Chapter 9
"Alright, Artigas, let's rescue some kids," Monroe said. She moved off towards the door they'd been to last time. She banged on the door.
"Dan, you there?" she yelled. The door was opened and James stood there, grinning.
"You didn't forget us!" he said.
"Hardly! But the good news is we're here to get you out."
"All of us?" James asked.
"Yep."
"When?"
"Now. Queen Tanwen needs to be back at Tondc in six days. It'll take a couple of days to get you to Halian."
"Halian?"
"That's where most of us live, Murphy included. He's back there right now."
"Come on in," James said. Monroe nodded.
"Come on, Artigas," Monroe said. Artigas looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings. "Don't worry, Artigas, you won't get into trouble for being around tek anymore. Mountain men have been dealt with."
"Sha, I was told that Kwin Tanwen did most of that."
"Yeah, she did." James led the way to the others.
"Dan," Monroe said, nodding to him.
"You're back! Where's Murphy?"
"He's at Halian, our village, getting things ready for us," Monroe said, not quite telling the truth. Dan nodded.
"So what's happening?"
"Today is going to be your first day of freedom from this place," Monroe said.
"We're getting out?"
"Yup. Pack what you need. I'm afraid modern weapons will have to be left behind. The clans don't use them. There are some at Halian but they are only for defense."
"So what do we use?"
"You'll learn clan weapons. Swords, bows, staves, knives, axes, hammers, clubs and any other weapon they can teach you. It's better to use a silent weapon when you are hunting so you don't scare off the other animals." Dan nodded.
"How much can we bring?"
"How much do you have? Remember, it has to fit through that pipe." Dan thought about things.
"Alright, some things we can't take," he said.
"I suggest finding cloth or canvas bags to put your clothing in. We can find other clothing for you at Halian but take what you need as well." Dan nodded.
"Alright, everyone, go pack. Today we go to the surface!" Everyone cheered and then scattered to pack what belonging they had. Monroe and Artigas were left standing there. Monroe looked around. She saw a few electrical things but left them alone until Dan came back. She would ask if she could take some of them, or rather if they could take them to Raven in Halian.
They all came back within half an hour.
"Everyone ready?" They all nodded. "I'm afraid I'll have to check for belongings for anything you can't take with you," Monroe said, apologetically. Dan nodded and had everyone line up and Monroe went through their things. She was pleased to see that no-one had anything they shouldn't.
"Thank you. Now, would it be alright to take some things? We have an engineering genius and an electronics genius who could use some of these things?"
"What things?" Dan asked.
"Just some small things, like the tablets, those motherboards, any electrical pieces you have that can fit through the pipe. Things like the computers and printers will stay here, but if you can think of anything like that, Raven and Monty would be grateful for them." Dan nodded and Monroe looked around and picked up several bits and pieces. Dan put them in his bag and then they were ready to go.
They all moved back to the pipe.
"Queen Tanwen?" Monroe shouted.
"Yeah?"
"We're ready," Monroe said.
"Alright, send one of the older ones through first. They can help the others crawl through the pipe and help with the babies." Monroe sent James through. Oli and Pelana helped him out of the pipe and then he turned around and looked through the pipe again.
"Send Sandra and her daughter through first!" James shouted through the pipe. Sandra's baby was placed in the pipe and then Sandra crawled into it. She moved the baby a few inches at a time before crawling up to the baby. She did this for the entire length of the pipe. James took the baby and Oli helped Sandra out. Mother and baby were reunited.
"Welcome to the other side," Tanwen said to the young girl.
"Thank you," she said, a little nervously. Tanwen smiled at her sympathetically.
"You'll be alright. Don't worry, Clarke will look after you all." Sandra nodded and they waited for the others.
It took another hour to get everyone and their belongings out of the pipe.
"That's all of us," Dan said.
"We're ready, Queen Tanwen," Monroe said. Calling her by her title let the others know she was an important person.
