Dividing Lines
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this.
Spring found its way to the 100 Camp with leaves and flowers fighting back from the wind and the snow. The river was still impassable, its currents staying at a furious pace. In a way, Clarke was glad for this. It meant that she had an excuse, more time to pretend that she wouldn't have to go back to the Ark Camp. She was dreading the conversation with her mother-with Diana. But she would deal with all that when it was time and for the next few weeks, she had her duties at the 100 Camp.
"Clarke?"
The sound of her real name made her turn around sharply, especially since it was Bellamy saying it. He was standing in the doorway of the medical bay, holding the door itself open with one hand. Clarke placed the bandage over her patient's small wound and gave her a smile before walking over to Bellamy.
"Hey, what's up?" she asked, keeping her voice down.
The two of them hadn't made a big deal out of sharing a room, even though it had been days. It was actually...nice. And her window was getting fixed in a few days so why make things awkward? Even though every time he moved, she felt super aware of him. And she may or may not have...glanced at him when he was asleep, once, looking so calm and unburdened.
Bellamy checked around the open doorway but seeing it was clear, he said, "In an hour, I'll be heading out to a meeting with Caitlin and Hunter, the first of the year. Do you want to come?"
Clarke was surprised; she had forgotten all about the Grounders. "Are you sure?" she asked, "Shouldn't Miller or Jasper be going?"
Bellamy looked confused and shook his head. "No, you're my co-leader. They'll want to meet you."
Excitement bubbled in her stomach and she couldn't stop the grin appearing on her face. "I'd love to go. I'll finish everything up here first."
Bellamy nodded and went to leave. Before he did, however, he added, "Try not to look too excited Princess; they're not animals in a zoo you know."
She shoved him out the door at this, his laughter echoing across the metal room.
The meeting took place in the middle of a forest. Clarke didn't know what she was expecting but when Bellamy walked through the trees and then sat himself down on a log; she was a bit let down. Bellamy caught her eye and glanced around the clearing.
"What? Were you expecting trumpets? Perhaps a round table?"
Clarke sat herself down beside him and shrugged. "I don't know. I mean, they are Grounders and from the stories I've heard, they're supposed to like dramatic entrances and tattoos."
"Sorry to disappoint-although I like the round table idea."
They both jumped up at the sound of a new voice and two people emerged from the trees. The girl, clearly Caitlin, was around Clarke's height while Hunter was just taller than Bellamy. Their jackets, trousers and boots were all dark colours to fit in with the background but the knives strung over their belts and in their shoes glinted in the sunlight. They faced Clarke and Bellamy but Caitlin looked over at her brother.
"We could do a dramatic entrance if you like-Hunter, do a handstand or something."
Hunter screwed his face into a frown and replied, "No, it's too much effort."
"I see you two haven't changed a bit," Bellamy said, a genuine smile on his face. He shook their hands in a greeting and Clarke did the same.
Caitlin looked between them and said, "I guess my little brother here owes me a new knife; I told him you two would get along."
Clarke frowned this time and glanced at Bellamy. He didn't look surprised. "If there is one thing I have learned about the Grounders, it's that they have eyes and ears everywhere. Don't be shocked if they know all about you."
He faced the siblings again and got straight to business. They chatted about general camp news, about Murphy being banished and the migration patterns of animals for the hunters. Halfway through this, Caitlin and Hunter made eye contact and seem to have some sort of mental conversation. Then Caitlin spoke. "I think we have a problem that you might be able to help us with. Especially that mechanic of yours."
"Raven?" Clarke replied, "What can she do for you?"
Hunter folded his arms. "Before the winter, three of our villages were attacked with a Sky People bomb-the kind you used and Raven built back during the first Grounder War."
Bellamy shook his head immediately. "We destroyed the rest of those and have no more gunpowder specifically for them. It wasn't us."
"We know that-we suspect the Ark Camp."
Clarke blinked and exclaimed, "What?!"
