A/N: Hello! welcome to chapter two of this joyride. Glad you're still here. Just as a heads up, this is endgame Bellarke -when cross posted to Ao3 I ran into some issues with defining that. Anyways, I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or plot to The 100.

They met mid-morning just before the sun had peaked. They did so every week and while Nathan Miller felt that it was shady, he still complied. These meetings were the unofficial council meetings of Arkadia; the meetings that allowed for discussion to be unfiltered and personal concerns were met and dealt with. The only two members not included were Raven and Clarke, because Raven wasn't suited to handle the heavier decisions the council had to make and Clarke never slept at night. So the remaining members sat around the same table as always and discussed. The discussion had originally been on how to handle the split in population between Mount Weather and Arkadia, but given the circumstances of the previous evening it was apparent that the discussion would be following a different course that morning.

"Obviously we can't let Clarke go." Abby stated, her no nonsense voice and cool gaze settled on the other council members in attendance as if to challenge them. "I don't trust the commander or Indra and I don't want her going alone."

"Well she wouldn't be going alone Abby, she'd have us with her."

Abby looked over at Marcus and shrugged, "It's not the same."

Lincoln -adjacent from Abby, spoke up, "I understand your hesitance but, think about the benefits for your people."

"It all means nothing if Clarke gets hurt!"

Miller snorted from beside Lincoln; "An astonishing concept, with all due respect Abby, Clarke is already hurting and you didn't show the same concern when you stuffed all of u-"

"Throwing the sins of our past in our face isn't going to create a solution for us." Marcus cut him off sternly. And while everyone at the table had the same understanding it still stung that it had to be said. "I think Abby's concern is legitimate, we don't know very much about Lexa."

"I grew up with her." Lincoln started off, his voice with a hint of steel and his eyes hard. "We lived within a stone throw away from each other until we were about six or seven. Right around the time when the children start learning their trades to contribute to their clan is when the Fleimkepa arrived."

"What is a fleimkepa?"

"They're a spiritual order that protects the flame." It was apparent that none of the sky people understood what Lincoln had said, so he figured in order to make them understand he'd have to backtrack and paint the bigger picture. "The flame is the essence of our belief system, it's what guides our commanders and it's how we keep the peace. The very first commander was Bekka Pramheda and she came to be during the recovery of the ground after the war. After her death it was the job of Kalliope Pramfleimkepa to keep the flame safe until a worthy descendant could possess it and the knowledge that came from our first commander. It's rumored that she is the true founder of the clans and helped the original members of Trikru adapt to life on earth after the apocalypse. It was found that only those with black blood could truly possess the powers of the flame and so began the collection of children that had this nightblood. Fleimkepa's would gather them to Polis and then train them in preparation for the conclave and then ascension. This way when a commanders' time on the ground is over the candidates can prepare for the process in which the flame chooses its next host. From there the victor of the conclave proceeds to the sacred ceremony of having the flame placed within them. Once the flame resides inside a commander they are no longer who they were before. They are the commanders of the past and must always prepare for the future of their people. They think of nothing else but the success of their people, their emotions and inner selves are sacrificed to the flame and hidden away."

Miller contemplated the information before he inquired, "When you say conclave do you mean…"

"I mean a fight to the death, yes." Lincoln let the newest piece of information absorb before he continued. "When Lexa had been taken from Trikru she was a girl that had an infinite devotion for adventure and loved deeply. When she had won the conclave to become the Commander it was not only a great honor for Trikru but relief as well. I truly believe that the Lexa I once knew is still in her heart."

"That doesn't negate the fact that this could very well be a trap. After all, the rumor is that Clarke is this commander of death and that her spirit could enable someone to beat death itself in their own life."

Miller sat forward; "While in my head I can see how this would be the perfect opportunity to eliminate a threat of that magnitude, my gut is saying that is not the case."

"Even if it were, she'd have the best security detail protecting her and Miller would be in the room with us." Marcus looked at Abby and placed his hand over hers affectionately. "She wouldn't be going alone."

"Listen, Abby, I get it." Miller started once more, "I love Clarke like a sister and I promise with everything I have to make sure nothing bad happens to her. Our people need this alliance, we would never survive the winter without it."

