The morning came sooner than Clarke wanted, but she could not complain for the wonderful sleep she was allowed. The sunrise warmed off the frigid temperatures of the night, but it was still going to remain cold.
Clarke made her way to Ton-DC's medical tent to relieve Nyko.
He turned to greet her entrance, "Sky girl, I trust you slept well?"
She smiled, "I did thank you. Now are you ready for your long needed rest?"
"Actually, I got a little sleep throughout the night. These 'trainees,' as you call them, are catching on quick. Don't be afraid to let them take over for a while."
"As long as they are learning. Perhaps I'll take an early lunch and let them handle everything here. But as for now, you need to go and take a nap."
He bowed his head and didn't stick around any longer.
As for the rest of Clarke's morning, she was busy. She was left to cleaning and rebandaging wounds, medicating the ones in pain, and making sure they weren't catching any infections.
XX
Lexa's morning proved to be a little more hectic.
Lexa, Indra, and Abner, with the Commander's other high ranked generals, all met in the war tent.
They were planning different ways to recapture the village that ambushed the Commander and her men.
Lexa, took the medicine Clarke had given her secretly while no one was looking, and began feeling a bit woozy. The pain from her broken leg didn't linger around, but the impact the drugs had on her made her nervous.
Rather than standing up at the table and arguing inventive ways to flank the village, Lexa sat calmly in her chair, trying to listen to her generals' ideas.
When they decided to take a break because arguments started to disperse around the table, Indra walked over to Lexa who was still quietly sitting there, overlooking plans written down on paper.
Indra looked around the room to make sure everybody had been gone. "Heda?"
Lexa looked up.
"Forgive me for intruding but…are you feeling well?"
Lexa, feeling great from the drugs she was on, tried to answer well enough, "Indra I am fine. Just growing tiresome of the arguments. Perhaps I too need a break and some fresh air. Tell the rest we will reconvene at noon."
Lexa made her way out of the war tent. You would never be able to tell that she had a broken leg. She walked as if she felt 100% fine thanks to the drugs and cast that the blonde had created.
After about five minutes of walking through Ton-DC, she finally made her way down to the medical tent, she stormed right in, knocking into a table with metal bowls and supplies for the injured. As they hit the ground a clamor rang out inside the enclosed space.
Clarke was standing right behind her unnoticed. She went to bend down to clean up the mess but heard Clarke's voice.
The blonde, a little shocked and somewhat amused from the clumsiness, called from behind, "Uhh, Lexa?"
Lexa stumbled around to see who called her name. When she saw it was Clarke she smiled and said, "Hi."
Clarke smirked back, "Hi."
Lexa seeming a bit anxious, "Do you think I can talk to you for a minute?"
Clarke grabbed the commander's hand to lead them to a private area, "This way commander."
XX
When they were finally away from everybody's eye, Clarke sat Lexa down into a chair to get her off of her leg. She bent down in front of her to get a better look at the brunette.
"How are you feeling Lexa?" Now opening her eyes to check for dilation. Clarke noticed they looked glossed over and faded.
Lexa mumbled, "I feel strange." She squirmed back in the chair. "How are you?"
Clarke couldn't help but smile and grab the girl's hand to bring her forward, "I'm good, but I'm going to need you sit up straight and forward okay?"
She felt like she was dealing with a little kid. It entertained her compared to the boring morning she had just dealt with.
Noticing Lexa's slumped physique, the blonde asked, "Lexa are you feeling any pain today in your leg?"
The commander shook her head, "Nope. I feel like I could lead all my troops into battle and sweep across every land!"
Clarke began to touch the area where the bone was broke.
Lexa didn't flinch or move a muscle.
The blonde stood up, pulled a chair over close to where Lexa had been sitting, and sat down next to the commander.
"Alright Commander, you appear to be a little high. You must have taken too much of the medicine I brought you."
Lexa furrowed her brow.
"I hope you don't have anything planned for the next couple hours because I can't see you focusing well, feeling as good as you seem. I should have given you something less effective so you could carry on throughout the day….Oh god if Indra ever knew what I gave you she would have my head."
"Clarke I have a meeting."
The blonde now worried ran her hands down her face, "Lexa…"
The commander went to stand up on her feet and swayed trying to catch her balance. She felt awfully light headed and extremely tired. Clarke grabbed her and sat her back down.
Without saying anything, the blonde just gave her a look that pleaded Lexa to reconsider.
Letting out a deep sigh, "It seems as if you're right. I am in no condition to argue battle plans. If you can accompany me to my tent, I can cancel the meeting, even though we have no more time to waste."
"You want me to come with you?"
"Well surely you don't want me to fall and break my other leg now do you sky girl?" She gave a cunning grin.
Clarke bit her lip, "Of course not commander. Come on."
