Previously in chapter 28

Anya returns to TonDC from the Mountain being severely wounded. Nyko who had went to TonDC to report the massacre of his village, helps to heal Anya's wounds. A scout returns together with another Skykru man who is put in a holding cell where one of them from the Dead Zone is already waiting. Lexa decides to disguise herself as a servant and observe the Skykru man and wants to include Marie in the charade later.

Chapter 29

Marie had no idea how much time had already passed since Lexa and Gustus had left her in the commander's tent. She had stayed next to Anya and kept careful watch over her unconscious form. To her great disappointment, there had been no change in her mentor's condition at all. Marie tried to hold onto the belief that Anya would wake up soon and recover completely with all the strength she could must. She did not even wish to contemplate that the woman could still perish. Cautiously, Marie leaned closer to Anya and took one of her hands between her own. The woman's fingers felt limp and heavy with unconsciousness, but to Marie they already felt weirdly familiar, she was relieved to feel that they still felt warm with life. She squeezed the woman's hand lightly, hoping that somehow Anya would sense that she was back in TonDC and finally being taken care of. Her grey eyes remained focused on her chest, as it rose and fell slightly with each shallow breath the woman took.

A guard announced his presence by clearing his throat an undefined time later, startling Marie by his sudden appearance. He commanded the girl to follow him out of the tent. Marie nodded mutely at him, trusting that Lexa had left someone trustworthy to get her to the holding cells. She needed a short moment to let go of Anya's hand, feeling the loss of contact like a physical slap almost. She followed the man in silence, her mind torn between slight regret and fear at having to leave Anya behind and nervous anticipation at what would transpire now. She was aware that Lexa was giving her a chance to prove her worth by including her into the plan. By the ruff description of how the two men looked who were contained in the holding cell, Marie had not been able to identify them. When they neared the holding cell, the young man suddenly grabbed one of her arms in a tight grip, pulling her along strongly. She did not put up a real fight, but she thought that the man had a slight apologetic expression on his face, before he pulled her in front of the holding cell. He shoved her so roughly into the way to the cell that Marie staggered slightly, trying to keep her balance and not fall down, but the man's grip did not falter and kept her upright. She absentmindedly noted that she would probably have light bruising with the shape of his fingers on the arm later. The door to the holding cell was opened for him immediately by another guard.

Marie barely had any chance to let her gaze wander around the interior of the holding cell, before she was abruptly shoved inside. Her foot caught on an uneven stone on the floor and she tumbled to the ground immediately, hissing lightly as she scraped her palms on the rough ground.

Lexa looked up to see the girl being shoved onto the floor of the cell rather roughly by one of the guards and watched the scene with feigned disinterest. The fact that the child even fell over made the scene seem even more realistic. She could see the two Skykru men in the cell with her sprung to action immediately from the corner of her eyes, while she herself pressed slightly closer against the wall she had been leaning against. So far, the men had not revealed anything of particular interest, just demanding loudly to speak to their leader, wanting to justify themselves.

The man who was closer to the girl sprung up and helped Marie up from the floor looking at her face closely for long moments, before recognition seemed to flash over his face. "I know you from the Ark" he finally spoke after some time with confusion lacing his voice and a disbelieved expression marred his face. The man had obviously not expected a child from the Ark in the village and Lexa hoped that her plan would work. The men had not revealed anything interesting to her until now. The dark-skinned man obviously regarded his people as better human beings with their tech but she was not sure about the other one yet.

The bound dark-skinned man had also stood up now after he had heard the words of his companion and was looking at the girl closely as well, but he seemed to have figured out the girl's complete identity only a moment later. "You are Marie Matthews, the youngest on the drop ship" his tone of voice was weirdly calm, he did not seem affected at seeing Marie at all.

Marie looked between them both for long moments, fright marring her face. Lexa had to give her credit for playing the scared prisoner rather well. Even when she had interrogated the girl a few days ago, she had not seemed this frightened. Now that she thought back on it, the girl had shown respect and certainly worry what was going to happen to her, but she had not appeared outright frightened.

"What happened to you, Marie?" the first man asked with concern now in his voice trying to sooth the girl, as he crouched down in front of the girl.

Marie flickered her gaze to the cell's door and let her gaze wander to Lexa only for a second, as if just acknowledging the presence of another human being in the cell, before she answered in what sounded like a shaking voice "I got separated from the others some time ago together with John Murphy. We were caught in the woods and brought here. I don't know what happened to John though and I don't know how long I have been here." Lexa had instilled in her to stay as close to the original events as possible, making the likelihood of her accidentally revealing something slimmer.

The men shared a short silent glance, before the one still standing next to Marie spoke again "No need to be frightened kid. The Ark guard is here now and we are going to get out soon" his words had obviously been supposed to be a reassurance.

Internally Lexa snorted at their arrogance. Skykru obviously had no incline as to how many warriors she had had at hand. She was certain that the Skykru guards would never succeed in reaching these two, if she did not set them free deliberately.

