Chapter 9 [Next Morning—Three Leagues from Visis' mountain stronghold]
Overcast obscured K 'ai's dawn. Burnt oranges, reds and purples burnished the skies over the granite structure. Red lightning struck the ground in the distance. The wind whipped about in the distance although, as if by design, not around that area.
Natura staged its protest. Still it allowed for the rescue attempt as well….
The Defenders appeared in a flash just beyond the magical perimeter. The mountains obscured their arrival from the stronghold's sentries on the ramparts.
Banner shook his head. "Visis isn't this careless! It's too quiet." He sucked in a deep breath. He felt the Hulk's impatience clouding his own thinking.
"The sorcerers are not here." Strange's spells did not detect any trace of their antagonists. He knew the use of his amulet might reveal their presence. Still it was better than wading into a hidden ambush. He activated the magical eye letting its light sweep across the plain.
Nothing appeared even in its all-seeing light.
"Certainly he cannot be that arrogant?" Valkyrie presumed.
"He thinks we can't be so rash." Namor walked up to the rusted cistern. He broke the lock in his hand although it took some effort. With each hour on land, his strength had ebbed. "We'd best hope I can use this water." He sampled it and felt a surge of strength. "It helps me. I will meet you all inside." He moved into the entrance. He dove into the water. Despite the current, he swam up its length and toward the castle beyond.
Valkyrie got on Aragorn. "Certainly Clea is working with Torla and your fellow sorcerers, Stephen."
"Can I get a ride on your board?" Banner requested of the Surfer.
"Of course." The Surfer moved up to allow the emerald goliath room to stand on his transport.
"Let's move. I don't want Visis doing anything else!" Banner urged.
"Indeed." Strange levitated toward the castle. His eyes watched with care over the landscape. His magical senses picked up on still nothing from the area nor from the stronghold itself.
The Surfer's board and Aragorn streaked toward their destination.
[Courtyard]
Visis inspected himself. His armor had fresh polish. He'd impeccably groomed his hair and beard. Triumph warmed his heart and stroked his ego. He looked about the area's perimeter.
He'd stationed another hundred of his best warriors there. Not even the Hulk could overcome them before Jarella would come to harm or be killed.
Torla would never consent to share his prestige with another mage especially an outworlder! Visis coughed. He wished that the Sorcerers had returned from the Bigger World with his troops. He had but two hundred more troops and three magical apprentices scouring the countryside for the refugees.
Numbers were wearing thin.
He noticed Krylar standing with another soldier. He motioned them both over.
"Lord Visis?" Krylar bowed to him.
"What might we do for you, Lord?" The soldier did the same.
"After the ceremony, take a patrol and recapture the released prisoners. We will kill them tomorrow after Jarella and I have had our wedding night." Visis imagined being crowned King.
"It will be done!" The soldier stepped back.
"Was it wise not to have more men outside of the walls?" Suspicion dogged Krylar's thinking.
"The brute cannot simply leap up here. Much as with the Sorcerers, his allies remained behind in the Bigger World." Visis glimpsed his bride waiting in the doorway. He shooed Krylar away.
Jarella trembled. Lament stabbed through her heart. She knew Duty left her with little choice. As Queen, she had sacrificed her choice for the people. Tears welled in her eyes. She wore a dress woven by the eastern isles' grubs. The maids had put fresh flowers in her hair. She had a bouquet in her hands to cover her shackled wrists.
Still her heart wailed. It wanted the Champion and her King. Her lost love. Her Bruce….
Bruce, I hope you find happiness in the Bigger World. If the emerald goddess somehow frees me from this state, I will do everything to find you. Despite this horrible miscarriage of her blessings, I pray that the goddess looks out for you, my Love. She sucked in Regret's sting. Her face remained as stolid as possible. She marched toward the priest and her conqueror.
"Ah, Lady! You look splendid! I wish it was a better morning. We will make it a great day." Visis looked her over head to toe. The silken dress sparkled even in that dimmed light.
She ground her teeth. "I have fulfilled my bargain. Let us do this."
"As you wish." He turned with her to face the waiting man in the priest's robes. "Keep it short."
The priest trembled. He could see Unwillingness in her eyes. Still, with his own family locked up, he had little choice. He opened his holy book. His lips moved to begin the ritual.
Then the sentries atop the wall hollered, "INTRUDERS! LORD VISIS!"
"WARRIORS! STAND READY!" Visis commanded. He glared at Jarella. "A momentary annoyance to be sure."
