Clarke had returned as meets Pike. Kane makes an appearance…sort of. Lexa has some feels and a meeting with her generals.
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Clarke.
Clarke sat in her saddle quiet, observant and calm. She took in all that lay before her. They stood before the gates of Arkadia, tall imposing metal structures that were neither inviting or welcoming. Merely functional in keeping the outside world out. Watch towers stood on opposite side whose guards had their guns trained and ready on the three returning youths. Clarke noted the subtle difference from Camp Jaha that Arkadia had become. It seemed to almost fold into itself, shrinking inwards. Its recent actions like that of a child lashing out at intervals to keep its small body safe, but with no sense of the possibilities that being open may offer. It also held the air of an arrogant teen, who was testing the boundaries set by its parents. No Arkadia had become less, not more, Clarke concluded. She only hope she would be able to fix it.
Murphy had been mumbling and making biting side comments since they had emerged from the trees. Distancing himself from Clarke and Octavia he looked as though he could barely tolerate the company that he had traveled with.
"Can someone open the fucking doors," he shouted to anyone listening as they reached their destination. "The Princess has returned." His voice like dripping acid.
"Shut the fuck up, asshole," Octavia shot back.
"Well, well," came a bemused low voice as the gates opened to reveal Pike walking towards them. "The prodigal daughter has returned. Wanheda has come home. Forgive me if I simply call you Clarke. The nickname the Grounders have for you doesn't suit the girl from my earth class." His tone both kind but subtly insulting and dismissive. "Perhaps you can explain the meaning of the gathering army just outside our doors."
Sharp blue eyes had missed nothing. The tone of his voice. The swagger of his hips, the Grounder knife that rested on his leg. The bullet proof vest he sported. The way he acted like he owned all that was around him. The arrogance of his stance. All would be his undoing. The disrespect he showed the people of the ground was unforgivable. But now was not the time to anger the fool. Now was the time to gather her cards and figure out her hand and at some point talking to Kane.
"Chancellor Pike," Clarke inclined her head respectfully, her face betraying nothing of her internal feelings. "I can. A message from the Commander," she said handing him a roll of parchment.
His features registering amused disbelief. "You expect me to believe that the army out there isn't going to attack unless we try to cross it."
"No," Clarke stated simply as Murphy snorted behind her. She threw a glare at him over her shoulder.
"John Murphy right?" Pike said more as a statement than a question as he looked to the boy behind her.
"Yeah," he said with all the bitterness of an angry teen.
"I heard of your reputation here on the ground. Quite the troublemaker," Pike said as he shook is pointer. "I hope that you will not be repeating that behavior now. It won't be tolerated, if you'd like we can make a space for you in the jail if you feel otherwise" he said fixing Murphy with a stare that brooked no leniency.
After a beat Murphy conceded casting his eyes to the ground, nodding his acceptance.
"I need to hear you say it, so there is no miss understanding," Pike said with fatherly condescension.
"I understand, Chancellor," Murphy said his voice tight but respectful.
"Good why don't you find Bellamy, he should be at the southern tower, and let him know I have okayed you working as part of the guard. I think we can put your talents to good use."
"Yeah, yeah," the boy said bowing petulantly taking his leave.
"Well I can't say his attitude is ideal, but….." Pike spoke with false insincerity letting it fade.
Clarke merely inclined her head in understanding.
"I had heard you were a leader in your own right some time ago," he said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I could use someone with that kind of experience. You know what it is like to have to kill for a cause. What it's like to have dirty hands," raising his hands and wiggling his fingers.
His words were meant to offend Clarke, put her off her game. Push at her buttons to see how she would react. Had it not been for the guidance she obtained under Lexa it might have. Instead she knew it for what it was. "I would gladly dirty them again should it be required to protect my people," she said. By the look on Pikes face he was unaware of the double meaning.
"Good," he said please. Frowning as he looked to her "To be honest, I'm surprised that Lexa let you go," he said turning to her his eyes unwittingly challenging her.
She controlled her fury at the casual disrespectful way he spoke of Lexa. Dismissive of her the power at her command. Her face betrayed nothing, only showing the expressions she wishes to present. "I bare no importance for her other than a means to an end. The power of Wanheda was hers for a time. Though her council called for my death, still call for my death. She knew to do so would start another war, "then as a thought came to her. "Heda is tired of war, which I observed while under her control… along with some other things. I told her my place was with my people. She couldn't deny my claim. So here I am, at your disposal for whatever our people may need of me."
"What does Wanheda mean?" Pike asked his brows knitting together, curious.
"Commander of Death," Octavia answered before Clarke could stop her. Clarke glaring at her in annoyance.
"Really," Pike said impressed.
Clarke smiled ruefully as she turned to address Pike "It means little now, just a superstition embody by a need for power," Clarke replied lightly giving it little heed. "We both know that that holds little truth when a gun is pointed at her head,"
Pike seemed to accept this. "That's true the savages don't know what true power is. He said withdrawing a gun from his back waving it before her, barrel to the sky. "Once you've rested I look forward to hearing what you've learned," He said his face reminding Clarke of a weasel she had once seen in a textbook from her Earth class. Returning the gun to his back.
"Thank you Chancellor," she said with a bow of her head.
"Let me show you and Octavia to your room. I'm sorry but you will have to share."
"That is no problem," Clarke said unfazed.
"Good," he said as he led them to where they would be staying.
