Disclaimer & Notices

Copyright: See the prologue.

AN: I hope everybody has had a good week. It's been a busy work week for me, but I did get two days off for once. That allowed for some writing! :) But, I didn't get a chance to reply to reviews. I will do that this coming week. Please enjoy the update! And have a great weekend.

Anonymous Reviews

kaze: Oh yeah I think Lexa's secret about the gantlet and such is about to come to light. :) I enjoy writing the conversations between them. Hopefully they seem in character and such. Thank you for the wonderful review. I hope you enjoy the update!

Website: www . redhope .net

Started: March 3, 2015

Series: One Shot


Hedatu

by Red Hope

Chapter 7

Lexa stilled her whetstone against the sword's blade. She lifted her eyes until they centered on the Sky Princess, who whimpered in her sleep. Lexa lost count of how many times Clarke turned over, gave a soft cry, or muttered something. It was obvious that the Mountain Men attacked Clarke in her dreamscape. There was no way to take it back, only move past it.

Ares was stirred by Clarke. He lifted his head off the ground and placed it on Clarke's covered thigh. Somehow his comfort eased Clarke.

Lexa had watched on then returned to sharpening her blade. She had been on duty since Lincoln finished the first shift. The others slept by the fire. Lexa remained hidden against a tree, in the darkness. She had a perfect position so she could watch everybody and listen for trouble. Another perimeter check was needed, and she put away the whetstone. To her right, the saddlebag was open and waited for the whetstone. Lexa tucked it away then stood up silently.

After sheathing the sword, the commander turned around the tree and vanished into the dark. Her senses were on alert during the patrol. She attempted remaining focused on her duty, but occasionally she shook off thoughts about Clarke. She knew a way to protect Clarke, even from the nightmares. However, the decision was heavy for Lexa.

Beside a tree, Lexa paused and listened to the surroundings. Nothing was unusual. Her mind skipped to Clarke again and such thoughts made her reach into her jacket. Inside her jacket, Lexa pulled out a gold ring that she held between her fingers. She turned it several times with her eyes locked on it. Even in the dark, the gold ring reflected light and whispered stories about its long past. Lexa's thoughts followed the endless lines of the ring and found no decision yet. She sighed and returned the ring to its home. Soon Lexa would need to make a choice. She moved away from the tree and headed back to the camp.

In the camp, Clarke fought against a dark nightmare. Finn had killed all the innocent people of Mount Weather, in Clarke's name. Lexa commended him. Clarke raged with fury. Blood was the path to death and life, for all. Its price only cost souls. Clarke screamed that it would cost her soul. Lexa yelled at her that she was weak and must kill her heart. Clarke was lifted off the ground by Lexa's hand around her throat. She gripped Lexa's wrist as air grew thinner and thinner. Her heart was nearly dead.

"Clarke," Lexa distantly called.

Clarke's eyes rolled up but sharply opened to the real world. A solid grip on her shoulder jarred her and so did Lexa's face in front of her. With incredible speed, she brandished the gun hidden under her head.

Lexa gave a low holler and ducked away with her right hand locking against Clarke's wrist. She pushed the gun away from her head. "Stop," she snapped. "Hod op!"

Clarke dropped the gun once her mind caught up with reality. She found the startled commander's features back on her. "I-I-I'm so sorry." She held herself up with both hands behind her back.

Ares was on his feet. He paced twice and whined then sat beside Clarke.

"Heda?" Lincoln called.

"It is okay," Lexa replied in Trigedasleng.

Lincoln pulled Octavia back under the furs with him. He placed his sword on the ground above their heads.

Lexa drew her eyes back to the shaken Sky Princess.

"I'm sorry," Clarke murmured again.

"It was a dream," Lexa stated.

Clarke ran her fingers through her hair. "A really nasty one," she muttered. She let out a low breath.

"Try to rest more." Lexa started rising until Clarke grabbed her arm. She stilled and curiously looked at the Sky Princess.

Clarke parted her lips, but she remained silent and uneasy. A slight flush was creeping up her neck towards her face. She had almost asked Lexa to stay, but it was a risky request. She held her breath when the commander leaned in closer, their lips so close.

"I will not invite myself," Lexa uttered so softly that the air could have swallowed her whisper. She withdrew and paused, as if waiting for Clarke's next step.

Clarke swallowed hard and hoarsely asked, "Will you stay?" She barely caught the flicker of emotion in Lexa's dark eyes in the dying firelight.

"I cannot until my duty is complete," the commander explained.

Clarke was breathing heavy. She considered what duty, as the watch guard tonight or as the commander until death.

"But," Lexa softly continued, "You may stay with me… if you wish." She said nothing else and stood up finally. She went to the fading campfire. It took her a few minutes to rekindle the fire with new wood.

Clarke remained motionless in her upright spot. Her groggy mind could barely process her conversation with Lexa. Briefly, she looked at Ares, who tilted his head at her. As Lexa moved away from the renewed fire, Clarke lifted her eyes up and locked on Lexa's face. It was the first time she realized that Lexa's war paint was gone.

