Chapter 26:
Lexa was pacing her tent. Clarke and Octavi had left two hours ago. If everything was going correctly they should be back in camp within the next hour. If things hadn't gone correctly - Lexa already had her sword strapped to her hip.
She had sent word to be told as soon as the two girls were spotted. Lexa was trying to remain calm but failing. Her mind kept running wild with endless possibilities of what could be happening at Arkadia at the moment. She had 200 warriors ready to move on her command, but she waited. She had promised Clarke 3 hours. She could give her that.
Lexa continued her silent pacing before she removed her dagger from her thigh and stabbed it into the table in frustration and worry. She pulled out her sword and decided to practice with it. She walked up to a wooden dummy that they used for such a thing. She began swinging her sword at a swift pace. She moved left and right methodically striking, swinging and stabbing at the dummy. The motion helped clearing her head. Lexa already felt better, she felt like she could focus again. She felt herself mentally preparing to head to Arkadia and find Clarke.
She continued her motions until she was sweating evenly. She stopped and placed her sword in it's scabbard. Breathing heavily she went to sit down and grab a drink of water. While she sat in silence she heard noises outside her tent. She looked up and found Indra entering. "It's time." Lexa was now in her own clothes. She had armour and spare leathers on. She was ready to fight.
Lexa nodded and Indra left. Three hours. Clarke wasn't back yet. Lexa's breath hitched. She felt a pang of hopelessness and she tried to swallow it down. She'd have to march on Arkadia. She had to go now. She had to make sure Clarke was safe. She had no clue what was really happening inside the walls of Arkadia. She silently pleaded that Clarke was okay as she stood up. She knew what must be done. Kill them all, a voice in her head whispered. She felt anger bubble inside her filling her up. She felt her commander's mask creep across her face. She was ready.
Lexa exited the tent and found her warriors waiting. She looked at them all before speaking. "We march on Arkadia. We seek Wanheda, anyone who tries to stop us pays with their life!"
The warriors cheered and hollered at her words. They began beating their hands against their chest and war cries filled the air. With a nod of her head Lexa beckoned the army to move, she hopped up on her horse and made to follow. They moved slowly but silently. They were heading the opposite way of where Clarke and Octavia headed. They were heading to the front doors.
They had been making their slow march for a bout twenty minutes before Lexa heard rustling behind her and her troops. She and Ryder were bringing up the rear. He slowed to stop and turned his horse following the sound. Lexa copied his motion before halting her horse, "WAIT!" she heard Octavia yell out.
Lexa's breath caught in her throat as she saw the brunette appear out of the shadows. Where was Clarke? Lexa peered hard into the darkness seeking her out. Octavia stopped when she came into view of Lexa and Ryder, her breathing was fast like she had run the whole way. "Where's Clarke?" Lexa demanded forcefully.
Octavia looked up at her, "She's back at your camp, she couldn't catch up with her leg how it is."
With that Lexa turned to Ryder, "Halt the march, bring them back." Ryder nodded and tore off on his horse to the front of the line.
Lexa kicked the horse beckoning it foreward, she got closer to Octavia leaned slightly and shot out her arm. Octavia reached up and grabbed it as the motion swung her up and into the saddle behind Lexa. Without stopping Lexa took off towards their camp again and back to Clarke.
She pushed the horse quickly before stopping just outside her tent and hopping off and heading into her tent. She heard Octavia adjust in the saddle and begin moving the horse. Lexa assumed Octavia was returning it to its hitching post and food, she silently thanked her as she entered the tent.
She found Clarke sitting on the corner of a bed. The blonde looked up at Lexa and smiled sadly. Lexa froze as she did a quick once over on Clarke. She was looking for any new injuries. She crossed the gap to stand in front of Clarke. "You're okay," she breathed a sigh of relief.
Clarke smiled as she looked at her and nodded. "It's just my leg, we had just missed you when we got back and I couldn't run after you to stop you."
Lexa took a deep breath, "come on, we should clean it again, I'll get one of the healers in here."
Clarke shook her head and reached for Lexa's hand, "I can do it. They left their rub and clean bandages over there."
Lexa looked to where Clarke had gestured. She nodded and headed over to the washbasin. As she gathered what Clarke would need she heard Clarke removing her coat before dropping her boots to the floor. Lexa walked over and placed the items beside Clarke before bending down and gathering Clarkes coat and boots. She took them to the table before returning to Clarke.
She watched Clarke stand up slowly and gingerly. Lexa observed that her leg was hurting her more than she was letting on. The day's events and movements had taken their toll on her wound that was just starting to properly heal. Lexa was already back at Clarke's side reaching out to help steady her. She caught Clarke's forearm as Clarke stumbled and began to fall, LExa's other hand shot out catching Clarke around the waist keeping her up. She helped Clarke regain her footing before moving slightly and returning to face Clarke. "I can do it," Clarke said stubbornly.
"Let me help," Lexa said quietly smiling at Clarke's determination. When Clarke looked up she looked sad and defeated. Lexa's smile faded at the sight. She didn't like seeing Clarke in any emotional or physical pain. Surprisingly Clarke too a deep breath and nodded placing her hands on Lexa's shoulders.
