School Days
Part XVII
Lions Rise Above Pride
By KittyCaro
Disclaimer: Characters from the Adventures of Voltron and the New Adventures of Voltron are copyright 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1997 by WEP. Any and all new/original characters belong to the author.
Rating: R for some sexual situations, violence and bad language. NSFW
Author’s notes: This is an AU fic about Keith and Allura. The romance novel "Taming the Scotsman" by Kinley MacGregor (2003) inspired chapters four and five. The TV show mentioned is based on the Spanish program "Por Amor" from Televisión Española. C&C are welcomed.
I want to thank my dear friend Camillie (a Hunk fan) for her ideas and comments.
Gracias Lynne (Bonds of Love) for being my muse, beta-reader, and cheerleader.
Thank you Shannon, for giving this fic a place in The Lion's Keep, you're the best.
Originally Published 09/17/2004 - Revised 03/08/2015
Rating: R for some sexual situations, violence and bad language. NSFW
Author’s notes: This is an AU fic about Keith and Allura. The romance novel "Taming the Scotsman" by Kinley MacGregor (2003) inspired chapters four and five. The TV show mentioned is based on the Spanish program "Por Amor" from Televisión Española. C&C are welcomed.
I want to thank my dear friend Camillie (a Hunk fan) for her ideas and comments.
Gracias Lynne (Bonds of Love) for being my muse, beta-reader, and cheerleader.
Thank you Shannon, for giving this fic a place in The Lion's Keep, you're the best.
Originally Published 09/17/2004 - Revised 03/08/2015
TRIGGER WARING - Be advised - Keep in mind that this fanfic's timeline and overall plot take place during an inter-galactic time of war. In light of recent world events, some parts of the following story may have the potential to be emotional/traumatic triggers for some people.
Click on the following links to move along to that chapter.
Arus Spaceport, Saturday June 11th, 2304
"When dealing with people, let us remember we are not dealing with creatures of logic. We are dealing with creatures of emotion, creatures bustling with prejudices and motivated by pride and vanity." ~Dale Carnegie
After my fight with Pidge for canceling our date, my brother and I went to the spaceport to pick up actor Rolando Klum. According to the monitors, his shuttle was coming on time.
Minutes later, we saw him coming down the staircase. He was dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, and no tie. His brown hair was pulled back at the nape of his neck and secured with a leather thong. But it's his face that always catches my attention. His mouth is beautiful, as is the shape of his jaw with his faint beard shadow. And his eyes take my breath away. They are hazel and full of mischief.
He looked so strikingly handsome that I had to set my eyes on the floor or risk staring at him in amazement as Viggo grasped Rolando´s outstretched hand.
"Welcome to Arus, my friend. This is my little sister Sophia. This is Rolando Klum, Sophie."
"N-nice to meet you, Rolando. I'm your biggest fan!"
"Hello, Sophia," he replied in a faint British accent, kissing me on the cheek. "I confess I was dying to meet you. Your brother has spoken of you so often."
"He has?" I blurted out, feeling a hot blush spreading over my face. I took my hand from his and backed away several steps. "What I meant," I added awkwardly, "is that I didn't know the two of you were friends."
Rolando smiled softly. "Really?" He asked, reaching for my elbow. "Well, I'll tell you more about it in the limo."
We got into the black limousine. My brother asked me to offer our guest something to drink while he made some phone calls.
"Water, please," he said with a smile.
I opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of AquaPura. I was nervous, and it gave me something to do as I asked, "So, how did you meet my brother?"
"About six months ago, I was in the ‘Pride' set when I got a call from a director I've done occasional work for, Jack Petersen, who was developing a movie about the happenings in a resort hotel. He asked me to help him find the perfect hotel, and we must have visited at least half dozen places in the Diamond galaxy until we came upon your beautiful resort."
I turned to stare accusingly at my brother. "You said you were attending to a couple of politicians, not movie people."
He grinned at me. "Don't get mad at me, Moppet. They asked me to keep their stay a secret."
Rolando nodded. "We had lunch and the conversation turned to movies. I asked Viggo what he was looking forward to movie-wise and told me he wasn't much of a movie buff, but that his little sister was really excited about the last installment of the trilogy of The Pride of the Lioness."
I gasped. "He did?"
Viggo nodded happily. "It seems Rolando never forgot that. So, he called me and asked if I could bring you to join him at the Diamond premiere. And here you are."
Wow. This is THE ticket on Saturday night and I realized all of a sudden that I have said ticket. Not only was I going to be seeing ‘Pride and Joy' tonight, but I would be at the premiere with one of its stars. My favorite star! Rolando Klum!
"What's the name of the resort movie?" I asked. "Has Mr. Petersen made a decision on the location?"
Ronaldo smiled at me. "It's a remake of 1932's ‘Trouble in Paradise', a comedy about a love triangle among jewel thieves and their victim, and we will begin filming at Brochner Inn next month! How does that sound?"
"That's fantastic! You must give me all the facts so I can post them on my website!" I enthused, then caught myself. "That is, if you wouldn't mind doing that..."
"Of course, anything for you." He winked at me, and then took my hand to give it a light squeeze.
We arrived at the premiere, and oh my, what a spectacle! The movie was showing at the Lion Theater. The street was closed off and the red carpet treatment was being given to the stars. Loads of Arusian and off-planet media were there and interviews were being handled by the dozens. It was a sea of people, with spectators screaming out names like shrieking seagulls at the beach.
At one point I swear to God I thought I heard someone yelling, "Sophia!" but I realize that it was my mind playing tricks on me. I mean, sure, I looked pretty, but not that pretty!
"Sophie!"
I whirled to meet a pair of flashing cinnamon eyes.
"Pidge?"
"When dealing with people, let us remember we are not dealing with creatures of logic. We are dealing with creatures of emotion, creatures bustling with prejudices and motivated by pride and vanity." ~Dale Carnegie
After my fight with Pidge for canceling our date, my brother and I went to the spaceport to pick up actor Rolando Klum. According to the monitors, his shuttle was coming on time.
Minutes later, we saw him coming down the staircase. He was dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, and no tie. His brown hair was pulled back at the nape of his neck and secured with a leather thong. But it's his face that always catches my attention. His mouth is beautiful, as is the shape of his jaw with his faint beard shadow. And his eyes take my breath away. They are hazel and full of mischief.
He looked so strikingly handsome that I had to set my eyes on the floor or risk staring at him in amazement as Viggo grasped Rolando´s outstretched hand.
"Welcome to Arus, my friend. This is my little sister Sophia. This is Rolando Klum, Sophie."
"N-nice to meet you, Rolando. I'm your biggest fan!"
"Hello, Sophia," he replied in a faint British accent, kissing me on the cheek. "I confess I was dying to meet you. Your brother has spoken of you so often."
"He has?" I blurted out, feeling a hot blush spreading over my face. I took my hand from his and backed away several steps. "What I meant," I added awkwardly, "is that I didn't know the two of you were friends."
Rolando smiled softly. "Really?" He asked, reaching for my elbow. "Well, I'll tell you more about it in the limo."
We got into the black limousine. My brother asked me to offer our guest something to drink while he made some phone calls.
"Water, please," he said with a smile.
I opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of AquaPura. I was nervous, and it gave me something to do as I asked, "So, how did you meet my brother?"
"About six months ago, I was in the ‘Pride' set when I got a call from a director I've done occasional work for, Jack Petersen, who was developing a movie about the happenings in a resort hotel. He asked me to help him find the perfect hotel, and we must have visited at least half dozen places in the Diamond galaxy until we came upon your beautiful resort."
I turned to stare accusingly at my brother. "You said you were attending to a couple of politicians, not movie people."
He grinned at me. "Don't get mad at me, Moppet. They asked me to keep their stay a secret."
Rolando nodded. "We had lunch and the conversation turned to movies. I asked Viggo what he was looking forward to movie-wise and told me he wasn't much of a movie buff, but that his little sister was really excited about the last installment of the trilogy of The Pride of the Lioness."
I gasped. "He did?"
Viggo nodded happily. "It seems Rolando never forgot that. So, he called me and asked if I could bring you to join him at the Diamond premiere. And here you are."
Wow. This is THE ticket on Saturday night and I realized all of a sudden that I have said ticket. Not only was I going to be seeing ‘Pride and Joy' tonight, but I would be at the premiere with one of its stars. My favorite star! Rolando Klum!
"What's the name of the resort movie?" I asked. "Has Mr. Petersen made a decision on the location?"
Ronaldo smiled at me. "It's a remake of 1932's ‘Trouble in Paradise', a comedy about a love triangle among jewel thieves and their victim, and we will begin filming at Brochner Inn next month! How does that sound?"
"That's fantastic! You must give me all the facts so I can post them on my website!" I enthused, then caught myself. "That is, if you wouldn't mind doing that..."
"Of course, anything for you." He winked at me, and then took my hand to give it a light squeeze.
We arrived at the premiere, and oh my, what a spectacle! The movie was showing at the Lion Theater. The street was closed off and the red carpet treatment was being given to the stars. Loads of Arusian and off-planet media were there and interviews were being handled by the dozens. It was a sea of people, with spectators screaming out names like shrieking seagulls at the beach.
At one point I swear to God I thought I heard someone yelling, "Sophia!" but I realize that it was my mind playing tricks on me. I mean, sure, I looked pretty, but not that pretty!
"Sophie!"
I whirled to meet a pair of flashing cinnamon eyes.
"Pidge?"
"What are you doing here?" Sophie said breathlessly, her face as white as a sheet.
"And what are *you* doing here?"
"Oh God, Rolando is coming," she whispered, looking at a tall man wearing black making his way toward us.
I sent her a suspicious look. "Rolando? Rolando Klum the actor?"
"Pidge, you should leave," she said pushing me toward the street.
"What the..."
"Is this boy bothering you?" Rolando broke in, his arm slipping possessively around Sophia's shoulders, firmly anchoring her to him.
"Who are you calling boy?" I challenged.
"No, he's fine." Sophia replied nervously. "He's just..."
The actor narrowed his eyes, and then pointed a finger at me. "I know you."
"Do you?"
"You're Pidge, pilot of Green Lion, the left arm of Voltron."
"And you're Rolando, the hero in 'Pride of the Lioness.' "
He thrust out his hand toward me. I suddenly noticed that he looked very courtly and old-fashioned with his hair caught at the nape of his neck. "Nice to meet you, Lieutenant. I have read about your adventures with the Voltron Force. You must give me your autograph."
I shook the offered hand, uncertain how to handle the situation. Sophie wasn't giving me any cues. She was deliberately avoiding my eyes, while she remains under Rolando's shoulder, looking very much as if she belongs there.
"And you could give me yours." I finally answer. ~Maybe I can sell it on ebay.~
He smiled; his teeth were very white, obviously the result of frequent visits to his dentist. "Have you heard there are plans for a Voltron movie?" he asked. "My name has been mentioned for one of the leading characters."
"Really?" I said, smirking at him. "They probably want you to portray me."
"Actually, they want me to portray Lieutenant Lance," Ronaldo corrected me, rather smugly.
"Oh, yes!" Sophia cooed. "You would be perfect as Lance with those eyes and that fantastic smile."
I regarded the actor with an icy glare clearly meant to intimidate him.
"Rolando," Sophie said, tugging at his sleeve, "the movie is about to start."
"You're absolutely right, love," he replied warmly. "Come along, Lieutenant. I'm sure we can get you a seat-"
"Excuse me, what did you call her?"
Sophia sent me a quick frown of impatience. "Don't worry about Pidge. He's just leaving."
"Why, love? Is he ill?"
As the man's eyes moved over her suggestively, I muttered a curse beneath my breath. "I'm perfectly fine. Sophie is just nervous; she doesn't know what she's saying."
"I'm not nervous! And you're the one who came uninvited!"
"May I please have a word with Sophie in private?" I said, pulling her aside.
"Of course," Rolando replied smiling at her, apparently in sympathy.
"You won't change my mind," she hissed as I dragged her away from the bunch of fans gathering around Rolando, clamoring for his autograph.
"Why didn't you tell me that Rolando Klum was coming to Arus, and that you were coming with him to the premiere?"
"I don't have to give you a complete account of my actions."
"Oh yes, you do. You're my girlfriend."
"Yes," she admitted grudgingly, pulling her arm free. "Unfortunately."
"What does that supposed to mean?"
"Pidge, why don't you go back to the castle? I'm sure Commander Keith has work for you."
I clenched my hands into two tight fists. "I came to watch the damned movie."
"Then go watch it by yourself!" She said, throwing her hands in exasperation and walking away.
"And what are *you* doing here?"
"Oh God, Rolando is coming," she whispered, looking at a tall man wearing black making his way toward us.
I sent her a suspicious look. "Rolando? Rolando Klum the actor?"
"Pidge, you should leave," she said pushing me toward the street.
"What the..."
"Is this boy bothering you?" Rolando broke in, his arm slipping possessively around Sophia's shoulders, firmly anchoring her to him.
"Who are you calling boy?" I challenged.
"No, he's fine." Sophia replied nervously. "He's just..."
The actor narrowed his eyes, and then pointed a finger at me. "I know you."
"Do you?"
"You're Pidge, pilot of Green Lion, the left arm of Voltron."
"And you're Rolando, the hero in 'Pride of the Lioness.' "
He thrust out his hand toward me. I suddenly noticed that he looked very courtly and old-fashioned with his hair caught at the nape of his neck. "Nice to meet you, Lieutenant. I have read about your adventures with the Voltron Force. You must give me your autograph."
I shook the offered hand, uncertain how to handle the situation. Sophie wasn't giving me any cues. She was deliberately avoiding my eyes, while she remains under Rolando's shoulder, looking very much as if she belongs there.
"And you could give me yours." I finally answer. ~Maybe I can sell it on ebay.~
He smiled; his teeth were very white, obviously the result of frequent visits to his dentist. "Have you heard there are plans for a Voltron movie?" he asked. "My name has been mentioned for one of the leading characters."
"Really?" I said, smirking at him. "They probably want you to portray me."
"Actually, they want me to portray Lieutenant Lance," Ronaldo corrected me, rather smugly.
"Oh, yes!" Sophia cooed. "You would be perfect as Lance with those eyes and that fantastic smile."
I regarded the actor with an icy glare clearly meant to intimidate him.
"Rolando," Sophie said, tugging at his sleeve, "the movie is about to start."
"You're absolutely right, love," he replied warmly. "Come along, Lieutenant. I'm sure we can get you a seat-"
"Excuse me, what did you call her?"
Sophia sent me a quick frown of impatience. "Don't worry about Pidge. He's just leaving."
"Why, love? Is he ill?"
As the man's eyes moved over her suggestively, I muttered a curse beneath my breath. "I'm perfectly fine. Sophie is just nervous; she doesn't know what she's saying."
"I'm not nervous! And you're the one who came uninvited!"
"May I please have a word with Sophie in private?" I said, pulling her aside.
"Of course," Rolando replied smiling at her, apparently in sympathy.
"You won't change my mind," she hissed as I dragged her away from the bunch of fans gathering around Rolando, clamoring for his autograph.
"Why didn't you tell me that Rolando Klum was coming to Arus, and that you were coming with him to the premiere?"
"I don't have to give you a complete account of my actions."
"Oh yes, you do. You're my girlfriend."
"Yes," she admitted grudgingly, pulling her arm free. "Unfortunately."
"What does that supposed to mean?"
"Pidge, why don't you go back to the castle? I'm sure Commander Keith has work for you."
I clenched my hands into two tight fists. "I came to watch the damned movie."
"Then go watch it by yourself!" She said, throwing her hands in exasperation and walking away.
"Your true pilot care nothing about anything on earth but the river, and his pride in his occupation surpasses the pride of kings." ~Mark Twain
I saw Sophie and Rolando walking on the red carpet, and once in a while they stopped to talk to a reporter or pose for a picture. I got in line with the rest of the ‘mortals' thinking that I would sit on the balcony to keep an eye on them. The line was quite long, most of it filled with girls screaming and crying for a glimpse of Rolando. I don't know what they see in him. He's scrawny, thinner than Lance; his black suit probably weights more than he does.
When I reached the top of the line, the usher- a tall bald guy with the face of a bulldog- asked for my ticket. I searched my pockets.
And searched...
And searched once more...
I didn't have the stupid tickets.
"Your ticket," he growled once again.
"Heh...I don't know what happened. I was sure I had it with me. But don't worry, I'll get it later."
The people behind me started chanting, "Get off the line! Get off the line!"
"No ticket, no admission." The guard's eyes glinted with menace.
"You must be new around here," I said. "Don't you know who I am?"
"Should I?"
"I'm Pidge!"
"Don't know any Pidge," he said with a shrug.
"What?"
"If you're really Pidge," a tall brown haired guy dressed as a character from the movie said, "where's your green suit with the ruffles?"
I was dressed in faded blue jeans and a sleeveless green T-shirt with a picture of the rock group Space Donkeys. "Please, do you think I wear that suit all the time?"
"And your glasses?" a freckled face girl with green eyes and curly blond hair added. "Where are your glasses?"
"I'm wearing contacts."
"He's pretending to be Pidge to get in for free!" Another girl shouted.
"But I'm Pidge, honest!"
"Step aside," the usher ordered, "and let the people with tickets through."
"Fine! I'll just buy another freaking ticket!"
I went to the ticket booth, and the lady said the damned show was sold out. There were screaming girls all over the place, pleading for a chance to get in; they couldn't understand the theater couldn't exceed the occupancy limit. But I didn't care; desperate times called for desperate measures- I had to get in to watch over Sophie and Rolando one way or the other.
I went to the alley and found a scalper who sold me a ticket at four times the original amount.
Security was tight. Policemen and security personnel were visible everywhere. Every entrance was heavily guarded. I moved easily, maneuvering through the crowd down toward the front. I saw Sophie and Rolando sitting in the middle in the fifth row. Instead of seating myself, I took up a standing position along the wall near the exit.
The mood of the crowd was almost electric; the air thick with anticipation as the trailers zoomed out from the screen to give way to the feature movie. The theater was so silent not even the shuffling of feet interrupted the title song, "Proud as a Lion." This was the last part of the saga about Leonela, a medieval princess who as a child, had lost her family and her ancestral home to an evil king from a nearby land, and years later had returned to reclaim it with the help of her brave warriors.
The walls of the theater seemed to fall away as the screen created the illusion of a dark, mythical forest, of cascading waterfalls, and traitorous roads. Enrique (Rolando Klum) and his friends were riding side by side. The five war-horses loped easily along. No word was spoken but in absolute necessity and then quick questions at the villages and farms, so the pace never slowed. There was deadliness about the five men and a sense of purpose that would not be denied. They had to rescue Princess Leonela from their archenemy, King Lizandro.
When a halt was called, the huge horses were fed double rations of grain and they drank and grazed while the knights ate dried meat and caught quick naps in the sun.
Enrique was well trained to the hardship required by the martial calling. He rode relaxed in the saddle yet his thoughts were far away. Perhaps his beloved had been slain by now. His mind flinched at the idea, trying to imagine life without Leonela's happy laughter and his thoughts took him to a black, gaping dread. It came to him as bright sunlight in the night that he loved the princess beyond all reason, beyond his own life.
Soon there was a trail to follow: the cold coals of a campfire, the flattened grass where a woman might have rested. The eagerness of the five men became intent as they rode steadily past other people who stopped to stare after them.
They topped a hill and on a distant knoll caught a glimpse of twelve mounts, one whose mount was led. The five horses seemed to catch the excitement of their masters and, though tired, continued their journey.
Ten slowed slightly in the group ahead, dropping back while one knight and a woman fled on. The distance narrowed and the ten saw a favor in that only five pursued. At a shout from Lizandro's second in command they halted, drew swords and braced themselves against those five.
As the hunters saw their prey, a long war cry escaped from Enrique's throat. The great swords flashed on high and hummed in the wind. At the wailing sound from the far off hill, Lizandro pulled his horse to halt and cursed his fate for he knew Enrique's cry and worse, he knew his nemesis would not stop.
Leonela rode behind him, strangely calm. Assured now that her knight lived, she smiled. Glancing over his shoulder, the king found little ease in the serenity he saw in her face.
As the evening proceeded, Rolando became increasingly attentive, leaning over to talk to Sophie, covering her hand with his own, and directing numerous charming smiles her way. I gave no indication of my jealousy. I pretended to be too interested in the battle scenes to notice, and she responded to his playacting with too much enthusiasm for my taste.
I cursed silently at her expression as she gazed at Klum with starry-eyed pride. I had never experienced jealousy and found it to be an extremely shitty emotion. What had gotten into me? Was this my true character?
I just didn't want to share my girlfriend with anyone- it was that simple. And if the actor thought differently, he was in for a hard lesson.
A piercing scream interrupted my thoughts. It was followed by a second scream, then a third. I heard a shot ring out, then a volley of laser fire thudding into flesh and seats. The building shook with the force of feet pounding across the floor as moviegoers raced to get out of the line of fire.
I moved quickly. The theater was total chaos. People were fleeing the place as fast as they could, running over each other in the process, yelling in terror. Chairs were smashed and broken. Arusian soldiers were exchanging laser fire with a half dozen Drule robots that were also shooting into the crowd as they tried to escape.
I dove into the pit in front of the screen, rolling to my right, looking for any cover of any kind. I pushed aside one man. He was beyond help. A red stain on his chest was quickly spreading around his shirt.
I heard Sophie's high-pitched scream, saw people throwing themselves to the ground and running for cover. I sprang away from the unconscious man, whirling to meet the threat, a hiss exposing jagged teeth. It was a Drule robot, and it sprang at me, its yellow eyes fixed on me. I leapt into the air to meet the robot, gun in hand.
"Sophia!" Rolando shouted, throwing her to the ground and covering her body with his.
Without flinching, I fired at the robot straight in the chest, ripping it apart.
"Rolando! Go to the shelters! Sophie knows where they are, I'll cover you! Go now!"
"You can't fight all of them," she cried, her beautiful eyes enormous with worry. "Come with us."
"I don't have time to argue with you, Sophie."
"Call the Voltron Force," she pointed out desperately.
"Get your butt out of here now!"
Her eyes flashed. Rolando's fingers curled around her arm and drew her to her feet. "We must leave," he said, fitting his larger frame around hers protectively. I slammed another clip into the gun and rolled across the floor to draw fire away from them, coming up on my knees, firing toward the middle of the theater, the laser striking a robot, taking its body and flinging it backward several feet across the screen.
It fell like a rag doll onto the floor, dark smoke escaping from it.
