Lexa stares at her as if she can't actually believe she's standing here. Clarke guesses she assumed she was dead like the others had. Clarke holds her gaze studying the degree of emotions that pass through her emerald eyes while her face remains stoic as ever. Her commander mask perfectly in place. Shock confusion hope fear relief. Are the five main emotions she can pick up on.
She walks towards her and despite her own best efforts Clarke's body tenses up the closer she gets. Flashes of the last time they saw each and the events that followed plague Clarke's mind. Clarke pleading with her on the mountain begging her not to leave her. Lexa's cold expression as she ignores her pleas and leaves her to die. Never looking back. Emerson's smirking face as he watches Clarke's hopes shatter as he flaunts her people's deaths over her sealing the mountain shut. Their screams crying out as she poisoned the air the mountain people breathe and the looks she received following her act of genocide increase her discomfort forcing Clarke to break their gaze first. Anything to stop the memories from plaguing her.
Noticing Clarke's sudden discomfit at the approaching figure Anubis crouched down into an attack ready position growling deeply teeth blared at Lexa who halts her in her approach at the warning of the dark wolf beside Clarke.
"Heda." She acknowledges her with a slight bowing of her head. She is the leader of the thirteen clans and needs to be shown respect. Other's would bow down or kneel but as Wanheda Clarke bows to no one. Luna would lecture her about not showing the commander the respect she should do especially since she's here to ask her for aid. But really, Clarke can't bow to her. There is too much pain and anger directed towards her for Clarke to do something like that. Call her stubborn.
Everyone else has bowed around them as Lexa walked past. Even Anya and Indra. She can hear the whispers already starting about Wanheda and Heda.
"Klark." Her voice comes out emotionless but somehow holding a sense of discomfort. Me and you both in that respect she can't but think. Her eyes leave Clarke's to look down at Anubis. Not wanting to start something right now she put her hand on Anubis back and push down slightly easing him into a sitting position so he comes across as less threatening. He doesn't stop with his growling nor does Clarke make any move to. "We thought you to be dead."
"So, I've been told." She responds coldly pushing all my other emotions down. She doesn't offer her arm in greeting like protocol dictates. Luna would go mad at her for not following protocol. But in her defence, she should have known that would happen when she sent Clarke here alone. The silence grows between them each waiting for the other to do something. Lexa's waiting for her to offer my arm or bow. Something to show respect for Heda. While Clarke's waiting for her to say something about why she's here.
It becomes clear pretty soon that neither of them are going to move first.
"Heda. Wanheda brings urgent news from the coast." Indra interjects making Clarke thankful that she interrupting this uncomfortable exchange.
"Perhaps we should talk in private." Anya adds on glaring at everyone who is stood around watching them. So much for keeping a low profile.
As Lexa goes to respond that guard returns with a bag full of meat handing it over to Clarke more nervous about his actions now that Heda is watching. " Mochof." She thanks him pulling a clump of meat out of the bag and throwing it up into the air slightly for Anubis to snatch out of the air tearing into it on the ground. "Onya is right this discussion should be private. There are eyes and ears everywhere."
Lexa nods and leads Clarke Anya Indra and Anubis towards Polis tower. Where Luna spent most of her childhood learning under the previous commander and the flame keeper. She told Clarke she has just as many good memories with this place as she does bad. She also warned her about Titus the lead flame keeper. He would want her killed as soon as he finds out she's here. Best to stay away from him for now.
They travelled in silence which was fine with her as she mentally and emotionally prepared herself for this encounter. Anubis lets out a small whine next to her before rubbing his head on her leg offering her comfort. Oh, god he's just so cute sometimes. All five of them together have defiantly achieved a pack mentality. Wells is good but when it comes to pack moving and acts like this he isn't on the same page as everyone else. He has the mentality with Clarke just not the others. Which is another reason he thought it would be best for Clarke and Luna to keep Twilight with them rather than him.
After about twenty minutes of walking, they all enter the council room as Lexa takes her seat on the throne and starts to twirl her blade show casing her nerves Indra moves into position behind her to the left. Surprisingly Anya remains to Clarke's side instead of standing on the right of the commander. Lexa just raises her head and levels Anya with a look but their mutual original first doesn't move holding Lexa's gaze.
"What news do you bring Klark." Lexa emphasises the k in her name like she always did. Anya and Indra both share a look of concern but who and what that concern is for is unknown at this moment in time. It could be anything.
Not really but still.
"Luna Kom Floukru asks Heda for aid as for the past six months Floukru has been attacked and for the past five months, we have been trapped under siege in our city of Delphnea. We tried to send a message when we were first attacked but they didn't get far before Azegda killed them. Their head now resigns on spikes on the opposite side of the gates into our city. Luna says that the she can't hold the city much longer and our supplies are quickly running out." Clarke pause's to let her digest that information before continuing. "Luna also discovered a plot against you." The blade freezes mid spin. She thought that would your attention. "Nia plans on removing you as Heda via calling a commander no more vote. However, she knows that she can't do that when you have three clans loyal to you. It's why Floukru has been targeted she sees us as your loyal supporters." Lexa scoffs slightly at that but Clarke doesn't react continuing her debrief filing that away for later. From the looks from Indra and Anya they weren't expecting her to do that either. "Skaikru and Trikru are the other two clans completely loyal to you. Nia hopes by wiping out one clan she can force the others to back her in her claim leaving you to either fight a war against the other clans or give up your throne in the name of peace. Either way she will put her own Natblida which she has been training in secret to take over from you. Her own puppet which she will use to rule over all the clans. Another reason she is attacking Floukru is to make sure that her night blood faces no challenge to her reign and to her Luna will always be a threat just like you. But her assassins haven't been able to kill either of you so she's getting more desperate."
"It makes sense to take Luna out." Anya quips from beside Clarke a thoughtful look on her face. "Luna was one of the most promising Natblida's leading up to the conclave. Many thought she would win it. If Nia seeks the throne then another conclave would have to take place and Luna will have to fight again. Nia must think that Luna would beat her own Natblida if she's spent so much time trying to kill her. Rather than sending more people after Heda herself." Clarke has no doubt if Luna was forced to compete in a conclave and she went for it she would emerge victorious. She's never seen anyone move like she does in a fight. It's terrifying and awe inspiring at the same time. A little hot too. "But there is still a chance that her own Natblida would die if the others join together to make sure they don't win."