The commander silently crossed the camp and turned her eyes on Clarke as she passed her. Once she crossed the threshold of the campfire's light, she disappeared into the darker of the clearing. She was cloaked by her black armor and the dark night, the moon long gone.

Clarke picked up the handgun then moved forward until she was on her knees. She collected her black jacket that she used as a pillow. She stowed the handgun in her waistband and hooked the jacket and furs over her arm. For a beat, Clarke looked over at Lincoln and Octavia, who were snuggled close together. She could hardly ignore the hint of envy in her heart. But off to her left, Lexa waited for her.

"Coming, boy?" Clarke whispered to the wolf.

Ares popped onto all four paws when his friend stood up. He followed her past the fire's safety and to the clearing's edge.

Clarke remembered where Lexa had been sitting at dinner and found Lexa in that same spot.

Lexa tilted her head back until it touched the tree behind her. She watched Clarke deposit the jacket on the ground.

Clarke was unsure how to proceed and started for the spot next to Lexa.

"No," Lexa ordered. She had her legs propped up, for warmth. She lowered her left leg, closest to Clarke. She clasped Clarke's arm and drew her in closer.

Clarke followed the hidden signals until she found herself situated directly between Lexa's legs with her back to Lexa. Clarke was stiff and completely unsure about the position. She was holding her breath, without notice. Lexa's left arm snaked across her stomach, and it caused excited shocks to chase through her abdomen. Clarke started moving forward, away from the commander.

Lexa moved forward quicker and gripped Clarke's shoulder with her freehand. "It is simply like riding together earlier."

Clarke halted her movements. She finally inhaled and tried calming her fears about being so close to the commander. Her earlier nightmare was still fresh in her mind. She closed her eyes and remained still.

Lexa waited it out, patiently. Her lips so near Clarke's ear. Her own eyes slid shut.

Clarke took a deeper breath. With each heartbeat, the tension receded from her body. Finally she noticed what seemed to be faint but soothing motion across her shoulder blade. She realized it was Lexa's thumb rubbing against the same spot over her shirt.

Like the first buds on trees in the spring, Clarke's trust grew without notice, but it was colorful and yet still fragile. She sank deeper into Lexa's body with each breath.

Lexa only opened her eyes once her back was against the tree again. Gently, she tightened her arm across Clarke.

Clarke reached for the fur at her feet and pulled it up. "Haven't you been cold?"

"I am use to the cold," Lexa murmured.

Clarke drew the fur around them. She let out a relieved breath as their combined body heat warmed under the furs. "The cold in space is different than here."

Lexa considered this and canted her head. She could just make out Clarke's profile. "How so?"

"It holds no promise," Clarke explained. She adjusted the fur slightly. "No promise that it'll be warm again… ever." A shiver ran down her back.

Lexa listened, but her eyes drifted over to Ares. A grin ghosted across her lips because Ares had nested himself in Clarke's jacket. She secretly admitted that she was developing a soft spot for the two tailed wolf.

"You have not seen snow before," Lexa concluded. Her attention returned to Clarke.

"No," Clarke murmured. She was trying to keep her head up, but she was failing and finally gave up. She lowered her head against Lexa's right shoulder, which had no pauldron armor.

"It is a wet, dirty mess," Lexa complained.

Clarke expected to hear how grand it was, not that it was a nuisance. She chuckled and closed her eyes. "Commander Logical," she teased. She sighed. "I remember the first day it rained." She grinned and softly added, "First day for me, anyway." She smiled at the memory, along with the other 100 that loved it so.

"It was raining the day I was born," Lexa mentioned offhand.

Clarke was quiet as she imagined Lexa as a baby. It was beyond her grasp, at the moment. "You said your father was a blacksmith."

"Yes." Lexa leaned her head against the tree. Once her eyes shut, she remembered her father. "What is your father?"

"He was an engineer," Clarke whispered.

Lexa heard all that was unsaid in Clarke's wavering voice. She had suspected Clarke's father was dead, but the confirmation made it more pungent and heavy.

"What about your mother?" Clarke asked.

Lexa briefly opened her eyes and whispered, "She is not worth discussing."

Clarke clenched her jaw. Lexa's words were so matter of fact that she felt as if she had asked for the weather forecast. At another time she would make an attempt again. She summarized that Lexa's mother held very little, if any meaning, to Lexa compared to people like her father, Costia, or even Gustus.

"I am sorry she is not worth it," Clarke softly offered.

Lexa moved her head off the tree and leaned in closer to Clarke. "She taught me that love is a weakness."

Clarke's eyes flew open. "What?" She flinched that her voice had been too loud. "How could she…" Her angry words faded into the darkness.

"She birthed a commander and raised a commander. I was to be the finest, and I have been," Lexa explained. "I do not doubt she is proud."

Clarke blew out a low breath of astonishment. In the days before the apocalypse, a mother would have been proud of her daughter being educated, having a career, and starting a family. Today, Lexa's mother was proud of all the blood on her daughter's hands. Unknowingly she began shaking from pure rage.

Lexa tightened her arm around Clarke and whispered, "Clarke?" The trembles passed from Clarke into her own body. "You must learn to accept fate… just as my mother accepted my own."

