Chapter 2: Old Paths and New Faces

It took them another day and half to reach the walls of Polis. By the time Lexa brought the group to a halt outside the gates, they were all close to collapsing from exhaustion. Even Lexa, who had been trained from a girl to march and march hard, felt ready to sink to her knees. But she would not let the Sky people know that. She clenched her jaw and kept a brave face.

Lexa craned her neck to view the sentries standing atop their metal towers just behind the gates.

"Heda?" One called down, "Chon emo bilaik?" He asked who the Sky people were.

"The Coalition is under attack. These people seek refuge in Polis. Their camp was the first target," Lexa shouted back in English, so that the Sky people could understand her.

"The Coalition, Commander?"

Lexa stared up at the sentry, her eyes flashing a warning in case he thought to keep questioning her. "My diplomatic mission to Camp Jaha was successful. The Sky Clan is now the thirteenth member of the alliance of clans. Let them pass."

There was a moment's pause. Lexa's right hand, still bandaged, found its way to the hilt of her dagger. It fell away to her side when the sentry called out for the gates to be opened. Lexa turned and regarded the people she had led to the gates to her capital.

"Skaikru! Whilst the circumstances aren't preferable, allow me to welcome you to Polis. You will be safe here. You will have food and shelter. First I will take you to the centre of the city, so that the people of Polis may know why you are here."

The Sky people listened silently. Lexa looked to Clarke, she was standing next to her mother at the front of the group.

"Clarke. Lead your people forward to the second gates. I will catch up once I have spoken to the sentries here."

Clarke gave a nod. "Alright everyone, follow me. Just a bit further then we can all sit down." Clarke began to lead her people through the gate and towards the centre of the city.

Lexa waited for the gates to shut behind them before she motioned to one of the sentries to come forward. Aldrin had stayed behind with her and stood to her right.

"Heda?" the sentry spoke.

Lexa replied in Trigedasleng now; "We received word that The Ice Nation army marches on Camp Jaha."

The sentry's eyes flashed with rage; "Then they attack the whole coalition."

Lexa nodded grimly. "Thanks to riders from the Boat people, we managed to evacuate in time. But the army will not be far behind. I asked the riders to get word to TonDC. If they made it, General Indra will have lit the signal fires. Expect reinforcements to arrive. When they do, they are to stay outside these gates ready to fight. Blow the horns to inform me of any arrivals. One long blast for friendlies. Two short ones for Ice Nation. And do not let anyone out of the city without word from myself. There may be Ice people in Polis."

The sentry nodded as he listened and gave a dutiful; "Yes, Commander."

Satisfied that she'd said everything that she needed to, Lexa turned on her heel and made to catch-up with Clarke and the others. Aldrin fell into step beside her.

"Do you think the Ice Queen will be foolish enough to push forward? A smart leader would do what Clarke guessed, go back for more reinforcements."

"It does not matter to me what the Ice Queen will do." Lexa answered back darkly, "It matters what her people want."

Aldrin regarded her for a moment and seemed to think. "Are you planning a coup, Commander?"

"Not a coup, exactly. But I'm hoping that the Ice people value their survival over the life of a poor ruler."

"I understand, Commander," Aldrin said and Lexa knew she did not need to say anymore for now. Aldrin was fiercely intelligent and would be able to fill in the gaps himself. There was no need to discuss plans in the open now, not until Lexa had addressed the city and convinced Polis to aid the Sky people. That was her first priority. Lexa quickened her pace, using the last reserves of energy to catch up to the back of the group. She did so just as they reached the second gates that lead into the centre of the city. Lexa lead them through and smiled as she heard audible gasps. The Sky people took in the small forest that had been hidden behind the high walls. The forest was the city's last line of defence. It was the place where Polis's resident warriors made their camp, surrounded by trees. The place where they could fight most effectively if war ever made it so far into Trigeda territory.

Lexa looked to the warriors who were milling around outside their tents. They were going about their everyday lives. Cooking and washing clothes, sharpening swords and fletching arrows. She singled out a warrior with many braids, marking her as being of a high rank.

"Come here, warrior," Lexa ordered and the woman put down her whet stone and sheathed her sword immediately. She came forward, falling into step next to her Commander.

"Commander?"

"Send word to the Generals that the city may come under attack. Take defensive formation and stay alert."

"As you wish Commander. If I may, who attacks us?"

The Commander considered the woman and decided she may as well be honest. She was about to make the announcement to the city anyway. Lexa moved closer to the woman and leaned into whisper; "Ice Nation,"

The warrior sneered. "Time for your revenge, Commander." The vendetta between Lexa and the Ice Queen was no secret. The people of the Trigeda had adored Costia too. Lexa felt her heart constrict at the warriors words, at the memories of a clan in mourning. She pushed the feelings down,

"Jus drein jus daun," she said, it was expected of her.

The warrior repeated the phrase with satisfaction and then took off through the trees. She ignored the pathways and took the quickest route to the Commander's village where the generals could be found.

Lexa hurried again and made it to the front of the group, coming to walk beside Clarke.

"I have sent word to the Generals to take defensive formation. Some of the warriors will march out to the outer gate. The rest will remain here to defend the centre if the walls should fall."

