Another update for you lovely people, a big thanks for your reviews i absolutely love reading them! I wasn't planning on updating until after the weekend but the review from sailor sayuri convinced me to update sooner (i'm a sucker for big puppy dog eyes) Hope you enjoy this chapter. Happy reading! X

It was early morning the sun had been up barely an hour and Lexa was sat on her throne in the meeting hall one leg crossed over the other and her hand fiddling distractedly with the handle of her sword, she had been absent minded since Clarke's outburst last night. She wanted to help the blonde fight through these feelings ... Take away her guilt and pain ... Promise her that everything would be ok. But she also knew from her own experiences the only person that would convince Clarke of these things was herself. Lexa began thinking of different ways she could help nudge Clarke in the right direction get her to see the good she did bringing down the mountain instead of focusing only on the bad, maybe she should show her all the families that had been reunited with eachother and how happy they were by having loved ones back with them when they were sure they were gone forever. The only thing she knew for sure is she never wanted to hear Clarke being so unconcerned about her life ever again, it all made sense now, the lack of fear she showed upon hearing a price was on her head ... Her eagerness to leave the safety of Polis for the danger that surely waited for her outside the city walls.

"Heda? ... Heda?"

A hand was laid gently on Lexa's shoulder to gain her attention, looking up at the touch she rubbed her temples in frustration. "What is it Titus?" she asked through gritted teeth.

"Sorry to interrupt your thoughts but Chancellor Griffin and Marcus Kane wish to speak with you."

Lexa nodded her approval and hoped the Chancellor was in a better mood than the one she had arrived with late last night, Abby had insisted on seeing Clarke straight away and was pissed when Lexa refused point blank as Clarke was asleep and she wouldn't allow her to be disturbed.

Marcus walked in first obviously at ease and bowed his head respectively towards Lexa who nodded back, next came Abby who unlike Marcus was not relaxed and glared at Lexa while clenching her jaw as if trying to stop herself hurling insults at the Commander.

'Like mother like daughter.' Lexa thought to herself.

"Welcome Marcus Kane and Chancellor Griffin kom skaikru-"

"Let's just skip the pleasantries shall we? ... I want to see my daughter."

Lexa kept her face void of any emotion even though she was annoyed at being spoken over. "Fine but first there are a few matters we need to discuss."

"Like what?" Abby snapped.

"Like the fact that Clarke is in a lot of danger ... I'm sure you know the title she has been given since bringing down the mountain?" Lexa asked coldly.

"We know people are calling her Wanheda but we aren't sure exactly what it means." Marcus answered rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"The term Wanheda ..." Lexa replied getting to her feet and watching the Chancellor "... Means Commander of death and it is believed by many that if you kill Wanheda you get her power, all the deaths Clarke caused at Mount Weather. ... And to my people before our truce means that certain people assume this to be a huge amount of power ... Power they are willing to do anything to get."

Marcus turned to Abby a look of realization clear on his face. "This might explain those people that were spotted outside camp!"

"What people?!" Lexa asked sharply, glaring at the man in front of her.

"Erm ... A couple of days after Clarke left Camp Jaha a few men were spotted in the woods just outside, they seemed to be watching us but never did anything ... Even when more of them showed up they still didn't attack, we kept an eye on them but they just ended up leaving."

"When did they leave?"

" ... Just before your messenger arrived to let us know Clarke was here in Polis and safe." Abby answered. "Were they there looking for Clarke? ... How do we know they're not here right now?"

Lexa could see the panic in the Chancellor's eyes. "I assure you Clarke is safe, she has guards watching her day and night although i think it unwise to inform her of this."

The Commander admitted earning a slight smile from the two people before her.

"I also have guards at the city entrance and stationed outside my home not to mention all my warriors sleep here when they aren't training or on duty, i have made sure she is safe. The men you saw were most likely warriors from the Ice Nation ... It is their Queen that wishes to possess the power Clarke has gained. Just because you have not seen them does not mean they are not still there ... Waiting to see if you take Clarke home before making their move."

