Lost Souls
by Karen
pt. 2

      It was late in the evening when the party finally broke up.  Coba 
had rooms made up for those who wished to stay and return home in the 
morning. 
     Sven and Romelle sat on the balcony ledge of her room.  It 
overlooked the palace gardens.  One of the reasons Romelle loved it so.
     "I wish you could have known my mother, Sven.  She would have 
approved of you.  She was a beautiful woman, in so many ways.  I miss 
her sometimes."
     "I miss my mother too, sometimes.  She died when I was quite young. 
 My father raised me.  He wasn't exactly the perfect role model.  I 
don't know how my mother put up with him as long as she did.  He was 
such a jackass."
     "Were they married a bit before you were born?"
     "About four years.  They didn't want children right away.  They both had 
new jobs they were starting and didn't want to take time off until they 
were well into it.  They thought it would be like going to the boss and 
saying, 'Hi, I just started today, can I take a month off for vacation, 
I'm having a baby?'"
     "I can see that."
     "They started trying a couple of years later.  Mom had a difficult time 
getting pregnant; they tried everything they could think of.  Dad drank 
and smoked a lot, they thought that was the problem because a couple of 
months after he quit she got pregnant.  It didn't last, as soon as he 
knew she was pregnant he started in again."
     "I hope I don't have a lot of trouble getting pregnant."
     "You shouldn't.  I don't drink, I don't smoke and my last health check 
up showed that I'm in good health.  My wounds have completely healed."
     Romelle hugged and kissed Sven.
     "If you're not worried about it than I'm not either.  I'm sure 
everything will work out fine."
     Sven smiled as he kissed her back, a twang of guilt struck him 
hard, he knew she was all ready pregnant but couldn't tell her.  Not 
just yet.  The time wasn't right yet.
     "You had better get some rest, it's been a long evening.  I think I 
could use some myself."
     "Yes.  See you in the morning.  We can start planning the wedding."
     "Of course." Sven gave Romelle a quick kiss as he left. 

     As Sven closed Romelle's door he came face to face with Coba.
     "Ah, Sven, is my daughter still awake?"
     "Yes sir."
     "Good, good." Nodding to Sven's slight bow.
Sven smiled and started walking down the hall.  He couldn't help but 
chuckle to himself; he knew why Coba was there so late.  He wanted to 
give Romelle the happy marriage/sex talk before she got married and 
jumped in the sack.
     'Oh Coba, if you only knew.' Sven thought as he went into his room, 
got ready for bed and was asleep before his head hit the pillow.

     King Coba cleared his throat and lightly knocked on Romelle's door.
     "Come in." Coba went in and closed it softly behind him.
     "Romelle?"
     Romelle came in from the balcony and hugged him.
     "Oh Father, that was a wonderful thing you did for Sven."
     "I know he loves you very much.  He deserves the honor of your 
hand, he has saved this planet from Doom and he has saved your life."
     "I love him, Father.  I love him with all my heart and I know he 
loves me in the same way."
     "Yes, the more I look at him the more he looks the way I did when I 
looked at your mother.  When I first thought about you looking for 
suitors when the time come I thought only the best would be good for 
you.  I never imagined that you could find love with someone so plain 
and simple."
     "It's not the amount of money I look for, Father, or even care 
about.  What I look for is how is he going to treat me?  Will he love 
me; will he be kind and gentle?  I don't care about wealth and power, I 
just want someone to love me and Sven is doing that."
     "Yes, he is.  And he's doing it very well.  I wasn't sure I could 
trust him at first; after all we've gone through.  But now, after all I 
heard about what he went through and managed to keep his sanity, I see 
he is the right one for you.  I only wish you the best, Romelle.  I just 
wish your mother were still alive.  I know she would have approved."
     Romelle couldn't help but smile.
     "Yes, then she would have to give me the 'happy honeymoon' lecture 
instead of you."
     Coba frowned, his voice serious.
     "I don't want him to hurt you that way, Romelle.  I don't want you to 
feel that you have to do something that you don't want to do.
     "If you're put in that position, walk away.  Don't be forced into 
something that will hurt you or make you feel uncomfortable.  Don't let 
him hurt you that way."
     Romelle hugged her father and gave him a peck on the cheek.
     "I won't, Father.  I'll be careful.  And I know Mom would approve.  
She always wanted us to be happy, and I am.  I couldn't be happier."
     Coba smiled.
     "Plan your wedding and don't hold back.  Whatever you want, name it.  
I'll see you have it."
     "I have everything I could want in the room down the hall.  He's 
everything I'll ever need."
     Coba gave Romelle a small kiss then turned to leave.
"Get some rest."
     "I will."
     Coba left; satisfied that everything would turn out right from now on.  
Doom had been defeated and his daughter was getting married.  If there 
was anything more perfect he didn't know what it was.

