Chapter 58

Clarke sat by Emori's side. Octavia was beside her like a dutiful soldier. Echo was across the room watching over everyone. Raven hadn't left Emori's side unless she had to. Lexa and Anya had both left the hut to go gather the rest of them. They knew it was going to be a long night and the storm was coming in quickly.

Lexa knew that Anya didn't want to leave her side. She was doing it for more than just protection. Lexa knew that she felt like she needed someone to side with her. What she didn't understand was that Clarke was with her, even when she was defying her. She wanted to know more, and she knew that she would have to wait just like everyone else.

"She tests you, Heda," Anya stated.

"She knows more than we do, Onya. I have found no reason to not listen to her. I know that you want to protect me. I'm asking you to continue to do that, but we also know she wants to save us all. That is what I want, too. We know from the stories that we were told how much that Clarke is willing to sacrifice to save us all. I have to help her. I don't want everything that we've worked for to end," Lexa told her as they moved through the village.

"And, how are we going to do that?"

"She's agreed to rule by my side. She doesn't want to usurp me. She wants to help. We just have to find a way to make the ambassadors understand that she is going to part of a new council for me. I'm not disbanding them. But, I can have advisors that are closer to me than just the ambassadors. Having Gaia among them will help assuage them some as well," Lexa explained. "She not only Fleimkepa, but she also one of the Twel. She will help us convince the ambassadors."

"Is that all you are worried about?" Anya questioned.

"No, I am worried for us all. I am also worried for Clarke. I worry for her friend Emori in Nyko's healer's hut. And, I'm worried about what we will have to do to get everyone that we can into the bunkers. I know that we have friends among the clans that will always support us, but I can't let them know that most of the people are going to die. Having Wanheda en em Twel-de on our side will help us get things done. We need them and they need us."

"I know, Heda. I just worry for you," Anya replied. "I know that Clarke will protect you. She's shown that."

"So will Eko en Luna. You worry about your nirons and dealing with Sandega. For now, we are safe here. But, we will know more tonight about the Twel-de. For now, we will keep going as we have been. Until Reivon tells us otherwise, we keep things as they are. We don't need the panic."

"You aren't curious as to who is what?"

"In the Twel?"

"Sha," Anya replied.

"No, because I know that they will support us all with no questions. We will need them all to survive this, Onya. Just like I will need you and Indra by my side. I know that I cannot do it without you both. So, I need you to stay alive," Lexa told her.

"I will. I know what happened. Klark has changed things with the Ark. Arkkru will follow her and I doubt that I'll have to be worried about them. We already know that Abi kom Skaikru o Arkkru will do anything for Klark," Anya stated. "I do not fear them. I fear our own people because they will fear the truth."

"We will deal with it all, Onya. Please find Indra and those from the clans. I'll gather those from the Hundret that we need."

Anya nodded and went to the right while Lexa went left. She put her hand on her dagger as she walked through the village. She saw a few of them. It was really more of Murphy with Madi. She came over to the fire where they were sitting. Murphy looked up at Lexa.

"Is she done?"

"Sha, she is. Klark is calling for us all to come to the healer's hut," Lexa stated as she watched them. "Even you, Strikon."

"Sha, Heda," Madi replied as she stood up and moved closer to Lexa.

She reached up for Lexa's hand. Lexa looked down at her. Their eyes met and held. Green looked deeply into very young blue and realized that Madi might not carry the Flame in this life, but she still had memories. She tried to stay with Lexa or Clarke. It was like this need that she had. Lexa hadn't known Madi in their last lives, but Madi knew her. Clarke had told her all about Lexa and so had the Flame. Madi knew who to stay with and what was coming. Even for being a six year old, she was preparing for Praimfaya and the aftermath. Madi was ahead of all her people, but she still clung to Clarke or Lexa like she needed them. They were her lifelines to a reality that only she knew. It made Lexa worry for the child, but she knew that Clarke would care for her where she couldn't. However, as they eyes still held, she knew that she would protect the child with her life, and she would start training her as soon as she could. Madi deserved it. She deserved to be able to defend herself and be ready to carry the Flame should anything happen to Lexa.

Madi cocked her head, "Have you told Aden and the rest?"

"No, not yet."

"They will need to know...soon," Madi told her as she started to pull Lexa away from the fire and back towards the healer's hut, knowing that John was following them without any more commands.

As they worked their way back to the hut, Lexa continued to hold Madi's hand. She saw Anya coming with the others. She held her head high as Indra and Anya cocked their eyebrows at her in question for holding Madi's and showing the child more affection than she normally showed the rest of the natblidas. Gaia just smirked as she watched them together. Lexa knew that it was because as Fleimkepa, Gaia knew that Madi would be the next Heda.

"Heda," Gaia said as she approached.

"Sha, Gaia," Lexa replied.

"Do you know why Skaiprisa has called us?"

"Sha, Fleimkepa, I do."

"And?"

