Miss Ambassador

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Nina Eaton

He was the king now. King of Azgeda, ruling over the kingdom he was banished from for the last years. How ironic that felt. The people around him, ambassadors from Azgeda, warriors and diplomats also didn't know how to handle it. Regardless, he knew, immediately what he wanted and needed. He knew their people had wronged Skaikru. He was too new a king to risk open war. Roan was aware of the lack of backing among his people he still had. He was the banished prince, lived in the wilderness for so long. He knew he had to be careful and calculated among his own people.

But in order to at least feel like Skaikru might be given the justice they deserved despite him being unable to actually do so, he had approached Wanheda with a wish. He needed a skaikru ambassador. He needed someone to make him understand how the hell they ticked, because to him they were aliens, still, thinking completely weird and not understandable at all. He needed to have someone around to explain their antics to him, so Azgeda wouldn't react harshly to some cultural misunderstanding. 

Roan looked up when they brought the ambassador in. She seemed young, but as Wanheda had proven to him: Young didn't equal stupid in case of skaikru.

"YoU're the ambassador then?"

[Nina Eaton]

Nina was not a leader of any kind, nor did she believe herself to be ambassador material. But Clarke had approached her telling her that she would be their ambassador for them and travel with King Roan to Azgeda to help secure the peace. Nina was a soldier and nothing more, so she was confused as to why Clarke had picked her for this role. There were plenty of others that would have been perfect for the job, almost anyone but herself. But there was no getting out of it and Nina felt stuck. She didn't want to go anywhere. She didn't want to leave her friends. Although she was promised it would only be for a short while, it didn't make much of a difference to Nina. She would still be brought to a strange place surrounded by people who likely wanted her dead. It was no secret that the Ice Clan held no love for Skaikru. From what she had been told, it appeared that Clarke had faith in Roan though. Nina wasn't sure but supposed she would see for herself.

She was led through the building until she was brought into a room. She noted Roan in the room but didn't see anyone else. She had seen Roan before but the two had not talked to one another, so she knew it was likely he had no idea who she was. She wondered if he was aware that she was a warrior and not a politician, but she doubted he would care either way. Nina had to stop herself from scoffing at his question. She still couldn't believe that she was the ambassador for this mission. "I suppose I am," Nina said with a nod of her head. "And you must be King Roan." She knew he was but she was trying her best to make conversation. Was she supposed to bow or something? Shit, she was awful at this whole thing. 


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King. It still sounded wrong. It still was wrong. He had given up on succeeding his mother on the throne long ago. He had known for so long, that as long as he was the prince, his mothers son, he'd always be used for her schemes and games. He was never meant for a throne. But he had it now. He was king and he was unprepared. And he had to appear like he was mourning. But how could he mourn someone he barely knew? His father, when he still lived, showed Roan more love than Nia. He suspected that was where he got the idea of not always needing to put people down from.

"Just Roan please." he said, calm, kindly, wanting an open and honest talk. He wanted a good base for all of that. That meant hard work, not only with skaikru, but with his people. He was the king after war, but also during war. It was his job to make sure his people had a good life. It would be a hard job. 
"What's your name?" He asked her. He needed to know in order to, well introduce her to people and justify her being there. It would be a hard fight, but he was determined. War needed to stop. At least for Azgeda.



Nina Eaton

[Nina Eaton]

Nina nodded her head, accepting the offer to just call him Roan. She was thankful because calling someone King still felt strange on her tongue. It wasn't like she didn't know about Kings or Queens, it was just that from what she had been taught, those were things of the past. It was a strange concept in their modern age and Nina thought it was strange. Then again, she was almost certain that they probably found it strange that Skaikru didn't have Kings and Queens. "Nina," she said, telling him her name. Perhaps Clarke had failed to mention it to him or perhaps he was still attempting to make conversation.

