The healer knocked on her door sometime later and informed her that he was finished. Clarke went to check on Bellamy and saw that he was still unconscious, but now his arms were set into splints, ramrod straight. She checked his pulse by the artery in his neck first, then she checked each wrist and felt the bones to make sure they had been set properly and that his circulation was normal again. All was well. Abby might not have much to do when she saw him.
The ropes were cutting into him too harshly, Clarke could see the red marks they were making so she untied him and laid him down on the floor on his back. She tied his feet together and bound him again to the post. Even with his arms as injured as they were, she knew he would try to free himself if that was all she did, so she used the remaining rope to loop it around his neck – tight enough so that he couldn't slip it, loose enough so that he wasn't in danger of asphyxiation. She knotted the end of it to the leg of a couch a few feet away. If Bellamy tried to sit up, he would strangle himself.
Satisfied that he was secure and stable for the time being, she left Lexa's room again and went back into her own. Raven had asked her to check back in later that day to keep her updated on Bellamy's situation and Clarke agreed before she set the radio down, unwilling to touch it again for a while.
Morning light shone through the shutters and Clarke realized that she should probably get dressed for the summit. There was nothing else she could do except wash up, change, and wait for Lexa to return with news of whether or not Bellamy Blake would live or die.
She was trying to make her hair somewhat presentable using the cloudy looking glass on the wall when she heard the door of the suite open and Lexa's footsteps in the hall.
Putting the comb down, she took a step towards her door when Lexa opened it all of a sudden. She didn't seem surprised to see Clarke in her own room again. She'd expected it.
"Your mother and the Skaikru delegation have arrived in Polis," she said wearily. "They will-"
Clarke launched herself into Lexa's arms, hugging her fiercely. Lexa was taken off guard and she was stiff against her for a moment before relaxing into Clarke's embrace and slowly wrapped her arms around her in return. Clarke buried her face in the crook of Lexa's neck, breathing her in.
"I have not told you what will happen to him yet," Lexa said quietly.
Clarke tightened her embrace. "This isn't about him."
Lexa leaned her head against Clarke's affectionately, using that moment to soak her in, just as Clarke was. Lexa's formal clothes were heavy and rough. Clarke wanted to tear it all away so that she could truly feel Lexa against her again, soft and bare, and strong, but they didn't have time for that so this would have to make do.
It was a long, comfortable silence in which they were both content to simply hold each other, knowing how rare such opportunities were for them to be together like this. Clarke took solace in Lexa's embrace, reminding herself that Lexa was alive, Lexa was safe, and Lexa was with her again. She didn't ever want to let go.
Unable to hold herself back anymore, Clarke lifted her head to meet Lexa's eyes, smiling when she saw the adoration that awaited her in those deep green eyes... Her hands went up to cup Lexa's face and she kissed her slowly...lingeringly.
"I'm sorry," she whispered between kisses.
Lexa was in a daze from all of Clarke's attention. "For what?" she mumbled, still seeking Clarke's lips.
"For Bellamy. You could have died and it was my fault. I'm so sorry."
"We make our own choices, Clarke. You did not force him to come here."
"He did it because I ran away. Because I was a coward. And it almost cost you your life..."
Lexa kissed her fiercely, almost punishingly.
"I am here, Clarke. And you will stop blaming yourself."
"Can you stay here for a little longer then?"
Lexa smiled softly. "As long as you need," she murmured.
She kissed her lips sweetly, then the tip of her nose, and her forehead, before she brought Clarke back into her embrace. Clarke turned her head in and rested against Lexa's shoulder. She just needed a little more time. A little more time like this to have her warm and unfailingly strong against her. Instead of wrapping her arm around her now, Clarke dropped her hands to Lexa's sides and slipped her hands into hers, interlocking their fingers as they stayed pressed against each other.
"I was afraid, Lexa."
She breathed in sharply. "I will keep you safe, you must know that by now."
Clarke shook her head. "Not for me."
"Oh," Lexa uttered quietly. "Clarke, I can protect myself. Many foes, much stronger and smarter than Bellamy have tried to kill me. They failed as he did. They will continue to fail."
"Good."
"You needn't worry about your people. I promise that whoever my successor is, they will swear allegiance to the Skaikru."
Clarke swallowed thickly. She hated that Lexa's first thought was that her fear was for the well being of her people. But how could she begrudge her for that? Clarke had given her no reason to believe anything else.
"This is not about my people."
Lexa fell silent and Clarke could feel the other girl's muscles tensing against her, her grip tightening, as she waited for what was coming next.