Nice idea Anya but Nia thought about that as well. "Nia's Natblida will win. I don't how but from what I'm told there is a plan in place to make sure that the other Natblida's don't get the chance to fight for the throne."
"You mean kill them before a conclave could take place." Anya staggered at the idea of cheating during the conclave. Indra lips thinning as she turns her glare towards the floor no doubt trying to think of all the ways Nia could have the young Natblida's killed before the conclave. She's guessing security on them will increase tenfold after this conversation. No wonder Indra hates her. Every time she sees her something happens. She must really stress her out.
"It's what I would do." She tell Anya. "Eliminate as many threats as you can to better improve your chances. Nia would need a sure win otherwise all her work would be for nothing if someone else became heda and her Natblida was killed."
"How is it you came across this information," Lexa asks wanting to know if this intel is real or just theories made by Luna.
Looking at Anya Clarke says "As you know I'm not above torture to get the answers I need." Anya nods in agreement as we both think back to when the hundred had Lincoln tortured to find the antidote for Finn. she did what she had to do to save her people. She got this information the same way.
"You don't have to do this Clarke." Luna's soft almost pleading voice makes her falter in her steps. Behind this door is the cities jail cell where they have five Azedgda warriors held captive Twilight caught them trying to sneak into the city. They need information on the army that surrounds their borders boxing them in. "I'm the clan leader if anyone should do this it should be me." Her dark eye's baring into Clarke's begging for her to hold this burden for her.
A large part of her wants to accept Luna's offer to take her place and become the monster they both came here to escape from. But she could never make Luna go down this path if she could stop her. After everything she's had to endure in her life she was able to pick herself up and in return was able to save as many more from the darkness. Clarke included. No, she could never force her to lose herself to the darkness again. The same darkness she wakes up from in the middle of the night terrified. Crying out as her past haunts her just as much Clarke' own does.
"That just means that you should be the last person to do this Luna. Our people look to you for the hope of a better life away from the violence and horrors of their past. You give them that hope for peace that they seek. If you do this you destroy yourself and that illusion of hope. I'm Wanheda. Death and violence are associated with me. It has to be me." Wells stand to her side ready to back her up in their interrogation.
"We can do this Luna." He presses backing her up. Like always "You're needed out here. We can get the information. Don't lose yourself in this war Luna. If we didn't need Clarke to do this I would do it on my own. But I can't and we need her for this. And we need you out here ready for any attacks with a clear mind. You go in there then you are risking this clan. Trust us on this Luna." Luna looks at Wells with pride and respect. He's come a long way since being here. Hell both of them have come a long way from those scared kids on the dropship. And Wells is right if we lose Luna then we lose this war. Luna going in there and committing these atrocities would only make her lose herself. That is something Clarke could never live with.
It took a lot of persuasion but eventually, Luna gave in and let them do what they needed to do. Not long later they had what they needed and five bodies to feed to the wolves. They weren't easy to break but Clarke's medical and psychological knowledge aided her in breaking down the warriors so they would tell her everything they knew. she inflicted horrors she never thought she was capable of before coming to the ground.
Now it feels more like second nature.
After that night she had tried to avoid Luna ashamed of the pleasure she took in their suffering thinking it would be better to distance herself from her. She couldn't drag Luna down with her as the darkness she had kept at bay from so long returned stronger and viler than ever before. Naturally she didn't take too kindly to that course of action arguing with Clarke until she saw reason. She thinks it was the reason that won Clarke back while really it was her own selfish nature wanting to hold on to the best thing that has ever happened to her. As much as she didn't want to destroy her she couldn't bare to let her go either.
"Azeda warriors are almost impossible to break," Anya comments looking at her with something that resembles pride. Almost being the keyword there.
"Everything can break with the right amount of pressure. You just have to know how to apply it." Clarke responds without emotion. "Lets just say that what I did to secure our information and the rest is better left unsaid."
Lexa stands up drawing everyone's attention back to her. "Indra send messengers out to the other clans and our warriors. We are going to save Floukru and bring Nia to justice for her crime against the coalition." Lexa's announcement has relief rushing through her body. Her clan might now actually survive this.
"Thank you Heda." Clarke says with actual gratitude towards her. Moving she's goes to leave the room with Indra following on to by her side.
"Klark stay. We still have much to discuss." Lexa demands more than asks. She can feel her whole body tense at this. Oh... here it is. The dreaded talk she's been avoiding ever since she first left Camp Jaha. Anya looks like she debating whether to stay or leave. Clarke sends her a pleading look which she responds to by releasing a deep sigh pinching the bridge of her nose. She nods slightly turning back to face Lexa. Thank you, Anya. Clarke mentally says. This is why you're my favourite member of Trikru.
"Of course, Heda." Be respectful Clarke your actions now represent Floukru.
Anya looks between the two of her former seken's looking like she would rather be anywhere else but here. Trust me Anya the feeling is mutual. Clarke owes her big time for standing with her for this. We both already know this is going to be a disaster.
"We sent search parties out for you and Wells when you went missing." Lexa's voice was probably meant to come out strong and uncaring but it didn't quite reach that level.
They knew about the search parties during their first few months out in the wilderness. Niylah a trading girl helped hide her and Wells from some bounty hunters and sent them looking in the opposite direction. She told her to survive the winter it would be best if they headed south east to get somewhere warmer. She did decide to start heading east but wasn't sure if she was going north or south. Either way they ended up near Flourkru.
"I'm aware of these search parties. They weren't easy to doge." Clarke can't help the slight smirk that appears on her face at this. I mean come on two sky teens avoided the ground people. Not many thought it would be possible. She certainly didn't. Wells did but he was always positive that everything would turn out alright in the end. She's pretty sure he just acted like that for her benefit rather than he actually thought that. Just another reason why she loves him.
