Author's Note: Update! Not as quick as my other ones, but I hope worth the wait! This is also the end of the four part chapter I have been working on, so don't be too upset with me if my next chapter skips ahead.

Disclaimer: I do not, nor have I ever, owned Voltron. I simply play in their world.

Reviews! Reviews! Love it? Hate it? Tell me all about it! I love ALL my reviews.

Chapter 6

part IV

"She was a silent fighter,

with a demon in her lung,

That stole her breaths right from her,

Before they'd hardly pass her tongue,

He was a silent fighter,

Who was always taught to share,

And held his breath when he was with her,

Just so she could have his air."

-E.H

She was standing in a wind-swept meadow, nothing but a sea of flowers for miles around. The sun was a fiery ball in the sky, yet it was a gentle heat. The wind that danced through the meadow made the flowers sway to its silent song.

Off in the distance was a structure that gleamed white, like polished moonstone, and she thought perhaps it was a temple. There was such a sense of serenity, of calm coming from the structure that Allura wanted to do nothing else except gather flowers and go to the temple and sing and dance.

But as soon as she thought that, she knew something was wrong.

All the temples had been destroyed in the war and the flowers that grew on the meadow were either out of season...or no longer existed.

"I'm dreaming."

Her voice startled her for she was aware she was dreaming.

"You are...and you're not."

Utter shock had Allura rooted, unable to move. The voice was undeniably feminine...and with such aching familiarity Allura knew it at once. Though it had been thirteen years since she last heard her speak.

What she had told Kieth had been wrong.

She turned to see a woman dressed in a flowing gown, done in the ancient Arusian style. The shoulders and neck were bare, the sheer, violet sleeves of the gown detached and held up by silver cuffs on the upper arm. The gown wrapped itself around her body, layers and layers of diaphanous silk, in colors of lavender and deep orchid, until only the hints of her body could be seen beneath it.

Around her neck were delicate, silver necklaces that trailed amethyst and diamond tear drops. Her moon pale hair had been loosened so that it fell in rippling waves to the small of her back. Upon her head she wore the Star of Arus. It was the silver crown with three points, the tallest marked like a star, that was worn by the Queen of Arus.

Eyes that were near identical to hers stared at her with such loving compassion that it broke her trance.

"Mother!"

Allura was already in her mother's arms, weeping as the Queen held her in her tender embrace.

"Allura," she said softly, stroking her golden hair, "I have waited so long to speak to you. My most beloved daughter, I am so very proud of you."

"Mother," Allura wept, "I have missed you."

"I as well."

The Queen pulled back so that she could tip her daughter's face to look at her. "Allura, you have grown as I knew you would into a strong, beautiful and compassionate leader."

But Allura shook her head. "I have failed you," she told her mother, "our world crumbled when you and father were...killed. I'm sorry! I'm sorry I couldn't save you and father! I never wanted you to die!"

"Hush," replied her mother kissing her brow, "that was not your fault. You were but a child, there was nothing to be done."

"But I lived!" she could not stop the despair that threaded through each word, "you died and I lived!"

"And I am so grateful for that."

The Queen's words, so strong and full of happiness, stopped short the despair that was consuming her from the inside out.

"Mother..."

Once more the Queen gathered her into her arms, "Do you think any parent would wish their child to die so that they could live? Oh, my darling, had that happened I would never have survived past that day."

The two embraced and then Allura felt her mother pull back and she was no longer her mother but the Queen of Arus.

"Listen to me, Allura. You have done well, very well. You have gathered the five lions together and Voltron lives again. But Arus still lies in the path of danger."

Her mother's voice was no longer maternal and loving, but full of solemn warning.

"Zarkon hasn't forgotten us, he's biding his time to for another attack, isn't he?"

"Yes...but it will not come in the form you believe it will."

Allura gazed at her mother with concerned eyes. "What are you saying, Mother?"

But the Queen shook her head. "I am bound by rules," she told her, "and I cannot go against them. But because of your power...I can do at least this much."

Allura looked at her with confusion. "Power? But I have no power."

The Queen shook head and touched her cheek. "You do. Remember you are the direct descendant of Altarus. Never forget that and you will come to understand."

