Chapter Text
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When the challenge was issued, right after their victory over Mt Weather, she was quite surprised. Stunned would be a better word. There was a moment during the battle that Clarke feared that Lexa would have betrayed them, but fortunately it was a tactic to push Emmerson to open the door. When he did, he was swiftly and quickly killed. Lexa’s men used the opening to enter the Mountain and from there, the battle was as much done as it was a massacre.
The Mountain Men were not enough to fight them but their weapons were enough to make a significant dent in the number of grounders surviving this war. Thanks to Raven and Monty, they couldn’t use their computer to send another missile or even just threaten to.
In the end, they have won. Some Mountain Men were still alive, thanks to the rapid thinking of Maya who locked the childs and innocent people, their allies, in a pressure and independent room. They were presently waiting for a treatment that her mother and Jackson were preparing.
That was a hard negotiation with Lexa and their general, saving some Mountain Men. Saving them and allowing them to walk on the ground even more. To make them see the logic, and not the threat, to Skaikru integrating them, it took time and persuasion.
She just finished negotiating that with Lexa and her generals, not even ten minutes ago when this man, a warrior of Sangedakru apparently, came to them and challenged Clarke.
Of course, Clarke could refuse it. Skaikru weren’t part of the Coalition and their tradition wasn’t her’s. But she wanted to keep the alliance between their people alive. Refusing it would be seen as a confession of weakness. And if within the coalition some Clan weren’t seen as strong as others, they were still all warriors and had years of proving their usefulness for the others Clans.
Skaikru couldn’t allow themself the time. Winter was coming and they still had no idea on how to survive it. Or survive at all on the ground. Hunting, leaving, farming. It was all necessary skills they didn’t possess. And what about their defenses ? One day, they will run out of bullets. Without the proper material to make more, they would be defenseless. They needed this alliance to learn to stay safe, learn to live and fight like the grounders. It wasn’t even a real choice, they needed it for survival.
So when this man, Travi from Sangedakru, issued his challenge, she knew she couldn’t say no. But she wasn’t quick enough. To her defense, she was stunned. But when her mother, who was there for the negotiation with Marcus, Bellamy, Octavia and Lincoln, started to loudly protest, she didn’t hesitate.
- Shut up mom ! she said, her heart beating rapidly as much because of fear as anger.
Even when they were fighting, Clarke never used to talk to her that way, so that was effective. Her mother clamped her mouth. She didn’t waste time and took hold of her arm to drag her further away from the people.
- Listen to me carefully mom because we don’t have a lot of time. Nod, please, you know the importance of appearances in the power play.
Abby nodded even if she showed confusion. Relief invaded Clarke. That little victory showed that her mother could be and do exactly what she needed.
- Here, for the grounders, I am the leader of our people. When you vocalize your concern for me, even as my mother, that undermines my position. Show that I am maybe not as strong as I pretend. Now that the war is over, the grounders have time. Time to scrutinize us, to see that I am maybe not a strong leader. That’s why I have been challenged today. You and others, who feel legitimate because of your behavior, had protested some of my decisions too loudly. That had been heard. They saw it as dissension. And that little spot is all they need to declare war on us. You saw them, you saw the Clans, they are way more than us. More determined. More strong. More prepared. We have bullets and bombs but that will disappear at some point. Way before their warriors did. We can’t afford a war with them, mom. We won’t survive it.
- I know sweethy, that’s why I agree to this alliance, answered Abby with an open face.
- And yet, when I am involved, you react as a mother and not the leader our people deserve. Mom, she said louder to stop her to protest, you just did it !
Abby made a face and frowned but didn’t say a word.
- This challenge is issued because the grounders are doubting me. Doubting the Skaikru. If I refuse they will know that we are weaker than what we appeared to be. That will also be a sign of rejection of their ways. The treaty will be down.
- What are you saying ? stressed her mother. That you have to accept ? Clarke you can’t ! He will kill you !
- If I don’t, we will be the next target of every Clan who wants to conquer us ! she hissed, angry.
It was all her mother’s fault and now she was afraid of the consequences ? What a joke !
- At the end, we will either be dead or reduced into slavery !
The expression on her mother was one of torn and distress.
- You are our leader, mom, she said softlier. It’s not only about me. It’s about all of them. They count on you.
- I can’t Clarke, Abby answers with anguish. I am your mother first and foremost.
Clarke sighs. Then she frowns. How to solve this mess ? How to give her mother what she wanted and still show the Grounders that they weren’t to be messed with ? She needed to protect her people but also to stay alive. And suddenly it struck her.
- I have an idea. It will be risky, especially for me, but it will give us all a chance.
- Risky for you ? I am not sure I agree with that.
- Well you don’t have a choice, she responded curtly, irritated with her mother’s antics. It’s either that or we started to prepare for another war.
