Disclaimer & Notices: See the Prologue.

Started: March 3, 2015

Ended: January 4, 2017

Series: Series 1, Story #2

Hedatu

by Red Hope

Chapter 37

"Klark… you are the human form of Staurra."

Clarke Griffin stared oddly at her warrior then released a low yet startled laugh. She shook her head but realized Lexa was quite serious.

The commander held out the notepad to her second.

Clarke stared at the lit up device that hung in the space between them. She looked up from it and asked, "Because of a few burn marks?" She took the notepad back and turned off the screen.

"That is one indication," Lexa agreed. She turned away and went over to her organized things. She began unbuttoning her jacket, slowly. She patiently waited for Clarke to continue the conversation.

Clarke was shaking her head again then cut her eyes over to her warrior's backside. "I'm serious, Lexa." She held up the notepad. "What are these burn marks from?" There were frustrated hints in her tone.

Lexa finished undoing her jacket then peered upward as she wiggled the jacket's sleeves off her arms. "How do you explain our crossed dreams?"

Clarke blinked a few times as her mind was pulled into another direction. "I…" She clutched the notepad and sputtered, "This is ridiculous, Lexa." With three wide steps, she was upon her warrior.

Lexa spun around with the jacket hanging from her left arm. "Is it?" She tilted her head and countered, "Do you not have any faith?"

Clarke swallowed and lowered the tablet that she had pointed at Lexa earlier. She blew out a breath and replied, "That's not what we're discussing here. There is a logical explanation to why I have burn marks on my back."

Lexa slightly raised an eyebrow. "Then what is your logical explanation?" She paused but then posed, "When do you recall anything hot being pressed upon your back?"

Clarke stared hard at her warrior, but she remained silent.

Lexa received no response so she brushed past her second. She went over to the hook that was tethered to the tent. She hung her jacket next to Clarke's shorter one.

Ares had taken residence on Clarke's furs. He was comfortable and warm. His bright eyes bounced between the two women, who were obviously in the throes of another debate. He released a low sigh.

Clarke had her eyes closed and drew in a few deep breaths. She reached for more patience, which calmed her temper. She turned around towards Lexa. "Okay… let's say for argument's sake that there's no… scientific explanation."

Lexa had her war paint kit in hand. She was cleaning away the dark paint from her cheeks, but her focus remained on her second.

Clarke temporarily tried accepting that she was somehow a goddess. She had to at least understand the religious implications that her new people would take from it. "How do you know I am Staurra?"

Lexa finished wiping her face as she neared her second. Once closer, she detected the soft turmoil under Clarke's frustrations. She placed the cloth on top of the war paint kit then took Clarke's hand into hers. "Sit with me," she softly beckoned.

Clarke could only follow her warrior down to the furs. She noted that Ares stretched and came closer to her so she rested her right hand across his back.

Lexa sat with crossed legs in front of her second. She had the war paint kit nestled in her lap. She dampened the cloth first then gently started removing the war paint from Clarke's face. "I met Eirene when I was young."

"The Priestess of Staurra," Clarke easily recalled. She had enjoyed her brief visit with the priestess. With a low breath, she inhaled the heady oil that was on the cloth.

"I became close to Eirene before I ever really knew the Priestess of Woraun," Lexa continued. She had removed all the war paint from Clarke's forehead. She went lower to the paint around Clarke's right eye. "I already knew I would become the commander… I knew that I carried the spirit." She withdrew the cloth and blue eyes opened up to her. "One day I told Eirene that I wished not to be Heda." She cleared her throat and weakly admitted, "I was considering ending my own life."

Clarke grew wide eye and placed a comforting hand on her warrior's knee. "Lexa…"

Lexa slowly folded the cloth over to a clean side. Clarke's affectionate touch burned away the difficult memory from her childhood. In a stronger voice, she continued telling Clarke about what she learned from Eirene. "As Heda, I would spend my life alone… it is the calling of the spirit." She lifted her head. "The Commander's Spirit walks this Earth alone." She brought the cloth to Clarke's cheek.

"What did Eirene say?" Clarke murmured.

Lexa sadly smiled. "She told me about the Prophecy of Hedatu." With the cloth, she revealed the tender scars hidden under the war paint. A hint of pride for her second's hunting skills burned in her belly. But, she focused on the present. "Staurra will be reborn from the stars," Lexa whispered. "And fly down to Earth… to walk these lands again. She commands fire and will burn down the Mountain."

Clarke felt as if a desert filled her mouth. Her blood heated under her skin while Lexa told her the prophecy. She attempted controlling her breathing that had grown frantic.

"Staurra will be known as Hedatu among our people," Lexa murmured. She lowered the cloth to her lap after cleaning her second's beautiful features. "We will lead together again… and bring peace to all our people." She bowed her head slightly and stared at the slight space between herself and Clarke. "Eirene gave me hope that day… enough hope to stay alive." Gradually she lifted her head until her green eyes mixed with blue ones. "Then when you descended from the skies that day… everything changed for me."

Clarke parted her lips slightly, but she shook her head first. She huffed heavily and twisted to her left. With a long stretch, she drew the Thrigad book out from the saddlebags' depth and held it up to Lexa. "This is just mythology... like the Ancient Greek mythology."

Lexa sadly smiled at the disbelief in her second's mind. She gently took the book and noticed the red marker had been moved deeper in the book. "This is more than just stories, Klark." She held the book between them. "They are records… they are our history."

Clarke stared oddly at her warrior. "Gods ascending to the heavens then coming back to Earth." She narrowed her eyes and argued, "How is that history?"

Lexa became stern. "Your people believe there is history in the Bible." She twisted the book in her hand until the Thrigad symbol faced her second. "How is this any different?" She lowered the book onto her knee. "Did humans, who thought they were gods, not ascend to the heavens and have now returned?"

Clarke swallowed and stared down at the triangular eye that bore into her mind. "Lexa…" However, she was at a loss and worriedly peered up at her warrior for more truth.

