Reviews:
xxDark Angel Babyxx: Thanks!
orangewritter: there you go!
Storm Warning : Thanks. Yeah, don't we all want to see the compassionate Lexa? ;)
catchychaney: hahaha, patience. Yeah, that you really need for the stories I right. Sadly.
Guest and MK: Thanks.
InsanityatBest and Meilissa: Here you go! Hope you enjoy it.
Sajiko27: Thank you for your kind words. I loved your review. And hahaha, sorry for the disappointment for chapter 4. But hopefully, you will love this chapter.
JaxonLove: Thank you. And Lexa does have her baggage too, trust me. Hahaha, let's just agree on the fact that clexa is hot.
soulterror: There IS a fine line between love and hate, true. Thank you for your support.
erikashadow: You are probably right. Like the show is not based on only 'ships'. There would be so few clexa moments, if any. So fantasy is definitely better than reality. Oh and yep, actors and characters- two different things. Lastly, thank you for liking the story.
Zasterfate: You are welcome. And forced marriage but not forceful partner, that's this story. I didn't say anything about Costia and Lexa's relation :P How do you even know she has or had a relation with her?:P
FiaBlack: Thanks, babe. And heda is only soft for Clarke, remember that.
Jude81: Actually a few more people asked for it too and doesn't allow to send links to others so I just made it my cover.
Ryebread1105: Thanks. Hope you saw the pic.
CorLeonis92 :That's what I thought coz teat her...yeah. Anyway, thanks for the review and for liking this boring story :)
Guest: Awesome review but please add a screen name when you review as a guest. And both of them needed to pay sacrifices, ARE paying sacrifices because both of them are leaders of their respective people.
Jude81: I just needed Clarke to have an ex-lover. First I thought of using Finn but well, he was just hateful so I was like nah. And yep, medieval castle thing though not as huge as not all of it remained intact after the bombing and all. As for the robe: Grounder traditional robe for hedatu.
betagamma and Melissa Catron: Thanks, guys.
Dust: You flatter me, girl. ' copying form my favorite fic'- haha. I like your possessiveness of Lost :P
Mikinis94 : Jealous Lexa- you'll find a bit of that in this chapter.
LitaDelacour: It would be for Clarke to explore the real Lexa. And Lexa really was powerless. If she followed her ruthless ways, then she would've finished off all of the Sky People but Lexa thinks a bit differently from her people and hence the marriage soloution.
Sedgie: The kiss turned passionate without intention :P But I could be persuaded to write more of those ;)
Jealous Clarke- I will explore that in later chapters. OH, and AGREED. Clarke even shouting on Lexa sounds awfully good to me. At least, it would be out in the open that the betrayal affected her PEROSONALLY.
Kielena: hahaha, hopefully you saw the pic and thank you so much. You are just very kind with your words.
Emma0605: I did too.
chaosrin: Sad to hear that you didn't like it. Hopefully, this next chapter will be better.
Title: Sacrifice
Relationship: Clarke and Lexa (Clexa)
Author: ArshuK
(Not beta'd)
Lexa walks in the hall, where all her generals as well as hundreds of her warriors are present. They all stand up in respect and bow their heads as she passes them and stands at the end of the room, at a raised platform. Then she announces, her voice full of confidence, not wavering the slightest.
"Welcome, the heda of the Sky clan, Clarke of the Sky People!"
Clarke makes her way to where the commander is standing, Octavia walking behind her, her hand of the handle of her gun, ready to defend Clarke if necessary. But all eyes are on Clarke, watching her; judging her. She looks beautiful with her blond hair braided fashionably behind her head. The blue tunic that she wears, brings out her eyes and the white cloak over it only enhances its beauty. Her beauty. However, what she doesn't look is vulnerable or small. She has a defiant expression on her face, no smile gracing her lips, and her eyes look as sharp as the edges of cut glass. She looks regal. She looks powerful. She looks solid. She looks fierce. She looks respectable. She looks Clarke.
It clearly makes an impression on the grounders, as they gradually bow their head in respect at her as well when she passes. Lexa inwardly smiles. She loves this side of Clarke; gathering respect without really trying. She looks straight into the Sky Leader's eyes as she makes way towards her. She wants to avert her gaze because she feels like Clarke's eyes are looking into her soul. Looking into her deepbut she doesn't have the power to move her eyes from the beautiful sight. She gulps the invisible lump in her throat.
