Disclaimer: I do not own Voltron, WEP does. How sad for me...

Beta: Dawn... whose name pops up a lot in this chapter... although not as a name. ;-D

Rating/Setting: Rating is T. Setting is DotU in looks and flavor... but it is heading AU at a fast clip now, but not really out OCC... just different. Hope you continue to enjoy the ride.

Chapter Eleven

The remaining days went as normally as they could for those that knew of the possible challenge. Things couldn't be completely normal with that dark cloud hanging over them. In preparation, the members of the Voltron Force were spending time helping Keith train with some very old-fashioned weapons and making plans for assassinating Lotor if Keith didn't win.

So when the day before the solstice arrived, they were almost glad.

Almost.

In mid-afternoon, Lotor's jet arrived with a swarm of Drule fighters. Keith and Hunk were out in their Lions patrolling. The hope had been that they would be able to shoot Lotor out of the sky before he could land and issue his challenge. The small fighter was maneuverable, and whether Keith wanted to admit it or not, Lotor was a pretty good pilot. While the fighters couldn't take down the Lions, they threw them off and distracted them enough that Lotor was able to land.

Quickly jumping out of the ship, Lotor used a portable com unit to hail the castle. Not even waiting for their acknowledgement, he began speaking, "I am claiming the Right of Challenge as a member of Arusian nobility. I demand that Princess Allura acknowledge my claim."

Inwardly seething, Allura moved forward in Castle Control to hit the button that would allow her to speak to him. "I, Princess Allura, acknowledge your claim. Call off your fighters and leave. Return to the castle bridge tomorrow morning just before sunrise. I will be waiting."

"Tomorrow, Allura. Tomorrow, you will finally be mine."

The confidence and smugness of his voice grated on her nerves. "I seriously doubt that. I will see you at sunrise. Now leave my planet." With a grunt, she hit the button ending the conversation. "Recall the Lions, Coran." Turning on her heel, she left the room saying, "Don't follow me. I need some time."

When Keith and Hunk returned to control, Keith asked as he looked around, "Where's Princess?"

Coran sighed as he said, "She left the room and asked us not to follow her. She said she needed some time."

Keith understood. Calculating the time in his head, he knew that they would meet Lotor on the bridge in less than fourteen hours. Looking at the group he directed, "Give her space, the next day and a half is going to be hard on everyone." Nodding to Coran, he left the room and no one followed. He knew that they understood that he needed a little space right now himself. They would have been surprised to learn that he was headed for the kitchen and Nanny.

Upon arriving at his destination, he quietly slipped through the staging areas to her office. Stepping inside, he found her waiting. Coran had already called her and notified her that the Challenge had been invoked, so she knew he would come to visit her. "She has asked to be alone, but I think it would be good if you went to find her before too long."

"What about you, Keith?" Concern was evident in her voice.

"I've been mentally preparing for this for two months, Gretchen. I'm fine." Tilting his head to the side, he smiled ruefully and said, "I do have a favor to ask."

Coming over to take his hands in hers, she fervently said, "Name it, Commander."

"Make me dinner?" He was rewarded by a look of surprise and then irritation, flinching only slightly when she hit him in the arm.

"Are you joking, Keith? This will not be some 'last meal' that you boys joke about before battle. You will have plenty of meals to eat in the future!"

Seeing his little attempt at humor had gone wrong, he tried to rectify it. "Sorry, Nanny. But I wasn't completely joking. I want to spend tonight alone so I'd like to take a light meal with me."

"Where are you going?"

"Oh, just to sit with Black and think."

Shaking a finger in his face, she adamantly said, "Don't be thinking morbid thoughts out there, young man." Seeing him nod, she put her hands down and said, "I'll fix you something. Come to the kitchen thirty minutes before dinner. I'll make your excuses to the team."

He gave her a simple, "Thanks," and left the room.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

That evening, he sat on Black's pedestal between the paws of the great beast. The wind blew through his hair as he watched the sun set across the mountains in the distance. Reaching down, he picked up part of the sandwich that Nanny had sent him and took a bite. It was his favorite. He'd eat it because he needed to, although eating was the furthest thing from his mind right now. He was so lost in thought, he didn't hear the access hatch open, nor see the slight figure that had joined him on the perch.

