Chapter 10
Disclaimer: The usual. I don't own anything.
A/N: We have caught up to 6 days since Bellamy left the camp. A lot has happened in that time. This chapter will have both Bellamy and Clarke's POV because the events will happen at the same time. I didn't want to split it into multiple chapters.
Bellamy: Day 7…
Bellamy woke from his sleep when he heard footsteps coming into the cave. He had moved further into the cave, away from anyone seeing him from outside. The footsteps were coming closer and Bellamy pulled out his handgun waiting for the intruder to show up.
"Bellamy?" Lincoln's voice came from the entrance of the cave and Bellamy relaxed.
"Lincoln." He said as he made himself visible to Lincoln, who was standing inside the cave looking for him.
"Come on. We must go." Lincoln said in a hurry. Bellamy became alert from his sleep at the tone of Lincoln's voice.
"What's wrong? What's happening?" Bellamy asked as he started picking up his weapons and gear. He dressed himself and strapped the guns and knives in place. He knew he needed them at the tone of Lincoln's voice.
"Your people are in trouble." Lincoln told him and Bellamy froze for a second.
"Is it the attack?" He asked Lincoln as he left the cave in a hurry.
"No. Your people are walking into a trap. We must get to them, before they reach the bridge." Lincoln told him as they both rushed through the woods. It was still dark outside as the moon was descending and sun hasn't risen up yet. Bellamy tripped and Lincoln reached out to steady him as they went.
"What bridge? Tell me what's happening." Bellamy demanded. He was out of the loop of the current events and needed to know what he was walking into.
"Anya had used one of your people to arrange for a meet. She convinced him that she wanted to negotiate for peace. But she plans to take out your leader to weaken your camp, before she attacks." Lincoln told him.
"Clarke wouldn't fall for that. She's smart. She would know it's a trap." Bellamy said. He had trust in Clarke to realize an offer like that would definitely be a trap. When he met her at first, he did think she was naïve and foolish. But after having spent all that time with her, he had come to realize his first impression of her was way wrong. She was brave and compassionate and smart. She was wiser than him and he knew he tends to act before thinking, while she thinks it through before acting.
"The boy Finn is convinced that it's a real deal. The grounders in the camp were laughing at his naivety for believing it's real." Lincoln told him.
Bellamy huffed at that. Of course, it had been Finn. His pacifist approach is going to lead everyone to their deaths. Bellamy had noticed what was happening around the camp. He wasn't ignorant for the drama that was happening. Initially he thought that both Clarke and Finn deserved each other for their gullible personalities. But the more he came to know about Clarke, the more he was surprised that she chose Finn as her partner. He noticed their flirting when they landed. He even pointed it out to Wells initially to rile him up. But as time went on, he realized that Clarke was much more than what Finn was like. She had depths in her that Finn couldn't understand or reach. And when he found out about Raven, he couldn't help but sympathize for Clarke. He could see how heartbroken she was. But he didn't like to show his compassionate side to her, so he remained indifferent. Finn is still Clarke's weak point and if he had managed to convince her, then Clarke could very well be walking into the trap.
Bellamy realized that Lincoln had been talking while he was lost in his thoughts. He shook himself and focused back to what Lincoln was saying.
"They are meeting at dawn. Their meet point is at the bridge, which is closer here than your camp." Lincoln said. Bellamy realized that Lincoln had been explaining why he came to get him.
"Will we get there in time?" Bellamy asked Lincoln.
"If we hurry. I can't be seen or else, Anya will turn her army towards our village." Lincoln said apologetically at his predicament. Bellamy can understand it, now that he had got to know them. He nodded accepting it.
"I hope she's coming with some backup." Bellamy muttered.
"The deal was that there should be no weapons. But I warned Octavia to be careful." Lincoln informed him.
Bellamy froze in his tracks again. "O's coming?" He asked Lincoln, who realized Bellamy wasn't moving and turned back. Lincoln nodded at his question.
"Damn it." Bellamy yelled frustrated and started moving faster.
Bellamy hoped they will reach there in time. Otherwise, he will lose not one but two people he cared about before he could do something.
- 100 -
Clarke: Day 7…
Clarke woke up rested and on time to prepare for the meet. She wore her jacket, as it was cold outside and stuffed a knife inside just in case. She knew she can't carry any guns, but hoped that Miller will bring enough backup. She really hoped that the meet will lead to peace with the grounders, but she is wary that it may turn bad and she needed to be prepared if it does.
