Lexa opened her eyes to a strangely familiar sight and wondered if that was how the afterlife felt. She tried to think of previous experiences but the memories of Clarke came flooding to her instead. She remembered Clarke insisting that she fight on and rejected the notion of a new commander protecting her. She even remembered a kiss before everything turned dark on her. Even though she was prepared and ready to accept her death, she felt robbed of her chance to be with Clarke longer. She sensed a movement in the room and tried to get ready to react when she felt pain on her abdomen. She let out an involuntary groan that made whoever was in the room notice and approach her.
"Commander, you're awake," the female voice said moving next to her.
Lexa blinked to make out who it was and didn't need to see more than the blonde hair that was highlighted by the sunlight from her window to know who it was. She tried to speak but her throat was dry and only managed a croak.
"Don't move too much or you'll hurt yourself," Clarke said trying to make her more comfortable in bed.
Lexa felt Clarke's hand on her chin trying to help her drink when it was clear she was thirsty. "Thanks." She heard the voice but was baffled by it. She looked up at Clarke hoping to get an answer.
"What is it?" Clarke asked trying to determine what was wrong.
"What happened?" Lexa managed to ask.
"I was able to take out the bullet and stop the bleeding," Clarke revealed. "It wasn't easy because Titus kept getting in the way."
The realization that Clarke had saved her made Lexa's heart swell. She was so happy that she had a second chance with her beloved. She was about to thank her when Clarke stood up and walked away.
"I should go tell Titus that you're awake," Clarke said plainly. She took a few steps before collapsing to the floor.
"Clarke!" Lexa shouted struggling to get off the bed to get to her side.
"Commander!" a voice yelled from the door. Titus rushed to Lexa's side and lifted her back on to the bed.
"Help Clarke," Lexa ordered more concerned for her beloved than herself. She waited impatiently while Titus checked on Clarke. "How is she?"
"She will be fine," Titus replied. "She's just exhausted from watching over you. She refused to leave your side or let me relieve her."
"How long?" she asked inferring why Clarke did what she did.
"A week," he replied. "I told her to rest; I was afraid she would come to this but she is stubborn."
Lexa half-listened to Titus as she watched Clarke's sleeping form. She marveled at how persistent she was in saving her life. It was obvious that Clarke cared for her and she even dared to hope it was because of love.
"Commander," he called her attention. "Would you like something to eat?"
Lexa nodded as she realized she was hungry. She watched as Titus went towards the door and brought in a tray for her. She frowned when she saw the spread.
"Wanheda had insisted that you eat this while you were recovering," he revealed. "We can ask her if this can be changed."
"No, this will do for now," she replied not wanting to disturb her sleeping savior.
.
Clarke woke up with a start and saw that it was already nighttime. She tried to get her bearings and realized she was on Lexa's bed alone. Her alarm grew when she couldn't see anyone else in the candle-lit room. "Lexa!" She jumped out of bed ready to harm anyone who may have taken her away.
"In here," Lexa spoke from the adjoining room slowly walking back towards her.
"What are you doing?" Clarke demanded seeing Lexa's slow halting gait. "Why didn't you wake me up? You're still too weak to be moving about."
"And you're still too exhausted to be up already," Lexa pointed out but allowing Clarke to help her back to bed.
"I'm fine," Clarke said climbing into bed with Lexa. "Especially now that you're back."
"This has never happened before," Lexa said. "My spirit should have gone to the next commander. Why did you stop it?" She wasn't angry but needed to know why Clarke prevented it.
"I told you, I want you," Clarke said pulling Lexa's shirt up to see the wound. "Let me change this for you." She moved away to get new bindings.
"You don't believe that the next commander would protect you?" Lexa asked slightly disappointed that Clarke still didn't believe her. "I've made sure of that and even Titus would never harm you ever again." She remembered that much.
"I believe you," Clarke said replacing the bandage around Lexa's abdomen. "But my feelings for the new commander won't be the same."
"You have to trust and respect the next commander," Lexa said. "Just like all my subjects will once the next is chosen."
Clarke remained silent but continued her work on the bandages. She was quite glad that Lexa was healing fast.
"Clarke, you must try or the twelve clans will go against you and your people," Lexa explained hoping that she would accept it should anything happen to her again. "Promise me you will try to work with the next commander the same way."
"I can't because I love you," Clarke replied unable to hold back the tears any longer. They streamed down her face and glittered even in the softly lit room.
Lexa was stunned by the admission. She had hoped but still it caught her unprepared.
"For the sake of my people I will trust and respect but I will only love you," Clarke continued unashamed of showing her feelings. "I know you think 'love is weakness' but I'm not sorry I feel this way." She had been so focused on Lexa's recovery that only now has she allowed herself to deal with her feelings and it came all out.
"Don't be," Lexa said lifting her face to look into her eyes and wiping away the tears. "I was wrong; your love gives me the strength to fight on."
Clarke was glad to hear that and leaned in for a kiss. She moved closer and pulled away when Lexa groaned. "Sorry, I didn't mean to rush you."
"You're not," Lexa assured her leaning into her to remain close. She settled her head on Clarke's shoulder. "Titus said it had been a week. How did you manage to make him wait to release my spirit?"
