Chapter 24-The Village

Clarke's P.O.V

Clarke walked out of the tent the next day. The army was starting to take the camp down. "Good morning sleepy head, did you have a shower?" Raven asks as she walks up to her.

"Yep, Lexa has a great shower in her tent," Clarke says sarcastically.

"It's big enough for it. Luna and I were struggling—" Raven stops.

"Luna and you?" Clarke asks.

"Um, yes," Raven says.

"Good for you, Raven. You deserve to be happy and for you information. There was plenty of room on our bed."

"Float yourself, Clarke," Raven says and Clarke chuckles as they begin to help the army take down the camp.

Nia's P.O.V

Nia walked into her war room and looked at her general. "What do we know?"

"They started to take down camp. My best guess is that they are heading here," The general says as he circles the village.

"Where our food is, how would they know that?" Nia asks. "My son."

"We have to assume that Roan has told them all of our secrets," The general says.

"Who is our best assassin?" Nia asks.

"Echo and Costia are gone. Ruby is our best assassin."

"Great have her brought in here," Nia tells the general who nods as he leaves. Ten minutes later the general comes back with a woman. She had long blond hair, brown eyes, a slim build and was of average height.

"You asked for me my queen," Ruby says.

"Yes," Nia says as she looks at her general. "Josh has left out a key player in this war. Skaikru. I need you to kill them, start with the blond one, Clarke."

"You want me infiltrate the Commander's camp?" Ruby asks.

"If you wish, just kill them?"

"And the Commander?"

"She is mine," Nia tells her. Ruby nods as she leaves.

Murphy's P.O.V

Murphy swung his sword at Emori who hit the sword away and swung at Murphy who jumped back and swung his sword down. Emori rolls to the side and swings her sword up at Murphy who blocks it and is then kicked by Emori knocking him on his back. Emori quickly stands and puts her sword up to his throat. "I surrender," Murphy says.

"She has one hand and she still kicked your ass," Jasper says.

"I'll kick yours, Jasper," Murphy says as he stands up.

"You didn't do too bad," Emori says. "Otan, your turn with Wells," Emori says as she leaves the Murphy and Wells walks in there with Otan. "So are you ready to tell me why you've been looking around the tower."

"It's a cool place."

"Come on, John. You aren't as sneaky as you think."

"I'm pretty damn sneaky," Murphy says.

"You are, but so am I. I was a thief before I was taken prisoner. I know how to get around without being seen."

"Clearly you don't. You got caught," Murphy says.

"That's fair," Emori says. "But what are you looking for."

"Can't tell you, or else I'll have to kill you."

"You couldn't kill me on your best day," Emori says. "You know I could help."

"Sorry, I don't trust you," Murphy says before he walks away.

Lexa's P.O.V

Lexa rode her horse at the front of the army. "People are talking," Anya says as she rides up beside her. Lexa looks at her confused. "People saw Clarke enter and leaving your tent."

"What is your point, Anya?" Lexa asks.

"Aren't you trying to hide your relationship with Clarke?" Anya asks Lexa who nods. "Having her sleep in your tent is not the best idea if you are trying to keep a secret."

Lexa stays silent for a moment. "I don't…I don't want to keep it a secret," Lexa says softly.

"Then why are you keeping it a secret?" Anya asks.

"Because I don't want to lose her like I did, Costia. People knew that I was with her and they came after her and look at what happened to her, I don't want that to happen to Clarke. If that happens to Clarke, I don't know if I'll survive. I love her more than I ever loved Costia," Lexa says.

"Clarke can defend herself, Lexa. She has learned how to fight very well. She's learned quicker than you did. So if you don't want to keep this secret, don't. Clarke will be fine with it. Keep taking Clarke to your tent, nobody here is going to say anything. They are too scared of you and if not you, we have Indra,"

Lexa smiles as they continue to ride.

Jaha's P.O.V

Jaha looked at Charles as he walked into the command center. "You wanted to see me," Pike says as he walks in.

"Have you found me a new Commander?" Jaha asks Pike who nods as he grabs the tablet off the table and brings it up.

"Joey Williams. One of Shumway's best and most trusted guards. He has started to recruit more soldiers and hopefully they'll be trained before you fall to the ground," Pike tells him.

"That is good, Charles. How is building for the dropship going?"

"It will be done right on schedule."

"Have you found me a new zero-G mechanic?" Jaha asks who nods as he pulls up a woman.

