"NO! No, no!" Clarke's screaming filled the tent.
"Clarke!" Lexa was shaking her gently and cupping her cheek trying to wake her. She was having a nightmare.
Clarke's eyes fluttered open and her breath was rapid as she tried to catch it. She instantly pulled herself into Lexa's lap beside her and clutched to her back. Lexa held her and began stroking her hair once again, "I've got you, it's okay Clarke," she cooed soothingly. She let her other hand rub small circles on Clarke's lower back.
Clarke buried her face against Lexa's skin. The warmth between their two bodies was helping calm her down. She soaked it in slowed her breathing and broke her mind from the nightmare.
Except it wasn't a nightmare.
All of that happened. And in a few hours she would have to face it all over again.
But now, she wasn't alone. She felt stronger today. She had Lexa. She had Lexa holding her tight and protectively. She was her safe harbour in the shit storms they kept finding themselves in. Clarke laid a kiss on Lexa's neck, "I love you," she said quietly against her skin. She didn't know what she would do without the girl that was holding her tight. She'd probably still be screaming bloody murder in the field. Clarke felt Lexa lace kisses on her head before she shifted and lifted Clarke's chin.
Her eyes peered into Clarke's blue "I love you too." Lexa's voice was soft but very warm. She tilted her head and kissed Clarke with every ounce of love she had within her, Clarke could feel it. It made her heart roar and shoot warmth out into her body making her feel alive. The kiss was tender but passionate. It was full of sadness from the recent few days but also overflowing with love. Clarke felt all of it.
Clarke leaned back out of the kiss and stroked Lexa's cheek. They got lost in each other's eyes for some time after that just finding the solace they shared whenever they did so. Clarke knew Lexa had her own massacre to deal with over the last few days, it broke her heart to see the pain lingering behind the perfect green of her eyes.
"It was bad," Clarke said sympathetically, staring at her.
Lexa nodded and Clarke saw tears welling to her eyes. She adjusted to she could bring Lexa's head into her neck and she felt the brunette begin to clutch at her while her tears fell. "It's okay Lex. I've got you Love," Clarke whispered into her hair. "We'll figure this out. I promise."
Clarke held on to Lexa for some time. She let her cry until she couldn't any longer. She held on long after they heard the camp rising with the new morning. Their chests began to rise and fall as one once more. They finally separated and dressed. Clarke was feeling lightheaded from the fever. Lexa had food and drink brought to the tent and Clarke filled her belly. She couldn't stomach much but she felt extremely better once she had her blood sugars rise again. She did not fail to notice that Lexa ate just as little as her.
They helped each other with their armor and weapons. Clarke was in another long black coat of Lexa's and a pair of her black pants. Lexa wore her brown fur coat with the hood, her commander sash flowing freely off her shoulder. Her hair was braided; she wore no war paint.
"Are you going to explain how you got these bruises," Lexa began saying now standing in front of Clarke. She raised her hand to her face and gently stroked Clarke's split lip with her thumb, she kissed it sweetly, "and this?"
Clarke gave her a very small smile; "Octavia did it while we were sparring. Don't worry, I got a few of my own in. It was my idea."
Lexa furrowed her brow, before she kissed Clarke once more. She understood. She knew how the motions would help ease stress and expel energy. It was something they both did.
Clarke pulled Lexa by the hand to sit down at the war table. She pulled the brunette into her lap. Lexa put her arm around her shoulders and rested her forehead on Clarke's. They took a deep breath together soaking each other's presence in once more. "So, are you going to tell me what happened?" Clarke asked quietly. She didn't want to upset her but they had to deal with this. She needed facts to go along with her thoughts and worries.
She felt Lexa sigh against her, "595 souls lost in Runai and Tuneco."
Clarke shook her head confused, "Tuneco too?"
Lexa nodded, "Yes. Both burned. I sent riders to warn our allies and we have the ambassadors meeting in Polis in two weeks."
Clarke shivered, massacres, three massacres to be exact.
"Eight hundred and six," Clarke whispered. Lexa nodded in understanding of the total body count and they pulled each other close in a tight embrace again.
"You need to see your mother. You know she is driving herself mad with worry," Lexa said gently rising and holding a hand out to Clarke. Clarke nodded and took it. They left the tent together in silence, hand in hand.
The morning air was very cold this morning. The frost was thick and their breaths were giant puffs of white smoke. They walked slowly through the make-shift village and were both surprised to find SkaiKru tents intermingled with TriKru tents. The groups were friendly since Mount Weather but seeing the comradery between their clans in the wake of the massacres made them squeeze each other's hands tighter. Clarke had feared it would tear them apart but once again, this world could surprise her. Their people could surprise them. She saw pride in Lexa's eyes and she was certain her eyes held the same pride. This didn't need to break them; just like Lexa and Clarke this could push them to rise above it together.
"Clarke! Lexa!" Clarke heard Abby shout as she quickle made her way over to them. She put her head between the two rils and wrapped them both into a giant hug. "I was so worried about you two," she whispered through tears.
When she finally released them Clarke saw Lexa wipe a spare tear from her eye.
Clarke squeezed her hand and gave her a funny look. It was like she didn't expect Abby to care about them both. Clarke smiled warmly at her and kissed her on the cheek before squeezing her hand once more. When she turned to look at her mom again she saw a giant grin on her face after watching the interaction. She grabbed them in a hug once more.
