Clarke's eyelids fluttered open as the warm sunlight caressed her face. She blinked, momentarily disoriented, as her eyes adjusted to the golden glow filling the room. Soft animal furs tickled her bare skin, and she became acutely aware of the warm body pressed against her own. Looking down, she felt a gentle sigh flow from her heart through her lips at the sight of the girl curled against her, a gentle smile curving her lips.
Niylah's honey-blonde hair was spilled across the pillow, shimmering in the morning light. Her arm was draped over Clarke's waist, their legs intertwined beneath the furs, her cheek pillowed on Clarke's uninjured shoulder, warm breath caressing Clarke's collarbone and throat. Clarke's breath caught in her chest as she gazed at her lover's peaceful, sleeping face - long lashes resting on her cheeks, lips slightly parted, utterly comfortable with where she was. Not just comfortable, but seemingly happy, and Clarke swallowed heavily at the implications of that.
Memories of the previous night came flooding back, and not just the events of The Brass Box, either, nor the baths. Once they had returned to her rooms and fallen into bed together, they had spent at least an hour cuddling and kissing and talking quietly, about anything and everything that they could think of. Though the submissive girl had been scrupulous to avoid asking questions about Clarke's home, mindful of the dominant's reaction in the baths, something that Clarke had greatly appreciated. They had finally fallen asleep in each other's arms, skin against skin, heartbeats and breathing alike slowing together.
Clarke's fingers traced delicate patterns on Niylah's bare shoulder, savoring the silky smoothness of her skin. She marveled at how natural this felt, how right, despite the circumstances that had brought them together and how briefly they had known one another. In the quiet stillness of the morning, Clarke allowed herself to imagine a different world, one where they could wake up like this every day without the weight of duty and expectation pressing down on them.
But reality had a way of intruding, even in moments of blissful contentment. After all, even above and beyond the fact that she could feel the stirrings of hunger, she was terribly aware of the fact that a full sixth of the time she had availed with which to perform her mission had expired, and she was no closer to discovering a solution to the fact that Mount Weather was no longer a viable option for signaling the Ark. The thought made her shift unhappily, wincing slightly as her mostly-healed injuries twinged from the movement, and Niylah started to stir with a murmur of discontent. Wordless mumbles tumbled from her lips as she tried to cuddle back into Clarke's side, her perfect position and blissful warmth interrupted by her domina's movement, nuzzling into Clarke's neck as best she could.
Her eyelashes fluttered against Clarke's skin, sending a shiver down her spine, and Clarke held her breath, not wanting to wake her just yet. Savoring this moment of peace and intimacy, not to mention feeling guilty for having disturbed the sleeping girl, briefly turned her into a statue as she tried her best to preserve it for a moment longer. It didn't work, Niylah stirring again and shifting against her, and another thought occurred, a frightening one: would Niylah regret things now? She had seemed so firmly in favor of things last night, but Clarke had consumed more than enough media (and, for that matter, seen it played out in real life) on the Ark to know that 'the morning after' could change many, many things.
As if sensing Clarke's thoughts, Niylah's eyes slowly opened. She blinked sleepily, then tilted her head to meet Clarke's gaze. One held her breath, waiting for a reaction…and the other smiled a soft, warm, sweet smile, eyes holding no emotions beyond the positive.
"Good morning, domina." she murmured, her voice rough with sleep.
"Good morning, Niylah." Clarke whispered back, her heart settling, unconsciously smiling back, and Niylah pouted slightly. A pout that would have worried Clarke, if she couldn't see that it was somewhat-exaggerated and mischievous.
"Hmm, that's no good. I need a different name for times like this, something you can call me when we're in bed together, or amongst friends. Something special." she whined, pressing a kiss to Clarke's jaw, the arm that was around Clarke's waist shifting to let her run her hand up and down her owner's side.
Clarke felt a flutter in her chest at Niylah's words and the tender affection in her eyes. She swallowed and licked lips that suddenly seemed all-to-dry. "Something special, hm?" she murmured, her fingers tracing along Niylah's spine. "What did you have in mind?"
