Allura raced down the main hall toward Castle Control, all the while trying not to trip over the ruffled velvet trim on her new standard royal gown. She caught a bit of blue material on the tip of her shoe and heard some threads give way in one brief rip, but she hardly noticed. She simply kicked the material loose, mumbled a curse under her breath, and continued on her way. She would mention later to Nanny that the gown was a bit too long and would need altering.
Oh well, she silently concluded, at least it’s not pink.
She turned the last corner and halted abruptly in front of the sliding steel doors that would reveal the gleaming contents of the familiar Control Room. Consciously, she struggled to catch her breath; unconsciously, she fingered a few stray hairs back behind her ears. She had been waiting for this transmission all day, but she didn’t want to appear too anxious. After all, it wasn’t lady-like, and she didn’t want to appear a silly, giddy school girl, despite that’s what she really felt like.
She had been mindlessly thumbing through a pile of paperwork when she received notification of the incoming transmission. She might have inquired where it was from before she took off running, but she already knew where, and more importantly, she knew who it was from. She could just tell.
Allura straightened her posture, opened the doors, and proceeded into the room with the easy, yet regal style that was her hallmark. Curiously enough, this fact was unbeknownst to her.
She wanted to appear nonchalant, but the smile spread across her lightly painted face gave her ill-concealed excitement away instantly. Fortunately, he looked just as excited to see her as she was to see him.
“My Queen,” he said with a slight bow of his head. “You look lovely today.” As if remembering something, he removed his Admiral’s cap and ran a quick hand through the now-exposed, jet black strands, causing them to stick up even more. Allura chuckled silently at the one tuft of black hair that always seemed to rebel against the others to grow in it’s own direction - straight up. Instinctively, her hand moved in reflex to pat it down, but in a disappointing split second, she caught herself. Allura simply returned the compliment with a soft smile.
Keith saw the well concealed emotion behind her carefully chosen mask. It had been over a week since they had been separated, and he was more than anxious to get back home. It was the longest that they had been separated since the wedding, but this meeting of the Galaxy Alliance could not be missed, despite that the timing had been poor. One of them had to go, but one of them had to stay home and take care of some business in the Kingdom that could not be postponed. Meetings seemed to be her least favorite duty, and so Keith had volunteered to make the day and a half journey to Earth. It seemed simple in theory; she would stay home and attend to intraplanetary issues, and Keith would attend the meeting on their behalf and be back in nine days. Simply in theory but harder than either of them had anticipated. They had spent four years apart in the aftermath of the first war, but now it was different - they knew what they were missing.
“I miss you.”
“I miss you, too.”
They gazed at one another in a shared understanding. In all the years they had known each other as friends, they had developed somewhat of a silent communication between them. With only the slightest crease of her forehead or the smallest down-turned corner of his lips, each could tell what the other was feeling. It was something that each had come to depend on, as neither one liked to speak a great deal of their emotions.
Keith cleared his throat. He could tell just from the rigidity of her normally animated features that she was anxious to bring the next few days to a close.
“How’s the meeting?” she asked before he could say anything.
“Fine. Nothing too important.”
“What are they calling you - ‘Admiral’ or ‘Your Highness’?”
Keith chuckled. “A little of both. I think most people aren’t exactly sure what to call me, so they’ve just been calling me ‘Keith’. My friends have been teasing me a little bit, but I wouldn’t expect anything less from some of these guys. Ginger’s been calling me a ‘Royal Pain in the Ass’.”
She didn’t know Ginger that well, but what she knew of her, she rather liked. She was one of those people who actually said what most other people just thought. Allura couldn’t help but giggle.
“Go ahead and laugh at my expense, but if you keep it up, I’ll take back your present.”
“Present? What present?” Allura tried to conceal her excitement at the mention of it, but it was too late. Since they’d gotten married, Keith had all but spoiled her rotten with any sort of lavish gift one could dream up. Jewelry, perfumed soaps, silk nightgowns, exotic lotions, scented bath oils; all the things she secretly loved so much but would never buy for herself. After all, she didn’t even have a salary, and it was far beyond consideration to take money out of her personal fund for such unnecessary embellishments. Until recently, she never even knew what she was missing, but now she was spoiled for life, and she just couldn’t go back to taking a “normal” bath.
