Hey lot, apologies for the delay, I was researching for the next chapters coming up. I hella watched some westerns and discovered Strange Empire, y'all need to check it out. One season on Netflix but damn, is it masterful. I was also reading up on some family history. Anyways, I was also conflicted about more fluff or heading into the drama and pain coming up. Well, we're getting pain. I will post a warning before we get into the triggering stuff.
March 1864
Winter was harsh. They had passed the holidays together, John Murphy having joined Clarke, Raven, Lexa, Lincoln and the Blakes as they celebrated. He brought a case of brew with him.
Murphy had put a damper on celebrations when he had noticed Clarke and Lexa in a moment of intimacy in a corner together. He told them that although he did not have any objections to them, some of the men that worked the brewery had noticed them and he had heard their grumbling. He didn't want to have to hurt any of the men that worked the brewery in defense of the two women, but if it came to it, he would.
Clarke had become more alert around the farm since then and she had noticed Murphy was right. Some of the men that worked his family's brewery eyed her and Lexa when the woman came around. Some leered and others glared at Lexa in her manly garb.
When Clarke had remarked on them one day as Lexa arrived on her horse, Lexa had turned and glared in return to the man that leered at them.
Indra approached the man and said something to him and he turned away, stomping back toward the brewery.
"He wouldn't dare to harm you two when he stands to lose his life as well as his work if he were to do so." Indra told them.
Lexa watching the man go turned to Indra.
"I will kill him myself should any harm come to Clarke." She declared. "If any of these men try any harm upon me or my own."
Indra gave her a knowing nod and returned to guarding the farm.
The day Bellamy returned from the fort with a woman, Clarke had teased him ceaselessly, as did Octavia until he gave them her name. Echo. He had met her a few times in town and hoped to perhaps charm her into the farm life. He wanted to marry her.
Octavia decided that was the time to come clean to Bellamy about her spending time with Lincoln.
Bellamy was not too pleased, being the overprotective brother that he was.
Lincoln had to come to Bellamy and speak to him. Clarke had witnessed the event, Bellamy fresh from a hunt using the techniques that Lincoln had taught him.
Bellamy had shouted at Lincoln wondering if he had only been hanging around him in order to get close to Octavia.
He had punched at Lincoln then and they had brawled in the snow. Clarke had lurched forward to stop them, only for Lexa to pull her back.
"Let them have it out." She told Clarke as the men wrestled.
Lincoln easily overpowered Bellamy. He had the training of a being a scout. Clarke shook her head when she noticed Raven holding her hand out to Murphy and the man putting a few bills in her hand.
Bellamy laid back in the snow, and Lincoln said his peace.
"I care for her, Bell, you, I want to be my brother, and all that I taught was so that you might be strong and take care of yourself and a family someday, like I will Octavia, if you will let me." He held a hand out and helped Bellamy stand.
Bellamy dusted the snow off of himself. He sighed and shook Lincoln's hand.
"She would have made her own choice. I cannot stop her." Bellamy gave him.
"Be good to her that is all I ask." Bellamy then turned away and went into his own cabin.
Lincoln started to go after him, but Octavia stopped him.
"Give him a moment."
Lincoln and Octavia could be seen with one another openly after that. It took nearly two weeks before Bellamy was seen with Lincoln hunting again.
He told Clarke drunkenly one night, he needed time to adjust to the fact that his sister was an adult and falling in love. He also feared losing her like they had lost their parents. They had been together, just the two of them for so long. Bellamy didn't know how to feel about her marrying Lincoln to make a home of their own.
Lexa had interrupted then and mentioned Lincoln had ideas of staying on the Blake ranch, he did not intend on taking Octavia from Bellamy. Not when he was a scout. Octavia needed to be with family and Lincoln did not desire to separate them.
That had helped Bellamy feel better about the coupling.
Lexa's visits grew more frequent though with each visit she seemed to grow more agitated. When Clarke confronted her as she fidgeted and did all she could to stay busy within her home, Lexa confessed to what was bothering her.
Unrest amongst the Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapaho was at a boiling point. The tribes were raiding settlers as they rode west, attacking smaller settlements and killing folk as they saw fit.
The Pawnee Scouts allied with the soldiers of the fort would have to ride out with them in response to the raids.
Lexa did not speak it, but Clarke could sense the conflict within her heart. She was a Pawnee Scout and should they ride out with the white men to fight she might have to go with them. She did not seem as if she wanted to kill other Indians.
Clarke held her at night through nightmares. She held her when Lexa tossed and turned against her fears. She soothed her cries in the night and gave her soft words, singing quietly until Lexa calmed and slept peacefully.
*Warning for mentions of sexual assault*
It was as March closed that Murphy's warning came to a head.