"Oh that is just a load of shit," Clarke vented. Her volume rose and lifted her up from her position between Lexa. But, she was locked into place and forced to calm down. "We make our own goddamn fate," she shot off. She twisted in her spot and half turned towards Lexa. Her returned fire was in her eyes that had been gone for days. "I'll admit there is such a thing as destiny, but we choose how we get there."

Lexa was quiet as she considered the concept. Slowly her eyes focused on Clarke's angry features. "Maybe we do," she agreed. She echoed her same agreement from days ago before the war against Mount Weather.

Clarke released a heavy sigh then returned to her earlier spot. She slouched against Lexa's firm body. "I'm sorry. I just…" She shook her head and fixed the fur over them. "I don't know." She ran her fingers through her golden hair.

Lexa nodded her understanding. She and Clarke went quiet for awhile. She felt Clarke relaxed against her again. She sensed Clarke's weariness so she suggested, "You should rest."

"What about you?" Clarke attempted rubbing the sleep from her face, but she was losing the battle.

"I have another candlemark left then Lincoln will take over."

"Then you'll rest?" Clarke checked.

Lexa gave a faint nod. She listened to Clarke's breaths grow deeper. She lowered her head until her temple brushed Clarke's brow. Her movements interrupted Clarke's closeness to sleep. "Thank you for proving my mother wrong, Klark kom Skaikru."

Clarke barely registered Lexa's whisper. She failed to compose a verbal response, but her left hand came out of the fur. She reached up and pressed her palm against Lexa's opposite cheek. She pushed their heads closer so that Lexa's temple molded against Clarke's left brow. She held them both there for a long minute, in seeming attempt to pass her feelings through their touch.

"Rid, Klark," Lexa murmured in Trigedasleng, "Yu ste klir en ai op."

Clarke's hand slipped lower, sleep so close. "I… suck at… foreign languages." She put her hand back under the fur and finally gave into her exhaustion from days of unsafe travel.

Lexa lifted her head once she felt the weight of Clarke's head limp against her own. Carefully she raised her head and felt Clarke's head roll into her neck. Lexa leaned against the tree, closed her eyes, and listened for sounds around and beyond the camp. Her last candlemark of duty was quick, and Lincoln took over. Lexa finally eased into a light sleep, her body always on alert.

At first light, Clarke grumbled at the sun shining directly in her eyes. Naturally she turned on her side and attempted hiding from the sun. Her half awaken mind recalled the warm body she was snuggled into, but she ignored the reality of it. For once, sleep had been good and rather necessary.

"Clarke," Lexa quietly tried. She was concern about Lincoln and Octavia seeing them together. "We should-"

"Sssh," Clarke hushed. "Another hour, seriously." She moved the fur that kept the cold air away from them. "There's no war to fight so I just want to enjoy this a bit longer." Her tone was thick with sleep.

Lexa gave no other arguments. She instead bent her head forward until it rested against Clarke's golden top. The fresh pine scent from Clarke's hair soothed Lexa. She and Clarke fell back to sleep for another hour. Only the smell of breakfast stirred them from their sleep.

Ares had long ago awoken but remained seated next to the two female humans. He hung out his tongue when Clarke emerged from the fur. He wagged his tails while she petted him.

Clarke then noticed he had been in her jacket all night. "Ares," she complained, especially when she had to brush off his fur. From the corner of her eye, she saw Lexa's amusement. After another good shake, she shrugged on her jacket and realized it was at least warm. She turned to the commander and held out her hand.

Lexa locked arms instead and was pulled to her feet. She straightened out her jacket.

For an instant, Clarke took in the distinct bruises around Lexa's face, especially her right eye. She realized it was from a punch, or two. She had missed it yesterday because the war paint hid it. She bit her tongue and picked up the fur.

The commander followed Clarke to the campfire where breakfast was being served by Lincoln.

Ares trotted alongside and anticipated a nice start to his day. He took residence next to Clarke, who sat on the fur.

Lexa found a spot off to one side.

"Heda." Lincoln offered a bowl to his leader first. He then gave the next two to Clarke and Octavia. He sat cross legged next to Octavia and dipped a spoon into his own bowl.

Everybody ate quietly, but the tension was thick in the air. Like Lincoln, Octavia had saw Clarke and Lexa snuggled together by the tree. Lincoln thought he had imagined it, but the commander was real and so was the Sky Princess's blond head hidden in her arms.

Octavia had her head low. She ate slow and stole a glance at Clarke. She lowered the spoon into the bowl and bit her bottom lip. Her body curled with strain as she fought so hard with herself. Finally, her question tumbled from her lips. "Clarke, how'd you sleep?" Her grin was wide.

Clarke peered up from her food and lifted an eyebrow at Octavia. Before she could reply, the commander beat her to it.

"Shof op, Okteivia."

Octavia's brown eyes snapped to the commander. Instantly her smirk melted under the commander's threatening glare. She cleared her throat and nodded. "Sha, heda." She returned to her food.

Clarke bowed her head and bit her bottom lip. She barely held down her laugh because her body shook. She felt Lexa's gaze so she looked to the left.

