Chapter 10
"Lissa!" Robin called out as he snapped back to consciousness, and sat up. He resisted the firm but gentle hands that tried to push him back down.
"Athani, Gentha'fa. Shu vat serena, e pe vat que shu."
The sound of Starfire's voice, along with a wave of dizziness, had its effect, and Robin leaned back against his pillows. The fact that Starfire had spoken in Tamaranean, telling him he was safe, and that she was with him, told him that he was in the medical section of the VELERATHON. "Lissa, where is she? We were attacked. There were other warriors coming."
"She is safe, Robin," Starfire replied. "That was Ryma and some other Shavari warriors who are loyal to Kayliss."
Whatever else she was going to say was cut off as the door sighed open and Kayliss entered with her parents.
"I am relieved to see you apparently vell," Kayliss said.
Robin nodded, "I've been told that Lissa is alright, but I would like to see that for myself, and to thank her for taking out that last warrior."
"I assure you she is unharmed and will probably stop in to see you later," Feytirnara said.
Robin wasn't to be dissuaded. "Kayliss, I know I have no right to ask, but as a member of your personal guard, I request to see her as a personal favor."
Kayliss looked over at her parents for a moment, getting a shrug from both of them. "But you do have the right," she said. "In defending her you defended me," she explained. 'In more vays then you realize,' she thought.
"Which doesn't grant me any special privileges," Robin said. "As a member of your guard, that's my job."
Robin saw the amused look on Feytirnara and Fatessanara's faces as the discussion went back and forth.
"I believe you can show him, daughter. I know of many who, finding you to be in their debt, vould use that to their advantage, vile this varrior simply says that he vas doing his job." Feytirnara said with a chuckle. "You have chosen vell."
"Chosen?" Starfire asked, a sudden knot forming in her stomachs. "And what is it she must show him?"
"I can show him how I know Lissa to be safe and well," Kayliss said as she reached up and unhooked one side of her veil. "Because she is me."
"Lissa?" Robin gasped, recognizing her face, and Lissa had used a higher pitched voice for her last sentence.
Lissa nodded. "For many years, I have enjoyed the freedom of removing my veil and calling myself Lissa. It lets me move among my people vithout the burden of being the Princess."
Starfire swallowed nervously. "So this choosing is your taking Robin into your personal guard?" she asked, hoping against hope.
"Vile it is true that I have done that, I have also taken my parents advice and looked among the Tamaranean Varriors here," Kayliss explained. "Of them all, I have chosen Robin to be my husband."
There was a moment of stunned silence, and Starfire opened her mouth to speak. "Kayliss, there is something I must. . ." she began, but cut off when Galfore leaned over and whispered into her ear. Robin saw her blink a few times, then look over at Galfore.
The big Tamaranean simply looked back at her, with his arms crossed over his chest, then nodded slightly.
Starfire looked back at Robin, then swallowed, in what Robin recognized as her way of steadying herself to do something she didn't want to. "I am certain that, as a Warrior of Tamaran, Robin will be honored to become your husband."
Robin almost argued, but realized that Starfire had put it in that way to tell him it was something he might be required to do as a warrior, and might affect the treaty negotiations.
"Excellent," Feytirnara said. "The ven casechu, or getting acquainted, shall begin at once."
"I vould like some privacy to discuss some things vith my betrothed," Kayliss said.
"As there are some things I wish to discuss with Galfore."
Robin was certain that Kayliss didn't miss the glare that Starfire gave Galfore, but he couldn't wonder over their conversation, as Kayliss cleared her throat to get his attention.
"Robin, I vish to apologize to you."
"For what, your Highness? For deceiving me in thinking that you were two different people? I'm not used to being in a relationship where either side lies to the other," he shot back. "By the way, how did you manage that little trick the night of the thunderstorm? I put you, as Lissa, on a cot, while you were asleep, but Kayliss came out from behind the partition in the room and talk with me."
"That vas Mori, another of my handmaidens," Kayliss replied. "If I get into a situation vere it is necessary for me to be in two places at once, she stands in for me as the Princess." She moved over to stand beside Robin's bed and put her hand on his shoulder. "It vas not my intention to trick or deceive you. Over this last veek, I had not realized that my feelings for you vere as strong as they are. It vas seeing you in danger of being killed, and how you struggled to keep protecting me, even ven you physically vere not able to that made me realize that I feel for you vhat I have for no other." She looked down at the floor. "I hope that you vill be able to forgive me for not revealing myself to you earlier." Kayliss sighed softly, "I am avare that this is a marriage of State, and as such it is not required that we love or even care for each other. I can only hope that you come to feel for me vaht I do for you."
Galfore had cautioned Starfire against speaking until they were aboard their shuttle and on their way back to the LUAND'R.
"What is it you want to know, My Lady?"
