"Well, what do you think?" Allura made a brief half-turn and back before the mirror. The hundreds of pearls that adorned the square neckline of her wedding gown and the hem of her full skirts gleamed under the light of the chandelier. "Do I do justice to the Daughters of Cador?"
Nanny gazed at her with misty eyes. "You look just like your mother did when she married your father. I am glad that Her Majesty, Queen Orla able to bring your mother's wedding dress through the portal... " She fussed over Allura's skirts for a moment before stepping back and going over to the dresser to get a black leather box. "Here, you should wear this today."
Allura took the proffered box, raised its lid and gasped, "Mother's pearls! I thought they were lost when Zarkon invaded Arus!"
There, on a cushion of black velvet, lay the Tears of Tressylaia, an ancient pearl and diamond set composed of a diadem, necklace and earrings — it had been part of the dowry that Princess Juliana of Cador brought with her when she married the King of Arus over twenty years ago.
"Your father sent them together with the Crown Jewels to Cador for safekeeping when the Evil One attacked. He knew that your mother would have wanted you to wear them on your wedding day. She believed that the pearls were tears of joy— they are supposed to be love charms, you know. " Nanny smiled at the memory.
"Oh Nanny!" Allura exclaimed in a watery voice, "They're so beautiful!" She reached for the necklace with tremulous fingers. "I remember Mother wearing them!"
As Nanny helped her position the diadem on her head, Allura continued. "There was a ball in the castle one night, and because I had been especially good and hadn't argued with either you or Coran— you know how hard that was for me — Mother allowed me to stay up and watch the guests arrive. I don't remember what gown she was wearing, but she wore these pearls."
Allura fastened the necklace around her neck and touched it gently. "You always help me remember her. Thank you for helping me keep her alive, Nanny." she murmured as she turned around to wipe a stray tear from her governess' cheek and embrace her tightly. "Thank you for everything."
Nanny returned the embrace. "Just be happy, Little Princess. That is all the thanks I need."
The normally dark shadows of the Cathedral of Leona were banished by the twenty thousand white candles that illuminated the cathedral. Countless white roses decorated the aisle and altar, while others climbed up the pointed arches and enormous columns, in a striking counterpoint to the glorious jewel-toned windows.
The organ gave forth an expectant note and then the organ music was joined by scores of male voices lifted in triumphant song. The music resonated from the stonewalls, echoing and concentrating with a stunning power that filled the cathedral with its majesty.
Allura waited in a small anteroom by the entrance to the cathedral. She was filled with an odd sense of serenity. Somehow, she knew that she had made the right decision.
In a striking contrast to Allura's calmness, Romelle was fidgeting impatiently. The Polluxian princess was Allura's only attendant — Nanny's small concession to Allura's preference for a small ceremony.
Romelle was peering out of the small anteroom, hoping to catch a glimpse of Sven and the others. An involuntary sigh escaped her lips when she saw them. "Oh, Allura, they look so handsome. Promise me you'll hold more gala balls so that they have to wear their dress uniforms more often."
"Well, why not go out and join them? That way, you can admire them at close range," Allura suggested with a smile. "Nanny has everything under control here. Besides, the procession will be starting soon and someone has to remind Lance and Pidge to behave during the ceremonies."
Romelle gave her cousin an impulsive hug, "I know how you wish Aunt Orla was able to come, but please know that you are surrounded by the people who love you. All we want is for you to be happy and to give us a nephew or niece to spoil!"
The Polluxian princess winked teasingly at her younger cousin and slipped out of the anteroom to join rest of the wedding party — Lance, Hunk, Pidge and Sven — at the entrance to the cathedral.
Allura stood quietly for a few moments more while Nanny clucked her tongue in consternation and made minute adjustments to Allura's veil and train.
An insistent knock on the door signaled the time.
Nanny ignored the signal and continued to fuss with Allura's clothes. She looked up in annoyance as the Prime Minister entered without waiting to be admitted.
Coran pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time with an impatient sigh. "Nanny. If the Princess is ready, it is time for her to make her entrance. The captain and the other members of the Voltron Force have already taken their places by the altar."
Nanny sniffed in disgust and returned to her task. "The Princess will make her entrance when she is ready to make her entrance." She straightened to her full height and glared at the Prime Minister, not at all intimidated by the fact that he was a full foot taller than she was.
"It is her right as a bride to look her best on her wedding day. Let everyone wait! I will not allow you to rob her of this right as you have done so many others, Coran."
Faced with Nanny's ferocity, the Prime Minister had no choice but to stammer a startled apology. He meekly retreated to a corner of the room to watch the proceedings.
There was a flurry of activity as Nanny finally arranged everything to her satisfaction. The governess took a moment to admire her handiwork, dipped into a small curtsey and slipped out of the room to orchestrate the rest of the ceremony.
