Chapter 4
Clarke woke up. She didn't know what time it was, but she knew that it was still early. She hadn't been getting much sleep anyway, so it really didn't matter. She only slept when Echo, Octavia, or Lexa made her. And, even then, it was with help of the tea. There was always just too much on her mind. She couldn't make it quiet no matter what she tried. She had a mission to save the human race, and there were too many men that thought they knew better.
She wanted to huff, but she didn't. She knew that not all men were bad. Her father was one of them. Wells and Murphy were good, too. Hell, even, Bellamy and his misguidedness were tolerable (most days). But, men in power like Dante, Cage, or even her Uncle Theo always seemed to be hellbent on destroying in order to keep up appearances and the status quo. Which is why she was glad that she had Kane and Sinclair on her side. They knew how to offset that mentality and lead with passion that wasn't stifling. They inspired, and she could only hope that she could do the same.
Weight held her down, but she knew that she had to get up. There were new guards that she had to help dress, name, and make part of the Arkers. She turned her head and smiled. Lexa was holding her close. Her muscular body wrapped around Clarke's in such a way to keep her protected. Even in her sleep, Lexa was still looking out for her. She turned just a little in Lexa's arms.
She couldn't help herself. She ran her hands through Lexa's thick and luxurious hair. She'd wanted to do more of that last night, but they were so tired that they actually slept. She hadn't been opposed to them loving on each other, but she could barely keep her eyes open. It had done nothing for her dreams, so she decided that she was entitled to indulge that morning. She ran her fingers through Lexa's hair and down to her scalp, scratching lightly, until she saw Lexa's eyes begin to flutter open. Lexa turned her head slightly at the touch as her eyes opened.
"Good morning," Clarke whispered.
"Sonop, Prisa kom Skai," Lexa drawled out sleepily.
"Are you ready to get up and be Alex, today?"
"Sha, Prisa, ai laik," Lexa told her. "I am Alexandria Woods, a lieutenant in the Guard. I serve you, Clarke, and only you."
"I know that, Love," Clarke replied as she tried to get out of the bed.
"Stay."
"We can't, Alex," Clarke said, so she even got used to the name. "We have to get up and make sure the rest are ready."
"Tris, should be outside waiting for us."
"I thought she went with Anya and Luna," Clarke stated as she rolled away and made to stand up.
"She did."
"Then, how is she outside waiting for us?" Clarke asked.
"Luna and Anya sent her back with Luna's messenger, Jersey. They were waiting for me back in TonDC. They were letting me know that they would be back soon. They were sent ahead and met with Indra and Gaia. They are waiting to talk with you. Tris said something about Wanheda needs to know first."
"What do I need to know?" Clarke questioned as she dressed.
"I don't know, Klark. Tris wouldn't even tell me. You already inspire as you are. Would you have me punish her for not speaking to me first?"
Clarke shook her head after she pulled a blue shirt down, "No, but you are still Heda."
"That maybe, Hodnes, but she knows the truth and respects you. It also means that the message is for you and you alone. I will only hear it if you wish."
Clarke looked at her more deeply then. She could see the teasing mischief in her eyes, but she also saw the seriousness of what Lexa was trying to tell her. Tris wasn't trying to be disobedient. She was following directions. Whatever news she bore, Luna and/or Anya decided that it was for Clarke first. This meant that it wasn't good, but they knew that she would take the news with Lexa. They were making sure that the news wasn't just given to Lexa during a meeting with the other generals or not in front of the Twel.
Clarke might not have accepted her title in full strength yet, but there were those among the warriors that were already starting to question. Gustus, Nyko, and a few other had heard the word and let Lexa know. To those not in Lexa's immediate circle, they were surprised that she didn't stop the rumors. Instead, she fed them. She was elevating Clarke to power among her people, even though she hadn't been introduced. Clarke knew that it was to help after the Mountain, but she still wasn't fully and completely on board with being Wanheda.
