Hey there The scene with which this chapter starts just popped up in my mind and I felt like it belonged in this story. Don´t worry. We will join Clarke and Bellamy in time for dinner;)

From now on this story will accelerate a bit. Let me know if you like it.

„Hey there." Echo flinched startled and looked over her shoulder towards Raven, who was leaning in the door frame. Since the call with Bellamy had ended a few seconds ago, the young warrior had sat still, staring at the black screen in front of her. Feeling a bit caught she stood up hurriedly. "What´s up?"

Raven smiled and pushed herself from the doorframe into a standing position. "Up for a training fight? I feel like I am losing my skills." Echo snorted while she walked past Raven though the door. "What skills." She answered teasingly. "Sure let´s give it a go."

They walked to the training area and chose an empty room. Raven closed the door and after taking of the outer layer of clothes they got ready. All the while they talked about shallow topics. Like Ravens relationship with Shawn, which went great, Murphies and Emoris new found closeness or how Jordan got used to his new reality, stumbling through everyday life like a toddler.

When they took positions in the opposite corners of the room Ravens tone suddenly changed. "You didn´t really look happy after the call." Echo raised an eyebrow. "Trying to distract me to win? Won´t work." She launched herself at Raven and after some quick exchanges of attack and defence both withdrew. "Clarke is my friend. But you are like my sister by now. I know there is something going on in your head and I know those two better than you. Let me in." Raven was the one starting the attack now but Echo reacted fast and avoided the launch. They circled each other. Eyes fixed on the opponent. "You always knew they had a special relationship. Even during our time in space she never really left his heart." Raven knew exactly that she put her finger in a wound with this, but she needed Echo to speak up. She had been odd ever since they woke up and Bellamy and Clarke, awake for some days, had already stood side by side introducing them to the new planet.

Echo attacked this time with hard and heavy hits that Raven could not always evade completely. After Raven went down Echo drew back. "Of course I knew!" She spitted out fired up. "But we believed her to be dead. When we came down to earth I did not think that she might pop up again, like a snowdrop after winter." Raven raised her hands defensively while getting off the ground. "Hey I don´t judge. That you and Bellamy found each other up there was the best that could have happened for both of you! I never thought you to be the jealous type. Why are you so worried?"

"I AM NOT WORRIED." Echo said with a pressed voice launching a hit at Raven with every word. The mechanic could dodge them easily this time. The warriors aim was off. She stepped to the side and brought Echo down. Fast she kneeled on her back and held her down with her arm turned on her back. " Yeah sure…. You know Clarke is not the man stealing type, at least not intentionally. I´ve got testimony for that. " She caught the glimpse of a movement in the corner of her eye but she was too late. In the next second it was herself with her face pressed against the floor. "I don´t understand him. Why was it so easy for him to forgive and forget? He poisoned his fucking sister for her and she leaves him to die." Echos voice sounded more frustrated now than angry and Raven smiled at the floor. Finally she got her to talk. "Because he understands her." She said softly. "You cannot hate someone for long who you really understand." She felt Echos grip loosening up a bit, while her opponent contemplated her words and Raven used this to free herself. After some more seconds of both fighting for the upper hand they stared at each other with a meter of floor between them. "I´ll not just give him up! He is the best thing that ever happened to me." Echos eyes reflected her fighting spirit and Raven felt a sudden pang of pity for her friend. Fighting was what Echo was good in. What she had learned since she was little. "Fighting will not work Echo." She said solemnly. "If you fight you will only push him away. I think you already know that. I think it is the reason why you have not asked him why he forgave Clarke so quickly. Why you never opposed him going with her directly. I think that strategy is the only one that might be successful." Echo stared at her for a few more seconds, than she looked at the floor and the fighting spirit left her. She sighted. "I know. And it´s so hard. To just be there and hope that I don´t lose him." She looked down at her hands. "I had partners before but I never felt so loved. So much at home.

Raven moved closer and forced the warrior to look at her. "You will not lose him! No matter what happens. Neither will you lose us. We, your family are your home as well. I don´t know myself, what kind exactly is the connection between those two, but it will not stop him from loving you."

"Just maybe not the way I want him to." Echos voice sounded so unlike herself that Raven felt the need to hug the shit out of her. Instead she jumped her and forced her into a headlock. "Don´t take such a gloomy view! Those two already spent quite some time together and as far as I know, I had more action with Bellamy, than she had." She winked at Echo who was already trying to get out of her grip. "Go float yourself Raven." Echo groaned but the hint of a smile was visible on her face when she got her hips up and made both of them fall head over, resulting in her winning after a few seconds of struggling.

The room Clarke and Bellamy entered was filled by a big oval table that could fit around 15 people. Their entrance resulted in everyone's head turning their way and Clarke quickly assessed the situation. All of the council members were assembled. Additionally there were two people that they did not know. Everyone stood in small groups around the table and Atticus who stood closest to the door moved towards them with a big smile on his face. "Thank you for joining us." They both bowed their head politely and Clarke answered his smile. "Who would want to miss such a dinner?" Atticus chuckled, as was expected at this point and guided them to their seats. Next to Bellamy sat one of the unknown guys. The other one sat opposite from them next to Atticus. Malvera sat next to Clarke. The others found their places as well and Atticus pointed at the cups in front of everyone before lifting his own. "I would like to start this evening with a toast. A few weeks ago we thought to be the only human beings left in this galaxy. No we don´t just know, that this was wrong, but also got to meet and get to know two of them. Clarke, Bellamy, we enjoyed your company a lot and we are aware that there is still a lot that we can learn from another. You gave us the necessary insight into your society to come to a conclusion, how we should best go on from here. But before I come to that, let us drink to peace: That in this world no man should be another's killer."

