I sighed as I scratched the back of my neck contemplating what Clarke had said before her mom walked in. What did she mean she wanted to be more then my personal guard? I was completely confused and the fluttering in my stomach was odd. I covered my midsection with a hand and sighed walking towards the water basin as I began to take off the kohl from around my eyes and strip down to just my clothing underneath the armor.

I heard the tent flap pull back and thinking it was Indra I turned but no it was Costia. My eye's widened as I saw her and she was smiling while taking me in.

"This is the first time I've seen you without your Commander outfit." She said deeply and I felt the blush creep up my neck.

"Costia you cannot be here. I am in preparation to take the tests to become a warrior." I said sternly. Her blue eyes darkened and a slow lazy smile came across her face as she moved towards me.

"That's why I'm here…to give you luck." She said huskily and I felt a shiver run down my spine. When she reached me she slowly put up a hand and I did nothing to stop her as she gripped the back of my neck and kiss me soundly on the lips. I sighed as I closed my eyes, heart aching in all the right ways as I put a hand on her shoulder and hip and squeezed. I loved this girl.

I heard a sharp gasp come from the entrance to the tent and we broke apart to see my mother and Indra as well as Clarke standing there. I looked at was Clarke and the look on her face made my stomach drop and my heart hurt. It was a look of complete devastation and anger and then it was gone as her mask came back and she looked at me coldly her jaw tightening. I looked at Costia and then back at Clarke and realized something crucial Elise had said to me. I should have told her. Well fuck.

I didn't know why this bothered me so much seeing that look on her face but it wasn't the Sky Girl I've known since I was young. Should I feel like this when I know loving Costia isn't wrong? I wondered. My mother did not look happy either and Indra stood stoicly.

"Out." My mother said looking at Costia.

Costia nodded and then looked back at me with a sweet smile on her face.

"I know you'll make it." she said quietly before walking out of the tent past everyone and I watched Clarke follow her profile out and her fists clenched and body coiled. I realized I was in some deep trouble when Clarke's icy glare towards me was enough to send a strike of fear down my spine. I didn't let any emotions show across my face as I contemplated on how I was going to fix this. I needed to fix this. I didn't want my best friend to feel like I had betrayed her. Picking Costia over her she was probably just surprised that I even had a girl I loved. I would need to talk to her after the Marking Ceremony.

No one said anything as they moved into the tent. And Clarke wasn't even looking at me anymore. She was looking at my mother with her arm's crossed waiting to know what we needed to do for the first task. I could see the tension across her shoulders as she held herself. I realized I had seriously messed up.

"We've never had a double marking before today so we have decided to change the tasks accordingly. Since originally a second would fight their mentor in a match of strength instead we will have you both fight each other to show the true teachings of each mentor." My mother began. I looked over at Clarke and she was smiling. This couldn't be good. "You must not lose." Is all my mother finished with as we were walked out of the tent. How in the hell were we not supposed to lose?

Clarke's POV

I was raging mad. No, I was furious. How in the fuck did I not know about this girl!? I said nothing as we walked to the training grounds the back way so that none of the villagers could lay eyes on us. When the Chief came and got me I grinned at the thought of seeing Lexa since Indra was with her and we headed to the Chiefs tent. I couldn't wait to show Lexa how much I had grown in strength and fighting prowess and then when I looked up Lexa was locking lips with the girl I had seen walk towards the medical bay. I was stunned as I gasped and they broke apart and Lexa was staring right at me in shock. My face dropped as a pain in my heart took over and I felt a blush reach my face as humiliation took over me realizing how stupid I was thinking after all this time Lexa wouldn't have fallen in love with someone else. And then I looked at the girl in Lexa's arms and I felt jealousy and anger course through me.

That Bitch.

