The Banished

by Fallen Ark Angel

Being the head of the royal guard is hard enough without factoring in the fact you're an Overlander. How can Gregor possibly guard the queen while constantly having to watch his own back? But when a more prominent threat forms over Regalia, far more sinister than any they have faced before, Gregor must put his own problems aside for the greater good of them all.

4. Chapter 4

The Banished

Chapter 4

"I told her I would be there when she awakens."

"And you will. Whenever that is, I shall send for you. You will be the first person she sees, if I can help it."

Gregor just stood outside the hospital room, staring in through the window at the dying woman. "I could count the meaningful conversations I've had with her on one hand. Why do I feel so indebted to her?"

The man clapped his hand on the other's shoulder. "You are sworn to the royal guard. Nerissa is of royal descent. Your duty."

"Is that it?"

"That is the answer you had best give, had anyone ask," the man told him. "If you believe I am not pleased with the situation the queen has you in, you had better believe that others find it even more reprehensible."

"I do believe Stellovet is the happiest with your medical career, Howard."

"And why is that?"

"If you are this way over your cousin, I can only believe protectiveness you feel over your own sister is insurmountable."

"You speak to insult me, I am sure."

"Not at all," Gregor said, patting the hilt of his sword before looking of. "The queen wished for me to see her cousin was alright. Now that I have an update, it is best I return to her side, yes?"

"Not best, no, but the place you are most comfortable," the older man agreed. "I will send word to you when she awakens as promised. Though I am sure it is the queen that will see her first."

"Have you already forgotten, Howard, that I am always at her side? When she knows, I will know."

"As is the curse of this web we have all woven."

"I will see you again soon, I presume," Gregor said, nodding once at the man before walking off.

"Watch your step, Overlander. You never know what lies in your path."

It was simple enough to find Luxa. She was having dinner with Hazard in the same dinning room she always ate in. Vikus hadn't been wheeled in there, but Gregor had to wonder if it was merely because Luxa was not up for seeing two of her dying relatives in one evening.

"My queen," Gregor called out as he came into the room. "I come with news."

She looked up at the sound of his voice, as did Hazard. Then she looked to the other guard at the door, his face stone as he awaited command.

"Caleb."

"Yes, your grace?"

"The Overlander will take over from here. You may leave if you wish."

"You are too kind, your grace."

She smiled slightly at that, the cocky one she always had. Glancing down at her own plate, she said, "Have you eaten, Caleb?"

"Not yet, your grace."

"You are not married, no? No family awaiting you at home?"

He hesitated then. "No, my queen."

"Then surely you would rather stay, yes? Take a seat." She gestured around the long table. "There are many to choose from. I seem to be without guests this evening. Perhaps I am boring."

"Surely not, your grace."

"Then come. Sit with my cousin and me."

Again with the hesitation. Gregor just stood by, watching Luxa with an interested expression. He wasn't sure what she was driving at. Perhaps she was teaching him some kind of a lesson?

"That is a very kind offer, my queen, but-"

"Tell me, Caleb, were you raised to deny the requests of your queen?" Luxa glanced at him before back at her plate. "I knew your father and your brother. Both honorable men."

"I am not denying." The man took a step forwards then, towards the table. Again, he hesitated before choosing a seat far away from Luxa and her cousin across from her. "I thank you a thousand times over, your grace."

"Clint," Luxa said then, looking to the server standing in the corner. "Get my friend Caleb some food, yes? A nice plate, filled. We must keep our guards well fed, yes?"

"Yes, your grace," the servant said before scurrying off. Gregor just took his post by the door.

"Eat, Hazard," Luxa said after a moment, glancing at the boy's plate. "You have not eaten all day. You are not Nerissa; I should not have to coddle you."

"Yet you do constantly."

"Do not speak to me in such a way, Hazard." She gave him a look. "We have a guest."

"We always have guests," he grumbled.

