Discovery

Castle of Lions…

Sven bolted upright in bed. He pressed a shaking hand to his brow. The echo of his rapid heartbeat seemed to match the pace of his breathing. The dream again.

Tossing the covers aside, he flipped on the light and set his feet on the smooth, cold floor. His gaze wandered over the stark surroundings of his quarters. Visions of the dream arose instead: him standing by the shoreline of some unfamiliar sea, and the young woman wearing a hooded cloak at his side. Every time he thought he'd see her face, he'd wake, his heart overcome by an inexplicable sense of longing. This made the dream very difficult to dismiss. He closed his eyes, exhaled slowly in an attempt to summon calm. She'd haunted him since their arrival on Arus. Who was she? Why did she leave such an impression on him?

"Come in, Sven." Keith's voice sounded over the intercom.

The urgency in his commander's tone helped steady him. "Is something wrong, Keith?"

"I need you to go down to the medical room. Pidge found some strangers in the woods. He's bringing them to the castle."

The call of duty chased the last remnants of the dream away. "Understood. I'll have Hunk ready with a security team, just in case."

"I knew I could count on you. I'll meet you down there," Keith said, and disconnected.

Sven dressed quickly and headed out. Once he'd roused Hunk with orders to bring security guards, he rode the elevator to the medical room. Two doctors greeted his entrance with nods. Sven took his place against the wall, his arms folded. The glass compartment nearby contained a pair of laser pistols. He deactivated the safety lock. Never could be too careful.

After some pensive moments, the doors opened. Pidge entered first, still dressed in his green and white pilot's uniform. He greeted the waiting medics with a smile that could only be identified as helpless. Odd, Sven thought. Could there be something about these strangers that Pidge could not properly explain? He soon discovered that was indeed the case the moment he saw them.

A tall, athletic young woman with a long, brown braid entered the room, a sword sheathed at her hip. She carried an unconscious blonde girl in her arms. Her companion, a shorter red-haired girl, stared in frank awe, one hand pressed against her heart. Behind her came another with bronzed skin and wearing a white head scarf. She absently toyed with a flashlight in one hand, her other planted on her hip. She eyed the room with unquestionable wariness not exhibited by her dark-haired companion. Her jerky movements betrayed the need to be elsewhere, as if she detested being in one place for too long.

But when his gaze drifted to the other unconscious young woman with them, his breath caught in his throat. The reason for his fascination had very little to do with the fact she floated.

With her pale skin and dark blue hair, she seemed almost ethereal. The sight of the blue cloak, and a flashback to his dream, however, shook him to the core.

Pidge directed the two taller girls toward the cots situated in the rooms. The brunette gently deposited her friend on the first. One of the doctors began examining her. The white-haired one gestured, sending her airborne companion sailing toward the second cot. As Sven was closer to it, the proximity allowed him to quickly determine that she was no older than the princess. He swore he scented the sea.

"Now, don't you worry, Kaia," Pidge was saying to the brunette. "These guys will fix your friends up in no time. Right, Sven?"

Sven, transfixed by the unconscious girl's beauty, gave himself a little jolt before nodding confirmation to Pidge's words.

"These two were trained on planet Ebb. There's no finer doctors in the galaxy."

The white-haired one studied him with intense interest. She turned a questioning look Pidge's way. "Why does he talk differently than you?"

Pidge offered a sheepish smile, as if unsure of how to answer. The brunette eyed her with displeasure.

"I apologize," she said to Sven. "We've never heard someone speak with an accent like yours. She meant no offense."

Sven nodded. The subject of his accent had only come up since their arrival. He'd gotten used to having to explain its origin. After exchanging a brief glance with Pidge, Sven approached the girls and offered his hand. The brunette shook it, surprising Sven with the strength of her grip. She introduced herself as Kaia.

"This is Anila," she said, gesturing to the white-haired girl. Anila favored Sven with a short nod before resuming her intensive study of the flashlight. The redhead, Vesta, smiled kindly at him when they shook hands.

