Rebuilding Ruin

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

Spoilers: All episodes of Season 1 and 2

Clarke found herself in the Council's meeting room with Bellamy, Echo, Tov and Luna as well as her mother and Kane. Echo sat in a chair with Bellamy beside her silently trying to work through everything not being said. Clarke tried her best to defer to her own judgment of Echo and the woman's non-violent actions as she asked her questions about why she was at the camp when her people were declaring war.

"I did not mean to deceive you." Echo stated before looking to Bellamy but the usually affection husband was silent, merely looking at the table or ahead. Not getting her husband's attention, Echo looked back at Clarke. "I merely decided to choose my battles wisely and after my capture by the mountain and subsequent rescue I did not find myself belonging in my home anymore."

The sky leader was silent before nodding, "what do you mean you didn't feel like you belonged anymore?"

"Dara's treatment to our people was growing harsher as she grew even more mad. The people loyal to myself had been put to death during my captivity and her own daughter is a prisoner. I attempted to bring Mira with me but the girl was too scared of her mother as were the people. The only warrior willing to depart with me was Rocco but his fate was decided due to his actions with you. The other warriors were my sister's so they watched my actions closely."

"That's why you didn't fight for their lives in Polis." Clarke commented and Echo nodded. "What did Dara say when her men didn't return?"

"She did not question it, they were lowly warriors and not well known to her." Echo looked down at her hands. "I would have found my death if I had stayed, my sister would possibly have me killed or tortured if I took a step she did not wish."

Bellamy finally looked up at his wife, "why come here? Why come to us?"

"Your people would not harm me and of all the clans, you would give me sanctuary without raising a weapon to me." Echo allowed herself to meet his eyes. "I also owed your people for your rescue so I delivered furs and meat when your stores were low and as winter began to fall upon us. I knew you would not survive without them."

"You could have told us," Bellamy shook his head, "you could have told me."

"I wanted to but I could not. If word was whispered to any clan then all would assume you had kidnapped me and held me captive as my sister believed. Azkru do not reveal their heirs to any but clan leaders, your people would not have known until your leader was told. As Clarke was gone, I could simply be a warrior who was forming an alliance with Skaikru."

Clarke shook her head, "Lexa didn't know your name or who you were. She's Heda, how did she not know?"

"I was only declared after Mira was discarded, I always remained in the Azkru capital during trade with Polis. Heda does not trade with Azkru directly as others do due to the uneasy alliance with her people so she does not know my face. My capture came a week after the declaration and two before your arrival, at which time she was away from Polis and then you arrived so she was at war with you. She never had a chance to know my name or face."

"Makes sense." Clarke rose and nodded to the warrior. "You're free to go, you're not a threat."

Echo stood and looked down before looking at all Skaikru at the table. "I apologize for my deception, it was to protect your people not to deceive you." With that she left the room without another word.

"Bellamy," Abby's voice got the soldier's attention. "Go talk to her before you regret it and I promise, you will regret it if you don't."

Bellamy left the room without a word and Clarke sat down, meeting her mother's eyes. They shared a look before the sky leader spoke. "Echo is not a threat, she's helping us fight her sister."

"To gain the throne no doubt." Tov spoke and met Clarke's eyes. "Ice Nation cannot be trusted."

Clarke glared at the man, "she is Skaikru now, she is no longer of the Ice Nation. She doesn't want to return to her home, even after the war so I doubt she's looking to gain the throne. I had to request she go and assist her niece in ruling so bloodthirsty generals don't put unnecessary blood on the child's hands."

"The whole family is bloodthirsty, generations of Azkru royalty have started wars for no acceptable reason. They kill without remorse and none are exempt." Luna put up a hand as Clarke started to interrupt her. "I do not mean to discredit you ai kwin but we have known them longer then you and we know they play deception in ways you cannot see. I assure you that Eko kom Azkru may state she does not want any war or the throne but they are merely lies to reassure you she is not a threat."

Kane shook his head, "she's been with us for months and not once has she given us a reason to doubt her. She's fallen in love and married Bellamy, I don't think she'd do anything like that if she actually meant us harm."

Luna tilted her head, "do you mean to say that she has united with the man that sat beside her?"

"Yes, I performed the ceremony myself." Clarke stated and found both leaders giving her odd looks. "To make it official, they'd already declared themselves houmons to each other and Echo publicly declared herself Eko kom Skaikru when her sister tried to make her leave. She even physically fought her sister when Dara attempted to harm Bellamy for perceived defilement."

