The Banished

Chapter 12

He spent a good two days in the hospital. He was not the most willing patient, but then he never was. Nerissa sat with him most of the first day and some of the second. Hazard hung around frequently as well, though that was more because he did not want to study, Gregor figured. With him, however, Hazard brought the child Gregor had rescued.

Luxa, whenever she spoke of the child, referred to him as Alexander, but Hazard had seemed to take the approach of Nerissa and had taken to calling him Zander. The little boy didn't seem to know his name, as he no doubt had been given one previously, but he behaved well for a small child. He mostly just sat on the floor of Gregor's hospital room, playing with the few toys he had been allowed. He had still remained mute as far as anyone knew and Gregor was starting to wonder if perhaps they had misjudge his age and that was the only reasoning.

Still, the Overlander grew restless the more time he was forced to spend inactive. It was worse than being in the Overland, having to spend time in a hospital was. There was really nothing for him to do. And with so much going on, he felt useless and that only furthered his drive to resume his post as the head of the royal guard.

It was finally on that third day that they released them, though he was of course put on a strict bed rest. Yeah, like he was going to follow that rule. Not long after he was in his room, Gregor suited up for the guard before heading out. His chest wound was still the most worrisome and though he had some numb pain, it did nothing to null his desire to start working again.

"Gregor. I did not expect to see you up and walking around so soon," was the first thing out of Mareth's mouth when they passed one another in the hall. "I have meant to see you, but as you know, there is much work. Still, I was told you were injured extensively."

"I am a fast healer."

"Aye, if any of us are, it would be you," the older man agreed, coming to a stop then. "Where are you headed then?"

"I have come back into command during midday. I am unable to locate the queen."

"She is dining, I believe, with Ripred and her cousins." Then, softly, he added, "The child too."

Gregor nodded. "You have saved me a long walk to the war room. It is most appreciated."

"Come," Mareth said as the younger man turned the direction he was going. "I shall escort you. Perhaps hear of your adventure, yes?"

"I do not rather enjoy speaking of it," Gregor said slowly. "Have you heard nothing of it from the men that accompanied me?"

"Much. But they tell me that you were carted off on your own for some time. Barrett agrees that he found you alone, bound. Is there any interesting tale there?"

Gregor hesitated. "I have yet to even been able to tell the queen of this."

"Speak freely to I," Mareth told him. "Should you so wish. If not, well, then it is just as well. I can tell you the many things I did in your absence, should you so wish. However, I am sure it pales in comparison."

"I was intoxicated, I believe, for most of it," Gregor told him.

"They drained your stomach, yes," Mareth agreed. "When you arrived. You were drugged. Sedated by your captives, more than likely. Is there no more you remember then?"

Gregor shook his head slightly. "There was a, uh, woman. And a man. They spoke of a king as well."

"They are who we have been in contact with," Mareth assured him. "I only know some of what the queen does, though I can tell you the woman is no queen. Not in the Underland."

"Meaning?"

Mareth shrugged slightly. "The sect call themselves a new breed of Regalians. That they come from the Uncharted Lands with their own royal family who has more claim than Luxa herself."

"How can that be so?"

"They claim to be descendants of those long ago banished from Regalia. Their queen, she claims to be a direct line to Sandwich himself."

Gregor snorted. "Then they are not banished themselves? Their ancestors were?"

"Is what they say," Mareth agreed. "Should that be so, they think that they should not be banished. That they should be allowed back into Regalia."

"They make a valid point," Gregor said slowly. When Mareth turned to look at him, he quickly recovered. "I merely mean that they should not be punished for the mistakes of others. Should they not be those to have committed the crime, why should they suffer?"

Mareth shook his head. "It is the decision of Queen Luxa, ultimately. And we both know she will not take lightly to another taking claim to her throne."

"These people surely will not just leave, return back to the Uncharted Lands," Gregor reasoned.

"Surely not."

"Then what does Luxa plan to do?"

Again, all he got was a slight shrug. "I told you, Gregor, that I know little. Luxa has kept much of this under wraps. I am sure that you will be informed when you need to be, as well as I. If not sooner, I suppose."

Gregor rolled his eyes. "What came of the nibblers then?"

