Chapter Text
Chapter 7
Heavydirtysoul
She’d been waiting for this moment for weeks. The moment she would see her wife again. To be reunited and whole. And...it was not at all what she envisioned. A bloody, bruised, and severely weakened Clarke, barely holding onto her horse was approaching her and Indra at an out of control pace.
Lexa shouted in Trigedaslang for the mare to halt, while sprinting at full speed to catch her wife before she slipped off the animal. Indra quick behind her, grabbed the reins as Lexa caught Clarke and brought her gently on the ground and knelt with her in her lap.
Anger seethed and burned through her body and fear at knowing she came dangerously close to losing her soul mate to an evil dictator. She didn’t care if Clarke agreed with her or not, but blood WOULD have blood this time and it would be swift and all encompassing.
She cradled the blonde’s head in the crook of her right elbow while her left hand gingerly moved a few stray hairs out of Clarke’s eyes.
Her eyes fluttered open and Lexa let out a deep breath she didn’t know she had been holding.
“Clarke, baby. I’m here now.” Lexa cooed while she softly stroked her wife’s golden locks and brought her closer.
“Lexa? You’re real, this is real?” Clarke puffed out, her lungs short of breath from her broken ribs and having to keep upright on her horse for so long.
Lexa leaned over then and captured her wife’s lips in a gentle and passionate kiss, then moved her lips up to place a soft kiss on her forehead.
“Real enough for you?”
Gentle tears fell down Clarke’s face as she closed her eyes and took in deep lungfuls of air.
“We have to stop him, Lexa. I was wrong...blood must have blood. I was wrong.”
“Shhh, love. You had the best intentions, but ‘Jus drein Jus daun’ has it’s time and place just as ‘Jus no drein Jus daun’ does also. Come ai niron. Let us command justice together.”
Lexa helped her wife stand up and re-mount her mare, Lexa quickly saddling up behind her wife, keeping her steady in the mount. Indra followed closely as they made their way back to the camp of the 13th clan.
“I know you want revenge, love. But I need to be the one to kill him.” Clarke whispered to Lexa as she turned her head toward her.
“And how well did you feel the last time you took your revenge, Clarke?” she queried, hoping to sway Clarke’s mind and spare her another death on her tally. She understood deeply her wife’s need to be the one to end this as she held a personal responsibility for her people as well as her own rage at the indignities Charles Pike had committed against her. But it would be unlike Lexa not to try and at least take some of that burden away from Clarke.
Clarke went rigid in her arms and Lexa gathered her close to her chest in comfort. She whispered words of love and understanding to her wife, acquiescing to Clarke’s decision.
Clarke let her body go slack in Lexa’s arms in surrender and gratitude for Lexa’s empathy.
“Mochof, ai niron.” Clarke murmured.
Lexa responded with a light kiss to Clarke’s shoulder, smiling as she did so.
“Rest, love. We'll be back soon.”
Lexa dug her heels into the mare’s sides to spur her just a bit faster.
//
They stopped the rover as soon as they caught sight of Pike and his followers a good distance away. Raven grabbed the binoculars to better spot their position and flesh out a plan of attack.
Kane also peered through the binoculars trying to spot any possible grounder he may have met. It was like the proverbial needle in a haystack, but anyone that might have good will toward him would help reduce the potential for grounder casualties.
Lincoln had made sure that Raven and Octavia understood that every effort was to be made to take Pike alive as well as any of his crew. Raven bristled at this, as did Octavia. However, once he explained how they would feel if they were in Clarke’s position, knowing that she had actually experienced the worst treatment from him, how they would be taking her judgement out of her hands, they relented.
“Why the hell is he just waiting there?” Octavia groaned as she grabbed the scopes from Raven.
“Monty! I’m gonna make sure that kid gets his own tank of moonshine when this is all over.”
Charles Pike was at least a good two hundred feet within the limits of the grounder blockade. His group was huddled around obviously discussing something. What was being said couldn’t be heard from this distance.
“He disabled the rover.” Octavia uttered as a shiver of adrenaline ran through her.
“He’s almost as smart as I am. If I wasn’t….Uh, anyway, we’ve got a bit of time before any of those idiots figures out how to reboot the the system. But they will figure it out eventually. Wick used to work with some of those morons.”
“If you weren’t what, Rae?”
Of course Octavia would be stuck on Raven’s slip instead of the situation they were in.
“For fuck’s sake, O! Can you focus please?”
“Fuck off, Raven. I am focused.” bristled Octavia.
Lincoln stroked his index finger down her left arm and she turned to meet his gaze. Her brows scrunched together in confusion.
“Chill au, niron. Beja.” He whispered.
“Sha, Linkon.” she kissed his cheek.
Kane shook his head in frustration at being led by what were still essentially teenagers.
Raven gagged as quietly as she could, “Alright, lovebirds, let’s capture some bad guys. Here’s my plan.
Guns were out of the question for the time being as Raven didn’t want to provoke the grounder army into an all out attack. So her plan was going to utilize the bow and arrows Nyko sent with Octavia. As soon as Pike was down, Raven would gun their rover and distract the group while Kane launched flash bombs and small grenades meant to cause mild physical harm, but not to kill.
