CHAPTER 8

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Anya and Clarke returned to TonDC, as the sun rose, early the next morning. Clarke still apprehensive about the Commanders reaction. Yet Anya was just hoping to knock some sense into her previous second.

As they reach the entrance to the village Clarke was able to see the remainder of her people gathering to head back to Camp Jaha. Hoping to procrastinate and avoid seeing the Commander further she strode towards her people, before Anya could direct her otherwise, and found her mother.

'Clarke, we're all ready to go. Finn can finally be moved so we were just waiting for you. Any last minute changes?' Abby questioned hopefully.

'I told you mum. I'm staying. I have too, I have a plan to stop the mountain but we need this alliance. I'll stay in contact over the next few days. You'll see me again soon I promise.' Clarke reassured as she watched her mother agree, with tears ready to drop.

'I'm leaving. Byrne with you at least. I don't want anything happening to you, okay?' They quickly said their goodbyes, knowing that Anya and Byrne were now stood mere feet away, before Abby signalled for everyone to move out.

'What is this plan you seem to have formed, Skai Prisa?' Anya questioned as she saw the blonde turn towards her new tent.

'You will find out soon enough Anya. Now if you'll excuse me I believe I have a war meeting to prepare for.'

Clarke couldn't bear to look at Anya as she slowly moved towards her tent. The tent that her wife was probably in, thinking of ways to kill her for such disrespect. Anya had tried all morning to convince her otherwise but there was no telling what kind of mood the Commander would be in this morning.

Walking into the quiet tent Clarke certainly wasn't expecting to see it empty. The sun had barely risen yet the Commander was no where to be seen. Not complaining however, Clarke merely changed into a more comfortable attire that showed her position as a leader. She needed to focus on what she would say to the war council. Bellamy and Lincoln should reach the tunnels by midday. Yet all she could focus on was Lexa. She still needed to tell the Commander of her plan, in the first place. She was sure that alone would not go well. Let alone explaining where she has been all night.

The war council will certainly be an interesting meeting after all.

….

'Heda, the Skai Prisa and Anya arrived back minutes ago. They are sending the Skaikru back to their camp.' Indra stated as she entered the war room. The Commander had been preparing for the meeting that would begin in half a candle marks time.

'Good. Indra I want you to go with the Skaikru with some of your finest warriors. For this alliance to work we must be willing to work around each other. I also need you to keep an eye out for the boy named Finn. I want a daily update so take a messenger with you.'

'Heda, the ceremony was not completed. Everyone knows this. Therefore the alliance isn't-'

'Em pleni!' The Commander seethed. She did not want to hear this right now. She knew what predicament last night put them in. There will be hell to pay for the rest of the day and Lexa could already feel a headache coming along.

Indra although unhappy with this new predicament knew better than to question her Commander, when she is in such a mood. This Skai Prisa was much more troublesome to her leader than she originally thought. Quickly bowing to the Commander, Indra left allowing Anya entrance to the room.

'Heda, I am sorry for my disappearance last night. I was ensuring that your houmon was safe.' Anya bowed hoping that Lexa had realised her stupidity and calmed down.

'Thank you Anya. I do believe that I owe my wife an apology. However with the upcoming war meeting I do not have the time. I will have to plan something for later this evening. The ceremony still needs to be completed as Indra and I'm sure many others will remind me of today.' Lexa stated almost as a warning to not mention it further.

'Your wife is currently getting ready for the meeting and seems to have a plan already. Is it not better to talk to her before the meeting? She told me what happened Lexa. She fears you will have here tied to a tree.' Anya stated trying to knock some sense into her second. Although it merely seemed to make the girl stiffen further as she clenched her slightly red jaw. Luckily the punch was not strong enough to bruise, yet there was still swelling.

'I would never.' Lexa hissed as she glared at her general.

'I understand but your houmon does not know what it means to be bonded to the Commander.' Anya tried to console, she did not want the Commander to be angry before this meeting it would do her no good.

