Chapter 8
The next day, Octavia showed up in Polis, and got Titus scolded by Lexa for manhandling her into the throne room. Hearing Lexa call her an "emissary of her people" and a "trusted ally" made Clarke smile with pride and joy, thinking back to when they were still arguing about killing her. At least some things changed.
The news from Arkadia were that they'd half-heartedly agreed to the Commander's conditions. The hostages had been freed; Lincoln was making sure they all got safely out of the blockade and to different healers who'd be able to treat them. Maybe not as well as Abby could have, but they'd be treated humanely, there, at least. Octavia had left him to rush to Polis, wanting to talk to Lexa personally about the state of Arkadia. She did not quite trust her soldiers not to make a rash decision if she'd passed it on through them.
Of course Pike still had supporters, who defended him, and saw the past events, and Lexa's imposing her justice on them, as proof that he was right. But the bodies of Emerson and Nia had softened a lot of those who'd been angry at the Grounders for the explosion at Mount Weather. When it came to light that Pike had plans to raze surrounding villages, killing everyone, children and elderlies included, they'd started being ill-at-ease. Only a few now really supported him, and tried to spread the word that Nia and Emerson had only been scapegoats to Lexa's machinations. Still, they were a danger. Octavia was not about to forget that such a few people had been enough to convince everyone to vote for Pike in the first place. And the trial hadn't started yet. They requested that Pike be present to defend himself, and as Lexa would not free him, the trial would have to take place on neutral ground, in the presence of Grounder guards to escort him, which they'd use to say their justice was being pressured. And might use to target Grounders, or even Lexa directly, if she went herself. They weren't out of the woods yet.
Of course Titus used Octavia's words to press for Lexa to take action. Octavia openly rolled her eyes, and ignored it to stare straight at Lexa. "See, this is because of idiots like that that I didn't want to let anyone else but me tell you."
"Heda!" Titus snapped.
Costia and Clarke shared a smile when Lexa raised a hand to order his silence. "What do you want me to do, she's right. We've got to proceed carefully in this, be clever about it, not rush into a fight we're not sure we'll win. Who taught me cunning and politics, again? Don't let your feelings interfere, Titus."
Later that day, Lexa addressed her people from a lower balcony, and her decisions were cheered on by the assembled crowd, effectively proving Titus wrong and reassuring Lexa that she still had their faith. Clarke too had faith that they could settle this peacefully. That she had some time in front of her to relax while others dealt with their own shit.
It wasn't really in Octavia's plans, though, as she tried her level best to convince her to come back. She wanted her to run for chancellor, but no way! Clarke had had enough of power. Lexa might say that she was a born leader, but she had a choice, and she chose to take the way out. Ambassador suited her well enough. But even when she'd convinced Octavia that it was not a good idea; that she would not change her mind on the subject, Octavia still insisted that she come and help in the proceedings. Not only had she a voice amongst the "delinquents", but she had saved a number of these people's children. She was not Wanheda to them, but a lot still felt like they owed her. In Octavia's mind, it was her duty to use that leverage to prevent a second Pike being elected. Besides, she could attest to the Commander's good faith, and as she was the one who had been most personally betrayed by Lexa (she hated that Octavia had to remind her, but she was right. And very perceptive, too), she was most likely to be believed.
So, Clarke had to go. It was not just that Octavia would never let it go if she didn't. She was right, she needed to do what she could. She might want to act selfishly for once, but she'd never forgive herself if she didn't try her best to avoid her people's eradication - as guilty as some of them were.
She had not realised before she decided to leave just how much she did not want to; just how much she wanted to stay with Lexa and Costia - to figure things out. She hadn't thought of it like that - as figuring things out. They never had had the time - and then they'd had all the time in the world. But now that she was leaving, and even with hopes of coming back she did not know when - she felt like that time was taken away from her, and she was up against the wall. But she wanted to know where she stood before she left - she wanted to know what really were their feelings, what they wanted if they ever could get it - only that was not something she could ask on their doorstep, as she was leaving indefinitely. Did she want to risk that - or did she want to wonder forever?