18 - TRUST & BETRAYAL

[ TRUST & BETRAYAL ]

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   Murphy was adamant about not going with the others to Tondc to burn Finn's body. Sayah had decided she was going with them, wanting to stay with Octavia and Lincoln and be there for her village's grieving.

"Promise I'll be back soon." Sayah had told him before she left. Murphy had rolled his eyes but kissed her a sweet goodbye nonetheless, telling her to be safe.

As she walked alongside Lincoln and Octavia during the trip, it was silent. Then Octavia cleared her throat.

"So, Sayah, I see you and Murphy are. . ."

Sayah scoffed. "We are not doing this."

Lincoln raised his eyebrows. "It seemed I was the last to know that you and him are together now."

Sayah smiled at him teasingly. "Yes, well it was quite difficult considering you being a Reaper and well. . . a war, brother." Lincoln shoved her playfully and Sayah giggled. Octavia shook her head at the two with a smile.

Sayah's eyes travelled up to Clarke who spoke with Bellamy while they walked up ahead. "Has anyone checked up on Clarke?" Sayah mumbled.

"I don't think anyone's really happy with her at the moment." Octavia replied.

"She did what she had to." Sayah frowned. "In my eyes, she is strong. What she did however, will haunt her forever."

"Is Sayah always this wise?" Sayah heard Octavia whisper to Lincoln.

"I heard that, Via." She narrowed her eyes at Octavia.

Lincoln simply smiled and replied lowly, "I taught her some things but besides that, yes, she is quite wise herself."

Sayah rolled her eyes at his words before glancing over to him. He grinned back at her. "Good to have you back, brother." Sayah patted his shoulder.

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That night when they all stopped to rest, Sayah and Lincoln returned from catching a small rabbit. As they walked to go sit back beside Octavia, a voice muttered out single word from behind them: "Natrona."

Sayah and Lincoln both froze in their tracks. Sayah knew instantly it was Indra and when Lincoln turned his head to look, she was right. Indra didn't look back at them once.

Sayah sighed in annoyance and continued to sit down beside Octavia at their small campfire. "Natrona?" Octavia repeated, confused.

"It means traitor." Sayah snarled, eyes on the fire.

"My people fear me." Lincoln murmured. "They think the Reaper's still inside." He laid down on his back.

"You can talk to us," Octavia spoke to him. "About what happened."

"I can't." Lincoln responded slowly.

Sayah shook her head. "You are not that monster." She met his gaze sternly.

"I hope you're right, Sayah."

Sayah frowned at his words. He was Lincoln. Her brother. If anyone was the monster between them, it was her. Lincoln was good. He was always good.

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Once they reached the entrance to Tondc the next morning, Sayah was on edge. Her people and the Sky People had an alliance now.

But everyone were tense nonetheless.

"Weapons." One of the Commander's guards, Gustus, ordered, holding a small crate. Lincoln and Sayah stepped forward, giving their weapons away.

"We must disarm before we enter." Sayah explained.

Everyone did so, Gustus approached Raven and Raven did not move to give anything away. Gustus took the weapons off her himself. Sayah internally laughed at how many blades Raven had on her. Then Gustus turned to the Commander, Lexa.

"Heda," He spoke. "All clear."

Lexa nodded and they entered village, heads held high. Once the villagers caught sight of the Commander, they called out to her, saying her name, asking why she had brought the Sky People here. They were not happy, as Sayah expected.

Suddenly, Lexa stopped as a man stood in front of her. He spoke in Sayah's language saying. "Sky People took everything from me: my wife, my child."

Gustus stared sternly to the man. "Move aside." He ordered.

"Murderers are not welcome here!" The man argued. Lexa sent a look to Gustus. Gustus stepped forward and hit the man. The man fell to the ground and Gustus didn't not hesitate to keep attacking him, throwing punch after punch.

Sayah watched as Clarke stepped forward. "Commander, stop him. Please." Sayah raised her brows at Clarke's courage. "They'll blame us for this too." Clarke added and Sayah knew she was right.

"Let him live," Lexa finally ordered and Gustus stopped, stepping away from the man slowly. A few villagers helped the bloody man stand up as Lexa turned to address everyone.

