A Gift From His Majesty
Some Days Later
Jon-Tel knocked on the door to Lois's chamber and a few moments later, Vala answered. "Yes?" She asked.
"I bring a message from the king." Jon-Tel said. Vala looked over her shoulder and Lois nodded. She opened the door and let him in. Lois was once again playing chess with her daughter, Kara Kal-El.
"What is the message?" Lois asked and then moved her bishop. "Check." She said. Kara moved her king out of check.
"His Majesty asks if you would like to go into the city with him on a most important errand. It would please him greatly." Jon-Tel said.
"And?" Lois knew there was more because Kal-El could have just sent a page to tell her this.
"There are some delicate matters that he needs to attend to and he would like your help." Jon-Tel said softly and Lois nodded.
"Just one moment." Lois said and looked down at the chessboard. She moved her queen and said, "Checkmate." Kara once again stood up on the chair to see how she missed it. "Kara!" She said sternly and the little girl sat down frustrated. Lois stood and kissed Kara's forehead. "There, there, my darling. Have patience." Kara nodded. Lois motioned to Vala to take Kara. Kara took Vala's hand and they left the chamber.
Kal-El entered their chambers. Lois curtsied and Jon-Tel bowed before he left the chamber. Kal-El walked up to Lois with a small grin on his face. "Thank you for this." He said softly with a small grin. She could hear the delight in his voice.
Lois nodded. They walked to and sat down at the table facing the door. He placed her hand on top of her but she moved her hand. She could see the subtle hurt look on his face but she chose to ignore it. He was not forgiven yet. "Now what is this delicate matter?" She asked.
"You know of Lady Lyla Del-Nar?" Kal-El asked.
"I know her sister, Asha. She is a knight in the Red Shard." Lois said.
"Lyla and her sister were brought up here at court. I knew her from my times here when I was young but Asha was a baby then." Kal-El said.
"Is the lady in trouble?" Lois asked.
"Lyla asked for a private audience with me." Lois tilted her head to the side and gave him a stern look. "The lady is a friend and nothing more." Lois nodded once and turned her head away. "And she happens to be Councilor Durkin's mistress." She quickly turned to look at him with her shocked eyes. There was a knock on the door. "Come." He said.
Jon-Tel entered the room and bowed. "Your Majesties, J'onn J'onzz and the Lady Lyla Del-Nar." He said and stepped to the side. They both entered the chamber and bowed. Jon-Tel left closing the door behind him.
Kal-El motioned for them to come forward. J'onn stepped off to the side and Lyla approached the table. She curtsied. "It is good to see you, Lyla." Kal-El said.
"You as well, Sire." Lyla said.
"You remember my wife, Queen Lois." Kal-El said.
"Your Majesty." Lyla curtsied and Lois nodded once. "Forgive me, Sire, but I asked for a private audience." She said softly.
"You can trust the queen. We have no secrets." Kal-El said caressing Lois's hand and she did not pull away this time. She told herself that they had to keep up appearances but she actually liked the warmth of his touch. Lois grinned at Lyla.
"You may speak plainly in here. I shall not judge." Lois said sympathetically.
"Kal-El has then told you whose mistress I am, then?" Lyla asked and Lois nodded. Lyla sighed and tears began to form in her eyes. "You were right about him, Kal-El. I want to leave him and I wish to take my children with me."
Kal-El sighed. "Lyla has had three children by Durkin and he has sent them all to the Kandorian Orphanage." He said to Lois.
"And you just let him do this?" Lois asked.
"I loved him…and I thought he loved me." Lyla said wiping the tears from her eyes. Lois looked at Kal-El and he nodded already knowing what she was going to do. Lois stood and walked up to the distraught woman.
"May I tell you something in confidence?" Lois asked and Lyla nodded. "I have been where you are now. I did not have any children but I understand." Lois put a comforting hand on Lyla's shoulder. "Fate soon smiled on me by sending me Kal-El. And I pray the gods will be as generous to you as they have been to me." Lyla slightly grinned and so did Lois.
Kal-El then stood and walked up to the women. "Lyla, I have made sure that your children have been well taken care of and I plan to go into the city today to bring the children here from the orphanage. I shall bring them to you in a few days time." He said.
"And we shall do all we can to aid you and your children until you are able." Lois said.
"Thank you." Lyla said and curtsied. Lois took her hand and helped her up.
