"Madness: Spring Break
Chapter 12 Ruled by Secrecy
Repress and restrain
Steal the pressure and the pain
Wash the blood off your hands
This time she won't understand
Change in the air
And they'll hide everywhere
And no one knows who's in control
"Ruled by Secrecy" by Muse
It was a day like any other in the Castle of Lions. Keith woke up and headed to the kitchen to have his coffee, which just hadn't tasted right for weeks. Ugh! Seriously people! How hard is it to make one decent cup of coffee for Pete's sake! He made a mental note to wake up a bit earlier from now on and just make it himself. He then joined the team in the training arena for PT followed by a light breakfast. Pidge had the first watch so he was already in the control room, Hunk went to the maintenance bay to continue his work with the recent Lion upgrades, and Lance had some errands he needed to run before Sven's arrival in the early afternoon.
Taking advantage of the rare opportunity that everyone was occupied with something, Keith decided to tackle some of the paperwork piled on his desk. Easier said than done. Black's pilot had a difficult time erasing the image of Lochlan romancing Allura from his mind. He knew that as far as the princess was concerned it was just a series of innocent outings; however, he knew Liam all too well- there was no way he was just going to settle for 'friendly outings' for too long. The Voltron commander also knew that Liam was a pro in the romance department and believed that it was only a matter of time before he would sway her to his side.
My Princess. How did she always manage to infiltrate his thoughts and monopolize his meditation? The captain pondered the recent revelations into her past, insights that only served to strengthen his admiration of her; and now, with all she had been through, with all she had overcome, the princess was making quite a name for herself at the academy. She is one tough woman that's for sure.
That she was: strong, confident, powerful, determined, stubborn- definitely stubborn he thought and chuckled to himself. Could a woman like that be so easily fooled? Hell no…heck…she's probably got him eating out of the palm of her hand…yeah…that makes more sense. The thought of Allura stringing Liam along made him grin.
Keith realized that he was in no frame of mind to deal with the mounds of paperwork that sat before him. On top of his search for Lotor, he was also preoccupied with the prophecy. As he leaned on his desk and rubbed his forehead, he decided to give up on trying to get any work done and head down into the crypts instead.
The captain had avoided the late king since he received the new intelligence, worried that he would just find himself at the receiving end of another lecture. It no longer mattered- he needed to suck it up and try and learn more about the prophecy. Of course, Keith wasn't surprised to find that the Alfor's spirit was already waiting for him.
"Am I that predictable to you, Captain?" he smiled.
"No Sir…I'm just starting to get a little put off by the fact that so many people can invade my thoughts without my knowledge."
"No one is invading your thoughts, Keith. That's not how this works. You would know that if you just opened yourself up to it." he clarified. Keith crossed his arms and pursed his lips as he glared at Alfor.
The king arched a brow "Don't give me that look, Commander…I am not Allura" The response sent Keith's gaze up toward the ceiling.
Alfor blew out a puff of air "We are not reading your mind, Keith."
"Then how did you know I was coming?"
"It was more of a feeling…a sensation if you will. My soul felt a pull to the crypt along with a sense of determination. Seeing as though my daughter is on Earth, it could only have been you eliciting such a vibe." He smirked "Something similar to what you mentioned the other day, when you said that you felt Allura…and you knew that she was alright. You certainly did not 'invade' her thoughts, did you?" he challenged.
The captain threw his arms up in resignation "Your Majesty, I wouldn't even know how to..."
"Keith, please understand…we are not in the 'mind invasion' business- we can only receive what you project and vice versa. What we can do is sense emotions…empaths if you will…and use what we sense to draw conclusions. Here! I'll give you an example- based on your energy…I can sense that you are struggling with many things…none of which you are willing to share with me, of course…you are here to discuss the prophecy and the prophecy alone…" Alfor paused and tilted his head to the side "although I will interject for a moment just to say that you really do not give my daughter enough credit." Keith gave the king a humorless look and adapted his usual stance causing him to chuckle at the young man's obvious annoyance.
Alfor motioned on with his hands "Very well…go on, Captain…ask away."
"How is it that I can even do this exactly?"
"I told you, Keith. You and Allura are bonded…you are just too stubborn to accept it." he sighed.
Blacks pilot placed his hands on his hips "No…you have made it a point, on several occasions now, to mention that Arusians are the ones to have this ability…and I sure as hell am not Arusian." Keith affirmed.
The king sighed and briefly closed his eyes before looking back at Keith. "I also asked you if you were sure of that statement, didn't I?" he uttered.
Keith took a step forward and furrowed his brow. "What are you saying?"
"Think back to that recall you had about the safe house, Keith."
