Hey guys! How's is everyone doing? All keeping safe I hope.
Back with a new story. I've been tinkering with this plot for months now and I hope you like it.
This is not a story about typical Kara. Kara is a Kryptonian warrior, she's good at it and she knows it. Just a warning: if Kara being a warrior that has no issues about killing her enemies gives you nightmares, then this story isn't for you.
That being said, Kara is still sweet, is still goofy and oblivious at times, and her smile still puts the sun to shame. Alex is still her overprotective, grumpy big sister and Lena is still smarter than most and she will still find herself unable to resist the beautiful Kryptonian.
This story is based on a Vikings setting. A 'what if Kryptonians were Vikings instead of an alien race' sort of thing. Just to make things clear, I am not aiming for historical or canon accuracy as you will soon find out. I made up this world. Some of it will resonate with canon and History and some of it won't.
Enjoy! :)
Chapter 1
It always started as a whisper, a rustle of hushed voices and soft sounds she couldn't quite decipher. Then came movement, blurry motions emerging from shadows until they became clearer, distinct, full of color and forms no one else could see. No one else but her.
Yet, this time there were no bright colors and forms, only a full reddish moon on a dark, starless sky. Out from the shadows, a raven flew high in the sky, crossing over the red moon but it dropped suddenly and hit the ground with a soft thud. There was noise from the darkness below, a soft weeping sound coming somewhere from the ground.
A beam of bright moonlight shone down on a hunched man, an old man, with long, grey hair. The old man gently touched the feather-covered chest of the fallen raven, crying, grieving. Raising his head, the man glanced over his broad shoulder, almost as if knowing he was being watched. Wiping the falling tears from his good eye, the bearded man whispered, 'My blood has been spilled. Avenge me.'.
'My blood…' His voice became a whisper of unintelligible words and sounds, and forms and colors blurred and faded into the shadows as the bright moon slowly became the color of thick blood.
"My blood…" Sightless eyes opened with a start, the words tumbling out from cold lips in the eerie silence of dawn. "My blood…"
##
Northern Krypton,
Argo Bay Village,
Long, tanned fingers brushed slowly over the expanse of ivory, freckled skin, gentle lips pressing lazily between delicate shoulders.
"You better go before your brother misses you and decides to challenge me to a fistfight. Again." She shifted a little to the side and this time kissed a shoulder. "I'm not sure he can afford to lose any more teeth."
The woman lying down on her belly chuckled. "It's still dark. He's still trying to raise the dead with his ungodly snoring."
The blonde laughed quietly. "I'm sure missing two front teeth doesn't help. Come on, I'll walk you home."
The woman slowly turned around from under her, presenting her exposed chest with a leery smile, her ivory fingers brushing the discolored, jagged patch of skin on the woman's left shoulder. "Are you sure? We still have time before the sun is up."
The blonde smirked, leaning over to kiss a dark nipple. Another kiss quickly turned into gentle sucking and the woman was soon moaning her approval. "Positive…"
The blonde quickly pushed herself away from the now stunned and sputtering woman, searching for her discarded tunic on the wooden floor.
"You're mean, Kara!"
Kara chuckled, amused. Glancing over her shoulder as she pulled the soft red tunic over her head, her blue eyes glinting with mischief. "That's not what you said just moments ago. I think it was something like you're s—"
A pillow hit her full on the face, making her laugh hard.
##
It was another foggy morning in Argo, but she knew that the endless sun would soon rise high in the sky and the fog would slowly dissipate to give way to another beautiful summer day. Taking a deep breath, Kara Zorsdóttir closed her eyes, listening to the sounds of the early birds and the gentle lapping of the ocean waves on the dark rock she was standing on. A relaxed smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she inhaled the ocean breeze deeply. She always liked this time of day when the sun was still low on the horizon and the animals and the villagers were just waking up.
Standing there, perched on top of the prominent rock on the shore of Rao's bay, just feet away from her cabin, her smile grew wider when she opened her eyes, inhaling deeply once more. She wanted to enjoy the early morning peacefulness for a bit longer. Very soon, the village would become alive with bustling movement and children running around and being loud. That was all right. She liked the bustling noise too. She wouldn't be able to live in Constantinople for so long if she didn't.
She was about to leave her rock to go back to her cabin for breakfast when a familiar dark shape slowly broke through the fog. It was a dragon's head, followed by a large rectangular dark shadow. Her smile transformed into an excited grin instantly.
