the lightning in their souls
i. the sun rose in the west today.
*all dialogue in italics is trigedasleng
13 years earlier…
The scent of blood permeated Anya's nose along with the metallic clash of steel on steel; but she paid it no notice. The only thing she knew was the feel of her blade in her palm and the narrow field of vision in front of her. She vaguely knew of some pain in her side, a wound long since overcome by adrenaline.
She slashed down at the warrior rushing towards her, neatly slicing through her opponent's armor. Anya spun gracefully away, dancing through the streams of blood, the hiss of her blade her music.
Anya paused momentarily, her eyes sweeping over the hilly landscape. Her moment of respite was brief as somebody shouted behind her. Anya barely managed to duck under the axe before it slashed through the air where her head had previously been. Anya sliced at the tall man as he spun back around to swing his axe towards her.
She ducked and weaved away from the axe-wielder, unable to get close enough to land a hit. She stabbed wildly at him, aiming for the exposed underbelly.
Just after one of her blades had nicked his underarm, the sound of a horn reverberated through the valley. Three short blasts followed it. Anya wasted no time stabbing her blade into his leg before turning and running back towards her clan's base. From the trees, a volley of arrows picked off a few of the Rock warriors as the two armies dropped back behind their lines.
"Onya!" Anya froze at the sound of her name, spinning instantly to find the source.
"Tarus!" She looped an arm underneath her fellow second, supporting his weight as he tied off a wound on his upper thigh.
"Mochof," The man grunted out as he extracted himself from her arms. They jogged towards the command tent, shouting out greetings to their fellows.
As she entered the command tent, Anya sheathed her swords. "Onya, have you seen Theia?" Somebody called from other side.
"Theia? No." Anya shrugged a shoulder, snagging a piece of cloth to stem the bleeding on her upper arm. An argument on the other side of the tent piqued Anya's interest and she moved closer.
"Bern, we cannot retreat. If we retreat, the Rock Clan will have another foothold in our territory. And in any case, that is not your decision to make. We will wait until Theia returns."
Bern let out a harsh laugh, "We do not have the numbers to force them back. We are stretched too thin."
The argument began to spread around the tent until the entire leadership of the Trikru was bickering amongst themselves. Anya watched as hands dropped to swords and voices reached a fever pitch.
"Enough!" Anya yelled as she made her way to the center of the room. "You argue like yongon. Bern is right, we do not have the numbers to force the Rock Clan back. But we can deal them a deathblow along their flank. They have concentrated their strongest warriors here," Anya pointed with her dagger to a spot along the edge of the forest. "Our archers will create a distraction with their warriors in the center. We will come up through the trees and take them by surprise. Once weakened along their left flank, only a fool would stay this far extended. They will be forced back."
A moment of silence shuddered through the tent. Then voices bubbled to life again, "Aren't you Theia's second? What gives you the right to order us? We follow Theia." Bern shouted, his eyes blazing.
"She is right. I will follow her." A voice called from the back. Indra stepped forward, "Theia is dead." Anya fought to keep her face from crumbling away, her heart thudding more painfully that any sword. She stood straighter, pushing away the pain that infiltrated her chest.
"We fight when the sun sets." Anya declared, casting her eyes around the tent for any opposition.
The two mud-covered women gripped arms, a sense of understanding passing between them. Anya was the first to break away, "I will go and request an audience with the Commander."
"Please hurry," Clarke's blue eyes shone through the darkness as Anya nodded.
Anya then turned and faded back into the trees. A spray of gunfire flew past Clarke, eliciting a scream from the Sky-person.
Anya watched as a group of people in dark clothing descended on the girl, dragging her back to the compound. Once the girl was with her people again, Anya turned and ran. She needed to find Lexa, even if Lexa wouldn't speak to her.
Her body ached more than it had in years as she wove in and out of the trees under the moonlight. There was a hunger set into her bones and the wound on her arm throbbed painfully, reminding her of Muan-de. The mere thought of what those Maunon had done, were doing to her people was enough to fuel her body with angry energy.
The stars still lighting the sky, the smokes of the Commander's camp marked the sky. Anya's eyes narrowed as she reached the top of the small hill before the camp.
