6 - PEACE

[ PEACE ]

ANY NEEDED TRANSLATIONS WILL BE AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER IN THE AUTHOR NOTES.

༺═──────────────═༻

Sayah doesn't know what to do.

As she watches Murphy get 'comfortable' in his position with his wrists chained, she panics. She wants to say something but she doesn't know how. She's never been in a situation like this before. Why was she still chaining him up? He was anything but her prisoner. She didn't care about orders anyway. She shouldn't let him sleep like that. She shouldn't even let him stay in this cave. If she really even cared about him, she would let him—

Wait.

"I—uh—" She stammers. Murphy raises his head up to look at her. How didn't she notice how pretty he was before? Even with the dried cuts. She furrows her brows.

Something had changed. Something had changed inside her. And she didn't understand it.

"Are you alright?" Murphy asks her, concern laced in his voice. She hated it. But she also liked it. Why was he concerned? Did he care about her?

Did she care about him?

"Sayah, what is it?" Murphy stands up, approaching her as much as he can considering his wrists were shackled. Sayah stares at the ground. She can hear her blood pumping in her ears.

"Hey," Murphy whispers softly. Sayah glances up at him. Their faces were so close. She could feel his warm breath on her cheek. "What's wrong? Talk to me."

Sayah couldn't avoid his gaze. She couldn't move. What is this? Why was she acting like this? It was just Murphy. Murphy.

It was. . . Murphy.

༺═──────────────═༻

Murphy wants to grab her hands like he did the other night and pull her into him. He wants to tell her she doesn't have to say anything right then, because the way she's looking at him right now makes him believe she can't say anything. He wants to make her feel okay.

But he's scared.

Before he can grow the courage to just do it, she breaks the eye contact and takes a step back. Murphy feels something inside him crumble.

"I have to. . . see Lincoln." She stutters, before looking back up at him. Murphy can only watch as something in her eyes tells him it's more than that. She's realised something. He just doesn't know what.

"I'm sorry we couldn't go see the stars again tonight," She adds. "We will soon. . . promise."

Murphy's lips part. He swallows hard before looking down and nodding slowly. What had he done? Had he went too far? Was this all his fault? Did he ruin one more amazing thing in his life?

"I'll see you, Murphy." Is all she says before turning around and leaving. Just as she turns the corner, Murphy opens his mouth to speak, but it's too late.

༺═──────────────═༻

"We'll make a warrior out of you yet," Sayah hears as she enters Lincoln's cave. What she doesn't expect is to see her brother and Octavia with their tongues down eachother's throats.

"Gross." She comments, causing them to pull apart quickly, weapons pointed at her.

"Easy," She raises her hands in surrender. "Just wanted to say hi,"

Octavia clears her throat. "Hi, Sayah."

Sayah snorts. "Octavia." She greets. "How are you?"

Octavia lets out a laugh at the formalities causing Sayah to join in also. Octavia approaches her quickly, embracing her in a hug. Sayah hugs her back with hesitation. They had met more than once, getting more and more comfortable with each other each time Octavia visited Lincoln. Sayah liked Octavia.

She never thought she'd be here. Hugging the girl who her brother is so fond of — hugging a Sky Person.

Then she remembers. It wasn't her first time holding a Sky Person in her arms. Sayah felt horrible. She had left Murphy and all she could think about was his broken expression when she took that step back.

She didn't understand all of it yet. She just knew there was something with him. . . Something was there, and maybe she had a slight idea of what it was but that didn't mean she had to admit it to herself.

She didn't regret being close with Octavia. If anything, she was grateful. Maybe soon they'd let Murphy go and when this was done, they could both live freely. Octavia and Lincoln were just an example of that the Sky People and Sayah's people could live freely together. Peacefully.

"How are you?" Sayah questions Octavia.

"I'm well, and you?" She asks. Before Sayah can respond, Lincoln beats her to it.

"Always busy," He teases with a small smile. Octavia glances between the two siblings, a smile forming on her face.

"Busy? Busy with a boy, he means. Doesn't he?" Octavia raises her eyebrows. Sayah shakes her head.

"No. Nothing of the sort." She lies. She did spend most of her time with Murphy now, day and night. Days where she would give him the food she stole and they would sit next to each other and talk about what they felt were on their minds.

   And night, where they would balance across the tree log, climb the ledge and sit on the other side, away from the world, listening only to each other's hearts beating with their hands intertwined. Sayah almost smiles at the memory of his hand in hers.

   Perhaps it was time to admit the truth to herself.

"Right," Octavia drawls, noticing Sayah's lie. "Of course."

