I woke up the next morning feeling much better and rested than the last few days. It was still an adjustment to waking up alone, but I was saddened to realize that it was getting easier already. I wasn't completely awake when I felt something tickle the side of my neck and face and I glanced to my right. Seeing the wolf's ear and part of the head, I panicked and tried to get away, slamming my head against the wall. I grabbed it, curled up into a ball as the impact woke me up completely and I remembered that I had been wearing the cloak when I fell asleep.

"Fuck," I said, as I slowly uncurled, still holding my head. "God, I am an idiot sometimes."

There was a chortle and I quickly spun around and glared at seeing Lexa sitting at the table trying to hold in her laughter.

"Dammit, Lexa," I said, exasperated. "Give a girl some warning next time. Do you have a habit of sitting quietly and watching people sleep?"

She couldn't hold it in any longer and started laughing, making me glare at her harder. I rolled and stretched out my neck because the impact had compressed it slightly. I sighed and sat up more fully, removing the cloak from around my shoulders and thankful that the wolf's head wasn't in my periphery any longer.

"I am sorry, Rook, but that was the funniest thing I've seen in ages," she said as she finally calmed down. "And no, I am not in the habit of watching people sleep. You just looked so peaceful and Sursha told me what happened last night, so I wanted to make sure that you were okay."

I bared my teeth at her making her grin wider and shook my head at her behavior, "You are something else, Lexa. That's for damn sure. You do realize that if you keep spending so much time with me, people will begin to start talking."

"And what do you think people would say," she asked, cocking her head to the side at me curiously.

"Oh, who knows? That I'm corrupting you to make Skaikru more favorable in your eyes. That we are sharing a bed. That I am luring you closer in order to kill you," I replied, raising a brow at her.

I stood up and stretched and I could feel her admiring what she saw. I looked at her knowingly and she blushed when I caught her eye, "And doing that is not helping matters."

"You are an attractive woman, Rook," she said, refusing to look apologetic. "You draw the eyes of everyone. Only the villagers know that you prefer the company of a woman."

I snorted, "Be that as it may it's not seemly for you to so openly admire me."

"I've yet to do it openly," she retorted. "There is just something about you that tells me that I can completely relax when I'm around you. That you will not judge me for my actions."

"Oh, I'll judge you," I replied with a smirk. "The only difference is that I'm not afraid to call you out on it."

"So, you're saying that you're not intimidated by me," she looked at me incredulously.

"Right now, no. You are acting your age, Lexa. You are coming to me as a young woman and not the Commander. There is a difference. You put on that armor and war paint, I'll probably play a different tune. I respect you and as I have said, I acknowledge you as my leader. As my Commander."

"That's just it. You allow me to be myself more. You make it comfortable and I like it. No one has been able to give me that since Costia."

I felt a sense of sadness and walked over to kneel in front of her. She looked at me in confusion and I only cupped her face in sympathy before I stood up again and walked over to the wash basin to freshen up.

"Why did you do that," she asked my back.

Without turning around, I answered, "You still miss her. You still bear grief over the loss of her. It's small compared to mine right now, but it's still there. It was meant as comfort only."

I heard the chair move back and then felt her arms encircle me in a hug. I patted her hands as she squeezed slightly before letting me go.

I turned around when I felt her leave my space and watched as she sat back down. I had to admit that she was beautiful and graceful. Her movements fluid and when she smiled, her eyes lit up. I thought that once I had given myself a chance to properly mourn Ava, I could see us sharing a bed at least once.

She looked up at me and I could tell that she had gotten the gist of what I was thinking and she smirked at me. I shrugged and went and poured us something to drink. I sat the cup in front of her before I sat in the other chair and looked at her expectantly.

She sighed, interpreting my look correctly and said, "I've learned what I can from both men. You are correct that Kane is interested in making peace and I must admit that Jaha is not one to be trusted."

"You should have killed Jaha," I said, coldly. "As long as he lives, he will cause trouble both among Skaikru and us. Let me guess, he thinks that he's better than us because Skaikru has technology and we live rather simply."

She nodded, smiling, "Your observation is astute. I gathered that myself. I sent Jaha back to their camp to relay a message. They have two days to leave or we will attack."

"Hmm," I said, thinking. "He'll opt to leave. For all his speeches, he is a coward. He thinks that by leaving he is ultimately saving the human race. But he is cold and calculating. He'll try to take advantage of situations to make himself seem like a savior. Like I said, you should have killed him."

