'Unity day,' Reigna thought to herself, glancing over the crowds of delinquents to a small screen Raven rigged up, showing Chancellor Jaha giving his yearly Unity day speech, 'what a fucking joke.' she thought to herself, scoffing and turning away. Of course she wasn't the only one who felt this way. She heard Miller just a second ago saying some derogatory things toward the chancellor's speech, Finn also saying his piece to Clarke in hushed tones. Reigha couldn't care less if she tried. She knew the truth about the stations, a story her father told her when she was young, a testament that life was unfair no matter how smart or dedicated you are. Reigna almost felt relief the moment Monty and Jasper brought out the moonshine, quickly stepping over to the two and grabbing a makeshift cup and filling it to the brim. If she was lucky, she wouldn't remember Unity day at all tomorrow. Nodding in thanks towards the duo, Reigna silently wandered away towards the edge of camp. She was sure by now Octavia was long gone, sneaking away off into the woods to see Lincoln. Of course, Reigna was the only person Octavia told about her nighttime trysts. Reigna was still skeptical of the grounders as a whole group, but Lincoln cared for Octavia, who Reigna considered to be her best friend, so she couldn't in good conscience hate him. Reigna pondered this as she leaned against the wood and metal gate at the entrance of camp, staring out into the woods.
"You enjoying Unity day so far, Reign?" Bellamy's voice rang out behind her, snapping the younger girl out of her trance.
"I don't think i've ever enjoyed Unity day, but i can say that i'm not hating so far." Reigna turned her head and lifted her still full cup to Bellamy with a smile. Returning the expression, Bellamy moved to stand beside her, unintentionally, Reigna assumed, brushing his arm against hers.
"That's what I figured. You didn't seem like the type to enjoy it." Bellamy replied, staring out into the woods just like she had been.
"It's stupid and it's a lie. It's just as pointless as all the other celebrations we had on the ark. Just like christmas, just like birthdays." Reigna said with a shug as she took a swig of the moonshine, face screwing up as the taste hit her mouth.
"Wasn't your birthday the day we got sent down here?" Bellamy asked, watching as Reigna unabashedly took another swig of the strong drink.
"Yeah, how'd you know about that." Reigna questioned, quirking a brow up at him.
"Heard Murphy talking about it," Bellamy shrugged, "How old are you anyway, then."
"Eighteen. I was supposed to get floated instead of coming down here, but I guess they figured I would die down here anyway so…" Reigna trailed off, "How old are you, Bell." Reigna asked, beginning to take another drink.
"Twenty-three." He said, making Reigna choke on her drink, Bellamy rushing to pat her back as she coughed and set the moonshine aside.
"Really?" Reigha struggled out, "I thought you were only like a year or two older than Octavia."
"You realize Octavia isn't even eighteen yet, right?" Bellamy asked, making Reigna look away in embarrassment.
"I thought we were the same age…" She mumbled, making Bellamy laugh.
"You two look like you're having fun." Reigna heard Clarke's voice approaching as she finally quelled her coughing fit.
"Fun is definitely a word." Reigna said, standing back to her full height and setting aside her now empty cup.
"The comms are still dead," Clarke announced, as if she cared, "They cut out during the pageant."
"I was in that pageant once…" Reigna reminisced for a moment before quirking her face up in mild disgust.
"Best Unity day ever." Bellamy said, tone portraying indifference.
"Do you two really think this is the best time to be having a party? I mean the gounder is still out there."
"Grounders," Bellamy corrected, "By now, he's made it home and probably putting together a lynch mob. Relax, i've got security covered."
"You should get a drink. You kinda look like you could use one." Reigna gave Clarke a once over before shooing her away. After Clarke was gone, the two turned back around to face into the woods. Reigna heard Bellamy mumble a soft unity day under his breath before hearing a loud crunch. Reigna whipped her head to face him.
"Bell, where the fuck did you get an apple." Reigna exclaimed.
"Found it around," He shrugged. Reigna snatched the apple out of his hands before taking a bite of her own and setting it back in Bellamy's unmoved hand.
"And what was that for?" Bellamy asked incredulously.
"Payment," Reigna smirked, beginning to step away from Bellamy.
"For…"
"I'll do a quick once over the camp for you, make sure no one's going in or out. You know, ease your workload a bit." Reigna said with a wink before turning to walk away, leaving Bellamy to watch her with admiration as she left.
-0-
Reigna's leisurely walk around the perimeter of camp was interrupted about halfway around by a very rushed looking Octavia.
"Reign, I'm gonna need you for something for a bit."
"Whats up, O." Reigna asked, as Octavia locked their elbows together and started steering her to a corner of the camp, away from Bellamy.
"Uhh, I'll tell you once we meet up with Finn and Clarke."
