Author's Note: The reference to Eimear, Aiden, and the Lindsey's all relate back to chapter 29 of 'A Knight's Journey'. Detailed information on Monk can be found in chapter18 of the same story. If I feel it is warranted to the current story, I provide information on where certain parts of the 'back story' can be found. It is not necessary to read it, but some people like to know who all the players are. The vodka in question is Ciroc! Thanks to KathDMD for introducing me to it.
Tea Cakes & Treason
Keith was in his office late morning of Sven leaving, drinking coffee, and waiting for his first visitor. He was also trying to figure out why he had been given the task that he had. It had been Allura's idea, which had come about because of the talks Lance and Allura had had with Sven. Keith had understood them needing his permission for Daniel's involvement, but didn't know how that turned into him overseeing the matter.
His thoughts were interrupted as his door opened with no warning, and Lance walked into the room with his usual swagger. "Good morning fearless leader!" He announced with a pleased smile, setting down his coffee cup, before he stepped aside to let one of the castle staff enter the room with a covered tray. Keith saw Lance looking around the room, before he walked over to the small table in the corner of the room.
"Honestly, you really need a bigger office, and I think you need to get Larmina to do some decorating here." Lance announced, as he moved the table closer to the desk, along with the side chairs that had been next to it. Once he was done, he indicated for the man to set the tray on the table, saying thanks as he left.
"I would get upset with you about entering my office without knocking, but it has never had any effect before. I do think that rearranging my furniture is a bit much; I like my office as it is. And why do we need a tray of food?" Keith lectured him in a stern voice, knowing that it was his doing that Lance was in his office. Once Allura had delegated the whole matter to him, he had decided to bring Lance in for moral support. Unfortunately Lance came with lots of other things as well.
"The door wasn't locked, so I don't see the point; we've talked about this before. We have also talked about your office, and its décor – or lack thereof." Lance replied as he sat down in the chair opposite the desk, angling it to face the table and chairs he had repositioned, going on "The food is for Daniel and Vince, who will be hungry, because boys are always hungry, if you remember us? Plus, the fact that you are sending him to an icebox with a maniac; well the least you can do is feed him."
Keith took exception to that statement, saying "Excuse me Lance, your wife came up with the plan, and then dumped it in my lap." His friend laughed, as he started to rearrange the items on the desk. By now Keith didn't even try to stop Lance, knowing it would be futile.
"Feeling a little aggrieved about that, huh? Keep in mind that she did deal with Bandor for you." Lance observed smoothly, as he poured oil on the troubled waters "She felt that the proposition coming from you would be better received, than coming from her. Sven is rather down on all things royal lately – actually he is rather down on everything." Keith had not looked at it from that point of view, and saw the logic in it.
"How did Bandor take the idea? Were you there?" Keith decided to change the subject, realizing that it didn't matter now. He was also rather curious as to Lance's involvement with Bandor. His friend had on more than one occasion referred to the auburn haired king as a pompous ass, but then that was before he married said ass's cousin, Keith amended in his mind.
"Yes, I was! We invited him, only him, up for cocktails and dinner last night. I poured a strong martini down his throat, and then Higgins served him dinner with lots of wine. Allie let him get nice and relaxed before she sprang the idea on him. He was all for it, being very concerned about how Sven's behavior could affect his wedding." Lance paused, and then with a rueful smiled added "He also feels rather guilty about pushing Sven and Romelle together." He had not realized until last night, when Bandor had told them, the part he'd played in getting the couple together.
Keith was sidetracked for a bit at the mention of cocktails and dinner, because he'd never been invited up to Lance and Allura's private quarters. Maybe now that he was with Eimear, and working on being friends with Allura, an invitation might eventually come his way. Lance did make good martinis, Keith knew from personal experience. He swore by this French vodka, Cir something, and it did make the martini taste very good.
"Well, I don't think Bandor should feel too guilty, we all saw how Sven looked at Romelle, and she certainly had feelings for him. I actually spoke to her at your wedding, and I think she still has some for him, but the thing with Erik will be hard to overcome." Keith observed, feeling sympathy for the young man. When he had first been crowned king he had become very impressed with himself, but Keith had now noticed that Bandor was doing better, probably because of Elena. That made him think of something else, so he mentioned it to Lance.
"Bandor seems close to his soon to be brother-in-law; do you know his opinion on the situation?" Keith had seen that Prince Fauk was every inch a royal, but the few times he'd talked to the prince the man had come across as very sharp. Keith wondered how he felt about his sister marrying into the mess that was going on. There was also the issue of the auxiliary planet bases that were going to come under alliance control because of the marriage.
"That man worries me, Keith! According to Bandor he is all supportive, and doing the whole happy family act. However, I think Fauk really wants to put the moves on Romelle and would have no problem pushing Sven off a cliff, metaphorically speaking, to do so." Lance shared his thoughts with his friend, but did not mention what Allie had told him about Romelle's reaction to her query.
