New Commander, New Peace

[Clarke Griffin]

Marcus Kane

---

Polis lay calm today. After the past days of busy commotion and the overthrow of a leader, Clarke had officially earned herself rest in the room newly assigned to her, full with what her new position entailed. She had sent for leaders from the Sky People – skaikru, she had to remember that. Clarke wanted peace, full on lasting peace. This commander would not betray them. This commander had an interest in lasting, good peace, in diplomatic peace, in good peace. Clarke had forgotten to tell the messengers about whether or not they could tell her people – she specifically requested Marcus and Bellamy for good reason – that it was her, that she was the new commander. They probably wouldn’t tell them anything, being disgruntled warriors, still in minor shock about what happened. 

Clarke had just heard of the arrival of the skaikru, after she had a full day of rest. She had just had dinner with the remaining leaders in the city as the sun set. She needed to speak to the official representative first. Clarke asked who had come, noticing pleased that Marcus Kane was with them, as was Bellamy. Her requests had been met. Clarke asked for Marcus to be allowed into the conference room with her alone for now. She had a few… demands, so to speak. She needed things about the leadership in Camp Jaha to be changed for this peace. Clarke made sure the candles were lit, as the light outside was slowly dying this evening. The door finally opened, revealing the man – Clarke wasn’t sure she’d ever get used to his changed looks, then again he was in for the bigger shock with her commander gear.

"Kane. Welcome to Polis. You can't imagine how glad I am to see you!"

[Marcus Kane]

Since the massacre of the mount weather, Marcus has been in charge of Camp Jaha, once again. Abby was injured and morning her daughter's leaving, and so he had taken up the role while she recovered. He relied heavily on Bellamy, and thus when the 'request' came, Marcus left Blake in charge of the camp and went to find out what was going on. They could not ignore the grounders, but nor would they ever made a plan that relied on them in anyway--they had made their choice. Marcus respected Lexa's position as a leader to her people, and understood that hard choices had to be made; that didn't mean he approved or liked it. It also didn't mean he was about to allow them to be bedfellows again.

He was taken to a room, and the door pushed open. Marcus took in the room before the new commander, one they called Wanheda, making sure that they were alone. He wasn't sure what happened to Lexa, he only knew that there was a new one, with a new title, and that she was asking for him. "Kane. Welcome to Polis. You can't imagine how glad I am to see you!" His head jerked to the voice, but it took him a moment to find her--not because there were others int he room but because she was the only one in the room. "Clarke?!"

[Clarke Griffin]

When Marcus finally looked at her, he had the reaction she almost expected. There was no way for them to anticipate that she would be the new Grounder commander. But the opportunity arose and so she had to take it, wherever that would lead them. It was probably not an easy road or painless or good, but it was worth a try. If it got all of them peace then she was willing to shed her own blood for it, even die for it. And as had been proven, that might just be what she had to do for it. She didn’t care. “The very same.” Though no longer the same than she had been back on the Ark when he knew her when she was younger. She had seen too much, had done too much to still be the same. 

“Sit down, please. I am guessing you will have a lot of questions.” It would only be human nature to be curious about everything. Last time he dealt with Lexa, now he dealt with someone he had seen when she was still in her pigtails. She hoped it would give him trust in the new commander, she hoped he would work with her and see the opportunity in it – as well as the risks of course. She hoped they could exploit this stroke of luck. “Like how I became the commander? Honestly, I have not a single clue on how exactly that happened. I was apparently suddenly selected to be Commander.”

Marcus Kane

[Marcus Kane]

“The very same.” No, not the very same. This was not the girl he had knew, this was someone new. He could see it on her. Not just in the clothing, but in how far she had come since they had put her on the dropship, buckled her in, and shipped her off to die. “Sit down, please. I am guessing you will have a lot of questions.” That was an understatement. “Like how I became the commander?" That was good place to start.

"Honestly, I have not a single clue on how exactly that happened. I was apparently suddenly selected to be Commander.” Marcus lifted his hands to fold over his chest, his feet slightly apart and even with his shoulders. It was a stand of power, and defense. He was not going to hold his power over her, as he knew he was no longer her chancellor, but nor was going to sit down and welcome this news without raising the needed questions first. "I thought they believed in reincarnation?" He asked, knowing Lexa had once told him this. Marcus has asked many questions on their culture and military rankings while spending time with Lexa, and she had answered many--which was why he was shocked to see them following her.

It also made him wonder what it had cost her to get here. She had left her people, and now she ruled another one? What had she done to gain the power?

[Clarke Griffin]

Clarke nodded at his question. They did, she thought. To a certain extent. There was reincarnation involved, but it was not everything. She was confused herself. It was their culture, she had initially intended to just watch the ceremony, to see who would be commander and maybe run back to Camp Jaha and report on to who it was, what to expect from them, what they said before they became the commander and upon becoming commander. Now though things were different. “They do. But they can’t wait for the commander to be reborn after her death, I think. Apparently the commanders’ spirit picks the new commander, however that happens. Apparently Lexas spirit has chosen me.” It also broke the news of her demise to him, though she thought she’d keep the information on how and why to herself until he asked. It was not an easy topic and not nice. 

“I could have said no. I could have gotten out of it, but I thought it was worth a try. For peace.” And peace was something their people deserved. In all of this she remained an Arker. She remained loyal to her own people even though she was leading a different culture now. If it brought them together, it was all for good cause. The peace would be one step closer to the Arkers finally finding a new home. She wanted to know so much about Camp Jaha from him, but she guessed it was more important he would get his questions answered. He had to call the shots for the Arkers. Then she would ask everything she needed of him. There were a few things she really needed and things she needed to change in the system here, at least for herself, even if it wouldn’t stick with the Grounders.

Marcus Kane