A/N: This chapter is the longest so far. Sorry I update so randomly, I just write whenever I can find time, I've been fairly busy lately. Just a quick reference, Arlo says 'gona' in every chapter (I think), and it just means 'warrior' in the grounder language. There is more Trigedasleng dialogue in this chapter and I've put the translations at the bottom of the page, just because I didn't really want them in brackets in the middle of the page. Sorry if that's a little annoying :) Also, I've translated to Trigedasleng the best I could, not sure if they are completely accurate though. Hope you like the chapter!
Bellamy felt his chest constricting. He leaned against a nearby tree and blinked furiously as he watched Arlo argue with the grounder. Why was this happening? Where did they go wrong?
He felt like he was suffocating, buried under the burden of his losses and responsibilities. Struggling for air, he was slipping. It was too much. All at once, sweaty-palmed and dizzy, he watched the brutish grounder turn and yell something in a language he did not recognise. Bellamy watched, panic consuming him, as Arlo turned in the opposite direction, disappearing from sight.
This was not happening. This could not be happening. He and Sterling had no chance without that girl. A group of grounders, each armed with various weapons, gathered around and set off quickly on Arlo's trail.
Bellamy turned to Sterling. He didn't know what to do. He never really knew what to do. These things always seemed to happen to him. It wasn't fair. Arlo's words rang through his head as he untied the horse from the tree. 'Don't stand here with your mouth open like some sort of idiot. Get the hell out of here.' He stood, reigns in his hand, but did not move a step.
"We can't leave without her, Bellamy," Sterling said quietly. Bellamy blinked, feeling like the boys words had broken him out of some kind of strange trance. "It isn't right."
Bellamy gazed up at Sterling. He was right. And Bellamy knew, deep down, that they weren't going anywhere, even though they should.
Bellamy wrung the rope in his hands and shuffled his feet, considering his options. If they stayed, they would die. But if they left, they would probably also die. They had no idea where they were, no food, no weapons, little water; he knew they didn't stand much of a chance on their own. There was a high likelihood Sterling would die no matter what they did; he could barely stand on his own, let alone walk.
"You stupid boy." A harsh voice interrupted his thought process. He spun around, instinctively reaching for his gun, yet rested his hand when met with a familiar, freckled, sour face.
"Arlo?" The girl rolled her eyes and pulled the reigns from Bellamy's hands, storming off quickly up the hill. Bellamy jogged to catch up to her.
"What were you thinking? My God. Did you listen to anything I told you?" She continued. Bellamy said nothing. Secretly, he didn't care. She could say whatever she liked. Although he'd never admit it, he'd seldom been more glad to see someone in his life. "Biga gona, em sen in op non. Ai nou fir raun. Ai mana jomp in. Joken branwoda." Although he didn't understand her last remark, he let it slide this once, deciding he may not want to know.
"You mustn't be that surprised. You did, after all, circle back to our meeting place."
"Yes, well, it seems you do not exceed my expectations as much as we previously thought." While her words were mean, her voice was not, and Bellamy could tell by the girl's expression she wasn't really angry. "Next time, though, please leave. Seriously, I've made it this far on my own, I don't need you waiting in the wings to play hero for me now. I can take care of myself."
Bellamy didn't like that. She shouldn't have to look after herself. He knew the feeling of having nobody to count on and it wasn't great.
"Forgive me if I don't take orders from you, kid," he responded, his voice gentle. "Like I said, you don't abandon your friends."
Arlo looked up at Bellamy for a moment. He did not look back and couldn't see her eyes on him, but he knew they were there. He wasn't really sure why he said that last part, but for some reason it felt true to him, so he let the words linger for a while.
"Your friend Finn wasn't there," Arlo said eventually, not a big fan of awkward silences.
Bellamy blinked furiously, shaking his head, before clearing his throat and releasing a deep, hollow sigh.
"I thought we'd be too late. Actually, no - I knew we'd be too late. I knew it," he mumbled. There was an emptiness in his voice as he spoke. Arlo gazed up at him. A certain kind of pain haunted this boy. "I knew. It's my fault. All of this... this is all my fault." He whispered.
Arlo stared at Bellamy a while longer, thinking what a pitiful creature he was. It was like he had been surrounded by darkness so long, seen so much pain, he had become unable to see light. Not one for emotions, however, Arlo took a sharp breath and raised her eyebrows. "Alright, drama queen," she said. Bellamy immediately whipped his head round and looked at her with both insult and shock. "I didn't say he was dead."
Bellamy frowned darkly and scoffed. "No, but I can read between the lines, Arlo," he spat. "And I'm not a drama queen."
Arlo continued, not intending to insult Bellamy too much; rather, as she saw it, to make a point. "Sure. Just promise you won't ruin that perfect baby face of yours with worry lines from all the frowning you do."
"Shut up," Bellamy muttered bitterly. Under his breath, Arlo could just hear him mutter "baby face my ass."