Lexa gave the Sky Princess a wink then focused on her meal.

Clarke faintly shook her head and thanked the commander for saving her from embarrassment. She continued enjoying the soup but made a mental note to feed Ares after she was done.

After the morning meal, the four travelers quickly worked to break camp, fill their water containers, and cleaned up by the creek. Clarke and Lincoln carried the water skins to camp, and Ares was on their heels. Octavia gathered the cleaned bowls that were neatly stacked beside the water's edge. But, the commander halted her. Octavia straightened up and faced her leader. She instantly tensed from the darkness written in commander's eyes.

Lexa had put on her war paint again. Her normally green eyes darkened with the war paint. "You will respect Clarke."

Octavia clenched her hands at her side and argued, "I was only teasing her earlier."

Lexa moved in closer. "You meant to embarrass her." She placed her hand on the sheathed sword at her side. "You damn her for her decisions during the war." She leaned in closer and hotly whispered, "And yet you would be dead by my command if it were not for Clarke."

Octavia felt her heart jump into her throat then fall deeper to her stomach. She shook her head at the commander's words.

"I ordered Ryder to kill you that night you told Clarke you knew about the bombing of Tondc." Lexa gritted her teeth. "Clarke stopped Ryder before he could kill you." She narrowed her eyes and whispered, "And she asked me to reinstate you and Lincoln among the Woods Clan."

Octavia swallowed hard and tried controlling her breathing, but it was hard against the commander's darkness.

"I do not recommend continuing to cross Clarke," Lexa threatened. She moved away from Octavia but sternly advised, "It's bad taste to bite the hand that keeps you alive." She headed to camp and left Octavia to her thoughts.

Octavia closed her eyes and blew out a shaky breath. She squatted down to the ground and collected herself. Her thoughts raced in several directions. She had a lot to learn, especially about Clarke and even Lexa.

The commander silently entered the camp and found that one horse was tacked. Lincoln was doing the second horse. Lexa needed to tack her own. Clarke was organizing her things. In quick order, Lexa had her white mare ready to ride. She noted that Octavia had returned and stowed the last items. Lincoln kicked dirt over the small campfire then told Lexa they were ready to travel.

Lexa only gave a low nod then looked to the Sky Princess.

Clarke slung on her pack then approached the commander. "Where to?"

Lexa gathered the mare's reins into her hand and cocked her head to one side.

"Right," Clarke muttered. She peered over her shoulder at Lincoln and Octavia, who mounted their horses. She reached into her left rear pocket and produced the smart phone. "Andromeda, show me my location." She noted that Lexa was watching her use the device.

"You are currently in Vienna, Virginia," Andromeda reported.

"How far are we from Washington D.C?" Clarke prompted the device.

"Calculating." Andromeda controlled the map application and showed the distance from Clarke's location to the center of Washington D.C. "You are currently twelve point forty-six miles from the White House."

Clarke remembered her father's teaching about the distance of a mile. She paused but asked, "How long will it take to walk there?"

"Approximately four hours," Andromeda replied.

Clarke tucked the phone away. She looked at Lexa and mentioned, "Well, I guess we should get moving then." She pushed out of the clearing and into the woods before the commander could say a word. Ares trotted alongside her.

Lexa hastily mounted her mare then tapped the horse's sides.

Lincoln leaned towards Octavia and softly asked, "What was that… thing?"

Octavia was grinning and explained, "A smart phone. I've heard of that exact phone in movies." She and Lincoln followed the commander. "It's totally badass… or was." From her memory of the movie, she continued rattling on about the device. "It could sync up with an AI over the internet. It would help develop the phone's personality. It's eco charging with a self healing screen." She went quiet because Lincoln's facial expression held nothing but confusion. Octavia had been moving her hand in the air as she spoke, but she now dropped it to the saddle horn. "Just… nevermind."

Clarke knew the way to the old road and went out onto it. She made a right and continued her journey east to the former capitol. She heard the horses' hooves clop against the cracked and crumbled pavement.

Lexa nudged her horse up to Clarke's side. Her eyes were trained on the landscape ahead of them. "How is your leg?"

"A lot better." Clarke suspected it was Lexa's unspoken offer to ride the horse. She was happy to walk today. She also decided to turn the table on the commander. "How's your fever?"

Lexa was quiet for a long moment before she softly answered, "Better."

"I noticed," Clarke stated. Earlier she had noted that Lexa skin looked cooler. "You must have had an infection." She tilted her head to the left and peered up at the commander's stern profile. "Maybe from a stab wound." However, Lexa ignored her assessment. "A stab wound that you might have forgot to keep clean." Clarke shrugged and waved her hand in the air. "Just my educated guess."

Lexa had a locked jaw, but she finally loosened it. She continued ignoring Clarke's stare and simply stated, "I had no time for it because the leader of the Skaikru saw it fit to wander dangerous lands alone."

Clarke shook her head and disregarded the jab. "Former leader... you omitted that part." She increased her pace, which Ares matched with her.

Lexa slotted her eyes and growled, "Do you truly believe the alliance will stand on the shoulders of Abigail Griffin?"

