So I decided to make a longer fic rather than another short one. I'm terrible at one-shots. I've always preferred longer stories. Of course it's Bellarke, they're my obsession these days but a slow burn Bellarke. Not too slow though, I promise. I know what it's like to read 10 chapters and then finally get some sort of couple action haha. Anyway, I'll be updating as I write but I hope you all enjoy :)
The story is set after 2x08. Everything that has happened in the show has happen in the fic except the Finn/Clarke kiss. Clarke did not kiss Finn before he died.
"My people are still not happy with what you did," Lexa commented. Clarke looked up at her. She and Bellamy were on the opposing side of a table, covered in maps and sketches, of Lexa. It had been a week since Clarke had killed Finn. Thinking about it hurt but not like it did in the first few days. As the days progressed, Bellamy had helped Clarke understand that yes- she would have to live with what she had done but she had spared Finn so much suffering. He had recognized it himself at the end when he had thanked her. Thinking of her actions hurt but she did not regret them. Given the chance she would do it all over again if it meant she could help Finn one last time. Clarke cleared her thoughts and snapped back to the conversation.
"I know but it's already been done now," she declared, not wanting to show weakness. Lexa looked between Bellamy and Clarke. She had not been happy when Clarke had brought Bellamy along (neither had Clarke but Bellamy had made it very clear he wasn't letting her go alone anymore) but after Clarke's defiant statement about Bellamy being her co-leader, Lexa had had no choice but to let him in. Whatever they wanted to say to Clarke, they would say to Bellamy and vice-versa, that is just how the two had grown accustomed to do things.
"You are a brave leader Clarke," Lexa eyed her; it seemed as if she wanted to add more to the statement but thought better of it.
"As are you," Clarke returned. "Now have we settled all aspects of our alliance?" Clarke asked trying to keep it formal. They had spent hours agreeing and disagreeing to what exactly the treaty entitled, and where exactly each party's boundaries lie. Bellamy had attempted flirting (and in a very small percentile succeeded) to lay claim to what he knew was good hunting ground. Lexa had acted indifferent but Clarke knew how girls reacted to Bellamy's antics by now and she had seen Lexa ease up a little on the restrictions and look just second longer at Bellamy than she should have. It took everything in Clarke not to roll her eyes. Though Bellamy's flirting could be very annoying to Clarke, she had to give him credit. He had gotten them a little more land.
"Almost… there is one more thing," Lexa answered. "It is a custom among many tribes to marry a powerful couple amongst each other to fortify their alliance." Clarke couldn't hide her surprise. There were a lot of things she had considered the grounders wanted but she had never thought of marriage. It should have been obvious. People have been doing it for centuries. Clarke remembered reading history books of future kings and queens that would get engaged at birth as a result of an alliance their parents had made. "Most times it is the leaders that marry." Clarke gulped.
"You want to marry Clarke?" Bellamy blurted out incredulously. Clarke glanced over at him, wide-eyed by his sudden outburst. He shot her a confused look.
"No," Lexa grinned devilishly. "The marriage must always be between a man and a woman so that they may produce an heir." Lexa looked over at Bellamy and let her eyes roam up and down his body. Oh my God, Lexa wanted to marry Bellamy. Bellamy shifted next to her, clearly uncomfortable with the conversation. He looked over at Clarke and she looked at him. Not a word was said but they both understood that neither wanted to marry any grounder. Clarke turned to face Lexa again.
"You want to marry Bellamy then?" Clarke asked, ready to strike the idea down. Lexa let out a huff of air.
"Though the idea does intrigue me, I cannot be a part of the marriage. I am already married," Lexa stated. Clarke was relieved that Bellamy wouldn't have to marry Lexa but was worried because she knew a marriage was still going to happen.
"So what then?" Bellamy now glared at Lexa. Clarke could tell he was tired of her games.
"I have a brother. He is next in line if anything were to happen to me and the next obvious choice… for Clarke to marry," Lexa explained. No. No no no no no, was all that ran through Clarke's head. She did NOT want to marry a grounder, she wanted to be with her people.
"But Clarke can't marry either," Bellamy stated. Clarke glanced at Bellamy. His face was one of sheer determination. She didn't understand what Bellamy was doing but she trusted him so she looked over at Lexa, mimicking his brave face.
"And why is that?" Lexa was not happy.
