Aw man, so I totally failed on the updating every Wednesday. I hope I can bribe forgiveness out of you guys with a longer update.

Chapter Nine

Lexa arrived back at the Capital just as dawn was breaking, her body ached with exhaustion and all she wanted to do was go to her room and sleep the morning away. Handing the reins of her horse to one of the attendants who came to greet her, Lexa saw that she was expected. Waiting for her at the entrance to the palace, Cole and beside him Talia, and neither of them looked pleased.

"You were gone an entire day without telling anyone where you were going. And you didn't take a guard." Lexa rolled her eyes and walked into the hall towards her room. She knew that they were both following her, she knew them well enough to know that they weren't going to leave her alone.

"I was in Tondc. And I told Cole where I was going." Lexa corrected, looking over her shoulder and seeing her General avert his eyes. Being home had changed Lexa. Or maybe it was something else. She didn't know, nor did she care to dwell too much on it. But before, she never would have called Cole out for his knowledge of her whereabouts with the sole intention of getting him in trouble with Talia.

"You said you were going to Tondc. You were not in Tondc."

"Talia." Lexa warned, turning towards the older woman.

"You went to see her." Lexa didn't blink at the accusation, she wasn't surprised that Talia knew that.

"Is that why you're angry? Because I went to see Clarke?" Lexa asked. She was tired, and she wanted to hold onto the image of Clarke's face so that maybe she could dream about the blonde Sky Princess.

"Lexa-."

"Leave us Cole." The General bowed his head and left the two women alone. He had no desire to get in between the argument that was about to transpire.

Once they were alone, Lexa turned her attention back to the older woman. Talia stood inches taller than Lexa but Lexa didn't let it bother her. Lexa was far more imposing of a personality than Talia. But as soon as the anger was there, it was forgotten just as easily. Talia was the only one who could talk to Lexa like this. But only in private. Those were the terms of their arrangement.

"Speak freely." Lexa said, her face softening.

"I know why you went. You have feelings for this girl." Lexa looked down, Talia could read Lexa better than anyone, better than Anya or Costia ever good. It was the benefit of knowing Lexa her whole life.

"Are you going to tell me that it is unwise?"

"Truthfully? I am glad to know that you still can. After Costia, I was worried."

"But?" Lexa knew that there was more.

"She is not of our Clan."

"That is actually one of the things I like most about her. I do not have to be Heda with her, I can be myself. Like I am with you." Lexa explained. She began to shed her outer wear, she had been riding in it all night and wanted nothing more than to be free of it.

"Then take her as your lover." Talia said as if it were a simple matter.

"I would not do that to her."

"There is great honor in being the Commander's lover."

Lexa felt anger rise in her, churning in the pit of her stomach as she thought about it. Clarke would be respected as Lexa's chosen lover, given the same benefits as the station demanded. But she would be considered beneath Lexa. Her opinions would not be listening to in matters of war or peace. She would no longer be seen as a Leader of her people. Lexa couldn't do that to Clarke.

"I will not make her my play thing."

"Play thing? Is that how you view me?" Lexa cursed under her breath. Hurting Talia was not what she had wanted either.

"That's not what I meant."

"I know. But Lexa, the people, the other Clan Leaders, they won't accept her as anything else. And you cannot sacrifice everything you've built just for your heart."

Lexa hated that she knew what Talia said was true. There was no room for her heart to make decisions, no matter how much she wanted it.

"I can't be without her." Lexa said quietly. And it was as much a revelation to Talia as it was to Lexa. She hadn't known how much she'd meant those words until had spoken them.

Talia had been there before Costia, before Clarke. Talia's place in Lexa's heart came first. Talia saw the younger girl's pain, saw her struggle and felt for her.

"You plan to marry her then?" Lexa heard the question, as well as the poorly concealed surprise that came with it.

"I do not know."

"You barely know her. You've known her a month and during the war. People are different after wars end." Talia said truthfully. She had seen it, words spoken when the heat of battle still made warriors blood boil seldom hold true once the battle is over.

