Chapter 10
Clarke woke up the next day a groan escaping her lips. Her mouth felt like a cat crawled in it and rolled around. She frowns at the pounding headache wondering why she drank so much. She had never drank that much. Clarke's eyes trail the room remembering she was in Polis. She was in Polis with Lexa. Clarke smiled slightly but the headache pained her again. She stands up before falling back down on the bed a bit dizzy. Crap what happened last night. Clarke wonders. She looks around her room wondering how she got in it. All she remembered was dancing with Lexa and drinking some rum after that it was a bit blurry. Lexa must've carried me back. Clarke stands one more and when she realized she could walk she did so. She sniffed herself and wrinkled her nose. She smelled like alcohol.
With that Clarke decided it was necessary to shower. So she did so and regretted it immediately. The shower droplets felt like someone was taking a hammer to her incessantly. Clarke groans leaning against the wall. She washes herself as quickly as possible before stepping out of the shower. She leaves the washroom and returns to the bedroom. She freezes when she sees a sandwich with water and a powder substance. There was also a note and undergarments next to it. Instead of going over to the food Clarke picks up the underwear and puts them on. The breast band fit her well enough but the short like underwear was a bit loose. Clarke goes to the closet next and picks out a simple shirt and pants before going to her bed.
Clarke picks up the note to see it was from Lexa. She reads it quickly before setting it down. As directed by the note Clarke pours the white powder into the water and twirls it before picking up the sandwich and eating it. Clarke finishes it quickly not realizing how hungry she was. When she was finally done she drank down the water with the pain relief powder inside. She lies in her bed waiting for it to take effect. When it does she stands up and opens her door. She freezes when she sees on the other side of the door were two people dressed in warrior garb from outside of Polis. Though there was something different about them than regular warriors. On their shoulder armor they had the Commander's insignia on it something that reminded Clarke of Gustus as he had one on as well.
"Good morning Clarke of the Sky People." The female guard on the left speaks while the male guard stays quiet. Clarke looks at the woman to see she had short brown hair and green eyes. She was tall and lanky not the muscular disposition most grounders had. As did the brown skin male on the other side of the doorway with black hair and brown eyes.
"Um morning?" Clarke responds unsure before continuing. "Were you the one to place that stuff on the bed."
"No we were not Eris did. We are not allowed in your room by orders of Heda." The woman responds easily.
"Where is Lexa?" Clarke asks. She needed to talk to her about last night. She had to know if she did something weird while she was drunk. She hoped she didn't say anything that would be too embarrassing. The two warriors share a look.
"Heda is in a meeting with her generals. She has since the sun broke the clouds."
"Her generals why?" Clarke asks immediately worried if things went bad between their people in that short of a time.
"Do not fear Clarke of the Sky People Lexa meets with her generals the morning after her return to be updated on things in the other clans. After that she meets with the council for updates on things happening within Polis." Clarke sighs in relief. "Heda has ordered us to be your guards and to follow you so you should choose to leave her house." Great she's given me guards again. Clarke thinks to herself slightly annoyed.
"I don't need guards." The woman looked at her amused.
"Heda did say you would say that but we've been ordered by Heda to accompany you." Clarke sighs knowing when to give in. That once Lexa decides something it's to be followed. She didn't want them to get in trouble.
"Fine what is your names? If I'm to have you as my company we might as well get on familiar terms."
"I am Sariah and he is Walter." Clarke looks at Walter and he nods to her stiffly. She noticed Walter had a vest of daggers on him and Sariah only had a sword on her. It was odd most grounders carried both.
"Well Sariah and Walter I wish to explore Polis mind coming with."
"It would be our honor Skai Prisa." Both of them bow their heads slightly making Clarke wonder if they were a bunch of stiffs like Ryder was. Well she'll soon find out.
…
Octavia swings her sword at Lincoln not holding back a bit. The two of them spar or rather to the people outside of the circle watching, which was mostly the rest of the one hundred and a few guards, they have made it looks like brawl. They fought each other with everything looking as if they would kill each other any second. Lincoln punches Octavia in the gut causing her to stumble backwards she readies herself before attacking again. She feints a swing with her sword only to send a kick to Lincoln's head making him stagger to the side. Octavia smirks at him before moving her sword to draw blood and end the spar. With one quick move Lincoln parries the sword swing forcing Octavia to lose her sword and he holds his own to her neck. Octavia frowns and gives in.
"You did well in that spar Octavia. You've gotten better." Lincoln admits to her.
"Thanks it's because of Indra's training." The thought of Indra caused Octavia to frown. Indra was rude, cynical and mean but Octavia could tell she was a good person. She was a good warrior and mentor to Octavia and she had enjoyed every second of being her second. Now that she wasn't anymore she felt that the home she had begun to create with the Trikru was gone and she no longer had a home. Of course she had Bellamy and Lincoln and the rest of the one hundred to help her. But Octavia knew that the ark could never be seen as a home to her. It could only be seen as a prison. Because on the ark that's all she was a prisoner. That's what everyone was the only difference between her and the rest of the Arkers is that she was in a cage most of her life.
