The Commander just asked me to stay. How could I say no? You really can't. That's how half an hour later I was unpacking my grounder clothes, which wasn't much, and weapons into a chest at the foot of my bed. The housing quarters we are staying in consisted of five beds, three rooms, two bathrooms, one relaxing room and a small kitchen.
Clarke and I decided to bunk together in a room near the front door while Aden, surprisingly, stayed with his eldest cousin Roman and Eretria had her own room. Aden also suggested that his sister take the most secure room in the back of the quarters that had no windows and a sturdy door on it. That way, if an intruder did break in they would have to get through Clarke, Roman and I to get to the Commander or his sister.
As I put my things into the chest I decided to leave out my throwing knife on my dresser and a hunting knife under my pillow. My sword was slung across the headrest of my bed. I took in my and Clarke's new room. Clarke was unpacking her stuff as well into a chest at her bed. The doorway to our room was facing the door leading to the hallway of the Arc. We had no door or windows and the entire room was made out of metal. Our beds were simple enough, white sheets one pillow and a wooden headrest. The rest of the room consisted of two desks and chairs and a closet that I had no use for. The Commander's room was the same as ours.
Eretrias room, however, was made better. She had a full size closet and king size bed littered with pillows and silky bedsheets. She had a cushioned couch and coffee table right next to a bookshelf. Her bedroom was right next to one of the bathrooms which the Commander and her decided that they would share. Another shocker. The Commander, his sister, and Roman all sharing the bathroom.
Clarke and I could walk out of our doorless bedroom and come into the relaxing area, which just consisted of two couches and a armchair with a metal table in the middle. The table was filled with papers and books that the Commander brought with him. It could be my bookwork. Clarke and my's bathroom was next to the main door which wasn't a problem.
I snapped out of my mapping of our room as Clarke's chest slammed shut and echoed a little in the small living quarters. She just finished unpacking. I was done almost as soon as I started.
I grabbed my crutches and threw them against the wall next to my bed and hopped in. I haven't slept in a real or comfy bed in six months. My still wet hair from taking a quick bath quickly became cold and I pulled my sheets to my body trying to get more warmth.
"Octavia the Commander wants you up early to join us for breakfast, if you wish," Clarke spoke to me. "I think he has really taken a liking to you ever since you saved his life. But you know it wasn't just our lives you saved, right?" My head snapped up at this revelation. As far as I know I only saved Clarke and Aden. Clarke must have saw my puzzled look as she explained, "You saved Eretria too, she was right next to Aden. Actually, she was closer to the Assassins landing zone than me or him was. So I really think he is grateful you found the Assassin." I nodded my head in thought.
"Wake me up when you get up, please. Did you send the rider for Indra?"
"Yea I sent a close friend, his name is Leopold. He is more than up to the task as currently he should be on his way back. So Indra has already gotten your message, it's up to her when she makes it isn't she on an undercover mission? Weren't both of you on an undercover mission before you came back?"
"Yea, it wasn't really undercover work though. We were finding names of spies in Polis and placing spies in Azgeda," my mind returned to Alec and his last moments before dying. He was our most reliable spy in Azgeda and died getting these secrets to Polis. Because of him I was able to save the Commander and Eretria.
"Ok, well goodnight Octavia. I will wake you up when I get up for breakfast, try and get some rest because tomorrow you and I have some physical training to do on your leg."
Oh fun.
When Clarke woke me up it felt as if I'd just fallen asleep. She was still in her pajamas and I gave her privacy to change. I had nothing to do anyways because I couldn't change on my own. I did however, get the easiest fitting grounder clothing I could find and set it on the bed. When Clarke was done changing she came to help me, which was now a regular thing.
"How do you feel this morning Octavia?" She asked as she helped me undress.
"Still sore but it'll feel better when I do some physical therapy with you." One arm out of the sleeve, another one to go. "Besides, it's not like you've let me move a whole lot."