"Is that what he was going to do?" Clarke asked knowing instinctively then that she had to keep him away without understanding what he was doing.
Lexa nodded. "It's protocol to set my spirit free so the conclave can begin."
"Well, that will have to wait," Clarke said firmly. She kissed the top of Lexa's head remembering how desperate she was to save Lexa. "You gave me strength to ward off Titus."
Lexa lifted her head to look into Clarke's eyes. She knew Clarke wasn't the kind of person who would placate her but needed to see the truth in her eyes nonetheless.
"I may be your weakness Lexa, but you're my strength," Clarke confessed. "I wasn't about to give up and let you die."
"But how did you know I wouldn't?" Lexa asked wondering what made her risk going against Titus.
"Because I felt your pulse and it was strong," Clarke revealed. "Titus wouldn't listen so Murphy and I restrained him."
Lexa listened with silent amusement. She imagined Titus seething while Clarke prevented him from doing his duty. She was glad she made him promise to never hurt Clarke ever again.
"He eventually gave me some time to help you heal," Clarke continued. "He said I had until the next full moon to get you well."
Lexa smiled realizing what Titus had done. "He invoked the 'Time of Reflection' since the 'Ascension Day' had been disrupted."
"Something like that," Clarke confirmed trying to remember what he actually said. She was too preoccupied with protecting Lexa to listen.
"What about the one you call Murphy? What happened to him?"
"Titus has agreed to leave him alone so I can tend to you," Clarke explained their compromise. "But we can talk about it more later. Right now, you need to rest to gain your strength back."
"You do, too," Lexa added seeing that she still looked tired.
Clarke nodded in agreement and settled into bed with Lexa beside her. "Sleep well commander."
"Sleep well ambassador."
.
Clarke woke up fully refreshed only to find herself once again alone on Lexa's bed. She groaned and wished Lexa would just take it easy for once. She knew Lexa didn't want to appear weak but given they were in seclusion she wished that she would allow herself to be pampered. After chastising herself for wanting Lexa to shirk off her responsibilities, she got up to find the commander in the adjoining room.
"You look much better," Lexa said when she saw Clarke.
"So do you," Clarke replied watching Lexa checking her healing wound. She reached out and ran her fingers across the scar developing on her torso. She was quite amazed at how quickly it was healing.
"I bear your mark now," Lexa said with a slight smile. "Wanheda has chosen not to let me die."
"Can we please talk about something else other than your death?" Clarke demanded wanting to forget how close she was to losing her.
"Do you know what Murphy was doing here?" Lexa asked changing the subject.
"I don't' know," Clarke admitted. "I'll ask him later when I see him."
"Is he a danger to you?" Lexa deduced that Titus had wanted to blame Murphy had he been successful in killing Clarke but wondered if she was in danger even without Titus.
"No, he won't hurt me," Clarke assured her. "He's here for something else and I'm going to find out what."
"Commander," Titus called out from the other room.
Lexa and Clarke went to meet him. They exchanged looks when Titus presented them with food and both concluded that he was trying to make amends.
"I hope this is acceptable," he said knowing that Clarke had been very strict as to what Lexa could eat.
"It's fine," Clarke accepted sensing that Lexa was ready for something more substantial. She could see the relief in both of them.
"Any word on the blockade?" Lexa asked getting back to business.
"There have been no incursions," he revealed. "However, Indra did follow Octavia to Arkadia."
Clarke was surprised by the news then felt a pang of remorse for not joining them.
"Good, you can leave us now," Lexa dismissed Titus after seeing Clarke's reaction. She studied Clarke carefully as he left.
"I should be there with them," Clarke said after hearing the door close. "Octavia must think I've turned my back on them."
"If she knows you as well as you know her, she should know that you have not," Lexa said. "She will understand that something compelled you to stay."
Clarke wished Lexa was right but Octavia's parting words worried her. "I'll go check on Murphy and find out why he's here." She didn't want Lexa to see her sadness further knowing that it would make her feel bad.
Lexa didn't stop Clarke knowing that she needed time.
.
Clarke found Murphy in her room as expected. She brought him some of the food Titus brought for her and Lexa. "How are you doing?"
"Better now that Lexa's man isn't beating me up," he replied.
"How did you end up with Titus anyway?" she asked with curiosity.
After taking a bite and gulping it down, he began telling Clarke what he had discovered while in captivity. "I think we both realized that the first commander was one of us and he doesn't want anyone to know."
"And you're sure of this?" she asked for confirmation.
"Their own historical drawings says so," he confirmed. "And they have this as the mark of their commander."
Clarke saw the symbol that she had seen on Lexa. She didn't know what to make of it but could see how Titus would want to suppress that information. "So he wanted to get rid of you by framing you for killing me."
"Let's get out of here before he finds another way," he begged. "While the commander is too weak to do us any harm."
"Who else knows about this?" she asked trying to understand what it all meant.
"Just the three of us now," he revealed. "Look, he's too concerned about his own neck right now to make a move but I think we should leave."
"No, I'll tell her what you've uncovered and we'll find out more from Titus," she said firmly. "Wait here and stay out of trouble."