There is Work to be Done
As it turns out, several different generals and representatives from the Trikru’s population of Alphas, Betas, and Omegas needed to be assembled before they could leave for Camp Jaha to start the declaration ritual. And, according to Indra, it would take about an hour to gather and prepare that many people. So, once Clarke had calmed down, they decided that they would spend the time visiting the Skaiku Omegas that had sought sanctuary within Trikru territory and sent Indra off to make the required preparations for the impending ritual.
As soon as Indra had disappeared behind several tents in her hurry to obey the Heda’s commands, Lexa reached down to clasp Clarke’s hand in her own. They had separated in order to talk with the Beta, but after seeing how much her earlier posturing had accidently hurt Clarke, Lexa wasn’t willing to take any chances by acting tough now. She would do whatever it took to make Clarke that she loved and desired her as someone she wanted at her side as an equal, not just as someone to stand behind her while she led their peoples. And if Lexa were being completely honest with herself, not being able to touch the Omega she already considered her own was gnawing at her insides. She needed to feel Clarke. So, she wrapped her fingers around the soft, warm flesh of Clarke’s palm in hope that the gesture would not be rejected and then had to resist the urge to purr when Clarke’s fingers moved to strengthen the connection. Without a word, she began to lead the blonde toward the other Skaikru Omegas.
Clarke had been surprised when she felt Lexa’s calloused, but gentle hand wrap around her own, but she tried not to show it as she returned the gesture immediately. She could smell Lexa’s hesitance, the Alpha was probably worried that her public display of affection would be rejected by Clarke, it was a foolish fear, really, and Clarke wanted to squash any trace of it in her Alpha’s mind. It would be one of her new goals to encourage this side of Lexa. She may need to be strong, but she’d been the heartless Commander to her people for too long, in Clarke’s opinion. The rush of happy pheromones that Lexa emitted when she wrapped her own fingers around the Alpha’s strong, thin ones made her heart soar as the Commander led her away.
They walked in silence for several minutes. Eventually, when they began to approach the center of camp, Lexa felt a sudden urge to explain the situation to Clarke before the Omega saw what was going on and got angry. It had been apparent that Clarke was not listening to Indra’s explanations earlier, so the state of things would be a shock to Clarke.
Hesitantly, Lexa said, “We offered them a group of several tents, one each if they wanted it, but they all refused. They insisted that they all wanted to live and sleep in a big tent together. Indra had granted the request because she didn’t want to seem controlling and she had hoped their close proximity would strengthen their courage, but they rarely leave it now. Even for food. We’ve started bringing the food to them to ensure they eat. Indra says she’s worried about just how bad things were on the Ark if they are still this scared. I though you said that Omegas felt generally safe walking around on the Ark?”
Frowning, Clarke considered Lexa’s words. It didn’t make sense that the Omega’s would insist on being all together. She could understand wanting tents of two or three, but all of them in one was odd. Omegas on the Ark had never grouped up like that. And Lexa was right, apart from when they were in heat, most Omegas felt safe walking around by themselves. There were usually so many people around all the time it would be fine. The only danger was when in heat and/or when alone with an Alpha. So their behavior now was concerning.
“That is odd, Lexa. How much longer until we get there? I really need to talk to them,” Clarke said.
“That is their tent up ahead,” Lexa replied. Puffing out her chest a bit at the sight of the large, clearly carefully built tent that Indra had ordered constructed as soon as the Omegas had asked for only one. It was securely situated in the very middle of camp, offering the best protection and assurances to those inside. She was certain that Clarke would be proud of her for her people’s effort and care. She wanted Clarke to know that she would make every effort to help heal the hurt the Omegas had suffered at the hands of their own people. However, when she turned to look at Clarke’s face to see her reaction, her heart fell. Clarke was livid. Strong puffs of confusion and anger were rolling off of Clarke like clouds of smoke and Lexa wasn’t sure what she had done.
When Clarke registered Lexa’s words, she thought the Alpha had been joking. She knew for a fact that they were in the very middle of the camp and there was no way that Lexa and her people would be foolish enough to place a group of traumatized and terrified Omegas in the middle of a group of people as dominant and dangerous looking as they were. That would be disastrous. They would feel completely trapped and caged in by all of the aggressive and competing pheromones that tended to swirl around the grounder camp. All of their training and posturing still had the tendency to set Clarke on edge and she’d spent weeks’ worth of time here by now. But, when she looked to where Lexa was gesturing and saw the giant tent that hadn’t been there before, she exploded. Granted, the tent was obviously built with care, but this negligence was unacceptable in Clarke’s opinion.
