Chapter 6

Kal-El entered his quarters and he began to disrobe. He handed a groom his circlet and slash and the dark red tunic after removing his belt. Then he motioned for them to leave. He only wore a white shirt and black pants and boots. He did not even bother to remove his boot dagger. He looked out the window.

Lana Lang was taking a walk alone in the courtyard. The moon shined on her and she looked beautiful. Kal-El looked around and then he started to climb down the thick vines next to his windows.

He slipped once or twice but he has been doing this since he was child when Zor-El would invite them to court and he would sneak off with Peter He quietly dropped down on to the ground and straightened his shirt. He walked up behind Lana. "Beautiful…" Kal-El said and Lana jumped.

"Your Majesty…you scared me." Lana said with her hand over her heart.

"Please, call me Kal-El. Sometimes I get tired of being called by my rank and not my name." Kal-El approached her with his hands behind her back. The moon shined on her face and it was mesmerizing. "May I join you on your walk?"

"Of course, Your M-…I mean Kal-El." She smiled at him and he held her hand. Their fingers intertwined and they smiled at each other.

The two enjoyed a nice quiet walk in the gardens and then they sat down on a bench. "This was nice." Kal-El said as they stared deeply into each other's eyes. Kal-El began to caress her face. "May I kiss you, Lana?" She nodded so he leaned in and their lips met. They kissed tenderly.

Two days later

Kal-El awoke and went through his usual routine: he bathed, his barber shaved him, and then his grooms dressed him.

Today he wore a black tunic with white embroidery. He slid his boot dagger into his right boot. He motioned for his manservant, "Send for Sir Peter. I must speak with him." Kal-El said as a groom helped him put on his tunic.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The manservant bowed and left his quarters. The manservant returned a few minutes later. "Your Majesty… Sir Peter Ross."

Peter entered the room as a groom was putting on Kal-El's customary red slash bearing the crest of the House of El. "Peter, I'll only be a moment." Peter nodded and he waited. Another groom presented his circlet. "Leave it." He said and groom placed the pillow holding the circlet down onto a table. He slid his sword into its sheath.

The groom bowed and Kal-El motioned for them to leave. Everyone bowed and left, and only the two friends remained. At first they stared at each other seriously but then the two started to laugh. They hugged and smiled at one another.

"Always good to see you, Pete." Clark said.

"You as well, Clark. Now what is so urgent that you have to tell me before the day has yet to begun?" Pete asked.

Clark's smile became nervous. He motioned for Peter to have a seat and he did. Clark sat down as well. "I want to ask for your permission to ask Lana Lang to marry me?" Clark asked worrying about what his friend's response will be.

"Why are you asking me? I have not been engaged to her since I was three years old and I barely know her." Pete said but Clark had inkling that he wasn't being completely honest but he shrugged it off.

"I just wanted to ask you first because you two would have been married two years ago if you were still a Prince of Argos. What kind of friend would I be if I just told you after I asked her?" Clark asked.

"Well you have my permission. And if she does say yes, I hope you will be the happiest man in all of Krypton." Pete said and Clark smiled. Clark noticed that Peter was not smiling.

"And if we are finished talking about your personal affairs, I would like to discuss something with you without the knowledge of your advisors and the Council." Pete whispered.

"We can talk freely in here. No one would dare disturb me in my quarters unless it is an urgent matter." He became Kal-El again now that Peter was being serious.

"I have once again made contact with the leader of the rebellion in Genesis. They have heard that Luthor has taken the bait and had dispatched Captain Lane and the Mad Dogs to deal with the reinforcements." Peter said.

"Good. And then all I need to worry about is marriage and possibly ending this bloody war. Unfortunately my first plan of ending the war is gone." Kal-El said and picked up an apple from the bowl of fruit in the middle of the table.

"The leader only asks one request of you." Peter said. Kal-El took a bite of his apple and nodded at him. "They ask that you to spare Captain Lane." Peter said.

Kal-El immediately stopped chewing and gave him a confused look. "What?" Kal-El said repressing his anger. As much as he wanted to yell, Kal-El immediately stood up and threw the apple. The apple collided with the wall with a satisfying thud but knocking over some trinkets.

Two knights of the Red Shard stormed in with their swords drawn. They saw the king was angry and then he motioned for them to leave. They sheathed their swords and bowed. The quietly exited his quarters.

Kal-El then took a deep breath and ran his left hand through his hair. He then placed his left hand on the hilt of his sword and took another deep breath. "You will reach out to the leader of the rebellion and tell him that I will spare Captain Lane but he will remain my prisoner for long as I see fit." Kal-El said.

"Of course." Peter said. He stood, bowed, and then he left. Peter walked to his quarters and entered the room.

A candle was lit. Kal-El licked the palm of his hand and slammed on top of the flame. He grimaced in pain and then composed himself. He removed a locket from his pocket and opened it. It was a portrait of a blonde-haired girl.

Kal-El took another deep breath and remembered one thing his uncle told him about being king. A king does not hold a grudge over small matters for he is above such things. At least Zor-El taught me something important. He thought.

Kal-El placed his circlet on and left his quarters with the two knights.

He walked through the hallways of the Crystal Palace and everyone bowed as he walked by them. "Henry!" Kal-El called out to his little brother.