     The next morning found Sven and Romelle out in the garden planning 
their wedding.  Sven had a clipboard and was busy taking notes as 
Romelle talked.  He had to get it all down; there was more to a wedding 
than he thought there was.  More work than he had bargained for.
     Romelle turned her head to look at him.
"You get all that?"
     "Yeah, I think so," he looked up, "there's so much to do."
 "It'll all get done.  Don't worry; the two of us won't be doing it all. 
 The cooks have offered to make the food.  Bandor was desperate to help 
so I've put him in charge of the guest list.  I gave him a list of who 
to invite and he's sending out invitations and he'll receive them when 
they come in.
     "I have the maids to help me with most of the stuff.  It'll all be 
taken care of, don't worry.  Have you contacted the Voltron Force?  I 
told Bandor not to, I thought you would like to do that personally."
     "Yes, I contacted them early this morning.  I wanted Lance as my 
best man.  He's helped me out so much, I couldn't leave him out."
     Romelle smiled.
     "Just make sure he's dressed in his finest.  I don't think that jacket 
and those pants he wears would go over too well at something as formal 
as this is going to be."
     "I've all ready talked to him about that.  There was a lot of 
whining but I convinced him."
     "Physically or were you polite?"
     "I was polite but I did threaten to get physical," a twinkle lit up 
Sven's eyes, "he'll do as I say.  I know he wants this to go without a 
hitch as much as we do."
     Romelle, suddenly, went over to a stone bench and sat down.  Sven 
sat down beside her.
     "Romelle, what is it?"
     "I don't know.  I got right hot, like you do when you feel that you're 
either going to faint or throw up."
     "Do you want to go and lay down and rest for awhile?"
"Yes, I think I had better."
     Sven took Romelle back to her room and helped her to lie on the 
bed.
     "You're probably just overly tired.  You've been pushing yourself 
extra hard over the last few days planning this wedding and making sure 
everything is exactly where it should be."
     Romelle smiled as she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.  
Sven quickly left.
     He went to his room and looked out the window.  That confirmed it, 
she was definitely pregnant.  Her child was growing inside her and he 
was no longer in a position to help Richard.
     That would have to wait until the wedding night, there was still 
time and Richard was safe in Sven's mind until that time.
     Sven went over to his bed and lay down.  He would be glad when this 
wedding was through.  That way everything would be legit and Richard 
would be safe.  He would wait a bit, convince Romelle to see a doctor 
who would tell her she was pregnant then the pressure would be off.  
Things would be normal.  Coba would have an heir, they would have a son 
and Richard would live again.  Things would be normal.
     Sven arched an eyebrow. Would they?  He sure hoped so; he was 
getting pretty tired of strange things.  He had to talk to someone.  He 
went down to the communications room and contacted Planet Arus.  It 
would be night there as well but someone would be up.
     It was Lance who answered his hail.
     "Hey Sven, what can I do for you?  That was pretty lucky, snagging a 
princess like that.  I didn't think you had it in you."
     "Lance, please, I called because I needed someone to talk with."
     "Hey, I can be serious.  What's on your mind?"
     "I'm not sure I'm ready for this.  So much has happened so fast.  What 
if, in a couple of years, we stop loving each other?  What if what we're 
feeling right now for each other is just fascination because we saved 
each others lives?"
     "That's the risk you have to take with love.  There are no 
guarantees in that game.  Trust me, I know.  If you decide you're no 
longer in love a few years down the road, then you're not.  But I think 
you'll still love her.
     "You've just got a case of pre wedding jitters.  Usually it's the 
bride that gets them but men can have them too."
     "Were you ever married, Lance?"
     "I had thought about it once.  Thought she was the one for me.  We had 
dated a couple of years, dated no one else.  We were even having sex.  
Then one night, a few weeks after we had set the date, she came to me 
and told me she didn't love me anymore.
     "I've never gotten that close to anyone else since.  I just go for 
the sex now.  If I couldn't have sex I'd die.  You'll love it."
     "I've had sex before, Lance." Sven snapped, not really meaning to.
     "Yourself don't count." Lance smiled.
     Sven smiled back.
     "You're a sick puppy, you know that, don't you?"
     "Yes, and proud of it.  But that's nothing.  You want to know a little 
secret?  I saw Keith sneaking into Allura's bedroom last night after 
lights out."
     Sven arched an eyebrow.
     "If he got caught, I can't even begin to imagine the kind of fate he 
would suffer."
     "I have a feeling, though, that one of these nights they are going 
to King Alfor's tomb and get his opinion of the situation.  Get him to 
make Keith an officer of the court like Coba did for you.  That way he 
can court Allura and Nanny can't say a thing about it."
     Sven had to laugh.  Lance was right about that.  Nanny was always 
trying to find the perfect prince for Allura.  However, Keith and Allura 
had different plans in mind.
     Lance stifled a yawn.
     "So, other than bugging me with trifles this late at night, how have 
things been?"
     "Better.  I think I've got my head screwed on straight.  Going to 
earth on that little vacation was the best thing I could ever have done. 
 I'll admit I had to have my arm-twisted but it worked out for the best. 
 I had such an amazing little adventure."
     "Care to share or is it so good that you have to keep it to 
yourself."
     "I met a ghost.  He was haunting that cabin that Keith let us 
borrow.  He had been murdered but couldn't rest until his killers were 
found and brought to justice.
     "It took a lot of research and Romelle was getting pretty pissed 
off at me in the end but I found out who they were.  The only problem 
was they were long since dead so I took the files to the authorities; 
they made a new case of it then closed it.  Murder solved.
     "With that in mind he could go to his peace.  It was freaky." Sven 
swallowed hard, his eyes flickering back and forth.  He hated to lie to 
Lance but to try and tell him the truth, Lance would never believe him.  
Lance believed in ghosts and the supernatural but that belief only went 
so far.
     "Lucky stiff.  The only ghost I have ever seen was King Alfor and I 
damn near shit my pants when I met him.  I don't know what I'd do if I 
met a ghost like that."
     "Probably shit bricks.  Look, I think I'll go turn in.  I'm getting 
sleepy.  I'll call again when I can and I'll see you at the wedding."
     "We wouldn't miss it for the world.  Even Nanny and Coran are 
considering coming.  Take care, Sven, and don't let it get to you.  She 
loves you and that's all that should matter." Lance signed off.
     Sven signed off then went back to his room.  That chat had helped 
but, yet, he still had some doubts.  He stripped out of his clothes then 
crawled into bed.  He lay there staring at the ceiling.  As he drifted 
off to sleep he started to dream....

