We Will Watch The Thrones Part 2
Clarke couldn’t relax. She wished she could, but she couldn’t, and it wasn’t because she’d been sitting on a horse for the past four hours either having only had a couple of hours sleep before that. It was because there was no lasting ‘good’ result on the ground. It was one shitty deal after another. Any and every positive result was met with a new crisis that Clarke seemed to be perpetually thrown into the middle of and it was wearing her down. She wasn’t even considering that they were only minutes away from Indra’s current camp and therefore only minutes further till Camp Jaha- er, Arkadia now, Clarke thought.
“Thinking about home?” Lexa had been quiet all morning, seeming more at peace than Clarke could remember seeing her in a long time. It was one of the reasons Clarke was fighting so hard not to stare at the Commander. She felt like she should be angry at Lexa for being so calm when Clarke was stressing herself out with her worries. But… Lexa with less worry was a beautiful thing to Clarke even though she couldn’t allow herself to get caught up in all… that, just yet.
Still, she let out a small, rueful smile finding that some of her earlier stress had simply vanished when Lexa had spoken. “Thinking about whether Arkadia *is* home. When I left, it had a different name… I had a different name.” She hadn’t meant to be that honest with Lexa, but the genuine earnestness of the question- and the fact that Lexa seemed to be fighting an actual smile (if her current very Lexa-ish small grin was any indication)- had drawn the response out of Clarke with ease.
Their entire journey from Polis had been quite relaxed if Clarke were honest, despite her current anxiety and lack of sleep. They had camped for a short time five hours after they left Polis. Lexa had apparently changed her mind- and her attire- shortly after having left Clarke’s room that evening and had come back about 15 minutes later dressed to leave, telling Clarke she thought it would be better to head out early that night so they could make it to Arkadia before noon. With a full moon and no threat of an Azgeda attack, they had left Polis quietly. Lexa’s guard contingent was vigilant as always, but there seemed to be a collective relief that had settled over the group knowing that Nia was dead and Roan had gone back to Azgeda as King. Lexa had turned in shortly after their camp had been set up, likely due to the admonishing looks Clarke had been giving her regarding her constantly pushing herself- especially after her duel with Roan. Clarke settled into her small tent beside Lexa’s shortly thereafter, having been quite exhausted from the day’s events. It was emotional exhaustion, but still, a couple hours sleep was a couple hours sleep.
Now Clarke was riding this majestic black horse, something she’d only dreamt about seeing in person as a child, and was mere moments from arriving back where her people were settled. If they were still even her people. At this point, Clarke was no longer sure. There had been something quite liberating about running away from the confines and expectations of those from the Ark, known to the Clans as ‘Skaikru’, and having been away as long as Clarke was, she’d grown to appreciate the culture of the ground, so much so that she knew she was already quite attached to her place in Polis and that her stay in Arkadia would be a short one. She briefly wondered just how upset Bellamy and her mother would be with her when they realized that she no longer felt like she had a place among them, but the continually growing grin on Lexa’s face quickly melted Clarke’s negative thoughts into so much goo- as was happening more often than not these past few weeks.
Dammit.
“You left a hero to your people, and you return one. The Mountain Slayer returns with the body of the Ice Queen. You bring them justice.” Lexa continued and Clarke was still simply too unused to being validated- or credited- with something good. Her newly developed instinct born of guilt seemed to be to deflect any sort of praise and it took her by surprise just how easily it had come to her.
Besides, it was Lexa that did all the heavy lifting (so to speak) with regards to the justice attained for Skaikru over the Azgeda attack on the Mountain which left 37 former Farm Station survivors dead. Clarke was still upset that they had even been in the mountain in the first place, but that discussion with her mother and Kane would be happening later, she was sure. “You bring them justice.” Clarke emphasized her words with a pointed look at the hooded Commander. She wanted Lexa to know, in words that were seemingly incapable of leaving her own mouth, (“I was just doing what was right for my people”?? Good grief, had she actually said that? Clarke was still tasting her own foot these many hours later…) just how much she truly appreciated how above-and-beyond Lexa had gone for her people. First kneeling before Clarke and swearing fealty to her, vowing to protect her people and then second, dealing with the treachery of her ambassadors in stride while finally ending Nia’s cruel reign of Azgeda. The woman truly was a visionary and now a growing legend among her people- not that she hadn’t been before of course.