"She is already spoken for," Bellamy announced. Lexa's eyes flashed over to Clarke, who despite her determination not to, had a worried look on her face. She did not like to be in the dark.
After inspecting Clarke, Lexa simply stated, "but you are not married."
"Yet…" Bellamy countered immediately. "We're engaged and to be married. Technically we would have been married by now had you not declared war on us." Bellamy's voice didn't waiver for a second. His determination to keep both of them safe seemed to outweigh everything else. Clarke felt like it was finally safe to breathe again. Of course Bellamy would come up with something. Why did she ever doubt him? Obviously, they weren't getting married but it was a good cover. Lexa was bit shocked looking at the two.
"Is this true?" Lexa directed toward Clarke.
"Yes," Clarke replied with confidence. "Bellamy's the only man I will be marrying." Lexa looked back and forth between them.
"Very well then. I suppose we will have to forgo the marriage unless circumstances change," Lexa stared at Clarke.
"Oh they won't be," Bellamy said, entwining his and Clarke's fingers together. "I can promise you that." Clarke's heart skipped a beat. She prayed they weren't getting themselves into something they couldn't get out of later.
"Then that concludes our treaty here today," Lexa finished. Bellamy and Clarke nodded to her and turned, beginning to walk out of the tent.
"Oh husband, does this mean you'll be giving me foot massages every night now?" Clarke teased Bellamy but made sure to keep her voice low so only he could possibly hear her. Bellamy snorted.
"Only if you promise me some mind-blowing sex afterwards," He winked back at her. Clarke rolled her eyes.
"Is there anything else you think about Bellamy?" Bellamy smiled. He began to say something but was cut off.
"I must warn you before you leave," Lexa's voice seemed to reverberate in the tent, "I have scouts everywhere constantly watching and if I find out you have lied today, there will be consequences." Clarke gulped, happy their backs were still to her.
"Lied about what?" Indra asked as she walked into the tent, glancing from Lexa to Clarke and Bellamy. Lexa said something they could not understand in grounder tongue to Indra but if Indra's stare at their still intertwined hands were any indication, she now knew of their 'engagement'. Indra looked back up at them in disgust. She didn't seem to buy the story.
"Engaged now, are we?" She asked.
"Yes, we are," Clarke replied affirmatively, squeezing Bellamy's hand. Indra glared at Clarke. She didn't buy it one bit.
"Well that calls for a celebration then, doesn't it?" Indra's scowl still remained intact. She looked to Lexa and back. "I say we celebrate together. Along with your people marrying you, we will too… to give you our… blessing," Indra snarled. She was challenging them. Clarke's face remained impassive but inside she was freaking out. It wasn't a joke anymore. If they didn't admit to their lies now, she would have to actually marry Bellamy. She trusted him more than anyone else but they weren't even remotely romantic. They looked at each other. They had no choice now. They couldn't back out.
"Alright," Bellamy finally responded. Indra smiled.
"The full moon is in 3 days. It is good luck to marry then and it'll give our people that chance to unify sooner," Indra said, obviously pushing them so one would admit the lie.
"We'll see you in three days then," Clarke affirmed, not ready to give Indra any satisfaction. The woman scowled before Bellamy brushed by her, dragging Clarke along.
They walked in silence until they reached their camp gates. The severity of what they had just done was finally settling in with them. They were getting married. A large crowd fronted by Kane and her mother were waiting for them behind the gates when the guards let them back in.
"So? What happened?" Abby asked nervously. Everyone in camp had been awaiting the official declaration of truce from the grounders. Clarke looked around at the nervous faces.
"The truce is official! The war is over!" Clarke yelled. She heard cheers from the crowd. "Bellamy even managed to negotiate for more territory and hunting grounds!" Yells of joy were heard from all around.
Her mother cupped Clarke's face. "I'm so proud of you Clarke Griffin," she rejoiced.
"Blake, actually," Bellamy interjected, "Clarke Blake." Clarke was going to kill him. She turned to glare at him. He smirked. "Oh wait, not for 3 more days. Oops, sorry princess." He wasn't sorry, not in the least. He was enjoying this.
"What is he talking about?" Her mother asked. Clarke turned back to look at her.
She put on her biggest fake smile. "We're engaged!"
Thanks for reading. Unfortunately, I don't have a beta so there were probably many mistakes throughout. This was written quickly so I do apologize. Hope to see you next chapter.