Woods outside the Door of Mount Weather
Early Morning
She was perched up in a tree watching and waiting for any sign of the Skaikru. Heda had told her to go back the mountain and stay hidden but keep watch. She felt a swell of pride flair through her as she was being trusted by her Heda for this mission. She was still a young scout in her clan so she jumped at the opportunity to prove herself. She had made her way, as fast as her horse was able to carry her, from the village she was at.
This was her first solo scouting mission since she had started her training. She had a feeling she was chosen because she was younger than the other scouts. She had climbed into this tree noticing that it had coverage from every angle. Her joints were starting to stiffen as she had been here for hours it felt like.
Just as she was starting to feel like Skaikru were no more she saw the door start to move. The first of the Skaikru came out of the main door. From her tree she watched and counted how many were coming out. She knew she was watching for one specific person. She had heard the rumors about Skaiheda and all that she had done before forming the alliance with Heda. She was looking for hair that shone in the sun. She kept waiting and watching as Skaikru kept coming out of the door.
She watched as people were walking out but also there were a few people that were being carried out. What had gone on inside she wondered. It took about ten minutes till she saw the person she was waiting for. She almost missed her because her blond hair was streaked with red. She watched as she came out of the door and made sure her people made it out safely. She was talking with a boy who had curly black hair and she could see that she had told him to go ahead. Skaiheda was now standing with a warrior and another boy.
She watched as they went to the door and did something with it. The door started to close and Skaiheda looked in the direction of where she was perched and smiled. There was no way she should have been able to be seen. She locked eyes with her and stood still. Her gaze broke quickly and she watched as they turned and started walking in the same direction as the rest of her people.
Her mission was to observe and report on the status of Skaikru but there was something about Skaiheda that made her want to follow and see where they were going. She had an idea and she figured the more information she had the better it would look. She waited till she was sure she wouldn't be seen and started moving between the trees.
She kept her distance but was close enough to keep an eye on Skaikru. It was interesting to her how most of them just kept their head forward and were not looking around for any danger. She noticed that a grounder at the front of the group was looking around. At the back of the group there was Skaiheda and her guard that looked around.
When they stilled she immediately found a place to conceal herself. She waited trying to control her breathing as she watched Skaiheda and her guard walk towards her location. She knew if she was caught she would be punished but a part of her was intrigued to meet the one known as Skaiheda.
Clarke's POV
The feeling of being watched had not left her since she stepped outside of Mount Weather. She tried to ignore it but Wanheda was being persistent in reminding her of it. She had an idea of who sent this person to watch her but she wanted to be careful because of how many enemies this person had. She moved closer to Octavia before she spoke.
"I think we are being watched." She whispered to her general.
"I got the same feeling as well. Do you think she sent someone to see if we came out alive?" She already knew the answer but wanted to be sure.
"Only one way to find out." She shrugged as she moved closer to Bellamy.
"Octavia and I are going to branch off and do a sweep. They need a break anyway and we shouldn't be gone long. Find Lincoln and fill him in." He nodded at her and started to tell everyone to rest.
She turned to Octavia and nodded. Together they slowly made their way to where Clarke figured this person had been watching them from as they walked. They both were on guard but hadn't drawn their weapons yet hoping they could solve this peacefully.
Once they broke into the trees both their eyes started scanning high and low looking for anything out of place. They both looked towards the trees knowing Lexa's people loved to hide in them. Nothing stood out to them so they went further in. They stopped after another few steps and decided to try something different.
"Whoever you are, I know you are there and I just want to talk. We will not harm you." Clarke said into the open forest waiting to see what would come out.
She waited for five minutes before she saw something move out of the corner of her eye. She raised her hand to her sword but stilled her hand on the handle. She turned to the movement and saw a young girl come out from behind a tree. She could not have been but a few years younger than herself. She sucked in a breath at her because she could have sworn that she was a spitting image of Anya. She blinked a couple times trying to make sure she wasn't seeing things.
She saw the girl put her hands up in surrender and slowly Clarke lowered her hand. She started to approach the woman and she could see the fear on her face. She relaxed her face slightly to seem welcoming. She knew this could go badly in a heartbeat. She was a few feet from the girl when she stilled.
"Ai laik Klark kom Skaikru. Chon yu bilaik?"(I am Clarke of the sky people. Who are you?) she saw out of the corner of her eye Octavia raised an eyebrow but she ignored it. She saw the battle on the young girl's face even though she was trying to hide and the more she did the more Clarke saw Anya.
"Ai laik Elanta kom Trikru."(I am Elanta of the tree people) The girl said still on the defensive. Clarke understood why she was this way.
"Do yu speak gonasleng?"(Do you speak English?)
"Sha" Clarke smiled at her.
"Okay. Did Heda send you?" She kept her voice calm knowing this would be a shot in the dark but she was hoping based on the age of the girl that this was her first solo mission.
"Sha, she did." Clarke relaxed slightly now that she had confirmed her suspicions.
"Good. I have a message for her." The girl nodded at her.
"Tell Heda, the angel of the night sky is alive and the mountain is no more. Tell her the angel will be leaving her metal prison today. Tell her that the angel will be with two companions heading for her home." Clarke knew that Lexa would be the only one that would understand her words.
"Sha Skaiheda." She turned and started running back to where the commander was at. Clarke watched her go hoping the girl would deliver the message quickly.
"Angel of the night sky, huh? When did she give you that title?" She looked at Octavia who bore a grin so wide she thought her face was going to split in half.
"Yesterday." Clarke just smiled at her and Octavia shook her head as they started back to join their people.
"Interesting name for Camp Jaha by the way and if I can ask, who are the two companions you are leaving with?" She should have known Octavia would pick up on those things.
"Yeah that is kind of how it feels now. Too cramped. Once we deal with my mother I plan on talking to Kane to make sure Skaikru expands past those damn walls." She heard a chuckle come from Octavia.
"You and Lincoln are leaving with me. Lexa told me to meet her in Tondisi and bring you two with me. His banishment has been lifted after everything he has done for both of our clans." She felt that she was walking alone and turned around and saw Octavia standing stiff as a board with a look of shock on her face.
She quickly scanned the area looking for any attacker but didn't find one so she gave her a smack on the shoulder to bring her out of her stupor.
"What was that for?" She asked, rubbing her shoulder.
"I had to get your attention somehow." She just smiled at her.
"Sorry, I just never thought we would be able to leave Camp Jaha. It just surprised me." She pinched herself to make sure she wasn't in a dream. Clarke laughed at her and signaled for them to continue.
"Well look at it this way. I know you don't find Camp Jaha home just like me. It hasn't been for a while for the both of us." Octavia just nodded knowing it was true.
"We both got attached to a grounder and we were the first one that tried to prove ourselves to them." She saw the shiver that ran through her spine. They both remembered the fight Octavia was in.
"Yeah that was not one of my fondest days but it worked." Clarke nodded as they stepped out of the woods and made their way back to the group.
"Sha Okteivia, Nau let yumi get Oso kru bakon gon camp krei Oso na ban op."(Yes Octavia. Now let us get our people back to camp so we can leave.) Clarke just smiled at her when she shook her head still in disbelief.
"When did you become fluent in Trigedasleng?" She heard Octavia ask.
"I guess I just picked it up quickly. Lexa is a good teacher." Clarke said, trying to hide the fact that she had just started being able to speak and understand it yesterday.
"I would say so." She said as they hound back up with Bellamy and nodded at him to continue. She looked around and felt at ease if only for a moment.
Village halfway from the mountain
Mid morning
Lexa had not slept all night, once they arrived back in the village. Her arrival was subdued compared to some of her arrivals after a war. She made sure that all of her people that were rescued from the mountain immediately were seen by the healers. It took them all night to get back to the village and to make sure everyone was accounted for. She made her way to the tent she was given and had to force herself to go inside.
She looked around the room and her eyes landed on a jacket that had been draped across the table. It was Clarke's jacket that she normally wore when not in battle gear. She felt her chest constrict the more she looked at it and the memory of having to leave Clarke there on the mountain came flooding back to her. She knew that Clarke understood but she remembered seeing the pain hidden behind her eyes. She started to take off her gear wanting to free herself from the weight it carried.
She made sure everything was neatly arranged and went to the table and grabbed her jacket . She pulled it close and took in her scent that clung to the collar of the jacket. It calmed her nerves ever so slightly. She looked at it again and realized that Clarke and her were about the same size. She pulled the coat on and immediately felt the warmth envelope her. She sat down at the table and started to wash the dried blood and war paint off her face.
Every time she came back from a battle or just a meeting that required her war paint she always looked forward to the end of the day when she could wash it away and feel normal. She had always felt like she had to be two different people and it was a hard job to be the one person everyone looked up to and then try to remember who she was at her core.
She looked at the bowl of water in front of her and it had already gone dark from the mix of dried blood and her war paint. She finished cleaning her face and let one of the guards know to bring her some food and have Indra come met her as well.
