Unwanted Kingdom

Chapter Five

Every time Dean entered Castiel's dreams, it was somewhere different. The first time, he had been shown Dean's home. It was dark and dying, the magic nowhere to be seen. How many fairies were actually left in the world was a mystery. It was possible that Dean would have nowhere to return once he was healed. But even with that knowledge, it was the only time Dean had taken him there. Over the course of the week, they had traveled to many of the lands more beautiful places. They could have been made up but he trusted Dean when he told him that they were very much real.

The last place had been Castiel's favorite. Dean had taken him to a waterfall that crashed into the water so clear you could make out everything on the bottom. He had been more than content to simply admire it from the short but Dean insisted they swim. Castiel had been ashamed that he had never learned how. That was the day he learned how to swim. Dean assured him that his mind and muscle memory would remember the event and he would be able to swim once awake as well. He had yet to test the theory.

But as great as learning to swim was, that was not the best part of their adventure. They had swum and laughed and played under the waterfall. All of these things a first for Castiel. The first kept coming as the sun began to set and they were lit by only the glow of the moon above. Dean pulled Castiel behind the waterfall and when they were so close that the world disappeared, Dean kissed him.

Since that moment, things had been different for Castiel. He had never kissed a person before or a fairy for that matter. Now more than ever he wanted to fight for Dean's kind. The reasoning was unclear, for it was too soon to call such a brief experience love. Was one even allowed to love a fairy? When they were not inside Castiel's mind, Dean could fit in his pocket.

"Where are we?" Castiel finally asked, looking around at the new world he was being introduced to.

Like the first world Dean had shown him, this place was also very dark, only being partially visible from the moonlight above. There were thick trees blocking the majority of that light. And even though it was almost completely dark, Castiel could see everything around him with perfect clarity.

"This was my favorite place from my home," Dean spoke from behind, causing Castiel to turn around and meet him. "It doesn't look like this anymore. But I wanted you to see it as I remembered it, not as it is now."

"I am so sorry that your home is gone," Castiel cried, his eyes on the verge of tears. "This is all my fault."

"None of this is your fault." Dean moved into Castiel and wrapped him in his arms. When he wasn't small, Dean was bigger and stronger than Castiel. This made Castiel slightly jealous but also made him feel incredibly safe. "Your uncle is why my world is messed up. You are working to fix it. That makes this his fault, not yours. And if you are going to thrive as a King, you need to remember that. A King should fight to make the land a better place, not dwell on the mistakes of others and lose progression."

"And what will become of you?" Castiel mumbled against Dean's chest. "Your home is ruined. How do we know that there are even fairies left to fight for?"

"I can feel them," Dean promised. "But don't let us be your only fight. Do not become King because you wish to do something for me. You have to believe you can make a difference."

"How did you become so wise?" Castiel asked with a laugh.

"I have been alive a very long time," Dean informed him. "I have seen more than my share of Kings."

"Did you know my father?"

"I never met him, no." Dean loosened his grip and pulled away just enough to look at Castiel. "But I know the land thrived and the people rejoiced when he held the throne. Just as they will for you."