A/N: Alrighty folks! I bring you, a new piece that is written out in advance so I can do weekly updates without feeling the pressure of having to actually write the updates. Thus giving me time to write my other updates. This is good. It'll work. It's fine. *Cross posted to Archive*
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of this show, but if I did I would give them a god damn happy ending.
In the months that followed the fall of Mount Weather the people of Arkadia had found a disturbing peace. The silence that settled amongst the remaining citizens of the Ark resembled the eeriness of the early morning fog settling over the fields that surrounded the camp. The heaviness in the air clung to the souls like the clothes to their bodies, like the sweat to their skin. Nightmares lurked through the night just like the wolves in the wood but, despite the persistent feeling of being stalked and preyed upon there was peace. The council had come together to reform their laws and expectations so that the adjustment of their people would be easier. However, it wasn't an easy process; there were many meetings that lasted hours upon hours and arguments that left members pulling their hair out. In the end the decisions couldn't be made based on the experience of space life, because in space life was cold and relentless -and earth life was hot and unpredictable. Reluctantly Marcus Kane and Abby Griffin had no choice but to officially include Raven Reyes, Nathan Miller, Lincoln kom Trikru and Clarke within their ranks.
In the long run Marcus worked with the citizens of the Ark. He helped them build their shelters, he held open discussions on concerns and improvements and he put together the official schedule of chores around camp. Abby continued to maintain and handle the medical tent with her partner Eric Jackson. She founded a triage system that allowed a balance between the two primary doctors and implemented a training program for anyone interested in learning standard medical practices (both professionally and personally). Raven Reyes had become the partner of Jacapo Sinclair and together the two rebuilt the engineering and communications department. There was an adjustment period for her; between working with the insufferable Kyle Wick all day with his obnoxious amount of positivity and support and her permanently useless bum leg. Nathan Miller worked alongside his father to retrain and reform the security forces. Lincoln showed the other council members and citizens how to live off the earth like a grounder. He taught them how to track, to hunt and fish. He taught those willing to learn how to skin animals and create clothing and how to insulate their shelters, build fires and the folklore that followed Grounder culture. It would also be his place to translate and stand as an ambassador for the Arkadians when the moment called for.
For Clarke it was much harder to find her place amongst her people. True she worked odd end times in their medical center and she was on the council for a reason, but she lacked the personal connection to her people that the other council members had created. Most days Clarke spent alone as she tended to avoid the small crowds of people. It felt easier that way, she wouldn't have to acknowledge the pitiful glances from those who were ignorant to her sins and she could avoid the blatant hostility of those that witnessed the carnage. The only positive that came of Clarke's self-imposed social exile was her ability to discreetly gather and apply information from those around her. It made her feel useful to overhear a conversation that concerned resources and survivability! She was able to take that to the weekly council meetings and she was able to truly contribute to the council. If there was a category of work for surviving, almost all of Arkadia would agree that Clarke should be at the head, but to Clarke, her position was given to her because of her mother.
Still, even Clarke had found her place eventually. And thus, the council came together to work with the people of Arkadia instead of for or against them. The early days of Arkadia -when they declared themselves Camp Jaha, were spent around searching for survivors. In fact, their search and rescue team consisting of John Murphy, Wells Jaha, Stevens, Costa, Jones, and Zoe Monroe had little to no contact with Arkadia since their departure just a day before the execution of Finn Collins. It created a pit of dread in most people's stomachs, because their delay could mean almost anything. Were they killed? Did they find any survivors? So many unknown factors went into their success and it made Clarke sick to think that she sent those people (her friends) to an almost certain death. Just as she had done with Nathan Miller in the mountain. Most days she could barely stomach the thought. The early days also consisted of failing nutrition; their rations from space weren't going to cut it and for the first two weeks after landing most people went days without eating. Dehydration had proven to be a bigger obstacle than Abby had originally predicted. Not to mention the threat of death from the Grounders that surrounded them and the knowledge that Mount Weather was another enemy, their early days were spent in constant fear and anxiety.
Most would say it was nice to wake up and not immediately fear for your life.
