7

The Right to Love: Prologue

The sky overhead was clearer than the jumbling of thoughts that were circling around Keith's head. The sun of Arus was just beginning to wash the atmosphere with shades of orange and violet as it faded behind the mountains in the distance. Keith inhaled deeply and held his breath momentarily, focusing on the gentle rhythm of the lake's current lapping up on shore. He rarely allowed himself these moments of serenity, at least that's what he told himself the moment was. His eyes lifted open and his vision cleared to view the mirror-like reflection of the sunset on the surface of the lake. Everything seemed so calm on Arus. And there was every reason for it to seem so. The excruciating war between Arus and the forces of Zarkon had ended in the past year, and even though there had been much celebration over their victory, it seemed like it left emptiness within Keith. What was his purpose on the planet that became his home long ago without having something to protect it from?

Keith's thoughts turned to the people of Arus. How much faith they had put in him. Whenever he spoke, they listened, completely committed to his leadership. Their reaction to Keith wasn't really all that different from the response they gave whenever they listened to Coran, or the princess.

Princess.

Keith's eyes closed as the word traced across his mind. The princess always seemed to have a way to cross his thoughts, no matter what he was thinking of. She had become such a prominence in his life over the past years. Much more than a figurehead, Allura had become a personal confidant and somewhat of his own prodigy. To think of how far she had come from the moment he first met her. A smile grew across Keith's face as he envisioned Allura at the top of the grand staircase in the old castle: her eyes warm and captivating, her golden hair tumbling well past her waist and lightly caressing against her cheeks, her smile positively melting his heart.

What had this woman done to him? The noble, fearless, patient leader that he was had begun to tremble as he knelt before her and kissed her hand. He did the action as proper protocol to swear his life to the defense of her and the planet, but in truth he had pledged so much more to her in that moment. It took him so long to allow himself to admit his heart had found its match. Keith always felt that love would become a weakness in battle. I wasn't completely wrong, his conscious reminded him. There were several times where Keith sacrificed himself to protect the princess. His hand reflexively came up to rest upon his chest, where underneath his flight suit a large scar brought on by Lotor's laser sword reminded him of that fact. He nearly lost his life that day saving her.

Keith leaned back against the massive metallic paw of his black lion, letting out a sigh. The grass beneath him was pliable as he shifted his weight. Looking out across the lake, he noticed the sun had dropped lower behind the mountains. He shifted his gaze to the Castle of Lions that was out in the distance. He felt something tugging at his heart. No, not something. Someone, his heart pleaded. Keith allowed himself to trance back to the day he received the scar. He thought he felt the searing heat of the sword again as his hand involuntarily clenched against his chest. He recalled how he somehow mustered the strength to get back to Allura and send several shots in the direction of the blue cat that blocked her path. The same cat that nearly took her from him a year earlier. He remembered the feeling of hopelessness that choked him as Keith fell into Allura's arms, nearly blacking out from his wound. He couldn't find the strength then to tell her how he really felt, even though his heart had been screaming out his love for her. Even when Allura 'died' at the hands of Haggar and Lotor, his heart wrenched that he never told her. And yet, he still had not come to terms with it.

Weakness, his mind told him. Love encourages weakness.

Keith glanced upwards at his lion. Such a symbol of strength and fearlessness Black was. In a way he envied Black. The lion never cried, or displayed any fear. It always did as Keith instructed it to, never missing a beat or second guessing him.

Black isn't a human like you, his heart chided. Keith froze. For once, his heart had a good argument. What had he been protecting with Voltron all this time? The freedom to live as a human. To make one's own choices and not live under a ruthless dictator. To be allowed to have emotions. Keith drew in a sharp breath. He had come out to the quiet lake to meditate and clear his thoughts, and suddenly his mind had reached enlightenment. Allura. I love Allura. And it's my right to love Allura. His vision narrowed in on the castle in the distance, focusing in on the area that the princess' balcony was. Is today the day I choose to tell her?

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The princess of Arus stood overlooking her kingdom from her private balcony. For the first time, she had no fear as she did so. She knew there would be no Lotor popping out of the sky to try and steal her away, no sudden attack to rob her and her people away from a peaceful sunset. Over the past years she hardly had a chance to watch the sunset. Now, with peace at hand, the immense weight of guilt was lifted off her shoulders. Zarkon and Lotor had been destroyed, along with Haggar and their evil forces. Much to the pleasure of Nanny and Coran, the princess could now devote her time to affairs of the planet. Of course that included becoming queen and choosing a prince to accompany her. Allura twisted her lip up in a somewhat disgusted smirk. No prince they've shown me has half the nobility or honor as Keith.

Keith.