Clarke was making her way home after collecting the shorn wool from the Blakes. She had completed several blankets and the trade she received from them was keeping her and Raven through the winter. Raven, meanwhile spent much time at the brewery, repairing and improving the stills for the Murphies.
On a day such as this one, Clarke was left to keep herself busy. Lexa had returned to the fort to run supplies and Raven was gone again at the brewery.
Indra helped the Blakes with their shearing. Clarke's stomach turned when she noticed the man rounding the corner of her home as she approached.
The way he leered at her boded ill for her and she knew she needed to get away. She had left her father's rifle at home, foolishly thinking she would be safe within her own home grounds.
She realized she wasn't now.
Clarke stopped and her eyes darted toward her home. The man was greasy even for the cold. His eyes roamed Clarke, the intent in them obvious.
"Don't got anyone to protect you now, do ye, girly?" The man's grin made Clarke's stomach lurch.
She backed up, back toward the Blake ranch.
He pulled a pistol and Clarke froze.
"Now, you're going to listen here. You'll enter that home of your'n and not make a sound. I'll follow after ye, and I will have my way." He told her.
Clarke choked the sob that threatened to tear form her throat. She clenched her jaw and slowly stepped forward.
Maybe if she was quick enough, she could get into the house and shut him out. The rifle was tucked in a corner beside the door.
If she could get in, and barricade herself, she could grab the rifle and fend him off.
Clarke trembled as she pretended to go along, as she stepped forward towards the house.
"Drop the gun." Her heart stopped as she recognized that voice.
Lexa, Clarke thought to herself.
"Drop the gun, or I will put a bullet through those parts of yourself you likely treasure so much." Lexa's voice promised terror and death in one fell blow.
Clarke whimpered as the man spoke. She knew it would haunt her.
"Deviants. You shoot and I will pull the trigger on your girl." He taunted.
"Clarke." Lexa said her name and Clarke knew what she had to do.
A shot rang out and Clarke dived as the second shot rang out. Wood splintered above her as she hit the deck. The missed pistol bullet embedded in her home.
Clarke closed her eyes and took in shuddered breaths.
A hand enclosed upon her shoulder and Clarke jerked away in fear. She calmed when she saw that it was Lexa that knelt beside her.
"Clarke, I'm here." Her voice soft and her eyes worried.
Clarke shot up and wrapped her arms around Lexa, clinging to her. She let the sobs that she had been holding in out as the woman held her in her arms.
"I'm here, Clarke, I'm here." Lexa repeated over and over into her curls as she cried into her shoulder. She did this until Clarke's sobs died down and she only trembled and sniffled into her shoulder. Lexa slid an arm under legs and lifted her. She opened the door to her house and carried Clarke into her room, setting her in her bed.
"I will return Clarke." Lexa reassured her when Clarke grabbed for her wrist as she stepped away from the bed.
Lexa left the house and found Indra watching over the man she had shot.
"He will not be missed." Indra remarked as Lexa approached. "He had no family and was infamous for getting drunk and being drunk on the job."
Footsteps approached and Lexa turned to see John Murphy heading towards them.
He eyed the body on the ground, blood spattered in the snow around him. He raised a brow at Lexa.
"Honestly, you did me a favor." He stated.
"The man was stealing some of our brew. My father was about to have him killed anyways." He shrugged.
He turned to Indra.
"Go let him know he's taken care of and I'll need a cart." Murphy ordered.
Indra left off to do as he said.
Murphy gave Lexa a regretful look.
"I did warn you." He shook his head.
Lexa growled at him and he put his hands up.
"Hey, I don't care what you do, I myself have indulged in a man or two on the road west but I wouldn't dare let anyone notice." He walked toward the side of the house where shovels used to clear snow from around the house were set.
"I'll probably need this." He remarked as he looked the tool over. He nodded at the house.
"Go on in and take care of her. I'll get rid of this." He kicked the corpse lying in the snow. Indra returned with a cart.
Lexa murmured her thanks and went into the house. She found Clarke curled in on herself.
"Clarke." She spoke her name softly as she stepped into the room. Lexa did not wish to startle her, not when she felt like she might after what had just occurred.
Lexa took off her boots and shed her coat. She pulled the blankets from the edge of the bed and slid in beside Clarke, wrapping her up in her arms.
Clarke nestled into her chest, below her chin.
"Thank you, Lexa." Her voice was raw.
"Thank you for being here."
Lexa tightened her arms.
"Don't leave me." Clarke whispered.
Lexa closed her eyes and wished she could stay forever. If only to continue to protect Clarke like she felt herself needing to.
She pressed her lips to Clarke's temple.
"I'm here, Clarke." Her heart ached as she spoke the words.
"I will be here as long as I can."
