Disclaimer: I don't own 'The Walking Dead'

This fic is like a little side story and will dismiss the scene of Daryl's recent visit from episode 10.

She didn't understand why it was so hard for them to grasp. She wanted to be left alone. She didn't want anyone crossing her property just to say "hello" or to drop off food. She wanted to be alone, but for some reason, the Kingdom's keepers and their king didn't seem to follow her logic.

Carol sighed as she stared at what remained of the cobbler Jerry had brought on their last visit a week ago. It happened to be apple and was quite delicious, she had to admit. Still, it was a sign that no one was taking her seriously and it pissed her off, yet there was a part of her that did rather like the attention.

She shook her head and grabbed one of the few plates that had been left in the house and proceeded to help herself to a final helping of it. She carried her plate to the couch and stretched out with a book in hand. Every time she took a bite of the cobbler, her thoughts shifted to the troublesome Ezekiel. At one point she shifted her eyes away from the book and looked at her environment. She rather liked her cozy little house, but if the king kept making visits she would have to move and find another. She sighed again thinking how annoying it would be to do so.

A few days later saw the return of the king. Carol watched him from her window. He was leaning on the outside of her fence with his back facing her way, appearing to admire the view ahead. Prowling at his side was his sidekick Shiva. Carol watched the big cat for a bit. This wasn't the first time Ezekiel had chosen to "take a stroll" with his pet. After she had first gotten settled in the house, his majesty was knocking on her door, cat by his side, insisting that she really needed to try a pomegranate. Another time she had caught the pair walking along a trail while she was out in the woods, foraging. Ezekiel had smiled at her and noted what a 'coincidence' it was that their paths should cross.

She hadn't been fooled and she had been bold enough to point out the bullshit. There was no coincidental crossing of paths. It was the day she realized the king would be checking up on her as often as possible. It didn't make her feel cared for, it made her feel as if she was being viewed as a child unable to cope alone.

"Don't come back, your majesty," she had warned with a voice that was as cold and hard as ice. Ezekiel merely looked at her before giving a nod and continuing on his walk.

Carol sighed and shook her head as she watched the man now.

"Unbelievable," she muttered as she made her way outside. Ezekiel turned around and plastered that kindly smile of his.

"Ahh, how is the fair maiden this day?"

"The fair maiden would be better if a certain king didn't constantly invade her property."

"I have not come inside so I have not intruded. I am merely allowing Shiva and myself a bit of rest before continuing our journey."

"As long as that journey is far away from me, I'll be happy."

"I wish you no distress Carol, I am merely-"

"I know what you're merely doing and I don't want it. I want to be left alone."

And with that she turned on her heels and marched back towards her house.

"I want you gone, now."

She slammed the door behind her and shut the curtains on the window.

Carol didn't see another sign of the Kingdom for another week when she noticed two of armored men milling about not far from her on their horses. It was clear that Ezekiel was going to send his lackeys to keep tabs until he found it safe enough to come by in person.

"Do I have to put up a sign," she practically yelled as she stepped out of her house. She had considered not coming out at all and just ignoring the men, but doing so usually resulted in them knocking on the door in the end.

"Easy ma'am, we're just patrolling the area for the dead," said one of the men who had blonde hair.

"I can handle the dead," Carol stated, eyes flashing angrily. "I don't need a patrol."

The blonde looked at his partner, a shorter dark haired man with a beard.

"We know, King Ezekiel told us you can handle yourself, but it is our job to patrol the area for the dead for the safety of the Kingdom. You just happened to fall into that vicinity."

"Bullshit." She placed her hands on her hips and glared them down. "I know what he's doing, and you can tell him unless he stops checking in on me I won't stay. I'll leave and find another place where you'll never find me, but if you did happened to find me…I won't hesitate."

She indicated the gun on her hip which caused the men to trade nervous glances.

"Sorry ma'am for imposing," the blonde apologized.

"Go, now. And do not come back. I mean it."

She stood there and watched until they turned their horses around to patrol another area far from her property.

