Clarke snuggled blissfully further into the warmth of the bed. She scented leaves and forest and rubbed her cheek against soft skin taking in more of the aroma. Her nose moved further up until it reached the nape of a neck where curly hair tickled her face. The body beneath her moved and the hand wrapped around her shoulder tightened gently. Clarke froze instantly. She was not alone in bed and someone was beneath her, or rather imperiously tangled and trapped beneath her. The prior evening came back to her and she blamed the fatigue brought on by travel and new motherhood for the momentary bemusement.

Clarke felt well rested, safe and warm. In short, it was a nice change. She puffed out a breath of air and saw the tan skin beneath her turn to gooseflesh. Suddenly, she was smacked in the face. She startled further awake and her eyes focused on Jacob right before his excited fist hit her once more. It turned out they were both using Lexa for a pillow.

His giggle caused her to smile for the first time that morning.

"Ma," he dribbled the spittle popping from his mouth and travelling down onto Lexa's black tank top. Clarke reached out and wiped his mouth and intervened with another swinging fist.

"Good morning," she whispered to him forgetting about the body beneath her for a moment. "How long have you been up?" she tapped his nose playfully not expecting an answer. She frequently spoke to him, even though he was a child. She learned from her mother that children understood tone and reacted strongly to speech.

"He's been awake for the last hour." Lexa informed and Clarke turned her head up and lifted on to her forearms. Her hair served as a small curtain as she gazed into hazel green eyes that were far more alert than hers. Slightly more aware to realize that she should be flustered, Clarke uprooted herself and sat next to Lexa with the blankets pooling at her hips. Lexa's face turned to follow her movement but she did not move. In fact, she looked particularly at ease as her left hand reached up to stroke Jacob's dark hair.

"I'm sorry," Clarke apologized but she did not feel too bad about Jacob's disturbance. She had tried to warn Lexa last evening. "You didn't have to stay up with him."

Lexa changed her gaze from Clarke to Jacob. "He woke once in the night and went to sleep not long after." It was her own way of saying that she was not bothered. "I have two nieces and three nephews. I am not unaccustomed to children," she revealed. "Although I see them infrequently." Clarke was aware that Liam was one of three siblings; it was just odd to think that she was one of them. Lexa had always seemed so untouchable. Having relatives and a family made her more human. Probably one of the reasons she seldom saw her nieces and nephews.

Clarke reached over and lifted Jacob settling him in her lap. Lexa sat up in silence. Oddly enough the quiet atmosphere was comfortable. Clarke watched Lexa as she gathered her clothes and dressed. Once finished, she regarded mother and son.

"We will be leaving this afternoon. It is less than a days travel to the next clan."

Clarke furrowed her brows. "We've only been here for a day."

"And we have secured their alliance. We must not idle."

"But you stayed for over a week in Leston."

"I stayed for you." Clarke was silent as Lexa continued. "You will ride Brie's mare into the next village. She will stay behind our party out of sight with your son." Her face was stony and devoid of all good humor. "It is not safe."

"I understand." And she did. If Lexa said it was not safe she was not going to contest her judgment, especially if it involved Jacob's safety.

"It is unlikely that they will welcome us." Lexa said gravely with a hand on her hip.

"So, you're saying this is going to be another short trip for a completely different reason?"

Lexa nodded. "We should be prepared in case they decide to break away from the Coalition less formerly." She hesitated before speaking once more. "You do not need to attend."

"You want me to stay behind?" Clarke asked slightly confused.

"I would not ask it of you. But there is a risk." There was a hint of concern detected in her voice.

Clarke looked at Jacob considering her words. There was a chance she could die. That was an amusing thought and an oddly comforting one. She missed being on the run and living day to day more than she realized. Perhaps, a slow and steady lifestyle was not in her future.

"I'm coming with you," she declared after brief thought. This was her life. There would always be a chance that she could die and Jacob would be alone once more. This was how life was on the ground. Lexa blinked under hooded eyes and left shortly there after.

