WARNING! There is a very brief, un-detailed mention of attempted rape in this chapter when Clarke is talking to Lexa.

Yo ste gon dig weron Klark na laik – You are to find out where Clarke could be

Keryon – Soulmate

Trikru – Tree people

Maungeda – Mountain Nation

Maunkru – Mountain people

Jok – Fuck

Klark – Clarke

Most of the day had gone by and Clarke still hadn't returned. Abby had expected her back at Camp Jaha that morning, but thought Clarke may have got caught up with Lexa and so she headed to Ton DC. Abby made her way through the village looking for Clarke or Lexa. She found Lexa talking to Lincoln and Octavia. "Where's Clarke?" Abby asked Lexa.

"What do you mean? She went back to Camp Jaha this morning" Lexa answered, instantly worried.

"I haven't seen her since yesterday" Abby told her, getting scared. Lexa stood there staring at Abby, pale faced and slack jawed for a few minutes. When she snapped to, she ordered Lincoln and Octavia to gather thirty warriors in the village centre.

"There was an assassin in my hut last night. They were after Clarke."

"And you let Clarke travel alone?"

"She insisted!"

Ten minutes later, thirty warriors were standing before Lexa, awaiting orders. "Yo ste gon dig weron Klark na laik" Lexa ordered.

"Why?" a warrior asked.

"Because Clarke is missing, has been for hours and we need to find her."

"But she's not one of us!"

"Clarke Griffin is important. She is my Keryon! That makes her as much a trikru as you are!" Lexa glared at the man, baring her teeth.

"Sorry Heda, we didn't know" the man apologised.

"You need to search every square foot of these woods. You need to find her. I need her back! Go!" The warriors left the village to start the search. Lexa, Abby, Octavia and Lincoln went to the war room to wait for news. They sat at the table but after a few minutes Lexa got up and started to pace. "I hate this! I should be out there looking for her!"

"You know you can't Commander. Your people need you here. If the village was to be attacked while you were out…we need you. When your warriors find out something, they'll report back" Lincoln reminded.

"I know, but not knowing where Clarke is, is driving me insane."

"If Clarke is your soulmate, can't you feel where she is?" Octavia asked.

"No, it doesn't work like that. I can feel somethings when emotions are high, normally negative ones or if Clarke is in danger or pain. If there is constant pain or emotion I can focus on that and go towards it."

"Can you feel anything now?" Abby questioned. Lexa focused on Clarke's end of their bond.

"Fear. Immense fear. Wherever she is, whatever she's going through, Clarke is terrified." Lexa threw her dagger at a support beam, lodging into the wood. "I need to find her!" Lexa collapsed into her throne and buried her face in her hands. They were silent for a few minutes, before realisation came to Abby.

"I should tell people at Camp Jaha about Clarke."

"You can the radio" Octavia told her, pointing it out in the corner of the room. Abby used it and got in contact with Raven.

"Hun, it's Abby."

"Is everything ok?"

"No it's not…Clarke's missing."

"What?"

"When I saw Lexa she told me Clarke had left this morning, only she didn't make it home."

"What should we do?"

"Lexa's got 30 of her warriors out searching every part of these woods for any sign of her, but I need you and your friends to search the drop ship and other fallen ark ships."

"Of course. We'll set out as soon as we can."

"Thank you and Raven? Be careful…I love you."

"I love you too and I will."

The warriors who were out searching the woods started returning as the sun started to set. They didn't have any useful information until Indra returned. She walked up to Lexa and Abby with a solemn expression on her face. "I'm sorry Heda, it doesn't look good. I found this while on my search. It was near a trail of blood." Indra informed Lexa.

She handed Lexa a small object. Upon seeing it, Lexa's face fell. "What is it?" Abby asked, not able to see what it was.

"It's a gift I gave her this morning" Lexa answered, showing the tribal pattern bracelet to Abby.

"I found this not far from that" Indra said, handing Lexa a scrap of cloth. Lexa looked it over and immediately became angry. "Maungeda" Lexa growled.

"What?" Abby asked, not understanding the word.

"It's the symbol of the Mountain Nation, they've taken Clarke" Lexa explained. "We need to go after the now!"