I glared up at Lexa as anger took over my pain. I was going to show her how mad I truly was today. I saw the look of concern over take Lexa as she saw all the emotions cross my face and then I schooled my look. I was going to show her exactly what I was feeling. Later. I barely registered anything as I heard Lexa's mom say something and then the girl turned to my Lexa and smiled while whispering something to her and then she was walking towards us and I glared at her retreating form feeling my body tense. I wanted to rip that damn look of pure bliss and love right off her face. How dare she take Lexa away from me I felt more pain and sorrow course through me and then I was brought out of my angry thoughts and was back in the forest as leaves crunched below my boot when Lexa nudged me. I didn't look at her as we continued walking. I refused to look at her as I watched the Chief and Indra conversing in front of us.

"Clarke." She whispered hurriedly.

"Commander." I said coldly.

I saw the flinch out of the corner of my eye and heard Lexa sigh.

She said nothing after that and I was glad she didn't. I wasn't ready to blow up on her quite yet even though really none of this was Lexa's actual fault besides being a complete asshole for not speaking of this girl to me at ALL in ANY of her letters. Did she not think it would matter? Telling me of this person she apparently loved with the way they were kissing earlier. My stomach was swirling uncomfortably as I felt almost nauseous thinking about it.

We arrived at the training grounds and our mentors moved to the side to let us have room.

"You must fight with nothing but a chosen weapon. What will you choose?" Indra asked.

I looked at Lexa and she was looking at me pleadingly.

"I'll pick my sword." I said narrowing my eye's at her.

"Same." She said as a look of defeat ran across her features.

Indra walked to Lexa with a sword in her hands and Lexa unsheathed it holding it to the ground as she stood facing me.

I didn't look away from Lexa as I took my own and mirrored her.

"Clarke…can't we talk about this?" she asked.

I said nothing as I stood silently.

"No." I moved quicker than I ever had before as anger coiled my muscles as I swung my sword in a fluid practiced ark. Lexa deflected it and put her sword down again as I came at her from the other side she deflected that one too. I began to see red as I continued to swing at her and our weapons clashed and then I knocked her sword to the side and kicked her clean in the stomach to send her flying across the training grounds. I stormed over to her breathing hard as I ground my teeth. I was going to smack that stupidity right out of her if it was the last thing I did. She looked defeated on the ground as she slowly got up and I kicked her again. She hit the ground.

"Why aren't you fighting me!" I screamed. "Fight Lexa." I said as I kicked her again. Lexa rolled over and she got up holding her sword in front of her as pain crossed her face. She looked angry too. "I don't want to fight you Clarke!" she yelled back feeling the pain I was feeling finally. She looked as angry as I was but more pain then anger at the way I was treating her.

"You're a Branwada!" I yelled. I ran at her and took my sword in both hands and brought it above my head as I jumped a little bringing it down towards her head to wack her with it, never minding the fact it was deadly sharp. I was pissed off. She brought her sword up with both hands and our swords hit with an angry clank. I pushed with all my strength against her sword and we held our position struggling as she tried to lift my sword off hers and I forced hers down more. I let out an angry grunt as she gritted her teeth holding me, our swords trembling with the strain and effort.

"Lexa how could you." I growled out I felt my eyes burn. I looked at her as she continued to struggle with the hold staring into my eyes as sweat ran down her forehead. "Why didn't you tell me about her Lexa huh?" I hissed out. I watched as Lexa's face changed then at my words. "Am I not important enough to you that you would just leave such a crucial detail out of your letters!?" I screamed out. I stepped back pulling my sword off hers and aimed a punch at her head. She brought her arm up to deflect it and then I twirled and kicked her legs from under her. "Why would you do that to me!" I screamed in her face as I bent down to her level. The look on Lexa's face was something I had never seen before. It looked as if she was about to cry. Her eyes were beginning to fill with tears as her face flushed. I've never seen Lexa cry before and it stunned me and then she grabbed my shoulders and used her leg to flip me onto the ground and then she was straddling me as I struggled and screamed. Our swords were next to us as she held me down and I tried punching her in the face.

"Clarke!" she said and I stopped struggling as we both breathed heavily. "No Lexa I refuse to hear your excuses." I heaved out. "I thought we were close. I thought we were best friends." I said with so much heart break. "We are Clarke." She said with a look of pure fear. I wasn't believing it. I got leverage and rolled us over and I punched her in the shoulder hard. "You dumbass! Asshole! Stupid-" I punched her with every name I called her and then I was cut off when she grabbed my wrist and I felt tears falling and they hit her face as my face was red with complete fury. I saw tears roll down her face too.

