anacaro: wow thanks! :) I hope the little Clois in this chapter satisfies you a bit :)
Natalie (ebatcl): oh Nat *hugs* you're a great and awesome beta AND writer :) thank you for everything :)
clarkfan325: Lana has a different motive than Lex, and Lex is really manipulative, as you will see in this chapter :) thanks for the review :)
imhooked: lol.. yeah.. real life caught up.. thank you for the kind words.. though this chapter is shorter than the last one, I hope you will still like it :)
Hotchocolate329: hehe.. I just love a jealous Clark and I plan on writing another jealous Clark soon :) thanks for the review :)
cathy03: shucks.. thanks! :D you know that scene with the boys talking about war, that wasn't in the outline and it was something that popped out of the blue while writing the chapter. I guess this is what happens when I let the fingers do the talking lol
dreamergirl15: thanks! :D I hope you like this chapter as well :)
mangers: thank you. I try really hard in making this story good to read and I'm happy that you're liking it so far :)
LuckySVFan: now you're making me blush *blushes* thanks for the support and the kind words *hugs*
Again, super sorry for the delay. Real life really caught up, but I think I got my mojo back and I'm halfway finished with Chapter 7. Here's Chapter 6. Hope you all like it! :) You guys are the best! :)
Chapter 6
Clark had been sitting near the window for almost twenty minutes now, a small smile on his face, looking towards the bed.
Lois was a peaceful sleeper. She really was. Lying on her back with a blanket covering the lower half of her body, she was a complete and total opposite person every time she was awake. And he would not want it any other way.
It had been a week since Clark had released Lois from her chains. A week since Clark had decided to avoid Lois at all costs. He had not visited her for the past week, but he was sorely tempted each and every time he passed her room. Clark resolved to himself that Lois was still a prisoner, and prisoners did not deserve any kind of personal treatment from the King.
But Clark finally gave up fighting. He finally admitted that Lois would never be just a prisoner to him. Something inside told him that Lois was innocent, which would mean Lex might not be. He could remember every time Oliver hinted at Lex's supposed wickedness. Could Oliver be right?
Trying not to think of what might happen once Lex woke up, Clark stood up and checked the water. It was still hot.
Waking up early, Clark had decided that he wanted to do something for Lois. Summoning four male servants, Clark had ordered a hot bath drawn up for her. At the ruckus that followed, Clark was first mad at the noise that they were making that they might wake Lois up and ruin the surprise, but it was replaced by amusement because Lois slept through it all.
Looking at Lois, Clark couldn't help but be mesmerized. Glorious hair spread out on the pillow, a smooth forehead, straight nose and luscious lips; Clark knew he would not mind waking up to that face everyday.
As if drawn by some unknown force, Clark approached the bed and carefully sat beside her sleeping form. He let out a silent laugh, for Lois still kept on sleeping. Slowly, he raised his hand and brushed away an errant lock of hair from her forehead. Still not satisfied, he traced a line with his finger from her forehead, to her nose and finally rested on her lips. Risking it, Clark traced her plump lower lip, and fought the urge to kiss her then and there.
Finally, Lois stirred from her slumber, a small smile playing from her lips. She opened her eyes, unfocused and glazed from sleep and uttered one word. "Clark."
Clark's smile was now full blown. Could she be dreaming of him like how he'd been dreaming of her? He would really like to know.
Lois was stretching and Clark saw that she was just realizing that somebody was in the room, or more specifically, sitting on her bed.
"Clark!" Lois exclaimed, pulling up the blanket covering her upper body. "Your Majesty! What the hell are you doing in my room? In my bed?"
Clark stood up, still smiling. "I believe I have already told you that you may call me Clark. I wouldn't hold it against you, you know."
"Well, King or not, you do not have the right to enter my room, let alone sit on my bed, with me unaware." Lois huffed and raised her chin. "Explain yourself and I will refrain from giving your handsome face a bruise."
Clark's heart skipped a beat. "You think me handsome, then?"
Lois' mouth opened and closed without a word coming out, trying valiantly to weasel her way out of her comment, when Clark decided to put her out of her misery as he motioned at the tub near the foot of her bed. "I do think you need one."
