We Remain

Chapter Twelve

Clarke POV

Sitting up on the cot I began trying to fix my stitches I had ripped earlier and almost jumped out of my skin when I saw Hunter was in the room with me. "How do you do that, I never heard you come in"

"Practice" he replied giving me a small smile before sitting down on the small stool. "I came to see how your doing" he paused for a second and I could tell in his eyes he was about to apologize for accidently shooting me with an arrow. "Clarke…."

I didn't let him though "Hunter stop, it was an accident you don't need to apologize.

"I do" he nodded.

"No you don't" I said firmly. Only then did I notice he was in full battle gear, amour, war paint and his hair had an extra two braids in it. "Is it noon already?" I asked confused.

He shook his head "No, most of us see this tournament as an day event. The battles are simply a small part of it, the most significant but still small." It made sense and why I hadn't seen Lincoln and Octavia since they came by with the radio to speak with Bellamy earlier. We had decided to hold back leaving until I healed, Polis was a few days away and with my injuries it wasn't practical.

"Octavia told me you would be fighting Lexa. I know what's involved and about Costia" Hunter looked at me surprised. "Don't fight her."

"She needs to do this, if it helps her" he responded.

"What do you mean" I asked confused.

"When we were kids Costia, Lexa and I were close, we grew up together. After Lexa became commander and I became Costia's Guard I noticed while Lexa was away Costia became close with another of her guards…intimately close.

I urged her to tell Lexa or I would, she told me her and Jarod would tell Lexa when she returned from a recent battle and that she would not need my protection as she would be with Jarod.

That night she was captured by one of the ice queens guards and Jarod left the village." He said looking at the ground.

"Why didn't you tell Lexa this" I asked confused.

"She had just lost her lover and childhood friend, she would not have been able to mourn her death, as Costia's betrayal would of made her look weak and she had only just taken command of her people. If fighting me now will let some of her anger go then so be it."

If Lexa knew this she wouldn't fight him "Please you should tell her, even after the fight she will still be angry"

Hunter stubbornly shook his head "No. It is dishonorable to retreat from a fight"

His reply brought back the memory of Lexa and her army retreating from mount weather and I almost laughed at the irony. Instead I nodded my head knowing I could not change his mind, but I might be able to change Lexa's.

Once Hunter had left the Hut to join the Tournument I dressed myself as best as I could without pulling anymore stitches.

Peering though the flap I checked if the Healer was still in the Hut and was relieved when I found it empty.

I didn't need to do much sneeking around outside, the village was filled with warriors and small children playing. It made it easy to get by without being noticed and harder to find Lexa.

It was important I find her before the fighting began and the crowds made it much more difficult.

Keeping my eyes open I scanned the village while making my way down to the training ground that had been turned from having several warriors to at least fifty and families sitting upon the hill.

Luckily I found Lexa sitting at the top of the hill surrounded by guards. Her face was motionless watching the warriors train. Like Hunter she was also dressed for battle, it reminded me of when we left for the battle at Mount weather.

Lexa's head spun towards me, her eyes meeting mine. She seemed surprised to see me, most likely because the fight didn't start for another hour. I looked around me to see if Octavia and Lincoln were around, before making my way towards her.

She somehow managed to stand up in the most graceful way I've ever seen a person stand.

"Clarke?" she questioned with her head tilled to the side.

I needed to tell her about Costia and Hunter but I couldn't do it in front of her guards, instead I grabbed her hand and began pulling her towards the woods. Indra stopped me with a sword to my throat.

"Unhand the Commander" she spat.

I quickly turned back to Lexa "I need to speak with you alone" letting the emergacy show in my eyes.

"It is fine Indra, I shall return soon." She then looked at her surrounding guards and said something in trigedasleng.

The guards nodded at their commander with both respect and confusion as she then let me pull her into the woods and I didn't want to think what it must look like from another's perspective.

Once we were out of sight I guided us behind a large tree and looked at the ground trying to figure out how to tell her about Hunter and Costia's other lover. It was then I realized I was still holding Lexa's hand.

"Sorry" I muttered letting go of her hand and looking up at her, only to have her grab my waist and guiding my back against the tree as she continued to stare at my lips.

I couldn't fathom what was going on and then realized how this must look to her. Octavia's voice coming back to me 'Grounders prefer their intimate moments under the stars or privately in the woods.'

My face blushed, she thought I had brought her out here to make out or whatever grounders call it. I had to admit it did look that way.

"It's not what you think" I said quickly. She however mustn't have heard me as she began to lean in towards me.

"It's about Hunter" she froze at his name and began to lean away with a perplexed look on her face.

I continued on "The night Costia was kidnapped."

She finally spoke "What is this Clarke?"

I straightened up when she removed her hands from my waist. "Hunter won't tell you so I will."

"Tell me what" she frowned.

"When you first took command, you were away in battle a lot" This was awkward but I went on. "Apparently Costia became close with one of her guards…intimately" I said looking anywhere but her.

Taking a step back she frowned but didn't say anything letting me continue.

"Hunter told her if she didn't tell you he would." I could see Lexa's eyes were damp and I felt terrible but she needed to know. "Costia told him she and Jarod would tell you that night when you came back from battle" Lexa's eyes widened at the name Jarod. "She also told him she wouldn't need a guard because she was with Jarod, that was the night she was captured and Jarod fled the village."

"Hunter didn't tell you because you wouldn't of been able to mourn her when your people would see her as a traitor and they may of seen you as weak." There was a long silence.

"Thank you Clarke" she whispered nodding her head and left the woods, leaving me there feeling horrible but I knew I did the right thing for both Lexa and Hunter.


What are your thoughts? Read in very carefully to Hunters 'story'. I'm interested to see who picks up on it. Remember Hunter was a title not a name. Jus drein jus daun (blood must have blood)