Here you are! Chapter 4. I hope you enjoy it. R&R!

"You'd have waited much longer if it were up to me," Bellamy retorted, crossing his arms over his chest. "I came here to ask you some questions about a project you worked on before I was born. It was called Odysseus."

"Bellamy, please," Kayden said, standing from the couch he'd been perched on. "I want to apologize for everything that has happened. I can explain- "

"I don't want to hear about your feelings or your excuses," Bellamy spat, stopping short. "I don't want anything from you but the truth."

"This is how you'd speak to me?" Kayden asked, becoming a little irritated, crossing his arms. "This is how you choose to speak to your father?"

"I don't consider you to be anything more than a traitor," Bellamy growled, glaring up at him. "You betrayed me; you chose to betray your only son. You don't deserve the right to be called father."

"I didn't choose anything," Kayden snapped, his voice raising. "You have no idea what I've done to protect you and our family from our enemies. You have no idea what I've sacrificed so that my grandchildren and great-grandchildren can live in peace!"

"Peace?" Bellamy scoffed, looking up at his father bemusedly. "You think you've won peace with your plots and schemes?"

"I thought I had," Kayden growled, grabbing his goblet of wine that sat behind him on his desk. He downed it, taking a few deep breaths before turning back to look at Bellamy. In that moment Bellamy saw the tired, fading, warrior that he'd once known. He saw it today as he'd saw it months ago on their trek north only this time, a little more of Kayden had slipped away. Bellamy barely recognized him and guilt began to pool in his chest.

"Odysseus," Bellamy insisted, trying to shake the feeling. "Tell me about it."

"It was a plan set in motion by your grandfather, Tama," Kayden replied, his voice low and even. He had moved to sit in his chair now, sliding it aside with a squeak before sitting down. Bellamy could see the haggard look in his eyes. "Odysseus, as the name suggests, was a way to infiltrate and bring Azgeda down from the inside."

"During the last war, Azgeda had raided our northern border, killing over two hundred men, women, and children. The northern legion also took heavy losses - over 100 cadets, soldiers, and officers slaughtered in guerilla warfare." Kayden sighed, leaning back in his chair now, his eyes drifting to the ceiling as he spoke. "We didn't see an end to the hostilities and we had to consider the past wars and attacks upon our people. We couldn't stand for the violence anymore so we had to decide. The next day the council had unanimously and secretly approved, The Odysseus Protocol."

"You had a contact," Bellamy interjected, watching his father closely. "A rare informant; an Azgeda defector."

"We called him Koa," Kayden nodded, a grimace on his face. His son always liked to skip to the heart of the matter; impatience gotten from him no doubt. "Our plan was simple: we'd offer his family sanctuary and in exchange, he could lead us to the capital. He'd defected because his son was born with a radiation defect which, in Azgeda, meant death. He couldn't bear to part with his son so he and his young wife fled to Polis."

"How do you know he isn't a double agent?" Bellamy questioned, not believing in coincidence. "How exactly did you find him?"

"I'd spent some time in Polis during my youth," Kayden nodded, pouring himself some more wine. "It was there that I became friends with the man who would be commander. Alexi was a close confidant and I am sure that it is because of his friendship that I am not dead now."

"The commander introduced you to Koa?"

"He was our age, worked around the corner from our favorite game-house," Kayden recalled, a smile spreading over his lips. "We'd stop there every time to buy some ale and food. We didn't know he was from Azgeda until one night, while we were in a drunken haze, we made a mess. We almost burned his entire tunic and unfortunately, in the process of rescuing him, his scars were revealed."

"So, you're telling me you met an Azgeda defector almost twenty years ago and you've never once found the location of the Azgeda capital?" Bellamy questioned, a scowl on his face.

"You know as well as I that the people of Azgeda are stubborn, loyal to their Queen," Kayden growled, glaring up at Bellamy. "We couldn't just start torturing and hurting a man we'd called friend. He wanted a simple life, a peaceful life, and Alexi and I agreed to never speak of it."

"Until the Odysseus Protocol?"

"We were ordered, by Alexi's uncle Commander Aelik, to seek out spies and defectors in our own lands as well as other clans," Kayden sighed, his eyes becoming distant. "That was what initiated our plan. The Commander was ruthless when it came to Azgeda spies and deserters. He'd torture them for information, abduct their families, and it began to feel like we were swimming in lies and blood. It was truly hell on earth…"

"But your friend? Koa?" Bellamy urged, the turning anticipation in his stomach almost leaping out his mouth. "Did they find him?"

"We made sure he was well hidden," Kayden said, glancing back at Bellamy woefully. "In exchange he revealed to us what he knew about the capital."

"Then why haven't you used it?" Bellamy growled, anger rising in his chest. "You could have taken care of this Azgeda problem long ago!"

"It wasn't that simple," Kayden glowered, turning back to his wine. "The abduction and torture of their citizens set Azgeda on a war path that wouldn't have stopped even if we had told them what we knew. Nia was looking for any reason to strike, any reason to strengthen Azgeda's position. We couldn't have gotten far even with the location of their capital."

"So, your information is useless," Bellamy sighed, turning from him. "You could have led with that fact…"

"We only know that the river it is located on is called the Agra Fa," Kayden retorted, standing up. "And what would you do with this information anyway? Infiltrate Azgeda? Do you truly think you can get to Clarke and make it out?"

"Don't you speak her name," Bellamy growled. "You have no right. It's because of your greed, your need for power and wealth that she's their prisoner in the first place!"

"She's a prisoner but it's a cage she'll never escape," Kayden warned. "You don't understand anything about what Nia has planned for Clarke."

