Disclaimer: I do not own Voltron or any of its characters.
Rating/Setting: Rating is T. Setting is DotU but is definitely AU – see challenge info below.
Response to Cheetoy's KAEX Challenge "A Royal Twist." "What if Keith was the surviving Arusian Royal Prince and Allura was an Earth born hometown girl turned GA Starpilot? How will the prim and proper Prince deal with falling for a strong-willed GA pilot of no royal line? Sadly, Nanny and Coran insist on a Princess for our dear Kogane... But how shall they deal with the Drule Prince(ss)? Can they find their Happy Ever After?"
Author's Notes - PLEASE READ!: So, I will be visiting some of the DotU episodes. Is there an episode that you would like me to "twist" into my story? I can't guarantee that I will, but it would be very likely. : - ) That is unless it is a mouse episode, because the mice aren't in this story. Anyway, write a review and let me know what episode you'd like to see "twisted." ;-D Happy reading, it's a longer chapter!
Chapter Seven
The rest of the day was a flurry of activity around the new castle. While the inhabitants of the caverns beneath the castle had been told what was to occur, the people in the surrounding area had been shocked. The island on which the castle stood had been inundated with people coming to discover where the castle came from and what it meant. Keith had spent the rest of the day holding audiences with his subjects and local officials. The team had spent their time checking on all the castle's defenses and security. It had been agreed that no investigation of the Lions would occur unless all could be present.
After holding one last session from a low balcony at the front of the castle, Coran had led Keith away. The prince had informed the soldiers on duty to let the people know that there would be notices posted about more audiences to explain what was going on. The men had beamed with pride at their new duties protecting the castle. For so long, they had been forced below ground. Thankfully, as the guards grew older, they also trained younger men to handle the duties in the hopes that this day would come again. The seamstresses had kept the uniforms in good repair and had managed to get material from the local weavers to make new ones. As Keith looked around, he realized that the staff and soldiers looked as if they had been staffing the castle like this for years. A smile crossed his face as he continued to walk beside Coran. To say that the new castle was a moral boost was a huge understatement.
Coran noticed the smile on the young prince's face. "What is it, Keith?"
Casting his gaze across he large room they were crossing, he replied, "Just all of this. How the people have responded so quickly and eagerly to the castle."
"And to you, Keith. Don't underestimate how much they think of you." Coran hoped that the people would continue to appreciate the young man. Right now things were looking brighter than they had in years. Once the Lions were put back into use and Voltron was seen once again, the people would be even more encouraged. However, he knew from experience how quickly the people could turn with just a few bumps in the road. Courage and heart were what the people needed now and he hoped they had enough.
Keith didn't say anything more about that topic, but did ask, "So where are we going now?"
"The dining hall."
"Dining hall? Not cafeteria?" Keith asked. Perhaps he should have expected a dining hall in such a structure as this, but he was used to making do with a cafeteria type environment. In fact, the thought of a dining hall was a little daunting.
"Oh, no, my Prince. It is a dining hall. Actually, there are two. We are going to the smaller of the two halls. It would only seat about fifty for a dining function." Coran kept a mirthful eye on Keith.
Reaching up to tug his collar, Keith asked, "Fifty? How many will be eating there tonight?"
Letting a chuckle slip out as he put a reassuring hand on his charge's back, he replied, "Oh, don't worry, it's just the two of us plus the space explorers. I invited a number of staff, but they all declined saying that the dining hall was meant for the prince."
Keith couldn't help but roll his eyes. He believed in following protocol when in public and to maintain order. However, he would miss being in a room with his people just enjoying the fellowship of a meal. Perhaps when things calmed down, he could do something informal to thank all the castle staff.
When they entered the dining hall, Keith was glad to see that it wasn't overly ornate. The space explorers were already filling plates at the small buffet that had been set up on a nearby table.
"I told the team not to wait for us as I wasn't sure how quickly I would be able to pull you away from the people."
Keith nodded his response and headed toward the buffet. Before he could reach the table of delectable food, he was intercepted by one of the cooks.
"Oh, Prince Keith! The kitchen is just wonderful! It has been years since I have had the opportunity to make use of such fine equipment!"
Glancing over Maria's shoulder, Keith looked longing at the bounty on display. "It looks and smells wonderful, Maria. I look forward to sampling a little of everything." Keith was serious, he was starving after the light lunch they had – all of them had been too excited about the castle and exploring to really give the afternoon meal more than cursory attention. The prince stepped to go around the cook, but she stepped back in front of him and began to wind her hands in her apron. Sensing that she was hesitant to speak, he prompted her, "Yes, Maria?"
"Well, I was wondering, Prince Keith… if you wouldn't' mind that is." Stopping her speech for a moment she drew a deep breath as the prince patiently waited. "I was wondering if it would be all right for me to contact Nanny Hilda." Seeing the look of irritation pass across the prince's face, she hurriedly continued, "It's just that Nanny ran the kitchens in the past and she would know best how to get them back into tip top shape."Maria finished in a rush and looked apprehensively at the prince.
Keith scowled for a moment and then saw that he was scaring the cook. "It's okay, Maria, I don't mind you asking. I will think on the suggestion." Then with a smile that relaxed the cook, he added, "Now, I'm looking forward to sampling that food."
Stepping to the side, Maria quickly said, "Of course, Prince Keith. Please let me know if there is anything special you would like to have in the upcoming days. We're in the process of filling the larder and refrigerator."
"I will," Keith called over his shoulder as he picked up a plate.
Coran was right behind him in the line. "Are you really considering allowing Nanny Hilda to come back?"
Keith let out an unroyal-like groan and leaned his head back as he held tightly to the plate. Before he had a chance to answer, a comment came from behind them.
