Again, I thought this chapter would leave me stuck somewhere along the side of the Writer's Highway near a block or something. Luckily, that didn't happen. Thank you to all who are reading. Leave me a comment...even if it is just to say hi and that you're enjoying the story!
I make no claims to Voltron or any WEP characters.
Chapter Seven
Keith paced in the waiting room while Doctor Gorma looked Duvessa over. It had been almost five hours since he had carried Duvessa into the infirmary and his seemingly unending patience was beginning to wear thin.
Lance and Allura sat in the chairs along one wall, Lance holding Allura's hand.
Keith grimaced, seeing the hand holding, but he hadn't been able to argue with Allura's thoughts. He'd been feeling the same way since coming back after finding Black Lion. What the two had between them had been a childhood crush, hero worship. And while Keith found it strange that it was Lance who made Allura happy, he was glad that his friends had found something special. Of course, Allura had felt better after Lance had to open his mouth and say that he thought Keith and Duvessa seemed to be heading towards coupledom. Keith had denied it, but his gut was telling him that they were probably onto something that his head was trying desperately to ignore.
Lance watched Keith pace. He grinned. He's going to pace a hole through the floor, he thought.
Allura gently bumped him with her shoulder. I'm just glad the two of you didn't fight over me.
Lance nodded, his eyes moving back to his pacing friend. I seriously thought he was going to. He was pretty upset when he first confronted me with it the other day. I think you being there for this latest discussion is what really kept it calm.
He's your friend, Lance. He would feel bad about it later, Allura stated.
Lance grinned at her. Yeah, he would, he agreed. He leaned back in the chair, resting his head on the wall. Oddly, it seemed like he gave up too easily, though.
Allura shot him a skeptical look.
Seriously, Allura, Lance stated. I am almost starting to think he kind of expected to lose you to me or something.
Allura looked back to Keith, a frown marring her angelic face as a thought came to her. He was expecting Duvessa…
Lance blinked in shock and looked down at her. You think?
Allura shrugged. He's got some telepathic ability, just like you do, Lance. It is possible.
Lance frowned, turning his thoughts back to the conversation they had had earlier.
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Keith and Lance looked warily at each other as Allura sat down on the couch.
Lance shrugged and sat down on another couch, while Keith sat on a third.
"So, I do not want the two of you to fight over me," Allura stated. She laced the fingers of her hands together in front of her and studied them intently for a moment. She looked up at the two of them. "I like to believe I am a grown woman and can make these hard decisions on my own. I know who and what I am," she stated, having seen Keith take a breath to speak. "I know I am a princess of Arus and that I have a responsibility to the people of this planet. That being said, I am also a living person who deserves to be happy in my life as well." She turned slightly to Keith and sighed heavily. "I have done a lot of thinking over the years while you were out searching for Black Lion, Keith." She looked up into his blue eyes. "I came to realize that the feelings that I had for you was a type of hero worship and a childhood crush. Don't get me wrong, you are a handsome and wonderful man and any woman should be deeply honored for your attentions, but I don't believe that you and I would last. I know for a fact that you feel honor bound to protect me, not just from danger or Doom, but also from myself. I need to know some form of freedom. I get that when I'm with Lance. I know that Lance has a reputation of being a hotheaded ladies man, but he's different when he is around me. I hope that one day you can see that."
Keith nodded. "I will do my best." He chuckled, somewhat darkly. "Oddly enough, you're saying quite a bit that I have been thinking lately, myself."
Allura smiled and nodded before she turned her attention to Lance. "But, you, Lance, need to understand that Keith is always going to hold a piece of my heart. Having had a crush on him for so long, it is impossible for him not to. I am still going to hold him in high esteem and as a close friend."
Lance nodded. "I understand that, Allura." He looked at Keith, who was staring at him, a slightly menacing look on his face. "You wanted to say something, too?" he asked.
Keith frowned, but nodded. "I've taken my oath seriously to protect her and keep her safe, Lance. While I'm still not sure you are the right man for her and Arus, I'm going to stand aside for you. But, you'd better do your best to keep her safe and not break her heart."
Lance heard the underlying threat in his voice. You hurt her and I'll kill you. Lance nodded. Hell, I'd probably kill myself first if I hurt her. Not that I'd enjoy doing that… "I don't plan on hurting her ever, Keith." He nodded. "Arus has become home to all of us. I want what is best for the planet, too." He grinned. "Of course, you could just admit that you feel something for Duvessa. It seems that the two of you would be good for each other."
Allura blinked and looked between Lance and Keith. "Really?" she asked as a smile blossomed on her face. "Oh, that would be sweet!"