They were supposed to leave in the afternoon. Instead, they left an hour after Lexa left her in the early morning hour. It had begun to rain nearly as soon as they left Masou's clan. They parted in good relations, accepting minimal gifts, mostly consisting of supplies for their journey. Clarke thought Lexa might jump off her horse when Masou reached up and kissed her hand. Instead she gripped her reigns until the leather pulled taught. He was an odd man. She wondered if all of the clan leaders held similar eccentricities, or if it was just the few she had the pleasure of meeting.

She glanced at her son for the nth time since their departure. He rested not in Brie's but Amelia's arms per Clarke insistence. She did, however, still commandeer the soldiers' horse. Clarke knew very little about Lexa's soldiers.

She pulled the heavy cloak around her tight. The outer hide slicked the rain away while the inner fur kept her warm. Clarke had bundled Jacob up so much that Lexa commented he could be mistaken for an Azgeda. She also missed having Lexa's warmth at her back. The rain was cumbersome but it was nice to have enough water and air. The ground provided nourishment that the Ark never could. However, she thought as she wiped away a wet strand of hair, the rain was annoying and very wet.

The ground evened and the hooves of her mare sank less in the earth the longer they trekked. Soon the earth turned solid, despite the rain saturating the dirt. The trees dispersed and a long valley of hills stretched before them. It was the longest stretch of land devoid of hills and mountains she had seen on earth. Even in the rain the spectacle was beautiful. Everything on earth, even in its horror was beautiful.

Lexa signaled for Amelia and Austin to go no further and Clarke wished them well and prayed for their safety. She turned one last time trying to spot them in the trees. There was a reason why they were staying camouflaged in the foliage. The grasslands left no room for subterfuge.

"All will be well Klark," Lexa said riding besides her.

She managed a rather grave nod in return. Clarke watched Lexa's silhouette sitting proud atop her stallion.

Not long did they have to travel until Clarke spotted vast dwellings. Whereas Masou's clan was hidden among the marsh and vast tress and shrubbery, the Grassland Clan was laid bare for all to see. There were horses in the distance, many of them. Her awe was quickly replaced with worry when she saw the vast amount of soldiers on horseback waiting in silence. Even in the rain they were still.

"I thought this was the clan of the Grasslands." Clarke stated confused.

"The Grassland and the Horse Clan are inevitably twined." Coltrane's voice carried from ahead of her. Rebekah was tucked against his front as she had given up her horse to Clarke.

Lexa's horse trotted up to her own. "The clan leaders are siblings, sisters. This is the elder."

Clarke nodded taking in the unheard warning. Where one clan trailed the other would follow and they were visiting the one with more authority first. It was headless to attempt meeting with the other clan, especially if this one held so much sway for the other.

There were homes in the distance, but before Clarke could determine the architecture any further the group of people on horseback stopped them. Clarke counted twenty-three. They rode on until they could see the whites of their eyes and a voice called for them to go no further.

A large robust woman of pale skin and brown eyes parted the group sitting a top a large steed. The numerous mounts were no doubt a gift from the grasslands neighboring clan. Clarke slowed her horse to an eventual stop, as did the others. She stayed near Lexa and patted the neck of her mare more for her comfort. They did not look friendly. She hoped the serious countenance was due to the dislike of sitting in the pouring rain.

"Heda," the woman began her voice rich in tone. "You honor us with your presence."

"Savannah," Lexa spoke her voice dry and unimpressed. "Is this how you great your Heda?" Clarke observed the interaction with interest. Savannah was obviously the clan leader. Her face was mildly shrouded in a hood, but Clarke could make out the red curls around her forehead and the darkly lined eyes. She was middle aged and possessed sharp but beautiful features.

"I do as I please."

Brie's voice cut through the rain. "You will silence your tongue or I will cut it from you!"

"You are lucky to still sit with your heart beating atop your steed." Lexa's horse pawed at the ground and shook his head while his ears slicked the rain away.

