Disclaimer: WEP owns Voltron and all its characters.
Beta: 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 17
Over the weeks leading up to the challenge, Keith saw great improvement in the skills of Doren and several other young men. Lion House won't be hanging its head after these games, Keith thought with a smile.
Walking over, Doren saw the smile and called out, "And what is the reason for that smile, Akira?" Glancing around, he jokingly said, "I don't see the lovely Eleanor around."
Keith's smile became a large grin as he smacked the young man on the back of the head and said, "Well, you have a smile of your own and I don't see the lovely Sophia around." He watched as Doren's smile faltered. "You've put me off for weeks now. Won't you tell me about her?"
Looking around, Doren saw that most of the other men had left the training area. Gesturing toward the shade of a tall oak, Doren led the way. Doren drew a deep breath as they seated themselves at the base of the tree. Picking up a blade of grass, he wove it between his fingers as he spoke. "We've known each other since we were small children. Until I came of age to be a full member of Lion House, I would go spend part of each summer at the castle, because I was the son of a ruling house lord. With only five houses, the number of us at the castle was fairly small. There were never more than twenty of us at a time. Sophia and I became good friends. We like the same things and enjoy talking together. We always have."
"So what's the problem? You're a lord's son; you should be able to ask for her hand."
Doren cast a glance over to Keith and smiled, "You really aren't from around here are you, Akira? King Olen will first look to the neighboring kingdoms for a prince. Solidifying alliances with neighboring kingdoms takes priority over the wishes of a prince or princess and the maid or nobleman that they may love." He said this last very softly.
Keith had been wrong when he thought that their situations weren't related. Doren's story sounded very similar to the situation that he and Allura had been in before the Right of Challenge. "Is there nothing you can do? Is there nothing that will make you a worthy candidate for her hand?"
Sighing, Doren said, "I can win the games or prove my worthiness through an act of valor." Defeat was in his voice.
Seeing his problem, Keith said, "While you won't be able to win the games this year, your chances will improve greatly if you keep practicing the way I have taught you."
Smiling ruefully as he tossed the blade of grass to the side, he said, "I'm not sure I have the luxury of waiting a year. It has been rumored that King Olen has been talking to the King of Yorla who has a twenty year old son that is unmarried. Allying with Yorla will strengthen our western border greatly."
Keith frowned. "What do you mean you don't have time. Sophia's not but thirteen is she?"
Laughing this time, Doren said, "She and I are the same age. We're both fifteen. And while that may not be marrying age in Karta, it is here." Smiling even more, he said, "How old is Eleanor? Twenty? Twenty-One?" At Keith's nod, he smiled and said, "If she weren't so beautiful, everyone would say that she was an old maid."
Keith joined in the laughter at the thought of Allura being called an old maid at twenty. After all, he was only twenty-three himself. As their laughter died down, he gripped the young man's shoulder and said, "You never know what destiny will bring you, Doren. Perhaps I will be able to help."
It was a rather uninspired, "Perhaps," that came from Doren. He didn't see how Akira would be able to help him before it was too late.
Keith was thinking though. The histories said that Sophia married a knight of Lion House. To be sure, he would at least be allowed to help his friend. Perhaps Fate would be so kind.