"Should I talk to her before breakfast?" Clarke inquired as she turned around to find Lexa in a pair of tight ripped jeans and a loose dark green shirt.
Lexa stood there, in the Sky clothes, and waited for Clarke to say more. She felt weird. The pants were tight enough and she could fight in them. Her own boots were old military issue. Octavia had helped her to remove some of the armaments to make them look old, well-used, and from pre-bomb Earth. She reached over and grabbed a jacket. It was a puffy bomber style in a greyish color. Clarke could tell that it had once been black. There were some patches from military units of old adorning it. It fit Lexa perfectly.
Clarke looks at the faded hem of the shirt and smiles. Lexa looked good, but she needed to do something with her hair. While it looked beautiful down, it wasn't exactly functional. Clarke still kept hers pulled back on the sides, but she knew that Lexa wouldn't go for that. She needed something utilitarian and somewhat militaristic. Clarke wished that Octavia or Echo were there to help her, but she knew that a few braids would be okay. She pulled Lexa over to a chair and made her sit down. She worked with her hair for few minutes until she found a style that she liked, that she knew Lexa would be okay with, and that would still give her some rank among the Grounders that were with her in the camp. When she was finished, she made Lexa look in the mirror. She wanted her approval, but she also wanted her to see herself as Alex Woods.
"I look strange," Lexa stated as she took in herself.
"You look like a skaimon."
"I am Alexandria Woods," Lexa stated with a little bit of snark and a smirk.
"That you are," Clarke stated. "We need to go meet with Kane so I can trade out your jacket for a Guard one, though. If you are to be a Guard, you need to look at least the part, sha. I know that it is different, Lexa. And, I know that you will need to sneak out of camp and see to your people. But, while here, I need for you to be Alex for me. Can you do that?"
"Sha, Princess, I will," Lexa said.
Lexa turned around and hugged Clarke. They both knew that today was going to take a lot out of her. Especially dealing with Cage. Lexa would opt to kill already to make him pay, but Clarke knew that they had to play the "long con" with them to save as many from the Mountain as they could. Lexa agreed that they couldn't let the children suffer for their elders mistakes. Holding Clarke a minute more, she enjoyed the simple pleasure of being close to her.
"We need to go," Lexa stated as she backed up and looked deeply into Clarke's eyes. "You have guards to name and breakfast to eat, Princess."
"I like it when you call me that in Trig, Leksa, not English. It was originally an insult to me. Raven and Octavia have helped me reclaim it. It doesn't mean what it used to me, but I still prefer being your prisa rather than the Princess of Skycrew."
"Then, what should I call you while in camp, hodes, just Clarke?"
"Yes, but we can look into other pet names later. We need to go, Alex. You need to meet your team."
"I need to review them, too," Lexa replied.
The entered the mess hall with little fanfare. No one seemed to question who was with Clarke. They just assumed that she was one of the delinquents. Someone that they didn't see grow up, and possibly she was someone that got in trouble early, like Charlotte. They would be wrong, but it didn't matter. They all knew that they were take orders from Clarke and Kane.
Abby saw them come in and waved them over to her table. Lexa was staring at her meal as they sat down. She had no idea what it was and made a mental note to have hunters bring them some fresh game, among other things. She would cook meals for her and Clarke. She would not being staying there and eating the ration paste or whatever they called it when there was fresh food for her just feet outside the fence. She also needed to bulk Clarke up. She needed lots of meat. It would be the first order that she gave to the guards that weren't selected for the Mountain crew. Lexa took in the numbers of those in the mess hall. There were barely two hundred, but it was a lively bunch, and good enough to make a small city to be absorbed into Trikru until... Well, they would deal with all that later, for now, she knew that she had to focus on Clarke and the immediate missions. She looked over to Abby who was studying her quiet closely. Lexa gave her a slight nod and Abby gave her a small smile.
"Good to see you this early, Alexandria," Abby told her.
