Now, I've got a question for all of my readers! Now, as a principle, I do try to give a bit of warning for what's coming in the chapter, because I like people to be prepared if they need to be, but I also don't like warning because there are a lot of things I want you to be surprised by!
So I'm polling in advance, and to give a bit of warning. Since this is the dangerous world of The 100, people get hurt and people are going to die. I can promise you a happy ending for our Lexa/Clarke/Bellamy trio (poly is the endgame here, so it will be a happy romantic ending) but otherwise I want you to know everyone else is fair game. Now I've already killed off two characters—both OC's—in the first chapter, so I didn't bother warning for their deaths. But if/when I do kill off any main characters (as in, named characters from the show?), do y'all need a heads up to prepare for that? And should I be tagging for their death? If I do so I'll put a note at the end of the chapter, where I'll put specific warnings, so that if you have to check for any triggers or anything you can jump there and check if you're gonna be okay, or, do y'all want to stick with the surprise as if every chapter is another new episode?
I'm of the mind that I want to tag the least amount of spoilers as possible, and I mean I'm already giving away that the ot3 will come out happy so we lose a lot of danger there (but mostly bc I'm sick of getting emotionally invested in poly couples that end up as 2 + a dead one in the end), but I also know it's important to have a fun reading experience and to not be blindsided by any deaths. I'm not an author who likes excessive deaths, and so every/any death will have importance but I want the tension/anticipation of danger to be very real!
So let me know what you think, and I'll figure out a way that works for everyone with the input I get.
A big, warm thank-you to everyone who's reviewed this story. You make my day and I love reading your questions or theories about where the story is going! And especially when you point out the things you like!
See y'all next week!
Riding on horseback never ceased to thrill Clarke. From the moment she had first climbed the intimidating height of the animal all those months ago, she knew that this was something that would make her happy every time she slid into the saddle. Lexa's guard—two men she knew from her alliance with the Commander—didn't speak to her, but led her off into the woods.
Lexa wouldn't kill her. Not yet, anyways, Clarke reasoned. If she'd wanted to kill everyone, then she had enough force to do so. She wanted something else from them, but Lexa would play it close to her chest while offering something else. Clarke needed to be sharp to pull the rug out from under the Commander's feet. It might be the only way to save her people.
The thought of seeing Lexa again put knots in Clarke's stomach. She honestly hated the woman, and how easily she had turned her back on Clarke and her people. Clarke hated her for how easily she could push aside her emotions, and how close Lexa had come to almost making Clarke the same way.
Lexa's camp was only a few hours away by horseback. There were less tents than Clarke expected, but she figured she was used to the mass of the entire army of clans and not the clan Lexa personally oversaw. They slowed their horses as they approached camp and dismounted at the edge. Another grounder took the reigns and led the horses away to feed and water them. Clarke pulled her face cover down under her chin now that the cold wind wasn't biting at her face. Her hands, even in her gloves, felt frozen from the long ride.
She steeled herself for meeting with the Commander again. Lexa would try to use Clarke's emotions against her, but Clarke needed to remember that there was no shame in feeling them. She couldn't sink to Lexa's level, no matter how badly she wanted to. Her people needed medicine. They were all counting on her. If she could do this, prove how much she cared for them, then maybe they would welcome her back entirely.
Lexa's tent was larger than the others. Clarke's escorts guided her through the camp, keeping any possibly assailants back. They were practically useless. Once anyone caught sight of Clarke, and recognized her, they tripped over themselves to get out of her way. Most of them weren't faces she knew from her alliance with Lexa, though she hadn't spent much time getting to know the people. It was startling to think that back then they would have spit on her—if not attacked her—if she hadn't had the Commander's protection, and now they ran from her sight. Having a reputation wasn't such a bad thing, Clarke decided.
She was so surprised by the reactions that she didn't have time for one last moment to ready herself. One moment she was in the cold, fall sunshine, and then she was in the dark, warm space that looked like it had been recreated from her memories. The table that she and Lexa had spent hours pouring over attack plans and strategy, the maps on the walls that showed the movement of other clans. The table that was always stocked with wine and food. The corner where Lexa had kissed her and the throne where Lexa was currently sitting.
