Disclaimer: I own nothing
As promised, for my 40th today. A treat. Please review.
Clarkes head was spinning from the noise and the squash of people, none of which seemed to recognise her on their mad dash across the square to get away from the others. Clarke thought their destination was just far away from the others and indiscriminate until she was pulled through a shop door and she realised they were in a Tavern. A very busy and noisy Tavern. They pushed through a mass of bodies until they reached a staircase in the back. They climbed it and came out into a dining room that was a lot less busy but still quite full.
"Table for two?" A voice asked from their right and they turned to see a woman beside them, two menus in her hand.
"Mochof" Lexa nodded and they followed the woman as she led them to a table for two in a quiet corner next to a window that looked out over the activities below. Once again Lexa played the gentleman and helped seat her before taking her own seat.
"Can I get you a drink while you decide?" The woman asked next "we have an assortment of different ales..."
"Two chocolate milkshakes, small" Lexa ordered for both of them and the woman sighed before turning and striding away before Clarke could order her own drink.
"I am capable of ordering my own drink" Clarke frowned.
"Have you had a chocolate milkshake before?" Lexa asked and she shook her head "then try it. If you don't like it you can order another"
"Ok" Clarke decided that was fair. If Lexa liked it, it must be good; she was only trying to share her excitement and love of the city with her "well at least she didn't recognise us"
"Oh she did" Lexa chuckled and Clarke blinked. She hadn't said anything to indicate that.
"Is this place discrete? Do you come here often?"
"No and yes" Lexa chuckled which immediately doused any irritation she may have started feeling "she's my cousin. Her family owns it. My aunt runs the kitchen, my uncle the bar and their six kids help out"
"Oh. Why didn't she greet you differently?"
"She knows who I am but she is respecting my right to privacy from other patrons. It's why I come here. We will wander into the kitchen later" Lexa assured and Clarke nodded unsure and taken aback. They hadn't ever really discussed Lexa's side of the family other than the fact her parents were both deceased. She hadn't bothered to ask if there was an extended family. She would apologise for that later. As for now she looked down at her menu and asked
"What do you recommend?"
"Well I'm starving so I am going to have the surf and turf. It's a fillet steak with a lobster tail smothered in creamy garlic sauce. You can have chips and salad or baked potato and veggie with it" she frowned "Are you allergic to any foods? Nuts? Shellfish?"
"Ah no and I don't know" Clarke admitted and Lexa frowned, neither one of them wanted her to suffer from an allergy without medical treatment.
"Then I would go for steak, fish or chicken"
They both perused the menu to help Clarke out with her choice. She was amazed at the food on offer.
"How is this possible? These food choices?" She asked rather stunned.
"Like I said, we preserved everything we could here. It's not so difficult if you have the ingredients, for a very long time we were on rations so we could build up. Now we have plenty. Like my surf and turf. Cattle from farms are plentiful enough, Luna and some local fisherman catch the lobster. Chips come from potatoes which are easy to grow. Even the sauce is from dairy products"
"And you use electricity to cook?" Clarke asked
"In some places, yes. Other places we have adapted to wood fires"
Clarke nodded her head, still amazed at the variety and the ability to cook it but was determined to try as much as she could while in Polis. In the end she chose grilled fish with lemon sauce, baked potato and veggie. Lexa got her surf and turf and they ordered garlic bread to start. As Lexa's cousin left shaking her head Clarke looked down on the people below and sighed
"I should have saved room for different food"
"Don't fret, the festival will run until the wedding, plenty of nights yet" Lexa assured
"Really? It's going to be here every night?" Clarke's eyes lit up and Lexa was captivated. If she had any say in it, and she could, it would be here every night until they left.
"The city is celebrating our upcoming wedding. They are rejoicing" she explained "they will break for the night before the wedding and the night after and then will celebrate for several more days."
"OMG the others are going to hate me for not selecting them to come with us" Clarke groaned
"There will be other times" Lexa assured
"They will hold a festival each time?"
"No, only on our anniversary." Lexa smirked "Or the birth of a child"
Clarke shot her a glare "We won't be having six" she muttered and stared pointedly at Lexa's cousin.
"Only if the Commander's spirit decrees it" Lexa teased.
"Well it better not decree six and it better not decree more than 3 and not for years to come yet" Clarke informed.
"We may not have years" Lexa pointed out and Clarke shot her another glare for deflating her happy bubble. Lexa reached out and covered her hand with her own "I will fight to stay with you for many years to come"
"Me too" Clarke nodded around the lump in her throat, finding those simple words oddly romantic. She needed a diversion and in desperation she picked up her milkshake that had been delivered and took a sip. Her eyes widened in pleasure and she took a bigger sip. "This is so good"
"Told you" Lexa grinned and sat back at ease as peace flowed between them.
