So this story is way darker than our Harry Potter fic. The main story takes place four years after the initial fall to earth, although there will be a lot of flashbacks to their time in the Ice Nation. There aren't a lot of established grounders outside of the command structure Lexa is involved with in the show. In a true show of laziness for the many, many soldiers who we needed in this story, we just imported them from the Fire Emblem game series. Mostly from Fates. Like I was going through some rage quits and thought, hey look disposable characters. They are all super altered to fit this world however so we didn't tag them for the game. The Mountain stuff is just happening now in the story because unlike in cannon, Lexa never had a bunch of sky people running around killing her warriors. So she didn't bring her army down till the coalition was more secure.

Hope you all like this fic and we look forward to any feedback you might have.

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The gods, if they existed, must be laughing at Clarke and her people. She tightened her grip on the hard reigns in her hands, ignoring the cold and the creak of the leather. If someone had told her two years ago, when she was young and soft and seventeen sitting in prison for the crime of believing in people, that she would someday be leading an army for a woman who had ordered the murder and torture of most of her friends she would have laughed at them. But here she was, wearing the brands and tattoos of a savage people, wrapped in white furs and painted with white paint, weapons strapped to her body and warriors prepared to die on her orders following her.

Out of habit she found her eyes seeking the blond head of Charlotte riding beside her. Long cold, pain filled nights curled round the child who was on the brink of death had hard wired a constant need to be aware of Charlotte's location. Out of an army of four hundred that she was leading south only five of the members were among the original group that had come down in the dropship. Charlotte, Octavia, Atom, Raven, and Monty. Bellamy would take care of the others but the queen would never allow more than half of their group to be in one place at a time unless it was inside her dungeon. It felt like a lifetime ago that there had been 101 prisoners crashing to the earth reveling in their first breaths of clean air. Now there were twelve of them left and they were all scarred and weathered by blood and death.

Her horse snorted shaking its head slightly pulling her out of her dark thoughts. Pulling herself upright she surveyed the troops she was leading. They were all battle hardened warriors but they were her warriors and their relaxed presence soothed Clarke. Monty was grinning while chatting with the warriors around him. Raven was half asleep on her horse and looked like she was barely keeping herself upright. Charlotte was bright and curious, eyes sharp and searching for threats. Atom calmly riding to her left and back, a silent pillar. Octavia was arguing with another warrior. Everything was in order with her people. The army was well equipped and making good time. Pushing her heels into her horse's sides she sped him up slightly till she crested the hill. A mile further and they'd be joining the largest army gathered since before the war, all at the command of Heda Lexa.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" Octavia said from beside her startling Clarke slightly.

"And deadly, keep your guard up, I don't want any of you going out on your own while we're in Trikru territory." Clarke turned a serious eye on Octavia the most likely to go wandering.

"Yes ma'am, general, ma'am. What are we to call you now? Do I get to call you princess again?" Octavia grinned at Clarke.

Rolling her eyes Clarke sighed, "You know the rules. Grab a dozen warriors and ride ahead. Get an audience with Heda and return with word of where she wants our army to set up camp."

Octavia nodded recognizing that her friend had become her commanding officer again. She turned her horse around quickly calling out the required warriors before riding off down the beaten path.

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Lexa was not fiddling with her dagger, that would be childish and unbefitting of the commander. According to her scouts the Ice Nation contingent of her army was arriving today and like every other time she heard anything to do with them anger and suspicion started turning her gut. Anya finally arrived her face grimmer than usual. It wasn't a good sign. "Speak Anya, what do the scouts report?"

Anya didn't twitch but her posture was anything but comfortable. She was obviously on edge like most of the Trikru warriors. "A small contingent of Ice Nation forces is approaching. They carry the symbol of 'General Klark kom Azgeda the undefeated' and the recently confirmed heir to Ice Queen."