She shared a smile then with Caleb, as if to say 'Oh children' before going back to her meal. Gregor was staring hard a her, still waiting for her to acknowledge him again. What kind of a game was she playing? And why?

"I am sure you have heard of my trip to the nibbler's land on the marrow," Luxa was saying then to the guard at her table. The man looked up and nodded, but Gregor only frowned. He had not heard anything about this.

"I am in need of another guard. The other two I am taking can be quite…boring," Luxa said with her signature eye roll. Gregor was sending daggers at her with his eyes, but she wouldn't look his way. Was she trying to make him jealous or something? What had spurred this on? "You have served me well for many years now."

"You are too kind."

"I am not kind at all. I only believe in giving praise when it is due. You fought for me during the last war and agreed to be my guard when I offered it to you. I am not good at praising others, you must understand, but I have watched you. I have heard only good things of you. There are always ranks to climb."

The young man grinned at her then while Hazard rolled his eyes at Gregor.

"Thank you, your grace."

She nodded slightly before reaching forwards to grab her cup of wine. "I expect you in the morning to meet me in the High Hall with your flier. Aegle was it?"

Bowing his head slightly, the man said, "It does me great pleasure that you should remember someone as lowly as I."

"You and your bond are remarkable at aerial stunts."

"Nowhere near on the level of you and your own."

"Very few are," Luxa told him with a shake of her head. "You must remember I have had my bond since I was quite young. Much practice has been put into our battle style."

"And for that reason, it is excellent."

"Do tell me, Caleb," Luxa began again before taking a longer sip of her wine. "That you will not be this way on the trip."

He faltered. "Your grace?"

"I have chosen you only for the humor you seem to posses. Right now, you do not seem to have that quality. Do not tell me that you subscribe to the idea of only telling me things I wish to hear to further your position in my eyes." She gesture to the corner then, where Gregor had taken up his position. "Do you think the head of my royal guard got there by always agreeing with me? My top generals? You must learn that if you wish to improve, you will have to be honest with me. The things you need the most are the things you want to hear the least."

"I-I understand, your grace."

She took another long sip of wine before standing. "I must leave now. Clint, clean up when our guest is finished, yes? And if he desires more, you will see to it, yes?"

"Of course, your grace."

"Come, Overlander," Luxa said then as she headed out of the room. "There is much to attend to in preparation for my trip tomorrow."

Nodding his head at the men in the room, Gregor then turned to follow his queen. She was walking a brisk stride, not even turning to see if he was trailing behind. She knew that he was; he always was.

"Overlander, your news."

"You grace?"

"Your news. You came in proclaiming you had news." Luxa didn't turn to look at him. "What would that news be? About my cousin I would hope."

"Yes," he said, nodding his head though she could not see. "She is in a coma."

"A coma."

"As she was when I took her to the medics. Howard is caring over her."

"A twist of fate or good luck do you presume?"

"He is a caring man in my eyes."

"A caring man," Luxa repeated slowly as they turned a corner. "And what do you think of Caleb?"

"A fine choice," he said after a moment. "For most anything. I have worked with him many times. Reliable."

"He, Sampson, and Brever will be accompanying me."

He paused. "And I, your grace?"

"And you what?"

"Surely you have arranged for me a flier?"

"Why would I do that?"

"Lu-" He stopped himself. "My queen, you do not leave the capital without me."

"You do not command me, Overlander, and you would best to learn the quickly."

He let out a soft sigh as a few people they passed in the hall turned to glance at them. "I did not mean it the way it came out. I only meant that you have not in many, many months, if not years."

"It will serve for others to get a chance to lead, Overlander."

"What is my duty in your absence?"

"You will do rounds like any normal guard. Following me around must get boring at times, no?"

"No."

Luxa came to a room then, which she went inside of, leaving him to wait outside the curtain. He stood as straight and tall as ever, staring blankly back out at the people passing him. He knew his place well at times like that.