"That's enough of that," Sayah rolls her eyes.

The three talk for a while about everything — mostly plans on how to create peace between everyone, even though it's very difficult. Lincoln comes up with the best plans, Sayah jumping in when needed, and Octavia brings up things from her side. Sayah recognises small aspects of what Octavia says with what Murphy had told her previously.

Soon, Octavia realises she's been gone for a while and someone at camp will notice if she doesn't return. So the trio climb out, saying their farewells.

"Be safe," Sayah tells her, embracing her once more. Octavia nods, pulling away. "You too,"

She turns to Lincoln, a smile on both of their faces, and Sayah can't help but look down when they connect their lips in a sweet kiss. Her mind travels to Murphy, wondering if he was alright. She should've left her warm coat for him instead of letting him sleep on the hard ground.

She was horrible.

When Lincoln and Octavia pull away, a twig snaps behind them. Sayah is quick to pull out her knife as she and Lincoln stand protectively in front of Octavia. A person approaches. "Finn?" Octavia questions. Sayah and Lincoln pull her back.

"No! Guys! Wait! Wait! He's my friend." Octavia grasps their arms. Sayah and Lincoln glance at eachother before moving their gaze to the boy. The boy then opens his palm to reveal Lincoln's knife. Sayah knits her brows in confusion.

"I think you lost this." The boy says.

༺═──────────────═༻

"So what the hell are you doing here?" Octavia questions the boy, Finn, as the four enter the cave once more.

"I could ask you the same thing." He replies. "I could also ask how long you've known they speak English. . ." He gestures to Lincoln and Sayah. ". . .But I won't." He finishes.

Finn picks up the foghorn that lay on the table against the wall. "You blew this when your people were hunting us."

Lincoln nods. "You saved our lives." Finn adds. "I have to believe there's more like you two." He looks between Sayah and Lincoln.

"I stabbed you." Lincoln says.

"And we tortured you." Finn argues. "If the two of us— Hell, the three of us," He looks over to Sayah. "Can get along, then maybe there's hope."

"Learn from history instead of repeating it, right?"  Finn questions.

"How do you think that's going to happen?" Sayah speaks up, catching his attention. "We've been going at it for days, it's too difficult." She says, crossing her arms over her chest.

"For starters," Finn sighs. "No more killing."

Sayah shakes her head. "Lincoln and I don't have the power to call a truce."

"Then bring me to someone who does." Finn suggests. Lincoln and Sayah scoff simultaneously at his words.

"Hey, look." He catches our attention. "The rest of our people are coming down here. The first ship lands in two days."

"It's true." Octavia adds in.

"And because of the attacks, they're sending mostly soldiers; the people who enforce our laws." Finn continues. "The Ark is about survival at any cost, and they'll kill people who fall out of line. When those people get down here, if they feel threatened, they will start a war. . . And I don't want that."

"Neither do we." Sayah states.

"And I think that's why you blew that horn," He gestures to Lincoln, "And why you helped Octavia escape." He turns to Sayah.

"Once the soldiers get here, it will be too late," He says. "And we'll have no power to stop them. But if they see that we're at peace. . . then maybe we'll have a chance to stay that way." He finishes, waiting for Lincoln and Sayah to give him their thoughts.

Lincoln looks over to Sayah. She purses her lips. "I'd enjoy some peace for once."

Lincoln nods, turning back to Finn. "Alright." He says. "You bring your leader, We'll bring ours."

"What. . . Bellamy? He'll never go for this." Octavia objects.

"No. Not your brother." Sayah speaks up. Finn glances between Sayah and Lincoln.

"Clarke." Finn states.

༺═──────────────═༻

Sayah was nervous. Nervous for the meeting they had planned, and nervous to see Murphy. She had been thinking about him too much and she hated it. What did her mind want her to do?

Did it want her to admit what she'd been denying for the last several days? Deny what she had realised? Deny the fact that was proven — without doubt — yesterday?

So when she turns the corner of the familiar cave with the food she had taken, and spots him sitting there with his head lowered and his hair rustled from running his hands through it too many times, she purses her lips. Fine. She'll admit it.

She cares for John Murphy. She really does. And yes, she is sure this time. . .

She is definitely sure that she has romantic feelings for the Sky Boy. And now that she admits it to herself, she doesn't even regret it.

That scares her the most.

༺═──────────────═༻

All night, Murphy had felt like a fool. After he watched Sayah leave, he had sunk to the ground and considered slapping himself.

Now, when he looks up to see her looking at him — just looking at him, he knew there was something different about her. Worried she would act distant, he goes against asking her what's wrong. No matter how much he hates not knowing and not being able to help her.