"Do not lecture me on battle Talia. I know her as well as I need to. Why are you trying to take this from me? You know how much I have suffered."

"I do not want to take this from you Lexa. Just don't want to see you hurt. A match with the Sky Princess may never be accepted by the people. She is not one of us. They will not trust her to lead them."

"They will learn. As I did. Clarke helped bring down the mountain. Without her-."

"Without her 300 of your warriors would still be alive." Talia said.

"We attacked them."

"Blood must have blood, Lexa."

"I will hear no more of this." Lexa stated finally. She didn't want to hear these truths. Not when her heart only wanted to feel the exhilarating rush of love.

"Does she know the power she holds over you?" Talia asked with a small smile. Contrary to her warnings she did want Lexa to be happy.

"No."

"You had better hope she never finds out." Talia teased.


"You did what?" Abby demanded, arms crossed and temper flaring after Clarke had told her of her plans to go to Polis. Clarke stood defiantly before her mother, arms crossed mirroring her mother's posture. Abby knew that Clarke didn't have the same inhibitions about the Grounders as she did. But to willingly chose to walk into a Grounder city. Not just a Grounder camp but where most of their population lived, that seemed to bypass bold and go straight into insane.

"I'm going to Polis in two weeks. Lexa invited me, she wants to show me the ways of her people. She told me of markets and entertainment, and the kind of things that we're going to want now. This is home now. We can't keep living like we did on the Ark. We're not going to run out of air, we have more room than we know what to do with, and we're getting really good at finding food. I want to do more than survive mom." Clarke argued. She had watched as people just continued on as if they were on the Ark. People still did the same jobs that they had on the Ark because that was all they knew. No one seemed to be curious at all about the world that surrounded them. Clarke didn't want to say it out loud, but she had a good feeling that many of them were looking towards Abby. They wanted to see what she would do.

"What about the Mountain? We're still working on trying to find a cure for the people that still live there."

"You can still work on that. You don't have to come with me."

"Of course I'm coming with you." Abby declared as if the idea of her not going was preposterous.

"This isn't a political visit mom."

"Clarke, the Grounder's view you as our Leader. If you're going to their city, it's a political visit."

"Trikru." Clarke said suddenly. Abby blinked in confusion, she'd heard the term before. Marcus used it on a number of occasions.

"What?"

"You keep calling them Grounders. We're all Grounders mom. Lexa's Clan is called the Trikru. If you're coming with me to the capital then you should stop calling them Grounders." Clarke offered.

"Alright, the Trikru will consider this a political visit."

"Then we need to figure out who is going to come with us."

They talked for a while longer about who should accompany them. Clarke knew that it would be impossible to convince Bellamy to stay. Octavia would want to go if Indra allowed it, Clarke made a mental note to ask Lincoln to go as a sort of translator of customs and language for them. And Raven, Clarke wanted Raven to come with them to see if there might be anything that the Trikru had that they could use in their own camp. Raven knew Camp Jaha better than anyone, she'd spent enough time trying to fix it.

"She's responsible for Finn's death." Clarke had just exited the medical tent when she heard Raven's voice behind her. Turning, Clarke saw Raven leaning against the structure. The brunette looked angry, Clarke didn't blame her for it.

"I'm responsible for Finn's death." Clarke corrected. She was surprised she could say it without her voice breaking. Still, the mention of Finn made her insides ache. Clarke was beginning to think that it always would.

"You saved him from torture. What you did was a mercy. It's different." Raven corrected. They had their differences, their friendship didn't make sense but Raven considered Clarke to be her person. They were friends on a level she never thought she could have with someone. Even though, logic dictated that she should hate Clarke. Clarke was the other woman. Clarke had stolen Finn away from her. But Raven couldn't fault Clarke for that. And she had tried.

