Okay, this is an Alternate Universe fan fiction, so it might be a little
different... or a lot different
remember the 1 thing I love more than writing is feedback, so R&R
Disclaimer: don't own any SV characters, because if I did then T.W. would be sleeping in my bed when he worked late.
Rating- PG maybe PG-13 later for violence
Notice: Clark does not have super powers, and isn't from Krypton.
Slaves of Destiny
Have you ever felt like you have known someone your whole life? When you really just met.
Well, maybe you have! Is there that possibility that you have lived your whole life with this person, in another life?
Ever thought that your life was supposed to be different?
Maybe it was.
Life can change so quickly, in a day. You could take a different road than usual, and come across something or someone, which changed your life forever.
Ever wondered what would have happened if you didn't take that road on that particular day?'
Would your life be totally different? Or would fate bring you back to that spot?
Was your life your true destiny?
Did fate deceive you?
Or was it really all meant to be...?
The Middle Ages was a hard time for all the peasants and other people who were not of noble birth. They had to work for everything they had; nothing was just given to them. It was challenging just to survive. The tough, freezing winters were the hardest, and that is when it all began.
It was an especially bad winter and Lady Laura was having a difficult pregnancy. She had always wanted a child of her own, and did not let this trouble get her down. Her husband was off in a city an eight-day ride for an emergency meeting of all the knights. There had been word that their city might be attacked.
Laura was not worried about these things, being of noble birth, no harm would come to her. But she was worried that her husband Orlando would not be back in time for the birth of their baby. Lady Laura, despite all the troubles with her pregnancy, gave birth to a beautiful little girl, and she named her Lana.
Because of all the difficulties, Laura was very weak and tired out. Her midwife did not even let her see her baby until the day after. She said she was too weak. But Laura loved her baby girl, and even though her husband was not there to see her, she no longer felt saddened by the thought, all she could think about was how perfect her child was. She had been so scared that she was going to lose her baby.
Yet, here she was, in her arms, and she was so beautiful. Laura spent the next 5 days resting up, she was still weak, but she was well on her way to being completely back to normal and back to her old strength. She didn't know why exactly but she didn't want to be separated from her baby, she had this fear that if she left her for a second something bad would happen. She knew she was being irrational, but she couldn't help the way she felt.
Laura's midwife (who was staying longer to help Lady Laura, seeing as there was no word on her husband or when he was coming home) was dumping the trash, when she heard a noise. She walked over to the corner. It was so damp and wet she didn't want to see what was under all the old rags. She walked back inside. Later when she was leaving their household, she distinctively heard the sound of crying, and saw that it was coming from the same place as before, she rushed over and was shocked at what she found.
* * * *
"Laura, I'm sorry to disturb you, I was just leaving when I found a..." she was very emotional.
"What's wrong? What did you find?" Laura asked worried. She immediately looked around and made sure Lana was still sleeping in a crib near the bed, and she was.
"Outside, in some old rags..." She said not being able to continue, and showed Laura a small little baby, who looked so young, no more than a couple of days old. It was clear this little baby should have been breathing, but he looked almost blue.
"Is he alive?" Laura said almost afraid to ask.
"Yes, he is still breathing. But, I don't think the poor thing will last the night. What should I do?" She asked with tears in her eyes holding the small infant.
"You must stay here a few more days, please, we must try and save this baby. Get him dry, and feed him. Do everything for him you can." Laura said now tearing up herself.
In a second Julia, the midwife was off to tend to this young child struggling for its life.
Laura could not understand how someone could do that to a little baby. Just leave him in the rain and wind to die. She prayed that this baby would live. Just recently having a child of her own, she couldn't imagine how anyone could care so little about their own child.
As the days passed, they tried to nurse the young the boy back to health. On the third day the boy had been in their care, he began to cry. Laura & Julia were so relieved. They knew this meant he was getting better, getting stronger.
Finally the day came about a week after they found the poor little baby, they knew he was going to be all right. But they did not know what they were going to do with him. Surely they could not keep him. But after hours of thought on the matter, Laura could not do anything but keep him. She loved this child just as much as she loved Lana. If she sent him to an orphanage, he would never have a family, and she knew that he might end up back on the streets fighting for his life. Who would feed him? Surely no one would bring a wet nurse out for the child.
She decided she could not and would not give the small baby up. She was afraid of what her husband would say when he found out, but decided to cross that bridge when she got to it. Looking back on it, Laura wondered if she would have made the right decision to keep the baby if she had not recently giving birth to Lana. She was so emotional and sensitive over the thought and subject of the little infant. Would she still have felt the same way if she was not pregnant or had a child of her own? She knew in her heart she would have sent him away somewhere.
But he was here, with her. It was a lot of work nursing two babies at the same time. But she never ever regretted keeping the child. Julia decided to stay instead of going back home, with the discovery of the baby boy.
