I heard the loud neigh and sat up immediately. The disorientation took me by surprise as I watched Roan prepare his horse. He was dressed completely, and when he saw me sit up, he said, "I thought I'd let you sleep in for a little while longer, seeing as how completely exhausted you were,"
I ran my hands on my face and sat up grunting. I murmured, "How generous of you,"
"But since you're awake now," he walked up to me slowly and waited until I slipped into my thick clothes. When I was done, I glanced up at him and he revealed a rope.
I sighed, "Is that necessary,"
"You're a criminal, Xavier," he said, "According to Lexa, at least,"
"I saved your life," I reminded him, "And this is how you repay me,"
"This is politics," he said immediately, "And you brought this upon yourself when you got involved."
I clenched my jaw. After a momentary hesitation, I raised my wrists so he could tie me up. He tied the rope around my wrists and said, "Get on the horse."
I raised my tied wrists to my face and shrugged, "I'm a little tied up at the moment,"
Roan let out a frustrated sigh and pulled me towards the horse.
"Get on," he said firmly.
"Hate to break it to you, Roan," I said mockingly, "But that's going to be impossible for me to-,"
Before I could finish my mockery, he grabbed me by my waist and lifted me up onto the horse. I gasped and then stared down at him, stunned.
"Not a problem anymore, is it," he said annoyed and then mounted onto the horse in front of him.
"Are you seriously going to hand me over to Lexa," I asked him once we got out of the cave, "After all I've done for you."
"I'm a warrior, Xavier," he said without glancing back at me, "I have a mission. And my mission is to make sure Azgeda doesn't come for Lexa. And the only thing that's capable of doing that is you."
I exhaled sharply and muttered softly, "I should have just let them shoot you dead."
Roan chuckled softly, amused, "Yes, you should have."
---
The snow had begun to melt away as we walked further south towards Polis. The pathway began to look less familiar each passing hour, and the silence that had drowned the both of us began to feel unbearable.
I was still weak from the whole fiasco that went on for the past couple of days.
I had only closed my eyes for a second, and I felt the drowsiness take over. When I did open my eyes, I realized I was resting my head on Roan's back. Startled, I sat up straight.
"Had a lovely nap," he asked amused.
I growled softly, glaring at him, and looked around. The whiteness had completely melted away, and everything looked green once again. I haven't seen this much green since I walked away from Clarke that night.
"We're almost there," he said.
"I know you're a warrior and all," I said weakly, "But can we please stop for a while? I'm hungry, I'm thirsty, and honestly I don't know how you can sit on this horse for so long without hurting yourself."
I heard Roan take in a deep breath. After a long silence, he slowed down and said, "We'll rest for a while. Then, I'm taking you to Polis," he glanced over his shoulder at me, "And if you try to run,"
"Yeah," I rolled my eyes, "Because you'll let that happen. I'm stubborn, Roan. Not stupid,"
"Good," he said as he came to a complete halt and dismounted from the horse, "At least you're smart."
I stared down at him while he waited for me to get off the horse.
After staring at me momentarily in silence, he turned around in his heels, "Don't expect me to carry you off the horse,"
I exhaled sharply, annoyed at his arrogance, "Not betting on that either,"
I glanced at my bound wrists and sighed helplessly. I took in a deep breath and jumped off the horse. But because I had been sitting for too long, my legs were weak, causing me to fall flat on my face. Suddenly, I felt Roan's hand grip my firmly and pull me on my feet.
I saw the look on his face. He looked amused, but he did not smile. I yanked my arm from his grip and took a step back, annoyed.
"Calm down," he said calmly and took a step towards me. He took off the thick coat he was wearing and tore off the sleeve.
"What are you doing," I asked.
"You're bleeding," he said.
I didn't realize it up until he said it. Suddenly, I felt blood trickle down the side of my face. I flinched when he pressed his torn sleeve against the side of my head.
I watched him as he patiently wiped the blood from my face, without meeting my gaze. I felt a sense of comfort in his touch, all of a sudden. And a very familiar feeling began to stir up.
No...