"Greetings, Clarke," she said. Her voice was like salt in an open wound.
"Hello, Commander," Clarke replied. She tried to keep her tone neutral.
Lexa rose from her throne. She was wearing her kohl and battle leathers, Clarke noticed. She may be trying to intimidate Clarke, or remind Clarke of the last time they'd spoken.
"Or," Lexa said, "I should say greetings, Mountain Slayer. Thank you for gracing me with your presence."
"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me." Clarke had encountered a few stray grounders during her time alone, none of them affiliated with Lexa. But they'd all told stories about her, Clarke—some that had grains of truth, and most were blown so out of proportion she'd laughed herself sick. The stories made her into a great hero, and warrior, and someone to be both respected and feared. She'd seen no need to dismiss the reputation, and was now glad she hadn't. Her title put her nearly equal with Lexa.
"Would you like some wine? Or food? You must be hungry," Lexa asked.
Clarke couldn't believe how civil they were being. She wondered if offering food was a dig at how Clarke's people were starting to starve.
"No," Clarke decided, "food and drink are not what I require of you."
Lexa nodded, though she was watching Clarke intently, "Then let us discuss what you came here for."
"We need access to the mountain. That is my negotiating point," Clarke decided to go right for the kill. She wanted to be done with negotiations as soon as possible. The sight of Lexa so close to her made Clarke's skin crawl, and despite her promise to Bellamy she wanted nothing more than to plunge a knife into Lexa's cold, dead heart.
"No. I cannot grant that," Lexa shook her head.
"If you don't let us into Mt Weather we will die," Clarke snapped. So much for trying to stay calm, "I won't let you do that to my people."
"I can't let your people have the mountain," Lexa replied, her voice was deceptively calm. She circled Clarke like a predator, "if you take the mountain then you have the power to hunt us, just like the Mountain Men did."
"We won't," Clarke argued, "I'll make sure of it. We don't need your people—we're already able to live on the ground without your blood. But we need the electricity, the medicine, and the shelter from winter."
"I should let your people freeze. You were foolish enough not to prepare for the winter," Lexa was insulting her, trying to make Clarke feel backed into a corner.
Clarke called her bluff, "Then why don't you? Why even let us live this long? You want something from us, don't you? What is it?"
Clarke swallowed the lump in her throat that almost had her ask 'is it me?'. Even she wasn't that stupid. Lexa may have been attracted to her once, but then the Commander had betrayed them. It made Clarke's stomach twist anxiously to remember that she had once considered Lexa as a potential romantic partner.
Lexa huffed a laugh, "You think that your people are so important. I have hundreds of warriors at my call. Why would I need anything from you?"
It hit Clarke suddenly, "Because we have medical practices you lack. And we know how to make stronger weapons than your swords. We have knowledge you need—that's why you haven't destroyed us yet."
Lexa growled at being found out. Clarke felt her strength returning. She could do this; she could read the Commander of the Grounder Clans and bend her to save her people. This is what she could do for them.
"If I give you the mountain I have no way of controlling what you do with it," Lexa admitted, "and you have the potential to become even stronger than the Mountain Men because you can follow us outside. You will also have missiles and you know where to aim them. For the sake of my people I am willing to let you all die so we may continue."
"There has to be a way to prove that we want to live in peace," Clarke said.
"I betrayed you in the midst of battle. There is no way you want peace with me," Lexa said.
Clarke let rage flow through her, and took a breath to temper it. She needed to be calm, she needed to come home with solutions. Bellamy was counting on her. They were all counting on her.
"Yes, you left me alone to face the mountain myself. And I will never forgive you for that. But I got my people out. Without your army, without your help, I toppled the mountain and I killed everyone inside. I've had my revenge, Lexa. I'm moving on." It was difficult, but Clarke forced herself to draw Lexa's gaze and hold it. Once she had felt strength from this look, and depended on it. Now it chilled her to the core.
"This may be your conviction, but I have already given you a part of our land. If I give you any more, then you are stealing from us. I will be killed for being weak," Lexa explained.
