A/N: I never put author's notes at the top but I just want to PROFUSELY APOLOGIZE for the wait for this update! I unexpectedly went to my dad's place for four days which has no internet access and I failed to save the part of this chapter I already had done onto my computer so I couldn't even finish writing it! Anyways you probably don't care and just want to read it so without further adieu...

Chapter Four:
Enough to Wonder

"We touch, I feel a rush
We clutch, it isn't much
But it's enough to make me wonder
What's in store for us"

Clarke was sitting on the balcony outside the library. She was up on the stone barrier and had her legs dangling precariously below her as she looked at the sky. This was one of her favorite places, she liked to draw out here. The balcony in her room overlooked the gardens and was easily seen (and accessed) by anyone. The library balcony however, was seldom used, and faced the stables. Her mother didn't go to the library often anymore, and no one wanted to look at the stables so Clarke was almost always alone here. Which was of course, why she came.

She looked at the graying sky that warned of winter weather and thought back to earlier that day, when The Prince had taken her back to the castle.

He had been right, her mother was...ecstatic that they were getting along, or thought to be, she barely blinked when she saw the dress. All Clarke had heard for half an hour afterwards had been, "Oh, Clarke, wasn't it nice of Prince Bellamy to take you riding?" and, "I knew you'd get along, I'm so happy for you darling."

Clarke glanced at her current dress and smiled, she had never liked that big pink thing anyways.

Bellamy didn't look up from the letter he was writing as he mumbled a quick, "Come in," to the knock at his door.

"Your Highness, I apologize for the intrusion."

He did look up at the sound of an unfamiliar voice, and saw a pretty girl standing in his doorway.

Bellamy waved his hand heedlessly and beckoned her inside. "It's not a problem, please come in."

He took a moment to study her as she confidently shut the door and made her way deeper into his rooms. Bellamy found this refreshing. Most girls were so cautious around him, shuffling about and blushing constantly, he appreciated this self-assured, unafraid young lady.

"What can I help you with..." he trailed off, waiting for her to announce her name.

"Lady Reyes."

He smiled. "What can I help you with, Lady Reyes?"

"I'm the Princess' Lady in Waiting," When she noticed his odd look she quickly added, "She didn't send me here, if that's what you are thinking."

"If the Princess didn't send you here then what business do you have?" He did not say it unkindly.

"Actually, I wanted to talk about Clarke."

Raven smiled to herself as she walked the bustling afternoon halls back to her room. Clarke would no doubt be...put out if she found out about the little chat Raven had had with the Prince just minutes before, but the damn girl was so stubborn, it was really for her own good.

As she turned the corner she abruptly crashed into a person who was very clearly in a hurry. As she was muttering apologizes she glanced up and cut off with a bright smile. "Finn!"

Unlike Clarke's relationship with Finn, Raven and the boy were more free to use their given names, much like the girls did together.

"Raven, I'm so sorry, are you alright?"

"I'd be better if you weren't running around the castle like a lunatic, don't you have lessons with Clarke?"

He grinned over his shoulder as he started hurrying away, "Why do you think I'm running around like I lunatic?"

She sighed as she watched him run off. She knew Finn arguably better than Clarke, before Finn and Raven had been integrated within the castle they had known each other. But growing up in the castle, Raven always watched Finn love Clarke a little more than he did her.

She walked the rest of the way to her room a little faster.

Octavia Blake stared at the letter in her hand. It was, of course, from Bellamy. She missed her brother. Octavia was something of a free spirit and she had begged to accompany him to the Griffin Castle, but that wasn't the only reason she had wanted to leave. Their mother was...neglectful. Not on purpose, but according to Bellamy, ever since their father had been killed before she was born, the Queen had changed. Not to mention the fact that Octavia was unplanned. Her mother had always only wanted one child, but when she became pregnant a second time she had prayed for a boy. Since the moment Octavia was born, it had been clear to her that she was unwanted.

Her mother tried, she always tried. She gave Octavia nice things and brought her up well, but there was a degree of coldness that was never present with Bellamy.

Octavia looked up from the letter and glanced around her brother's rooms. She had gone to his wing to be alone and feel closer to him. She had never been alone with their mother without Bellamy being home, the past couple days had been rough. She had taken to only seeing her mother at meal times and otherwise preoccupying herself throughout the day.

She read the letter again.

O,
I've missed you. I'm sorry you could not come with me. I promise to bring you next time.
I think you will like it here very much. There are huge gardens and a little forest on the grounds and the castle is up on a mountain.
The Princess reminds me of you. She's independent and passionate and stubborn as anything. Unfortunately, she doesn't like me very much.
I intend to change that.
I will be home as soon as I can, please take care and try not to get yourself into trouble.
With love,
Bell.

Clarke waited impatiently for Finn behind the greenhouses. He was late. They had very little time available to sneak off for Clarke's combat training, and every minute counted. Especially when that minute was spent waiting.

Combat was something she had originally asked Finn about when she was 11, after she saw him training with one of the guards on the grounds. Clarke had been fascinated by the beauty of it. The discipline, the agility, the dance-like steps, and of course...the weapons. Shining swords singing through the air in calculated dances cutting like diamonds through the sunlight, arrows flying from bows held just so to almost instantly pierce a target 50 feet away. It was like magic. And Clarke wanted it.