     Sven stood, in his wedding suit, in the middle of a flowery field.  
The field was full of daisy like flowers and with his white wedding 
suit; he seemed to blend right in.  The field was huge and Sven could 
see for miles around him.  No one was to be seen anywhere.
     Suddenly, Romelle stood in front of him.  She was dressed in her 
royal wedding dress, full, white and complete with a veil that covered 
her face so that he couldn't see it.
      Sven looked around him and, suddenly, the field was full of people 
laughing and rejoicing.  Then the sky started to grow dark and the ships 
of Doom loomed overhead.
     "No, please," Sven whispered, fear griping him like nothing he had 
ever felt before, "No, don't do this.  Go away, we defeated you." He 
screamed at the top of his lungs, "Go away! This is my wedding day!  You 
can't do this!"
     Laser fire started to pour from the sky.  Sven grabbed Romelle and 
tried to drag her away but she wouldn't move.
      "Romelle, please, we've got to go now." Sven pleaded.
     "You forgot to give your bride a kiss." Romelle lifted her veil and 
threw it backwards.
     Sven stared, horrified.  Her face was completely gone, leaving only 
a bloody skull.  Sven was sure he could see it grinning.
     "Come to me, Sven.  I want a kiss." She grabbed him but he managed 
to break free and stagger away.
     A short distance away Sven dropped to his knees and vomited.  He 
had seen a lot of gruesome stuff in his time but that had been a real 
chart topper.  As he looked around the field the people of Pollux were 
coming toward him.
     They were moaning in pain and pleading for Sven to help them.  They 
looked like they had been dead for a long time.  Bile, again, rose in 
his throat and he didn't fight the urge.  He vomited until there was 
nothing left but dry heaves.
     By that time the corpses had surrounded him in a tight circle.  
Romelle was standing in front of him.
Suddenly, Romelle jumped on him and all the corpses started to fall on 
top of her covering Sven, smothering him.
     Sven couldn't breathe; panic welled up in his throat.  He tried to 
scream but nothing came out.  He felt like he was going to die.  When, 
at last, he felt he could get his voice back he started to scream and 
didn't stop.

     When Sven opened his eyes he felt something over his face.  His 
hands flew up and tried to pull off whatever it was that was there.  
Gentle hands took his and moved them away.
     When his eyes focused he was looking into the worried face of 
Romelle.  He shifted his gaze around; he was in the castle sickbay.  
What had happened?
     Romelle gripped his hands tightly.
"You're okay now.  You're going to be fine.  You had us worried there 
for a moment.  Don't try to talk, just breathe.  You're on an oxygen 
mask.
     "It's a good thing Bandor was walking by your room and heard you 
screaming.  He went in and said you were on the floor, flailing and 
screaming for mercy.
     "By the time the doctors got to you, you were unconscious from lack 
of oxygen.  What happened?"
      Tears streaked Sven's face; he loved her too much to tell him 
about his gruesome nightmare and what she had looked like.  He knew why 
he had had it too; he was overly tired and overly stressed.  Plus, with 
the worry of Richard and what was going to happen to him was taking its 
toll on his mind.  He was too afraid that if things didn't settle down 
soon he was going to have more than just nightmares.  He would lose his 
mind.
     "A bad dream." He whispered.
"Must have been one hell of a bad dream," Sven could hear Bandor's voice 
from somewhere behind him, "when I went into your room you were on the 
floor practically in convulsions.  I didn't know what was wrong so I 
called the medics."
     "It was horrible.  I dreamed that the forces of Doom had come back 
and were trying to take over the planet.  They were killing people with 
laser blasts.  Bodies surrounded me and I couldn't do anything.
     "The people were all dead, just as soon as I got to them they died. 
 They were all staring at me as if I was the one who killed them."
     Romelle's voice was soothing.
     "The forces of Doom are no longer.  It was just a dream, nothing more.  
You were, probably, overly tired when you went to bed and the stress of 
everything just got to you."
     Sven closed his eyes, he felt so exhausted.  The dream hadn't just 
drained him mentally; it had drained him physically.  The doctor's was 
the voice Sven heard next.
     "I'm going to give you a sedative, Sven.  It should help you sleep 
the rest of the night.  Don't be surprised if you sleep well into the 
morning."
     Sven felt the sting and prick of a needle in his arm and quickly 
went back to sleep.

     The doctor laid the syringe down and looked at Sven, who seemed to 
be sleeping peacefully.
     "I don't know how vivid that dream was but it was vivid enough to 
send his body into a frenzy.  He came very close to cardiac arrest."
     Romelle's eyes widened in horror.
     "I didn't think dreams could be that real."
     "Unfortunately they can." The doctor looked grim for a moment, 
"he'll sleep but he should take it easy for a while.  That vacation may 
have done him good but this wedding may push him back over the edge."
     "What should I do?"
     "Give him something easy and relaxing to do.  Have him pick out a place 
to go for your honeymoon.  Somewhere relaxing and peaceful, away from 
everything."
     "I'll do that.  I don't want to lose him, not after all he's been through."

     When Sven opened his eyes it was late that morning.  Romelle was 
leaning over him, smiling.
     "How're you feeling?"
     "A little groggy."
     "That's because of the drugs.  It'll wear off once you get up and 
moving.  I've got something special planned for you today."
     "And what would that be?"
     "You're going to plan our honeymoon.  It'll be your job to find 
someplace quiet and relaxing far away from here."
     "That I can do." Sven sat up slowly letting the blanket fall off 
his chest.  Romelle smiled as he, quickly, wrapped it around himself.  
She went over to a chair and picked up some fresh clothes.
     "I went to your room this morning and got you some clothes.  I 
didn't realize you slept naked."
     "I normally don't.  It was just so hot last night.  I thought I 
would feel like a roasted duck by morning." He took the clothes and 
looked around for anyone else.  When he saw no one he, quickly, got 
dressed.
     "I will find us the best vacation spot you can imagine.  How long 
do you want to go for?  I'll even make reservations but to where will be 
the secret." A glint of mischievousness lit up Sven's eyes.
     Romelle gave Sven a light peck on the cheek.
     "You go do that while I take care of the rest of the details."
     Sven gave Romelle a nibble on the neck before she left.  He, then, 
went back to his room to freshen up.
     "I'll give Romelle the best honeymoon there ever was.  It'll be so 
good she'll never know what hit her."