"You misjudge," Savannah cut through calmly. "You are not welcome here. You are too late, though it would have made no difference. We have aligned with the Azgeda."

"You will side with that bitch and forsake your allegiance to the Coalition?" Lexa growled her voice frightening.

"I will do what is in the best interest of my people," she responded blandly.

"Breaking from the Coalition won't save lives. More people will die for it." Brown eyes snapped to her and Clarke realized that she had spoken aloud. Nothing was said for a moment and she met Lexa's eyes briefly.

"As I said, it is too late. You will not persuade myself or my sister Simone. She will turn you away as well if you happen to be alive to make it to her lands." She paused for a moment staring at Clarke. "But, I will take your gift." She said raising her hand in Clarke's direction. Clarke tensed immediately and she was glad that Amelia and Austin were safe in the forest.

Lexa reached for her blade and drew it in the next instant. Her eyes were fierce and threatening. "You go too far."

Savannah straightened in her seat. "You cannot win. You must know this."

"You will be silent!" Lexa yelled. Clarke startled having not seen her so upset in a long while.

"I will afford you with some respect, after all, you are still Heda until Queen Nia declares otherwise." Clarke was unable to tell if her tone was mocking but it had the effect of angering Lexa twofold. The warrior clutched her sword with her lips firmly pressed together. Clarke felt the need to calm her. Savannah leaned forward in her seat speaking softly. "I will give you a head start." Savannah grinned and unsheathed her own weapon waving it precariously. The soldiers amongst her did the same. "And Heda," she added last minute leaning coyly in her saddle. "Tell Masou hello."

"You will die for this," Lexa declared turning the reigns around and kicking her horse fiercely. Clarke followed her lead and together they rushed off into the rain. Her heart raced. Her next thought was of Masou and the obvious threat these two clans now posed. In the distance she could make out the horses sitting in wait until ordered after them.

They rode for hours nonstop. Jacob's cries continued and she was surprised that his voice was still able to carry. He had a good set of lungs on him, which she knew already, but she still felt badly when his voice grew hoarse. She longed to hold him but dared not request for a rest especially since the Grassland horsemen had only recently ceased their pursuit.

Her rear was numb and her thighs were barely able to grip around the mare. She would probably loose her seat at this rate. Rebekah looked similarly fatigued, although she had the benefit of Coltrane at her back providing support.

The rain began to recede but her hood had long since fallen back and her hair was soaked. The water dripped into her eyes and she wiped it away and brushed a lock of stringy hair away from her face. She shivered in the cool air longing to curl up on a fur blanket in front of a fire and sleep until spring came.

"Lexa!' she called at the woman riding ahead of her. Her back was stressed that much she could tell. Clarke could see no sign indicating that she had heard or was simply ignoring her. "Lexa!" She said more persistently mildly exasperated. Lexa still did not respond.

"Amelia!" she tried another tactic. The warrior cocked her head and Clarke was glad she took no other chances while her son cried in her arms atop a large horse. The mare under her stumbled briefly and Clarke feared that her horse was near exhausted. "The horses need to rest," she pleaded. Amelia spared her a glance as did a few of the others but all were silent.

Lexa's horse began to slow marginally until she came to a dead stop. The stallion dropped to one knee panting as she lowered to the ground. Coltrane grabbed Rebekah and dismounted in a hurry as their horse dropped to the side in a cold sweat gasping for breath. Clarke's horse faired little better but was stable enough to stand until she unseated. The mares' head drooped and Clarke petted her neck in apology before rushing over to Amelia and freeing her arms of her burden. Jacob's cries were pitiful at this point and Clarke felt the insecurity and apprehension that she had felt initially when considering bringing him along. He was unharmed and she buried her nose in his stomach calming herself more than him. He was safe, he was alive, and they all were here none worse for wear. But they also had made more enemies with not just one but two clans. Although, Clarke looked at Lexa's back as she spoke with Brie and Alec calmly, it was not unforeseen.

