Chapter 12: Tamed.
"WanHeda, Heda wishes for you come to their tent." A guard she's been seeing around tells her as soon as she steps out of the tent Anya graciously (read drunkenly) let her stay in the night before.
Clarke nods and follows after the guard. Stopping in front of a seemingly normal tent, beside it being heavily guarded, and watches as one of the guards leans down close to her.
"Touch her and I'll kill you." He whispers from his place towering over her.
Clarke narrows her eyes, " I am Death, You would not be able to kill me if you tried. " Clarke watches in satisfaction as he pales, but notes with interest how he doesn't try and take back his words.
'Is that because his duty as a guard or his personal relationship with the Heda?' Clarke asks herself.
"Send her in." A familiar voice calls out from somewhere in the tent.
The guard who had just threatened her glares at her in warning before lifting the flap allowing her to slip in alone.
Standing in the middle of the tent Clarke looks around and takes in the people around her.
'Anya on the right, Indra on the left, and someone hidden behind a flap towards the back. Clarke notes to herself before allowing herself to look at where she can sense the Commander.
Clarke freezes as the dizzying feeling of her soul rattling around deep inside her In attempt to reunite with something. On the throne sits Lexa, all signs of her previous shyness gone and replaced with confidence that borders on arrogance.
"Heda." Clarke says respectfully, bowing her head.
"Wanheda." She returns. Lifting her head Clarke and Lexa are once again stuck in a never ending staring contest. After what feels like hours, which in reality was ten uncomfortable minutes for those around them, Anya coughs breaking the spell.
Lexa clears her throat, her cheeks tinged a beautiful pink that make Clarke want to both melt and laugh uncontrollably
"Big bad Heda blushing from getting caught staring at a girl.' Clarke teases in her head, but not allowing her lips to form the words, someone would probably kill her. Well they would try too at least.
"Leave us." Lexa commands, drawing Clarke out of her thoughts.
"Heda-"
"Now Indra." Lexa commands again, this time with a warning in her voice.
"Sha Heda." Indra complies before leaving.
"Heda?" Anya asks.
"You too." She answers her eyes, never leaving Clarke.
Anya hesitates but eventually complies with Heda's command. Finally they are alone. Taking a few moments they let their souls come together again before Lexa slams up her walls, realizing that she unconsciously lowered them.
The sudden absence of the warmth her soul brought Clarke is jerked back to reality, slamming her walls up once she realized she lowered them.
Schooling her features she asks, " You wanted to see me Heda?"
Lexa frowns, something about Clarke calling her Heda didn't sit well with her.
"Lexa, Call me Lexa."
Clarke's eyebrows furrow slightly before she nods in agreement.
"Leska." She says testingly, before smirking when she sees the reaction she has on her why she says lexa like that.
'Why do I keep teasing her?' Clarke questions herself, ignoring death's distant laugh.
"Call me Clarke."
"Klark." Lexa says back challengingly.
'Fuck, I'm so fucking gay.' Clarke thinks while inhaling sharply.
"You wanted to see me?" Clarke asks instead of reacting to Lexa's challenge.
Disappointment flashes through Lexas eyes but she talks before Clarke can acknowledge it, "Yes I wanted to ask why exactly you and your people are here.'
Clarke narrows her eyes searching for any hidden threat to her people in her words and face. Finding none, Clarke answers honestly, "The Ark, where we lived In space," she clarifies seeing Lexas confused look, " is dying. The Ark is slowly losing air and in an attempt to save my people they sent 100 delinquents to earth."
Lexa frowns in displeasure at the bitter anger that laces Clarkes voice when she talks about the Ark but focuses on the delinquent part of her explanation.
"Delinquent? Your people are criminals?" She asks demandingly.
Clarke's face grows sad at her accusation, even though it's technically right, "Crimes on the Arm are different then the crimes here. People under the age of 18 are locked up for anything, from stealing to simply wanting to do what's right."
"And you?" Lexa asks softly.
"I just wanted to help." Clarke tells her, concerningly sad for someone who normally hides any 'negative' emotions.
Lexa, seeing how much this topic affects her decides to end the conversation.
"Come with me?" She asks, wanting to cheer Clarke up. Which confused her greatly, unable to understand why exactly she wants this sky person not to be sad.
"Sure." Clarke says after watching lexa for a few minutes in visible confusion.
' I wonder who exactly was in her tent. ' Clarke thinks remembering the their figure she sensed.
Her question is answered when she sees Lincoln leave Lexa's tent a moment later.
"Why did you bring me to the stables?" Clarke can't help but to ask confused.
Lexa, who surprisingly seems shy, tells her, "I wanted to gift you a horse," seeing Clarke grow even more confused she rushes to explain, "to help build the alliance."
Clarke stares at Lexa for a moment before smiling, "Alright, which one?" She asks looking into the stable.
"Any. I had Aron, the stable boy, gather any unowned horse, so you may choose which one you want yourself."
Clarke nods before stepping in. Looking around she spots a dark brown horse, who's borderline black, hidden away in a corner. Clarke and the horse stare at each other for a moment before Clarke walks closer.
Holding out her hand she waits until it steps forward and nuzzles into her hand to turn to lexa, who for some reason was staring at her in hidden awe and sadness, before telling her.
"This one."
Lexa smiles sadly before hesitantly stepping closer towards them.
".. A good pick. This one's fast and strong she will suit you well."
Clarke looks at Lexa concerned, "Is everything alright?"
Lexa stares at the horse for a moment before turning back to Clarke. Seemingly preparing herself for something, Lexa blurts out, "This one belonged to Costia."
Clarke can't help but to ask puzzled, "Costia?"
"... Costia was my lover. She died after being captured by Azgeda."
Clarke looks at Lexa with tender eyes, "I'm sorry." She tells her softly. "I can choose another."
"No!" Lexa exclaims, "no Costia would love it if she knew WanHeda wanted her horse….. keep her."
Clarke smiles sadly before nodding, reaching out she rest her hand lightly on Lexa's arm. Squeezing lightly she tells her, "Thank you for telling me about her. "
Lexa nods, "Of course, you deserve to know about the previous owner."
"Not if talking about her hurts." Clarke retorts, though not unkindly.
"It doesn't hurt." Lexa lies.
Clarke just looks at her doubtfully but thankfully for lexa doesn't push.
"How about we go on a walk?" Clarke asks trying to take Lexas mind off Costia.
"A walk?"
"Yeah show me around Earth i've never been before." Clarke jokes
Lexa smiles lightly, though considering who she is it could be seen as a beam.
"A walk would be nice." She agrees.