"I don't know," Clarke hotly countered, "It's not as if it can stand on yours either." Her blue eyes were lit up with anger that Lexa matched evenly. She shook her head in hopes it would calm her ire about the breach in the alliance. She peered down at Ares, who briefly glanced at her. He seemed to sense her distraught.

"I didn't leave the Woods Clan territory to talk politics." Clarke was unsure whether she was telling Ares, Lexa, or both of them.

Lexa flexed her taut jaw and tried letting go of her anger. Her choices from that night had yet to stop costing her. She decided to remain several paces behind the Sky Princess. They both needed time to calm down.

However, Clarke's speedy walk did nothing to rid her of thoughts about her people and the Woods Clan. The alliance was fragile, too fragile with her gone. It was a known fact that her mother held little to no respect for Lexa as a leader. In Abigail's eyes, Lexa was a child just like Clarke. The alliance's foundation was built between Clarke and Lexa. Now Clarke just left without a word to her people or to the Woods Clan. It was a terrible, irresponsible decision, on Clarke's part.

Lexa sensed that Clarke's speed was slowing again, most likely her temper burned off. Lexa halted her horse and quickly dismount before Clarke even noticed her. She then gave a signal to Lincoln and Octavia to follow a little closer for security. Lexa pulled the reins over the horse's head and quickly caught up to the Sky Princess and Ares.

Clarke turned her head to the commander, who took her right side. She bit her bottom lip then finally asked, "How does… the alliance hold up?"

"I thought we were not discussing politics," Lexa bitterly reminded.

Clarke sighed and reached up. She rubbed her forehead. "Seriously, Lexa… cut me some slack." Suddenly she was cut off by the commander stepping in front of her.

"If I cut you enough slack, you will hang yourself with it," Lexa snapped. She stood in front of Clarke. "You walked away from your people, an alliance you wanted, and from those you say you care for."

Clarke clenched her hands. Her eyes burned, but she held herself together. "I am not a leader," she hotly stated. "I'm not somebody that was born and blessed… christened, fated or whatever to be a leader."

"But you are," Lexa argued. "You just have not accepted it yet."

"I can't keep doing this," Clarke whispered. She started shaking her head. "I can't."

"You can," Lexa insisted. She stepped in closer. "You will."

Clarke blinked away the sting in her eyes. She bitterly laughed and reminded, "I'll never be elected to lead my people, and I'm too young." She shook her head. "Some still see me as a criminal."

"Those things do not matter to my people," Lexa stated.

Clarke was going to further argue, but she paused as her mind repeated what the commander said to her. A deep furrow started across her brow. "They matter to mine, and I don't want to face this alliance or rebuild it… not after Mount Weather."

Lexa lifted her chin. "My betrayal."

Clarke said nothing, but her eyes spoke the truth.

"I will not betray you again."

Clarke could hardly stop her laugh and took a step around Lexa, almost running into Ares. However, Lexa moved in front of her again. "From one leader to another," Clarke informed, "I don't trust you. And it's nothing personal." She smirked, pointed at Lexa, and stated, "Shame on you if you fool me once, shame on me if you fool me twice." She held her mother's one piece of advice close to heart. "You'll choose your people over our alliance in a heartbeat, again and again." This time she moved around Lexa and used Ares as her block between them. She started down the road again.

"Unless you are one of my people," the commander calmly stated.

Clarke took one last step then turned on her heels. She stared in amazement at the commander. "What?"

Lexa had turned and faced Clarke. "I cannot betray you if you are one of my people."

Clarke's eyes went distant as she absorbed exactly what Lexa was purposing to her. She was at a loss for words.

Lexa started towards Clarke, and she gently pulled on her mare's reins. "Join my people, Clarke." She stopped a few steps in front of Clarke. "Become Trigedakru." She stepped into Clarke's space, reached up with her freehand, and cupped Clarke's flushed cheek. "And become my second."

Clarke's mind was out of control from Lexa's offers. Her features were a combination of loss and wonderment. She inhaled sharply and whispered, "How many commanders have had seconds?"

"None," Lexa whispered. She ran her thumb across Clarke's lips. She could tell that Clarke was overwhelmed by the offer. She tilted her head. "Sleep on it then decide your choice." She withdrew her hand, and her fingertips grazed across Clarke's skin. This time, she went around Clarke and pulled her mare with her.

Ares gave a low whine.

Clarke blew out a breath then peered down at the wolf. She petted him on the head then whispered, "Come on." She took Lexa's side, and together they travelled in calm silence. It was a beautiful, cool day. Clarke noticed that the trees closer to Washington D.C. had more leaves than the ones near Mount Weather. For a moment, she admired the autumn beauty that promised a cold winter.

"The days grow short," Lexa casually mentioned.

Clarke tilted her head, unsure about Lexa's small talk. It was a nice difference than a strained conversation about politics or drama.

"The sky is shrinking," Lexa explained, "So the sun has less to travel." She glanced over at the Sky Princess.

Clarke did her damnest to hold down her soft laughs, but her frame still shook from it. To Clarke, Lexa's concept of why the sunset earlier than in the summer time was adorable. The commander's serious, stern features made it impossible to bite back her smirk.

