Ok, this chapter took so long - sorry:-)

Thank you, THANK YOU to everyone who reviews. I just wouldn't be writing this without the support! This chapter deals with the fall out...it has no action but Clarke and Lexa reunite. I think next chapter is the last, though we may have two more. Nearly at the end!

As always I LOVE to know what you think. I will post and then head over to reply to some reviews:-)

Chapter Thirteen

'Clarke,' the voice was deep, insistent. 'Clarke.' Clarke ignored the voice and let her mind slip back into nothingness. 'Clarke,' the voice accompanied by a gentle shaking this time that prevented her from ignoring it.

'No,' she didn't know whether she said the word or merely thought it strongly, but whichever the sentiment brought on the opposite effect, the shaking increasing and the voice became louder and closer,

'Clarke. Wake up Clarke. Come on princess, wake up.'

'No Bell,' she at least knew who the voice belonged to now and wondered why she hadn't recognized her best friends voice before.

'Clarke, seriously, wake the fuck up,' a girl's voice this time, again one she should know.

'No,' she muttered.

'Look you've been sleeping for nearly a month, no way you're tired,' the girls voice chastised but she was tired, exhausted really. The voice was wrong.

'Why isn't she waking up?' Bellamy asked whoever was with him.

'Abby said it might take time,' a different girls voice. 'Look, she's better than she was. Her hearts stronger, her colour is better and you know that's all good considering how close it got.'

'I guess Lexa saved her life,' the first girls voice again.

'Lexa,' Clarke wanted to know about Lexa. Or she felt like she was pushing through sand, this desire half rooted in her subconscious and half in the small part of her brain functioning conscious thought.

'Clarke?' Bellamy's voice.

'Lexa saved you Clarke,' the girls voice, with a hint of amusement. 'What? She actually seemed to wake up a bit at Lexa's name.'

'We need Lexa,' the other girls voice.

'Lexa,' Clarke tried again.

'Clarke, open your eyes,' Bellamy's voice, forceful and strong. That small conscious part of her brain tried, but her eyes hurt when she tried to open them. In fact everything hurt.

'Ow,' she tried and then after a moment of muffled talk she felt cool liquid being wiped on her eyes.

'Try now,' the first girls voice.

'Come on Clarke. Stop being a wimp,' the second girls voice. Ravens. She tried again and it was painful but not as painful as the light shining into them.

'Ow,' she moaned again and a second later the light was off.

'Clarke,' Octavia was smiling down at her. 'Nice to see those blue eyes of yours.'

'Lexa,' she squinted.

'Not here princess. In Polis.'

'Oh,' she shut her eyes because really she wanted Lexa, needed her.

'Clarke, open your damn eyes,' Raven.

'She's coming back tomorrow,' Octavia reassured.

'Don't tell her that or she won't wake up until tomorrow,' Raven complained.

'Clarke...you've been lying in that bed for nearly a month...you stink. Get up now and you can have a bath. Not stink for your girlfriend,' Octavia offered.

'Fuck off,' she managed because really, she was clearly half dead and what should she care about cleanliness, she opened her eyes a crack to glare at them.

'Princess, wake the fuck up,' Bellamy groused.

'Why?' she wasn't managing to hold the conversation in her head and it was frustrating as hell.

'Well you need food. You're so skinny,' Raven told her.

'And like I said you could do with a wash,' Octavia put a hand on her shoulder.

'Not to mention we need you. You're kinda the boss you know,' Bellamy admitted, 'we can't do anything with out you. Seriously the Ark is sat there waiting...our people want guidance. We all just hang out here and let Indra take care of everyone which is shit, but come on.'

'Indra?' Clarke couldn't help but ask.

'Yup. Thinks Sky people are alright. Not Ark people, but she's helping everyone settle in TonDC. Building houses and all that. Practically planning your wedding to Lexa.'

'What?' Clarke frowned, confused. 'Lexa's angry with me.'

'She's not, she saved you,' Raven defended.

'But left before I woke. She's angry,' her voice was so broken and it hurt to talk.

