CHAPTER 2

AN:/ Thanks to all the reviews, favourite and followers! Hope you enjoy!

Mere hours had passed since the two women had fallen to sleep. As the sun began to rise Anya awoke with purpose in her eyes. Quickly striding across the room she woke the blonde teenager from her slumber to continue on their journey. They still needed to travel a few miles before reaching the commanders camp. Even then Clarke knew that the days tests would be far from over.

Their best chances of saving their people was to work together but both women knew that the road to such a future was not an easy route to take. Even if the grounders did accept an alliance Clarke had no true knowledge of who had survived the ark fall. For all she knew there may only be one survivor that set the balloon to float. However she also knew that doubting herself would do her no favors in the eyes of the grounders. She must remain strong and firm in her beliefs if she is to get anywhere with this alliance.

As both women stepped out of their temporary home Clarke was able to get yet another glimpse of the body from the previous evening. Taking in the close range gunshot wound in his head. Clarke was only able to assume this meant Finn had survived. He was the only other person who knew of the 'art supply store'. However she could not believe that the boy who only ever wanted peace would kill someone. Although she also didn't believe that the same boy would use her by lying and cheating. After all how could you think such a thing about the boy you have fallen for? People will do anything for those they love.

One thing was for certain though. Her people were out there.

'We must move swiftly, sky girl.' Anya pushed as they began their journey to the grounders village. 'The Commander does not stay in TonDC long. She likes to move every few weeks to check on outlying villages.'

Once again trekking through the forest the two girls remained silent to ensure no unwanted predators would arise. Too much noise would only make their task of reaching the Commander that much more difficult. Right now time was of the essence and there was no telling how long it would take to even start the agreements of an alliance once meeting the commander. One thing was for sure; it was going to be a long day.

Not only were the girls silent but it also seemed that the forest was unusually quiet also. It seems that someone or something had scared off the wildlife and this merely reminded both girls of their hunger, after days of little to no food. However with a few more minutes of walking Anya picked up the subtle sounds of footsteps in the surrounding bushes. They were being hunted.

Quickly turning and surveying there surroundings whilst also catching Clarkes attention Anya almost wasn't fast enough to notice the blur of a boy heading straight at her with a rifle in hand. As he took aim and fired Anya was only just able to avoid the bullet reaching any vital organs. The bullet flew through the air striking her bicep, with a clean shot through and through. She was quick to ensure Clarke had not been hit behind her.

Once checking on the sky princess, who seemed to be in shock at the current circumstance. Anya's focus returned to the boy sidestepping the first strike yet she was unable to avoid the backlash as he struck her side. Anya was hit with the butt of the rifle in her stomach. Though this did little to stop her from reaching her own knife, by her side, as she stood defensively between the boy and Clarke.

As the boy glanced towards her she could see the feral look in his eyes and the smell of desperation oozing off of him. This was the same boy she'd ordered her men to kill, before the attack on their dropship and the mountain men's arrival. He was obviously confused as to why the two leaders were walking through the forest together and just before she reached out for her own attack Clarke grabbed ahold of her arm. Suddenly shaken out of her shock to try and stop anyone else from dying.

'Finn?!' Clarke questioned taking in the boy ahead of her. She didn't know whether to believe her own eyes or not. Yet before she understood what she was doing she had grasped ahold of the sky boy and was sobbing onto his shoulder. He was alive. She already thought it was a possibility due to the incident in the bunker but she couldn't have been sure.

'I found you.' He stated as he pulled his rifle back up to the staring grounder general. Noticing the movement Clarke quickly stepped back to protect the general taking Anya's hand as she stood in front watching Finn look on in confusion.

The bushes began to rustle again and this time Murphy walked out with yet another rifle. 'Finn I told you to wait- Clarke… You're alive.'

'Yes where did you two get the guns? Is there anyone else? Why are you this far from the dropship?' she questioned quickly. They could be the answer to her problems she thought as she tightens her grip on Anya's hand to ensure she didn't leave completely forgetting the grounder was injured.

'Bellamy and Octavia made it out with a few others and we came here looking for the rest of you. Why are you with her Clarke?' Finn spat as he noticed she still hadn't let go of the grounders hand. He'd put the rifle down but only to ensure he didn't accidently hit Clarke.

'Bellamy made it out.' Clarke could barely believe it. Her people were all right Bellamy and Octavia were safe. There was still hope. She couldn't believe it. She wasn't alone. She'd decided to ignore Finns spiteful question for the moment and focused on getting her own information first. 'Where is he? The rest of you?'

'The ark survived Clarke.' This time it was Murphy that spoke up. 'We ran into some trouble and Bellamy had to take the rest of us back to their base. Were not supposed to be out here. Your mother thought it was too dangerous.'

