Hi guys,

Here's a short chapter for you.
Hope you enjoy.

Translations in end notes.

XXXXX

Chapter 2

Taavi had traveled to many lands throughout the known world, but he had never seen a place quite like this. This city was vast and thriving. Its inhabitants looked peaceful, happy…healthy. He saw a few disfigured souls that told him this place had not been immune to the nuclear disaster, but the malformations were nowhere near as heinous as the ones his people suffered from. He looked down at his bare arms, the pink, puss ridden sores that covered them giving his own strife with the radiation away.

The sun was just rising and he was fascinated by how the vendors worked together, putting up their stalls as they shared food and gossiped. They seemed not to have a care in the world and an unfamiliar feeling took up residence in his chest at the sight. He quickly recognized it as envy and pushed it back down. If he and his brothers succeeded, his home would be just as prolific as this city…he hoped it would be at least. After what his people planned to do, there was no other choice.

He heard playful yelling to his right and eagerly turned his head to look for the source. There were groups of young children, running and playing amongst the older city folk, their high-pitched screams causing his body to tense even more then the warriors surrounding him. Their joyful, unmarred faces were the most awe-provoking sight he had witnessed thus far.

A little girl pushed her way though the guards, her lighthearted laugh making him feel both nostalgic and uncomfortable. She made her way to a group of older children, grabbing ahold of a tall, scrawny boy's hand – surely her brother, given the curly mop of brown hair on both their heads. The older boy leaned down and whispered something in her ear, making her laugh once again. She playfully started to lead him further along into the market, but not before she turned to look at Taavi. Her curiosity rapidly turned into apprehension as their eyes met. It was only then that he felt a surge of pity for these people. They did not stand a chance against the forces coming their way. But, the sentiment only lasted a moment as he thought of his own family. In order for his people to live, others would have to die. It had always been their way.

As he was pulled along by the ropes secured around his neck and wrists, he fought back against the blinding pain in his head beckoning him to close his eyes and rest. He had his orders, so he trained his eyes on every gate, guard and possible entryway to the city, forcing himself to concentrate on his task rather then the children.

He felt a sharp pull against his neck, the soldier guiding him making a sharp left turn. They were obviously trying to avoid prying eyes and had turned a corner to walk among the shadows. His wandering gaze looked up once again at the imposing tower at the center of the city. He was truly amazed that such a building had withstood the bombing and the century of chaos that followed. As they neared the grand structure, he focused his eyes on the warriors surrounding him, the device that had been implanted in his right eye activating immediately. He was still in awe at how easily he could see every fracture and injury the warriors had endured during their lifetime. He memorized their faces and their weak points. His brothers would be here shortly and he needed to be prepared for the upcoming battle. He had stupidly promised Siv he would make it back to her and although he knew by now his chances of survival were almost none, he would do anything in his power to return home to her.

When they neared the gates to the tower, they were greeted by two other warriors. He did not understand the words exchanged between his guards and the sentries posted outside the gates, but the scathing glares directed at him were telling enough. He silently beckoned his brothers to come soon, this was not going to be a pleasant experience he was sure and he was not as brave as the warriors who had traveled with him. He was a simple healer in his lands, yet he had been specifically chosen for this task; no matter how much they might torture him for information, they would not be able to get a word out of him.

He was roughly led to a side door from where they began to descend into darkness. The lack of light automatically triggered the device in his eye once more. He saw everything in green hues and while his eyes concentrated on every turn and door he passed, he prayed that his brothers were receiving these images.

He heard a grunt from one of the guards and was almost blinded by the light of the torch he had just lit. The injury he had endured to the side of his head during his capture, protested with a burst of pain and he had to force back the bile in his throat.

They walked deeper into the depths of the tower and after many turns, they finally pulled him into a small chamber lit heavily with torches. He was callously grabbed by the two warriors behind him and pulled to the center of the room. The healer was able to let out a small sigh of relief when the ropes on his wrists were cut. He didn't have time to massage the tender skin though as a manacle was tightly secured around his wrists and a new guard who had been likely waiting for them pulled on a rope connected to them, forcing his arms above his head.