She sat at the table, her mind running through everything she had to do while her heart was hurting and hoping Clarke was alive. She had sent out one of the only scouts in the village when she got back. She knew that she most likely would get spotted because she was still a gofua when it came to scouting but she was the only one old enough to be sent.
She had almost gone back to help Clarke but she knew if she had done that her people would start questioning her as their leader. It was the toughest thing she had ever had to do and it was eating her alive. Her heart shattered piece by piece the further she got from the mountain but she had to hide all of her emotions.
She closed her eyes to try and control herself but as soon as she did she saw Clarke's face covered in blood moving through a corridor fighting. She watched as she moved around corner after corner cutting down people and making her way somewhere. Her eyes immediately flew open and her heart started to beat faster. What had she just witnessed? She didn't know if what she saw was true or just the lack of sleep starting to get to her.
She felt the tears start to form in her eyes as she thought about Clarke. Her worst fear was losing Clarke because of a choice she had to make. In the short amount of time they had been working with each other and started being with the other, she felt the pull to be around her as much as she could. For the first time in a long time she allowed the tears to fall. She allowed herself to feel the emotion she had to hide for so long.
The tears racked through her body as they came. She cried for the pain her people had gone through because of the mountain. She cried for the people she had lost since Clarke and her people had landed her. She cried for the lives Clarke had to take and the pain she saw behind her eyes.
Indra had walked in carrying the plate of food for her when she looked at the table and saw Lexa with her head in her hands and she heard the audible sobs coming from her. She felt for the girl, she had been through so much since she had been called to lead their people. This was the first time in a long time she had seen Lexa like this. She set the food down on the table carefully as not to disturb her.
Lexa had heard as Indra came in and she was glad that she was not saying anything. She lifted her head from her hands as she tried to school her face and looked at Indra. She saw the confusion and worried look across her face and for the first time it didn't quickly leave. She motioned for her to sit as she took the food and started to force herself to eat.
"How are our people that came from the mountain?" She was trying to take her mind off her emotions and think with her head again.
"They are fine Heda. The real question is how are you?" She stilled her hand and looked at her. She searched her eyes for any sign of doubt.
"I will be fine as always. I bear it so they do not as I always have." She tried to sound confident but she was exhausted both mental and physically. She had not gotten a good night's rest in a few days. Even when Clarke had stayed with her, she found herself lying there awake just holding onto the last bit of herself she could before the battle would begin.
"Sha Heda, but that was not my question and you know it." Indra just studied her as she ate.
She let out a breath and put down her fork. She sat back and looked at the ceiling of the tent. She knew deep down she was not okay and leaving Clarke standing there had caused her to hurt.
"Indra, you know anything we talk about should not leave this tent correct?" She moved her head back down and locked her gaze with her general.
"Sha." She nodded as she started to try and relax.
"To answer your question, no I am not okay. I haven't been since we left the mountain. I haven't been able to sleep for more than a couple of hours in the last week. I am worried about our people." She paused as she took a drink.
"You are worried about someone else as well?" Indra posed the question knowing what was really causing this.
"Sha, I know Clarke and I had talked about the deal being offered but I am worried that because I took it, it will cause Skaikru to hate us and want nothing more to do with us."
"I wouldn't let Clarke hear you say that. She has proven me wrong on multiple occasions and I fully believe that she will bring Skaikru to see why you did what you did." Indra took a breath trying to collect her thoughts as she was not normally one that liked conversations like this.
"She is strong Leska, she will find a way to come back to you and continue to drive me crazy worrying about the both of you." Lexa let out a chuckle at that and Indra smiled, glad to hear her laugh.
Before she could continue one of the guards stuck his head in the tent and told them that the scout had returned. She told the man to wait for a moment. She quickly wiped her face with a towel and tried to hide the remnants of her tears. She looked at the mirror and let a smile show at how well Clarke's jacket looked on her.
Indra smiled as she took notice of the jacket she was wearing. She knew who it belonged to and she knew why Lexa was wearing it. It provided her a small amount of comfort.
She moved to the bigger chair that had been set up in the tent in case she needed to meet with her generals. She sat down in the chair and took a couple of calming breaths while she schooled her face. Once she was ready she nodded at Indra to have the guards let the scout in.
The scout came in and knelt before her. She raised her hand for her to rise. She looked at the girl and saw that she had a small hint of fear behind her eyes. Lexa knew the look and she knew she had been spotted.
"Chit ste em?"(What is it?) she looked at the girl studying her and she could tell she was nervous.
"Ai yu don a imfou kom Skaiheda."(I have a message from Skaiheda." Lexa's heart started to beat faster.
"Chit ste em?"(What is it?). She nodded at the scout.
"Tell heda, angel kom nat Skai ste alive en maun ste nou mou. Tell em angel na na leaving em metal prison today. Tell em dei de angel na na kom Tu companions heading gon em hou."(Tell Heda, the angel of the night sky is alive and the mountain is no more. Tell her the angel will be leaving her metal prison today. Tell her that the angel will be with two companions heading for her home.)
Lexa had to control the gasp and sigh of relief that threatened to escape. Clarke was alive and would be heading her way. She also was impressed by her choice in words and it made her heart flutter. She was proud that Clarke had taken the precautions necessary in case the scout had been captured.
"Indra na Yu lid in Aslena hir."(Indra can you bring Aslena here." She raised an eyebrow but nodded and left leaving her alone with the scout.
"Elanta, Chit Oso discuss nes does nou ban op hir."( Elanta what we discuss next does not leave here.) She watched as the girl looked at her then stood straighter.
"Sha Heda."
"Was em kei?"(Was she okay?") She needed to know. It was killing her not knowing if her love was okay.
"Sha. Em don been raun a battle based ona dried jus au raun em hair en ona em face"(Yes. She had been in a battle based on the dried blood in her hair and on her face.) Her breath caught in her throat as her mind flashed back to the image she had seen earlier.
"Yu don get a chek au em kru?"(Did you get a look at her people?)
"Sha. Mous Ogeda kom emo were walking ba der were bida dei de were ste carried."(Yes. Almost all of them were walking but there were a few that were being carried.) The more she learned the more she had questions. She would need to talk to Clarke when she arrived in Tondisi. She realized that she would need to be heading that way soon.
"Mochaf Elanta." Just as she thanked the young scout, Indra walked in with Aslena.
Aslena was her most trusted scout among her generals. She had become one of her generals shortly after she had ascended. She had made a point to try and have a general from each of the twelve clans. She figured this would be a way to have multiple views from each of the clans when she would go over battle plans. She knew Aslena would be the perfect mentor for the young scout.
"Hei Aslena." She stood and greeted her general.
"Heda. Indra told Ai Yu requested Ai?"( Commander. Indra told me you requested me?) She watched as Aslena looked over at the young scout and looked her over then looked back at her with an eyebrow raised.
"Sha Aslena. Don Yu found a Seken yet?"(Yes Aslena. Have you found a Second yet?) She saw the recognition cross all three of the women in the room.
"Nou." Aslena replied and once more looked at Elanta. She moved closer to the girl and walked around her. Lexa watched as the girl stood straight as a bored and tried to make herself seem worthy.
"Ai would like Yu gon lev op Elanta. She jos returned kom em fos solo mission ba was em was by someone bilaik ai consider an ally."(I would like you to train Elanta. She just returned from her first solo mission but was spotted. Thankfully it was by someone that I consider an ally.) She watched as the young girls eyes came alive at the thought of having a mentor.
"Sha Heda." Aslena turned to Elanta.
"Ai na nou make Disha easy gon Yu. Yu got lottau Disha gou en Ai na make sure em does nou happen again."(I will not make this easy for you. You got lucky this time and I will make sure it does not happen again.) Lexa had to hide her smile because she knew that Aslena saw the potential in the young scout.
She had made Anya a promise to take care of her. Elanta was the younger sister of Anya and she had made her promise to care for her, if her fight would ever end. It was her duty to find the best possible mentor for her and she was proud that Aslena had agreed to do this. She knew this would be the best for her going forward and she had the perfect first mission for her to continue to learn on.
"Aslena en Elanta Ai yu don brana orders gon Yu both."(Aslena and Elanta I have new orders for you both.) They both looked at her waiting for what she had to say.
"Ai na na expecting a visitor bilaik arriving raun Tondisi raun nes bida days. Emo na na leaving their camp later today. Ai gaf Yu Tu gon make sure emo make em gon Tondisi. Yu are gon ai raun en observe ba avoid contact. Ai laik sure Skaiheda na nou make dei de easy."(I will be expecting a visitor to be arriving in Tondisi in the next few days. They will be leaving their camp later today. I need you two to make sure they make it to Tondisi. You are to watch and observe but avoid contact. I am sure Skaiheda will not make that easy.) She wanted to make sure Clarke did make it to her safely.
"Sha Heda." They both agreed knowing that this person must be important to her for them to be on watch.
