Epilogue – "Peace for the Three of Us"
Three years later…
It was a bright summer day, the sun dyeing the land a golden glimmer and reflecting off the fields of wheat surrounding the capital city while the light breeze brought with it the scent of fresh grass and pine from the great forests beyond to intermingle with the sound of Polis' bustling commercial district and the laughter of playing children. Three and a half years of peace, a lifetime in the eyes of the clans and the history of the Coalition. Through the actions of the Heda and her mate, Wanheda, a new era of prosperity and stability had been ushered in for the thirteen clans.
In one of the large grassy fields on the outskirts of the city a small party had gathered beside a small pond of crystal clear water. A large tent dominated the area with the Commander's banner proudly flying on the standard beside it, while twin warriors stood guard by the entrance. Inside the sound of laughter could be heard, musical and sweet, so very refreshing upon the ears of any onlookers.
Clarke laughed as the young girl sitting in her lap mischievously tugged on her thick, neatly-braided golden locks, bouncing the child up and down merrily while she giggled. The girl gazed up with wide doe eyes at the blonde and pressed a firm smooch to a pale cheek, smirking as she easily hopped off Clarke's lap and picked up the wooden sword she had discarded onto the furs below the chair not a few minutes prior.
"Rhiannon, be careful with that, you might trip and knock yourself on the head again." She chastised with a smile tugging at her lips, readjusting her flowing azure summer dress back into shape. The girl had a tendency to play rough and come crying back to her within minutes, complaining of the unfair grass conspiring to tackle her poor feet. Clarke ushered the girl outside the tent to play in the soft grass while she poured two cups of wine and followed the little wildcat out.
When the warm rays of the sun caressed her pale cheeks, the blonde was met with the sight of a brunette woman easily lifting Rhiannon and spinning her about in endless circles while a delighted smile curved upon dusky lips. Clarke's heart skipped a beat, it always did at the sight of her lover. Her belly fluttered anew with a thousand butterflies as she stepped closer to Lexa, taking in the sight of the Heda's relaxed posture without the armour and clad in a simple pair of leather breeches and a linen tunic.
"Leksa, don't spin her too much. Before you know it she'll use dizziness as an excuse to strike your shins with her mighty blade." Clarke spoke softly and with pretend sternness, to which both the older brunette and the tiny, dark-haired child broke out in laughter to call the blonde's bluff. They twirled and twirled in a miasma of dark hair and fluttering clothes, the child's laughter carrying far and wide until even the two guards cracked a hidden smile underneath their helmets.
With a content sigh Lexa set the child down onto the grass and leaned down to press a kiss to Rhiannon's cheek, patting the girl onto the rump to send her off playing with the Nightbloods at the pond. "I cannot believe how much she has grown, Klarke. When we first adopted her, I thought we would have many years to enjoy out baby. But now, just look at her. She's grown so strong and beautiful, just like you, ai Hodness." The Heda replied as she took one of the cups of wine and stood beside the blonde, watching the children skip stones across the water.
It had been almost three years since they had adopted the girl as her mother had left her abandoned in the streets of Polis. Clarke had been the one to take the child home and insist Lexa and she adopt her. While the brunette had argued that it could be dangerous for them to have a child, she ultimately relented. Clarke always had that effect on her and she secretly cherished it more than the blonde knew. Now, all that time later, Rhiannon had been the one thing they had missed in their relationship before. A child. They were parents and they could not be happier.
"Do you remember the first time we took a day off from our duties like this?" Clarke whispered against the shell of a tanned ear, one arm wrapping about the brunette's waist. Lexa immediately returned the gesture, embracing her lover and gazing down into the blonde's deep azure eyes.
"Sha, Klarke. Every day with you is precious to me and I still love you more with each and every one." Lexa replied in her richly accented voice, knowing it made the blonde's spine tingle and her belly flutter. Judging from the faint flush spreading on pale cheeks, she had been right. The wind had shifted, carrying the intoxicating scent of Clarke's lilac perfume to invade Lexa's every sense. Around them the world could have ended, but in that moment, neither of the two women would have noticed. All that mattered was the kiss they shared. Soft, sweet and full of promise and devotion.
In the distance they heard Rhiannon shout out in pretend disgust at watching her two mothers kiss. "Eeew!" It was the epitome to their peace. Something so hard fought but rarely obtained, Clarke and Lexa had found it together with their daughter.
Translations:
"ai Hodness" – "My love"
"Sha" – "Yes"
Author's Note:
I wish to thank all of you Clexa fans for reading my short story and hope you enjoyed it very much! I will continue to work on "To Slay a Mountain" and hopefully provide you with regular updates.
Special thanks go out to Sanguin19 for helping me with this story when I suffered writer's block and beta-read the chapters to make certain they would do our couple justice. Merci, ma petite princesse!
If you're like me and have always been interest in Lexa's early life, I highly suggest you read Sanguin19's new story, "Ascende Superius". You can find it on her profile or under my favourites.
- Arizona Green