Abby nodded to show she understood, secretly grateful for all Lexa had done to ensure Clarkes safety. "I would really like to see her now ... Please." Abby asked politely.

"Of course i shall go and inform her that you're here."

"Heda i can go if you wi-"

"No it's fine Titus, perhaps you can bring up some refreshments for when we return everyone must be hungry." Lexa suggested before leaving Marcus and Abby to talk privately about all they had just learned.

For the second time in two days Lexa found herself standing outside Clarke's room not getting an answer, turning towards the guard who was lurking just out of sight she spoke in a quiet voice. "Are you certain no one has left or entered this room since i was here last night?"

"Yes Commander i am sure."

Remembering how Clarke had almost escaped on her first day here Lexa made the decision to let herself in. Gently opening the door she slipped inside looking around. The bed was made neatly and nothing looked out of place but she couldnt see Clarke anywhere, just as she was about to call out her name the blonde emerged from the bathroom wearing nothing but a towel which she almost dropped in surprise when she saw Lexa just standing there.

"Shit!" Clarke exclaimed holding the towel a lot tighter. "What are you doing just walking in here?"

"I'm sorry ... I didn't mean to scare you ... I did knock but ... You er ... You didn't answer so ... So i thought maybe something was wrong which is why i ..." Lexa realised she wasn't making much sense, she was trying to ignore the way the water still clung in tiny droplets to Clarke's skin.

"Well everythings fine so you can go."

"What? ... Oh yes! i'll wait outside ... Let me know when your finished and i'll ..." Her voice trailed off as she backed away.

Clarke raised her eyebrows at Lexa's stammering, waiting until she was out of the room to begin getting dressed. Rummaging through the trunk of clothes she found a pair of old ripped jeans and a long white shirt. Certain she was going to see her mum this morning she wanted to look clean at least which is why she had swallowed some of her pride and taken a bath and helped herself to some clothes.

Once she was completely dressed she lingered for a few moments, she was desperate to see her mum but hesitant of what Lexa might say about their conversation last night, realising she couldn't hide in her room for ever she crossed the room and opened the door, the Commander was standing against the wall opposite uncrossing her arms when she see Clarke.

"Your mothers here, I'll take you to see her." she said noticing the blonde was looking everywhere but at her.

Clarke nodded and followed Lexa down the hall relieved at the silence as they walked, however as they came to the meeting hall Lexa held out a hand to stop Clarke walking any further.

"We need to speak before you go in there." Lexa stated quietly.

"What about?"

"You know what."

"Look if this is about last night I didn't actually mean what i said ok ... I was just angry and ... I said it. So can we forget about it and let me go home." Clarke suggested avoiding Lexa's gaze.

"You didn't mean it? So you don't want to die?"

"Of course not."

Lexa paused gazing at the blonde thoughtfully. "Why don't i believe you?"

Clarke felt her frustration climbing, this conversation needed to come to an end she was not going to stand here and talk about how she was feeling ... Not to anyone and especially not to Lexa.

"Maybe because your an idiot but whatever the reason is ... It's not my problem." Clarke shrugged before attempting to walk around the Commander who moved in front of her again.

"This is not something that is just going to go away Clarke, you need to talk to someone instead of bottling it up like this."

"There's nothing to talk about so will you move out my way" Clarke replied doing her best not to shout.

Before Lexa could say another word footsteps came from the other end of the hallway.

"Clarke! You have no idea how good it is to see you." Octavia smiled hurrying to give the blonde a hug. "You been ok?"

"Fine." Clarke lied returning her friends smile.

"Lincoln's been showing me around the city it's kind of cool ... The weapons ... The food ... The gossip." Octavia raised her eyebrows at Clarke.

"What gossip?"

Octavia gestured towards Lexa."That last night you let Heda carry your arse back here and she didn't even break a sweat ... You could of at least tried to put up a fight Princess."

