Thank you again dear readers and those following. Also, thanks again for the reviews!
I do not own Voltron or its characters, nor do I make any money off of this story.
Lance knew it wasn't good news when he saw the hardness in Keith's features as he stepped out of the ship with his head hanging low. Lance had been busy refueling the ship on a nearby satellite planet a few thousand miles from Pollox. Both Keith and he had been so elated about attending the retreat on Pollox and of seeing Sven. Neither of them could stop talking about the latest in weaponry and battle tactics. Lance had poked his head into the cockpit while waiting for fueling and saw Coran on the screen conversing with Keith and urging them to hurry back to Arus. Something was terribly wrong with Allura. According to Coran, Allura had suddenly taken ill and Lance knew Keith had immediate concern for her well-being. Quiet and demure, Keith stood against the ship, crossed his arms and waited for Lance to finish refueling.
"We're only hours from Arus, but it feels like days," Keith said softly looking to the night sky as though examining the intricate pattern of stars. "I've got to get home to her," he added, his voice cracking slightly with stress.
Lance thought long and hard before making any response. There was not going to be any cocky or joking remarks this time. It hadn't been very long before Keith and Allura had finally declared their love for one another and Lance couldn't have been more relieved. They belonged together. He watched Keith wander away and listened to his white boots crunch on the gravely brush of the terrain as he made his way over to a nearby pile of rocks before sitting down. The refueling was soon finished and now Lance thought he had better talk with Keith. Strolling over, he studied his friend for a moment before struggling with a conversation.
"The ship's got enough fuel in it to head back to Arus. We can go now," Lance said as he stood over Keith. He was at a loss for words this time and he wasn't surprised that Keith just continued to sit with his arms wrapped around his knees. The awkward silence continued until Lance forced his mind to work, to think of something to get Keith to ease up.
"Look Keith, whatever is wrong with the princess, I'm sure she's gonna be okay. It's probably just a virus. I know Allura. She's tough," Lance said as he shoved his hands in his pants pockets.
"You heard Coran!" Keith snapped as he sat back holding his arms out wide. She hasn't gotten out of bed! If Lotor is behind this.." he started to say as he dropped his head down while running his hands through his hair.
"Keith, I just think you underestimate the princess.." Lance began to say, but Keith only grew more agitated as his dark, espresso eyes glared at Lance.
"Lance! I almost lost her to Lotor! She was in a deep sleep, but I thought she had died. We all did!" Keith exclaimed as he finally stood up to face Lance. Lance recalled that time how Allura had been under a spell causing her to sleep and appear deceased. It had been distressing for them all especially Keith who was furiously in love with her. Lance couldn't imagine what Keith was feeling now and he winced with anger knowing how right Keith was. "I'm not going to let Lotor do this again. He's not taking her away from me, not ever!" With that said, Keith stomped back towards the ship. Before turning to follow him, Lance wondered if there was a way they could go warp speed the several hundreds of thousands of miles they had ahead of them to Arus.
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
Dusk had fallen onto the castle when Dr. Gorma finally arrived to examine the princess at Nanny's repeated insistence. Carrying his worn, black exam bag, he entered into the castle's large lobby to meet Nanny who was eagerly wringing her hands while awaiting him. With Coran following, Nanny escorted Dr. Gorma up to Allura's bedroom chamber.
"Well Nanny, you certainly are persistent. I told you it would be awhile. I just delivered three babies in the valley. Tell me, what is going on with the princess?" he asked as he set down his bag outside Allura's door.
Impatient and disappointed with Dr. Gorma's cavalier attitude at the princess's condition, she placed her hands on her hips before responding with, "All the princess wants to do is sleep! She closed the curtains to her window! She couldn't handle the light coming in!"
Dr. Gorma stared at her for a moment before letting out a small sigh as Nanny opened the door leading into the room, "Nanny, don't you think she possibly just has a migraine? She's prone to them as she had them as a child." Just then, a soft groan escaped from Allura's lips and Dr. Gorma went to examine her. "Princess Allura!" he stated before he caught his breath at the sight of her. She was deathly white, cold with her lips closed as she lay supine. Her breath was cool, her skin dusky and nail beds cyanotic. "I need to get her to the infirmary right away. I need to run tests, check her blood levels." he stated as he grabbed out his stethoscope. Placing in onto her chest, he listened for a full minute to her weak heartbeat. Any moment, he was going to need to start CPR.
"What's happening? What's wrong with the princess?" Nanny demanded and Coran stepped forward asking as well hovering over the princess with his face inches from Dr. Gorma's.
"Is she going to be alright Doctor? Please tell us," Coran implored, his brown eyes pleading.
Dr. Gorma felt himself in a bind. This can't be happening again! I can't let the princess die! He thought to himself, panic rising to his chest. I've got to do CPR! There would be no way he would let this happen and he was not going to let on to Coran and Nanny that the princess was so close to death.
Pulling his stethoscope out of his ears and putting it away in his bag, he was still bent down close to Allura. Just then, her eyes snapped open, her mouth opened revealing her white, razor-sharp fangs. Springing upright in a sitting position, her teeth clamped into Dr. Gorma's neck tasting his savory blood before turning onto both Nanny and Coran. Screams of tremendous terror were now echoing throughout the castle.