"You wanted your people to think you dead." Lexa assumes. Don't snap at her Clarke. Don't lose your head. She has to keep repeating in my head to stop the anger growing inside of her. Lexa has no right to judge her or assume she knows what she was going through.
"I wanted to be left alone." Clarke snap's at her. So much for not snapping at her. Well done Clarke. You lasted less than a minute. Damn she wishes Wells was here. She wishes Luna was here.
"Yet you went to Floukru. To Luna." Lexa eyes narrow as says Luna's name with venom.
So, Lexa has a problem with Luna. Why. She thought they were friends. Unless this new found anger at Luna has something to do with her. One look at Anya grimacing form confirms this theory. Well shit. "I didn't go looking for anyone." Clarke tell's Lexa her voice becoming cold at Lexa's tone and no doubt thoughts about Luna. Clarke can take insults but nobody goes after Luna. "I passed out on the beach near the coast. Luna found me and dragged me back to her clan to make sure I wasn't killed by the waves or anything else. She made stay until there until I was fully healed and offered me and Wells a place in her clan if we wanted it. She saved us. She saved me." In more ways than one.
"The two of you must be close if she disobeyed my direct orders." She's prying to see what our relationship is. Luna told her about how the commander issued an order that if anyone had any information about her or Wells that they had to tell her. Of course Luna didn't say anything.
"She respected my need for privacy." Which is more than she can say about you right now.
Before Lexa can respond Anya cuts in. "How is Luna dealing with all this. I can imagine it's hard for her." Anya isn't talking about the siege itself but about Luna forced in to killing people again after she fled so she wouldn't have to be a part of the harsh aspects of life on the ground. If she had her way, she would never have had to kill anyone again yet now she has no choice it's kill or her people will die. A feeling Clarke can understand more than most.
"She's doing as well as you can imagine. For now she's focusing on the task at hand. But I'm more worried about her reaction to when it's all over." She replies honestly avoiding Lexa's gaze instead looking at Anya who nods in understanding.
"She's strong," Anya reassures me. "She'll be ok."
"Yeah I still would feel better when I return home. It's... difficult to be away while everything happening." Every minute she's here safe and sounds her people are being attacked. "But I'll feel much better when I start heading home in the morning."
"You can't leave." Lexa angrily shouts interrupting their conversation. Anya closes her eyes and mutters under her breath.
"What do you mean I can't leave," Clarke shouts back at her equally as angry.
"Klark." Lexa's tone loses the anger and turns softer as if she talking to a wounded animal. Which in her opinion is a much worse way to speak to her. "If I'm going to save Floukru I need you here with me."
A tense silence hangs around the room as she thinks over her words. "Do you need me." Clarke ask's her voice ice cold making the room drop a few degrees. "Or do you need Wanheda." Her subtle flinch answers the question even if her silence proves Clarke right as well. "I'm not stupid Lexa. When you left me at the mountain many of the clans lost faith in you for running away from your enemy. When I destroyed the mountain and killed everyone inside I made you look weak in their eyes. That's why you sent out searches for me. So you could capture me and hold me at your side to make you look strong. But when that didn't work you made the deal with Skaikru for their weapons as support. Now you know there is further unrest with your rule and you're grasping at straws to keep your control. And the best way to keep the other clans in line is to have me by your side under your control. Your people may fear you because you're the commander Lexa. But they fear me more then you and Nia combined." With that, she turns and heads towards the door pauses before exiting turning back to look at the stoic woman who she once felt something for. Anubis is once again growling in warning while Anya looks at Clarke with a newfound respect. "You don't control me Lexa. You never will." And with that she and Anubis leave the room.
An hour later Anya finds her sitting on the balcony of the guest room assigned to her for the night. Indra had a guard on standby to escort her here as she left the council room. She guesses Indra could also see the outcome of her and Lexa's talk just as well as she could.
"Are you here to ask me to apologies to Lexa, Anya," Clarke ask's not turning around to greet her instead looking out on to the city.
"How did you know it was me." She asks moving to stand on the other side of Anubis who is resting his head on Clarke's lap.
"Anubis heard someone approaching my room but relaxed when he picked up your scent. You're the only person here he feels calm around here." She tell the older woman running a hand across his fur coat. "If it was anyone other than you, he would have started growling and moving into a move defensive position." Having three pet wolves as guard dogs helped to kill Nia's assassins from killing them better than any guards could. Far cuter as well.
"Smart wolf."
"He is. As are his siblings." She can't but smirk at the dumb folded look that crosses Anya's face.
"You have more wolves under your command." She wouldn't say under her command. They are free to do what they want whenever they want. But they will listen to them like anyone else. Which is exactly what being under her command means. Damn. She just doesn't like the idea of them being anything but mindless slaves. Which isn't what she was insulating. Why has she just made us a big deal out of nothing.
"Just another two. Storm and Twilight. They're back with Luna and Wells at the minute." Clarke wishes she was there as well.
"Of course, they are." Following her lead, Anya plops herself down next to Clarke. "And no, I'm not here to tell you to apologise to Lexa." That does surprise her. She means she know Anya doesn't always agree with Lexa's decisions but she always told her to respect the commander. She doesn't have to like her but she have to respect Lexa in her presence. "I know your relationship with her is... understandably difficult." That's the understatement of the year. "She didn't have the right to talk to you like that. Which I already lectured her on. I won't waste my time or breath on you. You've never been a good listener." Rude. With a hint of truth. "But I am wondering how you are."
"I'm fine." She responds's far too quickly to be natural.
"Klark." She presses. Already knowing she will easily give in. It's always been that way between the two of them. They have each others backs and will always listen to what the other needs.
