Due to technical difficulties, mainly a computer virus hijacking my laptop and corrupting many files; this fanfic is late. We really appreciate your patience and hope you enjoy our sequel. We even created a poster for this one. In my profile.
If You Thought War Was Hard, Try Marriage
"Your Majesty must push." The midwife said and Lois screamed out in pain. After two years of marriage, Lois was giving birth to hers and Kal-El's first child but the physicians and midwife were worried by how long the labor was lasting.
Kal-El paced up and down in his inner chamber in his breeches, white shirt, and red robe listening to Lois's screams coming from their adjoining bedchamber. J'onn was sitting down twirling a sheathed dagger and with his feet up on a table in black trousers, a white shirt, and an unlaced green doublet. "Sire, we may need to cut the child out of the queen's womb." Emil Hamilton said.
Kal-El closed his eyes so not to picture it. "And my wife…? Will this kill her?" He asked softly and worried.
"Yes, but there is a chance that the queen may survive. But I have only seen a few women survive being in labor this long and those that did never bore anymore children." Emil said and Kal-El ran his hands over his face.
"Is it possible that you can deliver the child without cutting it from her womb?" Kal-El asked rubbing his temple.
"It is possible but both ways are dangerous to both the queen and the child." Emil replied. "What do wish for me to do?"
Kal-El placed his hands on top of his head and took a deep breath. Then he heard Lois scream again. "Save my wife…and if you can, save our child." He said. Emil bowed and reentered the bedchamber.
"If the child dies, Lois will never forgive you." J'onn said. Kal-El sighed and rubbed his eyes.
"I know but she will live." Kal-El said.
Hours past, J'onn watched his friend, who was sitting frozen in front of the fireplace. The screams then stopped and all was silent in the bedchamber. Emil Hamilton left the bedchamber with his sleeves rolled up and there was still wet blood on his hands. "The Queen has delivered." Kal-El could not help but stare at his bloody hands. "Your Majesty…I am so sorry." Emil said somberly.
Kal-El pushed past Emil and entered the bedchamber despite Emil's protests. He first saw a bloody bundle of sheets wrapped around a small body. He covered his mouth with his right hand and then looked away. Kal-El heard muttering and took a step closer to the bed. The lurid sight made him clamp his jaw shut and his hands shake.
There was Lois. She was so pale and there was so much blood.
Kal-El awoke with a start covered in sweat and breathing heavily. Once he noticed his surroundings, he wiped the sweat from his brow and rested his head back on the soft pillow. His right hand rested on the bare pillow beside him. He caressed that bare area where Lois once slept beside him. There was no warmth, only the feel of the cool cloth. He held up his left hand and looked at the victory ring on his left ring finger.
He closed his eyes and pictured the rising sun shining on her face. How he would push back her hair behind her ear and she would moan at his touch. Then her eyes would open slowly and she would grin when she awoke to him marveling her.
Kal-El opened his eyes and sighed. He threw the covers back and left the bed. There was a long list of things to be done today. He could not worry about the past for it was the past. Nothing could change it, not even Rao himself.
He walked to the water basin in front of the window. Jon-Tel brought it in every morning before he awoke for he was one of a few who knew of his nightmares. He took a deep breath as he felt the cool water splash onto his face. Then he grabbed a cloth and dabbed the water off his face.
He sighed as he looked upon his reflection. Kal-El now had a thin mustache and a goatee. He looked upon the scars on his flesh. The veins around the particular wound on his right arm were still a pale green.
Kal-El was interrupted from his thoughts by knocking. It was most likely Jon-Tel coming to wake him. "Come." He said. Jon-Tel entered the bedchamber and bowed. "Well?" He asked.
"You have a rather large group of petitioners today and the new Genesis ambassador has arrived, Sire. And do not forget that your wards begin training with their new swords master today as well." Jon-Tel said.
Kal-El rubbed his eyes. "I remember. Thank you, Jon-Tel." Jon-Tel bowed and left the bedchamber. "Another day of politics." He whispered to himself and sighed. There were some days when he missed the war but then he thought back on the consequences of the war, such as the death of his guardian, Jonathan Kent, and his Uncle Zor-El. And Krypton was now in an era of peace, the first time since the last years of the reign of Zod II.
