Lance sprang into action.  He ran from the ball room with Allura at his heels, unclipping his communicator from his belt and contacting Hunk and Pidge.


"Pidge, I want you in Castle Control, now!  Get a signal from Keith's homing device.  Hunk, find Koran, have him get Miss Remikade to the hospital wing and have her checked out, then meet us in Castle Control."

"Yes, sir!"  The two men chimed.

Allura stayed close to Lance as he hurried toward Castle Control, waving off interruptions and ignoring anyone who tried to question him.  As they approached the control center, Nanny grabbed Allura by the arm and pulled her to a stop.

"What is going on?"  The older woman demanded.

"Lotor has Keith, we're going to go rescue him.  I need you and Koran to make sure everyone is calm, I have to go."  She wrenched her arm from Nanny's grasp and followed Lance into Castle Control.

"I've got it Lance!"  Pidge called from the main console.  "It's moving, they're heading Southeast, towards Doom."

"Alright gang, gather round," Lance waved Hunk, Pidge, and Allura over.  "We already know Keith is injured, we just don't know how bad.  The most important thing is that we get him back here as quickly as possible, since we only have four pilots, we can't form Votron.  We'll head to Doom and perform a covert mission, sneaking into the castle.  Shoot as necessary.  Hunk, when we find Keith, we will most likely need you to get him on the Lion, got it?"

"Yes, sir," all three replied.

"To your Lions!"

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

Keith grunted as Lotor's fist came in contact with his stomach. The pain was excruciating.  One of the guards had roughly tied a strip of fabric around his shoulder to try and stem the bleeding, but it didn't.  His shoulder throbbed and his arm was going numb.  Having both arms held tightly behind his back didn't help either.

"You fool," Lotor spat.  "I thought you were screwing the redhead, wasn't she enough?"

Keith didn't answer.

"You will answer when I ask you a question."  Lotor slammed his fist into Keith's face, sending his head snapping backwards.  Grabbing the Voltron Captain's uninjured shoulder, he pulled him from the guards grasp and closer to him, "I saw you look at the Princess.  She is above you, beyond you.  She is mine.  If I ever find out that you so much as touched her, I will kill you in the slowest, most painful way possible."  Lotor threw him to the ground.  "As it is, you will be further proof to my father that Voltron is not unattainable for us."

Keith waited until the door slid shut and rolled over onto his back, gasping for breath, trying to block out the pain.  He struggled to reach his communicator only to see it on the floor a few feet away, smashed.  He swore and closed his eyes.

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

"We lost the connection," Pidge called through the open communication line.

"What?"  Lance yelled back.

"The homing signal, it's gone."

"Damn," Lance swore.

"It probably means Lotor discovered the communicator," Hunk pointed out.

"We'll continue on course to Doom," Lance instructed before opening a private line to Blue.  "How're you holding up, Princess?"

She gave him a steely glare, "I'm fine."

"We'll get him back."

"I know."

"He'll be fine."

"I know, Lance, why are you telling me this?"

"Because I think you need to hear it."

Allura stared at him, at a loss for words.

"We've got a ship on radar, Lance," Hunk said.  "I think it might be Lotor's."

"Alright, hang back a bit," Lance told him.  "We want to try and stay out of their radar range."

It seemed to take forever, but in reality it had taken them twenty minutes to reach Doom.  They carefully lowered the Lions about half a mile from the Doom Castle.  The planet was showing signs of wear, the woods were dark and mostly dead.  The ground was all brown and dry, the small buildings surrounding the castle were dilapidated, and the castle itself was starting to crack and crumble.

Allura involuntarily shuddered as she slipped from Blue, her weapon in hand.

"Stay behind us," Lance hissed at her.  "If anything happens to you, Keith will have our heads."

Allura scowled at him.

Lance led the way, creeping along the treeline, dodging around small homes.  Hunk followed, then the Princess and Pidge bringing up the rear.

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

Two guards entered the small closet where Keith was lying.  They pulled him roughly to his feet, earning a groan of pain from the nearly unconscious man.  He was half carried, half dragged off the ship and into the Castle. 

Zarkon greeted his son in the throne room, "Were to finally able to get your Princess?"  He asked sarcastically.

