I make no claims to Voltron or any other WEP characters.

Enjoy Chapter 7

Mertz

Prince Perry stands near the balcony whispering in a beautiful red head's ear. She giggles at him, covering her mouth as she does so. He smiles wolfishly at her, Ahh…they almost make it too easy… He leans forward and places a light kiss on her neck, listening to her sigh.

"Pardon me, Prince Perry isn't it? I need a word."

Angry with the interruption, Prince Perry stands to his full height to face the man in front of him. He looks him up and down, taking note of his lack of designation before glaring at him, "Can't you see I am busy."

Lance tilts his head to the side slightly and smiles at him before shifting his gaze to the red head, "Miss, you better go back inside."

Shifting her gaze from one man to the other before noticing the dangerous glint in the younger man's eyes, the lady pulls her hand away from Prince Perry and quickly walks back into the ballroom. Prince Perry glowers at him, "Of all the insolence!"

Lance steps forward and grabs him by the front of his jacket and shoves him hard against the balcony's rail, "You son of a bitch, you do not insult the Princess of Arus and think you will just walk away." He punches the prince in the stomach before throwing him over the balcony rail.

He listens to the splash of the prince landing in the pond below the balcony before Lance turns around and walks back into the ballroom, lifting an eyebrow at the few curious gazes of those who had witnessed the event before they quickly turn away.

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Keith narrows his eyes as he steps forward. He glances at Coran before facing the monitor, "No sir. I have no problem following any orders the Princess has given to me."

An eyebrow goes up, "Oh…but we both know the Princess isn't capable of ruling right now. In her stance, Coran has given you orders that you have failed to comply with." Admiral Graham glares down on Keith from the screen, "You will begin to follow those orders Commander or I will have you transferred off of Arus."

Keith glares at the admiral, "Sir…if those orders have to do with walking away from Princess Allura while she is suffering I won't do it." He turns the glare to Coran, "If my presence makes the princess feel a little bit safer then I will not walk away from her."

His gaze goes back to the screen when the admiral makes a noise, "You leave me no choice Commander. I order you to stand down. You will be transferred immediately and a new Commander will take over your post on Arus."

Keith tilts his head to the side a bit, "Then you leave me no choice Admiral. I tender my resignation, effective immediately. I will not leave Planet Arus or Princess Allura."

Coran stares at Keith open mouthed as the admiral turns red with anger, "I could have you court marshaled Kogane and you would spend the better part of your life in a prison."

Keith's eyes turn very dangerous, "You could try…but I guarantee you that you won't take me." He turns his gaze to Coran, "If you try to force this Coran I will take Allura and leave Arus with her. You will never find us. I will not permit you or anyone else to ever hurt her again."

Coran studies Keith intently for several moments. Coran holds up a hand to the admiral when he would speak again, his gaze never leaving Keith. After a moment he softly utters, "You love her…don't you Commander?"

Keith looks away for a moment before bringing his gaze back up to Coran's; his entire body stiff with his anger, "Yes."

Continuing to study Keith for a moment, Coran finally looks away and shakes his head, "I should have guessed long ago…" He turns his face back to the monitors, "Admiral Graham, please drop this issue. I formally withdraw my complaint."

Admiral Graham looks from one man to the other before addressing Coran, "Are you certain?"

Nodding to the admiral, Coran sighs, "I made a grave mistake Admiral. I wasn't aware of the depths of the Commander's feelings for her Highness. Complaint withdrawn."

"Very well… Commander, Coran." as the video prompt goes black.

Coran turns back to Keith, "I am sorry Keith…if I had known…" He stops and studies Keith for several more moments, "It must have been very painful for you when Allura's engagement was announced."

Keith gives a curt nod as the muscle in his cheek jerks with his anger. Coran sighs as he wipes his moustache, "I must be getting old and senile." He finally smiles at Keith, "Your intentions?"

Keith finally relaxes his stance, "To marry her, if she will have me."

