MJandSports (FF dot net): Nia is a clever bitch, she has to be to still be alive after all the shit she has pulled both in the TV show and in the backround lore we've heard of.
Dragonball256: Hard to say about Pike, a lot of thing will be drastically different. As was pointed out last chapter, Clarke through the 100 could have exerted significant control over the adults of the Ark if she had wanted to, and that will be even more true in this AU. As for the Mountain, well, read on :D
Betagamma (AO3): Yeah, I couldn't resist throwing that in there, because I totally love that seen, and I can totally see Clarke doing something like that to be honest. Clarke is just kinda rolling with it, she's still kinda in shock from everything going on.
MimiTAT (AO3): I added that tag, let's see if it helps lol. And who said she is gonna die, eh? Nia is on her back foot now, she would be suicidal to act openly against Lexa right now.
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Nothing Is True (Save For The Blood We Shed)
Chapter Six
Polis
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When Grounders traveled, Clarke found, they liked to sing. Marching cadences, raucous songs fit for a barroom, bawdy songs, solemn songs. It was really rather nice, actually, even if she didn't know any of the songs or even really understood what they were saying, as most of their songs were in Trigedasleng, of which she had only learned a few words and phrases.
They had left for Polis, the Grounder capitol, a few hours ago, and were apparently halfway there already. Truthfully, she was surprised and impressed by how she was holding up for her first time on a horse, something she had expected to be a series of humiliating disasters. Of course, part of that could be attributed to her mount. The stallion Lexa had gifted her was enormous, powerful, and trained for war. It was also significantly faster and possessed more endurance than the average horse, according to Lexa, due to its mutations. Said mutations also involved having six legs (two pairs in the front, one pair in the back), demonically glowing crimson eyes, and a long, flowing scarlet mane and tail. She had immediately named him Sleipnir, the powerful warhorse and mount of Odin All-Father from Norse mythology.
Now she sat astride him, riding down the grass-covered remains of US-50 (or so she had gathered from the old, half-destroyed signs they passed occasionally), with Lexa easily guiding her own mount to her left, Costia to her right, and the generals and warriors guarding them arrayed around and behind them. It was during a pause in the singing that she found herself addressed for the first time of the journey by someone other than Lexa or Costia.
"Skai Prisa, what songs do your people sing? Songs of the Lost World?" one of the escorting warriors asked respectfully, thought very tentatively. Obviously, he was concerned about being punished or something of the sort for addressing her uninvited, a concern many of the lower ranks seemed to have.
She had finally asked Lexa what 'Skai Prisa' meant, and while she was deeply flattered to know that it meant 'Sky Princess', she also knew that there was a lot more to the story than that, given how the Grounders acted around her. Even Lexa and the Generals acted differently around her, the former acting almost…awed, for lack of a better word, while the Generals seemed to be judging her. Only Costia acted normally around her, though since the red-head's 'normal' consisted of being an unrepentant pervert, that was a small comfort.
"Yes. When our ancestors went to the sky, the took copies of every book, every song, every play…everything that they could get their hands on, in order to preserve the history and culture of humanity. There were-are- many kinds of music amongst that collection. Many genres, such as rock, metal, country, pop, classical…" she let her voice trail of pointedly, making it clear that the list was a great deal longer then what she had verbalized. "I, myself, learned to sing and play instruments, as did every other member of my people. It is required of us, not only to keep the children busy and out of trouble, but to keep the past alive."
"Would you sing for us, Clarke?" Costia asked, looking rather hopeful, even if her voice was teasing, and Clarke's eyes widened as she looked around for some support. Unfortunately for her, the rest of the group looked just as eager, and Clarke groaned mentally. Of course they would, they had only known her for three days, they knew nothing about her. Not to mention that this was a chance for them to hear music from the world whose ashes they had called home for the past century. Thinking of a good song didn't take long, and she cleared her throat before beginning to sing.
"I close my eyes, Tell us why must we suffer.
Release your hands, For your will drags us under.
My legs grow tired, Tell us where we must wander.
How can we carry on, If the Answer's beyond us?
To all of my children in whom life flows abundant.
To all of my children on whom death hath passed his judgement
The soul yearns for honor and the flesh the hereafter
Look to those who walked before to lead those who walk after.
Shining is the land's light of justice!
Ever flows the land's well of purpose!
Walk free, walk free, walk free, believe.
