Rebuilding Ruin

Disclaimer: I don't own the 100 or its characters

Spoilers: All episodes of Season 1 and 2

Clarke sat sharpening her knives when the door to her quarters opened and closed, looking up she saw Lexa standing by the door with her usual stoic face void of all emotions. No sooner had their eyes met did the woman cross the room and take the knives from Clarke's hand and tossed them onto the desk before looking back at her.

"You will stay behind the walls of this camp where you are safe."

Ignoring her, Clarke stood and moved to the desk to pick her knives back up. "You don't command me, we are equals."

"I do not demand it as Heda," Lexa turned Clarke and met her eyes. "I beg as Lexa, stay within the safety of the camp so I do not fear for your life during the battle. We have enough warriors that we can overcome the small army she leads."

"We're in this together Lexa," she stuck a knife in each boot as well as one to her thigh. "That means we go out there together no matter the outcome. Death is part of life, when I die then I die."

Lexa grabbed her arm as Clarke started towards the door. "No, stop. Clarke I beg of you to stay behind the walls. Fight from within, prepare for wounded or whatever task you can find yourself needing to do. Just stay within the walls."

"I can't do that." Clarke turned to look at her. "This is our advantage, Dara expects you to keep me away from her army, she doesn't expect me to fight or know how to wield a weapon properly. She expects me to give orders as she does, using my guns if needed." Placing a hand on Lexa's cheek she gave a soft smile. "She will never expect us to be side by side on the battlefield, she will not expect you to allow the one you hold close to be beside you in the open."

Clarke found her hand jerked away from Lexa's face and the woman moved to the door without a word. The door shut as Clarke heard her start issuing orders, the full orders not heard as the door shut behind her. Lexa's eyes held both anger and sadness, a dangerous combination in the woman so Clarke was aware that she'd be on Lexa's shit-list for a while. Of course, shit-list or not, she was sure that when she arrived outside that Lexa would be waiting for her.

Groaning, the sky leader pulled on her newly tailored coat that had been made in Polis to ward off the winter and grabbed her sword before leaving the room. She was still a novice at best but she was quick and agile like Octavia. So while her skills with a sword were poor she could use her speed to her advantage. Lexa had given her basic instruction, demanding only the best from her so training had been hours on end. She'd been exhausted after the training that had occurred over a stretch of five days, making her fall into bed to pass out every night.

Stepping outside she saw Lexa speaking to Octavia and Lincoln as well as Ryder, several of her men had arrived and by several, in reality it was closer to fifty. How they got past the Ice Nation's camp amazed Clarke but she knew they could if they wanted. All whose eyes she met gave a nod in respect as she moved over to them. Kane was instructing some of the men who had volunteered to fight alongside the small army Lexa commanded, at least fifteen of the delinquents were among them and Clarke gave them a nod.

"Axel, Ryder and Echo will remain with Clarke at all times." Lexa spoke to her men and Axel gave a nod as did Ryder. "Azkru will not touch her, you will protect her and guard her above all others including myself."

"Sha Heda." Ryder spoke loudly and Axel gave his confirmation as did Echo.

Lexa turned to the fifty who stood waiting, "if I fall this day, Skai Prisa commands you until my spirit is found in another. Her word is as mine, remember this and do not question."

Once everyone was briefed of the plan, Clarke watched Lexa accept her sword from one of the men that had been sharpening it. Taking a moment, she moved towards Lexa and caught her arm gently.

"You can't expect me to lead your people."

"Only if my spirit is forced to move on." Lexa met her blue eyes, "I trust no other with my people for they need one as strong and wise as you until my spirit is found."

Clarke shook her head, "I need your spirit to stay where it is."

"I do not plan to die but the gods choose our destiny not ourselves." Lexa touched her arm briefly, "however, knowing you are waiting beyond the battlefield gives me yet another reason to stay alive."

"I'll be beside you in battle as well."

Lexa gave her a stern look, "no you'll be at the back with your guard. The front is bloody and those there quickly die, that is why we put our men on rotation, to allow equal chance of death. You will stay safely beyond the front and beyond the danger of facing the Azkru until they are weakened."

"I can fight."

"I am aware but you will not be forced to." Lexa took a step back, "this is not a negotiation Clarke, you will stay in the back with your guard and Shadow. You must be protected at all times, one day you will understand why even if that day is not today."

Before she could respond in turn, Clarke was forced to watch Lexa walk over to Kane to speak with him. Sighing, she looked down to the wolf that sat beside her and petted her soft fur. The animal gave a soft whine but licked her owner's hand. "Love and war don't go hand in hand, huh girl?"

The trees were still full despite the winter and snow was soft under the feet of their army. Clarke marched with her guards around her and Shadow beside her. Several warriors that walked close by had taken it upon themselves to place her in a protective cage so no outside force could touch her. She walked with men surrounding her from all angles, Echo the only female but the woman was prepared for war and stayed silent.

Suddenly everyone stopped and Clarke watched as the warriors dispersed as did her own people, standing by trees with their weapons aimed. Ryder quickly moved her to a tree and pushed her down, positioning himself in front of her on a crouch with his bow ready. Echo drew her sword and was prepared to attack as were Axel and three others who had matched with them. All prepared to just defend her no matter what happened meters ahead of them. Shadow stayed low to the ground, silent but Clarke knew at one command the dog would attack if she ordered it.