"This book…" Lexa rested her hand on it. "It was written by the Nine." She sensed her second's returned interest in the book. "There were once nine copies of these, but many of them have been destroyed over the years." She ran her thumb across the binding and whispered, "This one has been handed down through my mom's family."

"The Nine?" Clarke murmured. She brushed a loose strand of hair behind her right ear. "Who are… were they?"

"They were chosen… Woraun's chosen." Lexa tapped the book a few times with her fingertips before she focused on Clarke. Her dark eyes danced with belief and ferocity. "They were warriors, historians, advisors, believers, and guardians of Woraun." She tilted her head. "She gave them her blood and in return they pledged their fealty to her."

Clarke released a low breath. She wanted to ignore the tautness in her chest, but it pulled at her heart. If it was a cold night, she barely noticed it because her skin was so heated by the words falling from her warrior's soft lips.

"They are known as Nightbloods," Lexa revealed.

Clarke blinked a few times and rasped, "Are?"

Lexa gave a faint nod. She then extracted her favored dagger from its home at her side. She raised both the dagger and her left hand into the space between her and Clarke. "Nightbloods are descendents of the Nine." She brought the blade against her left palm and curled her fingers slowly around it. "And possible vessels for Woraun."

"Lexa," Clarke snapped. She latched onto her warrior's wrist, but she was weak against Lexa. She watched in horror as the dagger sliced through Lexa's palm. Then the blade hung in Clarke's view with blood smeared across it. Gradually she studied the blood with a medical eye and quickly her attention snapped to the dark droplet that fell from the bottom of Lexa's left fist. Once the droplet landed on the white cloth over the war paint kit, did Clarke truly have confirmation that it was black. As she lifted her eyes, she was greeted by Lexa's open hand that was smeared with black blood.

Lexa watched a war of emotions play across her second's features. She shifted her own attention to her bloody palm and admired the blackness that made her unique among her people. "Will you believe now?"

Every medical explanation continued derailing in Clarke's head. She became slightly frantic and suddenly scrambled to her feet to get space from her warrior.

Ares whined low and kept his head up after Clarke's knee had bumped his chin. His green eyes worriedly followed his pacing friend.

Clarke stood close to the tent flap, her back to it. She pointed at Lexa's fisted hand that revealed the black blood. "What is that, Lexa?" She grounded her teeth against the frustration and even fear bubbling to the surface.

Lexa sighed, heavily. She looked over at her second. "It is the blood of Woraun." She stood up after moving the kit to the furs. She sheathed her dagger and approached her distressed second. She understood Clarke's upset because she had faced much the same in her early years. "Maybe there is a scientific explanation for this." She indicated her bleeding palm. "One that I have yet to find in my research." Like Clarke, she wanted to understand how such distinctly colored blood could exist in this world.

Clarke stared ghostly at her warrior, who was also her commander and her closest friend. Lexa was Clarke's fuel to her fire. She took Lexa's hurt hand into her own. "You really believe this." She gazed up from the black blood.

Lexa searched Clarke's eyes. She ached at seeing Clarke's distraught and hoped to sooth it away. "I've spent many years looking for answers… but it's been my faith that's kept me alive."

Clarke released a strained breath and whispered, "Waiting for me." She closed her eyes and leaned her head forward until her brow touched Lexa's forehead. "I'm not this goddess, Lexa."

"Nor am I," Lexa breathed against Clarke's lips.

After such a confession, Clarke lifted her head and remembered how much Lexa craved to be simply human. To be seen only as Lexa rather than Heda. Clarke was the only one truly capable of humanizing Lexa. That alone fractured Clarke in half.

"Let me clean this," Clarke murmured. She held Lexa's injured hand. "Beja," she rasped before pressing into Lexa's soft lips. Their kiss calmed their wild hearts and brought them back to the ground rather than up in the sky full of stories about their people. Clarke drew away first and gently ordered, "Come on."

Lexa was guided back to the furs and sat down. She patiently waited for her second to care for her minor injury. She admired Clarke's tender care.

Clarke had cleaned away the blood with a fresh, dampened cloth. She dipped her fingers into an open jar and used the salve to coat the wound. As she did so, she noticed a medical miracle. "It's already started to close up."

"Sha." Lexa noticed a scab had already formed over the wound. "By first light, it will be mostly gone."

Clarke had a deep furrow across her brow. "Your blood also gives you strength?" She wrapping a cloth around Lexa's hand.

Lexa shook her head. "It only gives Nightbloods the ability to heal faster than humans." She studied the knot Clarke worked with her nimble fingers. "My spirit is my strength."

"Just as mine is my fire," Clarke guessed. However, a hint of ridicule was in her voice as she finished the wrap's knot. She amusingly gazed at her warrior.

"Mockery is not a product-"

"Of a strong mind," Clarke finished. "Yeah, yeah." She stood up and went to the saddlebags so she could put away her meager medical kit. She made a mental note to see her mother about adding to the kit. She flopped back into the same spot in front of her warrior. "So do you think the black blood gave the first Nine the ability to survive the radiation on the ground?"

Lexa gave a faint nod. "That is my assumption as well."

Clarke weighed what she knew about blood for a few quiet moments. "If somebody... somehow modified human blood so that people could heal quicker then that's not something easy to do." She held Lexa's injured hand in her palms. She weighed whether or not to tell her mother about Lexa's special blood. She so desperately wanted to know any secrets contained in the blood that her mother could examine with the medical equipment in Camp Jaha. However, the fear that others learned about Lexa's blood pressed heavy against her. Long ago she had learned the cost of making secrets public. She frowned deeply.

"Klark…" Lexa saw her second's attention center on her again. Yet, she reached over and picked up the Thrigad book. "There's something I wish for you to do for me." Earlier, she stared over at the black piece of tech that Clarke had used to show her the burn marks. She considered what other information the tech held in it. But first, Lexa turned the Thrigad book over so the backside was face up.

