A/N: This chapter is made possible because I want to make sure Amanda has
another chapter to read before she goes crazy! Thank you so much for the reviews!
Anyway, back to our regularly scheduled programming!
~Chapter 5~
Jonathan had gone from being dismayed over the recent turn of events to being pleasantly impressed at the size of the land. If he was to take over in caring for this land he definitely had his work cut out for him. At least he would have Clark's help in managing the farm. Of course they would have to be much more careful now that they were a lot closer to the castle. The last thing he wanted was for the King to find out about Clark.
If the size of the land was impressive, then it was nothing compared to what the house looked like. It was an enormous two-story home with every room beautifully furnished. Martha was in awe as she walked around the house. She was afraid to touch anything in fear that she might break it. Martha and Lana walked around discussing small changes that would open up the room even more.
Jonathan took this opportunity to have a private word with Clark. "Well, there is no way out of this. I wouldn't be good to go against the King. I just want you to make sure that you don't use any of your abilities, we can't have anyone seeing anything."
"Dad, don't worry, I don't plan on doing anything to screw this up." Clark paused and looked at his father, "I know that you don't really like this change-"
"Well, I didn't think that I'd like it, but this could actually be really good for us. I guess we just wait for Lex to get here and find out all the details."
They didn't have to wait long. Lex walked into the house offering apologies for being late. Lana and Martha went upstairs so that the men could talk.
"Well, how do you like the place?" Lex asked.
"It's a wonderful place and a lot bigger than I had expected, I don't know how Clark and I are going to handle it all," Jonathan replied.
"Well, even if Clark was going to be around to help, it wouldn't have only been the two of you. You are actually going to hire a few people to help out. I suggest about five or six helpers." Lex said.
"I'm sorry, Lex, but what do you mean even if I was going to be helping?" Clark asked a little shocked. What else would he be doing if he wasn't going to be working on the farm.
"Well, as it turns out, I would like you to begin training as a squire. Whitney will be here tomorrow to take you to the ranks. There you will begin your training." Lex answered.
Clark couldn't believe what he was hearing. First his family moves into this new place and now the Prince himself wanted him to start training as a squire. His luck, for the first time, seemed to be good. He sensed that his father had tensed up. Obviously he didn't like the idea for obvious reasons. Clark wished that his father would trust him even a little. It wasn't like he was planning on running around at super speed or planning to pick up wagons and spin them over his head.
Jonathan decided to side step the subject for now and focus on another thing Lex said, "Lex, I understand that people are going to need to be hired, but right now, I need to focus getting income from this farm, I don't have the money to pay anyone to help out."
"Well, that brings me to my next point, you are being employed by the royal family, as such, you will be receiving an annual salary. In fact," reaching into the pocket of his jacket, he pulled out a bag and placed in on the table where it landed with a slight kink, "here is an advance on some of your salary. There should be enough there to hire the people you need. Also hire a couple of people to help Martha with the house and you'll need at least one person to work the stables."
"Stables? What stables?" Jonathan asked.
"There are stables just behind the farm. I believe there are four horses stabled there. You'll have more than enough time to work everything out, but for now do you have any other questions?"
"No, Lex, like you said, I just need some time to figure out what we're going to do, how to get started and stuff like that." Jonathan said.
"That's understandable," Lex replied standing up, "I'll stop by in a couple of days to see what your plan is going to be. I'll also start sending some people over for you to interview, hopefully you'll find a few people to get started." Jonathan and Clark walked Lex to the door. "Whitney should be stopping by tomorrow to bring you to the lists. I'll meet you there tomorrow to make sure you get settled in. Until tomorrow Clark, Jonathan." With that Lex was gone.
Jonathan and Clark went back into the living room as Martha and Lana came back downstairs. Clark's head was so full with all this new information that he forgot Lana was even there.
"Did Lex leave? That's great, he was supposed to escort me home." Lana shot a quick look at Clark before looking away.
"Oh, well, I'm sure that Clark wouldn't mind walking you back to the castle," Jonathan said. Clark could tell that his father just wanted to relay the conversation to his mother.
"Of course," Clark said quickly, "I'd be happy to," he added with a smile.
"OK then," turning to Martha she said, "I'll stop by again, but I'm so lad that we got to spend this after noon together." She hesitated for a minute and then leaned toward Martha and wrapped her in a hug.
Tears started gathering in Martha's eyes as she hugged Lana back, "It was good to see you too."
"I'll be back soon," Clark told his parents as they walked out the door.
"Jonathan, do you think that's a good idea," Martha said as soon as the door closed behind her son.