"And what she did allowed us to have peace. I'm not saying it isn't screwed up Raven. It is. Finn never should have killed those people. He never should have turned himself in. A lot of things shouldn't have happened. But they did. He should still be here to enjoy this peace that we have because of him. But he isn't. We can't keep living in the past." Clarke said. Raven knew that Clarke was right, but she was so used to being angry now. So used to carrying around her own guilt for Finn's death. Finn was sent to Earth on the dropship instead of her. She didn't know how to let that go.

"Your right. He wouldn't want that. Doesn't make it any easier though." Raven said.

"I'm not saying that you guys need to be best friends. But, Lexa could have killed everyone in this camp. But she didn't."

"She didn't kill us because of you Clarke."

"She didn't know me then." Clarke argued. That may be true now, though Clarke really didn't want to test that theory.

"Face it Clarke, the Commander has a soft spot for you." Raven didn't like Lexa, she wasn't sure she ever would. But she could at least acknowledge that the Commander made Clarke smile. She'd seen it, just glimpses of it on Clarke's face.

"Don't let her hear you say that."

"So, when are we leaving for the capital?" Raven asked straightening up, she didn't like having mushy, emotionally driven conversations. She would much rather talk about something more neutral.

"Two weeks. You're okay to come with?"

"I may not like the Commander. But, if she's going to be dating one of my best friends, I'm going to be there to make sure she doesn't screw it up." Clarke laughed, a genuine and deep belly laugh, at Raven's words. It was heartwarming to know that Raven cared enough about her to try and move on from what happened.

"Thanks Raven."

"Don't mention it."


Two weeks seemed to be an eternity and also a millisecond as they planned their trip to the Capital. As the days past more and more of the Trikru arrived to lend their services. Most of them from Tondc, Clarke saw more of Octavia that way, and Indra. She still didn't know how Indra felt about them going to Polis, but she hadn't been keen to ask either. They were going to ride. Indra had provided them with the horses that they would need. So one of the days was spent teaching everyone how to ride. Clarke still wasn't entirely comfortable with the idea of it. But watching her mom try and ride was comedy gold.

"Clarke of the Sky People." Clarke looked up from the saddle she'd been fiddling with to find Indra standing before her holding the reins of a horse. The horse was a beautiful mare that was a chocolate brown color with a white stripe down the length of her nose.

"Indra." Clarke greeted, though her attention was on the horse.

"The Commander wishes for you to have this horse." Indra offered, holding out the reins.

"It's beautiful."

"She belonged to Anya." Clarke's attention snapped to Indra, the meaning behind such a gesture was not lost on Clarke.

"Anya." Clarke whispered the name.

"Anya called her Zog Raun." Indra said watching Clarke take the reins and move towards the horse slowly, unsure what the mare would do.

"What does that mean?"

"To strike."

"Sounds like Anya."

"This horse was Anya's pride and joy, after the Commander. Treat her well, she is yours now." Indra said before walking off and leaving Clarke with the horse. The mare shifted her weight, eyes darting around until they seemed to settle on Clarke. Running the back of her fingers along the horses nose, feeling it move in front of her.

"Hi." Clarke said softly, thought she felt a little strange talking to a horse. She'd seen it in movies, read it in books, people talking to animals. But it still felt foreign. Still the majesty of the beast standing in front of her was breathtaking.


"I never thought that I would see this day." Lexa didn't look up towards Talia, looking out instead at Polis. From her room she could see the entire city in all of its glory. It was a view that she wanted to commit to memory. But she was looking beyond the city. She was looking at the gates of Polis, waiting. She was waiting for Clarke and the envoy from camp Jaha to arrive.

"What day?" Lexa asked.

"The day that I see you sweating and nervous." Lexa laughed at the description. She had been nervous all day, knowing that Clarke was going to arrive later that morning. Her palms were sweating and she couldn't focus on anything other than the Sky People's arrival.

"I am not." Lexa insisted.

"The scouts said that they are only an hour away." Talia said.

"All the arrangements have been made?"

"Everything is set. You need to get dressed. You do not want to greet the Sky People looking like that." Lexa wore her comfortable clothes, the clothes that people were not supposed to see her in.

