Here we go! The start of the long chapters. There's a lot happening, so buckle in and get ready! There's quite a bit of Trigedasleng in this chapter, and translations are provided at the end of the chapter. For sentences or speeches I'll provide translations, but otherwise I'll either use context or in-story explanations to translate words. Or! Check out [ ] because that's where I get all of my translating help and butcher their dictionary resource (:
My translations won't be perfect, and I'll probably tweak them as we go, but I think we can all live with that.
Note: My grounders are a little different than what we've seen in the show. Since I started writing this story before s3 started, I had to guess at a lot of things. So for purposes of this story you'll have to forget what we know in the show and go back to s2 when the grounders are still a big mystery! I have added in some details that the show provided, such as Polis and Lexa's black blood. I'll try to blend the two as much as it makes me happy, but my grounders are a lot more nomadic then the ones in the show. They have to stay on the move to keep the mountain men and other clans from finding them.
And a huge thank you to everyone who's left a review. I love hearing about your ideas or insights, or when y'all guess what's coming up or just want to scream with me about what happened this chapter. I love it!
Clarke was helping to stock the woodpile for the main fire when Bellamy marched towards her. His jaw was clenched, and his eyes were bright like he was either sick or about to cry. Her stomach dropped and Clarke felt her throat close up. She knew what this look meant.
People had stopped what they were doing, and were staring as Bellamy strode up to Clarke. He leaned right into her space, making sure no one else would hear what he had to say.
"Get the horse. I'll do it," he hissed.
Clarke nodded, stuttered, and took a breath to compose herself, "What changed? Why?"
His jaw clenched tighter, and it looked like it hurt him to say, "My sister."
Clarke's heart broke for him. Bellamy's greatest weakness, and it was playing him right into Lexa's hands. She tried to keep her voice even, "Pack lightly. We'll get there before dark."
Bellamy's hands were balled into fists, knuckles white and shaking at his side. Neither of them broke eye contact. He was furious, Clarke realized, and was desperately hoping there was some other way. He was trapped, and he knew it, by how much he loved his sister and Clarke wondered in this moment if he was wishing he loved Octavia a little less. Or if she'd never been born.
He broke away just as quickly, pulling back like he'd been burned. He looked like he might be sick and Clarke didn't blame him. She felt the same way.
Clarke handed her firewood off and raced for her home. She needed gloves, and a scarf for her face. No change of clothes, that would weigh them down. They didn't need food. They could get to Lexa's camp fast enough, and Lexa would feed them once they were her guests. Besides, it was better to not take any food from their people if they didn't have to.
Instead she went to the horse, tied to a post at the edge of camp because they didn't know what else to do for it. She felt bad. It was skinnier than it had been when Lexa gifted it to her, but still strong enough to carry both her and Bellamy. Hopefully Clarke could leave this horse with the Grounders, who would know how to properly care for it.
Clarke realized that she could learn how to care for the horse. The Grounders would be her people too.
There was chatter behind her, and Clarke saw Bellamy heading towards her. Their people were recognizing the signs of travel, and knew there were very few places Clarke and Bellamy would go together. Bellamy didn't respond to any of the questions directed at him.
"Do you need anything else before we go?" Clarke asked as he got closer. She took his small bag so that she could tie it to the saddle. Bellamy nodded, and glanced over his shoulder at the crowd starting to gather.
"Wait outside the gates," he ordered, "don't talk to anyone. I'll be right there."
Bellamy's mood was easily interpreted by everyone, and to Clarke's surprise they stepped out of his way without protest. She went back to work fitting the bit into the horses mouth, and undoing the lead from the post so that she could lead it outside. Whether it was the horse, or Bellamy's mood carried over, everyone left her alone as well and she left the camp without protest. It hurt her heart, a bit, that no one was curious enough to ask her where she was going. That no one seemed to care enough about her whereabouts.
Until she heard her mother's voice, and saw her moving quickly towards the gate.
"Clarke?" she called, "Clarke what's going on?"
Clarke bit her lip and cursed karma. If this were a normal scenario, she should be ecstatic to come home with the good tidings of her engagement. Her mother would be overjoyed, and they would both cry with joy. But she couldn't say anything, not right now.
"Last negotiations," she said instead, "Bellamy and I want to make sure everything goes smoothly. We'll be back soon. Everything's going to be fine."
Clarke was proud of herself for keeping her voice so level. She was so good at lying, not even her mother knew when she was lying anymore. Her mother nodded, though she still looked nervous. She put her sick-mask back on, right after telling Clarke to be safe.
Bellamy wasn't carrying anything, so he must have been leaving instructions with someone. He rejoined her by the time Clarke had his bag tied to the saddle. He let her take the reins, sliding in tightly behind her and holding her around the middle. He had a scarf around his face as well, to protect against the wind, but he still rested his head on her shoulder to protect himself.
She didn't ask him if he was sure, just turned the horse and set off at a gallop for as long as the terrain would let them. There were things they needed to talk about, before reaching Lexa, but both of them needed a few moments to themselves to say goodbye to their hopes for a happy future.
They arrived just after sunset, accompanied by a mounted guard that had joined them a few kilometers out of camp. Bellamy was at the reins now, and Clarke was keeping her face between his shoulder blades in an attempt to get some feeling back into her nose, and to melt the ice forming on her eyelashes from all of the tears she had fought to conceal.
When they dismounted, Bellamy said nothing when she wiped away the traces of her tears. Just like how she had ignored the frozen tear-tracks on his face when they'd switched positions earlier. They hadn't talked much at all, just to decide on their half of the deal, and the things Lexa needed to agree to before they could commit to the… union. At least, Clarke rationalized; at least she had Bellamy in all of this. They worked well together. They may not love each other, but they had respect, and a good relationship. There could be worse people to marry.
Clarke realized she was also marrying one of the worst people she had ever met.
Someone took their horse—a man who Clarke thought she might recognize, but not enough to know his name. They were assured their possessions would be looked after, and that the Commander was expecting them in her tent. Bellamy's shoulders were so tight it must have been painful. Clarke was tempted to reach out and hold his hand. She held herself back—neither of them were overly physical with one another and that would be a comfort that a lover would offer. They didn't need to pretend here. That would come later.
Light spilled out from Lexa's tent, making it appear almost inviting in the cold. Clarke steeled herself. Looks were deceiving. The golden, dreamlike glow held a nightmare within, and Clarke was about to welcome that nightmare into every part of her life.
"It's going to be okay," Clarke said, both for her own benefit and for Bellamy's, "at least we have each—"
"I can't believe you dragged me into this," Bellamy hissed, breath clouding like smoke out of his lips.
Clarke was struck dumb, and tripped over her own feet. Bellamy didn't wait for her, but strode ahead.
"No," Clarke whispered to herself. How could she have been so stupid? Bellamy hated her for this. All of this—the marriage—was her fault. She hadn't been able to come up with a better solution, and she had known Bellamy would agree to anything if it would save Octavia. Why hadn't she tried harder to help? To think of something better?