"Dad…"
She would recognize that ship anywhere. Plus, it was one of the only two ships that had left that summer. Usually, they left early in the season, with three to five ships to raid the shores of Eire and the lands of the Saxons, but the previous summer her father had reached an agreement with Lionel, king of L'uthr. Instead of raids and death and destruction, every summer they would travel to the shores of L'uthr for trade, as new friends and allies, a treaty that would be secured with marriage between her brother Kal and the princess of L'uthr. So, this time, her brother and father had sailed out with just two ships, full of goods for trade. It would be the first time they would establish trade with L'uthr and Zor wanted to send the message that he was an honorable man.
"Dad, that's absurd! You can't take just one ship!" Alex argued, holding her splinted wrist and forearm close to her chest. Her wrist was secured between four thin wooden splints that Kara had specifically shaped at her mother's request, held together by a linen cloth and leather bands. "I don't trust the L'uthronians. That prince of theirs…"
"I agree with Alex, dad," Kara said looking around quickly to make sure her mother wasn't anywhere in the vicinity. Satisfied that she wasn't going to get yelled at, Kara pulled her feet up on the table. Leaning back comfortably against her chair, long fingers entwined over her abdomen and she crossed her feet. "I don't trust them either."
Zor rolled his bright blue eyes, pulling absentmindedly on his long strawberry blond beard. Like so many Kryptonian men, his beard and hair were long and fashioned with intricate braids, some long or small, others thick or thin. Some even had bits of leather or colorful beads to hold the tips together.
"Kal and I won't be dealing with Maxwell, and if we show up with more than one ship, Lionel might think I won't uphold my end of the bargain, and all the effort Kal and Lex put up to make this happen will be for nothing."
"Lionel might not want to uphold his end of the bargain, dad. Have you thought about that?" Alex pointed out coldly. "You could be walking into a trap. Then what? From what I've gathered, the crown Prince has quite a bit of influence over the king. How will you hold off his army with forty warriors if he decides to attack?"
Kara nodded her agreement, watching her father closely. It was a security risk. With just one ship full of men to face off Lionel's army, even the finest Kryptonian warriors wouldn't last. Zor pursed his lips, choosing to sip on his ale before answering his daughter, clearly considering her question.
"We're sailing with our finest warriors, therefore, I believe we can hold our own until we can escape. And if by chance he does betray me, we'll come back with fifty ships next summer and I'll have him on his knees begging for mercy before I rip his heart out and feed it to the pigs." Alex opened her mouth, but he cut her off. "No, you are not coming with us, Alex, and yes you're one of my finest warriors too, but you're injured. If we need to fight, you can't pick up your sword and I'll be focused on protecting you instead of leading my warriors."
"I can fight with my left hand!" Alex shot indignantly, a few strands of loose red hair falling over her beautiful face. "And I will be healed by the time we get there!"
"I am aware of that, daughter, but we both know that your left is not nearly as accurate or deadly as your right hand." His blue eyes softened. "And your mother said it will take you at least until the next full moon before you can safely pick up your sword to practice."
Alex leaned back heavily on her seat, grumbling under her breath about the stupid squirrel that invaded her forge and caused the accident.
"Don't worry, Alex, I'll keep him out of trouble while we're there," Kara smirked at her father, her eyes shining with mirth. "Odin knows it won't be an easy task. I may need a week alone up in the mountains upon my return."
Zor smirked back, taking the mug to his lips. "You're not going either, daughter."
The smile dropped from Kara's face at once and she sat up straight, glaring at her father. "What? But—"
"Ah!" Alex pointed at her sister triumphantly and Kara shot her a dirty look.
"I won't risk Lionel wanting to sweeten the deal with a double marriage," Zor said, raising a sharp eyebrow. "I already had to give one daughter away to bring peace to this village, I will not give another one."
"I love my wife, dad," Alex said warily, "as I'm sure you've noticed."
"I have." He smiled fondly at her. "And you were a damn lucky one, daughter, to have married the one you loved. Most people will never know that."
Alex's eyes softened. "I know."
Kara frowned, not liking this one bit. "He doesn't know I'm your daughter. I—"
"You're still not going."
"But dad, Kal is getting married in L'uthr. I have to be there!"
"And he's getting married here too. My decision is final, Kara." Shifting in his chair so he could face her, Zor smiled at his youngest daughter, his eyes softening. "The moment Maxwell lays eyes on you, there is no way he's not going to want to take you for his own, and I will not give my daughter away to a man that has Loki in his eyes and Hel in his heart." Zor paused, his lips twitching. "And then there's Lex. He's bald."
