A/N: That last part was a little emotional, I don't think this part is going to be any better. I have a couple of ideas about how this will end, there will only be another few parts, and the ending I have in mind is going to hurt like heck. Anyway, I hope you're all enjoying reading this, it has been a lot of fun to write. Read, review and enjoy.

Chapter Twelve

The rain hadn't stopped pouring as Kassius lead the group through the forest, tracking Lexa and the army. Clarke wanted to get to the Grounder camp as soon as they could, she had a few choice words to say to the Commander, and the longer it took to get there, the angrier those words became. Hidden at the back of her mind was the thought that if they didn't get there fast enough she may never get to say those words to Lexa. She kept pushing that thought back by reminding herself that Lexa was too stubborn to die. But she always feared that day would come, and whenever it did come it would be too soon. Clarke had only just started to feel like she could live in the world she found herself in, Lexa was her unexpected safety net, and she wasn't ready to try it without her. She had wanted to hate Lexa when she walked away on Mount Weather, she wanted to curse the day she met her, but she couldn't. The more she thought about it, the more she realised that as much pain as she had been through in such a short time, was nothing compared to the pain Lexa must have been through in her life.

Kassius found a small clearing where they could eat. As Bellamy made a start on building a fire Clarke found herself getting lost in her thoughts again. Kassius could tell that the blonde girl was deep in thought, but he knew she was troubled by those thoughts so as he approached her he did so more loudly than he usually would, not wanting to startle her.

"Heda is not going to be happy about this." He said, sitting next to her on the log she was sat on, and holding his canteen towards her.

As she reached out and took it she smiled at him a little.

"What will she do to you?" Clarke asked, "I mean, from what I remember, people breaking orders aren't exactly high on the list of things Lexa approves of…"

"I do not know what will happen," Kassius said, looking into the small flames which were now growing from Bellamy's fire.

"Will she kill you?" The blonde asked.

"Possibly," he replied, nodding his head slightly, "no matter how right she knows I am…"

"You were outside the door when I was in Polis…" Clarke said, handing back his canteen, "Lincoln said you're one of her most trusted advisors, why would you do this?"

"Because sometimes what is right for everyone else, is not right for Heda." He said, "We ask so much of her… we ask that she protect us, keep us safe. That she fights for us. She isn't much more than a child, yet the weight of responsibility she bears, without once thinking of herself… a fully grown man would struggle with it."

"It sounds like you've known her for a long time." Clarke said quietly.

Kassius nodded his head slightly.

"Me and my brother," he said, "we were there the day she became the leader of our people, but we were also there in the days before. It has been an honour to witness her growing into the leader that she has become."

"Would I have met your brother?" the blonde asked, finding herself enjoying the conversation, it wasn't often that she met a Grounder who actually wanted to talk to her.

"Yes," Kassius replied, "Gustus… he was my brother."

"Oh…" Clarke said, as her mouth suddenly started to go dry, "I…"

"Gustus chose his path," Kassius said, feeling the young girl next to him tense up, "it was his duty to protect Heda, and that is what he believed that he was doing. I do not blame you, Clarke of the Sky people. The fate of both our people rested on that alliance, Gustus just couldn't see it."

"He was trying to protect Lexa." Clarke said with a little shrug, "I may have done the same…"

"And she is trying to protect you." Kassius replied, "Yet you are pushing against it."

"I know that she views us as children," Clarke said with a laugh, "stumbling around the forests without a clue what we're doing… but we do have to live here as well, and I know that will be a lot easier, for everyone, with Lexa around."

"I wasn't referring to your people," Kassius said, giving Clarke a knowing look, "you, Clarke, you're pushing against it."

"How can I ever be her equal if I'm always relying on her to protect me?" she asked in reply.

"I believe you once saved her life," Kassius said, "instead of simply saving yourself from the Pauna, you saved her, risking both of your lives. Why?"

"Honestly," Clarke said, "partly because I needed her, my people needed her. If I left her to die, the alliance would collapse… your people would probably have thought I did it on purpose and they'd kill us all…"

"What is the other part of the reason?" Kassius asked.

Just before Clarke could answer, Bellamy stood up.

"Food is ready," Bellamy said from the fire, "it's probably not what you're used to Kassius."

"I'm sure it will be satisfactory." Kassius replied.

