tonight, we’re here to celebrate our dear Princess Rachel’s Sweet Sixteenth birthday, so it wouldn’t be right if we didn’t have music. Music sung by all of us, of course. Rachel, care to kick us off?”
Rachel beams, as if she wasn’t expecting that (she was, naturally) and bounds up to the stage where she unceremoniously kicks the emcee in her sparkle yellow dress off, pushing her in Blaine’s direction. She stumbles into him, making a tiny noise of disgust before speaking up. “Well hi there sweetie-pie - and who are you?” She cocks her head, studying him. “Haven’t seen you before, and I’m Sugar Motta - I know everyone and everyone knows me! Or they know my father, but that’s close enough.”
Blaine blinks, slightly stunned, but manages to hold out his hand and tell her his name. “Blaine, and I’m relatively new to the… Berry household.”
She grips his hand, vice-like, and he feels completely naked under her gaze.
“Well, nice to meet you - you’ll be seeing more of me, I’m sure. I get called up for all kinds of odd things at the palace. Princess Rachel loves my parties, so,” she shrugs, as if that isn’t a big deal. It’s not surprising to Blaine, not really - they certainly do both have an affinity for glaringly bright colors and sparkly things. He spares a look at the stage where Rachel is bouncing around singing her heart out, and he has to agree.
“She certainly is enjoying herself,” he says with a laugh. He catches her eye, and the next thing he knows he’s being hauled up onto the stage himself. This can’t end well, he thinks as she motions for him to start singing. They choose an old ballad, one that everyone knows, and gradually people join in.
He has to admit, it’s fun.
*
Kurt shoots Finn a glare from his seat across the table. Honestly, you’d think that 10 years of palace life would teach a prince to put his circlet on correctly. Apparently not.
“Finn,” he hisses, “fix your circlet.”
Finn gives him his trademark blank look, and Kurt just shakes his head. He reaches over and fixes it himself, rolling his eyes. At least it’s broken up some of the awkwardness that always surrounds these dinners. He wishes, not for the first time, that he could actually throw a decent party, but no, he has to be princely and formal and stuffy and boring. Really, he’d rather be at Rachel’s - overbearing pink sparkly decorations and all.
He sitting at the head of the table, naturally, and he barely represses a sigh. It figures, with all the planning that has gone into their respective dinners that they’ve had to be separated. Their engagement isn’t official, not yet, but it will be in a year. They all know the plan, and both he and Rachel are resigned to it. He thinks he could do worse than marrying his best friend, but he’d also really like to actually celebrate some of these milestones with her.
He forces a smile, and re-joins the conversation; Carole’s just complimented his outfit, and he preens just a touch. He may not have his mother, but he loves Carole - she did practically raise him, after all. He still laughs to think of his father trying to look after him while running a country - Burt himself is always joking that he would have had to carry a stubborn three-year-old around with him if not for the woman who would eventually become his wife. It’s not true at all, of course, another nanny would have easily been found, but the image is an amusing one. Burt isn’t a typical picture of royalty, that’s for sure - he’s gruff and unrefined and overly casual about almost everything - but he cares, a lot, about his people. Kurt knows it’s the reason he agreed to the plan in the first place, and it makes it sting slightly less. Slightly.
The conversation is stilted, but it continues. Kurt keeps up, and when all the food is gone Burt gets up to speak.
“Now, son, I’m not one for long speeches, not unless my advisors tell me I have to, so I’ll keep this quick. I love you, and I’m so proud of the man you’ve become. Happy birthday, Kurt.”
Despite everything, Kurt feels his throat choke up. Screw protocol, he thinks, and walks over to hug his dad. He feels strong arms wrap around him, and clings for longer than he’d admit to anyone not at that table. He wishes that he could stay here, stay a kid, and not have to worry about how to live the life that’s been planned for him. Suddenly, he’s overwhelmed. He lets go, and resumes his seat.
Burt isn’t finished. He moves over to the table where Kurt knows his crown is waiting. Burt picks it up, and Kurt knows he has to stand, and take it. He feels like it’s mocking him. To him, it signifies all that he has to give up, not what he has to gain. He smiles, his mask perfect, and lets Burt replace his circlet with the crown. Kurt feels like he’s suffocating.