He was left there for what seemed like hours until a second door at the far side of the chamber opened and a young, lithe woman he recognized as one of his captors, stepped in followed by an older, brown haired woman and a golden haired girl. The warriors who had been silently guarding him immediately straightened. The taller woman paid no mind to them and looked directly at him, her face stone-like, her green eyes ablaze. The chip in his eye scanned her. He could see she had recent injuries and several, older fissures on both her arms, her left shoulder, various ribs and her right leg; a warrior, no doubt.

She said something to the three soldiers behind him and they quickly stepped out of the room, leaving them with the two other women and the warrior who had dragged him there.

"Commander, what are you planning to do with him?" The older woman asked, her voice wary. He tried not to react to the use of the old world language, not wanting to give anything away but, the twitch of the green-eyed girl's eyebrow as she stared at him was evidence enough that she had found him out. He averted his eyes quickly to the floor. He could feel beads of sweat falling from his forehead and shook his head to try to stave them away from his eyes.

"This man's fate is already sealed….when and how he wishes to leave this world is entirely up to him". The one they called Commander answered dryly as she stepped closer to him. He was surprised to see she was barely a woman; the black paint around her eyes and her imposing presence had made him think she was much older then she truly was.

He chanced a look behind the girl and saw that the blonde one had also taken a step forward, her hand nervously resting on a dagger on her left hip.

"What is your name?" The dark haired girl asked sharply. Taavi could only look on. With an exasperated sigh, she continued to question him.

"Where did you come from?"

Taavi clenched his jaw in defiance and stared directly at the fuming girl, the twitch in her own jaw causing him unwarranted pleasure. She looked over to the guard in the corner of the room.

"Cato" she simply said and the large warrior quickly stepped forward and punched him in the jaw. Taavi saw colors burst behind his eyes, he only hoped that the blow had not damaged the device.

"You tried to kidnap fifteen of my people…why?" She continued the interrogation.

Met with only silence, the girl looked up at the warrior again and Taavi shut his eyes, preparing for the blow to come. Instead, he felt his shirt being ripped off of him and opened his eyes and blanched when he saw the warrior unsheathe the knife strapped to his hip.

"Wait." It was the blonde girl. "Lexa, look at him….look at his chest." She beckoned.

Taavi recoiled as the tall girl, Lexa, took a step closer to him, her eyes roaming the surgical scars adorning his body. He had been born defective, like most of his kind, but his masters had kept him alive. His scars were something to be proud of, he had been chosen at the expense of others, but under the inscrutable gaze of the warrior in front of him, he felt exposed and helpless.

"Abigail, what are these scars? They do not look like battle wounds." She asked as she took a step back, making room for the older woman.

The woman looked at him with unconcealed apprehension before she took a few tentative steps forward. Her intense brown eyes searched his own grey ones' before she dipped her head and examined his chest.

"These look to be surgical. He's had quite a few surgeries by the look of them. His heart and liver have definitely been operated on. The incisions are precise, there's no possible way these are from battle." She spoke almost to herself.

Taavi looked up as he heard the woman speak. She appeared to be at least somewhat knowledgeable of the procedures his masters had put him under….it didn't bode well for him that she could so easily read his body. The device in his eye seemed heavier somehow and he hastily averted his eyes once again.

He needed to give his brothers more time. With only that thought in mind, he proceeded to do one of the most rashest and idiotic things he had ever done in his life. He let out an inhuman growl, one he did not know he was able to make until that very moment, and lunged towards the distracted women. His hands were bound, but his feet and mouth were not. The ropes he was suspended from gave way and he was able to ram his frame against one of the women's smaller body. His teeth bared, he tried to get ahold of any part of her in hopes of causing some damage and distract them at least awhile longer.

"Mom!" He heard one of the girls cry out as his teeth tore through fabric. A painful jolt to the side of his head made him lose his balance and he was brutally shoved back, a knife piercing the sore infested skin under his neck. As a few drops of blood ran down his chest, he realized that the knife must have also grazed one of his infected abscesses. The foul, putrid smell was all too familiar. He tried to break free, but the hand holding the back of his neck only tightened. This girl was unexpectedly strong. The healer looked down and was greeted by green eyes staring murderously back at him. Taavi could feel Lexa's agitated breaths against his face, her teeth were bared and his body shook at seeing death so near.