"Let's go," Tanwen said. Monroe led them back towards the outside. Monroe stopped at the corner where the other skeletons were.
"The others who split from your group all died in there," Monroe said, pointing to one door. Dan moved up and had a quick look.
"Yeah, those are the uniforms they had," he said quietly. He closed the door on not only the other group, but on their time living under the ground. Monroe led them to the hatch and went through. Dan hesitated.
"You okay, Dan?" Tanwen asked.
"We've never seen the ground before. I guess I'm just nervous about it."
"Don't worry, it's a beautiful sunny day today with a gentle breeze. Once you feel the sun and wind on your face, you'll love it." Dan gave a hesitant smile but he went through the hatch and came out on the surface. He stood up and looked around him.
"Oh, wow! This is amazing!" he said, turning right round. Monroe smiled and pulled him away from the hatch.
"Don't want you falling back down," she said. Dan hardly heard her, he was too busy looking at everything.
"Is that a river?" he asked, pointing to the Tomac river.
"Yep, that's now called Tomac river."
"The Potomac?" Dan guessed.
"Yeah."
"So Washington DC should be over there," he said, turning slightly to the northeast.
"It was, but it was also heavily bombed. Everything was destroyed except for the Lincoln statue. We have no idea how it survived, but it does."
"Nothing survived?"
"No. Eventually people came back to the area, but at the time most people were speaking a new language - Trigesasleng. Only a handful of people could read it and they found a broken sign saying '...ton DC 10 miles'."
"What did they do?"
"Built a village and named it Tondc."
"Does it still stand?"
"Yes, it's the main village in this area."
"Does the President live there?"
"There is no President anymore, Dan. There is a new world order. This area is ruled over by the Commander. She rules over twelve clans all spread out over half the old USA."
"Is she a good ruler?"
"Yes, she is. She cares about her people," Monroe said. She turned around when the others started to come out and look around them in wonder.
"Why is the ceiling blue?" asked one of the younger kids.
"That's the sky," Tanwen said gently, crouching down to his level.
"It is? It's so big!"
"It's the whole sky. Those white things are clouds." The boy looked on in wonder. Once everyone was up, Tanwen welcomed them.
"Welcome to the surface guys, welcome home!" They looked on in relief.
"What now?" Dan asked.
"Now, we take you to Halian to start your new lives. Clarke and the others can help you integrate with her people and get you up to speed on how things work on the ground. It's hard work, but it is very rewarding!" Monroe led them over to the wagons.
"We'll be using these to get you to Halian," Monroe told them. Dan and James each took a wagon and had the people split up into both of them. They used their bags to sit on for the journey. They set off for Halian with Tanwen, Ingrid and Pelana riding their own horses.
That first night, they had their first taste of meat. Ingrid and Artigas had hunted down eight rabbits and a deer. They all enjoyed the meat and wanted more. The rest was saved for their morning meal. The following day after their meal they set off again. Monroe was pointing out things for them to see from animals to trees to rock formations. They all were in awe of the world around them.
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They reached Halian late that afternoon. Sterling was on gate duty and opened the gates for them.
"Welcome Queen Tanwen," he said, bowing to her.
"Mochof, Sterling," she replied.
"Clarke's in the new medbay with one of the guards. He twisted his ankle training with a stave and then hit his other ankle on the follow through!" Tanwen was hard-pressed not to laugh.
"I'll go find her," Monroe said, grinning hard to keep from laughing. Tanwen had everyone get down from the wagons. They looked around in wonder. They saw more people than they had ever seen in their lives.
"There's so many!" James said in wonder.
"You'll get used to it," Sterling said.
"Can you find Murphy for me?" Tanwen asked him.
"Of course, ai kwin," he said with another bow before he took off.
"Queen Tanwen!" Clarke said, coming out of the medbay with Raven and Monty on her heels.
"Chief Clarke, these are the twelve people we found living under the Pentagon. They are all that's left of the people who took refuge there."
