Chapter 58
Octavia had to admit that she was so ready to fight, coiled up like a rattlesnake ready to strike, and ready because of her training with Indra that she had completely forgotten what she had been doing prior to Clarke's words in her ears. She was, however, thankful for the blonde's quick words. Thankfully, she hadn't made it out of the office completely when Clarke called out to her. Her adrenaline was pumping though, and she could tell that Clarke knew it as well. After the last few days they had, it was to be expected.
Clarke just smiled at her as they both dressed. As soon as they were out of the office, they were met with Miller and Monty. The latter trying to hide his blush as they power walked, almost running, down to Monty's lair. Clarke knew that he wouldn't say anything, but she also knew that Octavia didn't care. The people already assumed that they were together after Clarke joined Wonkru, and she knew as soon as she heard someone refer to her as the Skaifayagoufa.
Harper just cocked an eyebrow as they came in, but she quickly waved Clarke and Octavia over to the comm. She handed them the receiver and just waved them on. Clarke took it and looked down at the pictures that they had of Eden.
"Reivon?"
"Hei, Wanheda, ai liak Eko," the voice replied.
"Where's Raven?"
"Toying with some stuff for you mother and Diyoza. I managed to get them to medical with your mother's help. Raven is keeping her busy and making sure that Diyoza is keeping everyone away from the ship at this moment."
"What's going on?" Octavia asked her as she took the comm from Clarke.
"Murpi has been causing problems. MikKreeri is hunting him in the wood. Emori is working around and getting him to the caves safely thanks to Madi's maps. Some of the other gona have been slowly picking off MikKreeris gona," Echo said.
"Where are they hiding the bodies?"
"They lift them and hump out towards the desert. There is a big pit that Madi told us about..."
"I understand," Clarke answered. "Is everything else in place? Do you know how many they have with them now?"
"She's brought most of them down, but a select few remain on ice according to Reivon. She might have toiled with some of the ships mechanics before they were forced to come down. Diyoza doesn't know yet who she has and who she's missing because of her houman."
"Her what?"
"Turns out that MikKreeri is her houman, but I don't think that he understands that," Echo replied.
"But we do?"
"Sha, ai Wanheda en ai Osleya."
"Where do we need to attack from? We're ready to leave. Just give me a path," Octavia told her.
"Klark will know it as the basin and not the valley. It is clear there. They have dug in at the valley and cliffs. Gun posts and lots of equipment. We've done what we can, but she won't expect you that way. MikKreeri is something that I'll deal with as soon as I can get out of camp. Reivon is making me a ... distraction with Abi. Once I am free, I will take care of him," Echo explained.
Octavia looked over at Clarke. She nodded as she started moving the map that Monty had made. She pointed to a section towards the back of the valley. Octavia nodded and waited to see if they would get more information. Clarke reached across the table and took the mic again.
"McCreary is mine," Clarke hissed into it.
"As you command, Wanheda. I will make sure that he is...ready for you when you get here. Is there some place you would like him...store?"
"Find Murfi and his caves. I'm sure he would love to hold him for us as well. Keep him out of sight. I want him alive when I deal with him, Eko. Make sure that Murfi knows that. I'll let him have his turn, and you as well, but make sure that he is alive and somewhat well," Clarke ordered.
"Sha, Wanheda," Echo replied.
"Remember it will take us around seven to eight days to get there. Timing is going to be everything. Make sure that the gona are in position before we get there," Octavia told her.
"Sha, ai Osleya," Echo stated.
"En Eko, monin hou, ai gona, Eko kom Wonkru," Octavia said and Clarke smiled at her and squeezed her hand.
"Mochef, Okteivia. Chof. We'll be ready, swega klin," Echo replied. There was some noise over the mic and Clarke looked to Monty. The boy shook his head. Clarke reached for the mic just as Echo spoke again. "Nestam. Mebi oso na hit choda op nodotaim." Then the line went dead.
Monty was immediately at the computers working on the comms. He knew that they would want him to reconnect as soon as possible if the connection had been broken. He looked down at the screens and typed away for a few seconds before he looked up and into Clarke's eyes.
"We didn't drop connection," he told them. "She dropped it on her end."
"Someone must have been coming. We got what we needed, though. We know where to go and we have a rough timeline. Now, we need to get everything together and prepare to head out. Miller, get Indra. Get the Guard and the battalions ready," Octavia commanded.
"Harper, I need you to come with us around the bunker as we get everything ready for our march," Clarke told her.
"Alright," Harper answered.
"Monty, stay on the radio and figure out a way to keep us in communication with us while we march," Octavia ordered.
