Lightning Only Strikes Once - Clexa

Chapter 3: You And Whose Army

Lexa manages to get through the day without giving herself away. Her greeting to Gustus is perhaps more enthusiastic than she would normally be, and she speaks to him more often as they go through the day's appointments than she usually would, but otherwise it's very easy to get back into the normal rhythm of her peace-time life.

Lexa judges disputes in the matter of several crimes, and meets with the ambassadors of two krus to equivocate about the correct price for different kinds of smoked meat – fish versus rabbit – in a trade deal that is causing mild friction. Another ambassador comes to give her an update on Luna's health, which has been indifferent of late, and pass on a coded message from her. Two spies from the Azgeda (Lexa has people in every clan in the coalition – it is not wise to remain ignorant) have returned, and report that all is quiet, but that Nia has been ill-tempered recently. A warrior who fought beside Lexa a year before has died of illness and she briefly attends the burning, honouring the man's past bravery as his houmon lowers the torch onto his lover's pyre. Lexa trains the natblidas in throwing knives, and on a whim playfully challenges Gustus to a contest and defeats him, the children cheering her on and Gustus barely able to contain his smile and affection for her. And then it is time for a meal, bolted down quickly with Gustus beside her, awaiting any orders.

It is heartbreaking to her, to know that although she has Gustus back, he will never really be her Gustus again. She will never be able to trust him as she once did. Like Titus, she can trust him with her life. But she cannot trust him with Clarke's.

She has discovered that someone who would do absolutely anything for you out of love is almost more dangerous than an outright enemy.

She's managed to find out what time of year it is, and she has a vague memory of this day, although nothing particularly of note occurred on it. In roughly a week's time, she calculates, she will receive a message from Anya, telling her of strangers that have arrived on her land. A week or so later, she will receive another message, a message about the destruction of a village at these invaders' hands – not for food or land, but apparently just for spite. Soon after messages will begin to arrive more frequently, bearing no good news, and Lexa will send Tristan and his rangers to deal with this incursion, frustrated by Anya's unprecedented difficulty in removing this problem.

It will be the last message she ever sends Anya, and it will all but tell Anya that she has disappointed Lexa.

Lexa has always been good at waiting. But there is, in this case, no reason for her to wait. She has no desire for Clarke to once again burn three hundred of her warriors alive, for Anya to die.

"How many gonas can you gather by sundown tomorrow from the surrounding areas?" she asks Gustus suddenly. "Apart from Tristan and the rangers he commands."

Gustus looks surprised. "In that time, maybe four hundred, if I leave to begin now. Is this about the Azgeda?"

"Four hundred," Lexa muses, ignoring his question. "When you include Tristan's gonas who are already here, as well as Anya's unit, if I stop at Tondc on the way to gather Indra's forces as well... that will give me an army of nearly eight hundred."

"Heda?" says Gustus, eyes now worried, though he tries to conceal it. "Why do you require eight hundred warriors?"

"I wish to visit my old Fos," Lexa says.

"Why?" Gustus asks. "And why with an army?" He blinks. "Have you heard something? Has Indra or Anya committed a crime?"

"No," Lexa says firmly. "Of course not. They are loyal and strong."

"Then why?"

"I have spoken to the past commanders," Lexa says. It is completely truthful as a statement by itself, if not as an answer to Gustus's question.

The original Skaikru will either be arriving soon or have already arrived. Clarke kom Skaikru always insisted her people never intended to start a war with the Trikru, although Lexa knows Clarke to be wily and capable of lying to protect her people (one of many traits they share). If this is the case and they truly desired peace, then she will not need eight hundred warriors at this stage, but it is best to be prepared anyway. She will certainly need them in the area sooner or later.

There are several ways to deal with a force when you wish not to kill any of them. One is to take a small force and parley with them, trusting in honour and each other's word to protect both parties. In Lexa's experience, this engenders goodwill but has a chance of ending as a bloodbath, since honour can rarely work to protect one from a thrown spear. Perhaps she will try this strategy first, and send in Anya and some of her unit, arms raised to show they do not intend violence, to bring Clarke back to her in order to negotiate.

Another way is to bring so many warriors that the opposing force lays down arms immediately, recognising that to fight would be suicide. This tactic worked with the Skaikru before, and that was when the rest of their people had already fallen from the sky. If Lexa arrives with eight hundred warriors backing her up, this contingent of Skaikru may well prove willing to surrender and deal straight away. If they hurt Anya, she will default to this plan.

The Trikru do not like threats, and still less like strangers with guns, but if Clarke's people give in immediately then Lexa may be able to contain the situation and prevent the previous bad blood.

Lexa nods to herself, course decided.

"Gustus, alert Tristan that we leave at sunrise the day after tomorrow. Then send riders to the nearest towns and villages to collect those four hundred gonas."

"Yes, Heda." Gustus is far too disciplined to question what she has heard from the past commanders, but she sees his face has paled slightly. The Heda demanding an army of eight hundred on the basis of commands from the spirits has frightened him.

She decides to reassure him. "It is only a small number of gonas I expect to be dealing with, Gustus, we will outnumber them greatly. Do not look so worried. I merely wish to demonstrate the might of the Trikru to them. It is a show of force."

"Ah," Gustus looks relieved now. "I see. We are to make an example of them." He smiles, no doubt thinking they go to clear the area of bandits or a similar foe.

"Not we," Lexa says, gentling her voice slightly but making it clear that it is a command. "You are to stay here, Gustus, and care for the Natblidas."

He flinches. "I am your bodyguard, Heda, it is my duty to protect you."

"It is your duty to obey me. I can protect myself, Gustus. You stay and protect our future." She does something she has never done before, and briefly covers his hand with her own, an open gesture of affection that surprises them both. "Beja, Gustus. I will be fine."

Lexa can't take him, not when she fears having to end his life again. She has not planned past forcing Clarke's small group to surrender, and she doesn't know what she will end up doing with the Skaikru, so she also cannot know if he will approve of it. She does not wish to risk the situation with Pike again, but she also will not destroy Clarke's people. Perhaps Clarke, even without her memories, will have a plan that Lexa has not thought of.

After all, she always has before.

>>> Author's note: I figure in this case Lexa has a massive advantage - unless she endangers them, most of her people will let her do what she wants. And the Grounders in general already believe in a variety of things that (if she didn't care so much about her own religion) Lexa could absolutely use and abuse to explain her own sudden foresight.