This chapter contains quotes from episode 2x07 Long into an Abyss, written by James Thorpe.
Chapter 20
Lexa waited for the Skaikru representative. They had sent word that they had an offer for her. She couldn't imagine what they could possibly say, but she would hear them out. She heard a commotion outside and knew they must have arrived. She overheard Gustus addressing their leader. "If you so much as look at her the wrong way, I will slit your throat," he said. Lexa smiled to herself. She imagined whoever was outside was already scared even before Gustus and his threats. When they saw her, things wouldn't be any easier. Lexa was in her full commander regalia, complete with her warpaint. She looked intimidating, and she knew it.
Gustus opened the tent and ushered the Skaikru representative in. Lexa couldn't believe it. Clarke! The girl from her dreams. I can't believe it, Lexa thought, she's real. And she's beautiful. Lexa was full of questions, of swirling emotions, but she portrayed herself as someone completely unmoved by anything, devoid of emotions. Clarke looked scared. Indra studied her, accusingly. Clarke's eyes darted around the room, not seeing a friendly face among them. Lexa was sitting on her throne, absentmindedly playing with the knife Anya had given her.
"You're the one," she began, "who burned 300 of my warriors alive." She only looked up at Clarke on the last word. Despite her personal interest in the sky girl, she would play her part as Commander.
"You're the one who sent them there to kill us," Clarke simply replied. Impressive, Lexa thought. She's bold.
Lexa looked up at her and stuck her knife into the arm of her throne, twisting it, studying Clarke. "Do you have answer for me, Clarke of the Sky People?"
Clarke was sufficiently intimidated by Commander Lexa, but at the same time, she felt that they could understand one another. She felt she could reason with her, trust her even. She couldn't explain it, but she felt emboldened.
"I've come to make you an offer-"
"This is not a negotiation," Lexa said firmly.
"Let me kill her and get this over with," Indra interjected.
Lexa raise her left hand and Indra was silent. Clarke wished Indra wasn't there; she was not an ally. But she was encouraged that Lexa wanted to hear her out.
"I can help you beat the Mountain Men," Clarke said. She clearly had Lexa's full attention now. Lexa moved her knife to her lap.
"Go on," Lexa prompted. Nothing she said or did betrayed the hope she felt rising up in her. I want to trust her, Lexa thought, and that terrified her.
Clarke's voice became more confident. She was getting somewhere with the commander. "Hundreds of your people are trapped inside Mount Weather, kept in cages. Their blood is used as medicine."
"How do you know this?"
"Because I saw them. My people are prisoners there, too. I was one of them."
"Lies," Indra said. Clarke cut her eyes at Indra, annoyed. "No one escapes the mountain," Indra said.
"I did," Clarke said to Indra. Then she turned to Lexa, "With Anya." Lexa narrowed her eyes at Clarke. "We fought our way out together." Clarke knew this would help her connect with the commander. Lexa already knew that Clarke spoke the truth. It was all real, she thought.
"Another lie," Indra accused. "Anya died in the fire. You killed her." Clarke, once again, really wished that Indra wasn't there.
Clarke reached for something in her pocket. Gustus reached for his sword. Indra and Lexa tilted their heads, watching Clarke with interest. She pulled out a braid. Lexa knew before Clarke said anything that it was Anya's.
"She told me you were her second," Clarke said. "I'm sure she'd want you to have this." Clarke approached Lexa, cutting her eyes at Gustus to make sure he wasn't going to attack her. Lexa reached out and took the braid from Clarke. She held it in between her thumb and fore finger, looking down at it, lost in emotion for the briefest of seconds. Anya is dead. My mentor. My friend. She felt grief begin to bubble up, but now was not the time to grieve. She would not show any weakness. Anya must have trusted Clarke on some level. I wish she was here.
"We don't know it's her's," Indra said.
"Quiet Indra," Lexa said sharply. "Anya was my mentor," she said to Clarke, "before I was called to lead my people." Clarke gave a small nod in understanding, in sympathy. Lexa carefully placed Anya's braid on the arm of her throne. She touched it one last time and looked at it as she asked Clarke, "Did she die well?"
"Yes. By my side." Lexa's gaze snapped back to Clarke. "Trying to get a message to you."
"What message?"
Clarke continued, "The only way to save both our people is if we join together."
Indra said, "Those who are about to die will say anything."
"I'm still waiting for an offer, Clarke," Lexa said. She wanted to believe Clarke, but she needed something tangible or her people would not support an alliance with Skaikru.
"The Mountain Men are turning your people into reapers. I can turn them back." Here it is, Lexa thought.
"Impossible!" Indra said. "Commander, I bet you let me kill her."
"I've done it!" Clarke said quickly. "With Lincoln." Clarke was afraid she was losing control of the situation, losing the commander. And she needed her.
"That traitor is the reason that village was slaughtered by your people," Indra said moving towards Clarke as if to strike her down.
"Indra! Enough!" Lexa stood up, displeased with Indra. Indra moved away from Clarke as Lexa walked towards her, her mere presence offering Clarke protection. She stood directly in front of Clarke now, trying not to be distracted by finally seeing this girl in person. She took her in, sizing her up. Her eyes are so blue, like the sky she came from. Lexa felt like Clarke could see into her soul; it was unnerving, so she hardened her gaze. Clarke met her steely gaze, feeling a connection to this strange grounder leader that she couldn't explain. She's not scared of me, Lexa thought, at least not as scared as she should be. Curious. "You say you can turn reapers back into men?"
Clarke nodded. "Yes."
"Then prove it," Lexa spat. "Show me Lincoln." Please say it's true, Lexa thought, I don't want to kill you.
Clarke led Lexa to the location where they were holding Lincoln—their drop ship. Although it almost didn't work, Lexa watched them bring Lincoln back to life before her very eyes. Both Lexa and Clarke were visibly relieved by the positive outcome. Lexa realized that she wanted an alliance with the Sky People, not just because it could be beneficial to her coalition but because she wanted to spend more time with Clarke.
Now Lexa and Clarke were back in Lexa's tent. They were alone together for the first time. Both of them were less tense without Indra and Lexa's guards surrounding them. Lexa felt lighter just being around Clarke.
"Lincoln's recovery was… impressive," Lexa said, giving a slight smile. "No one's ever survived such a fate before." She felt hopeful, excited even about what this meant for her people, for her.
"It's not complicated really," Clarke said, "We just have to keep them alive long enough for the drug to leave their system. I know we can do the same for others," she said with conviction.
Lexa could not take her eyes off Clarke. "You may have your truce," she said.
Clarke breathed a visible sigh of relief. "Thank you," she said. She was so relieved she had found favor with the commander, even if she wasn't entirely sure what she had done to deserve it.
"I just need one thing in return."
"Tell me," Clarke said, eyes hopeful.
Lexa said, "Deliver me the one you call Finn. Our truce begins with his death." I will save your people, but I must also satisfy mine, Lexa thought.
And so their truce began. Lexa was at war with herself, with her weakness, but she already knew what the outcome would be. She already knew that Clarke was going to tear down her carefully constructed walls, piece by piece. Clarke is going to ruin me, Lexa thought. She may save me or be the death of me, maybe even both, but either way, I know I'm going let her.
Lexa never told anyone about her dreams, not even Clarke. But she loved Clarke from the first moment she saw her until her dying breath. And, eventually, Clarke loved her back.