"Ooookay?" Reigna drew out, walking in step with her before remembering, "Oh, Bell finally informed me today that we aren't the same age."
"No one down here is your age, Reign." Octavia pointed out, "Did you think we were?"
"I mean i didn't think you were eighteen, but i definitely wouldn't have guessed you were a year younger than me." Reigna explained, making Octavia giggle.
"Just wait until you hear how old Bellamy is, then." Octavia laughed.
"Oh, he told me. I almost choked on Monty's moonshine." Reigna grumbled, making Octavia laugh harder before spotting Finn and Clarke at the edge of camp.
"Okay, they're here, can you tell us what this is about now?"
"We set up a meeting with the grounders." Finn spat out quickly.
"You spoke to Lincoln?" Reigna said quickly.
"You know the grounder's name?" Clarke rounded on Reigna, making her hold her hands up in defeat.
"Octavia likes him, so I by default also have to like him." Reigna said, making Clarke roll her eyes.
"Either way we can't live in peace with the people who've done nothing but kill us." Clarke said angrily.
"Can you think of a better way to stop the bloodshed?" Finn replied just as aggravated as Clarke.
"Yeah, with the guns that the guard bring down." Clarke said. Reigna and Octavia felt as if they were watching Clarke and Finn toss a ball back and forth between the two of them. Reigna opened her mouth to speak but Finn interrupted her.
"You really want a war? Because at this rate, that's what's coming. Look. I know it's a long shot, but this is our world now, and I think we can do better than the first time around. I trust him."
"Seconded. I also trust Lincoln." Reigna blurted out, inserting herself into the conversation, making Octavia squeeze her arm in thanks. Clarke turned her head to Reigna.
"Well I don't. If we go I want to bring backup." Clarke said.
"No way, we're not bringing guns," Finn replied quickly, shaking his head, "Those weren't the terms."
"I don't think bringing guns would be a good idea anyway, Clarke. Isn't that kind of a threat? I know I wouldn't be too happy if the people I was supposed to be negotiating peace with brought guns to a conference." Reigna reasoned. "I mean, if it makes you feel better, i'll have a knife on me. I always do." Reigna continued, patting the front of her hip for reference. Clarke physically deflated at Reigna's words, raising her hands in defeat.
"Okay. Okay. Just let me go get my pack." Clarke sighed before turning and walking away. Reigna watched her back as she left, narrowing her eyes at Clarke's retreating form.
"Reigna, come on, we need to go ahead and get out before someone sees." Octavia said with a gentle tug on Reigna's elbow.
"I don't trust Clarke." Reigna said out of the blue, "When we leave, watch our backs. No one needs to be following us."
Octavia nodded once, agreeing with her, before the two turned and slipped out of the gate.
-0-
Clarke finally emerged from camp, pack slung over her shoulder, and the quad was on their way. Reigna and Octavia hung back behind Finn and Clarke, not just to give them space but also to make sure they weren't being followed by anyone from camp. Ahead, she could tell they were having a semi heated conversation, and Reigna was glad to stay out of it.
"So, Reign… Anything been happening between you and you-know-who?" Octavia asked with a shit eating grin on her face. Reigna furrowed her brows.
"You mean between me and Bell? Hell no." Reigna recoiled.
"Reign, come ooooonnnn," Octavia drug out, "It's so painfully obvious you're into him. Have you like… You know… Slept together?" Octavia asked, nudging Reigna side as she did.
"Octavia, no, what the fuck." Reigna glared over at her.
"What are you even waiting for? He's into you too. You still hung up on Murphy or something?" She asked with a tilt of her head.
"I'm not involved with your brother and I have no desire to be. I wasn't involved with Murphy either, for your information." Reigna clarified, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I really find that hard to believe." Octavia huffed, "You two shared a damn tent."
"And all we did was sleep." Reigna replied haughtily before pausing her stride, "Did you hear that?" Reigna mumbled, turning over her heel to stare into the dark woods.
"Uh no? I didn't hear anything." Octavia mumbled, glancing over the woods with Reigna.
"I could have sworn…" Reigna trailed off, stepping silently toward a cluster of bushes near a large tree. Before she could get close enough to peek around, Clarke called out to them.
"Hey, you two, we're gonna leave you behind if you don't catch up." She yelled.
"It must have just been an animal, Reign. Come on." Octavia reached out and grabbed Reigna's hand, pulling her away from the bushes.
"Yea… must have been." Reigna glanced once over her shoulder before continuing after Clarke and Finn with Octavia.
-0-
As the foursome approached the designated meeting place, Reigna made out Lincoln's tall figure nearby. Octavia left Reigna's side, grinning from ear to ear as she dashed toward Lincoln, cushing him in a hug.
"You're the one that helped him escape, aren't you." Clarke finally said to Octavia after Lincoln and her separated.
