The young girl hammered tirelessly against the steel, determined to shape it into the best of her work yet. Every time she begins crafting a new weapon or tool she tells herself, 'This will be the best one yet.'
This piece may just be the best one yet. A long bladed, one sided katana. Her old teacher had taught her well. It was truly a masterpiece so far, and she still hadn't finished.
Just as she was about to stop for the day a loud knock startled her out of her work. Pulling her mask off she answered the door covered in sweat.
"Hello," a blond woman greeted her, the door sending in the cool night breeze. "May I come in?" She asked carefully.
"Sure," she answered, opening the door invitingly. As the young girl entered she noticed the blood covering her hands. "May I ask you your name?" She innocently made her way to her nearest sword, back turned to the guest.
"I was sent by your brother." A sword was suddenly against the blonds neck, drawing blood.
"I see you have Nightblood on your hands. Is it my brothers? Did you kill him?" She pushed harder onto the blade, creating a small cut against the girls neck, pushing for answers.
"No! Aden's fine, but he sent me-"
"How do I know what you speak is the truth?" The blacksmith pulled the sword back enough so that it wasn't drawing blood anymore, but still cautious.
"You don't but-"
"Then what's to stop me from killing you right here?"
"Me," a voice spoke from behind the blacksmith who had no time to react before her sword was sent flying across her home and stuck into the wall with extreme force.
"Octavia, you're here!" The blond exclaimed, happy she no longer had a sword against her neck.
"Yea Murphy sent me. Who the hell is this Clarke? And why was she slicing your neck up?" Octavia shoved the tip of her own sword against the blacksmiths neck, drawing black blood. "Oh, I guess that explains it."
"Please, put the sword down Octavia. Eretria and I here-"
"How do you know my name?"
"-were just about to go to see her very alive," Clarke gave a pointed look to the blacksmith,"brother Aden," she turned to her friend. "And we have a problem so let's hurry before people see us."
"I'm not going anywhere with you two!" Octavia turned to Clarke.
"How badly do we need her?"
"Bad. And now so let's make this quick."
"Make what quick?"
"Either come with us or find out," Octavia challenged.
The blacksmith took off running towards a back door.
"Ok then," Octavia said, handing Clarke her sword before giving chase. Catching the girl trying to get out the door, Octavia pulled a cloth out of her belt and covered the blacksmiths mouth just as she tried to scream, instead fighting against her but was no match. A minute later the girl slumped to the ground unconscious. "Let's go," Octavia said, standing up and tucking the cloth away.
"Right. That just happened." Clarke picked up the girls feet and Octavia got the arms as they scooted outside where Helio was waiting for them. Not wanting to seem suspicious, the two girls tried to go unnoticed and threw the blacksmith up. Octavia hopped behind her to make sure she didn't fall off.
"Meet you there? I'll take the back entrance." Clarke nodded before setting off on a jog to get back to the tower. She looked down as she ran and realized that it does look like she just killed a Nightblood, or was a Nightblood, but as the tears started falling on them the blood was starting to disappear.
She had almost lost Lexa. She could still lose Lexa. Clarke herself had almost died if Lexa herself hadn't intervened.
Lexa, Lexa, Lexa, Lexa.
That's all she could think about. Lexa's smile. Lexa's laugh. Lexa's moan. Lexa's body. Lexa's scream of pain. Lexa.
She couldn't stop think about the woman, and how much she meant to the blond.
When the bullet had hit Lexa, Clarke felt the worst ever pain in her heart. It felt as if she was the one shot, not Lexa. It hurt. Bad.
As she ran past the stables Clarke thought of Lexa. The clothing store. The barracks. The armory. The citadel. Everything reminded her of Lexa and now she understood why.
She loves Lexa.
Clarke Griffins loves Lexa.
How could she not think of it before? She still hasn't told the Commander, but she needs to. Clarke would never forgive herself if Lexa died and she never told the Commander how she truly felt. She needs Lexa to know that she lived for more than just surviving in case she did die.
No.
Lexa wasn't going to die. Clarke was going to get her mom and Lexa would be fine. She can't think like that.
When Clarke finally had reached the elevator she saw Octavia waiting with Eretria laying at her feet, stirring.
"About time Clarke," she turned to the workers. "This prisoner is going to save the Commanders life, so let's make this quick." They nodded and the second Clarke was in the elevator it took off faster than she had expected.
"Aden will be mad that we knocked out his sister." Octavia shrugged.
"We're saving Lexa's life. He'll understand." Clarke looked down to the blacksmith who was still covered in ashes and smelled like metal.
"She's going to be up here a long time and we didn't even bring her a pair of clothes to change into."
"Clarke," Octavia said. "Don't worry about the blacksmith. I'll take care of her, you just focus on Lexa, ok?"
"Octavia the thing is, I can't take care of Lexa. When I pulled the bullet out it was shattered. There's still pieces in her. Only my mom can help her now." Octavia shook her head.
"Clarke that won't work. The border is going up tomorrow morning at dawn. Any Skaikru who tries to escape will die, and anyone who tries to enter. Effective tomorrow, Skaikru is being held against our will until we give up the ones who slaughtered the grounder army sent to protect us."
"Yea I know, that's our problem Octavia. I can't do this surgery, I don't know how to!" The blond turned around suddenly and punched the wall, adding red blood to mix with her already black hands.
