A/N: SURPRISE! I said no update, but look who came through, love me?! :D I got my essay done earlier than I thought so I thought I'd sit down and get out this chapter to give to you guys. Please enjoy and let me know what you think! xx
Lexa was sitting with her legs curled against her on the couch, sniffling lightly, when Clarke woke up.
Blearily Clarke sat up to stare over at the other girl who looked exhausted and who's eyes were red and puffy as she stared at the flickering candle on the desk in front of her unmovingly.
Clarke leapt out of bed and went straight to Lexa's side who held up her hands to ward Clarke off, "No Clarke, I'm sick, you need to stay away from me for a while."
Looking at the candle thoughtfully, her eyes suddenly snapped up to stare at Lexa, "That candle was out and ten times the size when we went to bed, have you been up all night?"
Miserably Lexa nodded, "I couldn't sleep and I didn't want to wake you up so I came over here, but then my head hurt when I tried to read so I just sat here."
Frowning at her disapprovingly Clarke reached out and snaked her arms round Lexa's waist and under her legs, carrying her back to the bed against her very strong protests. Gently setting her down, Clarke pulled up the blankets to cover Lexa, who attempted to glare at her threateningly but just came across as quite cute as she pulled the blankets up to her chin without conscious thought.
"You need to stay in bed today, give yourself time to recover." Clarke said firmly, holding Lexa's shoulder down gently as she tried to get up and out of the bed.
"Clarke!" Lexa whined in annoyance, "There's a meeting this morning with the ambassadors of the clans, I need to be there."
Clarke shook her head, "You need to sleep. We already told them we are engaged so I will go and sort it all, you just focus on getting better."
Lexa huffed and looked like she was about to argue but Clarke fixed her with a stern look and she reluctantly relaxed back into the pillow, prompting a smile from Clarke.
"That wasn't so hard was it?" Clarke grinned as Lexa rolled her eyes at her gloating, "Now what time does this meeting begin?"
Lexa looked over to the window, realizing with surprise that she had been staring at the candle absently far longer than she thought, "About now Clarke, you better hurry. Tell them that I'm busy, not unwell."
Clarke smiled and rubbed her leg under the blanket affectionately, not kissing her for fear of them both getting sick, because there was no way that Lexa would stay put if Clarke wasn't there to make her and then take care of everything else.
Heading quickly to the council room she arrived at the same time as Roan, the two of them being the last to arrive, after a moments thought she beckoned to Roan and got him help her drag her throne round to rest at the bottom of the steps in front of Lexa's.
The other ambassadors eyed her with interest as she did this, but didn't argue one way or another, sitting down she nodded for them to all do the same.
"The Commander sends her apologies but she is unable to be here this morning, she has asked me to speak in her place and relay anything of importance back to her." Clarke said calmly, daring anyone to argue.
She was surprised when they only nodded, not doubting for a moment that she spoke with Lexa's authority.
Amused the ambassador for the Boat Clan smiled at her, "You look rather taken aback Wanheda."
Clarke smiled back at him, "I was expecting questions rather than simple acceptance."
"I believe I speak for all of us when I say you are respected just as much as your houmon to be, it is not our place to question you when you speak in her place."
Clarke grinned gratefully as they all inclined their heads in agreement.
The meeting passed fairly easily, for the most part it was a simple matter of discussing trade within the clans and finalizing deals between clans for when supplies would be delivered, and Clarke was happy to sit back and watch as they discussed amongst themselves. Any questions directed towards the upkeep of the city itself, Roan stepped in to aid her, having become accustomed to the needs of the people during the balancing act he and Aden played out in their absence.
It had been just under two hours when Clarke finally spoke to draw the meeting to a close, when there was a knocking on the door and a young warrior from the Plains Clan who lived full time in Polis came in, stopping in his tracks when he noticed the absence of his Heda on her throne.
"What is it boy?" His clan ambassador asked, not unkindly, as his eyes flickered around the chairs, counting off those sitting there.
"Is Heda sick too?" He asked, sounding distressed, as the Plains ambassador looked over to Clarke in confusion who carefully schooled her features as she eyed the young man.
"What do you mean, is Heda sick too?" Clarke asked, keeping her voice level, even as her mind raced worriedly.
"People in the city have been getting sick, we thought it was just the usual winter sicknesses starting but then more got sick. I wanted to ask Heda for help, no one knows what it is, but three people have died and now she's not here..." He rattled out, scarcely pausing for breath until Clarke held up her hand to motion for him to be quiet.
"Heda is busy and that is why she is not at this meeting, but I will bring this to her attention immediately, my clan has different healing methods to the others and I am sure that Heda will allow me to bring some of my healers to the capitol to help. Thank you for bringing this to our attention." Her tone was a clear dismissal, which the young warrior picked up on, bowing quickly before leaving.
As he walked out through the doors, Clarke looked round the other ambassadors worriedly, "Has anyone else heard of this sickness within the city?"
They all shook their heads, but many shared the same worried look that Clarke knew decorated her own face.
"Ok then, King Roan will you please make some inquiries and let me know what you find out?" Clarke asked.
Roan nodded immediately, "Of course Wanheda."
"I am going to go and speak with the Commander now about bringing Skaikru healers to Polis, if anyone discovers any information then send word to me immediately"
Clarke didn't wait for an answer before jumping up and practically running from the room, heading straight back to Lexa worriedly.
Bursting into the room, her heart stopped as she noticed that the brunette was not in the bed where she had left her. As she started to panic, Lexa walked out from behind the screen to the side of her bed, climbing back in tiredly before she even noticed Clarke.
"Don't look at me like that Clarke, I'm fine, it's normal for this time of year." Lexa assured quietly, barely getting to the end of her sentence before a fit of coughing over took her.
Clarke went to her immediately, sitting on the edge of the bed and speaking in a soft, even tone, "Lexa, a boy came to the meeting with the ambassadors today. There is a sickness going through the city and it looks like it can be fatal." She said, choosing not to lie or omit the last part, knowing that Lexa would hit the roof if she found out Clarke had kept something like that from her.
Expecting to see fear, or at least mild worry, Clarke was shocked when the only thing she saw in Lexa's eyes was fierce protectiveness as she quickly jerked backwards away from Clarke and waved her hand, "Move away from me then Clarke, I cannot be the reason for something to happen to you."
Sighing Clarke grabbed her hand even as she tried to ward her off, holding it gently, if I was going to get ill then I assume I would've already by now seeing as how we are never apart. And even if I'm wrong, I am going to look after you whether you like it or not."
Reluctantly Lexa stopped fighting as Clarke refused to even loosen her grip on Lexa, "Fine, but I will be very annoyed at you if you are wrong and you get sick as well."
Clarke smiled at her, running her thumb over the back of Lexa's hand, "It's going to be ok, alright? I'm going to ask my mum and a couple of others who work in the med bay back in Arcadia to come and help work this out if that's alright with you."
Lexa nodded weakly, lying back and coughing slightly as her breath caught in her throat slightly as she moved.
"Good because I sent a messenger already on my way up here."
Staying sat next to her, Clarke watched her carefully as Lexa slipped into sleep, her body betraying her to the exhaustion she felt from the sickness she was battling and the long night forgoing sleep. Vowing to remain with her in case she got worse in her sleep, Clarke just kept gently tracing shapes into the palm of Lexa's hands, her eyes not leaving Lexa's face even for a moment as she protected her whilst she slept.