Chapter TextLexa and Luna shook off the morning as they mounted up for the final leg of their journey to Belle. Luna could tell that Lexa wasn't exactly nervous, but she was anxious. She could tell that her friend wanted to already be in Belle, but they needed to let the horses rest. But, it seemed to be more than that as well. Echo was staying closer.
"Are you going to give Eko to Klark when we get there?" Luna asked breaking their silence.
"I don't think that I will have to do that. I think that Eko will move herself there. She's told me time and time again that while she is a Royal Guard to Heda that she serves Wanheda more."
"And, that doesn't bother you?" Luna questioned.
"No, it really doesn't. I actually expect it. If she doesn't go on her own, I will order it. I want to make sure that Klark is guarded and protected."
"Can she not take care of herself? Has she not proven that to them? Is she not a warrior?" Luna inquired.
"I don't actually know to be honest. I never saw her fight. I know that Oktevia and Abi said that she'd killed a lot of warriors and others in defending her people. She bears all of their deaths on her heart, but she didn't have time to fight in our last life before Azgeda killed her," Lexa answered.
"Nia was never going to let you be happy, was she?"
"I doubt it. She was angry that I was Heda and had control. She was all about power. She kept Ontari a secret so that she could wield her like a weapon," Lexa replied.
"And, we all know how that turned out. I couldn't even get through to her. Did she ever tell you how long she was with Nia? I couldn't get her to tell me anything. All she ever did was spit Nia's hatred at me, especially about me being a traitor to the blood for not fighting you for the Flame," Luna stated.
"Can we speak of something else? Nia is dead and I don't want to dwell on that. Roan and Kostia are handling things in Azgeda."
"Fine, fine, we can speak of something else," Luna replied and then got a gleam in her eye. "How about we talk about the armor and sword that you got made for Klark? Would that work for you?"
"It is just something small."
"Something small? Something small? Lexa, that is not something small. You had the best armorer in all of Trikru design her armor and she wasn't even here. I'll admit that you did chose an appropriate stand in for her, but that is not the point."
"Are you upset with me that I got one of your metalsmiths to make her a sword worthy of her station?" Lexa countered.
"With what you paid for it, no. That payment alone will allow us to trade with Louwoda Kliron and Yujleda for spices, medicines and cloth. Besides, Bou was happy to make it for you. He hasn't gotten to test his skills on something bigger than a dagger or fishhooks for years," Luna stated.
"Well I would say that his talents are wasted on fish, but I know that he is happy there. His skills will be need in other ways soon, but for now, I am glad that he can be by the sea and not have to worry about war. He's earned his place among all of the Kongeda as one of the best swordsmiths, Luna. I would have been remiss not to go to him first and offer him such a commission. If he had refused, I would have asked someone in Trikru to make it."
"I know, Leksa. That is why you are good heda. You think about all your people and their well-being. You don't put yourself first. You put them first. Even Oktevia and Eko have told of this. You've never once been selfish that I can remember. It is actually infuriating sometimes," Luna replied.
"And, now that I am trying to protect my Keyron Teina (soulmate)?"
"I think that you are finally over Titus' brainwashing. You've said it yourself, to me actually, that love is strength. You've used your love to strengthen not only the people but the entire Kongeda as a whole. You've been fighting for us and preparing a way for Klark and her people. Skaikru will join us. Klark will wake in time to get them in line and working on things. We need them to help with the tek in bunkers anyway. They will be spread through out the land when we finally have to go underground. We will keep as many safe as we can Leksa. You've seen to that," Luna said.
"Heda," Echo started as she road up closer to them.
"Eko?"
"We are about twelve hills from Belle," Echo told them.
"I told you we could have made it last night," Lexa scolded.
"And, be dead tired when you first meet her again, I doubt it. The horses needed the rest, too, Leksa, and you know it. Going though all of this in the dark, no matter how accomplished of riders we are, is still dangerous. I know that we were close last night, but now we are fresh and almost there."