She didn't have Bellamy after all. She'd lost that relationship when she abandoned her people. Everything since had been about survival, about doing the best thing for their people. But they wouldn't be doing it together. And that was Clarke's burden to bear.
She caught up to him just as he reached Lexa's tent. He didn't hold the cloth open for her, and she had to dart in quickly behind him.
Inside was significantly warmer, though the chill of winter wasn't quite banished. Many candles had been lit to light the tent, and furs laid out on the walls to block out drafts. Lexa herself was draped in furs and warm clothing, sitting in her throne and looking like Clarke and Bellamy were inconveniencing her just by being in her presence. Her face was bare of any kohl, and her hair was tied back in her traditional braids.
"You must be cold," she said, voice low and deceptively soothing, "are you hungry?"
Before they could respond a young person—gender hard to tell because they were covered head to toe in furs up to their red nose—came in to hand them goblets of something dark and red. It smelled pleasant, but rich, full of so many spices that Clarke couldn't identify. And it was warm through the goblet, bringing life to her numb hands.
Both she and Bellamy took a cautious sip. It was delicious! Clarke thought she could detect a hint of alcohol in it. It warmed her up from the inside in a way she hadn't felt since the summer.
Lexa had taken a goblet for herself as well, and seemed happy about the beverage.
"What is this?" Clarke asked.
"Mulled wine," Lexa said, "it's a little early in the season for it, but it is my favorite part about winter."
Wine. That confirmed the alcohol Clarke was tasting. She decided to sip sparingly, just enough to warm herself in case it went to her head.
"We're here about… your offer," Bellamy said. He wasn't in any mood for pleasantries, and Clarke didn't blame him. She'd been momentarily distracted by the relief of warm wine.
"The marriage?" Lexa prompted.
"We agree," Bellamy replied, "but we have requirements to our agreement. We need to discuss them with you."
Lexa looked neither pleased nor upset by this news. She took another sip of wine, and then gestured to the table and chairs at the side, "You look tired. Sit down and we can talk."
She stood up from her throne and joined them at the table. Bellamy and Clarke unwrapped their headscarves, and slowly unwound the wrappings around their hands. The goblet felt almost too hot to Clarke's sensitive hands, but she forced herself to hold onto it so she could leech the heat out of it.
"I'm glad you finally came to your senses," Lexa said, "this is the right choice. Now, let us negotiate our sides."
"First of all, no one can know this is a political marriage," Bellamy said, "you have to agree that if we do this, you must convince everyone that we did this out of love."
"Why would anyone assume we love each other?" Lexa asked, "with the history our people have? That we have? The point of this marriage is to prove we are willing to put the past behind us. It has nothing to do with love."
"You have to understand our people," Clarke explained, "we only marry for love. If a marriage is suspected to be about social standing, or gaining power, it is revoked. It's shameful and considered to not be a true marriage. When we marry, we marry for life. It's a very big decision. If you marry us, into our culture, you have to be willing to convince our people that this is a marriage of love. They will be suspicious, they're not stupid, but it will be up to us to convince them. If they don't believe it then the marriage will be a sham and not recognized by our people and could cost Bellamy and I our leadership."
"And because it has three people," Lexa added, "you said your people consider a marriage to be between two people."
"Yes," Clarke nodded, "that's why it's imperative that they believe we all love each other so much that we couldn't decide between one another. We are pretty sure we can convince them to recognize the marriage. We can explain that it's a merging of our customs and yours, but if anyone finds out that we don't love one another then it will all fall apart on our end."
"I see," Lexa mused, "and what do your people consider love?"
"We'll get to that," Bellamy interrupted, "but, secondly, after we leave this tent we need to be able to access to the medicine in Mt Weather. Our people are dying because we can't get it."
Lexa stared into her goblet, thinking.
"No," she said.
"What?" Bellamy snapped, slamming his goblet on the table so hard that wine sloshed over the rim and onto his wrist.
Lexa fixed him with a seemingly blank face and intense gaze Clarke had seen on her many times. Right before she killed someone.
Her face didn't change, but her voice was eerily calm, "I will go to the mountain. You go back to your people and explain what you need to, and I will come to you with the medicine you need. It will be an act of good faith, to endear your people to me."
"How do we know we can trust you?" Clarke asked, "you broke our alliance at the last moment, the last time you were supposed to help us."
"Because we will be married," Lexa answered, almost too quickly. She seemed to realize her blunder, and sipped her wine in order to hide herself.
Clarke's stomach rolled uncomfortably, and she pushed her wine away. It no longer appealed to her.
"We need the medicine tomorrow," Bellamy said. His hand was still clenched tightly around his goblet, and Clarke could hear the strain in his voice as he tried to be civil, "because if you can't, I will go myself."
"I will do it," Lexa said, "what about your fisa?"
"Our what?" Clarke asked.
Lexa frowned for a moment, trying to remember the words to explain herself, "Healers. Medicine for my people."
"Everyone will have equal access to medical care, as long as they wish to receive it. Anyone who wishes to learn can study under my mother or her assistants," Clarke explained. These negotiations almost felt good, familiar even, until she remembered the contract they were signing.
"Our people get first choice of rooms inside the mountain, and your people can have the extras," Bellamy said, "your people can survive in the winter, and have places to go if they don't like being inside. Ours need the mountain to survive, and they will need some space."
"We should arrange them to separate areas, to begin," Lexa said, "while we are going to be bringing our people together, we cannot force them too quickly. Common areas will be open to everyone, and we will have to enforce strict rules about killing on the premises."
"There will be no killing at all," Clarke insisted, "in fact, we should take everyone's' weapons at the door. The mountain is practically a fortress, we'll have lots of warning if we ever needed them. Why not make it more difficult for people to harm one another?"
"My people will object to being unarmed. In sacred places, and in Polis, we have laws against weapons, but you must be able to defend yourself in your own home," Lexa explained.
"But the mountain is nearly impenetrable. There won't be any threats to defend from," Clarke reminded her, "if we let our people feel safe inside the mountain, then they may get along better."
"That means your guns must also stay out of the mountain," Lexa said.
"First we have to clear it out," Bellamy said, "have you been inside?"
"My scouts report that it is a graveyard," Lexa explained, "they wanted to burn everything, but I will get them working on clearing it."
"Many of our people will be unable to travel the distance," Clarke said, "they're too sick or too weak."
"If you wait much longer they will all freeze to death before you can enter the mountain," Lexa shrugged, "when I arrive with the medicine I will see what we can do. I warn you that many of my people see the sick and elderly as weak, and have no regard for them. With your medicine, I hope to start changing those ideas."
"If you can start clearing out the mountain of… the bodies, then Bellamy and I can start getting our people ready for travel. But we need to be able to live in the mountain when we get there," Clarke said, "and soon. Even if it's just one floor cleared, it needs to be ready for us."
Lexa traced her finger along the rim of her goblet, thinking.
"I can have room cleared for you, provided the dead are not too many for us to burn," she said.
Clarke shuddered, and decided to sip her wine instead of reply. There were many dead in the mountain. She'd walked amongst the corpses, and stared into the holes of all the faces where their eyes had burned out of their skulls. She saw their faces every time she closed her eyes.
