Day 66, At night

Ten. Ten nights in a row. That night too, Clarke's sleep was agitated. As what was becoming usual, Lexa stood, went to the blonde's bed, sat on the edge and slowly rubbed her back.

"It's ok. You're safe Clarke"

Honestly, the blonde had been having nightmares almost every night since Lexa had arrived. But it hadn't been THAT bad. These past ten nights, Lexa had had to wake up and try to appease the blonde. Her longest crisis, two nights ago, lasted half an hour. Half an hour of wild movements, jaw tensing, eyes watering, trembling, moaning Lexa's name and, most of all, half an hour of fear and sadness, both painted on the girl's face. Half an hour of torture for Lexa. Torture because she knew these dreams. These nightmares. Those images looking so much like memories, sounding so much like an awful reality. Lexa knew the malediction, the constant feeling of cold hands gripping her ankles and wrists, the screams echoing in the silent night even with nothing around, and those eyes following her everywhere. She knew the white faces, the warm red on her skin, and the cries of her heart every time she had had to torn through it.

"Lexa ?"

The brunette quickly wiped her eyes and looked at Clarke, a small smile on her lips. "It was just a dream" The blonde was sweating and panting, her heart obviously still beating way too fast "I'm here. You're safe" she added softly.

Clarke grabbed Lexa's hand on her chest, closed her eyes and took a deep breath "Say it again"

Lexa's smile became even softer and her voice more soothing "You're safe"

"Not that part"

Lexa bent down, resting her forehead on the blonde's. Then in a soundless voice, a simple breath she added "I'm here Clarke"

A shaky breath escaped Clarke's lips. "Again"

"Clarke. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere. Calm down, please" she had said those words in the most calm and soothing way possible but the 'please' sounded desperate despite Lexa's efforts to hide her worry.

"Stay"

Lexa nodded against Clarke's forehead "Yes. I'm staying here Clarke"

"Ok"

Slowly the blonde calmed down and when her breath finally became even, Lexa pulled back.

Clarke asleep, the brunette returned to her bed, wishing with her whole being she could take away those nightmares instead of somehow triggering them.

Day 75, early snowy morning

"Clarke ?"

"Sorry did I wake you up ?"

Lexa cracking an eye open noticed the blonde sitting at the table, and answered tiredly "You did"

Clarke, guilty said "Shit Lexa I'm sorry, I… I'll just go out-" while gesticulating nervously.

Lexa cut her "It's ok. Just… what were you doing ?" She sat in her bed, rubbing her eyes.

"I was reading"

"Out loud ?"

"…Yes"

Lexa frowned "Why ?"

Embarrassed, the blonde answered, embarrassed "I'm training… I want to be able to read stories to Selina correctly so, Yeah. I'm… training"

With a small nod Lexa said "Go ahead. Read out loud. Let me hear."

So Clarke read "There was once on a time a man who was about to set out on a long journey, and on parting he asked his three daughters what he should bring back with him for them."

Lexa stopped her "Here. You should say it like that" Her voice soften and she spoke slowly, accentuating some syllables, adding punctuation and variations. It was only a single sentence but it was the first one, the 'once upon a time' was the opening to the story's world. It HAD to be captivating. That's what Lexa's mother used to say. "You're talking to children. You have to exaggerate everything. Go on, and do as I showed you"

Clarke imitated Lexa as good as she could. The brunette nodded. Clarke just needed to have some faith in herself. It was true though that all she had been doing since she came on earth was improvising. It was normal for her to feel unsure sometimes. What Lexa couldn't understand was why this insecurity was showing itself for something so trivial and simple. It was kind of lovely but as much as Lexa liked this side of Clarke, what she wanted the most was the blonde to achieve her goals. So of course she would help her (not that she thought she was particularly good of course).