Keith laughed out loud when he saw her eyes grow three times their previous size. He knew that the mention of a present might cheer her up. He loved giving her all the beautiful things that she deserved, especially since he knew that she would never buy them for herself. At first, she was weary of him giving her things that seemed “unnecessary,” but after several explanations, he finally got it through to her that it was his money, and that it was considered rude to refuse a gift. And Keith loved spoiling her to the highest level, especially because she was so…unspoiled.
“Would you like a hint?”
She was all but jumping up and down. “Oh, yes! Give me just a little hint. Or a big hint, whichever you prefer.”
Keith grinned slyly, pretending to be very pensive. “Hmmm…well, it has something to do with next week.”
Allura didn’t have to think about it at all. “Our Anniversary! Our one year Wedding Anniversary is next week! Give me one more hint so I can sleep tonight.”
“So you can sleep tonight? That’s a good one, Allura. Nice try, but you’ll have to wait until I get back.”
He instantly stopped his joking when he saw that all too disappointed look coming from the tiny lines around her eyes. He correctly figured it had less to do with him not giving her another hint, and more to do with him not being there tonight. It was growing late on Arus and the castle occupants would be turning in shortly.
“Allura, I’m leaving tonight.”
“Tonight?”
“I made up some excuse about Voltron needing repairs, and I’m coming home.”
Her cool facade melted into the sweet smile he knew so well. Of course he hadn’t made up any such excuse, but it wouldn’t be that difficult to sneak out of a day of meetings amongst 325 other attendees. And he just couldn’t bare the thought of another night in a cold, lonely bed.
“I’ll be leaving within the hour, so that will put me back on Arus late tomorrow night, so don’t wait up.”
“You’re not leaving because of me, are you?”
He answered her honestly. “No, I’m leaving because of me. And this meeting is completely useless; just an excuse for big-wigs to pat each other on the back for all their good deeds and power.”
She nodded in total understanding. That was precisely why she hated meetings.
“I’ll tell Coran that you’ll be home early.”
“Thanks.” He paused, trying to think of something else to say. Nothing came. They were just prolonging the inevitable. Hesitantly, he bowed. “Goodnight, my Queen.”
She gave him her saddest eyes, a gesture that made him cringe.
“That will probably haunt me until I get back.”
She lent him a small smile to let him know that she was teasing and returned his bow with a nod. “Goodnight, Keith.”
“Love you,” she said.
“You too,” he replied. The connection went dead.
After a minute or two of waiting for the connection to reestablish, she picked up her tattered gown from the floor and left the Control Room.
As she neared their bed chambers, she felt an inexplicable need to go elsewhere. Only after she grew to the point of severe exhaustion would she be able to actually fall asleep, so it wouldn’t really do her any good to lay in a cold bed, missing him. Besides, she had something very important to think about before she would allow herself to turn in.
She ended up at his favorite place - the observation deck. She was hoping for some time alone, but unfortunately, she wasn’t the only one who had thought of star gazing that night.
Even through the reflection of the glass picture window, Lance noticed the startled expression on the Queen’s face. Obviously, he had again caught her during one of her “I’d rather be alone” moments, a look that he’d become accustomed to over the years. The observation deck wasn’t exactly her favorite haunt, but it only took him an instant to figure out why she’d come tonight.
“Good evening, Your Highness.”
“Captain,” she acknowledged cordially, walking up beside him.
Lance looked over her new gown and couldn’t stifle a chuckle.
“May I ask what’s so funny, Captain?”
Lance’s gaze settled on the floor near her feet to examine the excess material of her dress that hung about an inch too low, dragging about her in a blue halo.
She knew what he was laughing at, but she didn’t exactly appreciate being teased about it at this particular moment. “Well, it’s not like I was the one who sewed it!”
“Geez, somebody got out of the wrong side of bed today. Or is it that somebody got out of bed alone today?”
Allura simply glared at him as if to imply that she wouldn’t dignify the comment with an answer. In the past, it was that kind of comment that would have sent her into a furious blush. But that was when she was a young girl. Now that she was a woman, it took a lot more than a silly comment to embarrass her.