They sat there eating in silence, everyone but Clarke.

"You need to eat." Kassius said, holding his food out to her.

"I'm not hungry," Clarke replied with a smile, "and is it really that bad that you want to give it away?"

"It is… different," Kassius said, looking at his food, "the use of herbs and leaves is…interesting."

"Cooking never was Bellamy's strong point." Octavia said with a laugh as she ate her food.

"I get it, I can't cook." Bellamy said jokingly.

"Remind me to get you some food in Polis," Kassius said, "if any of us make it back…"

"I know it's bad, but I think we'll survive the food." Clarke said with a little smile, "he hasn't killed anyone with that yet, I think we're safe."

Kassius smiled a little as Clarke picked up a piece of fish from the leave he was eating off, popping it into her mouth with a smile.

"Happy?" she said.

"It's a start." He replied.

The rain started to fall harder again, Clarke looked up at the skies above them.

"Think that is going to let up any time soon?" she asked.

"A few hours, maybe," he said, following her eyes up to the sky, "we should hopefully be at the camp before it stops."

"Getting there before it stops is a good thing?" Octavia asked.

"The rain will have stopped today's march," Kassius explained, "it is not wise to march through adverse weather conditions before a battle, it drains energy. Heda would have kept them at the camp, she can afford a little time."

"You don't think that the Ice Nation will march on the camp?" Bellamy asked.

"It is not likely," the Grounder replied, "they would much prefer to meet Heda's army somewhere in the middle ground. They will be safe there for a day or two if they have to stay."

"We need to be moving soon…" Clarke said, "The sooner we get there, the better."

"And what are you going to say when we get there Clarke?" Lincoln asked, finally speaking up after remaining quiet for most of the day, "hi, mind if we crash the party?"

"I haven't thought that far ahead." Clarke replied quietly.

"We could always apologise for being late…" Octavia said with a small smile, "try appealing to the Commander's sense of humour… oh, no wait…"

Clarke couldn't stop the laugh escaping her, Lexa wasn't known for her sense of humour, but Clarke knew there was a good one in there somewhere, if she just had enough chance to relax and let it out.

"Seriously though, I don't think it's going to matter too much what you say," Octavia continued, "she's still going to be really pissed…"

"Yeah…" Clarke replied with a slight nod, "that she will be."

"And that's going to be nothing compared to what she'll do to you Kassius," Lincoln said, "You risked a lot to get us."

"How about if he just gets us close enough…" Clarke said, "Not lead us to the camp, but get us close enough so we can get there alone, that way Lexa won't know…"

"She already knows." Kassius replied with a small smile, "I think she knew before she departed Polis."

"And she will have a little more respect for him if he sees this through," Lincoln said to Clarke, "it may not save his life, but it may get him a quick death."

"I'll see if I can talk some sense into her…" Clarke said, "Maybe that might help…"

Octavia shook her head a little.

"What?" Clarke asked.

"When are you going to realise that you can't save everyone, Princess." she said.

"That isn't going to stop me trying…" Clarke replied, looking down at the forest floor.

x-x-x

Lexa was sitting in her tent running through different strategies in her head, she hated the rain, it put a stop to everything. But it also brought new life. That thought was refreshing to the young warrior. It didn't matter how she played it through in her head, she was doubting they could win this war. They would be out numbered, and if by some twist of fate they did make it to the main Ice Nation camp, Lexa knew they would've set traps. Her generals all believed they could win this fight, as far as they were concerned it had been a long time coming, both sides being at war for as long as anyone could remember. She would never let on to anyone about her doubts, it was up to her to make them believe they could win. But on the flip side it was also her duty to protect them, and marching them into a war that she doubted they could win was going against everything that she had sworn to protect.

Her choices became crystal clear in that moment, it hit her like it was the most obvious thing in the world. At that moment she knew how she could protect her people, do her duty, and keep as many of them safe as she possibly could. It's something that had briefly crossed her mind when the Ice Nation had killed Costia.

While she was setting her plan into motion she heard voices outside her tent, stopping what she was doing she quietly walked over to the entrance, standing off to one side so she didn't catch any shadows, she listened.

"What is it?" she heard Indra ask.

"Scouting party are reporting a small group in the forest," a male voice replied, "Kassius, and the Sky people. They are a matter of hours from here."