Starfire looked at her old caretaker as if he had lost his mind. "Do I really need to ask? Are you that unfeeling or uncaring of me?"
Galfore looked calmly at her. "This is nothing that concerns you. It is a matter that is for the best interests of Tamaran."
"Robin is my husband, the father of my child. His being married to Kayliss is something that very much concerns me. Did you know that this would happen, and why did you not tell me?"
"We knew it was a possibility, and you were not told because these negotiations must be completed for the sake of Tamaran," Galfore replied.
"Why is our alliance with Shavar so vital to Tamaran, that my marriage to Robin can be ignored?"
"In a single word: Havaridium," Nie'l said as he stepped back from the shuttles cockpit. "Our supplies have been dwindling, and it is reported that Shavar has vast quantities."
That made Starfire stop and think. Havaridium was an element that was vital to maintaining life support systems on the vessels in the fleet, and on Serac, Tamaran's one colony world that didn't have a breathable atmosphere. "There is no other way to acquire more?"
"I am sorry, Mother, but all other ways of supplying Tamaran with enough for our needs have been exhausted," Nie'l replied.
"Besides, what I whispered to you in Robin's healing room was correct," Galfore said. "You owe Kayliss a debt of honor. She saved Robin's life. How will you repay that debt?"
"I am certain that if we were to talk it over, some other arrangement could be made," Starfire replied.
"And leave Tamaran defenseless? Force us to abandon our outpost on Serac?" Galfore demanded. "I expected far better from you."
"Do not speak to me as though I am a child," Starfire snapped. "I am of age, and of the Royal Family."
"Then for X'Hal's sake, act like it, Koriand'r!" Galfore shouted. "Think of your home world for a change instead of your adopted one and do what is best for it. Be the daughter your father expected you to be, not a spoiled girl that. . ."
"That is enough, Galfore!" Kim'r interrupted from the pilot's seat. "You overstep yourself."
Glafore glared silently at Kim'r's back for a moment, then sighed heavily. "My apologies, Starfire. I sometimes do not think of the pressures that you are under. But the fact remains: Kayliss has chosen Robin for her husband; without that wedding, the negotiations will fall through, and Tamaran will not get the Havaridium it needs."
Robin looked silently at Kayliss, hearing the sadness in her voice. "It's not that I don't like you, Highness, but on Earth, a pairing usually is with the consent of both sides, not one simply saying, "I choose you". You realize that what I said in the observation lounge was right, don't you?"
"Vhat vas that?"
"That you brother is taking steps, drastic steps, to prevent you from taking the throne."
"You believe he had something to do vith the attack?"
Robin nodded, "Who all knows about your dual identity?"
Kayliss thought for a moment. "Vell, there are my handmaidens, Sharilar, Tamiquel, and Mori," she listed. "And my family."
"That's all, no one else?" Robin asked, drawing a nod from Kayliss. "Would any of your handmaidens have anything against you?"
"Absolutely not," Kayliss replied.
"And I don't think you parents would want to harm you, so that leaves your brother," Robin explained. "That Tamaranean called you theShavari slut, not a Shavari slut. He knew you were the princess, not simply Lissa, a handmaiden."
Kayliss's eyes narrowed sightly as she recalled the confrontation in the observation lounge. "Then he must answer for his treason."
"If you can find him," Robin said. "I happen to know that even with only two ships here, that with what support he probably has, Dexor will have no trouble keeping out of sight."
Kayliss sighed softly. "I fear that you are correct. Ve have been avare of a small but growing group of varriors who would rather see Dexor on the throne, not me. It is not that they feel that I can not rule vell, but that they are able to control him far more easily that the can me. I am my father's daughter; vith the exception of him and my mother, no one tells me vaht to do, or makes decisions for me."
Robin smiled softly when he saw the determination in her eyes as she spoke. "I'm glad to hear that, Kayliss. There may be hope for Shavar yet."
Kayliss looked sharply at him for a moment, then smiled softly at his teasing tone of voice. "And I believe there may yet be hope for us," she said, bending down to give him a peck on the cheek. She didn't seem to notice how he seemed to flinch from the contact. "I vill be by tomorrow, ven you are released from here," she said as she stood. "Our medical personnel vish to keep you overnight, to make certain that you have not received too bad of an injury, and they vish for you to get some rest. Koriand'r has been granted permission to come aboard to visit you, as have the others in your team."
"So you actually intend for this wedding to go through?" Starfire asked. "What of Liand'r and I?"
"The bonding between you and Rob'n is one of mutual preference, not of state, and doesn't seal any treaties," Galfore replied. "What happens between you after this wedding is between you and Kayliss."
"And if I wish to see and talk to Robin alone?"
"Coming about and returning to the VALERETHON," Kim'r announced as she turned the shuttle around. "You may call for me whenever you are ready to leave, my Lady."