“Well, at least I don’t sleep alone every night like someone else I know.”
“Harsh, Allura. Really harsh.”
An onlooker would have interpreted their less than pleasant exchange as unfriendly, but the two had already blown off the light-hearted teasing. Years of practice had callused the two friends.
Allura turned her attention to the western sky. It was a clear night, so she might be able to see Earth’s sun if she peered hard enough into the deep blackness.
“If you’re trying to see it, you won’t be able to tonight. Wrong time of year.”
Allura really wished that she was alone. She didn’t need Lance around to point out how pathetic she was, trying to somehow get closer to her husband who she couldn’t seem to spend a week without. She let a deep sigh escape her lips.
“He’s coming home tomorrow night,” she said as to distract herself.
“He’s leaving tonight?”
“Uh huh. Apparently this meeting wasn’t as important as the Garrison made it out to be.”
Lance mindlessly shoved his hands into his pockets and smirked. “Imagine that, the GG calling a frivolous meeting; there’s a new one.” Lance smirked at his own sarcasm. Sometimes he wondered why he had ever wanted to be a Garrison officer in the first place. A bunch of butt kissers, that’s what they’d become lately. There was a time when the GG was an institution of honor, loyalty, and sincere good will, but as times had changed, so did the Garrison. There were still good people there, but they were few, and unfortunately, they never seemed to be the ones in charge.
Lance was about to go off into one of his “why the Garrison sucks” speeches, but he was instantly silenced by something in her eyes. Lance knew people way too well to miss the sadness underlying her blank expression. “Why the long face? He’ll be home soon.”
Allura shook her head. “It’s not that, Lance.” She hesitated, not really sure whether to share such a personal problem with him.
“You can tell me, Allura. We’re buds!”
The words rushed out like a river whose damn had broken. “Our anniversary is in three days, and I have no idea what to get Keith. Oh Lance! He always gives me such great presents, and I never know what to give him on his birthday, much less our first anniversary! It’s hopeless…I’m a terrible wife!”
“What?” Now he couldn’t control the laughter.
“Stop it! This is serious! Leave it to you to undermine anything that you don’t deem important.”
Lance didn’t miss the blatant look of scorn in her hardened features. He knew better than anyone when not to press her buttons, and he could see that this was one of those times.
“I’m sorry, Allura but…you’re not a terrible wife just because you don’t know what to give Keith for your anniversary. Besides, I know him well enough that he wouldn’t even want you to get him anything. Just give him a kiss and tell him you love him. Isn’t that what an anniversary is about anyway?”
“Wow, Lance. That was actually sensitive.”
“I’m a sensitive kind of guy.”
Allura knew that the gift itself wasn’t important, but she wanted to give him a token of what this first year with him meant to her. Something that let him know how she felt about him.
“You could cover yourself in frosting and wait for him to walk through the door.”
“I’ve done that already. I need something else…something special.”
“And you didn’t take pictures?” Suddenly, it was as if a light bulb appeared over his head. He had a genius idea. He had the perfect gift that she could give to him. But would she go for it?”
Allura studied his changed expression with much interest and waited for him to reveal his thoughts, but he only stood and stared at her intently as if trying to memorize her every facial feature. It was starting to make her uncomfortable.
“What is it? Do you have an idea?”
He nodded, but his focus remained glued to her as it had before. Only after what seemed like several moments, he spoke. “How about a portrait?”
“Portrait? Like a painting?”
He seemed to scoff at the remark. “Paintings are made of things; portraits are made of people. I meant, how about a portrait of you?”
She was already shaking her head. “There are way too many of those hanging around the castle as is: me, me and Keith, me and the Voltron force, me and Coran, me and Coran and Nanny. I’ve sat for more portraits than you’ve sat for exams.”
Lance rolled his eyes. It was obvious that she didn’t understand. “No, Allura. It would be a portrait of his wife, not the Queen. This would be something for Keith…and only Keith.” He hushed his voice as if about to reveal some sort of dirty, little secret. “The kind of portrait I have in mind I don’t think Coran would approve of, if you get my meaning.”