"I think that she is about to introduce us to each as members of the Twel. It is time. We've come together. We should be working together for our common goal. We all know that we need each other to survive what is coming, but I think that we don't know each other like we should. With Emori's arrival and what happened last night, we can no longer be in the dark. Don't you agree, Fleimkepa?" Lexa asked her.

"Sha, Heda, I do. It is smart, as well. The Prisa wills it so much that I think that she will manifest it to happen."

"Keyron willing, I believe that you are right, Gaia."

"Keyron willing," Indra and Madi murmured.

To Lexa, she knew that it was a prayer. To anyone else, it would seem like blind devotion to their religions. To Skaikru, it was just words. But, even those from Space knew what the power of words could do. And Lexa knew that even John Murphy understood that as he even added a "Keyron willing."

They all entered the hut. Clarke was still with Emori, Raven, Echo and Octavia. The four women were huddled together, talking low. Echo and Octavia both popped up and looked up at the new comers. Clarke looked up and then checked Emori's IV. Echo welcomed them all to the area they were all in, but the biggest surprise was when she led Murphy over to Emori's side and put him on a stool. He gave Emori a smile and then turned to Echo to thank her. The older warrior just shook her head and moved back to Clarke's side, ready to defend her, if needed.

"I know that you don't understand what is going on," Clarke stated as she watched them all take a spot surrounding Emori's cot. "To be honest, I don't really understand it all either and I've been studying it for lifetimes. Well, at least the ones where I could remember to look it up."

Echo and Octavia both smiled at the phrase. They understood better than the others about looking into things from multiple angles over multiple lifetimes. It helped forge them into who they are now, but it also helped the navigate and work around things in the present. Octavia reached out for Clarke's hand and gave it a squeeze. Echo just stood there, rigid and ready. They were still, as always, giving Clarke their unwavering support.

"The Legend of the Twelve doesn't exist for those of us from Space. It is only here on Earth, and honestly, it is only among the clans. It is a recent legend. It comes from supposedly Becca herself, but no one can explain its true origin. Trust me, I've looked. Each clan has their own version of it, but like all myths and legends there are elements of truth in it. But, in all of them, the one thing that rings true is that they need each other to help Man continue on in this universe. As such Becca used her wisdom to create the Flame, a living embodiment of this wisdom and the those that carry it. And, so Bekka Pramheda was born. She used the Flame to unlock potentials that she couldn't before and collected to herself thirteen to help advise her as they tried to resettle Earth."

"But, Becca was killed?" Indra countered, as she looked on confused.

"She was, Indra. It was the first Fleimkepa's Nontu that killed her. He didn't understand the Flame and he wanted its power for himself. So, those that were surrounding Becca and the first Fleimkepa ran away and started the clans. Each of twelve that survive, not including the Fleimkepa, formed a clan, but one among them stood out. His legend became known as Wanheda, the first Commander of Death. He sacrificed himself to protect the others and the Flame. He knew that if the Fleimkepa's Nontu got his hand on the Flame, that everything would be lost. So he sought to make sure that he died for his sins against the rest of them. The Fleimkepa...Calliope hid among the people. She test the people until she found the next that was deemed worthy enough to carry the Flame and lead the survivors, but the skisms had already started. Without Becca or Wanheda, the people warred against each other. And, the powers that each of Pramheda's Otok (council) carried was lost into the clans and beyond.

"The only ones that knew of the Twel and their powers were the Fleimkepas. And, it was only because Wanheda made them keep it secret. He knew that one day another Wanheda would be born and the Twel would be needed again. The Fleimkepas were to look not only for the next Heda, to carry the Flame, but also those that might be the part of the Twel. A lot of the time, the Fleimkepas knew just because of the markings that they bore. But, most of the time, those who could be considered part of the Twel were scattered but found their way to the Fleimkepa or Heda's Private Council," Clarke explained to them.

"Heda?" Anya questioned.

"I've known who some of them were since I ascended, but it wasn't until Gaia became Fleimkepa that it was solidified," Lexa added.

"Each of them were marked in someway," Gaia stated as she looked around the room at each of them. "But, even as Fleimkepa, I knew that without Wanheda all Twel would not appear. Clarke's coming was foretold, even if Titus didn't want to believe it or see it."

"He didn't in this lifetime," Luna quipped.

"No, he did not, but he didn't see it in any of the others, either," Gaia replied. "I, however, have."

"Is that why we are all here?" Indra questioned. "We know that Klark kom Skaikru, Skaiprisa is also Wanheda. Have you found the Twel? We know what is coming and we are trying to fight it or find a way to survive the best way possible. Heda has been working since her ascention to that end. But, have the Twel finally assembled?"

Clarke just stood there. She never suspected that Indra would be a true believer in the Twelve. She always just seemed so stern and resolute. But, now, seeing her with Gaia and the rest, she knew that Indra had her own faith. It might not be as overt and advertised as Gaia's or even Echo's. It was subtle and straightforward, but at least she gave it more leeway as things change around her. Clarke could say that because she knew how firm in their beliefs that Luna and Lexa had been in the beginning. Seeing like this was different. Good different, but different all the same. Gaia gave her a quick nod, and she gathered herself.