Bellamy froze now, his eyes growing slightly wide at the thought of what they could do Clarke. She was tough but she didn't know anything about fighting or killing. That wasn't her game but he couldn't imagine that Nia would kill her. She's the most valuable hostage Azgeda had ever possessed.

"She's engaged to Prince Roan," Kayden explained, the pity on his face overwhelmingly sympathetic. "They'll marry, she'll become the Queen, and then on their wedding night, Nia will murder Clarke and Roan in their sleep. She'll blame the foreign bride, Azgeda will go to war with Arkadia, the coalition will divide, and it will be total chaos. A new praimfaya."

Bellamy almost collapsed onto the lounge chair, staring blankly at his father as the chair engulfed him. "How do you know all this?" Bellamy asked, his voice hoarser than he'd expected.

"I don't know for sure," Kayden admitted, watching his son. "But I know how Nia thinks and I've been watching her moves carefully for many years now."

"So what good is this informant of yours?" Bellamy asked, ready to just give up on this entire conversation.

"Koa was a simple man, but he knew the one thing none other did," he smirked, leaning toward Bellamy in his chair. "Koa knew about the murder of Roan's twin and Nia's revenge..."

Bellamy eyed him closely, unsure what he was telling him. As far as Bellamy knew, Roan never had a twin. And even if he did, what difference did that make now? He wasn't sure if his father was hinting at a larger plot or if he was just muddying the waters.

"Koa's son was born on the night she died," Kayden sighed, the nostalgia and heartache obvious in his tone. Bellamy had never seen him so broken. "Koa was a guard in the royal palace and the night his son was born, he was on guard duty. He knew something was wrong that night, that the King had a secret. He'd left his chambers while the fortress slept and returned shortly after, something out of character for the man who'd always been seclusive, like a hermit."

"I don't understand what this has to do with anything," Bellamy grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. "What does it matter? We need to figure out how to stop Nia before – "

"Just listen to me," Kayden sighed, taking another drink from his glass. "It was only that next morning, when Roan's twin was found dead in her crib that Koa knew what had happened. Nia was furious, questioning every guard on duty that night. Koa had barely managed to evade her, going home to find that his wife had given birth already. It was when he'd met his son that he decided to get his family out of Azgeda that very same night."

"I still don't see how this helps us," Bellamy shrugged, watching his father apprehensively.

"Nia murdered her husband, King Ewan, in retribution," Kayden replied, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Since the night her daughter died, she's worked endlessly to secure power for herself and, in her own warped way, the crown for the daughter that still lives. Her plan was never to allow Roan the throne, who was favored by his father even before the death of his twin. Don't you see? This is her goal…"

"You knew all of this and yet you still pushed me into seducing Clarke? You still pushed me toward Roya?" Bellamy drawled, his voice low and full of disgust. "You plotted with her this whole time knowing the truth?"

"I had no choice," Kayden growled, his face stern, watching his son wearily. "Nia approached me with the suit and her plans almost ten years ago. She told me she'd eliminate the only obstacle in the Blake's way. She told me that if I cooperated with Azgeda that he would support our family when the time came for new leadership in Arkadia."

"You risked the life of a child for the sake of power?"

"No," Kayden barked, making Bellamy glare at him angrily. "I would risk the life of any child to save my own children. Do you think Nia politely asked to go along with her plan? Do you think she'd of revealed her intentions if she didn't have reassurances that I would comply?"

"What did you do?" Bellamy spat, his entire body tightening, afraid to hear what his father had really agreed to.

"She threatened to kill us all," Kayden said calmly. "She said if I didn't cooperate, she'd send assassins here, to our home, and that we'd never be safe again. She also threatened to reveal me to the council; she knew some things from my past that would have ruined our family, and any future, you and Octavia had."

"What and how did she find out?" Bellamy questioned, remembering his father's underground deals with the gangs and the cache of weapons he'd kept for himself.

"She'd been watching our factories and our troops in the north closely for years now," Kayden sighed, becoming frustrated with himself. "She knew we were increasing production, knew where our warehouses were at, and knew how to slip past our border without detection. Do you know how many supplies and shipments we've lost to Azgeda raiders?"

"So, she forced me into a deal," Kayden continued, noting the look of betrayal in Bellamy's eyes. "We'd supply Azgeda with a shipment of rifles every month and if I did not comply, she'd burn our northern factories to the ground." Kayden looked distant now, his eyes swimming in remorse. "She held that secret deal over me, threatening to tell the council if I didn't comply with her plans."

"You should have come clean," Bellamy insisted, feeling like weight on his shoulders nearly double. "You should have told the council about the deal and been fined or suspended instead of letting some foreign Queen manipulate you into doing her bidding. You should have fought harder!" Bellamy was so furious he didn't even want to look at his father. "All your side-deals and plots were more important than your family, your own blood! You should have been a man and owned up to your mistakes!"

"I told one man," Kayden growled, making Bellamy pause. "Believe it or not, Jake Griffin and I had not always been enemies. Clarke isn't the only one to have come up with unique and inspiring ways to help our people. She is much like her father in this respect…"

"You...?"

"You could say that we were rivals that became friends," Kayden sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Jake knew what Nia held over me, knew what I'd done and wanted to help. However, I let our friendship blind me and as a result, Griffin had planned to marry his own daughter to Azgeda, making sure to keep me silent in council with knowledge, and evidence, of my own dealings with Nia."

"You two have been blackmailing each other and playing with Clarke and I like pawns from the very beginning," Bellamy pointed, the anger in his voice almost palpable. "That's why you weren't jailed! Griffin knew everything and saved you, and his dirty lies, from being exposed!"