'Whatever, she won't be for long,' Octavia dismissed and Clarke caught the pointed glare Bellamy shot at his sister and Raven. Her head was apparently feeling a little clearer. Everyone fell silent at that.

'Help me sit,' Clarke croaked. Bellamy and Raven gently took hold of her and scooted her up the bed. Her head swam but she nodded her thanks, looking around the Mountain Weather medical ward. 'I don't want to be here.'

'There were so many wounded, they treated them wherever was nearest,' Bellamy explained. 'And you would have died if we moved you.'

'I'm alive now. I want to leave,' she huffed.

'Up for less than five minutes after a month in a coma and already bossing the crap out of us,' Octavia chided, with a gentle smile.

'Ok, let's start with you drinking a glass of water without hurling, then eating actual food without hurling, a shower - because they have showers and soap here, and then we'll get you out of here,' Bellamy offered and she held out her hand, which he took with a smile,

'Sweet Bell, but I was after the water.'

'Sure,' he laughed at his mistake and let go of her hand, reaching for a jug and filling a cup. 'Here. Take it slow.' Clarke heeded his advice and took a small sip, then another.

'Where's my mom?'

'Sleeping,' Raven answered. 'Lexa basically put her in prison here, you know to take care of you.'

'She ok?'

'I don't know. She's mostly silent,' Raven admitted.

'You all ok?'

'Few cuts and bruises. They're mostly gone,' Bellamy shrugged.

'Your arm?' Clarke looked to Octavia.

'Better than yours.'

'Hmm,' she wiggled her fingers, then tried to make a fist, disappointed when she couldn't.

'The knife to your back messed it up even more,' Octavia explained.

'How'd Lexa save me?' Clarke took another sip and stared at the blanket over her legs.

'The knife was poisoned. It was a pretty deadly throw from Nia. I mean the thing punctured your lung, and Abby fixed a whole bunch of stuff, but the poison was killing you slowly. You hung on way longer than anyone thought you would. It was nothing like the Trikru used so Lexa - she went North. The Grounders said she went to sort out their leadership, to quell unrest but we think she went to save you. She arrived with the antidote three days ago. Just in time really.'

'How is she?' Clarke asked staring at her ridiculously skinny wrist, holding the cup. Her arm looked thin and frail. She hated it.

'Uh,' Octavia began and then stopped.

'Bell?' she looked at him expectantly.

'I don't know. She left once you were stable but was sent reports twice a day. The first we saw of her was three days ago. She stormed in, fully dressed for battle and I mean armour, cape, sash, war paint - fucking fierce. Demands the room be cleared. She spent an hour in here with you and then left, said you'd been given the antidote. She's still getting her reports but it's hard to say how she is,' he shrugged and Clarke swallowed back tears. She didn't even know what the tears were for, why her eyes burned and it felt difficult to swallow. Octavia took the cup from her hand and they all allowed the silence to last. Clarke was suddenly surprised by the need to breathe, drawing a rasping breath into her lungs, shocked that she hadn't been breathing for the last few moments. The breath somehow forced tears from her eyes and they rolled down her cheeks.

'Clarke,' Raven whispered her name but she covered her face with her hand.

'I'm ok,' she shut her eyes.

'You're not ok,' Bellamy said and she glared at him even as more tears slid silently over her cheeks,

'I am.'

'You don't have to be strong all the time,' Raven reminded her but she hated them for not getting it.

'I do. If I'm not strong, if I let it all in I may never get up. Do you even know how many people I've killed?'

'No,' she admitted, 'but I know how many you've saved.'

'I want to leave here,' she whispered. 'Give me the water, get me food, turn on the shower. I want to go.'

'Ok Clarke,' Bellamy nodded and Octavia handed her back her cup.

XOXOXOXO

'How are you feeling?' Raven asked as Clarke sat on a chair in the shower room and Raven helped her remove her clothes.

'Like I wish everyone would stop asking me that,' Clarke sighed as Raven eased off the clothes she'd been dressed in after her mother had operated on her, some loose vest.

'Probably should go in the bin,' Raven admitted but Clarke shook her head.

'No, I want it,' she touched the dirty material, unsure why she wanted it, aware that she was being irrational.

