"Dancing bears..painted wings.Things I almost remember....And the song someone sings....Once upon a December...
The Castle of Lions was decked out in red and green-the colors of Christmas. The hall was decked of course, with holly and mistletoe abounded everywhere.
Lance, in particular liked the tradition of kissing any female under it-except if Nanny happened to be there!
Arus, for the moment was at peace. There seemed to have been a lull in Zarkon's attacks lately. Although Arus and the Voltron Force was always on guard, it was decided that because of holiday season, they would celebrate with a Christmas ball. They were all dressed up. The guys looking rather uncomfortable in their tuxedos. Hunk kept pulling at his collar and Lance kept undoing his tie. Pidge, as usual, was annoying Nanny with his wisecracks.Nanny clucked around them, telling them to stand up straight,etc, like she always enjoyed doing.
Allura came down, a vision in crystal white. She looked like the Winter Queen in the long ball gown. To Nanny's consternation, Allura's neckline was rather low, but it was too late to do anything about it.
Keith came into the large room, looking very dashing. Allura smiled at the sight of him. She thought everyone looked handsome and she said so.
Pidge bridled and said, "Hey, and I'm the most handsome, aren't I , Princess?"
She laughed and said, "Yes.."
Of course, then the others had to start in.
Keith walked over to her, handsome in his black tux and took her hand. "You look beautiful, Allura."
She smiled and said, "You look pretty good yourself!"
Suddenly, Lance came over and held a mistletoe over their heads and said, "Kiss! You gotta kiss!"
Keith and Allura both rolled their eyes and Keith said, "You know,if we don't do this, he'll never shut up."
She nodded and they came close and kissed each other softly.
Lance said, "Aw c'mon guys! I'm talking liplock here! I bet Pidge kisses better than you, Keith!"
Allura nearly laughed when Pidge piped up and said, "Hey! I'm ready!"
Allura said, "Come on, Keith, lets show them what we can do."
Keith looked a little embarrassed and then he said, "Okay!"
He swooped her into his arms into a dip which caused her to shriek and then he kissed her-very nicely, she thought. Of course, Nanny and Coran just had to walk back in the room!
Coran sputtered, "What are you two doing?"
Nanny rushed over and separated them. "Dat is definitely NOT proper behavior for a princess!"
Lance said, "Aw, Nanny! It's Christmas! Y'know, mistletoe.."
Hunk had to add, "And food, don't forget food! Speaking of- where is it?"
Nanny shot him a look and said, "Don't even tink of eating all de ordeurves like you did last time! I 'll be vatching all of you!"
The irate governess turned to Keith. "Especially you-no more of dis-dis dipping, kissing stuff!"
Coran interrupted with a polite, "Ahem..", and said, "Come, we must greet our guests.." And so they went....
The Christmas Ball was in full swing. Allura and the guys were having a wonderful time. Hunk,despite Nanny's best efforts WAS eating all of the ordeurves, and the rest of the Voltron Force was dancing. All of them had danced with Allura several times, and now she was dancing with other partners. She suspected that Coran and Nanny were again trying to arrange a marriage for her, for she kept seeing Coran talking to the same elderly gentleman. She sighed and wished they would stop doing that. She would marry when she married-and she would marry for love,not convenience.
Ah, she thought, this was a wonderful night. The ballroom lit with candles... The fresh scent of pine broughs. All the dancers bright in their finery. People just having a good time for once. No Zarkon. No rushing to the lions. She wished it could always stay this way. Another song was beginning, and yet another partner came to her and begged her for a dance. She was going to refuse when he lightly touched her hand. She couldn't refuse him. He led her out and they began to waltz together. Unlike some of her other partners, this one could dance and dance well. She looked up at him. He was handsome and tall. His thick blond hair was tied in a queue. His face was chisled and handsome. His full lips sensual.
He smiled at her and she smiled back.
She asked, "Who are you? We haven't been introduced."
He smiled. "Forgive me, I am Prince Bokar."
