Clouds covered the usually bright sky, and Lexa woke up slowly as Clarke put the finishing touches on her sketch.
"Morning sleepyhead," Clarke said when she noticed Lexa awake. Lexa smiled slightly, pulling herself into an upright position. It was then that Amira began to cry. Lexa looked down at the child in her arms, and with a small huff she began to pace toward her bed where she swiftly changed Amira's diaper.
"You're really good with her," Clarke said, smiling from her spot on the chair.
"When I was a child there were always babies in the camps. In times of war, before I became Anya's second, I would watch a few while their parents were in battle. So for me, this is almost normal." Then the chamber doors opened and in walked Titus surrounded by four guards.
"Heda, I have assembled you a team of trackers to find the child's home clan." Lexa nodded, placing Amira in the crib before standing in front of the group.
"Is there anything you need from me?" Lexa asked.
"Anything that may have come from the mother," a female tracker replied. Lexa nodded, grabbed the letter off her throne where it had laid all day and the blanket she had been wrapped in, and handed them to the women. Titus dismissed the band, telling them to find the child's family before turning around to Lexa. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Heda, try not to get too attached. She will be leaving soon," Titus told her softly. Lexa nodded, but Clarke saw a shift in her eyes. TItus left quietly.
"What happens if her home clan can't be located?" Clarke asked, approaching the brunette.
"She will be given to the most recent mother, here in Polis, whose child died as an infant," Lexa said, sitting down on her throne and putting her head in her hands. Clarke approached slowly, squatting down so she was level with Lexa.
"You alright?" Clarke gently questioned, placing a hand on Lexa's knee. Lexa's eyes shot up and Clarke could plainly see the tear in her eyes and the smudges in her war paint. Clarke wanted so desperately to pull Lexa in for a hug, but their relationship was so unstable as it was that it didn't seem like a good idea.
"I-I," Lexa stuttered. Clarke watched as her Commander's mask slid down over her face like a shield. "I'm fine." Clarke backed off slowly as Lexa stood. "If it is alright with you, I am going to go see the Nightbloods and bathe. Can you watch Amira for a little while?" Clarke nodded, sensing that Lexa needed some space from the whole situation. She was back in Commander mode, and she exited the room without saying another word.
As the door slammed behind Lexa, Amira started to wail. Clarke ran over to the crib and picked up the infant. She began to bounce the child in her arms, and wails turned to whimpers as Clarke walked around the room. A cool breeze whistled through the windows causing a few candles to go out. Clarke opened the door of Lexa's chambers. Two guards stood watch outside.
"Could one of you fetch me some milk for the baby?" Clarke asked. One guard smiled gently at the baby.
"Of course. I will bring it to you, and perhaps a few extra diapers." Clarke thanked the guard before heading inside. Clarke decided to let Amira lay on the ground for a little while waiting for the guard to return. Clarke was smiling to herself as she she watched Amira gazing up at her. Clarke had the small bear in her hand and was moving it from side to side for Amira to track as a small knock echoed throughout the room.
"Enter," Clarke called, and the guard walked in silently and placed the items on the table before scurrying out of the room. Clarke prepared a bottle while Amira lay on her blanket. Clarke then quietly fed the child while walking about the room. Lexa's chamber was large, the throne room set off to the left and her bedroom located in the far right. Among the official maps and a few of Lexa's personal belongings were plenty of chairs and tables, although most were currently hard to find or had been moved out of the room itself. After Amira had eaten, Clarke grabbed an extra diaper and stuffed it into her pocket before leaving the room. The guards didn't bother to question her, much to Clarke's relief.
After riding the elevator to the lowest level, Clarke and Amira began to walk the streets of Polis. Many watched her intently, but no one said a word. Clarke just wandered the streets, letting her mind wander to the sleeping baby in her arms. Clarke had never considered being a parent, at least not on the Arc. She wouldn't have had the chance anyway; she had been imprisoned and probably would have been floated at age eighteen. Things were different now. Would it be any easier, absolutely not, but with the right person she now considered it a possibility. Clarke smiled to herself and looked around, realizing she had paid no attention to where they were headed. Amira began to whimper slightly. It was mid afternoon and the sun shone high in the west skies.
"Do you know where we are Amira?" Clarke asked, gently lifting the bright eyed child so she could see better. "This is Lexa's arena, where she ki- well, where she defeated Queen Nia." Clarke started talking to Amira like she was reading her a tale from a storybook, like a fairy tale with good and evil. "The big bad queen was trying to take Lexa's throne from her. But she didn't let her. No, Lexa fought back and won! She was so strong, stronger than I ever thought she could be. You know, I completely underestimated her," Clarke admitted quietly. "And then to watch her fight Roan in this very arena - it was like no one could touch her. She proved herself, proved that she deserved to be Commander. I like to think she brought Costia some peace - maybe she bought herself some peace too," Clarke commented as Amira cooled slightly, looking up at Clarke. "You are so beautiful, Amira. Your green eyes look an awful lot like Lexa's," Clarke mused, looking down at the infant. Clarke walked around the border of the arena singing inaudible melodies to the child in her arms.
Night had begun to fall over the bustling streets of Polis when Lexa returned to her room. Clarke sat on the bed cradling Amira in her arms and singing to the child a lullaby, one Lexa didn't recognize. Lexa approached them quietly.
"Sorry I was gone so long," Lexa whispered when she got close. Clarke's head shot up, and the annoyance in her eyes quickly faded to warmth when she saw the source of the voice.
"It's fine," Clarke responded. Lexa smiled softly as Clarke placed Amira in her crib. "She is so sweet and innocent. I can't believe someone would just leave her at a doorstep." Lexa walked up behind the blonde. Hesitantly, she placed a hand on Clarke's shoulder, the contact sending shivers down Clarke's spine.
"I know. Sadly, it happens all too often." Lexa sighed, removing her hand and moving it to Amira's slowly rising and falling chest.
"How was your day? You said something about going to see the Nightbloods?" Clarke questioned.
"My day was fine - rather uneventful. The Nightbloods are working hard. Aiden is ready for the conclave, which is good," Lexa explained. "Thank you for watching Amira," she finished, a smile breaking through her stoic mask.
"Of course. It was fun. Anyway, I should head out. There is milk on the table, and the diapers were cleaned earlier," Clarke said to Lexa, hurrying to find her jacket before heading toward the door.
"Clarke," Lexa called after her, making Clarke pause. "I have a big meeting tomorrow. Will you take Amira for the day?" Clarke's face lit up.
"Of course I will." And with that, the blonde scurried out of the room, leaving Lexa and Amira alone. Lexa smiled down at the infant. "I hope you had a good day with Clarke."
Once outside the door, Clarke smiled to herself. Being around Amira gave her this hope she hadn't felt since before coming to the ground, and most definitely not since Mt. Weather. As for Lexa, Clarke still wasn't quite sure what to think. She wanted to trust her, but after everything that had happened, who knew if that was even possible. Clarke's smile turned to a frown only to lighten up again when she opened the door to her room, finding a vase of flowers sitting on her dresser. The room smelled like lavender, and candles had been lit, leaving the room in a dim, calming light. Clarke didn't even bother to change, just settled into her bed and fell quickly asleep.
A/N Hope you like this chapter.