UnderStanding (Clexa)

Chapter Seven

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TonDC - End of the first night of trials

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She thinks she's dreaming, but she can't be certain. Her entire body feels weak and heavy like it's useless to try and move. That's a good thing, she thinks, considering any amount of moving she thinks she might be doing is causing her extreme pain. Maybe this is a nightmare.

She can hear voices that are fading in and out with brief glimpses of warm torchlight each time she's able to gather enough strength to open her eyes. The pain and the feeling of being dragged down into darkness against her will makes it hard to focus. She hears her name whispered reverently and thinks her heartbeat picks up at the sound. There are other voices, but she only has the desire to try and focus on one. Lexa's voice. Lexa is here with her.

She knows she's fading into the darkness and doesn't have the energy to fight it any longer. She feels a cool pressure against her lip and sips at the water as best she can before her head is gently lowered back down. She fights to open her eyes one last time and is met with worried green, darker than she's ever seen them. She tries to convey as much as she can in her look, but feeling it isn't enough, she uses the last of her strength to whisper, "Please don't leave." The world goes dark before she can hear a response.

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"How is she?" she hears as Octavia walks over to stand on the opposite side of the bed Clarke is resting on.

"Still asleep," Lexa replies, sighing. "It was deep for many hours but seems to be a bit restless. I think she's uncomfortable." She lowers her head down to rest against her hands that are holding onto Clarke's right hand. She's been in this position most of the morning, and it's now midday.

Octavia nods and sits down beside Clarke, across from her heda. "She doesn't like sleeping on her stomach," she says, glancing over the blonde's body, "but I guess that's the least painful position she could be in."

Lexa looks across to the girl, tilting her head. She doesn't ask, but she wonders how she knows this about Clarke.

"It's not what you think," Octavia assures her. "Not that I know what you're thinking…" She pauses and laughs softly. "One morning, back at the drop-ship, she woke up in a foul mood complaining that the next time she gets knocked unconscious to make sure she's on her back or side because if any of us put her on her stomach she'll smother us in our sleep."

Lexa can't help but let a small grin take over her face, "I don't believe Klark would ever hurt her people." Looking to the blonde, she reaches her hand up to move a stray lock of hair out of her face. "You can blame this position on the healers. It seemed like the least likely to cause her additional pain."

Octavia smiles. "She will understand. I think a stiff neck and rough sleep will be the least of her concerns when she wakes up." She stands, making her way towards the door. "There is some broth and bread waiting for her when she comes to."

Lexa doesn't look back but simply nods her head, continuing to watch over the girl in front of her. She gently places the hand she has been holding back on the table just under Clarke's chin. Taking comfort in the knowledge that people she trusts are just outside, she uses one finger and delicately traces over the hand, memorizing each scar, freckle, and crease.

She pauses briefly, her hand hovering in the air over Clarke's as someone else approaches. Recognizing the footsteps, she allows herself one final touch and then stands to face the healer. "She hasn't woken yet, Nyko."

"I know, Heda. She may sleep most of the day if we let her, but she needs to eat some, and I need to change her bandages. It would be best that we wake her, rather than the pain she will feel from that." He proceeds forward and takes the position Octavia had just occupied.