"I wanted to die." Clarke say's staring off into nothingness. It's easier if she does that than to look at something. "After the mountain I... I couldn't cope. I wanted to die. But death was too easy. Too good for me. I needed to suffer. I needed the pain. Everything night I woke up screaming from nightmares. Those I killed hunted me. Accused me. Wells would wake up holding me offering me words of comfort which did nothing to alleviate the pain. I couldn't cope. I wanted it all to stop. But I couldn't give myself an out like that. I wasn't merciful to them so why should I be to myself. I spent months wandering those forests going from one day to the next. I hated myself. Then Luna found me." Her tone goes much softer which Anya picks up on but doesn't comment on it. "She showed me that I could move past the darkness inside of me. She saved me from myself and bit by bit helped to relieve some of the damage. If I didn't meet her I would have been dead by now. Wells couldn't heal me. He tried. He tried everything he could think of but nothing worked. As much as I wanted to suffer for my action, I was too weak to keep living. Every day I was tipping closer and closer to the edge. But Luna pulled me back. She made me feel something other than pain... hate... shame... and regret. And in time I thought I was getting better. That the darkness inside of me was fading. That I could be more than just Wanheda. But then Azegda attacked and Luna and our clan needed me. So I let the darkness out. The monster inside of me was thrilled to be unleashed on Azegda. Each kill only fuelled me to kill more. I tortured prisoners for information and executed them for the same scraps of information we'd already had. I couldn't let Luna do what I had to do. We're both afraid of the darkness inside of us. And I figured if one of us had to go down it would be me. Now I'm sitting here doing nothing while my people suffer and I can't do anything." Her voice turns from annoyed to sadder and quieter. "I feel useless. I just want to go home, Onya. While there's still a home to go back to."
Anya doesn't say anything after her confession. She just puts her hand on Clarke's shoulder offering her comfort just like she did when she was her second and found herself in an uncomfortable situation which was more often than not.
The silence seems to drag on before finally, Anya spoke. Her voice coming out gentle and dare she say affectionately. "You love her don't you."
It's pretty obvious who she means. "I would hope so." She says with an amused voice. "I am bonded to her after all."
Clarke was shocked that Anya wasn't shocked at her confession. Clarke just assumed she would stutter or ask what. But she just takes it all in her stride. She doesn't know why she assumed Anya would do anything else. This is Anya we're talking about after all.
"I figured." She explained sensing Clarke's confusion. "When I figured out that you two were in love, I figured in all this time you would have had the ceremony. I'm happy for you Klark. After everything that happened... I was scared for you." She admits. "You were in an awful place after killing Finn and my warriors. You got worse when the missile hit the camp. When we left you at the mountain, I was terrified that you would be taken or killed. And then I was even more scared after you killed everyone and left your own people. I searched for you. I wasn't sure you wanted to see me or anyone else but I knew you needed someone around you to help you survive yourself. You shouldn't have had to suffer alone. When I was told that Wells had also disappeared, I was relieved that he was with you. I knew he would protect you. I'm glad you found Luna. If there was anyone, I thought was worthy of you Luna would be one of the first people I thought of."
"The two of you were close." Clarke knows Luna had told her some of her adventures with Anya. As the two came from the same clan like Lexa they did a fair amount of their training together with their first watching them. Her brother and his first as well. A lot of night bloods were from Trikru that generation. All brilliant fighters as well according to Luna.
"Not as close as me and Lexa but Luna and Onto did spend a lot of time with us. As a member of Trikru I was proud to help the three young novitiates improve their skills. From a young age we all knew that the three of them were some of their best in their group and that it was likely that one of them would emerge victorious. As the years passed Luna became the clear favourite to win. When she ran from the conclave I was both happy and sad. Sad that she would never become Heda. She would have been great. Sad that she had to kill her own brother. But happy that Lexa survived and wasn't killed. Happy that both girls lived." She pauses before looking back at her. "Happy that you two came together. Sad that I missed the ceremony."
"I thought about reaching out to you and my family but I just couldn't do it. When I thought about, I would start to spiral. It was easier to believe that you all were better off without me in your lives. I told Wells he could go home and be happy with everyone again. That Luna would look after me. He just looked me in the eye and smiled saying that he is home. That Floukru is his home and me and Luna are his family. Why would he want to go anywhere else."
"That sounds like Wells." Anya chuckles. "I take it he's settled into Floukru just as well as you did."
"Yeah. We both seem to have found peace there." Peace. Even before the mountain, it was a word she never really thought she would get back after her dad was floated. Since then she has been locked in a cell waiting for her own execution. Sent to earth. Threatened by the hundred who were sent down with her. Fought a war with Anya and her people. Killed so many of her people. Executed her friend. Let a village get destroyed and committed genocide. Peace was something she never really thought she would be able to achieve after everything that happened.
She guesses she still hasn't as now she's once again trapped in another war. She really has the worse luck.
"Onya," Clarke says breaking the silence they find themselves in. She doesn't anything but glances towards her. "Could you not tell Lexa about me and Luna." Confliction rises on the warriors face. Seeing this she quickly add on. "Luna wants to be the one to tell Lexa. She said that Lexa is her friend and she should be the one to tell her about our relationship."
Anya ponders her request. "I won't lie to her."
"I'm not asking you to." It's true she would never ask Anya to lie for her. Not that she would anyway but still.
Anya left after the two of them shared a meal and continued talking about what's been happening within the years of her absence. As the sun started to set Anya took her leave wishing Clarke and goodnight.
Lying in a bed is a comfort she hasn't had these past few days in her rush of travelling here. A goodnight sleep sounded amazing considering the lack of sleep she's had these past few months. As soon as her head touched her pillow she was out like a light.
Her peace didn't last long.
As she was mid dream dreaming about the sea and home her dream was invaded by a quiet rumbling sound. At first, her mind tried to interpret the sound into her dream turning the peaceful perfect sea into a stormier setting. Then that rumbling turned into to a growling noise and something wet was poking at her stomach.
Squinting her eyes open ever so slightly to see what's going on the growling sound turns to a quiet snarl. It takes her sleepy brain a few seconds to recognise the sounds but once it registers, Clarke snaps awake her arm reaching under her pillow searching for her knife.
Anubis was trying to warn her of danger as he lies beside her in the bed. Now that she's awake and alert he stops making any noise letting the natural silence take over the pitch black room. Daring not to move she feign sleep and waits. Like a cobra waiting to strike she waits for danger to reveal itself.
