Chapter 7: Plans of Escape and Survival
Clarke's POV
It didn't take long for Octavia and I to be once again visited by Bellamy.
"Come here to try and guilt trip me once more?" I asked in a sarcastic tone the moment I heard him enter through the door. I didn't need to see him or hear his voice to know it was him. Bellamy has never been like anyone else to me. I could always tell it was him just on his footsteps and the essence that seemed to fill the room whenever he was present, and while many things changed in the last six years, he is still very much the person that I fell in love with.
He sighed before responding to my angry banter, "no, not really. I want to apologize for my outburst earlier."
I tensed knowing that I could stay angry with an obnoxious Bellamy, but never with his gentler more in control self.
"I should have taken the time to put my self in your shoes and realize just how difficult things have been for you these last few years. But Clarke I want you to know that I am here for you… We share this responsibility. Both of them."
I widened my eyes, did he say, "both of them"?
"I am going to do everything in my power for our entire family to escape from this madness as unscathed as possible, and while I know you don't think Madi should take the flame or that they should both begin training, you know it's the only way for that to happen," he said not truly surprising me that he hadn't changed his mind despite calling both girls his.
I shook my head slowly, "Bellamy! Please I am begging you to think of another plan. I'll do anything so that Madi and Aurora can have as normal a childhood as possible under our circumstances. If that means that I have to take up the flame so be it. I don't care, but they need to be free." I was practically begging him to think of another way even though I knew why I couldn't take the flame.
"Clarke remember they all know that you were not born a Nightblood and as such have been disqualified to carry the flame in accordance to their faith. Or did you forget why Octavia had to fight in the conclave to become commander."
"How dare you?" My voice cracked, "you know I remember those days perfectly fine, I know why they won't consider me for it, but please do something to convince them that their way out of this hell isn't by placing little girls as Heda."
I felt Bellamy's intense glare on my back when he responded, "I will do what I can, Clarke." He turned around and began to walk out of the chamber. When he was at the door he stopped and spoke, "I will not promise anything in regard to the flame. What I do promise is that tonight the both of you will be free and save along with the rest of our family, however that may be is yet to be found out. I am going to go meet with Gaia and the council right now. In the meantime, Harper has brought a few visitors who've been anxiously waiting to see you."
After that Bellamy walked out and in came three familiar sets of footsteps.
"Thank you so much Harper," I whispered as I turned my face as much as I could to see my little girls behind me, both wearing innocent and excited looks although they both had evidence of heavy crying a while ago.
"Mommy, you won't believe this did you know that Daddy's mom was also called Aurora?"
"Of course I did, I named you to honor her," I replied with a smile remembering that I had decided that if the baby was a boy I would name him after my father and if it was a girl it'd be Bellamy's mom.
"And honor her you have!" Octavia said with a hint of laughter in her voice.
"What does that mean Aunt Octavia?" Madi asked in a shyer tone than was normal for her.
"What I mean is my mother would have been honored to know that she had two beautiful warrior granddaughters."
We all laughed at the girls' obvious blush, and I couldn't wait to get out of these restraints so that I could properly enjoy my entire family.
"Clarke!" Madi said to draw me out of my trace of thought.
"Yes, Madi."
"I have decided that I am going to take the flame," she moved slightly behind me and I took a deep breath trying to control my self from killing Bellamy and Gaia for placing those ideas in her head. "It's not Bellamy's or any one's decision, but mine. I want to do this. I want us to return to shadow valley and the only way Wonkru will do it is under a new leader."
"Are you sure about this Madi?" I asked heartbroken. I'd taken Madi under my wings when she was barely six years old. She already knew the basics of being a warrior, as any grounder child did at that age, however Madi had in many occasions since acted free spirited and careless, she'd enjoyed a freedom that I could have only dreamed of back on the Ark. She hadn't had to defend herself anymore because I was now there to protect her and her sister. Apparently, I had also passed down to her the same independent spirit that had shaped my life to be the way it had.
I wouldn't be able to stop her, just like my mom hadn't been able to stop me all those years ago. If I wanted her to count me in I had to give her my support and hope that the council placed to guide her would always take her best interest into heart before condemning her to the dangers this world has to offer.
I closed my eyes, trying to avoid comparing Madi to Lexa. Praying and hoping that Madi's life was much more extensive and freeing than Lexa's had been.
"Ok, Madi," I whispered. She ran to me and hugged me as much as she could. I felt the wetness of her tears on my shirt and broke down into tears as well. Soon enough Aurora too had joined in the hug and I wished I could keep them there close to me forever but sighed knowing that each person has a path that they must follow and Madi was just starting out on hers.
"I love you… Mom," Madi whispered.
I felt a jolt of energy similar to the one that had overcome me in the pit when Madi and Aurora had been in danger and smiled knowing that I had done the right thing. Now it was up to Bellamy to convice Gaia and the council to only put Madi as Heda in name only. Not because I didn't think she couldn't take on the pressure, but because I am her mother and it is my responsibility to secure my child the chance to discover herself and the world without the added burden of caring for the human race. I'd had to grow up and do that and no matter what I wouldn't put my daughter in the position to have to make choices like the ones I had to make in order for my people to survive.
"I love you both, beyond your understanding."
Bellamy's POV
After I'd spoken to the girls, I visited Clarke with them and Harper. I knew that the council was waiting for me, but I wanted the girls and Clarke to have peace and see each other again before our lives changed again in such a short period of time.
After I promised her, I'd get our family out safely, I went to meeting that Echo had come to warn me about earlier and took the seat beside her.
She placed her hand on my thigh to help calm my nerves and slowly moved her index finger over my knee.
"Bellamy!" Gaia called disrupting the trace I was in with Echo's gentle tickling.
