So there's still a little bit of fluff here for you guys but things are starting to pick up a bit now. With the Ice Queen's arrival comes trouble!
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Anyway please enjoy!
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Octavia slipped off her jacket and smiled at the sight of Raven. She was curled up in the furs already asleep and the brunette took the moment to appreciate the sight in front of her.
Raven stirred as she slipped into bed and smiled up at her sleepily, "Hey… You're back late."
"Mmm…" Octavia lay down and smiled as a hand ran gently across her bicep, "It was a busy day. Lexa spent most of yesterday stressing over Aliyah's birthday… She made one of the warriors cry with how much she was yelling and they're supposed to be trained for the worst kinds of torture."
Raven snorted, "Figures… They could withstand torture and being shot but the commander reduces them to blubbering children. How come you were late tonight though?"
"I was on patrol. Nothing major but it just ran on for longer than I anticipated."
She rolled over to face her and found her wife smiling back at her. Octavia grinned and leant over to kiss her gently. Raven smiled back at her, "Finn and Sav were up to something today."
"Did anyone get arrested or hurt?"
Raven frowned, "No…" She said warily.
Octavia yawned as she rolled back over to bury her face in the furs, "Then I'm sure everything is fine."
"So as long as our children aren't arrested or causing damage you think that's good parenting?" Raven asked in amusement.
"Rae..." Octavia said without opening her eyes, "We fought three wars and came down from space. As long as they both make it to the age of eighteen I consider that good parenting."
Raven laughed and slipped an arm around her waist pulling them together, "We'll discuss this later. Go to sleep."
"Gladly."
XoXoXoX
Clarke yawned and glanced over at the brunette who was fast asleep in the furs next to her. It still amazed her how fast Lexa could fall asleep.
If she was being truthful she'd admit to being slightly anxious about the Ice Queen's arrival. Over the years she had sent generals to deal with any meetings the coalition had called and so because of that Clarke had never actually met the woman. After hearing so many tales of the war between he Trikru and the Ice Nation she had no desire to meet her; especially after Costia.
Clarke had been anxious after dealing with Jaha and A.L.I.E that peace wouldn't last and yet, despite a few raiders attacking, the peace had stayed. However she knew Lexa and she knew when Lexa was worried about something. She knew something was wrong. There had never been this many raider attacks at one time before and the arrival of Braelyn seemed to have rattled a few of the clan leaders. Clarke trusted Lexa to make the right decision for their children but if the Ice Queen arrived tomorrow and saw her daughter there was a chance it wouldn't go down particularly well. If the woman demanded Braelyn she wondered if Lexa would hand her over or not.
Maybe once she would have but now? Now Clarke wasn't so sure. Lexa seemed to have seen something in Braelyn that she could trust and Clarke wanted to feel the same but the Ice Nation had seemed such a distant place that she had accepted she would never meet them. Now here they were with the banished Princess in the same city with the Ice Queen on her way and more importantly Willow seemed to have taken a liking to her.
A muffled sound came from her side and Clarke laughed as Lexa rolled over to look at her, "Sorry… What was that?"
"I said," Lexa's voice was groggy from sleep and her eyes were barley open, "You're keeping me awake with your thoughts."
"How can you possibly hear me thoughts?"
"I know you and I know when you are overthinking," Lexa chuckled.
Clarke rolled her eyes as Lexa's finger ran gently down her arm, "I am not overthinking."
"What were you thinking about?"
"The Ice Nation," Clarke admitted quietly but Lexa's hand didn't stop its motion and she was glad for the calming touch, "And Braelyn… Do you trust her?"
"Octavia wants to take her on as a second. I have to respect that." Lexa whispered.
Clarke nodded and Lexa leant over to kiss her, "A second is sworn only to their first. As Octavia was to Indra, I was to Anya, Aliyah is to Echo and Braelyn will be to Octavia. Braelyn is banished from the Ice Nation so what she chooses to do now is up to her and we have to respect that as well."
"Braelyn and Willow are becoming close." She pointed out.
Lexa let out a sigh, "I know."
"Willow is only fifteen… Braelyn is Aliyah's age. I don't think I like this Lexa."
"Neither do I much but Willow is too much like you. If we tell her not to do something then she will do the complete opposite for the point of being stubborn. There may be a better way to handle this."
Clarke scoffed, "I am not stubborn." Lexa raised an eyebrow and the blonde rolled her eyes, "Okay maybe a little."
"We will watch Braelyn and Willow but I do think Braelyn's intentions are good. We will know more tomorrow once the Ice Queen arrives… How they act around one another would be a better indication."
"What do you know of her sister?"