"I trust him, Clarke." Octavia replied, eyes hardening at the older girl.
"I trust him too." Reigna piped up, "He hasn't hurt Octavia. That's enough to gain my trust… Nice to meet you, by the way." Reigna smiled sheepishly up at Lincoln, who replied with a nod.
"There seems to be a lot of that going around." Clarke mumbled under her breath. In the distance, Reigna heard the distant sound of heavy footfalls.
"You guys hear that?" Reigna asked, causing everyone to turn their attention to the bridge. Right after Reigna alerted to sound, a group of grounders came riding up and onto the bridge on horses.
"Oh, my God. Horses!" Clarke exclaimed beside Reigna.
"Hey," Finn interrupted Clarke's excitement, "We said no weapons." It was then Reigna noticed that almost all the grounders that arrived were armed to the max with swords and knives.
"I was told there wouldn't be." Reigna heard Lincoln growl out to her right.
"Little too late now." Reigna shrugged, "Whatever, just don't piss them off, Clarke." Reigna pat Clarke's shoulder before nudging her forward.
"Uh actually…" Octavia butted in, "Lincoln and I agreed on this, by the way. He told their leader that you were our leader, Reigna." Octavia mumbled out, making Reigna's brows shoot to her hairline.
"You told them what?" Reigna asked incredulously.
"Well then…" Clarke mumbled, stepping behind Reigna, "Lead on, Leader." Her voice held poison as she spoke.
"Fine. You want me to play leader? I'll bite." Reigna huffed before standing up straight and squaring her shoulders, "Lets go, Clarke." Reigna spoke strongly and began walking towards the grounders on their horses, Clarke trailing slightly behind her.
"Your name is Reigna?" The woman before them asked as she slid off her horse. Reigna nodded once in acknowledgement, "I'm Anya. You must be Clarke." Anya turned her attention to Clarke momentarially. Clarke nodded once with a courteous smile, holding her hand out for a handshake. Anya ignored her and turned back to Reigna, an expectant look on her face.
"So, i believe we all have gotten off to a rough start, but i can say we all want to live together in peace… without war." Reigna spoke, forcing her mind to remember all the speeches of her father's and Jaha's she had to sit through when she was younger. Remembering how they spoke and how they stood. She hated every second of it.
I understand. You started a war that you don't know how to end." Anya's voice was hard as she narrowed her eyes down at Reigna.
"What?" Clarke's voice rang out from behind Reigna, "No. We didn't start anything. You attacked us for no reason!" Clarke said angrily. Reigna whirled around, glaring at the younger girl.
"No reason? The missiles you launched burned a village to the ground." Anya replied, just as angry. 'Missiles?' Reigna thought before Clarke started speaking again.
"The flares? No. That was a signal ment for our families. We had no idea-"
"You're invaders. Your ship landed in our territory." Anya pushed, Clarke opened her mouth to speak again but Reigna silenced her.
"Clarke, shut the hell up." Reigna boomed, muting the blonde. Reigna turned back to Anya, face softening slightly.
"Sincerely, I apologize for what happened to your village, but you have to understand we didn't know there was anyone still down here," Reigna explained, shoving Clarke back as she did, "We had no choice down here, our government back up in space deemed some of us as criminals just for trying to stay alive. The missiles were just flares we tried to send so they knew we were alive down here."
"You knew we were here when you sent an armed raiding party to capture one of us and torture him. These are all acts of war." Anya replied emotionlessly.
"And that's why we need to end all this. I'm willing, and I know others will be once I tell them my side." Reigna admitted, Clarke scoffing from behind her. Anya nodded, thinking for a moment before speaking again.
"Lincoln said there are more of you coming down, warriors." She clarified.
"The guard are are warriors, yes, but also our farmers, doctors, engineers. We can help each other, but not if we're at war." Reigna said truthfully.
"Can you promise that these new arrivals won't attack us," Anya asked, "That they'll respect the terms that we set?"
"I will do everything in my power to honor the terms," Reigna hesitated, "My father is the leader of our people left in space, he'll listen to what i have to say." Reigna continued, clenching her fists at her side. That wasn't completely a lie, it was more of an assumption. Of course Raven said Bellamy was an awful shot and Jaha didn't die, but she could have been lying. Or she could have been telling a half truth, he could have been in a coma. No matter what way she cut it, Marcus Kane was on the council, his opinion mattered, and if she could sway him to see her beliefs the rest of the council would follow.
"So you come from a line of leaders." Anya questioned.
"Something like that, yeah." Reigna agreed, "But i can promise you that if you fire the first shot when they come down, they won't bother listening to anything i have to say. Our people and our technology will wipe you out." Reigna spoke truthfully and Anya chuckled.
"You wouldn't be the first to try." She said with a smile, "I agree to your terms, Reigna of the Skypeople." Anya said, holding her hand out to Reigna. Reigna returned her smile, reaching out to grasp her hand before hearing a loud commotion behind her.
