When the dead roam - (Daryl Dixon)

Chapter 90 - Asylum

Hospitality wasn't something The Kingdom lacked. Though none of them would have preferred to be there, it was oddly comforting to find somewhere else that felt as equally welcoming as Alexandria – at least, before the Saviours ruled them. The temporary home they had been given was incredibly tidy. Freshly washed blankets lay on the bed, the running refrigerator was stocked with milk and eggs and there was even a bookshelf stacked high with some of the old world's greatest novels. Daryl and Louise had spent the majority of the night on the living room couch, draped in a blanket and discussing the plans for tomorrow whilst everybody else had split themselves between the three upstairs bedrooms. The two kept close together, bodies touching at all times in fear that any second they could be separated again – it wasn't like they were two teenagers in love, it was more of a need for each other...like the second one was in danger, the other felt it too, and neither of them were ready to move. It wasn't until the sun rose above the skyline that they had fallen asleep; and Lou was woken shortly after, by Rick making breakfast in the kitchen.

Louise grumbled and sat upright, careful not to disturb Daryl who still lay semi-conscious on the cushions. His chest rose up and down steadily, his figure finally calm. Her palms rubbed at her eyes and she yawned quietly before making her way towards the noise-maker.

"You wake everyone up like this?" she asked, still rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

Rick turned away from the stove, shocked to see her awake. "Sorry..."

"Just you up?"

"Couldn't sleep...you?"

She sighed. "I don't think I've slept right in years"

"Is Daryl-"

"He's still asleep, probably the first time he's slept comfortably in a while..." she said quietly, sighing at the reality of his situation. Lou cleared her throat and took at a seat at the counter as Rick plated up some eggs and leaned against side opposite her.

"You think he'll help?" Rick asked her, referring to Ezekiel, who was currently debating their offer.

As much as Louise wanted to say yes and as much as she wanted to comfort her friend, she ultimately knew that the chance of The king joining their fight was slimmer than their already minute chance of actually winning. So, she didn't lie. She exhaled heavily and shook her head. "No. I really want him too but honestly, I think he'll do anything to keep his people away from the battlefield"

Rick nodded and the two sat in silence for a while, ignoring the grumbling of their stomach's whilst they shovelled the food into their mouth slowly until the rest of their group filed down the stairs. Before all the food was emptied from the pan, she plated some up for Daryl and headed back over to the couch, where he was finally coming-to.

He graciously took the plate from her. "Mornin'"

She didn't bother to ask him how he slept, knowing full well he had slept only thirty minutes longer than her. Instead, she sat down next to him and pulled on her boots, tying the laces quickly as everyone crowded into the small room. It didn't take long for the group to consume their badly cooked eggs - though nobody complained - and before the clock struck 9, they were headed towards the gates.

Ezekiel was waiting for them when they arrived, watching over a group of teenagers who were practicing archery near the fences. He knew they were behind him but he didn't move to face them until he had finished his first sentence. "This is life here, every day but it came at a cost. And I wanted more of this. I wanted to expand. To create more places like this. Men and women lost their limbs. Children lost their parents because I sent them into battle against the wasted when I did not need too"