Niylah's lips curved into a playful smile, though her eyes and words were serious all the same. "That's for you to decide, domina. I'm yours to name as you wish."
The words sent a shiver through Clarke, a mix of desire and an emotion she wasn't quite ready to name. She gazed at Niylah, taking in her sleep-tousled hair, the curve of her cheek, the warmth in her eyes. A name came to her lips unbidden.
"Sunshine." Clarke whispered, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Because that's what you are: bright, beautiful, warm, gentle." Feeling a bit cheeky, and a bit vulnerable, she reached up to pointedly run her fingers through Niylah's halo of hair. "Plus this, of course."
Niylah was silent for a long moment, long enough that Clarke was starting to get worried, and her worry only grew as Niylah's eyes suddenly grew wet and glimmering with moisture. Suddenly panicked, Clarke tried to figure out what she had said that was wrong and how she could fix it, only for Niylah to lurch towards her, pressing their lips together and holding her as tightly as their supine positions allowed.
Clarke melted into the kiss, relief and desire flooding through her. She wrapped her arms around Niylah, pulling her closer, savoring the feel of skin against skin. When they finally broke apart, both breathless, Niylah's eyes were shining with joy.
"Sunshine." she repeated softly, testing the word on her tongue. "I love it, domina. Thank you."
Clarke felt a warmth spread through her chest at Niylah's obvious delight. She brushed a strand of hair from Niylah's face, marveling at how something so simple could feel so intimate, not to mention how happy the other girl had been with such a normal sounding pet name. "You're welcome... Sunshine."
Niylah beamed at her, then nestled back into Clarke's side with a contented sigh. They lay in comfortable silence for a few moments, Clarke absently stroking Niylah's hair, before Niylah spoke again.
"As much as I'd love to stay here all day," Niylah murmured, her breath warm against Clarke's skin, "I should probably get up and fetch your breakfast soon."
Clarke's stomach chose that moment to growl loudly, causing them both to chuckle. "I suppose that settles it," Clarke said ruefully. "Though I hate to let you go."
Niylah pressed a soft kiss to Clarke's collarbone. "I'll be quick, I promise. And then perhaps... we could eat in bed?" There was a hint of hopeful mischief in her voice. She was clearly hoping for more than just food, and Clarke wasn't inclined to deny her that. In fact it sounded very appealing indeed.
Clarke grinned, her fingers trailing down Niylah's spine. "I think that sounds perfect, Sunshine. So, get out there and get it done."
With a playful groan, Niylah reluctantly disentangled herself from Clarke's embrace and slipped out of bed, the furs falling away to reveal her lithe, nude form. Clarke couldn't help but admire the graceful curves of Niylah's body as she moved about the room, gathering her clothes. The morning light painted her skin in a warm glow, highlighting the gentle curve of her hips and the swell of her breasts. So very different, but equally enthralling to the more powerful builds of Costia, Lexa, and Ontari.
Niylah caught Clarke's appreciative gaze and smiled, a hint of pink coloring her cheeks, pausing for a moment to pose, one leg turned out to display her sex while she folded her arms under her breasts, pushing them up. "See something you like, domina?" she teased gently.
Clarke propped herself up on one elbow, not bothering to hide her admiration. "Very much so," she replied with a smirk. "I'm already looking forward to your return."
Niylah's smile widened, a mix of pleasure and shyness in her expression. She bent to retrieve her discarded clothing from the floor, giving Clarke an enticing view that made her breath catch. As Niylah dressed, Clarke found herself torn between wanting to watch and feeling like she should look away to give her privacy. In the end, she compromised by propping herself up on her elbows, the furs pooling around her, and reaching for her MERCS and Focus, intent on trying to get some work done while she waited for Niylah to return. Once she was clothed, the honey-haired girl bounced back over and leaned over the bed, her hair falling in a curtain around them as she pressed a soft kiss to Clarke's lips.
"I'll be back soon, domina." she murmured, her breath warm against Clarke's mouth.
As Niylah slipped out of the room, Clarke stretched languidly, savoring the pleasant ache in her muscles, luxuriating in the softness of the bed and bedspread on her bare skin. She allowed herself a few more moments of peaceful reflection, and to allow Niylah to put some distance between herself and the room that they shared, before taking a deep breath.
