Hi everyone! The second chapter! Yay! This chapter will be a little longer that the first one because I felt the need to answer a few question that I left in the air, don't you think? :P You have to understand that the story is basically from Clarke's point of view, so, if she didn't know what was going on, neither did you, sorry!
I would like to thank to all of you that followed and favorated the fic! And of course to all of you that left a review! Thank you very much, it makes me so happy! :) :) Last but not less, I want to thank to my editor blondegirl353, who is helping me by correcting my grammar mistakes, like a good spaniar by English is baaaad :P so, if there is still some grammar mistakes or if you don't understand something, you're free to ask me!
So, here we go, please, review, comment and feel free to give advise and stuff like that! :) Thanks again to all of you!
Clarke was sitting on her bed, watching Abby pacing around the bed. Her patience was close to exploding.
"Mom, please, stop pacing around and just tell me what is happening?" Clarke asked almost desperately. "Are you going to tell me why are the grounders attacking? And why did you save Lex… the commander" She corrected herself "if she is doing all this?"
"…" Abby sighed trying to put the words in her mouth. "Honey… while you were gone, a lot of things happened. To summarize it to you… the grounders that are attacking us are not the Tree Clan… it is the Ice Nation" Her mother stared at her for a few seconds to let Clarke to process the information "and the Tree Clan is fighting against them" she sentenced.
Clarke's mind started to spin again. She was trying to understand what her mother was explaining. How was possible that the clans were fighting against each other? They were now united, so it didn't make any sense. And why were her people involved if the war was between them? After all, Clarke knew that the Tree Clan and the Ice Nation were enemies before the alliance of the 12 clans.
"The commander came to Camp Jaha a couple of days after Mount Weather" Abby noticed the pain in Clarke's eyes when she mentioned that. "She warned us that they were coming…" she put her hand on Clarke shoulder to comfort her.
"And you believe her… after what she did to me… to all of us…" Clarke said with anger in her voice.
"No, at first we didn't believe her, we thought that she was just trying to scare us in order to get rid of us and we almost kicked her ass out of here" she said honestly remembering the commander's cold face and calm that she showed when they treated her like that "But after a few weeks Ice Nation warriors came to our gates in order to attack us… we needed help…" Abby sighed again.
"So you went to TonDC with your tail between your legs…" Clarke's words were harsh when she looked at her mother with anger.
"Yes Clarke, we did… You need to understand… the Ice Nation's army is so huge…" the panic in Abby's voice was obvious.
"Ok…" said Clarke breathing deeply to calm herself down when she saw her mother's eyes. "But all this still doesn't explain why is she helping you and why is she still around"
"Well to be honest, it was a shock for all of us too that she was willing to help. We have a reunion with her… she only wanted to talk to you… you know…" Her mother said cautiously expecting Clarke's reaction.
Clarke breath hardened, her anger started to boil again. "How dare she?" she screamed. "How she even dare to…" but her mother interrupted her.
"The thing is honey" Abby put her hands on Clarke's cheeks to relax her "that when we explained to her that you weren't here and we didn't know where you were, she just nodded and before leaving she said that the alliance with us was still intact".
Clarke's eyes almost widened in disbelieve.
"I know honey, I know that is hard for you to believe it, but it's true. You have the proof just right in the other room." Abby pointed at Lexa's room.
Why? That was the only question that Clarke had in her mind. She had left her in front of Mount Weather to die, she had made the deal in order to save her people and sacrifice Clarke's friends. The deal that forced Clarke's hand to kill all those innocent people. That was something that Clarke would never forgive her for… the way she betrayed her… after all the things they sacrificed… after all the time they spent together… Anger, anger and more anger was what Clarke felt every time that she thought about it.
Abby observed in silence Clarke's expression… She wished that one day Clarke could get over the pain and anger that had been installed in her heart. She wasn't a little girl any more… she couldn't just put a band-aid to heal Clarke's wounds. That saddened her so deeply.
"Well. Now, you know… I will let you rest." Abby said while she approached to Clarke. "Please Clarke, rest and… just rest." She wanted to say so much more.
"Wait" Clarke stopped her when she was about to left the room. "You said that we need the commander alive… and if what you just told me is true, you're right" she was coming to her sense again. "How seriously is she injured?" just for one second Abby was capable of see concern in her daughter's eyes.
"When we found her she had a very nasty cut in the right side of her torso and she had lost a lot of blood, she almost died twice on the operation table." Abby said.
Clarke gasped almost imperceptibly. For one second that thought made that fear invaded Clarke's body and mine. But she quickly pushed it away and composed herself.
"But she survived Clarke" her mother reassured her. "She is very strong and she is recovering very well. Just like you, all she has to do now is rest." Abby gave her a slight smile and left the room.
Clarke was released from the medical bay a few days ago and she got her old room at the ark back.
She spent all the time that she could outside, she didn't like to spent time inside the grim of the ark's wall. Although most of her days she was stuck in the operation room, discussing war tactics with Markus, Bellamy and a few others. She avoided Lexa's rooms, of course. When she was outside though, she was just alone, trying to avoid everyone, even her friends. She spent a few moments with them every day to get used to be around them again, but it was hard, very hard. She wasn't ready to totally face them yet.
