As the sun rose over the city the extent of the devastation caused by the earthquake seemed worse now there was no more darkness to hide behind. Many people's homes were destroyed, their stalls reduced to nothing but piles of wood only the stronger structures such as Lexa's home, some houses and buildings that weren't made of wood had escaped with little or no damage. The walls that surrounded the city only had a small part collapsed and that could be rebuilt within an hour or two. Many people were still missing and the search for them continued, everyone that wasn't hurt were doing their best to help. Those that were too injured were crowded around the clearing waiting to be examined by Abby and a few other healers who were doing their best to treat everyone quickly and properly.
Lexa was among a group of people searching through large amounts of debris for any survivors, over thirty people had already been found dead and with every piece of rubble Lexa removed she prayed they would find no more lifeless bodies beneath them. A small cry grabbed her attention and she began searching at a quicker pace until finally after moving aside a large piece of wood she found a small child curled in on themselves and a deep gash on the side of their face.
"Mummy?" The girls voice was filled with fear.
Lexa shushed her gently. "No but we're going to find your mummy ok? First i'm going to take you to the healer so he can take a look at you ... Where does it hurt?"
"Just my head ..."
"Ok i'm going to move you now and i want you to tell me straight away if you start hurting anywhere else."
Picking up the young child delicately in her arms the Commander hurried to the clearing stopping infront of Abby who had just finished stitching someone's leg.
"She's bleeding from her head but says nothing else hurts." Lexa explained before Abby could even ask. "Have someone ask around about her mother aswell."
Abby nodded her understanding before concentrating on the job at hand, still examining the wound she called over to Octavia who was hurying past.
"There's some people over with Marcus all worried about their children go and ask them if any of them have a daughter aged between eight and ten."
"I have to get these bandages to Nyko get Clarke to do it."
"Clarke's in her room." Abby replied distractedly, she had asked the Commander as soon as she had spotted her after the earthquake making sure her daughter was safe.
"No she isn't i saw her earlier." Octavia called back over her shoulder.
Lexa's head whipped round at hearing the information. "Wait what do you mean you saw her? She was out here? ... alone?"
Octavia frowned not understanding what the big deal was. "Yeah." she answered slowly. "She was carrying someone who was hurt, bringing them over here probably."
"Your sure it was Clarke?" The Commander questioned.
"Yes why?"
"How long ago."
"About an hour and half." Octavia shrugged. "What's the problem?"
Lexa ignored the question instead she scanned the area grabbing the first guard she saw. "Find Jackson and tell him to report to me immediately and send someone to check mine and Wanheda's room to see if she's there. Then tell Titus to take a handful of guards and search the city for her. Now!" She commanded when he wasn't moving quick enough for her.
Running her hand fearfully over her mouth she continued examining the immediate area hoping to see a flash of blonde hair or catch a pair of deep blue eyes looking back at her. Instead Abby appeared in front of her with her hands on her hips and a worried look upon her face.
"What's going on? You said she was safe inside." she whispered furiously.
"I told her to stay in my room." Lexa insisted. "Octavia believes she saw Clarke but she may have been mistaken ... My people are already checking."
Abby resisted the urge to ask what Clarke was doing in the Commanders bedroom asking a more urgent question instead. "What about the guard that was supposed to be watching her?"
"That ... is what i'm about to find out." Lexa growled her eyes on the man walking towards them, lowering his head in respect.
"You sent for me Heda?"
"Where is Clarke?"
Jackson looked confused. "I do not know Commander, I was ordered to help in the city after the earthquake struck."
Struggling to keep her face passive Lexa glared at the warrior dangerously. "Not by me you wasn't, my orders were for you to keep Clarke safe. When exactly did i tell you to leave your post?"
Swallowing nervously under his leader's gaze Jackson's heart rate sped up. " ... Once the ground started to stop shaking ... Titus asked that everybody come outside to help straight away. I thought Wanheda would be safe because she was with you and that the people outside were more in need of my assistance ... Forgive me if i was mistaken Heda."
Lexa's fist came out of nowhere and struck the center of his face, the force of her punch knocked the warrior of his feet. "Get him out of my sight before i show him just how big a mistake he has made."
Two guards ran forward immediately and began dragging him away his head flopping unconsciously.
"If nobody was watching her ..." Abby said softly tears already forming in her eyes.
Octavia looked between the two women frowning. "Guys we're talking about Clarke ... What makes you think she would just stay cooped up in her room while people needed help? She's probably halfway through saving a bunch of people and gonna be majorly pissed that you've wasted a load of guards to go looking for her."
Lexa stayed silent still searching her surroundings and hoping Octavia was right, she would happily accept a sarcastic comment from the blonde right now ... As long as she was safe.
The guard she had first grabbed returned and cleared his throat to gain their attention. "Wanheda is not in either room ... Or in the building Commander."
Before Lexa could answer she spied Titus walking towards her and he was holding something in his hand. "Heda ... We searched the city and could not find Wanheda ... But we found this."
He held his hand open towards the Commander and Chancellor showing part of a torn white shirt covered in blood.
Lexa reached out slowly, swallowing all the different emotions threatening to explode from inside her. "Where did you find it?"
"A small section of the outer wall was destroyed ... we found it just outside."
Abby lunged at the Commander who did nothing to protect herself, instead two guards held her back as she screamed at their Heda. "You were supposed to keep her safe! You gave me your word!"
Lexa tightened her hold on what was left of Clarke's shirt as she watched Abby sob uncontrollably ... Doing her best to stop her own tears from spilling from her eyes.
