Chapter 3: Curio

Where Lance had been loud, open, and flirty, Keith was the perfect antithesis, the shadow to the loud brightness. Almira found it amusing how he seemed to bumble in her presence at first, a particularly endearing moment occurring when he had started to enter the lion before thoughtfully pausing, gesturing for Almira to enter first, making her heart light. For all the "moody behavior" that Lance had poked at, she found herself comfortable around the reserved paladin.

She could make an informed hypothesis, however, that he was not necessarily comfortable around her.

But all hesitation and awkwardness gave away when she entered the cockpit, gazing with wonder at the technology inside as he moved to seat himself, starting the craft up with expertise and familiarity. She took the time to open the faceplate on her helmet, audio still connected in case someone needed to communicate with her, but freeing her face to observe everything without a lens. The helmet and its guiding software were useful, but there was nothing like using her own eyes to make conjectures about the world around her. Her new companion for the next leg of their trip fell into his rhythm, the awkwardness fading to muscle memory as he flicked switches and adjusted elements.

Under her feet the lion rose, causing her to grip onto the back of his chair to support her as a small gasp left her parted lips. Keith started at the small noise that had someone escaped without her permission, muttering a small apology for the sudden movement before guiding the lion further into the waters, the yellow lion just disappearing underneath the surface toward the center of the lake and following suit of the others. Better prepared for the movements that followed, Almira trusted her equilibrium enough to relax her clenched fist, only using the chair as a light support.

To Almira's right, a visual of Shiro came to life, and she moved closer to Keith's seat in order for him to share the view. Arden stood in a similar position next to Shiro, to the right and behind the chair as he craned his neck to stand in the shot. His helmet was secured on his head, face panel open for a clear view of glittering molten eyes that stood apart from the gray interior.

"Arden has asked us to keep all lights off. Any light escaping from these tunnels could alert the Galra of our escape."

"Shiro, I don't know if you realize this, but we're literally navigating in the dark. I can barely see your tail light." Lance's voice patched through the system, the realization that all paladins were audibly connected through the channel quickly passing over Almira.

"If you'd rather be hunted by the Galra, then by all means, light it up. Any more questions?" Arden's voice sounded like it was half joking, but the lethal quality that simmered and snaked through each syllable shut everyone's mouth. "Good. If our lights are off, we can take our time. We take our time; we get to the capital safely. We have hidden patrols up top; I'll keep you updated when we fire up the light show."

Shiro seemed unperturbed by Arden's voice's poisonous quality, most likely understanding the logic behind the decision and deciding to leave the expertise to the local. "Alright team. Take it slow." The screen cut out, the only sounds in the compartment steady breathing, the water sloshing outside the lion, and the warm humming of the mechanics. As Lance had pointed out, the only visuals outside the lion were the faintly glowing tails of the lions in front of them, barely enough light to make out anything beside the backside of the preceding figure. Adjusting his grip on the controls, the paladin focused on slowly lowering himself down the same path, and at some point realized that they hadn't hit the bottom yet, without an end in sight. He took a moment to glance at his new companion, her face still taking in the interior and designs of their ship. Clearing his throat, he snared her attention, curiously staring back at the pilot.

"So how far does this go?"

Almira tilted her head, a sure sign and habit that her brilliant mind was working away at something, eyes seeming to look out aimlessly to the watery abyss enveloping them. "Long answer or short answer?" A grouching, irritable look passed over his face at her answer, and she restrained a chuckle at his form, shoulders slouching slightly. "Do you want to rephrase your question?"

Questions on question; an absolute favorite. Keith sighed. "How long is this trip gonna be?"

"Unfortunately, you're stuck with me for at least a varga." The melodic tones of her voice sounded anything but disappointed, and while Keith discovered dread and exasperation in his soul, it was as though her positivity pelted his bubble of negativity. A humorous visual, he decided to likewise humor his newfound companion.

"The long story, then."

