"Raven is a bad influence," Lexa complained in the elevator.
"Yup, and they need it. It's good for them to see that adults aren't always serious, and some are only serious when the situation calls for it." She looked at Lexa. "You could've used somebody like Raven when you were younger."
"I doubt that."
"What's brown and sticky?" Clarke asked with a grin.
"That is not funny."
"It is if you're eight."
"I do not think that would have amused me when I was eight."
"Yeah, you were too busy torturing Titus."
"How do you? Luna."
Clarke kept grinning, amused by the idea of young Lexa giving Titus a hard time. When Luna told her Lexa wouldn't allow her to take the punishment for what Lexa did, she could see in her mind's eye Lexa looking defiantly up at Titus while holding her nose. "The fish was genius."
While Clarke watched, Lexa tried to decide whether to be an adult about it now. She turned to Clarke, smirking. "It took him a week to figure it out."
Clarke doubled over as she realized that what her mind imagined was what happened. "Brilliant," she wheezed as she got upright again. When she caught her breath, she said, "Good thing this batch like us."
"Especially since they love Raven."
"Now you know why I stay on her good side."
"I knew before."
They got off the elevator and went to their quarters. Clarke went on the balcony and sat in one of the seats there to watch the sky. Lexa joined her a few minutes later with wine for both of them.
"Thanks." Clarke sipped and set the glass down on the floor beside her. "A long time ago, like 400 years before the world ended, there was a school of painting called Impressionism. One of the more famous members was Monet. He painted the same thing for weeks, setting up in the same location at the same time so he could capture the differences in light and shadow. That's what looking out here every day reminds me of."
"What did the paintings look like?"
Clarke picked up her glass and took another sip. "They always reminded me of vision problems that we corrected ages ago. Everything was soft focus, but they're so beautiful."
"I would like to see them."
"Yeah, me too, but they're probably all gone. Museums were in population centers. There were paintings in Mount Weather. The one in my cell was famous." Clarke closed her eyes so she could picture all the detail again, the emotion, how the paint was heaped on the canvas. "The Starry Night by Van Gogh. The art was the only good thing about the Mountain, and it's gone, too."
"There will be more art."
"I hope. That's not something people who are struggling to survive have time or resources to create."
"As things improve, it will be easier. Because you value art, the people will learn to."
"That would be nice."
"Sha."
"How do natblida come to Polis?"
"Scouts find them or their families send them."
"They aren't all here."
"I doubt it. Nia hid Ontari. Others may do the same, thinking it gives them some advantage. Others hide them because they do not wish to send their children to their death."
"Two Conclaves, zero dead natblida. Might change some minds."
"I hope."
The guard knocked. Lexa put down her glass. "I'll see what they want."
Abby waited in the hall. "I need to talk to you and Clarke about the Nomads."
Lexa thought for a few moments before letting her in. Clarke heard them talking, put down her glass, and went inside.
"What's up?" she asked.
"I've been treating the Nomads, like you asked."
"Good. How are they?"
"Overall, malnourished. I've been able to surgically correct many minor defects."
"Good."
"I found two with blood like yours."
Clarke looked at Lexa. "Scouts, huh?"
"They do not go to the Wasteland," Lexa answered defensively.
Clarke kissed her cheek. "Just teasing."
"What do you want to do?" Abby asked.
"Keep them at the hospital for now and Lexa and I will talk to them in the morning. If you find any others, keep them in the hospital and send us a message."
"I can do that."
"Thanks, Mom." Clarke stepped up and gave Abby a hug.
She was surprised for a moment, then reciprocated.
"You know to keep this to yourself," Lexa told Abby when she and Clarke separated.
"Of course."
"Mochof."
"Pro," Abby said to Lexa, then turned her attention to Clarke. "See you soon?"
"Yes."
"Good. I'll see you later."
"Night, Mom."
When they were alone again, Clarke returned to the balcony. She came back with their drinks, and they sat on the sofa.
"That was new and different," Clarke said.
"Is that not what you asked of her?"
"Yeah, but she usually ignores what I want."
"I do not believe she will be a problem, unless she forgets what you told her."
"Uh huh. Can we not talk about Mom anymore?"
Lexa moved closer to Clarke, took her glass and put both on the table. "We do not have to talk at all," she said, and kissed Clarke.
100 – 100 – 100
In the morning, Lexa kissed Clarke and went to her rooms to dress before going to down to breakfast with the Natblida.
Raven was there, too, Sas and Brook on either side, the three of them talking while Raven made designs on the table with her free hand. The others were too busy eating to pay much attention, except Aden and Fair, who sat across from Raven.
The tek crew finished first. "We'll be back for the meeting," Raven told Lexa before they went to Raven's workshop to empty and collect crates to refill in Arkadia.
The other Natblida ate at a more measured pace. When they finished, they followed Lexa outside to their training ring. They did their morning exercises together before Lexa paired them up for weapons practice.
She took Fair as her partner today and they moved from staff to sword and shield, to swords alone. Fair gave her a better fight than Lexa expected. Fair learned to use her size and speed to her advantage as she darted close and moved out of the way. "Very good," Lexa praised, and called for a break and change in partners. This time, Aden stayed with her while she corrected the others. They regularly demonstrated, slowly at first, then at speed, the right way to attack or defend.
The morning was gone when she sent them to clean up and get lunch so they would be at the meeting on time.
100 – 100 – 100
Like it had been the day before, the throne room was packed. Lexa insisted she put a robe over her clothes. "Appearances are important."
