Clarke woke to soft kisses on her bare shoulder. She let her eyes flutter open as she sighed at the contact. She rolled over to find Lexa's green eyes staring at her. Her neck and tanned shoulders were beautifully exposed from the fur; she adjusted and put her head on Clarke's chest listening to her heart. Clarke swore her heart thumped a little louder just for her ears. She felt Lexa's smile against her bare skin before her lips placed a searing, lasting kiss right above her heart.

"Good morning," Clarke murmured placing a kiss into the wild brown locks. Lexa looked like an angel even in the dim light of the morning and candles.

Her good morning came by way of a kiss. Delicate and sweet before it came more powerful and urgent. It was a good way to wake up Clarke decided.

They lay together longer as the camp around them came to life. They tried to hold on to the serenity in their tent before they faced the day. Today was going to be difficult for everyone. For Clarke it was going to be difficult to once again send Bellamy off on a suicide mission, as well as banishing from his people and his current life. For Lexa, it would be difficult to help Clarke through this. Though necessary, she knew deep down that this would hurt Clarke, despite her showing him mercy.

They took a collective breath together before getting out of the bed. They washed and dressed in silence, Clarke kept her eyes low, as she was deep in thought. She felt guilty. She knew she had few options for Bellamy but still the guilt on her shoulders was there. This had the potential to destroy him and she would play a large role in that destruction due to today. It may have been Bellamy's fault but Clarke would also pay a price for this. Not just for the personal relationship with Bellamy but with her people. Their relationship could forever change after today.

Her people would fear her and her power as they witness her and Lexa banish him. She had already seen it before - but now, after this morning, it would be very, very clear. She assumed a part of them always knew she was calling the shots and making people see reason, but she knew that they liked the idea of an 'adult' like Kane in charge. After today, Kane's authority would only be recognized when she was absent from Arkadia.

After today, Clarke is no longer just an ambassador.

Today, Wanheda becomes the unequivocal leader of SkaiKru.

She pulled Lexa into a hug before she could strap her sword to Clarke's back. She needed the comfort; she needed her strength. She sunk into the strong arms that held her close. It helped keep the guilt and fear away the longer she held her.

"Talk to me Clarke," Lexa breathed, "I can feel so much from you and it's all muddled. What is going on?"

Clarke shuddered slightly trying to speak. The words didn't come out. Lexa began to hum their song and Clarke relaxed a bit more as she listened. Finally when she was about half way through Clarke found the words, "Everything changes today." Lexa remained silent waiting for Clarke to continue, she released her hold when Clarke allowed it. She turned Clarke around so she could place the sword. She then sat Clarke down and began braiding her hair for the day. "After today I really won't be just Clarke," the blonde confessed.

"You were never 'just Clarke'," Lexa told her gently. "Not even when I first heard of the blonde Sky Girl."

"What do you mean?" Clarke asked curiously.

Lexa continued her braiding and Clarke heard a soft sigh. "I mean that when I first heard of your ship landing we sent people to watch you."

"Spies."

"It's good war tact," Lexa defended. "Information is invaluable. I had them watch, and once I joined them." There was no trace of guilt in her voice. Clarke knew Lexa did not regret spying on them one bit.

"So you saw me before I ever entered your tent with Gustus?"

"Not really. Though, I did see the blonde hair and hear your voice," Lexa said softly as if in a dream. The way she said it sent tingles down Clarke's spine.

"When?"

"When that Jasper boy crossed the river," Lexa said flatly.

"The spear," Clarke said remembering.

"Was mine."

Clarke shifted and stared at her in disbelief. Lexa only smiled slightly at her. "I watched him cross the river, the boundary, I knew then that you were heading to the mountain."

"We thought it was the boundary to TriKru territory," Clarke said softly loving the way Lexa's hands felt in her hair and on her scalp.

"It is part of the borderlands," Lexa explained.

"So you tried to kill Jasper to warn us?" Clarke said without condescension. She already understood Lexa's thinking 'killing the one to save the many.'

"He is lucky to be alive, I am still unsure how that happened," Lexa said thoughtfully eyeing Clarke. The way she said it made Clarke think she did actually know. "At the time, I thought I was preventing our new enemy from joining the mountain and causing more deaths to my people. That's how I defended my actions to my warriors anyways," Lexa continued.

