Disclaimer: WEP owns Voltron and all its characters.

Beta: Thanks again to Dawn! I haven't run her off… yet. ;-)

This is the second installment in my "Chivalry" arc. 1. Chivalry, 2. Lion House Restored

Rating/Setting: Rating is T. Setting is DotU in flavor but is AU in some ways. If you've read Chivalry, then you have a 'feel' for the setting. Hope you enjoy the story.

Chapter Two

Keith, Coran and Nanny made their way slowly to the level of the castle that housed Alfor's crypt. Although he would deny it, the battle with Lotor and the return trip across the barrier had taken a lot out of Keith. He had started out from the med wing at a brisk pace, but soon had to slow down. In addition, they were going in a circuitous route to avoid being seen. Just outside the crypt room, Keith stopped for a moment and placed a hand on the wall to steady himself and catch his breath. Straightening, he keyed the sensor that opened the door. As the three of them entered to the flickering torchlight, they found Alfor already there.

"I sensed you were on the way, and I know your questions are many. However, my answers are few."

"Gretchen and Allura both came and spoke to you before we left for the challenge. Are you telling me that the spirits in the afterlife told you nothing?" Keith's voice came out harsher than he would have liked, but he couldn't help it.

"I knew they were hiding something from me, but I didn't know what." Seeing that this answer did little to appease the new Arusian lord, he continued, "However, I have learned some things since then. The spirits seem more willing to part with their secrets now that you have been confirmed as the One to restore Lion House."

Before Alfor could continue with what he learned, Keith asked, "Is there any way for me to renounce the title and remove myself from this?" He looked only at Alfor, as Coran and Nanny both turned to stare at him. "I'm not asking out of fear for myself, but concern for Allura."

Alfor looked at the young man before him and thought how unkind it was that fate had determined him to be the One. Then again, he could also see exactly why fate had chosen him. "You can give up the title of Lord Kogane, but you cannot evade the prophecy. Whether you are called Lord Kogane or just Commander Kogane, you are the One."

Keith momentarily closed his eyes and when he opened them, there was a determined gleam in them. "I understand." Now embracing his role, he needed answers. "I have been given a vision of Arus' past during the reign of King Olen. I am in an arena fighting a large red headed man who is wearing a tunic with an eagle. The crowd around me is shouting my middle name – Akira. What does it mean, King Alfor?"

King Alfor stroked his beard with his right hand. "The spirits say that you cannot let them know that you are from the future. The historical works in the library and archives that relate to King Olen will give you some information. They were written to be vague so that whatever you do will be of your own choice and not dictated by something a historian wrote."

For the first time Coran spoke, "Your Majesty, you mean that the histories will not tell him the course he is to take or what his actual quest is?"

"Lord Kogane will be given more visions. They will point him in the direction he is to go."

Keith was once again speechless at what was being asked of him. Luckily, Nanny thought to ask a few more questions for him.

"King Alfor, do you know when Keith will leave on this quest, or how he will go?"

"I don't have specifics, but whatever the means of his transport, it will be obvious. As to when he will go, the only clue they gave was that as the visions increase, the time for the quest will draw near."

Resignation in his tone, Keith asked, "So we read the histories related to King Olen and wait for the visions to increase in number." Seeing Alfor nod, he asked his last and perhaps most important question. "Will I be allowed to marry Allura when my quests are done?"

Alfor didn't hesitate in his reply, "Yes, you will be allowed to marry Allura. No one will oppose you as a member of Lion House and as the One."

A sudden weariness came over Keith as he thanked King Alfor and turned to leave.

The trio had just made it to the elevators when Nanny sneezed and reached for her handkerchief. "Ach! My handkerchief is missing." Patting Keith's arm, she said, "I'll catch up with you quickly." Seeing Keith's weary nod, she turned and hurried back down the corridor. The door to the crypt room opened silently and she saw Alfor was still there. "You knew I'd return?"

"I thought that you or Coran would find a way back to me. You doubt the information I gave you?"

"You wouldn't have stayed for my return if you had told us everything, your Majesty." Nanny's eyes narrowed as she cautiously asked, "What pieces of information did you leave out?"

"Very little, Nanny. All that I said was true."

"But there is more?" Nanny pushed again.

"Yes. There is."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Nanny caught up with Coran rather quickly as her time with Alfor was brief. That and the disturbing fact that Keith was moving so slowly. She saw them rounding the bend ahead of her, and Keith was leaning heavily on Coran's shoulder. It was still a long way to go to the medical wing. Making a decision that was sure to earn her some biting words from Keith, Nanny found a com unit and called for help.

"What the hell are the three of you doing three levels down from the med wing near elevator bank 5?" Lance's voice was terse. As Nanny started to answer, he said, "Don't bother answering me right now. Wait at the elevator bank for me. McClain out."

Stepping away from the com unit, Nanny said, "Well, it looks like I'll get some harsh words from two of the boys. But it was the right thing to do." Hurrying along, she rounded the corner, intending to call to Coran to wait at the elevator when she saw that she wouldn't have to worry about that. Keith was propped up against the corridor wall with Coran gently shaking him.

Coran looked to Nanny with concern as she approached him. "I think he passed out. One moment he was moving slowly and the next he was a dead weight. We're going to need a wheelchair to get him back to the medical wing-"

His words were cut off as the door to an elevator opened about twenty yards down the corridor. Two pairs of apprehensive eyes looked in that direction. Relieved sighs escaped both of them as Lance stepped out and then jogged down to them.

Looking at the pale face of his friend and the worried expressions on Coran and Nanny's faces, he decided explanations could wait. Leaning down, he lifted his friend up and over his shoulder. "This probably isn't going to be the best for his injuries, but it will be the fastest way for us to get him back to the facility. I'm going to let the two of you explain to Gorma why Keith is out of his room." With that, he turned and moved quickly to the elevator.

Nanny watched as Lance laid Keith back on his medical bed and Dr. Gorma worked to undress him and get his IVs going again. It was obvious that the doctor was greatly irritated at them all, but he didn't say anything. Nanny could tell that Lance was shocked that Dr. Gorma didn't give them any verbal reprimands, but only shooed them from the room.

As the door closed behind the trio, Lance pointed to the two of them and said, "We're going to Keith's office. Now. And you're going to tell me what is going on." Moving swiftly past the two of them, he headed toward the office without looking to see that they followed.

As Nanny followed Coran and Lance, she wondered whether she should tell the two of them about what Alfor had said. When she had questioned if there was more to what the spirits said, he had replied, "The spirits said that he can marry Allura after the third quest… if he chooses to come back."