Sky to Ice

Just another day on the battlefield, right?

Clarkes pov

I've felt the days after Artis' death slip away one by one, keeping myself occupied by training with Echo who needs the distraction just as much as I do.

Today is another fight in a valley, not far from a small village. It's risky to get the war so close to civilians but disobeying my queen would only get me killed and that battle would still take place there.

I put my armour and warpaint on which consists of a black strike from my forehead over my left eye down to my jawline with the strike turning into the shape of an oval just around my eye. (Like on the cover of this story.)

I dip my left hand into white paint and place it where Artis put his so many times when he told me how proud he was. It was a new adjustment to my warpaint but it also kept his memory alive and reminded me to never doubt my abilities.

Echo enters my tent just as I'm about to braid my hair. „Let me" are her only words as she sits down behind me and starts braiding my hair into five neat strands on the top of my head going to the back and leaves the rest open as I've always been wearing my hair since my admission all those years ago.

„Mochof. (Thank you.)"

She stays where she is and puts her arms loosely around my waist, hugging me from behind. Her head goes onto my shoulder and she looks at me in the mirror we're sitting in front of.

„What?" A smile escapes my lips at the stare of my best friend.

„Nothing. Your new warpaint looks really badass." She definitely knows what meaning it has to me since she's often been around when Artis has put his hand there. I just grin at her comment.

„Like what you see?" I tease her.

„Always." Now it's her turn to grin as that response caught me a little off guard.

She gets up chuckling lightly. „Come on. We have a battle to win." With that she's out of my tent.

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Once again I'm on the battlefield. There are death and screams all around me but I don't really care about that anymore. I got used to it and learned to keep my concentration on the enemies I'm fighting with.

Two warriors are charging at me together. The man swings his axe trying to hit me in the chest with is but I dodge it with ease, diving under the weapon and stabbing him in the stomach with the knife attached to my wrist. The second warrior, a woman, attacks with two swords. She's obviously more skilled than the man who's laying on the floor, slowly bleeding out.

I bring my sword up and it clashes together with the swords of my opponent. Given the opportunity, I bring my foot up and kick her in the chest. She stumbles a few steps back and I bring her to her knees but just as I'm about to slit her throat, a horn is blown.

The coalition retreats? Why? It's only been about two hours. The commander would never give up that fast. Still the warriors of the other clans walk of the battlefield. No azgedan warrior tries to attack again. Firstly because it would be a warcrime to attack after the retreat of the enemy and secondly because everyone was too shocked to do anything but watch.

I can see the commander, walking to the front of the surviving warriors of my clan. She's soaked in blood and it drips down her cheeks onto the ground.

There she stands between the two armies, tall and proud. The commander opens her mouth and starts to speak with a strong voice.

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Lexas pov

Azgedas army stands before me, completely still and obviously in shock. I scan the crowd and my eyes linger just a moment longer on Clarke. My people started calling her Wanheda beck at the camp. They told stories about her to the locals who look terrified just at the thought of meeting her. The commander of death indeed. She has killed more warriors than anyone else and I understand why they fear her. I've seen her fighting. Clarke never really got injured as far as I know.

I can't help but notice how beautiful she got since I last saw her. Not that she wasn't pretty back then but it's different now. She's different. Blood is dripping down her body and her usually blond hair is stained with an angry red. I wonder how she looks like without blood and warpaint on her face.

Quickly I pull my gaze away from her. Fokus Lexa!

I open my mouth and start my speech.

„The queen is dead!

With her fight this war is over. Go home and choose your new leader. Mourn your dead and rejoin with those you love. I will come to the palace with a few of my warriors in four days to discuss the fate of Azgeda. Chose your leader wisely. There does not have to be more bloodshed than there already was."

I end my speech and turn around, walking my army back to our camp. The dead were already recovered from the battlefield and are to be set to ashes this evening.

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Clarkes pov

The queen is dead! 

The commanders words echo inside my mind as I walk with the rest of the army back to our camp. Queen Nia is being carried back on a stretcher but she won't be burnt tonight. Instead she will be brought back home for everyone to watch as her soul gets set free and show her respect one last time.

I know that it will be a challenge to put someone new in charge, not because everyone loved her, but because we don't have an official heir. Prince Roan was publicly killed by his mother after they caught him sneaking in the streets of our hometown and stealing food. Since he was banished from our villages, he was sentenced to death by 1000 cuts.

Back then I was just one and a half years down here and it was awful to watch then but I'm glad I did now. It made me stronger and a better warrior because it enabled me to watch other people suffer if I have to without being too bothered by guilt. Queen Nia even made me cut him once too. I'm not happy about it but like I said, it gave me a new kind of strenght.

Back at camp I finally see Echo in the back of the army. She comes up to me.

„Clarke. Are you alright?" She always asks that even though she knows that nobody ever seriously can hurt me.

„Of course. Are you?" Echo nods at my question and we walk to my tent in silence.

I get us water and a cloth and start cleaning her face of the dried blood and warpaint. It became a ritual for us to clean each other after a battle. Not because we couldn't do it ourselves but because we needed the company of the other one. We never took killing lightly and it helps knowing that we're not alone.

After she cleaned my face too I get in the bathroom and get out of my bloody attire. There are small bruises on my stomach and back but nothing too bad. I use a fresh cloth to wash of the rest of my body and put on a fresh set of clothing.

Once I'm back in the living space Echo walks around me in the now free bathroom. I make my way to the bed set in a small separate space.

Soon after, Echo comes in to and we lay back down beneath the furs and cuddle up to each other.

Echo is the only one who knows about the nightmares I have after a battle and decided to stay with me through the night after to comfort me and help me sleep a little more than I would without her.

Her warm embrace is soothing and I am greeted by the calming darkness of sleep in a matter of a few minutes.

Don't worry Echo and Clarke are just friends. At least for now, don't really know about later. What would you think about a little romance between them?

(1338 words)