Hi all!
Thank you so much for your wonderful reviews, I really appreciate them.  I am doing my best to get this story out, but I am finding it to be the most challenging story I've written so far. 

Bell~ Yes, I've been reading the new comics and I'm enjoying them.  I'm impressed with their new takes on the characters and I can't wait to see what happens.

Enjoy

Failte

*****************************************

{{  "This was the first time Allura had been taken while we were here," Lance said. 

Pidge nodded, "We did make it difficult for Lotor to get to her."

"It was one of the most terrifying moments of my life when I realized he had her," Keith told them.

Allura squeezed his hand and gave him a small smile, "I wasn't too worried, I knew you'd come and get me."

"We were lucky to have the best team in the Universe," he replied.

"And it was the first time I had ever seen Keith totally lose control," Lance spoke up.  "When we got to the guards, well, we'll get to that.  I was in Castle Control with Hunk when Keith's call came in…}}

Keith pushed through the bush, trying to catch another sight of Allura and Lotor.  "Do you have anything?"  He shouted into his communicator as he dodged a branch and leapt over a root.

Hunk was in Castle Control, connecting with the homing device implanted in Allura's communicator.  "The signal is weak, Captain, I think she's off the planet."

Keith swore loudly and turned around, running toward the castle, "I'll be there in thirty seconds, I want the Lions in the air in sixty."

"Copy that, Captain."

Bursting from the trees, Keith flew across the yard and into Castle Control.  "What are you waiting for!" He snapped, not stopping on his way to Black's entrance tube.

It had only taken them forty five seconds to get into the air.  Koran was manning Castle Control, watching the movement of the Princess' homing device.

"I know you don't want to hear this, Keith, but are we sure Allura still has her communicator on her?"  Lance asked.

"If she didn't, it probably still won't be moving," Hunk responded.  "If she had dropped it, the transmission would be still."

"It's getting stronger," Pidge called out.  "We're getting closer."

***********************************

Allura struggled against the rope tying her wrists together, trying to figure out what had just happened.  One moment she was looking over her shoulder, watching Keith let her win, the next she felt someone grip her arm and yank her into the woods.  A hand clamped over her mouth while an arm wrapped around her waist, lifting her off her feet.  She squirmed and screamed, but it all went unheard.  Keith called for her, she heard him, but she couldn't respond.  Before she knew it, she was carried onto a ship.

Lotor had dumped her onto the floor as the ship took off.  "Don't scream, Princess that really annoys me."

"What do you want?"  Allura asked, trying to stop her voice from shaking.

Without saying a word, Lotor raised an eyebrow and smirked.

Allura felt the bile rise in her throat and was afraid she was about to vomit all over his expensive uniform.  "You disgust me," she spat.

His hand shot out and slapped her across the face, "You need to learn a little respect, Princess."

She brought her face up to look at him, a trickle of blood oozing out of the side of her mouth, "As do you, Lotor."

"You always were feisty."  His gaze roamed over her body.

She moaned in disgust and brought her hand up to retaliate.  Lotor grabbed her wrist before she came in contact with him and twisted her arm behind her back, "Don't ever try that again."

"Let me go!"  She demanded, struggling against his grip.


Lotor called a guard over and had him hold her while he tied her hands behind her back.  "You will learn some respect, Princess," he assured her as he dragged her down the hallway of the ship.  They stopped in front of a door and he whirled her around to face him.  Bringing his face close to hers, he whispered.  "You are now of marrying age, Princess, and one of the most desirable women in the Universe.  We can be the most powerful couple known.  We could join forces and rule together."

"Never," she snarled.

Lotor leaned in to kiss her.  Allura turned her head quickly and felt nauseous when his wet lips pressed against her ear.

"You will be mine."  His breath was wet and hot against her cheek.

Lotor wrenched open the door and shoved her in, slamming the door behind her. 