Alone now with her prime minister, Allura turned to him. He looked austere and gruff. "Should I be nervous, Coran?" she asked softly. "I can not understand why I am not."
"There is nothing to be nervous about, Little Princess. This marriage was meant to be." he said in an oddly hoarse voice.
To Allura's surprise, she discovered that his eyes were moist as he added, "Do you remember when you asked your mother to use her sight to see if you would marry a prince?"
Allura nodded.
"Juliana knew this was going to happen. She told your father and me that you were going to marry one of the five summoned by the roar of the lion," Coran explained.
Her eyes were suddenly misty. "Thank you for telling me that, Coran," Allura smiled at her prime minister.
He nodded gravely, "You are welcome, Your Highness." The prime minister bowed before her and reached for the handle of the door.
"Coran, wait. I have to tell you something." Allura placed a gentle hand on his arm. "When you arranged my marriage to Keith, you gave me something that I wanted more than anything else in the world."
Coran enfolded her in a paternal embrace, "I know how much you love him, Little Princess. I have always known." He smiled at her briefly, and stepped out of the room.
Within seconds, the music died down into suspenseful silence. That was her cue. Allura inhaled sharply and fought a sudden rush of nervousness. She closed her eyes and said a quick prayer before exiting the room.
The cathedral fell silent and the organ swelled to a thundering crescendo that echoed through the soaring church. Thousands of heads swiveled and stare at the Princess as she made her entrance.
Coran felt a burst of paternal pride as he watched her. He had helped played a part in the development of this amazing woman. "Alfor, would that you could be here to see this," he whispered.
Beside him, Nanny wiped a tear from her eye and thought similar thoughts, thinking of the Princess she had followed from Cador. "Oh my lady, Allura is so like you. She has your grace and your spirit. You would be so proud of her."
The scene was magical.
Allura started down the long aisle of the cathedral with her head held high — a fairy princess on her wedding day — while thousands of people stared at her in awed, hushed silence.
Candles flickered to life to light her path. One by one, each person that she passed bowed and curtsied to honor her. Others sank to their knees before her and reached out to touch her gown with reverent hands.
For the people, Allura's ceremonial entrance into the cathedral was a celebration of tradition, just as the wedding ahead was an affirmation of hope and the power of love, despite the turbulence times that they lived in.
Lance shook his head admiringly at the dignity and grace in Allura's carriage. As always, he was stunned by the display of respect that she commanded in other people, not because it was her right as Princess Royal of Arus, but because of her caring, compassion and thirst for life.
Allura paused for a moment to smile warmly at him and the other members of the Force as they bowed before her. "Your roles in the wedding are traditionally reserved for the male relatives of the bride. You guys are the brothers I never had and I love you all."
The happiness glowing on Allura's face as she spoke to them and the unconscious pride etched on Keith's features as his friend watched Allura move through the candlelight caused all of Lance's worries about the wedding to evaporate.
He settled into a parade-rest position and prepared himself for the rituals to come, joining the rest of the crowd in watching the ceremonies with breathless anticipation.
An audible sigh was heard from the crowd as the handsome captain stepped forward to clasp his bride's small hands in his much larger ones. The sight of the tender smile on Keith's face as he greeted his beautiful princess brought handkerchiefs to eyes before the wedding service even began.
The Archbishop of Altair smiled at the captain and the princess benevolently as they took their places before him. He then beckoned Lance and Hunk closer, instructing them to hold the ornate crowns over Allura and Keith's heads.
Finally, when everything had been arranged to his satisfaction, the archbishop nodded at the assembled people gravely and began to chant the ancient words of the marriage rites.
Throughout it all, Allura stood with her hand in Keith's strong reassuring grasp, feeling as she was in a waking dream for most of the ceremony, responding only when she needed to, conscious only of Keith's protective presence beside her.
She was awakened from her daze when Keith knelt before her, unbuckled his sword and offered it to her. "My sword for your protection, my hand for your justice and my life in service of you."
Allura accepted his sword and laid it on the silken cushion that Pidge held. "I accept the sword gratefully and I offer you a better one in exchange."
She closed her eyes and concentrated, calling on the powers that had lain dormant within her for most of her life. Around her, a small breeze played with her veil, but to Pidge's surprise, none of the candles flickered and died.
Coran caught Pidge's questioning look, "Did you think that Alfor was the only one with magical powers? All the members of the royal family have some measure of magical ability. You may have noticed how Allura can light candles without any matches."
"I noticed, but I thought that the candles were chemically treated or something... I know King Alfor had some ability. I suppose it's logical that Allura should have inherited some of his powers..."