They all had things to do and they knew it. It was time to move. It was time to go. They had been preparing for this moment for days. Echo had finally come through. It was time to march. The battalions were ready. They had been ready.
Clarke grabbed the map, and they left. They headed up to the office. They were met by London, Miller, Indra and Niylah. Clarke gave Octavia a look, but they just went to the desk. Clarke stood behind Octavia as she sat down at the desk. They spread the map out and grabbed Indra's map, too. Indra and Miller looked down at the map and the markings that Clarke had made on the map from Monty.
"We've gotten word from Echo," Octavia started.
"The troops are ready to march, ai Osleya en ai Wanheda," Indra told them both.
"We know where we need to approach, but we have to make it across the desert first. We know that this is going to be a problem. Have all the troops and guards been prepared for the sand glass?"
"Sha, Osleya," Indra replied.
"How are things for provisions?" Clarke asked.
"The rations are ready. The water has been bottled. We just await your orders, Oselya," London informed them.
"I've made sure that medical supplies are packed and ready as well for you, Wanheda," Niylah added.
Clarke smiled at her. Octavia had been worried about London and Niylah, but Clarke had been right. When they were both together, they were a good pair. Against Octavia's wants, Niylah and London would be going with them. London would be going as Clarke's personal guard. Niylah was going as a medic. She was needed and prepared. Octavia liked her, but she was still afraid of the other woman. She and Clarke seemed to have worked out their differences surrounding Madi and the crazy amount of "Kool-Aid" Niylah had drunk.
"Get all our people in place. We'll leave before first light. We need to get as far as we can before the high heat of the day slows us down," Octavia commanded.
"London, Miller, make sure that things are in place for those staying back. We cannot leave Monty and Harper unprotected. Indra, make sure that everyone is fed, rested, and armed in time. Harper, get with Miller and London. Figure out what ever you need to know. Tonight, the council will meet again and we'll talk about everything once more before we march. If anyone has any issues or questions, dinner we all meet together and discuss this again. After dinner, we will have our meeting. London, Niylah, you are in charge of making sure that everyone is at the mess hall and then to the council meeting," Clarke ordered. "Also, London, since you are now my personal guard, I want you and Niylah to get your things together and go to the mess and make sure that it is protected. No one who isn't supposed to be in there should be in there. We cannot afford to fail now. We have to be ready to march in the morning."
"SHA!" they all called back.
"Dismissed. You have your orders. Go," Octavia told them.
They watched them all leave. Octavia pushed back from the desk. She leaned back in the chair and dropped her head on the back of it. She was staring at the ceiling. Time was marching forward, and soon, they would be as well. She was starting to feel the weight of her decisions more so now than before. She was determined to get the valley if for no one else than Clarke.
"What are you thinking about?" Clarke asked her as she moved around the desk and sat down.
Octavia moved her head and looked at her. Clarke's blue eyes were blazing. As soon as she saw the fire in Clarke's eyes, her heart calmed. It was like she knew that they would win. Everything had fallen into place. This was their time. The valley was almost theirs.
Octavia ran a hand over her mouth. Her eyes seemed vacant to Clarke, but there was a dim hope behind it all. She knew that Octavia had been doubting herself since everything went down with Diyoza. She'd been determined to go take the valley, but Diyoza's betrayal of Bellamy's deal, then the devastation of her first trek into the desert, followed by Cooper's treachery, coupled with Ethan's death, Octavia was floundering. Clarke could see it. She knew that she needed to bolster her spirit and she knew how to do it.
"Get up," Clarke told her.
Octavia gave her a look. She wasn't used to be commanded or ordered about anymore. Even Indra didn't dare, she suggested things. Clarke was the only one that she let talk to her like that, and she knew that Clarke knew, too. But, still she didn't move. She didn't feel that she had reason to. She didn't know what Clarke was about. She was actually debating taking a nap. She knew that she needed time to rest and be relaxed because as soon as the broke the plain of Polis, she wouldn't be able to rest until they had taken the valley.
"Get up," Clarke commanded again.
Clarke gave her a look this time. She could see the defiance in Octavia's eyes, but she could also see the fire starting to get brighter. That was what she needed. Clarke could work with that.
"Get out of the chair, Octavia," Clarke ordered her this time as she stood up from hers.
She looked every much like a predator stalking her prey, but there would be no pleasure in this catch. Instead, Octavia was worried that she might actually hit her, with more than words. Clarke looked like she was ready to strike. She'd seen this look before.
"I need to see you get up, O. Stand up. We have things to do," Clarke told he.r
This time, Octavia cocked her head in question, but she still didn't move. Clarke moved around the desk and grabbed the chair. She spun it with Octavia still sitting in it until Octavia faced her properly. When their eyes met, Clarke reached out and took her chin in her hand. She forced Octavia to maintain eye contact with her.