Every guard and general in her tent stiffened at that pronouncement. Every one of them had heard of Klark kom Azgeda, the warrior who had moved up the Azgeda ranks unbelievably quickly. She was still spoken of with fear among the nomads since her time fighting along the southwest border against their forces and the barely veiled attacks of the sand tribes. Lexa had also heard stories of Klark the pauna hunter, who had killed more pauna than any other two people combined could claim. That Klark had also led so many battles and skirmishes as a captain, and now general, and never lost was enough to make Lexa very wary of the general. However, the fact Klark had challenged Roan to single combat and won was what had finally pushed Lexa to label her as a credible threat. After all legends could be faked and exaggerated, but Lexa had fought Roan herself when she was still a second and knew first hand of his prowess in battle.

Before that much of Klark's legend could have been dismissed as an Ice Nation intimidation tactic. After all, almost nothing was known of the woman. She seemed to have come from nowhere. Just suddenly appearing with her military victories and her strange healing that allowed her to breathe life back into fallen soldiers. Before Klark's time on the border, there had not been a whisper of a second with her potential. Her best spies couldn't even tell her what village the woman came from. That Klark was surrounded with such mystery and yet was now through trial by combat the undisputed heir of the Ice Queen was worrying. Still, there was no use contemplating that now though. Redirecting her mind to the current business, Lexa turned to Indra. Indra's village was closest to the border out of the assembled soldiers and she was the most likely to have pertinent guidance. "Tell me what do you think it means that Nia sends her new heir here Indra?"

"Nia makes threats." Indra spoke evenly.

Gustos clenched his jaw, "You should be careful Heda. They may intend to attack while you're in the open outside of Polis."

She turned back to Anya, "Anya, what do you think?"

"It could be many things, but the threat may not be to you."

"Explain," Lexa thought she knew where Anya was going with this but she wanted to be sure.

"Nia has often said that slaying the mountain was folly. Now she sends her general and heir who is increasingly beloved by the people of her nation to a war she believes cannot be won. This might be a ploy to get revenge for her son's death."

Lexa sighed no one was going to like what would be required. "Whatever Nia's reasoning is we will treat Klark as the general of an allied force. Anya I want you to keep watch on the Azgeda forces, carefully though. No one is to insult our allies. Is that understood?"

The room echoed with the reluctant assent of her people. It was only luck that the Azgeda forward group arrived before one of her advisors could try and dissuade her from her course of action. Trikru and Azkru had been at war for generations. The current peace between them was incredibly delicate. Bringing their armies together would always be a risk.

Hearing the sounds of her troops outside pick up she wasn't surprised to see the flaps of her tent open and three Azgeda warriors to step through. The clearly higher ranking warrior stepped forward bowing the minimum required. "Heda."

"Warrior of Azgeda, why have you come before me and not your general?" Lexa slouched carefully in her thrown. It was a calculated gesture meant to show that the Ice Nation could not discomfit her, and not a slouch of actual comfort or relaxation.

The warrior straightened sharply watching her carefully, the white paint and brands of her nation stark on her face. Her dark hair was braided back and a single sword was strapped to her back along with knives that littered her body. She was young, but Lexa didn't let it enter her mind for even a second that she wasn't also highly dangerous. "I am Octavia kom Azkru and my general Clarke kom Azkru, sent me ahead to announce our arrival and request the location of where our army shall pitch our tents." The girl's tone was tight and resentful.

Lexa let the warrior stand for a moment before replying, "Welcome then Octavia, inform your general her troops are to make camp between the Floundkru and Trikru forces. Anya will lead you there." She gestured at Anya as she spoke watching the annoyance in the girl's eyes as she realized that a Trikru warrior would be sent with them. Good, best to keep the Ice Nation off balance as long as possible.

Octavia bowed stiffly and left with Anya close behind. Gustos spoke up as soon as the flaps lowered again, "Is this really wise Heda? You would have the Ice Nation in the middle of our army."

She frowned, "I would have them surrounded by those I trust till I know why Klark is the general Nia has sent and if their forces can be trusted." Standing she exited and made her way through her troops ensuring everything was orderly. If it also kept her busy and not obsessing over the Ice Nation, then it was just a side benefit.

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Octavia was angry that she would be returning to Clarke with a Trikru spy. They already had to deal with Nia's informants they did not need to deal with another fucking ferret. Gritting her teeth, she kicked her heels into her horse speeding up as they got closer to the army.