"I have something to discuss," Lexa continued into the silence, "you would like to have a ceremony in your customs, I assume?"
Bellamy was rigid, with his back straight and his shoulders tight.
"Yes," he said, before Clarke could answer, "we need a marriage in our customs for our people to be able to acknowledge this… thing as real."
"As shall my people," Lexa agreed, and she smiled grimly, "I hope you are ready for many nights of celebration."
"It will take us time to get a ceremony together," Clarke said, "so we can't get married until we're inside Mt Weather."
Lexa nodded, "As expected, there is much to do. A union ceremony for myself would also take days to put together. Representatives from all of the clans must come to pay their respects to me and my chosen houmon."
"But will you let us into the mountain even if we're not legally married?" Bellamy pressed, ignoring the foreign word, "we can't wait that long."
"We have a smaller ritual," Lexa explained, "it is short, and can commence tonight. It will promise each of us to one another in the eyes of my people, and be a means of announcing our intention to marry."
"Like an engagement?" Clarke asked, and then struggled to think of how to explain herself, "on the Arc it was customary to give jewelry, like a ring or a necklace or something of value to someone you intended to marry. The item was then a way to show that you were engaged to be married—if the council approved your request."
Lexa considered this information, and then nodded, "Yes, that seems very similar. I do not have small gifts to give to you tonight. We give gifts at the union itself, to display our respect for the other in front of many people. The gifts should be valuable, unless you intend to shame your partner publicly," her eyes glinted dangerously, "many unions end in death because of poor gifts."
"We don't have any engagement gifts for you either, right now," Clarke replied, "but we can present them, along with a gift from each of us, at the wedding."
"That is acceptable," Lexa replied.
"What's the ceremony you mentioned?" Bellamy asked.
"We go among my people now, and I will announce our intentions to… marry," Lexa said the word slowly, making sure she pronounced it correctly, "they will gather to watch us declare our union. We will all state that we do it of our own free will, and that we are honored for the chance to unite with others of such high rank. We will uphold the honor of our union and use it to bring our people to greatness."
"That seems like a lot of words," Bellamy muttered.
Lexa's face didn't change, but Clarke could swear she was smiling, "Mafta op ai. Just follow my lead, do as I do, and you will be fine."
"And that's it?" Clarke asked.
Lexa sipped her wine, and her gaze flickered to Clarke's face as she set it down.
"Yes," Lexa said, "that is it. My people will acknowledge you both as my intended houmons, and the call will go out to the clans to come pay their tribute. My people will clear the mountain and I will bring your medicine to you tomorrow."
"Okay," Clarke said, soft enough that she practically breathed out the word. She couldn't believe she was doing this. This was her engagement night. She'd always thought she would be excited, happy and in love. Eager to tell her mother, her father and her friends about her happiness. Instead she—how had the old Earth texts said it? Instead she was making a deal with the devil.
"As for romance," Lexa settled back into her chair, "my people will not require romance, but they will believe we are a romantic union if we are physically affectionate with one another, and if we share a bed."
The thought of the three of them having to share a bed—chills ran down Clarke's spine as she realized this likely meant sex—disgusted Clarke. She'd rather sleep on jagged rocks then share a bed with Lexa. Bellamy looked like he was having the same ideas.
"Our people are similar," he admitted, "kissing, touching, and holding hands are all signs of people in love. If we're married it means we're expected to live together, so owning only one bed is important. Our people will also notice the way we talk about one another, especially when they aren't around. This means that we can't only have the act up for some people. We have to commit to it for life, and all of the time. Unless it's only the three of us, behind closed doors, we have to make everyone believe we are in love."
"Your people are so obsessed with love," Lexa muttered, "maybe they would be stronger if they didn't hold onto such weak emotions."
"Talk like that will ruin everything," Clarke growled.
Lexa turned her head slowly to meet Clarke's gaze.
"My apologies niron," Lexa said in a soft tone that made Clarke's stomach churn, "I believe your people may benefit from learning about survival from my people. It will make us all stronger in the end."
Clarke knew Lexa was making fun of her, but Bellamy cut in before Clarke could say anything she'd regret.
"Okay," he said, and it sounded more like a gasp or a sob, "we'll do it. Let's get this ceremony over. We need to get back to our people and announce our engagement."
Lexa rose gracefully from her chair. She glanced over what Clarke and Bellamy were wearing.
"Is that all your people have to protect you from the cold?" she asked.
"Let's just get this over with," Bellamy replied.
Lexa didn't bother putting on a coat of any sorts, and strode out into the cold air without pause. Clarke and Bellamy followed, neglecting their head scarves and their wrappings for their hands. Clarke's skin pebbled into goosebumps and the cold seeped into her skin. Lexa's guard sprang into action, flanking them as Lexa led them towards a large fire in the middle of the camp.
"Trikru!" she called out. All talking ceased. Clarke couldn't make out much in the darkness except the reflection of firelight in bright eyes. They were all watching them.
"Ai don sad klin. Emo ste ain mana houmons! Tu heada kom Skaicru, Klark Grifin en Belomi Bleik. Wanheda en Wangona: Maun-de Ripa. Emo flem ai Maun-de, Emo flosh klin honet Maunon!"
"Wan… what?" Clarke heard Bellamy mutter the words.
She hadn't heard several of the titles Lexa used, but assumed they were meant to make her and Bellamy sound greater than they were. Clarke had accepted her part in the fall of Mt Weather, but this was probably the first time Bellamy was hearing what the grounders were calling him. She wanted to reach out and comfort him—he'd been adamant about not hurting the innocent people in Mt Weather, right up until he'd been forced to pull the lever with her and burn hundreds of people alive with radiation poisoning. She held herself back though. He'd made it quite clear how he felt about having to go through with this.
She couldn't believe this was happening. It felt surreal, like she was watching this happen to someone else. Lexa continued her speech.
"Ai Leksa, Heda kom Thaukru, Heda kom Kongeda: ai don kep klin trikru we kom Mount-de. Ai sin in eno Maunon—ai kom au hukop ain niron!"
The grounders cheered loudly in the darkness. Some were beating spears against the ground. There were drums echoing in the night. Lexa turned to face them, and Clarke stepped forwards. Bellamy hovered nervously at her side, but Clarke had never felt so separated from him before. The grounders fell silent.
"Of my own free will, I pledge myself to this union," Lexa said loudly. She glanced between Clarke and Bellamy, prompting both of them to copy her.
Clarke found her voice first, "Of my own free will, I pledge myself to this union." She wanted to run away, to take back the words. There was a lump in her throat the size of a galaxy. Looking into Lexa's eyes, it was all too easy to feel the familiar barrier slide between her and her emotions. It would be so much easier to go through with this if she didn't feel anything. Clarke longed for that numbness in a way she assumed addicts longed for their habits. She resisted.
Bellamy opened his mouth to speak, choked on his own words, and had to cough to cover it up. He composed himself, and then shouted, "Of my own free will, I pledge myself to this union."