Aslena knew why this had been chosen for her first mission as a mentor. It was a low risk scouting mission and it would offer the best chance to teach her Sekon. She looked at Elanta and smiled inwardly. Anya would be proud of her sister and how quickly she was adapting. She remembered the day she found out Anya had died. Anya was like a sister to her. They had both become generals for Lexa around the same time and they had formed a bond. It was very common for them both to be sent out alone on missions together because they were the best duo Lexa had. They were efficient and always got Heda the information she needed.
"Aslena, Ai gaf in Yu gon work ona helping em kom em gonasleng as ena."(Aslena, I want to help her with her English as well) Lexa knew this would be a valuable thing for her to continue to learn and expand her knowledge in.
"I will help her learn, Heda." Lexa nodded at her and looked at the pair.
"Good. Aslena do you remember where Skaikru has their camp?" She wanted to make sure before she sent them on their way.
"Yes. It will not take us long to reach there." Lexa nodded at them.
"Good. If you must make yourself known to Skaiheda then so be it. I have a feeling she will be on high alert along with the people she is traveling with. If I had to guess she will be traveling with Linkon kom Trikru and Okteivia kom Skaikru." She saw Aslena stiffen at the mention of Lincoln.
"Heda, why would she travel with that traitor?" She had expected this question.
"Lincoln is not long banished from our clan. He proved himself to be loyal to both Skaiheda and I. He saved both of our lives and has earned his place among us." Aslena nodded and Lexa knew it would take time for that to be accepted.
"You may take your leave. Make sure Skaiheda arrives in Tondisi safely." They both nodded at her and left her tent.
She made her way back to the table and took a seat. She needed to start getting ready to leave as well but she was starting to feel the lack of sleep. She looked around and saw Indra was studying her closely. If she was being honest she needed sleep but she had things to do.
"What is it Indra?" She had a sense of being in this same position many times before.
"Heda, it would be wise for us to be in Tondisi when she arrives. It is about a full day's walk from their camp to there. If she was to leave today she would arrive around midday tomorrow." Lexa knew she was right. It was nearing midday by her estimates. She wanted to do nothing more than to lay down and go to sleep but the thought of not being there when Clarke arrived made her stand up and start to put her paldron on over Clarke's jacket and she started equipping her weapons as well.
Indra watched as she started to slowly get herself back to Heda mode as she called it. She raised an eyebrow when she decided to forgo her normal longer jacket for Clarke's. She knew it was most likely due to a need for comfort but she was still getting used to how much Clarke meant to her. It took her about 5 minutes for all of her gear to be put situated correctly. She decided to wrap her head in one of her scarfs to try and hide the bags that were evident if anyone looked close enough.
Lexa looked at Indra and nodded. She left her tent to go meet the village leader and thank her for letting them use her village. She made her way to the village leader's hut and tried to gather as much of her remaining energy she had left. She had not been this close to passing out from pure exhaustion for a long time. Everything felt like it was slowing down and she knew she was going to have to focus on something to keep her going. Her mind wandered to her Natblida and how they would need to be filled in on what had happened with the mountain. Anytime she came back from extended travel, she would run each Natblida through what she was faced with to judge how they would have handled the situation. She used this to judge how well they were able to think with their mind and come to a solution they thought was the right one. She looked at the guards outside the leader's hut and they bowed and let her inside.
The meeting with the leader of the village did not take long at all. It went the same way most of her meetings with the villages went. They were grateful for her trusting them and she was always told that it was an honor for their village to be used by her and her army. She told the leader that in return for the use of her village she would send double of what their normal shipment from Polis was. The leader tried to refuse but Lexa insisted on doing this in return. The leader finally agreed but wanted her to spread out the amount over a longer period of time. They were a small village of 35 people and didn't require much. She agreed to spread out the extra amount over the coming months.
She left the leader's tent and made a quick announcement to the village that the mountain was no more. She told them that Skaiheda had slew the mountain. She heard the wispers of Wanheda as she headed to retrieve her horse and start her journey to Tondisi. She entered the stables and was met by two horses coming up to her. One was a solid white horse with a black mane. She had received this horse as a gift from the Ingranrona(Pains Riders) after she had convinced them to join the Kongeda. She had come to love this horse with all of her being and was surprised to find Clarke's horse standing right beside him. She let a small smile appear on her face as her memories of rides through the forest came flooding back to her mind. She held out a hand to the both of them to let them know who it was. Instantly they both whinnied in a greeting at her. She wrapped an arm around both of their necks and felt the weight of their heads on her shoulders. She let out a content sigh and wondered when this brought her relief.
Her mind was flooded with memories of Clarke and her riding through the forest talking about whatever was on their mind. Lexa wanted to further acquaint Clarke with the area that surrounded her camp. They had been out riding one day when they came across what Clarke had called a zoo. It was just a few miles away from Tondisi and they had stumbled upon it while out on a scouting mission for reapers, at least that was their cover. She shuddered at the memory of their encounter with the Pauna. They had barely made it back to their horses that day. She chuckled at the memory of her misjudging her jump and dislocating her shoulder. She had told Clarke to go on without her but she should have known that her love was going to be stubborn. Clarke had pulled her with her as they tried to find a way out and luckily they had managed to trap the beast and escape. That was the first time she had seen the fearlessness she loved about Clarke, besides when she came into my tent for the first time she had to remind herself.
She gave both of the horses pats on their neck and went to saddle her horse. She would need to have one of the Gonas bring Clarke's saddle with them. She was not going to saddle the horse with anything but a rope to lead it with. She wanted to make sure that Clarke would have her horse when she arrived in Tondisi. Once she made sure everything was in order she asked Indra to bring one of the people they rescued from the mountain.
It took about five minutes for the said person to come walking towards her with Indra. She turned when Indra spoke and looked at the warrior. She had to hide the mistrust when she laid eyes on her. She had a plan to keep this warrior on her side from here on out and maybe just maybe she could reunite her with the man that had helped her escape.
"Heda." The warrior said to her with a gruffness behind her words
"Echo kom Azgeda. Walk kom ai." She saw Indra give her a look of concern but she just shook her head. She needed to have some trust for her plan to work. She turned and went into the stables not even waiting for her to follow.
Echo didn't know what to think of Heda. Growing up in Azgeda she had been told by Nia that she was not the true leader of their people. She believed her blindly because it was the easy thing to do and it kept her alive. She was Azgeda's most ruthless assassin and had been there when the commander's love had been taken and executed. She had been the one to try and get any information out of her and it had started to change something in her when she realized that she knew nothing about the commander.
She knew that rumors had spread that she had been the one to kill her but it wasn't so. Only three people knew the truth about her death and it was secret that they all had sworn to keep it between them. The last she had seen of her was when she had left her cell to go tell the queen it was done. She had thrown herself into whatever mission she had been given to keep herself away from anything that had to deal with the commander. Her best friend Roan had been sent with the head of Costia to the commander and she was surprised to learn that instead of attacking Azgeda, she took Roan prisoner and accepted Azgeda as the last clan in the Kongeda.
She pulled herself out of her thoughts and followed the commander sliding a glance at Indra. She caught the death glare being thrown at her and knew where it was coming from. She didn't blame her either after all of the Trikru blood that was on her hands. She turned her head back forward and made her way into the stables not knowing what laid in front of her.
She walked in the main entrance way and locked eyes with the commander. She was standing with her back to a post in the middle of the walk way. She had one foot propped behind her on the pole and she was playing with one of her daggers. Her immediate instincts had her reaching her hand for one of her daggers not in a motion to attack but to ground herself. Echo was not one to be nervous but she was still not at her full strength, after weeks of being in the mountain on the brink of death by acting weak so she would not be harvested.
"Yu would na wise gon listen fou Yu act."( You would be wise to listen before you act.) Echo stilled her approach as she was a few feet in front of the commander. She knew about her prowess with her throwing knives. She gave a nod and a bow just to be careful.
"Ai yu don a deal gon Yu. Ai gaf bilaik skills gon Disha hana. Taim Yu dula op Disha gon Ai Yu na na pardoned kom eni kripon Yu Yu don committed en na na welcomed ona Ai circle."(I have a deal for you. I need your skills for this task. If you do this for me then you will be pardoned of any crime you committed and will be welcomed into my circle.) She tried to hide the confusion and shock from appearing on her face. What could the commander need her for that was important enough for her to receive a full pardon and be able to join her small circle. She had so many questions circling in her head that she almost missed what the commander said next.
"Ai nou offer Disha lightly gon bilaik foutaim ba Belomi trusted Yu inside Maunde."(I do not offer this lightly because of your past but Bellamy trusted you inside the mountain.) She sucked in a breath at the mention of the Sky boy that had kept his promise to her. She was not used to someone actually keeping their word to her and it had left an impression on her.
"Ste chit Belomi don biyo true? Na Yu na trusted o are Yu still badan klin bilaik haiplana?"(Is what Bellamy said true? Can you be trusted or are you still loyal to your queen?) She thought for a moment about what she was being offered.
