Seingeda. 'Family'
Disclaimer: I own nothing. No profit made.
AN: Peace brings out the best in people, if given the chance.
Two Weeks Later…
Clarke sits on the chair Trikru warriors had presented her upon arrival to Arkadia. Her mother's is a considerably less grand chair to her right and Indra to her left. They sit upon the elevated platform watching Trikru and Skaikru alike shove each other around in the scattered pits across the field. Things had moved swiftly since Clarke had last seen either woman, and she was proud of how much progress had been made in such little time. Of course everything hadn't been resolved, but relations between Skaikru and Trikru have been steadily growing.
In the closest pit, Bellamy and Lincoln are having it out with a group of the 100 around them making mental notes of the fight. Clarke's little man can be seen, and heard, cheering on Lincoln from atop Octavia's shoulders. The only time Lenox ceases in his cheering is when Raven makes her presence known; he bends down as far as he can without falling off O's shoulders so that he can talk with the mechanic. To see him so happy with her friends, her family, it causes Clarke's heart to swell and warm.
"You were right, Clarke," Abby admits almost dejectedly making Clarke shake head head subtly. Indra isn't so quiet in her disapproval however.
"You should not question Wanheda, Abby Griffin," Indra huffs.
Clarke looks at her strangely. Since when is Indra her cheerleader?
"Indra...you can't be serious," Clarke laughs. "You question every move I make." She says it without malice, because Indra might not agree with her choices, but she has shown Clarke more respect since their confrontation in Polis.
Again, Indra huffs and Clarke can see just how much Indra is done with the useless talk. "It is different. You irritate me. You are not observant when it comes to things outside politics." Her words must strike a chord within her mother, because Abby starts laughing.
"What?" Clarke questions, her eyes drifting from one woman to the other. "What?"
Abby doesn't answer her, and when she looks to Indra again the woman is actually smiling, but she still ignores Clarke's inquiry. Clarke gives up and slumps back into her seat, put out by their odd behavior, and since when does Indra smile? Lenox's version of a war cry breaks through Clarke's sulking as he cheers on Lincoln's victory. Clarke smiles as Octavia sets him down only for him to be thrown into the air and caught by Lincoln.
As the pit frees up, no one else enters it. Clarke looks around and sees that most of the other pits are the same way, it seems everyone is done for the day. The three women step down from the platform and start walking amongst the crowd, Clarke at the head. "How are things with the new location of Tondc?" Clarke questions.
"The fence has been put in place and now we start on the huts. We should be done before the Cold is here." Indra states, and for a moment Clarke is surprised at the announcement of Winter being so close. Time, it seems, has escaped her this past year. Was the Mountain really a year ago? Her capture by the Ice Nation? Her discovery of Lenox? Clarke finds it surreal as she has only been released by Nia for what, three months? And now the Winter will be upon them again, but this time Clarke will be free and Lenox will be safe and cared for.
"Indra's warriors and our guards are split between her camp and ours to prepare the winter huts. Progress has been fast and our people have come together quickly," Abby adds, gaining yet another smile from Indra. Seriously, Clarke is taken back by such a pleasant demeanor wafting off of Indra. Is this the product of peace? Clarke thinks that, yes, maybe it is.
"The Commander will be pleased," Clarke confesses, though she halts in her tracks by her mother's snort and Indra's huff, and she's left behind as they continue on without her.
"Nomon!" She turns and smiles as Lenox tackles her legs in a hug. She hefts him up onto her hip and allows him to snuggles into her neck. Octavia, Raven, Bellamy and Lincoln weren't far behind him.
"I see you've lost again, Bellamy," Clarke rubs in as Bell rolls his eyes.
"I don't see you out there, Princess," he teases, causing Lincoln and Octavia to laugh, though they're laughing at him, rather than at Clarke.
Raven speaks when no one else does. "Keep dreaming, Bell. Clarke can kick your ass faster than you can say Wanheda." She gives Clarke a wink and Clarke grins at her.
