Chapter 61

It had been three days since the hurricane had hit. Clarke was working with those of the village of Tondisi to help rebuild it. Lexa was working with Indra and Anya as well, but they were preparing for the mission to Sangeda. She knew that it was necessary, but Lexa didn't want them gone for long. She knew that the Ark would be falling soon. Clarke would be preoccupied with that, but she'd send Octavia and Raven to handle the rest of Skaikru. Clarke's main focus after fixing things up was the Mountain. Lexa could tell that she still wanted blood for what they had and were doing to their people. Lexa did as well, but she was scared for the amount of ire that Clarke bore them.

Lexa was watching her. She knew that talking to them all over the last few days had taken its toll on Clarke. She was tired, but she wasn't going to let that stop her. She understood why Clarke and Echo hadn't been as forth coming with their pasts. It was a lot to take in and process. Lexa was one of the few that would completely understand it and embrace it. She didn't have past lives in her head, she had the past commanders. It was similiar and it wasn't. She could also understand the anguish that Clarke felt. It was almost tangible coming off the blonde sometimes. She wanted to ease that ache, but she knew that there was only one way to do that. They had to survive.

"Heda," Echo greeted her as she came back into the village.

"How goes the rebuilding?"

"Indra believes that we are ahead of schedule. She knows that it was Wanheda's blessing that helped us. The villagers and those of the Coastal Trikru are glad that she gave us the information to prepare and be ready for the storm. News of her 'prophecies' are already spreading," Echo replied. "More will come for her."

"I know."

"Anya is worried about going to Sangeda and leaving the both of you unguarded," Echo stated.

"Does she believe that you cannot handle the job, Echo? Or, is she worried about where everyone's alliegence stands again?" Lexa asked as she stared deeply into the former spy and royal guard's eyes. "She worries too much about me. She is no longer my Fos, but you can't tell her that. She has Tris to worry about now, but she still dotes on me in her own way like I am a strikon."

"You will always be her sekken, Heda. She will always care for you. She loves you. She shows it in her own way. We all do. If we didn't..."

"You would have struck me down ages ago, I know, Echo," Lexa replied as she turned to look out over the village again. "But, there is more to it. She is worried that I cannot be what Clarke needs. She is afraid for me. Costia ruined me in my last life. Clarke could have saved me, but she died in your arms in front of me before we could be anything. I don't understand the pull between us and I might never, but I could never deny it. Anya's worries are that I will remain alone while Clarke has the pick of us, which she honestly does."

"But, she always chooses you, Heda. No matter what happened between us, Clarke will always choose you. I've known that for ages."

"And, if she does choose me over you?" Lexa questioned.

"I will continue to serve as I have sworn."

"I don't know that I could do that," Lexa mumbled.

"But, you could. I know that you can. You've done it before with Azgeda. And, you will do it again, because you know that as Heda, the people come first. Clarke knows this as well. That is why she is so desperate to fix things. She doesn't only want to save you, Lexa. She wants to save Man. She wants to feel worthy of the opportunities that she's been given. That is why she wants to save as many as she can, either from annihilation before and after Praimfaya. But, the weight of it all was crushing her. She has us now to help ease the burden, and we will. We just have to help her see this through."

"She will. She's determined. She will find the way to do it."

"And, she will do it with us backing her completely," Echo added.

"How long until the Ark falls?" Lexa inquried as she turned to look up at the sky again, wondering if she could see it during the day.

"Two days, I believe."

"And, Anya and her team will be gone?"

"They hope to leave before lunch with both of your blessings, Heda."

Lexa nodded. She knew that it was going to be hard for Anya and Luna to go and leave Raven behind, but Clarke changed her mind. She needed Raven with her. So, instead she was sending Monroe, Monty, Harper and Miller. Three of them had been taken on as sekkens to warriors and were doing well. Their warriors were selected as well as a favor to Clarke. Tris, Lincoln and a Floukru messenger rounded out their little grouping.

"Let Anya know that I will be there soon," Lexa replied.

"Sha, Heda," Echo answered and wandered back off towards Anya and the group.

Lexa took a deep breath. She knew that them splitting up wasn't what Clarke wanted to do, but it was necessary at the moment. They needed to get ahead of whatever trompen loud (bullshit) that Sangeda was involved with and doing. The kongeda couldn't break. They needed all the clans in order to survive the coming world after Praimfaya. Looking around the village again, she saw Clarke speaking with Indra and Gaia. She shook her head and walked towards them.

Lexa cleared her throat as she neared. She knew that it was enough for them to know that she was there. She didn't need announce herself. Gaia turned and bowed, slightly. Indra and Clarke just stopped fussing over the map on the table and nodded at Lexa's arrival.

"How are things, Wocha?" Lexa asked Indra as she looked over the map.