A hum and a pause filled the space, and Keith was tempted to look back again to see what exactly was on her mind, or if anything on her face gave away a reaction or idea. He forced himself to focus forward on piloting; he was certain if he got distracted and managed to crash into something, he would never hear the end of it from Lance. Fortune favored him, however, and he didn't have to wait long for her calming voice to fill the space between them.

"How about a deal?"

He tried to keep his tone polite, but he was certain that his irritation was only obscured to a certain degree. "If you answer my question, then sure."

"Hasty."

"Are you going to answer me?"

"Do you want to know what kind of deal I want first before you get into it?"

No, he didn't particularly care. He just wanted answers, and her roundabout way of talking and the circles she was running around him was eating away at his patience, one delicate syllable by another delicate syllable. On one hand, he wanted to turn around and demand a straightforward answer, but there was the knowledge that she definitely knew and understood the power she held over him. Perhaps his patience would wear thin, would snap like brittle dehydrated tree bark lain to waste on tar pavement, but he tried to keep it together for the team's sake, for the reputation of the Voltron paladins that preceded even him. Inhaling deep to calm himself, he quietly sighed, slowly savoring the release of breath that heightened the sense of his beating heart in his chest.

Patience yields focus. He recalled Shiro's words as he slowed himself down, the wisdom of the elder paladin ringing true and making his decision.

He would play along. Did he have any choice? He had to remember that the Fleogans had been ancient allies of the Alteans, and it wouldn't do to disrupt that connection on behalf of Allura and Coran. While recalling how she had struck Lance down and the amusement that it had brought him, he was now beginning to see the double edged sword that was the Fleogan princess and captain in front of him. If that goof of a human could recover and survive, then surely he could do better? "Alright," he settled on his decision, making himself as comfortable as possible, "What's the deal?"

If she had been one of the wild cats that lingered in the forests of the northern craters, she would have been purring with satisfaction. Instead, Almira settled for the warm feeling in her chest as she began prying the paladin open; he seemed generally curious about the Fleogans, as was she about Voltron. How did they survive? Why now of all times to reappear? Best of all, she was isolated with one of their members on a personal level. Now was the time to crack him open, but she knew that his general distrust of others as he had already demonstrated meant that he had to be coaxed into the open.

"A quid pro quo, so to speak. If I answer some of your questions, then you can answer mine." Should she poke him where he was sensitive, expose his insecurities? Probably not. "It's a fair deal for two people with trust issues, particularly when you're the one who's wandering blind into a situation." She did anyway. It was almost worth it to see his metaphorical feathers ruffled, grumbling to himself in agitation, and the payoff was even better when she saw his shoulders set squarely on his frame; she had won.

"Fine."

It wouldn't do to have him completely set against her though, so she settled on smoothing his temperament one more time. It was amusing, hilarious almost, that she was able to manipulate his emotions and actions so quickly, but she had years of practice to master the art of deception and manipulation. "If it's any consolation, I don't blame you for your lack of trust. It's a wise move to tread lightly." Her words fell on receiving ears, and two hearts softened. "I won't tell you to trust us, but I'll do everything I can to ensure that you can."

A warm observation and musing filled the cold space, and Almira fell quiet, allowing the paladin to prepare himself. What sort of questions would he ask? Should she be prepared to give everything openly, or were there things that she should keep secret? By that matter, everyone had secrets, her perhaps least of all with her life being the most open book to those surrounding her, but there was information that was unnecessary for an outsider to tout around. But looking at the boy before her, secrets were perhaps the key to gaining his trust, to permit a hidden facet of her or her people to rattle in his pretty head. It would, therefore, depend on what sort of secrets he asked of her. Then again, perhaps she was thinking too far into the conversation and attempting to map what direction it would leer off into.

"So." His words yanked Almira out of her musings and back into the present moment. "We couldn't find you when you arrived. Why?"