"Sha, Twel-de gada ogeda op," Clarke answered. "I didn't have to call on you. I didn't have to tell you. You each made your own choice to help in this. Sure, it is because you've all seen what will happen and what we are trying to at least minimize. But, you still made the choice on your own. And, I know that together we can do this. We've all be striving to do it before we've even come together."

She paused. She looked around at them all. Madi moved closer to her and took her hand. Clarke looked down into eyes that were so much like her own. Her heart broke more. She didn't want Madi to be a part of this, but somehow she was. Maybe she was just a place holder, maybe she was more than that, but Clarke didn't want her to get hurt. This wasn't her fight. She was supposed to survive it all so that she could lead them all in the new future of Man. Clarke was there to save them all, but Madi was their future.

"Some of you already bear the marks upon your skin and don't even know it. Some of you do know it, but you were unsure of what it meant. And, for some of the others, still, you were born for your positions in the Twelve."

"I know that I am the Element of Fire," Lexa stated as she straightened up. "Ai laik Leksa kom Trikru, Heda kom Kongeda, Heda kom jus, Natblida kom Polis. Ba, ai laik Leks kom Faya, won kom Twel-de kom Keyron." (I am Lexa of Trikru, Commander of the Coalition, Commander of the Blood, Nightblood of Polis. But, I am Lex of Fire, one of the Twelve Elements [Spirit].)

They all looked at her in awe. They knew most of Lexa's titles, but to hear her claim that she was one of the Twelve made them all watch and listen. She moved closer to Clarke. She looked down at Madi and took the child's hand.

"We are the Twelve and we are here to help Clarke save the Earthm" Lexa added as she unbuckled her jacket with her left hand.

Echo cocked her head as she watched Lexa. They all wondered what she was doing. Lexa let her coat fall open to reveal a thin, threadbare, black shirt. Her right hand flowed down to the hem and started to lift it. She stopped when she exposed her stomach and the mark of the Flame/Fire lightly scarred there. Echo didn't have to guess when it appeared. She knew. Hers showed the same way. Clarke had claimed them and their marks stayed. Unconsciously, Echo's hand went to her stomach as well. She wasn't hiding it. She was going to acknowledge it and show it.

"Ai laik Eko kom Azgeda, ba ai laik Ash kom Az, Wanheda Azgona," Echo told them as she bore her stomach. (I am Echo of Azgeda, but I am Ash of Ice, Wanheda's warrior.)

Clarke's eyes went wide as she saw the "icy" spiral on Echo's torso. She couldn't help herself. She reached out to touch it. When she did, she looked up into Echo's hazel eyes and saw the confirmation. The older woman just nodded at her, and Clarke knew that the scar there came the other night. Both Echo and Lexa had dedicated themselves to her. The scars were in the same place that the blood had been. Clarke's eyes went wider. She turned to look at Lexa's. Blue met green and held. Lexa just cocked her head slightly in affirmation.

"For each of you the mark will be different. Lexa and Echo's are on their torsos because of how they pledged themselves to the Twelve. Emori's is a tattoo that is also on her stomach, but I know that Luna's is on her arm. I've already seen it," Clarke told them all as she spun back around to see all their eyes on her waiting for more information. "I noticed that Emori bears the sign of Light. It was why Sangeda was hunting her down. She ran and fought her way to find us. And, if a single one of you has a problem with her, then you have a problem with me. She belongs to me now. She is Emori of Skaikru. She is Raven's sister and as such is my family. Anyone that strikes her, strikes me. Make sure that everyone knows."

They all nod. They knew, had heard, or even got to see Clarke's wrath. They knew that no one attacked her family or people without repercussions, very deadly repercussions. And, they all knew that being part of the Twelve made them closer to Clarke. It also made them family.

"We defend each other. We fight for each other. We save each other. We save Man."

"Who are the rest of us then, Clarke? If Emori is the Element of Light, then who am I? What is my sign?" John asked her as their blue eyes locked.

His hand was wrapped around Emori's. He hadn't moved since he'd come back into the hut. He was close to her. He loved her. She loved him. He wasn't going to lose her, again, and Clarke knew it. Clarke gave him a smile. She understood. They were all wondering what it meant. She did, too. That is why she'd been with Gaia for so long. She knew the stories but actually putting them all together, along with everything that she's learned from her lives, finally made it all make sense for her.

She reached for her own shirt and pulled it up. She had her own scar. It was darker than the rest of her skin. She'd been keeping it hidden, but she knew that it didn't really start standing out like it was now until Lexa and Echo claimed her the other night. She knew that they pledged themselves to her, and that was enough for Keyron. She didn't need to claim all of the Twelve, and she was thankful for that. (She knew that she could never do that with some of them, especially her mother and Madi.)

"To see the sign and come into your own as one of the Elementals of the Twelve, you have to pledge yourself to Wanheda. That is why you're here. But, to answer your question, John," Clarke said as she turned to look into her baby blue eyes again, with a smirk at using his first name. "You are Shadow."