Kara huffed, rolling her eyes. "They're both men, dad. That alone does not favor either of them."
Zor laughed, taking another sip of his ale. "Can you imagine the look on his face?" Zor flickered his long blond hair back with his hand and changed his voice to a girly tone. "Hey, husband, you don't happen to have another unmarried sister, do you?"
Kara scowled. "As long as she's not bald."
Zor roared with laughter at the sour look on his daughter's face, and even Alex chuckled at her predicament.
Smiling brightly, she made her way down to the harbor to welcome them. Her family was home, and they could stop worrying. She hoped Alex's foul mood would improve with Sam's arrival. Besides, she was curious about Kal's wife. He kept gloating nonstop about her beauty.
"Hair as dark as winter's night, skin as white as fresh, pristine snow and eyes as green as the new grass in spring," Kal recited, his green eyes dreamy.
Kara gave him a weird look. "Are you…" Her blue eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, sweet Freya's knickers! You have a crush on the Princess of L'uthr!"
Kal blushed. "I do not! I mean, I— what if I do? We're to be married next season!"
But Kara just grinned. "You have a crush on your wife to be that you've met only once! Mom is going to be over the moon with this. I gotta tell her!"
"What? No!" Kal scrambled to his feet, but it was too late. "Kara! Wait!"
Kara sprinted across the short bridge that separated her recently built home from the rest of the shore cabins, Kal hot on her tail.
"Kara! Get back here! You can't tell mom!"
Kara laughed, dodging crates and barrels, and people, who yelled at them indignantly. She knew he was fast and in really good shape, but she was faster than him. Faster than most actually.
"She's going to be sooooo happy!"
She could hear him growl behind her and it made her laugh harder. It distracted her enough for her to forget about the bend on the dirt path; to forget how tricky he could be; to forget to look over her shoulder until it was too late, and his heavier body was already colliding with hers, his long, muscled arms wrapping around her waist and tumbling them both down the gentle slope into the shallow, cold waters of the bay.
Kara sputtered, trying to get rid of his vicious grip on her, but Kal was having none of that.
"Sweet Frigg give me strength, will you two ever grow up!"
The siblings stopped at the sound of their mother's voice, staring wide-eyed at the redhead glaring at them with her hands on her hips.
"Kara, please…" Kal pleaded softly in her ear, letting go of her.
She took pity on him. Plenty of time to tease him later. "Sorry, ma. I slipped and pretty boy here tried to save me, but…" She shrugged, knowing her mother wasn't buying it. She never did.
"Slipped? You?" Her mother pointed a long finger at her, a knowing glint in her hazel eyes.
Kara chuckled, sloshing through the water that went up to her knees and climbed up the slope, Kal following her, both dripping wet. "Happens sometimes." If she was very drunk and blindfolded.
Alura sighed heavily. "Go change before you catch your deaths! Winter is upon us! And don't take long, I need help loading those crates!"
"Yes, mother," they both said at the same time, each kissing the smaller woman on the cheek.
"What am I going to do with the both of you? You're incorrigible."
Her mother's grumbling made her smile. She missed being home.
Making her way to the harbor with a happy smile, she was more than ready to embarrass Kal in front of his new wife, but as the red ship neared closer to the dock, she found it odd when she couldn't see anyone on board. By now, all the warriors should be up and about to help berth the longship, and Kal should be perched on the dragon's head, goofily waving at her while their father yelled at him to help out and stop being silly. That made her grin. He always managed to get in trouble just to make her laugh even when she didn't feel like it.
"It's because your laughter can raise the dead and bring a smile to Hel's face!"
Her smile faltered, however, when she noticed the erratic course of the ship. It should be heading straight to the dock, but instead, it was drifting aimlessly in the calm waters of the peaceful bay as if no one was holding the steering oar. And they should be pulling the blue sail down by now, so why weren't they?
"Something's not right…" Kara jogged down to the harbor, beckoning the men standing there staring at the adrift ship to follow her to where a small rowboat was moored at the end of the harbor.
