𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 · 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘥 ⁴

𝟒.𝟑

──── 「YOU DON'T OWN ME」 ────

     Did I know where I was getting myself into? No, but did I ever? No. So this was nothing far from usual for me. However, I tried to reassure both Octavia and Bellamy that I knew what I was doing; maybe, if they believed it, it would work out just fine.

- "So, what do you want from me?" –Ulger asked me as soon as we made it out of the lockup area.

- "I just wanted to get out of that cell." -I shrugged my shoulders, honestly.

- "Why'd you call for me?"

- "I had to know how important you are within Azgeda." –I looked up at him- "Apparently, pretty important since I was locked up by the King's orders and you got me out."

- "You could say that."

- "Who are you and what do you want from me?"

- "Patience, Jusheda."

- "I'm not good at the patience game, Ulger."

- "Someone will have to teach you then."

- "The last person who offered to teach me something is dead, I'd advise measuring your following moves carefully."

- "The Trikru's death?"

- "Yeah. Sheda."

- "I've heard things."

- "And are you going to tell me about those or leave me in the dark?" –he stopped in front of the elevator- "Where are we going?"

- "To see the King."

- "He's busy with Clarke." –he looked down at me, a questioning eyebrow raised- "Wanheda."

- "We'll have to interrupt him."

- "I have a lot of questions and you are answering none of them, how do you expect me to trust you?" –I crossed my arms over my chest, still, following him inside the elevator.

- "I'll answer one question honestly now, choose wisely."

- "Why do I get the feeling you don't really want to kill me, even if I'm Skaikru?"

- "You aren't Skaikru anymore." –he paused for a second- "Lexa named you Trikru."

- "And you don't hate Trikru?" –I formulated it as a question but we both knew it was a sarcastic statement.

- "Not as much as Skaikru right now."

- "Cool, that sure makes me feel safer."

- "You can trust I won't kill you."

- "I guess that'll have to do for now."

We remained silent the rest of the way up and in the walk to the room where Roan was supposed to be, easy to know for a couple of Azgeda warriors were guarding the doors. The whole time I was going over everything in my head. Looks like he wants me to trust him and he seemed to approve of my idea to get out of lockup as if he was expecting... more like hoping I'd do just that. Is this all a game to him or does he want something from me? We stood in front of the doors as the two guards opened them for us.

- "Let me speak." –he turned his face to look at me, a somewhat reassuring but severe look on his face.

- "Whatever keeps me alive."

- "Silent people don't make mistakes."

He nodded before entering the room. I followed. People make mistakes by not standing up but whatever, I guess. Roan was looking out of the balcony with Clarke, who was untied and looked unharmed, standing next to him.

- "Sire." –Ulger announced our presence to Roan.

- "What's the meaning of this?" –Roan looked at Ulger, startled by the interruption, and then seemed to realize I was there too- "Jusheda." –he turned to face Ulger- "What are you trying to do?"

- "Sam?"

Clarke looked at me and made a move to come towards me but Ulger raised his arm in front of me, almost protectively; any other time I would have laughed, but Ulger had warned me about talking and my best guess was laughing was also off the table. I nodded at Clarke, trying to let her know I was okay so that Ulger wouldn't try anything against her and, seeing she had dropped her intentions of moving my way, Ulger lowered his arm. Wait, was that protective or possessive? Because I don't need the former and despise the latter. We're going to have a problem.

- "What are you doing with Jusheda?"

- "Roan, who is this?" –Clarke had a concerned look on her face.

- "He's my War Chief."

I almost choked on my saliva. Have I just started a relationship? A friendship? An alliance? With Azgeda's War Chief unintentionally? Wao, Sam, awesome move. I chuckled to myself at my own thoughts. That was unexpected, although it does kind of explain his fighting skills, I suppose...

- "Wait, Echo said your War Chief was dead." –Clarke moved next to him- "She said the command of the army had fallen on her."

