Title: Light Rises from the Night
Author: Pinion King
Fandom: The 100 (TV Show)
Date Started: 13th March 2016
Series: Light Rises from the Night
Authors Note:
Clarke getting the flame gets closer. Although the previews for this week could mean it is about to end up in Ontari's or A.L.I.E's hands. I hope Luna has more to play otherwise it was a complete waste to bring her into it to begin with.
Chapter 7
"Clarke?" Her mum was looking at her in shock "What are you doing here?"
Clarke ignored her and looked around the scene in front of her. She felt a little sorry for the people of Arkadia who had been rounded up like sheep. Most looked terrified and some of the children were crying. It almost broke her heart to see it. She didn't want this, she didn't want a lot of things but people don't always get what they want. Deciding to get this over quickly so that stress on the children was minimised she stepped onto a crate so that they could all see her. With a strong loud voice so that she could be heard by all she started.
"People of Arkadia hear me now. I am sorry it has come to this but your continuous acts of war can no longer be ignored. As of now Arkadia is now under my control. You were offered multiple opportunities for peace but you rejected all of them and left me with no choice."
"Left you with no choice? Where is the Commander?"
Clarke wasn't sure who had called out but answered anyway. "As a result of your actions and the decisions she made to give you an opportunity for peace an act of treason was committed by one of those that didn't agree. Heda Lexa's fight was ended. I was chosen to succeed her. I am Klark kom Skaikru, Heda of the twelve clans and leader of the coalition."
"You are the Commander" Clarke nodded "We are your people how could you do this?"
"You murdered three hundred warriors who were sent here to protect you in their sleep. Heda Lexa let it slide to help bring peace. You ignored the offering. You then attacked a small village full of elders and children. You were given another chance. A blockade was setup and you were asked to turn Pike over. You ignored the offering. Last night you attacked the blockade. You don't get a third chance."
"Pike was going to save us."
"And look where that got you. My warriors are here in your camp and I now have control of it. Pike wanted war. He planned to go up against a civilisation of tens of thousands with a few guns and limited ammunition, how is that saving you? I offered Pike one more chance for peace when he came to my tent. Turn himself over and save his people. He chose to try and kill me, which would have resulted in Arkadia being wiped from the Earth ending the Sky People. Pike said he was going to save you, his actions condemned you." Clarke received no response and saw a few heads nodding. She turned to one of the warriors standing next to her "Send word back to the camp bring Kane back here."
"Sha Heda"
"I will speak with your leaders and council now. I suggest you all go back to your dorms. My warriors will check you for weapons and will be assigned to guard all the doors."
"How do we know they won't hurt of attack us?"
"You have my word. If anyone attacks another, they will be punished." Clarke stepped down and walked away from the gathered Skaikru. She found Octavia once again by Lincoln's side and Murphy to the side of them. Deciding to take care of business first she went to him. "Thank you Murphy. I will honour our deal." She motioned for a warrior to come to her "Take Murphy back to camp get him some food then escort him to Polis. Tell them that the prisoner Emori is to be released."
"Sha Heda."
Clarke looked back at the boy. "Try and keep out of trouble."
"I wouldn't put money on it." Clarke chuckled in agreeance "Thank you Clarke, I mean Heda"
"Murphy thanking someone? What has Emori done to you?" Clarke laughed, Murphy just shrugged his shoulders. "Thank you Murphy, and good luck."
"Now Heda is thanking me, this day is weird."
Clarke kept laughing "May we meet again."
"May we meet again." Murphy echoed before he left with the warrior by his side.
Clarke looked over at Lincoln "Lincoln, I have lifted your kill order, so you are free again. You may come to Polis as Octavia is now my first General. You will be under my protection." Lincoln's eyes snapped to Octavia's in surprise and pride. Clarke followed and could see Octavia trying not to smile. "I cannot however reinstate you as Trikru as I am not born of Trikru, you must speak to the leader of the Trikru."
"I understand Heda, and thank you."
"You deserve it Lincoln. You put up with this one" Clarke motioned her head towards Octavia "Which is no easy task, and I am aware of your efforts for peace here." Clarke gave them both a nod and a smile. Clarke looked around as the Skaikru started to file out and head back to their dorms. She doubted that any of them would actually sleep but it was better for them to be away from any of the chaos that she was sure would unfold soon. She also took a chance to look around Arkadia she couldn't help but be impressed with what they had done. The simple camp that she had walked away from had been changed. What was once just what was left of the Ark surrounded by a fence was now what Clarke could only describe as a small city.
"Heda."
Clarke turned to see a warrior approaching with Kane. "Sha?"
"The prisoner Bellamy has escaped." Clarke heard Octavia stifle a gasp.
"How?"