Things were happening too fast, and my vision narrowed toward my purpose, pulling out Sophie from this mess and getting back to the castle. They must be looking for me, and I forgot my communicator.
Damn. If I survive, Keith is gonna kill me for this.
I saw Sophie and Rolando walking on the red carpet, and once in a while they stopped to talk to a reporter or pose for a picture. I got in line with the rest of the ‘mortals' thinking that I would sit on the balcony to keep an eye on them. The line was quite long, most of it filled with girls screaming and crying for a glimpse of Rolando. I don't know what they see in him. He's scrawny, thinner than Lance; his black suit probably weights more than he does.
When I reached the top of the line, the usher- a tall bald guy with the face of a bulldog- asked for my ticket. I searched my pockets.
And searched...
And searched once more...
I didn't have the stupid tickets.
"Your ticket," he growled once again.
"Heh...I don't know what happened. I was sure I had it with me. But don't worry, I'll get it later."
The people behind me started chanting, "Get off the line! Get off the line!"
"No ticket, no admission." The guard's eyes glinted with menace.
"You must be new around here," I said. "Don't you know who I am?"
"Should I?"
"I'm Pidge!"
"Don't know any Pidge," he said with a shrug.
"What?"
"If you're really Pidge," a tall brown haired guy dressed as a character from the movie said, "where's your green suit with the ruffles?"
I was dressed in faded blue jeans and a sleeveless green T-shirt with a picture of the rock group Space Donkeys. "Please, do you think I wear that suit all the time?"
"And your glasses?" a freckled face girl with green eyes and curly blond hair added. "Where are your glasses?"
"I'm wearing contacts."
"He's pretending to be Pidge to get in for free!" Another girl shouted.
"But I'm Pidge, honest!"
"Step aside," the usher ordered, "and let the people with tickets through."
"Fine! I'll just buy another freaking ticket!"
I went to the ticket booth, and the lady said the damned show was sold out. There were screaming girls all over the place, pleading for a chance to get in; they couldn't understand the theater couldn't exceed the occupancy limit. But I didn't care; desperate times called for desperate measures- I had to get in to watch over Sophie and Rolando one way or the other.
I went to the alley and found a scalper who sold me a ticket at four times the original amount.
Security was tight. Policemen and security personnel were visible everywhere. Every entrance was heavily guarded. I moved easily, maneuvering through the crowd down toward the front. I saw Sophie and Rolando sitting in the middle in the fifth row. Instead of seating myself, I took up a standing position along the wall near the exit.
The mood of the crowd was almost electric; the air thick with anticipation as the trailers zoomed out from the screen to give way to the feature movie. The theater was so silent not even the shuffling of feet interrupted the title song, "Proud as a Lion." This was the last part of the saga about Leonela, a medieval princess who as a child, had lost her family and her ancestral home to an evil king from a nearby land, and years later had returned to reclaim it with the help of her brave warriors.
The walls of the theater seemed to fall away as the screen created the illusion of a dark, mythical forest, of cascading waterfalls, and traitorous roads. Enrique (Rolando Klum) and his friends were riding side by side. The five war-horses loped easily along. No word was spoken but in absolute necessity and then quick questions at the villages and farms, so the pace never slowed. There was deadliness about the five men and a sense of purpose that would not be denied. They had to rescue Princess Leonela from their archenemy, King Lizandro.
When a halt was called, the huge horses were fed double rations of grain and they drank and grazed while the knights ate dried meat and caught quick naps in the sun.
Enrique was well trained to the hardship required by the martial calling. He rode relaxed in the saddle yet his thoughts were far away. Perhaps his beloved had been slain by now. His mind flinched at the idea, trying to imagine life without Leonela's happy laughter and his thoughts took him to a black, gaping dread. It came to him as bright sunlight in the night that he loved the princess beyond all reason, beyond his own life.
Soon there was a trail to follow: the cold coals of a campfire, the flattened grass where a woman might have rested. The eagerness of the five men became intent as they rode steadily past other people who stopped to stare after them.
They topped a hill and on a distant knoll caught a glimpse of twelve mounts, one whose mount was led. The five horses seemed to catch the excitement of their masters and, though tired, continued their journey.
Ten slowed slightly in the group ahead, dropping back while one knight and a woman fled on. The distance narrowed and the ten saw a favor in that only five pursued. At a shout from Lizandro's second in command they halted, drew swords and braced themselves against those five.
As the hunters saw their prey, a long war cry escaped from Enrique's throat. The great swords flashed on high and hummed in the wind. At the wailing sound from the far off hill, Lizandro pulled his horse to halt and cursed his fate for he knew Enrique's cry and worse, he knew his nemesis would not stop.
Leonela rode behind him, strangely calm. Assured now that her knight lived, she smiled. Glancing over his shoulder, the king found little ease in the serenity he saw in her face.
As the evening proceeded, Rolando became increasingly attentive, leaning over to talk to Sophie, covering her hand with his own, and directing numerous charming smiles her way. I gave no indication of my jealousy. I pretended to be too interested in the battle scenes to notice, and she responded to his playacting with too much enthusiasm for my taste.
I cursed silently at her expression as she gazed at Klum with starry-eyed pride. I had never experienced jealousy and found it to be an extremely shitty emotion. What had gotten into me? Was this my true character?
I just didn't want to share my girlfriend with anyone- it was that simple. And if the actor thought differently, he was in for a hard lesson.
A piercing scream interrupted my thoughts. It was followed by a second scream, then a third. I heard a shot ring out, then a volley of laser fire thudding into flesh and seats. The building shook with the force of feet pounding across the floor as moviegoers raced to get out of the line of fire.
I moved quickly. The theater was total chaos. People were fleeing the place as fast as they could, running over each other in the process, yelling in terror. Chairs were smashed and broken. Arusian soldiers were exchanging laser fire with a half dozen Drule robots that were also shooting into the crowd as they tried to escape.
I dove into the pit in front of the screen, rolling to my right, looking for any cover of any kind. I pushed aside one man. He was beyond help. A red stain on his chest was quickly spreading around his shirt.
I heard Sophie's high-pitched scream, saw people throwing themselves to the ground and running for cover. I sprang away from the unconscious man, whirling to meet the threat, a hiss exposing jagged teeth. It was a Drule robot, and it sprang at me, its yellow eyes fixed on me. I leapt into the air to meet the robot, gun in hand.
"Sophia!" Rolando shouted, throwing her to the ground and covering her body with his.
Without flinching, I fired at the robot straight in the chest, ripping it apart.
"Rolando! Go to the shelters! Sophie knows where they are, I'll cover you! Go now!"
"You can't fight all of them," she cried, her beautiful eyes enormous with worry. "Come with us."
"I don't have time to argue with you, Sophie."
"Call the Voltron Force," she pointed out desperately.
"Get your butt out of here now!"
Her eyes flashed. Rolando's fingers curled around her arm and drew her to her feet. "We must leave," he said, fitting his larger frame around hers protectively. I slammed another clip into the gun and rolled across the floor to draw fire away from them, coming up on my knees, firing toward the middle of the theater, the laser striking a robot, taking its body and flinging it backward several feet across the screen.
It fell like a rag doll onto the floor, dark smoke escaping from it.
Things were happening too fast, and my vision narrowed toward my purpose, pulling out Sophie from this mess and getting back to the castle. They must be looking for me, and I forgot my communicator.
Damn. If I survive, Keith is gonna kill me for this.
"Arrogance frowns; pride smiles." ~Mason Cooley
In the first frantic hours after coordinated bomb blasts ripped through several parts of Arus, Keith gave us the order to scramble, and the lions hurried to the different sites. The first bomb went off at 8:13 p.m. on a jam-packed concert at the House of Dane. Flames and heavy smoke burst skyward from the building, torching offices and shops along with pine trees. The second bomb was at an apartment complex in Odense. The blast ignited at least four cars, one of which was hurled into a computer store. Some vehicles looked more than mangled piles of metal. The explosion blew bricks, windows, and other debris hundreds of meters from the complex.
Then a bomb exploded at the Lion Theater. An elderly man who lived near said that there was a huge boom followed by complete darkness and then the red glow of fire. Many homes and commercial buildings were shattered, but thanks to the contingency plan implemented by the Voltron Force, there were few casualties. Most of my people went straight to the shelters we built after the Omega Comet incident; the rest remained to assist rescuers pull bodies and search for other victims.
Pidge and Sophie were supposed to be at the movies, but we have not heard from them, although there are reports of a young man exchanging laser fire inside the theater with at least half a dozen Doom soldiers.
Another blast shook the Denmark Hotel in Skagen, the home of many foreigners, including several journalists. Hunk went there because Annie works as host of The Traveling Gourmet on SNN. He saw Annie coming out of the building dazed, coated in dust. She told him they were just finishing the mixing of their story when they heard a very big boom and there were no more windows or power.
The bomb left the Skagen News Network in shambles, with windows smashed and televisions hanging from cords. A two-story annex belonging to the Skagen Natural Museum was in flames, with one side sheared off.
About two hours ago, Keith found signs of who had orchestrated these brutal attacks- an abandoned coffin in the forest containing detonators and a disk with a message from the culprit, confirming his responsibility and vowing to cause more mayhem.
Coran had slipped the disk into the console. I stared down at the screen, and there he was, sitting on a throne surrounded by his harem. He was raw power and pure elegance with his long white hair, strong face and piercing eyes of death. I couldn't think of him as anything but my mortal enemy.
"Allura, by the time you watch this message, Arus' security will be in ruins. On this occasion I didn't rely on a robeast that Voltron would have destroyed in a matter of minutes. No, I prepared a series of attacks that would bring an interesting number of casualties and keep the robot lions quite busy."
"My dear princess, don't you see the futility of your fight?" He was very calm. "Innocent people are suffering because of your resistance."
I remained mute. It was a taunt, a reprimand.
"You've always known my feelings for you. They have not changed. That's why I have an invitation for you. Surrender to me." His voice suddenly turned cajoling, appeasing. "What is the sense of fighting among ourselves, when we can have so much fun?"
I remained silent. He paused, and I heard the echo of menacing laughter in his next words. "I'm willing to wait as long as it takes, Princess. But your people don't have that luxury, do they?"
His face was suddenly filled with a kind of crafty, greedy lust, his feline eyes glowed and his mouth curved into an infuriating smile. I flinched away from the dark sensuality I saw there. From everything he said. Everything he promised. From what he left unsaid.
Even though it was only a video I left the conference room. I had to escape from his nasty words, his evil smile-
A loud knock on the thick doors set my nerves jangling.
"Princess, are you there?" Hunk rapped his fist against the doors a second time. "Everything is ready for your speech."
Taking a deep breath, I left my chambers and stepped into the hall; Hunk's beefy arm instantly swept around my shoulders giving me a sense of security.
"You were thinking about Lotor's message, weren't you?" He glanced around, and then lowered his head toward mine. "Remember what Keith said, ‘Don't let Lotor run your life. He does not own you, and never will.' "
"I know." My voice came out low and husky. "I'll be fine, Hunk. Please don't say anything to Keith. He's already jumpy enough."
"Don't worry about the Chief. He knows how to handle Lotor." Hunk matched his longer strides with mine as we moved through the hall toward the entrance of the conference room.
"Has Pidge called?"
He winced visibly. "Not yet. Worst of all, I went into his bedroom and saw his communicator on the bed. All I can say is that Keith was not amused."
"Poor thing, he went off in such a rush. I wonder if he's with Sophie."
Keith appeared and fell into step on my other side. "I can't believe he would be this irresponsible!"
I glared at him. "Why do you insist on calling him irresponsible? Have you forgotten when you were at eighteen? It wasn't that long ago."
"Princess-"
"Just because Pidge forgot his communicator doesn't mean he's irresponsible. He's saved us many times. That should count for something!"
Keith caught my arm. "Princess, don't defend him. He should have his communicator at all times."
"Just like you," I said tersely.
His eyebrows shot up. All at once he looked like a predator, a lion with his eyes fixed unblinkingly on his prey. Did he have to be so intimidating?
Giving him a look of pure disdain, I pulled my arm free and went to the podium. I needed to talk to my people, to tell them everything would be okay.
In the first frantic hours after coordinated bomb blasts ripped through several parts of Arus, Keith gave us the order to scramble, and the lions hurried to the different sites. The first bomb went off at 8:13 p.m. on a jam-packed concert at the House of Dane. Flames and heavy smoke burst skyward from the building, torching offices and shops along with pine trees. The second bomb was at an apartment complex in Odense. The blast ignited at least four cars, one of which was hurled into a computer store. Some vehicles looked more than mangled piles of metal. The explosion blew bricks, windows, and other debris hundreds of meters from the complex.
Then a bomb exploded at the Lion Theater. An elderly man who lived near said that there was a huge boom followed by complete darkness and then the red glow of fire. Many homes and commercial buildings were shattered, but thanks to the contingency plan implemented by the Voltron Force, there were few casualties. Most of my people went straight to the shelters we built after the Omega Comet incident; the rest remained to assist rescuers pull bodies and search for other victims.
Pidge and Sophie were supposed to be at the movies, but we have not heard from them, although there are reports of a young man exchanging laser fire inside the theater with at least half a dozen Doom soldiers.
Another blast shook the Denmark Hotel in Skagen, the home of many foreigners, including several journalists. Hunk went there because Annie works as host of The Traveling Gourmet on SNN. He saw Annie coming out of the building dazed, coated in dust. She told him they were just finishing the mixing of their story when they heard a very big boom and there were no more windows or power.
The bomb left the Skagen News Network in shambles, with windows smashed and televisions hanging from cords. A two-story annex belonging to the Skagen Natural Museum was in flames, with one side sheared off.
About two hours ago, Keith found signs of who had orchestrated these brutal attacks- an abandoned coffin in the forest containing detonators and a disk with a message from the culprit, confirming his responsibility and vowing to cause more mayhem.
Coran had slipped the disk into the console. I stared down at the screen, and there he was, sitting on a throne surrounded by his harem. He was raw power and pure elegance with his long white hair, strong face and piercing eyes of death. I couldn't think of him as anything but my mortal enemy.
"Allura, by the time you watch this message, Arus' security will be in ruins. On this occasion I didn't rely on a robeast that Voltron would have destroyed in a matter of minutes. No, I prepared a series of attacks that would bring an interesting number of casualties and keep the robot lions quite busy."
"My dear princess, don't you see the futility of your fight?" He was very calm. "Innocent people are suffering because of your resistance."
I remained mute. It was a taunt, a reprimand.
"You've always known my feelings for you. They have not changed. That's why I have an invitation for you. Surrender to me." His voice suddenly turned cajoling, appeasing. "What is the sense of fighting among ourselves, when we can have so much fun?"
I remained silent. He paused, and I heard the echo of menacing laughter in his next words. "I'm willing to wait as long as it takes, Princess. But your people don't have that luxury, do they?"
His face was suddenly filled with a kind of crafty, greedy lust, his feline eyes glowed and his mouth curved into an infuriating smile. I flinched away from the dark sensuality I saw there. From everything he said. Everything he promised. From what he left unsaid.
Even though it was only a video I left the conference room. I had to escape from his nasty words, his evil smile-
A loud knock on the thick doors set my nerves jangling.
"Princess, are you there?" Hunk rapped his fist against the doors a second time. "Everything is ready for your speech."
Taking a deep breath, I left my chambers and stepped into the hall; Hunk's beefy arm instantly swept around my shoulders giving me a sense of security.
"You were thinking about Lotor's message, weren't you?" He glanced around, and then lowered his head toward mine. "Remember what Keith said, ‘Don't let Lotor run your life. He does not own you, and never will.' "
"I know." My voice came out low and husky. "I'll be fine, Hunk. Please don't say anything to Keith. He's already jumpy enough."
"Don't worry about the Chief. He knows how to handle Lotor." Hunk matched his longer strides with mine as we moved through the hall toward the entrance of the conference room.
"Has Pidge called?"
He winced visibly. "Not yet. Worst of all, I went into his bedroom and saw his communicator on the bed. All I can say is that Keith was not amused."
"Poor thing, he went off in such a rush. I wonder if he's with Sophie."
Keith appeared and fell into step on my other side. "I can't believe he would be this irresponsible!"
I glared at him. "Why do you insist on calling him irresponsible? Have you forgotten when you were at eighteen? It wasn't that long ago."
"Princess-"
"Just because Pidge forgot his communicator doesn't mean he's irresponsible. He's saved us many times. That should count for something!"
Keith caught my arm. "Princess, don't defend him. He should have his communicator at all times."
"Just like you," I said tersely.
His eyebrows shot up. All at once he looked like a predator, a lion with his eyes fixed unblinkingly on his prey. Did he have to be so intimidating?
Giving him a look of pure disdain, I pulled my arm free and went to the podium. I needed to talk to my people, to tell them everything would be okay.
I fought the urge to smile, my gaze wandering over the mass of people rising out of their seats to salute her.
But I was looking at Allura. Just Allura. I stared down at her, seeing the compassion and determination written on her face. I just couldn't take my eyes off her. She touched me in so many levels, not the least of which was my instinct to protect. She didn't want a protector, didn't believe she needed one.
I was careful not to allow any show of emotion to betray me. I didn't want to make the mistake of gathering her into my arms and drawing her close, even though that was all I wanted to do. I found myself painfully aroused and surprisingly proud.
Movement across the room caught my eye. Lance had arrived, smiling like the Cheshire cat. He took several steps toward Hunk but halted as Coran lifted his hand in warning.
But I was looking at Allura. Just Allura. I stared down at her, seeing the compassion and determination written on her face. I just couldn't take my eyes off her. She touched me in so many levels, not the least of which was my instinct to protect. She didn't want a protector, didn't believe she needed one.
I was careful not to allow any show of emotion to betray me. I didn't want to make the mistake of gathering her into my arms and drawing her close, even though that was all I wanted to do. I found myself painfully aroused and surprisingly proud.
Movement across the room caught my eye. Lance had arrived, smiling like the Cheshire cat. He took several steps toward Hunk but halted as Coran lifted his hand in warning.
"There you are," Keith hissed, glaring at me.
"I came as soon as I could," I replied, standing next to Hunk.
"How's Christian?" Hunk whispered.
"Fine, I left her at the inn with Anne and Viggo. They're waiting for news about Sophie and that Rolando guy."
My gaze strays often to Keith. At the moment, his eyes are fixed on the Princess, his attention seemingly consumed by her words and actions. There's a hard edge to his mouth, a blatant possessiveness reflected in the depths of his dark eyes.
I knew if I tried to win the Princess for myself he would be a dangerous adversary, even worse than Lotor.
At least Blue Boy has declared his intentions with Allura- sick as they may be- unlike my friend. I don't know how he does it. If it weren't for his bad temper he could have been a monk. He certainly lives like one.
"I came as soon as I could," I replied, standing next to Hunk.
"How's Christian?" Hunk whispered.
"Fine, I left her at the inn with Anne and Viggo. They're waiting for news about Sophie and that Rolando guy."
My gaze strays often to Keith. At the moment, his eyes are fixed on the Princess, his attention seemingly consumed by her words and actions. There's a hard edge to his mouth, a blatant possessiveness reflected in the depths of his dark eyes.
I knew if I tried to win the Princess for myself he would be a dangerous adversary, even worse than Lotor.
At least Blue Boy has declared his intentions with Allura- sick as they may be- unlike my friend. I don't know how he does it. If it weren't for his bad temper he could have been a monk. He certainly lives like one.
"Princess, this address will bring some measure of peace," Coran said, as we left the conference room.
"I hope so." I looked at the boys. "Now let's go find Pidge and Sophie."
Keith blinked in disbelief. "You better stay here."
I rolled my eyes at him. "Here we go again, trying to protect the little princess."
"Princess," he sighed with exasperation. "You're missing the point."
I considered myself well disciplined, took a certain pride in it, yet I could feel butterflies in my stomach and warmth spreading treacherously through my body at the ache in his voice.
I lifted my chin, challenging him. "There's no talking to you when you're in your alpha-male mode. But you're wasting your time; I'll be part of the search party."
Keith raked a hand through the black silk of his hair, leaving it more disheveled than ever. "You will go with Lance to the southern villages. Hunk and I will go to the northern ones."
Hunk nodded his agreement with a mischievous smile on his face.
Lance deliberately turned his head toward Keith and smiled a show of gleaming white teeth. He straightened- his body fluid and supple. Two fingers touched his forehead in a mock salute directed at him. Muscles rippled beneath his bomber jacket. He sauntered to the control room, arrogance in every step. His hazel eyes glinted with menace until he swung his gaze back to me.
Then his eyes softened, intently, making me blush.
Swift impatience crossed Keith's dark features. Before he could react, I laid my hand across his mouth and forced a small smile.
"Let's go, before our captain changes his mind."
"I hope so." I looked at the boys. "Now let's go find Pidge and Sophie."
Keith blinked in disbelief. "You better stay here."
I rolled my eyes at him. "Here we go again, trying to protect the little princess."
"Princess," he sighed with exasperation. "You're missing the point."
I considered myself well disciplined, took a certain pride in it, yet I could feel butterflies in my stomach and warmth spreading treacherously through my body at the ache in his voice.
I lifted my chin, challenging him. "There's no talking to you when you're in your alpha-male mode. But you're wasting your time; I'll be part of the search party."
Keith raked a hand through the black silk of his hair, leaving it more disheveled than ever. "You will go with Lance to the southern villages. Hunk and I will go to the northern ones."
Hunk nodded his agreement with a mischievous smile on his face.
Lance deliberately turned his head toward Keith and smiled a show of gleaming white teeth. He straightened- his body fluid and supple. Two fingers touched his forehead in a mock salute directed at him. Muscles rippled beneath his bomber jacket. He sauntered to the control room, arrogance in every step. His hazel eyes glinted with menace until he swung his gaze back to me.
Then his eyes softened, intently, making me blush.
Swift impatience crossed Keith's dark features. Before he could react, I laid my hand across his mouth and forced a small smile.
"Let's go, before our captain changes his mind."
"Pride must have a fall." ~William Shakespeare
"Sophia, are you sure it's safe to leave the shelter?" Rolando asked me as we made our way back to my family's inn.
"You heard the elders, the attacks have stopped."
He rubbed the bridge of his nose thoughtfully. "I think we should have waited for an official announcement from the Castle."
"I know, but I need to see if my sisters and brother are okay."
"And I have to call my mother and sister. I'm sure the news has reached Terra," he whispered. "They must be worried about me."
"You were really brave, Rolando, helping those people escape from the burning cottage."
He sighed wearily and moved away from the crowd that was still mostly focused on us. "That was a close call. The stable was impassable; I thought they were going to lose their horses."