"Alright, alright," Abby conceded tiredly, "but I'm not going to like it."

"Nobody said you had to, you just have to trust us." Marcus stated fondly.

It appeared that nobody else wanted to dwell on the topic at hand, much to Abby's disgruntled insistence. Rather, they wanted to focus on ways of encouraging those who insisted on staying behind in Arkadia to transition into the mountain. It was assumed -and confirmed by Lincoln, that the agreements of the treaty would more than likely insist about Sky People land labeled along the mountain property. As the fences were still up it proved to be the most simple way to ensure a known barrier for the surrounding clans. At the moment Arkadia rested directly in the middle of a border between two clans, one of which being Trikru. If Lexa had planned to release pieces of land from the clans it could mean another conflict within her council.

From there they discussed the minimum terms of agreement needed to secure the treaty. Obviously the first and foremost point that had been discussed was the everlasting peace between the sky people and the other twelve clans of the coalition. Again, Lincoln had confirmed that would be the goal, but there were plenty of clans outside of the coalition that could cause conflict and in those events it would be expected that their people would release resources needed for war. It wasn't the reassurance that Abby wanted to hear, but it was realistic. From there it was the promise of assistance during the upcoming winter. Space didn't have seasons! Sure the Ark had the technology to simulate the standard changes to match the Earth. There wasn't rain or snow, the temperature was always cold and empty, but that was a side effect of their lack of true environment.

"What are winters like here Lincoln?"

"Cold and wet, but it's not unlivable. Really what you need to secure is material to create warmer clothing and bedding, but the bunker in the mountain could very well be equipped for such changes."

"Not likely," Miller stated easily, "those people lived in that bunker without ever even touching the ground and the technology isn't nearly as sophisticated as what we're used to working with, but it definitely had the ability to stabilize a living climate."

Abby tapped her finger on the table steadily, "What about illness? I've only ever studied them in theory, but according to the texts there are dozens of possible illnesses during the colder seasons. From what I remember they were also easily transmutable."

"That is true," a stern female voice cut in from the doorway, "pardon my interruption Chancellor."

Marcus took a look over at Abby who seemed to keep her eyes on the table and shoulders stiff. It was apparent to everyone in the room that Abby made it known Indra was not a welcome guest, but if the idea of peace truly meant something to them something had to be done. "No worries, please have a seat." Marcus motioned towards one of the empty chairs on the other end of the table and in gratitude Indra nodded and proceeded to sit down. "So these illnesses, are they particularly dangerous?"

Indra shook her head shortly, "I wouldn't say so, but they can be if your body isn't prepared. We see that most of the worst cases are in the younger of the children and the elderly."

"My village has a healer, Nyko, and I'm sure once the treaty is finalized he'd be more than happy to offer more insight for you."

"Thank you Lincoln." Abby smiled fondly at the grounder. While it was true she regarded them distantly, not quite ready to consider them actual people, she had warmed up to Lincoln. He had proven to be fiercely protective of her people, especially the kids, and he was willing to teach anyone anything! His insights had become one of the most valuable things on the ground.

"Chancellor," Abby's attention was drawn back to Indra, "the technology you people utilized is nothing I've ever seen before, how come your concern is our common cold?"

It was a valid question, Abby mused to herself. "Because the Ark was so condensed in population any illness had to be treated as life threatening immediately. Our technology is advanced, but our resources were extremely limited. Medicine was closely controlled and monitored and each person was allotted a certain amount per year, once you reached your maximum there was nothing else that we could do other than monitor the condition."

"I assume within these stations, you'd initiate some kind of sick space, where individuals would be sent to work through an illness?"

"Yes, exactly, we established quarantine spaces throughout each station. Now, by time my training and education had been completed our climate had already been stabilized and yearly illnesses like this were almost obsolete, which made them incredibly deadly if they did come around." Abby looked around the table at her fellow council members. Sometimes it felt almost surreal that they were no longer in space in a stabilized and perfected climate, but there she sat with someone as young as Miller advising her people.