- "She was wrong." –Ulger took a step forward- "The command of the army has fallen to me as the War Chief's second, not to that spy."

- "You knew about this?" –Clarke faced me.

- "No."

- "You trust him?"

- "He got me out of lockup; he's doing a better job than Roan at gaining and keeping my trust so far."

- "Your people shot me."

- "I tried to help you but I guess you were too worried whining about the bullet on..."

- "Jusheda."

- "What!" –I faced Ulger, caring very little right now about the consequences- "I tried to help your King and he decided the best way to repay me was locking me up to cut my head later if he fancied it." –I scoffed- "Which reminds me..." –I looked at Roan- "I want my blades back; if Echo has any of them, I'll gladly tear them from her cold body."

- "You don't like her very much, do you?" –Ulger had a smile on his face.

- "Well, I don't particularly appreciate her putting a blade to the neck of my people to threaten me." –I eyed him- "If you have a problem with me, you fix it with me."

- "I have an offer." –he announced, nodding approvingly at me before looking at Roan.

About damn time I get the information. Roan nodded and walked away from us, followed by Ulger and, since I thought the offer was in there for me too, I tried following them, but Ulger stopped me.

- "Not now."

- "I thought you said you had an offer for me; at the beginning, I thought it came from Roan but, seeing this... What do you want from me?"

- "Let me talk to Roan." –he looked behind me for a second- "It seems you have some explaining to do."

- "Me? Explaining?" –I scoffed- "To whom?"

I turned around to see a rather unamused Clarke staring at me and Ulger. I shook my head as I made my way towards her.

- "Are you okay?"

- "What are you doing?"

- "That doesn't answer my question."

- "And that doesn't answer mine." –she pulled me further away from them- "What are you doing with the Ice Nation's War Chief?"

- "In my defense, I didn't know he was the War Chief."

- "Now you know." –she glanced over my shoulder at Roan and Ulger before lowering her voice- "Roan has told me his army is not loyal to him."

- "And how exactly did he plan on overrunning Arkadia?" –I had to laugh.

- "He wanted to kill us both and gain their trust, just like Echo suggested."

- "He listens to Echo now? The King does as the spy wants? Now, that's just great." -I rolled my eyes- "Although it's not surprising considering their dumb idea of power being something that floats out of someone's body and their killer absorbs it; if that were true, you and I would be close to indestructible."

- "Well, Sam, you may believe that, but they don't. I offered him the Flame."

- "Wait, what!" –I yelled-whispered at her- "You're telling me he wants to kill us and you want to give him the only thing we can use to trade. I'm lost, Clarke, very lost."

- "I already gave it to him."

- "And...?"

- "I don't know."

- "Well, he needs the clans to follow him." –I turned around to look at Roan and Ulger- "I'd assume with the Flame he'll get that."

- "That's what I said; if he has the Flame no Commander can ascend if he doesn't allow it, he could choose whoever he wanted."

- "I hope that's enough to save both our heads, princess." –I smiled at her and she shook her head.

- "I hope so too. Now, Ulger. Explain."

- "I don't know. He's been saying he has an offer for me but has made no actual move on it; I thought it came from Roan but, apparently, I was wrong."

- "What do you think it could be?"

- "I don't know but I already warned him... last person who made me a deal, died."

- "I'm sorry about Sheda."

- "I am too." –I sighed- "I'm sorry for yelling at you, I know it wasn't your fault; Lexa protected you and you got A.L.I.E. down, that was what we came here to do. You saved us."

- "If there's anything I can do..."

- "Keep us alive." -I whispered as Ulger and Roan walked back to us- "So?"

- "We have a deal." –Roan looked at Clarke who let out a sigh of relief- "And you..." –he looked at me leaving the words in the air for Ulger to continue.

- "You're to join me."

- "Join you?"

- "It's time to explain my final offer: we let Skaikru leave Polis as Roan remains to rule here and as legitimate caretaker of the Flame until another Commander can ascend."