"But our hero jumped into action anyway."
"Of course, I don't want Pidge's lady love to think that I'm a coward."
I laughed. "Oh Rolando, the things you say."
"Pidge's lady love, huh? This just got better."
We turned around, and saw three strange-looking men aiming their laser guns at us.
"Who are you? What are you doing?" I asked them.
They removed their masks, revealing their blue faces and cat-like eyes. One of them gave me an evil sneer that was cold enough to set my teeth to chattering. "We're setting things right."
"I beg your pardon?" Rolando asked, immediately placing himself in front of me.
Before I could move, the Doomie pulled out a dagger. "Come quietly, and we won't hurt you. Fight us, and you'll be sorry."
"Sophia, are you sure it's safe to leave the shelter?" Rolando asked me as we made our way back to my family's inn.
"You heard the elders, the attacks have stopped."
He rubbed the bridge of his nose thoughtfully. "I think we should have waited for an official announcement from the Castle."
"I know, but I need to see if my sisters and brother are okay."
"And I have to call my mother and sister. I'm sure the news has reached Terra," he whispered. "They must be worried about me."
"You were really brave, Rolando, helping those people escape from the burning cottage."
He sighed wearily and moved away from the crowd that was still mostly focused on us. "That was a close call. The stable was impassable; I thought they were going to lose their horses."
"But our hero jumped into action anyway."
"Of course, I don't want Pidge's lady love to think that I'm a coward."
I laughed. "Oh Rolando, the things you say."
"Pidge's lady love, huh? This just got better."
We turned around, and saw three strange-looking men aiming their laser guns at us.
"Who are you? What are you doing?" I asked them.
They removed their masks, revealing their blue faces and cat-like eyes. One of them gave me an evil sneer that was cold enough to set my teeth to chattering. "We're setting things right."
"I beg your pardon?" Rolando asked, immediately placing himself in front of me.
Before I could move, the Doomie pulled out a dagger. "Come quietly, and we won't hurt you. Fight us, and you'll be sorry."
I stood inside the tavern; trying to call the castle from a cell phone I borrowed from a civilian because all videophones were dead. But that too proved unsuccessful.
My mind whirled with this evening's attack. I didn't know why I was out here, except that I couldn't think of anything else to do with myself and I needed to tell the guys I was okay.
Who am I kidding? I was here because I needed something to focus on other that the burning pain inside my heart. Sophie preferred Rolando to me. But how could I blame her? I haven't been the attentive boyfriend she deserves...
There are so many lives at stake here. Things much more important than my own happiness, which seems trivial when compared to what has happened to my adoptive planet.
I cursed as pain attacked me again. All logic and reason aside, there's no escaping the fact that I should have paid more attention to Sophie. I can't get her out of my mind. I need her more than I had ever needed anyone or anything. The mere thought of living without her was enough to send me to my knees...
"Pidge?"
Her voice was like a thunderbolt to my senses. I looked past the bartender to see a nervous and uncertain looking Sophie standing at the opening of the tavern. "Sophie! You're okay?"
She didn't answer directly. "Could you please come out here for a moment?"
I frowned at her words. "Where's your Rolando? Did he run away?"
"Please, Pidge," she stressed her words. "I really need you to come outside alone. Now."
My frown turned to a scowl at her insistent tone. She sounded more like Nanny than a girl who should feel bad for going on a date with someone else.
Muttering a curse, I headed for her.
It wasn't until I neared the entrance that I saw she wasn't alone. A Doomie disguised as a villager was with her, and he had a dagger held to her throat. Two other men flanked him.
"Make a move and she's dead."
"You wouldn't dare harm her," I said, stepping forward with my arms held up non-threateningly so that he wouldn't get nervous and hurt Sophie.
"Wouldn't dare kill Green Lion's wench?" He sneered. "Why not? The Voltron Force kills whomever they please."
I took another step forward, intending to end this once and for all.
"One more step," he snarled, "and I slice her throat."
I met Sophie's fear-filled eyes with determination in my own. I had no intention of letting her be hurt by that fool or anyone else. Whatever it takes, I'll save her.
"What do you want?"
The Doomie smirked. "I want you to stand there while my mates bind you."
I stood in silence as they took away my laser gun and tied my hands.
The taller of the Drules had brown hair and mean yellow eyes. He grabbed me by the hair and forced me onto a horse. I kept waiting for Keith and the guys to come and help us.
The Doomies mounted their horses and I had to watch helplessly as Sophie was placed in front of their leader. I saw the pallor in her face, the fear and concern.
"Why are you taking us?" I demanded.
The other Drule who was shorter and had blond hair answered. "For the sake of justice," he snarled. "You and your friends have ruined Prince Lotor's plans of capturing Princess Allura and so we ruin yours."
Their leader laughed again. "And here I thought a great gift for our prince would be another blond wench for his harem. Just imagine how her family will react when they learn she was raped and killed while you did nothing to save her. Everyone will hate you!"
"Are you crazy?"
"Not at all," he said, his lips twisted cruelly as he rode. "It is time for Doom to be regaled again while Arus and the Voltron Force get what they deserve, humiliation."
I clenched my teeth to keep from telling them who was really to blame for what happened. Reminding them of the fact that Lotor was an asshole who didn't have a prayer with Princess Allura wouldn't accomplish anything.
"If it is revenge you want, then kill me and let the girl go."
"Oh no," the leader said. His saffron eyes glowed with cruel mischief. "See, here's where we regain our position. Who better to fall into Prince Lotor's good graces than the soldiers who killed the pilot of Green Lion and his girlfriend?"
My mind whirled with this evening's attack. I didn't know why I was out here, except that I couldn't think of anything else to do with myself and I needed to tell the guys I was okay.
Who am I kidding? I was here because I needed something to focus on other that the burning pain inside my heart. Sophie preferred Rolando to me. But how could I blame her? I haven't been the attentive boyfriend she deserves...
There are so many lives at stake here. Things much more important than my own happiness, which seems trivial when compared to what has happened to my adoptive planet.
I cursed as pain attacked me again. All logic and reason aside, there's no escaping the fact that I should have paid more attention to Sophie. I can't get her out of my mind. I need her more than I had ever needed anyone or anything. The mere thought of living without her was enough to send me to my knees...
"Pidge?"
Her voice was like a thunderbolt to my senses. I looked past the bartender to see a nervous and uncertain looking Sophie standing at the opening of the tavern. "Sophie! You're okay?"
She didn't answer directly. "Could you please come out here for a moment?"
I frowned at her words. "Where's your Rolando? Did he run away?"
"Please, Pidge," she stressed her words. "I really need you to come outside alone. Now."
My frown turned to a scowl at her insistent tone. She sounded more like Nanny than a girl who should feel bad for going on a date with someone else.
Muttering a curse, I headed for her.
It wasn't until I neared the entrance that I saw she wasn't alone. A Doomie disguised as a villager was with her, and he had a dagger held to her throat. Two other men flanked him.
"Make a move and she's dead."
"You wouldn't dare harm her," I said, stepping forward with my arms held up non-threateningly so that he wouldn't get nervous and hurt Sophie.
"Wouldn't dare kill Green Lion's wench?" He sneered. "Why not? The Voltron Force kills whomever they please."
I took another step forward, intending to end this once and for all.
"One more step," he snarled, "and I slice her throat."
I met Sophie's fear-filled eyes with determination in my own. I had no intention of letting her be hurt by that fool or anyone else. Whatever it takes, I'll save her.
"What do you want?"
The Doomie smirked. "I want you to stand there while my mates bind you."
I stood in silence as they took away my laser gun and tied my hands.
The taller of the Drules had brown hair and mean yellow eyes. He grabbed me by the hair and forced me onto a horse. I kept waiting for Keith and the guys to come and help us.
The Doomies mounted their horses and I had to watch helplessly as Sophie was placed in front of their leader. I saw the pallor in her face, the fear and concern.
"Why are you taking us?" I demanded.
The other Drule who was shorter and had blond hair answered. "For the sake of justice," he snarled. "You and your friends have ruined Prince Lotor's plans of capturing Princess Allura and so we ruin yours."
Their leader laughed again. "And here I thought a great gift for our prince would be another blond wench for his harem. Just imagine how her family will react when they learn she was raped and killed while you did nothing to save her. Everyone will hate you!"
"Are you crazy?"
"Not at all," he said, his lips twisted cruelly as he rode. "It is time for Doom to be regaled again while Arus and the Voltron Force get what they deserve, humiliation."
I clenched my teeth to keep from telling them who was really to blame for what happened. Reminding them of the fact that Lotor was an asshole who didn't have a prayer with Princess Allura wouldn't accomplish anything.
"If it is revenge you want, then kill me and let the girl go."
"Oh no," the leader said. His saffron eyes glowed with cruel mischief. "See, here's where we regain our position. Who better to fall into Prince Lotor's good graces than the soldiers who killed the pilot of Green Lion and his girlfriend?"
Castle of Lions, Sunday June 12th, 2304
"Pride in their port, defiance in their eye, I see the lords of humankind pass by." ~Oliver Goldsmith
We rode for hours until we came to an abandoned house that appeared to have been burned down. The skeleton of the building remained, but it looked far from safe. Weeds and vine covered the fallen and charred stones.
The Drules dismounted, and then pulled me from my horse.
I glared at them. The leader kept his dagger at Sophie's throat the entire time. "One move," he hissed. It was a threat I listened to. They led me into the crumbling great hall and roughly forced me to kneel by the chimney. I only obeyed because of the knife at her neck. I didn't take my eyes off her while they tied me to an iron ring that was buried deep into the stones by the chimney. Only then did the dagger come away from her skin. I took a deep breath in relief.
The leader smiled evilly at me. "It's a pity I can't kill you now. But I have to make sure you stay alive until we call Prince Lotor. Tell me, how would you kill her? Would you choke her? Cut her throat?"
I eyed him with all the hatred I could muster. "You harm her, and so help me, I'll defy death itself to rip your heart out."
The shorter one sucked his breath in sharply. "I almost believe the rumors that you and your mates gave your souls to the evil gods to escape the Omega Comet."
I stared toward the man. "Lay a finger on her and I'll introduce you to them myself."
"Leave them alone," the leader snapped. "Let's call Prince Lotor and see about putting this plan into motion. The sooner we get the message off, the closer we'll be to having our privileges once again."
He shoved Sophie toward me and sheathed his dagger. Sophie fell to her knees beside me. The sight of her there, trembling, made me want their blood all the more.
"Don't worry, Sophie," I whispered. "I won't let them hurt you."
"They killed Rolando," she said, her voice shaking as she cuddled up to my side like a child needing comfort. I winced at the news and wished my arms were free so that I could hold her and soothe her worry and fear.
"What happened?"
"We were outside the shelter. I was talking to him when they came in, pretending to be villagers. Rolando tried to keep them from taking me, but the leader stabbed him in the belly."
Tears were shining brightly in her eyes, but she held them back. "Pidge, what have I done? I only wanted to go on a date with my favorite actor. I never meant for anyone to get hurt. God knows I never wanted Rolando dead. Whatever will I tell his mother and sister? They live for him. They'll never recover from this."
I nuzzled her head with my cheek, offering her what solace I could while tied to the wall. "None of this is your fault."
I glanced at the Doomies, who were arguing over what the message to Lotor would be and over how much gold they should ask for. I had to find some way to escape. I wrenched at the ring that held me to the wall. It wiggled only enough to make me think that maybe I could work it free. Provided they didn't turn around and see what I was up to.
Sophie saw me twisting at my ropes. She pulled back from me. "Stop that. You'll hurt yourself," she whispered.
"I'll be okay," I whispered back.
She then glanced around the overgrown floor where weeds and rocks were scattered. She looked back at the Drules, who were still arguing, and motioned me to keep my mouth shut. I watched her go to a small pile of stones. After a few minutes, she returned with one. But before she could hand it to me, the taller one saw her.
"Give me that," he snapped, rushing over to us and pulling it from her hand.
"What's wrong?" the leader asked as he joined us.
"The bitch was trying to help him escape."
Shorty came forward with a snarl. "Let's tie her up with him while we talk with Prince Lotor."
"Yes," the leader agreed. He pulled his belt off and handed it to Lurch. "Then after we cut off communications, why don't have a little fun with her?"
I went cold. "Don't even think about it!"
The leader grinned evilly. "Why not? She's going to die before we leave Arus. The only one who'll ever know we had her is you, Green Lion. And you won't be able to tell anyone after we cut your throat."
His smile widened as he eyed me with malice. "That bothers you, doesn't it? The thought of us using her? Could it be that you haven't fucked her yet?"
"That's none of your business!"
I flinched at Sophie's words. He drew back to hit her. I slung my leg out, tripping the leader so that he stumbled away from her.
"Hey!" Shorty shouted when I got on my feet. But I didn't stop. The wall shook as I panted and strained even more. Sophie pushed herself to her feet and moved away from the wall before I pulled it down on top of her.
An instant before the Doomies reached me, I pulled the ring free. I turned on them with a vicious snarl.
"Pride in their port, defiance in their eye, I see the lords of humankind pass by." ~Oliver Goldsmith
We rode for hours until we came to an abandoned house that appeared to have been burned down. The skeleton of the building remained, but it looked far from safe. Weeds and vine covered the fallen and charred stones.
The Drules dismounted, and then pulled me from my horse.
I glared at them. The leader kept his dagger at Sophie's throat the entire time. "One move," he hissed. It was a threat I listened to. They led me into the crumbling great hall and roughly forced me to kneel by the chimney. I only obeyed because of the knife at her neck. I didn't take my eyes off her while they tied me to an iron ring that was buried deep into the stones by the chimney. Only then did the dagger come away from her skin. I took a deep breath in relief.
The leader smiled evilly at me. "It's a pity I can't kill you now. But I have to make sure you stay alive until we call Prince Lotor. Tell me, how would you kill her? Would you choke her? Cut her throat?"
I eyed him with all the hatred I could muster. "You harm her, and so help me, I'll defy death itself to rip your heart out."
The shorter one sucked his breath in sharply. "I almost believe the rumors that you and your mates gave your souls to the evil gods to escape the Omega Comet."
I stared toward the man. "Lay a finger on her and I'll introduce you to them myself."
"Leave them alone," the leader snapped. "Let's call Prince Lotor and see about putting this plan into motion. The sooner we get the message off, the closer we'll be to having our privileges once again."
He shoved Sophie toward me and sheathed his dagger. Sophie fell to her knees beside me. The sight of her there, trembling, made me want their blood all the more.
"Don't worry, Sophie," I whispered. "I won't let them hurt you."
"They killed Rolando," she said, her voice shaking as she cuddled up to my side like a child needing comfort. I winced at the news and wished my arms were free so that I could hold her and soothe her worry and fear.
"What happened?"
"We were outside the shelter. I was talking to him when they came in, pretending to be villagers. Rolando tried to keep them from taking me, but the leader stabbed him in the belly."
Tears were shining brightly in her eyes, but she held them back. "Pidge, what have I done? I only wanted to go on a date with my favorite actor. I never meant for anyone to get hurt. God knows I never wanted Rolando dead. Whatever will I tell his mother and sister? They live for him. They'll never recover from this."
I nuzzled her head with my cheek, offering her what solace I could while tied to the wall. "None of this is your fault."
I glanced at the Doomies, who were arguing over what the message to Lotor would be and over how much gold they should ask for. I had to find some way to escape. I wrenched at the ring that held me to the wall. It wiggled only enough to make me think that maybe I could work it free. Provided they didn't turn around and see what I was up to.
Sophie saw me twisting at my ropes. She pulled back from me. "Stop that. You'll hurt yourself," she whispered.
"I'll be okay," I whispered back.
She then glanced around the overgrown floor where weeds and rocks were scattered. She looked back at the Drules, who were still arguing, and motioned me to keep my mouth shut. I watched her go to a small pile of stones. After a few minutes, she returned with one. But before she could hand it to me, the taller one saw her.
"Give me that," he snapped, rushing over to us and pulling it from her hand.
"What's wrong?" the leader asked as he joined us.
"The bitch was trying to help him escape."
Shorty came forward with a snarl. "Let's tie her up with him while we talk with Prince Lotor."
"Yes," the leader agreed. He pulled his belt off and handed it to Lurch. "Then after we cut off communications, why don't have a little fun with her?"
I went cold. "Don't even think about it!"
The leader grinned evilly. "Why not? She's going to die before we leave Arus. The only one who'll ever know we had her is you, Green Lion. And you won't be able to tell anyone after we cut your throat."
His smile widened as he eyed me with malice. "That bothers you, doesn't it? The thought of us using her? Could it be that you haven't fucked her yet?"
"That's none of your business!"
I flinched at Sophie's words. He drew back to hit her. I slung my leg out, tripping the leader so that he stumbled away from her.
"Hey!" Shorty shouted when I got on my feet. But I didn't stop. The wall shook as I panted and strained even more. Sophie pushed herself to her feet and moved away from the wall before I pulled it down on top of her.
An instant before the Doomies reached me, I pulled the ring free. I turned on them with a vicious snarl.
I wanted to help Pidge fight as they attacked him, but if one of the invaders caught me, they would again threaten my life to control him. So I did the only thing I could. I ran for the horses, as the Drules ran for Pidge.
They were so busy trying to subdue him that I was on Pidge's horse before they realized I had left the area. I wasn't used to riding bareback, but it didn't matter. It was up to me to see us safely away from this, and I wouldn't fail Pidge.
After pulling myself up on the horse's back, I clamped my legs tight around the horse's ribs and ran the horse straight at the men.
They scrambled away.
With a grunt, Pidge swung himself up behind me. He brought his tied arms down over my head, placed them around me, took the reins and then turned the horse around. He ran it toward the other horses, scattering them in all directions before we headed into the dense forest.
I could hear the Drules shouting curses as we rode away from them while they tried to recapture their own horses. I wanted to turn around and see if they were behind us, but couldn't. Pidge's hold on me was far too tight. So instead I focused on remaining as still as possible so that he could maneuver them. The horse flew through the trees easily, but I was terrified the invaders would catch us.
After a time, Pidge stopped and turned to look behind us.
"Did we lose them?"
"I think so."
He hugged me close to him. "You were great, Sophie!"
"The horse was the easy part. You did the hardest part, pulling the ring from the wall. Are you okay?"
"Just a bit sore."
Pidge lead us through the woods, farther away from the Drules. "Shouldn't we go back to the village?" I asked.
"No, they'll be expecting us to do that. I'm sure it's where they pulled back too, and they're waiting for us. We'll go north, then west before we head back."
He slowed the horse and untied the belt from my hands. I tried to return the favor, but his ropes were so tight that I couldn't. I barely touched the red welts on his wrists, some of which had already started bleeding. "It must hurt terribly."
"Yes, but I'll have to wait until we find a way to cut it off."
"Don't you have a knife in your pocket?"
"Nope, I left it in my other pants."
There was nothing to be done for now, so I leaned back against him and let him lead us to safety.
We rode for hours before we stopped for a rest. He removed his arms from around me and helped me down as best he could. Then he pulled the horse to a cleared area and secured it so that it could graze.
They were so busy trying to subdue him that I was on Pidge's horse before they realized I had left the area. I wasn't used to riding bareback, but it didn't matter. It was up to me to see us safely away from this, and I wouldn't fail Pidge.
After pulling myself up on the horse's back, I clamped my legs tight around the horse's ribs and ran the horse straight at the men.
They scrambled away.
With a grunt, Pidge swung himself up behind me. He brought his tied arms down over my head, placed them around me, took the reins and then turned the horse around. He ran it toward the other horses, scattering them in all directions before we headed into the dense forest.
I could hear the Drules shouting curses as we rode away from them while they tried to recapture their own horses. I wanted to turn around and see if they were behind us, but couldn't. Pidge's hold on me was far too tight. So instead I focused on remaining as still as possible so that he could maneuver them. The horse flew through the trees easily, but I was terrified the invaders would catch us.
After a time, Pidge stopped and turned to look behind us.
"Did we lose them?"
"I think so."
He hugged me close to him. "You were great, Sophie!"
"The horse was the easy part. You did the hardest part, pulling the ring from the wall. Are you okay?"
"Just a bit sore."
Pidge lead us through the woods, farther away from the Drules. "Shouldn't we go back to the village?" I asked.
"No, they'll be expecting us to do that. I'm sure it's where they pulled back too, and they're waiting for us. We'll go north, then west before we head back."
He slowed the horse and untied the belt from my hands. I tried to return the favor, but his ropes were so tight that I couldn't. I barely touched the red welts on his wrists, some of which had already started bleeding. "It must hurt terribly."
"Yes, but I'll have to wait until we find a way to cut it off."
"Don't you have a knife in your pocket?"
"Nope, I left it in my other pants."
There was nothing to be done for now, so I leaned back against him and let him lead us to safety.
We rode for hours before we stopped for a rest. He removed his arms from around me and helped me down as best he could. Then he pulled the horse to a cleared area and secured it so that it could graze.
Sophie laid her hand against my cheek and frowned. "You rest here while I-"
"You're not going anywhere," I snapped. "It's not safe."
She glared at me. "I need to pee. I'll only be right through those trees and I won't be gone too long."
I looked at the trees she indicated, trying to see if there was someone lurking there to grab her. I didn't want her out of my sight, but I could understand her need to be alone. "Okay, but you must talk the entire time so that I know you're safe."
As she left, she began chattering about her favorite scenes in the movie.
"You know," she said, her voice drifting back from the trees. "I left my handbag in the theater. It's a pity I didn't have it when the Drules showed up. I could have used it to bash them."
I smiled as she continued on.
"Pidge, I'm very sorry about this."
"Don't be," I replied as I sat back down to rest. "And I was wrong to doubt you when you said you were up for an adventure."
"Yes," she said as she rejoined me. "But I never meant for this to happen."
"You have no blame in it. It wasn't up to you."
And then my stomach rumbled.
"We need to eat," she said, patting my arm. "I can gather some berries. I would much prefer a slice of pizza, but they will keep our strength up."
After she gathered the berries, we went to a small stream for fresh water to wash them. I knelt down on the bank and bent over to drink.
"Dammit, how am I going to drink?"
"Wait," Sophie said, setting the berries aside. "I'll help you." She cupped her hands and helped me drink.
I smiled gratefully, and then lowered my head to kiss her lightly on the lips.
"Do you think they'll find us?" She whispered, after we had drunk our fill of water.
"Nah. The forest is too dense and too dark. They'll have to stop for the night. We should be safe until morning."
She nodded as she fed me berries. While I chewed mine, she nibbled at some herself.
