Return of the King

Word soon spread throughout all of Krypton of the king's resurrection. Some said that he was immortal. Others said he had escaped the Phantom Zone. Hundreds of thousands, gathered outside the cities and villages to catch a glimpse of the king leading his army back to Kandor.

The Kandor city gates opened and cheering erupted. The Red Shard rode in first. Ensigns proudly held the king's banners. Kal-El grinned and raised his hand to the people. Pink Kryptonian flowers were thrown down into the street. People shouted, "Long live the House of El!" "Long live the king!" Long live the queen!" Though they were not in a joyous mood, Kal-El and Lois continued grinning and waving to the people.

They soon reached the kryptium gates of the Crystal Palace. The gate was opened and they rode onto the lands of the Crystal Palace. Red Shard knights along the road knelt as they rode passed. The Red Shard halted outside the gatehouse. The gate was raised. Red Shard captains and lieutenants, generals, and the king and queen rode into the palace courtyard.

Nobles, politicians, servants, and the children had gathered in the entrance hall of the palace. Sir Thor-Us and Sir Drax-On opened the great doors. Kal-El and Lois entered the palace side by side. The sight of the crest of the House El on their tabards may everyone in the entrance hall kneel at once.

Little Princess Kara Kal-El slowly approached her lord father. Kal-El knelt down to one knee and grinned. Little Kara smiled and ran into her father's arms. He held her close and kissed her temple. Conner cautiously approached. Kal-El wrapped an arm around him and kissed his head. Still holding his daughter, he approached his councilors.

"Have all in the palace in the throne room in the morrow. No excuses." Kal-El commanded and walked away with his family.

Kal-El removed his gloves and set them aside on a table in the nursery. The nurses curtsied and he motioned for them to leave. They curtsied again and left the nursery. Prince Jor-El and Princess Lara Kal-El were awake. He caressed Jor-El's head and kissed his brow and then did the same to Lara.

"They seem to know you." Lois said. Kal-El said nothing. "You visited them, did you not?"

"Just once…to say farewell." Ka-El said. He could hear her heartbeat quicken in anger. "You know I could not come to you. It was for your own protection."

"Do you truly believe that saying the lie over and over shall make it become truth?" Lois said.

"Lois…" Kal-El said but she had already left. He sighed.

Kal-El soon followed her in their bedchamber. "Just leave me be!" Lois said. Vala helped Lois remove her mail. Jon-Tel approached Kal-El, who held out his arms and spread his legs, and began removing his mail.

"Leave us." Kal-El said once they were done. Jon-Tel bowed and Vala curtsied before they left the chamber. "I never wanted to hurt you and you know that. Look at me." She would not. "You want to strike me again?" Kal-El then put on his victory ring. He hid his slight dizziness well. "Well, here is your chance." He held out his hands to show he was not going to defend himself but he was hoping he would not have to. But he was not so fortunate.

Kal-El grunted when Lois's fist collided with his jaw. He groaned as he rubbed his sore jaw. Lois shook her hand, which was in some pain. Then they were both staring at each other and they could hear each other's heavy breathing. They suddenly found themselves in each other's arms, kissing passionately. They ran their hands through each other's hair. Their lips parted out of lack of air and he kissed down her neck. They could not fight the intense desire they had for each other; they never could.

Lois pushed him down onto the bed and he removed his shirt. She straddled him and he rose up to kiss her, running his hands through her hair. He lifted up her shirt and then she pulled it over her head. He kissed her bare skin from breasts to abdomen and she moaned. They wrapped their arms around each other and he rolled them. Their lips met as he undid the laces of her trousers. He was then on his knees so he could pull her trousers down and remove them along with her boots. Lois raised herself up and began kissing his bare skin of his torso. He moaned as she moved down lower and she undid his laces. He got up from the bed and removed his boots and trousers. He turned around to see Lois under the fur blanket. He climbed back onto the bed and slowly pulled the blanket back.

Durkin approached the royal chambers but was stopped by two Red Shard knights. "Do you know who I am? Let me pass!" Durkin demanded.

The door opened. Durkin straightened his robes and Jon-Tel appeared. "I am sorry, Councilor Durkin, but you cannot have an audience with the king, nor the queen, until the morrow." Jon-Tel said. Durkin pushed passed him and entered their chambers.

"What could they possibly be doing so late in the afternoon?" Durkin asked, looking around the large presence chamber. Then loud moaning could be heard through the door of the adjoining bedchamber.