'Ok,' Raven waited uncertainly. 'Not dizzy?'

'No,' she insisted, standing and pushing down the soft pants that were so loose on her she'd been holding them up. 'I look awful,' she whispered staring at her wasted frame.

'You're alive,' Raven shrugged. 'You just need to eat, drink and stay healthy.'

'I know,' she took a step towards the shower, 'I'll be ok from here.'

'You can shower alone, whatever, I don't care but I'm not leaving this room.'

'Ok,' Clarke got that and on some level appreciated it. She went into the shower and turned it on before untucking the binding Lexa had put on her and letting it fall to the floor before wriggling out of her underwear. She slipped the sling over her head, but kept her arm against her chest. She forgot about Raven as she stepped into the warm water, allowing it to cascade over her body, to soak her hair and rinse the grime from her body. The water ran with blood and dirt and she suddenly wanted all of it off of her. There was however a strange reluctance to scrub herself. She had bathed since she and Lexa had sex. Lexa had arranged a bath for her before she saw her mother, before Nyko came to check her injury, but Lexa had loved her once more after, and she'd carried the traces of the other girl on her skin throughout battle, through a dagger in her back, and in her long, long sleep. It was a strange desire but she hated the idea of washing Lexa from her skin. Hoping that her skin would one day again be touched by the Commander she took soap and poured some directly onto her hair, using her good arm to rub it as thoroughly as she could. Then she did it a second and a third time. She took the bar of soap and soaped her hand before cleaning her face, her ears, her neck, then picking up the scrubber Raven had put in there, rubbed it with soap and then re-cleaned every part of herself several times. She scrubbed until the dirt and blood was gone. She scrubbed until the layer of dead skin cells was gone. She scrubbed until her skin was pink, then rinsed before turning the water off.

'Towel,' Raven held it open and she stepped into it, feeling the material wrap around her. She perched back on the chair, her naked body dripping onto the floor, the towel around her shoulders. 'She's not angry Clarke. Lexa. You said she was angry and she's not.'

'You don't know that.'

'She kissed you and defended you after she realized you'd tricked her. I think she's probably hurt rather than angry.'

'Hurt's worse than angry,' Clarke took the second towel Raven handed her and patted her skin dry. 'And I made her kiss me. So she knew it was all ok, because I wanted her to get it - you know that we were on the same side.'

'You can't make someone kiss you.'

'She said the argument wasn't over.'

'Right - the argument wasn't over, she didn't say you and she were over.'

'Ok,' Clarke didn't want to talk about it anymore.

'Indra brought you clothes. A couple of days ago. If her general is bringing you clothes...you know it's because she was told to,' Raven gestured the pile of dark clothing.

'Ok,' Clarke repeated.

'I'll wait outside if you want? You can shout if you need anything.'

'Fuck,' Clarke cursed softly and rubbed her eyes.

'What?' Raven's brow furrowed.

'I can't go without a bra,' she admitted, 'and I can't put one on with my arm. I can't do anything. It feels intimate but I don't know...what do I do?'

'I don't mind helping Clarke. I have breasts.'

'I just...'

'What?'

'Lexa did it for me last time. It wasn't innocent. I know it'd be different with you, that's not what I'm saying. I just...miss her.'

'I get it,' Raven handed her underwear. 'Put those on and I'll help. It'll be half a second of nudity and then nothing. Come on.'

'Thank you,' Clarke tried to smile as she pulled on clean underwear and then stood. 'Start under my bad arm at the front.'

'Ok,' Raven did so, careful not to touch Clarke's skin more than necessary.

'How are Monty and Miller?'

'Very grounder,' Raven smirked. 'They love them both.'

'Doesn't everyone?' Clarke asked rhetorically. 'They in TonDC?'

'Yeah. Miller and Indra are surprisingly close.'

'And Monty is happy?'

'He's pretty devastated about Jasper.'

'What about Jasper?' Clarke frowned.

'Nothing, don't worry. Just that he's stuck in the Ark.'

'What's happening with the Ark?'