All three of them turned to her and Caitlin raised an eyebrow.
"It's just...they barely step outside their walls. How could they even get the technology together, let alone sneak around?"
"You'd be surprised what people can do," Bellamy answered, "We can set up another meeting and Raven can take a look at any pieces you found. What will you do if your suspicions prove correct?"
Hunter looked at his sister, who said, "We are not sure at the moment. There will defiantly be a discussion with them about weapons and they will have to hand theirs over if we are all to get along. However, they may have killed many people-any further attacks will be punished."
Clarke swallowed harshly. "But I doubt most people in the camp know about this, let alone have a part in it. There are children in there!"
"We've realised that; we just need to gather more information before we make a move," Caitlin stated.
Clarke glanced at Bellamy but he seemed calm enough. He had also been right about the siblings; they preferred to step back before taking action.
"On that note," Hunter said, suddenly looking excited, "I found some trees that grow near here that make even stronger bows."
The tension was lifted and Bellamy's eyes lit up. He replied, "Really? Which ones?"
The two boys walked over the side and left Caitlin and Clarke standing in the middle of the clearing.
"Those two could talk about weapons for hours," Caitlin commented, getting a smile out of Clarke. Caitlin had her arms folded, the sleeves showing her forearms and she hadn't tied her jacket closed. This all helped Clarke see the small scars that littered her hands and collarbone. Caitlin followed her stare and looked like she wanted to laugh.
"Sorry!" she exclaimed, "I just..."
"It's ok-they are battle scars. This is the newest one from the first Grounder War," Caitlin pointed to one on her arm. She seemed quite proud of them. "Have you really never seen a Grounder before?"
Clarke shook her head, "No, Anya's tribe was gone by the time we got here and the Ark just stayed behind its walls."
With a huff, Caitlin sat down on the log and Clarke joined her, the two girls side by side in the afternoon sun. "Were you very different from Anya's tribe? Bellamy tried to explain it to me but he didn't know much."
Caitlin leaned her elbows on her knees and thought for a moment. "Our tribes had our conflicting opinions. For instance, we don't send children into battle and call it bravery."
Clarke startled slightly but Caitlin continued. "I think the origins of our tribes were different. Anya's preferred to stay with their violent and old ways while ours learned from recovered history books and the mistakes of our ancestors. Safe to say, we didn't get along. Plus, there was that awkward situation with the marriage arrangements."
Clarke watched as Caitlin's gaze flicked to her brother, who was still talking with Bellamy about bows and arrows and the correct materials to use.
"Someone didn't try to marry you off did they?" Clarke asked.
Caitlin laughed darkly but shook her head. "No, they married my mother off. She got stuck with my brute of a father who was from Anya's tribe. He beat her every single day of their marriage until her body could take no more. Then, he started on me and my brother."
Clarke didn't know what to say, if she should comfort the other girl or not. Caitlin saw the awkward way she was holding herself and quickly doubled back.
"Oh, I'm sorry; it's customary in our tribe to be honest about things like that. It shows that unnecessary violence towards others is looked down on. What I got out of that situation were two things. If you need to hold a person practically hostage to keep a peace treaty, then it won't work. And protect your siblings at all costs."
Hunter and Bellamy were walking around in the thicker bushes, both of them nearly falling over in the process.
Caitlin seemed conflicted for just a moment but then she looked at Clarke again. "I used to take beatings so that Hunter stayed safe; it was something any older sibling would do. Bellamy understands that too. One day, when our father was beyond angry, he kept hitting me. I must have blacked out because the next thing I knew, he was on the ground with blood on his skull and Hunter was standing over him with a club."
Clarke gasped and Caitlin nodded in agreement. "My brother killed him to protect me and I've been protecting him ever since. After that, we took over our tribe and cut off most contact with Anya's tribe. But then the first Sky People came. We didn't know if you were threats or not so we entered into that peace treaty. Thankfully Bellamy saved my brother's life and helped our decision."
