Chapter 7: Speculation
Talking with Wells kom Skaikru had been surprisingly pleasant. He confirmed some of what she already knew and offered a different perspective on questions she had. This was all after she promised she was doing everything she could to prevent war. After he called her out on being Clarke's mate, of course.
Figures.
Succeeding in sending Clarke the image over the bond had been a highlight of the morning, even though she had to suppress Clarke's near constant worry both before and after.
Returning to her tent after checking to ensure Wells had eaten lunch Lexa was only mildly surprised to find Anya waiting inside. She was less surprised upon Gustus following her in. With one standing in front of her and one standing behind her Lexa felt a bit of dread creep into her core.
She wondered if this is what having parents felt like.
With a sigh Lexa moved to her throne. Gustus and Anya moved with her. Thankfully both were confident enough in her surrender to their questions that they allowed her to sit down. Looking them over Lexa toyed with her dagger. It was a nervous habit she'd picked up shortly after Costia's death, when she needed something to keep her grounded without appearing weak.
Both knew it was one of her tells.
They exchanged a glance. Anya stepped forward to speak, but Lexa beat her to it. She wanted to set the pace for this discussion.
"What was Costia's nickname for me?"
"Heda?" Their body language screamed confusion, for all they hid it well.
"What was Costia's nickname for me? And I for her? Think. Once you can answer I will allow you your questions, but not until you can answer those."
She could tell they were frustrated with her. But they should have known better than to just expect her to answer. Lexa was nothing if not stubborn and they both have had to deal with her being stubborn numerous times throughout the years.
Standing Lexa moved and began to look through the messages that had come in since she'd last been able to deal with news from outside TonDC. Most of it was updates from various leaders about how trade was going and various disputes that could be settled without her. She'd gotten about a third the way through when a noise drew her focus to those behind her.
A strangled gasp had slipped past Anya's control.
Her former mentor was ashen. Eyes widened in what Lexa assumed was horror. Clenching jaw muscles belayed she was still working through her thoughts, so Lexa went to resume her reading when Gustus spoke.
"Protector. Teacher. Those were your nicknames for each other." He sounded weary. As though his final hope had drained away with the realization.
Anya let out a ragged breath. "She always called you her great protector. I thought it was just light hearted flirting given your skills."
The two were quiet. Gustus let out a deep sigh. His body slumped in weariness.
"I should have seen it. She had always gravitated towards teaching. All the reforms she pushed through for the Polis orphans, the inventive new ways to improve teaching methods across multiple disciplines - even if she wasn't the best in them." Having been her guard when Costia was still alive, Gustus had worked closely with them both.
Teacher.
Anya nodded in agreement. "And you, you have always been driven to protect us all. To be the best fighter. To complete each battle with the least losses. To take on the strongest foes by yourself. Always protecting those around you whether they wanted it or not." Her smile was small and bittersweet.
Protector.
Lexa nodded at their words, letting them wash over her. Reassure her. They spoke things she already knew. Now it was time for her to share what she knew and they did not.
The final piece to the puzzle.
A dangerous puzzle once solved.
"Klark kom Skaikru was both apprenticed fisa and haiplana before being sent to Earth. She is currently Skaikru's only fisa on the ground."
Healer.
Their sharp intakes of breath confirm they had reached the same conclusion she had. For a long time no one spoke. Each lost in their own thoughts as the elder two process the new information and what it means. Finally, Gustus break the silence with another heavy sigh.
"Many in the Coalition will not stand for it. Even if the alliance is successful they will claim your bond clouded your judgment. War will threaten you Heda. Such bonds are considered a bad sign."
Healer. Teacher. Protector.
The Founding Three.
Lexa nodded in agreement. "I have dealt with such accusation before. Let us hope when this comes to light that more will see it as a boon than an omen."
"What of the Skaikru?" Anya questioned. "Sure, your second mate is among them along with others' mates, but they are worse than goufa in their manners. At least goufa know they lack knowledge and seek to learn. These Skaikru goufa move with arrogance on land that is not theirs. What of the rest of their kru? Will they be pardoned simply because some of their yongon have bonds? Or do we kill all but the bonded?"
