Chapter 7: "Don't Be Stupid"
As Clarke walked nearer to the East Forest boundary, Clarke felt a prickle up her spine. Something in her gut told her something was off. She was being closely watched.
She slowed down her steps and allowed herself to get closer to Lincoln and Potomac.
The warriors noted this, but said nothing. Their grip did tighten around their weapons, however.
"We're being watched," Clarke said in a low whisper, low enough for only the two of them to hear her.
They didn't say a word, but immediately jumped into action.
Lincoln began to take the lead; keeping watch on anything he could set his eyes on.
Potomac kept to the Queen's side and silently signaled the other warriors and soldiers to be on alert.
They drew closer to the boundary, but everything physically remained unchained. No movement in the trees, no new noises. Everything seemed too calm. But Clarke's instincts were warning her not to be deceived. They were going to be ambushed.
"It's going to happen outside the boundary." She said this more to herself than anyone else.
She did her best to stay calm; it would only freak out the warriors and soldiers if she let it be physically known that she was worried. She caught herself scanning the forest, not to seek the enemy, but in seek of her husband.
Was he somewhere near? Did he know she was being followed? Was he keeping a close eye on them or her?
Then, more paranoid thoughts surfaced: had he been caught? Killed? Dammit, why had she agreed to his stupid idea of going her? And why the hell had she made a demand of the East Forest Clan chief?
When she had mentioned to Chief Neola that she and Bellamy would send word as to when they should next meet, Clarke had intended to make it sound more like a question. However, she had been so bothered by Neola's attitude towards Bellamy that she hadn't been able to contain her anger. Had Clarke only added some honey into her tone, perhaps Neola wouldn't have felt disrespected in front of her people. Perhaps Neola wouldn't have felt the need to kill Clarke…because Clarke was sure that's what Neola intended on doing now.
Now, thanks to her lapse of control, she, her team, and Bellamy were in danger.
Once she and her people were outside the East Forest, she noticed the movement.
Both teams immediately gravitated to her side and raised their weapons to the warriors coming out of the woods.
Clarke noticed the warrior Shenan leading the pack of East Forest clan members towards her. She took a step forward and addressed her team.
"Don't fire," she ordered. She hoped Bellamy and the hidden team that was hidden in the woods was ok knew that she was addressing them as well, especially Bellamy.
The warriors and soldiers did as they were told, but all kept their weapons pointed to their foes.
Clarke took a few steps closer to Shenan. "What's the meaning of this? Chief Neola and I came to an agreement."
Shenan's face was set, giving no emotion. "She changed her mind."
Clarke shook her head. "That is a very bad idea. The entire East Forest Clan heard the agreement; you think my murder is going to go over their heads—just because you killed me outside of the boundary?" She felt herself get back in control and tried to use reason and logic.
By now, Clarke found it apparent the East Forest Clan hadn't come to know Bellamy and his team were nearby; otherwise, they would have brought him out to her. The East Forest Clan would have used the fact that Bellamy and Clarke lied to Chief Neola. The East Forest Clan chief would have been justified to have Clarke killed had they found Bellamy.
No, Bellamy was safe. And watching her. Clarke was sure of it. He was being smart at the moment, holding back and trusting Clarke had the situation handled.
Clarke went back to focusing on Shenan.
Shenan didn't answer Clarke's rhetorical question.
Clarke shook her head and tried to reason with the man in front of her. She had heard of him from plenty of grounders in the forest. Shenan had been a confidant of Chief Boone, the previous leader of the East Forest Clan before his people turned on him and elected Neola their new leader.
"Shenan, you were in disagreement with Chief Boone's ways. He, too, broke treaties and promises—that's why the people turned on him. They couldn't trust him. Do this—kill me and my people—and nights from now, you'll be in the same place you were just a moon ago." Clarke didn't blink as she stared intently at Shenan. She needed him to see reason.
A flicker of an emotion Clarke couldn't pinpoint flashed in his eyes. "With all due respect, Queen Clarke, you do not know a thing about me," he said as he raised his arrow at her.
Every member of her team turned to Shenan, ready to kill him and wouldn't wait for Clarke to order them to.
Clarke needed to change this man's mind, quick. "But I do," Clarke said confidently. "I know a lot about you, Shenan. I know you were part of the movement against Boone. You knew he was leading you down a path of destruction. It was only a matter of time before the West Forest Clan and the Cavers grew tired of him and destroyed your people. You, with a handful of others planned the death of Chief Boone."
His hands shook as he kept his arrow pointed at her. "You have spies within my people?" he demanded, sounding angry and betrayed.
Clarke shook her head. "No. Allies, not spies. I promise you. They reported to me and King Bellamy the worries they had about Boone. That is all. They have all spoken highly of you."
This was true. Clarke and Bellamy had half a dozen allies in the East Forest Clan who all agreed there was no one their people trusted more than Shenan. After the civil war, the people of the East Forest had actually hoped Shenan would have been voted the chief, but he had declined. The people's next choice had been Neola. But the people had their doubts about her. She sometimes was too proud and emotional and made impetuous decisions—like now: having Clarke killed for disrespecting her in front of her people.
