Chương 15: An Old Foe
"Silence!"
Lexa's voice rang around the chamber, startling the bickering ambassadors into silence. The chosen ambassadors for Azgeda and Trikru have been arguing for about ten minutes now nonstop and it seemed Lexa had finally had enough. I couldn't understand how the people that were chosen to represent their respective nations had the gall to behave like children so consistently. There was a small patch of land maybe a few dozen acres in square area between their nations and each nation wanted it for themselves. This was the second time that they've brought the issue to the Heda and it seems it is no closer to being resolved than it was the last time.
Rubbing her forehead trying to ease the stress these two have brought upon her today, she let out a tired sigh before sitting up straighter. "That is enough. I had given Azgeda and Trikru enough time to rectify this issue once before. Since two of the strongest nations in the entire alliance cannot fix a simple land dispute, I will handle it myself." Lexa said firmly, glaring at both ambassadors.
I could see that both of the ambassadors were nervous, each one worried that she would give the land to the other. I knew she wouldn't do that though, to keep the alliance strong she had to show no biased behavior to one clan or the other, especially if an issue involved her former clan. Smirking under my mask, I was anticipating their reaction to her decision once she decided to stop torturing them with their own anticipation.
"The land will be a neutral territory." She said with finality, begging one of them to argue with her. They both looked like they wanted to, but her glare warded them off fairly easily. It's been a year since Azgeda had joined the coalition, completing the alliance. Within that time, Lexa had built a bit of a reputation. She was well known for her cunning mind and brutal tongue. As deadly with her words as she is a sword, she verbally disarms anyone who disagrees with her direct orders before finally going for the kill. Many times her words had baited individuals to step forward angrily, only to be stopped short with my spear under their chin and then being forcefully removed from the throne room.
Azgeda's ambassador finally settled on looking down in defeat while Trikru spoke. "Understood, my Heda." The ambassador said dejectedly, before joining his companion in looking defeated.
"The land will be a neutral territory bridging your lands together, and there will be a trading post placed there to encourage people to use the land as such. The Post will have two guards, one produced by each of the offending territories to promote unity and cooperation. Are there any objections to my decision?" She finished sharply, already knowing they would be too scared to object to her word.
They both replied negatively to Heda's decision and left the throne room in unison. Only once the doors were shut, did Lexa let out a groan of mental fatigue and allow herself to slump in her chair.
"I hate this, James I hate this." she groaned out, putting her face in her hands.
Chuckling in response, I couldn't resist the urge to torture her a little bit more when replying. "Well my Heda, you could always give them another chance to sort out the issue themselves. I'm sure they would act the age of which they are and settle it peacefully." I say with certainty.
She let out another pain filled groan, her face never leaving her hands. "Shut up..." she said tiredly, extending the "uh" part.
Her response only made me laugh more, which in return caused her to remove her face from her hands and shoot me one of her famous glares. I grew used to her glares over the time in which we have been friends, no more did I find them intimidating but rather... cute. Riddled throughout the recent year, Lexa and I would find ourselves in many awkward situations. One of the more recent situations involved us in a rather, suggestive... position.
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Three months earlier:
"Come on Lexa, you can do better than that." I goaded with a face splitting grin.
"Shut up!" Lexa snarled, standing across from me. She was breathing heavily and weakly got into her fighting position.
I gave her a second longer to gather her breath and then I rushed her once more. Anticipating her strike before she even threw it, I grabbed her arm and used her momentum to flip her over my shoulder. With the wind knocked out of her I quickly capitalized and mounted her, holding her wrists above her head.
"Do you submit?" I teased with a smirk adorning my face.
Lexa's eyes were filled with a certain fire and I knew she wouldn't just quit. That's not who she is, she is a fighter, not a quitter. The next thing I knew, I was on my back looking up at her. She had a victorious smirk on her face now that our positions were reversed. I could have easily flipped us back over but... looking at the beautiful smile on her lips, the way the sun almost made it look like she was glowing. I wanted to see her smile like this more often.
"Do you submit?" Lexa repeated, trying to mimic myself when I said those same words only seconds ago, voice and all.
Letting out a dramatic sigh, I decided to play along.
"Yes my Heda, I submit." I replied with an over dramatic eye roll.
She let out a victorious exclamation at my words but she didn't make any move to get off of me, and I didn't make any movements to remove her. I vaguely became aware of a tightening in my pants but it was pushed to the rear of my mind. Before I knew it, Lexa's face was inching ever so slowly to my own. Leaning in slowly to meet her lips halfway, the cities bells rung out. The bell toll shattered whatever moment just happened between us and Lexa quickly jumped off of me.
"Go get ready, the bells signaled it is noon and that means I have a coalition meeting in about an hour." Lexa said promptly, walking away without looking back.
She wouldn't meet my gaze for the rest of the day and as soon as the coalition meeting ended, she entered her quarters and did not come out until the next morning.
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Present:
"Come on Lexa, that was the last scheduled meeting of the day and you definitely need a break." I say lightly, holding the throne room doors open.
She looked at me thankfully before she sluggishly rose from her throne and walked out the room. Following her through the halls of the tower, we made our way down the elevator and outside into the busy streets of Polis. The short walk was spent in comfortable silence and the warm feeling of each other's presence.
It's been awhile since either of us has just walked among the people of Polis, Lexa because she has been busy with Heda duties and myself because it is my job to be next to the Heda, ninety five percent of the time. I missed just walking along the crowded streets, vendors selling and trading, the warm homey scent of freshly baked breads, the spices combined with cooked meats. People were happier than they have ever been and due to there being no war between the clans, people have become rather loving towards one another. At least, if the large number of infants being born has any say in the matter.
Looking at the beautiful woman to my side, I can't help but admire the way her lips turn up slightly at the corners giving her a soft smile. The way her eyes hold that soft warmth towards her people and friends, yet they can shift at a moment's notice and turn icy and cold towards her enemies.
A smile forms on my own face due to seeing and hearing everyone's greetings and praise towards Heda and I as we walk past. Not everything is all smiles though, there has definitely been some conflict obstructing the peace we have achieved. There has been an increase in reaper activity, many men have been taken from their homes, and villages being raided. The mountain has been more active this past year but we don't know why. That's where the reapers take the men they've captured. I have been thinking about sending a squad of five men down to the mines to find out how they turn into reapers however, I know that it would basically be a suicide mission for anyone to go.
"Are you alright James?"
I hear Lexa ask, her voice filled with concern. She must have been able to feel the negativity coming off of my thoughts.
"It's nothing Lexa, let's just enjoy your time off." I say, trying to put as much happiness in my voice as I could. Lexa wasn't buying it though, she could always tell when I was lying to her.
Her small hand grasped my elbow, pulling me to a halt. Releasing a deep sigh I turn towards her. "I have been thinking about the Reapers and the mountain again."
Hearing my words she released a sigh of her own.
"We will stop them James, with the full strength of the Coalition. Our strength is united, one clan alone is weak, but together... we are strong." She voiced with passion.
I knew she was right but it didn't stop me from feeling like she was wrong. Since I first came to the ground I've been hearing horror stories of the mountain and how they have been terrorizing the clans for generations. There is even a story that they had launched a missile and destroyed a village in the past. There is no telling how many of these missiles they have and whether they decide to use them on Polis or not. There's a certain unnerving feeling about it, knowing that at any time you and everyone you know could be wiped out at the push of a button.
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