Those of you following this story may notice we changed the title. This is because of a lovely comment pointing out that the title didn't really fit. Fun fact 'The Frozen Centurion' wasn't a doctor who reference, it was a really a bad pun about the number 100. We both suck at naming things and well I have a weakness for puns. Thanks for pointing out the title didn't really fit with the tone of the story.
The rating has gone up since we realized its only going to get more violent from here on out. We were always iffy on the rating and with the torture and death we decided to raise it to be on the safe side.
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Lexa was feeling cautiously optimistic. While there was clear tension and hatred between the forces she had gathered together, a massive scouting expedition had been launched that would map out a quarter of the mountain in the span of a day. She did fear what would happen if there was acid fog but otherwise it had great potential. Examining the map, she plotted out routes for bringing in food from outer territories to sustain the massive army she had assembled. She didn't look up when she heard Gustus enter her tent.
"Heda!" His voice was clearly distressed.
Looking up in concern she saw the tension in him. "Speak Gustus, what has happened?"
"The Azgeda camp, it's swarming, their warriors are armed. They must intend to attack. We must prepare ourselves."
Lexa straightened trying to understand what was happening. The Azgeda forces would not be moving like this without an order from their general. And while Klark was clearly hostile she had not seemed foolish. If her measure of the general was correct, then something must have happened with one of the scouts to trigger this and the fact she hadn't received a message about maunon activity meant that it must be an internal issue. She tapped her finger against the hilt of her dagger. Azgeda was famous for their assassins, if the problem hadn't just been taken care of then the general was planning something. Still, it didn't make sense and that frustrated her. Azgeda couldn't mean to attack in this blatant of a manner when surrounded on three sides by a larger force. So, the increased activity wasn't likely an attack. It could be because the general expected one of her other factions to attack, but in that case she should have been informed of what was happening.
"Heda! Please give the order." Gustus interrupted her thinking.
Lexa swore internally, she didn't have time to find out what was happening. "Blow the horns, bring the scouts back." She looked at the map where all of her warriors' camps were located. "Discreetly take measure of the Ouskejon Kru and the Ingranrona camps." The Plains and Blue Cliff had always been close with the Ice Nation, if this was indeed an attack those camps would be buzzing as well.
"We need to be prepared to fend off an attack." Gustus protested when he realized she hadn't given any orders considering their camp.
She spread her hand against the map, staring at it, trying to understand what was going on. "Switch out our guards with our most experienced warriors, double the guards on our food stores, paddock, and the healing tent. Do not increase our guards along the edge of camp."
"But Heda!"
"No. I will not make the first move that could destroy this coalition and you will not do it for me. Do you understand." She stared him down, daring him to disagree with her further.
Finally, Gustus looked down, "Sha, Heda." He turned and left to see to her orders.
She breathed out in relief he hadn't pushed her further. Walking out of the tent she headed for where she knew the scouts would be returning, she needed information and she needed it now.
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"This is insane Clarke!" Octavia was pacing back and forth in the general's tent. She was filled with too many conflicting emotions and didn't know what to do.
"What would you have me do then." Clarke sighed from where she was seated next to Atom's body.
"Just order Burka or Niles to take care of the fuckers who killed Atom. To hell with the commander, just take justice. Nia at least would have already dealt with this." Octavia ignored the clearly fearful Trikru warrior standing in the corner.
Clarke stood, an intimidating half snarl on her face that made Octavia wish she hadn't pushed. "I am not Nia and I won't just let this be swept under the rug. Its Atom, O." Clarke choked on his name, falling silent.
"I know! That's why I'm saying we should just kill the people who did this!" Her hands were clenching in anger and her eyes were burning with tears she wasn't allowing to spill.
"I want them executed properly, this is not going to happen again. I will not sit here and let us get killed off one at a time. Juis drein Juis draun." Clarke's hands clenched at her side.
"You're playing politics with the death of Atom! He deserves to be avenged!" Octavia hissed. "You know the commander will never hand over his murderers."
"Enough, O go guard the edge of camp."
Octavia was vibrating with anger, but she'd learned the hard way to listen when Clarke gave orders, even when she didn't like them. She calmed slightly when she felt Clarke grasp her shoulder. Looking up she met Clarke's eyes and could see her own grief echoed back at her.