"The king and the queen are not to be disturbed. You may seek out your audience in the morrow, as well as others at court." Jon-Tel said and ushered Durkin out.

Lois was on top of Clark. They both were breathing heavily as they made love. His right hand caressed her skin, moving down from her face, neck, and torso. He threw his head back in ecstasy. He raised himself up to kiss her skin and then her lips as she ran her hands through her hair. He wrapped his arms around her and rolled them. She dug her nails into his back with each powerful thrust and moaned loudly. Their lips met and muffled their moans. They were always good at passion.

Kal-El and Lois lay in each other's arms. He stroked her hair as she slept so peacefully. He carefully moved her and arose from the bed. He put on his trousers, shirt, and boots. He went to his wardrobe and grabbed a red leather doublet. He put it on and tied up the laces. He grabbed a simple woolen cloak and put it on. And lastly, he put on his belt and scabbard. Kal-El walked back to the bed and kissed Lois's forehead, and then quietly left the bedchamber. Lois opened her eyes and sat up, holding up the furs to cover her nakedness.

Kal-El dismounted in front of the Temple of Rao and motioned for his knights to stay. He entered the temple and began walking towards the altar. The walk seemed longer than he remembered but he soon made it to the altar steps. "I have been expecting you." The High Priest was at the altar. He lowered his hood and turned around.

"Help me for I am lost, not in body but in mind." Kal-El said. The High Priest motioned for him to sit and he sat in the first pew on the left. "Am I a good man…a just king?"

"In all the years I have known you, Kal-El; you have never questioned your virtues, your deeds, nor doubted yourself. This has more to do with than just Zod." The High Priest said.

"It is Lois. The anger and pain in her eyes when I told her I was never dead…" He sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "All I did, I did to protect her, our children, our people, and not without sacrifice. And now she may never forgive me." Kal-El said.

"Your ward?" Kal-El nodded. "Young Christopher only did what you would have done. You fostered him well. He grew up to become a man of honor; a rarity in the world of today. His sacrifice was not in vain but we cannot help but feel the void he left behind. But time heals all wounds." The High Priest said.

"And Lois. I cannot live without her but I cannot live with her hatred of me as well." Kal-El said.

"You are mistaking grief with anger. Last time we spoke of the queen, I advise you to mourn in private and find distractions to help you heal. My mistake was that I forgot to tell you to include the queen in this and you nearly lost her. Do not make that mistake again." Kal-El nodded. "Now, return to your own bed and think of your troubles in the morrow with your wife." The High Priest said.

Kal-El reentered the bedchamber. He removed his cloak and set it down on a chair. He undid the laces of his doublet and removed it. He removed the rest of his clothing and climbed back into the bed. He kissed her shoulder. "I know you are awake." Kal-El said softly.

"Did the priest help you?" Lois asked softly. She knew him all too well.

"I do not know. We shall see." Kal-El said. Lois rolled onto her left side and rested her head on his right pec. He wrapped his arms around her and stroked her upper right arm. Lois traced the scar on his upper torso with her fingers. "I am sorry. I am so sorry for everything that has happened in my absence. But know that those who spoke against you shall not go unpunished. And if need be I shall spend the rest of my days making up for the pain I have caused you."

"I know." Lois said. They both soon drifted off back to sleep.

The Next Day

"Their Majesties, King Kal-El and Queen Lois! Kneel!" The herald announced. The chamber door opened and the monarchs entered the throne room as all knelt. The hall was filled with knights, nobles, councilors, servants, scribes, scholars, those of the arts, and any others of the royal court.

Kal-El and Lois ascended the dias. Lois wore a purple silk dress with bell-cut sleeves and her circlet. Kal-El wore a knee-length tunic of red velvet with his house crest embroidered on the breast, black trousers and boots, his sword belt, his circlet, and his red cape. Lois sat on her throne while Kal-El remained standing. He did not give them leave to rise.

"I know all that has come to pass in my court in my absence. The people look to you all for guidance and protection in times of danger and discord and yet you were all busy fighting amongst yourselves! And for that I am most displeased. But what incurred my wrath the most was your treachery and accusations against my beloved wife, Queen Lois. Worst of all by you, Durkin!" Kal-El said.

Durkin stood. "Majesty, I must protest…"

"Silence!" He motioned for Durkin to come forward. Durkin approached the dias and Kal-El motioned for him to kneel, and he did. "You accused the queen of adultery. You branded my children as bastards before they had even entered this world and you incited others of this court to do the same. You divided this court in two when they should have been standing together as one against Zod. Your actions have shown your true colors and they are a vile sight."

