A/N: I apologise for the long wait. This is a bit of a filler chapter, but nonetheless, I hope you enjoy. Thanks for sticking with me!

16

"I am sorry I come here under such circumstances, Cousin," Romelle says as she sits across from me in the back of the library.

"I too wish the circumstances were different," I reply as we both turn to see Mira coming with a cart of tea and tarts. "I noticed just how much Sven and his brother favour. I honestly thought it was him in the other bed. He was so concerned for your welfare from what I was told."

"Ryu is very loyal. He has blood sworn himself to me just before we left. It was the only way Sven would let me leave with him."

"Why did he stay?"

Romelle looks down to the floor and swallows hard as she fidgets with her fingers. A habit that I have also when I want to keep my composure. I see one tear fall before she looks up freshly composed. I know this routine well. It is ingrained in you from birth.

"He wanted to confirm the rumours of - of - Bandor and his wife."

I nod and reach across the distance to take her hand. "I am so sorry. He was a good man and leader. He did not deserve that."

She gives my hand a squeeze and once she lets go, I let it fall back to my lap as Mira serves the tea and tarts. She must have remembered Romelle's love of sweets because, despite everything, her eyes light up when she takes the plate.

"This is something I feel guilty for enjoying while my people suffer," Romelle says after taking a bite.

"We are tending to their needs, Romelle. Everyone is getting food, including sweets. Even the MREs have something. And you have suffered loss, just as they have, you deserve a sweet as much as they do."

Romelle stares at me with a look I don't know how to read. She swallows the last bit of tart, takes a sip of tea and as she sets her cup down gives me a small smile. "Always trying to find some good, no matter what, eh?" She shakes her head and releases a long sigh. "I wish I could do that. But I have seen so much evil that I've begun to think that it's us that are evil inherently. Rather than the alien creatures who want to wipe us out of existence."

"I don't see how you can say that, Cousin. We have fought only for our survival. We could have lived together had they not decided we were nothing more than fodder. It is they that are evil."

"My father's court was obviously different from yours. It was all about games and raising your position for more power. My father had agreed to Zarkon's request because he saw it as a way to get the upper hand and for once be on more equal footing. He never forgave Alfor for refusing him to join the Voltron team those years ago. He and Zarkon both were driven by greed and revenge. Something Bandor was doing his best to be rid of in his court."

I let her talk. Much of what she's said I knew or suspected. It makes sense. I want to ask questions, say something of comfort, but I don't have the words. My mind begins to drift and I realise she's now talking about her trip to the south.

"Sven said we should set up a second guard in case the intel was correct."

"So that is why you were there?" I ask.

"Yes, but we knew the palaces would be targets, so we met in the caves, as you once did here. As soon as we received word of the attack to the north, we sealed off the entrance to the southern palace and moved further into the caves. The south was decimated when Zarkon came before, so many had cellars that they could connect and escape. We still lost many, but it truly could have been much worse. We found another connect in the sewers to the palace. It was how we stole the ship to escape.

I thank you for giving us refuge, cousin. We had nowhere else to turn. You could have done to us, what we did to your people those years ago. And you would have been well within your rights to turn us away."

"We are not our parents, Romelle. We have learned to keep the past behind us. Our relationship is one of trust and respect. I cannot sit by and not allow people who need help to suffer, not if I have the ability to help."

She smiles and I see one tear escape before she quickly wipes it away. "Bandor said he wanted to rule as you do. He looked up to you for your fairness and compassion. He was becoming a good man. A good King."

"You will be a great Queen, Romelle. And Sven your Prince or King Consort."

She looks down to her hands and shakes her head slightly. "I don't want to be queen."

I can't stop the gasp of shock. She stiffens, almost as if she expects me to strike, relaxing when nothing happens. "What do you mean by that?"

"My line is full of hatred and death. A new heir should be chosen."

I want to rush to her side and hug her, to console her, as I realise it's her grief, not her mind speaking. I manage not to move from my spot, and I take several breaths to gather my thoughts. "Romelle, you will make a great queen. A warrior queen. One who will defend her people with her bare hands if necessary and Sven your knight, your consort, your rock. Your people need to see you united. Willing to fight. For them, for your home and to avenge your fallen king and brother. We will help. You know this. You will not be alone. This fight is for the entire alliance. Pollux wasn't the only place attacked. I think so far we've been spared because of Voltron, but I do not know how long that will keep us safe from this foe."