The men jumped inside after her and grabbed the oars, quickly pushing the boat away from its berth. The small boat glided silently through the calm waters until it reached the long warship. Kara signaled her men to keep quiet and prepare for boarding, listening intently for any sounds that might give away what was happening inside, but no sounds came. Moving soundlessly, the men kept their eyes on her, waiting for her orders. Kara unsheathed the Seax she always carried on her leather belt, placing one hand on the side of the ship, between two blue round shields. Giving the men a curt nod, Kara hauled herself up on board, the men following her lead.
Kara's booted feet landed on hard wood with a soft thud, her body dropping to a half-crouch with the Seax in her hand ready to strike. It lasted a moment only before she was slowly rising to her full height as the warriors dropped beside her with a heavier thud. The sharp blade almost fell from her suddenly nerveless fingers at the sight before her. Probably less than ten warriors lied huddled and unmoving inside the ripped tent they had put up to protect themselves from the sun and rain. She couldn't see their faces, couldn't tell if they were injured or even alive or even if they were aware that the ship had been boarded. At the bow was another body, by the steering oar, a bulky form covered with a large dark cloak.
Her throat closed suddenly, her breath faltering. She knew those men and she knew that cloak. "Check on them," She rasped, pointing to the ruined tent without taking her eyes off the slumped, unmoving body at the bow of the ship.
Forcing herself to move steadily to the body hidden under the cloak, Kara looked for any signs that he was still breathing, that he was still alive, but couldn't find any. She tried to kneel, but all she managed was dropping on one knee with a loud thud. Her hands were shaking, she noticed, and her chest felt heavy and constricted. That never happened. Forcing her arm to move, she touched the worn-out fabric of the cloak with trembling fingers.
"Dad?"
There was no movement. Her eyes became full of unshed tears as she stared at the dark fabric. That was her father under that cloak, she knew, and he was dead. Her loving father was dead. Long fingers curled around the fabric, gently pulling it down. She had to see him. She had to.
A grunt startled her, and she clumsily stepped back in reaction, falling on her butt as a tear rolled down without permission.
"Dad?" Kara desperately yanked back the dark fabric off the man's face.
"Water…" The faint whisper left parched and cracked lips.
"Daddy…" her eyes were blurry with unshed tears and Kara dropped her head on his broad chest, sending a silent prayer to Odin for bringing her father back. But whatever small mercy they had been granted, they still wouldn't get rid of heartbreak, she knew it in her heart.
"Water…"
Kara raised her head, cleaning the falling tears with the back of her hands, her eyes falling onto her father's severely sunburnt face. She dared not touch it for fear of hurting him.
"You're home, daddy. Just a little longer," she promised softly, knowing with this level of dehydration they had no more freshwater on board they could use. "Hang in there, please…"
"Kara!"
The tall blonde forced her eyes away from her father and looked behind her shoulder at the villager calling out for her. "I'll be back…" She whispered to her father before rising tall and straight. She was a Zorsdóttir and a warrior, she would not crack.
"They're alive! All of them!" The blond man looked over his shoulder, his eyes full of worry. "Barely." He looked back at her and tried to see past her shoulder, but she was considerably taller than him. "Is that…"
"My father, yes. He's alive too." She couldn't see the men in the shabby tent, but she had to know. "Is my brother there? My sister?"
The man's brown eyes dropped, shaking his head.
Kara's heart sank, her hands balling into white knuckle fists at her sides. What would she tell her mother? Gods, what would she tell Alex?
Swallowing hard, Kara spoke quietly, staring straight ahead, "Take the rowboat now and get wagons and people to help, and have them bring water. Send someone to Argo and warn mother that we're… We're coming in with severely wounded. Go!"
The man left without a question and she was left alone, tall and proud, and broken, standing on the deck of the mighty warship, her blue eyes trying to pierce through the fog still clinging to the peaceful bay, praying for the second ship to emerge from the misty waters with the rest of them, but she could see nothing.
Something was terribly wrong, she knew it.
##
Argo Borg,
Several candlemarks later,
Inside the tavern was gloomy and dark, and it suited her mood perfectly. Her mind was racing faster than Hermod with everything going on and nothing made sense because only the worst scenario was plausible, and she couldn't handle it. She would never accept that! Her wife was not dead! All she needed was for someone, anyone of them to wake up and tell her where her wife and brother were. But it could take days before anyone regained consciousness and they had no choice but to wait, and until then, gods only knew what could happen. Kara's words from earlier were still ringing loud in her mind. 'I don't know'. She couldn't think beyond that. I don't know… It was exasperating.
"I don't know…" she slurred the words back, dejectedly. Bringing her mug up to her lips, she tilted her head back but there was nothing left.
