They wound up doing nothing. They walked back to where their things were and sat in the sand. Lexa refused to let go of Clarke's hand and sat as close to her as she could.
"I told the Natblida to stay with Raven today."
"She's taking the rover to Arkadia."
"Excellent," Lexa smiled. "They will enjoy that."
"They like anything she does."
"True, but they also learn from her. If tek was not her gift, I would ask her to help teach the Natblida."
"That's why I want her to have a seken. If Sas starts now, he'll know most of what she does by the time he's grown. That knowledge won't die with Raven."
"I know. It was a shock." Lexa paused. "I would like Fair to see it, too."
"I'll ask Luna for another boat. We can go, you can show Fair what you want her to know, we come home. Raven's going to be there a while."
"Perhaps all the Natblida should know," Lexa suggested.
"Maybe." Clarke finally relaxed a little and leaned against Lexa. The sun was high enough to start warming things.
"Are you hungry?"
"A little."
"I have food in my pack."
"Later." She put her head against Lexa's. "I just wanna sit here for a while."
"I always like it here."
"I see why." After half a minute, Clarke said, "I'm sorry I got mad."
"I should not have answered you the way I did. I apologize."
"I'm trying."
"I will, as well." Lexa squeezed Clarke's hand. Clark was still leaning on her, resting her head on Lexa's, and Lexa wouldn't disturb her. She sat and waited for Clarke to say something else and realized Clarke was asleep.
She rearranged Clarke then, pushing back just far enough for Clarke's head to slide down her body into her lap. Lexa watched her sleep, hoping Clarke would rest.
She slept for about an hour, and was in a better mood. They ate and walked in the cool water. Lexa taught Clarke how to skip rocks. Clarke found some shark teeth. They both napped in the shade for a couple hours and snacked from Lexa's pack again. Shadows were growing long before Clarke sighed and stood up. She held out a hand to Lexa, pulled her up, and they got their packs.
Clarke tried to hold onto her improved mood, but as they neared Polis and dinner with her mother, she fretted. No matter their issues, Abby was her mother, despite how big an irritation she could be. She knew she was unique among Skaikru for having a living parent, but there were days where she would gladly be an orphan like the rest of them.
When they got back to the Tower, Clarke and Lexa bathed and put on clean clothes. Clarke kept the fancy braids. They were staying in well, were surprisingly comfortable, and kept her hair out of her face. They were a subtle reminder of her new role, too, though Clarke doubted Abby would notice. Marcus might, but would save his comments for later. Clarke wanted to have a talk with Marcus, too. She wanted to be certain he understand what she planned so he could help her with the ambassadors.
She looked at Lexa and smiled. She was dressed casually again and wearing a big shiny necklace. "What is that monstrosity?"
Lexa laughed and lifted it from her chest. "I found it in one of Titus' chests. It looks appropriate to the position, no?"
Clarke laughed again. "I doubt it will help."
Lexa got serious. "You must make your mother understand."
"I know," Clarke sighed, then brightened. "We can show her the jail cells."
Lexa laughed again, and Clarke joined her again. The drifted together, shared a happy kiss.
"Ready?" Lexa asked.
"As I'm gonna be."
Lexa kissed her again and went to the door so she could send a guard for Abby and Marcus. They were sufficiently trained that the kitchen would be notified and food would arrive within an hour.
While Lexa did that, Clarke poured four glasses of wine and put two on the table in the sitting area. She was thinking about bringing in another sofa because it seemed to become standing room only quickly when their friends gathered. When Lexa returned, they went onto the balcony.
Servants came in and prepared a dining table and a side table for serving.
"When things settle down a little, I want to go to all the capitals."
"That is an excellent idea."
"I know they aren't all like Polis," Clarke said, frowning for a moment as she recalled how little time it took to destroy Rock Line's.
"No. Luna's is in the ocean. Roan's is in a river valley. You've seen Tondisi."
"That leaves eight."
"Sha."
They heard the door open and Clarke emptied her glass. Lexa traded glasses and encouraged Clarke inside.
Clarke put on a smile she didn't really feel and entered their rooms. She put the glass down on her way to greet her mother and Marcus. Abby gave her a tight hug, then put Clarke at arms length and examined her. "You look tired."
"Nice to see you, too, Mom. Hey, Marcus."
Marcus inclined his head. "Heda."
"Only in public," Clarke answered and reached past her mother to shake his hand. "Let's go sit down."
Abby tried to sit next to Clarke but neither she nor Lexa were having it, and Clarke sighed again. She wanted to enjoy dinner first, but Abby was forcing her hand. Lexa patted her thigh, then got Clarke's hand and laced their fingers.
"Did you enjoy the feast?" Lexa asked, seeking neutral ground.
Marcus answered for both of them, and conversation stalled again.