"What is it?"

"Maybe you can find answers for us both." Lexa opened the back of the book but rotated the long way so that it faced Clarke.

Clarke slotted her eyes at the handwriting on the endsheet. She realized that the handwriting was different from the author's own. Her eyes followed the short line down to another word that was hard to see in the dim light. She could tell that it was a different writer though because the letters were jerky, as if written by a child. "Whaaat…"

"You will need more light," Lexa suggested.

Clarke took to the idea and grabbed the LED lamp, which had enough charge on the battery. After the LEDs brightened, she clutched the book's hinge and bent forward, closer to the inscriptions on the endsheet. She read her way down and realized what exactly was before her. Her head jerked up. "This is your family tree."

"Sha."

Clarke reached out and touched the lowest name, done in Lexa's own handwriting. She then traced her hand back up, passing over each name. She realized the names were only first names until she came back to the first one at the top. "They're all women."

"Yes," Lexa whispered. "Only females can by carriers of black blood." She found curious blue eyes on her. "Black blood carries through women, but not all carriers are a Nightblood."

"So there are no men that are Nightbloods?"

"There are Nightbloods, who are men but they cannot pass the black blood onto their offspring. Their black blood ends with them."

Clarke blew out a breath but checked, "So a mother could carry the genetics for the black blood even if she doesn't have the black blood herself?"

"Sha."

Clarke was reminded of the gene for red-green colorblindness that mothers could carrier and pass onto their sons. She was amazed that black blood had a similar genetic pattern. She gazed down at the family tree and stared at the name at the top of tree, who had both a first and last name unlike her descendants. "Rebecca Wordah," she whispered.

"She is my grandmother," Lexa stated.

Clarke shook her head and argued, "She's probably your… great grandmother." She tried estimating how many generations back it could be for Lexa. Her fingertips climbed down the tree to Lexa. "Yeah, she's your great-great grandmother." She straightened up and mentioned, "She's the only one with a last name."

"Sha," Lexa whispered. She stared at her second, who was baffled by the last name.

Clarke blinked away her confusion and asked, "What do you need me to do?"

Lexa closed the book then pointed at the tech near Ares's head. "Can you search for Rebecca Wordah?"

Clarke followed Lexa's indication to the tablet and instantly was hit by her warrior's wishes. "You want me to search the Alpha station's records to see if there's anything on your great-great grandmother?"

Lexa gave a nod.

A rush of air escaped from Clarke's lips. Her mind raced in several directions.

"You still have access to the tech," Lexa reminded her second.

Clarke grinned at her warrior after she realized Lexa had paid attention to her conversation with her mother earlier this evening. "Yes but… that doesn't mean I'll find anything on Rebecca Wordah." She held out her hand at the Thrigad book. "She's from the ground so…" She let her speech die after she saw the desperation in her warrior's green eyes. Just like Clarke, her warrior needed answers to a past and religion shrouded in mystery.

"Beja," Lexa pleaded.

Clarke instantly nodded her promise. "But… maybe there's still something in the Earth archives about her." She realized it was worth a chance. She picked up the tablet and explained, "I can't get onto the network from here." She placed the tablet in her lap. "Tomorrow when we go to Camp Jaha then we can access the records."

Lexa nodded and was pleased by her second's promise to help. She had attempted researching her lineage, but the dead ends were many and leads so few. She prayed that Clarke could find information about her great descendant.

"Do you know anything about Rebecca Wordah?" Clarke reached over and ran her fingers through Ares's fur. After saying the last name for the third time, she came to the same conclusion that Lexa most likely had years ago. "Wordah… Woraun," she whispered. She felt two puzzle pieces slide together and a thread of light cut through the darkness.

Lexa had a faint grin at Clarke's realization. "She was Pramheda. Among our people, she is remembered as Bekka Pramheda."

"Pram?" Clarke echoed. She failed to translate the Trigedasleng.

"First Commander," Lexa explained.

Clarke gave a low hum. "Pram… like prime or primary." She made better sense of the Trigedasleng title. "And she was Woraun." She reached up and rubbed her brow until a soft touch made her open her eyes.

"We should rest," Lexa suggested. She had weighed Clarke down further with more knowledge about the past and their religion. She ran her thumb across the back of Clarke's hand. "I have spent too many nights without you."

Clarke's cheeks heated up and caused her voice to deepen with affection. "You are a sweet talker, Heda."

"No," Lexa argued, "I only wish to take full advantage of our shared tent arrangements." She picked up the Thrigad book and gently tossed it onto the top of Clarke's saddlebags.

Clarke stiffened when her warrior leaned into her. But, a firm push from Lexa's hand against her shoulder made her drift back into the pile of furs. She melted into the softness around her, but it was Lexa's firm weight above her that released a sigh from deep in her chest.

Lexa lowered her head until her lips brushed across Clarke's warm ones. A pleasant sigh escaped between her parted lips before she kissed Clarke. Golden threads of fire tightened around Lexa's fingers. She tasted heat and breathed in Clarke's smoky scent that she had missed for days. Slowly the Commander's Spirit unlocked her heart, and Lexa was human against Clarke's lips. She had waited so long for Clarke's fiery arrival. It surpassed her dreams and renewed her faith.

Clarke arched her back until she was molded against her warrior. Her right hand gripped Lexa's hip, but she used her left hand to pull against Lexa's hair. She smirked into the kiss after Lexa's low rumble.

Lexa jerked back when Clarke gently bit her bottom lip. She had consumed fire from her second, her eyes now lit by passion.

Clarke chuckled at the commander's fiery expression. She adored when she could cause such havoc in the normally stoic commander. However, her smug look fell away to serious thoughts.

Lexa shifted both mentally and physically until Clarke held her in place. "Chit?" she whispered in Trigedasleng.

"I've been thinking," Clarke revealed. She then indicated the nonexistent space between their chests. "About this."

