Note: Hello everyone! Time for another Endurance update! :P I'm amazed by the response on this story so far and I really hope you'll enjoy this chapter! Thank you so much for all the support so far! I'm leaving a small explanation in the end-note regarding some things in this chapter.
Enjoy!
Endurance
Chapter 20
Daryl wasn't sure how he had managed to fall asleep the night before. He had been running high on emotions for a while as he recalled everything that had happened during the day. The adrenaline of having convinced the people of the Hilltop Colony to fight with them to end Negan's tyranny had settled after his brief conversation with Rick. His brother had surprisingly not reacted in a negative way to his revelation about what he and Beth had done. The fact that Rick had just sort of accepted what Daryl had told him, without making him feel horrible for having sex with Beth only made Daryl wonder whether he actually had something to be ashamed of.
The strange things was, Daryl found that he honestly couldn't care any less about what people thought of him. Ever since the world had gone to shit, he had always put the safety of everyone else over himself. He knew that he could protect himself well enough, but he had put all his focus on looking out for others and being there when Rick and his family needed him. He had never believed that he was worth much but once he realized that he was actually good at keeping them alive, he hadn't been able to stop. It had been years since the world had ended and the night that he had spent with Beth had been the first time that he could say that he had done what he had wanted to, with no one else in mind.
He knew deep down that it had been all about her and him, and them, and knowing that they were free to do what they wanted. Beth had told him that she would never be fully free until Negan was removed from the picture, but one of these days, that battle would have been fought and then they could just be again.
Daryl thought of her again and how incredibly soft, yet hard, she had felt under his fingertips. She was strong physically - much stronger than he remembered her being when they had been alone - and yet, her porcelain skin remained the same. He still remembered the time that he had roughly grabbed her outside the shack that they had burned down. Two days later, he had seen a small bruise on her where he had grabbed her and he would forever regret hurting her. Beth, sweet and beautiful Beth, had told him that it was okay though, that she knew that he hadn't meant it and that she had given herself worse bruises. It had taken some coaxing on her part, but somehow she had managed to make him smile when she had told him a story from when she had been just seven years old and accident-prone.
Her lean muscles weren't the only thing different about her though. Besides her attitude and belief in her own abilities, she had scars littered over her back. They were such a sharp contrast to the rest of her that Daryl had spent what had felt like hours just tracing the marks over the ink that mostly covered them.
Daryl swallowed thickly, thinking about her tattoo for just a second before taking out a half-smoked cigarette. He looked out over the wall, taking in the sunrise as it shone its light on the community that was slowly rousing. Taking a drag of his cigarette, he held the smoke for a second or two before exhaling. He had come out there to calm his nerves and think about what they were going to do today. The plan that Beth had made out for them depended on getting the Kingdom and King Ezekiel on their side. According to Beth though, that probably wouldn't be very difficult to achieve, since Ezekiel had never liked submitting to the Saviors.
"Good morning, Daryl."
Daryl turned his head slightly to the side so that he could glance at Jesus who had approached him so silently that he hadn't even felt his presence. It made Daryl wonder whether he was getting old or if Jesus had just mastered the skill of sneaking up on people.
"Mornin'," he returned, taking another drag of his smoke.
Jesus came to stand next to him, joining him as they looked at the rising sun together. "It's amazing, isn't it?" Jesus said, sounding almost serene.
"What?" Daryl asked.
"Seeing the sun rise in the morning," Jesus clarified. "It kind of reminds you that the earth hasn't stopped turning. That there will still be a tomorrow."
Daryl only hummed because he didn't know what to say. It was an interesting way to think of things; to know that even though mankind's world might have ended, or at least finished one of its chapters, the earth was still very much spinning. Maybe the age of man was over, in a sense, but they were still standing. They had been in Alexandria for over three years and never come across the Hilltop or the Kingdom, something which was strange in its own way. The world was a lot bigger than they had thought, even in their close proximity. It made Daryl wonder how many others there were out there, still fighting in the wild, trying to find sustainable places for themselves. He hadn't let himself think about it after the CDC, but what if there were people in other countries across the world that had managed to survive too?
