Though her eyes had closed permanently, the candles were still lit through out the Princess’ chambers. Each nearly burnt down to the quick cast an errie glow around the room. Coran, Lance, Hunk and Pidge sat around the Princess' bed in silence. Each had already said their private good-byes, but no one could bring them selves to leave the room. Her two days would be up within hours.
"Remember when she threw up on Hunk after she flew the Blue Lion for the first time?" asked Lance with a grin trying his best to lighten the mood.
"Yeah, that was the first time I've ever seen him loose his appetite.," said Pidge with a trembling lip. The room erupted in quiet nervous laughter.
Suddenly, the alarm at Coran's side went off. He quickly turned it on ." Yes, what is it."
"It’s Captain Dewar. We've received word from our people on Doom that he has made it to them. His condition is not good, though. The network on Fomna wants to know if we will go there our selves or if they should send they're own pick up."
"Lance, Pidge and Hunk raced toward Coran as he asked, " What is it about his condition."
"They were unclear." replied Strom, the son of the past Commander of the ground forces on Arus.
"We need to go ourselves." said Hunk. "What if there's trouble?"
"Inform them that we will be on Fomna within the next two hours, to go ourselves." ordered Coran.
"Yes, Sir." he replied.
"Coran," came a small voice from beside him. He turned to face Pidge. "I think I want to stay here with Princess. Someone should be here." he said knowing that they would be gone when the doctor took her off of life support.
"Yes, that will be fine," he said as Hunk placed a hand on the little guys shoulder.
"Strom." Coran said into his comlink.
"Yes, Sir."
"Prepare your self. You will be going along too."
"Yes, Sir."
"Really, you can go now. I thank you for your help." he said to Mara a few hours after they arrived at the space port. Kaameeleah gave them directions to a space port on ground level and Mara had show him how to get there. The trip was nearly uneventful. Only once a small unit of gurads decided to follow them, but they were easy to loose.
They waited below ground until they were informed their transport had arrived. The place was teemig with usightly's. Hardly the place that he would have imagined as one of Arus' underground operations.
"You're getting worse by the minute. You can barely sit up on your own. I'll stay and make sure you get on your ship."
"Thank you." he said. So far everything seemed to be running smoothly. It had been five hours already. They would be here at any minute. He sat on a stool on the far side of the room facing Mara. "Tell me about your husband." he whispered felling a bit uncomfortable suddenly for an unknown reason.
"He was of the Cerulean culture. He was an esteemed member of the King's court. I never much cared for his work, in fact, I did not like it at all but, I loved him so I put up with it. He died about eight years ago. An accident inside the castle. We had been married for twenty years."
"I'm sorry. Did you have any children?" Keith whispered.
"Yes. We had a daughter, Lexy, she died with her father. I've moved on. I still get invited to castle functions, but I never really seem to enjoy them anymore." she said studying Keith. She noticed he was having a hard time keeping his eyes open. "Your going to be fine. It's almost time."
The lights in the room began to flicker telling them that the time had come. She helped him stand and they exited the room. A escalator in a small cramped tunnel led them to the surface where they waited in another room for someone to come get them. Keith grasped his chest and fell to his knees in pain when they were inside the room. He groaned loudly as Mara crouched down beside him.
"Breathe! Take a deep breath!" she said trying to comfort him. Fearing that his heart was under tremendous strain from the essence. A man entered the room and motioned for them to go outside.
“You need help with him lady?” the big man asked looking at Keith with concern.
“No, but thank you anyway.”
Mara helped Keith to his feet and they followed. When they emerged on the surface the sky was still a deep purple as it had been days ago.
"It's going to land over there," said the small man pointing to a distant landing pad. " I suggest you board as quickly as possible. People aren’t suppose to be on freighters."
"Where is it, now" asked Mara.
The man pointed above his head and a small freighter ship could be seen in the distance. Keith couldn't shake the feeling of dread. He would not relax until he was inside the ship and they were out of the Doom atmosphere. He rested against the wall of the building after pulling the hood of the cape over his face once more.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw a slight commotion, he turned his head. With a rush of adrenaline he pushed Mara out of the way and un-seathed the sword she had given him. Lotor was standing only a few feet from them. He knew that he was in no condition to successfully defend himself , but he charged Lotor anyway.
