Don't Ask About My Demons

Familiar

"You came all this way for the Red Paladin. And on your own, too. That was either very brave or very stupid." Krolia said.

Lance shrugged and turned to watch  Keith, who sat against the far wall blinking dazedly in his effort to stay awake. They made brief eye contact. "Yeah, well..." Lance shrugged his shoulders. He didn't know what else to say.

She cocked her head and studied his face. "He is special to you."

Lance wasn't sure if it was meant to be a question or a simple statement. "More than you know," he replied quietly. Lance wasn't sure if he should be this open with a stranger so soon after Hagne--no--Haggar infiltrated the castle. But, somehow, she seemed trustworthy. There was something almost familiar about her but he couldn't quite place it. He knew he never saw her before in his life but maybe, just maybe, he met someone that she reminded him of. He wasn't aware of his staring until she spoke up.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked, staring at him inquisitively.

Lance shook his head. "No, sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. You just look like someone I know... or once knew..." He added as an afterthought.

"Oh." She cocked her head. "Who?"

Lance sighed, leaning back in the pilot's seat to face the stars. "I wish I knew." He straightened up to glance at Keith. "How is he?"

"The bleeding has slowed down tremendously but it hasn't stopped. He needs access to a healing pod as soon as possible," She reported. "I've been checking to make sure that he stays awake in the meantime." She paused before adding, "Falling asleep in his condition could be fatal."

Lance's stomach plummeted. That's what he was afraid of. "We'll be there soon. Keep him awake in the meantime." Lance tried to swallow down the worry and maintain an even tone.

She dipped her head. "I will."

Lance seized her arm as she turned go. "Please," Lance said desperately. "I can't lose him again."

She nodded sympathetically and patted Lance's arm to get him to loosen his grip. "I will try my best."
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"M...my dagger..." Keith mumbled.

The soldier kneeled by Keith's side. "Here." Krolia handed the dagger over to Keith after wiping the remainder of the blood off on access scraps of gauze.

"Thank you." Keith sighed in relief, grasping it firmly in his right hand without showing any sign of ever letting go.

"Do you know the significance of the knife you carry?" Krolia asked.

Keith looked down to examine the blade in his hand. "I know that it was my mothers... before she disappeared."

Yes... yes it was," Cahira breathed. Her fingers subconsciously brushed against the empty sheath at her belt. "You said your mother disappeared... what about your father?" She said slowly.

"He... well... I'm still trying to figure that out."

Krolia closed her eyes and inhaled a shaky breath. She frowned. Stars, without a father, too. She raised her hand to Keith's face but, thinking better of it, allowed her hand to fall. Her gaze dropped to the floor as she shifted to sit beside him. "You've been through so much. A life that no child should ever have to endure. You were alone for so long."

"It doesn't matter anymore," Keith replied weakly. "It's in the past. No use dwelling on it. Not now."

Krolia's gaze drifted to Keith. "Surely, you must hate them? They weren't there when you needed them most. Especially your mother."

Keith sighed. "What's the use being angry?" He replied, toying with the frayed edges of the blanket. "It wasn't my mom's fault she disappeared..." Keith groaned in pain.

"You need to keep your leg elevated. Here," Krolia helped him lift his leg up to rest on top of the first aid kit and tucked the blanket under his knee to keep it elevated.

Keith winced at first then sighed. "Thanks..." He hesitated. "My dad and I accepted the fact that she may have died a long time ago." He paused to frown as if reaching a painful memory. "I don't blame my dad for trying to fight back. It all makes so much sense now... Why that man wanted to take me away when I was young. Why my dad told me to hide. Why we moved to that shack in the desert. We were running. From what, he never said. I guess he didn't want me to be afraid. He fought for so long to keep me." Keith paused to meet her gaze. "I'm sorry. You probably didn't care to hear all of that.

"It's all right," Krolia said, wiping her eyes. She wanted nothing more than to hug him. To tell him that his parents weren't gone, that his mother was alive and well. I'm right here, Krolia screamed in her thoughts. Stars, I'm right here! My son, my strong little warrior... I'm here.

Keith's eyes drooped. "My head feels... funny. And not a good kind of funny... like... a really bad kind of funny."

"You've lost a lot of blood, little one. I think you overexerted yourself a bit when you told me your story."

"Water?"

"Yes, of course." Krolia's eyes scanned the cockpit before zeroing in on the emergency supplies. She returned with a tin of water. "Here," she said. Handing the cup over to the injured paladin.

"Thanks," Keith responded before downing the liquid in mere tics. Water dripped from the corners of his lips and soaked into his shirt. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"You know, the water is supposed to go in your mouth."  Krolia mused.

Keith looked down at the mess he made. "What, Really?" He replied with a weak laugh. "I had absolutely no idea how to drink water before now."

Krolia chuckled.

"Good news!" Lance cut in. "I can see the castle now! We'll be there soon!"