He stopped all of a sudden, and finally he met my gaze. His bright blue eyes penetrated through mine, and all I could see was my reflection in it.
"You don't have to do this," I said softly.
"On the contrary," he responded in a similar tone, "This is what will grant me my freedom."
What?
Suddenly, we heard a rustle through the woods. Immediately, Roan dropped the cloth from his hand and turned around, pulling out his sword into his firm grip.
"Drop the sword," a Grounder who looked a little too familiar said as he stood in front of us aiming a bow and arrow at us. I gasped when I recognized who it was.
"Lincoln," I said softly. I hadn't seen him for such a long time. Not since he ran off with Octavia the night the drop-ship got attacked.
Roan grunted and sheathed his sword. He glanced over his shoulder at me and muttered, "You just wanted to slow down, didn't you?"
---
Polis looked like a city. With a tall skyscraper standing in the middle of it, with little huts and carts surrounding it. It was busier than normal Grounder villages I had witnessed.
But I was more focused on Lincoln, as he led Roan and I through the busy streets of Polis towards the tall skyscraper. My hands were still tied together with the rope, which bothered me because Lincoln...
He knew me. Why was he treating me like a criminal as well?
Once we entered the tall building, we were taken straight to the throne room. The gates opened, revealing Lexa on her throne. I clenched my jaw the moment I saw her.
Her reaction was the same.
We glared at each other, but I doubt she felt the same rage I was feeling in the moment.
I grunted when Lincoln forced me to kneel in front of her.
"Thank you, Lincoln," Lexa spoke and glanced at him. He gave her a gentle bow, gave me a quick glance, and walked out of the room, closing the gate behind him.
"Xavier," Lexa called out to me. I moved my gaze from the gate towards Lexa. "It is finally a pleasure to have you in Polis."
"Why," I snapped, "So you can throw me into one of your cells and avoid a war with Azgeda? Do you honestly think locking me up would stop Queen Nia from declaring war against you and your people?"
"I don't doubt that one bit," she said and then glanced at Roan, "Thank you for your service, Roan. You have been a kind friend."
Roan stood beside me, silently. I glanced at him and saw him as annoyed as I was.
"What about our deal," he asked calmly.
"I will hold to my end of the bargain if you hold to yours," she responded.
Roan clenched his jaw and softly growled, "I delivered Xavier to you."
"Yet you have not prevented a war," she said.
I watched as Roan glared at Lexa displeased, and Lexa stared back with authority.
I couldn't help but laugh, and both of them glanced at me when I scoffed.
"Does something amuse you, Xavier," Lexa asked.
"It does, actually," I smirked, and then glanced at Roan, "You made a deal with Lexa. Should I remind you how stupid that was of you?"
Roan furrowed his brows in confusion.
"She never holds to her end of the bargain," I told him, "She does what pleases her. You're a fool for believing that she would somehow deliver you your freedom."
"That's enough," Lexa said as she stood up. Roan turned his gaze towards her and we watched as she slowly approached us. "You will not poison his mind like you did to so many of my people," she said to me.
"The only person poisonous here is you, Lexa," I said as I stood up on my feet, challengingly. "There is no way you can stop this war from happening, not if I can help it."
"Don't tempt me, Skaikru," she clenched her jaw as she stopped inches away from me.
"What are you going to do, Lexa," I glared at her, "Kill me?"
After a momentary silence, she said, "Roan,"
What about Roan? I thought while I refused to move my gaze.
When Roan didn't respond, Lexa glanced at him and snapped, "Roan,"
I glanced at Roan when I realized that perhaps something was wrong for Lexa to repeat herself. Roan had his gaze lowered, but I saw how tightly clenched his fists were. I stared at him in confusion. Suddenly, he glanced up at Lexa, fuming with rage.
"Take her to the cell," she said.
Roan, slowly, glanced at me.
There was so much hesitation in his eyes. I was right. Even he doubted that Lexa would set him free.
"Must I keep repeating myself," she asked.
"No," Roan responded softly, but rage flowed from his tone, "Commander." He moved towards me and grabbed my arm. Swiftly, he turned on his heels and dragged me out.
=====