"There has to be a way for all of us to benefit," Clarke reasoned, "you lose a lot of warriors to injuries after battle, right? Or to sickness and infection? Mt Weather has a full infirmary. We can heal your warriors or your children, and keep more of them alive. No one has to die from catching a cold at the wrong time."
Lexa's gaze flickered between Clarke and candlelight. She sat back down on her throne. It was a show of power—Lexa was the Commander and Clarke was the one seeking audience with her—but it meant that Lexa was feeling the need to reestablish herself in front of Clarke. That meant she might be seriously considering what Clarke was saying.
"You say this now, but once you are in the mountain you could close the doors. We would have no way of opening them and all of your promises turn to ash. I am made a fool and you get the revenge you want—deserting me when I am relying on your support."
"That won't happen," Clarke stressed, "what do I need to do to prove it to you?"
Lexa was silent. She drew a dagger and flipped it between her fingers, obviously deep in thought.
"I must have a way to ensure that the doors are always open…" she mused, "I will have guards, people, inside at all times. And my people must come and go freely." He voice grew more sure as she spoke, as her mind brought her to some conclusion Clarke couldn't follow.
"Yes, you will have the mountain for the winters, and your people will show us how to be stronger. We can show you how to be warriors… and together we can fight off any enemy. With a stronghold not even the greatest army could conquer!"
"Are you… talking about an alliance?" Clarke asked.
Lexa stood suddenly, and she was not excited like Clarke expected, but looked incredibly grave instead.
"Yes," Lexa said, advancing slowly on Clarke and Clarke could only remember the last time this had happened, and how nice the kiss had been when everything was going so well, "an alliance. Our people, Earth and Sky, will come together. We will own the mountain and all of the lands around it. We will grow strong, create new generations of people made from stars and trees. And we can make this happen, Clarke, you and I."
"You look like you don't like your idea," Clarke said slowly, "and an alliance didn't work last time." An alliance with Lexa was the last thing she wanted, truthfully. Clarke knew how easily Lexa broke them.
"It is… I am growing old, for a Commander. And I have not taken a Bond-Mate, so this gives us a rare opportunity," Lexa explained.
"A what?" Clarke asked, "I don't know that word—or what it means."
"A union," Lexa continued, ignoring Clarke, "between your people and mine. As we are leaders of action, it must start with us."
Clarke's stomach dropped as her mind finally realized what Lexa was about to say.
Lexa looked like it pained her, but the strength of her resolve was clear as she spoke, "Clarke, marry me, and the mountain is yours."
Clarke staggered back, clutching at the table behind her. She felt cornered again, and she wanted to run but there wasn't any air left in her lungs.
"No," Clarke said softly, and then stronger, "no—you don't know what you're asking of me."
She knew from history that people on Earth had married, divorced and remarried. Some cultures had no issues with this, while others prided themselves on low divorce rates.
Very few people on the Arc ever married. No one divorced.
Marriage was rare and serious—it was binding until death. Clarke had always dreamed of marrying her true love—once upon a time she'd foolishly dreamed of marrying Finn. Until she had murdered him for the woman now asking for her engagement.
"These are my requests. Marry me, and your people survive," Lexa repeated. She remained a safe distance away, as though she was also aware of how similar their situation was to the time she had once admitted her feelings for Clarke.
Clarke started talking before she could think, the words tumbling out in a panic as her stomach lurched like she was on the drop ship all over again, "You don't understand, we—my people—we marry once. We marry for love—for life. Our whole lives are spent around creating a perfect family. One full of love and joy—you have to understand that I can't marry you!"
"You may have had those privileges while you lived in the sky, but you are on the ground now. Life is harsh, and love is weakness. Everything you do is about survival." Lexa wasn't looking at Clarke anymore. Clarke understood that Lexa didn't love her, but she was still reeling from the shock of someone proposing to her for a lifetime of misery.
Clarke's heart still bled for Finn, and she felt like it would never stop aching. He was long dead, even if she could still feel his warm body, his fading heartbeat and his wet blood in her arms when she slept. Clarke wanted to laugh. What was it Lexa had once said? The dead are gone, and the living are hungry. In this case, the living were sick. And didn't think Clarke did enough for them. Well, maybe this would finally be enough.