"Sha," Lexa encouraged. Hints of worry dotted the coloring in her green eyes.

Clarke instantly saw it so she gently cupped her warrior's flushed cheeks. "I want this, Lexa." She searched Lexa's green depths and watched the emotions stir within Lexa. "I…" She ran her thumb across her warrior's red lips. "I want…" She lifted her head quickly and smashed her lips into Lexa's own in a frantic kiss. She drew back for air and choked, "I want you."

Lexa pressed their foreheads together. She dug her fingers into the furs beside Clarke's head. A depth breath helped her gain control before she spoke. "En ai gaf yu," she murmured. Yet, she sensed an unspoken fear between them. "What is it, Klark?"

Clarke clenched her jaw for a beat. She pulled back and continued holding her warrior's warm cheeks. "If we're together and people… our people find out…" She hesitated then corrected, "Our enemies find out then..."

Lexa seized Clarke's lips with heat and promise. Between every touch of their tongues, she rasped, "Not even… the sky could… divide us."

Clarke felt a moist trail of fire roll down her left cheek. She had cloudy blue eyes at the end of the kiss. She clawed against her emotions until they were stronger than her. She surged up and rolled them both to the left until she had Lexa under her. With her left hand, she pushed her sunny blond hair out off to one side. But all her attention was locked on the commander below her. She lowered her head and continued their earlier kiss. The ground and the sky beyond their tent was lost on them now that they were together.

At Clarke's feet, Ares gave a low sigh and turned his head away from the entangled women in the furs. He gave a content huff and closed his eyes. He easily tuned out the moans and whimpers. More of his focus went towards the outside world that his favorite humans had conveniently forgotten during their strange acts of a mating ritual. It was at least half a candlemark before he had some peace and quiet.

Ares lifted his head when the two humans shifted yet again. He grumbled when Clarke yanked free a fur from under him. He lifted his head and curiously watched how Clarke drew Lexa against her larger frame.

Lexa had placed her sheathed dagger close to her head, just off the furs. Her boots were long ago removed along with her heavy shirt. She only wore her pants and a sheer, sleeveless shirt. Even with winter, she was plenty warm under the furs and in Clarke's arms.

Yet again, Clarke adjusted the fur over her shoulder before she slipped her arm across her warrior's hip. She sighed happily at having Lexa with her. The heat across her lips and neck still lingered after they had shared so many kisses. Her last ounce of self-control had kept them both from stripping completely naked and drowning in her fantasies for the night. Not only were they sharing a tent, but they were also sharing tight quarters with all the other Trikru warriors. Like Lexa, Clarke knew their first time, or any others after, would reach the heavens.

Clarke silently cursed their torturous arrangements. For a moment, she dragged her teeth across her bottom lip. It was still swollen from all the kissing, bites, and whispered promises with Lexa. Whatever distance had been between them the past days was meaningless now.

Slowly Clarke started settling in for the night. She nuzzled the back of Lexa's neck and breathed in the warrior's scent that reminded Clarke of how the woods smelled on a rainy day. She loved it.

Lexa was about to drift off when her second shifted again. She was exhausted after a long day and knew Clarke had to be too yet Clarke continued to move around under the furs. She easily figured out the cause and muttered, "What is still on your mind?"

Clarke felt transparent and even blushed after the question. "It's nothing."

Lexa opened her eyes after rolling them under her eyelids. "Klark," she ordered.

Clarke slightly grinned at the authority in her warrior's voice. But, the grin slipped away while she composed her thoughts. "If we represent Staurra and Woraun then… who is Juseda?"

Lexa sighed at hearing the heavy question. She moved her right arm down until her fingers threaded between Clarke's own, across her stomach. "I don't know," she murmured. "But, she would have been on the Ark."

Clarke weighed all the possibilities. "She could be dead… or alive." She weakly shook her head before she buried her face into Lexa's hair. A long silence passed, and she was sure Lexa had fallen asleep

"She is alive."

Clarke opened her eyes after hearing Lexa's soft deceleration in the tent's darkness. She moved her head back and nearly asked how Lexa was so certain. However, her parted lips never uttered the question. She already accepted Lexa's response without fail.

Lexa had moved her right hand past the furs. Her fingertips brushed the bitterly cold ground that was beneath them. With a heavy inhale, she uttered, "She walks this Earth with us."

Clarke shuddered slightly but masked it by tightening her arms around her warrior. Instantly her mind jumped into overdrive at the implications that there was a human form of Juseda. With closed eyes, she wondered if she had already accepted the grounders' faith and beliefs. She had accepted the existence of the gods' spirits. But, she believed there were still scientific explanations to Lexa's blood and strength, Clarke's burn marks, and Ares's unique devotion. And yet, if Juseda was on the ground then it could mean other stations from the Ark had survivors like the Alpha and Mecha stations. Clarke prayed it was true.

Lexa was starting to drift, lulled by Clarke's warmth. "We will find her," she sleepily promised.

Clarke contently sighed and nuzzled the back of Lexa's head. She too was pulled into her dreams shortly after Lexa.

They were dreams about the gods. And their pain as they battled for the humans. Clarke was forever running down familiar metal tunnels. Every cold smell took her back to the Ark. She remembered yelling for Woraun to flee. But, it was Juseda's voice that haunted Clarke so deeply. She had heard Juseda's voice before, so distinctly.

Clarke never saw Juseda's face.

Instead, it was Woraun's green eyes that she saw after the blackness swallowed Woraun whole. Clarke was divided from Woraun by space and time. Even after Woraun's Great Descension, Juseda still comforted Clarke, but it was always tinted with bitter vengeance.

"Blood must have blood," Juseda whispered into Clarke.

With a sharp yell, Clarke shot up from the furs and frantically searched her surroundings to only find herself completely alone in the early morning hours. Lexa was gone and so was Ares. She was alone except for Juseda's touch on her heart. Clarke was feverish from heat so she tossed the furs off her body. She was about to get up until Lexa rushed into the tent.

