Chapter 21

Kal-El hugged his cousin as she prepared to leave for Themyscira. The female soldiers had already boarded the ships, now they were awaiting Kara, their commander for this mission.

Carter and Shiera were locked in a passionate, yet tender kissed and they did not care that people were staring. Dinah smiled at them for she had done the same with Oliver a few days earlier. "Come back to me, my love." Carter said to her softly.

"Always." She replied and kissed him once more. Kal-El put his arm around Kara's shoulder as they watched them. Since they were children, they hope they would fall in love like Carter and Shiera and be as happy as they were. At this moment, Clark could not wait to hold Lois is his arms again.

Kara looked over her shoulder and looked at Milton walking to her. She turned to look at Kal-El. "I sent for him so you could say good-bye." Kal-El said with a grin.

Kara smiled and kissed his cheek. Kal-El winked at her and motioned with his head for her to go to him. She smiled and walked towards Milton. They hugged and he caressed her face as they said their good-byes.

Kal-El grinned as he saw how happy Kara was with him. He placed his hand on his chest and he could feel the stone but also the outline of her ring. He closed his eyes to picture that wonderful morning together when he watched her sleep so peacefully in his arms.

He was broken out of his thoughts to J'onn's voice. "The ship is ready to sail, Your Majesty." J'onn said softly and he opened his eyes.

"Thank you, J'onn." He said. He turned around to call for Kara but she and Milton were locked in a tender kiss. This mission was dangerous and no one knew if they would see their loved ones again.

They broke apart and she slowly began to walk away from him. They held hands for as long as they could but her fingers soon slipped away. Milton stood besides Kal-El and Carter as they watched Dinah, Kara, and Shiera board the ship.

The anchor was raised and the ship's masts caught the morning breeze. It moved slowly at first but then it began to pick up speed. The women remained on the deck watching the men grow smaller and farther away.

The men stood there until the ship was only a blur on the horizon. Soon they could no longer see the ship and the sun was blinding them. They all took a deep breath and walked back to the horses to return to Kandor.

Lois Lane walked through the castle halls wearing her chest armor and her green knight's cape. She had returned from the latest report on the frontlines and just wanted to relax. Maybe she could go riding or help train the new recruits, which could be fun.

She entered her chambers and removed her knight's cape. She then unstrapped her chest armor and put it up with the rest of her armor. She unfastened her sword belt and lay it down gently on the table. She was undoing the laces on her gambeson when she heard the floor creak behind her.

Lois quickly removed the dagger concealed at her waist and grabbed the intruder. She pinned him to the wall but she then noticed there was a dagger at her throat. She motioned for him to look down and her dagger was against his manhood. "You are learning well." J'onn said.

Lois smiled and slid her dagger back into his sheath. J'onn did the same and stepped out of the darkness. "If you keep hiding in the shadows, I may hurt you one of these days." Lois said and removed her gambeson to reveal the black shirt she was wearing.

"I will be more careful next time but you know my discretion keeps you alive here." J'onn said and leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. "Well?" He asked.

"Always straight to business, J'onn… Luthor is leading the invasion himself leaving the queen here as regent. I guess now that she has given him a son, he trusts her enough with his kingdom." Lois said and J'onn nodded in agreement. "And I am leaving for Smallville in the morning so my father may return here to look after the queen."

"Good. Kal-El has already sent troops to Themyscira to aid the Amazons. They will arrive long before Alexander, giving them time to prepare for the invasion. I will contact you soon after you arrive in Smallville." J'onn said and Lois nodded.

J'onn raised his hood and was about to leave but Lois stopped him. "How long do I have to keep doing this? I am not only betraying my king but my father." Lois said.

"I do not know for sure but as long as a Luthor sits on the throne… Krypton will fight until one destroys the other. There would be peace now but Lionel is dead and Alexander is now king, whose only goal is to conquer every kingdom he sets his sight on. That means more people will die and that is the last thing we all want." J'onn said and Lois nodded.

Lois turned to say something but J'onn was gone.

Kal-El and Carter sat in his private sitting room at the Kent Castle. "If this fortress should fall, Luthor's troops will march onto Kryptonopolis. What concerns me is the countless farms and towns between here and Kryptonopolis." Kal-El said pointing them out with the tip of his dagger.

Kal-El then began to twirl the dagger between his fingers. Carter wore his usual gold chest armor while Kal-El wore his gambeson and pants. He had taken off his armor not long ago. "I see what you mean. This is why I only wanted to be king of a city and returned the conquered lands to their peoples." Carter said.