Clarke ignores the grounders as she walks towards the Commander. However, she had heard the soft murmur that erupted when she entered the hall. She decides to not pay heed at them and rather looks into the eyes of the commander. She waits for Lexa to avert her eyes, but she doesn't and Clarke fails to do it either so she just looks into them. She is surprised to see so many emotions in the eyes of the Commander. Her body is as stoic as ever, her eyes however, betray her. It's clear to Clarke, that the Commander likes what she is seeing. She slightly smirks at the thought until she suddenly recalls the previous events. The embarrassing, mortifying, shameful events. She recalls how she had grabbed Lexa and kissed her like such a needy , desperate woman. She recalls how gentle Lexa had been with her. She recalls how she had left the Commander at the floor. She shakes her head lightly to come back to the present. Lexa is standing in front of her, looking dashing in her festival clothes. The black cloak suits her, makes her eyes look darker. A red slash is hanging diagonally across her cloak, showing her status.
Clarke approaches her, realizes that the platform is at a little higher level and gets ready to step up, when she finds a hand extended towards her. She does not hesitate to take it. There had been enough embarrassment for one night.
"Sky Princess."
"Commander."
She guides Clarke to stand on her left and Octavia stands behind her protectively after nodding Commander a greeting.
Lexa takes a step forward to address her people. "Today we are here for a celebration. The war with the Sky People has ended. My warriors, you fought bravely and have returned home safely. As many of you are aware, we have come back with a guest; Clarke of the Sky People. She will be my wife, my equal and your hedatu." Clarke feels a blush creeping on her face but she keeps on looking ahead.
Cheers erupt from the crowd when the Commander pauses. She raises her hand to quiet them and then continues,
"We lost our warriors to this war, they will always be remembered but today, I announce that the Sky People are our allies now. They are not to be harmed. And anyone who defies my command, will pay with their life." She says menacingly.
The already silent crowd becomes impossibly more silent at the Commander's words, Clarke observes. However, this silence doesn't last very long when the Commander says,
"Begin the feast."
And just like that the silence is broken and laughter and life fills the hall. Clarke takes a bite of the fish that the servers had filled in her plate and uncontrollably moans in pleasure at the taste. Lexa slightly turns her head in her direction and gives her a small smile.
"This is delicious." Clarke explains.
"It has been made by the finest spices available in the lands." Lexa approves, though not looking at Clarke again. Her heart sped up by just giving her a glance earlier. Her dark pink lips taunting her, Lexa momentarily closes her eyes. That kiss that Clarke bestowed her before was nothing like she had ever felt before. The tension, the feeling of her hands in her hair, her own grip on Clarke's waist as she slid up higher to deepen the connection. It keeps on replaying again and again in the commander's head, a continuous loop of torture. When she had pledged to not to touch her, she wasn't aware she had given Clarke the authorization to come onto her...not that it was a bad experience. No, not at all bad. Lexa unconsciously licks her lips.
However, she doesn't say anything and they both silently eat their food . Clarke looks around in awe. The people look so normal, not at all the savages that Clarke knows them for. She then looks at the commander from her periphery and finds Indra whispering in her ear and Lexa frowns slightly.
Clarke looks at her questioningly but Lexa only politely says,
"Clarke, my apologies, but you will need to excuse me. An important matter has arrived. "
Clarke wants to ask what the important matter is but she doesn't, reminding herself that she really doesn't have a right to ask the Commander that, it's surprising enough that the Commander's tone was apologetic about it.
Clarke nods.
"Where did she go?" Octavia whispers from behind her.
"Dunno. Don't care." Clarke says dismissively.
"Shouldn't you be involved in all this stuff though?" Octavia prompts.
"But clearly I am not." Clarke states.
"So how have you been, O? I feel terrible to have ripped you off from your friends and family."
"Don't, Clarke. You know if I didn't want to come, then I wouldn't have. Besides you are my family."
"Octavia-"
"Warning you, don't get all sappy on me, Princess."
