Of Grounders and Queens

Chapter 4: Fears and Assurances

Clarke's POV:

That little sneak! To think I had been worried to tell him about the baby, he knew all along. Once our excitement faded Lincoln immediately sat me down on the furs covering me up to my chin claiming that I need my rest but I feel perfectly fine, well asude from the nausea.

"Lincoln please stop fussing and come sit with me," I beckon him with my hands and sigh in content when he nods his head and settles in behind me cradling me in his arms and resting his large hands lightly over my flat stomach. He nuzzles my neck placing soft kisses on my cheeks and I can't help the smile that streches across my face. He's so affectionate and gentle with me, I never doubt his love and care for me.

"About how far along do you think I am?" I muse soflty.

"At least three weeks, not very far into the pregnancy." He replies before I feel him smirk into my skin. "I'm glad your so small, you'll start showing sooner," he says rubbing my stomach.

"I hope I don't get too big. I remember seeing pregnant women on the ark, and as they got closer to their due date they looked so big and uncomfortable." They also had doctors, I think to myself and freeze. How will I give birth to this baby alone? I won't be able to travel if I'm heavily pregnant, what if something goes wrong? I feel myself tense and my breathing becomes labored, I feel Lincoln pull away only to turn me towards him, his expression worried.

"Chit ste em? Chit's wrong?" (What is it? What''s wrong?) he asks me, reverting back to Trigedasleng, his native tongue in his panic. "Clarke, just breathe, it's okay. Deep breaths."

Following his instructions I lean forward resting my forhead on his chest as I calm my breathing and inhale his familiar scent a mixture of mint and lavender. Gathering myself I decide to be honest with him and share my fears, before I would have kept everything to myself but Lincoln and I have always been able to be completely honest and vulnerable with each other and I don't want to change that.

"Ai'm scared," in our time together he's taught me the language and custom's of his people and I find myself slipping often and using his native language, it's become the norm for us.

"Gon chit? Tel me hodnes en ai'll fix em." (Of what? Tell me love and I'll fix it.) He responds swiftly, gathering me impossibly closer in his arms.

"I'm scared of being pregnant and of giving birth. I don't know what to do, so many things could go wrong and we don't have doctors or medicine. I'm terrified Lincoln," I murmur, tears now clouding my vision.

"Oh Carke," He says softly, adjusting me to sit on his lap and rubbing my back soothingly. "Can you look at me hodnes (love) please?" he croons softly. Sniffling, I make an attempt to stop my tears and look up into his beautiful and warm eyes so filled with love. Seeing this only serves to set me off again and a fresh set of tear tracks make their run down my face. Through all of this Lincoln continues to hold and calm me. Grasping my chin, he pulls my face up to meet his before soflty kissing my tears away, every touch of his warm lips on my face soothing me.

"Listen to me Clarke Griffin," he says firmly. "You and this baby are the most important people in the world to me. I will do anything for you, to keep you safe, to make you happy. I have seen children birthed, I can help you through it and in the southern tribe there are medicine men and woman, they have delivered generations of tribes. You will not be alone and you will be taken care of when you bring our child into this world. I know your scared but there is no need to be. I won't allow anything to happen to either of you. Our child is something to celebrate, something to look forward to, I will not let you spend your pregnancy worried or in tears, do you understand?" he asks, his eyes never once leaving me.

"Yes," I whisper, letting myself fall against him clutching him as close to me as I can. "Ai hod yu in (I love you)." I say as I begin to drift off into sleep, my fit having taken it's toll on me.

I am almost sleep when I hear his reply.

"Ai hod yu in seintaim. (I love you too.)"


Lincoln's POV:

When my hodnes (love) finally drifs into a peaceful slumber I gently cover her before making my way to our makeshift table to look over my notebook and maps. I'm glad I was able to calm her and I am ecstatic at the news of becoming a father, I knew we would be here eventually, just not this quickly. I was a young boy when my parents were killed by a war clan. They were both warriors and they died side by side. As the years passed I forgot their voices, their scents, and their looks but I never forget the love they had for each other. Growing up that's what I desired, a fierce love and a family, everything I have with Clarke. Looking over at her, I am pleased to see that she is fast asleep, I feel a wide smile cover my face as I see that one of her hands is resting against her stomach. A mother protecting her little one. Gathering my satchel and coat I quickly and quietly make my way out of our cave and into the elements. Now that Clarke is expecting our first child she'll need tea's and herbs to strengthen her and our child and calm her symptoms of nausea. Once I make sure I have a healthy supply I consult my maps. Thankfully this winter hasn't been as harsh as past years which means we can leave for the Southern tribe sooner than I expected. If all goes according to plan we'll be there before Clarke is too far along in her pregnancy to travel, I know that would ease her fears. Heading back home I smile when I step inside and see Clarke heating a stew for dinner out of the deer I caught the other day. Making my way towards her I wrap my arms around her waist before leaning down to kiss her soft lips. She sighs into the kiss and immediately wraps her arms around my neck. pulling back were both panting slightly.

"Where did you go?" she asks turning back to our dinner.

"I had to get some herbs and roots that will do you good during your pregnancy, I also wanted to check the weather, it looks like we may be able to head out to the Southern tribe sooner than I thought." I say watching her reaction closely and I am not disappointed when I see her eyes light up.

"Really?" she asks, smiling brightly.

"Yes," I say leaning forward to place a soft kiss on her nose.

"That's great. How soon do we leave?"

"In five days. I'd like to have some time to gather food and supplies." Taking the food off the fire we sit down to our dinner and discuss our plans, enjoying each other's company. It's been an eventful day so after checking the fire and making sure it had enough kindling I take my spot in our bed behind Clarke and wrap my arms around her, my own hand coming up to cover her's over our growing child and close my eyes savoring the moment and the feeling of complete rightness that covers me as I hold my family close to my heart.

Hope everyone loved the update, I am having a difficult time thinking of baby names so if anyone has any unique/cool suggestions for me they would be greatly appreciated. Updates will be coming soon for this story and my others! YAY! As always read and review...