"They're gonna shoot! Reigna! Clarke! Run!" Reigna heard Jasper's voice yell from behind her and before she could even turn around she heard shots firing off from his gun.
"God dammit, Jasper!" Reigna yelled, pulling her own knife from her waistband as Anya unsheathed hers from a holster on her wrist. Anya made a motion to grab Reigna, but Reigna lifted her leg and kicked her away, grabbing Clarke and making a run to the end of the bridge as Raven and Bellamy fired at the remaining grounders. Reigna and Clarke met up with Finn halfway back, sprinting to catch up to where Lincoln was protecting Octavia from the rain of arrows. Reigna felt the prick of an arrow skim past her ear and the whistle of more following suit. Finally reaching the end of the bridge, Reigna was shocked to see Lincoln move in front of Octavia, an arrow impaling itself in his chest.
"Oh my God! Lincoln! You've been hit!" Octavia gasped, holding tightly to Lincoln's side.
"It's just a scratch. Just go! Don't stop until you get behind your walls. Reigna take her, please." Lincoln called out to her as she approached. Reigna nodded once, grabbing Octavia's hand tightly and pulling her away.
"Lincoln! No!" Octavia struggled before Reigna forced her to face her as they ran.
"He'll be okay. You know he will. But now we have to go." Reigna reasoned. Octavia spared one last look over her shoulder at Lincoln's retreating figure before squeezing Reigna's hand and running beside her back to camp.
-0-
After what seemed like hours of running, the group finally reached camp. Rushing back into the gates, Octavia stayed by Reigna's side as she glared daggers at Jasper, Bellamy and Raven.
"You got anything to say?" Bellamy asked angrily, looking between Reigna, Finn and Octavia.
"Yeah. I told you no guns!" Finn replied just as angry.
"I told you we couldn't trust the Grounders. I was right." Clarke replied haughtily, making
Reigna scoff.
"You were right? You were there with me on the bridge, Clarke. I had it. She agreed to
our terms. We had peace!" Reigna yelled, irritated by Clarke's cockyness.
"Why didn't you tell me what you were up to?" Raven asked Finn out of nowhere.
"I tried, but you were too busy making bullets for your gun." Finn replied, eyeing Raven
up and down as he did.
"You're lucky she brought that! They came there to kill you." Bellamy yelled over him.
"Oh my fucking god, are you serious?" Reigna asked incredulously, "None of this would
have happened if you didn't bring the guns, why were you there anyway?" Reigna interrupted. "You realize Jasper fired the first shot. Me and Anya agreed. No more fighting, but you and your stupid. Fucking. Guns. Messed it all up. I can't believe I trusted you." Reigna hissed, turning on her heel and stalking away.
"You ruined everything." Octavia growled before following after Reigna.
"I saved you! Your welcome!" Reigna heard Jasper yell after them. Not bothering to
respond she flung open the flap on her tent and threw herself onto her pile of acquired blankets. After a moment, she heard the flap of her tent rustle.
"Bellamy, i swear on my life if you come in here and try to-"
"I'm not Bellamy." Octavia said with a small chuckle. Reigna sat up and motioned for
Octavia to come in.
"Do you mind if i stay in here with you for the night?" Octavia asked sheepishly, "I just- I'm worried about Lincoln. I don't think i can sleep by myself tonight."
"Of course, i don't mind," Reigna pulled two of the blankets out of her pile and handed them to Octavia, "I'm sure you're a better sleeping partner that Murphy, anyway." She smiled and fell back on her back as Octavia made herself comfortable.
"You handled him a lot better than I would have." Octavia mumbled, pulling her blanket up to her chin as she laid down.
"I wanted to tear him to pieces," Reigna admitted, "But he wants to defend Raven and Jasper's stupid decisions. He isn't my responsibility." Reigna sighed, "And he isn't yours either, you know." Reigna turned to face Octavia as she spoke. "It may feel like it sometimes, but he isn't. He should be able to make not stupid decisions on his own, but i don't think he knows anything but stupidity sometimes." Reigna said, making Octavia laugh. The two were silent for a moment before Octaiva spoke again.
"I'm really glad we're friends, Reign. And… I'm sorry for accusing murphy of killing wells-"
"All is forgiven. I actually don't think I was ever really mad at you. You're like family to me now, O. Like… a little sister." Reigna grinned after she spoke, making Octavia follow suit.
"I've kinda always wanted a sister." She mumbled.
"Well you've got one now." Reigna smiled, staring up at the roof of her tent.
"Goodnight, Reign." Octavia said, followed by a yawn.
"Goodnight, O." Reigna replied with a light chuckle before pulling her own blanket over her shoulders and falling into a dreamless sleep.