Lexa turned away from the window and walked to where her armor hung, it was polished and any damage was repaired until it looked almost new. Talia helped her dress, handing her the pieces she would need to wear in the appropriate order until Lexa had transformed from the girl, to the Commander. In the corner of the room there was a desk with a chair, on the desk was a small container that held Lexa's war paint. She could apply the color by feel at this point, she had done it so much over the course of her life. But now, she let Talia apply the paint. Feeling Talia's fingers brush against her cheeks.

"I feel like I am losing you today." Talia said.

"You can never lose me." Lexa promised. Talia smiled sadly, not entirely believing Lexa's words but she didn't want to delve into it now. Not when she had seen Lexa buzz with excitement for the past two weeks.

"Come, you have to finish getting ready."


They had been riding for hours and Clarke was sure she had never been sorer, her hands were starting to blister and her thighs were aching from sitting on the saddle for so long. But she didn't say anything. She just continued following Indra's lead. The stoic woman had told them that they were close to the city, and judging from the increased number of Trikru that she had seen in the trees, Clarke believed it.

For most of their trip it had been nothing but thick forest and bushes that they had needed to form their own paths to. The horses seemed to know where to go without prompting. And then suddenly, the forest melted away, and there it was. Polis. Clarke let her eyes drink in the sight before her, hardly believing what she saw. It was magnificent. There were houses, made of stone instead of wood, all of them surrounding a large building. Built on the foundation from the old world, it was a large structure on the edge of the water. The building was six stories high and towered over everything else. It was a palace.

"This is Polis?" It was like Rome from the ancient world. A Mecca that people flocked to, a living and thriving city filled with hundreds if not thousands of people. Everyone stood stunned, except for a brief glance towards her mother Clarke saw the awe in her face too. The disbelief that such a "savage" race had built something so amazing.

"No outsiders have been allowed within the gates of this city for generations." Indra said in her usually disapproving tone. "Come, the Commander waits for you."

Riding through the city, Clarke found it almost impossible not to want to explore. There was a single road that led from the gate to the palace. Clarke lead the rest of the convoy but her only thought was to see Lexa. She looked around the city, as much of it as she could see anyway. It seemed like all of Polis had come to see the Sky People. There were hundreds of them, and they looked so different than the warriors that she was used to seeing. There were children, and there were elderly people, none of them wore armor they didn't wear war paint. They were just people.

When they finally rode up to the front of the palace there was an assembly of people, some of them Clarke recognized. They were the generals of Lexa's army. Lexa stood tall and proud, in all of her glory. And she watched their approach with a stoic expression, if Clarke didn't know her any better she would think that Lexa didn't are that she was there. But she knew that this was what her people expected of Lexa. They expected her to be impassive, she wasn't allowed to show any excitement to see Clarke.

But Clarke could tell that Lexa felt it, there were little signs that Clarke had learned how to read. And just seeing the anxious way that Lexa kept adjusting her grip on the hilt of her sword was the equivalent of Lexa bouncing with excitement.

"Clarke of the Sky People, welcome to Polis." Clarke looked at the woman that spoke. She hadn't ever seen this woman before. Her dark hair pulled back in braids like Lexa. Her skin was sun kissed, and she had the beginnings of wrinkles around her eyes. Clarke dismounted her horse gracefully, her eyes flickering between Lexa and this woman.

"Thank you for having us here." Clarke answered. No one had told her what the protocol would be for meeting with Lexa in Polis. But she guessed that simple etiquette would work just fine.

"I am Talia, I speak for Heda."

Lexa watched the confusion cross over Clarke's face, and then felt Clarke's gaze burn into her. She would need to explain how it works in Polis.

"Can she not speak for herself?" Clarke asked. Talia's eyes narrowed and she stepped closer to Clarke her voice dropping.

"Careful, this is not Tondc, you will be held responsible for the words you speak here." Talia warned, her voice held no malice as Clarke would have expected. She sounded only like she was warning Clarke. It was unsettling to not be greeted with hostility for seeming to challenge Lexa in public.

