Once again, thanks Mertz!
Sometimes I'm confused by what I think is really obvious. But what I think is really obvious obviously isn't obvious... Michael Stipe
Chapter 12-Offers and Consequences
Erin walked alongside of Keith quietly as they headed toward the lake. He gave her a tour of the castle and the gardens as they caught up with conversation about the academy and friends from the past. He couldn't take her to the villages as it was too late in the evening so, he took her to his favorite place, the lake. He wanted to go there anyway to relax and maybe think through what bothered him about the kidnapping situation.
The moon shined brightly, making the lake twinkle as small, rippled waves surfaced across the water.
"Is it always windy on Arus?" Erin finally asked to break the silence that existed since they left the castle's interior.
"Just at night during the month or so before autumn hits." he answered as Erin placed her arm around his.
Erin looked around and began paying particular attention to some specks of pink, red, and purple dots that flew around the lake, "What are those?"
"Fireflies. On Arus their wings light up in different colors at night." Keith answered. "They come together toward the end of summer to search for a mate."
"So it's tonight?"
"No," he shook his head, "They begin the search a couple of weeks before the first day of autumn. On that night, they choose their mate and that is the one they will stay with for life."
Erin smiled, "That is so interesting and they all light up like that?"
"Yes, you should see it on that night. The sky is filled with fireflies everywhere; they light up the whole place."
Turning to him, she told him, "Must be beautiful here."
Keith nodded in approval. "Yes. In the summer, flowers bloom by the masses. It's like the planet becomes one huge garden. But my favorite time of the year on Arus is the winter. You should see the snowball fights Lance strategically plans every year for us." he told her smiling. "Last year, he tried to trick the princess. It was pretty fun, the look on his face when she got the better of him…priceless."
"How?" she asked probing him.
He looked at the lake, for a moment lost in thought, "Pidge managed to create a snowball gun. You know how the kid is. He's full of imagination. Anyway, when he heard Lance's plan to ambush the princess, he wrapped the gun as a gift and left it at the princess' room with a note that said she would need it to protect herself from the "Trickster Red Lion Pilot"." They both laughed at the name.
Keith continued speaking as he thought back, "The night of our outing, Lance excused himself, telling everyone that he needed to take a call from his family and would meet us later. Well, to make a long story short, when Lance was about to attack, Allura turned around and blasted him several times, making him fall over. He looked like a freaking snowman by the time she was done with him." he finished laughing gregariously.
"You sound like you had fun," Erin told him, looking into his eyes.
"She was cunning and ruthless," he answered with a small laugh, enjoying the recollection for a moment.
"You told Pidge to leave her the gun didn't you? Keith, I know you too well."
"But it was his idea to wrap it into a present," He winked at her.
At that moment, old feelings began to flush back into her. Without thinking, Erin turned and kissed him. He pulled back at first, but then slowly relaxed and allowed himself the small pleasure.
"I...I forgot to thank you for saving me," she told him after she finished kissing him.
"That's your new way of thanking someone? Erin, if that's it, then I'd be glad to save you every night," he answered sheepishly.
She smiled as she once again took his arm and led him further along their path, "Keith, I was thinking...we ended things on rather complicated terms..."
"Erin..."
She ignored him and kept on speaking, "I know it's been two years, but... we could try to...start again?"
At this, Keith's smile faded. "Erin, I…"
"Just think about it," she interrupted. "We can take it slow, no need to rush anything. How about you just come on your next leave and hang out with me? Just give it a try and we'll see where it leads...unless you have someone on Arus?"
He paused a bit, remembering his last encounter with the princess. He sighed inwardly before he shook his head, "No...I don't."
"Then how about it? Don't answer me right now…just call me when you come."
"Okay...but that may be a while, Lotor..."
She kissed him again, cutting off his words. "Just think about it…okay?" She replied when she broke away from him.
Keith simply nodded and gave her a small smile.
Noticing something strange when she kissed him earlier, Erin lifted her hand and touched his forehead, "Keith, are you feeling all right? How's the headache?"
Seeing her expression, he suddenly asked, "It still hurts, why?"
"I don't know when I kissed you, you seemed warm."
"Other than the headache, I'm feeling fine Erin, really."
She continued touching his cheeks and forehead with her hand. A look of concern entered her eyes. "Keith, I'm serious. I think you're running a fever."
"Impossible, I don't feel hot or sick," he assured her with a small smile. "How about I get you back to your room; your transport leaves early tomorrow. You'll need your rest."
"Are you sure?"
He firmly answered her, "I'm fine. Let's go."