Kane
Kane watch as Pike made his way over to the gate. All heads had turned upon hearing Murphy's demand for entrance. He saw the way Clarke both looked and didn't look at what was going on. He noted the way she inclined her head and he thought he was included in it. Whatever had happened during her time in Polis had change her greatly. He was looking at a young fierce woman that could easily lead them drawing those around her to her goals. He wondered if Pike saw it too. The elegance of her baring while she also simultaneously sought to humble herself before Pike. He knew she had a plan. Her being here assured him of that. Now he just needed to find a way to get to her without throwing suspicions on her as well to find out what that plan was.
Before entering Arkadia.
They had stopped briefly hidden just behind the tree line before making their way to Arkadia. They ate some dried meats and nuts from their packs as Clarke outlined her plan.
"As I had told the Commander, Kane and the others are probably already trying to figure out a way to take down Pike and his party. Our job is distraction.
"John, you are my eyes and ears. We must be smarter than everyone. Even the ones we seek to aid. We will use our pasts to our advantage. John you will need to be the arrogant asshole boy when we first landed. No one can suspect you are now loyal to me," Clarke paused reading his reaction. When he simply nodded she continued. "I know your worth John; you have nothing to prove to me." John set his jaw nodding seeing Clarke's sincerity. He would do what must be done. Clarke would see them through. "Play your part well. Much of how I will proceed rest on your shoulders."
"Octavia I know we've had our differences, but I could always count on your pragmatism when it was needed. Your job will be informant the voice of the people. While John is silent listening watching, your job will be to keep Pikes eyes from him. Firmly placed on me. While I keep his eyes from Kane. At some point you will need to get this message to Kane, 'Trust in John Murphy as Clarke does.' Kane is smart he will figure out the rest.
"Because of your close association to the Trikru, Pike will most likely assign you to a very undesirable position. Something to put you in your place, may be even push your buttons. As Bellamy's sister you have some protection. Use it. Any questions?"
Both shook their head, fully aware of what was expected of them.
"Good," Clarke said standing squaring her shoulders "Let's get this over with."
Lexa
The Commander of the 12 Clans sat high atop her saddle, as her army stood ready to contain the threat of Skaikru. Holding the reins of her command with an iron fist, she knew her people held doubt of what they were doing. The current Leader of Skaikru had met kindness with death. To not meet that action with equal return had caused many to become wary of the actions of their Heda. As she looked at their faces she saw the confusion and anger that bubbled just below the surface. The desire for peace at odds with the traditions and way of life that had been generations old.
As she looked to her warriors she had hopes of a better life, a brighter future. She desired her people to learn, just as she had, that life was about more than just surviving. That life could blossom and bloom and be more colorful then the shades of war and death. It was something she wanted everyone under her care to feel. Her People deserved that. She deserved that. And she would fight with all that was in her to give them that.
Her hand hovered near the war paint on her face. Drawn there by Clarke's hand right before she left to get past the blockade. Clarke's touch had been soft and sure, and Lexa smile behind her stoic facade at the memory of Clarke's fingers tracing over her brows and around her eyes and down her cheeks to create the Fangs of Heda. The moment filled with the intimacy that had just been shared. It was a bittersweet goodbye. Both knowing that it may be a long while more before they could truly be together. The possibility that they may never see each other again in this life, but maybe…. Lexa refused to believe this life was not meant for them. She would hold onto the hope that she and Clarke could one day be reunited, vowing to make Clarke hers by making an offering to be bonded. As her heart gripped tight to that hope she called her generals to her tent.
They stood around the edges of the tent. 11 Generals both female and male, standing tall and proud. As she had expected most of them had their doubts about the blockade. She listened to all of them. Letting them voice their concerns, something she knew Clarke would do. She listened both to the words they spoke and the words spoken with body and tone. She could see that all were still fiercely loyal to her. But they were scared, to lose Heda and open up the possibility of another war. Not since Azgeda under Nia rule did they want to start another war. When Wanheda had brought down the mountain peace became something finally obtainable. They were hopeful, just as much as they were scared.
"My Generals," Heda spoke her voice clear and strong. It seemed to resonate itself though their hearts. "I know that our way has always been blood for blood. And when we had the threats of each other and that of the mountain it made sense. Now, however, as the Coalition grows closer, traditions honored, accepted and absorbed. The old ways hold no ground. Weakness could bring us to our knees. The constant loss of those we love or the threat of their loss; forced us to guard our hearts from the pain and crippling effect it could have. How often were we made to hold off our grief as a war raged on, steeling our most fragile of parts. Love is not weakness; it makes us vulnerable, yes. But it can be our greatest source of strength. We fight to protect our people and those most precious to us, doing so is an act of love. It vulnerability gives us a reason to protect it. Fighting with every last bit of our strength until the last breath leaves our body. Now we must be willing to sacrifice our vengeance for time to further our desire and wishes for peace. Those who are guilty will be put to justice. Those that are not must be welcomed. Each and every one of you are precious to me. The choices I have made have always been to keep pushing our people closer and closer to a peace filled life."
"Heda," came a voice from behind the opening of the tent.
"Indra, min op" Lexa said as her most loyal general entered.
The general strode towards her Heda. Standing a few feet away as she sank to her knees, her head down her fist over her heart an offer of her will to the Commander.
"I swear to you my soul, my body and my heart to do with as you see fit," Indra said in trigegasleng. "I pledge my life and all those under my command to you and your will. I trust you with my deepest of desires, for I know they are also yours. Will Heda accept my noble offering?"
Lexa stood watching as each general soon followed suit coming to form a shield of supplication around her. All repeating the Vow of True Submission that Indra had first proclaimed.
"I am humbled by your Submission and accept," Lexa answered her generals as the possibility of peace grew. "Perhaps…"Lexa thought to herself. "Something else was possible, as well."