Suddenly, she knew exactly what he had in mind. At first the idea made her giggle. It was one thing to be natural in front of him in person, but an entirely different thing to have it immortalized on canvas. But she had to admit, the idea did strike her as intriguing, and there was no doubt that he would like it. He definitely would. But the idea of sitting nude in front of a complete stranger just didn’t sit well with her. All of the other portraits in the castle had been done by a local artist. He was extremely talented, but he was young, barely a man, and she just didn’t feel comfortable with the whole idea.
“I know what you’re thinking, Allura. You’re thinking that sitting in the buff for twelve hours in front of little painter boy sounds a little weird, so how about if I offer you an alternative?”
“Who?”
“What if I told you that…I’ve done a little painting in my day.”
“What? Whatever, Lance.” She rolled her eyes and thought of stomping off, but an earnestness in his expression told her to stay and listen.
“Allura, what do you think I’m doing all day long with that giant sketch pad in front of me.”
She couldn’t believe it. Could he be telling the truth? “I just thought you were doodling.”
“Doodling? I have to tell you, Allura, the artist in me is a little offended.”
“But how come you never said anything, or showed me any of your work?”
“Because it’s not important that other people know. I do it for my myself and myself alone. In fact, I don’t even sign my work. A good thing though - one of my paintings is hanging in Garrison headquarters.”
“It is? Do the other guys know?”
“Sure, they know. I don’t hide it, but I don’t brag about it either. It’s just something I do. Keith reads, Pidge builds things, Hunk eats, you work in your garden - we all have our little things that keep us sane.”
Allura just couldn’t believe it. Here she thought she knew him as well as anyone, and this one very important fact about him had been completely unknown to her. Lance? An artist? Apparently so.
She stood with her mouth hanging wide open until he broke her from her silent reverie. “So, do you want to do this thing?”
She only nodded and followed him down the hall toward his chambers.
“We’ll have to do this in my room so we don’t get caught by Nanny. I would hate to have to explain myself out of this one. And…I don’t like to be disturbed.”
Neither of them realized that it was way past both of their bedtimes, but neither gave it a second thought. This new idea seemed to pervade all usual concerns and thoughts.
“This will take about eight hours, give or take. We’ll take some breaks, but are you sure you want to start tonight?”
“Very sure.”
“Good.”
They entered his room, and Allura was immediately struck by something that was familiar, yet somehow tonight, appeared new. A large painting hung over his bed in the middle of the room. It wasn’t framed (something she never noticed before), but it didn’t need to be framed. It was beautiful all on its own.
She closely and carefully inspected the perfectly detailed landscape that spread out in every direction, the green rolling hills, the wispy clouded sky, the small birds that flew off in the distance. But that wasn’t what struck her about the painting. Tucked in deep valley, little huts sprung up like wild flowers scattered upon the grass. In fact, until tonight, she had always thought that they were wild flowers. It was actually a tiny village. Suddenly, her heart sunk.
“Is this…your village?”
Lance paused a moment from the equipment he was dredging out from his closet to stand beside her. Together, they gazed at the village, now gone, but immortalized in this one man’s painting come straight from his soul.
“That’s my personal favorite,” was all he said before going back to his task. “But I’m much better at painting portraits than landscapes, so I’m pretty excited that you’re letting me do this. Thanks.”
“No, it’s you who deserves the thank you. I never would have dreamed…” And then she trailed off, suddenly completely distracted by what was happening before her. He was now moving about the room as if in a fevered rush, fetching things from the closet and then from his desk, bringing them all to the center of the room where a giant brass easel now stood with its white, empty, waiting canvas. He began pulling things out of a brown cloth bag, setting them around him in somewhat of a circle. Some of the items, she didn’t recognize. What could those be used for? The thought escaped her as she became terribly fascinated by the handfuls and handfuls of brushes he had begun spreading about the floor in what seemed no particular order. Without pausing, he began to uncap dozens of small jars containing various colored paints, letting them splash all over his hands, clothing, and hair, making him appear almost lunatic. Masterfully, he separated and mixed them, almost so quickly that there looked no rhyme or reason to any of it. Even the look in his eyes - he almost appeared…possessed. And then all at once, he stood completely still and surveyed the situation. He seemed satisfied, then turned to face her.
