Hi all!

Wow!  Over 100 reviews…I don't know what to say.  Thank you so much!

RedLion2 ~ You were my 100th review!  That seems somewhat fitting :-)  Thank you so much for your support.  And to answer your question, I am actually half Irish and born and raised on the east coast of the US.  But that half of my family is a very proud Irish family and I am complete with red hair, pale complexion (that sunburns after 2 minutes outside), a quick temper, and the most common Irish surname in the world.  As a matter of fact, my screen name, Failte, is Irish Gaelic for "welcome".  And I love your comparison of the Force to the Musketeers, that seems so fitting.  All for one and one for all!

Black Knight 03 ~ I am so glad to hear you went back and read my other stories and enjoyed them.  I have had so much fun writing them and it means a lot to me that you all are enjoying them.

Craze, Queen Merla, Anony ~ Koran is just looking out for her, doing what he thinks is best…don't be so hard on the guy :-)

Dee, Nova Victoria Jade Satori ~ Thanks for your reviews, I am so glad you are enjoying the story and I hope you continue to do so.

Thank you guys!

Enjoy,

Failte

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{{  "Oh, Allura, that's awful,"  Becca sighed.  "Was it Bhan?"

Allura nodded, "Dr. Gorma found traces of the Bhan plant in my blood.  It was enough to paralyze me for about 36 hours, but it took even longer for it to completely wear off."

"No, I want to know what was going on with Koran," Darcy said, leaning forward, her elbows on her knees.  "I've never known him to behave like that."

Lance rubbed small circles on her back with his hand, "Yeah, well, you didn't know him before Allura had words with him.  Our little Queen can be quite persuasive when she wants to be."

Keith smirked, "You have no idea."

Allura elbowed him in the ribs, "It was actually Nanny who persuaded him.  But Koran and I had a heart-to-heart while I was laid up in the hospital wing.  When I got back, Dr. Gorma had me stay in the hospital wing overnight for observation, then I was moved to my room for another day of bed rest."

"Were your injuries that bad?"  Becca asked.

"Mostly bruises and cuts that would heal with time.  It was my shoulder that was bad, I had it in a sling for three days and it was sore for quite a while after that."

"What about Koran?"  Darcy asked.

"Well, when I wasn't sleeping, Keith and I did a lot of talking on the way back.  Keith wanted to be with me when I talked to Koran, but I thought it would be best if I spoke to him alone.  It was mid afternoon when we touched down on Arus…}}

"Allura," Keith whispered, brushing her hair from her face.  "Wake up, beautiful."

"Hmm?"

"We're home."

Her eyes fluttered open and she looked up at him, realizing just how exhausted he was.  "Will you rest?"

"What?"  He asked, confused by her question.

She sat up and stretched, "You look so tired, Keith, will you rest now?"

"Now that you're home and safe, I'll be able to sleep again."

"Good," she kissed his cheek and pushed herself up.

Keith reached out and grabbed her arm, catching her as she pitched forward.  "Take it easy, Allura, you're still weak.  Let me out first and I'll help you down.  Dr. Gorma should be waiting for us."

"It feels so good to be home again," her voice shook slightly as Keith helped her down.

"I know, honey, I am so sorry it took us so long to get to you."

Allura yawned and leaned heavily against him, "Don't apologize for that, you did everything you could.  I know that."

Keith swept her up into his arms, "Man, you are slow."

"Not really, I just wanted you to carry me," she responded, wrapping her arm around his neck and kissing his cheek.  "And please shave."

"Yeah, yeah, no need to nag."

"Oh, Princess!"

They both looked towards the castle to see Nanny running toward them.

"Nanny," Allura sighed.

"Oh, my dear girl, oh look at you!  Oh, how do you feel?  Are you in a lot of pain?  What did that monster do to you?  Oh, where is Dr. Gorma, he said he would be right here."  Nanny fussed and hopped from one foot to the other.

"Here he comes," Keith said.

Dr. Gorma raced through the door, followed by two nurses pushing a gurney. 

Keith gently laid the Princess on the bed.  Allura gripped his hand while Dr. Gorma did a cursory examination of her injuries and Nanny continued hopping and wrung her hands. 

"Let's get her inside," Dr. Gorma told his nurses.  "I want to do a full exam."

"Is she alright?"  Keith asked, jogging alongside the gurney, Allura still holding onto his hand.

"I'll be able to tell you better after I examine her," Dr. Gorma looked up at him.  "What happened to your arm?"

Keith looked down, having forgotten his injury, "Oh, I was hit."

"Keith," Allura gasped.  "I didn't know, why didn't you say something?"

"It's nothing, don't worry.  It doesn't hurt anymore."

"I want it looked at any way," Dr. Gorma said as they entered the hospital wing.  "Go see Nurse Helene."

"I want to stay with…"

"No," Allura interrupted.  "Go have your arm looked at."

They stopped in front of the examining room door.  "Are you sure?"  He asked her.

"Yeah, I'll see you when Dr. Gorma's done."