Clarke calmed herself, breathing slowly, and lifted her head to meet Lexa's eyes. Commanders might not live very long. Maybe Clarke wouldn't have to suffer her too long. Clarke could continue to break traditions and rules and maybe one day she would marry again, once Lexa was dead. If she ever fell in love again. She wasn't sure if that was possible for her.
"Okay," she said, breathless, "okay."
Lexa didn't look relieved by Clarke's agreement either, "We can discuss what sort of ceremony your people will want. I want to do this right away—"
"Hold on," Clarke said, "I need to talk to Bellamy first—" For all that she'd give for them—her people didn't see her as a leader anymore. She had to make sure Bellamy would support her in this.
"Why do you need to discuss your decisions with him? Are you having doubts?" Lexa asked, "you are his leader. He should respect your orders."
Clarke shook his head, "No, Bellamy and I… we're together—as leaders. We take care of our people together. I have to talk to him before I can make a decision this big—"
"How many Commanders do your people have? No wonder you can't get anything done," Lexa said.
"I'm sure he'll say yes," Clarke amended, sensing a disapproving tone in Lexa's voice.
"If I am to trust the leaders of the Skypeople, I cannot be married to only one," Lexa said, and her face was twisted in contempt for what she was saying, "you both must be tied to me, and I to you, to ensure we have each other's best interests at heart. Three is considered a blessed union to my people."
"What?" Clarke asked. Did Grounders actually marry more than one person? Was that even possible? "No, Lexa, I'm agreeing, and I'm sure Bellamy will agree—to me, marrying you I mean. I'm the only one you need to marry. Don't drag Bellamy into this!"
"My offer," Lexa said coldly, "the Commanders of Skaikru will marry the Commander of the 12 Tribes. Only then will we have peace, and only then will your people be allowed the mountain."
"Lexa," Clarke said softly, "please don't— I can't make Bellamy do this. I'll marry you, but marriages are only between two people. We can't support a marriage of three. It's wrong."
"If you care for your people like I know you do, then you will convince him. He is a good addition; we will be able to have healthy children to continue our line," Lexa replied, "now go. Talk to your… other Commander. My people will hold the border to the mountain, but we will not hurt you unless you attempt to cross it. I will let you take your time to decide on an answer."
Clarke curled her hands into fists to keep from shaking. How could she ask this of Bellamy? How could she ask this of herself? They'd come up with something. Clarke would marry Lexa. That had to be enough. She could do that.
"Clarke," Lexa's voice stopped her right before she left, "don't waste time. Winter is coming."
Clarke rode back with an escort from Lexa. It felt just like before, when they were joining forces to dismantle a mountain and save their people. Now cold dread formed a rock in Clarke's stomach, and she felt as if she were standing in an airlock waiting to be floated.
Her escort left the horse with her—a sign of good faith—but did not leave the cover of trees for their own protection. Clarke rode up to the gates of Camp Jaha alone. Hundreds of eyes turned towards her, and a crowd was gathered before the gates even opened to let her in. She was forced to dismount to guide her horse through, and thankfully it didn't spook with the large crowds reaching out to touch the first horse they'd ever been this close to. Everyone was also waiting on her words.
"Where's Bellamy?" Clarke said, trying to sound confident like she had good news, "I need to speak with him."
The crowd shifted and moved until Bellamy's familiar face came out from between two people who had spat at Clarke just last night.
"Well?" Bellamy asked expectantly.
Clarke shook her head, "I need to speak with you, in private."
"Why? What did the Grounder say?" someone shouted from behind Clarke. She didn't recognize the voice.
"There are some negotiations," Clarke said smoothly, trying to ignore the angry looks beginning to form in her direction, "I wanted to discuss things with you before agreeing to anything."
Bellamy nodded like this was a reasonable request, "Alright, follow me."