"I know, he told me," Clarke said and she looked over to see him leaning against a large tree. He was listening to Hunter but when he felt her gaze, he turned his eyes over to her. He smiled, giving her encouragement and she smiled back softly. When Clarke looked back at Caitlin, the Grounder was holding back a very sly grin.
"What?" Clarke asked innocently.
Caitlin raised an eyebrow and rested her chin on her fist. "I'm curious, at what point in the past few months did you realise that you're in love with him?"
Clarke found the ability to scoff but Caitlin wasn't buying it. "You can't fake a look like that Clarke, trust me."
Clarke looked down at the grass and picked a few blades from the ground. She couldn't answer Caitlin's question, not when she felt so conflicted. Love was a big word to use but...
Bellamy had snuck up on her, and now she wasn't sure if she would ever want to leave him. He was her best friend, her partner, her confidant and she honestly did not know what she would do if she had to spend one more night in his bed with him as just a friend. The problem was that she at least knew there was something between them and admitted it. Bellamy seemed to know but would never admit it. Sometimes, she could see how much he cared and all Clarke wanted was for him to tell her, to make the first move. Normally, she would step forward and confront the situation. But this wasn't a camp problem or a leadership issue. It was her and Bellamy's happiness and she needed to know that he cared for her too.
She had taken the first step; she had moved camps and stayed there. He may have been the one to ask her but at no point had Bellamy said it was because he wanted her to stay for him. He hadn't said that he wanted her to stay because he cared about her. And she needed him to show it.
"Are you some love expert or something?" Clarke finally asked Caitlin.
The other girl snorted. "No, but I am engaged."
Really?" Clarke said, suddenly very happy for her new friend. She watched as an affectionate smile appeared on Caitlin's face. Oh, so that was the look.
"Yah, his name is Mason and he's kind of the scholar of our tribe. Don't get me wrong, he can fight as well as anyone else but mostly, you'll find him with his nose stuck in a book."
"He sounds nice," Clarke complemented.
"At first, we never talked much except to plan battles so I was convinced that he didn't like me and thought I was an idiot who threw knives around. Turns out, he got so nervous around me he couldn't talk. I wasn't much better- I once spilled an entire pot of soup into his lap because he smiled at me."
Clarke giggled and Caitlin joined her before sobering up. "Oh, I should say that all the 100 Camp is invited to the summer wedding. Hunter is so happy that we finally have a date and he doesn't have to nag anymore."
"I do not nag- I remind you," Hunter said, both he and Bellamy finally walking back to the girls.
Clarke hadn't paid much attention to Hunter since she and Caitlin had talked so much. But she clearly saw their similar features and he obviously cared for his sister very much.
"We should be heading back Princess," Bellamy said, "Dinner is going to be served soon and we should tell Raven about her new project."
Clarke nodded and stood up with Caitlin following her lead. "We can meet back here in a week; same time?" she asked and Bellamy and Clarke agreed.
"Fantastic," Hunter said and added, "Then we can hunt down whoever is trying to murder us all."
"Shut up little brother," Caitlin said, "You are ruining the good mood."
The siblings said their goodbyes and melted into the tree line, almost making no sound at all. "It's terrifying how well they know this forest," Clarke said, "I'm jealous."
"You're not the only one," Bellamy said, and together they turned around and walked back to camp.
Before dinner, Clarke and Bellamy had filled Raven in on the attacks. She of course, told Monty, who told Jasper, who told Octavia and who then told Miller. At least their inner circle only blabbed to each other.
They all agreed that they could do nothing for now but extra guards would be placed in case they were attacked as well. Then they went their separate ways in order not to freak anyone else out. It lifted a weight off Clarke's shoulders, to know that she had the help of her friends. It meant that she was at least able to push her problems away for the moment and not needlessly worry about them.