"Barrett and his men defeated the threat there. It seems that the sect of the supposed descendants attacked there second, in accordance to their allegiance to the gnawers. Their king knew that they could not openly attack the nibblers again, for that would mean sure war from Queen Luxa. Should they get others to do their dirty work-"

"And once again, Nerissa is proven right," Gregor said with a slow shake of his head. "She predicted the banished should come back."

"It was not a hard prediction to make," Mareth said with a slight shrug of his shoulders. "I believe them to have a hard life in the Uncharted Lands. There is no doubt in my mind that if the roles were reversed, I would want entrance into Regalia. Who would not? The true question is why they chose now to return. And can they be trusted. So far, the answer appears to be no. Should they continue to insist on having the queen's crown, I fear that we will soon head to war with them."

Gregor shook his head. "How many of them can there be?"

"That I do not know, warrior," Mareth said with a soft sigh. "Again, I am sure the queen will have more news for you than I do."

It was then that they made it to the dining hall, where Gregor immediately called out his presence to those in the room. Ripred laughed at the sight of him, all dressed up in his guard garb.

"So soon after she nearly gets you killed and you already return to grovel at her feet," he taunted. "And look at him! The cripple stands better than he."

This was true enough. Gregor's side was killing him at that moment and he was slouching slightly. Luxa stood immediately, as did Hazard. It was her though that went over to him, laying a hand on his arm. Gregor just looked at her full on.

"You are still weak," Luxa told him. "Howard said you were to-"

"I am not weak. I am fit to-"

"Gregor." She leveled her eyes with his. "I have other guards. I will only be in meetings after this. Go to bed. Hazard will walk you if you'd like."

"I wouldn't mind," Hazard assured him. "Come on."

Gregor shook his head slightly. "I do not need rest, Luxa, I need-"

"Fine." She took a step back from him then, though she just reached up to remove his helmet. He looked rather silly in it at the moment. "Take a seat. You shall have a real meal then, instead of that hospital food."

He took a moment to think before nodding and heading over to the table, taking a seat between Hazard and Zander. The toddler giggled, smiling up at Gregor then before going back to the food in front of him. Luxa still stood by Mareth, speaking with him for a moment.

"What business did you have, Mareth?" she asked him, keeping Gregor's helmet in her hands. "There are no new developments, are there?"

"No, your grace. I only offered to escort Gregor here."

"You should have taken him back where he belongs," she said with a shake of her head as she turned to reclaim her place at the table, setting his helmet in front of her. "Do you hunger, Mareth? You are here anyways. You might as well eat."

Mareth took a look around before shaking his head. "I was on my way to speak with Perdita."

"Then you may go. Thank you for escorting him."

"Of course."

Luxa nodded at one of her servants then as she sat down once more. "Bring the Overlander a plate. And Ripred, shall you be requiring more shrimp?"

"I believe not," the rat said, smacking his lips. "Even I eventually get my fill."

"Mmmm." Luxa looked at Nerissa then, who was smiling at Gregor. "Tell me, cousin, of why you are so happy."

"We are all in reasonably good health, cousin," Nerissa told her simply, still smiling at Gregor. "Why should I not be joyful? Whatever happens tomorrow, we all got to be together today. That in itself is-"

"I think I liked you better an invalid," Ripred told her then disdainfully. Luxa sent him a look down the table.

"Keep your opinions to yourself, rat," she told him simply while Gregor slouched in his chair. His head really was giving him problems. "Should you be done, I would wish you to leave."

"And miss speaking with the Overlander? The whole reason I have shown up?"

Luxa made a noise at that, causing the toddler at the table to look up and giggle.

"The Overlander is weak," Luxa told the gnawer then. "There is little you can say to him now. He must-"

"Tell me of your capture, Gregor," Ripred said, keeping his eyes on the young man. Luxa only narrowed her eyes at the rat before taking a long sip from the cup before her. "Should you wish to?"

He glanced around the table, focusing for a moment on the toddler before shaking his head. "There is little to tell. I was drugged, they tell me. They wound gauze over my eyes, as I had a gash to one. I could only hear voices."

"What voices did you hear?"

"A woman," Gregor said slowly, glancing at Luxa. "I believe the one that claims your crown."