"I couldn't say no," Kayden almost begged, standing up slowly, hoping Bellamy would look at him but Bellamy was consumed with anger and heartache. "I had no idea you'd fall for the girl! I swear, I only meant to protect our family…"

"You've killed us all," Bellamy spat, standing up to look his father in the eyes. "You've killed us all because you couldn't give up your power! Do you think that's what we'd have wanted? We're disgraced anyway!"

"Plans were already in motion! It wasn't just me who sought out an Azgeda alliance!" Kayden was furious, his eyes ablaze. "Jacob Griffin brought this on himself as well. He initiated the idea of an alliance with Azgeda before I'd even been approached! Clarke was practically gifted to the royal family of Azgeda on her thirteenth birthday!"

"Both of you were compliant," Bellamy growled, slamming his fist on his father's desk. "He would have never agreed if you'd have taken that kind of a step without provocation from you!"

"You have no idea what he agreed to," Kayden spat. "Griffin knew that the only way for their family could hold onto power was through Clarke's marriage. They've known since she was born, and it was apparent he'd have no other heir. Her betrothal to Azgeda has been fated since she was a girl."

Bellamy was furious and before he knew what he was doing he'd swung and knocked his father into the chair that he'd been sitting in. His father fell to his knees and touched his bleeding lip, grasping at the arm of the chair to pull himself back up. He threw himself into the chair again, moving to look up at his son with a mixture of bewilderment and pride. Bellamy shrunk back though, his eyes wide and his mouth agape. He'd never considered hurting his father but in that moment, the man he'd admired most had revealed his treachery against all Arkadia.

"You may be sorry, but I'll never forgive you for the part you played," Bellamy spat, regaining himself, the anger still hot in his stomach. "I'll figure out a way to fix this and when I do, you'll be lucky if we let you live."

"Bellamy, please…"

"You're no father to me," Bellamy retorted, turning from his father and striding toward the door. It flung open easily and he slammed it shut, the guards turning to look at him as he made his way down the hall. He didn't even know where to begin to fix this problem. He had to rescue Clarke, stop an Azgeda coup, and locate and somehow infiltrate the capital. He didn't even acknowledge his mother as she stood in the archway of the hall, walking right past her toward the gallery.

"Don't blame him," she said, stopping him in his tracks. "Would you have done it differently? Would you have chosen the fate of an unknown child over your family?"

"He lied to me," Bellamy growled. "If I'd have known, even a hint…"

"You'd have what? Not fallen in love with Clarke Griffin?" There was a wide smile on his mother's face and it irritated him that she could cut through the emotions and fog to get to the root of the problem.

"I don't know," Bellamy breathed, his shoulders slouching. "There's so much to consider and I don't know if I have the strength…"

"You're not alone," Aurora smiled, touching his cheek. "Never alone…"

"I have to go," Bellamy insisted, stepping away again. "If I can get us out of this, we'll talk about it later but right now, I need you and O to start packing your things. Do it discretely…"

"I've had a couple bags packed for weeks now," Aurora explained, nodding at him. "We'll wait for your word but I need you to promise me that you'll stay safe." She gazed up at him with a knowing intensity and Bellamy knew what she meant.

"I can't promise you that," Bellamy sighed, grasping her arm. "I can't promise you anything because I don't even know what I'm going to do yet."

"You'd risk your own life to save the woman you love," his mother pressed, the pride in her voice unmistakable. "But I need you to consider the rest of your family as well."

"I would never put you or Octavia in harm's way," Bellamy assured nodding at her. "But I have to go…"

He'd freed himself from his mother's tight embrace too soon and was jogging down the corridor toward the gallery. He'd nearly jumped down the stairs two at a time to get to the front door. There, waiting patiently, was the head of their household guard. Bellamy only nodded at him, quickly instructing him to keep the house locked down before sprinting toward the front gates. He hadn't even realized he had been sprinting until he reached the embassy square, pulling his own handheld out. He needed to find Monty, Raven, and Jon but he also needed to speak to everyone. If rescuing Clarke was the objective, he knew he wouldn't have to do this alone.

"Don't get frustrated," Roan urged, closing the book on the table in front of them. He leaned back on the comfortable couch now, smirking at her. "Azgedaslang is a tough language for outsiders to learn."

"I've always been a quick study," Clarke groaned, looking over another book sitting on the table. "It's all I can do to keep occupied and I'm failing miserably."

"Then you need something else to focus on," Roan nodded, standing up. "Have you ever shot a bow?"

"I've trained with a gun when I was a child," Clarke nodded, looking over at him. "We are all put through basic safety and training courses. I wasn't very good…"

"That's a small man's fight," Roan chuckled. "The sword, the axe, the bow… these are real weapons."

"No, I've never been trained in any of those," Clarke chuckled, taking a drink from her goblet before standing up. "Do you think I could learn to use a bow?"

"Why not?" Roan asked, offering for her to follow him. They had been sitting in one of the lounges just off the dining hall, drinking and combing over the few books that were available in the fortress.

"I could try," Clarke nodded, following him through the corridor and out into the main hall. "It would be a more practical talent to have."

"You can practice once your leg is fully healed," Roan nodded, glancing down at her leg as they walked. "But your accent is not horrible, you just need practice."

"Perhaps when we are together, we can speak Azgedaslang," Clarke suggested, thinking of no better practice partner.

"We can do that after you've studied a little more," Roan smirked, leading her into a corridor she'd never been in. Though she'd been here over three weeks, she didn't know her way around the palace that well. She hardly left Roan's suite without him but lately she has been adventuring in his wing with Bruni. The older girl was still cold as ever but at least her jailor was willing to answer questions.