"You have slighted my queen and the honor of my House for your own petty ambitions. And for that you shall be judged… But I cannot deny or ignore your great service to the crown and to this kingdom. You shall keep your position on our Ruling Council…"

"Thank you, Sire." Durkin said.

"Spare me your gratitude. But you and those who followed you are banished from this court until I deem it fit that you made return and forfeit a percentage of your lands and goods to the crown. You, Durkin, will be sent for if need be on great matters but you shall be a councilor in name only. Any other king would have your head for such disloyalty." Kal-El said.

"Sire..." Durkin said.

"Silence!" Kal-El yelled. "You should know that not only your lady wife came to your aid in this matter, but the queen as well. Queen Lois told me that you believed your claims to be true and that you only had our affairs of our kingdom in mind." Durkin cut his eyes to Lois and back to Kal-El. "They asked me to show mercy and I shall but know this: my patience with you grows thin so choose your future actions with great care. As all of you should as well!"

"Many of you shall be given the chance to swear an oath of loyalty not only to me but to my queen and our heirs. I pray that the gods shall give you better judgment in the future. Those in disfavor shall leave my court and the city within the fortnight! My lady." Kal-El held his hand out to Lois. She stood and took it. The people knelt as they descended the dias and left the throne room.

Some Weeks Later

For weeks, not a kind word was exchanged between Kal-El and Lois. They ate dinner in silence. They slept awkwardly in each other's arms. As king and queen, they were once again a formidable pair but even the children could see things were not well between them. People said in whispers that their coldness towards one another was grief for the loss of their ward.

They undressed in silence. He put on some blue breeches and then he watched Lois change behind the changing screen. He opened his mouth to speak but could think of nothing to say. "Um…the sovereigns want to come together to decide what to do with Luthor. King Peter and King Carter cannot agree what to do with him and they are at each other's throats." He ended up saying.

"King Peter wants him dead, does he not?" Lois asked.

"Yes. Carter still holds him captive in Thanagar. The last of those loyal to Luthor have been rounded up and sent back to Genesis to be judged." Kal-El said.

"Then my father and Chancellor Nelson shall have their hands full for some time." Lois said. She emerged from behind the screen in her underdress. She let her hair down and shook out her hair. She rubbed her shoulder and then she felt his hands on her. He began to massage her shoulders gently and she did not stop him.

"Would you like to journey with me to the Hall? The Council can manage the kingdom until our return." Kal-El said.

"Perhaps another time." Lois pulled out of his grasp. Vala had already pulled back the sheets and fur blankets. Lois climbed into the left side of the bed. Kal-El sighed and began blowing out the candles. He turned back towards the bed and saw that Lois was asleep. He knew she was still awake but he did not say anything.

Kal-El walked to her bedside and caressed her cheek with his knuckles. He then leaned down and kissed her head. He then climbed in bed into the right side. He turned to at her but could only see her back and sighed, and lay on his back. He caressed the victory ring on his left ring finger with his thumb. He put his left hand behind his head and then drifted off to sleep.

The Hall of Justice

"Just give Luthor to me! He must be punished for his crimes!" King Peter Ross of Genesis yelled at King Carter Hall of Egypt and Thanagar.

"No! You are not seeing reason, only revenge! I will not give Luthor to you when you only plan to execute him, which will bring infighting and discord amongst his sworn men." King Carter said.

"I am not going to kill him…! Not yet, anyway. I need to make an example of him as a traitor and a murderer to punish him for his crimes against the people of Genesis and the House of Ross." King Peter said.

"Lionel Luthor is responsible for the death of your family, not Alexander." King Oliver Queen said.

"And you are speaking of torture! If you had been trained by me…" King Carter said fiercely.

"I would be weak like the others you trained!" King Peter snapped.

King Oliver and King Orin shot up protesting. "Have care how you speak, Ross! And show respect to King Carter! He is a greater king than any of us here!" Orin yelled pointing a warning finger at Peter. King Bruce Wayne slammed his fist down onto the table. Everyone shut up and sat down.

"King Kal has not spoken." King Bruce said. Kal-El looked up to see all eyes on him. He had been stroking his upper lip and staring at the metal plaque at the center of the round table. He had listened to every word spoken and/or yelled. They all waited for him to speak.