Most would say that the lifestyle they were living wasn't awful, now that they had the resources available from the Mountain to help. Clarke tried to avoid the inside of the mountain at all costs, but on the rare occasion that Gina Martin and Raven were able to get her to share some drinks and a hot meal with them it was Macallan's gentle singing and skilled piano playing that echoed in her head and not the silence that came with death. There was talk amongst the council of potentially moving into the Mountain in a whole. Clarke almost vomited in her spot when she heard the seriousness in the suggestion. Winter was quickly approaching and there would be no real way to survive the season change with the surrounding areas all Grounder territory. Her mother agreed, of course she did, once she figured out that her medical center was meager at best and would never be able to sustain an unknown flu season. Everyone had something positive to say; even Lincoln whose people had been strung up and drained of their life there. When the discussion rounded to Clarke she had shrugged indifferently, she herself couldn't live inside those walls, but if the survival of her people depended upon it she couldn't say no.
The evening of the final vote she abstained entirely and removed herself from the discussion.
In the weeks that followed there was a new flurry of movement! A wave of excitement filtered through the people! Marcus had taken the time to discuss all the positives of relocating the bulk of Arkadia to the bunker inside the mountain and he had answered every question given to him as best as possible. Were people allowed to stay in Arkadia if they choose? Yes, but resources would be limited and constant travel back and forth between both locations may grow tedious as well as dangerous. What about the people of the mountain? Did they agree to this? There's no need to worry about the people of the mountain, because of the brave and courageous acts of those that charged the mountain months ago it is a free and open place for us to utilize. What happened to the people of the mountain?
And that was met with silence.
Nobody talked about the eradication of the mountain people. Nobody talked about the betrayal that came from the Grounders forces. Nobody talked about the horror of walking through a corridor and seeing bodies upon bodies blistered and lifeless. Nobody talked about it, because the only people that truly understood what happened were the council members themselves, Monty Green and Jasper Jordan. Jasper who had once been full of life and happiness and laughter was no dark and cynical, he was twisted and broken and a drunk that contributed almost nothing to their new society. While some people questioned why anyone bothers keeping him around it was Clarke that defended him. Always Clarke that insisted he was just as important as the next citizen, that his life mattered and that his presence wasn't a waste or hindrance. In return it was Jasper that took to verbally assaulting his once friend and comrade. It was Jasper that liked to remind Clarke of her decision that ruined his life, ruined her life. It was Jasper that no longer laughed or teased Clarke and it was him that vehemently protested the Arkadia takeover of Mount Weather.
"People actually lived there! People slept there and ate there, they loved and laughed there. They raised families and created friendships within those walls and you destroyed that! You killed an entire society!" He cried out in outrage after cornering Clarke at the drinking well.
"I'm sorry Jasper, it wasn't my decision."
He snorted, "But it was Clarke, you had the choice to save innocent lives and in the name of your survival you chose not to. Here we are again, in the name of your survival."
She turned around to walk away from him, he'd follow her for a few feet, but he always disappeared as soon as he saw another person walk by. It was how this new Jasper operated. He proceeded to throw the facts at her rigid and straight back and just like always he made the move to walk away, but not before she had the chance to remind him, "It was for our survival Jasper, my survival has nothing to do with it."
Four weeks to the day later Arkadia has more than seventy percent of their remaining population situated in the mountain. It had taken the entire month to remove the bodies and properly prepare the bunker for new life. Pieces of furniture, clothing items, everyday utensils and entertainment items were all piled up and divided out. Homes were assigned based off of alphabetical order -which invited the true idea of unity to the people of the Ark. New jobs were handed out by Marcus, Sinclair had taken over the control room and Abby had found herself and Eric within the new and vastly more adequate medical wing. The move was not complete, they had wanted the transition to be peaceful and not rushed. While people prepared their homes and closets and adjusted to their new responsibilities the council also took to finalizing their details. Raven and Clarke would remain in Arkadia permanently and while Abby protested the decision had ultimately been made and voted upon. Nathan Miller would split his time evenly, for every two weeks spent in Arkadia he would also spend two weeks within the bunker, however, it would be his father David overseeing the full guard in Mount Weather permanently. Abby had wanted to offer the same split time set up, mostly to ensure that Clarke was still alive and well, but partially because running both medical facilities would require the split attention. She was vetoed on the basis of her position as Chancellor. In the end the compromise was made that Clarke would take over the medical center within Arkadia permanently so that Abby could rest easy that things were settled and taken care of.
