At last

Chapter Fifty Four

Bellamy's point of view

Our fingers lace together as we walk through the woods, finally reaching the opening.
A frown spreads onto Clarke's face.
"What's wrong?"
She looks up at me, shaking her head.
"We gotta talk to Madi. I'm afraid Octavia's going to convince her to continue being her second..." she pauses, squeezing my hand. "You gotta tell her."
"Wait, what?"
"If I do I'll likely say something to convince her not to be Octavia's second... I want it to be a fair choice," I sighs.
I pause, looking down at her small frame.
"Okay."
She smiles, bringing my hand to her and placing a kiss along my knuckles.
"Thanks Bell."
I nod, letting go of Clarke and heading toward the training shed where Madi usually is sharpening her sword. As I step inside I see Octavia and Madi both sitting on stools. Madi has a scared look on her face as Octavia speaks.
"Bellamy?" Madi's small voice cracks.
"Yeah?"
"Is this true?" She pauses, locking eyes with mine. "If something happens to Octavia I become Heda?"
I nod my head, sitting down beside Madi.
She goes silent and looks down at her feet.
"It's your choice," I whisper, grabbing her hand in mine.
She looks up at me and nods her head. Then she wraps her arms around my torso, pulling me close.
"I don't want to disappoint people... but I'm scared," she says quietly.
"I know it's hard Madi... but you will make lots of tough decisions in your life." I pause, taking her chin in my hand and look her in the eyes. "It's your choice."
She nods, looking back at Octavia.
"Can I think about it?" She asks quietly.
"Yes... you get a week to think about it. But then I need an answer. Okay?"
She nods, he one arm still looped around my waist.
"Okay," I sigh. "Lets go talk to Clarke."
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Clarke's point of view

Nerves wracked through me from where I sat waiting on a long piece of debris outside of the newly-built weapon shed. The next time Madi walked out, I would get the answer that I've been dreading all day.
My eyes snapped up to the door as it swung open and my heart immediately swelled at the sight that emerged.
Bellamy and Madi walked towards me, Bellamy with a hand splayed on Madi's back and Madi leaning into him, an arm looped loosely around his waist.
My entire world stilled for a moment as I took in the pair, and I was reminded of the reason that I kept fighting through each day. Those two were what kept me alive, the reason why I continued to stay strong when the odds were stacked against me.
They were both my greatest achievement and my ultimate goal.
Madi's tired expression pulled me out of my reverie, and my nerves began flowing again.
The young nightblood plopped down beside me and I instinctively wrapped my arm around her and drew her into my side, where she laid her head on my shoulder.
Bellamy perched on a more narrow piece of rubble on the left, closer to Madi. I glimpsed his face from above Madi's dark head of hair. He watched us with a soft fondness, the same feeling that I had felt when I was watching them a few moments before.
Madi pulled away after collecting herself to look at me. "Being the Commander's second means that I'm most likely the next in line if something were to happen to her."
I looked down at her shoulder, nodding silently. After a few moments of continued silence, I looked back up at her face to find her brows furrowed in disbelief.
"You knew, didn't you?"
I sighed defeatedly. "Yes, I did."
She suddenly moved further away from me on the piece of rubble, a mixture of anger, confusion, and further disbelief swirling in her soulful gaze. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Guilt crawled into my chest. "When you were telling me about it yesterday, you were just so excited and proud. If I had told you, you would have been heartbroken." I sighed again. "Madi, I'm sorry."
Her expression settled into one of sadness, her voice a murmur, "We never keep things from each other. Not us."
My heart shattered. "Madi.." I reached for her, but she pulled even further away. She jumped up, not sparing me another glance as she strode towards the direction of the building where the noviciates slept.
I got to my feet, beginning to follow after her as I called, "Madi, hey! Stop!"
I felt Bellamy's firm hand on my shoulder pull me to a halt.
I turned on him. "Bellamy-"
He cut off my protest. "Let her go, Clarke. She's just angry right now. She'll understand why you didn't tell her soon enough."
I looked back towards her longingly, watching as her braid whipped around a corner and out of view.
"Trust me, Clarke. I know how to deal with them at this age." He gave me a small, tired smile when I looked back at him. I returned it the best that I could, which ended up being a twitch in the corners of my lips.
We both sat back down, Bellamy taking Madi's place on the debris piece beside me.
I stared at the place where she had disappeared, asking quietly, "What did she choose?"
Bellamy pulled me closer at the weariness in my voice. "She hasn't chosen yet. Octavia gave her a week to decide."
I sighed, partly of relief and exhaustion. "Okay."

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