Commander's Redemption | Clexa

Chapter 4

After Clarke finished bathing and changed into a clean set of clothes, consisting of a navy-blue long-sleeved shirt and a new set of black, skinny jeans, she walked back into the mess hall where Luna had requested to meet. She found Luna sitting at one of the tables across from an older woman, heads close to each other. They were having an intense conversation in hushed whispers, but once Luna noticed Clarke entering the large room, she sat up and looks at Clarke with a bright smile before waving her over.

"Clarke, I wanted to introduce you to Nebula. She is one of the oldest and wisest people on our rig. If you have any questions about the history of our people, cooking recipes, or really anything, she is your woman", Luna says with fondness in her voice once Clarke joined the two women at their table.

"Nice to meet you, Nebula, I'm...", Clarke begins.

"I Know who you are, Wanheda. Everyone knows who you are", Nebula looks at her with cold eyes, the warm smile she was carrying while talking to Luna long gone.

"Okay, thank you Nebula, she is our guest", Luna says pointedly, looking at the older woman out of the corner of her eyes.

The older woman gets up from where she is sitting, nods her head at Luna, then walks away while avoiding eye contact with Clarke.

"She doesn't like me very much, does she?", Clarke says, while keeping her eyes on the woman's back as she walks out of the mess hall.

"Don't worry about her, she will come around. She is just concerned that the people who want your power will come looking for you. She is afraid that your presence here is endangering all of us."

"And you? What do you think", Clarke replies, not daring to make eye contact with the beautiful woman sitting across from her.

"I think you have had to make difficult decisions that had... unwanted outcomes. Let me tell you the story of Floukru, Clarke", Luna says while grabbing the sharp steak knife that's laying in front of her on the table.

Clarke leans back unconsciously; unsure what Luna is planning to do with the knife.

Luna opens the palm of her left hand, dragging the sharp of the blade across it.

"Luna! What are you doing?!", Clarke yells with concern. She looks at the blood that is slowly trickling out of the fresh cut on Luna's palm. "You are a Natblida? But how? I thought all Natblida children were gathered and brought to Polis until the Conclave?"

At that, Luna smiled sadly. "That is where the story starts unfortunately, Clarke."

And so, Luna starts talking in an even, monotone voice, but with pain and heartbreak clearly visible in her eyes.

"I was thirteen when the Fleimkepa's scouts came to my village and took me from my family. My family knew it was coming, we all did, I had black blood after all, but we were hoping... They didn't just take me, they also took my little brother. He was just nine years old; he was so young. It's rare for more than one Natblida to be born in one family, let alone in the same generation. They brought both of us to the Tower in Polis. The Fleimkepa trained us, taught us about all previous commanders, the history of the clans, all of it. And the Commander at the time taught us how to fight and how to kill. We were just kids. Kids should not be taught how to kill, Clarke."

The pain and despair were so obvious in her voice when she muttered that last sentence that Clarke could feel the sting in her own heart. She reached forward and took Luna's uninjured hand in hers. She made a mental note to herself to take care of Luna's injury once she was done with her story.

"The Commander died, and the twelve clans needed a new Commander. That was what us Natblida children were brought in for. One of us would be their replacement and become the new Commander if the Flame were to choose us. You know the Grounder ways are violent, Clarke. It was never going to be a lottery or drawing straws. We had to fight to the death. One on one combat, round after round, person after person until only one remained. There were nine of us to begin with and I was chosen to fight the first round. I was paired up against my little brother and I... He..."