Lexa nodded, and then continued, "It is my privilege to pledge myself to two people of such high status. They bring me great honor."
She was speaking slowly, enunciating carefully, and saying everything in English. There was no way her people wouldn't realize that Clarke and Bellamy were just nervously parroting everything she was saying because they had no idea what was expected of them. Clarke tried to sound braver and more confident then she actually was. She was thinking of her mother, and how she was going to react when she found out Clarke was engaged. Her parents had been married, and yet her mother had betrayed her father to his death. Did Clarke even know what a true marriage was? What she was going to miss out on?
Lexa held up her hands in the firelight, and continued once Bellamy had finished his lines, "And together, our union shall make our people grow strong! Skaikru and Trikru, together!"
Clarke was about to repeat, but a loud cheer rose from the darkness. The entire clan was cheering loudly, celebrating them. They didn't need Clarke and Bellamy's awkwardly stuttered repetitions.
Lexa came around the fire and gestured for Clarke and Bellamy to join her. They moved into the firelight, and the heat from the flames was a welcome blessing. It couldn't reach the cold seeping into Clarke's soul. She was committing to this, she was doing the thing she'd had nightmares of all week now.
Lexa drew a small knife from her belt, and to Clarke's surprise, she drew it across her palm. Blood, black in the darkness, pooled up from the wound as Lexa flipped the knife and held it out to them, handle first.
"What is this?" Clarke hissed.
"You wanted romance," Lexa replied, "mafta op ai."
Bellamy was the one who took the knife first, and he grunted as he slit his palm open. Clarke did her best not to think about how unsterile the knife was, and instead welcomed the pain as a distraction when she cut her hand. This was going to be troublesome when dealing with the sick. She'd have to be careful to keep it clean or else she could get infected too.
Lexa ran her fingers through the blood on her hand, and then moved closer to touch Bellamy's face. He jerked back and she narrowed her eyes at him. The clan was still shouting, making an awful racket, around them.
"What are you doing?" Bellamy whispered. But he forced himself not to flinch away as Lexa pushed his bangs away to draw a symbol in blood on one side of his forehead. Lexa then reached for Clarke and Clarke closed her eyes in order to keep still as Lexa drew another symbol—this one was different, she could tell from the sweep of Lexa's fingers—on Clarke's forehead.
"For love," Lexa explained, pointing to the symbol on Bellamy's head, "and protection," she finished, gesturing to Clarke's.
Bellamy and Clarke stared at each other, too stunned to move.
"Copy them onto me," Lexa ordered quietly.
Clarke took a moment to will her hand to be steady. She took a final look at the mark on Bellamy's head, the mark for love, and pressed her fingers into the cut on her palm. It stung, but the pain kept her mind clear of the whirlwind of emotions racing through her. Lexa didn't close her eyes as Bellamy and Clarke drew the symbols in their own blood, and when they were done she told them to copy the last symbols onto each other. It took them some time, and the clan had fallen silent around them. Clarke felt awkward, and her fingers were numb with cold. She had to keep picking open the clotting blood on her hand to get enough blood to finish the symbol on Bellamy's face.
Lexa's blood was… darker than hers. Clarke didn't know what to make of that. Maybe it was a trick of the firelight.
The clan took up their loud cheering again once Lexa declared it done. Blood had dripped into Clarke's eyebrows and she longed to wipe it away, but knew that was a bad idea. It had been warm at first, and now was cold and the thought of other peoples' blood on her skin made her feel sick.
"It is done," Lexa said to them, through the cheering around them, "now we may part ways."
Clarke wasn't sure what to do. Should they say goodbye? Was there a formal way to leave this kind of celebration? Should they embrace? Touching Lexa was the last thing she wanted to do right now.
Lexa stepped closer, right into her personal space. She grabbed Clarke by the chin and kissed her. Right there, in front of all of these people.
Clarke brought her arms up to push Lexa off of her, but just as soon as it had started Lexa moved and pulled Bellamy in the same way. Bellamy's eyes were screwed tight, as if he were fighting to keep himself from throwing up. Clarke wouldn't have minded if he'd gotten sick on Lexa. She wanted to vomit right there. Her skin crawled and she wanted to scrub herself clean. How dare Lexa do that to her. She'd known exactly what Clarke would be thinking of by kissing her. It was a dirty, underhanded maneuver and Clarke couldn't do anything because Lexa could call off the marriage if Clarke offended her.
"I will send you both with a horse and a guard," Lexa said, as if she hadn't just violated both of them
"We don't need anything more from you," Clarke managed to say through clenched teeth.
Lexa narrowed her eyes, "You are the one who asked for romance. That was part of your agreement. Do not treat me like I am the enemy."
Bellamy was the better man, and he stepped in before Clarke could say anything else.
"I count the hours until we see each other again," he said diplomatically.
Apparently not.
Clarke wanted to smile. It was a completely backhanded compliment because Bellamy was actually referring to the medicine Lexa would be bringing. There was nothing Lexa could do if she didn't want this marriage to end before it started. And they all knew she was desperate to have this marriage happen, for whatever reason.
This was Clarke's engagement ceremony. Instead of happiness and tears of joy like she'd always dreamed, it felt like a declaration of war.
The way home took much longer. Clarke and Bellamy each had an honored guard to protect them, and also to lead them. The path was almost completely black, save for the small amount of light the torches provided. One guard was riding at the front, picking out their path, while the other rode in the back.
Clarke was behind Bellamy, and he didn't once turn around to talk to her. They were silent the entire ride back, both lost in the choice they had just made and the future they had submitted themselves to. It was the ultimate sacrifice, and if all went well, no one would know they were suffering.
The blood on her forehead was drying, and getting itchy. Lexa had instructed them to let the marks wear off naturally, or else the charms wouldn't have any effect. Clarke hadn't been able to tell if she was joking or not, but didn't want to anger Lexa or her people and have them back out of the marriage.
She felt like she was choking, and it wasn't from emotion. After the fire, back at Lexa's tent, Lexa had given them thin, red leather bands. It was the best she could do for a ring, and it would publicly declare the three of them as engaged to anyone that looked. Lexa had tied it around Clarke's neck, and Clarke was sure she'd made it uncomfortably tight. She had never liked wearing necklaces, even on the Arc. Even if they'd washed off the blood symbols, there was no way anyone wouldn't notice the chokers.
Lexa had offered for them to stay the night and enjoy the celebrations. Clarke had broken out in a cold sweat until Bellamy had said that they needed to be with their people. Lexa promised to be at their camp with medicine—which Clarke had written down the exact names of—by noon the next day. Now all they had to do was hope their people lasted that long and that Lexa held up her end of the bargain.
It was a lot to gamble, but they didn't have any other choice.
Camp Jaha materialized out of the darkness. The large central fire was burning bright, aided by other fires around it. Clarke could see the darker side of camp that housed the sick bay. Light shone from the windows of the hut, but the area around it was dark. No one wanted to be near it.
She and Bellamy should have talked out a plan. People would want to know details about their romance, and why they had decided to get married now. Clarke should have spoken up, but she couldn't bring herself to speak to him. The closer to the truth the better, she decided.
