Grounded

Chapter 7- bad dreams

After me and Lexa continue to discuss the terms of our living arrangements, I am now completely exhausted, she mostly wanted to know of my family's skills and was pleased to find out that my mom is an experienced healer, and my dad and Raven are both good at building and fixing problems, but even through her intense questioning I am very aware she has not asked any of my own, but I am still too terrified to ask her why.

When she notices the exhaustion in my eyes, her questions instantly halt and she tells me, "your family have been shown to a tent near to where they are, they are sleeping safely under my guards' protection, but you must remain here tonight......we cannot risk you being seen by my people until the announcement tomorrow".

Wait does she mean sleep in her tent?! I don't think I can make it through until tomorrow without embarrassing myself again. "So where will I sleep?" I question, though it is clear the she is thoroughly enjoying my pain.

"You will sleep in my furs tonight, I have some clothes that will fit you, and I shall not be sleeping tonight, it is easier for me to keep you under my watch for now."

Watching me in my sleep?! "I do not want to impose, I can sleep on the floor"

"No", she says firmly, "I need you rested for tomorrow you have a long few days ahead of you."

I really don't think I'm going to be able to get myself out of this, "....thank you, commander" managing only a small smile.

She spins around and reaches into some sort of closet pulling out a long, blue dress robe.

"This should be your size, I will wait outside while you change".

I quickly change and call out, "I'm done commander", but face away, this robe is quite revealing and I feel extremely self conscious. I hear footsteps slowly coming towards me and my breath catches in my throat and she gestures over to her bed, "make yourself comfortable I will be over in a moment, we still have some things to discuss."

Reluctantly, I slowly make way over to the bed and lower myself onto it, trying to cover every bit of my exposed skin, I am not ready for people to know. After a few moments, Lexa appears at the side of the bed and sits on the edge of it beside me, gazing down at me.

She has removed her armour and is now in tight fitting black leggings and a grey fitting top. The black war paint has completely vanished from her face and her braids have been removed so that her wavy hair cascades over her shoulders.....wow.

I can no longer help but to ask the question that has been nagging me since we first began our discussions, "what do you expect from me? You have asked about my family's skills but none of my own.......have I done something wrong?"

"No Clarke, you have not, but I have been watching you since you landed on the ground and I understand the skills, you will be a warrior, as long as you accept". 

Hold up what?! I can do nothing but stare at her, continuously blinking, as if I had heard her wrong. "What does that mean?"

"You would be trained in combat and strategy and help by hunting......I was hoping you would allow me to train you?"

"Okay now I'm very confused", I state sitting myself up, "aren't you the bad-ass commander, don't you have more important things to do?"

She seems to be fighting off a smirk, but eventually gives in and lets out a chuckle, "I am, but I have never seen the strength that you have shown in the last few days. You were terrible at hunting when you first arrived but you never gave up,  and have even killed some of the more dangerous predators in the woods, with my training you are sure to be one of the greatest warriors we have ever known."