20
Trees and Sky
CLARKE
"We come unarmed!" Clarke shouted into the empty trees. She did not yet see the Trikru scouts, but she had spent enough time marching by Trikru's side... By Lexa's side... To know that they were there. She could sense their eyes following her. She could feel the beads of their arrows drawn on her.
"Ai laik Clarke kom Skaikru and I seek rest in the shelter of the trees!" She called out the customary greeting of peaceful travelers, before adding her specific purpose. "We request audience with the elders of Trikru!"
"Skaikru," A man growled behind her, appearing out of nowhere. Behind him four more warriors emerged like spirits from the trees. Two had arrows drawn. The others clutched long blades in their hands. "Are not welcome in this forest. Leave now, while you still have your lives."
"We wish to speak with Trikru's elders." Clarke repeated, ignoring the man's threats. "We come as friends and allies. We are friends of Indra kom Trikru. We marched alongside Heda Lexa kom Trikru."
The man suddenly raised his free arm and before Clarke could even think to move, brought the back of his fist across her cheek. Clarke reeled from the blow. Pain exploded across her jaw. Her brain slammed against the inside of her skull and red flashed behind her eyelids. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.
"How dare you befoul the name of our late commander with your Skaikru lips." The man snarled. "Commander Lexa sent our army to protect Skaikru and your people betrayed her trust. Liars and murderers, Skaikru is neither friend nor ally of Trikru."
"The man responsible for that massacre has paid for his crimes." Kane spoke. "Blood has answered blood."
"The blood of one man cannot answer for that of three hundred!" The man growled.
"No, it can't." Clarke agreed. "You are right... We have Trikru blood on our hands. And nothing can ever wash us clean of it. We cannot repay our debt. But I promise you... If you do not grant us permission to speak with your council of elders, you will carry the blood of all of Trikru on your own hands. And you will find yourself as powerless to wash your sullied hands clean of it as we are. Enough Trikru blood has been spilled. We only seek to prevent further bloodshed. Please..." She pleaded. "Take us to your council."
The man nodded at his comrades and the warriors suddenly seized Clarke and Kane violently by the wrists. "Very well." The man said. "I shall take you to them... As prisoners of war. You shall answer for the crimes of your people. You can plead for mercy at the feet of the elders."
The man's comrades gave Clarke a rough push forward and she didn't resist as they dragged her through the trees. Because, though it hadn't exactly gone as smoothly as she had planned, she had still gotten just what she had come for and every shove pushed her one step closer to Lexa.
...
"Marcus of the Sky People." The old woman spoke in a cold, firm voice. "Were you not directed, just this morning, never to step foot on Trikru land again? You fail to observe simple, specific orders. Time and time again you and your people demonstrate that you are not to be trusted. Time and time again you test the limits of Trikru's patience and mercy. You were clearly warned of the consequences of disobeying these orders and now your actions will be dealt with accordingly."
"Wait!" Clarke tried to call out. But, being gagged as she all too often seemed to find herself, her words were muffled and all that escaped her was an unintelligible groan. "Please!" She moaned, fixing the woman's wrinkly eyes with her wild, desperate, pleading ones. The woman glared at her, clenching and unclenching her jaw. Finally, looking as if she already regretted her decision even as she made it, the woman sighed and nodded at the man restraining Clarke. Clarke sucked in a deep breath as the dirty rag was tugged free of her mouth.
"You have thirty seconds to make a convincing plea for you and your friend's lives." The woman said.
"If you kill us..." Clarke choked out. "You kill all of Trikru."
The woman sighed impatiently. "I already spoke with this man earlier today." She grumbled. "Trikru needs no aid from lying, murderous, cowards. We will stand on our own and with those who have proven their loyalty in battles past. Trikru has held these woods since the reign of the first commander. Our strength is as deeply rooted as the trees beneath which we stand. We will hold firm again. We do not need Skaikru or your weapons."