- What is it ? relented her mother with a sigh.
- We don’t have time for me to explain it now, Clarke said sternly, they are already wondering if I didn’t try to get out of it.
Abby looked around and effectively, grounders were given them stinky eyes.
- Do you trust me mom ?
- Of course sweety, said Abby while turning to her daughter.
- I mean really trust me.
Abby frowns, confused.
- I have a plan, no time to explain it to you right now but I need you to play your part like you know exactly what I am talking about. So. Do you trust me ?
- I… will it allow you to not go into this challenge ?
- No. But it could give me a way out. Not from myself and honestly, it is really a slim possibility, but in the end, challenge or not, it will give me and all of us an advantage. If you do so, the others will follow even without any information. I need that. We need that.
Abby hesitated but finally nodded. Clarke felt relieved to invade her and made her a little weak. She didn’t have time to faint so she took a deep breath and started to instruct her mother.
- Ok so I need you to look confident. Smirk and stood tall like you knew without a doubt that I will win this fight.
To Clarke's delight, her mother executed her instructions immediately. In a mirror, Clarke straightens her position and wears an arrogant expression. Then, she turns to their audience and walks to Lexa and the others. There, her mother by her side, she looks Travi in the eyes and smiles widely.
- It would be my pleasure Travi from Sangedakru to accept your challenge and beat you to the death.
If Travi frowns, sensing something wrong, the others grounders around burst into laughter. Her friends, them, seemed very pissed off and Bellamy showed worry in his eyes. She saw his fists tighten up. But before he could do it, Lexa took a step closer to her.
- Clarke, what are you doing ? she whispered with some worry.
Clarke, without letting her slightly arrogant expression fall, smirked at her.
- What am I doing ? she said loud enough to be heard by most of the people around. I decided that it was time for me and my people to stop pretending.
Everyone around, except for her mother, appeared confused by that. She turned to Indra and did her best to appear as arrogantly confident as possible.
By her side, she knew her mother was doing the same and she hoped she would try to make the rest of their people to follow them. She then added :
- Marcus, Bellamy, Octavia. It’s time to stop it.
- Stop what ? repeated Indra who didn’t like the Skai heda look.
- Stop pretending that we are weak, she answered with a sweet wide smile. You see, she pursued turning to Lexa while seeing with the corner of her eyes Bellamy and Octavia picking on her scheming and standing as tall and proud as her mother, when we first landed, I didn’t know anything about these lands. I then decided to take my time to assess it. Especially when we spotted your little spy, she smiled at Lincoln.
She turned back to Lexa, happy to see Marcus finally picking on the mood and imitating her friends.
- So I give the orders to pretend. Pretend to be weak. Pretend to be disorganized. Pretend to have conflicting sources of leadership. Pretend to have dissatisfaction inside our own. And of course, pretend to be untrained. You see, it is always good if people you don’t know underestimate you. And you were so arrogant, so sure of your own strength that it wasn’t difficult.
She looked at Indra with the biggest smile ever.
- It worked like a charm, didn’t it, Indra ?
- Are we supposed to believe all these lies ? intervened a grounder by Travi's side that she recognized as his brother.
He was one of the generals she had to negotiate with earlier.
- Do you think that we are fools ? he finished with a chuckle.
- Yeah, if it was true, why reveal yourself now and not before ? When we became allies for example ? ask, more wary than skeptical, another general, Brexom, the more tempered one of them all.
- You look weak because you are weak. Look at your body, you have no muscle ! add a third one, with a firm nod, an idiot in her opinion that she purposefully didn’t retain the name of.
It drove him nuts each and every time. A useful trick when she wanted to blur the debate when she was losing an argument. Or to just make him forget his own argument.
Murmurs were growing in sound but she didn’t let it sway her. She didn’t show anything less than perfect confidence and composure. She smiled at all of them. But turned to Lexa to answer. Since she didn’t stop her warriors from interrogating her, she knew that it was her questions as well.
- Because I didn’t trust you, she answered with a fake apologetic shrug. But you show during the battle of Mt weather that you are people of honor. Trustable and resourceful allies.
- Are you saying that you were testing us during all this time ? hissed Indra so pissed off that she took two steps with her hand going to her sword, ready to take it.
Clarke smirk grow and taking the last step to be in Indra’s face, she said calmly :
- Yes.
Then she stepped back and turned her attention to Lexa again. She added more softly :
- And you passed it with flying colors.
Turning to her detractors she smiles nicely this time.
- I know you don’t trust me and that’s ok. It means our ruse was very successful and I am glad for it. In order to make it clear that messing with Skaikru will be deadly for you, I ask you Commander, to organize this Challenge as a full show. Sharing some of what we have kept from you should be enough for your Coalition to understand how deeply they have been played. At the same, showing how dangerous we really are. That, she finished turning back to her detractors, will show you the truth of my words.
