Chapter 13

Lexa huffed under her breath in annoyance once she left the holding cell.

Behind her, Thelonious Jaha was dragged into another smaller cell, where the man would remain for the time being.

Everything had played out exactly in the way in which Taylor had described it to her beforehand. Markus Kane had indeed shown a true desire for peace between their people. He had been ready to sacrifice his own life if it meant saving his own people. Meeting this man, made Lexa hope that there indeed was a hope to work together with Skykru peacefully to bring down the Mountain.

Meeting Jaha though had left an extremely foul taste in Lexa's mouth. The man was arrogant to the bone, thinking his people were superior to her own, simply because Skykru had retained technology which her own people had lost. The man had also fully fallen for her fluke, attacking her in the hopes that they would let both him and Kane free in exchange for her life. The man obviously was not willing to sacrifice anything, he was selfish and thought his people were entitled for survival on earth. He did appear completely blind to the fact that Skykru had invaded land which belonged to Trikru.

Lexa's lips thinned, if she indeed had been just a mere servant girl, she would have readily died for her commander. Jaha's intentions would have resulted in nothing else than the death of all three of them.

She had told Markus Kane, that she would be speaking to him alone later today. After the massacre in the village they had observed with Taylor, there would be no peace between their people if the responsible boy would not see justice.

Lexa was on the way back to her tent. She planned to move her troops to surround the invaders camp, proofing that the threat she wanted Markus Kane to deliver to his people was true. She also wanted to show to all of her people that she had not lost faith in Anya as a general, so, her former mentor would be responsible to spread word of their impending move of camp and lead the organisation of it.

When Taylor woke up again, she was alone in the commander's tent. A blush dusted over her cheeks, when the memories of what had happened previously returned to her. She sighed under her breath, lightly messaging her forehead for a moment.

She hoped that Anya was not thinking less of her now. Although the other woman had tried to comfort her, Taylor still was cautious. The general's arms had felt good around her form and she had felt sheltered by her closeness.

Taylor slightly shook her head, clearing her thoughts. She needed to remain focused on what was about to happen.

She looked over to the tent flaps in sudden alarm, when she remembered what happened next in the show. Trikru had surrounded the Skykru camp, demanding Finn's life in retribution. Clarke would also meet Lexa for the first time.

As the pictures of this particular scene flashed back before Taylor's internal eyes, she clenched her lips. Emotions were suddenly burning under her skin, too intense and too mixed up to pinpoint.

She shook her head again, carefully sitting up beneath the furs. She needed to tell Lexa and Anya about what would be happening during the next days. Trikru would never be able to take down the Mountain alone, even with her knowledge it would be impossible. Trikru and Skykru needed to work together, it was essential if the killing by the Mountain was supposed to stop.

Taylor quickly noticed that the tea was obviously still effective. Sitting up felt uncomfortable and there was a deep pain in her stomach, but it wasn't as blinding and all-consuming as before. Eating and having gotten at least some rest, had given her enough strength now to carefully slide her legs over the edge of the mattress.

Cautiously, Taylor tried standing up from the bed. The pain which shot through her stomach when she fully stood upright, took her breath away for a second, but it thankfully faded into a background sensation quickly enough.

Taylor saw the tent flap being opened, as she made a few careful steps crossing through the tent. Her legs felt weak and she doubted that it would take long before she would be dizzy, but it was already an improvement.

Lexa's brows furrowed together when she spotted Taylor standing on visibly shaky feet in the middle of the tent. She immediately rushed over to the other woman, reaching out a hand towards one of her elbows and gently steadying the doctor.

"You should be resting" she admonished the blonde woman in a slightly sharp tone. With the way that Taylor could not write down her knowledge, her survival had suddenly become extremely important. No commander ever had access to knowledge of what might happen in the future and Lexa hoped that this could help her people.

Taylor gave the commander a weak smile "I am okay" she assured her, looking into her intense green eyes for a moment.

