Day 162
Six days. They had been waiting for this audience for six days and finally, they were going to meet with Luna. Finally they would be able to ask for help. Finally Clarke would be safe, Lincoln cured and Octavia would take some rest. Or at least that's what Lexa hopped for.
"We have requested an audience with Luna from the boat people"
Lexa said to the guard at the gate of Luna's audience room. The guard, a man, was tall and muscular, Intimidating. So intimidating that Octavia was impressed (well more like petrified but she would never acknowledge it). Scars and war paint were covering his face and little bones piercing his ears. No wonder he was an important leader's guard…
"Can I see your pass ?"
Lexa took the piece of paper with Luna's seal on it and showed it to the man. He just nodded and yelled an order to the doormen in a language that Octavia didn't recognized.
"You are allowed to enter."
Lexa bowed and the others mimicked her. Behind the massive door, another door, a little smaller than the first one. The guard closed the first door, leaving them alone in the small, dark room.
"Why are we waiting here ? Between two doors ?" Octavia whispered in Lexa's ear.
"It is a security measure. In this room you can't fit an army. Right now they're watching us, evaluating the danger we might represent"
As if whoever might be analysing them had heard Lexa, the second door opened. And behind it ? Another smaller door.
Octavia sighed "And for how long are we going to pass doors like that ?"
"There is just another one left after this one and we will be allowed to enter"
"What the point in so many doors ?"
Lexa turned to look at Clarke "Someone planning an attack or any kind of threat is usually stressed by this situation. Because they are being watched while waiting in a room where they are alone. When someone is tense their body language changes. That is this whole process' goal. As I said, Luna's people are not warriors, security here is based on tricks."
"Damn that's fucking genius"
Clarke frowned and slapped the back of the brunette's head "Octavia, hold your tongue. You don't want your daughter to talk like that, do you ?"
Octavia rolled her eyes "Yes mom"
Lincoln and Lexa exchanged an amused look : at least those two seemed like they wouldn't change. Well, seemed to, at least because Lexa knew Clarke and Octavia were boiling inside like any other human being would. Then the third door opened and as Lexa had said, they were facing a fourth door.
Octavia recognized the trick was ingenious but she was starting to be bored "If they are doing that for every single person that want an audience, no wonder we had to wait for almost a week…"
"They are taking precautions because we are strangers. Normal citizens are checked at the first door and can enter directly"
Finally the door opened on a sinuous, tight, dark corridor and Lexa adjusted her mask.
Octavia sighed, her shoulders dropping so much Lexa wondered how Selina managed to sleep so well on her back "What now !?"
"This corridor is barely large enough for two people to walk side by side but not more. It is to prevent any fight to happen in here"
After five long minutes of walking, the tunnel finally opened to a large, bright room. All had to blink and hide their eyes, now used to the dark.
"Let me guess, the whole thing is MADE to dazzle us so that we don't just charge into the room right ?"
"Good deduction young woman." Octavia's heart jumped at the sound of the sultry voice. Her eyes still barely adapted to the light trailed the long red carpet under her feet to the throne heightened by three steps and the woman sitting on it. Luna seemed to be around 40 years old, her hair was blonde, so light they appeared white. Her clothes were a dark blue and she had what the brunette identified as a magpie calmly rested on her shoulder. Octavia threw a rapid look at Clarke, apparently as dazed as herself by the woman.
"Please strangers, approach"
Lexa took the lead, her footsteps hurried. She tried to close the distance as fast as she could without alarming the guards. The others followed and came to a stop when they saw Lexa fall on one knee, head bowed a few feet in front of the bottom of the staircase.
Octavia saw the leader raise an eyebrow in surprise. When she stood, the brunette realised for the second time how much Luna inspired respect. The insurance and strength emanating from her were stunning. Lincoln too fell on one knee, then Clarke and Octavia followed.
"Raise your head woman and tell me your name." said Luna, walking down the steps, stopping only a feet or two before Lexa.
The commander slowly raised her head, lowering her mask.
Luna's eyes widened when their gazes locked. Lexa frowned and shook her head as discretely as possible.