Naturally, one of the few nights where she doesn't have to relive all of her awful misdeeds and the worst thoughts and imagines that her brain can conjure up does her sleep get interrupted. And here she thought she could go at least one night without having to suffer through her never-ending nightmares.
A moment let the door to her room ever so slightly creeks open letting some of the hallway light floods into her room. Three pairs of almost silent footsteps echo in the otherwise dead room. Three people peak into her room slowly making their way over to her. Seconds tick as they pull their blades from their sheaths that noise ringing in Clarke's ears as they spread themselves out around her bed. One to her right the other to her left with another lingering slightly behind. The watcher no doubt.
Gripping her knife, she tenses her body ready to strike.
Everything happens at once. The two assassins closest to her raise their blades ready to kill her in her sleep. As they make their move, they make theirs. Anubis reacts first launching himself up from under the covers his teeth sinking into the man's arms as his body weight throws him to the floor. He screams out in pain. A second later Clarke reacts blocking her assailant's armed arm stopping his attack mid strike. With her armed arm she attacks with a quick and precise cut she slits her blade along the base of his throat and the effect is instant as he starts to choke on his own blood as it gushing out the slice. The splat covers her face and chest but that doesn't bother her. Nor does it seem to bother him as with his fading strength he once again attempts to stab her. Reacting on instinct Clarke plunges her own blade into his hand causing him to drop his weapon. A second later he falls down as well. The fight leaning him. He falls with her blade still embedded in his hand.
The man Anubis attacked is still screaming as her wolf tears into him ripping flesh and bone out of him as he tries to protect his vital organs. The third man seeing his two partners fall. Hesitates slightly no doubt deciding if he should try to finish the job or make his own escape. No doubt the guards will be on their way from all the noise his friend's screams are causing.
Looking at Clarke their eyes lock and the marks on his face become all too clear. The marks of Azedga. With his sword in hand he looks her over noticing that she's defenceless. Clarke's own eyes flick over to her own sword leaning against the table in the middle of the room. He follows her eyes seeing her only chance at living. They turn back to each other daring the other to make their move.
Clarke move's first throwing the covers of the bed back sprinting over to where her sword lays. He takes off running at the same time. The race for survival begins. Clarke reaches the swords first grabbing it as he throws her a sideways slice. She manages to throw her body to the ground and rips her sword out of it's sheath as he brings down his sword in a second attack.
The two metal blade clang against one another echoing around the room. She can feel the vibration of the clash fuses through her bones. He pulls back giving her the chance to get herself out of this awful situation. Swinging her leg with as much power she can muster she kicks his right knee. Throwing his balance off just enough for Clarke to regain her own footing. The two of them compare attack with both swinging and blocking the other. Clarke block's his attacks one after another following his blade with her own protecting each part of her body.
He waits believing she will give him an opening. Her leg her hip her stomach her chest her stomach her shoulder her head. Her other leg her neck. He slices at her trying to gain her blood. One of his attacks leaves him up and just like a cobra she strikes. Clarke bats his arm away before pulling back and plunging her own into his chest.
Ripping the blade back out she doesn't waste time as she makes sure he stays down. Her blade sliced down from his right shoulder to his left hip a trail of blood following in it's path. Pulling back once more she aims and strikes forward pushing her sword through his eye socket and out the back of his skull.
His body goes limp dropping to his knees only being held up by her sword. Anya and four other guards burst into her room just in time to see Clarke slowly remove her blade from his head. As his body drops to the floor dead.
Anya stares at her covered head to toe in blood as she makes her way around to see Anubis who at this point in time had squirmed his way through to the third assassins' neck and ripped it open. His nose mouth and fur like Clarke are covered in blood as it drips from his mouth on to the floor. He jumps over to her side taking in the armed people standing in front of her.
"I'm fine Onya." She assures her seeing some traces of fear on her face. "How did Azgeda know I was here." She asks staring at Anya as her eyes now shine with relief and pride. "How did they get into the tower."
"I don't know." She says before frantically ordering the guards to check on Heda and searching the tower top to bottom looking for others. The guards run off without a second thought. "Are hurt." She asks trying to look her over for wounds. Three on one during a sneak attack aren't the best odds. But they didn't expect the wolf. Clarke can understand her concern for seeing her like this and not to have been harmed in any way.
Clarke just waves her off. "None of it's mine." She tells her wiping her sword clean on one of her wannabe killers pants leg.
"You did well." She says picking the blade out of the first man she killed handing it back over to her. "Not many would have been able to survive an attack like this."
"Not many have a wolf sleeping in their bed." Clarke counter with an amused smirk. If Anubis didn't pick up the threat she might not have been able to react fast enough to save her life she could have been over powered by the three assassins. "Queen Nia knows I'm here." She has too by now. I don't know how but she must. Maybe I didn't escape Floukru unnoticed. She would have had to have sent the assassins at least a day in advance.
"It's almost dawn," Anya states looking out the window. "Our army should be getting ready to set off soon enough. You might want to clean up." She quickly checks my room for any other surprises before leaving and closing the door. Her shadow leaking through the crack at the bottom of the door shows that she's decided to stand guard for Clarke. A sweet gesture which Clarke appreciates.
Not wanting to waste any time Clarke walks over to the water basin dipping a piece of cloth into the water she washes off the blood staining her exposed skin. The water slowly starts to turn red. Taking off her sleepwear she drowns them in the water before pulling them out and leaving them hanging up to dry. Grabbing a fresh set of clothes she quickly gets them ready for herself to change into so she's ready for war. She should have kept her sword closer to my bed last night. She scolds herself. A mistake on her part.
The few seconds could have cost me my life. Luna would have killed me for making such a mistake.
"Anubis." Clarke call's out waiting for her amazing protective wolf to arrive. He walks into the bathroom takes one look at Clarke then at the water in the basin then back at Clarke before growling. "Anubis." She says again more sternly. "Sit down." He slowly backs away. He really hates baths. She really hasn't got the time to deal with this. "Just let me wash the blood off your mouth." She pleads Skittishly he makes his way towards her. As quickly as she can she manage to clean his mouth.
