It had been hours since Lexa had sent two of her best warriors to try and track Clarke's whereabouts, she was willing to send a larger group but Titus had interfered at that point insisting everyone was needed to help start rebuilding what had been destroyed. Marcus had spoken up at this point saving Titus from a barrage of insults, he suggested to Lexa she send only a couple of her people ones that had the most experience at being able to find those who don't want to be found, not wishing to waste more time arguing Lexa agreed and was now seated in the meeting room waiting to hear any news. Abby was pacing around throwing dirtly looks in the Commander's direction every so often but remaining silent.
Lexa was watching her, her face neutral but inside it was as though her own feelings were fighting a war, on one hand she was angry at the blonde for putting herself in such danger, she had told her to stay in the room but Clarke had stupidly ignored her request and now she was gone ... On the other hand Lexa was more worried than she could ever remember being about anything, it was taking all her willpower to stay seated and not run outside to search for Clarke herself ... Anything could be happening to her right now, the Ice Queen was well known for her methods of causing unimaginable pain ... Or worse she could already be dead.
Lexa's eyes continued to follow Abby's progress throughout the room, the constant pacing was making her more anxious. "Will you just sit down." She snapped at the Chancellor.
"... I am worried about my child so no i will not sit down ... I should be out there helping to find her ... And so should you!" Abby snapped back harshly.
"I have sent my best trackers to search for any clue as to where Clarke has been taken, your presence would of done nothing but slow them down." Lexa replied doing her best to remain calm.
Abby ignored the Commander's words and continued her journey from one side of the room to the other. Titus entered and strolled towards Heda who immediatly gave him her attention. "Any news?" She asked hopefully.
"No Heda, I'm here to speak with you about the plans for rebuilding."
"Not now Titus." Lexa interjected slumping back in her seat disappointment clear on her face.
Now standing before her Titus spoke in a quieter voice. "Yes Heda this is important, your people need you and you sit here hidden away focusing your efforts on finding Wanheda when she most likely left of her own free will."
"You were the one that found part of her shirt covered in blood Titus, you know she did not leave here voluntarily."
"There is no proof it belongs to Wanheda ... She has been wanting to leave since the moment she arrived Heda ... The devastation caused by the earthquake would of been the perfect cover for her to make her escape."
"ENOUGH! ... I know Clarke ... She would not of left while there were people dying or calling for help ... Her conscience would not allow it never mind her heart."
Titus frowned at the softness that appeared in Lexa's tone when she spoke of the blonde. " ... She is not the same person she was before the mountain ... She has changed ... Everyone has seen this."
"Her attitude, strength and determination to depend only on herself maybe ... But underneath it all she is still kind hearted Titus and nothing you say will convince me otherwise." Lexa insisted confidently.
Abby watched the exchange silently, Pleased that Lexa could see past her daughters hard exterior that had appeared from nowhere but she kept these thoughts to herself, instead she continued to pray wherever Clarke was she was still alive and they would find her in time.
A loud knock caused Lexa to sit up straighter. "Enter!" She demanded instantly.
Two guards made their way inside and between them was an Ice Nation warrior, Lexa recognised him instantly, the bald well built man was unmistakably Nia's most trusted subject. He was usually the one to deliver the final blow to anyone who went against his Queen.
"Foster from Ice Nation wishes to deliver a message Heda." informed one of the guards.
Lexa gazed intently at the man who was watching her arrogantly a slight smile on his face, she noticed the blood that was stained across both hands hoping that it wasn't Clarke's but knowing deep down it was. "You came to speak ... So speak." she demanded her voice becomng deeper with anger.
"Queen Nia asked me to inform you ... That she is currently ... What's the word she used? ... Entertaining Wanheda."
Abby stumbled forward in her eagerness. "She has Clarke? ... Is she ok?... Is she alive?"
Foster acted as though she wasn't even there, ignoring the question he continued to watch the Commander whose face gave away nothing. "Why does she wish for me to know this?"
"She thinks you should also know that Wanheda is greatly injured ... But not yet dead."
Lexa swallowed the pure hatred that rose inside her and gritted her teeth. "You have harmed her Foster?"
"With pleasure." He laughed at Abby who had to be restrained, the laughter died when Lexa stood swiftly drawing her sword.
"You have the nerve to lay your hands upon her and believe you willl live!" Lexa bellowed her anger overriding everything else.
"She is the one who insults our Queen at every oppurtunity, she would not be as hurt as she is if she kept her mouth shut and her opinions to herself."
A fierce sense of pride awakened inside Lexa's chest at hearing of Clarke's bravery but was quickly chased away by fear at the memory of the blonde's desire for death.
"The Queen started her usual technique as soon as i left to come here ... How long she will be able to endure it depends on Wanheda's strength."
"What's her technique? ... What's he talking about? ... Commander?" Abby eyes bounced between Lexa and the Ice Nation warrior.