Indra pondered and observed those at the table around her. The sky people intrigued her, as they did many of the grounders. They were skittish and untrained. She had doubted their existence would make such a large difference in the beginning, but after the fire that claimed three hundred warriors lives she had realized her ignorance had to be adjusted. During the original talks of peace between them and the sky people she had also questioned their capability. They didn't understand justice! The sky people held no respect for the grounder culture or way of life! They made decisions based entirely off of emotion and heart and their existence would have proven to be a hindrance to the coalition. And then the missile hit TonDC and the mountain men had offered an exchange of their people for the sky people.

To Indra the change in opinion towards these new people was not because they as a whole impressed her. It was just the children that impressed her. And she had felt a sudden urge to protect the prospective new members of their society and to better understand them. That had been her entire reasoning for voting yes towards Lexa's motion. The promise that their younger generation held? The desire and fight to stay alive was palpable, even to the clans that were further out in the land. Surviving was admired to the grounders and the children of the sky had proven themselves worthy. Indra could not have cared less about their adults, their supposedly 'rightful' leaders. If the heavy guilt layered within Abby's description of illness on the Ark was any indication it was clear that they didn't value life. They valued progress.

Still the warrior remained present for the rest of their meeting. She answered their questions and they in turn answered hers. The first half of her mission had been to share the invitation with them, the piece in between had been to gather as much information on the differences in their customs and beliefs to her own and the second half would be to ensure their safety during their travels. She had to prepare properly for the anticipated attacks on Clarke. While the anger at the young fair-skinned beauty for the damages done at TonDC still simmered just below the surface it was no more present for her than it was for Lexa. The meeting ended just before late morning and just moments before the girl with the limp, Raven, stumbled in looking frazzled and half awake.

"What are you all doing here?" She paused and looked around and then her eyes settled on Indra. "What is she doing here?"

Miller responded quickly, "We were waiting for you and Clarke to get up so we could finalize some details with Indra." The warrior in turn received the subtle signs and pretended that she had also just arrived. "Have you seen her?"

"Who? Indra? I'm looking right at her."

"No, Clarke, I didn't see her before I went off to bed last night and she wasn't at breakfast this morning."

Raven snorted and threw herself into her seat unceremoniously, "Probably because she never eats breakfast or dinner."

"She eats dinner," Lincoln chimed in easily, "she just prefers to eat outdoors and away from the crowd."

"A warrior should be eating with balance." Indra said, tone laced with confusion; "Is it common practice for your people to skip meals?"

"My daughter eats!" Abby insisted awkwardly, "She wouldn't be irresponsible like that and Lincoln just said she eats with him."

"No," Lincoln rebuttals, "I said she eats outdoors and away from the crowd."

"Are you all talking about me again? Seriously?"

Marcus and Abby both literally flinch at her voice from the doorway, but Miller and Raven chuckled fondly while Lincoln sent her a greeting. Indra watched as she approached the table and took a seat, "Graceful as ever Princess." Miller quipped and Clarke responded by flipping up her middle finger to him. "Now that you're here we can finish up some travel details."

"Sounds exciting, first things first, Indra when do we set off?"

Indra shrugged, "I'd prefer as soon as possible, but we don't have to leave until late afternoon."

"Late afternoon puts us closer to sunset, I'd like to get as much travelling done during the day as possible."

"I agree." Miller stated before he pulled out a piece of parchment. "Here's the list of guard members travelling with us. Factoring in their presence plus the forty or so warriors we've seen with Indra we should have all angles covered."

"Do you always prepare for an ambush Miller?" Indra asked in amusement -she was only slightly impressed.

"Of course, it's how we've made it this far. Plus, you're the one that told us someone put a hit out on Clarke. There's no way we'd take that lightly."

Clarke cleared her throat, "Which is appreciated, but I'm really not that worried. Polis isn't that far, but daytime travel makes it ideal to do some plant cataloging."

Raven rolled her eyes; "Is Monty aware that he's not even going to be in charge of the greenery? Kid is way too smart to be wasting his time plowing fields and growing beans."