The final details to work out had been establishing times for council meetings. Until the communications system was completely up and running the weekly council meetings were to be held between both spaces on a rotation. Once the communications were up Raven was positive that video conferences would be able to suffice, therefore no longer disrupting the lives of council members. Until then, every third day of the week Abby, Marcus and Lincoln would travel down from Mount Weather to meet with Clarke, Raven and Nathan -assuming it wasn't his weeks in the bunker. They tried to be secretive about it. They feared that their predictability would give the Grounders a one up on them. It was a never ending battle between Sky People and Grounders. While almost all confrontations were provoked it was impossible to say who started it as both sides adamantly swore it couldn't possibly be their own. In the last month or so there had been a strange silence from the Grounders and Lincoln reassured everyone it was preparation for the winter season that has led to the temporary peace.
On the sixth weekly meeting since the move into Mount Weather the guards had alerted the council that there was a warrior approaching the gates with a small army. Clarke was the first out of her seat with Lincoln and Nathan not far behind as they rushed to prevent bloodshed. Indra kom Trikru who was the acting Wormana of TonDC working alongside the Commander was at the gate with a missive and important information for the people of Arkadia. Lincoln stepped forward with his arms crossed over his broad chest and legs hip width apart.
"Why laik yu hir?"
"Heda sent me." Indra unsheathed her weapon and stabbed into the soft ground just outside of the gates signifying her position means no harm. "Osir need kom talk."
"Osir don no business kom heda." Lincoln doesn't back down from his position. "Yu aren't welcome."
Instead of anger it's amusement that drifted through her eyes, "You'll want to hear what the Commander has to say Lincoln and so will your people."
"The Commander holds no power over us, whatever it is we don't want or need what she has to say."
"That's where you're wrong. The Commander has requested the presence of Skaikru's council in Polis in three days for the initiation of Skaikru into the coalition. It's a decision that Heda has made to show that we stand with Wanheda." Indra makes eye contact with Clarke who has positioned herself next to Lincoln in a similar stance. Much to the warriors' pleasure there is no way to read Clarke's emotions or thoughts, her eyes are clear and her feelings are masked and controlled. Months prior Clarke had been easy to read and it had almost been her undoing, now she stood amongst her people as a true warrior. "A position in the coalition will offer protection for your people and support from the Commanders' ranks should you need it."
Clarke steps forward just enough so that her shoulder has barely crossed Lincolns'; "And what makes this alliance different from the last?"
"Better terms; bother interpersonally and conditionally." Indra replaced her sword back to her hip and crossed the entryway of the camp. "Lexa is the first commander to invoke peace upon the twelve clans of the coalition, but she wants more. Peace among all of the clans would ensure that our people can live on in prosperity."
"You have a funny definition of peace," Clarke started with an eyebrow raised, though she had released her arms so that they rested by her side. "where I come from peace is to spare children, not kill them."
"Imprisonment is not sparing them Clarke, nor is executing your criminals with no trial."
"Jus drein, jus daun, right Indra?"
Marcus Kane appeared suddenly with a firm hand to Clarke's shoulder; "In any case I think our meeting room is a better environment for this discussion," he stepped forward to lead Indra away from the small crowd that had gathered around them, "Indra if you'd follow me."
Once everyone was seated again Indra stepped forward with the parcel. It was an official invitation for three representatives of Skaikru and four guards to join in a meeting of the clans in Polis set for three days from the day they received the invite. The only blatant condition listed on the parchment was the presence of Clarke which almost seemed like a given fact. Indra proceeded to explain that Lexa had always intended to honor the terms set before the attack on Mount Weather, regardless of outcome. Raven rolled her eyes and scoffed, but Marcus shushed her and asked the warrior to continue. It's her next statement that left the majority of the table uneasy and riled up.
"It has been brought to the Commander's attention that a bounty for Wanheda has been in effect courtesy of Queen Nia of the Ice Nation. If the Sky People accept to resume the terms of our original alliance it will be a testament of our trust and support in the Commander of Death and would therefore be an act of treason to follow through with an assassination."