I checked on Clarke, who nodded letting me know that was the whole point of this, so I looked at Ulger and nodded too.

- "Where's the catch?"

- "We let Skaikru leave, but that doesn't mean we'll honor Lexa's coalition."

- "What!" –I had to hold Clarke back as she lost it a little- "Roan!"

- "Silence, Wanheda, this is between Jusheda and I." –Ulger approached me, towering over me, threateningly- "Azgeda will honor said coalition, including Skaikru, if Jusheda joins us."

- "Joins you in and for what?" –I took a step towards him; if he thought the height difference was gonna frighten me, he was wrong.

- "You join me to continue and better the training you got from Trikru, as I'm sure you have a lot to learn still; you plead loyalty to the Ice King and remain at Polis where I can keep an eye on you."

- "You want me to willingly become your prisoner?"

- "I want you to repay the debt you owe me."

- "A debt?" –I raised my voice- "I don't owe you shit, Ulger. I'm not your fucking puppet!" –I looked at Roan- "Tell me your asshole isn't serious."

- "Roan needs the army and the army follows me." –Ulger had an impertinent, pleased smile on his face and I was starting to lose my temper- "Accept or the army marches on Arkadia tomorrow at dawn. Your choice."

- "That's not a fucking choice." –I turned to look at Clarke, pulling her away from them- "You take everyone out of Polis as soon as Roan announces his decision and..."

- "You can't accept that, Sam."

- "I don't want to become his toy either but there's no alternative, you heard him, he'll wipe Arkadia out of the map if he gets the chance. This is worse than Echo, at least she stated she'd let the children live..."

- "Sam..."

- "It's okay, Clarke." –I squeezed her shoulders- "I'll survive, but promise me you won't tell anyone about this arrangement. No one. Not Octavia, not Bellamy, not your mom, not Kane."

- "Sam..."

- "Promise me."

She looked behind me and then at the floor. I needed her to keep it quiet, I knew I could handle this, for the sake of my friends. Fuck, Jasper is going to be so pissed. I need to find a way to go back to see him. And Raven. And the rest. Fuck.

- "There's no other way, Clarke. Please."

- "I know." –she looked up at me- "Stay safe."

- "You find a way to save us from... you know, and I'll deal with that asshole back there."

- "Be careful."

- "He doesn't scare me." –she looked ready to protest but I cut her- "I'll survive." -I took a deep breath and turned around to face both males, followed by Clarke- "I accept your deal and your terms."

- "We'll start by..."

- "I wasn't finished." –I cut him off, I might have to do this, but that didn't mean I was about to become submissive- "I got a couple of requests."

- "Speak them."

- "I want all my blades back." –he nodded- "I want my bow and my horse that's back in Arkadia." –he nodded again- "And I'll assure you, if you break the deal, I'll cut your head off; you hurt my people, you bleed."

- "It's settled then. We're done here, Jusheda." –he smiled at me- "Sire."

He bowed to Roan and left the room, his arrogant attitude made me sick; there was something off, I just couldn't put my finger on it. Maybe he's just trying to maintain his image in front of Roan, they can't afford to look weak. I can't either.

- "I..." –Roan started.

- "Save it." –I cut him off, raising my hand in front of him- "I really tried to save your life; sure, I also killed a couple of your guards to get Clarke and Abby here to fix your chest but no big deal. I hope you know I have no intentions of pleading real loyalty to you; I haven't followed Arkadia's idiots, I'm not about to start following you."

- "But Sam, Ulger..."

- "Let me handle Ulger, Clarke; he will buy my lies, they always do." –I turned around to leave- "Now I'm going to free my people that you, Sire, got locked up for no real reason."

     I watched Sam go, carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, yet again. I couldn't believe what had just happened, she had basically sold her life for... us? And now I had to lie to everyone about it. I don't understand how we get ourselves in these situations...

