Bellamy sat in the corner of the room, eyes locked onto the bed in front of him. Harper lay unconscious, her arm wrapped heavily in bandages where her hand used to be. This is my fault, Bellamy thought. I talked Harper into coming, and she got hurt because of it. Abby lay slack in a chair beside Harper, asleep after a long process of saving Harper's life. We're lucky she's here. Without her... Bellamy didn't want to finish the thought, instead trying to throw his focus elsewhere.
Pike had left a while ago to deal with the other Grounders. Bellamy had tried to volunteer to go with them, but Pike wouldn't let him. We don't want to risk anyone else, Pike had said to him. It was hard, being told to stay put. He wanted revenge for what happened to Harper, to take out his frustration on others. How long are we going to let the Grounders burn us before they kill us off completely? So many of his friends had died at the hands of the Grounders. With Clarke's encouragement, and more recently Kane and Abby, they kept trying for peace. With each attack, however, that became more and more a distant dream.
"You okay, Bellamy?"
Bellamy turned to see a waking Raven slowly sitting up in her bed, stretching her arms out. He stood up and made his way over to Raven, pulling up a nearby chair. "It's not right," he said. "I should be out there helping clear out the Grounders. They attacked our people, they cut off Harper's hand, they took..." He cut himself off as he couldn't finish the sentence, all the pain the Grounders had caused him starting to rush forward.
"And Pike was right," Raven replied. "You're too emotional right now. You should know that makes people reckless." Raven sat upright and adjusted her sheets to a more comfortable position. "The last thing we need is another name added to the body count."
Bellamy clenched his fists and stood up from his chair, making his way over to a nearby locker. He rested his head on the cool, metal surface of the locker and exhaled. Another name to the body count. The injustice of it all hit him like a hammer and he lashed out, striking the side of the locker with his hand. "There shouldn't even be a count!" He screamed as he slammed his fist into the locker multiple times, hissing as blood starting to leak out from multiple cuts. "I'm tired of seeing our friends dying or on the brink of it, Raven," he said, looking the woman he once slept with in the eyes, not trying to hide his pain and rage.
"I know, Bellamy," Raven whispered softly. Bellamy watched her scoot as close to him as she could without injuring herself. "We've all suffered because of the Grounders. We've done terrible things, our friends have died, some even turned... mad... with it." Bellamy knew who she was talking about and moved back to the chair beside Raven. "All the worrying about what they're going to do next, it changed us. I'm sick of it too, Bell, but we can't be like them. We're better than that."
"We tried that... once," Bellamy choked, tears in his eyes. He wiped them off with a hand and suppressed a sob forming in his throat. "We tried and they left us to die. Clarke, Monty, and I killed an entire civilization because of that." Bellamy took in a swift, deep breath through his nose and dug his right hand into his knee, trying to keep any semblance of self control. "How long do we try to be better? Until we're all in body bags? Do I wait until..." He paused out of anguish, almost not wanting to voice the next part, but he forced it out. "Do I wait until my sister is dead because of them?"
He felt Raven's hand reach out, but it didn't have the desired effect. Gina would be able to calm me down. "It won't come to that, Bellamy. She's got Lincoln and us looking after her, and most importantly she has you," Raven said, shaking his shoulder, trying to give some form of encouragement.
Bellamy shook his head. She's wrong on this one. "I watched a grounder fight his way through Lincoln, Harper and I like we were nothing. Lincoln is the only Grounder I trust, but he is not enough to keep her safe. I'm... I'm not enough to keep her safe." His heart raced at that statement. For so long, Bellamy had been the one always looking out for her, keeping her safe. For the first time in his life, he felt completely unable to keep to his responsibility. "I can't lose her, Raven."
Raven's hand squeezed his shoulder, but it did nothing to qualm his feelings. "You won't," she replied, her voice full of confidence. "You've always been there, and you've always found a way to keep us all safe. You'll think of something, and you're not alone. We're here for you as well."
Bellamy patted Raven's hand and stood up. "I'd like to believe that, Raven. I really would." Perhaps she's right. There's got to be some solution to end this constant fighting. Ever fiber of his being wanted peace so he wouldn't have to bury any more of his people, but dread filled the back of his mind. He knew that the road to peace is often paved in blood, and he didn't know how much more he could take. "Thanks for the talk, Raven."
"Anytime," Raven replied, laying back down on her bed. "That's what friends are for."
Bellamy half-smiled at her and sulked off towards Harper's bed. He took up residence by her bedside and stared at her missing hand. I'm so sorry, Harper, he thought to himself. We'll make them pay, I promise. He sat there, staring, waiting for word from Pike that it was all clear to leave. There's a lot of questions that need answers, and I'm going to find them.
Clarke paced back and forth inside of her prison cell. The Commander had called it a room, but it was far from it. She thought back to being on the Ark and how she ended up in the same place: locked in a cell far away from everyone she knows. It had been two days since she blew up at the Commander, and the only faces she had seen since were the guards that brought her food and changed out her waste bucket. Clarke clenched and unclenched her fists, hands itching to do something, anything.
