"Someone holds me safe and warm,Horses prance through a silver storm...Figures dancing gracefully..Across my memory....
Allura had a sensation of being carried, held tightly in someone's arms. They felt safe and warm, compared to the cold outside. Outside? What was she doing outside? She looked up and saw that Bokar was carrying her. She stirred a little and he looked down at her.
Allura said, "Where are you taking me, Bokar?"
He said, "I'm taking you to safety, Allura...we've been attacked."
Attacked? By whom? It was Christmas. Who would attack their peaceful planet? Allura thought that the name was on the tip of her toungue but she couldn't recall it.
She felt tired and let Bokar carry her. She looked at him though half-shut eyes and thought how pale and white his hair looked in the moonlight. He must have been cold as well, for his face had a bluish tinge to it. She must be dreaming, for his eyes looked more like a cat's-yellow, slanted. Where had she seen that before?
Bokar looked down at her briefly and said, "I am taking you to my ship, Allura.There you will be safe from harm."
Allura let him carry her to his waiting ship. They were inside now, away from the cold, but Bokar still had that bluish tinge to his face. As he carried her and placed her in a seat temporarily, she placed her hand upon his cheek. Bokar smiled as if this pleased him enormously.
Allura said, "Bokar, you had better get warm-you look positively blue!!"
Bokar frowned and then he kissed her again. All thoughts flew out of her head as he did so. It was an intense possessive kiss, again filled with love and longing. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her fingers were in his long (white..it is white..no...blond) hair.
Bokar held her waist and it seemed like he didn't want to let go of her, but he did reluctantly. He murmured, "Allura, I will be right back."
She smiled and saw he looked normal again. She said teasingly, "I am glad my kisses warm you up, Bokar."
He laughed and said,"And they will for many nights to come, my princess.I will be back, stay right here."
She smiled and leaned back, the scent of the white roses again intoxicating her. It seemed that she was content being here. There was no future, no past, just now-and handsome Bokar. She sighed in contenment and then she heard voices coming from the next room.
"....Hagar..you said that she would not wake! The effects of the flowers do not last long on her!"
"..Ah, but my Prince, you did kiss her, did you not?" The old witch cackled.
"Yes, but..."
"You worry too much, my lord Prince! Between the spell I placed on the flowers and your kisses,she will not remember-until it is too late!!"
"And the attack?""It is going well, Prince Lotor...although we should leave for Doom now.."
"Yes, we should...give me the gift for her."
"My prince-you are a sentimental one-I would not have thought that of you!"
"Shut up, old witch! Ah, there! She will love it- and me."
Allura was half dozing when she felt a kiss upon her lips. She opened her eyes and smiled. It was Bokar. She said, "Prince Bokar...."
He smiled, "Please Princess Allura, call me Bokar...."
She smiled and said, "Only if you call me Allura..."
He touched her face gently. "Anything for you, my love.I have a gift for you..." Allura said, "But I have nothing for you, Bokar..." He smiled and looked into her eyes. "You are the greatest gift I could ever recieve, Allura."
This pleased her so she smiled at him. He said gently, "Close your eyes and hold out your hand, my sweet..." She did, feeling like a little girl again when he placed something in her hand. It was heavy.
He said, "Open it." She did and gasped. It was a small oval box encrusted with gold and jewels. It was exquisite!
He smiled but a shadow seemed to cross over his face. "It was my mother's...open it, Allura."
She did, and she saw a miniature couple dancing to the tinkling tune- a music box!! The music played and Bokar began to sing softly to it:..On the winds, cross the seas..Hear this song and remember..Soon you'll be home with me...Once upon a December.."
She looked and smiled. He sang so well! Then Allura said, "It is beautiful, Bokar- but I cannot take it..it's your mothers."
Bokar's large hand closed the box and he clasped his hand over it. "It is yours, Allura, I have no one to give it to...isn't it tradition to give a gift at this time of year?"
She nodded, still troubled.
He smiled and said, "Good! It is yours...as well as my heart, Allura."
She looked up at him. He looked cold again-the blue tinge in his face was back and his eyes seemed to glow. His hair-it must be the lighting-it was white again. It seemed as if his face seemed superimposed upon another's. Another that she knew well but couldn't remember.She felt slightly ill and then she became dizzy. She fell forward in the chair, half faint. Bokar caught her.
"Allura!" he cried. She looked up into his face..it was no longer Prince Bokar's.She mumbled, "Lotor..I am so sick.."
Lotor's eyes flared and he looked at the flowers on her breast. He hurridly unfastened them and he flung them to the other side of the ship. He set Allura gently down on the floor. She had fainted.
He yelled, "Hagar!!"
The wizened witch appeared in the doorway, grinning as if she knew what was taking place. "Having problems keeping your sweetheart awake, my Prince?"
Lotor yelled, "What did you do to her?"
The witch cackled and she said, "Oh, did I forget? Those roses not only make one forget, they are poison!"
Lotor jumped and stalked over to Hagar and grabbed her arm. "How dare you, old witch!"
She jerked her arm away and she said, "Better show some respect, Lotor! I am the only one who can cure her! Your father arranged this! With Princess Allura in his possession and deathly ill, Arus will fall to it's knees..and I will be Queen of Doom!!"
Lotor wanted to kill her. He never intended harm to Allura, he simply wanted to get her away from Arus, away from all the ones who stood in his way of having her for his wife.
He went back and held her. She was so white! Then he heard her say, "Lotor, what did you do to me?"
His heart twisted seeing her in pain. He said quietly, "I am sorry, Allura, I did not intend this."
She saw his handsome face above hers, worried and concerned. He really did care for her.
She asked, "Lotor, where are we going?"
He said,"To Doom, Allura.Hagar will cure you."
She moaned in pain. Her body felt like it was on fire. She said, "Please Lotor,take me back to Arus, I beg of you.Don't take me to your father.",
His heart twisted within him again. He knew she was scared of his father. He didn't blame her. There had to be a way to save her without relying upon Hagar!
Lotor looked down at the only woman he loved and he said, "I will save you, Allura, I swear it!"
He jumped up and checked to see where Hagar was. He knew if he did anything, she would report it to his father. Hagar played sides often. They hadn't taken off yet. He had to get Allura out of here! Arus had one of the most advanced medical labs in the quadrant-surely they could save her! He didn't want to lose her again, but he didn't want her father taking her nor did he want her death. He looked down on her. She had passed out again. He saw his gift to her still clutched in her hand. He smiled and then he lifted her up. It would be a risk, but he had to save her. Carrying her, he activated the hatch of the cruiser and ran out.