A Medieval Fantasy Part 7

Chapter 7 (Ben10987654321) Hippolyta paced back and forth in her quarters. Diana had always been stubborn. Strong willed. Full of independent thought and spirit. They had had many a disagreement over the years but her daughter had never wilfully disobeyed her before. Hippolyta stopped her pacing. Had Diana disobeyed her? Hippolyta thought back. Had she explicitly instructed her daughter that she could not be the one to undertake the task Penelope had said needed to be done? No she had not. Hippolyta cursed herself under her breath. When Diana had revealed herself to be the masked warrior who had passed the tests Hippolyta had raged. She had come up with excuses for Diana not to leave immediately until she could think of a way to excuse Diana of the burden she should not be carrying. Her daughter was a princess and the time had come for her to choose a suitable suitor to be joined to as husband and wife. Except Diana had made it abundantly clear on several occasions that she would be cajoled, threatened or otherwise pressured into such a joining. Considering the quality, or lack of, of potential suitors as of late Hippolyta had sympathised yet Diana had to be joined. Immortal Elves they may be but every queen, every ruler's era passes and one day so would Hippolyta's. On that day Diana would need a husband and an heir of her own to carry on the dynasty. Hippolyta walked to the large chair she had sat in many times. When Diana was but a child she had sat in that chair and sang songs to aid Diana into sleep. Hippolyta sat down and suddenly felt most weary. She had grave concerns for her daughter's wellbeing. There was much darkness ahead in the near future for them all to face and being away from the safety of their home left Diana more exposed than Hippolyta was comfortable with. So lost in this thought was Hippolyta she barely noticed when Phillipus entered. "My Queen," Phillipus spoke announcing her presence. Hippolyta turned her focus to Phillipus. "Yes." "I have made sure Lord Tresstom left safely," she informed her queen. "Good. Good. Thank you," Hippolyta replied in gratitude. That was at least one less thing she needed to concern herself with at this time. Tresstom had thrown a tantrum when he was told Diana was not here. He had pointed out that he had travelled a great distance to be here and Diana absence was an insult to Doma and that he would be sure to spread it far and wide how the elves had insulted his honour and that he would find some way to regain his dignity. Hippolyta fought the urge to slap the annoying little whelp. Her daughter's wellbeing and whereabouts being far more important and uttermost in her mind by then. Phillipus could see the worry etched in her queen, in her friend`s face. "Do not fear Majesty. Diana is a skilled warrior. She will return shortly," Phillipus spoke in an attempt to reassure Hippolyta. Hippolyta gazed upward to the ceiling. "I pray that the Gods share your assertion." Silently Phillipus prayed as well. ---------------------------------------------------------- Kal-El watched on nervously. Caring for the Dark Knight had meant they had not been able to continue their journey as swiftly as they had liked. He had not regained consciousness in some time but he was still alive. However his injuries meant that even placing him on Diana's steed they still had to stop frequently and assess him. Kal-El shared a warrior's bond with him as they had fought side by side yet he knew practically nothing about the man himself. The Dark Knight was not one who shared those kind of personal details. They were once more stopped for another evening and Kal-El had taken the first watch standing guard. His heightened senses could hear the others' breathing as they slept. Apart from that there was no sign that they were being followed or under immediate risk of attack yet he was nervous. Something about this place had him on edge or maybe it was the interest Diana had shown in the Dark Knight that was bothering him. She had seemed oddly fascinated with him since they found him. "It is unusually quiet." Kal-El turned his head. Diana had appeared next to him almost like magic. He had not heard her approach yet her voice immediately calmed him from his initial reaction to strike at the one who had surprised him. "It is," he confirmed. "How is our wounded knight?" Diana gazed over at the still sleeping warrior. He had slept non-stop since his finding and showed no sign of awakening although his injuries had begun to heal. "I believe he will live. How much he will recover is still an unknown quantity. His wounds were deep. There may be permanent damage. I have done all I can. It is up to him now." Kal-El took this moment when her alert gaze was drawn away to stare at her profile lit by the light of the fire. It was a vision that could take many a man's breath away. It had already began to make an impact he felt in his heart. Diana turned her head back