Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Will be going away at the end of next week so won't be any updates for a couple of weeks. Making next two chapters a bit longer because of it.
Luna regaled them all with the tale of how she had met her wife, made her court her and wait until their wedding day. Lexa had muttered "I know the feeling" to Luna but Clarke heard and kicked her under the table making her cheeks flame at being caught out by her wife.
"Ha you waited one cycle. I waited twelve" Luna muttered.
"Hardly surprising I made you wait with your well earned reputation" Raquel grizzled making her wife look uncomfortable.
As they waited for their assorted food she told them tales of what their Heda had gotten up to whenever she visited one of their ports. It usually involved alcohol and picking fights. Or having to rescue Lexa from women who couldn't take no for an answer. One in particular from Atlan their North Port who Lexa avoided wherever possible. Raquel was going to take great pleasure in telling her the Heda was now married.
"Still probably won't stop her" Lexa sighed and shot Clarke an apologetic look.
"Ooooh, remember there was that one time where that guy wouldn't take no for an answer" Raquel reminded and Lexa shivered in revulsion. Clarke and everyone laughed. "He thought he could show Lexa what she was missing"
"I threw him in the cells for the rest of my visit" Lexa grinned. "Every time I return he makes himself scarce"
"You sound like you travel a fair bit" Bellamy stated and Lexa nodded.
"I used to, when the Mountain Men threatened us, when the alliance was first signed and there were minor skirmishes. I was forever moving through the territory. Taking solace with Luna and in Polis when I could" she informed
"And now?" Abby asked, wondering if her daughter was going to be dragged all over the countryside.
"Now the Mountain men are gone I plan to build a house for my wife and I at Camp Jaha and spend time between there and here. I will travel around my lands once a year to visit my people or when my presence is required." Lexa told her mother in law "most grievances come to me in Council here in Polis and I send my instruction back with a warrior to make sure they are adhered to"
Abby nodded her understanding and Raquel sensing the tension broke out in a new story about her wife and their Heda. Lexa ignored it though and looked over at her beautiful wife who was watching Raquel and listening intently. She was sensitive to her looks though and soon turned to face her, gaze curious and Lexa winked. Clarke winked back and mouthed quietly "I love you"
Lexa jostled as she was shoulder bumped by Luna who fluttered her eyelashes at her. Lexa growled which only caused her friend to laugh. Their friendship had been deep and strong from the start, Luna being friends with the previous Commander had recognised said spirit in Lexa. She had been an ally first and then a good friend.
Raquels story telling was interrupted by the food being brought out. No one had known what to choose, being new to Polis so Lexa had requested an assortment of sandwiches, salad and fries. Clarke had ordered another milkshake and the others an assortment of drinks they had been brave enough to try the previous night.
The food was passed around the table as people selected what they wanted and after that there was barely a sound to be had but compliments. Lexa went back for seconds but paused when Clarke glared at her when she thought about thirds. Sighing she promised herself a snack later in the day.
After the meal she sat back and patted her still flat stomach and Luna chuckled.
"We will see if you let yourself go now that you have snagged yourself a pretty young wife" she teased and Lexa rolled her eyes
"I doubt that with all the exercise I'm getting" she replied then yelped as Clarke kicked her hard and turned to see everyone staring at them in shock.
"You won't be getting any exercise if you don't mind you manners around my mother" Clarke growled and Lexa's confusion turned into a scowl at what they were all thinking. Yes she was relaxed in Polis but she wasn't that relaxed she would be conversing about her sex life.
"Octavia, please fill in everyone what we did this morning" she requested and her guard blinked
"Ohhhhh" she suddenly understood herself. "We were up at dawn for a ten mile run at a flat out sprint. We then spent several hours at the training ground where Heda fought about every person there and then we had an archery competition" she sighed "And she's going to make me do it all again tomorrow" she wined.
Lexa merely shot a look at Clarke as Octavia made her explanations for her but her wife didn't look repentant. Lexa stood and everyone looked at her expectantly.
"Now that's out of the way come, we will go inspect the Great Hall where we are to be married" she headed around the table to help her wife stand and taking her hand led her out of the restaurant, nodding to her family as she left and they went downstairs. Once outside she turned to her friend asking "Do you wish to accompany us?"
