Chapter 20

Two weeks later, Clarke was sitting down next to the hearth with a new set of letters from Polis. She was using the light of the fire to read the letters that Ontari had made sure to send back. She knew that Ontari couldn't read them, and she knew that Nia might have tried. To those who speak and read English, it would look like gibberish. To Clarke and her friends, it would all make sense.

The first letter was from Lexa. It was short and to the point. She'd promised to deal with Nia and the demand her release. She hoped that she'd been treated well and she apologized for taking the deal from Cage. It was words that Clarke knew by heart. The surprising part was where Lexa said that she wished she'd followed her back to Arkadia. Lexa felt it was her own fault that Clarke had been captured and she vowed to make it right.

Clarke wanted laugh. Lexa's own scouts couldn't find her. It had been Indra, and even then, it was because Clarke was not well. Echo proved how unwell she really was by getting the drop on her. The only way that Lexa would have been able to "save" her was to be with her. And, Clarke couldn't let that happen in the moment. Lexa had too much to deal with back in Polis than to worry about Clarke and her mental state. Whatever relationship they'd had before the the fall of Mountain was now overshadowed by grief and a fucking title that Clarke wanted to make real and burn.

She knew that Nia would read between the lines on this. She knew that Clarke and Lexa were close, but Lexa's words were make her a bigger target. Nia was definitely going to use her against Lexa. Clarke just didn't know how, yet. And, in hoping that Lexa survived her duel, she could only wonder if Nia would call on Wanheda to demand Lexa's head. Clarke would go, but she would never deliver on that command. She'd kill herself first.

The next letter was written by someone for Ontari. The longer that she studied the script, the more she realized that it was a mixture of Raven and Octavia. She was sure that the three brunettes were up to no good together. It made her miss them all. She knew that if Raven and Octavia were talking with Ontari things for Skaikru were okay. Ontari was trying to make a deal with them. She would use her coming power as Heda, should Lexa fall, to save them by getting Nia to see them as warriors to help them dominate. She would make Skaikru an Azgeda colony of sorts and demand the knowledge and training needed for the Royal Guard to use fayagons. It would be a flex, but she knew that Ontari could pull it off. She had enough backing in the army.

"What does that one say?"

"It is from Ontari," Clarke told her.

"What does it say, though?" Echo demanded as she brought over two water skins to join Clarke by the fire.

"She renamed the sword. I guess she's been talking with my friends. Evidently, she is starting to favor Lexa's thinking about the Kongeda and believes that once a king from long ago had the same idea," Clarke told her.

"So, what has she changed it to?"

"Excalibur," Clarke answered. "She states: I refuse to be Mordred in our story. While Dauntless is a good sword, and I thank you for it, I believe that I will now call it after King Arthur's. He led his people to prosperity and so shall we. Nia will offer you the part of Guinevere, but do what you must to make yourself happy. I will not force your hand, Wanheda. Should I prove to be false in my endeavors, head to the castle of Pramheda. May Becca bless you."

"What does that mean?" Echo inquired.

"It an old story about a king that had a group of warriors. To make things better in his kingdom, he had these warriors sit at a round table. That way they were all equal. It is said that he had twelve knights that served underneath him and helped him run the kingdom. Modred was his son. Well, Modred's story is very...shocking. He was raised away from Arthur and Arthur didn't even know he had a son. When Mordred came of age, he went to Arthur to demand to be made a general like the other twelve just because he was his son. Arthur refused him because he hadn't proven himself worthy of the title. So, Mordred left the kingdom and raised his own army. When he came back, the two armies fought down to almost the last man. Arthur and Mordred ended up fighting each other and Mordred killed his father. The Generals of his table then destroyed Mordred and the kingdom fell."

"Is this Guinevere part of the story, too?" Echo questioned.

"Yes, she was Arthur's wife, but she slept with one of the generals. In the end, she fled with the General before Mordred came back. The general was disgraced and had his titles removed in the kingdom. But, as Arthur lay dying, this General came back to try to save him. In the end, Arthur gave his wife to the general to protect and love. They left the kingdom and went back to her clan to live out the rest of their days. But all the clans that Arthur had united fought amongst themselves for hundreds or years until someone else stepped up to unite them again," Clarke explained.

"So Ontari wants to bond with you?"

"No, she is telling me that Nia wants to sweeten her deal by allowing to bond with her once she is heda. She is also telling me that should things go bad to head east and away from Azgeda towards the Dead Zone. Near the coast, just outside the Dead Zone is a large house that was once owned by Becca Franco."

"Who?"

"You know her better in your lore as Beka Pramheda," Clarke answered.

"It still stands?"

"It does. It is near the ocean. The view is pretty, but it doesn't matter with Praimfaya coming. We would need fayagons to access it."

"Why?" Echo asked her.

"Becca invented a lot of tech. Some was medical, for healing, and some was weaponized. Her big castle of a house is protected still by her tech."