Lexa looked her in the eyes making sure she was given permission to help before adjusting her hands and gently putting her finger tips into Clarke's waste band. She trailed her hands towards the front of her before undoing the pants clasp. Lexa glanced up at Clarke. She tried to ignore the beating rhythm of her heart that always sped up when she was this close to Clarke. Lexa felt self-conscious like Clarke could hear the pounding as well. She found Clarke watching her deep in thought, but there was a small smile on her face now. Lexa smiled and turned her attention back to Clarke's pants.
She adjusted her hands and began sliding Clarke's pants slowly off her hips. She gently tugged them before having to dip her body slightly to ease them off Clarke's back side. Clarke winced and Lexa froze afraid she was hurting her.
"I'm okay, I think the bandage just pulled a bit," Clarke said quietly when she had realized Lexa froze. Clarke squeezed her shoulder, "Just pull 'em off." Her teeth were gritted now ready for any other painful twinges that might occur. Lexa was careful as she knelt down to her knees to gingerly remove the pants over the bandage. When the pants were past Clarke's thighs Lexa helped her sit down and removed the pants off her ankles. Lexa folded them and took them to the table with Clarke's other things. She turned back to the blonde and her breath caught in her throat. She watched as the light of the candles in the tent danced against Clarke's hair. Lexa couldn't ignore the sight of Clarkes pale soft skin of her thighs. Clarke was only in a t-shirt and underwear. She felt the butterflies in her stomach begin to do backflips. Clarke was making a grab for the bandage and slowly unraveling it. Lexa shook her head and went back over to help. As she helped Clarke clean and rewrap the wound Clarke had filled her in on the situation at Arkadia.
Lexa understood. She knew now that there was mixed feelings within Arkadia. There were some that were on board with the grounders and some that were fervently against them. This complicated matters immensely. They couldn't walk in there and make them see reason but they also could not walk in there and kill them all. They had armies coming from every direction. They didn't want Lexa's protection. They, in fact, murdered men Lexa had placed around their camp to help protect them only complicating matters more. Lexa knew how Clarke felt about her people; it was the same as Lexa felt about her own. They mattered, every life mattered. If death has no cost life has no meaning. How were they to get justice for the lives that had been wasted in the woods earlier but also protect the Arkadian's from the ice nation army.
Lexa held up a hand to stop Clarke when Clarke was going on to a new tangent of ideas on what they could do. Clarke couldn't hide her yawns any longer. Lexa had counted four in the last five minutes alone. She could see the heavy weight to Clarke's eyelids begging to be closed. "You need rest Clarke."
Clarke yawned again as if on cue as Lexa rose crossing to the bed and pulling back the furs. She gestured to Clarke to get in. Clarke shifted and moved to where Lexa was beckoning her. Clarke smiled sheepishly as she crawled under the furs. Lexa pulled the furs up onto Clarke's shoulders before turning and crossing the room again. Lexa removed her armour, pulled off her cloak before beginning with her leathers. She pulled each item off and placed them beside Clarkes. When Lexa had only her undergarments on she then went to blow some of the candles out. She put another log on the fire in the centre of the tent to keep it warm. She then looked at Clarke to find the girl was watching her. "Rest Clarke, we have a long journey to make tomorrow."
"Where are you going to sleep?" Clarke asked.
Lexa gestured to a fur on the ground. She grabbed a pillow from the bed and tossed it to where she had gestured. Lexa could feel Clarke's eyes follow her as she plopped herself down to get comfortable. Lexa turned over on her side so she could see Clarke. Clarke was still watching her deep in thought. Lexa smiled, "Rest Clarke." She told her.
Lexa didn't remember shutting her eyes. The last thing she remembered was staring into Clarke's blue eyes before the darkness took her. Lexa rolled to turn herself back to where she had last seen Clarke. She wasn't there. Lexa's eyes widened and she sat bolt up right in a panic. She heard a stirring at her movement and she looked to her left.
There was Clarke.
She had placed herself beside Lexa on the floor. She had brought the furs off the bed with her and was cuddled into them, Lexa watched as Clarke's eyes fluttered open a little wider to see her better. Lexa looked at her questioningly but still with a smile on her face.
Clarke pulled the blankets up a little higher covering her mouth a bit more, "I couldn't sleep," she admitted quietly.
"So you thought it would be better on the floor?" Lexa asked
Clarke looked at her before she slowly shook her head. "I thought it would be better closer to you."
That surprised Lexa. She understood though, Clarke found strength in Lexa and Lexa found it so often in Clarke's presence. She rose slowly gathering the fur and pillow she had been sleeping with. She tossed them on the bed before coming back to Clarke and reaching out a hand. Clarke smiled in understanding and took it. Lexa's hand tingled at the touch. She pulled Clarke to her feet and guided her to the bed. Clarke crawled in while Lexa gathered the blanket and draped it over Clarke and the bed. Clarke scooted over holding the corner of the fur up inviting Lexa in.
Lexa took a calming breath and crawled in beside her. She felt Clarke's body tense slightly as she did so. Lexa leaned back into the pillow and felt Clarke then adjust herself to be closer to Lexa. They weren't touching but Lexa could feel the heat from Clarke's body beside her. It calmed her and Lexa felt sleep taking her again