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( twenty-three )

Harley wasn't Octavia. She wasn't a sword-wielding warrior that always kept a dark glare for everyone but one person. She was less brave, only having one kill above her head, and carrying soft gazes and smiles. And, Harley would never seek for revenge when someone did something personal. In this case, killing Clover. She hung in the back, her arms crossed over her chest with her eyes locked on the Ice Nation warrior that took them out of Mount Weather, Echo. Maybe Echo hadn't technically killed Clover, but she knew the place was going to be blown up, so she was as much to blame as the attacker.

Truth be told, Harley wasn't sure if Echo recognized her. If she had, she didn't react. She was only speaking to Bellamy a few feet away, handing him some object covered in cloth. "From your King," she said. Bellamy unwraps it, and when Harley cranked her neck, she could see a silver item with symbols carved into it. "With this, you'll be safe in any of our lands." Bellamy nods, hardly reacting as he accepted it. When he goes to turn back to his awaiting people, Echo stops him by grabbing his arm. "You think we'll ever be able to trust each other again?" She questioned.

After a moment's hesitation, Bellamy shook his head. "I doubt it." Harley had to cover her lower mouth, unsure if she was about to smile or be sick.

Echo step back, addressing the rest of the group with her head tilted back. "Welcome back to the coalition." She turned and left, not waiting for a response or any further reaction, but Harley is glad that's it. No one else has to die for now, other than the radiation coming their way.

"Time to go," Bellamy announced to the rest of them, slipping the gift in his heavy pocket.

"We'll do our best to keep the king on his throne," Kane promised, gesturing to him, Octavia, Abby and Harley.

Bellamy cocked an eyebrow in Harley's direction, and she suddenly smiled, knowing that he was questioning why she chose to stay. "Someone has to stay and encourage peace talks, right?" She stated pointedly.

"We'll find a way to beat the radiation," Clarke said firmly, too stubborn to let them die now from war after war of just radiation.

Holding her hands clasped in front of her, Octavia pursed her lips and glanced from Bellamy to Clarke. "If either of you screw this up, we die," she decreed. "No pressure."

"This is serious, O," Bellamy insisted, unamused and making Octavia curl her lower lip. "If anyone finds out why Roan helped us, it'll be every clan for itself. The king will fall, and they'll come after us."

Sensing the thick tension hanging between the siblings, Harley interrupted. "And we'll be sure it doesn't happen," she confirmed, her eyes flickering from Octavia to Kane. Bellamy nodded back.

"It's getting dark," Clarke noted. "Let's do this."

It was going to be hard for Clarke and Abby, being separated again, but it wasn't like they had much of a choice. The mother embraced her daughter tightly, whispering in her ear. "May we meet again."

"May we meet again," Clarke repeated softly, stroking the woman's back gently before slowly releasing her.

As they shared their moment, Harley watched next as Kane shook Bellamy's hand. "You turn the page," he said, hushed. "You turn the page, and you don't look back. You do better today than you did yesterday. You understand?" Bellamy lowered his head, but kept his stare connected to his. "Before you know it, you'll deserve to survive." Even though Kane wasn't speaking to her, Harley hangs on his speech, amazed at his view towards both life and survival, figuring she had the same outlook.

"I hope so," Bellamy mumbled, seeming uncertain before letting go and stepping away with Clarke. Harley smiled at them both, lifting her hand to give them a good-bye wave before they turned and left, striding away side by side for the exit. She watched the back of their heads, knowing they were heading home to come up with a new plan, yet unsure of the next time she'd see them.

Indra approaches, standing in between Harley and Octavia, giving them each a curt nod to greet them. Kane and Abby remain in front of them, mumbling to one another. "The youth inherited the earth," he mused quietly. Harley thought back to the time at the dropship, realizing how right he truly was. The youth took charge since landing, but now, it was so different. It wasn't like every other war. The radiation would come, and take everything with it, no matter what clan they were from.

Continuing staring at Clarke until she was out of view, Abby responded. "And they have six months to save it."

━━━━━━━━

"This stuff is itchy."

