Rebuilding Ruin

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

Spoilers: All episodes of Season 1 and 2

Soft light cascaded over the tent and Clarke looked to her side as she lay on her stomach. Despite the hours before she smiled softly at the sight of Lexa gazing at her as if she was some type of miracle, green eyes full of love and happiness despite the time of war. Raising herself onto one arm, Clarke dipped her head back to let her hair fall out of her face.

"You should braid your hair." Lexa's soft voice was almost a whisper, as if she didn't want to puncture the intimacy of the room. "Or have Ellia braid it for you."

Clarke let her eyes drift back over her wife as she lay barely covered by furs. "I prefer it down."

"If that is what you prefer then do not braid it." Lexa turned over and placed a hand on the bed on the other side of Clarke. Soft lips trailed against softer skin, Clarke leaning her head forward against the bound fur pillows as Lexa kissed down her spine. "I desire to know every inch of you."

A smile crossed the sky leader's face again. "When you're done can I explore you as well?"

"I shall not be done for a while, perhaps never." The brunette softly bit Clarke's back at her shoulder blade. "There is much of you to know." Lexa pulled back and gently pulled at Clarke's shoulder until the woman turned onto her back, exposing herself to the woman above her.

"Stop staring."

"How can I not?" Lexa leaned down to meet her lips. "You are perfection, created by the gods without physical flaw."

Laughter escaped the blond, she hadn't meant to laugh due to the heaviness of everything around them but Lexa had that effect on her. Made it possible to laugh no matter the situation just by using a few words. "I'm not perfect."

"Yes you are." Lexa began trailing kisses down soft skin, taking time to nip and tease as she did. As she reached Clarke's belly she paused and kissed below the navel. "Our child will rest here one day, growing strong under your heart and know our love for them before they are delivered into the world." At that moment Clarke closed her eyes to imagine the baby she spoke of. A little warrior that would follow their mothers around, wield a sword with strength and know the healing arts as well as any weapon their hands touched.

A sharp stab of pain had Clarke startling and she opened her eyes to see Dara staring down at her. She attempted to sit up but was kept down with a foot to the shoulder. Her hands were chained to the pole, no longer directly attached to the wood so she was able to lay down and rest for a while.

"Stay where you belong sky girl and stay awake." The woman lifted her foot before walking to the doorway of the tent, passing a teenage girl as she went. "Clean her wounds but nothing more."

Once Dara was gone the girl bent beside Clarke and place a bowl of water down. "I am a healer, let me see your wounds."

Clarke sat up and turned her back to the girl, "what's your name?"

"Alyssa and your name?"

Turning her head she met the girl's soft brown eyes, "Klark kom Skaikru en Trikru."

As soon as the name left her mouth the girl gasped but continued to work on Clarke's back. Turning back around, Clarke stared at the pole that she'd been attached to for days. "If you speak true then ai kwin has broken sacred law. Do you have any proof of your identity?"

"None with me, all I have is myself because everything was taken from me."

"Tell me of your life among the gods."

Clarke chuckled, "it wasn't life, it was just prolonged death. We lived in a metal cage in the sky, sacrificing values and nature to survive. If the gods are real then they had no mercy on us, they probably saw our actions and were disgusted, turning themselves away from us."

"You speak as if you are from the mountain but you are not." Alyssa stated softly, "for you survive our lands without harm as they did so you must be Skaikru."

"I am Kwin kom Trikru, to lie without speaking true about such things is a death warrant. Heda would destroy all who attempted to lie about her wife."

Alyssa met her eyes and smiled, "ai kwin it is true what they say. Your eyes show the ocean and stars at the same moment and your hair is like the sun. It is said the gods took pieces of the stars and earth to make you, giving a spirit with strength that can't even be broken by death."

"Who talks about me?"

"Everyone, some say you will fulfill the legend and deliver us from our queen's reign." Her voice lowered as if not wanting to be heard. "The legend states 'She shall come from the gods holding fire in her hands and death on her breath. Wolves shall follow where she goes and an army shall walk behind her without an order. She shall deliver peace after years of war and the ice shall crack when her foot steps onto its surface.' So you see, you must be who the gods delivered."

"I'm just a simple girl Alyssa, I'm not a legend or sent by the gods."

Standing the girl smiled. "The gods do not send the knowing, they send the unknowing for if you know your path you are always tainted by greatness and expectations."

Midday came and went, Clarke felt hunger and thirst but she stayed quiet. The next time someone entered the tent it shocked her, a girl no more than five or six and with her was Alyssa. The girl's black hair and facial features made her aware that it was probably Dara's daughter, Mira.