There was another knock on the door. It was his barber. And thus, his morning routine began. First, his barber shaved off his stubble and a quick trim of his hair. Then, Jon-Tel showed him an array of tunics. Then, a bath before he would dress himself.
Kal-El looked at his reflection in the mirror. He fastened his sword belt around his waist and straightened his fine knee-length blue tunic. Then Jon-Tel put the red slash over his head and onto his left shoulder. He adjusted it so the crest of the House of El was lying over his heart. Lastly, Jon-Tel presented him with his gold circlet. Kal-El picked it up off the red pillow and placed it on his brow. He motioned for Jon-Tel to leave.
Kal-El walked over to the fireplace and removed a locked box from the mantle. He unlocked it and opened it. Two silver lockets, his wedding band and ring, and the El ring rested in the box. He placed the El ring on his right ring finger and his red wedding band around his right wrist. The first silver locket appeared ordinary. He opened it to reveal a lock of dark hair inside of it. He closed the locket, kissed it, and put it back in the box somberly.
He picked up the second locket, which had the initials LL engraved on the front. He opened it to reveal a beautiful portrait of Lois. He grinned at the portrait, closed the locket, kissed it, and put it around his neck and hid it beneath his tunic. He closed and locked the box before putting it back on the mantle.
Kal-El left the bedchamber and was followed by Jon-Tel and two Red Shard knights in black hauberks, trousers, red tabards bearing the crest of their order, and they wore sword belts. They headed for the training courtyard and everyone bowed as he walked past. Soon, the sounds of wood striking wood could be heard coming from the training courtyard. Kal-El then motioned for his entourage to wait.
Kal-El entered the courtyard and grinned. His wards, Christopher and Conner Kent, were dueling with wooden swords. His daughter, 7-year-old Princess Kara Kal-El, watched and cheered on both of her brothers. He heard a woman chuckling and saw her watching the children. He walked up to her. "Good morrow, Lois." Kal-El greeted his wife.
Lois stopped chuckling and glanced at him for a moment before she went back to watching the children. "The new Genesis ambassador has arrived. The Council is entertaining him until we are finished with the petitioners." Lois sighed. "You were the one who said we need to keep up pretenses." He said quietly.
Newly 15-year-old Christopher then smacked the wooden sword out of 10-year-old Connor's hand. "Yield." Christopher said. Kal-El then began clapping and walked forward. The knights in the courtyard kneeled at once and the children bowed. Kal-El motioned for them all to rise.
"Well done, Chris." Kal-El said making Christopher smile and Connor frown. Conner then threw the wooden sword and it collided with a column. Kal-El patted Christopher's shoulder and kneeled before Connor. "Oh Connor, do not fret. You are only using too much force. A sword is about who is faster as well as who is stronger. We shall work on it later."
Connor nodded and flashed a small grin. Kal-El kissed his forehead and Connor groaned. Kara then ran up and threw her arms around Kal-El's neck. He picked her up and kissed both her cheeks. "Papa, may we go riding today?" Kara asked softly.
"Not today, sweetheart. Mama and I have important work to do." Kal-El said and put her down. "Until then, the three of you focus on your studies. Remember I receive reports from your tutors every day." Kal-El especially pointed two fingers at Christopher and Connor.
"Yes, father." All three children said in unison. Kal-El then ruffled all their hair making them laugh. Lois grinned.
Kal-El wiped the dust of his trousers and walked back to Lois. "My lady." He said and held up his left hand.
"My lord." Lois said and took his hand. They left the courtyard. "When will you get rid of that horrid beard?" She asked in the common tongue as they walked through the halls.
Kal-El nodded to the nobles who bowed to them. "When I grow tired of it." He replied and Lois scoffed. They then arrived at the doors to the throne room. Lois's maid and Jon-Tel's wife, Vala-Tel, handed Lois her red sash and gold circlet. She put them on and straightened her sash over her red dress.
Jon-Tel winked at his wife and she grinned. Kal-El nodded to Jon-Tel, who knocked on the doors twice. Kal-El held up his left hand, Lois took it, and they took a few steps back. "Their Majesties, King Kal-El and Queen Lois-El!" The royal herald announced. The doors opened and they entered the throne room.
