There has to be an After for Us ~ (shadam / klance)

Chapter 24 - The Death of the Black Paladin

"Have you come to tether me and drag me home, husband?" Melenor asked over the commlink as the Red Lion came into view on her console screen. "I believe you will find it considerably more difficult this time."

"Melenor, no," said Alfor, his voice responding over the commlink. "I want to apologize."

"Apologize in hopes that I'll come home willingly?" asked Melenor. Black detected the other three Lions following Red and alerted her.

"Far from it. You were right."

"Of course I was... Right about which part?"

"All of it," said Alfor. "About folding in on myself after Zarkon turned. About calling retreats in order to protect you. I realize now if I love you, I can't shelter you. I have to let you be yourself, even if that means you regularly put yourself in harm's way."

"Do you like that part of the apology?" asked Blaytz. "I came up with that part."

"It's very good, Blaytz," said Melenor.

"And I do love you," continued Alfor. "When I first saw you in the Tarsand pits, standing over the bloodied and broken bodies of the fifteen opponents you fought with your bare hands, you didn't just win the Grestation Battles, you won my heart."

"Lovely. Who came up with that line?"

"Melenor, I am trying to share with you what is in my heart."

"Sounds like Trigel..."

"I tweeked it," admitted Trigel. "But the sentiment is Alfor's."

"Will you accept my apology, Melenor?" asked Alfor. "Not just for lacking as your husband, but as lacking as a leader?"

"I can accept your apology, Alfor. If you can accept that leading is no longer up to you. Can you accept me as the leader of Voltron?"

"I can accept that," said Trigel, very quickly.

"You have my allegiance, your majesty," said Gyrgan.

"Alfor?" said Melenor.

"I was a fool to not think of the possibility before," said Alfor. "You are a natural fit, my love. The Black Lion has chosen well."

The only one who hadn't pledged allegiance was Blaytz and Melenor knew why. His heart had long since been in the fight and as leader, it was now her duty to bring him back. "Blaytz, listen to me. If you want to see your family again, the only way to do so is to defeat Zarkon and free those Galrans enslaved by his tyranny. Are you with me?"

"I – I'm with you," said Blaytz.

"We honour those we've lost by fighting for them everyday. And if there is a chance our fighting could bring them back to us, it makes the battle that much sweeter."

"So what's the plan?" asked Blaytz.

Melenor pushed her accelerator forward, increasing Black's speed. "We head straight to Zarkon's own ship and attack. My mother always said the way to defeat a Nineviolian Ledbar is by cutting off the head... Well, the main head - Not the tiny false heads on its tentacles it waves around to confuse you - The actual Ledbar head. You get the idea..."

"Coran," said Alfor over the commlink. "Mobilize all troops."

*******

Zarkon had detected their approach before they arrived. Hundreds of Galran fighters were pouring out of the main ship, mobilizing to meet the five Lions and the entire Altean fleet.