Chapter 42
The night thankfully went by more or less peacefully and once Anya had finally ended their little game, Marie let herself be changed and washed without protest. The little blonde girl even fell asleep quickly without trying to argue to stay up longer.
Lexa and Anya had stayed up a while longer, lowly discussing the upcoming meeting between them, while Marie slumbered peacefully with the wolf toy clutched to her chest.
Truthfully, both of them of course did not know for sure if the Sky people indeed would be able to come up with a solution on how to bring down the Mountain and for now, this was the only interest Lexa had in those people. She believed her general that Clarke's intention to free her friends from the Mountain were genuine, but it would be foolish to assume that all of the Sky people were willing to work together.
Blood had already been shed on both sides and Lexa knew already that the tensions would be running high on both sides.
When Lexa lied down next to the sleeping girl, Marie sighed under her breath and without opening her eyes, the child inched closer to her, until Lexa relented and fully pulled her smaller body into a one-sided embrace. The corners of her lips tilted upwards when the girl adjusted her position by wiggling around a little a moment later until her head rested on one of her shoulders.
In the morning Lexa woke up before Marie and the child was still cuddled to her in exactly the same position as they had fallen asleep last night. Lexa remained lying on the bed with the slumbering child for a few more peaceful moments, just feeling the little girl's soft breathing ghost over her collarbone. She let one of her hands trail over the girl's back a few times, gently rousing the child from her sleep.
Marie squirmed in place for a few seconds as she woke up again. Her features had pulled into a slight grimace at being woken, but once her large grey eyes fluttered open and her gaze connected with Lexa's, Marie gave the woman a cute wide smile, broadcasting the gap between her front teeth.
"Good morning, little one" Lexa greeted the child in a soft tone, still caressing over the child's back.
"G'd mo'ng" the child's words were even more slurred than they usually were right now.
Lexa stopped her caressing motions when she noticed Marie's eyes dropping close again and she shook her head at the girl with an amused expression "It is time to get up now, not to fall back asleep" she explained kindly.
Marie pouted for a moment, pulling her wolf plushie closer to her chest and letting her eyes close again, curling herself together next to Lexa's side.
Lexa laughed lightly at the child's little burst of defiance. She just pulled a fur over her little body though and climbed out of the bed above her. There was no harm in letting the child lie in bed for a while longer anyway.
Anya had just sat up in her own furs on the ground and the general was watching the two of them with slightly narrowed eyes, probably displeased that the little girl was so blatantly disobeying.
Lexa did not pay her former mentor any mind now though and mutely moved over to the bathing area of the tent, choosing to just go ahead and get ready for the day. She had already decided that she would meet with the Sky people in full commander regalia including war paint. They did not have peace yet and she needed to show those invaders her strength right from the beginning. Her people demanded retribution for the blood which had been shed already between both of their people and if the talks did not go well, it would be hard to get them to work together.
Lexa thought about the meeting while she got ready, not listening to what was going on in the other part of the tent.
Marie seemed to have disliked being left in the bed alone and Lexa fought off a laugh at spotting the child sitting with Anya on the floor, also beneath the general's furs.
Anya had told the child about a waterfall being close by and the little girl continued to ask to see it now.
Lexa watched the little girl trying to plead with Anya in silence for a moment, unnoticed by Anya as well for now. The general was surprisingly kind with the child. Lexa was certain that her former mentor already would have long told her to shut up if she had continued to pester her like this. She took sympathy in Anya being so gentle with the little girl though and called for Marie's attention by clearing her throat.
"Come on Marie, I will help you wash up" Lexa addressed the girl kindly.
Marie's head immediately whirled around and she smiled at the commander. There was not a moment of hesitation now in the girl getting up and following her order without any kind of protest.
The child had indeed grown comfortable enough with Lexa now, that she wanted to be handed the washcloth to try and wash herself.
Lexa still stayed with the girl, sitting on the edge of the bathing tube, pointing out gently when Marie obviously missed a spot as she watched the child. In the end, Lexa was required to help Marie brush her teeth though as the blonde girl barely had cleaned her front teeth before she already told Lexa that she was done.
Breakfast went over in relative peace as well. Alira had joined them to redo Lexa's braids. Marie had taken a slight liking to the older woman and was happy to see that breakfast again included a small sweet pastry just for her.
Marie was not amused though when Anya quiet clearly told her that starting breakfast with the sweet treat was not an option and that she needed to first eat something more substantial and healthier.
"But t'eat is mo'e tasty" Marie tried to argue with Anya, holding the sweet pastry already in her hand.
Anya gave the child a warning glare, but she did not need to add any verbal warning as Indra entered the commander's tent just now as well and Marie's protests immediately died out. One more stern gaze was enough to get Marie to drop the pastry back onto her plate and start eating something else mutely, not looking up at Indra at all.
Indra was obviously not very impressed with Lexa's intention to let Marie be present during the talk with the invaders.
Lexa knew that she could as well leave Marie in the commander's tent with Alira, but she sensed that it might be helpful for the Sky people to see that the little girl had been treated well here.
Marie watched in interest once Lexa and Anya changed into their clothes and both applied war paint to their features.
Indra had left them again and Marie had taken interest in the commander's glove being decorated with metal pieces resembling the bones of the hand. She was turning the piece of clothing over in her own hand, still sitting at the table before she slipped it over her own hand.
Lexa laughed lightly at the child showing her how large the glove was on her little hand with an expression of disappointment. She had gotten this glove on her first day as the commander, so it of course was much too large for a girl as young as Marie.
The girl handed over the glove obediently when it was time for it and Marie watched on in an awed silence how Lexa strapped her weapons in place as well before she added her large shoulder pauldron with the long red sash.
Marie frowned a little when both Anya and Lexa was done and the commander packed away the war paint. "Me no makeup?" the child asked with a disappointed expression.
Lexa raised a brow at the child and shook her head "This is not makeup, little one" she had read the term in an old book, so she knew what Marie meant without further explanation.
"You are too young for war paint" Anya added almost briskly "and you are no warrior". Usually only their warriors were allowed to wear war paint.
"I be wa'io'" Marie intoned in an eager tone, getting up from the chair quickly and taking up what she must have defined as a fighting stance.
Lexa shook her head at the child in amusement "You will make a fine warrior one day, little one" she praised Marie with a kind smile.
Anya snorted under her breath. The child was uncoordinated and clumsy for her age. It was obvious that she had not received any kind of training thus far. Their own children usually began their training at approximately the age Marie had now, but Lexa had already said that she did not wish Marie's training to begin in the immediate future. The child ought to get time first to get used to their culture, learning their customs and language.
In the last moment, Lexa decided that she would let Marie decide herself if she wanted to be present at the meeting or not. She crouched down in front of the girl who was looking at her with a little confusion.
"We will be in a probably long meeting now, little one" Lexa explained calmly "You can stay here with Alira and play with her or accompany us" she told Marie about her options, letting the child decide.
Marie immediately blurted out "Go with you" and her grey eyes turned a little insecure as if she was afraid of being left behind, clutching onto one of the commander's hands as well.
Lexa gave the child one last smile and nodded at her, before she turned over to the entrance of the tent, letting her expression go blank. It was time to meet with the Sky people.