"Even better, Father, I have Captain Keith Whitaker of the Voltron Force," Lotor declared proudly.

Zarkon raised a thick black eyebrow, a look of amusement on his face, "Oh, do you?  Where is he?"

"The guards are bringing him in."

"This could be interesting," Zarkon rose slowly from his throne as the door opened and Keith was dragged into the room.  "Fool!  He's injured."

"I had to, Father, he was threatening me.  And so what if he is?  We don't need him," Lotor said eagerly.  "With him out of the way, we can get the Princess without a problem."

"Forget that, you fool, forget that little trollop, we want something bigger, something better.  With the Captain as a bargaining chip, I bet we can get the Princess to hand over the Keys to the Lions."


"What?  Why would she do that?  She wouldn't hand over the keys just for the Captain."

"Haggar!"  Zarkon called for the witch before turning to his son.  "Are you really that stupid?  There is more than just an employer/employee relationship going on between the Princess and the Captain."

"I know they're friends, but she wouldn't give up her planet for him."  Lotor insisted.

"Yes, M'Lord," Haggar appeared at Zarkon's side, cradling her cat in her arms.

"See what you can do for the Captain.  Take him to the upper dungeon and heal him, but not completely, we do want him still under our control."

Lotor watched as the guards carried the unconscious man out of the room, Haggar gliding behind them.  "You don't know what your doing, Father."

Zarkon ignored him, "As soon as he's healed, we'll contact Arus, see about swapping."

"Father, Princess Allura will not swap him for the Lions!  She won't do that for some Captain who can be easily replaced!"

"No," Zarkon lowered himself onto his throne with a smug smile.  "But she will do it for the man she loves."

Lotor paled, remembering the Princess' reaction to Keith being shot.  "But…but he's nothing, a commoner."

"Love knows nothing about titles or boundaries."

Anger turned Lotor's face a dark, vivid purple, "And what do you know about love?"  He turned on his heel and whirled around, storming from the room.

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

Lance scanned the castle from his vantage point behind a clump of dried bushes.  He could see only one entrance and it was surrounded by at least a dozen guards. 

"Psst, Lance," Hunk hissed.

Lance looked over his shoulder to see the big man crouching down, holding a scared young man by the arm.  "What's going on, Hunk?"

"I just found Fforden here, he says he knows a back way into the castle," Hunk whispered.

Lance looked the boy over, he couldn't have been more than sixteen and was emaciated to the point of starvation, "Who are you?"

His voice shook as he spoke, "I, uh, I'm a, uh, a slave f-for K-king Zarkon."

"Why are you willing to help us?"

"If…if I h-help you, can I, uh, c-can I come with you?"

Lance sighed, they didn't really have a choice, "If you can help us get in and out with our Captain you can come with us.  Any funny business and we shoot you on the spot, got it?"

A flash of hope flitted across Fforden's face, "Yes, sir."

"Now tell me what you know."

"There is a, uh, a large tree by the, uh, the northwest corner of the castle, near the tallest battlement.  Just behind the tree is a small, white stone in the wall, press it and a door opens, leading to a secret pathway through the castle.  It leads to the dungeons and the throne room."

Lance rubbed his chin, he knew they didn't have a lot of time and Keith was in danger.  "Alright, you lead the way, take us to the dungeons and then lead us out.  Try anything and we take you down."

Fforden nodded excitedly.  The worst that could happen is that he be discovered by one of the guards and he was shot to death, the best thing would be leaving Doom forever. 

Lance stayed low, creeping behind the young man, followed by Allura, Hunk, and Pidge.  They found the tree and the white stone.  The tunnel they entered was dark and dank, the sound of water dripping echoed around them.  Lance kept his weapon trained on Fforden's back as they followed him deeper into the castle and almost ran into him when the boy stopped short.  The sound of heels clicking on the stone floor had them all pressing back against the wall in the shadows of the tunnel.

Keys jangled and a door creaked open, there was some shuffling and then Lotor's voice.

"Do you love Princess Allura?" 

Lance could feel Allura tremble beside him.

"No."  Came Keith's hoarse response.


There was the unmistakable sound of bone on bone as Lotor punched Keith in the face.

Allura gasped, but stopped when Lance clutched her arm.