"I wouldn't miss it" Luna grinned, pulling her wife to her side and protecting her from the cool breeze that whipped up through the square "I am free until the fleet arrives with my contribution to the banquet"
"I did not wish to add to your burden" Lexa looked serious while Luna shook her head
"It is fine my friend" she assured and clapped her friend on the shoulder. Everyone looked confused between them except Raquel.
"Is everything ok?" Clarke asked but Lexa remained silent and Luna merely nodded. It was Raquel who answered.
"Fishing is a dangerous occupation at the best of times. But as winter nears it becomes harder, water is colder and waves are bigger. People are lost to the sea and boats can be wrecked. It is a good day when everyone comes home alive" she informed and Clarke was aghast
"Luna you shouldn't have risked your people's lives for us"
"It is their honour to provide for their Heda's wedding. We still need to do a last winter fish for our people in Atlan our Northern Port. I do not put my people at risk unnecessarily." Luna grated and if Clarke didn't realise she had displeased the larger woman with her questioning the warning squeeze of her hand from Lexa would have.
"My apologies, we are grateful for you contribution" she informed the affronted woman. Sometimes grounder culture still confused her. Once again Raquel stepped in, bubbly when needed.
"We hope to bring a lot of Tuna, lobster and squid for you to feast on" she linked arms with Clarke and dragged her off "now come, have you seen the Great Hall?" Clarke shook her head "Then you will love it. It's been a long time since I was there"
Lexa and Luna stayed behind for a second, Luna knowing what was coming.
"Have a care my friend. That is my wife and I am protective of her way above anything else" Lexa advised "she meant well"
"I know" Luna sighed "I react when people think I put my people at risk unnecessarily. It's hard enough tearing my crews away from loved ones and they know without it we would starve"
"Forget it, but not the lesson" Lexa slapped her on the back "now lets catch up to them before they detour to do more shopping and cost me more silver" she grumbled and Luna laughed hurrying forward with her Heda to catch up to their wives.
When the Great Hall came into view everyone could only stop and stare. It was magnificent and Clarke realised like something out of the books she had studied at school on Ancient Rome. A beautiful tall structure of white painted cement with large coulombs and a marble floor. It stood about three stories high in a box shape with a centre courtyard which had a glass roof to protect it.
There were marble statues on the ground level and Lexa explained the second and third levels held the offices of the councilmen who were caretakers of the city while she was away. Art and other artefacts from the old world were on display around the hall and stored in the vaults below. The first Heda had it built to preserve as much of their history as they could. He like grandeur and old Roman times hence the building.
Clarke watched as her friends ran from statue to statue. Looking around like kids in a lolly shop. Their expressions wide eyed as they took everything in. She noticed seating was already in place in the courtyard and a Dias was at the front. They were already half organised for the wedding.
"Heda" Raven called drawing their attention "There are so many statues of former Heda's"
"Yes" Clarke felt Lexa stiffen beside her and understood that though the vessels were dead the spirit of the Commander still lived in Lexa.
"Some didn't rule for long, in fact only a few as long as you" Raven continued with a frown.
"Unfortunately it is not a long term position for each Heda" Luna informed "Not in this world with times of war"
Lexa growled as Clarke made a sound of distress beside her and stepped in closer. Raven and the others too seemed to understand what Luna meant and could only watch as Lexa tried to comfort her wife and their friend.
"Luna Shof op" she growled and Luna looked contrite upon seeing Clarke upset and shot her friend an apologetic look. Lexa sighed and explained "Raven it's because I am still living, I've no need to be immortalised. I don't plan on it for many years to come"
"Oh" Raven mumbled and again looked at her blonde friend who was being held by her wife. Shit.
"Luna why don't you and Raquel take Abby to the nearby hospital" Luna seemed to have her foot in her mouth and Lexa needed to get her away. Lexa turned to her mother in law "would you like to see one of our medical facilities?" She watched as Abby's face lit up at the thought.
Before they could leave though approaching footsteps alerted them to the approach of the councilmen and women. They were dressed in business suits of the old world and ranged in age from Luna's age up.