The thought was bittersweet, knowing that there might not be a way for them to know for sure. It made him think of the fall of society and all the people they had lost when they just hadn't known better. In the beginning, they had been sloppy and not as tight-knit, but now, their community in Alexandria was a good and safe place, something which Daryl wasn't sure they would be able to handle losing. He thought of Judith and what it would mean for her if they had to venture out in the wild again. She had learned to walk and to talk within the walls of the Safe Zone. Even though they taught the kids survival classes, knowing how to kill a walker and actually facing one was two completely different things. Besides, the dead ones weren't even the biggest threat anymore.
"Will ya take me to his grave?" Daryl then asked, not really sure why he had uttered the words.
Jesus frowned, "Whose grave?"
"The boy Negan killed," Daryl said, finishing his smoke with a final drag, exhaling the smoke and flicking away the cigarette butt.
A sad look fell over Jesus' face but he nodded nonetheless, turning around and starting his climb down the wall. Daryl followed him down the ladder and then continued to walk after him to the far wall, further away from the tents and cabins.
Jesus came to a stop and Daryl looked down at the marking of the grave. His eyes followed the line of the wall, noting that there were some more graves next to the boy's, all of which that once again had grass growing over them. He looked a little further off and his eyes settled on a patch of yellow wildflowers growing by the wall. Without thinking about it twice, he ignored Jesus' questioning look and walked over to them, picking a couple as close to the root as he could. He walked back to the wooden cross that marked the boy's grave and placed the flowers by the foot of it.
Memories of placing similar flowers on a grave close to the funeral home flooded his mind. He recalled how he had held hands with Beth as they silently remembered her fallen father. At the moment, it had been about showing her that he cared because not only had he respected Hershel, but he had also considered the man family. Accepting that there hadn't been anything he could have done to prevent his death had taken time for Daryl, but Beth had tried back then, at the shack, to tell him that it wasn't all his fault, despite the fact that he had felt like a complete failure. She had made things easier for him for a while, but after he had seen her get shot at Grady, all the dark thoughts that had been kept away by her light had come crashing back in again.
Years had passed since then, though every time he thought about it, he absentmindedly found himself tracing the circular would on the back of his hand. He had mocked her once for cutting her wrists, but he knew that he was no better than her when he had pressed his cigarette to his skin and listened to his own flesh sizzle. When they had come to Alexandria, he had tried to be better again because he knew that he had to be. He had to keep himself alive so that he could keep the others alive, after all.
He pulled himself away from those thoughts as he started wondering whether Beth would have liked that he put flowers on the kid's grave. She hadn't been able to save him from Negan and Daryl was sure that it had been eating her alive that she couldn't so something to show the people of the Hilltop that she had actually cared for his fate. In a way, Daryl hoped that him putting flowers on the boy's grave would show Jesus that there was more to Beth as well. The man knew that they had found the Hilltop with Beth's help. Daryl only knew the story about the boy because of her, and he knew that Jesus was aware of it. Him putting flowers on his grave wasn't just to pay his respects, but also to do something he knew deep in his heart that Beth would have wanted, but never would have been able to do.
"What is Beth Greene to you?" Jesus asked, as if somehow sensing that Daryl's mind was on the blonde.
"Family," Daryl replied.
"A person doesn't look like you did when someone like Gregory makes snide comments about one's family," Jesus pointed out. "She's more, isn't she?"
Once again, his voice was calm and it kind of annoyed Daryl that the man seemed to be able to see right through one. Yet, he only snorted, turning to meet Jesus' gaze, holding his stare, "Thought ya didn't meddle in other people's business?"
A smile spread across Jesus' face and he lowered his head, looking a bit embarrassed about having pushed the matter.
"We should go and see if Rick is ready," Jesus said, changing the subject. "If you want to be able to return to Alexandria before nightfall, we're going to need to get going."
Daryl only nodded at him and took another breath, hoping that they would be able to pull everything off as planned.
-§-
"You have to promise me one thing," Beth smiled, her cheeks flushed as she looked down at him with her head tilted sideways.
"Anythin'," Daryl told her, knowing that he would give her everything he had if he could. There was no going back now.
"Don't tell Rick about Shiva," she grinned. "If everythin' goes to shit, at least you'll have somethin' to laugh about when you see his face."