Her loyalty was not to her queen but to her people and to the two people she considered family. She had stayed by the queens side for so long because she would have been labeled a traitor just as Roan was. She felt like she had an obligation to uphold for someone back in Azgeda but they all had agreed if they saw an opportunity to escape, take it and don't look back. Roan had taken the bullet to deliver the head to the commander and from what she had last heard he was still alive as a prisoner but free to roam Polis. She didn't know what to expect next from the woman in front of her. She had walked in here expecting to be executed on sight.
"Sha Heda. Ai badannes has always been gon Ai kru fou Azplana. Chit dula op Yu require kom Ai?"(My loyalty has always been to my people before the ice queen. What do you require of me?) She went down to one knee and bowed her head. She saw this as her way out and was willing to take a chance.
Lexa was impressed but not surprised. Over the years since Costia had died and Roan had shown up claiming to have been the one to kill her, she had gotten plenty of details from him. She had kept him as a prisoner at first but then had decided it would be wise to slowly turn him against his own mother. She had offered him a deal to become a secret advisor in exchange for his safety in her walls. She was shocked that he had agreed so quickly. As time went by and Azgeda was brought into the Kongeda, she had gotten to know the prince. He had proven to be a valued ally and had mentioned that if she ever came across Echo to do everything she could to bring her close to her.
She knew that a spy would always be a spy and that they could never fully be trusted. She had heard rumors that the most feared Azgedian spy had gone rouge and disappeared. She would never forget that Echo was supposedly the one that took Costia from her but with Roan claiming to have done it as well, she knew something had happened and they were in on it together. She needed both of them on her side and to trust her so one day she could finally get closure on the loss of her first love.
"Gyon op Echo kom Azgeda. Yu are aware dei de once word kom bilaik badannes gon Ai reached Azplana she na label Yu as a natrona en Yu na nou na bak op as long as she kik raun."(Rise Echo of the ice people. You are aware that once word of your loyalty to me reached the ice queen she will label you as a traitor and you can never go back as long as she lives.) Those words hit her like a Pauna but she had made her choice.
"Sha Heda." She said as she bowed her head in agreement.
"Good. Now your task is to infiltrate the Skaikru camp and integrate yourself there. I have suspicions about their Chancellor and need someone on the inside to gather me information. I do not care how you do this or what you say to accomplish this." She looked up at the commander and tried to process what she was being told and why they suddenly switched to Gonasleng.
"I do not know what your relationship with Bellamy is nor do I care. I am offering you a chance to prove yourself to me. They have taken in one of our people before and if you find Bellamy first he should welcome you inside." Echo knew it was rare to be given a second chance for a spy and she knew that this was the only one she would be receiving.
"If you leave now you may be able to catch up to Skaikru before they reach their camp. I would be prepared for them to be uneasy and quick to react." Her mind was already racing as to how she would approach the jumpy sky people.
"Sha Heda en Mochaf Heda." She bowed and turned to leave but stilled when she heard the commander's voice.
"Dula op nou make Ai regret Disha Echo kom Azgeda. Dison laik bilaik Won chance gon change bilaik life."(Do not make me regret this Echo of the ice people. This is your one chance to change your life.) She turned her head and looked back at the commander.
"Sha Heda." She saw her nod at her and took that as her cue to leave.
Lexa watched as she left the stables and held her gaze till she was out of sight. She let out the breath she had been holding and hoped she had made the right call. She was putting a lot of faith in Roan and Bellamy that this woman could be trusted. She was also testing her to see how good she actually was. Her best scout was out there with her Sekon and she knew that they might cross paths before Echo reached Clarke.
She pushed herself off of the pole and put the dagger back in its sheath on her waist. She made her way out of the stable and was not surprised to be met by Indra. It seemed like everywhere she went her general would be there but she could not complain it was her job. She saw the raised eyebrow and just nodded at her as she made her way back to the horses. She knew at some point she would be questioned if she could trust Echo.
"We shall leave now Indra. I have no more business to attend to her. Tell which warriors that are leaving with us to start heading for Tondisi." She pulled herself up on her horse and made sure the rope that she would be using to lead Clarke's horse back with her was secure.
Indra nodded and quickly went to do that as Gustus appeared next to her on his own horse. It never ceased to amaze her that as one general left another would be there to keep her guarded. She looked over at the man that had become more of a father figure towards her and she let a small smile show. He nodded at her and they started heading out of the stables toward her favorite village.
Echo POV
She was still trying to wrap her mind around what had just happened as she made her way to the Skaikru. This was her opportunity for a new lease on life and she was surprised that she had lived long enough to get it. A part of her was nervous at the prospect of being around Skaikru but she honestly was trying to figure out what had transpired between her and Belomi inside the mountain. Her first interaction with the man had not gone so well. She spit in his face when she thought he was one of the one of the mountain men. After that she had watched as he sacrificed himself for harvesting when she was to be taken.
She had never seen someone who didn't know her willingly take her place. It was so foreign of a concept to her that it shocked her to her core. Once he had been freed and she watched as he fought the guard in a weakened state that she made the choice to save him. She remembered how he had helped her and when she saw her opportunity she struck. She grabbed the man's arm from her cage and tried to buy him time to kill this man. She was glad it did not take long and once it was done that was when he promised her that he would come back for her. She honestly didn't believe him but she was proven wrong when he did and told her about the army outside.
From that point on it was a whirlwind for her. She was walking out of the mountain and heading somewhere. She arrived at a village and Heda had made sure that they all were checked by the Fisas. It was so different from what she had come to know that she just tried to keep her mind right. She had no idea what day it was or what else had happened. She had been able to gather some information when she was able but it was nothing of use.
She was pulled out of her mind as she heard the thunk of an arrow hit the tree beside her as she was walking. She stilled and drew her weapon trying to locate where it came from. She had maybe been outside of the village for not more than an hour. She scanned the trees and saw what she was looking for. She slowly raised her hands trying to signal that she did not want to fight. She had no time for this but she was still regaining all of her strength.
She watched as two people leap from the lowest branch of two different trees. One was closer to her age while the other was still a young one. She stood still trying to figure out how this was going to go. She wanted nothing more than to go on the attack and escape to get to her destination faster but as the older woman got closer she recognized her face. It was one of the more well known generals in the commander's army.
"Yu are far kom hou Azgeda"(You are far from home Ice person.) She could hear the distaste in the woman's voice.
"Ai hofli na Azgeda ba Ai laik ona a mission gon Heda."(I may be ice person but I am on a mission for the commander.) She wanted to avoid giving away as much detail as possible.
"Gon Heda Yu biyo? Where are Yu heading?"(For the commander you say? Where are you heading?) She saw the eyebrow raise as she was asked. Her eyes kept looking back and forth between the two women.
"Ona orders kom Heda, Ai laik heading ga Skaikru camp."(On orders from the commander, I am heading for the sky people camp.) she watched the confusion come of the face of the younger woman.
"Why would Heda send an Azgeda spy to Skaikru?" It was her turn to raise her eyebrow and the switch to Gonasleng.
"She wants me to keep and eye on someone there and the best way to do that is from the inside. Skaikru has taken one of us in before and once I talk to one of the Skaikru I should be fine." she knew she may be giving away too much here but the less people that stopped her the better. She was surprised by what happened next. The woman in front of her sheathed her weapons and walked forward and stuck her arm out to her.
"I am Aslena kom Sankru, and this is Elanta kom Trikru." Echo grasped the woman's arm taking this as a sign that she would not have to fight today.
"I am Echo kom Azgeda. Why would you be out this way? Are you not one of Heda's generals?" it was time for her to get some information.
"Sha. Heda sent us to make sure that someone arrives in Tondisi safely. It looks like we are heading the same direction." Echo wondered who from Skaikru would be coming to Tondisi that would require a high ranking general and a second to escort them.
"Well it is best that we met now and not when I approached them. How far away are we?" she was honestly glad this turned out like this. If she was being honest she really wanted to try and not kill first and ask questions later. Her old way of doing things just left too much blood on her hands and she was starting to tire from the endless blood that ran.
"Not far from what my Sekon has told me. She was the one that watched them come out of the mountain and saw how the leader of Skaikru led her people out of the mountain covered in their blood." She saw the confusion flash across the young girl and she realized that she was not used to how news can spread.
"So the mountain is no more?" she asked Elanta.
"Sha. From what I could see the only people that came out were Skaikru and their leader did something to the door that sealed it from the outside." she looked up at the sky and saw the sun was almost to its peak.
"Well it seems this leader of Skaikru is more than we expected. It seems like she needs a new title wouldn't you think Aslena?" Echo had heard about this sky girl that had burned 300 Trikru alive without a second thought and how she turned the reapers back to men. It seemed like she was able to control death itself.
"Do you really think that she is worthy of such a title? You know it has been a long time since someone had been called that." Aslena had heard the murmurings about Clarke and the name that was starting to float around the lands. She was starting to gain a reputation as someone that controlled death. She stared it in the face and conquered it. She knew that once word of the mountain being slain would only cause this name to ring true.