"Hi." Is all he says when she crouches down in front of him with that morning's stolen food wrapped in cloth.

"I'm sorry." She replies almost instantly, taking a seat. "About last night. I didn't want to leave, I—" She shuts her mouth as soon as she blurts those words out and closes her eyes in embarassment. When she opens them, Murphy is smiling.

"It's okay," Murphy tells her, unwrapping the cloth filled with food. "I mean. . . it wasn't — I was upset — but it is now." He admits, considering if she was to admit something she didn't plan to, he would too.

He sighs, pondering on asking another question but before he can, she speaks first. "I didn't want you to be uncomfortable while you slept, that's why I went all. . . quiet and. . . yeah." Her gaze falls to the ground as she speaks. "I wanted to give you something. You know, so you could sleep better but I was just. . . nervous to ask."

Murphy suddenly likes this shy side of Sayah and smirks. "What were you planning on offering?"

Her eyes meet his and she chuckles. "Perhaps a blanket of some sort." She states nonchalantly.

"Oh, okay." Murphy's lips turn up in amusement. "I thought I had. . . done something wrong." He adds seriously.

Murphy hadn't planned on telling her but he felt like he should've. Plus, a little part of him wanted her to know that he felt at fault. He needed to know if he had overstepped some boundaries.

"No!" She reassures him lightly. "No, you have done quite the opposite, John Murphy." A small smile forms on her face.

Murphy feels curiosity flood through him. 'Quite the opposite'? What did that mean? Well, I guess it means I'm doing a lot of things right then. Murphy thinks, undeniably proud of himself.

He doesn't know what he wants. He doesn't even know what he's doing when it comes to Sayah or why he's doing it. He just. . . does it, and he knows it's not like what he would do with irrelevant girls at camp (who he can't really remember the names of).

"So. . . are we good?" Murphy asks. He finds it funny, asking his guard if they had mended their relationship when they were positioned to be enemies. Murphy just hopes that he and Sayah were okay again.

Because if they were, maybe they can sneak out and see the stars again that night.

"Yeah," Sayah smiles. "Yeah, we're good." Murphy doesn't particularly hate how his heart soars at her words.

༺═──────────────═༻

"Are you ready?" Lincoln asks Sayah as she puts on her jacket, the next day.

"Yeah, there's just something I need to do first." Sayah tells him, remembering something that was top on her to-do list as they walk through the small village.

"Well hurry, I don't think Anya will wait long." He says before walking away.

   Last night, her and Murphy had snuck out and went to their ledge again to look at the stars. She had never really felt happier, just sitting with him and talking. Then a wave of confidence overtook her and she found herself leaning into him. After a few seconds, she was about to pull away in fear that she had crossed a line, but instead he had wrapped his arm around her and pulled her in closer. They both had a wide grins on their faces for the rest of the night.

   Sayah realised that she had to make sure that nothing would threaten that happiness. Nothing would rip that peace away from both of them.

   That's when she remembered what had happened to Murphy and how his life had been threatened.

Sayah enters a small hut, a murderous glare in her features. A small table is in the centre, eight, large men sit around it, laughing and drinking some liquid Sayah probably wouldn't stand the smell of. "Ekon and Kwan." She calls out. All the men cease their laughing and their heads turn to her.

Ekon stands up, his neck tattoo visible just through his clothing. Ekon was always a round man, never letting that stop him on the battlefield until well. . . it did.

   He had fled in the middle of a battle with Azgeda, claiming his back ached with intense pain. Healers deemed him unworthy to fight ever since. Now, he just drinks all day while criticising each new fighter that becomes the talk of the village.

   Ekon raises his arms in the air. "Chit do yu want, Sayah?" He spits out, causing Sayah to grit her teeth.

Sayah approaches him and places a hand on his shoulder. She smiles sickly before kneeing him in the crotch. He kneels over in pain, letting out a groan. All the men cackle.

"Kwan," Sayah calls, her eyes on the bald headed man. It wasn't coincidental that if Ekon visited Murphy, Kwan would've followed. The two were a 'duo'.

   When Ekon was pulled from fighting, Kwan dropped his title as well, deciding to join him in drinking and gaining weight. A poor choice for what could've been an excellent warrior. "Ai heard yu boys visited ai honon." Sayah tells him.

Kwan lets out a laugh, not moving from his seat. "Had em coming, dirty skai raunon. Ai beda don killed em!" He snarls.

Sayah approaches him and quickly grasps his neck, smashing his head into the table. His nose bleeds almost instantly. He lets out a howl of pain. What a weak man he had become.