'Wait- My mothers alive?' Clarke questioned rapidly completely forgetting about the mountain as she quickly fell to her knees in relief. She couldn't believe her luck. Everything finally seemed to be picking up after the hell she'd been through so far.

'Clarke she's Chancellor now. Kane went out into the forest to talk about peace with the grounders. He put your mum in charge and hasn't returned.' Murphy continued as he kept an eye on the general that looked curious at this information.

'Clarke if this is true we must hurry. This Kane may make matters worse.' Anya stated trying to hurry the sky girl along. However this simply seemed to anger Finn further.

'Clarke?' He asked exasperatedly. 'What is she talking about? We came here for you and I'm not leaving without you. I need to take you back to your mother. Now.' He argued holding his gun up at the grounder once more.

'No. What you need to do is get a message to my mother. Tell her that I'm forming an alliance with the grounders.' She stated as she let go of Anya's hand and pushed the rifle down away from the grounder. 'My mother probably thinks I'm dead. You need to ensure that she doesn't do anything stupid and start a war. Please Finn. I'll be safe. Anya has already sworn to protect me.'

'Right cause you can really trust a grounder can't you? Clarke it's obviously a trick. They have our people. Jasper and Monty. The grounders took them. She just wants you to go with her to have the same fate-' He quickly shouts in a panic, as the glint in his eyes came back. He looked lost.

'Finn, Jasper and Monty they weren't taken by the grounders. They're in Mount Weather. The grounders have nothing to do with it. You don't have to trust them. You just have to trust me.' The blonde stated repeating the boy's own words from that dreadful day on the bridge. 'The rest of the hundred. They aren't safe. People survived in the mountain but they can't go outside. They're using the grounders blood to stay alive. Draining them of their blood and the only way we can save our people from the same treatment is through an alliance.'

They both stood staring for a long time until finally Murphy spoke up again. 'I'll make sure we tell her. Finn we need to go. It's not far to the Ark. Maybe a two-hour walk. The grounders know where it is if you change you're mind. Oh and Clarke, good luck. It looks like we'll all need it. He stated before grabbing Finns shoulder and dragging him off away from the two girls.

'Lets go.' Clarke stated after wrapping up Anya's wounded arm with her ripped shirt. Although she couldn't help but trace the intricate pattern of a tattoo the bullet had just missed.

'It signifies my leadership.' Anya supplied even though no question was asked.

Clarke simply nodding before walking ahead of the general with a skip in her step now that she knew her people. Her mother. Bellamy. Finn. Had all survived. They would get through this.

With the extra energy that Clarke now felt it didn't take long for the two to make it to the village and Clarke was surprised to see it filled with children running around as Guards patrolled the huge gates.

'Clarke follow my lead. Do not speak unless directly spoken to and try not to be so sky like. The commander is our leader she must be respected.'

'I understand. Let's just get this over with.' Clarke responded. She just wanted her people back. Dropping her lone weapon of the small knife, from the drop ship, by the gate they both stepped forward to be met by swords and arrows pointing their way. 'Anya why are they not letting us through?' Clarke questioned as she looked at the trap she'd seemingly walked straight into.

'I did state they see me as I traitor now Clarke. I have failed as a leader and in doing so must prove myself.'

'I thought that was what I was here for. To smooth things over.' Clarke answered frustrated. 'This is ridiculous. We've tried doing it you're way. Now its my turn.' Clarke stated as she saw a rather angry grounder heading straight towards them surrounded by warriors as if guarding her obviously she was important. My name is Clarke Griffin and I wish to speak to your commander.' She stated towards the grounder storming towards her. Watching her scowl towards Anya as if giving her a warning.

She quickly ordered her men to take Anya away towards a rather large tent that Clarke presumed was the Commanders. Before the older women turned back focusing on Clarke. 'Teik em we.' She stated calmly as many warriors grabbed ahold of Clarke and dragged her down to a cellar opening the door before chucking her into the dark moist cell. Looking around all she could see was darkness that was until two figures both stepped out of the darkness. She was not expecting either of them to be here of all places and by the looks on their faces they were thinking the exact same thing.

'Clarke?' They both stated at the same time.

'Chancellor Jaha. Kane. What are the two of you doing down here? Have you already spoken to the Commander?' Clarke spoke quietly.

'No we haven't seen the Commander yet. We've been down here for two days and nothing. No food or water. These people are savages Clarke. I was wrong to want peace.' Kane stated angrily.

'No, we need this alliance. I will not let our people down. They are trapped in mount weather so are the grounders. We can and must work together in order to save them. I just need to speak to their Commander!' Clarke finished shouting at the closed cell door. Yet she was very surprised as the door opened soon after. She certainly didn't expect shouting to actually work.

