So... Here it is! Finally! WOO HOO!
Disclaimer: I don't own The 100 OR Raign's Wicked Games (You'll see )
We exit the drop ship hand in hand, and I give her a squeeze with mine as I move the parachute to the side. As I suspected, there's a small gathering outside waiting for us, talking quietly amongst themselves. When they hear us approach, all eyes are on us, and I swallow the lump of nervousness in my throat.
"We've made our decision with all of our best interests at heart. And the key to survival here is for us to have a good working relationship with the grounders. And that means that we have to adopt some of their cultural customs. Which means that for appearances to the Grounders, Clarke and I are "engaged". Now don't get all excited just yet, we are not ready to be married just yet and we are going to hold off any planned ceremonies for as long as we can. In Grounder culture, women are always in charge with little male influence. We however, will always work as a group. Clarke and I are a team, and we aren't about to let them tear us apart." I state with firmly, but not without making the crowd more comfortable with my usual hand gestures and even air quoting the word engaged to get some laughs. Clarke clears her throat, and everyone knows that she has something to add.
"We have to maintain this image in front of the Grounders, and we also need to work on our preparations for winter . Because I'm not going to lie, this winter will be hard; but it's going to be a lot harder if we don't have enough food and water. So we really need to put our best efforts into this. The Grounders will be back after noon, so everyone needs to continue working through our meeting. Thank you." With that, everyone disperses to the various parts of camp where they are working. Damn she can command a crowd. My arm snakes around her waist and she turns to face me, standing on tiptoes to plant a soft kiss on my cheek. I smile at the contact, and pull her to me so I can turn my head towards her lips so they meet. I feel her smile against mine when I hear the clearing of a throat. We separate immediately, and I look to see my baby sister smirking at us, with her arms crossed over her chest.
"What is it, O?" I ask, my voice showing some of my annoyance.
"I don't want to talk to you,dummy. I want to talk to my future sister in law." She states plainly, gesturing to Clarke, who I look to in question. She simply nods, and tells me to get to work.
I walk away slowly, trying to hear what Octavia is talking to Clarke about. They seem to notice this (of course), and when they really start to talk beyond pleasantries, I can't make out the words. I look over my shoulder at her, and she catches my eye, and smiles. I smile back and decide to get down to business while I have time.
I am putting a nail through two pieces of wood in the wall of one of the cabins when Lexa and company arrive for our decision.
I go to greet them, and tell Miller to go and get Clarke.
"Hello Bellamy of the Sky People. I trust your leader has made her decision?" Lexa says with a note of harshness to her voice. I clear my throat before answering.
"Yes, Clarke and I have made our decision about the future of our camp. But I think we should wait for Clarke to discuss this any further." She scowls at my words, but nods in agreement and we wait in silence for my Princess to come.
She arrives a few minutes later, hair tied messily into a ponytail, and she comes close to me, taking my hand.
"Clarke. Thank you for joining us, as a leader of the Sky people. I trust your decision involving Mr. Blake has been made?" Her tone is purely formal, but her icy stare gives her true feelings light. Clarke isn't in the least shaken by it though, because after a small pause, she tells the Commander exactly how things are.
"Yes, we most certainly have made our decision regarding the leadership of our people, Commander. Bellamy and I are a united front, and we are going to be bound for life soon. We cannot be joined until we know our people can make it through the winter months, because they are the priority. I propose a spring ceremony, if only for traveling convenience. " She spoke clearly and full of conviction, so set in her ways. A smirk finds itself on my mouth as I watch Lexa's eyes widen as Clarke speaks, because she knows that the other leaders can respect this plan of action.
"Very well. Shall we help you in arrangements for the ceremony? Our culture has many different ways to bind man and woman. I suspect that you are unaware of these kinds of traditions." It was time for me to intervene before we got caught in a mess of wedding planning.
" We would love to have your help with the plans, but we need to survive first. Is there any way that you could send some workers to help us build these shelters? Or do you have any advice on how we should prepare for the snow?" I ask in the most polite and serious tone I can manage with her.
"Yes actually, I had commented to my men on how much work you need to do before the first snow, and it was suggested that we send a team of builders to help so that you and your people don't freeze." She replies curtly, gesturing to the unfinished structures around camp.
"That would be very helpful, thank you. Is there something you needed or wanted in return? I-" Clarke is cut off by a wave of Lexa's hand.
"There is no need. We are in debt to you for the victory under the Mountain. This is how we are repaying you. When the builders arrive, they will have three cloth makers and a few hunters among them to help as well. Is that sufficient ?"
"Oh yes. Thank you very much for this kindness." She says, voice full of gratitude as she offers her hand, and Lexa shakes it. She offers her hand to me, so I take it.
"Thank you. We look forward to furthering this alliance in the future."
"As do I." With that, she tells her party to move out and they leave. The rest of the day goes by quickly as we work like a well-oiled-machine. We tell the others about the help that is coming within the week, and our people seem less worried than they have been in weeks.
We're laying in the darkened upper level of the Drop Ship, waiting for sleep to come, when she sits up and turns to face me.
"Who were you on the Ark, Bell?" Her question takes me by surprise, we were basking in a silence that was perfect and content for longer than I can remember. But I know, that when she asks these questions,that she is slowly letting me in in her way. So I'm almost always eager with my replies, talking about the simple stuff, but anything Arc related is hard for me. It hurts to look back. But I want to answer, so I swallow thickly before I start.
"I was nobody Clarke. Nobody important, I was a janitor who just wanted his sister to be safe. I just wanted to see her again. I was in a perpetual bad mood. I followed the set of rules given to me, but only because I somehow still valued my skin. I was nobody you would have ever met, let alone laid next to me on the Arc." I say with a giant lump in my throat, and my voice is grated as I fight the tears that she can't see from her position on my chest, curled towards me, entangling her legs with mine. I can't help the sad ache that has formed in my chest.
Imagining what life would be like if I hadn't gotten to the ground with the rest of the delinquents, with her and O, makes me feel hollow. I would have never met this girl who challenges me in every way and puts me in my place when I need it. A life without either of the most important women in my life is not a life I like to imagine.
My eyes scream at me for not letting the tears fall, but I don't want to cry in front of her. I want to be a rock, not a sponge to her. I only want her to see my strength, not all of my then she is shifting, so that she is on top of me, looking down into my watery eyes. Her features soften at the sight, if she could get any softer than she already was in our relaxed and comfortable atmosphere around us. She moves her hand to cup the side of my face, and uses her thumb to stroke my cheek. The tears I was fighting simply drop out, and she smiles.
" I wasn't anyone on the Ark either. In fact, if you didn't know who my parents were, I was no one. Just some girl who was smart in class and worked in the med bay after school. I only had one friend, and he betrayed me. Well, he didn't actually betray me, but he let me think he had. He let me hate him for something my mother had done. My life was mundane and average on the Arc. Nothing special." I smile slightly when a simple line comes to mind. I lean in close to whisper it to her.
"I guess it's true then." My voice is rough like sandpaper.
"What is?" Is her reply, her voice full of curiosity.
"Just a line from an old Earth song. No body loves no one." At which she giggles.
"Yeah. And no one loves nobody."
"Nah. Nobody loves no one sounds better." She doesn't say anything to that, but I think she agrees because her lips are on mine in a firm kiss, and I can feel her smile.
Sleep comes easily after that, and why wouldn't it? I have the woman I love in my arms, a surviving people, and no worries about the Grounders attacking us.
I'll try to have 15 done ASAP! R&R! Season 3 is Fabulous so far!