Suffer (Feel) Promise (Think) Witness (Teach) Reason (Hear)
Follow (Feel) Wander (Think) Stumble (Teach) Listen (Speak)
Honor (Speak) Value (Tell) Whisper (Tell) Mention (Hope)
Warrant (Wish) Cherish (Wish) Welcome (Roam) Witness (Roam)
Listen (Roam) Suffer (Roam) Sanction (Sleep) Weather (Sleep) Wander (Sleep)
Answers, Sleep On.
Now open your eyes while our plight is repeated!
Still deaf to our cries, lost in hope we lie defeated!
Our souls have been torn and our bodies forsaken!
Bearing sins of the past, for our future is taken!
War, born of strife, these trials persuade us not!
(Feel What, Learn What?)
Words without sound, these lies betray our thoughts!
(See what, hear what?)
Mired by a plague of doubt, the land, she mourns.
Judgment binds all we hold to a memory of scorn!
Tell us why, given life, we are meant to die,
Helpless in our cries?
Witness (Feel) Suffer (Think) Borrow (Teach) Reason (Hear)
Follow (Feel) Stumble (Think) Wander (Teach) Listen (Blink)
Whisper (Blink) Shoulder (Blink) Ponder (Blink) Weather (Hear)
Answer (Look) Answer (Think) Answer together!
Thy life is a riddle to bare rapture and sorrow.
To listen, to suffer, to entrust unto tomorrow!
In one fleeting moment, from the land doth life flow
Yet in one fleeting moment, for anew it doth grow.
In the same fleeting moment, thou must live, die, and know."
As her voice faded, the song over, there was nothing but utter silence, and she shifted a little awkwardly in her saddle. Her singing wasn't that bad, was it? Perhaps something in the song had offended or confused them? She couldn't imagine which part might have done so, but then again she was not one of them. She didn't understand the depths and nuances of their culture, not yet anyway.
"That was…magnificent, Clarke. Not only the song, but your voice. I think that I will be asking you to sing for me often." Lexa said finally, wearing an expression astonishingly similar to beaming on her painted face. There were many murmurs of agreement, and Clarke blushed at the attention and the praise. She knew, logically, that she was a good singer, but receiving people who didn't feel obligated to praise her (for familial love, friendly affection, or attempted ass-kissing) was an altogether novel experience.
"What was that song called, Clarke?" Costia, ever the most (vocally) curious person about Clarke and the lifestyle of the Sky People.
"Answers. It was written a very long time ago by a pair of men from Japan." She responded promptly with a smile. "It was always one of my favorites to sing, especially with music and as part of a group."
"The words are powerful, they have meaning." Anya mused from behind them. "I especially like the final stanza. It is…honest. True."
Lexa hummed in agreement, although she was thinking mostly of a very specific line: 'look to those who walked before, to lead those who walked after.' To her, that line resonated more than the others, for she as the carrier of the Heda's soul was always looking to those who came before to guide her, just as her successors would to her. Hell, the same line could be used in reference to her people's dependence on the guidance on the Heda.
Shifting herself slightly in her saddle, she glanced at her future Kwin with a warmth in her eyes that she was unaccustomed to displaying in public. She would be the first to admit that Clarke made her feel, and act, out of character. She had smiled and laughed more in public during the last three days than the last few years. Ever since she became the Heda, truthfully once she had become Anya's second, she began wearing a mask for her people. The mask of the cold, calculating, and implacable Heda of the Clans. Only in private did she let herself be Lexa, the cheerful and romantic girl with a tendency to experience love at first sight.
"So, tell me of your family and friends, Clarke. I know your mother is the head healer…?" she asked leadingly, and the Sky Girl hummed in thought before answering slowly, carefully.
"Well, I have quite a few friends. My closest friend is ironically a girl I've known the shortest. Her name is Octavia, we met at a party, and I ended up saving her life. You would love her, Lexa. Fierce, bold, brave, aggressive… she will fit in very well with your people. Then there is Raven, one of my oldest friends. A mechanical genius, smart and cunning with an understated courage and unwavering loyalty." The absolute warmth in Clarke's voice and expression when she spoke of the other girls sent a wave of jealousy through Lexa, though she quashed it swiftly. It really shouldn't be of any surprise to Clarke had romances and paramours at home, she certainly did here. "Then there is Fox, Harper, Monroe…a few others."
"And…have you any male friends? Anyone of…special interest?" Costia prodded, and Clarke raised an amused eyebrow at her, getting an innocent smile in return. Snorting softly in amusement, she shook her head.
