a/n Probably 2-4 chapters to go. But not everything in the story is finished yet so nothing is set in stone. Pairings will most likely stay what they are. Next time I want to try to write something darker and with more action - It´s difficult to write good action scenes. This story became a bit different than I had thought, but then I didn´t really plan when I wrote the first chapter.
On with the story
Chapter 18
The Ark
While the leaders, which by now mean Clarke, Lexa, her seconds and Bellamy, are planning for the upcoming assault there is a celebration of the union between the sky people and the grounders. There had been very little friction considering the two groups had been at war. Most realized that there had been mistakes made on both sides, and the grounders hatred of the mountain men far overshadowed their conflict with the sky people. The union was welcomed on both sides.
As a symbol of good faith Lexa had already sent a messenger to let the people in her village know that Murphy should be released. He would probably be back the next day.
Raven beams and silently thanks Clarke when she hears the good news. She is sure the blonde had something to do with it. She would thank her later, now it´s time to celebrate. She grabs a drink and heads into the mess hall.
The next day
They now have plan, Clarke knows it´s not perfect, but it is their best shot. She dreaded having to fight a group that included little kids. But their cruel leaders had sealed their fate with the killings and the experiments. She decides to run the plan by Raven, that girl had a good head on her.
Raven´s workshop
Raven is a little hung over but the night was totally worth it. There had even been strange, but exhilarating tribal dancing - and a lot of alcohol. These grounders knew have to party.
She is working to fix a faulty rifle when Clarke walks in. They had become closer in the last few days, Raven both liked Clarke and respected her strong leadership abilities.
"So, looking forward to Murphy coming back today?" Clarke sports a teasing smile. "I saw you two getting cosy on the trip to Lexa´s village. At one time I would have called you crazy, now I´m not so sure"
"Let´s just say that he grows on you" Raven laughs back. "And he is an excellent kisser, so there´s that"
Clarke is happy for her. If Raven felt for Murphy what she has started to do for Bellamy, it sure felt good. Clarke wondered if Raven knew about Murphy´s past. She decided it should be his story to tell. Clarke relayed the plan they had agreed on and she was pleased that the clever mechanic came up with a couple of ideas for improvement. Clarke was glad that she ran it by her.
Now she wanted to see Bellamy.
The Ark
Murphy stumbles back into camp later that day, looking like his old beat up self, supported by one of the grounders. It turns out Lexa´s messenger had managed to get there just in time.
He had been on the floor, dazed, Tristan about to give him the final stab with the sword. Before he could get that far though the oldest man in the village had walked in. He had been intending to let Murphy know that he was free and could return to his people. This man had earned the respect of all the villagers, including Tristan. He didn´t hesitate when he saw what was about to happen.
He just dragged Tristan, who surprisingly enough followed without protesting, out of the tent while saying in a steady, authoritarian voice. "You were to leave that boy alone". And with that Tristan was gone. Murphy hadn´t believed his lucky escape. That had been close! He had just laid there on the ground, for how long he couldn´t remember. One of the older grounder women had patched him up best she could, their real healer was at the Ark. Then he had made his somewhat painful way back to ark.
Before he has the chance to look for Raven Clarke is there. She gives him a hug and drags him away to the infirmary for a check-up. "It almost feels like home in here" Murphy smirks while gesturing to the room filled with medical equipment. And with that Clarke thinks he is probably in OK shape.
She examines him anyway, it´s almost an old habit. He´s not badly hurt, just beat up. His body is full of scars and welts, and Clarke sees that some are old, much older than since they landed on earth. She decides to probe him to see if he wants to open up about his past on the Ark.
"Where did you get all these old scars Murphy, did you hurt yourself a lot when you where younger?"
She can feel him stiffen under her fingers
"I don´t want to talk about it, so leave it" The friendly tone from before is gone. Clarke finishes with a couple of stiches to his lip and leaves him alone to rest.
Raven sees Clarke leave and goes in when she is out of sight. "Hey" she stands in the doorway, "What happened to you?"
Murphy smiles. Finally!
"Tristan happened".
"Oh, that guy from the grounder village. You ok? "
"Yeah, I´ve had a lot worse". Well that is the honest truth Raven thinks.
She sits down on the bed. He doesn´t know what to say so he pulls her down for a kiss. They don´t get up for a while.
When Abby needs the room for a patient with appendicitis Raven and Murphy decide to head out to the mess hall where a small gathering of grounders and sky people were chatting amiably, sharing some drinks. Murphy feels elated for once and not really following doctor's orders he soon finds himself in the midst of a crowd, glass raised, laughing. He looks drunk, but happy, Raven thinks.
Suddenly Monroe comes in from the outside. She just finished training with some of the grounders. As she takes a drink she notices Murphy and glares at him, "Oh, you´re back again" she says sourly. Murphy suddenly makes a decision,
Maybe it is because he is drunk and feels good that he suddenly is not afraid to openly acknowledge their connection. He looks seriously at Monroe and starts to speak.
"Listen, I want to tell you something. I know you recognize me. I know I was cruel to you. I did what I had to survive – not that that is an excuse. I wanted to teach you what I knew and I did it in the only way I knew how. I´m not proud of the boy I was, forcing you to do those fights, and training you like that. My excuse is that that was I wanted you to survive, like I did. I know this is much to ask, but I was a bastard" He pauses
"I… I am more sorry than you can ever know. Can you forgive me?" Murphy almost whispers that last part. He doesn´t feel drunk anymore.
Monroe is difficult to read. "Maybe" she says and storms off.
Everyone stares at Murphy. They all had heard about the pits.
Raven gives Murphy a warm look. He looks grimly back and turns to walk away. "I´m sorry", he mouths. "I have to go". He feels a sudden need to get away from all these people.
And with that he leaves the room. He makes sure to bring a bottle of moonshine.