Hi All!


Queen Merla!  I'm so glad you're back and I am so happy you're enjoying the story!

RedLion2, Bell, Anony, Craze, Dee, D.G., Black Knight 03, R-Krulle ~ Thank you guys so much for your reviews.  I'm going to be honest, it just makes my day to check my email and see your reviews.  I love the reactions to Nanny's change of heart.  It seemed like all the stories I ever read, she didn't approve of Keith, so what would happen if she did?  I wanted to know, so I wrote it that way.  And in the end, they're giving her five kids to fawn over :-)

Thank you all!

Failte

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

Sven watched as Romelle slept.  She was still weak, but was becoming healthier by the day.  Dr. Gorma was optimistic that she would fully recover, it was just taking her time to readjust to life outside of Doom.

He stood from his seat in the chair beside her bed and stretched his back.  He could feel the muscles starting to cramp and they screamed in protest as he stretched his arms above his head.  Sven looked down at the woman in the bed and smiled.  She was so strong, so smart, so beautiful.  Everything he ever wanted in a woman and she loved him.  Who would have thought that the worst thing to happen to him would lead to the best?  If he hadn't been captured by Doom, he would never have met Romelle.

The day before, Keith had given him and Romelle communicators in case there were any problems.  Sven had programmed Romelle's so she only had to push a button to contact him.  Nanny had set up Sven in a room in the same hall as the Force, while Romelle was given a room next to Allura's.  Sven had seen her to her room and given her a kiss goodnight, but less than ten minutes later she called him on his communicator and they talked for another hour.  He smiled softly at the memory and set her communicator on the table beside her bed. 

The hallway was empty when Sven left her room.  He had listened to the others talk about this wizard, Kadmus, and he was curious.  But Romelle hadn't slept well the night before, she was having nightmares.  She had been falling asleep at the lunch table and he had helped her to her room, promising to stay until she fell asleep.  When she woke, she knew she only had to call him up on his communicator and he would be there.

Sven arrived at the closed door to Keith's study and knocked.  He heard the sound of drawers slamming shut before Keith called out, "Who is it?"

"It's me."

"Yeah, come in."

The door slid open and Sven wandered in.  He couldn't help but notice the unusually cluttered appearance of Keith's desk and the dark expression on his face.  "Vhat's going on?"

"Kadmus arrived about twenty minutes ago, he and Koran are examining the castle.  He said that Lotor and Haggar had entered through Allura's study and then came in here, he said he could feel their presence and the emotions they left behind.  I'm really beginning to think he's a crackpot.  He even said something about bringing potions in here to cleanse it."

"Uh huh," Sven fell into the chair across from the desk.  "Vhat is really bothering you?"

"I guess I should tell you too, everyone needs to know," Keith shuffled some papers in front of him and nervously arranged them into a pile.  "I requested a transfer from the Garrison."

"Vhy vould you do dat?"

"I need to get out of here, Sven."

"Allura?"

"Yeah."

"Romelle tinks Allura's in love vith you."

Keith sighed, "An old Arusian law, if Allura marries a commoner she has to give up her throne."

Sven nodded slowly, "Marriage?"

"I'm crazy about her, Sven, but I can't start a relationship just to…just to have a fling. I…I care too much to do that to her."

A grin slowly crossed Sven's face, "You know, ve all saw dis coming."

"Shut up, Sven."

"No, really, from de second ve stepped foot on Arus, but dis is ridiculous.  Vhy are you running avay?"

"I am not running away!"  Keith stood and paced his office.  "Why does everyone think that?  We can't be together, so why should we continue to torture ourselves?  The best thing is for me to leave and Allura to find a Prince she can marry."

"I don't envy you, Keit."

"No, but I envy you.  You can be with Romelle."

Sven stood and faced his friend, "Have you told Allura?"

Keith nodded.

"Vhat did she say?"

He shrugged, "She's upset."

"I can't believe you're actually doing dis."

"I don't know what else to do, Sven," Keith whispered.

Sven watched the intense emotions play across his friend's face and he felt so sorry, so helpless.  "Maybe it is for de best, Keit."

Keith nodded again and walked behind his desk.

"Vhen did you send in de request?"

"A couple of days ago."

"Vhen vill you know?"

Keith shrugged and rubbed his eyes with the heels of hands, "I don't know."

A loud, insistent knock interrupted their conversation.

"Who is it?"  Keith asked, tiredly.

"It's me," Lance called.  "I have got great news for you, come on."

Keith looked at Sven who shrugged.  The two men crossed to the door and slid it open.  Before Keith could speak, Lance grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the room.

"Lance, I am really not in the mood," Keith growled.  "What are you doing?"

