The Kingdom.
Inside the gates, I see the whole of the community for the first time. The school grounds are large; as large as any major high school's would be. The semi-circular driveway is completely enclosed within the gates, and surround a large fountain that has long since gone dry and stopped working. Tents, both empty and occupied, liter the grounds and off to my left, in the distance, I can see two full court, fenced, basketball courts. It takes me a moment to absorb the sights in front of me. Up until just now, seeing this place for the first time, I had thought it would be nearly impossible to survive Washington D.C. Even though we haven't seen many yet, the city is just too large to be completely devoid of walkers. Even so, I have to admit to myself that the people of this community have done an excellent job at securing the school grounds and making a home for themselves. There is just one thing that is bugging me;
"What's with all the tents?" I vocalize aloud. "Isn't it too cold to be sleeping outside?"
"Its beginning to, yes." the man named Marcus replies. "Most of us live outside the school in the cooler seasons, then move indoors for the winter. After that storm the other day, we've begun the process of moving inside."
Well, I suppose that makes sense.
"King Ezekiel is inside." he continues. "Follow me."
My group, with me at the head, continues forward as instructed. The school is much bigger up close than it had looked from outside the makeshift gates. A large white staircase rises up directly in front of the entrance, which we make short work of, before finally reaching the large double doors leading inside. Proceeding inside, I discover that the school is even larger on the inside. I've never seen a school quite so large before, especially where I come from. The foyer alone is enormous and has clearly been renovated by the community to accommodate for its new purpose as the living quarters for the residents of the Kingdom. It almost looks like a large lounge now, with couches and other comfortable pieces of furniture spread out across the large spacious room.
"This place is huge!" Carl comments absentmindedly beside me.
"No kidding." I reply, equally in awe. "This place puts my old high school to shame."
Next to him, Marcus chuckles to himself. "It is pretty incredible, isn't it?" he gloats. "We were lucky to get to this place."
"How long has it been like this?" Rick voices from behind us.
"Since the beginning of everything." Marcus replies. "Ezekiel turned this place into a shelter at first and then, when it was clear rescue was never coming, it turned into a colony."
Our conversation is suddenly interrupted by the sound of footsteps treading the tile floor. I turn my head slightly, granting me a view of the darkened passageway, leading out of the main foyer, where the sounds originated from. Two large shadowy figures stand in the doorway, just barely concealed from sight, and appear to be watching us with keen intrigue. A sense of anticipation and trepidation comes over me, causing a prickling sensation to rush across the surface of my skin, and the hair on the back of my neck to stand at attention. My dread, however, is suddenly doused when I glance over to notice Jesus acting calm, if not somewhat joyful, while looking upon the same sight. As if sensing the unease of the rest of us, the tall bearded leader of Hilltop steps forward, passing me until he's directly between us and the figures standing in the hallway.
"Jesus?" a deep, burly voice, thick in a Jamaican accent, emerges from the hall. "Welcome back, old friend!"
The source of the voice steps out of the darkness of the outer hallway and immediately I know that I am looking upon the form of Ezekiel; the man I've heard so much about up until now. The self-proclaimed king is very regal in appearance, despite the chaos that now inhabits the outside world. He stands no taller than Michonne, with dark skin and dreadlock hair which reaches to his shoulders, and is tied in a ponytail in the back, as well as a very prominent beard. In many ways, Ezekiel looks as though he jumped right out of the Bible itself. The king wears a long, fur-collared trench coat, with a Hawaiian-type shirt worn underneath. In his hand is an elaborate cane, whose grip is carved into the shape of an eagle's head. Honestly, he is more impressive of a figure than I initially thought he might be. My first impression of him isn't threatening, but I decide to keep my guard up anyways, just in case.
"Who are these guests you bring with you?" he continues, glancing around at us.
"New friends of mine." Jesus replies honestly. "They inhabit the old town of Alexandria. Their leader, here, is that man over there." Jesus motions towards Rick, who has begun to walk forward to join his fellow leaders. "This is Rick Grimes."
"Alexandria, you say?" Ezekiel says, stroking his beard curiously. "That's quite a journey you've made. What brings you to see good King Ezekiel?"
So this guy even refers to himself as a king.
While I doubt he means it in this fashion, calling one's self a king, and especially using it as part of your name comes off as quite pretentious. I actually don't know how to feel about this man. He seems friendly... but...
"Negan, actually." Rick replies bluntly.
The change is immediate.
Ezekiel's otherwise jovial face hardens to stone immediately. It never ceases to amaze me the effect Negan's name has on everyone who hears it. Almost as though it taps on the deepest reserves of darkness within their hearts and brings it to the surface.