"Lexa, you-"
"Heda, taim don kom op."
Commander, it is time.
Lexa bit back her frustration with a growl and glared so fiercely at the attendant who interrupted them that the woman flinched as if she'd been struck.
"S-senronas hir em op gaf in stot au," she said nervously.
The a-ambassadors have gathered and they wish to begin.
"Weron Skaikru kamp raun?" Lexa asked tautly.
Where are the Sky People?
"Kapa sobwe na Indra."
The city gates with Indra.
"Taim tel senronas osir set raun na kom op Skaikru," she said, exasperated.
Then tell the ambassadors we wait for the Sky People.
"Heda." The attendant bowed dutifully and backed out of the room, leaving them alone once more.
Lexa turned back to Clarke.
"Guess that was as long as I needed," Clarke said with a rueful smile.
Lexa was frustrated, but resigned to their duty. "We must go."
She looked like she wanted to do anything but. Clarke definitely shared that feeling.
"The guards are going to take Bellamy to a secure area."
"Your prison?" Clarke clarified.
Lexa lowered her eyes in affirmation.
"Is it the same thing as 'the Pit' they talked about before?"
"No, it is not."
Clarke sighed in relief. At least he wouldn't be in some hellhole and he'd probably still be unconscious for a while longer.
"My mother and Octavia will want to see him first thing."
"I will arrange it."
Clarke nodded and drummed her fingers against her arm nervously. Lexa had moved away when she was talking to the attendant and Clarke didn't know if she'd be as receptive to closeness again when they were supposed to be on their way to the throne room already.
This was happening too fast. She just needed to wrap her mind around it.
Bellamy was going to be imprisoned and she was going to be face to face with her mother again after months.
She could handle this.
Abby was not going to take the news of having to join the Coalition with Bellamy's punishment very well, but Clarke hoped that Kane and Lincoln's presence would be able to make a difference.
"No chance I could convince you to run away with me, right?" She chuckled awkwardly. "We could go now – it would be hours before anyone figures out we've really left. I've gotten the hang of this place and I know a really good secret exit..."
"Clarke."
"Yeah, I didn't think so. Worth a shot?" she said with a grin, but when Lexa didn't seem to share her playfulness, she sobered thoughtfully.
And then it hit her.
Lexa pushed the hair away from Clarke's eyes with a gentle smile, but Clarke wasn't having it.
"You've never thought about running, have you?" she asked, already knowing the answer, peering into Lexa's eyes.
"No."
Clarke stared at her in a mixture of awe and bewilderment.
"How?" she whispered. "How could you never even just fantasize about it once...what it would be like... With all the pressure you've had on you from the time you were twelve. Lexa..."
Lexa sighed, realizing that Clarke wasn't going to let this one go.
"The Commander before me, my predecessor, he abandoned his post," she explained. "I was very young, but because of his selfish actions, I witnessed...great suffering." Her voice grew thick and her eyes cloudy with the weight of memory. "Thousands perished in a series of bloody, senseless battles between the clans. People were ripped to shreds because chaos reigned with no master to guide them. I made a vow to myself that if I was chosen, I would never abandon my post as he did. I know all too well what would happen in my absence, Clarke. To entertain the notion of a different life is not possible. This is who I am, this is how it must be, and I will not leave them until it is time for my spirit to pass on."
Clarke sighed, taking it all in with a nod, then she tilted her head to the side. "You're not planning on your spirit passing anytime soon, are you?"
"I would hope to put it off a while yet..." Lexa said, a playful quirk in the corner of her mouth.
Clarke frowned, swallowing thickly. "Do you think I was wrong to leave my people?"
Lexa considered it for a moment and spoke carefully, "I think you made the only choice you could. Your people do need you, Clarke, but you have others to rely on. Heda does not."
"That didn't really answer my question."
"You are here, Clarke," Lexa said firmly. "However it happened, I am grateful for that. Now we must go, there is much to be done."
She leaned in and kissed her chastely before turning to leave.
Clarke stayed rooted to the spot, trying to absorb all that had just happened, all that was going to happen. She stared after Lexa, watching the empty door that she'd just exited.
"Wait a minute..." she said, brow creasing, and went running after her. "Wha-! Lexa, that still wasn't an answer!"
Clarke greeted her mother tensely and she tried to ignore how uncomfortable she was to have Abby hugging her and touching her. She couldn't refuse it though. Abby just wanted to know she was real, that she was safe, and alive. Octavia and Lincoln stood in the background while Kane was next to Abby.
