Chapter 59

The morning came and Octavia was ready to blow the horns to call for the march to war. Clarke was standing beside her. They were both in armor. Clarke had her pauldron on her right shoulder, the blue cloth hanging down behind her. Octavia had on her pauldron and the heda red cloth that had been added to her cape was draped down her back. Octavia looked over at both Miller and Indra. They had on their pauldrons, too. The generals were ready.

Her captains were all in front on their respective troops. Wagons were loaded with water and food. They were ready. Eden would be theirs.

Octavia reached down for Clarke's hand. She needed her to keep her steady and grounded. She gave Clarke's hand a squeeze and then moved down from where they were standing. She made her way down through the throngs of their people and warriors. As she slowly made her way down and towards the front of them all, some hands reached out and touched her. Words were said in praise and blessing. All the "civilians" and those not marching were trying to give the warriors their power and energy to help them across the desert and to win the war.

Slowly just before Octavia made it to the front of them all a chant started. It was quiet at the beginning and then it got louder. By the time she and Clarke had made it to the actual front near Miller and Indra, the cries were thunderous and loud.

"OSLEYA! OSLEYA! OSLEYA!"

They were calling for their champion. They were starting to stomp and beat their chests in time with their chants. It was deafening.

Octavia turned around and faced Indra and Miller. She could see the slight smirk on Indra's face. She knew that Indra was proud. Octavia gave her a quick nod. Indra raised her right hand up and started to beat her breast. She raised her chin and met Octavia's eyes. Her fist started beating to the rhythm of the chants of the people.

Miller dropped to one knee in front of Clarke. He started beating his breast as well. As soon as the crowd saw that Miller was saluting not only Octavia but also their Wanheda, Clarke, the chants changed just a little. Now they were chanting for her as well.

"OSLEYA EN WANHEDA! OSLEYA EN WANHEDA! OSLEYA EN WANHEDA!"

Clarke raised her hand to acknowledge their shouts. The crowd finally started to quieten down. They all knew what was at stake. They were either marching towards their death or their future life and survival. She waited until everyone was quiet and looking towards herself and Octavia. She raised both her hands and the people shouted out again.

"We march today to retake the Valley for all of Man. We are Wonkru and they are the enemies of Wonkru. We will make them chose!"

A roar raged through the crowd.

"OMON GON OSON!"

Clarke and Octavia drew their swords and raised them high. The warriors all started beating their chests in salute. A stomp started in the back of the ranks and started forward.

"Wonkru!"

"SHA!"

"KOM WOR!"

As the shouts and chants started to go in line with the stomping of the boots as they marched out of Polis, Clarke and Octavia kept their swords high as all the warriors marched. They watched as Indra and Miller led the warriors into the desert and towards Eden. When the last of the warriors marched out, Clarke and Octavia re-sheathed their swords. They turned to look back at London, Harper, Monty and Niylah. All four gave them salutes and nods before Clarke and Octavia turned back to moving battalions. Together, hand and hand, they followed their troops into the desert.

They marched. The sun rose over head. They marched. The sun started to set west. They continued towards it in their slight southernly manner as they marched. The sun set. They marched. Torches were lit on all perimeters. They marched. They found no shelter, so they set up tents and slept on raised cots. Some stayed awake and guarded the camp, to know that they would sleep in the wagons the next day. Guards watched for worms and other animals. Any movement was met with alarm and investigated. The sun rose and they rose. They marched. They stopped to eat. They marched. Guards were switched out to sleep in the wagons for "worm watch." And, they continued to march. The sun would rise. They would march. The sun would set. They would march. The moon would rise. They would seek shelter, find none, camp, establish a watch and sleep. When the sun rose, they marched. For days, they continued this pattern moving as fast at they could. They marched.

Until on the seventh day, lush green and trees could be see on the horizon. They stopped. They set up camp. And, they waited. They were close enough to smell the grass and the vegetation.

Clarke wanted to run her hands through the leaves and grass. She wanted to take Octavia to the berry fields and push the sweet berries into her mouth. She wanted to show her the snows that were already on the upper sides of the valley. She wanted to walk her through the hunting grounds. There was so much that she wanted to show Octavia, to prove to her that she'd fought the good fight in the bunker in order to give the people this. Eden was their prize, their salvation, and their home. It was a place of rebirth, rebranding, and reincarnation. It gave Clarke peace for six years. She could only imagine what it would give Octavia. She'd found absolution and salvation with Madi there. She found a way to forgive herself for some of things that she'd done, things that she'd suffered, and things that she'd be willing to do (again). She hoped that Octavia could find that, too, and she would be by her side to help her get there.

