CHAPTER 8

Lexa entered the tent late at night with in a huff. Nia the Ice Nation's queen was continuing to grow bolder and her forces has recently burnt a Northern Trikru village to the ground; an action that could not go without punishment. Lexa sat on her bed rubbing her temples. She did not want to go to war against the Azgeda. Their clan was strong and it would spill too much blood should Lexa choose to muster a force to march against them. But she could not let such a treachery go unnoticed else she appear weak to her people.

She sighed. For this was always it, the dilemma she face daily as Commander. The decision whether to kill her people and be mighty or save them and have them resent her. She would seek guidance from her elders when she returned to Polis. She doubted their usefulness though; they no doubt would call for war. If only there was a more prudent way to solve conflicts than bloodshed Lexa thought, pondering her options.

"Heda?"

Lexa's thoughts were disrupted by the voice and her head shot upwards to find the source.

Costia was peeking her head into the tent. There was concern on her face, not concern for herself but for Lexa.

"I can return another time if you wish." She said quickly ducking her head from the tent.

"No Costia." Lexa called after her rising from the bed. "You may stay."

Costia's face returned in the tent and she hesitantly entered. "I just. I heard of conflict in the north and thought you may wish to be alone."

Lexa smiled and took Costia's hand and kissed the girl's fingers. "I don't want to be alone in a world where the option to be with you exists." Lexa said quietly, all stress seemed to flow from her body with each finger of Costia's she placed her lips on.

Costia laughed. "Who knew the Commander could be so passionate." She said placing her hands on Lexa's waist and looking into the girl's dark eyes.

"I didn't know myself." Lexa whispered before leaning into Costia's lips. Costia sighed into the kiss and pulled Lexa closer to her. After a moment the two broke apart. Lexa crossed to her table and poured them both a glass of water. Costia watched her with anticipation, almost sensing that something was about to be brought forward.

"What is it Lexa?" She asked seriously following her girl and placing a hand on her shoulder.

Lexa took a long drink of water before turning to face the woman she'd become so close to in such a short time.

"Tomorrow I return to Polis."

Costia wilted. "Oh." She said removing her hand from Lexa's shoulder.

"There have been recent developments and now that my strength has returned I have no further need to stay here."

That seemed to hurt Costia. She recoiled even more and sat on the edge of the bed.

Lexa sighed knowing the words had come out harsher than she intended but she needed to make the situation clear.

"Costia…" She said softly sitting next to the girl.

"I understand, Heda." Costia's eyes were closed tightly and she was sitting still as a statue. Lexa went to wrap an arm around her, the girl immediately stood crossing her arms, her back facing Lexa.
"You have a duty, as it was my duty to keep you healthy, now that you are fit I am of no further use to you.

Lexa opened her mouth to retort this, express how that had nothing to do with what needed to happen, then a thought struck her, to skip all of these emotions.

"Will you come to the capitol with me?"

The silence that followed was deafening. Lexa did not break it, she just let her offer hang in the room. Costia's arms dropped and she slowly turned to face the Commander.

"You… You want me to go with you to the Capitol?" She asked shyly.

"Yes." Lexa said standing slowly.

"I would leave here tomorrow and ride with you to Polis?"

"If you wish." Lexa said taking a step towards her.

Costia held up a finger halting Lexa. "What would I do there."

Lexa licked her lips uneasily. "I… You… You are a skilled healer Costia, I see none more fit to serve as Healer to the Commander than you."

Costia stared at Lexa, her face unreadable.

"I... I must go. I cannot stay, my life here can no longer continue but I… I want my life with you to continue." Lexa confessed. "Will you come with me? Please."

"What would I be required to do as your healer?"

Lexa shrugged, not having thought the idea through thoroughly enough. "I suppose you would serve as a healer in Polis, however you would always treat me primarily. You do much like you do now, spend the nights cleaning my wounds." She slowly began to move towards Costia. "You would do much like you do now, You would save me everyday." She closed her eyes as she said the last few words and pressed her lips against Costia's.

The healer whimpered as Lexa kissed her deeply and lovingly. She wrapped her arms around Lexa's neck. Lexa lifted the girl up with surprising strength until she was support all of the girl's weight. Costia wrapped her legs around Lexa's waist and held her tightly. Lexa broke apart from the kiss and stared at Costia.