"That's Harmony," Kaia continued, and Sven glanced at the blonde girl. "And this is Azura."

Sven turned his full attention on Azura, once again finding himself in awe of her. Keith's voice drew Sven back to the present. As he glanced over, he found the commander standing before the assembled girls, his arms folded over his chest. Hunk and three security guards stood behind him.

Keith leveled a stern look on the three girls. "Pidge indicated you were strangers. I need to see proof that your presence here is not a threat to us."

Anila's expression darkened. "Excuse me?"

Kaia held up a hand, silencing any further remarks. She faced Keith, head high and shoulders squared. "What sort of proof do you require aside from our word?"

"I ask that you surrender your weapons and agree to being under supervision for the remainder of the night," Keith stated.

Kaia bowed her head, as if expecting such a request. She removed her belt and handed it, plus the sword, to him. Vesta followed suit, placing what looked to be golden throwing knives into the outstretched palm of a guard. Anila's reluctance to part with her bow and arrow was obvious, but she complied after receiving a warning glance from Kaia.

Keith looked to Sven, silently requesting that he inspect the two unconscious girls. He found no weapons on Harmony, but when it came time to search Azura, his senses were once again teased by the scent of the ocean.

"Sven? Did you find anything?"

Shaking off the effects of being near Azura, Sven stepped away from her. "No. She's unarmed."

If Keith took any notice of Sven's strained, whispered voice he chose not to comment.

Satisfaction crossed his features, and he turned to Kaia once more. "Thank you for cooperating. I will contact the princess and have a room prepared," he said before plucking the comm-link from his belt. As Keith spoke to the princess, Sven's gaze drifted to Azura. The doctor looked perplexed about something. Sensing Sven watching him, he looked up.

"Something's wrong. Her temperature is too low."

"Too low? How?" Sven asked, hearing the concern in his voice. He wondered if anyone else could, too.

"Oh, that's normal," Vesta said. Attention was drawn to her then, and she blushed slightly at being the center of it. "All the water people are cool. You only have to worry if she's too warm. That means she needs to be near water."

"Fascinating," the doctor murmured, glancing down at Azura with surprise.

"All right, everything's set," Keith said, replacing his communicator. "Pidge? Can you show them to their rooms? They're on the level above ours."

"You got it," Pidge replied. He gestured for the girls to follow him. Vesta pressed kisses to Harmony and Azura's cheeks before she trailed after the others.

"I'll keep watch here," Sven said to Keith.

Keith took in his friend with a swift glance. "You sure? I can have some guards stay. You look like you need to rest."

Though Sven agreed with him, rest wouldn't come easy this night. Not when the compulsion to stay held fast to him. "They need the sleep more than I do. I'll be fine."

An understanding smile touched Keith's lips. "The captain of the guards was asking me if I could let his men get more rest. All right. I'll see you tomorrow."

After Keith left, Sven removed one of the laser pistols from the compartment and resumed leaning against the wall. As his gaze lingered on Azura, the steady beating of his heart matched the quickened pace of his breathing.


After Pidge showed the girls to their rooms, Keith pointedly reminded him about his security watch. Grimacing a little, for it was obvious he wanted to spend more time with them, Pidge gave a reluctant goodbye and left. Keith instructed them on how to open the door and what button to press should they need assistance, then also took his leave. Two guards stood across the hall. Anila touched the button said to operate the doors, giving a little start when it closed with a whoosh.

"What a strange world this is," she commented. Turning on her heel, she sought the embrasure by the window and sat down. "I don't see why they need to guard us like we're thieves."

Kaia sat beside her. "We'd do the same if the situation was reverse."

At this, Anila conceded with a shrug.

Vesta settled onto one of the beds. "Why did Harmony and Azura faint, but we didn't?"

Kaia sighed. "There's no way to know for certain until they wake up. I only hope they have clearer memories of what happened. It may help us determine our best way home." She exchanged brief glances with the other two. "I can't sense Thraaeohg anywhere. You?"

