A Woman Grown - Seven

Lotor had barely started his explanation when the other Voltron Force members came back. Their face showed their surprise when they saw Lotor seated across from Coran as if it were a normal occurrence.

Lance's eyes narrowed as he approached the two. Coran was about to say something but Lance held up his hand.

"Where's the Princess, Lotor?"

"She's in your infirmary." Lotor said coolly.

"Where's Keith.." Lance itched to shoot this bastard here and now.

"In hell for all I care.." Lotor's eyes darkened with the memory of how he hurt Allura.

"Why you - !" Lance exclaimed but Coran stood up and stopped him.

"Lotor is here under our protection, Lance. You will not harm him!"

"Are you crazy, Coran?" Lance's eyes were wide. "Damn, he tricked you too!"

"No. He did not." Coran said flatly. "He brought Allura back. She was injured - " He hesitated.

"By Lotor, right?" Pidge joined their group. "You low-down creep! Allura doesn't want you!"

A slow smirk crossed Lotor's face. If only they knew but then he would not tell them.

"Sit down, all of you." Coran commanded.

"But - " Lance started to say.

"That is a command." Coran said sternly. "Since the princess is not here, I will do what is best in her place. Could you please continue, Lotor?"

Lotor looked at the Prime Minister. He seemed to be a capable and intelligent man, so why did he allow Allura to be treated as if she were but a child?

"I will. But answer me this. Why do you allow Allura's governess to humiliate her in front of her - " He paused. "Comrades?"

Coran's brows knitted. "What do you mean, Prince Lotor?"

"I don't know. She told me she was allowed enough slack to pretend that she was free but she wasn't. That 'woman' - the one who has a screech like a robeast, she is her governess - has to be. They're all alike."

Lotor saw the Voltron Force members exchange glances, Lance's face looking especially guilty. Coran thought back and then he remembered the day before - Nanny spanking Allura in front of everyone and he just stood there alongside Keith. Lance had been laughing as Allura flailed and screamed in indignity. That she had felt that way he hadn't known. Coran looked at Lotor and wondered if perhaps they had driven her into his arms.

"Nanny is very protective of the Princess. She has cared for her since she was an infant."

"She's an infant no longer, nor a child either. And here I thought my father had the market on humiliation." Lotor said dryly.

"Hey, Lotor, nobody said you had a right to say anything about the Princess." Lance glared at him.

"And I just bet you were the one laughing your ass off, am I correct?" Lotor straightened in his chair and watched as Lance looked uncomfortable.

"Prince Lotor." Coran interrupted. "If you would continue."

Lotor shrugged. "I admit that it was Haggar who lured the Princess into the woods and I was going to meet her - to convince her one more time to be my wife."

"More like force!" Hunk growled.

"You know, interrupting the Crown Prince would result in the cutting out of one's tongue on Doom." Lotor said.

"Hunk.." Coran said. "No more interruptions."

"Thank you." Lotor nodded his head. "We had a bit of a scuffle but nothing terrible. Perhaps it would have ended in much the same way had your intrepid captain came along. But he did not, and it was then that the Princess and I talked."

"Talked?" Coran asked.

"Yes, talked. She spoke of feeling trapped. I can heartily say that that is a subject that I do agree on with her."

"And then?"

"She asked me to make love to her - which I did."

"You BASTARD!" Lance had his weapon out.

"Hmph! You're no better than your Captain! Shooting an unarmed man.." Lotor smirked.

"No worse than you would have done!" Lance was ready to shoot.

"LANCE!" Coran barked. "Put the gun down or I will have you confined!"

"You're - kidding!" Lance's eyes widened.

"No, I am not." Coran said. "Sit down or you will be escorted out."

"I don't believe this.." Lance shook his head, but lowered his weapon. He sat down.

Lotor, without any prompting said, "I did not force her to do this. She made her own decision and I can never refuse her anything. If I had forced her, do you really think I'd be here? No."

"What - happened - after?" Coran flushed a little. The thought of Allura actually been involved that way with their greatest enemy was disconcerting.

"Your Captain came." Lotor said coldly. "He accused Allura of betraying Arus, of being my whore."

"What?" Hunk looked shocked. "No way! Keith said that?"

"Yes, he did." Lotor said. "This angered your Princess and rightfully so. We fought and Allura stopped us. Then your Captain fired upon me. Allura took the blow for me - fortunately she had my lasersword in her hand and it deflected the blow, only injuring her instead of killing her. She went down and Captain Keith just stood there. He did nothing for her. I took her back to my ship and brought her here since she needed medical attention. and Doom was too far away. And here we are."

"You don't believe him, do you, Coran?" Pidge asked.

"Yeah, where's Keith then? Maybe he's dead." Hunk added.