Clarke handed the reigns of the horse to a wide-eyed guard who looked equally awestruck and terrified. She followed Bellamy, not moving to walk beside him like she normally did, but let him part the people and moved in his wake. He was a good friend, she realized, or maybe she hoped. They had become a solid unit, supporting one another and the only people they could each truly open up to. And they both understood that they would do anything to keep their people safe, even sacrifice one another. Could she really ask him to sacrifice his life? His happiness?
The usual crowd: Raven, Wick, Lincoln, Monty and Jasper followed them. Normally Clarke welcomed their council and their opinions, but she couldn't ask this of Bellamy in front of anyone.
"Sorry everyone, but I need to speak to Bellamy alone," she said, as dismissive as she possibly could so that no one would argue with her.
"Why? Did Lexa say no?" Raven demanded.
"Give us a minute," Bellamy said, soothing where Clarke had been abrupt. They were still like a well-oiled machine, picking up where the other left off and bringing strength where the other was weak. Clarke's heart was already breaking.
Bellamy led her into a room on the arc that they had used for strategy planning during the war on Mt Weather. The airlock hissed shut behind them, and then they were alone.
Bellamy sat down, gesturing for Clarke to do the same. Her heart was hammering in her chest.
"I take it that it didn't go well?" Bellamy asked.
Clarke shook her head, "No, Lexa is willing to give us the mountain. And to live in peace."
Bellamy didn't jump for joy at this news. His mouth turned down and he took a breath to steady himself before asking, "But for what?"
Clarke's hands clenched into fists on her knees. Could she think of something else to say to Bellamy? Could she go back and try to convince Lexa otherwise? She'd tried to make Lexa understand that marriage was sacred, among two people, for her people. Lexa was set on this, and Clarke knew that without any more leverage she didn't have a chance of changing the Commander's mind. Maybe Bellamy could think of something she wasn't seeing.
"A union…" Clarke started slowly. The words tasted like ashes in her mouth, "between our people. Us and the Grounders, living together and sharing the mountain."
This should have been wonderful news, but Bellamy just looked sicker, "For what, Clarke? What does she want?"
"Marriage," Clarke spat out, and steeled herself to meet Bellamy's eyes when she said, "between the leaders of the people. You and I have to marry Lexa."
Bellamy was completely still, staring at her, but she couldn't get a read on what he was thinking. He was in shock, she realized, his mind racing to understand exactly what Clarke had just said to him. She didn't dare interrupt him, but didn't break his gaze.
One moment he was sitting calmly, and she thought he might be taking the offer well, and the next he was out of his chair and punched the wall with such force Clarke worried about him hurting himself.
"That's what you came up with?" Bellamy snarled, turning to face Clarke, "that's your negotiation skills? I let you go there Clarke because I knew you would get the job done! But now this? This is the best you could come up with?"
"I didn't ask for this!" Clarke shouted back, rising to her feet. In public she couldn't fight for herself, but here, among equals, she knew she could, "I fought Lexa on this as hard as I could, but we don't have anything to force her to change her mind! I even bargained for just myself. I didn't want this for you!" Clarke's voice betrayed her, and she swallowed loud sobs, turning away from Bellamy's rage.
"Does she… does she even know? I mean, how do Grounders marry? Is it even for love?" Bellamy's voice was soft, like he was trying to apologize for yelling. Or like he was accepting his fate.
Clarke pinched her inner elbow to ground herself in the pain, "No. I… at least I don't think so. At any rate this… this wouldn't be for love. And between three of us. I didn't even know that was possible."
Bellamy sank back into his chair, looking more and more defeated, "There has to be another way."
"She said that she's going to maintain the border on Mt Weather, but if we don't cross it then we won't be hurt by her people. Lexa is afraid that we'll become worse than the Mountain Men if she allows us into Mt Weather. I tried everything I could think of to show that we wouldn't be, even inviting her people to live among us."
Clarke couldn't sit down. It brought her too close to Bellamy and right now she wanted to be as far from him as she possibly could.
Bellamy shook his head, "We'll think of something else. There is another way."
"We can take as long as we want to give her our answer," Clarke said, "but she will let us all freeze to death if it comes to that."
Bellamy dragged his hands down his face, "Don't… don't mention this. To anyone. It was a good idea to talk in private first."
