Day two of the meeting of the clans was coming to a close, and they still hadn't spoken of the details of Kane's plan for taking Pike down, the ambassadors talked about Lexas legacy and honored her accomplishments. It was quite an eye opener for the Skaikru people, hearing the history of the commanders and of Polis. How their people had survived and rebuilt their society. There was something familiar about the story of Polis, but Kane couldn't quite put his finger on it. Tomorrow would be the third and final day of the meeting of the clans and also the conclave when the spirit of the commander would choose the next Heda, after that Kane wasn't sure when he would have another chance to bring up one last sensitive subject.
Titus stood next to the empty throne and was bringing the day to a close "Tomorrow when we will meet again the new commander will have been chosen. And the throne will no longer be empty and we will celebrate the new commander. Go, Eat, sleep and pray the spirit of the commander chooses wisely."
Titus started to step down as Kane took a deep breath and stood up "I would like to address one last piece of business before we adjourn"
The General from Floukru stood up "We will talk about Pike after the conclave, after the assention"
Kane looked at him "And I thank you for that, but that is not what I want to discuss…. It's about Clarke." Kane turned to speak to Titus "I would like to know exactly what happened to our ambassador. We only know what was told to Octavia and what she relayed to us. I would like to hear it from you Titus. Just to make sure we have been told the truth and so that I can reassure her mother, tell us what happened to Wanheda."
The General from the boat people sat down slowly, the ambassadors themselves had only been told the basics, not any actual details and they had discussed the situation among themselves. With Wanheda dead and at the hands of Titus, what they want to know ,is who has the power of the commander of death?
Titus stepped back up to stand next to the throne, looked around the room, took a breath and began "I had found out that the Skaikru boy …."
"Murphy?" Kane interrupted.
"I believe that was his name, he had been caught stealing, what he stole had the symbol of the commander on it. It is illegal to possess anything with the symbol of the Commander on it. He was arrested and was being questioned when Clarke found out, I wasn't there at the time, but I was told she waited until the guards had left him alone and she took him to her room. This is where Heda and I found them. The blockade was going into effect and Clarke was going to leave the city and take the boy with her. There was an argument between Heda and Clarke over the boy, normally anyone caught with the sacred symbol is put to death, but Heda was willing to simply let him be imprisoned for his crimes, but Clarke was fierce when it came to her people. She pulled out a weapon and said she was leaving and taking the boy with her, they were backing towards the door when a guard rushed in, the door hit Clarke and the gun…" Titus paused looking for the word "….went off…."
The rest of the story was much like it had been told to Octavia, Titus claimed that when Lexa was shot that one of the guards went for Clarke and that the boy got in the way and was killed and that Clarke turned the gun towards the guard and that Titus then killed her. Kane's face was devoid of expression, but his eyes held a deep sadness, he had hoped to take Abby better news than this. Miller and Harper were seasoned warriors and guards and did their best not to allow their emotions to show but even though they had known for almost a month it was hard for the small band of Arkadians to hear the details of Clarkes death. But as for now Kane had no reason to think that it was untrue. They had all seen the head on the wall as they entered the city, it certainly could had been Clarkes.
Kane nodded his thanks to Titus "I would like to know what has been done with their bodies we would like to take them home to rest among their people."
"I am afraid that is not possible," Titus said "we purify the dead by fire, Kane, you know this. Their bodies were burned right after they died."
Kane sighed in frustration but wasn't backing down "Alright, but I would like her…." Kane sighed and tried to remain calm but he was talking about the head of someone he cared about "… her head to be removed from the wall, we find it offensive that she should be so dishonored, she was not a criminal. From you have told us what happened was an accident, so remove her from the wall and let us take her home."
Titus paused, it has been a month since he placed the head on the wall and while time and nature have begun the process of decay, if they see it up close they will certainly know it is not Clarke.
Roan once again came to the defense of Skaikru "Let them take her home, tomorrow we will have a new commander let's start the new rein without the decay of the past literally hanging over us."
Titus thought for a moment "It will be done Kane kom Skaikru, you will have her head when you leave. Now let us adjourn." He would have to make sure they could tell it was not Clarke.
"Thank you." Kane said as the ambassadors and general began to leave the chamber.
Kane, Miller and Harper were escorted to the room they shared and when the door closed they began to relax a bit. Miller looked to Kane and raised his eyebrows and Kane smiled "Oh for God's sake, stand down Miller, you two have been on your feet for hours."
