I'm sorry it's been two weeks since I last updated I've been super busy, but this is my longest chapter so far, woohoo, 4k! Since this is my first fic, it has been an amazing, new experience and I'm feeling more comfortable in writing, so I wanted to thank you all for being a part of that. Please, Enjoy! :)
There was a relative sense of peace in Arkadia. Despite the grounders still camped outside the gates, handing Pike over has given people a chance to breath. Kane was sitting on the patrol platform overlooking Arkadia. He was proud of what was happening. It was night when they handed Pike over, and while many people in Arkadia had gone to bed, a few remained awake to help him sort things out. People were working on the agriculture plots, cleaning up, counting supplies, looking at people's injuries, distributing clothes and resources.
As much as Kane hated violence, the people turning on Pike had given them a new sense of loyalty to each other. He was proud to see everyone working together.
He looked at the horizon and the saw the sun begin to rise. He hadn't slept all night, but he was as awake as ever. They had lots to do today. He had sent a message to Indra explaining where they could find Octavia, Lincoln and the grounders and delinquents.
As more light began to fill the land, he saw from the viewing platform a group of people coming towards the gates. He climbed down the ladder and made his way to the gates and opened them up. Relief washed over him as he was greeted by Octavia and Lincoln.
"Is this all of you? You all made it out safely?" Kane asked quickly.
"The grounders have been returned to their people, but yes we all made it," Octavia replied. Kane sighed in relief. Everything was working out so nicely.
"Is it true, Pike has been handed over and you are the chancellor," Lincoln said with sceptical hope in his voice. When Indra had told them on the walk to Arkadia, he almost couldn't believe it. Last thing they knew was that they had to leave Arkadia or die.
Kane assured him that everything was fine, and a wave of relief washed over Lincoln, as well as Octavia and all the delinquents.
Harper, Miller and the other delinquents were quickly assigned their jobs for the day. Arkadia had a lot of work to do in the next few weeks before the ceremony in Polis.
After brief reunions, the sky people got to work. It would take time, but things were going to get better. Things were already getting better. There was hope.
Pike was being held in a temporary prison in the grounder camp. He was under strict guard, not that they were needed, he was in no condition to try and escape.
"What are you going to do with him?" Indra asked Lexa.
Lexa knew what she was really asking. Would he be executed or banished?
"Blood must not have blood," Lexa said, more to herself than to anyone else.
"Heda-," Indra began, but Lexa cut her off.
"Indra, I will not let him go unpunished," she said fiercely. She honestly didn't know what to do, she believed he deserved to die, and well, he did. But she also knew killing him would only show her people that blood must have blood, is still the way of their people. She wished Clarke were here. Perhaps, she could give her advice. But she wasn't. She had to make this choice alone, and soon.
"So what will you do, Heda?" Indra questioned.
A steely glint came across Lexa's eyes. What she had decided, was perhaps worse than death. But it was justified, and didn't involve death.
"300 cuts, he will face 300 cuts for those lost in the massacre," she began, "and then, in whatever state he is in, he will be banished."
Indra was stunned for a second, but held her tongue and nodded. The punishment was cruel, and she had not believed Lexa would agree to it, but it was certainly deserved.
Lexa saw Indra's nod and relaxed slightly. She was always worried about how her people would see her decisions, especially now as she tries to change age-old traditions. But maybe, hopefully, they will accept this. Maybe they will accept 'Jus nou drein, Jus daun.' Maybe the will accept peace.
Everything had been planned. The ceremony was set to begin in an hour, sky people and grounders joined to witness Pike's punishment. Lexa hoped her people would accept her punishment of Pike, and she also hoped the sky people would accept it too.
The sun was starting to set, leaving the land glowing in orange light. Many flame torches had been placed around the camp. There was a central post, one which would soon host Pike.