Tov turned his attention to Luna, "perhaps the gods have changed her ways. She was captured by the mountain and if our people's words are true, captivity made you face your life and the gods. Accepting her fate in exchange for the lives she has taken is the honorable action but when the gods spared her she chose to reform her ways and no longer harm innocents."

"It is true that the gods determine our fate." Luna nodded and met Clarke's eyes. "For now we will accept what you have to say that she is no threat and take no action but we will be on alert. No harm shall come to her by us or our people as long as her actions are honorable."

"That I can accept." Clarke stated and stood as the rest did. "We'll rest tonight and start planning in the morning."

They made their way outside and found Bellamy and Echo quietly speaking by the fire as they passed it. The Azkru Prisa was curled up against Bellamy's side and he rested his chin on her crown with his arms around her.

"Goodnight guys." Clarke gave the greeting and both turned their head to look at her.

"Goodnight Clarke." Bellamy nodded to her and she nodded back.

"Sleep well ai kwin." Echo spoke softly before returning to her husband's arms.

Clarke was woken two days later by something wet nudging her and she opened her eyes to see Shadow looking at her with expecting eyes. Blinking she remembered she'd left Shadow with Lexa as the wolf would detect spies before any warrior could. Moving her head she found her wife sitting on the end of the bed watching her softly.

That had the sky leader sitting up quickly, "when did you get here?"

"Hours ago, I insisted that no one wake you." Lexa stood and moved to the desk where maps laid scattered. "I have already spoken with Luna and Tov, assuring them that the war was not needless and have already made peace with the heir to the Azkru throne."

Clarke swung her legs off the bed and sat there, "so Echo told you who she was?"

"No, Luna was the bearer of that information but when Echo explained why she kept the information to herself I assured her that she would always be an ally to Trikru and Skaikru. The fact her husband's sister is Trikru by marriage binds her to our people by our customs so to attack her would be to attack one of our own people." Lexa turned to see Clarke sitting on the bed. "I mean her no ill will Clarke, rest assure I won't harm her."

"I know you won't, she protected me during one of the battles so you owe her." Clarke smirked slightly, "this was before I was declared Kwin so it would be bad form to execute someone who protected your queen before she was your queen."

A nod what received from the warrior as she moved over to Clarke. "You are learning the game of politics."

"I told you war wasn't a game."

"I said politics, not war. War is not a game but politics is a never ending game that must be played to protect one's people and society." Lexa reached out and pushed back Clarke's hair is it rested unruly against her pale cheeks. The back of her fingers grazed Clarke's cheek, "I have missed you ai kwin."

"I've been gone two days."

"Two days too long to be gone from my side." Lexa bent down and gently kissed Clarke, deepening the kiss only when Clarke dug her fingers into Lexa's shirt. Her armor had been removed after talking with Luna and Tov.

Clarke pulled back and smiled at Lexa, "I'll admit I missed you some too."

"Just some?"

"Mostly I just missed Shadow." Clarke grinned and Lexa stared at her, eyes full of disbelief. "I'm joking, seriously I need to teach you the concept of joking."

"Joking is not a foreign concept, I just find no reason to take part in the subject. You however ai kwin can drown in the subject if that is your wish. As kwin you shall have all you desire and do what you wish."

Clarke sighed and ran her hands against the rough material of Lexa's shirt. "I just want Dara's head removed and our people safe. I want Echo helping her niece rule Azkru so bloodthirsty generals aren't demanding war from a child. I want peace between Azkru and Trikru after generations of war."

"The things you desire are great but they shall be achieved in time." Lexa pulled Clarke's chin up and met blue eyes. "Do you doubt me?"

"Never."

"Then I promise you shall have all you desire but it shall take time."

Clarke and Lexa found Luna and Tov talking with Abby, Kane, Bellamy and Echo in the Council meeting room later in the day. The meeting to start war preparations had been moved to noon so everyone could rest or train as they wished without the need to jump in immediately. As the two leaders took their place the door swooshed open, Monty and Jasper rushing in with Wick behind them. They were all carrying some sort of contraption or plans, ideas and plans clearly made or in progress.

"Where's Raven?" Clarke questioned Wick as the three dumped their stuff on the table.

"I'm right here." Raven walked in as fast as her braced leg would allow her, in her hands was a box. "They left me to walk all the way here while they ran."

Tov narrowed his eyes, "why are they here? I was told your generals and immediate council would be here."

"Okay, if you don't want the weapons we came up with then we'll leave." Raven shook her head as she picked up the box. "Pack it up boys, they're fighting psychopaths with spears and arrows."