"Heda" they greeted and received a regal nod in return. They all bowed in front of their Commander before turning to Clarke and bowing again
"Skaiprisa, it's an honour"
Clarke didnt know what to do so merely smiled and nodded as she had seen Lexa do. This seemed to please them greatly. Well that was easy.
Lexa introduced all the friends who received warm hello's. Luna and Raquel were known and greatly respected and then finally Lexa introduce Abby.
"Mother of Skaiprisa, an honour" the main leader said and they bowed again. Everyone including Clarke looked confused.
"It is an honour to be the parents of the Heda's partner" Lexa informed with a smirk.
"Oh" Abby looked nonplussed. She hadn't expected that at all.
"Heda if you have time we have some issues that need discussing" the Councilmen turned back to Lexa who sighed
"I am here for my wedding and honeymoon. After the honeymoon if there are no pressing matters I will have Council for a few days"
"Thank you Heda" the Councilman nodded. "Shall we show you the preparations for the wedding instead?"
"I'm sure Clarke would enjoy that" Lexa smiled and turned to Abby and Luna "You may go look at the hospital"
Abby was so eager to leave she barely remembered her manners enough to say thank you and goodbye before hurrying towards the door. Luna sighed and headed out more sedately after her. She hated hospitals but would take her punishment. Beside her her wife chuckled
"Next time keep your mouth shut"
"Yes dear"
Lexa followed after her wife, her friends and the councillors who explained all the arrangements they had made for the wedding. The Chancellor himself would preside over it as they had no priests and didn't believe in one God but many. It was like an Ancient Greek belief system. A different God or Goddess for many things.
Lexa informed at one stage while they were discussing catering that Zara was making her pies, much to the delight of the councillors. She also offered up the fact that Luna would be providing seafood.
"Good, local farmers have offered produce and livestock. We should have a grand feast" one of the council women explained. They further went on to explain that once the ceremony was done and Lexa and Clarke were greeting the populace outside they would turn the Great Hall into a banquet room for the reception.
Lexa approved then commanded the councilmen in Trigedasleng to remove the immortalised statues for the wedding. She didn't need her wife upset on their wedding day as to what her fate may be. They looked stricken at the idea but hastily assured they would.
Lexa allowed a tour of the building including the vault. Everyone was in awe of the carefully preserved artefacts stored in the vault but Clarke's attention had mainly been captured by the art work. She was in awe. Lexa stood back and watched the many emotions covering her wife's face as she studied the artwork. She was unaware herself of the love in her eyes or the smile on her face as she watched. Her obvious love was met with much approval from the councillors.
Lexa declined a formal dinner in their honour saying Clarke and her friends wanted to be among the festivals but smoothed ruffled feathers by agreeing to one on the night prior to leaving Polis to return to Camp Jaha. By that time it was getting to be close to 4.30pm and sundown and the festival were fast approaching. As they left the Great Hall Lexa motioned for one of the four guards that followed them to go retrieve Abby from the hospital and return her to the Homestead for preparation for the festival.
Lexa then walked hand in hand with Clarke and her friends back through the streets to the Homestead. Upon their return she told Clarke to have a shower while she tended to some matters. Clarke gave her a gentle kiss and headed into their bedroom. Lexa stood and waited for the water to be turned on before sneaking into the bedroom and stripping. As quietly as she could she made her way into the bathroom and paused, watching as her lover soaped herself down.
She couldn't help the groan that escaped her lips and Clarke spun, smiling on seeing her there and held out her hand.
"I knew you couldn't resist" the blonde smiled as her wife stepped in and swept her up into her arms so that long toned legs wrapped around her waist.
"I will never resist you. You are my heart and soul" Lexa informed her before kissing her deeply.
Abby had a great time exploring the hospital. It was one of a few in the city. Luna had explained who Abby was to the woman on the front desk and the next thing she knew she had the head registrar greeting her warmly, a nice portly man around 60 years. The first thing she noticed was they had similar technology as the Mountain Men but unlike them they used it to help all.
The hospital was similarly set up to what it would have been when the war happened. They used a mixture of old work medical techniques along with grounder. They had a research facility that explored advanced know how with a grounder medicine. They no longer had large companies making drugs to help them and she thought they did an outstanding job with what they had.
