Blood Earth

Blood Earth Chapter 8

Pairing: Clexa

Rating: Children be wary (K+)

Lexa sighed, disgruntled, as she entered the tent she and Clarke shared. The light rain had turned into a storm overnight, with a heavy down pour and rumblings of thunder in the distance. The Commander had unfortunately been forced to get up at the unholy hours before dawn to help organize the moving of several groups of Skykru into secured areas in the Ark. The moving of these groups had become necessary due to their tents not being water proofed in time for the torrential downpour. This had resulted in the brunette becoming a bit grumpy and just wanting to go back to the tent.

She knew that moving everyone into the Ark would be easier in the long run. There would be less need for tents, and blankets and other such resources, but she also couldn’t risk her warriors and healers in a place they knew little about with the people that were, by technical definition, their prisoners.

Stomping and shaking slightly, she tried to get as much of the rain water off as she could without dropping the basket of food she held in her arms. Today the cook tents had made a warm porridge with slices of dried fruit and sugar mixed in for lunch, and, with any luck, there wouldn’t be anymore need for the leadership of the Heda today, so she would have the opportunity to enjoy the evening with Clarke.

A shuffling sound turned her attention from the removal of her boots. Looking up, her gaze was filled with the sight of Clarke, leaning against one of the tent poles, and rubbing her eyes to rid them of sleep. She wore a pair of Lexa’s loose cotton pants, and a shirt that had the sleeves so long that they went over her hands. The adorable sight made the brunettes heart melt and had her chest glowing with warmth.

“Hello, Clarke, did I wake you?”

The blonde looked up with bleary eyes. Seeing the bulky basket, she came over to help as she responded.

“No, I was awake already. You left early today, is everything alright?”

The brunette nodded, taking off her coat and laying it across a chair.

“Yes, everything is fine. It’s just a few of the tents weren’t water proofed in time for this storm, so I had to go coordinate the moving of several tents worth of people into the Ark.”

A rumble of thunder rolled across the heavens as she joined Clarke at the table. The blonde flinched at the loud noise, still unused to the roaring of nature.  The sight made Lexa want to bundle the blonde into her arms and never let go.

“Well, so long as everyone’s alright. Although, this storm is a little inconvenient. I was hoping to go have a shower tonight.”

Lexa nodded, understanding. The blonde had had few opportunities to get clean since becoming sick, and the older girl knew it was beginning to get on her nerves. As she helped set out the bowls of steaming porridge, an idea struck Lexa.

“I could see if I can get the large tub that is generally brought on long campaigns carried to the tent. It’ll take a while to fill but you will have the opportunity to be clean?”

As she finished speaking, Clarke whipped her head up from where she was pouring out their drinks. Setting the bottle of juice down, she grabbed Lexa by the arms.

“Holy shit, please.”

Confused at the use of the expletive but understanding that Clarke indeed wanted a bath, she patted the blondes shoulder and made her way to the tents entrance, calling for a guard. Within minutes the large wooden tub had been brought. Technically it was a communal tub for smaller groups of warriors, but due to the Arks still functioning shower systems, it had thus far gone unused. After setting up a pot of water to heat up on the large brazier, the pair sat down to eat.

The fruit and porridge warmed the brunettes stomach, stopping the shivers that had started due to being outside. They ate in comfortable silence until the tell tale hiss of boiling water had Lexa going over to the large pot and dumping it into the tub. Refilling it from the rain barrel just outside the tents entrance, she returned it to heat on the brazier’s hot coals. This cycle repeated, eat, dump water, refill, return to eating, for a good hour until the tub was full of warm, steaming, water.

Having finished eating long before the water was ready, Clarke retrieved a small kit, filled with soap, a few wash clothes, and a comb, from the chest in the sleeping area. Lexa watched as the blonde walked slowly back and forth, retrieving the kit, new fresh clothes and a large fluffy towel. After scrapping the last few bites of the meal from her bowl, she rose to help the younger girl as she struggled to move the foldable changing screen from the corner where it lay. Placing the screen strategically between the tub and the tent entrance, Lexa walked towards the sleeping area.

“I will give you some privacy; call me should you need assistance.”

The brunette paused as Clarkes voice immediately called her back.

“Um, about that, could you help me wash my hair? I’m still having problems lifting my arms for long periods of time.”

Lexa froze, her face heating as she realized what helping would entail. Taking a deep, calming breathe, she returned to the tub, standing on the other side of the partition from the tub.

“Of course, Clarke. Just tell me when you need assistance.”

She hoped her voice sounded as steady as she imagined, although it wouldn’t really matter with how hard her heart was beating. The brunette was certain that the hammering beat could be heard for miles and it only increased as the sounds of clothes hitting the floor reached her ears. She felt the urge to slap herself. She was Heda for spirits sake. She had seen nude bodies before. Now shouldn’t be any different.

“Alright, come here, please.”