Lexa just nodded. She knew that it was the truth. They did the need the rest. She had pushed them harder than normal, but not too much, in her eagerness to get to Clarke. She knew that Luna had those she wanted to see as well, but she had been the more rational of the two. Lexa would have thought that Luna would have advocated with her to continued to press on considering she had two loves to see. But, she had buckled down with Echo and Gustus, demanding to Lexa that they stop. She gave in, because she realized that it really was for the best.
"Eko?"
"Sha, Heda?"
"Will you leave my service now that the Skaiprisa is here?"
Echo turned on her horse and looked over Lexa. Her green eyes were watching the Royal Guard carefully. Echo smiled at her, knowing that it was disarming. Lexa didn't know what to think of the former Azgeda spy, well, not completely. She knew that the taller woman was an accomplished warrior, especially with her bow, but she was also extremely loyal to Clarke and to Lexa. It wasn't always necessarily in that order.
"Would you have me guard her or Anya, Heda?"
The question didn't surprise Lexa at all as Echo's response. She always seemed to be a few steps ahead of Lexa when she needed to be. Lexa wasn't sure if it was her dealings with past live Lexa's or her training as an assassin and spy. Lexa also knew that she trusted Echo with Clarke more than she did Anya. It wasn't because of competency. It was because she knew that Echo was more loyal to Clarke, for obvious reasons, and Anya was more loyal to her. Either of them would keep Clarke alive or die trying, but she knew that Anya was better on diplomatic missions of sorts than Echo was.
"I think that I shall leave that up to the Prisa herself," Lexa answered.
Echo nodded with another grin. She knew that Lexa was being smart about it as well. Clarke would outright refuse to have a guard, saying that she could protect herself. But, there was also the fact that she had Raven and Octavia on her side. She would wield her Skairipa as needed. Raven was always a wild card, but Lexa had learned the hard way in the bunker not to piss off the mechanic. Two solid weeks of cold showers, ice cold showers, and all her missing candles had led her to Raven's bunk door.
To be honest, Lexa wasn't surprised to find Anya and Luna in there with her. She knew that Skaikru were the only ones that seemed to have relationship issues, especially with their nonsensical rule about one child. She knew that Raven was more like Clarke and Octavia in that sense. She was wild and free when she needed to be, and with Luna and Anya, she got both. Anya was her wildness and Luna was her freedom. If Lexa had stopped and thought about what having the three of them together in the same bunker as her, she would have realized that Raven would have conquered the bunker in two weeks without bloodshed. Anya would have helped with tactics and stealth operations, while Luna just praised her love and peace. The people would have fallen at their feet, and Lexa would have been ousted.
As it was, Raven didn't push the issues. She didn't want to be in charge, and neither did Luna. Anya was torn sometimes between supporting her lovers or her Heda. Thankfully none of them ever made her choose. She did however make sure that Lexa and Luna were more protected than anyone else in the bunker. By proxy, that meant that Raven was as well. Because if Raven wasn't with Anya or Luna, she was with Lexa.
Turning she looked at Luna and smiled. Her friend deserved it. Luna had stayed by her side and helped out with strategies for the battles, but she never participated. Oh, she defended Floukru like the entire clan was Polis itself. And, thankfully, the few that tried her gave up quickly.
If the people only knew how ruthless Luna could be, they would be in awe of her pacificity. Luna was not someone that she wanted to trifle with. And, Lexa had always been happy to have her at her side. When Luna agreed to be her sekkon, they both knew that it wasn't going to be in the traditional sense. She basically set Luna up to be Heda when she was out to battle whoever to get them to join the Kongeda. And, it had been the right choice. Luna had protected Polis and made sure that the throne of Heda was still there every time that Lexa came home. Luna was her right arm and Anya was her left.
"Do you think that they are waiting on us?" Luna questioned.
"I instructed Anya to get them to Belle to begin settling. The storm is coming in a few days, so I want them on the road to Tondisi before that. They are to help sure up Belle for the storm and then we will march to Indra. I will speak with Klark about them breaking up further. The farther they are from the Maun-de the better. I do not want those monsters to get their hands on any of the skaigoufa blood."
"What about ours?" Echo asked quietly.
