Birthright: Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Anala and Xue walked in front as Keith helped Allura make their way through the underground caverns.
"This place is massive," Allura commented as she looked around.
"Apparently, the new castle was built over the old one," Keith said.
"Kelar wanted to be sure that anything that would remind the people of the previous ruler would be buried."
"There's much to be learned here," Allura said. "How are you taking all of this?"
"I feel as if I'm discovering a part of me," he said. "But I don't feel like I really belong here."
"Don't belong?" she asked.
"I don't know what it is, Al," he said. "I don't think I will ever know."
-We are here.-
They looked forward to where Anala and Xue were. A huge door stood before the, with dulled carved designs in the frame. If given the time, Keith would have liked to study these designs but he knew that there were more urgent matters to take care of. Xue pulled one of the unlit torches that were hanging near by and lit it before they entered.
"No one has been down here for years," Anala commented. "Xue, is this where grandfather was burried?"
-Yes,- he answered. -In the main burial chamber ahead.-
Keith carefully studied the stone work, as they walked down the long and seemingly endless hall. He then heard Allura let out a gasp and stopped seeing that she had fallen behind, leaning up against the wall for support. He walked back over to her as Xue and Anala continued to walk forward.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I'm beginning to feel dizzy," she said as she placed her hand to her head. "The hallway is spinning."
"Maybe you did hit your head harder than we thought," he said. "Do you think you can handle the walk?"
"I dont know," she said.
The light from Xue's torch started to dim as they were far ahead now.
Keith then stood in front of her.
"Come on, get on my back," he said. "I'll carry you the rest of the way."
"I can't, Keith," she protested. "You were injured as well. How can you support me?"
"I'm not going to leave you here," he said. "What if the old castle was damaged in that blast as well? This whole place could come down on you."
"How...
"Dont argue," he said. "Come on before Anala gets too far ahead of us."
With the last remaining light, Allura held her breath as she climbed onto Keith's back.
"Now, hold me with one arm over my shoulder and the other from under my left," he said. "You wont be much of a burden that way."
She nodded as she wrapped her arms around him, and as soon as she felt comfortable, he started on a fast pace to catch up with Anala and Xue. She did start to feel better, but still felt dizzy. She knew that if she didn't get to someplace to rest soon, she would end up making a real mess of the situation.
"Oh my."
Anala stood before a giant statue, as Xue held his torch up to it. Soon, Keith had caught up to them as they entered the main burial chamber.
-There, that marker is that of your grandmother,- Xue pointed out. -That statue marks the tomb of your grandfather.-
"Is that what he looked like when he was alive?" Anala asked.
-I'm not sure, I was not here when he was alive,- Xue said as he stared up at it. -But I've seen other pictures of him, and it does have some resemblance.- He then turned to Keith, noticing that he was now carrying the princess on his back. She had her head resting against his back. -What is wrong with her?-
"She started to feel dizzy back there," Keith explained. "Anala, why dont you and Xue explore further. I think we need to take a breather."
Anala slowly nodded. "I can see," she said. "We will go through that corridor. Be back in ten?"
Keith nodded and Xue lit another torch that was hanging on the wall near the statue before they went down the corridor. With a deep breath, Keith helped Allura down, slowly lying her down on one of the sealed caskets. He made a small mental appology to whoever was burried there, for intruding on their place of rest.
"Just leave me," she argued as he knelt down on the ground. "I wont be able to make it with you guys. Im just slowing you down."
"Nonsense," Keith said. "We wont leave anyone here, understand."
"MY head is spinning and hurts like hell!" she nearly yelled. "I'm sorry."
"Dont appologize," he said. "I know how you feel. Just keep your chin up okay. Once we get into the castle, we will find you someplace to rest. Anala can get us around and find somewhere to put you while we go and take care of Kelar."
"And you just plan to face him like that?" Allura asked. "What about the others?"
"Anala has a plan," he said.
Allura quickly sat up, and before Keith could react, she bent over the other side of the casket and let out what she could not hold back much longer. She then felt Keith's hand against her back as he rubbed. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand before sitting back up again.
"I guess that breakfast we had didn't agree with me," she commented.
"Its good to see your humor returning."
She met his gaze and finally took a good look around her. She then realized where she was sitting, and was about to jump off, when he caught her and told her to sit.
"I dont think they are going to mind much, Al," he said.
"Where are we?" she asked.
"Xue says this is where my grandfather and grandmother are burried," he said. "The main burial chamber."
She nodded as she looked around, taking in her surroundings. Then she looked back to him. "Wait, your grandfather and grandmother?"
"Yes, why?"
"Then....its true isn't it?"
He met her gaze as his smile disappeared. He then nodded. "I as much as a royal highness as you are, Al," he said. "My grandfather was King Vellum."
