Chapter 16

True to his word, Robin waited outside the room that Starfire had been brought to. Fortunately for him he made no promises about standing still as he nervously paced in front of the door like a caged tiger. "What is taking so long?" he muttered, as he turned to start back toward where Galfore stood.

"You consider me harsh and unbending, do you not young one?" Galfore asked, as Robin stopped about three feet from him, to turn back the other way.

Robin sighed heavily, as he thought over his answer, "No," he said at last, "you are only holding to the traditions of your people," he told him, "What I am having trouble understanding, is as Starfire's shalocfa, I thought it was understood that we have something more than a friendly personal relationship going, but now you're telling me that not only am I not to see her, but if I do I'm to treat her as if I hardly know her," he said, "It's not like I'm becoming her betrothed."

Galfore sighed, knowing that Robin was feeling confused over what he had told him to do, and how he should act if they met after the princess was released from the medical ward, "I understand your confusion, young one," Galfore admitted, "To be truthful what the two of you are going through is different than normal, but only because you have been so closely associated since the princess arrived on your planet," he explained, "There are those who believe that Koriand'r has not clearly thought out what these actions will cause."

Robin was silent for a moment as he made another circuit of pacing, and stopped near the older man again, "Are we speaking privately here?" he asked, "We're not being monitored?"

"You may say to me anything you like, as long as there are no others of my people in the room," Galfore replied, "You're feelings for the princess have earned you that much."

"I know for a fact that Starfire has thought through the consequences of our actions," he said, "We both have. When she was in the hospital, after we had declared ourselves to each other, she spoke her part of the Oath, and I almost completed it, but realized that to do so would have been asking to much from you as, much as I hate to say this, you might need to marry her off to seal an agreement."

"The Oath?" Galfore asked, "of Bonding? You know it?"

Robin nodded his head, "My half would be, Koriand'r, vidi'an du Tamaran, shu vata ne mathad, e genthalas du penefa, shu vata nevento che genthalas du corino, Starfire, princess of Tamaran, you are my beloved, and keeper of my heart, you are also the keeper of my soul," he said in both Tamaranean, and English.

"She wished to take the Oath with you?" Galfore asked, surprised that he had underestimated the feeling that the princess and Robin had for each other.

"To be truthful, we both would, if we had your approval," Robin said, looking at the door to Starfire's room as if he were trying to see through it, "I lived and worked with a man who lived by the belief that to get emotionally involved with anyone, was dangerous. I have tried to live by that ideal, but found that it was tearing me apart inside, so I left him, and shortly after Starfire came to earth, we met and formed the Titans," he related, "I promised myself that I wouldn't keep from caring about my friends, but I found that I was hiding my true feelings for Starfire not just from her, but from myself as well," Robin paused and turned to look at Galfore, "Like it or not, we do love each other, nothing will change that."

Just then a woman in white pants and a white smock over a purple shirt opened the door to Starfire's room. "My lord, may I speak to you for a moment in here?" she asked and when Galfore went into the room, Cyborg, Raven and Beast boy came out, followed by Kim'r

"Guys, how is she?" Robin asked as he crossed over to them.

"Honestly Robin it looked worse that it really is," Cyborg answered, "She's got about a two inch cut along her hairline on the right side, that's all besides having a bloody nose."

"Robin," Raven said softly as she felt his anger grow, "This wasn't your fault. There was nothing you could have done to prevent this," she assured him.

"Yeah you should see the video," Beast Boy put in.

Even Cyborg and Beast Boy saw Robin's anger rise at that comment, "They have a surveillance video of the attack!" he asked, glaring holes into Kim'r, and looking as though he wanted to tear her apart then and there with his bare hands.

"The videos are not used much, but I have no explanation as to why no one thought to look to see what happened," the Commander said, standing a rigid attention before Robin.