Lexa let out a long sigh and Clarke wondered how long she had known about the sisters, "I know that the Ice Queen was pregnant with twins not long before you fell pregnant with Aliyah… I know that the father died when the girls turned five. Braelyn and her sister Dana were brought up in the middle of everything. I have tried my best to keep the girls away from any responsibilities like that but the Ice Queen was thorough and forced her children into the decisions she makes."
Clarke nodded in understanding as Lexa continued, "The Ice Queen had a brother. He believed she was too ruthless and tried to take the girls away from it but Dana enjoyed it… She enjoyed the ruthless nature of her mother and enjoyed watching her punish people. I know Braelyn was less keen when it came to punishment but she was focussed solely on her people. Dana is much more like their mother."
"What was their father like?"
"I do not know," Lexa wrapped an arm around Clarke as the blonde leant against her chest, "I know he was a warrior in their army that rose quickly to general. His death is…" She hesitated, "Clouded."
"How do you mean?"
"The official report on his death was a raider attack but I am not so sure."
Clarke raised her head so she could look Lexa in the eye, "You don't believe he died like that?"
"I believe there is more to it," Lexa corrected, "I do not believe the Ice Queen was completely honest."
Clarke nodded. She wanted to say more but the warmth of Lexa's body eased her mind and the next thing she knew Lexa's breathing was steadying out. As her wife drifted off Clarke couldn't help but succumb to her own sleep.
XoXoXoX
When Aliyah returned to their room Willow was sitting up on her bed with a slight smirk as she watched her sister sneak in. It was well into the day already but the commander was waiting for the ice queen to arrive so it was turning into a rather slow day for most. Still; Aliyah was late.
She pushed back the door and cringed when it closed with a soft fud. Willow watched her sister's attempt at being quiet with a raised eyebrow and a look of amusement across her face, "Good morning," She teased.
Aliyah spun on her heel and a blush crossed her features, "Oh, hi, I didn't realise you would be up."
"Oh I've been up for a while," Willow's face contorted into a smirk as she wiggled her eyebrows, "Did you have a good night? I'm going to guess that you had a good night."
"Yes…" Her blush deepened as she walked over to her furs and pulled out a change of clothes, "Where is everyone today?"
Willow sighed and leant back, "The Ice Queen is arriving later today for the meeting… Nomon is off preparing for that, Mother is trying to plan the hospital from here with Raven, Savannah and Finnick. Braelyn is training with Octavia, Benjy and Echo. That reminds me; Echo wants you down in the training ground."
Aliyah groaned as she pulled the shirt over her head and nodded to her sister, "Right. Of course she does. What are you doing today?"
"Packing," Willow shrugged, "We go home after the meeting."
A horn suddenly sounded causing Aliyah to freeze and Willow to look up from her bed. They shared a look and Aliyah's expression hardened, "The Ice Queen is here."
XoXoXoX
Lexa stood with the other clan leaders in the meeting hall as the Ice Queen stared back at her from across the table. Her daughter, Dana, stood to her left with a slight smirk on her face and her general stood to her right. The Queen wore white furs that covered her body but her black hair was cascading loose over her shoulders pulled back only but the black crown sitting gently over her brow. The resemblance between Dana and Braelyn was unnerving though the differences were slight. Braelyn had an air about her that commanded authority without demanding it and yet Dana seemed to be the opposite. She didn't appear to command natural authority and rather had to demand it from her people through violence; much like the Queen. However it seemed as though grey eyes were a family trait. The cold eyes of the general stared back at her blankly and Lexa had to fight back the snarl he always brought across her face.
Lexa merely raised her chin and forced back the anger the Ice Queen forced form her. This was the woman who killed many of her people, the woman who killed Costia… The woman who would no doubt do it all over again to Clarke and her children if she wanted to.
"Lexa," Her voice was cold and the commander couldn't help but bare her teeth at the obvious taunt.
"Izara," She nodded then turned to her daughter, "Dana."
The smirk didn't leave the Ice Princess' face and Lexa turned back to the Queen who was suddenly looking extremely bored with the proceedings, "What am I doing here Commander? You do not demand a Queen's presence." She snarled out the last part and Lexa wanted to smile at the knowledge she had aggravated the Queen.
"Raiders," Luna spoke, "Raiders have become increasingly frequent amongst the clans-"
"And you are insinuating that I have something to do with this?"
"Of course not," Luna frowned, "However we need to cover all basis and sicne you are the only leader not attending the meetings in Polis…"
"You have not kept to the coalition agreement!" The Commander from the East growled, "When it comes to helping the Ice Nation every clan jumps to help. Conveniently you are never able to do the same for another."
