Chapter 8
Octavia woke up just after dawn after having spent most the night catching up and talking to Clarke and yawned as she watched the blonde speak with a massive man just outside her door. She listened as Clarke told him in perfect Trigedasleng that they would have to wait a few hours before leaving. The man frowned darkly at her words and Octavia worried that he was about to get angry (especially since he looked like he could snap Clarke in two without breaking a sweat), but Clarke diffused the situation quickly as she placed a hand on his hulking shoulder and told him that she needed some last minute supplies and that Heda would be joining them and bringing warriors who would help defend his people.
The man visibly brightened and unleashed a booming laugh when Clarke commended his patience for the whims of a poor sky girl. She then introduced Octavia to him and told him of how the younger Blake sibling and some others had found themselves in need of their help.
Octavia had stiffened when the man, Grom, had frowned in recognition of Lincoln’s name, but by the time Clarke was finished explaining their circumstances, as well as a select few stories about Octavia, Grom’s rumbling laugh filled the air once more.
“If what she tells me is true, Oktevia kom Kru, than I can tell you with little doubt that there are many men, and even some women, that would fight in tournaments to the death for the chance to be in your sonraun teina’s place!”
With that, he bid farewell to the girls, promising to return later before they left.
“You’re pretty good at this whole politics thing, Princess.” Octavia teased as the made their way toward the practice pits.
“Thanks,” Clarke replied as she stood up on her toes to scan the many sparring matches going on before finding who she was looking for. “Echo!” she called and smiled as the woman called off her match against Colste and ran ahead of him to meet her.
“Heya, Clarke. Octavia,” she nodded to them both when she came to a stop.
“Sorry,” Octavia said confusedly, “do we know each other?”
“I was one of the hidden guards in the council room yesterday.” Echo answered, “Your brother also saved my life in the mountain.”
“Oh, well, it’s nice to meet you.” Octavia replied, taking note of the hint of pink on the other woman’s cheeks at the mention of her brother.
“Fisa Klarke!” Colste exclaimed as he walked up behind Echo. “Is it true that you presented our little Echo with the honour of being the first trikova gona to ever be spotted while guarding the council chambers?”
Clarke laughed as she watched Echo elbow the man in his side. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you Echo.” She said. “I just needed to prove a point.”
“Why is it whenever you try to prove a point, you always use me to do it in the most dramatic way possible?” Echo grumbled.
“If it makes you feel better, Echo, I’d be more than happy to let the Skai Prisa use me to prove a point whenever she sees fit. Especially if it involves her gorgeous friends.” He smiled roguishly at Octavia and Clarke rolled her eyes.
“O, this is Colste. He’s one of my neighbours and one of my closest friends. Colste, this is Octavia. She’s spoken for.”
“That’s alright, it just means there is no one to distract me from your radiance, Fisa Klark.”
Clarke and Octavia laughed when Colste grunted as Echo elbowed him once more.
“Actually Colste, I’m glad I found you,” Clarke told him once they had calmed down. “I’m leaving for the Marsh Clan today, and while I’ve spoken to most of my patients and their families, do you think you can tell anyone who comes by that I’m away and to go see Amelia in my stead? She’s been informed of all their needs and I’ve already promised her a painting for her mantle in exchange for her help.”
Colste look conflicted for a moment as he glanced at Echo, who nodded slightly, before taking a deep breath and turning back to face Clarke. “I’m afraid I can’t do that, Fisa Klark.” He said quietly.
“Why not? It’s just a small favour. I mean, if you’re going to be too busy I understand I’ll just ask someone…” Her voice trailed off as she, along with all the other warriors in the practice pits froze to watch in awe as Colste drew his sword and dropped to one knee in front of her.
“I, Colste of Polis, do renounce all prior allegiances and devote breath and blade to the Sky Princess, Klark kom Kru, and her causes. I will make it my purpose to defend her with my life until my dying breath. Her people will be my people, her battles my battles.”
