Allan wandered aimlessly in the castle corridors; allowing his feet to take him wherever they please. He couldn't seem to get himself to sleep, inspite the fact that he was tired from the daylong journey. It was probably because of the extreme euphoria that he felt being on Arus again --- his second home.
'Indeed, the new castle is magnificent', he commented, allowing his hand to examine and travel across the metallic wall of the palace. Though impressed, he couldn't help but feel a little home sick for the old castle. 'It sure brings back memories'. He smiled to himself, as he recalled several of the antics that he and Allura got themselves into: one about sneaking into the kitchen one night and pigging-out on Nanny's home-made cake; another about hiding Coran's favored cane; and still another about the several secret passages they found, and hid in, much to the apprehension of their parents and guardians.
He slowed his pace a bit and allowed himself to reassure himself that he was really there. He thought about the things that happened that day; from the moment he made contact with castle control to that night's meal. The smile continued to hover on his lips as he recalled the moments he spent with Allura, the interlude with Nanny, his meeting the Voltron force...
An image of a pair of dark eyes formed in his mind. Soon, a face and body followed. Allan found himself stopping, keeping the image of the force's captain clear in his head. He didn't know why, but he felt that Keith's role wasn't just being the captain of the Voltron force...
Before dinner, he had escorted Allura to the head of the table where she is seated. He noticed that Coran was positioned to her left, and to her right, sat Keith. Unexpectedly, the captain stood up and offered his place to him. He thought and said it was unnecessary, but Nanny had insisted that his place was beside Allura. She commended Keith for being a gentleman, comparing him to the rest of the explorers, which they just brushed-off, as they watched their leader take the seat on Lance's right. What Allan didn't miss was the despondency in his eyes and the stunned and upset look in Allura's face.
His thoughts were interrupted by a muffled sound coming from behind one of the closed doors on his left. He didn't know where he was, what was behind the door, or who was in that room, but, curiosity got the best of him.
He stepped towards the door, so that its scanners may detect his presence. It swooshed open. He slowly stepped inside, carefully eyeing the place he found himself in. It was dark; the only light in the room was the one coming from the moon. 'This must be the training hall...'
Once again, the sound, much clearer this time, interrupted his thoughts.
Allan's eyes focused as he watched the lithe movements of the man on the center of the mat as he practiced his martial arts.
"Hiiiiiiyah!" Keith charged at an unseen opponent.
Allan nodded his head with wonder, 'now I know why his fighting skills are known in the far universe.'
SWOOSH! SWOOSH! Keith's powerful motions, reinforced with his single-edged katana, were deadly. He took sure steps forward as he whirled his sword in his hand, taking occasional stops to reposition himself, and his sword, as if to dodge blows from his adversary.
Keith concentrated on his combat maneuvers. He had to clear his head. 'It just isn't right. I should be thinking about other things.' He reasoned with himself, once again striking his imaginary foe.
It could have been hours since he began practicing, but, he didn't notice. He knew he was tired, but he didn't want to stop. Being inactive made him uneasy --- his mind would start arguing with him, listing down 'should's' and 'should-not's' that he followed, but, with a heavy heart...
His heart. Before he came to Arus two years ago, he didn't even get a peep out of it. But now, every night, in his dreams, she would haunt him; a picture that his heart constantly flashed before him, giving him the strength and the inspiration to do more than his best and win the war that he was part of. It was in his sleep that the endless possibilities of the 'what-if's' would cloud his imagination.
Awake, his mind would lecture him. Asleep, his heart would torment him. It was a war within him --- and it was driving him crazy.
Keith cleared his head and tried to re-imagine his rival. Ever since their first encounter, Keith found it easy to visualize the tall, well-built man with piercing yellow eyes, blue skin, and white, below the shoulders-length hair as his greatest challenger. They had absolutely nothing in common.
Well, maybe except one.
Keith found himself dazed as a pair of blue-eyes stared back at him in place of the yellow ones that he loathed. Her smile was more brilliant than the twinkling stars and the moon that shone outside the glass windows of the training hall that he was staring out of. Her hair, was like a golden cape flowing behind her back...
"Captain Keith?"
Keith spun around, surprised, to the source of the voice.
Allan regarded the preoccupied commander. One minute, he was in the middle of a contention, the next, he was as still as a statue. 'A statue with a goofy grin,' he added, walking towards Keith.
Keith scolded himself for allowing himself to be distracted like that. One of the reasons why he listens to his head, and not to his heart.
"Your highness..." Keith began, bowing.
"Please, captain, call me Allan."
"Keith." He replied.
"Keith." Allan repeated.
"Is there anything I can do for you?"
Allan nodded. "As a matter of fact, Keith, I was wondering if you would like someone visible to practice with."
Keith looked at him thoughtfully. "But, your highness..."
"Allan. Call me Allan."
"Allan." Keith said carefully. "It's three o'clock in the morning. Shouldn't you be resting?"
"I was wondering the same thing about you."
