Blood Earth

Blood Earth Chapter 6

Pairing: Clexa

Rating: A-okay for kiddies 

Lexa exited the tent with a slight spring in her step. Clarke was awake. The first time a healer had examined the sky girl, she had said that once she woke up, her chances of survival were much higher, but the longer she slept, the grimmer her chances would become. Luckily, she had indeed woken up. The path she had chosen through camp brought her outside of the tent where the Skykru healers were confined. Kane had also been placed with them due to Abby sharing in the leading of the Sky people. Their tent was positioned near the warrior’s tents. A place of safety, as well as imprisonment. Depending on how their conversation goes, it could be one or the other. The guard positioned outside nodded to his Heda and opened the entrance for her.

Stepping inside, she tried her best to maintain a professional air, but inside, all she could feel was pity. Kane and Abby had been lain near the door. Abby was laying down on her cot, breathing ragged, while Kane in the next bed over, was propped up by a pile of furs and blankets, obviously the stronger of the two. It makes sense. She thought. He succumbed to the illness long before her so he is further into recovery. Two commanding figures, used to power, and they were at the mercy of their perceived enemy. A frustrating position. Dragging a chair from the corner of the tent, she sat between their cots, leaning forward so she wasn’t towering over Abby. A subtle attempt to show she wanted them to be equals. 

“I need to speak with both of you.”

She tried to keep her tone quiet and neutral. She knew they wouldn’t attack her, but hoped they would be more forthcoming with information if she didn’t show any signs of aggression, or lorded her power over them.

“Are you well enough, or would you like me to come back at another time?”

Choice giving, works well on both children and politicians. It was one of the few lessons her mother had taught her before she had been taken to Polis to train as a Nightblood. Give someone a choice, and it made them feel as though they had some form of control. With children it prevented them from becoming too rebellious because they felt they had a part in the decision making. With politicians, it lessened the chance of them considering other options. She hoped it would work just as well in this situation. Kane responded first.

“I’m alright, but Abby…”

He turned to gaze at her, questioning and projecting his worry with only one look. The former Chancellor huffed, and struggled to push herself up. Lexa restrained herself from helping, knowing the older woman wouldn’t appreciate it. With a little assistance from Kane, Abby manages to sit up.

“What do you need to speak to us about?”

The older woman attempted to sound formal and strong, but was undermined when a large cough interrupted her. Handing her a glass of water, Kane continued for her.

“What is it you need, Commander?”

Lexa nodded, grateful that they were willing to cooperate.

“First, I would like to inform you that Clarke has woken up and is recovering.”

Before she could continue, Abby attempted to get up off the bed, obviously wanting to see her daughter. Lexa moved forward, placing her hand on the woman’s shoulder and pushed her back onto the bed. Another wave of pity washed over her at how little effort it took to push the stubborn healer back down, but she kept it from showing on her face.

“She is resting, as should you. Once you are both stronger, I would be more than willing to reunite you both, but for now, I need us to talk business.”

Abby nodded grudgingly, accepting that she talked sense. Kane’s face held relief at the fact that he didn’t have to be the one to talk her down. Lexa continued.

“I need to discuss what will happen once Skykru is well. My people once again call for blood because of a massacre, and you are all in no shape to fight. I’ve been able to quell these calls temporarily, but they will not quiet for long. I am willing to believe that some of you disagreed with that man, Pikes, plan for an attack, while I am also willing to believe that many follow in fear, but blood still must answer blood. As with what happened with the one named Finn, I am willing to only take the guilty, and spare the innocent.”

Kane and Abby shared a look, silently debating with each other. They seemed to almost argue with just their eyes, before Abby seemed to concede with a huff. Kane turned back to the Commander to respond.

“Very well, seeing as how resisting last time was a poor decision, but what why would you need to speak to us about that?”

Lexa gripped her knees as she prepared to answer. She knows it would be foolish to assume they would see her as weak due to ignorance, but the thought still bothered her.

“To be completely honest, I do not know who the guilty are. Obviously the one known as Pike, and Bellamy Blake, but with any others I am not privy to their identities. That is why I have come to you.”

The two council members once again silently deliberated. They looked uncertain despite their previous agreement.

“I promise no harm will come to them until a trial is held. Some of their crimes are greater than others. This I do know.”

This seemed to satisfy them, both nodding their heads.

“We will get you a list within the next few days.”

Kane replied. He turned back to Abby and added.

“It seems we will have to hold another election.”

