A/N: So this was...unexpected, whenever I say I don't plan my writing I really mean it. This chapter is completely different to what was in my head when I started writing. Also, I apologize again for long gaps. Let's just say I was resentful of paying rent to a landlord who doesn't care whether or not the internet works this week haha. Anyway, it's all sorted now so hopefully, fingers crossed, I can finally have a bit of smooth sailing round here. Love you guys, thank you so much for being so patient with me! xxxx
It took a long moment after Clarke woke up for her brain to adjust and tell her that she was lying in Lexa's secret house in Polis, rather than out in the forest where they'd spent the last few nights sleeping under the stars.
"Clarke?" Lexa murmured softly, her face still buried in Clarke's shoulder as the blonde started shifting.
Smiling down at her as she caught a glimpse of Lexa's eyes narrowed at her through the curtain of her hair, she rubbed her shoulder lightly, "It's ok, stay in bed, I was just going to make us some breakfast."
Lexa shook her head quickly, pulling her back down, "Don't bother, we'll go out into the city for breakfast today."
"I thought you were trying to stay unseen?" Clarke chuckled, "So eager to get back to work Commander?"
Smirking mischievously, Lexa leaned over so her face was hovering above Clarke's, "Of course not." She said sweetly, before pressing her lips to Clarke's, "I told you we would have some fun."
Lexa tugged on Clarke's arm to stop her, as she let out a low whistle. Clarke watched in fascination as a small child, who couldn't be more than seven or eight, sitting on the front wall of the orphanage Lexa had grown up in looked over to them.
Meeting Lexa's eyes from across the street, she nodded quickly before jumping to her feet and rushing into the house.
"Where's she going?" Clarke asked curiously. "I thought you didn't want to be seen."
Leaning forwards to get a better view from the window, Lexa nodded towards the door, "Watch. I told you this wasn't the first time I've moved around the city unseen."
Moments later, the small girl slipped out the door and raced across the street towards them, throwing herself into Lexa's arms, who was already waiting to catch her.
Holding the girl against her chest easily in her strong arms, Lexa smiled fondly as the child held out her hand to Clarke, "Clarke meet Emily, one of my favourite people in the world. Emily this is my wife Clarke."
"I know." Emily smiled at Clarke happily, "I watched you when you married Lexa."
Clarke took the offered hand quickly, "It's a pleasure to meet you Emily, it's always lovely to meet Lexa's friends."
Lexa hummed happily under her breath as she pulled the hood on the back of her jacket over her head, before settling Emily on her shoulders. "Emily is one of the stealthiest little warriors I have ever seen, she's going to help us get some breakfast."
Clarke laughed as the small girl on Lexa's shoulders clapped her hands together happily as they started walking, excitedly babbling about anything and everything as they walked towards the markets, still keeping to the side roads, even with the hoods shadowing both of their faces.
As they reached the edge of the square, Lexa dropped to one knee and allowed Emily to slip from her shoulders, pointing her towards the stalls around the edge of the court.
Clarke watched as the kid took of immediately, slipping from stall to stall and deftly lifting small items of food from each. After the first few, Clarke narrowed her eyes in confusion when she saw that the stall owners weren't actually unaware they were deliberately turning away as she approached so she would believe herself to be safe and unseen.
"They're letting her steal from them?" Clarke asked quietly, as the corners of Lexa's mouth quirked upwards.
Nodding with a small amused grin, Lexa waved a hand towards the market, "There are certain children marked for training once they reach the right age, and each of them receive special privileges as long as they continue to deserve them. I make the stall owners aware and they turn a blind eye, I will receive reports from each of them in the next few days and then I pay each of them myself."
"How do you know her?" Clarke muttered curiously, as they continued to watch her making her way around.
"I named her." Lexa said softly, "I name all of the children that lose their parents before they can name their children themselves. And as you already know, I have a personal connection to the orphanage. Emily reminded me so much of myself when I was growing up, and so I marked her for training so I would have a reason to spend time with her."
Clarke smiled as she wrapped her arms around Lexa from behind and rested her chin on her shoulder, "When does she start training then? It's only night bloods that train in classes right?"
Lexa nodded thoughtfully, "It is, and I'm not permitted to show favouritism by taking one as my second. It would be too dangerous for them."
"But you can take a second that isn't a night blood?" Clarke guessed quickly.
"I can." Lexa said softly, "And I have been battling with myself since the summer before I met you on whether I should. If she's going to be trained then she has to be claimed by a warrior within the next year or so. It's our way, if I wait too long then she will be too old for any to accept her."
Clarke sighed as she wrapped her arms around Lexa a little tighter, "I think that this is something you need to decide for yourself. But it can wait for today." She chuckled as Emily came running back towards them, darting round the corner and holding out her spoils to Lexa, who smiled down at her proudly and brushed back the hair that had fallen across her face as she ran.
"Well done little one, you're getting better every time I see you." Lexa praised her, accepting what she was offering but making use to leave her with a sizable portion of the food herself. "Now how about we go find some cakes to take back home and share with everyone." She whispered as she knelt down in front of her, smiling widely at the excited gleam in Emily' eyes.