Chapter 12
Clarke paused her story. She reached for the cup of Indra's hooch and took a large sip. She let out a deep breath budgie looking towards Echo. They both knew that the next part of the story was going to be unpleasant and rankle a few feathers, especially Lexa's and Octavia's.
Before she could continue, Lexa spoke, but it wasn't to Clarke. Her deep green eyes locked with Echo's hazel. It wasn't a fight, a conversation, a bit of gratitude, and a lot more understanding about the Azgedan spy turned royal Heda guard.
"You became her Fos?" Lexa asked her.
Echo wasn't sure how to respond. She had trained Clarke in that life. It was another reason that she wasn't so surprised at her adeptness at the bow. Echo had trained her to use it...lethally. But, after her first rebirth, she knew that Clarke would use each rebirth to learn something new. Seeing her moving through the village when Sangeda attacked was nothing new for her. Knowing how well she could ride wasn't a surprise for her as much as it was for the rest.
"In a manner of speaking, sha, I did become her fos."
"You don't fight strickly like Azgeda. I've seen Trikru and Ingronronra. I've even seen you do things that I've only ever seen Luna do or another Nat..." Lexa cut herself off. She realized what she was saying. Clarke had trained with all the clans. She'd lived long enough to perfect moves that only other Night Bloods knew. She turned from Echo and looked deeply into Clarke's eyes. She could see the answer to the questions that she didn't want to ask, but she did anyway. "How many lives has it been? How many times have you come back to save us?"
She looked at Lexa for a moment or two more before catching Octavia's stare. She could tell that the young warrior woman wanted the same answers. Finding out that she wasn't the first had to hurt Octavia, but she was taking it in stride as she learned more and more about Clarke and their rebirth situation. That wasn't going to stop her from wanting to help Clarke and the only way she could do that was to ask questions that she wasn't sure that Clarke was going to want to answer. So, for now, she was waiting her turn and being quiet. She'd catch Clarke later, and both women knew it. So, Clarke reached for her cup. She took another sip and turned her head. She looked over at Indra and Gaia, smiling. Instead of answering Lexa's question, she kept herself facing Gaia a little more.
"Gaia, you became a Keyronkipa en Fleimkepa. Do you bear the mark as well?" Clarke asked her. "I've never seen it on you."
Gaia smiled at her. On her left shoulder was the Fleimkepa tattoo. Octavia and Clarke knew that it showed the twelve levels of Cadogan's crazy cult, New Dawn. All the Fleimkepa were made to get it once they'd finished their training. Titus bore his on his bald head. It had to be visible while they were in Polis, so Gaia choose the option for having it on her shoulder. It was an easily enough exposed area of her body that she could show if needed. And, just like she would in Polis if she was asked by anyone of rank, Gaia dropped the shawl top that she had wrapped her shoulders. Her left shoulder proudly showed the tattoo, but she didn't show Clarke that shoulder. She turned and showed Clarke her right shoulder.
Clarke thought for a second about leaning forward. When she realized that she wouldn't be able to see it well, she stood up. Echo moved first to allow her around the table. As she made it to Gaia's side, the blond-haired girl smiled and reached out for Clarke's hands. Clarke gave them to her and allowed herself to be pulled into Gaia's embrace.
"Azgeda may have waited over fifty years for the return of Wanheda, but all of the clans knew you would come for us, Klark. It was foretold that you would bring peace where Heda brings prosperity. Together to two of you will lead us into a new and better age of Man. You have the skills of thousands inside of you. I feel very priviledged to see you blossom and grow in this life as you fully accept that you are Wanheda and embrace your roll in our lives."
"I don't really have a choice anymore, Gaia, if I ever really did," Clarke quipped back with a smile.
Gaia held her at an arm's length and turned more fully into Clarke, showing her right shoulder. There was a scar. It was a triquetra. It wasn't carved into her flesh like those she'd met in Azgeda. This was burned into her flesh. It was small, no larger than a coin. Clarke couldn't help but reaching out until she ran her fingers slightly over the scar. It wasn't raised and with its size, it was easy to miss.
"How did you get this?" Clarke asked her.
Gaia smiled again. She dipped into her tank top and pulled out a small pendant. It was a triquetra. It was the same size as her scar.
"When I started having the dreams, Keyron sent me to Polis to the Fleimkepas. Titus didn't want to take me. He knew that my mother was Indra, but he respected the fact that I felt the calling to serve Heda in such a manner. I was still very young, and Leksa has just won her conclave," Gaia explained. "The Fleimkepa that I was assigned to learn from was called Daemon kom Ouskejonkru. He wasn't the first to tell me that I was chosen for a reason to be close to Heda. When he woke me one night, while we were in Ouskejon, he asked me about my dreams. It was then that he told me the tales of Wanheda. The more he told me, the more I knew that he was right. When I agreed to study the tales and learn all that I could, Daemon gave me the mark with the pendant that he told me to wear. He told me that others would know I was a Keyronkepa by the pendant, but others would know that I was a believer in Wanheda."