"I wasn't aware we were thinking of assigning Monty to anywhere else." Marcus replied in confusion, as far as he knew the kid mentioned grew up in Agro station and his parents had a true talent when it came to food supply. "Does he not want to be part of agriculture?"

"I'm sure he'd be happy there," Clarke and Raven hedged at the same time, before Clarke motioned for Raven to continue, "but he has a real brain you know?"

Clarke sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, "What Raven is trying to say is that Monty lived in Agro and has the same skill set his parents had, but he could be used elsewhere with more benefit. Currently he wants me to see if there are any plants that we haven't encountered yet between here and Polis; he thinks that if we can collect them and work with them we may be able to create preventives for certain illnesses."

Raven held her arms out towards Clarke in excitement; "See! Real brain!"

Abby mulled the thought around for a moment and interrupted Marcus, who had been in the midst of reviewing travel supplies, to say, "If his theory works we could help the grounders as well, I'm sure one of the reasons Lexa is pushing for the alliance is for her benefit as well."

"That's a benefit for people Mom, not just for a peace treaty and it's good!" Clarke and Abby shared a rare moment of understanding and a small smile before Clarke turned back to Marcus to indicate she had started listening to him again.

By the time everything finished the travelling members of the council had to hurry along to pack what they'd need. It was while Clarke had started packing a small pouch of spare clothing -with the little she had to consider spare, and some parchment and pencils, she had finally been able to think about the trip. It had been months since she'd last seen Lexa and while she had nightmares about that night she didn't feel afraid. There was a small part of her that hoped some of the fire between herself and the commander would remain. To have a woman as powerful as her take a sincere interest in someone as little as Clarke felt? It was kind of exhilarating, if she could ever move on from the abandonment. She finished packing and had made the move to meet the others at the gate and had anticipated being the last one.

She had physically walked Miller and the other guard that were expected to make the trip over to the medical tent to ensure that they each received their own survival kit -a needed precaution, she reminded her mother who had begun to fret. From there she had been delayed because her mother needed to talk with her, needed to make her understand. Clarke had begun to avoid her mother during these talks. It had always been about Clarke's ignorance and Clarke's immaturity and Clarke's youth. It was always 'Clarke you must listen to reason' or 'Clarke you simply can't do these things' and 'Clarke you need to understand'. The discussion was never returned; no matter how often Clarke tried. So when her mother started with; "Hey baby, can we talk?" in that soft and condescending tone that she used both in private and public to humiliate her daughter, Clarke knew what to expect.

"What's up Mom?"

Abby led Clarke to an empty bed and motioned for her to sit down -like a child, and then stood across from her with her lower back against the desk on the wall -arms crossed and ready to lecture, like the adult she was. Clarke had to fight to roll her eyes. "I just wanted to remind you to be safe and listen to Marcus while in Polis."

"If he says jump should I ask how high?"

"Clarke," her mother scolded briefly before she sighed, "I know you think you can make these big decisions on your own, but honey, you're still so young! I just worry that this trip could give you some ideas."

Clarke laughed darkly; "What ideas mom? That my word is worth something to another leader? That idea? Or the idea that I'm the one Lexa wanted to see, not you? Because so far they're not ideas, they're reality."

"And I'm very proud of both of those realities! You're my baby Clarke and I just want you to be safe." Abby loved to pull the 'worried parent' card whenever she felt her ground had shifted. Clarke had long ago learned to ignore the guilt trip. "I'm just asking you to listen to reason."

"And I'm asking you to back off." Clarke snapped out, her patience worn thin and her tolerance at zero. "I may be your daughter, but I am not your little girl anymore. I have proven my capability to do what must be done for my people threefold and I don't need to listen to your reasoning. I love you Mom, but you have to understand, I'm going to Polis to secure a peace treaty and I will do whatever it is I have to do to ensure that it holds. You should be familiar with that concept." And it's a cheap shot, Clarke knew that, but it felt right in the moment.

The goodbyes at the gate had been standoffish and awkward. The stiffness of her mom's arms wrapped around her made Clarke want to scream, but what had been said was the truth. Just like when her mom pulled back and kissed her forehead with her face tucked between surgeon hands and said; "I love you Clarke." she knew it was the truth.

