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chapter eight, Massacre

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IT WAS A COUPLE OF HOURS AFTER THE BATTLE and after Queen Nia was killed and Nova met up with Iris in the room Lexa provided for her. Iris was seen sitting on a chair looking through her large window.

Nova closed the door but that still didn't grab Iris's attention. Nova slowly walked up behind Iris's chair and cleared her throat.

"Are you okay?" Nova asks and Iris doesn't answer she just moves around adjusting in her seat.

"Are you just going to ignore me?" Nova questions and Iris continues to ignore Nova. Nova walks around Iris's chair and sits down on the ottoman in front of her. Nova notices Iris's arm bleeding and some bruises on her face.

"Have you seen Fio?" Iris says sitting straight up in her seat. "No, No I haven't seen him" Nova answers and Iris sighs rubbing her forehead.

"We should get you cleaned up" Nova says standing up and putting her hand out to help Iris who stands up and walks past Nova.

"Okay, what is wrong?" Nova says walking up to Iris and turning her around so their face to face. "I couldn't stop them from killing Naira! I don't know where my brother is!" Iris shouts as tears fall down her cheeks.

"It's not your fault and we'll find Fio" Nova reassures putting her hands on her shoulders. Iris pushes Nova away and scoffs "It's like you don't care! Naira is dead, Fio is... nowhere to be found" Iris says throwing her hands in the air. Nova looks down and takes a deep breath.

"You think I don't care? I do care but there is nothing I can do about it! I'll find Fio but there's not much I can do right now Iris" Nova shouts looking into Iris eyes. "You can show a little compassion, a little empathy" Iris says looking Nova up and down.

"Well, I don't have a lot of that" Nova says honestly throwing her hands in the air and walking past Iris.

"Do you even want to know what happened?" Iris asks making Nova stop at the doorway.

"No, I don't want to think about that woman killing her" Nova states as she walks out Iris room, slamming the door on her way out.

Nova made her way to Lexa's throne room to talk to Lexa personally about Fio. Lexa let the guards let Nova through so Nova walked up to Lexa's throne and kneeled before her then stood up and looked at her.

"I was wondering if you knew where Fio was. Iris's brother" Nova asks as she looks to Lexa. Lexa shrugs her shoulders "He's always in and out of this place. He could be with Indra. You should come with me and Clarke on horses to see Indra" Lexa states and Nova smiles slightly and nods her head.

"I'll join you" Nova agrees as she turns around to leave. "Nova kom Trikru. I don't remember accepting you into my clan" Lexa states and Nova closes her eyes and spins around to face Lexa.

"I um- Apologize I only use the clan name because I trained with Indra and Fio and if I used Skaikru people wouldn't listen to me. I'm sorry" Nova states honestly and Lexa stands to her feet looking down to Nova.

"I accept you into my clan. Indra has spoken very highly of you. I think you'll be a good asset" Lexa states and Nova nods her head again before kneeling before Lexa then standing up again.

"I accept the offer, Heda" Nova accepts as she turns around and leaves the throne room to get ready to leave with Lexa and Clarke.

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IT WAS LEXA, CLARKE, AND NOVA RIDING HORSES on the countryside to get to Indra's camp followed by their entourage which features Nia's body. While riding Clarke and Nova share small conversations and share looks with each other.

"Heda!" Someone called out making everyone pull up short.

Nova, Clarke and Lexa find themselves looking on a field covered in the dead bodies of Lexa's peace-keeping force.

Nova, Clarke and Lexa jump off their horses tying them up and begin co. picking through the bodies. "They're all bullet wounds" Nova points out looking at the lifeless bodies.

"Heda! Come quick!" One of the grounders shouts making the 3 girls women run to find a wounded Indra. Nova widens her eyes and kneels next to Indra.

"Indra?" Nova questioned looking at the wound. "Ah, Nova" Indra breathed out.

"I need bandages" Clarke demanded but Indra refused the help. "Get away. You're one of them" Indra states and Clarke furrows her eyebrows.