At this the Commander paused. She had hoped to avoid this conversation until Clarke was well enough to help her explain. She knew that sometimes the Clans version of English and the Skykrus were different with the meanings of some words, so she wanted someone who knew the situation and would be able to explain it clearly. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem like that would be the case.

“I am sorry, Kane, Abby, but until we know that we can trust you, the Coalition will be putting someone they know will abide by Clan law as the person who rules Skykru. The massacre can not be ignored, as well as the fact that my men have told me you are all sorely underprepared for Winter. Until we know that you understand our laws and abide by them, we can not let you rule yourselves.”

Before either could protest, she continued.

“Of course, we have no desire to enslave you. My ultimate goal after this illness is over and done with is to get you all self-sufficient as well as taught our ways as quickly as possible. The sooner that happens the sooner you may have your election.”

Abby was seething, while Kane looked at his lap, resigned. The man seemed to figure out that they were not the ones in control anymore, while the healer was resisting as usual.

“You can’t do that!”

Abby hissed.

“We have a right to self determination. We aren’t children who need to be taught anything!”

The Commander leveled her with a glare. The older woman had obviously not grasped the severity of the entire situation. It grated on her nerves as she felt her face become a stony mask of angry calm. It seemed this woman needed to know her place or there would be problems.

“What makes you think you have a choice? You come down in your Ark, into Trikru lands, and I let you stay, have a piece of territory to call your own. I spared your people, bar the murderer, after the boy, Finn, killed eighteen innocents. I allowed you to enter my Coalition, as well as pick your own leader, and what do you Sky People do? Murder three hundred of my warriors. Warriors sent to protect you. We come to acquire justice for those deaths, finding all of you too weak to even stand, and what do we do? I have my people care for you, offer you teachings to help you survive, and you hiss in my face that you do not need it when you are obviously outmatched and unprepared. You do not deserve to be in control, Abby Kom Skykru, if you are so blind as to reject every kindness I offer you and your people.”

The Commander was seething. The only thing keeping her from killing the healer for her defiance was the fact that Clarke would be angry. Or worse, disappointed. Breathing deeply, she shut her eyes, trying to regain control of herself. Opening her eyes once again, she found Kane and a thoroughly cowed Abby staring at her. Grinding her teeth, she swung around toward the tents entrance. As she left, she threw one last comment over her shoulder.

“Listen well, Abby kom Skykru, because I will say this once. If Clarke was not your daughter, you would have been dead long before now. You owe your life to her.”

The Commander didn’t look back to see their reactions. She stepped out of the tent, breathing in the cool air of the coming evening to soothe her rage. She knew the irritation she felt was much greater than the situation called for but she couldn’t help it as it bubbled angrily in her stomach. She composed her features as she walked back into the bustle of the camp. She needed to find Nyco still, and walking about, clearly angered, would do nothing good for her men’s morale, or their perceptions of the Sky People.

She found the healer near the mess tent, handing out medicine mixtures to take with dinner directly to the patients well enough to walk themselves. There were a surprising number, although none she recognized. Striding up to the table, she once again, for the second time that day, waited patiently for the man to finish his task. The hum of conversation was low, but still irritated her already frayed nerves, as it streamed from the mess tents entrance. At this point, all she wanted to do was go back to her tent and sit with Clarke. The blonde always knew what to say to calm her down. However, this task was for the previously mentioned blonde, so she had no choice but to wait. Once the last patient had received their medicine, the healer turned to her, eyebrow raised.

“Coming to see me twice in a day, Heda? Someone might begin to suspect something.”

His joke warmed her, easing the tension she felt coursing through her body. She couldn’t help but give him a small smile in response.

“I have come for some medicine for Clarke, she has woken up, but still has a small fever.”

The older man nodded, turning to search his table for the right vial. Plucking one from a pile of equally similar looking vials, he handed it to her.

“This should help with the fever, as well as make her sleep. Use only a portion of the vial each day until it is gone. It should make her sleep quickly so it is best if she takes it in the evening.”

Lexa nodded her understanding as she listened intently. Thinking their exchange done, she turned to go, but she felt a light touch on her shoulder, drawing her back.

“Heda, I know you wish to return to Clarke, but I have a few concerns about a certain patient that I feel can not wait.”

Nyco spoke in a low tone, to ensure no one else hears. Lexa furrowed her brow in confusion but nodded her head to tell him to continue.

“There is this man, Jaha, they call him. I believe you met him at least once before when the Skykru first came down. He has every sign of the fever, with an unatural pallor, sweating, shivers, yet he walks around and talks as though he is unaffected. I have watched him for the past few days, but I cannot understand how he is doing these things. It is unnatural and it worries me.”