'Nothing. Lexa...I guess she's been waiting for you to wake up - you know, to make calls about what happens to people. All of them have been waiting for you to wake up.'

'I would have thought the Grounders would be calling for blood?' Clarke asked and Raven shrugged,

'I think some are surprised they haven't had blood but you know...they know what you did and that they were your people. Besides, Lexa's in charge and I don't think she wants to kill everyone without your input.'

'Sweet I guess,' Clarke murmured.

'Whatever floats your boat,' Raven gave a small smile. 'Do you know what you want to do with the Ark?'

'I don't think we can deny the Grounders their blood for what the Ark planned. At least not for the leaders.'

'That's your mom you're talking about,' Raven pursed her lips.

'Hmmm,' Clarke responded dismissively, unwilling to discuss that topic any further. 'Tell me about the Grounders? How are things with them? They haven't turned on Lexa like Nia wanted?'

'Uhh,' Raven wouldn't meet her eye.

'What?'

'Let's get you out of this mountain and then we'll talk about the Grounders.'

'I don't like the sound of that,' Clarke stared at Raven, trying to stare her out but Raven steeled her expression and picked up a brush.

'Your hair looks like a rat made a nest and had babies in it. Sit and let me brush it.'

'Ok,' Clarke sat. 'Will you tell me, please?'

'Look, I know patience isn't your strong suit, but take a breath Clarke. You nearly died. You woke up after nearly a month comatose. You've still got a broken arm, you're so thin you've practically disappeared and I'm just not...not the person to talk to you about this. Not alone anyway.'

'Who is?'

'Lexa,' Raven answered. 'But I don't know...'

'You don't know what? Stop being so cryptic.'

'Look, Lexa...I don't know where she's at with you because I haven't seen her. I don't think she's angry because she saved you and you know when she did she was doing her stoic commander thing...'

'I don't think it's a thing...it's who she is. I mean, it's not all she is. She's so much more.'

'Obviously,' Raven laughed.

'Why, obviously?'

'Well you're totally into her and it's not just the power and the commander thing. I mean you command a fair bit of power yourself, and it's not like you bow down to hers. I figure she shows you a side of herself that the rest of us don't see.'

'If you look in her eyes you can see it,' Clarke gave a small sigh as she thought about all Lexa's eyes expressed.

'Hmm,' Raven seemed to be thinking.

'She cares...about her people obviously, I mean she'd sacrifice just about anything for them.'

'Not you.'

'No. She did...at the mountain though. And she didn't want to. I knew that but I was really angry with her because I wanted to be most important even though I would have thought less of her if I was,' Clarke sighed again. 'Only this time...this time there was no need, but that's the thing. She can try and make it so she doesn't have to make the choice but if she's forced, it'll always be them.'

'You seem to forget that we are her people now. The Sky People anyway.'

'I don't mind,' Clarke clarified. 'I know how she feels. I love her. I can't even help it, or fight it, or escape it. It's part of who I am and yet...I risked it all for my people.'

'Are you ok?' Raven stopped brushing and crouched down in front of her. 'Just you're sharing a lot and I don't mind. I think it's good but, you don't normally...'

'Share?'

'Yeah.'

'I'm ok. I guess. It feels like I have weeks worth of thoughts and feelings in my head,' she admitted.

'It's ok, you're going to have time to work through everything. I promise. The world is stable, for now at least.'

XOXOXOXO

'You ok up there?' Bellamy eyed Clarke uncertainly. Where once she'd seemed formidable on top of the beast she now looked small and fragile.

'I just want to be far away from here,' she admitted.

'You ok with Raven riding behind you to make sure you stay upright?' Bellamy asked and Octavia whacked him,

'She's got no choice, don't make it sound like she does.'

'Hey, who's in charge?' Clarke asked with an icy glare, then smiled, 'kidding. I think having someone prop me up is a wise move.'

'Wouldn't want you dying from falling off a horse after all the work Lexa went through to save you,' Raven allowed Bellamy to help her onto the horse.

'Hmm,' Clarke didn't want to talk about Lexa. The thought of Lexa twisted her insides up into mush, until she felt like she was bleeding. She needed to see the Commander. Needed to face her after her betrayal.