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Anya had faced Azgeda forces several times in her life, but she'd never seen as orderly and organized an Azgeda force as the massive army she rode to meet at the side of the young warrior from the Ice Nation, Octavia. It was clear the soldiers recognized her as Trikru immediately. The glares gave their animosity away as well as the slight change in their stances.

A young warrior rode up, she had to be the same age as the one beside her. This warrior had blond hair braided out of her face with blue fabric and beads twisted into it. Her clothing was light colored leather and hide with white fur. It was decorated and enforced with carved pieces of bone. The clasps seemed to have been made from teeth. Blue and black fabric was stitched into her coat of white fur and into her light hide pants. She didn't have a proper sword attached to her person but rather several knives of various lengths and a bow slung over her back. Although the gloves she wore looked like dangerous weapons in their own right fitted out with metal and bone. The shoulder pauldron was made with what looked like a wolf's skull with black Azgeda patterns etched into it. It identified who this was even if the absurd amount of pauna remains that were used in her outfit didn't give it away. It was her face that cleared any doubt that Anya was looking at Klark kom Azkru. The blonde's blue eyes were hard and her face blank of all emotions, several scars stood out on her pale face that only had blue war paint leading towards her eyes.

"Octavia report." Her voice was hard and crisp. Anya felt herself straightening in her saddle, this girl may be young, but like the commander she was not to be underestimated.

The warrior beside her frowned. "Heda sends Anya kom Trikru to lead us to our campsite. It is between the the Trikru and Floundkru encampments." The clear distaste in the girl's voice and disrespect for Lexa had Anya on edge. This was could go very badly.

Surprisingly it was the general before her who dealt with the girl's disrespect. The general raised her voice so that the surrounding warriors could hear her. "It would seem Heda trusts us to guard her flank, let's show her why we've never lost what we protect." She turned to Anya. "Anya you intend to lead us to our campsite?"

"Yes." She held the general's gaze feeling herself being measured.

Dipping her head slightly in acknowledgement the girl spoke again. "Good, Atom take what forces you need go with Anya kom Trikru and mark out the camp. Use a holding pattern with defenses on all sides." She seemed to pause thinking for a moment before adding. "And take Brady with you."

A warrior, also young rode, forward calling those under his command to follow. He ignored her, just heading off ahead with his men. Anya found herself repressing a growl as she tapped her horse's sides with her heels wheeling it around and following him.

As the sun was setting she made her way back to Lexa's tent. Passing the guards, she saw Lexa hunched over the map. "Heda." She walked next to her former second.

Lexa straightened giving her attention to Anya, "What can you tell me?"

Anya spoke slowly and deliberately. "I accompanied Octavia to the Ice Nation forces as instructed. General Klark sent me with a small contingent of her forces to mark out their camp boundaries. She is young, younger even than our reports mark her. Under twenty-five summers if not younger. She carries herself well and explained any slight of your positioning of them as you trusting her forces to guard your flank. Her forces were hostile but none did more than glare or make rude gestures towards any Trikru they encountered. Their camp is organized defensively with guard rotations." Anya paused considering how to go about speaking of her other conclusions, though they were really just conjecture at this point.

"What else?" Anya startled looking up at Lexa, "I know you Anya what do you suspect."

"I've never seen Ice Nation troops behave in such a way before. They were orderly and efficient. Clearly organized into multiple smaller units capable and trained to act independently. It's not natural. And Klark is not what I expected. Not only did she speak well but her soldiers listened and respected her words. They do not follow her simply out of fear. If her attire is any indication the tales of the many pauna she has killed are not exaggerated. There are at least two pauna hunting teams in her forces as well as several assassins if I'm not mistaken. She is dangerous Lexa and I don't know what she intends."

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Clarke rubbed down her horse carefully brushing out any dirt or seeds that had gotten into his hair. He was warm and drinking from the trough that had just been set up for the horses. The sounds of the temporary paddock being erected and other warriors brushing down their horses, of fires being started, and of tents being put up, filled the air. The wagons were being unloaded. It was organized chaos and it was calming to her. Jake, her horse, pulled his face from the trough and twisted so that he could nuzzle her. Smiling softly, she scratched his nose before leaning her forehead against his.