'Jomp em op, en yu jomp ai op.' The Commander nodded before dismissing Anya to go rest as leaders began to enter the building.

It was not long before everyone had entered the building, including Clarke who had to yet look at the Commander in the eyes, although did stand near. The planning had now begun and everyone had there own ideas. Yet no one could agree.

'This argument is a waste of time.' One particular grounder stated in anger towards Clarke. ' It is simple. They can't breathe our air. Why not just open the door and be done with it? Let them burn.' He roared as many grounder began agreeing. All chanting as one. The Commander had yet to give an input to the ideas merely standing looking over the map Clarke had provided.

'No, because they have a containment system, multiple airlocks just like we had on the Ark.' Hear it goes time for Clarke to tell everyone her plan. 'I sent an inside man to shut it down.' Clarke stated calmly as she turned to gage the Commanders reaction.

The Commander tried to hold in her temper at not being involved in such a decision but thought it best not to make a scene infant of people who already dislike the girl.

'If he gets inside' Was all Lexa could state as she tried to guess who sent and how they would know if it was completed. 'What if we shut it down from the outside? You say the dam gives them power. Let's take that away.' Lexa tried to find an easier way to end the mountain, without uncertainty.

Yet once again the blonde responded with a negative, scoffing to herself. 'That dam withstood a nuclear war, Commander. I highly doubt-'

There was a loud slam. Quints fist shaking on top of the table as he yelled out. 'All she offers is no.' He couldn't stand this girl. She coming waltzing in asking for an alliance after everything she has done.

'Quint…' The Commander warned staring down the general.

Quint knew that he couldn't do anything with the Commander around. Yet he knew he needed to act quick. The Commander would be sure to complete the consummation of the ceremony tonight and once that occurred Clarke would officially be the Commanders. Practically untouchable.

'Apologies, Commander, but the biggest army we've ever had waits for us to give it a mission. The longer that takes, the more of our people die inside that mountain.'

'It's the same for all of us.' Clarke breathed out.

'We've lost thousands. How many have you lost, girl?' Quint continued to glare as he looked around the room, engaging everyone of the war members.'She says she has a plan. I say waiting for one man to get inside is not a very good one.'

'I agree with Quint. We have an army. Let's use it.' Another grounder stood supporting his clan member.

'We will after Bellamy lowers their defences, turns off the acid fog. I don't care how many men you have. If you can't get to your enemy, you can't win.' Clarke huffed. She couldn't believe how idiotic these grounders were behaving. They had no patience. This was the first meeting and they expected the war to be over in a matter of minutes. She was becoming uncomfortable as Quint took a few steps forwards.

'You are the enemy.' He spat.

Clarke couldn't believe what was happening. After everything she has given up for this alliance. She couldn't help but retort. 'I'm sorry. Have I done something to offend you?' Her voice was almost dripping with disbelief but she couldn't care less.

'Yes. You burned my brother alive in a ring of fire.' There was a pause as Clarke felt a shiver run through her spine. She almost didn't know what to say. Looking around uncertainly she realised that her wife would do nothing to prevent the threat. The only one to step forward was Major Byrne as she tried to seem threatening.

Feeling her courage build up she took a step closer to the grounder. 'He shouldn't have attacked my ship.'

'You're very brave under the commander's protection, aren't you?' Quint face was emotionless. He just stood before the girl as if looking at his prey during a hunt. The room had become early silent as everyone just watched.

'Nou mou.' Lexa hissed. Finally having enough.

This only seemed to anger him more. 'Ai ni nou hon hukop, ni kom disha kru.' He spat over towards Clarke. Quint took a few steps towards the Commander to get his point across. He would not back down.

The Commander had picked up the map and surveyed it once more before speaking up, looking at her wife. 'Quint is right. Waiting for Bellamy is not a plan. It's a prayer, one that's not likely to be answered.' She stated calmly.

