Rebuilding Ruin
Disclaimer: I don't own the 100 or its characters
Spoilers: All episodes of Season 1 and 2
Clarke stood on the platform that lined the center of Polis, standing before the Council building and across from the building that held the prison. Lexa stood beside her as warriors walked Jaha to the platform, attaching him to the pole that stood in the middle of the raised stone. Blood stains from previous prisoners were practically baked into the stone and visible to show the justice that resided there.
"Thelonious Jaha, formerly of the Sky People and now a nomad, is sentenced to death by a thousand cuts for his crimes." Clarke spoke and Lexa translated into Trigedasleng so all could understand what was being said. "He murdered an entire convoy of Nomads, set a missile on the Skaikru camp, threatened the life of your queen and spilled the blood of the child that Heda planned to call her own."
Angry voices erupted, Clarke heard the threats and insults that those standing nearby hurled at the man tied up. Clarke moved around till she faced Jaha and he stared at her with a hint of fear in his eyes. "Clarke please don't do this, I know you and I know that you couldn't hurt anyone."
"Do you deny your crimes?"
"No, I did all of that but it was to help our people."
Clarke pulled her knife from her belt, "murder doesn't help a people but spilling the blood of the one who stole lives will." She reached up and cut across his arm, he didn't scream but clearly was trying to withstand the pain. Turning Clarke looked at the people, "he is not Skaikru so when you draw his blood in the name of those who were lost, you do not harm your brothers and sisters. Who shall draw blood next?"
Ryder moved up and took the knife from her, "for the child."
The punishment continued into midday and then into the night, Clarke heard the first scream as the moon slowly rose over the sky. Instantly silence was followed and she looked over to see Lexa sitting at her desk writing an order for supplies.
"They didn't kill him did they?"
"No," Lexa stated and turned to look at Clarke. "His tongue was removed." The brunette rose and walked to the bed Clarke sat on, her sketchbook laid across the furs with numerous colored pencils scattered nearby. "Does that bother you?"
"No, I've seen and done worse. No mercy, not this time." Clarke picked up the black piece of charcoal but let it drop as she turned to look at Lexa. "A little, it bothers me a little. Every part of me is against torture, I've endured it but I know the ultimate punishment requires it."
Lexa crawled to Clarke and lifted her chin gently, "you are kwin, you can deliver mercy to whoever you wish without needing to supply an explanation. If you wish to end his suffering, I shall go at this moment and place my sword into his heart."
"He was my parents' friend but now he's just insane, he's nothing like he was on the Ark." She shook her head and leaned it against her knees. "He murdered so many there but the conditions required it. He locked me up to prevent me from telling secrets."
Running a hand along her wife's arm, Lexa met blue eyes. "Do you wish me to go down there and put the sword through his heart?"
"Take your sword and allow your anger over Liam's death to consume you as you put him to death. My mercy is that he will not bleed to death."
"I will do so and return." Lexa stood and grabbed her sword and cloak from the corner cheer before leaving. Opening the door to the room she pushed the wolf back that tried to get in as she stepped out. "No, you are allowed in Clarke's room but mine is not to be your den as well."
Clarke chuckled softly as she watched Lexa and Shadow stare at each other before the door closed. It was quite a sight to see the wolf try to give Lexa what could only be described as 'pity eyes' but it never worked. Getting up from the bed, Clarke gathered her drawing materials and headed out of the room, closing the door behind her. She moved into her room, the one with the mural on the wall and the cloths that held her drawings. The night before had been spent in her room because Lexa had come to her but she much preferred Lexa's bed with the warm furs and thicker goose-feather mattress.
Placing her drawing materials away she bent down to ruffle the fur on Shadow's neck, smiling as the wolf sat beside her. "I will be with Lexa tonight in her room so you'll stay here." She made her way to the door and closed it behind her so Shadow remained in her room.
It was an hour before Lexa returned and she found Clarke asleep on the bed, the furs that normally covered them resting under her body. A scraping sound made Lexa sigh as she moved out of her room and opened the door to Clarke's, Shadow shot out of the room and into the warm room with his mistress inside. Lexa could only be thankful that the wolf settled on the ground instead of the bed as sometimes she preferred to do. Removing her armor and placing her sword away, Lexa crawled onto the bed and pulled Clarke close, pausing when the blond stirred slightly.
"It is done, now rest ai kwin."
"We burn him tomorrow." Clarke whispered as she dug her face into Lexa's neck.
The sun rose and only once the sun was high in the sky did the people gather once again in the middle of the square. A pyre had been built and on it laid Jaha's wrapped body, Clarke stood beside Lexa and saw both Kane and Abby watching nearby. Once the sun was a high noon did Clarke look to the people, both Skaikru and Trikru, speaking as was necessary.
"Today we burn away the past and the war that our people suffered. No more shall we endure such madness or fighting, no more weapons from the time before and no more death caused by the battlefield. The clans have peace and we start a future where we can live without unnecessary death." Clarke spoke loud and Lexa translated as she had the day before.