"He got out of his bonds. Do we search for him?"
"No, let him go. The forest will claim him. It isn't worth wasting warriors over one man."
"Sha Heda." The warrior nodded and walked away.
"Indra!" Clarke called to the General a few meters from her.
"Sha Heda?"
"Leave some warriors here and setup a rotating shift. I want them to keep this camp under control. Push everyone else back to camp."
"Sha Heda."
"Kane." Clarke nodded to the man with a small smile.
"Commander, I must apologise about Pike. I didn't know he planned to kill you."
"No issues. My guards should have searched him better."
"Got somewhere we can talk? Better get my mum as well."
"Follow me. We can talk in the council chambers."
Clarke smiled and followed the man. She looked over her shoulder and saw Octavia and Lincoln having a moment. "Come on O you will have plenty of time to catch up with your man later." Clarke followed Kane through the hallways of the Ark into the council chambers. She saw a huge map of the area surrounding Arkadia marked into sectors on a board, there was a table and chairs and a couch in the corner. The table had a couple of tablets sitting on it. Kane took a seat and motioned for Clarke and Octavia to sit. Clarke did but Octavia took her position behind Clarke and remained standing. A few seconds later Abby swept into the room, she went to hug Clarke but Clarke held up her hand to stop her and Octavia stepped in front of Abby blocking the way. "Business first." Clarke said in explanation as Abby looked confused and frustrated. She eventually took her seat.
"Thank you Commander, for what you have done."
Clarke gave the man a smile "It's Clarke in private."
"Commander?"
Clarke looked at her mother and realised she must have been busy with the wounded and not paying attention earlier.
"Yes"
"How? Why?"
Clarke looked down at the table and felt Octavia's hand come to rest on her shoulder. "Lexa was killed three weeks ago by her adviser Titus. He didn't agree with Lexa's new policies." She heard both Kane and Abby gasp.
"How did you become Commander?" Kane asked gently but with curiosity laced in his voice.
"I successfully passed the trials to become the next Heda. We can discuss this later; business must be dealt with first." Clarke's voice raised to its normal hard tone. "While I have vowed to continue peace and follow on from Lexa, I cannot allow you back into the coalition yet. The last time you joined the coalition, not twenty four hours later an army sent to keep the peace was massacred." Clarke held up her hand to stop Abby "I understand that this was the work of Pike, but the fact remains Skaikru killed three hundred warriors for no reason. Instead I will offer you a treaty, you may keep your lands up to where it was discussed previously, and you will need to make your own trade deals with other clans. If after six months you prove yourself trust worthy then we will talk about Skaikru being reinstated into the coalition. You will be under my protection, so if anyone attacks I am to be informed immediately and I will deal with it. You are to turn over half your guns" Clarke held her hand up to stop the protests "I would rather take all of them but I am not going to leave your completely helpless. I will be leaving warriors here for your protection for the time being, I suggest you speak to them about learning how to fight and hunt. The original hundred you sent down can also teach you how to hunt." Clarke locked eyes with Kane "Do we have an agreement?"
"Yes Commander and thank you for the opportunity."
"Don't disappoint me. There will not be a third chance."
"What of the punishment for the prisoners?"
"Pike will be taken back to Polis where he will face trial and be punished for his crimes. I can almost guarantee it will be death by a thousand cuts. The ones that attacked the blockade will most likely each receive nine cuts for the nine lives they took. They will be banished to Arkadia with kill orders on them. If they ever leave the walls of Arkadia again, they will be killed on sight. It will then be up to you what happens with them from there. Understand?"
"Yes Commander." Kane answered.
"Good. Anything else you wish to discuss?"
"No."
"Good." Clarke went to stand up but was stopped by her mother.
"Can I please speak to you, in private?"
Clarke sighed and nodded. "Octavia can you please stand outside the door and guard it."
"Sha Heda." Octavia gave her a look as she left the room behind Kane. Clarke gave her a smile to let her know she would be fine.
Abby turned to her daughter and studied her after everyone left the room.
"How are you Clarke?"
"I'm fine." Clarke replied.
"No you're not. You're my daughter I know you. You are wearing a mask but your eyes give you away."
Clarke looked at her mother before she dropped her act and dropped her head. "I loved her" she whispered "I went to say goodbye before I was the head back to Arkadia and she told me she loved me. An hour later she died in my arms. I never got to tell her that I loved her. I couldn't save her the one person I needed to save and I couldn't save her." Clarke's voice broke as tears began to run down her cheek. Even though she could see Lexa in the Spirit world and had told her then, it wasn't quite the same as telling it when she was alive. Her spirit lived on but Lexa was still dead.
