After stopping in her rooms to change, Clarke went down to the Azgeda suite, hoping to find Murphy or Roan but neither was there. She left her answer to Roan's note on the table then went down to the training ring. Alba left the sekens he was training to greet her. "Heda, I did not expect to see you again so soon."
"I got used to seeing you every day. I'll let you work, though."
"No, Heda, I always have time for you and they need to go against someone better."
It was the first time he complimented her and Clarke said, "Mochof, Ticha. Who are they?"
Alba walked over with her. "Heda, this is Lowell kom Azgeda, seken to Den, and Saco kom Azgeda, seken to Ver."
They bowed deeply while Clarke said, "Nice to meet you."
They stood up and looked terrified. Clarke went to get a practice sword from the rack to give them a minute to gather their composure, but returned in a running attack that Saco ducked and Lowell tried to counter. He lost his sword but Clarke gave him time to collect it again while she pursued Saco. Clarke amused herself against them for an hour. She stopped when she saw the crowd gathering and thanked Alba and her opponents. She put the sword back on the rack and left the ring without the water she wanted.
She went to Raven's workshop after a stop in the market to get a drink. Roger and Fay were sorting and shelving the contents of the crates all over the floor. "Where's Raven?" she asked, and they nearly fell over themselves to greet her properly.
"Don't. You don't bow to me when it's just us. You don't call me Heda when it's just us. I'm just Clarke, Raven's friend who has no idea how you guys do what you do. So I'm gonna ask again, where's Raven?"
"She left a note and said she was at Arkadia getting stuff."
"Got a radio?" Clarke asked.
Roger pointed at the table behind Clarke. Both he and Fay waited to see if it had enough distance.
"What's up, Clarke?" Raven answered loud and clear and her minions broke into cheers.
Clarke held the talk button down until they stopped. "Apparently, you're a big hit."
"Of course."
"Got your note. I'm gonna give it to Lexa, if that's OK."
"Absolutely. They were just what I needed. I'm gonna be back for dinner with them."
"They'll love it. Come by before you turn in, OK."
"I don't wanna stay there."
"I just need to see you for few minutes."
"OK, I can do that. See you after dinner."
"Cool. Don't forget my flashlight."
"It's in my bag, and before you ask, yes, you can keep the radio."
"Thanks. See later."
"Hold up, I need the minions."
Clarke handed the radio off and looked around. She was used to the organized chaos of Raven's work areas, and this was on its way to returning to that state. She didn't listen to the conversation, just waited for it to end."
"Clarke," Fay prompted, and Clarke turned around and took the radio. "Thanks. Same rules as before. You need me, you send a message. I'll be around and I'll stop by when I can."
"Got it," they answered together, but waited for Clarke to leave before going back to work.
100 – 100 – 100
Clarke thought about going back to the market to find lunch but decided to eat with Lexa and the Natblida. She found them in the dining room of their dorm, and served herself from the side table before squeezing in beside Lexa.
"Heda," Lexa greeted her with a pleased smiled.
"Fleimkepa." Clarke lowered her voice and asked Lexa, "What do I call them as a group? I don't think 'you lot' is appropriate."
"Natblida. Yomblods."
"Natblida," Clarke said aloud, and got "Sha Heda?" in return.
"I talked to Raven on the radio a little while ago. She said she'll be back to have supper with you."
They started whispering excitedly.
"Eat," Lexa reminded them, and looked at Clarke. "That means we have the evening free."
"Sorry," Clarke apologized. "Raven's coming by after she eats, but she won't stay. She's going back to Arkadia tonight. What are you doing this afternoon?"
"Going to the library."
"Can I come?"
Lexa laughed. "May Heda accompany us to the library?" she asked the Natblida.
"Sha," and "beja" were the most popular answers.
"Cool," Clarke answered with a huge smile and tucked into her meal.
While she finished her lunch, Lexa wondered why the few big natblida were more trouble than all the small ones.
100 – 100 – 100
After the library, they stopped by Raven's workshop. She was there, directing the placement of incoming crates. The Natblida waited patiently for her attention, but Clarke had no such qualms. She crossed the workshop and quietly told Raven, "Lexa said we have something to do tonight so can we do this now?"