     Several days passed as Sven planned the honeymoon and Romelle 
finished planning the wedding.  They didn't see much of each other 
during the days but managed to spend a little time at nights, together, 
just talking.
     Before they knew it, the day of the wedding arrived.  They had 
decided to hold it in the great banquet hall, and then have the 
reception outside.  It was a hot day and they knew that the castle would 
be too hot for most of their guests before the morning was out.
     Sven stood at the altar and took a deep breath.  He felt faint.  He 
had believed himself to be a confirmed bachelor and thought he would 
always be that way especially with a career in Galaxy Garrison.
     Lance, who was Sven's best man and dressed to perfection, laid a 
hand on his best friend's shoulder.
     "Hey, relax.  Everything'll be just fine.  You love her and she 
loves you.  That's all that matters.  Remember that."
     "I know.  It's just that I keep thinking about that dream I had.  
Bandor has a big mouth sometimes and he told me he heard the doctor say 
it was strong enough to damn near give me cardiac arrest. What kind of dream 
is that?  A premonition, or what? I dreamed the planet was dead, killed by 
Doom on our wedding day.  I'm wearing the exact suit.  If Romelle is wearing 
that dress I'm leaving.
     "I didn't explain the dream in depth to anyone, especially to her.  
She was dead, Lance, dead in her wedding dress."
     At that moment the Holy Man entered the room and everyone stood.  
He came to the front and turned around to face the way he had come in.
     "We are now ready to proceed." Music started to drift into the room 
for out of nowhere.  The huge double doors to the banquet hall opened 
and Keith came in with Allura on his arm.  Keith was dressed in a fine 
tuxedo and Allura was in a lovely white dress.  Next came Nanny and 
Coran both dressed in the Royal style of Arus.  Hunk and Pidge came 
next, dressed in their best, with two friends that Romelle had asked to 
be in the procession.
     After all of the others had reached the front of the room, Romelle 
came in.  She was on her father's arm and Bandor stood in front of them. 
 He was dressed in his best as was their father but as they started 
walking; all eyes were on Romelle.
      She was in a long flowing white gown, the bodice was tight but the 
skirts billowed out and trailed behind her for, at least, ten feet.  Her 
hair was piled high on her head and her veil was woven into it.  It hung 
down her back to the floor and covered her face to rest softly on her 
chest.
     She smiled as Coba offered her arm to Sven who took it.  Coba and 
Bandor moved off to the side as Romelle and Sven stood in front of the 
Holy Man.
     "The union of a man and woman is scared.  The love that they share has 
no boundaries.  When they come together in union their souls are linked 
for eternity.  The union of marriage should not be entered into lightly.
     "In my travels I have not seen a couple that is better suited to be 
together as these two and should not be separated under any 
circumstances.
     "On this blessed day of union let us rejoice that the Royal House 
of Pollux will continue with the love of this young couple.
     "Sven-Patrick, do you solemnly swear to take this Princess 
Romelle-Mayella as your wife?  To keep her safe and cherish her though 
out eternity?  To love her and honour her in the ways of the Old World?"
     "I do."
     "Then place the ring on her finger."
     Sven looked to Lance who dug into his pocket.  He brought out a 
small gold ring embedded with a ring of small diamonds except one that 
was a pale rose color.  It had been Romelle's mother's wedding ring; 
the rose color was the color of the month of her birth.  Coba had 
insisted that Romelle wear it and Romelle was honored.
     Lance handed the ring to Sven who slowly slid it on Romelle's finger.  
Romelle held her hand before the Holy Man who laid his hand over hers.
     "May this ring be blessed and a symbol of your undying love and 
commitment to each other."
     The Holy Man removed his hand and turned to Romelle.
     "Romelle-Mayella, do you solemnly swear to take Sven-Patrick as your 
husband and prince.  To keep him safe and cherish him throughout 
eternity?  To love him and honor him in the ways of the Old World?"
     "I do."
     "Then place the ring on his finger."
     Romelle shifted her gaze over to Allura who brought out a solid 
gold ring from the folds of her dress.  She quickly handed it to 
Romelle.
     Romelle slid the ring on his finger and, as Romelle had done, held 
his hand before the Holy Man.
     "May this ring be blessed and be a symbol of your undying love and 
commitment to each other." He briefly touched Sven's hand.
     "Kneel before me, Sven-Patrick." Sven quickly obeyed.  The Holy Man 
turned away for a minute then turned back with a long sword in his hand. 
 He sprinkled Holy Water over it then lightly touched each of Sven's 
shoulders then laid the blade flat on Sven's head.  He held it there for 
a few seconds then handed it back to the altar boy behind him.
     "Arise Sven-Patrick, you are now a member of the Royal Court.  You 
are now Prince and Princess of the Royal House of Pollux and I, now, 
announce you husband and wife.  You may, now, seal the union with a 
kiss."
     Sven stood up and looked at Romelle, she was smiling brightly.  He 
lifted her veil and kissed her deeply.
     The congregation started to whoop and holler.  They were so happy 
to see that there would now be a chance for an heir.  Someone to take 
Coba's place after he was gone.
     Sven and Romelle parted and headed back down the aisle.  Everyone 
followed after them and out into the field behind the castle for the 
reception.

     The reception lasted long into the evening but that didn't seem to 
matter to the guests.  But to Romelle and Sven, they were starting to 
get tired.  The food had been finished off a few hours ago and the band 
was starting to tire as well. 
     They were sitting in a quiet little spot, not far away under a 
tree, watching the guests' party the hours away with finally an excuse 
to put their fears behind them.
     "I don't mean to sound rude, Romelle, but I'm getting tired and 
would love to sack out right now."
     "I know the feeling.  Let's call it a night, shall we?"
"I think we shall." Sven stood up, left Romelle were she was and called 
for everyone's attention.  Sven waited until it was quiet before he 
spoke.
     "I want to thank you all for coming.  Romelle and I couldn't have 
had a happier day if we had tired but it's time for us to go on our 
honeymoon.  Rooms have been set up in the castle for those who want a 
little sleep before they leave and the servants will make you as 
comfortable as possible.
     "For those of you who wish to leave tonight your ships will be 
prepared and ready to leave on your orders.  I would, again, like to 
thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  Thank you and have a safe 
journey."
     Sven went back to Romelle and helped her up.  They watched the 
guests disperse before heading back to the castle themselves.
     "It was such a lovely evening," Romelle cuddled into Sven's arm, 
"but you still haven't told me where we're going on our honeymoon."
     "I told you it, it's a surprise.  You won't know until we get 
there.  But, here's something you'll like, I asked Lance to escort us 
there and come and get us in a week."
"Oh, Sven, I love you." Romelle wrapped her arms around Sven's neck and 
kissed him.  Sven responded with an intensity that he had never thought 
possible of himself.