"Indra, let her help. Indra, what happened here?" Lexa questions strongly and Indra let's Clarke bandage her up.

"They attacked while we slept. Our watch was to the north looking for Azgeda. They killed our archers first. Our infantry couldn't get close. Then they executed the wounded" Indra states referring to Skaikru which Clarke and Nova were shocked to hear.

"Kane did this? The coalition was days ago" Nova stated and Indra looked a little offended she thought it was Kane. "It wasn't Kane, it was Pike" Indra stated and Nova widened her eyes in shock.

"They have Lincoln and... and Fio" Indra breathed out and Nova's face dropped into a scared one. "Fio?" Nova mumbled to herself before clearing her throat and listening to Indra. "Bellamy help me live. He wanted to spare the wounded, but they wouldn't listen. He convinced Pike to let me live so I could deliver a message" Indra states and Nova and Clarke look to each other in confusion.

"What's the message?" Lexa questions and Indra takes a deep breath. "Skaikru rejects the coalition. This is their land now. We can leave or we can die" Indra states and Nova scoffs in annoyance but Lexa thinks and hesitates, then jumps into action.

"Send riders. I call upon the armies of the 12 clans. In a day's time, we lay waste to Arkadia and everyone within its walls" Lexa demands and the guards start to get to work on Heda's orders. Clarke isn't happy with them, so she stands to her feet and looks to Lexa in shock.

"Wait. Give me time to fix this" Clarke says as she starts walking away and Nova puts pressure on Indra's wound watching everything unfold.

"Stop her" Lexa orders and the guards stop her before she can get three feet, so Clarke turns to Lexa. "What are you doing?" Clarke questions.

"I can't let you leave, Clarke" Lexa says sounding disappointed.

"So, I'm a prisoner now, just like that?" Clarke questions as Lexa answers with a yes leaving Clarke confused.

"What about Nova?" Clarke asks and Nova clears her throat.

"Nova is a part of this clan, you are not" Lexa states and Clarke is left speechless.

"Indra, at the summit, Kane told me he gave you a radio. A way to signal him. Do it. Please" Clarke begs as Indra looks to Lexa for an answer and Lexa nods.

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LEXA HAS SET UP A TENT, so Clarke was able to work on Indra. Lexa stares moodily into the distance while Clarke tends to Indra in a corner and Nova stands next to Indra's bed.

"The bleeding's stopped. We need to get you something for the pain" Clarke states as Octavia walks in the tent.

"Octavia? Where's Kane?" Clarke questions as Nova walks over to Clarke and hugs her tightly Octavia doing the same.

"Kane sent me" Octavia says as Nova pulls away from the hug. Octavia walks over to Indra and smiles down at her. "Thank god" Octavia breathes out relieved she's okay.

"How did this happen?" Nova asks and Lexa walks over to get an answer as well. Octavia turns around and faces them. "Kane lost the election to Pike. Everything's different" Octavia says and Nova glares at Clarke.

"Skaikru voted for... this? A massacre?" Nova questioned.

"No. No, I don't believe that" Clarke scoffs looking to Octavia who rolls her eyes.

"What do you know, Clarke? You haven't been here" Octavia argues.

"Listen to me. The Grounder army is going to be here in less than a day. I need to see Bellamy" Clarke demands and Octavia scoffs. "Bellamy was a part of this. He's with Pike. What makes you think he'll help us?" Octavia says doubting her own brother.

"He saved Indra's life. If what Octavia's saying is true, then Pike trusts him. If I can get to him, he can get to Pike" Clarke states turning to Lexa trying to make a deal.

"You can't just walk through the gates, Clarke. You've been living with their enemy. If it were me, I'd kill you on the spot" Lexa states honestly and Octavia sighs.

"I can get her in" Octavia states and Nova takes a deep breath.

"Could I go too? I need to see Fio. He's probably with Lincoln. May I?" Nova questions turning to Lexa and Lexa nods her head slowly.

"There's a small window I can get you through so you can see Fio but it won't be big so you have to be quick" Octavia states and Nova nods quickly taking any chance she can get.