Well that was some finale, huh? Maybe Clarke will wander into Lexa. Haha.


The third and final leg of their travels was much as the first had been. Nothing tried to kill them and the weather stayed fair. The closer they got to Polis, the less dense the forest became. And wonder of wonders, they soon came upon a road! Granted it was made out of dirt, but compared to the root strewn minefield Clarke was used to navigating, this was a blessed change. Clarke was pretty sure her horse agreed with her for it began trotting faster than before.

They travelled along this road for about half an hour and then Lexa called for them to stop. Why they had, Clarke had no clue, as the high walled city was just up ahead. Lexa got off her horse and then held her hand out to Clarke.

"What's this about, Lexa?" she asked curiously.

"I want to show you something," she replied mysteriously.

Clarke hopped down and took her hand. Lexa told the guards to stay put and then led her into the treeline. After a few minutes of navigating those pesky tree roots, a cavern appeared. There was an eerie light emanating from it. Perhaps she squeezed Lexa's hand.

"There's nothing to fear here, Clarke."

They entered the cavern and were immediately engulfed in the glittering glow. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the relative darkness to understand where the source was coming from. An idyllic body of bioluminescent water resided here. Some splashing noises startled her.

They were not alone. Lexa went over to the bathers and calmly said, "Leave us."

One of the women looked like she was about to tell her off. When they realized who was speaking though, they muttered 'commander,' and then got out of there very fast. Clarke wondered how it felt to go around everyday knowing everyone would just do as you said without question, and if they argued, you could just kill them without repercussions. If Clarke hadn't known Lexa as well as she did, she would have been surprised that all of this power had not gone to her head yet. Except for right now, Clarke had never witnessed Lexa abusing her authority for personal gain.

Lexa turned to her and smiled. Her teeth took on the same glittering hue as the water. "Now that we are alone, Clarke, we should go for a swim."

She eyed the water and was disturbed by her inability to see the bottom due to the glare. Clarke imagined it was quite deep and her insides clenched painfully. "As much as I would love to," she lied, "I don't think that's such a good idea."

Lexa frowned. "Why not?"

"Well...I don't know how to," Clarke reluctantly admitted. "Swim that is."

And the last time I was near water this deep, a lake monster nearly drowned Octavia!

Her girlfriend smirked at this revelation. "My people learn to tread water when they are still infants."

"That's not fair, Lexa," she countered with a scowl. "We didn't have swimming pools on the Ark. There was no way for us to learn before now."

"I will just have to teach you then, Clarke," she said in her more seductive voice.

Clarke looked down at the watery depths again and gulped. She hated being a coward about her fear of deep water. It was time to change that.

She nodded. "All right, Lexa. Show me."

Though they had been together many times since that fateful afternoon, Clarke still found herself becoming a bit shy when she undressed before Lexa. Perhaps it was because her girlfriend would always stare at her so intensely while she did so. She had asked Lexa about this once and Lexa had replied that she couldn't help it, she found Clarke too beautiful to look away, even for a second. While endearing, it was also somewhat irritating to have no privacy in this regard, and Clarke had taken to disrobing quickly. So it was that she finished before Lexa and then had to stand there awkwardly, while she waited for her girlfriend to catch up. Something told Clarke that Lexa was purposefully taking her time because she knew that it was bothering her, being so exposed like this.

Lexa tossed aside the last of her garments, and held out her hand again.

Clarke was about to take it and then thought better. She gave Lexa a suspicious look. "You aren't going to throw me in there, right?"

"I don't understand why you think so meanly of me, Clarke," Lexa said with another smirk.

"If you throw me in there, Missy," she said with an outstretched finger, "you're done for."

"What will you do to me?" Lexa said, advancing on her, pushing her closer to the edge.

"I haven't figured that out yet, but trust me, Lexa, it won't be pretty!"

Clarke was now a hairsbreadth away from falling in. Without realizing this, she took another step back and - Lexa shot out a hand and grabbed her arm before she fell in.

"This way, Clarke," she said smugly, taking her hand and leading her around to the other side of the pool of water, where a set of natural steps lay in the stone. "This is the entrance for our babes."

"Lexa."

Lexa led her down a few of the steps - Clarke was pleasantly surprised at how warm the water was, much nicer than any of the streams she had been bathing in for months - and then let go. Lexa stepped out further and plunged straight down.

"Lexa!" she yelled, helplessly clinging to the side of the rockface, certain that same lake monster had now taken her lover.

The commander shot back up again, eyes shining mischievously.

"That wasn't funny."

Clarke carefully sat on the edge of the last step, the water half way up her chest now. Even this was beginning to make her uneasy. Lexa held out her hand. Clarke didn't take it.

"There's nothing to fear here, Clarke," coaxed Lexa once more. "I am right here."

"That's what I'm afraid of," retorted Clarke.

Lexa smiled and her teeth dazzled Clarke into accepting her help into the water. Clarke expected her to yank her in but that didn't happen, instead Lexa practically lifted her in, and just like that she was up to her shoulders in this beguiling liquid. When she looked down and couldn't see the bottom, terror took hold and she clung to Lexa desperately. Eventually Lexa's calm demeanour soothed her and she released her death grip.