"Sha, think of how she was able to bring people back from being Ripa and all of the people she had slain. I think Wanheda belongs to her." Echo knew what came with the name but until she said it she wasn't sure.
"Well let us not speak of this till I tell Heda. It won't take long for that name to spread and someone will want that power." She knew exactly who Aslena was talking about. Azplana was power hungry and once she found out she hoped this sky girl was ready.
"Sha. Shall we?" Echo asked as she turned to walk away.
"Sha." Aslena fell in step beside Echo as they picked up the pace to reach Skaikru.
Aslena knew exactly who was beside her. She knew every tale that there was to be told about the assassin from Azgeda. What puzzled her more is why Heda would trust this woman with a task of this magnitude. It was the first time in a long time she questioned the commander and it did nothing to settle her nerves.
They walked in silence for another hour before they caught the first sighting of Skaikru. They were walking at a slow pace and if she had to estimate it would take them another hour to reach their camp. Aslena started to adjust their course so they stayed hidden but could watch them closely. She steered them to where they were walking even with the back of the group and signaled to Echo that this would be where they parted ways.
Echo knew that it was her time to make herself known. She took a breath and nodded at the two women she came across as she started walking in a diagonal line heading for Skaikru. She mentally prepared herself for whatever was going to come next as she broke through the tree line.
Clarke POV
The walk back to camp had gone smoothly so far. Every once in a while they would have to stop and let her people rest. They had been walking for a couple of hours when she felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up once more. She reached up and unsheathed her sword.
Octavia and Bellamy heard the unmistakable sound of a sword being drawn and they turned to see Clarke had stilled with her sword in her hand looking towards the woods. Instantly Octavia was at her side weapon drawn while Bellamy quickly went to Lincoln and told him what was going on. All of the guards surrounded the rest of the people while Bellamy and Lincoln came beside Clarke.
"What is it Clarke?" Octavia asked, scanning the tree line.
"I have no idea but someone is coming." There was a calm to her voice that made them all realize whatever it was had her on guard.
They watched as a lone grounder broke through the tree line. Clarke stared down this person while Octavia gripped her sword tighter. Bellamy was stunned there was no way she was her now. Lincoln couldn't believe his eyes either.
"Why is she here?" Clarke heard Bellamy ask.
"Who is she?" She turned to look at the man.
"I can't be sure but trust me on this one. I'll be back." Before she could react Bellamy took off toward the woman.
Octavia started after him but Clarke stuck her arm out and shook her head at her. They needed to trust Bellamy and be ready in case things went sideways. She watched as her brother greeted the woman like he knew her. They talked for a moment before he turned and they headed their way. She raised an eyebrow because for the first time since they came down here, her brother had a pep in his step.
Clarke saw the change in him and she was shocked. He looked relieved but she was still on guard. She had come to hate surprises and the woman gave off nothing but bad vibes.
Bellamy came to a halt in front of them and looked at all of them and raised an eyebrow when he saw they still had their weapons drawn.
"Clarke, put your weapon away. This is the woman I met inside the mountain and she saved my life. This is Echo kom Azgeda." He heard them all suck in a breath and he watched as they all tightened their grip on their swords. He moved in front of the woman not knowing what was going on.
Clarke stepped forward and looked Bellamy dead in the eyes. He saw a fire behind her eyes and he could tell she was not happy. He was confused as to his knowledge Clarke had never met this woman.
"Bellamy, move now. She is not to be trusted. She is a spy and an assassin for Azgeda." He heard how her voice dropped and how every word was laced with venom.
"Krei Yu get in chon Ai laik?"(So you know who I am.) Echo spoke from behind him.
"Sha. Chomouda are Yu hir? dula op nou lie gon Ai."(Yes. Why are you here? Do not lie to me.) Clarke knew she had to be careful letting too many people know she had become fluent in Trigedasleng but she didn't want Bellamy to hear anything yet.
"Ai yu don orders kom Heda gon glong op bilaik camp en ai raun bilaik chancellor.(I have orders from the commander to join your camp and watch your chancellor.) Clarke pondered if she could trust this information. She remembered how Lexa had tensed up when they were first told of this woman.
She knew Lexa would not send someone to their camp without knowing they would be stopped first. She was quickly realizing she had a lot to talk about with her love. She looked at Octavia and Lincoln and made a movement with her head that told them to follow.
They moved away out of earshot but she also knew that grounders had impeccable hearing. She looked at the two of them and saw the same look of confusion and mistrust.
"What do you two think? I know you understood what we spoke about." She still had not relaxed her grip on her sword. It had become an anchor and she now understood why the grounders always had their hand on their weapon.
"She says she was sent by Heda but we were all there when Lexa was told about her. Why would she send someone that she said not to trust?" Octavia was on the same thought process as her.
"Heda must have a plan and a reason for doing this. Bellamy seems to trust her but he doesn't know her like any of my people do. I fear that she will do something to start a war if we are not careful. The last I had heard she was loyal to Azplana." Lincoln spoke and she saw the unanswered question written on his face.
"Well I can't go against Lexa's orders if I still want us to have an alliance. This just has me on edge and I don't like it. For all I know she could be here to handle my mother before I do." She heard Octavia let out a small chuckle but then quickly catch herself.
"We will need to have someone watch her closely. I know your brother can be rash and head strong but we both know something changed when he saw her." They both looked back at Bellamy and saw the Echo was still watching them but had relaxed just a little and was talking to him.
"I have to think that he would keep an eye on her maybe better than anyone else by the way he reacted. We don't know what happened in the mountain caused him to trust her. It is your call Clarke." Octavia was still studying her brother as she spoke.
She was trying to think of the last time she had seen him like this and she really couldn't place it. She had seen him obviously with the girls that came down here with them but something just seemed different this time.
"Okay. She can come but we need to make it very clear to him that she is under his watch and he is responsible for her."
"Sha Skaiheda" she smiled at the response she received from both of them.
They made their way back over to the pair and she locked eyes with Echo. She was trying to put as much of her distrust and skepticism in her gaze as she could while keeping her face impassive.
"Bellamy, can we trust her?" She wanted to see how much he actually believed in her.
"Clarke I wouldn't be vouching for her if I didn't believe we could. Like I said she saved my life inside the mountain." She could tell he was hiding something but she had to trust him.
"Okay. She is your responsibility." He nodded at her.
"Echo kom Azgeda if what you say is true then you can come with us." She moved past Bellamy and was now face to face with her.
"Taim Yu betray Heda o Ai, Ai nou gifa in chon Yu are. Yu na na marked by Wanheda."(If you betray the commander or me, I do not care who you are. You will be marked by Wanheda.) Clarke had let Wanheda seep slowly through her as she spoke. She saw the realization hit her. She let loose a small smile while still staring daggers at the woman.
"Sha Wanheda." Echo gave her a small nod and a bow and now Clarke felt like her message had been sent.
She sheathed her sword and turned to look at the other three. She saw Lincoln's shock first then confusion on Octavia's face, Bellamy looked worried. She nodded at Lincoln and gave him a look that she would explain later.
"Okay it's time to continue back to Camp Jaha." She announced as she made her way back to the group to find Kane.
Everyone started to head toward camp as she came up beside Kane. She needed to let him know what was going on. She had one of the guards take his place carrying her mother. He nodded and came back to where she was at the back.
They slowed their walk to where they were behind everyone else and out of earshot. She still was watching Echo and Bellamy closely trying to gauge what was exactly going on.
"I see we have picked up someone else." He had watched what had gone down between the group and was more curious than surprised.
"Her name is Echo kom Azgeda." He flinched at the memory of the discussion in Raven's shop.
"So that is the woman the commander was worried about." Clarke nodded at him.
"I trust Lexa, I just haven't got a read on her yet. I need you to keep an eye on her as well. She has been sent to watch my mother." She saw the intake of breath and the shock on his face.
"How much does the commander actually know about our camp?" She had been waiting for him to ask again.
"She knows everything I know." He looked at her again trying to read why this was the case.
"Is that safe. I know she has helped us tremendously but she left us there Clarke." She was surprised that he would be the one to bring that up.
"Kane there is something you need to know." She really didn't want to have this talk right now but it was becoming harder to justify Lexa's decisions if the people she wanted to trust were in the dark.
"What is it Clarke?" She recognized where they were and she knew over the next hill was Camp Jaha.
"Lexa and I planned for what happened. I am the one that told her if she was offered a deal to take it. I knew that once we took out everything they would be desperate." She took a calming breath as she laid a hand on the dagger at her waist.
"It hurt me to watch her walk away but I knew she made that choice with her head. I know this will cause some discourse and mistrust with our people but I need you to try and keep everyone in line." He looked at her again.
"Where will you be?"
"I will be leaving with Octavia and Lincoln. I am going to Tondisi to meet with the commander. I will be gone for two weeks at the least." She weighed her next words carefully.