Keith grimaced as Allura's Voltcom rang and Daniel's voice broke the silence.
"Princess Allura, Duvessa has passed out here in the Main Hall just outside the Control Room," Daniel stated.
Allura blinked in shock as she looked down at her Voltcom. "I'm on my way," she answered and got to her feet.
Keith and Lance were already sprinting out the door and Allura ran to catch up.
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Doctor Gorma finally walked out of the room, a chart in his hands and he headed over towards the waiting trio.
Allura got to her feet, Lance shadowing her movement and Keith stopped pacing to face the newcomer. "Is she alright, Doctor?" Allura asked, concern shining brightly in her blue eyes.
Gorma nodded and sighed. "She seems to be. All of her test results came back normal," he stated. "However, her CAT scan is vastly different than the one that was taken right after she came out of cryostasis."
"Is that good news or bad, Doc?" Lance asked.
"She has more brain activity," Gorma answered looking at the three. "Which considering she is Arusian royalty, shouldn't be all that much of a surprise. What does surprise me is the fact that she hadn't had this much activity before."
Keith and Lance looked to Allura, hoping she had an explanation.
Allura shook her head. "I don't know," she murmured. "Perhaps her telepathy is kicking in? She was only ever able to communicate with the Lions, never any people."
"Is she awake?" Keith asked, his voice soft as he turned back to face Gorma.
Doctor Gorma shook his head. "Not yet," he answered. "And I'm not sure why. With this much brain activity, unless she is having a seizure, she should be awake, but she's not."
"Can we see her?" Allura asked.
Gorma nodded. "She's in room six," he stated and walked off to his office.
Lance clapped a hand on Keith's shoulder. "Let's go, buddy," he stated.
Keith glared at Lance, but followed after Allura as she disappeared into Duvessa's room.
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Why can't I wake up? Duvessa wondered silently. This is getting to be annoying! I want to wake up! Come on, brain, wake up!
Relax for a few moments. You don't want to not talk to me. You need to learn to trust someone with your thoughts, came a familiar voice into her thoughts.
Duvessa paused. Alec? Duvessa asked.
Yes, Duvessa, it is me, came Alec's voice in her mind.
What is happening? I don't understand what is happening to me.
Your telepathy is maturing. You are within your time now. It is strange to actually be talking to you this way considering you never were able to before.
Duvessa paused. You're dead, you know that, right?
Alec laughed. I know, sister. However, since no one else was willing to come and tell you that you have not lost your senses, I came to tell you.
Who should I trust?
Whomever you will, Vessa. Just make sure he's worthy of you and the crown you wear.
What? I'm not wearing any crown!
The man you dreamed of who is now a reality. Ensure he is worthy of you. I must go. Wake!
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Keith stopped at the foot of Duvessa's bed, staring down at her as Lance and Allura stopped beside the bed.
Duvessa gasped as she sat upright in bed, her eyes shooting open and the first person she saw was Keith. It's about damn time I woke up! Where the hell am I? Where the hell did you all come from? Where are the cadets? How did I get here?
Keith winced and grabbed his head with both hands. "Stop!" he yelled. He stared at her, pain in his blue eyes. He lowered one hand, holding it out to her to stop her tirade in his head. "Calm down! You're safe in the infirmary. We just walked in after letting Gorma check you over, the cadets are fine somewhere else in the Castle and I carried you down here."
Allura and Lance jumped at Keith's outburst. "Keith? What are you yelling for?" Allura asked, dropping her hand on his shoulder.
Duvessa had gone pale, staring at Keith. "Oh, Gods. Did I just… Did you hear…"
"Yeah, you don't need to yell," Keith answered, nodding his head, one hand still pressed to his temple. "I heard you just fine."
Allura looked between the two and knew what it was. "Duvessa, your telepathy?"
Duvessa looked at Allura and nodded. "I had a memory unlock that I didn't know was hidden from me," she whispered. "I was a child out of time. Once I entered the time I was destined for, my telepathy would unlock, as would that memory." She swallowed hard and looked back at Keith. She swallowed, thinking the rest of the conversation with her great grandmother was better left unsaid at the moment. She looked back to Allura and Lance. "I'm sorry," she whispered. She drew her knees up, wrapped her arms around them and laid her head down.
Allura shook her head and pushed past Keith, sliding an arm around Duvessa as she perched on the edge of the bed beside her. "It's alright, Duvessa. Are you feeling alright?"
Duvessa slowly shook her head without lifting it. "I am…very unnerved, Allura. It is so new to me."