Lotor leaned over Keith who was on his hands and knees, he grabbed a handful of black hair and yanked the Captain's head back.  "Don't make me ask again, do you love her?"

"No, she's just a job," Keith hissed through clenched teeth. 

Lotor struck Keith again, causing him to hit the floor against his still sore shoulder.  Whatever magic Haggar had used had closed the wound, but did very little to stop the pain.

"Does she love you?" 

"I don't know."

Lotor's foot shot out and the tip of his pointed boot came in sharp contact with Keith's ribs.  "That is not the answer I want, does she love you?"

Lance squeezed Allura's arm, feeling her shake against him.

"No," Keith groaned.

Lotor kicked him again and then yanked him up by the hair, "You are nothing!  You cannot have her!  You are nothing!  A pilot!  You fool!" 

The Force members listened as Lotor pummeled their Captain.  Lance chanced a glance around the corner and saw four guards in front of the door, at least three others a little further down the hall and who knew if there were any more inside the cell with Lotor.  If they tried to attack now, they would not only be outnumbered but it was definitely a death sentence for Keith.

"Don't lie to me!"  Lotor roared.  "I have your life in my hands right now!"

Allura let out a small cry that had Hunk putting a hand over her mouth.  Silent tears bounced off his thumb as he silenced her.

"You cannot have her!  If it wasn't that my Father wanted you, I would kill you know, you worthless piece of dung."  Lotor pushed him to the floor again, standing over him.  "You are below her, you can never have her!"  With one last kick, Lotor whirled from the room, swirling his cape around him.

Keith rolled onto his back, his arm over his sore chest.  Pain radiated through his beaten body and he prayed for unconsciousness to come back and take all this away.

Lance watched as Lotor stormed past their hidden doorway, flanked by four guards.  He waited a moment before looking around the corner to see only three guards by the door.  "Hunk, Pidge, come with me, Allura, hang back and cover us."

With three quick shots, they disposed of the three guards.  Hunk patted down the fallen men to find they didn't have any keys.  Not wanting to waste time, Lance blew the lock off the door with one shot.  They found Keith curled up on the floor somewhere between awake and asleep.

"Hunk," Lance whispered.

Without another word, Hunk carefully lifted Keith and slung him over his shoulder.  Pidge stood at the door keeping watch out, with the coast clear, he waved them through.

Fforden led the way, followed by Pidge, Allura, Hunk, and finally Lance.  Pidge had to take out a guard and Lance had to take down two more before they made it to the Lions.  Keith was strapped into Yellow with Hunk while Fforden climbed into Green with Pidge.

Very little was said as they flew at full speed back to Arus.  Keith had slipped into unconsciousness and remained so for the entire trip.  It took them just over twenty minutes to land on the green field behind the castle. 

Dr. Gorma met them at the door with a gurney and a nurse.  Lance handed Fforden over to Koran to be searched and questioned before joining the rest of the Force in the waiting room.

"Where's Allura?"  He asked Pidge.

"She, uh, she said she was going to get a shower and change."

Lance sighed heavily and sank into the chair beside him.

"What is going on between Keith and Allura?"  Pidge asked suddenly.

"I don't know," Lance murmured, leaning his head back and closing his eyes.

"We're not stupid, Lance, something is going on and things have been rather tense lately.   If Allura is out of Keith's sight for too long, he flips out.  If you mention Euclida Remikade in front of Allura, you practically see the steam coming out of her ears."

"It's none of our business, Pidge."

"With all due respect, Lance," Hunk spoke up.  "If it affects all of us, it is our business.  You saw how she was behaving, she was actually crying during the rescue."

"They're in love with each other, but they can't be together."  Lance opened his eyes when there was no response and took in the open mouthed stares of his teammates. 

"Why can't they be together?"  Pidge asked after a moment.

Lance rubbed the back of his neck and looked at his friends, "You know what, maybe you guys can help me.  First of all, you can't tell Keith I told you about this."

Hunk and Pidge looked at each other, unsure about keeping something from their commander.

"He asked me not to tell Allura, but he didn't say anything about you guys and you can help me find a way around it."

"Alright, what is it?"  Hunk asked.

Lance explained to them everything Keith had told him about the law and how he could never be with Allura.  "Now, without telling Keith, I want to find this law.  I find it rather hard to believe."