Coran smiled and shook his head, "Now, be quiet. She must concentrate on what she is doing so that she can formalize Keith's position as Knight Defender of Arus."
The air stilled as Allura brought her hands together, much in the way that Voltron formed his Blazing Sword and as she pulled her hands apart, a fierce beam of light shimmered and solidified.
Gasps echoed around the cathedral as the shining form of a sword appeared in the princess' hands. Allura allowed herself a small, satisfied smile before offering the sword, hilt first to Keith, keeping her hand on the blade as she did so.
"With this sword, I entrust to you the stewardship of my land and my people. I bid you to care for them as you have cared for me and to love them, as you have loved me."
Keith accepted the sword that she handed him and held it very still. He knew that if he moved, the blade would slice her hand to pieces. When Allura removed her hand from the sword, he held the sword high for everyone to see before sheathing it.
"I accept the sword gratefully and I am honored by what you have conferred on me. I give you this ring as a symbol of my steadfast loyalty, which I owe you both as my sovereign and the lady of my heart.
Turning to Sven, Keith accepted the ring and slipped it onto Allura's finger. He watched with satisfaction as her blue eyes widened in awe at its beauty. It was exquisite work of art— five lions made of colored precious stones chased each other across a white gold band.
The princess looked at Keith wonderingly, forgetting for a brief moment the ancient words that she was supposed to say, until the archbishop cleared his throat noisily.
Hiding her embarrassment, Allura turned to Keith and spoke in a calm and clear voice that carried to the back of the cathedral, "I, Allura Morgaine d'Lyonaisse, Princess Royal of Arus and Daughter of Cador, vow to thee, Keith Alexander Blackwell, my eternal love and my complete obedience."
Her voice faltered only once — when she was promising to obey him — because she had to choke back a giggle when she heard him mutter under his breath, "Yeah, right. That'll be the day."
She shot Keith a quelling glare, which he returned with an innocent smile, although his eyes twinkled with amusement. Allura rolled her eyes and glanced at the rest of the Force out of the corner of her eye.
The crown Lance was holding over Keith's head was shaking dangerously as Lance tried to control his mirth. She had a feeling that the crown Hunk was holding over her own head was shaking as well as she heard a muffled snort from behind her. Sven and Jeff were politely holding in their laughter but Pidge was openly snickering into his hand.
Thankfully though, the Archbishop was used to the oftentimes-strange behavior of the space explorers. He focused his attention on Keith and Allura and continued chanting the ceremony without missing a beat.
After several long minutes, it was finally time for the Archbishop to proclaim them man and wife. His declaration was greeted with a joyful burst of music from the organ and the cheering of the crowd.
Keith raised Allura's veil and lightly touched his mouth to hers.
A collective gasp echoed through the congregation at the sight — kissing in public was almost unheard of in Arus — but it went unnoticed by the newlyweds.
Although tentative and shy, their first kiss affected them deeply. When they lifted their heads, their eyes met and a sense of closeness, of connection pulsed between them.
Their spell was broken by the triumphant blaring of trumpets and the proud voice of the Royal Herald presenting them, "Their Highnesses, Allura, the Princess Royal and her Prince Consort, Keith!"
Allura stifled a smile as she saw Keith's face twitch involuntarily in a grimace when he heard himself addressed as 'His Highness' — she had been wondering what his reaction that would be and it did not disappoint her.
Her crystal-blue eyes twinkled mischievously. Keith watched apprehensively. Over the years he had known her, he had learned that twinkle meant trouble. She was about to do or say something un-princesslike and totally outrageous.
He was right. She broke centuries of tradition and sank into a deep throne-room curtsey before him. She rose gracefully when she heard his reluctant chuckle and grinned back at him with mischievous satisfaction before daintily accepting his proffered arm.
Together, they turned to face the cheering crowd of their people.
Flowers filled the air and parents were lifting their children to see. Pidge jumped up and down in a characteristically exuberant expression of joy, forgetting that Allura's pet Space Mice were catching a ride on his shoulders.
Allura smiled at the terrified expressions on the faces of her mice. Cheezy, Twitter and Cheddar were hanging on to Pidge's shoulders for dear life, expecting to be flung off at any minute.
She turned when she felt Keith nudge her and chuckle out loud. She glanced at him with a question in her eyes and followed the direction of his gaze.
Nanny and Romelle were so moved by the ceremony that they were reduced to tears — each sobbing on a shoulder of a hopelessly flustered Sven, who was trying to comfort them both without much success.
Other people were clapping and shouting their approval. Jeff, Lance and Hunk were beaming proudly at everyone but they stopped and gaped when they saw Coran. To their surprise, the normally reserved and proper Prime Minister had forgotten his dignity and composure and was doing a small little dance of joy.