Clarke offered her a weak smile, "Thank you," she said and Lexa could hear the gratitude in her voice.

Lexa smiled back and then turned her head to look back at the flagging group of Sky people. She was reminded of the time she and Clarke had marched the survivors from Mt. Weather back to Polis.

"Feels like we've been here before, right?" Clarke said, reading Lexa's thoughts as easily as Clarke could read written words.

"Only this time I'll be speaking up for their safety," Lexa referred to the Sky people, "Not my own."

"Have you been preparing a speech on the stroll?"

Lexa gave a small laugh, "Perhaps." Of course she had spent the march to Polis considering what to tell her people.

There were more noises from the group as they finally broke through the treeline and made it into the centre of the capital. It was always a wonderful sight, the sheer amount of buildings. Both old ruins patched back up and the corrugated metal constructions. Street art was everywhere you looked and the number of people walking the streets always came as something of a shock, even for Lexa. For the Sky people it was their first glimpse at what could be achieved on the ground with the time and will to do it. A safe home for thousands of people; a cultural centre for the Trigeda.

Lexa and Clarke led them to the meeting place and directed the Sky people to stand behind them. Lexa watched as the Sky people stared in wonder at the markets, the frenetic trade of goods all around them. A crowd of residents began to form as more and more people paused their everyday tasks and noticed the new arrivals. Lexa gave Clarke a quick smile and then walked over to Abby's side.

"I will address the city about why you are here, Chancellor. Would you like the opportunity to say something when I am done?" Lexa thought that it would be good for the people of Polis to hear the leader of the Sky Clan, she hoped Abby agreed.

"Big audience,"Abby replied, "But yes, thank you. I would like to speak."

Lexa nodded and, satisfied that enough people had gathered, she raised a hand in the air and brought silence to the meeting place.

She spoke first in Trigedasleng so that her people could understand, "People of Polis! We are at war."

Lexa paused as a shout went up. The crowd began to mutter loudly. Lexa raised her hand again before panic could set in, "I set out on a diplomatic mission to invite the Sky Clan into the coalition. I am pleased to say that they accepted the offer. They are our allies. But before we could celebrate this, the Ice Nation chose to march on Camp Jaha. In doing so, they declared war on the coalition."

"Why have you brought the Sky people here? You have made Polis a target!" someone in the crowd shouted out. Lexa tried to find the voice but could not. She supposed it was the voice of everyone in the crowd and the questions needed answering.

"Our warriors will protect our walls. Reinforcements from the other clans will come too. When the Ice Nation follows us to Polis they will not find one army waiting for them, but the army of every other clan. The coalition requires peace to function. We flourish in peaceful times. The Ice Nation has broken that peace. Their Queen insults us all. She went for the weakest target first. But do you think she would be content to stop there? No. If it is war the Ice Queen wants then she would have come here soon enough. Now she is forced to come before she is ready. Before her army has had a taste of easy prey to whet its appetite. Polis will stand. And the coalition will see this insult answered with deadly justice."

A cheer went up from the residents of Polis, followed by the chanting of 'Jus drein jus daun'.

Lexa turned to Abby and said; "It should be you who appeals to them. If you speak, I will translate to them."

Abby motioned that she was ready,

"Polis!" The chanting faded away at the sound of Lexa's voice, "Chancellor Abby, Leader of the Sky people, wishes to speak to you."

Lexa waited. Once Abby began to speak, she translated each sentence;

"People of Polis. Firstly I would like to thank your Commander for leading us here. Camp Jaha would not withstand an attack, but here we will be safe. So now I must ask you all if you will show the same generosity of spirit. I know that our being here makes your home a target. But I also have faith that all together, we can survive. I want for my people what Commander Lexa wants for you. Peace. The chance to live without having to worry when the next attack is coming. The opportunity to find happiness and to build something worth holding on to until the end. It seems some people do not want these things. And they would take them from you as well. Please, do not let them. Show them that there is a better way. Show them that kindness has its place as well as might. Circumstances aside, the Sky Clan is proud to be a part of the coalition. Our first home in the sky, we called it the Ark. It was built out of twelve separate stations that recognised that to survive, we needed to stick together. So we are big believers in what this coalition stands for. I hope that this is the start of a long and prosperous relationship We have so much to learn from one another. Let's not let the needless violence of a few come in the way of that. Thank you."

Lexa finished translating the last sentence and then it seemed she and all of the Sky people were waiting with their breath held. Lexa thought it was a good speech. Much more open and emotive than she would ever be, but stirring. Her people agreed and finally another cheer erupted, along with clapping and the thud of boots being stomped on the ground. Now a chant of "Welcome to the Sky people!" went up. Lexa let out the breath she had been holding and let the crowd have its moment. They'd heard all they needed to and now it was time to get the Sky people food and shelter. Lexa turned to Clarke;

"We should let them eat at the soup kitchen. Then we can get them settled in the communal houses. It will be a squeeze, but I gather you are used to cramped conditions."

Clarke nodded in agreement and went to pass word to her mother. Lexa watched as the crowd of residents dispersed. People resumed their tasks, went back to what they had been doing before. For them, life would go on as normal up until an attack occurred. But for Lexa, it was once again time to plan a war.