Kingdom of Shadows

Disclaimer: I do not own The 100 nor do I own anything on CW.

A/N: We apologize for the inconvenience! We just want everyone to enjoy this story so we fixed our mistakes! Thank you to everyone for the wonderful advice given when we asked for your help! We hope you guys keep giving us excellent advice in your reviews! I hope you guys enjoy these revised chapters and please don't be afraid to review, we love hearing from you guys!

Chapter One

Today is the day, Clarke thought as she watched the big black carriages roll through the muddy streets, their wheels sloshing mud from the winter rains on unfortunate passers by.

She pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders, her drab brown dress covered in filth from her trip to the well located at the center of town. Her skirts felt heavy as they swished about her legs, the wet material occasionally clinging to her chilled skin.

The wind whipped around her, pulling tendrils of hair free from the long golden braid that hung down her back. It burned her cheeks, and gave her eyes even more reason to fill with tears.

She walked passed the bakery, the smell of fresh bread doing nothing to lift her spirits. Most of the shops were closed in preparation for the day's events, their windows dark and smoke curling from their chimneys.

Clarke finally came to the small hut she shared with her parents, stepping inside the dim interior and taking a moment to bask in the heat from their hearth before drawing near the flicker orange glow.

She poured the water into the large copper kettle, settling it once more over the flames. She warmed her hands, rubbing them together in an attempt to bring feeling back to her numb fingers.

A noise sounded behind her, and Clarke turned to find a figure standing in the doorway. She would recognize him anywhere, the shaggy hair and soft brown eyes.

Finn is her first love, her only love. She'd fallen for him hard and fast two years ago at the age of sixteen. They were supposed to be married this coming spring, but the king's war had gotten in the way.

The war against their nameless, faceless enemy had been going on for a year now and they were losing men daily to the darkness of the forest. The worst part was that the king didn't seem to care. He just called more names, sent more men to their deaths.

"You're thinking awfully loud, Princess," Finn said quietly as he approached.

Clarke sighed as his arms came around her, his warmth seeping into her body. He smelled fresh like the forest after a spring rain, and she closed her eyes to breathe him in.

She felt the pressure of his lips against her hair, before he pulled away leaving her bereft without his warmth. His eyes were sad as he looked down at her, holding the desire for a future they would never have.

"Are you hungry," she asked. Finn nodded, moving to the table and taking an empty seat as she bustled about the small living space. She poured some of the heated water into a basin for him to wash up, and then began making a bland porridge for their breakfast.

She'd just removed the mush from the fire when the door opened and her mother and father entered, bundled in threadbare coats with water dripping from their noses.

Clarke's mother was the village healer, and she'd been called away early that morning to deliver a baby. Her father always accompanied her, always uneasy about his wife venturing out alone during the dark morning hours.

"Well," Clarke asked, as she took their coats and ushered them to the fire.

"Healthy boy," Abby said, her cheeks pink with cold and her hair slightly damp.

"I've never seen Tobias so talkative," Jake said of the usually somber man, who was undoubtedly now beaming with fatherly pride.

"I'm glad he and Annie are happy," Clarke said, a hint of sadness in her voice.

She and Finn would never have that if his name were called. They wouldn't get married in the spring, and there would be no children with her eyes and his free spirit.

Finn must have sensed her thoughts because his hand reached for hers, his thumb delicately stroking over her knuckles. She sighed, giving his hand a gentle squeeze before setting the table and taking her place beside him.

Their meal was quiet, each person lost in their own thoughts. Clarke couldn't help the anger that began to boil at the bit of her stomach. Things were hard enough in the outlying villages of Arkdom without their young men being harvest for slaughter in a war that could never be won.

Unlike the kingdom's enemy, Clarke's had a face and a name- Bellamy Blake. The young king was the reason for her pain and heartache, and a large part of her hated him for what he was doing.

The logical part of her whispered that he was only trying to keep them safe, but as she glanced at her love sitting quietly beside her the irrational anger won out threatening to boil over.

Clarke shoved her bowl away, her porridge only half eaten. She was in no mood to eat, the festering rage making it hard to swallow- turning her food to lead in her stomach.

She watched as everyone finished, rising to take the bowls and wash them in the basin before putting them away in the cupboard. The room was quiet as she regained her seat, her hand reaching for Finn's.

"We'll leave you alone," Abby said, rising from her chair and leading Jake from the room.

Clarke watched them go, tears gathering in her eyes. She felt Finn's fingers grip her chin lightly, turning her face so she was forced to look him in the eye. Sorrow clearly lined his features, causing her heart to constrict painfully in her chest.