"Zor-El said that it was foolish." Kal-El said.

"Yet, your father, Jor-El, called me a true nobleman. I was not going to rule the lands and peoples my father and grandfather conquered. It would have been against my conscience. Shiera was by my side the entire time and it was my only comfort for a time." Carter said.

"I hope to one day find what you have found with Shiera." Kal-El said.

"Are you sure you have not already?" Carter asked. Kal-El opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out but a small laugh. Carter patted his shoulder. "When am I going to meet this woman who has captivated you?"

"I honestly do not know. Like I said it is hard to explain." Kal-El said.

"What? Is she married?" Carter asked and Kal-El shook his head. "Betrothed?" Kal-El shook his head again. "Commoner?" Kal-El shook his head again. "So she has a title. What then, is she a ghost? You act as if she were a noblewoman in Luthor's court!" Carter burst out saying and Kal-El laughed it off.

Carter gave him a stern look and Kal-El shrugged his shoulders. Then at that moment, there was a knock at the door. "Enter." Kal-El said.

Peter Ross entered the room in his silver suit of armor and bowed to both men. Carter greeted Peter, one soldier to another. "Congratulations on your marriage, Peter." Carter said.

"Thank you. I bring news from J'onn J'onzz." Peter said and he handed Kal-El a sealed letter.

Kal-El broke off the seal and began to read. "It is as we thought. Luthor is leading the invasion himself. But this is interesting. General Lane is being sent back to Metropolis and his daughter, Commander Lane, is being sent to Smallville to take his place to command his troops." Kal-El finished reading.

"Ah, the great Lois Lane. Is she anything like her father?" Carter asked. Peter shot Kal-El a quick glance and Carter noticed this.

"I admit she is not as cold as her father but she does love to insult people, especially me." Kal-El said and rolled his eyes. "That was all she did when I questioned her during her capture. She even tested Ak-Var's sanity." Carter laughed.

"I think I may like this Lois Lane." Carter said as he continued laughing and Kal-El smiled. At the sound of her name, Kal-El's heart beat increased.

"You may like her now but the first time I met her, she head bunted me for killing her second-in-command in battle. Do not underestimate her for she is well trained in swords and she appears to know some Kryptonian styles of fighting." Kal-El said and took a seat. He put his feet up on the table and started twirling the dagger again.

"She sounds like she will be a challenging opponent." Carter said pounding the shaft of his mace in the palm of his hand.

"She is and I doubt that fact has changed." Kal-El said.

Two Days Later

Lois walked through the camp throughout the night. The fires were dying and half of the men were asleep. She decided to take a walk while it was quiet. The calm before the storm as her father said was the only time a soldier may find peace in a battle. It was after her first real battle that she finally understood what he had meant.

Lois was sick of battle. She was sick of the sounds of swords clanging, explosions, impacting boulders, and the sound of men taking their last breath. She watched somberly as bodies were loaded onto to wagons to be taken home for burial.

She bowed her head as the wagon passed and soldiers driving it saluted her by placing their hands over their hearts. She nodded at them and they drove off into the night. Lois was wondering how long it would be before J'onn contacted her. She was growing restless and she did not like it.

She entered her chambers in the Smallville Castle and began taking off her armor. After removing her leg armor, she put on her slippers appreciating the comfort. She was undoing the laces to her gambeson when she stopped and turned to face J'onn.

"How long have you been standing there?" Lois asked as she removed her gambeson.

"Not long…" He replied and Lois gave him a stern look. "At least you noticed me this time. You are becoming more and more perceptive the more we converse."

"I was always a quick learner." Lois looked around for shadows that weren't supposed to be there.

"We are alone, I assure you." J'onn said and Lois took a seat. "I have good news and bad news, Countess."

"I would prefer the good news first." She said and he nodded.

"Gotham and Atlantis are going to form an alliance with Krypton now that Luthor plans to invade Themyscira. This war may be coming to an end soon." J'onn said.

"The bad news?" She asked.

"That is just it. With Gotham and Atlantis's entrance into the war, not only will there be more bloodshed but we are still not certain when Luthor will be defeated. It could be weeks, months… perhaps even years. We cannot know anything for certain." J'onn said.

Lois nodded and rubbed her eyes. She leaned back in her chair rubbing her temple. "Am I ever going to see him again?" Lois asked somber.

