Chapter 5: Our Souls Stay When Our Bodies Must Move Away

"How was the meeting?" Clarke asked. She was already tucked up in bed, ready to sleep after a long day at the clinic,

"Good. Very productive. Your Mother is a skilled leader, Clarke." Lexa replied. She had just returned with the water jug and now she stripped to her under garments and clambered into bed next to Clarke. The moment Lexa lay back on her pillows, Clarke rolled towards her lover. Lexa grinned and extended an arm, wrapping it around Clarke as she came to rest her head on the taller woman's chest.

"I'm sorry I couldn't get away from the clinic to be there. The last meeting too." Clarke spoke.

She had tried to get away, but injured people were not considerate. Tomorrow, the Sky people would finally be leaving Polis after almost a month. It had been the last meeting, meant more as a formality than anything. A way to check and double check the details of the plan Lexa and Clarke's mother had worked out together.

Lexa had offered the Sky Clan the mountain. Whilst both Clarke and Abby had been resistant to the idea at first, they had come to understand Lexa's logic. The land surrounding Mt. Weather had never been claimed by any clan, lessening the risk of a land dispute. And building on the side of a mountain had a clear tactical advantage, a natural protection against future attack. They still had to consider the spy drone back at Camp Jaha as a clue to a threat that had not yet revealed itself, after all. So tomorrow Clarke would have to return to the mountain with her people. She tried to focus on the positives. The Sky people were finally getting their chance to build a proper life on the ground. It would be a victory quite literally built upon the foundations of a great sacrifice.

Lexa pecked Clarke on the forehead; "And I am sorry that I cannot come with you tomorrow," she replied.

It had been three weeks since the duel and in that time, Clarke and Lexa's life together had begun to fall back into a routine. More so for Lexa. At least Clarke still had the novelty of being able to visit her friends when she found the time. Lexa's days were once again filled with negotiations. With Abby, and with the representatives from the desert and boat clans. They had arrived almost as soon as the trouble with the Azgeda had come to a conclusion. They brought word back from their clan leaders and were keen to seal deals with the Coalition's head. Lexa had no choice but to stay and attend to her duties in Polis.

"I won't be gone too long. Just to see my people arrive at their new home safely, maybe watch them lay a few foundations." Clarke rolled over and picked up a piece of paper from her side table, letting her charcoal pencil roll off. "What do you think?"

Clarke handed Lexa the paper and watched as Lexa studied it. Clarke had done an artistic representation of what the Sky Clans home could eventually look like. She'd drawn a city built on the side of the mountain, reaching back up towards the stars from which they had fell. Clarke smiled when she saw Lexa's eyes light up,

"Wonderful. As always. And a well thought out layout. You should take this with you." Lexa appraised her work. But then Lexa's eyes grew dim again. "Are you sure you won't want to stay? They are your people. I would understand."

Clarke sighed and took the drawing out of Lexa's hands, placing it back on the table. Then she rolled herself onto her side and propped herself up on her shoulder.

"Lexa, look at me."

Lexa gave her own sigh and mirrored Clarke's pose so that they were facing one another,

"Polis is my home now, ok?" Clarke stated matter-of-factly, and then; "You are my home."

Lexa looked sheepish. It wasn't the first time she had asked Clarke if she would really be coming back. Clarke couldn't really blame her lover. Of course she was scared of losing Clarke, she had lost everyone close to her in the past. Not that Lexa would ever admit these motivations behind her questions to Clarke. She didn't have to.

"I am happy to hear that. But we both know that you would sacrifice your home for the sake of your people-"

"Lexa, that could happen to either of us at any time. Let's not concentrate on 'ifs'. Just on the questions we can answer now."

Clarke was taken aback when Lexa seemed to grow red at her words. She watched as the blush crept into Lexa's cheeks, a sight only she was ever likely to be privy to. Clarke wondered what she could have possibly said to illicit such a strange response.

"Is everything ok, babe?" she asked, suddenly worried that Lexa might of come down with a fever.

"Clarke?" was all Lexa said back before she fell quiet. Clarke could see Lexa's jaw working. She was obviously on the verge of saying something else, something that had gotten stuck in the back of her throat.

"Lexa, you are worrying me a little. What's on your mind, babe?"

"Questions we can answer now!" Lexa blurted out. It was quite uncharacteristic of her, even alone with Clarke. Clarke was about to ask again if everything was ok but Lexa spoke again and cut her off; "Will you marry me, Clarke?"

The question was asked hurriedly, to the point where Clarke had to take a moment to make sure she'd heard right. Lexa's wide-eyed and expectant expression told her that she had. Clarke felt like she needed a minute, but she just couldn't leave Lexa hanging on the response. So she replied and left the repercussions of her answer to trouble her afterwards;

"Yes."

Lexa's face broke into a grin.

"Yes." Clarke repeated, liking the way the simple word felt as it escaped her lips, "I will marry you, Lexa," she finished.

