The Banished

Chapter 1

"Overlander, watch your back!"

It was his fault, alright. A good guard would never turn his back to the action, but it had been a pretty lousy day for a guard. The Queen could have roamed the streets freely, had she wished. Or so he thought before. Not to mention, that wasn't allowed. The Queen controlled all, but even she had a hard time these days, escaping her own watch. She had learned some many years ago at that point that a missing queen is not a queen at all and serves her kingdom no good.

At the moment though, the queen was a good five paces in front of him and the Overlander had no choice, but to tear his eyes away from her as he turned to face whatever unforeseen attack had been called out to him. It turned out to be simple enough. There was a man, rushing up on his right, not even a welding a weapon, really, just a long peace of wood or metal or something. The Overlander hardly paid attention to that, too preoccupied with the man's movements to be worried about something so trivial. Sword, dagger, knife, whatever. The point was it couldn't get to the queen. That was the only point.

At that yell, the queen had turned around to see what was the matter, but another guard who was closer to her, immediately grabbed her. Though they were in times of piece and had been for some time, not a one of them ever forgot their training. The Queen came above all else. Always. Even their own lives.

Still, as he had stated before, the threat was minimal. The Overland guard didn't even draw his sword fully. He let the man charge him and, when he was in range, the guard jerked his sword halfway out of his scabbard, his timing turning out to be perfect as planned as the hilt collided with the man's face, splitting it open.

There was a cheer then, from the crowd. Still, the Overlander's senses were raised, now on high attentiveness for another threat. The man lay moaning on the ground, the blood from his busted face rushing to the street under him. Still, the guard continued to look around, waiting for more. He was always waiting for more. More. There was never enough.

"You about decapitated the man, the whiplash he got."

The Overlander was jerked out of his trance as someone clapped him on the shoulder. Shaking his head at the voice, he turned slightly to look at him.

"I am relieved that you saw him, Plesious," the man told him. "He would had whacked me good in the head, I presume."

"Not with this on your head," the other guard laughed, reaching up then to pat the dark helmet the other man wore. "Besides, he would have never gotten to her. That's what he was after, I'm sure. And anyone that wants to get to Queen Luxa, must get through you first, eh?"

"They must get through us all," he agreed, referring to the whole royal guard. He knew the other man's words were meant a completely different way, but chose to ignore them, as he always did. Before them at the moment, a crowd had gathered around, a few of what in the Overland would be considered police officers gathered around, trying to separate the people. Two of them approached the Overlander, awaiting his direction. Though they were technically in control of most of the city, the royal guard still had clout above them.

"Take him to get his wounds treated above all," the Overlander ordered them as he adjusted his helmet and fully re-sheathed his sword. "Then, when that is dealt with, take him to the dungeons. The Queen will deal with him when she sees fit."

Turning then, the Overlander gave the crowd another once over before heading off again, towards the palace, knowing that's where the queen had gone. That was who his duty was with, after all.

"My queen, you requested my presence?"

"Come Overlander," she spoke as he moved to get down on one knee. "We are alone. Stand."

He hesitated, looking around the royal chamber once. "You know as well as I that the walls have ears and eyes."

"Then perhaps you should give them something to look at, yes?"

They were in the open area of her royal chamber, Luxa seated on one of the couches, watching him. He was still apprehensive though, as he always was when he went awhile without being alone without her. He was always afraid of being discovered. It wasn't like many didn't have their suspicious and many others didn't speak their qualms frequently. Still, Luxa was the queen. The queen! And a foreigner, an Overlander, could never be her king. Never.

…But he could be the head of her royal guard, forever sworn to her side, his allegiance to her arguably greater than that of a bond. Yes, he could be that, with a few pulled strings. And once those were pulled, there was nothing to stop him.

"If you must kneel, Overlander," the queen spoke again, sounding almost bored with him while he just stood there, one hand rested over the hilt of his sword, looking uneasy and nervous. "Do so in front of me."

He raised an eyebrow at that, but she just sat there on that couch, staring at him openly with uninterested eyes. Slowly, he made his way over to her, caution in his every movement.

"I sent all the others away, Overlander. You have no reason to fear me."

"I do not fear you," he assured her. "I fear what I could do to you."

"To me?"

"Your reputation."

"You must learn to have faith in me. I have protected you and my…reputation as of yet, have I not?"

He was at her feet then, staring down at her. "You have."