She gasped. Bokar! He was that robeast who tried to charm his way into stealing her and the Blue Lion!
Her partner saw the expression on her face and said, "I am the real Prince Bokar..an imposter stole my identity when I was ill on my home planet of Rykor. I know that Zarkon tried to trick you with this imposter,for that, I am sorry, dear Princess." He moved her hand to his lips where he kissed it.
Allura trembled. She knew better than to fall for a pretty face! Still, she was so tired of being on guard all the time, having to be the proper princess. Watching for tricks from Zarkon, Lotor or Hagar. There were times like these when she wished she could truly relax.
When the dance ended, she was disappointed. Prince Bokar smiled, bowed, and without a word, disappeared into the crowd.
The evening progressed. Evidently, someone had spiked the punch. Lance, who was the obvious culprit, simply grinned devilishly and handed Nanny a cup of the spiked punch. Not suprisingly, afterwards Nanny seemed to be a little more "loose.."
Allura kept dancing. At one point,when she was dancing with Keith, she saw the tall handsome man she danced with eariler. Her heart leaped with joy, and then she berated herself.
She thought, ..I've only danced one dance..it's not like I'm in love or anything...Still she hoped that he would ask her again.
There was a lull in the music. The handsome prince came to her and smiled.
With a bow, he said,
"Beautiful Princess, please accept this gift from me-in honor of the season. She looked at his gift and gasped. They were rare white roses-impossible to get this time of year.
She lifted them and smelled the wonderful scent. She said to him, "They're so beautiful...thank you!"
He smiled, his handsome face glowing. "They're not as beautiful as the woman holding them..you can wear them..see?" She saw the fastener on the back. He smiled and said, "You had better put them on yourself..I don't believe your chaparones would approve of me doing it."
Allura did, and without another word, he led her out on the floor as a waltz began to play. As they waltzed, he hummed along with the tune, his deep voice somehow familar.
Allura's mind whirled and she laughed.The scent of the flowers pinned to her breast was intoxicating. This dance seemed to just go on and on. She didn't want it to stop. Her handsome partner looked at her, his eyes filled with joy. He seemed to be the only one that mattered to her at the moment. They danced and danced. They talked and he made her laugh. This one seemed to have a sense of humor. She was surprised that Coran didn't step in and break them up. He and Nanny didn't like it when she concentrated on one partner..unless..
Allura impulsively asked Bokar, "Tell me, Prince Bokar,you wouldn't happen to be looking for a bride, would you?"
Bokar smiled and said, "Why, Princess..you wouldn't happen to be looking for a husband,would you?"
She blushed and said, "No...it's just that we've danced every dance so far and no one has tried to cut in."
He smiled and said, "Well, do you want them to?"
She looked into his dark blue eyes and said, "No..."
Bokar smiled and said,"Good, that is how I want it,dear Allura."
She wondered why did his tone of voice sound so familar? It was as if he was someone else for a moment, but then the scent of the roses on her breast swirled around her again and she forgot her train of thought. As they danced some more, Allura wondered who all those people in the room were. For a moment, she seemed to know, and then the thought was gone. They looked familar but not.
They kept dancing, Bokar holding her tight. They seemed to be dancing closer now. She was suprised that...that...who was it? ....would fuss and fume over how close she was dancing with her partner. She could smell the heavenly aroma of the roses and the thought flew out of her head. Allura smiled at her partner, who whirled her around until he stopped abruptly. Allura was breathless.
She said, 'Bokar, why did we stop?"
The tall prince said, "Look up, my love."
She did and saw that they were under an archway which had a spig of mistletoe under it. Bokar cupped her chin and said, "I believe it is the traditions of the Terrans that we must kiss under this-this plant."
Allura laughed and said,"It's mistletoe...Bokar..mistletoe."
He smiled, seeing her laughter and said, "Well, we shouldn't break tradition, should we?"
And then he kissed her-a stirring kiss full of longing and love. Allura fleetingly wondered why the kiss seemed so familar when the thought went right out of her head and she kissed back. Everything seemed to be a blur after that.