I Know Places

VIII

Shouts echo outside the tent. Whether it's angry grounders celebrating their justice or the sorrowful protesting of the skaikru, Lia tries her best to ignore it all. This would've never happened if they had just listened to her.
If they had just taken her word as true at the bunker, none of this would be happening. There would be no village massacre, no rift between their people, no justice ritual. Lives wouldn't have been lost. Anya wouldn't be dead.
Anya wouldn't be dead.
Lia holds back her tears. She missed her dearly. She missed the way Anya would mother her, guide her, the way she would worry for Naalia's safety. Lia missed having a family.
Anya guided her. From a young age, she had taught Lia the important things in life; how to survive, how to fight. Anya was possibly the best warrior the trikru had. She was headstrong, always knowing what needed to be done.

When young, Anya had taken it upon herself to train Naalia. Hours on end, the two would spar. Sword technique after sword technique, they'd never stopped. Until Naalia was called to war. An old tribe trying to take their land, Lia wasn't too sure of the reason. All she knew was to fight. They could not take her home. Soon, warriors began to drop  like flies, their people and her own. Death was making it's presence know, but Lia would look death in the eye. She had to fight, they had to win. Six lives. Six lives lost at the hand of Naalia. Six scars to grace her back.

It wasn't going into the battle — the scars —that caused Lia to throw down her sword. Not the guts or the gore. It was the sixth life broke her. A girl, a scared and confused girl, had been sent into battle. She couldn't have been old enough to bleed, never mind sent into war. When Lia's sword plunged into the girls back, she feared she had become a monster. A child killing monster.
Instead, she turned to healing. Helping others would certainly better than harming them.

**

Commotion arises before Lexa's quarters, a familiar voice piercing Lia's ears.
She's a brave one, Naalia sighs to herself, the Sky Princess' voice raising above the rest. Indra's sneers echoing through the camp. Her hatred of the Sky People growing each and every day.
Lexa sighs, twisting her dagger in hand. The Sky People always had to make things more difficult. Slipping her free hand into Lia's, she drags herself out of the tent.
"Let her pass." Lexa orders, slightly irritated with the girl's inability to seek justice. She drops Naalia's hand, taking a few steps closer to the Sky Princess.

Blood soaking through her shirt, the yellow haired girl stumbles harshly towards the Commander. The crowds focus turning on them. Mumbling and threats pour from the grounders' native tongues.
"You bleed for nothing, Clarke." A hushed tone emerges from the hard-faced leader, a spell of sympathy lacing her voice. She too had lost her lover. She knew how heavy this would weigh on her. The guilt that would follow.
Lexa's focus shifts to Lia; the girl she'd almost lost. The skaigona was responsible for her injuries, for her capture, for her hatred. The commander could not show mercy to these savages. What would she have done if Naalia hadn't lived?
She'd be alone. Her only trusted ally gone. Her only true friend dead.
Her eyes glance between the two girls, her head and heart agreeing; "You can't stop this."
"No, only you can." The sky girl pleads, playing on her conscience.
Lexa's attention turns to the murderer, her guards dragging him to his death. Naalia joins them, grabbing the boy's arms and securing him to the post. The grounders begin to shout, chanting for justice.
Jus drein jus daun.
"Show my people how powerful you are." Clarke pleads, knowing this was her last shot at saving Finn, "Show them you can be merciful. Show them you're not a savage."
Lexa's eyes narrow at the girl. What did she know of the word savage? What did her people know of the word savage?
"We are what we are." Her cold tone echoes throughout the camp. Drowning out the distaste of Clarke's previous comment.
Tears threaten to pour from Clarke's eyes, visibly panicking. She frantically looks between the Commander and her lover. The sky girl squeezes her eyes shut, focusing on calming her breath. She needed to be strong.
"Then I'm a killer." She attempts to show courage, "I murdered  300 of your people. I slit a man's throat, I watched him die. I'm soaked in grounder blood. Take me."
Lexa stares at the girl, trying to work out what game she was playing. Did the girl really think it would be so easy to let Finn live? Was she that stupid?
"Finn is guilty." She brushes Clarke's plea off, trying to stop herself from rolling her eyes.
"No. He did it for me." Clarke breaks down, tears beginning to fall, "He did it for me."
"Then he dies for you."
Lexa wasn't stupid. Letting the boy go would cost her head. Showing mercy to such a vile savage would be preposterous. What kind of leader would do that? A dead one.
Clarke nods, realising she's too late. There was nothing she could do for him. Except, maybe, show him mercy.
"Can I say goodbye?" She pleads, wiping her tears away. She twirl her fingers, fidgeting. With a slight nod from Lexa, the girl runs to her lover.

*

Lia leans against a table, attempting to ignore the conflicts arising outside. Was she a coward for ducking out? Maybe. This whole experience had changed her, and she hated herself for it. For years, she had thrown her sword aside, vowing not to be a part of the violence, until now.
Once again, she traces the horrible marks scarring her back. She didn't want to be a monster. Not again. Killing people — seeing the life drain from them — wasn't the life she had wanted for herself. This wasn't right. She was a healer, not a warrior.
Ever since those savages crashed to earth, Lia had been torn away from herself. They did this to her. They caused this. But blaming them wouldn't help.
Polis.
Her mind turns to the capital. Maybe she could go there, be away from this mess. Hell, she could even send help if needed. Anything to get away from the death, the anger.
Could she ever leave Lexa? Of course not.