Turning to face Lexa who had apparently already been watching her, Clarke growled out, “What the hell were you thinking, Lexa!?”
Frowning and cowering into herself slightly in response to Clarke’s growl, Lexa was quick to reply, “I’m sorry, hodnes. I do not know what you mean. What is wrong?”
Clarke took a threatening step into Lexa’s space, “Why the hell would you put them in the middle of camp?! Of course they’re terrified!”
Finally understanding what was wrong, Lexa’s frown only deepened into a mask of pure concern as she defended her decision, “I wanted them to feel protected.”
“They’re surrounded by the smell of hundreds of threatening, stranger Alphas with no escape. How is that supposed to make them feel safe? Did you at least make sure that the only tents surrounding them for several rows were Betas?”
Growling slightly, Lexa said, “No! You know I don’t force my people to segregate! We are all equals here.” And then, after taking a sharp breath, Clarke’s point seemed to drive home, “Although, I admit I did not understand how threatening the situation might seem to them. I am sorry Clarke. How can I-“
Clarke didn’t bother listening to the rest of Lexa’s apology. The anger and guilt swirling in her chest over the fact that while she had been happily resting in the Commander’s tent feeling safe and loved for the last few days of her heat, her fellow Omegas had been cowering together in fear, was clouding her judgement. All she could think about was getting in that tent to talk to them and sooth their worries. So she started toward the entrance before Lexa had even finished talking.
As she approached the tent flaps, she was relieved to see that Lexa had at least ensured that there were only Beta guards blocking her entrance. But, when she got even closer she realized that Lexa was following her only a step behind and she whirled around to face the other girl before entering. “Don’t even think about following me in. You’ll terrify them. Just wait here. You’ve done enough,” she demanded in a snarl.
She barely noticed the way that Lexa visibly paled, looking way too much like a kicked puppy for Clarke’s liking in the moment, before whirling back around to storm into the tent. She didn’t have to look back to know Lexa would obey.
When she entered the tent, she immediately felt her anger at Lexa drain from her body. The inside of the tent had been painstakingly crafted to ensure the most comfort the relatively small area could possibly provide for the Omegas. Everything seemed to be hand crafted and Clarke wondered briefly how many carpenters and craftsmen were asked to work straight through that first night to accomplish this. There were large, cozy looking bunk-beds lining the walls and even softer looking couches and chairs set up throughout the space. Fuzzy, warm looking furs were strewn everywhere as blankets and rugs. Water and fresh food was sitting on almost every single one of the available tables. She could even see a privacy curtain in the back where the ends of at least five bathtubs could be seen around the corner. Stacks of soft, new clothes were resting everywhere.
The Trikru had really put a lot of clan resources into making them comfortable. Lexa really had made sure that her people were taking the utmost care of the Omegas and, Clarke allowed, the Alpha’s reasoning behind putting them in the middle of camp was sound. She wasn’t an Omega. There was no way she would have understood. Sighing, Clarke glanced back over her shoulder where she knew Lexa would be waiting for her loyally just outside the tent flaps. Without question, she would be there. She regretted snapping at her now, but she had been so infuriated that her people still had reason to be scared in a place she felt so completely safe that she had lashed out. Silently, she promised herself she would apologize to Lexa and make it up to her as soon as she was done here.
In the meantime, she turned back around to face the open room where the Omegas within were beginning to notice her presence and surround her in excitement. Smiling, she shuffled forward and greeted everyone. Some she recognized and some she didn’t, but after a while they were all seated comfortably in the many chairs and couches Lexa’s people had provided and they began to talk. It took a long time, but eventually she managed to convince the majority of the Omegas that they really were safe in camp. That this wasn’t a trick. They never had to fear being attacked again. And when the news finally seemed to settle in, there had been tears. Lots of tears. And a good amount of group hugging to go with it before they had all finally settled down again.
At that point they had started asking her about Lexa and that was when Clarke remembered she was only supposed to be stopping by for a quick visit while they waited before heading to Camp Jaha. Smiling sheepishly at everyone, she explained the situation and that she needed to leave. They all but shoved her out the door, laughing and wishing her a happy ritual despite not knowing anything about what it was.
Laughing herself and feeling much happier now that she’d talked to them, Clarke promised she would be back as soon as she could and encouraged them one last time to start adventuring out into the camp more before stepping back through the tent flaps. The first thing she saw in the sunlight was Lexa’s tear-stained face and her heart nearly fell out of her chest.