"Atom's death will not go unpunished, I swear. Trust me to see this through." Clarke's voice was measured but rough with emotion. Octavia nodded. She did trust Clarke. Clarke was the only reason any of them had survived so long. There were times though where Octavia hated the person that Clarke had been forced to become to get them this far. Reacting calmly and logically to the death of one of their family is something that Octavia hoped she would never have to do.
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Three years and eleven months ago:
Jasper wasn't sure whether he was awake or a sleep. The only time he was sure he was awake was when he felt the more insistent pain of his back being cleaned. The agony was enough to bring him back into lucidity briefly. His dreams and reality were so alike, both cold and hot, filled with the echoes of screams, and soft touches on his face. Then he was pulled out of his constant state of dull throbbing pain that he had at least become accustomed to by an intense burning agony screaming through him. He tried to get away from it but he could feel he was being held down. Fighting with all of his might, he tried to escape from the flames that were licking his back. Finally, the flames were taken away and he was left to cry on the concrete floor.
Hours later he woke up for the first time from his fog. His whole body was one large ache. He let out a groan that turned into a whimper when his muscles tried to move.
"Hey, it's ok. You're ok." His eyes burned some when he opened them but bending over him and looking down at him was Monty.
"Onty.." He croaked.
"Water." Monty called, and soon was gently letting some water trickle down his aching throat.
"You're going to be ok, we cauterized your back." Monty was wiping sweat from his forehead.
Jasper hummed in appreciation. He felt so hot and his bones ached, everything felt like it was pulsing with his heart beat. He felt himself slipping back into sleep hearing only the faint echos of a conversation between Monty and a girl. Good for Monty getting the girl.
"He's burning up…...water."
"Nothing else…..I'm…...it's been….late…..infection."
"Something!...friend….won't..watch….die."
"I promise….best….not again…."
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Present Day:
Clarke knew who she brought with her to the commander's tent would say a lot. She looked over her party. She needed her party to be threatening and to highlight that she was more than capable of taking care of the issue without the commander's approval or aid. For this reason, she had selected her two best assassins, Niles and Burka, to accompany her. Burka was serious and focused, her behavior would be rational and easily predicted. Niles was a terrible flirt but he knew when to be serious. Clarke would also be bringing Silas, the level headed attendant she'd been assigned when she became a general. Choosing to bring Octavia was a risk, but she was one of the best warriors in her army. Benny was the single largest warrior in her army and his shaved head with only the central stripe of shorn hair down the center was intimidating. Finally, she'd ordered Keaton to accompany her. He was rough around the edges but she trusted him, he'd been on her first pauna hunting team and she knew his clothing would easily give that fact away.
She stared at her party, again making sure they were all in order. They were all fully armed, faces painted with the thick white and red paint of their people. Tris, the Trikru second, was standing stiffly amongst them, clearly not convinced they would actually be turning her over. Nodding to her warriors, she turned and began the approach to the Trikru camp and to the commander's tent. As she strode, head held high, her soldiers watched from their various posts. Clarke felt the weight of their trust in her and it strengthened her determination to see justice done in a way that would protect her people.
She met Raven and Monty's eyes as she went. They were standing close, hands clasped in support. She would have taken them but Monty wasn't intimidating enough and Raven would be needed in camp in case things went horribly wrong. Charlotte was waiting for them at the edge of camp, her eyes were hard and cold as she watched, she just nodded as they passed. Clarke felt a familiar pang at the expression on her face. They'd all been changed by their time on the ground but in some ways seeing the changes in their youngest member had been the hardest.
Steeling herself, she walked confidently out past the last lines of defense on her camp and into Trikru territory. She could practically feel the relief in Tris as they crossed the line. As they began to pass Trikru warriors, she could see the dirty looks they sent them but also the alarm they were trying to hide. Burka and Niles were clearly dressed and armed as assassins. She had no doubts that the commander would be made aware of their presence within minutes.
"Tree bastards sure are jumpy." Keaton said, while scowling at the guards they were passing.
"Indeed." Silas confirmed. He looked composed as he walked directly to Clarke's left.
"They should be." Octavia growled from her place to Clarke's right.
Clarke sighed and just concentrated on calming herself, this was important. She was not going to let the eastern border incidents happen again. Standing outside of the commander's tent, next to several more guards than had been present the last time she'd been at the tent, was Gustus.
She came to a stop in front of the tent, staring down the large man. She knew her warriors would stay silent. Octavia was the most likely to act out, but she had grown from the hot head she once was and knew to work out her anger in the training pits later rather than react when the insult occurred.