"Whereupon the eldest wished for pearls, the second wished for diamonds, but the third said, "Dear father, I should like a singing, soaring lark." The father said, "Yes, if I can get it, you shall have it," kissed all three and set out"

"No, not like that. The two first daughters are greedy and selfish but the third, obviously the father's favourite have to be caring and soft. The father have to answer this innocence and love from her by his own. Try again, try to take their place and think every word coming out of your mouth"

Lexa demonstrated and Clarke watched her in awe. Lexa was good. Like she was born for acting. Once again, Clarke copied her. They spent their morning repeating the text and acting.

The same day in the evening, alone in the house, Lexa grabbed the book they had been using in the morning and read. "My. . " The brunette was pointing with her finger and stuttering on every word. It was so frustrating. She knew she could memorize the longest stories but was incapable of reading. She had never really had the time to practice though. Of all the people she knew Anya was the only one that could read correctly, and that, on top of it, enjoyed it. But Anya was dead. And Lexa had had to prepare a war.

"You can't read English ?"

Clarke had just entered the house covered in snow and Lexa blushed slightly "I can. I am just slow"

"I can teach you."

"I do not need to."

"But you want to."

Lexa just nodded shyly. Clarke removed her coat and sat on the bed next to her. The blonde started to explain how this or that word were working but Lexa was distracted. Clarke was leaned on the brunette's side putting her weight on her in a way making it impossible for Lexa to pay attention to a single word the girl was saying nor the book on her lap. All she could see was Clarke's face close to hers, the movement of her lips and the way they were curling every time she looked up at her.

Lexa licked her lips nervously "In Polis" Clarke shut and blue met green. The blonde cocked her head to the side and Lexa swallowed thickly "There's a big building from the old world, filled up with books. I… I could take you there. One day."

Clarke's smile disappeared and she leaned her back on the wall, starring at the ceiling "You already asked me to come with you one time, remember ?" Clarke's tone was distant but not angry nor bitter, it sounded more like a fact. A fact that pierced Lexa's heart like a shot of her most talented bowman.

"I did. And I meant it"

Clarke looked back into Lexa's eyes and said honestly "I know you did. That is precisely why it took me time to understand your decision. But I did eventually" Lexa said nothing, just averted her eyes. After a few moments, Clarke finally asked "Say, you keep the promise you make right ?"

This time green met blue "Yes. If I can, I do."

"Then promise me you'll take me. That you'll show me Polis and those books"

Lexa thought for a moment. Future. She hadn't thought about it in a while. The ice queen was probably dominating all the region by now. It would be almost impossible for them to reach Polis' library safely. But what if they could ? What if one day they could ?

"One day. One day I'll take you there"

"You promise ?" asked, her tone tainted with uncertainty.

Lexa took a deep breath. Out of her mouth, her promises were absolute "Yes"

Day 85, warm afternoon

Clarke, possessed ten horses. There was the eldest, a 21 year old female named Pearl. She was the sweetest horse Lexa had ever seen. She was rather small but beautiful and white as the snow. The second eldest, King, was 19. The old roan stallion was calm and docile but still had the upper hand on his fellow male comrades. The second eldest male was Squirrel a solitary chestnut 15 year old (Lincoln's favourite). The third one was an energetic bay 8 year old. There were two 14 year old twin sisters, Marguerite and Dandelion, both black pinto. There was Onyx, 10 year old, pitch black and pretentious (she was beautiful and she knew it). Next to her, her young foal of almost two month now, grey as a cloudy sky so of course Clarke had named her Rain. There was also Octavia's 9 year old mare, well named Grumpy because of her moody personality.

And there was Silver, Clarke's mare. Roan but almost blue. Her mane and legs were so dark they seemed black. According to Clarke the 7 year old horse was calm and nice but stubborn and a real glutton. She also had a tendency to kick pretty much everyone she didn't like. Clarke was allowed to approach her obviously but it was in Lincoln and Octavia's best interest not to walk behind her or approach her too much (Lincoln had tried one day. He still regretted it).