"ALIE." she said, and a moment later her Focus lit up to display the crimson-clad form of her first Earth-born ally, her familiar voice pouring into Clarke's ear.
"Hello again, Clarke. It's been a little while since we were last able to talk." she said, sounding vaguely chastising, and Clarke flushed slightly in response.
"I know, I'm sorry, but I didn't have much of a choice. When they stripped me down for the doctors here in Polis, they locked all my things up to keep them safe. I only got my MERCS and my Focus back yesterday, and I didn't have the privacy I needed to talk to you." she responded a bit sheepishly, running her good hand through her hair in an unconscious gesture, before meeting the holographic woman's eyes. "Thank you for letting Costia and Niylah into the bunker, by the way. I doubt Niylah remembered the password, especially since I didn't tell her what it was, and Costia didn't even know it was there. You probably saved my life."
"No, I gave Costia and Niylah the access to the means that they needed to save your life. If they hadn't been there, and hadn't been willing, there would have been nothing that I could do except watch." the refusal of her gratitude was swiftly and sharply delivered, enough so that Clarke reared back slightly. Something ALIE noticed, and she sighed quietly, posture softening. "I'm sorry, it wasn't your fault, you were trying to do the right thing, but you got in over your head and would have died if it wasn't for them. I had hoped to ease you into the world, give you time and practice and training before you were exposed to Lexa and her advisors, but it's obviously too late for that."
Clarke nodded slowly, absorbing ALIE's words. "You're right," she admitted. "I was unprepared and it nearly cost me everything. But I've mostly healed, and I'm safely away from the mountain men for the time being."
"Yes, you are, which gives you time to prepare and learn what you need to survive down here. I assume Lexa and Costia plan to teach you how to protect yourself? Especially if, as I can only imagine is the case, they're still holding on to your gun?" ALIE asked, and Clarke nodded in confirmation, even if both of the questions were rhetorical ones. "Well, it's not how I intended for you to reach Polis, and it's not how I intended for you to meet any of them either, but the situation is far from unsalvageable. All you have to do is reach The Vault underneath the palace without getting noticed."
"That's easier said than done, you know." Clarke grumbled, even as ALIE brought up a map of the palace and the route she would have to take to reach her destination. Studying it, her heart sank as she saw that it was genuinely in the heart of the complex. "God, this really won't be easy," she murmured. "The palace is crawling with guards, and I'm never alone even if it wasn't."
"You're right, it won't be easy," ALIE agreed. "But it's necessary. You have to reach The Vault if you want to save your people."
Clarke sighed, running a hand through her hair and tugging on a handful of it gently as she tried to think of a solution. "I know. But how am I supposed to slip away unnoticed? I'm still learning my way around, and if Lexa isn't with me, Costia or Ontari is. And how am I meant to get away from Niylah? I could send her away, but that could hurt her, and I have no idea if she intends to keep running her shop now that she's mine."
ALIE's eyes widened at that, before narrowing slightly as a smirk creased her lips. "Yours, is she? Embracing those cultural foibles already, are we? And trying to figure out a way to accomplish your goals without hurting her feelings, how sweet of you."
Clarke felt heat rise to her cheeks. "That's... not relevant to the mission." she tried weakly, only to immediately feel the heat intensify at ALIE's amused scoff. It was perfectly relevant to the mission, she knew, because her own words not moments before had made it relevant to the mission. Fortunately for her pride, ALIE was clearly aware that Clarke was aware of that fact, and so she -very pointedly, Clarke had to admit- said nothing in response on the subject.
"I'm glad, truly, that you've found your first lover already, Clarke. You deserve it. But you still need to reach the Vault. Now, I had a plan for getting you in, but that plan relied on your being a nobody, another face in the crowd. That no longer being the case, we'll need to improvise. I'll put some thought into it and ping you when I have an idea. For now, your girl just got back, and I think she has news for you." she said instead, and Clarke had just enough time to deactivate the equipment before Niylah came in. To her surprise, though, her thrallina wasn't bearing breakfast trays.