When Bellamy scoffs, any response he had is cut off by Lenox as he removes his head from his Nomon's neck. "Nomon is the best warrior, that is why she is Wanheda. Right, Nomon?" He grins when Clarke boops his nose with her finger.
"That's right." She grins adoringly down at her sleepy boy.
Lenox turns back to Bellamy with a haughty expression that Clarke recognizes as one of Lexa's signature looks. "Nomon is like Heda. No one can beat them, especially not you."
The group laughs at Bellamy's expense and Bellamy pouts. "Your son is so mean to me, Clarke. You'd think he'd be nicer to his mother's best friend."
Raven scoffs and pushes Bell. "Dream on, Bell. Everyone knows Clarke loves me the most." She smirks. Octavia just looks at Clarke as she rolls her eyes in Raven's direction, and Lincoln just smiles, amused by their antics.
Lenox, however, has more to say. "Nomon doesn't love you the mosts."
Clarke's eyes grow wide in fear of what her son might say next and quickly interrupts. "That's right, cause I love you the most. Don't I, Lenox?" Luckily it's enough to distract his train of thought, and instead of continuing, Lenox just beams with pride. Clarke is more than happy to let the conversation drop. Ever since their dinner with Lexa, Clarke's son as been on a mission of sorts. It's 'Lexa this' and 'Lexa that', and god did he rub it in everyone's face that the Heda allows him to address her so informally. He thinks that the Heda favors him and in his four year old reasoning, since Clarke loves him the most, and Heda like him the most, and Heda loves Clarke the most, then obviously they were one family. He's been trying to convince his Nomon, but Clarke only corrects him. Lenox pays her no mind.
"Come on, let's get you something to eat and then it's off to bed forall little warriors." Clarke says as she heads for the hut Linus had built for her. Linus' loyalty to her and Lenox confounded her every day, but it made sense to her every second. He is more than Clarke's friend, he is her protector, her mentor...Clarke often entertained the thought that her father's spirit helped guide Linus to her. Every day she is thankful for however their friendship came about.
Even though Clarke wanted to, she couldn't stay at Arkadia any longer. She's been away from Police for a week, having left immediately after keeping her word to train Meino for a week. Tradition holds that there must be an ambassador for the Skaikru in Polis, and that person is Clarke. So she said her goodbyes and left with promises of trips to Polis and coming back to Arkadia soon.
The trek back to Polis had been quick, and Clarke wasn't ashamed to say that when they arrived she was relieved to be back in the capital. After settling back into her room, she quickly released Lenox to go find Meino, under the watchful eyes of Lincoln and Octavia of course. Then, Clarke was left to her own devices. She could have joined her son, she could have joined Nyko in the healing tent, but Clarke found herself in Lexa's library instead.
She tucks herself into an old, comfy chair by the windows, sketchbook resting upon her knees and charcoal staining her fingers as she drew the city from above. It's been so long since Clarke could just lose herself and she does lose herself, with the knowledge that Lenox is safe and there is peace; she loses herself.
This is how Lexa finds her, tucked away in a corner and blissfully unaware that Lexa is watching her. Lexa had known Clarke was back the instant Clarke's horse had stepped inside the gate, but Lexa did not rush to meet her. Of course Lexa could have rushed to meet Clarke, but practiced restraint. She believed that she had been bold enough in her intentions toward Clarke the week before she left, and Lexa wasn't sure if she had actually been too bold or too honest, but she wouldn't allow herself to regret her actions.
Instead, Lexa had made her way to where she knew Lenox would be. He was her ally in all things Clarke related, and Lexa was beyond humble by Clarke's allowance of her presence in Lenox's life, even as limited as it was. Lexa was allowed to speak with him, entertain him with his play fights and even instruct him on his training, but only as a Heda would. Clarke tolerated Lexa's influence in Lenox's life because she was his Heda, and it made Lexa proud to be Heda in the young warrior's eyes. Lexa knew that Clarke did not have to allow this.
So she went to the field where the goufas played. Sure enough, Lenox was there at Meino's side, the seven year old boy as enamored with Clarke's son as Lenox was with him. Lexa hung back, watching as Octavia and Lincoln watched, though Lexa did not sit upon the logs as they did. She waited until Lenox noticed her presence, and when he noticed, he did so with exuberance.