"Can you get through it?"

"I can try, but Raven would be better at it," Clarke answered truthfully.

"Well, I hope that we don't have to go then."

Clark tossed the parchment into the fire and watched it burn. She knew that it was the safest thing for her to do. She was upset about Ontari being on her own, but the other Night Blood had assured her that she okay. She was making friends with Skaikru and they were looking for a way to stop Nia. Lexa wasn't completely safe yet, but they were trying to make sure that the dual didn't happen. Ontari hadn't demanded it yet, but Clarke could tell that she was worried that Nia would find another way to challenge Lexa. And knowing Lexa, she would accept it and not back down. It would be a matter of honor. She would stop it if she could, but she was still in Troi under the watchful eye of Ledo.

She grabbed the next parchment and opened it. Unrolling it, she realized that this one was from Octavia. She smiled as she looked at her messy scrawl. Bellamy had done well by her in teaching her what he could, but being completely sheltered for sixteen years had taken its toll on Octavia social skills. The poor girl couldn't help it. She did well though, and through her readings she could tell that Octavia was finally finding her place.

"What does that one say?"

"The Trikru gonaheda (general) Indra has taken her in as a sekken. She also dating a man named Lincoln. He is a scout for Indra and Lexa. Due to his relationship with Octavia, she was made to be an ambassador of sorts for Arkadia," Clarke told her. "Well, that beats calling the settlement 'Camp Jaha.' That man really didn't need his name on anything else."

"Bad leader?"

"Not really, he just didn't see the grey in things. He fought against death on the Ark. He used the law heavily to get what he wanted."

"He was the one that order your father to die?" Echo asked her.

"He was and his executioner. They were best friends and he still turned on him. He had the audacity to tell me that it was for the greater good."

"He was not well liked?"

"He killed Octavia and Bellamy's mother. He killed my father. He locked me up for over a year in solitary," Clarke quipped. "No, he was not a liked leader. But, he wasn't sadistic like Nia. He was harsh, but he had his reasoning. He was also like an uncle to me."

Echo realized that it was a very sore subject for the blonde. She needed to get Clarke to move on. It was in these letters that they knew the truth about what was going on outside of Troi. Things were looking bad now that troops were moving closer to the border. They both knew that Nia was going to strike soon, but they didn't know how. Clarke had done her best to warn Raven and Octavia through code. Their missives told her that they understood and had relayed the messages to Kane and her mother.

"So, you and Octavia are close?"

"I guess. We didn't know each other until we landed on the ground. She was the first of us to step on the Earth again. She's...loyal."

"But, there is more to it," Echo pushed.

"Isn't there always?"

"So, what else does she say?"

"Lexa came to them after I disappeared. Because of her relationship with Lincoln and how the younger people...the rest of the original 100...were accepting of Trikru ways, she offered a truce and alliance of sorts. Indra spearheaded it in her sted because Lexa couldn't be seen given us preferred treatment. Indra and Octavia hammered out a deal that TonDC and the newly renamed Arkadia would partner up in teaching all of Skaikru on how to survive on Earth. Our skills were severely lacking. By the time that winter was coming, Kane realized that they weren't prepared. He petitioned Lexa for a better deal and she offered to let them join the Kongeda. This would give them goods to stay warm and food stores to help through the worst of the season. In return, Lexa demanded medicines and for someone with tech skills to come to Polis. This is why Raven and Octavia are there. Raven is working with Lexa on tech to see what can be used for the betterment of the Kongeda, with a strict rule of no weapons. Octavia is still in training though. She got to spend the winter in Polis to help iron out what Arkadia was willing to trade with all the clans. Lincoln helped her nagivate that mine field, but Lexa was helping behind the scenes. Since Azgeda didn't have the appropriate representation, they missed out on the negotions and trade deals. Skaikru has made an offer, but Nia has yet to answer it. Octavia doesn't think that she will, either," Clarke explained.

"Is that all?"

"From, Octavia, yes."

"There's more?"

"Raven has written me about our people. She's been catching me up on gossip for the most part. Like the fact that Monty and Harper are actually officially like bonded. Indra did the ceremony for them. Raven still doesn't have anyone, but she has her eye on this girl. She won't tell me who it is, but she mentioned that she was a leader of one of the clans," Clarke stated.

"A leader? The only single woman that I know that is a leader is Luna. While it is known that she is a good lover, she doesn't stay in Polis for long. Her people are out at sea. They are the Floukru. She is wild and untamed, and a disgraced Night Blood."

"I know who Luna is, Echo. I almost went to her when I left. I knew that she would take me in and hide me away until I was ready to be back in the world."

"Do you still wish to go to her?" Echo inquired.

"There are days that I do, yes. She offers peace and penance. Both of which, I crave. I've killed too many here. I killed too many in the Mountain. I burned three hundred of Lexa's warriors in a ring of fire. I have enough blood on my hands to last thousands of lifetimes, but I only have one to fix it. I want to save people. That is what I was trained to do by my mother as a fisa, but yet, I've become a gona en ripa," Clarke lamented.