"I have many stops today, Overlander," Luxa told him after they headed of to the next one. "If you do not wish to accompany me, you are welcome to make use of yourself somewhere else. There is no threat to me here in the palace, I am sure."

"I am not an expert, my queen, but have many rulers not died behind these very walls?" He knew better than to mention that the last ones, her parents, fell victim the same way.

"Yes," she said then, voice taut. "I suppose you are right. Still, you have spent much to the day caring for my cousin. And I have yet to thank you even for that."

"She did go into a coma on my watch."

"On your watch, perhaps, but it was you that was with her when she first had her seizure."

"She has not had those in so long that I was most concerned."

"Her health fails her time and time again," Luxa said softly. "I wish for you to watch over her in my absence."

"How long do you plan to be gone?"

"No more than a day and a half," she told him. Then, in a more hushed tone, she said, "We will discuss it later."

Nodding slightly, he looked around the halls, beginning to place where she was going. "Are you visiting Vikus, my queen?"

"Of course. I am leaving the capital; he should be the first to know."

Honestly Gregor felt like he should have been the first to know. Mainly because he felt like he should have been the first one she decided to take on the trip.

"He's not though."

"Vikus is not a lot of things, Overlander," she assured him. "They rarely bother him."

When they made it to the man's room, Gregor moved to wait outside, but Luxa nodded him in. It was only Vikus, after all.

"Ooh, Queen Luxa. And Gregor. What a treat."

The man was in his bed when they came in, apparently getting ready to settle for the night.

"I did not mean to miss dinner," the man went on as he struggled to sit up. "I did not think you would have wanted me there, Luxa. I am not well."

"It is quite alright, Vikus," she told him with a nod of her head. "You speak as if I will punish you like a child."

"The older I get, I feel our roles reverse more and more."

"Never," she told him before sighing. "It is not your absence that brings me here, Vikus."

"Oh?" He gave her a sad smile then, shaking her head. "Tell me that there is not more news of Nerissa? I have heard she has had quite the spell as of late."

"She is in the care of doctors currently," Luxa told him. "Howard, the Overlander said."

"The Overlander," Vikus laughed again. "Come, come, Gregor the Overlander. I hear that you are just returning from home. What tales do you bring?"

"Not many," Gregor told him before glancing at Luxa. "I believe the queen has many more than I."

Nodding at him in thanks, Luxa then spoke to her grandfather. "I am leaving for the jungle on the marrow, Vikus."

"For what purpose?"

"The nibblers have requested me."

"Trouble?"

She shook her head slightly. "Land disputes."

"Between the-"

"The gnawers, of course. Who else?" She snorted, shaking her head. "I wish to stop a problem before it arises."

"Have you spoken with your bond?"

"Aurora is ready at a moment's-"

"That is not the bond I speak of."

That got another snort. "If my bond wishes to speak to me, he would come to Regalia to do so, not bother my friends."

"Are we not friends with gnawers currently as well?"

"I will never be friends with those…creatures." Luxa shook her head at her grandfather. "I only come to tell you-"

"What of what the warrior thinks?" Vikus was eyeing Gregor once more. "Do you believe-"

"The warrior is dead. He has been for many years." Reaching over to him, Luxa grabbed of Gregor's hands, holding it up. Only the palm held the remnants of that day he broke Sandwiches' sword across his flesh. "He has the scars to prove it. He is nothing more than my guard now. He had no value or worth other than what I give him. I do not care what he thinks on the matter, nor do I care what you do."

"Then why, child, did you come to me in the first place?"

She glared at her grandfather then, her pity for the man fleeing faster by the second. Tossing Gregor's hand to the side then, she said, "I am not a child any longer, Vikus."

"You will always be my grandchild." He shifted on his bed, letting out a long breath. "Whether you wish to hear it or not, I would like to hear what the Overland thinks on the matter."