Clark could see that Lois was debating on whether to accept the gift or not. Her pride lost, Lois left the bed and went to the tub, dipping her fingers in the warm water, and Clark could swear that he heard a satisfied sigh leave her.
"I guess that is a yes." Clark said, and went to the main door to leave, but was stopped by her voice.
"Thank you. I truly appreciate it," Lois said, a grin on her face. "Clark."
Clark smiled once more, but this time, at the sound of his name on her lips. He never thought he would get satisfaction and happiness from something as simple as his name being uttered by a woman. "I will send a change of clothes in a little while. Enjoy your bath."
Clark did not wait for Lois' reply as he left the room, feeling that this day would be one of his best.
Lana could not hold her anger and tears anymore. She started tearing at the draperies inside her bedroom. Mildred, her maid, was trying bravely to calm her, holding on to her mistress so as she would not do anymore damage to her room, but Lana could not be swayed.
"My lady. Please." Mildred pleaded, her arms still around her mistress' waist.
"I do not care. What does she have that I don't?" Lana shouted, clawing this time at the sheets covering her bed.
Lana remembered how she had found out about Clark's plan for that woman. She had awoken early that day and was already down in the kitchens giving orders, when the head of the servants arrived and asked for four male servants on the orders of the King. Lana had inquired about the request, surprised because it was often she who handled the servants. Apparently, Clark had ordered a hot bath drawn. She had discreetly followed the servants carrying the large tub, wanting to offer her services to Clark in helping arrange his bath. Her excitement in assisting Clark vanished when the four servants entered that woman's room.
And now, she was in her room, raging at everything and anything that her hands and feet could reach. "Let me go, or I swear you will feel my wrath too!" Lana ordered her maid into releasing her.
But Mildred did not relent. "My lady, the King might hear you, and how would you explain the damage? He will not like you for this."
Lana stopped ranting. Her maid was right. She would not want to get into Clark 's bad side. If she had to compete with that harlot, she'd have to be perfect. "Leave me be." Lana ordered her maid.
Mildred, who already started putting the room into rights, stood up from picking Lana's clothes from the floor and without question, left the room.
Lana picked up a brush from the floor, sat in front of her vanity and combed her hair slowly. Looking at herself in the mirror, she realized that Lois did not hold a candle to her. She was pretty, the prettiest in the kingdom as her father once told her. Maybe Clark was enamored with Lois right now, but once her plans came to fruition, it would just be her and Clark.
With renewed vigor, Lana stood up and went to the corner of her room where the wash basin was located. Scrubbing her face free from tear streaks, she dried it and headed straight to the training exercises where she knew Clark would be located.
True enough, Clark was in the training fields, together with his commander Victor, just watching the exercises Metropolis' soldiers were going through.
Reaching them, Lana plastered a smile on her face. It was Victor who greeted her first.
"My lady," Victor said.
"Lana," Clark acknowledged, but quickly returned to watching his soldiers.
There was a moment of silence, and Lana decided to speak first. "Is Metropolis still under attack, for us to train still? Our army is the best, I do believe no one will be able to defeat it."
Clark nodded. "We are the best, but we must not take the enemy lightly. Though I am fairly certain that they will not breach the border, we must still be prepared for the worst."
At the mention of the border, Lana remembered Lex and was now thinking about their plan. "Are there additional reinforcements at the border?"
Clark sported a perplexed look, but answered nonetheless. "No, our reinforcements at the border are sufficient. Speaking of which," Clark said and turned to Victor, "is the pass now guarded?"
"Yes. Bart immediately put them in position after he arrived last week," Victor answered.
"Excellent," Clark said.
They were guarding the pass? Lana thought. That would definitely put a wrench on their plans. Lana resolved to learn more. "The pass? Only a few people know about the pass' existence. Why guard it?"
"Like I said, we should be prepared for the worst. We need the pass, if worse comes to worst that we would need assistance from our allies." Clark again sported the perplexed look he exhibited earlier and addressed Lana. "I never knew you were this interested in warfare."
Lana carefully hid her momentary panic. "It is not in warfare I am interested in, your Highness. It is our kingdom's safety that I am most concerned."
