The entire camp had been on edge ever since the group had returned and delivered the news of the Commander's threat. Everybody was restless, not knowing what their fate would be.
Aerrow had kept to himself. He deliberately distanced himself from the others and stayed very quiet, not wanting anyone to discover the real reason behind their predicament. Clarke might have forgiven him for his massacres, but only because of her incredible ability to empathise and her intricate understanding of how he felt about Sara, especially now that she knew the truth about them. He doubted anyone else would be so considerate.
He passed the time by sleeping in the little shelter he'd constructed for himself out of scrap metal. It was located behind the main station where people rarely went, giving him the solitude he so desperately desired at that point in time. He had spent several evenings just staring out at the landscape, with Cleo fast asleep on his lap, watching the sun go down. He was taking it easy in order to give his bullet wound the best chance to heal as quickly as possible. His recovery was going well, he had regained full range of movement in his torso and all that really lingered was a dull ache in his stomach. His mental wounds, however, were taking far longer to heal.
He still wasn't sure exactly how sincere Clarke had been in forgiving him, and the moment he went to kiss her still played heavily on his mind. He was sure that after everything that happened, she had little or no interest in getting back together with him, and he knew she had every reason to feel that way, and as such he had tried to avoid her ever since, at least until both of them could figure out how they felt. What being stuck in the cave had given him though was a sense of closure. He now knew that Clarke understood the grief he had gone through and his motives for slaughtering the grounders and the guards, and as such his mind was working much more clearly now that the burden of Clarke's anger had been lifted from his shoulders. What remained was his own heavy, lingering anger.
It was the one thing he hadn't been able to shake, and the grounder's threat had only solidified those underlying emotions. After everything, he still hated them for what they did to Sara. What Clarke had realised was the truth, he was unable to love her because he was unwilling to let go of Sara's memory. He was still in love with her, even though she was dead.
He stared intensely at his swords which were propped up on the side of the wall of his shelter. The shiny coandite metal glittered in the sunlight. He wondered if, in not very long at all, they would be stained in blood once more. He had fought the grounders once before, that time to protect the 100's camp. This time it wold be for no reason other than for himself, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to do that, given how much of his soul it had cost him last time.
People milled around the door to the station, anxious to hear an announcement from their Chancellor. On the second day since hearing the news, a mere 16 hours before their deadline was up, one of the guards opened the door and Abby - joined by Thelonius - walked out.
The two stood above the crowd – among them Clarke and Aerrow – who had quickly gathered around, awaiting to hear the outcome of their future.
"By now you've all heard the rumour, and unfortunately it's true. The grounders are coming" Abby began. She was a little hesitant but made sure to project her voice strongly and confidently.
The crowd started whispering as fear and panic started to take hold.
"We have a difficult decision to make" Abby continued, silencing the whispers. "Thankfully, Chancellor Jaha has found his way back to us, and we're discussing all options".
"But to be safe, we need to pack, now" Thelonius spoke up, "Whatever you can carry, we may need to leave at a moment's notice".
"Where would we go?" someone in the crowd asked.
Aerrow briefly thought of where the 100 had originally tried to flee to in the face of the first grounder attack, to 'the ocean to the east', but he decided against saying anything. Beside him, Clarke was also silent. He wondered if she was thinking the same thing. Cleo meanwhile was perched vigilantly on his shoulder, eyeing the nearby citizens warily.
"I don't know" Thelonius answered, "But I heard of a place: A City of Light. It's across the deadzone".
"what makes you think we'll make it there?" someone else asked.
"Because we made it here" Thelonius responded quickly, "I have faith. And right now, considering the alternative, that's good enough for me".
"Not for us" Clarke spoke up strongly. Aerrow glanced at her, as did everyone else. "If we leave here what happens to our people in Mount Weather?" her voice was one of defiance. She wasn't ready to leave her friends behind.
"As your mother said" Thelonius told her, "that is a very difficult decision to make" he paused. "But the time has come for all of us to ask: is this how the story of our people ends? Did we come all this way, just to die tomorrow?".
"yes" Aerrow thought. Thelonius had sent he, Clarke and the others to the ground to die. it was only once his own ass was at risk that he cared about doing anything.
"Because if we're not gone by the time that sun rises, that is exactly what will happen" Thelonius finished.
Clarke turned to Aerrow, almost expecting him to say something, but he didn't. He stared ahead, eyes and face hard. She desperately hoped that, if it came to it, he would stand by her side and fight the grounders off again, but in the pit of her stomach she felt a sense of dread that this time, he wouldn't want to, given how much he had lost the last time.
"No decision's been made" Abby said to the crowd, "In the meantime, please report to your station supervisor and gather emergency supplies".
She and Thelonius then walked back into the station, leaving the crowd to debate what they were to do. Clarke made to go after then, but she was stopped by Bellamy, who appeared seemingly from nowhere and grabbed her arm.
"Where have you been?" she asked him.
"At the dropship" he answered seriously, "I need you to come back with me right now".
"Why what's happened?"
"I'll explain on the way. Bring your med-kit, meet me at Raven's gate".
Bellamy took off, leaving Clarke and Aerrow standing alone amongst the dispersing crowd.
"This is my fault" he said quietly, "The grounders are attacking because of me".
"The grounders are attacking because that's what they do" Clarke responded quickly. He knew that wasn't true, and he was fairly sure she knew it wasn't true also, but he still appreciated her efforts to re-assure him. It told him she no longer thought him a monster, which on its own made him feel better.
"Go with Bellamy to the dropship" he told her, deliberately changing the topic, "your mother said no decision's been made. If that changes, I'll let you know".