"I must ask you not to do anything rash Heda. If we could have tonight to rest, we'll be better able to fight for your Keryon's life" Indra requested.

"She might be killed!"

"If we don't have the energy to fight, we will lose a lot of people trying to save her, and we'll be more likely to fail." Lexa sighed.

"Fine, but we head out in the morning."

"You should get some rest too Heda."

"I don't believe I'll be able to." Lexa retreated to her hut for the night and lay on her bed, thinking only of Clarke.

Lexa managed to sleep that night, but it was fitful and full of nightmares. The following morning, Lexa led 100 of her warriors out of Ton DC. They met up with Abby and 50 sky people warriors, including Clarke's friends on the way. They travelled northwards to the mountains. They travelled non-stop and managed to get there in roughly 3 hours. They got to Ozkirk, the Mountain Clan's capital. Their leader, Kolrum, greeted them at the gate and led Lexa, her generals and Abby to his throne room. "What can I do for you, Heda?" Kolrum asked.

"You have one of my people captive" Lexa accused. Kolrum looked very confused.

"I haven't taken anyone."

"This says otherwise." Lexa showed him the scrap of cloth.

"I'm sorry Heda. I had no knowledge of this. Who was it they took?"

"I presume you've heard of Clarke Griffin of the Sky People?"

"Yes, she helped to defeat the Mountain and cured our people."

"She is also my Keryon."

"They dared to take your Keryon?" Kolrum looked appalled at the news.

"You should keep better track of your people." Lexa looked unimpressed and angry.

"You're right Heda. I and my people will help you however I can."

"Good. I need you to gather all your village chiefs here and find out where Clarke is."

"It will take a while for me to send out messages and for them to get here. Why don't you rest and eat while you wait?"

"I'm sure my people are hungry."

"Great, I'll have my cooks whip something up. How many are you?"

"I have 150 warriors with me, so 152 total."

"Right, who is this?" Kolrum seemed to just notice Abby was in the room.

"I'm Abby, Clarke's mom and leader of the sky people for the time being" Abby answered.

"Nice to meet you."

A couple of hours later, the Mountain Clans chiefs had gathered and the meeting had started. "We need to find Clarke Griffin, Commander of the Sky People. She was taken by a maunkru" Lexa announced. "Do any of you know anything about a kidnapping?"

"One of my scouts reported seeing a blonde girl, tied up and being taken to Blenrith. We didn't realise who she was. The chief, Zavhir isn't here" One of the chiefs informed her.

"Where is this village?" Lexa asked.

"I'll take you there and help get her back" Kolrum answered.

"Mochof."

Lexa and Kolrum led their 200 warriors to Blenrith and called out the chief. Zavhir refused to open the gate but spoke to them through it.

"Release Clarke immediately and I will spare you" Lexa offered.

"Give up your throne and I will spare her!" Zavhir shouted back.

"Prepare for war!" Lexa warned. Zavhir left to prepare his warriors. Lexa moved back to Kolrum, Indra and Abby.

"We need to break the gate down!" Indra insisted.

"How?" Abby asked.

"Kolrum, Indra gather some warriors and chop down a tree to form a battering ram." Lexa ordered. They did as was told and returned a few minutes later.

"They're doing it now Heda."

"Good." Lexa let out a sharp cry of agony at the unexpected pain in her stomach. Her eyes went wide and fearful as she gazed at the village entrance. "Jok! They're torturing her!"

"It's going to be ok Heda, we'll save her" Indra tried to reassure her. Lexa grabbed Kolrum's coat, growling into his face.

"If she dies in there because of you, I will kill you myself!" She pushed him away from her. "When we get the gate down our archers will fire at the first warriors we see and then we'll surge in through the gate. Fight anyone who attacks but Leave the chief to me. We'll capture him and he will pay for his crimes. Abby, you'll follow me. We'll cut through the ranks and find Clarke. I'll need you to keep her alive. I don't know enough to save her. How many warriors do they have?"

Just then there was a loud crash as a tree fell. "This village has only warriors, so there's between 100 and 200 warriors" Kolrum informed her.

"They're almost done with the tree heda" Indra reported.

"Good, prepare our kru. We need to get in there." Indra left to give out orders. "I won't stop until we get her back" Lexa promised Abby.