She could barely believe it as she grabbed ahold of his arms for support. She swallowed hard.
"Al, are you okay, or are you taking my birthright much more seriously than I did?"
She looked around then, catching site of the enormous statue that stood to the side. Her eyes widened seeing that there was an odd feature on this statue, of the old king, that nearly caught her.
"W....wings..." she stuttered. "I wasn't dreaming..."
"Dreaming..."
She met his gaze one last time as her mind tried to comprehend everything at once.
"Keith.....you....when we fell...how did we survive it?"
"A special gift." he said.
"You..." she said. "You have wings?"
Anala looked up at the door above them, where a long flight of steps led to it. "Looks like that's the only way up."
-There milady, I think we found what were looking for.-
Xue pointed toward an old tarp that was covering some vehicle of some type. They walked toward the old relic and lifted up the tarp. To Anala's surprise there was a load of weapons that would have made Kelar's armies turn their heads.
"Will they work after all these years?"
-We'll have to test them as we use them.-
Anala nodded as she grabbed a bag from out of the vehicles forward compartment and started to load it with the smaller ammunition as well as four guns. She then grabbed what looked to be old fashion hand grenades.
"All we need to do is get to Kelar," she said. "Once we capture him, then there's nothing he can do stop us."
-Milady, there is something I must tell you about master Kelar,- Xue said as he turned to her. -Something you will not like.-
Lance let out a disgruntled sigh as he paced the cell they were in. Pidge was busy figuring out something on his hand held computer as Hunk stood by the cell door to keep watch.
"This is soooo stupid!" Lance yelled out. "Where the hell is Allura and Keith when you need them?"
"I don't even know if they survived that blast," Hunk commented.
"Don't talk like that!" Lance yelled.
A quiet laugh eminated from the other corner of the cell they were in. "It's a wonder how you fools ever work together."
Lance turned to the young prince of Doom. "I don't see you helping in anyway."
Lotor then got to his feet at that moment. "Don't you heroes always have a backup plan? Something to fall back on if something comes up?"
"Keith and Allura were our back up plan," he said. "Then someone had the insight to blow them into a crevase."
Lotor laughed to himself again, as a chime came from a band he wore on his wrist.
"One thing I did learn from your team, Lance, is to be ready for the unexpected."
"What?"
Lotor held his hand up to him as he pressed a button on the small band.
"*Lotor, are you there*"
"We are all here, Anala, where are you now?"
"Anala?" Lance asked.
"*Good,*" she said. "*Do you know which cell block you are in?*"
"We were led down 3 flights from the main throne room," he said.
"There's a big spire out of the window here."
"*Ah, yes, I figured as such,*" she said. "*Best you guys stand away from the door then.*"
"May I inquire as to why?"
"*You only have ten seconds*"
Both Lance and Lotor looked toward the door where Hunk was standing.
Lance then ran to grab his big friend and they all headed toward the back of the cell. The door to the cell suddenly exploded as it was blasted open. From the smoke and debris, Anala stood in what was the door frame and motioned them to come out.
"We have to hurry," she said. "That explosion has probably alerted Kelar's guards."
Lance coughed as he approached her and she handed him a crude gun. "How are we going to defeat Kelar with this?"
"We are only going to be the distraction," she said. "Keith and Allura will take care of him."
"Keith and Al?" Lance asked. "Where are they?"
"They are still down below the Castle," she said. "They will meet us in the throne room. Come on, we have to get to the main control center that accesses the mines and the storage areas for the water. If we can disable those controls, Kelar will lose his control over the citizens."
Lance nodded as he turned to Hunk and Pidge. "Take them with you," he commanded. "Lotor and I will head toward the throne room to handle Kelar for the time being. I hope that you have this all timed."
"We are just going by the skin of our teeth," she said. "Come on."
-We have to go!- Xue yelled as he entered the main burial chamber. -I just heard the alarms sound.-
Xue turned to Allura seeing that her color was getting even more pale than before. "Do you think you can handle this."
"Just give me a gun and tell me where to aim," she said. "I'll be fine."
-I will carry you then,- he said as he tossed Keith the rifle he was holding. -We don't have much time.-
Allura nodded as Xue offered her his back and she climbed on.
-Sir, this way.-
"I'll follow shortly, go on."
Xue nodded and started out toward the corridor he came in from
Keith then turned to the statue that stood before him, staring into the eyes of man he had never known.
"I hope that you are with me, grandpa," he said. "Im going to need all the help I can get."
Something shiny then caught his eye as it fell from the top of the statue. It clanged as it hit the ground and he rushed to pick it up. It was a small medallion, engraved with the kingdom's royal crest. He looked up at the statue and slowly nodded.
"I'll do my best."