With that Harper fall on the bed and Miller dropped into a chair and said "Kane you know I like being in the guard, hell I was raised for it, but that, standing there, all fucking day, that's torture."
Kane chuckled as Harper sat up and kidded off her boots, took off her jacket and said "Well then sir if you don't mind I'm taking a hot bath and she headed to the bathroom, just as there was a knock on the door.
"That must be dinner." Kane said walking over to open the door "I'm starved."
Harper walked into the bath area and thought she could learn to like living in the city, there was food everywhere, and two days in the city and not a single grounder had tried to kill her, that's gotta be a record, she thought to herself. But the best thing was that every day, by the time they reached their rooms there was a tub filled with hot water. A luxury none of them had ever experienced even on the Ark. Kane and Miller were real gentlemen she thought to herself, they always let her go first, she smiled as she started to pull off her shirt, but stopped when she heard voices and two loud thumps coming from the other room, she paused for a moment and reached for the gun that was no longer across her shoulder "shit'' she muttered and she slowly and cautiously walked out to the main room.
….
Clarke got a mouth full of dirt as she hit the ground and felt a large rough hand cover her mouth and just as she was about to bite that hand and start kicking she looked at the boots in front of her face. … Tiny … they were tiny boots with fur around…Fuck! Octavia?!
Clarke tilted her head as Octavia bent down, "be quiet" she whispered as Lincoln let her go and helped her up. The three of them crouched down behind the trees and watched as Bellamy was drug through the back gate and into the city.
Clarke turned to face Octavia as they stood up. Octavia looked stunned "So you're not dead!" she whispered as she smiled and threw her arms around Clarke.
"No, I'm not" Clarke smiled as she released Octavia and turned to hug Lincoln. She turned back towards Octavia "I'm sorry I didn't come with you in Polis" she said. "Hell I'm so sorry for everything 'O' and I have a lot to tell you, but right now we have to get to Bellamy."
Octavia nodded "So I guess Murphy's not dead either."
Clarke's smile faded "I don't, know. He and I escaped Polis together, but Bellamy and I lost him to reapers in the tunnels earlier today."
Octavia looked at Clarke "He's survived everything the ground has thrown at him; don't give up on him yet. He keeps turning up, like a bad penny."
Lincoln frowned "…a bad penny."
Octavia shock her head and waved him off "It's an old Earth expression" She turned back to Clarke "Bellamy was going in and you weren't …. were you leaving again?"
Clarke understands Octavia's distrust, it's distrust that she herself has created, she sighs "We were going to meet up at one of the trading posts after the conclave. But now I don't know. If he can convince the guards to take him to Titus or to Kane, assuming he's alive, then he should be ok. But now I can't leave without knowing."
Octavia looked seriously at Clarke "Listen to me, I don't know what 'plan' this is or maybe it's all a game to you by now…." Her voice coming sharply and her breath ragged with anger "…. But you better not be playing with Bellamy again…" she got in Clarke face, all voice and hands flying "…. my brother has been hurt by you enough…."
Clarke brushed the hands out of her face and hollered back "Don't you think I know that…..I ..Hurt… everyone. Trust me I know…. I know!" Clarke sniffled "But I didn't ask for this, for any of this. None of us did. And it's easy for you…for everyone to sit back and judge me..… I am Wanheda… I am death; I know that better than you. I live with it! I sleep with it. I breathe it. And I know Bellamy's too good for me, that I don't deserve him." Clarke turned to look towards Polis, trying to gain control over her breathing and gritting her teeth to stop any tears from flowing. 'No way in hell I'll cry in front of Octavia' she thought to herself. She took a deep breath "Let's just make sure he's safe and then if you think it's best for him, well then I'll move on." She turned back to look Octavia in the eyes ….. "I'll stay dead."
Octavia's face softened a bit. Her temper was harsh but it never lasted. She had a short fuse with a big bang that usually left you relatively unscathed.
"Look Indra went into the city yesterday; she got word to us that Kane and the others are alive. She was going to sneak us in the back way. That's why we are here, we just have to wait for her signal and then we can go in and get him."
"No….no" Clarke said "You can't. Neither of you can go in there. The kill order is still in effect. You step a foot in there and you won't stand a chance."
"Then what about Bellamy?" Octavia asked.
"Well if what Indra says is true and Kane is alive then he'll be alright…"Clarke paused "…anyway He has a weapon, a bargaining chip."
