22. Haunting Memories Returns

Bellamy was watching everything that was happening on the bridge from a distance, but from the moment it all started he liked this meeting less and less. Not only was it because of the fact that Octavia was standing was so close to Clarke's grounder friend, too close for his liking, but also the fact that Clarke was vulnerable with only his sister, the Spacewalker and her grounder friend to keep her safe from that Grounder woman of a leader. And it seemed like Clarke's assumptions that the Grounder woman wouldn't show up unarmed was true as well and looked more than ready to attack by the inch of suspicion that danger was near. He didn't like the Grounder leader and based on how Clarke interacted with the woman his princess didn't seem to like the Grounder woman much either, but somehow managed to maintain the calm and polite persona despite obvious animosity between them. However that suddenly changed when Clarke's demeanor changed and was replaced by anger, but there was something else that was clouding her judgment. He had seen it once before, only for a moment, but back in the clearing where they had kissed he had managed to catch a glimpse of fear when she rejected him. And he knew quite well that Clarke was the type of person who would never show her true feelings in front of others, but apparently whatever that Grounder woman said had triggered a reaction from her. And it could only mean that the situation would turn to the worst.

"What should we do?" Miller asked, almost whispering in order to not make too much noise. "Should we attack or?"

Bellamy's teeth clenched against each other, as he trying to figure what to do since he wasn't sure what he was going to do either. They really didn't want to give off their position, but he needed to do something especially when Clarke began throwing her arms in the air in frustration.

"I will go down there, but the rest of you hold your position until I signal you to do otherwise," Bellamy ordered. He stood up and moved away from his hiding place behind a boulder and began slipping down the hill. As he did and came closer to the bridge he could only hope that the princess didn't try and be for once to impulsive to think rational till he got there.

"How dare you!" Clarke exclaimed in fury. Her arms was weaving in the air, almost attempting to grab Anya by her throat, but was only stopped by Lincoln grabbing around her waist in order to stop her from getting near the Grounder leader. "Why should these kids lose their life for your war? They all came down here to die, only to be given a chance to survive despite the odds and yet here you are asking them to die for the sake of others. How despicable you are..."

"Clarke," Lincoln whispered into her ear. "Please calm down."

However she couldn't calm down, especially after hearing that price. Haunting and painful memories was piercing through her mind like a knife. She didn't want to remember any of it and more importantly she didn't want these kids to experience the exact same thing she did months ago.

"You should know that this isn't just our war, Clarke," Anya scoffed. "This involves you and your people just as it involves us. You have seen what they have done to us; you have even gotten inside and experience how big of threat they are. Yet you lecture me about killing your people. Such a hypocrite you are."

Clarke glared at her, although if she thought rational about it she could understand her reasoning for asking for their assistance, but the fight wasn't worth it. It would either end up with them dead or live with unbearable guilt that killed from the inside.

"The princess is not a hypocrite," a familiar voice said, interrupting the conversation and oddly enough managed to stop the memories as well. She turned and saw Bellamy standing a few feet away on the end of the bridge behind her, holding his rifle and was currently aiming it at Anya. "She is a caring person, who thinks and considers everyone else's well being before her own. If she declines your price for peace then it is for the sake of her people instead of cowardice as you assume."

Wetness was starting to grow in her eyes, but refuse to let herself shed tears in front of Anya and the others. True, Bellamy was an ass most of the time, but he also more than that. He saw behind the walls she had put up and shattered them with ease. And he was backing her up despite knowing that it would result with a war with the Grounders because of it.

"And who are you?" Anya huffed, not liking to be lectured by someone she has never seen or met before.

"I'm Bellamy and is Clarke's co-leader of the 100," Bellamy replied sternly. It was obvious by now that neither of them liked being in each other's presence.

"Co-leader?" Anya smirked. "Is that what your people call being lovers these days?"

Clarke felt incredibly embarrassed and awkward over Anya's assumption. Sure, they had feelings for each other, but why the big jump to lovers? Nothing in their actions indicated they were actually in a relationship, right?

"Are you c-crazy?" Bellamy said. His cheeks were slightly red from embarrassment. "We are co-leaders and friends, not lovers. So don't overthink it."

Anya laughed tauntingly. Clarke assumed that Anya realized that she had stepped on a nerve, so she found it amusing to finally have something to attack them with since there wasn't much that had worked in the first place. Other than the topic about the war, Anya had never been able to pull Clarke's chain. But now she not only managed to find it, she could also pull both her and Bellamy as well.

"Things has certainly changed since last time I saw you," Anya said half-amused. Her question was directed to Clarke, but there was no surprise about there was a bigger meaning to the question than what was being said out loud.

"Yes," Clarke said strained. "It has, however I still won't let my people get harmed or killed because of their involvement in the war against the Mountain Men."

Anya scoffed over her answer, thinking she was being a coward for refusing to help. Mentally she sighed over Anya for not understanding anything. It wasn't that she didn't want to help or save the Grounders from the Mountain Men, but the consequence was too hard to carry especially from these kids who was just in their teens and shouldn't have to worry and deal with a conflict that was yet not a problem to them. She knew the unbearable guilt far too well and it almost killed her because of the war and her involvement in it. She wasn't going to let Bellamy, Octavia and the others go through with it and lose themselves in the process.