     When they got to the castle, Lance was standing beside Red Lion 
waiting,
     "So, how are the happy couple?"
     "Exhausted and ready to go.  How about you?"
     "Drunker than six barrels of shit but I think I can make it."
     "You had better.  I would like to get there in one piece, if you 
don't mind?"
     "Sure, Sven, sure.  Hop aboard.  A servant all ready put your stuff 
on board.  I'm ready to go whenever you are."
     The three huddled on the small lift as it took them to the head of 
Red Lion.  They got in quickly and Lance took his seat in the command 
chair.  He sealed the hatch as they took off.
     Sven was surprised.  For the amount of drinking he had seen Lance 
doing, Lance was, actually, doing a very good job of flying.  He assumed 
that Lance had been smart enough to pre-program the destination 
co-ordinates and put the Lion on autopilot if he felt he couldn't fly.
     When the beautiful planet of Miridia 3 came into view, Romelle 
couldn't help but move closer to the view screen.
     "Oh Sven, I've always wanted to come here.  This is one of the most 
beautiful, peaceful and luxurious vacation planets around.  How did you 
know?"
     "I didn't.  I just knew of it from a few people that I had talked 
to.  They said it was the most perfect place to go to be unnoticed.  
It's quiet and it has the best sunsets.  You can do almost anything you 
want or nothing at all.  You don't have to send a communiquE9 ahead for 
reservations or anything.  You just drop on in."
     "Sven, you and I are going to have the best time of our lives."

     As promised the planet of Miridia 3 showed Sven and Romelle the 
best possible time they could have.  They were disappointed when it was 
time for them to return home.  Sven had only allowed for such a short 
amount of time because he knew they would have to get settled into a new 
routine and the quicker they started the quicker everything would fall 
into its own pattern.
      He, even, had a few occasions to get Richard settled which he 
gladly did.  That would be one more headache out of the way and things 
would be closer to normal than they had been.  Now to tell her about it 
while they waited for Lance.  Sven decided to bring up the topic of 
Richard and the baby, he knew, she was carrying.  It was as good a time 
as any.
     "When we get back to Pollux I think you may have to change your 
wardrobe a little."
     Romelle looked down and patted her stomach.
     "I know.  I'm not stupid, Sven.  I knew I was pregnant a couple of weeks 
ago.  I have all the symptoms.  It my have happened on earth.  I'm 
starting to show.  Not a whole lot but enough to make me notice when my 
clothes don't fit like they did. I all ready thought of that when I 
noticed a few days ago.  What is Father going to think?  I can't hide 
this until the right time.  He'll know we made love out of wedlock.  
I'll have to announce my pregnancy soon."
     "Let me handle it."
     "But..."
     "No buts." Sven gave her a small smile and took a deep breath, now 
to tell her about Richard.  He opened his mouth but no words came out, 
something had caught his attention.  Red Lion had come into view and was 
landing not far away from them.
      'Oh well,' Sven thought, 'another place, another time.'
     Lance popped his head out of the hatch.
     "You guys ready?"
     "Yep."
     Lance lowered the Lion's head to the ground to make it easier to 
get their stuff in.
     It was a quiet trip until Lance broke the silence.
     "So, did you guys have a good time?  Stay out of the sack much?"
     "We had a great time,' Sven answered, "and for your information; 
that's all we did."
     "Sven." Romelle whispered, nudging him.
     Lance chuckled,
     "Careful Sven, keep that up and you could find yourself a daddy 
sooner than you expect."
     'Sooner than you know, my friend.' Sven thought to himself.
      When they got back to Pollux they said their goodbyes to Lance and 
he left, glad to see they were happy.
     Sven turned to Romelle once Lance was out of sight.
"You go to the doctor and have yourself thoroughly checked out.  See how 
far you're along.  I'll go talk to your father.  Nobody will believe you 
to be only a couple of weeks and that belly don't look like you ate too 
much wedding cake."
     Romelle nodded her head slowly as she picked up her things and 
headed to their new room.  If she knew anything about her father it was 
his firmness for tradition.  Sven was a dead man, she was sure of it.
     Sven watched her for a few moments before gathering up his stuff.  
A servant came from another direction and offered to take it back to his 
room.  Sven agreed and handed it over.  As the servant took it and left 
Sven turned and went to the throne room balcony.
     Coba always stood there in the mornings watching the world come to 
life.
     "Your Majesty?"
     Coba turned sharply,
     "Sven?  You're back."
     "Just got back a few minutes ago."
     "Where's Romelle?"
     "Unpacking Sire.  I wanted to see you before everything gets blown 
away."
     Coba motioned to two chairs in the corner.
"     Sit."
     "Thank you, Sire."  Sven sat down but he couldn't relax.  He wasn't 
used to talking to Coba face-to-face, man-to-man, about anything let 
alone something like this.
     "Sire, I don't know where to begin.  I think the best place would 
be to come right out and tell you.  Romelle is pregnant.  Has been for 
little over a month.  We have had sexual relations since she took me to 
Earth.
     "That's when it started.  I thought it was because I was on an 
emotional overload that I didn't know what I was doing.  I thought she 
would slap me or something but she consented.  I didn't mean or expect 
to get her pregnant.
     "I don't know where to begin to even apologize to you for this 
grievous mistake and sin I have committed.  I am prepared to accept any 
punishment you have for this kind of thing." Sven closed his eyes, 
waiting for the worst.  A few minutes passed.  When nothing happened, 
Sven slowly opened his eyes.
     Sven felt sure his life was over when he saw Coba sitting there, smiling 
at him.
     "Sire?"
     "Do you know what you just sounded like?"
      "No."
     "You sounded like me when I gave a similar speech to my wife's father."
     "I don't follow you, Sire."
     "I was in a similar position.  I can understand where you're coming 
from.  I loved their mother more than life itself.  I thought the world 
would end if we couldn't be together.  This one night we sneaked out to 
be together and things got hot.  We made love.  Most of the night, if I 
recall.
     "Anyway, she came to me when we were alone one time and told me she 
was pregnant.  I almost keeled over but I did the noble thing, like you, 
I went to her father.
     "He was not as understanding as I am.  He went through the roof; he 
would have chopped my head off if it weren't for her.
      "She convinced her father to let her marry me.  That was the only 
way I could because I was the father of her baby.  When he saw our love 
bloom and held that little baby in his arms, he melted."
     "I hope when you see our first born, you'll melt."
     "Oh, probably.  I know I will.  With you two as parents I know the child 
will be perfect."
     "I'm far from perfect, Sire."
     "I'm not talking about the scars on your back or the mental trauma 
you've been through.  I mean the child will grow up in a loving home.  
You will raise the child in the ways of the Old World, with kindness and 
love.  Whatever your rules of discipline are I will abide with them."
     "There won't be that many as far as you're concerned, Sire.  It 
will be your grandchild and, as far as I'm concerned, that gives you the 
privilege to spoil them any way you want.  As far as regular discipline 
goes, I'm from the old school.  A little slap on the ass never hurt 
anyone.  It never hurt me, though, sometimes, I got more than a little 
slap but I will not let that show through.
     "If I feel like punching something I'll go out back and beat up a 
tree."
     Coba raised an eyebrow.
     "You were abused as a child?"
      "Sometimes, but it was just physically.  There was some verbal 
abuse, yelling a lot.  Mostly by my dad and mostly directed at my mom.  
That's why she left and took me.  But, trust me Sire, I do not plan to 
let any of that happen."
     "I know you won't.  Now, go be with your wife."
     Sven nodded, thanked Coba again and left.