Lotor did not draw his sword, for he easily dodged Keith's attack. He laughed loudly, hair billowing in the breeze. "You are truly pathetic. Do you really think you can challenge me? “
Lotor drew his sword to humor Keith, even though he had no intention of striking him down. Keith struck out at him again and Lotor easily blocked his blow.
“Mara, get to the ship!” he yelled as he swung at Lotor once more. Lotor only laughed as he was able to knock the sword from Keith’s hand.
“You’re a fool! I would gladly take your life, but I have an errand for you to fulfill." he said replacing his sword back to his side.
Keith stood still. What was Lotor up to. If he could only clear his mind he would think of a way to kill this man standing before him.
Lotor reached into his cape and produced a small golden vial. "Allura, she's dying." he said as Keith watched him seriously. His transport had landed in the port behind them. "I want you to give this to her."
"Why.. would I give her.. any more of your poison." Keith growled. He always felt a raging anger any time Lotor said Allura's name.
"Because she's dead without it. She was on Yadl, was she not?," he asked. "When Voltron destroyed the robeast my father commissioned for Yadl, a virus was released. Allura caught that fatal virus. My father is planning on using this to recover Yadl. Take it and give it to Allura."
"Why haven’t you done this your self?" panted Keith, noticing that Hunk and Strom had exited the ship and were making their way over to the confrontation.
"Do you really think that anyone in your castle would allow their Princess to take anything I would give her?" he said placing his free hand upon teh hilt of his sword.
Keith held out his hand to stop Hunk and Strom from coming any closer. "Give it to me." he said holding out his hand to receive it. Lotor strutted up to the lame Captain and placed the golden vial in his hand with a laugh.
"One fourth of it now and then halves every day until it is gone." he said before turning and walking away. Keith watched after him and not believing that he had not tried to stop them. The fact that he loved Allura enough to do that enraged him even more. He watched Lotor board a private shuutle and leave.
He turned to Mara who stood not far behind him with a terrified look on her face. He contemplated her situation for one moment. "You have to come with me." he said. She did not respond for the first time, she only stood there. She knew he was right, she had been seen by Lotor and he would know that she had helped Keith, who was obviously an enemy. She would be killed for treason.
"I need my stuff. I don't have any-"
"Don't worry about that. I'll see to it that you won't need for anything. Come, now" he said holding out his hand to the older woman. Reluctantly, she came to him, eyes beginning to glass over.
Hunk ran to Keith's side and took him by the arms. "My God, what did they do to you?" he asked throwing one of Keith’s arms around his shoulders. He led them to the small ship in which they had arrived. Lance and another pilot were seated and ready to take off on a moments notice. When Lance look at Keith he gasped.
Hunk strapped him down into a chair as Strom helped a bewildered Mara into her own seat. Abruptly the ship tittered to a lift off and they were away from the port in seconds. Keith thought for one moment about the people at the port and wondered if Lotor would punish them, but then again, he figured that they were the ones to tell Lotor of his where abouts. Only a small handful of the people working there knew who they really worked for.
Mara was still speechless.
Hunk removed Keith from his seat, once it was safe to move about, and looked over his wounds. “Thanks for dressing’ these.” he said to Mara. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Mara.” she said with a quivering voice.
“Call me Hunk. Mara, can you tell me what happened to him?”
“No. He found me after he was injured. But, I do know he has been drugged. Possibly, addictive drugs.,” she said trembling. “My God, where are we going?”
“We’re going back to Arus.” said Lance who was piloting the small craft.
“Allura.” mumbled Keith, who had finally let his eyes close. “I have to see Allura.”
Hunk looked up and glanced toward Lance. “Keith,” he said looking back down at his injured friend sadly, “Allura passed away about three hours ago. I’m sorry, buddy, she’s dead.”
Mara gasped as tears came to her eyes.