"Peter, Alexander Luthor shall be punished but if he is dead, then his nobles shall fight for power whether they are imprisoned or not. Though you are not your father, there are many who believe you are. Your father was rash. And torturing and then executing Luthor is a rash decision whilst there are still Luthor loyalists within your kingdom." King Peter clenched his teeth. "Luthor always brings out the worst in you. Is that the kind of man, the kind of king you want to be? That you want your son to be?"

King Peter tapped his fingers on the table. "Luthor shall be my prisoner until the day he dies if that pleases you all. He shall not be harmed on my command. I shall have his nobles placed in different prisons throughout Genesis. Their properties and so forth shall become forfeit. Luthor is nothing without his wealth and his nobles. And the people shall see that." Peter said.

"I shall send you back Luthor with my best men once all his nobles and knights are sentenced." King Carter said.

"We should send some knights of the Justice League as well to accompany them. Luthor may have fallen from grace but he is no less dangerous than an animal stalking its prey." King Bruce said.

"But what if Peter is right? What is Luthor is too dangerous to be kept alive?" King Oliver said.

"Just give Luthor to me and I shall remove his head himself." Princess Diana said.

"We cannot know that now. But if Luthor should prove too dangerous…then do what you must." King Kal-El said.

Kandor

Urvlsh was loaded off of the ship and Kal-El stroked the horse's muzzle. He mounted the horse and his knights mounted theirs. They wore red leather doublets and fur trimmed cloaks.

It did not take them long to return to the Crystal Palace. Commander Ak-Var was waiting for them in the courtyard. "Welcome home, Sire." Ak-Var said.

Kal-El dismounted. He looked up to his and Lois's bedchamber window and did not see her. "Where is the queen?"

"I do not know, my lord. She was walking about the palace earlier and has not been seen for some time. Shall I have the knights look for her?" Ak-Var asked.

"No." Kal-El patted Ak-Var's shoulder as he entered the palace. People bowed as he walked passed them.

Kal-El entered Christopher's chambers. "I thought I would find you in here." He said. Lois sat holding one of Christopher's blue tunics. Kal-El removed his leather gloves. "Lois, enough of this. You know I cannot bear it when things are not well between us." He picked up the blunt dagger of the table he had given Chris ten years ago when he was just a boy. "I miss him as much as you."

"Chris was my only comfort after you died. He was there to make certain that I did not fall apart. And you took him from me!" Lois said.

"You think I wanted him to fight or to carry such a heavy burden! He was my son first before he was yours!" Kal-El snapped.

Lois shot up and turned to face him. "And yet he became our son. He was far too young for such a burden! You should have chosen another."

"It was not supposed to be his burden but mine!" Kal-El said.

"What?" Lois asked softly.

Kal-El sighed. "With Bar-El fallen in battle, I decided that I would become the new warden of the Zone. Chris found out and made a plan to take my place. Raya and Sir Thor-Us helped him against my wishes. I had no part in it… It was supposed to me." Kal-El said.

"And that is the problem as well! You kept me in the dark not only of your return but of your decision to become the new warden as well. We never made decisions without first consulting one another. We rule as equals, Clark! But you made the decision alone and now we have lost our son! Christopher is trapped in the Phantom Zone and we may never see him again. Our children may never see their brother again. He shall never marry or have any of his own children. He is forever to guard the Zone!" Lois cried.

"Perhaps this is his destiny! We cannot choose our own destinies, they choose us. We may just have to accept that he is…that he is gone." Kal-El looked down at the dagger in his hand.

Lois sat back down. "The gods have now taken away two of our children. Are we cursed?" Lois asked somberly.

"What?" Kal-El knelt before her. He ran his fingers across the smooth cloth of Christopher's blue linen tunic still in her hands and sighed. "No, my love. Chris simply found his destiny and we must accept that. It is one of the many trials we shall have to face together." Tears filled her eyes. He caressed her face. "Lois, now is not the time to fall apart. I need you. We need each other. I shall not make the same mistake of abandoning you in your pain once again. I am here, Lois, and I am never leaving you again." He said.

Lois placed her left hand on his right cheek. "Do not make promises you cannot keep." She said somberly.

"I know but at least allow me to pledge my fidelity to you once again. I am nothing but a shell without you." Kal-El said. "Chris would not want his leaving to tear us apart again, nor I." They both leaned forward until their foreheads touched.

"Oh, Clark…" Lois whispered.

"I know. I know." Clark said.