Everyone watched with bated breath as he lifted the sword in front of himself and presented it to Clarke. It was impossible to miss how his blade wobbled as fought to control the shaking in his hands.
Clarke swallowed nervously and forced herself to ignore the crowd gathered around them before reaching out with her left hand and gently grabbing the shaking hilt. She lifted the sword easily and placed it in her empty sheath then reached down and pulled Colste to his feet with her other hand.
“From now on you will be known as Kolste kom Kru,” She announced loudly so everyone could hear. There was a beat of silence before the entire practice pits broke out in cheers and congratulations to Colste. “I take it he’s been planning this for a while now?” Clarke whispered to Echo as they watched several warriors come up and clap Colste on the back.
Echo smiled and shrugged in response, “You moved him.”
“Does this happen often?” Octavia asked.
“No,” Echo replied, shaking her head. “But I think I doubt this is the last time it will happen on our travels.”
“Why?” Clarke asked. “I’m just going to take a look at Grom’s dad, it’s not like I’m going around building an army. That’s Lexa’s job.”
“Maybe,” All three girls jumped as Lexa appeared behind them without warning. “But people are starting to see your love for them and believe you truly do desire peace. They respect you and see you as a symbol they can support.”
Clarke considered Lexa’s words for a moment before pushing thoughts of leadership and responsibility aside to focus on the present and called out to her friend.
“Colste! I expect you to be packed and meet me by the city gates before we leave.”
“Sha, Skai Prisa!” Colste cried and immediately started running back to his house, much to the amusement of the onlookers.
*(OoO)*
Less than an hour later and they were all gathered outside the entrance to Polis, joined by a procession of twenty-five handpicked warriors riding behind them.
“Are you ready?” Lexa asked as Clarke approached her. She couldn’t deny that the blonde looked nothing short of mystical in her pale blue tunic and dark grey trousers, riding atop Juno with more grace and poise than some of her own warriors.
“I am,” Clarke replied calmly. “Octavia told me the rest of her group agreed to camp out in a cave nearby, where you first found me and Juno, while they waited for her to come back.”
Lexa nodded and turned her horse away without a word. She stroked her steed’s deep chestnut neck soothingly as Juno came up next to it, the bear’s gargantuan size keeping her rider practically level with the Commander while it leisurely kept pace with the trotting horse.
She could feel her warriors watching her ride next to the sky girl like equals, and she wondered if she would be able to juggle working with Clarke without allowing the feelings the blonde stirred in her chest to compromise her position as Heda, or letting her duties break the tentative trust the other girl had extended to her.
Hours passed as they went further into the forest surrounding Polis, and Lexa smiled as she listened to Clarke interact with the various warriors around them. She asked them about their lives and shared stories about her own, both before and after she had arrived in Polis. She went around and introduced the men to Juno, letting the bear sniff them before taking their hands and instructing them to pet the great beast, and by the time they arrived at the cave, Lexa was sure Clarke had already won the loyalty and respect of every man and woman in their group.
“This is where they should be,” Octavia observed as she slid off her horse to jog toward the cave, Clarke on her heels.
Lexa watched as Octavia called out and out of the shadows of the cave came Lincoln, followed by a few Sky People; some of whom she recognised, and some she did not. Her gaze remained fixed on the group, determined not to think about how the emerald glow of the sun through the trees made Clarke’s hair look like cascades of golden fire, while Octavia embraced her lover and the rest of the group took turns embracing Clarke. She kept her eyes on the blonde as she and Octavia explained the situation to the others, but tuned them out when she noticed Grom approach her.
“It is easy to see how the Skia Prisa has managed to capture the heart of one such as yourself, Heda.” He said quietly, a small smile on his face as he too watched the Sky People.
“Be mindful of what you imply, Grom.” She muttered, taking care to keep her features impassive as the former Sky People turned to look at her before turning back to Clarke.