"Poor Rolando. Why did he have to play the hero? If only he had more practice in fighting..."
The tears that had been shimmering in her eyes finally spilled over and wet her cheeks.
"Don't cry, Sophie. It's not your fault he fought them." I pulled her gently toward me and held her close to my chest. "Rolando was trying to protect you, and I will always be grateful for that."
Sophie returned my embrace, whispering. "I'm glad I didn't lose you."
I settled down on the damp ground. Sophie lay down beside me and cuddled close. I watched her as she slept on me, but I didn't sleep.
I lay for hours, listening to the sounds of the night, grateful that the Doomies had not found us. At least not yet.
"You're not going anywhere," I snapped. "It's not safe."
She glared at me. "I need to pee. I'll only be right through those trees and I won't be gone too long."
I looked at the trees she indicated, trying to see if there was someone lurking there to grab her. I didn't want her out of my sight, but I could understand her need to be alone. "Okay, but you must talk the entire time so that I know you're safe."
As she left, she began chattering about her favorite scenes in the movie.
"You know," she said, her voice drifting back from the trees. "I left my handbag in the theater. It's a pity I didn't have it when the Drules showed up. I could have used it to bash them."
I smiled as she continued on.
"Pidge, I'm very sorry about this."
"Don't be," I replied as I sat back down to rest. "And I was wrong to doubt you when you said you were up for an adventure."
"Yes," she said as she rejoined me. "But I never meant for this to happen."
"You have no blame in it. It wasn't up to you."
And then my stomach rumbled.
"We need to eat," she said, patting my arm. "I can gather some berries. I would much prefer a slice of pizza, but they will keep our strength up."
After she gathered the berries, we went to a small stream for fresh water to wash them. I knelt down on the bank and bent over to drink.
"Dammit, how am I going to drink?"
"Wait," Sophie said, setting the berries aside. "I'll help you." She cupped her hands and helped me drink.
I smiled gratefully, and then lowered my head to kiss her lightly on the lips.
"Do you think they'll find us?" She whispered, after we had drunk our fill of water.
"Nah. The forest is too dense and too dark. They'll have to stop for the night. We should be safe until morning."
She nodded as she fed me berries. While I chewed mine, she nibbled at some herself.
"Poor Rolando. Why did he have to play the hero? If only he had more practice in fighting..."
The tears that had been shimmering in her eyes finally spilled over and wet her cheeks.
"Don't cry, Sophie. It's not your fault he fought them." I pulled her gently toward me and held her close to my chest. "Rolando was trying to protect you, and I will always be grateful for that."
Sophie returned my embrace, whispering. "I'm glad I didn't lose you."
I settled down on the damp ground. Sophie lay down beside me and cuddled close. I watched her as she slept on me, but I didn't sleep.
I lay for hours, listening to the sounds of the night, grateful that the Doomies had not found us. At least not yet.
"Pride sullies the noblest character." ~Claudianus
"Sophie," I whispered, shaking her awake.
She woke up slowly. "Huh?"
"Someone's coming."
She jerked up instantly. "Where?"
I indicated the direction with a tilt of my head. I pushed myself to my feet, and then told her to hide behind a shrub. I grabbed a limb from the ground and waited for whomever it was to show itself. It was a poor weapon, and my hands were bound in such a way that I held it awkwardly. Even so, I planned to make good use of it.
The footsteps drew closer and closer... I lifted the branch.
Someone stumbled, and then a curse rang out. "Dammit, that hurt!"
Laughing at the words, I breathed a sigh of relief as I heard Hunk's irate voice.
"Cool it, Hunk, you'll give our position," Keith said, but I still couldn't see either one of them because of the thick foliage surrounding me.
"Keith?" I called out.
They broke through the forest into the small clearing in front of me.
Hunk smiled triumphantly. "See? I told you he would head north. Only a fool would head back to the village knowing someone was after them. And my buddy is anything but a fool."
Keith frowned at him. "Right. You said that."
I tossed the limb aside as Sophie came out of her hiding place. "Commander Keith! Hunk!" she cried happily, running into Hunk's welcoming arms. "Are my sisters and brother okay? Have you seen them?"
"Yes, Sophie," Keith replied with a reassuring smile. "They're at the inn waiting for you, all safe and sound."
"We'll take you with them," Hunk said.
She blinked away tears, and then smiled sweetly at them. "Thank you."
"What are you guys doing here?" I asked. "Not that we're not excited to see you. But how did you find us?"
"Those Doomies left a large trail to follow," Keith explained. "We found them not long after the two of you had escaped. They were plotting a way to retake you once they reached the village. Since we were coming from the village and didn't see you, I knew you were going north to avoid them."
"That's right," Hunk chimed in.
"I asked the Princess and Lance to backtrack so that they could pretend to be you and lead the Drules away from your trail, while Hunk and I continued searching for you." Keith continued.
Hunk added, "I'm pretty sure those soldiers won't get close enough to realize they're not you, and even if they do, Coran is monitoring from the castle to catch any of them in case they decided to separate. Once they reach the village again, we'll capture them."
I held my tied hands out to Hunk. "Got your knife with you?"
He nodded, pulled the knife from his pocket and sliced through the ropes. I winced as my wrists stung even more from their release. Still, it was good to be free again.
Sophie gasped as she stared at my wounds. My skin was bloodied and chafed with large bruises all around. "Oh, Pidge. I can't imagine how you can stand the pain." She looked at Hunk. "Do you have anything we can put on his wrists to soothe them?"
He motioned to us to follow him. "Come on, I should have something in the ship."
We walked through the forest until we reached Yellow Lion. I paused as I caught sight of the tall, lean man sitting in the maw of Yellow.
"Rolando!" Sophie gasped, rushing toward him. She pulled the actor into a fierce hug.
The sight of it cut through me, and I felt as though someone had punched me in the gut. I didn't want the guy dead, but...
"Be careful, Sophia," he whispered, gently pushing her back. "Those brutes nearly killed me, and I fear my stomach shall never be the same again."
She disregarded his warning. "I'm just so happy they didn't kill you."
"As I am," Rolando sighed. "Through to be honest, I feel as though I have died and been sent to hell. I won't be able to do action scenes in a very, very long time."
Damn, that Brit is something else! Those Doomies almost killed him and he's still in his ‘Keep calm, and carry on' mode!
Hunk stepped past Rolando and fetched a pot of salve out of the cabinet. He brought it over to me.
Angry and hurt, I took and rubbed the salve over my bleeding and torn wrists, which throbbed and ached unmercifully. Sophia seemed to have forgotten all about me while she chatted with Rolando about his injuries. And why shouldn't she? Rolando Klum is her favorite actor. Rolando Klum is the guy every girl falls for. And Rolando Klum was willing to die for her. Nothing like a near death experience to make a girl realize where her affections truly lie.
Sophia paused in her fussing over Rolando. She looked back to see me with Hunk, and wonder of wonders, left the actor to check on me. "Are you okay?"
"Oh yeah, peachy!"
She looked down at my raw wrists now covered in white salve. "Do they still hurt too much?"
I shook my head, and then gave the medicine back to Hunk.
Sophia reached for a roll of tape and bandages. "Let me put these on-"
"We better get moving," I said interrupting her. "My teammates are waiting for us."
"Peter," Sophie said her voice thick with warning. "You're wounded."
"I'll live." I tried to sound curt and cold.
"Sophie," I whispered, shaking her awake.
She woke up slowly. "Huh?"
"Someone's coming."
She jerked up instantly. "Where?"
I indicated the direction with a tilt of my head. I pushed myself to my feet, and then told her to hide behind a shrub. I grabbed a limb from the ground and waited for whomever it was to show itself. It was a poor weapon, and my hands were bound in such a way that I held it awkwardly. Even so, I planned to make good use of it.
The footsteps drew closer and closer... I lifted the branch.
Someone stumbled, and then a curse rang out. "Dammit, that hurt!"
Laughing at the words, I breathed a sigh of relief as I heard Hunk's irate voice.
"Cool it, Hunk, you'll give our position," Keith said, but I still couldn't see either one of them because of the thick foliage surrounding me.
"Keith?" I called out.
They broke through the forest into the small clearing in front of me.
Hunk smiled triumphantly. "See? I told you he would head north. Only a fool would head back to the village knowing someone was after them. And my buddy is anything but a fool."
Keith frowned at him. "Right. You said that."
I tossed the limb aside as Sophie came out of her hiding place. "Commander Keith! Hunk!" she cried happily, running into Hunk's welcoming arms. "Are my sisters and brother okay? Have you seen them?"
"Yes, Sophie," Keith replied with a reassuring smile. "They're at the inn waiting for you, all safe and sound."
"We'll take you with them," Hunk said.
She blinked away tears, and then smiled sweetly at them. "Thank you."
"What are you guys doing here?" I asked. "Not that we're not excited to see you. But how did you find us?"
"Those Doomies left a large trail to follow," Keith explained. "We found them not long after the two of you had escaped. They were plotting a way to retake you once they reached the village. Since we were coming from the village and didn't see you, I knew you were going north to avoid them."
"That's right," Hunk chimed in.
"I asked the Princess and Lance to backtrack so that they could pretend to be you and lead the Drules away from your trail, while Hunk and I continued searching for you." Keith continued.
Hunk added, "I'm pretty sure those soldiers won't get close enough to realize they're not you, and even if they do, Coran is monitoring from the castle to catch any of them in case they decided to separate. Once they reach the village again, we'll capture them."
I held my tied hands out to Hunk. "Got your knife with you?"
He nodded, pulled the knife from his pocket and sliced through the ropes. I winced as my wrists stung even more from their release. Still, it was good to be free again.
Sophie gasped as she stared at my wounds. My skin was bloodied and chafed with large bruises all around. "Oh, Pidge. I can't imagine how you can stand the pain." She looked at Hunk. "Do you have anything we can put on his wrists to soothe them?"
He motioned to us to follow him. "Come on, I should have something in the ship."
We walked through the forest until we reached Yellow Lion. I paused as I caught sight of the tall, lean man sitting in the maw of Yellow.
"Rolando!" Sophie gasped, rushing toward him. She pulled the actor into a fierce hug.
The sight of it cut through me, and I felt as though someone had punched me in the gut. I didn't want the guy dead, but...
"Be careful, Sophia," he whispered, gently pushing her back. "Those brutes nearly killed me, and I fear my stomach shall never be the same again."
She disregarded his warning. "I'm just so happy they didn't kill you."
"As I am," Rolando sighed. "Through to be honest, I feel as though I have died and been sent to hell. I won't be able to do action scenes in a very, very long time."
Damn, that Brit is something else! Those Doomies almost killed him and he's still in his ‘Keep calm, and carry on' mode!
Hunk stepped past Rolando and fetched a pot of salve out of the cabinet. He brought it over to me.
Angry and hurt, I took and rubbed the salve over my bleeding and torn wrists, which throbbed and ached unmercifully. Sophia seemed to have forgotten all about me while she chatted with Rolando about his injuries. And why shouldn't she? Rolando Klum is her favorite actor. Rolando Klum is the guy every girl falls for. And Rolando Klum was willing to die for her. Nothing like a near death experience to make a girl realize where her affections truly lie.
Sophia paused in her fussing over Rolando. She looked back to see me with Hunk, and wonder of wonders, left the actor to check on me. "Are you okay?"
"Oh yeah, peachy!"
She looked down at my raw wrists now covered in white salve. "Do they still hurt too much?"
I shook my head, and then gave the medicine back to Hunk.
Sophia reached for a roll of tape and bandages. "Let me put these on-"
"We better get moving," I said interrupting her. "My teammates are waiting for us."
"Peter," Sophie said her voice thick with warning. "You're wounded."
"I'll live." I tried to sound curt and cold.
I stared at Pidge. Whatever was wrong with him?
Surely Pidge doesn't think...
Nah. He couldn't be jealous over Rolando Klum. Surely he realizes I was relieved that Rolando hadn't died because of me. I started for the front of Black Lion, when Pidge said, "Go with Hunk, Sophia. We'll move quicker that way."
"How so?"
"Just go with him." His gruff tone bothered me. I hadn't seen him like this since the first time I had beat him in PacMan. Where's my gentle Pidge?
He went to ride with Commander Keith while Hunk, Rolando and me flew in Yellow Lion.
Rolando laid back in the couch, moaning every time he took a breath about his pain and how much he regretted not being the fierce warrior he portrayed in the movies. I kept my mouth shut. Instead, my thoughts were on the boy who was in Black Lion. The boy whose wrists were raw. The boy who said nothing at all about his pain. Inside or out.
It was almost midday before Commander Keith ordered the Lions to land near my parent's inn. Pidge helped me down from Yellow's maw, and then Hunk jumped off. My brother and sisters greeted us.
I tried to speak to Pidge, but he refused. Without a word or backward glance, he returned to Black Lion.
Angry at his behavior, I went to him. "Why are you giving me the cold shoulder?"
"I'm not giving you the cold shoulder."
"Then why do I shiver every time you glance at me? I can almost see my breath."
He glanced past my shoulder to where Rolando watched us with an arched, curious brow. "Pretty boy is wounded. You need to take him to the doctor."
"Pidge, don't tell me you're jealous of him."
"I'm not jealous, Sophia."
"Then what are you?"
"I'm angry," he said through clenched teeth.
"Why are you angry?"
"Just leave me alone." He brushed past Rolando roughly, and went to Black's maw. And I felt the urge to follow him and beat him with a tree branch until he talks to me.
"He loves you, you know." Rolando stated.
"What makes you say that?"
He sighed. "I know something about body language, the tenderness on his face when he looks at you and the hatred in his eyes when he walked past me just now. I thought he was going to strike me."
"I don't know what he feels. I only know he's a stubborn, infuriating guy."
"A stubborn, infuriating guy that you're in love with as well."
I frowned at Rolando, who gave me an impish grin.
"Don't bother lying, Sophia," he said gently. "You glow with him. I should be offended by that, because I'm losing my greatest fan. But how can I compete with the pilot of Green Lion? He's a real hero, and I only pretend to be one in the movies."
Eyes wide, I nodded slowly. Yes, Pidge is a real hero. My hero.
Surely Pidge doesn't think...
Nah. He couldn't be jealous over Rolando Klum. Surely he realizes I was relieved that Rolando hadn't died because of me. I started for the front of Black Lion, when Pidge said, "Go with Hunk, Sophia. We'll move quicker that way."
"How so?"
"Just go with him." His gruff tone bothered me. I hadn't seen him like this since the first time I had beat him in PacMan. Where's my gentle Pidge?
He went to ride with Commander Keith while Hunk, Rolando and me flew in Yellow Lion.
Rolando laid back in the couch, moaning every time he took a breath about his pain and how much he regretted not being the fierce warrior he portrayed in the movies. I kept my mouth shut. Instead, my thoughts were on the boy who was in Black Lion. The boy whose wrists were raw. The boy who said nothing at all about his pain. Inside or out.
It was almost midday before Commander Keith ordered the Lions to land near my parent's inn. Pidge helped me down from Yellow's maw, and then Hunk jumped off. My brother and sisters greeted us.
I tried to speak to Pidge, but he refused. Without a word or backward glance, he returned to Black Lion.
Angry at his behavior, I went to him. "Why are you giving me the cold shoulder?"
"I'm not giving you the cold shoulder."
"Then why do I shiver every time you glance at me? I can almost see my breath."
He glanced past my shoulder to where Rolando watched us with an arched, curious brow. "Pretty boy is wounded. You need to take him to the doctor."
"Pidge, don't tell me you're jealous of him."
"I'm not jealous, Sophia."
"Then what are you?"
"I'm angry," he said through clenched teeth.
"Why are you angry?"
"Just leave me alone." He brushed past Rolando roughly, and went to Black's maw. And I felt the urge to follow him and beat him with a tree branch until he talks to me.
"He loves you, you know." Rolando stated.
"What makes you say that?"
He sighed. "I know something about body language, the tenderness on his face when he looks at you and the hatred in his eyes when he walked past me just now. I thought he was going to strike me."
"I don't know what he feels. I only know he's a stubborn, infuriating guy."
"A stubborn, infuriating guy that you're in love with as well."
I frowned at Rolando, who gave me an impish grin.
"Don't bother lying, Sophia," he said gently. "You glow with him. I should be offended by that, because I'm losing my greatest fan. But how can I compete with the pilot of Green Lion? He's a real hero, and I only pretend to be one in the movies."
Eyes wide, I nodded slowly. Yes, Pidge is a real hero. My hero.
Castle Pollux, Friday June 17th, 2304
"It is equally a mistake to hold one's self too high, or to take one's self too cheap." ~Johann Von Goethe
I thank God every night for Sven, my savior. He was the first person in a very long time to offer me a moment of compassion or an instant of comfort... or help me realize I needed one.
I have often wondered if he left a girlfriend in Terra. Obviously he did. Looking the way he looked, and being as nice as he was, it was more likely that women chased after him.
Sven would never be really interested in me. He remained on Pollux because my father asked him to, so why daydream about him?
This is exactly what I have been doing since our first meeting on Doom. I simply cannot get the man out of my head. He even invades my dreams. Erotic dreams- his hands touching my bare skin, his mouth moving over mine- that set my heart pounding and my blood coursing through my veins like fire.
Last night I awoke from one of those dreams gasping for breath and the coverlet twisted about my ankles. I could not sleep for the rest of the night, so my temperament is not the best this morning. Just a few minutes ago, I took one of the maids to task for not cleaning the hall. Instantly I regretted my sharpness, but the poor woman had already fled.
With a sigh I turned, and found Bandor standing before me, his mouth curved into a mischievous smile.
"Melle, does your temper this morning has something to do with Sven's departure?"
Obviously I was not in the mood for my brother's teasing. "Of course not, where is he, anyway?"
"He went up to see Avok."
I spun around and left the hall. My step was quick as I climbed the stairs that led to my brother's chamber. As I reached the last step, a feminine voice drifted to my ears followed by a male voice with a particular accent. I paused on the landing to gaze down the corridor, and my heart stumbled.
No, Sven was not with my brother. Why should he when he had so much to occupy him here? My ladies in waiting for instance!
Sven slid his knuckles beneath Astrid's chin. Tilting her face up to his, he gazed down at her with a smile and said something. Astrid nodded in response. Then all at once, she lifted herself on tiptoe and pressed her lips against Sven's lips.
My heels rapped out sharply as I approached the pair. It was Astrid who stepped away first. Her blue eyes flew wide and she bobbed a curtsy.
"M-milady."
"Leave us."
Astrid's cheeks flamed. "Yes, Milady." She ran off, leaving me alone with Sven. He was utterly calm; his expression gave no hint of either guilt or regret.
"Good morning, Romelle. Did you wish to see me?"
"I did. It is late, and I do not want you to keep my cousin and friends waiting much longer. You are needed in Arus."
"It is equally a mistake to hold one's self too high, or to take one's self too cheap." ~Johann Von Goethe
I thank God every night for Sven, my savior. He was the first person in a very long time to offer me a moment of compassion or an instant of comfort... or help me realize I needed one.
I have often wondered if he left a girlfriend in Terra. Obviously he did. Looking the way he looked, and being as nice as he was, it was more likely that women chased after him.
Sven would never be really interested in me. He remained on Pollux because my father asked him to, so why daydream about him?
This is exactly what I have been doing since our first meeting on Doom. I simply cannot get the man out of my head. He even invades my dreams. Erotic dreams- his hands touching my bare skin, his mouth moving over mine- that set my heart pounding and my blood coursing through my veins like fire.
Last night I awoke from one of those dreams gasping for breath and the coverlet twisted about my ankles. I could not sleep for the rest of the night, so my temperament is not the best this morning. Just a few minutes ago, I took one of the maids to task for not cleaning the hall. Instantly I regretted my sharpness, but the poor woman had already fled.
With a sigh I turned, and found Bandor standing before me, his mouth curved into a mischievous smile.
"Melle, does your temper this morning has something to do with Sven's departure?"
Obviously I was not in the mood for my brother's teasing. "Of course not, where is he, anyway?"
"He went up to see Avok."
I spun around and left the hall. My step was quick as I climbed the stairs that led to my brother's chamber. As I reached the last step, a feminine voice drifted to my ears followed by a male voice with a particular accent. I paused on the landing to gaze down the corridor, and my heart stumbled.
No, Sven was not with my brother. Why should he when he had so much to occupy him here? My ladies in waiting for instance!
Sven slid his knuckles beneath Astrid's chin. Tilting her face up to his, he gazed down at her with a smile and said something. Astrid nodded in response. Then all at once, she lifted herself on tiptoe and pressed her lips against Sven's lips.
My heels rapped out sharply as I approached the pair. It was Astrid who stepped away first. Her blue eyes flew wide and she bobbed a curtsy.
"M-milady."
"Leave us."
Astrid's cheeks flamed. "Yes, Milady." She ran off, leaving me alone with Sven. He was utterly calm; his expression gave no hint of either guilt or regret.
"Good morning, Romelle. Did you wish to see me?"
"I did. It is late, and I do not want you to keep my cousin and friends waiting much longer. You are needed in Arus."
Romelle looked stunning in a blue gown in a soft material that clung to her, outlining every delectable curve. Strands of her blonde hair curved around her oval face. She wore a pair of large pendant earrings of gold filigree and single teardrop opals that matched the deep blue of her eyes.
"I wanted to come earlier," I said quietly. "I couldn't sleep well last night."
"Do not come here complaining to me about your sleeping habits. Maybe it is the company you keep. You did not come for dinner last night. Why, no doubt you forgot my father's invitation and went straight to Astrid."
"I already gave your father my reasons and he understood. Why are you so angry?"
"I found Astrid kissing you!" She said, looking incensed. "Could the two of you at least exercise some discretion? Must you carry on your romantic activities in my castle?"
I smiled. Romelle was jealous. "The kiss you saw was not as it seemed-"
I stopped as her eyes widened. "I am glad you find this so amusing! Not as it seemed? So tell me then, the press of one's lips upon another's, what does it mean?"
I chuckled. "Okay, it was a kiss. But she was thanking me."
"Really? For what, pray tell?"
"Astrid was thanking me for bringing your brother to the castle. She's secretly in love with him, I thought you knew."
Romelle blushed. "Of course I knew," she snapped. "Avok rescued her along with her family from space pirates and brought her to our court and I tried to play matchmaker with them, before our trip to Doom so he could be turned into a robeast."
"Well," I said. "Astrid's feelings have not changed in all this time. And she's willing to attend him during his convalescence."
"You were certainly enjoying her attentions. You are worse than Lance!"
