Set towards the end of s2ep10 (the King Kong episode). One of my favourite episodes I think as it's one of the first times you get to see the softer side of Lexa and the line where she tells Clarke she's safe just gets me every time!
Lexa stared into the depths of the fire willing the throbbing from her arm to reside and give her a moments rest. Despite her exhaustion she had been sitting up all night, not due to fear of the beast escaping but due to the continual pain emitting from her shoulder. Growing up she had always focused on becoming a warrior, had never taken much interest in healing. She was living to regret this decision now.
It had been a long drawn out night especially after Clarke had passed out and Lexa had been left alone. Her suffering was greater than she had let on to Clarke. Commanders had to deal with pain with dignity, people lost faith when they saw that their leaders were not invincible. She knew that many of her people already thought of her as weak due to her merciful ways and the truce she had agreed to with the Sky People, yet it was she Lexa that had done what no other Commander had even attempted – she had united the twelve clans.
The first rays of dawn were starting to gleam through the trees. She would wake Clarke soon so that they could make a hasty return to the village and she could seek out a healer.
Her eyes wandered across the forest floor and landed on the sleeping form of Clarke. Despite having only known each other a few days the other girl had made an impression on Lexa. Whether this was a good thing or not Lexa did not yet know.
When the young leader had wandered into her tent just a few nights previously she had already made up her mind to hate her. She was the one that was responsible for burning numerous warriors alive after all. Yet she had found herself intrigued by Clarke from the offset.
Lexa had been surprised by how young Clarke was despite her own tender age. She couldn't help but feel admiration for the girl for walking into the Grounder's Camp alone. If she was afraid she was doing a good job of hiding it. With Indra on high alert and Lexa's own cold, hard exterior it was hardly a welcoming reception yet Clarke had stood her ground. Her biting remarks had amused Lexa. She had not let her enjoyment show however, as she had to keep up the façade of an intimidating warrior.
Mentioning her time with Anya and presenting Anya's hair had been a cunning ploy Lexa had mused. One which had issued Clarke some of her rarely given respect. She wondered whether it had been thought out or whether it had come to Clarke on the spot. Either way, the talk of her former mentor was what had convinced Lexa to at least consider the proposition of a truce.
The idea that Clarke could have escaped with Anya from the mountain did not fathom with Lexa but what reason would the girl have to lie? Either way it was true that the Mountain had taken many of her own people captive and if the Sky People had been targeted too then that meant that they shared an enemy. An enemy that had been taking her people for years was a greater one than the Sky People despite all the lives that they had taken.
When Clarke had uncovered that the Sky People could revert Reapers back to men Lexa had been doubtful. The Sky People were far more advanced than they were yes but could they really possess the kind of knowledge or technology to revert the monsters back to their former selves?
Other Commanders may have quelled the peace talks there and then but not Lexa. She prided herself on being a fair and just leader. This did not make her any less violent prone however. If the Sky girl turned out to be lying then the Grounders would attack as planned.
As they had arrived at the drop ship and laid eyes on Lincoln's lifeless body fury had flown through Lexa's veins. How dare these people try to defy her? She felt almost foolish in a way for allowing herself to be taken in by Clarke's innocent face. In some ways she had also been disappointed. Working alongside these people may have been their chance at last to take on the Mountain Men. It would be out of the question now. She may have convinced her people had the Sky People been true on their word but now that they had defied them…
When Clarke's mother had suddenly thrust the electric sword into Lincoln's chest Lexa had been taken off guard. Was this some sort of ritual to honour the dead? She was speechless when Lincoln suddenly awoke. Did these people have the ability to return others from the dead? She grew weary in that instance. Perhaps they had more to fear from these people than she realised. It may be better for all of them if they were to fight on the same side.
When she had demanded that the boy Finn be handed over and saw the shock edged on Clarke's face she knew that he must be someone that she cared for deeply. Lexa had forsaken love long ago but she still found it deep within herself to pity Clarke.
It was not enough to be convinced to let him free however. When Clarke came begging for his life and offered hers in exchange she had felt disgust. How could this girl call herself the leader of her people when she was willing to sacrifice everything for just one person?
Lexa had stood stony faced as Clarke had broken down infront of her and pleaded with her to be merciful. It was outwith her power by this point. Her people expected blood and she intended to give it to them. Perhaps it was cruel to showcase the boys suffering in front of his people but it had been Indra's request and as Lexa was frequently denying the fierce warrior of her animalistic instincts she felt it was in her best interests to allow her one favour. She needed Indra's support after all.
Lexa had watched in distaste as Clarke had allowed her emotions to overcome her. She felt let down in a way as she had thought that she had seen the makings of a great leader within Clarke. Clarke had fallen to pieces however and was letting her emotions rule her. This was the precise reason why Lexa had chosen to keep her feelings detached. It had not been easy but when she saw the pain that Clarke was experiencing she realised she had made the right choice.
She had found herself unable to look away from Clarke as she saw the young girl slowly start to come to the realisation that her lover was lost. A strange sense of calmness had washed over her face as she had asked Lexa if she could say her goodbyes. Lexa had permitted her this trivial request as she wanted to let the Sky People see that they were not the out of control savages that the Sky People thought of them as. Lexa may have abandoned love but she still understood others desires towards it.
When Clarke had stepped away from the boy and Lexa witnessed his limp body and Clarke's shaking bloodsoaked hands she could not help but feel impressed. Perhaps there was some fight left in Clarke after all. She had chosen the alliance over the boy she loved. She had accepted that he had to be sacrificed and had prevented him from suffering an agonising death. Lexa felt the fury of her people yet she did not share their views. If she had been in the same position to do for Costia what Clarke had done for Finn she would have. She felt glad that she would never have to be in a position like the one she had put Clarke in. She would never allow someone to take over her heart again.
The great strength that Lexa had just witnessed in Clarke was slowly crumbling. Her whole body trembled, and the tears flowed steadily as she hyperventilated. Here was the young girl that had been forced to advance before her years. Had taken on the burden of keeping her people alive and already had the blood of many on her hands. Clarke was just like her Lexa had mused. Perhaps this was why she viewed Clarke as the true leader of the Sky People and not any of the adults. She could tell that the adults did not respect Clarke as their leader but the younger ones did. It was Clarke that had kept them all alive when they had first been sent down to the ground. She was the one that had fought against and then negotiated with the Grounders. She was the first one to have ever escaped from Mount Weather.
When it had come time to burn the murderer's body Lexa had allowed Clarke the privilege. It mattered not to her who set the soul alight as long as he had paid for his crimes with his life. It was partially a political choice too. Her people had to respect her decision to work alongside the Sky People. She had to lead by example and show that if the two leaders could respect each other then so could the rest of their people.
Lexa had found herself unwillingly opening up to Clarke after that. She had not spoken Costia's name since the day she had died yet she found herself telling Clarke all about her brutal murder. She had even admitted to the agonising pain that she had felt. Why had she exposed herself to someone she had known for just one day? Why had she let her defense down and shattered Clarke's illusions of the frosty leader that she was? Lexa could not answer these questions. There was just something about Clarke…
That's it for part 1, hope you enjoyed it!