"You are still not to reveal to Kayliss that you are bonded to Rob'n, or the existence of Liand'r," Galfore said sternly. "Even for you, it would be considered treason."
Cyborg sighed softly as he settled in behind the desk in the operations room. With the large groups of people in the Tower during the negotiations, he felt the need to review the security tapes more often than just in the morning.
"Alrighty then, let's see what we've got," he muttered as he started reviewing the tapes that covered the room where the talks were being held. He smiled softly when Kir'a gave Robin the message reader, knowing that Starfire had sent him a personal message. His smile faded when he saw Robin walk off with Lissa, not liking how his friends had to hide the fact that they were married. He gave a dry chuckle when he realized that his dislike of the situation was nothing compared to Robin and Starfire's. He watched the screen as the two groups took their seats at the tables. He paused the tape, and stuck his head out the door to make sure no one was nearby. Then he took out a pair of headphones and settled them on his head, and plugged them into a jack in the console.
"What's the topic today?" he muttered as he adjusted the volume. Thinking that Starfire or Robin might want a recorded version of the talks, Cyborg had placed more sensitive microphones in the room, and he was able to pick up every conversation that was had. As he listened, his expression changed from one of shocked disbelief, to outright anger at what he was hearing. He quickly fed a CD into a slot and pressed some buttons, making a recording of the session.
Robin looked up as the door to his room sighed open, and he smiled broadly when he saw Starfire enter the room. His smile faded slightly when he saw the look on her face.
"I hope you are pleased with being a royal suitor again," she snapped in Tamaranean.
"You know that I am not," Robin replied, also in Tamaranean. "How far do I have to go along with this?"
Starfire's anger bled away, seeing it wasn't Robin she was angry at, and she blew out a breath of frustration. "From what I have been told, all the way to the wedding. That must be completed in order for the negotiations to be completed. Robin, I know this is not of your choosing, but do you have any feelings for her? Could you possibly choose her over me?"
"Kori, I will not lie to you. I do like her as a friend, and in time, I might be able to develop feelings for her like I have for you."
Starfire gave a small, sad gasp. "Then you do not truly love me? You would not be able to say that if you did."
"No, Starfire, you do not understand. In order for Kayliss to have the time to have me feel like that for her, you would have to be dead, and I would have had to have gotten over your death. I love you, Starfire, and nothing is going to change that. I may like Kayliss as a friend, but that is all. No one, not even Kayliss, can take your place in my heart."
Starfire gave a small sigh of relief, and Robin also saw the longing in her eyes. "Gentha'fa, you have no idea how much I wish to hold you right now."
Robin smiled softly. "Probably as much as I want to hold you," he said. "But I believe they have security cameras set up in here, which is why we are speaking in Tamaranean."
"Yes, I have been told that there are none of the Shavari that speak it."
"Why is it I have to go through with this?" he demanded.
"As a Warrior of Tamaran, you have an obligation to obey the commands of the the Grand Ruler. I am sorry to say that he will command you to go through with this wedding, and I will no longer be your primary wife."
"But why, Kori? I do not understand."
"The Shavari evidently have vast quantities of havaridium, an element vital to our life support systems on our ships and one of our colony planets." Starfire looked away sadly. "That makes these negotiations of vital importance to Tamaran's security. They must be successfully completed at all costs."
"What of Liand'r, and us?"
Robin almost wished he hadn't asked that question as Starfire gave a half sob, half laugh. "Our daughter will know that her father is a very honorable man, even though neither of us will see him once he leaves for Shavar."
"Kori, there has to be a way for Tamaran to get the material without my having to get married to Kayliss. We will have to play along for now, but keep trying to find us a way out."
Starfire took a steadying breath. "Yes, you are correct. I will continue trying to find a way to have the talks be completed successfully without you having to wed."
"So, I take it that this means we will not be seeing each other privately?"
Robin was pleased to see a mischievous gleam in Starfire's eyes. "I still have responsibilities at the Tower, and I am certain that we will find times to meet alone."
It was a couple hours later, and Starfire had left. Robin's mind was racing much too fast for him to even consider going to sleep, so he was only mildly surprised when a black bubble formed on the floor beside his bed, and grew until it faded away to reveal Raven standing there.
"The others elected me to be the one to come here to see if you're alright," she said. She was silent for a moment as she looked what she could see of him over. "From what I can see, you look fine, but with what I'm feeling from you, I know better."
Robin looked at her for a moment. "You're looking at who will be the new Prince of Shavar. Kayliss has asked for my hand in marriage, and I am honor-bound to accept," he said bitterly.
'I know you're not happy with this, how is Starfire taking it?' Raven asked telepathically.
'Actually better than I thought. She's upset, but determined to try to find a way around it.' He thought back to her.
"Well, seeing as you're going to be fine, I'll go back and let the others know." Raven said aloud. "I know this is going to be hard, but you really should get some sleep," she added, then vanished.