"Yea well seeing as you almost died four days ago I am not takinganychances on your recovery."
"Neither am I. As soon as I'm better I have training to do." That earned an unapproving look from Clarke.
"Not until I say you can, you don't." When we finally got my top half changed I lay on my bed so she could help with the bottom, not in the mood for arguing with .
"Did Aden tell you he'd be training me? That is if Indra will let me go. I think I'm gonna do it." Clarke continued to work around my leg cast and talk at the same time.
"He did. Did he tellyou why he's training you specifically?" No he didn't. I gave her a look telling her to continue. "Your going to be Eretria's personal guard if you accept. I heard she's had a lot of attempts on her life and many kidnap attempts. If you do accept I don't want to be seeing you every week, so try and be careful." She held a hand out to help me up when we were done changing.
Talking done, I grabbed my crutches and made my way to the living room to wait for the rest of the group with Clarke. When they finally came, Eretria walked ahead with the two talkative boys following behind. Today she wore simple grounder garb with her hair down and she still looked beautiful. She came and stood next to me and Clarke.
She looked to me and smiled before sticking her hand out for me to shake. "Hello, I know we haven't met yet formally but my names Eretria." I grabbed her silk smooth hand while struggling to hold the crutch as the same time.
"Nice to meet you Eretria, I'm Octavia."
"I know your name. I just wanted to say thank you. I was gonna talk to you yesterday but Aden wouldn't let me out of his sight. I'm his older sister and he treats me like a baby."
"That's because in the last year you've almost been kidnapped four times, shot at twice, killedonceand don't even make me mention the guy who beat you," Aden said picking up on our conversation. "Kendra died not to long ago when she took an arrow for you at that ceremony. That's why Octavia here, if she agrees will train with me and if she wants, be your guard."
"As soon as Indra gets here I will ask. She should be here soon, today even," I said.
"Roman is my second and it would be great for Eretria to have a new guard. I will talk to her as well when she gets here, try and convince her to give you over."
"Well," Eretria started," I would like to get some breakfast before it's too late, so can we get going Aden?"
"Lead the way, Roman." Seeming to know what to do, Roman peeked out the hall and deemed it fine as he started walking to the cafeteria. Clarke and Aden followed behind Roman as I struggled to keep up. Eretria saw this and dropped behind with me.
"So Octavia, tell me about yourself. I mean, if you do accept the offer of being my guard, then I would like to know anything and everything about you." Her request caught me a little off guard but she was right. If I did accept the offer, which I think I will, I woulddefinitelylike to know about this pretty women beside me.
"Well there's a lot to know. Where do I start?"
"Tell me about yourself, that's always pretty easy."
"Hmm. Ok well I was born is space but wasn't suppose to be. On the Arc you were only allowed to have one child, and my mother had already given birth to my older brother, Bellamy."
"Oh was he the one riding with you yesterday?"
"The one and only. Unfortunately. He wouldn't let me ride alone so we just both took my horse."
"Yea, Aden doesn't even let me wander twenty feet from him without sending an army with me. Last month, I stole his horse and took it to the blacksmiths to have purple horseshoes fitted for him!"
"Oh I'm sure he was happy about that," I laughed with her. As we entered the cafeteria with many familiar people from the Arc Eretria took my crutches and set them down for me. Clarke, Aden and Roman went to get food. "Thanks," I said looking into her green eyes.
"No problem. So do you just go and get food here?"
"Pretty much. Follow me and I'll show you," I started to stand up as best I could but she just gently pushed me back down.
"I got it. It can't be that hard to grab two trays of food, can it?" She played cool and walked up to the lunch line. Ten minutes later she came back with two trays of warm food followed by Aden, Clarke and Roman.
Just as we were about to eat, a familiar voice spoke from behind me.
"I'm glad to see you Octavia, it's good you didn't die and I didn't waste all that training on you," Indra spoke.