She held her head high. "She was the one in charge of your capture, I am told."

"She mentioned a husband."

"King Vlad," Ripred corrected. "It is what they call him, I believe."

"There is no 'king' of any humans in the Underland," Luxa told him harshly.

"It is what they call him. You think they consider you queen?"

"They had better learn to. Least I have to remind them."

Zander made a loud noise then, causing everyone to look at him. He was only trying to reach for his cup, which was too far away. Gregor sighed, reaching out to hand it to the boy, who giggled in response.

"How did you two geniuses come into possession of a small child again?" Ripred asked, frowning at the slurping noises the child made.

"Gregor found him and has taken to caring for him," Luxa said with a shrug. "I care not for his wellbeing and have nothing to do with it."

"Is that the answer you wish me to give should anyone ask?" Ripred asked, grinning at her for some reason then. Luxa ignored him though as Hazard looked to her.

"I am to meet with a tutor soon," he told her simply as he stood. "Shall I take Zander back to the nursery?"

Luxa stared at her cup for a moment before shaking her head. "No. Hurry then, to meet your teacher. I shall not be joining you for dinner. I have much to attend to. Should I not see you again, then sleep well, Hazard."

He nodded at her before hurrying from the room. Gregor followed him with his eyes, startling slightly when a plate of food was sat in front of him. The servant put a glass of something as well. Gregor was hoping ale, but found it to only be water. He was pretty sure he wasn't supposed to drink with the medications the doctors had given him anyways.

Zander made a noise, reaching over to grab a hunk of bread from Gregor's plate. He just smiled down at the boy who giggled in response.

"You should not let him do such things, Overlander," Luxa said with a sigh from the head of the table. "He overstuffs himself, should you allow."

"He must be cleaned after the meal," Nerissa said, watching the boy who was splattered with juices from meat and sauces. Luxa only made a soft noise, still seeming distracted.

"How long till you can come with me then, Gregor?" Ripred asked then.

"Come with you?" Luxa repeated, but he seemed to not even be thinking of her.

"I am fit now," Gregor said simply. "But my job is to stay with Luxa."

"You are not fit," Luxa told him, frowning slightly.

"Luxa has other guards, surely," Ripred said. "She says that she does enough times a day to make you want to bash your own head in."

Gregor only stared at him. "I am head of the-"

"What use would Gregor be to you, Ripred?" Nerissa asked, seemingly interested. "What is it that you intend to do?"

"The gnawers ain't too happy with those other humans right now," Ripred said, not looking at the woman as he kept his eyes on the dead warrior. "Should something breakout, it'd be nice to have help down there."

Gregor only shook his pounding head. "I have duties here."

"The queen just told you that she does not even wish for you to take command so early. What difference then is it if she has you locked up in your room instead of coming with me to the Dead Lands to fight? Surely your ways have not changed. We both know you would much rather be there than here."

"It is not a matter of where he would rather be," Luxa told Ripred as she lifted her cup once. "The fact alone is that he is too weak to be of any use to you. Not to mention, his loyalty is to Regalia."

"I am not asking him to-"

"Only," Luxa interrupted. "Not the gnawers or those humans or you. His loyalty is to the crown."

"Currently, there are multiple crowns floating around on heads of humans," Ripred told her harshly. "Should you not think it best to take a few of those out, your oh so highness? You have to learn to think bigger picture!"

She still just stared at him. "Gregor shall not-"

"Gregor will come with-"

"He shall not-"

"He wants-"

"He doesn't-"

"Gregor shall do as he pleases," Nerissa intervened. "Should he wish to go along with you, Ripred, he shall. Should he wish to stay here, Luxa, he shall. The two of you do not decide his fate any more than you did when he was the warrior."

The table was silent for a moment, save the sound of Zander licking his plate. Finally, after an extended drink, Luxa spoke.

"You are no doubt feeling weak yourself, cousin. Perhaps-"

"I am no more tired than I was before I disagreed with you," Nerissa told her, though that wasn't really saying a lot. Gregor looked down at his plate, shaking his head.

"There is much here for me to attend to, Ripred," he said finally. "I should not leave when there is such turmoil outside the gates. Should the status change in the coming days, I will gladly join you in the Dead Lands. For now, however, I am most needed here. I have no doubt that you can hold your own in the Dead Lands, yes?"