"Ai kwin…" the girl bowed her head and practically slid to her knees to sit in front of Clarke. Her head went up to Alyssa and the healer nodded as if reassuring her all was well. The young girl turned her attention back to Clarke, "are you well?"

"I'm okay." She narrowed her eyes in surprise, children didn't learn English until they were older. "How do you know how to speak my language?"

"I was born to be a warrior." She bowed her head, "will you not kill me when my mother dies?"

Clarke shook her head, "no Mira, we don't kill children no matter who their parents are or were."

"I shall rule with kindness if you spare me." The words seemed advanced for the child so Clarke knew someone had coached her.

"You'll be spared."

The girl looked up at Clarke, "then I shall spare you." She stood and ran from the tent as Alyssa merely looked at Clarke before departing without a word.

As the sun began to set Clarke heard yelling through the camp, it was in Azgedasleng so she couldn't understand any of it. She could make out Dara's voice but that voice was soon overpowered by all the voices of the camp yelling the same phrase over and over again. Before she could ready herself, warriors were inside the tent and pulling Clarke up from the floor. She had little doubt she was going to her death but remained quiet, not willing to beg for her life.

Clarke felt pain rip through her back as one of the warriors pulled her from the tent. She expected to be taken to her death not see a crowd gathered around Dara, the queen effectively being held back despite her demands to release her. One of the warriors cut her binds and then dropped to one knee.

"Apologizes ai kwin, we were unaware of your torture and can only accept the punishment you deem fit for us."

Clarke shook her head slightly and touched his shoulder, "the fault is not yours, the only one who will pay for what was done is the one who performed the torture." She looked around and saw a sword laying on the ground, she picked it up and staggered over to Dara as three men held her. "You tortured me, killed my people and your own by demanding this war. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I have done nothing to warrant such treatment, I order you to let me go."

One of the generals moved forward, "she is Kwin kom Kru, you are Kwin kom Azkru. With her before us we cannot follow your orders ai kwin."

"You broke sacred law not once but twice and by clan laws that calls for your death." Two warriors pushed Dara to her knees so she could be killed. Clarke threw the sword to the ground and Dara looked up with her shocked as did everyone else. "I maybe merciful but Heda won't be. You harmed me and killed her last lover, your death is hers to take not mine."

Dara met her eyes, "why do you care so much about one that came before you?"

Clarke stared down at the woman, "because Kostia kom Trikru gave my wife happiness and you stole that happiness from her. I care because Lexa isn't wholly mine, Costia owns a part of her heart that I can never have and for that I'll honor her memory and make you pay."

"Pathetic."

"Get me some rope please." She looked at the warrior behind her and he quickly disappeared. Clarke looked around to see the warriors standing in a circle watching. "I need four female warriors."

Four women stepped forward and one nodded to her. "What do you require ai kwin?"

"Remove her clothes and replace them with simple clothing that can't hide weapons." She moved aside despite slightly staggering and the women moved forward to pull Dara up.

Lexa moved through the forest with her army behind her, there would be no mercy for Dara or her army. One of the warriors in the trees signaled and she looked up to see him signaling that someone was up ahead. She pulled her weapon as did all those around her, Indra and Ryder specifically got off their horses to physically fight those heading towards them.

The ridge ahead was empty before being filled with two horses, one held a child and woman while the other held what looked to be a warrior. The one with the child and woman moved forward at their direction before stopping feet from Lexa's own horse.

"Heda…" The child spoke softly, barely able to be heard but the forest was quiet enough to hear her. "Ai laik Mira, Azkru Kwin."

Lexa narrowed her eyes, "what happened to your mother? What happened to my wife?"

The girl turned slightly to look around the woman riding behind her, two additional horses appeared above the ridge and one Lexa recognized as Clarke's horse. Clarke rode with an ice warrior behind her, her face cut and bruised and the way she held her body spoke of injuries sustained. A warrior rode solely and behind her was a figure walking behind the horse attached to it by a rope. "She is safe and I offer a deal of peace."

The sole warrior moved his horse over and unmounted, untying the figure attached to the horse. Kicking the legs out from under the person, he removed the bag on their head at the same time to reveal Dara. The woman was gagged and bound, unable to speak or move freely.

Ryder moved to the warrior that rode with Clarke and handed off his horse before mounting Clarke's horse behind her. She looked tired so Lexa moved her attention back to Mira. "I accept your deal of peace."