"Stop them." Indra said.

"How?" he asked.

"Turn them back, they cannot reach here before we move out." Indra said, Lexa knew that her eyes would be narrowed as she considered the consequences of what she was about to do.

"What will you tell Heda?" the man asked.

"If you do what I am telling you to do, she will not need to know." Indra replied quietly.

Lexa moved back the flaps on her tent and walked outside. She recognised the man Indra was talking to, he was one of her men from Tondc. Lexa looked at him as his wide eyes focused on her.

"Take your men and escort them in." she said calmly.

He nodded his head and took off running down the hill.

"Indra," Lexa said looking at her, all emotion hidden from her features, "a word…"

Lexa walked back into her tent, Indra following her. The older woman stopping just inside the door as Lexa began walking back and forth in front of her.

"Explain to me what just happened," Lexa said, keeping her eyes trained ahead of her as she spoke, not looking at Indra, "to me, it sounded like you were about to withhold information from me."

"I…" Indra started to say, stopping as Lexa lifted her hand to quiet her.

"It leaves me thinking how much other information you have kept from me…" Lexa said, stopping directly in front of the older woman, her eyes devoid of all emotion.

"Nothing." Indra replied unflinching as she looked into the eyes of her commander.

"Why now?" Lexa asked, "Do you doubt me, Indra? Are you questioning my ability to lead my people?"

"No," she replied, again her eyes letting Lexa know she was being truthful, "I was simply trying to… remove a little of the pressure you find yourself under. Last night…"

"Was a moment of weakness we agreed to never talk about again." Lexa said, her anger slowly bubbling up from within her.

Indra didn't reply, she just nodded her head a little, a sign of respect, while also being an apology.

"You are one of the people I trust with my life Indra," Lexa said, turning away from the woman as she started pacing again, "If we're going to win this battle I need to know that I can keep trusting you. If I didn't need your skills to win this…"

Indra knew what Lexa was implying, and she fully expected it.

"Anymore scout reports come back, I want them to report directly to me," Lexa said, "is that understood."

"Yes, Heda." Indra replied.

Lexa waved her hand a little, telling the woman to leave. As soon as she did Lexa looked up at the ceiling of her tent, trying to settle both her heart and her mind. Clarke was nearby, that would add an extra challenge for the completion of the plan she was putting in motion.

x-x-x

As they were about to start out again to the Grounder camp, Clarke heard the sound of horses around her. Looking through the trees she saw 10 Grounders all on horseback, all armed, and all looking at her.

"Well I guess that takes out the element of surprise…" Octavia said as she climbed onto her horse.

"I told you we should have moved sooner." Clarke replied quietly.

"It wouldn't have mattered." Kassius said, causing Clarke to look at him as he handed over his sword to one of the Grounders, followed by every other weapon he was carrying.

It always surprised Clarke that Grounder clothes had so many places to hold weapons. She remembered the amusement she felt when she had first seen Lexa removing the weapons she was carrying one night when she was in her tent. There were knives and daggers in places that she had never considered.

"What are you doing?" Clarke asked.

"They see him as a Natrona," Lincoln said to her, "he has betrayed the Commander by bringing us here."

"A what?" Bellamy asked.

"A traitor," Clarke said, translating for him, "and the only punishment for being a traitor is…"

"Death." Octavia replied quietly, her eyes settling on Kassius.

"Do not fear death, my young Grounder friend," he said to her, "death is not the end."

Octavia simply straightened up a little and gave him a nod. It made Clarke see how far Octavia had come, it also made her oddly proud to see a Grounder refer to her as one of them. Clarke remembered hearing those very words from Lexa, when they were trapped, the day she had chosen to save Lexa's life. Kassius looked at her.

"I knew what I was doing," he said, "I knew the punishment if I were caught. I do not regret it."

She nodded a little.

"Let's get this over with." She said, looking at the Grounders who were obviously there to take them to Lexa.

x-x-x

Lexa, now in full battle gear sat in her chair as two of her guard marched in 10 of the Sky people, they had been caught out in the forest heading for the camp. Lexa assumed that Clarke didn't know they were out there. Lexa sent her guard out, leaving herself alone with them, a show of trust on her part. She knew that at least one of the people in front of her wanted her to suffer a slow and painful death, and she wanted them to know that she didn't fear that, and they had nothing to fear from her.

