CHAPTER 5

Lexa was not sure how or when she had fallen asleep. However, when she was the tent was dark and the crickets sang outside. She took a moment to compose the flashes of memory now flitting through her head. To confirm all she was questioning she turned her head slightly, to the red headed girl sleeping peacefully next to her. Lexa allowed a smile to cross her face fully as she looked at Costia's beautiful face. The shadows cast on her face made her freckles even more visible and her face was composed in a soft expression as she slept.

Lexa felt embarrassed by the fact that this was probably the longest, deepest sleep Costia had had in weeks. That was undoubtedly why the two had fallen asleep to begin with. After a considerable amount of silence and tentativeness, Costia had returned to Lexa. The two found themselves lying on the bed together. It was then that Lexa found herself wrapping an arm around the healer and began to tell her story of her childhood. She told it while completely herself and with the intent of Costia getting a better understanding of her.

She spoke of when she was still but a young Nightblood in training. One of the older boys had learned of her love for the yellow flowers. While she was out training he had gone to Lexa's bed and crushed all the flowers she'd managed to collect under her pillow. He had laughed and called her weak. That she would never rule for Commanders could not feel passion for such meaningless things. Lexa was much smaller and weaker than this boy so she made no attempt of retaliation throughout his mockery.

Instead she returned to the woods that day and collected more flowers, however she placed these flowers in jars. Then she waited in the woods with the flowers for almost two days. She lay in the field staring at her half dozen flower filled jars until each and every one of them had a bee land on them seeking the flower's sweet nectar. After the bees landed Lexa would slam the lid on the jar trapping and angering each and every bee. She returned to the camp and made quite a show of placing her jars of flowers on her bed. However, secretly she had loosened each and every jar lid.

That night the boy as predicted went about ransacking her bed in an attempt to destroy the flowers. At his touch the bees were released and took their revenge on the nearest living thing.

The elders found the boy so wrought with stings that her was removed from the camp and returned to his village. He apparently had an allergy to bees, which Lexa claimed not to have known. He was nearly killed. (Costia had quivered at this part)

On the boy's departure the current Commander asked Lexa why she had gone through such an ordeal to punish the boy, why had she simply not waited until a combat class and proved her worth.

Lexa remembered telling the Commander that the boy needed to learn that compassion was not weakness. She explained that should you gather enough beings that have a passion for the same thing, then you can use it to rally a force. "Passion is loyalty" she remembered saying. "None would ever follow that boy for he felt for nothing, believed in nothing. That being so, then he had nothing to protect and a Commander needed to protect everyone."

Lexa remembered that after that day the Commander watched her more closely and spoke with her far more often than any other Nightblood. She was sure that was the day the Commander decided whom their spirit would go to on their death.

When she had finished the story she looked upon Costia see what reaction this had granted. To her surprise Costia was smiling broadly.

"That was the best one yet." She spoke in wonder. "You are incredible Lexa."

Lexa smiled bashfully and leaned in to kiss her healer. Costia met her halfway and the two shared a deep passionate kiss. Lexa pulled away from the girl for a moment and smiled.

"Well you are the reason I am still breathing, so I believe that you are truly the incredible one."

Costia laughed warmly and pressed her head into Lexa's neck. Her warm breathe tickling Lexa.

XXX

The next time she woke she was alone in her tent. Costia was nowhere to be seen. For a moment she feared this to be a hallucination the entire scenario with Costia to be false. She spent a moment questioning her current reality. What was real and what was not?

The red rain was definitely a creation of her own mind, as was the forest fire, but Costia's lips on hers. That had to be true. In her distracted mind she didn't even notice someone enter the tent until they spoke.

"I am glad to see you are well." Lexa looked up to see her First standing before her.

Anya stood tall and powerful, scabbard and sword attached to her belt, war paint across her face.

"Yes." Lexa said firmly. "It has been a long journey these past few weeks, possibly longer than yours."

Anya's lips quivered slightly at Lexa's remark, the closest her First ever came to smiling or laughing.

"Your healer says that you have been lucid for nearly two straight days." Anya said proudly sitting on the edge of the bed.
Lexa sat up most straighter as the proximity of her First increased. Though Lexa's rank was much higher than Anya's since she had been appointed Commander she still felt a high regard and respect for the woman who had raised her.

"How do you feel?" Anya asked.

"Weak." Lexa said regrettably. "The nightshade took a larger toll on my body than anything I've faced before. I have barely stood let alone walked without assistance these past weeks."

"But you believe the sickness has passed." Anya prompted.

"If that is what my Healer says than I agree." Lexa confirmed.

Anya nodded. "Your healer thinks your are through it all, she also says your shoulder should be completely mended by the next moon but you are not too strain it."

Lexa rotated her shoulder and agreed that there was still some healing to be done but it had come great strides the last few days. Costia's treatments had worked wonderfully.

"How was your journey?" Lexa asked turning to the table beside the bed where a pitcher of water sat with two cups. She poured a cup and handed it to her first.

Anya accepted it gratefully. "It was slow. We dared not speak of the true purpose of our journey nor did we wish take much notice. My party avoided all dense villages and well traveled roads. Our horses are incredibly tired and will not be fit to travel for at least two days."

Lexa nodded and took a drink of water. "I appreciate you coming for me. Even if I'd been able to travel before now I would not have dared with only Gustus to assist me."

"You made a wise decision, Heda." Anya said nodding before placing her glass on the table and rising. "I will leave you now, we will discuss what political conflicts have risen in your absence later. For now I have asked your healer to aide you in gaining your strength back. You will need it for the ride to Polis. You mustn't appear weak on your return."

"Thank you Anya." Lexa said nodding. Anya gave a slight bow and exited the tent. After she had left Lexa flopped back onto the bed. It was over; the terror of the nightshade was lifted. She was to return to the capitol, to the council, to training the young Nightbloods.

"Heda?" Costia's voice called hesitantly. Lexa lifted her head to see the girl standing in the entrance of the tent. Her eyes were on the ground and her hands folded across her waist. She appeared very formal.

"I have been instructed to assist you in regaining your strength. Would you care to start now?"

"Costia…" Lexa began but the other girl cut her off.

"We will begin with a few simple steps." With surprising speed Costia was at Lexa's side and wrapping her arms over Lexa's good shoulder. At her touch Lexa stared at Costia who caught her eye. For a moment the two women stared at one another. Then Costia looked away. "May I ask you to place your feet on the ground?"

Lexa felt her heart drop slightly, though as a child her had understood the need for love and compassion she as Commander could not feel such things for but one in a tribe. Nor could any one person expect to love the Commander solely. For it was said that the Commander's only true love was their people.
This was to be their fates.