- "She'll be safe." –Roan walked towards the door to leave too.

- "It doesn't look like it."

- "Ulger might be haughty at times but he wants Jusheda on his side."

- "But why?"

- "She's more powerful than she knows."

He opened the doors and soon enough I heard a loud thud that came from the hallway. I thought he might have fallen due to the blood loss and lack of balance but, as I made my way out, I had to avoid him to see what had really happened out there: two guards were at the other side of the hallway as if blocking the way, Sam was lying on the floor in what looked like potential disadvantage towards Ulger, who was standing over her with a blade pointed at her heart.

- "Sam! What are you doing?!"

- "Rearranging the terms of our accord." –she spat some blood- "And stating a point, what does it look like to you?" –she turned her face my way, she looked entertained.

- "Which was what exactly?"

- "I don't own her, got it." –Ulger offered his hand for Sam to raise from the floor- "You have a lot to learn from us."

- "Lucky for both of us, I have a reputation for being a fast learner." –Sam took his hand and he helped her up, holding her too close for my liking, forcing her to raise her head to look at him.

- "That should make things easier." –he let go of her hand- "Your weapons." –he made a move for the two guards to approach them as they were, in fact, carrying Sam's blades- "The guard on the cells will set your people free, just drop my name."

- "I still want my bow and my horse."

- "It'll be better if we first learn to trust the other."

And with that, Ulger left followed by both guards. I couldn't help but think that Sam kept attracting the weirdest people but, again, she wasn't particularly average either.

- "Listen, training with Sheda was hard the first days." –Sam faced me as she placed her blades in her vest- "But I'm getting a feeling this is going to be worse, much worse."

- "It probably will." –I conceded, checking her forehead.

- "Ulger is known for being merciless and ruthless, if you pick up everything he teaches you, you could become War Chief yourself."

- "Take it easy, Roan, I'll settle for being so lethal, no one will dare touching my people." –Sam moved a hand in front of him to shush him- "What now?"

- "I'll make the announcement." –he answered Sam and then looked at me- "After that, you can leave Polis and do what you ought to do."

- "Great, let's go get our people." –Sam pulled me towards the elevator.

- "You're bleeding." –I pointed out as soon as we got inside and it started moving down.

- "Are we surprised?" -she touched her forehead.

- "Sam, this is serious, you heard Roan..."

- "If Ulger wanted me dead, he'd have killed me the second time."

- "The second time?"

- "Oh, because the first time we fought, I beat him." –she chuckled, cleaning her bloody lip- "I told you, I'm going to be just fine."

- "I hope so." –I handed her a bandage I was still carrying from when we took the bullet out of Roan's chest- "Your forehead... that's gonna be hard to hide."

- "We'll tell them I got in a fight, it won't surprise them and it's technically true."

- "I don't know for how long I can keep this a secret, especially from Bellamy and Octavia; they know you too well. Even Jasper and Raven will ask about you and..."

- "Hey, Clarke." –she placed her hands on my shoulders, a reassuring smile on her face- "I don't want you to lie to them for me, I'll do it; you just avoid the topic, make them seem you're mad at me or something."

- "That's lying still."

- "Lie to protect them, then." –the doors of the elevator opened as we got to the lockup level- "I'll tell them the whole truth when I know the time's right. One by one, on my own."

She got out before me and started walking, already knowing the place as I heard her speak with the Grounder, her voice followed by Bellamy's and Octavia's asking her what had happened and my mom asking about me. I hope this works out.

     Ulger had taken Sam at least an hour ago. I was starting to get more worried than usual and Indra's note on who Ulger really was had done nothing but instigate my fear for Sam's life; I knew Abby was worried about Clarke and Kane was worried about Abby, same way I knew Indra was worried about Octavia who was worried about Sam... just like I was. She had given up on trying to get out a while ago. All of a sudden, as I was starting to think of all the possible things that could have happened to her, she showed at the cell's door which the Grounder outside lost no time to open.