"But do nothing to make Durkin wary. And I shall make sure that he shall leave you and your children be." Kal-El said and cut his eyes to J'onn, who nodded once. Lyla nodded and curtsied again. "J'onn…" J'onn opened the door for her and she left his chambers discretely.
Lois sat back down but Kal-El remained standing. "I doubt you asked me to be here just to help the Lady Lyla." Lois said. Kal-El shook his head and then nodded to J'onn.
"Your Majesties, I believe without a doubt that I have found the spies Zod sent to your court. Two work in the kitchens; another 2 in the stables; and I am confident that so is the personal guard and secretary of Councilor Durkin." Kal-El and Lois exchanged glances. "There are even more in the city and I heard them speak of having a captain." J'onn said.
Kal-El crossed his arms and looked at Lois. "If we capture one, then the rest may scatter." Kal-El said. J'onn and Lois nodded.
"Unless we lure them out… What if we make Bar-El's presence known to them? They would have to meet their captain to receive instructions." He said. Kal-El and Lois exchanged glances.
"Jon-Tel!" Kal-El called and he entered the chamber. "Bring my guest before us now and make sure he is not seen." Jon-Tel bowed and left.
A few minutes later, Jon-Tel returned with Bar-El. Bar-El kneeled. "There is no need for that. We are kin." Kal-El said. Bar-El nodded, stood, and then glanced at J'onn. "Bar-El, J'onn J'onzz." The two men nodded once at each other.
"Martian… What are you doing so far from home?" Bar-El asked.
J'onn somberly lowered his eyes to the floor. "The Martians are no more." J'onn said in almost a whisper.
"Forgive me. I did not know…but I do know your pain." Bar-El said sympathetically and J'onn nodded once. He put his hands behind his back. "You sent for me."
"We wish to make your presence known to Zod's spies. We want to seek them all out along with their captain. The decision is yours and yours alone." Kal-El said.
Bar-El did not even have to think about it. "Do it." He said.
"They may come after you. Are you certain?" Lois asked.
"The House of Zod has taken from me everything I held dear. I shall not rest until they are destroyed or back in the Phantom Zone for all eternity… Do it." Bar-El said.
"Very well then... The queen and I have an errand to attend to and then we shall speak later." Bar-El and J'onn bowed and left the chamber. Kal-El walked up to the fireplace and looked at their family portrait. Lois walked up behind him and put her left hand on his right shoulder. He put his left hand on top of hers. "Remember what we discussed?" He asked and she nodded. He caressed her hand on his shoulder.
"Perhaps they will not come." Lois said softly.
He sighed. "I wish that were true." Kal-El said, took her hand off his shoulder and kissed her hand. "But enough of these sad words. Do you wish to know where I have been disappearing off to?"
Kal-El was loading the orphans into a wagon. He roared as he picked up each laughing child and put them in the wagon. The Kandorian people spoke nothing but admiration for their king and queen for their generosity and affection. Lois smiled as she helped some children into a wagon. All the boys gave her a kiss on the cheek and Kal-El joked to stay away from his wife making them laugh.
When the last of the children and their governess were in the wagons, Kal-El gave the command for some knights to take them to the palace. Kal-El and Lois grabbed the reins of their horses and began walking. "So this is where you have been sneaking off to." Lois said and he nodded smiling.
"I like it here. No politics. No nobles. Just children who need someone to guide them." Kal-El said. People bowed as they walked past. "If I was not a prince, I may have been brought up in that orphanage… I was so alone before Henry and Kara were born and before Peter came to live with us. I do not want that for these children."
Lois rubbed his shoulder. "You are not alone anymore." Lois said and he smiled at her. He then wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her forehead. "And there is something we can do that we have not done in quite some time." She whispered seductively in his ear.
"What?" Kal-El asked and she grinned. "What?"
Lois flipped Kal-El onto his back and put her foot on his throat. "Yield." She said. Kal-El looked at her bare foot. His eyes moved up her body admiring her. "Focus." She said and pressed her foot down lightly on his throat.
Kal-El quickly smacked her foot off his throat and kicked the back of her legs making her fall down onto her back. He pinned himself on top of her. He leaned down to kiss her and she head bunted him. He rolled off her and put his hand on his forehead. She did a kip-up and took a battle stance. He stood. "I should have known you would do that."
"Exactly. You need to focus on the duel and not on my body. Well you can focus on my body but only to read my every move." Lois then tried to kick him and he grabbed her ankle. He spun around and elbowed her in the back. She grunted and stumbled. She turned around and saw that he was already in a battle stance. "Good."
