Allura awoke, and her head started to hurt. She tried to rise, but she couldn't. She felt weak. She fell back upon the pillows with a groan. Coran, who had had dozing in the chair beside her, woke up and said softly, "Allura, are you all right?"
Allura opened her eyes and turned to face him. "Coran? What-what happened?"
Coran leaned over and took her hand gently. "The Castle was under attack. You were hit in the head. "
Allura looked around then and said, "Where are we? We're not in the castle."
Coran shook his head. "No, We're in the underground caves that your father built under the Castle. We are safe here."
Allura looked around again and said, "Rommelle...."
Coran's eyes hardened. "I don't know where she is, Allura. She tried to kill you and then when we were attacked, she ran."
Allura's eyes widened. "But Coran, we must save her..they'll-" Coran cut her off, "Princess, you are the only one of importance.Rommelle tried to kill you. I saw her blaster on the floor. Fortunately, she only stunned you. I brought you here and treated your wounds."
He mused, "I was so afraid you wouldn't wake up, Allura."
Allura looked at Coran's tired face and smiled, "Thank you Coran, for taking care of me."
He squeezed her hand. "You don't need to thank me, Allura." He saw the worried look on her face. He said, "Don't worry about Rommelle, Allura.She will turn up ok, she always seems to."
His mouth tightened. He hoped they would kill her for what she tried to do to Allura.
Allura smiled weakly and said, "I hope so, Coran." Then she added, "Coran, you have always been like a father to me...so good to me...."
Coran groaned inside, torn as he always felt with her. He said gently, "It is not hard to be good to someone like you."
She closed her eyes and then he said, "You know, Allura, when we leave these caves, Arus may be completely destroyed." Her eyes opened again and she said, "I know...."
He hated to see the sadness in her face. Coran reached over and brushed back her hair.
He said, "Allura, no matter what we find up there, I will protect you and see to your safety. I swore this to your father and now I swear it to you.I will protect you with my life."
Allura smiled and said, "I know..."
Coran looked into her eyes and said, "Princess...if you like, you may call me Albert..I know that you've called me Coran all these years." He smiled, remembering. "You couldn't pronouce my name when you were small, remember?"
She smiled, "Yes, I think I said, "Lert" or something..at least that's what Mother said I did."
He laughed and said, "Yes, I think you did.You were calling me "Ran" for awhile there..." He chuckled and then he said, "But you're no longer a child, Allura...your father was my friend-we never stood on formality, even though sometimes I thought he was too casual..still,I consider us to be friends as well, Allura..it would honor me if you did feel the same."
She smiled, "Well, okay Cor-I mean, Albert." she frowned. "I know I'm not going to get used to that..calling you Albert I mean, how about both?"
He smiled down at her and said, "That's fine, Princess..."
Allura yawned and said, "Umm...I am sore, need to get up.."
Coran took his hand and gently stroked back her hair. He said, "You need to stay here, Allura...that was quite a blow on your head..I will care for your needs." Allura blushed, "Well, actually, I need to go-"
This time it was Coran who blushed. She rose and fell back, dizzy. " I think you'll have to help me, Coran." He helped her out of bed and led her to the bath where she shut the door. A few minutes later, she appeared in the door, holding onto the doorframe. She staggered and fainted.
Coran caught her before she could hit the floor and carried her back to bed, placing her gently under the covers. He looked at her pale face and worried. He hoped she would be all right. If anything happened to her, he would lose his mind. As it had been last night, his hands wanted to hold her close as a husband would a wife. He wished sometimes that he had that sort of right, but he did not. He could not resist. He kissed her forehead and then tucked her in again. He turned away, even though he didn't want to. He had to. He didn't want to repeat what he had done last night. He had to protect her from everything--even himself.
(Warning: This piece implies non-consential sex, adult situations, language, not graphic, but NOT suitable for children.)
Rommelle was numb now. She couldn't feel anything anymore. Nothing they did got to her. They had all had their turn at her. She felt battered and bruised. Her eyes were unfocused. The cool air hit her bruised and battered skin, but she couldn't feel it. She felt like she was in a void, a black hole.
She thought grimly,I wish - oh how I wish - something in her heart turned. Her jealous nature seemed nothing now. Old memories assailed her. Memories of a time before Avok - before he had used her. Yes, Avok had taken her purity, and eroded her sense of morality, but there had been a time, when like Allura, she had believed. She had believed in Him,trusted...where had she gone wrong? Avok...oh but not all his fault. She had let herself place her feet on the dark path, now it was too late, too late. She would laugh at that if she could, but she couldn't. Too numb.
She laid there for a long time, and then another man approached. Rommelle felt anger, about what, she wasn't sure. She had prayed - for the first time since she was a child. She had prayed for death. Even so, she focused her anger at the young - human? Rommelle, for the first time in hours, days...eons... became very aware.
"Shhhhh...." The human male whispered in her ear. "I have come to get you out of here."
He has a strange accent. Rommelle thought. Surely he didn't mean what she thought he said.
"Leave me." Rommelle whispered."I - I am - this." She wanted to sob in his arms, but couldn't. She remained stoic.
"No. I won't." The man said lowly. "I am Sven. I was a slave to Zarkon on Doom. He used me as his body slave, so I know...I know."
Rommelle's eyes widened. He went through - this? - like her?
"We've not time." Sven said, "I must get you away from here."
"Don't you want to know who I am?" Rommelle whispered back.
"Princess Rommelle, of Pollux...now, you must do as I say, please." The handsome young man said.
Hope sprang in Rommelle's heart. This man was the miracle she prayed for without knowing. Then she thought of her cousin Allura, and of the wrong she, Rommelle, had done to her.
"My cousin...we must save her too..." Rommelle whispered in Sven's ear as he lifted her up.
"She is safe, we believe."
"We?" Rommelle whispered.
"The Rebel Alliance...now, Princess, pretend you are - have fainted...going to use what's left of your dress to cover my face. Most of the men are sleeping, but I vant to be careful.
"I wish we could kill them...." Rommelle said softly.
Sven actually smiled. Don't vorry, little bird. I have left a surprise. Now ve go."
Some time later, Lotor was understandably angry when he was told that somehow Princess Rommelle had dissappeared. He dispatched the unfortunate message bearer to Death's embrace, and then stood over his body, looking almost comptempative.
The Polluxian Princess was of no importance now. It was the Arusian one that occupied his thoughts now. Lotor slipped out a necklace from his shirt and gazed upon it, his hard golden eyes suddenly softened as he gazed into the stone. An image - of her - his betrothed, Allura.