"Okay, Clarke, I'm going to let you go now-"

"No!" she screeched, grabbing tightly again. "I'm not ready!"

Patiently Lexa waited for her to calm down again. "Are you ready now?"

"I- I guess so."

Lexa kept a hold of her hand and moved away from Clarke, so that there was limited human support. Clarke flailed her legs around to keep afloat.

"You don't need to be so aggressive, Clarke. Simple leg movements will keep you from sinking. Can you see what I am doing to tread water?"

It was difficult to make out through the glow, but yes, she could see. Clarke followed her lead and found it worked just as well, if not better than what she had previously been doing.

"Good work, Clarke."

Lexa then proceeded to demonstrate what to do with your arms - very little really - and then let Clarke go altogether. Clarke immediately forgot everything she had just been told and started thrashing around for all her worth, making quite the spectacle of herself.

"Lexa, help! I'm drowning!"

"No, you're not. Just relax."

These words had no effect on her whatsoever, and if anything served to make her freak out even more.

"Help me! Help!"

Lexa sighed and moved over to her and was rewarded with several smacks to the head, and kicks to the legs.

"Clarke, stop that! Calm yourself!"

She clung onto Lexa again for dear life. And so this went back and forth for quite awhile until Clarke finally managed to get the hang of it and could keep afloat all on her own. She grinned at Lexa proudly.

"Well done, Clarke," Lexa said, trying not to roll her eyes for accomplishing something a babe could do. She went on to teach Clarke some basic swim moves, nothing that required her to stick her head under water, as that seemed to be the main concern, and then attempted to get her to lie on her back.

Once Clarke agreed to this, she gasped in delight. The cavern ceiling was dancing with the bio-luminescence, mimicking what stars looked like from the ground!

"It's so lovely," she said soberly.

"Yes, it is."

She looked over to find Lexa staring at her in the way she always did before they made love. There was nowhere they could possibly do such a thing in this too deep water, so Clarke smiled at her and followed her out.


Their cavern adventure had taken so long that by the time they made it to Polis, it was fast darkening. Unlike the previous outlying clans Clarke had been in, there was no need for torches, because they had oil lanterns instead. These glowed warmly outside of the large metal gate preventing their entrance. Grounder warriors of a more refined nature, both in garb and manner, came down from their upper post (atop the fifteen foot high wall) to greet them.

"Welcome back, commander," said a very tall, lithe looking woman as she bowed gracefully.

The other warrior, a solidly built man with flowing auburn locks, looked to her and said, "Welcome also, friend of the commander."

"This is Clarke of The Sky People," said Lexa. "And she will be afforded every hospitality. Make it be known."

"Of course," they replied almost in unison, bowing once more before opening the gate.

The five of them made their way along a cobblestone street and over to the stables. In just this short distance, Clarke had noticed many people staring at them, young and old. At first she assumed they were just looking at Lexa, after all, their commander had been away for a long time, but then she realized they were mostly staring at her.

They handed their horses to the stable boys, both of whom flat out gawked at her.

"Thank you," she said and they scurried away with their charges. When they left the stable, Clarke said, "What was that all about? And why is everyone staring at me?"

"You're the first Sky Person to ever set foot in the capital. In fact, you're the first non grounder. You're bound to be a bit of a curiousity, Clarke. Pay it no mind. It will die down in time."

"Is this why you didn't want anyone else coming with? You thought it would be too overwhelming for your people?"

Lexa smiled slightly. "That was a concern, yes. A very minor one."

"And the main concern?"

"Most of your friends annoy me a great deal." She smirked. "I was afraid I might lose my temper and do something you would not approve of."

"Lexa."

As they followed Lexa's guards along the narrow but well maintained streets, people began chanting Lexa's name. She nodded in acknowledgment as they passed, but otherwise ignored them. Clarke knew that she was secretly pleased at this attention and squeezed her hand affectionately.

While that was going on, Clarke took note of the various structures. Far from the huts and tents the outlying clans used, the capital boasted actual houses, or what she assumed were houses based on her Ark education. At any rate, they were constructed out of what appeared to be brick and mortar with acute angled rooftops. There were other larger buildings amongst these houses, with signs like hospital, fire station, jail.

In the centre of the city was a larger than life sized metal statue of...Lexa. The figure was wearing war paint and holding a bloody sword outstretched. Several severed heads littered the ground by her feet.

"A very flattering rendition," said Yarwin appreciatively.

"Really?" said Echo. "I thought it was pretty pompous myself."

Yarwin bristled at this comment and waited for his fellow guard to receive punishment for such insolence. Clarke cocked her head in Lexa's direction, hoping for some kind of reaction, but Lexa simply gazed ahead as if she hadn't heard anything.

"How long has that been there?" she asked, poking the bear...or rather, the raccoon.

"I've never seen it before," Lexa said stiffly. "So it must have been built sometime after my last visit."

"Is it usual for commander's to have statue's made of them?"

"Yes, it is a common practice."