"Twelve of them? That's all?"
"Sha. Commander Lexa has said they can live here."
"Of course," Clarke said. She turned to the group.
"Welcome to Halian. This is our settlement. You are welcome here."
"Thank you," Dan said.
"Are you the leader of them?" Clarke asked.
"Well, sort of. I'm the oldest."
"How old?"
"22."
"A lot of my people are still under twenty. The adults can be a little bit arrogant in their thinking. Most of them - my mother included - seem to think we are too young to know anything and too young to be in charge. The Commander knows what we are capable of and sees age as no barrier to being able to do things."
"We are willing to learn, Chief Clarke," Dan said.
"Good. I'll have you assigned to quarters. I'll try to keep you together for now, but later on, you may be sent to other places to live. It depends on where we find our other people. We are Trikru. We used to be Skaikru. You are now Trikru as well."
"So we get that name after our names?" Dan asked.
"Yes. What's your name?"
"Dan Gerson."
"Now you are Dan kom Trikru. You may still use both your names here in the village, but outside of it, you are Dan kom Trikru." Dan nodded. Murphy came running up.
"You're here!" he said when he reached the group.
"Murphy kom Trikru," Dan said. "I understand the name now," he said. I'm Dan kom Trikru." Murphy smiled.
"Welcome home, Dan, welcome home." Dan grinned as they shook hands.
"It's good to be out of the bunker. This land is going to take some getting used to," he admitted.
"But once you do, there's a whole country to explore!" Murphy said.
"Murphy, see if those two new dwellings are finished. They can use them." Murphy nodded and went off to check on their development.
"Anything else?" Clarke asked Tanwen.
"Dan's got some stuff from the bunker that Monroe agreed to take out for Raven and Monty," Tanwen said. Both of them perked up at that.
"What stuff?" Raven asked.
"Tablets and other small stuff," Tanwen said. She could practically see Raven's nose twitching with anticipation. She turned to Dan.
"Dan, you'd better give that stuff to Raven and Monty here. They'll do nothing else until they can get their hands on them," Clarke said in a long-suffering tone before Tanwen could ask the same thing.
"Hey, we're not that bad!" Raven objected.
"Yes, you are!" Jasper shouted from across the training ground. A few others were nodding in agreement. Dan dug into his pack and brought it all out. Raven and Monty's eager hands accepted them all. As soon as they had all of it, they took off running for Raven's workshop. Clarke shook her head slowly, grinning as she did. Those two would not change and she wouldn't want them to. She turned back to Tanwen.
"How long are you staying?"
"Just until tomorrow. I have to be back in Tondc in four days to go to Polis with Lexa." Clarke nodded.
"There's a couple of quarters next to each other at the end of our corridor. You can have them."
"Thanks," Tanwen said. "Who is 'our'?"
"Oh, the delinquents. We've all got our quarters near each other." Tanwen grinned.
"Monty got some moonshine going?"
"When doesn't he? He started the day he reached here. I think it helps with the death of his parents." Tanwen nodded.
"How is everyone?"
"We're getting there, Queen Tanwen."
"Good. I'll see what I can do from Polis, but right now I'm going to be finding my feet and fighting with Titus, most probably."
"Titus?"
"Lexa's main advisor. His title is Flamekeeper. He's very high up in the chain of prominence. I've been told that he thinks the Commander should be alone to rule properly. Clarke nodded.
"This is the same man Anya told us about?"
"Yeah, him."
"I could send Miller with you if you wanted."
"I don't know. I don't want to pull him away from his family. His dad is here as is Bryan, right?"
"Well yes, but he and Bryan broke up because Bryan was more like Pike than he liked."
"So?"
"Miller's looking for jobs that keep him away from here at the moment."
"Then I'll ask him. If he says no, he can stay here and do whatever you need him to do. I won't force him."
