Hey Guys! I know I missed last week and I'm really sorry about that. I just moved into my college dorm room and classes started and life is super busy, but I'm trying. I'm not going to make any promises on how fast I'm going to update from now on, but I'll do my best to make sure it isn't too long. Anyway, I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint. Let me know what you think, I love hearing from you!
Word had travelled quickly that Zora was taking over as Queen of the Shallow Valley. It only took a day or two for the people from nearby villages to make their way to Murdock and see their new Queen for themselves.
Not many people seemed to have a problem with it. A few who were loyal to Zayn fled, and a few chose to speak freely about their distaste towards their new 'Queen' but they were largely ignored or put in their place by Zora's supporters.
Many of the soldiers in the army seemed to be relieved as well. Many more warriors than Zora had anticipated pledged their loyalty to her, and she was very pleased with the army that was now willingly at her disposal.
Word had also spread after what was found in General Ric's tent. It was believed that The Shadow was the one to kill Ric and his lieutenants, but that wasn't what everyone was talking about. No, what the main focus was, was The Shadow had used the knife they had killed with, and pledged themselves to the Commander. The Shadow had picked a side for the war and a leader to follow.
This fact, had a lot of mixed reactions. Some people were relieved to know that they had the land's best assassin on their side. It made them feel safer, and it made them feel like they had a powerful weapon for the Commander to use against their enemy. Some people were not so happy about The Shadow's placed loyalty. They didn't trust the assassin and wanted them punished for their crimes, not serving their Commander. They wanted The Shadow's head on a spike, not their help.
When the Commander had found out that The Shadow had pledged their loyalty to her, she was not all that thrilled. She had immediately called Clarke to her tent and sent everyone away so the two could be alone. "What were you thinking?" Lexa had asked the instant the two were alone.
Clarke knew what Lexa was talking about, and she figured that Lexa would not be all that pleased with what she had done, but she felt she needed to do it. "I know we didn't discuss it, but I had to do it. I killed the four people that you and Zora needed dead in order to take control of Shallow Valley. Literally minutes after their deaths, you guys waltzed in here and took over. Do you think no one would be able to put together that that wasn't a coincidence? People would start to believe that you were working with The Shadow, a still wanted assassin, behind their backs. They would never trust you if rumors like that spread. And even if no one found it suspicious, when word travels to Nia, and trust me, it will, she would put something together. She would accuse you of working with me and turn the clans against you. I had to pledge my loyalty to you publicly so the people could trust you. You still have control of this, all you have to do is talk to your people about it."
"I know how to control my people, that's not what I'm worried about Clarke. Do you understand what pledging your loyalty to me and the coalition means? People are going to expect things from you. They are going to expect your help, they will expect to see you fight, they will expect to see you out in the open. And they will expect me to control you, use you, some will even expect me to punish and kill you. And not only that, they will expect to see both Wanheda and The Shadow both."
"Look Lexa, I had to do something. You have The Shadow's loyalty. Use me. I will fight alongside you and your army. As for seeing The Shadow, I doubt that will happen. I chose a side in this war, but I didn't say I would make a public appearance. All you have to do is say that you have never met The Shadow before. Say that you don't know them, have never worked with them, but you believe you have a way to communicate with them. Tell them that my services are needed for this war, and that my punishment will be considered later. We can figure the rest out after that."
"Clarke this makes you vulnerable. It puts you in danger. I can't lose you," Lexa stressed.
"And I can't lose you!" Clarke fired back. "Look, it's done Lex. I'm not going to apologize for protecting your title, for protecting you. You can still control the situation and I know you will because you are that fantastic of a leader."
Lexa had softened after that. Clarke's declaration of loyalty wasn't the end of the world either. It did make the blonde more vulnerable than she would like but there was nothing she could do about it now.
After their talk, Lexa had given a speech to her people about The Shadow. She told them that she had a way to contact The Shadow, but the assassin was not going to come out into the public. They would follow Heda's orders and help the coalition and help end Nia's reign.
Lexa made it clear that she had no intention of harming the assassin at this time and while some were upset with that decision, no one fought with her on it. After that her and Clarke had returned to their tent to get some rest.
Four days after regaining Shallow Valley, Lexa and Clarke were discussing their next move. "It's time to march north," Lexa said. "We'll move closer to Azgeda territory and we will have options to try and gain support back from either Rock Line or Sankru."
"That sounds good. Do you think Shallow Valley is stable enough for us to leave. King Zayn is still alive, what happens if her returns?"
