A/N: I am excited to announce that I will be continuing this Fanfiction! I had many thoughts and brainstorming on where I would like to carry this story and I believe I have come up with what I would like to do. I also had many people asking me to continue this because they simply wanted to see more of my writing style. Also, another note about the Trigedasleng language.. I'm not sure if I will be using that for the simple fact that I don't want you guys having to guess or scroll down to the end of the work to see the translations. Another also, because I really don't know much of the language because it's been a while since I've delve deep into The 100. Without further ado, here is the OFFICIAL chapter three and continuation of "Love is Not Weakness"!
I felt my heart painfully pounding in my chest as I followed Ezra down a series of hallways before coming to a place I was familiar with: The Commander's throne room. Ezra bowed low before going back the way we came. I stood at the door in nervous silence. I could hear a woman's voice singing in Trigedasleng along with drums softly playing in the background. Making a mental note to ask Lexa what the woman was singing, I continued to wait for the doors to be opened.
It wasn't much longer before the doors swung open and revealed a room full of all the ambassadors of the other clans along with people from Arkadia. I threw my shoulders back, held my head high, and started walking down the red rug that led to the Commander. My breath caught in my throat when my eyes locked with hers. She was more beautiful tonight than I had ever seen her, if that was possible. She was wearing a long dress gown with her typical Commander cloak draped across one shoulder. She had the same design in her makeup as myself except her colors were black and gray. Her hair hung in her usual braids.
When I reached the foot of her throne, I stole another glance into her eyes before slowly bowing to one knee in front of Lexa. I made sure to have my head low and eyes closed. As the woman stopped singing and the music ceased to play, I could hear other knees hit the floor as the entire room bowed before the Commander. I tried to remember how to breathe.
"Rise." Came Lexa's authoritative voice. The room stood to its feet. She looked around the room, careful to meet every other pair of eyes before continuing. "We have gathered tonight in celebration of the surrender of Wanheda's power to me and the joining of the 13th clan. With these new assets to the Coalition, we will be much stronger and able to stand against the trying times of this planet. The 13th clan has agreed to surrender their knowledge and warriors, to become our people. Together we will be unstoppable when enemies decide to come knocking at our door." She shouted with power. The room surprisingly erupted in shouts and pounding of fists in the air.
"To complete the ceremony, the leader of the 13th clan must bear our mark. A sign of their agreement to our people." A man dressed in black robes stepped forward with a long pole with steam rising off its end. Kane looked at my mother before coming to stand in front of the man. The man pulled Kane's sleeve back and pushed the end of the pole to his forearm. I could see Kane jerk when the brand hit him, but was thankful that he took it with a bow to Lexa. When the man took away the pole and all the people in the room shouted once more, Lexa looked down at me.
"Tonight we will feast in the 13th clan's honor and acceptance into our Coalition. Wanheda, if you would." I nodded before turning to the room and taking a deep breath.
"I, Wanheda, recognize the power and authority of the Commander. My power is her power. My life is for her service for as long as she rules." I turned back to Lexa. "Long live the Commander."
The room chanted my last phrase with pounding of feet and grasping of Lexa's cloak as she marched by and out of the room, leading the way to the dining hall for the night's feast. When the room cleared, my mother and Kane came to me.
"That wasn't so bad." I stated. I looked at Kane. "How does your arm feel?" He pulled down his sleeve.
"I've been through worse, wouldn't you agree?" He chuckled.
"I guess we should go join the feast." My mom said while turning to head out the room. I furrowed my brow in confusion. Kane cleared his throat.
"It will take some time for all of us to become used to being part of Lexa's Coalition. Your mother is just worried for your safety. After all, we all thought you were dead." He patted my shoulder before following my mom, leaving me standing alone in the throne room.
Instead of joining everyone down at the feast hall, I went to my room. Although I hadn't been through much that day, my body felt drained and my mind even so. I stripped off my clothes and slipped into the bath. Ezra was there as usual, I assumed she had stayed in my room during the ceremony. She was busying herself with my clothes when I spoke up.
"I wish I had never taken down the mountain. Part of me wishes the Commander could've taken care of it herself and leave my people out of it." I rested my head on the back of the tub and closed my eyes, feeling slightly better having that off my chest. I didn't expect Ezra to say anything, but I heard her pull a chair to my tub and take a seat. I opened my eyes to see her looking down at me with caring expression, apparently the pain in my face was easier to read than I thought.
"Only a monster kills a person without feeling remorse. The mountain men were killing my people and we have feared them for many, many years. Though I hated them and wished them dead, I cannot imagine what it must feel like to carry so many deaths in my hands. You may be Wanheda to my people, but that does not mean you cannot be a simple human to yours and to the Commander and that you have to live up to that title all your days. I can see the respect she has for you. She has taken many lives herself for the sake of her people, but even someone as powerful as our Heda falls to remorse when having to take a life. Like yourself, she is no monster. She simply accepted her responsibility and past actions and has moved on. It may take time to heal, but do not accept the false idea that the hope will never come."