"I don't think you have anything to worry about there Commander…" Coran sits down in the command chair with a sigh, "Allura has always drifted toward you. At first I just thought it was a youthful crush, but now…" he lifts his gaze to meet Keith's, "I leave her welfare in your hands Commander, take care of her."

Keith nods, then turns and walks out of the room.

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Lance watches helplessly as Romelle approaches Allura and tries to take the champagne glass from her hand, "Allura, you've had too much."

Champagne sloshes over the side of the glass as Allura pulls her hand away from Romelle, "I don't need a baby sitter Romelle." She takes another sip of the bubbly drink then sighs as Lance approaches, speaking furiously, "Princess…you are making a fool of yourself."

Allura glares at him before throwing the contents of the glass in his face and turning to walk away. She walks into Sven who grabs her to keep her upright, "Princess, please."

Pulling her arm away from Sven she growls out, "Leave me alone." before walking toward the waiter wandering around with a tray containing glasses of champagne.

Keith enters the room, watching as Allura pulls her arm away from Sven. He walks across the room as Allura is about to take a sip from her newly procured glass. He puts his hand on top of it stopping her. She lifts her gaze to snap at the owner of the hand and her eyes lock onto Keith's.

Tears fill her eyes as his dark gaze fills with tenderness. He lifts his other hand and takes the glass away from her stiff fingers as he whispers, "Dance with me Allura."

After handing the glass to a waiter, Keith pulls Allura into his arms and waltzes her out onto the dance floor to the melodious music. Allura sobs as she hides her face in Keith's jacket.

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Coran sighs as he walks down the hallway, How could I have missed Keith's feelings for Allura all these years? He smiles slightly to himself, He will always love her and put her needs first…a perfect choice for Allura.

He pauses as the side door to the gardens beside the ballroom opens and one of the visiting princes stomps through it, soaking wet. Coran stares open mouthed at the man; he has green scum from the pond all over him, most noticeably on his face and hair, and part of a lily pad hanging out of his jacket. He turns slightly and glares at Coran before turning away to walk down the hall.

Coran closes his mouth as he starts shaking his head, Lance…

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Prince Perry seethes as he storms down the hallway and out of the castle, That insolent bastard, I will teach him his place… He uses his dirty hand to attempt to wipe some of the pond scum off of his face as he heads toward his ship.

The two guards standing in front of his ship do not move or show that they even notice Prince Perry's appearance as he stomps up the ramp into his ship. Once he is out sight and hearing, the guards turn to each other smiling with one speaking, "His Royal Pain in the Ass finally got what was coming to him." They laugh silently, hoping nobody catches them.

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Ignoring the stares of the guests, Keith pulls Allura tightly against him as he moves her though the dance. He whispers against her ear, "It's alright Allura…I won't allow anyone to hurt you." then turns his head and presses his lips to the side of her head.

Keith dances them toward the balcony and as the music ends he guides her out onto it. Once out of sight of most of the guests, Keith pulls Allura fully into his arms, holding her tight as she continues to cry. Romelle steps out onto the balcony on Sven's arm as Allura lets out a gut wrenching sob.

She curses as she walks up to them, "Damn Coran and Nanny. I told them she wasn't ready for this."

Tightening his arms around Allura, Keith lifts his head to look at Romelle as she finishes approaching him, "Keith, get her out of here. Take her to her room. I'll take care of making her excuses."

Keith nods to Romelle, wraps his arm around Allura's waist to direct her down the steps to the gardens. He guides her across them to a door on the other side that takes them back into the castle. Romelle watches them go then turns back to Sven, "Let's get this over with."

She takes his arm as they walk back into the ballroom.

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Keith escorts Allura back to her room and enters it with her. Allura pulls away from Keith to stand near the windows, looking out on the night sky. Keith sighs as he walks toward her bed to turn on the lamp, the light brightening the room. He turns back to see Allura's shoulders are shaking as she cries.