"Definitely not. I know what Klark's plan was last time. It was a good plan, but she cannot lead them into the Maun herself. If they get her blood, they'll want to use it. We cannot give them that advantage."
"Do you think that she will send in some of the rest to take her place then?" Luna questioned.
"That will be something that we will have to discuss in Tondisi. I was hoping that there would be a better way, but I remember your words, Eko. There isn't. Most of them if not all will have to die in order for us all to live. I would take that Klark if I could, but I don't know how. It is only with Skaikru tek that we can get in the Mountain to begin with."
"Yes, but they aren't coming out as often now," Echo stated.
"Thanks to Raven's idea with the suited men. They must be getting more desperate. We haven't heard word of raid in weeks," Luna added.
"I know and that worries me."
"Do you think that someone inside has the blood?" Echo asked.
"By Keyron, I hope not. Because if they did, they would have already shared it with certain members. They would have already started their final battles with us. They haven't done that. They have been very selective in sending out their ripas. It is the only weapon besides that blasted fog that they really have against us," Lexa stated.
"Have you forgotten their missile?"
"I can't and I won't. I know that they want us to battle each other and wipe ourselves out, so they can just take over without any true bloodshed on their parts. But, we've all fought too long and too hard for this peace. I am not about to let them take it from us. However, without being able to get someone to us and watch us more closely away from their hold in the ground, I doubt that they will launch it."
"Why do you say that?" Luna asked.
"We've been secretly destroying their tek in the trees and watching the bunker," Echo told Luna, more than Lexa. "While we've been taking their suits and destroying them, they can't waste the suits or energy on fixing their tek. If they can't see us coming, they can't unleash the fog."
"Nicely done, Leksa," Luna praised.
"It wasn't me that came up with that solution. That was all your little bird. She told me about the tek in the trees that were spying on us. I had Eko make a team of hunters to look for them. Once we knew what they were, we started shooting them down and removing them from the trees around the mountain. I made sure that they started on the outside rim of the fog first. And, they did it at random intervals. But, we didn't start until we found something that would cover these warriors if the fog was sent out. I wasn't willing to risk good hunters and warriors for tek."
"How many have you removed?" Luna asked Echo as they continued riding through the hills towards Belle.
"Last count, I don't know. But, my twelve teams take one a day or every other day. They can't have many left. Soon they will be completely blind, except to a prescribed path to the front door. Even the ripa tunnels aren't covered that much anymore. We are working on those the most."
"Why those?" Luna questioned.
"Because when we do attack, we'll be able to get to the tunnels and inside. They'll be too busy watching the front door and other areas to know that we were already inside. All we need from there is some of Reivon's tek and we're inside. Klark's maps will lead us through the maze inside until either they all die or surrender to us. Those that surrender will be allowed treatment, if and only if Skaikru agrees to donate their body jus to help them."
"Like Klark did for all of us," Echo stated.
"And, there really isn't another way?" Luna inquired. She'd heard the stories, too, but she wanted there to be a chance. She wanted to think that the people inside would get themselves to safety and then surrender. She wasn't stupid, either. She hoped that they would react appropriately, but she knew that as long as certain people were in power and held sway that they wouldn't. She knew first hand how too many years of being told something could break a people.
"Moba, Luna, but not in any of my lifetimes," Echo answered truthfully.
Luna hung her head. She thought as much, but she wasn't willing to give up hope. Maybe this time they had done enough to change it everything. She could only hope. She'd already seen the changes that Lexa had brought about the Kongeda in this life. Maybe, this would too.
None of them had anymore time to dwell on what was to come for the moment. They crested over a small hill and Belle was before them. Lexa and Luna couldn't help the smile that came over their faces. They slowly made their way down the hill and into Belle. As they rode in, Lexa was upset with herself for not keeping Tris with her. She could have sent her forward earlier to announce their coming, but she knew that she'd been right to send her to Indra to prepare for all of them to come.
As they came into the village, she could the multitude of tents and wagons that were on the western side. She realized quickly that this is where the 100 had set up their camp. Octavia had asked her to let them stay on the edge of the village last time as they didn't want to burden the village proper with their numbers. It seems that her idea hadn't changed in this life either. She thought it was a good idea, then, because Clarke had proposed that the goufa would all become Trikru and they would spread amongst all the villages to do so.