The healer, normally so composed in most situations, had fear in his eyes, giving away how serious he believed this revelation was. Lexa nodded, understanding. If this man was acting as an able bodied person would, yet his body was indeed being ravaged by sickness, then it was worth looking in to, even if there was some harmless explanation.

“I agree, that is odd. I will have him investigated.”

Nyco leaned back, sighing in relief.

“Thank you, Heda, you put my worries at ease, knowing you believe me.”

The younger girl thanked him for the information, and made her way back to her tent, the vial of medicine tight in her grasp. Before entering, she called for a trusted guard to look into the Jaha matter, discreetly.

Entering quietly, she noticed two bowls of stew, still steaming with warmth, had been placed on her map table. For the last few days, her guards had been kind enough to bring her food without prompting while she waited at Clarkes side. Now that the blonde was awake however, she really should start retrieving her own meals as well as Clarkes. Grabbing both bowls, she carefully entered the partitioned off section of the tent. Clarke lay on her side, turned away from the opening, but rolled over as Lexa placed down the food. She was clearly stronger than when she woke up if she could move about the bed under her own power.

“Hey, you took a while.”

Lexa smiled sheepishly.

“I apologize, talking with your mother and Kane took longer than expected, as did retrieving your medicine.”

Clarke reached for her hand as she sat down, which the brunette gladly gave. The blonde massaged her knuckles soothingly.

“It’s alright, I was just teasing. How did it go?”

Lexa looked away guiltily. She could keep the altercation between herself and Clarkes mother a secret but she felt she had kept enough secrets from the blonde as is. The brunette knew Clarke was still rebuilding the trust she had in her, and she had no desire to compromise that now, even if it felt unnecessary to tell her. Thus, she decided to be honest, stuttering all the while.

“I… um… may have said that if Abby were not your mother, I would have killed her…”

Clarke looked at her with an incredulous expression, obviously equally surprised that she’d been honest and at her described actions.

“What brought that on? I know you don’t make idle threats, so she must have said something that really pissed you off royally.”

Lexa nodded, and recounted their conversation, trying to keep it as accurate as she could remember. The elder healer may have really irritated her, but Lexa didn’t want to demonize Clarkes own mother. After her description of events, she felt slightly ashamed at her actions. She could admit that she maybe over reacted a little bit. But only a little. After she finished speaking, Clarke laid back, pressing herself into the bed and groaned in frustration.

“Mom, why?”

The question was obviously not for Lexa to answer. Rubbing her thumb on the back of the blonde’s hand in small circles, she waited for Clarke to calm her roiling emotions. After a moment, Clarke turned back to face the brunette.

“I understand why you said what you did. I think she needed to hear it.”

Lexa allowed a small smile to grace her face, glad that Clarke wasn’t angry with her.

“Is there anything else that happened? Anything I should know?”

Clarke prompted, hoping for any information from outside. Lexa’s thoughts flew to the man Nyco mentioned, Jaha. He was an odd case, but she didn’t want to worry Clarke if it was unneeded. Deciding to tell her as such, the older girl responded.

“There was a concern made by Nyco about one of your people. I am having it investigated, but it could be nothing. If it is something, you will be the first to know. I promise.”

Sensing Lexa’s unwillingness to talk about the subject, Clarke let it drop. Her stomach rumbled moments later, drawing giggles from both girls. The brunette laughed lightly at the sound, letting go of the blonde’s hand, she retrieved the bowls of stew.

“I also have some medicine from Nyco to take after you eat. It should help you sleep.”

Lexa managed to contain her chuckles as she handed a bowl to Clarke. They ate in comfortable silence, basking in the easiness of the atmosphere as their hungry stomachs slowly filled. Once finished, Lexa cleared the bowls and handed Nyco’s vial to the younger girl, relaying the healer’s instructions. Taking a small sip before handing it back to Lexa, the blonde gagged at the taste.

“Oh wow, that tastes awful.”

Lexa laughed at the other girls disgusted expression, recalling a time when she too, had to take a healer’s vile concoctions.

“Yes, but it will get rid of the fever, and it will help you sleep. Now lay back and rest.”

The blonde did as the other girl said, laying back as a yawn escaped her mouth. The serum really was fast acting, making her eyes droop. The last thing she heard before falling into the depths of sleep was Lexa’s voice.

“Sleep Clarke, you will feel better in the morning.”