"My apologies."

"Shall we go inside? I am very eager to begin showing you around." Talia said leading them inside the large building. Lexa followed once everyone was inside. She knew that her people were still watching eagerly, the concept of seeing the Sky People had filled the capital with a strange energy, both excited and apprehensive.

When the heavy wooden doors were closed and they were alone in the entrance hall of the palace. Clarke stood with her people, Abby looking Talia over. They were similar in age, and Abby steeled herself, preparing to protect Clarke if she needed to. Lexa, inched to pull Clarke aside and truly greet her, welcoming her to the capital like she wanted to. But she couldn't.

"Welcome Skaikru." Lexa said.

"Not exactly the welcome I was expecting." Clarke said with a reproachful look. Her look cemented that Lexa knew exactly what she meant.

"Things are different in the capital. There are protocols that need to be followed. Tonight, there will be a feast to truly welcome the Sky People into the city. I am sure that is the joyous occasion that you are speaking of?" Talia asked. Clarke saw Bellamy shift behind her.

"Talia, will you show the Skaikru to their rooms and then bring them to the throne room?" Lexa requested. She didn't wait for Talia to answer before she turned and began walking off. Clarke wanted to yell at her to stop, she didn't expect that when she finally got to the capital like Lexa wanted, that Lexa would be so cold when she got there.

"Forgive the words that I spoke to you while we were out there Clarke of the Sky People. But here, it is not just Heda's guard that you need to be wary of should you insult her. The people are very protective of the Heda's honor too." Talia apologized surprising Clarke.

"It's okay. I didn't mean to, I was just curious why Lexa didn't say anything." Clarke said. Talia's eyebrow rose slowly, Clarke using Lexa's name so freely.

"Our ways are strange to you. I hope to help explain them to you. Please follow me, we've had rooms readied for you." Talia said turning and began walking. Clarke looked over her shoulder at her friends, each of them with the same confused look that she had, and they began walking.

Their rooms were kept in the west wing of the building. Talia explained things of note while they went, there were ghosts of the old world in the halls of the palace. But it had been turned over to look more like the Grounder culture. Floors were covered in animal pelts and walls were decorated in art. Clarke wanted to memorize each painting if she could. They walked with intention, Clarke noticed that Grounders didn't usually like to dilly dally, when they were going somewhere they were going with purpose.

"These are your rooms. There are three on the left, and four on the right. Your things will be brought up for you. Now please, I have a request, and my request is echoed by Heda. Please do not venture off without an escort. This is for your protection, there are many in the capital that are still unsure of the Sky People's intentions and Heda does not wish for any of your to be harmed." Talia said looking among the group. Knowing that they would be curious, and she did not fault them for that. But she wanted to make sure that they didn't do anything stupid in the meantime.

"I'd like to speak with the Commander. Now." Clarke insisted. Talia knew that Clarke would be a stubborn one, she could tell that her spirit was strong in that way.

"I had a feeling that you would. Come with me. The rest of you can settle in." Talia instructed. Abby stepped towards Clarke, the intention that she was going to go with Clarke evident. Clarke shook her head, indicating that she could handle this. For the moment, they would need to do as they were told.

Talia led Clarke into the large throne room, where Lexa stood looking down at a large round table. It was only when Clarke got closer she could see that craved on the wooden table was a map. It looked similar to the atlases she had studied up on the Ark, of how the world used to look before the bombs fell. But this one looked different, she didn't recognize any of the places on it. Lexa didn't look up, even though she knew that Clarke was there.

"Leave us, Talia. Please." Lexa said softly. Clarke tried to ignore the pang of jealousy that flared in her when she noticed how Lexa spoke to Talia. First, the older woman spoke for Lexa, and now she was able to inspire a request out of Lexa. Lexa didn't seem to be ordering Talia around, but she was asking.

"Who is she?" Clarke asked once they were alone.

"She introduced herself to you."

