Memories: Link's Gift

Part One

Link collapsed on the narrow bed that she had managed to secure before anyone else could.  The day had been one of the worst she had ever been to—her own wedding day notwithstanding. 

Her black mood only got blacker as she thought of her husband.  Lance was somewhere out there with his soldiers, waiting for his time with the Lotorians, and the knot in her gut tightened at the thought.  Their last night together had been emotionally wrenching but she would take the pain if it meant seeing him and their boys again.  Jack was somewhere in the Black Lion and she still wasn’t sure if that was an ideal place for him to be.  Safe as it was, he was also a moving target.  She thought of her son, remembering the first time she’d held him in her arms, and wanted to do so again.  At least Jason was safe, away from all this.

The room never seemed more empty than it did at that moment and her exhaustion gave way to a crippling sense of loneliness.  All day she had been surrounded with people, wanting nothing more than to get them to safety so that she could be alone to rest.  Without thinking, she reached for the pendant that hung around her neck.  Since Lance had put it there, she had rarely taken it off, if ever.  The small Red Lion was understated and designed by Lance’s own hand.  She saw his love in every line and her fingers remembered each curve that he had carefully shaped.  Their marriage had been far from easy, especially in the beginning, but they were both too bull-headed to let something this good go.  Rest was nothing but a memory now that her head became crowded with other thoughts, other memories. 

 

 

Twenty-two years earlier...

Link rested her cheek against her husband's solid shoulder, ignoring the starchy feel of his dress uniform jacket, and closed her eyes, concentrating on the slow, sensual movements of their bodies as they danced. Lance's arms tightened around her and she felt him rest his cheek against the top of her head. She breathed in his scent, a mixture of spicy cologne and that which was simply Lance himself. A dreamy smile curved her lips and she brushed the short, soft, chestnut brown hair brushing the top of his collar with her fingers, making him draw in a sharp breath.

"How early can we leave without being impolite," he murmured.

"At least until after the bride and groom have left," she answered, her voice teasing. "By the way, did I ever tell you how seeing you in a dress uniform just makes me..." She lowered her voice so that only he could hear and he had to lean in closer but he got the gist of it.

"Are you crazy, woman?" he said between clenched teeth. "Are you trying to see how far I would go in front of all these people??"

Her only response was a low chuckle that she knew would put him over the edge. He held her half an arm's length away so that he could look into her face and she swallowed hard at the look on his. Red slashes marked his cheekbones and his hazel eyes blazed with a fire that she only knew too well.

"Okay, you win. Don't do anything," she muttered weakly.

"Not in front of the children!" Gwen crowed as she and Hunk danced past them.

One look into her sister-in-laws glassy eyes and flushed face was enough to tell Link that Gwen had enough to drink. Judging from Hunk's semi-amused, semi-worried look, he was thinking the same thing. Lance laughed and reached out to jab Gwen with a playful fist.

"Just stay on your feet, Gwennie, that's all I ask," he said. "Hunk, you carry her out of here if you have to. Wouldn't want the Royal Couple to get all embarrassed because of a Branegan. I'd hate to tarnish our good family name."

"Will do," Hunk said, rolling his eyes at Link.

She chuckled as they swept past. Lance looked down at his wife, an eyebrow raised.

"Don't get too comfortable. I'm not finished with you yet."

Fortunately, the song ended and Link took the opportunity to step away from him. Amused, he let her go easily, his lips quirking. Another song started and they stared at each other, challenging and teasing. Despite herself, Link grinned...until Keith and Allura waltzed by her line of sight, not a breath of air between them and moving as one.  She was happy for them, happy that they could now live life instead of fight for it.  Her grin froze and disappeared as she watched them, staring into each other's eyes, laughing and talking, their happiness for all to see. 

Link sighed wistfully. As happy as she was with Lance, their wedding was not the joyous occasion it should have been. The Alliance, despite its victory, was still reeling from the loss of so many dignitaries and important figures. Her wedding day had turned into a nightmare.

And they never had a chance to dance.

It was petty and of practically no importance in the larger scheme of things, but that loss was what bothered Link the most. She never had the chance to hold her new husband for their first dance as a married couple in front of their friends and family. As if he read her mind, Lance stepped closer to her and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"Don't think, Sweetheart," he soothed. "Don't do this to yourself."

"I can't help it," she said. "Not that I'm not happy, Lance. I am. It's just..."

For a split second, Link saw a broken look pass across his face, but he quickly covered it up.