Daryl's own lips spread into a smile as he watched her brush back a piece of unruly hair that just wouldn't stay put behind her ear. He observed her silently for a bit, wondering just how she was managing to be this way in a time like this. War was on their doorstep but for some reason, he had never seen her more serene.
"When I saw ya that first time," Daryl began slowly, "I never would'a thought that I'd see ya smilin' like this." He grasped her thighs which were on either side of him as she sat straddled over his stomach.
"I didn't have anythin' to smile about, back then," Beth confessed, her smile faltering a bit. He gently massaged her as she placed her hands on either side of his head, trapping him as she leaned over him. "I know we're gonna talk about this some other time, but if somethin' goes wrong, I want you to know that this night has been the best night of my life."
He could sense the seriousness in her, but he didn't want her to be reminded of all the bad things that were heading their way. Instead, he used his strength to turn them around so that she was laying flat on her back again and he was the one hovering over her. Combing through her hair gently with his fingers, he spread it out over the pillows, lowering his face so that he could kiss the base of her throat. Beth let out a sigh of contentment, reaching around him so that she could scrape her nails against his scalp, making pleasure ripple through him again. Pure instinct made him react, his hips connecting with hers as he pressed against her.
"You're just happy 'cause ya got laid, ain't ya?" he teased her, trying to lighten the mood a bit.
Beth grinned against his skin as she nuzzled the side of his neck, "Mm… Maybe."
"Usin' me for sex, huh?" he questioned, quirking his eyebrow at her.
"What are you gonna do about it, Mr. Dixon?" she returned, eyes gleaming with mischief.
Daryl leaned down, pressing kisses against the column of her neck, down her shoulder as he brushed away the strap of her tanktop, lingering there for a moment before meeting her eyes once more. He grinned as he turned to lay next to her, keeping one of his legs thrown between her own so that he could spread hers apart with it. His hand trailed over her thigh, fingers brushing the soft skin as he moved upwards. Beth's eyes widened and she let out a small gasp when he reached his destination.
"Ain't done with ya yet, Greene."
-§-
Daryl walked a small distance away from Rick and Jesus. They had driven toward DC from the Hilltop with a car that the colony used when they made runs, but Jesus had told them that it would be better if they walked the last bit. Daryl hadn't argued because that was exactly what Beth had told him too. The people of the Kingdom did have vehicles, but most of the time they traveled by horse. When new people approached their territory, it was wiser to be welcomed by them on foot as travelers rather than drive straight into their community without actually knowing that you had passed their border.
When Beth had told him all of this, he had remembered what he had said to the Saviors who had captured him and brought him to the Sanctuary. He had told them that land didn't belong to anyone anymore, but he had meant it in the sense that people couldn't claim things that were outside of their walls. Just like the Safe Zone couldn't stop lone people from hunting in the woods that surrounded their community, the Saviors couldn't control whether someone ventured out into the forest that spread out a couple of miles from their factory. When it came to the Kingdom, Daryl had understood that the community had walls around the main buildings, but used the city as a freer roaming place. It wasn't something that they controlled to the extent that they killed people for passing into it, but those who knew of it, respected the boundary.
Daryl had heard it from Beth once and that had been enough for him. He had told Rick some of it, though Jesus was now filling him in on the details. That was partially why Daryl had decided to just hang out in the back and observe. The other reason for that was that Rick had eventually stopped asking questions about the Kingdom and instead started wondering more about the Saviors and Jesus' view on the group. Jesus' words from the night before, about not all of them being good had clearly left an impression on Rick. Another things that Rick didn't seem to be able to grasp fully, despite Daryl having explained it to him once, was that Beth had actually been a highly valued member of the Saviors. Rick knew that she had done things, but he must have just assumed that she had been forced to do other people's bidding. In a way, yes, she had done what someone had asked her to do, but that someone had been Negan, specifically. She had never taken orders from anyone else because she had been superior to them. It was another thing that some of the Saviors didn't like her because of the fact that Negan had treated her differently since the first day that they had met. Daryl listened as Jesus explained that the Saviors hierarchy had been simple to understand from the very beginning. According to him, Beth had been there with Negan when the group had first shown up, telling them what the deal was. The Saviors would keep their lands as free as possible from walkers, but they would also get half of everything they produced or scavenged. In turn, the Saviors would also not attack them. Because of the Saviors large numbers, Gregory had agreed to the deal, but not before Negan had killed the boy that Beth had tried to get him to spare. Jesus told Rick that Beth had avoided the Hilltop for a few weeks during the Saviors visits, but that when she finally had come around, she had made sure that the usual verbal torment didn't occur. The one time that one of the Saviors had made a mocking remark, she had shut him down before he had gotten another word out by holding a dagger to his throat, drawing blood without digging too deep into his skin. The Savior hadn't been allowed to touch her due to Negan's rules, but it had been evident who was in charge when Negan wasn't around just by that small display of power.
