Chapter Text
Lexa stood outside Clarke’s door, hesitant to knock. Her fight with Roan had drained her physically, and the betrayal from her ambassadors has drained her mentally. And Clarke, well she was draining Lexa in all sorts of ways. One day Lexa is thrown into a wall with a knife to her throat, and soon after Clarke is at her throat trying to talk her out of the Soulou gonplei (single combat). Almost as if she was scared for Lexa’s life, and not just the Commander’s. Clarke had saved her life when she voted against the coup’s call of “no confidence.” It was a fortunate outcome of inviting Skaikru to be the Thirteenth Clan. She had to thank her. Taking one final breath to steady herself, she knocked.
Clarke opened the door, surprise written on her face at seeing Lexa standing outside her door dressed in a silk black nightgown.
“Is this ‘I told you so’?”
“No, this is ‘thank you’,” Lexa humbly replied.
After what seemed like hours of hesitation, Clarke invited her in. As Lexa walked over the threshold, Clarke gently grabbed at her injured hand. “Sit down. Let me change that,” she said, pointing to the bandage on her hand. Lexa didn’t understand why at first, but one look down revealed it had turned grungy and twisted. Likely from her constant scratching, desperate for reprieve from the itch caused by her healing wound. She followed Clarke and timidly sat down on an old settee sofa, resting her hands on her thighs. The room was lit with numerous candles calming her nerves. The room had a similar layout to Lexa’s room, only smaller. There was a hint of vanilla in the air, a scent that reminded her of Clarke. She was pulled out of her thoughts as Clarke sat down next to her, a semblance of concern washing over her face as she started to ask a question.
“That girl that was with Nia, Ontari? What will happen to her?” she inquired as she unwrapped the bandage from Lexa’s hand. The wound didn’t look like it was only a few hours old, but rather a few days old.
“She won't be back until the Conclave after my death,” Lexa stated.
“Do you ever talk about anything other than your death?” Clarke asked, with a hint of a teasing smirk on her face as she wrapped her hand back up.
Lexa smiled at the tease, feeling much more at ease. She came here to thank Clarke. A task that was difficult to do as she was not used to being vulnerable in front of anyone. The last people she could truly be herself around were dead. The words she wanted to say, caught in her throat. Finally, and with as much sincerity as she could, she finally told Clarke what she came to say. “Thank you for backing me.” What she did not expect was the gut punching reply from Clarke.
“I was just doing what was right for my people.” Clarke finished wrapping Lexa’s hand and looked her in the eyes. “Your ambassadors betrayed you. How do you move forward?”
“They were doing what they thought was right for their people too.”
This answer clearly surprised Clarke. Instead of becoming defensive, Lexa saw understanding in her eyes. Clarke had experienced the hardships of doing right by her people, no matter how tough the situation. She never knew what to expect when it came to Clarke’s reactions. Sometimes it was contempt, other times care, and it made her uncomfortable. Mainly because she felt she was the cause of both. Lexa took her hand back and readied herself to leave. She hesitated, not quite sure what to do. She could strategize and command armies in the middle of a war but could not figure out what to do when this woman was right in front of her.
“Would you like a drink?” Clarke surprised her as she stood up and walked over towards the small table next to the balcony where a pitcher of wine sat.
Lexa couldn’t believe her ears. Was Clarke really asking her to stay? Unable to keep the nerves in, she forced out the soft question with a tilt of her head, “Klark?”
“Come on, Lexa. After today, I could use one and I’m sure you could too.” She started to pour some of the dark spiced wine into her cup, looking up at Lexa to silently ask if she wanted some. “It’s not every day you upend a coup.” She slightly shook the pitcher at Lexa, “well?”
Lexa was normally not one to drink. As Commander, she couldn’t risk being inhibited by the effects it could have on her senses and reflexes. But here, sitting across from the woman she was infatuated with, both in their nightgowns, she could hardly say no.
“Just a little, beja.” Her insides were knotting, but she managed to keep her stoic facade in place. “And it may have been my first coup, but it wasn’t my first solo fight,” she said nonchalantly. “Roan was my fourth since the conclave.”
“Seriously?” Clarke probed as she walked back towards her, handing her the cup of wine before settling down on the other side of the sofa Lexa was on and tucking her feet underneath herself. The candle-lit ambiance and night clothing felt extremely intimate to Lexa, almost too much so. Lexa turned towards Clarke, mirroring her posture. It put a bit of distance between them, but it didn’t ease that sense of closeness.
