Additional Promises

Allura and Keith sat close on a bench in one of the castle's gardens. The Arusian sky was set ablaze by the setting sun, enriching the area's beauty. Still awed by the beauty of the planet and its ruler, Keith pulled Allura tighter against him.

"You look pretty smug at the moment," Allura remarked, causing Keith to smile.

"Actually I feel very grateful."

"I know the feeling."

"You do?" he asked, grinning.

She smiled back. "Yes, I do."

She met him half-way for a brief kiss. They fell back into easy silence. Keith absently stroked her hair while Allura traced random patterns on his legs.

"Nanny took the news better than what I thought she would," she commented, finally opening the subject Keith had been avoiding for her sake.

"Yeah, she did." He searched for the right words but couldn't find anything. "Have you had any second thoughts?"

"About us?" She was rewarded with a nod.

"No," she said. "Keith, I meant it, being with you means more than Nanny's blessing. Have you had seconds thoughts?"

Her blue eyes searched for an answer.

"No, Allura. I love you. Nothing changes that." He reached out and stroked her cheek. "In fact, I have something to give you, if you will accept it."

Allura studied Keith as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box tied with a blue ribbon. Allura took the box and carefully untied the ribbon. She looked up at Keith's expectant face before she lifted the lid. Inside was a silver ring engraved with intertwining lines.

She looked up at him with the ring still in the box on her lap. "I don't know what to say," she whispered, eyes welling with tears.

"Let me explain," he said, taking her hands in his. "I wouldn't feel right asking you to marry me without both Coran's and Nanny's blessing. But I want to give you a symbol of my love." He removed the ring from the box. "Will you wear it?"

"Of course I will, Keith," she cried, wiping away tears of happiness. "I wish I had something to give you in return."

"Believe me, Allura, you have given me more than I have dreamed of."

Taking the ring, Keith slipped it onto the third finger of her left hand. Next to where her wedding ring would be, he prayed. Raising her hand reverently, he kissed it.

"Wait," she said, reaching under the collar of her shirt. She pulled out a necklace with a small medallion bearing the seal of the royal house of Arus. She put the necklace around his neck, watching the gold gleam in the light of the dying sun.

"Will you wear it as a symbol of my love for you?" she asked.

"Always," he vowed, pulling her towards him for another kiss.


Additional Promises Allura and Keith sat close on a bench in one of the castle's gardens. The Arusian sky was set ablaze by the setting sun, enriching the area's beauty. Still awed by the beauty of the planet and its ruler, Keith pulled Allura tighter against him. "You look pretty smug at the moment," Allura remarked, causing Keith to smile. "Actually I feel very grateful." "I know the feeling." "You do?" he asked, grinning. She smiled back. "Yes, I do." She met him half-way for a brief kiss. They fell back into easy silence. Keith absently stroked her hair while Allura traced random patterns on his legs. "Nanny took the news better than what I thought she would," she commented, finally opening the subject Keith had been avoiding for her sake. "Yeah, she did." He searched for the right words but couldn't find anything. "Have you had any second thoughts?" "About us?" She was rewarded with a nod. "No," she said. "Keith, I meant it, being with you means more than Nanny's blessing. Have you had seconds thoughts?" Her blue eyes searched for an answer. "No, Allura. I love you. Nothing changes that." He reached out and stroked her cheek. "In fact, I have something to give you, if you will accept it." Allura studied Keith as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box tied with a blue ribbon. Allura took the box and carefully untied the ribbon. She looked up at Keith's expectant face before she lifted the lid. Inside was a silver ring engraved with intertwining lines. She looked up at him with the ring still in the box on her lap. "I don't know what to say," she whispered, eyes welling with tears. "Let me explain," he said, taking her hands in his. "I wouldn't feel right asking you to marry me without both Coran's and Nanny's blessing. But I want to give you a symbol of my love." He removed the ring from the box. "Will you wear it?" "Of course I will, Keith," she cried, wiping away tears of happiness. "I wish I had something to give you in return." "Believe me, Allura, you have given me more than I have dreamed of." Taking the ring, Keith slipped it onto the third finger of her left hand. Next to where her wedding ring would be, he prayed. Raising her hand reverently, he kissed it. "Wait," she said, reaching under the collar of her shirt. She pulled out a necklace with a small medallion bearing the seal of the royal house of Arus. She put the necklace around his neck, watching the gold gleam in the light of the dying sun. "Will you wear it as a symbol of my love for you?" she asked. "Always," he vowed, pulling her towards him for another kiss.


Heart of a Lion Sarah's Sanctuary