"I did! It's not my fault i was picked up by the fucking terminator." Clarke muttered.

"God i loved that movie!" Octavia smiled.

Lexa cleared her throat. "Your mother is waiting Clarke perhaps you can catch up with Octavia later?"

Octavia's eyes widened at the look Clarke gave Lexa and held her hands up infront of her. "Yeah you should go see your mum, she's been worried abut you a lot lately."

"I'll come find you in a bit?"

"Don't worry princess ... I'll be back." she joked throwing Clarke a wink before walking away.

Clarke rounded on Lexa as soon as Octavia was out of sight. "You didn't have to be rude you know, we were just talking. Anyway your the one who was stopping me from getting to talk to my mum in the first place."

Resisting the urge to groan Lexa stayed quiet and opened the door closest to them ushering Clarke inside.

Abby ran forward immediately taking the blonde into her arms and squeezing her tightly.

"You've lost weight."

"I missed you too." Clarke replied sarcastically with a smile.

"Your ok though? How did you get those cuts on your face?" Abby asked already examining her daughters injuries.

"It doesn't matter ... Can we just go home now please? I can't wait to get out of here."

Silence filled the room making the smile slide slowly off her face, Abby avoided her gaze and stared at Marcus instead.

"Actually your mother and i have been talking and ... "

"And what?" Clark prompted.

"We were going to ask the Commander if you could stay here a while longer just until the threat on your life is over."

Clarke backed off running her hands through her hair. "Tell me this is a joke ... Mum? ... Your not seriously considering this?"

Abby reached out towards her daughter flinching when her hands were pushed away angrily. "Clarke listen to me, if the Ice Nation tries to take you from our home i'm scared we dont have good enough defences to stop them ... I can't stand the thought of you getting hurt."

"This is you!" Clarke shouted turning to face Lexa. "You've put all this bullshit in their head."

"I have done no such thing Clarke and you know deep down what they are saying is true." Lexa focused her gaze on Abby. "We will keep her safe here if that is what you wish. You have my word that i will do all that i can to make sure no harm comes to her."

"Thank you."

Clarke laughed in disbelief. "Thank you? Your thanking her? She betrayed us before and your going to trust her word? ... This is insane!" She stared pleadingly at her mother. "Just let me come home ... Please?"

"I'm sorry." Abby replied shaking her head tears filling her eyes. "We're trying to do whats best for you."

The anger that was always so close to the surface these days welled up again, clenching her fists Clarke glared at all of them. "You know what? I am so sick of people doing what they think is best for me ... I know whats best for me, this might come as a shock to you all but this is my life! And i say i should be able to go home not be stuck here with the biggest traitor i've ever clapped eyes on."

"That's enough." Marcus interrupted. "I understand your angry but the decision has been made ... Your going to have to accept that."

"... Fuck you ... Fuck the lot of you." Clarke sneered before turning and storming out of the room shoving lexa's shoulder with her own as she walked past Ignoring Marcus's demands to apologise to the Commander.

"I'm sorry she shouldn't of done that." Abby said slightly worried Lexa would change her mind about Clarke staying.

"I've become accustomed to Clarke's behaviour toward me these last few days Chancellor, don't worry about it."

"If she's been like this the whole time ... Why are you so keen to help her?" Abby asked slightly confused.

" ... I have my reasons ... Anyway ... I understand you are open to negotiations between our people, i'm sure we could learn much from eachother."

"Maybe we can discuss it later ... I should make sure Clarke's ok."

Marcus laid his hand on Abby's shoulder stopping her from leaving. "I think it best to let her calm down, we can go find her later ... Maybe tomorrow ... get her to see sense."

Abby looked unsure but didn't disagree. Marcus spoke directly to Lexa. "We can offer you plenty technology wise, we ask only that you pass on your expertise at hunting and growing food so we can survive when our food supply runs out. The main thing we wish to talk to you about ... is turning Mount Weather in to a hospital ... we will treat all of your people not just our own."