She got to give her attention to other things. Almost out of habit, Clarke always wanted to check in with the children at camp. They were the ones most likely to get colds or flues, not to mention bruises or cuts. It was good for the children to see her as well, so that they weren't afraid of the doctor who was just trying to help them. Plus they reminded her of Chris.
At dinner that night, a large group of kids were sat around one of the smaller fires and were talking in hushed voices. Clarke had spotted them earlier and when she finished her dinner, she walked over to them to see what they were up to.
"You all look like you're having a great time," she said and the kids beamed up at her. She sat down beside them and immediately, one of the younger girls sat in her lap. "Can you do that braid again Clarke?" she asked and Clarke couldn't say no.
As she started on the girl's hair, she looked at Jennifer and Luke, who were in the middle of the group. "And what were you all talking about so quietly?" she asked and all the children suddenly looked very guilty.
Clarke waited until she had finished the braid and the girl switched to sit on the ground beside her. "Well?"
Luke poked Jennifer with his elbow and she scowled at him before turning back to Clarke. "We were just telling the new story. Everyone really loves it."
There was a round of giggles in the group and Clarke got even more suspicious. "Really? Can I hear it?"
Luke went bug eyed but Jennifer kept her cool. "I suppose," she said with a shrug.
"Great," Clarke said and made a show of settling down in her seat. "What's it called?"
Jennifer smiled, her cheeks turning red. "The Princess and the King."
Bellamy had been looking for Clarke everywhere. He had checked the medical bay, the Main Hall, the house and up and down the trails but he couldn't find her. Monty was certain that a heavy spring shower was going to fall when night came so Bellamy wanted everyone to back to their homes for an early night. He wasn't going to doubt the guy who had calculated that snow storm.
Bellamy had wanted to make the announcement with Clarke but when he couldn't find her, he quickly gave the order in the Main Hall. Everyone slowly made their way to their homes, not really annoyed because it was still a little chilly to stay outside at night. When Bellamy walked out of the Main Hall and got a higher view of the camp, he finally caught sight of Clarke. She was tucked away in the corner of the camp practically, around a smaller fire with the children. She had her back to him but her shoulders were tense as she listened to Jennifer. He went closer to them and Jennifer had finished talking by the time he reached them.
"It's an early night, guy," he said, "Time to go home."
Clarke spun around, startled by his voice. Bellamy felt his stomach drop when he saw her face. She seemed a strange mix of blissful and saddened and she looked at him like he was everything she needed and yet the last person she wanted to see.
Suddenly, she was normal Clarke again and she was standing up to put the fire out. The kids scampered away calling out goodnights to them both. Clarke doused the fire but her hands were shaking as she put the bucket down.
"Hey Princess, are you alright?" Bellamy asked and he placed a hand on the small of her back.
She jumped like an electric current had gone through her. "I'm fine," she stated but brushed right passed him without another word.
Bellamy watched her walk all the way to the house and then shook his head. He hadn't done anything to piss her off in the last few hours, right? At least he didn't think he had. But she hadn't looked angry, she had looked...distraught.
The kids must have said something, anything. They were little; they blurted things out sometimes and didn't understand what they meant. He was defiantly asking her about it later though.
"Later" turned out to be in bed. Clarke was avoiding him as best she could but when it was time to sleep, Bellamy wasn't going to let her get away with not talking to him.
"Did the kids say something to you?"
His voice seemed quieter in the dark room, the light from the moon outside shining a pale white. There was a faint sound of rain that was getting heavier as the storm started. He stared up at the ceiling and Clarke was rolled over with her back to him.
She was quiet for just a moment but then turned to look at the ceiling as well. There was still space between them-too much and too little. "It was nothing," she answered finally, "They were just telling me a story."
"What kind of story?" he dared ask and suddenly felt fear creep in.
Clarke let out a light sigh, as if she didn't trust herself to do much else. He felt her move around slightly and after a pause, she spoke. "It's about this King and a Princess."
