Story bits

Allura POV

I summoned many men from across the kingdoms, calling for all their best knights and men. On the sixth day after my summoning, the first of the armies arrived. "Greetings princess. I am Iverson of the Terra Kingdom. This is my right hand and nephew, along with heir to the throne, James." The man said. He was of a stocky build, with a small black beard. Not a warrior. Maybe in moons past, but not now. 

The man besides him though, he, he was a warrior. Even in his  armor, I could see the muscle and strength. Brown hairs smooth and silky. He had a strong jaw, and unnerving eyes. In the few seconds I looked at them, they changed colors. Blue-gray, blue-green, gray, light blue, violet. He would surely be the talk of the palace for many days come. "Your majesty. It is an honor." He said, bowing gracefully. He had a beautiful voice, smooth and calm, like a stream before the winter frost. I nodded in approval. Well mannered and good looking. He'd be a wonderful general and king.

The doors banged open, and new arrivals came in. "The King, Queen and Prince of Marmora." The herald announced. They were a very handsome family. 

The king was tall, and stoic looking. Strong jaw and flowing pearly hair, braided behind him. A scar ran down his face, over his eye. The woman was beautiful, but in a natural way, unlike the ladies in my court. Short, dark hair, and dark purple eyes, war paint on her face, a pointed jaw, and strong arms. 

The Marmorans let all their people fight, I remembered. If you were able bodied and a citizen, you were eligible for service. They had no cast system, no extreme hierarchy. You make your way where you were by your own merits. Their prince was beautiful as well. He had a feminine like shape, with prominent hips. He too had much muscle, longish raven black hair, and unerring eyes as well, like James. His were the same color always, but they shifted between shades of purple and violet, never staying the same for more than a few seconds. 

"Your majesty." The king said. "I am Kolivan, King of Marmora. This is my wife-" "Krolia." She interrupted. "Queen of Marmora. This is my son, from another man, Keith, prince of Marmora." The prince said nothing but bowed respectfully. He glanced to the side, and his eyes narrowed when he saw Iverson. "Your majestys. Nice to see you again." James said, stepping forward, hand out. Kolivan shook it, a smile on his face. "Hello Prince James. How nice to see you." "I'll have to admit, I didn't think Terra would get involved in this war." Kolia said. "Things change." Iverson said bitterly. "But we're glad to ally with Altea and Marmora."

Keith still hadn't said anything, and was staring at James. He looked up and smiled, taking Keith hand and bringing it to his lips, placing a kiss on it. "Hello my prince. How I have missed you." He said playfully, no longer serious. "Do not tease me James." Keith demanded. His voice was almost melodious, like a running river. "I would never dream of it." James said, holding Keith's hand in both of his. Keith continued staring him down. "You're not going to kill each other, are you?" I asked, rising and going over to them. I couldn't have my knights at each other's throats.

The boys exchanged a look and laughed. "Why would I kill my betrothed?" James asked. Keith pulled his glove off and showed his hand. On it was a silver band, with a dark gem.

Like both of their eyes, it seemed to change colors in the light. I approached him and gestured towards his hand. "May I?" Keith held his hand out so I could examine the ring.

The gem did change color. Black, red, purples. Immaculately carved, smooth, with an interesting design on the top. "Oh my. Its exquisite. How?" I asked. It was beautiful in every way. 

"It wasn't easy. My friend Ina found the cave, and I spent a few hours a week looking for the perfect gem. Then Katie made it, smoothing the stone. I had to carve the symbol into the top, and we melted part of a Terran sword for the silver." James answered. "I obviously couldn't say no. It was too beautiful." Keith said, retracting his hand. "And so are you." James said with a smile. "James, your gay is showing." A voice said. 

"The Holts have arrived." The herald said. "Katie! Wonderful to see you!" Krolia said. The girl smiled. She had short brown hair, and intelligent brown eyes, and light skin. "And you Krolia. Kolivan." She nodded to him, and he nodded back. "This is the one who helped with the ring?" I asked. I knew Katie, and she didn't strike me as the kind of person to make jewelry. "Allura! How are you? With all..." she trailed off, waving her hand around. "I've been better." I answered. Having my parents killed wasn't the best thing that ever happened to me.

"Prince Lancelot has arrived!" The herald said. "Prince Tsuyoshi has arrived!" "Hunk! Lance!" I said, going over. "Allura!" Hunk said, hugging me. "Helllo your majesty. You look as ravishing as ever." Lance said with a wink. I sighed. "Really Lancelot, now?" He smiled. "Just saying the truth." 

