fragile | clexa

chapter forty nine

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Clarke and Lexa resumed their journey late the next morning and as Lexa had foreseen, she had not managed to deny those butterflies again after she'd allowed them to exist once. She didn't mind. At least for that ride to Polis she'd get to be close to Clarke and after that, they'd see.

It was after they had passed two more of the three core villages that laid on the trail from Polis to TonDC that a horse passed them in insane speed and just behind them, came to an abrupt stop to turn around.

Anya.

She easily cut off Lexa's horse, moving her own so skillfully that it stood nose to nose with Artigas. "Anya," Lexa grit out. Her arms unwillingly wrapped tighter around Clarke in front of her.

"I was on my way to you," the other woman spoke with no less iritation. "I believe I've sent you letters."

"I believe I didn't care."

"You are neglecting your duty," Anya hissed.

"I am not. I did paperwork and I suppose the world is still going on without me watching over it for a couple months. For ten years, I worked with no pause and taking off for a bit is only what I deserve. I created the needed safety."

"That is not how it works."

"You are in no place to speak to me as disrespectfully as you are. Just because you were my mentor does not mean you have any right to talk to me as you are. I value you, Anya, just as I value any of my people and their safety. I believe there has nothing happened in the last months that would have needed my attention, has it?"

"No, but it might have. The ambassadors are beyond upset."

"But it didn't. Because I've worked out peace. I was only a days journey from Polis, if anything had happened, I would've been there in a matter of hours. I am not bound to Polis or my tower. I could be anywhere I wished to be, these are my lands and my world and my decisions. It would do you well not to question them. Now move out of the way."

Anya didn't verbally protest, but it was palpable. She moved to the side a little, only to catch up on Lexa's side. "What are your plans now? Why did you bring her again?" she hissed.

"I have always meant to bring Clarke back to Polis once she'd be ready for it. A tent is too cold for winter as well," Lexa explained calmly.

And for the rest of the ride, Anya made as many snappy comments as she dared to which Lexa tried to ignore for the most part. She lifted Clarke from the horse as if there was no one standing at her side, led her to the elevator and up into her chambers as if there wasn't a third presence. God. She had missed her tower.

"Anya, if you would leave us? I will have a talk with you later," Lexa shoved Anya off just in front of her doors and then closed them on her with a thud.

"And how we will talk!" she heard through the door.

"Sorry," Lexa said to Clarke. "Don't mind her."

Clarke waved her off a little, way too busy taking in the rooms the she hadn't paid too much attention to last time she had been inside them. The bed looked even more comfortable than it had been in TonDC, the windows threw patterns of moonlight on the walls and there was a corner with couch, armchair, table and bookshelves that Clarke didn't remember at all.

Despite the bricks the tower was made of and the hard walls it created, the part of Lexa's rooms Clarke could see looked beyond comfy.

"Well, make yourself at home," Lexa sighed and took of her coat to change into her armor. "I'm afraid I'll have to look around the situation here for a bit, but I'll try to be as quick as possible. The tower is the safest place there is, so nothing will happen to you in the meanwhile. Since it's already night, I would suggest going to your family tomorrow earliest if that's okay with you?"