"I don't know what you are thinking about right now, O, but you need to stop," Clarke told her.
"I am worried, Clarke. Should I not be? Do you know something that I don't?"
"I do. I know that together we are going to lead our people to Eden and we are going to take it back. Then, we are going to settle down and just live," Clarke told her, the fire in her eyes burning brightly, "And, while we marching for it, we might lose people. People are going to get hurt in the battles. We already know all that. We will succeed, Octavia. I know that we will."
"Because you will it?" Octavia asked her.
"Yes, I do as Wanheda."
"Then we have nothing to fear," Octavia replied.
"Good. Now, let's go show the people how strong we are. We need to assure them that we will conquer the valley. We make sure that they know that we are proud of them. We let them know that we appreciate their loyalty and their devotion to Wonkru. Tonight, we feast. Tomorrow, we march."
"And, you say that you weren't born to be a leader," Octavia told her.
"I wasn't. I was born to be a doctor. Ask my mother. I became a leader because we needed one. And, unfortunately, just like you, I realized that we would all die if I didn't do something about it. So, I continue to make sure that we survive. I have even more reasons to do so, now, too," Clarke stated.
"Which are?"
"Madi, my mother, and you, of course," Clarke answered.
Octavia couldn't suppress the smile that was forming on her face. She didn't have to wait much after that before Clarke leaned in and kissed her. It was short and to the point, but it also conveyed a lot. Octavia was ready. She was determined. And, she had something that Diyoza didn't. Clarke. As long as Clarke was on her side, she knew that she couldn't lose. She just knew it, deeply in her soul or spirit or whatever. She just knew.
"A feast, huh?"
"No one should ever march on an empty stomach," Clarke teased.
"Then, we better go see to the preparations," Octavia replied as she gently pushed Clarke back and stood up.
Clarke reached out for her hand and Octavia took it. She took Octavia into the bed room first. She dressed her down a little bit. Clarke wanted the people to see her as a person and not their mythic Blodreina in the moment. They needed to know that she cared for them like a mother, would protect them like a blakentedi, and would die for them like a martyr. They needed to see that she felt things, but that she was willing to hard as needed.
When she had Octavia sufficiently dressed, she pulled her out of the room and then out of the office. Timo and two other guards fell into step behind them as they made their way down to the mess and kitchens first. She knew that it had been a long time since Octavia arranged for a feast, but it was time. The people needed to celebrate themselves and prepare for the coming war. They needed to spend time together to remember why they were fighting, and they needed to bolster their spirits for the fight ahead.
As they walked into the kitchen, they were met with London and Niylah. The two looked up at them from what they were doing and looked surprised to see their leaders, together, there so soon after being commanded to watch the area. The ranzis were already hard at work when they entered. Clarke waved London and Niylah off and turned to the guards. She pointed to the doors, they nodded and then moved to take up positions to protect them there.
"Do you think that a feast will do them good?" Octavia questioned.
"We will have this as a last feast in the bunker. Trust me when I say that the ranzis will be happy to get their hands on the produce of the valley. We can have another feast once we conquer the valley. It will be a celebration," Clarke answered.
"A celebration?"
"Of life, of rebirth of Man, of winning a battle, take your pick, Octavia. We both know that the grounders love their festivals. We can mark the day and make it a holiday for us all. You have your unity day by making us all Wonkru. Let's give them a feast for the settling of Eden," Clarke told her.
"It all sounds so easy when you say it," Octavia whispered.
"But, we both know better. We bare it so they don't have to. We lead them. We suffer for them, so they can have a better life. That is what we do, Octavia. We give them the opportunity to have their best lives."
"And, we just barely survive?"
"No, we all thrive together. Is that your own tenant for them? Omon gon oson," Clarke replied.
Octavia gave her an unprecedented smile. Clarke smiled back at her as they moved further into kitchen. The ranzis all stopped cooking and looked up at their two leaders. They were moving as a united front, and by now, the entire bunker understood they were together. Clarke cocked an eyebrow and moved towards who she thought was now the head ranzi. She didn't know all their names, but she was sure that she would learn them all soon. She was already committing some of them to memory, but not all of them were because they were still living.
Clarke turned back to Octavia and nodded to the ranzi. Octavia nodded just slightly. Most people wouldn't have caught it, but she knew that Clarke did. She also knew that Clarke was pushing her to find the right words to elevate the mood of the bunker. She took a few steps forward and looked over the meal that the ranzis were making.
"I want to thank all of you for keeping us fed and healthy in here," Octavia started.