"Understood. He's due back this evening. We've been using him as a messenger for the nearby villages." Tanwen nodded.
"I'll talk to him in the morning. Right now, I want these people to settle here."
"Got it," Clarke said as Murphy came back.
"There's still some stuff to do, but it's habitable and weatherproof."
"Good, lead them to their new quarters and help them get settled. Tonight we'll welcome them and in the morning, we'll find out what they can do and what they want to do, we'll also get them to the med bay. Mom can check them over." Clarke said. Murphy nodded and led the small group to their new quarters.
"What now?" Clarke said.
"Now, you get them integrated into this village. They are Trikru as well."
"Alright, anything else?"
"Nope, just getting them out of the bunker before going to Polis."
"Alright, I'll show you to your quarters and we'll have a little welcoming ceremony tonight. I'll have mom check them over in the morning."
"Good. I'll stay in my quarters and Pelana can look after the horses with Artigas and Oli." Clarke nodded and led Tanwen back to the quarters she'd be using.
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The following day, Artigas and Oli had the wagons hitched up and Ingrid had the horses ready. After a late night party to welcome the new kids, they'd got a late start but they were all getting ready. Tanwen had talked to Miller and he agreed to go with her. He agreed to be taught how to protect his queen and how to act around the other ambassadors and leaders and especially Titus. How she was going to explain it to Lexa, she had no idea, but she would try her best to get Lexa to see that Miller would be a good bodyguard.
They arrived back in Tondc with a couple of days to spare. Commander Lexa kom Trikru was there to welcome back her queen.
"Queen Tanwen," she greeted as Tanwen got off her horse.
"Commander," Tanwen replied with a bow. The formalities over, Tanwen ran to Lexa and flung her arms around her, hugging her tight. "I missed you!" she said fervently. Lexa smiled as she hugged her back.
"And I, you, hodness." They kissed, not caring who was watching. Everyone there bar Miller had already seen how much they loved each other and liked watching them be a couple. Miller was staring at them both.
"Miller, if you are to be one of her bodyguards, get used to it," Pelana said from beside him.
"I've just never seen them together other than in the mountain and then it was business, not pleasure."
"Then you have two days to see them like this. Once at Polis, it will be much more formal and only in their quarters will they be able to be like this."
"Is it so different from here?"
"Yes, much more. Polis is the capital city and Ambassadors from all clans live there. There are two meetings a year for the leaders to attend and then there are a multitude of people from all over the clans. Traders and warriors mostly but you will have to get used to a whole lot of people wanting to either control her or kill her. Life in Polis will not be easy."
"What about that guy Anya said she had to watch out for…Titus?"
"He is the spiritual advisor to the Commander. It is his teachings she followed. Love is not one of them. He will do everything in his power to influence her into either getting rid of Queen Tanwen or killing her - or you. He thinks she needs to be alone to rule properly."
"From what I've seen, it looks like she has what she needs to rule. Whether she has a wife or not, she still rules. It's not like once she got married, her brains suddenly fell out!" Pelana snorted at the thought.
"Maybe Titus's will when he sees how much they love each other!" This time Miller snorted.
"I have a lot to learn and not just about being a bodyguard. I need to learn the different clans, their signs and symbols, their clan nature, whether they would support the Commander being with Tanwen and definitely who is against them!"
"Sha!" Pelana said, "but I will help you when I'm not on duty. Queen Tanwen trusts you, Miller. Don't betray that trust and we'll make a useful bodyguard out of you!" Miller grinned. He was looking forward to it. Bryan's betrayal was something he never thought would happen, but for some reason, Bryan would follow Pike and betray everyone else from the Ark instead of living peacefully with the clans. Maybe time apart would get Bryan to settle down, but Miller didn't think so. Maybe it was time to make a clean break. If he could become Tanwen's bodyguard, it would be a new start for him.
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"Did you get them settled in Halian?" Lexa asked her wife.