"Domina, Heda has invited us to join her for breakfast today. One of her handmaidens informed me as I was on the way back from the kitchen." she said nervously, and Clarke hummed with a small smile. She did enjoy her meals with Lexa, Costia, and Ontari, something that had become increasingly frequent since she had arrived.
Clarke nodded, sitting up in bed and letting the furs fall away. "Thank you for letting me know, Sunshine. I suppose we'll have to save our private breakfast for another time." She offered Niylah a reassuring smile, sensing her nervousness. "Help me dress, please?"
Niylah visibly preened at the use of her new pet name and moved to assist Clarke. As she helped Clarke into her clothes, her hands lingered a moment longer than strictly necessary, her touch gentle and reverent. Clarke found herself leaning into the contact, savoring these quiet moments of intimacy.
Once dressed, Clarke turned to face Niylah, cupping her cheek gently. "You'll join us for breakfast, of course? Lexa invited both of us, after all."
Niylah's eyes widened slightly, and her head shook ever-so-slightly. Raising an eyebrow, Clarke regarded her carefully.
"What's wrong, sweetheart? You've spent hours with her, same as I have, and you're a good friend of Costia's." she asked quietly, genuinely baffled, and her bafflement only grew at the look Niylah shot her.
"That's different, domina. First, I was helping bathe you and clean your injuries, the fact that Heda was present was incidental to the situation. Secondly, being friends with Costia outside of the city doesn't mean anything," Clarke didn't entirely agree with that, but she didn't have the chance to interject. "and thirdly, being your thrallina and serving you while Heda is in the room is entirely different from being treated as a guest!" she responded, wringing her hands slightly, and though she was still feeling a bit lost, Clarke supposed she could understand. All Niylah had had to do last night was serve Clarke, that had given her something to focus on and allowed her to ignore everything else. That wouldn't be the case today.
"Then focus on pleasing me. Remember that having you there with me will make me very happy, remember that your place is at my side now. Focus on that." she ordered firmly, gripping her lover's chin and tilting her head up so that their eyes met. Niylah's eyes searched her own for a long moment, anxious, before she took a deep breath and visibly calmed herself down.
She nodded firmly, her posture straightening as she inclined her head in submission. "Yes, domina. I'll do my best to focus on you and making you happy."
Clarke smiled softly, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to Niylah's lips. "Good girl. That's all I ask. Now, let's not keep Heda waiting."
They made their way through the palace corridors, Clarke's hand resting lightly on the small of Niylah's back, offering silent reassurance. As they approached Lexa's private dining room, Clarke could feel Niylah's tension returning. She gave her a gentle kiss to the side of her head before knocking.
"Enter." came Lexa's voice in response, and Clarke pushed the door open, guiding Niylah inside before closing it behind them. As it had always been every time she visited save the first, the room was warm and welcoming, sunlight streaming in through the windows, and she smiled at the sight of a food-laden table, with Costia, Lexa, and Ontari all seated around it. Just like every other morning she had come here for breakfast, something that had been far more often than she would have ever expected.
Lexa looked up as they entered, a warm smile gracing her lips. "Clarke, Niylah, good morning. Please, join us."
Clarke returned the smile, guiding Niylah to the table with a gentle hand on her lower back. "Good morning, Heda. Thank you for inviting us."
As they took their seats, Clarke noticed Niylah's eyes darting nervously between the other occupants of the room, chewing slightly on her lower lip, and squeezed her hand reassuringly under the table.
Costia beamed at them both. "It's lovely to see you this morning. I hope you both slept well? You were so tired last night, after all." There was a hint of playful suggestion in her tone that made Clarke blush slightly, though to her pleasure (and mild exasperation) she noticed Niylah preening at the reminder that she had wrung Clarke out with her efforts.
"We did, thank you kindly. How about the rest of you?" Clarke replied, trying to keep her composure, still somewhat unused to such teasing, especially from Costia, who had often been fairly serious when they were together. In fact, the whole room (save Niylah) seemed more relaxed than previous sessions, and she had to wonder at the cause. But it was obvious, wasn't it? They'd had sex in front of each other last night, seen one another bare of even a scrap of clothing, and then bathed together. There was an intimacy between them now, comfortable and warm for all it's comparative chastity (they hadn't had sex with each other after all), and even Ontari seemed different. Softer, somehow, though Clarke didn't think anyone would ever accuse the Azgeda Chosen of being 'soft'.