Marie just looked unconvinced and let herself slide down the wall next to her, as if she was weakened by days without proper food.

"Have you been tortured as well?" the man standing next to her asked the girl inquiringly, dark eyes kind and tone soft. His eyes remained on her burst lip for a second.

Marie shook her head vehemently "No, I have not been ill-treated" her tone was strong, slightly affronted with the thought that Anya would have tortured her. Lexa narrowed her eyes slightly, she had hoped that the girl would not reveal her role so soon and her injuries from training were plain to see on her skin.

"You are wounded" the man retorted, leaning closer to her and softly putting a hand on her bruised cheek.

Marie shrugged of his touch and she swallowed deeply. "The guards don't like arguing" she offered lamely, but to her internal relief he obviously believed her.

"I have seen how savagely these people live, Marie" the dark-skinned man intervened in a scathing tone, clearly not believing a word the girl said.

Before Marie could retaliate, the other man spoke up again this time directly to Lexa "The girl did not do anything. She is not included in this right?" Lexa was glad that both of them were looking at her now, Marie's grey eyes clearly showed her anger for a moment until she blinked and pushed it back.

The man's eyes flitting to the dagger still lying on the cell's floor, told Lexa that he wanted the girl spared from their fate. He was obviously much more compassionate; the dark-skinned man did not seem to care for Marie at all.

Lexa looked at him and also took a glance at the dagger, before shaking her head indecisively answering in an unsure voice "I do not think so. The commander did not say."

"There has to be another way, Thelonious" the man said to his chained companion, voice desperate and his expression showed his deep concentration, probably trying to figure out what they could offer instead.

"There is no other way. Eighteen of our people have been slaughtered. Blood must have blood. It is our way" Lexa offered in a soft tone she usually reserved for small children. Simultaneously she was twirling a leave between her fingers to pass the time and strengthen her innocent image.

"What happens when we refuse to pick up the knife?" the man still standing next to Marie asked, swallowing harshly.

"The commander will use it to slit both of your throats" Lexa answered in a calm voice not looking up from the leave between her fingers.

The dark-skinned man seemed thoughtful "We can offer them technology, medicine, guns. I have seen how savagely they live …"

Marie interjected "They seem to be doing just fine without. I have not seen any starving people so far."

Lexa gathered that the young girl was obviously angry at the dark-skinned man and then it clicked in her mind. She had finally asked the child for what had happened to her parents. Marie had told her the chancellor's name once and it had to be the same Thelonious Jaha, who had had her mother executed and the girl incarcerated. But she still hoped the girl had not just blown her own cover with her outburst.

"I have seen some of them living in the desert. They are living like primitive savages. We can offer them so much more, we are better than they are" Jaha answered in a reprimanding voice and his dark eyes narrowed down at the child, clearly irritated with her.

Marie's grey eyes blazed angrily "How can you even say something like that?!"

"Marie…" Kane tried to interject, hoping to calm the situation, but the girl ranted on her eyes glistening with angry tears.

"How is locking an eight-year-old up for trying to safe her mother better? How is floating the mother for being sick better?" the girl asked bitterly, glaring up at Jaha accusingly.

Lexa was relieved that Marie had not hinted at her new role here, but rather let her pent-up emotions towards the former chancellor out. It might also work to get an unfiltered reaction out of them being confronted with what they had done. She had been confused with the penalty for Marie. Her people cherished their children and although of course children had to be punished for stealing somehow, locking them up in isolation for such a prolonged time was not a feasible punishment in her opinion.

Jaha looked right back at her his gaze unyielding "We were trying to survive, Marie. We all deeply regret tragedies like yours. But sacrifices had to be made for the human race to survive."

To Lexa the man's words seemed empty and dishonest, while his face was not showing even a glint of compassion for the girl. He might speak true that he remembered all he had wronged, but he obviously did not feel for their deaths.

The other man in comparison looked deeply pained at the reminder of the girl's fate.

Jaha obviously was not finished "What were we to do with a criminal child without parents?"

Marie blinked at him in disbelief, clearly shocked into speechlessness and obviously fighting hard against her tears now.

"Thelonious, please" the other man tried to calm Jaha down, who had started to get angry as well.

"What, Markus!" Jaha answered hotly "We did what we had to do. One life loss of a single girl had no meaning at all."

Markus just shook his head tight-lipped as an answer and sat down next to Marie with an apologizing expression and a kind smile while Marie was trying not to start to cry. He hovered beside Marie indecisively for long moments until his gaze fell back to Lexa "So, there is nothing we can do at all?" he asked pleadingly.

Lexa just shook her head in the negative silently as an answer unwilling to say more.

Markus regarded the dagger again for long moments, before he heaved himself back to his feet and went to pick it up from the floor.

Jaha had also stood up again now, watching in confusion what the other man might be doing "What are you doing, Markus? We are not going to comply with their ways! They want to turn us against each other. That is not the way we achieve peace."

"They showed as a way to peace, Thelonious. If we truly want peace…" Markus said and picked up the dagger from the floor and turned back to Jaha and offered the dagger handle first to the other man "You have to kill me" his voice was calm now and his dark eyes shown with acceptance.