"I have been training since I was but a small child. I should be the one training you, not you training me." Kal-El said as they circled each other.
"Do you not remember the day we met? Your arrogance was why I was able to wound you…twice. And do not forget the Battle of Metropolis…the King's Forest." Lois said and Kal-El rolled his eyes.
Lois charged him and he spun out of the way. He got behind her and put his arms around her so she could not move her arms. Then she stomped his foot and his grip loosened. She then grabbed him by the shoulders and kneed his manhood. The Red Shard knights standing guard in the courtyard grimaced as they watched Kal-El dropped down to his knees and then he fell down onto his side.
Lois crouched down beside him with a small grin on her face. He looked at her, his eyes full of resent. "I can think of one thing you shall not be doing tonight." She said and stood. Kal-El fought through the pain to kick the back of her legs. She fell down beside him and he then rolled on top of her.
"You assume too much." Kal-El said and Lois smiling. Then they both heard giggling. They turned their heads to see Connor and Kara giggling at them from the doorway. Kal-El immediately rolled off from top of Lois and they both sat up. "How long have you two been standing there?" He asked.
Connor shrugged his shoulders and Kara giggled again. Christopher then appeared at the doorway with Thara Ak-Var. "Forgive me, I turned my back for a moment and they were gone." Christopher said. Lois stood and held out a hand to Kal-El. He shook his head and grimaced when he put one knee up. Lois grinned knowing full well that his manhood was still sore despite his straight face.
"Run along children. Supper shall be ready soon." Lois said. They all nodded and ran out of the training courtyard. Lois watched Kal-El subtly breathe through the pain. "Shall I fetch your physician? The Council would never forgive me if you suddenly became…impotent." She said and crossed her arms smirking.
Kal-El gave her an annoyed grin and slowly stood grunting. "There is no need for that… And we both know I am far from impotent." He whispered the latter close to her ear. She felt her skin grow hot and she knew she was turning red.
"We s-should clean up for s-supper." Lois stammered and quickly left the training courtyard. Kal-El grinned knowing he was getting under her skin. He winked to his knights and they all grinned for a moment. The Red Shard knew of their…problems. They were very supportive. Kal-El slowly walked out of the training courtyard.
Bar-El wandered the streets of Kandor in his battered chainmail and torn clothing. His sword belt held no sword and his boots were dirtied with mud. His hair was unkempt and he had not shaved in days. As far as anyone could tell, he had been traveling for days on foot. He approached the palace gates. Red Shard knights held up their hands to him. "Halt!"
"I must see the king." Bar-El said exhausted.
"If you seek an audience with His Majesty, you must send word to…" A knight started.
"You do not understand. I need to see the king now! It is of great importance!" Bar-El exclaimed desperately and people were starting to look their way.
The gates opened slightly and a lieutenant stepped out. "I am Lady Asha Del-Nar. If you have need of an audience with His Majesty, give me the message and I will see to it that he gets it. His Majesty shall send for you shortly for he cares for all his people." Asha Del-Nar said.
"I must see him." Bar-El said.
"Go and wait in that tavern until the king sends for you." Asha said and then placed some gold coins in his hand to pay for a room. "I shall speak to the king. He will send for you once he has finished all affairs of state with the Council. Alright?" Bar-El nodded. "Now go and wait in the tavern." Bar-El nodded and made way for the tavern. "That man looked desperate."
"They are all desperate, Asha." A knight said.
"But he was different. And I know you can tell that he is a soldier… I will go and speak to Captain Tam-Or. He can speak to the king." Asha Del-Nar said and a knight nodded.
A man was hidden in the alley between two buildings. He heard what the Red Shard lieutenant had said. "Bar-El." The man whispered. He turned around and walked away quickly.
The man burst into a small house, where a group of men were huddled around a table with a hand drawn map of the palace. "Captain Jax-Ur!" The man cried to a middle aged man with an eye patch over his right eye. Jax-Ur immediately stood and rushed the man. He grabbed him by the throat and pinned him against the wall a foot or so off the ground.
"Do not use that name here!" Jax-Ur said fiercely and squeezed. The man struggled to breathe and to speak. "What?!" Jax-Ur loosened his grip and the man gasped for air. He said something that was barely audible. "Speak up!" He demanded and smacked the side of his head.
"Bar-El… Bar-El!" The man exclaimed. Jax-Ur's face went from stern to blank. "He was just at the palace gates asking for an audience with Kal-El. They sent him to the Knight's Fist Tavern." He let go of the man, who dropped down to the floor gasping for air.