"Take a look Rob," Cyborg said from where he stood next to a communications terminal. The small monitor showed an empty room, then Starfire entered from the cameras right. Just as the room brightened from the sun coming from behind the Earth, a figure dressed as the intruder was the night before came in with a sword drawn. Even though Starfire was still under the Veka serum's influence, she was well trained, and managed to block the sword stroke by crossing her wrists and catching the blade on her forearm guards, deflecting the blow to one side. Robin watched as the attacker simply smashed it's right fist, still gripping the hilt of the sword, into Starfire's face staggering her, and as she stumbled back the attacker took another swing, which Starfire almost managed to dodge, catching the tip of the sword on the right side of her head. Starfire managed to stagger over to a communications terminal, but before she could activate it, the intruder produced a spray can and sprayed something in Starfire's face, and she abandoned the terminal and fled the room, followed by the intruder.

Robin was silent for a moment, and Raven could feel his rage growing, "Cyborg download a copy of that and pick it apart," he said softly, his voice tight with the anger he was holding in check, "We are going to get the sevaxo that did that to her and they are going to pay, if I have to challenge him or her, myself."

"Shalocfa cathan I wish to assist in this," Kim'r said.

"Can I trust you?" Robin asked, and was surprised at his answer.

Kim'r dropped to one knee before Robin, and drew her sword, presenting the hilt to Robin, "I swear by my honor that I will not rest until the one who attacked Princess Koriand'r is brought to justice, and that I will assist and guard the princess's comrades while they are in the fleet."

Robin took the offered hilt, and touched the flat of the blade to Kim'r's right shoulder, "I accept your offer and your oath," he told her and returned her sword to her, "and please accept my apology, I had no right to doubt your loyalty to the princess or Emperor."

"Indeed you did shalocfa cathan," Kim'r said as she sheathed her sword, "Your belief, when you sent Koriand'r here was that she would be surrounded by armed military warriors, loyal to her and Lord Galfore, which would have made this attack impossible. That it did not is a dishonor I can not sit by and let pass."

Robin nodded, and sighed softly, then turned to the monitor again, "Replay it Cy," he ordered and the screen blurred for a moment, then started just after Starfire entered to picture. I wasn't until the third time through that Beast Boy caught something.

"Freeze that!" he shouted, and the picture jumped then froze on a frame that showed the sword being deflected by Starfire, "Back it up slowly," he ordered, and Cyborg typed in the command and the picture moved very slowly backward. "There!" he shouted as the sword almost filled the frame and it was raised to strike.

"A Klevixya!" Robin and Kim'r shouted together, "A woman!" Robin added alone.

"How can you tell that by the sword?" Raven asked.

"Cy, make a copy of that frame," Robin ordered, then turned his head to Kim'r, "Maybe we can trace the crest," he said, and Kim'r nodded, "In answer to your question Raven, the Klevixya is a sword exclusively for use by female warriors. . . ." he began.

". . . for a male to use one would be unheard of, as it would leave him without honor," Kim'r finished, then she snapped to attention and saluted the group, "I offer my apologies," she said, "I had thought you too young and inexperienced to have what I have heard of you be true, and indeed they are not, as you are better at what you do than I have heard," she explained, then bowed to them.

"Your apology is accepted, Commander," Robin said, and held out his hand, "On my planet, the shaking of hands is a way to seal an agreement, and used when people meet. It is also used when two people who have had a difference of opinion have reached an understanding of each other." he explained.

"Then I gladly give you my hand, Robin, leader of the Titans," Kim'r said, and shook Robin's hand warmly.

Just then the door to Starfire's room opened and Galfore came out, and walked over to the group, "Commander, you will personally lead the investigation into the attack on the princess, and report directly to me."

"As you command, my lord," Kim'r said, saluting, "We have already started."

"It looks like the same intruder that broke into our Tower," Robin said, indicating the picture on the monitor. He then shoed Galfore the entire video of the attack, and told about the sword, "I would say that what was sprayed into Starfire's face was wistona gas," Robin added, "seeing as that is what we believe was used at the Tower.

"My lord the princess is calling for her shalocfa," the healer said, poking her head out the door.

"Hold young one." Galfore said, putting a hand on Robin's shoulder, "Is she asking for him by name or title?"