"No, I don't have many male friends, a few acquaintances maybe. And no, I've no one 'special' up at The Ark. Not that it means getting into my pants will be anything remotely close to easy, you slavering pervert."
"That's completely fine with me, I do enjoy a challenge, especially when the reward is so…" Costia licked her lips outrageously as her eyes ghosted over Clarke's armed and armored form. "Enticing."
"You know, there are a few words that one would use to describe you, Costia…"Clarke started, only for a smirking Costia to interrupt.
"Ravishing? Brilliant? Awe-inspiring?" she said playfully, flipping her hair over her shoulder like a diva and batting her eyelashes outrageously.
"Irritating, bold, perverted, single-minded?" Clarke continued dryly, though her mouth quirked slightly into a smile regardless. Costia merely shrugged and smirked lazily in response, utterly unconcerned. For that matter, she seemed flattered. Somehow, Clarke wasn't all that surprised.
"Anyway, I don't really hang out with many people my age. As the only daughter of a high-ranked Council member, and one of the three children from the Council entire…well, as a result all the boys wanted to get into my pants, and all the girls wanted to be my best friends," she nearly spat the words in disgust, and the surrounding warrior women frowned slightly. While dynastic marriages were far from uncommon, they were always approached plainly and honorably, not with false friendships and lies.
"Then you are not the leader of your people, Skai Prisa?" a nearby warrior asked curiously, and Clarke snorted and shook her head in response.
"I'm no leader, I never have been. I just tend to follow my own path and do as I think is right." She said dismissively, waving one hand in a brushing-away gesture, and Lexa resisted the urge to snort in disbelief. Clearly Clarke didn't understand just how charismatic she was, but she had seen it herself when Clarke had confronted the Stone Clan warrior and spoken to the crowd afterwards. Even putting aside that the true hallmark of a leader was doing what they thought was the right thing to do, as opposed to what was easy, it sounded as though she had a fair following amongst her own age group, people loyal to her first and foremost. Besides, if Clarke was right and this 'Council' sent more children down within the next couple of years, Clarke would be well placed to take leadership of them. Through them, she would control their parents, and thus their people. Oh yes, Clarke ruled the Sky People. She just didn't know it yet.
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Polis, Capital of the Coalition
Ruins of Annapolis
In the Old World, Annapolis was known to the general public for one thing, and one thing only: the United States Naval Academy. A sprawling 16,000 acre campus, it hard turned out some of the best and brightest in the world for decades. That, and its proximity to the national capitol, meant that its air defenses were incredible. It had taken days and hundreds of rockets and missiles to exhaust and overwhelm enough of its air defenses, and by that point the war had been so close to over that much of the academy itself had survived, albeit damaged. The First Heda had ruled from the community that had reemerged around the old academy grounds, and by tradition every Heda since had done so as well, regardless of their birth clan, as the city grew around them.
Over time, the city had expanded massively, with thick, towering walls of wood and stone. The relatively minor docks of the Academy had been expanded to sprawl along the shore, nearly rivaling those of the Boat Clan. Thousands called it home, and every clan donated forces, arms, and armor to its defense. It was the Rome of the new world.
Lexa's heart swelled with pride as she saw the awe and deep respect in Clarke's eyes as they approached the city and its outlying suburbs. Here, more than anyone else, would show Clarke that her people were not blood-crazed savages. Although, she had best start filling her in on certain things such as Senate meetings and the coming festivities.
"Clarke…" she started, but her voice acted as the trigger for an outpouring of praise and commentary on both her city and her people.
"Lexa! Polis is incredible, it looks like something out of the history books! I can smell the foundries from here! Mass-produced industry, and agriculture, I mean just look at these farms, they're enormous! How high is the curtain wall, and how did you build them with your technology level? Where…" she babbled excitedly, almost bouncing in her saddle. Sleipnir, sensing her excitement, snorted and pranced a little in place, coincidentally bringing her close enough for Lexa to grab her warm, soft hand in her own calloused one. The touch brought Clarke's mouth to a halt partially open, and Lexa spoke.
"Enough, Clarke. There are things I need to tell you about before we reach the city. First and foremost, the city knowns you are the SkaiPrisa..."
"Which you still haven't properly explained the importance of." Clarke mumbled in irritation.