Raven looked around. "Sure." She saw the Natblida. "Heda and I have something to do, but I'll see you for dinner."
They looked disappointed, but filed out when Lexa told them to, but stopped Aden to tell him, "I'll be one moment," before going to Clarke.
"I can be there if you wish."
"It worked better when it was just us," Clarke reminded her. "We'll be fine."
100 – 100 – 100
Clarke and Raven walked toward the Tower. "Lexa told the ambassadors to get their leaders here. I'm guessing a week for all of them to arrive."
"Can't wait."
"We can just sit here," Clarke suggested, pointing to a bench.
"Sure."
They sat down and Clarke tried to relax. "Talk to her," she suggested, then closed her eyes and put her face toward the sun.
"Hey," Raven started, then hesitated. "I miss you so much. You were supposed to stay down and not be so damn nosy."
"Sha," Ontari agreed. "I miss you."
"It's really you?"
"Sha." Clarke raised her head, but it was Ontari who looked back.
Raven launched herself at the other woman. "You weren't supposed to leave," she cried into Clarke's neck.
"Moba. I did not want to leave you, Reivon." Clarke held her, face buried in Raven's neck.
"It's just for a while."
You should not," Ontari said.
"Maybe. But I'm gonna."
"I do not wish to make problems for Klark."
"Clarke makes plenty of her own problems," Raven told her. She pushed Clarke back so she could see Ontari's eyes. "I'm coming. The only problem you could make for Clarke is if you challenged her to be heda."
"I will not do that."
"So there's no problem. Clarke already said it's OK. It's gonna take me a while to put everything back together, but after that, it won't take long. I already know what to do."
"And Leksa?"
"You know Clarke's the boss of her."
"Reivon," Ontari reproved.
"C'mon, love, you know Lexa will do whatever Clark asks. Nobody wants anything from you when you come back except me."
Ontari looked at her and smiled a little. "I can imagine what you want."
"God, I hope so. I have about a month's worth of stuff to do here and then I'm headed north. I'm not gonna bug Clarke to talk to you all the time. I just want you to know I'm coming."
"I will wait."
"And watch Clarke's back?" Raven coaxed.
"Sha."
"And remember how much I love you."
Ontari smiled fully. "As long as you do the same."
They shared a kiss and Raven put her hand on Clarke's cheek and watched Ontari's dark eyes fade into Clarke's blue. Clarke caught her hand as Raven pulled it back.
"You OK?" Clarke asked.
"Yeah," Raven smiled "I'm good."
"Whenever you need," Clarke told her earnestly.
"Before I leave, but I'll be OK til then, honest." Raven smiled and raised her right hand in an old oath. "Like I told her, I need about a month here to get ready."
"I'll talk to Luna and make sure the boat's still safe."
"Thanks. And, uh, not to be pushy, but if Sas is gonna be chief minion, I need to spend more time with him before we're trapped on a boat for 10 days."
"I'll talk to Lexa again."
"Awesome. How's the new job?"
"I must be missing something. I'm bored."
Raven laughed. "It's the first day in the office. Give it time."
"Yeah, right."
"I'm gonna go get the kids and send your girlfriend this way."
"I'll be right here."
Clarke was wandering through the garden when Lexa arrived.
"It went well?"
"I think so. Raven looked, uh, happy, maybe."
"Good. She said she needs the Natblida in the workshop, and you know what happened next."
Clarke laughed, then kissed Lexa's cheek. "They really do love you."
"This afternoon I asked myself why the big natblida are so much more trouble."
Clarke, still smiling, raised her hand and waited for Lexa to acknowledge her. Lexa gestured.
"Because we know more."
Lexa snorted.
"Because you didn't raise us and we have no manners?" Clarke tried.
Lexa laughed. "That is true."
Clarke pulled Lexa flush against her body. "You should take me upstairs and teach me better."
Lexa kissed her. "I think you will need many lessons," she told Clarke softly, then bit her earlobe.
"Can't wait," Clarke answered, and picked her up. Lexa kissed her again, and it went on as Clarke walked them into the Tower.
The guards on the elevator pretended not to see them. The ones on the doors opened them, got out of the way, and closed them. Clarke and Lexa didn't notice anything around them until they fell on the bed.