"Clarke, Gunter wants you." Charlotte walked up to her, Brady, her surly second, followed right behind Charlotte.

Turning Clarke reached out and ruffled Charlotte's hair. "Move Jake into the paddock while I go deal with him." She handed the reigns to the girl before walking off. She didn't need to wait for an affirmative answer she knew Charlotte would take care of her horse. "Brady help set up the medical tent, Cassite will keep you busy afterwards."

"Gottch ya boss," He grunted before heading off towards where the medical tent would soon be put up.

As Clarke walked through the camp, her warriors nodded and glanced at her while respectfully moving out of her way. She eyed the camp critically assuring herself that it was all moving like the well-oiled machine she'd trained them to be. It all seemed to be going to order. Keeping her face carefully blank she held in a snort at the sight of one of the seconds dealing with a horse that very much didn't want to cooperate. The girl looked like she'd been dragged through a lot of bushes and mud before her first had grabbed the reigns. She made a mental note to have a word with the girls first about her horsemanship training. While amusing such antics would be ill suited for the battlefield.

As she approached the edge of the camp, she saw Gunter standing tall and imposing his grey hair pulled back, clean shaven and scarred face stoic and grim as always. He was clearly monitoring the construction of a tree blind for a guard post. His shoulders were rolled back, hands clasped behind him.

"Gunter, you sent for me." She came to a stop next to him watching the blind getting finished.

"Careful with that hammer!" He shouted at a second who looked like they were about to hit someone. Turning to face her he spoke. "General, the standard outer defenses are almost complete. I must ask, is it wise to only go with the standard defenses?"

Clarke sighed, she disliked the Trikru as much as the next person but politics made certain behavior unavoidable. "To put up more would be an insult to the Trikru and they'd respond by building up their defense until Heda ordered us to stand down. Such posturing aids no one. All we can do is make sure the guards are well rested and ensure that everyone is prepared to go at a moment's notice."

"Surely the Commander would forgive increased defenses with the mountain near." He grumbled.

"The Commander," she sneered, "would love nothing more than to wipe us out and I don't intend to give her reason to do so. Speaking of which, when I present myself to her after the defenses are up I want you to accompany me."

"I would be honored. Who will be in charge of the camp in our absence?"

Clarke smiled watching the seconds that had been building the blind jump down from the tree after putting in the last nails. "Xander will be able to help get everything settled properly. He has promise at command."

Gunter nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed, how long till we leave to meet with the Commander?"

"Have the defenses done within the next hour, then come and get me." She replied. Clarke clasped his shoulder tightly in recognition. She turned and started moving back towards the center of camp. Her tent had already been set up for her and she began unpacking and preparing it. Being able to use a general's command tent was a recent development. Having use of things she didn't have to keep on the back of her horse was strange, but in some ways welcome. The real bed was a luxury she hadn't had the use of in years now, not since the ark.

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Four years ago:

"They dropped us on the wrong mountain." Clarke frowned at the map. She wasn't even sure where the right mountain was. The others were enjoying the ground but she knew the snow would sap the energy out of them quickly. Without the supplies in the mountain they didn't have anything to provide warmth or food to eat. None of the others seemed to care, too caught up in the beauty of the ground. She gave herself a moment to stare in awe at the sparkling blinding whiteness around them.

"Come on Princess, enjoy the moment. I mean it's snow! Real snow!" Bellamy's face was lit up like the white powder around them.

She didn't have time to reprimand him or point out what they should be doing, before a snowball hit the side of her head. Reaching up she wiped the snow clumps from her hair before she turned and saw a grinning blond girl looking at her from a few feet away.

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Present day:

Clarke pulled on her formal shoulder covering of white fur. It was from a large wolf like pauna, the first pauna she'd killed. Its skull served as her pauldron identifying her as a general. Streaking the white paint of the Ice Nation across her face she leaned against the table for a moment. Sometimes it still pained her to wear the colors of the queen who had taken so much from her and her people but it was a necessary evil. Standing straight she left her tent and joined Gunter outside of it. The two of them began the trek to the Commander's tent. It was dark out already but her camp was mostly settled and she could breathe easier. She didn't have a fixed home, her home was camps that constantly moved or the tense, cramped quarters at the queen's home. Really this was almost relaxed for her now a day's she thought as she walked through the Trikru camp.