Guards saw their torchlights long before they knew who was approaching. Floodlights pointed in their direction and Clarke had to shield her eyes as they led their horses to the gates.
"It's Bellamy!" Clarke could hear someone shouting, "he's back!" She grit her teeth. She'd just given up her happiness for these people, and they couldn't even be happy to see her?
Lexa's guards came in with them, though the camps own guards tried to stop them.
"They're with us," Bellamy ordered. No one wanted to argue with his tone.
"We're safe with our people," Clarke told the riders.
"We will stand guard. Heda commands it," she was told. The riders turned and went back into the darkness. Clarke wasn't sure where they would stay—it was too cold to sleep in the open. Grounders were more resourceful than she gave them credit for, so hopefully they knew what they were doing.
Clarke kept her head high, even though she wanted to hide the choker or cover the blood on her brow. Whispers fired left and right about what the grounders had wanted from them, and what the chokers or the symbols meant. Clarke may have heard the word engagement thrown around once or twice, but she didn't expect anyone to recognize the leather chokers as engagement rings. The fact that only two of them—that the people from the Arc knew about—were wearing the chokers could be a sign of engagement, but the blood symbols were throwing them off.
Clarke didn't see her mother in the crowd. She hoped that she was resting, and not distracted because there was another emergency in the sick bay. Bellamy was looking over towards the sick bay too. He probably wanted to check on his sister.
They needed to announce their engagement though—and deal with the aftermath of the reactions to the fact that they were marrying Lexa. They should have talked about this, Clarke realized, but while the ride home had been long, it hadn't been long enough to bridge the gap between them. She wasn't sure how she was going to make Bellamy trust her again, and wasn't sure if she ever could if she married him. This point would always be between them. The moment that Clarke let down someone that relied on her.
They dismounted and the crowd pressed close around them.
"What did she say?" Miller asked. His clothes had never looked so loose on him, and Clarke was worried about the bright flush of his face. He was probably going to be admitted to the sick bay in the next few days if he didn't warm up, or get medical treatment.
"I need to speak with the Chancellors," Bellamy ordered, "tell them to meet us on the Arc."
"Are we going to war?" someone asked.
A woman closer to Clarke shouted, "Are the grounders going to help us or not?"
Clarke wasn't sure what Bellamy was doing, but he motioned for her to follow him to the Arc. Clarke saw Raven and Wick watching them, and Raven moved around the edge of the crowd to follow. Jasper was waiting just outside of the Arc.
"Is Lexa going to help us?" he asked nervously.
"We'll talk about that in a minute," Bellamy assured him, "we just need to talk to the Chancellors first."
"What's with the facepaint?" Raven said it jokingly, but her eyes were narrowed as she studied their faces. Clarke resisted the urge to cover her forehead.
"Ceremony," Clarke told her, answering nothing.
"Then they're going to help us?" Jasper asked, "a ceremony is good, right? Monty's going to be okay?"
Before Clarke or Bellamy had to think of an answer, Miller returned with Kane and her mother on his heels.
"What did—what are you wearing?" Her mom stopped short, taking in Clarke's appearance. Clarke knew her mother wasn't stupid, and might even ask if it was an engagement, but Clarke had never mentioned anything about being interested in a boy (since Finn) and she hadn't told anyone about the time Lexa had kissed her. She struggled to keep her face neutral. If she was actually in love, she would be struggling to keep from showing how happy she was.
Telling her mother and Kane about the engagement first would be a good idea, she had to hand it to Bellamy. They'd be able to help control the people when they found out, should anyone get physically aggressive or upset.
Bellamy asked everyone else to stay out of the conference room, which left just Clarke, her mother, Kane and Bellamy himself. Her mom reached out to touch Clarke's choker, but pulled back at the last moment. Clarke could see the wheels turning in her mothers' mind.
"Is… is that some sort of grounder ritual? Or are you hurt?" she asked, hesitantly.
"Part of a ceremony," Clarke admitted. She couldn't meet her mothers' eyes as Bellamy prepared to tell them about the engagement.
"I need both of you to abdicate your titles. Clarke and I will be the new Chancellors, and we want you to be our council," Bellamy said.
Clarke's eyes were as wide as dinner plates. Her mom snapped out a shocked 'what?' and Kane was stunned into silence.
Bellamy was leaning over the table, resting on his knuckles. He looked deadly serious. The symbols on his forehead had run down his temples slightly, making him look feral. In the light of the Arc Clarke could confirm that Lexa's blood wasn't just darker than hers—it was black and it stood out on Bellamy's skin.
"Lexa found out that we weren't the official leaders of our people, and she was offended. Either Clarke and I were to be punished, or we agree to officially assume power. I don't want to strip either of you of any authority, but I think we can all agree that I am already Chancellor in all but name," Bellamy continued.
Oh, Clarke realized, of course. Lexa's deal had been to marry the leaders of the Sky People. Technically, even though Clarke and Bellamy had just signed away their souls for this deal, her mother and Kane could refuse to adhere to Lexa's demands and destroy the alliance they were making.
"There's never been two Chancellors before," Kane scoffed.
"Not to mention a Chancellor as young as you!" her mom said, "the Chancellor needs to have experience and wisdom to base their decisions on."
Clarke needed to stand by Bellamy on this, no matter how much she didn't want this sort of responsibility again, "I seem to recall that there were three Chancellors when you first arrived on the ground."
"That was a technicality," her mom reminded her, "we'd assumed Thelonious was dead."
"And I'd already abdicated," Kane offered.
"But people still call both of you Chancellor," Bellamy countered.
"You both are leaders, why is the title so important? We will support you in front of Lexa," her mother said, "if that's all she needs, we will support you. But this is too much responsibility, too young."
"I've already led an army into battle," Clarke reminded her mother, "and Bellamy has been acting Chancellor for months now. The two of us kept the original delinquents alive until you showed up, and even then we took care of all of you as well."
"This isn't really a debate," Bellamy said softly, "it's an order."
Her mom was studying Clarke's face. She was trying to put together all of the pieces. Clarke would have been happy never accepting the title of Chancellor. She knew Bellamy was the same. The title brought a weight with it like an iron chain around their ankle. When they didn't have the title, it was easier to feel like their mistakes might not have consequences, and to pretend that they didn't have to deal with those consequences. So her mother was trying to figure out why tonight, of all nights. Clarke didn't think she bought Bellamy's story about Lexa being offended.
"I'll follow Abby's lead," Kane announced, "I'm not technically a Chancellor, but you're correct when you say that people still see me as one. But I do have advice," he cleared his throat and shifted his stance, apparently nervous about what he was about to say, "I don't think Clarke should be a Chancellor."
Her mother didn't spring to her defense. Clarke wasn't entirely surprised by that.
"It's not that you wouldn't make a good Chancellor, because we already know you are a good leader," Kane said, turning to face Clarke, "but people are still upset that you voluntarily left us. To have you return, and within a week make you a Chancellor might upset them, and it could lead to riots or even revolts. They still trust Bellamy, and even though he's young they would support him."