"Bar-El." Jax-Ur hissed. He turned his back to the man. "Has he been granted an audience?"
"No… But a Red Shard knight said she would get him an audience with Kal-El. She is going to speak to Captain Tam-Or." The man said breathing heavily. Jax-Ur kicked over the table.
"Send for everyone. We must handle this before he can speak to Kal-El!" Jax-Ur ordered.
"But that tavern is full of knights during the day!" Someone exclaimed.
"Then we shall kill him at night! Do as I command!" Jax-Ur demanded.
Outside the house, J'onn J'onzz listened to Jax-Ur angrily issuing commands. He wore a black cloak and a walking staff. The staff was the only weapon he carried on him in case he was caught so they would believe he was just a poor man. And their captain was in fact Durkin's personal guard. He heard people making their way for the door. J'onn raised his hood and walked away as if he was just passing by.
Bar-El was breathing softly in a bed in the Knight's Fist. The straw stuffed mattress on the rope bed was actually quite comfortable as he laid in wait. He could hear drunken knights down below toasting to the king and queen earlier. He had removed the chainmail and had undone the laces to his red gambeson.
He did not know how long he had been lying in that bed. All he knew was that the sun set over an hour ago and it had become dead quiet. There were no more drunken toasts or singing. He closed his eyes picturing his beautiful Lilo. She was smiling and his hands were caressing her face.
That was when he heard it: the creaking of someone walking up the stairs. He tightened his grip on the dirk J'onn had left for him. There was also a sword on the floor besides the bed. He rolled onto his side and pretended to snore. He had pretended to get drunk on the gold coins Asha Del-Nar had given him. Someone was at his door. He had not bolted it and he assumed they would believe it was a drunken mistake.
The door quietly opened and closed. He could hear someone quiet footsteps. They probably are going to make it look like I was killed for the gold coins given to me earlier. Bar-El thought. He looked at the window and he could see his would be killer's reflection. He removed something from his waistband. He was raising his arm and he saw the dagger.
Bar-El quickly rolled and stabbed the man in the chest. The assassin was completely caught by surprise. He dropped the dagger but Bar-El caught it just in time and covered the assassin's mouth. He then gave the dirk a twist and the man groaned. He carefully lowered his body to the floor and put the assassin's dagger in the back of his waistband. He pulled his dirk out of his body and wiped off the blood on the assassin's black wool doublet.
"Clever." Bar-El whispered. He had noticed that all knights wore doublets with their sword belts when they were not wearing chainmail or their armor. He checked his body for anything else. A pouch of gold coins on his sword belt was all he found. He then had an idea. He lifted up the man left sleeve and there it was: the brand of the House of Zod on his forearm.
Bar-El drew the dead man's sword. It was a common sword. Definitely not Kryptonian made. Bar-El opened his door slightly and peeked out the crack. Knights were passed out on the tables below. There were a group of ten men down below in black doublets but the same sword hilts as the dead assassin.
Bar-El immediately recognized Jax-Ur immediately. He quietly growled. Jax-Ur had always been a thorn in his side during the civil war in the Zone. The wound to Jax-Ur's right eye was done by Bar-El some years ago. Bar-El sheathed his dirk and retrieved the sword left for him from off the floor. He then drew the dagger from his waistband.
He quietly opened the door and floated a foot in the air with the assassin's dagger still in hand. He floated down to the bottom of the stairs. He flipped the dagger so he was now holding the blade and he threw it the nearest man. It penetrated his lower back. Before he had let out a scream of pain, Bar-El had drawn his own sword.
"To me!" Jax-Ur commanded. He used his super speed to slay all those who had not formed a perimeter around Jax-Ur. Bar-El then appeared before them. "Bar-El." He hissed. All around the tavern were passed out drunken knights sleeping it off on the tables.
"Jax-Ur… How is your eye?" Bar-El asked smirking. Jax-Ur sucked his teeth. "Did you really believe I would become so careless? Me? I was the first commander of the Red Shard and the Warden of the Phantom Zone… I never get careless for that is how you end up dead."
"Yet you will not leave this place alive." Jax-Ur said.
"And that is where you are wrong… Now!" Bar-El exclaimed.
Every supposed passed out drunken knights arose and drew their swords. Jax-Ur then noticed the red and silver hilts of their swords. "Red Shard!" He exclaimed.