"Kane, what I tell you next needs to be kept to yourself. Only a handful of people know because it was necessary." He nodded at her seeing how this was weighing on her.
"Lexa and I are together."
"Well I thought there was something going on between you two. Raven and I had talked about it and came to the conclusion that you would tell us when we needed to know." She saw the smile on his face.
"Who else knows?"
"Octavia, Indra and Monty. Octavia and Indra know because they are our generals and they needed to know to be able to protect us better. Monty just found out and it just kind of happened." She remembered that she needed to fill Kane in on what she had asked of Monty.
"Speaking of Monty. He has been told to help you wherever you need it. He knows what is going on now." Kane nodded at her as they heard the collective sigh of relief come from everyone as they crested the hill.
"When will you be leaving?" He asked as they started to pick up their pace.
"Shortly after everyone is inside. I want to get to Tondisi as quickly as possible." She said, a little too excited.
"It will take about a day and a half to get there. I know I should stay and make sure we are good but I need to make sure we still have this alliance." He saw her word for what they were. She needed to see the one person she cared for.
"I'll do what I can Clarke. Promise me that you will take at least a radio with you so if anything arises I can contact you." She smiled at him.
"Already planned on it." he nodded at her and made his way back up by Abby.
Clarke made her way beside Octavia as they started to come closer to the gates of Camp Jaha. She was glad that her people were safe but the cost of it started to creep into her mind again. She knew that leaving for a couple weeks was the best thing for her.
Gates of Camp Jaha
Clarke took her time as she watched everyone enter Camp Jaha. She still hated that name but she would get to it later. She had told Octavia to make sure that everyone got inside and that she would wait for them by the gates. She couldn't step inside without seeing all of the pain she had caused her people. She knew that only maybe a handful of her people wouldn't understand why she had pulled that lever causing mass genocide but she would deal with that in two weeks.
She looked over and saw Bellamy and Echo still waiting outside the gates with her. She was still confused by what was going on between them but if she had to guess Bellamy had a thing for this woman. She walked over to them and had to hide the smirk at how quickly they stepped away from each other.
"Clarke, I thought you would have gone inside by now?" She saw the faint hint of red on his cheeks. Yup he likes this woman she thought.
"I am not going to go in, Bellamy. I can't without seeing the consequences of my choices. I am going to go to Tondisi for two weeks and help Heda in anyway I can." She saw the emotions wash over his face.
"You are going to where that traitor is? She left you to die outside that door. Hell she left all of us to die." She watched as he started to get angry and was surprised when Echo pulled him aside. She waited patiently and was amazed that when he stepped back in front of her he was calmer.
"I am sorry Clarke. I just don't fully understand. Echo says that the commander had to think of what was best for her people is that true?" She threw a side glance at Echo and she just nodded. This woman was still a mystery to her.
"Yes Bellamy. Believe it or not The commander and I planned for something like that to come up. We discussed the possibility of one of us being offered a deal and I made the call that it would be better for her to take the deal. She has way more people's interests to watch out for than I do." She took a breath before she continued.
"The commander leaving still hurt yes but I have accepted why she did it and I moved on. We still were able to accomplish our goal of bringing down the mountain." She went to speak again but was stopped by Echo.
"You say the mountain is no more Skaiheda, but how can my people be sure." she heard the audible gulp come from her when she glared at the woman letting a little dose of her Wanheda side show.
"If your people need proof I will gladly show them the 350 bodies all lying in a mass pile with burns all over their faces. The mountain is no more and I will carry the burden of ending innocent lives because their leaders chose to harvest both of our peoples." Bellamy and Echo both took a step back at her voice.
"I may be new to the ground Echo but that does not mean my hands are clean." She gripped the hilt of her dagger trying to control her emotions.
"I meant no disrespect, Skaiheda. It's just our people were long gone by the time you exited the mountain." She knew Echo was right and she needed a way to prove that the mountain was no more.
"Just remember you are on thin ice. I still do not fully trust you." Echo nodded and took a step closer to Bellamy.
"Clarke, you know that if you need forgiveness we can give that to you here." She turned back to him.
"I am not looking for forgiveness. I have taken steps to make sure you all are being taken care of when I am away. Part of the reason I am going to Tondisi is to further negotiate how we can help both of our peoples. The winter season is coming and honestly we are not remotely close to being ready for it." She saw Echo nod in agreement with her.
"I can't accomplish the things that need done if I stay here." She turned and looked at the gates once more.
"So that is it huh. You are just going to leave us with no help and no guidance after leading us to this point?" she heard the hurt behind his words and a slight bit of anger.
"Bellamy you have to trust me that I know what I am doing. We have made many mistakes because we did not trust each other." She saw the grief wash over him.
"I know Clarke but I need you here to help me..us continue to thrive." she saw the desperation on his face and she saw the raised eyebrow of Echo.
"Bellamy we could run around this same tree all day and that won't change anything. This is what is best for all of us." She turned to Echo.
"I know that you have orders from Heda, but I need you to do something for me." Bellamy's eyebrow raised at this news.
"What would you require of me?' Echo asked.
"I need you to train him to fight, hunt and anything else you can think of. Then start expanding the training to all of the guards. We eventually will run out of bullets and we will need more ways to hunt." She could tell Echo was taken back by this.
"I thought you didn't trust me?" She saw the smirk on her face.
"You are right I don't but my only other options are leaving with me and I have a feeling that you are looking for a way to prove that I can trust you." She threw a smirk at her reaction and knew she was right.
"I can handle that. Plus I think I will get a lot of enjoyment out of kicking Skaikru's ass in training." Clarke for the first time since she met the woman let out a laugh.
"I am sure you will, just try to avoid injuring them too much. I know how you guys are about your training methods." Echo just nodded and smiled.
"Well Clarke it seems that your mind is made up. Is there anything else I should know before my sister gets back with who you requested?" She thought very carefully about this. How much could she trust Bellamy with before he made a rash decision. She was hoping having Echo train him, he would stay clear of her mother.
"The only thing I should warn you about is my mother. She will want to know where I have gone and will most likely try to rally our people to come "Rescue" me. You know where I am going and why. I need you to work with Kane and keep her under control." She was taking a chance on him and she was hoping it was the right one.
"I can do that. I remember what she was like before I went into the mountain." He turned to look at Echo.
"Can you give us a moment?" she nodded and made her way to look at what was left of the training ground.
"Clarke, I know you won't believe this but I think your mother was hoping to shove us together." Clarke felt the words hit her like a train. She felt sick at the notion not because Bellamy wasn't attractive but at the fact that she saw him more like a brother.
"Well I hope you can understand that will never happen. I am sorry Bellamy but I love you like a brother. You are my friend and I need it to stay that way." She saw the smirk show on his face.
"I kind of figured that. I won't lie but I did start to fall for you a little since our fighting days on the ark." She blanched at the memory he caused to reappear. She had not thought about the training he ran her through in years. She knew then that it was best for her to leave.
"Clarke, you good?" He asked not remembering how she changed because of him. She couldn't stop herself before she was in his face seething.
"Bellamy, don't ever bring that up again. I hope you quickly lose whatever hope you had for us because I will tell you now you are nothing more than a brother to me. I have not forgotten the shape you left me in that night." She saw the fear come over his face.
"Clarke, you know I didn't mean for it to get that far. I am sorry." She saw a flash of grief come over him.
"It doesn't matter Bellamy. You ran that fight club and when we went at it you left me helpless because you knew where I was weak. I chose to trust you when we came down here but if you bring it up again we will have round 2 and I promise you It won't end the same." She knew she needed to calm down.
"Understood Clarke, I apologize. You are right it was my fault and I won't bring it up anymore. I will focus on what you assigned me." she felt the rage melt at his words and she read his face and saw a genuine remorse written all over it.
"Thank you. Plus I think she would be better for you anyway." She laughed at his reaction of how quickly she went back to joking with him.
"Remind me not to piss you off." She heard Raven say as she approached them.
"How much did you see and hear?" She turned to the mechanic.
"Only enough to know that Bellamy is a dumb ass and seems to forget that he wasn't the only one that took part in those fights, that is here on the ground." She flashed Raven a smirk and nodded at her.
"Anyway I was told you needed to see me?" She nodded and turned back to Bellamy quickly.
"Go on lover boy. Go help our guest with whatever she is doing over there." Raven raised her eyebrow and looked between the two of them and the woman at the training area.
"I think I will and Clarke I am sorry again. I fucked up and I hope to be able to make it up to you." She just nodded at him as he took off to help Echo.
"So Bellamy has a crush huh?" She smirked at Raven and pulled her into a hug.
"I am glad you are alive Raven. Did you find Wick?" Raven nodded at her.
"Yeah I did. I am going to kill him though. What was he thinking doing that?" She laughed at the tone of her friend.
"Just wait till he is healed. We still could use him no matter how much of a pain in the ass he is." Raven chuckled.
"Amen Clarke. Now what did you need me for?"