"Azkru will not attack Trikru."

"And we will not attack you." Lexa turned and nodded to Indra, the woman grabbed Dara to tie her to Lexa's horse. "Eko kom Azkru will arrive with her houmon within a moon to act as a guide until you come of age."

Mira nodded and then looked at her warriors, they turned to depart. "The gods have delivered peace as the legend says." Her eyes floated towards Clarke, "mochof ai kwin for delivering us." With that she turned her horse with assistance of the woman and rode off, the warriors waiting at the ridge for her.

Lexa mounted her horse and looked up, aware it was getting dark but they couldn't afford to stop with Clarke injured. "We ride until we reach camp."

"Sha Heda." Indra spoke and turned her horse as did everyone else.

Morning broke as they reached camp and Lexa wasn't surprised to see Abby and Bellamy waiting at the edge when shouts of returns had been made. Abby immediately helped Ryder get Clarke off the horse while another warrior took the animal, Shadow appeared from around a tent and nudged herself up against Clarke.

Dismounting her horse, Lexa made her way over to Clarke and the woman kept her head lowered as if ashamed of her actions. Several of her warriors including Ryder and Indra took ahold of Dara to put her to a post until Lexa could get around to executing her. That was something the leader decided after seeing Clarke, there would be no mercy and the woman would suffer death by a thousand cuts without alterations.

"Oh god." Abby looked at Clarke's back as her daughter hugged her, "come on, let's get you to the medical tent."

Lexa stood watching as Abby lead Clarke with Shadow acting as a barrier to keep Clarke's side steady. Bellamy moved over to the leader and spoke softly. "What happened?"

"Clarke sacrificed herself for our people but she was escorted back by Dara's daughter and warriors, Dara as a prisoner." Lexa looked straight at Bellamy, "I told Mira that you and Echo would arrive within a moon. The Ice Nation capital is a five day ride so I would start your preparations immediately so you have time to say goodbye and organized what is necessary in your absence."

Bellamy nodded, "after Clarke's recovered and we deal with Dara then we'll start preparing to leave."

"Understood."

Clarke screamed in pain as her clothes were peeled from her body. She'd insisted on being in her own tent instead of the healing tent so she could have privacy but not being seen didn't mean she wasn't heard. Lexa entered the tent after assigning six warriors to stand at various points around the entire tent. She found Clarke screaming in pain and pushed past the curtain into the private area to find Abby and several medics treating wounds and removing cloth from skin that was stuck due to dried blood.

"Clarke, ai kwin I am here." Lexa bent beside the bed and took Clarke's hand as it curled around the edge. "Can that be done without causing such pain?"

Abby shook her head, "unfortunately not."

"I'm sorry." Clarke whimpered as Lexa looked at her. "I had to do it, I had to save our people."

Lexa put a hand to Clarke's face, "you are forgiven and while such a move was not wise it did end a war. You delivered Dara to her fate and allowed the Azkru freedom for the first time in decades."

"This is the last strip." Abby stated and Clarke tightened her hand around Lexa's own.

"Kiss me." Clarke whispered and Lexa ignored the three women in the room as she met Clarke's lips. She deepened the kiss but was gentle at the same time while Abby pulled the cloth from Clarke's back. The only thing that gave away the girl's pain was a slight bleed of Lexa's lip when she pulled back. "Ai hod yu in."

"I as well." Lexa touched her head with her free hand and looked at Abby. "How are her wounds?"

Abby sighed, "she's lucky the cold kept the infection at bay. I'll have to stitch them up and wrap her back to prevent infection." Placing a hand on her daughter's shoulder she looked down at her softly. "Clarke, honey you'll have to lay on your stomach or side for a long while, these may take weeks to heal."

"I'm alive, that's enough." Clarke groaned as one of the medics started stitching her up.

"Yes you are alive and I thank the gods." Lexa stated as she caressed Clarke's cheek. "Without you I am nothing, I would be forced to release my spirit and seek you in the next life."

Clarke tightened her hand, "promise me something."

"Anything."

"If I die one day, you'll keep your spirit where it is and lead our people. They need you more than you need me." Clarke had tears in her eyes, "promise me you'll do what I ask."

"Clarke…"

"Swear it on my life."

Lexa gave a nod, "I swear it on your life but upon our next meeting I shall remind you of my displeasure at living without you."

"I expect nothing less." A soft smile crossed her features as she laid her head against the soft furs of the bed.

A/N: I promised victory and defeat didn't I?

Next: Dara pays for her crimes and Clarke continues to heal.

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