Clarke looked back at Echo. She pulled down her pants just at her right hip until the scar was exposed there. Clarke didn't even gasp. She remembered carving it into Echo's flesh. It was just another marker. For Clarke and Echo, it had been a test. If Echo woke again, with her knowledge of her life with Clarke then this would serve as a reminder for them both. Clarke gave her a weak smile.
Her eyes fluttered shut. She could see the valley, again. She'd found her peace again with Madi in the Shallow Valley, in a little place they called Eden, and she shared it that time with Echo. But, she'd lost so much more. When her eyes fluttered back open, Echo was at her side.
"She's alive, Klark. She is over in the corner sleeping," Echo reassured her. "She doesn't remember that life with us."
Clarke nodded. She'd fought so hard for her peace in that life. She'd battled and battled. She'd told them all that Death was coming for them. No one but Echo listened. She tried to warn them that they wouldn't survive Praimfaya, but Nia's need for power poisoned all their minds. Had they not run... Her eyes flew open and she looked harder at Echo. The taller woman knew that she was reliving their lives together. Echo had kept her sane, was still keeping her sane.
"I'm sorry," Clarke said as she moved away from Gaia.
The memories had started to take their toll on her mind again. Gaia could see it. They all could, but it seemed that only Gaia, Octavia and Echo understood it completely. And, the only reason that Gaia understood it was because she'd been trained to be a keyronkepa. She didn't fight Echo or anyone that came to Clarke to help her. She'd just been trying to unlock everything that Clarke knew. She could understand why Clarke buried so much of it, but Keyron knew that she had to experience everything that she had in order for her to actually embrace the title of Wanheda and what it meant for all the people. She might have gone into it for selfish reasons (trying to get Lexa back), but in doing so, she'd agreed to try to save as much of humanity as she could.
"We are the Twel, Clarke. There is nothing for you to apologize for. You had to learn how to get us and how to use us. We are all here now, though."
Echo pulled her pants back up and moved out of the way. She knew that Clarke would need another drink before she continued. For now, it was a good place to stop. Lexa stood now and watched as Echo poured another cup for Clarke. The blonde moved slowly back to her seat.
"We should take a break. Stretch and such," Lexa suggested. "I know that we can't go outside in the storm, but we've been sitting and listening for a good spell. Maybe, we should eat."
It was a suggestion. It was late, but there was still some stew in the pot over the stove waiting for the morning. Clarke looked at it and then at Lexa. She could see the worry in her lover's eyes, but she wasn't going to break. She turned to look back at Echo.
"I'm going to tell them about Ash. Are you ready for that? Are you going to be able to handle them knowing what happened?" Clarke asked her as she got into Echo's space, staring up into her bright and calculation hazel eyes.
"I swore my life to you, Klark. It doesn't matter what name I answer to. I am yours," Echo told her resolutely. "I have followed you into the abyss and we fought our way out together. That hasn't changed. I am your sword and bow to command."
"My blood for your blood," Clarke stated as she shook Echo's arm in the typical Grounder fashion.
"My blood for your blood," Echo affirmed.
Everyone else just watched them. No one else had spent so much time in Azgeda. They didn't know if it was some sort of Azgeda thing or just something between Echo and Clarke. But, the more that Lexa saw them together, she understood their relationship a little more. It was very similar to the one that she bore with Anya. They were close like sisters, like fos en sekken, like lovers, and it was all because they had to be in their situation. Lexa couldn't fault it.
Echo then handed her the cup. She drank it down in one go. She handed the cup back to Echo.
"I need something to eat."
"Is that wise?"
"It for the alcohol, Echo, not my nerves. Talking about what I've seen and done isn't going to make me sick, unfortunately. I guess I get that from my mother and being her sekken. I was training to be a surgeon and doctor on the Ark, so many times, that I'll be able to keep it down."
"As you wish, Wanheda," Echo replied.
She left Clarke near Lexa. Clarke watched as everyone moved around. After a few moments, she turned and looked back at Emori. She hadn't really being paying attention to the wounded woman and knew that she should check on her. As soon as her dark eyes saw Clarke's worry, Emori just nodded and then leaned further into Murphy. She gave Clarke a huge megawatt smile and waited to see what the blonde was going to do. They both knew that the healer in Clarke was going to win out over anythign else. Clarke was a healer first and foremost. She would always care for the wounded as soon as she could. She'd fight. She'd command. And, then she'd be in the hospital or clinic bandaged upon those that she could save while still issuing orders on how to save more. Lexa seemed to notice this interaction and decided to take pity on the girl.