Suddenly she gave Allura a knowing smile, and she was once again her mother and not the Queen.

"So it would seem you found the man of your dreams after all."

Allura did not need to ask about that cryptic comment to know whom she was speaking about.

"Keith."

A single name spoken, but said with a sigh. A caress of longing.

"A very formidable, and honorable, male. You have chosen well."

"I," Allura began, then stopped and gazed at her mother with sorrowful eyes, "he doesn't feel the same way."

A secret smile upon her face. "Oh, I would not say that."

Allura gave her mother a sharp look. "What do you know mother?"

A soft, lilting laughter, "Look to his actions, not his words. You will find the truth there."

"Mother!" Allura began hotly...and stopped as the form of her mother began to disappear. "Mother...your form!"

"I cannot linger, my time here is done."

"But I don't want you to leave!" it was the wail of an abandoned child, "please! I don't want to be alone."

Ghosted fingers on her face, soft lips upon her forehead.

"But you are not alone."

"Mother!"

Allura's eyes opened immediately as soon as her mother disappeared from the dream.

"Mother." she whispered, incredible love and the ache of loss in that single word. She had been given such a precious gift, the remembrance of her mother.

Feeling better than she had in weeks, Allura sat up...only to realize that the bed she slept in was not her own.

Nor did she recognize the room, except to know that she was still in the castle.

Rubbing the sleep from her eye, she slowly sat up and looked around. Nothing but the bed she slept on and a chest of drawers with a brown basket with a covering on it.

Then she saw a familiar head of black hair near the end of the head. Frowning slightly Allura moved on hands and knee's across the bed and saw that it was indeed Keith.

Who was fast asleep, his body resting against the mattress. His arms were folded underneath his chest, his legs crossed at the ankles.

His head was bowed down, the feather of his bands obscuring his eyes. But his breathing was even and he had not stirred when she moved softly against the bed.

"Commander?" she inquired softly.

No response.

Biting her lip, Allura reached out and touched fingers to his hair. The strands were slightly damp and cool, with an odd texture that was not unpleasant. It was like rough silk against her touch.

The sensation of running her fingers through his hair was an aching pleasure, so sharp as to be nearly painful.

I'll stop in a minute, she told herself, even as her fingers continued to stroke the cool, raven strands.

She had never seen him like, so unguarded and...peaceful. She knew she should pull her fingers away, get off the bed and leave him to his nap.

She needed to check the time, make sure she hadn't slept past the meeting and go over the various reports.

But she stayed perfectly still, flat on her stomach continuing to stroke his hair, a soft sigh of contentment leaving her lips.

I could do this for hours, she thought and felt unusually reluctant to take up her duties she knew were waiting for her on the other side of that door.

Her fingers were still gliding gently through his hair when she pulled in a sharp breath, his fingers suddenly snapped around her wrist.

"Keith...I..." she began her mind scrambling for an excuse when they came to a screeching halt when he turned his head and placed a kiss in the palm of her hand.

The feel of his mouth on her skin erased all cognitive thoughts in her head. Instead she felt her eyes flutter close and her breath turn shallow as his mouth glided lower, before nipping gently at her wrist.

"You should know better than to tease me," he murmured in a sleepy, sensual voice that made her throat go dry and her heart stutter, "Beverly."

That slow burn of desire that had been unfurling inside of her abruptly withered and Allura snatched her hand out of her grip.

Who is Beverly?

His eyes opened immediately and he tilted his head back, a slight, wicked smile on his face...until he saw the wide, sapphire gaze of Allura staring back at him in shock.

"I...ah...I..." she stammered, still holding onto her hand, "I'm sorry!"

She was already scrambling off of the bed and managed to get three steps towards the door, where she halted mid-step.

Keith's fingers had once more wrapped around her wrist.

"Allura."

It was only her name, just that. But it squeezed her heart to hear her name upon his lips.

She turned her head away from his, glad now that she still wore her ponytail so it could act as a shield around her face.

"I'm sorry Commander," she said in a painful voice, "I didn't mean to wake you. I shouldn't have touched you the way I did."

"Why did you?"

