Winwolfa (A Roan x Female OC Fanfic)

Chapter 39

Roan thought Astrid would return to normal within a few days. 

While her body was healing perfectly fine, her mind was shattered. It was more often than not that the emptiness filled her gaze. She would revert back in a shell for hours at time, unaware or uncaring that Roan was there.

Tilda's death affected her more than he knew. 

He was at her side nearly every moment, both waking and sleeping. In the mornings, she found him sleeping soundly in the lounge chair beside her. During the day, if she was feeling up to it, Astrid would read her favorite stories to him while he trained his feeble body. Still, there were continuous interruptions from Abby, Echo, or various other members of the council to request an audience with the King. Then as the night painted over the sky, she would invite him to join her in bed and swap stories of the past.

Always happy stories. Astrid couldn't bear anymore sadness, and Roan knew that.

They had learned more about each other's past in the past few days then the several months prior. Roan was always fascinated at the tales she told about the Ark. Most of them she found boring, though he always asked for more. 

When she wasn't with Roan, she was with Abby Griffin who marveled over her like a medical discovery, yet refused to say what she knew about Astrid's past and her parents. She was hiding something. And whatever it was, she had a right to know. But she knew whatever it was, it was drastic enough that she could bear the news now. 

Not while her fragmented mind was still healing.

Octavia would visit every once in a while. Somehow, while Astrid was asleep, she found the mutts (who bit her and Bellamy) on their way back to Arkadia. She explained that Clarke knew who they belonged to after her duel with the Queen. After bringing the wolves to Polis, she decided to stay until Astrid got better.

Octavia proceeded to tell her everything that happened the day ALIE fell. Ontari's death, while complicating the matters at the time it all happened, felt like a new restraint unleashed. If she wasn't eternally grateful to Clarke and everybody else already, she sure was now. Without her, she would've probably still been stuck in that collar.

Last night after her check up with Dr. Griffin, she finally got the approval to start moving around on her own. She never thought freedom would be so sweet, yet so painful and debilitating. She still depended on Roan for most things, but to be able to sit in a chair and read a book without somebody watching over her like a hawk was revitalizing.

She even found the strength the following morning to walk to the bathing chambers and sat in the warm waters. One of the healers brought in medicinal herbs that she could soak in. The instant sensation of her muscles relaxing made her audibly groan. She relaxed in that peaceful bliss for a few minutes before the doors burst open.

"I've been looking everywhere for you!" Roan scolded. Without turning her head, she could hear his loud steps grow closer and closer to her.

"Five minutes." She mumbled to herself in defeat, "I just wanted five minutes alone." She finally turned to face him, "Can't a woman bathe in peace."

"You should have told me where you were going.'

"Since when did I need a watch dog?"

"Since you nearly died in front of my eyes after I promised I would keep you safe on the altar."

The room went still at his somber words. After she first woke up, neither one of them dared to mention what happened on that courtyard. Tilda's death, their torture, all of it was taboo to be mentioned around Astrid. While her physical scars would greet her in the mirror, the mental and emotional pain kept her thrashing awake every night.