Author's note: only TWO chapters left after this one! Thank you all for sticking around.

Chapter 33

Things weren't perfect. There were several times that Lexa fell back into old habits. Clarke would say she was going somewhere and Lexa would say she would accompany her or suggest something else they could do together. It seemed to happen most often when Lexa was distracted, almost like an automatic response. She would usually stop, close her eyes, take a deep breath, and then nod, willing to prove to Clarke that she trusted her. Sometimes, when she was especially stressed, she couldn't stop herself from keeping Clarke close. Most of the time, Clarke allowed it, but tried to make sure it didn't become a habit again. Give and take. That's what relationships took and that's what they were practicing.

They started sparring again and, after Clarke lost her temper and called Lexa out for holding back so much, Lexa stopped. Granted, this ended with Clarke being put on her ass several times, but she was improving. She had also started sparring with Octavia again and found that her lessons with Lexa had definitely improved her skills. Octavia was no novice, but she could usually take her. And Lincoln. She felt a certain sense of pride that she could take on her guards if need be, especially after seeing how much the guard training had refined their skills. She could also see pride in Lexa's face when she sparred with them.

The Skaikru trading post was going well and she found herself there almost as often as the tower. Monty and Jasper both swore that having Clarke in the shop increased trading; everyone wanted a chance to at least see the Great Wanheda. A part of her still hated that title, but it had also somewhat grown on her. It was helping her people form relationships with the other clans, so that helped.

She'd also finally managed to corner Indra during one of her visits and tell her what she had planned as a punishment for Pike. Indra, understandably, was not happy about it. Even stated that, had anyone other than Clarke suggested it, she would have ended their fight just for the suggestion. It took several heated conversations and lots of compromise, but Indra had agreed and would back her against the Commander if needed. Clarke hoped that she wouldn't need backup, but also knew it would likely be a fight to get Lexa to agree. When she said that to Indra, she heard the woman laugh for the first time.

"If she doesn't kill one of us for it, I'll be shocked," she had said before schooling herself back into her signature glare.

Johnson was a different story than Pike. There really wasn't any debate with what to do with him. If he was ever released, he would hurt more people. Clarke could hope for redemption for a lot of people, but knew that that wasn't possible for him. And she didn't want it to be. She wanted to be the good guy who could forgive, to follow 'blood must not have blood,' but she couldn't. What he did to her was something that no one could, or should, forgive. Besides, Lexa had explained the laws long ago set up for people like him: monsters who enjoyed hurting others when they couldn't fight back and violated them in the worst possible ways. The punishment was similar to what would have happened to Finn: he had taken innocent lives when they couldn't fight back, but Johnson's would be a bit more complex. He had attacked a sacred figure to the coalition, Lexa had explained, that had come to make peace. Not only would Clarke be delivering his punishment, each clan leader and ambassador would be taking part, as well as those close to Clarke. The only issue to Clarke was that participation was not optional and refusing to take part would result in punishment. While she knew most of those close to her wouldn't refuse, she didn't know if she could ask her mother or Kane to do something like that. Lexa had offered for her and Bellamy to represent Skaikru during it, but that would undermine Kane's leadership.

Speaking of Bellamy, the boy wasn't even trying to hide his love anymore. Echo had been timid to engage in a relationship at first, knowing their history, but she also couldn't deny the attraction. For whatever reason, they worked. She had officially asked Roan permission to leave the spy life and join Bellamy to live in the Skaikru trading post. Roan smirked and chuckled when she told him, her body stiff and prepared for a response like his mother would have given, but he just said, "Took you long enough." She would still serve him as her king, but was free to pursue the relationship. The time of spies for Azgeda was coming to a close.

However, poor Jasper could suddenly relate very well to how Bellamy felt about the idea of sharing the front of the Commander's quarters with his sister and her lover, only Jasper had to deal with it from Monty and Harper, as well as Bellamy and Echo. Eventually, he started sleeping in Raven's room. Nothing romantic was happening and Raven had started to get annoyed, but her annoyance was slightly better than staying in the trading post. Finally, Raven and Jasper appealed to Lexa to give Jasper Bellamy's old room. She didn't acquiesce. Instead, she put him in touch with an older man who had lost his only child several years ago and had a penchant for using jobinuts medicinally. As she had hoped, the two were good for each other, even if they did manage to get into some trouble here and there. Before long, Jairob seemed to somewhat adopt Jasper, who happily learned the trade from him, and Raven got her room back to herself.