"Are you hurt?" His captor asked in worried anger, not taking her eyes away from his.

"I'm alright, I'm alright…He just tore through my sleeve, he didn't get any skin." Abigail assured as she was helped up by the blue-eyed girl.

Dark green eyes roamed across his face and widened when they reached his mouth. She grabbed his jaw roughly with her free hand and stepped away, pushing his face back and letting him go. She turned to Cato and said something in their language. The guard stepped forward and grabbed his jaw much like she had. Taavi tried to push himself away, shaking his head frantically, but it was useless. The warrior forced his fingers into his mouth and pried it open. He heard a gasp from one of the women.

"I have severed many tongues from lying mouths in my lifetime and the one thing all their pitiful owners have had in common is that they drool like rabid wolves for the rest of their lives." Taavi turned furious eyes towards the dark haired girl. He was no liar.

"-Something is not right." She continued as she approached the two women.

"Lexa, what is it?" The blonde girl asked as she closed the space between them, her back blocking Taavi's view of the taller girl.

"Capturing him…it was too easy, too convenient." She explained and as she voiced the events that had happened she stepped away from the other girl and cast wide eyes in his direction. It was the first time he had seen fear cross her features.

"This is a trap." She seethed. Taavi cringed at the words. They needed more time. He had failed.

"Commander, he's just one man, we're in Polis…We're safe here" Abigail tried to reason.

Taavi could tell that the older woman's words were causing little effect on the Commander whose white knuckle hold on the pummel of the sword strapped to her hip looked painful. The girl shook her head, not accepting the logic.

"I will have a group of my warriors escort you and the Sky people back to Arcadia. You must leave Polis at once, it is no longer safe here….rally your forces, we will be needing them soon." Lexa's voice had dropped as she stepped closer to the blonde, silently imploring she listen.

The girl's shoulder's immediately tensed at the words "I'm not leaving" She stubbornly stated, her jaw set, her eyes defiant.

Lexa rolled her eyes slightly at the girl's pigheadedness before taking a calming breath. She turned to Abigail, changing tactics. "I have led the enemy to our gates, now our people are in danger. You must leave now."

"Commander, I don't understand….He is our prisoner, there is nothing he can do to us." The woman rebuffed Lexa's concerns.

"They planned this. They chose someone who could not spill secrets and fed him to us, knowing we would capture him and take him to our city. I don't know how, but they are preparing to attack and he…"Lexa pointed at Taavi who could only sneer back "-he is the key to their plan." She stated as her voice rose, her trepidation getting the better of her.

"I have put us all in grave danger." She finished as she started to pace like a caged animal. The healer trembled at the way she was looking at him, like he was prey.

"Hey, look at me." The younger girl approached, tentatively taking a hold of the enraged warrior's forearm. Taavi lost sight of the deadly green eyes as they focused on the blonde girl. He could see the leader's shoulders drop in resignation. "You saved your warriors, my mother, my friends…you did nothing wrong." Her voice came out a whisper, her words intended for only the warrior's ears. Lexa's eyes roamed frantically over the room, obviously not wanting to hear those words at the moment. The girl gently tugged on the Commander's sleeve and dipped her head, urging the other girl to look back at her. When she did, the blonde girl simply gave her a reassuring nod to which the Commander reciprocated, squaring her shoulders and gently extricating herself from her hold.

"Mom, I think you should examine him. He might have a tracking device or-or something on him…I mean, with all the surgeries you said he's had..is that such a crazy idea?" The younger girl proposed, never losing sight of the Commander who had walked over to stand near Abigail as she listened intently to the theory.

Abigail froze at the words and turned to look at Taavi, the alarm in her eyes making his heart sink.

She took a tentative step towards the healer, while Cato positioned himself to her right, his knife already unsheathed, his eyes daring Taavi to try anything.

"Cato, can you please hold him...I want to look at something." She asked the warrior. He simply nodded and stepped behind Taavi, forcefully grabbing his neck with one arm while he grabbed a fist full of hair with his other hand. The healer tried to break free, but that only earned him a blunt blow to the side from Lexa.