Ares charged in directly behind the commander. He beelined to Clarke's side.

Lexa was in full gear. She had risen a candlemark ago and allowed Clarke the luxury of more sleep. Yet, as she knelt beside her second, she regretted leaving Clarke to any nightmares. "Are you alright?" She studied the nightmare's lingering touches upon her second.

"Yeah… I think so." Clarke ran her fingers through her disheveled hair. "It was just… a bad dream." She was staring down at her lap but finally met her warrior's stare.

Lexa released a low breath and lifted her arm. She hooked the back of Clarke's neck. Her chilled hand warmed against Clarke's heated skin. "We have much to do today." She hoped to redirect Clarke's focus.

Clarke gave a low nod.

"I wish to leave here in the next day or two… depending on the talks."

Clarke nodded again and softly replied, "That should be doable." She reached and took Lexa's hand into her own. "We don't meet Kane and my mom until around noon."

Lexa easily recalled that detail. She tilted her head and mentioned, "I wish to begin your training with the sword."

"Swords," Clarke muttered.

Lexa had a tight grin. "Sword." She tilted her head. "You will only hurt yourself with both."

Clarke rolled her eyes, but it prompted her to look at Lexa's uncovered hand. With concern, she turned over Lexa's left hand until the cut palm revealed a thin but long scab. She suspected the scab would be gone by tomorrow. She was amazed by Lexa's ability to heal so quickly, yet she tucked it away for now.

"We can start this morning," Clarke suggested.

Lexa nodded at the idea.

"I'll get ready." Clarke placed her hands flat against the furs under her, about to stand up. She felt Ares's fur brush against her right arm's exposed skin. She silently thanked him for his comfort.

Lexa started rising and mentioned, "Raven is here to see you."

Clarke was on her bare feet, but she went still. "Oh?" A nervous twist started in her stomach. It was strange that Raven was here first thing.

"Sha."

Clarke sighed and nodded with finality. "Alright… I'll be out in a minute."

Lexa barely hid a smirk at seeing Clarke's authority awaken. She returned the nod and departed the tent with her red sash and long jacket billowing behind her.

For a second, Clarke secretly admired her warrior's exit. She then looked down at Ares next to her. "I wonder what Raven is up to." She grinned when Ares twisted his head in response. But, she sighed and hastily prepared for yet another busy day.

Outside the tent, the cool morning's damp air was slowly warming under the autumn sunlight from the eastern horizon. The grounders' camp had two campfires today and smoke twisted up into the early pinks and blues of sky. Many of the warriors ate in relative silence while others performed a few chores.

At the edge of camp, Raven stood with her arms folded for warmth. She had been invited by the commander to sit by the fire, but Raven stubbornly refused the offer. She still distrusted the commander, who had obviously captured her closest friend's heart. Raven was hardly blind.

Soft boot steps alerted Raven first so she twisted her head to the right. She slightly relaxed as Clarke and the black wolf neared her.

"Good morning," Clarke greeted her friend.

Raven unfolded her arms and instead jammed her hands into her jacket pockets. "Hey." She tilted her head. "How are ya?"

"A little tired," Clarke admitted.

Raven sympathized, but her attention briefly flickered to the grounder camp. "Happy that the commander of twelve clans is back huh?" She focused back on her friend.

"Yeah… actually." Clarke rocked her on boots. She weighed the reasons why the mechanic had come out here at such an early hour. "What's up, Raven?"

"We need to talk."

Clarke sighed. There were numerous topics that could be on Raven's mind. She held out her hand towards the camp. "Let's get warm by the fire." She only made it a step before Raven's rejection caught her ear.

"I rather talk alone."

Clarke pivoted on her feet and faced her friend. "Alright." She shrugged. "Let's walk." She started away from the Trikru camp but at a slow pace. Ares remained at her side.

Raven limped alongside her friend. She allowed the tense silence to build up. By the tight lines across her face, she had a lot on her mind. Soon enough all her harsh truths would tumble from her lips.

"Okay…" Clarke halted their walk through the hot tension and turned to her friend. "What's going on, Raven?"

Ares had gone another step, but he came back and sat in the cold grass beside his human friend. His full attention was on the women, as if intently listening to them.

After a heavy sigh, Raven met her friend's worried features. She had a slight frown and nearly black eyes without the lightheartedness. "Jasper deserves to be punished," she declared. She narrowed her eyes at Clarke when she saw Clarke's instant defenses. "He attacked both you and Octavia."

"Raven, he-"

"He could have killed you, Clarke," Raven snapped. "And he would have if O didn't protect you." She released a strained breath that freed some of her temper. She shifted closer to Clarke and whispered, "He'll try again… especially if he gets away free from this."

"I'm the cause of Maya's death and-"

"And you killed Finn too," Raven reminded. She watched how her sharp words twisted deep in Clarke's chest. She instantly regretted her blunt statement. "But, I didn't attack you… and I forgave you." She shook her head and admitted, "Because I get why you did it… did it for all of us, including Finn."

Clarke glanced away from the mechanic as she tried absorbing the truth. Her heart loathed the idea of punishing Jasper, easily relating to his agony.

"And you're doing him more harm than good," Raven pressed. "I think this is his wake up call."

Clarke swallowed against the ball in her throat. She looked back at Raven and revealed her glossy blue eyes.

Raven grasped Clarke's forearm and held tightly. "Your guilt is letting him get away with this… and absolving him will not take away that guilt you feel about Mount Weather."

"Raven," Clarke sadly uttered. The whispers from Mount Weather had crawled back into her chest and chilled her blood. She choked against the very guilt that Raven saw in her.

Raven quickly limped forward and gathered her friend into her arms. She could give a fuck if the Trikru saw them in an embrace, especially the damn commander of twelve clans. Raven was in Clarke's life before the commander, and they had their own special bond. As she held Clarke close, she sensed Clarke's few trembles pass into her. She further tightened her arms around her friend.