"Where are we going?" Clarke finally asked, pausing in front of a large wooden door. Clarke had only now noticed it was also wrought with black iron and noted the carved symbols and scenes on the door itself. It was, like most of the buildings and carvings in Azgeda, beautiful.

"This is what you Arkadians would call an archive room," Roan smirked. "Or, maybe a treasury?"

When he pushed the doors open, Clarke was sure she'd found her favorite room in the entire palace. It was a vaulted room, thick and ornate columns lining one wall; each column had scenery carved into it as well. Battles, fables, mythical creatures, and divine symbols all wrapping up to a landing above. Clarke couldn't tear herself away from the sky-lights above them either. They were interwoven with what looked like branches, fitted with every shade of blue and white glass you could possibly make. It was extravagant.

It also housed shelves of the most fascinating things. Large tomes bound in leather and chord, glass ornaments, trinkets, and weapons lining a shelf along the one wall. She also loved that the opposite wall housed the same glass and branch design as the skylight, as if they were themselves inside of a large tree. What also caught her attention were the tables, desks, pedestals, and plush lounge chairs strewn about the room. The floor, smooth dark wood littered with woven carpets and furs, was almost glowing as the most elaborate chandelier she'd ever seen dangled above her.

It was massive, housing at least 100 candles, all thick as Clarke's arm. Their wicks were alight with blazes almost making it look like a small sun. The metal and bone work were ornate; silver intertwined with white bone protruding beautifully sophisticated filigree. It made Clarke a little emotional, feeling her eyes water as she stared lovingly around the beautiful room. She hadn't even noticed the massive fireplace near the door, made of polished stone and iron. It was definitely the warmest room in the fortress, making Clarke unbutton the fur shawl she'd been clinging to since Roan gave it to her almost a week ago.

"Do you like it?" he asked, motioning for her to step further into the room. He closed the door behind her and she couldn't help but spin around, laying the fur on the table closest to her.

"It is magnificent," she breathed, eyes alight in wonder. "What… craftsmanship. I had no idea anything so beautiful existed still…"

"My great-great grandfather originally designated this a hall for worship," Roan smiled. "But now it harbors some of the most precious Azgeda history and artifacts."

"I could spend eternity here," Clarke sighed, looking out the glass panels, some as large as she was, on the one wall. The room overlooked the forest and the mountains that stretched north into the unknown. It had been a dreary, cold and wet day but the fog rolling off the hills in the distance and the mist of rain above it created a magical scene.

"You could, if you desired to," Roan smiled, moving toward a carved alter near the far wall of the room. Clarke watched him curiously as he pulled the top up, revealing a compartment inside. Roan had pulled something out of it and closed the secret hatch before placing the object on top. Clarke moved closer to get a better look now, curious as to what the opulent white object was.

"This," Roan whispered, his fingers grazing the object. "Is the Azgeda crown. Passed down for almost 200 years; it is my birthright. I wanted to show you what I was fighting for, to show you why you are here."

Clarke studied it closely, the white bone crown looking almost like a crown of thorns. There were pieces of bone protruding from it, interwoven with silver decoration. Clarke saw, very clearly, the Azgeda symbol carved into the brow, filled with the finest silver touches. She was quite besotted with the idea of such a beautiful object representing the misery of so many. It was also quite heavy, she noted, gently sliding her fingers under it to lift it off the wooden alter.

"It is a burden, but I need to do what is best for my people," Roan said, glancing over at her. "I'm sure you can understand that."

"Monarchy is such a foreign concept to my people," Clarke replied, her voice soft but firm. "All of our ancestors understood the concept though; most trying to free themselves from that bondage. That mindset of greater and lesser…"

"I don't ask you to understand completely," Roan replied, turning to face her. "But I need you to know that this isn't just an object. It is sacred; our people believe that our culture, our prosperity, our way of life is passed down from one King to the next. I will not be the King who let Azgeda disappear from this world."

"Then why can't our people work together for that common goal?" Clarke asked, staring at the crown curiously. "Why can't we work toward the common goal of cultural exchange, mutual prosperity, and peace?"

Roan wasn't sure if she wanted him to answer, his eyes locked on the fire behind those deep blue orbs. It was a hot fire, blazing azure and unstoppable like her mind was a burning forge, mulling over her own questions with deliberation. He hadn't realized he'd been staring at her a long while, admiring how beautiful she really was. He hadn't even realized he'd unconsciously stood closer to her, averting his eyes to the crown as she slowly turned to look up at him. He mentally slapped himself for that. He shouldn't have cared if she caught him staring - she knew she was beautiful.

"I just don't understand this world," Clarke finally sighed, making Roan look down at her. She instantly became aware of how close they'd been standing, his body heat engulfing her like the large crackling fire in the hearth.

"When you have the answers, let me know," Roan nodded, his voice a little more gravely than he'd intended. He had no idea that it had made Clarke shiver, the goose pimples popping up on her arms and neck. He hadn't noticed but instead opened the alter again, placing the crown back within.

"Your world fascinates me," Clarke admitted, gaining his attention again. Roan didn't miss the sadness that accompanied that statement.

"You speak as if that were a bad thing," Roan offered, motioning for her to join him in one of the plush couches that sat nearest the fire. Clarke followed him, sitting gingerly on the wood and feathered seat.

"It is," Clarke admitted, leaning back against the warm furs. "You don't want me as queen and I don't want to get caught up in Azgeda plots and intrigues. You honestly think everything will just go as you want it to? That your mother will hand you the crown once we are married?"

