Hi all,

I just wanted to thank you again for your wonderful, thoughtful, and insightful reviews.  I've said this before, but as much as I am enjoying writing this, the fact that you are reading it and enjoying it makes all the time and effort I'm putting into this worthwhile.  Thank you!

You know how it goes, none of this is mine, except for the plot and any characters you don't recognize from the show or comics.

Enjoy,

Failte

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

Keith stood slowly and looked down at Allura.  She met his gaze.

"We're not done talking about this," she whispered.  "We need you and it would be very irresponsible of you to just leave."

"I know."

She held her hand up so he could help her to her feet.  As soon as she was standing, Allura dropped his hand and, ignoring her headache and tunnel vision, she gripped her skirt and stalked from the room. Keith followed her, dialing up the other Force members on his communicator.

"Guys, meet me in Castle Control, now.  Koran has word that Zarkon was injured."

"On my way."

"Aye, Captain."

"No problem, Keith."

Koran looked up as the door opened and the Princess entered, pale and bruised.  "Your Highness, how are you?  Should you be out of bed?"

"I want to know what's going on, Koran," Allura said, lowering herself into the chair by the console.

"Lance, Hunk, and Pidge are on their way," Keith announced.

Koran nodded, tapping his fingers against the clipboard he held.

Keith stood at the console, avoiding Allura, watching the radar.

"I hear you have some good news for us," Lance declared, sweeping into the room, followed by Hunk and Pidge.

Koran shook his head and looked down at the papers he held, "We received word about ten minutes ago that Zarkon was mortally wounded and will most likely be dead by nightfall."

"What happened?"  Keith crossed his arms over his chest and leaned on the console.

"The castle sustained some serious damage and he was hit by fallen debris.  Zarkon has yet to regain consciousness and probably won't."

"What about Lotor?"  Pidge asked.

"As far as we know, he was uninjured."

Allura shifted in her chair, trying to ignore the pain splitting her skull, "What does this mean for Doom?"

"I'm sure Lotor is mad enough that he will want revenge," Keith muttered.

"But will he be as strong as his father had been?"  Koran pointed out.

"Does he still have the witch?"  Hunk asked.

"As far as we know."

Keith sighed, "We will probably have a few days while Lotor regroups.  He will need to concentrate on rebuilding his castle and getting his men together.  Any word on other casualties?"

Koran checked his papers, "A few soldiers, not a definite number."

"We can't let our guard down, but we have a few days.  Allura, I want you to rest.  The rest of you, we'll have practice in the morning as usual.  I'm going to find Sven and let him know."  Keith stopped by the chair and laid a gentle hand on Allura's shoulder, "Don't push yourself.  Relax, we need you in good shape."

She nodded slightly, too much head movement caused more pain.

"Lance, help her to the hospital," Keith instructed.

Lance nodded and offered his hands to Allura, "Come with me, Princess, I shall make sure you are delivered safely."

"Actually, I think I would rather go to my room," she whispered, letting him pull her to her feet.  "My bed is so much more comfortable."

"No problem," he tucked her hand under his arm.  "Maybe we'll take a detour to the kitchen and grab something to eat.  I heard that Nanny felt so bad about your injuries she made your favorite brownies."

"Really?"  Allura's face lit up a bit.

"Yeah, I hear chocolate is one of the best pain relievers," Lance told her as the door slid shut behind them.

Keith turned to Koran, "Let me know the second you hear anything else."

"Will do, Captain."

"Cap?"

Keith looked up to see Hunk and Pidge still standing beside the console, "Oh, yeah, you guys are dismissed.  Don't go too far, though."

"Yes, sir."

Keith made his way to the hospital and found it quiet.  "Is Lt. Johansson here?"  He asked the nurse on duty.

"Yes, Captain.  He and Princess Romelle are in her room."

"Thank you," he nodded to her before turning to the closed door.  He raised his hand and knocked. 

There was a shuffling noise and then the door opened.  Romelle stood before him looking tired, "Keith, is everything alright?"

"Is Sven here?"

"Uh, yeah, he's lying down," she stepped into the hall, letting the door slide shut behind her.  "He isn't up to seeing anyone right now."

"Is he alright?"  Keith asked concerned.

She sighed and rubbed her forehead, "He's in a lot of pain, Keith.  His back tenses up and he has muscle spasms, painful ones."

"What has Dr. Gorma said?"

"He said that once Sven has built up his strength, there are specialists he can see, but he will never be the same."

Keith sighed and ran a hand through his hair, this was all too much.  First Allura and now Sven's injuries.  When he had signed up for the Garrison, he hadn't expected all of this, the stress, the emotions, everything was really starting to get to him.  "What can I do?"

Romelle smiled softly, "He's embarrassed about this, I don't know why, but he is. He doesn't want to make a big deal out of it."

"He's very independent," Keith muttered.  "He hates having to depend on anyone and after having been alone for so long, it's hard for him to ask for help."

She nodded, "Thank you for understanding."

"I just wanted to tell him that we got word that Zarkon had been fatally injured yesterday, he isn't going to make it through the night."

If Keith was expecting her to be happy, he was disappointed.  In fact, Romelle's expression didn't change at all.  She nodded slowly, "I'll tell him."

He laid a hand on her shoulder, "If there is anything, anything, at all that you guys need, please ask.  We are so thrilled to have Sven back and you.  We want to help."

