"Clarke." Roan greeted in surprise, as he saw the Commanders wife and her party of warriors riding into his city.
Clarke swung down from her horse and greeted him warmly with a one-armed hug, "Roan, it's good to see you."
"And you." He answered genuinely, "But I need to confess, I have no idea why you are here."
Her eyes flicked around quickly, noticing the crowd of people that was already gathering to watch them speak, each of them wondering why Wanheda had suddenly arrived without warning in Azgeda. "Perhaps we should speak in private." She suggested softly, tilting her head subtly to alert him to the not so subtle crowd.
His eyes following hers for a second, he quickly nodded, motioning with his hand for him to follow his towards a building just inside the city gates.
As they walked in, she looked around curiously, it was designed simply, but in a style that was reminiscent of the rooms in the Commander's Tower in Polis. It was when he led her into a bed room, her disgruntled guards ordered to wait downstairs, that it finally clicked in her mind.
"Is this your house?" She asked curiously, moving about the space with interest, examining the various items set around the room, each of them seeming to carry sentimental worth rather than actual value.
Roan smiled as he sat down in a battered but comfortable chair beside a low table in front of the fire, "It is." He answered her, "The Ice Palace my mother constructed never felt like home to me, when you leave the building look up, you'll see that I tore it down. With the land alone we could build dozens of new houses to accommodate my people, who were previously living in poor conditions under my mother's rule."
"I'm glad to hear that." Clarke grinned, "Told you there was a reason Lexa wanted you alive."
"I thought that reason was that she hated my mother more than she hated me." He chuckled in response.
Clarke shook her head with a smile, "You know as well as I, that if Nia had been a better choice for the coalition than you, Lexa would have taken your head without a second's hesitation."
Roan dipped his chin in agreement, "That she would, and what of you, would you have cried for me Wanheda?"
"Well you did kidnap me." Clarke laughed, "So there were major points against you for that."
"On your wife's orders, and no one defies her when she's angry. It would be costlier than anyone is willing to face."
Clarke grinned, "Oh you've been away too long Roan, you should watch what happens when Octavia tries it. Especially now that she's pregnant, Lexa couldn't do anything even if she wanted to."
"Octavia's pregnant?" Roan repeated disbelievingly, "You're right, I have been away from the capital for too long. So, there's going to be another addition to your family of misfits, you must be so pleased."
"Our family Roan," Clarke corrected, "Whether you live with us or not, you're there when it counts, and that's all we can ask. If Lexa and I, and our friends are a family, then I consider you my brother."
"I would be all too glad to call you my sister Clarke." Roan answered seriously, "You're one of the strongest people I have ever met, and more deserving of respect that any other. You have fought for everything you have, and don't think that none of us have seen that it was hard won. But still, here you stand, still fighting."
Sighing, Clarke looked over to the fire, which was crackling away pleasantly, "Speaking of fighting, that's why I'm here. There was an attack on Polis."
Roan sat forwards quickly, "What happened? Who was it? Whatever you need Clarke, just tell me who it was, and I'll march on them with an army of the-"
"Roan." Clarke stopped him, "That's just the problem, the warriors that attacked us, bore the marks of your clan."