'Let's go,' Bellamy nodded towards the trees and he and Octavia climbed onto another horse, the four of them setting off through the forest.

XOXOXOXO

'Skaiprisa,' Indra actually greeted her with a bow as Bellamy helped lift her from her horse. Before she knew it several of the Trikru around Indra also lowered their heads. 'The Commanders tent is at the usual location.'

'Is Lexa here?' Clarke could hear the optimism in her tone.

'The tent is for you Skaiprisa. Heda returns tomorrow.'

Clarke narrowed her eyes.

'You want me to stay in her tent without her?'

'Sha Skaiprisa,' Indra nodded without rising to the challenge of the question and turned to lead her through the village. As she walked through she watched the Trikru bow their heads, but lacked the energy and inclination to work out why and what it meant. Some had greeted her that was after the mountain the first time, but this felt different.

'Why are they doing that?' she asked instead of contemplating it herself. Indra looked at her sharply,

'You have saved them. They show their respect.'

'We all saved them,' Clarke murmured but Indra shook her head with a snarl,

'You saved them. It is right that they show respect,' Indra spoke passionately and then, under her breath, said a word Clarke didn't understand.

'Ogeda uf? What does that mean?'

'All powerful,' Indra pushed the tent flap aside for Clarke.

'What do you mean by that?' Clarke asked.

'Rest Skaiprisa - and eat. You are too small.'

XOXOXOXO

Clarke had only meant to rest her eyes before seeking out her friends. She had wanted to see Monty and Miller, Lincoln, Peyo and Arlo but sinking into Lexa's bed she realized how tired she was. It may have been Lexa's bed but it didn't smell like her, or feel like hers, not without Lexa in it. Still it was the Commanders bed and it was warm, soft and it welcomed her body, cocooning her in comfort. Her eyes closed and didn't open again until the light of dawn filtered through the canvas of the tent.

'Clarke,' someone was gently shaking her shoulder.

'Lexa,' the name came out, the first person filling her head as she was ripped from unconsciousness. She opened her eyes to find Lexa crouched beside the bed, her dark hair falling in waves down her back, her face clear and those eyes of hers full of emotion as she stared at her. 'Lexa,' she repeated and pushed her left hand from under the warm furs to grab her hand. 'Lexa,' she was incapable of saying more than her name it seemed, though her name was a plea as she tugged and tried to pull her closer. The Commander resisted easily.

'Clarke, how are you feeling?' Lexa shifted her arm from Clarke's grasp.

'Like I've been asleep for a month.'

'You need to eat,' Lexa's eyes ran over her body before returning to her face,

'Lexa, come closer. Please.'

'Clarke...I can't just pretend I'm not angry,' Lexa sighed, her face unreadable.

'Beja,' she begged.

'Clarke, you tricked me. Tested me in front of my own people. Made me seem like a fool,' Lexa's voice was dark. 'You didn't trust me. You made me think you forgave me,' Lexa was speaking louder, nearly yelling as she stood and strode beside the bed, 'I told you I loved you, I told you I was being honest, I offered you everything. I gave you everything,' her voice cracked and she was definitely yelling now.

'Did you save me just to yell at me?' Clarke asked.

'I'm not yelling,' Lexa yelled, 'but you made me feel like we were a team, that were fighting the war together. That you and I were...'

'You did save me just to yell at me,' Clarke flopped back onto the bed, too tired, too emotionally vulnerable for the argument she knew they must have, especially the shouting. Clarke wanted to talk.

'Don't belittle my anger,' Lexa growled stopping her pacing and standing next to the bed. Clarke leaned across and took her arm again.

'I'm not,' she ran her hand down Lexa's arm, over the smooth warm skin and took her hand, loving the feel of her palm against hers. 'You have every right to be angry. You can be furious and mad at me. I don't mind. I deserve it. I lied to you. I didn't share the truth with you when I knew it. I willfully led you to believe that I had forgiven you and trusted you when I had only forgiven. I couldn't take the risk Lexa, not again. I didn't trust you and I won't apologize for that. You left me at the mountain, betrayed me and then you...you hurt me...betrayed me again...'