Keith processed what Lance had just said, and then remembered a comment he'd overheard at the reception. "Lance, are you sure she is his type?"
His friend looked at him with interest "Fearless leader, are you listening to gossip? I am ever so impressed!" Lance in fact was almost blown away that Keith would know about Fauk. "My understanding is that the prince is shall we say equal opportunity? For all I fucking know, the guy is into horses too – he does spend a lot of time in the stable." Lance rather doubted the bestiality, since Fauk seemed pretty busy with the human species, but it raise a few points.
Keith groaned, sorry now that he had brought the subject up. Lance liked nothing better than talking about sex and it sounded like the Odeon prince's exploits could be his next favorite subject. "Lance, do you have a travel service you use on earth?" He hoped to divert his friend's mind, and he succeeded.
"Are you telling me that the ice queen has agreed to go to earth with you? Of course, after you sat up all night with her sick child, it is the least she could do. Where are you going to take her? Do you remember our talk about women liking to be wined and dined?" Lance's eyes were shining with eagerness, and for one moment Keith was tempted to switch the conversation back to Fauk. However, he needed help with the trip, and Lance was the best person to ask.
"We are going to go to Yellowstone, and then to Napa. Eimear is thinking about planting vineyards and opening a winery on one of her estates, so she wants to see some operating ones." Keith explained, and waited for Lance's reaction.
"Very nice, other than that bit about working, but after all it is you two." Lance observed, and Keith wondered what he meant by the phrase 'you two'. Before he could ask though, his friend continued on "Nice little cabin in the woods, a fire in the stone fireplace, Keith my man way to go! What about Aiden?"
"Actually his school is getting ready to go on break, and since he and Renson are such good friends, the Lindsey's invited Aiden to go with them to the country." Keith had been worried that Eimear would not want to leave her son so soon after being sick, but since the Lindsey's had invited him she felt better about it.
"You had better hope that Monk is not around, or those boys will get quite the education." Lance stopped, and thought about the scene in the vestibule at Pidge and Larmina's wedding. "Actually, it is probably too late by now!" He laughed, thinking of Keith dealing with a miniature Monk.
"I really don't want to think about that, please." Keith shook his head, before he got back to the original subject "Can you send me the name of the travel service?"
Lance brought up a holoscreen, and with a couple of quick touches announced "Done! Oh, do you need the name of my jeweler too? Tiffany is really the way to go, but Pidge likes Garrard better." He made an mmm sound "It's pretty incredible to think of how far Pidge has come! His first apartment on earth only had a bed, sofa, bar, and the largest fucking game and sound system we'd ever seen."
Keith didn't realize at first what Lance was talking about, until he figured out that it was during the period he was on the lam. It reminded him that all of his friends had five years they had shared together that he would never be part it. "I'll give the travel service a call, and leave it at that for now." He told Lance, not wanting to dwell on those five years, or where his relationship with Eimear might go.
There was a chime at the door, and Keith pressed a button on his desk which slid the door open. The cadets stood there, Daniel with a little less bravado than what he usually displayed. Keith and Lance both noticed it, and they wondered if Daniel was having second thoughts. In Keith's mind, the boy should be having third and forth thoughts! He was also starting to regret going along with Allura and Lance's plan, as he realized that at the end of the day it would be his head on a platter if something happened to Daniel.
That brought his mind back to where it was before Lance came in, who he pointedly looked at while speaking to Daniel and Vince "Hello boys, thank you for knocking. It is such a lost art." Lance's face took on a 'who me' look, and Keith wondered why he even bothered.
"Daniel, Vince, come sit down and eat!" Lance said heartedly, as he indicated the table and chairs. Vince regarded elaborate display of sandwiches, and tea cakes with interest, thinking to Daniel 'boy, talk about fattening the sacrificial calf'.
"Actually, I'm not very hungry." Daniel announced, thinking about the cold ball of fear in his stomach. Lance was all set to comment about how he would be after the treatment, kept his mouth shut, remembering that Keith didn't know what the hybrid herb was.
"Daniel, you are under no obligation to do this, please understand. Nothing has been said to Sven yet, and if you don't want to participate we will all understand." Keith stated very vehemently, his gut making him want to order the boy not to do it. Only the comment about the death sentence kept him quiet.
"Thank you Keith, but I want to give it a try. If Pidge and Vince don't find a cure, I really have no life ahead of me." Daniel replied simply, wishing there was another alternative. Or least that he could smoke pot with the admiral's daughters instead of the haggerium infected manic with marital problems. Only the thought that he could end up exactly like Sven pushed him forward.
The next ten minutes were spent going over the safety protocols, including the stun gun that Daniel was going to take with him. Vince had done his best to adjust the settings, taking the haggerium into account, but the element was so unstable that he was forced to admit that it was a ! #$% if it would work or not.
Keith was still getting used to all the changes in Vince, after his stay at the Arusian military academy, and had to privately admire his proficiency with swear words. Only Lance could probably swear better, other than Pidge, but that was just because the Green Lion pilot knew more languages.