Keith nodded. "I have an extra sword over there," he said, pointing towards a bench at the opposite side of the hall. On it were several towels and two sword sheaths; one empty, the other, not.
Allan nodded and headed for the bench.
'We have always thought and hoped that Allan and Allura would be wed. '
Keith took a deep breath. A strange, languishing feeling erupted from his stomach as he watched the young prince prepare himself for their duel.
'Careful, Keith. You wouldn't want the princess to hate you for killing her fiancé, now would you?' An inner voice mocked.
Unconsciously, his grip on his katana grew tighter.
'Ha, ha. Very funny. What makes you think I'd do something like that?' He countered, while watching Allan warm-up. 'Don't worry, he can take care of himself', noting the way he held the sword and shifted it from one hand to another.
"Ready?" Allan asked from the other side of the mat.
"Ready."
Keith took a deep breath and made his stance. 'This is going to be a long day...'
*-*-*-*-*
Allura's eyes twinkled as she held her gaze with her partner, allowing herself to be led, gracefully moving over the vast dance floor of the castle ballroom.
About a month ago, Nanny had insisted that she take a refresher course on her dancing. "It has been too long ago since you've last practiced. A princess must know how to dance. Starting today, you will take some time everyday to practice."
She had even got Coran into the matter. For the first few days, it was him who danced with her. Soon after, Coran had brought someone with him to take his place; he said something about getting too old for dancing for hours, which, Allura thought was the lamest excuse that she had ever heard from her advisor. But, it's not that she was complaining now...
Allura would have completely refused to spend her time practicing the waltz, if it weren't for the fact that she enjoyed being held by her present partner. Her eyes widened as the thought entered her head. As soon it did, a queasy sensation in her stomach emerged, and she bent her head down to prevent him from seeing the blush that she felt forming on her heated cheeks.
Keith found himself looking at the top of Allura's head. He closed his eyes and breathed-in deeply, savoring the sweet flowery scent of her hair. The feel of the silky skin of her hand in his own made him jittery all over. The smooth curve of her narrow waist made his whole being ache with a longing...
"For heaven's sake, child! Stop looking at your feet!"
Allura's head snapped-back up and faced her left, where Nanny was seated, playing the piano. "Don't slouch!"
Allura straightened her back and slowly moved and tilted her head upward to face the tall, strong man gently holding her. A small, reassuring smile greeted her. She felt her lips form into a smile of their own. It was moments like these that she wished would never end. In his arms, she felt like they were in a world of their own. No war, no troubles, no...
"Prepare for a turn, Allura. Keith, you know what to do."
'No interruptions.' Allura grumpily thought, as she smoothly made the turn Keith led her into.
"Marvelous, Allura!"
Keith gave her a proud grin. "I never thought I'd see the day that Nanny would actually commend your dancing."
Allura pretended to be hurt, but the twinkle never left her eyes. "Come on, Keith, I'm not that bad!"
"I don't know..." he said, a teasing glint in his eyes, "about a few weeks ago your feet seemed to have a mind of their own... OW!"
She raised an eyebrow at him, and gave him the most innocent smile she could muster. "Oh, my! Did I step on you? I would apologize, but, it seems that my feet have a mind of their own."
Keith ruefully shook his head, knowing that she did that on purpose. But, the smile never left his lips.
Suddenly, the music stopped. The two of them turned to Nanny to find her walking towards them. They looked at each other with the what-did-we-do? expression etched on their faces.
"Allan! It's so good that you could join us!"
Allura and Keith followed Nanny with their gazes and were surprised to see Allan standing at the ballroom doorway. She had walked past them, and was now pulling the prince towards them at the center of the dance floor.
"Come now. Let us see how much you remember of your waltzing."
"But, Nanny, I haven't been practicing," Allan confessed, trying to look dignified even as the governess continued to yank his sleeve.
Keith abruptly dropped his hands, and let Allura go. She looked at him with a question in her eyes, which he avoided by stepping back and bowing before her. "Thank you for that enchanting dance, princess." He said, the glint in his eyes and the smile now gone. He turned and headed for the door.
Allan caught the expression on Keith's face as he headed for them, bowed before him then walked by. Once again, there was that sadness that he had seen the night before; when he gave his place by Allura's side to him. His head continued to look back at the captain, even after he left the room. He didn't know how far he'd been dragged until he heard Nanny's voice. He turned his head to face Nanny.
"You and Allura should be practicing. Imagine a prince and a princess who don't know how to waltz!" she exasperatedly said, heading towards the piano.
Allura stared at the closed doors, seemingly oblivious to the fact that her new partner has already bowed before her, as it was the proper way to ask a lady to dance.
"Allura!" Nanny bellowed from behind the piano.
Allura blinked and looked at Allan. She dipped into a curtsy and stepped into his open arms. She didn't meet his gaze, as she returned hers on the doors, but he could see the downhearted, bereft look in her eyes. When she finally looked-up at him, a small, sad smile curved her lips.
Allan reciprocated the smile, with his own uncertain one, as he led her gracefully over the dance floor, a tinge of jealousy, undetected by Allura, in his eyes.