Shattered
By Shannon (AKA KittyShan, LancesKitten)
Originally Published 10/20/2015
Disclaimers: Voltron and all associated characters are owned and copyrighted by WEP. Original/new characters belong to the author.
Be Advised - This chapter contains violence, sexual situations, foul language, and assault.
Rating: M Violence, Sexual Situations
Chapter 5
Within a short period of time after Lotor and Hagar had left to do their plotting, Romelle and Darla had been returned to their cell deep in the dungeon. But, things had been different this time... the cell was empty, the other two women gone.
She had demanded to know what had happened; where her two other ladies-in-waiting had been taken and why. She used her most commanding and regal tone in an attempt to intimidate the Doomian soldiers, but they had remained unimpressed. The only response she had been given was a quick shrug with a detached, "Prince Lotor's orders. Ask him."
Frustration, exhaustion, fear...despair...they filled her mind, her body...her very soul until there was no longer room for hope. Still clutching at the metal bars that separated her from her indifferent captors, Romelle sank to her knees and let out a blood-curdling scream.
"Princess!" Darla cried as she rushed to her monarch, pulling her back onto her feet and away from the door. "I'm so sorry, Princess."
"Child...none of this is your fault..."
"But it is, Your Majesty," Darla hung her head, and Romelle had to strain to hear her quiet words.
"When the guards came they took us all...we were all..." a small sob caught in the girl's throat. "Maudi, Egla - they did worse things to the others than they did to you."
Listening, Romelle felt as if the very air had been sucked out of the room and for a brief moment she thought she may faint. But then Darla continued.
"You told us not to draw their attention, Highness, but I didn't listen! I was only trying to help, but I made things so much worse! If only I had remained silent-"
Princess Romelle reached out and took the girl into her arms, stroking Darla's hair in an attempt to soothe her aching heart. "Hush. You did nothing wrong." She spoke as she gathered the child in as close as possible, resting her cheek against the top of the girl's head. "You spoke up when you saw an injustice - what you did was brave!"
"But..."
"No but," Romelle insisted. "What has happened is not your fault. Prince Lotor and these Drules are a cruel lot, their actions are depraved and deplorable. They are monstrous, Darla. They have waged war against innocent peoples; they have enslaved planet after planet! And the way we have been treated..." She pulled the girl away and met her eyes. "Darla, you must know that when someone touches you against your will, they are abusing you, and it is never acceptable. It is one of the most vile of wrongdoings..."
Darla nodded and Romelle pulled her into an even tighter hug. "We must try to rest. I overheard Lotor and his witch talking and I have a feeling we are going to need our strength."
"What were they saying?" The girl's voice quivered with fear.
Romelle released the girl, and hurried to the door and listened for a moment, ensuring that no guards were nearby. She moved back to where Darla stood and motioned for them to sit. Once settled onto the sleeping mat they shared, Romelle covered them with a blanket, then leaned in close and began to whisper.
"I heard them talking about another prisoner...I do not know him, but I know who he is - and that gives me hope."
"Who is he?"
"He was a member of the Voltron Force, the pilot who was thought killed by Witch Hagar. Do you remember when my cousin, Princess Allura visited me?" Romelle studied the girl for a moment and at her nod, she continued. "There was a pilot who flew the Blue Lion before my cousin - he was one of the original five space explorers that the Galaxy Alliance sent to bring back Voltron. His name is Sven."
"I have heard the tale, Highness, and he did die."
Romelle shook her head. "Apparently not. Somehow he is still alive, and Hagar has done something to him. Maybe a spell or a potion...I don't know, but she has repressed his memories."
"What does that mean for us?"
"It means, memory or no, there is a member of the Voltron Force right here in Castle Doom, and if we can find a way to communicate with him, maybe we can trigger something to help him remember who he really is..." Romelle hoped her voice didn't give away her uncertainty. "It means we may have just found a way off this wretched planet."
: )
: )
Sven considered his situation as he looked around what he had been told was his apartment. He now stood with his back to a roaring fire whose flames danced cheerfully in the hearth. His mood certainly did not match the fire's good cheer but he was thankful it had begun to chase the biting chill from the room.