Daryl was momentarily distracted by imagining the scene that Jesus had described so at first he didn't notice the high buildings that were coming into view. Soon enough though, Jesus made them stop walking and motioned for them with an outstretched hand to look at what was in front of them.
"This is it," he said. "The Kingdom." Daryl looked at him, raising his eyebrow slightly. "Well," Jesus chuckled, "at least it's the edge of it."
"What do we do now?" Rick asked, frowning deeply.
"We wait for a bit," Jesus said. "Ezekiel has people on watch all the time. Someone should come along soon enough to make sure that we aren't enemies to the King."
Rick drew in small breath which sounded more like a suppressed snort, "I can't believe they actually have a king." He looked toward Daryl, as if to see if he agreed that it was as ridiculous as it sounded.
Sure, Daryl found it kind of stupid, but on some level he understood. He shrugged, shouldering his crossbow as he spotted two men on horseback coming closer. "People gotta do what they have to to survive," he told Rick. "Guess it's a way to cope. Havin' a king to follow in a world like this."
Rick's eyes were focused on the two riders who were approaching them, but staying on the lower part of the hill. "Yeah," he drawled. "Guess you're right 'bout that."
Jesus raised both his hands in a wave.
"Announce yourselves, for you are passing into the Kingdom!" one of the riders called up to them.
"It's me, Cory!" Jesus called back and the man on the horse instantly smiled.
"Jesus! I didn't recognize you there for a moment," he said. "Who are the ones you've brought with you?"
"Two men from another community," Jesus answered. "We seek an audience with the King!"
"What are you waiting for then? Get down here and we'll take you to him," Cory said.
Jesus turned around and looked at Rick and Daryl, giving them a short nod. He then turned to look specifically at Rick. "Remember what I said," he began.
"Yeah," Daryl drawled, interrupting him, "speak to the man with respect."
Jesus frowned, as if not really understanding how Daryl would have heard him considering that he had just told Rick that when Daryl had been walking behind them, too far away to hear it. Daryl only shrugged at him, deciding that he didn't need to explain himself to anyone.
Besides, he already had his own instructions to follow. The ones that he had sworn to Beth that he would remember and not question.
-§-
He watched her, taking in her hooded gaze and hitching breath. The way her lips parted as she let out a drawn out moan, her eyes squeezing shut as her fingers tangled in his hair. The smell of her, her slickness coating his fingers as he worked her slowly, almost torturously.
"Oh God," Beth gasped, tugging as his hair, trying to pull him closer to her.
Daryl pressed a kiss against her clavicle, changing the angle of his fingers, curling them upwards as he felt a smirk spreading on his own lips. He couldn't help himself, "Ain't my name, Greene."