"Hear us out, Ezekiel." Jesus quickly speaks up, preventing the vexed king from voicing his frustration. "The situation has changed. If these people are to continue being our allies, then they need our help."
I can already feel Ezekiel pulling away.
The mere mention of Negan's name has completely repulsed him. Perhaps Jesus was right. If Ezekiel is a man of peace, who turns his nose at the sight of conflict, then the mere mention of Negan - a man drenched in the blood of the people he's murdered - will naturally push him away from the subject. Even so, I cannot allow him to just walk away. We need his help. I hate to admit it, but if Negan is ever to be dealt with so that our communities can finally live in peace, we need these people and their resources.
"And who would speak for them?" Ezekiel ponders, a new darker tone to his voice. "This man?"
He gestures towards Rick.
Rick opens his mouth to speak, likely to agree to speak for us, but I'm not having any of that. I cut him off before he even gets the chance to get formed words out of his mouth.
"I will."
All eyes shift to me.
Ezekiel gives me a once-over, cocking his eyebrow skeptically at me.
"You?" his tone is almost condescending. "You're still young. In the old society, you may have been considered an adult by age alone, but to me you're still just a child. What could you say to sway me?"
I hate that.
Being looked down upon because of my youth.
Don't get me wrong, I wasn't among the teens back in the old days who believed their age somehow made them more grown, but since the end of society, things have changed. Carl, who is younger than me, has seen and done things no "child" should ever have to. I am in the same boat as he is. Not only am I an adult in body, but I've become one in my mind as well. The world around us has forced us to adopt that mindset. Its the only way you survive in the outside world anymore. I feel my expression harden as I glare at him with intensity. I won't let him misjudge me and cast me aside so easily. The more and more this turns over in my head, the more heated I can feel my cheeks getting as anger rises from deep within.
"Yeah, I'm young." I say, feeling a slight quiver to my voice. "And I've also seen first-hand what that monster you refuse to fight can do."
Ezekiel's eyes narrow, "Elaborate." he commands.
"Sure. What would you like to know?" my tone rises as the fury that has been buried in my heart ever since Tyreese was killed takes a firm hold over me. "That he bludgeoned our friend Tyreese until there was nothing left of his skull? How about forcing me to kill one of my closest friends?!"
Tara's memory rises in my mind again, causing tears of indignation to swell in my eyes and fall freely. I don't care. He needs to see this and I need to say it. Rick and the others, for the most part, stay silent, quietly listening to me. Carl, on the other hand, notices that I've begun to tremble slightly. He steps forward from the side of me, where he's been quietly listening up until now, and places his hand on my upper arm.
"Tanner... I-"
I can see how concerned he looks.
That only adds fuel to my fire, so I think it surprises him when I shrug him off and continue my tirade at Ezekiel.
"What else?!" I practically yell, stinging tears of anger and grief now freely flowing down my cheeks. "How about the fact that he tried to take away the person I love the most?" That quiets Carl. "I'm not going to sit around and wait for Negan to take him away from me too. That's why I came here with everyone to talk to you. We need your help. I need your help."
Ezekiel's expression softens somewhat. His chocolate brown eyes slowly drift between myself and Carl, who has reattached himself to my arm in an attempt to get me to look at him and calm down. But I'm not going to give into that. Not just yet. My eyes stay focused on Ezekiel like hot coals. After getting a good once over of Carl, Ezekiel's eyes find mine again. When his gaze returns to mine, he is no longer looking upon me like the pitiful child he had considered me just mere moments ago. No child would say what I said. I think he knows that. No, the look in his eyes now suggest he sees me as an equal. Something of a kindred spirit. When I see that look, I allow my muscles to relax, even if my breathing doesn't, and regard Carl. His face is stern, but concerned, so I try to quiet his concerns by returning his gesture of affection; wrapping my arm around his waist so that he can at least feel close to me. Silence fills the gap between myself and the "king" of the Kingdom as the aging man ponders my passionate request. Eventually, however, he nods his silver head of hair and regards me seriously again.
"Very well then, son." he acknowledges me. "I would speak with you."
####
The school auditorium is even larger than the foyer we were in mere minutes ago.
