Chapter 15

She took them up the stairs to another set of rooms. Stopping in front of an unmarked door to the right of the stairs, she opened the door and bid them follow her in. She took them in the barracks apartment and stopped in the common room. It had couch and some chairs.

"This is one of the barracks rooms. We only have two ready for you at the moment, but we are working on more. I've already set up rooms for you all. In this barracks, Abby, Indra, Bellamy and Echo will be staying. Unless you want the room down in the clinic Abby?"

"I'll stay in the clinic. There is so much I want to read about and learn. I also want to take an inventory..."

"That's fine, Abby," Palla replied with a smile on her face. "Then Raven can take your room. In each room, you'll find clothes of various styles. Please feel free to use whatever you like. If you want to alter it, please do. If there is something that you need, let me know. I'll find a way to get it here."

"Where will Madi be sleeping?" Echo asked, stepping closer to the little queen.

"She'll be across the hall, with Clarke and Octavia. Do not worry, Echo. No one means her harm. Besides, they will have to get through me to get to her. And, no one wants to do that," Palla told her.

Clarke wasn't sure about it, but she nodded to Echo to let it go. Echo took the silent command and then exchanged looks with Octavia. Palla moved around them and then across the way to another door.

This door was marked, however. It bore a symbol. It was the Eligius Corporation logo. She opened the door and led the rest of the team in. She stopped at the first bed room and let Octavia in.

"This will be your room, Octavia. I know that you are Clarke's guard and it is closest to the door. Clarke will be in the back. Madi in the small room just off Clarke's. Anyone that comes into this apartment will have to get through you first," Palla told her.

"Good."

"With all your rooms, you'll find a bathroom complete with a bath tub, sink and toilet. And, don't worry about the hot water. Each apartment has there gear to keep it warm. I'll let you all get settled. If you need anything, I'll be in the mess cleaning up."

"Where will you sleep?" Madi asked as Palla stopped just inside the door way.

"There on the couch. This is my barracks. It is the most furnished and fitting for you as leaders."

"I will not put you out of your own room," Clarke said as she moved closer to Madi. "I'll stay with Madi in her room. We've shared before. This will be nothing new."

"Trust me, Clarke. The bed it yours. I haven't slept in it, since..."

"Tamma?" Madi asked her, knowing some of Palla's story.

"Yes. There are fresh sheets on each bed. Be well and sleep. Tomorrow, I'll show you around some more and then we can start planning on bringing the others down."

She didn't wait for an answer before she off and down the stairs. Raven, Echo and Octavia just watched her go. Madi joined them quickly and then Clarke.

"Madi?"

"Yes, Clarke?"

"Who is Tamma?" Clarke asked her, realizing with the question that her daughter had spoken to Palla more than she had.

"Tamma was her wife," Madi replied.

"Wife?" Octavia questioned.

"She was killed by the Praha. From what I can tell, it was a very brutal and painful death. She stated that they sent her body back in pieces. It broke her. She went over the wall to die and instead became Palla. She ended the war between the Terrens, as they call themselves, and their cousins, the Praha. The Praha stay above the wall and she protects everyone below it. She is risking her people for us, because she wants us to be safe. It is another reason that she wants us to come down slowly."

"So the Praha don't know?" Raven asked.

"Exactly. She wants to help us. She wants us to join their society. She is even willing to give up some of her personal lands for us to build a community on, but only if we want. If we don't want to stay..."

"Where would we go?" Echo asked.

"She doesn't know and neither do we. She is offering us a life without war and just surviving. We just have to want it. She is giving us peace and life. We have to try."

"We will, Madi. We will," Clarke replied as she placed her hands on her daughter's shoulder. "We will find a way to fit in here. I know that it will be hard for the warriors, but they will find their place, too."

"The Rangers will probably take those that want to fight," Madi said.

"The Rangers?" Raven questioned. "Who are the Rangers, Little Queen? What do they want?"

"They are the standing army for Helios. Palla is a Ranger, but she is not the general. There is another. She is their leader and she fights with them...for them, but there is a general that takes care of their training and daily business. Currently they are working on fortifying the wall even more," Madi answered. "As for what they want...they live to protect the Village and all of settlements of Helios. They know that we mean no threat to them."

"How many times did you talk to her?" Clarke inquired.

"A lot," Madi responded and turned back to her rooms. "Trust me on this, though. Sleep. Tomorrow, you will all see more. She's gotten something for us all to feel more...welcome."

"Really?" Raven asked.

"Yes, even you," Madi said, laughing as she walked down the hall, into her room, and out of sight.

"Well, if we are going to have a busy day tomorrow and find out what other goodies we are going to get, I'm going to bed," Raven told them and then disappeared.

"I'll take first watch," Echo told Octavia. "I'll wake you half way through."

"Good. Clarke," Octavia stated as she went back into the barracks and to her room.

"Echo?"

"Sha, Wanheda?"

"Use Bellamy and Indra, too," Clarke told her.

"Sha, Wanheda."

Octavia woke quickly. It was light out, but it wasn't bright. She dressed and grabbed her sword before she headed for the door. When she opened it, she was surprised to Indra sitting there. The dark warrior general was sitting on the top of the stairs, sword in one hand, sharpening stone in the other. Like other nights, Octavia found the sound of the stone running down the blade both hypnotic and comforting.

