Chapter 20

Echo and Lexa found them on the practice yard sparring. Lexa knew that she shouldn't be so surprised at Clarke's ability, but she was. She knew that she'd lived multiple lives and studied not only war and how to fight, but the people and customs, too. Clarke was able to read a room faster than anyone else around her, and Lexa knew that she used that against everyone but for her cause. Lexa knew that everything that she did in each life was to make things better for the next, because Clarke was always running on the assumption that she was going to be reborn.

"She looks good," Lexa said as they watched them.

"She'd better," Echo replied.

"Why do you say that?"

"I'm the one that taught her how to sword fight, shoot a bow, and survive," Echo answered.

Lexa smiled at the spy-turned-guard and stated, "Then she had a good teacher."

"Oh, I wasn't the only one," Echo added. "We both know that she studied in all the clans with anyone and everyone that she could. I'm sure that she's even had Anya and Luna teach her a thing or two. And, don't get me started on her ability to ride a horse. The Plains Riders didn't know what they were doing when they trained her. They couldn't have. Anyone who didn't know that tales of the Wanheda would have believed them after training with her."

"Why, Echo?"

"She's amazing. She plays the innocent Skaigada to any that take her in, by force and not. She uses her knowledge of healing and tek to learn more about the people she lives with. She uses what she's learned about the clans around her against those clans if it helps her with the one she's living with. She doesn't play at politics, Lexa. She uses it to get the information that she wants. She is the Wanheda. She commands death both on and off the battlefield. She commands death in the healers huts', in the villages, in the middle of the forest. She has to understand ever aspect of death, good and bad, in order to have some control over it. She decides the fate of men by the stroke of her hand, either with sword or surgeon's knife. But make no mistake, even while hunting, she doesn't take a life needlessly. She hunts for protein and fats, skins and furs, horns and bone. She uses everything that she can and thanks the animal for her continued survival. Souri was surprised when he saw her do this and told me so, in a life she didn't know we shared," Echo explained.

"Souri, the Plain Rider shaman?"

"Yes, he followed her through a small desert as she made her way to Des before hiking to Joplin to train with the Comanche Raiders. They always raid to the West and never in the clans. They are the best horsemen in all the clans," Echo added.

"They are. Which is why I am grateful that they fight for me when called," Lexa said. "And, she rode with them."

"Yes, she did. You should see her shoot for horseback. Her aim is outstanding," Echo replied.

"I might have to test her then," Lexa said as she watched Clarke moving around Octavia. "Who do you think will win?"

"This fight?"

"Yes," Lexa replied.

"They are evenly matched with the sword. Octavia has a little bit longer reach, but Clarke has the experience. So, it really comes down to how bad Clarke wants to put her on her back," Echo stated with a grin. "And, judging by Clarke's less than enthusiastic performance, I'm going to go with Octavia."

"Really?" Lexa asked as she watched the other two women circling and fighting each other. "That is her not caring?"

"That is Clarke sparring with Octavia. She doesn't want to hurt her, so she isn't going all out. This is nothing compared to what you saw in Belle. In fact, Clarke might actually be baiting her while playing with her. But thinking about the fact that she is about to send Octavia into the Mountain, she might set up her and then let her win. She needs Octavia to be happy, ready, and feeling mighty before she goes inside," Echo explained.

"Those are all valid reasons, I believe. Do you believe that she could take me, Echo? Speak true," Lexa demanded.

"Honestly, Heda, yes, she could, if she wanted. But, you are a special case. She'll never want to fight you. She'll do anything to keep from doing it, and if you do spar with her, she'll lose. She knows that you have too much to lose, mainly your life, if you are seen as weak, so she would never put you in that situation. She would battle anyone else but you, go all out and tear them down, but you...she'd make it look good and then lose on purpose."

"You speak like you know this," Lexa stated.

"I've seen her do it."

Lexa turned now to face the woman more fully, but Echo was still watching the match before them. She could tell that Echo wasn't lying to her, but it was troubling to know that Clarke could end her if she desired. They both knew that Clarke wouldn't do that, but it made Lexa wonder why Clarke pushed herself to being the one person that knowingly could end Heda, on more than one level, and still refused to use that power against her.

"Love is a power thing, Heda. Enjoy it and bask in it. That woman loves you more than herself," Echo told her, realizing where Lexa's thoughts were going. "She's done everything that she has to keep you in her life. She's become Wanheda to protect you and your legacy. And, she isn't about to stop now."

Octavia hit the ground, hard, and stared up at Clarke. The blonde looked down at her and offered her a hand. She pulled O up and helped to dust her off.

"I fell for that Broadleaf faint again, didn't I?" Octavia questioned.