"Tell us Indra, who is this commander of death?"
The warrior attempted to hold onto her composure, but the slight adjustment in her gaze was enough for Clarke to figure it out. Rather than waiting for a response from Indra, Clarke spoke, "I am the Commander of Death aren't I? When you said Wanheda earlier you made direct eye contact with me. The bounty is for my life, isn't it?"
And then the uproar happened. It started with just Raven and Abby; both equally disturbed and enraged on the younger woman's behalf. Then it turned into Marcus demanding everyone's silence, Nathan threatening Indra while she taunted back to him and it was all disrupted when Lincoln pushed his chair back causing the legs to scratch against the beaten and worn metal. "Why would Nia place a bounty on Clarke? What aren't you mentioning?"
Indras' eyes turned calculating. "The Ice Nation Queen is dying, her embassary has reported that her condition is deteriorating quickly. Word of Clarkes' actions in the mountain has spread throughout the clans like wildfire and with that started the rumor that the girl who destroyed the mountain men had a commander spirit within and in our culture if you'd like to inherit that spirit you must first kill the one that beholds it. Many of Nias' true followers believe that the spirit of Wanheda could save their queen."
"Does Lexa anticipate a conflict upon her death?"
"No," Indra replied shortly, "we consider the Ice Nation to be eccentric within their beliefs, but most members of their clan do not fully believe in the practices of their queen. The most pressing issue upon her death is that their kingdom is a complete monarch and next in line for the throne was banished leaving the monarchy to end and a new era to start. Lexa intends to infiltrate their rankings to ensure that this next reigning line will remain peaceful and adhere to the alliance they've built with us."
Clarke looked contemplative as she allowed the information to absorb. After a moment or two, just before Marcus had the chance to ask his question Clarke beat him to it, "So if her death is imminent why is there a need for a public declaration of peace between your people and ours? A bounty aside, an alliance is a very permanent solution to what seems like a temporary problem."
"And if the new line of rulers for the Ice Nation believe the same nonsense that Nia does?"
"Indra," Marcus pulled her attention away from Clarke, "if we could have a day to discuss and weigh our options? I'm assuming even if we refuse the terms of an alliance our presence would still be required in Polis, correct?"
"That is correct, you'd have to present your reasoning to the Commander yourself and her council members. Polis is a day and a half ride from here, I can give you no more than twenty-four hours to come to a decision for the alliance." With that, Indra turned and made an exit out of the building.
"She's batshit crazy!" Raven exclaimed merely seconds after their uninvited guest had cleared the room.
"Raven, please, she was doing her job."
"Not Indra, Lexa, the Commander." it is not missed how Raven drags out the title in a mockery, "what kind of pompous and arrogant person does she have to be to leave us stranded in the middle of a battle and then demand our presence in her capital?"
"So we just throw away the possibility of an alliance?" Nathan questioned hotly. "If the conditions are to remain the same we'd have unlimited resources and no hunting restrictions, we'd be provided our own sector of land! Not to mention the enduring peace given our geographical position considering we're surrounded on all four sides."
"And if she decides that we're no longer useful?"
"She never thought we weren't useful." Clarke's voice trails off. "She made a decision for the best of her people, just like we made a decision for ours. The conditions we had originally set though were extremely beneficial and we'd be idiots to throw them away."
"As someone who was there during the original negotiations I agree with Clarke." Marcus piped up. "Lots of educational benefits came from the original conditions; an opportunity for us to be shown how to really thrive down here and if I remember correctly, Lincoln's reassured all of us that most of his life has been peaceful."
"Finish that statement Kane." Raven bit out, but before Marcus could continue she cut him off. "Lincoln recalled that it was peaceful until the original dropship came down and the hundred delinquents you used as test dummies landed right in the middle of their hunting grounds."
"Which is besides the point Raven," Abby chastised, "overall I agree with Raven's suspicions. Us moving into Mount Weather means our reliance on their teachings can decrease."
"However," Lincoln responded, "having no alliance and having two different clan locations leaves Arkadia at risk of constant attack if not slaughtered if caught in the crossfires of clan conflict."