Gregor was kind of annoyed then to. Luxa was happy with him currently. Just because Vikus was now on her list didn't mean that he had to get drug down too!

"Tell him then, Overlander, what you think," Luxa ordered, crossing her arms. "Defy your queen."

"I think speaking with Ripred would be a good option," he said before quickly adding, "but not speaking to him would be just as well. You are thinking one step ahead. Either option could get you your desired results."

Luxa just stared at him for a moment before shaking her head. "If it were up to you though, Overlander, you would have me never leave the capital."

"Not unless necessary, no."

"You think I am weak?"

"I think the Underland is dangerous and always will be." His hand found it's way back over the hilt of his sword, a constant in his behavior. "I only wish to keep you safe."

"As do we both," Vikus said then, smiling. "It would be my dream for you to live to my age, Luxa. You as well, Gregor the Overlander. Only, I know my dreams are rare to come true."

"Then dream of my death, Vikus," Luxa told him simply before heading to the door. "Dream of it every night. Your own as well. Then perhaps we can put them off as long as possible."

"Perhaps."

"Come, Overlander." She walked out of the room, not turning to see if he followed. "Goodnight, Vikus."

"Fly you high, Luxa." Then, after a pause, he added, "And stay safe."

---

"I still do not understand why I must stay behind."

Luxa only shifted slightly, turning to face him. "Tell me, Overlander, of why you wish to go."

"It is my duty."

"You are nosey," she corrected, staring into his eyes as they lay side by side in her bed. "You do not like the idea of me going somewhere without you."

"I do not," he agreed. "I am your guard."

"I have many guards, Gregor."

"Many that you would lie in bed with for hours?"

"Many talk of the way I favor you," Luxa told him simply as she pulled the blanket closer to her, shaking her head. "It is not-"

"Everyone knows, Luxa. They just can't speak of it."

"If I favored someone else-"

"What? You'd make them think instead you were involved with that guard?"

"Envy does not suit you, my knight." She laid a hand in between them on the bed, staring at him. "Tell me of why you enjoy this?"

"Having sex with you?"

"No," she said with an eye roll. "Why you enjoy this world. The Underland. Is it only for me?"

"It's for many things," he told her as he scooted closer to her. "You, though, are the most important."

"Tell me the others," she requested softly as he ran a hand down her arm. "Overlander."

"You ask me this randomly, but my answers are always the same."

"Refresh my memory."

"It's freedom down here. More so than up there. Land of the free. Nothing compared to here."

"You are free only because you are my guard," she told him as he moved to kiss the top of her head. "If you were a lowborn, I'm sure it would be much of the same."

He was focused on her skin then, staring down at the almost translucent flesh. He had almost grown accustom to seeing veins, as he saw it so constantly. He hardly noticed how different Luxa was from him until he went above and saw what Overland people looked like.

"It would be easier for us to be together then. No one would doubt our love then."

"They do not doubt our love. They do not know it as love." She shut her eyes then, clearly tired. "They know it as a predicament. A quandary. They do not wish to have an Overland king. Halfland princes and princesses."

He just stared at her for awhile before asking, "Do you ever think of that?"

"Of what?"

"…Kids."

"Not particularly. It would only prove to be more trouble than it is worth," she told him with a sigh. "I do, though, fear for who will take over when I am gone. Vikus is getting older. He will soon be gone. As will Nerissa."

"Surely you know who would most likely get it."

"As do you," she said with a nod of her head."Barrett is one of our top generals. He is a favorite. I know this. He is well liked. I like him."

"He was one of your suitors."

"He is currently a suitor, or so many would assume," she told him with a sigh. "Do you like him?"

"For you? No. As a general, he is very cunning. Smart. But not ruthless."

"If he wishes to be king, he can be," she told him. "Not until I am gone though and not a moment sooner."

"Being king seems overrated," he told her with a shake of his head. "I hope you never take one."