Ryder handed Clarke the torch and she proceeded to light the pyre and Jaha with it. She watched as the flames consumed her parents' friend, her childhood best friend's father and the man that had nearby destroyed her people's home. The world had not been an easy place to live, it affected everyone differently and Clarke saw the worst of all reactions in Jaha. He'd wanted life beyond the Ark for their people and he'd gained it at the price of his own, she hoped the gods Lexa swore existed offered him a glimpse of how is people prospered because of his choice to send the delinquents to the ground.
Clarke was harsh but only because the world had made her so, she wasn't allowed to be the idealistic child she'd once been on the Ark. She'd had to help her people survive, free them from Mount Weather, forge trust and alliance with Lexa after murdering Finn herself. Leading her people to war had really hardened her, Lexa's promise of unity after her time away had allowed her to lead without shouldering the burden completely. She was named queen, mercy and strength everything she was supposed to symbol but death had become her companion. In the end she knew if her father looked down at her then he'd see a girl who wasn't his daughter. He'd be shocked at her actions, her cruelty and her ability to murder but in the end the world was not the innocent place his stories made it out to be. It was much harsher, much more dangerous and it made you grow up fast.
Once the pyre was gone, Clarke instructed Ryder to collect the ashes that remained and to hand them over to Kane. Clarke knew he'd return them to the Drop Ship and allow them to rest beside Wells. Jaha was insane and a mass murderer but he at least deserved dignity in death, which was something Lexa had understood that morning among the whispers of their furs. Clarke left the square and headed home, Shadow beside her and Lexa a few feet behind speaking with several warriors.
Retreating to her room, Clarke set about drawing and didn't emerge the rest of the day. Lexa delivered lunch but said nothing as she kissed Clarke's head, squeezing her shoulder before disappearing again. During the late hours of the day her detailed drawing was finished and she hung it on one of the hanging cloths in the room. The image of Wells reading a book with Jaha looking down at him with pride in his eyes was almost life-like. Clarke smiled and let tears fill her eyes as she thought once again about how harshly she had treated Wells when it had been her mother that betrayed them.
Leaving the room, she found Lexa at her writing table issuing orders for all the clans. The yearly meeting in Polis with the Council was almost upon them and Lexa had to start the process of making sure all the clan leaders arrived on time. Sitting on the bed she watched Lexa pen out every order, personalizing each with the names of each clan member. Only after an hour did the wooden pen find it's home next to the ink and Lexa rose to stand before her.
"You've shed tears." It was the first observation Lexa made and Clarke knew the hour did nothing to alleviate the redness under her eyes. "He was not deserving of your tears."
"Can we forego the lessons and lectures tonight, please?" Clarke moved to Lexa and braced her legs on either side of Lexa's own as she stood before Clarke. Reaching her hands up, Clarke found the hem of Lexa's tank top, her usual nightwear along with leggings, and slipped her hands under it. "I want to forget everything but you. I've had all day to think about our people and all the things I've done to protect them. I just want to lose myself in the one person I've gained after it all."
Lexa gave a soft nod and ran her hands up to Clarke's shoulders, gently pushing her back. Getting the idea, Clarke dropped her hands and moved back on the bed till her head laid against the bundled fur at the top of the bed, Lexa crawling over her body till green eyes gazed into blue. The soft firelight was enough to create a warm and romantic feel, her wife's body and mind a safe haven in the storm that was life.
Morning brought peace or so Lexa determined as Clarke slept peacefully, finally free of the nightmares that had plagued her during the night. Running her fingers along Clarke's back as the girl slept on her stomach, she traced the scares that had been gained during her time in the Ice Nation. A soft sigh brought her attention to her wife's face, finding blue eyes looking at her sleepily. Lexa leaned in and kissed soft lips, a smile emerging from the blond as she pulled back.
"Good morning." Clarke closed her eyes and smiled softly.
"How are you feeling?" Lexa stopped her tracing and moved closer to Clarke, gently sliding her leg over the blond's so to be close but to also prevent Clarke from moving.
Raising her arms to rest under her head, Clarke let her blue eyes survey the woman in front of her. "Glad peace has arrived but disappointed at the cost of it."
"Peace is never without sacrifice, be it a person or a group."
Clarke groaned, "too early for lessons."
Lexa chuckled and nuzzled against Clarke's neck, kissing the skin there. "I agreed to wait till morning, allowing you to use my body to escape the burden on you."
"I didn't use your body." Clarke snorted, "at least in any way you didn't like. I think the whole of Polis could hear you last night."
"Unlikely." Lexa smiled and moved over Clarke, setting herself on the blond's thighs. She used the position to kiss every single scar on Clarke's back. "However, I will admit I enjoyed the pleasure you gave me."
"I'm aware of how much you enjoyed it."
Lexa leaned up and met Clarke's gaze as the girl looked over her shoulder. "Did you not enjoy the pleasure I gave you?"
"Hmm…" The blond rolled over, watching as Lexa carefully steadied herself as Clarke did so. Lexa leaned over Clarke and kissed her gently. "I may need a reminder, specifics of what you did last night."
"If that is your wish ai kwin."
Clarke leaned up on her arms and met Lexa's mouth, "that is a command."
"Then I must obey." Whispered breaths were exchanged as Lexa cupped Clarke's face and kissed her.
A/N: Sorry it took so long...
Next: A time jump of about a year...
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