Chapter 79
Madi sat on the rails just outside the Pits and watched the fights that were going on. She was surprised that they had made such good time getting back to the barracks. Octavia seemed happy though. She jumped right into the Pits and started to spar with the gona that were training for the trials for the jusgona. Madi was proud of all the warriors that were there. As she looked over the Pits, her eyes found Indra and Bellamy off to the side.
She knew Clarke had personally sent Bellamy to Indra to be her second. She knew it was both for punishment and training. Bellamy would be a good general if he could learn to follow. She knew from Lexa's memories, Clarke's tales, and Octavia's teachings. He was strong. He fought well. Now, if Indra could get him to be what they needed, he could be a very formidable on the battlefield. But, then again, Madi didn't want to have to use him. She didn't want another war, but she knew that she couldn't take the warrior way of life from her people. She could give them peace, but she would still give them their warriors.
Echo moved out of the stables and to Madi's side. She watched Clarke stalk more than walk up the way to the main part of the barracks. She could already tell that she was going to seek Abby out and speak with her. She hoped that Wanheda didn't make an appearance while she was talking with her mother. Abby was a bright woman, but some times she just didn't understand the way things were or worked. She was still stuck with the Ark's ideology.
As she stood next to the rail and Madi, the communication device that she'd been given started making noise. She reached down into the pocket and pulled it out. She saw that it was Raven calling them already.
"She must be bored," Echo stated as she showed the device to Madi.
The teen laughed with her, but she nodded to Echo to answer the device. As soon as the application open, Echo could see Raven's face. She looked flustered and upset about something, but Echo couldn't guess at what it could be. They hadn't been gone long enough for Raven to get into too much trouble, or so she thought.
"What is wrong, my Little Bird?" Echo asked with a slight laugh in her voice, hoping to break Raven's mood.
"We need to talk. Now. Get Madi," Raven told her.
Madi cocked an eyebrow at Raven's words. Instead of saying anything about Raven's words, Madi reached back and pulled Echo closer. She had her lean onto the rail. This put the device over the rail and brought Madi into the picture with herself. Raven wasn't smiling though when she saw them both. Madi could see that something was bothering Raven enough that she felt the need to call them about it so quickly.
"What happened?" Madi asked her.
"Are you both alone?"
"We're watching the gona fight in the Pits, why?" Echo questioned.
"The spot on Palla," Raven started.
"What spot?" Echo inquired.
"The birthmark on her stomach," Raven replied.
"The death mark?" Madi asked.
"Yes," Raven said.
"What is it you want to know, Raven?" Madi questioned her purposefully.
Echo furrowed her brow at the conversation. She wasn't sure why Raven was upset by a mark on Palla's body, but it was. She knew that Skaikru didn't view things the same way that they did, but birthmarks weren't something new. But, then she linked the words that Madi said to what Raven said. Raven called it a "spot" and then a "birthmark," but Madi called it "the death mark."
"Lexa's death mark?" Echo inquired.
"Yes," Raven answered.
Madi didn't seem too surprised. In fact, it seemed like she already knew about it. Echo wasn't that surprised. To her, it made more sense about Madi making sure that Octavia was with Palla and keeping her safe. She knew that Madi had all of Lexa's memories, so she would have recognized the birthmark as a death mark if it was one. It had been over a hundred twenty-five years. For Echo with their belief systems, it was possible that Palla could be Lexa reborn. It wasn't that far of reach for the rest of the Grounders to believe it.
"What is it that you need to know, Raven?" Madi asked her.
"Have you told Clarke about it?"
"No, I haven't," Madi answered.
"Are you going to tell her?"
"If I think that she would listen to me, yes. I know that we've talked about my beliefs and hers when we were in Eden, but we never really practiced anything while we there unless I asked her to do it. It was all my decision. We did what I wanted. She didn't even celebrate Unity Day with me. We were alone. For her, what was the point? There wasn't one. She was just worried about me and making sure that her history was remembered should we never be able to get back you in the bunker. Now, I am not sure that she would listen. Back then we did talk about reincarnation, but now she looks at me and she hears Lexa. I know that she doesn't know how to handle me because of that," Madi explained.
"I don't understand it past the chip in your head, Kid. So, why don't you explain it better for me? Why should we care that Palla has the death mark on her stomach from Lexa's death? What does that have to do with anything that we are doing now?" Raven asked.
Madi sighed. She knew that Raven believed in science. She did to a degree, but she couldn't deny her heritage. She also had all the hedas in her head, all the way back to Becca Praimheda. Having Lexa in her head helped her deal with things and lead, but Madi still had her own thoughts. She was still developing and growing. She knew that Raven only had her own life to base things off of and use.
"As Grounders, we believe that we have souls, like the old religions," Madi started.
"I know all of that," Raven answered.
"Em plenti, Reivon. Shof op. Teik ai chich yu op," Madi stated quickly.
Raven hung her head and mumbled her apologies.
"In our lore as a people, we believe that we have keyron teina or spirit-twined. I believe your people refer to it as soulmates. The gods gave us these people to help us survive the challenges of life after praimfaya. We believe that we can find our keyron teina and that we will be happy, loved. Not everyone finds theirs, but those that do experience a bliss beyond comprehension. Often times, these keyron teina are brought back together over lifetimes. Sometimes as lovers, some as friends, and some as parent and child. It is said that once a keyron finds its keyron teina, that they will always find each other, life time after life time," Madi explained.
"And Clarke and Lexa were keyron teina?" Raven asked.