They moved in the night around to the northern passes to come into the valley. Scouts were sent ahead. As they slightly dug into their position while they waited, Octavia wanted a report and update from Echo or Raven. She sent for her radio and her maps. A war tent was erected and she was in there, Indra at her side, smirk still in place.

"Osleya, come in."

"I'm here. Identify yourself and give me your report," Octavia demanded into the radio.

"Oselya, ai laik Bris kom Wonkru."

"Give your report, Bris."

"We've noticed that the branwada has put up defenses at every pass. We've destroyed weapons at most of them to the North and the West of the valley. Eko is sending us slowly to the cleared passes to help lead the troops into the valley and then to the caves. They don't patrol the caves, only the passes, and what looks like the hunting ground of Wanheda."

"How do you know that?"

"Wanheda's prisa's map," he answered her.

Octavia smiled at Clarke. She knew that Echo had a map from Madi. It was such a Clarke move. She wanted them to prepared, but they both knew that the map wasn't on paper, parchment or leaves. It was sewn into cloth and to look like decoration. That map would become something that Octavia would mount and hang in their home, together, as a monument to their victory. "The map that helped save man, sewn by Madi kom Wonkru, the Strikheda."

"And the guns?"

"Eko en Reivon have been slowly taken bullets. We've massed them in a series of caves. The Branwada hasn't noticed. She is too busy with Fisaheda lately."

"Is the Fisaheda harmed?"

"No, Osleya, she is good."

"Do you know what they are doing?"

"Some the bushhada are haken."

"Haken?"

"Kom branwada skaifaya hakenes-de," he replied.

"From the idiot's star sickness?" she questioned.

"Sha," he stated.

"Can they fight?"

"Over half haken, ai Osleya. They see the Fisaheda every day. Some are better thanks to her fisa op. Others still go to see her. The Branwada sees her, too, but she doesn't seem to have the skaifaya hakenes. She is haken but different."

"Can you find out?"

"I will ask Reivon to find out. She is the closest to the fisaheda Eko is trying to make contact with Murfee and Emori."

"Why would she need to do that?" Octavia asked him.

"Makkreerie is hunting him."

"Where?" Clarke asked as she took the radio from Octavia.

"Ai Wanheda!"

"Bris, where is Murfee and Makkreerie?" she demanded.

"They were last spotted near the caves near a place that Eko called Wodabuka," Bris replied.

"Mochof," Clarke answered before handing the radio back to Octavia.

Clarke paid Octavia no mind as she started running her hands over the maps before them. Indra watched her, smirk finally falling. She could tell that something was wrong.

"Wanheda, what is the Wodabuka?" Indra asked her.

"It is a natural spring that starts here," Clarke said as she pointed to the map. "There is a grouping of caves up there. I used it as store houses for things that I didn't need because I was only one person."

"Like?"

"Guns. Lots and lots of guns," Clarke answered.

Indra paled. The look in Clarke's eyes wasn't good. She'd seen Clarke angry. She's seen Clarke pissed. She'd seen Clarke sad and mourning. But, this was a strange mix of fear, anger and sadness. It was very unnerving.

"What do you need?" Indra just pointblank questioned.

"I need your some of your elite warriors and a handful of guards," Clarke replied quickly.

"Why?" Octavia asked now that she was finished taking the report from Bris.

"I'm going hunting," Clarke answered and left the tent.

Indra and Octavia shared a quick look before they ran out of the tent behind her. They both knew that Clarke was gone for the moment. The woman that they saw was all of Wanheda, and it sounded like McCreary had poked the "Mama Bear" button, too. They were actually both afraid of what Clarke, no Wanheda might do now that they were at the Valley. McCreary had already signed his death warrant. Wanheda was there ready to serve it.

Octavia turned to Indra.

"I don't care who you pick to go with her, but you will go as well."

"Osleya?" Indra questioned.

"I know that she won't let me go with her. You won't let Miller go as he has to protect me. I can't let her go without knowing that someone I trust is with her."

"As you command, ai Osleya," Indra answered and saluted.

"Follow her. Pick your best. Keep them all safe."

"Sha, ai Osleya," Indra stated and ran off to catch up with Clarke.

Octavia searched their quick make-shift camp for Miller. She didn't have to look long. Clarke or Indra had sent him to her side. He quickly saluted and then they both went back into the war tent.

They were going over the maps. Octavia had marked the passes that Bris had told her. They were trying to devise a way to completely infiltrate the Valley before they descended on the village that was Eden. They would break up the battalions into companies. She wouldn't be able to use Indra's knowledge on who should lead which teams, but she would have Miller's input. She hoped that it would be enough. She'd drilled with the troops but it always with the officers, Indra or Miller. She was never with them long to evaluate them. They had been in the bunker. There had been no point in that.

