"Again Clarke." Anya orders her second, who's laid out on the ground breathing hard. The two had been training since before the sun rose and Anya was not going easy on her. Clarke grunts from her position on the ground and pushes herself up into a sitting position.
Clarke staggers to her feet and Anya waits for her to get back into her fighting stance, it's still too wide and leaves her right side exposed. A weakness Anya has been exploiting throughout their training session. Clarke is skilled with using her weapons in close combat, but her swordsmanship needs work, she's still unbalanced.
Anya draws her wooden sword and starts her attack again. Clarke is ready for her this time and defends her right flank, just as Anya predicted she would do. Seeing her opening Anya lands a hard shot to Clarke's left side and she crumples to the ground with the force of the blow.
"Em pleni." Lexa's voice booms from her perch. Lexa had been looking on, watching her mentor and her future houmon during their sparring session. Clarke had been holding her own very well and she saw no reason to step in until she saw Clarke go down. Lexa knows Anya will not approve, but she doesn't care about that right now, she needs to make sure Clarke is okay.
"She's fine, Lexa." Anya defends as the Commander approaches, she can see the fury mixed with worry in her eyes.
"I said that's enough, Anya!" Lexa roars as she walks into the fighting circle.
The General grabs onto Lexa before she can get to Clarke, giving the blonde ample time to pick herself up. "How do you expect her to get up on her own, if you are always there to pick her up?" Lexa struggles to free her arm, but Anya tightens her grip. "You won't always be there to protect her, Lexa, and if she can't protect herself her fight will end much too soon." Anya knows it's a low blow but she needs to get through to Lexa or Clarke will never reach her full potential.
"I said we are done here today, General, understood?" Lexa's voice is low and threatening, it leaves no room for further argument.
Anya let's her go and nods her head. "Sha Heda," Anya turns to face Clarke who's managed to get herself back up right, although bent over and breathing deeply. "I will see you tomorrow, seken."
Clarke looks up at Anya and nods her head once, with that Anya turns and walks out of the training grounds without another word.
Lexa moves over to Clarke and runs a hand over her cheek. "I'm fine Lexa and you know she's right, you won't always be around to protect me. I have to learn to fight my own battles, I want to learn."
"She was being too hard and you are hurt." Lexa's voice betrays her concern.
"What's a few bruises to the girl who fell from the sky and survived to tell the tale?" Clarke laughs and then winces before pulling herself up again and looking into Lexa's eyes, she leans in and kisses the brunette softly, wrapping her arms tightly around her as Lexa deepens the kiss for a moment.
the two don't often display such affection in public, but Clarke always knows when Lexa needs the physical comfort. Right now they are alone on the training ground, so she is unafraid to give that comfort and Lexa is receptive of it.
"Ai hod yu in." Lexa declares as her shoulders relax into Clarke's embrace.
"Ai hod yu in seintaim," Clarke says in turn. "I plan to continue loving you for as long as we live, but I can only do that if I learn how to fight. You should go easier on Anya she's just trying to help."
Lexa pulls away and sighs deeply, she's silent for a moment and Clarke gives her the time she needs. "Remember when I told you of my first week with Anya, about how she seemed to predict my moves before I had even thought to make them?" Lexa asks and Clarke nods. "As I would come to learn later, that was very much by design. Anya is good at reading her opponents and using their own bodies against them, so she always has the upper hand. She can then set the pace of the match, especially in one on one combat."
"So I'm never going to be able to win against her?" Clarke huffs.
"I didn't say that, she is a difficult opponent. You just have to find your own opening." Lexa tells her soothingly.
"How do I do that exactly?" Clarke questions.
"Your posture is good for hand to hand combat, however you are unbalanced when using a long sword, you are too open and she keeps you defending,"Lexa assess. "If she can keep you in a defensive posture she will always have the upper hand."
"Can you show me how?" Clarke asks.
"Pick up your sword," Lexa instructs and Clarke does as she's told. Lexa picks up the other wooden sword and gets into her own powerful fighting stance. "You have to use your strengths and find your balance, what I lack in physical power, I make up for with my speed and agility. You're knowledge of the body's vulnerabilities is something you can use to your advantage, you must lure your opponent within striking distance and then attack."
The two circle each other in the ring, weapons raised. "To defeat any opponent you must first be aware of yourself and your body and then you must be aware of them, find their weakness." Lexa says as she thrusts her weapon towards Clarke's midsection. Clarke deflects the blow with her sword and kicks Lexa just above the knee. Lexa drops to one knee but sweeps Clarke's feet and she falls to the ground beside her.
"Better, but never stop attacking until you are sure your opponent will not be getting up." Lexa praises.
"Okay, let's go again." Clarke insists, getting up and helping Lexa stand.
The two spend the rest of the morning sparring, Lexa making corrections to Clarke's posture and technique as necessary. Anya watches on proudly from a distance.
later on that night, Lexa finds Anya and apologizes for her behavior, it's not often Heda says sorry. The fact that she's said it at all just lets Anya know that Clarke is having as much of an affect on Lexa as she is on Clarke. Anya believes in the good that will come out of their union.