"Yes, Commander, when we left, Clarke was organising lessons for them all. The youngest ones were beginning to integrate with the Ark youngsters. I think those Ark kids are actually teaching the new young ones how things are on the ground - something the adults are still struggling with. Dan and James will be part of Bellamy's security once their training is complete. The others are being taught a variety of things by some of the Trikru who go there from time to time. Clarke believes that more exposure to them will make the adults realise they are just people like everyone else. They have families, jobs and worries just like them."
"Good," Lexa said. "Would you like to rest for a little while?"
"Sha," Tanwen said with a smile. "Oh, before I forget, I'd like Miller to be trained as one of my bodyguards."
"Why?"
"Titus," was all Tanwen said. "I want one of my guards to be someone he cannot bully into doing something against your wishes - or mine!"
"Titus won't do that. I will have a word with him."
"Better make it a sentence, Lexa. He needs to know this is not a sham marriage. This is real and I'm not going anywhere!"
"He will or his life is forfeit!"
"Sha, Heda," Tanwen said as Lexa guided her into their tent.
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The next day, Indra took Miller away to test his skills with their weapons while Lexa and Tanwen discussed just what would happen when they went to Polis.
"You will be given other guards, hand-picked by myself," Lexa said.
"I want Pelana and Ingrid if they want to stay as my guards, Lexa. They have stood by my side in battle and I trust them with my life. I don't really want to have to learn to trust another set of guards from scratch."
"I know but they are warriors of Tondc, not bodyguards."
"Lexa, they've protected me, fought by my side and they have become confidants when away from you. They have kept my secrets, Lexa. I want those two if they want to stay with me. I can ask for no finer guards for me," Tanwen said, beseeching Lexa to at least listen to what she wanted.
"They were good guards for here, but Polis needs more specialised guards."
"Then assign another two guards but I WANT Pelana and Ingrid. Both have said they would like to stay on as my guards. Lexa, don't ignore my wishes in this! I know you want me to be as protected as possible, but I don't want to have to train other guards, especially if you've picked them. I know they would answer to you, and not me! They have to listen to what I tell them to do and not ignore me because it goes against what you've told them. I need people I trust." Lexa was silent as she thought through everything her wife had said and what she'd not taken into account when planning Tanwen's new bodyguards.
"I understand what you are saying, Tanwen, truly I do, but I need to make sure you are as protected as possible."
"And I understand that," Tanwen replied. "But please, see my side of it. I do not want to be among strangers, relying upon strangers to keep me safe when I need to do things. Do not make me a trophy wife, Lexa! I will not be subservient and biddable just because of who you are. I have a mind of my own. I will not put my life in danger, but at the same time, I cannot just sit around doing nothing!"
"What do you want to do?" Lexa asked.
"I don't know yet, but sitting waiting for you to come home, isn't it."
"What did you do before the ring of fire? What did you do for the camp?"
"Whatever was needed. Scouting, hunting, foraging, water collection, sentry duty and anything else needed."
"So a little bit of everything. You were whatever Clarke needed you to be."
"Yes, but she never pushed me into something I didn't want. Lexa, I've been training with weapons and I would like to continue that. I walked around Tondc, talking to people about their everyday lives and I liked that. I know my exposure to Polis will be limited, but please don't take it away from me completely." Tanwen was virtually begging her wife to let her roam a little but still be safe within it. She would obey her bodyguards, but she would not be confined to a few rooms with nothing to do. That was untenable!
"I will talk to the bodyguards I have in mind," Lexa said, giving ground she didn't want to.
"Thank you!" Tanwen said with fervour. "Are they all male?"
"Yes."
"Then no. I need at least two female bodyguards. What do males know about women's things?" Lexa smirked.
"I will choose your bodyguards carefully."
"I want to be there too, Lexa. I want to choose them as well. If I'm not comfortable with them, then they will not do. I cannot be looking over my shoulder if I don't trust them."