“No! No, she not dead, yet” cried Keith shaking his head back and forth. “Call the castle. She’s not dead yet! I have a cure.”
Hunk glared at him skeptically . “What do you mean a cure?”
Mara walked over to the two and placed a motherly hand on Keith’s chest, looking down at him sadly. “I heard Prince Lotor tell Keith that when something blew up on Yadl it released a virus into the air. When she visited there she caught it. The Prince gave him the cure King Zracon was planing on using to reclaim the people.”
“Lance did you hear that?”
“Yes, I can’t believe it. Shit!” he exclaimed as he began calling for the castle. “So that’s why we got out of there so easy...... Lance to castle control....Lance to castle control.”
“We read you, sir” replied a voice.
“Get me Coran. Quickly!,” he exclaimed into the monitor.
“She’s not dead yet,” Keith was mumbling behind him. Mara placed her hand on his fore head and began wiping his face with a cool cloth Hunk had brought to her. She watched Lance in anticipation.
“Yes, this is Coran.” said the old man. His voice sounded tired and drawn.
“Coran, has Allura actually died yet?” Lance asked, heart pumping.
“The doctor took her of life support three hours ago and declared her dead, but as of now she’s still breathing on her own, it’s just a matter of hours." he said sadly. "Why?”
“You’ll never believe this. But, Lotor has given Keith the cure. When the robeast exploded on Yadl he exposed the people to a virus. Allura stayed there after we left and she caught it. He was planning on using the cure to bribe Yadl back under his influence.”
“Dear God,” exclaimed Coran as he fumbled for his personal comm unit. “Dr. Gorma. You must put Allura back on life support we have a cure coming...... I don’t care just do it!”
“Why does Lotor care about his wife like that?,” asked Mara looking down a Keith with concern.
“Wife?” said Strom. “Allura is our Princess. The ruler of Planet Arus.”
An exasperated look spread over Mara’s face. “So, who is he? Who are you people!” she exclaimed breaking into tears.
“Oh, man, don’t cry!,” said Hunk. “I hate seein’ a woman cry! I’m Hunk and that’s Lance, we’re members of the Voltron force. We live on planet Arus where Allura is our ruler. She also is a pilot on the force. Keith here is our captain. Strom, is a leader of the ground troops on our planet.”
"Is Lotor wed to your Princess?"
"No, he wishes, it will never happen." replied Hunk.
“And, I suggest you have doctor ready for Keith.” said Lance.
“What is his condition?”
“It doesn’t look good.”
Mara sat alone in the white room with her arms thrown over her knees. She had been left in here for hours and it was getting frustrating. When they landed the big guy, Hunk, carried Keith out of the ship and placed him on a stretcher. She followed close behind with the elder of the three boys, Strom. When the man they called Coran had seen her he almost became angry. He ordered Strom to watch her in a holding area while he went and tended to the Princess.
Coran came in hours later at fired questions at her. She felt as if she had answered the same questions at least ten times each. She had even begun to cry. How could they treat her like this? Why were you living on Doom? Where did you encounter Keith? Why did you help Captain Dewar? Who sent you? Is anyone paying you? What was your husbands title? How did he die? Why did you remain? Talking about her husband had brought up all the old memories and left her in despair. The mean old man would not even tell her how their Princess or Keith was doing.
Time passed slowly in the white room. She would not be surprised if she had been locked in there for days, every now and then someone brought her meals and allowed her to use the restroom. She sighed and stood up, stretching out her muscles. She turned as the door opened and Coran walked in once more.
“I’m sorry to have kept you n here so long, but you understand that we must check out every one who comes through the castle from Planet Doom, from anywhere for that matter.” he said.
“Doom? Is that what you call it?” she said sarcastically.
“Since you helped our captain out you are welcome to stay here in the castle until we are able to build you a home in the city. You will be under our protection for as long as you need it. Please accept my apologies. We are in your debt.”
“How is the captain?” she asked.
“Not well. He was administered a highly addictive drug during his enslavement. The drugs and withdraw has weakened his heart, but he is strong. He spoke highly of you. “
She nodded. “And his friend?”