They walked down the red carpet. Everyone was kneeling except the Genesis ambassadors, who were bowing instead. They reached their thrones, ascended the dias. They turned around to face the throne room. "Rise." He said and everyone rose as they sat down.
They spent the better part of the morning listening to petitioners: some land disputes, which Kal-El asked Councilor Qin to examine maps of the area and bring what he found to him as soon as possible. A wildfire burned some fields and destroyed a great deal of crops so Kal-El commanded Wren-Za to find out which farms were truly destroyed and to compensate the farmers to buy new seeds to plant with.
Lastly, a man in a dust covered brown wool doublet, trousers, and travel cloak. He kneeled before them in the Kryptonian manner. "What is your name and where do you hail from?" Kal-El asked. He sat up straight with his arms resting on the arms on his throne. His loyal hound, Krypto, lay beside his throne fully alert.
"Sul-Kol, Your Majesty, of Urrika." The man said nervously.
"Rise." The man stood but kept his gaze on the floor. "There is no reason to fear me or my queen, Sul-Kol. We are not gods but the sovereigns the gods have graced to lead their people, guide them, and protect them. Gazing upon us will not blind you for we are only flesh and blood. We are fellow Kryptonians." Kal-El said. Sul-Kol quickly cut his eyes to them and then back to the floor. "Better. Now, you have traveled far, Sul-Kol. Why have you come?"
"Majesty, I am here to report a great offense to your labor laws in the mines of the Jewel Mountains…" Sul-Kol finally found the courage to gaze upon them. "The new overseer has put young orphans to work in the mines after the miners have gone each night. He is forcing them to mine precious gems for his own pocket. The children are growing sick and if he keeps working them as he has, they shall soon begin to die."
Kal-El and Lois exchanged quick glances. "And what is the name of this overseer and how have you come to know all this?" He asked.
"His name is Erok-Ter, Majesty. I came to know this when I found a young girl hiding in the mines. She told me that she and the other children were taken from an orphanage along the coast and brought to work in the mines. They work with only one meal a day and are expected to bring at least one gem to Erok-Ter or be punished. This has been going on for months, Majesty." Sul-Kol said.
"And where is the child now?" Lois asked concerned.
"I took her home with me, where she has been under the care of me and my wife. But I did bring the child with me to Kandor. She is with my wife at an inn in the city. She did not wish to part from my wife and my wife did not want to part from her, Majesty." Sul-Kol said.
Kal-El drummed his fingers on the right arm of his throne twice. He then stroked his upper lip while he was thinking. "Commander Ak-Var, choose a captain to take a full regiment of the Red Shard to watch this overseer and arrest him if his crime is true. They will leave in the morrow. Write to the sheriff of Urrika of their coming." Ak-Var nodded once.
"And Sul-Kol, you will return to this inn with two knights of the Red Shard. You and yours shall be brought to stay in the palace for your protection. Commander Ak-Var, choose two knights and tell them to wear neither mail, nor armor. We do not wish to frighten the child." Ak-Var nodded once again.
"I thank Your Majesties." Sul-Kol bowed and back away until he was to the doors of the throne room. He then left.
Sir Perry White then stepped forward and bowed. "Ah, Sir Perry. It saddens the Queen and I to hear of your recall to Genesis but you have served King Peter well these past nine years in Krypton." He said.
"I thank Your Majesties. It has truly been an honor… Here is my replacement, my nephew, Sir Richard White." Richard White stepped forward and bowed. Kal-El and Lois nodded once to acknowledge him.
"Now, my last task as ambassador… His Grace, King Peter has asked of me to ask Your Majesties for reinforcements on his campaign against Alexander Luthor, who remains shut up behind the strong walls of the city of Thanagar." Perry said.
Lois looked at Kal-El, who was stroking his upper lip. "In my eyes, the war is over. Why should there be more Kryptonians bloodshed for a war that is long done in our view?" Kal-El asked.
"King Peter only thought that Krypton would like to help finish a conflict that they begun…Your Majesty." Perry replied.