"It would be awkward, would it not, having to explain to him why you must visit the chambers every few nights?"

That got a slight chuckle out of him. "He would wonder also why you did not wish to have sex with him."

"Who says I would not?"

"I do."

"Do you?"

"Yes, I do."

"You are my only, Overlander," she sighed as he kissed her head again.

"Why do you call me that so much?"

"You are the only Overlander. It is easy to identify you that way."

"For you, maybe. I don't particularly like it."

"I have called you it for years. What spurs these feelings currently? Or are you just trying to distract yourself from the fact I will be leaving you soon enough?"

He rolled onto his back then, pulling the covers up to hide his nakedness better. "And when I am injured."

"Mmmm. Your stitches should be taken out soon enough."

"Another scar to match my others."

Reaching out, she laid her hand previously on the bed on his chest, letting out a soft sigh. "My knight, you must not get too comfortable."

"It is hard. Your bed is much better than mine. Or at least feels that way."

"Could it be perhaps that I am in it?"

He patted the hand on his chest. Luxa just moved it up to lie over the scar from the Bane's claws. For a moment they were both still, remembrance washing over them.

"No matter the destination, Overlander, you can accompany me next time," Luxa promised then.

"Rest," he told her. "I will leave soon. You have a busy morning."

"And you do not," she told him. "What do you plan to do in my absence?"

"Not much."

"Visit the east wall?"

He glanced at her as she laid at his side. Early on in starting his career, Gregor had heard about the street close to the eastern gate. It was basically a red light district, full of prostitutes and the such. This shocked him at first, but then Gregor remembered that people are people; their acceptance and willingness to admit things might change over the years, but their actions do not. He could remember the few times he read the bible a prostitute or two popping up. If they were around back then, they were definitely around during Sandwiches' time.

"No," he told her with a shake of his head. He had been down those roads a few times, with other guards. Not that anything had ever taken place. It was to be noted how young he still was. Curiosity killed the cat and all that. "I fear no other Underland woman will have me."

"No?"

"I wouldn't think so."

She slipped her hand from underneath his, running it down his abdomen, stopping only at his hip. It was his eyes that she watched though. "Why do you believe that? You are a warrior. A royal guard. I am the queen."

"You always have been."

"If I have made a mistake with my lover, I would want to know."

Grinning, he said, "I don't…look like guys from down here. My hair, the way I talk, the way I act."

"Tell me, do the women look as I above the ground?"

"Not nearly as beautiful."

"And yet you have chosen me."

"That's different."

"And anyways, Overlander, I believe no matter the look you have, it is the price you pay there that matters most." She stroked the side of his hip then, still watching his face "And from what I hear, many would desire you."

"Where do you hear that?"

"I hear things. I do not only spend my time with men, you must understand."

"Mmmm."

"That is the difference between you and me, I suppose."

"Hmmm?"

She went slightly further in her stroking before rubbing her hand back up his chest, resting it in its customary place over the Bane's claw marks. "You allow me to be courted. If I ever found out… No, I would not allow such things."

"I don't allow you to be courted," he corrected. "I know that this isn't the Overland."

"Meaning?"

"We've discussed what dates are there."

"Many times."

"It is the same idea as courting."

"I understand that, yes."

"Well, on dates, you might…fool around some."

"Meaning?"

"You might do…this." He made a vague gesture to the two of them.

"Have intercourse?"

He cringed at the word, but it was the one Luxa used most. "Yes."

"Honestly?"

"Yes."

"Mmmm."

"But I know down here that the guy might give you gifts or spend time with you. That's all. I don't need to put a stop to that."

"You can't," she told him with a sigh. "What would you do to do so? I am the queen. You are just my guard."

"Your valueless guard."

"Oh, Overlander-"

"You're the one who called me that."

"I was only speaking. You know my feelings for you. Are you a woman?"

"No."

"Do you require affirmation?"

"No, I just-"

"Then cease your act."