He quickly crosses the room to pull her into his arms, "It's alright Allura…"

Suddenly the door to Allura's room opens and Nanny quickly walks in, "Princess Allura…you cannot just leave the ball when you are the guest of honor!" Nanny glares at Keith as he steps back from Allura. He notes the look of anguish and fear on Allura's face and becomes enraged.

Keith turns to Nanny, his tone is low and furious, "Leave Nanny."

Nanny puts her hands on her hips as she raises her voice, "The princess knows her responsibilities Commander." She looks away from Keith, "Come Allura, I will escort you back to the ball. There are many princes still waiting to dance with you."

Keith crosses the room and grabs Nanny's arm, "Allura isn't going back to the ball Nanny." He pulls her to the door, slams his hand on the button opening the door and pushes Nanny out of it. He closes the door in her face as she starts yelling at him, then hits the locks to keep her out.

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Nanny stands in the hall stunned as she looks at the closed door. She raises her fist to begin pounding on it only to have it grabbed. She turns to find Coran standing in front of her. He releases her hand, "Leave them alone Nanny."

Nanny turns red with rage, "Coran, you know Princess should not be left alone with that man. She should be at the ball finding a husband and future King of Arus."

Coran smiles slightly at Nanny then takes her arm, "Come Nanny…there are a few things I had best explain to you." He pulls on her arm, forcing her to walk with him down the hall.

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Keith walks away from the door to find Allura watching him with tears running down her face. She sinks to the floor, her ball gown pooling around her as she covers her face with both hands. Keith kneels in front of her, "Allura?"

He rubs her hands then pulls them away from her face, "Allura, it's alright."

A sob escapes Allura as she cries out, "Who would want me Keith? I'm tainted, nobody wants me. They only want the Arus throne and Voltron."

Keith pulls Allura to him so their faces are close as he stares intently into her eyes before whispering, "I want you Allura."

Her jaw drops open from shock as Keith places a hand along her cheek, "I love you Allura. I always have and I always will, I want you."

A tear slides out of the corner of her eye and runs down her cheek, "You?"

Keith smiles at her as he caresses her cheek, "Yes…the worst day of my life was when Coran announced your engagement to Prince Robert. I couldn't breathe…it was like all the air had been sucked out of my chest and I was going to die."

Allura lets out a deep shuddering breath, "Why did you let me go?"

Keith looks down for a moment before raising his eyes back to her, "I thought I was unworthy of you."

She shakes her head at him as she makes a swiping gesture with her hand. Keith smiles at her, "I know…I was an idiot."

He places his hands on Allura's arms and rubs them. His eyes meet hers again, "I love you Allura. I am hoping someday you will agree to be my wife and let me spend the rest of my life making it up to you for my idiocy…"

A small smile crosses Allura's face as she leans into his chest. Keith wraps his arms around her as he lets out a deep sigh of contentment. Allura tilts her face up to smile into his. Keith touches her cheek as he lowers his head and lightly kisses her lips.

Feeling his lips on hers, panic engulfs Allura as she pushes away from Keith, "No!"

Keith sits there stunned as Allura pushes herself along the floor away from him, her hands up to ward him off. Tears slide down her face as she shakes.

"Allura?" Keith slides toward her, stopping within reach of her as she whimpers, "It's alright Allura. I would never harm you."

He watches the panic leave Allura's eyes as she recognizes him again, "Are you alright?"

Allura nods then slides back into Keith's arms. He holds her tight to him, "What happened?"

She shudders then whispers, "When you kissed me…it brought it back. I was back in that bed with…him…as he forced me…"

Interrupting her, Keith tightens his hold on her, "Alright Allura…" He closes his eyes as he gets his anger under control. He opens them then pulls Allura's chin back up to face him, "It's alright Allura." He caresses her cheek, "We have the rest of our lives to get there…" He smiles at her, "When you are ready."

Allura pulls her face out of his hands to push her nose into his chest, What kind of wife would I make him…I can't even stand for him to kiss me… She pushes her face harder into his chest as the tears run down her cheeks.