At this point, the story is still diving in and out of the AU and Canon Universe, amd might continue doing so in the forseeable future, but I hope that does not change your opinion of it!
On the day of the war meeting with the leaders of the twelve clans Lexa had successfully united, Octavia spent half of her time shadowing the Commander's fiercest general. She half listened to Indra's commands and reminders, but half of her brain was afloat, still wondering where her lover could be.
The sight of the Commander, who has decided to peek out of her tent for what seemed to be the tenth time that day, gets a dry chuckle out of Indra, prompting Octavia to snap out of her trance. The general chooses not to comment on Octavia's distraction, but raises her eyebrow at Octavia's curious glance.
"I never thought I'd see the day the Commander nervoulsy lurking around camp." Octavia notes, attempting to make small talk with her superior. Indra rolls her eyes at the young warrior and mutters something about the Commander not even feeling the slightest of nerves at meeting the leaders of the twelve clans before walking away.
Octavia makes a face at her superior's usual sour mood before jumping up at the sound of the said superior bellowing for her once again.
Bellamy sighs as he realizes that he was once again late in checking in with those at the Ark Station. Clarke's co-leader stayed silent as he and Maya made their way into the storage unit where the radio was hidden. He was hoping that the said blonde was not there when he made his latest report. He knew she was going to say something about his punctuality, and Bellamy hates the sound of him disappointing his Princess more than most of the things in this world.
Hearing his partner's voice the first time and every other time after that made his heart jump in ecstasy, not only because he has succeeded in one of his easier missions, but because that voice reminded him of home. Hearing her say his name made determination rush through his body with renewed vigor.
He had to get out of there, he had to.
As he walked closer to the radio once again, he took a deep breath before pressing the button that contacted his friends.
"When we say check in ever three hours, check in every three hours."
He winces when he hears her tone. He knew his wish being answered was a long shot.
Lexa realizes she has been found out when Indra shoots her a knowing look from across the camp. She maintains her stoic facade but immediately removes her hand from where she was holding her tent's flaps. She lets it fall before her face and then walks away to sit down on her throne.
It amazes Lexa how her general can read her like a book.
Of course she knew. She was one of the previleged few who was able to interact with her. Lexa knew she wasn't the only one who was reminded of Costia everytime Clarke had graced them with her presence.
It had started when one of the people she had sent with Clarke and Abby back to Camp Jaha came rushing back to Tondc with a report on some Mountain Man's attempt to assassinate her Sky Counterpart. She had wanted to rush towards Camp Jaha, but decided against it after learning that a target was placed on her back as well.
Instead, she sat and waited. She had attempted to interact with her people but had realized she knew better than to expose herself to the assassins probably hiding in the woods.
That was until Indra and Octavia had come through the gates of Tondc. The latter still seemed shaken for some reason. Indra had taken the task of reporting every single thing that happened in Camp Jaha, and before Lexa could even stop herself, she had questioned her general about the Sky Princess and how she was doing, resulting in an unusual reaction from the said general. Instead of adressing her general's questioning looks and pressing for answers, she dismisses Indra, but not before ordering her to send a guard to follow Clarke around.
Today was supposed to be the first time she would be seeing Clarke after their encounter with the Monaw, and she was growing impatient. The blonde should be here by now, but every time Lexa peered outside her tent, Clarke was still nowhere in sight.
Bellamy knew that everything was in his hands for now. He was currently talking with Raven and Clarke, who apparently decided to monitor his progress instead of attending that war meeting with the Grounders, sending Kane in her place. At least I know she worries about me. He smiles inwardly at that thought.
As he crawled towards the sound of the drilling, the thumps of his heart against is chest became harder and more frequent. Bellamy knew he had to control his breathing and make it seem like he wasn't afraid. The last thing he wants to happen is both Clarke and Raven and maybe even his little sister finding out just how afraid he is of being the only one who can assure their side's victory for now.
His insides turn as he sees one of the kids he saw alive and well a couple of hours ago lying stiffly on the metal table, with a hole on his side. The two women over the radio share his horror as they listen in on the conversation between Cage Wallace, Dr. Tsing and Emerson, who apparently has recently interacted with the People of the Ark.
Before he can even register anything else happening, he realizes that Clarke has taken off, leaving him in the care of Raven who was definitely more than capable of assisting him in his mission.
Lexa stayed inside the tent as the rest of Tondc hustled and bustled for the war meeting happening in a few hours. Her mood hasn't improved much, especially because Clarke was still missing in action.
Her thoughts are interrupted when she hears a set of horse hooves followed by a couple more thundering into the village. Her face contorts into a small smile before she replaces it with the mask she is always seen wearing. She hurriedly, but carefully walks towards the exit of her tent.
She freezes just by her tent, seeing as it was a different sky person in attendance, and he was walking towards her.