- "Sam!" -I yelled as soon as I saw her- "You're okay!"

- "I told you I had it under control, boss." -she followed the Grounder inside- "Breik em au."

The Grounder lost no time to set my hands free and, as soon as he did, I wrapped my arms around Sam.

- "I thought something happened."

- "You need to start worrying less. Stress makes you old, you know?" -Sam chuckled against my neck- "Come on, we have to go."

She spoke with Octavia for a moment as I realized Clarke had joined us too, quickly running to her mom who was on the verge of tears now.

- "What happened?" -Kane asked as we made our way out of there.

- "Roan is about to announce that he's going to honor Lexa's coalition." -Clarke explained as I realized Sam had her eyes glued to her- "We're free to go back to Arkadia to find a solution to Praimfaya."

- "He didn't want anything in return?" -I asked Clarke but I kept my eyes on Sam.

- "He has the Flame." -Sam answered me, as everyone got out of the elevator- "What else could he want?"

- "What did Ulger want from you?" -I pulled her to stay behind with me, letting the rest walk towards the plaza where Azgeda would make their announcement- "Don't lie to me."

- "Why do you assume he wanted anything from me?"

- "You got in a fight with him, didn't you?" -I moved the hair away from her face, revealing a fresh small wound on her forehead- "Why?"

- "He failed to inform me of his current title." -she clenched her jaw- "I don't take well when people hide stuff from me."

- "Is that it?"

- "Please, if you can think of anything else that I could be hiding, let me know." -she smiled at me and started moving again- "Come on, we have to be there. We don't want to seem disrespectful to the King."

I chose to believe her, for there was no reason for her to lie to me now, or hide anything from me. If there was anything else, Clarke would tell me or I'd find out, hopefully, sooner than later. We arrived to see Roan up with his crown and the ambassadors of every other clan on a podium.

- "I know you've all come here for an execution..." -he started and I couldn't help but reach to grab Sam's hand in mine, she didn't move, just simply intertwined our fingers together- "... but no one else will die here today. The City of Light has fallen and there is no Commander left to rule us; until another Nightblood ascends, I -King Roan of Azgeda, eldest son of Nia, grandson of Theo- am caretaker of the throne and keeper of the Flame."

Someone yelled something in Trig that I obviously didn't get but it seemed to catch Sam's attention as she looked around.

- "Until another ascends, Azgeda honors and will defend the coalition of the last true Commander: Lexa kom Trikru; including the 13th clan." -people started murmuring around us, looking at us but Sam squeezing my hand was a reminder that I was not alone in this- "Let it be known that an attack against Skaikru is an attack against us all."

After Roan's speech, it was decided that we were to leave as soon as possible as Ulger came to talk with us.

- "Echo will come with a symbol of our clan for your people to use wherever they go..." -he addressed Sam- "To let people know you're part of the coalition."

- "Such a nice gesture coming from you, huh?"

- "They should leave while they still can."

- "What's that supposed to mean?" -I asked him as he started to move back, ignoring me.

- "Drop it." -Sam pulled me back- "Trust me."

I allowed her to get me out of there, followed by the rest. We made it to the street that got to the exit of the city to wait for Echo, who didn't take long to show up.

- "From your King." -she handed me the package- "With this, you'll be safe in any of our lands." -I tried to take it but she pulled it back- "You think we'll ever be able to trust each other again?"

"I doubt it." -I answered honestly and she nodded, taking a couple of steps back to look at everyone behind me.

- "Welcome back to the coalition." -her eyes focused on someone behind me- "I guess I'll be seeing more of you from now on."

- "Don't get in my way and I won't get in yours."

Sam answered before I could turn around to see who Echo was talking to; the latter nodded and moved away from us as I walked back to the group, my eyes on Sam.

- "Time to go."

- "We'll do our best to keep the King on his throne." -Kane reassured us, for we had previously agreed he'd stay as our clan's ambassador.