Clarke nodded, "What… what do you want to tell everyone?"
Bellamy shrugged dejectedly, "What can we tell them?"
"Negotiations are still open," Clarke said automatically, the words rolling off of her tongue, "Lexa gave us some propositions that were unsuitable for our needs. We're working on our response and I'll go back to talk to her soon."
"That's good, that sounds good," he cracked a weary grin, "you were always so much better at that. Sounding like you know what you're doing, and that everything is fine."
Clarke forced herself to sit now, and reached out to touch Bellamy's knee. They didn't do contact a lot—neither of them had much reason to display this kind of affection for one another—and so it was grounding in an entirely different way from anything else.
"Everything is going to be fine. We'll find another way. We always do."
Bellamy's gaze slipped to her hand on his knee, "I won't do it, Clarke. And neither can you. We can't just throw our lives away like that."
"We'll do anything for our people," Clarke reminded him.
"I'll die for them if I have to," Bellamy said, knowing full well that Clarke would too, "but I won't marry her—she's evil. I won't live a lie, or marry someone I don't love."
Clarke wasn't even insulted that Bellamy didn't want to marry her. She didn't want to marry him either. They worked well together, but they weren't in love.
They sat in silence together, contemplating all of the scenarios that might lead them to getting Lexa to change her mind.
"Where's my mom?" Clarke finally asked, looking up, "and Kane?"
Bellamy sighed, "Two more people were put into the sick bay, and someone else died. Your mom and Kane are making sure there are enough beds and that the… body… is disposed of properly."
Clarke sat back in her chair. Things were getting worse.
"Don't tell them about this," Clarke said, "about Lexa's… we don't need them distracted by it. We need to come up with better solutions. Just tell them that she wants our guns, and for our people to be under her control. That's close enough."
Bellamy nodded, and ran his hands down his face again. He took a deep breath to compose himself and then placed his hands on his knees.
"I should get back," he said, "people are going to want answers. And we need to deal with the sick."
"I'll go help my mother," Clarke agreed.
"Clarke," Bellamy stopped her before she stood up, "be careful. People are still hurt from you abandoning us, and now your negotiations didn't work. They're going to be angry and upset, because they're scared, and they might come after you. I know you want to help, but keep your head down as much as you can."
"I'm not going to hide because a few people can't understand that I'm human," Clarke muttered.
"I just don't want you to get hurt. Whether people realize it or not," Bellamy explained, "we really need you right now."
Clarke couldn't look him in the eyes, but nodded to show she understood. She hated the fact that she was suddenly an outcast among her own people. The hiss of the airlock signaled Bellamy's exit, and Clarke gave herself a minute to breathe and let her anger drain away before she left to go help her mother.
Bellamy took the horse and went to speak with Lexa the next day. They'd decided, since he was now part of Lexa's proposal, that she'd be willing to speak to him. Clarke was grateful she didn't have to spend any more time with Lexa then she had to, but she hated waiting even more and threw herself into menial work around the camp and helping her mother in the sick bay.
He had been gone for only a few hours when Monty approached Clarke. She was just fetching some firewood for the fire in the sick bay and he appeared over her shoulder. She nearly dropped her logs in surprise. No one came this close to the sick bay for fear of catching the illness.
"What are you doing—you shouldn't be here," Clarke told him.
Monty was shaking, and when Clarke took another look at him she realized it wasn't because of the cold. He was pale and clammy, and looked like he might be sweating. His eyes were glossy. She gasped softly.
"I was coughing all night," Monty whimpered, and his voice was hoarse, "I think I'm sick."
Clarke dropped her wood at her feet and jumped forwards to hug him, "Hey, hey, it's going to be okay. Bellamy and I are going to figure everything out."
Monty clutched at her desperately, and Clarke heard him muffling sobs into her shoulder.
"I'm scared," Monty admitted.
Clarke ran her hand up and down his back, "You're going to be okay. You're strong, Monty, and you're young. You might be back on your feet before you know it. Besides, now you can keep Octavia distracted. I might be able to get some work done if she stops asking me questions all the time."