The sky people eventually came out, those who wanted to anyway. Lexa wasn't going to force them to watch something if they did not want too. She knew the 300 cuts would be too much for some sky people who hadn't grown up surrounded by torture. Lexa quickly envied them for still having some innocence. A part of them that couldn't stomach violence. But the envy quickly went away as she reminded herself that she is heda. She has only known pain and violence. That is just who she is.
Out of all the grounders at the blockade, only the Trikru remained. Families of those who had lost their warriors in the massacre. Most of them were out for blood. Lexa hoped they would feel Pike's punishment would be enough.
Trikru and Skaikru gathered round as Lexa took her place on a small raised platform, so that everyone could see her. She quickly gazed the crowd for Clarke, and found her standing next to her mother and Kane.
"Welcome Skaikru. We are to witness the punishment if Charles Pike kom Skaikru. Murderer to Trikru and traitor to Skaikru." Her voice was strong and cold, echoing out into the fast-approaching night sky.
"Jus nou drein, Jus daun," She began to say, but it was met with angry mutters from the Trikru. "Silence," her voice boomed out. Despite their mutterings, they knew better than to speak over her now. "Blood must not have blood," she began again, this time going on to explain, "doesn't mean that murder has no consequence. Blood must not have blood doesn't meet we won't get justice. It means not wiping out an entire clan for the actions of a few! It means punishing only those who are guilty!" Her voice rang out. She hoped her people could see that this new policy still demands justice.
Her voice went from passionate to steel cold quickly, "Pike will answer for his actions. For organising and executing the massacre of 300 trikru warriors. He will be given 300 cuts, from the hands of those he has hurt."
She saw a mixture of responses on people's faces. Some shocked, some angry, but mostly she saw people nodding, agreeing with her.
After giving a small nod to guards a few metres away from her, they quickly brought out Pike and tied him up to the central post, so that everyone could watch.
There was a ceremonial dagger to be used for his punishment. Lexa was to make the first cut. She moved off her platform, and took out the dagger while walking towards Pike.
Despite all the wrongs he had done, she still found it hard to cut into his flesh. Maybe she was changing, maybe she was getting back some of her innocence. But she couldn't think about that now.
She looked out to the crowd one last time, "For those we've lost," she said before drawing the dagger against Pike's forearm. He hissed at her, and held back a moan of pain. Maybe Lexa was expecting him to have fear in his eyes. Maybe even look sorry or guilty, but the eyes looking back at her were those of a madman. A blood-thirsty maniac who would kill again if he had the chance.
She passed the dagger onto a young Trikru woman who had lost her brother. She took the dagger and placed the next cut onto him, this time on his stomach.
The dagger was passed down onto more and more Trikru and with each cut, Pike's groans became louder.
She could see some of the Skaikru having to turn away, and grimacing at the sight. But she knew it had to be done. He deserved this.
The ceremony took almost 2 hours, with a few Trikru teasingly drawing out their individual punishment for those they had lost.
By the time the last cut had been given, Pike was extremely weak. He could hardly keep the strength to hold himself up. But he was alive, and perhaps that was what people preferred so that he would have to endure the pain for longer.
Lexa was once again on her platform, speaking out to the crowd. "Charles Pike has been punished with 300 cuts, for the lives he took in the massacre. His blood has answered for theirs."
Some may think that all of the skaikru involved in the massacre should be punished in the same way as Pike, but Lexa hoped that this offering would be enough. Pike was the leader who caused it to happen, it was his idea and his plan.
"Pike is banished from my life," her voice was clear and strong, "He will live, but he will live with constant pain and with scars that will never heal, to remind him of those he murdered, and the pain he has caused."
Maybe she was again expecting dissent, but surprisingly her people mostly agreed. This was a fair punishment, having to live with extreme pain. And she hoped that would be enough to get them to agree on 'blood must not have blood'.
The guards took a very limp, weak Pike off the post and began to carry him away from Arkadia. He was to be taken to outside Trikru borders, from which he wouldn't know where he was or how to return. She hoped this would be the last they see of him.
