I apologize for my lengthy absence. It has been a very hectic school year so far and then my muse abandoned me. No gumption to write or anything. I do thank you all for continuing to have patience with me as I make my attempt to get back into the swing of things. I do hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!

I make no claims to Voltron or any WEP characters.

Chapter Nine - Coming of Age

The doors opened and guests began cheering and clapping as Allura, Lance, Keith, Duvessa, Larmina and Daniel entered the room.

Allura led them across the room and formed a receiving line in order to greet visiting dignitaries. She nodded once they were all in position and the guests were formally announced and made their way along the line, greeting them.

Lance gently nudged Allura as they stood in the line for almost fifteen minutes greeting guests and dignitaries. He'd noticed several looks between Duvessa, Larmina, and Allura. To say his curiosity was piqued was an understatement. "So, what were those looks between you, Larmina and Duvessa?" he murmured quietly.

Allura blushed and looked up at him, surprised. "Nothing, really."

Lance shot her a disbelieving look.

She shook her head and smiled. "Duvessa is managing to keep Larmina in some semblance of line. Whispering encouraging things to her telepathically. Larmina really wants to bolt, doesn't want to be here…"

Lance grinned and nodded. "Oh. Well, damn, they're both doing good then. Nothing better than family to support each other."

Allura looked up at him, a question in her eyes just as the royal family of Sylanka was called. Allura paled and looked to Duvessa, who suddenly seemed frozen. "Don't make a scene," she whispered harshly. She stepped out of line, putting herself between them and Duvessa without even thinking. She knew she was breaking protocol, but protocol be damned. She wasn't going to have an incident happen tonight. They needed to catch whoever was involved back on Sylanka if, of course, the person responsible had come with them to Arus. And knowing Lotor like she did, she was fully expecting the guilty party to be here. She knew it was a temptation too great to resist. She held her hand out to Sylvester. "King Sylvester, it is a pleasure to meet you at last. I am Princess Allura."

"You live up to your name, Your Highness," Sylvester stated, kissing her knuckles. "It is an honor to be here."

Allura nodded. "We are happy to have you here, Your Majesty." She waved towards Keith. "I'm sure you remember Commander Keith?" She introduced the rest of the official party noting that the king was very polite and kept his own party away from them, if possible. As Sylvester and his family walked away, she nodded. He's afraid the person is within his own group, but he doesn't know who it is…

Lance looked at her. If that is the case, why the hell didn't he stay home?

Could you? she asked, looking over at him. An important peace treaty hangs in the balance and he wants to find the traitor as much as we do. I could see it in his eyes.

Lance nodded. So, it's not the king.

No, it's not. Keep your eyes open, Lance. This is going to get worse before it gets better.

Lovely. Sounds like my kind of party. Bring it on!

The evening seemed to progress without event until Larmina abruptly stopped dancing with Prince Sylvan and walked over to Allura and Duvessa where they were sitting having a quiet conversation. Larmina threw herself down into her seat next to Duvessa, grabbing a napkin, pressing it to her skin.

Duvessa turned, taking Larmina's hand in her own, pressing down on the napkin. "Are you all right?"

Larmina nodded, anger in her turquoise eyes. "I'm fine. Just wish some people knew how to dance."

Duvessa frowned and cast a puzzled look over to where the prince was standing with his parents. "He knows how to dance. I danced with him on Sylanka." She shot a worried look to Allura. "He's close to Larmina's age…"

Allura shook her head. "Larmina's glass hasn't changed color…"

Duvessa looked back to Larmina's hand and after a few moments, gasped. "We need to get Larmina to the infirmary, now."

Allura blinked. "What?"

"Now," she stated, pulling Larmina to her feet. "Trust me." She left the ball room, a puzzled Larmina in tow.

Allura frowned and looked over at Lance and Keith, who both shot puzzled looks at the departing princesses then over to her.

What is going on? Keith demanded.

Allura shook her head. She took Larmina to MedTech. Said to trust her.

Keith shot Lance a look, then followed the departing women and Lance made his way over to Allura.

Lance squatted down beside Allura. "He's going to go see what is going on. What happened?"

Allura quickly told him what transpired and he frowned. "So, she's remembered something of that night…"

Allura nodded. "Yes, and I'm afraid of why she took Larmina to MedTech."

"It will be the best place for her," Lance whispered. He looked over to where Sylvan stood with the rest of his family. "This will crush Sylvester. His own son and heir?"

"His ONLY child," Allura agreed sadly with a nod. "If he did poison Larmina, we are going to have to tread carefully, Lance."

Lance nodded as a slow song started. He stood up and held his hand out to her. "Well, we can't worry the guests. Let's dance. Keith will keep us informed."

Allura nodded, stood and took his hand. In his arms, she felt as if she was floating across the floor. He, Keith and Coran were the best dancers she had ever danced with. And she would know, she had danced with hundreds of men, none could compare. Of course, being in love with Lance, this was where she felt the safest, happiest.