"Lance?" I asked, my smile vanishing. "Has he tried to-"
"What if he has?" Her voice and look was defiant. "Your friend is quite handsome. And he has a lovely accent that is easier to understand."
"It seems Lance can't find a woman he doesn't like," I said darkly.
"He is not the only one," she replied, as we continued our way up to Avok's room.
A guard nodded deferentially, and stepped aside so that Romelle was free to enter. I paused on the threshold for a moment to watch the sunlight streaming through a series of high, arched, stained glass windows, casting colorful rays across the spacious room.
Romelle sat on the edge of the huge bed and smoothed the crisp, sizzled tips of her brother's red hair. I crossed the carpeting to his bedside and stared down at him. His skin color had already returned to normal. His upper left arm was in a partial cast and immobilized in a sling. His entire left leg was encased in a cast and propped on a pillow. He had terrible burns and bruises on his face and other portions of his body as well. It was hard to see him looking so vulnerable.
"You know I am here, dear brother," she said at last. "If you will not look at me, at least do me the courtesy of acknowledging my presence."
"Go away," he murmured. "I do not want you here."
"Why?"
"I cannot bear for you to see me like this."
She drew a heavy sigh. "Avok, you have managed to come very close to burning yourself to death with Hagar's thermal laser rays, but you are not dead yet." She then glanced at me. "I should hate to think your rescuer drove through hard terrain in record time to bring you here, all to no purpose."
"Sven Asbjörnsen?" His eyes blinked at last. They still retained a catlike appearance, much like Lotor's.
Romelle smiled softly. "You remembered his name."
"Of course," he said in a raspy voice, turning his pale face to seek my gaze. "He must have said it at least a dozen times."
"Your Highness, I just rushed out to rescue you, and caused you great suffering."
"For which I am grateful. But I am even more grateful that you rescued my sister from Lotor. Bandor has told me everything about you."
"He has?"
Avok stretched his right arm, a slow, languid movement to reacquaint himself with his muscles. "I do not know if I should feel happy or jealous. He speaks quite highly of you."
"I didn't mean to cause trouble between you."
His lips curled slightly in an upward direction. "I am only jesting, lieutenant. I would be honored if you consider me a friend."
"Your Highness, the honor would be mine."
"First, let us put aside the formalities, shall we? Call me Avok."
"As you wish."
"Father said that you are leaving us for a few days."
"Yes, Princess Allura and Keith are going to a peace summit in Terra. Cliff- a member of Vehicle Voltron- and I will be part of the Lion Force in their absence."
"You are coming back, aren't you?"
"Well, yes. If you still have need of me."
A faint smile touched Avok's mouth, and there was a hint of warmth in his eyes. "From what Bandor has been telling me, it seems that Romelle would be quite disappointed if you did not."
She rolled her eyes heavenward. "Oh please! Sven can do as he wishes."
"You are very brave, sis," Avok said softly, his bandaged fingers squeezing her hand. "But we need him here. Now that I am back, we may become targets for Lotor once again."
"Father and Bandor do not seem to have much faith in my abilities, and now you are attempting to pull your big brother routine once again." She arched one eyebrow at me. "Avok does not realize that I am a fighter."
"We are trying to protect you, little one."
"I am a princess." She made the statement with great dignity. "It is who I am. What I am. I must go where I am needed."
"And I am your oldest brother," he countered. "You will do as I tell you."
She looked back at him, a faint smile curving her soft mouth. "I have changed a lot, Avok. I do not always follow the rules."
"You can say that again." I blurted.
Faen! That stupid comment came out before I could censor it!
Romelle's blue gaze was eloquent as she sent me a quick, smoldering glare.
"Of all the nonsense I have ever heard..." she hissed, before disappearing into the bathroom, slamming the door in my face and locking it.
"Romelle? Please, don't be angry." I called through the door, trying for a soothing tone. Judging by the sound of her footsteps going the other way from me, it didn't have the desired effect.
I stared blindly at the closed door until the prince's deep voice rang out in the stillness of the room.
"So you love her."
I didn't bother to lie. "Yes."
"Have you told her?"
I sighed. "No."
"Why?"
"What kind of life could she have with me?" I asked. "How long will she be content to be with a pilot? A mad man who can't always control his rage?"
"Sven. Look at me."
I turned to him. Avok's stern gaze didn't falter or waver. It was intense and oppressive.
"My little brother is right, you are a strange man. You have followed Romelle about like a love-sick calf for months and months, came very close to dying while fighting Lotor, have gone back and forth to planet Doom rescuing slaves alongside my sister, and even disguised yourself as a robeast to destroy a ship heading for planet Nucleon."
"It was my duty to protect-"
"And," he said, holding a hand up as he interrupted me. "When at last, you prove to everyone, without even attempting to do so how great you truly are, you take it into your head and decide you are not worthy of my sister. Well-" he coughed– "You can just knock that stupid idea out of your head, Sven Asbjörnsen. If you do not, I will knock it out for you!"
"I wanted to come earlier," I said quietly. "I couldn't sleep well last night."
"Do not come here complaining to me about your sleeping habits. Maybe it is the company you keep. You did not come for dinner last night. Why, no doubt you forgot my father's invitation and went straight to Astrid."
"I already gave your father my reasons and he understood. Why are you so angry?"
"I found Astrid kissing you!" She said, looking incensed. "Could the two of you at least exercise some discretion? Must you carry on your romantic activities in my castle?"
I smiled. Romelle was jealous. "The kiss you saw was not as it seemed-"
I stopped as her eyes widened. "I am glad you find this so amusing! Not as it seemed? So tell me then, the press of one's lips upon another's, what does it mean?"
I chuckled. "Okay, it was a kiss. But she was thanking me."
"Really? For what, pray tell?"
"Astrid was thanking me for bringing your brother to the castle. She's secretly in love with him, I thought you knew."
Romelle blushed. "Of course I knew," she snapped. "Avok rescued her along with her family from space pirates and brought her to our court and I tried to play matchmaker with them, before our trip to Doom so he could be turned into a robeast."
"Well," I said. "Astrid's feelings have not changed in all this time. And she's willing to attend him during his convalescence."
"You were certainly enjoying her attentions. You are worse than Lance!"
"Lance?" I asked, my smile vanishing. "Has he tried to-"
"What if he has?" Her voice and look was defiant. "Your friend is quite handsome. And he has a lovely accent that is easier to understand."
"It seems Lance can't find a woman he doesn't like," I said darkly.
"He is not the only one," she replied, as we continued our way up to Avok's room.
A guard nodded deferentially, and stepped aside so that Romelle was free to enter. I paused on the threshold for a moment to watch the sunlight streaming through a series of high, arched, stained glass windows, casting colorful rays across the spacious room.
Romelle sat on the edge of the huge bed and smoothed the crisp, sizzled tips of her brother's red hair. I crossed the carpeting to his bedside and stared down at him. His skin color had already returned to normal. His upper left arm was in a partial cast and immobilized in a sling. His entire left leg was encased in a cast and propped on a pillow. He had terrible burns and bruises on his face and other portions of his body as well. It was hard to see him looking so vulnerable.
"You know I am here, dear brother," she said at last. "If you will not look at me, at least do me the courtesy of acknowledging my presence."
"Go away," he murmured. "I do not want you here."
"Why?"
"I cannot bear for you to see me like this."
She drew a heavy sigh. "Avok, you have managed to come very close to burning yourself to death with Hagar's thermal laser rays, but you are not dead yet." She then glanced at me. "I should hate to think your rescuer drove through hard terrain in record time to bring you here, all to no purpose."
"Sven Asbjörnsen?" His eyes blinked at last. They still retained a catlike appearance, much like Lotor's.
Romelle smiled softly. "You remembered his name."
"Of course," he said in a raspy voice, turning his pale face to seek my gaze. "He must have said it at least a dozen times."
"Your Highness, I just rushed out to rescue you, and caused you great suffering."
"For which I am grateful. But I am even more grateful that you rescued my sister from Lotor. Bandor has told me everything about you."
"He has?"
Avok stretched his right arm, a slow, languid movement to reacquaint himself with his muscles. "I do not know if I should feel happy or jealous. He speaks quite highly of you."
"I didn't mean to cause trouble between you."
His lips curled slightly in an upward direction. "I am only jesting, lieutenant. I would be honored if you consider me a friend."
"Your Highness, the honor would be mine."
"First, let us put aside the formalities, shall we? Call me Avok."
"As you wish."
"Father said that you are leaving us for a few days."
"Yes, Princess Allura and Keith are going to a peace summit in Terra. Cliff- a member of Vehicle Voltron- and I will be part of the Lion Force in their absence."
"You are coming back, aren't you?"
"Well, yes. If you still have need of me."
A faint smile touched Avok's mouth, and there was a hint of warmth in his eyes. "From what Bandor has been telling me, it seems that Romelle would be quite disappointed if you did not."
She rolled her eyes heavenward. "Oh please! Sven can do as he wishes."
"You are very brave, sis," Avok said softly, his bandaged fingers squeezing her hand. "But we need him here. Now that I am back, we may become targets for Lotor once again."
"Father and Bandor do not seem to have much faith in my abilities, and now you are attempting to pull your big brother routine once again." She arched one eyebrow at me. "Avok does not realize that I am a fighter."
"We are trying to protect you, little one."
"I am a princess." She made the statement with great dignity. "It is who I am. What I am. I must go where I am needed."
"And I am your oldest brother," he countered. "You will do as I tell you."
She looked back at him, a faint smile curving her soft mouth. "I have changed a lot, Avok. I do not always follow the rules."
"You can say that again." I blurted.
Faen! That stupid comment came out before I could censor it!
Romelle's blue gaze was eloquent as she sent me a quick, smoldering glare.
"Of all the nonsense I have ever heard..." she hissed, before disappearing into the bathroom, slamming the door in my face and locking it.
"Romelle? Please, don't be angry." I called through the door, trying for a soothing tone. Judging by the sound of her footsteps going the other way from me, it didn't have the desired effect.
I stared blindly at the closed door until the prince's deep voice rang out in the stillness of the room.
"So you love her."
I didn't bother to lie. "Yes."
"Have you told her?"
I sighed. "No."
"Why?"
"What kind of life could she have with me?" I asked. "How long will she be content to be with a pilot? A mad man who can't always control his rage?"
"Sven. Look at me."
I turned to him. Avok's stern gaze didn't falter or waver. It was intense and oppressive.
"My little brother is right, you are a strange man. You have followed Romelle about like a love-sick calf for months and months, came very close to dying while fighting Lotor, have gone back and forth to planet Doom rescuing slaves alongside my sister, and even disguised yourself as a robeast to destroy a ship heading for planet Nucleon."
"It was my duty to protect-"
"And," he said, holding a hand up as he interrupted me. "When at last, you prove to everyone, without even attempting to do so how great you truly are, you take it into your head and decide you are not worthy of my sister. Well-" he coughed– "You can just knock that stupid idea out of your head, Sven Asbjörnsen. If you do not, I will knock it out for you!"
I hurried over to the bathroom vanity, convinced that my face was crimson from Avok's teasing. A look in the mirror confirmed it. Pouring myself a glass of water from a nearby carafe, I cautioned myself to put Sven out of my mind. He was, after all, a space explorer, beyond my reach in so many ways.
"Romelle?" Sven called again through the door. "I'm sorry, please come out."
I forced back tears. I will not behave like a silly fool! Sven is a soldier with a duty to be fulfilled. I cannot hold him back.
Lifting my chin, I went and unlocked the door and tugged it open. "We must leave. My brother needs his rest."
Behind the man in front of me, I saw Avok rubbing the heel of his hand over his forehead. "She is right. Take care, Sven."
Sven turned to him. "And you as well, Avok."
"I hope you find the answers that you seek," my brother added. "Promise me that you will consider all things, the bad and the good of what we are, what we have and what we do for our people, before you decide what to do."
"I promise," Sven said solemnly.
When we reached the front door, I said, "Please be careful, Sven. I will pray that you are successful, and return to us as quickly as possible."
He nodded. "Take care, Romelle."
"I will, Sven." Simple, ordinary words. But was there something different in his look? If only I could tell him what was in my own heart!
I watched him as he slowly made his way to the vehicle, when he suddenly stopped. Turning around, he hurried towards me.
He bent his head slightly, as if he was about to say something, and I lifted my face. For a moment I thought he was going to kiss me again.
But Sven did not kiss me. He merely took my face in his hands, simply staring at me long and hard before saying, "If you have need of me, I'm just a call away. Okay?"
I could not give him an answer, for I was afraid to move, or to even breathe, for fear of falling still further under his spell. I gave a quick nod of the head, my eyes locked helplessly on his handsome face.
Releasing me, he moved away.
"Farewell, my dear Romelle," he said gruffly. And with that, he was gone.
Hearing an endearment from his lips for the first time made me immensely happy. I wanted to tell him of my feelings, beg him to stay, but it would be foolish. He might not be royalty, or have great wealth, but my father and Bandor recognized his worth and chose him to take over for Avok in his absence. A man entrusted with crucial responsibilities would certainly be made uncomfortable or embarrassed by an ill-timed- and perhaps unwanted- declaration.
I watched until his vehicle was no more than a speck on the horizon, and then returned to my duties. Better to remain silent. Sven was good to me- what more could I possibly desire?
"Romelle?" Sven called again through the door. "I'm sorry, please come out."
I forced back tears. I will not behave like a silly fool! Sven is a soldier with a duty to be fulfilled. I cannot hold him back.
Lifting my chin, I went and unlocked the door and tugged it open. "We must leave. My brother needs his rest."
Behind the man in front of me, I saw Avok rubbing the heel of his hand over his forehead. "She is right. Take care, Sven."
Sven turned to him. "And you as well, Avok."
"I hope you find the answers that you seek," my brother added. "Promise me that you will consider all things, the bad and the good of what we are, what we have and what we do for our people, before you decide what to do."
"I promise," Sven said solemnly.
When we reached the front door, I said, "Please be careful, Sven. I will pray that you are successful, and return to us as quickly as possible."
He nodded. "Take care, Romelle."
"I will, Sven." Simple, ordinary words. But was there something different in his look? If only I could tell him what was in my own heart!
I watched him as he slowly made his way to the vehicle, when he suddenly stopped. Turning around, he hurried towards me.
He bent his head slightly, as if he was about to say something, and I lifted my face. For a moment I thought he was going to kiss me again.
But Sven did not kiss me. He merely took my face in his hands, simply staring at me long and hard before saying, "If you have need of me, I'm just a call away. Okay?"
I could not give him an answer, for I was afraid to move, or to even breathe, for fear of falling still further under his spell. I gave a quick nod of the head, my eyes locked helplessly on his handsome face.
Releasing me, he moved away.
"Farewell, my dear Romelle," he said gruffly. And with that, he was gone.
Hearing an endearment from his lips for the first time made me immensely happy. I wanted to tell him of my feelings, beg him to stay, but it would be foolish. He might not be royalty, or have great wealth, but my father and Bandor recognized his worth and chose him to take over for Avok in his absence. A man entrusted with crucial responsibilities would certainly be made uncomfortable or embarrassed by an ill-timed- and perhaps unwanted- declaration.
I watched until his vehicle was no more than a speck on the horizon, and then returned to my duties. Better to remain silent. Sven was good to me- what more could I possibly desire?
Castle of Lions, Saturday June 18th, 2304
"Swallow your pride occasionally, it's not fattening." ~Frank Tyger
I hooked my arm through Sven's as we went down the stairs after our meeting with Coran regarding Avok's lengthy convalescence and the increase of security measures in Pollux.
I asked about his relationship with my cousin, and he grimaced. Despite all his accomplishments after escaping from Doom, he still feels unworthy of her, even after getting Avok's approval.
"Now it's your turn to tell me how are things with Keith. Have you told someone else about the both of you?"
This was surely the opportunity to ask him what to do, and he looked at me, waiting for my reply.
"Romelle suspects something and enjoys teasing me, but you're the only one who knows the truth."
Perceptive as ever, he noticed my change of expression and frowned slightly. "Is everything okay?"
"Everything is... great, thanks," I replied lightly. "I'm really glad you could come."
"I hope Keith is behaving himself. You won't let his manner put you off, will you? We know he's got a reputation for having a difficult temperament sometimes-"
"Sometimes?" I echoed. "You must be kidding."
"He takes his work very seriously, but it's all a front."
"He's anxious about our trip to Terra," I confided. "I want him to visit his father and talk about their problems. But he didn't like my idea."
"He has never told us what really happened between them," he said thoughtfully, "Must be something really serious."
"I guess so, but I'll keep insisting on their reunion."
He nodded his agreement. "I'll talk to him."
"Thanks, Sven."
Together, we went into the rec room, where Lance was sprawled in the corner of the couch pushing the buttons on the TV remote.
"Hey you guys, you got here just in time!" Pidge said, holding out a large bowl of buttered popcorn.
Keith came out of the wet bar with three bottles of Coke.
"I thought you were at Castle Control."
"I was, but Coran offered to take over so I could watch Hunk and Annie on TV."
"Well, if you excuse me, I'll see the program in my bedroom with Nanny," I said, and turned to walk out the door.
"Please, don't go Princess," Sven said, catching my elbow before I could leave. "There's room for everyone, isn't that right, Keith?"
The man he addressed didn't reply for a moment, and I met his eyes, a little spark appearing in their brown depths. I could almost feel his dark, brooding temperament over the distance that separated us in this room.
"Right," he said gruffly, plopping beside Lance and giving him a soda.
"Okay," I said, letting Sven squeeze me onto the couch between them. To my surprise, Keith opened the other two bottles, handed me one, and took a swig of his own.
The coffee table was littered with bowls of fresh popcorn with lemon and hot sauce, bags of Cracker Jack, potato chips and onion dip, and small bowls with pretzels and mixed nuts.
"When do we start? I asked, "We'll never get through all this."
"We start right now," Pidge said. "And don't bet on there being much left. I'm starving!" He grabbed a bag of Cracker Jack and offered it to me.
"Thank you," I said, taking the bag and placing my drink on the table.
"This is so good," I said appreciatively as I munched the sweet confection. "Do you want some, Keith?"
"No, thanks," was his laconic reply.
"I'll have some," Lance offered, slipping his hand into the bag. "I seldom indulge in sweet things myself," he added, shooting a little smile at me, blissfully unaware of the glare Keith was sending his way.
The opening credits of the show "With Your Love" appeared on the screen with shots of loving couples in different settings: kissing under the rain, having a picnic, holding hands while walking in the park, running at the seashore, enjoying a sunset- all these accompanied by a rendition of the song "Happy Heart" by Andy Williams.
"Pidge, are you sure this is the right channel?" Lance said.
"Yes," he replied, frowning. "Hunk said to watch channel 1298 at 2000 hours."
The host- whose name was Markus Olsen according to the credits on the screen- was a handsome dark-haired man in his late thirties. He was standing dressed in a tuxedo at the foot of a huge staircase lined with vases filled with yellow and white roses.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen and welcome to our show ‘With Your Love,' where women bring their boyfriends and fiancés to ask them a very simple question: ‘will you marry me?'"
"What?" Lance choked out, almost dropping the bowl of buttered popcorn on his lap.
Pidge gasped. "Does Hunk know about this?"
The host introduced his co-host, a beautiful young woman in her twenties called Felicia. Her auburn hair hung past her shoulders and she had eyes so green they didn't look real. They talked happily about past shows where couples had tied the knot, while showing clips of the ceremonies. Afterwards, she went backstage.
"Let's meet tonight's contestant, shall we?" Markus said.
"The audience gasped in admiration when they saw a young woman coming down the stairs, wearing an exquisite white gown, with a crown of white and yellow baby roses in her wavy blond hair.
"Anne - 23 years old."
"Oh my," I murmured, "That's Hunk's girlfriend."
"Welcome, Anne, you look beautiful tonight."
"Thank you, Markus," she replied shyly. "I'm so nervous."
"Don't be," he said soothingly, "everything is going to be alright. Please tell us the name of your fiancé."
"His name is Jonathan Chandler, but everyone calls him Hunk. He's the pilot of Yellow Lion."
The audience went wild at the mention of Hunk. Everybody loved him and was grateful for his actions to protect our planet.
"What little white lie did you tell the lieutenant to bring him to our show?"
"That we were coming to a kid's show to give out scholarships. Hunk is big kid himself and likes to help out, but he's very mature for other things."
"What do you think will be his reaction?" Markus said.
"The poor guy is going to pass out," Pidge croaked.
"He better not," Lance said flatly.
"Hunk likes to give me surprises," Annie went on. "I hope he likes the one that I'm about to give him."
The host then turned to the camera. "Anne will be waiting for Lieutenant Chandler's response. Will it be a dreaded ‘no' or the ‘yes' her heart yearns to hear? We'll find out after these messages from our sponsors."
"We must call Hunk and tell him what's going on," Lance said, grabbing his communicator. "Dammit! It says the user is not available."
"I've told him to always keep it on," Pidge said.
"And even if we go to the studio in one the lions," Sven said, "it will be too late."
"He must face this problem alone," Keith said abruptly.
I glanced at him, at the stern profile, the uncompromising mouth and chin. He had been very quiet as we watched the program, obviously deep in thought. I would love to know what was going on inside his head, what lay behind that expression.
"Showing your love is not a problem," I replied. "This is so brave of Annie, asking Hunk to marry her in front of a TV audience."
Keith held my gaze for a moment or two, then said, "You're right, Princess."
The commercials were over, and Markus brought back Annie and asked her if she wanted to proceed. She could leave immediately and he could tell Hunk that the show had been canceled. Annie took a deep breath and said that she wanted to continue.
"Doesn't she look beautiful?" The host gushed. "She is the most beautiful bride ever!"
The audience agreed wholeheartedly.
"Anne, before we bring Hunk into the set, I want you stand in that small platform. Please, ladies and gentlemen, we need complete silence."
Next we saw Hunk walking through a group of children rehearsing a dance routine. A middle-aged stagehand took Hunk by the arm and asked him to enter a small, darkened cubicle.
"Hunk, you will be out in two minutes. Please don't move from this spot. When that red light above you starts flashing, the doors will open and you will be greeted by our host. Is that understood?"
"Absolutely," Hunk said affably.
"Alright, good luck."
"Thanks!"
"Oh my, I can't look," I said to Sven, my heart pounding. What if Hunk ran away, shattering Annie's heart?
He stood there, and it was easy to see he was trying to relax. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on his breathing, forcing himself to breathe more slowly.
The camera switched immediately to a fidgety Annie, then returned to the double doors.
The red light started flashing, and the doors opened with a hiss.
