Chapter 10:
When they got back to where Clarke had left Lexa, Clarke let Indra go ahead of her as Clarke slowed her pace. She considered bailing out and disappearing but something inside her kept pushing her forward.
Indra rushed forward at the sight of Lexa's weakened condition. Clarke cleared her throat and explained the injuries to Indra. "She'll need help to get out of here." Clarke added after. Indra nodded and began to gather Lexa's gear.
Lexa looked to Clarke. She remained quiet, just observing the blonde. Clarke felt her eyes on her but she refused to look her in the eyes. Indra was making her way to the commander and was about to attempt to help her up. Clarke rounded, turning to face them both. She watched as Indra made an attempt to help Lexa up. She hadn't been on her feet in 2 days now. When the motion began a hollowed moan escaped Lexa's lips and Clarke shot forwards towards her before she could stop herself. "Stop. Wait." Her words froze both Lexa and Indra as Lexa slumped back to her position on the ground with a painful grunt. Clarke continued forward, not thinking about what she was doing. "Indra go get us some water." Indra nodded and left into the woods.
"Lexa don't move for a second." Clarke moved closer and laid her hand on the girls leg and shoulder. "Just lie still, I need to check something."
Clarke slowly moved her hands, she removed the blanket, then Lexa's cloak, her armour wasn't on but her leathers still were. Clarke began unbuckling the chest piece, gingerly lifting it out from under Lexa's body and pushing it to the side. Lexa's chest rose and fell shakily as a ragged breath escaped her. She was in a lot of pain.
"Why didn't you say something?" Clarke said agitation filling her voice. "You should have told me you were in pain." She shook her head.
"You've done enough Clarke." Lexa breathed out in pain. "You owe me nothing. Just leave me be."
"You obviously don't know me very well if you think that's going to happen." Clarke said as she continued her examination.
"I know you." Lexa said before she could stop herself. Clarke's eyes found hers before Lexa looked away embarrassed.
"You shouldn't have come here." Clarke said quietly, repeating her words from the other day.
Lexa simply breathed a painful sigh and said "I had to." "Aaargggh" she let out a howl of pain when Clarke pushed on the left side of her ribs.
"I think you have a fractured rib, it may be broken. That's why you're in so much pain." She said not hiding the concern in her voice. Lexa nodded in understanding, the pain too much to let words escape her.
"Ill have to wrap you, you won't make it out of here like this. You'd be stuck here for weeks." She said, "You could have died…" she added before she could stop herself.
Quickly changing the subject, Clarke adjusted her stance and made her move to adjust Lexa's position so she could better access her torso, "This is going to hurt a bit."
Lexa moaned in pain as Clarke's finger gently touched her skin, she winced with every movement she made trying to help Clarke finish her task. Clarke was slowly wrapping fabric around Lexa's torso, pulling it tight to help keep everything tight and in place. She hoped it would help alleviate some of the pain, and ensure Lexa would get out of the woods with significantly less pain than she would have without Clarke's help.
As Clarke finished her wrapping she took in the sight of Lexa. Her eyes were closed now with a pain filled expression on her face. "Why did you stay at the fire? You knew the beast was coming and yet you went to the fire like you were looking for something. You had time to leave and you didn't, do you have a death wish?"
Lexa's eyes remained closed, "I was looking for you." A small smile now crossed her lips as she looked up at Clarke, "Ironically, I never even thought to look for you in the sky."
Clarke smiled despite herself. She knew Lexa was referring to seeing Clarke above her in the safety of her perch as the pauna was coming to end Lexa's life.
Indra cleared her throat to make her presence known before coming into the camp. Clarke's smile quickly faded and she cleared her own throat. She wasn't sure how much of that Indra heard. "Commander, you're ready to go now." She said trying to put some professionalism into the situation. She turned away from Lexa to look at Indra, "She needs rest, take it slow but get her out of here and into a bed as soon as possible."
Clarke rounded back at Lexa. She looked so small below her without her gear on. The sight scared Clarke a little as she felt herself unable to not care about Lexa being in pain. Clarke took a deep breathe and adjusted her posture. "Thank you for letting me know of the bounty Commander."
"Clarke," Lexa breathed, she knew what Clarke was doing. She wasn't coming back with them. "Please you don't have to do this."
"It's too late. I'm not going back, I'm done. You understand that? I left." Just like you but Clarke didn't finish her thought out loud.
"Clarke," Lexa tried but Clarke held up a hand stopping her.
"No. Just stop it. I appreciate you trying to alleviate your guilt by telling me about the bounty, but I'm not going back." Clarke said as she made her way to grab her things.
Lexa watched her silently as Clarke finally finished gathering her stuff before she rounded to face Lexa again. She slowly and methodically walked towards her. She knelt a foot from her and place a hand on her shoulder tenderly. "You shouldn't have come." She removed her hand and stood again, "Goodbye Commander."
And with that she twirled on her heel and left Lexa's sight. Clarke saw Lexa's tear fall before she turned and hid her own. She walked right passed Indra without a word or a glance. She didn't want to see her weak.