"I know," he said gruffly.

Link put a hand on his cheek, not realizing until then how affected he was by what had transpired. Needless to say, they had both almost died, but he'd assured her that he was used to that sort of thing--which was true--and preferred not to dwell on it. But he hadn't said a word about the wedding itself and Link had guessed it was because he didn't want to upset her. Belatedly, she felt guilty for not remembering that it had been his wedding day too.

Tilting her head up, she smiled at him. He smiled back, though it wilted a bit at the corners.

"Listen," he said. "I've been thinking..."

But he was interrupted by a boisterous older man and his wife. A flicker of annoyance crossed his face, but Link faced the couple with a cordial smile. The man, Stem Sarson, was an important figure in Voltronia and perhaps to her re-election.

"It's nice to see you here Mr. Sarson, Mrs. Sarson. Are you enjoying yourselves?" she asked politely.

"Not as much as you and your husband, but it'll do," Sarson boomed, with a leering smile.

Link was afraid to look at Lance, feeling him tense up beside her. She could only imagine the glare on his face or something worse. Risking a peek from beneath her lashes, she saw that it was worse...he was smiling.

"Oh, I don't know, Mr. Sarson," he said smoohtly. "I think you've got a couple wiggles left in you. Take Mrs. Sarson out for a spin on the dance floor." He winked rakishly at the rather rotund woman who giggled girlishly under his attentions much to her husband's consternation. "Better get a move on before I take her out myself."

Sarson's eyes nearly popped out of his head and his breathing quickened, but to Link's relief he didn't seem to know what to say, which was a good thing for they did not need to bring attention to themselves. Shocked, he turned his attention to Link who was trying unsuccessfully to paste a smile on her face.

"Lance is a kidder," she said, baring her teeth in what she hoped was close to a smile. "Go on ahead, Mr. Sarson. Mrs. Sarson does look like she's dying for a dance. We'll talk after this set."

Saron only nodded dumbly and escorted his still giggling wife to the crowded floor. Link whirled on Lance only to find him looking placidly back.

"What?" he said blandly. "I just saved you from what could have been a boring and annoying conversation. As we have just seen, Sarson is no orator."

"Lance, he's the head of the Construction Guild!" she sputtered.

"I know. I'm head of Arus's Reconstruction Committee," he countered, looking a little miffed that she felt the need to tell him that.

"And I'm Mayor of Voltronia!"

She blinked, stopping stupidly, wondering why she'd just said that and trying uselessly to get back on her point. Trying not to smile, Lance started to pull her to him but she evaded his touch, her eyes flashing dangerously. His narrowed and his arms dropped to his sides.

"Link, we're here to have a good time, not talk shop."

"Maybe not you, but being mayor is a twenty-four hour job," she said a touch more arrogantly than she meant to...and when Lance went to stand toe-to-toe with her, glaring down his straight nose, she wished she could take back her words.

"You think flying the Red wasn't? Well, thanks for putting me in my place, Mayor."

He turned abruptly, striding angrily towards the other side of the room. Link moved to go after him but pride made her feet stay glued to the floor. She shouldn't have said that, but he should haven't acted the way he did with the Sarsons. Resolutely, she turned her back and searched the crowd for someone to talk to.

Half an hour later, bored out of her mind and having the least bit of fun possible, Link excused herself from the group she'd joined and gave in to the desire to look for her husband. It wasn't hard for he stood in the middle of a group of giggling women. Giggling, gorgeous and tall women. A wave of jealousy made Link want to hurl something at them and she almost turned around when she noticed how tired he looked. Wryly, she wondered how the women would be reacting if he was at his best.  Naturally, he was still charming them and she doubted they noticed the strain around his eyes—only someone who loved him would see that.

Lance raised his head then and met her gaze. After a moment's hesitation, he smiled tentatively. Relief washed over Link and she smiled back, cutting through the people towards him. He said something to the women that made them sigh with disappointment and was at Link's side in a few steps.

"Let's not fight," he said dramatically, his good spirits restored.

"You're right. We're not here to fight or be bored."

He grinned and for Link, the room brightened.

"Good. After I get that in writing, we are going to..."

"Ladies and Gentlemen!" Coran's voice echoed in the hall.

Lance lapsed into silence, and he and Link turned their attention to the older man who was announcing Allura and Keith's departure.

"On second thought," Lance said as they headed towards their friends. "We can finish this conversation at home." He kissed her, saying against her lips, "In bed."

To Part 2
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