She made a nodding motion with her head, her look giving off her slight annoyance. Staring into her eyes as he did so, he slowly went down to one knee and then the other, his sheathed sword clanking softly against the ground.

"My queen," he whispered as she shifted forwards, moving her hands up to his face. She smiled at him softly, her dull purple irises showing off how tired she was. Time of peace meant nothing to the business that surrounded her everyday life.

"Forget the act." Her hands ran up his face then, pushing his metallic black helmet off his head, it clanking loudly to the floor. He just stared at her though, not speaking. "Gregor."

"No act," he mumbled as she leaned forwards, her hands running through his hair then. He knew what she was looking for and let out a long breath as she found it.

"It seems to be healing nicely."

He just sat there on his knees as she ran a hand gently across the stitches, sewing up the laceration in his head from a few weeks ago, when his training had gotten a tad too rough and one of the other guards sliced into his skull. Gregor insisted that it was accidental, but he and Luxa both knew it wasn't. Moving up in the ranks was hard. Jealousy was more of a constant than change.

"Is that what you were worried about?"

She smiled down at him. "When I saw that man coming for you? Yes."

"He was not coming for me. He was coming for you. They all want you."

"I can handle myself."

He moved his hands to rest them on her thighs, the fabric of her pants nice under his fingers. "You can."

For a long moment, they stayed in that position, neither moving nor speaking. Luxa, as always, was the one to put a stop to that.

"You must go home soon, Overlander," she told him then solemnly. "You have gone months without your sun."

"I can go more."

"You should not push yourself." She did it for him then, shoved his chest gently with one of her hands. He gave way easy, falling slightly back when they both knew it would take far more than that to get him to move even a budge. He played into her well, he always had. "You do not know when the serene times will end and war will strike. Go home."

"I am home."

That got a slight shake of her head. "You will never truly be home, Overlander."

"No?"

"No. You have no home."

That made him smirk. "And you?"

"And I what?"

"And you do? Have a home?"

"I have a palace."

"You have rooms," he corrected. "Many filled and many not."

"Aye," she agreed, nodding her head slightly. "And they are my home."

"That is a sad home," he commented dryly.

"Perhaps. But better a sad home than no home, no?"

"No," he said with a shake of his head. "Not at all."

She sighed slightly before slowly removing her hands and sitting up straight once more. "Off you go then, I suppose."

"Luxa-"

"Queen Luxa, don't you mean?" She grinned widely for a moment. "Or don't you know I could have you beheaded for far less?"

He just stared at her. "Off I go to where exactly?"

"To pack," she told him as he stood slowly, retrieving his helmet first before replacing it on his head. "I have told Aurora that she will take you on the morrow."

"You what?" He shook his head. "I don't-"

"You will go, Overlander," she told him, none to gently. "And you will stay the week, as you always do. And when it is up, Aurora will be awaiting you to take you back to me. There will be no fuss made and very few people will notice your absence."

He stared good and hard before shaking his head. Then, slowly, a grin spread over his lips though he would have liked to conceal it longer.

"You'll be the death of me, you know that?"

Her head shook gently as she looked passed him, at the wall. "We will be the death of each other. Now go."

After taking a moment to compose himself, he laid a hand over his blade before giving a low bow, as he always did in her presence.

"My queen."

"My love."

He just stared as he righted himself. 'Dangerous words, no?"

"Why Overlander, do you know me at all?"

"You will take care of things on my departure?"

"Have I ever not?"

Gregor shared a grin with the other man before shaking his head and hoisting his bag up to his shoulder. "I suppose I should be off then."

"Aye," the man agreed with a nod of his head. "And should you decide to not return, I understand."

"You won't get rid of me that easy, Matthias." He shook his head slightly, looking around his room. It was rather small, but as the head of the royal guard, he was expected to live in the palace, to always been close to the queen. "In all seriousness, the duty falls to you now, you know."

"As it always does." The man smiled at his superior. "I get the room too, yes?"

"Technically," he agreed slowly. "But you know as well as I that I do not like-"

"You will only be gone a week," Matthias said, as he always did. "Not much will change, I'm sure."

"Wars start overnight here," Gregor told him with a shake of the head. "I won't be far, but still."

"All will be taken care of, of course," the man said, nodding. "You had best head out to meet Aurora."

Gregor grinned when the other man clapped him on the shoulder and said, "Fly you high, my brother."

"The same to you," the Overlander said, patting him as well before heading out of the room.

