A/N: Look, you get another chapter! I know, I'm just great, well, I try! I
don't know if what Lionel does towards the end of the story could actually
have been done, but it's just a story and that's just the way life is.
Review if you have time!
~Chapter 3~
Clark and his father were just loading up that days produce delivery when they noticed the messenger from the palace riding toward them. Jonathan and Clack stopped loading and approached the messenger.
"I'm looking for Jonathan Kent," the messenger said as soon as he reached the two men.
"I'm Jonathan Kent."
"I have a message for you," he said pulling out some rolled up parchment. Clearing his throat, he read, "Our King Lionel and his son, Prince Alexander, request the honor of your family's presence as soon as possible."
"What is this about?" Jonathan asked, looking at the messenger quizzically as he reached out to take the parchment from him.
"I'm afraid I wouldn't know sir, I'm just the messenger."
"Alright, I'll go with you," turning to Clark he said, "Son, just go and tell your mother where I've gone and them go one with-"
"I'm sorry sir," the messenger cut in, "uh, perhaps I wasn't clear," the messenger looked from Jonathan to Clark a bit nervously, "er, the King would like the presence of your whole family," he emphasized.
Jonathan glared back at the messenger, clearly not happy with the idea of bringing his family to the castle for an audience with the king, and then noticed, for the first time, the carriage parked in front of his house. "Very well, Clark go and get your mother."
Ten minutes later the Kent's were in the carriage and on their way to the castle. "What do you suppose the King wants with us?" Martha Kent asked nervously.
"I don't know, Clark, did everything go alright when you took the produce delivery the other day?"
Clark answered yes, but thought about it more as the carriage shook its way toward the castle. It hadn't gone alright when he went to the castle. He hadn't had time to really think about Lana since the incident with Lex had happened. He wondered if Lana could have mentioned their encounter to the King who had somehow figured out that Clark was trespassing on his property and now wanted to not only punish him, but also punish his whole family? Clark tried to discredit this idea; there was no way that Lana could have possibly figured out who he was. Clark was so lost in thought that before he knew it, the messenger was escorting them from the carriage through the castle.
Clark absently glanced at his surroundings as the passed hall after hall with portraits hanging everywhere. His heart started pounding harder and harder as they walked farther and farther into the castle. Finally the messenger lead them into a beautifully furnished waiting room and told them to wait there while he walked the doors on the opposite end of the room.
A few minutes later the doors opened and finely dressed lords and ladies walked out of the room, many of them looking at the Kent's surprised to see them in the waiting room. As the final lord left the room the messenger came back out and motioned the Kent's to follow him.
They followed him into the room and started walking down the long aisle toward the group of people at the end. Clark looking behind him as two guards closed the door on all the lords and ladies looking in trying to figure out why these people had an audience with the King.
As they neared the front of the hall, Clark noticed the King first; he was sitting on his throne with his crown on his head looking at the Kent's as if they were a mild irritation he had to deal with. This did not help Clark's feeling of foreboding; he just knew that this couldn't be good. To calm himself a little he glanced around to the other occupants in the room. There was a tall blonde boy with piercing blue eyes glaring at Clark. He recognized him instantly as the person talking to Lana the day in the garden. Clark looked away and his eyes locked with those of Lana.
The look of shock in her eyes told him that she recognized him instantly; she gave him a questioning look wondering what he was doing there. Clark was relieved, if she looked at him questioningly, then she had nothing to do with why they were there. Clark gave her the briefest hint of a smile before looking away, missing the scowl that crossed over the blondes face.
Clark looked to the only other person in the room and his mouth fell open. Standing next to Lionel was Lex, the same man who had recovered at his house only two days before, but now he was seated next to the King with a crown of his own on his head. From the amused look on Lex's face, he saw the little exchange between Clark and Lana.
As soon as the party reached the King, Clark and his father bowed and his mother curtsied to the King and Prince. Lionel didn't waste time getting to the point, "I understand that my son was residing at your home recently," Lionel said turning his gaze toward Jonathan.
"Yes, though at the time I was unaware that he was your son, Your Highness," Jonathan replied.