Sending him on his way she pulls on her leather clothes now she doesn't have to worry about wrestling a giant wolf in a bath tub.
"Klark." Lexa's concerned voice shouts out as she bursts into the bedroom. A few seconds earlier and she would have gotten a show but thankfully she's fully dressed when she pushes past Anya into the room. Anya just gives her an apologetic look over Heda's shoulder. Clarke sends her a smile telling her it's fine before turning her attention to Lexa. "I heard what happened are you harmed."
"I'm fine Heda." Clarke tries to reassure her. Her green eyes search for deception for any signs of discomfort. "How did they get into the tower," she asks again moving the conversation on from her. Lexa looking at her like that brings back memories of the two of them. A rabbit hole she really doesn't want to go down at the minute.
She knows the two of them are going to have to talk at some point about everything that happened. Clarke think's they both need to, to at least bring some closure to the subject. Her actions at the mountain shattered Clarke as a person. They forced her to do something monstrous. Some part of her died. A part of her she can never get back. But not only that but she hurt her. She hurt her in a way she's have never been hurt before. Yes, Finn hurt her when she found out about Raven. But this type of betrayal was on a whole other level.
She made her terrified to trust people. She lost her faith in love. Which she knows sounds stupid but she did. She thought after Lexa. After Finn. After Alex that she could never fully love someone again. That she could never trust them with her heart.
Luna struggled getting through to her. She once told Clarke at the start of their relationship sometimes she felt like she was fighting a war with her. That even when they started to go somewhere, she did her best to destroy it. She made life so difficult for her. She knows that now and she knew that when it was happening.
But she never gave up on them. The more Clarke struggled against her the more she embraced her. She knew just how damaged Clarke was. But she never gave up. She gave her space when she needed it. Went as slow as she wanted. She made sure Clarke could trust her with the big things and the little things.
And just like that slowly but surely the walls she had put up around her heart slowly came down. Or she broke through them. She doesn't know. But she made Clarke believe again. And she's never let her down. Clarke knows she won't if it's within her power.
Her and Lexa could have had something special. Something real. But she ruined all that.
Now she's worried that her and Luna will ruin her.
"I don't know. This floor is supposed to be secure." Anya replies to her question again. Anything to stop Lexa from staring at her like that.
"I'll have my guards look into the matter." Lexa says taking the bait her eyes flicker from Clarke's to the dead would be assassins. "For now, we should get ready. We go to War today."
For some of them, the war has been going on for months already.
After quickly grabbing something for both her and Anubis to eat. They make their way down to the stables. Anya Indra and Lexa are already there all armoured and ready for war. Looking at their pristine amour Clarke can't help but feel a sliver of jealously. As Floukru is mostly against war they don't have many sets of amour for extra protection. Everyone has their padded clothes for training but not the full padding. They never had the need for it. Our people could have used this. Maybe more would still be alive if they did.
Luna always made sure they had enough for the guards of our settlements and then a few extra sets just in case. But not enough for everyone to have on hand.
They've had to make do with what they had on hand.
"Are you ready for this Klark." Lexa asks mounting her horse. The entire army of Poils stands ready nearby. Messages were sent out to the other clans and they will be meeting us on the road to Floukru.
"Sha Heda," Clarke replies stroking Dusk's neck before mounting her. She seems better after having a day's rest but Clarke's still worried that she's pushing her too hard. At least the march to Floukru will be slower this time so she can take more breaks. "Let's go home girl." She whispers as she strokes her neck.
Lexa makes her way to the front of the gathered crowd who are no doubt waiting for her to give a speech. She doesn't disappoint them. Shouting out in trigedasleng she says, "Today we march to defend our allies. Today we march to stop an injustice brought upon by another clan. Today we march against Azdeda to stop them from invading any other of the clans of the coalition. Azgeda believes they are above the rest of the clans when they decided to attack. Today we will stop Azegeda's reign of terror to bring peace to the thirteen clans. Today we go to war."
The Chants for Heda and Kom Wor ring out among the gathered warriors. Say what you want about Lexa but she is good at giving speeches. Almost as good at Luna. She manages to suppress a chuckle at that thought.
Anubis is by her side like always as they start the march to Delphnea. She just hopes the other's can hold on long enough for us to get there.
"So gyon op, gon woda so kom daun." Clarke mutter's laying to rest one of her warriors who got attacked by some bandits on a hunt. When they first fully decided to join Floukru she and Wells had to learn about their traditions. Unlike Trikru who say ai gonplei ste odon or yu gonplei ste odon which translates to my/ your fight is over Floukru say from water we are born, to water we return. Which she thinks is better as it shows that life is more than just fighting. Or at least that's what, she thinks. She's spent far too much time trapped in her own mind so she can come up with some strange things and over think everything. During her self-imposed exile focusing on the smaller things helped her to at least distract herself from the monster within herself. Wells would just laugh when she told him things like this before the two of them fell into an easy discussion about what else it could mean making links that make no sense. He's too good for her.
"Bandits are getting more confident," Delano states as she stands back up letting Rora and Luka pick up Otan's body. Anubis and Twilight hover nearby keeping a look out for them as well as guarding their kill. Delano isn't wrong in the past few month's bandit attacks on our hunting parties and ambushing on our people travelling from village to village has increased drastically. It's almost as they are testing us. But what for. "Something isn't right Klark."
Wiping away some of the smeared blood on her face Clarke takes in the sight of the six dead bandits. Anubis and Twilight killing one each. She slew two of their attackers. Delano got one as did Rora. Luna is against violence. Especially killing but even she knows that we have to protect ourselves from others who try to kill us. When Clarke first joined, she assumed by the way Luna spoke of killing that she as dead set against it. Well, she is but she allows her people to kill in self defence if the need arises. And recently that need has risen more and more often.
"No, it isn't. And I get the feeling we aren't going to like what happens next." She tells him as they start the journey back to Lotade. "I'll talk to Luna about it but we should increase the amount of people we send out just to be safe."
