The ride was peaceful but the closer they got to Polis, the more villages disappeared and buildings rose. As they reached the Capital, Clarke found herself in awe of what she saw because it was like the cities of old spoke about during the history lessons on the Ark. The difference was that there was no electricity or cars, instead horses were used or people walked. Children played in the street, running after the horses, people dressed in close to normal clothes instead of those worn in the village.
"I told you it would change how you view us." Lexa's voice made her turn to the woman on the horse next to her. "You think us savages but in reality only the warriors live in such ways." Her lips quirked slightly. "We really are quite civilized."
Clarke chuckled softly and stopped her horse when children approached her, a little boy held up some flowers to her. She took them and smiled down at him, "mochof."
The boy smiled before running off to a woman nearby, hiding behind her. The woman shook her head and moved over the group. Nodding her head to Lexa she spoke in Trigedasleng but the leader put up her hand. "Your concerns will be met at the time of voice tomorrow after Council, bring them at dusk and they shall be met."
The woman nodded to Lexa, "sha Heda." Her eyes turned to Clarke and nodded, "Skai Heda." Without anything further, she moved over to her laundry and her son.
"Skai Heda?" Clarke questioned as they continued on, Octavia urged her heart forward slightly.
"Sky Commander, it's considered an honorable title." The girl turned warrior gave a smile, "you are a legend among them, you took down the Mountain Men."
Clarke set her jaw, "not without sacrifice." She urged her horse forward and Lexa shot a look at Octavia, the warrior bowed her head knowing she had taken too many liberties.
"Watch your tongue Octavia or you shall find yourself unable to speak." The warning, despite being in English, was cold and clearly meant.
"Sha Heda." Octavia only nodded before falling back in line beside Lincoln.
Lexa urged her horse forward and fell in beside Clarke, the blond silent so she spoke softly. "I will make it clear the Mountain Men are not to be spoken of among our people in your presence."
"That's not necessary and neither is threatening Octavia." Blue eyes met green before looking ahead. "I heard what you said."
"Very well, I shall watch my own tongue." Lexa narrowed her eyes as she looked ahead, she reached over and grabbed the reins of Clarke's horse, pulling both their steads to a stop.
"What is it?" Clarke looked around before noticing the men on horses ahead of them, heading towards them without stopping. "Will they stop?"
"They shall or the city will see blood during a time of peace." She looked back at her guard and raised a hand. Clarke watched as a cloth was raised in the air for all to see. It was green with red and black threaded through it beautifully in the shape of a tree.
Turning back the former leader found the men stopping their horses just merely feet away. All five got off their horses as a woman moved forward before them on a white horse. Lexa seemed to go still, her back straight and a look in her eyes that Clarke had not seen before. "Who is she?"
"Inga kom Azkru." Lexa didn't shift her eyes at all, they were darker than ever before. "She is the one who stole Costia's life."
Clarke looked ahead, "the ice queen?"
"No, her general whose heart knows no light."
The woman moved her horse forward and eyed them both, a slight smile to her face. "You bring outsiders to this meeting? The commanders will demand your head when they have learned what you've done but don't worry, I'll allow it lie beside that of your defenseless love."
Before Lexa could move, she instead heard the sound of an unsheathed sword and her eyes found Clarke pointing the weapon at the murderer's throat. "Yu ste kwelen, yu na gon!" She was calling the woman weak and telling her to leave, it was an impressive command coming from an outsider, as the Sky People were till they were included in the Clan meetings.
Everyone around them seemed to still, the implications of what was going on seemed to go through everyone's head except the one holding the sword. Lexa merely looked at Inga, "Klark kom Skaikru, Skai Heda has issued a command and you would do well to listen. As you remember, in times of peace any Heda can issue a command and all must follow despite being of another clan. I do not believe your Heda would approve of disobeying the one who destroyed the Mountain Men." The woman merely looked at Clarke before moving her horse away. She rode away with her men behind her, leaving the group to be watched by the locals.
Lexa turned her head to look at Clarke, realizing it was her own sword she held. A hand out was all that was needed for Clarke to hand the sword back to her. The girl merely looked at her as she handed the weapon back. "I won't apologize."
"No apology is warranted." A quirk of Lexa's lips and a brightness in her eyes made Clarke realize that Lexa was amused instead of angered. "You have a natural sword hand, perhaps once the Clan meetings are over I can teach you."
"I'd like that."
Octavia rolled her eyes and moved forward past them, Lincoln following her instantly. Clearly they were going to be guarding from the front and holding the Trikru banner, as Lexa's guard had handed it over. "You two are giving me whiplash." It was soft but clear enough for both to hear.
Clarke chuckled softly, "I'm sure you actually caused the accident by announcing your relationship before our war on a bridge."
The former Sky girl shrugged as she looked back, "we were bound to die any minute. You gave my brother a weapon along with the girl who was in love with the guy who's hand you were holding and another who had a thing for me."Octavia smiled at her, "at least my relationship was normal at the time."
"I'm sure Raven and Jasper would love to hear that."
Lexa merely handed coaxed her horse along, handing Clarke her reins back. "Your Sky People talk can rest till another day, we need to arrive within the hour."
"Sha Heda." Octavia bowed her head and Lexa noticed Clarke shake her own head slightly.
"Octavia," the woman looked up as Lexa spoke. "You may speak to your leader how you wish for it is she who delivers judgments, not I. I only have one command you must follow in accordance with the peace time tradition. That is that you guard your leader, for harm to her is harm to me and that will incite war as you know."
"Of course Heda." Octavia let a small smile go as she turned forward and Lexa turned to the woman beside her to find Clarke smiling softly.
