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A New Name, A New Life

Chp 21. Time to Choose

They were surprised when they were led to the King’s private garden instead of his official court. King Ezekiel was tending to some weeds when they approached and Tonkin cleared his throat.

“Ahem...Excuse me, your majesty.”

“Tonkin! Ah, I see you’ve done as you have promised. You are a man of valor and I thank you for your service. Now, if I may have a moment alone with my guests.” He nodded with a grin.

“Of course, thank you sir.” He gave a quick bow and exited the way they’d come in.

Q looked around, expecting to see Carol emerge from the bushes, validating her fear that she’d gone behind her back, but there was no sign of her... it was just the three of them and she let out a sigh of relief.

Daryl noticed her relax and understood why. He had breathed a little easier at not seeing Carol with The King. If this was just about some fighting, he could handle that.

“Weeding is crucial to sustainability. We must ensure the plants that bare the most survive, regardless of when they bloom.” He talked while finishing his task.

As he stood, he motioned to the bench a few feet away. “Please, sit.”

They moved to the bench and awkwardly sat, feeling like school children in the principal’s office.

Ezekiel grabbed a chair and positioned himself in front of them. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“I have been informed of some troubling news... these revelations have made me ponder the best course for all involved...” he inhaled deeply, “Q...”

She tensed, thoughts running through her head at a dizzying speed.

“... please do not be angry with her. She came to the king out of love for you.”

‘Fuck.’ Daryl thought, but when he looked to Q he saw that expression he remembered from their first encounter. Stoic, self assured and, most importantly, deadly. She wouldn’t look at him and he could see she’d gone ridged.

“You have been saved from committing a crime that you undoubtedly would’ve regretted. It would have forced my hand... you must see that.”

“No...” She said under her breath.

“Q...” Ezekiel said calmly.

“Where is she?” Venom dripping from her words.

“She is not here. I asked to speak to you alone, but she insisted Daryl be privy to our conversation as well. I prefer to keep this situation between us for now... as to not create unnecessary unrest amongst my people.”

“Pfft.” Her hands were white-knuckling the bench as she stared at the ground.

“They should be afraid. If they knew... they would be.”

“My dear Q, we’ve handled similar threats to The Kingdom in years past. I’m sure Daryl…”

He paused, remembering who he was talking about, “…well Carol, at least, has told you the tale of our battles with The Saviors, yes?”

“You mean the prick with the bat wrapped in barbed wire? Ya...” She shot up from her seat, “… and they have nothing on The Patriots. I’m sorry Daryl, I know they killed people close to you, but they at least viewed people as a resource. The Patriots view them as dispensable. They’ve got some Neo-Nazi views, your majesty, which means they sure as fuck won’t take too kindly to a black man as king.”

She was boiling under her skin, exasperated by his arrogance.

Daryl grabbed her arm, she hadn’t noticed that he’d shadowed her every move as she approached Ezekiel.

“Don’t.” She pulled her arm from his grasp.

“What about Peter? What are you going to do with him?”

“He will be exiled.” The king said, matter of factly.

Q scoffed, “Perfect. Then he can run back and bring them HERE. How are you not getting this!?”

“What would you have me do? Execute a man for his past company? He has done nothing against the people of The Kingdom.”

Q moved towards Ezekiel, her hand in his face, “If you think, for one minute... for one SECOND... that his hands are clean, you are mistaken.”

“My dear Q... truth be told... we all have blood on our hands.”

She was shaking. It wasn’t the same, not remotely the fucking same.

She had known this was a possibility, but somewhere inside, a small part of her hoped she wouldn’t have to cross that line on her own.

“Ok.” She said as calmly as she could.

Ezekiel raised an eyebrow, clearly not believing this shift of position. He looked to Daryl, who was looking just as confused and concerned.

“Ok?” Ezekiel confirmed.

“Ok.” She said again, more calmly than the first time.

“Alright,” He smiled,”than we shall consider the matter settled.” Ezekiel stood to leave.

“When?” She asked, still keeping her cool.

Ezekiel hesitated, still not convinced she was going to leave this alone.

“Tomorrow’s dawn.”

She gave a nod. Accepting this as her concession, he grinned and nodded back.

As he left the garden, he shouted over his shoulder, “Now, on to handle matters of state on this fine day! I shall bid you both farewell.”

She exhaled and turned to leave.

“You really gonna leave this alone?” Daryl asked, unconvinced.

Q knew she wouldn’t be able to lie to him. So she didn’t say a word, just looked at his feet... then walked away.

“Yea... didn’t think so.”
_________

“Q?” Carol asked as she knocked on her bedroom door.

She wasn’t surprised that Q didn’t want to talk to her, but she couldn’t help but try, it was that mothering instinct in her. She could hear her moving around behind the door, doing god knows what.

She let out a heavy sigh and went to the front porch where Daryl was smoking.