With her arms tied behind her, Allura wasn't able to catch herself and she stumbled and fell, twisting her ankle painfully.  With a cry and tears in her eyes, she pulled herself over to the wall.  Her communicator was in her pocket and she struggled to get it, but it was just out of reach.  Taking deep breaths, she tried to calm herself.  Keith was on his way, she knew that and it helped her keep her composure.

*************************************

"I am assuming she is on a ship, Captain," Koran announced.  "They have been on a steady course, most likely towards Doom."

"How far out are we?"  Keith asked.

"If you keep up at this pace, you should reach them within four minutes."

"Alright, let us know if you notice any change in direction."

"Will do, Captain."

"Are we going to attack them in the air?"  Hunk asked.

"No, that wouldn't be safe for the Princess, we'll hang back, just out of radar range and follow them to Doom."  Keith was mentally berating himself.  Why did he let her go outside?  Not that he could really have stopped her.  She would have gone out alone, baiting him, and that would have been worse, they wouldn't have known she was gone.  What was going on with the two of them?  He could no longer deny his feelings for her, but what were his feelings?  There was attraction there and every time he saw her, he felt his stomach fall to his knees.  But it was just a silly crush and this had to stop.  If he was to be an effective leader, he had to be able to keep his mind on the task at hand.  Friendships could not get in the way of work.  And that brought Sven to mind. 

Anger, more intense than any he could ever remember feeling, filled Keith.  Damn Zarkon!  Damn Lotor!  Damn Doom!  They attack defenseless planets, kill innocents and take slaves.  This had always been a tough position, now it was personal.

*************************************

Allura grunted in frustration, blinking furiously, fighting back her tears.  Her wrists were rubbed raw by the rope, her ankle throbbed painfully and was already swollen, and her head pounded with frustration and unshed tears.  She took in her surroundings.  The walls were windowless and dark grey, the floor painfully hard, and the only light was coming through a small barred window in the door.

She stopped struggling and held her breath as she heard a key scrap against the lock.  Her heart pounded in her ears and her mouth went dry.  Was it Lotor?  What was he going to do with her tied up and helpless?

The door opened and a guard stuck his head in and grinned, "Well, what do ya know?  It is the Princess."  He turned and looked over his shoulder.  "Come see, Cullen, she's a mighty fine piece of ass."

"Get out here, Larvich, you know his Eminence would have your head if you touched her," a tired voice replied.

"Oh, she wouldn't tell Lotor if I had a little fun," the guard looked back at her, "would ya, you pretty little thing?"

Allura felt her lip curl in disgust.

The other guard, Cullen, sighed.  "Knock it off."

Larvich pushed the door open a bit further and stepped in, "I do like blondes."

Allura felt herself start to shake. 

"She looks terrified," he knelt down beside her.  "Don't be scared, pretty, it won't hurt.  Unless you're a virgin."

Allura turned her head away, feeling sick.

"Good evening, Your Eminence," Cullen said loudly.

Larvich winked at her and stood, walking back out to the hallway.  She heard him explain to Lotor, "I thought I heard a noise, sir, but she appears to be good."

"Good job men," Lotor swept into the room.  "How are you feeling, Princess?"

"Oh, I'm feeling great," she replied, sarcastically. 

"Good, glad to hear it.  Now if you promise not to fight, I'll untie your hands."

"Sorry, can't promise that."

"So you would rather stay in here, immobile?"

"Yup.  I won't be here long."

Lotor smiled, "What?  Do you think Voltron is coming after you?"

Allura glared at him.

"They don't know where you are, there has been no sign of them on the radar.  I'm sure they will come looking for you, but it will be quite a while before they find you and by then, it will be too late."

"What, uh, what do you mean 'too late'?"  She asked, trying to hide her nervousness.

"Well," he paced the small dark room.  "You can either marry me or you will be given to the guards.  I know for a fact Larvich has had his head turned by you."

"I'm sure they're on their way now, Lotor, and when they get here you'll have to answer to Keith."

Lotor stopped and looked down at her.  "Keith?  You're on a first name basis with your employees?  Either you're too soft or there is something more to this than it seems."

"Just because I don't treat my people as terribly as you treat yours doesn't mean there is anything going on," she muttered.