After he was taken away, people began to file back into their respective camps. It was fully dark now, only the flame torches keeping the area lit. The sky people went back to Arkadia, and the Trikru back to their grounder tents.
Lexa remained in the area where the ceremony took place, sitting on her little platform. She thought she was alone until a blonde figure came up next to her and sat beside her.
"Hey," Clarke said, gently resting her hand on Lexa's thigh.
"Hey," Lexa returned, sounding exhausted.
Clarke could tell Lexa wasn't feeling well. She didn't know how to help and wished she could take away some of Lexa's burdens. But she knew they were only the commander's to bear.
She absentmindedly ran her hand up and down Lexa's thigh, attempting to be soothing. She rested her head on Lexa's shoulder and sighed into her. "You did the right thing," Clarke mumbled into her shoulder. It wasn't much, but she hoped Lexa would find some comfort in it.
Lexa sighed deeply, and let herself be comforted by Clarke. She was grateful for the darkness, and the fact they were alone. She was able to sink into Clarke and just breathe for a moment.
"I hope so," she whispered. She wrapped her arm around Clarke's back, pulling her closer. They remained like that, with Clarke resting her head on Lexa's shoulder, both just soaking in each other's presence, being comforted by the other's warmth.
After the ceremony, the grounders had retreated back to their camp and began preparing to leave. The tents were being dismantled and everything was being packed, ready to return either back to their respective villages or to Polis.
The noise of the grounders moving around and packing things brought Clarke and Lexa back to reality. Clarke realised they hadn't really talked about what was going to happen with them now.
"You're going back to Polis," she said as a statement, though asking for an answer.
Lexa had thought about this too. What was going to happen with them now? "You can come back with me," she said, hopeful.
"I want to, Lexa. But don't I need a reason?" she asked. Since Skaikru wasn't the 13th clan yet, it wouldn't make sense for her to go back to Polis and she didn't want to give the grounders anymore reason to dislike the sky people.
"Am I not enough?" Lexa said slightly teasingly.
Clarke smiled at her, "You know what I mean, I can't just go there without a reason."
Lexa sighed, Clarke did have a point. "I have no doubt Kane and your mother will pull though, mend things in Arkadia and then your people will re-join my coalition. And I will need an ambassador in Polis." This could work, "Would you still want to be an ambassador?" she asked Clarke.
Clarke looked at Lexa and smiled softly, "Yeah. Yeah, I would." Clarke had enjoyed being an ambassador, she felt like she was helping her people, while not having to interact with them every day. She added, "And that means I can leave with you for Polis?"
Lexa returned her smile, "Yes, you can leave with me for Polis."
Clarke continued smiling as she pressed her lips to Lexa's. She broke out of the kiss and whispered against her lips, "Time to go home."
Clarke had arranged with Lexa when they were leaving before returning to Arkadia. She hoped that one day there wouldn't be this divide. The skaikru and trikru not interacting, living separately. She hoped one day they would truly manage to live together. She knew it was possible because of Octavia and Lincoln. Her and Lexa. They had proved that maybe we're not so different after all.
She knew as ambassador she wouldn't be needed in Polis until after they were reinitiated into the coalition. However, Clarke was impatient, and Lexa had said she could make arrangements for Clarke to arrive early. No way was she going to stay in Arkadia for any longer than necessary. She had already decided to leave and no one was going to stop her.
She didn't have much stuff to pack, as such, only what she brought when she came back here. She had quickly said goodbye to Lincoln, Octavia and the other delinquents. She had hoped to say goodbye to Raven, but she proved difficult to find, and Clarke was ready to leave. With this new peace, she knew she would be able to come back in a few weeks and see her then. She quickly retrieved her belongings and headed towards the gate, towards the grounders, towards Lexa.
"Clarke, wait!" A voice reached out to her.