"If you even think about harming her I will cut your throat." He threatened.
She watched him, but she hadn't come to play nice. Her people needed her to protect them and playing nice wasn't going to do it. "You will try, and you will die before you can even draw blood. Now move aside. I did not come to speak with you Gustus kom Trikru."
He seemed to be physically pained when he stepped aside allowing her and her party through. Coming to a stop in front of the commander, she did not bow. "Heda." She took in the fact that the commander was in her full regalia, complete with war paint, while she sat in her throne. The room held several guards and advisors. Anya stiffened in her place behind the commander when she saw Tris.
"Klark, what cause do you have to bring your warriors before me and to lock down your camp. Several of my advisors assure me you must be planning on betraying the coalition. Explain your actions." The even voice and stare from the commander pissed her off.
"My warriors, Atom and Mozu, were attacked by three Boudalan warriors during today's scouting expedition. I demand justice." Clarke stood firmly, watching the commander.
"And we should believe your word alone." Indra spoke up from her place behind Heda.
Clarke turned her body slightly motioning for Tris to come forward. "If you wish to confirm the information I have given you then ask one of your own." She turned back, completely facing the throne. "Send whoever you feel is necessary to confirm the fletching of the arrows in my warrior's body and to question my surviving warrior who was also involved in the attack."
"If you speak true, then why have you brought your camp to war readiness. Surly, a single murder does not demand preparation for war." The commander spoke calmly, her face masked even as her advisors clearly showed emotion.
"My first post as general was on the eastern border of Azgeda territory. I'm sure despite your inaction you are aware of the 'conflict' there that only came to an end four months ago." Clarke watched the commander straighten on her throne. Good, she should feel uncomfortable. "Hundreds of people died in that conflict and yet you did nothing. I trust you are not foolish enough to believe that the nomads were unsupported in banding together to carve out a territory of their own. On their own they would never be enough to cause such losses to Azgeda. That Sankru, a closely allied clan of yours, were supporting them in this endeavor is of course only a theory. But, I will not allow my people to be killed and their deaths to bring nothing but inaction once again."
"You dare accuse Heda of such treachery!" Gustus growled, taking a step forward.
Clarke didn't move, feeling pleased to feel and see Octavia step between her and the man, resting her hand on her sword hilt. "I accuse Heda of nothing, but she should be careful that I imply such things only."
"Klark kom Azgeda, you stand in my presence and imply a great many things." The commander paused flicking her eyes over her and her party. "You demand justice for your dead. What is it you want? Do you wish for the head of Bassilo kom Boudalan or perhaps even my own?"
Clarke breathed in carefully, displaying only anger and calm. This was critical, she'd stepped over several lines and she had to be careful she didn't push the commander too far. That would be as disastrous as pushing too little. "I want the three murderers to face the penalty for their crime. This time tomorrow, I will burn Atom either with or without his murderer's bodies. If it is without, then I will take the blood owed to him myself." She gestured slightly to the two assassins standing behind her. "After I have taken their blood, I will take my army and return to Azgeda." Dead silence fell over the tent. To leave without permission from Heda was treason and everyone knew it.
Finally, the commander spoke. "You would commit treason over the death of a single warrior?" There was genuine confusion in her voice leaking through.
"I would commit treason to protect my people and I can not protect my people if our allies are as much of a threat to us as the enemy. More even since they can stab us in the back. If Nia must execute me when I arrive back in Azgeda, then so be it. I will not stand by while my people are killed by allies." Clarke could feel herself sweating under her coat. "The army she will send to replace me will not be the one I have sworn to protect and lead to the best of my abilities."
The Commander stood and took several steps till she was directly in front of Clarke. Clarke internally cursed her height when she found that she was slightly shorter. "Very well, I will have this matter investigated. If you speak true and the event occurred as you claim, then you shall have your blood."
Clarke felt a small measure of relief. She still doubted that the commander would give her all three murderers. Still, she might get the archer, and well Burka was very good at making deaths look accidental. This would be the last member of her army she would lose to allies in this war. She bowed her head barely before turning and leaving without another word. Either Heda would give her at least one of his murderers or she would have to move forward and change her plans for the Ice Nation quite significantly in order to ensure that all she had sacrificed was not for nothing.
