Chapter 6

Lois rode back through the palace walls, the men and woman bowing to her as she rode in, Clark's cloak billowing behind her. Lois rode the horse back into the stables, the young stable boy fumbling over himself to assist her. "I'm so sorry I was not here earlier to help you my lady. I hope you can forgive me."

He offered her a wooden step to make her dismount easier for her shorter frame. "It's okay." Lois chuckled. "This horse was already saddled when I entered the stables."

"Can I help you with anything else my lady?" The young boy asked.

"No I'm fine, it was thrilling to be out riding again. I'm sure you'll see me frequently. What's your name?" Lois asked.

"Jeffery."

"Jeffery, it's a pleasure to meet you." Lois smiled at the boy who bowed before her.

"The pleasure is mine madam." He smiled boyishly.

Lois began to walk towards the palace but was cut off by Chloe, who looked at Lois curiously. "I have it on good authority that you rode out of the palace today with the Lion."

"Is this news from one of your spies?" Lois questioned lightly. For a fleeting moment she had forgotten about the spies around court, her time with Clark made her forget about everything, her duty, her future, even Zod. His ability to make her forget frightened her.

"Is it true?" Chloe questioned keeping up with the pace Lois had set.

"It is, but it's true because the King has entrusted the Lion to keep a watchful eye over me while he is away." Lois made a conscious effort to call Clark by his feared name. She then added a hint of annoyance to her tone. "And he has been nothing but an annoyance ever since."

"Hm." Chloe sounded thoughtfully which made Lois stop walking and turn towards the woman.

"What?" Lois questioned, her eyes narrowing.

"Well, I'm just thinking why the King would assign the Lion to watch over you in his absence. As far as I'm aware the two of them aren't particularly fond of one another." Chloe informed Lois. "Unless…"

"Unless what?" Lois questioned.

"Well, it's no secret that the King does not like the Lion because the Lion is far superior than he is. The Lion can swing a sword better, command an army better, and has a moral center, something the King lacks." Chloe explained. "Perhaps the King made Clark look after you to throw it in his face that he will never have something as precious as you."

Lois scoffed before acknowledging one part of the statement, "A moral center? I'm assuming that explains why he killed a man without provocation in front of me?"

"He did what?" Chloe questioned her eyes widening.

"One of my first days at court I went into the town outside the palace walls to see the people of Krypton, how they lived. A man stepped in front of me and made a somewhat inappropriate comment about the gown that was a gift from the King. And then I saw a man beating a woman in front of everyone, I went to intervene and the man struck me. The Lion beheaded the man without second thought for disrespecting me." Lois relived the event as the words flowed from her mouth.

Chloe remained silent for a few moments before she spoke again. "Oh Lois, that's how it's always been in Krypton. If any man, royal or not royal, sees someone disrespect the Queen it is punishable by death. Your honor is never to be compromised."

"While I appreciate the desire to keep my honor in tact there are more civilized ways to do so." Lois shook her head before continuing to walk into the palace disappearing down the hallway leaving Chloe alone once more.

Lois made her way to her chambers giving a quick look to the library as she passed it, she needed to go back when no one would suspect anyone to be up. She needed to satisfy her curiosity about the hidden room. Shortly after Lois appeared in her chambers smiling as Mary and Catherine greeted her. "Where did you disappear to my lady?"

"I went for a ride in the country side. I used to ride all the time back in Metropolis." Lois smiled her eyes falling to a letter in Mary's hand, the second letter she had seen that day. "Another letter?"

"Oh, yes." Mary spoke handing the letter to Lois. "I believe the seal is one of Metropolis."

Lois took the note and looked at the seal and the handwriting, she would recognize it anywhere it was her fathers. "It's from my father." Lois announced breaking the seal and opening the letter.

Lois,

What is going on? You have been in Krypton three days and I have heard no news of a wedding between you and the King Zod. Can you do nothing right my little idiot? I am riding to Krypton at first light tomorrow after my affairs are in order. I should have known I'd have to come with you for any of this to go right.

Samuel Lane

Lois frowned and allowed the paper to fall to her side. Her ladies immediately came to her side. "Is everything okay my lady?"