"What are you doing here?" she asked them.

Nobody said anything, they just looked amongst each other.

"Were you suddenly all struck down with some disease that leaves you mute as well as one that removes your brains?" she asked.

"We're here for Clarke." Jasper said, not looking at the commander.

The significance of Jasper being the one to answer her, and what his answer was, was not lost on Lexa. She had to fight to stop the small smile showing on her lips.

"Clarke isn't here." She replied, "yet. I sent out a scout team to find them. None of you should be here, this isn't your war."

"Yes it is." Jasper said, "They kidnapped Clarke, she is one of us, not one of you."

"That may have been the initial act which started this," Lexa said to him as she stood up and walked down towards them, "but I am the one who killed their queen. If Clarke had done as she was told and remained with you, her people, then you would all be safe. I didn't keep this from her out of spite, or as another act of betrayal for you to hold against me. I did this to protect her, and your people."

Nobody said a word, though Jasper did take a small step backwards, an act that was not missed by Lexa.

"You may not trust me," she said, talking to him, "and you have every reason not to, but please believe me when I say I didn't do this for myself, Jasper of the Sky people. I will have someone get you some food and something to drink while you wait for Clarke."

The rest of them took this as a dismissal and turned to leave. Jasper, however, didn't. He stood there, eyes fixed on Lexa.

"Do you care about her?" he asked, anger written all over his face.

Lexa knew the look in his eyes, it was one that she and Clarke both shared with him. The look of losing someone important to you.

"Why is that important to you Jasper?" Lexa asked, straightening up as she turned to face him once more.

"Because it is," Jasper said, "answer the question."

"Watch your tone." Indra said from the doorway, she had assumed that Lexa was alone as the Sky people walked out.

"Shof op, Indra…" Lexa said as she looked at the other woman, "this doesn't concern you."

With a grumble Indra turned around and left the tent again.

"Why is it important to you Jasper?" Lexa asked again.

"I need…" he started to say, closing his eyes as he looked down at the floor, "I need to know that you're fighting for something that is worth fighting for, not simply because you're a Grounder and murder and death is your thing."

Lexa found herself smiling a little, Jasper was a contradiction. He had a hatred for her and for Clarke, he blamed her for walking away from the mountain and betraying them, and he hated Clarke for pulling the lever and killing Mya. Yet there he was, asking her if she cared about Clarke because she was worth fighting for.

Honestly would leave her in a vulnerable position, but lying would dismiss Jasper's opinion as if it was unimportant. Weighing up her choices she took a step toward Jasper.

"I care about her Jasper…" she said quietly.

"Now you're going to tell me if I tell anyone you'll kill me, right?" he asked.

Lexa couldn't stop the laugh that escaped her.

"No," she said, suddenly turning her features slightly more serious, while keeping the joking look in her eyes, "I'd just cut out your tongue, add it to my collection."

Jasper was in two minds about whether Lexa was joking or not about the tongue collection.

"Do you really have a…" he started to ask.

"No." Lexa interrupted, shaking her head and laughing a little.

x-x-x

Being marched up the hill to Lexa's tent wasn't the way Clarke had wanted to enter the Grounder camp. She could feel people looking at her, though at that moment she figured they were probably looking at Kassius as well. She saw Jasper, Monty and a few others standing off to the side of one of the tents placed near Lexa's. Jasper raised his hand slowly as she looked at them and Clarke walked over to them, closely followed by Octavia and Bellamy.

"What are you doing here?" Clarke asked as hugs were exchanged.

"You really thought we'd let you do this without us?" Monty asked with a smile, "and I knew our way would make better time than yours."

"My mother just let you leave?" Clarke said, suddenly finding herself full of questions.

"Not as such, no." Monty replied, "Well not until Raven told her a few home truths that she didn't like too much…"

"Clarke…" Lincoln said, motioning to Lexa's tent, "the Commander is waiting."

The blonde looked in the direction of the tent, and just like Lincoln had said, Lexa was indeed waiting. Her stance reminding her of the night she had watched Clarke put a knife through Finn's heart.

"She's really pissed…" Octavia said quietly.

"Just listen to what she has to say…" Jasper said.

"Have you strayed over to the Dark Side?" Bellamy asked, nudging him playfully.