They decided to name him Clark because Julia's husband was killed in a battle, and that was his name, and since she had been the one to save Clark's life it seemed fitting. Laura liked the name; it was a strange name, not nonetheless a good one.
Lana & Clark were mercifully healthy, and easygoing children. When they were about a month old, Laura received news on her husband. He was going into battle. Laura was greatly worried over this; she prayed her husband would be safe, and she wished he had gotten to see his daughter.
She had no idea when Orlando would be back. She missed him terribly, but she had her baby and Clark to help her with the pain. When she was taking care of them, she forgot about the depressing thoughts, and loved them more and more for having this affect on her.
She loved Clark as her own. It felt as if she had had twins. She & Julia and a few other servants of her manor were the only ones who knew about Clark. Being of noble birth, Laura did not want people finding out about the little boy they had taken in. What would people think? She knew people would call her a fool, taking some peasant child off the streets. She knew that was what her husband would think too.
When Lana was about 6 months old, Laura received the joyful news she had been waiting 5 months for, her husband was coming home, though only for a short time, but nonetheless, he was coming home. She was so happy to hear this news, but also she was afraid to tell her husband about Clark.
He was only going to be able to stay about a month, because he had to return to battle, but she was just so happy to hear he was safe and coming back home to her.
When her husband, Orlando, came home and saw his beautiful daughter, Laura couldn't remember a happier moment with him. He couldn't have been happier to see his daughter, or his wife.
A week after Orlando had returned, Laura knew she could no longer keep Clark from him. Further more she did not want to keep Clark from him, but she was so afraid he would be furious with her for having kept him. It was so easy hiding it from him, and she just kept putting it off more and more, and pretty soon it was time to for Orlando to leave. When she was saying her goodbyes she was going to tell him, but did not want a fight to be her last memory with her husband.
So she never told him, she let him go, but she didn't regret not telling him. She knew how he would have reacted to the news, and that he would come back soon, and they could talk it over.
But he did not come home soon; he was away at war for 3 whole years. Laura was so worried that he had been injured in battle or worse, killed. She didn't think she could miss anyone more than she did Orlando. It was a lonely, long 3 years. But she took joy in raising Lana & Clark. She watched them grow into toddlers.
Never before had she seen two children get along so well. Clark & Lana were inseparable; they went everywhere together.
They taught each other things. When Clark started walking, he showed Lana, and pretty soon they were running everywhere together. Clark was quiet for so long, never saying a word, or so much as babbling like babies do. But when Lana started to talk, she learned so quickly, and soon Clark imitated her, and talked more than her.
Whenever Lana would fall or get hurt, Clark was right there behind her to help her up. If Clark was ever sick, Lana would always be by his side to make him feel better. Laura was glad they had each other. She was sorry Lana hadn't gotten to know her dad. By the time her father returned home, she was talking, running around, and becoming her own little person. But she knew he had been fighting for his people. He was a knight it was his duty, and she knew that.
Laura wanted to know if there was the chance that Orlando would have to go back to battle. Orlando told her that he didn't know.
One day, about 2 weeks after Orlando had returned home, Laura had taken Lana with her to the market to buy silk for their clothes, leaving Orlando, Clark, and Julia together.
"Julia, come here." Orlando called. Julia didn't want to leave a 3½ year old alone, but didn't want to risk Master Orlando finding out about Clark until Laura was ready to tell him. So Julia left Clark in the kitchen by himself.
"Yes?" Julia called. She was a bit nervous, Orlando and her didn't really talk to each other, and perhaps he wanted her to leave now that he had come back.
"I know we don't talk very much, but you are my wife's closest friend and lately I have just been feeling like I'm not quite sure what it is, but she seems different. Maybe it is because I have been away for so long, but when we were first married I was away longer and well what I'm getting at is, she talks to you, and I was wondering if you knew what was going on with her?" Orlando inquired, genuinely confused.
Julia knew that Laura had been so distant because of Clark. But she was certainly not going to say the real reason and betray Laura's trust.
"Well, you were away 3 years, but she hasn't told me anything, and the things she does tell me are always of how joyful she is that you home with her and your daughter." Julia lied.
"Oh, well, thank you, Julia, I was just worried that I might have done something wrong, something offensive to her." Orlando said with a smile of relief.
Meanwhile Clark was in the small kitchen playing around, and he had knocked off a wooden bowl, and scattered the contents everywhere. Clark gasped in fear. He was just going to run away, but then decided he should just go tell Julia what had happened. He was only 3½ but he was a very bright and smart young boy.
Clark walked out of the kitchen and ran up to Julia while she was talking to Orlando. "I'm sorry I was just... and then, it fell and I'm sorry." Clark said.
Julia looked at him with shear terror in her eyes. Clark felt even worse, at seeing how upset she was, he had no idea that he was supposed to be a secret hidden from the world.