The woman's mask came back in place in a second. She put her magpie on the perch near her throne before turning to Lexa again "Stand. All of you. Follow me." All obeyed and walked fast in the direction of a small decorated wooden door in a corner of the room. Then the woman gesticulated some kind of unspoken message to the guard at the door. He nodded and they entered what looked like a small bedroom. As soon as the door was closed, Lexa's face was covered with white hair "Lexa ! Lexa you're alive !"
Lexa smiled, hugging the woman back "It has been a while Luna"
Lincoln of course wasn't surprised but Clarke and Octavia were standing incredulously, looking at the surreal scene in front of them. Maybe personality shifting was a grounder thing…
Luna pulled back and cupped Lexa's cheeks, her almost yellow watering eyes boring into green ones. "It's really you… Gods you're so big now… Look at you !" The woman motioned to Lexa's whole body with her head before focusing her gaze on the brunette's face again "When was the last time ? Ten years ?"
Lexa chuckled "It is just five years Luna"
The woman's hands dropped "Already five years…" She hugged Lexa one last time before saying "I can see the scars on your face and void a in your eyes, please tell me what happened child. Why is Nia on your throne while you are still fortunately alive ?"
This time Lexa was the one to pull back. She cleared her throat "Don't you want to greet Lincoln first ?"
"Lincoln ?" The woman turned with a frown "Lincoln…" her eyes and smile widened in realisation. She walked to the man standing arms crossed and eyebrow raised "How are you so tall ! I didn't recognized you ! Come here !" she opened her arms and the man had to bent down to hug her. Octavia had rarely seen her love being so affectionate with someone else than herself and it made her heart swell with sympathy for the woman. One of Selina's babble made Luna break the hug. "And who do we have here ?"
She turned to Octavia and the brunette's heart stopped in apprehension, not knowing what kind of treatment the woman reserved her. Lincoln was quick to join his partner and say "Luna this is my love and mother of my child, Octavia"
Once again Luna's eyes widened in shock "You mean… This adorable thing is YOUR child ? Didn't know your genes could give birth to such a lovely being. Are you sure you are the father ?" Lincoln rolled his eyes with a smile.
"Of course he is !" almost yelled Octavia, forcing the woman to tear her eyes from her daughter.
With a large smile Luna answered "Of course he is."
Octavia instantly calmed down. It was humour. A grounder woman had just made a joke. A joke herself could've done. A joke that was SO NOT grounder-like… The brunette turned to Lexa, in shock "Is she ALWAYS like that !?"
The woman laughed and Lexa answered with a smile and shrugged "She has been worse"
Then Luna momentarily regained her calm and seriousness. "Do not disrespect me young woman" then she added lightly "I know a few ways to punish you…"
No wonder Lexa was able to shift from one mask to another so quickly. The woman that had raised her was obviously a master at that game.
"And who might you be young bald girl ?" she asked to the slightly offended girl almost hiding behind Lexa.
Clarke's not so new shield answered for her "Let me introduce you to Clarke, ex-leader of the sky people" she said stepping aside.
Luna straightened her back and approached Clarke, her leader mask back in place. She bowed slightly "It is an honour to meet you Clarke. I am Luna, leader of the boat people." She then turned to Lexa, expression grave "Now I want explanations Lexa"
Luna sighed "I'm sorry Lexa but I can't help you"
"I thought so too" Lexa nodded in understanding.
"Why ? What are we going to do if you can't help us ?" Octavia asked, confused and worried.
"The las epidemic took away a huge part of my already limited army. I can't support you militarily I'm sorry"
Luna seemed defeated. Lexa knew she wanted to help them, knew that the woman would do all she could to help the trikru but this time it was just impossible.
"And my People ? The sky people ?" Clarke asked, voice tainted with worry despite her efforts to hide it.
"The queen keep them secluded in their metal structure. I don't know more than that"
"And they're not the only one, are they ?"
Luna looked at Lincoln and nodded "Nia knows my connection with Lexa. She knows I will always stay on her side so she reduced the exchanges I do with the main land. I can't sell the goods I receive from other towns. She is settling an embargo. She wants the other nations, dependant of those exchanges made with the main land, to submit to her"
Lexa stood abruptly, sending her chair to the ground, hammering her fist on the table. "I can't believe it… This woman is evil… Starving her people, and the other nation's just to establish some kind of dominance over as many people as possible… Unbelievable !"