Ezekiel has pulled me personally aside for a private audience after my little outburst earlier. Carl was a bit apprehensive about letting me go alone, but I managed to convince him everything would be alright. Ezekiel doesn't seem like the type of man to want to harm any of us. He's cautious and shrewd, but he's no Governor, and he's certainly no Negan. Convincing him to join the fight with us was going to be an interesting experience, but I'm confident that I can do it. I have to be confident. For Rick. For Michonne. Daryl. Maggie. Glenn. For all of our friends and family, but especially for my Carl. Ezekiel has turned the stage of the auditorium into a makeshift throne room. He must really be into the whole "king" designation. The aging leader of the Kingdom leaves me on the floor of the auditorium and ascends the steps of the stage.
The most shocking aspect of this room, however, is not the throne or the setting, but the creature coiled around the throne itself. I've never seen a feline this big up close and I almost have to pinch myself to convince myself that I'm even seeing it to begin with. Chained to a nearby pole, yet lying peacefully at the foot of Ezekiel's makeshift throne, is a massive Bengal tiger. The massive cat is very much awake, but somehow docile, only watching me with a passing interest from its perch upon the stage. It doesn't even make much of a move to acknowledge Ezekiel as the man passes it to take his place on his seat.
"Don't mind Shiva." he says, having spied my line of sight. "She's harmless so long as you don't attack me. Now then, we have a little more privacy. Speak your mind."
I gather my composure, attempting to ignore the big cat, and immediately dive in.
"What more is there to say?" I ask boldly. "We need your help against Negan. Not only did he bring about the murder of two of our own, but he also attacked our settlement. Its bad enough that winter is approaching and our reserves of food are low. Walkers are a constant problem as well. We don't need to be worrying about murderous thugs coming after our supplies and our families too."
"Certainly not," Ezekiel concedes. "But how is fighting the only answer?"
I expected him to say something like that. I already have a response prepared.
"Look," I say, garnering his focus. "I haven't always lived in that community. For the first two years after the outbreak, I lived on the road in Georgia. The horrors out there are unimaginable and its not just the walkers. The people are worse. That young man you saw with me, in the sheriff's hat? Before the two of us met, his home and that of his group's was a prison. Like you and Jesus, they took people in and sheltered them. Gave them food, work, and a roof over their heads. Shelter from the hordes of undead. A man who called himself the Governor destroyed that place and killed many of their friends. Now its happening again, only this time, we have a real shot at putting an end to it, if you help us."
Ezekiel strokes his snow-white beard and considers me with a fairly intrigued expression.
"And what about you?" he finally questions of me.
"What about me?" I retort.
"Your friend's experience is certainly compelling, but I need to hear from you why you think fighting is the solution." he clarifies. "How has fighting ever solved your problems."
I tense up.
"He's not just my friend." I snap. "He's much more than that and his name is Carl. After meeting him and his father, Rick, I traveled with them. We were looking for safety. For shelter. A gang of men attacked us on the road one night. Pulled us all out on the road. The wanted to kill us for no other reason than for their own amusement. They took Carl, put a knife to his neck, and tried to..." my voice hitches as the memories flood back to me. I try so hard to forget that night, but it is something that simply refuses to leave me. "They tried to rape him. We managed to fight them off, but I'll never forget that night. I live in fear, every single day, that it'll happen again and that I won't be able to protect him from it. But that's not even the worst of it.
"Not long after that incident, we encountered a group of people who called their sanctuary 'Terminus.' The safety they offered was a ruse, however, and they captured us. They wanted to eat us. Our only option, if we wanted to survive, was to fight back and kill them all. If we didn't, they would've hunted us down and killed us. Negan is only the newest sicko we've encountered. He killed two of my friends, one of whom was very dear to me. I am sick of watching people die. And I won't just sit back and take it anymore! My family calls that place home. I won't let anyone else get killed."
Finally finished, I train my eyes solely on Ezekiel.
The dark-skinned man leans back in his chair, his eyes closing, and I can tell he's entered a place of deep thought. For several long moments, what seems to be an eternity, we remained in complete silence. If none of what I've just said convinces him, nothing will. Finally, Ezekiel perks up, leaning up in his chair and facing me with a look that suggest slight curiosity.
"This boy. Carl I think is what you called him. What does he mean to you?"
My entire demeanor shifts again.
It would take me all day to tell him everything Carl means to me. There is just too much to list in a single statement. That being said, an answer comes to me regardless, and one that will effectively transmit my thoughts on the matter.
"Are you two romantically involved?" Ezekiel continues in the meantime.
"Yes," I reply without hesitation. I then quickly raise up my right hand, which has my ring wrapped around the ring finger, to further illustrate this. "Carl was a friend to me when I was in a dark place. He's saved my life almost as many times as I've saved his and, more importantly, he gave me something no one else has ever given to me unconditionally."