The registrar took them around to several wards and she was introduced to staff and patients alike as Dr Griffin, Skaiprisa's mother. They spoke to her with a reverence that made her feel uncomfortable but she smiled and accepted it graciously. At one stage they lost Luna and Abby feared she had maybe passed out somewhere, she had been looking a little peaky, but Raquel merely rolled her eyes and led them to the nursery where they found the tall warrior standing watching the little bundles with awe. Abby had to stop herself from laughing. Who would have thought tough Luna was brought undone by babies.
She watched as the couple shared a private moment and looked at the babies together. She had a sense they would be good mums. She didnt know how two women became pregnant on earth. Did the have IVF? Adopt? It was not her place to ask them.
They were getting ready to leave when when one of Lexa's guards came in, informing them it was time to go. They were returning back to the Homestead to prepare for the evening meal and festival. Abby thanked the Registrar and promised to be back again. She promised to talk to Lexa to form some sort of agreement for swapping medical ideas and forming an alliance. The Registrar beamed and thanked her before they walked out of the Hospital.
They paused on the front steps to say goodbye to Luna and Raquel who were going to their Inn to freshen up and change. They would meet them tonight back in front of the Inn where they had lunch shortly after sundown.
Abby turned to leave and found herself bumping into someone. She only knew it was a someone and not a something as two strong hands caught her when she stumbled. Otherwise it felt like she had run into a brick wall.
"I'm so sorry" she apologised mortified as she turned and saw a large female warrior in front of her. She was the same height and build of Luna, maybe in her mid thirties with golden streaked brown hair, skin tanned by the sun and grey eyes. Unusual. Where Luna wore dark grounder clothes the warrior in front of her wore lighter. Though her pants were a dark brown her jacket was a tan colour and she saw a hint of a white shirt underneath.
Unlike other grounders who wore swords or daggers she had a quiver of arrows on her back and a bow slung over her shoulder. Her hair only had two braids, one above either ear that appeared joined at the back, otherwise her hair was loose.
"Never be sorry" the woman stated good naturedly but with an intense expression. "I'm not" and Abby blinked startled. Was she missing something?
"Jayde of the Lake People" Abby saw the guard nod in deference "Heda will be glad you made it"
"How could I miss our Heda doing something she swore she would never do?" Jayde stated "Skaiprisa must be all the rumours say she is"
"Jayde of the Lake People may I introduce Dr Abby Griffin. Skaiprisa's mother" the guard introduced and an eyebrow rose and grey eyes shot to Abby, piercing in their intensity.
"An honour" Jayde bowed in front of her and Abby just wanted to sigh. This bowing business was getting old. She extended her hand to shake in Trikru tradition and gasped in surprise when Jayde took it and brought it to her lips, kissing the knuckles. "A pleasure also"
Abby was stumped, she didn't know what to do but the guard spoke sharply in their language an Jayde glared at the guard who stood firm. Abby watched as they exchanged a conversation in their own language before with a nod Jayde walked off. Abby didn't know what was said but she recognised Heda, Luna and Raquel and the giant warrior had just walked off in the direction Luna had taken.
"Who on earth was that?" She asked the guard as he started ushering her towards the Homestead.
"Jayde is the Leader of the Lake People. She is one of four female leaders. Heda, Luna, Jayde and the Ice Queen. The other 8 clans are led by men" the guard informed and Abby frowned
"Are they all gay? I have the distinct feeling that she was flirting with me" Abby muttered
"She was, but I reminded her of who you were. The Ice Queen is not gay" Oh ok so that's why she had taken off, not that she cared. She could have let the woman down gently. She was flattered but straight and nowhere near over Jake.
"She flirts a lot?" Abby asked and heard the big man sigh. She was asking a lot of questions she guessed.
"Rumour has it she never sleeps alone, never with the same woman and no one is ever disatisfied"
"Luna before she met Raquel then" Abby chuckled hoping the woman would meet her comeuppance one day. Maybe a sweet young thing who tied her in knots and forced her into celibacy as Raquel did Luna.
"It was good to see her smiling though. Her mother is dying and abdicated to her recently. Her brother was the General who died in the missile strike on TonDC" the Guard informed "Heda has been worried about her"
Oh. What was there to say to that? No wonder the woman didn't smile.