Clarke had to repeat it several times before Abby finally seemed to accept that Lexa hadn't taken her prisoner. When she finally managed to convince her of that, she invited them all to sit down so that she could explain the situation with the Azgeda, what had truly transpired, repeat Lexa's offer to join the Coalition, and finally...drop Bellamy on them. They refused to sit so Clarke stood rigid before them and went through it all. When she finished, they were all silent as if they'd been dealt a blow. Honestly, it was a blow...several of them.
Octavia shook her head angrily. "We can't let Lexa kill him."
"He tried to kill her," Clarke replied evenly.
She glared at Clarke. "He thought he was saving you from her!"
"In the beginning he did," she nodded, "but he found out otherwise when he arrived in Polis. He knew I wasn't her prisoner when he attacked, but he did it anyway. He admitted it."
"Why would he do that?"
"Because he's Bellamy!" Clarke said bitterly. "He acts without thinking and decides what's best for other people on his terms. You know that even better than I do, Octavia."
"Are you saying my brother deserves this?" she hissed, moving closer to Clarke, tense as a snake ready to strike. Lincoln touched her side, reminding her wordlessly to stay in control of her emotions.
"Lexa is trying to reason with her advisers and Indra is in there now giving testimony on Bellamy's behalf. I don't know if it will work, but she's trying to find a way to show him mercy."
"Why did the Commander not kill him at once?" Lincoln asked.
"She thought he was Ice Nation sent to assassinate her. She wanted him alive to extract information, but when we saw it was Bellamy..."
"We?" Abby echoed. "You were there? I thought you said he attacked her when she was sleeping."
Every molecule in Clarke's body was screaming with her fight or flight response, but there was no going back from this and she wouldn't hide. Clarke held her ground and met her mother's eyes unflinchingly.
She had nothing to be ashamed of.
Abby heard what Clarke didn't say and she looked away, nodding slowly to herself. The judgment in her eyes was only one that a daughter could recognize from her mother, but Clarke didn't care. Abby didn't understand and Clarke had no desire to help her understand. It was only for her and Lexa to know.
Octavia had no patience for any of this.
"Where is he?" she demanded. "I want to see him now."
"You can see him, but Mom, he's been hurt. You should go too."
"Hurt?" Octavia repeated, panicked. "Hurt how?"
"They broke his arms when they were subduing him."
Octavia and Abby were horrified, Kane seemed sympathetic, but Lincoln was impassive...he knew that Bellamy was lucky to get away with only a couple broken bones.
"He attacked the Commander," Clarke reiterated, trying to impress upon them the gravity of his crime. "He snuck into the mansion, assaulted a sentry, and held a loaded gun to Lexa's head. And instead of realizing his mistake, he shouted that she deserved to die. The fact that he is alive at all, whether or not wholly intact, is nothing short of a miracle and Lexa's wisdom."
"We understand, Clarke," Kane said reassuringly, squeezing her shoulder.
That was when Clarke realized she had spoken rather passionately with few breaths in between, so she was breathing a little harder than she should have been. Lincoln was watching her with soft curiosity that made Clarke uncomfortable because he looked like he knew far more than he should.
Clarke looked between her mother and Octavia before waving one of the sentries over.
"Take them to the Skaikru prisoner."
"Sha, Wanheda." He nodded and started out of the room with Octavia close behind.
Abby barely had time to register this jarring development, whether it was Clarke being obeyed by the Grounders, being referred to by her title, or the fact that Clarke had referred to Bellamy as "the Skaikru prisoner", because she had to leave as well in order to catch up to them.
Clarke turned back to Kane and Lincoln.
"Is the Azgeda Haimplana truly dead?" Lincoln asked, moving closer.
"Yes."
He looked at Kane and some kind of understanding passed between them.
"Lexa is committed to this war?" Kane asked her.
"She's committed to ending it as quickly as possible."
"Azgeda's army is the second largest-" Lincoln began, but Clarke cut him off.
"We're well aware of that. But there are pieces in place already. If that doesn't work, then I believe that our people will be instrumental in ending this. Alone, we would be destroyed in an instant, but if we have the numbers and our advanced weaponry...we will win this with as little bloodshed as possible. War is inevitable, but we have a way to survive it."
"By swearing allegiance to Lexa."
"And in doing so, she swears allegiance in return. We become her people. We would be under her protection. Our people would be safe from any other Grounder attacks. We would be granted the land that Arkadia stands on as our territory from the Trikru."
"Lincoln?" Kane asked.
