"Heda," Octavia says, respectfully bowing her head as she and Clarke enter the tent.
"What does Indra mean 'the sky girls can't be trusted'? If there's anybody who can't be trusted Lexa, it's you." Clarke doesn't know why she is instantaneously so fierce with Lexa. She just knows that her anxiety quickly turned to anger when she stepped into the tent and saw the Commander.
The leader of the Trigedakru does not look up from where she sits. She just calmly warns, "I would advise you not to address me in such a manner. We may have an alliance now, but still you must watch your place."
"My place?" Clarke is flaming, but Octavia gently rests a hand on her shoulder, telling the blonde that she isn't alone. Coolly now, Clarke continues. "I don't need to remind you that you are in our camp."
"And I have no desire to remind you that you are on our ground. Nevertheless, we are both here." Lexa looks up now, locking eyes with Clarke. The emerald green eyes that Clarke once admired no longer look so beautiful, but rather like murky water. The Commander approaches Clarke and proceeds. "There is no act that you have committed to betray my trust. The words spoken by Indra were out of her own selfish discontentment. She will be handled accordingly. Have you made a decision regarding your journey to Polis?"
Clarke doesn't respond. Octavia searches her eyes and finds nothing. The last time Clarke looked this detached was when Octavia found her in the woods after Mount Weather. The brunette answers for her.
"We'll leave for Polis in about a week. But we want to bring Raven, Kane, and my brother. We'll also need you to leave somebody behind that knows how to get us to the city."
"That is a reasonable request. Fayus!" Lexa calls and the guard enters her tent.
"Heda."
"Retrieve Echo." The guard bows his head and swiftly exits the tent. The Commander no longer looks to Clarke, but Octavia now. "Echo is an Azgedakru warrior. She was a captive of Mount Weather and has been with the Trigedakru since her release. Echo will lead you to Polis."
"How is she going to get us back if she's from the Ice Nation? Wouldn't we be better off with somebody like, what was that guard's name? Fayus? Our alliance isn't even with the Azgedakru."
"As Clarke and I discussed before sealing the alliance with the Skaikru and Trigedakru, the remaining eleven clans recognize the importance of your people. If you are to arrive in Polis with a warrior from another clan, it will demonstrate a stronger potential for peace. Do you question my decision, Octavia?"
She thinks about saying yes, but decides she'd rather live to see another day. "No, Heda."
"Very well. Fayus should return with Echo momentarily. Perhaps I will exit and allow you to speak alone with Clarke?" The Commander sees Clarke's still blank stare. She clearly cares enough about the alliance to want Clarke to be perceived by her people as attentive and strong.
"Thank you, Heda." Once Lexa exits, Octavia rubs her thumb against Clarke's pale cheek. The blonde's eyes come slightly back to life as she turns her gaze to her girlfriend.
"She said I didn't do anything to betray her trust. But she betrayed me, O. She betrayed all of us."
"Did you-" Octavia pauses for a moment, "-do you have feelings for her?"
"I did. But I don't. Now she only reminds me of what she made me do at the Mountain."
"Remember when we were in the bunker? Remember what I said to you night after night?"
"I did what I had to, and that's okay. But Octavia, it doesn't feel okay. Every time I see Lexa it doesn't feel okay." Clarke's eyes are welling up now, and Octavia wraps her arms around the blonde's waist. She leans her head onto Clarke's shoulder and begins to speak in a soft tone.
"But what about when you see me? Clarke, if you hadn't done what you did, I would've died. You would've died. Raven, Bellamy, Abby, Monroe, Wick, Jasper, Kane, Monty, Harper—they all would be dead." She tightens her grip on Clarke, but moves her head so that she can look into the blonde's teary eyes with her own watery ones. "I hate to bring this up, but remember what Fox looked like? Lying dead in that cart? I would've been there too. We all would've been there. You would've been there. I love you so much, and I can't bear to picture you gone. It may be selfish as hell, but you made the right decision. You made a decision so that we could live, and I am so thankful. Thank you. Thank you."
The brunette takes Clarke's face in her hands and slowly brings her in for a passionate kiss. As her lips lock onto Clarke's, she tastes the salt from both of their tears. The blonde wraps her arms around Octavia's neck and dives deeper into the kiss. As their tongues dance, the tears in their eyes dry up. The kiss slowly separates and transforms into a warm and meaningful embrace, something that both girls desperately need.
After a moment, Clarke formulates a verbal response. "You are the best thing to come from Lexa's betrayal. I guess I just had trouble seeing the chain of events like that."
"If you ever forget how you see it now, I'll be sure to remind you," says Octavia as she wipes away the last tear from Clarke's face, eliciting a returned smile. "Not to ruin this moment or anything, but you did go catatonic for a minute there. I just want to check before Lexa comes back, do you know what's going on?"
"Echo from the Ice Nation."
"Were you just playing dead? Were you just trying to get me to make out with you?" Octavia asks with fierce humor.
"You caught me," Clarke replies with a laugh. "My mind was in two places at once, but I heard everything."
"That's good," Octavia spins Clarke so she's facing the entrance of the tent, "because they're back."
At the entrance stand Lexa, Fayus, and a slender brunette girl, no older than Bellamy. Echo.
"You must be Octavia." Echo approaches Clarke's girlfriend and greets her with a traditional…hug? "Bellamy has spoken very highly of you."
"What? You know my brother?" O asks with a puzzled look—partially because this random grounder is buddy-buddy with her brother, partially because of that hug.
"Yes, he saved my life. I was in fact speaking with him before Fayus escorted me here." The girl turns to the Sky Princess now. "I know that you are Clarke, I saw you seal the alliance." Again, the grounder presents the girl with a hug.
"Well you're different," Clarke says matter-of-factly.
Octavia leans into Clarke's ear and whispers, "You'd think the Ice Nation girl would be a bit colder." Clarke and Echo both roll their eyes—apparently Octavia isn't very good at whispering.
"To speak true, most of my people would not appreciate how I have greeted you. However, with hopes of building a strong alliance, I wish only to act towards you in a manner that provides familiarity and comfort."
"We appreciate it," Clarke says sincerely now.
Lexa interrupts the introductions. "My people must begin preparation for dawn's journey. I ask that you leave now and give Echo a place to stay in your camp. I will see you all in Polis."
"Yes, heda," Echo and Octavia say together as they begin to exit the tent. Octavia looks back to Clarke, who nods at her to go on ahead.
"Fayus, wait outside." The burly man exits without a word at Lexa's command.
"Have you become weak, Clarke? The dried water trails on your face did not go unnoticed."
"No, Lexa. I think I'm stronger than I've ever been. And I have you to thank in part for that." Clarke fearlessly approaches Lexa and gently squeezes both of her shoulders. Looking into deep eyes, she smiles. "Thank you."
Clarke leaves with that smile, a slightly confused Lexa behind her. "Thank you, Octavia," she whispers to herself as she jogs to catch up with Echo and her girlfriend.
Author's Note: Just FYI, Fayus is an original character! So if you're thinking "did I miss something when I was watching the show?" you didn't.