The only problem with any plan they came up with was the grounder army. There was no way they could guarantee they wouldn’t look at this as anything but an attack on them.
But if they were fast enough maybe they could diffuse Pike and be able to have Lincoln explain what was happening.
It was a long shot, but it was all they had.
Lincoln and Octavia set off immediately relaying to Raven the general direction they’d be heading.
Raven would track them using the binoculars.
//
She took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. She pulled the bow taut on her next inhale, lining up her shot and releasing as she exhaled, closing her eyes that her shot would hit its mark.
She opened and readied her next arrow and fired off five more in rapid succession before the first had landed.
Lincoln was off sprinting toward the grounder blockade shouting in Trigedasleng that the attack was skaikru against skaikru and not to attack.
Raven and Kane barreling in from the other side in the rover, Kane throwing smoke bombs as a distraction as chaos rained down all around them.
//
Pike cried out as the arrow sliced through from behind, lodging firmly in the back of his left knee. He reached down to pull it out when the second landed right behind his right knee and he went down screaming in pain and frustration.
Shawn had his rifle up and ready, but couldn’t make out where the arrows were coming from. He reversed direction and looked out at the blockade surrounding them, but saw no movement.
Regardless, he took aim at the native people.
Just then a flash bomb exploded just ten feet in front of him, launching him backward into Pike, knocking them both down and rendering them sightless.
Grounders were shouting now as they had been watching everything unfold. Generals were holding their warriors back. Shouts and chants of Jus drein Jus daun were heard from every direction, almost drowning out the clamor of pounding spears and exhortations to stand down.
Lincoln was now about fifty feet from the blockade line, hands up in surrender, knowing that no one would know that the commander had lifted the kill order upon him.
He got down on his knees, still shouting his explanation, that’s when he saw her standing two people deep behind the line.
Luna.
Luna kom floukru.
“Luna! Luna! Beja, sis osir au!” Lincoln wrenched out.
Her eyes met his and she launched herself forward, but was roughly held back as a strong arm pulled her back by the stomach before her toe crossed the imaginary boundary.
“Linkon! Chit’s gon daun?” his old friend shouted in response.
The warrior that held her back tried to stop her from engaging anymore, not wanting to start anything without orders from their Heda.
Luna turned and got in his face.
“Shof op! Can’t you tell he’s one of us?” She barked out.
The warrior turned and focused on Lincoln then, finally seeing his Woods clan tattoos.
Then he waved his arms for Lincoln to approach and explain.
Luna sighed in relief as he slowly approached.
//
Octavia made her way down from her perch in the pine tree, scanning the terrain as she approached Pike and crew for counter attackers. Raven’s smoke and flash bombs had disoriented enough of them, but that would only last for so long. She loaded an arrow and quickened her pace. She caught movement out of the corner of her eye and swiftly turned to her right, letting the arrow fly and watching it land in the throat of one of Pike’s guards. He gurgled, fell forward and died.
Loading and moving forward she managed to fell at least five more guards.
She almost downed Kane, before she made out that it was him that was approaching her.
He held a black semi-automatic pistol and was currently aiming it at Charles Pike and his right hand man, Shawn Gillmer.
“Didn’t know you were packing, Marcus.” a smirk graced her lips before she turned and stood guard over the rest of the traitors.
Raven was stood in the rovers mounted machine gun.
“We’ve got this, Octavia.” Kane said as he passed Octavia several sets of zip cuffs.
Octavia made swift work of cuffing Pike and took great satisfaction at making them extra tight.
“I almost feel bad for you...almost. The Commander is going to love torturing you and the rest of us can’t wait to watch.” She whispered menacingly to him.
//
After explaining what was happening to Luna and the three closest generals at this section of the boundary, Lincoln was returning back toward Octavia, Luna following close behind him along with two horses.
Kane loaded Pike and Shawn into the back of the rover.
The rest of those that survived the attack were also cuffed and tied into a chain gang.
Raven fired up the rover’s engine. Kane climbed in the back, pistol never wavering off of Charles Pike.
Luna and Lincoln each mounted a horse, with lincoln attaching the prisoners rope to his horse. Octavia happily followed on foot, making sure no one broke free.
Their mission successful, they began the journey back to Arkadia.
//
“She has ruined everything she established! Throwing it away all for feelings for a silly skaikru girl. I did not teach her this! This is not our way!” Titus rambled until a grounder boot landed square in his face with enough force to render him unconscious for another hour or two.
The retinue of warriors Lexa left to guard Titus had begun to pack up their camp, ready to meet their Commander at the space station camp as she had instructed them to do so after two days time.
“The fleimkepa has lost both his mind and his sense of place. Heda has been the most wise and just Commander I have ever served.” Jaeger stated matter of factly.
The warrior that was carrying Titus to the cart scoffed in disagreement.
“Ever since the skai rats landed here, Heda has done nothing but cower to them. She is weakening because of her fascination with Wanheda.” spat Greyson.
“You are too young, too foolish, to comprehend what Heda has done and what she is working for. I have children. I do not wish for them the life I have led. Constant war and death and fear. Heda knows this. Why do you want such a life? Ponder that on our journey.” Jaeger commanded as he helped secure Titus to the cart.
