Disclaimer: WEP still owns Voltron... even in the alternate universe.

Beta: Thanks again Dawn!

This is the fourth installment in my "Chivalry arc. 1. Chivalry, 2. Lion House Restored (2A. LHR - Allura's POV), 3. Doomed Quest, and 4. Alternate Choices.

Rating/Setting: Rating is T. Still DotU flavor AU.

Chapter Thirteen

Voltron stood at the side of the Castle Altea. Fire blasted from the mouth of the Red Lion against the castle wall and window. In just a few moments, the searing heat melted the protective glass and collapsed part of the stone. Lotor moved the Green Lion over to replace Red and created a whirlwind that sucked away the smoke and heat that had been created. The Red Lion then moved back into position, this time with Lance ready in its mouth.

Lance jumped through the opening with his blaster ready. Hitting his com, he said, "The room is empty… Wait! I see Keith!" Running over to kneel by the prone figure, Lance spoke again. "He's injured. Have a med team sent here and don't wait too long. It looks like she might have shot him with a blaster set to stun at close range." Grimacing, he continued, "She probably did it to punish him and to slow us down. The fact that she didn't outright kill him indicates that she still wants him."

"Agreed," said Lotor from the Black Lion. "When we have him back at base, we'll have to make sure we have extra security for him. Chances are she'll try to get him back." The prince paused for a moment and then said, "The medics should be there in just a few minutes; it looks like they evacuated most of the troops and guards already through some underground escape routes. Allura probably has a hidden hanger as well. I don't think we'll catch her this time."

The lieutenant moved slightly to look at Keith's neck and then shook his head. The queen would definitely be back for him. Keith didn't have that hickey when he had escaped. No, the queen had sent him and all of them a message. She would be back for him.

Lance stood ready as he heard footsteps approaching. He lowered his weapon as the medics came in. Staying long enough to hear them say that he would be stabilized in just a few minutes, he let out a breath and headed back to the opening in the wall. After all, there was still work to be done.

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Keith sat propped up in his bed in the medical area of the resistance bunker. He had thought that Dr. Gorma was strict, but Dr. Cort was worse. Just a broken leg and some bruises, but the doc hadn't let him leave the bed for two days. Suspecting something more was going on, Keith waited for one of the Resistance leaders to visit him. None of the leaders had been in to see him yet, which he found odd. He received updates on the battles and the war efforts from the nurses and the guards stationed outside his room.

He had sent mental queries out to Merla, but her only response had been 'patience.'

Luckily, he didn't have to wait much longer. The door of his room opened and Orla walked in. She was smiling.

Gliding over to his bedside, she said, "I'm sorry we made you wait. Things have been intense from the moment the Lions were launched." Drawing a chair up, she sat and told him all the news he had wanted to hear. The Altean home fleet had been routed with only one battle cruiser escaping. The other planets in the resistance had also launched attacks and two planets completely routed their Altean overlords. Others were still fighting. Allura had escaped through an underground route unknown to the resistance, and she was safely ensconced in a planetary system loyal to her. The remnant of her once massive fleet was making its way there.

"So why have I been stuck in here?"

"Two reasons, Keith. Dr. Cort and Allura." Seeing his raised eyebrow, she continued. "Dr. Cort was concerned about your concussion and wanted to monitor you. The Resistance was concerned for your safety." Orla looked at his neck. "I see you had them remove the bruising from your neck."

Keith's hand instinctively went to the spot. Bruising was a polite way to describe it. "Yes. I didn't want any reminders of her when I look in the mirror. So as soon as I was conscious, I asked the nurse to remove it."

"I wasn't sure if you were aware of it or not."

"Oh, I was VERY aware when she did it," Keith said ruefully.

"Did she say anything?"

Keith looked away from Orla and his hands resting on top of the pristine white sheet. His voice was lower as he answered. "Yes, she had to say something." He didn't really want to tell her, but then Allura's parting gift to him had already told them to some degree. So after a brief pause he said, "I'm sure that it won't shock you to learn that Allura considers me to be her property. She has vowed to find me, even if I return to my universe."

Orla nodded. "That's why you've been kept in here the last two days. Things are too chaotic out there. We didn't want to risk her finding a way to get to you when our resources are stretched as we try to hold what we have taken."

Frowning, Keith said, "To be sure, she has more important things to be concerned with."

"You would think so, but she was able to put out a bounty on you." At his look of surprise, the seer continued. "Yes, she has put quite a hefty reward out there for anyone that can bring you to her unharmed."

Keith shook his head. He was surprised Lotor hadn't thought of trying something like that with Allura, but then he was so conceited, he wanted to be the one to capture her. The Allura of this universe would be happy for anyone to bring him in, and a large enough bounty might even tempt some of those in the Resistance. He understood now why he had been confined. His current medical state would make it hard for him to fight back if someone attempted to take him. He nodded to her. "I understand. What do we do now?"

"We'd like for you to join us in the war room where we oversee the ongoing battles, go through incoming data, and plan. There are enough members of the Resistance that are unquestioned in loyalty stationed in the war room and the complex now. Any bounty hunters would be foolish to attempt a kidnapping. The chances of you being injured are too great now."

Keith shrugged as he asked, "Why would they care?"

A grim smile appeared on Orla's face. "Because she mandated that you be unharmed. It was also stated that if you were harmed in an attempt, and she learned your would-be kidnappers' names, she would have them killed in an unpleasant manner."

"Well, that should rule out any amateurs trying to take me. The potential danger for them is too high." Keith tried to take the thought of the bounty off his mind by returning to the original question. "I'd be happy to join you in the war room. I've never been one for medical wards."

Pleased with his response, Orla went to the only other piece of furniture in the room – a dresser. Opening a drawer, she pulled out some clothing and laid it on the bed. "The war room is quite a walk from here. We'll take your crutches with us, but we will move faster if you will take a wheelchair." She watched the commander grimace, and then nod his acceptance. "I'll wait outside until you're dressed and then we can be on our way."

Keith exhaled as Orla left. The last vision hadn't occurred yet. The vision of the ring and the voice that he now knew was Orla's saying "choose." The feelings that he had at the conclusion of the other quests had not come over him yet, so he wasn't departing any time soon. However, it couldn't be much longer could it? The main battles had been won. There would be more battles and skirmishes, but nothing on the scale of the last few days. He prayed that the final vision would come to pass before a bounty hunter found him. After having witnessed Allura's obsession with him first hand, he knew it was only a matter of time before he was returned to her if he stayed here. The old Earth saying, 'hell hath no fury like a woman scorned' came to his mind. Keith shuddered at the thought….