"Rawr!"
Zarkon couldn't help but chuckle at his child's tiny roar.
"Not quite strong enough yet my son."
He spoke gently as he carefully readjusted his on in his arms.
Lotor was only a couple years old now. His size and strength reflected that. The boy didn't even have a firm grasp of language, only really communicating through sounds and gestures.
Moments like this were rare. No pressing missions for the paladins nore any immediate local matters to address. Leaving the emperor with some much needed free time.
Honerva sat at his elbow, datapad still in hand. Though an occasional chuckle at their sons antics made it clear she was very much present even if her work still lingered at the corner of her mind.
It was a moment that embodied something Zarkon had always on some level wanted but had never known hed needed. Before Honerva, the emperor had never envisioned himself with something as intimate as a spouse or as personal as a child. He'd been a young bachelor through and through. With the responsibility of marrying and producing a blood successor a distant and often forgotten one.
Now however things were different.
Lotor had moved on from his meager attempts at vocal intimidation to physically attempting to climb up his father's torso. A feat that proved to be about as productive as physically moving a mountain. The fact that he could only reach the rim of Zarkon's shirt when his father bent down made it doubly so.
Picking his son up one handed by the back of his clothes, Zarkon dangled the boy in the air so that they were face to face. Outside of what the emperor would describe as a surprised squeak, Lotor did not appear to be at all perturbed. In fact, after taking a short moment to blink at his father, he immediately began patting his face as hard as he could. An attack that did about as much damage to Zarkon as having a handful of flower petals thrown in his face.
"That's not how you are supposed to hold a child, dear."
Honerva was staring up at him with a wry smile as she set aside her datapad and opened her arms. With a blush of embarrassment, Zarkon handed Lotor off to his mother.
"Now," Honerva spoke once she had settled the giddy child in her arms. "What is the matter?"
"What do you mean?"
Honerva frowned disapprovingly at the obvious attempt at dodging and continued undeterred.
"You've been preoccupied lately. Looking off into space and not paying attention when people speak to you."
"I have been busy."
"You are ALWAYS busy. Even when you're idle. And your usually very sharp about the things and people around you even when tired." Honerva paused in this analysis to stop Lotor's hand from tugging on her hair allowing Zarkon to launch a rejoinder.
"I did not realize you observed me so much."
"You are my husband." She said with feeling. "It would be unnatural to not observe you."
Zarkon couldn't help but smile gratefully at the remark.
"That is why I, more than anyone, can tell when you are bothered. So please, do tell me what is on your mind."
Zarkon's eyes fell on Lotor as he sat in his mother's arms preoccupying himself with observing the goings on outside of the nearest window. Absentmindedly, he rested one of his giant hands on the child. The difference in size was readily apparent.
Honerva shifted to face him.
"Does it have to do with Lotor?"
The change in his countenance answered her question.
"It is just," he spoke haltingly as he ran his thumb over the top of the boys head. "He is so… small."
Honerva's brows knit.
"His size is not abnormal for this stage in his development. In terms of weight, things were going well last I checked. If it is a matter of his health-"
Zarkon stopped her before she could devolve into technical jargon.
"That is not what I meant. It is just… he's so tiny." He stared at his hand compared to the size of his son. "I feel that if I am not careful, I may crush him."
"You likely could. Speaking literally."
Zarkon sighed. His point was not getting across.
"You are aware of how I became emperor?"
"Yes. Alfor told me the story."
The emperor grunted.
Alfor was, of course, allowed to speak freely of their adventurers together. It wasn't like Zarkon had sworn any of his comrades to secrecy. Though he now wished he had.
Zarkon didn't consider himself a conceited man, but losing the opportunity to regale his lady love with the take of his great conquest rather stung.
Honerva watched him thoughtfully before resigning herself.
"Of course," she chose her tone carefully. "It was so long ago and I had only been paying half attention."
The tone had an immediate effect.
Zarkon's eyes brightened and he began narrating.
"When the previous emperor met his demise he left behind no heir to take the throne. Naturally a Kral Zera was declared to decide a successor. I was a major general under Emperor Drule and the most popular candidate for the position. Despite my position there were still those who would challenge my rightful claim to the throne. I overcame them all, naturally."
Honerva listened with matrimonial loyalty. It was her private opinion that, had anyone other than her husband had been victorious, they'd likely have expressed their 'right' to the throne with as much vindication that Zarkon did.
"But it was not an easy victory. My expanded experience in battle alongside Alfor and the others gave me an upper hand. That and a great deal of support from Emperor Drules remaining forces."
"Of course," Honerva agreed with a wave of a hand before heading straight to the point. "What does it have to do with Lotor?"
Zarkon once more fell uncharacteristically silent before finally speaking plainly.
"Many things on Daibazaal are decided that way. Right of rule through combat has always been our way. The powerful, the experienced, the ambitious. That is who the leaders of the galra have always been." He ran his fingers through Lotors hair affectionately as the boy lay drowsily in his mother's arms. "Anything less is crushed underfoot."
The direness of his tone put Honerva on edge.
"You think," Honerva spoke as she tightened her grip on the child in her arms protectively. "That someone might try to kill Lotor?"
"Not like that." Zarkon tried to assure, though his voice was still serious. "I do not speak of assassination. That is an ever present danger for someone in my- in our positions. Even then, children are special to we galra. Harming one, for any reason, is… unthinkable."
This insight gave Honerva little comfort. Her husband tended to assume that his own standards and code of conduct was shared amongst all of his people. Many men in his position often did in her experience.
"What I mean is that authority is dictated by strength and power amongst the galra. As a result the ambitious keep a lookout for anything exploitable. Any signs of…"
He paused trying to pick his words carefully.
"Weakness?" Honerva offered in that cold practical tone that was characteristic of her displeasure. "You're afraid Lotor will be perceived as weak. Because of me."
"No." Zarkon tried to sound firm, but his voice shook uncertainty. "It is not his blood. Not you. It's… argh, it is hard to place into words."
He resorted to metaphor.
"It is like… like he is a small lamb. A small helpless lamb."
Honerva stared.
Zarkon sighed.
"He is my son. My heir. That alone makes him a target of unfavorable attention. I am not so confident in my position to assume I do not have enemies. Enemies who would use any crack in my own armor as an opening for attack." He slumped against his wife dejectedly. "And Lotor is small . If he does not grow-"
"He WILL grow."
"He might not. There were complications when he was born. And he is still small. He may be healthy now, but that won't stop him from being viewed as a runt." He spat the word before immediately becoming withdrawn. "If that should come about, I am unsure if I can protect him."
By now Lotor had dozed off and was snoozing soundly surrounded by the warmth of his parents touch. Completely unaware that he was the subject of such a dire discussion.
Honerva quietly placed her own hand on Zarkons in a show of solidarity.
"Do you leave me out of your thoughts for the future?" She asked bitterly. "Do you assume I will not, or can not, protect my own child?"
Zarkon couldn't help but give a tired, amused, smile.
"Of course not my love."
Honerva leaned into his chest.
"He will grow, husband." Her husky voice was low but stern. "Even if he does not, that does not make him helpless. You'll see."
He did not reply. Instead, Zarkon savored the moment of intimacy and clung to it like it would not come again.
"You'll see." Honerva repeated. "Our little lamb will become a fierce lion. Then see what becomes of those enemies of yours."