The woman gave a small sigh of annoyance, "She is asking for shalocfa Robin," she replied, "Those are her exact words."

"You may go, but one of your friends must go with you," Galfore instructed, "If you see any sign that she is waking up, you must leave."

"Understood," Robin agreed reluctantly, "Raven," he called and they went into Starfires room. Robin thought that seeing Starfire as she was in the emergency room would prepare him for seeing her now. He was mistaken. When Starfire had been beaten by Benny and his cohorts, she was badly bruised, but there had been very little to no blood visible. Now, however, the right side of her top although not soaked in blood was covered with it, and he could see some places in her hair, where clumps of the scarlet strands were stuck together.

Taking a shuddering breath, he moved to the side of her bed, "Athani, vidi'an," he said softly as he lightly stroked her cheek with his fingers, "Pa va neru que shu, Koriand'r."

"Be calm princess, I am here with you Starfire," Raven's translator said into her ear, and she frowned in confusion as she had expected something a little more personal from him. She was surprised a moment later when the healer left the two on them alone with Starfire, and Robin spoke again.

"Mathad pe va shesas aparo pe felo naf gentha shu serena," Robin said softly, his voice cracking as he sounded near tears, "Nevana ne loneva," he added then lightly kissed Starfire's forehead.

"Beloved, I am truly sorry that I could not keep you safe. Forgive me my love," Raven's translator said, and she smiled sadly as she realized that it was the healers presence that had made him act so distant toward Starfire. She could see that Robin's voice, touch or presence must have reached some level of Starfire's consciousness, because the drawn, pained expression she had when they came in had been replaced by a more peaceful one.

Just then Star moaned softly, then spoke as though in her sleep, "Must tell Robin, not his fault. Nothing he could have done to stop. . . " she said softly then trailed off.

As Robin stood there, looking at Star's face, and seeing her chest rise and fall with her breathing, Raven could feel his anger rising again as the video played itself in his mind over and over.

"Shalocfa, it is time you left," the healer said as she came back into the room. Getting no response from him, she touched him on the shoulder.

"You will NOT hurt her again!" Robin shouted as he spun around, his left hand sweeping away the hand that had been on his shoulder, his right hand striking out.

"Robin!" Raven cried out, and put up a shield just in time to block the punch he had thrown.

Robin stared in shock at the person he had almost struck, "Healer, I am sorry, I shouldn't have lashed out at you."

Recovering her composure quickly, she put a consoling hand on his shoulder, "You are the one who is to be her shalocfa," she told him, "Your defensiveness is to be expected. I should not have touched you without making sure you were aware of my presence."

Robin looked over at Starfire again, and sighed softly, "Is there a training room near by?" he asked, "I should prepare myself in case I'm challenged."

"Turn left down the hall, third compartment on the right," she replied, and Robin left.

Raven turned to leave as well, but heard the healer mutter something under her breath, "Excuse me, but what was that about being cruel?"

Glancing at the door, to make sure it was shut, the older woman replied, "He is to be her shalocfa, his place is here for many reasons, but the Emperor had decreed that they have minimal contact with each other. I can not speak about the princess, but the stress of the situation is causing him great strain," she explained, "I do not believe that he is usually that aggressive," she went on, "The only time I have had warriors react like he just did is when I have their mate in my care."

"You're right, Robin is under a lot of stress right now, and his not being able to act normally around her is not helping," Raven said, "That's why I didn't follow him, he needs to blow off some steam."

"Would you like to stay here, with her?" the physician asked, "It would be best if she saw a familiar face when she wakes up.

"Thank you. I'd like that," Raven replied. Once she was alone with Starfire, she moved a chair over by the head of her bed, and sat, "I wish you were awake Starfire. There are many things I want to ask you about concerning what's going on," she said, then saw that Star's face had resumed it's pained appearance, and she whimpered softly, "Athani Koriand'r, shu vata serena, Easy Starfire, you are safe," she said, and although Starfire seemed to relax some, Raven could still feel her confusion and pain. Not really knowing why, Raven started humming a tune that she knew Starfire liked, and she smiled when she saw Star's expression relax. Raven was about half way through the tune for the third time when she noticed that Kim'r had come into the room. She stopped humming, and pulled her hood up to hide her blushing face.

