CHAPTER 7
"She left us there to die! The grounders cannot be trusted! Especially that child they call Commander." Pike's voice rang out for all to hear in Arkadia. Things had changed in her people Octavia noticed, they were excited by what he was saying nodding in agreement. Kane was struggling to be heard at every turn. "I am not excusing the Commanders actions at the mountain, but she is not a savage, I have spent time with her. She is a visionary. We need to establish new grounds for a truce between our people."
"Seriously? This is your plan for us? Hope the grounders play nice and give us a truce?" Pike mocked, looking out at the crowd "No we need to strike first, take out their leader and decorate Arkadia with her head to show these Grounders we're here to stay! We'll take their lands for our selves..."
"Can you hear yourself Pike?! They outnumber us 100:1! We can have peace!"
Standing alongside Lincoln Octavia could see Kane was losing the people as they booed at this notion. "We have the fire power to kill them all twice over. If you elect me chancellor I promise you this world!"
"What are we going to do?" Lincoln looked down at her. "There is no way Arkadia will win this war, Azgeda alone will crush us."
Seeing nothing but the grim situation Octavia turned to him "we need to find Clarke and send word to the Commander."
"After the mountain do you really think she will be any better?" He asked recalling Lexa's heartless betrayal.
"What other options do we have Lincoln?"
Marching down the corridors of her tower Lexa headed towards the early morning council meeting. It was little passed dawn when she summoned the ambassadors. Plagued by dreams she was up earlier than usual and thought it better to utilise this time. The truth of it was she could not stand the silence, the silence of not having any word on Clarke's whereabouts or if her man had in fact been successful in apprehending her. The thought of Azgeda finding Clarke was too much for Lexa to bare. Attempting to put it from her mind she switched like the face of a coin stowing Lexa away and bringing forward the Commander.
Armour firmly in place, full length black coat and red sash flying out behind her, Lexa stormed into her throne room. All the ambassadors dropped to their knees bar one man. The tension in the room was palpable, Lexa was in no mood today. News had come regarding both Azgeda and Arkadia and neither made her happy. Without speaking she threw the standing Azgeda ambassador and icy look. Before she could address him Titus stepped forward furious at the obvious disrespect he was displaying to their Heda. "Kneel before your Commander you Azgeda dog!"
"Em Pleni!" Lexa cut in. "Stand. I have an announcement to make." Standing tall Lexa clasped her hands round her back and regarded each one of their faces. "Azgeda have been moving half their army closer and closer to Trikru capital Ton DC, I have also had reports of the rest of that army is heading to Polis its self..." she trailed off allowing her words to sink in. Finally her gaze landed upon the Azgeda ambassador, "what do you have to say?" With a sneer he stepped forward into the middle of the room. "These are merely military exercises, no threat to the coalition meant. Queen Nia would never expect you to quiver so. Lexa." A few hushed voices of shock and outrage could be heard among the other eleven ambassadors at the sheer audacity of speaking the Commander's true name. This was a privilege only given to a small handful of people.
Lexa raised both hands to once again silence the room. Her face a true mask of indifference, her eyes didn't even narrow at the bold insult. "Come speak with me on the balcony in private. I have a message for your queen."
"A message I will be happy to deliv..." and with one powerful kick square in the abdomen with as much strength as she could muster the Azgeda Branwoda was launched off the balcony to his death. With one fluid motion Lexa casually sat on her throne and gracefully lifted one leg to cross the other and turned her attention back to the room. Inadvertently she began tapping her middle finger gently on the arm of her throne, "Queen Nia belongs to my coalition, you all belong to my coalition. Movement of any army can be seen as an act of war. Nia will retreat her army, and send me a new ambassador to replace that pathetic excuse that is now decorating the ground." She gave a look to Indra who stood to Lexa's right when she finished speaking to ensure her orders were followed and directed to Azgeda immediately.
"Now for Arkadia. I have received word that the sky people have elected a new chancellor. One who does not share my vision of peace. I believe we could have a strong ally in Skaikru but to rid them of their faulty leadership first."
"Why Heda? These people have murdered our people, tried to steal our lands and bombed our villages! Why would you want to have an alliance with them?!" One of the ambassadors piped up. "I do not want an alliance with them, I want them in my coalition. I want them to become the thirteenth clan."
Every face in the room fell including Fliemkipa Titus's. After a second they all began to speak out, all trying to be heard. "Shof op! This is not a negotiation! Skaikru are untrained, naïve nut potentially dangerous. But they destroyed the mountain, they have medicine and technology that can aid our people if we allow them to join us. Skaikru will bow before me and they will live under my law. We will give them the chance. If they do not accept my terms then you will have your war. But first we need to rid them of their current leaders."
"How do you know they will accept your terms? How do you know they can be trusted with peace?"
"I don't."