Lexa held up a hand to stop him talking. "You wish to take over the mountain? You think my people will accept that you have access to its missiles and other dangerous weapons that they thought they no longer had to fear?"

"We only wish to use what can save lives." Abby insisted. "You can have your own people there for as long as you want to make sure we destroy everything else.

"Think how much easier life will be if everyone has a place to go when they are sick or injured," Marcus implored.

Lexa considered the possibilities. "You will destroy everything that can be used against us?"

"You have our word."

"I will need to discuss this with the other clans ... If they agree ... Then you can use it as a hospital and i will be sending some of my men with you, some to learn your ways of healing and some to get rid of what needs to be destroyed."

"Thank you."

"Wait until a decision has been made before you thank me ... Now please sit we have much to discuss."

After a few hours everybody had come to an agreement and both parties were happy with the outcome of the meeting, Abby and Marcus accepted lexa's offer of getting someone to show them around the city while Lexa herself went in search of Clarke, thinking the best place to start would be her room where the blonde was probably still sulking so she headed there first. Upon arriving she saw Octavia leaving and looking worried when she saw Lexa approaching.

"Is Clarke in there?"

"Er ... Yeah but you might not want to disturb her."

Lexa lifted her chin slightly. "And why would that be?"

"Just ... Take my word for it." Octavia squirmed uncomfortably at the look the Commander gave her. "She's had a bit to drink ... And when i say a bit ... I mean a lot. She's in one hell of a mean mood."

Lexa sighed heavily. "Where did she get alcohol from?"

"Some girl gave her some stuff for working and Clarke traded it for some cider and a few other things."

"Jade?"

Octavia shrugged. "Didn't catch her name."

A loud thud came from inside Clarke's room. "I'll deal with this."

Octavia nodded and hurried away leaving Lexa to handle Clarke and her bad mood.

Clarke meanwhile was face down on the floor after tripping over her own feet, she hadn't really drunk before and it was hitting her faster than she expected, but this felt good she was no longer focusing on what she had done at Mount Weather ... She felt free ... Nothing mattered. Strong hands picked her up from the ground and helped her stand upright.

Thinking Octavia had returned she was about to apologise for being cruel but stopped when she saw who was actually beside her. "You ... Are like a shadow ... Following me all the time ... You know that? ..."

"Is that right?" Lexa said unperturbed. "You are like a baby ... One that cant even stand up."

"Yeah well ... I blame it on the gravity." Clarke whispered laughing at her own joke and picking up the final bottle of cider.

"And i thought it was something to do with the amount of alcohol you've consumed." Lexa suggested taking the bottle from her hands and pouring the contents outside.

Clarke sighed loudly and rolled her eyes. "Why are you still saying words to me ... Your ruining my mellowness."

"I came to see if you had calmed down and to bring you a message from your mother, she loves you and just wants you safe and happy Clarke." she explained watching her throw herself face first on to the bed.

"I'm overjoyed." Clarke mumbled sarcastically.

Resisting the urge to grab Clarke and shake her the Commander sat down in the chair next to the table. "We're going to be in each others company for a while, we need to at least be civil."

"I'll pass thanks."

Closing her eyes for a moment and trying to remain calm before continuing. "You can't spend your whole time here pushing away everyone that's trying to help you."

"Watch me."

Lexa bought down her fist hard on the table infront of her and standing abruptly making Clarke look up in surprise. "How can one person be so infuriating?"

"It's a gift." Clarke said burping loudly.

"It's tiresome! Your constant sarcasm-" the rest of what she was about to say was forgotten as Clarke sat up quickly throwing up the contents of her stomach everywhere, she laid back down on the bed swallowing almost continuously, knowing this was a sign that she was going to be sick again Lexa approached the bed and picked Clarke up carrying her carefully to the bathroom, placing her infront of the basin and holding her hair back as she carried on puking, the last thing she remembered was the Commamder cleaning her face with a damp cloth and being too exhausted to stop her.