"Clarke sends her apology. Something has come up in Camp Jaha." Says the sky man who first earned Lexa's respect. She doesn't realize it, but not just Indra, but Octavia and Kane also notice the small change in her demeanor.
She nods at Kane before turning back towards her tent, vaguely hearing Indra's second inquire if Clarke's absence had something to do with her brother. She sighs in relief when she does not hear the older man's answer.
She didn't want to hear him say that Clarke has chosen Bellamy instead of her. And she knew that was the truth.
She came.
The sight of Clarke made the Commander smile inwardly. So she decided to come anyway. The look of distress on her Sky counterpart caught of her off guard. Something is wrong, that was why Clarke came.
"We need to talk in private." says the Blonde, the tone of her voice restrained. Lexa nods and leads her to the room where they were supposed to meet with the other leaders.
Clarke relays to her the conversation about a missile that she overheard through Bellamy's radio. Lexa listens intently as Clarke is determined to evacuate everyone in Tondc.
"There's still time. We could at least lead them out" Clarke pushes her resolve, ignoring what Lexa had to say. This is the very reason why she's trying to believe, and make Clarke believe, that Loving was weakness. She now knew that as much as it would hurt her, she only had one way to try and convince Clarke otherwise, so she strikes where she knew it would hurt, even if hurts her as well.
Lexa knew that it was the only way to get Clarke on board. She starts talking about Bellamy, the same man who didn't even know that the Commander saw him as a threat. She tries to reason out to Clarke, bringing in Bellamy's safety and possible success or failure into play.
She gets Clarke's approval, finally, but her heart breaks at how easy it was to sway her decision when Bellamy was put into the equation.
Once again she reminds the blonde about Love and Caring being signs of weakness. If only the blonde knew how hard it was to pretend to be heartless in front of the very person who holds most of your heart.
"My people will know. They will look for me when they find me gone. The Woods will keep us safe." Lexa informs the other girl.
Even with reservations about Lexa's plan, Clarke leaves with her anyway. They walk out of the makeshift room in silence and have covered a distance, although not enough, away from Tondc. She will be safe with me, that is all that matters now. A light feeling came over the Commander at the knowledge of Clarke warning her, and her only about the missile.
Clarke pauses midway, dread filling her face. "No. Why is she here?" Clarke whispers and runs back to Tondc.
"Clarke! No!" the Commander screams. Come back, two words she knows that even if she shouts to the Blonde, it would not keep her from saving her mother. She will be safe. Lexa acts quickly and runs a safe distance away. A flash of light from the sky made her stop and duck down to the ground. She faces Tondc and looks over as the missile hits the camp.
Clarke.
Lexa's face contorts into that of anguish as she realizes that Clarke may have been right at the center of that explosion.
This cannot happen, not again!
She lied to me.
Octavia was in Tondc and Cage is about to launch the missile. Bellamy knew that thinking about his sister's safety will distract him from completing his mission. Raven made that crystal clear, crystal clear that Clarke lied to him.
He felt a slight pain on his chest at the thought put quickly put it aside as he disconnects and reconnects wiring as a distraction to help the 47 escape. Bellamy remembers the old leader that had told him about what he can do to buy them some time. He recalls that the President's own son turned on him, blinded by his ego. Bellamy can't help but feel a tinge of sympathy for the older man, he never would have imagined turning on her mother when she was still alive.
A lot of the 100 were imprisoned because of protecting their parents or helping their parents. Just like Clarke. He related to her, especially because she was imprisoned because she helped her father who was only trying to save everyone in the Ark.
Their bickering and arguments were only just part of his act to show her he's the better man still, never would he admit how he could understand her more than anyone. How he cares for her more than anyone, he would die for her without a second thought and it was not only because she stood up for him countless of times.
"Bellamy you still there?" Raven's voice tinged with worry comes out of the radio on him and snaps out his trance.
"Yeah sorry, I was just checking if anyone would come out here" Bellamy voices out a partial truth, not admitting he was thinking of something else.
Raven must have been calling him out for a while but she ignores his obvious almost lie. She instructs him to standby as she checks for how Bellamy could get to their next task.
Bellamy could only think of one thing now as he awaits in agony, wanting to to something as soon as possible. Only one thought crosses his mind as he'd rather live in that memory forever. Clarke's scent and touch as she ran to hug him. It was always more than a hug to him.
I honestly believe that Lexa's tactics in the episode were executed with good intentions. And Clarke's decisions WERE for the common good. She is a leader and hard choices come in, one way or another. Yes, Lexa influenced her decision, but it was a concious decision on Clarke's part. She knew what she was getting into. Nobody was forced to do anything. Right? Right? Just sayin.
Anyway, this chapter has been longer as this is a thank you gift to all who read and subscribed and favorited and reviewed. Reviews are still very much appreciated! Lastly, props to my friend and co-author Kai (whose penname i do not know) for balancing my Clexa feels with her Bellarke feels. Long rant over.