Clarke checked in with Rebekah making sure the girl was okay. She promised to take care of her and she planned to do just that. She was tired and a little frightened, but otherwise holding up well, partly thanks to Coltrane. He cared for her, and Clarke ignored his impassive face and his regard. She knew he was concerned for her; she knew his expressions well enough. The rest of their party was fine, but one of Lexa's guards, Torrin, had an arrow embedded into his upper back.

Jacob's cried himself into a restless doze and she took advantage of this by securing him onto her front freeing up her hands. Torrin shuddered in pain as she tried to decipher how deeply the arrow was imbedded. Jonah handed her the medical bag and she took out bandages and antiseptic. She cleaned her hands and apologized absently as she moved aside his clothing.

Her hands skimmed the edges of the wound while the other used her knife to cut away the clothing.

"You're lucky," she stated to the warrior who held back a grimace. "The rain and your clothing stopped the arrow head from imbedding." The wound was oozing blood steadily, but not enough to worry. She opened her mouth to explain how she was going to remove it when he reached his right arm behind and pulled the arrow away with a grunt. He dropped it to the side and Clarke sighed rolling her eyes. "Well, that's effective. In the meantime I'm going to clean it," she said with authority when he tried to move away from her. "It could be poisoned." He settled and she thanked him with a touch of sarcasm. She finished bandaging him and gave her supplies back to Jonah with a tired smile.

Lexa walked up to her as Clarke stood brushing off her knees futilely. The earth was wet and she was dirty and travel weary; they all were. Lexa held herself rigid in front of her. Clarke could see the fury beneath her skin and she reached out to lay a hand on the warriors shoulder. The touch anchored her and Lexa grasped the hand on her arm tightly. They said nothing for a moment but Lexa's eyes were iron and she turned a downward gaze to Jacob. The crinkles at her eyes softened and in the next moment she cupped the side of Clarke's face. She brought their heads closer until their foreheads touched and only then did she let out a sigh and closed her eyes inhaling deeply.

"You are well?" Lexa's voice was but a whisper. Clarke made a brief nod against her forehead.

Lexa moved addressing their camp. "We travel on foot until sunset. We leave at first light back to Coa," she said referring to the homeland of the Marsh Clan.

They rested for another half hour until the horses were deemed well enough to walk. Rebekah and Coltrane's horse required incentive so she provided them with a fresh apple. Rebekah sliced the apple in pieces sneaking one when she thought no one was looking. It grew dark faster than they could walk and Lexa called for camp to be made. Clarke immediately went to feed her son. She smiled as he garbled the gruel and paused holding the bottle away from him trying to slow him down.

Patrols were set for the evening in teams of two. Of one thing was certain, very little rest was to be achieved this evening. She hefted Jacob onto her shoulder patting his back. Lexa sat next to her on a blanket and Clarke scooted onto it at her insistence. It was better than nothing and separated her from the cold ground. She almost missed the dull thrum of the Ark's air machines and the hard steel. It was never comfortable, but at least it was solid, and dry.

"You should rest Klark."

"So should you."

"I will find no rest this night," Lexa responded.

"You can't do anything right now. Rest, you'll need it. We all will."

"She has turned them against me," Lexa said tersely and then added, "and the Coalition that they pledged loyalty to."

"Heya," Clarke said firmly. "Look at me," she ordered and Lexa did so reluctantly. "Two of them follow her, three against nine, ten if I have anything to say about it."

"More of my people will die."

"People die every day," Clarke reminded her. "Isn't that what you told me?"

"Not like this, this is why I united the clans. To prevent us from killing each other in petty squabbles." She sat back her hands going up to her knees. "The Mountain Men were already slaughtering us." Clarke looked at the impassive face of the Commander and tried a different tactic.