Kal-El sucked his teeth and Lois then stroked his right arm, signaling him to compose himself. Despite being a just and gentle man, Kal-El had a horrible temper. "As much as I admire and respect King Peter, I do not intend to spend the rest of reign cleaning up the mess my uncle left behind when he left this world. May Rao grant him peace." Kal-El said.
Lois then placed her hand over his right hand, signaling she had a private comment to make. Kal-El leaned closer to her. "With his extent knowledge of the crystal, Alexander is still a great threat. And do not forget what realm I come from, dear husband." Lois whispered in his ear and he sighed. Kal-El sat up straight again.
"But, the queen stresses that Alexander is still a great threat to our realm despite his downfall. But I must first speak with my War Council so that we can determine how many troops we can spare without leaving our own realm vulnerable." Kal-El said.
"I thank Your Majesties. This news will greatly please King Peter." Perry bowed and stepped off to the side.
"If you will excuse me, my lord husband, I wish to speak with His Excellency." Lois said and Kal-El nodded. Lois arose and everyone, except Kal-El, bowed their heads. Kal-El kissed her hand tenderly before she descended the dias. Perry raised his head when Lois approached him. He held up his left hand and Lois took it with a smile. After another bow/curtsey to Kal-El, they left the throne room.
The doors closed behind them and Kal-El motioned for a Red Shard knight to come forward. "Send for General Nox-Van. I need him here to discuss the condition of our troops." Kal-El said. The knight bowed and left the throne room. "Until the General's arrival, are there anymore affairs of state to discuss?" Kal-El asked and Councilman Durkin stepped forward. "Yes?"
"First, we wish to discuss the withdrawal His Majesty made from the treasury for the Kandorian Orphanage." Durkin said.
"Their roof is in need of repair. Just know that until it is repaired, I have invited the children and their governess to stay here in the palace, especially since winter shall be arriving in a matter of weeks." Kal-El said. Durkin did not seem pleased but he did not care. "You will inform me of Nox-Van's arrival and we shall meet in the Council chamber."
Kal-El stood and everyone kneeled. He walked out of the throne room. "Send for Raya." Kal-El said to Jon-Tel. Jon-Tel nodded and went off to find her.
Lady Raya was brought to the chambers of the Duke and Duchess of Daxam; it was where Kal-El had been sleeping from some months. "You are fortunate that I have just finished training." He was twirling his boot dagger. "Things still not well between you and Lois?" She asked. Raya was the first woman accepted into the Red Shard and its first female lieutenant. She wore a red gambeson, black hauberk, black trousers and boots, her red tabard, and her sword belt.
Kal-El stuck the dagger into the table and took a sip of wine. Raya rolled her eyes, walked up to him and forced the goblet of wine out of his hand. She set it aside out of his reach. "I could have you arrested." He said.
"But you will not. Who else will you speak to besides King Bruce? You cannot fly to Gotham every night…and you have not told your kin, nor the Dowager Duchess of Kansas what is happening. Even King Bruce said you are brooding too much." Raya said and he groaned.
Kal-El put his head in his hands. "I wish she would do more than acknowledge me. I want things to be the way they were." He said somberly.
"Just give her time. She lost a child, Kal-El. That is hard for any woman, especially when she is already a mother. I can only imagine her pain." Raya said.
"I had the dream again… It always begins the same way, the night of Kara's birth but then it ends with the night of Van-El's birth. Then back to the night of Kara's birth… Why must I be haunted by these memories of the past?" He put his head back in his hands. Raya rubbed his shoulder.
"Rao works in mysterious ways. And dreams pass in time. Now, you need to focus on winning back a place in your wife's heart; at least her good graces." Raya said.
Kal-El sighed and raised his head. "You are right." He said.
"I know I am." Raya said and they chuckled.
Kal-El sighed and tilted his head back. He took a deep breath. "Lois still believes you are my mistress." Raya scoffed.
"I would not be your mistress even if you were unwed." She said and he chuckled. "I love you like a brother and that is all. Now we just have to prove it to your wife." Kal-El groaned and banged his head down on the table. "You are being pathetic." She said and he banged his head on the table again. "Be a man! By Rao, you are a king!"
"I have tried everything…jewels, magnificent dinners, requests to spend the day together. I am at a lost for ideas." Kal-El said and banged his head on the table again.