"It could very well be true," Pidge said, pushing his glasses up his nose.  "There are many monarchies that refuse to allow marriage outside of royalty."

"We have to find a way around the law then," Lance said.  "We have to do it for Keith and Allura."

"Do you really think they're in love?"  Hunk asked.

"Yes, I do.  And think about it, the two of them are perfect together and miserable apart."

"But Allura doesn't know about this law?"  Pidge asked.

"I don't know.  Keith doesn't want her to know about the conversation he had with Koran.  But if we can find a way around this law, then Keith will be free to tell Allura how he feels."

Hunk quietly paced the room while Pidge stared at the tips of his boots. 

"Guys?"

"Alright," Hunk sighed.

Pidge looked up, "I know where the books on Arusian law are in the library."

Lance grinned, "You guys are awesome."

"Lieutenant."

Lance jumped to his feet when Dr. Gorma entered the room.  "How is he?"

"He's taken a beating.  He has a cracked rib, a sprained wrist, a dislocated shoulder, and numerous bumps and bruises.  The shot to his arm had been healed, probably by the witch.  I'm keeping him here overnight for observation, then I'll probably let him go to his room tomorrow, but I won't know for sure until he wakes."

Lance nodded, "Thank you, Doctor.  Can we see him?"

"He's asleep now and I gave him something that will keep him asleep through the night.  I would suggest you come back in the morning."

"Will you contact me if there are any changes or if he wakes?"

"Of course, Lieutenant."

"What now, Lance?"  Pidge asked as they filed out of the hospital.

"I'm going to check on Allura, you guys can go grab something to eat."

"I'm not really hungry," Pidge admitted.  "I'm going to head to the library."

Lance clapped him on the shoulder, "I'll meet you there in a little while."

*********

Allura sat on her vanity bench and pulled a brush through her hair.  She had cried herself tired in the shower.  Why she was crying, she wasn't sure.  Was it because Keith didn't love her?  Was it because her feelings were so obvious to everyone and he didn't return them?   Was that why he had been running hot and cold with her?  He didn't know how to act around her knowing how she felt.

She heaved a sigh and laid her brush on the vanity.  Staring at her reflection in the mirror, Allura resolved to change.  It was time for her to grow up, give up on childish crushes.

As she sat there, she rationalized her behavior.  She wasn't a stupid girl.  The members of the Force were the first men, aside from her father and Koran, who she had spent any amount of time with.  They rode to her rescue on their white horses, or rather their giant mechanical lions, and saved her planet.  They were all funny and kind.  Of course she would be attracted to their leader, a strong, smart, kind, handsome man.  And funny.  He did have a sweet sort of sense of humor that came out when you least expected it.  And he always thought of everyone else before himself.  As soon as the ground had thawed, he had helped her till the soil and plant flowers where her mother's garden had once been.  He had put so much time and effort into protecting her planet and her people.  He was the most amazing man she had ever known.  And she was head over heels in love with him.

With a groan, Allura buried her hands in her face, thankful that she had cried herself dry.

"Allura?"  Lance called softly as he knocked on the door.

She lifted her head and checked her appearance in the mirror.  There really wasn't much use in lying to him.  She stood and crossed to open the door.  Lance greeted her with a concerned look and a gentle smile.

"How're you doing?"  He asked.

"I'm fine, how's the Captain?"

"He's pretty beat up, but Dr. Gorma said he'll be alright.  He should be able to return to his room tomorrow."

"Good, good.  Glad to hear that."

"Allura," he reached out and took her hand.  "Everything will be alright."

"No it won't Lance!"  She pulled her hand from his and angrily paced her room.  "I was a total waste today!"

"What are you talking about?"

"I was completely useless on the rescue."

"No you weren't…"

"Yes I was!  You guys had to watch out for me, Hunk had to put a hand over my mouth so I wouldn't give us away, I had to stay back when you went to get…to get Keith."

"Allura, you had our backs and, well, it's okay.  You aren't as used to this as we are.  Do you think it was easy for me? He's my best friend, Allura, it took every ounce of willpower and control that I have to keep from running in there guns blazing.  You did fine and you will only get better with time."

She sank onto the edge of her bed, her face in her hands.