“Her Majesty?”
“Yes, I’m sorry. The Princess, how is she?”
“Would you like to see her?” he asked.
“Oh, yes. Is she taking visitors?”
“Yes, but she is breathing on her own and her vital signs are improving by the minute.”
She followed him out of the room and down along hallway. She noted the walls were bare and wondered why there hung no art. They boarded an elevator, while she listened to Coran speak about the Planet Arus and how much he knew she would like it here. It is very much like Earth he had said, that was comforting.
Finally, they entered a large bedchamber. Hunk and Lance were there along with a small boy, with wild red hair and large owl glasses. The boys turned to greet her.
“Hi ya , Mara!” said Hunk in his sing song voice.
“I see you passed Coran’s exam.” said Lance with a wave.
“I’m Pidge,” squeaked the little one with a big smile.
“Hello, Pidge, I’m Mara.”
“I was told how you helped Keith escape from Doom . Thank You so much, now our Princess is going to live.”
She smiled to herself as she walked over to the bed the three boys were surrounding. Pink satin draperies that draped from a tent high above were tied to the large bed at all four posts. She looked down onto the bed and saw a very young girl.
“Why, she’s just a child too!” she exclaimed. She began to reach out and touch her, but then quickly withdrew. "May I?"
Coran nodded his head.
She reached out and touched the chalky skin of the sick girl and felt a burning fever. “She’s very beautiful. Where is her mother?”
“Our Queen passed away four years ago.” replied Coran.
“And her father?” asked Mara brushing loose strands of blonde hair from the Princess’ face.
“He too died a little over a year ago.”
“She has to have a nanny?”
The room was silent. She looked up at Coran. “Dead too?”
“About three months ago. We have been at war with the Drule Empire for almost ten years now.” Coran stated to her matter-of-factly.
“Oh,” she said not understanding why she felt a sudden guilt.
“Coran,” said Hunk. “Hey, the Princess has no Nanny anymore and Mara knows how to take care of children. Why don’t we let her help the Princess.”
“I- I,” he mumbled not quite sure if he felt comfortable with that arrangement. Nanny’s for the Princess went under serious scrutiny before even being considered.
“Yeah,” piped in Lance. “All of her records checked out and the Princess is really gonna need someone when she wakes up other than those silly maids.”
“Would you be interested?” asked Coran?
“Yes, would she have me?’
“Of course she would, Princess is the kindest person you are ever going to meet!” exclaimed the little Pidge.
Mara sat in the Princess’ room alone three nights later. She had just replaced all the candles and they were burning brightly, causing the shadows in the room to dance across the walls. Mara studied Allura’s face and though about how much she reminded her of her Lexy. It felt good to be needed again.
She looked about the room. This was the first time she had actually been left alone with the Princess. Coran had been very cautious about that, but then again she understood entirely. The young men informed her that Allura was like a daughter to him. He was very strict about the company she kept.
Mara stood and walked about the room studying the various objects that adorned it. She went to the large window and looked at the sky above. The moon hung huge in the dark sky and the stars twinkled like she had never seen before. She attributed that to the fact that the city was not full of artificial light. The little one, Pidge, had taken her on a tour of the city yesterday and she was impressed of how much it really did remind her of home.
She left the window and walked around the perimeter of the large room. She came across a small jewelry box and wondered if she dare open it. Slowly she lifted the lid and the room was filled sweet piano music. A song she was not familiar with, but beautiful none the less. She decided to leave it open and let it entertain her. She looked inside and noticed that it only contained a few small items, a bracelet, a silver necklace with a small symbol attached, a thin silver leaf crown, a red metal necklace with the crest of Arus, and a few pieces of folded paper.
She turned away and walked to the next desk. Many books sat upon it. “The Royal History of Planet Arus”, “A History of Arus”, “Arusian Philosophy”, and a few books in another tongue. She ran her fingers along them until one of them caught her eye. An ancient book by an author form Earth. Then there were also books on western philosophy from earth. She found it fascinating that the Princess would also study writing from planets other that her own.