Miller would call the officers and assign them groups. He would stay with Octavia. He knew that some of his best would be with Clarke. Some of the others were already in the valley. He would send some of his guards with each unit.

He left the tent to help his men start to break up the troops. He had also ordered a few to start making flares and other ways of communication since they wouldn't have radio for each group. They were doing things the Grounder way, and honestly he preferred it. He was also happy that they had guns and most of Wonkru had gotten over their phobia of using one. This would make their "invasion" hopefully quicker.

Octavia studied the map some more. She wanted as much information as she could have, but she also wanted Clarke by her side. She wasn't sure that she like Clarke going off "half-cocked," but she knew that Clarke would think things through. Or, at least she hoped that she would. Madi needed her to come home. Octavia needed to her to survive so they could build their lives together.

Just as one of the troops came to tell her that the midday meal was ready, Octavia was ready to snap. She hadn't heard anything more from Bris, Raven or Echo. Clarke was no where to be found, nor was Indra. Miller had a grouping of the officers in the war tent going over their strategy to invade and conquer the valley. She knew that they were talking about sectors of fire and how to identify Grounder (Wonkru) from the criminals (Branwadas) in the Valley. Each group would have a color to mark it. Those colors would report to one officer, who would report to Miller, Indra, Clarke or Octavia. But, Octavia didn't care about any of that at the moment. She wanted to talk to Clarke.

"Miller!" she shouted.

"Sha, Osleya?" he answered.

"Find Clarke and get her to me now!"

"Sha!" he replied and ran off into the crowd.

"You!" Octavia pointed at one of the captains. "Falo!"

"Sha, Osleya," the captain answered.

"Tell everyone to bed down and rest. We won't assault until dark. Have the usual patrols. Move."

He bowed deeply and ran off. The other captains did as well. They all bowed, saluted and then started barking orders as they started to break their men off to their respective companies, guard and warrior alike.

She kept her head held high. She was angry. She was ready for her vengeance to be done, again. She was ready to fight, but she knew that she had to keep her head on right. She couldn't lose sight of what they were doing just because she wanted to put Diyoza's head on a platter and serve it up to Clarke and Madi. She had to keep herself in check. For now. When the battles started, she would lose herself in it and hope that Clarke could bring her back, once again.

Knowing that Miller with be back with Clarke or news soon, she turned back to the tent to take her own rest. She knew that she had to be ready. She felt ready, but she knew that a lot of that was adrenaline. The rest was just pure pent up energy that was fueled by hate, anger and the lust to kill.

Before she made her way to her bed, she turned to look at the maps. She noted each captains' lane and color. She looked at the names that Miller had assigned. She recognized most of them, but a few weren't new names to her but the ranks that they held. She didn't mind though. She'd given Indra and Miller full control of their respective forces as long as everyone knew the basic chain of command. They reported to their captain, who reported to Miller or Indra, who reported to Octavia. So depending on the order, they knew what to do or to report the completion to the proper officer.

Sighing, she started to remove her cloak and some of her armor. She wouldn't remove it all. She would sleep with some of it on just in case Diyoza decided to attack. She wondered if she needed to tell Miller to have someone on the radio. She thought it about it for a minute more before she dismissed it. She knew that they would lose ten men to the patrols and manning the radio today, but it was a small price to pay when they took Eden.

"What is it you need, Octavia?" Clarke demanded as she came into the tent full fury.

Octavia could only smile at her. Proud of the woman that was in front of her. Lusting after her as the armor she wore fit her well and made her look like a champion warrior, which she was. Octavia's eyes held mischief, but she knew that they didn't have time for anything between them. The battle was upon them. Clarke had her mission, now, to complete, to probably save Murphy and kill McCreary. It was Clarke's right for what the man did to her, so she wouldn't deny her. Octavia would do the rest. They would secure the Valley and recapture it for all of Wonkru.

"I wanted to see you before you left for battle, Klark," Octavia told her.

"Why?"

"Because I care about you."

"I care about you, too, Oktevia, ai Osleya," Clarke replied.

"I need you to come back to me."

"I have every intention of finding you in the Village. We will meet there and celebrate our victory together. Eden will be ours."

"I can't lose you, Clarke," Octavia admitted.

Clarke looked at her now, for real. She stared into her expressive green eyes and saw the worry that Octavia had for the coming battles. She stepped forward, closer to Octavia and reached out for her.