"You don't want to know." Lexa said gently, she had an idea and she had no desire for Abby to kow the things she now knew was happening to the sky princess. "You will tell me where she is right now or i will make you wish for death." The Commander hissed aproaching him with the sword held out in front of her.
"I'll do better than that ... I'll show you. My Queen sent me with an offer ... You exchange places with her ... Your life for Wanheda's ... You come alone ... Anyone else follows she dies."
Titus spoke immediatly. "No! ... The thought of it is ridiculous -"
"Shop of Titus." Lexa demanded.
"Heda you can not be considering this?"
"I'm not considering it ... I'm doing it." The brunette replied holding up her hand to silence Titus's interruptions. "Lead me to Clarke once i have see she is alive ... I will give up my weapons and take her place."
Everyone including Abby was staring at the Commander open mouthed. Titus stepped forward in outrage but before he could speak a new guard entered the room nodding at Lexa who smiled ... They had found where Clarke was being held.
Foster frowned at the silent interaction confused at the smirk now on the brunette's lips as she stalked closer. "I too have a message for your Queen."
"I will gladly tell her."
"It will not be delivered from your vile mouth ... The message will be your lifeless corpse and that ... I will deliver myself."
Foster swallowed nervously and tried backing away slowly. "If you kill me you will never see that bitch alive again."
"You truly believed you would be able to come before me, tell me of the harm that has happened to Wanheda and live? You caused some of the injuries yourself the evidence is smeared across your hands and now you will pay for your insolence with your life!" Lexa shouted fury etched in to her face as she drove the sword upward through his chin with such force it came out the top of his head, removing the blade she watched his body fall to the floor, turning to her people still shaking with anger she spoke carefully. "Ready the men ... We have a new plan."
Clarke lay on her side hands bound behind her back breathing heavily, it had been hours since the queen had sent away the unknown man, she had to endure Nia holding her head in a large bucket of ice cold water until she was close to passing out several times she had then thrown the water over her body causing her to shiver uncontrollably. The cold had made the blows she received with a heavy piece of wood hurt even more, every strike more painful than the last but still she didn't cry out, she was certain at least two of her ribs were broken and her right eye was now so swollen she could hardly see out of it. Nia crouched down to where she lay running her fingers gently through Clarkes hair.
"Have you had enough yet? ...how bad is the pain? ... Tell me where it hurts." she mocked.
It hurt just to breathe but Clarke licked her lips almost hissing at the sharp pain when her tongue touched the cut she first received from the Queen. "I feel ... Like ... I've ..."
Nia continued to stroke the blonde hair. "Sssshhhh ... Take your time ... There's no rush ..." She teased smiling at the sky girls obvious discomfort ... They all broke in the end.
"Like i've ... Just had ... An all over body massage." Clarke choked out hoping Nia would just end it and kill her but instead she got a hard kick to the stomach.
As she lay there trying to catch a breath she watched the Ice Queen walk to the fire that had been started earlier and pull out a small sharp object kind of like a scalpel only slightly bigger and heat it in the flames.
'Way to go Clarke.' She thought to herself. 'Me and my big mouth.'
Once the blade was glowing red Nia removed it and walked slowly back to Clarke.
"By the time i'm finished with you, your people will not recognise your remains ... Not unless i burn your name in to your pretty skin ..." Clarke tensed at the burning sensation now coming from below her ribcage but stil made no noise, she knew if she opened her mouth she would scream and beg her to stop.
Nia continued speaking as she burned through the flesh. "They will see the word Wanheda burned here ... You will not be seen as Clarke of the sky people ... But Wanheda murderer of thousands ... Men ... Women ... And children." She laughed as she finished. Admiring the word that was forever burned there, only five or six inches long but the angry red marks were clearly visible.
For the second time the words hit the mark with the blonde making her angry again. "Maybe you should ... get the word ... coward burned on you then." She suggested stiffly.
Nia's laughter died from her face then she stuck the blade in to Clarke's leg leaving it in there before walking away.
"Do you really not know when to keep your mouth shut! I ought to cut that tongue from your mouth ... You will be begging me for mercy then!"
"I can't beg you for anything if you cut out my tongue can i ... I would need it to speak."
The object in her leg was pulled out roughly and pressed against the pulse in her throat which sped up.
'Just do it ... End this' she silently prayed.
"My Queen we need her alive ... Just until the Commander arrives." said a small voice coming from the woman still in the corner.
Nia slowed her breathing and released Clarke from her hold. "I am becoming tired of you very quickly sky bitch ... Watch her i am going to get some fresh air before i succumb to the temptation of slitting her throat."
