Chapter 27:
When Clarke woke up the next morning. There was a soft light coming in through the tent. Clarke blinked a few times allowing her eyes to adjust to the light. She was lying on her stomach and she felt her head rise and fall slightly before she realized where exactly she was. She had her arms around Lexa and her head on her chest. With each breath Lexa took Clarke's head bobbed with motion. Clarke allowed herself to smile. She was so content in this moment. She had slept so solidly and peacefully when the two girls had gotten into the bed together. Clarke felt safe and warm. She let the feeling fill her up and give her strength.
She didn't make another move for over an hour. She just listened in silence to the peaceful rhythm of Lexa's heartbeat. She relaxed and let her head rise and fall with each breath Lexa took. Clarke then felt Lexa's arm swing down from above her head and land on Clarke's side gently. Clarke felt as Lexa's hand slowly moved up and down Clarke's side soothingly. Clarke adjusted her head to look up at the girl. Lexa's eyes were still closed. She must still be asleep, Clarke thought. That made her happy. Lexa had unconsciously reached out for Clarke to make sure she was there. Clarke relished in the thought.
Clarke took a few deep breaths. She could smell Lexa's floral scent filling her nostrils sending fresh waves of calm and tingles throughout her body. Clarke didn't dare move, she didn't want this moment to end. She was perfectly content right where she was. Then the events of yesterday began to push forward to her thoughts. Pike and Bellamy, the mountain, the grounders, her mom and Kane, the Ice Nation, it all began to overwhelm her again.
Clarke sighed.
"What's wrong?" Lexa's voice was quiet but it cracked slightly still groggy from sleep.
Clarke wasn't aware that she had woken up until now. Clarke looked up at her remaining quiet. Lexa watched her for a few moments before clearing her throat and speaking, "Foolish question. Sorry," Lexa said with a small smile testing the room.
Clarke smiled, she had not expected the light response from her. Clarke rolled off of Lexa's chest and on to her back looking up at the tent. She brought her hands to her face and began to rub the sleep out of her eyes. "I can't believe I actually slept again," she heard herself say. She stopped rubbing her eyes as she realized the truth to her words. She knew why she slept well. She knew she had gotten out of bed and crawled to the floor beside Lexa just to be closer to the girl. She knew she fell asleep almost the instant Lexa and her relocated to the bed. She had a dreamless sleep beside the girl and she was incredibly grateful. Her body was beginning to feel better, her muscles didn't ache and her leg injury wasn't hurting as much either.
Clarke removed her hands and stole a quick look up at Lexa. She found her already watching her with a funny look on her face. One that told Clarke she was struggling internally with whether to say something or not. Lexa licked her lips before she spoke, "I haven't slept well until I had you with me. Not until I knew for certain that you were safe."
Clarke watched her as Lexa blinked a few times after she admitted that. Clarke smiled up at her, "Thanks to you, I am."
Lexa returned her smile and reached down to grab Clarke's hand. She looked deep into Clarke's eyes, Clarke felt like she was piercing into her soul, seeing every part of her. She didn't say anything else she simply looked at Clarke. Clarke looked back, feeling herself getting lost in the sea of green again.
They lay like that for awhile still holding hands, Clarke tracing small circles on the back of Lexa's hand with her thumb. They heard movement outside the tent telling them the camp had started to stir and wake with the morning as well. The girls stole a few more quiet moments before they both slowly rose from the bed. When they had each washed and dressed Clarke helped Lexa strap on her leathers and her gear. Clarke strapped her dagger to her hip and was surrised to turn around and find Lexa holding a set of leathers and some straps. Clarke paused a second looking at her questioningly before she realized the look of determination on Lexa's face told her there was no arguing. Clarke shrugged and moved closer to the girl holding her arms out wide.
Lexa stepped forward and started placing the leathers, strapping them tight covering vulnerable parts of Clarke's body. She took a harness and laid it over Clarke's shoulder, it had a small metal ornately designed plate of metal that fit perfectly on Clarkes left shoulder. Clarke realized the harness had a sword scabbard that pressed tight against her back. That took her by surprise. She didn't have a sword, only the small dagger on her hip. Lexa strapped everything on tight but not painfully so. She lastly buckled a second dagger to Clarke's good thigh, her hands shaking slightly as she did so as they made their way softly to buckle the straps. Clarke looked down fondly as she realized it was one of Lexa's own daggers now strapped to her thigh. Lexa looked up at her and smiled before standing up and stepping back.
Her smile widened as she observed Clarke. Clarke felt embarrassed and exposed with the girls eyes on her, it was oddly exciting to have Lexa staring at her like that. She saw excitement in her eyes and maybe even…lust, Clarke silently told her little voice to shut up as she felt her cheeks grow hot. She watched Lexa look at her a little longer before turning back to head to a chest by the bed. She opened it and pulled an item out with dazzling speed.
Clarke heard the sound of steel and saw a flash of silver. Lexa was holding a beautiful medium sized katana sword. Clarke watched as Lexa took the sword and laid its blade flat between her two palms holding it like an offering. She crossed back to Clarke but said nothing. Clarke looked from her to the sword. It was beautiful, Clarke had only ever seen one other like it and that was Lexa's that was on her own hip. It was delicate, beautiful but deadly at the same time. It took Clarke's breath away as she realized the sword embodied Lexa. Clarke looked back to Lexa, "I don't even know how to use this."
