Chapter 17
Once again, they march to the valley. A small number this time, as Octavia and Lexa agreed. Just the feuding leaders, Clarke, Indra, Cooper, and Bellamy. Octavia marches ahead, Cooper and Bellamy at either one of her sides. Lexa and Clarke hang back, though not necessarily together. Indra is in between, her uncertainty of her loyalty evident, though she claims it’s for the safety of the group. They walk in relative silence, Bellamy and Octavia talk quietly.
“Lex,” Clarke finally says, breaking the silence. Lexa turns her head, no emotion shown on her face, making Clarke unsteady. “What happened with Octavia?” She asks quietly. Lexa takes a step closer to Clarke.
“It was fine,” she whispers. “We might see things differently, but we have the same goal: to keep our people safe.” Clarke nods at her words, that has also been her goal since she crash landed on Earth all those years ago. “It makes negotiations easier when you want the same thing. We have an understanding.” She says, aloof. Clarke nods for her to continue. “Our people are split between the two of us, which means they will no longer listen to the other. We need to give the appearance of unity, even if we are not. We are going to try to work together until after we figure out what will happen with the valley and the Eligius prisoners. Afterwards, I am not certain what will happen.”
“That’s good.” Clarke says with a sigh. “I was worried that if you two couldn’t figure it out that Madi, or I, might be at risk, with our nightblood and all.” Right, Lexa thinks, the nightblood is why she’s asking, not for Lexa herself or even Heda. Lexa hates herself for thinking it as soon as she does. Of course Clarke is concerned. Not only is she a nightblood herself, but her daughter is as well. “I’m glad that you’re safe,” Clarke says honestly.
Lexa’s face softens. “Mochof, Klark.”
A few miles later they hear an urgent voice over their radio. “Blodreina!” Miller says quickly. “We have just gotten word that there is an eye in the sky ready to blast you with a missile.” Lexa and Clarke run to meet up with Octavia, who pauses her march.
“How the hell do we hide from an eye in the sky?” Octavia demands. In front, behind and to either side of them is sand. They can no longer see the rubbles of Polis anymore, the road ahead is baron. Clarke thinks of those early days following Praimfaya, when she still didn’t know she was pregnant and almost gave up on everything. It makes her think, though. She knows this area, her Madi did the drive several times.
“A cave.” Clarke announces. “Not too far from here. On the other end of that hill,” she says pointing to the little hill in front of them. On the other side, though they can’t tell from their position, is a steep drop. There, the valley begins to be visible. Octavia starts running, Cooper and Indra close behind her. Bellamy, Lexa, and Clarke are quickly behind them.
The bundle themselves inside the cave, a fire already being made.
“Miller? Are you still there? Over.” Octavia asks over the radio.
“Yeah, I’m here with Monty and Harper. Over.” He replies. Clarke’s head shoots up at that.
“Where’s Madi? She’s supposed to be with Harper.” Clarke begins to panic. She doesn’t trust many people in the bunker, especially under the Blodreina regime.
“Madi?” Octavia asks. She grips the radio tighter as she asks.
“She’s with Gaia. Over.” Harper says. Octavia looks at Clarke, silently asking if she is satisfied with that answer. Clarke lets out a breath, and Octavia nods.
“We’re safe, we found a place to hide it out. Keep everyone inside the bunker, just in case. Over.” Octavia commands. She continues her conversation with the bunker, but Clarke isn’t listening. She leans against the back against the rock wall of the cave with rising panic. Gaia is still a flaimkepa, Clarke knows, and is still loyal to her faith. As far as Clarke’s aware, Lexa and Madi are the last two natural natblida’s. Before Praimfaya, young natblida’s were sent to the capital to start their training as soon as their blood was discovered. Clarke wonders if with the fighting between Octavia and Lexa, is Gaia trying to train the next commander? She knows all that comes with being commander, she’s seen it through, and heard about it from Lexa. Throughout her time as Heda, Lexa’s life was in danger multiple times, and continues to be a threat to Blodreina. Clarke will not let that happen to Madi. Clarke begins to feel nauseous as she wonders whether Gaia will be a protector of Madi, or the one to put her life in direct harm by putting a target on her back?
Clarke blinks back to reality as she feels someone sit next her. Lexa sits close to Clarke, their shoulders pressing against each other. “Are you alright Clarke?” Lexa asks quietly. Clarke can see Indra out of the corner of eye, watching her. She smiles and nods.
She turns her head so that her lips are unreadable. “I’m just worried about Madi.” Lexa nods.
“I, as well.” Lexa admits. “I can almost see her fate being written, the way mine was.” She watches Clarke clench her jaw. “I won’t let that happen.” She promises.
Clarke smiles at her. Lexa smiles back. She watches Clarke’s eye’s light at the sight of her smile, she feels fluttering in her stomach. Against her will, Lexa’s eyes flick down to Clarke’s lips. They’re not as enticing as they usually are, they’re beginning to get chapped, and they tremble from Clarke’s increasing stress. Though, there’s still something about them that holds Lexa’s attention. Something about them being Clarke’s, Lexa reminds herself. She shakes herself out of her hypnotizing effect that Clarke has on her.
“I won’t let another child go through that.” Lexa adds. Clarke nods.
“Thank you,” Clarke says sincerely. She grabs Lexa’s hand, giving it a quick squeeze before she reminds herself that she shouldn’t. This isn’t giving her space. This is dragging her back into her family drama that Lexa made clear that she needed space from.
Before she is able to apologize, a deafening blast explodes out in the desert.
Octavia is the first one to get to her feet. “Is everyone okay?” Clarke looks around and is surprised to see not only no damage, but very little sand that was brought in. She checks her own body to be sure she’s fine. She looks down and comfort envelops her. Not only is Lexa holding her hand, but she has reached across Clarke’s body and holds Clarke’s right hand with her own.
“Sorry,” Lexa apologizes quickly, removing her arm from around Clarke. Clarke shakes her head and pretends she isn’t instantly missing the feeling.
“Is everyone okay?” Clarke repeats Octavia’s question, and hops to her feet.
“We are all fine,” Indra speaks up. Clarke looks around anyway. Bellamy stands slowly, the deafening effect of the blast disorienting him. Cooper stands beside Octavia, looking her up and down making sure she didn’t suffer any injuries.
They all make their way out of the cave carefully, none of them knowing exactly what they’ll find. The missile hit their abandoned campgrounds from last night. They left in a hurry with the promise of return in the morning, leaving their tents up.
Their campsite, however, was over twenty miles away. The dust and smoke is only barely visible from their far distance. The prisoners have superior technology; Clarke wonders if they would even have a chance against them if it comes down to war. Clarke remembers the mountain, and the fear the grounders felt for almost a century. She turns to Lexa, whose face has dropped, then to Octavia. No fear can be seen on her face, only anger. Clarke feels her stomach flip, in her realization. They’re going to war.