"The Sky People march with us now." She spoke in English. "Anyone who tries to stop that, will pay with their life."

Then she turned back around and kept walking. Sayah glanced at Bellamy who raised his eyebrows and muttered: "Warm welcome."

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Sayah stood beside Lincoln and the others as the ritual began. She kept her head raised high and held a straight face. She never liked these things. Well, of course, no one did: it was a funeral. She didn't know how to act, whether to openly grieve or just keep it all in.

   After several rituals, she realised to keep it in, is to show strength. Strength that showed even when you lose someone you love, you can keep going.

   She wondered if anyone else questioned if they could keep going after they lose someone. Did it break them? Did it completely shatter all they had left?

   She hoped she would never find out.

Lexa started to speak loudly in Sayah's language and Sayah glanced at Lincoln to translate. She particularly did not want to.

"People of Tondc," Lincoln translated in English. "In fire, we cleanse the pain of the past."

Indra passed the log over to Lexa, the tip of it lit with a flame. Lexa paused before lighting the bodies. She glanced over to Clarke, "Clarke." She called, offering her to do it. Murmurs of shock passed around and Sayah watched as Indra and Gustus visibly tensed.

Clarke hesitantly stepped forward, taking the branch from her. She paused for a moment, sadness evident on her face.

Then slowly, carefully, she moved her arm ahead and lit the wood. "Yu gonplei ste odon." Clarke mumbled and Sayah inhaled as she watched Lexa glance at Clarke with something unrecognisable in her eyes.

Clarke then slowly placed the log into the rest of the wood, which began to go up in flames. Sayah watched intensely.

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Sayah tried her best to ignore the disgusted stares she received as her, Lincoln, and Octavia waited on the other side of the table across from Lexa and her guards, for the other Sky People.

She sighed deeply, hoping to eat in order to avoid any questions or in this case, glares. She knew they saw her and Lincoln as traitors. But this alliance was supposed to end the conflict. She was growing impatient, wanting to question Octavia on where the hell Clarke and the rest of them were. But before she could, they had entered.

They stood at their seats and Kane spoke up. "Please accept this gift, Commander." He unraveled a cloth to reveal a small bottle with some type of liquid in it.

"We drink this at special occasions." Kane explained. "I believe this qualifies." He handed it out to her but Gustus took it instead before passing it to Lexa.

"Thank you, Marcus of the Sky People." Lexa nodded.

"You're welcome, Lexa." He paused before adding: "Kom Trikru." Sayah's lips twitched up at the attempt. It was generous. "Just, uh, don't drink too much of it." Kane added.

"Clarke," Lexa's gaze drifted to her. "Let us drink together."

"It would be my pleasure." Clarke replied.

Two goblets were handed to Gustus who took them and placed them down. Lexa filled them with the drink before passing one to Clarke.

"Heda," Gustus spoke. "Allow me." He took Lexa's goblet from her and drank it slowly, eyes on Clarke. When nothing happened, he passed it back to Lexa.

"Tonight, we celebrate our newfound peace." Lexa spoke up. "Tomorrow, we plan our war." She raised her goblet. "To those we've lost, and to those we shall soon find." Clarke raised her goblet in return.

Just as they were about to take a sip, suddenly Gustus fell to the table, choking and spluttering. He then stumbled back. "It's poison!" Someone had yelled.

Bellamy didn't hesitate to smack the goblet out of Clarke's hand. Indra unsheathed her sword. "It was the Sky People!"

One of the guards pulled apart the tables, separating them and leaving a gap between the Sky People and the commander's guards. Bellamy stood protectively in front of Clarke.

"This wasn't us! You have to know it wasn't us!" Clarke argued. Lexa yelled something to Nyko before Indra yelled. "Everyone out! Search them."

"No! No! We didn't do this!" Clarke tried to explain. Sayah felt someone grab her shoulders from behind, she shoved them off as she turned to them.

"Touch me and you will lose your fingers." She seethed. The guard grunted but moved along anyway.

"Gustus warned me about you, but I didn't listen." Lexa stepped towards Clarke.

"Lexa, please—" Clarke tried.

"Tell me something, Clarke." Lexa spoke sternly. "When you plunged the knife into the heart of the boy you loved, did you not wish that it was mine?"

