Disclaimer: WEP owns Voltron and all its characters. I suppose all the characters from King Olen's time are mine though...
Beta: Dawn - Thanks!
This is the second installment in my "Chivalry" arc. 1. Chivalry, 2. Lion House Restored (2A. LHR - Allura's POV)
Rating/Setting: Rating is T. Setting is DotU in flavor but is AU in some ways.
Chapter 26
That evening, Keith woke up in a castle bed. He was full of questions from the moment he could think straight.
Allura patted his leg as he sat up in the bed. With a smile, she said, "Just hold on. I was told to take you to the dining hall when you awoke. Everyone is gathered there around the fireplace."
Swinging his legs off the bed, Keith winced and grabbed his leg. Pulling the material of his pants from the area, he looked to see a bandage wrapped around his thigh. Hopefully, they cleaned it well before stitching. Hearing a chuckle, he looked up at Allura and scowled.
Glancing to be certain they were alone, she said, "I watched them, Keith. They cleaned it thoroughly… actually they cleaned it so thoroughly, I was glad you were knocked out. You would have been swearing profusely." She paused to laugh some more before continuing. "The royal physician himself closed and stitched the wound. I believe Dr. Gorma would be proud of his work."
Keith nodded and was relieved that he didn't have to worry about infection. Standing carefully, he waited for his head to clear. He watched as Allura moved over to the corner of the room and back. When she was in front of him, she held out a highly polished cane. "King Olen asked that you accept this as a part of your reward for the safe return of the Queen."
While he didn't like that he had to use a cane, he needed one none the less. Also refusing the generosity of the King wasn't an option. Taking the cane from her, he used it to take a step and found that it did help. "Lead the way, my lady."
Smiling and gently taking the arm on his uninjured side, she spoke to him of the wonders of the castle. Keith listened to her rattle on about tapestries and wall sconces. He wanted to know what had happened to Wesley and how they had found the Queen. He didn't even try to disguise his sigh as they made their way to the dining hall. Patience, he thought to himself. Lots of patience.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the blank look come over Keith's face as she discussed the embroidery technique on a tapestry they passed. She smiled as she heard his loud sigh. Allura was looking forward to their entrance to the dining hall as everyone there was waiting to congratulate him. He doesn't get all the recognition he deserves. I'm glad that he will have some tonight… whether he wants it or not.
Soon after entering the hall, Keith was almost ready to leave. He had never been comfortable with effusive praise, and at the moment, he was surrounded by it. If it wasn't for finding out the answers to his questions, he would have left. But he had to find out. Looking over, he saw Allura smiling broadly at him. He frowned back at her.
"Now, now, young man… no frowning at the lovely lady that helped rescue my Queen." King Olen was making his way through those congregating around Akira. "The lovely Eleanor warned us that you would not be comfortable with all the praise and thanks we wished to give." The crowd parted until he was standing directly in front of Akira.
Bowing to the King, Keith said, "It isn't that I don't appreciate-" Keith stopped as Olen waved a hand in the air.
"Say no more, my boy. It is but one more thing to admire about you." Olen laughed heartily at the red tinge that appeared on the young man's cheeks. "Oh, if there were only more like you." Turning, he glanced toward his daughter. "But then, I think there may be at least one…"
Keith turned his gaze in the direction that King Olen was looking. He saw Doren standing with Princess Sophia and talking quietly. When the king spoke, he turned back to look at him.
Softly, the king said, "You know, helping with the rescue of the Queen and the capture of her kidnappers is considered an act of honor and valor." With that, Olen winked at Akira. "But I'm sure that you want to know all that has happened. Let's sit down near the fireplace and fill you in."
When they approached the fireplace and the chairs placed around it, the first thing Keith noticed was the Queen. "Your Majesty! You are well?" Keith moved forward and kissed the hand she extended.
"Please sit, Akira. I am sure you are as tired as I." When they were seated, she continued. "Yes, I am well, thanks to Doren and Eleanor. My… captors didn't harm me, but kept me drugged. The lethargy hasn't worn off completely. Unfortunately, I can't relate any part of my rescue as I was unaware. I will leave that to Doren and Eleanor to explain."
Doren and Allura took the next twenty or so minutes to explain how they had found and rescued the queen. At the part where they lured the men out of the house, Keith saw Allura blush. He knew there was more to the story that her just calling out to the men, but he'd save that questioning for a private time.
"So when we arrived outside the arena area, Eleanor rode in and sent back men from Lion House and a physician. We came immediately to the castle where the Queen was treated, and our men watched the kidnappers. Those men are currently being questioned in the castle dungeon to find the names of all involved." Doren had been enthusiastic with his story-telling, but still hadn't answered Keith's main question.
"When I blacked out, Wesley was gone. Was he captured?" Keith asked impatiently.
Olen answered as Doren opened his mouth to speak. "Yes, Akira, he was captured and is in the dungeon with the others. Right after you passed out, the men of Lion House and Caiman House worked together to locate Wesley and several others in the stable." The amiable expression on his face changed to a menacing one as he said, "I'm sure we can get the names of all involved from him." His expression lightened as he continued, "Once we have removed all those involved from Eagle House, Alfred will step in as Lord of the House. He will select a young man to train as his successor. Eagle and Lion Houses will work closely over the next few years in an effort to return Eagle House to the noble one that it once was."
Conversation opened up and as it did so, Olen rose and motioned for Akira to walk with him. Moving to a large window overlooking the castle lake, Olen gazed outside. Without removing his gaze from the view, he asked, "What can I give to you, Akira? How can I repay you for what you have done for me and for Lion House?" Olen turned and looked up into the eyes of the outlander who had become one of them.
Keith shook his head. "I don't wish any reward, my King, but…" Turning, he scanned the room until his eyes fell on Doren who was once again talking with Sophia.
Olen's eyes followed Akira's, and he chuckled and shook his head. "It would be politically advantageous of me to marry her off to a neighboring prince. But I'm afraid that she will marry for love, just as I did." Looking to Akira, he asked, "And as you will?" He saw a shadow pass across Akira's features.
"I hope to one day, sire." He turned and looked at the man who was at the start of everything that had set the prophecy in motion. "I have certain things that I have been tasked with. I must complete them before I am allowed to marry."
"Ahhhh. Then I hope that somehow we have helped you with one of your tasks."
A genuine smile lit Keith's face as he responded, "You have indeed, my King." Looking out at the view for a moment, he continued with a smaller smile, "Sometime soon, Eleanor and I will need to leave. We probably won't return, but please know that you will always hold a place in our hearts and memories."
A frown furrowed the King's brow as he looked at Akira. "Are you sure that you have never been to Altea before? You just seem so familiar…"
With a twinkle in his eye, Keith responded to the king, "Perhaps we knew each other in another life."
Chuckling at the response, Olen said, "Perhaps so, my boy, perhaps so."