When she came out of her tent, she found Finn waiting for her. He was bouncing on his heels, unable to contain the excitement.
"Are you ready?" He asked her. Clarke nodded and said "I'll meet you at the gate. Need to do something before we go." Finn frowned, but didn't question anything as he left towards the gate.
When Clarke saw that his back was turned as he walked away, she moved quickly to Miller's tent. She thought she will catch him there, but she was surprised when it was empty. She looked around and heard a loud whisper calling her name.
She looked towards the whisper and saw people standing at the front of the dropship. She walked there as she couldn't see who it was in the dark. When she got closer, she gasped.
Miller was standing there as she expected. But she was surprised to see Raven and Jasper there next to him. Octavia was there as well with a blade in her hand.
"What are you guys doing here?" Clarke asked Raven and Jasper. Jasper gave her a goofy grin and Raven smiled at her.
"What do you think? We're your backup." Raven said as if it was obvious.
"You guys can't be there. It may be a trap." Clarke warned. She didn't want to risk her friends.
"We know. That's why we need to be there. You walk into a trap; we are there to pull you out." Jasper told her. Clarke couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the love she was feeling from her friends.
"Ok. Enough with the sob fest. Let's get moving." Octavia said breaking the tension. She grinned at Clarke and they both started to move.
"Follow us in a distance and keep yourself hidden. Only come if this turns sour." Clarke told Miller who nodded. She walked towards the gate with Octavia on tow.
Finn frowned when he saw Octavia coming with Clarke.
"What's she doing here?" He asked Clarke. It was supposed to be just him and Clarke on this mission of peace.
"She's my backup. I need her to be there with me. She knows grounders better than both of us." Clarke said in a tone brook no argument.
"They said no weapons." Finn told Clarke, looking pointedly at the blade Octavia was carrying.
"Relax. I'll keep it closer to the meeting point, in case I need it. But I won't bring it to the meet." Octavia said casually as she swirled the blade by its handle.
"Let's get moving." Clarke said and walked out with Octavia. Finn had no choice but to follow her.
They all walked in silence most of the time. Clarke was struggling in the darkness of the woods, but Octavia seems to be having no problems. Finn was behind both of them. Octavia kept pointing out different fascinating things in the woods to Clarke as a way to ease her tension and Clarke could tell that it was working.
Octavia and Clarke talked casually here and there about random stuff with Finn following behind. Finn's frustration was getting to him, because he had hoped that this journey and peace talk would show Clarke his love for her and make her feel it too. It's the main reason he had been pushing for the talks. But Octavia joining them like a third wheel ruined his chances. Clarke's ease with Octavia and the way she tenses up near him was making him frustrated.
Thankfully they reached their destination without any arguments. Once the bridge was visible, Octavia looked around and found a tree stump near the bridge to stab her blade into. It was reachable within distance from the bridge, but not visible from the bridge. Clarke nodded in approval and they stayed there.
They didn't have to wait long. Within ten minutes of their arrival, Clarke saw people in the opposite side of the bridge. The dawn has risen and there was enough light for them to see one another. Clarke gasped at what she saw.
"Oh, my God. Horses!" She whispered. Seeing horses in real life captured her attention. She had seen pictures of it in the Ark and read about them. But they were more beautiful in real and she was mesmerized.
"Clarke." Octavia called out snapping Clarke out and bring her attention to those in the horses.
"I thought you said no weapons." Octavia hissed at Finn, who looked confused at the sight.
"I was told there wouldn't be." He replied back.
Clarke could see that the grounders in the horses were armed to their teeth. They wore their face masks and looked like they were coming in for battle. And they had already broken the deal of no weapons. It was already going bad.
"It's too late now." She said to Octavia and Finn as she stared at the grounders.
They all try to move to the middle of the bridge, when a grounder from the opposite side yelled "She comes alone."
Clarke turned and saw Octavia shaking her head negatively and Clarke could feel the dread of the situation. Finn's hopeful expression was faltering then, but it was too late to do anything then.
She walked alone to the middle of the bridge and saw the lead horse rider dismount and walk towards her.
"Are you their leader?" The woman standing in front of her asked. Clarke could feel the intimidation, but she refused to show it in her face.
"Yes. My name is Clarke." She answered confidently.