Clarke did not reply. Suddenly a guard spoke up after searching Raven. "Heda," He raised a small vile and sniffed it.

"That's not mine." Raven denied.

"This was in her coat," The guard told Lexa, passing it to her.

"I'm telling you, that's not mine!" Raven argued. "He put it there when he searched me."

Clarke and Raven turned to Lexa to see her reaction. She was silent for a moment, her deadly eyes scanning the room before she yelled, "No Sky Person leaves this room!"

Then she stormed out, guards following her obediently. "Do something." Octavia begged Sayah and Lincoln.

Sayah caught Indra's figure walking out. "Indra!" She called. "Indra, wait!"

Indra paused, head turning ever so slightly. "Yu laik quick kom assume bilaik em was osir." Sayah frowned.

Lincoln joined Sayah. "Teik ai shish op kom emo." He rushed out.

Indra narrowed her eyes. "Yu laik em." She closed the gate harshly and walked away. Sayah clenched her jaw as Lincoln and her shared a look.

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Sayah sat alone on the concrete steps as they waited for what would be decided regarding their fate. Sayah's leg bounced quickly as she bit her thumbnail.

She was unsure. She was definitely unsure.

The Sky People wouldn't poison the Commander. All they ever wanted was peace.

Sayah was suddenly brought out of her thoughts as a grunt was heard. She glanced up, seeing Raven glare at Clarke who cradled her temple. Raven had punched her.

"You're the only murderer here." Raven spat at Clarke. Sayah got up and approached the two girls, glancing between them in concern.

She expected Clarke to fight back, but suddenly her gaze shifted to something behind Raven. "Leave me alone." She breathed out. Sayah turned to see who she was talking to but there was no one there. She glanced back to Clarke.

"You gave me no choice. Why did you turn yourself in?" Clarke questioned, tears filling in her eyes. Sayah's lips parted in recognition.

Clarke breathed shakily, glancing around in paranoia. Sayah frowned. Abby moved in front of Clarke. "Baby," She whispered to her daughter but Clarke ignored her, only turned and walked away, going to sit down on the far end of the room. Sayah sighed before going to sit back down.

After a few moments of watching Clarke shake and stare into nothingness, Sayah got up from her spot and approached her. She crouched down in front of her.

"You've being seeing him, haven't you?" Sayah whispered gently. Clarke's eyes snapped to hers and she looked like she could melt to the floor.

"How did you know that?" Her voice was shaky.

"It will fade." Sayah frowned. "Eventually. It will haunt you as long as the guilt is at the front of your mind."

"I had to do it—" Her voice broke and she put her head down.

"I know, Clarke." Sayah placed a hand on her knee. "And you are one of the strongest people I know for that."

"It was the only way." Her lip trembled. "But he just won't leave me alone."

Sayah nodded. "He will go away. The pain will go away. It will haunt you, as it is now, but soon, that too will fade."

Clarke's head did not raise. "Look at me." Sayah whispered. Clarke lifted up her head.

"You are not weak. It will fade." She said the words sternly as she looked into Clarke eyes.

A shuffle of footsteps caused Sayah to break the eye contact as she looked up to see Abby standing patiently. Sayah squeezed Clarke's knee and stood up, allowing the mother and daughter to talk.

Sayah took a seat next to Bellamy and sighed. "Is she alright?" He questioned lowly.

Sayah controlled the urge to tease him about how much he cares. "She will be."

Bellamy pursed his lips, looking at the floor and then back to Sayah. "And, are you?"

Sayah met his concerned eyes. "What do you mean?"

"This must be. . . difficult, for you and Lincoln." Bellamy spoke cautiously.

Sayah smiled sadly. "I appreciate your concern, Bellamy. I am fine, thank you." Bellamy nodded at her words.

"I was protecting everyone!" Clarke's voice suddenly rose as she spoke to her mother. Everyone's head turned to them. "I didn't have a choice, you did."

Sayah blocked out the rest of the conversation, knowing it wasn't her place to listen even if they spoke loudly. After a minute, Clarke stood up and walked away from her mother.

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"She thinks we tried to kill her," Clarke replied to Kane as they sat together, referring to Lexa.