"A name is not an introduction Lexa." Lexa moved away from the table and sat in her throne. This one was larger than the one that Lexa had in Tondc. Clarke wondered if Lexa had one in every village that she might go to, just in case she had a need to go there.

"My relationship with Talia is complicated Clarke." Lexa offered, though it wasn't much of an answer. Clarke couldn't help but think of Finn, and how she had jumped into a relationship with him, only to find out about Raven after the fact. She didn't want that to happen again.

"Explain it to me." Clarke ground out, between gritted teeth.

"She was my predecessor's wife. She is who I left in charge when I was away." Lexa said watching the conflict cross over Clarke's face.

"I don't understand."

"Do you remember when we were in pauna's cage? I told you that the Spirit of the commander chose me." Lexa waited for Clarke to nod before she continued. "Because of this, Talia and I will always share a very close relationship. She was for a very long time the only person that I trusted."

"Are you…is she? Do you love her?" Clarke couldn't wrap her mind around what she was trying to say.

"It is not like that Clarke."

"I'm sorry." Clarke felt like she was overreacting now. Lexa stood up, and walked over to Clarke.

"You do not need to be jealous Clarke." Lexa said with a grin.

"Were you ever with her?"

"Clarke."

"Right, sorry. None of my business."

"When the previous Commander died, and it was suspected that I was being chosen to lead, Talia raised me. Up until Anya took me as her second Talia was all that I had known. It is the way of our people, if the spouse of the Commander survives the Commander then it is her responsibly to hold the seat of power until the next Commander is ready." Lexa explained. She wanted Clarke to understand, but she wasn't sure if Clarke would understand.

"Oh." It was all Clarke could bring herself to say. Her question wasn't answered, not entirely, but she could understand why Talia meant so much to Lexa.

"Talia will help teach you our ways. There is no one I trust more."

"Isn't that what you're going to do?"

"I am not a good teacher Clarke. That is why I have not taken a second. I do not have the patience of a teacher." Lexa said this, as if she were confessing a great weakness. Ashamed that she didn't have patience.

"You seem to do alright." Clarke complimented.

"Tonight, at the feast, you will sit with me and Talia. I would like it very much if you two got along."

"Lexa, I need to know." Clarke didn't have to finish her sentence for Lexa to know what Clarke was talking about. Clarke had to know if Lexa and Talia were in a relationship. Lexa stepped closer to Clarke, barely inches between them, and Clarke could feel the warmth of Lexa's body.

"You are the only one I have feelings for Clarke." Lexa said in a whisper. She lingered only a moment before she left Clarke standing by the table.


Night fell, and Clarke watched as the city started to light up like the stars. It was only then that she could truly appreciate the vastness of the city. As far as she could see there were houses lit. It hadn't seemed so big during the night. She could hear the sounds of conversation through the window, the smell of food cooking, and the general vitality of the city. It felt like a place that she could grow comfortable. She was already comfortable. She hadn't felt like this since the Ark was still in space.

They were all getting ready for the feast. And Clarke still had so many questions. She remembered what Lexa had told her about the feasts and how they general turned into orgies afterwards. A part of her wondered how her mother and Kane would react to seeing that. Jumping when her door opened Clarke turned and saw her friends all filing in.

"You almost ready Princess?" Bellamy asked.

"Almost. How are you guys finding the Capital?" Clarke asked. She hadn't seen her friends since they arrived.

"The rooms are great. Much better than sleeping on the ground." Octavia said. She and Lincoln may have christened the bed several times too.

"What's going to happen at the feast tonight Lincoln?"

"There will be a speech given by the Commander. And then more food than you will know what to do with. It'll be a good time."

"And afterwards?" Clarke asked with a raise of her eyebrow. Lincoln blushed and looked towards Octavia. He should have figured that Lexa told Clarke about what happened afterward.

"Afterward, if you do not wish to partake in the events of the night then you can return to your rooms. It is not required that you stay."

"Wait, what happens afterwards?" Raven asked.