"What happens to the old ones?

"We have a finite source of bronze. The material is reused."

Clarke was thoughtful for a bit. "So, similar to what happens with your spirit."

"Yes, I suppose so."

They were both quiet after that, the idea of her death not a very pleasant one, especially given recent events.

The commander's guard led them to an ornate house, about thrice the size of the rest of them. Out front stood an older woman dressed all in black. The oldest looking grounder Clarke had seen so far. Her silver hair was cut very short and made her high cheekbones all the more striking. She approached them with a warm smile.

"Commander," she greeted, eyeing Clarke briefly.

"Melys," Lexa returned.

"We heard of your arrival and have begun preparations for a feast."

"That really won't be necessar-"

"Nonsense!" interrupted Melys, clasping her hands together. "Your accomplishments are known far and wide. They must be celebrated." She turned to Clarke. "Wouldn't you agree, Clarke?"

"Well, I-"

"Clarke and her people are just as much a part of our victory against the mountain men as our own people."

"Even more reason to celebrate then!" said Melys. "The joining of ground and sky is a momentous occasion!"

Lexa admitted defeat and they followed Melys into the house. It was furnished something like the inside of the mountain - though clearly newer and less ostentatious - and Clarke felt slightly ill at ease because of this similarity. It wasn't that long ago they had coated the walls red with mountain men blood.

Melys left them to their own devices as she vanished further into the large house. The three guards looked around at their leisure, Echo being the most fascinated by everything and consequently touching everything. Lexa said nothing about this and simply went up a highly polished staircase, gesturing for Clarke to come with her.

"Is this your house, Lexa?"

She glanced at an ugly candle lit chandelier. "Yes, but I had little to do with furnishing it. I have been told that the commander's quarters have been like this since Polis came into being nearly eighty-five years ago."

They headed down a brightly lit hallway here. "If you don't like it, why don't you change it?"

"There seemed little point. I was rarely here for more than a few weeks at a time."

Lexa pushed through two bright red doors and came into a large bedroom...and a lavish bed. Compared to her cots on both the Ark and the various different camps, it was quite enticing. Lexa moved past this and towards a fair sized closet. She rifled around inside for a bit and pulled out many fancy outfits. To Clarke's surprise they were mostly dresses.

"If you so desire, you may don one of those for the feast."

"Are you going to wear a dress too?"

"I was not planning on it," she said curtly, eyeing the dresses with displeasure. "I do not like how exposed they make me feel."

Clarke laughed incredulously. "Lexa, you would walk around naked all the time if you could get away with it!" Clarke smirked, "And considering you are the commander, you probably could." Lexa made a face at her and Clarke grabbed her arm, giving her baby mutant rabbit eyes. "Come on, don't you want to get out of those same smelly clothes you've been wearing for months? I know I do!"

The commander knew when she was beaten and Clarke spent the next half an hour trying on various different outfits. Lexa had sat there growing increasingly bewildered by this behaviour. She had simply picked one out at random and promptly gotten dressed. Finally Clarke picked out an elegant blue piece, twisted at the waist, accentuating her slim figure.

"How do I look?" she asked, striking an enticing pose.

Lexa appraised her, quite glad they had recently made love, otherwise she would have felt compelled to rip the dress off, forcing Clarke to start the tedious selection process all over again!

"Breathtaking...and like a true Sky Princess."

"Good. Because that's what I was going for."

"Does that mean we can head down to dinner?"

Clarke glanced down at her weather worn boots. "I haven't picked out any shoes yet."

Lexa restrained the urge to slap herself in the face. After another half an hour they were finally ready to eat. At the top of the staircase, Lexa held out her arm and Clarke took it. They descended together and their very bored guard snapped to attention.

"So this is what was taking so long!" exclaimed Echo. "I'm starving! Melys wouldn't feed us anything until you were ready!"

The five of them headed into the fancy dining hall and took their seats amid Melys and other elegantly dressed grounders already seated and having polite chit chat. They had all stood up at Lexa's approach and greeted her as she passed by with Clarke. There was only one chair at the end of the table and Lexa insisted that another be brought up for Clarke. They were equals, nothing more, nothing less.

A servant went around pouring everyone a glass of wine. Lexa held her cup up and made a little speech. Everyone took a sip and then the food was brought out. Only a few bites into the scrumptious fare, Lexa stopped and cocked her head towards Clarke. They smiled contentedly at each other.

Clarke's smile wavered, replaced by puzzlement.

"Clarke? What's wrong?"

"I'm not sure," she said slowly, putting a hand to her head. "I feel...funny."

Suddenly she collapsed, taking her cup with her. "Clarke!"

Lexa hopped to her feet and a wave of dizziness took hold. Unfocused eyes saw her guards likewise collapsing - Melys watching her impassively - and then she too fell to the ground and knew no more.


Any guesses as to what's going on? (I'll use the best idea...jk).

A slight note: No one really speaks 'sleng in the city as it is an unnecessary precaution. They've never had contact with the mountain men before and this was the chief reason for its creation. So that's why no one is saying Heda.