Chapter 15:
York left them just outside of the capital and they walked back the rest of the way. Clarke relayed everything that had happened and the benefits of the new city. Bellamy seemed more than eager to go while Octavia seemed rather indifferent, which is pretty much Octavia all the time. It was dark by the time they arrived so Lexa opted to dispatch messengers to the other commanders in the morning and return to her house.
"For tonight, you two can stay here." Lexa spoke and motioned toward the room Clarke has stayed in originally. "There is another room down here where you can sleep, Octavia. I will send for Indra tomorrow so you can discuss what you wish with her."
"Not exactly the best host, is she? We don't even get a tour." Octavia stated.
"The bathroom is over there." Clarke pointed out.
"And our bedroom is here. The rest of the tour will have to wait until tomorrow." Lexa walked into the room.
"Our bedroom, huh?" Bellamy mocked.
Clarke shoved him back against the wall and followed Lexa.
"Let me know if you need anything. I'll give you the tour of the house first and then the capital." She said and then closed the door behind her knowing Lexa would be getting out of her clothes to sleep.
By the time Clarke turned around, Lexa was half-naked and taking off her pants. Clarke just smiled at her.
"Our bedroom?" She asked Lexa, referring to Bellamy's comment.
"Is this not our bedroom?" She asked tossing her pants on top of her other discarded clothing.
"I just wasn't aware, I guess."
Lexa climbed into the bed and Clarke climbed in after her without taking her clothes off.
"All I have belongs to you now. You know that." Lexa confirmed while rolling onto her side to take in Clarke.
"Yeah, I guess I do."
The next morning, the messengers were dispatched and Bellamy joined Clarke and Lexa for the meeting with the other commanders while Octavia pulled Indra aside and ended up in a screaming match and was asked to take it outside.
"What say you?" The Ice Queen stated without any pleasantries being exchanged.
Lexa looked to Clarke.
"It was as they say it was." She started and then nodded for Clarke to take over.
"They are offering all clans a chance to resettle in their community, which has everything they said it did and more. There is a hospital that has advanced technology, they have schools to teach the children, they have-"
"We need no schools. We teach them."
"You teach them battle techniques."
"That is all they need." It was the man who originally objected, but came around later.
"Then, become teachers when you get there." Clarke offered. "If you want to teach them battle strategy and weaponry, you can take a job as a teacher at the school."
"I am no teacher. I am a Commander."
"Then, don't teach." That came from Bellamy.
"Hod yu rein daun." Mind your place. That came from the Ice Queen.
"What?" Bellamy asked.
"Bell, protocol." Clarke reminded as he stood behind her. He understood.
"The Old Ones are offering homes and work for all." Lexa explained. "You will choose what you want."
"So your vote is to move?"
"My vote will be reserved for when we vote." Lexa clarified.
"Look, we will discuss with their commander how best to make this happen after the vote if the vote is to proceed." Clarke expressed.
"And what if we want to see this place for ourselves?"
"Go." Lexa stated with a blank expression to the Ice Queen who always seemed to argue for argument's sake. "We will not stop you. Remember though that while in this alliance, you are under my rule and if you do anything against the Old Ones without my orders, we will be at war."
The Ice Queen glared at Lexa.
"This initial vote is only for the continued discussions with the Old Ones. If we can't come to an agreement with them about how it will work, then another vote can be taken at that time." Clarke looked at the Queen. "If you want to arrange a trip for yourself, I can help you with that." She offered.
"I need no help from you, Sky Girl."
"Outside." Lexa spoke and then stood. She started walking out the door of the meeting room. The others stood as she passed in a hurried state. Clarke stood because she didn't know what to do. Should she stay or follow?
The Ice Queen followed so Clarke decided to follow as well, but to do so slightly slower and hang back. She waited in the door at the front of the command center while Lexa took the Queen off to the side of the yard and dismissed those standing around with only a glare until they were essentially alone.