Lexa raised an eyebrow at the Sky Princess. "It is not as if the planet is tilted twenty-three degrees on its axis so that as the planet orbits the sun that it allows for more daylight and changes in temperature in the summer season." She thoroughly enjoyed Clarke's smirk vanishing and then the slack jaw look.

"Oh… you are too funny." Clarke shook her head. She was still shown how far developed grounders were compared to what Sky People believed them to be. Grounders were hardly backwards, as Lexa loved to prove.

Lexa had a glint in her eyes. "Science was my favorite subject… before I became the commander."

Clarke was tempted to ask more, but she let it go, for now. The notion that grounders might understand science and technology, or at least some degree of it, made her think about what she saw at the Dulles Airport.

Lexa sensed something serious on Clarke's mind. Her features darkened as she waited for the Sky Princess to speak to her.

"I saw something." Clarke peered down at Ares, as if checking with him. She looked at Lexa and explained, "I was at the airport in the town before the one you found me." After Lexa's low nod, she continued explaining what she saw on the tarmac. "Ares found a fresh oil stain on the ground." She shook her head. "It had to be made recently by a machine." She watched Lexa's features grow darker with each heartbeat. Like the commander, she knew it meant bad news especially because it was within the territory, not far from former Tondc.

"Thank you for telling me," Lexa offered.

"Do you know who it could be? Or what they were using?" Clarke moved in closer, as if they could be overheard by the trees on either side of the road. "Any idea?"

Lexa was quiet for a long moment. She sighed and softly mentioned, "There are stories that other undergrounders exist, like Mount Weather."

Clarke had never given it a thought that other underground strongholds existed, but it was very possible. She blew out a low breath. An old memory popped in her head, and she snapped her fingers. "Mount Weather was jamming our radio signals." She narrowed her eyes and further explained, "They purposely brought down the Exodus ship and crashed it."

"They killed them on purpose," Lexa whispered.

Clarke shook her head. "Why would they do that?" She touched the commander's pauldron and argued, "If the Sky People are more like the Mountain Men than the Woods Clan then why crash the Exodus ship?"

"You are a threat," Lexa answered.

"But why?" Clarke countered. She removed her hand. "How did we pose a threat to Mount Weather?" She hardly had the chance to process what was right in front of her nose. She had been so wrapped up in getting her friends out of Mount Weather that she never recognized the fact that Mount Weather wanted them dead, before the war. "It's like they knew we were up there in space."

"The Mountain Men knew the history," Lexa reminded, "Behind the nuclear apocalypse."

Clarke's mind was spinning in many directions. "Dante Wallace was the president. There was military all over that mountain." She bit her lip as her mind worked the pieces together. "So that means the military and government from the prewar went into the mountain." She focused on Lexa beside her. "The government would have known about the space stations and probably sent people up there." She frowned and stated, "But my people weren't aware of the Mountain Men."

"Far as you know," Lexa argued.

Clarke narrowed her eyes at the commander. "You're right," she murmured. "I don't know for sure." She went quiet but continued thinking it about it, again and again.

Lexa centered her attention on their travels. She allowed Clarke the time to think through the politics of Mount Weather and the Ark. She broke the quiet and suggested a break soon.

Eventually the travelers did take a break off the side of the road. Clarke stoke away to a quiet spot under a tree. She checked on her smart phone how far they had to go until they were near D.C. It was only a thirty minute hike left. She put the phone away.

Clarke rested her head against the tree. She heard Lexa and Lincoln speak in Trigedasleng then they left together with the three horses. She only opened her eyes when Octavia sat next to her. On her left thigh, Ares rested his head. Clarke took comfort in petting him and playing with his ears.

Octavia sat with one leg propped up and the other tucked under her.

"Come to tease me again," Clarke prompted. She leaned her head on the trunk again.

"No, definitely not." Octavia pulled some grass and threw it. She had learned her lesson. "After we make it to D.C., then what?"

"I don't know," Clarke honestly confessed. She had yet to think that far.

Octavia rubbed the back of her neck then looked over at Clarke. "Did she tell you what happened to her before we left the grounder camp?" She found curious blue eyes centered on her. "I guess not."

"What happened?"

Octavia grumbled at her own mistake. She had opened the door now, and Clarke would make her spill it. She sighed heavily and softly told, "The generals were talking… saying that Lexa lost her commander spirit."

Clarke slotted her eyes. "Because she helped us in Mount Weather?"

"And betraying the alliance," Octavia added. "Everybody was conflicted about what she did and why she did it. It caused a pretty big divide actually." She shook her head and recalled all the rumors going around among the warriors. "So she challenged herself… to prove she was still heda."

"What you mean?"

Octavia sighed heavily. "She went through a gantlet made up of the twelve generals." She continued explaining what had happened that day, including the attempted assignation that led to Lexa's stab wound.

"Did it settle the unrest?" Clarke hastily asked after Octavia was done.

"Most but not all," Octavia replied. She suspected any moment that Lexa and Lincoln would return from forging water with the horses. "And now she's risking even more by coming out here to find you."

"I didn't ask her to," Clarke instantly refuted.