"Go check her. I'll get you some water while Echo gets you some stew. We are all safe in here," Lexa told her, hoping it would reassure her, too.
Clarke didn't answer her. She just went. Emori just smiled bigger, if that was possible.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm sore, but I'm getting better. Whatever you gave me earlier helped a lot. Remind me to thank Raven and your mom for packing your bag full of the good stuff," Emori stated. "Don't worry about me, though. I will heal. I've come back from worse and I'll do it again. How are you, Clarke?"
Clarke took a minute to realize what Emori was telling her. She shook her head lightly. Emori was a fighter and a survivor. She would bounce back from this and take on the world again. Clarke was glad to have her by her side.
"I'm okay. The next part isn't going to be glorious or great, but I think that you all have a right to know. I've done so much..."
"And, now, you have us to help you share that burden. Do not think that we are going to let you do it alone. We are all the Twel just as much as you are Wanheda. We all have our parts to play. We've seen what happens, or what could happen. And, we're ready to fight with you," Emori assured her.
"And, I am ready to end this godforsaken loop of lives," Clarke quipped back.
"Then, help us help you. Tell us what we need to know. But, don't let anyone belittle anything that you've been through. Every thing that has happened has happened to make you a stronger Wanheda and to help you save us all...again, unfortunately," Emori said as she reached up and cupped Clarke's face. "We are with you until the end. We will stand beside you. We will help guide you on your path as you need us. You are Wanheda and we are the Twel."
"And, that is why you are my Light," Clarke acknowledged and they both smiled.
Emori dropped her hands and gestured with her head for Clarke to go back to the other side of the table. When she turned, she saw that everyone had another bowl of stew. There were two cups in front of her seat. She gathered that one was for more of Indra's brew and the other was water. She smiled. She knew that these were the people that she could tell anything. They would care for her as much as she cared for them. They wouldn't blame her for what she did. They might question it, but in the end, they would understand. And, they were waiting to hear more of her story.
She went back to her seat and began to eat. It was slowly and to enjoy the food. It warmed her from the inside out. She knew what starvation felt like. She knew what a good warm meal meant in the throes of an extremely harsh winter. Food meant life, and she meant to give them all they could handle.
"Echo?" Octavia asked as they were finishing up their impromptu meals.
"Sha, Oktevia?"
"Have I ever met Erie and Huron?"
"Sha, you all have," Echo answered.
Lexa seemed to perk up at this.
"It has been at different times in different lives, but you have all met them. Most of those in Trikru have only met them after Praimfaya or in this life, in Polis shortly after Leksa became Heda. They came to swear their allegience, and when Huron recognized me in the crowd protecting Heda more than trying to kill her, he asked if he could stay in Polis. He built a forge there and began to produce armor for Heda and the natblida."
"Is he in Belle?"
"He is," Echo answered. "He traveled weeks before in preparation for Wanheda's fall."
"Why?" Clarke questioned.
"He has your bow, Wanheda and he wanted to give it to you personally. He also knew that you would need armor and so would the Hundred. He has been preparing for you and your people for years. When he knew it was about time, he packed up his smithy and left Polis for Belle. Being that he was a royal guard smith no one questioned him. He has been waiting since Leksa's ascention to serve you, Clarke," Echo told her. "And, while he might not remember that life, he knows his place in service to Wanheda. He's pledge his hammer for you. If you can design it, he'll forge it."
"He does make great weapons," Lexa added as she touched the knife at her side.
Clarke looked at it. She saw the craftsmanship. She recognized it.
"And, his sons?"
"Still in Polis waiting to meet the Great Wanheda and her people," Echo replied. "They survived because Heda made quick of Nia in this life. They appreciate Lexa's benevolence and have sworn themselves to arm her and her armies. They are prospering and have been slated to go into a bunker as soon as we are to enter. All three sons and their daughter are waiting to see what Wanheda will call for them to do before Praimfaya hits, but they know not to speak of it. They have joined the Order of Wanheda. They can be trusted."
"I never doubted that," Clarke stated and took a sip of water this time, instead of the hooch.
Setting the cup back down, Clarke looked around the table at the all again. These were her friends. These were her family. These were her Twel.
"So, where was I...oh, yeah, Erie was coming to fit my armor before I went into the Pits to prove myself. It was a cold day, but when weren't they..."