Her mind wandered back in time “I was always small for my age, so when I won the conclave, there were those who thought I was unworthy. Three days after the conclave I was challenged by a general in the Azgeda army. Probably forced by Nia to do so.” She took a sip of her wine. “When I first tried to form the coalition, the Ambassador from Sangedakru challenged me when I was campaigning for it in their lands. Many leaders were against it since it challenged their ways, and they could not see my vision of peace for everyone.” Dropping her head, she took a deep breath to steady herself. The next challenge tore at her heart more than any of the others. “When…” she struggled.
She felt Clarke shift forward as she rested a comforting hand on Lexa’s thigh. The touch was one she hadn’t felt in a long time, a touch that conveyed concern with an attempt to comfort. She looked up and saw sadness in blue eyes, but thankfully not pity.
“After Costia was killed, I locked myself away from the world after forcing Azgeda to join the coalition. Anya tried to help, but the guilt ate away at me.” She couldn’t believe she was freely telling Clarke all this. “I was away too long and Delfikru’s ambassador challenged, saying I was weak. He was right, my love for her was weakness, but my fight was not over yet.”
“And, back to your death.” Clarke said, a slight lilt to her voice, as she patted Lexa’s leg trying to lighten the mood. Lexa smiled as Clarke pulled her hand back to herself.
“So it seems. Sorry.” She was sorry, not just for that, but also for ruining the opportunity given to her to just be with Clarke for a bit.
“No, I’m sorry for bringing it up.” Clark cleared her throat, “this wine is great,” she praised, moving onto a safer topic. “We really only had this… horrible moonshine on the Ark that Monty used to make,” she chuckled to herself. “It would burn your throat as it went down, but it did its job. And got me into trouble a few times,” she smirked.
Shaking her head, Lexa replied, “I want to say I’m surprised by that, but your reputation precedes you.” Her eyebrows raised. “It seems you have yet to outgrow that delinquent stage,” she teased.
“That I have not,” she laughed, “but it seems to work for me. So far at least.”
“Sha, it has.” Lexa thought back to their first meeting. “It’s not everyday someone blatantly disregards an offer from me, especially when it’s not a negotiation, and gets away with it.”
“Beginner’s luck?” Clarke questioned, wiggling her eyebrows.
“Perhaps,” she replied shyly, tucking in on herself a bit more.
They continued to talk while Lexa sipped her wine. Clarke got up at one point to refill her cup, sitting down closer to the middle of the sofa when she did so. The conversation stayed light, Clarke propping her elbow onto the back of the sofa at one point and resting her head on her hand. Even Lexa had relaxed after the initial shock of sitting so close to Clarke again. The atmosphere and calm she felt pulled at her, and as much as she tried, Lexa couldn’t stop the yawn from escaping her as the candles dwindled.
“You’ve had a long day, Lexa. You should go get some rest.” Clarke heeded.
The last thing Lexa wanted to do was leave, but she also didn’t want to overstay her welcome. The night turned out much better than expected. Butterflies swarmed her stomach at the ease between them that seemed to have returned.
“My healers would probably agree with you.” She stood gracefully, straightening her nightgown down her legs. She missed Clarke’s eyes watching her movement a little too closely. “Thank you for this evening, Klark.”
Clarke stood up after her. Not knowing what else to say, she simply bid her goodnight, “reshop, Heda. (Goodnight, Commander).”
“Goodnight, Ambassador,” she returned with a small smile before walking over towards the door. Maybe Clarke was starting to see Lexa again, and not just the Commander. They stared into each other's eyes before Lexa finally looked away and walked to the door. She opened it, and with one final glance towards Clarke, was gone.
- - - - ∞ - - - -
After that night, the animosity that had lingered between them started to slip away. Although they did not spend time alone again, Clarke started to show up at community dinners the Commander held when time would allow. Lexa seemed to enjoy having a variety of people from the tower sit down to eat with her, including guards, cooks, maids, and groundskeepers. Clarke was fascinated by how many personal details Lexa knew about the people others would claim were beneath her. She asked about their children, spouses, and hobbies with the utmost interest and sincerity.
Clarke also shadowed the training of the Natblidas, even giving instruction on medical treatment for injuries sustained while in battle, or out hunting. It was a struggle to watch sometimes, these young children preparing for a conclave that would most likely end in their death.