Coran stood up. "The answer will lie with the Princess and Keith. Prince Lotor, you are not officially under arrest, but you will stay within the castle under monitor, is that clear?"

"Crystal, Prime Minister." Lotor got up and he bowed. "I only care for Allura's well-being."

When Allura awakened, she was in her own bed, the familar pink and white decor both comforting and repulsive at the same time. Nanny was one side of the bed, her head bowed. Allura could tell that she had been crying. Allura reached out a hand and Nanny raised her head.

"Oh my baby!" She gushed, happiness spreading across her plump cheeks.

"Hi, Nanny.." Allura smiled wanly at her.

"I'm so glad you're all right! I was so worried! And that evil Prince! Don't worry, we'll see that he gets what he deserves!" Nanny said.

"What? Lotor? Where is he?" Allura looked around.

"Don't worry, Princess." Nanny got up, she was all business now. "He's where he can never hurt you again and you'll forget about all that - " She paused. "Well we'll just arrange a little trip for you to see your Aunt Orla. You need a little break from all that Lion nonsense."

Allura sat up, feeling a surge of anger. She was being patronized!

"I don't want to go to Aunt Orla's and the Lions aren't nonsense and I want to see Lotor now!"

Nanny bustled about the room and looked at her in surprise. "You're obviously still sick! You just rest and I will get you some nice tea."

"Nanny, I'm not a little girl!" Allura exclaimed, a panic rising in her.

"Of course not! But you need your rest and - "

The door opened, admitting Coran, Lotor and the three Voltron pilots. Keith was not among them.

"Coran!" Nanny cried out. "What - what is HE doing here? That monster! That - that!"

"Lotor!" Allura smiled. He smiled back as Nanny looked on in horror.

"How are you, Princess?" Coran asked, ignoring the shocked looks of the others. She had actually called for the Prince of Doom! Was there something to what Lotor had said?

"Better. A little sore, but a lot better."

"I'm glad." Coran said. "There is a matter that we need to speak of. Keith has still not returned."

Allura paled a little. "He - hasn't?"

"No. Lotor has explained what has happened and now we would like your side of it."

"You - act like we're being accused!" Allura looked hurt.

"No, Princess. Please. I realize that this is hard for you but - "

"She's tired, Coran!" Nanny said this quickly. "And having HIM here doesn't help." She referred to Lotor who quietly stood silent, although he itched to tell this harpy off.

"I'm not tired." Allura said flatly. "If Lotor has told you the truth then believe him."

"Allura, where's Keith?" Lance asked.

"I don't know." Allura said. "He - shot at Lotor and hit me instead."

"So that much is true.." Coran mused.

"He - " Allura's voice caught. "He called me Lotor's whore - a traitor to Arus!"

Everyone gasped, including Nanny. They knew that Allura was always truthful.

"Then - then, Lotor didn't - ?" Nanny looked half-afraid.

"He didn't rape me. I wanted him to - to.." She blushed and then straightened up inperceptively. "We made love. I wanted him to. I was tired of all the fighting and I was tired of being treated like a child."

"Princess.." Coran said gently. "We didn't realize."

"You should have!" Allura now was sitting bolt upright. "You - of all people, stood there along with Keith while Nanny spanked me - and for what? For wanting to do what any ADULT would have done - defend her home! You expect me to be a good Queen someday, but you won't give me the chance to prove it! Well, I'm not going to wait for you to give it. It's mine to decide now. I'm not a child anymore. I am the Princess of Arus, and one day I'll be Queen - God willing. You and Nanny are not going to pass me off to some Prince or King OR pilot.." She looked over at Nanny. "You're not going to pass me off to someone so that they can take care of me. I'll marry for the good of Arus but I'll marry for myself too. Mother and Father did it and so can I."

Tears ran down Nanny's face. "We only wanted to do what was best for you!"

"Spanking me wasn't one of them, Nanny." Allura said gently. "It wasn't. I'm sorry if this hurt you, but I am grown and it's time I acted that way."

The room was silent and no one knew what to say. Lotor's eyes met Allura's and all she saw was admiration.

And then a voice came out of nowhere.

~My child..~ Alfor's voice seemed to come from a far distance.

"Father?" Allura asked, wary. She had been tricked before and she looked at Lotor.

"If this is Haggar's doing, I know nothing of it." He said truthfully.

~It is not the witch's doing, but my own.~ The room darkened and then a bright light shone where a figure of a man now stood. It was of course Alfor, and Coran bowed to him.

~Coran, my friend..~ Alfor smiled at him and then he looked at the rest of them. ~My friends, I have visited you before when there was a need and I come again to assist.~

"Is there going to be an attack on Arus?" Pidge asked anxiously, looking at Lotor.