Abby moved closer to Clarke and opened her arms, Clarke moved quickly from the chair and into her mother's arms. She put her arms around Abby and held her tight as the wall that she had been keeping up since she was chosen as Heda shattered. Eventually Clarke released her hold on her mother and pulled back slightly. Abby used her thumbs to wipe away her daughter's tears.
"Why did you become Commander?" She asked gently.
"For Lexa, she wanted peace and I didn't know what the other Commanders would do. So I sort of forced them to let me take the trial and I succeeded."
"I never wanted this for you and I am sorry for the way I have treated you, I know you have only been trying to do what is right. When I sent you to the ground I was thinking it was a new life for you, you would be free. Yet here we are in a constant circle of death and war, with blood on both our hands. You are so young and you were forced into positions that you shouldn't have been in, positions that you should never had to be in at your age or even ever. Now here you are the leader of twelve clans trying to stop wars."
Clarke gave a dry chuckle "Its ok mum, I'm sorry too. I've held onto my anger at you for dad for a bit too long. Who would have thought, I went from a prisoner on the ark to the most important and powerful person on the ground. I know you never meant for this, none of us knew and we weren't prepared. I should have listened to what you told me before I was sent down here."
"What was that?"
"Take care of myself first. Don't follow my instincts to help others."
"Then you wouldn't be you Clarke. No matter what has happened you are still my daughter and I am so proud of you. Your father would be to. I love you."
"Thanks mum. I love you too." Clarke stepped forward and gave her mother another hug. As Clarke released the hug she let out a yawn. "I better get back to camp and try to get some sleep."
"You can stay here."
"Thank you but I can't. They will send out a search party if I go missing."
"At least let me check your shoulder first, Kane told me you got shot by Pike."
"It's fine the bullet went straight through the healer took care of it." Abby just gave her a look that only a mother could give. "Fine." Clarke just really hoped that there was no lingering black blood she didn't want to have to explain that when she didn't even know the answer in the first place. Clarke took her armour off and exposed her shoulder. She watched as best she could as her mother removed the bandage and looked over the wound.
"The healer did a good job. I will get some antibiotics for you to prevent infection. I will give them to you when I see you next. I suggest you get the bandage changed when you get back to your camp." Clarke nodded and covered her shoulder back up and pulled her armour back on. "Thank you for not killing anyone either."
Clarke looked at her "I asked them not to, not everyone is a bad guy. Any seriously wounded?"
"Nothing they can't recover from or will suffer lasting effects."
Clarke nodded, removing the evidence of her break down reapplied her mask she left the room where both Octavia and Lincoln were waiting outside the door. She gave them both a look before she started moving down the Ark corridor towards the door that would lead her back into the main camp. Just as she reached the door Jaha and a woman in a red dress stepped out in front of her forcing her to stop. The Spirit in her went wild. She couldn't describe the feeling other then it felt like a warning. She heard the voice of one of the Commanders whisper "Alie" followed by a request to get as far away from Jaha as she could. She heard the sound of metal on metal and realised Octavia was drawing her sword. After the Spirit's warning she did nothing to prevent her from doing so.
"Jaha, it's good to see you alive and well." She focused on Jaha not the woman. The woman in red was out of place, the clothes, the hair, the makeup, clearly wasn't from any clan she knew of and Clarke felt it best if she didn't draw attention that she could see her.
"Congratulations on your new position."
"I wouldn't say congratulations because of the circumstances that lead to me getting this position."
"How did you get into the City of Light"
Clarke blinked not expecting that "The City of what?"
"A place where is no pain, free from all of this." Jaha motioned around him "You were there."
Clarke was staring at him like he was crazy, which probably wasn't far from the truth.
"Pain is part of life. It is what makes us human. Without it we are nothing. All of this is life. The only way to be free from life is death. Something I don't plan on any time soon. It was good to see you again, but I must be going." Clarke brushed past the man and left. When they were clear of the gates Clarke turned to her ever present right hand and her reunited lover. "What was that about?" Octavia shrugged her shoulders.
"He has been handing out pills that he claims take the pain away. He has been building up followers. He speaks about A.L.I.E and the City of Light." Lincoln answered
"A.L.I.E, the Spirit said that word to me when he stopped us. One of the Commanders was telling me to get away from him. What is the City of Light?"
"It is claimed to be a city on the other side of the Dead Zone. People have gone looking for it in the past but none have ever found it."
"I really hope the Skaikru aren't about to cause another problem. I don't think I can handle much more stress from them."
Clarke untied her horse from where it had been tied earlier. Octavia did the same for hers which Clarke had brought down for her. Ignoring the jab of pain in her shoulder she awkwardly got back onto her horse as Lincoln joined Octavia on hers. Giving her horse a gentle kick they rode back to the camp.
The whole ride Clarke felt like there was something wrong and it had all been too easy.