"Fine," Lexa said, not really feeling fine about it. She trusted everyone of her bodyguards and everyone who came to Polis to be trained as one, but she did see Tanwen's point of view. She had not grown up in Trikru and therefore may not feel safe with a bunch of battle-hardened warriors. She gave a choppy nod and smiled. Tanwen gave an inward sigh and relaxed.
"We will work it out, hodness," Lexa said, pulling Tanwen to her. Tanwen melted into her wife's arms, safe in the knowledge that whoever Lexa chose, she would not put her wife in danger.
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The next day, they set off for Polis, Lexa and Gustus, Queen Tanwen and her bodyguards, Ingrid and Pelana - both of whom agreed to carry on being her bodyguards - along with Miller. Indra and twenty warriors from Tondc rode with them forming a cordon around them.
"Is this normal?" Tanwen said.
"Yes and no. Yes, warriors from a nearby settlement will often accompany me back to Polis to make sure no-one attacks and kills me, and no, not like this. Indra is being extra careful about you. I think you really impressed her when you fought the mountain men with only Pelana and Ingrid by your side." Tanwen blushed. It was not something she'd actually thought of at the time. All she thought was that the mountain men were about to leave the mountain and had killed some of her old people to do it. Anger was her defining emotion when she attacked them, The fact that they had not been ready to fight was a boone. None of them had anything more than a knife. No guns at all were among the guards she fought. She had thought that strange, but Bellamy had said that one of the guards still alive at the end of it, told him that they didn't want to scare the population by openly wearing firearms. The attack was a complete surprise and they were not ready for it.
"I was pissed at them for what they did and were about to do. I wasn't thinking of anything but stopping them and the only way I could think of was to kill them."
"They deserved it," Lexa said. Tanwen said nothing but dropped her head, not liking that it was the only outcome that would let the clans start to heal. Clarke and Abby had organised for bone marrow to be donated to those civilians still alive at the end of everything. Commander Lexa had sent a message to Heda Luna kom Floukru asking her to find an appropriate island they could live on - without boats. They were just waiting to hear back from her and then between them, the Trikru and Halian village would move the people left in the mountain to the coast for Luna to pick up. After that, they'd be left to their own devices. They lived and died on that island, never to return to the mainland and thus, out of the kongeda's business.
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They made it to Polis the next day. There were people lining the streets, cheering the Commander.
"This is usual?" Tanwen asked from beside her.
"Sometimes, but word will have spread that the Maunon have been vanquished and they don't need to fear the mountain anymore."
"So what does that mean for us?"
"Once they find out that YOU were the one who planned it, executed it and fought the maunon and won, they will love you too," Lexa said quietly.
"And Titus?"
"I don't think you have to worry about him, Tanwen. With most of the clans glad of your prowess with a sword and the fact that you were barely married to me and became Trikru only weeks before, they see someone who defends her people."
"Most of the clans?"
"Azgeda will always be a thorn in my side. Queen Nia still thinks she would make a better Commander."
"Does she have black blood? Indra said that only those with blackblood could be the Commander."
"No, Nia's blood is as red as yours."
"So what's her plan then? If she cannot herself become the Commander, how can she?"
"I do not know. She will probably challenge me to solo gonplei."
"Still can't ascend the throne though," Tanwen muttered. Lexa was silent as she thought about it. Tanwen was correct. Even if Nia did win, she could not be a Commander. There were still nighbloods in training. One of those would become the next Commander and Nia would still have a problem with not being the one in charge. It was something she would have to think about some more later.
They pulled up at the tower that was the Commander's home as well as where she ruled from. They dismounted and a warrior took their horses away. A tall, bald man approached them.
"Welcome back, Commander," he said, not looking at Tanwen. "There are some matters to deal with. Shall I have your consort taken to her rooms?"
