Chapter 7

Anya tipped her head to the side at her houmon's words. She didn't know what Clarke was really saying, and she didn't honestly care. Clarke had accepted her offerings, and she'd accepted Clarke's. Anya would move at Clarke's pace. She hadn't meant to startle the girl in front of her, but she could see the questions and fear in her wild eyes after Anya had kissed her. She hadn't meant to spook Clarke. She just wanted her to stop mumbling.

"I thought you wanted to check me over, Clarke," Anya stated and Clarke's eyes flew back to Anya's eyes.

Healing Anya was something that would calm her racing heart. All Clarke could think about was that she had accidently on purpose married Anya. Raven is going to have a field day with this one. Looking at Anya, she knew that the older woman would be patient and not rush her. That was important to Clarke, especially with the speed in which they were union-ed, her non-relationship with Finn in this life, and they were both healing from the trauma of the Mountain. They both had a lot to deal with.

The slow down that Anya gave her was calming. She knew she could focus on that. She needed to focus on that. But, she couldn't.

Anya was still sitting there in front of her, shirtless, looking like Xena coming home to Gabrielle after a fight, and she was supposed to feel nothing. Yeah, well, that wasn't working. Clarke was feeling many things and treating Anya wasn't high on the list.

She took a deep breath and tried to center herself. She realized that this was practically her wedding night. And, Anya was sitting there looking like a warrior goddess, being patient, waiting for Clarke to make the first move, and all Clarke could do was breathe. She closed her eyes and berated herself. Her mother had taught her better. She knew that she couldn't let a pretty face...muscular body...and tantalizing woman...stop her from doing her duties. She'd been trained to look past all that and heal the wounds, aid the sick, and treat the person. She could deal with her emotions later...a lot later...when they were out of the bunker and Clarke felt like she could breathe fully, deeply, again. The sad thing was that Clarke knew that she was working herself into a panic attack. She needed her mother to talk her down like she had when she was treating Finn. She could do this. She just needed to tap into that part of her brain where an avatar of Abby lived and use it. Letting the breath out slowly, she didn't raise her eyes to Anya's as she picked up a small cloth and proceeded to check over the wounds on her torso.

She was centered, but she knew it wasn't enough. She could hear her mother telling her signs and symptoms of things as Clarke continued to work over Anya's body. She felt the hardness of Anya's muscles beneath her fingers, the softness of her flesh, and the warmth of her body. She channeled it all as she wiped away the salve in some areas to check the bruising. It might have only been a day, but Clarke would swear that the salve was doing great. The bruises were all healing well.

One of the big ones caught her eye. Clarke couldn't stop herself from reaching out and gingerly touching, testing it. When she did, she looked up into Anya's eyes.

They were softer than she'd ever seen them. The adoration that Anya was showing her was breathtaking and frightening at the same time. Anya wasn't teasing her. She was being careful. It was like she understood how fragile their union still was. She didn't want to rush things, but she knew that before they left the bunker they will have cemented their "bonding."

"Anya," Clarke started.

"Sha, niron?"

"After we are bonded, will I be Trikru?"

"Sha, yu laik Klark kom Trikru. Ai laik Onya kom skaikru. Yu laik ain houmon en ai laik yun houmon," Anya replied.

"Hoe-mon? What does that mean? Is that like partner or something?"

"I think you call it spouse, husband or wife. We have no differential for sex in Trig. You are just my houmon."

"I see," Clarke stated as she kept focused on the large bruise.

Anya realized then that Clarke wasn't frightened. She was unsure of what to do. Anya tilted her head and looked her houmon. She was shy.

Reaching out, Anya tipped her head back and looked into her eyes. Clarke met her stare and gave her a weak smile. Anya just wanted to hold her. They had all evening and night to bond their souls. If Clarke needed more time, she'd give it to her.

"You need to think, niron. Stay here with your pictures," Anya stated as she stood up, moving Clarke slightly to her side. Clarke went to protest her movements as Anya put full weight on her leg, but she stopped her. "It is fine. I've had worse. I'll make us some dinner. Eat some of the fruit and nuts if you are hungry."

Clarke just watched as she left some berries, another apple and a handful of nuts for her on the desk. Anya made her way into the storage area and started to prepare a thick stew in the pot that Clarke had found. As she did that, Clarke just stared at her. She at the berries, but her eyes never left Anya's body...person, it was her person. It didn't take long for Anya to assemble something tasty.

Remembering that they couldn't have a fire, Anya cobbled together a trivet for the pot to hang from over the lamp. She sat it on the far end of the desk away from Clarke's artwork. Turning up the wick, the flame got brighter. Looking at the amount of fuel, Anya estimated how long they had until the stew was ready. Happy with everything, she went to Clarke's side.

"Come," Anya said quietly.