Cries for Heda rang through the air, but it didn't mean anything to Lexa in that moment. Her eyes flitted around the tents and the people until they landed on the bright blond hair of the Skaiprisa. Octavia and Raven were near her. Murphy wasn't far behind. There were more people, guards it seemed that were near her. The tall boy was rather imposing in his look, but he was still a goufa. Lexa wasn't sure that she remembered him, but he was keeping his eyes on both Clarke and young girl that was near her.
Clarke must have finally heard the cries of Heda, for she turned and blue locked with green across the village. Lexa didn't stop her mount. She continued riding towards Clarke and the rest. Her eyes stayed fixed on the blonde. She didn't even mind when the younger woman turned to look down at the dark haired, blue-eyed girl with her. She had to remind herself not to rake her eyes over Clarke, even if she did look good in the armor that she'd had made.
It was only a vest, but it had hidden areas for small knives. That would be one of the first weapons that Lexa taught her. A good throwing knife would save her life many times over. She knew that Clarke wouldn't want anything too bulky and heavy, which is why the vest style she had created was perfect. It protected the vitals of the torso, but it was functional and allowed for maximum movement. Clarke could still wear it as a healer and be safe.
Clarke reached down and picked the girl up, settling the girl on her hip. The girl's eyes went wide when she realized who was riding towards them. It was obvious that this girl wasn't from the stars, and that made Lexa smile larger. Clarke was already winning over her people. Children were already flocking to the Skaifayaprisa (Princess of the Stars). The girl started to fidget and point at Lexa. Finally, Clarke put her down as she told her something.
"Go ahead, Madi. Go see your, Nomon, Ani Eko, en Ani Luna. I'm sure that they've missed you, too," Clarke said as the child ran towards them.
Echo was the first off her horse. She grabbed the child around her waist and hoisted her into the air with a huge smile on her face. She spun her around and held her close, giving her the biggest hug that she could.
"Aik strikheda, what are you doing here?" Echo asked her as Lexa's eyes widen and she whipped her head to Clarke for an answer as well. (My little Heda)
"Sangeda attacked Doah. I ran to find you like you taught me when I was bigger, when we were in Eden, Ani Echo. Nomi found me with Ani Anya."
"Are you sure that it was Sangeda, Strikheda? Did you see them or were you hiding, ain biyron gada?" Echo asked as she put her down. (My brilliant girl)
Echo knelt down with her and looked over the top of Madi's head to Clarke. They were all waiting for an explanation, Lexa more so than the others. Echo hadn't let go of the girl as she left Lexa and Luna behind.
"Ash, my sister," Clarke greeted her in Russian before pulling her in for a hug.
"Is she okay?"
"She was very dirty and is thin. We've been feeding her for the last two days anything that she'll take. She seems okay, but I know that she is traumatized by it. Her entire village was razed. It wasn't Praimfaya this time, Echo. It was Sangeda. I want their blood. They almost cost me my daughter."
"And you will have it. I'll ride as soon as I can to go investigate. Did Anya send anyone? An envoy? Anyone?" Echo asked.
"She said that we had to wait for Heda," Clarke answered as she turned to look back at Lexa.
Madi had wrapped herself around Clarke again. She was staring up at Lexa with her large blue eyes. Clarke kept a protective hand on the girl, but there was more than to it. The more that Lexa watched her, the more that she realized that the guards she counted earlier weren't for Clarke. They were for the girl. And, even Echo was standing protectively around her. There was more to this girl than Lexa knew. She knew that she needed answers, especially if what the girl had said was true. She needed to know more about her and her relationship with Clarke.
"Nomi? Why hasn't Nomon come over here yet? Doesn't she remember us?" Madi asked as kept looking from Clarke to Lexa and back again.
"Oh, she knows who we are, ain Strikon. No one could forget you, Madi Griffin. No one," Clarke answered as she gave Lexa a look to move her ass quickly