"This isn't what I want," Clarke began slowly but with resolve. "I don't want to keep taking lives. That's why I left Camp Jaha and my people, so I could be nothing for a while and settle my soul and every emotion I had. My people were safe, I was…still alive, and I didn't know what to do with that life. But I still have it, that desire to protect and to kill to protect. I didn't think I was capable of fighting for anything anymore, until I met your family, until I found Jacob. Now it's all changing again."

Clarke nodded feeling the resolution settle in her chest. She set her hand atop Lexa's. "I can do it, Lexa. I can be strong again. Let me match your strength with my own. If you need my strength, I can give it to you. We will keep our people alive."

Lexa's eyes never wavered and there was light in her eyes as she stared at Clarke. "You were always strong, the strongest. You had love. Having something to protect makes your will fiercer than any metal blade. You are truly the brightest of stars."

Clarke had a small self-depreciating smile on her lips. "You have a lot of faith in me. Why is that?"

"One day, I will tell you. For now, let us rest."

"I thought you weren't going to," Clarke asked deciding not to press the subject despite her curiosity. Lexa shrugged, closed her eyes and shifted until she was close enough to lean against Clarke.

They awoke early as planned and to Clarke's chagrin they mounted the rested horses and headed towards Coa at a grueling pace. Clarke groaned and bounced in her seat, as her legs were too tired to hold her up. At least it was not raining. The weather was cooperating quite well and she hoped it lasted.

"Are you tired Skai Prisa?" Amelia's amused tone asked from beside her.

Clarke rolled her neck. "What gave that away?" she responded with no small amount of sarcasm.

"The more distance we put between us and the enemy the better," Brie interjected. Clarke rolled her eyes away from the woman wondering why whenever she spoke it came off as condescending, rude, and always directed at her.

"We must also deliver a warning to Masou. His clan is in danger being so close to the enemy." Jonah added and Clarke silently agreed. She liked the leader of the Marsh Clan and they needed to show that they could protect their friends and allies.

"It is at the discretion of Heda that we do this," came Brie's pretentious voice.

Clarke puffed her cheeks and released a breath ignoring her superior attitude.

"How are you feeling?" Clarke asked Torrin on the other side of Brie.

The warrior stared straight ahead and for a moment she thought he was going to ignore her. Instead, he turned his head and gave a respectful nod of his head.

"You're welcome," she said under her breath. Good thing she had learned the value of actions and to get by with a little less chatter.

"Enough," Lexa raised her hand at the others and all talking ceased.

Bird's rose in the air from the trees. In the distance several clouds of smoke became apparent.

"What's that?" Rebekah asked riding in front of Coltrane as yesterday.

"It's smoke," responded Amelia.

"That's a lot for this time of day." Austin commented.

Clarke gazed at the curling tendrils rising in the sky. "It's smoke, from fire," she said in realization Savannah's warning coming back in a rush. She kicked her horse into a gallop and heard the shouts behind her, but she could only think of Masou's grinning face and the foreign people who had welcomed her with respect.

She nearly dove from her horse just as the mare stopped. It was no easy task considering she had a babe on her person. She heard the others rushing to follow her. The villagers paid her no attention. They all ran by her with their own purpose and did not see the living legend amongst them as they had on her first arrival.

The air was thick with smoke. Thick curtains rose from the still burning buildings of the modest village belonging to the Marsh Grounders. It appeared as if the water was burning. Most of the dwellings were built along the sinking ground and in the trees. It was a horrifying sight. Clarke was dumb struck as she looked on and also filled with such horror and helplessness as she heard the others dismount behind her.

They were too late. The Ice Nation had beaten them despite the warning. It was as much of a warning as a taunt coming from an ally of the Ice Nation. Her newest acquaintance and ally was most likely dead. Clarke sent up a prayer for Masou hoping he was not amongst the ones still in the dwellings and wreckage as they continued to burn.

"Prisa?" Rebekah whispered in a small disbelieving gasp from atop her own mount with Coltrane at her side.

Her fists curled at her sides as she saw the destruction. The urge to help search for survivors and care for the wounded was a strong compulsion, but so was the burning rage consuming her.