"It will come with time, Allura, I swear it," Lance walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder.  "You cannot give up, we need you.  Arus needs you."

"I know that Lance," She looked up at him with wet eyes and twisted her hands in her lap.  "I just don't know how much longer I can do this.  I am so tired."

He knelt before her and took her hands in his, "Don't say that."

"There is so much going on…"

"And we're here for you.  All you have to do is ask and we'll help."

"…and I don't know how much more I can take…"

"You're a strong woman hitting a rough patch, you can't let it stop you."

"…and I'm in love with a man who doesn't love me back…"  A sob tore from deep within her and she ripped her hands from his, burying her face again.

Lance sat on the bed beside her and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close.  "That's not true," he whispered.

"You h-heard him," she sobbed.

"He was telling Lotor what he wanted to hear, he was trying to protect you."

"He said I was just a job."

"Allura, you are not just a job to any of us."

"What about E-Euclida?"

"They broke up tonight."

She looked up at him with red eyes.

"Tonight at the ball, he told me about it before Lotor arrived."

"Why?  They were so perfect together."


"No, Allura, they weren't.  It wasn't fair for him to lead her on when he couldn't love her."

"Oh no," she gasped, running the back of her hands over her cheeks.  "I said some terrible things to him tonight."

"Don't worry about it."

"No, what if…what if he had…what if something really bad had happened to him and the last thing I said to him was that I demanded more respect.  I was really mean to him."

Lance smiled at her, "Don't worry about it."  He walked over to her vanity to retrieve a box of tissues.

She twisted the tissue in her hands and stared at her lap for quite a few minutes, worrying Lance.


"What is it, Allura?"

"You think he likes me?"  She whispered.

"It's complicated, Allura" Lance sighed.  "But don't ever think that he doesn't care for you."

She jumped to her feet, "I have to see him."

"Dr. Gorma said he will be unconscious for a while, probably until morning."

"I don't care."  And with that she swept from her room, leaving Lance sitting on her bed watching her go.

"Ach!"  Nanny appeared in the doorway.  "What are you doing in the Princess' room?"

Lance stood, placing the tissues on her bedside table, "Causing trouble."

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

Allura nodded to the nurse on duty and entered Keith's room.  Dr. Gorma stood beside the bed, making notes on his chart.


"How is he, Doctor?"  Allura whispered.

"Your Highness," he bowed.  "He'll be fine in a couple of days."

"Still sleeping?"

"Yes, Princess, he's strongly medicated and I don't expect him to wake any time soon."

Allura crept to the bedside.  Keith laid on the bed, his shoulder wrapped in gauze, a bright purple bruise stood out on his pale face. 

Dr. Gorma snapped the file shut, "I have things to attend to, if you need anything, just call."

Allura nodded, "Thank you."

He crept from the room, shutting the door behind him.

As soon as she was alone, Allura sank into the chair beside the bed, "Well, it looks like you're going to be fine.  I'm glad, I was worried."  She straightened the blanket and smoothed out the wrinkles.  "So, uh, so Lance tells me you and, uh, you and Euclida broke up.  I'm sorry to hear that."  Gently stroking the back of his hand, Allura felt tears gather in her eyes.  "You guys have been here for just over a year and I have become close to all of you.  I just couldn't imagine my life without you guys.  In Hunk and Pidge I have found the big and little brothers I've always wanted.  Lance, well, Lance is Lance.  I love him dearly, he has become one of the closest friends I've ever had and I don't know what I would do without him.  My memories of Sven will always be fond.  He was a great man and I will miss him forever."

She sighed and slipped her fingers through his, "And then there is you, Captain Keith Whitaker.  I don't know what to think about you.  Lance says it's complicated, but I don't understand why.  I don't know how to explain my feelings for you, I think because I don't fully understand them myself.  I think…I think," she lowered her voice to barely whisper.  "I think I love you, Keith, and I don't know what to do about it."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

AUTHOR'S NOTE:  I just wanted to comment on a question in a review from a while ago.  The first fanfic I wrote was called 'Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder', it was my first shot at a K/A story.  Originally I was going to tie this into that story, now I've decided otherwise.  So if you've read that story, you can pretend you never did :)

Thanks for the awesome reviews!  You guys rock!

Failte