- What kind of show do you think about ? asked Lexa, still frowning.
Other than that, the Commander was showing nothing. But because Clarke was used to her tells, she could see confusion in her eyes. Lexa didn’t know if she should trust her and at the same time, feel hurt to have been lied to.
- A big show. The kind that people will remember till the day they die.
- It will take time for it to be prepared, she responded, still confused about the kind of show Clarke was talking about.
- Well, in that case, what about a week ? Would it be enough ?
- I guess, agreed Lexa while slowly nodding, thoughtfully.
She was trying to remember every encounter with every Skaikru. Trying to see clues or hints of what Clarke was implying. But she came with nothing. Either Clarke and Skaikru were more dangerous than she ever thought or Clarke was playing a dangerous game. Either way, she felt only admiration for the leadership the young woman was showing.
- But if you want it to be that public, intervene Indra with some steam, the gal of this girl to test the Commander like that !, it will be better if it takes place in Polis.
- Polis ? repeated Abby with curiosity.
- Our Capital, informed Lexa absently, her thoughtful eyes still on Clarke.
- In that case, pursuing her mother with a confident smile, it would be perfect. The louder and the bigger, the better !
- Commander ? inquired Indra when Lexa didn’t give her confirmation.
- Yes, she finally said slowly, still thinking, we will have it in Polis.
- Good. So in one week in Polis, stated Clarke. I count on you to send an escort to show us the path ?
That shook Lexa out of her mind and she looked at Clarke.
- I will send you Indra in five days.
- Five days ? repeated Marcus confused.
- Going to Polis will take you at least a day of riding. Since I don’t know exactly your proficiency in this area anymore, I can’t say. But in any case, I want you to be able to rest before the Challenge itself.
Clarke bobbed her head.
- Send a messenger in two days please. I will inform him of what you will need to prepare then. The Challenge will be the last part of the show. Like I said, I want your people to have some taste of what Skaikru truly is.
Lexa nodded. Clarke didn’t have anything more to say so she bid her goodbye to Lexa and her generals and turned around. The look of Travi from Sangedakru didn’t seem as confident as it was when he issued the challenge.
Perfect, she thought, satisfied. For her that means she had a real possibility of getting out of it.
She forced herself to walk slowly, almost like a lazy stroll and let her friends and mother join her. With confident nods and arrogant smiles shared to all grounders she crossed paths with, she left the grounder camp with a heavy beating heart.
She just started the biggest scam ever. And she was conscious of it. She also knows that she was the only one with the knowledge and that her friends and her people, when informed of it, will not be pleased. On top of it, she had no time to convince everyone to go on board with it. One week was very short for her to find how to play this. And she will need the help of everyone. So she needed to convince the people with her, Octavia, Lincoln, Bellamy, Marcus and her mother. They will be in charge of convincing everyone else while she focuses on her plan.
So once safely inside the walls of their camp, she walks briskly in the direction of the Ark council room without responding to any of her friends' questions.
- We won’t have time to argue so please, just listen to my plan once we are inside and start to help me because one week will be very short to pull this scam over.
- Scam ? repeated Lincoln. What do you mean ?
Turning briefly her stare on him, she was glad to see his confusion. It means they were convincing. If someone as close as him to them truly believed their lies, then she had her first step cut out for her already.
- I mean that I set a bet here. The biggest one ever. One we can’t afford to lose.
With her fast pace, they all arrived quickly in front of the Council room and she opened the door without waiting a beat. Once inside, she turned to them and let them take their seat, surrounding her like usual.
- So please, don’t start to tell the obvious. That it’s dangerous or stupid or anything because that won’t change our situation. I set up a scam and we need to pull it off.
The silence lingered. She could see the anger from her mother and Bellamy. It was marvelous to her how similar they were. Each and every time they were worried, that turned into anger. Stupid, useless and wasting energy anger.
She could see Lincoln's confusion mixed with some comprehension, admiration and curiosity. Octavia was just curious and that was probably because she was still angry at her for TonDc.
That was okay with her. She still followed her lead when needed and that was all she could ask of a friend she had let to die. That in fact impressed her. She suspected that Lincoln was the reason why. It was no secret that he admired Clarke’s leadership. She showed compassion and didn’t shy from her emotions. Using it as motivation to her decision. She was ruthless when needed and very smart. She never chooses the war path if she could avoid it.
In a word, her leadership talked to his peaceful soul and warrior’s way much more than the one of his own people.
She was brought out of her musing when a voice broked the heavy silence.
- What do you need us to do ? ask Marcus, always the reasonable one.
Seeing that despite their own anger and worry no one started to yell at her, she let her breath out, relieved.
The game could start.
TBC