"I am taking one of your radios. I am leaving for Tondisi with Octavia and Lincoln. I have told Monty what is going on and he agreed to help you and Kane. Bellamy knows to not trust my mother but that is all." She saw the raised eyebrow and sighed.
"I am hoping that with Echo here and Bellamy being on guard she won't try anything. I have Echo keeping Bellamy busy by training him then she is going to train our guards." She saw Octavia, Lincoln, Monty and Kane heading her way.
"You don't trust either of them do you." She followed Raven's gaze and saw that Bellamy was trying to follow along with what Echo was needing.
"Echo is a big fat no. Bellamy on the other hand is more complicated. I know my mother will try to use him against me. I am hoping if he is distracted with Echo he wont give her the time of the day." Raven chuckled but was impressed.
"I mean look at him Clarke, he is following her like a lost puppy. You shouldn't have to worry about him anytime soon. As for your mother I think she won't try anything for a while. She needs time to heal." Clarke nodded and turned back towards the gates as she heard multiple footsteps approaching.
"Raven is right Clarke, she will be in Med bay for at least a week according to Jackson." Clarke smiled at the fact that she would have a least a week free of worry for the most part.
"Good to know. Kane once I arrive in Tondisi I will see if I can't have The commander send some of her warriors to help Echo in training our people to fight and hunt. She had told me that the winter season is fast approaching and we aren't ready for that kind of weather." Kane smiled at her.
"I am sure you will do everything you can Clarke. Now what did you need from us before you left?" she looked at all of them gathered and let out a sigh of relief as he shoulder relaxed.
"I need you to work with Monty and Raven to come up with a way to convert that lake over there into a power source. If we can come up with a way to do that we can run more power and expand outside of those damn walls." Everyone chuckled at her words.
"I think we can look into that. Do you know how far we can expand?" Kane asked knowing they were still in Trikru land.
"No yet no. That is one of the things I will be bringing up to the commander and as soon as I know I will radio you and let you know." He nodded at her.
"Besides that just keep and eye on my mother and if anything suspicious happens radio me as soon as you can. I will try to get some Trikru here quickly but until then stock up on food and start building shelter. Our people have been confined to that damn metal prison for too long." The younger group nodded their heads and laughed.
"I will make sure we do just that Skaiheda." She smiled and nodded at him.
"Then that is all I can think of for now. I will see you all in two weeks if nothing goes wrong." She hugged Raven then Monty then Kane before she looked at Octavia and Lincoln.
"Did you get what I asked for?" Octavia nodded still unsure as to why she had been asked to gather paint from anywhere she could find it.
"Good." She looked up at the sun and saw that it was just past its peak for the day. She shook her head and looked back at the people she trusted lead in her absence.
"I hate to cut and run but we need to get as far as we can before nightfall."
"That would be wise Skaiheda, especially with the stop you want to make before then." Lincoln said.
"Then I guess we will see you in two weeks. Safe travels Clarke and may we meet again." Kane grasped her arm like her would Trikru.
"May we meet again." She nodded at him and they turned to leave.
Clarke waved at Bellamy and Echo as they passed leaving Camp Jaha in her rear view for now. She wanted to get to her pit stop quickly before they continued toward Tondisi. She needed to do something after Echo words rang in her mind. She was going to make sure everyone knew who slew that mountain and that she was not to be messed with.
Outside the door of Mount Weather
By the time they reached the door to mount weather the sun was three quarters through its cycle. It had been a quiet trip and everyone had been on guard. Clarke still hadn't been able to shake the feeling of being watched but she knew if she was it was someone Lexa had sent. She had a mission to do and then hopefully put this behind her.
They approached the door and Clarke stopped and scanned the area looking for anything out of place. There was an eerie calm around this place when not 24 hours ago there was a whole army here. Once she felt like whoever was there was not a threat she turned and faced the two people traveling with her. She owed them an explanation of why they were back here.
"Octavia, do you have the paint?"
"Yeah, I still don't know why you wanted this. I know you like to draw but honestly what is it for?" She saw the confused looks on both of their faces as she was handed the paint.
"Something Echo said rang true to me. I have to prove that the mountain is actually no more since Lexa's army left." she took a breath as she dipped her fingers into the black paint.
"This won't mean much to Skaikru but it will to the grounders." She moved to the giant hinge on the door.
She drew a black circle in the middle of the "I" part of the hinge. Once it was dark enough she reapplied the paint once more and drew four crescent moons with their points facing outwards leaving a small diamond shape in the middle. In the middle of this she drew a triquetra. She wiped the black paint on a rag and reached for the small amount of red paint she had. She dipped her index finger in it and drew two blood drops coming from each point of the moon.
She heard Lincoln let out a breath once she took a step back and turned toward them. She grabbed some of the water she had brought with them and poured it on her hand to wash off what paint was left.
"Clarke, How do you know about that symbol? That is something from our legends that no one had seen in years from what I am told." She looked up at the big man.
"What I tell you goes nowhere, understand?" They both nodded at her.
"You know how Lexa has the commander spirit because of the flame and that she was born a Natblida?" They nodded at her as she stepped closer to them not wanting any prying eyes to see what she was about to do.
She pulled out one of her daggers from the sheathe in her sleeve and sliced the palm of her hand to let her blood run. She instinctively closed her palm as she felt the pain of slicing her own hand and she felt the warm blood starting to come out of the slice. She looked up at both of her friends and they had their eyebrow raised.
"Shortly after we made an alliance with the commander I had a dream where I was standing in a throne room surrounded by 11 people that I had never met before. A woman appeared next to me and surprised the others in the room." She took a breath.
"At the time I didn't know who these people were but after talking with Lexa, I found out they were the previous commanders. The woman that appeared next to me was the spirit of Wanheda." She waited trying to control her breathing at the pain in her palm.
"Over the next week I was visited by Wanheda and was told that I had been chosen by her for something." She looked at Octavia.
"You remember when we were in the village and Lexa and I were training?" She nodded.
"Well during that I connected with Wanheda for the first time and by doing so she unlocked something inside me that caused me to match the commander spirit. It also started to change my blood." She opened her hand and saw both of their eyes blow open wide.
"Natblida." She heard Lincoln breathe out.
"Sha. It started that day and while we were in the mountain Wanheda and I, were one when we slayed the guards and she was with me till we left the mountain telling me that her spirit had joined mine and she would help me with whatever comes next." She grabbed some of the bandages that she had requested from Med Bay and started to wrap her palm.
"I do not know what this means for me but I know that it won't be good. Word will spread once scouts see this symbol and tell what happened here." she looked back up at them.
"Clarke you know what Wanheda means in our language right?" Lincoln looked concerned and she smiled at him.
"It means the Commander of Death, correct?" She knew it did but wanted him to confirm it for him.
"Sha, That raises you to almost the same status as Heda. In our culture Heda and Wanheda were two of the most powerful spirits in our beliefs. From what I have read and been told those two spirits will bring an everlasting peace or the end of the world." No matter how many times she had been told a version of this it still made her wince.
"Well Lincoln I plan on it being the first one. Everyone down here deserves to wake up and not be under the threat of war. We all deserve that opportunity to live and make a life for ourselves down here. Will there be war that pops up every now and then, of course." she gathered everything back up and handed it back to Octavia.
"I am sure you are but by doing this and putting your symbol with that one will cause you to be marked. In our legends it is believed that if you kill the spirit of Wanheda you will take the power to control death." She raised an eyebrow at him and she heard the confirmation from that spirit that he was speaking true.
"Well, good thing I don't plan on dying anytime soon and I plan on trying to get Skaikru further protection." She looked over at Octavia and saw that she was processing everything.
"Lincoln, I have something to ask of you. If you do not want to do this then I understand." Octavia looked at her in the eye and she saw the question there.
"What is it Clarke?" he was keeping a straight face but she could see something in his eyes.
"First you should know that your banishment had been lifted by orders of Heda." She watched as his eyes went wide.
"You are once again part of Trikru once you pass some test she had for you. She did not tell me what this was but she did say that it would take place the day after we arrived in Tondisi." He nodded and seemed to tense quickly but went back to normal.
"Now I would like you to become another general of mine. I need another person I can trust and you can help me further understand your traditions when I need it. You helped us even though you knew what it would mean to your people." She looked at Octavia and saw the smile on her watched as he dropped to a knee and bowed his head at her.
"It would be an honor to serve you Wanheda." She noticed the name he used. She guessed that title ranked higher than her others. She stuck her arm out at him.
"Rise, Linkon kom Trikru en Skaikru. You are one of my generals but the three of us still answer to Heda." She felt him grip her arm and she locked her gaze with his.
"Sha Wanheda." She heard both of them say. She looked up at the sun and it had not moved but a little. They needed to find shelter for the night as soon as they could.
"Good. Now we should head out." They nodded and started making their way to their destination.
She had lost track of how long she had been awake but guessed it was nearing almost two days. She could feel the exhaustion setting in after everything she had been through. She was afraid to close her eyes as she sat inside the mountain. She was afraid of what her dreams would bring so she powered through and could feel it finally catching up to her.