"It'll be a fight, I'm sure," Roan admitted, turning his head to look straight down at her as he lounged next to her. "But convincing all of the warlords and the council that I am ready to ascend is going to take a lot of convincing. They have said that the only reason I haven't been granted the title is because I am unmarried. Normally, I'd have been married years ago and had sons by now."

"Why haven't you?"

"It wasn't what I wanted," Roan sighed. "The tradition amongst our people is that the prince chose a bride once he becomes a man. But I didn't want to just be given some woman hand-picked by my council. I wanted…" Roan trailed off now, feeling slightly stupid for revealing too much to Clarke.

"I understand," Clarke nodded, smiling up at him. "I didn't know you were such a romantic…"

"I've been accused of many things," Roan smirked, his voice quiet. "But romantic is not one of them."

"Do you love someone?" Clarke asked, her voice also quiet, watching Roan curiously. She had to admit that the prince's feelings had intrigued her; perhaps they were not so different.

"Not at the moment," he admitted, his breath hot on her face as he spoke. She could feel his eyes watching her, her own eyes drawn to the smile on his lips. She hadn't realized she'd been staring at them and looked away, biting her own lip as she did. She had no idea that this had jolted Roan's most primitive desires.

He didn't know where it had come from, the smallest act of innocence making his brain scramble. All he could think about at that moment was how wonderful those lips must feel; how soft her skin must be if he could just touch it. He also thought of how satisfying it would be to feel those lips on his skin. He quickly shook these thoughts away when she'd looked away from him, realizing he'd been leaning a little too close.

"I just haven't met the right girl," Roan said, his voice a little shaky, trying to move the conversation along. "I've only ever met one woman that had made me consider love and she is long dead."

"I'm so sorry," Clarke said, her voice a little more pitiful than she'd intended. Roan noticed and shook his head, gently poking the side of her head with his finger and a smile.

"It's okay Clarke," Roan admitted, a casual twinkle in his eye. "I was fourteen and we were in the same legion. You could say it was my first real experience with a girl. She was kind and ferocious, but she died on the battlefield. A true warrior's death and I'm sure that is what she wanted."

"You've never been with anyone since?" Clarke asked, disbelievingly. She hadn't realized this had tickled Roan greatly. Was this Arkadian princess really asking him about his sexual partners?

"I wouldn't say that," Roan smiled." But she was the first to make me seriously consider love."

"I see," Clarke replied, her face blushing as she looked toward the fire, avoiding his eyes.

Roan was curious, and fascinated, with this girl next to him. She was not what he'd thought she'd be. At first, she was indignant, angry, perhaps even a bit foolish but the more time he spent with her, the more attractive she became. He wasn't sure if she'd weaved a spell or if he'd truly found her attractive, but he'd never felt this sort of need before. It was lustful, he'd admit, but it was also curiosity. A curiosity to see her true nature, her true mind and all that was hiding behind those azure eyes.

"You are beautiful," Roan stated, as if he'd just figured it out, emphasizing the point. "I don't understand it though… it's like nothing I've ever seen before."

Clarke just blushed, unsure if she should look at him or keep staring at the blazing orange flames in front of her. She battled with the idea of being seductive, giving him an act of feminine weakness, but she didn't want to degrade herself. She also felt a pain in her heart, like anything she did or said would hurt the man she truly loved. Bellamy's dark eyes danced in the fire now, making her look quickly back at Roan. She wasn't going to think like that – not when she wasn't sure if she'd ever see him again. She had to be strong, she had to be smart, but above all she had to be careful.

"I don't understand it either," Clarke replied, looking straight up at him. "I guess I'm just one-of-a-kind."

"That's obvious," Roan replied, his eyes lingering on Clarke's lips. "But there is something there. A… wildness that I can't quite unravel. You keep it bottled up, I can see that plain enough."

Clarke swallowed hard now, his hoarse tone and the gravel of his voice filling her with warmth. She didn't know what to say to him, what she could do to smoothly divert his attention. She felt awkward but at the same time, incredibly drawn to him. It almost turned her stomach, her mind racing back to that passionate kiss she'd shared with Bellamy, the feel of his hands on her. Roan must have noticed the change in her because he smiled, leaning closer.

"I don't mean to make you uneasy," he assured, his voice soft, almost soothing as if he was coaxing a small creature into his trap. "But I am an honest guy. You're extremely attractive to me. I can't help but want to know more about you."

"Like what?" Clarke asked, her voice a soft whisper. She couldn't help but ask, his electric blue eyes entrancing her as he stared down at her. She could see the lust, the want, and the curiosity all bubbling beneath the surface. She had to be careful, she had to coax him to her side.

"How do you feel about me?" Roan asked, moving slightly closer, his arm going over the back of the couch. He turned to fully face her now, his other hand resting anxiously on his own leg. He needed to know what her reaction was, curious about what she would say. He could see that her breathing had quickened slightly, her eyes deepening as she gazed up him. He'd been around enough women to recognize lust. He also recognized a timid guilt that bubbled beneath the surface. He knew she was thinking of the Blake boy.

"I don't know," she replied slowly, her hands in her lap firmly, trying not to wrap them around herself protectively. He looked like a wolf, eagerly circling his prey.

"You're clearly attracted to me," Roan breathed, his face only inches from hers. His free hand had moved from his leg to her hands, gently grasping her fingertips. "I can see your body reacting to how close I am. It's quite stunning seeing such a lustful gaze in those eyes of yours."