Clarke looked at her. She didn't know where they were going to go, but she stood anyway. Anya pulled her across the expanse towards the bed they had both slept in. Anya sat down first after thrust the covers back and away from the mattress. Clarke questioned the movement until Anya pulled her down as she lay back. Clarke couldn't help but move with her. As she landed, she made sure to avoid all of the troubled spots that Anya had on her body. With Clarke by her side in the bed, she grabbed the covers and draped them over them. Clarke was still trembling and Anya wondered if she was cold.

"Are you cold, niron?"

"No," Clarke answered.

"Rest if you need," Anya told her. "I'll hold you and protect you. I'll wake you when it is time to eat again. You are safe with me."

"I know," Clarke stated.

Something shifted though, inside Clarke. She knew that she was safe with Anya. She knew that Anya would never demand anything from her, at least not in bed. Clarke wasn't sure how she knew that, but it was instinctual. She knew that she was completely safe with Anya. And, this was why her body betrayed her.

Clarke's head nestled its way onto Anya's shoulder. Anya took her weight easily. She wrapped Clarke in her arms and allowed the younger woman to snuggle against her. They both needed the contact. Anya knew it was because of the Mountain. She might not want to admit it, but she realized that Clarke didn't care about her being strong all the time. It was refreshing. She knew then that she could break in front of Clarke, and it wouldn't be held against her. Clarke would let her break and then make her even stronger. She only hoped that she could return the feeling to the younger blonde.

Clarke molded herself to Anya's body. Her warmth and subtle strength were comforting. She felt like they actually had a chance to bring down the Mountain. Anya wouldn't betray her at the Mountain. She knew that, because Anya's honor wouldn't allow it. Clarke knew that she shouldn't be thinking such things, but she couldn't help herself. She knew that every day that she was outside of the Mountain without a plan of attack was another day closer to those in the Mountain being taken for their blood instead. She wanted the reaping to end. She needed to fell the Mountain, but she needed manpower, lots and lots of manpower.

Anya leaned her head down and kissed the top of Clarke's head. She burrowed further into the warrior. Closing her eyes, Clarke felt herself starting to drift. She let the power and warmth of Anya's body comfort her. She allowed herself to be selfish and indulge in it. But, there was still the thought of being with Anya. She knew that they had to consummate their union for it to work. And, it wasn't like she was afraid of being with a woman. She'd slept with Lexa. Anya was being patient and kind. She wasn't rushing her. She was treating her as an equal or better. She was giving Clarke time to be okay with it.

Clarke lifted her hand and placed it between Anya's breasts over her heart. It was beating hard. It faltered for a minute, but then it went back to its steady and strong beat. Anya didn't have much on, so her warm skin was tingling Clarke's palm. She raised up her hand and let her fingers dance upon the smooth, soft skin beneath them.

"Anya?"

"Sha, niron?"

"I need to make a confession," Clarke told her.

"A confession?"

"Sha, niron," Clarke mimic.

"And, what is your confession, Klark kom Trikru?"

"I've never been with anyone."

"You're with me now," Anya replied.

"No, not like that, Anya," Clarke said. "I've never bonded with anyone."

"No?"

"No."

"I'll be your first?"

"Sha, niron," Clarke answered, happy that whatever the nickname was, it was a nice one.

"You honor me even more, niron."

Anya shifted until she was up on her side. She let Clarke move with her, keeping her arm out for Clarke to remain on. Looking deeply into Clarke's azure eyes, she leaned forward and down just enough to kiss her. Anya wasn't being oppressive. She was letting Clarke lead it. She initiated it to see if Clarke would run, but when she didn't, she leaned more into it. She felt Clarke melt into her a little more.

Anya broke the kiss and looked into her eyes again. Clarke was staring at her, but she was smiling. Anya reached up and brushed the hair out of Clarke's face.

"In the Trikru, we usually celebrate a bonding under the stars. Sometimes, niron will run off in the night and not be found until morning. We have festivals four times a year and all the new couples are presented to the leaders. It is usually at these events that the next couples are found. The courtship begins and offerings are planned. A lot start bonding before the offerings are complete, but their union isn't recognized until the offerings have been accepted and deemed worthy enough."

"And, what are some of those offerings?" Clarke asked, genuinely intrigued.

"For some warriors, they will spend the Summertime learning to farm with someone in their village. Then, they will take their bounties to their choice as an offering to prove that they can provide. Some will build houses for them to live in once the rituals are complete. I saw once where a big hunter gave his giant warrior two bear pelts and a set of antlers from buck. The warrior took the antlers and made a set of knives for the hunter. They are still bonded and happy."

"If we had more time, what would you have given me?" Clarke questioned.