      Sven hesitated before entering his new room that he, now, shared 
with his new wife, Romelle.  He entered and, quietly, closed the door 
behind him.
     "Romelle?"
     "Out here." She was sitting out on the balcony ledge.
      Sven came out and sat beside her.  He finally had a chance to tell 
her about Richard and it wasn't going to be easy.
     "I have to tell you something and it is going to sound very 
strange.  I don't know if you'll believe me or not.  You are pregnant 
because of me but there is more to the pregnancy than you know.  Richard 
was dying so I allowed his consciousness to enter my mind.  It gave him 
a temporary place to stay until he could find something permanent.  A 
permanent new body.
     "I allowed him to come back as the consciousness of out baby this 
happened before the baby could develop one of its own."
     "I'll always believe what you say, Sven.  You've never, ever lied 
to me."
     Sven shifted his eyes downward before looking over to Romelle.  Her 
eyes were huge with disbelief.  She rubbed her gently swollen tummy.
     "How could you hide something like this from me?  How could you do 
this to me?"
     Sven reached out and touched her hand.
     "Please believe me that when I tell you that everything is going to 
work out for the best."  Sven took a deep breath and explained it all to 
Romelle just as Richard had explained it to him.  "I, also, talked to 
your father; it appears he was in the same boat.  Your mother was 
pregnant with you before they were married.  That was the only way he 
could marry her.
     "What surprises me is the fact at how well you're taking the fact 
that you're pregnant with a ghost, with Richard.  Now that you know what 
he was up against."
     "After the things I've seen and been through, nothing surprises me 
anymore. Pardon me, Sven, but I have seen a lot of shit and nothing 
surprises me."
     "What about when you first saw Richard, all cut up like that?"
     "That was different, he took me off guard.  Sven, I was tired and 
to see something like that, I thought he was real and didn't know how he 
could look like that and still be standing.
     "And then when he faded from sight.  It just got to me, that's all. 
 I know ghosts exist but I thought they all looked like King Alfor, 
complete and whole."
     "Sorry, that ain't the way the world works.  I could tell you some 
ghost stories, all true too, that would scare the shit right out of you. 
 Pardon my language."
     Romelle got up and walked back into the room.
"If you say Father understands then I believe you that he does.  But 
what about my people?  They won't be expecting a Royal Birth so soon.
     "I don't know how we can keep it quiet.  Most of my servants have 
families in the village.  They can be a bunch of gossipy hens when they 
want to be and I'm not going off world to have this baby either."
     "Do your servants respect the values of the Old World?"
"The older ones, yes, but I'm not sure about the younger ones.  It just 
seems like the younger my servants get the less they know about Old 
World values.
     "In the morning they have their classes then go right to work but I 
don't know what the teachers are teaching them.  I've never had any 
reason to question their teachings before.  That was left to my 
parents."
     "Well, with your clothes we should be able to hide it for awhile 
but when you get further along we'll have to tell them.  The only 
stipulation is that it is not to leave the castle until the time is 
right.
     "When the baby is born you announce it to the staff so they can 
make the proper arrangements.  However, you will firmly impress upon 
them that the baby is sickly and needs to be isolated and requires 
medical treatment but you are not sure for how long.
     "Then we can let a month or so go by then claim the baby is healthy 
enough that it can be taken into the fresh air and is well enough to 
travel.  If we let, at least, a month pass then it'll look like you got 
pregnant on our honeymoon.  The timing would be perfect."
     "Are you sure it'll work.  They can't know the baby was born out of 
wedlock, they reject it."
     "They won't, I'll make sure of that."
     "How?"
     "You forget, I have your father on my side." Sven yawned, he 
couldn't help it, he was tired.  Even after such a relaxing vacation, he 
was still tired.
     Romelle smiled,
     "You need a nap."
     "Only if you have one with me."
Sven went to the bed and lay down.  Romelle lay down beside him and 
pulled a light sheet up over them.  It wasn't long before they both fell 
asleep.

