I could barely pick up the sword anymore as I put my hands on my knees and wheezed heavily. We've been at it for hours and Anya didn't even look like she had broken a sweat. I stuck the sword into the ground and put up my hand.

"I can't." I said. I was huffing and puffing bleeding from multiple small cuts, sweat dripping down my face and dropping into the dirt below my feet. I was soaked.

"I don't even know how you all can do this." I pushed my hair out of my face again sighing. I've been doing that all day, pushing my loose hair out of my face. I can see why everyone is wearing braids when they become warriors.

Anya said nothing as she attacked again and I squeaked as I ripped the sword out of the ground quickly and tried to block but got hit in the chin instead by her sword hilt. I was sent flying to the ground.

"Shit." I said groaning as the air was knocked out of me again, for the hundredth time.

I felt a blade against my throat and I looked up and Anya was smirking.

I sighed.

"Dead again Clarke of the Sky People." She said smugly.

"Yeah yeah…are we done?"

Anya looked up at the sky and nodded.

"Yes. The test should be about done now."

Just as she said that a horn sounded and Anya's eyes widened.

I had never heard that sound before.

"She did it." Anya whispered.

I got up and wiped the dirt off my face.

"Who did what?"

"Lexa…she's Heda."

I felt my heart drop into my stomach.

"What?" I said.

I dropped the sword with a clank to the ground.

Anya put hers away and started walking up the trail to the village I stood there staring at her retreating form.

I wiped my face again unbelieving.

I pulled my hand back and looked at it. It was covered in dirt.

I sighed. "Great…I was covering my face with more dirt not wiping it away.

I walked the opposite direction of where Anya went, going towards the river to clear my head thinking about what that would mean for Lexa and I.

When I got to the stream I looked down at the fish in the water silently.

The water rippled and I stared at my reflection taking in the disheveled hair full of leaves and twigs and the dirt smudges on my face. I reached in and cupped water and then splashed it against my face to get rid of the dirt as I scrubbed hard with my hands feeling my face and neck heat up. My heart was in my throat. This couldn't be happening. I untangled my hair slowly feeling water drip off my face and then I caught a drop in my mouth and realized it was salty. I touched my face and tears were leaking out of me.

"Be strong Clarke." I said brokenly.

Everything was going to change. We weren't kids anymore. I gripped my shirt as I knelt at the water's edge hanging my head.

"You're not a kid anymore…you're going to protect her…" I said quietly.

That didn't stop the sobs that came out of my mouth. It wasn't going to be the same at all. No more ditching lessons, no more playing and laughing, no more adventures.

"No more just her and I." I said as my voice cracked. I watched myself break down in my reflection.

I felt my heart hurt not understanding what was wrong with me. Why is this so painful? Why do I care if I don't get just Lexa? Why do I have to share her?

I covered my chest with my hand and squeezed.

I love Lexa don't I? The realization was a sure slap in the face.

"I'm so stupid." I said as I smiled a little.

I knelt by that river looking at my reflection as tears dropped into the water.

"So stupid." My shoulders lowered in defeat.

"What am I going to do?"

Back at camp

I was extremely shell-shocked as I was whisked away by Indra to get ready to leave for Polis. I was redressed and my mother braided my hair in an intricate design as Indra watched closely humming in approval as the red cloth I had picked was strapped to my shoulder and the dagger sheathed and handed over to me to be belted to my side. Indra stood in front of me and applied Kohl to my eyes and then stuck the golden piece to the middle of my eyebrows that I had found.

This was literally too much to handle.

I didn't say anything, afraid of my mother's wrath but also I didn't know what to say. I was already agonizing over what Clarke will say when she sees me. This was getting ridiculous. When I had said all that to Clarke in the bunker I meant it but I'm not so sure I can make it happen with how everyone is ruling over me at this moment.

I realized I was scared for the first time in a long time, I was afraid of what might happen to Clarke as well as our friendship.

Indra was explaining the details of the Ceremony but I wasn't really listening. I stood stoic and didn't allow any emotion to show on my face but I knew what was going to happen. I was going to be taken away from Clarke and that was my only thought.

She has been the only constant in my life for so long and I didn't want that taken away from me so I spoke up.

"Will Clarke be coming with me?" I said.

Everyone stopped what they were doing to look at me finally.

Indra glared and my mother's face gave nothing away.

"No." My mother said. "She will not be going with you."

My eyes grew big and the look of horror on my face was apparent.