"A gift from His Majesty." Bar-El said. He disappeared in a blur and the spies found themselves disarmed. All their swords and sword belts were in Bar-El's hands. Bar-El nodded once and the Red Shard descended upon them. They struggled but they were stuck with the pommels of swords and knocked unconscious.
The spies were pushed through the corridors of the palace to the throne room in shackles by Red Shard knights. Servants and nobles watched this in fear and anger. Word had gotten out who these spies served. No one wished for the return of the House of Zod. Those days are dark stains on Krypton's history.
Kal-El squeezed Lois's hand before standing and descending the dias. Lois remained sitting on her throne. The spies resisted and were backhanded across their faces. Then they were forced down onto their knees with halberds pointed at their throats. Then they looked up. A few steps away was Kal-El. Kal-El rested his left hand on his sword pommel.
Kal-El wore a knee-length red linen tunic with black embroidery forming his family crest on the front, black trousers and boots, his sword belt, knight's cape, and circlet. Lois wore a red dress with black embroidery forming the El crest as well and her gold circlet. She wore a belt with a scabbard for her dagger.
"You all may already know who I am but allow me to tell you… I am Kal-El, son of Jor-El II, king of Krypton and Kansas, Supreme Commander of the Royal Army and Defender of our Faith." Then he began to pace side to side before the spies.
"Our ancestors used to hold a tournament for the heads of the houses with sons to carry on their names. They would duel to the death and the victor would be crowned king until death and then they would hold the tournament again. But when the mountain of gold was first discovered, early Urrikans knew not of the value of gold. They traded in crystals, silver, some gems but not gold and here was an endless supply. And it was worthless to them so they began forging chairs, dishes, rings, even armor in gold just to get rid of it all."
"The other realms believed the small kingdom of Urrika was flaunting its wealth and soon the old world was invaded by Daxam for our endless supply of gold. The Daxamites murdered the king hoping to bring chaos among the Urrika peoples. War still broke out and from that war a leader arose… He became King Zod I. And it was he who decided to follow the tradition of the other realms to pass the throne from father to son." Kal-El said. The spies watched him, their eyes filled with contempt.
"Once Daxam was conquered, he then sent my forefather, Sul-El, to explore the lands near Daxam. And he found the very land we are standing on. He named it Kandor and Zod I came himself and oversaw the building of the Crystal Palace and half of the city of Kandor. And then he went onto conquer Argo. A new kingdom arose from the ashes of that war and he named this kingdom Krypton."
"But it would be Zod II, who demanded for more than half of the supply of gold and gems from the mines each year to the royal treasury making them the richest kings of the known world. His first wife would die bearing his son, who would become Zod III. Many years later, he took Kara Var-El for his second wife. She would bear him Pir-Zod. When his brother ascended the throne, he took the name of his mother's forefathers and became Pir-El so his brother did not feel threatened by his claim to the throne." Kal-El said.
"Spare us this history lesson!" Jax-Ur snapped.
Kal-El stopped pacing and turned to face them. "As king, it is my duty to know the history of my people, my House, to know and follow their traditions, and to protect them from all enemies. Once again the House of Zod threatens my people and their way of life… You were sent here to not only dethrone me and my queen but to kill all in my bloodline: my cousin, my nephew, my aunt, my wife, and my daughter."
"Oh and the history lesson means that not while I live and while those in my bloodline live, shall the House of Zod sit on that throne once more." Kal-El pointed to his throne over his shoulder. "Now, tell us all you know of Zod's plans." They all clamped their jaws shut.
Kal-El motioned to a Red Shard knight, who gave him one of the spies' swords. Kal-El examined the sword and even twirled the sword. He turned and looked at Lois. Without him saying a word, she arose and walked to his side. Kal-El then rested the blade of the sword on Jax-Ur's left shoulder.
"I am prepared to die, usurper for I know that the House of Zod shall return and take what is rightfully theirs… This realm, the throne, and its heir." Jax-Ur spoke up once more.
"Its heir? Oh, you speak of Lor-Zod… He is dead. I saw the fortress burn myself." He pointed the blade of the down onto the floor and rested his hands on the pommel. "Nothing survived…not even the rats." Kal-El said.
"Zod knows you stole his son and he shall have him back before you corrupt him further. And Alexander Luthor shall have his son returned to him as well. And he shall give us all the arms and gold we need to bring you down to your knees before the great and powerful Zod. " Jax-Ur hissed.
