The Boy from the Bunker - Season 6

Episode Two, Part 5:

Episode Two, Part 5:
A l l i a n c e

Elara waited by the gates, watching as Wynn and Kodiak prepared to leave after having received confirmation from Riders to meet. She was worried about them both being out there, yet, far more concerned about how they would react if Riders refused to accept the alliance. Would there be any hope of ever getting Sol back without their unity? And what would they both do if all of this planning was for nothing? 

Slowly, she drifted over to them both as they slung their bags over their shoulders, knowing it wouldn't be long until they left. 

As she reached them, Kodiak pulled her close against him, holding onto her as if for a moment's good luck, trying to assure her that it wouldn't be long until they were home again. 

"Please can I go with you guys?" She had lost count of how many times she had asked since they told her about their progression with Wynn's plans, but the depleted tone of her voice was an indicator that it had been a lot. 

 Wynn had stopped taking her requests seriously and even managed a laugh as she asked again, not comprehending that she still wasn't settled on their answer. 

"Elara-" Kodiak began. 

"I'm strong. I know how to defend myself." 

"I know you can," Kodiak reached out, his fingers grazing softly against her cheek as he pushed back the wild strands of her hair that always seemed to fall loose. "But this isn't a hunt for food or a raid of supplies, Ell. We're going to negotiate an alliance. One wrong move and they could attack us. I'm not risking you getting hurt, neither is your brother." 

"Okay. Stay safe," Elara said, folding her arms nonchalantly. She wouldn't argue with them anymore, knowing they had enough worries about the meeting on its own, but it didn't mean that she had given up. 

After Kodiak placed a loving peck on her forehead, she took a step back behind the guards, watching as both he and Wynn retreated to the other side, already focusing on the path ahead as they began their descent towards the forest. 

Once they were no longer in sight, Elara made a dart towards the Quarters, hoping to find Quill before he became lost in the crowd of Basilisk as they began to spread out around camp, beginning their tasks for the day. 

He wasn't in the lounge when she walked in, but as she walked down the hall to the Sovereigns' rooms, she was relieved to see Quill stepping out, making her way in his direction. Before he could even manage a word out to her, Elara grabbed onto his arm, tugging him behind her back into his room. 

"Ell? What's up?" Quill questioned her, wondering what was so secretive that she needed to shut the door behind her. 

She sighed heavily and sat down on the bed nearest to the door: it was neither Wynn's or Quill's, but the bed that had belonged to Ares that was brought out from his tent after he died. It was covered with several notebooks that Wynn had been using during his time as Sovereign, as well as a pile of clothes that were neatly folded and had been untouched ever since they were set down there, 8 months ago. 

Elara frowned as a longing pulled at her heart; she placed her hand over the clothes, feeling the worn material of Ares' shirt in between her fingers, and for a moment, she could almost imagine that she was returning a pile of laundry to him in the Bunker, and it would be just that: laundry, not a hopeless attempt to pretend like her brother was still around. 

"Ell..." Quill's voice was soft as he realised what had caught her attention, and he wondered if that was why she had come to him. 

"Are you alright?" 

Elara quickly drew her eyes away from Ares' shirt, but her hand lingered on it, her focus now on Quill. "Yeah, sorry, I'm fine," she answered.  "But I do need your help." 

Quill took a seat on his own bed, getting the sense that the conversation was going to be heavy. "What with?" 

"I need you to accompany me to meet Wynn and Kodi." 

He leaned back; even though she was across the room from him, he still felt a need to shift away. "What do you mean? You're not talking about today, right?" 

"I am," Elara nodded, trying to act casual about it. "I'd go by myself, but I don't think either of them would be too happy about seeing me alone when I reach them." 

"Yeah, no kidding," Quill muttered. "I don't want you out there, either." 

"Quill, come on-" 

"No, Ell," he cut her off, his voice ringing out in distress. She hadn't expected him to be so sensitive to her request; Wynn was the one who always decided what was safe for them and what wasn't, and Quill was more than happy to leave it down to him, never needing to reinforce or even oppose his orders, until now. 

"I don't want anything to happen to you," he stood up as the confession erupted out of him, and it was clear to Elara just how much he meant it. "That's exactly why Wynn tells us what to do, not to mention your own boyfriend, who knows what outside of this camp is like better than anyone... You can't get on my case every time Wynn tells us to do something, whether it's as a Sovereign or as our brother. Sometimes you just have to listen-" 

"But there's nothing that I need protecting from!" Elara exclaimed, hoping he would understand her defiance. "And, no offence Quill, but you're always allowed to leave camp with them, and I'm a stronger fighter than you." 

"You had a target on your back, Elara. It's understandable why none of us are too comfortable with the idea of you being out of camp." 

"Yeah, I had a target," she emphasised. "But Targo are gone. I'm no more at risk than you or Bas or anyone else is. Besides, I've been through a lot more than you guys seem to remember. You and Wynn need to stop treating me like I don't know what the world is like, because guess what? I can endure it. I know how to survive." 

"We treat you like our little sister, Ell, because that's what you are. And that makes it our job to keep you safe because of what we know you've been through... Look, there's no guidebook for how to raise your siblings after your parents abandoned you and your brother died. Not to mention how to balance that alongside leading an entire Clan of people. Even if Wynn does get too paranoid when it comes to us sometimes, it's only because he cares. He doesn't always get it perfect, but he always-" 

"He always tries, I know. Believe me, I know." 

Elara brought her legs up from over the edge, folding them underneath her. She was beyond grateful to still have Wynn and Quill looking out for her, but she was tired of being shielded from a world she had already suffered in so much. Even if her choices did have consequences, that was a responsibility left for her to face. 

"Can you just listen to what I have to say? Please? I hear your point, okay? But what I'm trying to tell you is really important and I think it might actually be pretty beneficial if you want to see Wynn's deal work." 

Quill exhaled, not knowing what to do. He eventually nodded, agreeing to listen not believing that she could change his mind. 

"The only way to guarantee that they'll accept the alliance is if I'm there." 

"You?" 

"Yes, me," Elara rolled her eyes. "They need to see me alive, Quill. I'm the key to everything."

Two // Part Five
And it would be just that: laundry.

I love that there are parts of Ares everywhere in this story, even though he's gone. And without even realising it, the three of them are keeping him close. ♡

Why is Elara so sure that the alliance won't work without her? The next chapter will give you the answers, and it's one I've been looking forward to writing!

28/05/20