Author's Note: There are references here to events that happened in 'A Knight's Journey', but don't worry if you didn't read it. I have tried to make the overlap seamless, so you can follow the narration.

FYI - I couldn't find anywhere of Vince's official last name, so I made one up. If I somehow missed the information, I apologize in advance.

A Studied Request – Part One

Keith made his way up to Allura's study two days after Pidge and Larmina's wedding. Things were getting back to normal on Arus, after the government had been shut down for the wedding. The original plan was for only the day of the wedding, but Allura had added on another day. The excuse was that she was busy celebrating with her family, and thought that everyone else would want to also. He had not minded because he had been busy with Eimear and Aiden. The boy was feeling much better and didn't see why the doctor wanted him to rest anymore.

It had surprised him when Allura had sent him the memo the day after the wedding, about Sven and his condition. Keith had noticed, from the time stamp, that it had been written early in the morning, which made him wonder what she was doing up at that time. He soon left that thought behind, as he read what was in the memo. While it pleased him that someone else besides him was concerned about Sven, he had some misgivings with her proposition.

As he approached the study, he was reminded of his last meeting with Allura, after a memo he had sent her. It was back when he was still coming to terms with her and Lance and he had ended up very upset that Lance had cut into his time with Allura. He greeted Rigsby pleasantly, glad that everything had resolved itself like it had.

"Good morning Commander. Her Majesty is expecting you." The sentry replied to his greeting, adding "I was glad to hear that His Grace is doing better."

"Thank you Rigsby, I'll pass your good wishes along. He is ready to go, and doesn't agree with the doctor's orders that he rest another day or so." Keith told the man, not being surprised that the sentry knew all about Aiden being sick. He was touched at the concern the castle staff had shown about the matter. It came to him, not for the first time, how far he had come in dealing with his life.

When he entered the study he saw Lance and Allura sitting together on the sofa, holding hands. He was taken aback to see his friend there, and wondered if he would be taking part in the meeting. It was probably for the best he decided, after a moment's thought; Sven was going to need all of them if he was going to get better.

"Keith thank you for coming! How is Aiden doing?" Allura smiled pleasantly at him, and then offered him coffee from the service in front of her on the table. He also saw plates of pastries and mini sandwiches, but he declined. They talked about Aiden for several minutes, before she addressed why Lance was there.

"Please don't be upset, but I wanted Lance here for this meeting, Keith." She paused, looking slightly concerned "The suggestion in my memo came about because of our joint, and then individual experiences with Sven and Romelle the evening of the wedding." Allura stopped, glancing at Lance before she regarded Keith.

Nodding his head, he motioned for her to continue on with her story. He proceeded to hear about what had happened with the couple at the after party, and then Allura's conversation with Romelle. When she was done, Lance told about his conversation, in the pilot's quarters, with Sven, finishing up with the comment "Damn Viking has stopped the treatments, and is in bad shape!"

Keith sighed audibly, as the thought about what Lance and Allura had just told him, and now knew why Allura had sent the memo as early as she had. He also thought about his conversations with Sven, both after Lance and Allura's wedding, as well as the other day after Pidge and Larmina's wedding.

"I share your concern, because I have spoken to Sven on several different occasions, about the need for him to be a father to Erik." Keith paused, trying to figure out how to frame his question. He really wanted the answer to it, before he responded to Allura's suggestion. He also was curious as to who was really behind the idea; Allura or Lance? Deciding that the direct approach was best, he asked what he wanted to know.

"Allura, I read the memo and before I comment on it, I would like to inquire as to what you think the idea would accomplish?" Keith by now had sat down on a chair that was flanking the coffee table and sofa. He saw how the couple, still sitting close and holding hands, looked at each other, before Lance slightly indicated with his head for Allura to answer. It made him wonder what the conversation had been between them that had produced this idea.