Clark smiled and looked at her, and Lana rejoiced inwardly at the satisfaction in Clark's face. "Fair point."
Lana refrained from asking more questions, for Clark might become suspicious as to why she was interested in his plans. She did need to take it up with Lex though, for the guard at the pass would surely be a hindrance. A visit tonight would clear things up.
It was once again midnight, and Lex was ready to leave the bed for his nightly activities when the door slowly opened. He quickly scrambled under the covers to pretend sleeping when Lana's voice was heard.
"It is I."
Lex released the breath he didn't realize he was holding and started leaving the bed.
"I think you need to sit down. I have urgent news to tell you." Lana said, and Lex noticed from Lana's hurried movements that it was indeed important.
"What news have you brought me?" Lex asked.
Lex could see the panic in Lana's eyes as she sat down on the chair facing the bed. "I discovered earlier that the pass is now guarded. Soldiers are now stationed there. Our plans will go to ruin!"
Lex admitted that it would definitely be a deterrent. He could already see himself as King of Metropolis, and this one little detail would result to a change of plans. And he had always hated changing his plans.
Lex stood up walking away from Lana, thinking carefully, but Lana started talking.
"You have to think of something to remedy this. You are always saying that timing is key, but now we are being held back by waiting for your damned timing! I honestly cannot fathom your penchant for delaying what needed to be done, and look where it got us? An action I have done on my own, that has benefited your unrealized plan-"
"Stop!" Lex said, startling Lana into silence. "I cannot think with you screeching like a parrot."
Lana's eyes widened, and her face started to contort into fury, when Lex held his hand up and faced Lana.
"Please Lana, your anger takes away your beauty. You should learn how to control it." Lex got the satisfaction from Lana's eyes widening even more. "This is but a minor hiccup. We still have a way to tell Zod about the pass."
"How?"
"Me."
"What?" A confused Lana said. "Please enlighten me because I do not believe you would be able to leave this room when everyone here thinks that you are still unconscious."
"Oh sweetheart, and here I was pegging you as a clever woman." Lex said, a sardonic grin on his face. "Of course I will not be the one to go, but rather, I will be the reason."
Lana's eyebrow furrowed. "Explain further."
"Clark will do anything to save me. If you tell him that you need something not found in Metropolis that would help my healing, he will let you use the pass."
Lana's face now cleared, a smile slowly spreading on her face. "I see. Clark would never know, he never talks to the leeches. Besides, he trusts me implicitly."
"Exactly." Lex stood by the window, hands on his back. "But whoever will be sent would have to be clear: that Zod and his army will only attack two weeks after the message has been sent. I still have to gather my own army."
Confusion was back in Lana's face. "Two weeks? Why do we have to wait for two weeks? And why do you have to form an army?"
"For my revenge on Lois." Lex answered easily, which Lana seemed to accept. "And for Clark's protection. Right now, we need Zod, but he is not to be trusted. We have to make sure that you and Clark would make a clean escape, which is why I have to have communication with my loyal soldiers."
Lana nodded. "You're right. Zod might renege on our agreement."
"Precisely," Lex said.
"Well, has John visited you then? I've been meaning to ask you, but it always slips my mind."
"John had already visited me, and we had a lengthy talk. He has already started talking with my other soldiers."
"Good." Lana said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I believe it is time for me to take to bed. Good night, Lex."
Lex bowed. "Good night, my lady."
As Lana left, Lex could not help but be amazed at how easy it was to control Lana and her emotions. He had slipped, revealing to Lana that he was forming an army, only to recover by telling her that it was done for her and Clark's good.
The guard at the pass really was just a small obstacle. Everything was still going accordingly. John, his most loyal and skilled soldier, had visited him two nights ago. Completely shocked and impressed, John had already put into action what Lex had ordered him to do: to gather his trustworthy and devoted followers so that they may now be ruled by a proper King.
Lex walked to the window, and again looked at the vast fields beyond the castle walls. The time was near, and with only a few strings to pull, all his enemies would be disposed off and the throne would be his. And he promised to himself that this time, his plan would not fail.
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