Lexa's features softened when their eyes met. She would have liked the doctor's skin to look less pale, but it was a good sign that she had managed to stand up alone. She obviously was stronger than it appeared on first glance. Lexa tried to remind herself that she mostly needed for the doctor to survive to help her for her people.

Lexa nodded curtly to the blonde woman. She still held onto her elbow, although it was obvious that she did not need the physical support to remain standing. "Has Anya told you where she is right now?" she asked the doctor in a kind tone.

Taylor slightly shook her head in the negative. She had cried herself to sleep in the general's arms; Anya literally did not have a chance to tell her of what she wanted to do now. She blushed slightly again.

Lexa furrowed her brows, unsure why Taylor was blushing right now. Was she making the doctor uncomfortable with her close proximity or had something happened between her and Anya? For a moment she considered asking her, but discarded the idea again.

She let her hand fall from the woman's elbow, taking a slight step back from her to give her space "I will search for her" she announced promptly, already beginning to turn on her heel.

"Wait…" Taylor spoke up quickly.

Only the fact that Lexa had stopped in her movement showed that the commander had caught Taylor's word at all "You can come, if you wish" she offered, not waiting to listen to what the doctor had actually wanted.

Taylor gave the commander a slight nod. She knew that some fresh air and movement would be good for her body, she only needed to take things slow and not overexert her body.

Although Lexa did not turn around to Taylor, she still waited patiently for the doctor to follow her out of her tent, keeping her steps deliberately slower as they walked through the camp. She continued to throw a few glances at the blonde woman. It seemed that she was getting paler quickly.

Taylor was occupied enough with keeping her breathing regular and placing her feet carefully on the ground, that she did not speak up again, only following Lexa in strained silence.

Lexa already guessed where Anya would have gone to. The camp wasn't large and from a distance she could already spot a crowd having formed around the free spot used for training in their camp.

She frowned though when she noticed how a few of the younger and more inexperienced seconds were visibly nursing fresh wounds.

Lexa's lips thinned once they stood directly next to the training pits.

Anya was standing in the middle, looking around with determined eyes. Her features showed how much she had exerted herself already, but the stubbornness was also clearly written within the hard gleam of her brown eyes. She would not stop until someone matched her strength and forced her to, or until she passed out from exhaustion.

From a logical point of view Lexa knew that Anya must be trying to proof her strength by this, but she knew that the damage would be worse if she collapsed.

When she spotted Indra on the other side of the free space, obviously making herself ready to take down Anya, Lexa stepped forward herself. "Stay here" she quickly said to Taylor, she knew that Gustus would keep watch of the blonde doctor for her; no one would dare to attack the woman now.

Lexa circled Anya for a little while, easily testing her former mentor's defence with a few quick strikes, not hard enough to seriously push her yet.

Taylor watched the two women circle each other with unease, remembering how she had just witnessed Clarke and Anya fighting each other. Already from where she was standing, she could see a few fresh wounds oozing blood on the general's exposed arms.

The attacks got more aggressive quickly and Taylor winced visibly with each loud clang of metal on metal. The movements were so quick, that Taylor had difficulties to actually spot if the two women were hurting each other or just testing the other.

With each second ticking by, Taylor also realized that the time was passing. She needed to tell Anya and Lexa about what would happen between Trikru and Skykru. She was afraid that Anya's survival alone might have already switched up things too much.

Taylor's startled strongly when she spotted Anya giving a wince. The commander's sword had sliced into one of her sides and red blood was coating the shining metal visibly. Her grey eyes watched the fight agitatedly, she wanted them to stop fighting. She knew of course that this was only a training, but it made her feel uneasy. Anya needed to rest her body from what she had gone through in the Mountain and fighting Clarke and not aggravate it further.

Lexa caught the doctor's gaze. A part of herself had hoped to find the other woman looking at her in astonishment or even admiration and she was taken off guard by the obvious uneasiness within her grey eyes.

The commander returned her attention to the general, readying herself to end this training fight by disarming the older woman.

Although Anya was internally puzzled why Lexa disarmed her with a determined expression, she did not say anything when she noticed the younger woman's gaze returning to Taylor standing among the other spectators.

