A/N: Thank you for all the reviews. They push me to keep writing. I hope you like this new chapter.
Clarke studied the face of the commander. She was younger than Clarke had imagined and wore the signs of a hard life on her face. Yes they were masked behind a nearly blank expression but the years of loss, war, and stress of being in charge had weighed their toll on this woman.
"Anya, I am glad to see you return," said the commander without a trace of a smile. "But I hold you accountable for your losses against our newest enemies. What do you have to say for yourself?"
"I have not returned empty handed, Heda," said Anya pulling Clarke to her feet. "I have brought their leader, the one who burned 300 of my warriors in a ring of fire."
The commander rose from her chair. Taking a moment to stretch to her full height before walking over to Clarke. She looked her up and down then held her gaze. Clarke didn't back down from a challenge and glared right back into the woman's eyes.
"I've already prepared a second team to destroy your home" said the commander. "What good are you to me?" It wasn't a challenge but Clarke could tell there was a right and wrong answer to the question.
"None," said Clarke straightening up and sharpening her glare. "If you kill my people. You need us as much as we need you."
The commander laughed. She actually laughed hard and looked at Anya who had an uneasy smile followed by a forced laugh. "Need YOU?" said the Commander again. "We've been surviving on this planet a lot longer than you sky people. And a lot better before your people started murdering dozens of innocents in their homes." The laughter had stopped now and the commander was walking back to her throne.
"So I ask you again…," She paused looking at Anya.
"Clarke," said Anya.
"Clarke of the sky people," continued the Commander staring her down again. "What good are you to me?"
Clarke was stunned for a moment, wanting to defend her right to live and the desire to ask what she meant by the murdering of innocents.
"If you ever want the mountain to stop kidnapping and murdering your people," said Clarke watching the commander's eyes grow wide. "Then you need our help. And we need yours, because only together can we take down the mountain once and for all."
The Commander was on the edge of her seat, eyes wide. Clarke could tell she had her attention and this was a secret desire of hers, to free her people from fear of the mountain.
"I have been inside, Anya and I escaped together, with my people's technology and knowledge of the mountain and your army we can win this," said Clarke with all the passion and energy she had left.
"Your technology is what draws the attention of the mountain people," said the commander. "I have seen them level entire villages for having electricity, what you bring us is a death sentence."
"Death sentence?!" said Clarke taking a step forward. "What I bring you is a chance for peace. A freedom from the fear of the mountain. A stop to having your people kidnapped, hung with chains from the ceiling and drained of blood to be used as medicine." Clarke paused licking her dry lips and drying to suppress a shiver from the cold.
"I know we haven't made a great first impression," continued Clarke. "And I am sorry for that. We never meant to start a war with your people. Please, give us the chance for peace. Work with us to free BOTH our people from the mountain."
"I will consider sparing your people," said the commander giving Clarke hope. "But the one who murdered an entire innocent village must be given to us. My people MUST have justice. Does that seem fair to you Clarke?"
Clarke swallowed hard then nodded. "If one of my people is guilty of murdering innocent people, then justice should be served."
"And will you bring him to me?" asks the commander. "The one your people call Finn?"
Clarke's jaw drops. She scrunches her face in confusion. "Finn? Are you sure?"
"Are you accusing me of lying?" says the commander arching one eyebrow. "Or are you backing out on a promise."
"No, it's just how can you be sure it's him?" hurries Clarke. "I know him well and he's not a murder."
"I knew you'd be of no use to me," Says the commander standing up and walking toward Anya. "She is useless to me."
"She's a healer," stammers Anya hurriedly.
The Commander paces and gives a side glare to Clarke.
"Lexa," pleas Anya.
Lexa comes to a stop, softness showing at the edges of her eyes as she looks at Anya.
"We've lost many healers," Lexa says turning to Clarke, "thanks to your people. While killing you and all your people would make my people feel better in the moment I would rather see your debt repaid."
Clarke tilts her head to the side a question forming in her mind.
"You've killed 300 of my people," continues the commander. "You will work as a healer here in Polis. When you've saved 300 lives you will be free."
"But, what about our people in the mountain," cries Clarke.
Lexa speaks crispy to the guards. Two of them grab Clarke under her arms and drag her out of the room.