"Ask and ye shall receive." J'onn said. He stood and held out his hand to her. She took it and had a confused look on her face. J'onn then placed a hand on her neck and pinched. Lois passed out.

Lois woke up in a bed chamber that was not her assigned quarters. She looked around and then sat up. She swung her legs over to the side of the bed and she rubbed her neck. "That shifty son of a…" She said and stood.

At that moment, the door opened and Lois took a battle stance. Then he walked in and she began to tremble. "Lois?" The sound of his voice made her heart leap.

"Clark!" They ran into each others' arms and their lips met in a passionate kiss. Their lips parted and she caressed his face with both of her hands. "I cannot believe it is really you." She said and he smiled. Their lips met again.

"I have miss you so." He said and they embraced once more.

"I have been so preoccupied that I never noticed you were gone." She said sarcastically and Clark smiled wiping away the tears forming in her eyes.

"Liar." He said and Lois laughed.

"Am I now?" She asked.

"Yes." He whispered and began to apply light kisses to her face. "You… have… missed… me… as much as I… have… missed… you." Clark said between each kiss. Lois laughed as began applying kisses down her neck. "Say it." He said playfully.

"No." She said smiling. Lois ran her fingers through his messy hair. "Hmmm… I have a better idea." She said biting her bottom lip. Their lips met again and their body temperatures increased. Lois pinned him to the wall and proceeded to remove his shirt. She traced his fingers along his scar and he enjoyed the pleasure of her touch.

Lois wrapped his shirt around the back of his neck and pulled him towards the bed. She felt the back of her legs hit the bed and they fell down onto the bed. They laughed as he landed on top of her. He caressed her face, looked deeply into her eyes, and lowered his lips down onto hers.

Clark loosened the laces of Lois's shirt and slowly slipped it over her head. He had missed the sweet taste of her lips and the warmth of her skin when it touched his. He kissed the back of her hand and then began applying light kisses up her arm. She hitched her leg around his waist.

She moaned when he reached her shoulder and then started moving up her neck. He then began moving down and applied kisses to her bare breasts. She moaned in pleasure and it made his heart beat faster. Then he stopped.

"Why did you stop?" She asked breathing heavily. He began to caress her face and she closed her eyes at the warmth of his hand. She opened her eyes and stared at him. He smiled. "What?" She asked.

"I love you." Clark said softly. Lois smiled and caressed his face.

"And I love you." She said softly. Clark smiled and kissed her passionately.

At that moment, the door opened. "Kal-El, I just received word from… OH!" Carter turned away from them.

"Carter!" He exclaimed and stood immediately. Lois grabbed her shirt and covered her bare chest. Clark stood up and blocked Carter's view of Lois. "What are you doing in here?"

"Letters arrived from Themyscira and you asked me to inform you the moment they arrived." Carter said with his back turned.

"Oh…" Clark and Carter put their hands on their hips at the same time. "This is awkward." He said and Lois put back on her shirt.

"Yes." Carter acknowledged. Clark picked up his shirt and put it back on. On a whim, Carter glanced over his shoulder to see the mystery woman who had captured his protégé's heart. He quickly glanced over and his eyes widened. He turned around and took a step forward. "Lane?" Lois looked up at him. "Commander Lois Lane!"

Carter took a battle stance and Lois quickly stood ready for his attack. Clark took a step in front of her and held up his hand to his mentor. "I can explain." Clark said.

Lois put her hand on his shoulder and stepped from behind him. "I do not need you to protect me, Clark." She said and he shot her a worried look. "Yes… I am Countess Lois Lane, commander under General Samuel Lane, my father… and you are Carter Hall, the rightful King of Thanagar and the Trainer of Kings. It is an honor." Lois bowed.

Carter nodded but he was still confused and then everything made sense at that moment. "You? You are the spy?" Carter asked and Lois shrugged her shoulders.

"Not if you keep me here. I need to get back. I have been gone far too long." Lois said and Clark nodded sadly. Lois caressed his face and he grinned. They quickly kissed.

J'onn then entered the room when he saw the door ajar and was surprised to see Carter in the room. "Fall asleep at your post, old friend?" Clark asked.

"No, I was making sure the guards did not. Forgive me." J'onn said and Clark smiled.

Clark and Lois took a good long look at one another. He held her hand and felt it slip out of his fingers as she walked out of the room with J'onn. And just like that, she was gone.

He sighed when he could no longer hear their footsteps and he felt Carter place a comforting hand on his shoulder. "We need to talk." He said.