"What weapon?" Lincoln asked.
"Me." Clarke sighed "I'll explain later. When Indra signals I'll go in….."
Lincoln interrupted her "You are just as much danger as being killed as we would be, maybe more."
"Yea….but I'm already dead, remember. If I'm caught they will take me directly to Titus… You stay here, if they need to get out quickly they will come this way and they'll need you."
No one argued with her or tried to talk her out of it, they both knew she was right. And so they waited, quietly and patiently each caught up in their own thoughts until night began to fall it was then they saw the signal from Indra.
"Look" Lincoln said pointing towards the gate where Bellamy had been taken. The gate was well lit with torches and fire pits on either side of the entrance and there was Indra standing just outside the gate. There were two guards, one standing at the entrance and the other was talking with Indra as she pointed towards the trio hiding among the trees, the guard nodded moving quickly but stealthily in their direction.
"What the hell's she doing?" Clarke exclaimed.
"Shhhh "Said Lincoln "She sending him to us, reducing the number of guards she has to take care of…look" he pointed towards the gate and they watched as Indra appeared to go back into the city but quickly turned and hit the guard, knocking him out.
"Keep an eye on Indra," He said to Clarke "she will signal when you can go down….we will take care of the other guard….Be safe" He patted her arm and took off down the rise leaving her and Octavia
"Listen Clarke, If my brother wants you then that's fine by me. He…. could do worse…and has" Octavia handed Clarke her rifle "You just keep each other safe ok" and with that Octavia was going in another direction from Lincoln hoping to flank the guard.
Clarke watches as Indra pulls the guards body into the shadows and then reappears at the gate and slowly waves her torch. The signal that it was safe and Clarke made her way to the Trikru General.
….….
He made his was down the corridor, taking care to be quiet. Just getting this far had been problematic and not without serious ricks, but after hearing Titus talking he knew he had to get them out, he wasn't sure where Clarke was by now, but he was fairly certain she wasn't here, at least Titus hadn't mentioned her…
"….bring them here. All of them." Titus was talking to his private guards just outside his Fleimkepa Chamber. "…. I will make sure they are taken care of. We cannot let Skaikru disrupt the conclave or the meeting of the Clans. Wait until after the meeting ….." Titus never mentioned Clarke or Wanheda. But he knew he had to get them out of the city, that's what she would do.
He saw the entrance to the room where Kane and the others were staying. He had followed the guards to the room and when they knocked he took his chance. Sword in hand he ran up behind them and stabbed one in the back as the door was opened, but he couldn't get the sword out of the dead guards back before being attacked by the other.
Kane opened the door to a guard struggling with someone and another one dead at his feet…. He peered around the guard who had his hands on his throat and choked out "For fucks sake help me!"
"Oh my God!" Kane exclaimed as he pulled the sword out of the guards back and used it to knock out the other one. Together they pulled the guards into the room, dropped them on the floor and closed the door "Holy Shit! What the hell are you doing here?" Miller shouted as Harper came running out of the bathroom. She stopped, dead in her tracks as her jaw dropped and she grabbed Millers arm and watched as Kane hugged an uncomfortable looking Murphy.
…
Ok … Ok….I KNOW! Trust me I know…But This time I mean it ON MORE CHAPTER! I have the epilogue all written and ready to go. So one more chapter….But see, I had to get Murphy back in ( can't live without him right!) And ….and..ya know… I mean I couldn't just leave 'O' and Lincoln with nothing to do. But the next chapter, well it will be a good one, it has reunions, and heartbreak, a sword fight ('cause sword fights make everything better) and a good dungeon scene (a great dungeon scene if I work at it) .. Thank you to everyone reading, reviewing, PM'ing…. Please let me know what you think.
You might be interested to know I couldn't wait any longer. I have watched up to s3 e11! Holy Crap! I'm not sure who's scarier Allie or Ontari …whose kidding its Allie, but Ontari is pretty close…. Geeze Murphy, practically raped (I don't think it was rape though, he never said No No No and he was flirting..but I digress) and then screwed over by Emori ( how did Jaha get to her?)
Poor 'O' and God OMG Poor Bellamy, can I just give him a hug or something….. And isn't Lindsey as Raven just on fire! She is amazing. And of course Lincoln….. (she sighs and wipes a tear) and Bell and Clarke ( she sighs and smile)... sorry to go on and on but no one I know watches this show… IKR? So I have only you to talk to…LOL
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