Octavia touched her friend's knee and quietly explained, "She told Indra to meet her in Polis in six days time." She tapped Clarke's knee with each word. "If Indra makes it there before her then…"

"Shit will hit the fan." Clarke groaned and lowered her head. She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Why the Hell didn't she tell me this?" She knew why, and it made her sigh, heavily. She and Octavia went silent though because the horses' hoof steps filled the air.

Octavia climbed to her feet and went to her horse that she took from Lincoln.

Clarke remained upright against the tree. She had her head against it as she thought about Octavia's information. She should have known that Lexa was on a time constraint. Clarke had only been thinking about herself. But the entire matter was hardly simple because Lexa would stay by Clarke and not simply continue to Polis.

However, Clarke could not allow Lexa to continue endangering her role as commander. It surprised Clarke that Lexa was even allowing it. Such a decision was a poor but sweet one made by the heart, not the head. Later Clarke would have to discuss it with Lexa.

Clarke peered down at Ares, who met her with his own green eyes. She wondered what he would say if he could speak to her. She sighed and ruffled his fur before she stood up.

Ares stood as well and stretched a few times before he followed Clarke over to the group. He patiently waited to continue the trip.

"Are we ready?" Clarke prompted the commander.

"Sha," Lexa replied without thought. She easily corrected, "Yes." She gathered her mare's reins into her hand. She and Clarke led the way back to the road.

"I should learn Trigedasleng," Clarke mentioned.

Lexa's usually dark eyes softened to their green shade. "Sha."

Clarke sadly smiled because she was horrible at languages, but she would try harder with Trigedasleng. "We have time now." She hoped it prompted Lexa to begin with the language.

Lexa first focused on entering the old road near a broken underpass. She and the others entered the road and continued east towards the lost city. "Start with the basics." She looked at Clarke. "Hei."

Clarke already knew the informal greeting and echoed, "Hei." She took it a step further. "Ai laik Clarke kom Skaikru."

"Klark," Lexa reminded. "There is no 'c' sound in Trigedasleng."

Clarke nodded and always had to reminder herself of the sounding when it came to her own name. The replacement of the letter 'k' over the 'c' was sharper, snappier than English's 'c' sound. Clarke had come to realize that Lexa always spoke her name with Trigedasleng tongue, not softer like English.

"There's just the 'ch' sound right?"

Lexa nodded. "Choda. Chof. Chon. Chicha." She emphasized the sound repeatedly for Clarke. She looked at Clarke and asked, "Do you know the numbers at all?" They were easy to start with too.

Clarke racked her memory. "Won, tu, thri, fou…" She was stuck.

"Fai," Lexa helped. In unison with Clarke, she continued the numbers. "Sis, sen, eit, nain, ten." She tilted her head. "If you repeat the numbers often in your head, it will start to teach you the tones and slur faster." She and Clarke continued working on regular greetings and simple conversation in Trigedasleng.

Clarke was grateful for the lesson even if it was hard for her. She listened carefully and had to repeat things often. She knew she would forget some, but she hoped paying mind more would help teach her faster. She needed to engage in Trigedasleng conversation if she were to learn to quicker.

Eventually, Lexa ended the lesson and mentioned they were near Washington D.C. She drew closer to Clarke and signaled for Octavia and Lincoln to join them.

Clarke was unsure how Lexa knew they were close unless she recognized the area. Clarke hefted the pack on her back and widened her gait. Her heart jumped faster, and she pushed up the road's incline. She noticed how the road faded away until they were only on dirt. Clarke hiked up the hill and came to pause at the crest of the hill. She was rooted in place by what she saw far beyond her eyes' reach.

Lexa took Clarke's side. She watched her horse settle into a spot along the hill's ridge. She turned her attention to the barren landscape in front of them.

Clarke swallowed hard and whispered, "It's the Dead Zone, isn't it?"

Ares took a seat beside Clarke. He sniffed the air, which was rather dry. He whined low then looked up at the two humans.

Clarke's eyes burned as she stared at the Dead Zone that once was the capitol of the former country. Now it was a wasteland from radiation fallout. There was nothing left, and it would be a long time before wildlife returned to the lands. On her left, she saw Octavia and Lincoln reach the ridge with their horses in tow.

"Is it safe to cross?" Clarke knew the answer before she asked it.

"No." Lexa tore her eyes off the Dead Zone and looked at Clarke's solemn profile. "But, there is a safe way to get to the other side." She found curious blue eyes on her. "Do you wish to go to the other side?"

Clarke chewed on her bottom lip. She wanted to explore further, but she needed Lexa to go to Polis, before Indra. She decided to test the waters. "Where is Polis?"

Lexa raised her freehand and pointed. "Over there, on the other side of the Dead Zone."

Clarke looked northeast, but she could see nothing there. She turned her head to the commander again. "How do we get on the other side?"

"Ai masta op," Lexa ordered. Finally, she took the lead during the trip.

Clarke did as she was told, in Trigedasleng and followed the commander. She and Lexa started down the hill's ridge and entered into the Dead Zone.

"Heda?" Lincoln called. He and Octavia headed over to them. He hated the damn sand of the Dead Zone.

