Chapter 26
Octavia sat in vigil beside Clarke's body. Ash (Echo) was guarding her. Bellamy was on the other side, just staring. They could tell that he didn't know what to do. They were waiting for everyone else to make it to Belle before they had Clarke's funeral.
Octavia didn't know what she was going to do. She knew what Clarke wanted her to do, but every time she looked at Lexa, she wasn't sure that she could do it. How could she take them to Becca's lab? How could she show Lexa where her blood originated? She knew that Clarke wanted to prepare them for another "do-over," but she wasn't sure that Lexa was going to allow them to do that. She could see that Lexa was upset, but she didn't know to what extent. She knew that they hadn't had time to make a true lover's bond, but then again this was Clarke and Lexa, they could have. She had no idea how she would tell Raven what happened, either. The mechanic would want blood and there wasn't time to have it.
Anya was the first one to find them when the rest of the 100 made it to Belle. It had taken two days for them to make it back. In that time, a messenger had arrived from Floukru telling Lexa that she would sale for Ork to meet them. She would have few warriors with her, just enough to sail the boat and Tris. Luna told Lexa to make sure Lincoln was with them as he knew how to contact her from the shore. Anya just stared at the note as she watched Lexa, Octavia and Ash mourn Clarke.
"What are your orders, Leksa?" Anya asked her.
"Bring us Raven, Harper, Monroe and the one called..." Lexa started.
"Tell Raven and Monroe to gather the captains and leaders," Octavia said as she looked up to meet Anya's eyes.
The tall blond warrior nodded and left the tent. Octavia could already hear Raven ranting outside. She tried to steel herself for what was to come, but she knew that it was going to be hard. She was worried about how they would all react, but she didn't have time to worry about them. They needed to move and quickly. They also needed Abby or nothing would work.
Anya came back into the tent. She looked straight at Octavia. Ash moved closer to her.
"They are waiting for you, Skairipa," Anya told her.
Octavia just nodded. She looked over at her brother, and then at Lexa. Lexa stood. Gustus was near the door of the tent.
"Gostos, you and Belomi will watch over Klark until the ceremony," Lexa ordered. "Make the appropriate preparations. For we are honoring a warrior."
"Sha, Heda," Gustus replied and bowed to her.
"Let's go address your people, Skairipa. They need you now. And, you need to let the Ark know as well."
"I know, Heda. They need to come down now. We don't have time to wait."
"And, the Mountain?" Anya questioned.
"Will not fall this time," Octavia said as she slowly walked out of the tent.
Anya stopped Lexa for a second from following. She looked into Lexa's eyes and saw pain. When she cocked her head in question, Lexa knew what she meant.
"They are planning something and then they will kill themselves to start it over again. Keyron will only start it over if both Octavia and Klark are dead. We will march north soon and they will do some ceremony and they will die. I heard them speaking about it in hushed tones. They don't want their people to know the truth of their powers. They are going to tell them something to protect them."
"You're going with them?"
"Sha, and so are you," Lexa told her as she exited the tent.
The grief was obvious on their faces. Murphy and Raven were the worst. Wells was doing as well as he could, but Octavia could tell that he was blaming himself for not being there. Monroe and Harper were openly weeping with Monty and Jasper. Charlotte didn't look well at all. But, Lexa could tell that they would soldier on. They honestly had no other choice. The stars were hard, but the Earth was brutal.
"What are we going to do now?" a voice from the back shouted up at Octavia.
"As next in line, I will take command of us. There is a mission that we must complete that is away from here and with the help of Heda Leksa. We will be taking a few with us. While we are gone, Murphy, Wells, and Monroe will be in charge. Miller, Harper and Monty will be their back up."
"And, where are you going?"
"To petition the coalition to avenge your leader and this attack against my people," Lexa told them.
Octavia cocked an eyebrow at her. It wasn't that it wasn't true, but that wasn't what they were going to do. It would be enough to keep the 100 there and still working to joining Trikru, though. Octavia would give her the "tainted" blood, but she wouldn't allow Lexa to die. Lexa needed to live so they would know what happened to those that survived in this timeline.
"Leaders help your people find a place to sleep for the night. Raven, get the radio set up. We need to talk to Abby. Tonight, we will celebrate Clarke. Tomorrow, we start planning the rest of our lives," Octavia told them.
Raven moved to her side. She looked deeply into Octavia's eyes. She knew that the Latina could see the pain there. She wasn't trying to hide it. She never did. Raven pulled her to an embrace and held her tightly.
"I need the radio working," Octavia reminded her.
"I know, but where?"
"My tent for now," Lexa stated. "I want to talk with Abby as well."
Raven nodded and walked off to get her things. Finn followed her for a while until Octavia saw him. She then put Ash on Raven and told her to "keep that boy away and I don't care how you do it." Which resulted in Finn getting a broken nose and the threat of his manhood removed within five minutes, but no one cared. Octavia stood outside the tent for a few minutes watching her people.