She almost wished she were back on the Ark, locked inside of that cell. At least I was able to draw. I have nothing to do here but sit. Being left alone to her own thoughts, truly alone, was something Clarke hadn't had since she was pulled out of her cell. Samael had managed to sneak in a couple of times to talk to her, but other than that nobody had talked to her.
Clarke gave up on walking around and sat by the windows once again. The only thing she had to really pass the time was to observe the city below her. Hearing the sounds from up above only left her with wonder of what laid below. Funny, we all used to think the same thing back on the Ark, just without knowing there was life on the ground. She longed to roam the streets and lose herself in a crowd. What she wouldn't give to leave Clarke Griffin behind, just for a while, and live life as no one for a while.
Just as a sigh escaped her lips, the doors behind her opened suddenly. They're early, Clarke thought, raising an eyebrow as she turned around. The two guards she was used to seeing were standing at the entryway, though they made no attempt to enter the room. Clarke looked at their hands and they didn't carry any food with them, either. She looked to the one on the right in total confusion. "What's going on?" she demanded to know, folding her arms as she took a few uneasy steps towards them.
"Heda is allowing you to roam the streets of Polis, if that is what you want," the guard spoke, his expression unwavering.
She's allowing me? Clarke growled in frustration, throwing her hands to her side. "What she means is she's still keeping me prisoner, just letting me walk around instead." Clarke ran her fingers through her hair before letting her arms flop down and sighing in defeat. It angered her, but she still couldn't pass up the opportunity to see the streets of the city she had been looking at for so long. "Isn't the great and wonderful Commander worried someone might try to kill me?" Clarke couldn't contain the sass in her voice and even though the two Grounders before her didn't care, it made her feel somewhat better.
"No weapons are allowed in Polis," the other guard replied. "Only the Heda and her guards are allowed to carry them inside the city. We will watch you, but you will be free to walk wherever you want in the city. The Heda commanded it."
Clarke scowled as they stood there, motionless, waiting for her to follow them. At least you get to see Polis, Clarke reminded herself. She had no idea what was going on with Roan, but imagined he was getting much worse treatment than herself. Good, she thought. He cut off Harper's hand and kidnapped me. He deserves it.
Clarke softened her face and wordlessly made for the door, itching for a release from the room once she realized it wasn't a trick. The guards fell in on either side of her as they walked down a corridor. She had passed this area before, but she had been raving mad and not paying attention. The decorations and style of the building wasn't anything like she had seen from the Grounders and was quite refreshing.
Polis will change the way you think about my people.
Clarke's scowl returned and she straightened her head and cast her gaze forward. The guards motioned for her to stop and she looked to the door on her left. A grinding noise came from behind the door and Clarke figured it must have been the lift that Roan brought her up in. The door opened to an empty carriage, railings around along all the walls the only decorations provided. Clarke followed her wardens into the lift and turned around. Moments later, one of the guards closed the opening and they were soon being lowered to the ground.
Clarke stood there, silent in the awkwardness of the situation. She wondered where the Commander was at the moment, and why she didn't come personally. Probably for the best. I might have refused to leave if she came here herself. Seconds felt like hours, and Clarke shifted to her side slightly. Part of her wondered how far up they were, and how much more did they have to go. How did they make this? Did they even make it? With no power, this seems like a very impractical building.
Her questioning was cut short when the lift abruptly stopped, causing Clarke to lose her balance slightly. Neither of her guards seemed to notice as they moved to open the door. Stepping out of the opening, Clarke saw a great lobby, dark save for a few lit candles scattered across the area. A red carpet lay sprawled out in front of her, leading to an exit filled with light. A small smile formed on Clarke's face as she started forward, feeling lighter the closer she got to the exit.
Stepping out into the light, Clarke had to shield her eyes from the intensity of the sun. The air was warm, but not uncomfortably so. The sounds she had been hearing from above seemed so much louder now, amost drowning out the ability to hear yourself. Every which way she looked, Grounders were everywhere. All of them were chatting, carrying food or supplies they purchased, or were going back and forth with the multitude of vendors scattered across the streets.
"Heda said you have until sundown, then you must return," the guard to her right said, relaxing his grip on the spear he carried. She thought for a moment to try and grab it, but the thick arms on the man made her think better of it. They both could probably cut through me before I could touch them. "We will be behind you. Do not go far."
Deciding that suicide by guards wasn't the best course of options, Clarke walked out into the streets. Her mouth salivated at the aromas in the air, smelling all the food of the vendors she passed. Children ran around in the streets, playing games without a care in the world. This is so different, Clarke thought to herself, astonished. They're almost... normal, like us. She reached her first intersection and spun around, trying to decide which way to go. A smile crept onto her face as she looked around, though she steeled herself. You felt like this when you first arrived in Azgeda territory and look how that turned out. Her grin dropped and shoulders sank a bit, but she pressed on nevertheless.
The guards that had been following her had drifted out of sight, but Clarke knew they were near and could be on her in a second if she tried anything. She could tell others were staring at her, but hoped they wouldn't do anything to harm her. Putting her brave face on, she picked a direction and walked, forgetting her struggles and just enjoying her precious few hours out of her cell. At least it's better than the Ark.