Oh crap. The words hung in the air and Bellamy could feel the tension they were swimming in. "Can-can you tell it to me?"
Clarke closed her eyes tight but nodded. She opened them again.
"Once upon a time, there was a King who ruled over a great kingdom. Everyone who lived in the kingdom was happy and had everything they could want. They all loved the King and thought he was the coolest guy ever-the kids' words, not mine."
Bellamy felt himself chuckle and Clarke found herself smiling.
"But the King was lonely because he had no one to share his kingdom with. Then one day, the King's sister got sick and she needed a doctor. So the King went out into the forest and asked a neighbouring kingdom if their doctor would help. The doctor agreed but she wasn't just a healer-she was also a Princess."
It was a kid's story, Bellamy kept telling himself. It was something made up by children who didn't really know him or Clarke...but crap they had great intuition. Bellamy dared to look over at Clarke, but she kept her eyes firmly on the ceiling.
"The Princess healed the King's sister and everyone was grateful to her for being so kind. Then, winter came and the King invited the Princess to stay at the kingdom until the spring. She did and all the people were glad and excited. Throughout the winter, the Princess and the King fell madly in love until the thought of her leaving was the worst thing the King could imagine. So, he asked her to stay and she accepted."
Clarke fell silent and bit her lip, which was not helping Bellamy's situation at all. She was still avoiding his gaze, like the wood on the ceiling was the most interesting thing she had ever seen. And he was still staring at her.
He swallowed; his throat suddenly very dry. "He didn't tell her he loved her."
Clarke's gaze snapped in his direction and he was faced with the blue eyes that haunted his every dream.
"What?" she breathed out and Bellamy twisted around to move closer.
"The King didn't tell the Princess that he loved her," he repeated. Did he love Clarke? Bellamy wasn't an idiot; he knew the difference between first love, one night stands and honest, good, lasting love.
Clarke looked down again and twisted the covers around in her hands slightly. "You didn't let me finish. The King did tell her that he loved her even though he was scared that she would leave him. Or that someone would take her from him, like so much had been taken from him before. He got the courage and he told her."
Bellamy wasn't sure that this was part of the kid's story anymore but he didn't care. Clarke had once again reached into his heart and pulled out his every fear and wish. Part of him knew they couldn't just exist in this halfway world where they lived together but weren't together.
"And, after the King faced his fears, after he told the Princess he loved her...what happened then?"
Clarke turned to him again and this time her eyes were softer, more hopeful. "They lived happily ever after."
Bellamy stared at her, running his eyes over her face and breathing her in. He could imagine all the things that could go wrong if he told her but none of them could be worse than not telling her at all.
But during the time he was contemplating all of this, Clarke clearly thought he was thinking something else. It was along the lines that she was being stupid and children's stories were useless. "I-I should stay with Octavia or something..."
She made a move to get out of the bed but Bellamy was quick. Clarke gasped as she found herself flat on her back on the bed with him hovering over her. He braced his forearms either side of her and stared. Her blonde hair was spread out and her cheeks were pink. She was the most beautiful thing he had seen on the Earth and the Ark.
He leaned down and their noses brushed; Clarke started to smile. In that moment, she got it. He did not need to tell her out loud-at least not just yet. This was certainly enough for now. Clarke slid her hands up to place them on his face, her thumb brushing against his bottom lip.
"How long can I stay now?" she asked softly.
Bellamy grinned, his mind being thrown back to the first time he saw her, to the times he pushed her away instead of keeping her close. Bellamy leaned down just a bit further.
"You can stay forever, I guess."
He kissed her soundly then and words were no longer needed. Clarke kissed him back fiercely which only made him pull her closer to him. After years in space and too long alone on Earth, Clarke finally understood. Wrapped up in Bellamy Blake, in a house he built and a camp they led, Clarke knew what home felt like.
Was that too cheesy? Is cheesy good sometimes? Hope everyone is happy with the pacing of the story, that this was the right time for them to get together.