It always felt weird to him, walking around the palace outside of his armor. He wore it so frequently that he almost felt empty without it. At the moment, he was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, as he always wore before he headed back up to the Overland. His scent didn't matter much at all, as he was constantly in the Underland. The gnawers could tell no different regardless.

As always, before heading off the High Halls to meet with Aurora, Gregor instead headed a different way, further into the palace. It was still early morning and he knew that the queen would still be in her chambers.

"Overlander."

Gregor came to a stop some time later in front of the doorway leading to the royal wing of the palace, two guards placed in front of the closed curtain.

"I come to see the queen," he said, his hand automatically going to his side to rest over the sword there. He would wear it until he was in the Overland, never truly feeling safe otherwise. "I leave today, for the Overland. I must meet with her."

"As you say, sir," one of the two said, stepping aside. Ultimately, Gregor was still their superior and could technically go as he pleased. Still, respect was a hard thing to earn when the position was set in your lap by a queen that's obviously in love with you.

The older of the two guards held his post, just staring at the Overlander. "You are dressed to leave. What business do you have with the queen?"

"And what business is that of yours?" Gregor stood up straight as he could, ignoring the fact that the guy not only outweighed him, but was also taller than him. The Underlander snorted at this, resting a palm over his own sword. After a moment though, he relented, stepping aside as well.

"Gentleman," the Overlander said as he took a step between them, his hand still not leaving the hilt of his sword. He was never safe, not even in the one place Luxa was.

"Gregor!"

He had been walking down the hallway, headed towards Luxa's room, when someone grabbed him from the side. He didn't fight back as he was pulled into one of the many rooms in the royal wing, recognizing the voice almost immediately.

"You're not a very good guard. You didn't even know I was here."

Gregor smiled as he stepped further into the room, staring into the eyes of the Halflander boy, his green eyes showing more interest than his face or tone showed.

"I am on my way out now, Hazard," Gregor told the boy, standing with perfect posture as he addressed the sixteen year old. "If there is a matter that pressing, perhaps-"

"You sound more and more like an Underlander everyday," the teen said, shaking his head, his disdain plain. "Maybe you should spend more time up above."

Gregor hesitated. "Perhaps."

"And, like, maybe you should take me."

"Hazard, you know as well as I do that-"

"It's not fair. She lets you go up whenever you choose."

"I do not want to go. Luxa-"

"Then see? Why do I not need the light?"

Gregor took a deep breath before slowly letting it out and releasing his hilt. Reaching out, he patted the young man on the head, much to the Halflander's annoyance.

"Your cousin only wishes to protect you."

"From what? What could hurt me there?" Hazard shook his head. "I want to go."

"You always do."

"And you always tell me when I'm older. I'm older."

"Not old enough. You-"

"Luxa treats me like a child! When she was sixteen, she had a coronation. I had another birthday party with all the other kids that I hardly know because she does not like me to leave the palace. Ever. She wants to lock me away. Other kids my age have jobs, are soldiers or leaders. I'm nothing. What does she want me to be anyways? What does she want me to do when she's dead?"

"I want you to be well-taken care of."

Gregor shut his eyes as he heard the voice of the queen behind him. Stepping to the side, he watched as she came through the curtain, into Hazard's bedroom.

"You have no heir, Luxa," Hazard told her. "Not as of now. When you die and when Nerissa resigns, who's going to care for me? I'm a man."

Gregor, not really down for a family argument, instead focused in on Luxa, who was dressed for court later that day, in a stunning gown. That was the only time she really ever wore dresses. She despised them, he knew, but she had to show out for court. He really wanted to be there with her, heading the guard during whatever trials would go on that day, but he knew she had already sent a message up to his mother that he would be returning; she would be expecting him.

"You are going to be an interpreter," Hazard's cousin told him, rolling her purple irises. "The same thing you have wanted since-"

"I want to fight."

"You will not fight," she told him, her eyes evening out then as she leveled a gaze with him. Then, after a moment, she tossed some hair over her shoulder. "Not to mention, Hazard, we are at peace. We have been for a number of months. There is no place in the military currently for it to grow, no need for it to. You will do as I tell you."

"Or what, Luxa? Huh? You'll lock me up?" Hazard crossed his arms, looking off. "You do not scare me."

"You are a man? Someone that acts so petulant constantly?"

"I-"

"Not to interrupt, but I really don't need to be here for this." Gregor looked to his queen, nodding his head. "I came to speak with you."