"Clark" Julia said not knowing what to say. So she just gestured Clark to go back into the kitchen and she followed behind him.
"Julia, who is this little boy?" Orlando asked. He had never seen this raven haired little boy before.
Julia turned bright red and despite her instincts, turned around and answered, "Um... I'm sure you've met him before, he is um..."
"Julia?" Orlando asked at seeing her hesitation.
"This is my son, Clark." She lied.
At hearing this, a huge smile swept across Clark's face. Never before had anyone claimed him as their son. His whole life he never heard this phrase used on him. He always wanted to be someone's son, like Lana was Laura's daughter. But he thought that no one wanted him as a son.
Julia felt even worse about the lie when she saw Clark's ecstatic expression.
"You have a son?" Orlando said with pure shock.
"Yes, I'm sure I've told you about him before." Julia said wanted to leave.
"No, never, but who is the father?" Orlando asked in curiosity.
"Um... I really have to finish preparing dinner right now, I'm sorry." She said knowing she had to leave right then.
"Okay, I didn't mean to keep you, but some time we will have to finish this conversation." He said with a smirk.
When Clark and Julia where safely back in the kitchen Clark turned to Julia and asked, "I'm your son?" with a big grin upon his face.
Julia looked down, "Clark, I think of you as the son I never had, you are very special to me."
"Oh" Clark said walking away and running outside where he usually played in the gardens.
Clark however did not feel like running around. He just sat there, and wished Lana would come home, she always cheered him up.
When Laura and Lana returned home, Julia told her of what had happened and the lie she had told. Laura was grateful that she had not given her secret away, but she knew now that she could no longer keep Clark from Orlando, she needed to tell him of the little boy she had taken in as her own.
Later that night Laura sat down with Orlando to tell him about
Clark. "Orlando, there is something really important I need to talk to you about." Laura said nervously taking Orlando's hand.
"Okay." He said thinking the worst.
"While you were gone, um... I did something you should know about." Laura said quickly continuing knowing if she didn't she would never tell him.
"It was shortly after Lana was born, and..." Laura tried to find just the right words to say it, "It was a wet night and Julia found a child, a boy only a few days old, on the streets. I mean what kid of person leaves a newborn child to die in the middle of winter and..." Laura started to cry a little at the thought; she was always very sensitive to this topic. "And we took him in and we nursed him back to health. When he regained his health and strength, I made a decision to keep him." Laura finished looking up at Orlando for a reaction.
"Wait Laura, what are you saying? There is another child around here you have been hiding from me for 3 years?" Orlando said emotionless.
"I'm sorry! It was just very hard to tell you. I mean you were gone and-" Laura just stopped.
"Laura, why?" Orlando asked.
"He would have died! Even if I did give him up, he would have just been the tool to some farmer! Please just try and understand." Laura said trying to defend herself.
"Laura, I mean, what will people think? What do they think?" Orlando asked suddenly getting mad. What had happened to his reputation over the years he was gone? He was one the most respected knights for miles, and he made many trades and had received things solely on his reputation. If there was now rumor that his wife had taken in a peasant child and been raising them would, people consider him a joke? Would they still look upon him as the brave knight they once had?
"Orlando calm down! I've kept it a secret from everyone except Julia."
She said. Orlando did calm down.
"Okay, this is good. You can get rid of him before anyone can ever find out this boy lived here." Orlando said sitting back down.
"I'm not getting rid of him." Laura said in shock that Orlando assumed she would and that was why she was coming clean.
"What do you mean? You have to!" Orlando shouted.
"No, I will not! I have raised him from infancy! " Laura said, madder than she could ever remember being before.
"Laura, there is no discussion, the boy must leave and right away before word spreads! If people know about this, I will be considered a joke here." Orlando said in a commanding voice.
The two fought for a while longer, only ending in more tears and hurtful words. Orlando told Laura that he was going on a trip to visit his brother and that if this boy (he never even cared to meet Clark.) wasn't gone before he came back, he was going to get rid of him himself, and that it would be much worse than if Laura did it herself.
Orlando was gone for 6 months. Laura did not send Clark away. She never even considered it. Orlando was furious when he came home to find Clark and Lana playing in the garden out back. He knew that this little boy was the one his wife had taken in at a young age. He marched up to the children playing.
Lana was immediately scared of her father as he came toward them. Lana stepped behind Clark in fear.
"What is your name boy?" Orlando demanded.
"Clark." Clark said scared to death of the man towering over him.
Orlando grabbed Clark by the arm so tightly Clark yelled. Orlando dragged Clark in to the house. Lana was screaming and running after Clark.
"Let him go! Stop!" Lana said crying.
When Laura saw Orlando very angrily coming at her with Clark gripped so tightly by the arm it was turning purple, and Lana screaming and chasing after Clark, she was so alarmed she jumped up and went to them.