"Osir na gon emo sobwe," Lexa ordered Lincoln. "Ai baga op."

Lincoln nodded and unsheathed his sword.

Clarke retrieved her handgun after the grounders pulled their swords. Perhaps she should have thought of a different plan. But, she still followed the commander into the Dead Zone. "I thought you said there is a way around it."

"There is," Lexa confirmed. "First we have to travel some of it."

Ares moved ahead of the humans and started sniffing the gray sands. He seemed to sense Lexa's direction with keen awareness.

Clarke stayed close to the commander. She saw that Lincoln and Octavia were beside them now. She felt safer than earlier but the damn Dead Zone had its name for a reason. "Are you sure you know what direction to go?" She shielded her eyes against the sunlight.

"Sha." Lexa's reply was quick. She was focused on her surroundings that were often changing, but she glanced at the sun several times. She guided them alongside a ridge above their heads that eventually turned into an embankment in front of them.

Clarke grew confused and wondered why they stopped in front of the gigantic mound. She watched Ares approach it and sniff the mound's side.

"Linkon," Lexa ordered. She released her horse's reins and started to the embankment.

Lincoln gave the reins to Octavia then he hurried over to his commander's side. He helped her search through the gray sand.

"Hir," Lexa called to Lincoln. She sheathed her sword and patted Ares, who had found what they were looking for in the sand. She and Lincoln moved the sand aside until a metal door emerged from the sands.

"What is that?" Octavia murmured. She had taken Clarke's side.

Clarke was confused too, but she watched Lexa unsecure the gigantic door.

"Heda, let me help." Lincoln knew the commander hardly needed assistance, but he did pull the door open with her.

The iron door groaned loudly as it was lifted and fresh air entered past its frame. Its dark mouth bore ominous thoughts but yet still begged travelers to it.

Lincoln went in first and was swallowed by the darkness. Lexa returned to Clarke and Octavia. She grabbed her horse's reins.

"What is that?" Clarke asked.

"A way across the Dead Zone," Lexa explained. She looked at Octavia and nodded at her.

Octavia swallowed hard but moved forward with her horse. She could only go through with one horse at a time so she left Lincoln's own for Clarke to handle.

Clarke gathered the reins. She followed next, but Ares went in front of her. She paused in front of the entrance and stared at the complete blackness before her. Octavia called for her that it was safe so she slowly passed the door.

"Keep coming forward, Clarke," Lincoln encourage. A spark shot off near him then faded away. He attempted starting a small fire.

Clarke guided Lincoln's horse into the blackness. Slowly her eyes adjusted and the light from the open door helped her see better. "Octavia, I have a lamp tied to my pack."

Octavia took the hint and made her way to Clarke. She reached around the pack and untied the lamp.

"Switch is on the bottom of the base." Clarke was relieved when the bright LEDs on the lamp lit up the interior. She started scanning her surroundings, but the sounds from behind made her look back.

Lexa had her horse inside too, but she was pulling the door shut. The heavy metal door had to weigh a couple hundred pounds, and yet Lexa managed it like a normal door. She sealed it with a strong pull.

Lincoln stood up with a torch now lit from the flint stones he had been striking earlier. He held it up high and realized how close everybody was together thanks to the horses.

Clarke followed the torchlight's reach and focused on the wall behind Lincoln. She stared oddly at the metal sign attached to the concrete wall. It took her a moment to read the aged letters, but it was an access tunnel for the metro.

"It's a tunnel," Octavia realized aloud.

"The D.C. Metro system," Clarke added. She and Octavia locked gazes. "I remember seeing it on the map. It goes under D.C. to the other side." She grinned. Her mind skipped back to Lexa's earlier command to Lincoln. "Sobwe," she repeated.

"Subway," Octavia translated with Clarke. She and Clarke traded grins as they started to learn more Trigedasleng together.

Clarke's attention jerked to the left when Ares's heavy sniffs grew even louder.

Octavia lifted the lamp higher and revealed Ares's interests.

Clarke retrieved her gun and pointed it at the threat, her reaction quicker than her mind.

"He's dead," Octavia assured the Sky Princess.

Clarke sighed and lowered her gun. She stared at the long dead grounder. She considered what had killed him and hoped the culprit was long gone.

Lexa pushed between the horses. "Octavia and Lincoln, follow behind us. Each of us guides a horse." She allowed Lincoln to take her horse. "We must get to the other side before nightfall." She did not even spare a glance at the dead grounder.

"Here." Octavia gave the lamp to Clarke. She then went back to Lincoln and took a horse.

"This way," Lexa ordered the group. She started the way, single file.

Clarke was next with Ares at her side. As she passed the dead grounder, she realized he dressed a little different than the Woods Clan. She suspected he had no clan and wandered the lands. She kept her gun out and followed the commander. She tried guessing where the tunnel would take them on the other side of the Dead Zone. She decided time would tell, but she could hardly ignore the knot in her stomach. Somehow the Metro tunnel was similar to the tunnels under Mount Weather, and the reapers. Clarke settled her fears and reminded herself she was far from Mount Weather.

To be continued.