Erin looked back at him, surprised by the sudden change in his tone.
He caught that bitter tone in himself, unsure why he answered her that way. Keith apologized, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so curt. This headache must be bothering me more than I thought. Let me escort you back."
Still concerned, Erin nodded slightly, "It's okay. Come on, let's go."
VVVVVVVVVV
Keith sat up abruptly in his bed. He quickly looked around and saw the clock on his nightstand. Three twenty. His head was killing him. He thought he was having a nightmare, but didn't remember dreaming anything. Rather, Keith felt someone had been speaking to him. He was talking to his enemy and worse, he was accepting everything he asked of him.
Suddenly, the young man became disoriented. "Maybe I spoke to him earlier?" he said aloud and then immediately grabbed his robe and headed to the Control Room.
xxxxxx
Pidge sat at Control surveying areas around the planet when the commander walked in, "Pidge, have we had any more contacts from Zarkon?"
The young man turned around and raised his eyebrow, "What do you mean, Keith? We haven't heard from Zarkon at all."
Keith stared at him shocked, "What do you mean? I spoke to him earlier today."
Concerned, Pidge stood up and studied Keith for a moment, noticing his glassy eyes, "Keith, are you feeling all right? Headache still bothering you?"
Nodding, he answered, "It's killing me…but I could have sworn I spoke to him earlier..."
"Maybe you were dreaming Keith," Pidge lightly stated. "Let me call Gorma, maybe he can give you something."
"No, I'm fine," The commander told him, but at this point, he himself didn't believe it, he literally felt like his head would split open.
"The hell you are," Pidge ordered. "Go back to your room. I'll send Gorma there now."
Keith didn't argue, he simply turned and walked out of the room. Shocked that he didn't fight him, Pidge became even more worried. Turning back to the console, he hit a button, "Doctor Gorma, I need your help..."
VVVVVVVVVV
Back in his room, Keith sat on his bed as the pain increased. Never in his life had he felt such pain from a simple headache. Looking over his nightstand, he opened the bottom drawer that held his spare gun and currently, the bottle of pills that Gorma gave him a couple of weeks earlier. "Maybe, these will help?" he whispered to himself. About to open them, he was stopped by a knock at his door.
Walking over, Keith opened the door and saw Dr. Gorma almost immediately studying him, "Looks like a pretty bad headache."
The commander simply nodded then cringed at the pain that simple movement caused.
"Let's take a look at it," the doctor told him as he made his way in the room. "Have a seat Keith," he gestured him to sit on his bed. Keith did as told as he put the bottle of pills in his hand on top of the dresser.
"You weren't thinking of taking those?" The doctor questioned.
"No," Keith shook his head softly. "I was going to ask you about them."
"These won't help with a headache. If you take enough of them, they'll put you out permanently, but they won't help you with what you currently have."
"Ok, so I take it they are out of the question," Keith replied, closing his eyes as another wave of pain entered his head.
"Describe your pain for me," Gorma told him as a look of concern entered his features.
"It's just a pulsating pain…but it's all over the place."
The doctor studied Keith's eyes, they were dilated and glassy, "Do you feel nausea? Photophobia?"
"What?" Keith questioned.
"Sensitivity to light."
"Oh, no…I don't think so. Neither actually."
Turning around and opening his medical bag, the doctor retrieved a packet containing two large pills, "Ok, it looks to be a very bad migraine. I'm going to give you these. Take them right now and try to get some rest. If you don't feel any better in the morning, call me."
"Okay, thanks doc."
"I'm serious commander. Tell me if this headache gets worse," the doctor firmly stated.
Keith nodded. "I will."
With a nod, Gorma then excused himself and bid the commander goodnight.
Keith did as told and took the medication almost immediately after the doctor left. He put the other pills in the drawer where he previously had them and turned off the lights, hoping the pain would finally cease.
VVVVVVVVVV
A sunny morning welcomed Keith and the team as they walked Erin and the general out to her shuttle after breakfast. She seemed happy and very satisfied with herself as she looked at Keith, who walked alongside of her.
Once she reached the shuttle, Erin turned around to face all of them. "How can I ever repay all of you for what you did for me?"
"Oh, it was nothing." Lance waved his hand at her. "But next time you get yourself kidnapped, you're on your own!"
"Funny McClain!" She answered him back sarcastically.
She looked at each one. "Thank you. Thank you so much!" she told them sincerely. Hawkins smiled at his daughter and then addressed the group. "Princess, gentlemen, thank you so much for everything you've done for us."
Noticing their sincerity, Allura answered back, "You are welcomed. We are glad we could help."