"And now?"

"And now I realize that I was lying to myself. It was not only to prevent an alliance between Sky and Mountain. No Clarke, I threw that spear because I feared for your life. I saw you grab that vine and I threw the spear. There was no thought process really; it was instinct. I had to stop you from crossing. I had a feeling the mountain equalled death."

"I guess you weren't totally wrong," Clarke said quietly.

"Yes, the mountain did equal death," the brunette admitted solemnly. The mountain equalled so much death, that sentence was deeply layered and not lost on either young leader.

"So even then, just from my voice and the back of my head, you were trying to protect me."

"I told you Clarke, it is my instinct to protect you. Even then, even before we actually met in this life, even before I knew your name," Lexa said kissing the top of the blonde's head. "So you see, you have never been 'just Clarke'. After we stopped you from crossing the river, word of the blonde Sky girl travelled. We knew you were keeping those in your charge alive despite the odds. We even sent the fever to your camp, we had word of youcatching the sickness and still you lived. I knew without a doubt then that you were now a threat to everything I was, only I did not fully understand to which extent." Again she kissed her head before continuing, "I sent warriors to wipe you out after your flares destroyed one of our villages, and still, you lived. You destroyed the small army that should have easily wiped you out. Then we heard the Sky Girl had disappeared; her people were searching and killing to find her, there was a call and need for war but war did not happen. Once again, you stepped up and saved your people while doing a great deal of harm to yourself by ending Finn's life; I have been there, in a manner of speaking, and I knew then that I was standing before an equal. I was fascinated by you Clarke."

There was so much power and awe in Lexa's voice that Clarke caught a chill as Lexa moved from finishing the last braid. She then went to grab the black war paint. She handed it to Clarke who expertly began applying it to her own face while Lexa did the same. Wanheda and Heda were entering the room while Lexa and Clarke kept talking.

"I never expected to find you as the commander," Clarke admitted.

"You expected a man?"

Clarke rolled her eyes, "I expected someone older."

Lexa smiled slightly under the war paint before her face sobered once more. "Not many Commander's see old age Clarke. Not many people do either, it is a luxury reserved for few."

"Tell me about it," Clarke said dryly a bit of bite to her tone. She didn't mean it to come out like that; hell, she didn't mean to say it at all. And she definitely couldn't help it as the ghosts of her past collided in her brain and her heart. She was starting to feel the blood of all the deaths she felt she caused on her skin.

As soon as it was there it was gone again as she felt Lexa's warm hand on her knee rubbing soft circles with her thumb.

Clarke choked down her bitterness, "I was so intimidated by you that day I entered the tent." Clarke shrugged, "It didn't help that Gustus told me in no uncertain terms that if I eyed you wrong he'd slit my throat." Her tone was lighter then as she thought about meeting Lexa for the first time.

Lexa smiled at her and raised her brow coyly, "Is that the only reason?"

Clarke rolled her eyes and blushed lightly pushing Lexa playfully, "No. Honestly, I was intimidated by the rank and power… but when I saw you…you were stunning, breathtaking actually, I had to pause while I waited for it to come back. And then," Clarke said bringing her hand to Lexa's cheek careful not to smudge the war paint and locking their eyes once more, "I saw your eyes. I saw the girl beneath the layers of paint and death and power. I could see your heart in your eyes. I saw the pain of Anya's death. I saw Lexa not Heda. I saw you. I saw me in you, and that terrified me."

Lexa nodded in understanding and gave her the smile that was just for Clarke who revelled in its warmth. Clarke kissed her passionately until Lexa pulled back slightly, "I could hide nothing from you even then it seems."

"You didn't stand a chance," Clarke said kissing her again and smiling into it.

They enjoyed a few more quiet moments before the mood in the room shifted; it was time to leave their solace. It was time to face the day.

It was time for the beating and banishing of Bellamy Blake.

Clarke felt Lexa grab her one last time before they were to exit. She melted into her embrace; she soaked in the love and strength she offered gladly. "I'll be right there with you Clarke. You are not alone." Clarke nodded taking a deep breath of Lexa and kissed her neck leaning back out of the embrace.

"Let's get this over with," she said calmly.