Just dessert left, and then he can take his leave. Kurt’s already planning how he’ll convince the stable-boy on duty to keep quiet about letting his horse out tonight. There’s only one person he wants to see right now. His best friend, and the only other person who understands exactly what he’s going through right now.
*
Rachel is having the time of her life. Well, maybe not - nothing will ever come close to the summers she used to spend with Kurt when they were young enough not to understand what being royalty meant beyond tiaras and pretty clothes - but she’s having fun. She really does wish that both Finn and Kurt could be here, but she knows they have Kurt’s own dinner to attend. She’s finally, finally, gotten Blaine to loosen up a little - he’s dancing with Sugar, now, and he’s smiling properly for the first time all night. Come to think of it, she doesn’t think she’s ever seen him smile quite that freely. Success.
It’s getting late, and it’s down to the people she loves the most dearly. She runs over to Blaine and pulls him back out of Sugar’s arms, and spins him around. He laughs, carefree, and she grins back at him. She’s struck with sudden inspiration, and pulls him close to whisper in his ear.
“Blaine, can you do me a favor? I wouldn’t ask, but…”
A few minutes of whispered conversation later, she walks back over to her Dads - it’s time to break this party up. She’s the Princess and the birthday girl, she can leave whenever she wants.
“Dad, Dad, I’m tired. I’m going to go get my beauty sleep, okay?”
“Sure, honey. Whatever you need. We’ll finish up here,” Hiram says, smiling at her.
“Love you,” Leroy adds.
She hugs both of them, quickly, and makes her last rounds of the room - thanking people for their attendance and for the (lavish, she knows) gifts they had all brought.
With that, she leaves, and trusts that Blaine will fulfill his end of her plan.
*
As soon has he can, Kurt escapes to his rooms and strips off his formal attire, replacing it with simple riding gear. Dark colors, he needs to blend in for once. He’s so focused on his task, and being as quiet and as quick as he can, that he jumps when he hears Finn’s voice from his doorway.
“Going somewhere?” he asks, too casual.
Kurt sighs. If there is one person who he didn’t want to know about his little trip, it’s Finn. Finn can’t keep a secret to save his life. Which is a problematic trait for a prince to have, when he thinks about it. Kurt tries not to.
“Yes, I am, in fact,” Kurt pauses, considering his options. He could order Finn to keep quiet, and risk him letting it slip, or he could make him come with him. Finn answers the question for him.
“It’s to see Rachel, isn’t it…”
It’s not a question. Kurt almost laughs - how Finn can be so oblivious most of the time and so perceptive at others, Kurt has absolutely no idea.
“You can’t go alone,” Finn says, “you know riding takes all your concentration. What if something happens? I’m coming too.”
“Oh, fine. Be quick, and be quiet,” Kurt hisses, but not unkindly. Finn nods.
“Let’s go, then.” Finn agrees, and they both make their way to the stables. By some stroke of luck, they don’t run into anyone, and manage to sneak their horses out without any fuss from the stable-boy. Kurt is usually fairly vocal about his distaste for horses and all things to do with riding - he wouldn’t be surprised if the stable-boy is slightly scared of him. He probably should work on that, he muses. Just like that, they’re on their way.
They ride as fast as they dare, Kurt clinging on for dear life. He just knows Finn is trying not to laugh at him, but he won’t risk looking to his right for fear of overbalancing. It’s happened before, and he really has too much else to worry about right now thank you very much. Finn, on the other hand, is a brilliant rider, and would probably be going even faster if he were alone.
It’s Finn who has the presence of mind to pay attention to outside noises - and he pulls his horse up short about half way through the forest, leaning over to grab Kurt’s horse’s reins too. Now that Kurt’s paying attention, he can hear the sound of another pair of horses, coming in the opposite direction. They quietly move off to the side of the track, and wait.
The sound of horses galloping becomes louder, and louder, until the riders come into view. Kurt barks out a laugh without meaning to - he spots Rachel, sitting ramrod straight on her horse, Sparkles. She loves that damn horse, even though she’s only slightly better at riding than Kurt. He realizes how ‘well-matched’ they are and remembers why he’s here in the first place. He slides off his horse, as gracefully as he can. He’’s not really successful, but he brushes himself off and shoots Finn a glare for the snicker he hears from beside him.
