CHAPTER 12
Turning back to where she last saw Lexa, she froze.
The Missile had caused the debris to scatter randomly across the surrounding area. Trees had fallen due to the raw power of the explosion. Whilst the remnants of the village burned out. Survivors were walking around dazed as they glanced at what used to be there home. Warriors were running around helping as many people they could.
Yet Clarke could not take her eyes of the sight in front of her.
She hadn't realised Lexa had followed her into the danger zone until the bomb hit. The last place she had seen her wife was on the edge of the tree line. However due to debris and fallen trees, her wife was trapped and unconscious.
It took Clarke a few minutes to snap out of the shock and rush to help the woman. She was worried beyond her own comprehension. There was no time to analyse why she felt this need to ensure her wife's safety. Lexa couldn't die. That was the only option Clarke was willing to accept. The Commander would survive. Clarke could not have her death on her conscience. The only reason the brunette was in this mess was due to Clarke.
When she finally reached Lexa, whose shoulder was trapped, as she was slumped against a tree trunk. Clarke noticed straight away that Lexa had a fresh head wound that would likely insinuate a concussion. Not to mention serious damage to the skull and possibly brain damage if deep enough. However the brunette was breathing steadily which gave Clarke a lot of hope, yet nothing would be certain until the brunette awoke.
Clarke began to feel tears slip down her cheeks as she fought with the debris onto of her wife. Yet the action must have been causing Lexa pain as she began to grunt and mumble. The pain bringing her back to a conscious state. The debris was soon removed and Clarke switched from desperate clawing at rock to holding her wife's face. Offering the little comfort she could as she held the brunette close to her. Apologies were sprouting from deep within as she soon began to cry in hysterics. The surrounding screams drowning her own cries out.
Lexa seemed to be groggy as she came too. However it didn't take her long to remember the situation and push herself slowly into action. Clarke ensuring she has her help as she stood.
'How's your head? Where are you hurt?' Clarke asked frantically as she tried to scan over her wife. Just from a quickly glance she could see that Lexa had once again dislocated her shoulder and would need to put it back into place. Once Lexa agreed with her assessment they got straight to fixing the issue. Finishing with Clarke ripping part of her shirt to wipe the dark blood that was gathering on the brunette's temple.
'I could have warned them. I could have saved them.' Clarke stated as she looked over to the burning crater. Now that Lexa was safe she had returned to her state of shock, leaving the Commander to think logically.
'If they see us, they'll strike again. Victory stands on the back of sacrifice. You know that.' Lexa reasoned as she held her wife's head up to look directly into her eyes. She had to snap the blonde back into action. The war was not over. They were not dead. Although the pain shooting down her body from the shock of the blast, was making it hard to stand. They needed to move.
'I want the mountain men dead. All of them.' Clarke demanded. Lexa could see the change in the usual calm sea blue eyes. They were darker, sharper and angry. The realisation made Lexa's stomach churn slightly. Clarke was not meant to be the vengeful leader that Lexa herself had become. Yet she could not deny the girl her chance for blood. It was there way after all. Jus Drein Jus Daun.
Both girls were ripped from their short moment of understanding as a gunshot resounded through the crater. One after another as survivor were gunned down or barely missed.
'The spotter.' Clarke whispered with realisation as she looked around the forest in all directions. 'He aimed the missile. He's alone.' Clarke raged as she began to storm in the snipers direction.
'Clarke, just slow down. If he is a spotter, he's here to make sure we're dead. If he tells the mountain were alive…' Lexa worried. She would not allow Clarke to waste the chance Lexa painfully provided.
'He won't.'
'How can you be sure?' The Commander coming forth as she thought of all the problems that may arise.
'Because I'm gonna kill him.'
Lexa took a few seconds to look at her determined wife before slowly nodding.
'Alright. Let's go. You and me.' She shrugged as she moved to pass the blonde only to be stopped by a grip on her elbow.
'You're injured. I cant let you come along. You mean too much to m- our people.' Clarke corrected herself towards the end as she stared into the leaders eyes. Blazing green like the forest. She was mesmerised by what she saw. The Commanders most expressive tool. As she looked the through to them all she could see was worry. Not for herself but for Clarke. She knew in that instant she wasn't going to win.
'I'm not letting you go alone, Clarke. Now stop wasting time and let's go. Beside who's going to protect you, if not me?' Lexa smirked as she continued on her way. Clarke may have a gun but so did the spotter. Lexa would not let her go alone.
As they gradually got deeper into the forest, Lexa piped up again. 'It'll be light soon. We wont have the darkness to hide us.'
'Neither will he.'
'I feel your anger Clarke.' Lexa whispered as she stopped to take in her wife's stubborn anger. Something she would no doubt have to get used to if they survived this current suicide mission.
'Do me a favour? No more lessons.' Clarke snarked as she stormed past the brunette.
'You need to focus. We do what we must to survive. The enemy does the same. Its not personal. You more than anyone else should understand given our own ties.' Lexa snapped as the stress of the last few hours finally hit her. The pounding in her head only infuriating the Commander further.
'Everything is personal to me, Lexa. Especially our current ties as you put it. If I am to be united with you, its personal. You may just see the consummation as another notch in your bed, but I don't.' Clarke was seething but she couldn't seem to keep herself calm. The past few hours leaving her confused and angry at everyone and everything in the world, herself included.