Alfor did not answer that but instead looked at Lotor and then Allura. ~Daughter, this day, you have made decisions in your life which shall affect the rest of it. I am glad to hear your words of affirmation. It means your mother and I taught you well.~

Nanny looked fearfully at Alfor and the ghostly King turned to her and said, ~I do not fault you for your care, Nanny, but what my daughter says is quite true. She is an adult and will one day become Queen of Arus.~

Nanny mutely nodded, her head bowed. She didn't realize, hadn't realized what she had been doing. She had only known that she had looked after Allura so long. What would she do now? Go back to the village where she once called home?

~And you..~ Alfor turned his gaze to Lotor. ~Son of my murderer..~ Lotor did not wince at this. ~You are the father of my daughter's child..~

Gasps filled the room and Lotor's eyes widened. Allura, with his - child? Somehow the thought both scared him and warmed him at the same time.

~Do you love her truly, Prince Lotor?~ Alfor asked sofly.

Lotor looked at where Allura was sitting up and on impulse he strode to her and took her hand.

"I do." He said simply and Allura could see the truth in his eyes. "I have loved her from the moment I set eyes upon her."

~With love comes great responsibility, Prince Lotor. I have withdrawn my favor for Captain Keith..~

"What?" Lance exclaimed. What in hell could Keith had done - besides obviously go off the deep end. ~Daughter, I will not make your decisions for you. As you say, it is time for you to make them. Both of you must make them but I - ~ He paused. ~I favor this union - if both of you favor it for yourselves..~

"Allura - and - and Lotor?" Nanny looked wide-eyed. She barely took in that Allura was pregnant.

Lotor looked at Allura's father with surprise. That he was in the presence of a spirit didn't surprise him much - for Haggar did much the same. But to know that her father approved of HIM when his own did not stunned him.

"But I am - your enemy." Lotor said.

~Your father was my enemy. I fight not against those who held no grudge against me or mine. You have constantly sought my daughter's safety - even when it cost you sure victory.~

Lotor nodded.

~Because of that, I sensed the love you had for my daughter. If you have the courage Lotor, you may yet see victory over your father - and your self.~

The Prince of Doom looked startled.

~You think I do not know this?" Alfor smiled faintly. "Still, it will not be easy and I shall be gone.

"Gone?" Allura leaned forward and gripped Lotor's hand.

~Daughter, as it is time for you to make your own decisions, so it is time for me to let go. You and Arus will have the Lions and you have your protectors too.~

"But - what if I make the wrong decisions?" Allura looked afraid.

Allura.. Alfor said gently. ~That is all a part of growing up, of being an adult, a Queen, a mother, a wife..a pilot..You will make the wrong decisions and you'll make the right ones too. You are a smart capable Princess and you will make Arus a fine Queen.~

A tear escaped from Allura's eye and Lotor, concerned, wiped it away.

And you, Prince Lotor...you must make your stand as well. Care and respect my daughter and your child... He looked at all the others assembled in the room. I bid farewell.

"Father! Wait!" Allura reached out.

I shall forever dwell in your heart, daughter.. Alfor faded away and the room turned back to normal.

The room was once again silent and Lotor squeezed Allura's hand to catch her attention. She looked into his eyes and they were filled with almost childlike wonder and awe. He knelt down by her bed and gently placed his hand on her abdomen.

"My child.." He said softly. "Our child.." Allura blinked. She was carrying Lotor's child! She put her hand on top of his as if she expected her stomach to swell at any moment. She felt unsure and yet - she felt what? Could she go through with this? Somehow the thought of ridding herself of this baby was something she didn't want to do at all. But Lotor worried her. Would he drag her back to Doom?

"Lotor.." Allura looked at him worriedly. "I can't - I mean not Doom. Not with Zarkon there."

He frowned. She was right. He could not take her to Doom - not now. The moment his father knew that she was pregnant with his child, he'd either destroy it or destroy both he and Allura and raise the child to be twisted like him.

This little one - this little glimmer that he had helped create - he who once bragged of being more of a destroyer than his father. He who had taken women for his own pleasure and who had never cared or loved for anyone, loved a Princess and now he had a chance for someone else to love and to love him in return.

"I won't go back." Lotor had made up his mind.

"You won't?" Allura looked surprised.

"I won't. I love you too much and I can't let you near my father."

Allura smiled and she squeezed his hand. "I knew there was something good in you."

"I hope you are right, love." Lotor lifed her hand and kissed it.

Before anyone could do anything else, the klaxons blared and the castle shook. Lotor stood up in alarm. He had completely forgotten his father's plans!

"My father! He's sent a robeast - and his fleet to conquer Arus!

Chapter Eight
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