Annoyed, she brought the mug down, banging it heavily on the table and peeking inside. Empty. Not good. She needed more ale, a lot more. She needed to shut up the voices in her head.
"Gorm!" She called out raising her mug clumsily. "It's empty! I told you not to leave it empty…"
The mug almost fell from her hand as she brought it back down on the table, barely catching it in time.
"Alex…" She looked up at the tavern keeper, questioning in her glassy eyes. "I think you've had enough."
Alex scowled at the chubby man. "I beg to disagree. Fill it!"
"Alex…"
"Fill it or I'm taking my coin elsewhere!"
For a moment, she thought he was going to say something, but the man's shoulder sagged instead, and he filled her mug from the jug he was holding in his hand.
Alex placed a coin on the table with a hard slap, her eyes never leaving the man's face.
"This one is on the house," he said softly before leaving, pity in his dark eyes.
She hated that look in his kind eyes, hated that he thought he needed to pity her just because they were friends, but she hated the most the pain she felt inside, the one that was barging relentlessly in her chest and she couldn't make it stop. Taking a long gulp of the cool ale, Alex downed half the mug. She was angry. Why hadn't her father listened to her? Why hadn't her wife?
"There's still time for you to drop from this trip, Sam. No one will fault you," Alex insisted once more, her honey-colored eyes pleading. They were at the harbor and everywhere around them, her friends and neighbors were saying goodbye to their loved ones.
"Honey, we're not going out on a raid. It's a friendly trip and not my first one either." Sam pulled her into her warm arms, nuzzling her loose red hair with her nose. "And I really want to hit that market."
Alex frowned. "I don't want a new cloak, Sam. Please, don't go. I—" How could she explain it, how could she explain the churning she felt in her gut for days now. "I have a bad feeling, Sam."
Sam kissed her cheek. "We'll be gone for a moon, sweetheart, maybe less. Kara made your father promise we'd be back before her birthday and you know he gets. Besides," the brunette looked over her shoulder, seeing the men jumping on board. "I think the Princess will appreciate having another woman on board."
Alex closed her eyes, frustrated. Why wasn't Sam listening to her?
"Why didn't you listen to me, you pigheaded…" Alex gulped down the rest of the mug's contents. "Another!"
Resting her head between her hands, Alex breathed out slowly. Things were starting to get a little fuzzy around the edges and not knowing what was happening was driving her mad. And why had Kara sent the ships away without waiting for her? She should be out there, looking for her wife!
"Where are you…"
##
She was angry. Angry and frustrated and that was never a good combination. Pacing back and forth, her stormy blue eyes scanned every inch of the bay below, waiting for the incoming ships, for the smoke signal that would tell her whether they had found the second ship or not. She was at the highest watchtower, on the north side of Argo, watching the bay's entrance intently. From there, she could see all of the bay and any incoming ship, but it was already close to sundown and still no sign of the second ship or any of the others.
"I should've been there…" she grumbled under her breath, a deep crinkle on her forehead enhancing the scar she had close to her left eyebrow ever since she was a toddler. "I shouldn't have left him to convince me to stay!"
She was being irrational, she knew, but her father was severely injured and still fighting for his life, and her brother and her wife's sister were missing.
"Missing…" that forced a disgusted snort out of her tightly closed lips. She had no idea what happened. No one did. No one but the unconscious men down at the healing house. She hated not knowing and every moment they stayed there, without information, without knowing what was happening was cutting short their chances to do something to help their friends!
But do what? They knew nothing! For all they knew, everyone else was probably dead. Could've been a storm or an ambush or… No, not a storm. No, this was that bastard's fault, she was sure of it, the crown prince, Maxwell of L'uthr. He was vehemently against Kal's marriage with his sister from the beginning. This was his doing, she could feel it in her bones. She needed more information.
Her mother was confident they would start waking within a day or so, but Kal and Sam and all their friends might not have that time if they were still alive! She needed to know what happened so she could do something about it, dammit! She was not used to waiting around!
Tears welled up in her eyes for the second time that day. "You better not be dead, you goof, or I will hunt you down in Valhalla and bring you back kicking and screaming!" She grumbled angrily, but her throat felt constricted and her voice faltered. "Worse, I'll send mother in for you and then there'll be Hel to pay." She stopped pacing, staring out at the blurring bay, her chest heaving. "You promised you'd come back…"
A fortnight before their departure, and under their mother's threat to have him sleep in the goats' house for the long Kryptonian winter, they finally convinced their father to take a second ship with extra warriors, and Sam. It was the logic of Alex's argument that convinced him though. What would happen if they came across a rival ship on open sea or even on land? It happened frequently. With just one ship, they could easily be outnumbered and overpowered.