There was no accusation in his voice. In fact there was nothing in his voice, it was that flat.

Allura stood there, but did not speak. She was too busy having an internal war with herself at that moment.

Tell him!

No! If I tell him, I'll look like an idiot. He spoke another woman's name!

So ask him about the woman! If he is with another, then you have a right to know!

I...what if he rejects me?

Then make a choice! Do you run and forget everything you feel about him...or do you stay and face what you feel?

That was her choice, to run from this and pretend everything over the past several months never happened.

Or answer a question and find out whether or not this man cared for her beyond friendship.

"Will you not answer me?"

Allura swallowed hard...and wondered if she was about to have her soul ripped out of her.

"If...if I answer your question, will you answer one of mine?"

His fingers tightened on her wrist, almost to the point of pain.

"Ask your question and I will decide if I want the answer to yours."

Well that doesn't help, Allura thought with a touch of anger...but realized he hadn't told her she couldn't ask.

She had faced death and torture, surely she could ask a simple question.

She could not stop the trembling of her body and she took in a shaky breath and turned to look at Keith.

"Who is Beverly?"

She watched the shock deepen his eyes to drowning pools of darkness and cried out when his hand nearly cut off the circulation to her wrist.

"Keith! You're hurting me!" Her words were more of shocked surprise than pain, but the sharpness of her words were enough that he dropped her wrist immediately.

"Allura, I'm sorry...I would never hurt you." He told her, stepping back away from her, a glazed look in his eyes.

"Keith...I know," she said even as she rubbed the abused flesh, "and you...you don't have to answer my question." She closed her eyes and turned away from him.

I hurt him with that question. Forgive me Keith, I never meant to cause you pain.

"Beverly was my fiancee."

Allura stopped and turned back yet again to face him. His voice could have been carved of stone, for all the emotion it held.

"Was? Is she...not anymore?"

Keith gave a harsh laugh, devoid of all laughter.

"No, she is not. She died. Two years ago."

Allura refused to close her eyes against the rage in his words, the pain in his eyes that seemed almost unimaginable.

He answered my question...so now it is time I answered his.

It didn't matter that she had a thousand questions she wanted to ask him about this woman who brought out such strong emotions in this closed off male.

That wasn't important right now.

"I touched you," she told him, moving slowly closer, "because I have always longed to know how your hair would feel against my fingers. I touched you because when I touch you, I don't feel so alone."

A shuttered look in his eyes and she held his gaze for several seconds...but even her courage had limits and she had reached hers. She turned from his eyes and wrapped her arms around her body.

"I am sorry I brought such painful memories back to you." she whispered softly, "You looked so...peaceful, I wanted it to last, if only for a few minutes longer. I'll leave now."

Fiancee...he was engaged to be married. He was never meant to be mine.

"Don't leave."

Allura's stomach clenched in response to the ache in his voice, a sorrow that pierced her to the core.

He was such a strong male, so reserved in thought and feeling she wondered what it cost him to say those words out loud to her.

"Allura," a break in his voice, "please."

She turned back to look at him, her eyes dark with the knowledge of how painful living when others died, could be.

He dropped to his knee's, undone by that simple understanding.

She went to him, and he wrapped his arms around her waist, his silent tears soaking into her shirt.

"Oh, Keith," she murmured softly, stroking his thick hair, "I'm here. I'm here."

She continued to hold him, stroking his hair. She doubted that he heard her words...so she began to sing, softly.

The words were in ancient Arusian, it was a song of grief and loss, but also one of healing and acceptance.

His arms tightened about her body as she continued to sing her haunting melody, stroking his hair as she did, and eventually she felt his tears abate.

How long, she thought as her song came to end, has this been festering inside of you? Were you never allowed to weep...or could you not against the pain and rage?

As the last note trembled in the air, Keith lifted his head to look at her. There were unvoiced questions in his eyes.

"It's alright," she told him, speaking the pain deep inside of him, "I know."

And because she knew, it was no longer a silent burden festering inside of him.

He had, finally, found a measure of peace that had been lost to him.

It hadn't been on Earth, but on Arus, waiting for him in the arms of this woman.