"I'm Anya." The grounder leader replied.
"I think we got off to a rough start, but we want to find a way to live together in peace." Clarke said appeasing.
"I understand. You started a war that you don't know how to end." Anya stated as fact. Clarke shook her head, disagreeing.
"What? No. We didn't start anything. You attacked us for no reason." Clarke argued.
"You're invaders. Your ship landed in our territory. You try to reach your allies in the mountain. You burn our village with your missiles. These are all acts of war." Anya pointed out.
"We didn't know anyone was here. We thought the ground was uninhabited." Clarke told her. Anya didn't look convinced.
"We were told there are supplies in the mountain. That's why we tried to go there. And the flares we fired were not missiles. They were to signal our families in the sky." Clarke tried to explain.
"You were looking for reinforcements. They sent it, but it crashed. We have been watching you all for a while now." Anya said.
"Our people are looking to survive. They need to land and they needed to know if they can survive down here. That's all we are trying to do. To survive." Clarke said. She hoped that her pleading voice would convince the grounder leader.
"You use us for your survival. We have seen your ways. The mountain men grab us and turns us into monsters. And now there will be more of you coming from the sky." Anya replied back angrily.
"We are not with the mountain men. We are from the sky, because that was where we have been for many years now. We are looking to come down and be in peace with you. But your attacks have made them concerned. If you attack us, they won't come looking to negotiate. They will come as hostiles and our technology- they can wipe you out." Clarke said. She didn't want to underplay the strength and look weak.
"They wouldn't be the first to try." Anya said looking threatening.
"We have farmers, doctors, engineers coming as well as armed guards. We could help one another if we are at peace. I hope we can come to an agreement here." Clarke requested.
"Before we do, tell me how you managed to defeat the sickness quickly." Anya demanded.
"The virus? We didn't. We lost fifteen people to the sickness that you sent to our camp." Clarke said with accusation in her tone.
"The rest of you recovered faster than any we have seen before. It usually takes weeks before recovering." Anya accused back. Clarke could tell that the grounder was accusing her of holding something back.
"I don't know. Maybe it is because we have been exposed to solar radiation living in the sky. Our immune system is different from those living on the ground. We may have stronger immune system to fight off the virus." Clarke explained medically. If they were in the Ark, she could run some tests to find out, but on the ground, she had to guess.
Anya didn't look convinced.
"My scouts say that you are a healer." She replied. Clarke was surprised that they were able to find that out. They must have been watching closer than she thought.
"Yes. I am." She didn't want to deny it. Even though she was not a full doctor, she was what they have as a doctor in the ground.
"Then you must be able to heal the sickness." Anya said and Clarke was not sure where it was leading towards.
"Yes. And I will be glad to help your people as well if we are at peace. But not if we are at war." Clarke hoped that her being a doctor could play towards making peace with the grounders.
"Are there any other like you?" Anya asked quizzically. Clarke was confused at the questioning and wasn't sure how to reply.
"There are others in the sky but down here, I'm the only one." She replied back. She realized too late what she had revealed.
She saw the glint in Anya's eyes when she heard the response she was expecting to. Clarke saw her reach into her wristband and pull out a small knife. Before she could react, she heard her name being called out far away.
"Clarke!" She heard someone yell. Then everything happened at once and the place turned into chaos.
She saw Anya trying to swing the knife toward her, but before she could bring it down, she was shot in the shoulder and her hand in quick succession. Anya dropped to the ground, clutching her hand painfully. Clarke heard whizzing sounds as she started running backwards towards Octavia and Finn, who were yelling out to her as they ran back. She could see arrows bouncing off the ground in the bridge as she ran. She saw Octavia being struck by an arrow in her leg and falling to the ground. She ran right to her and pull her up and supported her from the injured leg side to move away from the bridge. All three got to a higher ground before turning and looking at the situation.
There was gunfire everywhere. She could see Miller, Raven and Jasper firing at the trees across the bridge where the arrows were coming from. She was glad that she had brought backup for the meet. She looked around and saw gunfire coming from the left side of the bridge as well. Opposite side of where Miller and the backup team was situated. She knew the voice calling for her came from that direction. She could see the muzzle flash of a single rifle from the woods. She tried to see who it was, but the tree canopy was blocking her view.
"Bell" Octavia said to Clarke after noticing her trying to look. Clarke looked back at Octavia whom she was holding onto, surprise evident in her face.
