Struggling to Connect: The 6th Book

Chapter 16: The Treaty

"Sadie?" I must've fallen asleep because Michonne's loud voice wakes me up, "what is going on?"

I move my hand and feel Negan's hand above mine where they were resting. I wipe some hair out of my face and mutter, "nothing, I just fell asleep. Is everything ok?" I ask, standing up. I can tell she is worried about something.

"I need to talk to Negan" she stares at him, who just half smiles back to her.

"Alright, ya, sure." I say, moving to leave the cell, "I'll just head out."

I leave the cell and head to my room. It's a good nights rest, and I'm a bit shocked the next day when Michonne tells me she's heading to the fair, "wait, you are going?" I ask.

"I gave the council permission to vote on it again." She informs me, "they left yesterday."

I'm not sure how I didn't know this since getting back from the hilltop she was against it but I'm glad she did, even more glad she is going to go herself, "I'd like to come along." I let her know.

"That's why I'm telling you" she smiles, "you've been working on this behind the scenes for sometime. Judith and I will meet you at the van in an hour."

While on the road, we catch up with Daryl, Henry and the others. They hop into the van wagon and we make our way to the kingdom. Once the gates open, the ones closest to the gate are Carol and the king, smiling wide when we are in view. Henry hobbles off to hug his parents and everyone else starts to greet their friends and loved ones as well. Carol makes Henry promise to never run away again and gets emotional seeing Judith again. She thanks Daryl for watching out for Henry but it's Tara who breaks the happy return by spotting Lydia in the back, "the plan was to bring Henry. Just Henry."

Michonne suggests, "gather up all the leaders. We have a lot to talk about."

About 20 minutes later, a small group of us has gathered to discuss the issue at hand. Michonne speaks first, "I know I haven't always seen eye-to-eye with everyone in this room. But I never stopped caring about any of you." She looks around at everyone, "I was just trying to protect my family and do right by my people. Alexandria's future is here. Together, with you. And we lost sight of that for a while. But... I'm here now. We're here now."

Gabriel speaks up, "I've taken an informal vote with the other council members at the fair, and we all agree. Alexandria is willing to grant asylum to Lydia. She's one of us now. We hope the rest of you can join us in doing the same."

"Thank you." Lydia sounds relieved, "I'll do whatever I can to earn my keep, and pay you back."

Tara disagrees, "if her mother retaliates, it's gonna be against Hilltop, not Alexandria.
I have to do right by my people. I thought we were on the same page. "

Michonne answers calmly, "we were. And, look, when she came to my gates, I asked her to run away. And when she didn't, I was angry."

"Then you know why I'm not okay with this" Tara adds.

"I do" Michonne nods once, "I also know why Rick didn't trust me when I showed up at the gates of the prison. And how people didn't trust you after seeing you on the other side of the Governor's firing line."

The leader of Oceanside, Rachel, adds, "I was gonna kill you on sight when you washed up on our shore. "

Tara looks at everyone for a moment, "okay, okay. Fair."

I add on, "Lydia didn't choose where she came from, but she chose where she wanted to be. Just like everybody in this room." Daryl was looking at me but looks away then, I wonder if he's thinking about my choice to go to the sanctuary.

My thoughts are cut short as Tara explains, "I left some of my best fighters at Hilltop, but if Daryl's right about these skin job numbers.."

"Ppfft," Daryl scoffs, "it's not enough people. We should take a group to Hilltop to protect 'em, just in case." He suggests.

"It's a good idea." Carol agrees with a nod, "I'll take some from the Kingdom."

"Oceanside can spare some fighters." Rachel agrees.

"Alexandria can, too." Gabriel speaks softly.

Rachel asks, "so we head out in the morning?"

Carol suggest, "no, they can take advantage if we wait. We should go today."

"Agreed." Gabriel speaks again, "but sending more people is only a short-term solution.

Michonne adds, "in order to face this threat, the four communities have to present a united front. Which is why I'm proposing a mutual protection pact."

I say out, "an attack against one community is an attack against all of us" getting at what she is saying.

She continues, "together, we can make these people think twice before moving against the Hilltop."

The king steps forward, "the leadership of the Kingdom is very amenable to this idea."

Rachel agrees, "Oceanside's down."

"Okay. So, how do we seal it?" Tara asks after a few silent moments. She jokes, "spit and shake, blood oath?

A few of us chuckle. The king whispers out, "I have just the thing." Then steps to the side of the stage.

He opens the door to something and brings out the large paper that was once written up when our communities were friends.. family. "What? How did you..." Michonne asks as he places it on the the table.

"Well, he's magic. Obviously." Tara jokes, then tells her seriously, "I may have taken a few things with me when I left." She justifies, "I did what I thought was right. I'm sorry for the way it went down."

"Me too," Michonne agrees, "and thank you. You were right."

Tara replies, "you were, too."

Ezekiel beams, "I knew this day would come. Never doubted it for a moment." He takes a pen and signs for the kingdom, "John Hancock, eat your heart out." Carol signs after, shaking her own head as she signs it Queen Carol.

Rachel and Tara sign after, and she passes the pen to Michonne. Before she puts pen to paper, she turns to Gabriel and says, "it should be the head of the council." He takes the pen and signs it, everyone smiling and starting to hug. I slip out quietly, wanting to join the festival.