Thanks for the reviews - sorry it took so long to update, but I've been a bit busy... hope it's alright, hehe...

Zeldy, I don't think she'll keep her name forever either. And yeah, how will Scar get that revenge? ;)

SunRise19, I too doubt Scar and Simba will ever get along, but who knows what the future will bring? Even I know not...

Bounding Jackalope, glad you like it too! Here be the update...

Please do remember to R&R :) Atrice

Part 11 - Scar's special place

The queen sat in the 'throne cave', once again left alone by her mate. He did that quite often, and she didn't blame him; he had a kingdom to take care off, and on the other hand, she didn't speak much these days. In fact, she kept to herself in that cave, not leaving it. She hadn't left the cave in several weeks now, and the only thing she heard was what Simba told her. He kept an eye on Scar, but never moved too close to him. And Scar was spending most of his time with Kiara and Kovu; often the 3 of them could be seen resting together under a tree. Or Scar took Kovu for a walk around the Pride Rock, and out in the Pridelands where noone could see them or hear what they talked about. Scar also talked a lot with Kiara, just the two of them. The queen didn't like that, she had asked Scar to keep away from her daughter, but clearly he overheard her.

Noone had come to see her in these last weeks, not even that daughter of hers. She only saw her mate, and he was acting so strange. She tried to show him her love, but it was like he rejected her. Like he still couldn't accept what happened between her and Scar. 'Will things ever be alright again? They will, they always do…' she thought to herself, but her try on positive thoughts, was interrupted by someone suddenly standing in the opening to the cave – blocking the sunlight. The lion came into the cave, and looked around. It was Kovu, and he looked confused.

"Kovu? Is something wrong?" the queen asked him, and with an anxious look in the eyes, he nodded.

"I can't find Kiara… or Scar. They're gone, I've been searching everywhere near Pride Rock." Kovu explained. The queen suddenly woke up from the mist she had been in the last weeks, when she had been thinking about everything and nothing. Mostly everything…

"I told him to keep away from her!" she said with an angry growl, that made Kovu look frightened.

"He won't harm her – he cares about her, like an uncle would do it, nothing more. But I'm just worried, she shouldn't leave Pride Rock, when she's going to give birth soon…" he said and reminded her of the fact, that her daughter was pregnant. She had forgotten all about that. The queen did not trust Scar at anything, and the thought of him being gone with her daughter, made her leave the 'throne cave' for the first time in weeks – to search for them.

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"Are you sure, this is a good idea?" Kiara asked, glancing behind them – Pride Rock was very far away from them already.

"Of course it is, I just want to show you something special… a special place for a special princess…" he said with a promising voice, and she smiled. He smiled too, for they were closing in on the place. But Kiara didn't like it, she saw where they were headed; towards the Shadowlands, where Kovu once lived with the Exiled.

"We're not supposed to go there… if that is where we are headed. It's a dark place, father always said so." The young lioness said, and Scar stopped and looked at her.

"It's not dark everywhere – he never lived there, he does not know the… special places." Scar said, sounding very secretive. They began to walk again, and soon he found a little opening in the cliff wall, and went through it. For a second Kiara didn't want to go, but she was still curious. It was very dark, even more than she expected – she could not see a thing!

"Scar?" she called, couldn't hear him. She moved on, thought she could see light far away and figured he had gone that way. Suddenly she felt someone touch her, licked her chin. She stopped, and although she guessed who it was, she was not able to resist, and rubbed her head against his warm and soft mane. She could not see the smile in his eyes, the shine of triumph. For awhile they stood like that, touching and stroking each other. Then he moved away again, and she followed him towards the light.

They entered a large and open cave, but he kept walking. After a long time, they entered a place, somewhat in shadow, but the blue sky could be seen far above them. The place was mostly lit by fire and blazes coming from strange holes in the stone floor. Kiara had never seen such a place before, and thought it looked amazing.

"This… this is where you lived?" she asked, while Scar walked around, looking in the corners and through other openings in the walls.

"Ah, yes I lived here… before I became the king, that is… brings back memories, this place…" he said, sounding very dark. Kiara felt sad for him, that he was never accepted by the pride. Left alone in this place, until he could take the place that was rightful his. At least that was what Kovu told her, that Scar told him. He should have been the king in the first place, not Mufasa. Scar sat down next to a hole with smoke coming up, and Kiara went to him and sat down next to him.

"I'm really sorry… but I want you to know, that when I become the queen, you'll be… aagh…" she fell down, laid down, looking very sick. She let out a little whimp… Kiara felt a pain in the stomach, and only a few seconds later another ache came along to follow it.

Scar stood up again and lowered his head to her, worried. What could be wrong?