“I value my life, so I have an idea.”
“What do you mean?”
He went back to the closet and began sifting through the contents of a top shelf.
“I value my life, Allura, and if Keith knew that I saw you completely naked, he’d completely kill me, and even though I don’t look at my subjects in that way, he’d never see it like that. So I have an idea.”
Allura wanted to speak up, to say that she was her own woman and that she could make her own decision on the matter, but she kept quiet. Probably because she knew that Lance was right. Keith was a bit jealous when it came to certain situations, and she didn’t want his own present to upset him. Besides, she was a little curious to see what this idea of Lance’s was.
Finally, his hands felt for what he’d been looking for, and he carefully pulled it from the top shelf and began shaking it out.
Now it was Allura’s turn to laugh. “Red silk sheets, Lance? I don’t know where you got those, but I bet I know why you have them.”
He only smiled. The Lance that was the jokester was now far away. “Don’t worry, they’ve been washed.”
He walked over to the foot of his bed and threw out one of the sheets. It billowed and floated until it slowly and completely covered the white linens that lie just beneath. Meticulously, he positioned each and every inch of fabric until it seemed less like a simple sheet and more like a satin red lake, rippled by a breeze across the surface. He stepped back and inspected it critically, unaware of what was transpiring behind him.
“I’ll be back in about five minutes. Sit up here, and try to drape this around…” He wasn’t at all ready for what he saw when he turned around. Apparently, she was a more willing subject than he’d anticipated. She stood before him, ready for her portrait, completely naked. “That’s it…I’m dead.” He gestured for her to take her place on the silk-covered bed. Quickly, he began strategically placing the remaining sheet over what might be considered the bare minimum of good taste.
Allura could only giggle at his apparent discomfort of the situation. “I thought you said you didn’t look at your subjects like that.”
“Not usually, but I don’t know many guys who have seen their best friend’s wife naked.”
“Now you can say you have.”
Lance just rolled his eyes. “Geez, Allura - it’s like seeing my sister naked.”
The mood changed abruptly again, and he was painting. At first he seemed to be sketching, but when the first brush touched the canvas, hours were lost. She watched his every move, unaware that any time passed at all, and she never wondered once of what the portrait would look like. In fact, she didn’t even care. She just couldn’t get over the rapture that had taken him over. He seemed to move quickly, but he was also careful in an almost graceful way.
Much like his flying, she mused silently.
They remained in this for hours, hardly speaking, laughing only once. She had asked him, “Was it really like seeing your sister naked?”
He answered, “Well, a really hot sister.” And then it was back to the moment.
She would study the firm crease that had permanently fixed itself between his pensive eyebrows, and the thick paint that carelessly dripped onto the floor, and the way he would talk to himself occasionally. She wanted to ask him what he was saying, but she doubted that he would hear her anyway. He was an artist, alone with his creation. She doubted that he even noticed the sunrise coming into the window and over the horizon. He did, and closed the blinds.
“Almost done,” he said.
But didn’t he say that it would take longer?
“But…”
“You’re an amazing subject, Allura. It went fast.”
She didn’t understand, but it didn’t matter. She had been sitting for what must have been more than five hours, but she didn’t want it to end. Maybe it was to be a present for Keith, but this night would always keep a meaning to her far greater than its final product. It was a moment between friends, between kindred spirits.
Finally, it was done.
“I have a few last touches left to take care of, but you can go. You’re done. You can come back tonight and see it – after seven.”
She wrapped the sheet around her and discretely slipped to the corner of the room to put her dress back on. She didn’t bother re-tucking her hair into its usual bun. The curls fell loosely over her now-covered shoulders.
She wanted to say thank you, but it would somehow belittle the moment.
“Are you coming to breakfast?”
He just shook his head. She nodded and headed for the door.
“Allura?”
“Yes?”
“I can’t wait for you to see it. It’s beautiful.”
She couldn’t help but smile. “I’m sure it’s lovely. You seem to be a very gifted artist.”
He briefly turned his attention to meet her warm gaze. “But art simply imitates life, Your Highness.” With that he went back to his creation, and she went to breakfast.
- THE END -