The whine comes out more pitched than Harley had meant, but she wasn't exaggerating too much. After being shown a room, Octavia was the first to suggest she loose the sky people clothing and dress in an attire more appropriate for Polis. She was wearing a not so comfortable jacket that looked leather but couldn't have been, worn through high boots, and had lost her holster for a knife instead of a gun. Octavia had even braided a portion of Harley's hair, keeping it pulled out of her face.

"Don't worry," Octavia responded with a small smile of amusement. "You don't need anything comfortable. You won't be fighting."

"Then what are we doing here?" Harley questioned her, lowering her hand from her back as they passed a set of doors. She studied the area, noticing how dark it was, other than the candles illuminating an orange goal. It was a type of mess hall, the smell of freshly cooked food lingering in the air, and people chattering. Harley was a bit shocked to see no one reacting to two sky people entering before remembering her appearance. At least no one hated her, for now.

"Spying." The single word from Octavia might have come out harsher than she meant, but her gaze drifted to a special table. "Roan warned us about the ambassador of Trishanakru."

The people here seemed peaceful enough, all except Octavia. She had a hood over her head as she sat across from Harley, listening closer to the one ambassador Roan warned them off. He was a man named Rafel speaking for Trishanakru, but apparently the king claimed there was a bad feeling towards his intentions. Rafel sat at a small table, sitting beside another male with long raven black braided hair and tattooed dots down his forehead. He had to have been Harley's age, if not a year or two over.

It was a difficult to hear over the talk, but if Harley focused all her attention of them, she could hear the two men faintly. "Haihefa shil op Skaikru. Chomouda?" The black haired boy whispered, anger in his tone. (The king protects Skaikru. Why?)

"Kos em laik emo stringboba, Ilion," Rafel says back, louder than Harley expected. "Rattop, seim bilaik Skaikru Bliden Hayon don rak oso op," he snarled the last few words out. "Ai don frag op oso Bandrona. Don slash em swela klin. Em don bilaik ai lukot." He pointed to his chest, but Harley stands up a bit straighter. She was trying not to look obvious, but she couldn't believe the admission. "En du na shil op kru-de don dula dison daun ste hedsweden ogeda kom emo." (Because he is their puppet, Ilian. Controlled, just as Skaikru's Red Goddess controlled us all. I killed our Ambassador. Cut her throat. She was my friend. And anyone who protects the people who did this are as guilty as they are.)

Still, the other male, Ilian if Harley could hear clearly, was still listening, but seemed less and less sure by the speech. Harley ducks her head again, but leaves her focus steady as Rafel continues to trip Ilian into believing him. "Wich ai in, oyo," he ordered harsh, but quiet. (Trust me, all of you.) Rafel darkened his stare. "Roun kom Azgeda na sen ai in." (Roan of Ice Nation will hear me.)

The mention of Roan's name has Octavia lifting her head, the hood shifting and revealing the way her eyes darken from where her gaze landed to him. Harley feels unsettled, but she let her eavesdropping continuing. "Kos ai bilaik yu brana Bandrona, ai ste kom taida na kol em au." (As your new ambassador, I have the right to challenge him.) A murderous glint flickered. "Soulou gonplei." (Single combat.) Rafel grinned, taking a long drink from his cup. "Roun nou na chants na gada in bilaik en's kwelen. Em nou na bak daun." (Roan can't afford to look weak. He won't refuse.)

Finally, Ilian reacted to his speech. "Ai gaf in raitnes," he declared lowly. "Skaikru dula dison daun, nou Haihefa." (I want justice. Skaikru did this, not the king.) Harley wondered what her people had done to him, before thinking of the chip. While they had technically brought ALIE here, more so only Jaha, it wasn't everyone. It wasn't like they could control themselves, but what grounder would believe in science?

"Yu gada in baman hashta yu seingeda, o no?" Rafel demanded. (You want revenge for your family, or not?) Ilian swallowed thickly, making Harley assume the mention of his family was a difficult memory for him. He nodded slowly in acceptance. "Radon," Rafel commented, pleased. (Good.) "Den taim Trishanakru rak Polis op, taim yu na hon em in." (Then when Trishanakru controls Polis, you will have it.)

