"We gather here on this Ascension Day to honor the commanders that came before me, those who live on within me as I will live on within one of you." Lexa said, staring at Faye as she gestured to the group of Nightbloods.
The door opened, letting in a group of rowdy citizens.
"The Flamekeeper promised we would be heard!" The leader said.
"Titus, what is this?" Lexa asked.
"Something you need to hear, Heda."
The group kneeled before the commander as another person brought on a girl with a gag and her hands bound.
"Octavia."
"Forgive me for intruding on this holy day, Commander. I am Senet of Trikru and I come seeking justice." The man, Senet, said.
"Explain yourself. Why do you hold Octavia of Skaikru prisoner?" Lexa asked.
"She is a prisoner of war, Commander-brought here to bear witness to the crimes of her people."
Clarke ran to the man. Faye looked sharply at Lexa, waiting for her to stop her intrusion, but she never did.
"What's crimes? What happened?" Clarke demanded.
"Skaikru attacked their village. Because their warriors were lost when your people massacred the army we had sent to protect you, their village was defenseless." Titus explained.
"Please, Commander. I beg you. Avenge us." The man begged.
"Jus drein just daun!" They all demanded.
"You will show respect in this chamber!" Titus warned.
- - -
"How dare you bring this to me on Ascension Day?" Lexa demanded, throwing open her chamber doors.
"I did not bring this here, Heda." Clarke, Titus, and Faye all followed her in, along with guards. "You did." Titus told her. "Against my advice you made Skaikru the 13th clan. They rejected this, murdering hundreds of your people, and yet on the very field where they died, you decided to forgive the killers, but this provocation is proof. Blood must not have blood has failed. All that can stop this now is war."
"You say you did not bring this here." Faye told him. "Yet, you constantly bring it here with your humbly, biased advice." Faye rested her hand on her knife. "The commander has made it very clear anyone to defy her wish for peace will know just how persuasive she can be." She threatened.
"Clarke?" Lexa turned to the alien girl who always stood in the corner, waiting to be pulled into matters.
"Clarke's opinion in this matter is not exactly unbiased." Titus said.
"Titus is right." Clarke said. "I would do anything to save my people. You know that, but I know them. Not everyone agrees with Chancellor Pike. Kane doesn't. Octavia doesn't."
"Your people did not vote for Kane." Titus reminded her.
"Some of them did. We need to give them time to see that they made the wrong choice and fix it." Clarke defended.
"And you believe your people will take him out themselves." Lexa wondered.
"If they don't, if instead they use this time to plan their next attack, we must act now, Heda. Make an example of the 13th clan. Show the other 12 what happens when they defy you. You got them back when you kill the Ice Queen, but the Coalition is still fragile. If you don't act now-"
Lexa raised her hand. Silence fell over them all. "Faye," Lexa turned to her, "what would you do as the commander?"
"Leave us, both of you." Faye ordered Clarke and Titus.
When the room was cleared, and Faye could speak free of interruptions, she spoke.
"Kane and Octavia are still apart of Skaikru, which is still apart of the Coalition. Skaikru wants our land, why do we let them take it? We have the army and the numbers."
- - -
"Today I call upon the armies of the 12 clans to March on Arkadia. Not to attack, but to contain. We will blockade the 13th clan. We will keep them from the lands they wish to possess. We will give them time to take out their leaders from within. Once they rise against them, then we will welcome them back as one of us."
"You heard the Commander. Send riders. Tell your armies to set up a buffer zone around Arkadia. 5 miles should be enough to keep them away from our villages. What are their orders, Heda?" Titus asked.
"Any Skaikru caught across the line will be subject to a kill order. And for everyone in the blockade to follow the command of Faye kom Trikru. You will follow orders and treat her as you would me."
Everyone stared at the commander and the girl next to her. Faye was just as shocked, but decided to discuss it with Lexa alone, and not the Commander and her council.
"Heda, I do not understand." Senet admitted. "How is this vengeance?" He asked.
"It is not vengeance, my brother. It is justice." Lexa told him.
"Skaikru killed my sons and my brother and my wife. If the spirit of the commander will not protect us, then what will?" He demanded. Shouting in the chamber of the council.
"You mind yourself, Senet." Titus said, warning him of his place.
"Death to the Commander!" Senet drew a knife and charged the Commander.
Faye drew her swords and Titus blocked him and took the knife, slashing and stabbing.
The room became filled with whispers and murmurs. It seemed that's all it was good for now.
"Blood must have blood." Titus said, turning to his leader.
YOU ARE READING
Atlantis
Fanfiction"I'm sorry, I just can't pretend to be something like that." "But you are something. You are Worheda." Faye kom Trikru will have to put her past behind her to save her future and people.