Lexa scowled at the prospect, but she did not deny Anya's point.
"I wish to treat the Skaikru goufa separate from the rest of their kru. From what I have learned they were more or less abandoned here. If we capitalize on that we gain a strong foothold when the rest come."
"And if they do not seek an alliance?"
"They must if they wish to survive."
"And if the Coalition refuses to accept them?"
"The Coalition need not be concerned until the rest of Skaikru falls. Until then it is not a Coalition problem but a Trikru problem."
Neither look happy with her answer. Honestly, Lexa didn't care. She has thought this over again and again from every angle. The Coalition was on thin ice to begin with - only the threat of Moun-de truly holding all the pieces together.
Skaikru may be the thread which unravels the quilt, but it was not the one which first snapped.
"For now I plan to do nothing with this bond. Klark is needed to lead her people. Claiming her as mine would not be the same as claiming Costia. Costia knew our traditions and threats. Klark does not, nor do her people understand what it would mean. This knowledge changes nothing."
Yet at the same time it changed everything.
Lexa had just finished a meeting with Indra and other local Trikru leaders when her bond flared. Immediately, she stood. Barking out a rough "Dismissed" she barely made it to the back portion of her tent before the emotions overwhelmed her.
Horror and panic. Confusion and desperation.
Shakily Lexa sat on the edge of her bed. Taking a deep breath, she opened herself to the bond. The flood of an image nearly overwhelmed her. Her pride at her mate figuring out how to send an image was quickly overshadowed by the content.
Lincoln.
He was unconscious based on the way his arms were thrown over the shoulders of two Skrikru as they supported his weight. The usurper Bellamy leading the way while restraining a struggling female - Octavia, Lincoln's mate. Everything surrounding the group was blurry and impossible to distinguish. But the group being lead into the Skaikru camp was as clear as if she was watching them herself.
"Heda?"
The hesitant voice broke her concentration. Lexa jerked violently, in seconds a blade was drawn and aimed at the speaker. It took a little longer for her eyes to refocus after seeing through the bond.
Indra hovered just inside the flap to the private section of tent. The section reserved for Lexa's bed and chests of belongings. The woman's expression was blank but it was clear she was startled by the reaction as much as her presence had startled Lexa.
It took longer than she would have liked for Lexa to regain control of her breathing.
"Indra."
The older woman opened her mouth to speak, before closing it with a snap. Stiffly she moved to a formal position and reported what had occurred after Lexa dismissed the meeting and practically fled to the rear of the tent.
"The village leaders will support your decision Heda. Some brought up additional concerns about how they should treat the Skaikru in various instances, but they can be addressed at a later time."
Although no mention was made of what had happened to Lexa herself between leaving the meeting and Indra startling her, Lexa could tell only Indra's respect for her position as Heda kept her from demanding answers.
Lexa closed off her facial expression even further.
"Something has occurred to delay negotiations. The village leaders do not need to rush in their announcements to their people. Prep the snatchers to be on the lookout for a Skaikru runner. Likely a bonded."
If possible Indra stiffened even more, displeasure at Lexa's commands and lack of further information - or a clear source - clearly aggravating the woman. The leader really disliked unknowns. Still, Indra nodded respectfully before ducking back behind the tent flap and leaving the room.
Uncertainty gripped Lexa, an echo of how Clarke was feeling.
How long it would take for a message to reach her from the Skaikru camp Lexa didn't know. But she could still feel the muted emotions coming from Clarke's end of the bond. She would have to trust that her mate was capable of the role she was given. Even if her roots were in healing, as Lexa's mate she would be expected to lead competently.
This was a good first test to see if Clarke could handle the pressures of leadership.
Lexa hated that it was necessary.
The sun was hidden by the canopy when Indra burst back into her tent with a pair of gona escorting a bound Skaikru goufa behind her. Bringing up the rear was a scout Lexa recognized as one of the bonded she had sent out with Lincoln. Sevak was from one of the neighboring villages and passed his gona-trial two summers ago, thus making him roughly 16.
