Our People (the Third Book of the Her Weakness series)

Chapter 42

Clarke's POV

"Becoming general is a noble pursuit." Lexa remarks. "But you must know that if you do become a general, you will be working directly under me. You will have to take my orders."

"I am aware of that." Ontari says drily, her nose wrinkling at the thought. "It is something worth doing that for."

I study her. Why does she want to be a general so bad? Is it because it's the closest thing to Heda she thinks she can get? Does she crave validation or want to make Nia's soul proud? Is it so she can gain Lexa's trust before stabbing her in the back? Or does she want to help her people? I'll have to keep an eye on her. I don't really trust her yet, and I won't until I know her motive.

"I am aware you do not trust me." Ontari states, snapping me out of my thoughts. "And I do not trust either of you. You have not proven yourselves to be a good ally to me, just like I have not proved myself to you. In time, perhaps we will."

"I can tell you would be a good person to have by our side." Lexa says. "But you do understand our mistrust of you, sha? You were raised by our enemy. Nia threatened Clarke, as well as kidnapped and tortured me. She tortured and killed Costia and sent her disembodied head to my bed. She could have easily corrupted your mind, and while I do apologize for you being locked up, I will tell you we will be keeping an eye on you."

Ontari nods. "I do understand why, but do you see my side? You killed the only family I've ever known. She was not the greatest person, and not completely sane, but she was all I had. You two killed her. I am not saying it was not called for, but it shattered every aspect of my life. Menelaus is a good king, a good and fair leader for Azgeda. However, he is not the one who raised me."

Ontari's eyes flicker between Lexa and I, hopefully finding the compassion I know we both feel.

"Sha. I do see your side. I'm sorry we took Nia away from you." I say earnestly.

"I am over it." Ontari waves my words away, avoiding our gazes and looking out at Polis instead. "It is late am you both have an important meeting later. I will go to my new sleeping quarters. Am I trusted to sleep with the other Natblidas or do I have to sleep alone in a room?"

Lexa thinks for a moment and turns to me. There's hesitance in her eyes and I reassure her silently that I will support her decision, whatever it may be.

Lexa turns back to Ontari, letting out a quiet breath. "You may stay with the Natblidas."

"Mochof. Good luck tonight." Ontari nods her head to us before leaving, the door shutting with a clang behind her.

"Do you trust her?" Lexa asks me quietly.

"To not kill the Natblidas in their sleep? Sha. I'm just not sure she won't make our life like what happened to Caesar."

"Caesar?" Lexa questions, turning her body in her throne to face me.

"Sha. He was an... I think he was an emperor, but I haven't heard the story in years. It's an Old Earth thing about the Romans or something, so Bellamy might know more. But from what I remember, he was the head of an empire and was literally stabbed in the back by his generals."

"And you thought our ways are harsh." Lexa teases.

"Yeah, that might've been a bit hypocritical. I mean, every crime was punishable by death on the Ark. Which in my mind, is harsher than your ways. I think it was just... Imperialism or something that made us think we're better than you."

Lexa purses her lips at my words, sighing. "Your Gonasleng has so many words I have never heard of. What is imperialism?"

"I'm pretty sure it's the mentality of 'hey I found this land, there are already people here, but it's mine now because we're more advanced and they're savages.' "

"You think we are savages?"

I practically trip of my next words in my hate to get them out. "No, no, not at all! I was just explaining what imperialism is and-" I stop when her stoic expression breaks out in a grin. "You were kidding." I groan, "You spend too much time with Octavia and Raven."

Lexa's smile doesn't fade as she stands, letting go of my hand to stretch out her arms. I can't see her muscles underneath her armor, but I can imagine exactly how they're flexing and shiver. Lexa's cute smile morphs into a smirk.

"As much as I would love to fall into bed with you, we have a ceremony to attend. We have to get ready." Lexa murmurs.

I sigh, knowing Lexa's right (at this moment, I'd rather push her onto our bed instead of romantically falling on it). I get up and move toward her, retaking her hand in mine.

"Let's go back to the room, then. We can have our fun later."

I give her a sultry look, delighting in her gulp as I drag her out the door. She recovers from it quickly and catches up, no longer needing me to pull her along. We reach our room fast, surprisingly not running into Raven or Octavia on our way (I'm glad they're coming with us on our travels, it's weird not seeing them after being constantly around them for so long).

We silently help each other make sure our armor is on correctly. All the communication we need is made with eye contact and gentle kisses (I've found that since she came back from Nia, we can't resist each other's physical contact for long). I help Lexa put on her warpaint, a process made difficult because she keeps stealing kisses (it's incredibly adorable, but distracting all the same).

Lexa put me in front of the mirror she has and shyly asks what I would like as my warpaint design. I let her choose, and she goes with a dark green, almost black swooping line under my eyes, going back to my hairline.  Looking at my face with it on is surprisingly different. My features are beautifully accented and my eyes pop.

"Is it okay? Do you like it?" Lexa questions quietly from where she's standing behind me, her eyes meeting mine in the mirror.

I turn and respond with a passionate kiss.

Thank you all for continuing reading this story/series! Because some of you incredible humans were worried when the score was 13-13 (some thought I meant like the episode, 307, but I meant as in Skaikru is becoming the 13th clan), here's a reassurance: because I'm me, there will be angst but my stories always have happy endings :) Stay awesome!