"They are good, Heda. It seems that Skaikru likes to build. Klark put Belomi in charge of a few of the boys. They are doing well with the others."

"Os (good)," Lexa replied as she finally got Clarke's eyes to meet hers. "Can we talk?"

Clarke just nodded. They hadn't really been apart since the storm passed, but they weren't exactly being close either. Lexa wasn't sure if it was something that she said or did, or if it was just Clarke trying to deal with the rehashing of one of her past lives. She didn't want Clarke to hide from her. She knew that Clarke came with issues. She had her own, but she knew that together they would survive and thrive.

"Have Dax and the others that are training to be warriors work on the defenses, Indra. The rest move around as needed. And, keep Aurora, Charlotte and Madi together as much as possible. Those two need to be kids as long as they can be," Clarke basically ordered.

"As you command, Wanheda," Indra replied and walked off to give more orders.

Lexa just stood there and smirked. Clarke already had her best generals wrapped around her fingers. The people loved her. She knew that the ambassadors weren't going to know what to do with her when she finally came to Polis and met them in the capital. She couldn't help but be proud of the blonde. She was a natural leader, and she was proving it every minute of every day.

"I should have asked you first, moba, Heda," Clarke said as Lexa reached out for her hand.

"There is no need to apologize for looking out for our people, Clarke."

"Our people," Clarke whispered like it was the most holy thing she'd every say. "I like the sound of that coming from you."

"Well, they are our people. You had ten people swear allegiance to you last night, Wanheda. And, while I am still Heda, I know that there are things that still haunt you. But, in face of all that, you keep fighting on. You are dauntless, Klark kom Skaifaya, Wanheda o no, you are still fearless (Clarke of the Stars, Commender of Death, or No [not]). You've stood up to men that are three times your size and make them want to lick your boots. Do not let the past trouble you today. Let us worry about the tomorrows that we are fighting for and we will see that today is just another day like any other," Lexa told her.

Clarke looked at her like she hung the moon. She didn't know if her little speeches worked often, but to see Clarke's eyes soften, just enough that the past wasn't causing her pain, gave Lexa some semblance of accomplishment. She knew that Clarke was still fighting. She would always fight. No matter how down and low she felt or thought things were, Clarke would always dig deep into that seemingly never-ending well of light that she kept buried deep inside her heart and found the courage and strength to carry on.

"Stedaunon don gon we en kikon ste enti," Clarke murmured under her breath as she looked deeply into Lexa's bright green eyes.

"Sha, the dead are gon and the living are hungry. Let's help them, Klark," Lexa stated. "We need to send off Onya and her kru to Sangeda for our answers."

"They are ready?"

"Sha, they are waiting for our blessings to leave. It seems that even though they've been given the orders to leave and be back in two weeks, Onya wouldn't leave without you blessing them. I think it has more to do with Monti, Hapa, Milla, en Monrou. Your friends need to see you as well," Lexa informed her.

Clarke nodded. She put down the list that she was working on. She knew that it would keep, but Anya and her team needed to get moving as quickly as possible. Clarke already knew that it would take them longer because of the members of the Hundred that were going with them. They really weren't ready for a trek that big, but they'd all volunteered after Raven had to step back.

Harper hadn't been a surprise. Clarke knew how she felt about Monty. She knew that the other blonde wouldn't want him going alone, especially since he was going to be the techinical rep and radio operator. Miller and Monroe had been the surprises. But, as soon as they volunteered, so did their respective fos. She knew that it wasn't a training mission, but she was glad that they were willing to go. She knew that for Miller, he was trying to prove himself. For Monroe, she wasn't sure. The girl was an obvious fighter, but she hardly made it to the bunker stages of their lives. But, with no war with Trikru this time, Clarke could only hope that she would make it. She wanted them all to make it.

Raven and Jasper were already at the departure point. They were huddled up with Monty, Harper, Monroe and Miller. Clarke went to them first. They all smiled as she got closer.

"So, Princess, what's the mission?" Miller told her.

"You already know, Miller."

"I mean, I get that we are going scouting and learning along the way, but what gives? Why us? Why not all Grounders?" Miller questioned.

"As I said before, we have a unique perspective for things on the ground. We are used to tek and they aren't. I need to...we need to know if Sangeda is using tek. And, if they are, what is it and why? I know that the four of you will be able to disable a lot of it without destroying it all, too. Raven is going to need to know what it is and if we can use it later, somewhere else. So, I need you to make sure that you save what you can and record the rest. Don't let anyone destroy it unless you have to. If you do, make sure that it can never be used again," Clarke told them all. "Monty, I know that you aren't a warrior. You want peace just like we do, but I think that you want it more. You will be representing us to whatever Sangeda officials are there. You are our ambassador for this mission. I need you to make a good impression. I need you to help Anya and the rest of those going make sure that the Kongeda is still safe. I also need you to make a map of where you are going and how you got there. It doesn't have to be extremely detailed, but it should be enough that when we give it to Kane they can use it. Can you handle that?"