"You did. And, I don't understand why. You know that move, too, O. I've seen you use it in battle."

"I guess we are both a little distracted lately, hmm," Octavia said as she nodded over at Echo and Lexa.

Clarke's eyes widen as she saw her lover and her guard. She ducked her head shyly, and also in embarrassment. She hadn't known that they were there watching. She looked back up when Lexa stepped up to her and raised her chin. Blue didn't war with green, but there were questions being asked that Clarke wasn't sure that she was ready to answer or Lexa was ready to ask. They were just trying to love each other in this life. Lexa understood that, but she also knew that there was more that Clarke hadn't told everyone about her lives.

"Don't be ashamed of being strong in battle as well as strong in mind, Clarke," Lexa told her, smiling, before leaning in and giving her a chaste kiss.

Echo and Octavia both cocked an eyebrow at the obvious PDA that Lexa was showing. Clarke didn't seem to mind it, if her smile meant anything. And, Lexa just reached out for her hand, which Clarke readily took.

"So, Prisa, what is on the agenda today?" Lexa asked her.

"I need to go prep the five to return to the Mountain and call for the next five," Clarke answered.

"I thought that Maya was going to stay with us," Octavia stated.

"She is, but you are going inside in her place with Mr. Vie. The other three will go back as well. I need to talk to Emerson first, though. I need to make sure that we are still working together. I might have to do something a little drastic to make him see things my way, though. Well, to keep him on our side. I'll also need to pressure Lovejoy into helping us with the Grounders inside," Clarke told them. "I also need to give Cage enough rope to hang himself. It needs to be believable and in front of some of the others for Dante to understand that his son isn't coming back him anytime soon."

"Can't you just lock him up and keep him here?" Lexa questioned.

"I need a reason besides what we already know. He needs to do something or Dante is going to unleash the ripas on us. It is how he likes to play with the law. He thinks that because he is the so-called President of the United States, the country that this land used to belong to, that he has the right to dictate what is and what isn't law. Unfortunately, he won't take too kindly to me keeping his son. I don't care, but I don't want him to start something before we get the kids out and treated. We can't let him go back and we can't bring Dante here, yet," Clarke explained. "It is going to be an interesting mess."

"Then, make Cage an offer for him to stay here," Echo stated.

"And, what pray tell would that be?" Clarke asked.

"I don't know. Maybe we should convene the Twel and see what everyone else has to say. It shouldn't be that hard, right? Everyone is either here or in TonDC. We all agreed to not let you take this on alone. I am sure that between the thirteen of us that we can come up with something," Octavia added. "But, if we do that we need to decide who is going to be watching the...um...guests," Octavia added.

"Yes, that sounds like a good idea," Lexa replied. "We'll need to speak with Major Byrne and a few others before we leave. I'll send Tris to let them know that we are coming to talk. Who do you trust among your Hundred to leave in charge?"

"We need to talk to Raven first," Echo told them. "She'll want to protect the tek and the radio. I'll be going with you, so we won't need as many guards. Plus with Tris going to warn them, Luna and Anya will send guards to meet us. This means that Gustus and others will be waiting for us just outside the fence and tree line. We'll be protected. We'll have to leave the guards that are meant to be protecting 'Alex' here to keep up the ruse that she's still in camp."

"Agreed," Lexa and Clarke both said.

"Echo, go to Raven and find out who she wants to protect our assets. Lexa, go send Tris and ready the guards that will stay here. Octavia, clean up. I'll go talk to Mom and Kane," Clarke told them all. "We will all meet in our camp by Raven's in an hour, no more. Hopefully, we'll have the answers we need today. I think that Mom might want to give them one more round before we actually send them back. She's hesitant to test them, yet. She wants to be sure."

"Start with Maya," Octavia suggested.

"Why?"

"She's younger. She'll understand, and she can withstand the air, the others will follow her lead. It will also rankle Cage to no end that the girl was the first to breath free air and not him. Plus, she's good for Jasper," Octavia replied.

Clarke just nodded. She knew what Octavia meant. Jasper and Maya were good together. They balanced each other out and took care of each other. Like so many others, when they could meet in any life, they were destined to be together. If Clarke could help them get together and stay together, and alive, she would. She only thought that it was right. She got Lexa back, so she would help those get to those they love and keep them for as long as they could.

As they broke apart, Lexa saw Dax come running towards them. She just smiled at the boy as he fell into step behind Clarke. She knew that he had been watching them from the other side of the sparring ring with some of the other guards. She gave him a brief nod as those who were her guards settled in with her. Knowing now that Clarke was protect, even in her own camp, Lexa felt herself relax again as she started towards her tent.