'Clarke,' Lexa moved onto the bed, sitting on the edge, 'I hate that I hurt you. You know that I was furious with myself that you got hurt. I knew I caused you pain but it was never my intention that you get hurt...and it wasn't a true betrayal...'

'Lexa I'm not talking about my arm. You hurt me,' Clarke dragged Lexa's hand to her heart and held it there, the Commander leaning on her other hand to balance on the bed. Lexa's hand spread out against the tank top Clarke was wearing, the warmth of her palm seeping through the material. 'I know you explained things, and I got it. And I believed you, but I'd believed you twice before and had it all taken away, been shown how foolish I was to trust. I couldn't do that again. I believed you but I had to be sure, for myself and my people.'

'I thought she killed thousands my people. I thought you'd allowed it,' Lexa looked away from her, 'I thought that the girl I love...I thought she was willing to kill my people. I thought I'd allowed it to happen. I trusted you and I thought I was responsible because part of why I trusted you so much was because I love you.'

'Lexa, you were right to trust me. I would never ever have let something like that happen, not willfully.'

'You can't say that,' Lexa shook her head, 'you did let it happen. At the mountain.'

'That was different and you know it. Those people were guilty. Even the innocents wouldn't have survived without becoming guilty. Your people are different. They deserve protection. And you know I'd have saved the mountain children if I could. Don't you guilt me about the mountain,' Clarke pushed her hand away.

'I am the last person who thinks you should feel guilty about the mountain. I am just saying that I let my love for you cloud my judgement. You have sacrificed hundreds for your people before and I was stupid to think you wouldn't again. I am the Commander. It is my responsibility to not allow my weakness for you to expose my people and you showed not only me but all others that I had failed in that responsibility.'

'Lexa, that wasn't my aim,' Clarke felt horrible guilt claw at her, especially at the pain in Lexa's eyes. 'I think the clans don't appreciate how amazing you are as Commander, how much you do put them before all else.'

'Not before you.'

'You'd have sacrificed me, I know you Lexa and you would have, just like at the mountain.'

'I don't know,' Lexa turned her back to Clarke, seeming to deflate. 'I like to think that my people come first, but you are my people now, and you...you're at the top of my list.'

'Your list?'

'Of people not to get hurt. Of people to trust. Of people I love.'

'You can trust me Lexa,' Clarke urged, desperate to be worthy of everything Lexa was saying, desperate not to have Lexa rip it away. Happiness had been this unattainable thing for so long. They all spoke of it, dreamt of it and yet it seemed mythical, always out of reach.

'I can trust who you are,' Lexa began, her voice shaky, 'I think. But it's hard for me. You know that I have tried not to feel these things. I didn't want love, not again. It opened me up to weakness and you proved that true. I was weak and my people could have suffered.'

'But they didn't because your trust was founded. So I tested you out. You passed the test and I passed the test and fuck, yeah it would be nice if there was no need for tests but this is the world we live in. Trust, love, honour - they're not given. They're not assumed. They're earned. The hard way.'

'It is hard,' Lexa agreed and turned to face her once more.

'I'm sorry I tested you.'

'I'm sorry I gave you reason to,' Lexa retook her hand.

'I didn't even have to ask for that apology - we make progress,' she teased softly.

'Yes, we make progress,' Lexa whispered and then crawled over Clarke's body to lay on the bed beside her, head resting on the pillow so she was gazing at Clarke's profile, body pressed close as her left hand held Clarke's. Clarke felt a wave of relief wash through her. Her need for Lexa had been overwhelming and real. Incredibly real. It was a weird feeling that overtook her, something like nostalgia and hope, the feeling of something incredible combined with the fear of losing it. She didn't know whether she wanted to laugh or cry.

'Beja,' she whispered the plea and turned towards Lexa, tears falling as Lexa wrapped her arms around her, pulling her close, allowing her head to rest against her breast. At one time she would have worried her tears made her seem weak and she would have hated to appear weak before the Commander, but now she didn't worry. Her tears were pain, and love and the need to be open and honest, to lay her soul bare for this girl.