Anya slipped past the sentry, having long since memorized their patterns. Sticking to the shadows, she makes it to the Commander's tent. A lean figure paced back and forth through the shadows: the Commander. Anya hesitated for a moment, keenly aware again of the pain permeating her body. But Anya pushed it to the back of her mind and slipped into the Commander's tent.
"Heya Heda," the words came out in a rasp, Anya's voice suffering from her exhaustion.
The Commander jumped slightly, breaking from her thoughts. Gustus was on Anya in a split second. Anya simply grinned at the large man as he held a knife to her throat.
"You should be paying more attention to your surroundings, Heda." Anya commented drily, ignoring the knife.
"Onya." Lexa sighed, probably softer than she would've liked. "Gostos, let her up." The large man took a step back, his focus solely on the Commander.
"I didn't recognize you with all that filth on your face." Gustus grunted with a nod to Anya. Anya flashed a smile towards Gustus, her teeth stark against the mud.
"Leave us, Gostos."
"I'll bring Onya some clothes. You smell like a horse."
The pair stared at each other for a moment. Lexa looked sadder than when Anya had last seen her one on one. Her paint had been wiped from her eyes, leaving her face young. The green eyes that Anya had once seen so full of life seemed devoid of any joy.
"I thought you were dead." Lexa breathed out, and Anya recognized her second for the first time since she had entered the tent.
"It takes more than the Sky People or the Maunon to end my fight, Leksa." At Anya's words, a slight shudder ran through Lexa. In a fleeting, heartbreaking moment, Anya wondered how long it had been since somebody had called her Lexa and not Heda. Lexa inhaled a shaky breath, nodding.
"Your warriors…they are all dead. Burned alive. How did you survive?"
"By the Sky People. I know. I was captured by the Maunon." Anya spat the word out like poison, which is what the Maunon were. The crease in Lexa's brow deepened as Anya continued, "Do you know what they are doing?"
"Other than turning my warriors into ripas?" Anya tensed at Lexa's tone, full of anger and hate, a direct representation of her own emotions.
"They are draining our people of their blood. Using it as medicine." Lexa seemed to crumple slightly. The change was subtle, only a select few would've noticed it. "The Maunon hold us in cages like animals." A growl was ripped from Lexa's throat as she resumed her pacing, her hand clutched at her sword.
"How are you here?"
Anya let out a low chuckle, "The Sky People. Their leader, Klark. The Sky People were also captured, but they were not held in cages. Klark found us though and released me. We fled." Anya continued recounting her story as Lexa paced back and forth, tension rolling off her in waves.
"There are more Sky People. More of their ships fell from the sky. I have scouts watching them. I have put a bounty on them."
"Tell your scouts to be wary, especially at night. The Sky People are like scared children, willing to harm anything that walks in shadow. I saw them shoot at one of their own, Klark."
"Klark? She is the one who met you on the bridge, is she not?"
"Sha, she would like to meet with you." Lexa's eyebrows nearly disappeared into her hair. "She believes that the only way to take down the mountain is an alliance between our two people."
"What do you believe?"
Anya paused, "I think you should consider it. I believe that Klark has pure intentions. But I do not know about the rest." Lexa nodded, examining the map carefully, her shoulders drawn up in tension.
"I will think about it. One of the Sky People fell in the Lost Zone. He is in a holding cell. Rivo is bringing one of their leaders here. He will be here in the morning. Indra says there was another ripa attack on her village and Lincoln was taken."
"That natrona," Anya growled, "What was he doing near Tondc?"
Lexa shrugged dispassionately, "I know not. Nor do I care." Anya watched her former second pace.
"When did you last sleep?" Anya asked, breaking Lexa from her thoughts. Lexa stared at her in surprise, "You left Polis 2 days ago. Have you slept since you made camp?"
"I've been busy."
"Sleep, Leksa."
"You are not my nomon, Onya," growled the younger woman, her eyes angry, but guarded.
"No, I'm not. But I know if you don't sleep, you will not be able to function well. I will leave you to rest. Think about the alliance with the Sky People, beja." Anya nodded in deference to her Commander before turning to leave the tent.
