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, foul language
Rating: M Violence, Sexual Situations
Chapter 10
They had checked all of the cells in the small dungeon where Romelle had been held and unfortunately had found no trace of her ladies-in-waiting. They had decided to head down into a deeper level of the castle where the torture chambers and slave dungeons were located. Before they did so, Romelle had told Sven she wanted to show him how to escape the castle if something were to prevent her from being able to lead him out later. They approached a door at the end of the same corridor where her cell had been. The door was made from a thick metal and had the word "surgery" painted across it in red lettering.
"This way," Romelle said pushing the door open and stepping into a dimly lit room. "There is a chute in the far wall where they dump bodies into the Pit of Skulls."
Sven followed her into the room, but stopped her by reaching out and taking her hand. "How do you know all of this?"
"I overheard the guards talking about...about...they have a room," she tried to explain. "They call it a museum..." her voice trailed off.
"I know," he said simply, "I saw it."
She looked up at him and almost allowed herself the luxury of leaning against his broad chest when a small scratching noise caught her attention. She gave Sven a questioning look as she pointed at the closet door where the sound had originated.
He nodded, acknowledging he'd heard it too. Stepping in front of Romelle, he indicated she should remain close but allow him to take the lead. When she acknowledged him with a quick nod of her head, he lifted three fingers and began to count them down. On three, he leapt forward, brought the ray gun up and swung the door wide.
A tiny, doe-eyed form huddled on the floor of the closet, looking up at Sven as if the entire universe had just crashed down around her. Large tears slipped down her cheeks and she whimpered.
"Darla!" Romelle rushed forward and pulled the young girl out of the cupboard and into a tight hug. "Oh, thank the heavens!"
"Your Majesty!" Darla exclaimed holding on to Romelle with all her might.
"It's okay, child," Romelle soothed. "We are going to get out of here."
With widened eyes and a fearful look Darla took a step back and returned her attention to Sven. Her voice shook, "Princess?"
"It's okay, Darla," Romelle realized the poor girl must be confused by the Drule soldier's uniform. "This is Sven, and he is going to help us to escape!"
"Sven?!" The maid's voice took on an unbelieving note. "As in the Voltron Force pilot Sven who everyone thinks is dead?"
"One and the same," Romelle said.
"What is going on, Roma?" Sven asked, "What is she talking about?"
"It's that long story I was telling you about earlier," Romelle explained. "I promise, Sven, as soon as we are away from here, I will explain."
When Sven nodded his understanding, Romelle returned her attention to her little maid. "We have to get out of here as quickly as possible. Darla, do you know where the others are?"
Darla began to shake, her mouth opened and closed, and at first no noise came out. After a moment, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she spoke her words were rushed. "I'm sorry, I tried to stop them."
"What do you mean?" Romelle's heart was growing heavy with dread. "Darla, where are they?"
"We were being held in the cell across the hall."
Romelle glanced at Sven who looked lost and helpless. "And?"
"The guards...they..."
"Go on, child," Romelle encouraged.
"They kept coming into the cell and threatening us. They kept telling us that Prince Lotor was going to throw all of us, including you, into the Pit of Skulls," the girl's voice shook with terror. "When they brought them back to the cell today, they forgot to lock the door."
Romelle felt her stomach drop. "What happened then, Darla?"
One slim arm raised up and the girl pointed at the chute. "They said they would rather take their chances than to wait for someone to kill them and dump their bodies..." she burst into tears again, but continued on. "I said I wouldn't leave without you, but they said they couldn't wait any longer and that you would be better off if you no longer had to worry for us."
"They jumped?" Sven interjected.
"Yes," Darla glanced in his direction but quickly returned her attention to Romelle. "But Princess, I hid. I was waiting for the guards to fall asleep and then I was going to steal their keys and free you."
