Chapter 7
As they rode the horses up the small incline towards the Sky People’s camp Lexa felt a sense of dread building in her stomach, the wind was carrying smells from the camp in the direction which they were coming from, it didn’t take her long to realize just what it was she was smelling. Once they reached the top of the hill she pulled her horse to a stop, all she could see littering the ground were bodies. They were too late. She couldn’t tell who the dead were, usually what they were wearing would tell her, but since the fall of the Mountain the lines had blurred. Lexa couldn’t tell if they were her people, Skaikru or Azgeda.
She looked at one of the warriors who was standing near her horse.
“Search for the living…” she said.
“Sha, Heda.” He replied, taking a few of the others with him as he walked towards the field of bodies.
“Spread out and stay alert,” Lexa said looking to the rest of the warriors she had with her, “it may not be over yet.”
Lexa looked over at Clarke, the blonde was looking at the bodies, the Commander could see from her face that she looked as though she may be about to be sick.
“We must walk from here,” Lexa said to her, as she climbed down from her horse, “the horses will disturb the bodies.”
Clarke nodded and climbed down from her horse, Lexa took the reins and handed them to one of her warriors who had hung back. Wordlessly the Commander started to make her way forward, looking at the first body she passed she could see the warrior was Azgeda.
“How did it come to this…” Lexa said quietly with a sigh, not sure if she was talking to Clarke or herself.
“Heda…” someone lying on the ground said, the word almost lost in the sound of blood bubbling within the man’s throat.
Lexa crouched down next to the man, she looked over his injuries and knew right away that he couldn’t be saved. She also knew that he had a family in Polis. Clenching her jaw, she took her blade from its place at her waist.
“Yu gonplei ste odon.” Lexa said before ending the man’s life.
“Lexa…” Clarke said, walking up behind the Commander, placing her hand on the brunette’s shoulder.
“Don’t.” Lexa said coldly, shrugging off Clarke’s hand before she stood up.
“What do you want me to say?” Clarke said as Lexa started to walk away, “That I’m sorry?”
“Look at these warriors, Clarke,” Lexa replied, turning back to look at the blonde, “their injuries are not just from weapons, they are from chemicals. My people do not use chemical weapons, only the Mountain did.”
Clarke didn’t say anything as she looked around her. Lexa walked back closer to her.
“Your people did this,” Lexa said, “those you claimed were seeking safety within the Mountain.”
“I’m sure there’s some kind of explanation…” Clarke replied.
“There always is.” Lexa said, turning away from Clarke and continuing her way through the field towards the Skaikru camp.
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The closer they got to the camp, the more living they found, which in Lexa’s mind told her that it had been a coordinated attack. Clarke saw a familiar face within the mass of injured warriors.
“Octavia…” the blonde said, rushing over to her.
“Oh now you decide to show up.” Octavia said as she saw Clarke.
“What happened?” Clarke asked, crouching down next to the younger girl who was trying to stop the warrior in front of her bleeding to death.
“Pike and his army of ‘Grounder killers’ went into the Mountain,” Octavia said, looking from Clarke to Lexa who was now standing near the blonde, “they realized that they could end this quickly…”
“Do they realize what they’ve done?” Lexa asked.
“I don’t think they care too much,” Octavia replied, “Indra took your warriors after them, a small group returned not long ago, everyone else is dead…”
“Where’s Indra?” Lexa asked.
“Medical…” Octavia said.
“And Nia?” Clarke asked, ignoring the look she was getting from Lexa.
“No idea.” Octavia replied, realizing that her efforts with the warrior in front of her were pointless, “Yu gonplei ste odon…”
Lexa watched as the young girl sat back almost defeated.
“I need to get to Indra.” Lexa said, looking at Clarke.
The blonde nodded and motioned for Lexa to follow her. They made their way towards the main gates of the Skaikru camp. Lexa noticed the differences from the last time she had been there, though she had never been in through the gates she saw the fences had been strengthened, the gates themselves were at least twice the size that they had been previously.
“They made a few improvements.” Clarke said as she noticed Lexa looking around a little.
“They also changed the name.” Lexa replied, looking up at the sign above the gates.
“No point naming a camp in memory of a dead guy who isn’t dead.” Clarke said with a shrug, as she slowed to a stop at the gates.
Memories started flashing through her head, visions of the Mountain, she closed her eyes and shook her head a little trying to clear it. She knew Lexa was looking at her, but at that moment she appreciated the Commander not commenting.
“Clarke…” Bellamy said from where he was standing just inside the gates, he walked over to the blonde and pulled her into a hug, “welcome home…”
“This isn’t home…” Clarke replied as she backed out of the hug, “Lexa needs to find Indra.”
