XX

[PREVIOUSLY: Octavia talks to Lexa and finds out more about the grounders' ways. She meets Artigas, a cheeky, energetic youth, and learns of a mysterious girl called Erin. The only problem? She is forbidden to even mention her name ... ]

"Octavia kom Skikru ... Arise."

In acknowledgment of the command, I slowly stood up and lifted my head, my emerald orbs meeting Anya's brown ones.

I glanced cautiously around the room, noting the aggressive air encompassing the soldiers that stood around Anya's throne. Among them was a ferocious Gustus and a glowering Indra.

"Your Majesty," I murmured, my teeth tugging at my bottom lip. I was a little uncomfortable with all the scrutiny I was receiving. Having been locked underneath a floor for 16 years wasn't exactly the most ideal situation in which to improve my social skills. I swallowed and my eyes focused on Anya's face. I tried not to let anyone see the claustrophobic fear that was starting to engulf me, but I knew, as plain as day, that my quivering fingers and my wide, scared eyes were giving me away.

"Why did you save my life?" Anya demanded sharply, looking down her nose at me. Once again, the Heda of her people was clothed in a magnificent, flowing robe. Black war paint was splotched across her face, a long curved sword was strapped around her waist and her gleaming eyes narrowed as they settled on me.

I heaved a deep breath before replying, "Aidan, Your Majesty. He - he warned me of the plot. He told me to come here as fast as I could so I could catch you before you went to Polis. He - he gave me Zenia to ride."

Anya looked taken aback. For a moment, all she did was stare at me, then she exclaimed loudly, "That's bull."

I couldn't help but back away a few paces as she rose up from her throne and glared down at me. "It's - it's true!" I sputtered out in protest. "Yesterday, he hid outside our camp but he only approached me when I was alone! He told me to come here!"

"He shot me!" Anya hissed, waving a bandaged hand in my face. "Why would he warn me of my impending doom if he tried to enact it by himself?"

"Aidan never wanted to kill you, An - er - Heda," I tried to explain. "He - he was only saving my life."

"But why? You are a mere Skai Gada! I am his Heda!" Anya hissed.

"He - he ..." I paused before blurting out, "He chose me to be the PeaceKeeper ... between Trikru and Skikru. He knew I was the only one, of my people, who were willing to come to TonDC and face you. You kill me and you kill any prospect of future peace."

Anya gritted her teeth as she glowered down at me. "That's the point."

I froze. "W-what ... ?"

SWISH.

Anya's sword came out of its sheath. Before I knew what was happening she was lunging towards me. Spinning me around, she caught me in a headlock and held the blade against my throat.

"Wait! Your Majesty!" a sudden disturbance rippled through the back of the guards gathered in Anya's chamber.

Anya snapped her head up and scoured the room with one glance. "Who dares to defy me?"

Lexa pushed her way forward. "Heda," she breathed. "Wait! Please! Under Trikru law, you must not kill the PeaceKeeper until an official vote has passed and an actual war has begun. To break such a rule would be preposterous! If this news spreads, your life, Your Majesty, could be put in danger. Who will serve a Heda who cannot keep Trikru law?"

Anya let out a pent-up sigh as she removed the sword from my throat and roughly shoved me away. "Fine. Then let us go. We cannot waste any more time. Indra, get your soldiers ready. We leave for Polis within the hour. And you," she seethed, turning fierce eyes towards me, "Shall stay here in TonDC until the vote has gone through. Then, you can run merrily back to your people and tell them of the outcome."

I stared, wide-eyed at her, as she shoved her way past me and stalked from the room, a royal continent of loyal guards in the rear.

Swallowing hard, I trailed my fingers across my neck. If Lexa hadn't stepped in, surely, by now, my lifeless body would be sprawled, bleeding, on the ground.

I glanced up, intent on thanking Lexa, but when I did so, I couldn't see her anywhere.

She was gone.

It had been two hours since Heda, Lexa, Indra and the rest of their soldiers had set out for Polis. Of course, a dozen men had been left behind, to protect TonDC against any potential attacks. The women and the children kept at their business, playing and cooking, washing and scrubbing, getting ready for the Heda's return.

My sword had been returned to me, thankfully. I was never so happy to see one in all of my life. As I sat on a large log on the outskirts of the village, nervously jiggling my knees as I sharpened my blade, I couldn't help but imagine what was going on in Polis at that very moment.

My heart felt heavy and my entire body felt weighty. In the back of my mind, I was scared that I knew, all too well, what the outcome of the vote would be. But, as I desperately scrambled for a slim shred of hope, I thought that maybe, just maybe, the tables would turn in our favour and, at last, Trikru and Skikru could make an alliance.

The shrill whinny of a horse startled me out of my deep and thoughtful reverie. Jerking my head up, I cast a quick glance around the village, straining my ears.

Then, I heard it again: the sound of a horse's soft neigh. Deciding to investigate, I scrambled to my feet and headed over in the general direction of the noise.

Turning a nearby corner, I abruptly came face-to-face with Artigas ... and Zenia.

Artigas was sitting atop a sturdy metal railing that was apart of a pen keeping Zenia inside. He had a basket of apples in his lap and he was feeding the spoiled horse rotten.

I rolled my eyes as I hastily sheathed my sword and stepped up onto the lower rail of the pen. "Hey."

Artigas turned and smiled at me. "Oh. Hey."

"Do - do you think everything's going okay? You know, in Polis?" I asked worriedly. "I - I'm just afraid that, er, things won't turn out ..."

"They won't," Artigas put in shortly, stopping me mid-sentence.

I stared at him. "Wow. Thanks for the assurance. How do you know?"

Artigas shrugged as he replied, "Never before has Trikru voted in favour of an alliance with a clan that is considered a threat to, not only their land, but to them and their families. I don't see how this time will be any different."

"T-they see us as a threat?" I nearly laughed out loud.

"Yes," Artigas nodded. "Otherwise they would not have taken such serious measures or careful precautions when it came down to plans regarding Skikru."

My lips formed into the letter 'O' as I inclined my head slightly, indicating that I understood.

"OCTAVIA! OCTAVIA!"

Suddenly, an urgent cry rang throughout the village. The pounding hooves of a galloping horse cut through the air and penetrated deep into my swirling mind.

Artigas and I exchanged concerned glances. "What on earth?" I muttered under my breath as I hopped off the railing and sprinted towards the town square, Artigas right behind me.

As I skidded to a halt in the middle of the street, I turned my head and caught sight of a horse, its muscles rippling beneath skin that was sticky with sweat. Lexa was seated atop of the steed, her sword clasped firmly in one hand and the leather braided reins in the other. The moment she laid eyes on me, she took a flying leap off of the animal's back and landed with two feet planted firmly on the ground. She hadn't even waited for the horse to slow down!

Her sharp eyes darting this way and that, Lexa rushed towards me, twirling her sword expertly between her fingers.

"Lexa!" I called out, confused. "W-what's going on? Did the vote ..."

"It didn't go well," she finished as she reached me. "Every single representative from each of the twelve clans, hands down, voted in favour of attack."

My heart sank. "Oh no ..."

"The moment I was informed of this, I fetched my horse and ran ahead of the main posse," Lexa explained breathlessly. "I had to warn you. You have to leave TonDC at once before the others return! If they see you, they will surely kill you. You must go ... now. You must take Zenia and go back to your camp. You must tell your people that Trikru is coming. This is war."

Gif: Octavia's reaction to Lexa's terrible news.

XX