"Take your hand off of him!" She yelled.
"Why is he still here!" He yelled even louder.
"Let him go now!" She said. Orlando threw Clark to the ground and Lana ran over to him, "Are you hurt?" Lana asked as Clark got up. Laura immediately put herself between the two children and her husband.
"What is wrong with you!"
"Me! You were supposed to get rid of him! I leave for 6 months, and you had no intention of getting rid of that little bastard!" He yelled at his wife.
"I told you I wouldn't get rid of him!" She said.
"Then, I guess I'll have to do it myself!" He yelled, reaching for Clark.
"You leave him alone!" She yelled and slapped him across the face. She immediately regretted it. He pushed her aside and grabbed Clark.
"No please! Don't! I'm sorry! I don't' know what I did! Please! Stop!" Clark said as the man took him by both arms and carried him off. Lana tried to go after Clark, but Laura held her back. She had never seen her husband so angry and didn't know what he would do.
"Lana, go and stay with Julia." Laura said.
"But he is going to hurt Clark. You have to stop him." Lana said crying.
"I'm going to baby, but you need to stay with Julia." And with that Laura ran after her husband who was carrying the small boy.
"Orlando! Stop it!" She tried to pull Clark out of his grip, but Orlando was built very well and four times strong then Laura.
It broke Laura's heart to see the terrified look on Clark's face, which was now covered in tears.
"Laura, if you care about this boy at all! You will stay away from me while I do this!" He said.
"No, you can't! Stop!" Laura cried. Orlando just turned his back on her. As if an answer to her prayers, a man came running threw the doors, as Orlando was just about to open them, at the sight of the man, he loosened his grip on Clark, and Laura grabbed Clark and told him to run. Clark didn't need to be told twice and ran as fast as he could.
"What?" Orlando asked the man whom he clearly recognized.
"We need your help! On the edge of the city we are under attack! Quick!" He said tossing him a sword.
Orlando raced out. But before he left he did something that surprised Laura more than anything. He turned and kissed her and told her he loved her and left. She stood there for a whole 10 minutes in awe.
Orlando never returned that day. Laura only received a message that said he was riding into battle the next day and he gave her all his love and apologized. She was in tears from the letter. He seemed scared.
Laura prayed that her husband would win the battle so he could come home safely and soon. No matter how much she had been mad at him, she loved him more than anyone. She had gone 3 years without him, he had barely been back when he had left again on the worst of circumstances.
"Clark, are you ok?" Lana asked hugging Clark as she saw him. Clark didn't' answer her but instead hugged Lana back.
"Clark!" Lana gasped as she saw Clark's arm. "You're bleeding!" She said as she inspected the small cut along his arm. It was nothing to get alarmed over, but Lana was upset when Clark was the least bit hurt. The next day when Clark woke up after a restless night, he found the perfect shape of a hand on his arm, where Orlando had grabbed him. The memory of the bruise stayed with Clark his whole life.
Clark and Lana remained best friends. For her husband's sake, whenever anyone asked about Clark, Julia & Laura continued the lie that Clark was Julia's son. Lana & Clark were aught how to read and write by the time they were six.
The day before Lana's 7th birthday Orlando returned. Lana & Clark stayed their safe distance from him. Laura, despite how she thought she was going to greet him, hugged him and kissed him. Laura never remembered feeling so strongly towards Orlando. They went a whole week before mentioning the issue of Clark.
But when it came up, it really came up.
There were so many hurtful words and yelling. But in the end it all came down to was Orlando was the man, and the men were in control of all the decisions.
"If you make me give him up, I will never forgive you." Laura said with tears in her eyes.
"He can not stay here." Orlando said watching Laura run from the room more upset than they day he had left.
* * * * *
"Clark, I don't want you to go!" Lana cried holding on to Clark.
"I don't' want to leave either, but I have to, besides Lana, once I leave things will get better for you, he hates me and loves you." Clark said hugging Lana.
"No it won't! I will miss you so much!" Lana said trying her hardest not to cry more.
"Lana, you are my best friend in the whole world and always will be! I'll never forget you." Clark voice cracked. Lana couldn't take it anymore; she started to cry.
"I'll never forget you either" Lana took off a golden necklace with 'Lana' written on it with a rose next to it. "Take it, so that you will always remember me."
Clark took the necklace and slipped into his pocket.
"Goodbye." Clark said kissing Lana on the cheek. The two kids stood there in a hug for a full minute before they broke.
Laura, with tears in her eyes, hugged Clark and said, "Clark, I love you like a son, and I am so thankful that I got to have you at least for this long. I'm so sorry that you have to be put threw this. But remember wherever you go, baby, I'll always love and keep you in my heart!"
Clark had started crying and could only manage to get out a small
"Good-bye."
