Osu Throu Daun Ogeda || We Fight Together || A 100 Fanfiction

XXXIX

- Jordan's POV -
When I enter Jake's quarters, I find him sitting quietly by the window, staring out into the fading sunlight. His small frame seems even smaller in the oversized tunic he wears, his feet barely touching the ground. He is just a child, yet the weight of the world already seems to press down on him. As much as I want to shield him from the harsh realities we face, I know that this conversation cannot be avoided. It's something he needs to know.

Taking a deep breath, I kneel beside him, my hand gently resting on his knee. "Hey, kiddo." She says softly.

Jake turns to look at me, his bright blue eyes wide with curiosity but tinged with the kind of worry that no child his age should ever carry. "Mom?" He asks, his voice small. "What's going on? Why is everyone acting strange?"

My heart twists. He is perceptive, more than I sometimes like to admit. I want to tell him that everything will be alright, that there is nothing to worry about, but lying to him has never been my way. Not now. Not with what is coming.

"There's something I need to talk to you about, and it's not easy." I begin, choosing my words carefully. "Tomorrow, there's going to be a challenge—a fight—between your Nomon, Lexa, and another warrior."

Jake's eyebrows furrow, confusion washing over his face. "A fight? Why? Mama's the Commander. Why does she have to fight?"

I sigh, running a hand through his tousled blonde hair, smiling faintly at the small curls that have recently formed. "Because that's the way things work sometimes, Jake. People challenge the Commander's authority to prove their strength or because they think they can lead better. Mama has to defend her place."

Jake's face grows more serious. "Is she going to be okay?" He asks, his voice quivering slightly.

I swallow hard, my throat tightening at the thought of the challenge ahead. "Your mama is the strongest person I know, and she's fought more battles than most people ever will. But... I won't lie to you, Jake. It's dangerous. And... it's possible things won't go the way we hope."

Jake's eyes widen, fear creeping into his gaze. "But I don't want anything to happen to her!" His voice rises, panic starting to seep in.

"I know." I say quickly, pulling him into a tight hug. "I don't want anything to happen to her either. But that's why we have to be strong, okay? That's why she needs you to be strong."

Jake buries his face in my shoulder, his small hands clutching onto me as though holding on will keep everything from falling apart. After a long moment, he pulls back and looks up at me, his voice trembling. "Why do I have to watch?"

I look away for a second, trying to steady myself before answering. This is the part of the conversation I dread. "Because Mama wants you to understand something important, Jake. She wants you to see what our people do, what they stand for, and what we're willing to defend. This isn't just a fight for survival; it's a fight for the future of our people. And as much as it's hard to say, you're a part of that future."

"But I don't want to see her get hurt." He whispers, his voice barely audible. "Why should I have to watch if something bad might happen?"

I reach out and cup his face gently, brushing away a tear that has slipped down his cheek. "I know it's scary, sweetheart. I know it's going to be hard. But Lexa—Mama—wants you to understand why she fights. She's doing this not just for herself, but for you, for me, for everyone. She wants you to see what it means to protect our people, even when it's difficult."

Jake's bottom lip trembles, but he nods slowly, his eyes filled with questions he doesn't know how to ask. "But... what if something goes wrong?" He gets out, his voice almost a whisper. "What if she doesn't win?"