"Your Majesty…" Henry bowed. Kal-El walked up and hugged him.

"It is good to have you back here at court. Your mother and I have missed you a great deal." Kal-El placed an arm around Henry's shoulders and two began walking together.

"It is good to be back and I must thank Your Majesty for the tutors you have assigned me. They have taught me a great deal." Henry said.

"Your thanks are not necessary. You are family, after all. I have to go but we will speak later." Kal-El gave Henry a wink and walked off.

Kal-El walked to the stables, where his horse was ready. He was going to meet Nox-Van at his home to discuss the plans for the ambush against Captain Lane. A stable boy walked up with his white horse and Kal-El ruffled his hair. Kal-El then put on his riding gloves. As a small group of six Red Shard knights awaited him.

He mounted his horse and his bodyguards mounted theirs. Nox-Van's home was not far but Kal-El did not want to take his carriage. He rarely took the carriage because he loved to ride his horse. He nodded to the knights and they rode off.

Nox-Van's home was outside of Kandor in the countryside. When the manor finally came into view, Nox-Van was already there to greet them. They stopped in front of manor.

Kal-El dismounted and Nox-Van kneeled before him. "Rise, Nox-Van." Kal-El said and he obeyed. He then gave Nox-Van a pat on the shoulder and they walked in his home. "How is your family?"

"They are well, Your Majesty. My son is here now on leave from his regiment due to an injury in battle." Nox-Van said as they walked.

"I am sure Rao will grant him a fast recovery." Kal-El said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. My wife and I are just glad that he is alright. Also, my daughter's tutors inform me that she has the perfect Kryptonian student." Nox-Van let him into his private study.

"You are a lucky man, Nox-Van. Also, we are not at court so you may call me Kal-El." Kal-El said with a smile.

The two men sat down and Nox-Van clapped his hands. Servants came in with food and then left after placing the food on the table. Kal-El then motioned for his bodyguards to leave the room.

"How goes our preparations for our trap against Captain Lane?" Kal-El asked and then put a small piece of fruit in his mouth.

"All is prepared. The weapons are ready for you at Kryptonopolis and they await your arrival, where a regiment of soldiers will accompany you and the Red Shard." Nox-Van said.

"Good. I am only taking maybe a dozen or so knights of the Red Shard with me but I think they are craving battle. The Red Shard have not been on the battlefield since last year while we were evacuating the small villages surrounding Smallville." Kal-El said.

"I remember. The Genesis Army got passed our defenses around Smallville but you were able to push them back. If I recall, you engaged in battle with Prince Alexander there." Nox-Van said.

"I did. We left our mark on one another." Kal-El paused and placed his hand on his chest. "And since that day, the Council has been pressuring me more and more to marry the Lady Lana, especially since Princess Mera has married King Arthur of Atlantis." Kal-El took a bite of meat.

"I was young once, Kal-El. I remember that the last thing on my mind was marriage because I thought I belonged on the battlefield but then…" Nox-Van smiled.

"Then I met this remarkable woman and she was not like any woman I had ever met. And when you meet a woman like that there is only one thing to do…marry her and hopefully live a life without shame. However, it is also great to have someone to come home to." Nox-Van said.

"It would be nice to have someone to come home to." Kal-El said staring blankly into a space for a moment.

Later in the afternoon, Nox-Van escorted Kal-El out of his home. Kal-El put on his riding gloves. "General…" Kal-El said and Nox-Van kneeled. Kal-El bowed his head at him and then mounted his horse. Nox-Van stood as Kal-El rode off.

Kal-El stopped in front of the stables and dismounted. He stroked his horse's mane and handed him to the stable boy. He then motioned for two servants to come forward.

"Will you please ask the Lady Lana if she would like to join me for dinner?" Kal-El said to one of his servants. One bowed and walked toward the back entrance of the Palace. "Ask the head cook to prepare a private dinner for the evening for me and the Lady Lana." He said to the other servant, who mimicked the other but headed for the kitchen.

Later That Night

Kal-El decided not to wear his slash or circlet to dinner but he still wore his sword. Lana wore an elegant black gown with purple embroidery.

Kal-El and Lana Lang ate a magnificent dinner in a private dining room. They made pleasant conversation.

After the dessert was taking away, Kal-El motioned for the servants to leave and they did. "Lana, there is something I would like to ask you."

"Your Majesty?" She asked.

"Kal-El…" He said.

"Forgive me, Kal-El. What would you like to ask me?" She had one hand in her lap and her other was holding a goblet.

"I have been thinking about this for some time now and I finally made my decision." Kal-El stared at her from across the table. He removed her hand from the goblet and held it. "Lana Lang, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife and the new Queen of Krypton?"

Lana had been expecting this. The Council has been telling her of a possible marriage between her and Kal-El since he turned eighteen. They have been preparing her for this very moment. They have been telling her that it would be a better match to marry a king instead of a dethroned prince. "I would be honored to become your wife." She replied softly.

Kal-El smiled. He stood from his chair and walked over to her side. He stood next to her and then gently kissed her hand.

Everything now seemed perfect to Kal-El. In a few days, he will conquer an enemy he had never met, he would soon be married, and with the grace of Rao he will soon have an heir.