Chapter 29

Lexa had hoped that Marie would have calmed down by morning, but the girl remained clingy all through the morning.

Every time, Lexa tried to let go of the girl, the child would try to hold on to her. She had tried to leave Marie in the bed, while she wanted to wash up for the day, but the little girl had immediately followed her, insisting on staying in sight.

Lexa watched her from the corner of her eyes, while she brushed her teeth. The girl was standing directly next to the curtain separating the bathing area from the rest of the tent, holding onto it with one hand, while her other arm held her wolf plushie to her chest and she had snuck her thumb back between her lips, sucking on it mutely, as her grey eyes were fixed on Lexa silently.

Lexa sighed under her breath as she changed her clothes quickly "Come here, little one" she addressed the blonde child in a soft tone, motioning her closer. They could get the girl ready for the day as well now. She would have preferred for Marie to sleep longer, but she guessed that she could always try to let her take a nap later.

She was not sure yet if leaving the vicinity of the battle now would be too early. It was worrying that the invaders had disappeared. She had also of course sent out scouts to find out what had happened to the other invaders who had fallen from the sky only the day before. She would postpone returning to the capitol, until everything was secure again.

Marie stepped closer on her bare feet obediently, thumb still stuck in her mouth as she looked up at the woman with big grey eyes.

Lexa chuckled at the child "I fear that you will need to remove your thumb from your mouth and place your Wolf on the stool now" she said in a gentle tone, brushing a lose strand of blonde hair behind one of her ears in a slight caress.

Marie visibly frowned and it seemed as if her grip on her plushie only increased for a moment and she made no move to let go of her thumb either, only staring at the commander silently.

Lexa crouched down in front of the little girl, bringing them onto the same level and she gently reached out, taking Marie's free hand into one of hers and placed her other hand on Marie's elbow "If you do not want to get back into to bed to sleep some more, we will get you washed up then, little one" she proclaimed in a soft tone. She waited for a short time, giving the little girl the chance to decide if she indeed wished to return to bed, but Marie obediently let Lexa take her plushie.

"I will not just disappear, Marie" Lexa tried to reassure the little girl, sensing how unusually tense the child still was. She could understand that the news of last night had unsettled the girl and she knew that Marie had begun to form a bond to Anya as well. She knew that the little girl had lived through too much loss already for her short life, but she also knew that Marie would get through it.

Marie looked at the woman with her wide grey eyes "P'omise, mommy?" she asked in an emotional tone.

Lexa gently squeezed the child's hands, she did not like to sugar-coat the truth, but she was fairly certain that it was necessary now to reassure the young girl "Yes, little one, I promise to stay with you" she promised in an even tone, although the words felt heavy in her heart. "Let's get you washed up now" she said using a lighter tone and lightly tickling along the girl's sides for a moment, until Marie squealed in laughter.

Lexa made sure that the little girl could accompany her to all of her activities during the day as she did not wish for a repetition of the previous day. It was obvious that the inhabitants of the village were grieving for their warriors. Most of the warriors who had been within Anya's unit and the units she had sent as backup came from the area around TonDC.

None of the scouts she had sent out had returned yet, but a scouting team which had circled around the vicinity of the village had spotted a new group of the invaders roaming through the forest. They had not attacked as these invaders were visibly carrying guns.

"See ho'ses?" Marie inquired in a soft tone, barely loud enough for Lexa to catch her words. She was at the moment standing next to Lexa, holding onto her hand, while the commander was speaking with Indra.

"In a moment" Lexa answered the girl briefly, only looking down for a moment.

Marie was slowly getting bored with just standing there and watching the adults talk.

"I can take her" Gustus offered a moment later from Lexa's side, surprising the commander with his offer.

Lexa interrupted her conversation with Indra again. It was obvious that Marie was bored, but she was not sure if the girl would actually wish to leave her with Gustus. She crouched down in front of the blonde child again "Gustus has offered to bring you to the horses now, little one" she explained slowly in a low tone. She knew that no one would dare to make a comment on how she handled Marie now, but it was still weird to act like this now outside of the commander's tent.

Marie tightened her hold on her plushie, looking over Lexa's shoulder to Gustus for a moment. The burly man was watching them and once he caught the girl's gaze, his expression softened visibly and he smiled at her kindly. Still, Marie shook her head "Wanna go with you" she retorted in a soft tone.

Lexa slightly shook her head "You can go now with Gustus or you have to wait for me, little one" she tried to explain and waited for Marie to think about her choice.

"Gustus' you' f'iend?" the child asked in an unsure tone, biting at her lower lip shily.

Lexa nodded encouragingly. She knew that she could trust Gustus with Marie. The man had experience with children as well because of his own daughter. She could understand though that Marie would be intimidated by his burly figure.

Gustus waited patiently for Marie to make up her mind and it seemed to take a long time until the child cautiously let go of Lexa's hand and instead took hold of Gustus' offered hand. Lexa remained crouched down for a moment longer, letting her hand fall from the child's back as she slowly walked away with Gustus.

Lexa smiled at the girl and gave her a nod when Marie turned around to her once more, before leaving her sight, waving at her shily.