A/N - I cannot believe how many people are supporting me through this story, thank you to each and every one of the three hundred people who care enough to follow this from chapter to chapter. And thank you to everyone who reviews as well, it really pushes me to keep going and to make sure I do my best to give you all the story you deserve guys! Also, thank you for being so patient with me this week, I'm now home and incredibly jet lagged but I promised an update so you are getting one, New York was amazing and I really recommend that you should all visit at some point because it's such a vibrant city. That being said, on with the chapter! Enjoy and please review x
In a matter of hours all the grounders camped around Arcadia had dispersed, carrying with them the story of how Wanheda had avenged the murders of all their people, standing shoulder to shoulder with their commander. With each retelling the story grew grander and grander until they had Clarke snapping Pike's neck with her bare hands as Skaikru fell to their knees before the legendary warrior.
Clarke was less than pleased with the ridiculous renditions of what had happened but Lexa had just laughed and told her to leave them be, if they wanted to create an invincible legend of the great Wanheda, then it would only make the twelve clans respect Clarke more, which would in turn lead to her being safer if everyone was too afraid to move against her.
They had been met at the remnants of the blockade by Octavia and Indra, who had been watching from nearby being careful to keep Octavia hidden until the kill order was lifted.
"Commander." They both echoed, bowing their heads respectfully as they stood in front of Clarke and Lexa as the camp around them was torn down by warriors heading home to their villages.
In an uncharacteristic show of affection Lexa stepped forward and clapped Indra on the shoulder with a broad smile, "It is good to see you with a sword in your hand Indra, but as you can see there is no need for violence today."
Indra looked to the commander and gave her own smile, "Octavia is incredibly persuasive, ge smak daun, gyon op nodotaim. I had forgotten but she forced me into remembering."
Lexa stepped back and offered her arm to Octavia grasped it in a warriors grip, recognizing the action for what it was, the greatest show of respect Lexa could offer to one of her warriors without compromising her authority.
"Thank you, Octavia kom Skaikru en Triku." She said, her eyes glinting proudly as she looked at the sky girl who had been born for the ground.
Octavia's eyes widened as she looked to the commander who had just claimed her for her clan in front of her warriors without hesitation.
"Indra." Lexa called, still looking at Octavia, "With Titus gone I require my right hand back if you are willing."
"Sha Heda." Indra bowed as Lexa released Octavia's arm and beckoned Clarke closer, "Wanheda, as commander of your people you should have a right hand of your own. I think it would be appropriate if she was the second to mine."
Clarke grinned widely as she watched Octavia's face as she realized exactly what was going on, "I couldn't agree with you more Heda."
The two leaders nodded at the two warriors and then stepped past to confer with the group packing their tent to return their belongings to Polis.
Indra turned to Octavia and smiled at her, proud of the Trikru warrior the sky girl had turned into in such a short amount of time. "I hope you realize how much responsibility you have just been given, you are now second only to Clarke herself within your clan. And within the coalition, as a clan leaders right hand you have been elevated above other warriors."
Octavia opened and closed her mouth a few times as she shook her head, trying to process what had just happened, "I- This is really happening isn't it?"
Indra clapped her on the back as they started heading towards where they had tied their horses, "Yes, it is. And now we must return to Polis, there is a lot of work that we will have to do and I suppose I will have to now spend a significant amount of time teaching you your new responsibilities."
Octavia smiled, for the first time not minding the prospect of extra lessons on top of the already grueling schedule that Indra set for her training.
Across the camp, Clarke and Lexa had taken a moment for Clarke to redress Lexa's wound, which she was relieved to find was healing perfectly.
"That was an incredible thing you just did for Octavia." Clarke smiled as she wrapped the new bandage around Lexa's hip.
Lexa watched Clarke working curiously, trailing her hand up her arm, "She has more than earned it. Showing loyalty to both clans is something I wouldn't have imagined possible, but Octavia repeatedly defies all expectations."
Clarke laughed and nodded, "You have no idea, and don't think I don't understand the other reason you did it." Lexa's eyes met hers, glinting slightly with amusement, "Yes I know your tricks Lexa. By placing Octavia in a position of power you have eliminated the disrespect and any potential attacks once she is among the people of Polis. As my second in command they can't attack her without attacking me right? And we both remember what happened with Quint."
Smiling gently, Lexa nodded, "She belongs in Polis, and she deserves to be safe to enjoy the capitol without fear of being attacked because of the clan she was born into."
Clarke kissed Lexa before she could stop herself, laughing when Lexa's eyes shot around to make sure they weren't being watched. "Will you calm down, there's no one here remember, it's just us." She leaned closer, "So you don't have to worry trying to deny how much you want me to do that again."