When Hunk stepped out, he blinked in the sudden explosion of light and then peered at the audience, which was huge, and indistinguishable as individuals. He walked is if in a haze, one foot in front of the other toward a fate he had not imagined.
"Stop!" the host cried out. "Do not move."
Hunk stopped on his tracks. His eyes widened when he saw the woman standing on the platform, wearing a wedding dress.
"Annie?"
"Welcome to your wedding, Hunk. This is not a joke; this is an actual wedding ceremony. My name is Markus Olsen and we have your lovely lady Anne in a beautiful wedding dress chosen by her, our studio audience as witnesses of your union and a judge waiting backstage for our signal."
Markus glanced back at Annie, inviting her to speak. The poor thing remained completely still under the initial shock. Like a computer overfilled with information, her brain had blanked out briefly and then restarted as Hunk took a step toward her.
Regaining her senses, she said, "Hunk, I brought you here under false pretenses, and for that I'm sorry."
He nodded slowly. "Okay."
"Hunk, I want to ask you to marry me- tonight."
He gasped loudly.
"God, Anne just asked Hunk to marry her." Sven's tone was a mix of incredulity and awe.
"This is so freaking unbelievable," Pidge gasped, shaking his head.
Hunk opened his mouth to speak and the host raised his hand. "Don't give her your answer yet," he said. "We will give you exactly forty-five minutes to make up your mind. In the meantime, Miss Felicia will take you to a cubicle so you can relax. We'll see you very soon. Please give Hunk a big round of applause."
The co-host came out and hooked her arm through Hunk's and they stepped out. She congratulated him wholeheartedly for having a beautiful and courageous fiancée. She asked him to think very carefully about his decision. He didn't talk, simply stared at her numbly.
The host asked Annie to go backstage to freshen up while they showed a montage with a voice-over by her.
"Hunk and I met when Her Highness, Princess Allura asked my family to help her organize Commander Keith's being in the galaxy appreciation day celebration at our inn. I suppose that every girl dreams of finding her knight in shining armor, but I never expected him to show up at my doorstep, much less as a member of the Voltron Force."
Their profile continued as they showed them making snow angels and a snow Voltron, collecting berries along with the Voltron Force; snapshots of Hunk appearing as a guest in Annie's cooking show followed by pictures of them renovating the orphanage and the church.
Hunk watched the presentation on a monitor, although he kept quiet, his brown eyes filled with tears.
When the presentation ended the host called out his name.
"What do you think of your lady's presentation?"
Swallowing hard, he stared at the monitor and said, "It's beautiful- like everything she does."
Olsen smiled. "We understand that marriage is very important step, that's why you will be allowed to make a two-minute phone call to someone you trust completely and ask for his or her advice."
"Phone call?" Hunk murmured, still in a haze.
"Just two minutes?" Pidge said. "That ain't fair!"
"Yes, who would you like to call? Your parents, a brother, a sister..."
"Call us, Hunk," Lance said through clenched teeth.
"Come on, big guy, don't let us down," Pidge hissed.
"I... I wish to speak with my teammates, please."
Three minutes later, the video-phone rang and everyone ran to answer it, but Lance was faster.
"Hello?" he said with a killer smile to the operator. "Yes, miss, I'll wait."
"Let me talk to him," Keith said.
Lance glanced at him. "Why? I'm perfectly capable of telling him what to do."
"Knowing you, you'll tell him to escape," he retorted.
He gave him a fake wounded look. "I would never do that to Annie-"
"Tell him he can't get married and break up the team," Pidge said.
"That's selfish thing to say!" I said hotly.
"We're only trying to help him, Princess," he offered.
"You better make up your minds," Sven broke in. "They're coming back from the commercials."
"I'll tell him what to do," Lance offered.
"No!" Pidge snapped. "I'll tell him."
"Quiet!" Keith barked. "Hunk needs our help, and we're going to give it to him. Understood?"
"Yes!" We replied in unison.
A nervous Hunk appeared in the small screen. "Hello?"
"Swallow your pride occasionally, it's not fattening." ~Frank Tyger
I hooked my arm through Sven's as we went down the stairs after our meeting with Coran regarding Avok's lengthy convalescence and the increase of security measures in Pollux.
I asked about his relationship with my cousin, and he grimaced. Despite all his accomplishments after escaping from Doom, he still feels unworthy of her, even after getting Avok's approval.
"Now it's your turn to tell me how are things with Keith. Have you told someone else about the both of you?"
This was surely the opportunity to ask him what to do, and he looked at me, waiting for my reply.
"Romelle suspects something and enjoys teasing me, but you're the only one who knows the truth."
Perceptive as ever, he noticed my change of expression and frowned slightly. "Is everything okay?"
"Everything is... great, thanks," I replied lightly. "I'm really glad you could come."
"I hope Keith is behaving himself. You won't let his manner put you off, will you? We know he's got a reputation for having a difficult temperament sometimes-"
"Sometimes?" I echoed. "You must be kidding."
"He takes his work very seriously, but it's all a front."
"He's anxious about our trip to Terra," I confided. "I want him to visit his father and talk about their problems. But he didn't like my idea."
"He has never told us what really happened between them," he said thoughtfully, "Must be something really serious."
"I guess so, but I'll keep insisting on their reunion."
He nodded his agreement. "I'll talk to him."
"Thanks, Sven."
Together, we went into the rec room, where Lance was sprawled in the corner of the couch pushing the buttons on the TV remote.
"Hey you guys, you got here just in time!" Pidge said, holding out a large bowl of buttered popcorn.
Keith came out of the wet bar with three bottles of Coke.
"I thought you were at Castle Control."
"I was, but Coran offered to take over so I could watch Hunk and Annie on TV."
"Well, if you excuse me, I'll see the program in my bedroom with Nanny," I said, and turned to walk out the door.
"Please, don't go Princess," Sven said, catching my elbow before I could leave. "There's room for everyone, isn't that right, Keith?"
The man he addressed didn't reply for a moment, and I met his eyes, a little spark appearing in their brown depths. I could almost feel his dark, brooding temperament over the distance that separated us in this room.
"Right," he said gruffly, plopping beside Lance and giving him a soda.
"Okay," I said, letting Sven squeeze me onto the couch between them. To my surprise, Keith opened the other two bottles, handed me one, and took a swig of his own.
The coffee table was littered with bowls of fresh popcorn with lemon and hot sauce, bags of Cracker Jack, potato chips and onion dip, and small bowls with pretzels and mixed nuts.
"When do we start? I asked, "We'll never get through all this."
"We start right now," Pidge said. "And don't bet on there being much left. I'm starving!" He grabbed a bag of Cracker Jack and offered it to me.
"Thank you," I said, taking the bag and placing my drink on the table.
"This is so good," I said appreciatively as I munched the sweet confection. "Do you want some, Keith?"
"No, thanks," was his laconic reply.
"I'll have some," Lance offered, slipping his hand into the bag. "I seldom indulge in sweet things myself," he added, shooting a little smile at me, blissfully unaware of the glare Keith was sending his way.
The opening credits of the show "With Your Love" appeared on the screen with shots of loving couples in different settings: kissing under the rain, having a picnic, holding hands while walking in the park, running at the seashore, enjoying a sunset- all these accompanied by a rendition of the song "Happy Heart" by Andy Williams.
"Pidge, are you sure this is the right channel?" Lance said.
"Yes," he replied, frowning. "Hunk said to watch channel 1298 at 2000 hours."
The host- whose name was Markus Olsen according to the credits on the screen- was a handsome dark-haired man in his late thirties. He was standing dressed in a tuxedo at the foot of a huge staircase lined with vases filled with yellow and white roses.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen and welcome to our show ‘With Your Love,' where women bring their boyfriends and fiancés to ask them a very simple question: ‘will you marry me?'"
"What?" Lance choked out, almost dropping the bowl of buttered popcorn on his lap.
Pidge gasped. "Does Hunk know about this?"
The host introduced his co-host, a beautiful young woman in her twenties called Felicia. Her auburn hair hung past her shoulders and she had eyes so green they didn't look real. They talked happily about past shows where couples had tied the knot, while showing clips of the ceremonies. Afterwards, she went backstage.
"Let's meet tonight's contestant, shall we?" Markus said.
"The audience gasped in admiration when they saw a young woman coming down the stairs, wearing an exquisite white gown, with a crown of white and yellow baby roses in her wavy blond hair.
"Anne - 23 years old."
"Oh my," I murmured, "That's Hunk's girlfriend."
"Welcome, Anne, you look beautiful tonight."
"Thank you, Markus," she replied shyly. "I'm so nervous."
"Don't be," he said soothingly, "everything is going to be alright. Please tell us the name of your fiancé."
"His name is Jonathan Chandler, but everyone calls him Hunk. He's the pilot of Yellow Lion."
The audience went wild at the mention of Hunk. Everybody loved him and was grateful for his actions to protect our planet.
"What little white lie did you tell the lieutenant to bring him to our show?"
"That we were coming to a kid's show to give out scholarships. Hunk is big kid himself and likes to help out, but he's very mature for other things."
"What do you think will be his reaction?" Markus said.
"The poor guy is going to pass out," Pidge croaked.
"He better not," Lance said flatly.
"Hunk likes to give me surprises," Annie went on. "I hope he likes the one that I'm about to give him."
The host then turned to the camera. "Anne will be waiting for Lieutenant Chandler's response. Will it be a dreaded ‘no' or the ‘yes' her heart yearns to hear? We'll find out after these messages from our sponsors."
"We must call Hunk and tell him what's going on," Lance said, grabbing his communicator. "Dammit! It says the user is not available."
"I've told him to always keep it on," Pidge said.
"And even if we go to the studio in one the lions," Sven said, "it will be too late."
"He must face this problem alone," Keith said abruptly.
I glanced at him, at the stern profile, the uncompromising mouth and chin. He had been very quiet as we watched the program, obviously deep in thought. I would love to know what was going on inside his head, what lay behind that expression.
"Showing your love is not a problem," I replied. "This is so brave of Annie, asking Hunk to marry her in front of a TV audience."
Keith held my gaze for a moment or two, then said, "You're right, Princess."
The commercials were over, and Markus brought back Annie and asked her if she wanted to proceed. She could leave immediately and he could tell Hunk that the show had been canceled. Annie took a deep breath and said that she wanted to continue.
"Doesn't she look beautiful?" The host gushed. "She is the most beautiful bride ever!"
The audience agreed wholeheartedly.
"Anne, before we bring Hunk into the set, I want you stand in that small platform. Please, ladies and gentlemen, we need complete silence."
Next we saw Hunk walking through a group of children rehearsing a dance routine. A middle-aged stagehand took Hunk by the arm and asked him to enter a small, darkened cubicle.
"Hunk, you will be out in two minutes. Please don't move from this spot. When that red light above you starts flashing, the doors will open and you will be greeted by our host. Is that understood?"
"Absolutely," Hunk said affably.
"Alright, good luck."
"Thanks!"
"Oh my, I can't look," I said to Sven, my heart pounding. What if Hunk ran away, shattering Annie's heart?
He stood there, and it was easy to see he was trying to relax. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on his breathing, forcing himself to breathe more slowly.
The camera switched immediately to a fidgety Annie, then returned to the double doors.
The red light started flashing, and the doors opened with a hiss.
When Hunk stepped out, he blinked in the sudden explosion of light and then peered at the audience, which was huge, and indistinguishable as individuals. He walked is if in a haze, one foot in front of the other toward a fate he had not imagined.
"Stop!" the host cried out. "Do not move."
Hunk stopped on his tracks. His eyes widened when he saw the woman standing on the platform, wearing a wedding dress.
"Annie?"
"Welcome to your wedding, Hunk. This is not a joke; this is an actual wedding ceremony. My name is Markus Olsen and we have your lovely lady Anne in a beautiful wedding dress chosen by her, our studio audience as witnesses of your union and a judge waiting backstage for our signal."
Markus glanced back at Annie, inviting her to speak. The poor thing remained completely still under the initial shock. Like a computer overfilled with information, her brain had blanked out briefly and then restarted as Hunk took a step toward her.
Regaining her senses, she said, "Hunk, I brought you here under false pretenses, and for that I'm sorry."
He nodded slowly. "Okay."
"Hunk, I want to ask you to marry me- tonight."
He gasped loudly.
"God, Anne just asked Hunk to marry her." Sven's tone was a mix of incredulity and awe.
"This is so freaking unbelievable," Pidge gasped, shaking his head.
Hunk opened his mouth to speak and the host raised his hand. "Don't give her your answer yet," he said. "We will give you exactly forty-five minutes to make up your mind. In the meantime, Miss Felicia will take you to a cubicle so you can relax. We'll see you very soon. Please give Hunk a big round of applause."
The co-host came out and hooked her arm through Hunk's and they stepped out. She congratulated him wholeheartedly for having a beautiful and courageous fiancée. She asked him to think very carefully about his decision. He didn't talk, simply stared at her numbly.
The host asked Annie to go backstage to freshen up while they showed a montage with a voice-over by her.
"Hunk and I met when Her Highness, Princess Allura asked my family to help her organize Commander Keith's being in the galaxy appreciation day celebration at our inn. I suppose that every girl dreams of finding her knight in shining armor, but I never expected him to show up at my doorstep, much less as a member of the Voltron Force."
Their profile continued as they showed them making snow angels and a snow Voltron, collecting berries along with the Voltron Force; snapshots of Hunk appearing as a guest in Annie's cooking show followed by pictures of them renovating the orphanage and the church.
Hunk watched the presentation on a monitor, although he kept quiet, his brown eyes filled with tears.
When the presentation ended the host called out his name.
"What do you think of your lady's presentation?"
Swallowing hard, he stared at the monitor and said, "It's beautiful- like everything she does."
Olsen smiled. "We understand that marriage is very important step, that's why you will be allowed to make a two-minute phone call to someone you trust completely and ask for his or her advice."
"Phone call?" Hunk murmured, still in a haze.
"Just two minutes?" Pidge said. "That ain't fair!"
"Yes, who would you like to call? Your parents, a brother, a sister..."
"Call us, Hunk," Lance said through clenched teeth.
"Come on, big guy, don't let us down," Pidge hissed.
"I... I wish to speak with my teammates, please."
Three minutes later, the video-phone rang and everyone ran to answer it, but Lance was faster.
"Hello?" he said with a killer smile to the operator. "Yes, miss, I'll wait."
"Let me talk to him," Keith said.
Lance glanced at him. "Why? I'm perfectly capable of telling him what to do."
"Knowing you, you'll tell him to escape," he retorted.
He gave him a fake wounded look. "I would never do that to Annie-"
"Tell him he can't get married and break up the team," Pidge said.
"That's selfish thing to say!" I said hotly.
"We're only trying to help him, Princess," he offered.
"You better make up your minds," Sven broke in. "They're coming back from the commercials."
"I'll tell him what to do," Lance offered.
"No!" Pidge snapped. "I'll tell him."
"Quiet!" Keith barked. "Hunk needs our help, and we're going to give it to him. Understood?"
"Yes!" We replied in unison.
A nervous Hunk appeared in the small screen. "Hello?"
"If a man has a right to be proud of anything, it is of a good action done as it ought to be, without any base interest lurking at the bottom of it." ~Sterne
When the call came through I heard the Princess and the guys arguing hotly and Keith ordering them to keep quiet. I said hello, and they immediately came to the screen.
"Hunk, are you okay?" she said, her eyes filled with worry.
"A bit shaken, but I'm fine. You heard Annie's proposal, what should I do?"
"Tell her that you need permission from the Garrison," Pidge said in a rush.
"Pipe down!" Lance snapped, and then turned to me. "Mon ami, you're not ready to settle down. You need to enjoy single life a bit more."
"Are you sure that you want to spend the rest of your life with Annie?" Sven said, with a dubious look on his face.
"Hunk," Keith said. "Remember that we came here with a mission. You don't need more distractions-"
Princess shoved them away, "Argh, you're not helping! Hunk, don't listen to them. You must follow your heart-"
The screen went blank. "No! I need more time with my teammates," I said, pushing the button to reconnect.
Markus appeared on the screen. "Sorry, lieutenant," he said firmly. "You'll have a few more minutes to consider your options while the audience enjoys a musical number." And the monitor went off.
I rubbed a hand over my face, trying to make sense of the situation. The guys didn't help at all. But what could I expect from a foolish teenager, a hound dog, an over analyzer and a workaholic with a stick up his ass?
Princess was the only one who gave me real advice, I must follow my heart.
Yes, that's what I'm gonna do.
When the call came through I heard the Princess and the guys arguing hotly and Keith ordering them to keep quiet. I said hello, and they immediately came to the screen.
"Hunk, are you okay?" she said, her eyes filled with worry.
"A bit shaken, but I'm fine. You heard Annie's proposal, what should I do?"
"Tell her that you need permission from the Garrison," Pidge said in a rush.
"Pipe down!" Lance snapped, and then turned to me. "Mon ami, you're not ready to settle down. You need to enjoy single life a bit more."
"Are you sure that you want to spend the rest of your life with Annie?" Sven said, with a dubious look on his face.
"Hunk," Keith said. "Remember that we came here with a mission. You don't need more distractions-"
Princess shoved them away, "Argh, you're not helping! Hunk, don't listen to them. You must follow your heart-"
The screen went blank. "No! I need more time with my teammates," I said, pushing the button to reconnect.
Markus appeared on the screen. "Sorry, lieutenant," he said firmly. "You'll have a few more minutes to consider your options while the audience enjoys a musical number." And the monitor went off.
I rubbed a hand over my face, trying to make sense of the situation. The guys didn't help at all. But what could I expect from a foolish teenager, a hound dog, an over analyzer and a workaholic with a stick up his ass?
Princess was the only one who gave me real advice, I must follow my heart.
Yes, that's what I'm gonna do.
PERSONAL LOG.STAR DATE.2304.06.18.1
Allura was still staring at me with a piercing look that she seemed to reserve solely for me whenever I irritated her, and that was often.
"You only managed to confuse Hunk."
"He must weigh in the pros and the cons of his decision."
She glanced at the guys sitting on the couch side by side. "And you weren't much help either. And you call yourselves his friends!"
Embarrassed, they lowered their gazes.
I took another swig of my warm Coke as I pretended to ignore her. But that was impossible. For one thing, I love her too much to ever discount her, and for another, she would not be ignored!
"Don't worry, Princess," Pidge said. "I'm sure Hunk will know what do."
"Let's just hope he comes out," she huffed, sitting back between Sven and me and crossing her arms over her chest.
After the musical number that included a potpourri of ballads from the 2260s through the 2290s, the host presented clips of Annie being taken to an atelier to choose a wedding dress, the jewelry store where she picked up the rings, and her visits to the hairdresser and makeup artist.
Backstage, Miss Felicia reached out and adjusted the crown of flowers on Annie's head. "You must wear your veil so your fiancé cannot see your face before his announcement."
Annie nodded her agreement and arranged the veil over her face, and she then picked up a beautiful bouquet of yellow roses from the vanity table.
She was brought out and asked to stand on the platform. Markus explained that there was a chance that Hunk would not come out because he simply wasn't ready to commit and that we should not judge him.
"Sometimes, the gentleman comes out still dressed in his own clothes and tells his lady that he's not ready, and other times, he simply goes away without an explanation. Let's hope this isn't one of these occasions."
After a drum roll, the doors opened once again, and everyone held their breath.
The seconds passed on, and Hunk wasn't coming out.
"Oh Hunk," Allura breathed in an agonized tone as her eyes welled up.
"Look!" Pidge said excitedly, pointing at the screen.
Hunk was on the stage now, dressed in his gala uniform. His hair was damp and pulled back.
Though he looked completely ill at ease, his gaze softened ever so subtly before he glanced at Annie.
She raised her veil. Tears pricked her eyes as she stared up at him.
It was clear Hunk didn't see the ornate sculptures, the heavy golden curtains. He saw her. Annie. She stood waiting center stage, overwhelming the enormous studio with her presence.
"Well, Hunk," Markus said, "What is your answer?"
He hesitated for a moment. "Annie, I was really surprised by your proposal, I'm really flattered, but-"
Annie looked up at him, her golden eyebrows raised in query. "But?"
He shook his head. "I just can't do it."
Allura closed her eyes in pain. "Hunk didn't hear my advice," she whispered, and Sven squeezed her hand in sympathy.
Lance, who couldn't bear to see the Princess in this state, got on his feet and pointing at the TV, said, "Hell, if he won't marry her, I will!"
Annie had choked up and looked as if she was struggling to continue breathing. She reached up and touched Hunk's cheek with her right hand. "I understand."
He placed a hand over hers and said, "Understand that I can't marry you... without telling you before how much you mean to me."
She gave him a perplexed look. "Pardon?"
"You know that I'm not very good with words." Hunk said, and waited a beat before going on. "You're a beautiful girl who is kind and compassionate, that likes me well enough to overlook my many drawbacks. The problem is that I hurt you, really hurt you some time ago, even though it wasn't my fault. After all, I was doing my job."
Annie swallowed as her eyes filled with tears. "Yes," she whispered. "When you died on the Omega Comet."
He nodded. "Then someone or something gave us a second chance on life and we were able to escape. And I realized that I had to live mine to the fullest, enjoy every day as if it were the last."
Annie sighed wearily. "I see."
He turned to her and smiled. "And I can only do that with you beside me."
"Oh?"
"I love you, Anne Brochner. Will you make the happiest man alive and be my wife?"
"Yes," she whispered, before flinging his arms around him with a cry of pure joy. Hunk caught her with a happy, "oomph," then found his face peppered with kisses.
The audience applauded and the host asked the couple to stand on the platform so he could bring out the judge.
As I watched a teary-eyed Hunk slide the band of beaten gold on Annie's trembling finger at the judge's request, it hit me that although her life with a space explorer wasn't going to be perfect, it would be really, really close.
So long as they were together, nothing else mattered.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the beaming judge intoned, turning them to face the audience. "It is my honor to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Hunk Chandler."
Save... close.
Allura was still staring at me with a piercing look that she seemed to reserve solely for me whenever I irritated her, and that was often.
"You only managed to confuse Hunk."
"He must weigh in the pros and the cons of his decision."
She glanced at the guys sitting on the couch side by side. "And you weren't much help either. And you call yourselves his friends!"
Embarrassed, they lowered their gazes.
I took another swig of my warm Coke as I pretended to ignore her. But that was impossible. For one thing, I love her too much to ever discount her, and for another, she would not be ignored!
"Don't worry, Princess," Pidge said. "I'm sure Hunk will know what do."
"Let's just hope he comes out," she huffed, sitting back between Sven and me and crossing her arms over her chest.