Allura watched him. He was sitting propped against the Lion's paw and facing the setting sun. Her heart soared and then plummeted seeing him there, silhouetted against the light. He had changed out of his red flight suit and was wearing some clothes she hadn't seen before. She walked toward him, and when she said his name, he started. He must have really been lost in thought not to have sensed her presence.

Turning to her briefly, he nodded and then looked back at the sunset. "Did Gretchen tell you I was here?"

"Yes. She said you wanted to be alone, but she thought I should come find you."

"Hmmm."

She walked over and sat beside him, taking in that he had only eaten about half of his meal. "I told everyone I wanted to be alone, yet you sent her to find me." Even though he didn't look away from the sunset, she saw that he was smiling.

"Touché."

The last of the sun's rays slipped below the horizon. Once they were gone, Keith turned back to her and offered part of his sandwich.

Shaking her head, she replied, "I've eaten as much as I can. I'm sure you know that I'm not very hungry." Looking at his meal that was still waiting, she continued, "I also don't have to fight anyone tomorrow. You should finish the meal, Keith."

Sighing, he looked down at it. "I plan on staying out here awhile. There's no way I'm going to sleep. I figure I'll just take a bite here and there. But don't worry, I'll eat it all. Gretchen would be irritated at me if I didn't eat." Out of the corner of his eye, he caught her strange look and smiled at her. "What? Does hearing me call her 'Gretchen' freak you out like it does Lance?"

"No, of course not." Allura hurriedly said, but then she smiled. "Well, okay, maybe just a little. While this transformation may have occurred for the two of you over several weeks, it's been thrown at us in the matter of a few days. It's a bit disconcerting." Not wanting him to misunderstand, she quickly added, "Not that it's a bad thing… it's just really… different."

He flashed a dazzling smile and his eyes twinkled, "If you want disconcerting, you should see her hug me."

For a moment Allura's face went blank, and then she erupted into laughter.

Still smiling, Keith said, "I'm glad to hear you laugh. I want us to go into the dawn tomorrow feeling on top, because that's where I want us to come out."

Wiping the tears of laughter from her eyes, the princess allowed a serious expression to return to her countenance. "I know. I won't let Lotor see fear or lack of confidence from me. I believe you are going to win, don't ever doubt that. I guess I'm just worried that he will use something underhanded during the challenge. Something you won't expect and that he will…that you will… oh, I don't know-"

Breaking in, he softly said, "I know. You don't have to say it. And I know Lotor. I will be looking for moves a cheater and liar would make. I won't be fooled by him."

Deciding she wanted to get off of this topic, she reached out and touched the black fabric of his pants. "I haven't seen you wear these clothes before. Are they new?"

"Yes, I ordered them about a month ago. They are lightweight and move easily, and the shirt is more fitted so that the material will not be easy for him to grab." Ordering the clothes was one of the first things he thought of. His Voltron uniform would have also worked, but he didn't want Allura associating the challenge with Voltron or whoever might take his place if he didn't come back.

"I'm surprised it's not red."

Chuckling, Keith replied, "Well, aside from liking to wear red, black is my favorite color." A low purr could be heard from above them, and the couple glanced up with a smile toward the Lion's head.

"It's looks good on you." Her reply was soft and her hand moved to his bare arm and up onto the fabric of the sleeve. She heard him catch his breath as her fingers splayed out across his chest. Reaching up he stilled her hand, but she could feel the rapid beat of his heart as she looked into his dark eyes.

"I think you should return to the castle now, Allura." He didn't want her to go, but he needed her to go. He couldn't allow passion to intrude and cloud his judgment. A clear head was what he needed, even now with hours to go. He saw the hurt on her face. Damn it, he couldn't let her go like that. Pulling her over into his lap, he gave into his passion for one long, languid kiss. When he pulled back, the look of hurt was gone from her face. "This is what I would love to spend the night doing, but I can't… I need to be prepared mentally for the dawn." His voice dropped to a whisper. "You completely fill up my senses and my thoughts; that is the only reason I need you to leave."

She caressed his face and sighed. "Now I understand." Standing up, she reached a hand down to assist him up. Before letting his hand drop, she gave it a squeeze and said, "I'll see you at dawn."

Leaning against Black's cold metal leg, he watched her leave. Once she was gone, he returned his gaze to the rolling hills that were now bathed in dark shadows due to the waning moon as his thoughts turned to combat strategy and the trial that was before him.