"You aren't going to tell them truth of your mission to Becca's Island, as you call it?" Lexa asked her, Anya now by herside.
"Ash and I will be the only ones dying there, Heda. You will return with the knowledge of what is to coming and hopefully enough time to prepare. I also need you to keep Reivon alive. She will help you prepare for Praimfaya. Abby will as well. They need to remember what happens, so we can make sure that it doesn't happen."
"Won't everything stop with your death?"
"Not if others have the 'tainted jus'."
"And, who will give this to now?"
"Raven, Anya and yourself."
"Why me? I am already natblida. What will me having the blood do?" Lexa questioned, feeling Anya bristle beside her.
"I think that Klark is hoping that adding her tainted strain to the original descendent strain will cause you to remember in the next life, too."
Lexa nodded. It made sense. The more prepared they were, the better off they could be the next go round. She just wondered when she would wake with this knowledge.
"How will I know, though?"
"For me this last time, it was a year before I was discovered. There is no set time, Lexa. I'm sorry. I don't know."
"Why would she want me to share this burden with you?"
"Because she loves you and she wants you to remember her," Octavia stated. "I need to go see Raven. I..."
"Go. I will watch over your people tonight, Skairipa. And, know that my thoughts are with you and your people as you grieve."
Octavia just nodded. She reached out and shook Lexa's arm. Anya stood by and together with Lexa they guarded the tent as Octavia, Raven, Ash, and Bellamy guarded Clarke's body and worked on the radio. Raven was crying, but she put the radio up. If she needed to go outside, Ash went with her. Octavia didn't leave Clarke's side and Bellamy wasn't going to leave hers now. They wouldn't burn Clarke's body until they spoke with Abby.
Thankfully, it didn't take long for Raven to get the radio up and working. Once it was, Octavia kicked everyone out of the tent but Raven. She knew that they were just outside the flaps and waiting. Lexa snuck in at one point. She stood by the flap and watched two women that she barely knew relate to a woman they both revered that her daughter was dead. That she had given last minute instructions, and that Abby needed to get to the ground as soon as possible.
"I will speak with Kane and Sinclair. We will prepare for the morning. We need to move. I will call you before we break up. And, Sinclair wanted you to know that the special project that Clarke gave him is completed Raven. He'll fire them tonight and we will launch for Earth in the morning."
"May we meet again," Octavia and Raven replied.
Lexa mouthed it from where she was standing, understanding the sentiment they were conveying. This wasn't just goodbye. There was a finality to it that even she could understand.
"It's time."
Raven shook her head and moved to help Octavia carry Clarke out to the pyre that Lexa and Anya had built for her in the village. Ash and Bellamy helped them. Before they got her up into their arms, Lexa stopped them.
"May we help?" Lexa asked.
Octavia looked at her. She knew that Lexa didn't remember who and what Clarke was to her, but even Octavia could see that Lexa's soul recognized Clarke on some level. She dipped her head and Lexa called out for Anya. Together the six of them carried Clarke's body to the pyre and set her down gently.
Anya handed Lexa the torch to light. Being as she was the most senior person there, it was her right. Lexa turned to Octavia and handed it to her. Clarke was not hers to send to Blessed Keyron, at least not in this life. The honor should stay with her people. Octavia took the torch and stepped forward. She looked at all the captians and generals that Clarke and she had established. They all had tears in their eyes. Raven came up behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder and the other on the torch.
"Together," Raven told her, choking on her own words.
Octavia nodded. They stepped forward together. Raising the torch above their heads, Raven and Octavia tossed the torch onto the pure. As soon as it took light, all the 100 said their prayer. Less was moved enough to say the final words of "May we meet again" in Trig. Anya and Lincoln repeated them, too.
But Ash continued the words with, "Oso gonplei nou ste odon. Oso throu daun ogeda. Omon gon or oson. Kom folau oso na gyon op. (Our fight is not over. We will fight together. All of me for all of us.)"
Octavia's head snapped up as she looked at Ash. They both had years streaming down their faces. Lexa heard Octavia repeat the words back to Ash. With a curt nod, Ash took Octavia in her arms and held her.
Lewss was jealous of the sight. She's never been able to so free with her emotions, but these people are. They are children, but their words and deeds demanded respect and notice. She didn't know why, but she would continue Clarke's legacy after the trip. For her, for Becca, and for the Hedas in her head were demanding it.
"Call for Indra and her daughter Gaia. When we leave Pramheda's island, Gaia will lead the mission in Polis and will become my new Flamkepa. Tell no one where we are going out what we are doing, Anya," Lexa commanded. "But, add their words to your memory. We will need them again, soon enough."
Anya stared at her leader. She'd been different since meeting Clarke. And with Clarke's death, Anya could see some of the old Lexa coming through. It was sad and painful, not she knew that Lexa must have more reasoning that she didn't know. It only made Anya wonder what Lexa was told while Anya was gone with Raven.