Kara looked up at the brother she adored and smiled. Dad always said he had his mother's looks, with his dark hair, green eyes, and cleft chin. Unlike most of his fellow warriors, he liked his hair and beard short. He was lazy and they all knew it.
"I'll keep an eye on dad, Kara, don't worry about it." He smiled easily at her.
A light blonde eyebrow rose sharply, "And who will keep an eye on you?"
He grinned. "Sam will."
Kara cringed, feeling sorry for her sister's wife. "Poor Sam. She'll probably come back cursing the day she came into this family."
Looking over to the side, she watched as Sam nuzzled her wife's red hair, a frown on her sister's face while Sam spoke quietly in her ear. Closer to the longship, her mother scolded her father while he kept smiling at her. Zor took his wife's hand from his chest and brought it to his lips, saying something. From where she stood, she could see Alura roll her eyes, but her mother inched closer, resting her head on his chest.
Kal laughed easily. "Nah, I think she's used to us by now. Plus, if she had to deal with Ragnar daily, she can handle this little trip."
Kara chuckled. Her brother's rivalry with Sam's older brother was legendary. "That's true. Just hurry back, please. We need to plan where we're going to raid until the end of the summer, or the men will go crazy."
Kal raised both eyebrows, a knowing smile on his lips. "You mean you?"
Kara grinned, her bright blue eyes full of mirth. "I meant Alex."
He laughed, pulling her closer, into a tight hug. "I'll bring you back books. I won't forget, I promise."
"I mean it, don't take long. Alex will be grumpy and sulking until you guys come back, and mom will leave me alone with her, I just know it!"
"We'll come back before your birthday, as promised."
"You better!" Kara closed her eyes and smiled, poking his side. "Don't forget to bring your new wife too. If she's ugly, I'll let you keep her."
He chuckled, kissing her head. "We will discuss getting your own wife when I get back."
Kara smirked and patted his bearded cheek. "Keep dreaming, brother."
Her fists clenched and unclenched at her side as she bit her trembling lip, her eyes full of unshed tears. She was going to kill the bastard. If this agony was his doing if he laid one finger on her brother or Sam… God's, Sam…
Touching her bruising wrist, she closed her eyes, the tears finally falling. The haunted look on her sister's honey-colored eyes when she barged inside the healing room was something she would never forget.
"Mom!" Alex burst inside the healing room, spotting her sister at once. "Kara, what happened? I came as soon as I—" Alex's voice was cut off the moment the tall redhead's eyes fell on their father's cot. "Dad…" She whispered, looking around the room, her eyes wide and fearful. "Kara, where's…"
Kara rose from where she was kneeling by a cot and stood before her sister, waiting. What would she tell her? She was a coward.
"Kar…" Alex grasped her wrist, pulling her closer, her brown eyes frantic. "Where's Sam?"
Kara lowered her eyes and shook her head slowly. "I don't know…"
The grip on her wrist tightened painfully, but Kara didn't flinch.
"Where's my wife?"
She was going to kill the rotten bastard for what he was doing to her family. She was going to kill him very slowly.
Voices from close by forced her to open her eyes and she rushed to clean her tears, quickly resuming her pacing. She would not have them see her cry. She did not cry in front of others, dammit!
Finding herself by the south corner of the watchtower, she came to a halt. From there, she could see the surrounding woods and the farmlands beyond, and all of Argo Borg, the largest walled town of Northern Krypton, just under a candlemark away from the village. Strategically located uphill and close to the cliffs, it was built against the mountainside and protected by wide grassy mounds and a thick outer stake wall palisade. With its impressive watchtowers and defensive gaps and adorned with long colorful banners with the Chief's coat of arms, and the shields of allied tribes painted on the outer palisade, Argo was impressive and said to be impregnable.
"Kara?"
Kara turned around at the sound of a small voice, hoping the cool breeze had dried her tears quickly. It was the tavern owner's young boy. Or she thought it was. She couldn't remember his name.
"Yes?"
"I'm Gorm's son. My father sent me here." The boy looked over his shoulder, unsure. "Huh…"
She motioned him closer, dismissing the guards that when standing at the entrance of the watchtower. "What is it?"