"I love you too Mom."

Bellamy had been in Polis for a total of three hours and seventeen minutes before shit hit the fan. He had been chatting with the cute bartender at the only place to get a hold of ale in the entire city when he felt a sturdy and heavy hand slap against his shoulder. At the moment, Azgeda was not openly welcome amongst the everyday person, and Bellamy understood this. His people were assholes. He just hadn't anticipated someone to approach him at a bar -with the cute and unspoken for tender present, to start a fight. And then the deep surly voice that went with the hand greeted him and Bellamy's anxiety (and annoyance) tripled, "My, my, what a shock it is to see you here in Polis Bellamy."

Bellamy rolled his eyes and turned towards the man; "What the fuck are you doing here Roan?"

Roan, the banished son of Nia (Queen of Azgeda) stood and opened his arms wide. "Is that any way to greet your prince?"

"You were banished," Bellamy grumbled and then turned to pick up his drink, disheartened to see that his potential conquest had wandered off to help someone else and depressed that Roan had taken the seat next to him, "I'm pretty sure that means you're no longer titled."

Roan shrugged; "Semantics, now tell me why you're so far away from home?"

"I was invited."

"By who? You were never one to make friends, hard to imagine you managed to do so all the way in Polis. Do you still respond to my mother's beck and call? How is she doing? Dead yet?"

Bellamy turned and glared at Roan, "You know as well I do that discussion on the Queen's health is off the table. Now what do you want?"

"An ale and the chance to catch up with an old war buddy."

Buddies, Bellamy thought to himself, was not the term he'd give Roan. Though it was true that they had grown up together, loosely speaking. They were close in age, the difference being Roan was older by two or three years, and they did serve as Ice Nation Warriors together. They also both flew up the ranks with equal vigor and impressiveness. Where Bellamy was charismatic and magnifying and inspiring, Roan was inappropriate, a little abrasive and intimidating. Additionally; where Bellamy was complacent with Nia, Roan was hard pressed against her. It didn't stop the prince from following the laws of Nia, but it also didn't stop him from acting on his own as well. When the Ice Nation was presented with the chance to join the coalition after a long and brutal war (brought on by their queen)-which they fought in valiantly, it was to banish Roan and have peace or fight on. Bellamy had thought for sure that the war would never end, but in the blink of an eye, Nia had agreed to the terms. Now Bellamy can see how it was all a ploy, just another step in her grand scheme.

"Well if that's what this is," Bellamy grunted as he slapped his mug against Roan's, "how is life as a rogue?"

"I have access to any woman I fancy and I answer to no one. How do you think it is Bell?"

"I wouldn't know."

And so the two sat and drank for an hour or so, just long enough to be composed and friendly, before Bellamy stood up and announced his departure. It was as he stepped away from the bar that Roan shot his hand out; "You're here because of the initiation, correct?"

"Yes, as a selected representative of Azgeda."

Roan nodded once and then looked around lightly; "Meet me on the south side of the guest corridors tonight when the moon is midsky."

Bellamy squeezed his eyes shut for a second and shook his head; "I can't Roan, I can't get involved in whatever plot you're putting together."

Roan laughed and threw back the rest of his drink before he slammed the cup to the hard wooden top of the bar. "I'll see you tonight."

When the moon did reach its midpoint within the night sky Bellamy snuck out of his assigned accommodation and found Roan on the south side of the corridor. They didn't speak, not with the guards that were stationed strategically to hear such noise, instead Roan nodded his head towards a room off to the side hall and motioned for Bellamy to follow. Once they were in the room Roan lit a singular candle for light, he called it ambiance, Bellamy called it dramatic. "Alright Roan, what's this all about?"

"Business as always with you." Roan bit back before he checked out the window -all in precaution, he reminded himself, "I was hired by our commander to play intervention throughout the initiation. It appears that Lexas' circle of ambassadors highly object to the joining of Skaikru to the coalition."

"Link explained that already on our journey here."

"Very good and I'm sure they two of the conspired something before they selected their representatives for the initiation, am I right?"

Bellamy nodded, "There are conditions and I am on a mission for your mother, yes, but they're conditional."