Clarke smirked and turned to Tov, "they assist in all preparation of weapons and defenses. They are key pieces of my council, without them we would not have our current defenses so they stay and I would appreciate that you show them they same respect you show me."

"Of course ai kwin," he looked over at Raven and the boys. "My apologies, please tell us what you have discovered or created."

Kane put a hand to his face, "that was a bad idea." He muttered and Abby shared a look with him, knowing they'd be there all day.

"Well first of all, we managed to create some pretty bad ass bombs from horse shit." Raven stated opening the box she had and pulled out a three-inch diameter rod.

It was only after Monty's explanation of having created a drug from a mixture of plants that would in turn paralyze the enemy did everyone decide mutually that a break was necessary. Apparently Abby had gotten more interested in the possibly medicinal use and caused a divert of the conversation. The conversation turned from war planning into the uses the weapons could have with medicine and crop production, leading to Lexa stopping it with a short comment that she'd ridden through the night to arrive in time to discuss the plans against war not to listen to possible future applications.

Raven found Clarke grooming her horse and pulled her coat tighter around her. The small stable wasn't much more than scrap metal throwing together with some welding, it was warm but not warm enough.

"So your wife has a short temper."

Clarke brushed the horse's mane and looked at Raven. "She's tired, I told her to rest while we take a break. Riding non-stop may not sound like it's exhausting but it is, your body is constantly moved as the horse moves, you get exhausted quickly."

"Right, sorry. I haven't been on one of them before." She reached out and touched the horse's back. "She's beautiful, what's her name?"

"I haven't really named her yet." Clarke chuckled and laughed when the horse nuzzled her shoulder. "No I haven't and I'm sorry. I should give you a name huh?" The horse gave what sounded like a huff and Clarke took a step back. "What should I name you? Shadow got her name because of her coat, you're exactly like your brother in looks so I can't exactly call you anything related to your coat."

"You could just name her something random without meaning."

"No she needs to have some meaning." Clarke ran her hand down the horse's neck before smiling. "People in Polis think of me as a legend so why not give them something else to talk about. I'll name you Steltrona, after the story of the mythical horse that none can catch. I'll call you Stella for short."

Raven shook her head, "that's just insane but hey, it's your horse."

"Stella also means star, my dad told me once that I should have been named Stella since my hair was bright as a star. I think he was just trying to make me feel better because I hated my hair at the time."

"Well we are from space so I guess it works." She jumped and yelped, turning to find another black horse behind her. "Who is this guy?"

Clarke chuckled and moved to the horse, petting his neck. "He doesn't have a name but he's Stella's brother and Lexa's horse. Grounders don't name their animals, they don't see a reason to so I don't think he'll ever have a name."

"I'll give him one," Raven huffed and folded her arms over her jacket. "Hades, it fits him."

The horse nickered and Clarke chuckled, "I think he agrees."

"What could a horse possibly agree to?" They both turned to see Lexa standing in the doorway. "Has he been groomed yet?"

"No I was going to do his grooming after I finished Stella's." Clarke moved to pick up the brush she had.

Lexa took the brush from her, "you should not have to groom your own horse. I will find another to do it since it needs to be done."

Clarke grabbed the brush from her hand as she turned to leave. "I want to groom my horse and I will groom yours."

"If that is what you wish then I apologize for taking your brush." Lexa nodded to her then to Raven. "I will leave you to the task."

Raven watched the woman leave, "just so you know the horse agreed that his name should be Hades."

Lexa turned in the doorway, "he has a name already, it is Nat." She then left the two women in the stable with the horses.

"Nat, that's not a name!"

Clarke chuckled, "it's as close to one as she'll get. It means night or midnight in Trigedasleng."

"Well at least he's Midnight and she's Stella, night and stars go together." Raven leaned against the post that was between the two horses. "What was that about with the brush?"

"Lexa just thinks that as queen I shouldn't have to do anything menial or anything I don't want to do. She thinks I can just order someone to do something and they'll do it for me. She's still learning that I like to do things for myself instead of having attendants and warriors waiting on me hand and foot." Clarke shrugged, "it's how Skaikru were raised, we do what has to be done ourselves instead of waiting on others to do it."

Raven shook her head, "if I was queen then I'd expect everyone to wait on me hand and foot."

"Can you really see Wick ruling anything other then your workroom?"

"Hell no and I rule that room not him!" Raven nearly shouted and Clarke smirked.

A/N: So Lexa arrived and Echo is cleared of any suspicion (at least those from Camp Jaha).

Next: The first battle gets bloody and Clarke has her hands full.

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