Most of her time was spent learning the role of Ambassador. With the attack on Mount Weather during the summit, and the threats leading up to the fight between Roan and Lexa, the Commander decided to send warriors to guard Arkadia from Azgeda until it was deemed safe to leave their borders unguarded.
“Monin, Klark,” Lexa caught Clarke walking down the hallway to the elevator one morning.
“Morning, Heda. How are you?”
“I am well. I have the morning free and wondered if you would want to accompany me to the market? It has been some time since I have been there, and I wish to see the people.” Lexa looked hopefully at Clarke.
Clarke had to think about it. They hadn’t been alone since the night after the fight. But she found comfort being around the Commander. She missed the days before the mountain, between planning for battle, when the two of them could just be themselves. “I think that would be nice.”
The two took the elevator down to the main floor. For one of the first times, the silence between them was uncomfortable, if only slightly. The last time they were alone they had shown more intimacy with each other than they had since before the mountain.
“Have you had the chance to explore the markets yet?” Lexa inquired, breaking the silence.
“Sha. But only in passing really. I’ve been busy learning the rules of the coalition after the bombing of Mt. Weather, and the whole Nia fiasco.”
“Well then, why don’t you take a break and let me show you what Polis has to offer.” Lexa smiled, her eyes lighting up. Clarke hadn’t seen such a smile since they received the message that Bellamy had turned off the acid fog.
The elevator groaned and creaked as it reached the ground floor, and the gates opened. Once Lexa and Clarke departed the elevator, they were flanked by guards. With a wave of her hand, she brushed them off. The guards looked at each other hesitantly but did not disobey. Clarke looked confused.
“When possible, I like to venture through the markets by myself. The guards can sometimes intimidate people and prevent them from talking with me. Especially the children.”
“I see,” Clarke smiled at Lexa, a genuine smile. She had been privy to seeing the Commander strip off her role and just be Lexa in the past. But that was when they were at war before the betrayal. Even at the dinners, Lexa still had a wall up, more the Commander than the woman standing next to her. Since Mount Weather, Clarke only saw her discard that role the night she came by after the Soulou gonplei (single combat). She missed the laid-back Lexa she saw those nights in the tent when she would show her true self.
The market was nothing like anything she has experienced before. There was so much life around her she couldn’t take it all in. People were bustling under tents and in stalls, setting out their numerous products. Kids running through the streets playing. Delightful smells of meat cooking and fresh baked goods overtook her senses and made her mouth water. The food on the Ark was nothing compared to the spiced, fire cooked meats they had on earth. And the smell of fresh baked bread made her feel comforted. It was nothing like she expected when she found out there were people still on the ground.
They walked in silence until they reached the start of the stalls, all previous unease gone. She didn’t realize that she gravitated towards Lexa as she walked. Slowly, murmurs from the crowd of “Heda” became louder as they noticed Lexa coming into the busy streets. Clarke noticed how patient Lexa was as she stopped to talk to those that came up to her. Never flinched or brushed off those that touched her out of reverence. Loved, no liked, how her eyes lit up whenever a child came up to greet her. Even with all the movement around them, Lexa never lost the grace of the Commander. It was clear to Clarke that Lexa’s respect as a commander was not based on fear for those that lived in Polis, it was out of love and gratitude. They revered her. She was amazed at how different this woman was than the warlord she met near the dropship months ago.
“Kom, Klark (Come, Klark).” Lexa reached out and lightly grabbed Clarke’s elbow, knocking her back into reality. “I want to show you one of my favorite vendors.”
They barely started walking again when Lexa was attacked by two children, who looked to be around 5 annd 8 years old. Lexa reached down, picking up one in each arm, and easily hoisted them over her shoulders like sacks of potatoes.
“Hei strik gonas! Yu jomp oyu Heda weron no ai ogud?! (Hey little warriors! You attack your commander when I’m not ready?).” She failed to keep her own stoic facade as a huge smile broke out over her face.
“Gonas bes ogud otaim, Heda! (Warriors should always be ready, Heda),” shouted the smaller of the two.
“Sha, yu radon (Yes, you are correct). Where is your father?” Lexa asked, changing to Gonaslang (English) as she set them down. When the Mountain Men were still a threat, it was important for warriors to speak the enemy’s language. Now, she thought it important to know the language of Skaikru.