The walk through the woods was calming but she was on edge for what seemed like the millionth time today. She could feel them being watched but her mind was using every last ounce of concentration to follow Lincoln. He knew of a cave they would be able to stay in that was close to the mountain. With as late as it was he said this would be the best option if they wanted to do any hunting at all.
They made it to a cave that was about eight miles from mount weather just as the sun was starting to set. It was a spacious cave that offered a nice view of the surrounding forest. It would serve its purpose for the night. She wanted to leave as the sun was rising in the morning but she wondered if she would get any sleep tonight. She gathered wood for a fire while Octavia and Lincoln went out to hunt. She still could feel eyes on her and she was tired of it.
She got back to the cave and set the wood down and exited the cave to gather more. She followed her instinct to where she thought the people watching her would be. She looked up and scanned the trees looking for her observers and then she saw a shape hiding in the treetops.
"I know you are up there, come on down." She announced loud enough for the person to hear her. She was not expecting two people to come down from different trees.
She smiled when she saw the young girl she had met early this morning. She was not surprised to find her here again and if she had to guess it was on orders of Lexa. She looked at the other woman that had come down from a tree and noticed that she had a darker tan complexion, short chin length dirty blond hair. She carried a bow and two swords with her. One was a curved scimitar and the other was a curved blade that was in the shape of a crescent moon. She was taller than Clarke by a couple of inches and she could tell this woman was closer to Anya's age. She locked eyes with the woman and tried to get a read on her.
Clarke saw the difference between the Trikru and this woman. She was leaner but toned and wore a scarf around her neck. She wore lighter clothing than what she had seen Trikru in. Clarke knew this woman was from another clan and if she had to guess this woman came from a place that was a lot warmer than here.
"Elanta, Who is this woman with you?" she looked at the younger girl but saw how she looked at the other woman first. A lightbulb went off in her head and she figured that this could be Elanta's Fos.
"My name is Aslena kom Sankru." Clarke was glad her guess was correct. She stepped towards the old woman.
"Good to meet you Aslena kom Sankru. Ai laik Wanheda, Skaiheda Klark kom Skaikru." She extended her arm towards the woman and waited. Clarke knew introducing herself this way would judge who people would react to her new name that she had taken on.
She watched as the recognition crossed the woman's face and she watched as her eyes scanned over her and rested at her extended arm. She was glad when the woman grasped her arm in greeting and she locked eyes with her once more.
"So you are the one that Elanta said slew the mountain?" Clarke could feel the judgement and questions as the grasp was let go.
"Sha. The door now bears the mark of Wanheda." She waited before she spoke to see what would be said.
"Then it is truly an honor to meet you Wanheda, Skaiheda Klark kom Skaikru. You have freed our people from years of torment." Clarke was surprised by how easy this woman took her word. She was cautious of this but let it slide for now. The more of Lexa's people that trusted her the better it would be for her people.
"All I did was pull a lever and cause a mass extinction, killing innocent children in the process and it will never leave me." Clarke didn't know what possessed her to say this but she attributed it to the lack of sleep.
"That may be so but you took away the threat of further killing of the Trikru and any of the surrounding clans that they could get a hold of. From what Echo told me, before she left the village you and Heda were at before the battle, Heda made an announcement that the mountain was no more thanks to Skaiheda. As she was leaving the people there were already spreading the name Wanheda around." Clarke took in a sharp breath and could feel a reassuring nod from Wanheda's spirit.
"Well, if anyone needs proof I will gladly show them with Heda's approval." She focused on keeping her eyes open and trying to see the two people in front of her with the moonlight.
"Now I know that Heda most likely sent you two here to watch me and that is fine. We are in a cave not far from her but you know that already." Aslena nodded at her.
"Good. You are welcome to join us if you bring food. Based on those clouds it could rain tonight. I would hate for you two to get sick because you had to stay out in it." She saw the battle being fought in Aslena's eyes.
"We will go hunt then join you. You are right, the weather does look right for rain." Clarke nodded at them and they went to go hunt.
She gathered another pile of wood and made her way back to the cave. She saw Lincoln and Octavia back with a few rabbits and some small vegetables. She sat the wood down in the pile from earlier and made her way to the front of the cave and observed. She could smell the change in the weather and knew she was right as she heard the first sign of rain.
"We will have two more joining us for the night." She turned back and looked at her two generals.
"Who Clarke and how do you know this?" She saw the looks on both of their faces in the flickering light of the flames.
"Lexa, assigned two scouts to watch me as we made our way to Tondisi. I confronted them and one of them was Elanta." She saw the look of shock on Octavia's face. She remembered the young girl from this morning.
"The other is one of Lexa's generals that until a few minutes ago I had only seen but not known her name. She is Aslena kom Sankru. If I had to guess Aslena is Elanta's Fos. I told them they are welcome to join us if they bring food. It looks like it would rain tonight and I would like to avoid them getting sick." She could tell both of them were studying her.
"Lincoln what do you know of this Aslena?" she heard Octavia ask as Clarke turned back and faced the opening of the cave.
"She became one of Heda's generals around the same time Anya did. Together they were sent out on missions that were deemed the most dangerous. Heda trusted them and they never failed her. Aslena is ruthless when it comes to battle and stealth. It was once told that Anya and her infiltrated a village that had threated Heda and they slaughtered everyone before the sun rose. Only those close to Heda knew about this. I only know because Anya had let it slip one night when I was with her and we started talking about the rumors." She turned her head slightly and looked back at the man. She saw the brief look of sadness on his face as he told what he knew.
Clarke wondered just how many people were close to Anya. Every time she looked at Elanta she saw an uncanny resemblance to the woman. From what Lincoln had told her he was one of Anya's scouts when they first landed her and he was assigned to watch them. After he had helped them evade capture from Tristian, he was banished when Octavia attempted to trade Nyko for him before he was captured and became a reaper. She shuddered at the sight of him when they had found him.
She realized that the woman she had rescued from Mount Weather had an important part in more than just Lexa's life. She regretted not being able to save her from the gunshot. She still blamed herself for doing more to try and help her before she died. She wiped the tear that was falling from her face as she saw two figures approaching the cave. She grabbed the hilt of her sword to be safe but relaxed when she saw the brief glimpse of their faces in the moonlight.
She stood at the entrance to the cave as they approached and greeted Aslena as they came to a stop at the entrance. She nodded at the both of them and turned back to Octavia and Lincoln.
"Octavia, Lincoln this is Aslena and Elanta." They stood up and greeted the two women.
"Aslena, Elanta these are my two generals. Lincoln and Octavia." She saw the emotion cross Aslena as she looked at Lincoln. They nodded at each other as they made their way to the fire to cook the meat they had brought.
She felt the tension between the two and wondered what their story was. She pushed it aside for now and made her way to the fire and sat on the cave floor. Everyone sat in silence as the food was cooked and did not know how to approach the new additions.
"Aslena, Lincoln said that you worked with Anya. Is that true?" Aslena looked up at her and then looked over at Lincoln and saw the question on her face as if asking how much he had told her.
"Sha. Anya was like a sister to me. We both became generals for Heda shortly after she became commander and untied the clans forming the Kongeda. I was returning from a previous mission when Heda approached me with Anya and asked me to become one of her generals. She told me she wanted at least one general from every clan as a way to show that she was willing to work with and listen to our ideas. It made the ambassadors happy, each of them having their own reasons to agree to this." She took a drink of water before she continued.
"Now Wanheda, I must know something." She looked at the woman and raised an eyebrow.
"What is it, Aslena?"
"Now that the mountain is no more. What is your plan for Skaikru? You are still located in Trikru territory." Clarke furrowed her brows at the woman. She knew that Lexa trusted this woman at least a little to have become one of her generals.
"That is one of the reasons I am traveling to Tondisi. Heda extended an offer to come there after the battle if I still lived and we would start to discuss the peace we had for the battle with the Maunde." Aslena nodded at her answer and took a bite of the rabbit she had cooked.
After Aslena was satisfied with her answer she started talking to Octavia while Elanta talked to her wanting to know what life was like in the sky. They talked for an hour before Clarke let out a yawn, the exhaustion catching back up to her once more. She grabbed her bedding that she had brought with her and laid it out where she had been sitting. Lincoln volunteered for first watch with Aslena taking the next one followed by Octavia then Elanta would take the last shift. Clarke tried to say that she would take a shift but she was quickly shot down by Lincoln and Octavia saying that she deserved the rest after everything she had been through.
She finally relented and took off her weapons and laid them beside her bed roll. She heard the rain coming down at a decent speed and knew that if it was not gone by morning it would be a long trek to Tondisi. She laid down and covered herself turning away from the fire and let the exhaustion consume her as she hoped her dreams would be spared from the horrors she had committed.
A/N: Sorry for the wait on this chapter. The next chapter will have Clarke arriving in Tondisi and Bellamy starts his training with Echo.