"Arguments are good for both pros and cons," Clarke sat forward to rest her elbows onto the cool metal table, "ultimately our decision can't be truly made until we've seen the formal conditions presented to us. We need to figure out who is going to Polis."
"Obviously if you have to go I'm going."
Clarke rolled her eyes at her mother; "Objection, as the Chancellor we can't risk having you travel to a potentially hazardous environment."
"Well we can have Marcus fill in temporarily." Abby insisted with her own bite.
"And if a negotiation point is my life for the rest of Arkadia are you able to objectively sit there and make the best call for your people?"
Raven raised her hand, "Are you saying that you think it's a set up?"
Clarke shook her head, "No, but it's entirely possible. I don't think they'd have sent Indra if it were a set up to execute me. However, the point still stands, if it came down to it my mothers' guilt over sending me to the ground wouldn't allow for her to make a good call about my wellbeing."
"Guilt has nothing to do with it Clarke," Abby protested angrily, "I love you! I just don't want to see you get hurt."
"All the more reason for you to stay here." Clarke looked away from her mother quickly and turned towards Marcus. "You're great with our people and you understand what they really need out of this. You should go and be my mothers' second in command, you'd be able to make the decisions that best suit our people."
"I'd be honored to go as Abby's second, which handles two of the three positions requested, and for the third I'd recommend Nathan."
"I object," Nathan said, "I want to go as a member of the guard detail. Lincoln should be our third."
"No way! Lincoln can't take that risk, not after he left his village and people for us. Even I know that's dangerous, but if we need a third I can always go."
Clarke shook her head; "Remember the last time? Your open hostility put a target on your back Raven and I can't put you through that again."
"Yeah, they left me with a wicked scar."
"And a bad attitude." Nathan griped out only to have an indignant response thrown back. "Okay, my dad and I will figure out the security detail and make sure that we're dividing our resources appropriately and if Clarke doesn't mind I can stand in as the third."
"Of course I don't mind," she snorted, "if anything you have my back and that makes it much easier to see this whole thing through."
"So it's decided?" Abby questioned bitterly, "Marcus, Nathan and Clarke will be our representatives in Polis?"
"I make a motion to accept Kane, Miller and Clarke as our representatives in Polis." Raven barked out.
"I second the motion." Echoed Lincoln and was immediately followed with Abby's prompt and not a single objection. "Meeting adjourned?" the bald headed man asked.
"Meeting adjourned."
Later that evening Raven had paced the width of her corridor at least a dozen times before Kyle had been able to pry out of her what happened in the meeting. And she spared him no details, but the more she talked about it the angrier she got. "It's like she just forgets that Lexa completely fucked us over!"
"Or she's level headed enough to realize that people make mistakes."
Raven scoffed, "Please, Lexa fed on Clarke's insecurities and abused her position of power."
Kyle shrugged, "I neither agree nor disagree, but I'm asking you to see reason here Reyes."
"There's nothing to see! Clarke is going to go to Polis, fuck the commander and then during their post coital bliss Lexa is going to backstab Clarke. Just like last time! And for what?"
"The chance of peace, the ability to utilize the resources around us, the sense of belonging?"
"No, for bullshit!" Raven yelled out in anger and frustration while her hand began to work through her hair. "For us to be belongings and property, for us to be game pieces in a chess match. We clearly don't need them!"
Kyle eventually wandered his way over to her and forced her to sit down at the small table against the wall across from her bed and as he worked her normal ponytail and braids out he tried to keep his voice soft and soothing. "I can't tell if you don't trust this meeting because of the previous talk of alliances or because of Clarke."
"Fuck Clarke," she bit out, but it lacked the fire that her normal anger held, "everything she does can be justified for the greater good."
"And that's a bad thing how?"
"Because, it's not always for the greater good Wick. Nobody forced her to put anyone's life in her hands, she chose to take that responsibility on herself. Now they're saying that she has this mystical power of belonging or some shit." She grumbled out while she picked at the skin of her thumb. "She just doesn't know how to say no."
For Ravens' benefit, Kyle does not call her out on her double standards and meanings. Also for her benefit he tried to reason with her; "Raven I know you're still angry about things, but is it really fair to just hold Clarke completely accountable for it?"
"Finn was a good man and he didn't deserve to die, she didn't have the right to kill him."