"Buddy," Lance threw an arm around Keith's shoulders.  "We are about to change your life."

"What are you talking about?"

"Long story short, Keith.  Pidge, Hunk, and I have been doing a little research into Arusian law.  We found the law that forbids Allura from marrying you…"

"Lance, I told you not to get involved."

"And we found a way around said law."  Lance continued.

Keith stopped, "What?"

With a smile on his lips, Lance spoke slowly, like he was addressing a child.  "We…found…a…way…around…the…law."

Sven grinned, "Come on, Keit, let's see vhat dey found."

Keith followed his friends toward the library, his heart racing.  Was it true?  Did they really find a way around the law?  Was this it?  He felt his palms moisten as nerves danced in his stomach.  This was all he wanted, but now that it could be happening, he was terrified.  Who was he to think he could be with Allura?  He was nothing, he had nothing to offer her, he didn't have money or breeding.  Who was he trying to fool?

"Keit?"

He looked over at Sven.  They had stopped walking in front of the door to the library.


"Are you okay?  You look sick."

Keith nodded numbly.

The door slid open and they heard Allura.

"I can't believe it was this easy!  Why didn't we think of it before?"

"I think that's why we missed it," Pidge said.  "It was too easy."

"Vhat is it?"  Sven asked.

Pidge and Allura looked up from where they were bent over a table covered with open books.  As soon as she saw him, Allura ran over and threw her arms around Keith's neck.

"It's okay," she whispered.  "We found it, we found the way around the law."

Confused, and a little embarrassed, Keith gently pushed her away.  "What, uh, wh-what are you talking about?"

She took his hand and pulled him over to the table.  Pidge stepped aside and Allura jabbed her finger at a highlighted passage.  Keith leaned over and read

            Section 23F, Subsection 7, Part 4-L states:

In times of war, or states of emergency, it is permissible for the ruling monarch to make changes, as needed, to the laws governing the Planet Arus.  See Section 17K, Subsection 12, Part 5-X

Keith flipped to Section 17 and found the aforementioned passage

            Section 17K, Subsection 12, Part 5-X states:

In times of war, or states of emergency, the ruling monarch of Planet Arus may overrule the Cabinet as needed for the betterment of the people of Arus.  See Section 41R, Subsection 3, Part 6-G.

Before he could find the next section, Pidge placed his hand on the book, "We've read over all of this, Cap.  To summarize, because we're at war, Allura can make a law and sign it into action.  Once the war is over, the law will be reexamined by the Cabinet and if she can convince them the law is good for the planet, they will officially pass it."

Keith lowered himself into the chair, trying to comprehend what he was just told. 

Sven laid a hand on Pidge's shoulder and nodded his head toward the door.  Taking the hint, Pidge grabbed Lance's arm and they followed Sven out of the room, shutting the door behind them.

"Keith," Allura laid a hand on his shoulder, worried about his silence.

"How would this be for the betterment of your people?"  He whispered.

"As Lance put it, a happy Princess means a happy planet."

Keith chuckled, "This seems too easy.  Can we really do this?"

"Pidge found this yesterday afternoon and he said he checked ever section and subsection he could and he said he couldn't find any reason why we couldn't.  We're at war, I'm the ruling monarch, the only possible problem could be convincing the Cabinet that the law would be good for the planet.  I don't see how they could disagree, it is such an outdated law."

"What will Koran say?"

Feeling bold, Allura slid her arms around his neck and rested her chin on his shoulder, "Nanny approves.  I think she'll help us.  I'm sick of doing what everyone expects me to do, I want to do what I want."

Keith felt his shoulders slump as a realization sunk in.  "Sit down, Allura."

She sat in the chair beside him, "What is it?  Don't you want this?"

"Changing a law is huge, Allura, it is not something that can be taken lightly."

"I know that."

"Are you sure you really want this?  It isn't some kind of rebellion, a way to fight back against Koran…"

Her cheeks darkened as anger clouded her eyes, "I can't believe this.  You still think I don't know what I'm doing."

"It's not that, Allura, you're one of the smartest people I know.  I just…"

"What is it, Keith?  I thought you wanted this."

"I do, oh, God, I do.  You have no idea how much."

"Then why are you fighting this?"

He looked down at the books spread out in front of him, "It just seems so unbelievable.  Why…why would you want to change a law, change hundreds of years of tradition, for…for me?"

"For us," Allura whispered, laying her hand over his. 