Clarke put her glass on the table and stood up. "Mom, let's go on the balcony and talk."
Lexa and Marcus shared an uneasy look as Abby followed Clarke.
Abby's voice was raised in seconds, but Clarke's stayed low. Lexa wasn't sure whether that was good.
Marcus wasn't certain either. He would hear Abby's side later, and Clarke's after that, but he didn't need to. He talked to Abby repeatedly, but she still expected to run Clarke's life. "The building is going well. Our home is finished except for furnishings so we'll be leaving the Tower soon."
"I have not had time to see it myself, but the Natblida tell me there are only a few buildings unfinished."
"It's nice to have children around," Marcus said, smiling. "There were so few on the Ark, and they weren't allowed to run and play like they should have."
Lexa looked vaguely ill as she digested his statement. Clarke told her similar things in passing, but not so explicitly. "I try to be the flamekeeper I needed."
"You're doing a great job." It was second nature for him to reassure and coach her after spending months helping Clarke, Ontari, and Miller. He smiled. "They're the happiest children I've ever seen."
That, too, made her sad. Every Skaikru story about the time before they came to Earth gave her a fuller picture of that life. It sounded to Lexa like a terrible punishment, and their punishments… Lexa shook her head slightly and smiled at Marcus. "Thank you. And thank you for all you did while I was gone. You were a great help to Ontari and Clarke."
"It was my pleasure. Ontari was a quick study. It's a shame we won't see what she could have done. Will we?"
"No. She will return, but Clarke assures me that she will not challenge her."
"So Raven will be going soon."
"Sha." Lexa sighed deeply. She was conflicted, but would not force Clarke to order her support. "Wanheda and Tekheda will work magic one more time."
"With Abby's help?"
"No. Clarke has something else for Abby to do here."
Clarke's voice was finally louder than Abby's and both of them tried to pretend they couldn't hear the argument.
100 – 100 – 100
"You have to stop, Mom," Clarke said as gently as she could while talking over Abby.
"Stop what?"
"Stop being rude to Lexa, for starters. She's my girlfriend and she's not going anywhere, plus she's the second most powerful person in the Coalition."
"Fine," Abby answered although her tone said it was anything but.
"That's not gonna cut it. You want to see me, you're nice to Lexa. One of the flamekeeper's duties is to be heda's gatekeeper. Lexa will protect me from anyone she perceives as a threat, including you."
"I am not a threat," Abby yelled.
"That's what you say." Clarke kept her voice down and tried to stay calm. "But what you know about the Flame is enough to get you executed, just like Dad knowing the truth got him killed."
"How dare you? I am"
"How dare I?" Clarke roared back. "How dare I?" she repeated, still loud as she backed Abby up to the balcony ledge.
Inside, the door opened and Lexa waved the guard back into the hall. She and Marcus stopped talking and pretending not to listen.
Clarke's voice was quiet again and something in her tone kept Abby's attention. "You're going to listen to me and you aren't going to make a sound unless I ask you something like do you know many people I've killed down here?"
"No."
"While you were a chancellor on the Ark, 78 people were floated for trying to survive, including Dad, who was trying to help everyone survive. I know because every time, Jaha gave Wells some 'leadership lesson'," she said bitterly, the last two words in air quotes. "And Wells would tell me, and I would sketch who I knew and whoever Wells could describe." She kept that sketchbook hidden in an air vent.
Abby frowned, but stayed silent.
"You sent us down here and one of the first things I did was kill one of us because he got caught out in the acid fog and there was no way to save him. After that, I killed by tens, then hundreds. I keep trying to count everyone and I can't."
"Clarke," Abby began.
Clarke raised her hand. "No question there," she said with her fiercest glare.
Abby's body language remained defiant so Clarke lowered her tone again. "Everything I did was to keep you safe, to keep you alive, and every step of the way you belittled me and lied to my friends. This is the last time I'm warning you, Mom. The guards around me won't understand if you yell. They don't like it when I yell. They won't care that you're my mother or the only trained surgeon on the continent. If they think you're a threat, they will put you down. If I think you're a threat, I'll let them. Are we clear?"
Abby stared at Clarke, saw Jake's eyes looking back, clear and blue and honest. Clarke was so much like him. Neither of them held anything back. Abby finally realized that the plans and hopes she had for Clarke had stopped mattering the moment she fractured their family. She bowed her head to Clarke. "Yes."
"Thank you." Clarke took one more step and hugged her mother. Abby hugged her back, but it didn't last long on either side.
Lexa refilled everyone's glasses while Clarke was gone. She looked at Clarke, and Clarke nodded slightly. They sat down and everyone drank.
"So, I'm glad you're both here tonight," Clarke began. "There's something else to talk about."
The door opened again, and their dinner arrived.
"It can keep," Clarke said, stood, and gestured toward the table.