Ripred stared hard at him for a long moment. "I do not know why, but it seems every time I speak with you, the warrior seems more and more a distant thought."

"Be gone then," Luxa told him. "Should you not wish-"

"Watch it," Ripred told her. "I was kind enough to save your little boyfriend here. Or have you forgotten already?"

Still, she just watched him. "Gregor speaks of turmoil. There is much of it. Should you not attend to it? Attempt to claim your place as king? Should be a worthy battle for any other claimed king, yes? Less it be a queen and then, well, even you probably could not-"

"Should I have wished to speak directly with you, Luxa, I would have addressed you," Ripred said as he made his way away from the table. "Then we shall be in touch, Overlander?"

Gregor nodded slightly, glancing up at the gnawer. "Should anything develop, I will gladly follow you into the Dead Lands. As it stands currently though, there is no need for me to."

"That is your purgative, I suppose," the gnawer said then, shaking his head. "You will miss a great deal of battle though, Gregor."

"I am certain that my fair share of the battles will find themselves in front of me," he responded. "I bid you a safe journey home, Ripred."

Silence befell the table again after he left, for some time. The only one that spoke was Luxa, and that was only to ask one of her servants for a different type of wine. Gregor was hardly paying her any mind though, as his head was swirling rather quickly, his drugged mind too murky to think clearly.

"I would not have wasted a plate on you, Gregor, had I realized you would not eat."

He merely shook his head when Luxa spoke to him. "It is my head. I-"

"Then perhaps you should go rest, yes?"

He frowned at her. "I do not tire."

"I do not know what else you expect to do," she told him dryly as Zander jumped down from his chair, finished eating apparently. "I will not allow you back on guard duty."

He bit his tongue then. "You have no guards with you now."

"I do not need them."

"There is a threat to your crown, Luxa," he argued, not believing that she was acting that way. "You need-"

"Your mind is boggled," she said simply. "Else you have gone mad. Commanding me. Your queen?"

He shut his eyes. "What if something happens and you have no one there?"

"I challenge them then, Gregor," she said then, raising her voice slightly. The wine was no doubt nullifying her senses as well. "Have them all come. This supposed queen. Her king. Her whole guard. Her entire kingdom. Should they wish to fight me, I have not left my position in a number of days, if not weeks. I am here. I am always here. They are cowards, to capture my men and then try to bargain with me! I fear not cowards, Overlander. You will do best to put that to memory."

She stood then, leaving behind her own untouched plate and Gregor's black helmet. When she turned to leave though, Zander ran after her, giggling loudly for some reason. At the sound, Luxa looked down at him before Gregor and Nerissa.

"He is not my responsibility," she told them simply as she put a hand to the child's head, gently pushing him away from her. "And he shall never become it."

Gregor stood then, causing the boy to in turn run to him. "And who would want it to be, then?"

She only shook her head at him, leaving the room without the last word for once. Groaning, Gregor leaned down to lift the boy into his arms before reclaiming his helmet and replacing it on his skull.

"Overlander-"

"It is fine, Nerissa," he told her as to qualm her worries. "He is quite light, actually. I shall have him bathed and then go from there, yes?"

She nodded slightly and with that he departed, taking the toddler with him.

"Greetings, Gregor," Vikus called out as the man waked into his room, Zander toddling along behind him. "And you brought Alexander with you."

Gregor frowned. "You have met?"

"Luxa had me watch him the other day," Vikus said as the boy ran to his side, giggling. "He is very energetic, as of late."

"I think he's just getting more comfortable with me," Gregor said, taking the other chair in the room with a soft sigh. His body had long given out on the day and Gregor sunk down in his seat. "With his new situation."

"Luxa has warned me not to get too attached," Vikus said as the child ran around the room, no doubt bored. "She says that he will soon be gone."

"Where does she think he is going?" Gregor asked.

"She believes you are to find him a family."

Gregor watched the little boy for a moment before shaking his head. "There is much chaos currently. I do not have time for such a thing."

"Yes, I was told of your capture. It is much relief off me to see you return to us alive and well." Vikus smiled. "You are well, yes?"