"While I don't know exactly what tools you were using to find us, we've hidden ourselves away." She paused, trying to imagine what they had seen when looking at the planet; if it were true that they had two Alteans from the ancient days before the Galra occupation, they would have remembered the glittering structures that proudly dotted the surface of Fleogas. The connection was then easy to make. "If you were looking at old maps, you were probably looking for the ancient strongholds on the surface. We were," she paused. What word would she use to describe the manner from which her people had been escorted from their homes, their livelihoods? Was there a stronger word than forced? "Violently escorted from the surface. We've adapted to the craters, living below the surface and covered by the dense vegetation that grows inside."

"So there's more of you?" Keith's voice was hopeful, unrestrained and unmasked, and even Almira found a fondness for his open questions and musings.

In all honesty it was refreshing to talk with someone new whose questions weren't rooted in some greedy desires, poorly disguised questions that sought to expose or gain an unfair advantage over her position. She even felt a little bad for prodding him in her own desired direction, but it was to both their advantages. A smile floated across her features, prodding gentle lips into an upward twist. "Yes. Not just some more of us either. We've flourished, something that even the Galra couldn't have predicted. Our numbers are strong, though scattered throughout the planet."

It gave Keith something to ponder over, but it was time for Almira to take the wheel. "My turn for a question." A singsong quality to her voice found Keith both irritated and amused at her playful qualities, and even he cracked a smirk. What could she ask? Or, more precisely, what should she ask? There would be a time to interrogate the paladins altogether, to learn about their sudden reappearance and everything that most Fleogans had on their mind, so she could rule out any obvious questions that would be addressed at a later date. But what else did she want to know? She looked at the glass that stretched out before them, the darkness enveloping the lion allowing for the low lights in their compartment to illuminate and reflect their wavering, watery, images. Brilliant silvery eyes matched glittering gold in ferocity and detail, and Almira found her mind wandering over the sharp, lithe features that matched her own.

"Your home planet. What's it like?"

"Earth?" Of all the questions, this was the least anticipated from a representative of the Fleogan people. Then again, he watched her eagle eyes raking over his figure with a tender delicacy, a gentle wariness as she considered him, and her reflection could almost be mistaken for a curious predator contemplating a foreign prey, doubting every instinct that drove her to devour and consume. He was reminded briefly of Allura waking from her cryostasis, a rabid ferocity that doubted the twitch of every muscle at the obvious disadvantage she held, outnumbered and seemingly at the mercy based on the odds, but the woman before him carried herself as though she had seen the atrocities of ten thousand years with her own two eyes; there was a quiet assuredness and a physical mastery of every movement, a practiced dancer weaving a dangerous spell that he was most assuredly falling under.

But if she were seeking an advantage to hold over him, she refused to take it. Her question had caught Keith off guard with the personal nature, an inquisition that gave her no informative gain over the paladins. She was complex and frankly confusing; she had verbally caught him in a corner from the moment they descended into the black waters, and she knew it. But here she was, taking a completely different turn not minutes later and opening the space between them for something more breathable, the table cleared for negotiations of trust, as she had mentioned. He mentally shook his musings, returning to his question. "It's home, I guess. There's a lot of dusty plains and mountains, where I'm from." He was reminded of their team's journey into the lair of the blue lion, which seemed like eons ago, when it was in all likelihood barely a month. A frown settled on his lips as he stared out into the waters, seeking out molten eyes that matched his own in a soft understanding.

He must have paused for a while, for she shifted her weight behind the chair. "You must miss it."

Shoulders shrugged in indifference. There were advantages to being in space, but did that mean he wanted to return to Earth? "Yeah, parts of it." Perhaps he was impartial because of the lack of an established family, unlike Hunk and Lance who most certainly had ties that made the separation all the more painful. "But this is our destiny, I guess."

"Defenders of the Universe." An unnamed emotion crossed her face, although Keith swore that there were signs of wistfulness, and perhaps bitterness? It was difficult to see in the reflection on the screen in front of them, the incorporeal image lacking the justice that came from standing face to face. "It is a lonely destiny."

"You sound like you speak from experience."