"Yes!" I said looking straight into her eyes. Her eyes were cloudy, they looked guilty and apologetic. I couldn't quite pinpoint if I was going to like where this meeting would go or not.
"We have decided to propose that Madi takes the flame, tonight." She sighed and I could see whatever came next weighted heavy on her, "and also we have decided to allow Madi to chose people to serve as her council so that they make the decisions and she is Heda only in name, from the people Madi choses the people will vote six people to keep, the rest will have to refrain from council meetings."
I smiled, this was perfect it was just what I wanted, Madi would still be free to enjoy her life and our people would start to get a feel at democratically elected government officials once more.
"What about my sister and Clarke?" I asked knowing that they were still not secure.
"Once we have gone through the ceremony of ascension, we will set the former Commander and Clarke kom Skaikru free. It is likely that they will be also involved in the council since both women have much experience in leading."
That surprised me, not because of setting them free so easily, but because they'd be ok with them having government jobs after they'd placed them in containment.
"A mother who fights for her young and her people as Clarke has done is an asset, and a warrior who despite being a horrible commander knows when to make tough decisions and how to will also be a must if our people are to survive," Indra said speaking for the first time since the meeting had commenced.
"If that is all, then I agree to these terms, however Gaia you must promise me that my daughters will be free to interact with other children, they will be free to carry out simple lives, and while they should have guards to protect them, when they are in either mine or Clarke's presence then the guards must not intervene or even be near. We are still the girls' parents and as such we have a duty to guide and reprimand her with love and care. If we think that this is getting out of hand then we have the right to remove the flame."
Gaia wanted to protest, but Indra placed her hand on her shoulder signaling that this was the only offer she would get. "If push comes to shove, Clarke has agreed to take on the flame once more in order to serve our people and keep our family save."
"That will not be necessary!" Gaia replied quickly. "We will keep our end of the deal and not pressure either of the girls."
I nodded, "then this meeting is adjourned. I will let Madi and Clarke know what is going on and you should go prepare for the ascension ceremony."
I stood up and walked out closely followed by Echo and Monty who had also been in the meeting.
"Do you think Clarke will go with this?" Monty asked as we hurried down the stairs to the containment chamber.
"She will," I replied, knowing that Clarke understood me now, "she knows this is our best option, plus I threatened Gaia and Clarke will be pleased to know that Gaia ever gets out of hand on the tasks she gives the girls then we have deal with witnesses that we have the right to end everything right there."
Raven's POV
"Through here Murphy!" I screamed running into a room immediately looking for a computer I could hack to lock the doors.
"What are you looking for?" Murphy asked breathing heavily.
"Something? Anything to hack the door and keep us locked in here!" I turned my back to the door a scanned every nook and corner of the room hoping to find some sort of control panel.
"Too late," I heard Murphy whisper before a thud sounded across the room. I turned around to see him, but instead encountered a fist right in the face.
I momentarily blacked out, but when I came to be mostly conscious, I noticed that my hands were tied and so were my feet. We'd also apparently been moved to a dark room because the only thing I could see was a slight light reflection behind me, "Let me go! You Bastards!"
"Raven! Shhh," Murphy hissed. I looked to where his voice had come from only to find his shadow next to me in a similar position to mine.
"Don't shush me! You're not my mother!" I spat at him. I suppose he then glared at me back and I could almost imagine the smirk I know now adorned his ugly ass face.
"Good thing too because I'd have to thrown you overboard a long time ago if I had to deal with you annoying ass every day of my life!"
"Well too bad, you have dealt with me every day of your life for the past almost seven years and let's hope the future is kind to us, but by the looks of it we're once again screwed up together."
"Ha! Except I am awesome and you're…"
"Shut up you two!" Abby yelled from somewhere in the room we were in.
"Abby?" I called out, "are you here?"
"No of course not!" Abby said sarcastically, "It's not like I just told you to shut up or anything."
"Where are we?" I asked.
"I am not sure." she responded, "somewhere on the mothership. Also, Jackson was taken when you guys were brought in, probably to do whatever we were brought here to do."
Abby had to stop talking when we heard the door from the light reflection was coming open and in walked Diyoza, "well it looks like Dr. Jackson needs your help to figure out the procedure after all, Dr. Griffin. Take her!"
Then Abby was taken away as well, "Oh don't worry too much about her and begin worrying bout your friends down there after all there. After all they have nothing to convince me to not kill them anymore."
Then she walked away and all I could do was cry at my inability to help Abby, or our friends on the ground. We were all doomed and there was nothing any of us could do to change that.
Clarke's POV
When Bellamy, Monty, and Echo joined us I wasn't sure how to feel. I knew they were here to tell us what the verdict had been, but did I really want to know.
"Bellamy what did the council and Gaia decide on?" Madi asked.
"You will take on the flame and serve as a symbol to the people, you will also choose some people you can trust and whom you believe that have the capacity and the qualities to form part of your council. However, from these people you chose the people will vote to keep six, the rest will not be in the council. However, if Clarke and I ever feel that Gaia or anyone is putting pressure on you then we have the right to remove the flame, in which scenario Clarke will take over."
I smiled knowing Madi and Aurora would get to have the childhood we'd all dreamed of but lacked.
"Clarke and Octavia will be set free after the ascension ceremony." Bellamy finished and I nodded to let him know that I acknowledged him.
"Madi!" I called out to her, "I wish I could go with you, but I know you are brave, strong and courageous. Plus, I am trusting that Bellamy will accompany you during this. I love you with all of me baby girl." I said prepared to let my little girl, begin her own journey.
A/N
Hey guys, I know it's been almost a week, but I've been so busy with college that I've barely had any time to write.
Anyways I hope you guys liked this chapter and thank you to all og you who reviewed, followed, and favorited. You guys make all this effort worthwhile.
See you soon!
Emily1050