"Titus, I know you've been informed of the status of my marriage to Tanwen. Therefore you know exactly who she is. She is my Queen - and yours too. She is second only to me and therefore your superior. As my wife, she will share my quarters. Do I make myself clear?" Titus was tight-lipped but nodded once.
"And her guards?"
"Are to be treated the same as mine, Titus. My wife is to be protected just as I am."
"Yes, Commander," he said, bowing. He finally looked at Tanwen.
"Ai kwin," he said, bowing to her.
"Flamekeeper," she replied, giving a short bow of her head to signify she outranked him.
"If you will follow me, I'll have you escorted to the Commander's quarters," he said.
"No need, Titus, I'll show her around myself. Any business can wait until tomorrow."
"Sha, Heda," he said, not at all pleased that his position as second to the Commander had been usurped by a wife. Lexa turned and waved to the people before putting a hand on Tanwen's back and escorting her into the tower.
"This is the way we get to the top of the tower," Lexa said. "Two men work the ropes to raise and lower it. Only a few people are allowed to use it and we can only have four people at a time in there as the warriors need to pull up the weight of the container as well as the people."
"Stairs?" Tanwen asked.
"To the side," Lexa said, pointing to them.
"Then I'll go by stairs some of the time," Tanwen said. "Not only will it keep me fit, but it will save those warriors from doing too much." Lexa grinned.
"You say that now, but after a couple of times running up and down them, you'll soon be using it as much as possible."
"Maybe, but for now, let's get up there and you can show me the wonders of your life." Lexa's grin got wider as she helped Tanwen onto the platform with Gustus and Ingrid. Pelana said she'd take the stairs and started up them.
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In their quarters, Lexa moved some clothes to another cupboard so Tanwen would have somewhere to put her own clothing.
"I don't have a lot of clothing, Lexa. You know how little I have."
"I know, but as the Trikru Queen, you need more clothing. You must be seen in clothing that fits your station." Tanwen looked down at her travel worn clothing. Most of it was given to her in Tondc.
"I assume there's more choice here?"
"Sha. Most of the markets will have traders from the other clans. Only Azgeda do not have traders here. They do not like to trade their goods."
"Then it's a good thing I don't need Azgeda clothing."
"You might in winter, we get deep snow and blizzards around here."
"Sounds nasty!" Tanwen said.
"Well there is one way to keep warm," Lexa said, raising her eyebrows.
"Gutter," Tanwen said to her but allowed herself to be pulled closer for the kiss she really wanted to do in front of Titus.
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There was a commotion outside their quarters a few hours later. They could hear the guards trying to keep someone from barging in. Lexa got up and dressed and retrieved a knife from her bedside table. Tanwen hurried to get dressed and moved to her swords, but didn't unsheath them. Lexa waited until Tanwen was out of the line of fire and then yanked the door open and glared at Titus.
"Titus! You had better have a very good reason for disturbing me and my wife!"
"Heda, there is business that must be discussed."
"Does it involve the city falling down?"
"No?" Titus answered in confusion.
"Is my wife's life in danger?"
"No, Heda."
"Has war been declared?"
"No."
"Then business can wait until tomorrow. Today is about my wife and I settling into our new life!"
"But Heda, we must discuss this rash decision of yours to get married!"
"No, we don't! Titus, let me tell you one thing. MY wife is more important to me than you! One word against her and I'll have you flogged and replaced! Have I made myself clear!" Lexa was quiet but very determined that he understood the seriousness of her marriage. He hesitated before speaking.
"Sha, Heda," he said before bowing and leaving. She watched him until he disappeared around a corner.
"If he comes back before dawn tomorrow and it's not an emergency, arrest him and throw him in prison!" she said to the guards before closing the door once more.
"Is he going to be a problem?" Tanwen asked.
"Not once I make him see that this is real. That this was not a rash decision."
"He'd better get the point quickly, Lexa. Hope you don't mind if I have to skewer him!" Lexa knew she was joking but the thought of her dealing with Titus in her own way did leave her with a warm feeling.