"Mom. Mom come on, Heda of the thirteen clans can't be hugging so much in public." Clarke was trying to shrug out of the hug. Funnily enough, she did not feel Lexa trying to shake it. She smiled again as little warm tingles spread throughout her body. She fucking loved this woman.
"I am glad you are well too Abby," Lexa said softly with a small smile. She meant it. Clarke smiled again watching the two.
"Where's Raven?" Clarke asked looking around.
"She's with Octavia. This way," Abby said as she turned and they followed her through the tents and trees.
Clarke pulled Lexa along a little quicker when she found Raven and O. She pulled them both to their knees beside the girls. Only then did Clarke release her grip on Lexa and reach for her friend. She put a hand in Octavia's before stroking Raven's cheek with the other. "Hey," she said quietly when Raven looked at her.
She was lying down but looked ten times better than when Clarke had last seen her. "Hey Clarke, can you tell her to stop looking at me like that," Raven gestured lazily to Octavia.
Clarke smiled at her friend before she looked at O who still had tears in her eyes. Clarke felt a small pang in her heart at the sight, as she did she also felt Lexa's hand rub soothingly on her back. The pain went away with each stroke. Clarke squeezed Octavia's hand, "O stop looking at her like that."
Octavia sniffled and laughed, "Are you feeling alright?" She was looking at Clarke now. Perhaps she was happy to get her mind off of yesterday's events.
Clarke nodded, "Yeah much better now." She glanced at Lexa and smiled. She knew why she felt better today. "You didn't have any symptoms?"
"No, I've been fine. Just tired."
"I told you to sleep dummy," Raven mumbled grumpily.
Clarke saw Octavia grin slightly and shake her head, "Shut up. I couldn't." Clarke knew why. She could feel it. She felt it in the mechanic bay yesterday; Octavia was scared for Raven's life. Clarke couldn't help but think Octavia may just be in love with Raven as well as Lincoln. She also couldn't help but think Octavia might be accepting that fact herself as she watched her rub her hand on her thigh lovingly.
"Clarke," Lexa said quietly her hand still on her back.
"I know," Clarke said just as quietly. The other two girls looked at them confused. Clarke ignored their looks, "We need to know what happened here yesterday."
Raven nodded, "A guard found an Ice Nation member in the woods by the river. He brought him here and Abby was checking him over in the med-bay. I guess she sliced his arm open and they took him to lock up. That's where he started spitting blood everywhere and I guess infected them. After that things escalated quickly."
Clarke shivered. That's exactly what she thought had happened.
Raven continued in their eerie silence, "People started screaming and losing it, they saw things that weren't there. They started turning on each other and themselves. We tried to get those that were outside the Ark to safety. Thank god for your mom and Bellamy, Clarke. They saved those people." Clarke saw Raven shiver. "Wick and I tried to get Monroe away from that guard, he kept screaming at her and threatening us. Wick tried to slow him down while we radioed you…that's when- you know," Raven said referring to Wick dying. "Anyways, then the guard came in and I popped the smoke and took Monroe with me into the vent."
Clarke saw Octavia wipe another tear from her eye. Clarke knew she was thinking of them finding Raven clutching to a dead Monroe and screaming to not be left alone. She had been terrified and delirious. Clarke shivered and leaned back slightly into Lexa.
"I am glad you are okay Raven," Lexa broke the silence.
Raven grinned at her. "Thanks. I'm thankful to be here," she smiled at Octavia now who rolled her eyes and laughed.
Clarke felt Lexa move to stand up and Clarke immediately followed her motion. She placed her hand back in Lexa's and felt the familiar heat and invisible sparks between them. Clarke looked at her curiously, there was something going on in her head and Clarke couldn't figure out quite what it was. She saw concern on her face and fear in her eyes. She could feel how conflicted Lexa was.
They walked through the tents towards the tree line. Lexa stopped them just before the open space so they were still in cover.
"Are you going to tell me what you're so conflicted about?" Clarke said quietly turning to face her.
Lexa gave her a small smile and sighed. She laced their hands together and looked into Clarke's eyes. "There is something major in play here Clarke," her voice was low and warning. "The villages, we have no evidence of Ice Nation, Broadleaf or Shallow Valley. The Ice Nation who killed himself and spread the sickness in the Ark can be passed off as a rogue member."
"You don't believe they aren't related," Clarke said knowingly. Lexa was too smart for that.
"You know I don't. They are most definitely related. But we require proof."
"It get's worse doesn't it?" There was something Lexa was withholding and she was going to press her until she spilled the beans. When Lexa didn't respond Clarke went in at it again, "Ron ai ridiyo op Lex." Tell me the truth Lex.
Lexa looked at her with devotion and nodded, "I have but a warning; A warning that goes along with a feeling. Nothing more."
Clarke took a deep breath and nodded, "Bring it on."
Lexa gave her a small smile, "Roma, the leader of Runai. She was like a second mother to me; she was my birth mother's second love. I found her mutilated but still alive. She gave me one warning before she died, one warning that referred to us…"
Clarke shivered and began to cry for Lexa. She stroked her cheek softly as she saw sadness in her green eyes, "I'm so sorry for your loss Lexa." She kissed her cheek and pulled her close before Lexa pulled back to continue.
Lexa repeated the warning word for word eyeing Clarke the entire time. "She sees all. She knows. Protect her. Protect Clarke, Lexa. Yu holde wamplei gon bai. Em holde fleime, faya en sonraun." You hold death at bay. She holds flame, fire and life.
"So..." Clarke screwed up her eyes as Lexa finished. "What the fuck does that mean?"