CLARKE
I'm getting ready to leave, Lexa is sitting on the bed, watching me pack. I know she's nervous because she won't be there to protect me, but I'm sure it won't be necessary. I also think that she'll be sending the whole Grounder army to protect me, but that's okay.
"Are you ready ?" She asks, impatiently.
"Yes, I guess. I don't really have much to take with me. It's a two days trip." I tell her, while I check my backpack.
"Do you have your knife ? And your gun ? What about bullets ?"
"Are those the things you take with you whenever you go on a trip ?" I ask her, grinning.
"Nope." She laughs. "We don't use guns and I've learned what a bullet is like a week ago. I usually take my swords with me wherever I go."
"You've got to be kidding me." I'm still fascinated by this world. It's fun to see what is normal to them and compare it to what feels normal to me. Even if the longer I spend time on Earth, the closer I feel to them. On the Ark, we weren't allowed to have weapons. Only guards could carry guns, even because we didn't really need them. It was really uncommon for people to go against the law, since the punishment for basically everything was getting floated. Now always having a weapon makes me feel weirdly better. Safer.
"Of course I'm not kidding. You never know what's around the corner. Also, I'm the commander of thirteen clans, and there are many people out there who want my place. Or don't like me." She says, touching her hair.
"I know, I know. I do have my knife and my gun, but I'm sure I won't need them." I normally use the gun whenever I need to protect myself from something, or someone. I guess guns are just easier to use, spears and swords need a fine techinique that only grounders seem to master. But this knife is particularly dear to me, because it was a gift from Lexa. She said I needed a grounder weapon, because the gun could stop working, or I could run out of bullets. She knows I can't fight barehanded, so the knife will do. It's beautifully engraved with a drawing that resembles one of her tattoos. I love it.
"I just told you that you can never know."
"I know, but what I meant is that I won't need them because you'll be sending the whole grounder army out to escort me, won't you ?" It's always nice to watch her react whenever I tease her. It's super funny because she's the Commander, the cold-hearted leader of the Grounders. And yet..
"I might." She blushes.
"You don't need to."
"You know, Clarke kom Skaikru," her face changes in a second, she instantly becomes serious, "now you're part of us. Skaikru is the thirtheenth clan, and I am your Commander. Sometimes you can't tell me what to do." It's incredible how she can go from cute Lexa to commander Lexa in a heartbeat. She's wearing her night gown, no war paint on, her hair is not braided. I don't see a commander right now, I don't see a warrior.
I see Lexa.
I smile : "Are you sending your whole army out to protect me because you're my Commander or because we're together ?"
She smiles at me mentioning us being together : "You don't need to know why, just let it be."
I nod and kiss her, placing both my hands on her cheeks. "Alright, Heda. I'm leaving now."
She looks at me with her puppy eyes and I wish I didn't have to leave her here. It's the right thing to do, though.
"I'll see you in two days." I promise her. "Be good to your people."
I turn around to walk away, but she grabs me from one arm and pulls me into a tight embrace.
"Ste klir." She whispers into my ear.
Be safe.
We kiss again and then I walk outside her tent, to meet Indra. I'm excited about this trip, but it's weird to live Polis like this after weeks of living here. I have left the place only to go on hikes with Lexa, never once towards camp Jaha.
And now I'm going back there.
I'm not sure what to expect, I know that Pike is the new chancellor and that he is responsible for what happened in Indra's village and I'm hoping he's not planning on destroying anything else. I need to go there and fix this.
"Let's go, Indra."
"Yes, Wanheda."
"You can call me Clarke, you know that, right ?"
"I do, but I like Wanheda better."
She's cold, as she always is. I can tell she doesn't like me at all. She doesn't "like" Wanheda better, she believes "Commander of death" suits me better than my actual name.
And I guess she's right.
Indra has never trusted Sky people. She has never trusted me. And with what Pike and Bellamy did to her village, I believe she won't ever trust us. What was done to her village is an act of war, an unforgettable act of war.
The trip back to camp Jaha is long and silent. It goes smoothly, though. No attacks during the journey and now we're almost there, I can see the gate. Apparently, camp Jaha is now called Arkadia.
"I'm going in first, I don't think Pike would understand why there are grounders with me and I don't want any of you to get hurt."