Clarke didn't know what to say. She was embarrassed and angry. She had to get out of the suffocating tent. 'Excuse me. I need some air.' With that statement she quickly strode out of the building once again heading straight into the forest.

The Commander knew that she had messed up with her wife again, but couldn't help it this time. Clarke had gone behind her back and caused more issues than she solved. Dismissing everyone for the day Lexa realised that she needed to find her wife before she did something else drastic.

….

Clarke was seething as she strode through the forest. She once again hadn't thought of the consequences of leaving as she did.

She heard rustling to the side of her as she slowed down to listen carefully. Presuming it was Anya following her again, Clarke looked up but as she was about to call out she saw Quint. Merely 40 metres away glaring at her. He had made a noise on purpose. To let her know he was hunting her.

'Not so brave, are you now, Sky Girl?' He called as he let an arrow fly right past Clarke's face.

Swiftly turning from the on coming danger Clarke sprinted through the trees hoping to come across someone who could save her. She was heading further away from camp and there was no way she could get away from Quint and back to camp again.

She quickly came up to a clearing and heard more rustling from in front. Hoping to have found someone to help her she saw Byrne standing at the top of a hill facing away.

With relief, Clarke, came to a halt and took a breath. 'Oh, Byrne, thank God. Quint…'

Before she could finish her sentence however, Byrne had turned around revealing a space where her right arm was supposed to be. Blood was slipping out of the joint as the guard fell, rolling down the hill. 'Save yourself.' She gasped mid fall.

Clarke was panicking once again. Quint was angrier than she thought. She needed to find the Commander but Quint was seconds away from finding her. Without thinking Clarke continued to sprint off. She didn't get far however as Quint attacker her from the side, tackling her to the ground. She didn't stand a chance. He was too strong.

She was going to die. Quint was going to kill her. Resigned to her fate, Clarke shut her eyes and took a ragged breath. Just before Quint could plunge his knife down a cry of pain filled Clarke's ears. Finally able to breath again she looked up to see the Commander and a warrior striding over to her aid.

The Commander looked towards her wife, scanning her body to check for any visible wounds. She was furious. Breath leaving through her nose quick and strong. She tried to contain her anger as she turned to Quint who was lay wincing in pain over her empaled wrist.

'Jomp em op, en yu jomp ai op.' Was all Lexa stated as she pulled her knife out of the mans wrist. She was overcome by anger.

Clarke by this point had stood up gasping as she couldn't believe her luck. 'Thank you.' Was all she could let out. It was the first direct words she had shared with the Commander since punching her the night previous.

The Commander looked up 'Where's your guard?' She grunted. She couldn't believe Clarke had been foolish enough to run into the forest alone a second time.

'He killed her.' Clarke gasped once more.

'Em ste spichen.' Quint argued. Yet the Commander didn't care. Quint knew the rules.

'Ai gonplei kamp raun em en nou moun.' Quint knew there was no point arguing. It seemed the Commander was taking this half a ceremony worth of union seriously after all.

'Yu gongplei ste odon.' Was all Lexa could spit as she looked on in anger. She couldn't believe the audacity of her general. He had signed his own death warrant with his words. Although the ceremony was not complete it had still begun and would soon be complete after she spoke to her wife. Turning to Clarke she whispered. 'The kill is yours, Clarke.'

Clarke however simply pointed her gun, with a shaking hand. She didn't think she could kill another in cold blood. Too many had died already. She didn't want to be the cause of another death. With everyone staring at her she could feel her heart beating fast. Quint was stood at eye level now and that seemed to put Clarke off further.

Before she had any longer to stew however a large roar filled the forest scaring birds out of the trees. Vibrations passing through the leaves as the grounders all straightened in fear.

'What is that?' She questioned not really wanting an answer.

'Pauna.' Lexa whispered, before shouting and slashing at Quint's legs. Clarke just looked on in further conclusion as her wife grabbed hold of her arm and began to drag her.

'Run!' She screamed as the roars began to get closer and so once again Clarke was on the run, but this time from what?