Kal-El sighed and nodded. "Alexander Luthor…that is his plan. My thanks." Kal-El said and motioned for the knights to take them away. Surprise was written all over Jax-Ur's face. The spies resisted and they were smacked or whacked with the shafts of the halberds. They were forced out of the throne room.
"Well done, Sire." Commander Ak-Var said and Kal-El nodded once. Lois put her hand on his shoulder.
"You were right. Their arms came from Luthor." Kal-El said to her. Lois had examined their swords herself earlier. She used to use such swords back when she just a Genesis soldier.
"I did not wish to be right… And they know. They know who Christopher and Connor truly are." Lois said worriedly, like any mother.
Kal-El turned to face her and quietly shushed her. "Shh. All will be well, my love. I will not let them take them from us." He said softly and Lois nodded. He leaned closer to her ear. "Perhaps it is time to do what we discussed." He leaned back and they looked at each other. She closed her eyes and nodded. "I wish you would go with them."
Lois opened her eyes. "No… I will not leave you." She said. He nodded and took her hand.
"Bring me the Genesis and Egyptian ambassadors. And send for my War Council." Kal-El commanded. Two pages bowed and left the throne room.
Kal-El was in the palace forge working on a sword with the royal blacksmith. They had finished crafting the beautiful gold and blue hilt and were finishing up the Kryptium blade. Kal-El pulled the red-orange blade from the oven and dipped it in water. Steam rose up and he looked away.
He and the royal blacksmith were shirtless and dirty from all the hard work. When the steam dissipated, Kal-El pulled the sword from the barrel of water and set it down on a nearby table. "It is well done, Sire."
"Thank you, Nam-Rel." Kal-El said to the blacksmith and they gripped forearms. "We should go bathe or our wives shall not be pleased." Nam-Rel chuckled and nodded.
Kal-El put on a black knee-length linen tunic with gold hems, black trousers, high boots, his chain with the medallion of his House crest, and his sword belt. "Sire, the queen with Viscount Christopher Kent." Jon-Tel said and Kal-El nodded once. Lois and Christopher entered their bedchamber.
"And just where have you been off to if you need to bathe in the afternoon?" Lois asked and took a seat.
"Handling a great matter. I promise you, nothing dangerous." Kal-El said. Jon-Tel straightened his tunic and chain. "That will be all, Jon-Tel." Jon-Tel bowed and left the chamber. Kal-El turned around and crossed his arms. "Chris, we wish to speak with you." Chris looked uncomfortable.
"It has nothing to do with the problems between your mother and me but this matter is of great importance. You have heard the talk of war?" Christopher nodded. Kal-El and Lois exchanged glances. "If it comes to that, we wish to send you away with your brother and sister." Kal-El said.
"B-But…but I can stay and fight." Christopher protested. Kal-El sighed. He looked at Lois and she nodded. Kal-El put his hands on Christopher's shoulders.
"Not only are you not of age…" Christopher rolled his eyes. "But I need you to watch over your brother and sister. I have no doubt that with me away at war; they shall try and come for you all. I could not bear it if anything should happen to all three of you." Kal-El said somberly. Christopher looked down but he nodded.
Kal-El embraced him and whispered in his ear. "And if anything should happen to me, try to get your mother out of Krypton." He said. Christopher did not nod or acknowledge his last wish since Lois was watching. They parted. "And you shall need this." Kal-El picked up the newly forged sheathed sword from the table.
The sword hilt was like Kara Fine's sword: the blade was Kryptium, the hilt was silver and the grip blue velvet. Christopher rubbed the star on the round pommel on the sword. "Father, I cannot…" Christopher protested.
"Yes, you can. I forged this for you." Kal-El said. He motioned for Christopher to raise his arms. He raised his arms and Kal-El fastened the sword belt around Christopher's waist. "Just like papa." He winked at Christopher. Christopher gave him a nervous grin. "Now run along. And remember that this is not a toy but a weapon." Christopher nodded once and left the bedchamber.
Lois stood and put a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to face her. He took her hands. "Lois, I want things to be well between us once more… Can things ever be the way they once were?" Kal-El asked her.
Lois sighed and caressed his cheek. "That I cannot answer." She said. He placed his hand over hers on his cheek.
"Why not? I love you and you still love me. Just tell me what you want of me." He said.
"I want…I just need more time." Lois said. He tried to caress her cheek but she walked away and left their chambers. Kal-El sighed somberly and touched his cheek wishing her hand was still there.