Chapter 73
Octavia was sitting outside the hospital. She was watching Echo as she paced not two feet from her. Clarke was in the operating room with Sam and Meeka. Palla and Madi were in the waiting room. And, much to Elena's dismay, Palla had sent her away, asking that she bring her Amazons back to the wall to help finish securing it before the snows started. Palla wasn't worried about them being attacked in the Village, so Echo and Octavia weren't as worried.
She knew that her jusgona sis was always worried and always ready to defend. That was just Echo's nature. She more worried about her emotions when it came to Raven. The woman cared more than she wanted to let on, and they all knew it. Echo treated Raven like a sister, and they all knew how much family meant to the Azgeda people. But, now they were all Gryfonkru, and that didn't make their bond any less important. In the scheme of things, it made it more, and Octavia just hoped that Echo would survive the rehab and therapy that Raven would have to endure without killing any of the medical staff.
She also knew that reason that Madi named her ambassador to the Amazons was to keep Echo nearer to Raven. Echo didn't know that, but she knew that Madi was like Clarke. She did things that seemed that they didn't matter, but in the end turned out to be significant in the long game of politics. After watching Clarke, Lexa, and Palla, she knew that Madi was still learning but still very capable. It also helped that the teen had the previous hedas in her head to help her.
"She'll be fine, Eko. Rest for now. You can pace when she wakes," Octavia told her.
"I don't know what the fisas are doing to her, Sis. It worries me. I didn't understand what the Hedafisa said to Clarke. When Clarke tells me what she is doing or even fisa Abi, I understand. I don't understand her."
"Calm down, Echo. She is fine. Based on what little I know, they grew some more ligaments, tendons and nerves from Raven's own body. Sam and Clarke will cut open her leg and attach them. Once they've taken root, they will replace the damaged ones and Raven will have to learn to use her leg again. But, once she does, she'll be able to walk without pain, hopefully, and even run."
"I don't understand any of that," Echo lamented as she fell down on the bench beside Octavia.
"Ligaments and tendons are like ropes in your body. They help move your muscles and attach them to your bones. Without them, you wouldn't move right. Nerves are like strings in your body. They tell your muscles what to do."
"I have rope and string inside me?" Echo asked.
"Something like that, yeah. Think about a pulley and lifting something up off the ground, that is how the ligaments and tendons work, or that is the way I imagine it based on the reading I've done. I know that it is hard to understand for someone with no medical or fisa knowledge, but trust that Clarke doesn't want to hurt Raven. She wouldn't have signed off on this surgery or even agreed to scrub in with Sam if she didn't think that it would work to help Raven," Octavia told her.
"Do you think that she knows why Raven is pursuing this so hard?"
"I haven't told her. I know you haven't, and I seriously doubt that Raven would have. Madi, I'm sure has figured it out, but I don't think that Madi would tell her. As much as she loves Clarke, like she were her own mother, Madi knows that Raven's motivation would hurt Clarke's psyche. Raven might have a skewed reasoning, but it is her own. Raven is doer and we all know that. Her leg has kept her out of a lot of things, and that plagues her mind. Raven is doing this because she thinks she has to, and we both know that we can't stop her mindset. She's too stubborn for her own good," Octavia said.
"That I've found is a Skaikru trait," Echo replied.
"Indra would totally agree with you on that," Octavia added with a laugh.
Echo turned and faced her. She smiled. It was a rare sight without Bellamy near and Octavia reveled in it.
"She'll be fine, Echo. Believe in that and be ready to deal with her snark. You'll see. She'll be fine."
"As the Goddess wishes," Echo murmured.
"I know how to get your mind off of this," Octavia stated as she stood.
"How?"
"Let's spar," Octavia told her as she drew her sword.
"Here?"
"Why not?"
"What about the people?"
"What about them?" Octavia asked as she came at Echo with a glint in her eye.
"We are not meant to frighten them, O. We are here to protect Palla, Madi, Clarke, and be the ambassadors for our people. We cannot fight here."
"So you say," Octavia stated as she charged Echo more fully.
The taller woman moved out of the way of Octavia's advance and to the side. She still didn't draw her sword. Octavia turned around and smiled. There was a gleam in her face, and anyone watching would realize that she was playing with Echo more than she was trying to hurt her. She was smiling to joyously. There was no malice in her attacks. She wasn't worried about the people. She could careless what they thought of her. The only two, no three people that she cared about were Madi, Clarke and Indra.
"Put your blade away, Octavia. I will not fight you. You are not my enemy," Echo told her as they continued to circle each other outside the hospital.
"And, who is your enemy now, Echo? Can you tell me that? Who is your enemy?"
Echo stopped moving. Octavia watched her. She knew that she'd gotten to her with that. Echo had always had troubles with finding fault with the wrong people. She blindly, but not so blindly followed Nia's orders, but her devotion to her people was legendary. Octavia was still pushing her to see that they were actually all one people. She knew that Echo still felt like an outsider. Octavia knew that feeling well, and she wondered if that was why she was so quick to accept Madi's call to be jusgona.
"I have none but those of Palla and those of the Village," Echo told her.
"Then, let's keep it that way for now."
"I will do my best."
"I know that you don't trust the Amazon, and I trust you on that. But, we can't go looking for a fight with her either, Eko. You will not be going back with her to her lands when Palla sends her home before the snows. Madi has already made sure to that. You will be staying with Raven. Your appointment was a political move by Madi. She was letting the Amazon know that she wouldn't have direct contact with her. She trusts us to maintain the peace. Can you do this?"