"Oh, it was a fine night. The three of us spent many hours talking…" Lexa responded, only for Costia to cut in.
"You mean, you and Ontari spent hours playing chess more viciously than anything I've ever seen before, and I ended up going to bed alone because the two of you couldn't concede long enough to get in with me." she teased, before squealing and squirming as Lexa (without changing her expression) reached out and pinched her.
"As I was saying, we spent many hours talking, and it just so happened that Ontari and I found one another equally matched in chess." she finished, and Clarke couldn't help but smirk slightly at the name of her favorite game. Something everyone noticed, and Ontari (who was blushing faintly at Costia's words for some reason) eyed her with interest.
"Do you play chess, Clarke?" she asked, and Clarke nodded, a small smile playing across her lips.
"I do. It was one of my favorite pastimes back home. We didn't have many forms of entertainment there, but chess was always available. My father taught me to play, and Wells and I played whenever we could."
Lexa's eyes lit up with interest, though there was an edge of curiosity at the new, male-sounding name. "Perhaps we could arrange a game sometime. I'd be curious to see how your people's strategies compare to our own."
"I'd like that, I would like that a lot actually." Clarke replied, feeling a flutter of excitement at the prospect. She had always enjoyed a good chess match, and despite never having seen Lexa play, she knew that any such game would be a very good match indeed.
As they began to eat, conversation flowed easily around the table. Clarke found herself relaxing, enjoying the casual banter and warm atmosphere, enjoying the results of the silent and somehow-significant shift between them all in the last twenty-four hours. She noticed that even Niylah seemed to be settling in, her initial nervousness fading as Costia drew her into a discussion about medicinal herbs and the best places to stock the proverbial larder as winter drew closer.
As breakfast progressed, Clarke found herself marveling at the easy camaraderie that had developed between them all. Even Ontari, who had initially been so aloof and reserved, was engaging in playful banter with Costia and offering wry comments that had Lexa hiding smiles behind her cup. There was none of the distance that had seemed to be between them at first, none of Ontari's reticence or clipped answers, none of Lexa's regal separation, none of Costia's quiet deference.
Clarke was in the middle of recounting a particularly amusing bit of childhood mischief she'd had with Wells when she noticed Lexa studying her intently. She paused, meeting the Commander's gaze questioningly.
Lexa set down her fork, her expression thoughtful. "Clarke, I've been meaning to ask you something. Now that you've had some time to settle in and recover, I was wondering if you'd be interested in starting some training."
Clarke blinked, surprised by the sudden change in topic. "Training?"
Lexa nodded. "Yes. None of us, I'm sure, would ever like to see you so badly injured again, or worse. With all respect, Costia told me how you fared fighting the maunon." she explained, and Clarke grimaced as her hand went to the barely-there injuries, garnering sympathetic looks from everyone and Niylah's hand gently squeezing her thigh.
"You did well, Clarke, for someone as inexperienced as you are, but you are dangerously inexperienced. Against maunon you barely survived, with all the advantages. Without them, or against bandits and criminals from the clans, I'm worried for your chances." Costia voiced, her tone taking any bite out of her words, though they stung all the same. Clarke had been proud of how well she fought on the Ark, but that was a different world, one she didn't live in any longer. "Like Lexa said, none of us want you to get that badly hurt again or, Maker forbid it, die. So…?"
Clarke considered Lexa's offer, feeling a mix of emotions. On one hand, she knew they were right - her close call with the Mountain Men had shown just how vulnerable she was in this new world. On the other, training meant time away from her mission, from finding a way to contact the Ark. But as she looked around at the concerned faces of Lexa, Costia, Ontari, and Niylah, she realized that their care for her wellbeing was entirely legitimate, and extraordinarily valid as well. And ALIE had mentioned that Clarke needed training, so…
"I... you're right." Clarke admitted with a small sigh. "I was lucky to survive my encounter with the Mountain Men, and I can't count on luck to protect me in the future. I'd be grateful for any training you can offer."