She was still staring at her younger cousin. If there was anyone that could get on her nerves, it was Hazard.

"On what matters?"

"On the matters of I'm leaving now and wanted to get your final blessing."

Hazard snickered then, causing both of them to frown at him.

"What?" Luxa asked, crossing her arms. "What is humorous, Hazard?"

"If 'matters' means kissing and hoping no one finds out-"

"I do need to get going," Gregor said then, rolling his own eyes finally. "I will see you both when I return, I-"

"Come, Overlander." Luxa turned then, walking gracefully away. "If a discussion is what you want, then you will get it."

He glanced at Hazard before leaving, who just wagged his eyebrows at him. Shaking his head, the off duty guard turned to follow his leader.

"Come now, Overlander, what do you think of my dress?"

Gregor followed her through the royal wing, passing a few other guards in the process. No one would look directly at the two of them, but he knew this would only further the gossip.

"I like it fine," he told her as his hand unconsciously found its way back onto the hilt of his sword. "Where are you taking me?"

"Just to speak privately. To fill you in on what will be happening in your absence."

"Aurora can wait, I suppose."

"She is very good at that."

Even when they got to one of the extra sitting rooms, Gregor didn't feel truly alone. There were no doors, only curtains. He always feared prying ears.

"I will miss you, my knight."

Gregor tensed as, when they were alone, Luxa strung her arms around him. After a moment though, he relaxed slightly though he did not speak. Knight. There were no knights in the Underland. He had, however, seen some of the sacred literature Regalia had. Few pieces spoke of the old times, back when they were still above ground. They left during the times of knights. Gregor was sure Luxa at least had some idea what one of those were, as faint as it might be.

"It will only be a week."

"Will you not miss me then?"

He smiled then, a soft one. Luxa had just offered something up to him. If he didn't at least respond, it would make her angry. She cared for him greatly, that was true enough, but the idea of being alone in that love they had scared her to no end.

"I will worry everyday I am away," he assured her as she kissed his cheek, lingering for a moment. "But you have a kingdom to run with many people in it. I doubt my absence will make much of a difference."

"It always has," she said as she released him.

For only being twenty-one, they were both very grim when they left each other, always certain that something would happen to the other in their absence. For Gregor, he feared war or a governmental overthrow. For Luxa, she feared what she did not know. Gregor told her many stories of the Overland and, though to most the Underland seemed far worse, to her the world above seemed far too dangerous to function in.

…Not to mention, there was always the chance that he just didn't want to come back and would leave her then, waiting and wondering. That was probably her biggest reserve about sending him back up. Still, she knew that there was no other way for him to live, as he needed his sun periodically. A week wasn't ideal, a month up would be better, but they had done that before. He was miserable the whole time, even with notes sent up to him through the grate. That world wasn't for him anymore. Maybe it never was.

"I must leave you now, my queen." Gregor gave a cheesy sweeping bow that only succeeded in making her roll her eyes, his goal all along.

"I trust I am in good hands while you are gone?"

"The best," he assured her.

"Then perhaps when you return, I will find my current head of the royal guard more suitable."

"Perhaps," he agreed. "And perhaps there will be a bounty on my said replacement then."

"Perhaps."

They both shared a smile as the Overlander righted himself. Then, patting his stomach slightly, he said, "I must be on my way. I am sure my mother is awaiting my return."

Luxa squared her chin then, going back to her usual bored expression. "Yes, your mother."

"Good day, my queen."

"Fly you high, Overlander."

It wasn't until he was in the High Hall that anyone even spoke to him again. He passed many people, both most ignored him. His first year or so acting as Luxa's guard was full of complications and doubt, if not pure hatred by some. Still, he made his keep and was one of the most valuable warriors. Not many could make light of his presence on their enemies minds and that was by far his best quality.

"Greetings, Overlander."

There was much going on in the High Halls, per usual, but he easily picked out the queen's rust colored bond. She was waiting for him, patient as ever.

"Hey, Aurora," Gregor sighed as he made his way over, quickly climbing onto her back. "Thanks for taking me back."

"As the queen commands."

He smiled, knowing her sarcasm after so long. "I didn't even know she was sending me off until yesterday."

"I do not feign understanding of her ways, only follow them wholeheartedly."

"Ninety percent of the time," Gregor agreed. "For me at least."

"For I as well."

I've wanted to start a new Underland Chronicles story for a long time. Since I'm essentially taking a break from Maximum Ride, this seemed like a good time.