Atlantis

Chapter Sixteen

"Kru kom Tondc...in fire, we cleanse the pain of the past." Indra passed the torch to Lexa.

Funny how the body before Faye was the body of her brother. Nyko had been the one to cut the braid, he then gave it to Faye to keep.

"Clarke." Lexa held the torch out for Clarke.

People whispered and stared as Clarke took the torch and lit the bodies.

"Yu gonplei ste odon."

Faye had to force her feelings down. Force the sting to vanish and knot unravel. The murderer was dead, and he joined his victims.

- - -

Faye waited with her people for Clarke and the rest of her people. They all took the last few seats at the table.

"Please accept this gift, commander. We drink it on special occasions. I believe this qualifies." Kane reached over to hand it to Lexa, but Gustus took it, then handed it to Lexa.

"Thank you, Marcus if the Sky People."

"You're welcome, Lexa. Kom Trikru. Just, uh, don't drink too much of it." Marcus said.

"Clarke, let us drink together."

"It would be my pleasure."

Lexa poured two cups. "Heda, allow me." Gustus took the glass and tested the liquid. He handed the cup back to the commander when he was sure it was safe.

"Tonight, we celebrate our newfound peace. Tomorrow, we plan our war. To those we've lost. And to those we shall soon find."

Clarke raised her glass in a mirror image if Lexa. Before either could drink, Gustus fell atop the table and glared at the Sky People. He fell back coughing and gasping.

"It's poison."

"It was the Sky People." Indra said accusingly as she drew her sword.

"This wasn't us." Clarke said but Bellamy stepped in front of her. "You have to know it wasn't us."

"Do not let him die!" Lexa told the men who carried Gustus out.

"Everyone out! Search them." Indra ordered her men.

"No. No. We didn't do this."

"Gustus warned me about you. I didn't listen."

"Lexa, please." Clarke said.

"Tell me something, Clarke. When you plunged the knife into the heart of the boy you loved...did you not wish that it was mine?"

"Heda." A man called, he held something from Raven's bag and sniffed it.

"That's not mine." Raven said.

"This was in her coat." He handed it to Lexa.

"I'm telling you. That's not mine. He put it there when he searched me."

Lexa scanned the crowd. "No Sky Person leaves this room." Lexa made her way out with everyone following her.

- - -

"If the Sky People were so desperate for an alliance, why would they poison the only person who could give it to them?" Faye wondered.

"It doesn't matter why. We know they did it." Indra said. "If you wish to speak for them, you might as well join them."

"If you wish to say something, then say it." Faye told the woman.

"I have plenty to say."

"Doesn't everyone." Faye said dryly, matching I sea's threatening posture.

"Enough! Both of you. Only one had to die today. The girl, along with the alliance." Lexa explained that the Sky People are to be let go, only after the death of Raven.

- - -

"I take no joy in this, Raven. But this time, justice will be done."

"I didn't do it." Raven repeated. "How is that justice?"

Faye was handed the knife and expected to be the next cause of pain. She tried to picture Finn so she could get her own justice, but all she saw was Raven. Bleeding and crying for help that didn't come from Faye.

"I need that bottle now." Clarke came out of the room demanding the bottle offered to Lexa. "Stop."

"Let her pass." Lexa held up her hand to stop Faye.

"One of your people tried to kill you, Lexa, not one of mine."

"You should have run." Indra threatened.

"I can prove it." Clarke took the bottle from Nyko and took off the cap. Everyone stood and waited for something to happen.

"Explain." Lexa demanded.

"The poison wasn't in the bottle. It was in the cup."

"A trick, Commander." Gustus told her. "Do not be fooled."

"It was you." Bellamy accused. "He tested the cup, he searched Raven."

"Gustus would never harm me."

"You weren't the target. The alliance was." Bellamy explained.

"We didn't do this, and you know it."

Lexa turned to Faye, as if she had the answer. "It would explain why the poison didn't kill him." Faye shrugged.

"You've been accused, Gustus. Speak true."

"This alliance would cost you your life, Heda. I could not let that happen." Gustus confessed.

"This teachers will cost you yours. Put him on the tree."

The Sky People ran to save Raven and let Gustus take her place.

Everyone in the village took turns cutting through his skin.

Faye went up again with the knife. This time, she didn't hesitate. This was no innocent girl, this was a man who threatened her commander and everyone of her people in the mountain.

She wished she could get justice for her brother, but this would suffice.

Faye noticed how hesitant Lexa was to unsheathed her blade and get ready. "Yu gonplei ste odon."