XX
When they arrived at the commander's tent, Clarke advised Lexa to get some rest and made sure she lied comfortably in her bed of furs.
The medicine made the commander drift off into a deep sleep, for the time being.
Clarke was working diligently on crafting a homemade crutch for Lexa to lean on while her leg was to be healing. She allowed her eyes to travel to the sleeping brunette. This was the most peaceful she had ever seen the fierce leader. Her breath was deep and heavy.
The sight of Lexa allowed Clarke to consider her current time with the grounders. There was so much she wanted to still say, but could not. She didn't want to live her life with a grudge on her back. The weight was too heavy to carry. If she were to continue to reprimand Lexa for all the choices she made, she would have to lecture herself as well.
If anything, Clarke realized Lexa's actions had foreshadowed the difficult choices she would have to make. It prepared her. And now, Lexa was helping her deal with the guilt that followed as a consequence. But, the sleeping commander was oblivious to how much she was helping, even though she felt like she was a burden to the sky princess.
Clarke got lost in the slow descent of Lexa's chest relieving her body of air, and then watching it rise again. It was peaceful.
That moment was to end. And it did.
Indra walked in, "Heda! I was informed you canceled our meeting!"
Lexa didn't move nor did she open her eyes. Clarke stopped what she was doing and placed the almost finished crutch on the floor.
"Indra." Looking for words Clarke didn't know how to handle the situation. She blurted out, "Can I help you with something?"
The fierce warrior woman slowly turned her head to face Clarke and squinted her eyes to seem stern. "I don't need help from anyone, especially one kom Skaikru." She began walking toward the Commanders bed.
Clarke stepped in front of her, "What do you think you're doing?"
"Waking the Commander."
Clarke crossed her arms, "Do you think that is really necessary? Besides aren't you not supposed to question the commander?" The blonde tried to ask with some integrity.
Indra now looked like her blood was boiling but remembered Lexa ordering her to not hurt Clarke. She exposed her teeth like an animal at the blonde and gripped the dagger that was attached to her hip. "You are not my commander. Do not question my intentions or my allegiance."
If Clarke had to come clean, she was a tad fearful of the warrior before her.
Indra looked at the commander and decided to not wake her. Her gaze fell back onto Clarke, "If I find out that you had something to do with heda's decision…." She let the sky girl imagine what would happen.
"Do not be her demise, for that will lead to the destruction of all." Indra turned and stormed out of the tent.
Clarke didn't move. Trying to recover from their encounter she walked over to where the crutch was and picked it up, leaning it on a table.
She thought to herself, "Her demise? I don't want to do be the cause of that. If she falls….they all fall?"
Clarke was taken back but her thoughts were short lived.
"I must admit sky girl, when it comes to Indra you show no sign of fear."
The blonde turned around to see Lexa grinning and her eyes well awake. "I'm glad it looks that way but she is scary up close….I see you're awake." Clarke walked over to the bed and sat on the edge. "Thanks for the help with Indra."
Lexa was now sitting up to eye-level with the blonde. "Help? You held your grown well Clarke."
Clarke shook her head at the praise, "Oh yeah…real well." She looked at the commander, "How are you feeling?"
"I feel like I am no longer flying and finally back on the ground."
Clarke giggled at the commander's figure of speech, "Well that is good news." She now stood up walking over to the crutch she was crafting and brought it over to Lexa. "I don't expect the tough, impenetrable commander to carry this around Ton-DC with her for all to see, but when you are alone, please allow this to give you some support."
She helped Lexa stand up and tucked it underneath her arm to lean on.
The brunette getting used to the steadiness, "Clarke this is a clever contraption. Thank you."
The sky girl nodded, "We used them back on the arc. It will relieve some pressure off your leg. Also..." she pulled another bottle of medicine out of her pocket.
Lexa quickly spoke, "Forgive me Clarke, but I think I should keep away from such powerful medicine."
Clarke grabbed her hand to reassure, "Don't worry Lexa. This isn't as potent and won't cause you to feel all the affects you experienced today. The first vile I gave you the other day should be taken before bed. It will help you sleep through the pain. This," she held the new bottle up, "is so you can manage throughout the day. It won't make you sleepy or feel light-headed."
Lexa hesitated but eventually took the bottle from the girl.
"I can't thank you enough for your help."
They held each other's gaze. Lexa moved closer to kiss the blonde, but Clarke pulled back.
Lexa was confused at the girl's withdrawal.
"Did I do something?" Then Lexa remembered to three months ago, "Oh forgive me, I should not have forgotten that you aren't ready for something such as this."
Clarke now looking for an excuse, "No. It's not that. I'm just tired is all. Plus my mind is elsewhere and I probably should return to the medical tent. I've been here for a while now. If you would excuse me."
Lexa watched as Clarke hurried from her presence. She wondered what had gone wrong.