Clarke wanted to fight him, but she also didn't want to fight to be named Chancellor.
"No," Bellamy shook his head, "Clarke and I will be Chancellors. Abby, are you going to fight me on this?"
Clarke wasn't entirely sure where this side of Bellamy had come from. He hated directly confronting people like this, and forcing them into corners. Especially when he was doing it by throwing around his power. Unless his sister was involved, Clarke remembered, then he would do anything. Even become the bad guy.
Her mom was stiff, standing completely straight. She was staring ahead, into nothing, but quite obviously deep in thought.
"Mom?" Clarke prompted her softly.
Her mom drew a deep breath and turned to face Bellamy, "First tell me: are we going to get our medicine?"
Bellamy met her gaze without flinching, "Yes. The Commander will personally be bringing it to us tomorrow."
She took a moment to contemplate the news, then nodded, "Okay. When the Commander brings the medicine, I'll announce my abdication."
"Tonight," Bellamy corrected her, "right now."
"Why?" her mom asked.
Clarke wasn't entirely sure either.
"Tonight is a good night for announcements," Bellamy replied, "and this way you can stop worrying about anything other than getting your patients to survive until tomorrow."
"Is this about your sister?" her mom asked. Clarke noticed Kane eyeing the chokers that the both of them were wearing.
"This is about making sure our people survive," Bellamy said coolly, "when we walk out those doors we are going to call everyone in Camp to come listen to you. Clarke and I will follow and explain what's going to happen tomorrow."
"What is going to happen tomorrow?" Kane asked.
"You'll find out," Bellamy replied vaguely.
Clarke heard her mother's quick intake of breath that meant she was frustrated.
"Mom," Clarke said, and reached out to touch her for a soothing point of contact, "trust us. Everything is going to be okay. We hated to spring this on you, but we need to move fast."
Her mom looked down at Clarke's hand on her arm, and the anger drained out of her, "Okay," she nodded, "okay. I trust you."
"It's getting late," Bellamy interrupted them, "and it's going to get colder as the night goes on. I want to get this over with as soon as possible."
Her mom and Kane both looked angry at being addressed in such a callous way, but Clarke watched both of them slide into the neutral masks that they'd worn for years on the Council.
"Then lets get going," her mom said.
Clarke let her mom and Kane leave, giving her a brief moment alone with Bellamy, "What are you doing?" she hissed.
"We need to have the power to override them, and no one will listen to us if the Chancellors say no to Lexa's offers," Bellamy growled, "besides, two birds with one stone. Hopefully everyone will be too excited about an engagement to get mad about all of the changes."
"We need to do this slowly!" Clarke stressed, "too much at once is only going to make people upset. We need my mom and Kane on our side to announce the engagement. Are you just going to blindside them?"
"It's too late now. Lexa will be here tomorrow and we have to start getting people ready to move soon. Now follow my lead and at least try to look like you're happy," Bellamy brushed past her.
"You could lose the attitude," Clarke muttered to herself.
Her mom and Kane were already calling people to the raised platform by the main fire where the Chancellors made their announcements. The crowd that had gathered to see their return hadn't quite properly dispersed, so there was still a large number of people milling around. Kane was ringing the bell that meant there was going to be a meeting. People were coming out of their homes. Clarke wondered if anyone in the sick bay was well enough to try and listen in.
She spotted Lincoln hovering at the edge of the group. Just as he caught Clarke's gaze, his eyes widened and his jaw nearly dropped open. Clarke had never seen such an emotional response from him, and she wondered what was wrong until she remembered the symbols painted on hers and Bellamy's faces. Lincoln would know what they meant, and he was smart enough to probably know what was going on. They needed to make sure Lincoln didn't say anything to anyone.
Clarke was so struck by Lincoln's reaction that she didn't hear her mother beginning to speak until she was almost done.
"And so, it is with glad tidings that Chancellor Kane and myself abdicate our positions. We will remain on the Council for the next Chancellors. Who I now name as Bellamy Blake and Clarke Griffin."
Clarke expected a cheer, maybe even a half-hearted clapping. But there was silence as she and Bellamy walked up onto the platform beside her mother and Kane. Her mom unclipped the Chancellor's pin, and held it out.
"There's only one," she said, soft enough that no one would hear, "so I don't know who…"
Bellamy took it, but then turned and handed it to Clarke. He was careful not to touch her, and Clarke fumbled with her cold fingers to get the pin into her coat.
Bellamy started talking as her mom and Kane stepped to the side. Clarke didn't want to look into the crowd and see all of the angry faces.
"Boo!" someone yelled, "I demand a vote!"
They were backed by many loud voices.
"Traitors can become leaders now? How can we depend on someone who will abandon us?"
Clarke tried to block them out. She stared out into the crowd, seeing no one in particular. Some people were shouting that she and Bellamy were too young. Another voiced that there had never been two Chancellors before. Clarke couldn't see any of her friends' faces. Not even Lincoln's.
"I want to thank the Former Chancellor Griffin for this honor," Bellamy said loudly. The booing quieted, but the angry chatter didn't stop.
"I know many of you are upset, but I assure you that despite our age, Clare and I are quite capable of caring for our people. We have been doing so since before the Arc came to earth. Clarke raised an entire army to save the people being held hostage in Mt Weather, and you all know I have been Chancellor in all but name for months. I had been planning on taking the proper title for a while now."
"But why two of you?" a female voice called, "we don't need two!"
Bellamy grinned, all bright teeth, and Clarke knew it was fake. Bellamy never smiled like that.
"Tonight is a special night, and now is as good a time to share the news. I decided it would be best if Clarke and I work together as Chancellors because… well, you remember the saying: behind every successful man is his wife."
The crowd went so silent that Clarke could hear her mother's shocked gasp. She couldn't bring herself to look at her and see the joy on her mothers' face.
Bellamy was looking at her, and Clarke realized she needed to speak.
"That's right," Clarke said. Her voice cracked, and she hoped everyone thought she was overcome with joyous emotion, when in fact it was the opposite, "Bellamy and I are engaged. We're going to get married."
The faces in the crowd that had only moments before been scowling and filled with rage, softened dramatically. Several people broke out in grins, and started laughing and cheering excitedly.
Clarke looked back to Bellamy. Your turn, she tried to tell him. He had to be the one to explain Lexa. If it came from her then there would be a riot.
Bellamy met her gaze and nodded briefly before turning back to the excited crowd, "There's more," he announced, "by now you must be wondering why Clarke and I chose these engagement gifts. And why we painted our faces," the crowd fell silent, hanging on Bellamy's words. What more could there be? Clarke wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out.
"The truth is," Bellamy swallowed, and Clarke could see him fighting to maintain his happy façade, "Clarke and I are not only in love with one another," she could see some smiles slipping. People were confused, "we have fallen in love with an earthborn. While our culture doesn't understand love between three people, hers does. And so, we began our engagement with her customs, until we can find a way for our two cultures to merge."
Clarke glanced at her mother out of the corner of her eye. She had been crying—likely in joy—but now she looked confused. Clarke felt tears coming into her own eyes.