"You aren't a ripa," Echo stated.

"But, I am. I killed Pike. He might have deserved it, but I still did it. I killed Raven's first love so that Lexa would listen to me about the Mountain. I killed Atom because he was suffering after being caught in the Mountain's acid fog. The good of the many, not the good of the few. I know that Atom was the only one that I don't feel sorry about. He was suffering and in pain. There was nothing I could do for him but to end his life. So, I did."

"Then you healed his soul and sent it on the another life. He will thank you when he sees you again, Clarke. You cannot wear his death like a mantle."

"It is too easy to take life, Echo. To spill blood and give a reason for it, to justify it, but it is so much harder to just try to find another way. I was forced in the Mountain. I gave Finn an easy death to spare Raven more than him. Why Lexa didn't kill me for that, I still don't know. She pardoned me for the three hundred that I burned because of the Mountain, but there is no one to pardon me for their lives instead. I carry the ghosts of all those that I've killed Echo. They follow me in the days, in the nights, in my dreams and memories. I cannot escape them, nor do I want to. And, do you know why?"

"Yes," Echo answered simply.

"Because as long as they still haunt me, I know I am not evil and the death's that I have caused will either be avenged or atoned for. I will not stop until I die to make sure that their deaths weren't in vain when it comes to the survival of mankind. The good of the many outweighs the needs of a few. It is a very harsh lesson. And, it is one that my mother hoped I would never have to learn, because she has a hard time with it, too," Clarke explained.

Clarke shuffled through the parchments. She glanced a few of them over and just tossed them into the fire. Echo didn't ask her what they were about. She realized that this was how she keeping in touch with her people. It was helping Clarke's sanity. She would give her more if she could, but she knew that Nia would forbid it. So, letters...parchments in code were all that Clarke had to tell her about the world outside of Azgeda.

"Is there one from you mother?"

"Yes," Clarke replied.

"Anything new?"

"Lexa has been spending a lot of time with her. They've been discussing my father. I am not sure what that means for me, but she told me that Lexa wonders if it is possible to move on after losing one's niron in such a violent manner. She told me that she was getting closer to Kane. They were the voice of reason most of the time. She spent a lot of her day talking the people down and making them stay in Arkadia to help build it up. Lexa has forbidden them to bring fayagons to Polis and after speaking with both Lexa and Kane, Mom agreed to only arm the guards at camp. Wick and Sinclair have set up their defences, but Lexa has assured them that no clan would attack. Mom isn't too sure about that, but Lexa swore that if anyone attacked Arkadia, they were essentially attacking Heda and she would call on the clans to fight back for all of Arkadia against the aggressor."

"That is probably the only reason that Nia hasn't crossed the border yet. She's waiting to see how things will go. But, her already having the troops ready to move does not bode well for your people. Nia will offer them a singular deal. Give her the weapons and teach her to use them or die. For her there is only Nia's way or death. There is no middle ground," Echo stated.

"We know that. I've warned Octavia and Raven. But, we aren't there to tell them that the honeyed words she gives are nothing more than illusion. If they don't give her the guns and teach some of the gona how to use them, she'll just level Arkadia. I know that, too, Echo. I am worried for my people, but I can't help them from here. I know that Ontari is trying to find some common ground with them, but I don't know how well that work. Raven and Octavia have been told not to trust her, either," Clarke paused, read another line of the parchment, laughed and then continued. "Mom called Nia and I quote, 'That Frosty Bitch from the North.' If she only knew how true that really was. But, she's afraid for me. She wants to see me and doesn't understand that how if I'm Nia's guest and some great titled person that I can't just leave and come to her."

"If it were only that easy," Echo added.

"Could it be?" Clarke asked.

"Only if we want an entire battalion on our asses before we even make it to the border."

"So, it's plausible?" Clarke pushed.

"If the right things were to happen, we might be able to get out of Troi and head for Becca's Castle. Going south is impossible at this moment. If I can find a way and/or a reason for us to flee Troi, we go east. You can send back to your friends to meet us at Becca's Castle. That is the only way that you could see them," Echo told her. "They are the ones that found it, right? They know where it is?"

"Yes, and if we can get there, then I can contact them from there."

"Give me a few days, but send your letters. Stay away from Ledo. I don't like the way he looks at you."

"What would you have me do? If I am not with you, I'm alone. I think he is waiting for his chance at something with me," Clarke responded.

"Then, we will get your things and move you into my rooms. The bed is big enough and none of the guard will think anything of it. You are my sekken and have proven yourself in the Pits. They will just think that you are leveling up, as you say," Echo told her.

"Tonight?"

"Tonight," Echo said with a finality in her voice that Clarke didn't hear often but knew enough not to challenge.