"Onya," Lexa called out softly. Anya turned back around, her head tilted in question, "I'm glad you're alive." Lexa took a few steps forward until she was a step away from her mentor. The two gripped arms tightly.
"Me too."
Lexa's nose wrinkled, "Please go and bathe, Onya. What is your fascination with mud?" She let out a breathy chuckle.
"Of the two of us, you seemed to spend an awful lot of time covered in it not me." Anya said as she stepped towards the exit.
As Anya slipped out, Lexa said, "Only because you pushed me in it."
All traces of mud scrubbed from her skin, and clean clothes on her back, Anya confidently walked into the Commander's tent. Lexa was lounging on her throne, as she was apt to do, with Gustus by her side.
"Heda," Anya nodded sharply to Lexa, "Have you thought further about our conversation?"
"Yes, the mountain has cast a shadow over our people for far too long and if the Sky People will help us destroy it, then I am willing to meet with them. I do wish to speak with the Sky People we have captured at some point. You may trust Klark, but what of the new invaders?"
"I know nothing of them." Anya answered, "Just that they were willing to shoot blindly into the forest. And that there are more of them. Klark warned me that there would be more when we spoke on the bridge."
"Very well. Break bread with me, Onya?" A glimmer of something, perhaps hope, fluttered in the Commander's eyes.
"Of course, Heda. It would be my pleasure." Lexa gestured to the small table in a corner, laden with food. As the pair sat, Gustus stepped out of the tent. The hunger that had been slowly gnawing at Anya's stomach roared to life as she took in the spread.
"Please, eat, Onya." Lexa leaned back in her chair as Anya tore into a piece of bread.
The two ate in silence until Lexa spoke, "Your swords and headband were abandoned at the Sky camp if you would like them back." Anya shot a glare her way as if to say: if I would like them back? Lexa rose gracefully and retrieved a small bundle. "I couldn't..." Lexa hesitated, her cheeks fighting back a flush of pink, "I didn't want to believe that you were dead." Anya nodded brusquely, willing to allow Lexa to hide her weakness.
The silence returned to the tent as sunlight began to filter more fully in. "What can you tell me about the Mountain?"
"I did not see much of it. But Klark says that the Maunon use our blood to heal themselves."
Lexa stood up abruptly, anger coursing through her. "Why?"
"They cannot be exposed to the air. They have hidden beneath their mountain for too long."
"And the Sky People, they will stand with us?"
"Yes, their children are held within the Mountain."
"Gostos, send word to the Sky People that I will meet with this Klark to discuss peace in one day's time."
Anya busied herself with reattaching her weapons to her body as Lexa examined her map. One of her generals entered with an update on their numbers. His eyes widened at the sight of Anya, but said nothing.
As Lexa spoke with each of her generals, Anya watched. It had been almost a year since she had been allowed in Lexa's presence outside of the context of a larger meeting. Lexa's shoulders were drawn back tighter than before and her hand was quick to find the hilt of her blade. The light that Costia had drawn out of her seemed to be nearly extinguished, and for good reason.
But all the same, to see the girl who Anya had watched grow up into the Commander so broken crushed something deep within Anya. That small part of her heart that had not been hardened long ago.
"Heda." A familiar voice snapped Anya out of her thoughts and she turned to see Indra, flanked by Gustus, a furious expression on her features.
"Indra, what news do you bring?"
"The Sky People...one of their people fired upon the innocents of my village. Elders, children, mothers. 18 lie dead. They rounded them up like animals and fired upon them."
Anya let out a low curse, her hand like Lexa's dropped to the hilt of her sword. The expression on Lexa's face could only be described as pure, unadulterated fury.
"I want blood. Jus drien jus duan." Indra's voice came out in low hiss. Lexa nodded sharply; she would not deny her general blood. "You have a Sky Person in your hold."
"Yes."
"I want him dead," Indra seethed.
"No." Lexa's voice rang through the tent.
Indra's eyes narrowed and she took a step towards Lexa. Anya was up in an instant, the sword that had been resting across her lap at her side. "We need the Sky People to take down the Muan-de."