Lexa felt as though her heart stopped as she slowly walked around the screen. Clarkes back was to her, but the expanse of exposed skin still made her swallow nervously. She may have seen nude bodies, but it had always been in a post-combat situation. Dead bodies, stripped of their armour and weapons, waiting to be burned was very different from seeing the girl who owned her heart sitting nude in a bath, and she was a fool if she tried to convince herself it was remotely the same thing. Averting her eyes, she knelt beside the tub, behind Clarke.

“Um, where is the soap?”

The bar suddenly appeared in front of her face, catching her by surprise and causing her to reel back slightly, catching herself with hands. What surprised her more was the fact that Clarke had twisted around in the tub, leaning on the edge, her chest hidden behind the lip of the tub, and rested her face on her folded arms.

“If you’re uncomfortable, I can try to manage on my own. I don’t want you doing anything you don’t want to.”

Lexa straightened up, blushing slightly as she tried to recover from her momentary lapse in composure.

“No, no, it’s fine. I can do it.”

Clarke gave her a critical look as her voice cracked.

“If you’re sure…”

With that the blonde turned around, giving Lexa a clear view of her back once more. Before her face had a chance to heat up again however, her eyes were drawn to three parallel scars running the length of the younger girl’s shoulder. The wound was healed but was obviously a newer injury if the pinkish colouring to the scars were any indication. Reaching a hand forward, Lexa lightly touched the raised scar tissue, making the blonde shiver.

“What did this?”

Her question was quiet, and she almost thought Clarke didn’t hear her with how long she paused before answering.

“A panther, during my three months away from Arkadia. It happened the day before Roan found me actually.”

Gently, Lexa traced the three scars, guilt filling her being.

“Another thing I couldn’t protect you from…”

The comment was quiet but filled with remorse and thick with regret. The brunettes’ eyes roamed over Clarkes back again, looking for more injuries that had thus far gone unseen. There were a few small pale scars, scratches and nicks that had healed well, and long before the blonde had been brought to Polis. Lexa traced each of these scars as well, allowing herself to feel all the shame and guilt she had forced away for so long. Slowly, Clarke turned around in the tub, once again resting her arms and head on the wooden edge.

“Hey, none of that now. They’re healed and you’re here now. You can’t change the past, Lex, and I don’t want you to try. Now, come on, the waters gonna get cold.”

The rest of the bath went quickly. Lexa washed and brushed the younger girl’s hair thoroughly, blushing only slightly as the guilt still weighed heavily in her stomach. Once finished, the brunette turned, giving Clarke the privacy needed to finish washing, dry off and change into fresh clothes. Once changed, Lexa ushered the other girl to bed, saying she would join her once she emptied the tub.

After throwing buckets of water out onto the already drenched earth, she dragged the tub over to the corner of the tent to dry near the brazier, and stored the changing screen in its proper place. Padding over to the sleeping area, she half expected to find the blonde already asleep. Once she’d taken Nycos medicine, Clarke would drop off in seconds, but today she was wide awake, patiently waiting for the older girl.

“Have you taken your medicine yet?”

She inquired. The fever might be gone but the healer’s instructions were clear; finish the bottle even if the symptoms were gone. Clarke smiled at her concern.

“I finished the last of it last night.”

Her concerns laid to rest, Lexa sat in the chair she had been occupying for the past several nights, settling in to relax to the sound of pounding rain on the canvas above them.

“Wait, have you been sleeping in that chair this whole time?”

Yes, yes she had. Clarke currently occupied the brunettes bed and she had no intentions of interrupting her rest. The brunette knew that a cot on the floor would have been much more comfortable, but the warriors and ill sky people needed all the bedding they could get. Nodding to the blonde’s question, Lexa looked at her inquiringly. Why was it a big deal?

“Come here.”

It wasn’t a suggestion. Clarke reached over and grasped her hand, tugging insistently. With surprising strength that she hadn’t had earlier in the bath, the blonde pulled Lexa on top of her. Laying on top of the blonde, the brunette blinked in shock.

“Um…”

She lay on top of Clarkes legs, her head resting on the blonde’s stomach, elbows on either side of the other girl’s hips. Looking up, she questioned with her gaze if this was alright.

“Shh, you’ve been in that chair long enough. Its your turn to relax.”

Soothing hands pushed her head to lay back down. Thin fingers gently ran through brown curls, combing out knots and massaging her scalp with blunt nails. Clarkes stomach gently rose and fell as she breathed, lulling Lexa into a sleepy calm. It was odd. Clarke had barely been able to move a changing screen or lift her arms to wash her own hair, but somehow she managed to drag the entirely able bodied Lexa on to bed with her with little effort.

Her thoughts were interrupted as she hummed in relaxed pleasure as Clarke massaged her temples. There was really only one explanation, she thought sleepily.

“You didn’t really need my help did you?”

Her question was thick with sleep. The thought made Lexa’s chest filled with warmth. If she indeed hadn’t needed the brunettes help, it would mean that she had wanted it. The older girl sighed in contentment, relaxing her muscles, as she basked in the idea that Clarke will, maybe, just maybe, forgive her for her actions at the Mountain. She didn’t really hear Clarkes answer as the brunette slowly descended into blissful unconsciousness.