"Just…" he said looking at Clarke, "really listen to her."

Clarke took a deep breath, letting it out slowly she walked back to the group who were leading them to Lexa.

"We need to talk." Clarke said to her as she stopped in front of her.

Lexa's expression didn't change as she looked from Clarke to one of the Grounders who were with them.

"Sis em op." she said, motioning to Kassius.

"What does that mean?" Bellamy asked as Kassius stood still, not fighting as two Grounders took his arms.

"Lexa, no." Clarke said.

"Commander." Octavia said, "You don't have to do this."

Lexa looked at Octavia, who suddenly fell quiet, before the commander then looked at Clarke.

"He will not be harmed." She said, "You have my word."

"He did nothing wrong." Bellamy said to her.

"Actually," Lexa said, turning her cold gaze to him, "he did. His orders were to stay in Polis, to protect the people there. He defied that, instead taking it upon himself to leave the city and bring you here. Not only did he ignore my orders once, it was three times. So I am going to have to disagree with you on that Bellamy."

"You live by some fucked up rules Commander." He replied.

"They are rules that have kept us alive." Lexa said.

"He has betrayed you, yet you promise me he won't be harmed," Clarke said, getting Lexa's attention back on her before Bellamy said something that they would all regret, "I've seen what happens to people who betray you Lexa."

"Take him into my tent." Lexa said to the Grounders, as if that was enough to still Clarke's mind, but knowing it wouldn't be, "you can see him after I have spoken with him, if that would appease your mind."

Clarke looked at Kassius and then back to Lexa.

"Yes." She said.

Lexa nodded a little before turning and walking into her tent, the two Grounders who had hold of Kassius's arms lead him in behind her.

"Now what?" Octavia asked.

"Now we wait." Clarke replied, her eyes fixed on the entrance to Lexa's tent.

"I would have thought she'd be more interested in talking to you first," Bellamy said, "I mean she did send 10 armed men to ensure we got here…"

"At times like this the Commander has to be seen to put Grounder business before anything else," Lincoln said, "It would be seen as a weakness if she had talked to Clarke first."

"So now we just, what, wait around for this to be done before she talks to Clarke?" Bellamy asked, "How long will it take?"

"It takes as long as it takes." Clarke said, sitting down on one of the benches that were near Lexa's tent.

x-x-x

Lexa stood looking at Kassius as he knelt before her, the two Grounders who brought him in still standing by the door awaiting her command.

"Leave." She said to them, not taking her eyes off Kassius.

They did as she asked, Lexa waited until they were gone before she released the deep breath that she had been holding.

"Heda…" Kassius said.

"Don't…" Lexa replied, "First Gustus, and now you?"

"I did it because I believed it was the right thing to do," Kassius said, looking up at Lexa, "forgive me for speaking out of place Heda, but I believe that Indra was wrong to label the Sky girl as a weakness for you. I think you are stronger with her here. If my punishment for following my beliefs is death, then I am ready for that punishment. Death is not the end."

Lexa's frustration built to the point where she actually let out a little growl as she turned away from the man kneeling in front of her.

"I can't have her here Kassius," she said, looking up at the ceiling and fighting the tears that were burning her eyes, "it isn't safe here… I'm not safe…"

Kassius slowly stood up, he knew that he was overstepping the boundaries that changed between them when Lexa became leader, but the girl in front of him now was not the leader that most of the planet feared, she wasn't the leader who had done what no other Grounder Commander had done in their history and united the 12 clans. She was the girl he and Gustus had watched grow from a small child, playing around in the mud with her wooden sword, the girl they had witness go through the worst pain imaginable when she held her army back after the Ice Nation took Costia.

He walked over to her and softly rested his hand on her shoulder.

"I need you to do something for me…" Lexa said, placing her hand over his.

"Anything Lexa," he said, using her name for the first time in a long time.

"You're not going to like it," she said, looking over her shoulder at him, "but I need you to trust me."

He nodded slightly.

"I need you to take a message to the Ice Nation camp," she said, "informing them of my decision to surrender myself if they guarantee a safe retreat for my people with no further attacks on them, or the Sky people."

"They will kill you." Kassius said.

"I can't protect my people any other way Kassius," she said, "I have to do this."

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

a/n: please don't kill me.