"Come on, Child and sit," Indra told her in Trigedaslenge.

Octavia did as she was bade. If she was wondering why Indra was there, she knew that she wouldn't have to wait long. Indra wasn't one for small talk. She was direct and always to the point. It was one of the reasons that Octavia loved her so much. She needed someone like that in her life. Indra didn't sugarcoat things. She didn't make Octavia hide behind masks or floors or walls. She made Octavia become Octavia. She pushed her until Octavia couldn't take anymore and then she pushed more, because she wanted to see what the girl was made of. And, she succeeded in making Octavia an excellent and terrible warrior.

"What is it, Indra?" she asked automatically.

"I know that you are still hurting, Child. But, Heda has forgiven you for everything that you think that you have done wrong to the people. You helped us survive. You should be proud."

"We lost so many..."

"But, you saved more."

"I was merciless."

"You needed to be."

"I was a monster."

"No, you became what we needed to survive. I was there, remember? I was by your side. I fought with you and for you. I was proud that you were Blodreine."

"But?" Octavia asked her.

"Blodreine's time is over. Heda is back. You conceded to her. You are her mother's and Wanheda's personal guard. Heda doesn't need Blodreine. She needs her Skairipa. She needs you. I am not saying that it is going to be easy for you to let it go. I know that it isn't. It is the burden of being a leader, but Oktavia kom Wonkru, you are more than just Blodreine. You've proven that to me time and time again. At first, I thought you were a foolish girl. But, you could fight. Then, I thought that you were going to be one of the best warriors I ever trained. But, you left me to fight for your people. I understood. I accepted it. I thought I had failed you. But, then when I saw you triumphant in the conclave, I knew that I hadn't. I helped shape you. I helped you become who you were. But, I never forgot that girl who was just looking for acceptance. You still look for it. And, believe it or not, Madi gives it to you. Heda loves you, Octavia. Do not disappoint her."

"I don't know how not to," Octavia replied.

"Ge smak daun, gyon op nodotaim."

"Sha, Indra."

"Reshop, Okteivia."

"Reshop, Indra," Octavia replied and watched the older woman go back to her rooms to sleep.

She sat there on the landing and looked out into the night. She could tell by the faint light coming from over the trees that day was fast approaching. And, then she saw Palla coming out of a building to the left of the barracks. The woman looked tired and defeated, much like Octavia felt. As she approached, she could see the weariness in Palla's body.

"Palla?"

"Octavia?"

"You okay?"

"I'm fine. Just went for my nightly ride, is all? Why are you out here?"

"Guard duty," Octavia replied automatically.

"Old habits?"

"Some, but I don't mind. I've been trained to be a warrior since I landed on Earth. I served Indra before Lexa and I know I serve Clarke and Madi."

"But?"

"What but?"

"Do you ever serve yourself?you

"What do you mean?"

"Have you ever done anything for yourself?" Palla asked her.

"I killed the man that killed my mate."

"Well, okay, that wasn't quite what I meant, but I understand that, too."

"I used to ride horses."

"Horses?"

"Yeah, I had a horse. He was beautiful. I would patrol on him. I could get to places that the Rover couldn't. When I rode, I felt free," Octavia told her.

"What if I could give you that again?"

"What do you mean?"

"When everyone wakes, come down and break your fast in the mess. Gather Echo, Indra, Madi and Clarke. Bring your weapons. I have something to give you."

Octavia just stared at her. She didn't know what to say. But, she looked passed her and saw the first dawn coming as the first sun rose behind the trees.

"Look. I know that is hard for all of you. I am going to make some food. But, I've built a training ground," Palla told her and then pointed towards the other building she'd just come from. "It is beside that. Bring everyone if you wish, but as I gave Abby the clinic and Clarke her bathtub, I have something for you, there. Trust me. You'll like it."

Octavia just shook her head in approval. Palla just nodded and went into her rooms. True to her words, she came back out a few minutes later. She'd changed. She was wearing a black tank top and a pair of cargo pants. She had a strange belt attached to her and Octavia just stared at the loops wondering what types of weapons she carried. Palla dropped a hand on her shoulder and then made her way downstairs to the mess hall.

Just after the first sun peeked over the trees, Madi sat down beside her. Echo was next out her rooms, followed by Indra and then Clarke. Raven, Abby and Bellamy were all still asleep.

"Anything to report?" Echo asked her.

"Breakfast in the mess and then training, I think," Octavia stated.

"You think that there is training?" Madi asked her.

"Palla said something about a gift for me. It's in that building. We are all to go there after breakfast."

"A gift for you?" Clarke questioned.

"Yeah, something about the clinic for Abby and a bathtub for you. Mine is that building or near it. I don't know. She just told me to bring you four with me, and then said everyone could come if they wanted."

"Sounds good. Let's eat," Madi said as she stood up to head down the stairs. She stopped a little ways down and turned back up to Echo and Clarke, "Get the rest of them up. And, don't forget to get Abby. If she is anything like Clarke, she's been going over charts all night."

Clarke couldn't help but smile. Her daughter knew them both well. She turned to Echo, "I'll get Abby. You get cranky and your boy toy. I am sure he's starved."