"Zora will be able to handle it. I don't think King Zayn will pose much of a problem. His people have already turned on them and besides, he's probably going to be dead soon. Once Nia finds out that he is no longer King, she'll have no use for him. She'll kill him."
Clarke cringed as she thought of all the different ways Nia could kill Zayn. Lexa was right, as soon as Nia got word, he'd be dead, and she would definitely want to use him to intimidate others. His death wouldn't be pretty. "You're right. Well it sounds like we have a plan."
"That we do," Lexa said. She made her way to the exit of her tent and ordered her guards to send Indra to her. A few moments later the Trikru general entered the tent. "Heda."
"Indra, ready the army. Tomorrow we march north," Lexa ordered.
"Sha Heda," Indra said, bowing her head, and then she left the tent to prepare the army for their departure.
/
The next morning Clarke and Lexa awoke in bed together. They spent a few moments just lying in each others arms before they got up and dressed. They ate together and then left their tent to find the rest of the camp almost completely packed.
A few guards hurried to Lexa's tent and began to dismantle it while Clarke and Lexa made their way through camp to check on everything. Not long after that, the camp was packed and ready to move.
Lexa mounted her white stallion and beside her, Clarke mounted her midnight black one. The horses alone looked powerful and intimidating, add the Commander and Wanheda to the picture and it was the ultimate showing of power.
The two sat proudly atop their horses at the front of the army and were just about to make the order to march when another horse approached them.
Clarke smiled as Zora approached atop her brown and white stallion. The two had spent a lot of time together while in Shallow Valley and they had grown to become quite close. She was confident and sarcastic and had a dark past that both Clarke and Lexa could relate to in some ways.
"Ready to go?" Zora asked as she pulled her horse to halt before the two.
"You want to come with us?" Lexa questioned, mildly surprised. It wasn't totally unexpected that Zora would want to join them, but Lexa figured she would want to stay in Shallow Valley since she was so new to becoming the Queen.
"If you'll have us," Zora said extending her arm to where Shallow Valley scouts and warriors were armed and ready to march. "My brother is still out there, and I know he may not be for long, but as of right now he is and that makes him a threat to my people. Also, Queen Nia poses a threat to the coalition, to you, and therefore to me and my people. I am not my brother. I will fight for the safety and freedom of my people. Plus you helped me. I think it's only fair that I return the favor. My scouts are at your disposal and my army will follow your orders without question, as will I."
Clarke smiled and raised an eyebrow at Lexa. It was the Commander's decision to make, but Clarke knew Lexa wouldn't say no.
There was the faintest hint of a smile on Lexa's lips as she looked at the Shallow Valley's Queen, "Alright then. Let's march."
With the call to move forward, Lexa, Clarke, and Zora led the army out of Shallow Valley territory and up north.
The journey north took many days. They were moving much slower than Lexa would have liked, but moving with such a large army took time. Lexa had been receiving reports on Nia and her supporting clan's movement. So far, none had made a major move, a few strikes here and there, but nothing too major.
Clarke and Lexa had spent most of the journey beside each other. They were enjoying the view and the calm before the storm, and also discussing their plans for the future. Which clan should they go to first, which leader was weaker, who would provide a greater advantage for the coalition, and so on.
As the army marched north, it grew bigger. Warriors from many Trikru villages and some from other clans had heard rumors of the Commander heading north and they were quick to prepare and join the army in its march. It slowed the army down even more, but Lexa was happy to have the additional warriors.
Lexa had also taken full advantage of the Shallow Valley scouts and sent some of them ahead to gather some much needed intel on her enemies.
After days of marching, the army was finally approaching the most northern part of Trikru territory. Lexa and Clarke were at the head of the army, leading the way. Zora and Indra and some o the Commander's guards rode behind them, and Raven, Octavia, Bellamy, and some other generals rode behind them. They were moving at a pretty good pace, almost reaching their destination.
It was the smell that hit them first. Smoke, fire. Lexa and Clarke pulled their horses to a halt and the army stopped behind them. Lexa flicked her wrist forward and three scouts disappeared into the trees to move forward.
Lexa and Clarke urged their horses forward slowly, keeping an eye on their surroundings. As they moved forward, the smell of burning wood morphed into the putrid smell of burning flesh. Clarke had to close her eyes and take some deep breaths to keep her dark memories from resurfacing.
They continued to ride forward, the entire army was tense and on alert, each ready for a possible attack. Lexa had her hand resting on the hilt of her sword and Clarke had three throwing knives out and ready to fly at any second.