Clarke and Lexa also discovered that their passion hadn't gone anywhere and spent every night expressing and exploring it. Once Lexa stopped holding onto Clarke so tight that she couldn't fight her guilt over it, she found that it gave her freedom to actually love Clarke the way she should. Clarke took full advantage once she realized it and Lexa couldn't have been happier.

Clarke had finally decided to call a formal meeting to discuss the fates of Mark Johnson and Charles Pike, having already told Lexa, without going into details, that she had made her decision. Lexa wanted to press it, but decided to prove that she trusted Clarke by not asking questions. She would honor whatever Clarke chose.

However, just before they were going to begin, there was a commotion outside, as two warriors from the Rock Line clan brought in two bound people with bags over their heads.

"Heda! These two were caught stealing on the road as we were coming to Polis! One of them is an outcast," the warrior reached into his pocket and pulled out a gold medallion. "This one," he kicked the one closest to him, causing the captive to fall forward, "had this on him and claimed it was given to him."

He held up the gold medallion and Clarke, Lexa, and Titus recognized it immediately.

"Remove their coverings," Lexa said calmly.

The warrior happily did so. Poor Murphy and Emory looked a bit worse for wear, both sporting bruises on their faces, blood coming from Murphy's nose and a cut on Emory's forehead. Murphy looked pissed and Emory looked terrified. Both had also been gagged.

"The punishment for stealing a Flame Totem is death," the warrior sneered.

Lexa didn't even blink as she fixed the warrior with her gaze, causing the arrogant warrior to swallow harshly and remember to whom he was speaking.

"Yes, the punishment is death," Lexa said, waiting just long enough for the cocky look to return to the warrior's face, before continuing, "However, the Flame Totem belongs to him. Isn't that right, Flame Keeper?"

Titus gave the warrior a glare that caused him to actually take a step back, before walking up to him and grabbing the totem, "It is. I gave it to him myself. Do you know what the punishment for stealing a Flame Totem is, Rikel?"

The color drained from the warrior's face. Of course he knew; he had just told them. The warrior knelt down, head nearly touching the floor, as he stated that he didn't know, that he thought the criminal had stolen it, and begged forgiveness; he was only trying to honor the laws and traditions.

Lexa watched with an apathetic look on her face. Technically, all of the people before her could receive a death sentence for their crimes. It was lucky for all of them that the coalition was trying a more merciful justice system. She glanced at Clarke, who wore her own mask of apathy and disinterest. Anyone looking at her would think her bored by the display in front of her. Anyone but Lexa, who saw the subtle hints of concern in Clarke's body language. Someday, Murphy might test the limits too far and Lexa would have to take action. Today was not that day.

"Rikel, your fight does not end here today. You and Duncan may leave," the tone of her voice was cordial, but left no room for arguments. Both warriors offered their extreme thanks as they backed out of the room as quickly as possible.

"Cut them free," Lexa said in a commanding tone. Her guards quickly did as she asked and she saw Clarke relax slightly.

"John Murphy, when I said you were welcome to visit Polis, I didn't mean for you to come as you did the first time," there was no humor in Lexa's voice nor on her face, her expression remaining stoic, but her eyes gave her away. She intended them to as Murphy smirked at her.

"Well, Heda, old habits die hard," he said as he rubbed his wrists, Emory coming to stand behind him, her deformed hand held to her chest.

Titus walked over to Murphy and gave him the medallion back. He wanted to say more, but chose to just nod. Murphy understood.

"Aidrona, take John Murphy and Emory up to the third bedroom, next to Raven's room. Have a healer take a look at both of them. We will have to postpone today's business until tomorrow while I determine what should be done with them," Lexa sounded almost bored, but Clarke could hear both the relief and concern in her voice.