Physically, he still felt incredibly weak. Hagar had explained it may take a few days before he regained his strength and the icy feel in his bones faded; an unfortunate side effect of being frozen for months while his body healed. He understood and would be patient; only a few hours before, he couldn't even stand on his own! His body would improve, but his mind... He couldn't even remember his own name! He felt lost, even afraid. He didn't know what to do, or think, so for now, he would simply observe.
He watched as stewards cleared the table of what remained of his evening meal. The food had been hot, and surprisingly quite delicious, even if he had no idea what it was he had been eating. He crossed his arms over his chest and eyed the unopened bottle of wine that remained on the now clean table. A glass of wine would surely go far to warm his insides, and help him sleep tonight, but something deep down in his gut warned him against it. He found that, although he couldn't remember anything per se, he knew things were not what they seemed and that he couldn't afford to let his guard down.
His thoughts were interrupted by a rapping sound. Crossing the room, he paused to collect himself as best he could before he opened the door.
"Ryou..." Witch Hagar stepped to the side and motioned to Lotor, "I've brought our Prince."
"Highness," Sven lowered his head in unfelt deference before stepping aside to grant his visitors access.
"You are looking much better." Lotor began, unsure of how to proceed. This man was one of his greatest enemies! Could Hagar truly have erased his memories? How sure could he, the Prince of Doom, be that this once-member of the Voltron Force now believed himself to be one of Doom's greatest warriors? Hagar had warned him not to betray his uncertainty, but he was finding that much harder to do than not.
"Thank you, Sire."
A slightly uncomfortable silence filled the room as the two men sized one another up. To stop the mounting tension, Hagar crossed the room and lifted the unopened wine. "Ryou... was the wine not to your liking? Our great Prince had his personal steward pick it out himself."
Sven's eyes met Lotor's dissecting gaze for a brief moment before the former lowered his head once more.
"Please, my Prince, know that your gift is much appreciated. I am honored by your generosity. I simply felt it best not to partake while I am recovering from my injuries." This was both truth and lie.
"Of course, my good man." Lotor clasped Sven on the shoulder. "The sooner you are recovered, the sooner we can return to your training and get you back in the battle!"
"And we can begin the special treatments we were about to start right before you were injured," the witch added.
"Treatments?" Sven looked to Hagar, clearly concerned.
"Why yes, right before you were injured, you had agreed to treatments that would enhance your physical strength as well as your skills on the battlefield."
Lotor took his cue. "You are one of my greatest warriors, Ryou, and have always done anything to advance our cause."
Sven looked a bit uncertain, but something about this rang true. He knew he would fight to the death for something he believed in. He just wasn't sure he believed in these two.
"Well," Hagar said, "I think young Ryou must be overwhelmed by today's events. Perhaps, first thing in the morning, one of the guards could show him around the castle, maybe jog his memory a bit? Would that be acceptable, my Prince?"
Lotor nodded his assent. This was the part that he and Hagar had worked out in detail just moments before they had knocked on Sven's door. "But a guard?! I'll have no such thing!" Lotor's voice rang out with disapproval. "Ryou, we have fought side by side in many battles. You are a great warrior, and I have grown to call you friend. Tomorrow, I will personally escort you around the castle and it's grounds. Perhaps, it will trigger some memories."
"If it pleases you, I would like to come along," Hagar spoke. "I may be able to assist you in your recollections."
Sven looked from the Witch to the Prince and back again- it certainly did seem they meant him no harm and truly wanted to help. But there was that feeling of distrust that just wouldn't fade away...
Slowly, he nodded his head.
"I would be grateful for any help either of you could offer."
Sensing Sven's hesitancy, Lotor gave Hagar a meaningful look before he said, "We will take our leave and let you rest. If you need anything at all, just ask. I will leave a guard posted outside your door."
When Sven's dark blue eyes met Witch Hagar's yellow ones, she saw the uncertainty and added, "After all, we wouldn't want another attempt on your life, Ryou. It is merely a precaution."