Lexa's face brightened with a smile, and Costia reached across the table to squeeze Clarke's hand. "Excellent," the Commander said, her voice warm with approval. "We'll start tomorrow morning. Ontari and I will take turns training you in combat skills, while Costia can teach you more about healing and herbs."
"Thank you. I appreciate your willingness to teach me." Clarke nodded, feeling a mix of anticipation and nervousness.
"Of course," Ontari chimed in, her tone surprisingly gentle. "We protect our own here."
The words sent a warmth through Clarke's chest, even as a small part of her felt guilty for the secrets she still held. She pushed the feeling aside, focusing instead on the genuine care and concern she saw in the faces around her.
Niylah, who had been quiet for most of the conversation, spoke up hesitantly.
"Domina, if it pleases you... I could assist with your training as well," Niylah offered softly. "I may not be a warrior, but I know some basic self-defense techniques that could be useful. And I could help you practice what you learn from Heda and the others."
"Thank you, Sunshine. I'd like that very much." Clarke turned to Niylah with a warm smile, touched by her offer.
Lexa nodded approvingly, though she tilted her head with a curious glint to her eye at the pet name. "An excellent suggestion, Niylah. It's important for Clarke to have someone to practice with outside of formal training sessions."
"And it will give you two an excuse to get all hot and sweaty together. Mmh, there's nothing like some quality hand-to-hand training that leads to getting handsy. Getting defeated, the victor pinning the loser down and having her way with them…" Costia added with a mischievous grin, causing both Clarke and Niylah to blush furiously. Clearly, she had decided to well and truly abandon any sort of reserve or decorum around Clarke at this point, at least in private settings, and despite her embarrassment, Clarke was deeply flattered by that fact. She wasn't being treated as a guest, with diplomacy and exquisite courtesy, but as a friend or family member. That…meant a great deal to her.
Ontari rolled her eyes expressively, but there was a hint of amusement on her face to the discerning gaze. "Must you always be so crude, Kostia?"
"You love it." Costia shot back with a wink, clearly unbothered…no, not unbothered, encouraged.
Lexa cleared her throat, though her lips twitched with barely suppressed laughter. "Perhaps we should return to the matter at hand. Clarke, we'll begin your training tomorrow at dawn. I suggest you rest well tonight and prepare yourself for a challenging day."
Clarke nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation. "I'll be ready." she promised.
As breakfast wound down, Clarke found herself lost in thought about the upcoming training and what it might entail, how it might benefit and impede her plans and the mission that they, such as they were, revolved around. She was so preoccupied that she almost missed the meaningful look that passed between Lexa, Costia, and Ontari.
Almost.
Lexa set down her cup and turned to Clarke with a more serious expression. "There's one more thing we need to discuss, Clarke. Now that you're feeling better and we've settled the matter of your training, we need to address your long-term situation here in Polis."
Clarke felt a flutter of nervousness in her stomach. "What do you mean?"
Costia leaned forward, her eyes gentle but serious. "We've grown quite fond of you, Clarke, and we want you to feel at home here. But we also understand that you came from somewhere else, somewhere you might want to return to someday."
Ontari nodded, adding, "We need to know what your intentions are. Do you plan to stay in Polis indefinitely? Or do you have other plans?"
Clarke swallowed hard, feeling the weight of their gazes. She glanced at Niylah, who looked back at her with confusion, clearly not a part of whatever discussions the other three had had.
"As I told Niylah and Costia before, I'm on a pilgrimage here." she said slowly, wondering what she could or should say. She couldn't tell them everything, but the idea of continuing to lie to them, especially after last night, was…deeply unsettling. Making a snap decision, she sighed, praying that she wouldn't regret it. "My home is dying. The machines we use to create air to breath are breaking down, and we didn't know if it was possible to survive here. My father wanted to warn the people, try to find a solution, but he was executed for trying before he could succeed. When I tried to follow through for him, I was imprisoned and threatened with -promised, really- an execution of my own once I turn eighteen."