"I thought you were dead." Indra glanced towards Anya. "We do not need them. They are children. They have no sense of honor, no knowledge of battle."
"That may be. But without their weapons, we cannot destroy the Muan-de. You saw the destruction at their first camp. They burned 300 of my warriors alive. They carry the weapons of the Muan-de. If we ally ourselves with the Sky People, the Muan-de will fall." Lexa's voice remained strong even as Indra's jaw locked and her eyes hardened.
Indra nodded nonetheless, "I want the ripa. He will pay for his crimes. Only then will I respect this alliance."
"I expected nothing less. The people of Tondc will see justice." Lexa took a step forward, extending her arm. Indra grasped it tightly, her eyes bleeding with the anger and grief of her village. "You have my word, Indra."
"Mochof, Heda." Indra bowed her head and took her leave.
"Well, this complicates things." Anya let out a bark of laughter, dry and cold.
There had been no further word from the Skaikru, except for a prisoner by the name of Marcus Kane who wished to speak to Lexa in order to establish peace, but he did not know of Lexa's message. Lexa had him jailed along with the man called Jaha. Neither man had received food or water.
"We must know of the Skaikru's intentions. Onya says they want peace, but then they attack one of our villages. Their words say one thing while their actions say another."
"And how do you propose that, Heda?" Gustus asked, his back stiff.
"I worry that they may not respond well to direct questioning. I do not trust them."
"As is expected, Heda. They have given you no reason to trust in them. Perhaps torture?"
Anya let out a scoff, "And then ask them to make an alliance with us? Gostos, you are smarter than that." Gustus pinned her with a harsh glare, but said nothing. Lexa hesitated in her pacing, her eyes thoughtful. "You have something, Heda?"
"Perhaps," began Lexa, "What if they do not know that I am Heda? If I pose as a servant girl, while one of you two pose as Heda, and tell them one of them must kill the other. That will reveal their true nature."
Anya had to fight back an eye roll, "Heda, there must be another way."
"Please, tell me, Onya." Lexa growled, turning sharply to face her mentor.
"Onya is right, Heda. This is too risky. We know nothing of the Skaikru." Gustus said, but Lexa would not listen, already partway through unbuckling her shoulder guard.
"Which one of you will pose as Heda?"
Anya and Gustus shared a long-suffering look, neither one of them willing to give into the younger woman's demands. After a long moment, Gustus stepped forward. "I will, Heda. I believe I appear more imposing on first meeting than either of you."
"I take offense at that," Anya commented drily, dropping down into one of the chairs.
"I will go make all the arrangements, Heda."
Lexa nodded. As Gustus left the tent, Lexa began to rid herself of all the markings of Heda. First to go was her armor, leaving her in light clothing. Lexa stripped off her shirt of fine cloth, exchanging it for a thin training shirt. Her face was not covered in any paint, nor did her forehead bear the mark of Heda.
"Your braids," Anya said, gesturing at the elaborate braids that denoted Lexa's status. "You need to cover them."
"Mochof, Onya." Lexa retrieved a head cover and slid it over her hair. "And now?"
"I could push you in the mud. That would complete your image as serving girl." Lexa glared at her, "Sha, Heda. Don't forget your supplies," Anya gestured to the table. "This may be one of your most ridiculous plans yet," Anya said as she followed Lexa from the tent. Gustus stood in front of the holding cell, the guards standing by his side.
"We await you, Heda."
"Mochof, Gostos. You will give them a knife and instruct them that one must die. It will show me their true strength and their honor. I do not want any interruptions until I give a signal. Onya, stay in the shadows, but make sure you can see me." Gustus shifted the shoulder guard uncomfortably, causing Anya to bite back a grin. Lexa motioned for Gustus to proceed, and then fell into step behind him. Anya followed, her hand resting comfortably on her knife.
The dark haired man leaped to his feet as Gustus entered, but the other remained and the ground. With the briefest of glances towards Lexa, Gustus nodded to the guards. They landed a few punches on the other man while his companion shouted, "Stop. We came in peace. We came in peace. Please!" The guards froze at Gustus' nod, but they hauled the dark skinned man to his feet.