"How arrogant you are. My people will not give up." Still she did not know who would storm the keep in this manner. Her own soldiers remained too weak to do that. She had no other forces that she knew of. She saw the warriors ringing the courtyard turn and face the wall. Swords and force lances raised.
Then Surprise and Shock widened her eyes.
A pink skin like those on Earth soared over the castle wall on a winged horse. Her sword shattered the guards' weapons with little effort.
A silver streak zipped into view beside her. A shiny being on some enchanted flat thing finished the remaining guards along the wall.
But that wasn't all…
From the board, a familiar emerald being leapt down to the ground. His fists cleared a path through the soldiers. "JARELLA!"
"BRUCE? MY CHAMPION AND LOVE? CAN IT BE?" She gaped. Her heart did cartwheels. Hope buoyed her spirits.
"BANNER? IMPOSSIBLE!" Visis grabbed onto her. "I'VE COME TOO FAR TO BE STOPPED NOW! I…." He felt the magical energy bands bind his arms to his sides. Another gagged his mouth.
Namor soared up through the well by the wall. He grabbed the fleeing Krylar.
Strange soared down from the sky. "You're finished, Visis." He saw his companions rounding up the remaining warriors within the citadel.
"Thanks, Doctor." Banner rushed up to her. "I'm here. Hope you don't mind if I brought some friends?"
"For our people, Beloved, allies are welcome." Her eyes shone into his. "My hands please." She dropped the bouquet to reveal the metal chains around her wrists.
"Yeah those." Banner broke the chains from her wrists. He embraced her. "After what happened, I didn't…."
"Neither did I think the goddess would be so kind to us. Oh, Bruce!" Jarella returned the embrace. She felt safe and protected in those enormous emerald arms. Loneliness and Heartache evaporated from his presence. "You remember our promise?"
"I still want to be your King if you'll be my Queen. We rule together as co-rulers and equal if you'll still have me." Banner glared at Visis before turning back to her. "I'd never tyrannize you as he would have done." His lips whispered Amor's notes across her forehead.
She smiled. Her eyes sparkled Amor's ascent to him. "And I will be your loving wife, my Husband to Be." She kissed his hand. Joy's tears sparkled in her eyes.
"I would normally say we'd wait until our task is done." Banner sighed. "We can rebuild K 'ai together as partners and a couple."
"I could not have said that any better, my Love." Jarella noticed the other Defenders watching them. "Thank you all for your aid on this day. Thank you for standing by him."
"You're welcome. That is what we Defenders do." Valkyrie sheathed Dragonfang into its hilt. "I am the Valkyrie. That is the Silver Surfer, Prince Namor the Sub Mariner and Dr. Strange."
"And you're Queen Jarella?" Namor supposed.
"This is her, Prince Namor. The woman who has both the Hulk's heart and mine." Banner gazed deeply into Jarella's eyes. After Separation's too lengthy dry spell, Reunion invigorated his own spirit. He felt the Hulk calming within himself. "By the way, you like Wartho meat?"
"Wartho meat? You actually killed one of them?" Surprise widened Jarella's eyes. "I know of your strength, my Love, but I did not think…."
"They attacked the camp. My friends here and I defended our people. One of the Warthos died. So instead of being the predator, it's the prey." He ran his hands through her hair. "Our people were hungry. You couldn't be there to provide. I wanted them to eat."
Her eyes watered. "Who else would serve our people first like you do?" She grinned. "Since I am wearing the dress already, can we go through our ceremony at this refugee site?" She looked to the priest.
"I would be delighted to marry you both." The priest bowed to them both. "Perhaps I might ask for a small boon first? My family is imprisoned below."
Visis struggled. The gag drowned out his muffled protests.
"We will free them." Jarella looked over the subdued traitors. "We will have to deal with these ingrates."
"We shall and rebuild this world. I need to make sure…." Banner started.
Strange put his hand on the Hulk's arm. "We will make sure that you stay here this time, Bruce. You belong here. Between Lord Torla and myself, I think we can find a way. Shall we find those prisoners?"
"We will. I'll be back." Banner kissed his Queen's hand once again. Then he headed toward the stairs and the dungeon below.
"I hope your mage is right." Jarella turned to the Valkyrie. "I cannot take another separation from him."
"If he says as much, it will happen." Valkyrie affirmed. "I did not think anyone could make the Hulk happy or Dr. Banner content as you seem to."
"He does the same for me and our people. Some can only hope to come close to his devotion and service." Jarella looked Visis right in the eyes.
Destiny had resumed its course….