Disclaimer: WEP owns Voltron and all its characters. How sad for me.
Beta: Dawn - Can't thank her enough!
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 25
With pride shining forth from his eyes, Anton looked at Akira and said, "It's time, son."
Keith stood and took a deep breath. This was it, what he saw as the culminating moment of his quest. Walking behind Anton, he saw the smiles along his path and felt the hands that hit his back in support. When he first had the vision, he had thought that this moment was going to be fearful because the fight was being forced upon him. But it was none of that. He had accepted this because it was right, because he saw what it meant to Lion House and the friends he had made. Fate may have decreed that he fight this battle, but he would fight it because he himself chose to fight it.
With those thoughts, he entered the main part of the arena and the crowd saw him. Looking across from him, he saw Wesley just as he pictured in his vision. Turning, he saw the crowd waving and cheering under the bright blue sunlit sky and as the chant of, "Akira! Akira! Akira!" began, he finally accepted his destiny.
An official walked to the center of the fight circle and reviewed the rules. At the conclusion, Wesley spoke up.
"As a contender for the championship of the games, I request the use of real blades for these matches." Wesley kept his eyes on Akira. "Do you wish to withdraw, Akira?"
The official looked to Keith.
Shaking his head no, he replied, "I will not withdraw. I accept the challenge."
As the crowd reacted to the change, the official went over the slight changes that came with the change from wooden to metal blades. The men selected their bucklers and swords as a hush settled across the crowd. At the sound of the gong, they entered the circle.
Keith altered his grip slightly on the sword and readied his shield. He would just wait for now and see what moves Wesley would make. He noted that Wesley wasn't doing any taunting; perhaps he had learned something from previous matches after all.
With a loud cry, Wesley started his attack. The two men went back and forth trading and blocking blows. Sometimes they would stand almost with their chests touching and sword points near their necks or faces. At other times, they would be feet apart with just the tips of the swords sliding against one another.
At the end of the first round, neither had drawn blood, but their clothing was cut in several areas showing just how close they had come to being injured. Keith looked across at Wesley and noted the agitation and anger that were easy to see, even at a distance.
Lord Kurt came up beside Keith as he put down the ladle of water. Tilting his head in Wesley's direction, Kurt said, "His anger seems to be more than that of a man losing a game, does it not?"
Keeping his eyes on the Eagle House man who just tossed his ladle to the ground, Keith replied, "Indeed he does, my Lord. I think he's concerned about losing a lot more than a game."
Stepping into Akira's line of sight, Kurt said, "Akira, he is a desperate man. He may make an unforced error that you can exploit, but he is fueled by hate and ego. Don't underestimate his abilities."
"I'll try not to, my Lord."
"That's all I ask, Akira." Looking behind Akira, he said, "Here comes Anton. I think the final round is about to begin."
Keith watched Lord Kurt walk away. It looked like the lord had wanted to say more, but then what more needed to be said. He understood that the lord was grateful for what he had done for Lion House. He didn't need to say it again.
Anton came and clapped him on the shoulder. All he said was, "Time." And with that he walked with Akira to the fighting circle.
When the gong sounded, Keith stepped into the ring, determined to be deliberate and calculating with his moves. For the first few minutes, Wesley was calculating as well. Both men scored minor strikes to the other with Keith bleeding on his right thigh and Wesley bleeding on his left shoulder.
Then about mid-round, Wesley backed off for almost a full minute; Keith couldn't understand why. As time ticked on, Wesley became agitated again and began engaging him. Keith saw an opportunity as they closed ground. Blades were touching near the hilt, and they were practically breathing in each other's faces. The undisguised hate was visible in Wesley's eyes, but Keith didn't focus on that. He stepped in to position his leg between and behind one of Wesley's. Too late, Wesley realized his intent. Keith pulled back with his right leg while pushing forward with his body, dropping Wesley onto his back. Stepping forward quickly, Keith put his boot on Wesley's right wrist while putting the tip of his sword on Wesley's chest.
Keith looked down at Wesley, "It's over, Wesley." In the background, the chant of "Akira!" rang out again.
The official walked over and Wesley called out, "It's not over! I do not yield!"
An official came up as Keith spoke to Wesley. "I won't kill you, Wesley. You can yield or I can break your wrist…" Shifting his weight to apply more pressure to the wrist under his boot, he saw Wesley grimace. "If I break your wrist, it won't matter whether you yield or not. I will still win."
Keith looked to the official who nodded and sounded the gong, ending the match.
As Anton came to raise Akira's arm in victory, he noticed the young man sway on his feet. But before he could reach him, a feminine voice cried out, "Akira!" Turning, he saw Eleanor making her way through the crowd. Anton looked to the crowd. If Eleanor was here, then it was possible the Queen had been recovered.
Blinking rapidly, Keith looked up at the sound of his name. His face lit up with a broad smile as she rushed toward him.
As she launched herself into his arms, she said, "We found her!" She felt the arms that she had missed so much tighten around her and spin her around.
When he sat her down, he looked into her eyes and said, "Where?"
"Doren is coming in with her now. The physician in attendance is heading over to check on her-" Allura stopped as Keith spun around.
He took a step and staggered slightly as he said, "Where… where is Wesley?" Those gathered with Keith turned around and noted that all the men of Eagle House had disappeared. As the men looked for Wesley, Allura walked with Keith to the arena wall where he leaned against it. He felt Allura cup his face in her hands as he asked, "What's happening?"
Anton rushed to her side as she helped Keith slide down the wall. "What's wrong, Eleanor? I didn't think he was that injured? I'll get the doctor!"
"Wait!" Allura motioned him closer. "Please get the physician, but don't be too alarmed. One of the men holding the Queen indicated that Wesley may have put a substance on the blade that might cause him to lose consciousness."
A string of oaths and curses flowed from the older man's mouth. Realizing that he said all those things, he apologized to Eleanor and said, "Now I know why Wesley was agitated during the match. If he had cut Akira sooner… or if Akira hadn't dropped him to the ground… we wouldn't have known about the cheating…" His hard eyes turned to Eleanor.
Pulling Keith's head over to her shoulder, she looked up at Anton. "I know. Wesley would have murdered him and let everyone think it was just his skill with a sword and not an underhanded trick."
Nodding at her, Anton turned to get the doctor as Allura continued to hold Keith tight. "It's over. Soon we'll be going home, my love."