"Thank you, Doctor," Lexa replied. "Clarke told me to go by Alex, though."
"It would be easier, yes, between the guards you are with and whatever friends you have here among the Arkers. And, since we are going to make things easy for your integration and your stay with us, I think that you should report to Major Byrne when you get back. She'll need to know about your team," Abby stated and then looked over to Clarke before turning back to Lexa. "And, you have to start calling me Abby, Alex."
"Yes...Abby," Lexa said as she caught Tris moving through the crowd towards them. "Clarke, Tris is coming this way."
"I see her," Clarke answered. "How old is she? Thirteen?"
"No, Prisa, she is fifteen summers. She has been Anya's sekken since she was ten winters old. That is older than I was when Anya took me on as a sekken before my conclave. She's ready for the trials, but Anya is holding her back. I think that she is waiting until after Praimfaya to test her."
"That could be a smart thing, especially for her age," Clarke added. "I would actually like to see her make until Praimfaya for once. She is good kid."
"She is no kid, Prisa. She is a Trikru gona. She's earned it."
"I am not saying that she isn't, Alex, but she is fifteen. She'd just possibly be starting her apprenticeship with someone on the Ark. She's still young enough that we can use her to run interference between the camps. I want her to stay here and join the Guard for this mission," Clarke suggested. "This way Byrne, you and I can use her to relay messages between TonDC, Anya, and ourselves."
"She would be good for that, but first, you must hear her news."
"And, what will her name be?" Abby asked as Tris came to the edge of the table.
"Sit Tris," Lexa commanded the teen. "We have more to discuss. Wanheda and I need you do something, so listen to what she says and only reply in Gonasleng, sha? It is very important that you only use Gonasleng until Wanheda tells you otherwise, ait? Do you understand?"
"I do, Heda," Tris answered as she sat down at the table.
"Tris, I know that you are a warrior."
"Yes...Wanheda," Tris replied.
"For the time being, you are going to be a Guard apprentice while you are here serving me and Lexa, okay?"
"Okay, Wanheda."
"Call me Clarke," Clarke instructed. "Or, if you must use a title, I am sure we can find a reason for you to call me Prisa."
"Yes, Prisa."
"You are going to report to Lieutenant Alex Woods," Clarke told her as she pointed to Lexa and put her hand on Lexa's shoulder. "She is going to be in charge of a special group of Guards tha are dealing with the Mountain."
Tris just nodded.
"So, when you are in camp, she is either Lieutenant or Alex," Clarke stated.
Tris nodded.
"So, I am going to call you Tris Pine. Anya will be your aunt, if anyone asks if you have family. This way you'll blend in with the Arkers, okay?"
"Okay," Tris acknowledged.
"Good. Major Byrne is the head of our guard, so you'll be seeing a lot of her, too. The other guards will all be given names, too. Most of the Guards use last names, like Pine for you or Woods for Alex. Got it?"
"Yes, Prisa. I am Tris Pine of the Ark Guard. Anya Pine is my aunt and a member of the Guard as well. We serve under Lieutenant Alex Woods."
"Very good, Tris," Clarke praised. "We are going to need your help in making sure that the rest of the Guard on this detail maintains this ruse. Can you do that for me, Tris? Can you help us with this mission?"
"Yes, Prisa," Tris answered.
"You will be more of a messenger than Guard for this, but that doesn't make your job any less important. I need you to do as I ask, when I ask, and how I ask. I know that you can do that because you wouldn't give Alex your report last night. What I want you to know is, Tris, if you can't find me, you give the information to Alex. She'll find me and we'll make a decision together on what to do. She is still your Commander."
"Yes, Prisa," Tris replied.
"So, what is your news, Tris?" Clarke asked her finally.
Her eyes went wide when she realized that Clarke wasn't kidding. She wanted to hear the news, right then and there. She didn't care that her mother and Lexa were sitting at the table. If it was something important, Clarke wanted them to hear it too. It would save time.