Clarke thought the garlic bread was amazing and really tasty. Her eyes about bugged out of her head at the size of the meals delivered to them. Lexa ate with gusto and Clarke had no idea where she put it, only just managing to eat her fish and half her veggies which were a delight. As she sat back and took in her wife eating the largest meal she had seen anyone consume she had to ask.
"Why?" And when Lexa looked at her confused elaborated "why live in tents, bathing when you can, wearing animal skins and half starving yourselves to death when you can live like this?"
"Because I'm Heda. It's my job to be on the front line, with my warriors, ready to fight"
"No, not just you, I mean all of you. The warriors, the villagers those from other clans" Clarke was at a loss.
"Because Polis is lucky but for most people, ordinary people, it's not reality and it's the ordinary people I choose to be with and protect. Through protecting them I protect Polis, those who are too old, weak, sick or unwilling to fight. Those who have another purpose. As for others they have a calling to be a warrior or simply prefer living that way. Besides which someone needs to protect all our lands and we cant do that living in Polis." Lexa frowned, at a loss to explain why. It just was, always had been. "I don't know. I've never had to explain it" she finished.
"It's ok" Clarke smiled and reached across to hold her hand. Maybe one day she would understand completely. She did understand about protecting the lands and about not using the weapons that nearly destroyed humans in the first place. But the other issues, she wasn't sure. She let go of her hand so Lexa could finish the meal and looked out to watch the fan fair below. She was itching to get out there and experience. Sensing this Lexa finished her meal and standing offered her hand.
She was led into the kitchen where she watched Lexa greet her family before being hugged and welcomed into the family herself. She forgot all their names within minutes but they were friendly and vivacious and had Lexa laughing like she had never seen. Clarke fell even more in love with her wife in those short moments before Lexa took her hand and promising to pop in again before the wedding ushered her out into the night life.
Some music blasted and she found herself dragged towards it by Lexa. A large crowd was gathered and was looking up. Clarke looked up to see three scantily clad women high above the ground, tangled in some silk strips. She gasped when they let go and tumbled, fearful for their safety, but they stopped a couple of meters above ground. Clarke let out a sigh of relief as the crowd cheered. They continued to watch the acrobats for a long time, Clarke with her heart in her mouth fearful. When the act finished Lexa pulled her over to a stand with a long line.
"More food?" Clarke asked.
"The best homemade apple pie and ice cream in the lands" Lexa assured "You will love it"
"Undoubtedly. I didn't know I'd married a pig" she muttered and gave Lexa an innocent smile when she shot her a look.
"Don't worry. I plan to work it off later tonight" she assured and Clarke groaned as all her blood ran south and she had to press her legs firmly together. Lexa chuckled knowing exactly what she had done to her Houmon. Sliding a hand around her waist she pulled her lover in closer and buried her face in a sweet smelling neck, soft eager lips pressing against her racing pulse.
Clarke looked around embarrassed at the people close to them, surprised at Lexa acting so affectionate in public. Surprised too that she was totally a different person here and had had dropped her Heda persona and wasn't constantly on guard. As she looked around at the people she realised most of them were minding their own business and too involved with whoever they were at the festival with. Some were pretending not to watch, shooting them an occasional glance while others were blatantly watching. The one defining factor was they were all smiling. Whether they knew who they were didn't matter and no one was approaching, keeping a respectful distance. Clarke relaxed some, wrapping her arms around Lexa and pressing her back as the crowded line moved forward.
"Keep that up and you'll miss your pie" and she knew she had let herself open when Lex looked up with a cheeky grin
"But I'll have a more delicious pie to hmpf" Clarke hastily covered her mouth when she realised with horror her mother, Octavia and Lincoln had snuck up behind Lexa. She really had to be more careful what she taught Lexa in future. Her wife was sharp and caught on quick. The things she'd learned in just two weeks.
"Hi guys" she smiled and noticed Octavia's dark clouded features. Lexa merely grinned and licked her hand. "Lex!" She pulled her hand away and wiped it on her wife's thigh "Gross"
"That's not what you normally say when I lick you" Lexa whispered in her ear and Clarke went bright red and shot her mother a look hoping she didn't hear while pinching Lexas side hard wondering what had gotten into her. Lexa flinched but didn't move away. Lexa turned to look at the other three, taking in Abby's slight discomfort, Lincoln's amusement and Octavia's barely controlled anger.