"Anyway," Arlo began, deciding it best to move on at this point, "Finn wasn't there because he never arrived."
"So they killed him on the way, that's no better," Bellamy reviled. Arlo frowned at him once more.
"Again, with the death! What is your problem? No, I was told some gona went to inspect the damage done in battle and on the way they found Tristan shot dead. Finn and the other of your people were nowhere to be seen."
"Shot? By other grounders? I don't understand," Bellamy replied. His disdain and anger at Arlo's name-calling faded quickly. "Do you think it was the people who took Clarke and the others?"
"No, he was shot with a gun. Grounders don't use guns. I also doubt it was those who took your people; why go through that much trouble for one man?" Arlo explained. "I think it more likely your friends from space may have come to the rescue after all."
"The Ark," Bellamy muttered absently. He'd almost forgotten it was set to land. He had to go there. "Do you... Do you know where it is?"
"Roughly. I'm sure if we wander around in the area we'll stumble upon it soon enough," Arlo responded fleetingly.
Bellamy didn't even ask and she was offering to help him get there. He just could not, for the life of him, understand this girl. With her unusual clothing and blood-painted face, this Arlo was the strangest person he had ever met.
"We'll have to set off tomorrow, though. We won't make it there today."
"Why can't we just walk through the night?"
"Not even I am stupid enough to travel during nightfall in these parts, Bellamy. Trust me, it's not a good idea." Arlo countered in a lecturing tone. Bellamy wanted to ask what was so scary about night 'in these parts', but in an effort to not look naive, he bit his tongue. "Besides, we should stop. I fear young Sam may not last the journey if we don't."
Bellamy turned to look at Sterling. He was fast asleep, again, on the back of the horse. Bellamy felt intensifying guilt each time he looked at Sterling. He was a good kid, a really good kid, who could well die any time, and Bellamy barely knew him. He felt like he'd failed him.
"Where will we go?" Bellamy asked.
"There is a trading outpost an hour or so from here. I know the girl who lives there. She will help us," Arlo replied. She looked over at Bellamy, then off to the side, hastily adding, "Probably."
After a long walk Bellamy and Arlo, horse in tow, finally arrived at the trading post. It was a shack, relatively large compared to others Bellamy had seen. There were things strewn all over the place; a completely random assortment of what he considered, for the most part, to be nothing but junk. Arlo silently tied the horse to a fence post. Bellamy dared not say a word as she inspected the building and motioned for him to follow her inside.
Inside was no different to the place's exterior - things everywhere, little order. It was quite dark and cluttered. A large bench, which Bellamy presumed acted as a counter of some sort, ran across one of the walls. Standing behind it, their back turned, was a grounder. While Arlo spoke of this person with relative trust, Bellamy could not help but reach out and grasp onto his all-too familiar gun. He was wondering if it was a good idea to leave Sterling outside, what Arlo was going to say to the grounder, how she could help them, if she would help them.
"Niylah!" Arlo exclaimed without warning, smiling broadly. Bellamy's eyebrows creased together in confusion, just for a moment. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"
The grounder, Niylah, a woman with dark blonde hair in a braid, dressed in fur, turned to face the pair. She sighed audibly at Arlo, eyebrows raised, appearing thoroughly annoyed. Bellamy couldn't help wonder if the strange girl always had that effect. Without giving any sort of greeting, Niylah moved her eyes up to inspect Bellamy. Her expression hardened. Bellamy could feel his own face tense in anticipation. The woman looked back at Arlo.
"Chon dison bilaik, Arlo?" She asked. Though Bellamy couldn't understand, she sounded impatient and cold. Seemingly unfazed, Arlo replied instantly.
"You get klin, jos laik skat. Non get daun hashta."
The woman only frowned deeper at Arlo's response, before gazing at Bellamy again. She inspected his clothing more closely, her face growing more angry with each passing moment. Bellamy was becoming very uneasy. Staring between Arlo, the unfriendly grounder woman and the door, he considered his options.
"Skaikru," Niylah hissed. Bellamy took an instinctive step back and stared at Arlo wearily. She held out her hand, signalling him to stay calm. "Chon yu bilaik op lid in Skaikru hir, Arlo? Bants, ai nou lufa sich au. Ai nou na sin in kom disha kru."
"God, spare me, woman. He wouldn't hurt a fly," Arlo spat suddenly. Bellamy was taken aback by her sudden change in dialect. So was the grounder, apparently, judging by her instant shift in expression. "Also, we are not in the company of savages here. From now on we speak English."
Niylah cleared her throat uneasily and glared at Arlo with disdain. Breaking their eye contact, she looked down at the bench and busied herself with sorting some scrap metal.
"I don't know what you are doing with this sky boy, Arlo, or why you insist on bringing trouble wherever you go," she said finally. "But must you bring it here, to me?"