The truth was that Octavia was constantly in and out of restless sleep, and disoriented all the time. Her questions had more to do with reassuring her where she was and that she was alive, not wherever her fever dreams had her believing she was.
They pulled away and Monty's smile was forced, but at least he was trying, "Do you think she'd even talk to me with her boyfriend around?"
Clarke laughed, "Lincoln's not so bad. Besides, he's gone hunting for today. But for now… you…" she tried not to sound as grave as she felt, "I'm going to get your bedding, but you have to stay in the sick bay."
"Sick hut," Monty corrected her, and they both chuckled at that.
"I'll let Jasper know where you are," Clarke said.
"And Miller," Monty reminded her. Clarke wasn't entirely sure when they'd become such good friends, but she hardly saw Monty without Miller hovering nearby. Maybe they were dating—though Clarke had always assumed Jasper and Monty were involved. Every time she'd seen Jasper he was wandering about on his own, and wouldn't look at her.
Clarke nodded, "I'll tell him too. But you have to promise to kick both of them out if they ever try to come in, okay? I can't have all of you sick."
Monty nodded, and reached down for the wood at their feet, "I'll take this in with me," he said.
Jasper was demanding to see Monty when Bellamy returned. It was just after noon, and with travel time to and from Lexa's camp, he couldn't have been talking to her very long. People gathered, asking for answers, and Bellamy was loudly telling them that more negotiations were needed, and that he needed to talk to his council first. They were angry, but Clarke could see that everyone trusted Bellamy in a way that they used to trust her.
Bellamy caught her eye and nodded towards the Arc. She hurried after him, and followed directly to the conference room they'd been in yesterday.
"She won't change her mind?" Clarke asked.
Bellamy sat down, looking nauseous. For a moment Clarke was worried he was sick, but she quickly realized he was still in shock at the idea of marrying someone for political gain. Worse still, marrying two people he wasn't in love with. Clarke was still having trouble believing that herself.
"No," Bellamy finally groaned, "she insists. She's ready to hold a temporary ceremony tonight, if we want. To prove her commitment until we can arrange proper marriages by each of our customs."
"What if we gave her the mountain," Clarke reasoned, "we take the medicine and clothes, but her people can have the mountain. Then maybe she'll drop the idea that we have to marry—"
The airlock whooshed open and Kane stepped inside. He looked tired and worn, and focused his gaze on Bellamy.
"How did it go?" he asked.
Bellamy was wide-eyed, and Clarke's heart was hammering. Had Kane heard either of them talking about Lexa's marriage proposal?
"Not… not well," Bellamy said slowly, "Clarke and I were just coming up with some renegotiations."
"What does the Commander want?" Kane asked.
Bellamy looked at Clarke and she read it clearly as a sign of distress. He had no idea what to say.
"Bellamy and I are handling it," Clarke explained briskly, using the same tone she'd once used to force her mother to submit to her power.
Kane recognized the snub for what it was. He looked confused, and insulted. As he rightly should be.
"Since you and the Chancellor are so busy with the sick," Bellamy explained, "Clarke and I can handle this issue, if you two can keep our people alive. You don't have to worry, we're going to get the medicine."
Kane licked his lips, but decided not to fight them on this. He folded his hands behind his back. Clarke recognized it as a sign from his time on the council when he'd defer to an opinion he didn't agree with.
"Alright, but we need that medicine soon. Abby and I will do our best. Remember what's at stake," he said.
Bellamy and Clarke both gave vocal acknowledgements to his statement, and then he was gone. Clarke let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"We have to come up with something," Bellamy said, "I just… we don't have anything to bargain with, expect for the mountain. And if Lexa takes it, she could use it to attack us, just like the Mountain Men did."
"Whatever we do, we have to do it soon," Clarke replied, "the flu is spreading, and starting to hit the healthier people."
Bellamy turned to look at her, "Who?" he asked.
Clarke bit her lip, "Monty. He's sick now. I'm worried that Jasper will get sick soon too, since they live together. If the two of them get sick, then it's likely there won't be much time before it spreads to everyone. And when that happens, more people are going to die."