Did her thoughts just take her there? Comparing Keith to a prince? Like there's any comparison, her conscious joked. Allura lightly gasped as her thoughts betrayed her. Her eyes lowered and she felt herself blush as she thought of the realization she came to ages ago. She was in love with Keith. When she first started to feel twinges of excitement whenever he was near, she figured it was a mere infatuation. Keith was her captain and she obeyed his orders while she was piloting her lion. She figured she had him on a pedestal and admired him for his leadership and piloting qualities. It was only after the umpteenth time he risked his life to protect hers that it dawned on her that she had actually fallen deeply in love with the captain the moment he kissed her hand. From then on, each time he touched her she felt herself jolt slightly with electricity. There had been occasions when he held her hands in his own, and she felt as if she would just melt into him.

Allura breathed out a heavy sigh. Keith was the strongest person she had ever met, next to her own father. And although at times he was constantly by the book, there were brief moments when she saw him show emotion. The tears that he so desperately tried to hide when she stood before him as the force was being told not to go to planet Balto. That was one of the closest moments she had to revealing her feelings to him.

Her mind raced to the day Queen Merla attacked Arus. That morning had been so spectacular with the traditional parade. Even more spectacular was the moment she unconsciously stole with Keith atop the podium. She had been having trouble seeing the parade, her short form hardly seeing over the tops of her subjects' heads. It had been Keith's idea to climb up the podium for her to be able to see better. Always looking out for my best interests. She thought of how effortlessly he scaled the pedestal and how she could barely reach his outstretched hand. In an awkward moment, she tumbled in towards his body and wound up in a fumbled embrace. Instead of panicking and scrambling away from him, his warm hug welcomed her in and she pressed against him. The intimacy of the embrace caused her to blush, but at the same time the world simply disappeared around her. It all came crashing back the moment she heard Coran say her name in a warning tone. Reluctantly, she released her hold on Keith, but she would spend the rest of the day, even during battle, catching wisps of his aftershave on her clothes and in her hair.

The princess gazed out across the horizon as the sun set, the breeze lightly feathering through her hair. A ray of fading sunlight sparkled off of something in the distance. Allura squinted her eyes to harden her focus. She could make out the very top of Black Lion out in the middle of the clearing in the forest. Just knowing that Keith was in that spot made her heart jump. She felt an incredible longing in her chest that unconsciously made her clasp her hands over her heart. With drills being the only required 'escapes' to the lions the team had now, most of the team had taken up old hobbies to pass the time. Keith, of course, was still burying himself in paperwork and Judo training, but more recently had gotten in the habit of taking off by himself in Black Lion. The connection they all had with their lions was strong, but it seemed to Allura that Keith's day wouldn't be complete without a visit to Black. Lance had taken up speeder racing, though Allura suspected that pastime would squander very soon, as not a soul had been able to beat him. Then again, Keith hasn't tried it yet, she chuckled to herself. Hunk began teaching self defense classes at the orphanage, although his type of defense was more through brute strength than graceful martial arts. Pidge was working closely with Coran and the scientist Mary Ann to update the rest of the castle's and hospital's systems. Every now and again, Allura felt a smidge of jealousy at having another young woman in the castle around Keith. She sensed the brief time that was spent with Mary Ann during her rescue had encouraged somewhat of a crush on Keith. Her uneasiness would subside, however, as soon as she realized Keith would only look at one person in the room-herself.

Surely he must feel the same way, she told herself. But, he hasn't acted on those feelings in all this time. Maybe he doesn't love me back…Allura shook her head in disbelief. No, he has to love me as I do him. Otherwise there wouldn't be such strong connections between us. Allura drifted back to that day the team went to Balto. She had missed Keith so much it seemed she was dying inside. Suddenly her mind cleared and she heard Keith's voice loud and clear in her inner monologue. "Princess, why did you have to be a princess?" Of course, that was it! He was intimidated by her title. Allura almost heard herself laugh aloud. The great Captain Keith was scared of a birthright. It seemed like she found her fearless commander's weakness. Did he honestly not see how her subjects worshipped him almost more than her? They practically have him labeled as a surrogate king.

Allura felt immense admiration for Keith well up inside her at that thought. She loved this man. Allura made the decision in that second that Keith was worth it. She was going to go to him and open her heart. If she was rejected, she would be satisfied with knowing she didn't let another day pass wondering. The princess' jaw set firmly, and she pivoted on her heel to begin her life again. Out of her room and down the hall, past countless maids and a squabbling Nanny, it seemed everyone was parting out of her way, sensing the Princess of Arus was determined in her course. She circled down the chute into Blue Lion and prepared to lay her heart on the line.

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Keith found himself leaping up into the pilot seat of Black Lion. Yes, he told himself. I won't waste another moment of this life. He gripped the controls of Black and lifted off the ground, the lion letting out a mighty roar. He tore off in the sky, his knuckles going white as they squeezed the throttle. Even though he was flying faster than anything else on the planet, it seemed too slow.

Sensors in the cockpit suddenly began warning Keith of incoming craft. No, it can't be…he thought to himself, instinctively picturing Drule forces incoming. He pressed a button on the screen and gasped at what he saw.

"Princess?"