That day she was observing how the grownups were doing their chores and how the children were playing and laughing. The last few days had been quiet, there hadn't been more attacks. She was laying on the grass with her eyes closed, trying to relax, to think, to find inner peace. She was letting the sun warm her skin, feeling better. The sun, the sound from the children's laughs and the singing coming from the birds was calming. Step by step, she thought. She was aware that somebody was in front of her when she felt a shadow blocking the sun.
"Hi honey" Abby smiled at her.
"Hi mom" she greed her back with a slight smile.
"Clarke… I'm so sorry to interrupt your moment" the expression from Abby's face changed when she said that "but… the commander has been released and she is in all full commander mode, you know…" her mother sighed. "She want a meeting with you, she knows you're back, and she only wants to talk to you". Abby looked at her this concern in her eyes.
Shit, she was feeling quite fine today… that was fantastic. She knew that sooner or later she would be forced to see Lexa again, but she wasn't ready… she wasn't even ready to face her friends, how could she be ready to face the commander? She sighed and breathed deeply before replying her mother. Control your anger, the told herself.
"Ok, I knew that this day would come" she sighed again. "Does it have to be right now?" she asked then.
"Yes, she has been insisting on it since she found out that you're here". Abby stated.
Clarke clenched her fists before getting up. She closed her eyes for one second and then stood up. The walk from the outside camp to the operation room feel like an eternity to her. Her mind was running with thoughts, but none of them were clear. When they reached the room, her mother opened the door to let her get in. She gently squeezed Clarke's shoulder to reassure her before she went away.
Lexa was standing in the other end of the room. She looked breathtaking, as always. She was wearing her war armor, her war pain, and her stoic look. Nobody had ever said that she had almost died a week ago. When she heard Clarke entering the room she starred at her, analyzing her. Clarke could watch in her eyes that she was trying to reassure that Clarke was really alive, really there. Her gaze changed immediately to her usual emotionless though.
Clarke mouth felt dry, her hands were shaking slightly. Why was she so nervous? She tried to focus, to clear her head. She was there now, she had to be the leader that her people deserved. She locked her gaze with Lexa's and her anger started to pop up again. She was standing in front of the person that had betrayed her, that had broken her… her… trust.
"You sent for me?" Clarke's voice was cold. Lexa just nodded. "What do you want commander?"
"We need to talk about the war Clarke" Lexa answered looking at her like if that was the more logical answer in the world. Of course, what was Clarke expecting? An apology? She could feel the anger running through her veins.
"You could talk about the war with anyone" she said with a husky voice. "And why are you helping us against the Ice Nation? You had a coalition…"
"Yes, but I wanted to talk about it just with you" her eyes intensified with that words. "And I just couldn't let the Ice Nation once again do what they please" a shadow of pain crossed Lexa's eyes. Clarke noticed it.
Clarke realized then Lexa's agenda. She wanted revenge, of course. Jus drein jus daun. Costia's death. Clarke was about to blow up of rage. She was using her people again for her own benefit. That was enough.
"What do you think? Eh? That you can come here, after what you did and just drag us in another war because you want vengeance? Haven't you done enough damage?" she yelled at Lexa.
Lexa remained speechless for a few moments, looking at her hard. "I'm not dragging you into another war Clarke" her voice was harsh but steady. "I'm here because I wanted to help"
"Bullshit!" the blonde screamed. "I know you want revenge, jus drein jus daun, isn't it? This is your opportunity to revenge Costia and you are using us like you used us against Mount Weather!" Clarke's face was red.
"I'm not lying" Lexa rose her voice clenching her fist. "They are attacking at you Clarke, not at the Tree Clan, can't you see that? Their army is so huge because other clans joined them" she gave a few steps toward Clarke. She stopped, and breathed slowly, trying to calm herself down. "You may not trust me, I understand that".
"No kidding" She said quickly. Lexa's eyes showed pain just for one second.
"I know your angry with me Clarke, but do not let your emotions cloud your mind, not this time" Lexa continued "Now that you defeated Mount Weather, the coalition is starting to dissolve. Some clans are afraid of you and see you as a threat, so they want to erase you from earth…" she said very seriously.
Then Clarke tried to focus again, Lexa's words were sinking in her mind and she was realizing the consequences of those words. Clarke felt devastated. Why can they live in peace and harmony? Why was it so difficult for grounders to be at peace? Clarke looked saddened.
"Clarke…" Lexa tried to approach the other girl, to change the sadness in her eyes, but she stopped herself. "I know that all you always wanted is peace. Like I said, I'm here to help. I know a way to get finally peace."
Clarke looked at her wary. She didn't trust Lexa, she doubted she would be able to do it again.
"Why?" Clarke asked frowning.
"…" Lexa sighed and closed her eyes. When she opened them, her mask was off, her eyes showed tiredness and pain. "Because I'm tired of bloodshed… I want peace too. Like I said to you… I do care Clarke…" She locked her green eyes with the blonde's blue eyes. Clarke stopped breathing for one second.
"…" Clarke gulped, putting herself together again. "You said that you know a way."
Lexa nodded. "You must come to Polis and talk to our council" Lexa stated.
"You have a council?" Clarke asked in shock.
"Yes Clarke, we are not savage as you think" Lexa looked hurt.
You should come with me to the Capitol. Polis will change the way you thing about us. The words echoed in Clarke's mind, words that were hurting her now. She remembered her reply as well. But she changed her mind after Mount Weather. She was angry with Lexa, but if she was right… she had to try it. Her anger could stay there anyway.
"Ok, then. We leave to Polis tomorrow morning" she spun around and left Lexa in the room.