The other few members of Trishankru who had joined when Harley wasn't looking leaned closer to Rafel, all intrigued. She didn't realize she could hate the expression on someone's face, until she saw how bloodthirsty they looked. "Ai swega yo klin - taim Haihefa melon slip daun, taim Skaikru slip daun ogeda kom em." (I promise–when the King's head falls, Skaikru falls with it.)

━━━━━━━━

The doors to the throne room are wide open, much to Harley's surprise. They were usually shut, but it made more sense when she entered beside Kane and Octavia to see Ice Nation guards positioned at the doors. Roan was sat at the throne, his wooden crown still perched on his head with his normal sharp features that relaxed at the sight of the three. Echo, a few feet away from them, glared immediately. Harley stopped in her tracks, stiffening underneath the scowl.

"Forgive the intrusion, your highness," Kane apologized. "May we have a word?" He requested, briefly looking to Echo before adding; "Privately."

"You can wait, like the other ambassadors," Echo answered coldly before Roan's mouth can even open.

Roan holds up a hand. "Echo, leave us," he commanded simply. Echo's jaw snaps shut before she clenches it, furious but keeping the emotion under control as she storms out, the guards trailing after her until the four remain alone.

"You were right to be concerned about Trishanakru," Kane begins with as he approached Roan. "Rafel is going to challenge you for control."

A grip tightens on the handles of the throne as Roan shakes his head in disbelief. "It's true," Harley confirmed in addition, stepping forward as well. "He wants Skaikru to fall for justice."

"Justice," Roan muttered in repetition. "It's a bold move for a new ambassador." He pushed himself up, standing and walking down the steps to close the space between them. "So, let him come." Harley is almost stunned at his braveness, especially with a hole still in his chest from the gunshot.

Kane realized so as well, and he tries to seem as civil as possible with his next words. "With respect, you're still recovering," he reminds the king.

"The law says you can pick someone to fight in your place," Octavia stated, approaching them as well. She suggests without having to that it be her.

"No," Roan disagreed. "The clans will never accept a leader who hides behind the law." He spares a glance to Octavia's sheathed sword. "Or another warrior's blade."

"You'll loose," Octavia countered. "Lexa kicked your ass, without a bullet hole in your chest," she spits out. Roan tilted his head to the side, offended, despite it being the truth.

Feeling the heavy strain in the air, Harley steps in. "Look, there has to be other options," she suggested, her head turning as she looked from Kane to Roan.

"You're right," Kane complimented. "We should cancel the gathering or delay it."

"No." Roan spins back around, marching back to the throne and sitting again. "Letting the ambassadors have a voice keeps the peace here," he explained. "Azgeda holds this city through force alone, and the Flame won't keep the clans at bay forever. If they unite against us, we could lose. And if we lose..." He trailed off.

"They come for Skaikru," Octavia finished for him uneasily.

Leaning back, tense, Roan nodded. "And the radiation comes for us all."

"No one has to die," Kane says. "The point of our arrangement is to give us time to find a solution that can save everyone."

"And how is that solution coming?" Roan demanded to know. Harley shortly winces at how severely grave he came off as.

Everyone notes how Kane paused in thought before replying. "We're working on it." Roan squinted his eyes, suspicious, but not commenting on it. "In the meantime, I'm here to keep you in power. Let me talk to the ambassador," he offered politely.

"I can too," Harley proposed, earning a questioning look from Roan. "I mean, if anyone can hold a strong non-violent talk, it's me."

Roan gave them permission. "Go ahead, do it." As Kane, Harley and Octavia turn to leave, Roan's final words linger behind. "But if you fail, I'll have no choice but to fight."