Lexa stood out on the terrace of her throne room, staring out at her city below. Her eyes traced the various streets that lead out from her tower, smiling at the sounds of her people being safe. Life in Polis had been much easier since the defeat of the Mountain Men. Her people no longer had to fear themselves or loved ones being taken and never seen again. At the moment, she only cared about where one person was.
Clarke's verbal assault from earlier still stung her, though she did her best to show it. Titus had noticed it at their most recent lesson with the nightbloods. He pulled her aside afterwards to talk, but she brushed him off. He cannot understand. I am only the Heda to him, that is his job. He does not acknowledge Lexa.
She thought about everything that had happened since she accepted the Mountain Men's deal that night. The look that Clarke had given her still cut deep, but she truly believed she did what was best for her people. No Grounder had died that day. That was something she could always be grateful for. I created this Coaliton for peace, to end the constant violence and killings. The armies of the twelve clans would have fought the Mountain Men with everything they had because she commanded it, but she also knew the terror they hid within. That place held much fear over their heads after seeing what they were capable of for so long. Facing an enemy you have feared since birth isn't easy.
Clarke had tried to make her doubt herself, but she couldn't. I am the Heda. The spirits of the Commanders before me chose me to succeed them. I am not allowed to doubt myself. The only thing she wished had gone differently was the pain she had caused Clarke. She had accepted the deal knowing full well what it would mean for Clarke and her people, yet she did it anyways. And I will live with the consequences, she said to herself, letting out a deep sigh. "Such is the life of the Commander."
Doors behind her opened up and Lexa turned to see Titus walking in, looking as intense and determined as ever. "Heda, forgive my intrusion, but we must talk at once," Titus said, urgency in his voice as he hurried to her side.
"They are my prisoners, Titus," she began, trying to stave off any conversation about her decision to let Roan and Clarke roam the streets freely. "I am free to do with them as I please."
Her eyebrows raised when a genuine look of confusion came over Titus' face. "You allowed them out on the streets?!" Anger now flashed over his face as he turned to face her. "You let Wanheda walk around Polis?"
"Her name is Clarke!" Lexa yelled out, not backing down to her teacher's obvious rage. "And I am not ignorant to her title. They do not walk around alone. I have two of my personal guard watching Clarke, and city guards walking with Roan." Lexa brushed bast Titus and walked to the center of her throne room. Titus continues to press his opinion even after I have made it clear I will not listen to it.
Titus moved to stand in front of her again, not allowing her to continue past. "You again let your feelings cloud your judgment. I-"
"I know your thoughts, Titus," Lexa interrupted, not wanting to hear the same speech again. "She has been in that room for two days, talking to someone who isn't there. Roan is a Prince of Azgeda. I cannot just keep them both locked away in a cell forever, and I will not kill Clarke." Lexa moved to her throne and collapsed back into it, lowering her head into one of her hands and gripping the throne's side with the other. "So unless you have any other business, you are dismissed, Flamekeeper."
Titus moved to open his mouth in rebuttal, but she saw him close his mouth and think for a second. He looked around the room for a moment before approaching her very slowly. "I have not let this go, but we have much more urgent matters," Titus said, still looking around the room. "The Azgeda army is a half-day's ride away."
Lexa's blood instantly went cold, though her chest burned hotter than fire. Nia, Lexa spat out in her head. "And what are they doing? How large is this army?" What is your game, Nia? What are you after? Lexa had not seen the woman in a long time, not since she formed the Coalition. She specifically implemented ambassadors just so she wouldn't have to see the face of the woman who murdered Costia.
"I do not know, Heda," Titus replied. "The one who brought me this information did not have much in the way of specifics."
Lexa gripped onto the edges of her throne until the whites of her fingers showed. She knows better than to bring an army to Polis. "If she means to attack Polis, she declares war on the twelve clans. Nia may be an evil bitch, but she is not dumb." Lexa rose from her seat and hurried over to her alcove overlooking the city. "Find me more information on that army, Titus. Now!"
"Flamekeeper! Flamekeeper!" A voice called out as a man came running into her throne room. Lexa looked to Titus in confusion as she reached for her sword, though Titus held out his arm to stay her. The man collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath. She watched Titus walk over slowly as guards started to come into the room. Whatever it is must be important, if my guards let him through.
"You intrude on the Heda unannounced," Titus began, grabbing the man by the collar and lifting him up to his feet. "Speak now. Tell us what is so urgent, and pray we agree with you."
"The... Az...geda..." the man struggled to say between breaths. "Azg...eda... here... now..." The man doubled over and rested his hands on his knees, drawing in deeper breaths to calm himself down. Titus lifted him up once again and the man hung his head in exhaustion. "Queen... Nia..."
Chills ran down Lexa's spine as she approached the man, gripping his jaw with a vice-like grip. She raised his head to meet her gaze and asked the one question she didn't want answered. "Where is Queen Nia?"
"Here..." the man grunted, still panting slightly. "Queen Nia is in Polis."