"What was she supposed to do?" Kyle exclaimed as he sat across from her with her hair tie now secure around his own wrist. "If she had even attempted to kill Lexa she'd have been executed on the spot and our entire population would have been wiped out. Plus, Miller told me what happened and it sounded like Finn turned himself in and he knew what was going to happen."
"And that's supposed to make it better?"
"No, no, but…" he paused for a moment and reached across the table for her hand, "just because Finn was a good man doesn't mean he did good things. Our actions have consequences and his actions were pretty inexcusable. Clarkes' were too, the biggest difference is that Finns' actions were held accountable publicly, Clarke handled her own consequences privately."
"Also bullshit," Raven grumbled out as she slouched over the table, "she shouldn't have to handle what happened in the mountain on her own. I mean we were all there! We could all see her back was against the wall. The only person who really doesn't understand is Jasper."
"Well kids' handling his own issues right now."
"I know that I eventually have to forgive Clarke, it's just easier to process everything when there's someone to blame, you know?"
"Not really," Wick smiled softly as he replaced her hair tie back around her left wrist. "but I think I can figure out that you've already forgiven Clarke and I think that this is more about forgiving yourself."
She stared at him with pointed eyes and pursed lips, "Shut up."
"I'm afraid you're going to have to make me."
She had already stretched across the table to press her lips to his before his taunt was finished. Raven figured she could handle the next round of drama and suspense in the morning, after she had spent an evening with the obnoxious and overly positive Kyle Wick. If anything, she figured his positivity would eventually overtake her negativity and together they could create a balance in life. If it wasn't meant to be then Raven would move on and figure it out, but for now he was everything she needed.
Most nights Clarke didn't actually sleep. Trying to find tranquility in the dark oftentimes led to night terrors that froze her body up and left her panting and crying in the silence of her room. It was why she always offered to take over the night watch in the medical tent, but that night it was a young girl from Mecha Station that had wanted experience doing so. She explained to Clarke that Mount Weather made her uncomfortable and preferred the outdoors and in complete understanding the former delinquent leader agreed that it would be a good idea. They agreed to start her off small, one overnight a week until she was fully trained and then they'd split a rotation. It just sucked that the night Clarke needed the distraction the most was the night that Avery had the tent.
Instead she was left to wander around camp as she sought out the comfort and companionship of Monty Green. A fellow delinquent of the one-hundred and survivor of the mountain; he had been in the control room when Clarke made the decision to eradicate the bunker. Not many people knew that, Raven of course figured it out and Nathan showed up literally seconds after the lever had been pulled, but both had sworn secrecy with Clarke. Jasper was only a ghost of himself when he was with Monty, and Clarke couldn't bear t o see that last glimmer of his old self dissipate if he found out the truth. She knew he had no intention of living in Mount Weather -none of the surviving forty-seven did, and that like her he too was plagued with nightly demons. Sometimes he was up all night making sure Jasper didn't get too drunk and other times he positioned himself at the edge of camp just before the forest started. That had been where Clarke found him.
The air had started to change as she exhaled and watched a cloud of her breath disappear in front of her. She pulled her jacket tighter against her body and plopped down next to the kid from the former Agro Station. He smiled softly at her and passed a small flask without question and she took it without answer. The heat of the moonshine warmed her within seconds and just to keep that warmth for a little longer she took another big gulp before she had passed the flask back. Together the pair stared into the night; Clarke spent her evening gazing at the stars and through the trees while Monty took to watching the ground shift as the wind blew through it. They sat together in silence for hours at a time, both content to let their own thoughts run through their minds respectively. At the first sign of morning light they'd speak, discuss their contemplations and offer their own childhood stories. The early pre-dawn purple glow around them allowed for Monty to better see Clarke and he knew upon a single glance that there was something wrong.
"There's a bounty out for my life."
He whistled slowly; "Not what I expected to hear."
"Tell me about it."
He opened the flask and took another sip before he passed it back to her, "Is it Jasper?"
She shook her head just before she took her sip and then held onto the flask upon swallowing. "No, but it just confirms my decision to keep Jasper in the dark about what happened that day. Nobody else can know you were in the control room with me."