"My people get a little wild." Lincoln said discretely. But Raven got the picture and soon they were all laughing at the idea.

"Oh man, I can just picture your mom's face." Octavia laughed.

"That's why I'm not going to tell her."

In the courtyard between the two wings of the palace there was a large tent set up, one that had not been there when Clarke had looked at the courtyard earlier. But it was filled with people, and several fires. Each fire had some form of meat roasting atop it, and the smell was divine. The tent that had been erected reminded Clarke of Lexa's war tent. When they walked in, Clarke expected it to look the same as it had back then. But the inside was mostly hollow, there were cushions for people to sit and socialize. Already there was music playing, drums and some sort of wind instrument.

Clarke sought out Lexa, the Commander was sitting on a raised seat, so that she could look down at the celebration but not quite be a part of it. She had removed her war paint and sat in a lighter form of her armor. But she still looked imposing, Clarke couldn't help but think she looked beautiful. There was a spot for Clarke to Lexa's right, while Talia already sat to her left. There were seats saved for Abby and Marcus close to Lexa so not to be insulting. As everyone sat down, Lexa stood, giving a short and to the point welcoming speech in Trigedslang, it reminded Clarke of something that Lincoln had said. That the warriors spoke English because their enemies did, but people in the villages weren't always as fluent in English.

As the food began to be brought in on full platters, people began to eat and converse in side conversations throughout the tent. Looking around Clarke couldn't help but be amazed by the way that it seemed so effortless. Everyone at the feast was so carefree. There was laughter and there was open conversation about anything and everything. Trikru, though wary at first, eventually approached Lincoln and by extension Octavia and began conversations that soon had everyone involved laughing. It was the beginnings of peace and Clarke was delighted.

"Do you like it?" Lexa asked leaning close to Clarke so that her words were not overheard. Clarke looked down to her mostly empty plate and then looked over at the Commander.

"The food is amazing." Clarke said. And she wasn't just being complimentary. The things that their cooks could do with spices made every flavor explode on her tongue in the most delightful way. There were vegetables that no longer had the unpleasant heavy earthiness that Clarke had found off putting before. But they were mixed with other complimentary flavors.

"I am glad that you like it." Lexa said. She had finished eating a while ago. She didn't usually eat to excess, even though her role provided her with the security of knowing she would never want for food. Lexa usually preferred to make sure that the food she didn't want or need be sent back out to the warriors who were still hungry.

"This is really nice Lexa." Clarke commented, meaning the feast, and the opportunity to socialize with the Trikru without the threat of warm looming over them.

"These happen all over the city. People can petition to come and join this one, have dinner with the Commander if they wish. I like to try and be accessible to my people." Lexa said with a proud look in her eyes.

"I'm sure they appreciate that."

"It's not a popular idea."

"Why not?"'

"Because the Heda is above the common person." Talia said having been listening to their conversation. Lexa seemed to deflate back into her chair, as close to a pout as Clarke thought that Lexa got.

"Wouldn't it help the people if they saw her more? She's their leader." Clarke argued.

"Which means she is too busy. If she spent her time going to every village within her territory then she would not have time to devout her attention to any of her duties." Talia knew that Clarke wasn't trying to be difficult, she was merely curious about their culture. But the first thing that she needed to do was instruct Clarke on when was appropriate to question things. In a public forum was not the time.

As the night continued, food and drink flowing freely. Grounder wine had a pleasant berry taste that Clarke found to be much better than Monty's moonshine. And it made her feel warm throughout her entire body, and her head swam pleasantly. But she wasn't drunk. Just pleasantly buzzed.

"You guys look like you're having fun." Clarke said as she sat down with her friends.

"How's the Commander?" Marcus asked. He had been keeping an eye on Clarke and Lexa, ever the politician he had to keep an eye out for the health of their alliance.

"She's alright. Stoic as always." Clarke answered putting a berry in her mouth and enjoying its sweetness.