As another week began, Carol didn't believe for an instant that any member of the Kingdom would acknowledge her wishes. Every now and then she found herself peeking out of her windows or even patrolling the perimeter for a sign of them. She kept a sharp ear out, listening for approaching footsteps or a tripped wire from one of her traps.

It wasn't until a second week passed that she felt at ease about her situation. No one had come around. The king didn't come on one of his walks nor did he send guards. It was just quiet, and she was alone at last. Such a thing made her breathe easier, but there was something about it that created an unpleasant twinge in her heart. She denied it was loneliness. The feeling was just a response to her new freedom from the constant intrusions.

When another week came, Carol found herself wandering off the trail for a hunt in search of the trail Ezekiel had taken when walking Shiva. She told herself she was just sitting there in the bush scouting for any nearby walkers. She certainly wasn't looking for that familiar sight of orange from the big cat any more than she was looking for a sign of his majesty.

By the end of the week she had a strong craving for that cobbler, but there was no sign of Jerry anywhere. A few days later, the craving shifted to a need for pomegranates, but there was no king to bring forth a bowl of the fruit.

"This is stupid," she muttered while curled upon the couch. It was stupid that the twinge in her heart was turning into a kind of emptiness she didn't want to feel or examine. She had gotten what she wanted, reminded herself it was what she needed, but it felt like a lie.

Quietly she turned and peeked past the curtains of her window, while unconsciously hoping to see a member of the Kingdom trotting nearby with the excuse that they were patrolling.

They never did come by. The message was clearly sent and sent well, and now she regretted having the guards deliver her warning.

By the fourth week she was standing outside, staring in the direction of the Kingdom. There was an inner battle happening, where one side of herself just wanted to march up to the Kingdom's gates and see why the hell no one had broken her rule and come to see her while the other part just wanted to stay put and ignore them all.

She frowned as she thought about them. Surely they were still alight. The community wouldn't have fallen without her knowing about it. If there had been an attack, surely the king would've sent guards her way to keep her protected, and she of course would have done her best to send them away while preparing to defend herself.

"What's going on over there?" she whispered curiously. Then she cursed herself for being so curious.

Eventually she headed back inside, determined to find something more eventful to do to knock away the slowly growing sadness.

It was a whole month and a half before she finally saw a sign of her dreaded neighbors. She had just fetched a rabbit from one of her traps when she heard the clopping of a horse walking not too far away. Her breath caught in her throat as she hurried towards the sound, hoping the knights of the Kingdom had finally decided to risk breaking her order not to come around.

Silently she made it close enough to see the horseman, wandering along the road with a noticeable bag hanging from the saddle. There was a burst of joy in her heart at seeing it was indeed a member from the Kingdom and not some random stranger passing through.

Slowly she approached from behind, careful not to alert the man nor the horse. She dropped the smile that played on her lips at seeing them and called out.

"I thought I told the king I didn't want any visitors."

The man halted his horse, but didn't turn around.

"Not here to see you Carol."

It was Richard, but he didn't sound angry with his flat response. If anything, he sounded worn down. Carol frowned and moved toward him.

"Oh, not patrolling on his orders?" She made it to the front where she noticed the grave look on his face.

Richard shook his head then patted the bag.

"Looking for supplies. It's…," he paused, seeming to struggle with something, before continuing, "I wasn't checking up on you. The king respects your privacy."

Carol didn't like that pause. Something was clearly wrong, and that nasty feeling started to squeeze at her heart. She prayed she was wrong.

"How is he?" She regretted the question as soon as it left her mouth, but then she asked for more. "How is everyone?"

Richard's face gave it away. There was no masking the worry he was obviously harboring, and it was then that Carol wished she could have just walked away.

"Everyone's fine, but the king…he's sick."

Originally, I was going to have it that Shiva was sick and the king was so sick with worry over his pet that that was why he wasn't coming around to see Carol. But I thought Carol would be more interested if it was Ezekiel himself that came down with something. Is it serious? Will Carol decide to visit him for once? I really hope everyone was in character enough.
The lack of Carol & Ezekiel stories inspired this. I really want to see more because I am very interested in their chemistry. We have more than enough Carol/Daryl. Show the king some love :)