XX

[PREVIOUSLY: Octavia arrives in TonDC moments before a ferocious storm hits. She doesn't even have a chance to relay her message to Heda before she is tackled down by Indra and dragged to the grounder dungeons].

CLANG. CLANG.

Surprised at the sudden metallic sound, I glanced up from my miserly meal of blackened bread. I stared expectantly towards the prison doors as a squad of armed grounders, headed by Indra, walked briskly down the dirt hallway.

"Wan daun!" Indra called out authoritatively, holding up her hand and motioning for the warriors behind her to stop.

As they obediently fell back, Indra advanced towards my cell door. Reaching down, she slid the heavy bolt from place and pushed the barred frame back so she could enter. As she started towards me, I slowly hauled myself to my feet, my eyes never leaving hers.

Soon, Indra was standing right in front of me, her tall figure towering over my head.

I gulped. "W-what happened? Is Anya alright?"

"It's Heda to you," Indra hissed as she unsheathed her sword from the belt on her side.

My eyes widened in horror as I caught a glimpse of the flashing silver. "No ... please," I started to protest.

CLANG.

Indra's sword severed straight through the chains holding my wrists to the earthen wall. The heavy metal coils dropped upon the floor.

I stared up at Indra in shock. "W-what ...?"

"You have saved Heda's life," Indra stated with a deadly calm. "The assassination was attempted just outside of TonDC. The perpetuators were immediately dealt with. Even still, you have done us a favour; now Heda wishes to give you one."

A small smile found it's way to my lips.

"You are to be given a special VIP tour around the village of TonDC and introduced to some of our most important and ferocious warriors," Indra continued, her voice rough and gravelly. "Then, you shall meet with Heda. She has postponed her trip because of the attempted assassination and wants to speak with you personally. You are allowed to stay within this vicinity until our warriors go back to Polis."

I resisted the urge to laugh and dance around with glee. I had done it. I had finally broken through to the grounders. "Thank you!" I breathed.

"Humph. If it were up to me, I would never condone, none the less, suggest such a thing," Indra scoffed as she gazed disgustedly at me. "You're still one of the enemy and that will never change. But, rest assured, I will be watching you the entire time so don't even think about trying anything!"

Even though Indra carried a certain air of superiority and fierceness about her, it still did not tarnish the happiness that was bubbling up within me. Instead of portray this to her, however, all I did was nod slightly in response and follow her as she spun around and walked out of the cell.

As I stepped outside the dungeon, the blinding light of the setting sun pierced my vision and temporarily stopped me in my tracks.

Indra grunted in annoyance from up ahead, indicating that I was to follow her as she purposefully strode forward a couple of paces.

"Gustus!" she boomed, making me jump. "The Skai Gada is here."

A low, menacing growl answered in response. A huge burly man, with tattoos all over his face and neck and piercings all down his ears, straightened up from his crouched position over a nearby campfire. This man was huge! He must've been at least six inches taller than Indra. His eyes were dark and cruel, his clothes were lined with skulls and his arms were covered with deep, ugly-looking scars. His shoulder-length hair and long beard were separated into thick, matted braids. A long, curved sword hung by his side.

All I could do was stare at him as a mixture of fear and awe rose up within me.

"Why is she not dead?" he snarled, shooting Indra a pointed glare.

"That's what I'd like to know," Indra huffed in return, folding her arms across her chest as she glanced sideways at me. "But, she is to be kept alive by Heda's orders. Is that understood, Gustus?"

Gustus growled out something incoherent in response as he nodded.

"Good. Now, introduce her to Lexa and then take her through the village," Indra ordered as she cast me another glare. "I will be close by in case she causes any trouble."

"Lexa?" Gustus lowered his gnarly voice to a near-whisper. "Are you sure that's wise, General?"

Indra raised her eyebrows. "Again, Heda's orders. This Skai Gada has saved her life. This is the least she can do in return."

Gustus huffed, admitting his defeat. Stepping back, he turned away and made a quick motion with his wrist.

As he glanced back towards Indra and I, his eyes darkened and his hand strayed to the handle of his sword. "If you so much as look at Lexa the wrong way, I will slit your throat," he threatened as he glowered fiercely at me.

I bit my lip and inclined my head slightly, indicating that I'd understood him.

"Sha, Gostus. Chit yu gaf?" a soft, feminine tone wafted through the air as a leather clad girl, who looked to be in her early twenties, rounded the corner of a nearby thatched building.