I sat in stunned silence as Ezra rested her hand on my shoulder before rising to finish her duties. I licked my lips. "Thank you, Ezra. You have no idea how much that means to me. I have tried being strong for my people for so long, I guess I've forgotten that it's okay to feel bad and accept that some things just have to be done." She glanced at me and smiled.
"I am afraid of you still, but that is not because of your killing of hundreds of people in the mountain. It is because you have no boundaries when it comes to saving your people, and now my people. Your love for them pushes you to commit even the hardest of sins: murder. I do not wish to cross paths with that wraith." She smiled once more, laid out my clothes, and left without another word.
My heart felt lighter that night as I readied myself for bed. Ezra had given me hope that maybe some day I could eventually heal from my past actions. Though, with this new-found hope it also told me that I needed to forgive the Heda for her past actions as well. While thinking that, there was a knock on the door. I knew who it was.
"Come in." I could feel the eyes on me as the door opened and shut. I turned to look at the Commander. Her makeup and braids were gone, and her gown was replaced with pants and a baggy shirt. I couldn't stop myself from smiling at her new outfit.
"I wanted to thank you for all that you did today, Clarke." Lexa whispered. I blinked in surprise.
"I was just doing what was right for my people." I simply stated.
"Our people." She corrected. Yes, our people now. I took a step forward.
"We may be connected by people now, but if you betray me again-" I started.
"I won't." She breathed before falling to her knees. My eyes widened in shock as a looked down at the woman kneeling in front of me. Her eyes were locked on mine.
"I swear fealty to you, Klark com Skikru. I vow to treat your needs as my own, and your people as my people." I didn't hesitate as I reached down for her hand and helping her to her feet. Yeah, I was still slightly distant from the Commander, but after her humble vow and bowing, I could tell that I was not alone with wanting to fix past mistakes and move to a better future.
Days became weeks as I busied myself with my new life in Polis. The weather had grown colder. I had accepted the offer to begin studying healing under one of the healers in the city. She was quite the woman, her attitude and abilities known throughout the clans. She was the personal healer of the Commander herself, and that was something I made a mental note to remember. I had also begun training physically under one of the warriors that was stationed at Polis at all times. He was definitely someone worthy of respect, especially if he was willing to train such a terrible fighter such as myself.
It was in the middle of the week during one of my training sessions with Tyson, the warrior I was assigned to train with, when I received word from Lexa. I had not seen the Commander alone since the night she bowed to me and I guessed that was because of all the political business going on with Arkadia becoming the 13th clan. She had went to visit my old home twice in the past few weeks and even though I had asked to tag along with her, she strongly insisted I stay in Polis. I understood that was because the Ice Queen was still hot on my trail for my power even though I had "surrendered" it to Lexa.
My thoughts were interrupted when the butt of a sword caught my mouth and knocked me to the ground. I spit out blood and glared at Tyson. He smiled and then offered me a hand.
"Never become distracted during a fight. That is the perfect opportunity for your enemy to take you down." He huffed. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a rag, which he handed to me to wipe my mouth. It was then that the messenger from Lexa came to me.
"Wanheda, there is a message from the Commander. She wishes to see her in the throne room as soon as your able." The boy said. I thanked him, handed him a few small coins that he took with a bow and ran off. I turned to Tyson.
"I guess this means you'll have to finish kicking my butt later." I pushed his chest before venturing off towards the Summit.
Meanwhile in the throne room of the Heda...
I had been restless all morning with the thought of seeing Clarke today. My duties as Heda had kept me away from the blonde for many weeks, though nothing inside me was able to resist thinking of her in the late hours of the night during my travels to the neighboring villages. While I was in Arkadia, all the people and their technology only reminded me of her. I swallowed hard and went to sit in my throne. I rested my face in my hands, sweat pouring out of my skin.
It had been exactly three days since I had fallen ill, and it had grown worse with each passing minute. No one but my personal servant and the Flame Keeper Titus knew I was not well. I did not want to risk the news I was ill to travel to the Ice Nation and the Ice Queen herself. To be weakened would mean putting Polis in danger of an attack.
I jumped out of my throne when the doors to the room opened and in came Clarke. She looked much different since I had last seen her. Her arms and legs had been toned, her hair pulled back into a ponytail with curls and braids, and she wore the clothes of my people. I frowned when I saw dry blood on her bottom lip.
"Leave us." I commanded the guards. They bowed and left, closing the doors behind them. I sank back into my throne. Clarke did not hesitate to walk up to me and dip her head in greeting.
"Heda. You sent for me?" I thought carefully over my choice of words.
"Yes. I wished to know how you are adjusting to life here in Polis. Are you content?" I questioned. She relaxed slightly.
