I own nothing. Just a product of my imagination with these awesome characters.
Indra walks into my tent and waits for me to acknowledge her presence.
"Indra," I say.
"Heda, Marcus and Abby kom Skaikru are outside of TonDC. They are requesting an audience with you," says Indra.
"Have any scouts seen Clarke?" I ask. I crave information on the blonde beauty from the sky. I keep remembering her broken voice begging me to stay and fight with her on the mountain. I wanted to stay and fight with her, but my people must come first.
"No, Heda, not since right after the mountain fell," replied Indra.
"But the scouts are sure that Clarke was at the sky camp?" I had sent scouts to Camp Jaha in order to see what the sky people did after we left them on the mountain. I had to know what happened with the blonde sky leader.
Indra looked at me a beat longer than necessary before replying, "Yes, Heda. She came back with the sky people from the mountain, but then she left soon after."
I nodded. "Send the skaikru in."
Indra gave a bow before turning to leave. I turn and head for my throne.
"Heda." Indra begins uneasily.
"Speak freely, Indra."
"Clarke kom Skaikru is strong, perhaps not physically, but she is intelligent. She bested Anya and Tristian in battle. She came up with the plan to free the prisoners from the mountain. She even managed to make the reapers human again. Wherever she went when she left her people, she'll be okay."
I nod to her and she leaves to get the sky leaders who aren't Clarke. I hope Indra is right. Clarke is resourceful, I've known it since our encounter with the Puana. Indra returned with Marcus and Abby kom Skaikru pulling me out of my thoughts.
"Commander," said Marcus and he bowed his head respectfully.
Abby stood in front of me, but said and did nothing. Her posture reminds me a little of Clarke during our first meeting weeks ago.
"Marcus. Abby."
"Commander, we have come to renegotiate terms of the truce that Clarke and you started," begins Marcus diplomatically.
"Where is my daughter?" demands Abby.
Marcus turned to Abby. "Clarke left voluntarily."
"I want to hear her say that." Abby looked at me, but kept her voice low.
"Abby, not now," whispered Marcus, "We need this truce to continue. To keep everyone safe."
"My scouts have not seen Clarke, since the fall of the mountain." I told Abby, "I have ordered my warriors, should they come across her, to leave her be. No harm will come to her as long as she roams the woods under my command."
"And we are supposed to just take her word for it? After the mountain." Abby says to Marcus. I close my eyes for a moment to make allowance for a mother worried about her daughter. Abby lacks the diplomatic mind her daughter and Marcus have; she says what comes to mind without thinking of the potential consequence.
"Clarke left your camp on her own. I would have nothing to gain by taking her. If you wish to discuss terms of a continued truce, then we may continue to talk, otherwise we have nothing further to discuss." I say. Marcus and Abby exchange a look with each other. They seem to silently discussing their options with each other.
Marcus turns back to look at me, "We wish for the cease fire to continue between our people. We would also like to go back to Mount Weather and take care of the dead as well as take a few supplies for our infirmary. We would also like for the kill order on Lincoln to be lifted."
"I cannot lift Lincoln's kill order. He chose to ignore my order of retreat and that alone is enough to warrant his execution. Lincoln made his choice now he must live with it. However, so long as he stays within the walls of your camp I will not call for his death. If he is outside the wall he will be killed on sight." I say. I am jealous that Lincoln was able to follow his heart and go back to the mountain, but ignoring my order must remain a crime punishable by death.
"What about the cease fire and Mount Weather?" prompts Abby.
"So long as your people respect the cease fire; mine will as well. As for Mount Weather, you may dispose of the dead in there as you see fit. You may remove items from the mountain, but should my scouts begin to suspect you intend to make the mountain operational again…" I trailed off deciding to allow them to fill in where would happen should they try to use the mountain against my people.
"Thank you, Commander. We have one other request," says Marcus.
"Then speak it, Marcus kom skaikru." I say. I don't why the sky people keep Abby as a leader when Clarke and Marcus seem better suited for the tasks required of leaders.
"We wish to send out search parties…" began Marcus.
"For Clarke?" I interrupt. Trying to sound impartial. It was true I had given the order for anyone who came across Clarke to leave her be, but soon her slaying of the mountain would become common knowledge. After that I wasn't sure what my people would do. I suspected that some would try to kill her for her power as our legends demand.
"In part, but when we came down from space our ship broke apart and there were people in other parts of the ship," says Marcus.
"That seems reasonable," I reply, "If that is all I have to finish my preparations to the capital."
"Yes, thank you, Commander," says Marcus.
"Wait. There is one more thing," interjects Abby. I stare at her and wait for her to continue. "If your people find Clarke we want to know and we want her returned to her people."
I had been expecting this since Abby's arrival in my tent and I had been working on my answer since.
"I will send word if she is found, but as she left on her own I will not force her to return if she doesn't wish to."
Abby opened her mouth to argue, but Marcus put his hand on her shoulder and she closed her mouth and turned to leave. Marcus bowed his head respectfully and followed Abby out. Indra follow them out as well.
I slumped in my throne. I did what was right for my people that night on the mountain, but betraying Clarke, leaving her there, that still haunts me. After hearing that Clarke had used the air against the mountain men I know there is little chance of her forgiveness. Killing didn't come easily for the blonde. Since I sounded the retreat and I forced her to commit such acts by leaving her at the mountain I need to find a way for Skaikru and the rest of the coalition to live in peace. I need to find a way to make it impossible for me to betray her in battle again should the occasion arise again and assuming Clarke returns. Perhaps if Skaikru joins the coalition. I'll have to speak with Titus about this upon my return to Polis.