"Lexa believed that they were, but there time was cut short."
"And, we spent 125 years in space, asleep..." Echo added.
"So, by our beliefs, it is possible that Palla could be the reincarnated keyron of Lexa. It has been lifetimes since Lexa died. She is also a natblida. She is a leader in her own right. Palla is a strong woman and Clarke would be lucky for her care for her," Madi stated.
"But..."
"Palla has had similar life to Lexa. She loved young. Her enemies killed her lover. By the gods, Raven, she even named her fosterling Lexi. She sees something in Clarke, and I think that Clarke sees something in her, too. But, Clarke is still mourning Lexa. Her heart still hurts about Lexa's death.
"I know that I make it hard for her, too. She doesn't want to admit it, but I can see it in her eyes. She loves me as Madi, her fosterling, but she also knows that I know about her times with Lexa. I have Lexa's memories because of the chip."
"And, you've used those against her?" Raven inquired.
"I have, when the situation warranted. But, she's also afraid of Palla. She's drawn to her but doesn't want to be. I sent Octavia to protect Palla for Clarke's sake after I saw the mark. Palla is aware. She believes that her wife sent Clarke to her. Clarke is another story. I am not sure she knows what to believe, but I know that she can't deny her feelings for Palla. She will try, and she will fail," Madi replied. "Palla bearing the mark just leans more the proof that she is Lexa's keyron reborn. The fact that we crossed the vast expanses of space to be here, the longevity of our trip and the fact that she is roughly the same age as Clarke gives it more."
"Palla told me that she was drawn to the name of Lex for her daughter. It wouldn't leave her alone. She feels like it is part of her. And, then look at Lex. She's blond with green eyes, Raven. Palla is Lexa reborn, but she isn't heda. In this life, she is simply Palla, head of the Village and Helios, the leader of Terre Nova," Echo stated.
"Leave it to Clarke to fall for the leader of the world again," Raven mused.
"But, she hasn't," Palla stated from her position off camera.
"Then we must help them get back together, yeah?" Raven questioned.
"Clarke's keyron must recognize Palla's. Until it does, she will not see Palla as her keyron teina. And, we cannot force them together," Madi replied.
"But she must have known something was up because you assigned Octavia to be Palla's guard, right?"
"She knew that it did it for political reasons," Madi explained. "I would not let Clarke without me being there, as well. Octavia and Echo were perfect choices because they understand both mentalities of our people. They've been both. And, they will fight to make sure that we are treated fairly."
"We will," Echo added.
"So, we need to help Palla court Clarke," Raven mused.
"More of we need to convince Clarke to give Palla an actual, real chance," Octavia added as she joined them by the rail.
Echo and Madi looked up to see her smiling. She might not have heard the entire conversation, but they could tell that Octavia had some clue. She gave Madi and Echo a conspiratorial smile.
"I've already told Clarke that it was time for her to move on," Octavia told them. "She isn't ready. Or, she's fighting her own head. I'm not sure which. I know that Niylah has been trying to get through to her."
"Niylah?" Raven inquired.
"Yeah, Niylah. Why? Is that a problem?" Octavia questioned.
"Um, maybe, only the fact that Niylah and Clarke used to bump uglies. They were totally a thing, O. You basically screwed Clarke," Raven answered. "Oh, don't look at me like that. I saw the scratches and Clarke needed someone to talk to that wasn't Bellamy. We all know how well that went down, but anyway."
"Niylah and I are together now, Raven," Octavia told her.
"When did this happen? Why wasn't I told? I thought I was your friend. I am so hurt," Raven lamented.
"If you had been paying attention, Little Bird, you would have seen it. Niylah is good for the hot blood of Octavia's temper. And, I believe that Niylah and Clarke decided to be friends after we all got out of the bunker. They no longer knew each other. They had grown apart," Echo added.
"Yeah, well, Niylah threatened to turn me over to Octavia as a natblida."
"She...did...not!" Raven exclaimed. "And, she's still breathing."
"We left the bunker before she could, but that's not the point, Raven."
"Right. Sorry, heda. So, are we going to help them get together or not?"
"Do I get a say in this?" Palla asked, still off screen.
"The birthmark on your stomach says no," Raven replied.
"She doesn't want me," Palla added.
"Oh, she wants you, Palla. She's just scared. We just have to get her over it," Octavia stated. "Don't worry, Auntie O and Echo will have a talk with her. Raven can, too. But for now, Palla work with Raven on getting better. We should be back in a few days. Indra wants to have some trials before we go back. She wants at least two or three more to join the jusgona."
"What about me?" Raven probed.
"We will deal with yours as soon as we can, Little Bird. Until we get back, take care of your sword, train with Palla, and get better. I will test you when I get back," Echo commanded.
"Sha, ai fos."
"And, Reivon?"
"Sha, Eko?"
"Be good. I'll expect a full run down from both Sam and Meika, but also from Payla on how you were. And, for the love of all the gods, don't make anything go boom while you are there," Echo warned.
"One time...I threatened it one time..."
"And succeeded in blowing up a bridge, burning 300 warriors, destroying part of Mount Weather..." Octavia started listing.
"Okay, okay, I'll be good and just play with my sword," Raven stated.
"Good Bird," Echo replied as Madi closed the app. She looked over at Madi and then back to Octavia before asking, "Are we really going to do this?"
"We are just going to talk to her, Echo," Octavia said. "She helped me and led me to Niylah. It is the least that we can do to help her find some happiness here. She deserves it."
"They both do," Madi added.