Anya glared at the two men as Lexa limped over to the corner, her shoulders hunched over the jug of water. In almost any other situation, Anya would have mocked her former second. But now was not the time. Anya's mask, perfected over the years, was firmly in place, just as Gustus' and Lexa's were.
"You speak of peace, while you send an assassin into one of my villages." Gustus' strong voice echoed in the chamber.
"What are you talking about?"
"Blood," Gustus began, then looked over to the second man, "must have blood." Anya handed Gustus one of her knives, "One of you will die here today by the other's hand. I will hear the terms of your surrender from the man who lives." The knife fell to the ground amongst the leaves. He turned to Lexa, who was doing a wonderful job of looking smaller than usual. "Fetch us when it's done." He nodded slightly to his Commander before turning and leaving.
Anya was the last to leave, choosing to linger by the door in case something went wrong. She trusted Lexa. This was not the first time they had executed such a plan. But the Skaikru were a completely unknown element.
Lexa glanced towards the door, noticing the faint gleam of Anya's hair.
"They want us to turn on each other." The angry one said darkly.
Lexa cut in, "They want justice."
"Lives have been lost on both sides." The one who wished for peace argued. Lexa turned calmly to face him, not disguising her contempt for the Sky People. The man seemed to become angry, ripping his jacket off and yelling, "That's why we need to end this war."
Lexa feigned a flinch and rolled her eyes, making eye contact with Anya who nodded slightly, sharing an eye roll. The first man approached Lexa, crouching down next to her. Anya gripped her knife tighter, but made no move. "What's your name?"
"Lexa."
"Lexa. I'm Thelonious. This is Marcus." Lexa kept her features neutral, but couldn't help but wonder at the stupidity of the Sky People. "Your commander spoke of an assassin in a village."
"Yes. Eighteen of our people were murdered." Lexa fought to hold her composure, wanting nothing more than to dispatch of the Sky people and get blood for her people. "Elders." Lexa said sharply, "Children." The two men shared a look. The air in the cell seemed to gain in tenseness.
"We had nothing to do with that," Marcus said firmly.
"It doesn't matter. The commander thinks you did. One of you must pick up that knife. That is our way."
"And if we refuse?" The one who called himself Thelonious asked.
Lexa turned to face him, "Then the commander will use it to slit both of your throats." Lexa did not seek out blood shed, but the Skaikru ended the lives of 18 innocents and they must pay. Lexa shrugged a shoulder as the two men stared at the dagger in abject horror. Lexa said no more; she had planted the seed. Now they must fulfill her orders.
Finally, Thelonious said, "This has gone on long enough. There has to be some other way to resolve this. Something we haven't thought of yet."
"There isn't," Lexa said flatly, her eyes seemingly staring blankly ahead.
Marcus agreed darkly, a sense of determination seeping into his voice. That piqued Lexa's interest.
"We can offer a trade. These people are primitive. I've seen how they live." Lexa shifted, every nerve in her body screaming for her to attack the man. Her people were not primitive. They were strong; they survived; they had not fled to the sky or below the earth; they endured. "Our technology, our medicine. All we'd ask for is peace in return." Lexa would rather die than agree to that trade. And she would; her generals would call for her death, citing weakness.
These people did not want peace.
"If we truly want peace, they told us how to get it." Marcus said softly as if he was resigned to his fate.
"Through murder?"
"Through sacrifice." Lexa glanced towards the man. He was willing to die for peace, to pay for the sins of his people. This was what she had sought to find. But the other man concerned her. He would have to be dealt with.
Marcus moved to pick up the knife while the other tried to stop him. "If we don't make a choice, then we'll both die. And the killing won't end," He made brief eye contact with Lexa. "There's only one way out of this," Marcus rose to his feet, the knife clutched in his right hand.
Anya shifted slightly to see the men, crouching low into a fighting position.
Marcus then offered the knife to the other, instructing him to kill him. "You have to do this. It's our only choice." The man refused. "They respect strength. Let's show them ours." Again, Thelonious refused. They spoke of a massacre, but not the one of Lexa's people. Lexa shifted against the wall, prepared to fight. They continued to argue; one understanding the sacrifice that must be made in the name of peace, the other holding fast to his foolish notions.