"Cystal Greene, worked with Sinclair for a couple of years before Raven Reyes. She was second in Command in building the dropship."

"Good, now I need an interrogation done."

"On who?"

"A girl in lockup. Her name is Charlotte."

Octavia's P.O.V

Octavia rode beside Raven. "So Clarke may have mentioned your new bed partner," Octavia says making Raven look at her.

"Clarke needs to keep her big mouth shut," Raven says. "Yes, I'm in a relationship with Luna."

Octavia chuckles. "We have all ended up with a grounder. I had a hot grounder guy. You have the leader of a clan and Clarke decided to out do us both and date the top grounder."

"I know we're at war right now, but coming down here is the best choice we have made."

"I'm glad I decided to help Jake break the law."

"So am I."

Clarke's P.O.V

Clarke rode behind Lexa as they saw the village. They saw a couple of men standing in front of the village. Lexa stopped her horse as they set their weapons on the ground. "Your queen would kill you for this," Lexa says as she climbs off the horse.

"I know," The man says. "But your army would kill us anyways. We give ourselves to you, Commander."

Lexa stares at them as Roan walks up to them. "How old are you?" Roan asks.

"17," The one in the front answers.

"Put them in chains," Lexa tells a group of men who nod. Lexa looks at the people who had gathered behind the men. "I am not here to kill you, cooperate and nobody will be hurt. Step out of the village."

The members of the village start to walk towards the army. "Start to set up tents, loot the village and set up camp."

Lexa's P.O.V

Lexa stood in front of the guards as they sat against the wall. "How long have you been fighting?"

"A week," The guard answers. "Nia has been training everybody who can hold a sword. If you can fight, she wants you to be fighting."

"How young?" Lexa asks.

"I've seen some as young as twelve," The guard answers.

"Do you men want to fight this war?"

"No, Heda," Another guard says.

"You will leave with a group of guards taking the villagers to Polis."

"Thank you," The lead guard says and Lexa nods. "She is prepared for everybody to die in Azgeda as long as one of them is you."

"I know," Lexa says before she walks away. She walks over to the others.

"What is it?" Clarke asks.

"She is having children fight," Lexa says.

"She knows we won't kill children," Octavia says. "It's her way of weaking us, make our enemy someone we won't kill."

"It's not like we have a choice," Lincoln says. "If a child charges you with a knife, you either fight or die."

"She is prepared to lose everything to win this war," Roan says. "Lincoln's right, there is no way around it, my mother cannot win, that will be the end of our people if she does."

"I know that," Lexa says. "During a fight, do what you must, but if you can save them, try not to make your swings fatal."

Roan nods as one of the scouts come up to them. "Commander," He says making Lexa look at him. "There is a sizeable force moving onto to this village."

"What?" Lexa asks.

"Nia has sent a part of her army to fight us, they will arrive by sunset."

"Why would she do that? We have the advantage, she's not trying to hide this army," Clarke says.

"Anya, get our soldiers ready, we fight tonight," Lexa tells Anya who nods as she walks away. "Sent a scout back towards the border, I want to make sure Nia isn't trying anything," Lexa tells the scout who nods as he leaves. "You guys need to prepare."

"We will."

Charlotte's P.O.V

Charlotte sat in an interrogation room. Pike walks in. "Hi, Charlotte," Pike says as he sits down.

"Why am I in here?" Charlotte asks.

"You spend a lot of time with Wells Jaha and John Murphy before you were arrested."

"I did, they were my friends," Charlotte says.

"Murphy even came and saw you before he went to the ground, did he tell you anything? Did you know they were going to the ground?"

"No," Charlotte says.

"Are you sure? You know if you tell me Charlotte, I can help you out. Maybe even get you out of here. I mean you'll be in here for a long time otherwise."

"I would rather be in here than work with the people who killed my parents," Charlotte growls.

"I admire your loyalty to your friends, Charlotte. But I could make your life in the skybox much worse. So tell me the truth."

"Go to hell, Pike," Charlotte says.

Pike stands up and walks up to the door. He knocks and it is opened. "Take her back to the skybox."

Lexa's P.O.V

Lexa sat on her horse as the sun was setting in the air. She could see the Army apporching. She raises her hands and brings it down as arrows begin to fly through the air.

Thanks for reading. Next chapter is another fight as Lexa's army takes is hit. Nia prepares for their arrival at Polis as Murphy goes to talk with Costia. As always suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.