"I know it's a lot to take in," Bellamy assured the crowd, trying to keep everyone calm and agreeable, "but thanks to our second fiancé, we are going to get the medicine and shelter we desperately need."
"Who is it?" someone demanded. Clarke realized it was her mother, "who's the other one?"
Bellamy was still smiling, all teeth, and Clarke had never seen anything braver as he announced, "The other woman we are going to marry is Lexa, the Commander of the grounders."
The crowd burst into shouts of outrage and disgust. Some people were just stuck on the fact that Clarke and Bellamy thought they were in love, when there was a third person involved. Clarke struggled to keep her tears from falling.
"Lexa wants to bring peace, and that was what drew us to her," she lied loudly. People fell silent, glaring at her, "she is a strong woman, and loves her people dearly," Clarke glanced at Bellamy and tried to imagine a world where she could actually be in love with both of them, "Bellamy and I can relate. Tonight, the three of us were engaged in Lexa's customs, and tomorrow she will join us here in Camp Jaha. She will bring the medicine that we need to save our sick, and then…" Clarke's voice hitched, "and then we hope that our two peoples will come together under a new era of peace."
People were staring at her as if they couldn't understand what she was saying.
"We are going to move into Mt Weather," Bellamy explained, coming up beside Clarke and she tried not to flinch as he wrapped an arm around her waist, "us and the grounders, myself and my two fiancés. And when we have all settled, then," Bellamy looked at Clarke and she struggled to look love struck as she looked into his eyes. She couldn't actually meet his eyes this close, and picked a point on his face to focus on so she didn't have to see the lie in his look, "then when our people are happy, we hope to have the first marriage between the people of earth and the people of the Arc."
Someone cheered, and the sound was carried through the crowd. Their people were confused, but a wedding was still cause for celebration. Clarke started crying. It was appropriate now.
She'd always imagined her engagement announcement would be small, between her family and closest friends. She had never been too invested in showing off her wealth or much about her private life. Never had she imagined standing in front of a crowd and declaring her love for someone who couldn't stand her, and for someone she'd rather see dead.
"The tears are a good idea," Bellamy whispered into her ear. His grip was as tight as a vice, "but don't overdo it."
Her mom was the first to get to them, running across the stage and nearly tackling Clarke off of her feet.
"Clarke, oh my god! Oh my god—when? Since when?" her mom was a mess, and Clarke hadn't seen so many conflicting emotions in someone before. She looked like she was happy, sad and also angry.
"It… it's been a long time coming," Clarke managed to tell her. That was what a lot of married couples on the Arc said about their love.
"You never said anything," her mother scolded her, "you never even told me you were seeing someone."
She was feeling cut off from the only family she had on earth. Clarke wanted to tell her that there had been nothing to share until only a few hours ago.
"I'm sorry," Clarke said instead, "I just… I wanted something for myself. You know how it is."
"Is… is he why you came back?" her mom whispered, glancing over at Bellamy.
"And you," Clarke assured her immediately, "I missed you too… but I also realized my feelings for him." Her voice felt robotic. She was mentally flipping through every interview and stereotype of married couples she'd poured over as a little girl when she'd dreamed about having a marriage just like her mother and fathers'.
Kane was talking to Bellamy, congratulating him, but also had a very confused expression.
"Bellamy is a good man," her mom was saying, "he has a big heart. I didn't think he was your type, but… I can see why you love him…" she trailed off uncertainly, and Clarke knew what she was going to ask next.
"But Lexa… Clarke, are you sure?"
"Yes," Clarke said quickly, "we love her."
"But how? You've only been talking for a week," her mom said, "and the last time you worked with her she left us all to die!"
Clarke didn't have an answer. She remembered the horror that swept through her, and the panic at the realization that she wouldn't be able to save her people. That she was one small child against the might of an entire mountain.
"She did," Clarke acknowledged, "but she's changed. And…" the lie rolled too easily off of her tongue, "and I was already a little bit in love with her, from before."
"Clarke she's dangerous. She was a bad influence on you," her mom pressed.
"Mom I love her. And love is unpredictable. This time it's going to bring peace." Clarke resisted crying again. She hated crying in front of her mother.
"Oh sweetie, I know how strong love can be," her mother whispered, and pulled Clarke into a hug, "I worry though," she continued, "about the three of you. Being in power and being married. It… it has traditionally not been good to mix politics with domestics."
Clarke tried to smile for her mom, "Nothing about this is traditional."
"But you're sure?" her mom asked again, "you're sure this is what you want?"
"Nothing would make me happier," Clarke replied.
Her mom nodded, and then broke into a grin, "my baby girl, getting married." She started crying again, "you're so young, Clarke. I'm happy for you. We'll have to start planning your wedding."
"Soon," Clarke agreed. Bellamy had just been swarmed by their friends, and Clarke needed to get away from her mother, "I'll talk to you later, okay?"
Jasper punched Bellamy in the shoulder as Clarke approached.
"About time you two," Miller was grinning ear-to-ear, obviously caught up in the excitement.
Clarke decided to stand beside Bellamy, a little bit closer than she normally would have. She hoped it gave the impression that they were together. She'd never been able to figure out exactly what it was about two people that could signal they were together, but she tried to mimic everything she'd seen of other couples.
"About time?" Bellamy echoed.
"Well I mean, we all knew you two were into each other but we didn't even know you were dating," Miller said.
"What?" Both she and Bellamy shouted. Clarke laughed nervously and tried to come up with an excuse for why they would be so shocked that people thought they were dating. Thankfully Wick rescued her.
"And you're Chancellors now?" Wick shouted, "oh my god! This is unreal! This is the greatest!"
"And what the hell are you doing with the Commander?" Raven snapped. She was the only one who didn't seem to be in a good mood. Clarke hadn't forgotten that Lexa had once tortured Raven under the assumption that Raven had tried to poison her.
"I… I don't expect you to forgive her," Clarke said softly, "but I do ask that you respect our choice."
"She broke her promise," Raven replied, crossing her arms over her chest, "she didn't care what happened to all of us, and now she wants peace because you love her? And you believe that? I thought you were smarter than this, Clarke."
"Are you saying you don't believe us?" Bellamy cut in. Clarke was relieved. If anyone could see through and call out bullshit it was Raven. If they could convince her, they could convince anyone.
Raven paused, trying to phrase her answer correctly, "I think you two would be a great couple. I think Lexa is like adding gasoline to a fire. She's unpredictable and destructive and I wouldn't trust her as far as I could throw her."
"I appreciate your honesty," Bellamy replied curtly.
Kane also congratulated Clarke on her engagement, and thankfully said nothing of Lexa. She and Bellamy talked with their friends a while longer, until Lincoln approached them. Clarke grabbed Bellamy by the arm, and could feel him tense when he saw Octavia's boyfriend.
"Can you excuse us," Clarke asked everyone. She and Bellamy stepped aside with Lincoln. Clarke tried to be mindful of where she was in relation to Bellamy, and attempted to stay close to them. A newly engaged couple would be expected to stay in close contact with one another. Distance could make people suspicious.