"Thank you Princess," Erin replied and then turned around to Keith. "And you!" She smiled widely at him, "You better take me up on my offer. I want to see you on your next leave, got it?"
Allura's eyes widened in surprise, but she immediately stopped herself from showing the others her surprise.
Keith nodded uneasily. The headache, somewhat gone after Gorma gave him some pretty heavy medication, still bothered him. He didn't know what he felt, at times he thought he heard voices, but then they would disappear or someone would break his concentration and they'd suddenly go away.
"Sure…I'll be there," he answered, not really wanting to look at Erin, but managed to give her a smile.
"Good!" she replied and kissed him on the cheek.
Allura looked away, she couldn't understand why Erin's forwardness bothered her. But why, she's in her right. There's nothing I should be angry about.
The general and Erin gave one last goodbye and entered the shuttle. Moments later, it took off.
Allura walked ahead of the rest of the team back to the castle as Lance and Keith walked behind her. "So, what was that all about?" Lance asked.
"Nothing, she just wants me to visit Earth on my next leave."
Lance lowered his voice, "You've never taken a leave since we arrived to Arus. You're thinking about it now? Are you thinking of getting back together?"
Keith shook his head, "No…I don't know. I've never thought about it, Lance," he whispered back.
"Well, she obviously hasn't forgotten about you," Lance then looked at Keith. "Hey, you, all right? You still have that headache?"
"I'm fine. Gorma gave me something last night. It's just that..."
"What?"
Shaking his head, he began to dismiss it, "Nothing. I must still be drugged by Gorma's meds."
"You sure?"
"Yeah," he smiled. "So...you think she's still into me?"
As she listened to the conversation taking place behind her, Allura began to feel something she's never felt before, and that bothered her even more.
VVVVVVVVVV
The princess stood by the balcony of her room looking out at the beautiful Arus day. Outside, the sun shined and the cool breezes of the day flowed around her. The bright sun gave extra warmth, enough to keep anyone warm and comfortable.
In her mind however, she felt a storm of emotions. Keith is a free man. He could date… he should date. Then, why do I feel like this?
Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard the door of her room open. She turned, to find Romelle walking in.
"Allura, the boys said that today is too perfect to just waste it inside the castle. They want to go out to the lake and have a picnic there. Even Nanny said it was a great idea!" Romelle joked excitedly. "Even Nanny!" she reemphasized the fact that the governess would even agree to the unplanned event.
However, Romelle's excitement withered as she looked at her cousin's hardened features. "What's wrong?"
Allura turned back to the balcony, "Nothing…nothing."
"Tell me," Romelle asked again as she moved to stand beside her.
Taking a deep breath before speaking, Allura turned back to her cousin, "I…I just don't see why she had to kiss him goodbye. She didn't kiss any of the other guys!"
"Huh?"
"Erin, Romelle. I'm talking about Erin!"
Still looking confused for a moment, Romelle suddenly started laughing, "Allura! You mean when she kissed Keith goodbye?"
"You better take me up on my offer. I want to see you on your next leave, got it?" Allura continued mimicking Erin when she spoke to Keith.
At this Romelle laughed even harder, "Allura…you're jealous!"
"I am not jealous, Romelle!" the princess immediately countered. "It's just that she doesn't have to throw herself at him like that. Doesn't she know that Keith hates to be pushed that way?"
"And how do you know that?"
"I just do. Keith doesn't like that kind of thing. I know that he hates being pushed, even though he won't admit it."
Romelle walked up to Allura, "I can understand that, but, why would you care? I thought Keith and you are just friends."
"We are friends," Allura replied tentatively, unsure of that statement now.
Romelle giggled as she shook her head, "I don't think so. You feel something for him don't you?"
"No," Allura shook her head. "Just friends." She restated, a little more firmly. "I don't feel anything like that. Besides, if I did feel the way you said I did, I wouldn't have told Keith that I wasn't interested."
"Really?" Romelle told her in disbelief, "Allura, I don't think you even know what you feel."
"And what do you mean by that?" Allura questioned her cousin, a tinge of anger in her voice.
"Well dear cousin, if you didn't feel anything for Keith, as you say you don't, it wouldn't have bothered you what Erin said or did." Romelle turned and walked back into the room. "Either way, we don't have time to talk about this now. We leave in a half hour. Let's pick this up later tonight. Get ready quick!" She said before walking out of the room.
Allura walked back into her room and opened up her closet to change. Picking out her clothes, she laid them out in her bed and sat down next to them, her mind still on her conversation with Romelle. I don't feel anything for Keith, do I?