"I don't have anything to offer you," he whispered, giving a voice to his concerns.  "I'm a pilot.  I don't have a lot of money or any royal blood…"

"You always think of everyone before yourself, you like boring war movies, and you only read historical nonfiction," she interrupted.  "You help build houses, plant rose bushes, or sew a button on your shirt.  You can be moody and quiet and intimidating.  You can be sweet and funny and kind.  Just when I think I have you all figured out, you turn around and do something totally unexpected.  You always hold the door open for me or offer me your seat, you've been so patient about training, but when we're in a battle you treat me just like everyone else.  Everything about my life has changed since you entered it and I don't ever want it to go back to the way it was.  You make me feel safe, you calm me when I'm stressed, and you bring me up when I'm down."  Her voice shook, but she kept her eyes locked on his.

Keith broke eye contact with her, staring down at his feet, finding it hard to believe that that was how she felt. She knew him, it seemed, better than he knew himself. He felt foolish as he blinked his eyes, feeling the moisture building up there and the lump in his throat. He didn't deserve her or the depth of her feelings.

Allura waited, holding her breath, to hear what he had to say. She had done it. She had laid all of her feelings out for him, bared her soul, and now came the hard part of hearing his rejection. If his feelings for her were anywhere near as strong as her feelings for him, he would not be doubting her, he would be helping her write the new law. But she knew he was going over all this in his mind. He couldn't just jump in, he would be thinking it over, going over the pros and cons, how this would affect the Force, how it would change their lives. And it would change their lives. Right now, this moment, his response was going to determine their lives together. And as far as she was concerned, that was the only life she wanted.

"Keith?" Her voice was barely audible as she spoke his name.

He stood and paced in front of the table, his hands clasped behind his back. Allura could all but see the wheels turning in his head as he contemplated his reply. She couldn't read the expression on his face.  He pursed his lips, then opened his mouth and licked his lips.  He took a deep breath and then let it out slowly.

Dread swept over Allura as she came to the realization that she had said too much. She had pushed too hard, too fast. But she also knew that she couldn't sit on her feelings any longer, she had to let it all out or else explode with the knowledge of it.

Keith stopped pacing beside her and looked down, seeing the dread and anticipation on her face. He had to put her out of her misery. Taking her hands in his, he pulled her to her feet.

"I don't know what to say," he said lowly.

Allura blushed and looked down, embarrassed.

Keith placed a finger under her chin and gently tilted her head back so she was looking up at him. Without another word, he lowered his mouth to hers and captured it in a tender kiss.

With a sigh, Allura let go of his hands and slid her arms around his neck, enjoying the feel of his body against hers, his hands as they slid around her back. He splayed his fingers, almost completely covering her back with his hands as though he couldn't touch enough of her.

Keith broke the kiss and looked down at her. Allura watched him through her lashes. She saw the passion in his eyes and she felt the devotion in his hands. He slowly lowered his forehead so it rested against hers.

"Let's write a law," he breathed.

Allura let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. Relief swept through her as she tightened her arms around him and rested her cheek against his chest. She could hear his heartbeat and noticed that it was racing as quickly as her own. He kept one hand on the small of her back, holding her against him, while the other gently stroked her hair. They stood like this for a while, just enjoying the feel of each other.

"This isn't going to be easy," Keith whispered into her hair.

"I know."

"This is huge."

"I know."

"Not everyone is going to approve."

"I don't care."

With a small smile, Keith kissed the top of her head.  Allura tilted her head back to look up at him, tears in her eyes and a smile on her lips.  He raised his hand and gently cupped her cheek.

"I don't know what to say, Allura," he whispered.  "You are the most amazing woman I've ever known.  You're strong and classy and sweet and beautiful.  I've…I've had feelings for you for so long, but I didn't think you could ever care for me.  You were so far out of my league, I thought I was fooling myself.  I couldn't believe you could care for me."

"Well, believe it, but I really wish you would stop putting yourself down.  You're too important."  She stood on her toes and pressed a kiss to his lips.


Elsewhere in the castle, Kadmus smiled softly.

"What is it?" Koran asked.

"You will see very soon, Koran. And you will learn that the only thing that can really defeat hatred is love." The old wizard replied crytically.

{{  "You actually changed a law so you could marry Keith?"  Becca sat on the edge of her seat, completely enthralled with the story.

"We weren't actually thinking of marriage at that point," Keith told her.

"Well, I was," Allura interrupted.

"Okay, we were both thinking about it, but were too afraid to say it.  We didn't realize at the time how hard it was going to be, it sounded so easy.  But before we could even put pen to paper, we were interrupted by Doom," Keith explained.  He let out a breath and ran a hand through his hair, "God, it was awful."

Allura laid her hand on his knee and gently squeezed, "But I was alright."

"Yeah, but we didn't know that for about six days.  Lotor attacked for the first time since his father's death and he did things differently…}}