Their distorted connection broke as Almira turned her head away, choosing to shift her eyes to her right and eyeballing a particularly innocuous space to the right of Keith's chair. Her feet were beginning to tire, and figured that it was a prime moment to settle in for the long haul. She carefully lowered herself to the ground, leaning her back against a silver panel and crossing her legs in front of her. Her helmet clinked as it made contact with the metallic interior of the lion, her eyes returning to the red paladin in front of her. It was now easier to see his face, the sharp lines of his jaw standing out the most from her position, and she could even see storm grey eyes flickering between their path and her movement. She sighed quietly, linking her hands together. "Is that your next question?" There was a weary quality that aligned with her playfulness now, the events of the day beginning to creep into her joints and settle in with resignation.

Keith took a moment to respond, considering his options briefly, but he intrinsically knew what his answer was. "Yeah."

She hummed in permission, taking her time collecting her thoughts. It was a complicated question to explain to an outsider, explaining her empathetic response to the isolating calling of the paladins of Voltron. But she would not lie; she was building trust with the boy before her, and if it were particularly selfish of her she would admit that his brusque demeanor was endearing and familiar.

"Our military is stratified into differing levels dependent on skill. Most common are the Lansild, our foot soldiers and the bulk of our army, along with the Technology Brigade, the brains to the Lansild's brawn. But there are," she paused, searching for the words and contemplating how far her explanation would draw; was she going to explain everything, down to the legendary inheritance of their people? "Other, more technical levels.

"Legend has it that the goddess Eos blessed our race with the power to conjure the wind, and bend it to our uses." Keith's eyebrows rose at the improbable lore. Gods and goddesses? Were such things real in the universe? "The ability isn't found in everyone anymore, but there are some who are talented in the field."

"Controlling the wind?"

She rolled her eyes quietly. It was a valid question from someone who hadn't been trained and raised in their society, learning their reverence of the wind and the almost mystical powers that a select few had the fortune or sorrow to possess, but it tended to irritate most wind users anyway. It was a common misperception that they controlled the wind, when the nature of the pact was less controlling and more borrowing and diverting, but there lay an argument and philosophical debate that she would leave to the nobility who had the time to consider such ideals on a whim. "Essentially." She settled on agreeing with him for now, although if the topic were to rise in the future, she would eventually have to lecture him on the more intricate ideologies of the Fleogans. "I am one such person, as is Arden.

"There are three ranks, signifying three different ability ranges. The archers, who associate their powers with effecting objects; the Warpers, whose powers relate to their own bodies and skills; and the Wind Benders, whose skills can conjure gales from breezes, massive natural disasters, depending on their proficiency." She paused, eyes narrowing playfully at Keith's figure. "You do realize that this is prized information, me revealing the intricacies of our people. You're the first outsider to learn this in thousands of years."

A particularly impressive eye roll matched the impatient exasperation, a scowl also accompanying an accusing tone at her obvious statement. "Weren't you the one jabbing at my trust issues earlier?"

It was like opening a door from the Garrison to a mild summer morning, the sun not yet at its peak with the evening dew evaporating for a glancing humidity that washed over skin in a soothing balm. Her voice filled the space, a natural embrace that Keith was sure would melt any person's rough edges even just a little, the gates on his heart creaking as they shifted under her warmth. Then it was gone, leaving only the radiant sun in her eyes and on her lips, a brilliant intensity that had the knowledge of withering heat and warming frosted surfaces. "You have me there, paladin."

"It's Keith."

The sun was setting in her eyes, warmth simmering in sincerity as she collected herself again. "Almira. Just Almira."

A moment passed in golden silence before she cleared her throat, recollected her thoughts. "So the three classifications then. I'm guessing there's an order here?"

His attention to her words warmed her, encouraging her on with little restraint. "In a way. Archers are the most common; it's easy to see when a child moves an object, and it's easiest to grasp powers when focusing on something else. Warpers have the difficulty of applying their powers then to their own bodies, and their ranks have obviously established a method of attacking that has the appearance of warping instantaneously from one place to another. Any questions so far?"