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Three years and nine months ago:
The twenty-three surviving members of the drop ship stood before the throne of the Ice Queen. She was staring down at them from her throne like they were bugs to be squashed. Dax's entire body ached. His left hand in particular was in pain, his fingernails had been removed the day before. They'd been brought before the woman who had ordered their torture and now she just sat there staring at their dirty and blood crusted forms standing in front of her throne. Hatred for her burned inside of him but he swallowed it down, it wasn't like he had the strength to act on it anyways. They were all only standing thanks to pure willpower. Finally, the voice of the tyrant in front of them spoke.
"You have been my guests for three months and thanks to the information you've given, your people will have died in their cage in the sky by now." She seemed to take satisfaction in this fact. "Which makes you the last of your people. It would be easy enough to kill you and put an end to your sad existence. But, some of my subjects seem to think you've shown strength surviving as long as you have in my dungeons. So, I'll give you a choice. Swear loyalty to me and prove your strength in my armies before the end of the year, or die."
Dax hissed, straightening as much as he could, staring at her in disbelief. He would die rather than serve this woman. He noticed the others shifting with angry hard looks on their faces. What surprised him though was Clarke's reaction. He hadn't spent three months in a cell with her for nothing. She was considering the Queen's offer and he was horrified at that. Then he realized why she was considering it, she'd do anything to keep them safe.
So, in a sort of frozen horror, he watched her walk slowly with her head held high till she was in front of their group. She seemed to be taking measure of the woman in front of them, before she dropped onto her knees with her head lowered. Their group let out various noises of surprise as they realized what she was doing. He heard Bellamy murmuring about his sister before he too walked forward and dropped to his knees.
Turning he saw the betrayal in Octavia's face. Then she seemed to grit her teeth and move forward as well. And he understood. They'd been suffering and trying to survive just praying for a glimmer of hope and here was hope. The cost, however, was unacceptable.
He couldn't do it. He couldn't swear fealty to this woman. She had all but killed his mother, the only person he had left in the world. She had ordered the torture and death of everyone that had come down with him. He couldn't let this anger go and serve this woman, even as he saw the group one by one kneeling till it was just him standing there conflicted. But then he saw Monty's face from where he was kneeling. Sweet, forgiving Monty and his face was a mask of rage. Finally, he understood, he dropped to his knees because he would live another day, and some day he would kill the woman on that throne.
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Present Day:
Anya could feel the anger radiating from Lexa, and she knew it would be coming out when she watched Klark walk out of the tent with her warriors. She had seen her former second angry enough to know that she was fuming. If she was right, the parties responsible for this were going to be getting the full might of her fury directed towards them. Her current second was clearly terrified, caught between a general skirting the edges of treason and an angry commander. Anya couldn't blame her. She glanced around the quiet tent as everyone let the information just given to them time to seep in. She saw the anger on Gustus' face as well as on several of the guards but had a feeling they hadn't quite understood why Lexa was pissed yet. Unsurprisingly, Gustus was the first to speak and the first to be sacrificed to Lexa's wrath.
"You can't let disrespect like this stand Heda!"
"We are past disrespect." Lexa walked over to her map staring at it gathering her thoughts. She turned to one of her guards, Ryder if Anya wasn't mistaken. "Go and inform Bassilo kom Boudalan that he is to present himself to me immediately."
"Sha, Heda." With that the man ducked out of the tent.
Anya watched her former second dig her dagger into the table sharply. "Gustus you are my general, and I have placed my trust in you. Klark kom Azgeda has no reason to trust me and many reasons to distrust me." Lexa's teeth were gritted and in an impressive show of will her anger was shoved down. "There will be no action taken towards her behavior."
Carefully, and knowing Lexa was fairly close to steadying her anger so that she appeared calm to all but those who knew her best, Anya stepped towards Tris. "Tris, report."
Tris with her gangly limbs from her recent growth spurt, straightened. "I accompanied the general, Klark, as instructed, along with her second Brady, on the scouting expedition. We didn't find anything of particular note but they both took multiple clippings of plants. We were just west of the bend in the river in our section when Brady heard something. It was faint but both Clarke and I heard it the second time. It was a cry for help. Brady and I approached the person calling for help while Clarke circled and covered us in case of an ambush."
"You allowed Azgeda forces to protect your back?" Anya found herself asking surprised.