"Yes." Lois said trying to put on a strong front. "My father is just concerned that he has not heard news of my wedding. He must not be aware that the King had urgent matters to attend to in the north. He is riding in tomorrow to make sure everything is okay."

Catherine smiled softly. "That is nice that he cares for you my lady." Lois sighed, if she only knew. "I haven't seen my father in so long I don't even remember what he looked like."

"Perhaps you are better off Catherine." Lois smiled softly. "Perhaps your life here is better than anyone could have provided for you." She paused. "Speaking of life, Mary told me some startling news this morning. She told me you do not know how to read?"

Lois made sure her voice was in a warm tone, not condescending in any way. Catherine shook her head. "No my lady. I tried to teach myself years ago but failed."

"I would like to help you learn Catherine, and you as well Mary. You two are my ladies now and I intend to give you everything in my power to give. No woman should not know how to read." Lois smiled softly. "That is if you want my help."

"I'd like that more than anything my lady." Catherine said gratefully.

"Shall we start now?" Lois looked between the two of them. "I have no plans for the rest of my day."

"Please my lady." Mary smiled taking a seat next to Catherine. Lois smiled happily at the two women who were so eager to learn.

"Okay then, we'll start small." Lois smiled as she grabbed a small book from her bedside table.

Lois wasn't sure exactly how long the lesson went on for, but when they finally pulled themselves away from the book it was twilight. The girls had done extremely well, surprising even themselves. Lois had closed the book as the two younger women talked eagerly amongst themselves, she looked up to see Clark peeking out from behind her chamber door. She smiled before turning to her ladies. "I need to stretch my legs, we were so engrossed today I lost track of time. Shall we continue tomorrow?"

"That would be great your Majesty." The two girls curtseyed to Lois.

"You two are dismissed for the rest of the night, get some rest." Lois smiled at the two of them before they disappeared from her sight. She turned to Clark before asking. "How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough." Clark said simply before nodding his head silently asking her to walk with him. Lois crossed the threshold and walked beside him. "You are teaching them to read?"

"Yes, ones skills are very limited and the other nonexistent. No one should be unable to read, everyone should have the chance at an education. Is it common in Krypton?" Lois asked him.

"Illiteracy?" Clark questioned. Lois nodded and he spoke the truth. "I'm afraid so. Most common men and women can not read and are not educated aside from what their everyday lives teach them."

Clark saw the sorrow and disappointment flash across Lois' face. He chuckled softly. "What?" Lois questioned him.

"I've never seen anyone care about the common man or woman more than you. Where does it come from?" Clark asked her as they continued walking down the candlelit hallway.

"I… I don't know. Perhaps it's because I was given the opportunity to have an education and because of it I became a well respected woman of my home country. I believe everyone should be able to decide their own destiny, not just accept the one laid out before them, and how can one do that without an education?" Lois asked.

"So you do not believe in fate?" Clark looked down at her.

"I believe in making your own fate." She smiled proudly as she found herself at a large staircase, she and Clark begun their ascent. "I thought that perhaps becoming queen would allow me to make a difference in the world. But I have doubts that Zod would allow me to change what he has created himself."

"I think a beautiful woman is able to change the mind of any man." Clark spoke without thinking. Lois stopped walking and looked up at Clark who towered over her naturally but with stairs to give him even more height it was overwhelming.

"A beautiful woman? Is that what I am?" Lois asked him sincerely.

"I… well… I think you already know the answer to that Lois." Clark stumbled before continuing to walk up the stairs.

"Where are we going anyway?"

"I'm sure you are curious about the boy and our conversation should be away from curious ears, and besides I want to show you a true Kryptonian sunset." Clark spoke.

Lois' heart began to pound harder in her chest, she could feel the blood rushing in her veins. How could she be reacting like this when she had only known this man for a few days, and only started accepting him earlier that day? She saw a door appear before them, "I've seen sunsets before Clark."

Clark smiled confidently before pushing the door open, "Not like this."