Finally there was Lexa's horse. Or at least the one she had chosen the very first day Clarke had shown her the 'new members of her family'. The brunette had spent hours just watching at the animal. Tall, muscular, build for war ; dark bay with a black mane and grey eyes, she was perfect. Well, almost. She had a big quality : nothing could scare her. And she had a huge defect : nothing could scare her. Indeed what could be an advantage on a battlefield, was a risky bet in the wild. Clarke saw the horse fight a bear. A real, bear. A small one but still (of course Lexa had loved her even more after the blonde had told her about this episode). The mare was so wild and aggressive the bear fled. That was actually the only reason the breeders had kept her. The only reason yes, because the beast had another weak point : she had a bad personality. She was so inapproachable that even Clarke, 'the friend of animals' couldn't touch her. The result ? A dirty coat and a terrible matted mane.

But today it would change. Today Clarke had authorized Lexa to try to approach the horse everyone was affectionately calling 'the beast'.

Lexa was good with horses. That's why when she entered the field she was confident.

"She'll kick you out" warned Clarke.

"She won't. I've seen worse than this one" answered the brunette, her back to the blonde sitting on the wooden barrier.

"You really want her do you ?"

Lexa smirked. "She is the most beautiful and bravest horse I've ever seen" Of course she wanted her.

Clarke sighed "Beautiful, indeed. But I wouldn't have said brave. Wild, savage, reckless, even mean but not brave"

Lexa was walking straight in the horse's direction that had now raised her head to look at her. Then she stopped and turned to Clarke "I bet she will let me cut her mane today"

Clarke raised an eyebrow, a small smiling "My, my… If I didn't know you, I would swear you like competition !"

Lexa fought the urge to roll her eyes. But she felt good today, almost playful so she said "You are just afraid to bet against me"

The blonde's jaw dropped slightly and she grinned "Ok, I bet you won't be able to touch her"

Lexa put her fists on her hips and puffed her chest "What will you give me if I win ?"

"Whatever you want"

"Fine. Prepare yourself then, because I never lose a bet"

"Less talking, more proving horse master !"

Lexa turned back to the animal and started walking again. The mare lowered her ears and snorting loudly. Lexa slowed down but didn't stop. The animal moved to face the girl and reiterated her warning but once again Lexa didn't stop. The horse, now agitated, was stomping and shaking her head, decided to scare Lexa. The girl stopped and crossed her arms.

The horse was exactly how the brunette thought she would be. She had spent enough time watching her to know the animal was proud and territorial. Lexa had voluntarily stepped into her personal space. Only 13 feet were separating the two. Any other horse would have ran away by now. But the beast was stubborn and Lexa was openly defying her. The girl had spent her entire life showing people she was the strongest. She'd just have to do the same thing with this horse.

So she stepped closer. The mare was pacing nervously, neighing and snorting and prancing, kicking in the air. Lexa took another step and the horse ran into the opposite direction. She stopped then charged on the brunette like a bull in fury.

Lexa heard the terrified 'MOVE !' of Clarke but stayed still, amazed. She had never seen a horse do that. The beast stopped inches from her. The brunette could feel her strong and hurried loud breath on her chest. Lexa was standing straight, her chin raised, looking right into the blue eyes of the beast. Everything stilled, the only sound being the mare's breathing. Then slowly Lexa raised a hand. A few seconds later, she was touching the nose of the animal. After a few strokes though the mare stepped back and ran to the other side of the field and Lexa turned back, a smirk plastered on her face.

Clarke's jaw was hanging open. Lexa raised an eyebrow and said with a toothy grin "So ? Who owes me now ?" She jumped the barrier, passing by Clarke.

"Wait, it doesn't count, you said you'd cut her mane"

Lexa snorted. Challenge accepted.

No need to say that by the end of the day, the mare, now called Feisripa, the tiger, had gotten a new haircut.