She accepted the commander's hand pulling her back onto her feet and she ignored the wound on her side stinging painfully as she nodded to her former second in a gesture of respect. She would have chosen to continue to spar, but sparring with the commander should have done what she had intended as well. Her feet almost automatically carried her over to the blonde doctor, inspecting her pale and drawn features critically.

"You should be resting" the general immediately said, worry evident within her tone.

Taylor slightly raised a brow at the older woman, as if she wanted to retort "So should you", but she was clever enough not to voice this here out loud. "I need to speak to both of you" she instead said in a low tone.

Anya nodded her head in acknowledgement, turning back around to hand over the sword someone had lend her to the rightful owner.

Lexa had stepped closer to the doctor in the meanwhile and her expression was visibly unsure as she met the blonde's gaze. She had heard her proclaim that she wished to speak to herself and the general, so, she made a waving motion towards the way back with one of her hands.

She had not acquired more than a few scratches and one or two shallow grazes of her skin during the fight with Anya. The general was also still standing upright easily, Lexa was worried about Taylor though. Somehow, she felt as if the doctor should not just have had to witness the training fight.

It appeared to her as if Taylor had paled even further, thus, Lexa reached out, steadying the other woman by gripping one of her elbows in a gentle grip.

Taylor did not say against this and her features relaxed slightly, although she was still worried about what would happen with Skykru.

"I am sorry that you had to witness…" Lexa stopped for a moment, unsure on what to say exactly "…this" she finished lamely.

Surprised by the commander's apology, Taylor gave the other woman a weak smile in response, feeling her cheeks heating up as she blushed under the woman's attentive gaze.

Anya stepping up to both of them, broke up the little intimate moment and Taylor's grey eyes immediately went to the general's side "That needs to be dressed" she asserted, all professional again. The general had also heard the commander apologize to Taylor. Now that she inspected her expression, she noticed how unsettled the doctor appeared.

Although Lexa noticed Anya's brown eyes narrowing down on her hand still steadying Taylor, she did not remove her fingers, jutting out her chin just the slightest bit at the older woman. Anya narrowed her eyes even further and the apology on the tip of her tongue remained unspoken as her stomach filled with sudden anger. The general hardened her gaze at the her former second, she would not back away from Taylor either.

The small exchange went by unnoticed by Taylor and the way to the commander's tent passed in silence.

"What had you wanted to speak to us about?" Lexa asked immediately as the tent flap fell closed behind them a little while later, letting go finally of the doctor.

Taylor first asked for a dressing for Anya's wound, ordering the general to take of her shirt. The alcohol which still stood on the table, could be used to clean the wound as well.

Anya took off her shirt without any protest and Taylor watched her muscles flex under her sun-kissed skin, taking in the tattoo etched into her skin with interest.

Lexa observed Taylor's expression and the way in which she scanned the general's body with a sour taste in her mouth. She shook her head though, realizing how foolish she was behaving. Taylor was inspecting Anya for wounds, that was surely all.

Once Taylor had cleaned the general's wound – the one on her side was deepest one – she assessed it "It does not need stitches" she said in relieve. She began wrapping a bandage around the general's torso, ignoring her own pain at the increased movement within her own body.

"Once you will have moved your army to surround Arkadia…" Taylor finally looked over to Lexa.

The commander's brows furrowed together in surprise. She had told no one of her plans yet to move the troops to surround the Skykru's camp and even she had not known the name "Arkadia".

Taylor's eyes twinkled with amusement when she spotted how puzzled Lexa appeared for a moment. It seemed the woman was still caught of guard by how deeply her knowledge of the future went. She did not comment on it though, instead, she told both, Lexa and Anya, about the impending meeting with Clarke and how the other blonde woman would bargain with Lexa.

Anya listened to the doctor's words intently. She also noticed though how strained her tone appeared and how a sheen of sweat was shining on her forehead. It was obvious that the blonde woman was on the verge of collapsing.

"You can tell us what Clarke will say once we get there" she interrupted the doctor finally in concern "You need to rest".