Indra nods, the warriors standing behind her. I slowly walk to the gets, holding my empty hands up in the air.
"Open the gates !" I hear someone shouting. I guess they recognized me.
The gate's opening and I can see them. All of them. Armed guards pointing their guns at me.
Skaikru.
My people.
"Clarke !"
My mom running towards me, smiling. She hugs me tight and places a kiss on my cheek. "I've missed you." She says, softly.
"Hi, mom." I smile back. "There are grounders with me, they can't be harmed."
"Guess who's back." I don't know why but I can't stand Pike's voice. "Don't think you can come back here and be in charge, because I'm the chancellor now. I surely won't let a child tell me what to do."
Now I know why his voice annoys me. Because my brain knows that his voice can only express his stupid and senseless thoughts.
"I'm not here to be in charge. But grounders are our allies even after what you did to them, they should be able to come here with me without fearing of being killed off by you." I tell him, my voice steady. "This is what an alliance is. Burning down an entire village isn't."
"We're not their allies. I rejected the alliance as soon as I became chancellor. There's no 13th clan. You have to choose if you want to be one of us or one of them. You can't be both, I won't allow it."
If I think that I didn't like Kane at first. This one is even worse.
"You do understand that having grounders has enemies means dying for sure, don't you ?" I can't believe I'm having this conversation again. Why can't people understand that an alliance with the grounders is the only way to survive ? Do they really think that they can wipe them out ? And what is worse is that they feel the need to wipe them out.
"I think we can survive on our own. We always have and we always will. I don't want my people to have savages as their allies. So now choose, either us or them." He says, not leaving my gaze. He has two guards on both his sides, I wonder why. Does he need protection even inside his own camp ? He probably realized that nobody likes him.
Oh boy, I do wonder why.
I need to talk to Octavia. And Raven. And even Bellamy. "Give me some time." I simply say.
Of course Octavia is the hardest to find, she doesn't spend much time inside the camp, because apparently Lincoln isn't allowed to be here. Everything that he did for us, even risking his own life, means nothing to Pike. Lincoln was the main reason why Lexa accepted to have us as their allies. I eventually find Octavia and tell her everything.
"Indra was eager to see you, you should go talk to her. Of course Pike won't let them in. He asked me to choose between Grounders and Sky people."
"What are you going to do ?" She asks, a bit concerned.
"I'm not sure. I can't be here knowing that he wants to kill them all, Octavia. I need to do something."
"We need to do something. I'm here to help." She says and I can see that she despises Pike possibly as much as I do.
"I know you are, now go see Indra. She would never admit it, but she's missed you." I tell her and walk away to see Raven. I find her working on a radio.
"Raven, hey."
"Clarke ! You're back !" She gets up and I can see that her leg is getting worse.
"Yes, but not for good. I can't be here, or I won't be able to help the grounders." I tell her. I still can't believe that this is my life now. When they told us that we would be coming to earth, I thought we'd be happy here. Safe. Look at us now.
"Pike wants to eliminate them, right ? He wants us the be the only ones left on Earth. Does he know how violent and dangerous grounders can be ? And does he know that they've helped us survive out here ?" She looks as pissed as I am. I'm happy to see that those who were with me before the arrival of Pike understand precisely my thoughts on his actions.
"I guess he doesn't. He asked me to choose between Grounders and Sky people, but it's not something that I can do. I belong in both parties, I can't choose. I'm going to need some supplies, though. Grounders don't have many bullets."
She laughs. "Come see me later, I'll give you what I find."
"Thanks, Raven. It's good to see you again."
I'm looking for Bellamy, but I can't find him anywhere. Instead, Pike finds me.
"Time to make your choice, Clarke." He states.
What do I do ? Choosing them means staying here, he would never let me leave.
"I choose Trikru." I say.
"Even speaking their language, I see. Well, I didn't want to do this, but… You're a prisoner, then." He looks at me, a mean, creepy smile on his face.
As his guards cuff me, I look at him, thinking how much of a coward he is. Not even capable of getting his own prisoners. Considering that I am a child, I don't see how difficult that should be. Now I see why he needs guards with him all the time.
"Ai gonplei nou ste odon nowe, ai na fraf yu op." Are my last words to him.