Disclaimer: WEP owns Voltron and all its characters.
Beta: Thanks again to Dawn!
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.
Chapter 12
Later that night, as Anton was showing the guests to the wing with the bedrooms, he said, "Am I wrong in the assumption that you wish only one room?" He noticed a blush spread across Eleanor's cheeks as Akira responded.
"You are correct that we wish one room, but not for the reasons you would think." There was no way that Keith would let her sleep alone in this place, but he really didn't want them thinking that Allura was just a common wench. Inwardly he sighed; at least the histories didn't list that the outlander was a womanizer, so maybe he didn't come off too badly.
Anton looked back and forth between the warrior and the woman who accompanied him. They were very different and the clothing for women in the Karta province seemed to be very different than in Altea. He wondered what their story was. Perhaps if they stayed long enough, they would tell him. But for now, they had reached the chamber that he had selected for them. It was the biggest one they had available with an oversized bed. "This will be your room for as long as you choose to stay here. No one will enter it except for the maids that take care of the linens and chamber pot."
Keith nodded as Allura continued to blush.
"You'll know when breakfast is being served by the noise in the hall," Anton added as he turned away.
Entering their room, Keith looked around and then flipped down the latch to secure the door. He walked to a small table that held an oil lamp. Sconces on the wall lit the rest of the room. The table with the lamp contained extra candles, a container of oil, and a flint lighter. He looked up to see that Allura had gone to the single window in the room and was looking out. Walking up behind her, he looked out to see that their room had a view of the castle. "It's beautiful. I didn't realize how old the original castle was."
"I barely have memories of the castle when it was whole, but I do have them, but they pale to this."
"Maybe we can visit it during our stay here. To be sure that wouldn't be out of place." Keith fought the urge to put his arms around her and hold her. They would be sharing a bed and that would be hard enough without touching her during the regular course of the day. He saw her nod and then continued. "Maybe we can go into town at some point and see about some clothes. I found some money in my pocket. It seems like the spirits provide clothes and money, but little else."
Allura turned to the bed and sat on the end of it, removing her boots. Without looking up at him, she said, "I'm assuming we're sharing the bed."
Keith glanced at the bed behind her and swallowed hard. "I thought we could try it… unless you prefer that I sleep on the floor?"
Her face turned up quickly to his. "Of course not! You need to be at your best and sleeping on the floor won't help you. I didn't mean to imply that you should sleep elsewhere."
"It's okay Prin-, um Eleanor. Eleanor. That was your mother's name."
With a rueful smile, Allura said, "Yes. It's been so long since I heard it used frequently… I thought I would like hearing it again." She turned her face away to look towards the window.
He couldn't tell what her feelings were with her head averted from him. Sitting down on the bed beside her, he quietly asked, "And have you liked hearing it?"
Looking back at him, she smiled wistfully, "Yes. Yes I have." The look in his eyes was soft, and she was extremely conscious to the fact that they were sitting on the bed with their legs touching. She reached out to touch his face, but he stood quickly and moved to the window to draw the thin curtain.
Closing the curtain on the view of the castle, he said, "I suppose we'll just wait and see what happens. I have a feeling that my fighting skills will be a catalyst for things. I doubt that the fact that two of the visions related to fighting was a coincidence." He glanced back at her as he said, "How much of that do you want to sleep in?" During the day, they had been comfortable in the clothes, but with no other clothes currently available, neither of them wanted to stay in the garments constantly until they could procure some other items.
Looking at her attire, Allura replied, "Well, I think I will sleep in my underclothes and the tunic." Her face colored nicely as she said it.
Nodding, Keith turned back to the window and said, "Let me know when you're done."
After a few minutes she called out, and he turned to find her under the covers with her pale arms on top of the blanket. She was turned to the wall, indicating it was his turn. His thoughts strayed to the fact that they would be sharing a bed, and he had to put his baser thoughts under lock and key. For a moment, he considered staying in everything but the tunic and his boots, but he discarded it as being unrealistic until he had more clothes. So everything came off but his pants and underwear.
After laying his clothes next to Allura's on a nearby chest, he extinguished the lamp and all the candles except for one. That candle he put behind a small blind that was meant to partially block the light; in effect, making it like a nightlight. Moving back to the bed, he slid into his side and pulled up the blanket. "Good night, Allura."
A quiet voice answered back, "Good night, Keith."
The events of the day caught up with him, and he drifted off to sleep.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Earlier… after Anton let them into their room.
As Anton walked away, he was more curious than ever about the couple. His curiosity could wait as he wanted to speak to Lord Kurt. Picking up his speed, he moved to the section off the Hall that contained the rooms of the Lord's family.
The Lord of the Hall was the only one allowed to have family at the Hall, with the exception of guests. Once the noblemen of the house married, they moved out into their own homes, but continued to attend evening meals and events at the Hall. Male children of the members were allowed to room at the Hall once they turned twelve. The reason for coming to the hall was to receive training in the art of fighting and war. But this had become a joke over the last twenty years. Most of the men his age had not taken their responsibility seriously, and the men below the age of forty were seriously lacking in skills. Anton shook his head as he continued his walk. Akira could have a huge impact on Lion House if he would be willing to train the men near his age and younger.
Finally, he reached Lord Kurt's rooms and knocked.
"Enter." Lord Kurt looked up from the chair where he sat in front of the fire. "I've been expecting you. Shall we wait to see how long it takes Alfred to join us?"
Anton looked at the lord with a puzzled expression. "I don't understand, my Lord, did we have a meeting?" Hearing steps behind him, he saw Alfred's tall frame in the doorway.
"Both of you, come in and have a seat." Lord Kurt called.
The men came in and seated themselves across from the lord of the house and waited for him to speak.
"Akira. That's why both of you have come to see me. Am I correct?" Kurt saw that both men were slightly surprised. "Really gentlemen, did you not think that I may see the value of such a man?" After watching them both squirm a little, he said, "I plan to ask Akira tomorrow if he will train Doren and any other young men who wish to learn. I will offer him money, but I'm not sure he will take it. However, the two of them have so little, there is much we can offer besides money."
Alfred spoke up first, "I think that is an excellent idea, Lord Kurt. I was hoping you would be open to such an idea."
"Why would I not? I have a son, who at the age of 15 can barely defend himself. I care not if I offend any of the current trainers. I would like to see them take on Akira in their chosen skill area. I'm sure he could beat them all." Kurt waved his hand in the air in a dismissive gesture. "I doubt that Akira is even ten years older than Doren. The young men will be more likely to listen to him than to old warriors like us." Alfred and Anton grunted in assent. "The other noble houses have usurped Lion House for too many years now. At this year's games, maybe we will have a chance to leave the field with our heads held high instead of in disgrace."
"Eagle House has beaten us for the last five years. It would be nice to best them in a couple of areas." Anton said with emotion. It had been hard the first year that Lion House had lost, and then to continue to fall further back behind Caiman House so that they were only ahead of Bruin House. Last year they had only beaten Bruin House because of an injury to one of their fighters. This year they would fall to the Bruins unless something changed. Akira was that change.
Lord Kurt looked at his two friends and advisors. They were in agreement. "Then it's settled, I'll speak with Akira tomorrow. He is the one who can restore Lion House to its former glory."
And so with these words, the prophecy of the One was in motion.