"Hey!" Octavia matched over and pulled her into a hug as the blond let it all out. They stood that way for a good five minutes until the elevator started to slow down. "I'll take the blacksmith in, you just go check on Lexa. We'll deal with our problem later."
Rushing into the room Clarke was relieved to see Murphy standing outside the door on watch and Lexa sleeping peacefully.
"Did anything happen while I was gone?" The blond was at Lexa's side at once, checking her vitals as best she could with what little equipment she had.
"No, she's been sleeping the entire time. Where's my sister?" Aden asked, looking around for any signs of Eretria.
"She had a sword pointed at me," Clarke rubbed her neck. "And she thought I killed you with all of Lexa's blood on me. Octavia drugged her," seeing Aden about to speak she quickly added,"but she'll be perfectly fine once she sees you."
Just as Clarke finished taking vitals Octavia walked in with her sword against Eretria's back.
The blacksmith, seeing her brother, quickly ran towards him and enveloped him in a hug.
"Told you I didn't kill him," Clarke mumbled while checking Lexa's bandages.
"Aden chit happened?" Eretria asked with a worried expression.(Aden what happened?)
"The heda was shot en ai'm giving ai jus kom her. Ai've given hogeda the jus ai can. Nau em needs your jus as well."(The Commander was shot and I'm giving my blood to her. I've given all the blood I can. Now she needs your blood as well.)
Eretria nodded as she took in the situation.
"Ai see. Chit happens taim ai nou give the heda ai jus?" (I see. What happens if I do not give the Commander my blood?)
"She'll die," Clarke said bluntly.
"Ok then I guess I should give my blood," Aden stood up and let his sister take his seat.
"The Heda can reward you for your service, Eretria," Clarke stated.
"No need, I've known Lexa since I was young. She's always bought my swords and brought in old ones for repair," Clarke noticed that the young blacksmith couldn't be any older than herself and Octavia, and she looked nothing like her brother.
She had mid length black hair that was braided back, and she was tan, yet had no freckles. All over her arms and body were oil smudges and ash and she smelled completely of metal. Her eyes were a light green and she was shorter than most woman, yet looked unbelievably scary.
The small cut Octavia had cut on her neck earlier showed that she was indeed a Nightblood, but Clarke couldn't figure why she was alive and not in training. She'd have to ask Lexa about that later.
"Well Lexa needs your blood, so if I may?" At the nod of the shorter woman Clarke moved over to Aden and unhooked the tube, quickly reattaching it to Eretria.
"Eretria why must you be so stubborn?" Aden asked, finally noticing the cut on her neck.
"It must be a family thing, Runt," she pulled Aden down and rustled his hair around. "You stink, go shower." She pushed Aden away from herself and towards the door.
"I don't stink, you stink."
"Don't make me beat you up, ya little Runt," Aden smiled for the first time since Lexa had been shot before making for the door. Murphy walked in after Aden left.
"How is she?" He asked Clarke.
"Not good," she answered honestly, pulling her stethoscope away from the Commander. "Bullet fragments are still in her and they're going to make their way towards Lexa's heart soon enough. She needs a doctor," she looked to Octavia. "She needs my mom."
"Clarke..." Octavia warned.
"She's going to find out anyway."
"Find out what?" Eretria questioned, looking between the girls. Clarke sat on the bed and grabbed Lexa's bloodied hand in her own, before taking a deep breath.
"The Commander is ordering for Arkadia to be surrounded. Any Skaikru that is across the line is to be killed immediately until we give up the ones who slaughtered the grounder army yesterday." Eretria just stared at the black blood that slowly flowed through the tube and into Lexa. After what felt like eternity she spoke up.
"Well I guess someone's going to have to get your mother. Is she the most qualified for this operation?" Clarke nodded.
"I'll go grab Helios then, and I'll be back as fast as I can. I look grounder, but some people may recognize me as Skaikru, and on the way out they'll definitely know Abbey's not one of them," Octavia pinched her nose in thought and sighed. "I better get going now if this will work," Octavia turned to the door.
"Octavia wait," Clarke jumped up and hugged the girl. "Thanks. You don't have to do this though," the brunette laughed.
"Yes I do, Clarke. When Lexa wakes up, talk to her. Don't worry, I'll be back. I promise," Octavia grabbed the blonds arm in a grip. "May we meet again."
"We will meet again. Now be safe and hurry back."
"I can get you there faster, Octavia." Eretria stood up and made her way towards the warrior, taking the tube out of her arm. "As long as you promise not to knock me out or draw any blood from me again."
"Lexa still needs blood, Eretria."
"I can give more," Aden said, walking in with wet hair. "I feel fine and I would offer to take Octavia through the shortcuts but I would never be allowed to leave."
"Aden no you can't keep giving blood-" Clarke protested but stopped when Aden walked over to the tube and stuck it back in his arm.
"It's settled then," Eretria walked over to the door with Octavia. "We'll have to hurry if we are to even make it in the walls of Arkadia by sun rise." Octavia nodded and left out the door with Eretria following.
"What just happened?" Murphy asked the blond.
"I have no clue," she turned to Aden. "You're going to need to eat."
"Well I'm always hungry, so that's not a problem."