"I'm not sure, niron, but armor would have been part of it. I don't know if...Sha, ai laik...the armor would have been a gift of creation for you. It might have doubled for protection, but I would have made it all myself in the smithy and tanners. For protection, I would have shown you a house that I build many years ago in Mana. If that isn't where you wanted to live because you wanted to be closer to your people, I would build you a house. This would be my offering of protection. It would be our shared shelter and I would allow you to decorate it anyway you see fit," Anya told her. "I would have a little garden though. I would grow fruits and vegetables. I would teach you how to cook and bake things, especially sweet things. I know how you must like them."

"Sorry, we didn't have anything like that on the Ark. All we had was paste, tasteless paste and ration bars. They survived their purpose for survival but there was no joy in it," Clarke stated. "I can't wait to taste your stew. It has to be ten times better than my soup from yesterday. But, fruit is like an explosion of taste. Thank you for the apples."

"You do not have to thank me for providing for you, now us, niron. It is our job to provide for ourselves. You've honored me by accepting my offerings. I will provide for you until I cannot anymore. That is my way of thanking you," Anya explained. "But, for nourishment, my little garden wouldn't do. I know that you would tend it while I was away, but I would also make sure that you had medicinal plants growing too. I would introduce you to the village healer. Thesda would love to have you working with her. She would teach you our medicine and she want to learn from you."

"That sounds peaceful and quaint," Clarke replied.

"It would be. We would stay there in between whatever needed to be dealt with in Polis and between your people. I would be with you, all the time, unless we were at war."

"Then, I'll be with you. I'm not going to let you go off and die. I'm going to find you on the battlefield and patch you up," Clarke stated as if it were a promise. "I've offered to protect you by healing you. Do you think that stops as soon as we leave here?"

"No, niron, I don't."

"Good," Clarke replied. "Continue."

"Well, you'd have your house, a garden, and armor. I would go out with the hunters and bring back meat for you. I would make sure that it was butchered and brought to you daily for you to enjoy. If it was my kill, I would have the skins turned into things to keep you warm in the winter, to decorate our house, and to cover our bed."

"Is that why you brought back those furs?" Clarke questioned.

"Sha, they are warmer and more comfortable to sleep under."

"Prove it," Clarke said daringly.

She didn't expect Anya to jump out the bed so quickly, but she did. She crossed the room and touched the furs. They were dry. Smiling, Anya grabbed two and headed back for the bed. She placed them on the end and then reached for Clarke's hand. The younger woman reached back and Anya quickly hauled her from the bed. She pulled off the old Army surplus blankets and tossed them on the other bed. She grabbed a big, brown bear skin and draped it over the bed. Turning around, she grabbed Clarke and set her back in the bed. Grabbing the other fur, she turned it so that the fur was against their skin and got back into the bed.

With her back facing the desk wall, Anya was upon her side looking down at Clarke. The younger blonde seemed more relaxed now. Their talking and contact had calmed her. Anya was happy that she could do this for her houmon.

"These are soft," Clarke mused.

"You are softer," Anya quipped back.

"But, you like it," Clarke responded.

"Sha, niron, ai laik."

Clarke smiled and Anya felt like she had to kiss her again. So, she leaned over Clarke and kissed her. This time, Clarke kissed her back hard. Moving her arms around to Anya's back, she pulled the taller woman more onto her body and felt them mold together. Clarke moaned at the feeling. Her body was singing out to Anya. She wanted Anya to touch her, but she was also afraid to ask.

Anya felt her trembling again, but this time, she knew it wasn't nerves. The warrior felt better under the fears, but she would prefer to have Clarke under the stars in a clearing where she could shout her pleasure to all the spirits and they would know that Anya was the one that made her feel such pleasure. She knew that Clarke deserved such a night, away and without responsibility. It would have to wait, however, until they dealt with the Mountain. It felt good, though, knowing that the woman underneath her wanted her, her touch, her pleasure, her desire. Anya wanted to give it to her, as well, but she had to make sure that Clarke was ready.

While Anya was no stranger to pleasure, with man or woman, Clarke was. She didn't want to hurt her because she gave over to her desire. She wanted Clarke to feel cherished, because she was and she should be. Anya, now completely bolstered, wanted to worship Clarke. She wanted to take her time, and she knew she had it.

Clarke might have had other plans. She reached up and pulled Anya's mouth down to hers. For having never bonded, Clarke was listening to her body. She knew how Anya's few kisses made her feel, so she wanted to turn the tables and kiss her back. She wanted Anya to feel all tingly down to her toes. She might not have slept with Finn in this life, or Lexa, but Clarke wasn't a stranger to her own body. She knew what she liked, so she decided to try something to see how Anya would react.

Kissing her way from Anya's lips to her ear, Clarke whispered as clearly as she could, "Ai laik yuj, Onya. Meik ai yun. Beja." (I'm strong, Anya. Make me yours. Please.)