A/N: Going to be a late night for me tonight so this is really early haha. I hope you enjoy it, over the next few days we should have quite a big story arc going :) Please, please, please continue to let me know what you think because it makes me unbelievably happy! xxx
Lexa looked around their table seriously, before her eyes settled on Ontari, "Azgeda has had the most contact with the clan less up until now, what can you tell me?"
"Not much," Ontari said apologetically, "They keep to themselves and it is practically impossible to pin them down long enough to talk to one of them. The only one I ever spoke to properly was holding me captive to ransom back to Nia, and he wasn't exactly itching to tell me his secrets. All I really know is that they are clever and sly in their approach to survival, they will throw anyone to the wolves if they think it will benefit them."
Kane looked at Lexa worriedly, "I just don't understand why they have chosen to target Arkadia, what have we done to offend them?"
Lexa sighed as she glanced at the letter once more, "I believe that they have chosen to attack you to send a message to the rest of the clans. If one of you can fall, you all can fall. Skaikru will have been chosen because of your lack of true warriors."
"Why tell us that they're coming?" Raven asked quietly, leaning forward and gesturing to the letter, "Surely they would be more successful if they just attacked out of nowhere."
Ontari shook her head, "These people feel they have something to prove, they were all cast out of their own clans because they were seen to be a stain on their bloodline. Giving you warning is a challenge, if they wipe you out now then in their eyes they are proving their strength."
Clarke, who had been sat deep in thought, suddenly snapped her head up to look at Lexa, "I know where we can find one of the clan less who will speak to us."
"Where?" Lexa questioned quietly, her eyes narrowing curiously.
Smirking, Clarke leaned forwards, "Where were those Nia loyalist Azgeda camps you sent Murphy to?"
As Skaikru were being gathered by Abby and Kane, Lexa and Clarke were patiently waiting to speak to them just inside the doors.
Ontari had already ridden out, intent on tracking down where Murphy and Emori had disappeared to after they had seen them on the road. Not that it would be too difficult, Lexa had carefully kept tabs on them to insure that they were not getting into too much trouble once she realized who the two thieves were.
Raven had gone separately, with a Trikru guard Lexa had summoned from TonDC to escort her back to Polis. She was carrying a letter detailing Lexa's orders to Indra who was to raise an army from the Thirteen Clans to march on Arkadia to protect Skaikru. Her orders were for the army to be sent and for Raven, Octavia and Lincoln to remain in Polis along with Cal and Aden to look after the boys and the younger night bloods if anything happened to the Commander.
Clarke touched Lexa's arm gently to get her attention, "Hey, are you ok?"
"Every time I think the fighting may be over, something happens to prove me wrong, I'm just tired Clarke." Lexa murmured as she peered through the crack in the door to see that most of Skaikru was gathered and waiting.
Not a moment later, a soft knock came on the door from Abby. Lexa pulled the door open and strode out to stand in front of the Thirteenth Clan who were for once not staring at her with open hostility.
"People of Arkadia, I came here by chance today, but now I am glad that I did, because your home is under threat." Lexa said gravely, going straight to the point, Clarke stepping up to stand at her shoulder supportively.
"There are a group of people not associated with any clan, and they are going to attack Arkadia and try to destroy you for the simple reason of proving they can do it. Skaikru took the mark of my coalition, and because of that, it is my duty to protect you as best as I am able. I have an army of the coalitions finest warriors being raised, and in the next week before the attack, I will assist in training you to be ready to fight these attackers."
As soon as she had finished speaking a barrage of questions were flung at her, which she did her best to answer, speaking for well over an hour along with Clarke before Clarke held up her hand to quiet her people.
"That will be all for today, we have told you everything we know, sleep well tonight because tomorrow training will start in earnest."
Many looked as though they were about to protest, but Kane and Abby quickly jumped in, backing what Clarke said and pushing them back until the group had dispersed.
"Your people are hard work Clarke." Lexa said quietly as they headed back inside.
"Thanks." Clarke laughed dryly, "I'm sure you meant that as a compliment."
Lexa just turned to look at her, "No." She deadpanned.
Clarke laughed properly then, taking the lead as they headed back to her room, "What's going to happen when the attack come?" She asked seriously as they neared the door.
"Honestly I don't know, those who are cast out from their clans are meant to live solitary, nomadic lives. Never in our entire history have they grouped together as an army."
"Are you worried?" Clarke asked in surprise, having never heard the tone in Lexa's voice before, fear.
Lexa just sighed, opening Clarke's door quickly so she could go and stretch herself out tiredly on the bed, "I have no idea how many of them their are. I told Indra to raise an army of two thousand warriors, but what if that's not enough? I don't have the information I need to prepare for this attack. I hate being blind."
Clarke sat down next to her and placed her hand on Lexa's leg sympathetically, "Ontari will be back soon with Emori, just hold on ok? You won't be blind for long."
"Not soon enough." Lexa groaned as she leaned back on the bed, giving Clarke a look when she didn't instantly slip in beside her.
"You know," Clarke smiled, as she pulled Lexa's foot onto her lap, "Most people believe that you should always take your shoes off before you go to bed, not only when you feel like it."
Gently, she unlaced both of the boots and pulled them off Lexa's feet before dropping them to the ground. Only them did she lay down beside Lexa.
"I seriously cannot believe that your one bad habit is not taking off your shoes before you go to bed." Clarke laughed as she wrapped her arms around Lexa's waist.
Lexa grinned as she held Clarke close, "Yes ok, because your so perfect yourself?"