"Thank you, Keith."  She turned and pressed the button to open the door.  Before it could slide shut, Keith caught sight of Sven lying on his stomach on the bed, his head resting on his arms, a heating pad on the small of his back.  Romelle laid a gentle hand on his shoulder and kissed his cheek before whispering something to him.

As soon as the door slid shut, Keith made his way slowly out of the hospital and toward his study.  He felt so helpless, irrationally angry and painfully jealous of his friend.  There was nothing he could do to help Sven or to fix things with Allura.  God, how he wanted to go to her now, hold her and tell her how he felt.  He wanted what Sven and Romelle had. 

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

"Come in," Allura called when she heard the knock on her door.

"You wanted to see me, Your Highness?"  Koran asked.

"Yes, Koran, please sit down."  Allura was reclining on her bed, feeling a little better.  She had spent the afternoon resting and watching some movie disks Lance had lent her.  The pain in her head was a constant, dull ache, but this was something she wanted to take care of now.

Koran turned her desk chair so it faced the bed and sat down, "What can I do for you?"

"Koran, is it true that there is a law stating that if a ruling monarch marries a commoner that monarch has to give up the throne to Arus?"  She was not in the mood for pleasantries and cut straight to the chase.

He raised his eyebrows, obviously surprised by her question, "Yes, there is.  Why do you ask?"

"It was recently brought to my attention and I was wondering why I was never taught this in our lessons of Arusian law."

"Your studies were interrupted by the war and so I glossed over some of what I thought were the lesser important laws.  This particular law hasn't been used in over 120 years, when your great-great-great-great-great uncle Alton abdicated the throne to be with a commoner."

Allura nodded, "That's when my great-great-great-great grandfather Avor became king."

"That's right, I knew you knew that story."

"I always thought it was so romantic that he was willing to give everything up for the woman he loved, but I didn't realize how difficult it was for him."

"What brought this about, Princess?"

She looked up at him, "I'll be honest with you, Koran, I am sick and tired of having these Princes forced on me.  I want to fall in love on my own."

He nodded, "Has it happened?"

"I don't know," Allura admitted, looking down at her comforter as she felt the heat rise to her face.  "I've, uh, I've never been in love before."

"Is it Lt. Collier?"

Allura laughed softly, "Lance?  No, he's just a good friend."

Koran felt the dread settle in his chest, he knew who it was.  "Princess…"

"Is there any way around this law?"  She interrupted.

"No, I'm sorry, there isn't."

"Well, then, I guess we'll have to change the law."

"You can't do that, Your Highness."

She raised an eyebrow, "And why not?"

"You know why not.  A law cannot be officially changed or added without the approval of the Cabinet."

"Koran, we haven't had a Cabinet in years, I have been ruling solely with you as my advisor."

"And I don't think your people would appreciate you marrying a commoner.  You have to think of them, they want royal blood to be passed on to your heirs."

"What about what I want?"  She demanded, sounding like a small child.

"Your Highness, you are young.  You cannot allow a youthful crush to disrupt hundreds of years of tradition."

"You don't understand."

Koran sighed and looked at her with pity, "I know it isn't easy for you.  You've had to shoulder an immense responsibility, having to take over ruling Arus.  I am acting as your advisor and you know I love you as though you were my own daughter and that is why I cannot allow you to make this mistake.  I am doing what is best for you and what your parents would want for you."

Tears burned Allura's eyes, "Why does everyone think they know what is best for me when all it does is make me miserable?  Wouldn't my parents want me to be happy?"

"Of course they would and so do I.  Someday you will meet the right Prince and this war will be over, you will marry and fill this castle with children."

"My head hurts, Koran, I'd like to be alone."

He nodded and stood, "Please understand that I only have your best interests at heart."

"I know."

"Rest, Princess, and don't hesitate to call me if you need anything."  When she didn't respond, Koran put the desk chair back and left the room.

"How's the Princess?"

Koran jumped when he heard Lance's voice.

"Her head is hurting her, she's resting."

Lance leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, "Why can't you let them be together, Koran?"

"This is not something I want to discuss with you, Lieutenant."

"They are obviously in love."

"It is totally improper."

"So Keith is good enough to put his life on the line to protect Arus, but he isn't good enough for the Princess."

"No he's not!"  Koran said angrily.  "This is a childish crush, I cannot allow the Princess to throw away her life and her throne for that."

"This is more than a crush and you know it," Lance growled.  "That's what worries you so much."

"You are here to do a job, Lieutenant, this is none of your business."

"It became my business when my friends got involved.  Keith is a good man and you know it, better than any of the Princes you and Nanny have paraded in here.  Life has been unbearable for the two of them, not being able to be together and Keith would die before he would do anything to dishonor the Princess.  You couldn't ask for a better man for Allura."

"Listen carefully, Lieutenant, you are way out of line, I don't want to have to contact the Garrison and report you for disciplinary actions.  If you can't keep your mind on the task at hand, maybe it would be best if you and the Captain looked for new assignments."  Koran turned and stalked down the hall.

Lance watched the older man walk away, his mouth open in shock.  There is no way that just happened, he thought.  Why are they so against Keith?  We have got to find a way around this.  He turned and hurried toward the library, hoping Pidge found something.