Roan then leaned closer, his lips gently grazing her cheek before pulling away, a smile on his own face. "But I see your apprehension, your guilt… I can almost smell it." He smirked now, bringing her fingertips up to his lips, kissing the tops of them gently. "I won't force you into anything and I won't try to seduce you. I won't pressure you and I won't be angry, but you need to know how I see you. I think we could be quite formidable together."

Clarke couldn't process the range of emotions that shot through her in that instant. It was a mix of guilt, apprehension, anger, and fear that washed over her before the adrenaline. The sobering fact that Roan might have meant what he said had clouded Clarke's mind. She had immediately pictured dozens of different scenarios where this lust she felt was valid. Where she could somehow make a match with Roan work but the guilt in her heart overruled all that. She could see Bellamy's face, the heartbreak and anger in his eyes if he ever knew that she'd even contemplated it. She felt so conflicted and Roan's gentle touch on her leg made her skin flare the most brilliant shade of red.

"I love Bellamy," Clarke whispered, her lips trembling slightly as she looked up at him. He was, in his own noble and mature way, very attractive. Clarke didn't deny the lust she felt, the ache that washed over her. She had to consider all options and though her heart had been given to another, Roan's possessive and protective nature entranced her. How could she doubt that those words, that look in his eye, was a lie?

"I am aware," he drawled, gently tracing a circle on her leg before pulling his hand away. "First loves are intense, often heart-breaking; I admire your determination."

"You don't know anything about us," Clarke quipped, feeling the dryness of her mouth, licking her lip unconsciously.

"I don't," Roan affirmed, placing his hand under her chin, tilting her head up so their lips were almost touching. "But I know if you do that again, I'll have to leave the room. I don't think you know how tempting you are…"

"Please," Clarke said, the weariness of the entire situation overtaking her. She felt so taught, her stomach flipping and turning miserably as he gazed down at her. She couldn't admit that she enjoyed that look; lust and possessiveness oozed from every pore, surrounding her in his heat.

She felt his lips graze hers, his fingertips gently moving her jaw so that their lips met softly, fleetingly. He did this for a moment before placing a tender kiss on her lips, softly sighing against her cheek as he pressed his face into her golden locks.

"I hope you give it some serious thought," Roan said, the softness of his voice foreign to Clarke. She'd been around him enough to notice that he almost never spoke this way. "I wouldn't be opposed to making you mine."

They both felt the shiver than ran down her spine, the goosepimples forming on her bare arms and neck. Roan couldn't help but smile at this, the way her body reacted to his as his hand lowered her fingers back to her lap. He then grasped her upper arm, encircling her as she stared up at him, dumbfounded. She didn't know what was going on, why she felt so comfortable and so drawn to him. She didn't know him well enough to even see the real him but in these past few moments, she'd seen something magically beguiling.

"Kiss me," he almost commanded, making Clarke's whole body warm. The way his eyes locked onto hers, kept her attention, made her almost melt into him. His arm on the back of the couch wrapped around her hips instantly, pulling them together in a meld of heat and fur. Clarke felt so warm, his chest pressed against hers, the warmth of his fur and velvet tunic pressing down like a comforting blanket. She wanted more, her mind blank of everything but his touch.

It was when he suddenly pulled away, her lips swollen and warm, that she opened her eyes. He was smiling, a sort of smug smile that gave Clarke a jolt. It was so sexy, and she'd never even considered another satisfied smile other than Bellamy's. This was different though; he was triumphant, but he was also understanding, almost entirely engrossed in how he was making her feel. It was different than seduction, too natural to be an act.

"Someone likes to be told what to do," Roan commented, his hands lowering to grasp her hips. "Sit on my lap, princess…."

This jarred Clarke awake, as if she'd been in a daze this whole time. That word, that moniker, rang in her ears like a bell. Bellamy called her princess and she could hear it in the way Roan said it. It wasn't his voice at all but Bellamy's, the blush springing on her cheeks like fire. She pulled away from him, standing stiffly.

"I shouldn't have done that," Clarke said, her voice cold. "I don't think you understand so let me make it clear to you. I'm not someone's possession and I am not a piece on your gameboard. I love Bellamy Blake and one day, I will get back to him."

"I see," Roan drawled, his face a bit comical. He then stood, pulling Clarke flush against him. He stole a long, lustful kiss from her, his hands grasping her bottom and his hips thrusting into hers, making her almost purr in his arms. Just as quickly as it had happened, it was over, his eyes shining down at her. "Very well then. I will keep my promise; no seduction or pressure but you should think on it. You may find that you're not entirely sure of yourself yet."

He then nodded, motioning for her to follow him out of the room, Clarke realizing that the sun had begun to go down. She glimpsed around the room one last time before grabbing her fur shawl, pulling it over her shoulders before following him through the double doors. They'd come upon the long hallway again, ready to ascend to the gallery above when Roan stopped, almost making Clarke bump into him.

"There you two are," Roya called, waving for them to come into the small lounge off the main hall. "I was worried I wasn't going to see you tonight. You've been spending an awful lot of time together."

"Shouldn't we?" Roan quipped, turning and wrapping an arm around her waist, protectively approaching his sister.

They entered the room and Roan bowed slightly to his mother who happened to have been sitting at a table, glancing over maps and books. She noticed Clarke and flipped some pages over, standing to face them.

"Where have you been lately? We've yet to discuss the delegation," Nia said, staring up at her son. "Have you told her?"

"I forgot," Roan admitted, glancing down at Clarke.

"Lexa of Polis is coming to Azgeda," Roya announced, smiling down at Clarke coolly. "She's leader of the delegation sent to assess that you're still alive."

