Fallen

Chapter Forty-Nine: Azgeda's Champion

Roan and Ash sit in a room. The king is looking out the window while Ash paced back and forth. They have a day to decide on the champion, allowing every clan time to summon their warrior. 

"I will fight," the young queen states.

"No will you not."

"I will not ask for one of our warriors to fight in something I initiated."

"And you won't have to, because I will fight."

"No your fucking not!" Ash snaps. "You're still not fully healed and Azgeda can't lose their king."

"So you think I may lose?"

"No... I just meant.. ugh." Ash stops and gather herself. "Why risk it if I can fight in place of you?"

Roan moves to quick, pinning against the wall. His grip is not too tight where it hurts her, but still where she is cornered. 

"And you're dead," he tells her. He les out a long sigh. "I could not live with myself if you died."

"Well then I just won't die," she responds. 

"It doesn't just work that way. You can't even get out of my grasp and I'm not trying to kill you."

Challenge accepted. Ash lifts her leg up, pushing him away with her foot. With him still gripping her wrist, they both fall. Roan quickly wraps his arms around her to make sure she doesn't get hurt. He takes on all her weight when they hit the ground. Ash quickly get up, pulling Roan to his feet.

"Are you okay?" she asks him. 

"I'm fine," he tells her. He brought her into a hug, which she was not expecting. He places a hand on her cheek, causing her to look into his eyes. "You have more to live for than me."

"You are a king," she points out. "You have people who rely on you. Plus if Azgeda or Skaikru don't win, we may all be doomed."

He chuckles slightly, letting go of her.

"Well that last bit was very pessimistic."

"Realistic," she corrected. 

"Either way, our people would still have you. But those who would actually care is different. I only have you while you still have your family and friends."

"Roan-"

"It's fine. I was alone for so long anyway."

Ash stands there trying to figure out how to respond. She knows his life story before hand, but he won't admit it usually. 

"You know you were the first to actually saw me as more than the banished prince," he tells her.

"Because you are more than that." 

"Not many people would think like that when we first met."

"Well fuck them."

He smirks a bit. He places his hands on either side of her face. 

"I appreciate you," he tells her. "For everything you've done.

Echo walks in and Roan lets go of Ash. "The other clans are sending forth their champions."

The king nods his head in response before turning back to the young queen in front of him.

"I can't let anything happen to you if I can control it." He quickly heads to the door, issuing one simple order to Echo. "Don't allow her to leave until after Azgeda's warrior has been summoned."

He closes the door behind him, leaving the two there. 

"Like hell I'm letting him die," Ash states, going straight for the exit. Echo steps between her and the door. 

"You would dishonor him if you tried to take his place once he claims champion," Echo informs her. 

"He is trying to prove something."

"And you're not?"

This stopped Ash. She never meant for it to seem that way, but was there a part of her that was? No. She is just trying to do was right. Even if he doesn't see it, there are others who needed him and would care what happened to him. He needs to continue because he could also forge alliances that could protect all of their people. The list continues, but part of her knows they were an excuse, that there was a real reason why she couldn't just let him fight. Same reason why before she would have sacrificed herself. 

"I just want to protect him," Ash quietly admits. "I care about him."

"I'm glad you care for your king," Echo coldly says. "You realize you were his Second? Meaning you may not have as much skill as he does."

"It's possible a Second could pass their teacher," Ash reminds her. A horn can be heard and Echo steps to the side.

"Well we will never know now," she states. "You are free to leave the room, my queen."

Ash ignores the way she had said the last couple words and quickly head down to where people were gathering for the Final Conclave. Men and women are preparing for a fight. Her eyes start scanning the crowd. Finally she spots her husband. Keeping her head, knowing there are eyes following her every move, she walks over to him. She spots a particular leader in the crowd.

"Luna's here?" she questions.

"She's entered the Final Conclave," Roan tells her. "So that way no one will live."

"We may have led to that," Ash mutters under her breath. The two walk out to the courtyard. It's less crowded out here. Just a could other champions and their closest family or friends. She unhooks her knife and offers it to Roan. "Be safe."

"You know I will be fighting Octavia, correct?"

He was so blunt about it, but he clearly wanted to warn her. To prepare her for what may come. Also, of course Octavia was is fighting for Skaikru. And so of course it could lead to two people Ash care for having to fight.

"I would prefer if you two were able to work together," she tells him as he accepts her knife. "Is that why you didn't want me to fight?" He looks away from her, acting like he was sizing up his competition. "Roan?"

"That's one of the reasons," he quickly responds. "I wouldn't want either of you to go through that."

She nods her head. "Thank you."

A final warning for everyone to head to where they are supposed to echoes out. Roan kisses her cheek, causing her face to turn red.

"Remember," he tells her, "no matter what, you are Queen of Azgeda."

Bellamy walks on by. Him and Roan nod their heads towards each other and gently pulls Ash into the tower. Just before they joined the other representatives, Bellamy lets go of her hand. 

"I will be in the room if you need me," he tells her. "So will Clarke and Kane."

She nods her head and he heads in first. Echo walks over to Ash, holding out a crown to her. The symbol of Azgeda royalty. Ash cautiously took it.

"You're a queen," Echo remarks. "It is important they remember that."

"Did Roan tell you to give me this?"

"He didn't have. I have served under two monarchs, one of which was banished for so long before. I know how image is important among the ambassadors and representatives. The way they view you is now the way they view Azgeda."

Ash nods her head before placing the crown on her head. She walks into the room full of ambassadors with Echo beside her. She takes her position among the other ambassadors, watching the battlefield before them. Clarke and Bellamy stand on her right and Echo on her left. Her hands grip the balcony railing as the champions move into final position. The war horn echoes through the quiet town followed by war cries. And the bloodshed begins.