"Mayhap, but for now, he is doing his duty."

"And what of Kane? What do you plan on doing with him?"

"He is a different story. He genuinely believes in creating peace between our people. He's intelligent and quick in his thinking. I gave them a chance to pay for Finn's crimes, pitting them against one another. I watched as they argued. Kane stepped up and told Jaha to kill him so that their people could live with the hope of peace. When the man refused, he sliced his arm open prepared to sacrifice himself."

I nodded, "It's nice to know that he has changed his view of things."

"You told me that you spent the last four years in prison," she said carefully.

"Yes," I said just as carefully. "That's right."

"Did you not tell someone that you had a habit of getting into fights with the others while you were there?"

I scrunched up my nose in thought and replied, "I believe so. What are you thinking?"

"If you are willing, I'd like Kane to witness a particular ritual," she said, looking me squarely in the eye.

"Using me to conduct the ritual," I hazarded.

"Correct," she said, nodding. "You heard mention of Death by a Thousand Cuts?"

"I've heard mentions of it especially since Finn murdered people. The villagers wish to avenge the fallen by performing that on him."

"What it is, even though Finn's punishment will include more than the cuts, is that each person who harbors a grievance against the one who committed the crime will be allowed to place a cut on them. Once they have done that, the residing leader will end their life."

"And you want me to go through this ritual," I asked leaning back in doubt.

"To an extent. Not to kill you," she said quickly to reassure me. "We bring some of the villagers with instructions to cut you lightly, just enough to make you bleed well. Once they are through, I will, technically, end your life by running my sword through you."

"And I trust you know how to do that without actually killing me or causing me permanent harm?"

She nodded and grinned, "I'm more than capable of making sure that you do not die, Rook."

"What would be the point of this?"

"To give him a taste of our justice system," she said, "And to show him the seriousness of the matter."

I leaned forward and rested my head on my elbow as I placed it on the table and looked at the ground as I thought about it. I trusted her, I had to admit to myself, and I also trusted the villagers not to get too involved since they seemed to care for me greatly. It would strike fear into Kane and could make him more cooperative to agree to our terms of peace.

I sighed and looked up at her, "I'll do it. To make it more believable, I'm going to have to be beaten up to make it look like I've been 'tortured' for awhile. We'll also have to find something to cover up the tattoos otherwise it won't work. I'm also going to need some guards that do not mind getting beaten up a little and aren't afraid to give it back some."

"Why is that?"

I grinned, "Lexa, I had a reputation of being a brawler while I was in Lockup. He would expect me to fight back regardless of what I look like. It would make him recognize who I am and can 'identify' me to those in the camp upon his return, making it a bigger impact of my supposed death."

"That makes sense. There is someone who knows how to make war paint that can blend in with your skin and hide the tattoos. I'm going to have to remind her that we'll need a lot of it."

"And that it won't come off as soon as a liquid runs down it or if I get punched on my left side. I'm going to have to be held down to make it more effective as well. The beating should be done today and then you can throw me in a cell with him in the morning. We need someone who knows how to throw different types of punches. Weak ones that will leave a bruise but look like it's been there for awhile, and slowly increasing the power behind the punches to make it look like the beatings have been going on for awhile."

She nodded, smiling, "I have the perfect person who can most certainly do that."

"Good. Oh, crap, I need clothing that looks like it's from Skaikru. What I'm wearing won't pass muster."

"I'll have Sursha look for something appropriate."

I nodded, "You should probably leave to get everything ready. I'll stay here until then. Limit how much I'm seen. I'm going to have to starve myself for the day."

She made a face, "Very well. I'll leave you then and begin preparations." She got up and walked over to my side of the table and laid a hand on my face, "Thank you for doing this," and leaned down and kissed me gently.

I kissed her back, but kept it short, "Stop doing that."

She chuckled, "It would help if you were ugly, Rook."

"Maybe getting my face beat up will deter you better," I grumbled.

"Maybe that will only want me to kiss you elsewhere," she teased.

"God, you need to get laid and by someone that's not me."

She gave me a soft pat on my cheek and left. I sighed and leaned back against the chair. A part of me was pleased that she was attracted to me, but another and larger part reminded me that it was too soon. The memories of Ava too raw. I needed time, but I wasn't sure that Lexa would allow me to mourn properly with the way she had been acting since meeting me.