     The bright morning sun found Sven getting dressed as quickly, but 
as quietly, as he could.  He had to talk to Coba; it would ease his mind 
considerably.  He had to make sure that their plan went according to 
Hoyle.  If it didn't there could be trouble.
     However, he wasn't prepared for what Coba had to say when he 
invited Sven into his bedchambers.
     "I wondered how long it would be before you came."
     "I don't understand, Sire."
     Coba motioned for a chair by the bed for Sven to sit on.  Sven sat, 
feeling a little nervous, though he couldn't understand why.
     Coba stretched in the bed slightly before lying back down.  He 
looked to the ceiling for a moment before he shifted his gaze over to 
Sven.
     "Romelle is too far along to say she got pregnant on the honeymoon, 
right?  She's starting to show."
     "Yes, Sire."
     "If you plan to keep it quiet how long do you plan to wait, after the 
baby is born, to formally announce it's birth?"
     "We were thinking about a month, Sire.  That would put it in the 
honeymoon range.  It was born sickly but recovered after a few weeks and 
is able to go out.  That would put the kibosh on any rumors that may 
surface.
     "It's just the fact of the servants, Sire.  They can have big 
mouths if they want to."
     "You got that right.  I had the same plan in mind when Mayella was 
pregnant with Romelle and they damn near blew it out of the water.  The 
gossipy old hens.  If it wasn't for the fact that we need them, I would 
dismiss them all but you can't take care of a castle all by yourself."
     "No, that's true.  But that is what we had in mind, Sire, but I 
hoped that you could help us.  If there was some kind of incentive we 
could use to keep them quiet.  Something we could bargain for their 
silence."
     Coba rubbed his chin and thought for a moment.
"When do think she'll be showing enough that you'll no longer be able to 
hide it?"
     "2 to 3 months.  She's quite a ways along now.  We think she got 
pregnant while we were on Earth."
     Coba nodded his head and stroked his chin a little more.
     "Well, don't worry about it.  I'll take care of everything.  These 
girls, even the older ones, are too young to remember Romelle's birth.  
The servants that were around when Romelle was born decided not to come 
back to the castle after the attacks from Doom started or were killed in 
the attacks.
     "I'll take care of everything, Sven, don't worry.  It'll be Old 
World style.  I have just the thing to ensure the silence of girls as 
young as they are."
     "Do I dare ask?" Sven arched an eyebrow.
     "I know, for a fact, that most of them have boyfriends and would like to 
spend more time with them than what they do.
     "Currently they are only allowed a couple of hours on the weekend 
to see them.  I can extend that to four hours on the weekend and two 
hours on days during the week.
     "And if I know some of the girls they'll sew their lips shut with 
dirty thread to get that much time with their lovers."
     "Why so little time, Sire?  If you don't mind my asking?"
     "To discourage pre-marital sex.  I don't need my servants getting 
pregnant every time I turn around.  Then they want to get married and 
have time off for the baby.  I can't have the daily routine disrupted 
like that every time I turn around.  That's no way to run a castle.
     "The only ones that get away with it are the very few, as in two, 
that are all ready married.  They were married when they were hired. The 
only reason I like young girls is they are strong and healthy and don't 
have a family.  If I need them at night, they're there.  I don't have to 
send a messenger to get them.
     "The only reason the married ones stay is because, if they can't 
come due to an illness or a family crisis, they have someone who can and 
who knows what chores they are to do."
     Sven nodded his head, he was so glad to see Coba on his side about 
this.  He could have been a raving lunatic and killed Sven but since he 
knew what Sven was going through he was very understanding.
     Coba laughed suddenly.
     "Go be with Romelle when she wakes, Sven.  Don't worry, I'll take care 
of everything."
     Sven smiled and left.  He felt relieved as he went back to Romelle. 
 He lay down on the bed and watched her sleep.
     He, really, did love her.  Lance was right, which was all that 
mattered.  He knew she loved him; there was no getting around it.  He 
knew, from that point on, they would be together forever.  Nothing would 
come between them that would separate them, nothing.  Not ever.
     Not even the horrible dream of Romelle's death would deter him from 
staying by her side.  Sven still had no idea what the dream had meant 
but as he thought about it, he shivered.  It had been too horrible to 
tell Romelle but somewhere in the back of his mind, he was terrified she 
was going to die.
     As Sven drifted off to sleep again, a fear that he couldn't kill, 
welled up in his throat.  Romelle was going to die.
      It wouldn't be by his hands.  It wouldn't be by the hands of the 
Forces of Doom.  It would be by Richard's unborn hand.  He was going to 
kill Romelle.
     Sven couldn't see how or when but it was, definitely, Richard who 
would kill Romelle and there was nothing Sven could do to stop it.  She 
would die by the hand he tried to save.


SEVEN MONTHS LATER


     Romelle sat on the balcony ledge watching Sven.  He was out in the 
fields riding with Bandor.  They all had been cooped up in the castle 
for, almost, a week with heavy rain and severe lightning storms.
     She rubbed her swollen tummy as she watched them head towards the 
stables.  She couldn't help but smile to herself.  Coba had managed to 
keep everything quiet by allowing the servant girls more free time with 
their beaus.
     So far it had worked, nothing had been said or was being said.  It 
was perfectly quiet.  The bribe must have been working really well; she 
hadn't even heard any village gossip either.
     Village gossip was tossed around freely.  Mostly rumours about who 
was with whom or the occasional squabble over land that had to be 
settled by calling in the authorities.
     But Romelle heard none of this, the girls had nothing to talk about 
with her and it upset her.
     'That's okay,' she thought to herself, 'as soon as everything is 
over with this baby you'll have the freedom to talk again as long as it 
isn't about the birth date of this baby.'
     Romelle watched, for a few more minutes, as Sven and Bandor brought 
the horses in.  She decided to go out to meet them.

