Chapter 12
Clark's heart and mind were racing, he couldn't wrap his mind around the information that Lois gave him. He stared at the portrait of Jor-El as if he was staring at a ghost. Everything was similar, the dark black shiny hair, the strong jaw line and cheek bones, the light kind eyes, he looked exactly like Clark. But it made no sense, how could he be the child of Jor-El? Jor-El had no heir, it was in all the history books that Clark had learned from. Clark's eyes fell to the journal Lois had shown him which was incomplete. He set his jaw, grabbed the book before exiting the secret room and rushing back to the stables. He needed to speak with his mother, hear the words from her own lips.
Clark rode back to his childhood home in the dead of night. He was riding with tunnel vision, a thousand different scenarios running through his mind. He seemed to arrive at the large stone home in a matter of minutes when he knew it was over an hour. The guards at the entrance allowed Clark in immediately. He grabbed a torch and made his way to his mothers room. He stopped at the wooden door, his heart hadn't slowed down since he shouted at Lois to leave, something he was regretting at the moment. Clark closed his eyes, took a deep breath and opened the doors to his mothers chambers. It only took about three strides for Clark to reach his mothers bedside. "Mother." He said softly shaking her shoulder. Martha moved slightly but didn't wake, Clark repeated, "Mother."
Martha's eyes flew open and she shot up out of bed, she looked at Clark with a panicked expression on her face. "Clark? What's wrong is everything okay?"
Martha reached up and cupped her sons cheek, once the daze of sleep left her Martha could easily see the anguish in her sons eyes. Clark shook his head softly. "Is it true?"
"Is what true Clark?" Martha questioned having a fairly good idea what he was referring to. Clark held out the journal to Martha, he opened it up to the page Lois had shown him.
"Mother I need you to tell me, is it true?" Clark pleaded with his mother. Martha's heart broke at the tone of her sons voice. He kneeled before her a lost man, his eyes were vacant and confused. Martha knew that Lois had revealed what she had discovered to Clark.
Martha's eyes softened, running her fingers through her sons hair. She would have him suffer no more. "It's true Clark. You are the son of Jor-El and Lara."
Clark looked down at his hands which were folded on his mothers bed. "How?" Clark whispered almost to himself yet his mother heard him loud and clear.
"What did Lois tell you Clark?" Martha questioned softly. Clark relayed almost word for word what Lois had told him, trying desperately to understand the words as they came out of his own mouth. When Clark was finished Martha sighed, "Sweetheart, that's the true story that's what happened."
"Why didn't you ever tell me?" Clark asked his mother. There was no way around it, nothing Clark could do or say to make it false, Clark Kent was Kal-El, the true heir to the Kryptonian throne.
"Your father and I were trying to protect you Clark. You have no idea how scared we were when we received the news that Jor-El and Lara had been killed. We just wanted to keep you as far from the palace as possible, we didn't want your life to be cut short because of who you were." Martha said calmly. "When Zod's men came and took you from us when you were little we were afraid we would never see you again. I still don't know how he knew you existed, or why he kept you alive. Lois said she thought it had something to do with him wanting to keep an eye on you so he would make sure you never found out about your true heritage."
"Lois…" Clark's voice drifted off, his face falling and his eyes meeting his mother. "I didn't react so well when she told me the news."
"Clark what did you do?" Martha asked her son.
"I accused her of being in cahoots with Zod and this all being a part of their plan. I raised my voice to her." Clark said completely ashamed, hanging his head. If this news did anything it was answer Clark's endless questions about why Zod loved to torment him, show off in front of him, and ultimately get under his skin.
"Oh Clark." Martha said embracing her son in a hug. "You certainly got your quick temper from your father. I can understand wanting to be alone to collect your thoughts after such a big piece of news was dropped in your lap. But I certainly didn't raise my son to raise his voice to the woman he loves."
Clark pulled back looking at his mother. "Yes it's that obvious."
"How… How does one apologize for acting the way I did?" Clark asked his mother.
"By speaking from the heart, and telling her that you know she would never betray you because Clark…" Martha paused making sure Clark was paying attention. "That girl could get killed for not only being involved with you, but for telling you what she did. She would never betray the trust you have given her."
"I promise I will make it up to her mother, but I have some more questions for you." Clark spoke.
"I'll do my best to answer them." Martha smiled.
"Why had no one ever said anything to me at court? If I look like a spitting image of Jor-El why have none of Zod's advisors grown suspicious?" Clark asked.
"One of King Jor-El's advisors visited us after the assassination of the King and Queen. He was fleeing Krypton, Zod's father, the King at the time, had ordered the excommunication of anyone who had any ties to the previous King, those who did not leave willingly would be tortured and killed." Martha explained.
"Where were they all going?" Clark asked Martha. If he could possibly find where these people who were loyal to his biologically mother and father then perhaps they would be loyal to him.
"To the North." Martha answered. Clark's eyes widening in realization.
"Mother I have to go back to the palace at once." Clark said getting to his feet kissing his mothers cheek. "Thank you for telling me everything."
"Clark." Martha called after him.
"Yes?" Clark turned at the threshold of her chambers.
"Be careful." She said concerned. Clark didn't reply, simply nodded his head and disappeared from her sight. Clark exited his childhood home and hopped on his horse riding back to the palace as quick as he could.