Shaking his head, he scratched his neck sheepishly. "Not really. You're a good explainer." Placing both hands on the controls again, he focused outside, multiple taillights coming into view and spreading out beneath them. They were approaching the bottom of the water systems, slowly but surely. "So the Wind Benders?"

"It helps that we're the most sensitive to the wind, but we essentially build upon the energy that is already present. Like I said, we can create storms from almost nothing. It's draining but," she sighed, recalling the steadiness of her hands as she had fanned the covering storm that evening, lightning sparking at her fingertips as she relished the intense ability that was entirely her own, "exhilarating."

"So you're a Wind Bender." It was definitely another question, and Almira could probably turn the tables very quickly, but a piece of her heart warmed at the interest, the earnest attention he paid to her words not out of a desire to exploit her, but out of interest and curiosity for knowledge's sake. It wasn't to say that he was incapable of such harsh actions, but his emotions were honest, and Almira could read him like a book. "Is Arden a Wind Bender?"

"A Warper, actually," she corrected gently, but ego secretly stoked at the advantage she held above her brother. "He's a General, the head of the Warpers. Each division has one general and an array of captains, depending on the size of each section."

"And you're a captain."

She was honestly impressed that he had remembered everything she had said thus far in their short time together. "Yes. Second captain of the Wind Benders."

He quieted for a moment, processing the information while turning more of his attention to their surroundings outside the lion. Maneuvering around in the space, he looked for a place to settle his lion. They had exited the shaft from the lake, which had dumped them abruptly into a large space. It was still almost impossible to see the exact scale due to the darkness, but the figures of the five lions were vaguely illuminated in small blue lights.

"You mentioned that it's a lonely destiny." As the lion landed, the long settled sediment fluffing around the claws, he looked to his companion once more. Upon meeting her eyes, he knew that his question need not be verbally addressed, the conflict and unrest on her golden face already preparing an explanation.

"I seek to serve my people, so that one day a generation may know what it is like to soar unburdened through the skies of Fleogas." Her voice was quiet in the way that the setting sun acknowledges the inevitable approach of twilight, then chased by blue night's heavenly reign. "There are many who doubt my abilities as a woman, a member of the royal family, who expect my duties to align with family and the court. I am both accepted yet estranged. I have Arden," her voice turned defensive and eyes hardening, "no doubt, and I have the support of my peers. But I have also lost much in order to stand where I am today."

Closing her eyes, her features smoothed over, a mask quickly replacing the agonized look in her eyes that had begun to seep through her own defenses, and it was in that moment that Keith realized that he no longer held her at arm's length. How could he, after she had begun ripping herself apart in front of him, a paladin of Voltron and therefore a respected guest, yes, but a stranger nonetheless? Perhaps she wasn't a friend just yet, but she had demolished his expectations, his guards, invading his space and somehow claiming her place as an ally. She confused him at every turn, creating more questions often than answers could be found, but there was an elegance that demanded even the most begrudging individuals their respect, and it was apparent how she had overcome the most doubtful critics of her path.

But she was right; it was a lonely destiny. He wondered how much pain, how many comrades she had lost in the fight against the Galra, how much duress her beautiful mind had endured in comparison to his short time as a paladin. It was surely innumerable, and yet she had refused to pull up differentiations in her suffering compared to his. She had colluded, acknowledged his own struggles as a peer, an equal in the fight for the universe. Moment by moment, she was chipping away at his defenses, and Keith wasn't sure if welcomed the intrusion or not.

Above her head, a communication line opened again, Shiro and Arden's faces appearing in the purple light of the black lion. Almira twisted from her position, kneeling so that she could see the visual without obscuring Keith's view. She internally sighed at the amused faces on both leaders' faces; the two were obviously getting along swimmingly, although she wasn't complaining about her situation either. Talking with Keith and opening up her feelings about everything was an unexpected twist, but it was no doubt better than fending Lance's flirty comments off.

"We've received communications from the top." Arden was the one who spoke first, grinning unreservedly. "Looks like we gave them the slip. We're safe to turn on the lights now."

