A/N: Onwards we go. My muse is being stubborn, it seems that she's pretty The 100 focused right now, I'm not sure whether that is a good thing or a bad thing, but I'm going with it. Keep the reviews coming, it really helps from a writing point of view, it lets me know what I'm doing right or wrong, and I really appreciate the feedback. This is the second part of the idea that has been kicking around in my head. We all know Lexa is a cool customer, keeping those emotions locked up so tightly, but I thought it would be interesting to see her losing her cool. This is the result of that. A little heads up, I wrote this while listening to Don't Deserve You by Plumb, that might let you know that this may hurt a little. Read, review and enjoy!
Chapter Five.
In the few hours since she had closed the shutters, Lexa got about 20 minutes sleep. Clarke was having restless dreams, nightmares, at some points she was calling out in her sleep. The Grounder Commander didn't want to wake her, she had been raised to believe that you deal with things in your dreams that you cannot deal with in your waking hours. As much as it troubled her to see Clarke in distress, the other girl would soon settle again.
When Clarke awoke she was alone in Lexa's room, sitting up she heard voices outside the door.
"The unit marching on the Sky people's camp," a man said, "it's the Ice Nation."
"The treaty clearly states that they cannot step foot in our territory." Lexa replied.
"It isn't our territory Hedda," Indra said, "they are approaching from the rear of the camp, the mountain side, after landing from the ocean. They have yet to set foot on our territory. They are not breaking the treaty."
"The Sky people cannot hope to defend themselves against them," Lexa said, Clarke knew she would be frowning, "they will be wiped out…"
"Our alliance was broken with them that night at the mountain," a man said, "We owe them no allegiance."
"We can't just stand by and allow them to be executed." Lexa said, "We have to offer some kind of assistance."
"Why?" Indra asked, "You would risk the lives of your people to save the lives of people who believe you are a savage? Why?"
"Because they would do the same." Lexa replied.
"This isn't you talking Hedda," the man said, "you are not thinking clearly."
"Your judgement is being clouded," Indra said, "having her here is stopping you from thinking this through properly."
"There's nothing to think through," Lexa replied, "I will take a small force, 200 warriors. If you disagree with me, or if you think my judgement is flawed, then challenge me."
Clarke chose that moment to walk outside.
"When do we leave?" she asked standing off to Lexa's side.
"Two hours," the Commander replied, "that's the minimum time needed to get a unit ready for war."
"Hedda…" Indra said.
Lexa slowly raised her eyes and looked at Indra, her eyes were cold, her jaw clenched. It was like she was testing Indra, daring her to say one more word.
"I'll go and tell the warriors." Indra said, lowering her eyes and walking away.
Lexa watched her walk away before shaking her head a little and going back inside, Clarke followed behind her.
"Why are the Ice Nation attacking them?" Clarke asked as she watched Lexa testing the sharpness of her blades, "We have done nothing to them."
"They don't care," Lexa replied, not looking up from her task at hand, "they like to try and assert their dominance on people. They tried with us, before realising that it just wasn't going to be as easy as they thought, because we fought back… they tried to break us, to break me…"
"Costia…" Clarke said.
Lexa furrowed her brow a little, tears starting to burn her eyes as her mind took her back.
"I didn't go after her…" Lexa said, "My general's convinced me that it wouldn't be a good thing for our people… risking all those lives to save one…"
"Lexa…" Clarke said softly.
"They tortured her, for days…" Lexa continued, "At the really quiet moments I could hear her screams as they carried on the wind… and still I did nothing… I let her die Clarke, because it was the best thing for my people…"
"You signed a treaty with them…" Clarke said.
"Which kept my people alive." Lexa replied, shaking her head a little.
Clarke watched as Lexa rebuilt the walls around her emotions.
"When you're at war, you have to make decisions that you don't like," Lexa said, "things that maybe you would choose to do differently at a later point, but at the time it's exactly what you have to do. As a leader those choices are mine, and mine alone. I am the one who didn't go after Costia, I am the one who signed a treaty with the woman who killed her… I am the one who walked away from you on the mountain that night. I did what I had to do to protect my people."
"Yet you're now willing to risk your people to save people who are of no concern to you." Clarke challenged.