Chapter 15
Anala and Xue walked in front as Keith helped Allura make their way through the underground caverns.
"This place is massive," Allura commented as she looked around.
"Apparently, the new castle was built over the old one," Keith said.
"Kelar wanted to be sure that anything that would remind the people of the previous ruler would be buried."
"There's much to be learned here," Allura said. "How are you taking all of this?"
"I feel as if I'm discovering a part of me," he said. "But I don't feel like I really belong here."
"Don't belong?" she asked.
"I don't know what it is, Al," he said. "I don't think I will ever know."
-We are here.-
They looked forward to where Anala and Xue were. A huge door stood before the, with dulled carved designs in the frame. If given the time, Keith would have liked to study these designs but he knew that there were more urgent matters to take care of. Xue pulled one of the unlit torches that were hanging near by and lit it before they entered.
"No one has been down here for years," Anala commented. "Xue, is this where grandfather was burried?"
-Yes,- he answered. -In the main burial chamber ahead.-
Keith carefully studied the stone work, as they walked down the long and seemingly endless hall. He then heard Allura let out a gasp and stopped seeing that she had fallen behind, leaning up against the wall for support. He walked back over to her as Xue and Anala continued to walk forward.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I'm beginning to feel dizzy," she said as she placed her hand to her head. "The hallway is spinning."
"Maybe you did hit your head harder than we thought," he said. "Do you think you can handle the walk?"
"I dont know," she said.
The light from Xue's torch started to dim as they were far ahead now.
Keith then stood in front of her.
"Come on, get on my back," he said. "I'll carry you the rest of the way."
"I can't, Keith," she protested. "You were injured as well. How can you support me?"
"I'm not going to leave you here," he said. "What if the old castle was damaged in that blast as well? This whole place could come down on you."
"How...
"Dont argue," he said. "Come on before Anala gets too far ahead of us."
With the last remaining light, Allura held her breath as she climbed onto Keith's back.
"Now, hold me with one arm over my shoulder and the other from under my left," he said. "You wont be much of a burden that way."
She nodded as she wrapped her arms around him, and as soon as she felt comfortable, he started on a fast pace to catch up with Anala and Xue. She did start to feel better, but still felt dizzy. She knew that if she didn't get to someplace to rest soon, she would end up making a real mess of the situation.
"Oh my."
Anala stood before a giant statue, as Xue held his torch up to it. Soon, Keith had caught up to them as they entered the main burial chamber.
-There, that marker is that of your grandmother,- Xue pointed out. -That statue marks the tomb of your grandfather.-
"Is that what he looked like when he was alive?" Anala asked.
-I'm not sure, I was not here when he was alive,- Xue said as he stared up at it. -But I've seen other pictures of him, and it does have some resemblance.- He then turned to Keith, noticing that he was now carrying the princess on his back. She had her head resting against his back. -What is wrong with her?-
"She started to feel dizzy back there," Keith explained. "Anala, why dont you and Xue explore further. I think we need to take a breather."
Anala slowly nodded. "I can see," she said. "We will go through that corridor. Be back in ten?"
Keith nodded and Xue lit another torch that was hanging on the wall near the statue before they went down the corridor. With a deep breath, Keith helped Allura down, slowly lying her down on one of the sealed caskets. He made a small mental appology to whoever was burried there, for intruding on their place of rest.
"Just leave me," she argued as he knelt down on the ground. "I wont be able to make it with you guys. Im just slowing you down."
"Nonsense," Keith said. "We wont leave anyone here, understand."
"MY head is spinning and hurts like hell!" she nearly yelled. "I'm sorry."
"Dont appologize," he said. "I know how you feel. Just keep your chin up okay. Once we get into the castle, we will find you someplace to rest. Anala can get us around and find somewhere to put you while we go and take care of Kelar."
"And you just plan to face him like that?" Allura asked. "What about the others?"
"Anala has a plan," he said.
Allura quickly sat up, and before Keith could react, she bent over the other side of the casket and let out what she could not hold back much longer. She then felt Keith's hand against her back as he rubbed. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand before sitting back up again.
"I guess that breakfast we had didn't agree with me," she commented.
"Its good to see your humor returning."
She met his gaze and finally took a good look around her. She then realized where she was sitting, and was about to jump off, when he caught her and told her to sit.
"I dont think they are going to mind much, Al," he said.
"Where are we?" she asked.
"Xue says this is where my grandfather and grandmother are burried," he said. "The main burial chamber."
She nodded as she looked around, taking in her surroundings. Then she looked back to him. "Wait, your grandfather and grandmother?"
"Yes, why?"
"Then....its true isn't it?"
He met her gaze as his smile disappeared. He then nodded. "I as much as a royal highness as you are, Al," he said. "My grandfather was King Vellum."