I smile unconsciously at the thought, while pressing my raised hand to my chest, where I can feel the thumping of my beating heart.
"His heart."
Ezekiel mirrors my smile, "Well spoken." he says. "You know, I was never accepting of Negan's presence. These people consider me their king because I have done everything within my might to ensure the lives of my people are as good as they can be. From the sound of your answer, and while your concerns aren't about a community, your heart for that boy is similar to my own for this place. Negan and his Saviors... I am no friend to their kind. Still, I cannot risk the lives of my people with so little information on them. I'm sure you understand. Would you be willing to put the life of that boy, Carl you called him, on the line under the same circumstances?"
He's got me there.
I hate it, but he's absolutely right. I'd never put Carl in danger by attacking something so dangerous blindly.
"What do you need?" I ask him.
"Information." Ezekiel replies. "The layout of their sanctuary would be a good start."
Then a light bulb goes off.
A grin crosses my face as I look up to face him.
"You may be in luck, then."
####
"You're telling me Negan kidnapped you, thinking you were Rick's son, and you escaped him?!"
Ezekiel is flabbergasted.
I truthfully don't think he expected me to have the information he sought after, but now he has it. I very keenly remember the layout of Negan's home. Its hard for me to forget it, even despite the fact that I was there less than a day before Carl and the others came to my rescue. Perhaps he's even more stunned by the knowledge that I actually managed to escape from Negan's grasp. Even I have to give him that one. I was lucky to make it out of there alive. I never thought I'd say this, but if those walkers hadn't come when they did, we would all probably be dead right now.
"I had help." I confess. "But, more or less, yes."
The stunned leader strokes his beard again, "If what you tell me is true, and I'm inclined to believe that it is, then Negan's fortress is quite defensible. It will be difficult to mount an attack without heavy causalities unless we think this through."
"We don't have a lot of time." I implore him. "Once that herd moves away, the Saviors will be free to attack us again. They won't hesitate this time."
Ezekiel glances at me out of the corner of his eye and sighs.
"You're right." he concedes. "We don't have a choice, but we need at least a day to get a plan together. I will not put my people, nor yours, in needless harm. The more casualties we can avoid, the better the outcome will be."
"Is there anyway I can help?"
Ezekiel crosses the room between us and lays a light, bony hand on my shoulder, offering me an almost grandfatherly smile.
"No," he replies sharply. "You've done your part. I will speak to this Rick Grimes and also to Jesus. We will come up with a plan together. You go back to your loved one. These modern times are not kind to loving relationships any longer. It is nice to see one blooming so healthily despite the condition of the world around us. If nothing more, rest assured tonight, son..."
He trails off as he removes his hand from my shoulder and turns to walk towards the door.
"You have earned an ally this day. The day has finally come to right the wrongs that have befallen so many people under this monster."
####
"How'd it go?"
Half an hour has passed.
Rick, Ezekiel, and Jesus are deliberating, with the others from our group, on a plan of action to deal with Negan and his Saviors. In the meantime, Carl and I have ventured out to the vacant basketball courts at the edge of the Kingdom's walls in order to be alone for a little while. I've found myself a shady spot up by the far fence and have leaned myself back against it, folding my arms and closing my eyes so that I can think through the events of the day. Carl, on the other hand, has perched himself on a nearby bench and is looking at me expectantly, waiting for answers.
"You guys were in there forever." he continues.
"It went well." I reply to him. "Ezekiel is definitely on board."
"As if there was any other choice." Carl snorts.
I go silent again.
My chat with Ezekiel has other things on my mind. I distinctly remember the aging leader mentioning a similarity between the two of us. The concern I have for Carl is the same he has for his people. Is that even possible? I'm in love with Carl, which is why I'm so protective, but I suppose that when you're responsible for someone's life, mutual feelings develop that are similar to what I feel for him. Opening my eyes, I glance over in Carl's direction. Carl is crouched on the edge of the bench he was previously sitting on, watching me carefully. A frigid blast of winter wind gusts over the two of us and brings along with it a new series of thoughts. My eyes narrow. What I wouldn't do to put an end to this dangerous conflict without having to involve Carl. I probably shouldn't feel this way. Carl is more than capable of defending and taking care of himself. Sometimes I have to remind myself of that. He's infinitely stronger than I am, at least in my mind. And, could he hear my thoughts, Carl would probably remind me the same thing. He's certainly not helpless. But, as I'd argue if he did remind me of such a thing, when you care about someone, you worry for their safety no matter how capable of defending themselves they are.