"I cannot leave you." She confessed.

Costia smiled. "Then I won't make you."

Lexa nearly dropped the girl. Instead she slowly lowered her back to the ground until she was supporting herself.

"You'll come?" She said excitedly.

She laughed at the no doubt silly grin Lexa was sporting and nodded vigorously before embracing Lexa tightly, burying her face into the girl's shoulder.

Lexa laughed happily and squeezed the girl tightly. Feeling their hearts beating together as one. This time it was Costia who broke the embrace, she took a step back. "I have to collect my things." She said breathlessly.

"Yes." Lexa said placing a hand on Costia's face. "Pack your bag and return here with it, we leave at first dawn." Costia seemed to shake with anticipation. "Go." Lexa instructed. "I must speak with Nyko before he hears tell of this through some other manner."

Costia nodded and was gone. Lexa followed her outside the tent and spotted here nearest guard leaning one a saw horse some 15ft away.

"Fetch Nyko for me." She called to him. The guard nodded and disappeared into the growing night.

XXX

"Goodnight Commander." Nyko said as he left her tent. Lexa watched him go intrigued. He had in no way been thrilled that she had informed him that she was taking 3 of his best warriors and his best healer to the Capitol with her but he could not deny her such requests. She had noticed the small smile flicker across his face at the mention of how Costia would be accompanying them and wondered how much he knew of their relationship. It occurred to her that the entire village could be made aware of it and simply were not speaking of it for fear of her wrath. It still made her feel uneasy though.

Few Commanders ever took spouses and even fewer formed families. More often than not the families met just as untimely deaths as the Commanders.

"That will not be Costia's fate." Lexa said aloud. Somehow convinced that by verbalizing it was more likely to be obeyed.

"What won't be my fate?" Lexa made a mental note to ask Costia later how she moved so quietly. Lexa had never had someone manage to sneak up on her so many times.

"Nothing.", Lexa said turning toward the girl smiling with ease for there Costia stood, a large rucksack in hand, the light from the tent's candles silhouetting her perfectly. This beautiful creature was to be hers Lexa thought. This gorgeous girl was going to the capitol with her, would sleep in her bed, would eat her meals with her, would love her.

"Lexa?" Costia asked concerned and Lexa realized she must have been staring.

"Come here." Lexa said opening up her arms. Costia lowered her bag to the ground and gladly moved into Lexa's arms. Lexa was taller so it was easer for her to rest her chin on the girl's shoulder. The two seemed to fit together perfectly while embracing. Not a limb sat awkwardly or out of placed, they didn't need to crouch or reach.

"Thank you." Costia whispered into Lexa's chest and it only made her squeeze her tighter.

"Thank you." Lexa responded quietly.

Lexa felt Costia nuzzle closer into her neck and within a moment felt the slight tingling as she placed light kisses on Lexa's neck. Lexa sighed and Costia suck the sensitive flesh on her neck. The girl stood slightly up on her toes as to reach Lexa's ear and whispered "I love you." Before taking Lexa's earlobe in her mouth. Costa's hot breath sent shivers down Lexa's spine and she found herself lowering her body slightly granting the other girl easier access to her neck.

"Costia." Lexa groaned slightly and she felt the healer's haunting hands begin to fiddle with Lexa's armor.

"Shhh." Costia said into Lexa's ear. "Let me love you tonight, let me show you how much this means to me."

Lexa felt her knees buckle slightly as Costia successfully opener her front armor, and her hand found her breasts. All the while Costia's lips and tongue kept at work on Lexa's neck and ear. Costia's delicate hand found Lexa's hardening nipples and brushed them slightly.

Lexa sharply inhaled and pulled Costia's lips to her own and began to kiss her with a new found aggression. She found herself biting Costia's lower lip, in response Costia pinched her Lexa's binding covered nipples.

As Lexa kissed Costia she found herself being pushed backwards and realized that Costia was trying to lead her to the bed. She allowed herself to be pushed backwards and within a moment the back of her knees made contact with the bed. Costia stopped touching Lexa's chest and instead pulled Lexa's armor from her body. She did this with practiced ease and within a moment Lexa was standing in nothing but her pants and binding, she then gave Lexa a slight push and the Commander found herself laying on her back on the bed.