"Ok" Clarke nodded. She turned away to meet up with Bellamy. She sighed, before walking through the crowd towards Raven's gate.
…
As the afternoon drew on and the sun got lower in the sky, amidst the hustle and bustle of the nervous citizens, a series of clangs could be heard resonating from the far corner of the camp.
Over by the southern corner of the boundary fence stood a solid metal pole, against which Aerrow bashed his two swords over and over again, practising his attacks and co-ordinating them. Cleo lay on the ground nearby, casually chewing on the leg bone of a pig.
He had not trained like this in a very long time, and it was only once he had started that he realised how much he missed it. Bashing the pole helped sharpen his mind, and allowed him to zone out and forget everything else that had gone on in his life.
Alexis's training had definitely helped him. He visibly noticed how much faster he was able to perform his attacks, and how much more focussed and co-ordinated the strikes were. He thought back his time in her presence, including the night they had spent together. That night... Seeing how much she had helped him improve his technique, and taught him how to control his anger, he began to wonder if indeed he had felt something for her.
So zoned out was he that he didn't hear the footsteps coming up behind him
"Eroxin" a voice called out.
Startled, Aerrow span around in an instant, holding his swords in front of him, ready to attack. The guard that had approached him instantly held his gun to his shoulder, ready to fire.
Suddenly, Aerrow's eyes shot open and he lowered his swords. He recognised the guard "Sargent Miller?" he breathed in disbelief.
Sargent David Miller had been Aerrow's squad leader when he first got accepted into the guard at age 8, the youngest ever member. The young Aerrow had only been a cadet but already he was showing great promise, frequently displaying a physical and mental aptitude far greater than his peers. Seeing the young guard's potential, the Captain of the Guard assigned David to personally oversee Aerrow's development. He had taught the child a great many things, and had seen him grow from an eager young child, into a focussed, determined young man. Right up until Aerrow was arrested for six counts of murder and sent to the skybox, he had always thought of his mentor as a second father.
Sargent Miller nodded slowly "We meet again Aerrow".
Unbeknown to Aerrow, David had actually been watching him for the past 10 minutes or so.
He looked at Aerrow with sad eyes. He tried not to stare, but it was hard not to. David had seen Aerrow grow and develop as a guard but now he seemed totally different. His face was harder, more angular it seemed. He had grown out his short-cut hair, and the friendly, bright spark in his purple eyes was gone, replaced by a dull, dark, emotionless sheen. David found himself feeling sorry for the young man. When Aerrow was arrested on the Ark, he straight away had his doubts that he really was a murderer, he just wasn't that kind of person, yet he had seen the same boy he had mentored dice up 18 of his fellow guards only a few weeks previously. Looking at the pain that was evident in his features however, David realised that he deeply regretted his actions.
"It's… good to see you again sir" Aerrow said hesitantly, almost as if he was unable to say something positive.
"You too, Aerrow" David said, before pausing. "You've grown up since we last met".
Aerrow's face suddenly changed, as deep sadness washed over it. He looked down at himself. Not one day went by when he wished he hadn't 'grown up', that he hadn't been appointed to a guard squadron ahead of Dylan, That Arianna hadn't been killed…
He sniffed as he looked up "Why are you here?" he asked, his voice disjointed and tinged with sadness.
"The decision has been made" David said seriously, "we're evacuating".
Aerrow's face suddenly hardened. Of course Abby and Thelonius had taken the easy way, the weak way. He had no time to elaborate though. He stowed his swords and made to walk off. He needed to tell Clarke.
David suddenly grabbed his arm. "Aerrow wait" he said. Aerrow felt the strength in his grip and the urgency in his voice. "My son, Nathan, is still inside that Mountain" he told him, "I've been forced to leave with everyone else. I need you to get him and the others out".
Aerrow stared at David, his mind whirring with thoughts and emotions. Nathan (simply known as 'Miller' to the other delinquents) was indeed inside Mount Weather, Aerrow had seen him with the others, but he wasn't sure, even if he could free them, he really wanted too.
"Please Aerrow" David begged.
"Why come to me?" Aerrow asked quietly, "most of your people want to kill me…".
David stared at Aerrow sadly. "Do not misjudge people's treatment of you for hatred, Aerrow" he said.
"Really?" Aerrow turned to look at the rest of the camp members, still running around like ants, packing supplies and fearing for their lives in general. Weak and pitiful as always. "'Cause it certainly seems that way".
David put his hand on Aerrow's shoulder "There are many false truths about you that people believe" he said seriously, "Yes, there are some that detest you for your actions, but look closely, and an even larger number respect you".
"Respect me? How?" Aerrow asked, unconvinced.
David looked him in the eye. "Because of what you can do, and because of what you did. You committed a terrible crime, yet you came back and faced it. That's why people voted to clear you. You have a very rare strength, Mr Eroxin. You can inspire people, make them believe in you, because you are one of a kind".
Aerrow stared at David, his eyes narrowing as he regained some of the old look of determination in his eyes.
"Plus" David added, nodding at his swords, "far as I know, no one else can wield a blade like that".
He gave Aerrow a slight grin and began walking back to his post. Aerrow stood still, eyes shut for several moments, David's words running over and over through his head 'you are one of a kind'. He suddenly opened his eyes, remembering what he had to do. He tightened his grip on his swords and walked over to the corner of the fence, where he ducked through a hole he had cut in the wire and took off, headed for the drop ship.
Hope you guys enjoyed a little bit more of Aerrow's back story. Thank you all for your feedback, it is much appreciated. Stay tuned for more.