Lexa just rolled her eyes the tiniest amount and continued to look fondly at Clarke. “We bring them peace.” Clarke knew she would lose this fight of confidence boosting as she was left shaking her head slightly while fighting her own growing smile. It was just another example of how Lexa never took anything from Clarke, but was constantly giving and Clarke’s earlier stresses had vanished without her even realizing it. Clarke knew that she really hadn’t treated Lexa well in spite of it all. Even in spite of her feelings regarding Lexa leaving her at the Mountain- but that was past them now, wasn’t it? Clarke found herself allowing this growing fondness between them to fill her up instead of fighting it, as it was habit for her to do since, well, even before the Mountain if she were being honest with herself.
A smart-ass reply was on her lips when the forward scouts had returned. “Heda, we’ve met with General Indra’s forward guards, the General is prepared for our arrival.” Lexa simply nodded in acknowledgement and the party continued on the rest of the way in comfortable silence. Clarke’s silly grin simply would not leave her face and she was positive Indra would scowl even harder (than her usual disdained expression when regarding Clarke) at her for it. She wondered why she had even been worried earlier.
God fucking dammit.
It turns out her earlier concerns were valid and now she was having to deal with yet another Skaikru-instigated mess. A potentially deadly mess that was such a colossal fuck-up, Clarke didn’t know who she wanted to punch first, Bellamy or Pike. They arrived at Indra’s camp and Indra immediately told them they had a situation. When Lexa went to follow alone, Indra and actually requested Clarke’s presence as well which had been Clarke’s first indication that something had gone down. Indra never wanted Clarke around and Clarke was just as content to continue her own internal debate or mingle with the Trikru army that seemed ready for the day and ready to move out while Lexa and Indra talked- which, if Clarke thought about it, was unusual for her to begin with. Normally she was on Lexa’s heels until someone actually stood in her way, but Clarke really hadn’t wanted Indra to ruin her emotional high she’d been enjoying that morning.
Now, Clarke sat at the small table in the Commander’s tent Indra had set up and was rubbing her temples to fight the growing migraine. Pike, Bellamy and eight other former Farm Station survivors had stolen weapons- no, it was Bellamy who had stolen the weapons- automatic weapons- and had been leaving to attack Indra’s camp in the dead of night when they were stopped at the gates of Arkadia. This was a day ago. In the meantime, Arkadia had held an election and Pike’s name had actually been on the ballot. Clarke was still shocked at that revelation. Evidently, despite Indra’s distaste for technology, she had suffered the radio Kane had given her enough for him to have explained the situation earlier in the morning.
The only good news of the morning had been that Kane had won the election the day before. Clarke was glad to hear that. She knew her mother was drowning under the weight of the Chancellor’s Pin and in Clarke’s opinion Marcus Kane was the best candidate for leadership of Arkadia, having adjusted to the ground faster and probably better than most.
The thing that currently shocked Clarke, but that Indra seemed devilishly pleased about, if the murderous glint in her eye had been read correctly by Clarke, was that Kane had locked up the ten people responsible and was holding them for the Commander to decide their fate. He was taking the Skaikru admission to the Coalition seriously and Clarke knew that everything she might do now was going to be weighted against her. Had Kane insisted on applying Skaikru justice to the currently held ten, Lexa would have accepted that, Clarke knew, because they had never left Arkadia and Lexa did not usually meddle in internal Clan affairs of justice. However, she would likely have put a kill order on the ten of them if they ever stepped foot outside of Skaikru lands- lands that had been gifted to Skaikru from Lexa and Trikru following the fall of the Mountain. Kane was making the politically smart move in showing the Coalition clans that Skaikru were committing to Lexa’s leadership and not trying to pretend that their clan could handle criminal situations ‘better’. That, Clarke knew, would only breed resentment for Skaikru among the Clans- as if there wasn’t enough there already. Kane was making a good decision and it was killing Clarke because she was just so sick of all the death. Where did it end? Was it even possible to go a few peaceful months on the ground without someone trying to kill someone else simply for existing? It was times like this when Clarke doubted her own ability to remain sane.
The only thing Lexa had said after Indra had explained the situation was, “Summon Chancellor Kane and Abbi Griffin.” Clarke had almost voiced an objection until she saw the dark glint in Lexa’s eyes. It had clearly not been the time to test Heda’s boundaries as far as Clarke’s comfort was concerned.
That had been fifteen minutes ago and now Lexa’s back was to Clarke’s seated position, her posture ramrod straight, seemingly looking at the small fire in the tent but Clarke couldn’t be sure. Indra was standing just inside the door and the tense silence filling up the tent was killing Clarke. She had no idea how she was supposed to respond to this. Bellamy had not only committed treason against Skaikru, but had armed people willing to kill the army protecting them in their sleep without provocation. What made it all worse is that he apparently had been planning on joining them. Clarke could recall now the broken look on his face as he pleaded with her to return during the initiation ceremony. She didn’t hear the change in his attitude to “US versus THEM” at the time though because she couldn’t. Not then. Not when she had finally secured a peace for her people. Now though, she can recall it. Clearly he had lost someone in the Azgeda attack on Mount Weather and it was the final straw for him. It saddened Clarke to think that perhaps if she hadn’t left Bellamy might not be as broken as he clearly was now.