Niylah spat something in a language Clarke didn't recognize, but in all honesty she didn't need to speak it to recognize a particularly vile curse, and if not for the situation she would have laughed at the startled look Ontari gave the soft, sweet civilian girl. But Costia and Lexa were watching her, eyes intent and expressions unchanging, and she felt compelled to continue.
"They started talking about…population reductions, within the next eight to twelve months. I volunteered to find out if there was another option, with a promise from our ruling body that they would hold off on that, and any other executions, until six months had passed. I have five left."
"You mean you volunteered to be exiled from your home, not knowing if you would die the instant you set foot outside, into a world you didn't know, with a time-frame that is dangerously short, and no guarantee that they won't try to execute you for the 'crime' of saving them if you do succeed." Costia said harshly, and Clarke hesitated for a long moment before nodding in agreement. It wasn't how she would have worded it, but it was true all the same. "Disgusting. Your leaders are cowards and fools…"
Clarke opened her mouth to protest, but an imperative wave of the hand from Lexa had it snapping shut again.
"Costia is right. I, more than most, know the costs that must be paid by leadership. The burdens that need to be taken on in order to protect one's people, burdens that you can never tell them about lest they go mad with fear and grief. But that doesn't make their actions wiser." the Heda of the Coalition ground out, drumming her fingers on the table. After a long moment, she looked up and met Clarke's eyes. "Thank you for being honest with me, Clarke. I know it can't have been easy, and it means a great deal."
There was something about her eyes, her posture, the way she spoke, that… "You knew already. How?" Clarke breathed, shocked enough that she barely noticed a similar expression on Ontari's face as she turned her attention to the pair at the other end of the table…and the lack of such an expression on Niylah's face. "Niylah?"
"You told us, domina. The first night we arrived, you were delirious from your injury. You told us -Heda, Kostia, and I, that is- about your father's death and your mission before you lost consciousness." Niylah admitted, flinching slightly at the use of her proper name, collapsing in on herself slightly at what she took to be a sign of anger. "Nothing more than that, I swear to you! Not even the information about the…the 'population reductions', just that your father was killed and that you volunteered to see if it was safe for your people."
Clarke felt a wave of shock and betrayal wash over her, followed quickly by guilt at her reaction. She took a deep breath, trying to process this new information. "I... I see," she managed, her voice tight. She turned back to Lexa and Costia. "So you've known all along?"
Lexa leaned forward, her green eyes intense as they locked onto Clarke's. "Yes, we did, and I promise you that we didn't share this information with anyone else, Clarke. Not even Ontari knew until just now, as you can clearly see. We wanted to give you the chance to tell us yourself when you felt ready."
Costia reached out, gently taking Clarke's hand. "We understand why you kept it from us, Clarke. You were in a strange place, surrounded by people you didn't know if you could trust. But I hope you know now that you can trust us. That you can trust us, and that we will do everything we can to help you."
Clarke felt tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. She blinked them back, overwhelmed by the mix of emotions coursing through her.
"I do trust you." she said softly, meaning every word. She hadn't expected that, she never would have dreamed for an instant that they had known, based on how they acted around her, but that only helped her get a grip on her feelings. Nodding firmly, she tugged Niylah against her side and pressed a kiss to the worried girl's temple. "I do trust you, with my life, but I need more time before I can trust you with theirs. Is that...okay?"
Lexa's expression softened, a gentle smile curving her lips. "Of course it's okay, Clarke. We understand completely. Trust is earned, not given freely, especially when the lives of your people are at stake."
Costia squeezed Clarke's hand reassuringly. "We're just glad you've opened up to us this much. Whatever you need, whenever you're ready to share more, we'll be here."
Ontari, who had been quiet as she grappled with the revelations, finally spoke up. "I may not have known anything about this until now, nor had the time to consider it that the other three have, but I don't need it. The choice you made was a brave one, a righteous one. It proves you're a good person, Clarke, and a trustworthy one. Between this and last night…I'll keep your secret Clarke, and I'll help you however I can." There was a hint of admiration in her tone that made Clarke's chest tighten with unexpected emotion, one that allowed her to ignore the embarrassment from the allusion to her activities the night before.