"Stop that!" Raya exclaimed and smacked the back of his head. "Just tell her the truth… In fact the Day of Truth will be upon us in a few days. That is your opportunity." She said.
Kal-El rested his chin in the palm of his right hand. "I do not know where I would be now if it were not for your guidance in these past few months." Kal-El said. Raya took his hand and gave him a reassuring look. He gave her a small grin.
"We should go hunting." Raya said and Kal-El chuckled.
"You always speak of hunting when I speak of my problems in my life union." Kal-El said.
"How else am I going to distract you?" Raya said with a smile.
"You have been distracting me for months…riding, archery, training, now hunting; no wonder Lois believes you to be my mistress." Kal-El said and banged his head onto the table again.
"Stop that!" Raya said and smacked the back of his head again. "Anymore affairs of state for the day?"
"Just talk of sending troops to join General Lane, King Carter and Queen Shiera at the siege of Thanagar; and the boys have a new swords master; and supper with the new Genesis ambassador…" Kal-El droned on.
"Supper…we should go hunting so you can dine on something fresh. Perhaps a deer or a boar… I heard talk of a wild boar maiming some farmers not far from here." Raya gave him a look and he shook his head. Then she stared him down. He nodded and she flashed him a quick grin.
A few hours later
Kal-El mounted Bothgr. The horse was still quick and reliable for his age. Jon-Tel, Raya, Christopher, and six other Red Shard knights mounted their horses as well. Servants sat in a few wagons. One wagon was empty waiting to carry any game back. Another wagon held the hunting dogs. Kal-El now wore a blue wool doublet and a red fur-trimmed cloak. The knights wore black hauberks over their red gambesons, their red tabards, and black fur-trimmed cloaks.
Lois watched from their bedchamber window. She caressed her wedding ring on her left ring finger. Kara Kal-El was practicing the lute in the background. She clenched her hand into a fist when she saw Kal-El and Raya laughing. She walked away from the window and focused on her daughter.
Kal-El looked up at the bedchamber hoping to catch a glimpse of her but she was nowhere in sight. He sighed somberly. Raya gave him a reassuring smile and a pat on the back. That got a small grin out of him but he looked back up at the window again. He sighed. "Let us be off." He said. The gate was raised, he gave Bothgr a kick, and they galloped out of the courtyard.
They rode down the road. Knights standing along both sides of the road kneeled as he passed. The iron gates opened and they galloped passed them. "Clear the road! Make way for His Gracious Majesty!" Someone yelled. The people cleared the road and bowed to the galloping hunting party. Kal-El held up his hand to them as he lightly galloped by.
They were in a small wood not far from Kandor. Kal-El wielded a boar spear and they galloped after the hunting dogs. They were on the scent. Kal-El and Raya raced side by side with Christopher right behind them. The boar shrieked and took off running when the dogs barked at it. "Yah!" Kal-El yelled and shook the reins. Raya and he readied their boar spears.
The boar was in sight, running for its life. Raya aimed and threw her spear. It missed the boar by no more than an inch hitting a tree. The boar squealed and ran faster making Kal-El laugh. Raya shot him a dirty look and a knight passed her another boar spear. Christopher threw his spear and it almost struck the boar's feet. "Well done!" Kal-El yelled over his shoulder.
Kal-El aimed and took a deep breath. He threw the spear and it hit its target. But at the exact moment the spear hit it, there was a blue flash and the ground shook. They pulled back on the reins and Bothgr stood back on his hind legs. "Whoa! Calm down!" Kal-El exclaimed. Bothgr put down his front legs down and Kal-El patted his neck. He calmly shushed him. "Alright... We are alright." He said to him. Bothgr relaxed. "What in the name of Rao was that?"
"Let me see your hands!" Raya said and Kal-El looked at her confused. "Your hands!" She demanded. He rolled his eyes but he removed his riding gloves and showed her his hands. The victory ring was visible on his left hand. "That was not you?" She asked and he shook his head. "Form up around the king!"