"Thank you," Lexa managed to say back. As if realising how awkward she was being, Lexa leaned forward and placed a kiss on Clarke's lips to avoid needing to use anymore words. It was a long and tender kiss, one full of promise and happiness. When they parted, Clarke rested her forehead against Lexa's,

"Ai hod yu in," she whispered,

"I love you too," came the reply. Then Lexa smirked; "And now you will have to come back to Polis. At least for one day so that you can marry me."

Clarke sniggered, "I'm coming back Lexa. To marry you. To spend my life with you."

This time, Lexa let the 'ifs and buts' lie. She grinned again and shifted back onto her back so that Clarke could resume cuddling up to her. Clarke shivered when Lexa's hand stroked down her spine.

"Goodnight, babe," she murmured, though her heart was still racing in excitement.

"Os sheidgeda, ai tombom," Lexa replied; goodnight, my heart.

They slept soundly.

The next morning saw all the Sky people gathering at the gates of Polis. Getting everyone ready to go took time, they had all settled into the communal homes over the past month. That meant that repacking belongings took longer than expected. Also, carts carrying supplies were gradually arriving at the gates. Lexa had been keen to make sure that she wasn't sending the Sky clan off to their new territory without help. She had arranged for carts of food supplies and basic building material for constructing tents to be taken. As well as a group of fifty of her own people. These people were all seconds in the city, the ones closest to completing their apprenticeships. There were builders, smiths, hunters and more trades among them. Ten of them were warriors, to support the Sky clan guards until settlement defences could be built. They would also serve as translators and teachers. They were being sent to teach the Sky clan to become self-sufficient.

The supplies Lexa had donated would last a few months, but after that the Sky people would have to fend for themselves. It was vital that they learned how to do that quickly. There was a back-up plan, though. The Sky people had eight seasons to become self-reliant as a clan in their own right. If that didn't happen, their territory would become a part of the Trigeda. Abby would become one of Lexa's generals and the Sky people would become Trigedakru. Of course the Sky people were keen not to let this happen, even though it was a reasonable fallout plan.

Clarke held up the artistic impression she had done so that a particularly keen second could see it. She was training as a builder and was, according to her own words, particularly skilled with metal.

"This is good," the second appraised in Trigedasleng, "I hope we can salvage enough metal from the mountain."

Clarke grimaced at the idea of going inside the mountain. She was sure she would be excused from being part of the salvage team, along with the others who had been held captive there. But still it was too stark a reminder that her people's new home was going to be built on the foundations of such a dark memory. But Lexa had been correct. The mountainside was unclaimed land and well defensible. It would be ridiculous not to take such a gift.

"Me too," Clarke replied.

She was stood in a small bunch at the rear of the gathering crowd, along with her mother, Kane and Lexa. Clarke looked over her drawing and saw that her mother and Lexa were in deep conversation. No doubt going over the supplies one more time, whilst there was still a chance to make amendments before they left. Clarke allowed herself a smile at the sight. She hadn't yet found chance to tell her mother about her engagement. Clarke glanced over her shoulder to the larger group. it seemed as though most people had now arrived from the communal houses and all the supply carts were ready to go. The horses that were carrying them whinnied and stomped at the ground, impatient to leave. The Sky people were happy enough making conversation, a general din of chatter filled the area around the gates. Still it would not be long until they too started to feel restless. Clarke handed her drawing over to the second,

"Here, why don't you keep this for me. You can hang it up in your tent for inspiration or something," Clarke said. She was very confident in speaking the Trigeda language now and the second recognised her casual tone and grinned,

"Thank you!"

Clarke offered a smile back, "You should introduce yourself to Marcus," she pointed Kane out. "He'll probably be a keen student."

The second nodded and did as Clarke suggested, taking the drawing with her. Clarke felt slightly bad for getting rid of her like that. Although she was aware that she was running out of time to make her announcement to her mother. Clarke moved closer to Lexa and her mother and waited for a gap in their conversation,

"- should last for about half a year. Longer if you are careful," Lexa was saying.

Abby nodded in understanding, "I'd rather be too careful than too careless with the food. If shelter becomes a major issue we always have the interior of the mountain as a last resort."

"Is this 'leader's only', or can I butt in?" Clarke joked.

Lexa turned to her, "Clarke? You are more than welcome, did you have something in particular on your mind?" she said. She was in full Commander mode, no doubt eager to see the Sky people off safely and without a hitch. They'd had their own more intimate goodbyes in the early hours of the morning.

"Actually we have something to tell my Mom, don't we," Clarke hinted, "Now's our only chance to do it together."

Lexa's face looked blank for a moment, before she realised what Clarke was alluding to. She made an 'oh' face and then turned back to Abby with a somewhat awkward look. The Commander's stoic mask had vanished.

Abby regarded them both quizzically, "Should I be worried?" she asked.

"I hope not," Lexa spoke. She meant it as a joke, but Clarke thought that Lexa might be genuinely worried about Abby's reaction. It was time to bite the bullet.

"Mom. Last night, Lexa asked me to marry her," Clarke announced. She watched as her Mother's eyebrows raised in anticipation, "And I said yes."