"He warned you." Octavia said and she was drifting off from the pain from her leg. Clarke tried carrying her on her own, but it was difficult. Finn assisted from the other side as they moved slowly.
Lincoln came running through the trees to pause in front of them. He took the scene before he spoke.
"You need to move. They will be chasing you. Don't stop till you get behind your walls." He told them. Clark and Finn tried to move but with Octavia, their progress was very slow. Lincoln could tell if they moved in that pace, all three will get caught.
"Let me." He said and lifted Octavia in his arms like she weighed nothing. With the burden of moving with Octavia gone, Clarke and Finn were able to move fast towards the camp. Even with Octavia, Lincoln was moving in lightning speed through the woods and Clarke had trouble following at his pace. But the rush of adrenaline along with the need to survive, pushed her to follow him closely with Finn slightly behind her. Clarke wondered where her friends were at, but she knew they can take care of themselves as they are armed, unlike her.
They reached the camp quicker than they thought. Lincoln stopped before they got any closer.
"I can't be seen at your camp." He said sadly. "Scouts may be watching and I need to stay away for the sake of my village." He explained to Clarke.
Clarke nodded in understanding. She didn't know the whole picture, but she knew Lincoln was taking a big risk helping them.
"Thank you." She said genuinely. She could now see what Octavia was talking about.
"Take care of her." He said and unloaded Octavia to Clarke and Finn's hands. His tone told Clarke that the grounder is in love with Octavia. And it touched her heart, the lengths he was going for the one he loved.
"We will." She promised him and half carried Octavia with Finn supporting on the other side. Now that they were away from immediate danger, they were able to move at a normal pace towards the gate. They reached there without any further trouble and more people came to help carry Octavia to the med bay.
- 100 -
Bellamy: Day 7…
When Bellamy reached the bridge, he knew it was already too late. He could see the grounders standing on one side of the bridge and he arrived just in time to see Clarke and Octavia walking there along with Finn. Lincoln held him back from running to them and signalled him to be quiet. Bellamy did as he was told and looked at the scene playing along.
From their cover, they had a good view of the side of the bridge where the grounders were located at. Lincoln tapped him in the shoulder and pointed towards the trees. Bellamy used the rifle scope to look at where Lincoln was pointing. Initially he couldn't see anything and thought Lincoln was mistaken, but then he saw slight movement. The grounders had disguised themselves as they blended onto the trees with their weapons drawn. He saw some with spears and others with bow and arrows. It was definitely a trap that Clarke and Octavia had walked right into.
It was a powder keg ready to explode at any moment. Bellamy was itching to fire and pull his people out of danger, but Lincoln was telling him to remain low. If he fired, he was putting his people at risk. So, Bellamy waited for the grounders to make the first move.
He didn't have to wait long. He could see Clarke standing in the middle of the bridge arguing with the grounder princess. Bellamy couldn't help but feel proud and something more at seeing her there. It had been a week since he last saw her and he realized he missed her. Octavia was in the other side of the bridge away from his view, so he focused on the other person he cared about. He kept a close eye on what was happening between Anya and Clarke while Lincoln kept an eye on the grounders in the trees and across the bridge.
Bellamy saw from his rifle scope when Anya reached into her wristband and the sunlight glare reflecting from the knife she pulled out. He knew what he had to do. He yelled "Clarke!" to warn her on impulse as he sprung to action. He aimed for the arm that was swinging the knife and he was satisfied when the burst of shots struck Anya in the shoulder and her hand, stopping her swing in mid-air. He started to fire at the tree line where he saw the grounders hiding, when arrows started to rain down on the bridge.
He heard gunfire coming from the right side of the bridge and realized that Clarke was not gullible to Finn's nativity as he had thought. She had brought backup to cover her, in case of trouble. He couldn't be prouder of her at that moment. It's what he would have done if he was in that situation. He kept firing, changing clips as the first one ran out.
"Lincoln" he called out and saw Lincoln come and stand next to him. "Go help them escape." Lincoln looked like he wanted to argue, but thought better of it and took off. Bellamy kept moving, so he won't be a fixed target as he kept firing. Once he came out of the trees into the open, he was able to see the others across.
He saw Miller whom he expected, but he also saw Raven and Jasper of all people standing there, firing. Miller was moving like he was, probably from the training, but Raven and Jasper were standing targets in the open. He knew they were at risk.