Greyson scoffed and sneered at Jaeger as he watched him mount his horse. This would be a long days journey if he and Jaeger were at each other on top of the lunatic flame keeper.
//
They had ten guns pointed at them as they exited the forest line and approached the gates of the ark.
Indra drew her sword as did Lexa. They both stood in front of the mare to shield Clarke from any stray bullets that may fly.
Within seconds, they heard Abby’s shouts and at once the rifles were lowered and the gates were opened.
The doctor was barreling at them full speed, shouting for a gurney to carry Clarke the rest of the way.
The blonde shouted back as she quickly dismounted her steed.
“I’m fine!” she gestured with her hands to slow her mother down. In all honesty, she actually felt completely healed. Having her wife beside her had invigorated her more than she could believe. Clarke had never been raised to believe in supernatural powers, but she couldn’t deny that the connection she shared with Lexa felt rooted in something other-worldly.
Lexa reached for her arm to steady her at her side. Clarke patted her hand in reassurance, turning her head to meet her eyes to Lexa’s.
They both smiled at each other.
“I’m fine.” she said this time in a sigh.
Lexa nodded, reluctant to believe her wife was truly as better as she said. Abby had finally reached their party, complete with a group of nurses and soldiers to welcome them and heal any wounded.
Indra was still stood there with her sword drawn. She was not going to be appeased just at the sight of Skaikru’s lowered guns and their chancellor greeting them. She barely trusted her own clan, let alone would she be be unguarded around a clan with such privileged ideas and goals as Skaikru.
“Please, sheath your sword, Indra. I assure you we mean you and your party no harm. The commander and my daughter are here. I promise. You are safe here.” Abby pleaded, her eyes imploring the stoic and wary general to stand down. Not because she would retaliate if Indra did not comply, but because she truly felt remorse and shame for the way her people had behaved since they'd crashed to the planet they had long ago left to destruction.
Heda turned to address Indra, who now had started visibly shaking in rage.
“Indra! Chil au! Daun laik hedon.” Lexa gently stated.
The commander gently placed her hand on Indra’s holding the sword.
“Stand down, Indra. We are protected and welcomed at Arkadia now. I would not be here now if it were not true. You know this.” Lexa implored.
“Sha, Heda.” surrendering her ire for another time, the Trikru general sheathed her weapon.
Lexa turned toward Abby. It was time to discuss the repercussions the actions of Skairkru had brought upon themselves.
“Commander.” Abby nodded addressing Lexa.
“Chancellor, we have much to discuss.”
//
To say that Skaikru was going to roll over and just accept each punishment from Heda’s nation was an understatement. Their hubris knew no bounds, and even knowing how wrong they had been, the punishments were something they still continued to fight against.
They knew they deserved to be reprimanded. For their foolishness in electing a madman. For their slow action to stop his slaughter of innocent people. For their inability to humble themselves in the face of being wiped out. All those actions and more demanded justice. Yet still they railed against it.
“Commander, what you’re asking is savage and it is brutal. How have we gone so far backward to lose our humanity?”
Lexa was losing whatever patience she had left. She knew this would be difficult, that Abby would fight hard against the true justice that Skaikru deserved.
“Lost our humanity?” Lexa railed. “A madman was allowed to rule your clan. And you did nothing to stop him. Tell me Abby where was your humanity when 300 of my warriors were mercilessly killed in their sleep by the cowards you call Charles Pike and Bellamy Blake? And you have the audacity to stand there and lecture me on savage and brutal behavior?” Lexa blared.
Clarke stepped into Lexa’s space and softly linked her hand to Lexa, squeezing once in solidarity.
The blonde took a deep breath and stared hard at her mother, the acting Chancellor in Kane’s absence.
“Believe me when I tell you, I will always look for the better in you mom. But to hear you defend and try to downplay the atrocities Pike and Bellamy did...it guts me.” She shook her head.
“That man beat me and was just shy of sexually assaulting me. Me, mom. Your only fucking child. You need to just stop. Stop and accept the judgment that’s been passed. Pike and Bellamy will suffer the death of a thousand cuts. They deserve it.” She gritted out.
//
The walk and slow drive back to camp was spent in silence. In large part due to the fact that Octavia had gagged Pike and Shawn. No one wanted to hear their lunatic bullshit.
It also wasn’t lost on Lincoln the long glances that Luna stole at Raven as she steered the rover back to camp, leading them back the quickest and smoothest way possible.
“What happened to her?” She boldly questioned to him in trigedasleng.
Lincoln raised his eyebrows in surprise and flashed a smirk at his old friend. He knew she was always drawn to beautiful people. No matter what situation they were in at the time.
“She was shot. The bullet caused damage to her spine and now she can no longer use her left leg without the brace.” He looked away from her. He hated that he pitied Raven. That was the last thing she wanted from anyone. And she wouldn’t let anyone forget it.
“She strong. She won’t let it slow her down.” Luna said with a sly grin on her face. She was definitely intrigued by the genius mechanic and they hadn’t even properly met yet. She’d make sure to change that after they got back to camp.