Chapter 19
"We can send out messengers to the Desert Clan and inquire about the myth I do remember having heard somewhere there" Anya mused in a thoughtful tone.
After they had returned hurriedly to TonDC, Lexa had ordered Gustus to stand guard at her tent as she trusted the burly man the most to not even attempt to listen to what was spoken within the commander's tent.
Lexa shook her head at her former first. She did not want to even take the smallest risk now. It would be dangerous enough already to keep the little baby close to her and raise the child herself. Sending out messengers to ask about old stories which were nothing but a nearly forgotten memory now would only carry the possibility of awakening someone's interest. She could impossibly send out messengers without some of her enemies noticing. Lexa knew that queen Nia for example was an intelligent woman who would be able to add up on her own what Lexa's interest in such a myth must mean.
"I can go myself" Anya offered in a quieter tone looking down at the sleeping baby. Right now, the child was tucked into a few furs, nothing more than a small bundle really. Her roundish features were just barely visibly next to the soft fur and a few of her light locks were peeking through as well.
Lexa had sat down on the edge of the mattress and lightly placed her hand over the sleeping baby in a mute protective gesture. She again shook her head, meeting the general's gaze for a moment "I need you here, Anya" she exclaimed in an honest tone.
Although Anya looked slightly flattered, she objected "There are others who can help you in taking care of Marie. I am not the only one with experience with children her age".
Lexa chose her next words very carefully "This is not just about Marie" she said calmly. They had never spoken about their separation after Costia's death but she sensed that it was time to breech this subject now. "I cannot undo the affront I have caused by sending you from Polis, but I want you to return to the capitol with me" she explained.
If Anya was surprised by this open admission, the general was controlling her features too strongly for her true emotions to shine through. The older woman merely inclined her head in mute acknowledgement before she turned from the bed and crossed the way through the tent to the table, pouring herself a cup of water from the pitcher waiting there.
Lexa hid her slight smile by turning her attention fully onto the sleeping baby next to her. She knew that Anya did not like to speak about things like this. The general was bad at apologising and also was not really gracious in accepting an apology either. She still felt a heavy conscience for causing the little girl to cry earlier but she could only imagine how scared Marie must have been by their reaction. She knew that they would not be able to just question the girl about her powers.
Had the child ever used them before? Did Marie herself even realize about them?
Lexa really had no idea how they were supposed to keep this talent hidden from everyone around them. They could not explain to Marie that she was not supposed to use this power.
She sighed under her breath "She will be sought after by everyone if this power becomes known".
Anya was leaning against the table now but had turned around to face the younger woman and she nodded in agreement "We will somehow have to make sure that it becomes not known then".
"You don't say" Lexa retorted in an edgy tone. She had internally already tried to gather reasons as to why she wanted to raise the child herself, expecting to have to justify herself strongly in front of her flamekeeper once they would be able to travel back to Polis. "The better question will be how to keep this hidden" she added in a calmer voice again.
Anya had raised a brow critically at her young leader, but merely nodded again, only giving a slight grunt and no verbal answer as of yet. The general's features showed that she was falling back into deep thoughts, probably trying to think of ways on how to solve their dilemma as well.
No matter how long they tried to come up with a strategy on how to best keep Marie's weird magical powers hidden, Lexa and Anya remained empty-handed. The best they could hope for now was that the girl would not try to use it any time soon or had not used it on purpose before either.
Their musings were broken up when Marie awoke again some time later.
Lexa was still sitting on the bed next to the little girl and she felt the child's body tensing under the furs.
Her large grey eyes blinked open only a few seconds later. The tiredness vanished out of them very quickly and unfortunately was replaced with a mixture of confusion and fear. The child's roundish features began to pull together into a frown and her lower lip trembled suspiciously as if she was only seconds away from breaking out into a bout of fresh tears.
Lexa reached out with both hands and quickly pulled the baby into her arms including the furs which were still wrapped around her.