"And that you slew a yong Pauna and several Ice Nation assassins, so they will be expecting you to carry yourself as a warrior. Upright and strong, composed and implacable, but also welcoming. Fear and wonder balanced on the edge of a blade is the most potent combination of emotions one can inspire in another, and it is the very mix you need to inspire in your first appearances." Lexa continued, ignoring the interruption, though she had to admit, Clarke's resultant pout made her look ever-so-kissable. "In addition, it is likely that, when you meet the Senate, they will attempt to cow you. Pressure you into obeying them 'for your own good', or some such thing. Do not fall prey to their honeyed words, they will use you for their own ends until they can marry you off or kill you."
"I thought you had absolute control as Heda, and that the clan leaders ruled their clans with only you as a higher authority?" Clarke asked, only somewhat miffed that the brunette hadn't told her about this Senate meeting. They really sounded like a larger version of the Council to be honest, and she knew just how to handle the Council.
"I do, but the Senate handles the day to day affairs of the civilian side of the government, as well as providing a place for representatives of all the clans to meet and argue their wants and needs without blades and blood. However, and especially since the Senate is made purely of Civilians and is easily corruptible, filled with weakness, lies, and prevarications, I have the ultimate say on any significant matters. Especially those that effect the Coalition as a whole." The contempt on her face and in her voice was obvious, and Clarke found herself suprised until she noticed that the same expression was present on all those around them. Contempt it seemed, was like anger to Lexa. She was obviously willing to show her warriors negative emotions, so why not the laughter, smiles, and humour she showed in private?
"Well, I guess that makes sense. You can hardly handle everything for every single clan under your banner, nor should you. Not only would it be impossible, but they should be responsible for themselves without you to hold their hands for them." She said aloud, keeping her more private thoughts to herself. Lexa hummed in agreement as they drew every closer, now perhaps only a few hundred yards from the massive main gates of the city. The sound of bells echoed over them all as they entered, bells announcing the arrival of the Heda and the SkaiPrisa. All across the city, crowds began to gather along the main road that lead directly to the palace and the Forum, home of the Heda and seat of the Senate, respectivly.
For the people of Polis, this was the moment they had been waiting for. For the fervent believers of the old tales, a lifetime of waiting was finally bearing fruit. For those more recent on the proverbial bandwagon, it had only been three days, yet those days somehow seemed interminable. Ever since the yong pauna and couriers had arrived, the whole city had been waiting with bated breath, eager to see her at last, regardless of their intentions towards her.
Then they saw her ride through the gates on a massive steed as black as night itself, his crimson eyes burning against the darkness of his coat. She herself was clad in black armor of a strange make, a long curved blade on her back, blonde hair flowing in the breeze as steely sky-blue eyes surveyed all before her. Beside and around her rode the Herda and her generals, each guiding their own horses with the ease of long practice. The crowd wondered: could this pale slip of a child really have slain the yong pauna? Could she really be the One Who Is Promised?
Stranger things had happened, they mused, and Heda was not known for lying or for half-truths. Best to wait and see. In the meantime, there was cheering to do and celebrations to be had!
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Senate Forum
Polis
It was immediatly apparent to a significant margin of the Senate that attempts to influence or control Clarke of the Sky People would be difficult at best and suicidaly impossible at worst. The others were arrogant enough to believe that she was simply a girl-child foreigner and therefore easily handled by such intellectual individuals such as themselves. Still, when she strode into the room with the Heda and Costia in tow, descending without pause to seat themselves in the center of the Forum (as was tradition), she made quite the impression upon all of them. They were confident however, and with good reason. Only in this room were they all equal, all powerful. Only in this room could one risk overtly challenging the Heda, and expect to live more than a few seconds afterwards.
"Welcoem back to Polis, Heda. The Senate is glad to see that you continue to carry The Spirit despite the Mountain Men's best efforts." Senator Falco of the Ice Clan spoke first, voice oily, as he bowed lowly to the trio. "My Queen was most horrified to hear of the cowardly, assuradly unsanctioned attack on the sky girl and your dear Costia by renegade and traiterous members of her army."
"I am so glad to hear her say so. After the one we interrogated screamed, ranted, and raved about how there was only a single ruler in this world, and how Nia would kill us all, and so on and so forth." Lexa waved her hand in a hand gesture that made it clear it had been a long rant, voice calm, as she leaned back comfortably on her throne, and Falco's expression froze.