The Trikru watched her suspiciously as they walked and she was sure there were Trikru she couldn't see in the trees. It was why she'd been pleased Gunter had put up the blinds as high as he had. After all, it's hard to travel through trees unseen if someone is already up them.

Heda's tent was lit and there were several guards posted by it. Clarke fought a sneer down. The great Heda, guarded like a weakling that couldn't protect herself. It wasn't fair but she didn't care. She'd spent the last year fighting the 'nomads' incurring on Ice Nation territory. They were armed and clearly supported by the sand tribes, who would never have dared to do so if the great Heda hadn't turned a blind eye to it. She detested leaders who let others do their dirty work for them. It reminded her uncomfortably of the faults in her old home in the sky. Letting pointless prejudices cost the lives of hundreds of common people forced to fight because of their leader's petty political maneuverings was not the work of a good and caring leader. If the commander would not treat the Ice Nation as her people, then why should they treat her as their commander. As far as she was concerned the mountain was in Trikru territory and should be dealt with by the Trikru.

It wasn't true and she knew it. After all, her first, Echo was either killed by the mountain or by the Trikru. She wasn't sure which she wanted to be guilty of her mentor's death. Her fists clenched at the memories of Echo, strong of body but weak of mind letting Nia inform her every thought. The perfect laky really. She swore to do better by her second Brady. Flexing her hands, she tried to pull herself together. The long march had led to her being more introspective than usual and being overly emotional in front of Heda could get her and the people she cared about killed.

She came to a stop at the sight of the two guards at the entrance of the tent baring her way. Raising an eyebrow challengingly she stared them down. She wasn't going to say anything. The Commander would have been informed of her approach the moment she crossed into the Trikru camp. It was silent between her and the guards, who were shifting nervously under her stare. She could feel more than see Gunter stiffening behind her. Finally, the tent flap was pulled open by a clearly annoyed Anya. The guards stood down, she didn't bother giving them a second look, Gunter would protect her back. Striding in she walked till she was in front of what could only be called a throne.

Huffing in disbelief, she took in the fact that Heda had honest to god brought her throne with her. Sitting on the throne was Heda. She looked exactly as she'd been described to her. Piercing green eyes and war paint included. The 'fearless' Heda was playing with a dagger while watching her back in turn. Clarke grit her teeth slightly before playing the part Nia had sent her to play. She dropped to one knee and bent her neck as little as possible.

"Heda, I bring the army you called. We are here to be commanded." Clarke knew her voice was cold, but well she was from the Ice Nation she was allowed to be cold.

Heda brought the knife down to her lap giving her a measuring gaze. She seemed to be considering the words she would say. However, the general to her left, who if Clarke wasn't mistaken, was Indra, spoke. "You dare make the Commander wait. We should have your head."

Clarke fought her anger and stayed in place saying nothing. There was nothing to gain by antagonizing or interacting with the general in any way. She felt Gunter take a measured breath from his position kneeling directly behind her. Reaching out she grabbed his calf in a vice like grip. Indra was a howling dog. For all the noise, she wasn't a threat here.

"Enough, Indra." The Commander spoke. "We begin to plan our destruction of the mountain tomorrow at noon. Don't keep us waiting again."

"Sha, Heda." Clarke rose from her position on one knee so that she was standing meeting the intelligent eyes watching her.

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Four years ago:

Charlotte was woken from her fitful sleep by the screams. Sitting bolt upright from her place in the drop ship she winced as she felt the cold. Leaving the ship, she saw the campsite Griffin had forced them to make, being overrun by what could only be monsters. The other members of the one hundred were being grabbed and beat into submission as wraiths of white clad men and women with fearsome scarred faces came out of the trees and snow. She made to run but found herself lifted into the air, an arm around her waist keeping her arms pinned to her sides. She let out a scream in fear as she smelt blood from the figure gripping her in arms that might as well have been steal. Her legs kicked out uselessly as she tried to break free. Her attackers only response was to laugh. The sound sent shivers down her spine as she heard the screams of the other one hundred.