"Clarke told me you'd like someone to help you understand Skaikru?" She asked. Nina had to fight a small chuckle. She didn't see how they were so confusing but she knew it was because she was one of them. She also knew that the Ice Clan tended to be a little different from the others, so there was that factor as well. "Any questions off the top of your head?" She asked, clasping her fingers together and holding her hands in front of her.


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Roan couldn't help but laugh. What Wanheda had told her was apparently putting things very lightly. Understadn her people. That was not the only thing why he wanted, no, needed a skaikru ambassador in Azgeda - the word alone raised many questions with the new king. He knew other cultures names were often considered defamatory. Was it the same way with skaikru? He had no idea.

"That is part of it, yes. As you might have noticed by the big mountain blowing up -" Again putting it simplified and lightly and not even remotely close to what happened. Her people were massacred by orders of his very own mother. Then again the very same woman had her own son banished, would anyone really be surprised? Probably not. She was ice cold. "- our people have not exactly had the best start, and due to my placement, I probably don't even know half of it. I do know of the massacre ordered by my mother, though." He had to acknowledge it as war crime. It had to serve as one of the many first steps he had to initiate. "I'm tired of war, but peace can't happen without an understanding of your people. It can't happen without knowledge of your culture, which is obviously very different from ours."

Nina Eaton

[Nina Eaton]

He had a nice laugh but Nina's thoughts were quickly diverted to the cause of his laughter. Had she said something amusing? But his next words made her understand. Her assumption of her job was far from accurate. It appeared she was needed as more than just someone to explain their culture and how they worked. She wished Clarke had given her more information before sending her to Roan. Nina was not one who liked going into something without a battle plan. She always had to have her strategy planned out but this time was different. She had not been given the opportunity to do such a thing and because of it, she was feeling out of place. 

The mention of the mountain caused Nina to tense for a moment. She had almost been inside of that mountain but had decided to stay behind at Arkadia to help with something else. She had been so close to dying. Nina had been furious, and still was, when she found out how the mountain had exploded. Nia may have given the order but it would have meant nothing without the codes from Carl Emerson. Nina needed him to die but she knew that Clarke had simply banished him, from what she could tell. She understood that she wanted Carl to live out his life in agony over his choices and how he was the last of his kind, but there wasn't anything wrong with a little torture first, was there? "Good point," Nina said, nodding her head as he finished his small speech. "We can get a lot more accomplished if we stop fighting one another. The problem will be getting everyone to agree to peace." She knew that some men lived and breathed war. It also didn't help that many Grounders were still very much against Skaikru.


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She was right, probably on case of the Skaikru more than in Azgedas. Azgeda was, after all a monarchy, has been for quite some while. He didn't have to justify anything to his people, that didn't mean he wouldnt. he was well aware of the risk of coup d'etats. He wouldn't risk it. His intentions were pure and honest: he wanted the best for Azgeda, just the best. The best included the attempt to peace and an end to the pointless killing between them and others. In the end what did the act in Mount weather do? Apparently it just killed innocents. He was done with that, truly done.  Constant war was not good for a kingodm, it was a waste of resources in his eyes. He learned that not from his mother but from his banishment. Maybe in part he should be glad for it, it gave him experiences he never expected.

"I'm the king, my people don't need to agree with me. They are sworn to follow me no matter what. The difference is, I want to choose a cleverer path than my mother did. War might bring a leader glory in our country, but it wastes resources and lives. I want my kingodm strong. I can only have that with well fed and healthy people. I'm sure none of you knew, that our lands technically produce more food than we could even dream of needing? Our people could help each other."

Nina Eaton

[Nina Eaton]

Nina thought about how any path he chose would probably be better than the one his mother had picked. She had been the one, after all, to order the Mount Weather massacre. She was getting a good vibe from Roan and felt a little more comfortable not only in his presence, but in his ability to get things done. While Nina believed it would be difficult to get his people to follow him due to his newly appointed status, he seemed to not find it an issue at all. She supposed that was all that mattered. But his mention of their lands and how well they produce food caught her attention. She did not know they were that great, but then again, she wasn't from Farm Station so it wasn't something she really thought about. Truth be told, it wasn't something she really cared about. She knew food was important but that wasn't Nina's job and it had never been a concern of hers. She had always been focused on training and doing her job while in the Guard.