━━━━━━━━

The mess hall in Polis' square was the exact same the next morning, as far as Harley could see. Rafel was sitting at a much larger table, ambassadors for each clan except Skaikru in a circle around it. Even Ilian was there, although he sat back at the end of the table, more careless than the rest. Each ambassador looked interested at what Rafel had to say, but Harley could only hear the end of his sentence when she approached with Kane and Octavia. "... Taim ai don finga Roun au hashta kripon gon oso kru hashta shil op Skaikru, taim ena gaf stein klin," he says sincerely before holding a hand outstretched in Ilian's direction. "Ilion na gon ai fos vaucha." (... Once I have accused Roan of crimes against our people for protecting Skaikru, he'll demand proof. Ilian will be my first witness.)

At the sight of the three approaching, each ambassador and Ilian but Rafel stands, many eyes narrowing at the small group with distrust. Harley tenses, stopping in her tracks, but loosens when Octavia gently rested her hand on her shoulder. She draws in a deep breath, reminding herself what she was doing here. Keeping Roan on his throne for as long as possible with the talk of peace and allowing Skaikru to remain in the coalation.

"Ambassador," Kane greets Rafel politely. "May we speak privately?" Rafel says nothing, and Kane paused before finishing. "We know you plan to challenge King Roan."

The admission has Rafel seem uneasy, but he reacts. "Bants," he instructed the group. (Leave us.) Reluctantly, they complied, but not without staring down the three. Ilian makes a move to step away, but Rafel stops him. "Ilion, set raun." (Ilian, stay.) He sits back down slowly, the chair creaking beneath him.

Remaining well mannered, Kane took a seat at one of the empty chairs. Harley behind him while Octavia takes place on his other side. "I'd like to ask you to consider," Kane speaks to Rafel directly, making it sound more like a gentle suggestion instead of a command.

"Ask?" Rafel scoffed, speaking English for the first time. "After everything your people have done, you expect diplomacy?"

"Skaikru is not your enemy," Kane dictated pointedly.

A loud bang that rattles the table startles Harley. She turns her head to see Ilian, the cause of it, from where he had slammed a chip from ALIE on the top with a look of repulsion. "Skaikru made me murder my entire family," he snarled. "I have no one left."

With Kane speechless, Harley steps around Octavia and looks down to speak gently. "I'm very sorry for your loss. You have my condolences," she tells him softly. "But this chip..." She leans over to picks it up and pinches it in between her two fingers. "You don't understand the technology behind it. Skaikru had not created it." She indirectly leaves out what Raven had said about Becca, knowing they couldn't understand the science. "It effected everyone who took it. Every clan." Harley lowered the chip, dropping it to the table once more. "What you had done wasn't your fault, but you cannot put the blame on Skaikru for it when we bore loses equally."

"You blame Skaikru for the City of Light, shouldn't you also credit us for destroying it?" Kane questioned next, breaking the silence after Harley's understanding lecture. "After everything we've suffered, why spill more blood? The clans are stronger together," he declared.

While Ilian listened to them closely, Rafel snorted in incredulity. "You see Ilian? The king can't fight or his minions wouldn't be here trying to stop us," he claimed.

Octavia nudged Harley gently to the side so she could lean over Ilian's chair to get in his face without looking at Rafel, her features twisting into a deep scowl. "If the king wasn't hurt, do you think this coward would give a crap about your family?" She disclosed bluntly. It was a harsh way to put it, Harley thought, but Octavia wasn't wrong.

Insulted, Rafel shot up with his hands clenched into fists. "Since you landed here, your people have done nothing but rip our world apart," he boasted in fury.

"Rip your world apart?" Harley repeated in sudden distress. "Trikru invaded my camp when we landed, killed my friends, for being forced to fall from the sky. We didn't have a choice."

"Harley," Kane said, having her back down and letting him handle it by just saying her name before averting his attention back to Rafel with both his hands up in defense. "Rafel, I urge you..."

"Reap what you sow," Rafel sneered to Harley, ignoring Kane. "The time of Skaikru is over." Before anyone could speak another word, he's gone, stalking away in a rage with each footstep.

It's quiet as Ilian leaves next, but not before taking the chip. He gave Octavia's shoulder a nudge to push his way past, head held high, without sparing another second to even look in their direction.

"Well," Octavia started sarcastically. "That went well."

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