Bellamy looked at Lexa, the look on his face letting the brunette know that he wasn’t happy that she was there.
“You’re not welcome here.” He said coldly.
“My warriors died protecting your people,” Lexa replied, “you will take me to Indra.”
“And if I don’t?” Bellamy asked.
Octavia walked up behind Lexa and Clarke, moving past them to stand in front of Bellamy.
“This is your fault,” she said, looking up at her brother, “if you hadn’t told Pike what was in the Mountain this wouldn’t have happened.”
“I didn’t think he would do this.” Bellamy replied.
“That’s your problem,” Octavia said to him, “you never think… I’ll take you to Indra, Heda.”
Octavia pushed past Bellamy, Lexa and Clarke followed behind her. Lexa kept her eyes on the back of the girl in front of her, ignoring the looks that she knew she was getting from other people within the camp. When they reached the medical area they could all see that the patients were a mix of Grounders and Skaikru.
“This is why we do not use chemical weapons,” Lexa said quietly to Clarke, “they do not differentiate between friend and foe…”
Clarke stood and watched as Lexa walked over to the bed where Indra was being treated by Jackson. Looking around the room she knew she had to get out of there.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Clarke found Bellamy sitting in one of the rooms in the Ark building.
“How did this happen?” She asked walking into the room, “Octavia said you told Pike what was in the Mountain…”
“I didn’t expect him to do this,” Bellamy replied, “I didn’t expect any of this…”
“You knew how he felt about the Grounders,” Clarke said, sitting down opposite him, “you knew he wanted them all dead. Is war really what you wanted?”
“I wanted to keep our people safe.” Bellamy said.
“War is not going to keep our people safe,” Clarke said with a sigh, “siding with Pike was never going to keep our people safe.”
“And siding with the Azgeda was?” Bellamy asked.
“It’s complicated…” Clarke replied.
“Where did the Commander come into your plan, Clarke?” Bellamy asked, “she left us to die.”
“She did what she had to do,” Clarke said, “something that I would have done, given the choice. We all did things that night which… we would all do again.”
“We did what we had to do to save our people.” Bellamy replied.
“So did she.” Clarke said with a sigh, “so did she…”
Octavia walked into the room, ignoring her brother she looked at Clarke.
“Nia is marching what’s left of her army to Polis.” she said.
“Lexa has called a meeting of the clan leaders,” Clarke said, “which Nia is due to attend, as are we…”
“We’re not her people.” Bellamy said, “she can’t demand that we go to a clan meeting.”
“She isn’t demanding anything,” Clarke replied, “she wants the Skaikru to join the coalition…”
“That’s never going to happen.” Bellamy said, shaking his head.
“Do you really think any of you would still be alive if Lexa hadn’t demanded it?” Clarke asked, looking at him, “Do you think that Indra decided on her own that the Trikru and the Skaikru wouldn’t fight?”
“That agreement was made between Kane and Indra.” Bellamy replied.
“Indra isn’t the leader of the Trikru,” the blonde said, “Lexa is. Indra just carries out Lexa’s orders when she’s in Polis.”
“What’s it like?” Octavia asked looking at Clarke, “Polis?”
“You’d love it,” Clarke said with a soft smile, “you should come back with us.”
“You’re going back?” Bellamy asked in disbelief.
“This isn’t my home anymore Bell…” Clarke said.
“And Polis is?” he asked in reply.
“I don’t know,” Clarke said, shaking her head, “when all this is over I’ll figure that out.”
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“I fail to understand what we would gain from joining your coalition.” Bellamy said to Lexa as they sat in the meeting room.
“I understand your reservations,” Lexa replied, her Commander mask firmly in place, “but if the Skaikru were to join the coalition it would be safer for your people. It would save you from any further threats of attack from the other clans, it will open up trade routes and many other benefits.”
“We know that you’re facing your own problems within the coalition,” Abby said from where she was sitting, “you are offering us a place in something that at the moment isn’t stable. Queen Nia…”
“Would say anything that she could to get your people on her side.” Lexa said, interrupting her.
“Clarke obviously trusted her, to ask her for help.” Abby replied.
“I believe that your daughter did not have as much say in that matter as you believe she did,” Lexa said calmly, “events took place that you are unaware of. The deal that she made with Clarke no longer stands, that much I can tell you.”
“And how do you know that?” Bellamy asked.
“Because I am still alive.” Lexa replied.
“What do you mean, you’re still alive so that deal no longer stands?” Kane asked, obviously not knowing anything about what had taken place between Clarke and Nia.