to Kal-El who's eyes immediately snapped away. He had been staring at her she realised and she was not in the least upset. The Dark Knight had been taking much of her attention due to this feeling he would be important for the task ahead in finding the Cup of Ages. At least she thought that was it. Also at their first encounter when he had spoken the one time he had commanded, not pleaded nor requested, but commanded that they leave him. What was it he had faced that would illicit him to do such a thing? She could not believe it was simply a reaction to the threat of the War Lords. Somewhere deep down she had a feeling it was more than that. However these were questions that could only be answered once he had woken. Their other two companions were also asleep. O'Brien still complained endlessly about the distance they had to walk but her homeland was both distant and hard to reach. James too complained although less frequency and his presence seemed to lighten Kal-El's mood. Kal-El had spoken of what James was to him and Diana respected their bond. Kal-El himself still intrigued her. There were things, she was certain, that he withheld during the times they spoke. Times like these when they were the only 2 awake. It surprised her how little rest he seemed to require. It was simply another facet of him she had mentally stored away and added to the puzzle that was Kal-El. There was so much she wished to tell them about why she must retrieve them but it is better if this is left to Penelope. Penelope was gifted with true sight and had foreseen the fall of the Knights of Kandor and events darker yet still to unfold. "You are quiet," Kal-El observed. "I am merely lost in thought." "We are nearing your home aren't we?" "Yes. How did you know that?" she queried. She had purposely not mentioned that. "That is why it is so quiet." Kal-El had suddenly remembered a story about how Themyscira, homeland of the Elves, was protected by magics. It being so quiet was unsettling and he realised that was the point. It was suppose to discourage anyone from continuing on. He also figured that the closer they got the more unsettled he would feel. Diana mentally stored this moment as well. Another piece of the puzzle. "We Elves like our privacy." "So I have heard but you do interact occasionally with other kingdoms." Diana did not make a face but she wanted to. Lately all interaction with other kingdoms was to do with finding her a husband. An idea she found appalling. If the Gods decreed she was to find a suitable male then she would meet one. One should not be forced upon her. One plus side of sneaking off was that she wouldn't have to meet that Lord Tresstom of Doma her mother had arranged to come and `woo` her. She couldn't stop the smile that came to her face at that thought. Kal-El was not sure Diana had smiled once since they first met her and now he hoped she would never stop. He had never seen such a brilliant smile that enhanced the already beautiful face of their she-elf companion. He thinks back to the Lady Lois and is certain she never smiled a smile such as this. It was then he noticed lying at Diana's feet was his dog Krypto who had long ago decided he much preferred her company to his own master's. Of course Diana possessed the gift to be able to speak to Krypto which only reinforced his dog's affection for Diana. "He is very fond of you." Kal-El looked up at her. "Sorry?" "Krypto. He is very fond of you." Kal-El commented dryly, "Of course he is. It is most obvious by the way he spends all his time with you." Diana giggled and it had been some time since she had giggled but the look on Kal-El's face was simply too amusing to stop herself. Normally she would never be so expressive. If the others had been awake she would not have even come over to talk to Kal-El but when it was just the two of them she felt she could open herself up a bit. Kal-El had this air around him that he was someone she could trust. Kal-El smiled. The sound Diana made was lovely. He wondered if all Elves were as lovely as her or if she was exceptional. Diana found Kal-El gazing at her once more and their eyes meet. They end up staring at one another seeing what they can see in each other's eyes. Kal-El had the most fascinating eyes Diana had ever seen. They were so unique in their shade of blue and sometimes she swore the shade would change occasionally depending on his mood. Kal-El studied Diana's eyes. The eyes of an elf able to see beyond what he himself could see yet there was also wisdom and kindness there which belied her status as a warrior. They were also beautiful and it would be all to easy to become lost in them. Fortunately or perhaps unfortunately before Kal-El can become lost in them both his and Diana's attention is caught by a groan. The Dark Knight awakens. Maybe now they will get answers as to how he came to be at that place they found him and what had inflicted the injuries upon him and then left him for dead.