The boy hesitated before moving closer and whispering in her ear. Kara cursed under her breath and the boy pulled away, looking back at the men with a deep blush.
"Take me there." Taking one last look at the darkening bay, Kara followed the boy. It was going to be a long night.
## Kara takes Alex to her room
Kara grunted as most of Alex's weight fell on her. It hadn't been hard to convince her drunken sister to leave the tavern. After almost eight mugs of Gorm's powerful ale, Alex was more than amiable, if a little heavy. It was taking her back to the house that was a pain. Navigating the outside stairs was being specifically hard when Alex seemed to have forgotten how to climb stairs.
"Crap, Alex, you're not making this easy!" Kara grunted, grasping to hold on to Alex while still trying to get them moving. "Put your foot up!"
"Dson't talk… to me…" Alex slurred, leaning heavily on her sister, which cause Kara to stagger backward. "M'mad…"
Kara cursed softly, tightening her grip on her sister's belt. If she wasn't careful, Alex would tumble them both down the stairs, and that was going to hurt.
"I can just leave you here if you want. Mom can come get you and deal with you."
Alex slowly blinked at her sister, her eyes glassy. "You lef'me behind… a—already… I should've… I should—"
"I know, but there was no time, Alex, and mom needs us here. Now put your foot up or so help me gods, I'm carrying you inside over my shoulder!"
Alex tried to glare at her but all she managed was more drunken blinking. "You wouldn't… d—dare…"
"Try me." Kara flashed her a warning glare, hoping she could get her to at least walk up the stairs. She knew her sister would be angrier at her if she carried her over her shoulder but right now, she didn't care. She needed to put her to bed and then check on her parents before going back to her vigil.
Alex grumbled under her breath but managed to put her foot upon the step. Kara sighed in relief knowing she would still have to push her up, but at least now her older sister was helping!
It took them a while to manage the stairs, with Alex grumbling drunkenly the entire time about being mad at her and dad, and Sam, especially Sam, but Kara finally got them inside.
"She's not dead…" Alex murmured when Kara helped her down on her bed.
Kara frowned down at her sister, hands on her hips. She was sweating from pretty much carrying a stumbling Alex back from the tavern. "How do you know?"
"M'gut…" The redhead slurred, her eyes closing. Her breathing deepened and her lips moved as she mumbled some more but Kara couldn't make sense of it.
"I really hope your gut is right, Alex," Kara whispered, her blue eyes full of sadness.
Taking off her boots, Kara made sure she was comfortable and warm. Then she fetched a jug of freshwater from the well out back and left it on the table close to her bed. Leaving only the oil lamp on the table burning, Kara checked on her one last time, making sure a clean bucket was by her bed. Alex always threw up when she was drunk.
"S'not dead…"
"Gods willing, they're still alive…" Kara whispered sitting down on the bed by her side. Taking her hand, the blonde fussed a bit over her sister. "Either way, we're coming for them…"
She stayed with her until she was sure Alex was deeply asleep. She was going to feel this one in the morning. At least it would give her another excuse to be miserable.
##
Kara opened the door to her parent's bedroom, quietly making her way inside. Her mother sat on a chair close to the bed, stoically watching the steady rise and fall of her husband's chest. She was focused on him, she never noticed her daughter until she was kneeling by her side and taking her hand.
Alura blinked at her, trying to smile but her lips trembled and her eyes watered, and she looked away, taking a shaky breath to steady herself, but Kara knew her mother. She would breathe deeply a few times and would regain her composure and not a tear would spill. Then, she would ask how she was holding up; if she had eaten anything yet and scold her if the answer was no, and then, then she would give her that motherly smile of hers and tell she could come to her if she wanted to talk if she needed a shoulder to cry on. She would promise she wouldn't tell a soul, not even her father, and she wouldn't. Her mother would hold her and clean her tears like she had so many times before, all the while shoving down her own pain, waiting until she was alone to grieve in private.
Her father was severely injured, still fighting for his life; her brother could be dead, and her sister could be a widow now. The two strongest women she had ever met were hurting and she was going to be there for them, no matter how much she was hurting too.
Not giving her mother a chance to get herself together, Kara hugged her, pulling the older woman into a tight hug. She felt the shuddering breath against her chest as her mother's arms wrapped around her instinctively, delicate fingers grabbing the fabric of her red tunic into tight fists. The hot tears on her shoulder surprised her, it always did.