- "We'll find a way to beat the radiation."

- "If either of you screws this up, we die." -Octavia's words of reassurance were the top on the cherry that day- "No pressure."

- "This is serious, O." -I faced her- "If anyone finds out why Roan helped us, it'll be every clan for itself; the King will fall and they'll come after us."

- "Leave that to me." -Sam moved next to Octavia- "No one is going after you... after Skaikru."

- "It's getting dark, let's do this." -Clarke moved to say goodbye to her mom before I could even process Sam's words- "May we meet again."

- "You turn the page." -Kane offered me his hand to sake and so I did but, as I let go, he pulled me back- "You turn the page and you don't look back, you do better today than you did yesterday, you understand?" -I nodded- "Before you know it, you'll deserve to survive."

- "I hope so."

I said goodbye to O and so did Clarke, I was expecting Sam to come with us but, instead, she pulled me away from Kane and Abby and into a hug; I handed Clarke the package Echo had handed me and wrapped my arms around Sam.

- "I'm sorry." -she whispered into my neck.

- "Sam, what are you not telling me?"

- "I can't go back."

- "Why?" -I pulled back to look her in the eyes- "What happened?" -and then, it hit me- "What did Ulger want? What does he have on you?"

- "I can't tell you now. I need you to leave with Clarke and find a way to survive because you already deserve it."

- "Please, tell me you aren't playing with your life again to save us." -I held her face in my hands.

- "You know I can't do that." -the sad smile on her face confirmed all my worries- "There was no other way."

- "There's always another way."

- "Not this time." -she forced me to let go of her face as she moved her hands inside my jacket, holding me closer and that frightened me; it was as if she were trying to print her body shape onto mine so that I would remember her- "But I promise I have it under control."

- "I don't want to leave you, I hate this... feeling like I'm always leaving you behind... I need to know you're safe."

- "But you know it's what you have to do, boss." -she looked up at me- "You're not leaving me behind, I'm choosing to stay. Don't worry, I'll come back." -she smirked and, for a second, I felt slightly more at ease- "After all, I promised Jasper and I was coming back, I can't let him down, you know? I have a reputation to uphold. And my best girl is there too; I had to go before she forgets about me."

- "I don't care what reason you choose to come back to Arkadia, I just need you to come back home, to come back to me." -I rested my chin on her head- "I know there's something you have to do and I know I do no good here, I know we're part of the Coalition and that we are supposed to be safe... but you, Sam, you're different from all of us, I know most Grounders wouldn't dare put their hands on you, even if the Coalition weren't standing, but I know the Ice Nation is not one of them..."

- "I have a deal with Ulger." -she finally confessed.

- "Last time you made a deal with someone, I thought I was losing you."

- "Take this as the time to work on your shit while I work on mine."

- "You're not precisely leaving to the forest to be alone and have time to think, Sam."

- "I'll take care of, O. We'll be safe." -she pulled back- "I promise."

- "I'll see you soon, love."

- "You're not kissing and leaving, Blake." -she chuckled, caressing my cheek- "I'll see you soon. Now, take the princess and go, I don't like saying goodbye so leave before I fuck shit up."

- "Wait..." -I pulled her back- "Don't you want your bow? Come with me to the Rover and..."

- "Take it, give me a reason to go back to Arkadia soon."

- "I'll keep it safe."

- "Keep your ass safe."

- "If you're trying to get in my pants..." -I smirked at her as she smiled- "...you're going the right way."

- "Been there." -she looked at Clarke- "Take him and leave. We'll see you soon."

Clarke nodded at Sam and forced me to turn around to leave Polis, not without stealing a last look at Sam who was now next to Octavia, arms crossed over her chest and smile on her lips, sending a wink my way as she saw me looking at her. I turned around with only one thing in mind: finding out from Clarke what Ulger had on Sam to come back and take her with me. My girl, my responsibility.