"Like I said, at a later point we tend to reconsider our decisions," Lexa said, finally looking at Clarke, "and hope to one day have the chance to rectify mistakes. That day has come. Your people believe I am a traitor, they don't understand our ways, but it is what has kept us alive. Once the Ice Nation wipe out your people, they will come here. I cannot allow an attack that close to the borders of our territory."
x-x-x
Two hours later the unit of warriors was ready, Clarke was standing by the gates watching as Lexa walked out of her room, all the warriors looked up at her.
"The Ice Nation are on the move, they are getting closer to our borders," Lexa said, loud enough for them all to hear her, "some of you will remember the last time they crossed into our territory, you will remember what they took from us. I will not allow that to happen again."
A loud cheer rang out through the amassed warriors.
"Our territory begins at the base of the small hill on which the Sky people's camp is built," Lexa continued, "We cannot allow a hostile force to take that position. Anyone who refuses to defend the Sky people can stay behind. The rest of you, we fight!"
Another loud roar rang out. Clarke was surprised to see that no one had chosen to stay behind. Three horses were brought to the front of the group, she knew that one was Lexa's horse, she assumed that two other general's would ride next to her. She watched as Indra climbed onto one of the horses and she recognised the other, it had been the one she had rode into the capital on. As Lexa climbed onto her horse she looked at Clarke.
"We fight." She said as she motioned to the horse.
Clarke climbed aboard the horse and they all started the march to the Sky people's camp.
x-x-x
It was late evening when Octavia ran into the bar area and over to Bellamy.
"The Grounders are here." She said.
"How many?" he asked.
"About 200…" Octavia replied, "Abby has already been told, figured I should let you know too."
"Did you say that 200 Grounders are here?" Raven asked, walking over to the table.
"In full battle gear." Octavia replied with a nod, "and with a new addition."
"Clarke…" Raven said.
Bellamy and Raven both walked away from the bar and towards the gate. Abby and the guard were already there.
"Attack?" Bellamy asked.
"I don't think so," Abby replied, "Clarke wouldn't be here if they were attacking us."
They watched as Lexa, Indra and Clarke walked the horses slowly up the hill to the gate, the army waiting part way down.
"Your people are at risk." Lexa said as they stopped the horses in front of the gates.
"Our people are safe." Abby said.
"For now," Lexa replied, "but your fences will not keep them out."
"Who?" Abby asked.
"The Ice Nation," Lexa said, "they are marching toward your location as we speak, once they get here they will attack and they will kill each and everyone one of you."
"You came here with 200 warriors to tell us we're going to die?" Bellamy asked, looking between Lexa and Clarke.
"They are here to help." Clarke replied.
"Why should we trust them," Bellamy said, "the last time we did that it didn't turn out too well for us, unless you've forgotten?"
"I haven't forgotten," Clarke replied, "but you need to trust them this time… if you can't trust them, trust me."
"Open the gate." Abby said.
x-x-x
Raven watched as Clarke stood at Lexa's left hand side while the Grounder Commander explained to Abby what had happened the last time they had fought against the Ice Nation. She saw pain in the blonde's eyes. It was a different type of pain to that which had been there the last time Raven had seen her. This was the pain of knowing, of having already heard the tale from Lexa.
"I will position watch posts on the mountain above the camp," Lexa said, "we will see them coming."
"Then what?" Bellamy asked, "if they're as terrifying as you claim then why would your people be willing to die to protect this camp? Why are you willing to allow them to die to protect us, we aren't your people, you made that perfectly clear on the mountain when you walked away, leaving our people behind."
"Bellamy…" Clarke said.
"What he says is fair," Lexa interrupted, "I did walk away, because I had to protect my people. I am here to protect my people. If they take this position they will have a strategic advantage on us. This is an excellent viewpoint… I need you to survive…"
She glanced to her left a little, an action that Raven noticed.
"All of you." The Commander finished.
"I will put everyone on alert," Abby said, "those who can fight will be ready to fight."
Lexa nodded her head a little.
"Where will your warriors be staying?" Abby asked.
"We're going to set up tents just inside the fence," Clarke said, explaining to her mother what she and Lexa had discussed as they made their way to the camp, "a large part of the unit, around 150 warriors, will be staying in these tents, the rest will set up their tents just outside the gate."
"We have the space for them to stay inside with the rest of us." Abby said.
"That is a kind offer," Lexa said, "but I know that we'll be more comfortable in the tents, it will remind us that we are here to fight."
"Clarke," Abby said, "will you be staying in your room?"
"No," Clarke replied, stealing a glance towards the Grounder Commander, "I'll be staying with Lexa."