"Why don't you three join us? We were about to have some pie" she invited
"You sure were" Lincoln chuckled which earns him am elbow from Octavia who turned on them.
"Where the hell have you two been? We've been circling this place every which way for nearly two hours. How am I supposed to keep you safe if I'm not with you?" she exploded at them.
"Relax Octavia. I am safer here than at camp. I protect these people and keep them safe. Without me they would not survive and they know it. They would be stupid to harm me and they know that, not all Heda's were as generous as I am. They love and revere their Heda and now their Skaiprisa. Just look around you, they watch me and are happy for me." The others looked around and could see what she said was true as Lexa continued "they put on festivals for me. They spoil me and then they respect my privacy and let me be myself because they know the minute I step outside the gates I would give up my life for them. They can approach me at official functions, or in council or if I am dressed as Heda. But at any other time they just let me be myself. In a way, when I am here like this they protect me and let me be Lexa."
"I should still be with you" Octavia grumbled even though she realised what Lexa said was true "You entrusted me with the job. And it only takes one person with a grudge and carrying a weapon."
"It is illegal to carry a weapon in Polis unless you are a warrior or a guard like at the Homestead" Lexa informed "there are some guards that roam the city to protect it from every day criminality. Assaults, stealings, drunken behaviour to name a few"
"Just because its illegal it doesn't mean it doesn't happen" Octavia took her role seriously and Lexa was thankful for it but she had a lot to learn about Polis. It was a very peaceful city. Everyone who lived there loved the city and the peace it brought to them. The peace she brought to them.
"No it doesn't but it is very rare, and all weapon purchases are recorded by dealers" Lexa informed "there has never been any attempt on my life inside these walls, or the two Heda's before that. I am safe Octavia. Safe and free to have some peace here"
"It's ok O. We were having dinner in a Tavern owned by Lexa's family" Clarke hastened to assure and watched as her mother and friend look at Lexa in shock.
"You have family?" Her mother asked and Clarke glared daggers at her, of all the insensitive things to ask.
"It's usually what happens when your parents have siblings" Lexa drawled undeterred.
"Do you have siblings?" Octavia asked next.
"No" Lexa stated then pulled Clarke to the front of the line when she noticed everyone in front of them had been served. The vender looked up to ask them what they wanted. Clarke noticed there were also cake and other assorted pies that the vendor was selling. It all looked so delicious.
"Heda, a pleasure as always" the woman stated before turning to her "Skaiprisa, I am honoured and pleased to meet you and that you chose to dine here"
"From what Lex tells me the pleasure will be mine" she shot Lexa a look when she coughed and knew she was thinking of a very different pie and pleasure. She elbowed her when the woman shot her a look of surprise "please excuse her, she's been off the leash too long tonight"
The woman laughed as Lexa shot her an affronted look at being compared to a naughty puppy. Clarke just shook her head bemused. She loved this lighter side of Lexa but knew it wouldn't last so didn't try to curtail it.
"Oh I like you. Just what our Heda needs to keep her on her toes. What would you like dear?" She asked and Clarke without hesitation chose the apple pie and ice cream as did Lexa. Abby, Octavia and Lincoln were invited up having not eaten yet. Octavia wouldn't let them stop until they found the Heda and Skaiprisa safe. Clarke felt guilty for that.
Octavia and Lincoln also tried the pie but Abby decided to try the chocolate cake.
"An honour to serve the Skaiprisa's mother. You have raised a beautiful daughter and a great leader, worthy of our Heda"
"Um thanks" Abby had no idea what to say while she took her cake, mouth watering, she hadn't had cake since she was a little girl.
Lexa stepped forward then, digging into her jacket pocket and pulling out a small purse filled with coin.
"Zara, please take this as a token of good will. If it is fine with Clarke I'd like you to cook some pies for our reception on Saturday"
"Heda" the woman, Zara, looked stunned and hesitant.
"Please take it" Clarke pressed having just snuck a mouthful of the divine pie "This is so good and I agree you should be a part of our catering" and to show she was serious scooped up another mouthful.
"It is decided then" Lexa nodded "have the pies ready for the meal just after sun down"
"Yes Heda, thank you" Zara bowed and Lexa nodded before they turned to leave the line. They found an area off to the side which was less crowded where they stood to consume the pie and cake. It was beyond delightful they all agreed and couldn't wait for Saturday to have more. It didnt fill the other three who hadn't had a meal yet so Lexa walked them around to where other food stalls were.