But weren’t they all broken? Hadn’t the ground taken its pound of flesh from them all? Clarke had to leave her people because of it. She did not want to think about death ever again if she didn’t have to and now she was literally named after it. The title of Wanheda still stung. Clarke understood its uses politically, but that did not mean she enjoyed the title even if she was coming to accept the reverence that some of the clan members in Polis spoke it with.
The noise outside the tent, combined with Indra moving to check on who’d arrived jolted Clarke out of her momentary haze. Kane and her mother were let in followed by Indra. It was then that Lexa turned around.
“Chancellor Kane, I hear congratulations are in order,” Lexa lifted a hand to stall Kane’s response before continuing while Abby had gone to stand beside Clarke, putting her hand on her daughter’s shoulder in a small measure of comfort. “However,” the Commander continued, “it seems the celebration for your victory and ours needs to be put on hold as you have ten prisoners held for treason against your own laws as well as for intending to attack the Trikru army that was protecting Arkadia from a possible Azgeda threat. I threat that I can assure you is no more. The body of the Ice Queen was brought with us today as proof.” Lexa’s voice was strong and her face gave nothing away, she was Heda right now and Clarke was actually unsure of what was going to happen.
Kane had the wherewithal to lower his gaze momentarily in deference to Lexa before speaking, “As Chancellor, I thank you on behalf of Skaikru for bringing justice to our people for the crimes committed against us by Azgeda.” At his genuine gratitude, Lexa gave a small nod.
“So how then shall we deal with this Pike and his followers? Our own laws are clear on what should occur, what would Skaikru laws dictate as punishment for treason and conspiracy to commit murder?” Clarke, Abby and Kane all visibly flinched at the question that was calmly asked. They all knew the laws of the Ark called for death by floating for EVERY crime, not just major ones- like the ones Pike, Bellamy and the others were now accused of.
Lexa watched the three Skaikru members flinch with a calculating eye. “I see,” was all she said before looking at Clarke’s despondent face, knowing what was to come from the blonde ambassador to the Skaikru. Abby at least knew enough to keep quiet until she was addressed by Lexa. She was quite done pushing the young leader of the Coalition.
“Lexa-” Clarke began.
“Indra, Chancellor Kane, leave us. Abbi, you stay.” Lexa spoke before Clarke could finish. Marcus merely nodded and left ahead of an obviously fuming Indra while Abby looked like a deer in the headlights. She was concerned about the Commander’s hard tone and hadn’t really been sure why she was summoned in the first place. She’d originally thought it was because the incident had originally occurred under her time as Chancellor and had even considered that the Commander might hold her responsible for it. Needless to say that other than seeing Clarke again, Abby was not keen on being in Lexa’s presence at the moment. Stubborn parental protectiveness kept her in her spot.
Lexa turned her back on Clarke and Abby once Indra and Kane left the room. Clarke saw the minute drop in Lexa’s shoulders before she spoke again. “So tell me, Klark. How does this end? How will you save the lives of your people who committed a crime against mine? Against your own?”
“I can’t.” Clarke choked back her own sob and Lexa finally took pity on her, turning her head slightly to indicate that Clarke had her attention. “Only you can do that. What happened was essentially an act of war. One that was initiated without the approval of Skaikru leadership, but also contained by them before anyone got hurt.”
“These are reasons why I do not hold your mother accountable, nor Kane, however Pike, Bellomi and their followers made their own choices. Tell me again Klark, with words this time, what exactly would the punishment for their crimes be among your people?” Lexa had turned back towards them, her hands clasped behind her back, only sparing a glance at Abby upon mentioning her, but otherwise kept her focus on Clarke. Her features remained impassive, but Clarke could see strength, not anger reflected in Lexa’s eyes. She was building to something.
“They… on the Ark, they would have been floated.” Clarke admitted with a small measure of defeat, though it would not stop her from continuing to plead her case.
“Klark, what would the punishment have been for stealing bread?” This time Lexa stepped towards Clarke, her green eyes never leaving Clarke’s blue. Clarke, still seated, glanced at her mother, who was looking between Clarke and Lexa like she might have to throw herself in between them to buy her daughter precious seconds to escape. Clarke gave her mother a small smile and stood up, allowing her hand to fall off Clarke’s shoulder.