"Even if Sven didn't have the haggerium infection in him, he is not in a good place right now. He is depressed because of his marriage and the situation with his son. He is also frustrated with Bandor and what is happening on Pollux. Being alone on Crydor he has too much time to brood on it all; if Daniel were there it would give Sven something else to think about. I would like to think that if Daniel was doing the treatment, it would get Sven to do them also." Allura stated her case, and Keith had to admit that it had some good points to it.

He told her that, as he went on "I think before this meeting goes any further, we should have Daniel and Vince up here." Keith saw that Allura was all set to interject but he held up his hand "If I agree to this, I want Daniel to understand what he is getting himself into. I also think we need to have Vince, both because of the mind link, and the fact that he can represent Pidge on the matter. If we do this, it will be interfering with Pidge's test protocol."

"Keith, I really don't see why we have to bring the boys in; I am not comfortable discussing my cousin's marriage with them." Allura was sitting up very straight, with her 'queen face' on as the team called it. Keith sighed, again, wishing he didn't have to say what he was going to.

"Allura, you might not want to discuss Romelle and Sven's marriage, but everyone else is. The rumors are flying, and if Daniel is going to spend time with Sven, he needs to know what the situation really is." Keith's voice was firm, not wanting to send the young man into the mess without warning.

"I was going to talk to Daniel after our talk, Keith," Lance responded, glancing at him before looking over at Allura "Keith is right though, Allie, Daniel needs to be here and we need to talk to him as an equal. Honestly, I don't think we will be telling him anything he hasn't heard already. The point about Vince representing Pidge is good also."

"If you think it is best." She declared, before she used the intercom to tell Rigsby to have the two cadets come upstairs. Once she finished with the sentry Allura peered at Keith "Exactly what are people saying about Sven and Romelle." She had really hoped that the couple's problems were not well known.

Keith sighed, yet again, as he weighed best how to answer her question. Most of what he had heard was just snippets that he'd picked up during the wedding reception. He wasn't sure if she really wanted to hear it, but then he decided that she had brought this on herself. "It is common knowledge that the couple isn't sharing a room, and the speculation is that it is because of what happened with Erik. Romelle is very well liked, and Sven's attitude toward her has been noticed."

It was Allura's turn to sigh, Keith noticed as she looked at Lance, who put his arm around her. By now he was used to how affectionate the couple was with each other, and it didn't bother him. Keith helped himself to some coffee, while they waited for the cadets to arrive.

Allura was in fact relieved that the only talk was about Sven's behavior, and the kidnapping of Erik. Those were all plausible reasons for the marital problems going on, and nothing really scandalous. She had been concerned about Fauk and her cousin, after the conversation she and Lance had had the other night. However, she now remembered talking to Fauk that morning, in the garden, and she was sure that he wouldn't want any gossip about him and Romelle. The man had never been alone with Romelle, or paid her undue attention, Allura reassured herself.

Down in the hanger bay Daniel and Vince were working with Hunk and Chip on a memory board. Vince was finding it weird how Chip was so much like Pidge, and yet different too. Daniel for his part was glad that Vince had something else to think about, besides his idol and his ex-crush.

"Cadet Chandler? Cadet Graham?" A holoscreen popped up in the hanger bay and the group saw the face of the sentry officer who sat outside Allura's study. "Her Majesty has requested your presence in her study right away." The man said a few more words, and then signed off leaving Daniel and Vince exchanging worried thoughts.

"What have you two been up to?" Hunk teased, as Chip laughed before suggesting several things. The cadets excused themselves to head upstairs, while Hunk and Chip went back to work, speculating about what the boys had done now.

'Why do you think Allura wants to see us?' Daniel mentally thought to Vince, who thought back 'I don't know; we haven't done anything to be in trouble over'. Daniel smirked evilly 'it is not like she knows all the thoughts you have about Larmina and Pidge'. Vince mentally sent him a string of curse words, while Daniel laughed in his head.