"Octavia…" Lincoln began to comfort her but was cut off by Bellamy's approach.
"Octavia!" Bellamy bellows coming up to them. Lincoln and Octavia look at him.
"What Bell?" Octavia questions him as he stomps towards them obvious anger in his eyes. "Let me guess they still won't allow you to search for Clarke." Bellamy nods. Octavia rolls her eyes.
"Don't see why you want to look for her. She abandoned us." Octavia tells him. She abandoned you. She thinks the last part. She knew Bellamy was worried for Clarke for a different reason than the most of them. It took her a while to realize that it was because somehow the former co-leaders of the one hundred had made a bond between the two of them. Bellamy was taking Clarke's departure harder than most. Octavia was still trying to figure out whether Bellamy was in love with her or just loved her.
"She didn't abandon us she just needs time to think." Bellamy responds vehemently.
"Come on Bellamy she saved us and left us." Nathan frowns joining the conversation. He didn't hate Clarke but he knew when it was time to recognize the facts for what they were. Clarke wasn't coming back and even if she did she wouldn't be the Clarke that he knew that any of the other members of what's left of the one hundred knew. Or rather she already had changed before she left. The Clarke I knew could have never pulled that lever. Nathan thinks to himself before staring at the rest of the delinquents. There were only forty six of the one hundred left including Clarke and Bellamy. Bellamy was there leader always was along with Clarke. Now it was just Bellamy and every delinquent felt the departure of Clarke close to home. All of them felt guilty at not listening to Clarke and getting out. Now some of them are dead and Clarke was gone who knows where. Some of them could only think it was what they deserved.
"Man this sucks." Monroe groans from her spot on the ground. What she said was what every one of them was thinking. Bellamy sits down among his crowd along with Octavia and Lincoln. Octavia leaned up against Lincoln. Despite what had happened between their people previously the delinquents had welcomed Lincoln among them easily. The rest of the grounders were still something they were sore about. They were all shocked when Bellamy had told them that Clarke had formed an alliance with them to get them out. A lot of good it did them though when their Commander ended up betraying the alliance.
"Bell when are we leaving for Polis?" Octavia asks him.
"We what makes you think you're going?" Bellamy responds quickly. Octavia just raises her eyebrows her entire demeanor defiance.
"Yeah when are we going?" Nathan asks.
"You're not going either." Bellamy pinches the bridge of his nose.
"Relax Bell." Raven states from behind them coming over to them limping slightly. Raven takes aa seat among her crew. "But he is right only me, Bell and Abby are going along with a few guards. You're needed here."
"We aren't." Monroe responds and the rest of the delinquents nod in agreement. "We're not allowed to do anything but chores here that anyone can do. We can't hunt or rather we barely go out to hunt the only one of us allowed to all the time are Octavia and Lincoln pretty much. Honestly this sucks. The adults are moving around as if we're still on the ark everyone is trying to do the same jobs they had there. The only ones partially respected are you guys and Monty." Monroe motions to them. "They don't want our advice. They still haven't realized that staying as we are now won't get them anywhere. We've adapted they haven't." Monroe motions to the adults going through the same routine daily.
"Marcus has." Raven states. The rest of the delinquents shrugged none of them wanted to admit that the guy had changed significantly since everything went down. They were still used to the Kane that was no mercy not the new one with the since of faith in all human beings and kindness as well.
"Whatever what I'm trying to say is that we need to get out. We're not allowed outside these walls. We're pretty much trapped. The only ones allowed weapons are Nathan, Bellamy, Octavia and Lincoln. I mean yeah occasionally I'm on guard at the gate but unless I train to be a guard I'm not given a weapon." Monroe continues to complain. "It's like after everything we've done we're still treated like shit. You have it good because you proved yourself on the Mountain." Monroe glares at the ground along with the majority of the rest of the grounders.
"She's right you know." Monty states from where he was sitting quietly next to Harper. Despite having the most marrow harvested from her Harper was doing okay even though it's been a bit trying and she's been tired than usual. Bellamy looked to Monty before sighing.
"Okay Raven and I will see what we can do. But a good many of you will have to stay behind. And doubt some of you will want be around Jasper." At Bellamy's words the circle they made went silent. Jasper was like the elephant in the room or in this case the camp. He had changed and none of the delinquents liked the change. He had become an asshole after Maya's death. He treated them like crap and he was worse to Monty who was his former best friend and couldn't even recognize the person he had become. Monty in the mountain at least could recognize Clarke. She was still the same selfless person who would do anything to save her friends even at the cost of her own soul and sanity.
"I'm not needed here there are more than enough engineers that are on the radio project. We've fixed everything that could be fixed. So if I'm going." Monty tells them. Bellamy frowns.
"No you're needed here Monty more than the rest of us." Bellamy tells him. Plus I don't want you to be Jasper's target to the trip to Polis. He thinks to himself. Monty sighs. "Plus who's going to look after these guys while I'm gone."