"Allura, the chefs have finished the feast. It is ready for you all." Coran said, coming in. "Coran!" Lance exclaimed. "Lance my boy! So good to see you." Corna said, giving him a warm smile. "Katie, Hunk, Keith, Krolia, Kolivan, Iverson." He looked at James. "I'm sorry, I don't know who you are my boy." James smiled and extended his hand. "That quite alright. I'm James." Coran shook his hand. "Ohh! That's right. Prince of Terra, correct?" James nodded. "Now I know who everyone is! Fantastic! Now, if you'll all follow me, we can begin our feats. Your companions are already there."

We followed him out, James and Keith grasping each other's hands. "Companions? James, did you bring Veronica with you?" Lance asked. "Yes. She's with the girls and Ryan. And before you ask, she's safe. She can handle a sword quite well, and is near Kaite in intelligence. You don't need to worry about her." James assured, and Lance nodded. We arrived at the Great Hall, and Coran threw open the doors. The princes stared at it in awe. 

There were gigantic windows on all sides, and one above the far wall that was a stained glass picture of an Altean Juniberry. "It's magnificent." Krolia said. 

We filed in and were seated. Me at the head, Iverson, James, Keith, Krolia and Kolivan on one side, Coran, Katie, Hunk and Lance on the other.

The servants brought plates in,  the first filled with salad and vegetables, the second with meats and potatoes. We made light conversation, catching up on each others lives. "Where are Shiro and Adam?" Katie asked. 

At that moment the herald came in, leading someone else. "King Shirogane has arrived." Shiro walked in and the others gasped. 

He had a new scar across the bridge of his nose, (which went well with his missing arm) and a frown on his face. "My apologies. I did not mean to be so late." He said, going to sit next to Lance. "Shrio? Where is Adam?" Keith asked. He sighed. "Galran assassins made an attempt at our lives a week ago. I was ensuring his safety. I don't want him to be harmed." "They're targeting the kings and queens." Hunk muttered. "Don't worry, once we heard the news we sent Marmoran soldiers to all of your kingdoms. Your parents are safe." Kolivan said. "Speaking of which, where are yours James? I would think Christopher and Erin would be here." Krolia asked. James diverted his eyes downward, and Iverson sighed.

"The Marmoran soldiers you sent are too late. They were slain by assassins two moons ago." A gasp went up around the table, and James's grip on his dinner knife tightened. "What? What about-" Hunk started. "They killed Cameron too." Iverson answered. 

James threw his knife into the center of the table and stood, shoving his chair and storming out of the hall. Keith watched him go, but didn't follow.  "How?" Lance asked. "Princess, do you have a seeing eye ball?" Iverson asked. I nodded and motioned for a servant to retrieve it. 

Magic was not a rare skill in our kingdom. In the northern countries it was rare, but many people here knew it. Healing was a common skill, along with household magic, like how to clean or cook. Some warriors learned combat magic, and some of the elders could see small bits of the future. We had crystal balls that were enchanted to let you see someones memories.

The servant brought it and Iverson placed his hand on it. "Mind you, what you see is what I saw when we had the prince do this." It glowed, and images danced across the wall. 

There was a door, you could see it through bedcovers, the kind on a big bed that you use for privacy. The person we were seeing it through moved, and someone knocked down the door. They were in all black, with the Galra insignia on their chest. Three more followed them, and James stood. Metal was heard, and we saw a sword blade. Then they attacked. James fought them like a demon,  sword slashing and people falling. One ran out, and James followed him. They passed a mirror and we saw a glimpse of James. He was shirtless and had cuts all over his body and arms. 

He chased the assailant through the halls and towards another room. This one had similar doors, but with small gold designs on it. The man ran in and James followed, but he stopped in the doorway. Inside, there were 10 more assassins, along with three bodies. 

One was a young girl, with light brown hair and emerald green eyes, in a light pink nightgown. Next to her were a man and women, with the same hair. The woman also had green eyes, but the man had gray ones. They had matching blue and green night clothes, and were holding each others hands. 

One of the assassins laughed.  "You're too late little prince. Your family is dead. And soon, so will your lover. Marmora is next. I wonder, will my blade slit his throat as quickly as it slit hers?" He goaded, pointing at the little girl with his sword. 

James roared, loud and clear and charged them. Metal clashed, and the view tinted red, and faded to black. Next, James was kneeling with the little girl's head in his lap, brushing her hair our of her face. No tears fell, but his sword glistened on the ground off to the side, covered in blood. 

"This is when I found him." Iverson said, and the view shifted.

James was kneeling, pools of blood aroind him. Iverson approached him, kneeling beside him. "Send word to Krolia. Make sure Keith is safe." James said monotonously. "But James, your-" "I said make sure Keith is safe. That is an order from your prince." James snapped, glaring at his uncle.