"Freaked out is more like it," Lance muttered, shaking his head.
Duvessa looked up at him, tears sliding down her cheeks. "Is that the slang for this?"
Lance nodded and grinned at her. "Yeah, pretty much. And believe me it's not easy to get used to."
Duvessa nodded and looked back to her knees before she looked over at Keith. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize I would be screaming into anyone's mind when I woke up."
Keith nodded. "Why would your telepathy begin to work now?" he asked.
Duvessa frowned and looked at Allura, somehow knowing she would understand. "A Seer came to the Castle years ago. Told my great grandmother, my grandfather and my father that I was a child out of time. I had the ability, but because the time I was living in wasn't where I was supposed to be, my power wasn't working or blocked or whatever you want to call it," she answered. "She said I would dream of the time I was supposed to be in," she murmured, her eyes shooting to Keith. She nervously licked her lips and looked back to Allura. "It would be a time after Arus had been brought low and later restored, but battles would still be fought."
Something tells me you left out a part of that, Keith murmured in her mind, his keen blue eyes locked on her.
Duvessa's shocked blue eyes flew to him. "You have the ability, too?" she whispered.
Allura looked over at Keith and back to Duvessa. "Earthlings can develop the trait as can other Arusians. Some are born with it," she stated.
Duvessa nodded at what Allura said, but her gaze was fixed on Keith. Yes, I did. Would you feel all that comfortable if I told them that I was to dream of you five hundred years ago? And that the Seer said I was to marry the man I dreamed of?
Keith blinked, surprise registering on his face. He reached out and grabbed the edge of the bed. "What?"
Duvessa looked away from him, turning her attention back to Allura. "I think I'm starting to get a headache," she whispered.
Allura shot Keith a puzzled look before she looked back to Duvessa. She nodded. "Alright. You should rest if your head is starting to hurt."
"Can I go back to my quarters?" Duvessa asked. "I'd like to be comfortable, if possible."
Lance nodded. "I'll go find Gorma, see if he's ok with that," he stated and walked out of the room.
"Thank you, Lance," Duvessa and Allura said in perfect sync. They looked at each other and smiled.
Keith stood at the foot of the bed, staring at the two women. He shook his head. "It's good to know you're alright, Duvessa."
She looked up at him, seeing he was conflicted, it shone brightly in his eyes. I'm sorry, Keith. I didn't want to say anything, but you asked. I'm not one to lie about things.
Keith nodded slightly. I appreciate the truth, he stated.
Doctor Gorma and Lance walked back into the room. "Alright, your highness," he stated and pulled a pen light out of his pocket. He shined the light into Duvessa's eyes, checking her pupil reaction.
"Ouch," Duvessa whispered as the light made her head hurt even more.
"Sorry, but standard test," Gorma answered. He checked her pulse, nodding when he was done. He made a couple of notes on the chart and looked at her. "So, other than the headache are you feeling alright?"
She made a face and shrugged. "I am…freaked out…by the unlocking of my telepathy," she answered, looking up at him nervously.
Gorma smiled and nodded. "I can understand that," he stated. He wrote something on his chart and handed her a bottle of pills. "One of those every four hours for the pain," he stated. "I could give you a sedative for the anxiety, but you did just wake up from having been unconscious…"
Duvessa shook her head. "No," she agreed. "I'd rather not be too out of it. Gods only know what my brain would do if I was medicated."
Lance chuckled and Allura blushed, earning a dark look from Keith.
Duvessa looked up at Lance, a puzzled look on her face. "I hope what we missed was worth it?"
Allura cleared her throat and composed her facial features to hide her embarassment. "You knew he said something."
Duvessa nodded. "I could feel it. Couldn't hear it, but I could feel it," she answered.
Allura nodded and looked over at Lance. You really need to behave, Lance.
Lance shot her a look of pure innocence and Allura rolled her eyes.
Gorma arched an eyebrow at the young people in the room as he signed his name to a slip of paper. He handed it to Duvessa. "If your headache worsens, come back here and we'll do what we can," he stated. He looked to Allura. "Princess, if you would be so kind to make sure she gets to her room and to bed?"
Allura nodded and smiled. "I will," she assured him. She got to her feet and turned to Duvessa. "Ok. Let's go."
Duvessa smiled and swung her legs off the bed. When she looked up, Keith was standing in front of her, offering her his hand. She blushed and slid her hand into his.
From the doorway, Lance grinned down at Allura. Yeah, I think he was expecting her.
Allura smiled as Keith and Duvessa followed them out of the infirmary and into the hallway.
