Lexa fluttered her eyes open as the sun hit her face and she woke up in an unfamiliar place. She was lying in a bed made of stray in a room with one window. The room was a bit drafty and she could tell that she was on the second or third floor. The room was small compared to the ones she was used to at the castle.
She looked down at her broken finger and noticed that it was snuggly wrapped with sticks and old cloths to help it heal. She also noticed that she had on clothes. She had been given a simple off-white dress. Next to her bed was a wooden box that was used as a night stand. On top of the box was water and crackers. She instantly chugged the water and gulfed down the crackers within seconds. Still hungry, and curious about her surroundings, she got up from her bed and decided to figure out where she was.
She exited the room to a hallway that opened up to downstairs. From the third floor, she could see what looked like a check in desk and several seating areas. As she walked toward the staircase, she noticed that there were several rooms like the one she woke up in and she figured that she was in some type of inn.
"Lexa? I'm so glad you're awake."
The voice came from a woman with dark hair with a few braids. She had green eyes and looked about the same age as Lexa.
"My names Octavia" the woman said as Lexa made her way downstairs. "You must be so hungry! You've been sleeping for two days straight! Would you like some soup?"
"I would actually," Lexa said scratching her head confused. "But it's ok. I don't have money to pay you for it…."
"Nonsense!" Octavia said "Go have a seat in the diner and I'll be right over."
Lexa headed near the diner area that had about 6 tables set up for dining guests. Across the tables was a bar and there were several people who already had way too many drinks.
"I hope chicken soup is ok." Octavia said placing the bowl in front of Lexa.
Lexa ate the soup as if it was the first thing she had eaten in a month.
"Slow down there. Wouldn't want you choking on the chicken," Octavia smiled.
"Thanks," Lexa said. "As soon as I earn the money, I will pay you back... Where exactly am I?"
"You're in one of the towns inn. The Blake Inn to be exact. Its not much but me and my husband, Lincoln own it. We're pretty proud of it," Octavia replied.
"How exactly did I get here?" Lexa quizzed.
"Well, we heard word about everything that happened at the castle. Tibby, my uncle, actually explained the situation," Octavia explain. "He speaks very highly of you. When he said you needed help, we went to the castle gates, found you, and bought you back here."
"I'm very sorry about that, I didn't mean to be such a mess," Lexa said apologetically, "It's just…I.."
"No need to explain Lexa," Octavia said cutting her off. "Shit happens."
"Thank you so much," Lexas said gratefully. "Is there anything I can do to pay off my debts? I can maybe help you clean or cook and fix up some of the rooms."
"You can't stay here Lexa." Octavia said with a serious face. "You have to leave Eesii. You should have been gone yesterday." Octavia handed Lexa a sheet of paper.
On the paper was a picture of herself with the words "Murderer: Wanted Dead by orders of Head-Noble Pike. Handsome Reward."
"As long as you are in this kingdom, you are at risk."
"But, I can't leave Eesii. This is my home. I can't leave… I can't leave Clarke." Lexa justified.
"Most people in this town won't harm you because it is well known in this kingdom that you are an honorable and generous noble but there are others who are currently searching for you as we speak." Octavia warned. "You must leave today."
Lexa looked down at her broken finger without saying a word.
"Clarke would rather have you alive than dead. The possibility of you seeing her is still there, but it won't be if you stay in Eesii. You will surely be killed," Octavia revealed.
"But how?" Lexa asked. "I have no money and no means to travel."
"That is taken care of Lexa. The towns people and servants of the castle are secretly putting some funds together to help you evacuate this place. Now, we just need to figure out where you can go."
Octavia quickly walked behind the bar and pulled out a map. She spread in on the table to map out Lexas options.
"To the east of Eesii is the Kingdom of Bofin." Octavia pointed.
"Right, I've been there before but there is no way I can get there alone. In order to get to Bofin, I must go through the Forest of Fear and Frenzy. Without a proper carriage and forest guide, there is no way I'll make it out alive. It's filled with jaguars, cheetahs, and several traps set up by the indigenous people who live there," Lexa explained.
"Our next bet is the Kingdom of Hidif. It is south of Eesii," Octavia went on.