So she trained. She was awful at first of course, clumsy and weak. But she grew and she learned and now she could even beat Finn on a good day. Of course it had helped once he had finally snatched some pants and a tunic for her to practice in. Fighting in large flowing dresses was not exactly ideal.

Clarke glanced up as she heard someone running down the cobblestone path towards her and sighed in relief as she watched Finn dash around the corner.

"I'm sorry I'm late!" He said as he threw her clothing at her and dropped his weapon bag.

"What happened?"

"I lost track of time." She shook her head to herself as she slipped into the greenhouse to change.

Clarke quickly shed her blue dress and started dressing in the clothing Finn had brought. She loved pants, she wished she could wear them all the time. They were so much more comfortable and freeing.

She slipped on the tight brown pants and a black quarter-sleeved tunic. She tugged on her boots as she hurried back outside.

"What are we doing today?"

He grinned as he turned around holding two Mortuary swords and tossed one to Clarke.

She easily snatched it out of the air and took up a fighting stance.

Clarke smiled to herself as she swung the sword through the air and watched the light dance off its edge. Finn had left a few minutes ago but she always stayed as long as possible. Currently, she was delicately spinning on the cobblestones, her feet moving lightly in agile steps, her sword blocking imaginary attacks.

She had won today. Attacked Finn with vigor until he had ended up on the ground with her sword to his throat and a smiling Clarke standing before him.

She replicated her earlier steps, this time alone, perfecting her form and control. Until she turned around and almost cut the Prince's head clean off.

"OH!" Clarke cried in surprise as she leapt gently backwards. "I'm so sorry! Are you alright?"

He glanced at her sword and smiled. "A little shaken up perhaps, but very much alright."

"Maybe you shouldn't sneak up on people using weapons."

Bellamy chuckled, "Touché, Princess."

Clarke was suddenly extremely aware that she was dressed to the height of impropriety and subtly tried to hide her figure-revealing clothes behind the sword, which as one might imagine, did not work very well at all.

She felt herself blush as she watched his eyes trail up her body to her face, where he smirked at her obvious embarrassment. "That's quite the ensemble you have going there."

She flushed indignantly and opened her mouth to retort when he interrupted her.

"It suits you."

There was an extremely prolonged awkward silence which Clarke imagined was only awkward on her part as she tried to figure out what on earth he had meant by that. Was he teasing her? Was he actually being nice? Was he -daresay- flirting with her?

He smiled and held out his hand, "May I?"

Clarke blinked. "Excuse me?"

"May I see the Mortuary?"

She cocked her head and without warning, chucked it across the distance between him. She was supremely disappointed when he caught it without missing a beat. Clarke watched as he held it delicately in two hands.

"This is a beautiful weapon," Bellamy commented without lifting his eyes from the sword.

"It was my father's."

Clarke tried to control her reaction when the Prince looked at her again. She had not meant to say that. Why had she said that? It had just slipped out...

She watched as he carefully walked towards her and handed the weapon back to her. "My apologizes, Princess."

"You don't have to apologize," she murmured, but took the sword back anyways. Their hands brushed briefly and his fingerprints seemed to leave an imprint on her palm, her fingers still tingling moments after.

Bellamy was sure to look at her face before he responded. "Clearly it is very special to you, I know your father is not with you any longer."

She smiled a little as she thought about the former King, she didn't think of him often.

She looked in his eyes. "No, it's okay." She was trying to forget about how her fingers felt. It wasn't working.

There was another unfortunate awkward silence preceding Clarke's words. This seemed to be a habit whenever he was present, it really needed to stop as she was once again, quite sure that it was only awkward on her end.

The Prince laughed lightly as he turned to walk away. Calling over his shoulder, "You're an excellent fighter, Princess. I'm sure your instructor must be proud."

A/N: I wrote the majority of this chapter while trying not to choke to death on my own saliva (because I'm a true professional damn it) so hopefully any horrible mistakes were all found by Mandy who I'd like to thank for the 84582326th time for being a wonderful beta. The lyrics at the beginning are actually from Space Bound by Eminem...I don't recommend listening to this song for this chapter because it's really not the feel I wanted, I just thought those beginning lyrics fit really well.

I'd just like to take a moment to reply to the comments from chapter three that I could not respond to privately

LolPandas: SOOOOO GOOD! Maybe you could have Finn and Octavia have a thing behind Clarke and bellamys backs. Then they find out and clarke is crushed and bellamy beats up Finn?
THANK YOU! I'm not saying what I have planned already but I'll definitely take that into consideration :)

Wright: I really hope she lightens up on Bellamy. He didn't ask for the marriage either. I like how he doesn't dress or act like a Prince.
You and me both, Wright! Sometimes Clarkes stubbornness drives me crazy *sigh* but I love her! And thank you very much, I'm really glad. I wasn't too sure how that was going to go over!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go hack my lungs out and drink 7 billion gallons of water.

Much love,

- Lauren