The healer tried to calm his breathing, focusing his eyes on the ceiling, not wanting the woman to look too closely at them. He felt soft, detached hands roam the scars on his body.

"There are no recent incisions as far as I can tell" The woman mused as she thoroughly prodded his chest and arms. The touch was not forceful, but his tender skin protested nonetheless. As her hands reached his neck, they halted in hesitation. He looked down to see why she had stopped and was met with a dark, suspicious glare.

"I need to examine his eyes." She said. The words caused instant panic to shoot through him and he struggled once again. He moaned in protest as he shook his shoulders, trying in vain to free himself of Cato's vice-like grip. He felt saliva dribble down his chin and mix with the blood covering his chest. Lexa stepped forward and replaced Cato's hand in his hair, callously yanking his head down while she grabbed his jaw once again.

"Open your eyes or I will remove them from your head." She commanded, her voice low and menacing. Taavi scrunched his eyes further, taking a few calming breaths before the pressure placed on his jaw worsened and he was forced to oblige. Abigail placed her thumb under his left eye, pulling the skin lower so she could get a clearer vision of his grey iris.

"Clarke, I need some light here." She said, as she proceeded to examine his right eye.

The light from the torch the young girl brought over made his head throb, the device taking a moment to filter the new source of light. A kaleidoscope of color shot through his right eye and made him groan in pain. Abigail carelessly inched her face closer to his and a harsh, warning tug on his jaw caused any thoughts of retaliating to flee his mind.

"God, we need to cover his eyes, now." The older woman's voice was unwavering, but there was no denying the agitation behind it.

"He's feeding his people images of the city, cover him up!" She repeated as she stepped back and grabbed ahold of her daughter stepping fruitlessly in front of her to block her from Taavi's view. It was too late, if the device had worked - and Taavi prayed that it had - everyone who had been near him had been scanned, analyzed and targeted.

Lexa pushed herself off of him almost in disgust and spoke to Cato in a quick, sharp tone.

The healer could hear Cato pick something up from the floor and when the warrior walked over to face him, he saw that he had retrieved his tattered shirt. Cato looked at Taavi one final time, his dark, livid eyes roaming his face before he roughly tied the remains of his shirt around his eyes, the coarse fabric making his sensitive skin itch painfully.

´I am sorry I will not be able to keep my promise to you, Siv´ He thought, his mind's eye conjuring up images of blue eyes and a warm smile. ´I hope my sacrifice will give you peace and that you will hurt no longer, my love."

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Lexa stormed out of the room, barking orders at the guards stationed outside.

"Hai, gather the Commander's guard, place twenty warriors at every gate and send scouts to all corners of my lands, I want to know everything they see. Make sure that every clan leader has sent word to bring their armies to Polis….We are in danger of attack."

At the guard's shocked expression, Lexa continued with a warning. "-Keep this between the clan leaders and their Ambassadors, I do not want panic spreading through my city."

"Sha, Heda." The young guard affirmed before bolting out of the hallway.

Abby walked out in a daze from the chamber. The air in the small stone hallway was stuffy and stale, but it was a welcome respite from the bloody, putrid stench that had shrouded them ever since they had entered the chamber to question the prisoner. She eyed the Commander, her shoulders tense, her hands held tightly in fists at her sides.

"Palma, teik ain Natbilda kom klir." She heard her say to the redheaded guard waiting tensely by the door leading to the stairs. She had no idea what the order was, but it was no doubt urgent based on how the warrior's eyes widened in alarm and the speed with which she sprinted up the stairs.

The young leader's disquiet was coming off her in waves and it made the doctor fear for the people in Arcadia. They had barely survived one war, her daughter's heart and soul would probably never be the same again because of it, and they were now preparing to confront an unknown enemy. Abby tried to reason with herself; they were part of the Commander´s coalition now, but who was to say Lexa wouldn't betray the Sky People at the last moment, sacrificing them for the greater good of her own kind.

The Commander had been right, they needed to go back to Arkadia and regroup, explore all their options and make a plan of action with the Sky People's best interest in mind. This was no time to test the waters of their newly formed alliance. She had to speak to Pike.