"Shut up." Clarke says smacking her arm playfully.
"Well, one thing that I will admit, though grudgingly, is that these grounders do know how to meddle with food. Everything tastes unbelievably good."
Clarke nods and takes a sip of her wine. It's strong.
Clarke opens her mouth to say something but Octavia beats her to it.
"Oh shit. Who are they?" Octavia mutters, straightening up, putting her wine glass on the table.
Clarke follows Octavia's line of sight to find Lexa walking back in the hall with a two ladies, one in a beautiful blue cloak and the other wearing tight grounder pants and a comfortable tunic, on either side of her. The one wearing the cloak has red hair and the other is a blonde. She gives Lexa a questioning look as she makes way towards her with both the women.
Soon the women are standing in front of Clarke, next to Lexa. Lexa clears her throat to introduce them to her fiancé but the red head is quicker.
"Oh hello you must be Clarke of the Sky People! I am Luna, heda of the boat Clan and this is my sister Kenna. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Clarke quickly takes in the women in front of her. Luna looks in her mid-thirties; the lines on her forehead showing her age. She has a small tattoo on the left cheek. It is a moon and it strangely suits her. Her eyes are a lighter shade of green than the commander's and unlike the Commander's, it's filled with warmth and friendliness. She does look friendly, Clarke can't help but think as she shakes her hand in the grounder fashion with the woman.
Then she takes in the blonde. Clarke can describe her in one word; hot. She has sort hair and long legs. A confident look on her face as she shakes hands with Clarke but doesn't say anything.
"I didn't know you were coming." Clarke says looking at Lexa from the corner of her eye, accusation in her voice .
"Oh, the commander didn't know. We were supposed to come the day after tomorrow, on your wedding day but as I didn't have any pressing matters at hand so we came earlier. "
"I am glad you did." Lexa says kindly.
Clarke just smiles politely and Lexa leads them to the chairs next to hers. The servers quickly fill up the boat peoples plates and carefree conversation follows between Luna and Lexa. Clarke is still getting used to this carefree side of the commander and some part of her envies Luna to be one of those people who manages to bring out this side of Lexa.
Suddenly, something catches her ear and her head quickly turns to Lexa.
"Oh Lexa, what happened to your cheek?"
"Kenna, it's fine. I just got it while training." Lexa lies easily.
Clarke shifts uncomfortably in her seat but from her periphery the commander gives her a small smile, reassuring her that she had nothing to worry about.
"Since when did anyone manage to give you scars, commander? Distracted much, are we?" Luna says winking and Clarke feels her cheeks heat up.
Lexa laughs lightly at Luna's comment and Kenna comments good naturedly, " Do you blame her?"
"That's my betrothed that you are talking about, Kenna." Lexa says smiling but there's a hint of possessiveness and warning in her voice.
"I am right here." Clarke can't help but say.
"As I can see. It would be impossible to miss such a pretty face." Kenna says flirtatiously and Clarke hears Octavia whistle lowly behind her.
Clarke's eyes budge in surprise and Kenna laughs, earning a glare from Lexa.
"Be careful about who you are talking about." She warns.
"I am only complementing your fiancé, Commander, nothing else." Kenna replies cheekily. Lexa clenches her jaws.
"I hear that you lived in the Sky before you came here, Clarke?" Luna asks her after rolling her eyes at her sister.
"Oh. Yes, yes I did." Clarke says, taken by surprise at the sudden question.
"Please tell me about it." Luna requests.
Clarke's meets Lexa's eyes for a moment and Lexa subtly nods in approval. Clarke tells how it was living in the skies and all of them listen to her with interest, Kenna included. Then Luna tells her how excited she is for their wedding, at which Clarke smiles uneasily. Finally both the boat clan women are shown their rooms and depart after giving a respectful bow to Lexa and Clarke both. Kenna winks at Clarke before leaving and Lexa's face shows clear disapproval.
"That Kenna girl looks fun." Octavia remarks, trying to control her laugh.
"Shut up, O." Clarke mutters.
"I am sorry for the discomfort you probably had to face, Clarke of the Sky People." Lexa says formally, turning her head towards both the friends.