After the musical number that included a potpourri of ballads from the 2260s through the 2290s, the host presented clips of Annie being taken to an atelier to choose a wedding dress, the jewelry store where she picked up the rings, and her visits to the hairdresser and makeup artist.
Backstage, Miss Felicia reached out and adjusted the crown of flowers on Annie's head. "You must wear your veil so your fiancé cannot see your face before his announcement."
Annie nodded her agreement and arranged the veil over her face, and she then picked up a beautiful bouquet of yellow roses from the vanity table.
She was brought out and asked to stand on the platform. Markus explained that there was a chance that Hunk would not come out because he simply wasn't ready to commit and that we should not judge him.
"Sometimes, the gentleman comes out still dressed in his own clothes and tells his lady that he's not ready, and other times, he simply goes away without an explanation. Let's hope this isn't one of these occasions."
After a drum roll, the doors opened once again, and everyone held their breath.
The seconds passed on, and Hunk wasn't coming out.
"Oh Hunk," Allura breathed in an agonized tone as her eyes welled up.
"Look!" Pidge said excitedly, pointing at the screen.
Hunk was on the stage now, dressed in his gala uniform. His hair was damp and pulled back.
Though he looked completely ill at ease, his gaze softened ever so subtly before he glanced at Annie.
She raised her veil. Tears pricked her eyes as she stared up at him.
It was clear Hunk didn't see the ornate sculptures, the heavy golden curtains. He saw her. Annie. She stood waiting center stage, overwhelming the enormous studio with her presence.
"Well, Hunk," Markus said, "What is your answer?"
He hesitated for a moment. "Annie, I was really surprised by your proposal, I'm really flattered, but-"
Annie looked up at him, her golden eyebrows raised in query. "But?"
He shook his head. "I just can't do it."
Allura closed her eyes in pain. "Hunk didn't hear my advice," she whispered, and Sven squeezed her hand in sympathy.
Lance, who couldn't bear to see the Princess in this state, got on his feet and pointing at the TV, said, "Hell, if he won't marry her, I will!"
Annie had choked up and looked as if she was struggling to continue breathing. She reached up and touched Hunk's cheek with her right hand. "I understand."
He placed a hand over hers and said, "Understand that I can't marry you... without telling you before how much you mean to me."
She gave him a perplexed look. "Pardon?"
"You know that I'm not very good with words." Hunk said, and waited a beat before going on. "You're a beautiful girl who is kind and compassionate, that likes me well enough to overlook my many drawbacks. The problem is that I hurt you, really hurt you some time ago, even though it wasn't my fault. After all, I was doing my job."
Annie swallowed as her eyes filled with tears. "Yes," she whispered. "When you died on the Omega Comet."
He nodded. "Then someone or something gave us a second chance on life and we were able to escape. And I realized that I had to live mine to the fullest, enjoy every day as if it were the last."
Annie sighed wearily. "I see."
He turned to her and smiled. "And I can only do that with you beside me."
"Oh?"
"I love you, Anne Brochner. Will you make the happiest man alive and be my wife?"
"Yes," she whispered, before flinging his arms around him with a cry of pure joy. Hunk caught her with a happy, "oomph," then found his face peppered with kisses.
The audience applauded and the host asked the couple to stand on the platform so he could bring out the judge.
As I watched a teary-eyed Hunk slide the band of beaten gold on Annie's trembling finger at the judge's request, it hit me that although her life with a space explorer wasn't going to be perfect, it would be really, really close.
So long as they were together, nothing else mattered.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the beaming judge intoned, turning them to face the audience. "It is my honor to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Hunk Chandler."
Save... close.
"Swallowing your pride seldom leads to indigestion." ~Source Unknown
PERSONAL LOG.STAR DATE.2304.06.19.1
I slipped out from Hunk's and Annie's wedding reception and went back to the castle. I entered the rec room and placed my communicator on the coffee table by the couch, and went for a cup of coffee.
It had been a very long evening. I had lost another chance to open my heart to the Princess while we were at the reception and had won a round of shit from the guys for refusing to dance with her.
As I lay in the couch, considering the events of the day, I couldn't stop thinking of Allura. I had clenched my hands at my sides while she sat next to me in this same couch as we watched Hunk and Annie getting married, fighting the urge to draw her into my lap and kiss her tears away.
Someone entered the room quietly. I suspected I could see much better than the intruder. My suspicions were confirmed when the dark silhouette stumbled into the desk and cursed softly in Norwegian.
Sven... a great friend but an annoying one if he was in the mood.
"What do you want?"
He whipped around and squinted in my direction. "Keith? Why are you sitting there, alone in the dark?"
"I wanted to be alone in the dark," I stated the obvious.
Sven groped along the wall until he found the switch. The fluorescent lights came on with their bluish glow and quiet humming.
I sat and took a sip from my coffee. I winced as the bitter liquid burned my throat. "Why are you here?"
Sven's mouth curled into a slight smile. "You left the reception too soon, and I had something important to tell you."
I set the cup on the coffee table. "I've already heard enough from you guys."
He stalked toward me. "You're not going to start that ‘I needed the fresh air' crap again, are you?"
I took a deep breath and slowly relaxed my hands. "Nothing happened between the Princess and me while we were on the balcony, alright?"
He snorted. "Sure. You just stood there in complete silence."
I fisted my hands again. "You better drop the subject. You're in the same ship regarding Princess Romelle."
"Not anymore," he said vehemently. "Hunk and Annie have given me a great lesson about reaching for what you wish for."
"Really?"
"When I go back to Pollux, I'll tell Romelle that I love her."
"I guess congratulations are in order then."
"Thank you," he said curtly. "Now, you must tell Princess Allura why you are so angry with your father. I'm sure she'll understand."
"I don't want to talk about it," I said, jumping to my feet.
Sven gripped my forearm. "If you don't wise up soon, someone will take her away from you," he said in a menacing tone. "And I'm not talking about Lotor, but someone close to her, someone who loves her deeply and only wants her happiness. And if he sees the chance, he will take it. Friendships and loyalties be damned."
I stared at him. My God, he was talking about Lance!
"Allura is mine!" I cried, pulling my arm free.
"Not for long if you let your pride get in the way!" He snapped.
I grasped my cup and walked to the wet bar. "She has to understand that I don't want to see my father. That I don't need him in my life."
Sven sighed heavily. "Listen, Keith." His voice was calm. "You must make peace with your past because your future with the Princess may literally depend on it. If not now, when?"
I scowled, and gave him an exasperated look. "I hate it when you're right."
"I know," he said with a grin. "You better get used to it."
"This discussion is over," I said, pouring the rest of the java down the drain.
Save... close.
PERSONAL LOG.STAR DATE.2304.06.19.1
I slipped out from Hunk's and Annie's wedding reception and went back to the castle. I entered the rec room and placed my communicator on the coffee table by the couch, and went for a cup of coffee.
It had been a very long evening. I had lost another chance to open my heart to the Princess while we were at the reception and had won a round of shit from the guys for refusing to dance with her.
As I lay in the couch, considering the events of the day, I couldn't stop thinking of Allura. I had clenched my hands at my sides while she sat next to me in this same couch as we watched Hunk and Annie getting married, fighting the urge to draw her into my lap and kiss her tears away.
Someone entered the room quietly. I suspected I could see much better than the intruder. My suspicions were confirmed when the dark silhouette stumbled into the desk and cursed softly in Norwegian.
Sven... a great friend but an annoying one if he was in the mood.
"What do you want?"
He whipped around and squinted in my direction. "Keith? Why are you sitting there, alone in the dark?"
"I wanted to be alone in the dark," I stated the obvious.
Sven groped along the wall until he found the switch. The fluorescent lights came on with their bluish glow and quiet humming.
I sat and took a sip from my coffee. I winced as the bitter liquid burned my throat. "Why are you here?"
Sven's mouth curled into a slight smile. "You left the reception too soon, and I had something important to tell you."
I set the cup on the coffee table. "I've already heard enough from you guys."
He stalked toward me. "You're not going to start that ‘I needed the fresh air' crap again, are you?"
I took a deep breath and slowly relaxed my hands. "Nothing happened between the Princess and me while we were on the balcony, alright?"
He snorted. "Sure. You just stood there in complete silence."
I fisted my hands again. "You better drop the subject. You're in the same ship regarding Princess Romelle."
"Not anymore," he said vehemently. "Hunk and Annie have given me a great lesson about reaching for what you wish for."
"Really?"
"When I go back to Pollux, I'll tell Romelle that I love her."
"I guess congratulations are in order then."
"Thank you," he said curtly. "Now, you must tell Princess Allura why you are so angry with your father. I'm sure she'll understand."
"I don't want to talk about it," I said, jumping to my feet.
Sven gripped my forearm. "If you don't wise up soon, someone will take her away from you," he said in a menacing tone. "And I'm not talking about Lotor, but someone close to her, someone who loves her deeply and only wants her happiness. And if he sees the chance, he will take it. Friendships and loyalties be damned."
I stared at him. My God, he was talking about Lance!
"Allura is mine!" I cried, pulling my arm free.
"Not for long if you let your pride get in the way!" He snapped.
I grasped my cup and walked to the wet bar. "She has to understand that I don't want to see my father. That I don't need him in my life."
Sven sighed heavily. "Listen, Keith." His voice was calm. "You must make peace with your past because your future with the Princess may literally depend on it. If not now, when?"
I scowled, and gave him an exasperated look. "I hate it when you're right."
"I know," he said with a grin. "You better get used to it."
"This discussion is over," I said, pouring the rest of the java down the drain.
Save... close.
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right." ~Ezra Taft Benson
After the wedding reception, I took Sophie and her parents back home. I was about to bid her a good night when she asked me to come in. I went into the living room and stood before a table adorned with lion figurines.
I was holding one made of jade when Sophie came back. "My parents are so happy for Annie and Hunk; we still can't believe my sister prepared everything behind our backs!"
I chuckled. "Princess and the guys can't believe it either. They're an amazing couple and love each other very much."
"Too bad they have to wait for their honeymoon because of Allura and Captain Keith's trip to Terra," she said.
"Yes, they can't leave Voltron one pilot short."
Then she noticed the lion in my hands. "I was looking at your collection. It's great."
"Thanks." I was struck by the gentleness of her touch as she returned the figurine to its stand. "Christian brought this one from her last trip to Terra."
"I like it."
"Pidge?"
"Hmm?"
"Could you... could you teach me how to play Muzik Master?"
"Sure, if you want to."
She nodded. "Thank you," she said her voice suddenly low and husky. "Perhaps we could begin tomorrow night... if that's okay with you."
"Yeah," I replied, swallowing hard. Was I imagining things, or was she suggesting more than she was saying?
The thought of holding her close once again, of having my arms around her waist, of burying my face in the wealth of her flower-scented hair was too much. My gaze moved to her pouting mouth once again and I glanced away so she would not see the sudden heat in my eyes.
"Uh... it's getting late. I'd better go and let you rest."
"You don't have to go," she replied. "My parents have gone to bed." Her hand settled gently over mine, tracing a fingertip over each knuckle. Every brush of her fingers sent an unexpected jolt of electricity through my system.
Leaning up, she pressed her lips to mine and kissed me.
I remained still for a moment, and then kissed back gently, my mouth moving over hers warm and slowly. I pulled her closer, folding my arm around her. It seemed everything was okay between us once again.
Then I felt her stiffen and pull away from me. Surprised, I opened my eyes. She was looking at me squarely in the eye.
"Sophie? What's wrong?"
She stared at me for a moment before replying. "I want to apologize for acting like a spoiled brat. I shouldn't have gone with Rolando Klum to that movie premier."
"No, I'm sorry for not spending more time with you, all because of that stupid video game. I'll make it up to you, promise!"
"You work so much, risking your life for us every day."
"But-"
She covered my mouth with one finger and shook her head. "If you want to play that game with your brother or go out with your teammates, I will not stop you."
"What about you?" I tried to say around her finger, but she shook her head again.
"You're always trying to help others. You deserve some time off," she replied, her arms sliding around me.
"Have I told you that I love you?" I whispered against her mouth as I slid my own arms around her.
"Hmm, I think so, but I don't mind hearing it again," she said, with a slow smile.
I chuckled, then pressed a kiss to her mouth and said, "I love you, Sophie."
"I love you too, Pidge, you're my hero," she admitted, and I squeezed her tight.
"Shucks, I don't know what to say," I murmured, then eased my hold enough to raise one hand and caress her golden hair. "Does that mean we're still dating?"
Sophie smiled at my pained face, and said, "Oh, yes."
"Thank Goodness," I sighed and kissed her again.
After the wedding reception, I took Sophie and her parents back home. I was about to bid her a good night when she asked me to come in. I went into the living room and stood before a table adorned with lion figurines.
I was holding one made of jade when Sophie came back. "My parents are so happy for Annie and Hunk; we still can't believe my sister prepared everything behind our backs!"
I chuckled. "Princess and the guys can't believe it either. They're an amazing couple and love each other very much."
"Too bad they have to wait for their honeymoon because of Allura and Captain Keith's trip to Terra," she said.
"Yes, they can't leave Voltron one pilot short."
Then she noticed the lion in my hands. "I was looking at your collection. It's great."
"Thanks." I was struck by the gentleness of her touch as she returned the figurine to its stand. "Christian brought this one from her last trip to Terra."
"I like it."
"Pidge?"
"Hmm?"
"Could you... could you teach me how to play Muzik Master?"
"Sure, if you want to."
She nodded. "Thank you," she said her voice suddenly low and husky. "Perhaps we could begin tomorrow night... if that's okay with you."
"Yeah," I replied, swallowing hard. Was I imagining things, or was she suggesting more than she was saying?
The thought of holding her close once again, of having my arms around her waist, of burying my face in the wealth of her flower-scented hair was too much. My gaze moved to her pouting mouth once again and I glanced away so she would not see the sudden heat in my eyes.
"Uh... it's getting late. I'd better go and let you rest."
"You don't have to go," she replied. "My parents have gone to bed." Her hand settled gently over mine, tracing a fingertip over each knuckle. Every brush of her fingers sent an unexpected jolt of electricity through my system.
Leaning up, she pressed her lips to mine and kissed me.
I remained still for a moment, and then kissed back gently, my mouth moving over hers warm and slowly. I pulled her closer, folding my arm around her. It seemed everything was okay between us once again.
Then I felt her stiffen and pull away from me. Surprised, I opened my eyes. She was looking at me squarely in the eye.
"Sophie? What's wrong?"
She stared at me for a moment before replying. "I want to apologize for acting like a spoiled brat. I shouldn't have gone with Rolando Klum to that movie premier."
"No, I'm sorry for not spending more time with you, all because of that stupid video game. I'll make it up to you, promise!"
"You work so much, risking your life for us every day."
"But-"
She covered my mouth with one finger and shook her head. "If you want to play that game with your brother or go out with your teammates, I will not stop you."
"What about you?" I tried to say around her finger, but she shook her head again.
"You're always trying to help others. You deserve some time off," she replied, her arms sliding around me.
"Have I told you that I love you?" I whispered against her mouth as I slid my own arms around her.
"Hmm, I think so, but I don't mind hearing it again," she said, with a slow smile.
I chuckled, then pressed a kiss to her mouth and said, "I love you, Sophie."
"I love you too, Pidge, you're my hero," she admitted, and I squeezed her tight.
"Shucks, I don't know what to say," I murmured, then eased my hold enough to raise one hand and caress her golden hair. "Does that mean we're still dating?"
Sophie smiled at my pained face, and said, "Oh, yes."
"Thank Goodness," I sighed and kissed her again.
"It ain't bragging if you can do it." ~Dizzy Dean
"Lance, wake up."
I opened my eyes, and then squinted against the bright light of the morning sun coming in through the windows.
Christian came into the bedroom wearing a yellow bathrobe.
"What time is it?"
"Quarter after ten."
I collapsed on the bed with a loud groan. "Five more minutes."
She laughed. "Don't fall asleep again! You've to get dressed."
"I don't have lion practice today," I said, rolling over onto my back. I slung an arm over my eyes to block out the light.
"I don't care, you need to get up."
I moved the arm over the top of my face to peep at her with one eye. "We've only been asleep for four hours, why are you up?"
A glass of orange juice appeared suddenly before me.
"I told you last night, I'm leaving Arus today. I barely have time to take a shower and pack a suitcase."
"I wish you could stay," I said taking the glass.
She walked over to the closet to get her suitcase. "I'm sorry, but they need my expertise in Arusian culture on Planet Altar."
I finished my juice, set it next to her empty glass on the nightstand, and then got up and slowly walked towards her.
"I'll be back in three months, promise."
"That's not soon enough." I pulled her into my arms for a kiss.
She laughed softly and ran her hands over my back. "If you keep this up, I'll never finish packing."
"Then stay with me." I reached out to untie the knot of her bathrobe and slid it off her shoulders.
My years at the Academy had taught me about desire. She didn't move, barely breathed, but I knew she wanted me because her cheeks were flushed; the pupils of her blue eyes were dilated. Her breasts were luxuriously soft and full, with nipples tinted a deep rose.
My hand shaped her breast, my thumb teasing her nipple. I bent my head to the temptation and closed my mouth over the soft mound, sucking so strongly that Christian arched back and caught my hair in her hands to drag me closer to her.
"Lance," she whispered, shaking with pleasure.
I grinned at her. She was such a beautiful sight that I couldn't help myself. I took her chin in my hand and bent to kiss her. Then, grasping her wrists in my other hand I gently forced her back down onto the bed. I brushed my lips back and forth across hers, until she arched upward in anticipation.
I always took my time exploring the curves of her body. I can't get enough of the sensation of her softness and warmth.
"Christian, we have a problem."
"I know." She cuddled up contentedly against my chest. "We left the wedding reception without telling a soul."
I ran my index finger across her behind, tracing the sweet cleft. "Hunk and Annie were so taken with each other they didn't notice. But that isn't the problem."
"Oh, I know." She shivered as I splayed my hand over her stomach, my thumb touching her belly ring. "You didn't tell Captain Keith that you were spending the night away from the castle."
"I sent him a message," I said, continuing my assault.
She cried out when I lean over to lick the little cat that dangled from her hoop.
"What's the problem then?" she whispered.
I let my hand drift lower, and began to stroke the softness between her thighs. "You're leaving and I'll stay here... alone."
"Not for long." Her breath rushed out. "You'll find someone to keep you company. Someone like Farla."
"You heard about her?" I gasped with surprise, making Christian's eyebrows rise.
"Lance, everybody knows about your trip to Lyra to gather the cure to save Allura and our people from those poisoned flowers sent by Zarkon. Maybe I was working on the other side of the galaxy, but news travel very fast."
"And what else have you heard?"
"That Farla was badly injured during Lotor's attack, fell into a raging river and you saved her. She was so grateful that she gave you the flowers needed for the antidote. She's recuperating quite rapidly, thanks in part to your frequent visits. By the way, I saw her picture on the Internet. She's really beautiful."
"Yes, she is."
"I imagined she's quite enamored of you, isn't she?"
I took my time before satisfying her curiosity. "Well... you know me."
She gave me a slow, easy smile. "Yes, I do, you conceited devil!"
I laughed, moving over her, determined to give her pleasure once again. "Are you ready for me, mademoiselle?"
"Yes," she whispered. I felt her fingertips down my back, teasing me until I trembled.
Then my body was covering hers as I kissed her again, spreading her thighs. When she felt me entering her, she shivered and pressed her shoulders to the bed to anchor herself. I thrust deep inside her warm, wet body.
"Oh, Lance," she panted. She ground herself against me as she entwined her fingers in my hair and kissed my lips. I thrust harder as I let her sweet touch soothe me. "Lance," she sobbed, and I moved even faster against her.
Christian cried out as she came instantly, and I followed her minutes later, releasing myself inside her. I lay on top of her, panting while my body continued to shiver and spasm, until I slid out of her and collapsed by her side.
"That was incredible," she whispered.
I nodded and waited for my heart to stop pounding.
We lay there for a few moments in silence, and then she sighed, "I need another shower."
"Can I join you?"
"Nope, we don't have time for more steamy sex," she replied with a smile, easing cautiously from the bed to get her bathrobe.
"Your loss," I replied, grinning.
"Lance, could you get me the cell charger? It's still in its box with the manual, in the second drawer of the nightstand."
Sitting next to the bed, I opened the drawer. There were papers and an old digital photo frame.
Curious, I reached for the photo frame and turned it on. The pictures were mostly of Californian landmarks- San Juan Capistrano Mission, San Diego Mission, Seaport Village, Sea World, Balboa Park, Old Town San Diego... until I found a cute photo of a teenage girl in school uniform.
Then I saw the box. It was definitely the one with the charger and the manual. But I stared at it for a few minutes.
It was Allura... and not her. At least not the Princess I know. The features were the exact same, the shape and color of her eyes, the shade of her hair in thick braids sans the circlet, the straight nose, the full lips, the braces...
"Chris?"
"Yes?"
"Where did you get this picture?"
She came out of the bathroom and reached for her glasses. "Oh, that's a picture of Allura when she was studying in Terra."
"Princess studied in Terra? She never told us about it."
"Yes, King Alfor studied a couple of years in Terra and wanted Allura to have the same experience. She was fourteen years old. She spent a year in San Diego in a Catholic school."
"San Diego? Do you remember the name of the school?"
She narrowed her eyes at me. "I believe it was Saint Mary's Academy, but don't quote me on that."
I paused and realized that Keith had lived in San Diego and also studied in a Catholic School, but I couldn't remember its name.
I continued flipping through the photos until I found another one of the Princess sitting in the classroom with two of her classmates. Five seats behind them sat a boy that was looking out the window.
A boy with long dark hair and facial features that seemed eerily familiar.
Could he be... no, he couldn't be. There must be dozens of Catholic schools in San Diego. What were the chances of Keith and Allura being in the same one?
But that could explain their reactions when we arrived in Arus and Keith's strange behavior ever since.
They knew each other from school!
Son of a bitch! And he never told me, his best friend!
He's going to pay for this.
"Chris, can I borrow this photo frame?"
"Why?" she asked uncertainly.
I grinned at her. "I just want to show it to the guys; I think they'll get a kick out of it."
"But..." She hesitated, at a loss as to what to say. She had been raised not to tattle on her friends. "I don't want Allura to get mad at me for showing you these pictures. She hated wearing those stupid braces."
"I won't tell her, I promise."
"Lance-"
I cupped her face in my hand and smoothed her hair back from her temples, before sealing my promise with a kiss. "Space explorer's honor."
"Lance, wake up."
I opened my eyes, and then squinted against the bright light of the morning sun coming in through the windows.