“I meant no offense, Heda.” Grom replied. “But it is clear by the way you look at each other that you both care for the other dearly.”
“Where are you going with this, Grom?” Lexa asked. She was not in the mood to discuss something so personal. Especially not with someone who could go from ally and trusted friend to enemy and conspirator whenever she least expected it.
“You both have won my loyalty and that of my clan with your promises of aid,” the giant man explained. “But you know that as long as Fisa Klark is your advisor, there will be those that accuse her of using your attraction to her to manipulate you.”
“And what would you suggest I do, Ambassador? I’m not about to remove her from the council meetings, the Coalition needs her if it is to survive the coming months.”
“It is simple, Heda. Fulfill the words spoken to you at your conclave, make her yu Plana.”
“That topic is not up for discussion, Grom.” Lexa snapped. “If Clarke continues proving that she is indeed interested in helping all peoples and that she is qualified to lead, then enough of the council will come around to settle any future dissenters.”
“Sha, Heda.” Grom sighed. He looked like he wanted to say more, but elected against it as Clarke was now making her way back to them, accompanied by the rest of her people.
“Heda, Grom” Clarke said respectfully as she approached. “Mochof for your patience in granting me this detour.”
Grom nodded, saying it was the least he could do and Lexa smirked at the formality in the blonde’s words.
“It was no problem, Fisa,” she said calmly. “Thank you for taking the time to familiarize my warriors and their horses with the Trimani Nomon, it will undoubtedly make our trip easier knowing my men are not afraid of coming within thirty feet of you.” Clarke smiled at her subtle playfulness, and Lexa allowed herself a soft one in return before composing herself and looking down at the rest of the sky girl’s people.
“Marcus Kane,” She greeted as the man stepped forward. “I am pleased to see you are not involved with the troubling developments I have heard taking place within Skaikru.”
“Thank you, Commander,” The older man replied. His beard had grown out since she last saw him and Lexa could see the sprinkling of grey growing there as well as near his temples. “And thank you for removing Lincoln’s kill order and granting us safety.”
“That was not my doing.” Lexa replied coolly. “You all owe your lives to the Skai Prisa. She vouched for you all, and in doing so has claimed responsibility for your lives as well as your actions from here onwards.” She studied the shocked expressions cross each of their faces as they turned to look at Clarke who simply climbed on Juno’s back with a straight face.
“Heda,” She said stoically, “I think it’s best we kept moving before we lose the daylight.”
Lexa nodded, sensing the other girl’s discomfort, and turned back to address Marcus. “There are some spare horses you and your people can ride. We ride toward the Marsh Clan.”
Marcus nodded and led his people to the back of the assembly where a few spare horses stood grazing. Once they were all mounted, Lexa turned and commanded her group onward.
*(OoO)*
The next few hours were spent riding in relative silence, and once they stopped to camp for the night, Marcus watched as the little girl he had seen grow up over the years on the Ark stood authoritatively next to the Commander of the Grounders while a titanic black bear sat calmly behind her.
“I don’t like it.” Raven said, bringing his attention back to their little group sitting around a small fire, separate from the other Grounders who were mostly together sitting around a large bonfire.
“Don’t like what?” Monty asked.
“She left us at the Mountain,” Raven spat as she jerked her head toward where Lexa was standing. “And Clarke expects us to not only trust her, but to actually roll over and let her order us around? No thanks.”
“Yeah, but she did sort of lift the kill order on Lincoln and save all our lives.” Miller observed.
“No. Clarke did that.” Octavia said, “Clarke vouched for each of us.”
“What does that mean, exactly?” Sinclair asked.
“It means that Clarke has taken responsibility for us. Anything we do reflects back on her.” Lincoln answered.
“It also means we owe her our lives and our allegiances.” Octavia added.
“What do you mean by that?” Marcus inquired.
“She means you are no longer Skaikru.”