Mention of Kaia's avatar turned Vesta's thoughts inward. The place where Erifaame rested felt cold. She shivered. "I can't find him, either."

Shadows entered Anila's eyes. "I've been trying to contact Gaaledin. They were in the glen with us. You know what will happen if we…" She trailed off, unable to continue.

Kaia's fingers curled over her heart, as if trying to capture her avatar's missing essence. "We need to get back to the woods. It might be our only hope."

A chime sounded, alerting the three. All turned as one at hearing the door open. A young woman with long, blonde hair and dressed in a pink gown entered, a tray in her hands. Plates laden with food, along with teacups and a teapot, sat upon it.

"So much for being treated like prisoners," Anila murmured.

Kaia shushed her.

The blonde offered them a pleasant smile. "I wanted to apologize for how we've had to react to strangers. It's not been easy for us since..." She paused, and her eyes brimmed with tears. Then, with remarkable control despite her obvious youth, she cast aside her sorrow and smiled at them again. Placing the tray upon a table set in front of the sofa, she rose to her full height and bowed. "I'm Princess Allura."

As introductions were made, Vesta couldn't help but compare Allura to Harmony. Both had the same regal bearing, and the same, warm smile. It was enough to draw Vesta from the bed to the sofa. Kaia soon joined her, and, eventually, Anila.

"I wish to know more about about you," the princess said, pouring tea into the three cups set before the girls. "Is your planet in the Galactic Alliance?"

"What's the Galactic Alliance?" Anila asked.

Kaia gestured for silence. "No. We're from Aethia. We are not part of your Galactic Alliance."

Allura's brows drew together. "Are you from another sector?"

The odd wording puzzled Vesta. She could tell Kaia and Anila shared her confusion. "I'm not sure how to answer that. Aethia is our home. It's very similar to this place. The elemental presence here is strong."

Anila and Vesta murmured their agreement. Despite Erifaame's absence, Vesta crafted fire with little resistance.

Awareness entered the princess's eyes. "Is it true, then? What Pidge said? You have control over the elements?"

Kaia bowed her head. "To a certain extent. No one can fully harness the power of the elements. The bulk of our power exists within our avatars."

"Where are they now?" Allura asked.

Kaia was about to answer, but Anila spoke up in sharp tones. "They're not here, and the longer we waste time talking about them, the worse it gets for us."

Unprepared for the severity of Anila's tone, Allura's expression became concerned. "What do you mean?"

Kaia silenced Anila with a swift look. "Without our avatars, we will lose power, and, eventually, our lives."

Allura leaned back, concern clearly visible in her eyes. "Isn't there any other way to prevent that from happening?"

"Complete immersion in the element is one method," Kaia answered. "It might be a good idea to keep Harmony near a natural light source, and to have Azura placed within water. Exposure to them may hasten their recovery."

Allura promised to mention that to the doctors. Gratitude reflected in Kaia's eyes before she turned serious. "I appreciate your help. It's very important that we return to the woods tomorrow. There may be evidence as to how we got here, and how we can find our avatars. The glen we were investigating is a source of elemental power in our world. It must be protected."

"I'll tell Keith to let you return tomorrow," Allura promised.

The tension seemed to melt from Kaia the instant she smiled. "Thank you. And thank you for offering us your hospitality. I assume that you are on some kind of constant alert, if Keith's precautions were any indication."

Allura bowed her head. "Yes. We live in terrible times now. Many of my people were taken as slaves by King Zarkon. He's why my poor people are so frightened," she whispered. Then, with another show of strength, she gathered her composure and stood. "I wish you all a good night."

After she had gone, Kaia set her cup down and stood. "We should get some sleep. Hopefully Harmony and Azura will be awake to come with us."

"The sooner the better," Anila said. She stared at the door for a few moments, her expression troubled. "I have a bad feeling about being here."