"I am healing," Gregor said slowly. "Luxa sees me unfit for duty."

"Luxa feared losing you, Gregor. She does not want you put in another similar situation anytime soon."

Gregor only shook his head. "Did you look into the prophecies for me?"

"I have," Vikus assured him. "I have poured over many and asked questions of others, but they know of no such thing that this situation could bring us to. Not every war is a prophecy, Gregor."

"I know," he sighed. "The last few battles haven't been. It's just this seems pretty big."

"Luxa believes she shall quickly squelch the opposition," Vikus said. "She held conference with me a few days ago."

"Things change quickly here," Gregor told him with a sigh.

"I believe it was I that taught you that," Vikus reminded him. Gregor just smiled slightly before glancing over at Zander…only to find that he had climbed up onto the man's bed.

"Zander, get down," Gregor ordered, groaning as he moved to stand up. "You shouldn't-"

"He is quite alright, Gregor," the older man assured him as the boy let out a yawn and laid down on the bed. "He is quite young. A nice nap probably interests him greatly."

"It's been…different, getting used to him," Gregor said slowly. "There has been much going on though."

"Things will even out," Vikus assured him. "First though, you must heal. Rest. Should Luxa give you time off, take it. You need it. You deserve it. You must be at your best, should these people cause more trouble than we think."

"Ripred was here," Gregor told him then.

"I have met with him," the man assured him. "He wishes to go back to the Dead Lands. Fight. I cannot blame him. It is his home. His band of gnawers will rally around him, should he need them."

"He wanted me to go with him."

"You are not well," Vikus told him simply. "You have just returned from battle."

"When war comes, it will be battle after battle."

"When war comes," Vikus agreed. "And yet, so far, it has not. When you start to treat your whole life like war, you will slowly come to find that it is not the battles that seek you out, but rather you seeking out the battles."

Zander let out a whine then, causing Gregor to find his feet and stand. Vikus only smiled at him.

"I shall see you again soon, Vikus," the young man said as he went to gather up the child from the bed.

"I should hope so, Gregor," the older man sighed. "I sure hope so."

"Where did he get those?"

Gregor didn't move from his lounging position on the couch. "I found them in the museum. They're cars."

"Cars?"

"Toy cars. They're what you use to get around in the Overland."

"Like carts?"

"Somewhat," Gregor sighed as Luxa came further into the room, her tone quite softer than it was during their meal. "It is late. Meetings run you long?"

"There is much to attend to in preparation."

"Preparations?" He pushed himself into a sitting position, turning his head to stare at her. "For what?"

Luxa only went over to where Zander was seated on the floor, pushing around the toy cars. "You should not have given him these, Gregor. They reek of the Overland."

"I reek of the Overland. Who cares?" He just watched as she stared down at the child. "Luxa?"

"Those humans are causing much well deserved destruction in the Dead Lands."

"Good."

"I find it that way as well," Luxa agreed, finally meeting his eyes. "However, they will only take their aggressions out on the gnawers for so long."

"Surely the gnawers will kill them all out, yeah?"

Luxa shrugged. "I do not know. The gnawers are in many sects themselves now, Overlander, as always when a king loses his light. There is much confusion."

"I should have gone with Ripred."

She didn't respond to that. "I fear for when they decide to march on our lands."

"And we will gladly end all of those who oppose your rule's lives," Gregor assured her. "I am certain of that much."

"There is much to factor in, my knight."

"Was it not you that told me not hours before that if they were not so cowardly, they would attack you personally? Meet you at your gates? And yet they have not. They fear us, Luxa. They fear you. We shall use that to our advantage."

She only shook her head. "It is late, Overlander. The child should be sent to bed."

Gregor looked down at the little boy who seemed to be enjoying himself. "Does he still have to sleep with me?"

She only sighed. "He was staying in a room near Hazard's. Across the hall. Leave him there and then return to me."

Standing, Gregor went to snatch the boy up. Zander only giggled, leaving his toys behind as he turned to face Gregor in his arms. Luxa went out of the room as well, though it was to her bedroom instead of the little boy's. Gregor just bounced the boy in his arms, heading down the hall in the opposite way.