Meanwhile Clarke was watching the Ice Queen cutting up an apple with the small knife she had produced earlier, the blade slicing through the piece of fruit easily. "Would you like a slice?"
The blonde shook her head remaining silent. "Are you quite sure? ... We wouldn't want you to die of starvation ... Not when there are so many more interesting ways to go."
Clarke knew the Ice Queen was trying to get a reaction of fear from her but she wasn't going to give it to her, she was not scared to die ... Apprehensive about the torture that was sure to come maybe but not death itself ... This was her punishment for all the deaths she had caused. ... Especially the deaths of the innocent at Mount Weather. ... People that had only tried to help ... Children that had done nothing wrong ... She accepted this was her fate.
Ignoring the people around her she was hit with a twinge of familiarity as she looked around the place she was being held captive, the room was not large and only had herself, Nia, a young woman and a guard inside but Clarke guessed there were more of the Queens warriors waiting outside. It suddenly dawned on her where they were. This was the same place Roan had brought her to after killing the three Ice Nation warriors that had tried to take her from him, which meant they were less than an hours walk from Polis.
Strong fingers gripped her face forcing her attention back on to the Queen who was now only inches from her. "Are you really so unconcerned with your own life that you dare to ignore me?" She hissed.
"My mind tends to wander when i'm bored." The blonde replied calmly.
"Then i will need to find ways of keeping your attention Wanheda." Nia said angrily pushing Clarke's face away roughly and nodding to the guard.
Without hesitation he walked forward and drove the handle of his sword in to the sky girls stomach forcing a grunt from her lips as she slid to her knees. The pain was immediate and the air was driven from her lungs just as quick, it took her a minute to be able to breathe properly again.
"As i was saying." Nia continued as though nothing had happened. "Your death was going to be quick ... Maybe not painless but quick. Then i learned something ..." She moved her hand around searching for the right word. "Delightful. The great and mighty Heda desires you ... Not just desires but cares for you deeply ... Is it love?" The Queen asked mockingly.
"It's bullshit, whatever Roan told you me and Lexa aren't even friends."
"I know about your disrespectful attitude towards the Commander." Nia explained waving her hand dismissively at Clarke's words. "And i also know of her refusal to punish you for it ... People have died for less yet she refused to even raise her voice to you let alone raise her hand against you. Why do you think this was?"
Clarke shrugged casually. "Maybe she felt guilty about betraying my people ... I don't know i'm not a mind reader."
"You think it is her conscience that stayed her blade? ... Are you really so naive?"
Clarke raised her eyes to the woman standing above her. "I am NOT naive."
"Oh i think you are." Nia smiled pleased she had hit a nerve. "You think it is past regrets that made her lenient towards you and all along it was her eagerness to get you into her bed ... I thought you would be more intelligent than this but sadly ... I am proved wrong ... It almost makes me feel sorry for you." She continued softly.
"You should save your pity for yourself." Clarke spat.
"And why would i do that? ...because the great Commander will kill me?" Nia sneered.
"No ... Because you have to walk around with a face like that."
The silence that followed the statement was deafening, all eyes were on the Queen who stood frozen the smile that had been on her face now gone and replaced with a look of pure rage. "What did you just say?"
"Are you deaf aswell as ugly?" Clarke laughed. "I've just realised why your people chose you to lead them, i mean it takes guts to wake up every morning looking like that and still going outside ... Good for you ... That's true strength if you ask me ..."
The rest of her opinion was cut off when the knife flashed before her face, leaning back instinctively causing the blade to slice only down her lips. The cut was deep blood flowing immediately, Nia pressed the tip of the knife to Clarke's throat.
"I am going to enjoy hurting you Wanheda ... I will savour every injury i do to that pretty little body of yours ... I will break you and you will beg me for mercy, then i will send you piece by piece to your precious Heda. I'll offer her the chance to give up her life for yours." The queen lowered herself to Clarke's eyeline. "And when she gives herself up ... And she will Wanheda i am certain of that ... I will make her watch you die ...and then i'll take her life too." She whispered before running her thumb across the blonde's lips and tasting the blood making Clarke recoil in disgust.
"Lexa might be a traitor but she isn't stupid. Her people come first ... She's proved that ... And they need her she wouldn't risk her life for me."
"You underestimate her feelings for you ... I have it on good authority that you are very important to her."
Clarke frowned at Nia's certainty. Roan couldn't know for sure how Lexa felt ...
"Who helped you?" Clarke questioned curiously getting to her feet.
Nia looked surprised at the change of subject but merely smiled. "I have no idea what you mean."
"Someone's obviously been passing you information ... And they must of helped you get me out of the city without being seen ..." Clarke began piecing it all together in her mind, there was no way Nia did this without inside help. "It's too well protected for you to just carry me unconcious through the front gate." Instead of getting an answer she received a series of blows to her face and abdomen unable to use her hands to protect herself she fell to the floor spitting the blood that had pooled inside her mouth.
"Cut a piece of her hair." Nia demanded.
A second later bloodied hands came in to view holding a knife and hacked away part of Clarkes braids.
"I want you to take it to Polis and present it only to Heda, tell her what has happened to her sky bitch ... Tell her what i am doing to her at that very moment your speaking to her ... Show them all Wanheda's blood that is on your hands. Only when you are sure you have their attention offer her the chance to change places with Wanheda ... If you are followed back by anyone but Heda." Nia pointed towards Clarke "... She dies."
The man nodded wordlessly and turned to leave.
"I'm going to die anyway." Clarke said her voice strained with the pain now throbbing through her body.
Nia leaned forward and grinned. "Yes ... But that's our little secret."