"Anya and Luna have sent me back to let you know that Sangeda is going to be a threat. They are amassing near enough to the borders and are raiding for furs, weapons, and kru items to help them blend in while they travel to attack."
Clarke furrowed her brow. This was new and unexpected. Sangeda was never a real threat before this life. Why now? Clarke thought.
"Anything more?"
"They made maps of where they were concentrating. It looked like they has some tek. Luna wanted to go look, but Anya wouldn't let her. She wanted to turn back so that they would make your deadline to coming back. Anya said that she didn't want to make you angry, and that you needed the news. Luna wanted to stay behind with a small group and continue the mission," Tris told her.
"Anya pulled rank?" Lexa asked, surprised, but smiling.
"I don't know that she pulled rank on her, Commander...Alex, but she convinced Luna to come back," Tris answered.
"How could Anya pull rank over Luna? Luna is a known Night Blood and your Sekken. How would she outrank her?" Clarke asked as she turned back to Lexa.
Lexa smiled. She knew that Clarke had lived many lives, but she wasn't surprised that Clarke didn't know. Ranking systems among the clans were all different, but the ranking system that Lexa imposed on her generals and advisors was of her own creation.
"While Luna is my Sekken, she is my second in command when it comes to political policy and such. Anya is my head general only because I made Indra the head of Trikru and the head general of Trikru. This made Anya he highest military leader in all the coalition behind me. Anya runs our military while Luna deals with most of the domestic stuff. Flokru isn't as big as it once was due to the fact that I stopped most of the wars in starting the coalition early. Luna still ran and created it, but the need for her to be there wasn't as great. Derek runs it for the most part," Lexa explained. "Now, should something happen to me before we've decided that Aden is of age to succeed, Luna will become Heda and Anya will still support her. That being said, you sent them on a military mission. Anya was in charge from the moment they left. You commanded that they had to return in two weeks. Anya was following your orders. Luna wanted more information, and knowing Luna, she is already getting spies ready to go watch them. I will need to order scouts and rangers to protect the boarder. I will have to send troops."
"We need to protect our people, Alex. I understand. Do it, but make sure that they are not troops that we would need at the Mountain. And, make sure that they are loyal to the coalition."
"I was going to ask Roan, so that won't be a problem, hodnes," Lexa answered.
"Good," Clarke answered and looked back at Tris. "Alright, Cadet Pine, you and the Lieutenant need to gather the rest of the team. We need to head towards the Mountain soon to redevous with those we are going to treat first. Mom, I'll see you in the air locks with Jackson."
"Be safe, honey. I'll see you both when you return and then I expect both of you for dinner," Abby said as she stood up. "I wouldn't mind something homecooked, if it could be arranged."
"I'll see it to, Abby," Lexa stated.
"Have a good excursion, you two, and thank you, Alex," Abby told her making sure to use her "new" name.
"Let's go, Tris. We have to make sure that you blend in with the rest of us. Thank goodness that you haven't earned any tattoos yet."
"I'll see you by the gate in an hour or less?" Clarke asked as she stood up, too, with Lexa.
"Going to see Raven?"
"Yeah, I want to know what they've been up to overnight. And, I want to talk to our Little Bird. I might need her to fly for me."
"I'm sure she'd love that," Lexa said as she walked to the area to dump her tray and head out to find the rest of the kru that were going to be her section of the Guard for the foreseeable future.
Clarke watched her go. She was still wondering if this was the right course of action. She had to believe that it was. She didn't want to kill over three hundred fifty again, if she didn't have to. But, she knew that it was really all going to be up to Cage and Dr. Tsing. Dante could be pliant, and she was hoping on that to get the job done as quickly and safely as they could.
"So, lets find out what mischief Cage was up to last night before I have to talk to him," Clarke said aloud as she made her way out of the mess hall and to Raven's little corner of Arkadia.