The blonde had turned back to face her wife at this point and suddenly began to stalk towards the brunette. She needed someone to take her anger incase she would explode. Lexa was just unfortunate enough to be stood in the vicinity. Clarke felt as though Lexa still didn't really understand how the past few days were affecting the blonde so she decided to finally spell it out to her. 'You know growing up I always thought that I would marry the man of my dreams. Be in love. Yet here I am. Married to an unemotional warlord who is willing to sacrifice anyone it takes to defeat an enemy.'
The Commander just stood and took the insult as it came. She understood that Clarke wasn't actually angry at her. Yet the words stuck as she realised the truths that were spat in her face almost.
However yet another gunshot sounded out reminding the woman of the task at hand.
'You think releasing you're anger on me will help. That killing the shooter will make you feel better, but it won't. The only thing that will do that is winning this war.' Lexa tried to explain as the blonde simply shrugged her off once more.
The two continued walking for a few minutes longer until their strides came to a halt with the rustle of branches close by. Both woman stilled their movements and squinted through the darkness on high alert.
'Is it him?' Clarke whispered ready to shoot in the direction of the noises. Even though she couldn't see three feet infant of her due to the darkness and shrubbery surrounding them.
Yet just before she was about to shoot Lexa grabbed hold of her arm shaking her head. The figure took a step closer, allowing Clarke to recognise the gentle warrior immediately. 'Lincoln?' Clarke quickly let out a breath as she put her weapon back in it's holster.
'Commander, what- Octavia said you were both…' Lincoln stumbled over his words as he pointed dumbly back towards the crater that now stood in TonDC's place.
Yet before he could stumble the rest of his sentence, Clarke swiftly jumped to him in relief of his words. 'You've seen Octavia?'
'Yeah, the few that survived the explosion are being pinned down by a sniper. That's why I'm here.' Lincoln answered as he looked to the Commander for approval.
The three were soon shocked out of their relief once again when the gunshots resounded through the forest, directing them once again towards the sniper.
'Come on we need to get to the high ground.' Clarke ordered, relieved that her friend was still alive. Taking hold of her wife's hand to pull her faster towards their target. They weren't far now. Yet the smoke that indicated the destroyed village slowed the brunette down.
It didn't take the group long to reach their destination seeing the sniper in the distance they all ran to cover behind a large boulder. They needed a plan. Clarke had a gun and could stop the sniper, but only with a clear shot. Which their current position did not provide.
'We can see him. One of us just needs to get close enough to get rid of him.' Clarke suggested as she looked to the two warriors. 'I'll draw his fire.' Clarke stated as if the task was not the most dangerous.
'No.' Lexa snarled as she surveyed the situation. Lincoln will draw fire. I will kill the sniper. Clarke you will stay protected behind this boulder. Understood?' Lexa questioned fiercely. Commander mode on. Clarke needed to remain safe. At all costs. Lexa continued to stare down the blonde until she slowly looked away nodding her agreement.
'Good. Lincoln let's move.' Lexa order as she squeezed her wife's hand in reassurance, before darting away opposite to Lincoln, who was dodging all bullets heading his way. The distraction was definitely working.
Yet Clarke just couldn't remain still as she sprinted forward gun at the ready. She needed to protect her people. However unlike Lexa, Clarke couldn't seem to keep her footsteps silent and announced her presence automatically allowing the sniper to manoeuvre himself into the appropriate positions. Countering Clarke's attack. Lincoln was forgotten about and the Sniper moved to tackle the blonde to the floor before she could take a clear shot. Her gun was lost in the struggle. Lexa and Lincoln both coming to the realisation that their plan had gone downhill, emerged from the surrounding bushes slowly. Clarke was brought to a stand with her own gun held to her head as she stared back at her Commander and friend. Those green eyes once again holding such worry that Clarke hoped this was not her final moments. She couldn't hear what the soldier behind her was saying as she tried to memorise the brunettes features, it was likely to be the last time she'll see her.
Lexa was frantically trying to figure out how she could switch the situation to her own advantage. Offer herself in Clarke's place? No that wouldn't work. She needed to think and fast. The mountain man seemed to be talking yet all Lexa could think about was a plan. That was when she spotted Clarke nodding to Lexa. What was she trying to say? Focus Lexa. Clarke needs you.
That's when she realised Clarke was motioning to her knife. The same knife she used to save Clarke from Quint. She could do it again. She just had to be fast enough and aim true. Nodding to her houmon Lexa took a breath and sprung into action. With almost two flicks of her wrist she aimed and threw.
The sight in front of her simply made her take a breath. The mountain man gasped as he fell back gun dropping to the floor just as the soldier fell backwards. Clarke gasping herself as she realised her wife just put a knife through the sniper's head. She was safe. Lexa saved her, again. Recovering from the shock Clarke swiftly moved to the brunette and wrapped herself around her. Lexa just comforting the blonde as she subtly began to whimper, tears flowing down her cheeks.
'You're safe Clarke. I've got you. With our two people working together were going to win this war Clarke.' After everything Clarke had spat at her wife, Lexa was still there for her. Whispering words of comfort as she held her tight in her embrace.
They connected.