As she approached the tents, she looked around for the other guards for the area. When her eyes landed on Tris, the younger girl nodded and started moving towards her with the unspoken order. Jacov and Mezi were already behind her, but Kahlan and Jersey were standing at the ready and waiting for their orders. They could all tell that something was about to happen.

"Good, inside, now," Lexa stated as they moved into her tent.

It was a little crowded with the three guards and two messengers, but they made it work. Lexa didn't sit down. She just moved to her war table and placed a hand on the back of a chair. The tent was smaller than she was used to having on campaigns or out on the road, but it was still big enough for just her and Clarke. For that, she was thankful. But now, she knew that she didn't need her throne in order to give her orders as she easily slipped back into Trig.

"This is going to be a covert mission. I know that I don't have to tell you all that this needs to remain quiet and no one can know about it. First of all, you are all to be commended for the jobs that you are doing and the cover that you are maintaining while here in the Arkers camp. Prisa Klark and I are proud of you," Lexa told them. "That being said, Tris and Jersey, prepare to ride to TonDC and tell them that the Twel are coming. Tris, I will give you a missive to give to Anya or Indra. Once they give you a reply, you will ride with haste back here. Jersey, you will take your missive to Luna and stay in TonDC to await our arrival. At no time are you to discuss the mission with anyone in TonDC, understood?"

"Sha, Heda," they both replied.

"The rest of you will be staying here and working with Major Byrne. She is the head of their guard and you will show her the same respect that you show me and the other generals in our armies. Kahlan, as the senior ranking warrior, I am giving you a rank among their guard. I believe it is called Sergeant. This will put you directly below me in their ranking. This means nothing outside dealing with those from the Mountain. While I am gone, Kahlan will be in charge of your rotations and dealings in the camp. I will make sure that you have a contact besides Major Byrne to report to should any issues arise," Lexa commanded. "Everyone but Tris and Jersey dismissed."

The three guards saluted and left. Lexa grabbed some parchment and began to write her notes to her must trusted generals and advisors. She knew that this trek was a little unorthodox, but Octavia had been right. They needed to act together, so now, they would.

Meanwhile, Echo was in Raven's little workshop. She just sat down on a stool and waited for the woman to recognize that she was there. She knew better than to interrupt Raven while she was working. She also knew that if Raven was there working than Sinclair or Damon were watching the radio and computers to make sure that the Mountain couldn't break her connections to them. She also knew that Wick wasn't allowed near her computers for that. Raven had been rather adamant that he would be working on building something else for her. Echo never questioned her about it. She'd never been around Wick for long, and she never wondered why. She just assumed that there was some sort of past there that Raven didn't want to repeat.

"Hey," Raven finally stated without looking up from the tech she was working on. "What's going on?"

"Octavia suggested a meeting in TonDC for the Twelve," Echo answered.

"Guess that means, I need to pack an overnight bag, then," Raven quipped.

"I don't think that we are staying that long, Striksora. But, I will understand if you decided to stay there for a day or two. I am sure that your niron en snogon would appreciate you staying. I know that you can put a plan in place to make sure that everything is cared for in your absence. You need to do that and be ready to go in less than one of your hours. I am sure that we are going to get with Clarke and have a final briefing before we actually leave. So, I would suggest getting your things in order and preparing for those who will take care of things while we're gone," Echo told her.

"Good thing that I sent Wick to the drop ship to finish harvesting it and prepping it for Ripa rehab," Raven stated.

"Yeah, I guess so," Echo replied. "Is there something that I can help you with?"

"Do you remember how to pack up a walking radio?"

"The small ones that you made us learn to use?" Echo questioned as she smiled at Raven. "Yes, I do. Why? Do you already have several ready?"

"Yes, pack up three. I'll get my tools. I'm sure that there is something that Luna and Anya have for me to play with. And, then on my way back, I'll check in with Wick. I'll make it a little side mission," Raven answered. "And, I'll make sure that I'm guarded. I won't take anyone from camp though. I'm sure that it will be Luna and Anya, though. We all know that they aren't going to let me out of their sight unless ordered by Lexa or Clarke."

"You say that like it is a bad thing, Striksora."

Raven just smiled. She knew that Echo was teasing her. She knew that Lexa would tell her to stay and look after somethings in TonDC and the Dropship before coming back to Arcadia. She also knew that Clarke would want an update on the Dropship being ready as a Rehab Station.

"Let's get ready. We both know that Clarke and Lexa are going to be the last ones here. And, I need to make sure that Sinclair and Damon take care of things. It shouldn't take me long with them," Raven stated.

"Then, lead the way, Little Bird," Echo said and bowed to her.