Delano nods in agreement. Otan is the seventh person we recently lost to these bandits with many more injured. "When do you leave for Baltic." He asks keeping an eye on our surroundings. Behind us Anubis is trialling with Twilight dragging the deer's body along the floor.
"I was supposed to leave in two days but I think I'm going to stick around here a little while longer. Maybe we can figure out what's going on." As her job as Lead healer for Floukru has her moving around a lot to make sure everywhere is running smoothly and teaching the wannabe healers of her clan has her jumping from village to village most of the time. She has a tendency to spend more time in the bigger cities likes Delphnea as there's more to do and she's needed there the most. But with the bandits targeting this area so much she was called down here with Rora and Luka as well as Anubis and Twilight acting as my personal guards.
"Thank you Klark kom Floukru." He says earnestly. Clarke smiles slightly at the use of Floukru in her name finding it more suitable to who she now am.
"No need to thank me Delano Kom Floukru. We do what we must to protect our people." She'll send Luka to give a message to Luna and Wells about what's happening out here. Maybe the two of them can come up with a plan on how to stop these bandit raids. Something about them just feels different to the other attacks we've sustained over the years. She can't quite explain but it feels like something is coming. Something big.
She should have known that the bandits were testing our defences for a reason. She should have prepared more. But after a few months of increased bandit activity, it just seemed to stop. At first, they weren't sure what happened but as time passed it was becoming more likely the bandits had just moved on. It's dangerous for them to stay in one place for long periods of time. It's too easy to find them that way and ambush them instead.
But it wasn't bandits. It was azegda getting ready to wipe us out.
She should have known better.
"Best not to dwell on the past Klark," Anya says riding next to her not even sparing Clarke a glance. After all this time it's strange that she can still read Clarke so well. And here she thought she had got better at hiding her feelings.
"The past is written. The ink has already dried. I know. But we still have to learn from our mistakes. Otherwise, we will suffer the same fate again." She can see Anya raise an eyebrow at her words.
"You've learnt well." She says with a hint of pride in her tone. "But you're still dwelling. Don't hide behind words. You already know what went wrong. Now you keep thinking about it. Don't make yourself suffer in some kind of idea of justice or redemption. You have to move on otherwise you will be stuck and unclear on what comes next."
"I've really missed you Onya." She tells her not caring if others might call her weak for it. When she first became one of the leaders of the hundred she had no clue what it is she was doing. She just did everything she could think of to keep her people alive. The same can be said when she lead Skaikru in the treaty with the grounders. Sometimes it felt like she was so far out of her depth. That her mom was right that she shouldn't be leading. That she was still a child. But Anya taking her on as her second and helping her with basically everything showed her that she wasn't making a mistake and that she was doing a good enough job for her people.
Anya trained her how to fight how to hunt how to speak the grounder language and she filled her in all the clan's histories and traditions. Everything she would need to understand as a leader on the ground.
"As much as I hate to admit it, I've missed you to Skaiprisa... Or should I call you Boat Queen now." She jokes but Clarke can honestly say that she prefers being called boat queen. Feels like a promotion. She's come a long way from that girl who walked out of that dropship. Bedside's It's much better than being called Wanheda.
"Klark's just fine Onya." She's glad that their reunion went so smoothly. It's the others she's afraid to see. After so long and her leaving them she has no idea how they will react. Well, she does. They are either going to be happy to see her or more angry that she left them in the first place. "Are we meeting Skaikru on the road or when we there." Clarke sheepishly asks not sure what method she would prefer. Seeing all her old friends will be difficult. She wishes Wells was here. He would be thrilled to see everyone. Clarke not so much.
"Heda thought it best if we camp at Arkadia before setting off again in the morning," Anya informs her looking unsure about the subject. Her distress must be showing. "If you want we can bring some of them to you instead of you going to them."
The thought does sound appealing but they have a war to deal with. Better to just do everything as quickly as possible. Besides if she goes to them she can leave if she has to. If they come to her she's basically trapped with them which is worse.
"No, it's fine. I'll go to them." She tells her thanking her for the choice. "It'll be nice to see what everything's like now." She wonders if more of the ark was found. The last time she was there they were missing a few stations. She wonders if anyone else made it to the ground.
"How did you get three wolves to follow you." Anya asking changing the conversation for her sake. You know for someone who acts like a big bad grounder leader she's really a big softy. Not that she would ever say that. Anya would so stab her for her false words. And then lecture her for hours.
"Well, you see what happened was..." Clarke trails off before launching into the tale of finding the wolf pups in the forest.
Above her, the clear night sky shine's down. A full moon lurking just above her. How many nights had she and Clarke spent together under the night sky. Luna would show Clarke the constellations and Clarke would tell her of her home among the stars and stories of the old world. Like the myth of Scorpius. A scorpion sent by Artemis to kill Orion a mythical hunter after he tried to ravish her.
Apparently, her nontu was a lover of the old world's myths and legends. A passion he passed on to his gofua.
Sometimes Luna tries to imagine what her life would have been like if she was born on the ark with Clarke. Would they have met. Would they have been friends. Would they have been them. Would her parents have like her.
Other times she imagines what Clarke would have been like if she grew up on the ground. What clan would she have been from. If had to Luna say she would think that Clarke would come from Trishana or Ouskejon kru When Luna ran away from the conclave would Clarke have followed. Or would Luna have won the conclave to be with Clarke.
So many what if's. So many different possibilities.
But she knows that she would never give her reality here with Clarke. Those small moment's just between the two of them make her life worth living in a world built on survival.
The silence hangs uneasily through the air for Luna. Most of her people have managed to catch some sleep in between the attacks thrown at them by Azegda. Her sword weighs heavily by her side a constant reminder of the lives she has taken and will continue to take until Clarke and Lexa arrive with an army to save them or her clan's complete and utter destruction.
So much death for what. For Nia to feel in control. To be at the top. People like her are the reason why humans don't deserve to exist in this world. She's a plague on the world.
"You have that look on your face again." A voice breaks her line of thought. Turning her head Luna spots Wells leaning against the stone pillar of one of the walls of the guardhouses.