"Daryl!" she moaned, opening her eyes a bit so that she could shoot him a small glare. He was laying on his side, still, his fingers sliding in and out of her lazily almost. His movements were slow and small and Beth continued to writhe against him, clearly seeking more. He pressed his thumb lightly against her clit, circling it a few times. Beth's hips surged upwards, seeking the pressure, but he held her down with his arm. It was an awkward angle for him, his muscles straining as he laid on his side, pressed against her with his hand between her legs, inside her panties which he hadn't removed. He couldn't exactly see what he was doing, but he could feel, and Daryl realized that that was enough. The way that Beth was breathing hard through her nose indicated that he was doing something right Daryl lowered his head again so that he could wrap his lips around her nipple as he tugged down her tanktop, exposing her chest to him. His tongue darted out, flicking the hard nub as he sped up the movement of his fingers. The wet sounds of his digits entering her made him almost dizzy as he gently bit down on her breast, making Beth gasp again. Circling her clit once more, he applied just a bit more pressure and-
"Fuck," Beth gasped, her fingers digging painfully into his scalp as he laved at her chest and he worked her through her orgasm, feeling her inner walls clench around his fingers. He groaned against her, pushing his fingers as deep into her cunt as he could, holding them there as Beth continued to writhe beneath his touch. Finally, he pulled his hand away from her, his slippery fingers trailing over her slit, through her wetness and up over the thatch of blonde at the apex of her thighs. He pulled his hand out of her panties, looking up at her again, meeting her hot gaze. Not taking his eyes off of her, he lifted his hand up, putting the fingers that had been inside of her in his mouth. Beth watched him as he sucked her juices off his fingers for a moment before reaching for his hand. She pulled at it until his wet fingers contacted with her lips and he started at her with parted lips as she flicked her tongue out and then pulled him closer, his digits entering the heat of her mouth. Her tongue swirled around his fingers and Daryl instantly knew that he had been wrong to think that he had the upper hand now. Beth pulled his hand away and reached for him once more, pulling him up so that she could press her lips furiously against his. Their teeth clashed, but he ignored the momentary pain as Beth's tongue moved against his lips, forcing him to open his mouth up to her. He groaned and reached up, his nose filling with the heady smell of her still all over his hand as he tangled his fingers in her blonde tresses, pulling her close and never wanting to let her go.
-§-
They were lead inside the walls that had been made out of school buses and other vehicles. Daryl looked around the place and his mouth went momentarily slack as he took in just how bright everything seemed. There were several buildings within the wall, but the biggest one by far must have once been a school. Jesus and the two riders led them through the community and Daryl met Rick's eyes, seeing just as much awe in them as he was sure was reflected in his own. They weren't doing bad back in Alexandria; they had been managing to get by for over three years now. The Kingdom though, it certainly was something else.
"King Ezekiel will most likely be in the throne room," Cory, the rider who had been addressing them. "You know where to go, Jesus. He'll be glad to see you." Jesus nodded at him and the two of them shook hands. Then, he turned to Rick and Daryl, motioning for them to follow him.
They walked with Jesus to what looked like some kind of old faculty. Daryl kept his eyes on the people. None of them seemed interested in seeing what the newcomers were doing there, unlike the people of the Hilltop Colony who had watched them with curiosity in their eyes. They were minding their own business, farming their crops and vegetables that they had planted in big flowerpots in different sizes.
Daryl walked next to Rick now, letting Jesus lead the way and soon enough, they entered the building and walked toward something which could only be described as a theater. There were rows and rows of seats and in front of them, was a big stage. In the middle of the stage, Daryl instantly spotted a throne. Yes, King Ezekiel had a motherfucking throne, and there he sat, with his leg popped up as if he didn't have a care in the world, as if everything was okay, no matter what shit was going on outside of their walls.
"Jesus, my friend," the man sitting on the throne exclaimed. He lowered his leg on the floor and faced them fully. A small growl was heard and the sound of a chain being dragged over wooden floor. Daryl felt Rick tense beside him, so he glanced at him a second after the big feline walked out from behind the throne to sit by Ezekiel's side. Rick drew in a sharp breath as he stared at the animal and Daryl couldn't help but feel his lips twitch, remembering how Beth had told him not to tell him anything about Ezekiel's pet.
"Yeah, uh, he has a tiger," Daryl mumbled.
Rick was still tense as he leaned a bit closer to him. "Ya couldn't have said that before?" he hissed at him, almost making Dary snort.
But there was nothing to laugh about because Daryl was in fact just as nervous as Rick was. The tiger was watching them, almost curiously, and she bared her teeth, another roar erupting from her. It felt as if the entire ground shook with the force of it and both Rick and Daryl automatically took a small step back.