Lance smiled down at her as they moved across the floor, this is where he liked to see her. Happy, carefree, lost in the song…yes, Allura was happiest here. He sighed, feeling that the song ended too soon. He bowed to her, then to the room as they made their way back to her chair. Once there, he looked to the doors and watched as an enraged Duvessa walked back into the ballroom, Keith behind her. "Uh, oh. That doesn't look good."

Allura looked and worried her bottom lip. "No, it doesn't," she agreed. She stood and waited.

It is what I thought.

Allura gasped, quickly covering her mouth with her hand, trying not to alarm anyone in the room. Drugged?

Duvessa nodded. It will go through the skin as well.

Allura felt her heart and stomach drop, feeling faint and ill at the same time. Is she all right?

Four guards are with her and she's in the infirmary, Duvessa answered with another nod.

Allura turned her worried gaze to Lance and Keith. If anyone knew what their next steps should be, it was them. "So, what do we do?"

"We detain him. Arrest him and present him to the Alliance," Keith stated, matter of factly.

Lance nodded his agreement. "They may claim diplomatic immunity."

Allura scowled. "They have to ask for it and I am in no mood to grant it," she stated, venom dripping in her voice. Her eyes moved to the Sylankan party across the room.

"What about the treaty?" Duvessa asked softly. "I don't think the king is involved."

Allura's angry green eyes flew to her distant relative. "What makes you say that?"

Duvessa explained her thoughts and reasons quickly, but quietly.

Allura listened intently, slowly nodding, agreeing with her thoughts on the subject. She frowned. "Let's take them down to the conference room. Have a couple guards waiting in the room and outside the door."

Keith and Lance called for the guards on their Voltcoms as Allura and Duvessa went over to the Sylankans and asked them to come with them to discuss the treaty.

"This is crazy, Keith. Why the heck would a member of their royal family do this?" Lance asked watching Allura and Duvessa with the Sylankans.

Keith shook his head. "Desperate people do desperate things, Lance. If it is him…" He shook his head, a dark glint entering his cobalt eyes. "Even my gut says this is what happened to us on their planet. It…justice needs to be done."

Lance studied his friend intently for a few moments, then nodded. "Then, what are we waiting for? Let's arrest us a traitorous prince." He and Keith followed the group as they left the ballroom and made their way to the conference room.

It was a tense few minutes, but after a lengthy conversation, Sylvester turned his son, Sylvan over to them and guards escorted him from the conference room. The treaty was signed and they went back to the ball.

Larmina's eyes snapped open, instant rage flowing through her system. She couldn't explain it even if she wanted to. She looked around the sterile room she was in and growled.

The nurse in the room turned to her, pasting a smile on her face. "Milady, are you feeling all right?"

Larmina sprang from the bed, punching the poor woman in the face, instantly breaking her nose, blood gushing from it like a waterfall.

The nurse fell backwards into a table, knocking it to the floor with a scream.

The guards outside the door rushed into the room thinking someone had gotten past them. They stopped just inside the door, seeing the nurse on the floor and Larmina standing beside her. "Lady Larmina, what is going on?"

Larmina slowly turned to face them, an enraged look upon her face.

The guards gasped and Larmina attacked them.

"Help!"

Doctor Gorma heard cries of pain and quickly stood from the desk where he was working on notes. He moved towards the ruckus and was startled seeing an all out brawl going on in Larmina's room. He frowned remembering the possible effects of the drug on people. "We need restraints! Restrain her! Now!" One orderly came out, their arm bent at an impossible angle. He growled. "Sedate her and restrain her!" He escorted the orderly to another room to set the break.

Larmina howled with pain as someone slammed a syringe into her leg as she clung to a guard, beating on him. Slowly, the sedative took effect.

Duvessa walked into MedTech and stared in horror at the chaos. She walked into Larmina's room as a team of aides attempted to restrain her. She watched as Larmina yelled for a moment. "Larmina?"

Larmina glared. "Let me out!"

Duvessa slowly made her way to her side. "Larmina, listen. You were drugged, do you remember?" she asked softly.

Larmina growled, but nodded.

"Ok. Good. You are here for your safety. You were given a large dose. Do you remember what happened to me with just a small amount?"

Larmina shook her head. "No. What…what did it do to you?"

Duvessa stopped beside the bed and touched Larmina's hair. "It made me black out. I don't remember anything that happened. If you were in your right state of mind, I'm sure you would be horrified at what you've been doing to these people."

Larmina collapsed into Duvessa's arms, sobbing. "Why me?"

Duvessa hugged her. "Because you're an heir to the throne of Arus. Sylanka's prince drugged you in order to kidnap you and hand you over to Lotor."

Larmina howled and clung to Duvessa. "No!"

"I'm afraid so. You're safe. He is in our custody in the brig as we speak. You need to lie down and rest, Larmina. Let the drugs get out of your system."

Larmina slowly laid back on the bed and drifted to sleep and the aides restrained her.

Duvessa left the room after a few words with the staff.

Allura looked over at Lance. "I hope Larmina is all right."

Lance looked at her and smiled. "She will be. Gorma is on duty tonight."

Allura nodded and turned her attention back to the guests.