The captain rubbed the bridge of his nose and recalled the dream he had- closing his eyes in meditation, in an attempt to evoke the specific details and dialogue. His jaw dropped in realization as he slowly lifted his bewildered eyes toward Allura's father.
"You knew each other?" he questioned.
The King snickered. "We did not just know each other, Keith. Kenny and I grew up together, attended the academy together…hell…I was there when he met your mother."
Keith was rendered speechless. He paced back and forth in the crypt, running his hand through his hair, shaking his head in the process, trying to take it all in. "I don't understand. How is it possible? My family is from Earth." He declared and looked to Alfor for answers.
"Keith, son, your father comes from a long line of Arusian Lion Knights. Your grandfather, and his father before that, were prominent members of the Arusian court. At the time, sages who were well versed regarding the prophecy felt that your father needed to be protected. For that reason, at the age of thirteen, he was relocated to Earth and enrolled in the Alliance academy. Kenneth's records were falsified in regard to his background. The entire Kogane family relocated with him and all Arusian public records mentioning them were destroyed. This was done to protect them…to protect you." He paused. "There were only a handful of us who knew: your mother- obviously, Charles, and Graham. It wasn't our place to question the sages. Only after the events began to unfold on Arus did it all start to make sense. That was why we came to Earth- to let Kenny know that it had all begun…to warn him."
Keith made his way over to a stoop and sat down in an attempt to digest all the information he was given. As difficult as it was to comprehend on one hand, it made so much sense on the other- he had instantly developed a strong connection with Black and Arus itself. Despite the brutal war, he felt a calmness on Arus, a sense of belonging, a sense that he was…
"Home, Keith- this is your home." acknowledged Alfor.
The Voltron commander rested his arms on his thighs and interlaced his fingers as he slowly looked up at Allura's father in acceptance. "Does Coran know?"
Alfor pinched his brow and narrowed his lips. "I'm pretty sure he does- especially considering how well versed he is regarding the prophecy; however, you know Coran…he doesn't like to get involved…wants things to play out on their own. My dear friend knows all too well what happens when one tries to interfere with fate and destiny."
"I got it." Keith snickered.
Alfor looked at the young man and intensified his gaze. "Keith, I must warn you. Big changes are coming. The war is far from over and it is bound to get worse before it gets better. Do not underestimate the Dark Prince. He is much more cunning…more dangerous than he has let on. Allura must complete the competition. It will give her the confidence she needs to bring forth the new era."
"Allura is confident, you Majesty, the strongest woman I know…"
Alfor closed his eyes and gave a slight grin as he sighed through his nose. "Let me rephrase…it will solidify her inner confidence to match the stubbornness she outwardly projects. The Daughters must return in order for fate to unfold and Allura is the only missing link…the only one that has not come in to her destiny…she needs to truly believe that she is as capable as she lets on...she must learn to harness her emotions…"
Alfor began to ramble on about things that confused Keith to no end. He stood up and narrowed his eyes. "What? What are you talking about? What Daughters? I…"
"No mind…there is no time right now…You must go to Control , Commander, as your shift is about to start…"
"Oh no you don't! You can't drop all this on me and…"
Alfor raised his ghostly hand and cut him off "Be prepared, Black Knight…your world is about to change…she must complete the competition…and you must let go of your arrogance…it could be fatal to you and all those you love…" He warned as he slowly began to shimmer away.
"Wait!"
"I must go…take head, Captain…" The king's voice softly faded into the void and he was gone.
Keith stood there, motionless, completely stunned and confused. What the fuck! What the hell am I supposed to get out of that? Straightening himself up, he took a few calming deep breaths and pushed through the cold stone doors of the tomb, making his way up to the main castle.
Why did everything always have to be so cryptic? Why did he always leave his meetings with Alfor with more questions than answers? The late king always had a habit of dropping a bombshell on him and then making a quick get-a-way before he could get any substantial answers. I'm… Arusian? He felt cheated somehow. There were so many unresolved items. Although he had his suspicions, he still had no idea who Aaron was nor the role he played in Allura's life, and he sure as hell had no idea what Daughters Alfor referred to.
True, the Daughters were mentioned in the texts, but there was no explanation of who they were or where they came from. Were there more children? Did Allura have sisters and, if so, wouldn't we have known? Wouldn't I have known? He felt as though he was being pulled in a million different directions and had no idea which way to go or where to begin. On second thought, he knew exactly what his focus should be. Lotor he mentally scowled at himself.
The prophecy, his ancestry- everything had to take a back seat until he found the Drule Prince. That was it. 'Commander Mode' was back on and Keith was more determined than ever.
You're working so hard
And you're never in charge
Your death creates success
Rebuild and suppress
Change in the air
And they'll hide everywhere
And no one knows who's in control
"Ruled by Secrecy" by Muse