When she woke hours later it was dark, lifting her head from the pillow which she instantly regretted as her head pounded as though she had been hit by a truck, groaning in pain she vowed never to drink again and buried her head further into the pillow enjoying how nice and fresh it smelled, she was still tired and could easily fall back to sleep.

"There's a glass of water by the bed for you."

Clarke looked in the direction the voice came from and saw Lexa sitting in the chair beside the bed.

"How long you been there?" Clarke asked quietly.

"... All night."

"Well there was no need." Clarke said grabbing the water and gulping it down.

"Where else was i supposed to go."

"Try your own room."

"This is my room." Lexa stated calmly. "Yours needed cleaning, i trust you remember why?"

Clarke tensed at the information, she was lying in lexa's own bed, she wanted to jump up and leave but everytime she moved it made her head throb more, accepting that she didn't have the energy to be stubborn this time she relaxed back into the bed. "Yeah ... Sorry about that."

"Was that an apology from the great Clarke Griffin?"

" ... Nope."

"Sounded like one."

"Your going deaf in your old age." Clarke joked sleepily.

Relieved that Clarke's attitude towards her was beginning to change Lexa leaned back in to the chair and closed her own eyes falling asleep with a smile on her face.

A couple of hours before dawn and both women were woken by a loud rumbling sound a split second before the room began to shake violently. Lexa jumped from her chair grabbing Clarke and pulling her to an open doorway shielding her body with her own until the tremors died away a few minutes later.

"What the hell was that?"

"An earthquake ... They happen sometimes, there not usually that violent ... Or long." Lexa explained looking round the room that was now a mess. "Are you ok?"

Clarke nodded and pulled herself from lexa's grasp, walking to the balcony she looked out at the city shocked that some of the smaller and weaker structers including some houses were partly destroyed by the earthquake.

"Holy shit." She turned back to Lexa. "We have to help them."

"We will but you need to stay here." Lexa replied hurrying out the room. Clarke ignored the request and followed her.

The Commander began shouting orders to all the guards within earshot as she ran outside, Clarke was relieved to see her mum and friends were safe all of them already helping lift the rubble searching for injured people.

The city was in a panic, people running everywhere shouting out for family members they couldn't find in the chaos, Clarke ran forward to help a middle aged man lift a pile of heavy wood off a young boy, once they got him free they carried him gently to a corner with the rest of the injured.

A man grabbed Clarke's hand as she ran by. "Please my son ... He is stuck ... Please help me."

"Where is he?"

"Over by the gates the house just collapsed ... He was still inside."

"Lead the way." Clarke nodded following him both running as fast as they could.

When they got closer to the edge of the city the man spoke again. "We're almost there, you have to help me save her!"

Clarke stopped in her tracks noticing how quiet it was here. "I thought you said it was your son?"

"Did i?"

Clarke began backing away something wasn't right she needed to get back to Lexa and quick. For the second time that night everything went black as she was hit hard in the back of the head.

Regaining consciousness however many hours later Clarke went to rub the spot she had been hit but found her hands chained to a wall, wondering what the hell was going on she tried pulling at them but she might aswell of wished herself free for all the good it did her.

"Well well look who decided to join us." said a voice Clarke had never heard before.

A woman walked slowly towards her with an evil look on her face, watching Clarke as if she was the most interesting thing she had ever seen.

"With an invite like that how could i refuse?" Clarke said refusing to be scared. "Who's the host?"

The smile left the mystery womans face, disappointed Clarke seemed so calm.

"I am Nia ... Queen of the Ice Nation."

"I imagined you taller."

"You mock me?" Nia snarled.

Clarke shrugged her shoulders. "I was just saying."

Nia's smile returned as a small knife appeared in her hand, walking closer to the blonde she whispered happily. "I'm so pleased your awake ... I didn't want you to miss out on the fun."