Lexa nodded once before they both raised their chins and turned to leave.

It was Wanheda and Heda who exited the tent.

As they made their way to Octavia and Raven by their own tent Clarke noticed the grin on Octavia's face was not as large as it had been yesterday. Clarke knew that this was going to be harder for the young warrior then she had previously thought. Clarke felt a pang in her heart, "O, can I speak to you a moment?"

Octavia eyed her cautiously and nodded standing up and heading to where Clarke was leading her. Clarke hadn't even waited for an answer she knew the girl would follow. Lexa went to sit beside Raven and share a breakfast. Clarke stopped and faced Octavia, "How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine Clarke," Octavia rolled her eyes but Clarke knew better.

"O, come on."

"Ugh," Octavia raised her hands, "look, this has to be done okay. It's this or he dies. I know that."

Clarke eyed her, her glance flicked to Lexa briefly before going back to Octavia. She had a duty to her friend to be honest, Lexa would be honest, "He may die anyways." Her voice was not devoid of feeling but it was sharp. She did not want to hide the real truth of the matter. Octavia deserved that much.

"I know what you have asked him to do is dangerous and has a huge chance at causing his death – Raven did the math on the odds, so I know better than I should - But Clarke, I don't blame you for asking him to do this. He does this or he would have died this morning, it's not a difficult decision to make," Octavia said carefully.

"It is a difficult decision, Octavia." Clarke pressed. It was the truth. She believes today she grants him mercy by banishing him, but she knows that his banishment and his task before him could end with a much worse fate than being cut to death by his own people. Was she really being merciful?

She tried not to second-guess herself as she felt Lexa's eyes fall on her as soon as her mind went there. She could feel her presence surround her even from this distance and she began to calm slightly.

She watched Octavia adjust her jaw, "Look Clarke. We are fighting a secret war within a war right now. These clans, this bitch who see's shit, you and Lexa, Azgeda, Bellamy – does it not feel like this is meant to happen?"

Clarke furrowed her brow. She had a point.

It was almost like…

Fate.

Clarke felt a shiver go through her at the thought. She felt her resolve come back in waves, she felt stronger and her heart began to support the decision once more. Clarke nodded, "O, I can do this for you if you want." Her voice was low and cautious, but she wanted the warrior to know that Clarke would step up and beat Bellamy if she could not. She would do it for her.

Octavia shook her head, there was a slight sheen to her eyes in the cool dark morning, "No. I appreciate that but it's my duty as your second and your guard." With that she stood a little straighter, her chin held high. A warrior once more.

Clarke nodded and gave her a squeeze on the shoulder. "Okay," she said softly and they walked back to the fire together.

Clarke ate very little that morning but she did finish the herbal tea Lexa kept forcing on her in the lack of food entering Clarke's stomach. When they were finished the TriKru drums had begun. It was time.

They made their way out of the tree cover and entered Arkadia. Clarke shivered and looked at Lexa, when she saw green eyes meeting blue she knew Lexa sensed it too: eyes were on them. Clarke took a deep breath receiving another slight nod from Lexa and their silent conversation and they continued on.

The mood at the camp was heavy, daunting and unrelenting. The clouds over head groaned and rumbled as if angered. As they walked inside the sky opened up and dropped the cold rain it had been threatening since last evening. It was fitting for the mood. The fires sputtered and spat as the water hit them before going out completely in the downpour. The area darkened once more despite it being morning.

You could see their warm breaths hitting the cool air and lingering. The crowd grew despite the icy flow of rain on them. Clarke and Lexa merely raised their hoods in defiance and went to their position. Octavia left Raven's side and joined Clarke behind her and slightly to the left. They were by the gates; beside the tree Lexa's people had placed there 'just in case' it would be required. It wouldn't but there were only six people beside Lexa and Clarke that knew the real task now falling on Bellamy: Kane, Octavia, Abby, Raven, Ryder and Indra. They would keep it that way. No one else could know. It was safer that way.

Clarke took several deep breaths as she saw the Ark's doors finally open. Bellamy walked with his shoulders straight and his head held high flanked by Miller and another Ark guard. She could feel Octavia stiffen slightly to her left and she eyed the girl carefully.

Octavia nodded in response.

She could do this.