"I'm sorry Clarke. I didn't realize it would matter this much to you...and I wanted to wait until I could introduce her to the one person that actually matters to me besides my mother." She whispered. I stopped moving as I looked at her. She was in pain because I was in pain. I jolted as a memory crashed through me.

Your pain is my pain.

"I realize now I should have told you about her." Lexa said in almost a whisper as her voice cracked from the tears.

We continued to cry together as tears flowed from my cheeks to her face and they mixed with the tears that were slowly making their way to Lexa's ears as they pooled and dripped from her eyes. She made no sound except the heavy and broken breathing and I looked into her eyes as she pleaded the truth. She always spoke the truth.

I realized I had over reacted thinking she was hiding this from me but really she honestly hadn't been keeping it from me, she wanted to show her happiness to the one person that mattered to her instead of saying words across a letter when there were more important things to talk about. She was the Commander now. She couldn't right about a weakness she was developing for this other girl. In the tiny space we had currently covered by my hair I realized I was always important to her she's proving that right now when she's not even struggling to get up out of the barely hold I have her in. She wants to be exactly where she is.

Our mentor's said nothing as they waited to see what would happen I heard them shift and talk quietly to each other. This probably looked weird from their perspective.

I sighed heavily. God damn her and that face. I couldn't tell her how I felt. She loved someone else. I took my wrist from hers as she let go as I hung my head and sat up.

"You could have at least warned me." I said quietly. "You idiot." She shifted below me and then her green eyes were staring into mine as she pushed my loose hair from my face and took it into her hand.

"I'm sorry I should have." Her head tilted. "I don't want us to fight like this Clarke." Her hand was trembling and I realized she thought she was going to lose me.

I put my hand over hers as I wiped her face with my hands and she did the same.

"I'm sorry for over reacting." I said sighing as I shook my head. "It surprised me."

She nodded. "You thought I had been hiding something from you. I see how that would look now."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "You are the most oblivious idiot I have ever known." I said with a small smile on my face. My feelings could wait.

Lexa snorted as she looked at me with an eyebrow raised. "You want to prove that?" she said playfully.

"Oh I know it's the truth." I smugly smirked at her with my arms crossed.

She pushed me off of her and I squawked as she got up and grabbed her sword.

"Prove it to me." She held her sword like the true warrior I knew she was and I grabbed mine and mirrored her.

"Oh…it's on."

We fought for hours back and forth returning blows and twirling around each other.

"If ever I've seen an even match." Lexa's mom said as she looked on at the two girls fighting it out for real now.

"Yes. Clarke is a true comrade for Heda. You have done well to train her." Indra said as she continued to watch the fight. Both girl's red faced and panting. Neither giving in.

"I knew she would be since the moment she smacked Lexa across the face sending her flying to the ground when they first met."

Indra blanched as she looked at the Chief.

"She did what?"

Lexa's mom smiled as she looked on at the two girls she was proud to call daughters.

"It is the truth." She said.

Indra turned back to the fight and saw the two girls smiling as they said teasing words to the other.

I breathed heavily as I held my sword in front of me grinning like a fool. Lexa was grinning as well mirroring me breathing just as hard.

"Admit it Clarke…I'm going to win." She said as she huffed more. Her hair was disheveled as it was coming out of her braids and some of it was sticking to the side of her face as sweat dripped down her chin and onto the ground. She was extremely captivating. The sun was hitting her in all the right places as more sweat pooled against her tank top and shoulders. As her chest heaved.

I let out a loud ha as I wiped my face holding my sword closer to my body. I probably looked exactly the same as I felt my hair clinging to my neck and shoulders. It was getting pretty long I suppose.

"You wish Commander." I said mockingly. I rolled my shoulders as I adjusted my stance.

Lexa smiled more if that was even possible. I felt her eye's look me over as mine had and then she was grinning mischievously at me. "Trust me Clarke I will be the victor and you will lose."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Bring it." I growled playfully. I tossed my hair to one side of my face and waited as my face grew serious.