"Thank you."

Once the battering ram was ready, several warriors carried it to the gate and the warriors stood at the ready, weapons drawn and arrows notched on bows. They broke down the gate and the archers killed the first group of people. Lexa led her warriors through the gate, cutting down anyone standing in her way, in a blur of motion. She took down 14 warriors swiftly before coming face to face with the chief. "Give up!" Lexa shouted at him.

"Never! A girl doesn't belong on the throne! A woman should not be Heda!" Zavhir yelled back and lunged at Lexa. She easily deflected the blow and slashed his leg. They traded blows back and forth for several long minutes, each landing a few on the other. The chief was good, but Lexa was better and she got the upper hand. She hit him hard on the back of his head with the hilt of her sword, knocking him out cold. One of her warriors and Indra went to her side and tied him up. As soon as Zavhir was captured, most of his warriors surrendered and Lexa's people still fought the ones that didn't.

Lexa led Abby, at a run, through the village in the direction she could feel Clarke's pain. They found her tied up to a wooden post and beaten. Clarke's eyes were shut and she didn't move. "Is she dead?" Abby asked as they rushed to her side.

"No, I would have felt her leave."

"Just unconscious then." They cut the ropes binding her and Lexa picked her up. She carries her to the village's healer's hut and placed her on the table. Lexa started to remove her clothing as Abby got a bowl of water and a cloth. Abby cleaned the blood off Clarke to see how much damage there was. A few wounds needed stitching and she bandaged the others. Once Clarke was re-dressed in clean clothes, Kolrum entered the hut, the battle still going on outside. "You and your kru are welcome to stay at my village while Klark recovers."

"Mochof." Lexa thanked Kolrum, then turned to Abby. "Is she able to travel?"

"As long as none of her wounds are jostled too much and we don't go far."

"Jostled?"

"Bumped, pushed etc roughly. We just need to move slowly."

"Ok. Whatever she needs I will provide."

Once the battle was over and Lexa had won, they put Clarke on a makeshift stretcher and carried her out of the healer's hut. Only the people who surrendered were left standing. As they passed them, on their way out of the village, Lexa paused for a moment to give them a warning.

"You surrendered today and so you shall live, but if you go against me again, I will kill you all."

Lexa, Lincoln, Abby and Bellamy carried Clarke out of the village. Indra dragged a struggling Zavhir behind her as she followed behind the stretcher. They sky warriors, tree warriors and mountain warriors followed behind them. They travelled back to Ozkirk, where they set up camp and took Clarke to the healer's hut. Lexa ordered one of Kolrum's people to get twelve blankets.

Once they were brought to her, Lexa used four of them to cushion the top of the table that Clarke was lying on, four to make a soft pillow to rest Clarke's head on and four to cover her with to make sure Clarke was warm enough. "You should get some rest Heda. It's getting late."

"I'm staying here. I won't leave her side."

Clarke was unconscious for three whole days, on the fourth day she woke up. It was early in the afternoon, Lexa still at her side, when her eyes slowly fluttered open. As soon as Lexa noticed, she cried happy tears and kissed her forehead. "I wasn't sure you'd wake up" Lexa confessed.

"Lexa?" Clarke questioned, voice weak.

"Yeah, I'm here. You're safe."

"I am?"

"Yeah, no one's going to hurt you anymore, I promise." Clarke tugged on Lexa's top, getting her to lean forward. Lexa wrapped her in a hug, Clarke buried her head in Lexa's chest. Lexa kissed her on the top of her head and hugged her more firmly, but careful not to hurt her. Clarke heaved relieved tears into Lexa's chest.

"I'm tired."

"Go to sleep, I'll be here."

"You should get some rest too."

"No, I'm good." Clarke gave her a stern look and Lexa sighed. "Fine, but I'll be back in a few hours."

Ten hours later, when Lexa had finally gotten a full night's rest, Lexa returned to Clarke's side. Abby was there talking to Clarke. Lexa sat down near to the table Clarke was on. "Lexa wouldn't leave your side as soon as we found you" Abby informed Clarke, causing Lexa to blush. Clarke looked at Lexa lovingly.

"You stayed with me?"

"Everyday."