"He's just walking her home, I don't think he can get into much trouble doing that," Jonathan said wanting to tell his wife about his conversation with Lex.
Martha's jaw dropped, "Not get into too much trouble! Didn't you see them in the garden?"
"No, why?"
"Jonathan, you really need to open you eyes a bit more," she said and started telling him what she saw in the garden. Jonathan looked at the door wishing that it wasn't too late to stop his son and take Lana home himself. It just wouldn't do for Clark to get infatuated with Lana. It wouldn't do at all.
~~~
"And I start tomorrow," Clark finished. He had just told Lana about Lex's visit and Lex's offer to Clark.
"Wow Clark, I'm really happy for you," she said.
"Yeah, it should be interesting, I just wish that my father would trust me a bit more. He probably thinks that I'm going to mess up somehow."
"Mess up how?" Lana asked.
"Oh," Clark could have kicked himself for saying that, he didn't want her to question him too much, "I don't know, I just want to do well."
"I'm sure that you'll do fine." Changing the subject she said, "I really had a good time spending today with your Mother. It's been a long time since I've had someone that I could really talk to."
"Well, I'm sure that she'd love it if you stopped by whenever."
"I know and I plan to. Now that your family will be living so close, you won't be getting rid of me too easily!"
That notion was just fine by Clark, "Lex said that there was a stable with horses on the property, maybe we could go riding sometime." Clark's face was red by the time he finished the sentence. It was one thing to talk in the friendly manner with Lana, but quite another for him to suggest she go out with someone like him.
"I'd really like that Clark." By this time they were back in the garden of the castle. They just stood there facing each other. Lana looked like she wanted to say something but she must have thought better of it because instead she said, "Well, good luck tomorrow Clark, and I'll see you around."
"Yeah, I'll see you around." Before Lana could turn and go, Clark caught her hand and pressed a kiss on the back of it. Lana's breath caught in her throat and her heart started beating erratically. Her hand was tingling when Clark let it go. She didn't trust herself to talk so she just smiled at him and turned to go into the castle. She wanted to run into the castle straight up to her room and talk to Chloe about what had happened, but she couldn't because she knew that Clark was still watching her.
Clark watched her go back into the castle before tuning to go back home. He was so happy he felt like he was floating on air.
~~~
Chloe didn't waste any time asking questions about Clark and wasn't satisfied until she got all the answers she wanted. "So let me get this straight," she said when Lana finished telling her about her afternoon with the Kents, "you haven't seen this family in ten years and now they, and their son whom you've never met, are living right outside the castle walls."
"Yes, that's about it- well, there is one more thing, you remember that day I told you about a man in the gardens who had knocked me down?"
"Yeah, I remem- wait, you mean to tell me that it was HIM?"
"Yes, only I didn't know who he was at the time." Lana walked over to a chair by her window. She looked out over the grounds to where the Kent house was now located in the distance. The sun was just finished setting and it was hard to see clearly in the deepening darkness. Before she realized what she was saying she said, "He's very handsome isn't he."
Because she was looking out the window she didn't notice the dark look that crossed over Chloe's features. 'Of course, it's not good enough that Whitney wants to spend every moment with her, now she's got another guy and he's a peasant!' Out loud she said, "Yes, he was good looking."
"And those blue eyes," Lana sighed thinking about the way Clark had kissed her hand and absentmindedly rubbing the spot where his lips were.
"I wonder what Whitney thinks of him," Chloe asked innocently. Lana's head snapped around her brows drawn together. 'Ha, that did it.'
"I don't know what Whitney thinks of him. In fact I haven't seen him since this afternoon."
"I know." When Lana looked at her questioningly she added, "While you were out giving the royal tour, he must have sought me out at least three times to find out if you were back yet. He wasn't to happy to hear that you still weren't back, especially the later it got"
Angrily, Lana said, "I don't have to answer to him and I don't see why it's any of business where I am."
"Well, I imagine he thinks it is. You know he wants to marry you."
"I don't want to marry him."
"You'll have to if the King wishes it so."
Lana didn't reply, she didn't really know what to say. Chloe was right if the King said so, she'd have to marry Whitney. It wasn't for her to go against his will. "I'm tired, I think I'll retire for the evening." She got up and started getting ready for bed already thinking about talking to Lex about Whitney's behavior.
Chloe said good night and left her room. She stood outside with a smirk on her face. She'd just have to keep a closer eye on Lana and if things got too out of hand she'd just have to make sure she kept Lana in line, no matter what it took.
A/N: Wow, things are starting to look ominous! I wonder what will happen next. Amanda, I'm sorry, but it will probably be a couple of days before I'll be able to post again, but don't be alarmed, I don't plan on letting it go too much more than that before I post again. Review if you have time!
