Chapter 15

Lois was still asleep in his bed. A sheet covered her naked body and her long brown hair covered half of her face.

Clark sat on the edge of the bed, his back to Lois. He gave no thought to his own naked body as he watched the sun start to rise. He felt Lois stirred behind him and he quickly glanced over his shoulder at her.

He quietly rose from the bed and grabbed his pants from the floor. He slid them on and tied the strings together.

Lois stirred again behind him. Her arm moved so her hand was now resting on his pillow. She rubbed the pillow when she felt it was bare and she slowly opened her eyes. His side of the bed was empty. "Clark?" She asked softly, still half-awake.

He looked over his shoulder at her and she raised her head slightly. He flashed a quick, nervous grin and then she knew he was troubled. She sat up and held the sheet close to her chest to cover herself. Her hair was messy and she felt it rub her shoulders as she sat up.

Clark sat down on the edge of the bed again and then covered his eyes with his right hand. He felt Lois's hand rub the back of his shoulder. He then lowered his right hand to cover his mouth. Her lips kissed his bare left shoulder and he closed his eyes at the comfort it gave. He had not felt this relaxed in years. He did not want it to end but it had to.

He now rested his right hand on his thigh and took a deep breath. "I return to Kandor at noon." He said softly. Lois said nothing and that is what worried him. "Every part of me wants to stay here with you but I have responsibilities that can no longer be ignored."

"I understand." She whispered. She pulled his knees up to her chest and rested her arms on her knees. "You care about your people and that is rare for a king… You have great power but you do not abuse it. I greatly admire you for these actions."

Clark turned to face her. "I feel I would give them all up just to be with you." Lois lowered her legs and then Clark lay his head down on her thighs. She began caressing his face.

"I will not ask you to choose between me and your people. I could not bear it if you did." She said and he lowered his eyes. "But you have taught me to hope that we will one day meet again." He looked up at her with so much affection and he grinned as one of her soft hands caressed his face and the other stroked his hair.

"There is nothing I want more." He said. Lois grinned and leaned down. Their foreheads touched and they breathed in each other's scent.

Noon was approaching fast. Lois helped Clark finish putting on the last of his clothing, a black fur-trimmed sleeveless cape to go with his black tunic with gold embroidery.

Her hands remained on his shoulders and Clark turned around to face her. His hand then began to caress her cheek. Lois closed her eyes and kissed his palm.

"Being back at court will be unbearable without you." Clark said. Lois placed her hand over his and removed it from her face. They held hands.

"This is where we say our good-byes but I have never been good at saying farewells." Lois said softly.

"Then this is not good-bye." Clark said and made a nervous grin. "On my life, I will send for you so we may be together again."

"You better or I will hunt you like a dog." She replied and he chuckled. She removed a chain from around her neck and there was a ring on the chain. "This was my mother's. It is very precious to me." She placed it in his hands.

"I cannot take this." He said and tried to hand it back.

Lois closed the palm of his hand, covering the ring. "I am giving this to you because I will come back for it." Clark smiled and put the chain around his neck.

He held her hands in front of him as they stared deeply into each other's eyes. Clark leaned down and kissed her passionately.

Kal-El felt his feet touch the hard ground of the caves. He placed the octagonal disc back in his pouch. He exited the caves with his bodyguards in touch. Two knights were waiting for them with horses.

The two knights placed their hands over their hearts and bowed their heads. Kal-El nodded to them and they raised their heads. The rest of the knights mounted their horses as Kal-El grabbed the reins to his horse and stroked his mane.

He turned and looked back at the cave. He closed his eyes as he rubbed her ring. He then tucked the chain inside his tunic and mounted his horse.

Metropolis

Princess Helen stood in her quarters waiting for her physician, who was late. The only reason he was her physician was because they trained together under the same physician years ago.

There was a knock on the door. "Enter." She said and her physician, Curtis Knox, entered the sitting room. "Curtis, you are late." She said and she took a seat. She motioned for him to take a seat.

"I would prefer to stand, Your Highness. I am about to go and join my wife." He said and crossed his hands behind his back.

"How is Sofia?" Helen asked.

"She is well. Thank you for asking." He said with a confident grin.

"Well, is it as I thought?" Helen asked.

Knox then smiled and nodded. "Yes, Your Highness. You are indeed with child."

Helen smiled. "Thank you, Curtis. You may leave." Knox bowed and left the sitting room. Helen covered his hand over her mouth as if to hide her smile. She then began to quietly laugh.

Kal-El was listening to Lana speak to him about the wedding arrangements in her private sitting room. She was finishing the guest list and Kal-El noticed a name was missing.