A large burly man strapped in armor and dragging a rather large red satin cloak over his shoulder entered the room. She could only presume he was their Commander. Yet something felt wrong. Warriors also entered the room with a young girl, around Clarke's age, who shuffled in with what seemed to be a heavy bucket and sat down in the cell watching quietly. It wasn't until the warriors moved forward and started to beat the already injured Jaha that Kane finally spoke up. 'Stop! We came in Peace! We came in peace. Please.' He pleaded as they finally stopped beating his leader and pulled him up to stand.

'You speak of peace yet you burned three hundred of our warriors in a ring of fire.' He stated staring straight at Clarke in accusation.

'Well you shouldn't have sent them there to kill us.' She growled. She couldn't believe this man. The cheek. She tried. She really did she told herself but she couldn't keep her mouth shut.

'Blood must have blood.' The man stated unfazed by her anger. 'One of you will die. Here Today. By the others hand. I will hear the terms of your surrender from the one who lives.' He slowly dropped the knife in front of the two leaders before turning to the young girl in the corner. 'Ge osir pas em odon.' After that he quickly turned to leave shutting the cell door behind him.

As soon as they realized they were alone the two male leaders of the group began to argue between right and wrong. 'They want us to turn on each other' Jaha stated trying to ensure nothing got out of hand. The tension in the room was off the chain. Impossible to not feel as it seemed to suffocate the prisoners.

Clarke soon became bored of the argument and began to focus on the fourth party in the room. She was obviously trying to remain unseen by the others. However Clarke could also sense that she was listening to everything they were arguing about. A well played act, but why send in a girl to watch over the fight? She suddenly got that uneasy feeling once more.

Something about the way Anya spoke of the Commander. Everything she knew about the leader through Anya didn't make any sense. Anya was the Commanders mentor and surely therefore older. Not to mention that Clarke always presumed from the way Anya spoke of the leader she would be female. None of this information made any sense. Obviously the previous male grounder was pretending to be the Commander but why? Who was the real Commander and why was she hiding? None of this information made sense to Clarke but she would solve the puzzle.

'What's your name?' She questioned quietly as she shuffled slowly towards the young woman. 'I'm Clarke, that's Thelonious and Marcus.'

'Lexa.' The women whispered as if hesitant to give the answer. This girl was definitely part of the puzzle. It was just a matter of figuring out where she fit in the larger picture.

'Your Commander spoke of your warriors burning? I was there.' Clarke stated watching the girl's reaction. Which evidently turned out to be quite fruitful. With the regal stare she held straight at Clarke it was hard to see any real reaction apart from the constriction of her eyes. She was obviously trying to hold in her rage.

'Three hundred of our warriors were murdered. Burned in a matter of seconds.' She stated continuing to hold in her rage.

'I pulled the lever. Its my fault not theirs.' Clarke stated getting annoyed as she pointed at the two leaders, who were still arguing over a solution. If anyone deserved to be punished it was Clarke. The guilt could be seen eating her from the inside out.

'It doesn't matter. One of you must pick up the knife. That is our way.' Lexa stated remaining calm yet holding a sense of dominance.

'And if we refuse?' Clarke questioned.

'Then the Commander will use it to slit all of your throats.'

'This has gone on long enough.' Kane let out. 'There has to be some other way to resolve this. Something that we haven't thought of yet.' He questioned.

'There isn't' Lexa stated. She was not budging and Clarke suddenly realized why the girl was so uptight. It had been staring her right in the face the whole time. The missing puzzle piece.

The tattoo on the women's shoulder similar to that she had seen on Anya's during their travels. It was obviously significant as she stared at the intricate patterns and swirls that encompassed the bicep. Grounders tattoos always had a meaning and surely a mere peasant wouldn't have obtained such detail in her own tattoo, unless she was important herself. She certainly held herself up with a sense of importance surrounding her like a thick fog.

It seemed that Clarke had been staring into space for quite some time as when she returned to her surroundings Kane was bleeding on the floor with Jaha patching him up as Lexa watched in what seemed to be confusion.

Slowly standing and heading towards the center of the cell Clarke bent over to pick up the knife Kane had previously dropped.

If she was going to act it needed to be now. Quickly turning Clarke was able to grab Lexa and hold her as the knife slowly stopped at her throat. Holding her in place Clarke leaned in close to the girls ear whispering. ' Sorry Commander but I choose to live. We need to talk privately, please.'

Seconds later the cell doors burst open as the bulky man claiming to be the Commander burst into the room in a panic, merely confirming Clarke's suspicion.

Maybe things would work out after all. She simply needed to explain the situation involving the mountain. She would not fail her people no matter what it takes.

Although before she could really take in Lexa's words, Clarke no longer held control of her future as she lay on the floor with Lexa straddling her hips. The knife previously held in Clarke's hand now placed firmly against her own throat. It was over the moment guards moved forward, at Lexa's foreign words, to grab Clarke. Simply leaving Lexa and her two leaders in the cell with no knowledge of her own fate.