"Raven's probably figured it out," he paused for a second to pick at a blade of grass, "that girl is scary smart."
"So are you doofus." She nudged him with her shoulder until he met her eye and she smiled softly. "I have to go to Polis to meet with Lexa over the conditions of our alliance."
"The same Lexa that kissed you just before the fight and then left you on the battlefield?"
"The same Lexa that convinced me to flee and let a village burn from a missile too."
"Fuck that bitch."
Clarke laughed softly; "I probably would."
Monty raised an eyebrow and scrunched up his nose in disgust. "Please don't, I'd have to judge you forever for it. Let's get back to the bounty for your life, that was less nauseating."
"Right well, that's part of the reason why she wants to declare us an ally clan. Apparently the Ice Nation is about to lose their queen and there's no guarantee that whoever replaces her is going to be less psychotic or more psychotic. According to the gossipers of the woods I'm a hot commodity because if their queen kills me she'll miraculously inherit my spirit and live."
"Will she though?"
"Right, that's what I said! I mean, I understand their beliefs are more spiritual than ours were and so therefore I understand that I don't really understand them." She huffed out a small self deprecating laugh before she continued. "At the least it's t like a flattering way to acknowledge my crimes against humanity."
"They're not crimes against humanity Clarke." Monty took his turn to nudge her shoulder in comradery. "You did what you had to do, you've always done that."
"Well not always."
"Hey, you coming back through the gates of Arkadia was the best thing possible for you! And for me and for Raven and for you mom and for the other forty-six kids that lost their hope until you brought it back."
She sighed; "Forty-five. Jasper definitely does not care for my being here."
"Jasper just needs time! You just need time and it fucking sucks that you feel like you haven't been given the space or time that's needed to heal, but I promise you, being on your own? It would have hurt a lot more."
"Being on my own also doesn't put my people at risk." Monty asked her to elaborate and so Clarke took a minute to collect her thoughts properly. "This bounty, this… price that they put on my head is dangerous for all you. Everyone knows where the Sky People are, everyone knows that we've claimed the mountain as our own now too. If you had just let me leave I could have taken the bounty away from you all."
"If I had let you leave you'd be dead right now and we both know it."
The sun had started to turn the sky to a warm pink and Clarke shrugged; "Maybe, maybe not."
"There's no maybe about it Clarke." Monty snorted back at her, but she could tell but the serious glint in his eye that it wasn't the time to joke. It was hard at times, because Clarke sometimes felt like her life was one big joke, but to Monty? Well, Monty saw Clarkes' life as something worthwhile and invigorating and even though it was, at the moment, in shambles. "I know you're not nearly as okay as you let everyone think, but you're getting there. We're getting there."
"Yeah, alright," but she still didn't come out and say it, didn't admit that her biggest fear was how close she was to giving up entirely, "think anyone will care if I sleep most of the morning away?"
"I don't think they've cared in the last six months of you doing it."
The sky has started to lighten considerably and Clarke can hear the faint rustle of the guard switches, "I guess I'll see you at lunch then?"
"Yeah, if you decide to actually show up for once."
She knew he wasn't teasing, that he had been serious when he had said that, but part of her couldn't up but tease him in response. It made the end of their conversations lighter. When she would roll her eyes and saunter off as if the weight of her actions didn't weigh her down at all possible times. If there had been access to someone who had a better understanding of the mind they probably would have told her that she had started to process her trauma poorly. She had relied on typical coping mechanisms to hide how bad she had gotten and projected all the positivity around her on to other people. In her mind she had convinced herself that she wasn't worthy. Unfortunately, said professionals were not among them in Arkadia or Mount Weather. The job was almost obsolete in the Ark, because they relied on stimulants laced within their food to keep these mental conditions under control and if someone had been debilitated by them or dangerous because of them they were considered expendable and invisible.
Everything was different on the ground.
"Where is she sending you now?"
He turned casually towards the soft feminine voice at the doorway, "To Polis, the Commander has requested our Ambassador and three guests."
She snorted; "So now you're an honored guest?"
"No," he said as he continued to fold up his maps and set them atop his pouch, "it's just my mission to appear like an honored guest."
"So you're back to running missions for her then?"
