Captured

Chapter Four

Lexa stood above the clearing in which they were camped just a day's ride east from the meeting point, her gaze deep in thought as she stared down at the camp below. It was a small group of people, just enough to provide protection if the Commander so needed it. But Lexa was determined, she would face Clarke's captor alone.

Indra stood just a few feet behind, insisting that Lexa not wander out of camp without a guard. If a guard was necessary, then she was grateful it was at least her most eldest and trusted protector. The bustle of preparations in their camp below became a blur as the plan played over and over inside her mind. If one misstep was to happen, just one little slip, then none of them would be coming out alive. Lexa only hoped that everything would play out exactly right.

Lexa worries not only extended to the plan and Clarke's safety, but also because for the first time since her birth she was away from Akalya. It had been concerning enough with Clarke's absence but now Akalya had neither parent to look after her despite the capable hands on Nadia. It was hard, incredibly hard. But she knew it was a necessary evil, once again putting her duties and the mission before her daughter.

Lexa was not used to playing the decoy, she was very much used to attacking head on. But again, her fears for her love's safety and the threat of war trumped her ego, and so she would pretend to be the perfect distraction and would do everything the captor asked. Some might say she was the crucial key to their plan, others might argue that that belonged to those carrying out the rescue mission. But none of that mattered to the Commander. Not when it all had the desired affect; to bring Clarke back home and prevent a war.

However, Lexa was not so naive to think that this plan might not start another war between the coalition and Azgeda. Of course, she knew this, but the contract had been bound by blood of each ambassador. A blood oath simply was never broken. At least, it hadn't been before. But this was a new world, one in which many customs had been abolished. She only hoped that this tradition would remain.

…

Clarke's entire body seemed to scream in protest at its current uncomfortable state. It had been almost twenty-four hours since a guard had last been seen and she was beginning to grow impatient. Her head was bowed, her limbs resting by her sides as she prepared to put her idea into action.

To the untrained eye she looked very much feeble and weak, as if she was so easily broken. But it would take quite some acting to convince her captors of this feat considering she was still very much Wanheda. She was a little surprised they had not yet killed her so they could take Wanheda's power.

Clarke was just about to move her heavy and tired arms when footsteps sounded from the other side of the door and as it opened a small beam of light seemed to light up the entire room as it shone in her eyes. And yet Clarke still did not move.

The guard quickly moved to dump the bowl of what could only be described as watered-down cabbage soup in which they'd served her the day before. But she would not be eating today, today she was determined to escape.

Clarke brought her knee up as harshly as the restraints would allow to collide with the man's genitalia and he immediately doubled over in pain, but only for a second. She hurried to reach for the shard of glass and turned around, only to be caught in a vice-like grip of the man who had now recovered. They struggled in a fight and Clarke fought to gain the upper hand, her grip on her new-found weapon so tight they she could feel blood start to well in her palm. Her limbs began to shake with the amount of force it took to win this fight and suddenly she saw her chance and she struck the man in the throat, his hold finally broken.

Clarke searched for the key to unlock the shackles that bound her, finding it in the pocket of the man that lay lifeless at her feet. She hardened herself to the thought and set about to unlock the restraints. They clattered to the floor and without a moment of pause she stepped over the guard and snuck out into the corridor.

…

Lexa gathered with her inner circle of warriors near the meeting place, her eyes automatically scanning the area for trouble. Knowing this was most likely a trap did nothing to calm her nerves as they hashed out a few last-minute details. The 'meeting' was due to start at any moment and with that Lexa departed from her warriors towards the clearing stated in the letter.

Lexa took a deep steadying breath, her stance hard but also relaxed. She would not allow these captors to see her in such an anxious state, she was Heda after all. Once again she made quick work of surveying her surroundings, knowing that they were near. She strained to listen for any early warning signs of their presence, and no matter how hard these people were trying to remain quiet up until the last second she still detected a snap of a twig under foot.

Two, then three, four, five people emerged from the trees, the furs and scars they adorned giving them away as AzgedaKru. Lexa struggled to put names to faces, never having seen any of these people before in her life. "Heda." The woman spat with disdain, her eyes like venom as she approached. Lexa resisted the urge to lash out in anger, instead she settled for a cold steely unfazed stare.

"Have you come alone?" The woman continued in a taunting manner, her eyes showing nothing but disgust and amusement. And then she placed her. These were Queen Nia's most loyal subjects, and they were here to avenge her after all these years. She knew their faces but failed to place their names. The woman could see the slight confusion within the Commander's emerald green eyes and she waved her hand before giving a dramatic bow. "Echo, and this is Ontari but you'll learn more about her later on. Are you here alone just as the note said?"

And suddenly it all made sense.

"Yes." Lexa replied simply, both her tone and facial features giving nothing away.

The captors stepped closer towards the Commander but she held her head high in defiance. "Good, now let's see how long you can last under our special treatment. Costia lasted little under a month." Lexa's blood ran cold at the threat, a silent promise that they would do their worst. Such treatment in which she knew would end in her death.

They descended on her then, beginning an attack just as Lexa had predicted. But she wouldn't go quietly. The Commander withdrew the knife held by her side while Echo produced a sword, making the Commander miss her two swords in turn. A knife would simply have to do. An amused chuckle escaped Echo, followed by a smug grin. They were convinced the battle had already been won. Terrible mistake.

Echo raised the sword in her hand, ready to strike down the Commander. Lexa spun fiercely, her attack both elegant and ruthless as she lashed out. Echo stepped back at the last second, the tip of the blade catching on her furs and a look of anger surpassed the AzegdaKru's face.

"Enough!" Echo declared furiously, but before she could strike once more a single arrow sliced through the air and landed directly at the woman's feet. A look of confusion replaced fury as her attention was drawn to the trees above. Only then did she realise that it was a setup.

"What is the meaning of this?" The Ice Nation woman cried, her eyes narrowing in on the Commander. The point of Lexa's knife balanced on the tip of her finger as she played with it, a move she so often made to keep her threatening appearance. Her tone of voice was as cold as ice, colder than the most Northern edge of Azgeda.

"Echo, have you ever heard of the word decoy?"