She gives a slight nod.

"You need to address your people Romelle. Let them know that you live. They want something to place their hopes on. Continuing the royal line is what they need right now. Sven can stand beside you, as he has done for years."

"What if they don't accept me? Accept him? Unlike here, women are not meant to rule. We are to support the one who rules."

"I'd say that basically just left with Bandor's death, Romelle. You are blood. I think they will see you as proper heir and Sven as your consort. We just need to make it official."

"The crowns are gone."

"No, the crowns are here," I reply. Her eyes widen in shock. "Locked away in my apartments. We should make a point of Keith and I presenting you and Sven as queen and consort. Then we stand together in a united front with the alliance, thus showing that both Arus and the alliance see you as leader of Pollux. Few would dare question that. Especially given the fact that Keith and I are bonded by the blessings of the Ancients.

She looks up in shock. Her eyes wide and mouth open. She stammers for words, but nothing coherent comes. I manage not to laugh at her expression, but smile and show her my ring. "When...when did this happen?" she asks as she studies the ring.

"Just after the attack on Pollux." Coran said it meant that you were certainly still alive. That Sven was too. That it had to do with a prophecy."

"A prophecy?"

"Aye. He said that when the mate-bond returns the two will rule as one until the Heir is able to take their proper place upon their throne. As the last of their lines, the cousins and their kingdoms will form a bond through tragedy and triumph. That the bonds of hope and love shall forge a new era from the ashes of hatred."

Romelle stares at me in silence. The occasional blink her only movement. The look on her face is pensive. I'm not sure if she believes me or not. I'm unsure what to say, so I wait, let her process the information. She's been awake barely a day and we've told her so much, I fear this may well break her. I turn to the left when I hear footsteps approaching to see Coran coming towards us, Romelle must hear him as she seems to come out of her trance and turn his direction as he is just a few rows from us.

"Is everything alright, Coran?" I ask as he approaches us. I wave him to a vacant char and he gives a bow before taking his seat.

"We need to have another meeting first thing tomorrow. There's been more refugees arrive. This time from Terra. They say they are the final survivors. They were on the Terran moon when the attackers hit. All they could do was watch and hope they weren't noticed."

"How long ago was the attack?"

"They claim it's been ten Terran years."

I sit stunned. "C-Can we are- we sure this is the same enemy?" I stammer. I thought this was recent. How is our intelligence so off? Or perhaps space travel has made these latest arrivals off. "How many are there, Coran?"

"Approximately 800. Mostly children, or adolescents. The adults began sacrificing themselves when the air began to run out."

"Those poor kids," Romelle says. Her voice breaking with emotion.

'We're taking them to sickbay for medical exams and seeing that they are fed, clothed and bathed. There were three adults among them. All three have been hospitalized. I thought you should be aware. The King has some people looking into their story. We can't be too careful."

"Thank you, Coran," I reply. "Has there been any more news from Pidge?"

"He is coming back. They have gotten things set up and are mostly hidden from view. He feels they are safe for the moment, given he has as he put it, 'tweaked their defences'. Anything that isn't one of our vessels so much as appears, shields go up and an evacuation order issued. They are as secure as they can be, and the young man needs rest. Hence the reason I chose the morning for our next meeting."

"A good plan, Coran. Thank you for your continued guidance."

"I was thinking we should have a small informal dinner just the Voltron Force, Princess Romelle, Sven, you and your husband."

"And you," I reply in a tone he knows not to argue with.

He gives a slight dip of his chin, his moustache hiding most of his smile. "As you command, my Queen."

"Well, I suppose we should go get ready, Romelle," I say as the three of us stand up. "I'll take you to my old room and we can find you a suitable outfit, okay?"

Coran gives a nod and heads off to set up the dinner he spoke of. I take Romelle's hand and we go through the library to the elevator down the hall to my floor. I feel her tension ebbing ever so slightly as the doors to the elevator close after us. I plan to make this fun.