"But we know we didn't." Kane reminded Clarke. "So let's figure out who did. Who would want her dead."

"Too many to count." Lincoln spoke up, grabbing everyone's attention.

"Lincoln's right." Sayah added. "Forming an alliance with you was a risk. Especially after what Finn did to this village."

"So it had to be someone trying to break the alliance." Octavia concluded. Before they could speak any further, the gate door unlocked open.

Sayah moved to stand protectively in front of Clarke as Lincoln went to Octavia.

Nyko entered first and then Indra, followed by some guards. "How's Gustus?" Lincoln questioned Nyko.

"Gustus will live." Nyko replied.

"Take her away." Indra spoke in Sayah's language, eyes on Raven. Sayah's eyes flickered towards Raven.

Two guards moved quickly towards her. "Wait, what are you doing?" Kane questioned as Bellamy moved forward to stop them.

"She didn't poison anyone!" Bellamy argued, hand reaching out to stop the first guard.

"I argued for all of you to die." Indra explained. "But the commander is merciful. She wants only one."

"She's innocent." Sayah stepped forward.

"I don't care." Indra seethed. "They move, they bleed." She ordered the guards.

They shoved Bellamy out of the way harshly. Sayah moved to help but the guard pushed her away too, grabbing Raven and leading her out of the room.

"The rest of you are free." Indra spoke, obviously not happy with the idea. "When she's dead, so is the alliance." Lincoln and Sayah shared a look.

"You should run." Indra warned darkly.

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"I take no joy in this, Raven." Lexa spoke as she approached a panicking Raven who was pinned to a tree. Her arms were lifted high above her, her wrists restrained together. "But this time, justice will be done." Lexa grew closer to her.

"I didn't do it." Raven breathed out. "How is that justice?"

Lexa did not reply, only lifted her sword and placed it on Raven's arm. "We have to do something." Bellamy stepped forward but Sayah pulled him back.

"We can't." She told him, swallowing the lump in her throat. Lexa moved her sharp blade down, slicing Raven's arm. Raven cried out in pain.

"Lincoln— Sayah— Talk to them." Octavia begged.

Indra was next, lifting up Raven's shirt and slicing her stomach. Raven's cry of pain hurt Sayah's heart.

"You can talk to them. These are your people." Octavia shifted in her spot.

"Not anymore." Lincoln replied, walking forward to speak to Nyko. Sayah quickly joined him.

"You are no longer safe here, my friends." Nyko told them. "I'll do my best to make sure you get away. Then you'll be on your own."

Lincoln and Sayah nodded and Nyko hugged Lincoln before moving to Sayah. "Good luck, strik gona." Nyko whispered to her. She nodded before letting him go.

"Clarke, we need to move now." Abby's voice called out to Clarke who was still down where everyone had been locked up. No answer. Only Raven's screams of pain.

"Clarke, now." Abby repeated sternly.

Suddenly, Clarke appeared out, a hard expression over her features. Sayah watched as she walked over determinedly before looking at Nyko, "I need that bottle now." She ordered. Nyko moved quickly.

Clarke approached the circle and called out. "Stop!"

"This should be good." Sayah mumbled under her breath, walking closer towards the action.

Heads turned to Clarke. "Let her pass." Lexa ordered.

Clarke approached her, Sayah, Bellamy, Kane and Abby following after her. "One of your people tried to kill you, Lexa. Not one of mine."

"You should've run." Indra stepped forward and Sayah did also, eyes glued to Indra's. Indra simply glared.

"I can prove it." Clarke added just as Nyko appeared with the bottle. Clarke grabbed it from him and without hesitation, took off the lid and drank it. Sayah's eyes widened a little.

Clarke swallowed, waiting for something to happen. Nothing ever did.

"Explain." Lexa demanded, confused.

"The poison wasn't in the bottle, it was in the cup." Clarke told her. Gustus leaned in and whispered in Lexa's ear.

Then Bellamy spoke up, eyes narrowed. "It was you."

Sayah glanced at him, confused. "He tested the cup, he searched Raven." Bellamy explained.

"Gustus would never harm me." Lexa argued.

"You weren't the target." Bellamy clarified. "The alliance was."