Lotor unsheathed the knife on his belt, "Well, Princess, you have until we land to make your decision.  Marry me and live a life of fortune and power or decline me and spend the rest of your life being passed from one guard to the next."  With that he turned on his heel and left, slamming the door behind him.

Allura swallowed hard.  Obviously, Lotor didn't know Keith had been with her when he took her.  The Lions would have been in the air moments after she disappeared, they would have followed her homing signal and they would get her.  They were coming for her, they had to be.

*********************************

Keith pulled back on Black's thrusters and slowed down.  They were roughly twenty feet from Lotor's radar range.  According to Koran's coordinates, they were roughly ten minutes from Doom.

His heart pounded and his palms were sweating.  Lotor's feelings for Allura were well known and it frightened him to think about what he might do to the Princess.  Keith tried his hardest to push those thoughts from his mind.  She would fight back, hard.  If Lotor was going to try anything with her, Allura would be sure to make him pay.  She had been working out and learning martial arts.  They had taught her to defend herself and she was a great student.

"They've slowed, preparing for a descent," Koran announced.

"Okay, hang back a second men," Keith said.  "Let them land."

"Keith, don't you think they'll notice us landing on Doom?"  Lance asked.

"Yes, but we'll be ready.  Pidge, Hunk you will stay with the Lions, fire as needed.  Lance, you and I are going to get the Princess."  Keith instructed as they approached Doom.  "When they land, they will shut down the ship and turn off their radar. By the time the castle realizes we're here, we better have the Princess."

The Lions touched down about a hundred yards from the ship.  Green and Yellow crouched in a fighting position while Keith and Lance silently exited Red and Black.

"Stay with me and keep quiet," Keith hissed to Lance.

"Yes, sir."

They hurried past old, twisted trees and random clumps of dead grass towards Lotor's ship.  No one had exited the ship yet, but the door had opened and the gangplank dropped.  After a moment, two guards exited and stood at either side of the entrance.  Keith and Lance watched, crouching behind a bush, as Lotor glided down the plank, flanked by two more guards, his cape swirling around him. 

"Come on," Keith whispered, creeping toward the ship.


The two men quickly disposed of the guards, knocking the out with the butts of their blasters.

********************************************

Allura held her breath and listened as the two guards spoke quietly outside her door.

"Lotor said we could have her if she didn't agree to marry him, I heard it meself."

"Don't get your hopes up, Larvich, he only said that to scare her."

"Nah, I think he meant it."

"You're a fool, she won't let you lay one hand on her."

"That little thing?  I could take her with one arm tied behind my back.  Hmmm…maybe I'll try that."

Cullen chuckled, "You're a sick man."

"Hey, not all of us have a woman in the kitchen.  What you see in that girl I will never know."

"Watch it, Larvich, I'm not afraid to kick your ass."

"Oh I was just kidding, you know that Cullen.  Tell you what, watch out for me, I want to get my hands on that pretty little thing in there."

"Don't do it. Lotor will kill you."

"He won't know.  I just want to touch her, feel her hair, her legs.  Did you see her rack?  She is one sweet piece of ass."

Allura shivered uncontrollably and pulled her knees up.  A key scrapped against the lock and a small sob escaped her lips.

**********************************************

Keith looked around a corner and saw the two guards beside a door, talking quietly.  He hid around the corner and listened, hoping they would give a hint as to where the Princess was. 

Lance watched as Keith listened.  The Captain's face paled and his knuckles whitened as they tightened around his blaster as they listened.

Without a word, Keith whirled around the corner, brandishing his gun.  Cullen saw him first and raised his weapon but was cut down with a single shot from Keith.  Larvich turned, the key in the lock and reached for his gun.  Before his hand reached the holster, Keith was on him, pummeling him with his bare hands.


"Keith," Lance grabbed Keith's arm and tried to pull him off the guard.  "Keith, come on, let's get the Princess and get out of here."

Keith brought his fist into Larvich's face again and again, anger and hatred giving him strength.  An angry red haze clouded his vision and dulled the pain in his fist as he pounded the guard.