“My father gave that to me.” said a small voice from behind her. Mara quickly spun around to see that the Princess was awake. She ran to her bed and took her hand.
“I’m so glad you’ve awaken.”she said as Allura looked at her in bewilderment. “My goodness, you have the prettiest blue eyes.” she said running her hand across Allura’s cheek. “I have to call your doctor!” She jumped off the bed and ran for the console that was conveniently placed on the other side of the bed.
“Excuse me!” wailed the Princess.
Mara stopped and looked at her. “Yes?”
The Princess smiled as she shut her eyes. “Who are you?” she asked kindly.
Mara laughed. “I’m your new Nanny... I think.”
Allura’s hands covered her face. A new Nanny! She wanted to moan aloud but decided that it would be best not to offend the new lady. Her body ached and her throat felt like sand paper. “Call my doctor, please” she said between her fingers.
Mara rang up the doctor and told him that Allura had woken up.
“Are you in much pain?”
“My head and throat” she whispered.
“You shouldn’t talk then. My name is Mara, I’m originally from Earth. Your friend brought me back with him from ‘Doom’”she said.
The Princess’ eyes opened wide. “Keith, he was on Doom! He‘s here! He’ s home!” Her eyes began to fill with tears. Just then the doctor entered with Coran close behind.
“Mara, you’ll take me to see Keith? Please?” begged the Princess a few nights later.
Mara looked down at her. “Now, Allura you know that Keith is still not allowed any visitors. I told you he was hurt severely.”
“Please. I really need to see him. If only just for a moment.,” she cried.
Mara looked down at her pathetically. She had her good days and her bad, but the doctor confined her to bed rest. “Girl, you’re not even allowed any visitors, but I suppose he would like that . How do you suggest we get there with out anyone seeing us?”
Mara pushed Allura’s wheel chair quietly into the room. “You have two minutes. She whispered harshly holding up two fingers. “Two minutes!”
“Is he unconscious?” asked Allura quietly.
“No. But he’s been heavily sedated. He hasn’t opened his eyes since we told him you had made it.” She stepped outside the room into the dim hallway. The lights always dimmed them selves around midnight in the Castle of Lions.
Allura was shocked to see that he was emmersed in the fluid bed that was used for burns and temperature control. His bruised face peered out above the blue liquid that surrounded him from the breast down. A slight motion of the water told her that his arm was shaking under the fluid. He looked so pale and helpless lying there.
She reached out and touched his face, a reassuring touch just to let him know she was there. She ran her fingers along his eye lids and across his cheek bones. A wave of anger overcame her. How could someone be so cruel as to do this to another living being. She rested her hand on his chest and felt his heart beat. His arm stopped quivering. She looked up as the beeping on his heart monitor quickened.
"Yes, I'm here, Keith." she whispered. He looked peaceful, battered, but peaceful.
She had been told that he had bought the cure, along with Mara, back from Doom with him. She wondered how he had found it. She wondered what exactly had happened to him there.
She took something from with in her robe and held it tightly in her fist. Then, slowly she let the silver medallion necklace dangle from her hand. She saw that he was not wearing the one his mother had given him and she hoped that he had taken it off before he was captured.
“It’s for you,” she whispered in his ear. “My father gave it to me when I was hurt. I’m giving it to you.” She laid the silver medallion across his chest and let the chain surround his head. "You're so brave. Braver than any of us." She looked at him once more wanting to scream everything that was in her head. How she was ashamed of herself for being scared to die, how she cried like a child when she knew she wouldn’t make it, but she didn’t.
“Good night my Champion.” she whispered into his ear. She used the steel frame of the bed to push her self up to a standing position. She looked down at his face and thought that everything about him was truely beautiful. She bent over him, careful not to get herself wet, and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. She thought she saw him twitch. Unable to be so close without touching him she brushed her lips against his.
His head jerked and rolled to the other direction as Mara walked in to take Allura back to her chamber.