They presented themselves in front of Rigsby, who indicated for them to go in, and asked that they close the door behind them. They walked into Allura's study and looked around with interest, having not been in there before. The room had light wood paneling, with carved details, and was decorated in dark blue, different shades of gold and occasional touches of pink.

The whole effect was formal, but gracious and Daniel thought to Vince 'Larmina did a good job in here', and Vince thought back 'Larmina decorates?' Daniel snorted in his brain and thought 'if you ever bothered to talk to her as a normal person, and not your sex object, you would know that'. The boys' thoughts were broken when they saw Allura and Lance on the sofa, with Keith in the chair. They became very worried about how much trouble they were in.

"Daniel, Vince thank you for coming. Please have a seat and help yourself to some refreshment." Allura greeted them, as she indicated two chairs that had been pulled up next to Keith. The boys were very puzzled now, because her voice sounded pleasant, and they were being offered food. Daniel and Vince each took several sandwiches, along with several of the mini pastries.

"You are up here because Allura would like Daniel to do something, and it would involve the experiment that Pidge is running on Sven with the haggerium treatment." Keith paused, and looked at the cadets who were hungrily eating the food. He waited until they were done, before going on "I want to stress that you are not obligated to do this, and if you refuse it will not be held against you. Also, after Allura has said her piece, I have several comments to give you before you decide."

'Fuck it all dan-man, they want to send you on a secret mission' Vince thought to his friend, who thought back 'then why are they talking about Sven?' Vince proceeded to remind Daniel of where Sven was sleeping, and the reasons he had heard why. Daniel found himself longing for the old days with Vince, when he was still squeamish about sexual matters. Instead he looked at Keith and replied that he understood.

"I would like to say something, if I may?" Lance interjected, and Allura put her hand on his thigh while giving him a reassuring smile. Vince mentally wondered if they ever had sex on the couch, while Daniel gritted his teeth. 'Honestly, this is getting old' he thought as he looked at Lance.

"No matter what your decision about the matter, Allura and I will rely on your discretion about what you are told this morning. The information concerns Sven and Romelle's private life and we don't want to see it on Entertainment Tonight. Do you understand?" Lance stated in a forceful manner, which made Allura look at him with admiration.

Keith thought it interesting that Lance was identifying with Allura's family, and was worried about their reputations. He then reasoned that he would feel the same way about Eimear's family, so he forgave his friend for sounding pompous. The mention of the program reminded him of the segment that the show had done on Allura and Lance shopping in Paris. The cadets though had no frame of reference and Daniel thought to Vince 'Isn't he His Royal Highness all of a sudden' which caused Vince to snicker in his brain while mentally agreeing with the comment.

"Boys, once you are a member of the Voltron Force, you are always a member; that is important to remember. Sven Holgersson will always be our teammate, and as such we need to do everything to help him. He is not in a good place right now, partially because of the haggerium infection, but also because of personal issues." Allura went on to tell the cadets the entire story about Sven and Romelle, including all the details of the marriage breaking down.

Considering that she had not wanted to talk about the marriage at all, Keith gave her high points for how frank she was being with Daniel and Vince. However he remembered how she had always risen to whatever challenge had been thrown at her, never once complaining. Suddenly he was reminded of one of those old kaleidoscopes, which had been popular earth toys. You looked inside a tube and it was all blurry until you turned the end part of the tube and the design came into focus.

He now saw that he had the final piece of the puzzle, for how he had so consistently misread Allura. She was always the perfect princess in his mind, who needed to be protected and rescued. Keith realized that he had never given her the credit for the fact that she had rescued herself and her planet too. He felt very ashamed that he had never acknowledged what a great warrior and leader she was. He was reminded of the humbling he had received at the chapter house, as he looked at the great Queen of Arus; the sovereign he had pledged to serve with is life.

Keith's thoughts were interrupted by Allura's voice, as she started to tell Daniel what she wanted him to do.