As they got closer to the smell the metallic smell of what was obviously blood reached their noses and Lexa and Clarke both knew that they were not going to like what they saw.
As they continued their march forward, the trees gave way to the remains of what was once a well populated Trikru village. The once green grass was now either red with blood or fried from the heat of the fires that had so obviously consumed the villages.
Some of the fires that had been started still hadn't been put out and Lexa saw her scouts moving quickly to put them out. Huts and buildings were now turned to ruin and what was once a village was now a giant pile of ash.
The most gruesome of all was the bodies. They were everywhere. Bodies were burned, stabbed, slit in the throat, and any other injuries that could be imagined. They had all been moved into piles and left to rot or be feasts for the animals. None were spared. Women, children, elders, warriors, blacksmiths, farmers. Everyone was dead.
Lexa and Clarke quickly dismounted and choked back their own bile as they approached the bodies. Clarke knelt down beside the body of a boy who couldn't have been more than twelve and picked up a bloody knife. She examined the blade and immediately knew who was behind this, although she already knew beforehand.
She looked up into the eyes of the Commander and a not a word was needed to be said. "Azgeda," Lexa spat. Lexa's eyes were a flurry of emotion. The obvious was anger. Lexa was furious. She was furious that this had happened to her people, furious that their bodies had been left out and disrespected. The less obvious was pain. Lexa had her Commander mask on to keep her vulnerability hidden, but Clarke knew how to read it and she knew that Lexa was in all kinds of pain.
"They'll pay for this Lexa," Clarke said and reached out to place a comforting hand on the brunettes shoulder. Lexa closed her eyes and leaned back into the touch, drawing strength from it. "You're people need you to be strong right now," Clarke said as she looked back to the army that was still walking into the clearing.
The looks of disgust on their faces were all clear and many of them showed very similar emotions to the Commander. Some were less controlled when it came to their rage, and some were more open about expressing their heartbreak, but all were feeling it.
Lexa rose to her feet and returned to her horse, pulling herself up onto it, sitting tall and proud before her army. She raised a hand to silence the crowd as she looked out at her people. "What happened here will not stand," Lexa yelled. "Azgeda will pay for their treachery and our coalition will stand tall. Tonight we mourn and we send our people's spirit to the next life. Tomorrow," Lexa's eyes flashed dangerously, "Kom war!"
A chorus of "Heda! Heda!" was being chanted by the entire army and Lexa dismissed them to prepare the funeral pyres.
/
It took hours, but the pyres were finally built and the bodies stacked onto them. Lexa gave her people an uplifting speech before lighting them and sending of the bodies' spirits off to the next life.
Clarke and Lexa stood side by side all night until the last of the fires burned out. They were the last two to stay out as it was so late at night, and it took a little while for Clarke to be able to pull Lexa away from the pyres and into their tent.
Lexa's eyes were unfocused and her whole body seemed heavier than normal. Clarke was feeling similarly, but Lexa needed her right now, so she was going to be strong for her.
Clarke took off all of her clothes and then moved to Lexa and slowly peeled off every layer of hers. The brunette didn't put up a fight, she barely moved the entire time. When they were both naked, Clarke crawled into the bed and sat up against the headboard opening her arms. Lexa collapsed onto the bed and fell into Clarke's warm embrace. The blonde wrapped her arms tightly around her lovers and rocked them back and forth. Lexa burried her face in Clarke's neck and Clarke could feel the warm sensation of Lexa's tears dripping onto her skin.
The blonde said nothing. She knew Lexa didn't like to talk about these types of things and there wasn't really much Clarke could stay anyway. Instead she just held onto the hurting woman in her arms and rocked them until they both fell asleep.
The next morning, the two woman awoke early. Lexa seemed to have a new determination and Clarke was feeding off of it. The two sat around a table, lightly snacking on some breakfast as they discussed their next move.
Lexa was reading a report that had been delivered late last night with a frown. "Nia and her allies attacked the Glowing Forest. They're killing everyone. I sent word to them that everyone is to flee to Polis," she sighed. "We don't have time to go after Rock Line or Sankru anymore. This needs to end, now. We need to go to Azgeda. We need to go to Queen Nia."
"I agree, but she'll be in Saipan. It's much farther north, which means we'll pass a lot of Azgeda villages. They won't let us pass without a fight," Clarke commented.
"Then it's a fight they'll get."
/
The army marched north into Azgeda territory after that. They entered villages and overtook them. Lexa gave orders to spare the citizens, and her army listened. Any who fought against the coalition's army were killed where they stood while the innocents, the citizens were spared.