“They would have been floated. But-” once again Lexa interrupted Clarke, this time with the wave of a hand and Clarke really only stopped talking in shock of being treated like so many other subordinates in Lexa’s court.
Now Lexa turned her gaze to Abby. “Explain to me fisa Abbi, what exactly ‘floating’ is.” Abby unconsciously stood straighter under Lexa’s gaze.
“On the Ark, a person over the age of 18 and convicted of a crime, any crime, no matter how small, was taken to an airlock. It was a small room that served as an entrance to the vacuum of space from the Ark. Once inside, the door on the inside was sealed and the door on the outside would be opened and the air, as well as the person in the airlock, would be sucked into space.” She had her own troubles getting the words out, memories of her husband coming unbidden to her thoughts.
Lexa did not stop. “Once exposed to the vacuum of space, what happened to the person- what happened to their body?” Lexa’s mask gave nothing away and Clarke just wanted it all to stop but stayed rooted in her spot. She would see this through, just like her mother.
“Well, a person would remain conscious for probably 10 seconds or so, during that time all of the air in their lungs would be sucked out due to decompression. Water vapour would begin to form in the soft tissues, the extremities such as nose and mouth would cool to near freezing temperatures shortly thereafter due to the continual evacuation of gas and water vapour through them. Paralysis would set in shortly after a person lost consciousness… as well as convulsions…” Abby began to trail off and Lexa seemed to spare her from continuing.
“So, not a pleasant way to die. Certainly a clean one for those passing the sentence though, isn’t it? Is that what made overlooking your own people’s hypocrisy so easy when the ripa Finn was sentenced to death?” Lexa took no joy in bringing up the boy Clarke had essentially mercy-killed, however, it was necessary. Clarke needed to free herself of her own inconsistencies if she was to be a truly effective ambassador and leader to her people. Even Abby had the sense in that moment to look ashamed of her actions during that time. They saw the grounder justice as savage and felt like it shouldn’t apply to them. But Finn had killed 18 people- innocent people- and Abby could admit that he had sealed his own fate. In truth, the Commander had granted him a mercy he may not have deserved by allowing Clarke’s ‘goodbye’. Abby had no good response for the Commander.
“Thank you Abbi, you may go. I wish to speak alone with Klark for a few more minutes.” Abby looked like she wanted to say more, like she wanted to stay and support her daughter, but Lexa’s tone had been soft and kind, despite the expressionless mask of Heda she had been wearing. She gave her daughter a quick hug and left the tent, leaving Clarke and Lexa alone in the tent.
Clarke and Lexa remained only a few feet apart, eyes locked and silent for another moment. Light from the small fire in the room as well as the lit candles spread about reflected in expressive greens and blues. “Lexa, we can’t just kill them. Please, what kind of leader do you want to be, the kind who kills every chance she gets because that’s your way, or the kind who shows the world a better way?” Clarke wanted to step closer to Lexa, she wanted to grab her arm, as if that would convey all that she wanted to convey. How this day had started so well.
“Has Lincoln ever told your people why our punishments are so harsh, Klark?” Her voice had gone even softer and Clarke could see the softness reflected in her eyes. Softness that Clarke believed was reserved just for her. Lexa did step closer to Clarke.
“He said… he said if death has no cost, life has no value.”
“And what value was life aboard the Ark if it was thrown away so casually? I do not dole out punishments simply because they ‘are our way’, nor do I take delight in carrying them out. No one should and that is the point. Do you think any of the judgements I have made, regarding Finn, regarding Gostos, regarding even Raveion were easy? Or done without thought? Do you believe cruelty comes easy to me? Am I the villain of this story again, Klark?” The passion in Lexa’s words hit Clarke like a punch to the gut. She knew Lexa felt strongly despite her near-constant mask of indifference as Heda.
“At least, at least let me talk to Bellamy. He’s as broken as I am Lexa, but while I did not have the courage to stay with my people after Mount Weather, he did and he’s been carrying the weight of what I left behind by himself.” Clarke was all but pleading with Lexa for yet another chance, another chance to help people that did not really deserve it, but that was also one of the qualities Lexa loved about Clarke. Not that she would tell her that… just yet.
Lexa softened her gaze once more and approached Clarke, putting her hands on Clarke’s arms, just below the shoulder, and squeezing gently. “You are mistaken Klark, it wasn’t that you lacked the courage to stay, it was that you had the courage to leave. You may go speak with Belomi alone, however you should probably prepare yourself for what you may face. My final judgement will be at sundown.”