Lexa's mind was elsewhere. It was with her people. Was with those she had tried to protect for so long, those suffering because of her weakness. She was so angry at herself for losing that day five month ago…
"Lexa calm down"
Lexa turned to look at the blonde now standing in front of her "Clarke I'm bound hand and foot while my people is oppressed by a woman I spared way too many times ! This is MY fault !"
And instant later Lexa had her hand on her stinging cheek, her eyes wide open in shock. Clarke had just slapped her. Clarke, her calm, soft Clarke had slapped her.
"Back on earth now ?" she crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.
Lexa nodded, still aback, and Luna failed to repress an amused snort. The brunette threw a look at her from the corner of her eyes before Clarke started talking again.
"It is nobody's fault and certainly not yours. We should be glad that the simple solution to this shitty situation is to kill her."
Lexa frowned. In what killing Nia was a simple task ? "What do you mean ?"
"Just think about it. Grounders recognize strength right ? If you kill the queen, you'll be recognized as the strongest and even the ice people might bow their head and do what you say right ?"
Of course Lexa had thought about this. Hundreds of times. And that's why she already knew what was to come.
"Clarke no."
"Lexa it's the best solution, and you know it…"
The brunette swallowed, the tension in her body increasing in sync with Clarke's growing determination.
"It is too dangerous Clarke. I cannot allow it"
Clarke yelled "Lexa we don't have a choice !"
"STOP !" Octavia had stood from the bed and walked angrily to the two fighting girls "Would it be THAT hard for you to stop using telepathy or eye language or whatever the hell that is, and talk in human words !? Please !?"
Selina started crying and Octavia turned back and took her in her arms to calm her.
Lexa walked to the wall and leaned her back on it. She released an awfully long breath "Clarke wants to approach the queen and kill only her"
"I see." Luna Just stated and Octavia growled.
"Damn what now ? Doesn't sound like a bad plan for me ? What's the problem ?"
Clarke looked at her shoes and Lexa explained "It would be a most likely suicidal infiltration mission only she can do"
Octavia frowned "Clarke she's saying bullshit right ?"
Averting her eyes the blonde answered "No she is right. Killing the queen is the best way to stop all of that. The thing is that if we kill her there is no guarantee the ice people won't try to avenge their queen."
Selina was crying harder and harder, the tension in the small room increasing with each word exchanged and baby cries.
It was Luna's turn to stand "This sounds like a good idea but we are not limited to you only. We could send someone else"
"ME ! Take me !"
Lincoln yelled "Octavia !"
"Lincoln is right O. You're a mother, I can't risk your life or Lincoln's"
Eyes watering Octavia tried again "Then Lexa ! Or anybody else ! Don't you have mercenaries or something ? Don't you have ANY other fucking person to do the job !?"
"We can't trust strangers Octavia. And Lexa is part of the plan. My goal would just be to infiltrate the ice queen's circle of trusted people. Then I find a way for Lexa to approach her, defy her, and win against her in front of her subjects."
"Clarke this is crazy…" Octavia shook her head still trying to calm Selina at the same time. "Lexa say something, please tell me she isn't right, that there is another way…"
Lexa thought. Her mind ran wild, searching for a way out, an exit, another option, anything she hadn't already thought about. In the end she stated "There is no other solution." Octavia had opened her mouth to talk but Lexa raised a hand to silence her. "For the moment. I can't think about another solution that is true. But give me some time and I will definitely find something else" She turned to Clarke "I will not put you in danger if I am not sure there is no other way."
Clarke was going to argue but a raspy cough cut her.
Everyone turned back and Octavia ran to her husband's feet, the cries of her daughter intensifying "Lincoln ! Clarke do something !"
The man was coughing and spitting an alarming amount of blood "Let me see !" Clarke's hands started undoing the man's shirt when strong bloody hands grabbed her wrists. Now the blonde was panicked, Selina's cries, a room full of tension and Lincoln's blood… It was too much "Don't you dare hide anything from me Lincoln ! Let me see !" The man's hands fell back on his lap and the blonde's trembling hands took a small knife out of her boot and cut his shirt open.
Bruises.
Purple and blue bruises everywhere on a far too white skin.