"I'd nowhere else to go," Arlo responded flatly. "And I thought you fairly liberal. I've few other options."
"What do you want, Arlo?" Said Niylah, bringing her eyes up to meet the girl's. She was no longer frowning. To Bellamy, she just looked tired.
"Food," Arlo said. "And a place to stay for the night."
"If you want food, you'll have to trade me something. This is a trading outpost, that's how it works. I don't make exceptions. Not for Skaikru, and not for you," Niylah responded in a stern voice. Arlo remained silent, keeping steady eye contact with the woman. "And this is not a hostel. You cannot stay here."
"Come on, Niylah," Arlo countered insolently. "Don't be stupid. Let us stay in the barn. You won't even know we're there."
"No, Arlo. I can't have you here. Go trouble someone else."
"How about this," Arlo began. Her tone was menacing and her face grim. Bellamy looked between her and Niylah, wondering if this was going to work. "We will stay in the barn and you will give us some food, and in exchange I will not cut off your arms while you sleep."
Bellamy frowned in horror. Was she trying to make an enemy of this woman? He looked up at Niylah, who barely bat an eyelid at the girl's words.
"Don't threaten me, girl," she replied coldly. "Unlike many others, I am not frightened by you."
"Osir ai op hashta en daun," said Arlo venomously. The woman seemed to be growing more impatient by the minute, and Bellamy noticed she seemed to be flicking her eyes toward the door frequently. She sighed again at Arlo.
"Listen, Arlo, even if I wanted to help you, my father would have a fit if he knew you were here," Niylah said. She glanced at Bellamy briefly. "Let alone in this sky boy's company."
"Perhaps it's about time you stood up to him," Arlo countered, smirking.
"Don't be smart with me."
"Don't give me reason to be." Arlo and Niylah locked eyes for a time, neither saying anything and both refusing to relent. Bellamy stared uncomfortably between the two, not really knowing what to do. Eventually, Arlo sighed and looked away, tapping her foot in consideration of her next move. She looked back at Niylah. "There is another boy with us. He has been beaten badly. If we do not help him tonight he will surely die. Would you let that happen?"
"Yes," Niylah deadpanned.
"Jus- God, just stop being difficult and do what I ask!" Arlo exploded. Bellamy could tell she was fast running out of options.
"Why should I?" Niylah yelled back.
"Because I asked nicely," Arlo growled. Her tone was truly dark now and even Bellamy felt slightly threatened by the girl's voice and expression. "And I only do that once."
Niylah blinked and looked away from Arlo. clearly thinking the situation over. Bellamy stared down at the girl. White knuckled and scowling, she was gripping the edge of the counter, blood still smeared across her face. She really did look angry now. Soon Arlo let go of the counter and folded her arms.
"Do this one thing for me, then you can consider me in your debt," she offered, having calmed down. Niylah looked back at Arlo.
"I'll try to scrape together some scraps for you, but I'm not promising anything," she said dryly. "You can sleep in the barn loft for one night, but you better be gone by nightfall. If you're still here when I wake in the morning, then we'll have a real problem." When she finished speaking, Niylah slammed a piece of old copper on the bench and stormed off through a side door.
Bellamy let out a breath he felt like he'd been holding in for hours. His concern crept up again, though, as he watched Arlo turn and begin to take several items off shelves and put them into her bag.
"What are you doing, Arlo?" He whispered, looking back at the door to make sure the grounder couldn't see.
"We need it, she won't even notice."
"Should we really be stealing from her?" He retorted in a slightly panicked voice. "She's already mad, and she is doing us a favour."
Arlo stopped and turned, frowning. "Favour my ass," she said, too loud for Bellamy's liking. "She's only helping because she's worried I'll burn down her house. If she wanted me to be friendly she should've said yes the first time." After this, she turned and started walking outside. "Come on, Bellamy," she called.
Taking one last look around, Bellamy followed behind her. He was now seeing a side to this kid he didn't expect, and was beginning to understand what she meant by her 'bad reputation'.
TRANSLATIONS
I didn't want to put the Trigedasleng translations in the middle of the text so I've put them down here. The phrases are in the order they are said.
"Biga gona, em sen in op non. Ai nou fir raun. Ai mana jomp in. Joken branwoda."
"Big warrior, I listen to nobody. I am fearless. I mean to fight. Fucking fool."
"Chon dison bilaik, Arlo?"
"Who is this, Arlo?"
"You get klin, jos laik skat. Non get daun hashta."
"You know, just some boy. Nobody [to] worry about."
"Skaikru"... "Chon yu bilaik op lid in Skaikru hir, Arlo? Bants, ai nou lufa sich au. Ai nou na sin in kom disha kru."
"Sky person"... "Who are you to bring Sky people here, Arlo? Leave, I don't want trouble. I cannot be seen with this people."
"Osir ai op hashta en daun,"
"We see about that,"
Hope you liked the chapter! Please review!