Clarke hid her face in the soft brown curtain of Raven's hair. Once the guilt started breaking away from her heart, she inhaled deeply and was filled by the metallic hint that made Raven a mechanic. She briefly wondered how she had missed noticing that iron strength about her friend.

Carefully, Raven withdrew but gazed up into shiny blue orbs. "You're a leader first, Clarke… and a friend second to him."

Clarke combed her fingers through her hair. "Yeah." She lowered her hand and found Ares's soft ears. "You're right."

Raven folded her arms and proudly smirked at the statement. "Yeah I am."

Clarke rolled her eyes then shook her head. She cleared her throat and offered, "Do you want to stay for breakfast?"

"Afraid I can't, Princess." Raven had a playful grin and enjoyed how Clarke appreciated hearing the old nickname. "My shift already started ten minutes ago."

Clarke nodded. "You better get back then." She stopped playing with Ares's ears. "Sinclair might demote you to engineer."

Raven sputtered and waved a hand at Clarke. "He loves me too much to do that." She started limping back towards the grounder camp with Clarke. "I have him wrapped around my screw driver."

Clarke's eyebrows hiked up.

Raven wickedly smiled. "He knows to not screw with me."

Clarke softly laughed and slowed once they were closer to the Trikru camp. For that quiet minute, she had a random thought come to mind. "Raven…" She tried putting together her thoughts right. "By chance have you heard anybody talk about digging up a Trikru grave?"

Raven had an odd look but shook her head. "No… why? I thought they burned their bodies."

Clarke tucked her hands into her jacket pockets. She had plenty of trust in Raven and figured alerting Raven would give her more ears to finding out what happened to Anya. "You remember I had buried that grounder that a guard shot?"

"Yeah… that was the same badass that came swords blazing into the drop ship," Raven recalled.

Clarke nodded. "Well I buried her not far from the drop ship. She was Lexa's warrior… her mentor." She sighed then more softly explained, "We went to the grave yesterday to retrieve her body so it could be burned, but it's been taken."

"Taken?" Raven echoed. "Maybe an animal dug her up."

Clarke shook her head. "There were shovel marks," she revealed. "And it was done awhile ago." She recalled how the overturned dirt had obviously started sprouting tiny plant life.

Raven was confused and at a loss. "What about the Mountain Men?"

"Maybe," Clarke whispered.

"Her body could be in the Mountain," Raven suggested.

Clarke was still unsure why the Mountain Men would have taken Anya's body. It was possible but the reasons seem few, if at all.

Raven read Clarke's distraught. "I'm sorry, but I'll keep my ears open for anything."

"Thanks, Raven." Clarke rubbed Ares's upper back. "I'll see you later." She quickly exchanged a hug with her friend. For a moment, she stood there with Ares and watched the mechanic limp back to Camp Jaha.

Back in the Trikru camp, the warriors started their day that included hunting, organizing firewood, retrieving water, and training. The strike of metal and harsh grunts flowed down into the valley, closer to the Sky camp. The warriors practiced hard and without mercy. Off to one side, Clarke of the Tree People was standing beside her warrior and panting after a long warm up exercise. She realized she was a twinge out of shape after being so focused on the peace talks. If Lexa noticed, she never made a comment to Clarke, thankfully.

"Now," Lexa prompted, "We begin with the sword." She broke away from Clarke's side and neared the two sheathed swords on the ground. The twin swords were decades old and were once carried by both her father and brother. She wished the swords were never rejoined, but such was fate. Now their lives would begin again in Clarke's hands.

Clarke had unbuttoned her jacket in hopes to cool off her body. She went still when her warrior approached her with the two swords. She lifted her chin slightly and studied the sheathed weapons. Shortly after Clarke had claimed the swords, Lexa had taken it upon herself to wrap the dark wood handles with black leather for better grip and comfort. Now it was Clarke's time to become intimate with the handle, metal cross guard, and leaf shaped blades. She released a tense breath and eyed her warrior.

With her right hand, Lexa suddenly drew out one of the swords and briefly held the blade vertically between them. She stretched out her arm to the right and spun the blade through the air. She remembered the sword's weight and strength in short order. She then indicated to her second to take the other sword.

Clarke reached and wrapped her fingers around the other blade, but her warrior's words made her go still.

"Your other hand," Lexa ordered. She read the hesitation in her second's feature, but she vowed to be the best teacher to Clarke. She gave a slight yet firm nod to her second.

Clarke released the handle and dropped her left hand. She reached with her right, wrapped her fingers around the hilt, and tightened her grip. She recalled how Lexa made her learn how to shoot arrows from a bow with right-hand form. Today, she often hunted that way by default. Later, Clarke became a quick shot from left-handed form after mastering the right side first. With the swords, her warrior expected her to learn with her non-dominant hand first.

Lexa felt her heart quicken as Clarke slowly drew the blade free from the sheath. She admired how Clarke studied the leaf shaped blade between them. Not only had Lexa wrapped the handles in leather, but she sharpened and oiled the blades so that they were brought back to their glory. Under the morning sunlight, Clarke's sword burned brightly until she lowered it to her side. She then tossed the empty dual sheath onto her discarded jacket off to the side.

Ares lifted his head when the sheath brushed past his nose. He huffed then lowered his head back down on Lexa's jacket. He continued watching his two favorite humans.

Lexa took a stance next to her second's left side. "First, we must work on footing."

Clarke nodded. She shifted into a normal standing position so that her warrior could direct her.

"Do you remember we talked about our weak line?" Lexa prompted her second.

"Sha." Clarke nodded. She looked down at her feet and recalled the early lesson about the weak line in one's stance. As she stood now, the invisible weak line was perpendicular between her boots. However, she had learned if she moved either her right or left foot back so that she stood at a sixty or ninety degree angle then the weak line was rotated towards an oncoming force. Despite the improved and stable stance, Clarke's range of motion would be limited by such an upper body posture. Lexa had told her to find a balance because it was different for every warrior.