He glanced at her. "And if I spoke ill of you to other guards?"

"Do you?"

"I do not."

"Ever?"

"Not in recent times. The two of us have gone through some rough times where I might have gotten a little pissed at you, blew off some steam."

That was true enough. There were times when he had gotten upset with her and said some things he should not have. It was hard for him those first few years, taking orders from Luxa. The first issue with that was their friendship had always been well known. Though they fought constantly, they had both an immense amount of respect for one another. The other problem stemmed from the fact that they had been more or less together at the time. Who wants to take orders from their girlfriend? Not to mention, to cover their relationship, Luxa was harder on Gregor in many aspects. His training mainly. She had always been complementary towards his swordsmanship, but suddenly it was like her body had become possessed with the spirit of Solovet or something. Annoying.

"I love your expressions," she sighed. "Blow off steam."

"It means like how a train blows off steam."

"A train?"

He just sighed, shaking his head. "Never mind."

Again they both laid still, paying more attention to one another's breathing than anything else. All around the palace was only stillness, as was the norm for those hours. Due to the peace, there were few guards around. One would only pass Luxa's chambers every hour or so. It would be easy for Gregor to sneak out. He did it enough.

"Lux?"

"Mmmm?"

"I know you need your rest, but there is something that has been bothering me."

"Speak your mind now, Overlander, else it will have to wait until my return."

"What of Nerissa?"

"What of her?"

"The things she told me."

She sighed softly. "You must understand, Gregor, that they have had her on many herbs recently."

"Herbs?"

"Drugs. To put her mind at rest, ease her pain. I believe deeply in my cousin's power, but sometimes…" She sighed. "Sometimes I believe it better to just let her run herself down, until she forgets what she sees. She is plagued. She always has been. I am queen now. I do not have time to run off on little adventures. Head to the Uncharted Lands. She would like that, I am sure."

"I feel bad for her."

"As do I, my love, but what of it?" She let out a soft yawn then. "The time is late and my cousin is safe. If something should take her in the night, then at least it will put her out of her misery."

Again, the fell into a silence. That time though it was broken up by Gregor shifted out from under her hand, much to the annoyance of the queen. He was pretty sure she was almost asleep at that point and he had disturbed her.

"I will let you rest. I will take my leave now."

She peeked an eye open, watching his nude form as he went to gather his clothing. "You will go to sleep, Overlander, and sleep for as long as you please. Then you will spend the day training until well after midday. In my absence, there is to be a meeting in the tactics room. You will be one of the guards in there."

He still wasn't too enthralled with the idea. After he had dressed, he walked around the bed to her side, standing there while looking down at her.

"I will allow you to go only on one circumstance."

She didn't even turn to face him, only cuddled into the spot he had previously held, no doubt liking the warmth he left. "And what is that, my knight?"

"That you come back to me. Promise me that."

"I promise."

"If you do not return in two days, I will go look with you."

That made her laugh slightly. "With what flier?"

"I will find one. If not, I will go on foot. Swim. Whatever it takes."

"Will you do this as the head of my royal guard or as my love?"

"Whichever pleases you most."

"Which please you most?"

"Going with you," he told her simply. Then, straightening his sword, he said, "I will leave you now, if that is all."

"I would kiss you goodbye, but I am too tired."

Smiling slightly, he moved to lean over the bed, pressing a kiss against the side of her head before whispering in her ear, "If you die, I will kill every single guard that went with you on that trip. They had better not return to Regalia."

"If I should die, Overlander, I think you had more important things to worry about."

"Such as?"

"Such as how fast you can get out of the Underland."

He gave her one last kiss before standing up straight again. "Until I see you again, my queen."

"Until then, my love."

They both grinned to themselves, knowing the other could not see their face. With one last look at his queen, Gregor turned to walk away, neither quite grasping just yet how the situation would change the next time they saw each other. But then, who knows severity before it stares them in the face?