"Ah, well. It is most unfortunate that those warriors allowed their sense of patriotism and clan-loyalty to lead them astray. Unfortunately, passions that are great boons can become the most savage of vices." Senator Carieb, one of Falco's 'allies' (read: cronies) in the Senate said with an expression of deep sorrow, covering for his off-balance compatriot smoothly, and the Senators that were so inclined nodded and murmured in agreement. Looking at Clarke, he continued with a grandfatherly smile that was as false as his previous expression. 'And this must be the one and only Clarke of the Sky People! Welcome back to the ground, and welcome to Polis! We of the Senate are ever so glad to greet you and praise your magnificent feat of slaying the mighty pauna, something that no one has ever managed to accomplish, neither alone nor with a great host!"
"Your praise is, of course, welcome. Even if I do not believe it is quite necessary. I could not in good conscience simply stand by and watch Linkon kom Trikru die when I had the ability to intervene. To do otherwise would be a grave sin against man and Maker." The blond responded, tone respectful but aloof. Carieb concealed a frown, irritated that his bait had failed. She had neither gloated nor demanded respect and obedience, something most warriors would do in such circumstances. Now he would be unable to make her, and by extension Lexa, looking foolish to the rest of the Senate. Perhaps another oppurtunity would present itself, but until then it would be best to deal with legitimate Senate buisness. Such as there was, and what there was of it, at any rate.
"Your humility does you great credit." He bowed just enough to avoid giving insult before looking to Lexa and holding up a scroll. "We of the Senate have compiled a list of reports to give and items to address, if you should wish to call us to order?"
"Very well. I, Lexa, 23rd Bearer of the Soul of The Heda, call this meeting of the Tribal Senate to order." Lexa struck the ground thrice with the ceremonial staff that she drew from its sleeve on the back of her throne. "What matters does the Senate bring before me this day?"
"Mostly minor things, Heda. Official recognition of today as a feast day, protocols for some badly needed repair to some of the cities sanitation, and the like. Only a limited number of serious issues have arisen, most of them being the fates of various apprehended criminals who can be dealt with after the feasting and celebrations have passed."
"Indeed? I suppose that not much time has passed since I was last present in this Forum. I do hope that all of you will be able to attend the festivities? With the pauna meat combined with the other items, it promises to be quite epic in proportions." Lexa responded, and Clarke resisted the urge to blink in disturbed confusion as the eyes of the Senate gleamed not with greed, but lust. Lexa had said that her people loved feasts more than anything else, but surely such expressions were a bit much?
"Of course, Heda. We of the Senate could not imagine being absent from so illustrious and significant an occasion! Let us deal with what few issues are at hand as swiftly as we can, that we might adjourn and begin our preparations for the festivities." Falco rejoined eagerly, and the whole of the Senate nodded so agreeably that they made Clarke think of bobbleheads, and she had to fight down the urge to giggle. Well, getting this done quickly suited her just fine, she felt dirty just from the way half of these people were looking at her. She knew the festivities would, at best, delay their ambitions, the ones Lexa warned her about, by a few days at the most. But a short delay was better than none at all.
"Very well then." Lexa hummed, taking the scroll from Falco and unfurling it carefully. Twitching it ever so slightly to achieve better lighting, her eyes began to flick back and forth steadily as she carefully scanned the document, taking note of the various petty crimes and their punishments (minor crimes like pickpocketing, theft, and public intoxication were handled by the Senate, as they were not significant enough for her personal attention) as well as the handful of more serious crimes that awaited her appraisal and judgement. It seemed she would have the opportunity to show Clarke the way her people handled trials in a few days. She knew there had to be something…ah, there it was. A small footnote on a minor trading deal between Falco's and Gaius' houses, which if undersigned would give the Senate the power to choose 'suitable' spouses for anyone they chose, including her generals, herself, and Clarke. Clearly, they hoped that she would skim that portion of the document (as it was a formal notification to her of the agreement between their houses, it was really only there to let her know what was going on, and therefore wouldn't receive as much of her focus) and be too distracted and impatient for the feast to notice it. It appeared they had not yet learned that she was no foolish child to be tricked and toyed with. Shaking her head, she ignored the dotted line where her signature would have gone and rolled the scroll up, handing it to Costia before leaning back in her throne. "I'm afraid that some modification and contemplation will be required before this is ready for my seal, not the least of which being the trials for the major criminal offenders. Is there anything else that the Senate wishes to bring to my attention?"