The knights drew their swords and so did Kal-El but two knights grabbed crossbows. Christopher only had a dagger on his belt. A knight pointed to an area in the wood, where smoke was rising. "Chris, stay here." Christopher opened his mouth to protest but Kal-El shot him a look. Kal-El motioned for them to move forward carefully and Raya nodded. He motioned for the servants to wait and they began a slow trot.
It took them a few minutes but they arrived to a medium-sized crater. Raya shot him a confused look and Kal-El shrugged. He dismounted and she rolled her eyes. She and four of the knights dismounted. The two with crossbows remained atop their horses. Kal-El readied his sword and slowly approached the crater.
Kal-El was about to go down it but Raya put her hand on his shoulder and pulled him back. She shook her head to him. She held up two fingers and pointed her sword to the crater. Two knights walked passed them and slid down into the crater. They could hear their chainmail clanking and them mumbling.
"There is a man down here! He looks wounded!" Someone yelled from inside the crater. Kal-El and Raya rushed to the edge of the crater. A man was unconscious in the crater's center.
"Where did he come from?" Raya asked and Kal-El shook his head. "Look at his armor." She said. The stranger was wearing black hauberk and chausses, a red surcoat with the Red Shard crest but there was a scorch mark where his family crest should be, black high boots and a double wrap-around sword belt but no sword.
Kal-El had never seen armor like that except in the Hall of Kings. It was similar to that of Seyg-El's armor. "What should we do with him, Sire?" One of the knights in the crater asked.
"He returns to Kandor with us so the court physician may tend to him." Kal-El answered. The knights nodded. They hoisted the stranger up and put each of his arms around one of their shoulders. Kal-El gripped the first knight's forearm and Raya the second's forearm and they helped them out of the crater. "Put him on my horse." The knights nodded.
They lay the stranger atop Bothgr. Kal-El took the reins. He would walk. The two other knights dismounted. Everyone took the reins of their horses and began walking back to where they left Chris, the servants and their prize boar.
"My lady, the king has returned from his hunt with a great boar for supper…and with a guest." Vala-Tel said to Lois.
Lois looked up from her chess game with little Kara. "A guest… Who?" Lois asked.
"They found a man wounded in the woods. The king brought him back here so the court physician could care for him." Vala said and Lois nodded with a small grin. Vala curtsied and went back to her sewing.
Lois moved a rook. "Checkmate." She said. Kara was caught off guard and stood on the chair to look down at the chess board. "Kara Martha Ella Kal-El, get down from that chair!" Lois exclaimed. Kara groaned and sat down.
"I can never win." Kara sulked. Lois leaned over the chess board and caressed her daughter's face with the back of her fingers.
"Do not fret, my little princess. There are times when I cannot best your father at chess." Lois said. Kara's face lit up and she hopped off the chair running to the door. "Stop!" Kara stopped. "And just where do you think you are going?"
"To see Papa." Kara said. Lois sighed but kept a straight face because Kal-El was the last person she wanted to see.
"Take my hand. I shall take you to him." Lois stood and Kara took her hand. They left her chambers with two knights and Vala following them.
"This man has suffered many injuries but all of them are many years old except for the blow to his head." Emil Hamilton said. He had just finished bandaging up the stranger's head. "Do we know who he is yet?"
"No. He wears the crest of the Red Shard but I do not know him. No one knows him. It could be a costume, perhaps… When will he wake up?" Kal-El asked.
"I cannot be certain. It could be tomorrow or a month from now. We can only wait, my lord." Emil said. At that moment, the chamber door opened and Princess Kara came rushing in.
"Hey!" Kal-El exclaimed and scooped her up in his arms. "What are you doing in here?"
"Looking for you." Lois said entering the bedchamber. "Is this our unexpected guest?" She asked motioning to the unconscious man in the bed. Kal-El nodded stroking his mustache with his left hand and holding Kara in his right arm. Lois rolled her eyes. She really hated the mustache and goatee.
"Is he going to be alright, Papa?" Kara asked.
"I do not know. We have to wait and see what happens." He answered and kissed her cheek. He left the bedchamber and Lois followed him out. "Now how is papa's precious little star?" He asked.
"Well." Kara. Kal-El chuckled and kissed her cheek again. She rubbed off his kiss. "Your hair tickles." She was talking about his mustache. He chuckled and put her down. Kara then took Kal-El's right hand and Lois's left hand. They began walking through the corridors with four knights following them.