Keith leaned over and kissed her, "I'm here if you need me."

She smiled softly, "I know.  I love you."

"Love you too," he said, kissing her again.

They both choose to ignore the gasps of the two nurses and Dr. Gorma clearing his throat.

"You should have cleaned this better, Captain," Nurse Helen chided him as she pulled the bandage off his arm.

"I had other things on my mind," Keith muttered.

"I am so sick of you men saying things like that!"

Keith flinched as she cleansed his wound.

She continued, "You are trying to defend Arus and yet you don't take care of yourselves!  I know you haven't been eating or sleeping, how is that helping Arus?  The Princess?  The best thing you can do for this planet is to keep yourselves in good shape and stop pretending you're invincible."

Keith sucked in a breath as she continued to clean out his injury, "Is it that bad?"

"You'll be fine, but I am going to put you on antibiotics to fight off any infection."

"Is that really necessary?"

"It wouldn't be if you had cleaned it properly the first time around," she muttered as she wrapped gauze around his arm.  "I want to see you tomorrow."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Now Dr. Gorma will be in with the Princess for a while, I would suggest you go clean up and then come back to see her."

Keith nodded and slid off the table, "Yes, Ma'am."

Nurse Helene handed him a small bottle, "Two a day with meals."

He nodded, "Thank you."

Nanny was sitting in a chair in the waiting area, wringing her hands and muttering under her breath, "My poor baby, my poor poor baby."

"Any word yet?"  Keith asked her gently.

"No, what happened to her?  Why is her arm in a sling?"  Nanny looked up at him with wide, worried eyes.

"She hurt her shoulder, I don't know all the details, she didn't want to talk about it."

"Oh, that…that monster!"

"She's home now, Nanny, she'll be fine."  Keith sat on the edge of the chair next to her.

"You're a good man, Captain," Nanny patted his hand.

Keith blushed at her sudden compliment, "Thank you, Nanny."

"You'll treat my girl well."

"She's the most important thing in the world to me," he whispered, staring at the small bottle in his hand.

"If you hurt her, you will have to answer to me, young man."

Keith raised his eyes to meet the glare of the older woman, "I would sooner die than hurt her."

"I want this tested immediately."

They both looked up when they heard Dr. Gorma's voice.  He was handing a vial of what looked like blood to one of his nurses.

Keith jumped to his feet.  "How is she, Doctor?"

"I'm still examining her, Captain, I'm not going to rush her.  Go, change, get cleaned up, we'll talk later."

Keith nodded, frustrated at the lack of answers he was receiving.

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Half an hour later, Keith walked into the waiting room to find Pidge and Nanny waiting.  There was no sign of Koran.

"Any word?"  Keith asked.

Nanny shook her head.

"I got the Lions put away, Cap, and Lance just called in, they're about three hours out."  Pidge reported.

Keith nodded and fell back into a chair, "Thanks, Pidge."

Dr. Gorma walked into the waiting room, holding a file.  "She's rather beat up and tired," he began before anyone could ask.  "The Princess is dehydrated and her shoulder was dislocated and then set.  In a few days she'll be fine.  I want to keep her in the hospital overnight for observation and then she can move to her room tomorrow."

"Can I see her?"  Nanny asked.

"Well, she asked to see the Captain."

Keith stood and hurried over to the door, but he was stopped when Dr. Gorma grabbed his arm, "She's tired, don't push her."

"I won't."

Allura was laid back on the bed, the blanket pulled up to her chest.  She was cleaned up and her hair brushed back.  Keith crossed over to the bed and felt his heart tighten.  She looked so tiny and pale but still so beautiful.

"Hey there," he said tenderly, pulling a chair over to the bedside.

"You shaved," she whispered.

He laughed quietly, "Yes, your nagging drove me to it."

"I don't nag."

He took her hand in both of his, "That's alright, I can listen to you nag for the rest of my life."

"Keith?"

"Hm?"

"Dr. Gorma said…"

"Said what?"  He whispered.

Allura's cheeks darkened.

"What is it, Allura?"

She looked away, unable to watch his reaction, "Dr. Gorma said, um, that Lotor did do, uh, when I was unconscious, he, uh…"

"Oh God," Keith lowered his head, overcome with pain and rage.  He didn't know if he was going to cry or throw up.

"Keith?"  Her voice shook.

"Are you okay?"  He asked, staring at the edge of her blanket.

"Dr. Gorma doesn't think he, uh, he went all the way, but he, uh, he molested me."

Keith swallowed hard, "I'm going to kill him."

"I'm sorry," she murmured.

He raised his head, "Don't you dare apologize."

She looked at him, her cheeks burning and her eyes wet.

"This wasn't your fault, honey, you have nothing to apologize for."  He gently stroked her cheek, wiping away the tear that fell.  "It'll be okay.  I promise."

"Have you decided where you're taking me for our first date?"

"Way to change the subject."

"I really don't want to talk about it, I just, uh, I just thought you should know."

He nodded, "It's a surprise."