"I wasn't involved in food growth on the Ark," Nina explained. "But I'm sure our farmers would find that information very useful." What was left of them. It had been mostly Farm Station survivors in the mountain when it had exploded but she knew that there were still some left. But she also knew Roan was correct; their people could help one another. The Grounders had vast knowledge of the lands and everything that resided within them. Nina's people had technology and other knowledge that appeared to have been lost over the years. "Shall we leave for Azgeda?" Nina asked. She didn't want to be rude but she was also antsy and wanted to get this whole ambassador thing over with. "I'm sure it's quite the journey."


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Leaving was a good idea. He nodded at her suggestion, but he made sure not to walk without here. There was much to be explained and much to be discussed. She was only a representative of her people, but she was there for a very good reason. "Well, you know there is no love lost between out people at the moment. I had to bring someone who can handle themselves." And that someone was one being able to fight on top of being open and protective enough to do everything they could in order to better their peoples position. 


"The ride will be long." He said as he reached the horses. "I hope you are not afraid of horses." If not he could take her on one of the horses, that was used to following others. It would give her some independence and dignity while riding into Azgeda. "We will have to update your clothing, too. That is not fit for the climate up in the north where Azgeda is. In the most northern parts, we always need fires in our huts just so we don't freeze to death at night - and a night can last for half a year there - as well as a day. I don't know what they taught you in the sky, sky girl, but you will encounter some wonders of the ground."



Nina Eaton

[Nina Eaton]

She walked next to Roan as the two left the room they had just occupied. Nina was thankful that he had agreed to leave for Azgeda. She was anxious to get the trip over with so she could return home, but she also wasn't a huge fan of long journeys. A little chuckle left her lips at his mention of needing someone who could handle themselves. She sure as hell could do that. Nina was a soldier above everything else. She would have no problem protecting herself or doing what was necessary. She knew an alliance was at risk every day but that didn't mean she would roll over if threatened. "Well I can certainly do that," Nina agreed. She wasn't concerned with the people seeing her as a threat because of her fighting skills. If everything went according to plan then she wouldn't need to showcase those skills. Then again, she was almost certain she would have to spar with someone at some point. Nina would go insane if she couldn't get her pent up energy out.

They arrived at the horses and Nina walked over to one, stroking the nose of the horse in an attempt to keep it calm. She had ridden a horse once or twice but always prefered to be inside the rover. But she had enjoyed helping Octavia take care of the horses at camp so she was no stranger to horses, nor was she afraid of them. "I can ride," she said to him, looking away from the horse for a moment to look at Roan. She scrunched up her nose at the mention of how cold things could get. She hated being cold. She prefered to be warm or even hot. Nina had no problem shedding her clothes to cool her body down. But bundling up was a completely different story. She nodded her head as he spoke, a little laugh leaving her mouth at him calling her sky girl. "Oh, I don't doubt that." There were already numerous wonders she had already witnessed down on Earth and she was sure there were hundreds more to see. "Not a huge fan of the cold though," she confessed. "I don't like wearing a ton of clothes."

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He doubted she had any ideas of the wonders of the ground he had just mentioned. But he would not take the surprise. He wanted to see it on her face. He wanted to see her fascination and know she would tell all the others about it once she returned and return she would. He was determined to make sure of it. "It's not the amount of clothes you wear that does the trick." Roan admitted. "It's what kind of clothes." It was simple, really. He had no idea why it worked the way it worked, but it did and so he had no reason to question it. "A simple shirt and some fur coat will probably already do. It's not so different from what you wear now. And thick boots of course. Besides the insides are always properly heated. We always have fires." Long lasting due to animal oils mostly. 