"It's hot and itchy."
"Yes," she agreed, having been subjected to the same treatment by Titus, brushed Clarke's shoulder again, and kissed her. "You will be fine. Aden will come for you."
Clarke gave her a look asking why him and not a guard.
"He is quicker and knows the back way," Lexa told her.
"I'll be here."
Lexa kissed her again before heading up.
A few minutes later, Aden came to take her through little known passages to the throne room. To the audience, it looked like Clarke appeared from the wall.
They stood up quickly when they saw her and everyone was on their feet by the time Clarke reached her throne. "Sit," she told them, and took her seat.
Lexa did her thing and Clarke tried to pay attention to what she was saying. When it was her turn, Clarke looked around the room and acknowledged Raven and her sekens with a small nod.
"Yesterday, I told you what I intend to do, and you told me you wouldn't cooperate."
Roan and Luna stood at the same time. "I did not," they both said.
"Ok, you didn't. Nobody actually said no, but you don't like what I proposed, so I have an alternative. When we meet tomorrow, you'll give me your decisions.
"The Nomads are coming in. I took the oaths of three dozen yesterday. I imagine there will be at least that many every day. You don't want them in your lands. I don't understand it. I rode to Arkadia yesterday with Tekheda and her sekens, and had dinner with the Natblida last night." She pointed at Brook and gestured her forward, then turned around and did the same to Aden, standing on the wall behind Lexa.
"Tell them," Clarke instructed Brook, "what we talked about."
Her voice was quiet at first. Lexa gently prompted her, "Again, louder."
Brook squared her shoulders and started again. "I asked Heda why she came to Earth. She told me that she and her friends were expendable to the people in charge."
"Define expendable," Lexa instructed.
Brooke recited what Raven told her. "Disposable, temporary, able to be set aside without loss."
"And your answer?" Clarke prompted.
"People are not expendable," Brook said with the same indignation she showed Clarke.
"Aden, tell them what you told the Natblida when we talked about this."
"Heda and Fleimkepa tell us there are not enough Natblida to waste our lives. There are not enough of any of us to waste any lives."
"Mochof," Clarke said to them, and they returned to their places.
"Our people are coming home from the Wasteland. I would prefer they return to their clans and families, but you don't want to do that. So instead, I'm giving them the Rock Line. Each of you will send one unit to rebuild."
Clarke ignored the upset sounds and raised her voice. "When we meet tomorrow, you will give me your answers. The Nomads return to their krus, or we build them a new home where the Rock Line were. Dismissed."
Lexa looked at Clarke's back and decided to follow her out. Aden and Fair were right behind them. Aden went last to make sure their escape was clean. When he reached Heda's suite, Clarke was struggling to get out of the robe. Lexa was pacing while Fair watched both of them from one of the sofas.
Aden slipped behind Lexa and sat beside Fair. She looked at him and quietly said, "I have never seen Fleimkepa angry like this."
Lexa went and helped Clarke out of the robe. "What are you thinking?"
"Whaddya mean?" Clarke walked to the side table to get water, Lexa behind her.
"You ordered them to give you an army."
"I gave them a choice." Clarke emptied one mug and refilled it.
"What choice? They must accept the Nomads either way."
"They pick how," Fair said from the sofa.
Lexa turned around. She forgot they were there. "Go."
"No," Clarke countered. To Lexa she said, "They could be us in a few years."
"They are not us now." Lexa lowered her voice. "They should not see us argue."
"You're arguing, not me."
"Klark."
"Leksa. This has nothing to do with you and me and everything to do with the Coalition. They stay. Why are you upset about this? No one has been ordered to do anything yet."
"They do not like your choices."
"Like I said before, I don't care. You made me heda, I went out and destroyed our enemy, and this is how I'm going to replace that population."
They heard some noise from the hall while the guard knocked. Clarke went to the door this time. She left it open so they could hear her. "I'm done talking. You go talk to each other. If there's more talking, we'll do it tomorrow." To the guards, she said, "I'm not seeing anyone right now," and went back inside.
"That," Lexa pointed at the door, "is just the beginning."
"They can complain all they want as long as they do what I ask."
"There is talk of leaving the Coalition."
"I told you yesterday, nobody's going to leave the Coalition and nobody's going to challenge me. They're mad because they thought they'd get a piece of Rock Line. Instead, they're gonna help rebuild what we destroyed." Clarke looked at Lexa. "I'm going to help."
"No."
"Yes. I can carry things. I can cut wood."
"Those are not tasks for Heda," Fair said.
"Says who? Titus?" Bullshit." Clarke looked at Lexa. "Where in the manual does it say Heda can't do what her people need?"
"Nowhere." Lexa looked at Fair. "Heda will do as she will. She does not place herself above our people."
"I am no better than any of them or any of you. I promised to help all of our people and I mean it."
"I know." Lexa smiled at her. "It is one of the reasons I love you."
"I learned it from you," Clarke smiled back.
Aden made a retching noise and Fair elbowed him. Clarke and Lexa laughed and turned to them. "If you have any more questions, save them for after dinner," Clarke told them. "Go play or something."
They scampered away, leaving Clarke and Lexa alone. "We need to talk to them and let them know that Fleimkepa and Heda are not usually a couple."
"They know. The histories are clear, but that may be Titus' doing, as he made certain no heda he served had a houmon."
"What an ass."
"Sha. So we won't talk about him any longer."
"Deal." Clarke offered her hand for a shake, and Lexa used it to pull her closer for a kiss.