Lexa's face calmed as she got ready for another attack. "Oh I will."

I was ready when she came at me doing a fake swing towards my torso. I pretend to block her as I watched where her true aim was. She threw a fist at my face and I did the same and we both hit each other with a loud crack. God she could hit like a horse running you over.

We both fell backwards onto our backs with a grunt and laid there groaning holding our faces.

"Really Sky Girl?" she said exasperated as she held her eye that was already starting to bruise and blacken.

I was groaning as I held my jaw as it began to swell. "Don't give me that…I saw that fake move you jerk. You hit me too remember." I said as I kicked her with my leg. "You're a jack ass." Lexa laughed loudly as she continued to cover her eye. We both were giggling like children.

I heard clapping and I looked up and the Chief helped me to my feet and Indra did the same to Lexa.

"You both fought well. I'd say you are both Victors." Indra said.

I sighed in relief as I looked at Lexa and grinned. She was smiling back just as big.

"You both have moved onto the next task at hand, which will be worse than the first." Lexa's mom said as she squeezed my shoulder.

I rolled my neck and cracked it as I held my face.

"Both of you go clean up and be ready for what we have in store for you. The river is that way don't go far we will come get you when we are ready." Indra said as she motioned into the woods.

I picked up my sword as Lexa's mom handed the sheath to me and I strapped it to my back. Indra did the same for Lexa and then I began walking towards the river stretching my arms above my head. My whole body ached.

Lexa easily caught up and she pushed her hair out of her face and sighed.

"I feel as if I will have many bruises tomorrow thanks to your treatment Sky Girl." She smiled. She winced when her hand brushed her bruising eye.

"Your punches hurt Clarke." She said playfully and I laughed as I patted her arm.

"Good you deserved it." I said as I ran a hand through my own hair. I felt gross.

"Your punch wasn't too bad either." I said thoughtfully as I could see the river ahead of us.

"May I help you with your hair?" she asked as she motioned towards it and I looked up at hers.

"Only if I can do yours." I said.

She smiled and nodded.

"Good."

We both fell into a comfortable silence till we made it to the water's edge and we both sat down.

"I am still sorry about earlier Clarke." She said softly.

I didn't look at her as I nodded and took a handful of water and splashed it against my face. Wincing at the stinging of my cheek.

She grabbed my hands before I could do it again and gently tore a piece of her shirt and put it in the cold water as she motioned for me to face her. I did and she lightly held the cool cloth to my cheek and I sighed happily as I closed my eyes. It felt like old times when we were just two kids getting into too much trouble.

I felt her other hand sweep some hair out of my face and behind my ear. "You and my mother are all I have to call family." She whispered.

I opened my eyes and Lexa was looking at the ground as she continued to hold the cloth to my face.

I put a hand over hers and took the cloth from her and dipped it into the water and she looked up at me.

"I would never leave you Lex." I said just as softly and then I put the cold cloth over here eye as her other one sparkled from the water bouncing light into them.

"Even if I was raging mad I never thought once I was going to throw you away so don't be so fearful." I said.

She gripped my wrists as I pushed hair out of her face and then she leaned in and kissed my cheek firmly as she wrapped an arm around me and laid her head on my shoulder.

I wrapped an arm around her as I heard her sniffle and then warm tears leak onto my shirt as I protected her from the invisible eyes around us even though I knew no one was watching but I let her have this moment. My cheek was burning for a whole other reason now. Her lips were as soft and warm as I thought they would be. I'm in over my head aren't I? I wrapped my arms firmly around her as she did the same and we continued to hug each other close never realizing how truly right it felt inside of our hearts. One already admitting it. The other, blinded by responsibility and culture. One day soon she would realize.

And that's the end of the chapter! Yayyyy. So I hope I didn't break any of your guy's hearts too bad or made you cry O.O that'd be worse XD So next chapter is the second test and the marking Ceremony! If they pass of course . …... let's hope they do eh XD

Till next time:)

Artemis out!