~Chapter 5~
Jonathan had gone from being dismayed over the recent turn of events to being pleasantly impressed at the size of the land. If he was to take over in caring for this land he definitely had his work cut out for him. At least he would have Clark's help in managing the farm. Of course they would have to be much more careful now that they were a lot closer to the castle. The last thing he wanted was for the King to find out about Clark.
If the size of the land was impressive, then it was nothing compared to what the house looked like. It was an enormous two-story home with every room beautifully furnished. Martha was in awe as she walked around the house. She was afraid to touch anything in fear that she might break it. Martha and Lana walked around discussing small changes that would open up the room even more.
Jonathan took this opportunity to have a private word with Clark. "Well, there is no way out of this. I wouldn't be good to go against the King. I just want you to make sure that you don't use any of your abilities, we can't have anyone seeing anything."
"Dad, don't worry, I don't plan on doing anything to screw this up." Clark paused and looked at his father, "I know that you don't really like this change-"
"Well, I didn't think that I'd like it, but this could actually be really good for us. I guess we just wait for Lex to get here and find out all the details."
They didn't have to wait long. Lex walked into the house offering apologies for being late. Lana and Martha went upstairs so that the men could talk.
"Well, how do you like the place?" Lex asked.
"It's a wonderful place and a lot bigger than I had expected, I don't know how Clark and I are going to handle it all," Jonathan replied.
"Well, even if Clark was going to be around to help, it wouldn't have only been the two of you. You are actually going to hire a few people to help out. I suggest about five or six helpers." Lex said.
"I'm sorry, Lex, but what do you mean even if I was going to be helping?" Clark asked a little shocked. What else would he be doing if he wasn't going to be working on the farm.
"Well, as it turns out, I would like you to begin training as a squire. Whitney will be here tomorrow to take you to the ranks. There you will begin your training." Lex answered.
Clark couldn't believe what he was hearing. First his family moves into this new place and now the Prince himself wanted him to start training as a squire. His luck, for the first time, seemed to be good. He sensed that his father had tensed up. Obviously he didn't like the idea for obvious reasons. Clark wished that his father would trust him even a little. It wasn't like he was planning on running around at super speed or planning to pick up wagons and spin them over his head.
Jonathan decided to side step the subject for now and focus on another thing Lex said, "Lex, I understand that people are going to need to be hired, but right now, I need to focus getting income from this farm, I don't have the money to pay anyone to help out."
"Well, that brings me to my next point, you are being employed by the royal family, as such, you will be receiving an annual salary. In fact," reaching into the pocket of his jacket, he pulled out a bag and placed in on the table where it landed with a slight kink, "here is an advance on some of your salary. There should be enough there to hire the people you need. Also hire a couple of people to help Martha with the house and you'll need at least one person to work the stables."
"Stables? What stables?" Jonathan asked.
"There are stables just behind the farm. I believe there are four horses stabled there. You'll have more than enough time to work everything out, but for now do you have any other questions?"
"No, Lex, like you said, I just need some time to figure out what we're going to do, how to get started and stuff like that." Jonathan said.
"That's understandable," Lex replied standing up, "I'll stop by in a couple of days to see what your plan is going to be. I'll also start sending some people over for you to interview, hopefully you'll find a few people to get started." Jonathan and Clark walked Lex to the door. "Whitney should be stopping by tomorrow to bring you to the lists. I'll meet you there tomorrow to make sure you get settled in. Until tomorrow Clark, Jonathan." With that Lex was gone.
Jonathan and Clark went back into the living room as Martha and Lana came back downstairs. Clark's head was so full with all this new information that he forgot Lana was even there.
"Did Lex leave? That's great, he was supposed to escort me home." Lana shot a quick look at Clark before looking away.
"Oh, well, I'm sure that Clark wouldn't mind walking you back to the castle," Jonathan said. Clark could tell that his father just wanted to relay the conversation to his mother.
"Of course," Clark said quickly, "I'd be happy to," he added with a smile.
"OK then," turning to Martha she said, "I'll stop by again, but I'm so lad that we got to spend this after noon together." She hesitated for a minute and then leaned toward Martha and wrapped her in a hug.
Tears started gathering in Martha's eyes as she hugged Lana back, "It was good to see you too."
"I'll be back soon," Clark told his parents as they walked out the door.
"Jonathan, do you think that's a good idea," Martha said as soon as the door closed behind her son.
"He's just walking her home, I don't think he can get into much trouble doing that," Jonathan said wanting to tell his wife about his conversation with Lex.