The ranzis all stopped moving and turned to face their Osleya en Blodreina. They knew that whatever Octavia was about to tell them was going to be important. They all gave her their attention. Even London and Niylah knew whatever was about to happen was going to be something they needed to pay attention to and be a part of.
"We are going to be assaulting the valley soon. You have been tasked with making rations for us to take with us for the assault. But, I have one more task for you tonight," Octavia started.
The pause wasn't deafening, but it was definitely inspiring. Clarke stepped up beside her, but she didn't say anything. She just put her hand on Octavia's lower back to support her more. She felt Octavia straighten up. She knew that Octavia needed her complete support, and she had it. The people needed to see them supporting each other. They needed to see them be united front. They needed to believe in the power of their two main leaders.
"Tonight I want a feast for everyone. We will have to rotate to eat of course like we have so many times before due to the amount of people we have to feed, but I don't care. Tonight, I want us to feast. I want us to celebrate," Octavia told them.
Clarke rubbed her back, urging her onward.
"We survived the bunker. We made it despite everything that was stacked against us. We survived. We have been reborn of the earth, and we will help Earth be reborn. This is our destiny. So, we need to be able to celebrate and mark this occasion. We will be having another feast and celebration once we take the valley. But tonight, I want our people to celebrate together before we march off to war. I want us all strong and ready to march. Can you do this for us?"
Octavia was met with a chorus of fierce "Sha!"
"Good. We will return later. If you have any questions about the celebration or the feast you are preparing tonight, ask London or Niylah," Octavia told them. "Also, I need you to vote amongst yourselves who will be the ranzihedas. I would like for two of you to share the responsibility. I would also like to meet with these candidates before the feast. Niylah will be able to find me when you are ready," Octavia stated. "Thank you for all do for us all. Omon gon oson."
Octavia turned, held her hand out, waited for Clarke to take it, and then they left the kitchens and mess. Clarke gave her hand a squeeze as they started heading down into the bottom sections of the bunker. Clarke wasn't exactly sure where they were going, but she knew to stay with Octavia. They weren't really armed, but they had a contigant of guards. Clarke wasn't afraid for them. She knew that most of the people there wouldn't hurt. They saw what they wanted to see from the legends in both Octavia and Clarke. Sure, she felt a little guilty in using that against them, but she also knew that it would help them keep the people united in their quest for Eden. And, that was what they needed now.
Each level looked mostly the same, Clarke noted as they kept descending until they reached the bottom. They entered each room. Octavia would greet the people, all by name which made Clarke proud of her, thank them for their contributions to the bunker and then tell them about the feast. Each time they were rewarded with cheers and beated breasts in salute.
Having Clarke with her kept Octavia bolstered, stronger, and she felt more like a leader with her by her side. She was proud that she remembered each of the names to everyone that they greeted. She was proud of Wonkru. They had come together. They had survived. And, they were going to win. She knew it with each cheer that she received. She knew it when she saw the familiar fire in her guards and gonas' eyes. She knew it because she was starting to feel it.
As they kept going, working their way back up into the main bowels of the bunker, Octavia realized that Ethan's death and Kara's execution brought her people back together. They had a common goal again, and it was the Valley Clarke named Eden. They had a mission, and Octavia knew that there was nothing more dangerous than a group of Grounders that had a mission. She'd seen it time and time again. And, this time she was leading the charge.
As they neared the school, just below the main level, Octavia turned and stopped. Clarke looked at her and gave her a quizzical look, waiting for Octavia to tell her why they'd stopped. Octavia leaned over and kissed her sweetly on the cheek.
"Thank you," Octavia told her.
"For what now?"
"Keeping me sane," Octavia replied.
"I thought I did that with my radio diary that you recorded," Clarke stated.
"You did, but you were right."
"I was?" Clarke asked, eyebrow cocked. "I was. But, tell me more."
Octavia laughed.
"I wish that you had been here during the time we were buried, but I am thankful that you weren't."
"Why?"
"Because you became the salvation that I needed."
"Glad I could be of service."
"I'm serious, Clarke. Knowing that you survived gave me something to live for, gave me something to keep me going and to keep pushing the entire bunker. But, if I had you, we'd still be stuck. So, I'm glad that you didn't make it back. I'm glad that Bell had to leave you behind. But, I am eternally grateful that you are here with me now. That you support me. That you are standing with me and by my side. And, that you are going to help me lead our armies to victory in the valley that you now call home," Octavia told her.
"Well then let's go Graunnomfa, and celebrate for tomorrow we march to war," Clarke replied.
"I will follow you anywhere, ai Skaifayagoufa."