"I did not mean to intrude," Kim'r said, "What was that song you were humming?"

"It's a lullaby from an old children's movie." Raven replied, "I remembered that Starfire liked it, and even put some Tamaranean words to it."

Kim'r nodded, "The tune sounds sad for a lullaby," she remarked.

"The child is the main character, and his mother is imprisoned for defending him from being teased," Raven related, trying to remember the movie, "He misses his mother terribly, and a friend helps him to see her, and she sings him the lullaby," she was silent for a moment then hr face brightened as she remembered the title of the movie, "The name of the movie was Dumbo," she said, "I always thought her liking movies like that was stupid or silly, but after being aboard the VELANCE'R, and around so many Tamaraneans, I could see how she could relate to Dumbo." she went on, "Only instead of her mother being locked away it was herself, when the Gordanians took her."

Kim'r nodded sadly, "That was a black day for our world," she said softly, "I had been in the palace guard since about two years before," she related, "I practiced swordsmanship with her, and learned that she was a virtual demon with a blade. Even six years her senior and I was hard pushed to defeat her," she went on, "As a warrior the only fault I found in her was in her lack of hand to hand combat skills. I am pleased to see that she has learned to be better."

The older woman was silent for a moment as she sorted through her thoughts and memories, "Koriand'r was only six months past her Acceptance when the Gordanians arrived and issued their ultimatum, surrender her to them or they would destroy Tamaran, and with three DUVORT class ships in orbit they could carry out that threat easily," she related, then crossed over and put her hand on Starfire's shoulder, "There was a number of us who did not wish to give in so easily, and we were going to defend the palace and the Royal Family," Kim'r was silent for a moment as she looked down at her princess. Raven could see that she was struggling to hold back tears and losing, "So young, but she showed the lot of us what being a warrior truly was," she continued, her voice barely above a whisper, as if she didn't trust herself to speak louder, "She came to us as we were preparing for the battle, and reminded us that the greatest honor a warrior can attain is to give her or his life in defense of her comrades, and Tamaran. She asked us, as a warrior, not to deny her that honor by casting our lives away in a unwinable battle when it was within her power to prevent it,"

Kim'r hung her head her tears freely flowing now almost unable to speak, "Two squads, twenty-four warriors in the room and youngest one there showed us all what it meant to put honor and duty above all else," she managed to say, then looked back at Starfire, "Koriand'r, shovaka du Tamaran, shu vata che turino shovaka du ra toderi," she said softly, then realized that Raven was still there and didn't speak Tamaranean, "Starfire, warrior of Tamaran, you are the greatest warrior of us all," she translated, and wiped at her cheeks and eyes, "I am sorry Titan Raven, I did not mean to go on so."

"No Commander, it's alright," Raven assured her, "Starfire remembers the honor you showed her, by escorting her into Lord Trogaar's ship. You placed her crown on her head, and Brend'r took her sword and belt."

"She has told you about this!" Kim'r asked incredulously, "She had told me that her shalocfa cathan knew, but no others."

"We are the only two," Raven said, "Starfire and I had an instance where we both had to confide in each other," she added, then related the occurrences with the Puppet King, "Up until recently there were things about Star that I knew, but Robin did not," she went on, "I learned that day just how special a person she really is. Always the optimist, seeing the good in everyone, and every thing. Wanting to be friends, even with those who don't feel they deserve it," she concluded.

Kim'r nodded her head, and there was silence for a moment, "I am very pleased to see that she has found such friends," she said, then sighed, "As I said when I interrupted your humming, I did not mean to intrude, but I am looking for Robin."

"He went to a training room near here," Raven told her, "Turn left down the hall, third compartment on the right," she said, and as Kim'r turned to go, she quickly added, "Make certain he knows you are there before you touch or otherwise startle him, he's kinda stressed out right now." Kim'r chuckled lightly and nodded as she left.