Chapter Text
"The ultimate test of man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard." Gaylord Nelson
Bellamy
The morning chill was creeping in, and becoming quite the nuisance. Annoyed, Bellamy pulled the fur up and tucked it under his chin. He groaned as the light through the window waltzed across his face.
“Too early,” he muttered, frosted breaths escaping his chattering teeth.
Today was the day. The day they finalized the peace treaty with the Sky People. It had been a long time coming - almost 5 years since the dropship full of criminal children touched the ground. Later that year the rest of the colony followed them down. It was a bloody start down a long road. The Skaikru had landed in his clan’s territory, burned his people alive, and invaded his home. They had no respect for the Grounders. The Sky People desecrated their sacred sites, drained the forest of game, and left a trail of havoc wherever they went. The thought of how they handled his fallen clansmen had him fuming. Anya had been held prisoner and forced to watch as they burned the bodies of his comrades, stripping them of weapons and useful items before carelessly tossing them to the flames.
He had no love whatsoever for the Sky People. They were an inconvenience.
Bronwada. Worthless.
After the rest of their people came down (on the Ark? He thinks that’s what he has heard people call it) they temporarily formed an alliance to win the battle at Mt. Weather. It didn’t take the Sky People long to begin overstepping their bounds again and the alliance was eventually dissolved. Now, their leader was sick and dying, and the Sky People needed to come under the wings of the Grounder Clan. They would die in the coming winter without the food and supplies they needed. The only way they would be able to survive was if the Grounders opened up a trading post with them and allowed them to come to their side of the mountain to hunt.
He did not like the idea of arranging a permanent peace treaty with the Skaikru, but that was his heda’s call, and he had virtually no say in the matter. Because he was a General and a part of the court, he would be traveling with the Grounder entourage that day to finalize the treaty.
His mother, Aurora, banged on his door, beckoning him to get up and join the rest of the party for the ride to Camp Jaha.
“Hurry up. The riding party is ready. Anya needs to meet with you before we go.”
“What?” he growled from underneath the warmth of his furs. “Never mind. I’m coming.”
What in hades did Anya want to meet with him about? He was just an escort.
Probably just to discuss a plan should the meeting go awry.
He wouldn’t be surprised if the Sky People tried to start an all-out war on the spot.
“Disgusting space-rats,” he spat to himself.
He fumbled around, managing to get dressed without yawning and strode out of his cabin, door slamming against the frame.
Leaves crunched underfoot as he crossed the camp to the meeting hall. The chill was beginning to set in, become more permanent. He shouldered the door to the meeting hall open, huffing hot breaths into his cupped palms in an attempt to warm his hands.
Anya sat at the far end of the hall on her oaken throne.
“Heda.” He nodded in greeting. “Couldn’t light a blasted fire in here?” he grumbled.
“Suck it up. It’ll be warm by noon. Besides, we’ll be travelling down the mountain soon, and it’s still warm in the valley” Anya looked unamused.
“Right. So what did you need to meet with me about?”
“I need to discuss the terms of the peace negotiations with you.”
“But I’m just an escort. What business is it of mine what your terms are?”
“Well that’s what I’m getting to.” She paused, very briefly looking apologetic. She cleared her throat.
“You are the terms.”
Bellamy’s jaw locked up.
“What do you mean?” he gritted.
“Whatever actions we take to establish peace with the Skaikru need to be permanent and a show of good faith. Though they have been blight on our land in the past, they have things we can use. Technology, medicine, skilled healers, farmers and engineers. Eventually it will pay off to have an alliance.”
He slowly folded his arms across his chest and eyed the Commander warily.
“So? What does that have to do with me?”
“The only thing permanent enough to suffice is a marriage.”
The pieces of the puzzle finally clicked. Bellamy slammed his fists on the table.
“You want to marry me off to some sky-rat piece of-”
“Bellamy!” Anya boomed. Immediately he realized his mistake. Sometimes he got too comfortable with her and forgot his place. She was still the heda, commander, and demanded his submission and loyalty.
“Shouldn’t I get some kind of say in this - you are marrying me off after all. This is a pretty life-altering decision you’ve made on my behalf without my consent,“ he emphasized the possessives, and Anya rolled her eyes, “and I don’t-” Anya cut him off again.
“You are the only one I can trust. You are young, near their Princess’s age. You are loyal to your people, Bellamy. You will do this because of your love for your people. I know I can trust you to do what is right for the clan.”
His brain was reeling. He was about to be betrothed to some Sky Princess hag, and he had no say in it. But Anya was right about one thing: he did love his people. They were a family. He would do anything for the good of his clan.
“Okay, I will do it. But it is just for show, correct? A sign of good faith?"
“Yes. It is an arranged marriage. Obviously you’re not required to love someone you’ve never met.”
“And the Sky Princess will come back here with our people after the marriage ceremony?”
“Yes. The idea is to use her as collateral should they break any of the negotiations. We guarantee her safety and well-being in exchange for their cooperation. Of course, we would never hurt her, but should they break any of the agreements they will never see her again.”
Bellamy could see now how this could be to their advantage. It was simple: do his duty by marrying the Sky Princess, and in return his people gained access to crucial technology and medicines. Then the Sky People would be allowed to trade with the clan and hunt and live on their land and keep contact with their precious Princess.
“Now, we must go. You will have time to think about all of this during the courting period.”
Anya was right. There would be plenty of time during courting before the marriage ceremony to process all of this. It could wait. As of right now, he had an obligation to his people to uphold.