Chapter 8

After the moment of silence, Abby Griffin explained briefly how the negotiations would proceed. According to the Wood Clan representatives, it was customary to share a meal together to confirm the truce. Sharing food at one table would symbolize equality and unity between the two groups.

After Abby was done, Kane stepped forward and read a list of those that would be attending the meal. Among them were all of the Councilman as well as a few of the higher-ranking guards.

Although Clarke was not shocked that her name had been excluded from the list due to recent circumstances, she grew angry when she realized that none of the 100 had thought to have been included. It was them who had first dealt with the founders, especially Octavia through her connection with Lincoln. And despite what had happened recently, both her and Finn were integral to the truce that was now playing out.

Clarke glanced over at Octavia and Bellamy to find looks of outrage open on their faces. It would have almost been comical to see them restraining from yelling out to Kane, if Clarke herself hadn't been just as furious.

Minutes later, the crowd finally dispersed back to their respective areas of camp. Those that stayed behind were tasked with assembling the Ark's food contribution to the gathering.

Clarke, Bellamy and Octavia also remained, watching as the Chancellor and Council members gave out instructions.

After constant glares from her mother, Clarke began to head back to her tent, exhausted from lack of sleep, and not feeling like putting up a fight to attend the meal. She took her time going back though, weaving in and out between the structures neatly organized around camp. Her mind was mostly blank as kicked up a spot of dirt, sending dust into the air.

Clarke coughed as some of the dust got caught in her throat.

She kept on walking, but no longer was her mind blank. The coughing reminded her of when the 100 had been infected with a virus from the Grounders. Clarke had been infected too, and after almost collapsing Finn had caught her.

In those strong, stable arms of his, when Clarke had thought she was on the brink of death, somehow she had felt safe.

When Finn had taken her back into the dropship, she had tried to convince him to leave camp with the others who were healthy. He had adamantly refused, saying, "If you think that's even a possibility you don't know me very well."

Even when in the midst of death literally surrounding him everywhere, Finn had been focused on Clarke. He had ignored the odds.

When Clarke was faced with the same decision though, she had put the lives of the rest of the 100 above Finn's.

The thought was overwhelming and Clarke sucked in a breath. She had failed Finn when it mattered most.

Suddenly Clarke couldn't wait to get back into her tent. Out of the open, fresh air and back into the darkness. She just wanted to be alone, where she could hold herself on trial and recount all of her mistakes.

She had almost reached her tent when a voice called out, "Clarke, wait!" As Clarke paused and looked over her shoulder, she saw Octavia running towards her. Octavia had barely reached her when she grabbed onto Clarke, and began pulling her back towards the center of camp.

"Octavia, what is it?" Clarke asked, worried.

"You need to be at the Grounder negotiations!" Octavia stated as if it was obvious.

When Clarke heard this she yanked her arm free and stopped. "No Octavia, I'm not supposed to be going."

Octavia looked at Clarke in disbelief. "Since when have you let your mother tell you what to do?" She didn't wait for a response though, continuing. "Anyways, right after you left, Lincoln came out and spoke to the Council. He told them that it would be in their best interest to include some of the 100 at the meal."

"Oh, I bet they didn't appreciate hearing that," Clarke murmured, crossing her arms.

With a laugh Octavia shook her head. "No, they didn't. But he explained that since it was the 100 that had the first contact with the Grounders and had originally asked for the truce, it would be wise to include them." Octavia looked quickly over her shoulder.

Realizing that she had yet to convince the other girl, Octavia turned desperately back to Clarke. "You need to be there. Otherwise the Grounders may not agree to the truce. They see you as one of the main leaders, and if you aren't there at the meal, it would be sort of like you don't approve. At least, that's what Lincoln said." Once again the girl turned and peered over to the center of camp.

Clarke squinted in the same direction and then saw where a tall, dark-skinned man had appeared, standing apart from the rest of the group. Octavia went on, "And you know as well as anyone that we really really need this truce."

Clarke thought about the last time that she was near the Grounders. It had been on the night the Councilman had given them Finn. She felt the words that she had begged for Finn's life with on the tip of her tongue. She suppressed a shudder at the thought of being so close to them again. It wasn't something that she was looking forward to having to do in the future, let alone just a few days after the fact.

But as Octavia looked at Clarke expectantly, Clarke realized that she didn't really have any other choice. She may have failed Finn, and that was something that would haunt her for the rest of her life, but she could still do right by her people.

"Of course," Clarke replied.

Octavia visibly relaxed as Clarke linked her arm with the girl, and together they walked back into the center of camp where Lincoln, Bellamy and the Council were gathered.

When they approached, Octavia slipped from Clarke's arm and slinked over to Lincoln. Although Octavia had only been gone for minutes, they each smiled at the other as if they had been apart for days. Lincoln leaned down and placed a kiss on Octavia's forehead as she beamed up at him.

Clarke noted with some amusement that Bellamy looked upon the whole exchange with simmering disgust. Impressively enough though, he kept his comments to himself. It only made sense really, after Lincoln had saved Octavia's life.

When Abby Griffin noticed that Clarke had returned, she motioned the group over. When they had joined the others, Abby scanned the circle saying," This is no time for games. One wrong move could prove disastrous." When her eyes finally resting on Clarke as she said almost begrudgingly, "And we don't want to lose anyone else to these people."

Finally an update! Sorry for the long delay. Over school break my internet at home basically fritzed out and I was not able to upload a new chapter until now. Thankfully I am back at school though where I am not in the middle of nowhere and my internet is more reliable.

Only a few more days until the first episode of 2015! Who else is excited?

Please favorite, follow and review. Everyone's comments are wonderful and I loved hearing about your favorite pairings. You all are very perceptive in your reactions to what has happened so far (I don't want to give much more than that away though for fear of spoilers). And I promise that there will be more Bellamy/Clarke interactions in the upcoming chapters. It's not practical to have them together in every scene, but when they are together there will certainly be a lot of emotion. Good or Bad? I cannot say...