"What look." Luna asks hiding her annoyance for not paying attention to her surroundings more closely. If Wells was an assassin, she wouldn't have seen them coming. Sloppy and dangerous on her part. She just glad Clarke didn't see that moment of weakness for the amount of times she's scolded Clarke for not paying close enough attention. She would never live it down.
Wells eyes look her over. Not in a sexual manner but more like looking over her wellbeing. "The look of wondering what's the point in this fight." He pauses looking away from here over the wall. Somewhere in the forests all around them Azegda warriors are camped waiting for the best time to strike. She follows his lead keeping a lookout which is why she's here after sending the guard on duty to bed for the night. "Clarke had the same look after Mount Weather."
Thoughts of what her houmon had to suffer through make her feel sick. For one like Clarke to suffer like that is unforgivable. Even now years later Clarke still suffers from horrific night terrors waking both of them up. Not that she doesn't have her own demons but she had found some peace in her actions. Clarke never had that. No matter how much she likes to believe that she's managed to move past what happened.
"I know," Luna mutters. "You shouldn't be out here Wells," Luna says changing the subject from the painful thoughts of her houmon. She prays to the spirits that Clarke managed to escape. That she made it to Poils. That Lexa and Anya are protecting her. Anything to be safe and as far away from here as possible.
"Neither should you." He fairly counters. "You were supposed to rest tonight."
"I can't." She admits quietly. Having Klark so far is painful and lying in bed alone she can't stop the horrible thoughts about what might have happened to her fill her mind. When she does drift her nightmares haunt her. Her brother. The people she swore to protect. Clarke. They all blame her for their suffering. And they would be right.
If she isn't sleeping then why should one of her people have to suffer through a watch when she can do it. Anything to keep her mind away from the truth that hangs around her.
Wells nods seeming to understand this. "Still you shouldn't be out here alone." He says.
"Storm and Twilight need to rest as well." Luna defends her decision to come out here alone. She knows that every member of Azegda out there is hoping to be the one to kill her. To claim that honour. Being alone just makes her an easier target. "I can look after myself."
"Clearly." He replies and she can't tell if he's being sarcastic or not. For now, she ignores the comment.
"What are you doing out here Wells." Luna asks instead.
"Watching my sis's back." he replies without hesitation. "I'm worried about you."
Hearing Wells call her his sis warms her heart. After she killed her brother, she never really thought she would have any family again. Now she has Clarke and a new bro looking out and caring for her. She never really thought she would accept anyone into their places but the two former Skaikru had somehow managed to wormed their way into her darkened heart bringing new life and light.
She remembers during the start of her friendship with Wells the two of them bonded over trying to help Clarke return from the darkness she was thrown into. From there she helped the two of them understand grounder culture answering any questions they might have. Naturally, during this period Wells did most of the talking as Clarke wasn't fully with them.
Wells was the one to first one to teach her how to play chess. She can still remember the look on his face after she beat him in two moves thanks to Clarke's private lessons. Clarke had wanted me to put Wells in his place saying his head was starting to get too big. The complete shock on his face when she made her move is funny, to say the least. Clarke jokes that he seemed to just shut down after it happened staring at the board in disbelief.
When he eventually came back to the present, he congratulated her on her win thrilled with her progress in the game. He then challenged her to another game determined not to lose again.
"I'm fine Wells." Luna tries.
"No, you're not." Wells replies.
"Well, we are in the middle of a war." Luna shots back seeing a small smile tug on the corner of Wells mouth for a split second.
"A war you think we're going to lose," Wells states glumly.
"We all know without aid soon we can't win this." They are rapidly running out of supplies. Food won't last any longer than another month. Fortifications to reinforce the wall and doors is dwindling. The healers hunt is dissolute. The only type of medicine they have left are bandages which need to be washed or just burning a wound shut. They ran out of infection herbs and pain numbing herbs three months in. Clarkes has done all she could to keep everyone alive and safe and to be fair she has done better than anyone else could have but even then, she is only human. "That's why you sent Clarke away isn't it," Wells says realisation setting in.
"She would never abandon us," Luna admits. Clarke is many things but she would never have left her people to die. She just couldn't. Especially after what happened at the mountain. "But at least if she makes to Poils Lexa and Anya will be there to protect. The three of them will stop Nia and save the coalition. As long as Klark is safe then everything was worth it. She's the most important thing in the world to me. I needed her to be safe." She says the last part coming out no louder than a whisper. She plays with the neckless Clarke had gifted her after their bonding ceremony.
It's a thin chain with a silver banded ring with blue sapphire in the middle with two small diamonds. One on each side of the sapphire. Apparently, it was her great grandmother engagement ring which gets passed down to each woman in each generation. An engagement is apparently the time spent between the courting and the bonding ceremony. Sky people don't have a bonding ceremony they have a wedding exchanging rings instead of the tied clothe as the grounders do in Trikru and Floukru.
After hearing this and the sentiment behind the ring Clarke bestowed upon her has her chosen Luna thought about getting her a ring but Clarke said no. Well, actually she said that Luna could give her a ring the day they get married under Skaikru laws when she eventually got the strength to go back.
Since then, Luna has been trying to figure out what gemstone she wants to gift to Clarke. She was thinking about giving her an aquamarine gem. The light blue could represent the ocean they live by and her sapphire means the sky she fell from. A symbol of both their clans and homes.
"Trust me I understand. I'm glad you did it. No matter what she will be protected." That's one of the things she loves most about Wells. He loves Clarke just as much as she does. Both of them would happily die for her and follow her into whatever trouble she can scrounge up because let's face it Clarke attracts danger.
"Yes. But Wells..." She turns to look him in the eyes. "Our fight is not over yet."
"Of course, not." He agrees before smirking. "You still need to beat Clarke in chess." Luna just scoffs at that. As if anyone will ever beat Clarke at chess.
Translations
Houmon- Wife
Nontu- Father
Gofua- Child
Trishana - Glowing forest
Ouskejon kru- Blue cliffs clan
Sis- Sister
Bro- Brother