He stood with his hands behind his back and his shoulders squared in a warriors stance. "If Skaikru truly wishes for peace and to create a long lasting life here, the Commander's Coalition is the only way. You retain your ways, your culture, your traditions, and you are given peace and power in return. But you sacrifice autonomy. The Chancellor will answer to Heda and you will be subject to her law."
"We agree to follow Lexa or we sign our death warrants," Clarke said. "It's as simple as that."
"Somehow, I don't think your mother will see it that way."
"Then make her see it that way."
"And Bellamy?"
"I don't know," Clarke said simply. "But he cannot be a factor in this decision. It's about saving all of us, not one of us. Bellamy acted alone."
"We can't just abandon him."
"I haven't. But he will face justice for his crime, Kane, and the only person who can decide that right now is Lexa. So focus on our people. That's all you can do."
Lexa walked into the room that already held Clarke and the rest of the ambassadors, save the one from Azgeda. She sat down on her throne and raised her chin, waiting for them to be seated as well.
"The reason for this summit is to initiate Skaikru into the Coalition," she said formally, with a loud and authoritative voice. "Before we begin, we must settle another matter first: Bellamy kom Skaikru."
Lexa still hadn't told Clarke what Bellamy's fate would be and Clarke didn't ask. She didn't want to know. She wanted to put off the burden of knowledge for as long as she could. She steeled herself against it, waiting for the ax to drop, waiting for the grief to swallow her whole. She may hate Bellamy for what he did, but she still loved him for what he was and what he'd done for her in their first few months on the ground. She was alive today because of him. Now she was going to find out what is was to lose him forever.
"The boy committed a grave offense, for which the punishment is death, however, his heroism in the battle for Mount Weather and his good intentions to rescue his leader must be taken into account. You have all heard Indra's testimony that he was not present with her message that Clarke was safe in Polis after Queen Nia had captured her."
Clarke dared to breathe, looking at her with wide eyes. Lexa sounded like she was...
"You're letting him live?" one ambassador burst out incredulously.
"The boy didn't just steal a trinket! He attacked the Blood Commander of the Twelve Clans. He cannot be tolerated to live! Why is this even a question?" another interjected.
"Oh? And what do the Sankru want Heda to do? Bury him alive? That is your answer to everything, Akseli!"
"That raiding party caused the deaths of two Sankru! They got what they deserved, Ilhar."
"You-"
"The boy lives, the boy dies, who cares?" A younger woman cut off their bickering with an annoyed glower.
Clarke didn't recognize her, she was one of the new appointees as part of the regime change.
"He's a child and of no consequence. Heda chooses mercy, it makes no difference to us, but the concern here is the initiation of Skaikru."
"You object to the assimilation, Jarunn?" Lexa said with a raised eyebrow.
"I am hesitant of strangers in our halls, Heda," she replied. "But you are vouching for them and I put my trust in you."
"Skaikru have no knowledge of our ways, our laws, and they have brought nothing but destruction," Akseli, the Sankru ambassador, said. "Why would we invite this into the Coalition?"
"It is my Coalition and Skaikru are a useful ally that will aid us in the coming days," Lexa replied calmly. "As for our laws and our ways, they will learn. We will teach them."
"It is an abomination!"
"Quiet down, Akseli," Jarunn said with a wave of her hand. "I have heard the reports of Skaikru technology. Would you not rather have them standing beside us than against us? Are we to fight a war on every front?"
"War? With those weaklings?" He scoffed. "We could cut them down in an instant."
"You could try," Clarke shot back hotly and glared at him.
"Enough," Lexa interjected firmly. "The decision has already been made. Skaikru will become the 13th clan and you will accept it."
"12th clan if there's anyone left of Azgeda after all this..." Jarunn muttered.
"And what of the assassin?" Akseli demanded, red faced.
"You mean the Sky Boy?" Ihlar, the Lake People ambassador, snorted derisively.
Clarke stiffened.
"If this was any of our people, from any of our clans, you would not be sitting there offering mercy. They would be dead." The ambassador who had spoken was another of the younger ones and he had been quiet until now.
Clarke remembered him from Lexa's quick introductory a few days ago to the titles and background of the other ambassadors. His name was Uzac and he was from the Broad Leaf clan. Lexa didn't like him, but she tolerated him more than some of the others.
"You are right," Lexa replied. "But he was not born to the 12 clans. New to our laws. Has shown loyalty and bravery for his leader. No one was injured in the confusion. For this, I give Skaikru a gift – his life – as we welcome them to the Coalition."