Tris nodded. "We were unaware of the clan the plea was coming from and I was worried that if it was a Trikru scout they wouldn't have intervened. We found Mozu kom Azgeda. She had clearly been injured and been in the river for some time. She indicated for us to go to her fallen companion that she had hid under the bushes. Clarke confirmed his death and insisted we carry his body out with us. Upon reaching the Azgeda camp, she ordered it be put on lockdown immediately. She ordered me to follow her so I stayed with her while inside of the camp. The fletching of the arrows in Atom, the dead warrior, are to the best of my ability to distinguish from the Boudalan forces."
Tris breathed deeply, she'd been talking fairly fast. "According to Mozu, they intervened when two Boudalan warriors were being pursued by three reapers. During the fight a third Boudalan warrior who was shooting at the reapers hit Atom instead of his target. The warriors decided that it was better to kill the Azgeda scouts rather than risk being punished for accidentally harming one of them. Mozu was clear that they seemed to think that Heda did not care about the deaths of Ice Nation warriors." She looked at her feet clearly afraid of having said that.
"Fuck." Anya said. She knew Indra, Gustus, and Lexa would never express the reality of their situation, so she did it for them. "Did any harm come to you?"
"No, I was never threatened or harmed in any way." Tris assured them.
Lexa sat in her throne while watching Tris carefully. "How important was the warrior Atom who died?"
Anya suddenly felt horror as she put together what she knew Lexa was starting to put together. After all, she was the one who'd mentioned the warrior who she believed to be the general's lover. If that assumption was true, then they were fortunate that the general hadn't attacked the Boudalan forces outright.
"I don't know his position in the army. But Clarke was clearly upset by his death, near tears several times. She referred to him as her brother." Tris looked upset. "Heda I think she meant that as in blood. She ordered his body to be laid on her bed and he was clearly beloved by the other warriors. One of the female warriors, I believe she is close to the general, demanded that Clarke take the blood owed by his death. I am unsure of her relationship with Clarke but the general is clearly close with and allows companionship with her warriors to a degree I haven't seen before."
"Explain what you mean by companionship." Indra ordered.
"Just that...she shows open care. The warrior who was angry that she wasn't taking the blood, rather than demanding it, Clarke allowed the disrespect and even comforted the warrior."
Anya watched Lexa digesting the news. "Indra take Nyko and his son with you. You may bring three other warriors, but go to the Azgeda camp and confirm what Tris has reported."
"Of course." Indra left the tent quickly.
Lexa seemed to mold further into her throne. "Tris, you're dismissed. Be ready to be summoned back here, your testimony may be needed again tonight." She looked at Gustus for a minute before continuing. "Gustus take a team and personally see if the site of the attack corroborates the Azgeda story."
"Sha, Heda." He bowed slightly before leaving.
Anya walked over to the table and poured two mugs of wine. Taking them, she handed one to Lexa before dragging a chair over so she could look at Lexa while they drank. She waited patiently for Lexa to begin to drink before speaking. "You knew bringing together the clan's armies without an immediate battle would be a risk."
Lexa was struggling with something, "I didn't intercede in the eastern territory issue because Nia did not ask it and I hoped in her stubbornness her son would overthrow her."
"And instead the future ruler of Azgeda you hoped for ended up dead and you now have a future ruler who hates you." Anya swirled her mug while thinking. It was all a mess. "It was Nia's responsibility to request you intercede and she didn't because of her pride."
Lexa huffed. "Klark was right though, I knew. I swore to protect the people of the coalition and I failed the people of Azgeda. Not for the reason the general believes but that doesn't change that I did."
Anya leaned forward, watching the self-recrimination grow in her friend's eyes. "You hoped that by leaving the conflict alone a tyrant, who has done nothing but destabilize the coalition, would be removed. We both know it would be best for Azgeda to have a new ruler." Anya hated politics, a trait she shared with her current second. "It may have been better for you to override the queen's wishes and intervene. But what's done is done. As you say 'the living are hungry'."
Lexa laughed. "Once a teacher always a teacher." She took a deep drink from her mug. "What is your advice for the current situation then?"
"I think if this war against the mountain is to be successful you need this Azgeda general and not Quint. And if you don't want bad blood between the clans to result in new bloodshed you need to make an example of those who would defy your peace."
"Juis drein Juis draun then." Lexa sounded old when she said it. "I am glad you are by my side for this Anya."
Anya's face softened as she looked at her former second who had become the greatest Heda. "I will always be at your side."