"Now that we are done with safety, I need to talk to you boys about matters that could come up while Daniel is on Crydor." Keith stopped, wanting to make sure that he had everyone's attention, including Lance. His friend might be the prince consort, but Keith was still the GA representative for the Voltron Force.
"What I am about to tell you is very high level knowledge, and not to be shared outside of this room; is that clear?" Keith's voice had raised an octave, catching everyone's attention.
"When Sven took Erik from Pollux, he didn't kidnap his son!" Keith disclosed and they all looked at him bafflement. He carefully counted his breath for five seconds, wanting as much impact as possible. Daniel and Vince had to understand what was at stake. Keith really wasn't concerned about Lance because his friend at the end of the day was married to the cousin of the King of Pollux.
"He kidnapped the Crown Prince of an Alliance planet." He had been perplexed that Allura had not touched on what he was about to, but decided that maybe she didn't get the memos that he did.
"Until Bandor has a son, Erik is the next in line for the throne. Sven's action is considered a treasonable offense under the Galaxy Alliance." Keith definitely had their attention now "There is also the matter that he was negotiating with Lotor and Maahox to give them the Blue Lion. Lotor and Maahox are sworn enemies of the Alliance, and both have prices on their heads. Sven's consorting with them is another treasonable offense under the GA."
"Keith, what does that have to do with the boys? Bandor already dealt with the GA authorities, and received permission to handle it as family matter, provided Sven stayed out of trouble." Lance interjected and Keith's eyes widened as he heard what his friend had just said. Obviously he saw that Allura had known about the GA's actions, and had told Lance. It made him aware that that his friend had access as good as his, maybe even better.
'Why does Keith look surprised at what Lance said? He was just telling us?' Vince thought to Daniel, who mentally smirked in Vince's brain 'Keith thought only he knew about the GA and Sven, and is shocked that Lance does also. You heard Keith's comment that this was high level information, not something Lance should know'. Vince digested Daniel's remarks and then thought back 'Well, but Lance is married to the Queen of Arus! He probably knows more high level stuff than Keith does'. Daniel flashed one word in Vince's brain 'BINGO'! Vince now understood Keith's reaction.
"Lance is right, Bandor dealt with the GA authorities, to protect Romelle, who at the time was being treated for depression. However, the GA has not forgotten what Sven did, and still has the arrest warrant drawn up." Keith continued on, setting aside thoughts of Lance "Daniel, while Sven is behaving himself now, he is not considered trustworthy, especially in his mental state. If you see any evidence, and I mean even one tiny crumb, that he has been in contact with Lotor and Maahox, or that they have been in contact with him, you to get out of there as fast as you can."
"Keith, do you really think Sven would risk everything, again?" Daniel asked with trepidation, thoughts of Lotor looming large in his brain.
"Sven is a desperate man, who is on the verge of losing his wife and son. Desperate men are dangerous anyway, and with the haggerium infection, he is even more dangerous." Keith replied, and then after taking a deep breath "There is one more thing you need to be aware of." Daniel was almost afraid of what was coming next, but he gave Keith his full regard.
"If, at some point, the GA decides to bring Sven to trial, you could be called to testify because of the time you are going to be spending with him. I know that you boys have not been commissioned yet, but when you entered the academy you sore allegiance to the Alliance. It will be your duty to testify if called to do so." Keith sat back, and waited for the full impact to set in.
Lance had seen the surprised look on Keith's face when he had made his comment about Bandor dealing with the GA officials. It no doubt brought home to Keith the position that Lance had now, with Arus and the GA. Their friendship was slowly starting to get back on track, and he hoped that this wouldn't come between them. Lance was also having serious second thoughts about Allie's plan, as he listened to Keith. When she had suggested it, the premise had seemed simple, but he could see the flaws and dangers. There was also the fact that they were meddling in one of Pidge's experiments.
"Boys, everything Keith has told you is true, and if you don't want to do this, please say so now. When we came up with the idea, all the ramifications had not been thought out. Allura, Keith, and I will all understand if you want to turn it down." Lance's voice had urgency in it, and Keith gave him a sharp look. He was sure now that Allura had been the main instigator, and Lance had gone along either to keep her happy, or because of guilt. Neither one had really thought about the dangers involved.
'Dude, I think you need to listen what they are saying! This is not the only way to go, Daniel. When Pidge gets back you can ask him to let you do the treatments' Vince thought in his friend's brain. Daniel was touched, and worried, that Vince was scared for him. The course though was clear; he had grown up reading up the brave exploits of the Voltron team.
"Keith, thank you for telling me everything and I am aware of the risks involved in going forward. However, I am not changing my mind, I want to do this." Daniel declared with conviction, which made Keith and Lance look at each other with resignation.
"Let me get Sven in here, so we can tell him all about this grand plan." Keith replied with sarcasm, looking directly at Lance.