"My name might not be called," he said softly.

However they both knew this wasn't true. He had been spared for far longer than either had thought, and they both knew his luck was running out. Young men were growing scarce in the village, only a hand full of able bodies left.

"I wish we could run, get as far away from here as possible," Clarke said, tears rolling swiftly down her cheeks.

She felt the brush of Finn's thumb as he swiped at her tears; his eyes filled with love and warmth- something she knew she'd miss when he was gone. She closed her eyes, willing this to be nothing more than a bad dream.

"Clarke, look at me," Finn said, causing her eyes to flutter open and her gaze to collide with his own.

"If they call my name, please don't cry," he all but begged, "I won't be able to go if you do."

Clarke felt something within her break, heart-wrenching sobs causing her shoulders to shake as she covered her mouth in an attempt to stifle the gasping breaths that tore from her chest.

Finn pulled her to him, her face nestled against his neck- his pulse beating against her temple.

"I want more time," Clarke said, her voice trembling and tearful. "I know, I do too," Finn said, his hand stroking down her back in an effort to comfort her.

"I promise," Clarke said finally, "I promise not to cry if your name is called."

Finn smiled, once again wiping the tears from her cheeks as he gently kissed her forehead. "Thanks Princess," he replied softly.

They sat there for a long time, wrapped in each other's arms, the only sound being the crackling of the fire and their ragged breathing.

Clarke could feel the chill of loneliness seeping into her bones as she thought of a life lived without him. It was unbearable, and it caused her chest to ache with grief and sorrow that she knew if she ever unleashed would eat away at her until there was nothing left.

She pushed those thoughts away, instead focusing on the man in her arms. She committed his heartbeat to memory, thinking that if the steady staccato lived on in her memory then maybe it would be enough to keep Finn alive as well.

Clarke pulled away slightly, her hands moving to Finn's face as her fingers traced over his features. In her mind she sketched him, every line and every imperfection became part of the drawing she would store so she would never forget.

"Why can't we be happy," she said brokenly, "Why can't we have all those things we dreamed about?"

She heard Finn sigh, and then a steely resolve entered his eyes as he spoke. "I'll come back to you, Clarke. I promise."

For some reason his words did nothing to comfort her, they only unleashed the rage that simmered beneath the surface.

"Don't say that," she practically screamed, "He's taking you away from me and you're never coming back! Do you hear me, Finn? You're never coming back!"

Finn was taken aback by the harshness of her tone, her words speaking of the crack forming in her very soul. He could see the way it spread throughout her being, fissuring fingers spreading out from a gaping chasm.

"Clarke, don't say those things," he pled, taking her face in his hands as his eyes begged her not to crumble to dust at his feet.

She sighed, leaning into his touch. She forced a hope she didn't feel to shine in her eyes as they opened, her lashes fluttering as she met his gaze once more.

"Come back to me, my love," Clarke said softly, "Come back so we can fill our house with children, and grow old together."

Finn smiled softly, his lips meeting hers in hopeful promise just as the bell began to toll. They pulled away, their hearts dropping as her parents once again entered the room.

"It's time," Jake said sadly, wishing his daughter didn't have to go through this.

The young couple nodded, donning their coats before once again joining hands and making their way out into the dreary November day.

Clarke held Finn's hand tightly as they journeyed into the town square, people crowding in around them with their head's hung low and sorrow blanketing their features.

She looked to the platform where the king's royal advisor, Marcus Kane, stood with a scroll held in his trembling fingers. She could tell even at this distance that the man hated this part of his job.

Kane unfurled the scroll, clearing his throat as his eyes darted over the list. Each name was called, the crowd murmuring angrily and women wailing as they hugged their loved one's one last time.

Then Clarke's heart turned to lead in her chest as Finn's name echoed out in the cold morning air. She watched as the color drained from his face, and she didn't think she'd be able to keep her promise not to cry.

He turned to her, his hands shaking with fear and cold as they cupped her cheeks.

"No matter what happens," he said softly, "Know that I love you."

Then he kissed her, a kiss of desperation and sorry as she clung to him for dear life. When he pulled away, Clarke felt as though he was taking a piece of her heart with him.

The organ itself felt raw and torn, beating wildly in her chest as she realized that this was the last time she would see her love. She refused to let that show in her face, however, as she fought to curve her lips in a smile.

"I love you too. May we meet again," she whispered before he disappeared into the crowd.

-Lin&Shel