She froze when she saw me. "Skai Gada?" she murmured as she turned quizzical eyes towards Gustus, "What is the meaning of this? Why is she here?"

Gustus pressed his chapped lips firmly together as he held out a protective hand towards the girl. "Lexa kom Trikru, future leader of our nation and future Heda of our clan, meet our Heda's guest, Skai Gada," his voice, at first filled with respect, twisted into a tone of disgust as he uttered my name.

Lexa turned soft emerald eyes towards me as she carefully scrutinised me. "So you are the PeaceMaker?"

I shrugged. "Uh ... well, I'm not sure if you'd call me that ..."

"Do not be so modest," Lexa cut me off quickly. "You've come to us, not once, but twice. You have risked your life for your people. Peace must be important to you."

I nodded. "It - it is."

"You know that once the vote goes through in Polis and Trikru declares war on Skikru, you'll no longer be able to come here," Lexa told me with an air of graveness around her. "You will be killed and not even Heda will be able to stop it."

"I - I understand," I swallowed.

Lexa's eyes sharpened. "Come along. I will show you around TonDC. It's not as big as it once was, but it is still our home."

Trying to shake the feelings of distrust and doubts that were swarming my mind, I stumbled forward and fell into step beside Lexa as she began to walk off.

A sharp pressure on my shoulder forced me to stop. I turned my head to see the flat side of Gustus' sword pressing forcefully against my skin.

Lexa, who had caught a glimpse of the movement, whipped her head around and glared at him. "Gustus, stand down," she ordered sharply.

"But, Lexa, my Princess ..." Gustus started to protest.

"I swear I will run you through myself if you do not let Skai Gada pass," Lexa snapped, her fingers closing over the handle of her sheathed sword.

Gustus hesitated before finally relenting and shoving me forward.

"You must excuse Gustus' behaviour," Lexa told me. "He is very protective of me."

I nodded. "I know. It must be nice to have someone so loyal and so close to you."

"Loyal, yes, but close, no," Lexa returned gravelly. "He looks out for me because he wants to preserve Anya's memory and I am the first in line to the throne. If I was not of royal blood, he would not even glance twice at me."

"Oh."

"Yes. We like to consider our life here in TonDC as simple, and in many ways it is. We hunt, we cook, we clean, we sleep; but other things such as survival, are always hanging heavy on our hearts," Lexa continued. "There are many complicated matters to be dealt with that concern government, leadership, births and marriages."

"Sounds like the Ark," I muttered.

"The Ark?" Lexa repeated, eyebrows raised as she glanced over at me.

"Yes. That is what our home up in the sky is called," I explained.

"So why did you do it?" Lexa demanded.

"Do what?" I furrowed my brow as Lexa slowed down and turned to face me.

"Why do your people wish for war and why do you wish otherwise?" she inquired. "You have come here and risked your life, twice, you have saved our Heda from assassination and you seem to bear no resentment against Trikru even though we are your enemy. Why?"

I hesitated before answering, "I - I feel like we're invaders, Lexa. I feel like I understand your point of view better than the rest of my people do. We did not know there were any survivors left down here, that's true, but now that we do, I feel like we should at least try to get to know you before going straight to the other end and pronouncing war. It is not fair ... on either us or you. Many lives will be lost. We need to formulate peace."

"Your back-up ship has been disintegrated," Lexa's voice began to grow dark with gathering suspicion. "Is this the true reason for your visit? Have you been sent here to spy on us and report back to your people?"

I shook my head vigourously. "Oh no. No. Aidan sent me with a message of forewarning. I - I came here on Zenia."

Lexa's mouth parted in shock and she had to stop herself from gaping at me. "Z-Zenia?"

"Yes," I returned, confused. "You - you didn't know that?"

"No," Lexa responded softly. "T-that's Erin's horse. It is odd that Aidan would allow you to even ride him."

"Erin?" I repeated. "Who is Erin?"

Lexa glanced over at me and sighed. "That is a long story and one for another day. But, for now, let us get you something to eat. You must be starved."

I let out a low chuckle. "I - I am, actually. I couldn't stomach that - er - black bread that I was given earlier."

Lexa smirked. "I don't blame you. Come along. It's nearly dark."

Lexa turned around on her heel and walked off. Just before I followed her, I glanced over towards Gustus and Indra, who were watching both Lexa and I closely.

I sighed in near-defeat. Would I ever gain their trust?

Gif: Indra and Octavia in the midst of TonDC.

XX