Continued because all the follows made my brain itch. Still don't own them, unfortunately, because I'd treat them better.
Clark woke with a start. Her cell was dark. The torches weren't lit, probably an indication of how Titus intended to treat her. She called Murphy, and he answered in an aggrieved tone.
"Just checking in," Clarke yelled back. If she could get out, she would do everything she could to take him along. Technically, once dawn came, they were behind the demarcation line and subject to Lexa's kill order.
Don't be afraid. Clarke shivered. It felt like Lexa whispered that in her ear. Clarke took a deep breath. She'd been locked up alone after a great loss before, and the parallels between her father's intentional death and Lexa's accidental one were too great for her to ignore. She subverted her grief for her father into drawing the Earth he so wanted to see. Clarke had nothing except darkness and a frenemy this time, and she sank into grief, curled in on herself to muffle its sound.
Even so, Murphy heard her. It didn't sound like she was freaking out about the dark. Her sobs were something more raw, and he swallowed the lump in his throat. He might beg for his life, and maybe for hers, but he would never let the Grounders see or hear him cry. What he told Jaha was still true: "Pain, hate, envy; those are the ABC's of me." He thought for a while with Emori that he might be able to change, but days in Reverend Crazy's dungeon brought it all back.
Clarke Griffin was the last person he expected to see here. He expected even less her description of him as her friend. They had never been friends, and he doubted they would be in the future. But if she got him out of this, he'd reconsider. Murphy understood owing someone, and if they got away from the crazy fucking grounders, he would make sure he repaid her somehow.
Grief was exhausting, and Clarke was quiet again. That was worse somehow, and he yelled, "Griffin."
"Still here, Murphy."
"What's the plan?"
"Do I look like I have a plan?"
"You always have a plan, Griffin."
"I don't know enough to have a plan."
His snort echoed down the hall. "Where are we, anyway?"
"Polis. Le...Grounder capital."
Murphy groaned. Grounder central, just fucking wonderful. "What's going on at Camp Jaha?"
"Arkadia," Clarke corrected. "It's a mess."
"Tell me."
"They found Farm Station, set most of them up in Mount Weather. The only surviving Mountain Man blew the self-destruct and they all died. Everyone at Arkadia blamed the Grounders and the Ice Nation did have a hand in it. Lexa declared war on them and sent an army to protect Arkadia. They had an election right after Skaikru became part of the coalition and elected a guy from Farm Station instead of Kane. The first thing Pike did was massacre the army in their sleep."
Clarke sighed. That was another image that would never leave her, hundreds of bodies in the field, warriors sent to protect her people murdered. And the way Indra looked at her after, as if she didn't know Clarke, as if Clarke would walk the fields shooting the wounded in the head.
"Good idea," Murphy called back.
"It was a terrible idea, but Lexa agreed not to wipe out Arkadia." Clarke stopped for a second as a fresh wave of grief passed through her. "She sent her army to blockade Arkadia, give them time to see how dangerous Pike is and let them elect someone else." She faltered again. "Without Lexa, they're dead, Murphy."
"Automatic weapons against swords? I don't think so."
"Ten people with automatics against a bunch of sleeping people is different than even 50 automatic weapons against thousands who expect them."
The door to the dungeon opened and someone walked in applauding sarcastically. "You learned your lessons well, Wanheda," Roan said.
He approached her cell, holding a torch. He was alone, and in the uneven light, she could see the fresh scar on his face courtesy of his fight with Lexa.
"What do you want, your majesty?" Clarke asked, the last two words mocking him. To her, he would always be the man who dragged her to Polis against her will.
He looked at her. "I was coming to save you, but perhaps you don't need it."
They stared at each other. Clarke gave in first. She put her back to him and tried to get her emotions under control. He could have killed Lexa but didn't. That was another image that she would keep despite how worried she had been at the time.
"Wanheda, I come to offer you the protection of Azgeda."
"You understand I'm wary of such an offer after all that's happened."
"I do not want war," Roan said softly.
She whirled around and threw herself against the bars. Roan stayed where he was. "Did she ask everyfuckingbody to take care of me? Did she still believe me incapable of surviving?"
"She knew you would try to save everyone, Clarke, and everyone doesn't deserve to be saved."
"Thanks a lot, asshole," Murphy yelled.
"Charming," Roan said to Clarke. "I suppose he's part of the deal."
"My deal, yeah," Clarke sighed. "What's happening with the Conclave?"
"Ontari will be Heda," Roan said confidently.
Clarke's heart sank. Aden would die attempting to do what Lexa charged him with, protecting her, protecting Skaikru. Ontari would order her army to destroy Arkadia at the first opportunity.
"And Skaikru will be eliminated."
"Perhaps. Or perhaps the commander's spirit will move Ontari to continue conciliation. Skaikru has many assets that will benefit Azgeda."
"You mean the coalition."
"Ontari does not have the temperament to hold the coalition together, but you and I together could succeed." Roan sighed. "I do not want war, Clarke. I will fight if I must, but I am tired, as Lexa was tired, of the aftereffects, of children starving because those who are supposed to tend fields, hunt, and fish are dead over some petty squabble."
"What do you want, Roan?"
"I told you, Clarke, I offer you the protection of Azgeda. You will be my ambassador to Polis. I trust you to balance Azgeda's needs and Skaikru's."
"What, exactly, are Azgeda's needs?"
"They will be few with Ontari as Heda. Azgeda supports itself. We will not seek war as my mother did. Once the matter of Skaikru is settled, we will work to keep the peace."
"How do I know I can trust you?"
"Lexa did."
Clarke closed her eyes for a few seconds to hold tears at bay and heard Lexa again. Don't be afraid.
"I am sorry for our loss, Clarke."
She opened her eyes to look at him, and saw that he was sincere. She nodded and took a deep, uneven breath.
"Do you accept my offer, Klark kom Skaikru en Trikru en Azgeda?"
"Sha." She lowered her head.
"Do not bow to me, Wanheda. There will be enough of that in public." He removed a key from his pocket and unlocked her cell.
He started down the corridor, and she followed him. Murphy waited near the gate at his cell. "What deal did you make this time, Princess?"
"One that keeps you alive, Murphy."
"Are you certain you want him?" Roan asked.
"Yeah," Clarke said. She looked at Murphy. "Keep your mouth shut."
"Whatever," Murphy answered while Roan unlocked his cell.
They walked out of the dungeon. Roan put the torch back in its holder and returned the keys to the jailer. They followed him up to the floor assigned to Azgeda. Roan left them in the care of his entourage.