"Em pleni!" Enough. Lexa shouted at her. "I have had enough. I will no longer tolerate your treatment of Clarke or this alliance as your method of-"
"Of what, Commander?" She was clearly angry.
"I would never have chosen you." Lexa answered directly. "Put your petty emotions aside and work within the alliance or I will bring to a vote to excommunicate the Azgeda." Ice Nation.
"And what if in that vote, the clans excommunicated you?" She took a step toward Lexa. Clarke just watched in silence.
"Bring it to a vote and see who they choose." She threatened. The Ice Queen stood her ground, but said nothing. "You and I were never to be. You know this. I know this."
"Because you were to be with Costia?"
"You will not speak her name in my presence."
"You chose her over me and you saw what happened. You could have had an alliance with the great Azgeda and you chose not too. You made a mistake, Commander." She said commander in a mocking tone. "We could have ruled together and now you're leading people to unfamiliar land because your Sky Girl commands you."
"Tread lightly." Lexa pushed back.
"I am a Queen, Commander. I do not tread lightly."
"You are dangerous to this alliance. I wish to unite all our people permanently with no more need for war and you are intent on causing one."
"You wish to have me gone?"
"I will have you gone." Lexa replied.
"And if you try, you will be leading your people right into battle with mine. I will not stand-"
"That wouldn't be smart." Clarke interjected. Both women looked up at her as she walked down the few steps and stood in front of them.
"I do not need your words, girl."
Lexa put her hand on the handle of her sword. She looked as if she could use it at any moment.
"Get the hell over it. A war shouldn't be caused because of this."
"Wars have been caused by less." Lexa shared without taking her eyes off the Ice Queen.
"That's not exactly something to aspire too, Lex." She used her nickname knowing it would upset the Ice Queen, which it did. "You try to go to war, you'll have the entire alliance to deal with. You know they'll choose Lexa to lead them over you. She saved your people from the mountain. She's helped keep this alliance together. They will follow her."
"The Ice Nation has more warriors than any other clan. We will-"
"Lose." Clarke stood next to Lexa. "You will lose. The coalition includes my people now and we have guns to your swords. The Old Ones have technology you've never dreamed of and they will fight with us. They have warriors too. Do you really think you can beat all of us and more importantly do you even want to try?" The Ice Queen appeared to be contemplating. "Your people will die and when the history of this time is told later, you will be remembered as the Queen who ended the Ice Nation."
"It is not about you." She stated and looked directly at Lexa. "It was never about you."
"Then why?"
"My father told stories about your people after we were separated." She referred to the period of time after she and Lexa were raised together and then parted due to bad clan relations. "Your people believe we are beneath you. Our warriors are not as strong or well trained. You planned to attack us unprovoked after our village was taken with sickness to steal our lands."
"We never planned anything like that."
"You were not in command then. How would you know?"
"Because we have no need for your land. Covered in ice so much of the time. Our people have never wished for your land."
"Why would my father tell me this?"
"I think I know." It was Clarke. The two of them looked at her. "You were supposed to be in an alliance and then that fell apart because of the Woods Clan not wanting to be a part of it?"
"Yes. There was no need. We were not at war."
"And your father told you these stories after that?"
"Yes."
"He wanted you to hate Lexa's people. My guess is so he'd get his revenge one day."
She thought about Clarke's comment and her expression changed.
"I loved you." She confessed to Lexa. "You treated me so poorly."
"I could not love then." Lexa replied honestly. "I was taught it was weakness."
"Yet you loved Costia and-" She stopped herself. "Clarke."
"Yes. Hodnes laik uf." Love is strength. She said. "I know that now."
The Ice Queen appeared to be slightly vulnerable for the first time since Clarke had met her.
"I will stand with you for the duration of the alliance." She stated and turned to walk back inside the command center.
"I think that went well." Clarke offered and nudged Lexa's side.
"We never discussed what happened between our people in the past."
"Talking sometimes works better than fighting."
"I am starting to see that now." She looked at Clarke, gave her a small smile and walked back into the meeting room. Clarke followed close behind.