Chapter 31
Lexa remained in her bed with Marie. The toddler had drifted off to sleep only a few moments after they had settled down. She did not know if Marie was too old for naps throughout the day, but she guessed that allowing her a little rest, could not hurt either.
Her thoughts quickly drifted away as well, dwelling on past times she had spent in this very village in her youth. She had been in TonDC often under Anya's care and tutelage. Lexa sighed deeply under her breath, as various memories of her former mentor invaded her mind.
The little warm weight on her chest and the girl's soft breathing ghosting over her neck, felt like a weird comfort now, grounding her into reality. The child needed her, just like her people did. Now that Anya, the only one who Marie really had connected with beside herself, was gone, Lexa knew that she would need to find someone else to help her with the toddler.
A war was looming on the horizon now and for the first time ever, she worried for her own survival not as a political figure, but as a caretaker of someone else.
Lexa had not even noticed how her eyes had closed as well, but she was woken an unknown time later by a sharp painful sensation rushing through her arms, from her hands.
She opened her green eyes just in time to see the glow of a bright light dim in the blink of an eye. Lexa knew that she had scrapped her knuckles a few hours ago and she was fairly certain that the slight wounds would have vanished completely now.
It seemed as if Marie was still asleep. One of her little hands was resting on one of her own, while the toddler was sucking on the thumb of her other hand.
Lexa's thoughts were turmoiled immediately. The child obviously was not controlling this weird whatever power she possessed. But this would make hiding Marie's healing powers almost impossible. It would be impossible to caution the child against using it, when she was not even aware of using them in the first place. She wondered if the toddler would even be able to deliberately make use of this healing power at all.
She carefully snaked her free arm around the peacefully slumbering child's body, intensifying their physical connection. She would protect her with her life if she had to.
The next three days passed relatively slowly. Marie continued to show mood swings and she was literally glued to Lexa's side, refusing to get out of sight.
The few times in which Lexa had insisted on leaving Marie in the commander's tent, Alira had tried to console the toddler as best as she could. On the first day, the child had been inconsolable, crying the whole time in which the commander was absent. Alira had tried to sooth the child, but Marie had quickly begun to fight against her hold.
On the second day, Marie had actively tried to follow the commander out of the tent as soon as Alira had turned her back on the child for a single moment.
And on the third day, the toddler had not reacted with her previous sadness, but she instead threw a temper tantrum as soon as Lexa had left. It was absolutely impossible to engage the child in any kind of play, neither to convince her to eat or drink anything. The child had sat down in the middle of the tent, after throwing around a few of her toys in obvious anger. Her little arms crossed resolutely over her chest and a firm scowl on her features, as her grey eyes were fixed on the closed tent flap. As short as the child's attention span seemed to be, it was almost astounding how long she could concentrate.
"Marie, don't you want to come over and play with me until Lexa returns?" Alira tried once again to catch the girl's attention. She had tried almost everything by now. Reasoning with the girl. Being stern and firm. Even raising her voice, but that had only resulted in more tears.
Marie obviously had heard her, but she shook her head in the negative. "W'it fo' mommy" she answered in a tight tone. It appeared as if her speech had gotten worse during the last days, as if the mental stress was negatively having an impact on her.
Alira sighed under her breath. She hated to see the child so obviously upset, but the girl was absolutely unapproachable by everyone beside Lexa. She knew that the commander was interrogating two Sky people currently. A man had been captured in the Dead Zone and another one had just been brought into TonDC a few hours ago. Lexa had not explained to Marie, why she could not accompany her now. None of the warriors who had been on the attack against the invaders a few days ago, had returned and they all knew that this meant by now, that indeed no one had survived.
"Marie" Alira tried again, getting up from the table and crouching down in front of the girl.
Marie just reacted in crossing her arms tighter over her chest and turning her head away from the woman with a harsh scowl. She had obviously learned by now that she was not allowed to follow the commander if Lexa did not take her outside herself.
Alira just held the plush lamb in front of the little girl's face mutely. It was obvious that she was failing once again to distract the child.
Marie immediately took hold of her plushie, pulling it from Alira's hands and cuddling it to her chest.
A few hours had seemed to pass until Lexa finally returned, dressed into nondescript clothes as a disguise.
"Mommy!" Marie squealed loudly as soon as the tent flap opened again and the girl had gotten to her feet surprisingly fast, rushing into Lexa's direction.
The commander was used to such an enthusiastic greeting by now and immediately bend down to catch the little girl. She almost automatically cooed at the toddler answering her greeting "You missed me, little one, didn't you?" she softly said, gently wiping away the visible tear tracks from her round cheeks. "Have you played with Alira?" she asked the toddler in a kind tone, carrying her over to the table.
Alira already shook her head in the negative at the commander's question.
Lexa's expression faltered for a moment, before she could force it back into a smile. She was beginning to worry how deeply Anya's death seemed to have affected Marie. The child seemed to be moody, cried a lot and only smiled in Lexa's presence.
Lexa had given an ultimatum to the invaders. They were supposed to leave their lands in the next three days, or she would lead her army against their camp. Her scouts had seen them building a fence around it and they had reportedly begun to shoot at anything which moved. She did not know if Markus Kane would recognize Marie or if even knew the child personally. It had sounded as if much more people had been living among the stars than she could have ever imagined. But she would see soon enough as Markus Kane would be escorted into her tent soon.
Lexa sent Alira away with a thankful nod. She could imagine that it would not be easy to keep the toddler company in her absence.
"Little one, you need to let go for a moment" Lexa said in a soft tone. She planned to be dressed back into her full commander regalia, including war paint. She had presented Markus Kane with a completely different image of a mere servant girl and now she wanted to present the complete opposite.
Marie seemed to fear that she could be leaving again "Mommy, go'ng a'ain?" she asked in a whiny tone.
"No, little one" Lexa immediately reassured the toddler "I am staying, but I want to change clothes".
Marie finally let go of Lexa, letting herself be placed on a chair next to the table, watching the commander dress attentively. "Wha's t'at?" she asked curiously when Lexa had a fine brush in hand and a small container.
"War paint" Lexa informed the child in an amused tone as she began to apply the mask around her green eyes with practised movements. Once she looked back at the child, her grey eyes widened after a second of contemplation and she began to cry again.
"Sshh, it's still me, little one" Lexa tried to sooth the child in a gentle tone, crouching down in front of her, keeping her expression as kind as she could.
Marie looked at the commander for long moments, before she carefully stretched out her little chubby hands, placing her hands right over Lexa's war paint "Mommy…" she exclaimed softly with an unsure smile a second later.
"Exactly" Lexa nodded with a smile and took the child up into her arms, before she promised in a solemn tone "You never have to be afraid of me, little one".