Couldn't Stop Caring || Bellarke || Completed

23. Deals.

"We seek the one named Clarke Blake!"

Clarke looked up sharply at the sound of her name, her heart racing. How did they know her name? And what did they want with her? By force of habit, her eyes found Bellamy's. Bellamy discreetly shook his head. His eyes pleaded with her to stay where she was.

"Now! Or we kill everyone in this camp!" The second howler yelled. Clarke jumped slightly from the force of his voice. She took a deep breath and moved forward.

"I am Clarke." Clarke announced.

Abby whipped her head around and begged Clarke to go back. But Clarke ignored her and kept walking until she reached the gate. She stood beside her mother and watched as the howlers looked to the third man. He nodded his head, and the first and second howler stepped up to the gate.

"Clarke Blake, you are the one responsible for Atu's death. Justice must be served!" The first howler called.

"What?! I'm not responsible for anything!" Clarke exclaimed. "I don't even know who Atu is!"

"The boy you lost." The second howler simply replied.

Realisation hit Clarke hard as she realised they were talking about Finn. The man that had stabbed Finn was Atu. No one had told Clarke what happened to Atu. She assumed he had run off.

Clarke thought of telling them the truth. If she told them that all she did was try to save Finns life, then they would want to know who killed one of their men.

"Your man killed one of ours. One of yours lost their life in return. We don't owe you any lives." Clarke said stubbornly.

"You are the leader of your camp. The leader must pay the price." Another howler growled.

"The price of what? She didn't do anything!" Murphy yelled out.

"Murphy!" Clarke hissed.

"What happens to my people if I go with you?" Clarke asked, turning back to the howlers.

"No!" Abby gasped. But Clarke ignored them.

"If you come without a fight, your people live."

"And what happens to me?" Clarke asked.

"You work for us. You will heal our sick."

"What about my baby?" Clarke asked.

The howlers eyed Clarke's stomach. None of them had noticed Bellamy inch forward at the mention of his child.

"It will be raised by our village mothers."

"So let me get this straight? If I come with you, my people live, but I lose my baby?" Clarke asked. "Will I ever see my people again?"

"No."

"And what happens if I don't go with you?" Clarke asked defiantly.

"We go to war." The howler growled. "You have one hour to decide."

The howler turned, and the small army marched into the tree line again. Clarke knew they wouldn't go any further. They would sit and wait.

Clarke turned to face her mother.

"I have to go." Clarke whispered.

"No, no, you don't. We can make another deal!" Abby sobbed.

"Kane, call a council meeting immediately, including Bellamy Blake and his friends." Jaha instructed. Kane nodded and took off instantly.

"No, they don't need to get involved!" Clarke shook her head.

"Yes, they do. They wanted to be involved in the decision making, now they are." Jaha nodded.