Clark was carried off in a small wagon with his belongings. Laura & Lana watched as Clark rode out of their lives. They stood there in tears, as their hearts broke.
remember the 1 thing I love more than writing is feedback, so R&R
Disclaimer: don't own any SV characters, because if I did then T.W. would be sleeping in my bed when he worked late.
Rating- PG maybe PG-13 later for violence
Notice: Clark does not have super powers, and isn't from Krypton.
Slaves of Destiny
Have you ever felt like you have known someone your whole life? When you really just met.
Well, maybe you have! Is there that possibility that you have lived your whole life with this person, in another life?
Ever thought that your life was supposed to be different?
Maybe it was.
Life can change so quickly, in a day. You could take a different road than usual, and come across something or someone, which changed your life forever.
Ever wondered what would have happened if you didn't take that road on that particular day?'
Would your life be totally different? Or would fate bring you back to that spot?
Was your life your true destiny?
Did fate deceive you?
Or was it really all meant to be...?
The Middle Ages was a hard time for all the peasants and other people who were not of noble birth. They had to work for everything they had; nothing was just given to them. It was challenging just to survive. The tough, freezing winters were the hardest, and that is when it all began.
It was an especially bad winter and Lady Laura was having a difficult pregnancy. She had always wanted a child of her own, and did not let this trouble get her down. Her husband was off in a city an eight-day ride for an emergency meeting of all the knights. There had been word that their city might be attacked.
Laura was not worried about these things, being of noble birth, no harm would come to her. But she was worried that her husband Orlando would not be back in time for the birth of their baby. Lady Laura, despite all the troubles with her pregnancy, gave birth to a beautiful little girl, and she named her Lana.
Because of all the difficulties, Laura was very weak and tired out. Her midwife did not even let her see her baby until the day after. She said she was too weak. But Laura loved her baby girl, and even though her husband was not there to see her, she no longer felt saddened by the thought, all she could think about was how perfect her child was. She had been so scared that she was going to lose her baby.
Yet, here she was, in her arms, and she was so beautiful. Laura spent the next 5 days resting up, she was still weak, but she was well on her way to being completely back to normal and back to her old strength. She didn't know why exactly but she didn't want to be separated from her baby, she had this fear that if she left her for a second something bad would happen. She knew she was being irrational, but she couldn't help the way she felt.
Laura's midwife (who was staying longer to help Lady Laura, seeing as there was no word on her husband or when he was coming home) was dumping the trash, when she heard a noise. She walked over to the corner. It was so damp and wet she didn't want to see what was under all the old rags. She walked back inside. Later when she was leaving their household, she distinctively heard the sound of crying, and saw that it was coming from the same place as before, she rushed over and was shocked at what she found.
* * * *
"Laura, I'm sorry to disturb you, I was just leaving when I found a..." she was very emotional.
"What's wrong? What did you find?" Laura asked worried. She immediately looked around and made sure Lana was still sleeping in a crib near the bed, and she was.
"Outside, in some old rags..." She said not being able to continue, and showed Laura a small little baby, who looked so young, no more than a couple of days old. It was clear this little baby should have been breathing, but he looked almost blue.
"Is he alive?" Laura said almost afraid to ask.
"Yes, he is still breathing. But, I don't think the poor thing will last the night. What should I do?" She asked with tears in her eyes holding the small infant.
"You must stay here a few more days, please, we must try and save this baby. Get him dry, and feed him. Do everything for him you can." Laura said now tearing up herself.
In a second Julia, the midwife was off to tend to this young child struggling for its life.
Laura could not understand how someone could do that to a little baby. Just leave him in the rain and wind to die. She prayed that this baby would live. Just recently having a child of her own, she couldn't imagine how anyone could care so little about their own child.
As the days passed, they tried to nurse the young the boy back to health. On the third day the boy had been in their care, he began to cry. Laura & Julia were so relieved. They knew this meant he was getting better, getting stronger.
Finally the day came about a week after they found the poor little baby, they knew he was going to be all right. But they did not know what they were going to do with him. Surely they could not keep him. But after hours of thought on the matter, Laura could not do anything but keep him. She loved this child just as much as she loved Lana. If she sent him to an orphanage, he would never have a family, and she knew that he might end up back on the streets fighting for his life. Who would feed him? Surely no one would bring a wet nurse out for the child.
She decided she could not and would not give the small baby up. She was afraid of what her husband would say when he found out, but decided to cross that bridge when she got to it. Looking back on it, Laura wondered if she would have made the right decision to keep the baby if she had not recently giving birth to Lana. She was so emotional and sensitive over the thought and subject of the little infant. Would she still have felt the same way if she was not pregnant or had a child of her own? She knew in her heart she would have sent him away somewhere.
But he was here, with her. It was a lot of work nursing two babies at the same time. But she never ever regretted keeping the child. Julia decided to stay instead of going back home, with the discovery of the baby boy.