"Early on, you must be mindful of your weak points," Lexa explained to her second. "Be mindful of your footing." She pointed at Clarke's feet with her freehand. "Similar to the quarterstaff, your footing will become second nature." After Clarke's nod, she continued the initial lesson. "There are four types of steps in sword fighting."

Clarke looked over at her warrior.

"I will show you three now." Lexa started shifting into the basic step. "The fourth we will do at a later time."

Clarke began mirroring her warrior's foot work. "What is this step?"

"This is called the Gather Step," Lexa revealed. "Extend your lead foot first," she instructed as they moved together. "Now drag your trailing foot forward until we're back in our stance."

Clarke moved with her warrior, at a slow pace. Together, they repeated the movements of the Gather Step until they were able to pick up speed.

"Good," Lexa praised. "Now we'll do the Passing Step and the Switch Step."

Clarke turned around with Lexa and started performing the Passing Step back to their start point. "It's a lot like dancing."

"Sha," Lexa agreed. She and Clarke continued practicing the Passing and Gather Steps several times. She chanted a one-two count in Trigedasleng and slightly grinned when Clarke echoed the counts.

"Won… tu." Clarke noticed their speeds increased as her form improved each time.

"Leid… leid," Lexa commended. She was watching her second's movements as her legs and feet moved in easy memory. She then stopped them and announced, "Now the Switch Step." She first demonstrated it to Clarke. She shifted to her fighting stance with her right foot back and perpendicular to her left. She brought her right foot forward then her left foot stepped back.

Clarke knew it was easy, but it was the constant ritual of the steps that committed it to her body's memory. She mimicked her warrior's movement slowly then together they practiced it to a one-two count.

"Make the motions come from your hips," Lexa reminded her second. "Fluid motions."

Clarke nodded after realizing her slightly rigid movements.

"With this step," Lexa explained as they practiced it. "If an enemy attempts to press us and take an advantage while we're doing this step then we must pull the second leg quickly." She did so as she stated, "Rotating about our center." She had a thin smile when Clarke did the same. "This will work against our enemy's efforts." She stopped them and faced Clarke. "The step works well with the Passing Step."

Clarke considered the combination of the two steps and concluded, "It would get me out of the line of attack."

"Sha and give you perfect attacking distance too." Lexa nodded at Clarke's ability to figure out the steps. "Now we will begin with the different types of guards." She lifted the sword.

Clarke took position beside her warrior. She kept the sword down and waited for instructions.

"We'll start with the Plow Guard." Lexa went into the fighting stand with her left leg leading it. Her left hand was high up on the handle while her right hand clutched near the pommel. The blade itself hovered diagonal in front of her.

Clarke quickly mirrored her warrior's stance so that she was in a Plow Guard position.

"Bring your sword higher," Lexa ordered. "You want the pommel near your center."

Clarke knew her center location was around her naval. She raised the sword higher and held the position until her warrior approved of it.

Lexa nodded and started into the three other types of guards used for defense. She was pleased that Clarke understood them so clearly. She could tell their preliminary practice with the quarterstaff had stayed with Clarke. Once Clarke understood the four guards, they started joining the steps and guards together. Their pace increased every few minutes until Lexa felt that her second was more acquainted with the movements and positions.

"The first strike we will learn is the Strike of Woraun." Lexa took a stance in front of her second. "It is the easiest and most common." She noted Clarke's intent look. "You strike with war, which is easy to make but hard to win without control or discipline."

Clarke gave a firm nod. She took a deep breath and raised her sword into the Plow Guard after Lexa told her. She held her position.

Lexa stepped back twice then mentally prepared to demonstrate the Strike of Woraun. She shifted into her fighting stance. She gave a low yell then blurred into the strike and suddenly went still with her blade crossed against Clarke's own.

Clarke blinked and shook her head. "Slower?" she requested.

Lexa grinned slightly and backed stepped into her fighting stance. This time, she went much slower, almost comically. She revealed her arc and brought the blades together until the tip of her sword was pointed at Clarke's face.

"Nodotaim," Clarke asked.

Lexa obliged and returned to her fighting position. She went slightly faster.

This time, Clarke watched Lexa's footwork to make sure she understood the entire strike. She nodded after Lexa was done. It was her turn to copy the commander.

Lexa went into a guard position and waited for Clarke to perform the Strike of Woraun. She watched every detail as Clarke came at her. She locked on Clarke's blue eyes when they both went still. "You are too tense, Klark." She heard her second's heavy sigh.

"I know… I always have that problem at first." Clarke shifted back to her spot. Her blade scraped across Lexa's own.

"And your grip," Lexa freed her right hand and pointed at how Clarke held the handle. "You hold it like a hammer."

Clarke peered down and realized she had made an error with her grip. She loosened her hold first then adjusted her grip into a proper hold.

"The hammer grip feels secure," Lexa schooled, "But, it will create tension in your arms and limits your ability to move."

Clarke nodded and licked her dry lips.

"Nodotaim," Lexa commanded. This time, her eyes lit up at Clarke's improved execution of the strike. She continued teaching Clarke another strike while they still had time before sun high. Once Clarke learned the Bent Strike, they spent time repeating the steps, guards, and strikes side by side. Somehow, they managed to gather an audience of warriors around them. Lexa wished to bark orders at them, but Clarke's lesson was more important.

Lincoln was knelt beside Ares and petting him for a bit. He only stood once he saw Indra's approach. Like the general, he too admired the commander and her second practicing with the swords. He tilted his head and mentioned, "It's as if they've been doing this for years already."

Indra tore her eyes off the commander and narrowed them at Lincoln. She remained silent despite the volume speaking from her expression.

Lincoln noticed Ares had sat up so he rubbed Ares's right ear then quietly left the field. He had promised Octavia that he would be there soon.