“He is hunting. Our mother is working, Heda.” The little girl answered.
“Klark,” she gestured her over, “these are Ryder’s children.”
“Monin. Ai laik Klark kom Skaikru (Morning. I am Clarke of the Sky People),” Clarke happily waved.
“Wanheda…” they both gawked, eyes widening and mouth agape before bowing slightly.
A month ago, this would have sent her into a spiral; she hated the name and all the baggage that came with it. But after learning how many lives had been taken from the Mountain Men over the past hundred years, the burden of the title began to waver.
“Beja (Please). Just Clarke.”
“Sha, Klark. Ai laik Timore, disa ai sis, Dena, (Yes, Clarke. I am Timore. This is my sister, Dena)” the older boy said, putting his arm around his sister.
“Nice to meet you both. What does your mom do?” Clarke asked.
Dena, who looked to be five, spoke up, “She’s a trader at the market.”
“Actually,” Lexa turned to get Clarke’s attention, “their mother’s stall is where I was planning to take you.” She stood tall, placed her hands on her hips, and looked down at Timore and Dena. “We might as well take you two with us. We are in need of some guards anyway,” she instructed before peeking over her shoulder at Clarke and winking.
“Sha, Heda!” they yelled, each flanking her as they walked to the stall.
The four made their way towards the center of the market. As the crowds became larger, more people noticed Wanheda, making them slow down. Adults started to touch her, some even knelt on bended knees as they thanked her. Lexa kept a close eye on her, smiling her half smile as encouragement. Lexa knew it was important for the people to thank Wanheda for taking down the mountain, but she wasn’t sure how Clarke was dealing with it. She set herself closer to her, hoping her presence would be of comfort to Clarke.
“Here we are,” she smiled. “Monin, Laurel. I am showing Klark kom Skaikru some of my favorite spots and was hoping to show her why this one is on the list.”
At the mention of Clarke’s name, Laurel quickly looked at the woman. “Wanheda,” she said with reverence, “my Ryder speaks highly of you. You have done us all a great service, and it is an honor to meet you,” she bowed her head.
“Mochof (Thanks),” was all Clarke could muster. She still didn’t think what she did was great, just necessary. Wanting to move the conversation away from herself, she asked Lexa, “so, what makes this spot a favorite?”
“Ahhh, let me show you Wanheda. Yongons, kom sis ou. (Kids, come help out.)” Laurel turned her back and started mixing a few items into a pot like she was making a special herbal tea. She then put it on the fire and turned back around. “You will enjoy this Wanheda-“
“Beja, just Clarke is fine,” Clarke interrupted.
“Sha, Klark. This is a special mix of cocoa from the Broadleaf Clan, honey, and cow’s milk. It is best in the winter, but Heda believes there is no bad time to drink it,” Laurel smiled, playfully raising her brows at Lexa.
Lexa smiled, a rare, carefree smile that brought butterflies to Clarke’s stomach. “There is never a bad time for something that tastes this good. How have you been?” she asked Laurel. She had known Laurel since she was younger, before leaving Trikru to become a Novitiate. She was several years older than Lexa, but always looked out for her, especially since Lexa was always small for her age. She was one of the few people left in this life that had known her as Lexa, and not just Heda.
“Well, trade has increased a lot since the fall of the mountain, and with Roan as king in Azgeda, Ryder has been home more. Timore and Dena have been helping him hunt, and I think we will all travel together on the trade routes soon. Peace has been nice.”
“I am happy for you,” Lexa said sincerely.
“En yu, Lexa? Ha yu? (And you, Lexa. How are you?)” Laurel asked using Lexa’s given name, so she knew what she was really asking.
Lexa briefly gazed over at Clarke; a movement not missed by Laurel. A knowing smirk spread across her face seeing the way the Commander looked upon Clarke, how her eyes lit up and a small smile ghosted her face.
“I am happy we have peace, for now, and excited to see what the future may bring.”
“I can see that,” Laurel teased with slight mirth.
Lexa glowered at her. She had an idea of what she meant but ignored it for now; she wasn’t ready to address the feelings she had for Clarke after everything that had happened. She eased up as Laurel turned back around to pour the hot chocolate into some mugs, and eyed Clarke again, catching her looking at her with a questioning look as well.
“Here you are,” Laurel told Clarke, setting the drinks down in from of them. “Drink it while it is still hot, it is best that way.”