"And in one piece," Nia said, glancing down at her. "So, have you decided what you are going to say to the ambassadors?"

"We haven't discussed it," Roan said, his hand instinctually holding Clarke against him. "After all, we are still getting to know one another."

"The delegation will be here in two weeks," Nia continued, looking down at Clarke. "I understand that Lexa is a close friend…"

"So how are you planning to convince her that you're willingly marrying my brother?" Roya asked, a smirk on her face. "Personally, I'm not very convinced."

"Clarke knows Lexa better than we do," Roan grumbled, making his sister look at him. "She'll know what to say."

"And does she understand that if she deceives us, I'll kill her in her sleep?" Nia asked, watching Roan closely. His grip was so tight and so warm, and Clarke was thankful for it. She felt suddenly faint.

"She knows what I have to do," Clarke spoke up, finding her courage. "After all, I am to be Queen. If I can't handle this, how will I handle the responsibility of being both a wife, a mother, and a queen?"

"Smart," Roya chuckled, moving to stare down at her. "Very smart but I wonder if you are ready for all that. Mother, shouldn't she have to go through some sort of ritual, some sort of rite to ascend. After all, even the lowest amongst our people are afforded that honor."

"What are you suggesting?" Roan asked, his voice low and dangerous. "Should we just send her out into the wilderness? See what she makes of it?"

"Don't be so dramatic," Nia scoffed, turning to Clarke. "So, tell me, do you have any skills at all? Can you hunt? Ride? Fight?"

"We cover basic combat in primary school," Clarke spoke up, silencing Roan before he could respond for her. "We're taught to shoot a gun, plow a field, and protect our families. What did you have in mind?"

"Always so feisty," Roya sighed, looking over at her mother. "Let's make her fight our new recruits. See what she's capable of."

"We could have her fight the younger recruits," Nia suggested, Clarke feeling Roan's arm snake even more protectively around her hips. She was nearly flush against him now, looking up with wide eyes.

"How about we leave it alone," Roan suggested, his tone leaving no room for interpretation. "She's my bride so I'll decide what is best."

"I've been told you are teaching her our language," Nia commented. "And our history; I think she knows too much."

"She'll be my Queen one day," Roan responded, his shoulders squared. "She should know anything she wishes."

"You're being quite protective," Roya observed, Clarke's eyes finding the floor as the older girl gazed down at her. "Have you bedded her already?"

"Roya," Nia warned, looking between her son and daughter - if looks could kill. "Leave it. It seems your brother has matters well in-hand."

"I wonder," Roya sighed, turning from the couple. "You two are just no fun."

"I don't know you very well," Nia said, looking at Clarke. "But I've worked too long to have you mess up my plans. Whether you are reconciled to this match or not, you know what is at stake. Don't do something you're going to regret."

Roan and Clarke stood there now, watching both women leave the room, Clarke daring not to breathe until they were far from earshot. Once she let out a breath of relief, she noticed Roan had been watching her. There was a look on his face she didn't quite recognize and before she could speak, his fingers were gently holding her chin, making her stare up at him.

"You're truly fascinating," Roan affirmed, smiling slowly. "I'm looking forward to your performance."

"Don't be too excited," Clarke warned, her eyes narrowing to challenge him. "Lexa would never believe I was here of my own free-will."

"Then," Roan said, pulling her flush against him. "We'll have to convince her."

"I've found him," Monty said, sitting at his computer. He'd been going through files, endless names and locations of the citizens of Arkadia. He and Raven had been at it all afternoon and it was only when everyone else had seemed to give up that the answer was found. "Koama Hatal, 43-year-old pig farmer with two children. Wife passed almost five years ago. The girl still lives at home with her father, tending to their farm and the son is a captain at military camp Sigma."

"Where is their farm?" Bellamy asked, springing up from the chair he'd been lounging in. Murphy also stood up, standing behind Monty as they all assessed the screen.

"It's in the southwest," Monty pointed, pulling up a map of Arkadian land. "He's owned and operated his farm for over 20 years. Pays his taxes on time…" Monty kept looking, opening files that Bellamy was sure he shouldn't have been looking at. "Seems he's been living a comfortable life. Looks like he owns some stock in Blake Manufacturing."

"A comfortable pension courtesy of my father," Bellamy scoffed, noting the location of the farm. "How long would it take to get there? A day? Maybe?"

"You can't just approach him out of the blue," Raven sighed, looking up at him. "Why would Bellamy Blake be visiting some farm in the middle of nowhere?"

"It doesn't matter," Bellamy dismissed, marking the location on his handheld. "He owns Blake stock. I'll tell him I'm speaking to all of the shareholders."

"I'll go with you," Jon nodded, turning toward Bellamy. "This might not be as easy as we'd hoped and you're not exactly the persuasive type."

"And what if someone notices you're gone? What's the excuse? You know they are watching all of us, don't you?" Monty pointed, leaning back in his chair. "Let's at least have a plan."

"First, we must find out where the Azgeda capital is," Bellamy insisted, impatiently pacing. "Without that, we have nothing."

"And if he refuses to help you?"

"Why would he?" Bellamy snapped, looking down at Monty.

"Because you're a stranger who knows too much," Jon sighed, glancing at Monty. "We have to have incentive."

"Does Harper still have ties at Camp Sigma?" Bellamy asked, looking back at Monty.

"I assume so…"

"Good, tell her to contact the commanding officer," Bellamy said. "Tell her to make up some excuse to get his son to come home. It shouldn't take him too long so we might actually meet him on the road…" Bellamy's mind was racing, thinking of a way to coerce this man into giving him what he wanted.