They decided to name him Clark because Julia's husband was killed in a battle, and that was his name, and since she had been the one to save Clark's life it seemed fitting. Laura liked the name; it was a strange name, not nonetheless a good one.
Lana & Clark were mercifully healthy, and easygoing children. When they were about a month old, Laura received news on her husband. He was going into battle. Laura was greatly worried over this; she prayed her husband would be safe, and she wished he had gotten to see his daughter.
She had no idea when Orlando would be back. She missed him terribly, but she had her baby and Clark to help her with the pain. When she was taking care of them, she forgot about the depressing thoughts, and loved them more and more for having this affect on her.
She loved Clark as her own. It felt as if she had had twins. She & Julia and a few other servants of her manor were the only ones who knew about Clark. Being of noble birth, Laura did not want people finding out about the little boy they had taken in. What would people think? She knew people would call her a fool, taking some peasant child off the streets. She knew that was what her husband would think too.
When Lana was about 6 months old, Laura received the joyful news she had been waiting 5 months for, her husband was coming home, though only for a short time, but nonetheless, he was coming home. She was so happy to hear this news, but also she was afraid to tell her husband about Clark.
He was only going to be able to stay about a month, because he had to return to battle, but she was just so happy to hear he was safe and coming back home to her.
When her husband, Orlando, came home and saw his beautiful daughter, Laura couldn't remember a happier moment with him. He couldn't have been happier to see his daughter, or his wife.
A week after Orlando had returned, Laura knew she could no longer keep Clark from him. Further more she did not want to keep Clark from him, but she was so afraid he would be furious with her for having kept him. It was so easy hiding it from him, and she just kept putting it off more and more, and pretty soon it was time to for Orlando to leave. When she was saying her goodbyes she was going to tell him, but did not want a fight to be her last memory with her husband.
So she never told him, she let him go, but she didn't regret not telling him. She knew how he would have reacted to the news, and that he would come back soon, and they could talk it over.
But he did not come home soon; he was away at war for 3 whole years. Laura was so worried that he had been injured in battle or worse, killed. She didn't think she could miss anyone more than she did Orlando. It was a lonely, long 3 years. But she took joy in raising Lana & Clark. She watched them grow into toddlers.
Never before had she seen two children get along so well. Clark & Lana were inseparable; they went everywhere together.
They taught each other things. When Clark started walking, he showed Lana, and pretty soon they were running everywhere together. Clark was quiet for so long, never saying a word, or so much as babbling like babies do. But when Lana started to talk, she learned so quickly, and soon Clark imitated her, and talked more than her.
Whenever Lana would fall or get hurt, Clark was right there behind her to help her up. If Clark was ever sick, Lana would always be by his side to make him feel better. Laura was glad they had each other. She was sorry Lana hadn't gotten to know her dad. By the time her father returned home, she was talking, running around, and becoming her own little person. But she knew he had been fighting for his people. He was a knight it was his duty, and she knew that.
Laura wanted to know if there was the chance that Orlando would have to go back to battle. Orlando told her that he didn't know.
One day, about 2 weeks after Orlando had returned home, Laura had taken Lana with her to the market to buy silk for their clothes, leaving Orlando, Clark, and Julia together.
"Julia, come here." Orlando called. Julia didn't want to leave a 3½ year old alone, but didn't want to risk Master Orlando finding out about Clark until Laura was ready to tell him. So Julia left Clark in the kitchen by himself.
"Yes?" Julia called. She was a bit nervous, Orlando and her didn't really talk to each other, and perhaps he wanted her to leave now that he had come back.
"I know we don't talk very much, but you are my wife's closest friend and lately I have just been feeling like I'm not quite sure what it is, but she seems different. Maybe it is because I have been away for so long, but when we were first married I was away longer and well what I'm getting at is, she talks to you, and I was wondering if you knew what was going on with her?" Orlando inquired, genuinely confused.
Julia knew that Laura had been so distant because of Clark. But she was certainly not going to say the real reason and betray Laura's trust.
"Well, you were away 3 years, but she hasn't told me anything, and the things she does tell me are always of how joyful she is that you home with her and your daughter." Julia lied.
"Oh, well, thank you, Julia, I was just worried that I might have done something wrong, something offensive to her." Orlando said with a smile of relief.
Meanwhile Clark was in the small kitchen playing around, and he had knocked off a wooden bowl, and scattered the contents everywhere. Clark gasped in fear. He was just going to run away, but then decided he should just go tell Julia what had happened. He was only 3½ but he was a very bright and smart young boy.
Clark walked out of the kitchen and ran up to Julia while she was talking to Orlando. "I'm sorry I was just... and then, it fell and I'm sorry." Clark said.
Julia looked at him with shear terror in her eyes. Clark felt even worse, at seeing how upset she was, he had no idea that he was supposed to be a secret hidden from the world.