"What of Viscount Kent? He is my son so he must attend our wedding." Kal-El said and Lana hesitated.

"Kal-El, he is not your son. He is nothing more than a foundling you have brought into your home. Why must he be allowed to attend our wedding?" Lana said slightly offended.

Kal-El immediately stood and Lana could see the fury in his eyes. "I do not care what you think of him…but he is my son!" He exclaimed and Lana sighed.

"Well just know I will not be raising that…that child! He is a danger to you and your throne. Why can't you see that? You are clouded by the child's age!" Lana argued and Kal-El turned away from her.

"My mind is not clouded, it is clear." Kal-El snapped.

"We will have our own children, Kal-El. You need to forget about this boy. Send him to live in Gotham. He is young, he will not remember you." Lana said.

"How dare you ask that of me! You have no right! You do not understand!" He snapped. Lana did not even flinch. "Lois understands." He said quietly.

"Lois? You mean Captain Lane? Now you are calling her by her name." Lana said angry. "Is she now your mistress?"

"It is none of your concern." Kal-El said.

"None of my concern. We are to be married so it is of my concern! You have ignored me since your return and you will not stop looking at that ring you are hiding around your neck! Is it hers?" Lana snapped. Kal-El did not answer and that was a breaking point. Lana ripped the chain off his neck.

Kal-El glared at her. "Are you mad?" He lunged for her but she dodged him. She was now on the other side of the table waiting for his next move. "Give that back to me." Kal-El ordered but she shook her head. "GIVE IT BACK!" He yelled.

Lana flinched. "No." She said coldly. "Do you think I was will just stand silent while you whore around with a woman you barely know?"

"Who are you to judge me when you were Lex's mistress for a year!" Kal-El snapped and Lana grew silent and pale.

"Who told you this?" Lana asked quietly.

"It does not matter. All that matters is that you are not as pure as everyone praises you to be." Kal-El said coldly.

"How can you be so cruel to me? I am your wife!" Lana exclaimed.

"You are not my wife! Not yet and that future is still in question!" Kal-El snapped.

There was now an awkward and uncomfortable silence, which was then interrupted by an urgent knocking on the door. "Enter!" Kal-El ordered fiercely while keeping his eyes on Lana. A knight entered the sitting room and kneeled. "What it is?" He did not bother looking at the knight.

The knight stood. "Your Majesty, urgent news from the frontlines. Princess Kara Zor-El has been captured!"

Kal-El immediately turned to look at the knight. His eyes were now filled with worry instead of anger. He looked at Lana, who now looked worried and sympathetic. She then reluctantly tossed the chain to him.

Kal-El caught it and immediately left her chambers.

Kal-El rode fast out of Kandor in the middle of the night with his bodyguards following him. At top speed, it still took them more than twenty minutes to reach the caves. He quickly dismounted and the two knights rode off with the horses to the farm.

Kal-El pricked his middle finger this time and the blood rolled down to the palm of his hand. He placed his hand in the center of the alter and the portal opened. In an instance, they were all transported to the Fortress.

The knights standing guard in the corridors took a battle stance when they were saw the portal open but they were shocked to see the king returned unannounced. They immediately kneeled as he quickly walked passed them.

Kal-El approached Lois's chamber, which were still guarded. "Open the door." He ordered and Ak-Var unlocked the door. He entered the room. "Wait here." He said and closed the door.

Lois slowly rose up from her bed. She rubbed her eyes to see who it was. "Clark." She whispered and threw off the blanket from her body. She wore only her white nightgown.

Lois threw her arms around Clark's neck and he held her in his arms. When she looked at his face, she could see the worry in his eyes. "What is it?"

"Kara has been captured." He said and he turned away from her. He covered his right hand over his mouth as if to prevent himself from screaming. "If I know Lex… he is torturing her as we speak." He shut his eyes tight as he said this to block the imagery of it from his mind.

He then felt Lois's hand on his shoulder and he turned to look at her. "Why are you here and not on your way to Smallville?" She asked.

"I did not know where to go." He said somberly and Lois hugged him again. He rested his forehead on her shoulder as he held back the tears.

"Listen to me. This is not the time to fall apart. This is the time to be a king. You need to be strong if you wish to save your cousin." She whispered into his ear.

Clark stood up straight and closed his eyes. When he opened them, he was now Kal-El. "What do you suggest, Captain? A rescue mission?"

"No, that would be suicide. I suggest you negotiate for the princess's release." Lois said and took a seat. Kal-El sat across from her looking at her confused. "I was raised around politicians. I know how they think. It is one reason both Lionel and Alexander wish for me to sit in on sessions."