     The trek out to the stables wasn't very long but, to Romelle, it 
took an eternity.  Bandor had left his horse to be taken care of by the 
stable hands and was headed back to the castle when he passed her.
     "You look like shit, Romelle."
     Romelle frowned at her little brother, it wasn't often he used bad 
language and, especially, not directed at her.
      "You'll look like shit if I ever hear you say that again."
Bandor looked up at her with a sarcastic smirk on his face.
     "You don't seem to mind when Sven says you do."
     "There is a difference, Bandor.  He is my husband, you are my brother.  
I don't know what has gotten into you lately.  Bandor, you can talk to 
me about anything.  Please, tell me what's wrong."
     Bandor could feel tears well up in his eyes but couldn't stop them.
     "I just don't want you to have the same problems Mom did.  I don't 
want you to die."
     Romelle laughed and hugged her little brother.
     "Nothing is going to happen to me.  The baby is part Eurasian and part 
Polluxian, things will be different." Not to mention part dead guy, 
Romelle mused to herself, "and I won't die.  Sven will make sure of 
that."
     "He can't be that sure."
     "He's been teaching me special breathing techniques and exercises to do 
so the delivery won't be so bad.  Everything will be just fine, I 
promise."
     Bandor hugged Romelle back.
     "Thank you.  I know when you promise something everything is going to be 
just fine."
     "You'd better believe it."
     Bandor left and Romelle went into the stables.  Sven shifted his eyes 
over to her then back to his horse, which he was affectionately 
grooming.
      "Why do you groom your horse?  Wouldn't it be easier to let the 
stable hands do it?"
     "It would, but that would defeat the purpose."
     "Purpose?"
     "The horse and rider relationship.  A horse gets used to a certain 
touch and, if it's kind enough, looks forward to that touch.  I don't 
like to confuse the horse with many different touches as kind as they 
may be.  Thunder is used to me and I am used to him, to put it blunt.
     "I never had a horse when I was young.  We couldn't afford one.  
Now that I am able to have one, hassle free, I want to enjoy every 
aspect of it.  You see, Polluxian horses are much better than Eurasian 
horses because they haven't been around as long as horses on Earth.  At 
least that is what I have been able to learn.  They are taught with 
tender loving care. "
     "Then if it pleases you so much, I'll see that you have the best 
equipment and apparel that you desire and Thunder shall have everything 
he needs."
     Sven laughed.
     "Thunder doesn't need much, just a good supply of food.  As far as tack 
goes, he does need a new saddle.  I've got this one almost worn out."
     "I'll see that one is made to your specifications."
     "Thank you." Sven finished his grooming and came out of the stall, 
"though I thought it was the husband who showered the wife with gifts."
     "Don't have to be.  I'm allowed to give my husband a gift every now 
and then for no reason.  Now, can we go back inside?  It's hot out 
here."
     "Yeah, now that I've stopped moving I sure can feel the heat."
     Sven gave Romelle a light kiss and walked out of the stables with 
her.
     They had only gone a little ways when Romelle dropped to her knees 
crying out in pain.  Sven knelt down beside her.
     "Romelle?  What's wrong?"
     "I think it's time for the baby.  He's coming, I don't think he wants to 
wait."
     Sven's eyes went wide.  Could this be what his dream meant?  Could 
Richard force his way into the world, essentially killing Romelle?
     He, gently, laid Romelle down on the path.  She was too heavy to 
carry.  He may have regained most of his strength back but his back 
wasn't what it used to be.  It didn't have the strength in it that he 
needed most right now.
     "I can't carry you, Romelle.  My back isn't well enough.  I'll have 
to go to the castle."
     "Hurry, Sven, please."
Sven gave Romelle a quick kiss then headed towards the castle at a dead 
run.  His thoughts were only of Romelle and if he would get her help on 
time.
     When he got to the castle he quickly informed the doctors who then 
got things moving and went back to get Romelle.
     When they got Romelle back to the castle's sickbay she was busy 
practicing the breathing techniques that Sven had taught her.
      Sven took Romelle's hand and gripped it tightly, a sudden thought 
occurred to him.  He sent a thought savagely at Romelle's stomach.
     "Richard?  Can you hear me?  You gave me the power to communicate 
with you, please, let it work now.  Can you hear me?"
     "Sven?" a terrified voice rang loud and clear in Sven's head, "help 
me.  Where am I?  I can't see.  Am I dead?  Help me, please."
     "Richard, I'm here.  You must listen to me very carefully.  You've 
come to your consciousness too soon.  You have not been born yet; you 
must cease all movement.  You have induced labor in Romelle.
      "Romelle is the woman carrying you.  You must cease all movement 
or you will kill her."
     Sven received no answer but when he looked down at Romelle he could 
see her, visibly, relaxing.
     "The pain is easing, Sven.  Your techniques helped."
     "Just real, everything is going to be just fine."

     And everything did turn out just fine.  Sven held Romelle's hand 
and whispered soothing things in her ear and, in his mind, whispered to 
Richard that by staying motionless it would decrease his risk and the 
risk to Romelle.
     As soon as the baby was born Sven could feel Richard's thoughts 
fading away again.  He knew it had not been the right time for Richard 
to regain his conscious self.  He put it to the fact that Richard's self 
preservation must have kicked in and woken him up to reassure Richard 
that he was, indeed, alive and healthy as a new born baby boy-which he 
was.
     Richard spoke quickly as he was laid in Romelle's arms.  He shifted 
his eyes up to Sven.
     "Thank you," Sven could hear his voice fading and knew he would 
become the baby and have that capacity until the proper time in his 
youth that he should discover who he truly was, "I can't begin to thank 
you for all you've done for me.  Thank you a million fold for the second 
chance you have given me.  May your lives be blessed and filled with 
love, for eternity.  Bless you.  Bless you and thank you."
     With that Richard's voice had faded into nothingness.  The baby 
closed his eyes and went to sleep.  Sven leaned over and gave Romelle a 
kiss on the lips then the baby a peck on the cheek.
Romelle looked up at Sven and smiled then shifted her gaze down to the 
beautiful little baby she was holding.
     "Welcome to Pollux, Prince Avoc-Riccardo, welcome to a wonderful 
new world."
                    
END