"I will. Sha. But, who will protect Clarke from her?"
"I don't think we are going to have to worry about that with Palla. She sent her away today. Madi is not as naive as we think she is. Trust me. She doesn't like the fact that Eelaina is sniffing around Clarke. She favors Palla, but that is for Palla only to know at the moment, it seems."
"Really?"
"Sha."
"Then, I will wait for Heda's orders," Echo replied.
"Good," Madi said as she came up on them.
"Heda!" they both said loudly and saluted with bowed heads.
"May I ask as to who won?"
"Won what, Heda?" Octavia asked her.
"Your little fight. Word was that you were both trying to kill each other. I came down to see what was going on," Madi told them. "Glad to see that you've both worked out your differences. Is there something that I should know?"
"Not from me, Heda," Octavia answered.
"Echo?"
"I...Heda, I don't trust the Amazon. I know that she is a friend of Palla's, but there is something about her. I know I have no proof, but I don't like the way that she is trying to get closer to Clarke. Wanheda can take care of herself, she's proven that time and time again, but this Amazon is an unknown. I don't like her. I don't want her near either of you," Echo stated.
"And, what would you have me do?" Madi questioned.
"I don't know, Heda. I am not a politician or a leader. I am spy, a warrior, your jusgona."
"And, that my dear Eko, is why I made you her ambassador."
"I don't understand."
"I want you to study her and her people. I want to know more about these Amazons and what their designs are towards the Village and all the lands that Palla commands. I want to know their strength and their weaknesses. I am sending my best and most trusted spy to them in hopes that she'll do her job and report back what I need to know without the Amazon knowing that she's been played, Eko. Do you think that you can do that?" Madi asked her.
"Sha, Heda, I can," Echo replied with a smile on her face.
"You will start that mission once Raven is healed. I have a feeling that Elena will be making visits to the Village before winter sets in and the Snows start. Your mission is Raven first, Elena second. We will know what we need to know when we need to know it, Echo. Don't alienate her too much, but don't get too close. I don't want her to find out too much about us until we are ready to join Palla."
"As you command, Heda," Echo answered with a deep bow.
"Now, who won your little spar?"
"Neither?" Octavia offered up.
"Shame. I would love to watch the two of you spar each other. But, for now, we have other things to worry about. Don't forget to practice while you are here during the Snows, ai jusgona. You two are my best. Wouldn't want that to change," Madi teased them.
"We won't, Heda," Echo assured her. "Fancy a real go this time, O. Or, are you scared of your older sis, jusgona?"
"Bring it, Azripa," Octavia called to her as she drew her sword again.
The clash and clang of the swords could be heard through out the Village. Madi knew that they weren't pulling anything because she was there, and she was glad that they were near the hospital. IF one of them got hurt at least they were near immediate care. She knew the other reason that they were going so hard was the simple fact that she was watching. It was another way for them to build pride in their position, show off for their Heda, and just fight.
They were breathing hard. Octavia had a few scratches and gashes on one arm. Echo had her own and a multitude of bruises that Octavia had given her with her fists. She had to admire their spunk, their relentlessness and their passion in a fight. She hoped that she had half of their power when and if she ever had to lead a battle again. She might be Heda, but she was still a teen.
"ENOUGH! YO GONPLEI BILAIK ODON!." Clarke bellowed as she came out of the hospital doors.
Echo and Octavia immediately stopped. They were both heaving and turned to look more fully at Clarke as her face screamed at them her anger. Her eyes were on fire. Madi stood and walked to her mother. She reached out and put a hand on Clarke's arm. Blue fire met blue ice, but neither softened.
"You let them do this?" Clarke questioned.
"They were entertaining me, Clarke. They were not going to kill each other. They were training and sparring."
"And, now I have to sew them up," Clarke stated. "Of all the idiotic, stubborn..."
Her eyes flashed up at the warriors again. Echo had the decency to look berated. Octavia just smiled at her and looked cocky. Clarke shook her head.
"Come on you, branwada. I'll have to fix you both up before Raven wakes. Let's go see if I can find a room to work on you both," Clarke said as she turned back to the hospital and started to head back inside without waiting for acknowledgement or their agreement.
"Wanhead?" Echo asked as timidly as she could.
"What?"
"How is she?"
"She is a champ. She's Raven. She's made it through the surgery with no complications. Now, it will be up to her how quickly she's up and walking. Depending on how the graphs take, she might need another round of surgeries, but Sam and Meeka are both confident that with their combined efforts, that she shouldn't need but one more. We'll see how things go after all the therapy during the Snows," Clarke told them.
"Monchof," Echo stated.
"Pro. Now let's get you both stitched up so you can tell her all about how you got hurt. I'm sure that she would love to hear about you two trying to kill each other," Clarke stated.
"It seems to be one of her favorite pass times," Octavia said.
"Along with pissing everyone off, but she is especially good at it with Echo," Madi added.
"Don't I already know that," Echo stated.
"Just remember that you can't kill her until she's better. Fos en seken or not, understand me. Em gonplei no ste odon," Clarke practically ordered.
"I know, Wanheda. She'll be fine. I'll punish her for her mouth later."
"And, I'll be waiting to see it," Clarke replied with a smile as they made their way into the hospital.