Martha's jaw dropped, "Not get into too much trouble! Didn't you see them in the garden?"
"No, why?"
"Jonathan, you really need to open you eyes a bit more," she said and started telling him what she saw in the garden. Jonathan looked at the door wishing that it wasn't too late to stop his son and take Lana home himself. It just wouldn't do for Clark to get infatuated with Lana. It wouldn't do at all.
~~~
"And I start tomorrow," Clark finished. He had just told Lana about Lex's visit and Lex's offer to Clark.
"Wow Clark, I'm really happy for you," she said.
"Yeah, it should be interesting, I just wish that my father would trust me a bit more. He probably thinks that I'm going to mess up somehow."
"Mess up how?" Lana asked.
"Oh," Clark could have kicked himself for saying that, he didn't want her to question him too much, "I don't know, I just want to do well."
"I'm sure that you'll do fine." Changing the subject she said, "I really had a good time spending today with your Mother. It's been a long time since I've had someone that I could really talk to."
"Well, I'm sure that she'd love it if you stopped by whenever."
"I know and I plan to. Now that your family will be living so close, you won't be getting rid of me too easily!"
That notion was just fine by Clark, "Lex said that there was a stable with horses on the property, maybe we could go riding sometime." Clark's face was red by the time he finished the sentence. It was one thing to talk in the friendly manner with Lana, but quite another for him to suggest she go out with someone like him.
"I'd really like that Clark." By this time they were back in the garden of the castle. They just stood there facing each other. Lana looked like she wanted to say something but she must have thought better of it because instead she said, "Well, good luck tomorrow Clark, and I'll see you around."
"Yeah, I'll see you around." Before Lana could turn and go, Clark caught her hand and pressed a kiss on the back of it. Lana's breath caught in her throat and her heart started beating erratically. Her hand was tingling when Clark let it go. She didn't trust herself to talk so she just smiled at him and turned to go into the castle. She wanted to run into the castle straight up to her room and talk to Chloe about what had happened, but she couldn't because she knew that Clark was still watching her.
Clark watched her go back into the castle before tuning to go back home. He was so happy he felt like he was floating on air.
~~~
Chloe didn't waste any time asking questions about Clark and wasn't satisfied until she got all the answers she wanted. "So let me get this straight," she said when Lana finished telling her about her afternoon with the Kents, "you haven't seen this family in ten years and now they, and their son whom you've never met, are living right outside the castle walls."
"Yes, that's about it- well, there is one more thing, you remember that day I told you about a man in the gardens who had knocked me down?"
"Yeah, I remem- wait, you mean to tell me that it was HIM?"
"Yes, only I didn't know who he was at the time." Lana walked over to a chair by her window. She looked out over the grounds to where the Kent house was now located in the distance. The sun was just finished setting and it was hard to see clearly in the deepening darkness. Before she realized what she was saying she said, "He's very handsome isn't he."
Because she was looking out the window she didn't notice the dark look that crossed over Chloe's features. 'Of course, it's not good enough that Whitney wants to spend every moment with her, now she's got another guy and he's a peasant!' Out loud she said, "Yes, he was good looking."
"And those blue eyes," Lana sighed thinking about the way Clark had kissed her hand and absentmindedly rubbing the spot where his lips were.
"I wonder what Whitney thinks of him," Chloe asked innocently. Lana's head snapped around her brows drawn together. 'Ha, that did it.'
"I don't know what Whitney thinks of him. In fact I haven't seen him since this afternoon."
"I know." When Lana looked at her questioningly she added, "While you were out giving the royal tour, he must have sought me out at least three times to find out if you were back yet. He wasn't to happy to hear that you still weren't back, especially the later it got"
Angrily, Lana said, "I don't have to answer to him and I don't see why it's any of business where I am."
"Well, I imagine he thinks it is. You know he wants to marry you."
"I don't want to marry him."
"You'll have to if the King wishes it so."
Lana didn't reply, she didn't really know what to say. Chloe was right if the King said so, she'd have to marry Whitney. It wasn't for her to go against his will. "I'm tired, I think I'll retire for the evening." She got up and started getting ready for bed already thinking about talking to Lex about Whitney's behavior.
Chloe said good night and left her room. She stood outside with a smirk on her face. She'd just have to keep a closer eye on Lana and if things got too out of hand she'd just have to make sure she kept Lana in line, no matter what it took.
A/N: Wow, things are starting to look ominous! I wonder what will happen next. Amanda, I'm sorry, but it will probably be a couple of days before I'll be able to post again, but don't be alarmed, I don't plan on letting it go too much more than that before I post again. Review if you have time!