"Yes, you do." Clarke retorted boldly, ignoring the dangerous flash in the woman's angry eyes. "Maybe not our weapons... But you do need US. Even if Trikru does not fall before Azgeda, even if you manage to weather their storm, within months all that is left of Trikru will die."
"Kill them now!" One of the men on the council rose to his feet. "Let's be done with their nonsense."
Clarke pressed on hurriedly as another man seconded the first's suggestion. "There is a sickness coming!" She shouted desperately. "The world is dying! And all of us will die with it if you do not listen to what I have to say."
The woman glared at Clarke with a mixture of confusion, suspicion, and open dislike. But she raised a hand to silence the men shouting for Clarke's execution and allowed her to keep speaking.
"Skaikru has a cure." Clarke breathed. "We can make enough for all of Trikru. But we need your help."
"What are you rambling about, Sky Girl?" The woman asked impatiently. "What sickness do you speak of?"
"The radiation levels in Earth's atmosphere are climbing." Clarke tried to explain rapidly. "As they rise people will start to show symptoms of radiation poisoning. Within months everyone will grow sick and die, unless they take the serum that Skaikru is developing as we speak. But I've come to you because we are short of a crucial ingredient for the serum. We need the black powder of Trikru's warriors."
The woman only looked more confused at Clarke's strange request. And with the confusion, her impatience seemed to be growing as well. "You have come here, knowing the penalty for doing so might cost you your lives, to ask us for our warpaint? Why should I believe a word you utter, Sky Girl? Your insolent people have already demonstrated your penchant for lying and deceit. You insult the council with this foolish..."
Suddenly a man burst into the room, panting. "Sorry... For the... Intrusion... Respected... Elders." He stuttered, struggling to catch his breath.
"What is it, Seeden?" The woman asked. "Has Indra returned?"
"No, Elder Fulna." The man gasped. "I come... Because the fire... Has been lit... Azgeda approaches... Boudalan, Sangedakru... And Louwoda Kliron march with them... They will reach... the outskirts of Polis by nightfall!"
"And there is no sign of Indra yet?" The woman asked again.
"No, Elder Fulna." Seeden repeated. "Indra has yet to return. Nor have any allies been spotted approaching Trikru's lands. If anyone is coming, I'm afraid they will not arrive in time."
The woman rose from her chair and silently began pacing the chamber as the three men beside her began shouting suggestions and arguing with one another.
"How many approach?" Elder Fulna asked Seeden. "How many in Azgeda's number?"
"I do not have an accurate number to report." The messenger answered. "But the scouts say hundreds and hundreds. Maybe thousands. One said it is as if a living ocean washes over the land towards us."
"We must position our warriors around Polis immediately." One of the elders spoke as Fulna recommenced her pacing.
"No." Another elder argued. "We let Polis fall and fortify our village walls. We protect our homes and families."
"Either way Trikru cannot stand alone!" Clarke cut in, shouting to be heard above the bickering old men. The woman stopped her pacing and fixed her glare on Clarke. "Your allies will not arrive in time to help you." Clarke argued. "Trikru cannot hold Polis and if Azgeda marches on your villages before help arrives they will crumble under Azgeda's might. Trikru cannot stand alone." She repeated. She struggled against the man restraining her and took a brazen step towards Fulna.
"Please, Elder Fulna," She pleaded. "For the sake of your people and mine, band with Skaikru. Evacuate your villages. Have your warriors fall back to Arkadia. Let us provide refuge for your children and elderly. Azgeda means to march on Trikru before Skaikru. If you fall back to Arkadia, you will gain time and numbers. Together we can defend the walls of Arkadia. Cities can be rebuilt. Villages can be rebuilt. Homes can be rebuilt. Save the lives of your people. Band with Skaikru. We cannot stand alone. We must band together to save both of our peoples. Band with Skaikru." She pleaded once more as Elder Fulna frowned upon her.