"Be that as it may, you still did him a great service taking him into your home like that. I would like to show you a token of my esteem-"
"That won't be necessary, Your Highness," Jonathan cut in, "we did what was right, there is no need for you to do-"
"It is my right and pleasure to do what I please," Lionel cut back in, "since you did help my son out not knowing who he was, I would like your family to move into the land just outside the castle walls. It is an old property that I would like you to restore for me. I will of course also be paying you "
"Your Highness, while you offer is very gracious, we couldn't possibly-" Jonathan tried to say, but Lionel would hear nothing of it.
"Jonathan, I'll take your refusal of my offer only as a sign of politeness, but it is my will and as such is beyond contestation," Lionel finished definitively.
Jonathan bowed, "Yes of course, Your Highness. We gratefully accept your generosity."
"Very good," Lionel said seemingly quite bored with the entire business. "My son will show you around and take you to your land, if you have any questions, ask him. Now if you'll excuse me I have some other matters to attend to." With that Lionel got up and walked out of the room.
Clark looked at his mother and father. He still couldn't believe what had just happened.
"You'll have to forgive my father, he isn't one to socialize," Lex was coming over to where they were standing, "Mr. And Mrs. Kent, it's good to see you again."
Jonathan bowed and Martha curtsied with a quiet, "Your Highness."
"Please, please call me Lex," he said.
"Oh, I couldn't!" Martha said blushing furiously.
"I insist," turning to Clark he said, "How are things."
"Strange right now," Clark replied not really knowing how to address Lex after finding out he was the Prince. He shot a look to his father who looked just as lost as he did.
"Mr. and Mrs. Kent?" Clark and his parents turned their heads when Lana spoke, Clark saw his parents turn and saw the look of recognition that came over his mother's face. "I don't know if you remember me, but-"
"Miss Lana, or actually Lady Lana now, my God, it's been years," his mother said.
"Please Mrs. Kent, call me Lana," she said as she came up to his mother, "and yes it has been years. It's good to see you both," she said also looking at Clark's father as she spoke.
Martha was still very flustered at being told to call the Prince and Lana by their first names, turned to Clark, "This is our son Clark."
"How do you do my Lady," Clark said, bowing slightly.
"Just Lana. Nice to meet you," she said smiling slightly. The blonde man standing just behind her cleared his throat and Lana blushed at forgetting to introduce the other person in the room. She turned to Whitney completely missing the amused smile tugging at Lex's mouth. "I'm sorry, how rude of me. Mr. and Mrs. Kent, this is Lord Whitney."
"No need for formalities, Whitney will do fine since we are all at a casual acquaintance," Whitney smiled at Clark's parents but Clark instantly disliked him. His smile seemed a bit forced and his mouth tightened a little when he told them to call him by his first name as if he greatly disliked the idea of people below his station using his given name.
"Well, since the introductions have all been handled, I think that it is time the Kent's had a tour of the place and got settled."
"Your High- Lex," his father said when he saw Lex open is mouth at the words 'Your Highness,' "if we are to move into a new property, we will surely need a couple of days to move our belonging into the new place."
"No need, some of the castles maids have been sent to your home to pack the things you'll need straight away, as for the other things, the home is already furnished and things can be brought over as they are needed."
"Lex, that is too kind, really, but we can manage that on our own."
"Jonathan, it's already taken care of, there are a lot of things for you to get used to around here and there is no better time for you to do that than now. If you will excuse me for a few minutes, I just need to go to my study to pick up a few things and then I can take you on a tour." Lex started to walk to the door when Lana stopped him.
"Why don't I show then Kent's around and then I will bring them to the property to meet you? That way you can take your time getting everything together and I can spend some time catching up with the Kent's." Clark turned his face expectantly toward Lex, to his thinking spending this extra time with Lana would be wonderful.
"Alright, that sounds like a good idea," he saw Whitney step up and knew he was going to volunteer to show them around too, no doubt worried about Lana spending time with their new young visitor, but quickly said, "Whitney, I'll need to have a word with you," before he could offer himself up.
"Of course," Whitney said a little reluctantly, It wasn't in his best interest to go against the Princes wishes especially since he knew the Prince was the one who was mostly responsible for Lana and if he ever wanted to marry her, he needed the Prince's approval.
"Well, I will meet you at the house shortly," with that he and Whitney left the room.