"That stubborn, pigheaded man…" Alura gritted out, angry. "The gods sent warning… Why didn't he heed to it? Why?"
Kara soothed her mother's back, unwilling to relent her hold. Then she frowned. The gods had sent a warning? Why hadn't she heard of this before?
"He was so eager to make sure your brother would have his wife… That we could have peace with them…" Alura choked out. "The boy was so taken with her… Gods, my boy… My sweet boy… Please, don't take my boy… Please…"
The tears finally spilled, and she cried with her mother, holding her silently as quiet sobs rocked her smaller frame. She needed answers, fast. She needed to make things right.
Kal could still be alive. Sam could still be alive. Their warriors… They could all be waiting for someone to come to rescue them, however unrealistic that was. Her gut was screaming at her that something terrible had happened and she always listened to her gut, even when it hurt.
She held her mother until both their tears dried, and her mother pulled away, her hazel eyes puffy and dulled with pain. Her mother managed to come up with a smile for her, somehow. She always did.
"My sweet little girl…" her mother whispered, touching her cheek.
"Not little anymore, mama," Kara smiled, her voice still rough from crying. It was a little game they played.
"You'll always be my little girl, my Sunshine." Alura sniffled, her thumb tenderly rubbing her freckled cheek. "Where's your sister?"
"Passed out in her room. Gorm sent for me."
Alura nodded, almost as if she was expecting that answer. "I'll make sure she'll have her hangover drink ready."
Kara scrunched her nose, shivering a little at the memory. She would never forget the taste of that disgusting thing.
Alura smiled knowingly. "Don't forget to take your cloak with you and make sure you take enough stew for the both of you. I'm sure she didn't cook today."
Kara chuckled. Her mother knew her too well. She looked over her shoulder at the prone figure of her father and her throat closed again. "Is he—"
"He's strong, child. He made it this far, he will not let us down now."
Looking back at her mother's fierce hazel eyes, she could see the glint of conviction there and she believed her. Alura would not let him die.
"I'll be back soon, mama."
"I know. Be careful, it must be dark already." Alura kissed her forehead lovingly. "Thank you…"
Kara just smiled and hugged her again. Rising to her feet, the tall blonde kissed her father's warm forehead. "I love you…"
Giving her mother one last kiss, she left her parent's room, making sure to check on her sister before leaving. Alex would probably sleep until late in the morning. That was fine with her.
##
She was sitting outside her cabin, on the comfy swing chair Kara made for her so long ago, slowly rocking back and forth when she heard a noise. Her dog was sitting by her side and he didn't move, didn't bark. Moving her arm, she scratched his head gently. The animal raised his head and licked her hand before resting back down.
Flapping wings made her turn her head towards the sound. Looking directly at the source of the noise, she saw a white raven, with beautiful wings and surrounded by a brilliant aura landed on the dirt ground in front of her. She knew what this was.
"Who are you? Show yourself," she commanded softly.
Before her, the raven started to change its shape.
##
Alura opened her eyes with a start. She had dozed off, it seemed. Stifling a yawn, she looked over to her bed, her sleepy eyes growing wide at the sight of her husband's barely opened blue eyes.
"Zor…" Her eyes blurred again with tears. "You're awake…"
"Water…" Came the faint whisper.
Alura rushed to fill the mug with fresh water and then moved to his side. Lifting his head slowly, she pressed the mug to his lips carefully. Zor flinched when the mug touched his cracked lips, but he nodded faintly. Alura helped him drink the cool liquid, careful about not letting him have too much at once. She noticed her hands were shaking.
Once he was sated, she put the mug away and replenished the healing balm on his lips, but Zor stopped her with a touch on her hand and she looked up to see pained half-closed blue eyes, the same shade as Kara's. She noticed he was crying, and her heart clenched, her mind silently denying what her heart knew from the moment he was brought in. Her breath caught in her throat.
"Our boy…"
"No… Please…" Alura moaned, her hand finding his in a death grip.
"Our boy is dead…" came the broken whisper.
"Nononono…" A sob wrenched from her throat, her head dropping on his heaving chest.
Strong arms wrapped around her as her hands grabbed fists full of his shirt. Hiding her face on his chest, Alura cried out loud, not caring if anyone heard. Her heart was broken, and her soul was shattered.
She could hear him cry too. She had never heard him cry, not like this.
Their son was dead. Their sweet, brave son was gone.
TBC
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