"Hey!" Some delinquents indignantly and jokingly yell knowing full well they would've already started to rebel by now against the authorities. Some of them were already in lockup for some very poorly chosen pranks that destroyed some machinery that did something important that none of them knew what but it pissed the adults off so it was good.
"Fine you make a good enough argument." Monty sighs jokingly causing a few of them punch him lightly. "Hey I bruise easily!" Harper laughs kissing his cheek.
"You'll be fine." Monty beams and wraps his arm around her carefully. The two of them were in a relationship of sorts both of them trying to see where there feelings would leave them.
"So if they do come who will come with us?" Raven asks. "We already know Octavia and Lincoln are coming so yeah. At the most we can bring ten to fifteen of our own people. From the way things are going most of them will be guards which is a bad idea."
"True the Trikru will see them as a threat and it will inhibit us becoming a part of the coalition." Octavia points out. She didn't like the idea of joining the coalition and becoming a part of the Commander's coalition.
"Yes the Commander will see them as a threat. Not to mention you won't be able to bring your weapons inside Polis." Lincoln tells them.
"Wait I haven't heard of this." Bellamy looks at him along with the rest of the delinquents. Lincoln shakes his head.
"We don't use your guns." Lincoln explains. "Guns are not allowed in Polis. You may take one of your spears, swords and knives but guns are not allowed." Lincoln tells him.
"The Mountain is dead why are you guys still against guns you don't have to worry about them sending a missile down anymore for picking one up." Octavia sighs at Bellamy not understanding.
"It is not our way." Octavia tries to explain.
"O it is our way." Octavia frowned and shakes her head.
"I'm more Trikru than Skaikru Bellamy you know this."
"Fine though this changes a lot. I need to go start another council meeting if we can get some of you guys to come we'll see who comes." Bellamy stands and Raven does the same. He sighs knowing this would be a long day.
…
Clarke walks to the blacksmith's stall and watches him work. This was the first time she saw one work. She was a bit amazed by the process. It seemed very strenuous yet delicate at the same time. Her eyes wandered over to his display of weaponry he had up as well as tools. Clarke noticed that some of the sword designs were a lot different from the sword that Clarke remembers Lexa having on her back. Some were curved and others huge like it'd take a beast to swing them. "Are you enjoying yourself?" Clarke jumps and turns to see Lexa standing there with an amused look on her face. Clarke glares at her.
"You surprised me."
"I noticed Clarke." Lexa responds her tone smug. "So are you?" Lexa asks. Clarke nods her head.
"I've been wandering around all day through this place and it made me think on a lot of stuff. I'm also realized something as I talked to Sariah and Walter." At mentioning their names Clarke unconsciously looked for them to see that they were standing a good distance back. Close enough if there was a problem and they could react but far enough away that they would not intrude on the conversation. Clarke also noticed Alec was standing beside them in the same uniform though unlike the others he had no visible weapon it made her wonder what his were. She was surprised that he was a guard. No wonder he was so familiar with Lexa. Not to mention the fact that the others were friendlier than the other guards Lexa assigned her. Clarke thinks to herself wondering if Clarke sent those guards to make her feel more relaxed.
"And what is it that you realized Clarke?" Lexa asks genuine curiosity in her tone. Clarke moved away from the blacksmith and some of the other people of Polis who were looking at them.
"I realized how much I enjoy Polis and how much of your culture that I don't want to miss out on." Clarke admits. There was also that other matter that she thought about when she passed by the training grounds. She wants to learn how to fight like a Trikru warrior. "I want to learn more than the way of the warrior I want to become one." Clarke felt that it was necessary. To do so. She wanted to change herself. At the moment the only thing keeping her from breaking was Lexa and she didn't like the thought of relying solely on her. "Do you think that's a bad idea?" Clarke asks her looking into her eyes. She watched as Lexa's eyes soften as she smiles.
"No I'd be honored to be your teacher."
"So what will I be your second now?" Lexa shakes her head.
"I'm not allowed a second the Heda must not show favoritism but I can teach you unofficially." Lexa tells her.
"Thank You Lexa." Clarke hugs her. Lexa returns it hesitantly. She didn't want to be looked down as weak by her people but she didn't want to hurt Clarke's feelings any more than she already has so she allowed the hug and returned it. "So when do we start?"
"Tomorrow before dawn."
"Oh." Clarke's eyes widen. Lexa smirks at her. "Fine I can do it." Clarke tells her. Lexa nods her head.
"Good." Feeling like it was as good as time as any Clarke asks her the other question that's been on her mind all day long.
"Also what happened last night before I forget I can't remember much of what happened after I drank that rum?"
"Well you tried to fight me for some rum. You also attached yourself to me before fainting. I carried you home and laid you in bed. You had a nightmare and when I came to see what was wrong with you, you asked me to stay with you." Clarke blushes brightly.
"God that's embarrassing. Why'd you let me keep drinking Lex?" Clarke asks. Lexa raises her eyebrow at the shortened version of her name but says nothing noting that Clarke didn't notice it.
"You are stubborn about the strangest things Clarke." Clarke groans wondering how she'd live down embarrassing herself in front of Lexa.