~~~
A/N: Another chapter done. I feel in the zone! Review if you have time.
~Chapter 3~
Clark and his father were just loading up that days produce delivery when they noticed the messenger from the palace riding toward them. Jonathan and Clack stopped loading and approached the messenger.
"I'm looking for Jonathan Kent," the messenger said as soon as he reached the two men.
"I'm Jonathan Kent."
"I have a message for you," he said pulling out some rolled up parchment. Clearing his throat, he read, "Our King Lionel and his son, Prince Alexander, request the honor of your family's presence as soon as possible."
"What is this about?" Jonathan asked, looking at the messenger quizzically as he reached out to take the parchment from him.
"I'm afraid I wouldn't know sir, I'm just the messenger."
"Alright, I'll go with you," turning to Clark he said, "Son, just go and tell your mother where I've gone and them go one with-"
"I'm sorry sir," the messenger cut in, "uh, perhaps I wasn't clear," the messenger looked from Jonathan to Clark a bit nervously, "er, the King would like the presence of your whole family," he emphasized.
Jonathan glared back at the messenger, clearly not happy with the idea of bringing his family to the castle for an audience with the king, and then noticed, for the first time, the carriage parked in front of his house. "Very well, Clark go and get your mother."
Ten minutes later the Kent's were in the carriage and on their way to the castle. "What do you suppose the King wants with us?" Martha Kent asked nervously.
"I don't know, Clark, did everything go alright when you took the produce delivery the other day?"
Clark answered yes, but thought about it more as the carriage shook its way toward the castle. It hadn't gone alright when he went to the castle. He hadn't had time to really think about Lana since the incident with Lex had happened. He wondered if Lana could have mentioned their encounter to the King who had somehow figured out that Clark was trespassing on his property and now wanted to not only punish him, but also punish his whole family? Clark tried to discredit this idea; there was no way that Lana could have possibly figured out who he was. Clark was so lost in thought that before he knew it, the messenger was escorting them from the carriage through the castle.
Clark absently glanced at his surroundings as the passed hall after hall with portraits hanging everywhere. His heart started pounding harder and harder as they walked farther and farther into the castle. Finally the messenger lead them into a beautifully furnished waiting room and told them to wait there while he walked the doors on the opposite end of the room.
A few minutes later the doors opened and finely dressed lords and ladies walked out of the room, many of them looking at the Kent's surprised to see them in the waiting room. As the final lord left the room the messenger came back out and motioned the Kent's to follow him.
They followed him into the room and started walking down the long aisle toward the group of people at the end. Clark looking behind him as two guards closed the door on all the lords and ladies looking in trying to figure out why these people had an audience with the King.
As they neared the front of the hall, Clark noticed the King first; he was sitting on his throne with his crown on his head looking at the Kent's as if they were a mild irritation he had to deal with. This did not help Clark's feeling of foreboding; he just knew that this couldn't be good. To calm himself a little he glanced around to the other occupants in the room. There was a tall blonde boy with piercing blue eyes glaring at Clark. He recognized him instantly as the person talking to Lana the day in the garden. Clark looked away and his eyes locked with those of Lana.
The look of shock in her eyes told him that she recognized him instantly; she gave him a questioning look wondering what he was doing there. Clark was relieved, if she looked at him questioningly, then she had nothing to do with why they were there. Clark gave her the briefest hint of a smile before looking away, missing the scowl that crossed over the blondes face.
Clark looked to the only other person in the room and his mouth fell open. Standing next to Lionel was Lex, the same man who had recovered at his house only two days before, but now he was seated next to the King with a crown of his own on his head. From the amused look on Lex's face, he saw the little exchange between Clark and Lana.
As soon as the party reached the King, Clark and his father bowed and his mother curtsied to the King and Prince. Lionel didn't waste time getting to the point, "I understand that my son was residing at your home recently," Lionel said turning his gaze toward Jonathan.
"Yes, though at the time I was unaware that he was your son, Your Highness," Jonathan replied.