The two clinked their mugs together and Clarke took a sip. Lexa waited, wanting to watch Clarke experience one of the few luxuries this world had to offer. But, as Clarke put the drink to her lips, Lexa found herself focusing on them instead. The beauty mark that sat right above them. The way they pursed around the rim of the cup, and she flashed back to the kiss they shared before. Her mind wandered even further when she heard Clarke moan, turning her ears pink.
“Mmmmm. Oh my god, this is so good,” Clarke hummed to herself. She was lost in the velvet, sweet, chocolatey drink.
“So, you found something you like then?” Laurel asked.
“I did,” Clarke happily replied.
“Seems like she’s not the only one…” she whispered, chuckling to herself while looking at Lexa, who did not miss the comment and glared at her.
“Shof op (shut up),” Lexa said under her breath, rolling her eyes.
Clarke was still in her own world, enjoying the earthly drink. They didn’t have luxuries like this on the Ark. “I can see why this is one of your favorites, Lexa. It’s fantastic. Thanks for sharing it with me.”
“Pro, Klark (You’re welcome, Klark). I’m glad you like it. Come on, we should head back to the tower. Laurel, we will have someone bring the mugs back to you.” Lexa placed her hand on Clarke’s lower back and started to guide her away. The movement seemed so natural.
Clarke felt the warmth of Lexa’s touch, missing it the moment it was gone. “Mochof, Laurel. This is great.”
“Pro, Klark. Stop by anytime you want more. Yongons, come say goodbye to Heda and Wanheda.”
“Leidon, Heda. Leidon, Wanheda (Goodbye, Heda)!” they both yelled cheerfully, bowing respectfully.
Lexa knelt to hug each of them. “Leidon ai strik gonas (Goodbye my little warriors).”
“Nice to meet you, both,” Clarke told them both with a smile.
Lexa and Clarke started their way back to the tower. Clarke noticed how Lexa was walking much closer to her than she was this morning, and realized it made her feel safe. A few months ago, she hated the Commander. Wanted nothing to do with her. Now, she realized having Lexa in her vicinity didn’t make her angry but protected.
“Thank you for this morning, Lexa. It was nice to get out. The people really love you.”
“It was my pleasure, Klark. I’m happy you enjoyed yourself,” Lexa side eyed her. “I have a question to ask you.” Her demeanor changed, remorse washed over her face as she turned more towards Clarke. “I need to take Nia’s body to Skaikru to show them that they are protected under my coalition. I know you have hesitated to return there.” She sighed, stopped, and lowered her head. “If you are up to it, I would like you to accompany me.”
“Um… when are you planning on leaving?” Lexa was right. Clarke wasn’t sure she was ready to face her people.
“Tomorrow. It has been a week and my scouts have not seen any Ice Nation warriors or scouts around Arkadia. It should be safe enough to travel there now, and I do not want to waste any more time. I plan to stay with the army there tomorrow night and deliver her first thing the next morning.”
Clarke felt a queasiness in her stomach, and her hands trembled. “I’m not sure I’m ready. They still expect so much from me, and I continue to let them down.” I’ve had to do so many horrible things to keep them alive, and yet it’s never enough for them, she thought to herself. “When do you need to know by?”
“Tonight, if possible,” Lexa hesitated.
“I… I’m not sure,” she sighed. Lexa’s eyes showed concern, even if she was trying to hide it. Her face reminded Clarke of when they stood at the pyre burning those that were gunned down in TonDC.
Lexa stepped closer to Clarke, softly gripping her arm hoping to ground her. “I know it can be hard… carrying this weight around with you. You feel like you have done horrible things and-“
“I KILLED A WHOLE CIVILIZATION, LEXA!” She seethed through her teeth, not wanting others to hear her yelling as she pulled her hand away, not deserving the comfort.
“I know, Clarke.” Lexa risked gently taking a hold of Clarke’s shoulder. “I know what it is like to have to do the impossible. Every day I face those demons, and sometimes I’m afraid the worst of them is myself. A leader must make tough decisions, but the toughest part is not always the decision itself, it’s having to live with it. Yes, you killed a whole civilization. BUT,” she emphasized heavily, “you have saved tenfold the number of innocent lives that would have been taken, had you not.”