Murphy cast a glance at Clarke, not certain if his and Emory's lives were still in danger or not with what the Commander said. Clarke gave him a barely perceptible nod and smile before she forced her face back to being stoic. Murphy nodded back and then led Emory behind him as they followed Aidrona out of the chambers.

"Clarke," Lexa said and Clarke saw the subtle anxiety creep into her posture, "we will discuss the fate of Johnson and Pike tomorrow morning. John Murphy is Skaikru; you may go and check on him and Emory."

Clarke nodded, bowing slightly towards Lexa as she left the room. She met up with Murphy and Emory as they were waiting for the elevator. She barely acknowledged them as they waited, only mentioning that Skaikru had gotten the lift working through tech. Murphy gave her an odd look and nodded, wondering why Clarke was being so distant.

Once they arrived at the room Aidrona stated was where they were staying and the door was closed, he was even more shocked when Clarke's arms were suddenly wrapped around his neck, pulling him in for an embrace, "Murphy, you have got to stop getting yourself in life or death situations!"

"Eh, it's kind of what I do," he said as she pulled away, looking over his injuries, frowning. She went over to Emory, who kept her deformed hand slightly hidden behind her other hand, gently checking over her head wound.

"The healers should be up in just a minute to get that taken care of," she said, giving Emory a soft smile, squeezing her upper arms gently. Emory gave a small smile back, still recovering from their capture and near death sentence.

"I see you're taking notes from Lexa on how to look like you don't care," Murphy said with a smirk, Clarke returning it.

"If I acted excited to see you, others might use you to try to get to me," Clarke said with a smile, noting that Murphy's observation was more spot on than she cared to admit.

The healers came and checked both of them out, Emory being careful to keep her hand hidden in her jacket. One of the healers wanted her to take off her jacket. Clarke saw the panic flash on Emory's face as she insisted that she wasn't injured there. Clarke stepped in and told the healers that she would check out any other injuries they might have; the healers were free to go. They didn't argue, nodding with a, "Yes, Wanheda," before leaving the room. Emory let out a sigh before Clarke came over to her.

"Are you inured or even sore? By your ribs or stomach?" she asked as she sat next to her.

Emory looked over to Murphy, still having a hard time trusting anyone who wasn't Otan or John.

"They kicked both of us a few times when they captured us. One of them got her pretty good with a club," Murphy filled in for her.

"Let me take a look," Clarke said gently. When Emory hesitated, her hand staying in her jacket, Clarke said, "I really don't care about your hand."

Emory sighed, giving a slight glare to Murphy for him telling Clarke about her hand, before removing it and starting to gingerly remove her jacket. Clarke noticed the familiar look of someone trying to hide pain and helped her remove it. Emory didn't have the heart to tell Murphy that it wasn't a club, but a sword, that had hit her. She hadn't trusted that the Commander would really honor her promise for them to visit Polis and had pretty much figured that this was where it ended.

Clarke gasped when she saw the slice up her side as she pulled the drenched fabric away, Murphy rushing to her side.

"Emory, why the hell didn't you say something?!" Murphy said, looking at Clarke with panicked eyes.

"If we could get away, I could try to treat it myself, but, once we were both tied up, I thought it was over," Emory said grimacing as Clarke tried to gently prod the wound.

Clarke got up and said something to the guards outside the door and then came back to help Emory get the rest of her top off. The door opened a minute later to a few servants with a basin of water and other supplies. Clarke helped walk Emory to the bed, the adrenaline wearing off and giving into pain.

"We'll get you fixed up, okay?" she said as she started washing the wound. "I'm going to need to stitch the wound."

Emory was a quiet patient. She still didn't trust any of these people, but it was hard not to trust Clarke. Clarke apologized as she stitched the wound, wishing she had something to numb it with first. Emory said it was fine and that she'd had worse. Clarke scoffed slightly, actually earning a smile from Emory.

"Thank you," Emory said quietly when it was all done and she was resting on the bed, healing brew Clarke insisted she drink in her hand.

Clarke shrugged, "From what I understand, you did the same for me. Besides, anyone who can steal Murphy's heart, and put up with him, forever has my respect."