The group stopped in front of where Lexa was seated on her throne. With a long look from Lexa the gona stepped back from the Skaikru goufa. Lexa barely had to look at Indra to know her displeasure.
What did interest her was Sevak's attempt to suppress his relief and slight shifting towards the Skaikru once the guards left.
Lexa only managed to hide her smile due to years of maintaining a blank expression.
"What is your name?"
She keeps her voice even, calm. Dare she say gentle for all it maintains its commanding edge. It wouldn't due to frighten the boy before he'd given her an actual update. He looked terrified enough and was certainly younger than the Skaikru Lexa had observed interacting with Clarke.
"M- Mike." While his voice shook slightly, he maintained eye contact. Lexa felt her respect for the youth increase. A glance at Sevak showed he was doing better at hiding his emotions now it appeared Lexa wasn't about to attack his mate without warning.
"Tell me Mike kom Skaikru, what has happened today at your camp? The full account please."
The boy visibly gulped, the action fully showing his youth - perhaps 13 or 14 years.
"It was pretty normal at first. Well, as normal as things have been since we were sent down here. We had been talking with Octavia when C-Clarke came over asking about Wells. She - she was really worried but suddenly in the middle of asking Octavia to..." He trailed off, glancing around in uncertainty. After an encouraging nod from his mate, discretely of course, not that it was hidden with how close everyone was watching, he continued.
"She wanted O to check with... her mate." Strategically Lexa appreciated his reluctance to name Lincoln, but internally Lexa just wanted the boy to hurry up. "But something happened while she was talking. Suddenly she froze and withdrew into herself, barely breathing. She didn't even her Octavia calling for her attention. We all got really scared but when she opened her eyes again it was like she was suddenly calm again. Rambling about how someone had reassured her Wells was okay but that she still wanted O to check."
"Once Octavia left Bellamy confronted Clarke again. Wanted her to let him send search parties out to look for Wells. It was weird. Normally he yells a lot more. We didn't know why until a few hours later when he came back. He- he had Octavia with him, wasn't letting her go no matter how much she struggled. Two others carried a Groun - sorry - carried one of your people between them. He must of been Octavia's mate given the way she was fighting Bellamy, but I didn't get a good look at him. Clarke sent me out to find you as soon as they were inside."
Mike took a deep breath once he was finished. His long-winded answer had come out in a rushed, breathy way once he had gotten started. Internally Lexa was relieved. The tale matched the image Clarke had sent. He spoke true of Lincoln's capture, and Clarke hadn't been the aggressor of the attack.
She pointedly refrained from looking at Indra.
"Thank you Mike kom Skaikru for speaking true and telling me what occurred." Glancing at the scout next to him she continued. "Release his bindings."
The breath of relief from Mike turned into a start of surprise at the sudden change in language. The boy flinched slightly when his mate faced him with a blade. After the bindings securing his wrists were cut - and the knife vanished back to its hiding spot - the boy seemed to relax again, rubbing his wrists nervously.
"Mike kom Skaikru and Sevak kom Trigedakru, are you willing to accept the role of messengers between your clans until such a time as the original messengers replace you or I deem otherwise?"
Among her own people she would simply order them to obey her commands. Based on Indra's instant tensing and opening of her mouth, Indra had expected much the same and was likely displeased Lexa was even offering an option to the two. A sharp glare silenced Indra's protest before anyone else noticed. Clarke's people were not used to obeying her orders, nor were they very respectful of authority from what Clarke had shared and Lexa had witnessed.
"Sha Heda." Sevak answered promptly, as trained. Mike took slightly longer, his uncertainty clear.
"Yes Ma'am... um, Heda."
An exchanged glance with Sevak saw Mike straightening his back and attempting to mimic his mates trained confidence. Lexa felt a measure of pride and respect for the boy.
"You will bunk with Sevak tonight. He will see to your needs while you are here. I expect you both to have left by first light."
"Sha Heda."
"Yes Heda."
This time Lexa allowed a small smile to move her lips. The Skaikru youth learned fast. They both deserved to feel the pride that came from pleasing her. And from what she had seen Skaikru was vary expressive with their emotions.
"Dismissed."