A/N: Hey :) Thank you for everyone who reviewed last chapter and also those who sent me suggestions. First off, just to ease some fears, as always this is a happy fic so none of Clarke and Lexa's new, pieced together family are dying any time soon. Also, I'm not planning to write a war because I don't think it fits in with the tone of this, at least not right now. I said I would do a vote for what happens, but a couple of the suggestions I have already been planning variations of for future plotlines, and as I was looking through reviews one jumped at me and I got really excited to write for it. Don't worry thought, I like everything that was suggested so instead of doing one thing I'm going to do them all just staggered over a period of time. Please keep reviewing, and any more suggestions are more than welcome. Love you all! xx
The ride back to Polis was peaceful and unlike their previous horse ride, they weren't stopped by a thundering herd of Lexa's warriors as they chased after fugitives. They also weren't joined by Indra, who had elected to stay in her own village awhile before joining them in the capitol.
Every now and then Octavia winced as her shirt rubbed against the tender skin on her back where her tattoo had been placed. Everyone agreed the design was beautiful, a great oak tree to represent the Trikru, with the emblem of the Skaikru burnt into the bark to show who she was and where she had come from. When Clarke had designed it, it was supposed to take up less that a quarter of the total space on her back but in the end it stretched from the base of her spine all the way to the top of her shoulder blades. Lexa had nodded approvingly when Octavia showed her, before throwing one of her own shirts towards Octavia, telling her that she would be glad of the softer, lighter layer later on.
Messengers had been sent ahead to announce their arrival, so it seemed as though the entire city had came out to greet them, everyone except Aden and Roan apparently. As Lexa swung down from the saddle she expected to see them waiting at the front but they were nowhere to be seen.
She glanced at Clarke who only shrugged lightly once she realized what Lexa had been looking for, before they started making their way through the crowd towards the tower, with Clarke quickly dropping the others a nod to tell them it was alright to go round and head on ahead of her and Lexa to avoid the customary meet and greet on the Commanders arrival back to the capitol.
Finally Clarke and Lexa made it into the tower.
On their way up to the throne room they asked a guard by the elevator where the rest of their party had gone and were informed that they were headed up to their rooms to settle in. When asked if Lexa wanted them fetched she just shook her head, thinking that they may as well have a little time to relax after the journey.
So they headed up to the throne room along, motioning for the guard to be silent as they stood outside the door listening as Roan and Aden discussed something about a supplies mix up.
Lexa smiled at Clarke before carefully schooling her features and shoving the doors open with both hands, sweeping in dramatically with her long coat flaring out behind her.
Aden shot up from her throne as through he had been burnt, standing aside as Lexa stalked down the center of the room and took her seat before tilting her head to the side as she stared at him impassively.
"What has been the mix up with the supplies?" She asked, relying on what she had heard outside the door.
Aden paled, stammering as he gave her a roundabout tale of how they had sent the wrong things to the wrong villages and his efforts to correct the problem. Roan just stood behind the boys shoulder, smirking at Lexa as he noticed the amused smile on her own face.
Eventually Clarke laughed and clapped Aden on the shoulder, "Ok I think we get the picture."
"Sha Clarke." Aden bowed to her.
Lexa chuckled lightly and waved him forwards, "Everyone makes mistakes Aden. I am not angry. If you had not taken measures to fix your mistake that would have been very different, but you did well to deal with the problem quickly and efficiently."
Aden smiled at her, relieved that she hadn't been mad or disappointed in him, "Sha Heda."
"Run along now Aden, you have done very well but now it is time for you to retake your place amongst the other night bloods as I go through all of this to make sure that everything is as it should be." Lexa said, as she waved her hand towards the table that had reports and papers covering the surface.
Aden bowed again before withdrawing, leaving Roan stood in the center of the room facing Lexa.
"Mochof Roan, for guiding him." Lexa smiled, as Roan knelt to his Commander, the gesture of respect being more out of choice than any actual necessity.
"Pro Heda. Your presence in the city has been missed." Roan smiled back at her as he stood up.
Lexa nodded in acknowledgement of his words, "I have missed Polis. Also, it may interest you to know that your warrior has brought back a child from Arcadia."
At Roan's confused look, Clarke grinned and jumped in, "One of the orphaned Skaikru kids fell in love with her, I gave her permission to become his guardian and it is clear that she loves him dearly as well."
Roan's lip spread into a wide smile, "Ontari always loved kids, thank you for allowing her something that will make her very happy Clarke."
"No need to thank me Roan, I consider both of you friends." Clarke laughed, as Roan bowed to them both before leaving the room.
"Ok." She said, walking over to Lexa who had stood up and started rifling through the documents laid out on the table, "How did they really do?"
Lexa leaned her head back against Clarke's shoulder as she wrapped her arms round Lexa's waist, "They ran the city well." She picked up another sheet of the paper from the stack, scanning it quickly, "However there are a few things that I should review."