"Quiet, Shiva," Ezekiel said, as if he spoke the wild animal's language. Maybe he did, Daryl thought to himself, because the tiger instantly settled, lowering itself down to lay on the floor next to the throne. Ezekiel turned back to face them, a smile gracing his features. "It pleases me to see you, old friend," he said, looking at Jesus. "Tell me, what news do you bring good King Ezekiel? Are these new allies you have brought me?"
"Indeed it is, Your Majesty," Jesus said, bowing his head slightly. "It was in fact they who were on their way to seek an audience with you, but not before they stopped by our Colony and convinced our people to fight with them as a united front."
Ezekiel looked at them then, his eyes focusing on Rick and Daryl. "Step forward," he told them, motioning for them to come closer to the stage. "I want to see the ones responsible for getting Gregory to stop cowering away in his big house."
Daryl and Rick moved forward, coming to stand next to Jesus. "We didn't convince Gregory of anythin'... Your Majesty," Rick said and Daryl couldn't help but notice that he said it in a way that made him sound like he still couldn't quite believe that he had said it. "My name is Rick Grimes and my brother here spoke to Gregory's people. He convinced them to fight with us." Rick motioned to Daryl as he spoke.
"Fight with you," the King spoke, his fingers touching his beard. "I am assuming that you are speaking of the people who have been tormenting us ever since we established our community? The Saviors?"
"Yeah," Daryl replied with a drawl and the man's dark eyes settled on him for a moment.
"Only the people in my Court know of our dealings with the Saviors," Ezekiel admitted. "I have never been truly accepting of Negan's truce, but one of the conditions we agreed upon was that my people needn't know that half of everything we produced would be given away."
"You've been lyin' to your people," Rick realized, taking another step toward the stage. Daryl stepped forward with him, because it wasn't news for him. Beth had said that she had supervised some of the transactions between the Saviors and the King, and he knew that the people didn't know about the deal as well as why Ezekiel hadn't told them anything.
"My people are proud of our Kingdom," Ezekiel said thoughtfully. "If they knew of the threat, they would without a doubt step up and fight." He looked at Daryl then, as if contemplating something. "You do not look very surprised by this, Mr…?"
"Daryl," he responded. "My name's Daryl, Your Majesty."
"Mr. Daryl," Ezekiel repeated. "Do you care to share how the sight of my Shiva did not startle you as it did your friend?"
"I knew 'bout her, Sir," Daryl replied. "I've been told 'bout your Kingdom before, an' what to expect."
"Really?" Ezekiel questioned. "You have captured my curiosity, Mr. Daryl. Pray tell me where you have gotten your information."
"Beth Greene, Your Majesty," Jesus replied for him when Daryl hesitated.
Ezekiel's eyes lit up in surprise. "Negan's right hand?" he questioned.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Jesus nodded. "Believe me, we were just as shocked as you were when we first learned that she has been working against him in secret."
"Ms. Greene always did have a fire inside of her," the King mused. "I recognize it now as the same fire that burns inside of me. It is a hatred for these people who have done us nothing but harm under the pretense of keeping us safe."
"We know the Saviors location," Daryl said. "We know their numbers an' we got the Hilltop on our side. With our community, we'll be able to fight them."
"With your help, we'd have the numbers to fight," Rick added. "We'd work together and plan an assault. We'd open up communications between our communities once the war is over, trade and work together for a better place for our children to grow up in."
"We're only askin' for your help," Daryl said.
Ezekiel looked at them gravely and then a smile spread over his face. "And you shall have it, Mr. Daryl. The day has finally come to right the wrongs that have befallen so many people under this tyrant."
Daryl looked over at Rick and for the first time in what felt like too long, he recognized hope in the man's eyes. Convincing Ezekiel to fight with them against the Saviors hadn't taken much and it was clear that the man had just been waiting for the opportune moment to strike back against Negan. Daryl knew that the only reason that Negan had agreed to keep the arrangement between himself and Ezekiel was that the latter had the wild animal by his side. Beth had told him that there hadn't been much that Negan had been able to do than to let the deal be kept secret from the people of the Kingdom, unless he had wanted to be eaten by Shiva. The arrangement had always been shaky and that was why Beth had been the one to supervise the exchanges between them.
