"My ass is killing me" whispered Arlo to Martina.
Heda scoffed at his words and Anya smiled at her show of emotion.
"Arlo, I told you it wouldn't be a pleasant ride to Yujleda, but a Commander's work rarely is." The Commander began, not bothering to turn her head to look at Arlo because she could already picture his bashful face.
"Sha Heda" Arlo replied sheepishly and rather unenthusiastically, perhaps a little startled that his Heda had heard him.
"It's okay, the sun is setting we can take a break," The Commander added, which was met with many grateful smiles, even maybe a few from some of the Flamekeepers. "Remember however, our society is dependent on the alliances held between each clan, they are unstable and depend on the clan. So, in the future, it is best to get to the clan as fast as you can, to prevent any political unrest between clans and the Commander. We will rest here for the night as Yujleda has been an avid supported of mine since I took the flame. Flamekeepers, would you kindly entertain the novitiates, whilst I assist the guards in setting up a camp for the night?"
A murmur of 'Sha's Hedas' could be heard, before everyone dismounted and began to set up camp.
The novitiates had been travelling by horse from Polis to Yujleda for over four hours now, accompanied only by 10 guards, five Flamekeepers and of course Anya and the Commander. Three guards led in the front, with two scouts further in front. The Commander travelled behind these five with Anya just behind her on her left, two Flamekeepers behind her and then the novitiates. The rest brought in the rear. They had been riding on a well-worn path consisting of dirt with a leafy growth. Where the party had stopped, a large clearing lay sprawled to the side, with a pond to the right of the clearing. Trees bordered the area and provided a shadowy coverage. It had been the location the Commander had originally planned to stop at, Arlo's statement had just been a coincidence and a good time for a learning experience.
As a guard was leading a novitiate's horse over to a nearby water source a rodent dashed before its feet, leading to the animal growing startled. It whipped its head back pulling the reigns from the guard's hands and rearing onto its hind legs, snapping its body and turning around beginning a fast paced gallop towards the other side of the clearing. Standing between the clearing and the horse stood a very oblivious novitiate, Koa. Everyone remained unknown to this dangerous situation, everyone except for one. The Commander called for Koa as he stood in the direct path of the horse, picking flowers, but he couldn't hear her. The distance between horse and boy was cut short with every millisecond and yet he remained oblivious. Guards continued to set up the camp all over the clearing and Flamekeepers remained by the side of the other novitiates. Only Heda seemed to notice the carefree boy about to be trampled. Seeing this the Commander started forward, before Anya who had been next to her could even comprehend the situation. She darted in front of the horse and pushed Arlo out of the way. Simultaneously getting knocked to the ground by the horse and receiving a direct hoof to the head. The horse continued on its way sprinting into the woods whilst the Commander lay on the ground in a growing pool of her blood. Seeping from the prominent wound in her head. The ink like substance dripped over her face, branching out across the clearing floor.
A heart-wrenching and blood curdling scream filled the air, gaining everyone's attention as Anya raced to the Commanders side, falling to her knees and scooping the frail body into her lap, wrapping her arms around her frame. Arlo, only just recovering from the situation rolled over and scrambled to the Commanders side, tears brimming his eyes as the situation sets in. Guards abandoned camp equipment and dashed to the Commanders side, one applied pressure to their Heda's wound with a cloth, whilst most looked on with solemn faces. As Anya rocked back and forth gently, still clutching the Commander's frame, Lexa noticed the black quickly spreading across the guard's cloth and watched as he switched it out for another one, given to him by another guard. He discarded the soaked cloth off to the side, shortly followed by the next and the next. As the pile grew Lexa peeled her gaze away from the pile of black to Luna who, from the looks of her sunken face saw the severity of the situation. The Commander quietly spoke to those around her, whilst Lexa stood on the outside of the group, intent not to interact in a situation that would likely reveal her emotions. All the lessons Lexa had attended on injuries and wounds and yet nothing prepared her for such a serious head trauma and it was clear from the desperate looks of the others, that they didn't know what to do either. There was nothing to do. With that sudden realisation, Lexa's eyes grew blurry, and she turned away, certain not to let the other novitiates see.
As she made her first step away from the Commander's dying form, a weak and raspy voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Lexa" gasped the Commander, pushing away Anya's arm and attempting to sit up, to which she accepted Anya's help, albeit with some resistance. She sat slanted against Anya's body, her skin that was stained with her black blood, quickly turning pale. Lexa backtracked and the other novitiates made space for Lexa to drop to her knees in front of the Commander.
"It is ok to show weakness" She whispered just to Lexa, reaching a hand forward to brush Lexa's cheek, a tear following the path made by her hand. She spoke louder, directing her next words at everyone, "A Commander without weakness does not deserve their title. They will not be there for their people, as they will not be able to empathise with those they serve." The Commander's eyes had drooped shut and with a lot of energy she peeled them open, taking the effort to make eye contact with every novitiate. "Luna and Gideon kom Floukru, Miles kom Louwoda Kliron, Harlow kom Boudalan, Louisa kom Trishanakru, Arlo kom Sangedakru, Martina and Lexa kom Trikru" she paused, taking a breath, "and Koa kom Podakru," she smiled at the poor boy, "You all deserve to be the Commander equally and I know that my spirit will choose wise, and the next Commander will be greater than I. They will do right by their people and prove a noble and fair Commander." She ended her speech by looking at Lexa, her eyes saying something words never could. She switched her gaze to Anya, and smiled, "My love..."
At this the Flamekeepers and guards gathered the novitiates and moved them away from the Commander, allowing her to spend her last few moments with Anya.
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She later died peacefully, content in the arms of her beloved. The Commander with no name spent her life protecting those she loved, and left behind a legacy of not only strength, but love. As the novitiates stood gathered on the roof of the tower located in the centre of Polis, they added the red powder and lit the funeral pyre. Lexa whispering the 'Commander of Love', which was picked up by Luna and echoed by the other novitiates, the guards, and Flamekeepers, and as the fire grew, so did the voices of those gathered, spreading down to the people of Polis who joined in on the chant. All, but Titus took part.
The Commander of Love.
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Rather short, but who really enjoys writing about someone dying. Who is actually reading this, cause it says 100 reads, but that could mean anything, cause Wattpad counts reads per chapter. Anyway next chapter is the conclave and ascension ceremony or so I have planned. Dunno. Any recommendations please leave them even if its pure negativity.
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Hostile Peace
Fanfiction"We're not the heroes who saved the world. We're the villains who survived it." - Dianna Hardy Alexandra Kom Trikru. Born 2128 to Bellona and Frederick Kom Trikru. In other words, Alexandra was the product of war and peace, even before birth she was...