They overtook two villages that day and the next day they moved forward and retook two more. The Shadow appeared in a few of the villages. She made her appearances and showed up just like she was expected to. She fought beside the coalition and kept a very low and hidden profile, but the army knew she was with them. Wanheda also fought in these battles and no one was putting together any sort of connection.
After retaking those four villages Lexa and her army moved forward. They weren't hesitating, and they sure as hell weren't slowing down. Nia was going to pay for what she did to that Trikru village. For what she wanted to do.
Lexa and Clarke were crouched in the treeline outside Balor. It was the next village along their path to Saipan, but it was also one of the larger ones. Their army was ready at their backs and their plan was in place.
Raven walked up to the two of them and bent down beside them. "Here," she reached out and handed them each a round metal contraption, "It's the grenade. Pull the pin and throw it. It'll explode a few seconds after you pull the pin so don't hold on to it for too long."
"Got it," Clarke said and Lexa nodded. "Thanks Raven."
"No problem. Stay safe you guys."
"Yeah, you too." Clarke replied. She watched as Raven walked to the back of the army. Her tech was being used, so she was needed with the army, but she stayed behind in the trees since she couldn't fight with her bad leg.
"You ready for this?" Clarke asked.
"Yes," Lexa responded and the two signaled their warriors to ready themselves as they moved closer to the village. When they were in place, they pulled the pins and threw the grenades. One into the warriors training pit and one into the warriors barracks.
Just as Raven said, the grenades went off and after that everything descended into the chaos. Lexa's army poured out of the treeline and raided the village and the Azgeda warriors ran out to meet them.
Clarke charged at a warrior on her left and Lexa went for one on her right. With a quick dodge and then a strike, the two quickly took out their opponents before moving on to the next ones.
Bellamy, Miller, and other Skaikru were firing their guns at their enemies as Octavia Lincoln and the Trikru attacked in close range. They picked off warriors one by one and the number of Azgeda soldiers was slowly decreasing.
The Trikru army was taking loses too though. Because this was a bigger village, theri were more warriors here and they were more skilled than others. They were putting up a strong fight and the coalition army was losing warriors.
/
Raven watched as her grenades did the trick. She smiled at the big ball of fire that reached up into the sky and watched as the Trikru army ran out of the trees and into the fight.
All she could do was watch as her friends fought and watch as some Trikru warriors were cut down. It was nerve wracking knowing that her friends were out there in danger, but she had to rely on their strength and rely on the others to help keep them safe.
She was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard the cracking of a nearby tree branch, but before she could do anything, she felt something collide with the back of her head and everything went black.
The next time Raven opened her eyes she was leaning up against a tree. Her ears were ringing and her vision was blurry, but she could make out two figures in front of her. One a man and one a woman. She could tell they were talking, but couldn't tell what it was about.
The next thing she noticed was that he hands and legs were bound. She couldn't escape, and she didn't even currently know what she needed to escape from. Raven Reyes, however, never gave up without a fight.
She watched as the man disappeared into the trees and the woman approached her. She had scars on her face and the blue furs she was wearing marked her as Azgeda. Raven knew she needed to get away, or she would be in a world of trouble. "You know," Raven croaked, hoping to draw the woman closer to her. "If you wanted to get me alone, all you had to do was ask."
The Azgeda woman narrowed her eyes and took a step towards Raven. She didn't say a word but she pulled Raven up to her feet. Her eyes trailed over the mechanic and stopped on her brace for a moment.
Raven took that as her moment and used her bound hands to strike the woman in the face. She stumbled backwards and Raven took off in the opposite direction, but she didn't know where she was going and her leg slowed her down too much.
The Azgeda warrior growled as she stumbled back and then took off after Raven. It wasn't hard to catch up to the fleeing woman and she tackled her before punching her in the face. She didn't stop until Raven was unconscious.
/
Clarke rolled to her right and cut into the back of the knee of one of her attackers and then she lunged forward and stabbed her blade into the second.
Her body was already covered in sweat and blood and the bodies in her wake were amounting to a pretty large number. Her and Lexa had been separated during the fight, but Clarke knew she would be fine on her own.
She rolled out of the way of her next opponent and took him down easily by slitting his throat from behind him.
When he was down, Clarke stood up straight and glanced around the battlefield. She caught site of Lexa from across the way and lost her focus for a split second. "Clarke!" She heard her name called and she was barely able to turn around in time to block an attack from behind. She hissed as a blade cut into her arm, but it was better than her own death.