"Clark" Julia said not knowing what to say. So she just gestured Clark to go back into the kitchen and she followed behind him.
"Julia, who is this little boy?" Orlando asked. He had never seen this raven haired little boy before.
Julia turned bright red and despite her instincts, turned around and answered, "Um... I'm sure you've met him before, he is um..."
"Julia?" Orlando asked at seeing her hesitation.
"This is my son, Clark." She lied.
At hearing this, a huge smile swept across Clark's face. Never before had anyone claimed him as their son. His whole life he never heard this phrase used on him. He always wanted to be someone's son, like Lana was Laura's daughter. But he thought that no one wanted him as a son.
Julia felt even worse about the lie when she saw Clark's ecstatic expression.
"You have a son?" Orlando said with pure shock.
"Yes, I'm sure I've told you about him before." Julia said wanted to leave.
"No, never, but who is the father?" Orlando asked in curiosity.
"Um... I really have to finish preparing dinner right now, I'm sorry." She said knowing she had to leave right then.
"Okay, I didn't mean to keep you, but some time we will have to finish this conversation." He said with a smirk.
When Clark and Julia where safely back in the kitchen Clark turned to Julia and asked, "I'm your son?" with a big grin upon his face.
Julia looked down, "Clark, I think of you as the son I never had, you are very special to me."
"Oh" Clark said walking away and running outside where he usually played in the gardens.
Clark however did not feel like running around. He just sat there, and wished Lana would come home, she always cheered him up.
When Laura and Lana returned home, Julia told her of what had happened and the lie she had told. Laura was grateful that she had not given her secret away, but she knew now that she could no longer keep Clark from Orlando, she needed to tell him of the little boy she had taken in as her own.
Later that night Laura sat down with Orlando to tell him about
Clark. "Orlando, there is something really important I need to talk to you about." Laura said nervously taking Orlando's hand.
"Okay." He said thinking the worst.
"While you were gone, um... I did something you should know about." Laura said quickly continuing knowing if she didn't she would never tell him.
"It was shortly after Lana was born, and..." Laura tried to find just the right words to say it, "It was a wet night and Julia found a child, a boy only a few days old, on the streets. I mean what kid of person leaves a newborn child to die in the middle of winter and..." Laura started to cry a little at the thought; she was always very sensitive to this topic. "And we took him in and we nursed him back to health. When he regained his health and strength, I made a decision to keep him." Laura finished looking up at Orlando for a reaction.
"Wait Laura, what are you saying? There is another child around here you have been hiding from me for 3 years?" Orlando said emotionless.
"I'm sorry! It was just very hard to tell you. I mean you were gone and-" Laura just stopped.
"Laura, why?" Orlando asked.
"He would have died! Even if I did give him up, he would have just been the tool to some farmer! Please just try and understand." Laura said trying to defend herself.
"Laura, I mean, what will people think? What do they think?" Orlando asked suddenly getting mad. What had happened to his reputation over the years he was gone? He was one the most respected knights for miles, and he made many trades and had received things solely on his reputation. If there was now rumor that his wife had taken in a peasant child and been raising them would, people consider him a joke? Would they still look upon him as the brave knight they once had?
"Orlando calm down! I've kept it a secret from everyone except Julia."
She said. Orlando did calm down.
"Okay, this is good. You can get rid of him before anyone can ever find out this boy lived here." Orlando said sitting back down.
"I'm not getting rid of him." Laura said in shock that Orlando assumed she would and that was why she was coming clean.
"What do you mean? You have to!" Orlando shouted.
"No, I will not! I have raised him from infancy! " Laura said, madder than she could ever remember being before.
"Laura, there is no discussion, the boy must leave and right away before word spreads! If people know about this, I will be considered a joke here." Orlando said in a commanding voice.
The two fought for a while longer, only ending in more tears and hurtful words. Orlando told Laura that he was going on a trip to visit his brother and that if this boy (he never even cared to meet Clark.) wasn't gone before he came back, he was going to get rid of him himself, and that it would be much worse than if Laura did it herself.
Orlando was gone for 6 months. Laura did not send Clark away. She never even considered it. Orlando was furious when he came home to find Clark and Lana playing in the garden out back. He knew that this little boy was the one his wife had taken in at a young age. He marched up to the children playing.
Lana was immediately scared of her father as he came toward them. Lana stepped behind Clark in fear.
"What is your name boy?" Orlando demanded.
"Clark." Clark said scared to death of the man towering over him.
Orlando grabbed Clark by the arm so tightly Clark yelled. Orlando dragged Clark in to the house. Lana was screaming and running after Clark.
"Let him go! Stop!" Lana said crying.
When Laura saw Orlando very angrily coming at her with Clark gripped so tightly by the arm it was turning purple, and Lana screaming and chasing after Clark, she was so alarmed she jumped up and went to them.
"Take your hand off of him!" She yelled.