Shenan still hadn't shot the arrow, which was a good sign. Clarke needed to press on. "That is why you haven't yet shot that arrow at me, Shenan. It is because you know it would be the biggest mistake your people could make. Shoot me, and you have sealed the annihilation of your people. King Bellamy would know who killed me and my team by sundown. It wouldn't take long for him to gather all of our warriors and come marching straight into East Forest and destroy everyone in sight. The West Forest Clan and Cavers would back him up. Even the Moomaws would join him without being asked. We've held a tight alliance with them for a very long time."
There was hesitation in Shenan now that she mentioned the second most powerful clan in the forests. It was no secret that the East Forest Clan feared the Moomaws more than anyone else. On more than one occasion, the Moomaws had come close to killing the entire population of the East Forest.
Clarke could practically hear Shenan weighing his options. Either disobey his leader and allow Clarke to live (which would mean he would be killed immediately by Neola for disobeying a direct order) or he could kill Clarke and sign off the lives of his people.
Another moment passed until Shenan finally moved. He had made his decision, and Clarke knew what it was. She waited.
Swiftly and quickly, he moved his bow and arrow a couple of centimeters to Clarke's right and fired.
Clarke didn't even blink. She knew that was coming. Behind her, she could hear one of the East Forest Clan warriors drop to the floor in a matter of seconds, dead. Her eyes remained on Shenan.
Shenan finally lowered his weapon. "He was much too close to Neola—too loyal," he said with a heavy heart.
Clarke nodded. She understood. Shenan had just killed one of his own people for the greater good of his village. She knew how difficult this was for him. Knew from first hand experience.
"I pledge my allegiance to you, Queen Clarke, and to King Bellamy." Shenan gave her a most respectful bow.
She bowed back.
The rest of the warriors seemed surprised by Shenan's kill, but said nothing.
Shenan ordered his fellow warriors to wrap the body of their fellow warrior and ordered them to retreat back to their home. He turned one last time to Clarke. His heart was broken by the cruel act he had just committed, but he also did not seem to have regretted it.
Clarke simply nodded to him.
She turned back to her warriors and soldiers when Shenan and his men were out of sight. She began to lead the way back home.
They all followed faithfully.
~t~t~t~t~t~t~t~
"That was close," Miller breathed out as he finally lowered his weapon.
Seneca and Warren nodded as they too lowered their weapons.
"That was Tyro who Shenan killed—very loyal to Neola. Shenan had good reason to kill him. If he hadn't Tyro would have killed Clarke himself. And without the say-so by Shenan," said Seneca to her team.
"What's going to be of Shenan now?" asked Warren.
Seneca thought. "Kill the chief. Clarke is right: Neola will bring an end to her people. And will make many enemies with the surrounding villages. Shenan has to lead. As much as he might not want to, he has no choice."
They were quiet for a moment as they all played out in their heads how Shenan was going to kill his leader. It would be the second leader one in a little over a month he had killed. But he would still be followed. His people would still want and trust him.
Finally, Warren snapped them out of it, "We should follow."
Seneca followed Warren's lead.
But as they walked away, Miller and Bellamy stayed back. Bellamy wasn't done with the task at hand. They weren't out of the woods, yet.
Miller turned to Bellamy, who still hadn't lowered his riffle. His focus was still on Shenan, following the grounder move deeper into the East Forest.
Once Warren and Seneca were out of sight, Miller was able to speak to Bellamy in private. "I think we should follow Clarke now, man."
"Not until I know this dick isn't going to come back for her," Bellamy's voice contained a dose of venom.
This tended to happen when someone raised his or her weapon on his queen.
Miller didn't say another word. He patiently waited for a few minutes, allowing Bellamy to follow Shenan in silence.
Miller had come to finally learn that whenever Clarke's life was seriously threatened in the presence of Bellamy, it was best to allow the King some distance and silence to calm down. Nothing threw the leader off more.
Finally, after a few minutes of Shenan disappearing from his sight, Bellamy lowered his weapon. Without speaking to Miller, he walked towards Clarke and the teams.
It had taken a great deal to not pull that trigger. He really wanted to do it the grounder the moment the arrow had been lifted at Clarke's direction, but he had kept his cool.
He could clearly hear Clarke warn him not to pull the trigger; it would have been a horrible idea. Acting on impulse had never been the best thing to do.
So, he had taken a deep breath. And waited.
And thank the gods he had waited.
Clarke was self-sufficient. She knew how to wiggle her way out of any situation. She had managed to convince Shenan to spare her life and her teams'. And in turn, spared his own. Bellamy would not have wasted a second in shooting Shenan had Shenan shot Clarke instead one of his own men.
It was a good thing Bellamy had seen Shenan's quick movement. It had happened so quickly, that if he had blinked, he would have missed it….
As Bellamy walked, he tried to not think of the fact that he had been close (yet again) to losing her. So damn fucking close…..
Gods, he couldn't wait to get home.
DATE: 12/21/15
NOTE: Epilogue will be posted on Sunday. It's short and sweet with cute fluff.
