These Emotions in my Head, These Thoughts on my Heart
AN: Trigedasleng is italicized since I didn't want to butcher translating it. Updates occur on AO3 weekly, here as I get around to it.
Chapter 1: Impact
Terror laces through her, jerking Lexa awake in bed. Breathing rapidly it takes much too long for Lexa to confirm that she is, in fact, safe in her room in Polis. Another wave of terror washes through her. Understanding comes immediately.
Her soulbond.
Concentrating on the connection for the first time in over a year Lexa breathes deeply before submersing herself in her soulmates emotions.
A second later another wave of terror nearly breaks her concentration. Gritting her teeth Lexa forces herself to look beyond the terror in an attempt at learning just what is happening to her soulmate. Slowly other emotions can be picked out from amongst the terror.
Desperation, disbelief, shock, sorrow.
Clearly the isolation Lexa's soulmate had been in for the last year or so was ending in an unexpected manner. Still, this information was not as helpful as Lexa hoped. Pushing aside her own concern Lexa dove as deep into the connection as she could.
For a moment the inconceivable happened. Having never met her soulmate in person, Lexa should only sense extremely intense emotions across the bond connecting them.
Yet, as Lexa sat there on her bed with her entire focus on her soulbond, she saw.
Words muffled as though shouted through a wall. Images coming in and out of focus as if a blow to the head had knocked her silly. A woman talking, flanked by others.
Love, hate, and despair filled Lexa's mate at the sight of the woman. The new rush of emotions jostled Lexa's focus. The last thing Lexa gathered before returning to her end of the bond was four words that shocked her to the core.
"-sending you to Earth."
Lexa is dressed and out the door in moments. Hollering orders for her generals to be fetched she rushes straight to the throne room. Her generals find her on the balcony. Their confusion palpable as they wait for her orders.
"Prep the army scouts to depart at a moment's notice. They are to depart as soon as we receive the sign."
"What sign Heda?"
"You'll know."
Lexa suppressed her humor at their increased confusion. Thankfully none pressed her for more answers. It was only due to her habit of reading books from the old world that she could guess how exactly her soulmate and those with her would be sent to Earth.
Earth.
The knowledge that this whole time her second mate had been in space sent a shiver down her spine. No wonder Costia had been unable to find any sign of their third before-.
Shaking her head Lexa forced herself to think of something else.
Her mate's people were strangers. They could not be from the Mountain due to being in space. But the words Lexa heard were in Gonasleng. Her people would not easily accept them just for speaking the Mountain's language, let alone whatever other grievances will come up.
Lexa should not so easily accept them.
They may yet be allies of the Mountain. Or they could be a new threat all together.
Lexa could not let the prospect of a mate blind her from her duties as Heda. She'd already lost one of her soulmates. If it was discovered by her enemies that her second mate was among these... Skaikru, there would be trouble.
If it was discovered she had a second mate to begin with there would be trouble.
A shout from below broke Lexa from her thoughts.
Focusing her attention outward, the streak of light at the edge of the horizon was easy to spot. It was a small streak of light but from what Lexa read from the NASA, the size of the streak was not enough to determine the size of the ship sent. Or anything else about the ship and those on board.
A fresh wave of terror raced into Lexa from across the bond. Her soulmate had awoken, confirming their presence on the falling ship.
Shouts and exclamations reached her ears as the citizens of Polis noticed the supposed falling star. Not once did Lexa look away from the sky. Only when the trail disappeared from her view did Lexa relax her posture.
A call of her title brought her attention back to the generals who had remained with her.
"Send the scouts towards the Trikru lands. Observation and perimeter only. No contact. I want to know everything there is to know before any contact is made. I shall be at Tondici."
For a beat no one moved; a snarl escaped Lexa's throat. Instantly the generals scrambled to obey. Stalking from the room Lexa ignored Titus's gaze. She didn't need to hear his advice to know what he would say.
To be Heda is to be alone.
Lexa had only been in Tondc for a few hours when the first reports arrived.
Humans, loud and unobservant. They appeared to all be young and unskilled. Even worse, the scouts witnessed what appeared to be a power struggle before a group of five left the main group.
The scouts were too far away to hear any words at the time, but the group was heading towards the Mountain.
Lexa fought back a growl.
No clear leader and they were splitting up. Towards the Mountain. Making a split-second decision Lexa began barking orders.
"Follow any groups that separate but do not be seen. Get scouts close enough to learn more. I will pursue the initial group."
Beside her Anya and Gustus both tensed. A sharp glare caused Anya to nod before turning sharply on her heel and leaving to obey.
"Heda..."
"You may accompany Gostos, but I am going."
"Very well Heda."
Lexa kept her focus on him another moment, eyes squinted as she evaluated Gustus's sincerity. After a moment, she sighed.
Other than invading - crashing - on Trikru land the new comers had done no wrong.
Unless speaking the Mountain's language counted.
To many, it did.
When it was clear Lexa had no more to say in explanation Gustus sighed and turned to leave. He had reached the tent flap before a thought occurred to Lexa.
"Gostos." He paused. "Notify me immediately if anyone shows signs of reacting to a soulbond with Skaikru."
"Sha Heda."
By the time Lexa's small party met up with the original pair trailing the group of five Skaikru it was clear the newcomers knew nothing of stealth. Even stopping as far as they did to keep the horses out of hearing Lexa could faintly hear the groups conversation.
The muttered branwada from Gustus was not welcomed, although Lexa completely agreed when the skaigal jumped into the water.
Watching the other Skaikru Lexa filed away their interactions. How one male seemed to hover around the blond female while the other two males seemed to stick together.
A scream jarred the air around them.
Automatically Lexa was crouched with her hand on her sword as terror lanced down her soulbond.
Could it be?
Movement out of the corner of her eye revealed one of the scouts was breaking rank to rush towards the now panicking Skaikru. Swiftly Lexa cut in front of him. For a second it looked as though he intended to brush past her before he controlled himself.
"Heda."
The warrior's face was pinched with lines of suppressed pain. His eyes pleaded with Lexa to let him pass.
Another scream behind them caused the warrior to flinch.
The corner of Lexa's lip turned up. Softly she issued her order, aware of Gustus and the other scouts not so subtly watching them.
"No contact is to be made. Not yet." Confusion slipped into his expression as his jaw clenched in frustration. Lexa growled. "Understood?"
"Sha, Heda."
Immediately Lexa spun on her heel and motioned for the group to get closer. By the time they had repositioned it was clear the conflict was over. Further up the shore the three Skaikru males gawked as the blond female finished treating the other females leg wound.
Interesting.
Taking a deep breath Lexa focused inward. Concentrating on her soulbond she sought the echoes of her mate's emotions. Determination laced with panic reached her.
Opening her eyes, a faint smile flashed across Lexa's face as she watched the blond help the other one stand.