Lexa slid off her horse quickly and sliently, following the warrior that had tracked Clarke, they needed to continue the rest of the way on foot as the horses would be easily heard. Another ten minutes of walking,which seemed like forever to the Commander, and it was time to travel by tree, climbing quickly they reached the top most branches and Lexa finally had a view of the steps that led down to where Clarke was being kept. Turning to the tracker that had stayed behind to keep an eye on things she whispered. "What have you seen?"
"There are 14 Ice Nation Warriors Heda, they keep watch from all directions ... But they do not even think to look at the trees, i have travelled several times to the branches above their head and they show no sign of noticing anything. The last time i was there they were talking about a few of them leaving to go hunting i say we strike then. Most of them are great in strength but lack speed."
Lexa listened intently. "What of Clarke?"
"I have heard no screaming from her Heda only the sound of her harsh comments have found their way to my ears, their Queen however has been more vocal, she is displeased with the Sky Leader's ... Disrespectful attitude." He said clearly amused at what he had heard. "She has a strong spirit Commander ... And good humour to go with it."
"Heda it looks like they are leaving to hunt."
All three of them watched as only two warriors left the group and disappeared in to the trees further north which meant there was twelve for them to kill. The other grounders and Abby were waiting back with the horses for Lexa to return ... hopefully with Clarke, the Commander insisted only she was to travel further with the tracker, the more that went the more at risk they were of being spotted and she couldn't risk that.
Within seconds they had silently made their way above the circle of unaware men who were all laughing at a comment made from one of them about Clarke's impending death. Lexa's blood began to boil ... How dare they stand there joking while Clarke lay battered and bruised below their feet. Without hesitation she dropped from the branches landing on two of the warriors her swords taking their lives before she had landed on her feet, twisting round she slit anothers throat before he had the chance to say anything, the sounds of her own people landing barely registering in her ears, a knife was thrown in her direction which she easily deflected before throwing her own in to the heart of the warrior, her sword struck again and again everything a blur as the adrenaline coursed through her veins, she dodged every attack made against her killing each person quicker than the last, less than a minute after her feet touched ground all twelve were dead and the Commander stood infront of there bodies breathing heavily and slick with their blood showing exactly why she was chosen to be Heda.
The sound of footsteps coming up the stairs made Lexa silently order the other two to hide while she crouched in the shadows ready to strike, Nia walked out in to the open and stopped in her tracks as she looked around at her fallen subjects but before she could do anything Lexa kicked out hard dislocating the Queens knee and making her fall to the ground, grabbing her hands she forced them behind her back and tied them tightly.
"Alexandria ... You came! This was not how i planned it exactly but at least i got to have some fun with your new love interest." Nia laughed cruelly. "She bleeds beautifully."
"She better be alive Nia ... I swear by the Gods you will regret this."
"Never ... i enjoyed every second."
Lexa's foot connected with her face repeatedly before she was pulled away. "Heda ... We need to see to Wanheda."
Without hesitation Lexa ran down the stairs ignoring the young woman running past her the guards would deal with her.
Her knees went weak when she saw Clarke sitting against the wall eyes tight shut, her face completely covered in blood, her eye swollen and the other one with a cut, those perfect lips had a deep gash that would surely leave a scar. What was left of the shirt was stained red and ripped to pieces, bruises covering all the skin that was visible, her throat bore the signs of being strangled at some point and to top it off she was completely soaked and obviously freezing.
Tears filled her eyes and threatened to spill over the edge at seeing this woman treated like a piece of meat, holding in a sob she approached Clarke and found she could not speak.
Clarke tensed as she heard someone approaching, she must of passed out for a minute or two but she didn't want to open her eyes, she needed this to be over.
"Got your breath back grandma?" She mocked trying unsuccessfully this time to hide the pain in her voice.
A soft chuckle and gentle caress to her cheek caused her to open her good eye looking around confused. She saw Lexa crouched in front of her, eyes filled with unshed tears.
"You've been so brave."
"What? ... Lexa what are you doing here? Don't take the deal she's going to kill me anyway-"
"Ssshhh ... Don't panic, everythings ok. Nia's been restrained ... You're safe now, i'm taking you back to Polis and we will deal with the Ice Queen there ... Together ... Once your better."
Clarke shook her head. "You shouldn't of come Lexa ... It was stupid ... You could of been killed ... I could of already been dead for all you knew ... You risked your life for nothing."
Lexa smiled and began to untie Clarke's hands. "Not for nothing Clarke ... For you."
A/N
If you don't want to know any season three spoilers then you need to skip reading this part guys.
Last chance to look away!
Ok so for all you guys that miss Lexa my friend came running in to my house today and told me there are more Clarke and Lexa scenes to come in season three (and by told me i mean she screamed it) apparently theres a video showing them in the city of light and Lexa is helping Clarke run from something she showed me the video which looks like its going to be an awesome episode (and by showed me the video i mean she shoved it toward my face so hard i almost went cross eyed) but theres something for you all to look forward too!