"It takes some getting used to, I assume. But that, too, could help your people. The last winter was surprisingly mild. But there are harsh ones. The ground can be covered in ice for months, even down south where skaikru settled - Arkadia." That would be a challenge for them, but not impossible to survive either. They just needed the right people around them.  But he knew they would trust her more than them. It would probably take generations for the pain of mount weather to pass. And he couldn't blame them. "You'll see there is very comfortable fur. You just need to know where to find it."



Nina Eaton

[Nina Eaton]

She couldn't help but to chuckle at his comment. His belief that it wasn't so different from what she was currently wearing was amusing. Of course they were different. Her clothes looked nothing like those that the Grounders wore, let alone Ice Nation. But Nina hadn't really thought about winter and its impending arrival. Her people had never been forced to deal with the extreme weather that the grounders did. They had always been accustomed to one temperature up on the Ark. Her people would have a hard time with the cold and Roan was right; this information was vital to their survival. Nina would have to really pay attention during her time with these grounders. This information would have to be relayed to her people and while she still didn't know why she had been picked, it was still her job.

"And you'll help me learn where to find this fur?" Nina asked with a raised brow. A small, amused smile was on her face but she was grateful for any help he gave her. She wondered what else she would learn during her time with Roan and his people. She wondered if she would find it at all interesting or just completely boring. Although, she supposed it didn't really matter. The information was important either way.


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"If you require assistance with it, then yes." He replied gently. He would not let her down if she needed help. Those practices were in the past. They died with his mother. He was a different kind of leader, aspiring to be everything his mother wasn't - at least in his eyes. He had to be like that to appear strong. Strength didn't come from copying and being the good little prince she had wanted. His strength had to come from his determination and his willingness to get things done his way and only his way. Nobody else could make his decision or stand up for them. He had to. And he would.

"But I have the feeling you won't need help with that at all." Azgeda had many furs. It was on her to find those that she liked. It was on her to decide which kind of fur was the fur she would enjoy wearing. Roan smiled, there was more than that. Her words, her wit, made it seem like she was the kind of woman to be perfectly well with being alone, deciding for herself, all by herself.  "You seem like the type of girl to not need much help from anyone."



Nina Eaton

[Nina Eaton]

She knew he would help her. He seemed like a good man even though she didn't know him. But Nina would grow to know him for however long she was with him and in Azgeda. Nina didn't know how long that would be and she felt like even Roan didn't know. But if she wanted this time to be useful and if she wanted it to go smoothly, then she had to have a positive attitude about the whole thing. She had to forget about how much she didn't want to be there. She had to forget about how much she wanted to be with her people back at Camp Jaha.

Nina raised an eyebrow at his comment, a smirk slowly making its way onto her face. "Oh really?" She posed, amusement in her voice. Nina couldn't help the laugh that escaped her lips. "And what kind of girl do you think I am?" She couldn't help but to ask the question. Nina knew that she could be asking for something she didn't want to hear, but she was eager to hear what Roan thought of her. 


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Roan loved at how eager she was to hear what he thought of her. It was curiosity, he thought. But it was nothing bad. He had a rather good opinion of her so far. “You seem clever, logical, rooted in reality.” Clever, but not overly clever, actually. Not a know it all. Just someone who would know how to help themselves. And that is valuable. On so many levels. “A survivor – and those are important for your people now.” It was sadly that simple. “Because survivors know when to put their guard up. I suspect you never lowered yours around me. If I was to reach for my weapon now, you would be able to defend yourself. Not everyone of your people is, despite how… much my people proved how much you needed that.” They would have to get it.

“Survival isn’t easy in this world. Which is why our clans are… specialized. But survivors like you specialize themselves whatever the situation. You fall into place with the leader, the one who would provide you protection. I have no doubt the moment I would no longer do that, you would turn away from me, to protect yourself. I couldn’t blame you.”

Nina Eaton