Lexa smiled, "I've seen you with a dagger, trust me you can handle this."
Clarke looked back to the sword. She was still in shock of the beauty of it. It had a slender blade but Clarke could see just how sharp it was. The handle was black leather braided tight and just as beautiful as the blade.
"Clarke, please," Lexa said quietly as she took another step closer gesturing with the sword.
Clarke looked back at her and shook her head slightly. The sword scared her a bit but she didn't want to admit that.
"Clarke please, I know you no longer wear your gun," Lexa said quietly, "Please wear this and be safe." The last bit was only a whisper, but Clarke could hear the tone of desperation in her voice. Lexa worried for Clarke's safety, she only wanted Clarke to be prepared to defend herself. Clarke nodded, reaching out slowly for the handle.
The sword was light, evenly balanced. Clarke was surprised to find how natural it felt in her hand. The gun had always felt heavy and deadly in her hand, the feeling of the gun weighing on her chest making her feel small. The sword felt light and deadly but holding it seemed to be giving her strength. Clarke could feel courage build inside her making her feel powerful and brave. She found herself smiling and looked up at Lexa.
She was smiling too. She looked proud.
Clarke lifted her head and took a few steps back. She extended her arm and swung, the sword whipped with ease through the air. LExa moved and motioned to Clarke to follow her to the wooden dummy in the corner. The thing had deep gouges taken out of it everywhere. Clarke looked at Lexa, she really is deadly, but the thought didn't scare her. It excited her…
Clarke moved forward and began swiping at the dummy. Chunks of wood began to fly as she struck hard with each blow. It felt therapeutic, much like how Clarke felt when she practiced with her dagger. She listened as Lexa coached her, to move here and there, to step forward and back. Clarke was now sweating slightly but she continued her assault.
"Good Clarke!" Lexa purred behind her.
That only pushed Clarke harder, it thrilled her to hear the excitement and pride in Lexa's voice.
"Okay, now we really practice," she heard Lexa say after a few more minutes. The pride and excitement still ringing clear in Clarke's ears. She lowered the sword and turned to face Lexa.
"What do you mean?"
"Come on, we have a few moments before we leave for Polis," Lexa replied with a coy smile as she turned and head outside.
Clarke followed her out and into a patch of grass with few trees and obstacles. Lexa turned and stopped, she pulled out her own sword.
Clarke froze, "You've got to be kidding?"
"I hardly ever do that," Lexa smiled.
Clarke rolled her eyes, "I don't want to hurt you."
Lexa smiled wider, "I appreciate that. Now defend yourself because I do not wish to hurt you either." She raised her sword signalling to Clarke that she meant to strike soon.
Clarke bit her lip before fixing her stance and raising her sword.
Lexa made her move taking a step forward and gracefully swinging the blade at half speed, "block high Clarke."
Clarke responded to both lexa's instructing and instinct. She heard and felt the satisfying land of blade on blade. She smiled and took a step countering Lexa's. Lexa smiled radiantly as she watched Clarke adjust knowing what was coming. Clarke was going to take turn at attacking.
Lexa easily parried Clarke's next strike and Clarke stumbled slightly before regaining her footing. She heard a couple hoots and hollers from a small crowd that had begun to form around them. She smiled back at Lexa and stepped back as Lexa took a couple swings at her. Clarke mimicked Lexa's parries and footwork. Learning quickly from her instructions and movements.
"Good Clarke," she heard Lexa purr again, the sound pushed emotions into Clarke's belly as her stomach did a flip at the sound. It distracted Clarke slightly as she missed her next thrust. Before she knew it she felt Lexa twist from her position and swoop in behind her, blade up to Clarke's chest but not making contact so not to hurt her. Clarke felt Lexa's free hand find her arm and pin it to her side, "you look like a true warrior now" Lexa whispered, her breath tickling Clarke's ear sending new waves of excitement through her. Clarkes knees went weak and she felt her back crash into Lexa's chest before she gathered her legs beneath her again. Lexa laughed lightly and helped Clarke steady herself.
"Gather your things, we leave for Polis now," Lexa raised her voice to her warriors. There was 150 staying behind in the woods on Lexa's orders. As of right now the girls didn't know whether it would be to help defend or destroy Arkadia. Clarke tried to ignore the thought.
Clarke turned to face her as the warriors began to disperse, "Was I really any good?" she asked stupidly, she felt dumb for even asking. "It felt really good, does that make me a terrible person?"
Lexa smiled, "You are not a terrible person. A truly impossible feat that would be actually."
Clarke blushed as Lexa continued, "You are very good with a blade Clarke. I told you, you were born for this."
Clarke beamed. She couldn't help it. Lexa was bringing so many feelings and emotions to the surface that Clarke hadn't felt in as long as she could remember. Even on the brink of another war and more death here Clarke was feeling…alive. She looked at the sword and made a motion to put it in the scabbard on her back.
She missed.
"Shit," Clarke swore slightly embrassed and dejected. She was feeling so condident and proud up until that point.
She heard a very unnatural snort of laughter come from Lexa and Clarke flashed her a warning glare.
Lexa swallowed her laughter and stepped closer to Clarke grabbing the sword and swinging the girl around with her other hand so she could put the sword in the scabbard for her, "Believe it or not, that's the most difficult part."