Lexa smirked, "Maybe I don't Clarke, you don't-"
Clarke cut her off by locking their lips together again, slipping her tongue into Lexa's mouth for a moment before pulling back and quirking an eyebrow, "You were saying?"
Lexa shook her head, "You are a child Clarke."
"I don't hear a denial in there anywhere."
She went to lean in again but Lexa raised a finger to lay it against Clarke's lips, "Not now Clarke, once we are home I will spend an entire day alone with you if you wish it. But we must leave if we are to return before dark and my warriors will send someone to look for us before too long."
Right on cue, Octavia came flying through the forest on horseback, scanning the trees for a sign of the two clan leaders who quickly stood up and dusted off their clothes.
"Heda." She said with a respectful nod to Lexa, "Your men have finished breaking camp and are ready to leave on your command."
"Thank you Octavia." Lexa acknowledged, "Get them moving now then and then wait with our horses. We will be along in a moment."
She spun her horse in a tight circle and urged it back into a gallop, heading straight back to camp.
Lexa looked at Clarke smugly, "See?"
Rolling her eyes, Clarke sulked slightly at Lexa being proven right but she smiled anyway and took Lexa's hand in her own. They walked like that all the way back to camp, only letting go when Indra and Octavia came into sight, waiting patiently atop their horses as they waited for their clan leaders.
The journey back to Polis was absolutely beautiful, the sun was streaming through the trees in golden shafts and Lexa silently marveled at how it caught Clarke's hair and turned it into a gleaming halo atop her head. Her fascination did not go unnoticed by Octavia, no matter how subtle Lexa attempted to be. From her position just behind the commander and Clarke she watched every little interaction and finally saw what Clarke did, which was the love Lexa felt for her in every atom of her body, and she swore to herself that she would protect what they had with her last breath because her friend deserved every ounce of the love she received from Lexa.
Upon reaching Polis they were met by a grand parade of Lexa's people who had been alerted to their imminent arrival by the steady stream of warriors arriving back to the city from the blockade. In the same way, word had already spread of what had happened at Arcadia and the people were cheering in equal parts for Wanheda as for their own Heda.
They swung down from their saddles just inside the main gate, Lexa's people kneeling as one before the victorious returning leaders.
At the very front of the crowd was Aden who Lexa's lips twitched slightly at upon seeing him. Night bloods were forbidden to roam the outer city without an escort because of their importance and it was clear that Aden had slipped out, unable to bear not being there to welcome them home.
The people all stood on Lexa's command and Aden moved to stand next to her as she beckoned to him. Then they moved through the streets towards the commanders tower, Lexa stopping patiently to gently reassure and greet her people every few feet.
It was blindingly obvious to Clarke in those moment that people of the coalition didn't follow Lexa because of her black blood and the fact that she had won against the others at her conclave. Those things may have put her in power, but the people of Polis followed Leksa kom Trikru because they loved her with all their hearts and she loved them back just as much, no matter what she had tried to say about love supposedly being weakness.
Finally they managed to get inside the tower and up to Lexa's throne room. With all the guards dismissed there was only Clarke and herself, along with Octavia, Indra and Aden.
As the doors clicked shut behind them she turned to reprimand Aden for breaking the rules in place for his own protection but instead she was met by him slamming into her, wrapping his arms around her waist and holding her tight in relief.
"I was so scared you weren't coming back." He mumbled against her chest as Clarke watched on in amusement at Lexa's helpless expression. With no one else in the room to pretend for she allowed her self to soften and pull him away gently, giving the boy a tender smile.
"I promised we were coming home did I not?" Her striking green eyes glistened as tears gathered when he offered her what he had been clasping in his grip all the way through the city.
"Your lessons have been paying off Clarke." She murmured as she stroked the page. Aden had carefully drawn the room they were standing in, but instead of the throne he had sketched out Lexa and Clarke on the balcony overlooking the city. In the drawing they were clearly together as one and it was an honest and revealing picture of everything Lexa felt whenever she thought of the girl who had stormed into her tent and stolen her heart from their very first meeting.
Clarke nodded to Indra and Octavia who bowed before slipping out of the room to leave the two of them alone.
Walking to Lexa she peered at the drawing she was still studying intently, "Wow." Was all she could get out for a while, her eyes drinking in every careful detail the young night blood had painstakingly put into the work. "This is amazing Aden."
The boy grinned proudly as Lexa gently rolled the picture so it would not get damaged.
"Now, about you sneaking out."
Lexa and Clarke both grinned as Aden's face fell.