"No, Heda. After all, your absence from Polis has lasted only a few weeks at most this time, so there has been hardly anything of note whatsoever." Falco's smile and bow were both stiff with displeasure of yet another foiled plot (and for a Senator he was far too obvious when things didn't go his way!) and Lexa nodded in acknowledgment. Raising the ceremonial staff once more, she struck the ground thrice and declared the session concluded, informing them all she looked forward to seeing them at the celebrations that night. With bows and murmurs in the affirmative, the robed members of the Senate filtered out of the room, leaving the trio of young women alone at the center of the Forum.
"Are all Senate meetings like that?" Clarke asked, though her tone and bearing made it clear she believed no such thing, and both Costia and Lexa laughed softly, shaking their heads in the negative, and she smirked slightly.
"No, they normally last for hours, sometimes days. However, due to the festivities starting tonight, none of them were particularly interested in wasting any time as they are often wont to doing." Lexa explained as she got to her feet and led her two companions from the room. The streets were teeming with people, and though many stopped to stare and whisper at the trio, all continued about their business after a few moments. Lexa gave Clarke a moment to take everything in before guiding her towards the palace.
"This is incredible! Is this where you live?" Clarke breathed, looking around the foyer at the distinctly Roman architecture. With TonDC as basic and, well, crude as it was…she hadn't really though craftsmanship this fine was possible for the tribes. A foolish and arrogant assumption, considering the wonders of the ancient peoples, like the Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians, had been able to produce thousands of years ago. She really needed to stop making so many assumptions about the tribes…
"When I am within Polis, yes. Most of my time is spent in TonDC, however. As the largest village and most central village along the proverbial front lines in our war with the Mountain Men, I remain there to strategize and lead the army whenever it is necessary. Things have been quite of late, however." Lexa's thoughts drifted to a point of constant worry for her the last few months, the niggling feeling that the Mountain Men were plotting something big, before shaking her head and continuing." Anyways, all the Clan Leaders have estates her in Polis, though of course they spend even less time here than I do, as their responsibilities are primarily focused on their clans and territories in particular instead of the Coalition as a whole."
Lexa and Clarke watched Costia break of from them and slip through a side door, before Clarke returned to examining the room before her, and Lexa returned to examining her. The foyer was large and circular, with a door directly across from the entrance, one of the left and the right, and two long, curved staircases leading up to the second level, which was much the same in its layout, save for the fact that the door facing the street led to a large balcony. After another minute or so, Lexa gently took Clarke's hand in her own (purely to assist her in leading her around the building, of course!) and tugged her towards the left-hand staircase. Once they had ascended, the brunette warrior pushed open the double doors at before them and proceeded to lead Clarke down a long hallway. At the very end stood another set of double doors, and Clarke had the sense that whatever was inside was very precious, simply from the way Lexa was acting as they approached. The oaken panels parted, and as Clarke stepped inside, she couldn't stop her mouth from dropping open and her eyes going wide in amazement.
It was a massive library, wall to wall, floor to ceiling, multiple stories worth of bookcases stuffed to the brim with tomes both old and new. It seemed that (and she should be used to it by now, really) Lexa's people had once again shocked and surprised her, and her feeling of shame from her earlier assumptions grew even larger as she ruefully considered the fact that she had broken the promise she had made to herself not minutes ago in that very regard. True, Lexa's people were savage and barbaric in many, many ways, but the world they lived in, at least the world closest to these Mountain Men, required them to be if they wanted to survive. Here, however, in the safe(ish) inner reaches of their land, they had true, if old-fashioned, civilization. It was truly heartening to see.
"Lexa, this is just utterly incredible! I had never imagined that so many books could have survived the Final War!" she almost squealed gleefully. Hard copy, physical books were few and far between, as the 'written' word of the Old World had been preserved almost entirely in digital format to save space for people and supplies. She knew immediately that, like Lexa, this would become here favorite and most-visited room in the building, even if she hadn't seen the rest of the palace. And wasn't that a magnificent thing, that she and Lexa both loved literature more than anything else?
"Well, this library has been added to by every Heda since the First herself. When the survivors of the War began to gather here, they added those books and documents they had found or managed to preserve to the library already present here. Over the years, new books were written and old ones were copied in order to preserve them and, well," Lexa swept and arm broadly to indicate the library at large. "The results are what you see before you."