The whole circle raised there glasses, as did Clarke and Bellamy. Following Atticus example most started to drink, but Clarke stopped abrupt, her glass already touching her lips. There was a smell that she knew. She froze. It was the drawing that she had done, that popped up first in her mind. Than Pareus explanations followed. Was she mistaken? Could it be that the smell of this drink was similar. All this thoughts rushed in seconds through her mind and when she glanced at Bellamy, who had already half emptied his glass, she made a prompt decision. Her left hand shot over, grabbed the glass her companion was drinking of and tore it from his lips. Her rash action caused a commotion around the whole table and Atticus looked at her with confusion. "Clarke what is the meaning of this." He was not given an answer. Clarke smelled on Bellamy´s cup and when she sniffed the same odour, she put the cups down and took Malveras out of the women's hand without asking. There was still a little bit left and there was not the faintest scent of the plant. She turned to Bellamy. "Through up!"

The young man was as confused by Clarkes actions as the rest of the company. "Clarke." She bent over to him her stare as hard as diamond. "Through up right now or I´ll put my finger in your throat myself!" It took him only two seconds to process how serious she was and without another word Bellamy got out of his chair, bent away from the table and tried to do what she had told him. For the first time Clarke took her focus of him and realized that half of the people around the table were standing by now and staring at them with emotions ranging from anger to disgust. Atticus spoke up again, this time more commending. "Clarke I need to know what this behaviour is about!" He was ignored another time. Without a word Clarke handed her cup to Pareus who was one of the people, who had risen from their seats. The head of medicine took it with an irritated look and then smelled it. He hesitated slightly and paled. He turned to his leader. „ Something was added. Some essence of a strong anaesthetic called Cruxcicus. If I would have to give a quick assessment, I would say the amount in this drink would result in certain death." Clarkes face turned white like a sheet and ignoring the big commotion that started with Pareus words she hurried to Bellamys side, who was sitting on the floor and, based on his increasing effort, had listened as well. By now only gastric acid was the reward. He wiped his mouth and looked at Clarke with worried eyes. "You didn´t drink." She shook her head and searched with her fingers for the pulse on his arm. "Pareus!" She called and within seconds the young doctor was at her side. "I think he threw up everything. Might there still be an effect?"

"It should be alright but we can´t be certain. Cruxcicus works as soon as it gets in contact with the mucosa. We have to monitor him but it should definitely not be deathly." He answered her before being called back into the heated discussion, which was filing the room with noise.

Clarke relaxed in the slightest. With a casual but tender gesture she moved Bellamys hair out of his face and stood up. Everyone was talking at the same time and Atticus visibly tried his best to calm everyone down.
For a few seconds Clarke waited. When his attempts had no effect she grabbed Malveras glass with a stoic face and throw it without blinking at the nearest wall. The silence was abrupt all eyes on the shards or on Clarke. The picture looked so similar, that only Bellamy´s absence behind her shoulder was the proof, that they did not just enter the room. The guy who had been seated next to Bellamy, took position an arm length away from Clarke and the other one seemed ready to launch, if she should get the idea to continue throwing things.

Clarke ignored them completely and fixated Atticus instead "Is this the peace you offer us?" Her voice was dangerously low. The leader raised his hands in a calming gesture. "I am sure there is an innocent explanation. You can trust that…" Clarke silenced him with the raising of her hand and the man who was so much her elder, seemed to regret his spontaneous abruption immediately. This girl would not ban him from speaking. But before he could refrain she already rose to speak. "Trust? Forgive me but today I think our capacity of that has been exhausted. If you are really not knowledgeable of this attempted murder I expect you to bring us the truth." Her words were like frost that spread in the room. Bellamy who had straightened up during the talk, stepped between the strange man and her and put his hands on her arm. "I am sure that no one in here would wish to harm us." His voice still raw from the strain, thawed the atmosphere somewhat and Atticus cleared his throat. "Of course not. Please get some rest! Malvera will guide you back to your chamber and Pareus will check later on Bellamy. Be assured that we will illuminate this incident completely."

Again he did not get the attention he was used to, as Clarke was looking up at Bellamy instead. After a few seconds her rigid stance relaxed a bit and she nodded tiredly. Malvera who seemed completely agitatedly opened the door for them and the two followed her, Clarke so close to Bellamy that their arms touched not taking her eyes from him. "I´ll not faint any second." He gnarled at her quietly and caught she trained her eyes on Malveras back. "You have to calm down alright." He said more softly. "I feel relatively fine. I will be alright. We were lucky again" He looked down at her and saw how her lips turned into a tight line. He knew that look so well. She disagreed but tried to hold it down. He didn´t press on because he felt that the heat that he could deflate just moments ago was building up again and that it was only a question of time, until the woman at his side would erupt. It would be better for everyone if it happened after Malvera had left. Silently they went through the corridor and mutely Malvera opened up the door of their room for them. When they had stepped past her she seemed to hesitate. "I…" she was visible still shaken by the events and tried to collect her thoughts. "I don´t know what just happened but I swear to you, that I will do everything in my power, that no harm comes to you! This is not who we are! You have to believe this!" Clarke who pressed Bellamy down on the bed turned around, annoyance painted on her face but Bellamy was faster. "Thanks Malvera. We don´t doubt you." Clarke bit her tongue and turned her back to the woman again, who continued. "I will get some food. I will make sure to test it beforehand. Don´t accept anything from anyone else." The look on her face was a mixture of determination and disbelief that words like that were necessary. She opened her mouth again but Clarkes short: "Alright," kept her silent. She hesitated another second before she gently closed the door and left the two alone.