Lance, Hunk and Pidge walked down the corridor to the Princess’ room. It had been three weeks since Keith had returned and he finally was able to take visitors. They were going to tell Allura the good news. Maybe the doctor would allow her out of her room for once to pay him a visit.
Suddenly the hall way erupted in loud screams. Two people screaming back and forth. They seemed to be coming from Allura’s room. The guys ran to her door and it quickly slid open to reveal Mara standing on a chair screaming her head off. Allura was sitting up in a ball on her bed screaming back at Mara.
“What is it!” yelled Hunk running into the room ready for a fight. He ran to Allura. “What’s wrong!” Lance and Pidge entered the room behind him ready for battle.
Allura removed her trembling hands from her ears and looked back up at Hunk with a blank expression. “I- I don’t know.”
“Mara?,” asked Lance. Looking at her questioningly.
“There were things,” she cried pointing to Allura’s bed. “Things running all over her bed. Creatures! They were everywhere. Little things! Things!”
Lance and Pidge began laughing as Mara stared at them angrily. Allura and Hunk began laughing too.
“You mean these things,” asked Allura reaching under her covers and pulling out Inky, who was curled in a ball shaking. Mara’s eyes opened widely at seeing Allura handle the ‘thing’.
“Oh, yeah. We forgot to tell you that the Princess plays with rats,” chimed in Lance waving a hand in the air.
“Lance! You’ll hurt their feelings. I’ve told you that they are mice.” said Allura giving Lance a hurt look.
“You play with them!” exclaimed Mara still afraid to come off her chair. “They’re rodents!”
“No!” exclaimed the Princess. “This is Inky. My special friend.”
“Just humor her,” said Lance helping Mara down from her chair. “Nobody’s perfect.”
Allura shot Lance a mean look as the rest of the mice peeked from under the sheets. Mara covered her mouth and gasped.
“Well. We came to tell you that Keith has waken up. The doctor said he can be taking visitors tonight.” said Lance.
“And,” added Hunk,” the doctors were successfully able to copy the cure and give it to the people of Yadl.”
“Oh, that’s great news!”
Later that night, Mara and Allura in her wheel chair waited outside Keith’s room for the doctor to allow them in. Finally Dr Gorma exited the room. He looked Allura up and down.
“How do you feel tonight? he asked.
“I’m fine. How’s Keith?”
The doctor sighed. “Well, he’s a strong young man. He’ll make it. But Allura, I’m afraid he doesn’t want any visitors.”
“What,” exclaimed Mara. “He won’t even see Her Majesty?"
“He doesn’t want to see anyone. I’m sorry. Maybe he’ll feel better tomorrow.”
“Oh,” mumbled Allura somewhat hurt. “I understand.”
As Mara wheeled Allura back to her room her mind raced with questions as to why Keith would want to see her.
"Maybe, he really isn't feeling to well," said Mara trying to comfort the heart broken Allura. She placed a hand on her shoulder. "You know, he spoke of you while he was on Doom. He told me you were his wife!"
Allura smiled. "His wife?"
"Yes, I think he just wanted me to feel sorry for him so I would help him. He called out your name in his sleep a few times and I asked him who you were."
"Why did you decide to help him? You put a lot on the line."
"Well, I could tell that he wasn't a mean as he tried to come off as," said Mara helping Allura out of her chair and onto her bed. "He waved a gun in my face and threatened me, but he's a horrible liar. I knew he would not hurt me. I could see he was good inside."
"Well, you're comming along just fine, Allura," said Dr Gorma after he had finished looking her over. "Now, make sure she stays in bed and gets some rest." he said to Mara. She nodded her head.
"Doctor, when will I be able to see Keith?" asked Allura. It had been days and he still had not seen anyone.
"Allura, I think he just wants to be left alone. I know you want to see him, but.... he said no." said Dr. Gorma trying to hide the fact that Keith had specifically asked him not to let Allura in to see him.
Allura let her head fall adn she stared at her lap. She could feel her eyes begin to glass over. "Ok," she whispered.
The doctor and Mara exchanged worried glances. Mara sat down next to Allura and placed a hand on her back as the doctor silently left the room.