"Yeah, Clarke, I got it. I packed two sketch books, cause I knew that you would want the plants, too."

"I do. Thank you for thinking about that, too, Monty. I want you to keep each other safe. Listen to Anya above everyone, even your Fos, if need be. Protect each other and the rest of the team and be back here in two weeks. If you need something, radio Raven. We'll find a way to get to you," Clarke said.

"And, the Ark?" Monty questioned.

"I will be welcoming them when they land. Don't worry about that. But, they will be here when you get back. I will make sure that your parents are all safe. I will pull them from the rest of the Ark and give them the choice to join as part of our little group or to remain with the Ark. Everyone has that choice, and when you get back, you could go back to the Ark if you want. I just ask that you still work with me on future projects," Clarke explained to them.

"I won't be going back," Monty said. "I like it here. I just wanted to make sure that there were no delays."

"None that Kane or my mother have given me. They should be arriving in two days. Lexa and I have already prepared a welcoming crew to go get them."

"Will worry about your 'Sand people,' Clarke. Just take care of our parents. May we meet again," Miller told her as he reached out for her forearm in the typical Grounder fashion.

Clarke couldn't help the smile that crossed her face. She knew that Miller was extremely loyal and fierce. Two things that she was going to need in the coming days. She would talk to his Fos when they got back to see how he was doing. She wanted him to join in her personal guard. She wanted him close, because she knew that he was very useful in a pinch. It was the same with Harper and Monroe. They were good, as was Dax. They were her four best warriors as far as she could tell. Bellamy was good, but she wasn't sure how much she could trust him. And, as much as she loved Wells, he wasn't a warrior.

"Go," Clarke told them as they ran to mount their horses.

Anya just looked at her. Clarke watched as she quit listening to whatever final orders that Lexa was giving her. Their eyes met. And, for a split second, Clarke almost called Monty and Harper back to send Dax and Raven instead. But, she tipped her head to Anya letting her know with the subtle gesture that she would protect Raven until they returned. She knew that Anya didn't like leaving Raven behind, especially with Luna riding with her, but it had been both Lexa's and Clarke's orders that made it happen. She knew that Raven wasn't too happy about it, either, but Raven with the best when it came to technology. Clarke needed her there to help with the battle for the Mountain. It was for the best, even if everyone hated it, including Clarke.

The blond warrior used this quick gesture to gather herself back up and salute Lexa. She turned her horse to leave. Quickly, she spun back around and rode straight for Clarke. The younger blonde didn't move. She waited for Anya to come to halt before her. The warrior dismounted and walked past Raven. There was a fire in her brown eyes that reminded Clarke of something between them a dozen lifetimes ago. Anya stopped in front of her.

Clarke could tell that she wanted to drop to her knee, but she was restraining herself. She didn't want to undermine Lexa in front of the village. She knew that it would. They weren't ready for everyone to know who Clarke really was yet, so for now, Anya was restraining herself. Instead, she stood there, sure and proud, waiting for Clarke.

The younger blonde reached up and pulled Anya's head to her own. She spoke softly and lowly as their foreheads touched. When she was done, she pushed Anya back upright. She noticed that Luna was waiting for her, then. Doing the same with Luna, she pulled her in and slightly down so their foreheads touched.

"Care for her and help guide her on this mission, Luna," Clarke bade her.

"Protect our love. I will bring her back, for the both of us. And, protect Lexa, too. She is nervous, but she doesn't want anyone to know. You still frighten her, but her love for you is endless, Prisa. Command her heart and not just her death," Luna told her.

Clarke smiled and reach over to place a hand on both of Luna's shoulders. She knew that no one else there might understand, but Luna did, especially as she flicked her eyes from the ground to meet those of Clarke's.

"You eyes remind me of the Southern Ocean, Prisa. Maybe I will take us all there on my boat one day. I think you would like to see the world beyond these forests and hills," Luna offered.

"You have, but I would like to see it again before Praimfaya. Depending on the weather, we should go before Winter finally sets in and we can't go at all. You will take us to the Southern Oceans, Luna. I'm giving you part of my heart as you go, bring them all home and back to me," Clarke told her.

"I will."

"Ai giv ai op..." (I give myself up)

"Gon neiyon..." (To the miracle)

"Kom laink-de..." (Of the Sea)

"Kom laink-de, oso na gyon op," Clarke replied. "Now go before we don't let you." (From the Sea, we will rise)

Luna ran back to her horse and mounted. Anya turned her horse again and they left. Clarke and Lexa both stood there watching them leave.

"Why does it feel like I am sending them to their deaths?"

"Because you don't know what Sangeda wants with you," Lexa answered. "And, you love them all."