How To Make A Dream Come True

Chapter 1. Fire and Ice

Oh why do I always have to be so stubborn and impatient? Why do I let him get under my skin and go off and do stupid things just to prove I can? Why does Lance always get involved and make it worse?

"Why in the bloody hell can't I get these damn buttons undone?" The Princess was nearly in tears as she uttered the last exasperated thought out loud. Her hands were freezing; that's why she was having such a hard time getting Keith's clothes off. She had finally managed to get his shirt undone and off and was now working on his boots and socks. She took a deep breath to calm her mind. She couldn't afford to lose it now. Keith was soaking wet and the temperature was dropping faster than the sun.

It was such a wonderful winter day. Fresh snow lay across her kingdom and the sun shone warm and bright. She had thought about days long ago when she would go out ice-skating with her parents, or the other kids that lived in the Castle. She had wanted to go out so bad that morning only to find her path blocked by one cranky over protective man who was now on the verge of dying because of her, again!

Keith's left boot finally gave way and released his foot with the sound of crunching ice. Stop it Allura, she scolded herself, mind on the task. She took another deep breath and began to work on his other boot. He was mumbling incoherently. Even in the dim light, she could see his lips had taken on a definite blue tint. She removed her cloak and tucked it around him.

"Stay with me, Keith. Soon we will have a nice warm fire and everything will be fine." She thought about building the fire first, but rejected the idea. His clothes were freezing to him. They needed to come off.

She asked Lance to go with her. She thought she could get him to go along with out getting anyone else involved. She should have known better. For some reason, Lance had made it his personal mission to make her and the Captain do fun things together almost like dates. Sometimes Keith would give in. It was during these times she would get a glimpse of who he really was. She wanted to know more, see more, be more, but he never came to her on his own. Lately he had been avoiding going places with her. She thought he knew she had a crush on him and was doing absolutely nothing to encourage it. Of course, she would have asked Keith. She wanted to ask Keith, would have done anything to get Keith to take her. She just couldn't handle any more rejection.

Lance had told her he couldn't go along this afternoon; something about a backlog of paperwork, and Keith being on his ass about it. No sooner had he said Keith's name than a wicked grin crossed his face. Allura groaned out loud. "Lance please don't do this to me again. We both know he will never take me. He doesn't want to do anything thing with me that doesn't involve practice or lessons. He is worse than Nanny and Koran together."

"Trust me Allura, he wants to spend time with you. That's what all the lessons and practice is about. We could handle training you just fine. He wants to do it himself."

"I thought that was because he is a control freak," Allura huffed.

"Yea, way too in control of his feelings," Lanced replied.

Allura rolled her eyes. "Drop it, Lance! I can go skating another day."

Allura had managed to pull his paints off; now to get him up and over to the mattress. "Keith, help me." She pleaded. Pulling him up, she draped his arm across her small shoulders.

At first glance, people thought she was fragile. They couldn't be more wrong. She had held her own in the caves. Hauling water, firewood, and goods to where it was needed. She had taken care of her people and herself. Now she was taking care of one of the men who had come to save them.

When they had gotten into the cabin, Allura pulled the mattress off the bed frame and placed it as close to the fireplace as she dared. Now she laid Keith down and covered him with the dusty blanket. She reached under the blanket and removed the last remaining article of clothing. This wasn't the way she had imagined undressing the sexy captain.

Turning to the fireplace, she sat to work. She said a silent prayer that the long abandoned flue was free of bird's nests or other debris. Her father had taught her how to build a fire in this very cabin. It was after her mother had died. He brought her on one of his hunting trips. The Castle was close enough that he could have returned home every night, but the King enjoyed and needed the time away. She realized that was the last time she had been skating, on the very pond where Keith had fallen through the ice.

Keith had walked in on the end of Lance and Allura's conversation. He heard skating and went on guard. Sure enough, Lance ignored Allura's pleading eyes, and dove head long into why the great Captain should take the afternoon off and escort the fair Princess on an ice-skating trip. Keith immediately refused, saying something about her breaking her ankle, or wrist, or neck.

