Long into an Abyss (Part Six)

"Don't speak, don't look at them, don't even breathe, okay?" Clarke whispered, holding onto Violets hand as she kept her head down and nodded, walking up the hill to the commander, walking past what could have been hundreds of grounders, only looking at their shoes.

"If you so much as look at her the wrong way, I will slit your throat." One of the grounders outside the commanders tent threatened them, with a stern and serious tone.

Clarke tugged on Violets hand, as she walked with her into the tent, as she picked her head up just enough to get a view of her surroundings.

"You're the one who burned three hundred of my warriors alive."

Violet looked up, surprised at the voice as she noticed what must have been the commander, a young woman with long, brown hair and markings around her eyes, sitting on a 'throne' that had long wood or bone fixtures on the back of it. She was turning a knife back and forth between her hands.

"You're the one who sent them there to kill us."

She planted the knife down in the arm of the chair, "Do you have an answer for me, Clarke, of the sky people?"

"I've come to make you an offer."

"This is not a negotiation."

A grounder, whom Violet had not noticed before spoke in another language, or dialect, looking at the two of them as the Commander held up her hand, silencing her.

"I can help you beat the Mountain Men."

"Go on."

"Hundreds of your people are trapped inside Mount Weather. Kept in cages. Their blood is used as medicine."

"How do you know this?"

"Because I- we saw them."

"Can the little girl confirm this story?"

"My people are prisoners there too, we both were."

"Lies. No one escapes that mountain."  The same grounder from before spoke up.

"We did. With Anya. We fought our way out together."

"Another lie. Anya died in a fire. You killed her."

Clarke reached into her pocket slowly, the guarding grounder who threatened them drawing a knife from his sheath, as the commanders face did not change, and Clarke pulled a braid of dark brown hair from her pocket. Anya's."

"She told me you were her second. I'm sure she'd want you to have this." Clarke took a few steps up to the commander, and back, handing her the braid before returning to her spot next to Violet.

"We don't know it's hers."

The commander spoke in that same dialect, quieting her again.

"Anya was my mentor before I was called to lead my people. Did she die well?"

"Yes. By my side. Trying to get a message to you."

"What message?"

"The only way to save both our people is to join together."

"Those who are about to die will say anything."

"I'm still waiting for an offer, Clarke."

"The mountain men are turning your people into Reapers. I can turn them back."

"Impossible!" Once again, the grounded spoke in that dialect language, angrily this time.

"I've done it with Lincoln!"

"That traitor is the reason,"

"Indra!"

"my village was slaughtered by your people!"

The commander yelled something, getting her to back down as she stood up.

"You say you can turn reapers back into men?"

"Yes."

"Then prove it. Is this your daughter?" The commander looked at Violet, and back up to Clarke.

"N-no, she's a friend."

"Do you care for her?"

"Yes?"

"If you are lying I will take her, as my own. You clearly do not know how to take care of her. Her hairs matted and she's beaten." The commander ran her fingers through Violets bangs, getting stuck instantly in the tangled mess.

"Show me Lincoln."