The Choice Of The Heart

CHAPTER 3 - "Officer Blake"

I couldn't bare the silence that was standing between us, so I decided to leave. I saw Lexa'slook behind me, she was more sad than angry now. I felt bad to leave her here, but I had to clear my mind. She let me go without saying a word because she knew it wasn't the way to go to Arkadia.

I slowly walked in the deep dark forest of Windblow, it was the territory of the clan which was massacred, Triku. This place was a heaven compared to what was down the hill, the fresh air came caressing my cheeks, so I closed my eyes and slowly opened my mouth: I could finally breathe. Everything was so peaceful, like the time had stopped, the majestic trees were looking at me and seemed to create a dome under my head.

I could've stayed here forever, this was what I wanted to fight for, peace. Those lands were my legacy, this calm which reigned in this forest it was my duty to preserve it. I abandoned myself to this protective nature.

A strange noise coming from the bushes in front of me took me out of my dream. Suddenly I saw a man, a soldier running toward me and before I had the chance to do anything he pointed a knife close to my throat. He was wearing the royal uniform, but his jacket was in pieces and his face covered by blood and scars. He was yelling at me, moving his knife closer. I could taste so much hate and sadness in his voice.

"You let them ... They came ... My children ..." His voice shivered, he couldn't talk due to the tears running on his cheeks. "Moira ... my wife, my dear Moira, you let them kill her! And now I'm going to end you!" He looked up with a sarcastic evil smile. Then he drew back and bowed with his dark eyes drowned into mines "Your majesty."

I was shaking, I couldn't hide it. I thought about Clarissa, I was so silly to think that I could rule an entire kingdom as well as Lexa. The people won't turn against me because I'm dangerous, they will because I'm weak. I quickly put my hands on my thighs to stop the shaking. If I had to die today I wanted to do that with dignity.

"Hands where I can see!" A deep man voice screamed those words. I couldn't see him but I heard the sound of his fingers on the trigger, he moved to the right without taking his eyes off the soldier. "Are you okay?" he asked me.

I panicked, so I didn't immediately answer which forced him to check on me. He looked up and repeated his question, I quickly nodded. He had dark brown eyes just like his hair, his look was strong but kind. I'd never really meet a lot of boys except those who came for the conclave. But this one was different I could feel it, something about him was different. His face was like a picture which was in my mind like forever, I didn't know why but I couldn't stop looking at him. He was a really handsome man, he made me feel safe in the blink of an eye, but he had something of a child too, maybe this little dimple on his chin. I really needed to stop staring.

He put the Trikru soldier down and turned his gun to the back of the prisoner's head. His hands were shaking and he tried to look away to have the strength to shoot. He took a deep breath and said:

"Trust me, I don't want to do this but I have orders ..." The soldier stopped him and looked up.

"Here they are your majesty ... The great Skaikru people, member of the coalition who have ... orders!" His voice was getting stronger, and he tried to get up. The Skaikru soldier didn't even try to put him down and seemed to be ashamed of something. He even stepped aside. "They invade our home, kill our wives and children and arrest us when we dare cross the line of their territory which is originally ours since ages! I call vengeance! Jus drein jus draun!" He stabbed the Skaikru in the chest and started running.

The Skaikru soldier was laying down on the floor but he tried to get up and catch the grounder, I stopped him. He looked at me for a long time, his eyes were drawn into tears but none dared to flow. He bowed his head and let himself fall violently on the ground. His head hit the trunk of a tree but he didn't even make a sound. He tried not to cross my look.

"I'm so sorry your majesty ... I didn't ... I didn't know ... I couldn't ..." I crouched in front of him and removed his hands from his wound. I took a clothe from my coat to help stop the bleeding, but he put his hand on mine and without giving me a look he said:

"Go! I don't deserve your help, this soldier should have ended me." He started to stand but he was still in pain. He tried to make a few steps but his legs didn't followed so I caught him and set his head gently against the tree. I still hadn't seen his eyes since the first time he showed up, he was keeping his head down.

I knew why but I didn't want to think too much right now, to ask myself questions I didn't have the answers for. I sat next to him and started to prepare a bandage but his hand was grabbed on my arm, and his eyes were slowly closing. For a moment I was worried, worried it was more than a simple scratch. I knew him for like ten minutes and he was definitely not on the good side but I couldn't resign myself to let him die, so I whispered:

"You need to rest ..." I looked down at his dog tag. "Officer Blake." And without opening his eyes a single tear flowed on his cheek, he turned his head and slowly said:

"Bellamy."