She turned around to see her mother.
"You don't have to go. Not yet, at least," she pleaded, "Please."
Clarke sighed, she just wanted to go to Lexa. After everything that had happened, there was only one person who she knew would make her feel better, comfort her.
"They're leaving soon. I don't want to be late."
Abby wanted to argue, she didn't understand why Clarke wanted to leave now. Arkadia was improving, why wouldn't she want to stay? She tried to come up with a compromise. "At least let me give you a check-up before you leave."
Clarke knew there was no way her mom would let her leave without checking her injuries. She hadn't really thought about it, but now that she did she realised there were a lot of scars and bruises over her body. Pike had been anything but gentle to her.
She resignedly sighed then trudged over to follow her mom into the medical bay. "Not too long, okay?"
Her mom guided her inside and gave her a soft smile, "Not too long, I promise."
"Well, there are no permanent injuries, just some bruises and cuts that will heal quickly," Abby told Clarke, after she had finished examining her.
"So I'm ready to ride?" Clarke had been waiting to leave for Polis as soon as she could. There wasn't anything left for her in Arkadia, but her mom needed to make sure she was okay. She granted her mom this after everything.
Abby didn't want Clarke to leave. She had just got her daughter back, almost watched her die, and now she was leaving again. She didn't know what she could say but she had to try. Try and convince her to stay.
"Clarke," Abby said reaching out to her daughter, "You don't have to go back. You don't owe anything to your people. You know that, right?"
Clarke gave small smile and nodded, "I know mom, I know I don't. But this isn't about my people. I want to go back," she emphasised the want.
Abby gave her daughter a questioning look, then drew away from her to study her face. She was putting everything together, and sighed in realisation, "Lexa."
Clarke didn't say anything, just gave a small nod meeting her mother's eyes.
Abby wasn't sure how she felt about Lexa. But she saw how strong and happy Clarke seemed, and knew it was best to let her do what she wanted. She attempted a smile before saying sadly, "I'm going to miss you."
"I'll miss you too, mom," she said softly, "but you know, you can come visit at any time." Abby nodded. She embraced her mom in a big hug before turning around and leaving the room.
Clarke walked out of the Ark, and out the gates of Arkadia. She was met by Lexa who was holding two horses, one for each of them.
As usual, they were aware of their surroundings so kept their distance. "Hello, Clarke."
"Hello, Lexa," Clarke replied, with a slight tease in her voice.
Lexa had to keep from smirking, "You ready for the ride back to Polis?"
"I'm ready to go home," Clarke assured her. Lexa nodded, and helped Clarke on to the horse, ignoring the flush she saw on Clarke's cheeks as her hands tightly gripped her hips and helped her up.
Lexa elegantly propelled herself onto her horse, and turned to face Clarke with a small smirk. "You'll get the hang of it one day."
Clarke glared at her for a moment but quickly smiled and let out a small laugh. Waving goodbye to her mother she turned the horse around and began to follow Lexa into the woods.
Other warriors and guards were riding with them, but gave them respectful distance so they could talk without being overheard.
"What will we do back in Polis?" Clarke asked Lexa, looking over at her while trotting side by side.
"I will have many meetings to attend to. Lots of arrangements to make," Lexa sighed. Sometimes being commander completely exhausted her, and the next few days would be no exception. "I will be busy, Clarke."
Clarke let out a small breath, she figured this would be the case. "But," Lexa quickly added, "After the first few days, things should settle down. Then maybe we can just," Lexa sighed, she wanted to just be with Clarke. "Maybe we can just, um, spend a day together," she said nervously, "Just you and me."
Clarke looked at Lexa with a big grin, "Yeah. That sounds nice." And to Clarke it certainly did seem nice. A whole day where they could just forget about their people and spend some time together. It is what Clarke craved more than anything; being alone with Lexa.