The other three paladins cheered unseen at the order, the lion's external lighting systems flickering to life and illuminating the cavernous room. It was even larger than Keith had expected, and the cheers swiftly moved to marveling at their surroundings. The walls were polished smooth, graying granite-like in appearance and shimmering ever so subtly as the lights reflected off their surfaces. Six tunnels branched out from the room, unreadable runes etched over their frames that dwarfed even the lions.

"Welcome to the waterways of Fleogas. It was carved a few thousand years ago, back when we found a need to move under the radar from cavern to cavern."

"We have smaller tunnels underground, of course," Almira added, surprising Keith slightly as she spoke with confidence. "But those are mainly used for people and small transports. We needed something bigger for our larger weaponry without sacrificing the integrity of the tunnels."

"And here we are!" Arden gestured around, a wide smile with pride at the astonishment of the paladins. Almira snuck a glance at Keith, who quietly took in the engineering marvel with awed, parted lips. "We'll be taking the southeastern tunnel. It'll be faster from here on out, since we don't have to hide, but buckle in for the ride."

Shiro nodded in affirmation, focusing the team again. "Alright, let's keep the same formation. We'll be at the capitol in no time." The communication cut with a blip, and Almira eased back into her position on the ground. Her eyes were reenergized, the emotional exhaustion that had slipped out stowed safely away again, as she looked at Keith with a warm smile.

"I believe it's my turn to ask a question now."

He playfully rolled his eyes in mock irritation, although the quirk of his lips gave him away. "Great, more time stuck with you."

Almira's heart lightened at the sarcasm; it was certain that they were going to become friends in the future, although she doubted that Keith was prepared for the constant sass that often saturated her conversations with Arden and most of the noble ilk that dared to bother her with their trivialities. Her smile was honest, and for the first time during the day, she found herself personally thankful for the abrupt intrusion of the paladins of Voltron.

"And here I thought we were getting to know each other."

The lions had been parked a little ways away from the banks of the central lake, underneath the dense foliage of the cool forest. Ancient Altean technology had been safely stowed away and traded for the Fleogan racers that carried two individuals each. An escort awaiting their arrival had stood sharp along the forest paths, inviting each arriving person to climb on the back of the dexterous pods. Unfamiliar with her escort, Almira was left to her thoughts as they flew toward the palace complex, following the primary river up its banks.

Keith surprised her. She recognized his hardened exterior as a defense meticulously crafted by an expert in rejection. He was brusque and straightforward. His judgments of right and wrong were grounded by a blend of logic and perception, and he acted instinctually, guided by habit. Perhaps it was often harsh, or came off as cold, but it was sensible.

And yet, for more than a few moments, she had seen a clumsy, endearing boy who was trying to make sense of the universe and his place. He was the fledgling leader, trying to make sense of everything. Where Shiro was the competent and confident paladin, Almira could instinctively see the quiet right hand in Keith, whether everyone else realized it or not. There was vulnerability that was well guarded, but the only fault was in his youth, his inexperience in the grand scheme of life. It was something blameless, yet close and personal to his heart.

And whether he realized it or not, he had endeared himself to Almira's heart. She had enjoyed the varga spent with him, occasionally learning about one another's cultures and lives in their game of questions, but also absorbing the quiet comfortably. Sighing to herself, she closed her eyes in reflection. He was much like her. There was so much knowledge that she would impart to him on his behalf, so much avoidable suffering, but she held back. Patience was a virtue well instructed over time, if one actively sought it. Advice was less eagerly received when unsought, as per her own experience.

Pulling up onto the steps of the palace, Almira took advantage of the paladins' awe to convene with Arden. However, even she could not resist gazing at the grand oak doors that were guarded by overarching trunks, silver midnight slipping through the canopy above their heads and illuminating much of their path. Ornate with meticulous carvings, the doors loomed well over their heads, an imposing yet comforting sight. Approaching Arden, the general appeared equally lost in thoughts, arms crossed until he noticed her approach and welcomed her with a smile. "Home sweet home."