"You are truly a fool," Anya said finally. "But that is the price for the peace treaty. Take it or not, that is your decision, but remember that if you refuse to assist us in this battle then there is nothing stopping us from killing you and your people."

"That may be," Clarke replied in the same manner. "But there will be more of us coming down here soon, so don't assume that we are going to give in that easily."

Anya huffed in response and turned her back away. She mumbled something, but it was hard to hear what exactly due to the low volume, however Clarke could only assume it wasn't anything good so she didn't question her about it. Instead she simply let her walk away from the bridge and get back on her horse. And she and her entourage was just about to leave when she turned around one last time and said seriously, "If you do decide to be follow us in the war then go to Tondc. The Commander is expecting your return, Clarke."

Clarke sneered by the sound of the Commander, but didn't get the chance to reply before Anya and her people rode of in the direction where her clan was located. Leaving behind the five of them on the bridge confused and frustrated. But Clarke didn't think about Anya because her mind was already darkened by the mere thought of the Commander. The Commander and the Ark was on the same level of people she really didn't want to deal with, considering everything they have done in the past, however her hatred for the Commander was possibly even stronger than her hatred towards the Ark. She could somehow suppress her angry and unforgiving feelings while dealing with the council, but the betrayal the Commander had committed was too strong to simply forget and act civil against each other. So she couldn't forgive nor could she agree with being used as a puppet once again. They fooled her once, there was no way they were going to fool her again.

The return back to the camp was in complete silence, which was awkward and uncomfortable for all of them, but it seemed like Clarke was the one who was most quite as she refused to say anything to him or anyone else for that matter. She wouldn't even look at him directly, simply just staring in to the air with this tired and sad look on her face. Something was obviously bothering her and it had most likely something to do with what had happened back on the bridge, but whenever he or Octavia tried to ask her, she shrugged it off and mumbling something incomprehensible and returned staring in empty space. Once they were inside the camp's gates Clarke disappeared before he had a chance to stop and talk to her. Bellamy was getting frustrated over the evasiveness and went in desperate search around the camp to find her. No matter how much he searched and asked around camp for her no one seemed to know where the blonde-haired princess had disappeared. It wasn't until he passed the gate guards after running around the camp for the millionth time they had informed him that Clarke had ventured out of the camp to wash up in one of the nearby lakes in the area. He felt relief that she was safe and had not completely run off, but that relief quickly disappeared when he asked if she had someone accompany her and learned that she had indeed left alone. Frustrated over how stupid she could act, he informed the guards that he was going after her and they should worry about them before he quickly left in the direction of where the guards had seen Clarke going.

Bellamy was impressed when he finally found the lake, which was hidden behind a thick layer of trees surrounding the lake, making it a perfect hiding place. Normally you wouldn't enter such a thick layer of trees since it was also perfect for sneak attacks if you weren't careful, but apparently Clarke considered herself careful enough to be there without back-up. So he approached the lake, almost stomping, till he reached the tree closest to the lake and hid slightly behind it in order to take a peak. His intention wasn't to peak out of perverted desires, but rather out of concern for her. And what he saw caught him certainly off guard. Clarke was completely naked with her back towards him and was carefully rubbing pieces of moss over her arms, however that wasn't the only reason he had been caught off guard. On her back there was a huge burn mark, which looked like an explosive star against the pale skin. His mind wandered into confusion and wondered how in the world she managed to get such an injury and who had done this to her?

However before he had time to think further a sudden force pierced through the air and land hit the tree he was hiding behind.

"Whoever you are, show yourself," Clarke said with serious and annoyed voice. Bellamy stepped forward and saw her knife imbedded into the tree; she had obviously thought he was an enemy who was trying to attack her so she had thrown it to ward them off.

"Stand down, Princess," Bellamy said. His palms were, as indication that he was not out to harm her to harm her. "It is me, and let me just say you have quite a good aim for someone who has never shot a gun before a few days ago."

"What do you want, Bellamy?" Clarke said wearily. Her back was still facing him, but she was heading towards the place where she had stashed her clothes and slowly got out of the lake. Feeling incredibly shy and embarrassed he turned away, meanwhile Clarke put on her clothes. Apparently the girl wasn't very shy about being naked around him, although he wasn't sure if he should be pleased or not by the fact.

"I wanted to talk to you," Bellamy answered. He was still not looking at her, but once she said that it was okay he turned to look at her. "You disappeared before I had a chance to talk to you."

Clarke sighed heavily. Her shoulders shrugged and her gaze was turned away from him and then said, "Is it important? Because I'm really having a crappy day and I really don't want to fight with you."

"Yeah, well…too bad," Bellamy said lightly. "We might fight about it, but we need to talk about what we are going to do about the deal with the Grounders."

"You are right," Clarke sighed. "But I guess you also have many question as well."

Bellamy nodded and he sat down on the grass. Clarke didn't wait long before she took a seat next to him.

"Well, I suppose I should start from the beginning," Clarke stared at the shimmering water. "My past with the Grounders and the war with the Mountain Men."

.

.

.

Thanks again for the amazing response, including the criticism. I'm very aware of my mistakes, but I'm glad for the pointers and I'm trying at least to do better. However I wouldn't promise it will be successful any time soon, but I will try at least.

Please continue giving me reviews, favorite and/or followings, and the next chapter will come out soon enough.

xXrebelgirl07Xx