"Keith!"  Lance holstered his blaster and pulled the Black pilot off the other man.

Larvich laid motionless, blood pouring from his nose, obviously broken, and his mouth, where a few teeth were missing.

"Come on, let's get out of here."

Keith rose to his feet and turned the key that was still stuck in the lock.

Allura turned her face from the door.  She had heard the commotion and thought she had heard Lance's voice, but she was afraid to hope.

Keith pushed the door open and felt a rush of relief and  renewed anger at what he saw.  Allura was curled up against the wall, her hair a tangled mess, her dress torn and dirty, and her hands tied behind her back.  He fell to his knees beside her.  "Allura, are you okay?"

She looked up and saw Keith crouching beside her and Lance standing by the door.  "Yeah, I'm okay."

Keith pulled a knife from his belt and sliced through her restraints.  "Did he, uh, did he touch you?"

"No," she rubbed her sore wrists.  "I'm okay, really."

He stood and offered her his hands, "Let's get out of here."

She took his hands and allowed him to help her up.  As soon as she put weight on her ankle, it buckled beneath her.  "I twisted my ankle," she said apologetically.

"Alright, come here."  Keith wrapped an arm around her waist and helped her hobble toward the door.  "Let's get you off this ship and back to Arus, then we'll take a look at your ankle."

Lance hurried over to help, "I think I hear footsteps, let's get out of here."

"Well, isn't this sweet?"

They were greatly outnumbered, Lotor stood with half a dozen guards.  One guard reached out and wrenched the blaster from Lance's hand while another disarmed Keith.


Lotor clucked his tongue, "And what did you do to poor Larvich?"  He kicked at the unconscious guard.  "He was one of my favorites."

"He's still alive," Lance told him.

"Yes, well, we don't have time to wait for him to recover."  Lotor took Lance's blaster and shot Larvich between the eyes.  Allura gasped and turned her head to Keith's shoulder.

"Let us go, Lotor," Keith said in his best commander voice.

"Yeah, okay, whatever," Lotor rolled his eyes.  "You'll stay here until I tell father I have a gift for him."  He left the room, shutting and locking the door behind him, leaving three guards.

Lance ran his hands over the door and the walls, looking for a way out.  Keith carefully helped Allura into a sitting position and pulled his communicator out.

"We're not getting a signal in here," Keith said, punching various buttons on his communicator.

"What do you mean?"  Allura asked.


"We followed her homing device," Lance pointed out.

"The homing devices have stronger signals than the actual communicators," Keith explained.  "But don't worry, Hunk will realize soon that something's wrong.  Anything Lance?"

"No, the walls are completely smooth, no chance of a loose rock or anything and the lock is an electronic based device so I don't have the proper tools to pick it," Lance kicked the door.

Allura watched the two men while rubbing her wrists and rolling her sore shoulders.  "So we wait?"

Keith sat down beside her, "Unfortunately."

Lance paced in front of them, "How will Hunk know where to find us?  And how will they get past the guards?"

"Hunk and Pidge are great soldiers, they'll figure it out."  Keith assured him.

***************************************

"It's been fifteen minutes," Pidge told Hunk.

"Koran," Hunk opened a line of communication to the Castle of Lions.  "Do you have a reading on their homing devices?"

"Yes, the three of them are together and they haven't moved in a while."

"Damn," Hunk whispered.  "Alright, buddy, ready to go?"

"Yeah, let's go get them!"  Pidge yelled, opening the hatch on Green.

The two pilots raced toward the ship.  They watched as Lotor left with two guards.

"What do we do, Hunk?"

"If they're captured, then Lotor probably know we're here."

"So we charge, weapons blazing and hope for the best?"  Pidge asked.

"Well, maybe not charge," Hunk muttered.  "Follow me."

They made their way onto the ship and down the main hallway, keeping to the wall.

"Look for guards," Hunk whispered, fitting a silencer to his blaster.  "The three of them will be under heavy guard."