Marcus stepped back a few steps before slashing the knife across his wrist. The other was quick to drop him to the ground and clutch at his companion's wound. "Come on. Help us, please. Please," he begged of Lexa. Lexa hesitated for a moment; the man, Marcus, had understood what was needed and he had shown true strength. She would not waste strength. Lexa handed the man a bandage, watching the proceedings cautiously.
She did not trust Thelonious. And she was right not to as he lunged at her with the knife. Even as he lay bleeding on the ground, Marcus called out, "Thelonious, no."
Thelonious held the knife firmly to Lexa's throat, but his form was sloppy and his grip weak. "I choose to live," he declared.
Lexa met Anya's gaze and Anya nodded curtly before ducking back behind the wall silently. Moments later, Gustus, Anya and the extra guards entered the cell.
"Take off these chains." Thelonious demanded, shifting his feet uneasily.
"Thelonious, please. She's just an innocent girl." Marcus pleaded, now on his feet. Anya felt something deep inside her protest the description as there was only a narrow sliver of Lexa's life that had been innocent.
Lexa barked out, "Em don sad kiln. Dison laik ain." Lexa swung up into Thelonious, knocking him to the side and yanking the knife from his hand. The older man soon found himself on the ground with Lexa above him, knife in hand. Lexa stood, shedding her hair covering. "Ai don sen in chit bilaik ai gaf sen in."
"Sha, Heda." The Trikru warriors said in unison. Anya took back her knife from Lexa as Gustus replaced her shoulder guard.
"You're the commander?" Marcus asked.
"I have learned much about you. It's clear your intentions are honorable. Your desire for peace is true. Breik em au. Later we will talk. In the meantime, your friend will be used to send a message." At her words, the guards surged forward, kicking Thelonious in the chest and face. Marcus tried to fight against his guard, but it was useless. Once Thelonious was unconscious, he was dragged away. "The massacre must be answered." Lexa declared, her voice strong. "Blood must have blood." Marcus stared at her, a mixture of horror and respect filling his eyes.
Lexa turned away, Anya and Gustus both following her out of the holding cell.
"Heda, what is your message to the Skaikru?" Anya asked.
Lexa pinched the bridge of her nose before saying, "Leave or die. They have two days."
"What of an alliance with the Skaikru?" Anya said as they entered Lexa's tent.
Lexa pinched the bridge of her nose before saying, "I wish to meet with this Klark. I will discuss an alliance with her. And only her."
"You will meet with her yourself?"
Lexa paused for a moment before nodding. "Yes, in a way. I wish to meet with her. I will send a message with Thelonious that you will meet with her. It does not seem that the rest of their leaders understand. You saw the two men in the cell. They see us as primitive." Lexa's hand clenched at her side.
"I will meet with her, Heda?" Anya questioned, tilting her head slightly to the side.
"Sha, Oyna. She trusts you, at least to some extent. I will ride out with you. If I believe her intentions to be good, then I will meet with her. If not, then the Skaikru will have their two days and then they will die."
title comes from Nikita Gill; chapter title comes from Dessa's Sound the Bells
Translations:
Onya - Anya
Mochof - Thank you
Yongon - children
Muan-de - Mount Weather
Maunon - Mountain Men
Heya - Hi
Heda - Commander
Gostos - Gustus
Leska - Lexa
Ripas - murderer/reaper
Klark - Clarke
Sha - yes
Natrona - traitor
Nomon - mother
Jus drein jus duan - blood must have blood
Em don sad kiln. - He has made his choice
Dison laik ain - This one is mine.
Ai don sen in chit bilaik ai gaf sen in. - I've heard what I needed to hear.
Briek em au - Free them
I'm not entirely sure how many chapters will be in this fic. Most of it has already been plotted out. I've also started plotting out the sequel. It will be canon divergent and the sequel will most likely disregard canon season 3 to some extent.
many thanks to romnovs who has been my sounding board at all hours of the day for some very crazy tangents and what not.
~ebh