The gnawing pit in Clarke's stomach disappeared and she looked at Lexa openly with gratitude, sucking air into her deprived lungs. Bellamy would live. He would live. From the moment Lexa yanked back that hood and Clarke saw Bellamy's face, she'd slowly seen the world around her losing color, fading... Another loss. Another life gone in her name. The boy who helped her, supported her, became her lifeline, was going to die. Now color was rushing back in, there was hope again, and the sinister whispers from the back of her mind, the ones that spoke of the Mountain, of Finn, of every single life Clarke had taken to be given her title of Wanheda, were firmly shoved back down into the depths where Clarke did not have to listen.
Lexa had softened the blow with the ambassadors and used the Skaikru initiation as a way to deflect attention from her decision to show "mercy". Lexa saved Bellamy when Bellamy never would have returned such a favor. Clarke was in awe of Lexa, watching her as she commanded the room from her throne – seemingly effortless.
"A gift?" Jarunn drawled, looking at Lexa.
Clarke snapped back into the glaring clarity of what was happening around her. There was the strangest sense of familiarity and playfulness between Jarunn and Lexa. None of the other ambassadors dared to speak to the Commander like that.
Clarke didn't like it.
"Skaikru gets a gift to join a Coalition that will mainly serve to protect them while my people were just told, 'Glong raun ai sad in wan op!'"
Join me or choose death!
Lexa rolled her eyes good-naturedly, "And what do you call fifty horses to the Plains Riders from the Tree People, Jarunn?"
"Deserved," she replied with a smirk, raising her eyebrow teasingly.
Clarke wanted to smack her across the face.
Lexa scoffed and returned her attention to all of the ambassadors. "It is finished. Skaikru will join the Coalition and abide the terms of my rule. Bring in the delegation."
Abby, Kane, Lincoln, Octavia, and a few of the Arkadia guards, came into the throne room. They bowed before Lexa and, with a look of understanding between Abby and Kane, Kane held out his arm to accept the brand. He hissed as the iron sizzled against his skin. Panting, he lowered his arm stiffly and stood before Lexa as straight as he could.
"We welcome Skaikru as equals, in the spirit of friendship and harmony. We are eager to share our knowledge and ways with each other."
"We share your sentiment, Commander," he said. "Skaikru are-"
"What do you plan to do with Bellamy?" Abby interrupted him.
Lexa nodded in understanding, excusing Abby for her abrupt and indecorous manner. "Bellamy Blake has committed several crimes: trespass, assault, and treason. The penalty for such crimes is swift execution. However, I mean to begin this union on good terms, so I will allow him to keep his life."
There was an audible sigh of relief among them. Octavia closed her eyes and dropped her head with a smile.
"However, his crime is too severe to go unpunished."
This was the moment Clarke had been waiting for. His life she could beg for, but punishment was deserved, and something unavoidable. She had no idea what Lexa would require to match the crime.
"As such, I hereby declare Bellamy of the Sky People banished."
Abby was startled, Kane seemed to expect it, Lincoln clenched his jaw, Octavia's eyes widened in horror, and Clarke was...relieved.
"He will not be accepted, sheltered, assisted, by any of the 13 clans. If he breaches the terms, he will be found and killed. The same fate awaits anyone who helps him."
"He's banished from the city, yes, but surely you can't expect us to refuse him from rejoining his people?" Abby asked.
"You are now the 13th clan, Chancellor, so, yes, you will refuse him." The warning in Lexa's tone was clear. "He has violated several of our laws and his banishment is justice for his crimes. He will never return to Skaikru in this lifetime."
"That is not-!"
"Skaikru accepts your judgment, Commander," Clarke said quickly, cutting off her mother.
Lexa lowered her head in acknowledgment.
"He will remain imprisoned and isolated until he has recovered from his injuries. You are his healer, you were able to examine him earlier," she said, looking at Abby, "how long will he need?"
Abby drew up her shoulders. "For the fractures to fully heal...and for him to regain full mobility through intensive physical therapy, he will need at least three months, if not more."
"He will have one."
Aghast, Abby wanted to protest, but she was again interrupted with a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"He'll make do," Kane said calmly and nodded at Lexa. "We are grateful for your mercy, Commander."
"You have taken the brand, Marcus kom Skaikru. As the leader of your clan, you must name an ambassador for your people who will remain here while you return to Arkadia. Whom do you name?"
Kane turned to Clarke. "Oh, I think we already named one, didn't we?"
Clarke nodded. "Ai na ste Skaikru senrona...en nami, Heda?"
I will remain the ambassador for the Sky People..if it pleases, the Commander?
She could have sworn Lexa smiled, but it was so faint and fleeting, she thought she might have imagined it.
"We are honored to welcome Wanheda to our halls."