"It's a good deal," Lincoln said quietly, as soon as they were out of earshot, "the Commander has many resources, and you have now bought her as a trusted ally."
"You can't tell Octavia," Bellamy said immediately, "she can never find out."
"You can't tell anyone," Clarke amended, "for the sake of our people."
Lincoln nodded, "I understand. And I understand what you are doing for your people. You are very brave, and you will make good leaders. I do not have anything of value to offer you, other than my loyalty."
Clarke recalled Lexa telling them that all of the clans under her power would come to pay tribute and offer gifts. That must be what Lincoln was doing for them. Treating them like a Commander. Her knees felt weak for a moment. She and Bellamy were now the Chancellors of their people, and once they married Lexa would that make them Commanders of the grounders? They had both gone from children to the rules of their corner of the world in only a few months.
"Thank you," Clarke said. She hoped he understood it was as much for his silence as it was for his trust, "that is a great gift."
"I want to go see my sister," Bellamy announced, "how's she doing?"
Lincoln shook his head, "Not well."
"Bellamy we have to stay together," Clarke reminded him, "this is our engagement night."
Bellamy huffed angrily, "And I've had enough of it already. My sister is sick and if Lexa isn't here on time I'll kill her."
"Watch yourself," Clarke snapped, "or do you want this to be over before it even starts? We'll look like idiots if it doesn't work."
"We are idiots," Bellamy reminded her, and his tone changed to sickeningly sweet as some people drifted closer to them, curious to hear what they were talking about so heatedly, "just a couple of idiots in love."
He pulled away from her and started heading towards the sick bay. Clarke counted to three, and then headed after him. She wouldn't be able to sleep tonight anyways. It would be better to be doing something with her hands. And it would look good for them—while this was their engagement night this was also their first night as official Chancellors.
That made Clarke's head spin. A year ago, when she'd been locked in solitary and drawing on the walls to keep from losing her mind, she had never dreamed she'd be here today. At eighteen she was leader of her people, had fought and destroyed an entire civilization that had existed for over a hundred years. She'd fallen in love, she'd killed nearly more people than she'd ever met, and she'd had her heart broken in a way only her mother could understand. She was nowhere near being that same girl on the Arc, but she wasn't sure she was ready to be a Chancellor just yet.
It felt like it took them years to work their way through the crowd. The next hour was a whirlwind of faces and questions Clarke could barely answer. She used a lot of vague references, smiled and laughed a lot. She was terrible at faking laughter, and it sounded to her like the kind of laughter someone on the verge of hysterics might use. Neither she or Bellamy ever reached for one another—physical contact had never been their thing and even though they needed to sell the idea that they were in love, Clarke couldn't bring herself to risk the distance between them. Hopefully people would accept that they weren't a physically affectionate couple.
The changes in their dynamic seemed huge, like Clarke had woken up one morning and the landscape had changed without her knowing. They were engaged now, set to be married, and Clarke had never felt more alone.
Monty was pale and flushed, with glossy eyes, but he was sitting up and his smile looked brighter than it had been since he got sick.
"What's going on? I heard people talking—is there an engagement?" he would have gotten out of bed too, if Clarke hadn't forced him to lie down. Bellamy made a beeline for Octavia, and was talking softly to her while brushing her hair out of her face.
Before Clarke could answer Monty spotted the Chancellor's pin on her coat. His eyes nearly bugged out of his head.
"Is—is that? No way! Clarke? You?" he gasped.
"And Bellamy. We're the new Chancellors," she confirmed. A few weary heads lifted on beds around her to say brief words of congrats.
"As for the engagement…" Clarke trailed off, touching the leather choker on her neck.
Monty gasped so hard that he started coughing.
"You're engaged?" he shouted. Several heads—many more than just before—shot up to look at Clarke.
Clarke nodded, "Yeah, me and Bellamy…" she licked her lips, "me, Bellamy and Lexa are engaged."
Monty's excitement was replaced with pure confusion, "What? But that… it doesn't work like that."
"Sleep on it," Clarke assured him, "the medicine is coming tomorrow. You're going to be okay."
Monty nodded slowly, "Okay… but what about Octavia?"
Clarke lowered her voice so hopefully Bellamy wouldn't hear her, "How is she?"
Monty shook his head, "Not good. I don't think she's woken up all day. It's… it was the same, with the last person that… you know, left."
Clarke bit her lip, "She'll make it," she assured him, "Octavia is a fighter. She's strong."
"This is great though," Monty gestured at Clarke, and so she assumed he was talking about the engagement, "I mean, you and Bellamy have been in love for forever."
"Everyone keeps saying that," Clarke muttered.
"It's not true," Monty said, quite seriously. Clarke was beginning to realize he was a little delusional because of his fever.
"Okay, I'll bite. What's the truth?" she asked.
Monty leaned in, like he had a terrible secret, "Bellamy's been in love with you when you aren't looking."
Clarke couldn't help but laugh. She and Bellamy worked well together, and understood each other on a level that other people couldn't. In many that would inspire romance, but they'd both always understood that they were too different for anything to work. Besides, while she could admit Bellamy was at least attractive, he wasn't at all her type. And from the people she knew had slept with him, she was fully aware she wasn't his type either. And she was fine with that. As long as she had his support, that was all they required from one another.
If only she had that...
Lexa's speeches:
"I have made a [my] choice. These are my [intended] spouses. The two leaders of Skaikru, Clarke Griffin and Bellamy Blake. The Commander of Death and the Warrior of Death: the Mountain [Killers] Slayers. They burned Mt Weather, They killed [massacred] the Mountain Men!"
"I, Lexa, Commander of a Thousand Clans, Commander of the Coalition: I who saved our people from Mt Weather, I who saw the end of the Mountain Men—I [become an alliance] pledge myself to my lovers!"
Tell me what you think! It finally happened! Clarke and Bellamy had to take Lexa's offer. We got one engagement scene, but like Lexa said. Be prepared for many nights of "celebration". Our trio aren't too happy about this. Clarke breaks my heart this chapter. All she wanted was an average happy life, and then everything went wrong for her and keeps getting worse ):
Was the inclusion of Trigedasleng words okay? I understand why the show does it differently, but I'm always a little sad that the show never has the grounders and Arc people struggle through translations or the fact that their 'english's' might have evolved differently. I'm hoping to incorporate more Arc-people slang as we go, as well as Trigedasleng words and slang.
Also, isn't Bellamy being a huge butt right now?! The boy is such a huge jerk when he's cornered and scared for his sister (see: season 1) and I was so excited to show this original, organic character growth of him being an ass and digging himself into a deep hole of his own doing… and then that's exactly what the show did. Woops. But oh no! Now he and Clarke aren't working together! Bellamy, c'mon, get your act together, man!
Do you think Lexa made Clarke put the symbol for 'love' on Lexa on purpose? Out of spite or….? Will Lexa make it in time with the medicine?
As always, I love hearing back from y'all. I am but a simple writing gremlin and your reviews sustain me for another week (:
See you Saturday for chapter 7!