"Hey, little one, hush" she tried to sooth the child in a soft tone, hoping to signal to her that she was absolutely safe now.
Marie still appeared rather unsettled and no smile returned to her little mouth, while her gaze seemed to remain wary. At least the baby did not burst into tears again for now.
"You must be hungry, little one" Lexa said to the little baby, rocking her a little bit, before she got up from the bed, carrying Marie towards the table.
Anya was looking at the both of them with the hint of a smile and she readily accepted the little bundle into her arms when Lexa indicated so.
The commander stepped to the entrance of the commander's tent and quickly ordered Gustus to go and fetch something to eat for Marie.
Anya noticed that Marie smelled suspiciously and removed the bundle of furs from her small body, letting it drop onto the table in front of her. The smell just got more intensely, confirming her suspicion that the child needed a change of diapers.
Marie's features twisted into a grimace when she began to move a little within Anya's arms now that she was freed of the furs around her.
"Now, now, you will get fresh diapers immediately" Anya said, hoping that the girl would not start crying before she could tend to her obvious needs.
"What is wrong?" Lexa asked, appearing back behind Anya and noticing that the little child looked anything but content within the general's hold.
"Your little one needs a change of diapers" Anya informed the commander with a slight raise of her brow, as she mutely handed back the now slightly struggling baby "Your turn" she commented drily.
Lexa only rolled her eyes at the general, before she shushed at the little blonde girl in a soft cooing tone "You will feel better immediately, little one".
She had learned by now that it was a wise idea to offer a small toy to Marie while she tried to change her diapers. It kept the little girl focused on something else and made her far less likely to try and move away.
The baby's small lamb plushie did the trick now as well and Marie immediately began to chew on one of its long ears, while Lexa quickly undressed the little girl.
"You are being such a good girl" Lexa praised the child in a euphoric tone. After she had divested the baby of her soiled diaper, cleaned her skin and carefully applied the healing cream on her child's skin, Lexa quickly fastened a new diaper around the girl's legs.
She reached out and lightly tickled over the child's exposed belly. In the few days in which the girl had been in her custody now, it was already visible that the baby had regained a little bit of weight and she was looking well-nourished now.
Marie twisted and bent her little body under the commander's gentle attack and the little girl was laughing brightly, as she started to kick her little legs and arms around as well.
Lexa was only glad that the child had stopped looking frightened of her again as she stopped tickling the baby a few moments later. Gently, she also wiped away the dried tracks of the tears the baby had shed earlier, before she also fully dressed the baby again.
Marie was still smiling softly, when the commander took the baby back into her arms, just as a handmaid entered the commander's tent with a small tray holding various articles of food.
Unexpectedly, the baby hid her face against the commander's shoulder when the unknown woman stepped into her field of vision as if she wanted to hide herself.
Lexa let the baby be until they were alone again and she just sat down on a chair together with her, turning her around to face the table.
Marie seemed to like to eat a certain kind of bread which was baked into small bars. They were usually eaten more as a snack than an actual meal and somehow Marie did not really chew on them, but actually sucked on them.
Anya watched the girl "eat" with a slight grimace of disgust. As the child was sucking on the bread, it was getting crumbly and the moist crumbs were quickly smeared all over her little hands and all around her mouth. "You should just give her smaller pieces of it" she commented after some time.
Lexa slightly shook her head. She had tried cutting the bread into nearly bite-sized pieces but the child was not interested in them then, but only liked the bread in the longer shape. The little girl also did not eat the residual part of the bread which was nearly crumbled in her small fist.
Marie's face scrunched up when she looked down at her own hand and she made a whiny tone, giving her hands a shake as if she wanted the bread crumbs to just fall down. She had gotten them mixed with too much of her own saliva though and they were sticking to her skin now.
Lexa was prepared though and kept a little towel in reach. She quickly took a hold of the child's flailing chubby arm and gently tried to remove as much from the bread as possible from her skin.
Marie immediately stopped her struggle and only reached out to take another piece of the bread, giving a happy gurgle as she did so.