"In other words you have no idea."

"As soon as you're feeling up to it, I'll take out on the town," he promised, kissing her hand.  "But for now, you're to rest."

"Is that an order?"

"Yes," he leaned over and kissed her, tenderly.

Allura smiled sweetly when he broke away, "It would be irresponsible of me to disobey an order."

"Yes, it would," he murmured, kissing her again and moving to sit on the edge of her bed.

Allura slid her hand from his and wrapped her arm around his neck, deepening the kiss.

"Wow," Keith whispered.  "Where did you learn to do that?"

"I've read a lot of books."

He chuckled and kissed her forehead, "I'm going to assume Nanny doesn't know about those books."

Smiling, Allura shook her head, "Nope, Lance's sister sends them to me."

"I can't seem to stop kissing you," he whispered, moving his lips from her forehead to her cheek to her chin to her mouth.

"I don't want you to."

"It's over two years of pent-up frustrations."

Allura giggled, "I thought you said you just realized how much you loved me."

"I've loved you for ages, I just realized how much."

"And how much is that?"

"With all my heart and soul, my golden-haired Angel," he whispered into her ear.

Allura turned her head and kissed his cheek, "I love you, Keith."

He lifted his head, "How much?"

"I don't think I could tell you how much, it's so big it sometimes scares me."

"Scares you?"

"In a good way."

Keith took her hand and sat up, running his other hand over her hair, "You need rest, Angel."

"I am tired."

"And once you're all rested, we'll have our date."

"Promise?"

"I promise," he stood, still holding her hand.

"Ahem."

They both looked up to see Koran standing in the door way.

Keith felt Allura's grip on his hand tighten.

"Koran," Keith greeted him.

"I came to see how the Princess was doing," Koran said stiffly.

"She's worn out and needs her rest," Keith told him defensively.

"It's alright, Keith," Allura pulled her hand from his and gently pushed him away.  "I want to talk to Koran."

He looked down at her, "Are you sure?"

"Yes, it's okay, go."

He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss, "I love you."

Since he had said it loud enough for Koran to hear, Allura knew he was doing it for the other man's benefit.  She smiled, "I love you, too."

Keith glared at Koran as he walked past, "She's tired, she needs to rest."

Koran met his glare with his own, but he kept quiet.

"We need to talk," Allura said as soon as the door closed behind Keith.

"How are you feeling?"  He asked, crossing to stand beside the bed.

"Tired, weak.  But I'll be okay."

"Good, I'm glad to hear you're going to be alright."

"Why don't you like Keith?"

Koran sank down on the chair Keith had vacated moments earlier, "I like the Captain."

"Then why are you so against us being together?"

"Have you really thought this through, Your Highness?"

Allura sighed angrily, "Yes, Koran, I have.  I am in love with him and I want to be with him for the rest of my life.  We have talked about this and have found that in times of war, I can write a law that allows us to marry."

"What happens if the Garrison reassigns him?"

"What do you mean?"

"He's a soldier, Princess, he can be reassigned, transferred.  Is that the kind of relationship you want?  He could be placed thousands of miles away."

"If that happens, we'll find a way to deal with it."

"So if he is sent somewhere, thousands of miles away, and you're left here to rule your planet and raise your children alone, you'll be alright with that?"

"I'll have Nanny to help with the children and you to help me rule," she replied lamely.

Koran nodded, "How do we know his intentions are honorable?  He is a young man and young men only have one thing on their minds.  You are a beautiful woman…"

"Don't, Koran, you know Keith is not like that."

"You're going against hundreds of years of tradition."

"Just because it's been done for hundreds of years doesn't mean its right."

He shook his head, "You always were too independent and head-strong for your own good."

Allura took his hand, "Will you stay?"

"Princess, you have been like a daughter to me and it kills me to think you might make a mistake this big," he held up his hand to stop her from interrupting.  "But this is one aspect of your life that I have no right to advise over.  The Captain is a good man and the more I think about it the more I realize this isn't a mistake for you.  Nanny and I had a long talk while we were waiting for you to come home.  She pointed out how time and again the Captain has proven his worth to you and Arus, and that she approves of him.  If Nanny, who watches over you as fiercely as a bear looks after her cubs, can approve of him, I guess I can too. I just don't want to see you hurt, especially if he is transferred."

Allura blinked, fighting back the tears, "He won't hurt me, Koran."

"Just promise me you won't rush things."

"We're going to take it slow."

Koran nodded, looking older than he had just a week before, "I guess I can warm up to the idea of you marrying the Captain, even if he isn't a prince."

"It's just a title, Koran, in every other way, he is a prince."

He nodded, "I know you're right, Princess."

"I really love him."

He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, "Rest, Princess, when you're feeling better, we'll rewrite the law."

"Thank you, Koran, so much.  I really don't know what I would do without you and your approval means so much to me."

"Yes, well I know he is a good man, but he still needs to prove to me that he is worthy of you."

"No, if anything, I need to prove I'm worthy of him."