"I am pleased to report that fate has brought many travelers to the Kingdom, my Kingdom, today," Ezekiel said, standing from his throne. "Travelers with a singular purpose, in fact and I know that it can be no coincidence. It must be a sign that we are destined to succeed in our task."
He motioned with his hand towards the curtains and Daryl looked at Rick for just a second before turning his attention to the man stepping out of the shadows. His stomach churned at the sight of his burned face and Daryl recognized him instantly by his blonde hair and rough exterior.
"I get that I'm probably the second to last person you'd ever want to see, but you need to understand something before you make any rash decisions," the Savior said, stepping off the stage, approaching Daryl, Rick and Jesus. "I've never been fully supportive of Negan and-"
"You son of a bitch," Daryl growled and with three long strides he had punched he man in the face.
"Daryl!" Rick yelled, trying to pull him back as he kept throwing punches at the man.
"I don't believe this fucker for a second!" Daryl said. "He's one of Negan's lieutenants an' if he's sayin' he's with us, he's fuckin' lyin'!"
The man spat on the floor, blood trickling down his chin. "Yeah? Beth fucking Greene is his right hand and you're fucking trusting her, aren't you?" he yelled back into Daryl's face. "I knew there was more to the way that she protected you. I knew that she was always planning on making a move. Where the fuck is she at anyway?" he asked, looking around.
"She went back," Rick answered, still holding Daryl back. "What's your name?"
"Dwight," the man spat again. "What the fuck do you mean she went back?"
"Please, gentlemen, let us settle this in a calm manner," Ezekiel said. "There's no need for unnecessary violence when we are all meant to be working together."
"What do you mean she went back?" Dwight questioned again, staring down Daryl hard.
"She returned to Negan to buy us time," Daryl said, anger still dripping in his tone.
Dwight's eyes widened for just a second before narrowing, "Are you fucking kidding me?" The question was laced with anger as well as something else, which Daryl couldn't quite put his finger on. "Are you fucking stupid? You're gonna get her killed!" Dwight exclaimed. "By the way that you fucking looked at her when you were brought into the Sanctuary, I thought you fucking loved her. Some love that must have been if you were just willing to send her to slaughter."
Daryl wanted to struggle against Rick and scream at the man again. Beat his fucking head in with his fists and feel his bones getting crushed beneath his knuckles. He wanted to tell him that he was wrong and that Beth knew what she was doing, but his stomach dropped instead and he didn't have any power in him left to struggle. The truth in Dwight's words wasn't something that Daryl could ignore. He was stupid for letting her go back. They had all been foolish to do so and now, he might lose the one person that he cared about more than anything in the world.
"What will he do to her?" Daryl asked, his voice quiet, hoarse, mouth dry.
Dwight shook his head, "I might be able to return before she does, if I hurry." It was clear that Dwight didn't want to give them any details.
"Why are you here?" Rick asked him.
"I didn't know that you were going to be here," Dwight said. "Negan has been going nuts, sending me out to look for Beth. I've been in contact with Ezekiel a while now, but I'm meant to be helping from the inside, giving intel."
"Why would you betray him?" Rick questioned.
"Why did Beth betray him?" Dwight snapped back, his eyes flickering toward Daryl for a moment. "Negan has my wife! I had to do whatever he asked so that he would keep treating her well!"
Another roar interrupted Dwight's yelling. Ezekiel tugged a bit on Shiva's chain. "Please, Shiva abhors violence," he told them. "As do I." His eyes were narrowed as he sat back down on his throne, letting them keep their conversation going.
"Negan, he… He has wives," Dwight said, disgust in his tone. "It's a long story but my wife, Sherry… She chose to be his because she thought it would make our lives easier. She offered herself to him to save my life and that was when he did this to me," Dwight said, pointing at his burned face. "Sherry and I didn't know how much we'd need each other until it was too late. He caught us together and then he burned my face off as punishment. After that, I never did anything he didn't ask me to. I never disobeyed him. I was a good soldier and I did as I was told… I was a fucking coward. I did a lot of terrible things that I can't take back, but I can help you end him now," Dwight said. "I'll try my best to reach Beth in time. I'll send her back to you if I'm not too late and then you'll have me in the inside." Dwight was breathing hard, clutching the strap of his crossbow. "I'll tell you everything and even if you don't believe me, I'll bring you that asshole's head on a silver platter and then it won't matter if you trust me because that motherfucker will be dead and this fucking nightmare will be over."