"Why is he still here!" He yelled even louder.
"Let him go now!" She said. Orlando threw Clark to the ground and Lana ran over to him, "Are you hurt?" Lana asked as Clark got up. Laura immediately put herself between the two children and her husband.
"What is wrong with you!"
"Me! You were supposed to get rid of him! I leave for 6 months, and you had no intention of getting rid of that little bastard!" He yelled at his wife.
"I told you I wouldn't get rid of him!" She said.
"Then, I guess I'll have to do it myself!" He yelled, reaching for Clark.
"You leave him alone!" She yelled and slapped him across the face. She immediately regretted it. He pushed her aside and grabbed Clark.
"No please! Don't! I'm sorry! I don't' know what I did! Please! Stop!" Clark said as the man took him by both arms and carried him off. Lana tried to go after Clark, but Laura held her back. She had never seen her husband so angry and didn't know what he would do.
"Lana, go and stay with Julia." Laura said.
"But he is going to hurt Clark. You have to stop him." Lana said crying.
"I'm going to baby, but you need to stay with Julia." And with that Laura ran after her husband who was carrying the small boy.
"Orlando! Stop it!" She tried to pull Clark out of his grip, but Orlando was built very well and four times strong then Laura.
It broke Laura's heart to see the terrified look on Clark's face, which was now covered in tears.
"Laura, if you care about this boy at all! You will stay away from me while I do this!" He said.
"No, you can't! Stop!" Laura cried. Orlando just turned his back on her. As if an answer to her prayers, a man came running threw the doors, as Orlando was just about to open them, at the sight of the man, he loosened his grip on Clark, and Laura grabbed Clark and told him to run. Clark didn't need to be told twice and ran as fast as he could.
"What?" Orlando asked the man whom he clearly recognized.
"We need your help! On the edge of the city we are under attack! Quick!" He said tossing him a sword.
Orlando raced out. But before he left he did something that surprised Laura more than anything. He turned and kissed her and told her he loved her and left. She stood there for a whole 10 minutes in awe.
Orlando never returned that day. Laura only received a message that said he was riding into battle the next day and he gave her all his love and apologized. She was in tears from the letter. He seemed scared.
Laura prayed that her husband would win the battle so he could come home safely and soon. No matter how much she had been mad at him, she loved him more than anyone. She had gone 3 years without him, he had barely been back when he had left again on the worst of circumstances.
"Clark, are you ok?" Lana asked hugging Clark as she saw him. Clark didn't' answer her but instead hugged Lana back.
"Clark!" Lana gasped as she saw Clark's arm. "You're bleeding!" She said as she inspected the small cut along his arm. It was nothing to get alarmed over, but Lana was upset when Clark was the least bit hurt. The next day when Clark woke up after a restless night, he found the perfect shape of a hand on his arm, where Orlando had grabbed him. The memory of the bruise stayed with Clark his whole life.
Clark and Lana remained best friends. For her husband's sake, whenever anyone asked about Clark, Julia & Laura continued the lie that Clark was Julia's son. Lana & Clark were aught how to read and write by the time they were six.
The day before Lana's 7th birthday Orlando returned. Lana & Clark stayed their safe distance from him. Laura, despite how she thought she was going to greet him, hugged him and kissed him. Laura never remembered feeling so strongly towards Orlando. They went a whole week before mentioning the issue of Clark.
But when it came up, it really came up.
There were so many hurtful words and yelling. But in the end it all came down to was Orlando was the man, and the men were in control of all the decisions.
"If you make me give him up, I will never forgive you." Laura said with tears in her eyes.
"He can not stay here." Orlando said watching Laura run from the room more upset than they day he had left.
* * * * *
"Clark, I don't want you to go!" Lana cried holding on to Clark.
"I don't' want to leave either, but I have to, besides Lana, once I leave things will get better for you, he hates me and loves you." Clark said hugging Lana.
"No it won't! I will miss you so much!" Lana said trying her hardest not to cry more.
"Lana, you are my best friend in the whole world and always will be! I'll never forget you." Clark voice cracked. Lana couldn't take it anymore; she started to cry.
"I'll never forget you either" Lana took off a golden necklace with 'Lana' written on it with a rose next to it. "Take it, so that you will always remember me."
Clark took the necklace and slipped into his pocket.
"Goodbye." Clark said kissing Lana on the cheek. The two kids stood there in a hug for a full minute before they broke.
Laura, with tears in her eyes, hugged Clark and said, "Clark, I love you like a son, and I am so thankful that I got to have you at least for this long. I'm so sorry that you have to be put threw this. But remember wherever you go, baby, I'll always love and keep you in my heart!"
Clark had started crying and could only manage to get out a small
"Good-bye."
Clark was carried off in a small wagon with his belongings. Laura & Lana watched as Clark rode out of their lives. They stood there in tears, as their hearts broke.