He was trying to joke with her. Instead he just rankled her pride. She put her hands on her hips and defiantly stated. "I will not break anything. I am a very good ice-skater."

"I am sure you are. When was the last time you went?" he asked in a near mocking voice. Lance could see the annoyance on Allura's face.

"Hey, it's probably like riding a bike," he stated trying to lighten the mood.

"A what?" she asked looking up at him.

"You have never ridden a bicycle?" He Asked eyebrows raised. Sometimes he forgot how different Allura's upbringing was.

"Well that will be something fun to do when spring arrives." He smiled mischievously at Keith

Keith sighed, "Allura the temp outside is too warm for skating today. The ice will be unstable."

"It's been well below freezing every night," she informed him.

"Maybe so, but winter has just started, and the sun has been shining every day for weeks. I don't think it is good idea. Besides Lance does need to get his paper work done, and I can't take you."

"There is big difference between can't and won't!" She turned around and stormed out of the room. Allura had nearly burst into tears. Why did she always start to cry when she was angry? It made her look weak and stupid, and that made her want to cry more. She could hear Keith and Lance yelling at each other before she got to the end of the hall.

She was blowing steadily on the small flames that had caught, relieved to see the kindling catch so easily. She held her ice-cold hands close to the flames and warmed her fingers. A small moan from behind her drew her attention back to Keith. Turning around, she put her hands under the blanket. He was still freezing. Even more so now that her own fingers were warm. She looked at his blue trembling lips and listened to his nonsensical mutterings and made a decision.

Damn it! Why did she let him upset her? Anyone else could tease her and it didn't matter. She could form a smart come back and hold her own.

Now she was just angry with herself. Of course she hadn't been skating in a long time. She was at war. She thought how skating was as close to freedom as she could get. Whirling around on those thin blades, jumping, spinning, breathless. She had loved ice-skating. Just as she now loved flying.

As dangerous as it was, for some odd reason, Nanny approved of the sport, thinking it lady like. Of course, the Little Princess had been on her best behavior with Nanny. Not really letting loose unless she was with her parents, or other less protective guardians. She was an adult now and couldn't even go where she pleased. A prison no matter how beautiful, or well appointed, was still a prison. She had to have an escort just to walk in the garden.

She stopped and looked out across the lake past the edge of the wood. She could see the trail that would take her to her father's hunting cabin. He had understood the importance of getting away from the Castle and the stress, to just be alone even for a day. In her mind, it was a perfect day for ice-skating. She rolled her eyes, too warm. Such lame excuses for not wanting to go with her.

She fastened the big buttons on her forest green cloak, pulled on the matching gloves, and raised the hood. She had traded her new satin cloak for one of the maid's heavy ones. The girl was delighted to have such a fine new coat, and Allura was happy to have one that was warm. She also hoped it would get her away from the castle with out being noticed. She picked up the breadbasket she had hidden her skates in and headed out the servant door.

Allura had stripped off her dress, and laid it across the blanket. She added one more log to the fire then crawled under the blanket. She placed her self directly on top of him and looked down at his pale face. She had never thought of Keith as pale. She worried about his feet and hands. If there was permanent damage to his hands, he may never fly again.

"Keith," she said softly, "Keith look at me." He barely opened his eyes then closed them again. He was so cold.

She could feel the tears burning at the corners of her eyes. Not now she scolded her self. He was never going to forgive her.

Keith couldn't concentrate. His mind felt heavy and fuzzy. He knew he was freezing to death and was trying to talk to Allura. He needed to tell her that no one knew where they were. He needed to tell her so many things. He needed to know she was ok. He opened his eyes and saw her glowing blue ones shimmering with tears.

Damn it! Why did he always make her cry? He loved it when she smiled and giggled. Why couldn't he do that to her the way Lance did. He could feel her warm breath on his lips. She was so close to him; if he could lift his head just a little, he could kiss her. He closed his eyes again; he couldn't move. He couldn't speak, but he could hear her. She was mummuring something about going to the beach and lying in the warm sun. Swimming and surfing in a warm tropical sea. He drifted off to sleep.