"Tanner?" he speaks up. "You alright?"
I shake my head of my daze.
I really should stop zoning out so much.
"Yeah," I reply. "Just got a lot on my mind."
"What about?" he blinks clueless.
I really love how Carl can be so cute without even intending to do so.
The innocent, confused, and somewhat childlike expression he's giving me has my heart tripping over itself. I remember a time when that expression used to be his norm. Back when he was the still-tough, but ever so naive, Carl Grimes I met out on the road. He's matured so much since then, if that is even possible, but every now and then, this side of him slips out through the cracks, causing me to smile involuntarily.
"How much I'd give to keep you safe." I reply truthfully.
I think that response catches him quite off-guard.
His eyes widen, as if he is somewhat surprised, and then his expression immediately softens.
"I finally understand what you've been trying to tell me since this whole thing started." I go on without waiting for him to finish. "I was like Ezekiel when Jesus first came to Alexandria with his proposal. I wanted nothing more than peace. To stay out of the fighting. Somehow, I thought it would be better for us."
As if sensing something I couldn't, Carl rises from his spot and crosses over to me, where he then places his hands on my waist.
"There's nothing wrong with wanting that." he points out.
"I kept thinking to myself... war isn't heroic. It isn't 'fun'." I continue in spite of his words. "Wars are filled with despair. They are dark, terrifying, and ghastly. Even after living through places like Terminus, I don't take joy in killing people. But..." I pause and clear my throat. "I've learned that, in this world, nothing goes as intended. There are always going to be men like Negan out there who think its their lot in life to kill for their own twisted amusement. That's why, no matter how bloody this thing gets, I'll fight to keep you safe. You and Judy and all our other friends."
"You think too much sometimes." Carl quips, grinning to lighten the mood.
I can't help but smirk.
"Yeah?" I reply with a chuckle. "Perhaps I do."
I happen to look over towards the building after saying that, just in time to spot the others emerging from the front of the school building. Carl takes notice too and we immediately begin to make our way back over to them. There is an air of seriousness as we make our approach, as if the others are dreading what is to come as much as we are. Once we're all assembled, Rick, being the natural leader that he is, takes charge of the assembly and begins to divulge our next course of action.
"Ezekiel is going to join us." the elder Grimes declares in his Georgian accent. "Together, we're going to put a stop to Negan once and for all. Tonight, we'll return home, check on our people and get everyone ready. Ezekiel is going to take a few of his men out for a scouting mission to see how the Saviors are fairing after that herd moved in, in the meantime. In one day, we'll reconvene, trade notes and make final plans for dealing with the Saviors. That's our plan for the moment."
"Prepare yourselves for what is coming." Ezekiel chimes in, unable to resist his regal nature. "Take time to prepare your hearts and minds, not just your bodies, for the coming conflict. Most importantly, take time to hold your families. Though we use it to free us from the tyranny of Negan and his Saviors, violence only begets death and sorrow, no matter which side of the fight you're on. I tell you this because once we've crossed that line, we cannot go back anymore. When we convene in one day... it'll be all out war."
A/N: Finally Ezekiel is in the picture! I also am very happy to introduce (even though she only got a couple sentences worth of screentime in this chapter) Shiva, Ezekiel's tiger. Yes, you read that right, a Bengal tiger. She is possibly one of my favorite additions to the comic universe, and I really hope they add her to the TV show, so I couldn't resist including her here too. She'll get some screentime later as the conflict unfolds, that I promise. Seems the war bells really are chiming. We still haven't seen what became of the Saviors after our group escaped their grasp last time, but their time in the shadows is again coming to a close! You'll have to wait and see what happens in the next chapter! Hope this chapter was enjoyable for everyone! As always, favorite, follow, and comment! Love the reviews I've been getting lately!
And, that being said, let's go to the reviews!
tentails: Good luck! I hope it went well! Thank you for reading!
IamwhoIam987: Thank you so much! That dream was something I've been wanting to do since the end of the first story, but it just seemed to fit just right in that chapter. I'm really glad you enjoyed it! Hope this chapter was similarly enjoyable for you! Thanks so much!
Guest: Tanner doesn't know what happened to his parents (or family in general). If you haven't read This Cruel Reality, the prequel to this story, then I highly recommend it! It'll give you some more of Tanner's background including why he doesn't know what happened to them. I will tell you that he assumes them to be dead, though. Thank you and thanks for the question!
Youngblooded: Good to hear from you again! I'm glad you think so! I'm doing my best to live up to the prequel. Glad you're enjoying! :) Thanks for the comment!
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