"Heda! Heda!" He screamed, dropping his wooden sword in favor of rushing toward Lexa.
"Heya ai strik lukot." Hello my little friend. Lexa greets as he halts in front of her, beaming as she gives him a small smile.
"Heya, Leksa." Hello Lexa. He stands tall and still, waiting. Lexa stands taller over him in a standoff on who is going to be the first to break the pretense. Lenox is the one to break it as he stretches his arms out to Lexa. "Up, beja?" Please. And she bends, her hands lifting him gently until he's situated, his arms around her neck, legs wrapped about her waist and Lexa supports him with an arm snug about his back and a hand upon his leg.
"Polis has missed its best warrior." Lexa indulges him, the smile he bestows upon her is worth it.
"I missed Polis, too," He says in a pleased, soft tone. Lexa briefly looks away to take in Octavia's reluctant acceptance and Lincoln's composed attitude. Lenox refocuses her attention back to him as he leans in close to deliver her a secret. "Nomon and I missed you too, Heda." When he leans back, he does so with a conspiring smile and Lexa can only shake her head and let loose a small laugh.
She puts him down, and though she wishes to place a kiss to the crown of his head when he kisses her cheek sweetly, she doesn't. "Go on, your friends are waiting." She pats his head and sends him off. She left them there and found her way to Clarke in the library.
So she stands here, just inside the doorway and watches Clarke. She allows herself to indulge in the way the sunlight sets fire to Clarke's golden waves and she lets herself fall into the glittering blue pools and the endearing furrow of Clarke's eyebrows and the tiny peek of Clarke's tongue as she concentrates. "You're staring."
Lexa coughs with wide eyes at the sound of Clarke's voice. She hadn't realized that Clarke was aware of her presence, but how she missed the sound of Clarke's beautifully rich voice. She collects herself enough to walk further into the room. "Mounin houm, Klark." Welcome home, Clarke.
Clarke lifts her gaze from her book and gives Lexa the softest of smiles and it steals all of Lexa's breath. "Mochof, Leksa." Thank you, Lexa. Lexa smiles back shyly, elated with the openness in which Clarke is regarding her. "I assume you've already welcomed my son as well?" Lexa basks in Clarke's secret smile even though she blushes under Clarke knowing.
"Yes," she confesses to Clarke, "I hope that does not displease you."
Clarke laughs and it jumpstarts Lexa's heart. "It's fine Lexa, honestly. He loves the attention he gets from the Heda," Clarke tease her. "He thinks it marks him as special to you."
Lexa bobs as she swallows down her eagerness to keep the light atmosphere that has surrounded them, but she can't hold back her words. "He is special to me, Clarke."
Clarke stares at her for a moment and Lexa thinks that she has once again been too bold, but then Clarke speaks. "I know." Lexa lets out a heavy breath at Clarke quick acceptance. "Indra and my mom are getting along famously. Relations between Trikru and Skaikru grow stronger every day."
Lexa nods. "I am glad...Indra is a good friend to have in both wartimes and peace." Lexa smiles and Clarke laughs again. "I believe her smile is more frightening than her glare," Lexa jokes, and it makes Clarke laugh even louder.
"She claims I am oblivious to everything outside of politics. It's weird to see her joke with my mother...it's weird to see you joking too." Lexa is enraptured by the way Clarke slides a hand through her hair, careful of the few braids she has, that she almost misses the fond tone of Clarke's words. Almost.
Lexa rests her body carefully against the windowed wall, keeping her gaze on Polis and her emotions in check...but not closed off. "Polis has missed you." I have missed you. Lexa omits the truth.
She hears Clarke's sigh, but she doesn't turn to look, she will not push her luck, and oh how lucky she has been in these few precious moments. "I have missed Polis too." Lexa isn't sure what this is, but she thinks that maybe it can be a start, and maybe her previous boldness wasn't unfounded, and maybe she hadn't scared Clarke off with her intentions. Lexa believes that maybe, this can work.
