The next couple days were filled with little more than visits from Abby between bits of restless sleep - for both Lexa and Clarke. The only time Clarke left Lexa's side was to make an overdue appearance with Pike.
"Welcome back Miss Griffin, please sit. I see you were treated well in Polis." Pike was sitting behind his desk with a smirk on his face.
Not moving from her position just inside the door, Clarke gritted her teeth. "Yes, that is how they treat you when you are respected and seeking to enact peace among people."
"How can you talk about seeking peace when they have set up a barricade around our camp?"
"They are simply trying to protect what's theirs; what has been theirs for almost 100 years. The Commander only wants what's best for the thirteen clans. We are the thirteenth clan, Chancellor."
"Ah yes, the Commander of the clans," Pike said as he traced a circular scorch mark on the metal table with his middle finger. "You seem to have a very personal relationship with this girl."
Clarke didn't move. "I am trying to do what is best for our people."
"By spending more time with her than you do with the people you claim to be protecting?" Once again, Pike looked at Clarke with a barely noticeable grin.
With that, Clarke marched over and practically slammed both her hands on the desk. "Did you want something specific from me, Pike?"
Pike leaned back and put up both his hands in mock surrender, "I simply wanted to welcome you back home."
Just then, Bellamy opened the door, "you wanted to see me, sir?" Seeing Clarke, he stopped short of the threshold.
Clarke stood up straight as she walked past Bellamy, looking right through him.
That night, Clarke dreamt of Lexa.
She saw the woman's smiling face, her beautifully captivating eyes looking back at her as Clarke sat behind her on a horse. They were riding from Polis to Arkadia, because Pike had finally reached out, seeking peace.
Suddenly, Lexa's expression changed from blissful hope to emptiness and despair as she looked down at where Clarke's hands were wrapped around her waist: they were covered in cold, black blood. Instantly rain began to fall as Lexa slumped over onto Clarke. Stopping the horse, Clarke dismounted and carefully pulled Lexa to the ground in front of her. "It's fine. You're going to be fine, Lexa." Clarke tried to stop the bleeding, but the harder she pressed, the faster it seemed to flow.
"Someone help!" Clarke screamed as thunder clashed above her. But there was no one around; all she could do was sit there and watch the woman she loved die right before her eyes.
"Clarke. Clarke!" Clarke woke violently, almost hitting Octavia in the face.
"Lexa! Where's Lexa, is she ok?!" Clarke looked imploringly at Octavia as she struggled to get up for the chair she now used as a bed.
"She's right here, Clarke." Abby was kneeling beside the bed helping Lexa drink, when she moved aside so her daughter could see she had only been dreaming.
Clarke scrambled over to the bed and knelt beside her mother. "Thank god," she whispered as she clasped Lexa's limp left hand in her own and raised it to her lips.
"Her fever is still very high, Clarke, she's not out of the woods quite yet." Replacing the cup on the table, Abby handed Clarke a wet cloth, which she gently pressed to Lexa's face and chest.
Weakly, Lexa looked at Clarke, "I'm fine, I need to get back to Polis." She coughed and inhaled sharply, removing her hand from Clarke's and holding it to her stomach.
Clarke's left hand followed, landing once more on Lexa's. Dropping the cloth, Clarke cradled Lexa's face in her right hand. "No, you're not, Lexa. You need to stay here and heal. You'd never endure the journey to Polis." Intertwining their fingers together over Lexa's wound, Clarke settled down on her knees. "Octavia has brought word that Titus is coming to visit you tomorrow."
Stepping forward, Octavia placed a reassuring hand on Clarke's shoulder and looked at Lexa, "his main concern is also for your health." She gave Lexa a quick smile and left the room to stand guard outside the door.
With a look of dread, Lexa attempted to prop herself up with her left elbow, but ended up dropping back down on the pillow. "I can't let him see me weak like this!"
"Stop trying to get up, and you might heal faster," Clarke said impatiently.
"Here, rub this on the wound three times a day, and drink this twice a day." Abby placed a round tin of fragrant brown paste and a small purple glass vial on the table. "I'll be back to check on you in a few hours." She looked from Lexa to Clarke, "get some sleep." As she reached the door, Abby paused briefly to look back at her daughter lovingly tending to Lexa.
Clarke dipped the cloth in the bowl once more and laid it across Lexa's forehead. "You are getting better, you know. You just need to give your body time to heal. You're the strongest person I know; you'll come back from this better than before." Clarke smiled as she tried to keep from crying. "You rest, I'll be back with some food."
When Clarke had closed the door behind her, Octavia placed a hand on her shoulder. "Titus is growing impatient, Clarke. He's bringing some grounder medicine with him tomorrow; from Nyko's stores."
Clarke turned around slowly, "Nyko's inventory contains poisons, Octavia, which he tried to use to kill Lincoln, if you don't remember."
"I know, but a lot has changed since then; you have gained their trust and respect. They have lived all this time using this medicine to heal people who have been wounded by the guns of the Mountain Men, we should…" the mention of the Mountain Men caused Clarke to shrug herself free from Octavia's hand. Aware of her mistake, Octavia placed her hand at her side, but didn't relent, "we should give them a chance."
Looking at the door, like she could see through to the dying woman in her bed, Clarke's shoulders fell. "Fine. But I am going to make Titus prepare three doses: one for Lexa, one for me, and one for himself." Then she turned, straightened up and walked away.