"Octavia, Raven, stay with me. We need to talk about Pramheda."
Octavia just moved towards the tent. Ash followed her with Raven. When Bellamy moved to follow, he was stopped by Anya.
"This conversation is not for you, Boy. Take care of your people. Mourn the loss of your friend. Don't forget your place. While they are with Heda, they are the most protected people in the village. Worry not for them, but the rest of you. Work starts with the sunrise for you all, but their work is never done," Anya commanded him. "I'll be with them. Go. See to your people, Belomi kom Skai-de."
She could tell that he didn't like the order, but he would obey. She watched as the people broke up into different groups, each being lead by one of those that they had spied as a leader. They were in mourning, but like Anya always told less when she was younger. "The dead are gone, but the living are hungry." It was a harsh reality and lesson to learn, but it was the truth.
Inside the tent, Octavia was pacing. Rage was flowing over her body so thick that Lexa actually had to take a step back. She realized really quickly that the young woman's wrath was to be feared. And at the moment, she wouldn't doubt that Octavia world take on all of Azgeda and probably win, but they had to be smart.
"I will make her pay for this. We have proof it was her assassins. She will pay, Octavia," Lexa started. "You cannot go against her by yourself. We have to match towards Ork as soon as Abby lands. You have your mission and I have mine."
"How much did she tell you?" Octavia demanded as she rounded on Lexa mid step in her pacing.
"Enough to know that I am bringing Gaia with us. She should be here in a day or so, but we will meet her in TonDC. Tris will meet us in Ork with Luna and a few of her warriors. We will take Indra and Lincoln, and no one else."
"What Anya?" Octavia asked as she raised her chin in Anya's direction.
"Of course, Anya will go. She will be acting as my guard, since I will be leaving Gustus in charge of TonDC. I will need him to start working with your Murphy to help with the transition. TonDC will help Belle supply your people until we return. They will continue their training as well."
"Can you send for Artigas and Nyko? I think they will have enough tolerance to help them until you return. And, I would feel better knowing that there was someone with medical knowledge with skaikru. We not only lost our leader, Heda. We lost our fisa, too," Octavia explained.
"Artigas and Nyko are a good pair. They will serve us both well here. I will send for them in the morning."
"Mochof, Heda," Octavia replied.
"Is there anything else you need tonight from me?"
"No, not that I can think of," Octavia stated.
"Then, will you tell me more about your lives?" Lexa asked her.
"I guess I can," Octavia replied as she fell hard into a wooden chair. "What is it that you want to know? Clarke has lived more than me, but by the time, I started remembering, she'd been through it at least four or five times, I think. In the beginning, Keyron didn't seem fit to put us together with memories. But, the last three lives, we've been together."
"Do they all know?" Lexa questioned.
"Yes, we explained it to them before we sought out Lincoln. We've told Lincoln, but only by accident. He swore not to tell anyone. Raven was told because she needed to know seeing as she was going to be close to us both as we lead our people. As for Echo...Ash kom Azgeda knows because she bears Clarke's mark," Octavia explained.
"What does that mean?"
"It means that Clarke was the one that gave me natjus," Ash stated. "This is my first rebirth."
"When did you remember?" Octavia asked her.
"About six moons ago. I woke up in Trikru and remembered everything, but when I though the drop ship, things weren't right. I was heading back to Azgeda to speak with the Azkwin, but I was stopped by Ontari. She had news from the Azkwon. I was to stay in Trikru, join a village, and learn what I could about Heda add those close to her. Other spies reported on Skaikru and she sent assassins to kill them. I broke rank and joined a group. I killed several on the way with Trikru arrows, so they didn't know it was me hunting them."
"Why did they come to Belle?" Lexa asked.
"They knew you were here, Heda, and their orders were to kill you or not come home."
"And, what village were you in?" Octavia asked her.
"Freder," Ash answered.
"Where's that?" Raven asked as she pulled out Clarke's map to mark it.
"Here," Ash started she pointed in the map.
"So, north of TonDC and west of Polis, a good spot to spy from," Raven commented.
"It is indeed, Little Bird, but this time I want captured and taken to the Mountain," Ash added.
"You were in the Mountain, too?"
"Yes, Wanheda saved us all from the Mountain. I pledged my life to her after that. She bid me serve you to serve her. I've never repaid my debt to her. I still owe her my life," Ash said.
"How many times do you owe her?" Octavia asked.
"At least four, ai Osleya," Ash replied.
"Then both of you tell me everything you did to escape the Mountain, and we will continue our fight to honor Clarke and her sacrifices for us all," Lexa stated.
"I was a prisoner in the cages with Anya. That was the first thing I saw Wanheda and I thought we are all going to die. But, she might have been small and without proper warrior training, it didn't stop her. She took out two guards barehanded and then broke Anya out. They ran but promised to bring back help. I could only hope she would," Ash started her tale and everyone in the tent was rivited by it.