Clarke’s eyes started to water as she stared into Lexa’s eyes, seeking the truth of those words. She looked to the sky, bidding her tears to not fall. Away from her people, and the constant need to be a leader, she was getting better. Seeing children in the streets playing, knowing they did not have to fear the woods anymore, eased her pain. The people here didn’t ask anything of her, just accepted her. Thanked her even. Could she go back to the people who asked everything of her? She pondered for a second. “I’ll let you know tonight. Thanks again. For this morning,” she told her sincerely, and walked off.
- - - - ∞ - - - -
The next day dawned rainy and cold. Lexa met Clarke in the stables and had a horse ready for her.
“You will ride next to me, Klark. It will take us until nightfall as I do not want to rush. And the camp is already set up, so we do not need to save time for that.”
The two climbed onto their horses. Lexa with a lot more grace than Clarke could dream to execute. The two rode through the forest, quietly talking here and there, nothing of great importance. They were still feeling each other out. Lexa had let down her walls slightly, a natural occurrence around Clarke. But it was clear that Clarke’s were still held high. Lexa hoped it was because she would be seeing her people soon, and not because of her.
As the sun rose higher into the air, it banished not only the cold and clouds but also appeared to bring Clarke out of her reserved demeanor. They stopped once for lunch in the shaded trees by a small creek. Berries, nuts, and rabbit were pulled from pouches as the two of them sat near the water. Getting off the horse felt good, but Lexa was eager to get to Arkadia so they could finally send Nia off and be rid of her permanently. She looked over to Clarke and noticed she was taking off her boots. “What are you…” she was about to ask before Clarke scootched forward and placed her feet in the water. It amused her how innocent Clarke could be. A warrior would never remove one's shoes to just relax. It was best to be ready for anything at any given moment. There may be peace from the Maunon, but the coalition was still on edge.
“Come on, Commander,” Clarke said with a tease in her voice, “it feels good.” She looked at her more seriously, almost as if lost in thought. “From the Ark you could see the water. Mixes of teals, blue, and navy all running together. I always wondered what it would be like to jump in a river, swim in the ocean, just like we would see in old movies from before the bombs. And unless you were a toddler, there were no baths. Just showers.”
Eyes furrowed together, “What is a movie, Klark?”
Clarke couldn’t help but laugh. Not at the Commander, but at the sheer differences of their backgrounds. “Sorry,” she said. “I’m not laughing at you, Lexa. It feels like we’ve been through so much together in such a short amount of time, I forget how different we are sometimes.” She pondered, shaking her head. “It’s baffling.” She fidgeted with some rocks between her legs and turned to smile as she answered Lexa’s question. “It’s a show that uses a bunch of moving pictures. Kind of hard to explain, but maybe I’ll show you one day.”
Lexa rolled her eyes, making her look much younger. “I was joking. I know what a movie is, Klark. We may not have the tek of the old world, but we do have books from that time, and our ancestors have passed down stories of life before Praimfaya. But I will take you up on your offer,” she responded happily, “and I can teach you how to swim if you’d like.” Clarke smiled, nodding her head. “You know, we may have different backgrounds, but we are also very much alike in ways. Our duty to our people, being leaders at such a young age, living with difficult decisions.”
“Being stubborn,” Clarke stated matter of factly.
Lexa looked affronted as she put her hand up to her heart, “I am not stubborn, Klark. I am Heda,” she smirked. “You on the other hand. You are very stubborn,” she chuckled. She was enjoying this moment. It was nice to set aside the role of Heda, even if just for a moment. She found it was easy to do around Clarke, and she liked how it made her feel, as if a weight was lifted off her shoulders. Unfortunately, the duty she had just mentioned a second ago brought her back to reality. “Come on,” she said standing up, putting her hand out to help Clarke, “we should get going if we want to make it to camp before dark.”
Lexa stared out of the giant window of the ring, her head resting on the pane of glass looking down onto the Earth’s oceans. They were finally becoming visible after years of hiding under a dust filled atmosphere; a result of the death wave. The palm of her hand pushed out as if wanting to skim the ripples once again, to feel the waves lap around her feet once more. Clarke had been right, the mix of blues and teals were beautiful from the Ring, but not as beautiful as the blue eyes she loved so much. She thought fondly back onto those days immediately following Roan’s defeat often. It was the start of a major turning point in her existence. One that set her off onto a new life path that tested the core of her beliefs, and yet, one she missed terribly.