"We need to contain the fires!" She heard Lexa order behind her. There were people yelling and people rushing around her working hard to contain what was already out of control.

"Klark," Lexa said as a hand rested on her shoulder. Clarke felt its weight.

"I was so stupid. I didn't know she would…I thought she was bluffing." Her eyes filled with unshed tears. This was only the beginning and a message for both of them. There was no way to know how this had happened, but she was going to do her best to find out. If Queen Nia wanted a war this was a great way to help it along. If Savannah knew about Masou, what else was also a threat, or a message?

… I will take your gift.

"This is not your fault."

"I know." She said after a moment. Clarke spun around and Lexa's hand relinquished its position from atop her shoulder. "We're going to kill her."

Despite the gravity of the situation, Lexa felt pleased to hear such enmity within Clarke's declaration. For a time, when Clarke had been gathering her own following to leave Leston and listening to the opinions of those around her, Lexa had an inkling of doubt that the blond would choose to stay out of the clan disputes, or worse side with Queen Nia. That was the worse thing that could happen. If she sided with Queen Nia, more than one clan might follow her lead.

You may be heartless Lexa, but at least you're smart.

"Yes, we will." She nodded resolutely.

Neither of them was heartless, and they had more wit and strength between the two of them to level the mountains and calm the seas. Together, they could do anything. With the two of them uniting the clans they would surely destroy the Azgeda's vicious Queen. With the decimated village in front of them the rest of the clans would gather and choose sides more readily. It was time for war once, but now it was not one united people against a shared enemy or foreigners, it was brothers and sisters fighting against one another. If Masou survived, he was either going to recede from uniting against Queen Nia or fiercely detest her. His decision would most likely sway other clans more strongly to their side or frighten them away for certain and plead with Queen Nia to spare them.

The time to find out if Masou was alive enough to make such decision would come swiftly. But first they needed to rescue those that were still fighting for their lives and homes.

Clarke grabbed her medical kit and urged Rebekah to assist her. Lexa braced Clarke's arm for a moment before she could rush away.

"Protect her," she ordered Clarke's friends and loyal guardsmen and two of her personal guards to follow.

It was likely that the enemy still lingered. While Clarke was formidable in battle her skills lie with diplomacy and healing, and Lexa was not about to relinquish the woman who held her heart to danger needlessly, despite her independent nature. Clarke detested when she hovered, and Lexa had her own matters to attend to. They could not always be at the others side.

Jus drein jus daun.

"Fisa!" someone called in the distance causing both of them to turn. A woman with a nasty head wound was wavering frantically trying to gain her attention. She was kneeling next to a man covered in blood.

Clarke pulled her arm free gently. She stepped closer to Lexa and ghosted her fingers over the side of her face.

"Protect yourself. I've got work to do."

Lexa smirked and with a returning nod Clarke rushed to the aid of the one that had called for her. Rebekah rushed by Lexa trying to stay attached to her mentor's hip but nodded determinedly to Lexa as she passed. Lexa drew her sword stoically.

"Heda." One of her soldiers stated. She turned recognizing Torrin. He looked eagerly beyond her at Clarke tending to the wounded. It amused her that Clarke had won over yet another one of her warriors. The man glanced significantly at Clarke once more and Lexa nodded giving him permission to follow her. She practically had to refrain her warriors going to Clarke's aid. Good, it was just the way she wanted it.

"Heda." Another nameless face called to her. More chants followed calling her name.

"Find Masou," she ordered Braylen and Alec with a bark.

Lexa looked around at the many stricken and blood splattered faces in the village. "Tend to the wounded, and find those that have betrayed us. Blood must be spilt for this treachery. Let us find out whose blood it shall be!" With a roar she raised her sword and cheers followed.

I hope you continue to enjoy. As always that you for the support. For those of you that review as Guests please sign in so I can thank you for your reviews. In case you don't thank you anyway!