Daryl watched him and felt Rick squeeze his shoulders a second before releasing him. He didn't know whether he should trust Dwight, but he could see the hatred in his eyes for Negan. If what he had just told them was true, then Daryl only hoped that he would be able to get to Beth before it was too late. The chances were slim because Beth had more than a day's head start. For all that they knew, she could already be at the Sanctuary.
"Please," Daryl said, staring at Dwight. He knew that he didn't have to say anything else because the man nodded at him curtly. Then, his eyes focused on Daryl's crossbow and Daryl saw a twitch on his face as Dwight shook his head.
"Greene," he said. "I knew I hadn't just misplaced my fucking bolts."
Daryl remembered how Beth had told him after they had escaped that she had taken some bolts from someone named Dwight. It wasn't until now that he made the connection.
"I'll do my best," Dwight told him, "but if she's already there, the damage might have already been done."
-§-
When they returned to the Safe Zone that night, Daryl's mind wouldn't shut up. Jesus and King Ezekiel - who they had all begun referring to by nothing more than his first name after leaving the Kingdom - had come with them. They wanted to meet Deanna and see their community for themselves. Jesus worked best alone, so he hadn't brought anyone with him from the Hilltop, but Ezekiel had been forced to order his men specifically to stay behind in the Kingdom. Shiva, the tiger, had been put in a carriage meant for transportation and been brought to Alexandria. Rick had only told Ezekiel that the wild animal was to stay in her cage while they planned and that they would later help him return her to the Kingdom. When Daryl had asked him why Shiva had to come with if it was only for a few days, Ezekiel has smiled and said that she didn't listen to anyone other than him and the people were afraid of her whenever he left her alone.
Nevertheless, Deanna had complimented Daryl on his fine work after meeting Ezekiel and Jesus for the first time. She had told him that he had done their community proud and that he had once again proven himself to be one of the most valuable people within the Safe Zone. Daryl had muttered a thanks at her, not wanting to sit there and explain to her once more that it had all been Beth's work, in fact. Sure, he had been the one to talk and all, but he wouldn't have been able to do it without Beth's help.
He thought of her again and what Dwight had said. Had they sent her to her death by agreeing to let her return to the Sanctuary? Was she being hurt by the people there who viewed her as a traitor? Would Negan buy the story that she had planned on telling him? If he didn't, would he kill her?
Daryl closed his eyes, laying back on his unmade bed that still smelled like her. He threw his arm over his eyes, feeling worry take over completely. He had known that her returning to the Sanctuary would be dangerous, but he would never have been able to anticipate just how bad things could end.
And the worst thing was that there was nothing he could do to help her anymore.
Note: Yeah, Dwight was there and he's on their side... Or at least he says he is! I'm guessing that he's going to have to prove himself to you guys, isn't he? Well, what I wanted to say was that I began this story long before season 7 started. I was always planning on basing the Kingdom, King Ezekiel and Dwight on the way that they behave in the comics, but since ep. 2 and 3 came out, I figured that a mixture of the comics and the TV-show was in order. That's why I changed things a bit when it comes to how Dwight got his face burned. In the comics, it wasn't because he ran with his wife and her sister, but rather because he slept with his wife and Negan caught them together. Negan isn't very fond of cheaters, you see... But hey, Dwight is hurrying back to the Sanctuary, hoping to reach Beth before it's too late! There's more to the story there, because you know that things have been frosty between Beth and Dwight before, mostly because he knew she was taking advantage of his cousin (Luke, which I made up for this story...).
Anyhow, I hope that clears things up a bit. Remember, my Dwight is a mixture between TV-show and comic, but I really hope you'll enjoy him all the same. :)
Next up, Beth is going to be returning to the Sanctuary! I've started the chapter, but I don't know when I'll finish it since I've been very busy with NaNoWriMo. I'm hoping to get a chapter out once a week, but I can't make any promises! :P Thank you so much for reading! Love youuuus! xx