Some Time Later

"Your Majesties, Sir Henry and Lady Chloe Olsen of Genesis!" Jimmy and Chloe entered the throne room wearing blue wool doublets, black trousers, blue cloaks, and sword belts. They approached the thrones and bowed.

"We wish to congratulate you on your victory, Sire, and we were saddened to hear of the loss of your ward. His sacrifice has reached ears far and wide." Chloe said.

"We thank you for your kind words. Now, is it done?" Kal-El asked.

"Yes, my lord. Even King Peter was very pleased with my work once again." Jimmy said.

Kal-El motioned for some men standing in the back to come forward. A dozen or so men pushed forward statues on planks of wood with wheels underneath and the statues were covered with red shrouds. The men stopped before the dias and bowed as they took a few steps backward. Kal-El and Lois stood and all in the Hall kneeled. They descended the dias and approached the life-sized statues. He stood before the first statue in front of him and pulled down the shroud.

The marble statue was a perfect likeness to Raya in her armor. Kal-El ran his fingers over the crest of the Order of the Red Shard on the marble tabard and made a slight grin. "As always, Sir Henry, very fine work." He said. He stood beside Lois at the second life-sized statue.

Kal-El and Lois's heart beats quickened but they were expressionless. The marble statue was a perfect likeness to Christopher in armor as well. "Thank you, Sir Henry." Lois said.

"A small debt to repay in my eyes. I have known Your Majesties for ten years now. Queen Lois and I are not only kin but she saved my life during the war. This was the least I could do when you asked for my skills. I only hope that this brings you some solace." Jimmy said. Kal-El nodded to him once.

"Commander Ak-Var…" Ak-Var stepped forward. "The first is to be sent to Lady Raya's family." Kal-El said and Ak-Var nodded.

"And the second?" Ak-Var asked.

"The second is my responsibility. You need not worry about it." Kal-El said and Ak-Var nodded.

Xan

Clark placed Christopher's statue on a marble pedestal at the base of what was once the city gates of Xan. He then used his heat vision to fuse the statue to the pedestal. Words were written all around the pedestal in Kryptoninan:

Of all the brave souls who answered the call when Dru Zod II escaped the Phantom Zone with a vast army to conquer the realm of Krypton, Zod was soon defeated by the forces of King Kal-El I and by Lor Zod, the son of Zod and the ward of the king. With the Royal Army prepared for an attack, the king, his knights of the Red Shard, and the newly knighted Lor Zod banished Zod and his army back to the Phantom Zone here at the ruins of the ancient city of Xan. Sir Lor Zod chose to return to the Phantom Zone as the new warden so that he may guard his father and all that follow him, and future criminals to be sentenced to banishment for all eternity. May the gods watch over this young brave soul. And may we never forget not only his sacrifice but the sacrifices of our brothers and sisters of Krypton and Kansas, who defended peace and justice from tyranny.

"It is well written." Lois said and took his hand.

"I just wish they would stop glorifying me as if I am some sort of god. I am a man. I am flesh and blood." Kal-El said.

"Oh, Clark. A man can be killed but a symbol…" She turned to face him and put a finger on his family crest over his heart. "A symbol can never die and that is what inspires people."

Kal-El grinned. "You always know what to say." They held each other and looked up at Christopher's face.

"Do you think he shall be alright?" Lois asked.

"I do not know…but we taught him well. And I have hope." Kal-El said.

The Phantom Zone

Christopher deflected a blow from an axe and then uppercut the Zoner under the chin, who then violently flew back into a dozen more Zoners, knocking them all unconsciously. He retrieved his dagger out of a Zoner's jaw, wiped off the blood, and sheathed it. He put his sword tip on the ground, leaned on this sword hilt, and took a short breath.

"Now father, where were we before we were so rudely interrupted?" Christopher asked. Zod lay on the ground beaten and bloodied; Chris's sword tip right next to his head. Zod's eyed the victory ring on Christopher's right ring finger. Then more Zoners came over a dune yelling and waving their weapons. "Forgive me, father, but you shall have to pardon me for a moment." Chris heel kicked Zod's face, knocking him unconscious.

Christopher picked up a scattered heater shield and raised his sword. "Time for another bout." A large Zoner swung his club and their weapons locked.

We hoped you enjoyed Crusade of Reckoning. Look out for our new fanfic for the Hunger Games called Burn Me With Fire. Warning! Will contain spoilers for those who have not read Mockingjay. Coming to a screen near you next month.