"Hidif is definitely the most luxurious of the Kingdoms but its also a tough journey as well. I'd have to go through the Desert of Despair and I would have to buy a camel," Lexa said.
"Camels are pretty expensive. I don't think we'd be able to raise that much money for your departure," Octavia said concerned. "But you could always go to the Kingdom of Jihet. It's an island west of here and I'm sure you'll have enough money to get a ticket for the boat."
"When does the boat leave?" Lexa asked.
"There's one that leaves tonight. It's a cargo boat used for trading but they allow passengers on board for a price. It leaves tonight at 9pm and you should arrive at Jihet by noon tomorrow."
"Ok, that sounds like the best bet," Lexa approved.
"Lexa has left the castle," Clarke barked angrily as she stormed into Pikes' room slamming one of the wanted papers on his desk. "She's out on the streets and isn't bothering anyone in this castle."
"As long as she is in my kingdom, she shall not live." Pike said not looking up from his paper work.
"You knew he had it coming," Clarke snarled sitting in front of Pikes desk. "You did nothing to raise your son with respect and admiration."
"Leave this room you little whore or I will finish what my son started with you!" Pike yelled slamming his fist down on the table.
Clarke glared at Pike with disgust. He knew what Kyls was doing to Clarke and did nothing to stop it. He let it happen and he didn't care.
Clarke stood up and walked toward the door. But before she left, she had a few last things to say.
"There will be a day when you will fall. There will be a day when cowardly, unjust, and undeserving people like you will cease to lead this kingdom. And I swear to you, this day is coming soon."
Lexa lay in her straw bed resting before her long journey to the new kingdom. She didn't want to go but she knew that it was the only way she would survive. In order to see Clarke again, she knew she had to survive.
Eesii is the only home she ever had and she couldn't imagine going through life without the familiarity of Eesii and the happy life she had here. She currently had no plan besides getting on the boat to Jihet. How would she survive there, she thought to herself. She would have very little money and no home. She had a few skills and figured that maybe she could use that to her advantage. She was excellent at shooting bow and arrows and knew how to make them from her teachings with Indra. Maybe she could open up some sort of arrow shop or repair them for other people. She also knew how to fish from her days relaxing with Clarke on the river. Maybe she could be some sort of fisherwoman who sells to other people. Then when she raised enough money, she could somehow pay for the release of Clarke to visit her.
As she lay on the straw bed thinking about her old life, future life, and Clarke, she began to smell smoke. Shortly after, she heard screams and cries for help. She open the door to her room and looked downstairs. Downstairs, were 3 men with torches lighting the inn on fire.
"Where is the bitch who killed Kyls?!" one of the men yelled grabbing a woman by the neck.
Suddenly, Lexa was pushed on the floor. When she looked to see who pushed her, it was Octavia.
"You have to get out of here!" Octavia whispered crawling back to Lexas room. "Follow me!"
Lexa crawled back to the room to avoid being seen and locked the door behind her.
Octavia grabbed sheets off the straw bed and started tying them together to make something similar to a rope.
"Octavia, don't worry about me!" Lexa pleaded. "We have to help the other people downstairs."
Lexa grabbed for the handle at the door but Octavia stopped her before she could open it.
"No!" Octavia demanded. "I promised to safely get you out of this kingdom and that is what I'm going to do."
Lexa looked horrified as the black smoke began to seep through the bottom of the door as she heard screams downstairs making their way up the stairs.
"I know that bitch is here somewhere!" Screamed one of the men.
Lexa began helping Octavia secure the sheets so that she could climb out the window.
As they were finishing the makeshift rope, an axe began to chop through the door behind them.
"Hurry!" Octavia screamed.
Once the rope was secured, Octavia tied it around the box as Lexa began to climb out of the window.
Before Lexa could begin to descend, the man had managed to axe through the door. He pushed Octavia to the floor and rushed through the window. He grabbed Lexas hand as she was dangling from the window and tried to pull her up. However, Lexa was not about to get pulled back into the room without a fight. She tried yanking her hand out of his grip but his grip was too tight. She then bit his hand as hard as she could in order to free herself.
The man jerked away and immediately let go of Lexa. However, this caused Lexa to loose her grip on the makeshift rope and she fell from the window.