"What!" I yelled. My face growing furious.

"She is too much of a distraction, and you have much to learn about leading our people." My mother spoke quietly.

"But Nomon-" I began as my body trembled.

"No. You know it's true." My mom said.

I couldn't deny her words but I wanted Clarke with me. Always."

"Isn't there something that can be done?" I asked pleadingly.

My mother shook her head.

"You have to learn to Lead Lexa…there is no place for Clarke while you learn to do so."

I looked over at Indra who still hadn't said a word.

"A Commander does not plead." Indra said and I looked down steeling my face.

"Then I Command you to allow Clarke to come with me to Polis." I looked Indra in the eye with such ferocity but all she did was smile.

"That is a Command from a child who is not getting her way…you have much to learn Lexa of the Trikru, and I will teach it to you in such a way that you will never forget what it means to know the way of our people."

I clenched my jaw but said nothing. The fire in my eyes said enough for me and I accepted defeat for now.

I was going to have Clarke by my side once again, one way or another. They are not going to take her away from me.

A little more preparing and we were finally ready; one of the guards outside blew a horn.

"Are you ready to greet your people…Heda." Indra said.

I refused to look at anyone inside that room as my face grew grim expecting Clarke to be out there waiting.

I walked silently forward as my mother and Indra followed and then I was out of the tent as the sun was setting. I realized I had been in there for some time. I looked around and everyone stood around in fearful awe. Staring at me.

I ignored them as I scanned everyone not finding the golden blonde hair anywhere. Where was she?

I saw Clarke's mother looking at me worriedly and she saw the question in my eyes and she shook her head.

I kept searching. She wasn't there. I felt the anxiety shoot to my heart and then I noticed Anya coming up from the training grounds. Indra was speaking to my people but I completely ignored her I needed to talk to Anya and so I waited till Indra's speech was over and the preparations for the feast held in my honor to be finalized before I walked over to my mother's second.

As everyone else left from surrounding my mother's tent I looked up at her.

"Anya?" I said as Anya dropped to her knee and bowed.

"Yes Heda?" I shook my head.

"There is no need to bow…" This was already getting too much to watch people I've known all my life to bow to me.

Anya got back to her feet and looked down to me.

"Have you seen Clarke?" I asked trying to keep the anxiety from showing.

Anya's eyes widened as she looked behind her in confusion.

"I believed to have thought she was right behind me. We have been training since we were ushered out of the tent so that you could take the test." Anya said.

My eyes widened as dusk approached us.

"You didn't check to see if she was with you?!" I all but hissed at her.

Anya just looked at me and I sighed.

I walked past her making my way down to the training grounds but Anya put a hand on my shoulder.

"Lexa…She might need time. Her face was not something to witness when the horn was blown and I told her what had happened. That you had succeeded." She said to me.

That made me grow even more furious. I shoved her arm off me and fumed my way down the stone steps to the dirt training ground and scanned the area. No one was there. Anya followed and looked on as if I wasn't extremely pissed off at her right now.

"There, by that tree…the ground is disturbed. She must have headed to the river to wash off from the fight." Anya said stoically.

I fought the frown that was going to mar my face as I made my way to the river with Anya silently following.

I sighed.

This was going to be a thing to…people constantly following me.

When we arrived I looked around and didn't see anyone.

"She was here." Anya pointed to the disturbed spot by the water.

I nodded and walked up to it.

"I will give you space. I'll be in the forest." Before I could say anything Anya was gone.

I looked at her confused and then I turned back around and realized Clarke was on top of the only boulder on the water's edge, with her feet dangling in the water she had her back to me but I could already see the defeat in her shoulders as the water glowed from her kicking. The stars were beginning to come out as I climbed up onto the rock getting annoyed with the clothes I was wearing. It was something to get used to, wearing more than just regular clothes.

Her hair glowed every time a fire fly lazily flew past her. I couldn't see her face yet and that scared me. I took off my boots and rolled up my pants as I slowly made my way to her. Her shoulders went ridged as I sat down next to her as close as possible and then I put my feet in the water next to hers. She stopped her movements, her hair coming down to cover her face. I didn't stop looking at her. We both sat silently and I couldn't help not feeling the sadness radiating off of her.

"Your leaving." She said quietly. It wasn't a question.

I looked down at her hands. They were trembling, knuckles white with how hard she was gripping the side of the boulder.