They all jumped as a tall, slim man appeared out of the shadows. He looked to be somewhere in his mid-twenties and had short black hair that stuck out in every direction. There was something vaguely unsettling about the way the laugh lines around his mouth conflicted with his haunting brown eyes.
“I’m sorry, I don’t think we’ve met.” Marcus said as he rose to his feet and held out his arm to the other man, “I’m Marcus.”
“Heya, Markos kom Kru,” The man replied, gripping Marcus’s arms firmly. “I am Kolste kom Kru. I’ve sworn my life and my blade in service of the Skai Prisa.”
“Do you think you could explain what you meant, Colste?”
“Sha,” Colste nodded. “I meant that when Fisa Klark vouched for you and saved your lives, you all became tied to her, not Skaikru.”
“Screw that!” Raven exclaimed, ignoring the way some of the other Grounder’s turned to look at them. “I left to find help against Pike, not follow Clarke around while Lexa wraps her around her little finger.”
“You’ll watch your tongue if you don’t want it removed.” Colste growled dangerously, his knuckles white as he gripped the hilt of the knife at his waist.
“There’s no need for violence.” Marcus said quickly as he stepped between them.
“Marcus is right,” Sinclair added. “We were just surprised that Clarke doesn’t want to help our people anymore.”
“Should we really be that surprised?” Monty asked quietly. “Look at all she’s done for us since we landed in that dropship. She made the decisions the rest of us couldn’t, despite being challenged and questioned by all of us at every turn. I can see why she might not want anything to do with us anymore.” He kept his eyes on the fire as he spoke, the pain in his voice showing that he was speaking from experience, and only moved slightly to lean against Miller when the other boy wrapped an arm around his shoulder in comfort.
“So what? She just up and abandoned us to become Lexa’s lapdog, even after Mount Weather, and now we’re just part of her personal entourage?”
“Raven!” Octavia said hotly, “That’s not fair and you know it.” She paused to take a deep breath, but froze when she heard the familiar sound of metal against leather and turned to take in Colste’s stiff posture and hand gripping his semi unsheathed knife.
“Fisa Klark would never abandon her people.” The tall man bit out as he struggled to contain his rage. “You would do well to listen to your friend. If you knew of the horrors and challenges she faces, even now, you would not fault her for taking time to herself.”
“Raven meant no offense, Colste.” Marcus said. “Most of our people know of what Clarke did in the Mountain and many see her as a hero. We’re just trying to understand what the difference is between loyalty to her and loyalty to our people.”
“The difference is that I’ve devoted myself to the health and wellbeing of all people, not just those from the Ark.” They all turned as Clarke came to join them, the giant bear they had seen her with behind her, and took a seat next to the bear in front of the fire. “And as for being Lexa’s ‘lapdog’, I’m working with her at her request. That means that I trust you to listen to her the same way you would me.”
“Clarke, you know you can’t possibly protect everyone, right?” Sinclair asked.
“I know. But Lexa and I are both interested in working towards creating and maintaining peace, so that means her enemies will be our enemies.”
“And if the people of Arkadia turn out to be one of those enemies?”
A heavy silence fell over them as Clarke sighed and reclined against the side of the bear laying behind her, her eyes remained fixed on the fire as she spoke.
“I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that, but if it does… I can’t overlook them trying to hurt innocent people.”
“So, if war breaks out between us and them, you’ll make us fight against our own friends and family?” Raven demanded.
Clarke seemed to stiffen, and Marcus watched as she morphed into the living legend the Grounders revered.
“There is no us and them.” She said rising to her feet. The flickering light from the fire made her look more than human and almost all the Grounders had turned to watch in awe as she looked the eight of them in the eye, “If war breaks out, we will fight in the name of peace. If war breaks out because the Skaikru are threatening the lives of innocent people, we will fight to reduce collateral damage and protect those not involved, from both sides. If war breaks out… then you should know we’ve already failed.”