"Be that as it may, you still did him a great service taking him into your home like that. I would like to show you a token of my esteem-"
"That won't be necessary, Your Highness," Jonathan cut in, "we did what was right, there is no need for you to do-"
"It is my right and pleasure to do what I please," Lionel cut back in, "since you did help my son out not knowing who he was, I would like your family to move into the land just outside the castle walls. It is an old property that I would like you to restore for me. I will of course also be paying you "
"Your Highness, while you offer is very gracious, we couldn't possibly-" Jonathan tried to say, but Lionel would hear nothing of it.
"Jonathan, I'll take your refusal of my offer only as a sign of politeness, but it is my will and as such is beyond contestation," Lionel finished definitively.
Jonathan bowed, "Yes of course, Your Highness. We gratefully accept your generosity."
"Very good," Lionel said seemingly quite bored with the entire business. "My son will show you around and take you to your land, if you have any questions, ask him. Now if you'll excuse me I have some other matters to attend to." With that Lionel got up and walked out of the room.
Clark looked at his mother and father. He still couldn't believe what had just happened.
"You'll have to forgive my father, he isn't one to socialize," Lex was coming over to where they were standing, "Mr. And Mrs. Kent, it's good to see you again."
Jonathan bowed and Martha curtsied with a quiet, "Your Highness."
"Please, please call me Lex," he said.
"Oh, I couldn't!" Martha said blushing furiously.
"I insist," turning to Clark he said, "How are things."
"Strange right now," Clark replied not really knowing how to address Lex after finding out he was the Prince. He shot a look to his father who looked just as lost as he did.
"Mr. and Mrs. Kent?" Clark and his parents turned their heads when Lana spoke, Clark saw his parents turn and saw the look of recognition that came over his mother's face. "I don't know if you remember me, but-"
"Miss Lana, or actually Lady Lana now, my God, it's been years," his mother said.
"Please Mrs. Kent, call me Lana," she said as she came up to his mother, "and yes it has been years. It's good to see you both," she said also looking at Clark's father as she spoke.
Martha was still very flustered at being told to call the Prince and Lana by their first names, turned to Clark, "This is our son Clark."
"How do you do my Lady," Clark said, bowing slightly.
"Just Lana. Nice to meet you," she said smiling slightly. The blonde man standing just behind her cleared his throat and Lana blushed at forgetting to introduce the other person in the room. She turned to Whitney completely missing the amused smile tugging at Lex's mouth. "I'm sorry, how rude of me. Mr. and Mrs. Kent, this is Lord Whitney."
"No need for formalities, Whitney will do fine since we are all at a casual acquaintance," Whitney smiled at Clark's parents but Clark instantly disliked him. His smile seemed a bit forced and his mouth tightened a little when he told them to call him by his first name as if he greatly disliked the idea of people below his station using his given name.
"Well, since the introductions have all been handled, I think that it is time the Kent's had a tour of the place and got settled."
"Your High- Lex," his father said when he saw Lex open is mouth at the words 'Your Highness,' "if we are to move into a new property, we will surely need a couple of days to move our belonging into the new place."
"No need, some of the castles maids have been sent to your home to pack the things you'll need straight away, as for the other things, the home is already furnished and things can be brought over as they are needed."
"Lex, that is too kind, really, but we can manage that on our own."
"Jonathan, it's already taken care of, there are a lot of things for you to get used to around here and there is no better time for you to do that than now. If you will excuse me for a few minutes, I just need to go to my study to pick up a few things and then I can take you on a tour." Lex started to walk to the door when Lana stopped him.
"Why don't I show then Kent's around and then I will bring them to the property to meet you? That way you can take your time getting everything together and I can spend some time catching up with the Kent's." Clark turned his face expectantly toward Lex, to his thinking spending this extra time with Lana would be wonderful.
"Alright, that sounds like a good idea," he saw Whitney step up and knew he was going to volunteer to show them around too, no doubt worried about Lana spending time with their new young visitor, but quickly said, "Whitney, I'll need to have a word with you," before he could offer himself up.
"Of course," Whitney said a little reluctantly, It wasn't in his best interest to go against the Princes wishes especially since he knew the Prince was the one who was mostly responsible for Lana and if he ever wanted to marry her, he needed the Prince's approval.
"Well, I will meet you at the house shortly," with that he and Whitney left the room.
~~~
A/N: Another chapter done. I feel in the zone! Review if you have time.