"I don't have a choice O, it's my job as a warrior to protect the interests of my Queen." He finally turned to face her; his sister with a warrior spirit and cursed to live a servant's life hidden away to reconcile for their mothers sins. "And it's your job as one of her scullery maids to keep from prying into the business of the Queen."
She sauntered over to his bedding and threw herself down. "That's a fancy word for the kitchen bitch."
"Stop talking like that."
She shrugged and then helped him continue to pack the old worn leather pouch, "So what's going on in Polis?"
He let out a deep and heavy sigh; "The Sky People are becoming the thirteenth clan."
At that he watched his sisters eyebrows shoot up into her hairline, "The Sky People? As in, Wanheda?"
"As in, stop listening to the local gossip and yes."
"Come on Bell! It's all I can really do around here." He ignored her complaint and continued to set aside the belongings he needed. "The Queen thinks that Wanheda is the solution to her imminent death, doesn't she?"
Her brother paused and nodded once, but that was all he admitted to saying on the matter. Bellamy and his sister Octavia grew up in the slums of Ice Nation. Their mother had, at one point, been an important asset to Nia the Queen of Azgeda. Aurora was a tell-tale, a spy for Nia throughout the villages and neighboring clans. Aurora was beautiful in her own right with sleek dark hair, high cheekbones and pale skin. Her most distinguished physical attribute was her hazel eyes, not quite the distinct brown that many clan members had but not light and mysterious like some of the descendants of the first war had. She had grown up alongside Nia and at one point trained to become a warrior, but her striking features and deadly skill in silent killing had made her an invaluable pawn in the monarchy's quest for control.
Her missions started off simple enough. Blend into the Woods Clan and determine their strength in numbers, mingle with the Delphi People and plant the seed of betrayal from Glowing Forest, or sometimes it would be as simple as sneak into the Broad Leaf clan and assassinate their leaders second in command or third in command and so on. Eventually though, her missions became more intense. She was expected to create relationships with suspected enemies and become physically close with them before assassinating them. Aurora eventually became known as the tell-tale of mayhem, but she had always gotten the job done. It was no secret that the father of her children were different men and it was not hard to figure out how the children came to be, but she loved them all the same. Aurora raised her children to the best of her ability, she believed in no reward without work and loyalty to their people.
Then Queen Nia had brought in the girl Ontari. Nia had her thoughts twisted and mutated the longer she remained in power and soon the satisfaction of ruling Azgeda was no longer enough! Because of the belief in the flame Nia could never truly rule over the twelve clans, nor could her son Roan, but if they could prepare a true candidate for the conclave it could ensure Azgeda victory. Nia had needed volunteers to train with Ontari, children sacrifices intended to fail and the queen had sought out Octavia at the age of seven. Aurora fought valiantly against it, begged and pleaded to not put her daughter through that. Her words fell on deaf ears and soon the rational and controlled training instilled within Aurora's being turned desperate. In the end Ontari was a child and Aurora was a murderer and her children had to bear witness to her public execution.
From that day forward Bellamy would be trained to become a warrior of Azgeda and Octavia a servant. By the time Bellamy had reached adulthood he had earned his rank amongst the warriors and had intended to pay for the release of his sister from her servitude, the payment had been fifty lashes to the back, but when he had been released so had Octavia. While his sister was still expected to work for the monarch she had been able to live with her brother, but so much time had already passed that neither sibling knew how to live a normal life. Octavia felt trapped within the walls of Nia's control and had never been given the chance to truly meet people or befriend them. The sting of her mothers' actions followed her wherever she went. And Bellamy had been forced to handle the queen's beck and call! Missions and battles and raids of neighboring clans and villages. He had been a picture perfect soldier and loyal subject to a deranged and evil ruler.
"What aren't you telling me Bellamy?" Octavia waited for her brother's reply, but it never came, he ignored her as he threw his pack over his shoulder. He was out the door before she could pester him some more, but not before he had placed a kiss to her forehead. Her thoughts ran rampant, the Sky People joining the coalition would mean that anyone attempting to collect the bounty on the Commander of Death would be tried and executed for treason. There was still something that seemed out of place about the news, something that didn't add up. Octavia fell asleep uneasily that night.
A/N: Hope this start roped you in! Stay well!