Almira's lips quirked in amusement at the sentiment and Arden's false bravado. Although the palace was their home, both would have rather been in the barracks with their men and comrades than surrounded by the stuffy politics and orders of wealthy aristocrats. It was only their duty to tradition and service to their guests that they were even at the doorsteps of their second most despised enemy. A slender eyebrow quirked in response to Arden's joke. "The plan of attack?"

"Nothing until tomorrow." A salute from their transporters was the only motion that broke their communication, both siblings returning the gesture and signifying the departure of their rides. "Tonight we sleep."

"And tomorrow, the lions." Both grinned at the statement, understanding the hoops through which they would need to jump to bring the Voltron paladins into the court. It was simple, but laborious due to the pomp and circumstance. Frankly, their night of sleep was looking pretty good in comparison to the tedious talks that they were to face the next day, and Almira was ready to settle in for the night. "Thank goodness the court isn't awake at this hour."

Arden groaned playfully. "Don't remind me. It's enough we have to face them tomorrow, and then who knows how long after that."

Almira startled. The notion had surely crossed her subconscious mind, but now it was sitting in front of her face, staring her down, unavoidable. Voltron was a fighting machine, a hero to the universe in their times of need. Although they had vanished for thousands of years, surely that fact had not changed in the slightest. Almira peered at the paladins, who were conglomerating around Shiro and murmuring to themselves. Was this the chance that they had been waiting for? Was it possible that, finally, the Galra reign on their planet would come to an end?

The possibilities were there. Subtle, yet not. Surely the military, the court, the king would see the advantageous position that had fallen into their hands by sheer luck or fortune, perhaps fate if one believed in it. The time was now, and they surely would need to act. It was sudden, unexpected, and yet the perfect opportunity, and Almira found herself conflicted. How was it possible that the fate of her and her people could be changed in a night?

Arden's face watched her own as she struggled with her thoughts, patience and worry mingling together through furrowed brows. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he broke her thoughts, though her eyes were still muddied with emotion. A gentle smile on his face, he eased her mind into the present moment. "But tonight, we can sleep. That's a problem for tomorrow."

Nodding, a serene smile appeared on her lips as she hummed her response. Both turned towards the paladins, who approached their guiding duo. "Welcome officially to New Altaira, the capital city of Fleogas." Arden gestured to the land around them before motioning for the group to follow their ascent up a small flight of stairs to the massive doors. "We'll be staying inside the palace complex tonight. Tomorrow we'll work on an introduction to the court." The paladins murmured their general consensus, a round of yawns emitting from the blue, yellow, and green paladins in particular. Almira hid her smirk as she noticed Keith stifling his own yawn, attempting to look alert but given away by the watering of his eyes and sudden inhalation.

The doors gave way with a gentle touch of Almira's hand, opening just enough to allow their entourage through and into the main foyer. The cool light of the night gave way to the warm glow of lanterns that bathed the entrance hall in yellow, the primary source of light emitting from a chandelier that hung from the high arched ceilings. Tapestries and banners of translucent silks draped around the ceiling to fill the negative space, warding away the chilling cold of the marble and granite works around them.

"Who goes there?"

Turning their heads swiftly, Almira's eyes widened at the figure to their left. Like a string pulled taut from the top of their heads, Almira and Arden's postures rendered themselves immaculately attentive, their right fists clenched over their heart in salute of the golden figure that drifted down the hall in their direction. While the lamplight was dim, the regal figure and glittering gold circlet on their forehead was unmistakable.

"My King Khayin." It was Arden's turn to take over the negotiations as he stepped forward from the group. "We have guests. The paladins of Voltron."

Golden brows raised, the king continued his purposeful stride, feet silently gliding over the marble tiles until he came to stand before the group. "As I have heard. I was awoken for a security briefing not long ago." With a serene smile, the tension that had lingered above their heads was snapped, relief washing over the entire group. "Welcome, my friends. You are welcome to stay as long as you need beneath our bowers."