Christian came into the bedroom wearing a yellow bathrobe.
"What time is it?"
"Quarter after ten."
I collapsed on the bed with a loud groan. "Five more minutes."
She laughed. "Don't fall asleep again! You've to get dressed."
"I don't have lion practice today," I said, rolling over onto my back. I slung an arm over my eyes to block out the light.
"I don't care, you need to get up."
I moved the arm over the top of my face to peep at her with one eye. "We've only been asleep for four hours, why are you up?"
A glass of orange juice appeared suddenly before me.
"I told you last night, I'm leaving Arus today. I barely have time to take a shower and pack a suitcase."
"I wish you could stay," I said taking the glass.
She walked over to the closet to get her suitcase. "I'm sorry, but they need my expertise in Arusian culture on Planet Altar."
I finished my juice, set it next to her empty glass on the nightstand, and then got up and slowly walked towards her.
"I'll be back in three months, promise."
"That's not soon enough." I pulled her into my arms for a kiss.
She laughed softly and ran her hands over my back. "If you keep this up, I'll never finish packing."
"Then stay with me." I reached out to untie the knot of her bathrobe and slid it off her shoulders.
My years at the Academy had taught me about desire. She didn't move, barely breathed, but I knew she wanted me because her cheeks were flushed; the pupils of her blue eyes were dilated. Her breasts were luxuriously soft and full, with nipples tinted a deep rose.
My hand shaped her breast, my thumb teasing her nipple. I bent my head to the temptation and closed my mouth over the soft mound, sucking so strongly that Christian arched back and caught my hair in her hands to drag me closer to her.
"Lance," she whispered, shaking with pleasure.
I grinned at her. She was such a beautiful sight that I couldn't help myself. I took her chin in my hand and bent to kiss her. Then, grasping her wrists in my other hand I gently forced her back down onto the bed. I brushed my lips back and forth across hers, until she arched upward in anticipation.
I always took my time exploring the curves of her body. I can't get enough of the sensation of her softness and warmth.
"Christian, we have a problem."
"I know." She cuddled up contentedly against my chest. "We left the wedding reception without telling a soul."
I ran my index finger across her behind, tracing the sweet cleft. "Hunk and Annie were so taken with each other they didn't notice. But that isn't the problem."
"Oh, I know." She shivered as I splayed my hand over her stomach, my thumb touching her belly ring. "You didn't tell Captain Keith that you were spending the night away from the castle."
"I sent him a message," I said, continuing my assault.
She cried out when I lean over to lick the little cat that dangled from her hoop.
"What's the problem then?" she whispered.
I let my hand drift lower, and began to stroke the softness between her thighs. "You're leaving and I'll stay here... alone."
"Not for long." Her breath rushed out. "You'll find someone to keep you company. Someone like Farla."
"You heard about her?" I gasped with surprise, making Christian's eyebrows rise.
"Lance, everybody knows about your trip to Lyra to gather the cure to save Allura and our people from those poisoned flowers sent by Zarkon. Maybe I was working on the other side of the galaxy, but news travel very fast."
"And what else have you heard?"
"That Farla was badly injured during Lotor's attack, fell into a raging river and you saved her. She was so grateful that she gave you the flowers needed for the antidote. She's recuperating quite rapidly, thanks in part to your frequent visits. By the way, I saw her picture on the Internet. She's really beautiful."
"Yes, she is."
"I imagined she's quite enamored of you, isn't she?"
I took my time before satisfying her curiosity. "Well... you know me."
She gave me a slow, easy smile. "Yes, I do, you conceited devil!"
I laughed, moving over her, determined to give her pleasure once again. "Are you ready for me, mademoiselle?"
"Yes," she whispered. I felt her fingertips down my back, teasing me until I trembled.
Then my body was covering hers as I kissed her again, spreading her thighs. When she felt me entering her, she shivered and pressed her shoulders to the bed to anchor herself. I thrust deep inside her warm, wet body.
"Oh, Lance," she panted. She ground herself against me as she entwined her fingers in my hair and kissed my lips. I thrust harder as I let her sweet touch soothe me. "Lance," she sobbed, and I moved even faster against her.
Christian cried out as she came instantly, and I followed her minutes later, releasing myself inside her. I lay on top of her, panting while my body continued to shiver and spasm, until I slid out of her and collapsed by her side.
"That was incredible," she whispered.
I nodded and waited for my heart to stop pounding.
We lay there for a few moments in silence, and then she sighed, "I need another shower."
"Can I join you?"
"Nope, we don't have time for more steamy sex," she replied with a smile, easing cautiously from the bed to get her bathrobe.
"Your loss," I replied, grinning.
"Lance, could you get me the cell charger? It's still in its box with the manual, in the second drawer of the nightstand."
Sitting next to the bed, I opened the drawer. There were papers and an old digital photo frame.
Curious, I reached for the photo frame and turned it on. The pictures were mostly of Californian landmarks- San Juan Capistrano Mission, San Diego Mission, Seaport Village, Sea World, Balboa Park, Old Town San Diego... until I found a cute photo of a teenage girl in school uniform.
Then I saw the box. It was definitely the one with the charger and the manual. But I stared at it for a few minutes.
It was Allura... and not her. At least not the Princess I know. The features were the exact same, the shape and color of her eyes, the shade of her hair in thick braids sans the circlet, the straight nose, the full lips, the braces...
"Chris?"
"Yes?"
"Where did you get this picture?"
She came out of the bathroom and reached for her glasses. "Oh, that's a picture of Allura when she was studying in Terra."
"Princess studied in Terra? She never told us about it."
"Yes, King Alfor studied a couple of years in Terra and wanted Allura to have the same experience. She was fourteen years old. She spent a year in San Diego in a Catholic school."
"San Diego? Do you remember the name of the school?"
She narrowed her eyes at me. "I believe it was Saint Mary's Academy, but don't quote me on that."
I paused and realized that Keith had lived in San Diego and also studied in a Catholic School, but I couldn't remember its name.
I continued flipping through the photos until I found another one of the Princess sitting in the classroom with two of her classmates. Five seats behind them sat a boy that was looking out the window.
A boy with long dark hair and facial features that seemed eerily familiar.
Could he be... no, he couldn't be. There must be dozens of Catholic schools in San Diego. What were the chances of Keith and Allura being in the same one?
But that could explain their reactions when we arrived in Arus and Keith's strange behavior ever since.
They knew each other from school!
Son of a bitch! And he never told me, his best friend!
He's going to pay for this.
"Chris, can I borrow this photo frame?"
"Why?" she asked uncertainly.
I grinned at her. "I just want to show it to the guys; I think they'll get a kick out of it."
"But..." She hesitated, at a loss as to what to say. She had been raised not to tattle on her friends. "I don't want Allura to get mad at me for showing you these pictures. She hated wearing those stupid braces."
"I won't tell her, I promise."
"Lance-"
I cupped her face in my hand and smoothed her hair back from her temples, before sealing my promise with a kiss. "Space explorer's honor."
"It's a fine thing to rise above pride, but you must have pride in order to do so." ~Georges Bernanos
I lay in bed a long time, staring into the darkness as I listened to Sven and Pidge talking and laughing in the corridor. Cursing, I turned on my side and punched my pillow, then closed my eyes and tried to sleep. However, with thoughts about Allura and our trip to Earth, I was still awake when the guys slipped quietly into their quarters. And then I listened to that silence for a while before finally drifting off.
I had no idea what time it was when I finally fell asleep, but I was awake by 1000. Rubbing a hand over my scruffy face, I grimaced as I caught sight of myself in the bathroom mirror. My hair was ruffled and even standing on end in some spots. I took a shower and shaved.
Fifteen minutes later, I came downstairs and found Sven in the dining room.
"Good morning," I grumbled, rumpling my damp hair with one hand.
"God morgen, Keith," he replied, his smile turning into a frown. "What's wrong with you? You look like hell."
I sat down and glowered at him. "I didn't get a wink of sleep," I said flatly. "Thanks to you."
"What do you mean?"
"Let's just say I didn't appreciate how annoying you were last night trying to run my life. That, combined with looking for a way to approach the subject of my father with the Princess and lots of caffeine, translates into a body that hurts all over."
Lydia- a short, heavy-set woman with brown hair and hazel eyes- came out of the kitchen with a bright smile on her face and a small glass of orange juice in hand.
"Good morning, Commander. Can I get you coffee while you decide what you want for breakfast?"
"Yes, please."
The maid gave me the glass of juice and turned away from the table.
Sven finished chewing the food on his mouth, swallowed, and then said, "Try the smoked salmon and cream cheese with green onions omelet; it's delicious."
"Food isn't high on my priority list at this moment."
He tipped his head, his expression thoughtful. "You need nourishment for your talk with the Princess."
Kneading my bloodshot eyes, I said, "She's probably asleep."
He shook his head. "No, she was just finishing her breakfast when I came down. She was glad that last night you decided to cancel today's lion practice because she was in the mood for some gardening. By the way, Pidge asked me to tell you that he's spending the day with Sophie. And Lance-"
"I know, he didn't return last night. He left a message in my communicator."
"Are you ready, Commander?" Lydia asked, setting the coffee down.
"Thank you," I said, reaching for the cup. "Yes, bring me an omelet like the one Sven is having and whole wheat toast, buttered, please."
She nodded cheerfully and bustled back to the kitchen.
I watched as Sven fixed his coffee, adding a teaspoon of sugar and cream.
"You're looking pretty chipper for someone who only slept four hours."
A slow smile spread over Sven's lips as he reached for his knife and fork. "That's because at this very moment, dozens of flower arrangements are arriving at Romelle's bedroom, all from yours truly."
"You didn't waste time, did you?"
"No, Keith," he said, pointing at me with his fork. "And you shouldn't either."
I lay in bed a long time, staring into the darkness as I listened to Sven and Pidge talking and laughing in the corridor. Cursing, I turned on my side and punched my pillow, then closed my eyes and tried to sleep. However, with thoughts about Allura and our trip to Earth, I was still awake when the guys slipped quietly into their quarters. And then I listened to that silence for a while before finally drifting off.
I had no idea what time it was when I finally fell asleep, but I was awake by 1000. Rubbing a hand over my scruffy face, I grimaced as I caught sight of myself in the bathroom mirror. My hair was ruffled and even standing on end in some spots. I took a shower and shaved.
Fifteen minutes later, I came downstairs and found Sven in the dining room.
"Good morning," I grumbled, rumpling my damp hair with one hand.
"God morgen, Keith," he replied, his smile turning into a frown. "What's wrong with you? You look like hell."
I sat down and glowered at him. "I didn't get a wink of sleep," I said flatly. "Thanks to you."
"What do you mean?"
"Let's just say I didn't appreciate how annoying you were last night trying to run my life. That, combined with looking for a way to approach the subject of my father with the Princess and lots of caffeine, translates into a body that hurts all over."
Lydia- a short, heavy-set woman with brown hair and hazel eyes- came out of the kitchen with a bright smile on her face and a small glass of orange juice in hand.
"Good morning, Commander. Can I get you coffee while you decide what you want for breakfast?"
"Yes, please."
The maid gave me the glass of juice and turned away from the table.
Sven finished chewing the food on his mouth, swallowed, and then said, "Try the smoked salmon and cream cheese with green onions omelet; it's delicious."
"Food isn't high on my priority list at this moment."
He tipped his head, his expression thoughtful. "You need nourishment for your talk with the Princess."
Kneading my bloodshot eyes, I said, "She's probably asleep."
He shook his head. "No, she was just finishing her breakfast when I came down. She was glad that last night you decided to cancel today's lion practice because she was in the mood for some gardening. By the way, Pidge asked me to tell you that he's spending the day with Sophie. And Lance-"
"I know, he didn't return last night. He left a message in my communicator."
"Are you ready, Commander?" Lydia asked, setting the coffee down.
"Thank you," I said, reaching for the cup. "Yes, bring me an omelet like the one Sven is having and whole wheat toast, buttered, please."
She nodded cheerfully and bustled back to the kitchen.
I watched as Sven fixed his coffee, adding a teaspoon of sugar and cream.
"You're looking pretty chipper for someone who only slept four hours."
A slow smile spread over Sven's lips as he reached for his knife and fork. "That's because at this very moment, dozens of flower arrangements are arriving at Romelle's bedroom, all from yours truly."
"You didn't waste time, did you?"
"No, Keith," he said, pointing at me with his fork. "And you shouldn't either."
After having breakfast, I stood watching Allura working on her hands and knees in the rose garden. It was endearing sight. The Princess of Arus, up to her elbows in dirt. And yet she looked beautiful as she had in pink silk. Maybe even more so. The sun had tinted her cheeks a rosy pink. Strands of her hair nestled against her throat, loose from the simple braid that rested on her shoulders. To ward off the morning chill, she was wearing a pair of jeans and a pink sweater. Her pruning shears swung from a green ribbon on her belt.
Her breasts heaved with exertion, full and straining against her sweater. Her jeans clung to her hips, outlining the rounded curves.
Desired flared through me. I wanted to reach out and touch her, cup the fullness of her breasts, to stroke them and kiss them until she moaned in delight. My body responded to that image, my blood going thick and heavy.
Unlike Lance and Sven, I slept with very few girls in my years at the academy. At first I had done it to forget Allura, to clear her from my mind and heart. Then, as a space explorer, because I needed the solace, those few short hours to forget the horrors of the battle. Now looking at her, I realize I feel more just by watching her work in the garden than I had felt with those girls.
I saw the Princess coming out of the rose garden on her way to the workshop, with a basket filled with red, white and yellow roses. I followed her into the small room and spotted her perched precariously on the counter, reaching for a trowel.
Even as I approached her, her small body swayed on the brink of disaster.
She attempted to grab the edge of the shelf but slipped backward with a small gasp and I moved quickly to catch her before she could hit the ground.
I saw fear leap into her eyes as she landed in my arms and thumped my chest.
"Keith! Where did you come from? Put me down."
I enjoyed the feel of her, so soft against my body. Her face had smudges of mud on it, but she was beautiful all the same.
"What do you think you're doing?" She asked. She squirmed to remind me to put her down, then shoved hard at me, but I pretended not to notice. Instead, I started striding away from the counter and carried her to the worktable. Her flowery scent beckoned me, and I found myself burying my face against the slender column of her neck.
I knew someone could walk in on us, but nothing mattered anymore. She was mine.
She circled my neck with her arms, drawing me closer. "Keith, put me down," she whispered. It was meant as a command. It came out a husky plea of need.
I leaned forward and put my mouth over hers, slanting to open her lips. Allura shivered as my mouth met hers, sliding over it, exploring her mouth. I bit lightly at her bottom lip, licked it, and then licked into her mouth.
Her breasts heaved with exertion, full and straining against her sweater. Her jeans clung to her hips, outlining the rounded curves.
Desired flared through me. I wanted to reach out and touch her, cup the fullness of her breasts, to stroke them and kiss them until she moaned in delight. My body responded to that image, my blood going thick and heavy.
Unlike Lance and Sven, I slept with very few girls in my years at the academy. At first I had done it to forget Allura, to clear her from my mind and heart. Then, as a space explorer, because I needed the solace, those few short hours to forget the horrors of the battle. Now looking at her, I realize I feel more just by watching her work in the garden than I had felt with those girls.
I saw the Princess coming out of the rose garden on her way to the workshop, with a basket filled with red, white and yellow roses. I followed her into the small room and spotted her perched precariously on the counter, reaching for a trowel.
Even as I approached her, her small body swayed on the brink of disaster.
She attempted to grab the edge of the shelf but slipped backward with a small gasp and I moved quickly to catch her before she could hit the ground.
I saw fear leap into her eyes as she landed in my arms and thumped my chest.
"Keith! Where did you come from? Put me down."
I enjoyed the feel of her, so soft against my body. Her face had smudges of mud on it, but she was beautiful all the same.
"What do you think you're doing?" She asked. She squirmed to remind me to put her down, then shoved hard at me, but I pretended not to notice. Instead, I started striding away from the counter and carried her to the worktable. Her flowery scent beckoned me, and I found myself burying my face against the slender column of her neck.
I knew someone could walk in on us, but nothing mattered anymore. She was mine.
She circled my neck with her arms, drawing me closer. "Keith, put me down," she whispered. It was meant as a command. It came out a husky plea of need.
I leaned forward and put my mouth over hers, slanting to open her lips. Allura shivered as my mouth met hers, sliding over it, exploring her mouth. I bit lightly at her bottom lip, licked it, and then licked into her mouth.
Keith lifted his mouth, settled, and then lifted again. I breathed in deeply, my nose next to his cheek and drew in a heady odor of soap and aftershave. His eyes were closed and I saw his thick black lashes.
He raised his head and I shivered at the heat in his eyes. His pale skin flushed with blood.
"I'm sorry. I just remembered Lotor trapped you in here the first time he kidnapped you. I wish I could erase that incident from your mind instead of reminding you."
"I'm okay; it was just the surprise of it, that's all." I whispered, and made another attempt to get out of his arms. "I know you wouldn't hurt me."
He tightened his hold on me. "Listen to me, Princess. I'm not going to give you up. I cannot. I've been doing for others a very long time. I've never had anything for myself."
"Keith-"
"I never wanted or needed anything, until I met you. I realize you cannot accept me as I am, but I don't care. I wish I was able to say that I did, but I won't give you up."
"I won't let you." I said.
At once his eyes caught and held mine, and I felt myself falling into their dark depths. There was so much intensity about Keith.
"I'm sorry, Keith. I'll never leave the castle without an escort again."
His eyes didn't waver, didn't blink as he accepted my apology. "I'm responsible for the attack on you."
My fingers curled convulsively in his thick mane of black hair, betraying my nervousness. "You weren't responsible for what Lotor did," I denied huskily, desperate to tear my gaze from his.
"I shouldn't have yelled at you in front of our teammates," he mused aloud. "You didn't respond. You just stood there."
"Would it have done me any good?"
Keith grimaced. "No," he answered me honestly. He ran a caressing hand over my hair and down my cheek.
"I value my independence. It matters to me that I make my own decisions and mistakes. You don't have the right to take that from me." I tried to choose my words carefully, accepting that I was to blame for my own behavior, that it wasn't Keith's fault. "Did you hear me?"
"Did you hear me?" he countered softly between his teeth. "I know it is not an easy thing to accept someone like me, but I have given my allegiance and protection to you, and that is no small thing, Allura."
"It isn't that I cannot accept what you are." I squirmed suddenly. "Put me down, please." I said, not willing to admit to feeling defenseless. "I want to talk to you and not feel at such a disadvantage."
Slowly he lowered my feet to the ground. I was barely 5'4 to his 6' and had to tip my chin up to look at him.
"Do you feel at more of an advantage now?" he asked softly, amused.
I reached out and took his hand. "You're a hard man, Keith Alexander Lyons. But I love you anyway."
"Of course," he said, rubbing my knuckles along his jaw. "I expect the girl I love to adore me and think me perfect."
"Oh, you're a perfect alright... a perfect pain in the ass!"
He grinned. "I know, but you love me."
"Yes, I do," I whispered. "And I need you the way you need me. Please, let me give you everything that I am."
I felt of stab of understanding at the emotion in his eyes. "I'll always need you, Ally. You're my heart and soul."
"Then let me help you in mending your relationship with your father."
I saw his jaw muscle bunch. He didn't answer me, just turned his head to look out the window.
There was silence for a long moment.
"It's been years since... I'm afraid... I'm afraid of my father's reaction."
I leaned over him and kissed him lightly on the lips. "We'll go together, okay?"
He released a slow breath. "Okay."
THE END.
09/17/2004
Revised 03/08/2015
He raised his head and I shivered at the heat in his eyes. His pale skin flushed with blood.
"I'm sorry. I just remembered Lotor trapped you in here the first time he kidnapped you. I wish I could erase that incident from your mind instead of reminding you."
"I'm okay; it was just the surprise of it, that's all." I whispered, and made another attempt to get out of his arms. "I know you wouldn't hurt me."
He tightened his hold on me. "Listen to me, Princess. I'm not going to give you up. I cannot. I've been doing for others a very long time. I've never had anything for myself."
"Keith-"
"I never wanted or needed anything, until I met you. I realize you cannot accept me as I am, but I don't care. I wish I was able to say that I did, but I won't give you up."
"I won't let you." I said.
At once his eyes caught and held mine, and I felt myself falling into their dark depths. There was so much intensity about Keith.
"I'm sorry, Keith. I'll never leave the castle without an escort again."
His eyes didn't waver, didn't blink as he accepted my apology. "I'm responsible for the attack on you."
My fingers curled convulsively in his thick mane of black hair, betraying my nervousness. "You weren't responsible for what Lotor did," I denied huskily, desperate to tear my gaze from his.
"I shouldn't have yelled at you in front of our teammates," he mused aloud. "You didn't respond. You just stood there."
"Would it have done me any good?"
Keith grimaced. "No," he answered me honestly. He ran a caressing hand over my hair and down my cheek.
"I value my independence. It matters to me that I make my own decisions and mistakes. You don't have the right to take that from me." I tried to choose my words carefully, accepting that I was to blame for my own behavior, that it wasn't Keith's fault. "Did you hear me?"
"Did you hear me?" he countered softly between his teeth. "I know it is not an easy thing to accept someone like me, but I have given my allegiance and protection to you, and that is no small thing, Allura."
"It isn't that I cannot accept what you are." I squirmed suddenly. "Put me down, please." I said, not willing to admit to feeling defenseless. "I want to talk to you and not feel at such a disadvantage."
Slowly he lowered my feet to the ground. I was barely 5'4 to his 6' and had to tip my chin up to look at him.
"Do you feel at more of an advantage now?" he asked softly, amused.
I reached out and took his hand. "You're a hard man, Keith Alexander Lyons. But I love you anyway."
"Of course," he said, rubbing my knuckles along his jaw. "I expect the girl I love to adore me and think me perfect."
"Oh, you're a perfect alright... a perfect pain in the ass!"
He grinned. "I know, but you love me."
"Yes, I do," I whispered. "And I need you the way you need me. Please, let me give you everything that I am."
I felt of stab of understanding at the emotion in his eyes. "I'll always need you, Ally. You're my heart and soul."
"Then let me help you in mending your relationship with your father."
I saw his jaw muscle bunch. He didn't answer me, just turned his head to look out the window.
There was silence for a long moment.
"It's been years since... I'm afraid... I'm afraid of my father's reaction."
I leaned over him and kissed him lightly on the lips. "We'll go together, okay?"
He released a slow breath. "Okay."
THE END.
09/17/2004
Revised 03/08/2015
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