Chapter 11

It took some while for Lexa to finish her discussion with her generals. It was mainly related to the episode she had earlier in the tent where she almost collapsed. Anya, Indra and Gustos were checking on her whether she was alright or not. It seemed that she had given them all a scare.

Clarke was waiting nearby for the discussion to end. Lexa knew she probably wanted to talk about what had happened in the tent. Lexa wanted to talk about it too. She wanted to apologize for how she behaved. She wanted to talk about the matters that were bothering her. But Lexa was afraid. Afraid of the answers she would receive from Clark.

Besides that, Lexa wanted to make sure TonDC was protected. She had a feeling in her gut that something was going to happen despite the reassurances from Clarke that she had taken care of Ripa. She wanted to reach over there as soon as possible.

Talking with Clarke had to wait until she was sure that TonDC was in no danger of being massacred. No, she wasn't trying to delay her talk with Clarke as much as possible. She kept telling herself.

--

Clarke was standing at the side giving Lexa longing looks. The blonde knew she wouldn't be able to talk to her right now as the brunette wanted to see herself that TonDC was not in danger.

Lexa wouldn't be Lexa if she wasn't concerned about her people. In this matter, they were alike. Clarke herself would have gone if she were in Lexa's place. In fact, she still wants to go. This massacre was one of things she regretted the most. Unlike the mountain, this could have been avoided. If only she had reached in time.

Clarke turned around when she heard someone calling her name. She found that it was Kane and Jaha. Looks like those two were let out of their cage.

Jaha looked like he was beaten up with all the bruises she could see on his person. The prominent one being the nose she had broken. It had started to swell and turned blue and black. It served the prick right. He shouldn't have tried to hurt Lexa.

"What is happening, Clarke?" Kane was the one to ask. However, Jaha looked curious too.

Clarke looked at them for few seconds wondering whether she should say anything. She finally decided to say knowing that he would find out eventually, "We are heading to one of their village and from there we will go back to our camp. Heda said once there, she would decide what would happen to us."

At this Jaha looked angry and ready to protest. He waited for Clarke to turn away from them so she could not overhear and whispered angrily, "She is just a child. Who is she to decide what would happen to us." Jaha's voice seemed off because of the broken nose though. He was not as quite as he thought since Clarke had heard him.

Clarke had seen this attitude beforehand and she wanted to make things clear before it went out of hand. "She is Heda of 12 clans. This land belongs to her. She has every right to decide what should happen to us." 'unlike you' was left unsaid but was heavily implied by Clarke.

Clarke entered Jaha's personal space and threatened, "You better not try pulling that same shit again because I wouldn't stop at a punch next time."

With that, she stormed off towards Lexa without looking back. The brunette was now standing alone and watching the blonde come towards her.

"Do you think we could talk after we reach TonDC?" Clarke asked tentatively as soon as she reached Lexa.

Lexa's eyes softened at that. "Of course. I wished to talk to you then as well. But we must leave for TonDC as soon as it is dawn." Clarke gave a nod at that. At least Lexa was willing to talk to her. Maybe they could work this out.

--

Trip to TonDC was spent in silence. Lexa had taken few dozen of warriors with her for this trip. She had the rest of the army go ahead towards the Skaikru camp. It was midday when they reached TonDC. As soon as they were inside the village some of the warriors accompanying them left so that they could take the guard posts around the village.

Lexa looked relieved that no deaths had occurred the previous night. However, this also made her feel guiltier with the way she behaved towards Clarke. She looked towards the blonde haired beauty with a remorseful expression only to be met with understanding and relief.

--

It took some time for Lexa to finish debriefing everyone at TonDC. And it took even more time before she could talk to Clarke alone. But at last she managed to do so. As a peace offering to Clarke, Lexa brought some strips of meat to eat as lunch. They both ate quickly but in silence.

Since what they wanted to talk about was something private and some they did not wish for anyone to overhear, Clarke suggested that they take a walk. Not to mention Clarke wanted to collect a few things, which she had stashed behind the Lincoln statue.

They both had just left the village when they heard crunching of branches a little far ahead from them. Both Clarke and Lexa tensed at the noise. As one, they turned towards the source of sound.

The person was standing at a distance but that mop of hair made it clear to Clarke who it was. By the way Lexa tensed up beside her, it seemed that she also knew who it was. Clarke immediately felt a hand grabbing hers and when she turned to question Lexa about it, words had frozen in her throat because of the desperate look brunette was giving her. Never had Clarke seen such an emotion in Lexa's eyes. Not even when she was dying.

--

When Lexa saw who was walking towards them, she tensed. She did not mean to but she did.

Before she could stop herself, she grabbed Clarke's hand. Lexa knew the look she was giving to Clarke was of pure desperation but she could not help it. She did not want to lose Clarke to Finn. She momentarily lost her control but quickly put herself back together.

Lexa understood why Finn was here and needed to stop him before he did any damage.

--

Clarke looked at Lexa in confusion and muttered softly, "Its ok Lexa. I won't let him hurt anyone." She did not realize why exactly Lexa was holding her back.

Clarke was glad Lexa had insisted on coming to TonDC. It looks like they made it back just in time. She never would have been able to forgive herself if despite everything she had done the massacre still had occured.

--

Finn knew he was getting closer to the village that he had been heading towards earlier with Murphy. He was not sure that the grounder took Clarke over there. But it was a good place to start searching for her.

It looked like he was in luck. He had spotted Clarke walking with someone. That someone being a grounder. However, that grounder was not Anya that he had seen earlier with Clarke.

Finn saw the grounder grabbing hold off Clarke and saw red. He had been right. The grounders were holding Clarke as hostage.

He took out the bundle Raven had given him before he had left Camp Jaha from his backpack and quickly ran towards where they were standing.

"Clarke run!" Finn shouted. He held his handgun pointing in the direction of Lexa.

Clarke snapped out of her thoughts and without any second thought parked herself firmly in front of Lexa. She wouldn't let another bullet claim the love of her life again. She would not lose Lexa again.

Clarke cursed under her breath. She should have known that Finn wouldn't have stayed put at Camp Jaha. That he would come after her. She had wished she would have reached back before this would have happened.

'How the hell did he managed to get his hands on another gun.' Thought Clarke.

Lexa had even warned her about this happening. Nevertheless, she had become over confident in making the changes in the timeline. She thought everything would go her way and everything would fall in line.

She thought that taking Finn's gun would solve the problem. Finn would not be able to hurt anyone. How very wrong she was.

However, she was not going to let her mistake, her arrogance cost Lexa's life.

"Put that gun down Finn." Clarke told Finn sternly without moving an inch.

"What are you doing Clarke? Get away from her. You are safe now." Finn shouted. He was looking at her wildly and pleading with her to follow him.

"I don't need your protection Finn. There is nothing to protect. I am ok. Put that gun down." Clarke's eyes flashed in anger though they did not leave the gun pointing in the direction of Lexa and by default herself as she was standing in between Finn and his target.

Clarke had slowly edged towards Finn while they were talking and now was almost few feet away from him.

Finn looked uncertain and confused. Why was Clarke protecting that grounder? THE grounder that was holding her as hostage. He did not understand what was going on. Nonetheless, he did not put the gun down.

Clarke took advantage of his confusion and tried to push away the barrel of his gun. Finn surprised by Clarke pulled the trigger and a shot rang out. It was followed by flowing of black blood.