It took a little while to get the boy down. Zander was very afraid of the dark and needed a torch left in the room. Not to mention he didn't seem to want to be left alone. He could play fine alone, but he always needed someone in the room with him. Gregor stayed with him for awhile, trying to wait him out. When he finally started to drift off, Gregor left the room, heading then to the queen's.

"Lay down my knight," was the order that left Luxa's mouth as Gregor came into the room. She was already in bed, having been awaiting him. "And let us be alone for some time."

He was slow to follow her command, stripping himself of his belt first. Then, slowly, he went over to his side of the bed before lying down.

"Allow me to see your wounds."

Gregor pulled his shirt over his head slowly, his bruised ribs still giving him problems. Luxa only laid on her side, staring at him in the darkness.

"Who will change your bandage for you?"

"I was hoping my girlfriend," he told her as he laid down, letting out a slow breath. Luxa merely laid a gentle hand on his chest. "Lux."

"I have had Helix send word to those other humans," Luxa said then. "Tell them that if they so wish to speak with me, they shall. We will meet. Alone. Should I hear out their case, something could be arranged. They could live here, possibly, should none of them be the true banished. Should they wish to fight me for my crown, however, their deaths will mean nothing to me. I will even orchestrate them."

"I shall be at your side when you meet with them."

"Overlander-"

"Your promised that I could go with you on your next trip."

"It will hardly be a trip. Somewhere outside the walls of Regalia. A meeting tent, perhaps, but not-"

"I shall go."

She just let out a soft sigh, stroking over his bandage then. For a moment, she was at peace. Then she asked, "How well are you, Overlander?"

"Well enough."

Kissing his side then, she asked, "Did you think of me when you were away?"

"Every second."

"Surely you did not believe I would leave you there."

"You were quite mad when I left," he pointed out.

"Sit up," she told him then, moving to do so as well. Once he was leaning back against the wall behind then, Luxa moved to sit in his lap, facing him. Gregor grimaced for a moment causing her to hesitate.

"If you are not well-"

"Well or not well, I deserve this," he told her simply. "You sent me into a trap while sending Barrett into an easy victory."

"I cannot play favorites constantly," she joked weakly, pressing a hand into his chest before dragging it up to his shoulder. "Look what he has done to your face."

"I cannot. Does it look that bad?"

"It is not attractive," she told him simply. "Though that has not changed much."

He grinned at her. "I'm not?"

Luxa just reached up with her other hand then, cupping his cheek. "He claimed you were mad. That you insisted on finding your soldiers. He had no choice, he told me."

"He did not, I am sure."

"He considers you competition," she told him with a slight shrug. He just leaned into her palm, closing his eyes. "I cannot help it."

"And should you have never met me? Or had I died when we were young, would you consider him?"

"Perhaps," she said slowly, the honesty not bothering Gregor. "But you didn't die. I do know you. And that shall not change. He is attractive though."

"And I am not."

"Not in the slightest."

"That is unfortunate then," he told her as he shoved up her shirt slightly, pressing his hands against the cool flesh of her stomach. "That you are so beautiful and you choose to waste it on me."

"I believe deeply in charity."

He kissed her neck. "Would you have loved me, had you rescued me after?"

"After what?"

"After they cut me up."

"What do you think they would have cut first?"

"Maybe a finger."

"I could love you with nine fingers."

"Maybe a hand."

"I could love you with one hand."

"Maybe a ear."

"I could love you with only a single ear."

He shifted his hands then, the cold of his fingers causing her to shift up onto her knees over him. "Maybe somewhere more personal."

Luxa simply moved her hands to his neck, loosely wrapping them around it. "And do without this?"

"Is this the only reason you love me then?"

She kissed him, rather deeply. When she pulled back, she whispered, "It would save us a lot off trouble, should we lose this. We would never get caught, never worry about such a thing."

"There are many other things to keep us busy here," he told her as he nuzzled her neck. "Should I have come back without a part of myself."

"Are there?"

"I assure you there are. In fact, we have partaken in a few in the past."

She grinned down at him then. "You have come home a hero. My war hero."

"I failed."

"You came back to me. That in itself is success." She stroked the back of his neck while staring into his eyes. "Tell me then of what you want, hero? It is your gift."

"Only you," he assured her as she leaned back down to kiss him. "Only you."