“Rachel?” he calls, softly. Even now, his voice cracks, and his eyes fill with tears.
“Kurt?’ he hears, and he blinks furiously, trying to muster one last shred of self-control. He hears, rather than sees, the two (wait, he thinks, two?)riders dismount, and when he looks up Rachel’s standing in front of him.
“Rachel, what are you doing out here? Do you know how dangerous it is for a princess to be out riding this late?” he says.
“Excuse me, I could ask you two the same question. And besides, Blaine’s here. I’m not stupid enough to come alone, Kurt,” she says. “I was coming to see you, actually.”
Kurt gives this Blaine person a nod, as is custom, and tries to smile. He’s supposed to be polite and formal when he meets people, but it’s hard right now, when he feels like his world is shattering around him. He quickly turns back to Rachel - the one person he can let the mask fall in front of. “I was coming to see you too,” he says, vaguely registering Finn and Blaine moving away, talking quietly. “You got yours tonight, too.” His voice is barely above a whisper, but that’s all he can manage right now. He feels like if he gave himself the chance to use his voice - really, honestly use it - he would just scream.
Everything is so unfair.
Rachel nods once, giving a brief wave to the two disappearing boys, and the look on her face somehow makes him feel better and worse at the same time. They’re the same. “I did. It’s- it’s beautiful.”
“So’s mine. But-” he cuts himself off. There really is nothing else to say.
Instead of talking, Kurt reaches for her, pulling her into a kiss. The kiss lasts barely 10 seconds, and they both pull away slowly. It’s not the first time they’ve tried, and nothing ever changes.
“Anything?” Rachel asks, desperate.
“Nothing,” Kurt replies. “Just like always.”
The words hang in the air, heavy, and Rachel launches herself back into Kurt’s arms. “You know I love you, right, that’s not- it’s not that I don’t- I just-” she babbles.
“Shh, shh, Rachel, I know. You’re my best friend, I love you - just not the way we’re supposed to.”
They stand there, entwined, for what feels like forever. It’s Rachel who finally speaks up.
“So, what now?”
“We wait.”
More silence.
“For the record, Rachel, if I have to be promised to anyone, I’m glad it’s you.”
“Me too,” she breathes into his shoulder.
Slowly, they disentangle themselves and move over to where Blaine and Finn are standing. They graciously pretend like they haven’t heard anything - forced smiles present on their faces - and Kurt makes a mental note to thank Finn. They may not be related by blood, but Finn certainly seems to have his back whenever Kurt needs him. It’s nice, he thinks. Having a brother.
He turns his gaze to Blaine then, studying him for just a moment. He’s about the same height as Kurt himself, maybe a bit shorter. He’s got dark hair that falls in messy curls about his face, and his skin is tanned, though whether that’s from sun or work he can’t really tell. Perhaps a mixture of both. Kurt wonders vaguely who this boy is - why Rachel has never mentioned him before now. They seem to be quite close, riding together this late. If Rachel trusts Blaine to come with her on a meeting like this, he clearly is important to her.
Brows furrowed, he shoots a glance over to Finn, who seems to also be - well, sizing Blaine up, for lack of a better term. It’s hardly a secret around the palace that Finn is fond of Rachel (though most of them blow it off as a childish crush, knowing it will never go anywhere), and Kurt can sense that Finn is just as confused as to who this new boy is, wondering if he’s somehow also standing between himself and Rachel. After all, he is rather attractive, and he seems to stay tucked in close to Rachel’s side as they prepare to leave.
They can’t dwell, though. They all need to get home, or they will be in a lot of trouble. Hell, they probably are already. Kurt bids Rachel a fond goodbye, hugging her perhaps a little bit tighter than usual. The rest of them nod at each other out of politeness before they all return their respective horses. Rachel and Blaine leave first, with Kurt and Finn acting almost as look outs for them as they exit the clearing.
Kurt feels Finn squeeze his shoulder once they’re out of eyesight, and he manages a smile.
“Let’s go.”
*
Part Two
Masterpost