Disclaimer: I do not own The 100 or any of its characters.
Author's note: at the end.
WAR ON ICE
A mix.
"Are you putting soup in your wine?!" Clarke was staring wide-eyed as Lexa poured one bottle of liquid into another, stopping with a carefully-calculated drizzle.
"I am," Lexa replied calmly, stirring the larger bottle in front of her with a wooden spoon and adding a few leaves of something into the mix.
"May I ask why?"
Lexa found Clarke's skepticism amusing. She glanced up to see Clarke still staring intently over at her, blue eyes sparkling in the dim lighting. She had a fiery intensity to her that Lexa admired. They'd only known each other for a few days that started off initially hostile, but already Lexa felt respect for Clarke. She didn't always agree with her and certainly didn't know what to expect from the blonde Sky girl, but that didn't mean she couldn't feel entertained by her.
"This is an old tradition of my people that I would like to share with you."
"What tradition?"
"Mixing of the drinks." Lexa poured the contents of her bottle into the pot over the fire, watching the steam rise and then shudder as she placed a lid over it. "It's a celebratory tradition used to impress new allies. We take fermented berries and make them into wine, and then take stewed herbs and spices to heighten the taste over fire."
"Isn't that just mulled wine?" Lexa stared blankly at Clarke, who simply rolled her eyes and shrugged. "That's fine. Uh, thanks."
They shared their drinks in silence, Lexa peering over at Clarke as she tentatively sniffed the concoction before sipping it, murmuring appreciatively, and then draining the remainder of her cup in a few seconds.
"I take it that the taste suits you?" Lexa asked.
"Big time," Clarke laughed, reaching over to help herself to more. "Maybe your crazy traditions aren't so bad after all, Lexa."
o - o - o - o - o - o
Chapter 14
They left at dusk.
Lexa didn't want to leave, felt like part of her couldn't leave. Those eyes followed her as she and Clarke packed up camp and put the fire out. The most delicate shade of green followed her as they set out to the forest, Lexa still with no shoes and no coat as she followed Clarke through the thick brush.
She still couldn't believe it had happened, and how quickly it all transpired. Costia. Lexa's Costia. She'd seen her. There was no mistaking it. Lexa saw that face before she fell asleep at night for several years now, both in the flesh and in her dreams.
The biggest question Lexa faced was: why was she with the Ice Nation? Why were they keeping her prisoner? They'd played their hand when Nia had sent Lexa what she thought was Costia's head. That'd been enough to start a feud. Enough to change what stirred as a rebellion of Trikru vs. Azgada. Why keep Costia alive after all, and to what end? What was their intention, and what was Costia's role in all of it?
Revenge. Blackmail. The list went on and on in Lexa's head as she and Clarke moved forward into the wilderness. Lexa wasn't even paying attention at this point. She didn't know where they were going, and she didn't even care, if she were to be honest.
"Do you hear that?" Clarke stopped suddenly, causing Lexa to tumble right into her. The two fell to the ground and into some fallen leaves and rocks, Lexa dazed and Clarke furious.
"What the hell are you doing, Lexa?"
"Sorry." Lexa climbed off her quickly, extending her hand to help and feeling it slapped away as Clarke jumped up herself. She supposed she deserved that, crashing into her like she did.
"Lexa, you have to focus." Clarke's tone was firm but her eyes soft. Lexa looked over at her just then. "I know you're upset right now, but I need you to snap out of it so we can get out of here."
I need you… Clarke had said those words to Lexa before. They were trapped in a steel box hiding from Pauna, Lexa's sword keeping the beast at bay. Lexa's arm was torn and bleeding from a bad fall, which Clarke had supported her through at the risk of both of their lives. "God forbid one of your generals becomes Commander. You may be heartless, Lexa, but at least you're smart."
Was Lexa heartless? She didn't know anymore. She'd spent almost all of her time as Heda trying to prove that she was and that love was weakness. But now as she paced back and forth in the thicket trying to get a grip on herself, she didn't see it. She wanted to, but she couldn't.
"Lexa!" Clarke was back, pulling her arm and spinning Lexa around to face her. "For God's sake! I said, did you hear that?"
There was a crunching noise around them, and it wasn't just the sounds Clarke and Lexa were making. It was a bit behind them and stopped as the silence grew.
Lexa regained her focus at once. It was if a switch flicked in her system as she crouched down and hid behind a tree, checking in front of her before dashing away and signaling for Clarke to stay down. She crept closer to the source of the noise, looking at the trees, the ground, and everything in-between. Her feet were sourness as she closed the distance between herself and the nearby thicket.
What she found on the other end, however, made her halt to a clumsy stop and almost sway right there on the spot. Looking up at her from behind a bush was none other than Costia herself.
o - o - o - o - o - o
By the time Abby and the kids reached the cave the Azgada man had finally told them about, it was too late. They rushed in to see evidence of there having been activity along with a set of leather boots and a distinctive jacket that could only belong to one person.
"This is Lexa's," Bellamy confirmed as he lifted it up, staring at her red tassel. "She was here. And by the looks of it, so we're a few other people."
There was a set of chains in the cave that had been broken open with a weapon. They were cracked as they laid on the ground. Could Clarke have been here? Abby wondered, picking up the handcuffs and gazing around the stoned floor.
Damn that they were too late! Abby knew they'd been behind, but they rushed and traveled through the night in the hopes of finally catching up. Reinforcements from Arkadia could be there as soon as they proved it was Azgada, but would it be too late by then? What if Clarke was in pain and was suffering? What was Abby supposed to do?
"Over here!" Everyone looked up as Monty crouched around on the ground, looking at the leaves. "I see footsteps! Someone was here."
There was hope. Abby and crew saw evidence of a pair of footsteps rushing away in a certain direction. If Clarke were really here, then this was a good sign. It meant she escaped. It meant she could be okay.
It also meant she very well could be with Lexa. Abby didn't know how she felt about that. She still didn't trust the Commander after the stunt she'd pulled at Mount Weather. And no one was more distrusting of her than Clarke, who had threatened to slit her throat just a couple weeks ago. The two traveling together wouldn't be ideal, but Abby still clung on to hope. It was all she could ask for at this point.
Author's note:
Hey! I am horrible and haven't updated in a while, but here we have it. I haven't quite stopped thinking about this story. I just haven't had the time to put my thoughts into writing. But here's hoping I can keep up with it more from now on. Thanks for reading!