Niylah pressed herself into Clarke's side, her earlier tension melting away as she laid her head on Clarke's shoulder. "Thank you for trusting us, domina." she murmured softly.
Clarke felt a wave of relief wash over her at their understanding responses. She squeezed Niylah gently, grateful for her presence and support, and wanting to reassure her as well. Their relationship was new and fragile, so it was hardly a surprise that the submissive girl was worried about being rejected in the face of this revelation.
"Thank you, all of you," Clarke said, her voice thick with emotion. "I... I don't know what to say. I came here expecting to be alone, to have to figure everything out by myself. I never imagined I'd find people I could trust, let alone..." She trailed off, unsure how to articulate the depth of connection she'd formed with them in such a short time.
Lexa reached across the table, placing her hand over Clarke and Costia's joined ones. "You're not alone, Clarke. Not anymore. Whatever challenges you face, whatever your mission entails, you have us now. Now," she pulled away and clapped her hands with a somewhat-determined smile. "I know Niylah intended to show you the markets today, and I imagine she's intent on finishing the task of clearing out her stall so she has nothing to distract her from you any longer," the girl in question blushed but bobbed her head in agreement. "and I have to talk with Ontari about the Conclave. With neither of us participating this time, there is a high chance that Caris will win her third, which means we will have a new Chosen sister by the end of the month. And that means planning must be done."
All of that was true, and Clarke certainly didn't think that she had any cause or right to listen in on such a discussion, but she still had the distinct feeling she was being ushered from the room for a reason. But, did she really have a right to complain if they wanted to keep some secrets from her? She had just told them directly to their faces that she was doing the same, after all.
"Sounds good to me. Will I see you all later?" she agreed, getting to her feet, and there was a chorus of firm agreement, a promise of seeing her for dinner and an evening of relaxation in fact, and she smiled around at them all as Niylah rose beside her. "Good. I'm looking forward to it."
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The door shut behind Klark and her thrallina, their footsteps fading into the distance, and Ontari flinched slightly as the other two exchanged a glance before turning to her with eyes and expression that carried an enormous weight.
"Sister, there is more we need to tell you about Clarke." Leksa intoned, and Ontari glanced between she had Kostia with something very much like anxiety coiling in her chest, cold and hard.
"She…she's not some sort of new maunon, is she?" she asked weakly, the thought horrifying her. Though they barely knew each other, she found Klark to be fascinating. Beautiful, brave, kind, loyal…she was a remarkable girl, and Ontari would hate to find out that she was an enemy. To her relief, both Kostia and Leksa shook their heads firmly and immediately.
"No, far from it. In fact, she's as far from being a maunon as it's possible to be." Kostia assured her, as Leksa got to her feet and padded across the room to a solid-looking chest, one with a lock lying on the ground beside it. She opened the chest and reached in to pull something out, before making her way back to the table and sitting. There was a loud thunk as she put them down and pushed them across the oaken surface towards the Azgeda Chosen, revealing them to be a small, colorful swatch of cloth, and a gun.
PROJECT ARK declared the patch, depicting some sort of object flying in the stary sky above what could only be the Earth, and she felt a dawning suspicion begin to voice itself in the back of her mind. A dawning suspicion that became a clamoring voice when she inspected the gun…and found the name embossed in bronze on the grip.
"Those are both Klark's. Things that she either had on her when she arrived here, or were found by Kostia, hidden in the Old World ruins Klark and Niylah met in." Leksa said softly, looking at them for a moment before meeting Ontari's eyes, and Ontari could see the tumultuous emotions that she was feeling mirrored there. "Klark kom Skaikru, I suppose would be her name to our reckoning, but it's not the name she would have been born with."
"Griffon…" Ontari breathed, and Leksa gave her a small, bittersweet smile and a nod, and for the first time in her life, Ontari understood what writers meant when they used the phrases 'the world shifted beneath them' and that 'they felt like nothing would ever be the same again.'
She looked over at the door that the girl in question had just gone through. No, not 'the girl'. The Sky Princess. Her prophesied lover and queen, the girl destined to unite mankind and lead them into a golden future.
Klark Griffon.