"You aren't going to lose me, O. I am the Commander of Death, remember? I'm one really hard bitch to kill. But, I need you to do me a favor," Clarke started.

"What? Name it. It will be done."

"I command you not to die," Clarke told her.

"I know."

Clarke then moved closer to her. Octavia just watched her move. Clarke sauntered up to Octavia. She grabbed her by her chest armor and pulled her close into her own body. Octavia lost her breath as Clarke held her close. There was no space between them. She could feel Clarke's warmth seeping into her. She absorbed it all and relished in it.

"I'm not willing to lose you, Octavia. You will keep Miller by your side. You will stay alive. You will meet me in the village with our warriors. And, you will help me rebuild this world into something more than it was. We will survive. We will make this better. We will do more," Clarke told her.

"We will."

And, Clarke held her. She looked deeply into Octavia's green eyes. Octavia looked her over in the armor again. Her lust grew, but she didn't know if it was for blood or if was for the woman in her arms. Her mind and body were at a war and the energy was building. She knew that this interaction was not something that they had time for. Octavia really needed to go to bed and Clarke needed to go prepare for her mission and head out with her troops.

"Kiss me and let me go."

"I'm never letting you go again, Clarke. Ai hod yu in."

"I love you, too, O."

Clarke kissed her deeply. Octavia could feel the emotion flowing through her body. Clarke was vibrating. So, Octavia put everything, all the energy that was building in her, into their kiss. She wanted Clarke to know how she felt. She couldn't lose anyone else in her life. She couldn't love Clarke this much and lose her. It would destroy her. She knew how Lexa felt after Costia. She knew how Clarke felt after Lexa. She knew because it was how she felt after Lincoln. She couldn't survive that again. She knew she couldn't.

"Well, I command you to live as well," Octavia told her as they broke their kiss.

"I will, O. I will see you again. Tomorrow we will celebrate together," Clarke stated.

"I'm gonna hold you to that."

Clarke smiled. She knew that they wouldn't tell each other goodbye. They couldn't. They couldn't have that between them. It was too final.

Clarke reached up and ran her hand around Octavia's cheek and held it. Octavia flicked her green eyes towards Clarke's powerful blue. She leaned in this time and kissed Clarke. They knew that they really didn't have the time to do this, but they needed it. They needed share a few moments before everything went to hell.

"Clarke?"

"Hmm?"

"I don't know what you plan on doing. But, just as you command me not to die, I command you as well as yu Osleya. Be the demon that is Wanheda on the battlefield. Let them see the 'MamaBear' that I know and love. I will be there to kneel at your feet in the Village. You are my Wanheda en Gonaheda. Command me and it shall be done. I swear it," Octavia affirmed.

"I don't care who you kill tomorrow, Octavia. Slaughter them all if you must. Become Blodreina en Skairipa. They are the enemies of Wonkru. They've made their decision. We aren't just fighting for the Valley. We're fighting for survival, the right to live. We are fighting to get our friends back. This isn't the mountain, this is the Valley and it is ours. So, paint it red with blood if you must, but I will see you in the Village."

"As you command, ai hodnes," Octavia swore.

"We will meet again, tomorrow, in the Village."

"We will," Octavia stated.

Clarke didn't waste anymore time or words. She was out of the tent and shouting for Indra as soon as she cleared the tent flaps. Octavia followed her. She couldn't help herself. Clarke bore her heart. She carried it with her. She commanded it to keep beating and to fight for Eden with all the aggression that Octavia could unleash. There was no question of what Clarke wanted. She wanted Death and she was smiling at him. He would be her companion as she strode into the Village, reclaiming her home for herself and her people, all of Wonkru.

Octavia knew that some still saw love as weakness between their leaders, but no one questioned the relationship between Wanheda en Blodreina. They were strong as individuals, but together they would be unstoppable. Their Champion was leading them to victory with the Commander of Death's blessing. They would be stupid to speak out against it, for Death would claim them without the glory of battle. They would die without honor, and they would all be damned then die without honor.

She turned back around and went into the tent. She couldn't watch Clarke march with her troops out of the camp. She couldn't because she would don her armor and follow. Staying in the tent was the strongest thing that she could do. She would fight for her people. She would fight for her love. She would retake Eden for them all and may the gods have mercy on all that opposed her in the morning.

She laid down. The night would come soon enough. She would be ready. Tonight, they would move into the valley. In the failing light of morning, just as the branwada woke, she would strike. Hard. Fast. And, without any mercy as Wanheda commanded.

The last words on her lips as she fell asleep on her cot were for Clarke, "Kom wor! For Wonkru. For tu Osleya. For oso Wanheda. For ai Wanheda, ai hodnes."