Allura heard her love's voice over the com in her cockpit. She released one hand from the controls she had been gripping tightly to press the com panel.

"Hi Keith," was all she could stumble out. "I was coming to see you."

Keith drew in a breath. She had been thinking of him. He knew he felt it. "I need to speak with you, too. Land in the meadow there, I'll meet you outside." His heart began to thump wildly in his chest. No going back now.

Allura nodded to Keith's image on the screen before switching it off. Her pulse was throbbing in her veins. He's too much for me to let go of. She landed Blue and opened the side hatch as Black Lion landed beside her. She gripped the rail of the lowering platform as she felt a spell of dizzy adrenaline rush through her body. The platform couldn't lower fast enough.

Keith bolted out of his pilot chair and pulled himself out of the top hatch of Black. He lowered his gaze to the ground and saw his princess. Even in her flight suit, she was breathtaking. She had removed her helmet, and rather than the usual bun she tied her hair into when flying, her tresses were loose and free flowing. She had definitely come to him in a hurry.

Allura gasped inwardly as she saw Keith's form emerge from the lion. He stood proudly atop Black, the dying sun's rays shining from behind him, illuminating his physique. She felt herself swallow involuntarily in preparation of the pledge she was about to make to him. Keith leapt down from the lion's head to its shoulder, down the curve of its front leg and finally to the ground. He paused as he landed on her level, and took his helmet off. For the first time he felt a little self-conscious about his unruly hair. He nervously ran a hand through it and then brought his eyes up to hers.

The electricity that passed between them as they made eye contact made them both weak at the knees. Simultaneously, each took a step towards the other. Allura saw a knowing look in Keith's eyes that she had never seen before. Was it recognition? Her lips parted as if to speak, yet no words came out. She felt her eyes swell with oncoming tears, her emotions a mix of fear, hope, love, and the shear determination to love him.

Keith stood only an arms length away from her. This woman would be the love of his life, he knew. He noticed a flash of fear in her eyes before they began to shimmer with tears. He could tell Allura was fighting to hold the tears in, and his heart went out to her. He reached out a hand and gently cupped her cheek, brushing his thumb along the top of her cheekbone to wipe away an escaped tear. "Don't cry, my princess. I hate to see you cry."

Allura let out a soft sob and let another few tears spill down her cheeks. My princess. She raised her hand to cover his against her face. She turned her head and pressed a light kiss into his palm. Keith's pulse tripped over itself as he felt her lips against his skin, and he drew in a sharp breath. His hand froze for a moment but then relaxed. Allura looked up into his eyes, her own telling him everything he dreamed of hearing. His own eyes began to swim with tears. The love he felt for her was overwhelming. She brought her hand up to the side of his face in the same method he did. "Keith, I-" she choked on the power of the words she tried to speak.

Keith slipped his other hand around her waist and pulled her into his embrace. "Shh, Allura. I have to tell you. From the moment I saw you, I-" he heaved on a soft sob of realization. "God, Allura I love you." He tipped her chin upward toward his and pressed his lips to hers. The tears she so desperately tried to contain spilled down Allura's cheeks as she poured her love out to Keith in the kiss. She felt dampness on her fingertips and realized Keith was crying also. She weaved the fingers of her other hand through his hair, and he tightened his arms around her. He deepened the kiss, their love for each other searing through his body and making his head spin. He was in almost disbelief it had finally happened, but now that he had her, he swore in his heart he would never let her go.

Their lips stilled after several moments and reluctantly separated. Allura blinked through the tears, her face flushed. "Keith, I love you so much, I've been wanting to tell you so long…" her voice trailed off.

"I know, Allura. Don't worry, I'm never going to let you go." Keith tightened his arms around her and lifted her in the air, spinning around with her feet flying outward. She gripped around his neck, her face radiating love and utter joy as she laughed. Their lips came together again and again, in short, passionate kisses.

Overhead, in the twilight sky, the stars shone brighter than ever. Three lions flew above, releasing fireworks as they went by. Keith and Allura drew their attention away from each other for a moment to see the spectacle, still in each others arms. A voice came over the comlink on Keith's wrist.

"About time you two hooked up! Come back to the castle when you're done, lovebirds! We have a surprise party planned in your honor!" Lance's meddling voice triggered a round of giggles from Allura.

"Lance, h-how did you know…?" Keith responded, a little dumbstruck.

"Aw come on man, how long have I known you? The war's over and we all knew it was a matter of time for you two. We've had the castle on standby for days. It's not easy following you both around. You know the biggest thing you both have in common is that you're so damn stubborn. You better not make us wait long for babies," Lance teased. Allura and Keith both blushed as they looked into each others' eyes. Then a contagious smile came over them both as they kissed again.

"Come on, my princess, let's go home." Keith whispered to her.

"Wherever you are is home," Allura responded, touching his lips with her fingers. He pressed a kiss on her fingertips and gazed into her eyes.

They were finally ready to start their lives together.