That earned her a laugh from Emory and a sarcastic, "Ha ha," from Murphy, though his eyes sparkled.

"It looks like you'll need to stay in Polis for a while while she heals," Clarke said to Murphy.

Emory stiffened, "Is that really necessary?"

"Yes," Clarke said in a tone that discouraged disagreement, "if the wound gets infected or you rip open the stitches, it would be really bad. I promise, you're safe here. You're considered Skaikru now. With the exception of the warriors who brought you in, apparently, most people know that you helped to save my life. No one without a death wish would try to harm you."

Clarke glared at nothing, thinking about the warriors who had brought them in and hurt them. She knew what it was like to feel helpless; she'd spent way too much of her life, both before and after the dropship, feeling like that. She understood why Emory didn't mention her wound.

Emory fell asleep after a couple of cups of the brew. Murphy and Clarke chatted for a while and caught up, trying to speak quietly so as not to wake Emory. Just before lunch, Bellamy, Raven, Octavia, and Lincoln knocked on the door after hearing that they had been brought in. They were shocked and upset to find out what had happened to Emory, having only heard that they had been brought in with the warriors who captured them seeking a death sentence for them, not that they'd already tried to give it.

They all sat and reconnected, rebuilding their relationship that had previously been built on trauma and necessity. Removed from power dynamics and the constant threat of death, they found that Murphy was actually a pretty funny guy. Clarke could picture him being the class-clown in a different life and with different circumstances. She briefly wondered if that was how he was before his father was floated and he learned to distrust everyone.

Lexa came to check up on them, especially when Clarke didn't return, just before dinner. It had turned out to be a long day. She had also not known of Emory's injury. She slightly chastised Emory for not saying something about it in the throne room and verbally considered bringing back Rikel and Duncan to answer for injuring her, but all agreed to let it go. Murphy and Emory were stealing, though neither admitted that openly. It wasn't worth their lives, but neither wanted to risk pursuing the men who were probably right to bring them in.

"I'm sorry we weren't able to discuss Pike and Johnson's punishment today," Lexa said after dinner had been delivered and all opted to eat in Murphy and Emory's room.

"We can deal with it tomorrow. Hey, Murphy," she said changing the subject, "You should have Bellamy and Raven show you the tech trading post. Didn't you say that Emory had some tech knowledge? Maybe you could help with that to avoid another day like today." She raised an eyebrow at him and smirked. He smirked back and said he would check it out tomorrow. Today had scared the shit out of him. Maybe he could find a way to live within the law without giving up his freedom with Emory.

Lexa and Clarke spent the night like every other night: wrapped in each other's arms. Lexa asked if Clarke would like to discuss what she wanted to do with Pike and Johnson, but Clarke informed her that that was Heda business and she wanted to be with Lexa tonight. She didn't mention that she knew that both Heda and Lexa were not going to like what she had chosen for Pike, but Heda would be compelled to give in, especially when one of her most trusted generals was on board with it. Lexa, if they were in the privacy of their room, would fight Clarke on it out of both fear and some anger.

For the first time in a long time, the nightmares not only came, but also bled out enough to make Clarke fight and cry in her sleep. Lexa knew it was because of the punishment coming. When she asked Clarke about it, Clarke, again for the first time in a long time, didn't want to voice it. Those were the ones that concerned Lexa the most. It wasn't that Clarke was clairvoyant, but she subconsciously and consciously caught onto things that would sometimes come out in her dreams.

Finally, she convinced Clarke to tell her. Clarke shook her head before sighing and then speaking, "I told you my plan for them and you were so angry that you said that Johnson could have me. You let him drag me out of throne room and didn't even flinch while I begged you to stop him, to forgive me. I know you wouldn't really do that, Lexa. I know that. I'm sorry."

Lexa held her more tightly whispering, "Never. No matter how mad I may get, I would never do anything like that. I know you know that." She felt Clarke nod. She waited a few more minutes, letting Clarke calm down, before speaking again, "I take it I'm really not going to like what you've chosen to do with them, am I?"

Clarke sighed, moving further into Lexa' arms, "No, you're not going to like it. You won't give me to Johnson, I know that, but you might consider banishing me."

She was only half joking.