When Clark entered the Kryptonian palace it was as if he was entering it for the first time in his life, he was seeing everything with brand new eyes. Clark briskly walked toward Lois' chambers, he knew it was dangerous but he didn't care. He opened the door to her chambers, he heard her ladies in the adjoining room startle. They rushed out and when they laid eyes on them, their eyes widened and he saw them begin to tremble. "What… what can we help you with sir?" Catherine asked.
Clark stood straight, making his figure and demeanor intimidating to say the least. He saw the effect it had on the two girls and smiled. "I have urgent news from the King to be delivered immediately to the Lady of Metropolis." Clark quickly fell back into the routine which he had when she first came to court. And he wasn't exactly lying, he did have urgent business to attend from the King, himself. "I must speak with her in private."
"Of course sir." The girls bowed before him before they exited the room, shutting the door behind them. Clark's eyes fell on her bed, which was shielded by thick drapery to shield her from the bright morning light. Clark took a step toward the bed before pulling the cloth back. Lois laid in bed asleep, her back to him covered only by a thin sheet, the sight of her alone caused his heart to ache, he had no idea how he could have reacted like he did with her. Clark took a breath before climbing into bed with her, wrapping his arms around her tightly, protectively. Her shoulder was slightly exposed, Clark laid soft fluttering kisses on the soft creamy skin, whispering words of sorrow until she awoke. Lois squirmed slightly in his arms before letting out a soft moan.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. My Lois, my heart, my soul, my love, my star. I'm sorry" Clark repeated kissing her shoulders, neck, and hair while rubbing her stomach softly. Lois turned in his arms cupping his face looking up at him with a sleepy expression. How could I ever question this woman's love, loyalty, or devotion to me? "I should never have reacted that way, or raised my voice to you. And I won't make excuses because no matter what that reaction is not acceptable. I don't know how I could ever question you or your feelings for me. I just… I hope you could find it within yourself to forgive me."
Lois smiled softly at the man holding her tightly, as if he didn't want her to get away from him. She reached up tracing the angles of his face gently. Slowly she reached up and kissed his forehead tenderly. "Clark I understand, I turned your entire world upside down in a matter of moments."
"That's not an excuse for me to ever raise my voice to you. Or say that your love is all a lie. That's what I regret more than anything." Clark spoke. Lois could see his eyes sparkling slightly, his voice raw with sorrow. This had deeply affected Clark.
"Clark I don't know if it's the best idea for you to be here. My ladies are just in the other room." Lois spoke softly while Clark only shook his head.
"I sent them away, said I had urgent business of the Kings to attend to." Clark smiled softly.
"King Zod's?" Lois questioned snuggling into him, "Or King Kal-El's business?"
Clark broke out into a smile, stroking her hair softly. "I went to my mothers. I think I needed to hear it from her lips as well. She confirmed everything you said and answered some questions for me. She brought up a good point."
"What was that?" Lois closed her eyes content that she was laying in his arms.
"She said that I shouldn't question your loyalty to me, our relationship as well as the information you shared with me could easily get you killed if it was given to the wrong person. But you trusted me with it. For whatever reason you see something in me that makes you trust me completely." Clark said softly.
"I see the man you really are, the man you could be." Lois urged. "And that is why I trust you, and love you."
Clark smiled and gently kissed Lois' lips sighing happily. Lois tucked her head under his chin, "What questions did your mother answer?"
"I asked her if I look like a mirror image of my father why haven't any of Zod's advisors grown suspicious? I've been at court for years. She told me that Zod's father excommunicated all loyal to my father and they fled." Clark spoke.
"They fled? Where to Clark? If we know where then perhaps you could ride there and build an army to overtake the throne!" Lois spoke passionately. Clark smiled, she truly was with him in this, whatever may come their way, she was going to help him take back his throne no matter the cost.
"The North." Clark answered, Lois' face fell.
"Clark, that's where Zod has been." Lois said softly, "He's been killing people who have been rebelling. Clark, what if those people are the ones loyal to you? You have to travel north Clark!"
"I know, but I have to do so with care, I can't see Zod while he's there. Maybe I can lock myself away in that room and read everything I possibly can. I saw there was a lot of writings about government and politics."
Lois looked at him, her heart swelling with pride. He was a true King, and he would sit on the throne that was rightfully his, and restore Krypton back to the thriving country that it had been under his family's rule.
"We don't have much time Lois. Zod is going to want to marry you as soon as he returns from the north." Clark ground his teeth together in disapproval of that fact.
"Then everything must be carried out perfectly. There is no room for error. You must "disappear" from the palace for some time, while locking yourself in that room. I won't even bother you, this is more important than I am. But I will always be here if you need an ear to listen, lips to kiss, or other things." Lois said suggestively.
Clark smiled at her before taking her lips in a heated kiss. The sound of their lips smacking against one anothers was almost hypnotic for Lois. Clark was the first to pull back causing a while to come from Lois, "I best be going before suspicion grows. I love you."
Lois smiled and cupped his cheek kissing his lips once more. "I love you too Clark."
Clark got out of the bed before Lois called out to him once more. "Clark!"
"Yes Lois?" Clark asked.
"I forgive you."
Clark smiled brightly before mouthing, I love you, and leaving the room. Lois was left in her chambers by herself. She heard her ladies return to their apartment which they quickly fell asleep. A feeling Lois hadn't felt much since she entered Krypton slowly crept into her heart: hope.
So what did you think? How was Clark's apology? More things are starting to fall into place. Liked it? Hated it? Concerns? Suggestions? Ideas? questions? Leave me some reviews and let me know!