'It will be ok,' Lexa whispered, pressing a soft kiss against her hair.

'Lexa,' Clarke pushed away slightly and stared into her glassy eyes. 'I'm not crying for me.'

'Who are you crying for?' Lexa frowned.

'Us, everyone, eveything, I don't even know,' she admitted and tugged Lexa closer until their lips pressed together in a messy kiss, mouths warm, intimate and not careful, a kiss that was slow and full of yearning, one that made an apology and a promise. She poured her heart into the kiss and Lexa did the same, hands cupping her face, holding her close, desire and need held at bay. Until they weren't contained anymore and the kiss began to grow, became more fevered and possessive. Clarke yearned to give into it, to abandon the rational for this feeling between them, but she couldn't. This moment was too fragile, so she slowed the kiss,

'Ai Heda,' she whispered softly and Lexa smiled,

'Ai Prisa,' she seemed to understand.

'I expected you to hate me,' Clarke admitted, 'or to be angry, for longer, maybe forever.'

'You speak with reason, and I have done to you what you did to me. And it wasn't anger. I was hurt, but I hurt you too. We are even. And you are right about this world. I may wish it were different but it isn't. I hope it can be different for you and I now, that we can be different because of everything. Stronger. That whatever we are faced with we can face together,' Lexa spoke passionately, her words deep with meaning.

'I hope so too.'

'I do trust you Clarke, with everything, and you have honour. Ai hod yu in. It's true,' Lexa raised her head and looked at her earnestly.

'I trust you too Lexa. That's all behind us. I promise. I love you too.'

'Good,' Lexa smiled and snuggled closer, 'How is your arm? Your back? Everything?' she moved Clarke onto her back and rested her head against Clarke's breast, the Skaiprisa's arm wrapped tightly around her as her arms wrapped around Clarke's waist.

'I feel ok. I ache all over and I'm weak. I hate how skinny I am. How are you?'

'Me. I am fine.'

'The Queen cut you,' Clarke pressed a kiss against her smooth forehead as she looked at her,

'It was sewn shut by your mother.'

'Ah,' Clarke smiled, 'I bet that was...awkward.'

'She does not like me very much.'

'No,' Clarke agreed fingers playing with the braid she'd found in Lexa's soft, dark hair. 'Can I ask you something?'

'Sha, anything.'

'Why did Indra say Ogeda uf? About me?'

'It's Ogedauf. It is what the people call you.'

'You mean I've finally gotten rid of the princess?' Clarke joked lightly but when Lexa sat up beside her, and finally looked at her, her face was serious. 'What?'

'It means all power, it means God. They call you a god.'

'You sound like that's a bad thing?' Clarke didn't think it was a good thing but Lexa's expression was deadly serious, almost heartbroken.

'The people say you fell from the sky to save us all. You bring death to those who deserve it and save all others. They say you have power beyond that of all others. They say you have all power.'

'That's not true,' Clarke said but when Lexa bit her lip, when she refused to meet Clarke's eyes, Clarke knew the theory wasn't just held by the people. 'Lexa,' she pushed her hand under dark hair, brushed a thumb across the strong jaw, 'it's not true.'

'You hovered between life and death for nearly four weeks. That poison should have killed you in two.'

'There's a logical, scientific reason for that. The medicines my mom used or...'

'You brought real peace to the people and you didn't raise a sword.'

'I fired my gun...'

'They wish you to travel to Polis,' Lexa's eyes were fixed on the furs covering Clarke.

'They?' Clarke sputtered, 'who are they?'

'The leaders of the twelve clans, the people.'

'I'll come to Polis with you Lexa, I don't mind, but I'm not a god...'

'There is to be a fight,' Lexa bit her lip. 'The challenge has been made,' her eyes raised to Clarke's.

'What fight? What challenge?' Clarke was getting increasingly frustrated with Lexa's style of sharing the information.

'The people, the leaders, they have challenged me as Commander.'

'And who are you fighting?' Clarke asked though she felt a sickening dread in her stomach because really, she knew who.

'We are to fight Clarke. To the death.'