"Colonel Berns oversees that camp," Raven pointed, raising an eyebrow. "You know he is heart and soul for the Griffin family, right?"

"He won't think anything of a sick relative or something," Bellamy suggested, making Raven shrug.

"If the council even gets a whiff of collusion or double-dealing, you'll be in for a court-martial," Monty warned, his eyes on Bellamy. "You were lucky to retain your rank after this entire fiasco. You want to risk it now?"

"What choice do we have?" Bellamy asked, the annoyance overshadowing the impatience he felt.

"I'll see what Harper can do," Monty conceded, pulling out his handheld. "But I'm not comfortable jumping into another dangerous situation without a plan. So, what is it? What is the ultimate goal here?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Jon scoffed, moving to look out the window. "To get Clarke back."

"That's stupid," Monty pointed. "Even if we got the chance, which would be slim, it'd provoke a retaliation from Azgeda. Are we prepared for that at all?"

"It won't be a negotiation," Bellamy assured, crossing his arms. "They need an Arkadian marriage, so we'll give them one."

"You're not seriously suggesting…" Raven mused but Bellamy nodded, the room falling silent.

"Nia wants Roya to be queen," Bellamy chimed. "And if I were her King, I would have some sway on their foreign policy. I can make it part of the deal. They leave Arkadia alone and I'll agree to the marriage. We'll trade one important hostage for another."

"That's suicide," Monty pointed, looking up at Bellamy dumfounded. "They'd kill you the second you showed your face or keep you both as hostages!"

"I don't think they will," Bellamy warned. "They need an alliance. They need the coalition to rescind their tariffs and Arkadia to keep supplying them with food and raw materials. They don't want a war any more than we do. What Nia wants is her daughter on the throne and that we can give her."

"And Roan is just going to along with this? Be denied his crown because of some Arkadian rescue mission?" Raven asked, eyeing Bellamy. "It doesn't seem like they'll take the bait."

"Has your engagement been called off?" Jon asked, making everyone look at him. "With Roya? Have they backed out of that deal yet?"

"No," Bellamy said, eyeing Jon curiously.

"Good, then that is our in," Jon nodded. "Bellamy has the perfect excuse to accompany Lexa and her delegation."

"You think it is wise to let everyone know Bellamy is going to Azgeda with the delegation? And how would we convince Lexa to take him with her?" Raven asked, bewildered.

"Bellamy can go in secret," Jon nodded. "And I may not know Lexa very well but if this is our plan, I'm sure she'd have to agree. There really is no other option. Bellamy is right about that; Azgeda will not give up a valuable hostage that happens to just walk right into captivity."

"She'd gladly trade Bellamy's life for Clarke's," Raven noted. "But that doesn't change the fact that it doesn't guarantee she'll make it back alive. How are we going to accomplish that? It's not like we can just sneak Clarke out of their capital and discreetly exchange hostages."

"We need more incentive," Jon mused, looking about the room. "If we could find something…"

"Roya," Bellamy announced, watching the three of them. "If we can somehow get her alone, maybe we can trade two hostages for one."

"I don't like the sound of that," Monty commented, standing up.

"We have the advantage of surprise," Bellamy nodded. "I can sneak in among the delegation, wait for my moment, and use it to bargain for Clarke's freedom. I can exchange Roya's life, and mine, for Clarke's."

"This is going to be tricky," Jon admitted, shaking his head. "Do you have any idea how difficult this will be? Especially on your own? You can't guarantee you can even get close enough to Roya."

"I'll do what I must to free Clarke," Bellamy urged, making the rest of them fall silent.

"Well, the hell with that," Jon replied, waving his hand. "I'm not letting my best friend walk into the wolf's lair alone."

"I can't risk your life too," Bellamy insisted, watching Jon. "This is my family's mess and you've all helped me so much already."

"It's not up to you," Jon smirked, crossing his arms. "I'll watch your back and make sure Clarke gets back safely. There really is no one else you could trust with this mission more than me."

"We need a plan of attack," Raven said, looking back at the computer. "If I could figure out how to remotely operate the drone via handheld, we could easily survey the route into Azgeda…"

"I might be able to help with that," Monty assured, turning back to his computer.

"And we'll set up a relay squad," came Finn's voice, sauntering through the door with Landell and Wells close behind. "There is no way I'd miss this chance."

"We can pool our resources," Landell suggested, looking around the room. "Include only our most loyal guards on this mission. If we all work together, there is no way we will be detected."

"I can distract the council members," Wells suggested, looking down at his handheld. "They won't know we're on this mission until it's already over. I think Lexa would be on board with this plan and of course, if everything you said is true, Jake will be watching for news like a hawk."

"First things first," Bellamy interrupted, looking between them all. "We have to talk to this farmer. Monty, get a hold of Harper. Landell, pull some strings as well. Jon and I will set out early in the morning for the farm."

"It's my family's land," Landell offered, motioning to the map on the screen. "I'll escort you both."

Bellamy nodded, looking over at Finn now. "Do you have a way to contact Lexa, discreetly?"

"Yes, and I'm sure she is eager to come up with a plan, if she doesn't have one already," Finn smiled, looking over at Raven.

"Good, set some wheels in motion," Bellamy nodded. "We'll discuss it more when we return."

"This is a mad plan," Monty chimed, shaking his head, glancing up at Bellamy. "You realize what you are giving up? What you are risking for Clarke?"

"Completely," Bellamy assured, determined to right what their families had gotten so, so wrong.

Ooooh my... Roan is more persuasive than we thought. More to come soon! Thanks for the read. Much love. Please review!