"Come on, Commander. It was just harmless flirting. Right Clarke?" Octavia responds instead of Clarke and it gets clear to Clarke that Octavia has had too much to drink.
"I wasn't aware of asking you, Octavia of the Sky People." Lexa says icily.
"God. You people are so formal all the time. Like I am the best friend of the woman you are about to marry and yes you are hot but-"
"Okayyy, Octavia. I think you should go and rest up now. You've had too much to drink." Clarke quickly interrupts and pushes Octavia towards the door.
"Hey! It was only 2 glasses!" Octavia protests.
"Just go rest up, O." Clarke pleads, hoping she'd stop making a fool of herself as well as Clarke.
"I see what is happening. You want to have your time with your soon to be wife. I get it. Have fun." Octavia says and then to Clarke's utter mortification, starts making kissing noises. Clarke quickly pushes her out of the door and finds Indra there.
"I will take her to her room, Princess." Indra says dutifully though disapproval in her every word. Clarke nods thankfully and walks back to the hall where Lexa is still standing and waiting for her. Clarke knows she's heard every word that came out of her friend's mouth and thus feels her cheeks burning up when she finds an amused look on the commander's face. She quickly stands side by side to her and can't help but miss her usual hair style, it would've helped to hide her face but to her relief, the Commander doesn't turn her head towards her, rather looks straight ahead at her people.
"Ah...umm, your wine is quite strong it seems."
"It is." Lexa agrees.
"I am sorry for that, Commander. Octavia usually isn't this careless." Clarke continues apologetically.
"All's fine, Clarke of the Sky People."
Silence surrounds them until Lexa breaks it,
"You did wonderful Clarke. You passed the first test."
Clarke turns to look at her, horrified.
"What do you mean test?"
She watches impatiently as Lexa sips her wine before answering.
"Luna approves of you. She is one of my strongest allies and is well respected among all the clans. You know there are a lot of questions about our union among my people, it helps that Luna approves."
"And if she hadn't?"
"Our bond of friendship and alliance would have been affected." Lexa simply says.
"You wouldn't have backed down from the marriage?"
"No." Lexa says, now turning her head too towards Clarke and this time Clarke fails to read the emotions in her eyes.
"How long will the feast last?" She hears herself ask.
"Till the sun comes up."
"Oh."
"But are you ready to retire for the night?" Lexa asks, noticing the tiredness in Clarke's voice.
Clarke looks at the crowd , many are awake and dancing, but she is tired and her emotions are running high. The wine is not helping nor are those soft green eyes.
"Yes, I will retire." She replies formally.
"Good night, Commander."
Lexa nods and Clarke makes her way to the door. She misses the longing look Lexa gives her as she exists.
The next day Octavia comes into her room with a white dress. Clarke gives her a questioning look and Octavia explains,
"Your mom gave this to me before we left. She wanted you to wear this on your wedding."
Clarke holds the material in her hand. It is made of the finest silk and she wonders how little time the workers had to make this dress. It is beautiful, in one word.
"She also said to give you this." Octavia says, handing her a dragon pin. She recognizes it instantly from her parents wedding video. This was the pin her mom wore at her wedding. Suddenly, she feels the absence of her parents on her wedding and without warning a sob escapes her.
Octavia puts a comforting hand on her shoulder as she said, "You know she can't come here. Our people need her."
Clarke sniffles. "I am not sure, I even want her to be here after what she's done to me. But, she is my mother."
"I know." Octavia mutters as she envelopes Clarke in a hug.
"What I wish is that he was here. He used to read me stories about princess's at night, before tucking me to bed. He used to call me his little princess."
Octavia chuckles as she says, "Well, you somehow ended up with the 'Princess' title anyway, Princess. Your dad would be proud."
Clarke makes a sound between a laugh and a sob and moves her head from her friend's comforting hug.
"Thank you for bringing these." She says, gesturing to the pin and the dress. Octavia smiles.
She is wearing all white. A veil covering her face, Octavia has done some light make up of her face but her lips are blood red, not light at all. Judith had helped her with the dress and made her hair. As impossible as it may seem, the grounder wedding looked very normal till now, when Indra enters her bed chambers.
"Clarke of the Sky People, will you please come with for the final rituals before the ceremony?"