"Negotiation? The only thing that Luthor wants which is mine is my throne and I will not give it to that monster." Kal-El said.

"You do have something to negotiate with… or I should say someone." Lois said and Kal-El looked at her confused. "Trade me for Princess Kara."

"What? Would Luthor even agree to such a thing?" Kal-El asked.

"Luthor will have no choice but to accept your offer or my father will turn against him. This may be the one opportunity we have to send me back to Genesis without suspicion and to save your cousin." Lois said.

Kal-El nodded and stood up. "You are returning with me to Kandor in the morning. Good night, Captain." He held her hand and kissed it. She stroked his hand with her thumb.

He left her room and she had never felt so alone.

Back in Kandor

J'onn J'onzz entered Kal-El's private sitting room the next night just after dark. He wore only black pants with a simple green shirt since he was sleeping when the king had sent for him but he still had a dagger concealed on him.

He was surprised to see that Kal-El was not alone. While Kal-El stared out the window, a young woman stood next to him stroking his arm and whispering in his ear, "All will be well."

"Your Majesty…" J'onn said and bowed. Kal-El turned to face him and Lois looked at him.

"J'onn, I have another task for you and it is of great importance." Kal-El said. J'onn stepped forward. "You are to go to a village outside of Metropolis in Genesis and pay a visit to Baroness Lutessa Mercer at the Luthor Mansion."

"May I ask why I am going behind enemy lines, Your Majesty?" J'onn asked frequently glancing at Lois, who was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.

"J'onn, we are alone and you can say anything in front of Countess Lane." Kal-El said motioning to Lois behind him.

J'onn's shoulders relaxed but he kept glancing at her. "I assumed you would be sending me to Smallville to rescue the princess but I can see that you have another plan." He said.

"I am going to trade Lois for Kara. If Luthor wants to keep General Lane's allegiance, he will have no choice but to comply. I want you to see the Baroness and purpose the trade. I know for a fact that Luthor will see her. When you do see her, tell her that Clark sent you." Kal-El said. Lois and J'onn looked at him.

"Kal-El, have you thought this through?" J'onn asked his friend and he glanced at Lois again.

Kal-El rested two fingers on his temple and this thumb under his chin. "I know what you are truly asking, J'onn. Yes, Lois helped me make this decision and I trust her judgment. Do you trust mine?" Kal-El asked.

J'onn nodded. "Forgive me, Kal-El. You know I only have your best interests at heart." He said.

"I know you do. Now, if Luthor agrees to the exchange, then say it will occur at the border, where we both have troops so both parties feel secure." Kal-El said.

"And if he does not agree?" J'onn asked. "I taught you to always be prepared for any situation."

"Then I expect you to ride to Smallville at all haste and bring my cousin home." Kal-El said and J'onn nodded. Kal-El sat on the edge of the table. "Were things ever this bad when you served my father?" He asked.

"Only when it involved the House of Zod." J'onn replied and Kal-El nodded slowly.

"You will leave at once." Kal-El said and J'onn turned to leave.

"Wait!" Lois exclaimed and J'onn stopped before he reached the door. Kal-El turned to look at her. Lois uncrossed her arms and stepped forward. "There is one more important thing that needs to be handled." She said. Kal-El nodded at her to continue. "Luthor will assume that I am being tortured. He will be suspicious if I return without a mark on body."

They both knew what she was asking and that is when Clark stood up to protest. "No. No, I will not allow it. I cannot." He protested.

"If this plan is to succeed, sacrifices must be made. J'onn, will you help me?" Lois asked him.

Clark pointed a finger at J'onn. "No, you will not touch her." He ordered.

Lois cupped Clark's face in her hands and rested her forehead against his. Clark closed his eyes as she whispered to him. "This must be done and you cannot be here when it does. Leave this room… please." She said and he shut his eyes tighter.

Clark then felt Lois's warm lips press against his and with that gentle kiss he knew all would be well. He opened his eyes when their lips parted. He stared at her strong, but sad eyes and she caressed his face. "Kal-El, you need to leave." J'onn said. Lois nodded to him and Clark rushed out the room before he could change his mind.

Lois wiped the tears from her eyes and stood up straight. "Let us be done with this." She said. J'onn rolled up his sleeves and Lois disrobed so she was only in her undergarments. J'onn looked at her and before he could ask, she answered his question, "There is no need to ruin such a beautiful gown. Now I want to be done with this."

Lois did not even flinch when the first punch came.