She could barely believe it as she grabbed ahold of his arms for support. She swallowed hard.
"Al, are you okay, or are you taking my birthright much more seriously than I did?"
She looked around then, catching site of the enormous statue that stood to the side. Her eyes widened seeing that there was an odd feature on this statue, of the old king, that nearly caught her.
"W....wings..." she stuttered. "I wasn't dreaming..."
"Dreaming..."
She met his gaze one last time as her mind tried to comprehend everything at once.
"Keith.....you....when we fell...how did we survive it?"
"A special gift." he said.
"You..." she said. "You have wings?"
Anala looked up at the door above them, where a long flight of steps led to it. "Looks like that's the only way up."
-There milady, I think we found what were looking for.-
Xue pointed toward an old tarp that was covering some vehicle of some type. They walked toward the old relic and lifted up the tarp. To Anala's surprise there was a load of weapons that would have made Kelar's armies turn their heads.
"Will they work after all these years?"
-We'll have to test them as we use them.-
Anala nodded as she grabbed a bag from out of the vehicles forward compartment and started to load it with the smaller ammunition as well as four guns. She then grabbed what looked to be old fashion hand grenades.
"All we need to do is get to Kelar," she said. "Once we capture him, then there's nothing he can do stop us."
-Milady, there is something I must tell you about master Kelar,- Xue said as he turned to her. -Something you will not like.-
Lance let out a disgruntled sigh as he paced the cell they were in. Pidge was busy figuring out something on his hand held computer as Hunk stood by the cell door to keep watch.
"This is soooo stupid!" Lance yelled out. "Where the hell is Allura and Keith when you need them?"
"I don't even know if they survived that blast," Hunk commented.
"Don't talk like that!" Lance yelled.
A quiet laugh eminated from the other corner of the cell they were in. "It's a wonder how you fools ever work together."
Lance turned to the young prince of Doom. "I don't see you helping in anyway."
Lotor then got to his feet at that moment. "Don't you heroes always have a backup plan? Something to fall back on if something comes up?"
"Keith and Allura were our back up plan," he said. "Then someone had the insight to blow them into a crevase."
Lotor laughed to himself again, as a chime came from a band he wore on his wrist.
"One thing I did learn from your team, Lance, is to be ready for the unexpected."
"What?"
Lotor held his hand up to him as he pressed a button on the small band.
"*Lotor, are you there*"
"We are all here, Anala, where are you now?"
"Anala?" Lance asked.
"*Good,*" she said. "*Do you know which cell block you are in?*"
"We were led down 3 flights from the main throne room," he said.
"There's a big spire out of the window here."
"*Ah, yes, I figured as such,*" she said. "*Best you guys stand away from the door then.*"
"May I inquire as to why?"
"*You only have ten seconds*"
Both Lance and Lotor looked toward the door where Hunk was standing.
Lance then ran to grab his big friend and they all headed toward the back of the cell. The door to the cell suddenly exploded as it was blasted open. From the smoke and debris, Anala stood in what was the door frame and motioned them to come out.
"We have to hurry," she said. "That explosion has probably alerted Kelar's guards."
Lance coughed as he approached her and she handed him a crude gun. "How are we going to defeat Kelar with this?"
"We are only going to be the distraction," she said. "Keith and Allura will take care of him."
"Keith and Al?" Lance asked. "Where are they?"
"They are still down below the Castle," she said. "They will meet us in the throne room. Come on, we have to get to the main control center that accesses the mines and the storage areas for the water. If we can disable those controls, Kelar will lose his control over the citizens."
Lance nodded as he turned to Hunk and Pidge. "Take them with you," he commanded. "Lotor and I will head toward the throne room to handle Kelar for the time being. I hope that you have this all timed."
"We are just going by the skin of our teeth," she said. "Come on."
-We have to go!- Xue yelled as he entered the main burial chamber. -I just heard the alarms sound.-
Xue turned to Allura seeing that her color was getting even more pale than before. "Do you think you can handle this."
"Just give me a gun and tell me where to aim," she said. "I'll be fine."
-I will carry you then,- he said as he tossed Keith the rifle he was holding. -We don't have much time.-
Allura nodded as Xue offered her his back and she climbed on.
-Sir, this way.-
"I'll follow shortly, go on."
Xue nodded and started out toward the corridor he came in from
Keith then turned to the statue that stood before him, staring into the eyes of man he had never known.
"I hope that you are with me, grandpa," he said. "Im going to need all the help I can get."
Something shiny then caught his eye as it fell from the top of the statue. It clanged as it hit the ground and he rushed to pick it up. It was a small medallion, engraved with the kingdom's royal crest. He looked up at the statue and slowly nodded.
"I'll do my best."