"You are a good girl, Darla. So very brave." As Romelle spoke, she held out her arms and the little maid rushed in for a hug. Not for the first time, Romelle felt herself in awe of this child and her courage. She shut her eyes tightly, trying to stop the overwhelming need she felt to cry.
'This can't be happening!' She thought fiercely. 'If only we had been here a little sooner-'
Sven cleared his throat. "I am very sorry for all of this, Roma. But we must think of our survival. We will look for your ladies when we get outside, but we must move on before someone realizes what's happening."
Romelle opened her eyes and looked at Sven from over the top of Darla's head. Her beautiful face was filled with an aching grief, her eyes betraying a guilt deep in her heart.
Sven moved to stand next to them, his eyes reflected her profound sorrow. Reaching out, he cupped her face, tenderly stroking his thumb over her cheek. "Please, Princess, the others are gone, but we can save this child. I know your heart is breaking, but we must go."
Her eyes drifted closed as Romelle turned her head into Sven's hand, finding comfort and strength in his touch. Reaching up, she placed her hand over his, entwining their fingers. She held him there for just a moment longer before slowly opening her eyes and meeting his gaze.
It was if time stood still. As if two long-lost lovers had been reunited and now took a moment to affirm their love before facing what could very well be their deaths. Neither Sven nor Romelle knew what to think of these intense and undeniable feelings sparking between them. But, they both knew they would never have a chance to figure this out if they didn't make their way to freedom.
Romelle dropped her hand and Sven did the same before stepping back.
"Come, Darla," the Princess of Pollux said. "We must get you home."
: )
: )
Sven had gone down the chute first. He had instructed Romelle to wait three minutes before sending Darla, after which she was to immediately climb in the chute and slide down herself. Sven had warned the two that once out in the open, there would be no time to hesitate. They would have to make a run for the airship's hanger or risk capture.
Right now, Sven was extremely thankful he had given Romelle those instructions. The few minutes had given him a chance to ensure there was nothing waiting at the bottom for them. More importantly, it had given him a moment to hide the mutilated bodies of what he knew must be Romelle's other two ladies-in-waiting. He felt sickened and decided it was for the best that he kept this to himself, at least for now. He would tell Roma the truth later, but he didn't want her to see the bodies, or to know they had been killed by monstrous robeasts looking for a meal. Her friends half-eaten bodies would only give her more nightmares.
Darla and Romelle appeared behind him with two thuds as they found themselves deposited into the mud.
"Was there any sign of my hand-maids?" Romelle asked as she surveyed the area.
Sven clamped his mouth tightly shut and shook his head.
Romelle gave him a stubborn look. "Then we have to search-"
"Princess, it is too late." His voice brokered no room for argument. "They are gone-"
"How can you know?" She demanded, "Maybe they found a place to hide!"
"It's too late for them," his dark look explained more than his words.
"I see." She looked as if he had struck her.
"Quickly now," Sven whispered as he hid them all behind a large pile of bones. "There is no more time to waste!"
"Are these..." Darla sounded panicked. "Are these people?"
"Look at me," Romelle grabbed the girl's hands, her voice leaving no room for argument. "Darla, you will focus on me, and only me. Do not let go of my hand, do not speak. Look only at me. Nod if you understand."
At her maid's nod, Romelle turned to Sven, "We have to hurry."
Sven looked from the Romelle to Darla, then back to Romelle before nodding his understanding. They were not going to be able to keep the girl calm for too long.
"That building there," Romelle pointed. "The one with the Red roof?"
"I see it."
"That's the hanger where the smaller airships are docked. There were never more than two guards on duty when we would fly in and out of here."
Sven looked at her in confusion but decided not to ask why she had been allowed to come and go freely. Once they were off this damned planet, he would be sure to find out. He sat still, considering how best to reach that hanger with as little attention as possible. Something metallic gleamed across from them and caught his eye - something was buried in the mud.
"Wait here," he said as he crawled over and dug out a thick length of chain. He gathered it up and hurried back to where Romelle and Darla waited. "I have an idea."