Lexa returned her smile. It made her heart swell to think that she could make Clarke smile like that. Clarke was thinking about the first few days though, she would still try and get some alone time with her. It would drive her crazy, otherwise.
"Your meetings are just during the day?" Clarke questioned.
Lexa gave a small nod, "Yes, Clarke. We do not plan meetings at night."
Clarke just smirked and dropped the topic. Lexa looked at her suspiciously, "What, Clarke?"
"Oh nothing, Lexa," Clarke teased.
"Clarke, tell me," Lexa urged, she hated when people held things back.
Clarke still kept her lips shut, which make Lexa frustrated. She moved her horse closer to Clarke's, reached out her hand and playfully shoved her.
Clarke couldn't help but smile. For the first time in a very long time, she felt happy. She felt free. Here she was, her people were safe, and she was looking at the girl she loved. She playfully shoved Lexa back, with a soft laugh.
The poor horses were very confused.
Lexa's heart soared at hearing Clarke's laugh. She enjoyed this lightness too, and decided to continue the moment. "There's no way you can win, Clarke." She said, a determined glint in her eyes.
Lexa reached out to Clarke again and began tickling her all over her body. Clarke started shrieking almost pleading with Lexa to stop, laughing so much her body ached. Lexa obviously had more experience riding a horse and was able to tickle Clarke while riding, however Clarke didn't have the same grace.
As she was laughing she completely lost control of her horse and began to lose balance. She started sliding of the horse, almost falling into Lexa's horse. She squealed as she mumbled, "Help!"
Lexa rolled her eyes while chuckling as she quickly grabbed Clarke's arm and yanked her onto her own horse.
Clarke was surprised at Lexa's strength. She had managed to pull her up onto her own horse in one swift movement. Clarke was now sitting in front of Lexa, her back to Lexa's chest. The position was slightly uncomfortable for Clarke but she smiled gratefully at Lexa anyway. Lexa leaned over quickly and reigned in Clarkes' horse. Thankfully, the horse was well trained and would stay beside them the rest of the way.
Clarke squinted at Lexa, and began in a teasing tone "This was your plan all along, letting me fall. You just wanted me even closer."
"It was not my intention Clarke, I swear," she said honestly before adding lightly, "But, it is an added bonus." She brought her lips to Clarke's shoulder and wrapped her arms tight around Clarke's waist.
Clarke leaned in to the kiss, appreciating the warmth of Lexa's lips, before shifting to turn her face to Lexa's. She gave her a quick, tender kiss on the lips before turning around again. Lexa just snuggled her again, resting her head on Clarke's shoulder. Clarke felt a warmth spread through her body, simply at being held by Lexa. She was happy.
"Lexa," Clarke asked breaking the silence after a few hours of riding.
Clarke was greeted with a slurred, "Mmm," from Lexa who was quite sleepy from their long ride.
She continued on anyway, wanting to get out her thoughts that she had been turning over for the last few hours.
"Maybe someday… that seems like it might just be possible now," she said cautiously, she wanted to honestly believe that they owed nothing more to their people and could be together. Obviously there was still some work to do it Polis, but after the skaikru re-join the coalition, there would be peace. Real peace, for the first time in what felt like forever.
Lexa was more alert now and gave her a wide grin, nothing made her happier than the thought of being with Clarke forever. She smiled as she almost whispered on her breath, "It might just."
Whew that was a big chapter and fun to write. I get sad everyday thinking about all the wasted potential of the Clexa relationship. I just love them so so much, they are so cute and in love. Thank goodness for fanfics, right!
I hope people don't hate me for not killing Pike. Also, I tried to imagine how Abby would react to Clarke/Lexa, and I think she honestly would just want Clarke to be happy, so no drama there! Also Raven is still chipped at this point, so I will bring that up soon, but not yet. Let's enjoy the peace! Please review or PM me if you have comments/ideas/etc. Do you prefer short chapters updated more often, or longer chapters less often? Thank you again for reading xx