"I'm enjoying myself very much, thank you. I've been training with Tyson and some healers for the past few weeks. The medicine and healing part isn't so hard, it's the training with Tyson I believe I'm struggling a bit with. Which explains the busted lip." She admitted with a rub to the back of her head. I allowed myself to smile despite the pain I was feeling.
"What about you, Lexa? How are things going here in the Summit?" She asked.
"Things are well. Peace has been achieved, though for how long I am unsure. All that matters right this moment is that it was achieved in the first place, am I correct?" She nodded, then stepped closer with a concerned expression.
"You didn't just call me here to talk about my life the past few weeks and politics, did you?" It was like Clarke to see right through my small talk. I sighed.
"No. I want to keep this between us, if you do not mind. I believe I have come down with a sickness, and I would like you to see if there is something you can do for me. Usually I would use my personal healer but I do not wish to have many people know about this, it is vital my health is kept secret for reasons we both know." She came forth and placed her hand on my forehead. I froze at the touch. She then went to work without another word. She checked my pulse, my eyes, and had be cough while her hand was pressed to my chest. If it were not for my sickness, the repeated contact with her skin would have made me jump.
"I think you're running a fever. How long have you been sweating like this?" She washed out a rag in the bowl beside me and placed it on my forehead, holding it there with her hand. I thought over the last week.
"I believe a couple of days, but I could be wrong." I shuddered at the cold rag. She gently rubbed some hair back from my face.
"You need to rest. You should have told me you were this sick. I think it's just a cold from the weather change but just to be safe, you need to rest in bed so the fever doesn't get worse." I grunted at those words. She continued, "I know you hate being confined to your room but if you want to get better you need to take it slow and try to not do as much physical activity. We don't want this getting worse." I looked her for a few moments in the eye, looking for some way I could possibly get out of the order. When I saw no break, I gave in and nodded. Clarke took the rag from my head and took my hand to help me stand up.
"Come on, let's get you to your room. I'll make sure you're not bothered the rest of the day and night." We walked down the hall to my room. I had just remembered that Clarke had never been in my room when she pushed open the doors.
The room was softly lit with candles flickering with their small beads of light. My armor and choice weapons were on display in a small open closet on one side of the room beside my sitting area, my bed on the other side, the door to my washroom to the side of that. Clarke led me to the bed and had me sit down.
"Go ahead and get changed into comfier clothes so you can get in bed. I'm not kidding, Lexa, you need your rest so you can get out there and continue your duties as soon as possible." I grunted for the second time that evening and made my way to my dresser to pick out some night clothes. I settled with the shirt and pants I wore occasionally. Realizing that Clarke was still standing there, I excused myself to my washroom to change. It was not the right time for her to see me without clothes, whether I was sick or not.
With me changed and crawling into bed, Clarke put out some of the candles and came over to the side of my bed.
"I'll check on you again tomorrow. I'll ask the healers what they use for colds and tell them I'm starting to feel under the weather so I can bring some to you, okay?" She smiled and began walking towards the door. I could not stop myself.
"Clarke, will you stay for a bit longer?" She paused at the door, glanced at me, and back to the door. I held my breath, thinking that she would rather excuse herself than stay here. I readied myself for rejection.
"I'll stay for a little bit. I don't think I'm needed at the healers' tent for another hour." She came over and pulled up a chair beside my bed. I sighed in relief. For a bit we sat in complete silence before I broke it first.
"What was space like? Was it that much different from here on Earth?" She grinned and leaned back in the chair.
"Oh gosh, yes. I remember this one time..." She began speaking about how she attended school on the Ark and what everything sounded and looked like. I listened to the best of my ability before my eyes slowly became too heavy to hold open. I fell asleep listening to the sweet sound of the space girl's voice.
Back in Clarke's mind...
I waited until Lexa fell asleep to stop talking about the Ark. She had listened for about twenty minutes until her eyes fell closed and never opened again. When I made sure her breathing was leveled, signaling that she was asleep, I got up and slipped out of the room.
With Lexa sick I had to be careful to make sure no news made it to the Ice Queen. I knew that was the reason the Heda had waited to tell anyone she was sick. She also probably thought it would go away within a few days. I cursed at her stubbornness as I headed out of the Summit and to my own room. My room had been personalized to fit my liking since I would be living there for a while. Lexa and I had discussed maybe moving me to my own home in the city, but it hadn't really made it past the simple conversation about the matter. I didn't care either way.
I stripped off my dirty clothes from the training session and went to observe the damage to my lip. It didn't look bad, so I simply wiped it clean, then headed to the bath. Ezra no longer served me due to the fact she was a servant that jumped around the Summit tending the needs to actual guests and since I was technically a permanent resident, she didn't come to my room anymore. I still made an effort to see her as often as I could, the girl had quickly become one of my closest friends.
After my bath and went to my bed and climbed in under the covers. Despite the cold breeze and air that came through the window on the far side of the room, the furs on the bed kept me warm and comfortable. It wasn't long then that my eyes drifted closed and my thoughts ceased.