Silence was followed by shouts and Clarke watched as the Azkru warriors attacked with axes and swords, fighting against Trikru warriors. She didn't see Lexa among those fighting but it was difficult to see with all the movement and the warriors falling from lethal wounds. It was only when Axel speak did Clarke turn to see Dara behind them on her horse, she smirked at Clarke and nodded.

"I see the truth now, you are weak girl. You require men to protect you so while you boast of deaths, you lie as well. You cannot handle battle or a weapon beyond a knife, but don't worry." She backed her horse up as Ryder rose, "I will save you for last. Let your beloved Heda see you as you are, weak and a liar."

She rode past them into the fight and jumped off her horse, sword in hand as she sliced through several Trikru warriors. Clarke looked at the three who had stayed to protect her, "go now, you have your orders."

The all nodded and quickly ran into the carnage, slashing at those they could get to. Concentrating on the fighting, Clarke finally saw Lexa pulling her sword from a warrior but her back was turned to Dara. The woman was advancing and watching Lexa's stance told Clarke that Lexa's arm was once again dislocated so she would barely be able to fight if necessary.

Pulling her sword from her back, Clarke left her spot with Shadow running after her. The wolf stayed beside her, not straying as she ducted several swords being wielded and men backing up towards her. She knew her guard was on her heels, probably protesting silently at her stupidity but her concern was Dara's threat towards Lexa. She was using the battlefield to get around an ancient law.

"Shadow, jomp op!" The wolf growled and ran quickly at Dara, throwing herself at the woman so she fell to the ground. Her sword clattered against a branch, causing Lexa to turn suddenly to see the wolf on top of the Azkru Kwin, teeth bared and close to the woman's neck. Clarke put her sword to Dara's throat while waving Shadow back. "You're breaking an ancient law by attacking another leader. Even on the battlefield you can't touch her yet you advance with the intent. Tell me why I shouldn't kill you now?"

The woman smiled, "you hide behind a wolf and men, you are no warrior. Slit my throat if you are truly a warrior, demand my life."

Clarke backed up and held her sword to the side, "no but only because you're demanding it." She looked at the battlefield to see the last of the Azkru warrior surrendering at the sight of their queen on the ground with a sword to her. "Take your warriors and get off my land before I rethink my decision."

Dara stood up and glared into Clarke's eyes, "you are weak, unable to do what is necessary to survive. Even the one before you wouldn't have hesitated to slit my throat as you have."

Clarke looked at the warriors and they turned to her in respect. "Breik em au."

They let the remaining Azkru warriors go and the men followed Dara as she climbed onto her horse, looking down at Lexa as she did with a smirk. "You protect a weakling, one not even worthy to exist on these lands. I am certain in time you will find my words to be true and when you do, I shall know that you are also weak."

Returning to camp was a quiet ordeal, warriors carried their dead comrades so they could burn their bodies and release their spirits. Clarke marched beside Lexa with Shadow on her left side, silence lay between them despite the minor victory they achieved. Upon reaching camp, the dead were laid out side by side while Lincoln and Ryder started preparing the pyre. Lexa retreated to the quarters she shared with Clarke and only spoke when the door shut behind Clarke a good ten minutes later.

"What you did was reckless." Lexa reprimanded as Clarke walked to her.

"Maybe but I still saved your life."

Lexa nodded, "thank you. However, next time you must let me die or at least let her strike me once. To attempt harm to me would raise the clans against her, we would have allies to assist in the war."

Clarke sat down and gently started removing Lexa's armor from around her shoulder and chest in order to assess her injury. "As I said before, I need your spirit to stay where it's at." She ignored Lexa's hisses of pain knowing that the woman would merely ignore her apologies for them. She found that Lexa's shoulder had indeed been dislocated and quickly corrected it, using a long strip of cloth that was normally used for bandages to create a sling. "Same as before, keep it still for the rest of the day."

"The sun rests Clarke so we must as well." Lexa reached down with her good hand and removed her boots before laying back on the bed. "Tomorrow we burn our dead but tonight we must rest."

Sighing, the sky leader removed her own shoes and armor before crawling into bed over Lexa, settling against her. "I know you're angry with me, you can tell me you are if you want."

"You have not angered me." Lexa spoke as her eyes remained shut. "I merely stated that your actions were reckless. I have already learned that if I angered every moment you did something reckless then my anger would not cease." Opening her eyes she turned her head to the side to meet blue orbs. "When I am angered, you will know without the need to question."

Clarke leaned over and kissed Lexa's nose before pulling back with a soft smile. Foregoing her usual spot on Lexa's shoulder due to her arm, she rested her head on the pillow with her eyes shut. Lexa smiled softly as she watched Clarke relax, allowing herself to relish the additional night she had with her kwin. They won a battle and the Azkru Kwin believed Clarke weak, something that they could use to their advantage in the future.

A/N: Well I guess they can agree to disagree on where Clarke should be.

Next: Plans change

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