I put my hand on hers and she jolted, the trembling instantly stopping.

"Yes." I said just as quietly.

She didn't say anything and really she didn't have to.

"You were called." She said.

"I was." I looked up at the hair that was covering the side of her face as she looked down at the water.

"I can't go can I."

"No." it barely made it out of my mouth but she heard.

She finally moved to face me and I almost changed my mind on finding a way to make her come with me. The pain was there, swimming in her eyes it hurt to look.

"I don't want you to go." Her voice cracked as she pleaded with me and I swallowed thickly.

"I know Sky Girl." I said.

She touched my face and my hair and then looked at the clothes I was wearing.

"I can't stop this can I." Clarke said.

"No." I said and I knew it was true. She couldn't stop this.

"Promise Lexa…you have to promise…you won't leave me here…you'll come back." She gripped my shirt tightly.

I didn't know how long my training was going to take. I really didn't and I think Clarke realized that too because I couldn't promise her anything.

"I will try." I said. It was the truest thing I could say to her at this moment. Clarke nodded and then she looked out across the river.

"Then you better write me at least once a week." Clarke said.

I couldn't help the sad smile that crossed my face. I opened my mouth to answer her but before I could she gave me a look.

"And don't say you'll try…I expect one once a week." She glared at me.

I couldn't help the chuckle that came out of my mouth as I shook my head.

She grabbed me by my shirt again and pulled me to her as she laid her forehead on my collarbone.

"I can't lose anyone else that is important to me Lexa. So just please write." I could hear her voice trembling. This was her way of saying goodbye for now.

I sighed and nodded. "Okay." I said. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and held her close for a few more minutes. She wrapped her arms around me as well.

"I'll write you as much as I'm allowed."

I felt Clarke nod and then we both heard a crunch of stone. We both turned and Anya stood there.

I sighed.

"You are being summoned for the Ceremony." Anya said.

I nodded and then got down from the rock after putting my boots back on and helping Clarke off of it.

We walked back to the village hand in hand gripping each other for dear life.

When we got there my mother was standing in the center of the crowd with Clarke's mom. We had long let go of each other's hands but I could still feel her warm one in mine. I waited next to Clarke and Indra stood off to the side as my mother motioned for us to stand in front of her.

"Lexa, as my daughter you have been called to lead our people and as such it is time you became a second so that you may learn the ways many of us have learned. You will become Anya's second." She said stoically.

I stood straighter as Anya stepped behind me.

"Do you accept?"

I couldn't be prouder to be Anya's second as I looked at my mother.

"Yes." I said.

I looked at Clarke and for once she was smiling since we let go of each other's hand.

Good luck. She mouthed at me. I smirked.

"And you Clarke." My mother began.

My eyes widened.

We both looked up at my mother.

"I would like to take you as my second if you will accept."

Clarke's eyes widened as she stood dumbfounded at my mother's words. Everyone in the village was silent since no one expected such an outcome. Clarke finally found herself as she blinked and gasped.

"Y-yes…YES." Clarke stuttered. "I would be honored."

My mother gave both of us a small smile as she stepped down to go stand behind Clarke.

Indra stepped up as Clarke's mother smiled happily. Did she know about this?

"You both have been selected to become seconds. For excepting this you will now receive your temporary markings picked by your Mentor's when you have completed you training you will received permanent markings."

Clarke and I were sat down on stools for us facing each other.

Two healers walked up and went behind us as they took off my armor and positioned my right arm.

Clarke was helped as well; her right arm was positioned also.

"It is not common that two people become seconds at the same time but your mentor's have chosen this for you and as such you will both have your markings positioned on your right arm to remember this by."

I looked up at Clarke and she was watching me.

"After you have successfully received your markings we must celebrate the return of our Commander and tomorrow…we ride to Polis."

Clarke looked at me seriously.

Come back to me. She mouthed.

I nodded.

She smiled.

We both knew we wouldn't be seeing each other after this because good byes were just too hard for either of us.

May we meet again. I mouthed back.

The look in her eye was enough. It said it all, as did mine.

We both realized this was going to be a long and painful goodbye.

And that's the end of this chapter XP up next another time jump! But just a few years' guys! I hope you're enjoying the ride as I have! The reviews, favorites and follows just blow me away. I'm glad you all enjoy what I write. It really makes me very humble to think about all the people that are waiting with baited breath for the next part of this. You all are awesome. All of you :)

Until next time!

Artemis :)