Even with pain in his eyes they were still beautiful.  "I have lost my family today. I will not lose my beloved." He said strongly, looking back at his sister. "Why uncle? Why her? She's not even old enough to ride." He said, brushing the little girl's hair. "I do not know.  But there is much to be done. We must alert the other kingdoms." "No. That will only hasten their plans. Then we will all be dead, me and me beloved both. Have the mages preserve them. No one is to know outside of the kingdom." "But James..." Iverson trailed off. "You did not hear what they said uncle. If we tell, they will kill them all. We must not." "If this leads to other deaths-" "It will lead to more if we tell. The time will come for this news to be brought forward. Until then, this stays between us and our countrymen." Iverson hesitated, but nodded, leaving the room.

The image faded out, and Iverson removed his hand from the ball.

"You knew? You knew all this time, and you didn't tell anyone?" I hissed, rising. "This information could have prevented my parents deaths!" 

"And now that you know, it will cause your own." A voice said. A dozen figures fell from the ceiling and landed on the table. Each were clad in black, the Galra Crest on their chests. "You were not supposed to know. Now you do. And you shall pay for your newfound knowledge with your lives." Another said. They all drew swords as the Marmorans and Shiro reached for their own. "I wouldn't do that your majestys. We have something else you value." Another said. Coran came back into the room, a sword point on his back. "I'm sorry princess, I didn't see them." He said. "Now, I believe it's time we had a little chat. My blade and your throat." One said, pointg his sword towards me. Suddenly, a knife point appeared in his chest. "I'd back away now, if you know what's good for you." James said, standing in the doorway. Gone was the kind glint in his eye, replaced with a stone cold glare. His sword was drawn, held at the ready. "Ah, the prince of Terra. They missed him. You killed my brother." An assassin said, approaching him. "I'll kill you as well if you do not leave." James responded, raising his sword. "Wrong young prince. It is you who shall die." He declared, then he attacked. Him and two others took to fighting James, and the Marmorans drew their swords. Swords clashed, and cries rang out. More assassins appeared, and more fighting ensued. Kolivan and Krolia fought side by side, taking down the larger of them. Lance defended himself and Katie, Shiro defended Hunk, and Iverson attacked the one holding Coran with a dinner knife. James fought greatly, taking down many of them, or leaving them immobile. Kolivan and Krolia came to my side. "Come princess, we must leave. It's not safe." I nodded and they began to lead me towards the doorway, blocking the occasional attack.  "Your left!" Lance shouted, and I saw Keith turn, getting a sword to the face and falling. The perpetrator of the wound fell almost right after, blade coming out of his midsection. He fell to the ground, and James smiled and extended a hand to Keith. "Come now beloved, can't be hurting ourselves can we?" Keith yanked him forward and stabbed the person behind him. "No love, we cannot." I looked around and saw that all the assassins were either dead or wounded. "Your face." James said, stroking Keith's cheek gently. "Will be fine. Nothing the mages can't heal. Your arm." "Nothing the mages can't heal." James said with a smile. More people in Terran colors came in. "We just saw Galrans leaving. What happened?" One asked. She had dark hair and olive skin, with bright green eyes. "Assassins Nadia. Heal the wounded and take them to the high mages for questioning. But let them pay their respects first. Then send the bodies to the border for their kinsmen to collect." James ordered. She nodded and motioned for

The Alteans and Terrans were surrounded. Just when it seemed like all was lost, a cry went up from the left flank. A white stallion came to the ridge of hill, flanked on both sides by soliders. The man atop the house removed his helmet and threw it to the ground, then raised his sword. Silence fell on the battlefield. He surveyed the field, his eyes resting on the Prince of Marmora and his allies. He smiled, and a gasp went up from the Terrans. "Its the prince!"  Someone exclaimed. James smiled devilishly and put his sword forward, spurring his horse and letting out a battle cry. His forces echoed it, and they ran into battle. The Terrans echoed it and fought with renewed energy. Their prince was back. James and his forces swept through the battlefield, taking out anyone in their way. Slahmshing and slicing, blocking  blows only to deliver his own.

James made his way to the center, dismounting riders and swinging his soldiers onto their horses, fighting like a true warrior, blessed by the gods. The Galrans retreated hastily, leaving half of their forces dead or wounded on the field. 

But James didn't stop riding. He made his way to Keith, and they both dismounted their horses. Keith ran towards him and jumped into his arms. James swirled him around in a hug, setting him down and pulling him into a blistering kiss. They both pulled away and smiled. "You're back." Keith said, cupping his face. "Of course. It takes more than that to get rid of me." James said with a smile. Keith smiled and pulled him in again, hands threading through his lover's hair as James wrapped an arm around his waist. "Ahem." A solider said, stepping forward. She was small figured, but built, much like Krolia or Allura. James broke away from Keith. "Of course. Gentlemen, this is Axca, Ezor, and Zethrid. They helped me in my escape. I owe them my life."