Lexa looked at Clarke who was sitting to her right hand side, the blonde nodded a little letting Lexa know that she could tell them.
“Every agreement comes at a price,” Lexa said, looking around the table, “one party has something that the other wants. In exchange for her assistance to help your people, Nia wanted Clarke to get me to this battle. My death was the price of her assistance. She believed that I would be with my warriors, which I suspected. I do not know how she had intended to do it, but her plan was that I would die. Perhaps she would then try and blame the Skaikru for my death and use that to take over the coalition.”
“She could unite the coalition against a new enemy.” Kane said.
“Yes,” Lexa replied with a nod, “many clans view your people as a threat, what happened here today is not going to lessen that fear.”
“But joining the coalition will?” Abby asked.
“If we become the 13th clan, then that will mean that we are not a threat because if we attack any of the other clans within the coalition then we risk an all-out war against Lexa’s people.” Clarke said, her eyes fixed on the table in front of her, “We’d face all 12 clans in a war and we would lose.”
“And what if it came down to another choice,” Bellamy said, his eyes fixed on Lexa, “what if you were in the same position again as you were on the Mountain, then what?”
“There would be no choice,” Lexa replied honestly, “it wouldn’t be a choice between your people and my people, because you would be my people.”
“Talking about this is really getting us nowhere,” Abby said, “let’s take a vote.”
“I vote no.” Bellamy said, looking between Lexa and Clarke, “I’m sorry Clarke, but I don’t trust her.”
“I vote yes.” Kane said, nodding slightly in Lexa’s direction.
The decision came down to Abby, this wasn’t how Clarke had expected it to be, she had hoped that Bellamy would see sense and vote yes. The blonde looked at her mother, who was looking down at the table, obviously going over and over in her head just what this was going to mean.
“You have the casting vote, Abby.” Kane said as he looked at her.
“I vote yes.” Abby said, looking at Clarke, who smiled a little, “too many times in the past I haven’t listened to what my daughter thought was best, this time I will.”
“Thank you.” Clarke said to her mom.
“I must return to Polis,” Lexa said, “and I will require a few of your people to come with me. The Skaikru will need an Ambassador in Polis, someone to attend council meetings and hold meetings with me on your behalf. That decision is yours, Chancellor.”
“I think Clarke is best suited to be our Ambassador in Polis, do you agree?” Abby said, looking to Marcus.
“I do.” Kane said with a nod.
“Nia already has half a day on us,” Lexa said looking to Clarke, “we must leave before nightfall if we stand any hope of being there before her.”
“I can get you there quickly.” Raven said from where she was standing in the doorway.
“Raven…” Clarke said with a smile as she looked at the girl.
“Wanheda.” Raven replied.
“Not you too…” Clarke said, rolling her eyes a little.
“It’s a bit more badass than Princess, huh?” Raven asked with a smile.
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“What is this?” Lexa asked, looking at the Rover.
“It’s a Rover,” Raven replied, “a car… motorized vehicle…”
“Raven,” Clarke said, looking at the Rover before looking at Raven, “where did you learn to drive?”
“Trial and error,” Raven replied with a laugh, “figured I was doing it right when I stopped crashing into trees.”
“It’s safe.” Octavia said, walking up behind them, “well as safe as anything can be where Raven is involved.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Pocahontas.” Raven said.
Lexa looked back at Octavia and saw Lincoln standing next to her. She hadn’t seen him since the night he escaped from her people, there was still a kill order on him.
“He will not be welcome in Polis.” Lexa said calmly, her hand gripping her sword was the only thing breaking the cool exterior.
“He isn’t coming,” Octavia replied, “he is only here to see me off.”
Lexa nodded once before turning back to face Clarke.
“Are there any others you wish to bring along with you?” Lexa asked the blonde.
Clarke saw Bellamy standing not too far from them, as their eyes met Clarke looked back to Lexa.
“No.” Clarke said, shaking her head a little.
“Then we must leave.” Lexa said, motioning to where Ryder was standing with a few of the other warriors, he walked over to her, “you will come with us, the rest of the warriors will remain here to ensure that no more fighting breaks out before the Skaikru join the coalition.”
“If anything happens they can reach us on the radio.” Raven said, looking to Lincoln, “get Monty to radio in if anything happens.”
Lincoln nodded in agreement and watched as everyone climbed into the Rover. The gates of Arkadia opened and allowed them to leave.
“Anyone got a map?” Raven asked, glancing back at Lexa and Clarke who were sitting in the back of the Rover.
“Head south,” Lexa replied, “Follow the river south until you reach the lake, then you need to head West.”
“Okay,” Raven said with a nod, “Polis here we come.”