Lois walked through the door and saw they were in the highest tower of the palace, high above everything, the people below looked like ants they were so tiny. Lois walked toward the stone wall in awe. Clark was right, she had never seen a sunset like it before. The sky was a vast mixture of colors, peaches kissed the horizon and a beautiful light green laid above it before giving way to purples, pinks and blues, the stars glittering above them.

"I've heard Krypton is the only place in the world with sunsets like this." Clark said from behind her.

"They certainly do not exist in Metropolis." Lois spoke, her mouth still slightly agape. It was the most beautiful thing Lois had ever seen. She quickly shook her head before turning back to Clark. "So tell me where did you take Christopher?"

"To my mothers house." Clark said approaching Lois at the wall. "She's quite lonely in the country by herself. He will be safe there, she has plenty of money to feed and clothe him, she'll also raise him as her own child."

"Where is your father?" Lois questioned turning towards Clark.

"My father was murdered many years ago." Clark said sadly looking down. Lois placed a comforting hand on his arm.

"I'm so sorry Clark." She said sincerely.

"He was a good man. He made me into a man worthy of respect, a man to be proud of, until I was brought to the palace against my will and corrupted." Clark explained.

"You were brought here against your will?" Lois asked him. She watched as he nodded his head.

"Yes. I was taken from my home to serve the King Zod, who was only a few years older than I was. The two of us don't always see eye to eye, he likes to torment me for whatever reason. I've never taken vows to protect him and his kingdom."

"So you're not a knight? But why did he order you to watch after me in his absence?" Lois thought out loud.

"Probably just one more thing to show me that he is superior to me." Clark shook his head.

"I don't think that." Lois spoke softly.

Clark chuckled, "Do not take this the wrong way Lois but you do not know anything about the relationship I share with the King."

"No," Lois corrected him taking his rough slightly dirty hand in her own small clean one, "I mean I do not think he is superior to you."

A silence fell over the two of them. Lois was the first to break it. "Why are you so feared among the people of Krypton Clark?"

Clark shook his head, "When in a harsh environment one must do what they need to in order to survive. When I first came here, although I was trained in battle beyond my years I was still picked on because I was not of royal blood like the other boys were. I was tired of being picked on and I fought back, brutally. Now I live quite a lonely life in the court, feared among all, except you."

"I must admit when I first saw you I was scared. People told me not to look at you, they called you the Lion, then I saw your anger in the market. But today I feel as if I have seen the real you, the man behind the armor." Lois spoke looking up at him. "In the market that day you made me tremble in fear, and now I fear I tremble for another reason."

Clark turned to look at her with fire in his eyes. He took a step towards her, their bodies almost flush against one another. She could feel his breath upon her cheek. "This is wrong. I shouldn't have these feelings for you and yet they will not go away. Tell me to leave Lois. Tell me to leave and I will turn away, leaving you to watch the sunset alone."

"I don't want to be alone anymore." Lois said softly looking up at him with honest eyes. As if they were being magically pulled towards one another they met each other half way, their lips meeting in a delicate kiss. Lois felt the tingle from her head to her toes, she couldn't help but smile and place a hand against his muscular chest to keep herself from falling back. Clark's arm wrapped around her small waist pulling her up on the tips of her toes. When they pulled away from one another they each held a smile on their lips. Lois placed a gentle hand on Clark's cheek. "This may be wrong, but it's the only thing I could imagine wanting."

Clark leaned down and captured her lips again, the Kryptonian sunset a beautiful backdrop to their innocent, yet very dangerous kiss.

Later that night Lois had woken from sleep. She could hear the soft snoring of her ladies in the adjoining room. As quietly as possible Lois pushed the covers of her body, touching her feet to the warm floor. She prayed she could make her way to the library and not awake or see anyone. Lois made quick use to the door shutting it quietly before softly rushing down the hallway in the direction of the library. Luckily she had reached the room without any interruptions or run ins with anyone. To not rouse suspicions Lois kept the door open before carefully walking over toward The Teachings and Wisdom of Rao, and pulling the book back waiting for the wall to pop open.

And this time there were no interruptions, she pulled the secret door open, and entered the room.

Well what did you all think? I think I'll just let the chapter speak for itself=] Loved it? Hated it? Suggestions? Ideas? Concerns? Questions? Leave me some comments and let me know!