Clarke frowns but nods at Indra and follows her.
Two women, both looking quite old by the wrinkles that mark their face, are in the room to which Indra leads her to. They bow at her in respect and Clarke nods at them. She is finally feeling used to this and has learnt that this is how they show their respect.
Then to Clarke's surprise, one of the woman moves and stands behind Clarke and starts to unzip her dress.
"Excuse me but what are you doing?" Clarke squeals and can't help but move away from the woman.
"It is a tradition, hedatu. I will need your skin to be bare for it." The woman replies kindly but her eyes clearly say that she has no choice here. Of course she doesn't.
Clarke's eyes budge. Her cheeks stain red. I need to be strong for my people. She moves back to the older woman and she unzips her dress and pulls it down to her waist. If mortification could kill someone, Clarke firmly believes she would be long dead. She is bare of any clothing till her waist. She catches the small smirk on the woman's face, as she makes her way towards her.
She finds a stone in her hand glowing red. She can't help but wonder what it is but before she can ask, she feels it pressed over her left breast, right over her heart. She feels a sharp pain and hears a cry rip off her mouth. The pain lasts for a moment and then subsides, she lets off a shaky breath. Clarke peers down to find a brand on her skin. Lexa is written in cursive, with small leaves surrounding the names. The brand in no longer than 4 inches. She looks up, horrified.
"The ritual is complete, hedatu. You should go to your chambers are rest for tonight's event." The woman behind her says, zipping back her dress.
She nods dumbly contrary to the storm inside her. She has branded her. Officially claimed her as hers. She can't stop the tears that run down her face, that clog her sight when she reaches her room. Judith and Octavia both look at her in alarm but she dismisses both of them instantly. She can't handle it anymore. Her mind is a dark, dark place at the moment.
She rips the dress off her body, runs to her bath chambers and submerges herself into the cold water already in her water tub, not bothering to get it warmed up. She scrubs her skin roughly, especially one particular part of her body. She wants the tattoo off her body. She keeps on rubbing it, till her skin turns red and little droplets of blood start oozing but she doesn't care. She just wants it off. However, after an hour of this, she gives up. Accepting her defeat. She is angry. So freaking angry. How had she trusted her? The heartless Commander? Promising her to allow her chastity forever and then branding her? How stupid she was to actually think that Lexa really meant it? She knows she wants her, she has read Commander's cloudy eyes several times. Idiot, how could she have trusted her.
Her thoughts once again linger to her past, to Bellamy, to home. Home? Was it even her home now? Can she even love Bellamy now, she thinks as she looks at the tattoo on her chest. She belongs to someone else now, the tattoo screams at her. She had actually believed the words of the great Commander but the tattoo speaks otherwise. She had actually believed she might be able to live an independent life but obviously she was living in a fools paradise. Just the thought makes her cry harder.
She looks out of her balcony. She has just come back from her morning training and has taken a moment to herself and her thoughts. She knows that the day will be harsh for her new bride. She is aware of the ritual that the Commander's partner has to go through. She wanted to fight against it but also knew her union to the Sky Princess was already questionable to her people and they will never accept her as hedatu if she missed even a small part of the whole process.
She recalls Luna's words the night before, as Lexa had tried to exempt Clarke of the ritual. Lexa already knows if Clarke gets the markings, she will hate her even more and for some reason, she doesn't want that. She knows Luna will understand, after all she was known as the most kind hearted heda, and some even considered her weak for it. She did too until she learnt more about life and how strong Luna must be to actually be kind while ruling. The opposition to her must be endless.
I am sorry Lexa, but you know she has to go through what others had to, to become hedatu.
Lexa walks back into her room and takes off her shirt. Then she looks at the markings on her torso in the huge mirror standing opposite to her. She softly traces the one on her right arm, the one she had received when she became Anya's second. Anya. She feels a tightening in her throat as she lets her mind wander over her mentor. She knows that emotions are weakness but she can't help but want to have Anya next to her now. She was the only one who truly knew Lexa. The only one who had known her before she became the commander. She sighs and brings her mind back to the present. She hears a knock on her door and knows it's about time to face her to-be-wife and turn her into her wife.