Indra huffed after Lincoln's departure. However, she knew she would see him again shortly when she followed his trail to the hospital in the Sky camp. She noticed the gathering of warriors and started hollering orders. The commander was most likely displeased with them all spectating over them.

After practice, Clarke and Lexa returned to the camp and quickly cleaned up before going down to Camp Jaha. Clarke silently swore that she would take a shower this evening and drag Lexa with her. It would also give them a chance to visit with Octavia.

Outside the tent, Clarke distantly heard her warrior give orders to Indra while they were in Camp Jaha. When she stepped outside, she noted that Ryder and Connor waited with the commander. She inwardly sighed at the display of muscle but at least Sky people were use to both Connor and Ryder. As Clarke neared the commander, she reached at her right and fingered the handgun hidden by her jacket. She made have learned the basics with a sword today, but she was much more apt with the gun. In her right hand, she carried her mother's tablet. She had made a promise to Lexa last night.

"I do not wish to be late," Lexa stated to her second, who was now in earshot. "We will have an early dinner."

Clarke nodded once she realized they would forego lunch. She and Lexa started for Camp Jaha with Ares next to Clarke. Behind them, Ryder and Connor trailed behind at a safe distance. "Leksa…"

Lexa was deep in thought but looked over at her second.

"You're right… about what you said yesterday." Clarke swallowed and sadly repeated, "We're all responsible for what our monster does when it comes out."

Lexa sighed heavily and fisted her hands at her sides.

"That includes Jasper," Clarke added.

Lexa realized the weight of their conversation so she sharply stopped and turned to her second.

Clarke faced her warrior, who was also an infamous commander to the Sky people in a short period. She cleared her throat and shook her head. "I wasn't thinking clearly. He should be punished for attacking me."

Lexa slightly lifted her chin but could tell Clarke had more to say. She considered what had changed Clarke's mind.

"Octavia has asked for lenience from the Sky people but… we're not them." Clarke swallowed but gathered her courage. "I will honor what punishment you decide for him."

Lexa weighed Clarke's words, which were true. She finally nodded and promised, "He will not attack my second again." She turned on her heels and marched down towards Camp Jaha.

Clarke blew out a breath and pushed down her worry. She trusted Lexa and even the Commander Spirit that filled Lexa's veins. She glanced over at Ares and exchanged a worried look before they hurried back to Lexa's side. The rest of their walk down to the camp was quiet, until the metal gates whined low.

Just beyond the entrance, Marcus Kane warmly greeted Clarke and Lexa. If he noticed the two guards, he made no mention of it. He then asked to show the commander around the facility's exterior, much like what he had done with Indra. Lexa obliged him but looked to her second. Clarke gracefully bowed out of the repeat tour and mentioned she would go to the meeting room. Perhaps it would give her a chance to get into the Alpha's network with her mother's tablet.

Lexa curiously watched her second depart with Ares and Connor. She noted that Ryder came closer for protection.

Clarke weaved through the metal maze until she came to the same meeting room. She ordered Connor to stand guard in the hallway. She opened the door, allowed Ares in first, and slipped in next. Much to her surprise, she was greeted by her mother. She exchanged a quick hug with her mother.

Abby walked her daughter over to the round table. "Where's the commander?"

"Kane is giving her a tour." Clarke sunk into a seat.

Ares quieted when he found a comfortable spot close by the table. His interests were on the two humans at the table. He long ago deduced that the stranger was in fact part of Clarke's original pack. Certain scents still lingered with Clarke that were stronger on the older woman.

Clarke had set the notebook on the table. She was having a hard time returning it to her mother due to her promise to Lexa. However, her mother would question why she continued holding onto it. She considered other options to get information for Lexa.

"Clarke, I was thinking…" Abby was seated to her daughter's left side. She sighed at seeing her daughter's wary glance. She wished their relationship would improve, but she believed time would heal it.

If they were able to forge more time here on the ground.

Abby shifted in her seat, which created a change in her approach to her idea. "I want to invite you and the commander… Lexa over for dinner."

Clarke's initial reaction was her jaw loosening and wide stare. She hastily stoned her features, but the brief stutter gave away her surprise. "D-d-dinner?"

"Maybe tomorrow night," Abby continued. "I thought it would be nice… just the three of us." She folded her hands in her lap, but her palms were damp from being nervous about her idea. She expected Clarke's refusal. "It would give us all a chance to…" She had spent all morning searching for the right word. When she looked at Clarke, her daughter, she finally knew the right word. "Give us all a chance to become closer."

Clarke waded through her shock and straightened up in the seat. She needed more than a few minutes to consider the offer. At the moment, her emotions were a stormy mix that could end with a landslide. She focused on her mother's hopeful features and replied, "I'll talk to Lexa about it."

Abby nodded after a second. It was a promising reply than outright rejection. She knotted her fingers in her lap. "I can make your favorite… if your diet allows for it." She already knew the meal was against Clarke's new diet, but she still wished to make it anyway.

Clarke knew the exact meal. Her mouth watered at the mere mention of it. But, she softly promised, "I'll talk to Lexa."

Abby let it go at that point. She then indicated the tablet. "Any results?"

Clarke picked up the tech and handed it to her mother. "It's still a mystery." She returned to the tablet along with her hopes to find out anything about Lexa's great-great grandmother. "But, I can promise you that nobody hurt me."

Abby set the tablet in front of herself. She opened her mouth to speak, but she was cut off by Kane and the commander's arrival. She would have to find out more later. Right now, it was time to be Chancellor Griffin. Like Clarke, she stood up to greet Lexa and Marcus Kane. As the commander neared her and Clarke, Abby's motherly eye watched her daughter's barriers melt under the commander's dominant presence. But, it was Clarke's tight smile and warm blue eyes that hit Abby. And that's when she actually bore witness to it for the first time.

Abby's daughter was truly in love with the commander of twelve clans.

To be continued.

Trigedasleng to English

Chit? - What?

En ai gaf yu. - And I want you.

Nodotaim - Again.