"Miller" he shouted and saw them turn to see him. They were surprised and if Jasper's grin said anything, happy to see him.
"Run while I cover you." He yelled out and saw Miller nod in response. He saw Miller turn back and say something to Raven and Jasper who took off into the woods. Miller was the last to run and he turned back to Bellamy to look at him. They both understood one another well enough to know that Miller was conveying his thanks for the rescue. He then saw Miller disappear into the woods.
Bellamy stood there shooting to keep the attention of the grounders. He had seen a few of them fall from the trees and he knew he had inflicted some damage to the ambush party. And he knew well enough from strategies that if he doesn't make his escape, he would be surrounded by them. So, he waited a minute or two to give Miller and others a lead before he ran in his own direction through the woods.
Once he started to run, he didn't stop. He didn't even know if he was running in the right direction. He kept running away from the bridge as far away as he could. But he couldn't get far enough. He heard arrows coming at him and saw some strike the trees around him as he zig-zagged through them. Then he heard galloping sounds. He didn't have to turn around to know that he was being chased by horse riding grounders. He tried to run through thick bushes so they won't catch him in their horses. He thought he had escaped when the sounds of horses behind him faded further away. He came around a bend and got hit face first by a club, knocking him unconscious.
- 100 -
Clarke: Day 7…
Clarke had put Octavia onto the bed and pulled the arrow from her leg carefully and stopped the bleeding with a cloth. She applied the paste generously and used a clean cloth to bandage it around her leg. Luckily it had hit the calf of the leg and didn't do too much damage. A few days off her feet should heal it up and leave only a small scar. Clarke was glad, because it could have been way worse. Octavia was still sleeping from the blood loss and pain. Clarke left her to rest and walked away from med bay. She saw Finn standing outside the dropship impatiently. As soon as she came out, he approached her.
"What the hell happened back there?" He questioned her, angry. Clarke turned to stare at him in disbelief.
"Excuse me?" She said in a tone that was warning. A warning that Finn chose to ignore.
"Yeah. I told you no guns! That was the deal." He pointed out.
Before Clarke could reply, she saw activity at the gate and turned her attention there. She saw Miller, Raven and Jasper coming in, breathless but unharmed. She rushed towards them.
"Oh my god. Are you guys alright? Anyone injured?" She asked as she looked them over. She couldn't see any signs of bleeding or injuries other than shortness of breath.
"We're fine." Miller spoke when he was able to catch his breath.
"Yeah. Thanks to Bellamy." Jasper voiced out.
"What?" Finn yelled at Jasper's declaration.
"Didn't you see? He saved us." Raven said, incredulity leaking into her tone. Didn't Finn see Bellamy there?
"Oh yeah I saw it alright. He fired the first shot and ruined it all." Finn said accusingly.
All four of them looked at him like he had grown another head. None of them could understand what he was trying to say.
"Finn. She was about to kill Clarke." Raven said in a calm tone, hoping it got through.
"You don't know that. We don't know what she was trying to do." He argued back. He turned to Clarke. "You brought guns when I told you not to." He accused her once again.
"You're lucky she had brought us along. All of you would be dead by now if she didn't." Miller stated the fact.
"Well, if we weren't at war already, we sure as hell are now." He replied back to Miller, still raving. He turned towards Clarke.
"You didn't have to trust the Grounders. You just had to trust me." Finn told her in an accusing tone as if she had betrayed him.
Clarke stared at him directly. "That's the thing Finn. I don't." It was a fact. She lost trust in him after he betrayed her trust.
She turned to Miller and others, ignoring Finn's rambling.
"Where's Bellamy?" She asked them. She thought he would be coming back with them. She looked behind them towards the gate as if he was hiding there.
Miller hesitated and shared a look with Raven before speaking.
"He was covering our escape as we ran. We didn't hear any grounders following us. They must have gone after him." He said, ashamed. He didn't want to leave Bellamy behind. He was one of his close friends. But he knew Bellamy wanted them to run and he couldn't refuse, because more than his life was at stake.
"Oh." Clarke said and everyone could see how shook up she was hearing it. Raven pulled her into a hug that she weakly returned.
"What now?" Jasper asked.
"Now we wait for the war." Clarke said determined. After experiencing what she did in the bridge, she knew that they needed to fight to their death if they had any chance of surviving.