"Yu will nou touch em ever again. Ste bilaik clear?" Sayah questions. Kwan doesn't respond, only whimpers in pain. Sayah rolls her eyes and grabs his hand. "Mebi ai beda break your hand gon touching em. Would yu bilaik, Kwan?"

"No! No, beja no!" He cries.

"Laik ai clear?" Sayah repeats. He nods quickly, pain evident on his face.

"Good." Sayah smiles, dropping his hand. She leaves the hut as quickly as she came. Her eyes search for Lincoln and soon she spots him waving over. She catches up with him, letting out a sigh.

"Get whatever you needed done?" He questions, raising an eyebrow.

"Without mistake." She replied easily.

༺═──────────────═༻

Lincoln and Sayah run out of the bushes. Sayah spots Octavia immediately, with the blonde girl, Clarke, and Finn. They approach Octavia first, who embraces them both in hugs. Sayah clenches her jaw when she meets the eyes of Clarke. Clarke stares back at her, something unreadable in her eyes.

A horse neighs behind them and Sayah glances at Lincoln for a second. Three people approach on horses, two guards and Anya in the middle.

"Hey, we said no weapons!" Finn calls out.

"We were told there wouldn't be." Lincoln states.

"It's too late now," Clarke says. She glances at Finn and they begin to step forward but Sayah puts her arm out to stop Finn. Clarke stops too.

"She goes alone," Sayah tells him, glancing at Clarke.

"I'll be fine," She reassures Finn, who has an uneasy look on his face.

"Clarke—"

"Hey. It's time to do better." She tells him before approaching Anya. Anya hops off her horse, approaching Clarke also.

They meet in the middle. Words are exchanged and Sayah watches Clarke put out her hand in some sort of greeting. Anya just looks at it. Sayah purses her lips in second-hand embarassment. "Someone should've gone with her."

"It's too late now, Sayah." Lincoln replies.

They continue to talk and Sayah hears Anya raise her voice. "Why would I agree to an alliance, your people can break the moment they get here?"

After a moment, it goes too silent. "Something's wrong." Sayah states, gripping her knife.

Suddenly, a Sky Person appears out of the bushes. "Clarke, run! Run!" He yells before he starts shooting his weapon. Gunfire goes off around them.

"Clarke, get down!" Finn yells as he tries to run towards her. Sayah sprints towards Clarke as well, not caring about the gunfire.

She reaches her and shoves Clarke in front of her just as soon as a spear strikes behind her. "Are you alright?" Clarke yells. Sayah grabs her arm quickly and lifts her up. "Just go!" She demands, dragging her along.

Her arrows fly around them as they reach Finn who runs beside them. Sayah keeps her eyes up on Lincoln on the far end of the bridge and then she sees it.

An arrow goes flying straight into his chest. Sayah's eyes widen. "Lincoln!" She watches him snap the arrow in half.

The trio reach him and Octavia in seconds. "Run! Don't stop till you get behind your walls." Sayah tells them.

"Go! Take her!" Lincoln demands to Finn, pushing Octavia towards him. Octavia struggles in Finn's grasp.

"Lincoln, no!"

"Go!" Lincoln yells. Sayah grips onto him as they disappear behind the trees.

"It's just a scratch," He pants. Sayah shakes her head.

"Silly boy," She mutters as she puts his arm around her shoulders. "Can you walk?"

"Yeah. . ."

"Well, still use me as support," She tells him. "We have to go home."

"Sayah," He breathes.

"She'll be fine," She replies, knowing he's worried for Octavia. "Come on, we have to get out of here."

༺═──────────────═༻

"Hey, keep moving." Sayah urges Lincoln. He's looking at the sky.

He doesn't budge. "Sayah," He motions up to the sky. Sayah follows his gaze. A small beam of light comes down. "Is it them?"

"I'm not sure," Sayah replies.

But the ship of some sort doesn't slow down like they expect to do. It disappears behind some mountains and suddenly there's a huge explosion.

Sayah lets out a gasp. "Lincoln—"

"No one could've survived that," He mumbles.

Sayah closes her eyes for a moment. She didn't know anyone aboard but the loss still hits her hard. I'm so sorry.

༺═──────────────═༻

a/n

TRANSLATIONS:EKON: What do you want, Sayah?SAYAH: I heard you boys visited my prisoner.KWAN: Had it coming, dirty Sky Person. I should have killed him!SAYAH: You will not touch him ever again. Is that clear?SAYAH: Maybe I should break your hand for touching him. Do you want that, Kwan?KWAN: No! No, please no!SAYAH: Am I clear?

^ sayah threatening anyone who looks at murphy the wrong way