Chapter 19:
The next morning after a long meeting with the clan leaders and more arguments than Clarke could keep up with, all of the commanders agreed to the tests strictly because they realized getting home would be too difficult on their own with winter on its way. Clarke knew she'd have to deal with the consequences of not getting this information out of Carolina prior to their arrival.
Clarke and Lexa went first to show their support. They were in the same part of the hospital as they were with Raven. Dr. Harker and two nurses were taking blood samples and doing minor exams there. They'd get the results later that night and find out if they could stay. On their way out of the exam room, Carolina and York greeted them.
"I wanted to thank you both for being such good sports about this whole thing. I'm sure everyone will end up receiving passing scores if you will and we'll be able to move past this." Carolina shared her thoughts.
"Sure." Clarke replied with more frustration in her tone.
"Clarke, I was heading over to pick up the next group. You wanna come?" York asked.
Clarke looked at Lexa who reached for a sword that wasn't there.
"Chil au." Calm down. She reached for that hand and took it. "No thanks, I'm going to stay here with Lexa and watch over everyone."
He nodded nonchalantly and walked off. Lexa glared at him as he left. It reminded Clarke of the expression she had on her face the day Clarke begged her to trust her about Bellamy being inside the mountain; the day Lexa believed she cared more about Bellamy than the others. It was the same day Clarke discovered Lexa cared about her.
"Have you given any thought to what I asked?" Carolina questioned. "The position?"
"No, I've been focused on getting through today."
"Well, I will need an answer Clarke if we are to proceed here."
"We should probably wait for my test results. Why get started if I'm sick and forced to leave?"
Carolina seemed to understand not to press by Clarke's tone.
"I wanted to ask you and I'm glad you're both here…how would you feel about having a big wedding?"
"What?" Clarke asked.
"Well, when you reminded me you two were married, I just thought it could be a great way to help unite everyone. We'd have a big, community wedding for the two of you. I'm told the ceremony you had before was small and private. We could do it all again here and celebrate and bring people together."
"Teik ai frag em op en dison laik odon." Let me kill her and get this over with. Lexa started, still wishing she could reach for a sword.
"No."
"Are you talking to me or her? Sorry, I hope to learn your language in time, but-"
"I was talking to both of you actually. We don't want or need a big re-do wedding. We've got bigger things to worry about than-"
"But that's the point, isn't it? There's so much going on. People are overwhelmed. Why not give them something like a wedding between two people who love each other?"
"Because we're not interested, Carolina."
"Our bonding day belongs to us." Lexa followed.
"I'm only trying to help. I'm sorry if I come on too strong some times. This is the first time we've brought in a new group since I took office so it's as much of a change for me than it is for you."
"And we appreciate everything, but please leave the wedding thing alone, okay?"
"Of course. I guess I just got excited." She paused. "Well, I should be getting back to the office."
Carolina walked off. Lexa and Clarke remained behind to help the others get their tests and comfort them if needed. By the time everyone was finished, the first results were coming in. Clarke and Lexa's were included.
"You're both fine." Dr. Harker shared. "Tested negative for everything."
"That's great." Clarke said. "Any positives so far?"
"No, but just a few have come in. I should have them all in by morning. I'll send someone over with all the results then. We can talk after if need be."
"Thanks, doctor."
"I can't believe she just offered to have your wedding for you." Raven said as the group gathered around a large table outside the house Clarke and Lexa shared.
"It's weird, if you ask me." Octavia joined in. "I mean if someone I didn't know offered to host my wedding, it would just be weird."
"Have you thought about it?" Raven asked Octavia.
"What? A wedding?" Octavia looked at Lincoln who sat beside her. Lincoln appeared not to be phased by the mention of the word wedding.
"You have been together for a while now. The first grounder/sky girl couple actually." Raven continued. "It should probably be you two."
"You alright there, Lincoln?" Wick asked him.
"Octavia and I will be bonded when we are ready to be bonded." He replied.
Octavia looked at him with surprise.
"Octavia and Lincoln will be bonded when I give them permission to be bonded. As my second, Octavia must follow all of my orders." Indra shared.
Octavia just nodded.
"What about Lexa?" Bellamy asked. "What if she says they can? Does that override you?"
"Guys, this is not something we need to talk about right now. Lincoln and I-"
"I will allow it." Lexa shared.
Clarke looked over at her.
"You will?"
"We are living through a period of many changes. The permission the 2nd must obtain from their general is not one of our important traditions. It was created to prevent warriors from becoming bonded too rapidly in the time of war. Once bonded, a warrior is given the choice of remaining warrior or turning to a life in the village. The decision made may never be changed. We needed warriors. The general could control who bonded and how many." She looked at Indra. "Indra, I would like to abolish this rule. What say you?"
"I will obey your orders as always, Heda."
"Ron ai ridiyo op." Speak true. "In this new era, my advisors must take a more active role and you are my most trusted general, Indra."
Indra almost cracked a smile.
"This is a minor custom that can be altered."
"Then it is done. If Lincoln and Octavia wish to be bonded, they are free to do so at any time."
"We don't. We're good." Octavia stated.
"Speak for yourself." Lincoln said to the woman to his right. "It has always been that we should be bonded, Octavia of the Sky People." Indra cleared her throat. He tried again. "Of the Tree People."
"No, that's wrong too." It was Clarke who spoke up. "We're all the same now, right? That's the point of all this."
"You wish to have a new clan, Clarke?" Lexa asked her.
"I just think we need a new way to identify ourselves. We're all working together now. We've moved together. We're mixing our customs and traditions." She paused "We are a new people. We should have a new name."
"And what should that new name be?" Kane asked.
"I don't know. I'm just saying we should have one. Maybe we just need to name this place. We are all people, right? Why not a name for the place we call home?"
"Clarke, can I talk to you?" It was York. He'd made his way to the backyard.
"Um… what about?" Clarke asked wanting to make sure it was something important and not about Carolina wanting her to date him.
"It's important. Please."
"It's okay." Clarke said to Lexa whose fire was starting to burn in those eyes. "Whatever you want to say, you can say in front of the whole group."
"That's not a good idea. Carolina would have come, but she had an appointment she couldn't miss. Please, Clarke."
"Hey Yorkie, the girl told you to speak. So speak." Raven ordered.
He sighed and took a step forward.
"There has been a positive test result. Carolina asked me to share it with you right away even though not all the results are in yet."
"Okay. Who is it?" Clarke sounded worried.
There was a moment of hesitation before York pointed.
"Him." York's finger was directed at Lincoln.