"How was the hunt?" Lois asked.
"Well…until our guest appeared from nowhere. I just do not know where he came from. It is like he just fell from the sky." Kal-El said.
"Can you speak to Connor? He became frustrated after their lesson was over... Your leaving did not help his mood." Lois said.
"I had to leave to speak with my War Council on what troops to send to Thanagar." Kal-El replied and Lois gave him a look. "But I will speak with him."
Lois nodded. "I worry about him."
"So do I but we have to work together for his sake. Shall we dine on it tomorrow?" He asked and Lois sighed. She looked down at an unassuming Kara.
"Very well…and remember we dine with all the ambassadors later on this evening." Lois said.
"I remember." Kal-El said and nodded once. Christopher was walking by at that moment. He was walking with and talking to Thara Ak-Var. "Chris!" Christopher and Thara stopped walking and bowed. "Where is Connor?"
"He is still in the training courtyard." Christopher said.
"Welcome back to court, Lady Thara." Lois said to Commander Ak-Var's daughter. Kal-El nodded once to her and Thara curtsied. "We shall dine together soon and speak of your time at the Metropolitan court." She said and Thara bowed her head.
"I shall go speak to Connor now. Kara." Kal-El kissed his daughter's forehead. "My lady." He kissed Lois's hand. Lois noticed Christopher looked uncomfortable and somber as he kissed her hand and walked away.
"Is something the matter, Chris?" Lois asked and he simply shook his head. "Now what are you two up to?"
"We are just becoming reacquainted, Your Majesty. Christopher and I had the same tutors here at court before my mother sent me to Metropolis to stay with her brother, the Kryptonian ambassador." Thara said.
"I remember. Go on. We shall speak soon." Lois said and walked off with Kara.
Conner was slashing a pell with his wooden training sword. Kal-El watched in the background leaning against a column with his arms crossed. Conner was hitting the post with such fury and loud grunting.
The young boy was shirtless and wore black trousers. His shirt and boots were off to the side. He yelled and struck the pell hard, making the wooden sword break in half. Then he yelled in frustration and threw the broken bottom half of the sword.
Kal-El stepped forward and dodged the flying broken sword. Conner was breathing heavily and bowed to Kal-El, who sighed. "How can someone so young have so much anger?" Conner looked down.
"I am sorry that I am such a disappointment to you, Sire." Conner said.
Kal-El sighed. He kneeled down onto one knee before Conner. "Conner…you are not a disappointment to me. Far from it. Your mother and I love you just the way you are."
"But Christopher is the better swordsmen, archer, rider…and at least he is Kryptonian." Conner said and dropped down onto the ground. He sat down and crossed his arms. Kal-El sat down onto the ground as well and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. They had told Connor that he was an orphan from Genesis that Lois had taken in before they had gotten married.
"No, you are not Kryptonian…but you are no less dear to me and to your mother. And being Kryptonian has nothing to do with skill. Now…" Kal-El stood and walked off to the side. He removed his sword belt, doublet, shirt, and boots. He picked up a wooden training sword and a short wooden training sword. He tossed Conner the short one and went to stand next to him.
Kal-El twirled his sword and performed a quick combination of slashes, blocks, and thrusts. "Skill can only be obtained through practice." Conner looked down. "I did not learn all this in one day. It would be months before I could twirl a sword without dropping it. My uncle trained with me every night until I could do it and I shall practice with you every night until you are as a great a swordsman as I. Perhaps, even greater." Conner grinned.
Kal-El ruffled his hair and Conner smacked his hand with the wooden sword. Kal-El chuckled. "Move as I do." He began doing some slashes and blocks in slow motion. Connor copied him. "Good."
Lois watched them from a distance and smiled. Conner looked so happy. Then she looked at Kal-El. She lowered her head and wiped a tear from her eye. She just wanted things to be the way they used to be…before Van-El but she knew it would never be the same.
She had heard the whispers of her being barren; of Kal-El having a mistress. She tried her best to shut her ears to them but even now she was beginning to believe them. She walked away and went back to her chambers so no one would see her tears.