Shiro stepped forward, ever the delegate and peacemaker. "Thanks. We hope we aren't causing any more problems than necessary."

"I am certain that any problems would be solvable by our capable leaders. Isn't that right, Arden? Almira?"

The attention shifted back to the siblings, they offered nothing but secretive smiles, placid on the surface but a lingering, indescribable emotion behind it. "Anything for you, father." Khayin laughed heartily at his daughter's comment, the sound echoing around the empty space.

"If my daughter says it is so, it will be spoken into existence." Demurely smiling and dipping her head in acceptance of the compliment, she stepped back toward the paladins, allowing Arden to retake control of the situation. It was not uncommon for the king to praise his children where praise was due, but every moment bolstered her confidence, savored time and time again. She relished in the warm feeling that was sent down her spine; a confidence bolster was always appreciated, and after the long day, she was exhausted and ready to collapse. At least this chance meeting boosted her for a few more minutes.

"If it pleases you, Almira will take our guests to their rooms now."

Humming in agreement, the king nodded his head, his hands moving to clasp behind his back. "Excellent. I would like to debrief with you, to hear things from your end."

Arden turned to the group with an apologetic smile. "I will see you tomorrow then. Rest up. It will be a long day."

A groan escaped from her throat instinctively, all eyes turning to Almira, whose hands had folded over her chest while her head was thrown back in an exaggerated, exasperated manner. "Court days are the worst." She paused, looking at her father. "At least it's manageable when we're with you, father."

Another hearty laugh escaped from the king, his words this time directed at the paladins. "She gets that from me, you know. It takes a very special kind of person to deal with the hungry aristocrats." Motioning for Arden to follow him up a staircase that stood in front of the entrance, he dipped his head in farewell. "A very good night to you all." With various calls of "good nights" from the rest of the group, the two Fleogan men strode away, ascending the staircase with practice ease.

Almira breathed heavily through her nose, arms still crossed. It had been completely unexpected to see their father at this hour of the night; most briefings would have been saved for the morning, only disturbing the king if there was a direct threat to one of the main craters or a life threatening emergency. She had believed that he would remain unaware of the Voltron paladins until the following morning, but fate had other plans. Briefly, she wondered if he had been awake before the news hit, or if someone had awoken him, but all thoughts eventually faded as she stifled a yawn. It was time to sleep.

"Well, time to sleep. I'll take you to the guest apartments."

"Is it that bad?" Almira had begun to walk towards a corridor to their right, but Shiro's words halted her feet momentarily. "The meetings tomorrow. You said they're tedious."

She resisted an eye roll at the understatement, but snorted all the same. "That's a problem for tomorrow us. We're sleeping now, and that's that." No one appeared to resist her statement, although Shiro's brows furrowed slightly at her answer. Sympathetic to his confusion, she sighed as she led the group on toward their destination. "It's not that bad. Just incredibly… tedious."

"Any tips or words to the wise?"

Almira grimaced, but an amused smile made its way to her lips. "Keep your mouth shut and smile, even when you don't agree."

Sleep never sounded so good.

AN: Am I posting faster than I anticipated? Yes. Is it out of guilt? Absolutely. I'm terribly sorry that it's taken me so long to come back and revise this story, so here you go! Third chapter in a week. The next updates will probably be a little slower; I'm currently halfway through the fifth chapter, although it's arguably my beefiest one to date (halfway and over 5,000 words? Ridiculous, in my opinion, but better to give beefier chapters than scant ones).

I was going over the old story to see what I had done, and I think this is the first chapter where the differences between the old and the updated really start to shine. From here on out, the story should look drastically different. There will be similar events, but I think my writing style is also starting to evolve, so there will be a ton of new tricks for me to try out.

Again, please leave a review. Anything! My new year's resolution was literally to start leaving more reviews on the stories I read, because even the smallest things can make anyone's day. Hope you all are doing well! Here's to the month of April and absolutely getting shit done. :)