"We didn't do this." Clarke told Lexa. "And you know it."

Lexa was silent for a moment before turning to Gustus. She demanded the truth. Gustus sighed before answering. "This alliance would cost you your life, Heda." Gustus told her. "I could not let that happen."

Lexa pursed her lips before replying. "This treachery will cost you yours." She ordered something to the guards and they grabbed Gustus quickly as Raven was cut down. Abby, Sayah and Bellamy rushed over to help.

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"How did you know it was Gustus?" Lincoln questioned Bellamy later that night as they sat around the campfire.

"He'd do anything for her. To protect her. It just makes sense." Bellamy glanced down.

"Look at the thanks he got." Octavia mumbled. Sayah bit her cheek, gaze drifting to the fire.

"Guys!" Raven's voice called out as she made her way over to them.

"What is it?" Bellamy questioned as she sat down with us, radio in hand.

A voice crackled through over the static. "—Forty-seven of us are trapped inside Mount Weather. They've taken Harper—"

"Talk to him. Say something." Clarke told her.

"—We don't know how much time we have left. Please hurry. This is Jasper Jordan. We need help. Forty-seven of us—" Raven listened carefully.

"It's repeating." She knitted her brows.

"They're alive." Octavia gasped.

Bellamy crossed his arms. "We need to do this now. We've got the alliance, now is the time to use it."

"First, we need an inside man." Clarke stated. "You were right," She met Bellamy's gaze. "Without someone on the inside to lower their defenses, turn off the acid fog, an army is useless. You should go."

"I thought you hated that plan." Bellamy frowned. "That I would get myself killed."

Sayah glanced between the two strangely, eyes lingering on Clarke. Clarke's next words shocked everyone. "I was being weak." She stated emotionlessly. "It's worth the risk."

Bellamy's lips parted with an unreadable expression on his face. Sayah's eyes were wide, glancing around to see if anyone else was just as confused and surprised as she was.

She nearly laughed at Octavia's face, who looked undeniably confused with a hint of offended.

"My map of Mount Weather," Clarke handed him the map. "Find a way to get on that radio and talk to us."

Sayah and Octavia shared a look of 'What the hell' before moving back to Bellamy and Clarke. Bellamy took the map slowly at first, eyes flickering to Clarke. Then he grabbed it out of her hand quickly. His gaze fell to the ground, darting around.

Something was different here.

"Good luck," Clarke added before turning and leaving. Sayah was shocked. Raven glanced at Bellamy who looked literally like he had been kicked directly in the heart. Multiple times. And the boot had knifes on it. So kicked and stabbed.

"Bell, how are you gonna—" Octavia began but Lincoln cut her off.

"I can get you through the tunnels." Lincoln stated.

"Woah." Sayah furrowed her brows, turning to him. "Don't you think it's a little too soon?"

Octavia agreed. "Yeah, you can't go back there. Not yet."

Raven, noticing the awkward atmosphere she was currently in, caught Bellamy's attention. "Let me show you what to look for." Bellamy nodded and followed her to the tent.

"Look, I have to," Lincoln said to the two girls. "I need to face what I've done."

"Then we'll face it." Sayah stepped forward. "Together. All of us."

"No, you two are needed here. You both know our ways. Without that, this alliance will fail." Lincoln argued.

Sayah shared a look with Octavia, knowing he had a point. "We won't let that happen."

"I know you won't." Lincoln chuckled proudly.

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a/n

whew okay so barely any sayah n murphy content in here but i wanted sayah to be at the village with them bc like. . . thats her village and her people n she deserves to be able to go with them

hope u enjoyed this chapter!lemme know if there are any mistakes

TRANSLATIONS:STRIK GONA means LITTLE WARRIOR.SAYAH: You are quick to assume that it was us.LINCOLN: Let me speak for them.INDRA: You are them.

^ sayah/octavia watching the bellarke interaction where clarke basically was like lol yeah bellamy u go n put your life at risk idc abt it anymore its fine i WaS bEiNg WeAk, good luck😎( ik ive used this meme before BUT ITS SO ACCURATE FOR THIS )

LITERALLY OCTAVIA'S FACE IN THAT SCENE IS SO FUNNY YOU GOTTA WATCH IT OMG