"C'mere." Lexa leaned closer to Clarke and was surprised when she kissed her soundly. It only took her a couple of seconds to kiss back. Abby quietly slipped out of the room. "I love you."

"I…uh…I…" Clarke pressed her finger to Lexa's lips to shut her up.

"Don't say it until you're ready."

"I do though."

"I know." Clarke kissed her again softly. There was a knock on the door, Indra was standing there.

"Heda, we're ready to judge the chief, Zavhir."

"Good we'll be right out." Indra left and Lexa turned back to Clarke. "I've got to go and put the man who did this to you on trial."

"On trial?"

"Yeah."

"He's obviously guilty."

"I thought this is what you'd want."

"Not this time."

"I know you don't mean that Clarke. You're just hurt and angry."

"He's guilty Lexa. He's responsible for what happened to me."

"I know."

"So no trial please, just make him pay for what he's done to me."

"What did he do exactly?"

"Once I was taken to the village, they took me to the chief of the village. They tied me down so that I couldn't move and they beat me. They cut me, hit me, kicked me, and whipped me. I thought I was going to die. It lasted hours before finally the chief was the only one there. He…he tried…he was going to…to rape me. Just before he could, one of his men burst into the room and told him of an army heading towards the village. He took me to that post and tied me up. Some of his people continued to torture me. One stabbed me in the stomach with their sword before they were called to fight. I was so relieved when they told the chief about the army because I knew it was you and I knew you would save me."

Lexa had a tear rolling down her cheek. "I'm sorry Clarke. You shouldn't have gone through that."

"It's not your fault." Lexa wiped the tear away and let her rage to the surface.

"He's going to pay for this. I'm going to make him suffer."

"Help me up."

"You should rest."

"No, I need to be there for this." Lexa helped Clarke get up and they left the healer's hut. They went over to the prisoner, Lexa helping Clarke to walk.

"Tie him to a post!" Lexa ordered Lincoln, who had been restraining Zavhir. Once he was tied to the post, Lexa turned to face her people. "This monster is guilty of treason, kidnapping, assault and attempted sexual assault! For his crimes against my keryon, myself and our people, he will suffer death of 1000 cuts!"

Lexa withdrew her dagger and handed it to Clarke so she could deliver the first cut. Clarke made a deep slice over the side of his neck. All the people from Camp Jaha, the tree people and the mountain people lined up and cut Zavhir one by one. Once everyone had made cuts all over his body, Lexa took her dagger, pulled down the chief's trousers and sliced off his penis. When that was done, Lexa drew her sword and pierced his heart with it.

Six hours later, once Abby and Nyko had made sure every injured person was ready to travel, Lexa and Clarke led their people home. Clarke sat on Stormfire in front of Lexa, leaning against her. Clarke slept for most of the journey to Ton DC. She didn't wake up until an hour after they had arrived at Ton DC. Lexa had carried her to her hut and lay her in her bed, which is where Clarke woke up.

Lexa was asleep next to her, but she woke up when Clarke let out a cry of pain as she sat up too fast. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine…why am I here?"

"Ton DC was closer and I wanted to get you to safety as quickly as possible."

"Help me up, I need to get home." Lexa sat up and faced Clarke.

"I'd like it if you stayed, until you've healed."

"I've got to get back to Camp Jaha, my people need me."

"They can take care of themselves while you heal Clarke. If you really want to go back, I'll take you myself. But if you want to stay here, relax and not have to worry about anything, except healing then stay."

Clarke thought about it for a minute. "I'll stay." Clarke yawned and lay back down on the bed. Lexa lay down next to her and Clarke cuddled into her side, resting her head on her shoulder. They soon fell asleep until the sun had rose high in the sky.

Over the next week, Clarke stayed with Lexa in her hut and relaxed all day, every day. She drew just about everything interesting, including Lexa, Octavia, Lincoln and Indra and spent time with Lexa, Lincoln and Octavia. Twice a day, Lexa changed her bandages for her and when it came to her bandages on her torso, she would get embarrassed being topless in front of Lexa. On the last day Clarke sketched Lexa and then Lexa made braids in Clarke's hair. Late that afternoon, Clarke kissed Lexa goodbye and travelled home, with two guards escorting her to make sure she was safe on Lexa's orders.