"Who is Talia?" Abby asked. She wasn't sure how she felt towards the older woman that never seemed to leave Lexa alone. She didn't want to voice to Clarke her thoughts on the true nature of their relationship.

"She helped raise Lexa. She was the former Commanders wife." Clarke explained.

"What role does she play now?"

"She's Lexa's most trusted advisor. Lexa trusts her to rule in her name."

"She's someone that we'll need to get on the good side of." Marcus said.

"She seems nice. Lexa said that Talia will be in charge of teaching us their ways."

"Why can't the Commander do that?" Bellamy asked.

"She's busy. She'll be around, I guess." Clarke didn't like the idea. She had pictured in her mind that she and Lexa would be able to spend more time together once she was in the Capital. Clarke was beginning to miss the ease that she had access to Lexa when they were still at war. Now, it seemed if she wanted to see Lexa she would have to go through Talia and actually have a legitimate reason, instead of simply wanting to see the Commander.

Once the feast was finished, the music that had been playing when they arrived changed, it became louder with a rhythm meant to be danced to. Everyone turned and watched as dancers came in, scantily clad, each of them moving their bodies to the music in seductive ways. There were men and women dancers and as they weaved around the group of people.

"What's going on?" Abby asked averting her eyes when she noticed that one of the women wasn't wearing a top.

"Trikru celebration." Clarke laughed.

Abby left the feast as quickly as she could. Marcus remained, wanting to experience what the Trikru culture had to offer. The dancers moved as if on a choreographed circuit, moving around each group. By the time one of the women had paused in front of Clarke and her friend, there was a thin sheen of sweat covering her olive skin. She was a beautiful woman with dark eyes, and thick eye makeup. Maybe it was the alcohol but Clarke was thinking that it might be something more as her skin flushed while she watched.

Clarke looked over her shoulder and saw that Lexa was watching her, her green eyes looking dark. Lexa could see Clarke's reaction towards the dancer. Lexa tried not to let jealousy fill her as she watched Clarke's attention on the dancer. She didn't want Clarke to be looking at anyone else. Even if it was out of curiosity. She wanted Clarke to look at her with admiration. Clarke wasn't sure when she was aware that Lexa had left. But the next time she looked she found that Lexa's seat was empty, as was Talia's.

She didn't even think about it, and she was moving. Heading back into the palace in search of Lexa. She had been patient, and now she was determined to get the greeting from Lexa that she wanted. She wanted to see the carefree girl that had come to visit her against the advice of her council. She found Lexa walking away, possibly towards her room. She was alone.

"Lexa, wait!" Clarke called out. Lexa paused, but she didn't turn. She waited for Clarke to reach where she stood.

"I thought you wanted to learn about my culture." Lexa said.

"I would rather learn from you." Clarke insisted. Lexa smiled at the thought.

"Will you walk with me?" Lexa requested. As they walked, occasionally Lexa would feel Clarke's hand brush against the back of her own. She had seen people do this. Hand holding. It was meant to be a gesture of affection, at least that's what she had gleaned from it. But she had never done it. Costia had tried once, to hold her hand while they walked through Polis but Lexa had been forced to pull her away. Lexa's skin itched for Clarke's, wondering what it would feel like to take the blonde's hand in hers. To feel the softness of Clarke's hand.

Clarke noticed the flexing of Lexa's hand, tightening into a fist and then relaxing, tightening and relaxing. She could guess what Lexa was thinking. Decisively she reached out and interlocked her fingers with Lexa's, sliding her fingers between Lexa's and feeling the warmth there. The strength in them, and the coarseness of a life spent working hard for everything she had in life. Lexa looked down at their suddenly joined hands. Her first instinct was to pull her hand away, but she stopped herself and allowed their hands to remain locked together.

For several minutes they stood silently, their hands joined. Clarke wasn't sure what Lexa would make of it. And then she felt Lexa's grip tightening slightly, firmly establishing that it was happening, and that it was okay. And then they started walking again.

"I've been thinking?" Clarke started.

"An ominous statement."

"I think that I'm ready."