"What did he have on him?" Her daughter's question silenced the grim thoughts racing through her mind, she shook her head slowly and focused on her daughter's beautiful blue eyes, so much like her husband's.

"Some kind of surveillance device was implanted in his right eye. Whatever these people want with us, they have their hands on technology that is at least equal to what we had on the Ark." Her mother explained nervously as she threaded her fingers through her unruly hair in agitation.

Lexa had walked towards them, giving Abby a tentative look before asking, "How did you know where to look?"

"Back at the Ark, the Council had access to military information and technology used on Earth before the bombing. For the first few years after the incident, we even continued developing weapons and surveillance equipment. Of course, those plans were halted once we realized our time on the Arc was limited and it was decided that our scientists' efforts were best suited elsewhere. That man in there has been subject to advanced surgery, who knows what technology they possess? If he was purposefully sent here, then it would make perfect sense to use him to gain information on the city's weak points before attacking….I didn't want to believe it, and it was really just a lucky guess.. .but I saw the device reacting in his retina when we placed the light near his eye…if it is anything like what we had in the Ark, he's most likely feeding video or images to his people. They know where he is and how to get into the city. They have seen everything he has seen." She finished and couldn't help the accusatory glance directed at the Commander. Lexa only nodded and swallowed as she clenched her jaw. Abby could see the devastation behind the sullen eyes and was almost sorry for the young leader. She had no way of knowing this new threat possessed such power.

"We have to get you and the others back to Arcadia…we need our people to gather our weapons and resources and for you to come back here so we can organize the thirteen armies." Clarke echoed the Commander's previous plan. Abby only nodded and smiled with relief. She would take her people back home and they could make a decision there, together.

"Okay, I'll get Kane and Pike and bring them up to speed, you search for the others. We'll meet in the courtyard in an hour, if we leave then we can be at Arkadia by-"

"Mom, I'm not going with you." Clarke's soft voice interrupted her. Abby could only stare in disbelief as Lexa took a step towards Clarke, shaking her head but, before the Commander could say a word, Clarke spoke calmly,

"I'm still Ambassador for the Sky People and I will stay here in order to ensure that our best interests are kept." With these words, her eyes settled on Lexa who visibly straightened and looked away. Abby could see the remorse on her daughter's face at the words, but it was quickly replaced by a look of determination.

"Go get Pike and Kane..I'll meet you in the courtyard with the others". Clarke encouraged. Abby's heart broke with the words. She had just gotten her daughter back and now she would have to leave her behind. She hadn't been able to even speak to her properly after the events at Mount Weather. She had been so relieved and excited at having been reunited with Clarke just a few hours ago, had waited impatiently to talk and sooth her daughter's pain and fears. Clarke had gone back to her room as promised, but had brushed away any attempt at comfort, requesting that she accompany her to interrogate the prisoner instead. There was resentment and fear always present in Clarke's eyes and she had no idea how to navigate the infinite schism between them.

Abby took a deep breath and resigned herself to focusing on what needed to be done now. She only hoped that there would be time after to mend things between them. Abby nodded at her daughter and simply walked towards the flight of stairs, but not before glancing back once more.

Clarke was speaking softly to Lexa and although they were not touching, Abby did not like how Clarke was staring up at the other girl. She had been in love once and there was no mistaking the tender gaze she was casting upon the Commander. Lexa had proven herself untrustworthy and it frightened her how easily Clarke had apparently forgotten the betrayal at Mount Weather. Although Clarke and Marcus had poured all their hopes into the alliance with the twelve clans, she could not bring herself to entrust their people's or her daughter's life to the whims of a disloyal leader. She turned and stared unseeing at the flight of stairs before her. Just like her daughter, she had to do what she thought was right for all of them. She would take Clarke back to Arcadia by force if need be; there she would be safe and they would be able to figure out together what the best course of action for their people was. Clarke would probably never forgive her, but she decided right then and there that she would rather have her daughter hate her for the rest of her life then watch her put herself in harms way once again. She would protect her this time around no matter what.

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Notes:

"Palma, teik ain Natbilda kom klir." (Palma, take my Nightbloods to safety).

I will be trying to post a new chapter a week. Let me know what you think.

Hugs for everyone!