Lexa and Clarke were apart for the next couple days. Clarke was now almost finished rehabilitating the wounded warriors and the commander was placing final touches on her plan to recapture the village. Lexa was also kept busy by giving orders out to her lower-ranked figures. They were preparing for their Winter Solstice celebration, which was tonight.
Truthfully, as busy as Clarke was, she could have visited Lexa, but she avoided the woman. Not because she wasn't ready to be with the commander, not because the commander did anything wrong, but because of Indra's warning.
Clarke didn't want to be the cause of Lexa's demise.
She didn't want to see anything happen to Lexa.
Ever.
That's why she easily pulled away from the kiss. She began questioning her actions, asking her self 'why.' Was it really worth being with the commander, if it meant that she would be hurt in the end?
Clarke didn't know if she was ready to take that risk.
Nyko and Clarke began cleaning up the medical tent for the day when Clarke asked, "Why is everybody more busy than usual today? They are decorating and setting tables."
Nyko answered, "Tonight is the Winter Solstice celebration."
Clarke stared asking for more.
"It is the night when we come together to celebrate the hard work our people had done to prepare for the winter to come."
"Ohhhh."
"You will be attending right?"
Clarke slanted her face, "I don't think so. It's for your people and everything you've done."
Nyko asked sarcastically, "And what have you been doing since your arrival? I believe you have put in much effort to have one night of celebration."
"Nyko, I—"
The man now placing a hand on her shoulder, "Sky girl…You've been inside this tent saving our people for the past two weeks. Why don't you come and sit at the table with me and your fellow healers?"
Clarke gave him a look and took into deep consideration of the chances of coming in contact with the commander. It was very possible to keep her distance and she really could use a night off to celebrate.
"Alright, if we could sit together…that would be fine." They smiled.
XX
Everybody made their way to the tent where the celebration was being held. It was huge. Many thought the roof stood as tall as the tree tops.
Inside, there was huge bonfire in the middle with a large hog roasting on top of it. Many tables circled around the fire, but a large gap was left for people to come forth and dance around.
At the back corner of the tent a long table stretched. This was the table of the commander and her generals. Everybody knew which seat was the commander's because it was large in size, compared to the others next to it. The table and chairs were lifted upon a platform that oversaw the festivities. This was so the grounders knew who to hold in high regards.
When Clarke walked in, she was surprised by the layout of the place. She made her way over to a table with Nyko, who then sat down with the other healers.
She watched as more and more grounders walked into the tent.
Clarke talked amongst the group at the table until a horn blew, quieting the crowd.
The high generals began filing in to the long table, Indra and Abner among them.
It was then when she felt her table vibrating and she heard pounding noises encircling the entire tent. When she looked around she caught the sight of the grounders, including the ones at her table, simultaneously throwing their fists down against the wood. And then, they began to chant, "Heda! Heda! Heda! Heda! Heda!" And so forth.
They did not stop until the commander made herself known. A large roar erupted from the crowd as they applauded their leader.
When she finally made her way to her seat at the head of the large table, she signaled for silence and the crowd hushed.
The commander met eyes with Clarke, who gulped and tried her best to stay unnoticed.
Lexa redirected her attention to the crowd, "Trigedakru!"
Clarke, still unfamiliar with their language asked Nyko to interpret the commander's speech.
He translated as the commander spoke, "Welcome to our Winter celebration! The cold depths of the year are upon us. You have worked and fought so fearlessly against the taste of the icy temperature already. Tonight, we honor you!"
The crowd erupted once again cheering, "Heda" over and over again.
She lifted her hand to silence them.
"Recently we had a scare from a nearby village. I will take complete fault for the spectacle."
The crowd began to yell in their language various phrases. Nyko told Clarke they were saying, "No Commander it's not your fault," "They were the traitors," and "Bless the commander!"
She silenced them once more, "Let our resilience and retaliation of such set-back be known to all! Those who pose a threat to Ton-DC and our people will be stopped!"
She let a few seconds pass before she continued, "For you and I are strong!"
They roared in agreement.
"We will not allow such threats to be notorious and succeed. We are Trigedakru! Now please, enjoy yourselves tonight! Your efforts do not go unseen. Drink, eat, celebrate, and build your enthusiasm to keep up the fight against the winter!"
They cheered as the commander took her seat. The festivity had officially started.
XX
The abundance of food and drink had filled the stomachs of the grounder people. Dancing took place around the fire and games were held at certain tables. It was hours into the celebration and by this time, the children were gone back to their huts to sleep.
The adults divulged themselves with alcoholic drinks.
Even Clarke and Nyko were feeling the many effects it had on them.
The sky girl felt Lexa's eyes on her all night, watching her every move.
The blonde made her way to around the fire to where her and another female healer she worked closely with began to dance. They paraded in circles around the flaming light, until Nyko joined them yet again with more beverages to drink.
The night went on and on up until a man named Harbin made his way to Clarke.
He began dancing around the blonde and at first she didn't mind. Lexa watched with a wary eye as the man slowly moved against drunken blonde.
When the song ended, another one began. Clarke on the other hand turned back around to her healer friends. She thought, the song was over…therefore the dance was over.
Harbin grabbed her waist and pulled her in close to him, "Come on sky girl, one dance? This is a celebration! I'm sure you can give me much more than just that." He now slid his hand down her stomach.
She gave him a look of disgust and pushed at his chest to make space between them. He stumbled back some.
Belligerent and forceful, he grabbed at arm and pulled her once again. She now elbowed him in the stomach.
Lexa now stood to her feet, and watched the incident. Before she could make an attempt to help Clarke, she saw Nyko intervene.
Nyko, now close to Harbin's face, began threatening the man and pushed him.
Harbin, knowing he was in the presence of the commander, decided not to cause a scene. He removed himself from the tent. Nobody saw him for the rest of the night.
Nyko returned to face Clarke, "You alright sky girl?"
She shook her head and hiccupped, "I'm fine but I think I'm drunk."
They were then interrupted by Abner. "Nyko, a word?"
They stepped to the side, "Heda asked if you would see to it that Clarke kom Skaikru arrived to her tent safely tonight?"
The healer nodded, "Of course." He turned to see the commander but she was now gone.
He went back to the drunken, blonde girl and offered her an arm. He escorted her back to her tent and made sure she lied down in bed. He left a glass of water near her bed side and made his exit.
If he only knew that Clarke was going to stay put like the glass of water…