"There," Pidge pointed to the door where three guards paced in front of it.

Hunk flattened himself against the wall as best he could, "That's our best guess.  Ready?"

Pidge nodded.

Hunk aimed his blaster and took out the closest guard.  The two others whirled around, weapons drawn.  Shots were exchanged on both sides, Hunk was hit in the arm and Pidge was grazed on the temple.  But the two Voltron pilots had the upper hand, standing around a corner in the corridor, using it as a shield.

Keith and Lance both stood at the door, ears pressed against the cold metal.  Shots were fired and Keith was sure he heard a silenced blaster shot.  He turned quickly and walked to Allura.

"Sounds like the Calvary's here," he told her, offering her his hand.  "Let's get ready to run."

Allura stood and leaned heavily on Keith.

"Hey, Captain, you in there?"  Hunk called through the door.


"Yeah, Hunk, get us out of here!"

"Stand back!  I can't find a key, I'm going to try and shoot the lock!"

Keith and Lance stepped back and to the side, shielding Allura with their bodies.  It took three shots before the lock malfunctioned and Pidge pushed the door open.


"Come on, let's go," Hunk waved them out with his right arm, blood pouring down his left.

"Oh, Hunk, what happened," Allura gasped as she hobbled from the room.

"It's nothing," he assured her.

"It's just a flesh wound," Lance declared in a bad British accent.

Hunk smiled and cuffed Lance upside the head as they hurried down the hall.

"Come on," Lance said to Pidge.  "Let's make sure it's clear."  The two of them rushed ahead.

"Are you doing alright?"  Keith asked Allura.  They were moving too slowly for his taste, but she was in obvious pain.

"Yeah, let's get out of here," she said through gritted teeth.  She stopped suddenly at the sound of shots fired.

Hunk swore, "Come on, Cap, I got you covered."

Keith bent an arm under Allura's knees and swept her up into his arms.  With Hunk running ahead of them Keith ran toward Black.  Keith groaned when he felt a laser hit his left shoulder, but they were far enough away that it was not more than a burn.  He made it to Black before the others made it to their Lions, but they were close behind.  Keith helped the Princess into the cockpit and fired up the Lion.

"Roll call!"  Keith called as the Lions all lifted off Doom.

"Here," Lance said.  "A little sore and with a little less blood in me, but I don't think it's anything serious."

"Same here," Pidge called out, swiping at the blood that ran from the wound on his temple.


Hunk gritted his teeth as he steered Yellow into the sky.

"Hunk!"  Keith called.

"Yeah, Cap, I'm here.  A little worse for wear, but I'm here."

"Alright, let's get to Arus.  You can all go straight to the hospital wing when we get there."  Keith shut off the open lines of communication, put the Lion on auto pilot, and turned to the Princess.  "How're you holding up, Allura?"

"I'm alright, a little sore," she admitted.

Keith leaned over to get the first aid kit from under his seat when he heard her gasp.  "What's wrong?"

"You were hit," she placed a hand on his right shoulder and held him down so she could examine the burn.  His flight suit was singed and had a hole that showed his burned flesh beneath.

"I'm fine," he shrugged her hand off his shoulder and sat up.  "Let me see your ankle."

She blushed slight, "I can wait until we get to the castle, let me look at your shoulder."

Without saying a word, Keith gingerly lifted her right foot and set it on his lap.  He pulled an elastic bandage from the first aid kit and set it aside.  Allura shivered at the feel of his fingers brushing against her inflamed ankle. 

"I don't think it's broken," he murmured, stroking her skin.  "You'll need to keep it elevated and put some ice on it."  He went about wrapping her ankle tightly.  When he finished, he reached back into the first aid kit and pulled out a small packet, offering it to her.  "They're pain pills, they dissolve in your mouth so you don't need water."

Allura nodded, tears in her eyes, and carefully lowered her foot to the ground.

"Is the pain that bad?"  He asked worriedly.

"No, thank you."  She ripped open the pills and popped them into her mouth.

Keith leaned forward and stroked a finger down her cheek, "Are you sure you're okay?"