"A nanny huh? The battle-ax kind or the voluptuous kind?" Lance smirked at the two diners in front of him. For a moment Keith shot him a glare and Lance wondered if he'd put his foot in his mouth yet again. But then the prince answered and relief washed over him.
"Definitely battle-ax." Keith responded with a smile as he reached over to scoop a huge portion of mashed potatoes on his plate.
Stiffening between the men, Coran said, "Your Highness, you know that Nanny Hilda only had your best interests at heart. She was truly a gifted teacher and housekeeper."
Laughing as he continued to place food upon his plate, the prince said, "Well, Coran, you never had to study under her and if I remember correctly, you received a piece of her mind on more than one occasion."
"Really?" Lance asked.
Coran cleared his throat and said, "This isn't about me but what is best for the castle."
Turning to point a spoon dripping with some kind of jellied fruit at his mentor, Keith said, "I said I'd consider it. But I'm telling you, IF I allow it, I won't have her running my life and schedule."
"Of course, my Prince."
"She won't tell me who I can be friends with."
"Certainly not." Coran answered again.
"She won't make me wear those horrible traditional court clothes."
"But, Keith-"Coran broke off that sentence at the thunderous look on the prince's face.
"And I won't have her badgering me about getting married."
Conversation around them was almost non-existent around them as most of the group heard his comments. Keith shot them all a look as he finished putting food on his plate. He dared a quick glance at Coran and saw that he was smiling. Of course he would be smiling, he hadn't had to listen to Nanny tell him from the age of seven about his duty to marry a princess or member of a royal house. It had been ridiculous to the pre-teen boy and he was still not in the mood to hear it at age twenty.
Lance followed Keith and sat beside him. Keith only gave him a quick glance before digging into his food. But the lieutenant was undeterred by the prince's silence and his commander's glare. "I'm with you, Prince, we're too young to be married and tied down." The cheeky pilot glanced over to his female teammate who acted like she wasn't listening but obviously was. "I mean, why get married to a stuffy royal when there are plenty of girls around to date and be with? Some of them are even pilots."
Allura could have killed Lance with a look. Unfortunately, her look did not cause bodily harm and only garnered her a wink from the man she considered her friend. Thankfully, Keith seemed oblivious to the implied option of the female pilot sitting at the table.
The prince finished chewing and said, "It's not so much that I'm against marrying a princess, it's just the pushy way that woman was about it." He shook his head so that his dark hair fell around his face. In fact, it almost looked like the young man shuddered at the thought of his former nanny. "I'm not really that interested in dating right now, too much protocol to follow." With that comment, Keith seemed to think the topic was clarified and closed.
Lance looked at Keith like he had grown a second head. Not interested in dating? Too much protocol? It's like the guy's been living in a cave- Wait, the guy has been living in cave. Lance turned thoughtfully to his food. If he could avoid putting his foot in his mouth, perhaps he and the prince could have some fun after all.
A lively and talkative girl who said she was going to be part of the custodial staff led them off after dinner to show them their rooms. The girl, whose name was Teri, kept glancing back and forth between Sven and Lance as she talked. Allura just shook her head at the obvious infatuation the girl had.
Hunk leaned in to Allura and said, "I really don't know how you escaped their charm. The two of them draw women like bees to honey." Both laughed and Keith glanced at them. The over-sized pilot noticed how Allura stared at the prince's back when he turned back around. He had also noticed her rather prominent blush as Lance had made his dating comments to the prince at dinner. Hunk didn't say anything; the female pilot would get enough ribbing by McClain as it was.
The pilots were pleased and surprised that they were each given their own private room and bath. They were used to much more Spartan conditions, being pilots. The group then followed the still chatty Teri to an elevator that took them up just one floor where the royal apartments were located.
Keith had almost been embarrassed by the size of the rooms and the opulence. To think that all of this had been buried beneath the ground for eight years was staggering. While there were basic linens and soaps for the rooms and baths, things like rugs and drapes would have to be made or purchased. Looking around his rooms, he wondered at the space. He just didn't remember his room being this big as a child. "Is there a smaller room?" Keith asked the maid.
Teri's eyes widened, "Oh no, Your Highness. This is specifically marked as the King and Queen's chambers. You should definitely stay here."
A slight blush crossed his cheeks. "Well, right now I don't have a queen and I'm not in a hurry to get one. To be sure there are smaller quarters for adult children of the reigning monarchs." Keith's tone wasn't harsh, but Teri looked as if he had slapped her across the face.
"But... Prince Keith... You are the reigning monarch and it is only fitting that you stay in these chambers. The household staff agreed upon it. Do you not like the room? Is it we did something wrong-"
Keith raised a conciliatory hand. "No. No. It's okay, Teri. These rooms will be fine." His tone was resigned and tired as he spoke but Teri didn't seem to notice it at all. "Please let the staff know how pleased I am with the room and all of your hard work today to ready this for us."
Bobbing a quick curtsey, Teri beamed with happiness as she practically bounced from the room.
As Allura watched Teri, she took note of the curtsey. Was she supposed to do that in the prince's presence? Suddenly she felt uncomfortable. She had always been more of a tree climber than a dancer and the thought of doing such a move as that with ease and grace made her distinctly nervous. With a start, she realized that Sven was talking.
"Thank you once again, your Highness, for your hospitality." After he received Keith's acknowledgement, Sven continued, "Shall we make an early start of it? Talk about our plans further at breakfast and then investigate the routes to the Lions?"
It was with a warm smile that Keith agreed and the group parted ways on a much more congenial note than the day had started with. Tomorrow was truly new and fresh. As the Alliance team and Coran walked away from the royal chambers, Sven just hoped that the prince really could fly or it was going to be a hell of a mess.
Please see Author's Notes at the top if you didn't read already. I have an opportunity for you to "join" the story in a way. ;-)
