Reflections
By KittyShan
Disclaimer: Voltron and all associated characters are owned and copyrighted by WEP. Any and all new/original characters belong to the author.
Rating: PG for some very mild language and very mild innuendo.
Author's Notes: Thank you to my beta reader, KittyLynne... I don't know what I'd do without you... You don't just correct mistakes and help me to look at things from a new and different perspective, but you are one of my dearest friends, and you *never* let me down... Much love to you! :)
Chapter 1 - The Gentle Manly Giant
It was early, most of the castle's inhabitants still sleeping soundly in their beds. She stepped through the doorway and inhaled deeply, absorbing the heady fragrance of blossoming fruit trees mixed with the sharp chill of morning air. Smiling, she closed her eyes and took a few seconds to simply enjoy the moment.
When she opened them again, she beheld the Arussian landscape with pleasure.
The surrounding land was covered with lush, vividly-colored plants and trees, their hues and varieties so varied that it would take days to list them all. The sun was making its way into a bright and beautiful sky, a shade of blue both soft and vibrant. At the same time, a scattering of fluffy white clouds seemed to be chasing away a single grey rain cloud that had strayed into their territory.
This was her favorite time of day - quiet and still, a great time for a brisk walk, or even just a bit of solitude. She cherished the mornings, before work truly began, a never ending list of chores and responsibilities - someone always needing her attention or advice for this or that. It seemed that each day found her free time lessened, and so these few moments of seclusion had become some of her most valued.
Be that as it may, she had never been one to laze about, or waste time in woolgathering. And so she shrugged away her musings and began the short walk to the vegetable garden that lay nestled behind the castle's kitchens. This wasn't her immediate destination - not at the moment, anyway. Behind that garden lay a small orchard filled with trees that had just begun to produce the most luscious and delicious fruit - apples, peaches, pears, cherries, plums, just to list a few - and she was off to harvest their bounty.
Her gait was happy, excited almost! In one hand she carried a large basket - perfect for returning the fruit she planned on picking to the castle. In the other hand, a pair of gloves to protect her hands while she worked at collecting what was soon to become a delicious pie, baked up for a sweet treat after tonight's evening meal.
As she hurried along, she caught a glimpse of her reflection in one of the castle's windows and almost missed her step - she didn't stumble, but she did pause for a moment to make a quick study of herself. She didn't need more than that; there came a point in life where even a proud woman's vanity began to fade. She still cared about her appearance, mind you, it just wasn't one of the more important things in her life.
Once, many years ago, she had been a pretty girl. Not as lovely as Princess Allura or her mother, of course, rarely was a woman graced with that kind of beauty! But in her day, she had been blessed with smooth and soft skin, a light olive in tone; eyes that were a warm honey-brown; hair a rich shade of dark red. She had always been full-figured and curvy, but hadn't been quite this plump! The passing of time seemed to do that...
She tucked an errant auburn curl up under her bonnet, then a second stray curl - this one still held a reddish hue, but was streaked with a dark grey - and sighed.
'Inevitable changes of life,' she thought, giving a slight shrug. 'It happens to even the most beautiful of women.' And with that disclaimer, she briskly continued on her way.
As she approached a bend in the walkway, she could see a familiar figure hurrying along, headed right toward her. Sparing a glance down at her watch, she smiled to herself. Right on time.
It was Thursday morning, and that meant Hunk had stood the mid-watch last night - midnight to four in the morning. After his long night standing duty at castle control, it seemed the young Terran had a habit of making his way into the gardens to perform what looked like a combination of interpretative dance and exercise.
One morning, much like this one, she had come upon him unexpectedly, startling them both.
When she had questioned him as to why he was hanging about at this particular hour, dancing around in the gardens instead of getting cleaned up and taking in proper sustenance, he'd merely chuckled. This had surprised her; she knew her words had been sharp, she often meant them to be! But with a gentle smile, Hunk had explained that he was practicing Tai Chi, which he told her was an effective way to counteract the stress built up from his vigil.
He then informed her not to worry, he would be cleaned up and on time for breakfast, she had his word on that! Which had elicited her laughter - a rare occurrence. In that moment, an unexpected bond had stretched between them - an understanding that didn't need words.
Looking up just in time, she saw Hunk step from the brick walkway and stand aside, offering a small bow as he swept an arm forward, ushering her along in a most gentlemanly gesture. "Good morning, Nanny!"
"Good morning," she replied, giving him a smile and picking up her skirts to hurry past.
Once she heard the sound of his boots on the stone walkway behind her, she slowed her pace and sighed.
It had never been a matter of her truly disliking any of those young men from Terra - she simply did not approve of the way they were all so familiar and at ease around her Posy. Princess Allura was just that - a princess; royalty! She was the one and only heir to the Arussian throne, and as such, there were customs to be observed and traditions to be upheld! In so many ways the Princess's upbringing had been sorely lacking - and at times, the girl was simply wild and uncontrollable.
Out of that bunch of ruffians, Hunk seemed to be the most accepting and willing to follow the rules when it came to the young monarch. Perhaps it was because he was a few years older than the others - or maybe because he came from a large family and had several younger sisters himself. Whatever it was, it had earned Hunk her grudging appreciation.
And it certainly didn't hurt that Hunk reminded her so much of her Timofey.
Sadness etched her features and she sniffled as she forced back tears.
A big, burly, bear of a man with smiling hazel eyes and a quick grin, Timofey had been a great man - at once, strong and serious, yet soft and playful. He had been wonderful with children, and dedicated to his king. And he was her love - he had been the love of her life.
It was this horrible war and that villainous Zarkon that had caused his death.
No more than a few days after they had been wed, did the Forces of Doom first attack Arus. She had just turned nineteen and he was nearing twenty-two. They had said a quick and tearful good-bye as he rushed off to do his duty as a soldier in the Arussian army. But he had never returned home.
A single tear slipped down her cheek and she swiped it away, her fingers making their way to her lips, where they rested for a moment. Timofey had been gone for over twenty-five years now, but she could still feel his lips on hers that very last time.
For a moment more, she was lost in the past, remembering the day that the good King Alfor had come to their small cottage and retrieved her. The monarch had explained that her husband had given his life to save his very own. He offered his deepest sympathies and begged her forgiveness, before telling Nanny that as her beloved lay dying, he had made one final request. Timofey had asked that his new bride be taken into the King's care, given a place among the castle's staff, protected and looked after until her last days.
King Alfor had made sure that wish was more than honored - he had taken the young widow into his home, making sure she never doubted that she was more than a member of the castle's staff - she always knew she was a member of the royal family.
She had been forever grateful; she loved and adored her King and his Queen, and been honored when they had placed their newborn babe in her care.
Yet, in the past twenty-five years, not one day had passed in which her heart didn't ache for her Timofey.