Clarke comes out from her bath chambers with a towel covering her torso. She finds Octavia sitting on her bed and manages to give her a small smile. To Octavia's credit, she doesn't ask her anything and returns the smile and the dress. She wordlessly says it's about time and Clarke nods.
"You are strong, Clarke." She whispers before leaving the room for Clarke to dress up again.
Clarke puts on her dress and reopens her door for Octavia, her only comfort. Her only friend.
Instead of her, Judith enters and quickly makes up her hair, puts the pin and makes her look presentable.
"Will it be weird that I am wearing this, instead of your clothing, Judith?" Clarke asks.
"Not really. Hedatu's dress is sent by her own people if she is from different clan." She answers honestly and Clarke briefly wonders if her mother knew.
"Clarke?" Octavia asks. She herself is dressed up in her finest clothes. She stands next to Clarke and Clarke can't help but think she has adapted to the new environment. She is wearing a black shirt and black pants. The shirt is long, a tunic. Like the grounders. The shirt is orange on the sides, making her waist look small. Her hair is set up in fashionable braids and Clarke smiles at her appearance.
"You look stunning, Clarke."
The compliment puts a sad smile on her face. She knows she looks beautiful outside, but that's what covers up her brokenness inside.
"You clean up well too, O." Clarke says smiling.
Octavia offers her hand.
"Are you ready, Clarke?"
Clarke loops her arm around her friends as she replies,
"Unfortunately, I am."
The ceremony is to take place in the open, Clarke finds out as Octavia leads her outside the castle, into the ground. Indra in front of her and Ryder behind her. She doesn't feel nervous like she knows brides are usually do. Maybe it's because she this really wasn't a marriage to her, she thinks. It's just a contract to protect her people. There are few people standing on a raised platform, who Clarke assumes to be the clan leaders. Lexa also is standing there, Clarke knows but she's doesn't linger her eyes towards her form. She just can't. Instead, she turns her head leftwards and is surprised to find the huge crowd that has gathered to witness the ceremony. Of'course, she is the freaking commander. Clarke is surprised when Octavia stops rather than walks her to where Lexa's standing.
She is about to ask what's happening when she finds Lexa leaving her place walking towards where Clarke is standing, still out of sight of the people present for the ceremony.
"Sorry, but apparently, the commander has to escort you. Good luck." Octavia says as she leaves Clarke.
Clarke is surprised to find what Lexa is wearing. She is surprisingly not wearing her armour or her cloak but rather a black leather jacket and tunic. An amulet is resting on her chest, it is red in colour. Her sash is worn diagonally today, Clarke observes. Her face is clear of the war paint and is glowing. She looks so young and...she looks just like a girl. She looks beautiful.
Her bottle green eyes meet her azure ones. The eyes are powerful, pronouncing her title which her appearance doesn't. Clarke watches as Lexa sucks in a breath, her lips tremble slightly. Is she afraid of me, Clarke thinks. Just the thought is so foolish that Clarke feels an urge to laugh, she controls it. She stops a few feet away from Clarke but doesn't say anything for a while. Her eyes roam over her body momentarily and rest on the necklace she is wearing, the one from the desert clan. Her eyes linger there for a moment before she looks up at her face again.
"Sky Princess." She says softly.
"Commander."
Clarke gives her hand for Lexa to take, as she can see Lexa will not make the first move. She takes her hand softly and damn those sparks, they erupt instantly. The feeling overwhelms her but she allows it today, she needs it to get over the ceremony. She thinks maybe keeping her hatred aside for sometime won't be so hard after all.
"We should go now." Lexa asks, Clarke nods.
She walks towards her end or towards her beginning, she isn't quite sure. Maybe it's both.
AN: There is some steamy stuff coming ahead. Not as steamy as you are thinking! Lexa made a pledge remember! Wait...Clarke didn't. But Lexa is extremely hot so maybe...
Moving on, I got admission into a pretty good college for Software Engineering. Yay! My classes will start from next month until then it looks like I am totally trying to make myself blind by watching all the tv series that I can find even the least bit interesting. Before anyone suggests going out, I did that for the past two months- now it's just me and my lappy. Oh, and I need tv series recommendations.
Lastly, Review?