“She’s not answering me.” She stated, putting her hands on her hips.

“Mmm.” He mumbled in response.

“Sure she’s still in there?”

“Mmhmm.” Course he was sure, wasn’t about to lose track of her now.

“You know why I had to tell him, don’t you? We would’ve lost her.” She said, defiantly.

Daryl just took another drag.

“She would’ve regretted it. If she had killed him she would’ve gotten lost in that darkness again.” She continued, crossing her arms, not sure who she was trying to convince at this point.

“At least it’s done. She can be mad at me all she wants but we can move forward from this. Together. Here.”

Daryl scoffed.

“What? You don’t think she’ll forgive me? She has to. We’re family.”

“Nah. Not that... You’re foolin yourself thinkin it’s over.”

“What do you mean? Did she say something to you?”

He stood, flicking his cigarette to the ground, “Nope.”

“Then how do you know?”

“I know. Just like you do. It’s wishful thinkin’.”

She did know, but she was afraid to admit she might have made a mistake... that in going to Ezekiel, she’d inadvertently forced Q to make a choice. In trying to save her, she might have actually forced her to act.

“She’s going to follow him.”

“Mmhmm.”

“She’s going to kill him.”

“Prob’ly.”

“Shit.”

“Mmhmm.”

“You think I was wrong?”

“Don’t matter what I think... It’s done. Just got to protect her now.”

“I think she could handle him.” She laughed half-heartedly.

“Yea, that ain’t what I meant.”

****
She was pacing, running through her plan in her head… questions attacking her.

How long would she follow him before she ended it? Would she sneak up on him? Or face him when she killed him, look him in his eyes? Would he fight back?

A tightness formed in her chest. In that moment she realized that this situation was different. In the old world the term would’ve been “premeditated.”

Did that even matter now? Wasn’t this just strategy?

Before she came to The Kingdom, she wouldn’t have found herself in this moral dilemma... it was kill or be killed. She was numb to the world... but they’d brought her back... he’d brought her back... even more than she’d realized.

If she followed through with her plan, it would be murder. No matter what led her to the act, plain and simple.

And for a brief moment, she wavered.

‘No.’ It had to be done. This would be the end of it for her. Peter had to die.

****

Daryl laid on top of the shed, watching the clouds roll by. It wasn’t quite dusk, but the sun was low enough that he felt the chill in the air.

Chewing on his thumb, he tried to stop his mind from going down the dark paths it tended to wander. He had already decided to go with her, whether she wanted him to or not. She wouldn’t have to do this alone. Shit, she wouldn’t have to do anything on her own anymore if he had any say.

He replayed the night before... their unspoken promise... he knew what it meant, for both of them. He grinned thinking about being with her... her curves... her scent... the way her breath felt on his skin.

The memory was shattered by the anxiety building in his chest. The thought of something happening to her... of losing her... it was too much and it was overwhelming. He sat up, trying to shake the nerves when he heard a creak and caught her scent.

“Hey.” He said without looking around.

“Hey.” She replied as she made her way to the shed.

“Com’on.” He reached down for her hand and helped pull her up.

She positioned herself between his legs, leaning her back into his chest. She could feel his deep steady breaths and felt it ground her... He grounded her.

He put his forehead against her head, resting it gently while he breathed her in. Her fragrance had the ability to subdue him and ignite him at the same time. He wanted to remember this moment, knowing that it would be the last calm they’d be able to share for a while.

“You know what I have to do.”

“Mm... You got a plan?”

“More or less.”

“Which is it?”

“Depends.”

“On?”

“You.”

“Pft. You go, I go. Should know that by now.”

“Ok. Then I’ve got more of a plan.” She smiled to herself as he scoffed.

Daryl shifted uncomfortably, “What about her?”

“Don’t.”

“Can’t leave it like this...”

“Daryl.”

He considered pushing harder but knew it’d only push her away. So instead, he kissed her head and rested his forehead against her again.

He had to focus on keeping them both alive, realizing that she wouldn’t be distracted by that detail for her mission. He convinced himself that he would bring her home when this was done and she would make amends with Carol.

They were family, like Carol had said, she had to.

Notes

This chapter has just been sitting here... waiting to be posted! My bad, so here it is for those enjoying it, thanks for coming back for more! :)


Comments

So... I'm going to delete the TBD Chp# Time to Claim Chapter now that I've posted the next chronological chapter--you'll see it again. SOMEDAY! :D

Thanks for reading and for the feedback! Hope to have the next couple chapters up soon!

@Grimesgirl63

Just started reading your story...really love Q, how Carol and Daryl are at the Kingdom, and the interaction between them all. It is so well written, and I am really enjoying it!

Grimesgirl63 Grimesgirl63
10/27/17

@Loul461
Thanks for reading!! :)

Love it!

Loul461 Loul461
10/7/17