"No" the former chancellor answered immediately and crossed his arms over his chest "We have not come this far to die here. There has to be another way than murder."

Markus shook his head slightly, swallowing and now brought the dagger to his own arm "What if we can only survive by sacrifice?" he asked in a strangled tone.

"Markus no, do not do it!" Jaha shouted and went to the man as far as the chains keeping him at the wall allowed it.

"We do need peace between our people, Thelonious or the killing will never end" Markus said in a strong tone and pressed the dagger deeply into his own arm. Jaha strained against the chains, reaching Markus finally and wrenching the dagger from his hand. He threw the dagger away from both of them and pressed onto the bleeding wound.

"Help us, please" Thelonious had turned to Lexa and his words sounded honest and his face finally revealed some compassion for the first time.

Lexa took out a cloth hidden in her shirt and gave it to the man, wanting to see what he would come up with as an alternative.

Thelonious bound the bandage over Markus' arm quickly and Marie watched as he suddenly bent down again to retrieve the dagger. In a quick movement, he had pressed the dagger against Lexa's neck and hauled the young woman up pressing her against his chest.

Marie's eyes widened in shock, but she could not detect fear in the commander's eyes and was reassured that Lexa knew that she could disarm Jaha without any problems.

Gustus and two guards had burst into the cell immediately, when Jaha shouted for them to break them free, pressing the dagger firmly against Lexa's neck.

Lexa commanded them to wait in Trigedasleng, when they made to grab their swords and forcefully remove the man from their commander.

Markus had also stood up on visibly shaking legs and was trying desperately to reason with Jaha "Thelonious please, she is just an innocent girl. Let her go. This will not help us" he pleaded with the other man.

Marie could have laughed out loud at the absurdity of the statement as Lexa was anything than just a girl. She watched on in silent awe as Lexa brought Thelonious to the cell's floor in only a few seconds and now had the dagger pressed to his throat.

Thelonious surrendered immediately when he recognized that he had no chance and Lexa stood up again.

Marie could see her whole posture changing all of a sudden. Gone was the young woman, who could have easily passed as a mere servant perfected even with a slight limp. In her place even in the clothes she wore was a proud woman who seemed to radiate power somehow.

Lexa was handed back her shoulder pauldron with the red sash and buckled it into place and finally removed the shawl that had hidden her intricate braids and nodded to Marie who stood up from the floor as well immediately.

Gustus stepped closer to the girl and also handed her back her own dagger immediately and both Marcus and Thelonious looked at Lexa in disbelieved surprise.

"You are the commander?" Marcus asked disbelief colouring his voice, as realization dawned on his features.

"I have learned much about you. It is clear your intentions are honourable, your desire for peace is true" Lexa addressed only Marcus now in tight tone.

"Free him" the commander ordered and the guards obeyed immediately while Marie had stepped up next to Gustus.

"Later we will talk. In the meantime, your friend will be used to send a message" Lexa said calmly and while one guard restrained Marcus, two others started to beat Thelonious up. Markus desperate pleas to stop were completely ignored. "The massacre must be answered. Blood must have blood" she said with absolute authority in her voice.

Marcus looked at her disbelievingly as the guards hauled Thelonious out of the cell only a moment later.

"You are not a prisoner here" Marcus finally addressed Marie with confusion clear on his face, when he spotted the girl standing behind the commander.

Marie just shortly glanced at Lexa, before she inclined her head with a resolute expression. They had not spoken about what she was allowed to reveal and what not, so she thought it might be better not to answer in words.

"Get him something to eat and drink" Lexa commanded to one of the guards "Escort him to me later" she instructed. The woman turned from Marcus and regarded Marie for a second and acknowledged her with a nod "Come" she ordered as she strode out of the cell without another word.

Marie followed Lexa quickly without looking back at Marcus even once. She did not harbour any particular ill feelings towards him, but she had not felt pity for Jaha when he was beaten up earlier. A small part of her even believed that the man deserved every hit he had gotten and much more.

On the way back to the commander's tent, Marie remembered that Anya would probably still be lying there. She desperately hoped that Anya was still breathing, but Marie guessed that someone would have alerted Lexa if Anya's condition had changed even slightly.

"You did well" Lexa acknowledged on the way back to her tent towards Marie.

Marie smiled slightly and nodded, relieved that she had not screwed up.

"Your strategical thinking needs some improvements though. But you will learn" Lexa continued, letting her gaze travel through the village.

She had given orders to the guards on what message Thelonious should deliver to the Skykru. She would grant them two days to leave or her army would attack. She would still listen to what Marcus had to offer though.

On the return to her tent, they both changed back into their normal clothing and Lexa applied war paint to her face. She wanted to present her most imposing persona to Marcus when he was allowed to speak to her later. Marie immediately checked on Anya and was relieved to see that woman was still breathing, although she still had not woken up either, but Lexa reassured the girl quickly that she had every faith in Anya's strength.