Roan laughed darkly, "Nothing is conditional with my mother. Tell me, Bellamy, what is your mission?"

"You know I can't talk about it Roan."

"Well I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours."

Bellamy quirked an eyebrow and crossed the room to an empty chair, though he didn't sit, "If the initiation is delayed due to a split vote, Link is calling upon the rights of favor and challenging Lexa to an alliance of marriage between Skaikru and another clan."

"Ah," Roan mused as he cut Bellamy off, "so then Lexa knew that someone would already have created this plan. Lexa hired me to ensure that Wanheda stays safe and to ensure there is no challenge, forces a marriage between the commander in question and the party in question."

Bellamy sat down and sighed heavily, though it sounded more like a groan of frustration to Roan. "So you play assassin in the night for the three day period it takes to form the challenge?"

"Something like that, yeah." Roan sat across from Bellamy and leaned forward so that his forearms rested on the flats of his thighs. "If the girl and Lexa were to marry the ground to rights of favor would be proven correct, right?"

"Yeah, essentially, but once the rights are called and the challenge is held it's moot. The last standing warrior is the last standing warrior."

"So then you have to be the last standing warrior."

"Your mother wants to drain this girl of her blood to become immortal."

For all that Roan anticipated Bellamy would say, it certainly wasn't that and it must have shown on his face because the ragged haired warrior pressed on. "My mission is to nominate myself as a challenger once Link calls the rights and to win at all costs. Once I marry the girl it's expected that she comes back to Azgeda with me and that's when your mother will come in to play."

"Which may just have to be a reality for a short while."

Bellamy groaned again; "What the fuck are you talking about?"

Roan smiled with pride, "Once my mission is executed Lexa will lift my banishment and I'm free to return to Azgeda. We both know that blood isn't going to save my mother's life, she may not have come to peace with it yet, but she is dying."

"In case you forgot," Bellamy bit out as he started to pace, "your mission is to ensure that Lexa marries Wanheda, not me."

"Unless Wanheda makes a choice, the challenge is dropped if the questioned party chooses a clan on their own."

"No, no, no, no." Bellamy frantically said with his hand in his hair. He tugged and pulled in utter frustration, "I'm not going to deceive our commander and I'm sure as fuck not going to let you play matchmaker! How would you even make that work? You know what, no, I don't want to know. I'm out."

"If you fight in the challenge and die who is going to take care of your sister?"

At that Bellamy stopped at the door and sighed, but Roan pressed on. "I haven't met this girl yet, but if what I hear is true? She'll do anything for her people Bellamy and that's all we need to know to get her to choose you over Lexa before it comes to a fight."

"Then we just let your mother kill her?"

Roan snorted, "Always so god damn dramatic, no we don't just let my mother kill her! We get her to cooperate with my disillusioned mother until I can come home and put a stop to it. If she dies in the meantime it would be unfortunate, but it doesn't change the fact that Azgeda would have a much more promising and peaceful future. Isn't that what you want? To live in peace and not have people cower away from just because your Ice Nation and your queen is a psycho?"

"Fuck." Bellamy grunted as he ripped the door open. He turned and faced Roan with a glare. "If this doesn't work I'm going to fucking kill you, understand?"

Bellamy had barely cleared the hall when he bumped into a small servant girl. At least he assumed it was a small servant girl, the hood of her cloak was pulled up so he wasn't able to see, but her clothing had been in poor condition and she backed away almost immediately upon touching him. "Ai laik sorry."

Ordinarily, Bellamy would have taken the time to be a little charming, but his irritation was unhinged and instead he bit out a quick, "Watch em."

He felt her glare as he stomped away further down the corridor. It was probably a good thing, if he had turned around he definitely would have seen her flip him off and definitely would have heard her mutter of 'asshole'. And then he'd definitely would have had to retaliate, but really, Clarke hated those kinds of guys. And she may have hoped he tripped going down the stairs, but the silence that followed his departure showed her that wishful thinking is useless on the ground. Good thing she was used to disappointments too.

A/N: The build up is real... anyway can we talk about the series finale yet... because I have questions, concerns, comments and theories.