Krolia cradled the small bundle of blankets that contained her son close to her chest as she waited in the hangar bays of the Altean castle. She was lucky they had allowed her to enter their atmosphere, yet alone touch down inside of the castle.
She hadn't announced her visit before she showed up. It had honestly been a last minute decision on her part, having met with the king and queen of Altea previously, as the head of one of the major galra defence fleets she had been invited to be at the meeting discussing combining their forces and improving defence. It had been a formality really, with King Alfor and Emperor Zarkon being such close friends.
The meeting with the King and Queen had been, stiff. Formal. Even then the kind hearted, fun loving side of the royals had shone through their masks in a way that made Krolia curious as to what they were like without such formal settings.
Krolia knew they had a young daughter, barely 2 years old in earth years and already showing an intelligence beyond her age. She was already getting involved in political meetings, curtsying to royal guests and eating at public events with table manners Krolia was sure no one expected her to have.
Krolia also knew they had another child, only a month old, still keeping his poor parents up all night. Unless royals had nannies to deal with that. Either way they had their hands full.
Krolia knew she was about to be asking a lot more from acquaintances she had only met once or twice. Really though, she knew there were very few other options.
She shifted the blankets in her arms, allowing herself to better study her son's features. Purple galra ears poking out from the hair that was such a dark shade of purple it was easily mistaken as black when in certain lightings. Purple marks that matched her own were visible on his cheeks, standing out against the pale skin. He was sleeping, which prevented her seeing his eyes, so much like his father's she knew it would only make her heart hurt to see them.
The hangar bays opened with a woosh that made Krolia jump slightly. The king and queen breezed through the doors, several people surrounding them on all sides except the front. Defensive, Krolia noted. Understandably.
"We are sorry to keep you waiting," The king greeted, stopping a safe distance away "we were in a meeting with several of our advisors. Were you sent by Zarkon?"
Krolia hesitated for a second, eyes flickering between the pair of royals in front of her. Was this really a good idea? She stole another look at her son. It was.
"It is I who should be apologising." Krolia said, bowing the best she could when she had such a delicate and important person in her arms "I came here unannounced. I am not here on business of the empire. My reason for visiting is more personal."
The king and queen exchanged looks before the king addressed her again "What is your purpose for visiting?"
Krolia took a deep breath, straightening to her full height "I have a favour to ask of you, one I fear may be too much for me to ask. I wish to make it clear that I have not planned this very well, I have not been depending on this, it something I decided to do at last minute. I am here with a child, as you can see. He is my own flesh and blood. He is, however, half human. The species that occupies Earth."
Mumbling started from the crowd. Altean, she noted, but she didn't need to understand them to be able to tell what they were saying. Communication with humans, ones that were not the leaders of the counties they had set up, was very much forbidden. Earth had been very clear on that fact. The leaders of the planet deciding to keep their people in the dark about species existing beyond their planet, until a time when they deemed it necessary. In exchange the leaders gave some of their planet's natural resources, ones that were hard to find on other planets, to the planets they were in communication with.
"I was on a communication run," Krolia quickly jumped to explain "I was only required to stay in Earth's atmosphere and communicate with the leaders of what Earthlings refer to as The United States of America. However, after finishing my connection with them my craft lost power to one of the engines. I went down.
"I was lucky to have survived. A Human rescued me from my damaged craft, provided me with care for my injuries and helped me repair my ship. It took longer to repair the ship without galra technology and I was surprised my crash seemed to go unnoticed by anyone other than the human that saved me. We fell in love. I had every intention of returning to the galra but-" she clutched her son closer to her chest "-I fell pregnant."
The King was silent for a moment before asking "What does this have to do with Altea."
"Nothing. At least-" here we go, Krolia took a breath, remembering how ridiculous her request was going to sound "-not yet. My son is neither human or galra. He exhibits traits for both. Most of his biology and behaviour patterns follow that of humans, whilst his appearance is too galra for him to pass as human.
"He cannot stay on earth, he would never be able to live a normal life, a happy life. It would be hard for him to return with me to the galra. I am an officer, in charge of one of the defence fleets for both Altea and the Galra, a demanding and dangerous job. Caring for a child whilst doing such a job is impossible, though I cannot quit the job as I would then be unable to provide for him. The other galra would not know how to treat and care for him. He is very different to galra children. Requires a different diet. Different care. Hiring help to care for him whilst I am working would be impossible.
"That is why I am here your highnesses. My son is not Altean by any means, but human and altean biology and behaviour are very similar. Alteans also have no problem with half-breeds to my knowledge, he could easily pass as half Altean, half Galra, and I would be able to visit and speak with him regularly-"
The queen held up her hand to silence her and spoke clearly into the room "Are you asking us to care for your son? To raise him?"
"If not you then another altean family. Of any kind. Please. I am aware of how ridiculous this sounds. I am aware very few people will be willing to take in a 6-month-old half galra, half Human child. But I have very few options." Krolia maintained eye contact, refusing to let her nerves show. This was what was best for her son.
The queen stole a glance at her husband who nodded in response to her silent question. The queen carefully approached Krolia, eyes trained on the blanket bundle in her arms. Krolia bent down to allow the queen to see the treasure in her arms.
Upon seeing the sleeping boy the queen smiled, motioning the king to come forward. The king obliged, closing the gap between himself and the galra before him. He too smiled when he saw the boy.
"Do you not think Lance would benefit from having a friend his own age within the castle?" The queen asked, smiling "Allura has Veronica, the serving girl's daughter."
Krolia was taken aback. Zarkon was very clear with his rules about the higher and lower classes interacting. Did the Alteans have such a relaxed policy when it came to class interactions?
"It may well benefit him." The king agreed, eyes never leaving the sleeping baby "The nursing maids would be able only too happy to accept the responsibility of another infant. Jenefa especially has a love for researching different species and the care required for them."
"She could be his main carer." The queen stated, before turning her attention back to Krolia "And you would wish to have continuous and frequent contact, miss-"
"Krolia, your highness. You can call me Krolia. And yes, he is my treasure, I would hate to not have contact with him."
"I see." The queen looked at her husband, who made eye contact with her, another silent conversation taking place before her attention returned to Krolia "We will take your son in. You will be given our private contact details and unconditional access to the castle and Altea.
"And another thing, from now on, you will not refer to us as your highnesses. If we are to be referring to you as Krolia you are to refer to us as Alfor and Melenor. If we are to be caring for your son then I am sure we will be becoming good friends very quickly, Krolia."
The king turned to speak to one of the alteans who was still in the hangar. She rushed off as soon as the king was done speaking and he turned to address Krolia again "What's this young ones name?"
"Keith." Krolia stated "Keith Yorak Kogane."