She blinked rapidly and nodded.

"I shouldn't have let you go outside.  I knew it wasn't safe."

"No," Allura whispered.  "Don't blame yourself.  I was being impetuous and immature.  If you weren't there, who knows what would've…"

He nodded, letting her unfinished thought hang in the air.

"Thank you."

"What?"

Allura locked her gaze with his, "Thank you.  For rescuing me."

Keith flashed her a smile, "Anytime, your Highness."

Allura leaned forward and carefully brushed her lips over his.

Keith jumped back, startled.  Allura misread his reaction and blushed furiously, turning away from him.  "Sorry, Captain, I just, uh, thank you."

He reached out and cupped her cheek, forcing her to look at him.  "You're welcome."  Bringing her to him, Keith kissed her gently.  He was about to deepen the kiss and take from her everything he ever wanted when a beeping filled the air.

They jumped apart like two naughty children.

"Yeah, Whitaker," Keith said hoarsely as he opened the lines of communication again.

"How is the Princess?"  Koran asked.

"I'm fine," Allura responded quietly.

"We're about ten minutes from Arus," Hunk announced.

"Have Dr. Gorma ready," Keith told Koran.  "We'll need to have everyone checked out.

"Yes, sir."  Koran nodded and sent a guard to warn the doctor.

***************************************

Keith made his way from the hospital wing to his study.  They had all been examined by Dr. Gorma.  Lance and Pidge had some scrapes and bruises, but were overall okay.  Allura's ankle was twisted, but she would be fine in a day or two.  Nanny had ushered her to her room so she could fawn over the Princess.  Hunk had been injured the worst, with five stitches in his arm and had to stay in the hospital over night for observation, Dr. Gorma wanted to make sure he didn't come down with an infection.

Allura had insisted Dr. Gorma check Keith out as well.  He had a second degree burn on his shoulder and needed to apply a salve and dressing to it twice a day, but he would be fine.

Shutting the door behind him, Keith walked over to his desk.  He needed to think.  What had happened today?  Not her kidnapping, but before and after.  Did she really have feelings for him?  Or was she really just showing her gratitude?  Could they really have any kind of relationship?

Lance had always picked on him during their Academy days, saying he thought about it too much.  Lance had told him repeatedly, if you found a girl attractive, go for it, don't stop and over analyze everything.  But it wasn't that easy for Keith.  He wasn't just going to hand over his time, his feelings, his heart to some girl he hardly knew.

He sighed when there was a knock on the door.  He was afraid it was Allura and he wanted to see her and yet he didn't.

"Come in."

The door slid open and to his surprise, Koran entered.

"How do you feel, Captain?"

"I'm alright, sir, thank you.  Please, come in, have a seat."

Koran settled into the chair across from the desk, looking tired.  "I was pleased to hear that everyone is going to be alright."

Keith nodded.


"But I feel I need to speak with you, Captain."

"What about?"

"The Princess is coming of age, Captain.  It is important for her to marry someday, hopefully soon, and produce an heir.  Lotor seems to think he should be the one to help her with that."

Keith clenched his teeth but kept quiet.

"It is important for the future of Arus that Princess Allura marries soon," Koran continued.  "There have been arrangements made, Princes from throughout this Universe and others will come and visit the Princess, maybe even start courting her."

"Why are you telling me all this, Koran?"

"Because, Captain, in the past few months I have noticed how you and the Princess have become close friends and I wanted to make sure it stayed that, just friends."

"What are you implying?"  Keith asked, the first licks of irritation entering his mind.

"Let me put it to you this way, Captain, the Princess cannot be with a commoner.  If she ever wanted to marry outside of royalty, she would be forced to give up her throne."

Keith sat back and watched the advisor quietly, not quite sure what to think.

"It's a law put in the books hundreds of years ago.  Princess Allura is the last of her lineage, she has to marry royalty to continue on as ruler of Arus.  If she were ever to marry a commoner, who would rule in her place?  It would be the end of Arus."

Keith swallowed hard and nodded.