"I can't wait to read them and show you the libraries of The Ark. Once I can get into Mount Weather and contact the Council, I can have them downloaded groundside to the Mount Weather databanks and print them. After that…" Clarke's voice trailed off as she continued to plot and plan how to show Lexa all of these books, and Lexa felt like a horrible person for what she was going to do, but it had to be done. No matter how cheerful and hopeful Clarke sounded, she had to be enlightened as to the truth. Or, at least, part of the truth.
"Clarke, you…can't go to the Mountain." She said softly, gently, slowly, and Clarke snorted with an utter lack of concern that baffled her. Clarke was not prone to foolish arrogance, so why would she be so dismissive of the power and threat the Mountain Men possessed?
"It shouldn't too hard for me to slip past their patrols once you show me their routes. The minute I get access to Mount Weather, I'll be safe. Not like they've any idea how to get inside." Clarke reassured her, and Lexa's brow furrowed further in confusion. Obviously, both of them thought that the other had pertinent details that they did not actually possess.
"Clarke, even if you manage to get past their defenses, there are still hundreds of them within. Going to the Mountain is suicide, and I'll not let you get yourself killed." The last statement, though spoken in her Commander voice, had a significant edge of possessiveness lurking within it, and Clarke turned to look at her in confusion, though a spark of stubborn defiance gleamed within her eyes.
"Why would I be in any danger within the Mountain? The Mountain Men are just another grounder clan that live on and around it, yes?" that statement clarified a lot for Lexa when it came to Clarke's attitude towards the Mountain. Clearly, she had come to her own assumptions, and Lexa had foolishly not filled her in completely on their people's mortal enemies. Now, she had to do so at the worst possible time.
"No, Clarke. The Mountain Men are those that hid inside the Mountain during the war. They are the most hated enemy of all the clans, and the reason for the Coalition. That place holds nothing but death and suffering within it." She explained, her relief at (partially) clearing the air between them warring with the regret and guilt she felt at the heart-break and confusion that consumed Clarke at her words.
"What? But…but why didn't you say anything before? Why only tell me here and now?" she asked, bewildered, but Lexa simply looked at the ground silently. With a breathy sound that was a cross between a snarl and a sob, the younger girl shoved her aside and rushed from the room. Lexa let her, presuming that she would simply find an uninhabited room to cry and remaster herself and her emotions in. Unbeknownst to her, at least for a little while, was that Clarke had departed the palace entirely, successfully avoided both her personal guards and the palace guards, and vanished into the depths of the city. Unbeknownst to Clarke was that fact that her departure did not go as unnoticed as she had believed. Instead, a half-dozen carefully non-descript individuals followed her, taking care to remain natural and avoid arousing the suspicions of those around them. Worse, their intentions were not of a noble sort, no indeed, for they were tasked by Senator Falco with spying on the palace and its inhabitants. When they saw the supposed Sky Princess, emotionally compromised and alone, they saw their chance to take the initiative and 'acquire' her. After all, having the girl herself would guarantee that they got the information that their Queen and Senator desired, or at least that was the excuse they gave to one another. They certainly wouldn't mind some time alone with her entirely at their mercy.
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Deep beneath the ruins of what was once Turin, New York, the imprinst of the ancient Isu known predominantly as Jupiter, Minerva, and Juno stood together amongst a massive virtual reality representation of the Sol System, its planets and moons orbiting around them as its sun blazed beneath their feet.
"She is taking far too long! Every single moment counts! You should have implanted the subconscious knowledge of the Vault inside of her bloodline!" Juno snarled angrily, but the other two were unaffected by her rage. She was always angry, ever since her attempted revenge against Humanity had tried to wipe them out. Now, she was forced to aid her fellows in saving them or be sealed away once more, this time for good.
"She will come without any further meddling from us. Once she reaches the Annapolis Vault, she will be transported here and we can begin to save this world, and Humanity, from our mistakes. At long last." Minerva replied tranquilly.
"I should hope so. She is beyond human. With our assistance and genetic code, she will be virtually unstoppable. The impending catastrophe will be averted, and even those who cling to the foolish ideals of the Templar Order will fail." Jupiter spoke his own thoughts on the matter just as calmloy as Minerva. They had vultivated the line of Altair since it's inception with the famed Mentor's own ancestors, subtly guiding them in a millania-long breeding program to result in the ultamite Assassin.
She would be the one to save Humanity from the approaching storms.
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ALL DONE! So, I posted this chapter a little later in the day than was usual, because I had to finish retyping it from my hand-written copy, and then of course reading it over and editing it occurred.