Lexa felt the tension return as the Queen's gaze hardened and she looked around the room at them all, "Is that how you all feel?"
"It is what we are dealing with," Juan growled.
Luna nodded, "You are selfish and refuse to be a part of this alliance."
The Queen pulled back and fixed her glare on Lexa, "I refuse to be a part of the alliance with people who have killed and caused the death of so many of our people. The Sky people should leave the alliance."
Lexa didn't react but she felt her heart beat speed up… So this is what she was planning. Make the coalition choose between separation or the sky people. Lexa would have no choice but to pull out as well if it came to that however what she knew, and what the Queen didn't, was that the sky people held more value in this alliance than any other clan. Juan let out a snort od disbelief and Luna actually laughed. Lexa knew she had won but this is not how she had wanted this to be dealt with. Honestly she had hoped to avoid separating from the Ice Nation as it was the easiest way to avoid war but if it was inevitable then Lexa would rather still have the coalition standing.
"That will not happen." Juan said.
Luna nodded, "The sky people have brought more to this alliance in the past few years than the Ice Nation has in their whole years signed in. If you are insisting on making us chose then we shall not back away from the sky people or the Trikru."
The other leaders nodded and Dana glanced at her mother who was masking her emotions rather well. Lexa could still see the tightening of her jaw and knew this battle was won.
She drew her blade and Lexa's hand tightened on her sword hilt but the Queen merely leant over to paper that had finalised the coalition. Izara looked down the list but when she got to the Ice Nation she brought the blade up and cut the name from the list. Lexa watched the Queen as she sheathed her knife again and looked up to meet the commander's eyes.
"We pull out from the Coalition of the twelve clans."
Lexa gave a nod and for a moment nobody said anything. The Ice Nation left the room first and Lexa followed behind closely trailed by Juan and Luna.
At the bottom of the steps a small crowd had gathered and Lexa wasn't surprised to see Clarke, Aliyah, Willow and the others in the front row. Clarke narrowed her eyes at the Queen as she walked down and lifted to meet Lexa's eyes as the brunette came to a stop beside her. Lexa just gave a single nod but Clarke seemed to understand her meaning. Any other time Clarke would have joined her in that meeting but Lexa didn't want to put her wife and the Ice Queen in the same room. Not after Costia.
The Queen stopped beside the family but her eyes weren't on Lexa they were on Braelyn. The raven haired girl was stood to Willow's left slightly shielding the girl with her body. Dana grinned at her sister but said nothing.
"Braelyn… I did not think you would be as bold as to see out the Trikru." The Queen said stiffly.
Braelyn's hard gaze didn't waver as she stared back, "Mother." She glanced at Dana, "Sister."
"I've missed you Sis," She teased and opened her mouth to say more but Izara shut her up with a hard look. Izara's eyes flickered over Willow for a moment but both Braelyn and Aliyah moved to block her view. For a moment she seemed shocked by the appearance of Aliyah but then her face was splitting into a grin as a laugh escaped her mouth and Izara turned back to Lexa.
"She looks just like you Commander," Her grey eyes followed Aliyah's hand which was linked with Savannah's. The other brunette was staring back defiantly but the grey bore into each of them with the same cold eyes, "Clarke."
The blonde raised an eyebrow, "Izara."
"I have heard so much about you. It's a shame that I have taken so long to meet you," She offered a smile that Clarke did not return, "You really are worth the trip."
Lexa bared her teeth no longer holding back the snarl she had so wished to make known during the meeting, "You have made your point quite clear Izara. You have the coalition so now you are no longer welcomed in Polis. Leave or I will be forced to remove you."
The Queen's eyes flashed and she stepped closer to the commander, "I will leave Lexa… Lovely family you have. It would be a shame if anything were to happen," Her eyes teased over Clarke, Aliyah and Willow, "Until we meet again… Commander."
She watched the Queen until her guards arrived to escort her from the city but the tension didn't ease form her body until Clarke's hand slipped into hers and squeezed. Lexa turned to meet Clarke's worried eyes and knew the threat will have affected all of them.
"Nomon-" Willow began but Lexa shook her head.
She turned back to the building and called to them over her shoulder, "Get ready to leave. We are going back to the Trkru."
Okay so here's an important note:
I have now fully planned everything out so I know what's going to happen from this point onwards however I go away again on Saturday and won't be back until the Saturday after that. I plan on updating this week including tomorrow but Thursday may be a no update day and I will try to update on Friday before I go. Point is I want you all to be aware that there may not be updates for a while after this week. :( Soz guys haha