There was a beat, a millisecond when Clarke almost expected her Mother's face to fall into a frown. It didn't. Instead Abby gave a wide grin and stepped forward, wrapping her arms around both her and Lexa and drawing them in for a hug. Clarke hugged back eagerly. In contrast she could feel Lexa grow stiff beside her, obviously not expecting the physical contact.

"That's wonderful, I am very happy for you both." Abby said and then she let them go a moment. Then she wrapped just Clarke in an even tighter squeeze. "I am so proud of you, and your father would be too, Clarke," she whispered into her ear.

Clarke felt tears forming in her eyes and willed them not to fall. Finally, she was released from her mother's hold.

"So, I assume once we are settled in our new territory, we will be coming back to Polis?" Abby asked, directing the question to Lexa who after all, knew more about Trigeda wedding customs.

"Of course. Your people will always be welcome visitors to Polis. I hope that many of you will be able to make it to share in the celebrations. It will be a city wide event."

Now Clarke blanched. Lexa had made no mention of that fact before now, "The whole city?"

Lexa shrugged, "I am their Commander," was all she said in explanation.

Clarke supposed that it made sense. She thought back to Earth history classes at school on the Ark. They had learned all about the different sorts of governing bodies that had existed in the pre-war world. She remembered that any remarkable family occasions were always made into national events. She had even seen videos of such celebrations. Clarke gulped as she remembered the crowds on those video clips. Of course she had attended a huge celebration in the city before, but that had been centred around a victory in battle. And when Lexa had defeated the Ice Queen, it had been her at the centre of attention. But at their wedding it would be Clarke in the proverbial spotlight too. The person who remembered well the butterflies she would get before performing her few lines in the Unity Day parade as a child.

"There's no rush though right? She only asked last night." Clarke mumbled. Her mother narrowed her eyes at her and then seemed to cotton on to Clarke's reservations. But she did not offer comfort.

"Well we'll have plenty of time to plan on the journey. Maybe one of the seconds will be kind enough to fill us in on the details surrounding Trigeda wedding traditions?"

"A good point, Abby. We mustn't waste opportunities," Lexa chimed in.

Clarke scoffed. Five minutes into announcing her engagement and already her mother and her intended were starting to gang up on her.

"Plenty of time for me to reconsider too," Clarke shot back and the smirk that adorned Lexa's face disappeared.

Clarke was about to add on that reconsidering was a highly unlikely outcome when Marcus approached them.

"All set and ready to go. Abby, Clarke, you two should probably make your way to the front of the group." Marcus looked from Clarke to Lexa, "If you are done saying goodbye."

Clarke watched Lexa closely, expecting her mask to reappear. It didn't and instead she moved closer and took Clarke's hands into her own,

"Be safe, Clarke. Lead your people home." she said.

Clarke squeezed Lexa's hands tight, committed the way that they felt in hers to memory, "I will. And I will be back as soon as possible."

Lexa smiled, though her eyes revealed that this goodbye was painful for her. Clarke felt her own chest tighten. She breathed deeply. It was something they would both need to get used to doing. "Take as long as you need, Clarke," Lexa stated. She was always willing to wait for Clarke.

Clarke felt like it didn't need a verbal response, so instead she leaned forward and gave Lexa- her fiance- a peck on the lips. "Mebi oso na hit choda op nodataim," Clarke whispered as they parted, and then; "I love you."

Lexa rested her forehead against Clarke. "May we meet again. Ai hod yu in," she whispered back. Then the moment was over and they stepped away from one another. Lexa looked up towards the sentries on their towers, "Open the gates!" she shouted.

Clarke gave the woman she loved one last smile before she turned away. She moved to the front of the group along with her mother and Marcus. Abby motioned that Clarke should go first and so Clarke was the first to step over the gate threshold. She listened to the noises of her people falling into step behind her, organising themselves into a convoy. She heard the shouts from the cart-drivers to spur the horses into motion. But Clarke did not look behind her again.

She walked, one foot in front of the other, away from her home. Away from Lexa. She had gone perhaps ten paces when she stopped. In the distance she could see the speck of something. Something that was hovering in the air and moving towards her. She squinted. The mystery object came closer until Clarke could hear a the unmistakable whirring of technology. It was another drone like the one that Lexa had destroyed outside Camp Jaha. Clarke motioned to Marcus and he drew his rifle.

"Don't shoot it yet," she said as the drone flew ever closer. It came to within six feet of where she stood and then stopped. The convoy of people and carts had also come to a halt behind her. The drone hovered. Clarke noticed that this one was not armed with a machine gun.

There was a silence, punctuated by the sound of a single person running. In another moment Lexa was beside her, her breathing short from the sprint. Clarke glanced at Lexa,

"This one isn't armed," she pointed out. She went right to business as if they weren't lovers who had just exchanged a painful goodbye.

Lexa looked at the drone to confirm this and then turned around and put her hand up. No doubt to halt her own sentries from loosing a spear at the drone. The silence continued for just a moment. Then a bright light emanated from the drone, focused and formed an image. It was Thelonius Jaha. A video message began to play.