Zora watched as Clarke barely moved out of the way of a fatal blow, but she saw the sword cut into her arm. She reached to her side and grabbed a knife, throwing it as hard as she could and she watched as it embedded itself in Clarke's attackers chest.
She ran up beside the blonde and retrieved her knife. "Thanks," Clarke said to her.
"I know your houmon is attractive, but pay better attention," Zora joked and Clarke rolled her eyes.
"Whatever," the blonde said. She turned to race back into the battle, which was coming to an end with most of the Azgeda warriors taken care of. "Let's go-"
She froze.
She caught site of a woman carrying a body a familiar red jacket came into view. That was Raven's jacket and she would never take it off. Clarke felt her heart drop. "No," she whispered.
Without thinking, she took off in the direction she last saw that person carry away an unconscious Raven.
Zora raced after Clarke and grabbed onto her arm when she was close enough. "Clarke stop!" she said, turning the blonde around to face her.
Clarke's face was abnormally pale and Zora could see the look of rage in her blue eyes. "Find Lexa. Tell her they took Raven and I'm going after her," Clarke said as she started to move again in the last direction she saw Raven. "Go," Clarke yelled before fully taking off towards the trees.
Zora sighed, but did as the blonde requested, quickly turning on her heel and running to find Lexa.
Clarke burst through the treeline and into the woods. She had been slowed down by a few Azgeda warriors as she ran through Balor and now she needed to find a trail.
She found a few footprints on the ground and she took off after them. Raven had been taken and she had a good idea of who had taken her. Ontari. She had already warned Clarke of this and the woman she saw running into the trees very well could have been Ontari. Clarke couldn't let her take Raven to Nia, she just couldn't.
She followed the trail she found until she came up to a few scuff marks and then the footprints changed. They were awkward and uneven. Raven must have tried to escape. Clarke followed the trail and she felt her heart sink in her chest. Blood.
She found another trail and didn;t hesitate to move forward, but the hairs on the back of her neck stood up and she stopped. Someone was watching her. She stopped and looked straight ahead in the direction that Raven's trail led and a familiar figure appeared from the trees. "Roan," Clarke sid.
"Clarke," he replied. "Turn around. Go back," he said.
Clarke shook her head. "You know I can't do that." She wasn't going to leave Raven behind.
"I don't want to hurt you Clarke," Roan said.
"Then don't," Clarke said. "Please, Roan, let me go," she pleaded. "You know what Nia will do to her. Please, let me save her."
Roan didn't meet her eyes. "I'm sorry Clarke, but I can't do that. I have my family to think about."
Clarke nodded. She understood. Nia didn't have her under her thumb anymore, but she still had Roan. Roan had to protect his family and she wouldn't blame him for that, but she had to protect hers too. She reached to her side and pulled out her sword.
"You've never beaten me before Clarke. Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked, removing his own sword from its sheath.
"I can't let Nia torture her. I have to try," and with that she charged at the Ice Prince.
He met her attack and blocked it before lashing out himself. Clarke rolled to the side and dodged it before popping up to her feet.
The two shared blows, neither one of them taking the advantage until Roan's blade cut across Clarke's thigh. She stumbled backwards, but managed to block his next strike.
They exchanged a few more blows, each connecting with an attack here or there, but none to major to hinder the other.
Roan feinted left and struck right, connecting a fist with Clarke's jaw. She stumbled back and her foot caught on an uneven patch of ground. She barely managed to keep herself upright, but it was too late.
Roan was on her in a second and the next thing Clarke knew everything went black.
/
Clarke groaned as she opened her eyes.
"Clarke? Clarke?" She heard her name whispered by someone, but it wasn't Lexa like it usually was when she woke up. It sounded like Raven. And then Clarke remembered. She opened her eyes and took in her surroundings.
She was on her feet. Her arms above her, held up in shackles. Raven was across the room from her in the same position that she was in. "Raven are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she said, "Where are we?"
Clarke sighed, recognizing the room. "We're in hell."
Before Raven could respond, the door to the room they were in opened.
Clarke stood tall and tried to look as calm and confident as she could as the woman she hated more than anyone entered the room. Queen Nia stood with a smile on her face.
"Clarke," she greeted. "Welcome home."
Last note, someone asked me if I take requests for other fanfics. I personally haven't thought of much beyond this fic and I wanted to hear what you guys have to say. Would you be interested in that? Life is pretty busy so I definitely will not be able to keep a perfect schedule. If you guys are alright with slow updates and are interested let me know and I'll consider it.